Petunia Essentials was started by a woman named MyLynda who, like most of us ladies, loved bath and body products. She got her degrees in mathematics and industrial engineering (!) and then became an attorney. As her allergies became worse and worse, she started making her own beauty products without harsh ingredients found in many mainstream brands. Her friends and family kept asking about the “potions” she was cooking up and they became popular in her inner-circle. Eventually MyLynda chose to follow a new career path she had never dreamed for herself – beauty product entrepreneur!

I love supporting indie businesses whenever I can (I have an Etsy problem) and I especially love supporting women business owners (since I am one!).

A review from a happy customer: “I purchased soaps from this company for my guest bath. This past weekend, several guests commented on the lovely fragrances. We have Brown Sugar & Fig and Lavender. Thank you for a great product.”

Petunia Essentials specializes in hand made, natural and vegetable based, cruelty free bath and body products, including moisturizing bar and liquid soaps, whipped body butters, lotion crèmes and aromatic bath salts. They use hydrating and healing oils like olive oil, jojoba oil, avocado oil and sweet almond oil with quality essential oils, fragrance oils, and botanicals like lavender buds, rose petals, and jasmine flowers. Only cruelty free, natural and safe ingredients are used.

And if you haven’t already, read our review of Petunia Essentials cruelty free beauty products!

Want to win a Petunia Essentials gift set containing a body butter, a shower gel and a body spray? Just wait for the Rafflecopter form below to load and follow the instructions. You must be 18 or older to enter. US only. By entering you agree to the official rules.

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Morgan and I went to Burke Williams this morning for some incredible, relaxing girl time. I haven’t been to Burke Williams in a while, but it’s one of my all-time favorite “treat yo self” spas because every detail is perfect. They really think of everything – from the spa water to the plush robes to the hair and skincare products to the rosemary-infused cold wipes. Before and/or after your treatment, you can relax in the eucalyptus steam room, the jacuzzi or the cold mist room. Like Disneyland for adults. There are separate men’s and women’s areas, so you don’t have to feel weird about running around naked or in a bathrobe with wet hair and no makeup.

The products they use are cruelty free – H2V is their signature line, and there are a few other brands that they use for facials and sell in the retail area.

I had the Parafango Treatment, one of Burke Williams’ signature treatments:

Exotic name, delightful results. This signature body treatment is the ultimate moisturizing experience. It begins with a salt scrub to exfoliate your skin. Then our unique Parafango mud is applied before wrapping you in a warm thermal blanket. And as if that wasn’t enough, we also treat you to the benefits of our H2V Express Facial, designed to heal and rejuvenate the skin.

Now this is a treatment for the more adventurous spa-goer (like myself). This is definitely not a relaxing treatment – it’s more about the outcome. My esthetician, Carolina, was SO sweet (and she had AMAZING skin, so I trusted her!).

First, she scrubbed my dry skin with scrub mitts. Slightly painful for my sensitive skin, but tolerable. Then, she scrubbed my skin with a salt/oil scrub (a little painful since my skin was already exfoliated). After that, she painted on a hot paraffin/mud mixture. Now this was pretty painful in some areas. She asked me if I was okay at every step, and if it was a little too hot for me, she cooled it down. After my whole body was coated, she wrapped me in a cocoon of towels and plastic (?) sheets. She told me I was supposed to sweat. The heat would open pores and the mud would draw out toxins and provide minerals.

While I was in my heat cocoon, she did the H2V Facial – complete with exfoliation, mask, massage, extractions, etc. She would have done a peel, but I told her I was taking zinc and she said it’s not a good idea to peel, wax or anything like that when you’re taking it. Good to know! It was fine by me because my skin is super sensitive and doesn’t like peels anyway. She used the Eminence Strawberry Rhubarb Masque on me, which smells amazing. And, she recommended the Burke Williams line’s H2V Buff for my blackheads, so I bought some on the way out. You know, twist my arm…

After the facial, she wiped off the excess paraffin/mud and brought me to the showers, where I was instructed to rinse off, but not use soap. Then, she brought me back to the treatment room where she massaged me with menthol cooling lotion and finished off my facial with a Stone Crop Masque. She told me stone crop is similar to aloe but much more gentle. She said you should never use aloe on sunburned or damaged skin because it has exfoliating properties. I had never heard that before – very interesting! Then she added lotion and pigmented SPF 30 mineral makeup to protect my newly exfoliated face from the sun.

The whole thing took 80 minutes, but it went by so fast. I enjoyed chatting with her and she made me feel instantly at ease. After my treatment, my skin was GLOWING! My skin feels so soft now – I can’t stop touching it. I feel like a new person!

Morgan had a signature Burke Williams Massage:

This custom massage experience begins with a spray of our Signature blend of essential oils, and warm, moist heat pads that embrace your back to relax the muscles. Chinese herbs are used to polish the skin, focusing on the forearms, feet, and back. The service incorporates our Burke Williams massage lotion, a special blend of essential oils that creates our Signature scent. All of these elements combine to create a uniquely relaxing massage experience.

Morgan says this was the best massage she’s ever experienced. Her favorite things:

• My masseuse Sandy was considerate, polite, and thoughtful. She was thorough and applied just the right amount of pressure that I requested.
• Special treats in the ladies’ spa area were cups of fresh, sliced fruit and hair and beauty supplies (sanitized hairbrushes, a curling iron, etc).
• All staff members were friendly and attentive without being overbearing.
• Validated parking is a plus and convenient to grab lunch/coffee afterward.
• Staff members guided us to one location from another and treated us warmly as guests.

So, when you want to “treat yo self” definitely pay them a visit. It’s not inexpensive, but the steam room, jacuzzi and other amenities make it totally worth it. Great for a girls’ day. And, check out their Valentine’s Day specials (send this to your man – hint, hint, hint!).

Jen

Have you ever been to one of those expensive spas where they cover you in mud? Well, how about a little DIY? No – I’m not suggesting you should go outside with the garden hose and start rolling around in the backyard with your dog. Be a little more picky with your choice of soil. Please.

Auromere is an Ayurvedic, cruelty-free company that makes some awesome natural products. I tried their Ayurvedic Mud Bath recently. It comes in powder form and you can mix it with a little water and use as either a face and/or body mask (letting it dry before scrubbing off) or in place of soap (mix with water, scrub-a-dub, and rinse). It’s a bit messy in the tub – I’d recommend using it in the shower or as a facial mask.

This Ayurvedic recipe combines 12 herbs and 4 types of clay all noted for their purifying and rejuvenating effects on the skin. It’s also packed with skin-nourishing minerals. Naturally draws out toxins and impurities, exfoliates and nourishes the skin. Leaves skin silky soft and smooth.

Jen

Pacifica is hosting a sweepstakes that honors their sexy, new scent – Island Vanilla (try it and/or buy it at Sephora and Sephora.com) – and kicks off Pacifica’s new charitable partnership with Jean-Michel Cousteau’s Ocean Futures Society (a portion of all Island Vanilla proceeds will now benefit this amazing organization). One grand prize winner will receive $200 towards a romantic Island getaway. Twenty runners-up will get a taste of the tropics delivered straight to their door with a full-size Island Vanilla Spray Perfume and Body Butter (a $40 value). To enter, visit the Pacifica Facebook page. The sweepstakes ends February 13th.

I tried the Island Vanilla Perfume Roll-On, Island Vanilla Body Butter and the Color Quench Natural Moisture Lip Tint. All available in the Island Vanilla Take Me There Set for only $18! The scent is Tahitian vanilla mixed with honey jasmine, tea and fruit. It’s very subtle and not overwhelming at all. I think even those who aren’t usually vanilla fans might like it. I like the subtlety of the body butter, but I wish the roll-on perfume was just a tad bit stronger. Definitely something you can wear every day.

Jen

Okay guys – are you reading this? Your lady does not want flowers, cheesy cards, boring chocolates or stuffed animals for Valentine’s Day. She wants something that shows you really “get” her. Something that shows you put some thought into a Valentine’s Day gift – not just stopped at a drugstore on the way home from work and picked up something from the sale bin.

Women are so confusing, right? Well, I’m going to make it easy on you. If you’re thinking about getting her expensive jewelry, you should probably still do that. Or she’ll get mad at me. But, also consider a bottle of perfume oil from Opus Oils. These luxury perfume oils are not going to break the bank, but they are sexy and UNIQUE. Like she is. You know it.

Island Girl Collection

So, is your lady fond of the beach? Is her idea of a dream vacation a trip to Jamaica complete with warm nights, spiced rum and coconuts? Then try the Island Girl Collection. Key Notes include scents like lime, coconut, vanilla, pomegranate, black currant, orange flower and jasmine.

Roller Girl

Is your girl tough and sexy? Does she prefer fishnets and spiked heels to nude stockings and sensible pumps? Try Roller Girl, with notes of licorice, black cherry, vanilla and vetivert.

Jitterbug Collection

Would your lady have fit right in during the roaring ’20s? Try Jitterbug, reminiscent of a vintage French perfume, it has key notes of four different kinds of Jasmine!  Also with Sweet Honeysuckle, Sparkling Lemon Essence, Luscious Orange Blossom, “Beach Found” Ambergris, Blond Tobacco & Sultry Sandalwood.

Wild Child

Is your special gal more of a free spirit? Flowing dresses, kale chips, patchouli and feather earrings? Well, you should definitely try all-natural, Wild Child. This is my personal favorite. I’m not exactly a hippie chick, but I do love patchouli – especially when it’s tempered with softer scents. Key Notes: Aged Dark Patchouli, Saffron, Honey, Milk, Peach, Tuberose, Black Currant, Dark Amber, Ambergris, Sandalwood and Vanilla.

Divine Collection

Is she your goddess? Try the Divine Collection with names like Eros, Pan, Isis and Venus. Sultry and sexy scents that tell her you worship her every step.

Afraid of the Dark Collection

If you know your lady is an adventurous one, you can even check out Opus Oils’ Afraid of the Dark, Fetish and Burlesque collections. Not for the faint of heart!

Dirty Sexy Wilde

And ladies, get your man a bottle of Dirty Sexy Wilde – this is like catnip for me. I keep spraying it on my man when he’s not looking. It’s so sexy! Key Notes include Galbanum, Red Mandarin, Violet, Rose, Night Jasmine, Blond Tobacco, Oakmoss, Coumarin, Musk, Civet & Ambergris. 

About Opus Oils:

Opus Oils is a Perfume Atelier located in the heart of glamorous Hollywood, CA with a European Division/Workshop in Paris, France. Opus Oils is one of the few niche perfumers involved in the quickly growing field known as ”Natural Perfumery.” All products are manufactured in the USA (unless specifically stated otherwise). The company’s goal is to create high quality, unique couture perfumes in the traditional methods of the artisan perfumers of centuries past, with an emphasis on natural ingredients.

Opus Oils’ specialty lines of boutique fragrances are hand blended, “aged” and poured in small batches to insure the highest quality and freshness. They use an extremely high concentration of essences in all scents. All fragrances are in a base of fractionated coconut oil, so there is never the harsh infusion of alcohol commonly found in so many commercial fragrances. Fractionated coconut oil is a light textured oil, which is odorless and tasteless. It is moisturizing and absorbs well, leaving your skin silky smooth without any greasy feeling. It does not stain sheets or clothing. Not all products are vegan, but Opus Oils has a strict policy of  NO animal testing!

You can purchase Opus Oils perfumes, lotions and bath products online or visit their Hollywood, CA shop. You can also contact opusoils@msn.com or call: (323) 667-3376 with any questions.

Jen