Cactus & Ivy | New Label Design

Hey y'all!

I hope this post finds you doing well. It has been so long since I've posted anything and I do apologize. Our vacation, Slug Fest '09, was so relaxing and I actually 'unplugged' for a week.....because the hubby forgot to pack the power cable to the laptop. It was a blessing in disguise.

Our label re-design is finally over and now it is time to print, apply and take product pictures. The new design completely reflects Cactus & Ivy and the direction it is headed. Each product line has a different design background with bright colors to coordinate with the aroma. The dark grey face and white text just add to the clean and spirited feel I wanted. I'm stoked that the Cactus & Ivy logo is a focal point, which helps with brand recognition. The graphic designer really hit the nail on the head. Here are a few for the unveiling. I'd love to know what you think!

Moisture Body Lotion

Cactus Body Wash

Body, Bath & Massage Elixir

Thanks for stopping by y'all and I hope you have a safe and happy Labor Day weekend!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Pink Grapefruit Bath & Body

Hey Y'all!

I hope this post finds you having a fabulous day! Pink Grapefruit is another favorite essential oil of mine. It's always a preferred natural oil when I need uplifting with a crisp, vibrant aroma.

Pink Grapefruit Oil {Citrus Paradisi} is used for its sweet and tart aroma to awaken the senses, stimulating the circulation - which helps reduce cellulite, relieve muscle tension, used for oily or acne prone skin, uplift mental stress and a fabulous skin toner, to name a few.

The grapefruit tree grows to over 33 feet in height and California is the leading producer of grapefruit essential oil. The oil is expressed from the fresh peel of the grapefruit and comes in varieties of white, pink and red.


You can find pink grapefruit oil in our Moisture Body Lotion, Body Bath & Massage Elixir, Spring Fever Line, Fresh Breeze Loofah and Cactus Body Wash.

As with other citrus oils, grapefruit oil is photo-sensitizing and should not be used within 4 hours of direct sun exposure.

Thanks for stopping by y'all! Have a great day!!


Creator Extraordiaire
Cactus & Ivy

{ grapefruit picture - care of Istockphoto}

Natural Bath & Body With Lime

Hey Y'all!

Hope you are having a fantastic day. I am a huge fan of lime and it is available as a scent for our Moisture Body Lotion, Body Bath & Massage Elixir, Cactus Body Wash, Butter Me Up Body Balm and Groovy Hemp Lip Balm. Recently, I created CoCo Lime Body Soap and did so with key lime in mind.


Lime Oil {citrus aurantifolia} also known as the Mexican Lime has a powerful aroma that energizes and revitalizes the body. Native to India, lime oil has the same properties of lemon oil. Lime oil is an astringent, antiseptic, anti-viral, disinfectant, can reduce muscle and joint pain, and is a fabulous oil if you need a pick me up. Lime oil is extracted from the steam distillation of the dried peel or cold compression of the fresh peel.

Because of its intoxicating, crisp and distinct aroma, I love to blend lime with other oils. It lends a 'twang', if you will, to a variety of creations and will forever be an ingredient of choice when I am formulating.

Lime oil is photo sensitizing and should not be used within 4 hours of direct sun exposure. It can also be an irritation to sensitive skin so use with caution.

Thanks for stopping by y'all and I hope you have a fabulous evening!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Container and Closure Changes

Hey Y'all!

I hope you had a fabulous 4th of July weekend. It is Monday again and time to get cracking on another work week.



I have made a few changes to our containers. The Cactus Body Wash is not packaged in a flexible LDPE (low density polyethylene) bottle with a polypropylene (PP) snap cap lid and pressure sensitive liner to provide a tamper evident seal, as well as protect the product contents during shipment.

Our Moisture Body Lotion now has a funky spiral pump that locks into place to prevent accidental discharge. Keep your eyeballs peeled for a few other changes in the coming weeks.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Spearmint is an Oxymoron?

Hey Y'all!!

I hope this post finds you doing well. The weather is actually looking good in my neck of the woods and I don't want to talk about it much. I am afraid if I say too much, the sunny skies and warm temperatures will disappear. Enough said.

Spearmint is a fabulous aroma and I use it a good bit while formulating Cactus & Ivy cruelty-free goodies. During a massage, I love the intense aroma of Mint Jasmine. It has a rich, floral burst with a sweet blast of mint that immediately relaxes me while also invigorating my senses. Is that an Oxymoron? Anywho.

Spearmint oil is steam distilled from the leaves of the mentha viridis plant and grows well in most climates but prefers partial shade. Believed to be an excellent oil for alleviating fatigue and depression, it can be used at bedtime to promote a sense of calm and relaxation. Yeah, I'm pretty sure that spearmint oil is an Oxymoron in itself. It is an uplifting yet calming oil.

You can find spearmint oil in our Spearcalyptus Body Soap, Cocoa Mint Scrub, Moisture Body Lotion, Mint Lip Service Lip Balm and Body Bath & Massage Elixir. Yep, as you can see, I like spearmint!

Thanks for stopping by y'all and have a great day!


Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy

Cactus & Ivy New Product Pictures

Hey Y'all!!

Woo hoo!!! I hope this post finds you doing well. What a slacker I am!! I haven't posted in over a week and I think I am in withdrawals!! Please forgive me.

As you know, I asked for feedback from the Design a Valentine's Day line contest and feedback I received. One of the comments I saw mentioned numerous times was in reference to the pictures on the Cactus & Ivy site.


Prevo, (love him bunches), has been working on taking new pictures for me since investing in a handy, dandy photo box. It lights up like a "Close Encounters of the Third Kind", (I love that movie by the way)! It truly beckons me to place something, anything under the light. I'm thinking that the cats aren't safe now....here kitty kitty. I just want to see how everything looks under the beautiful glow and to see if I have an ounce or two of photography skills in my genes.



Now I need your help. I took the pictures you see here and I'd love to get your feedback. Keep in mind that I am an amateur. When you own a business, you do whatever it takes to keep the costs down. I like the fact that I don't have to pack products up to send to a photographer and then wait for the outcome. As long as I can remember, I've always been an impatient person, at least when it comes to things like this.


Thanks for stopping by and I hope y'all have a wonderful day!! Oh, and don't worry, I can take it!! Give me the "no holds barred" feedback that I appreciate so much!!

Lisa M. Rodgers
Creator Extraordinaire
Cactus & Ivy