The perfect skin care routine for babies

I love my work. In fact, I can’t think of much I would rather be doing than creating yummy organic skincare products; especially when, at the end of the day, I get to slather them on my own sweet boys and know that I am giving them the very best.

I’m not sure what bath time involves at your house, but around here, it is quite the affair. This is our routine:

1. For bath time, there are two options; the first is more common; to lather up with Zoe Organics Gentle Hair & Body Wash. This bath wash is so gentle with the perfect blend of mandarin and lavender essential oils to sweeten the deal.  This wash is a castille soap base, made with with nutrient rich organic oils. It contains absolutely no sulfates or surfactants.  The second option is to soak with Zoe Organics Baby Bath Tea. The Baby Bath Tea is one of my favorite products in the Zoe Organics baby line. The sweet, hand-stitched unbleached muslin bag is filled with organic herbs, organic oatmeal and organic/fair trade cocoa butter. It really is a luxurious treatment. This is the ideal solution for a newborn, a child with allergies, eczema, sunburn particularly sensitive skin. It is also ultra calming.
2. Immediately after the bath, my boys get a massage with the Zoe Organics Baby Massage Oil. This oil contains organic apricot kernel oil, organic jojoba oil and organic olive oil; which means it is super rich in essential fatty acids, vitamin A, vitamin E, vitamin B complex, and anti-oxidents! These oils are easily absorbed by the skin (especially right after a bath), so it is never greasy. This oil is mildly scented with organic lavender and organic chamomile essential oils, which are especially calming.
3. The skin on a child’s face withstands a lot. From the constant flow of things in and out of their mouths, drool, spit up, food that seems at times to collect more on the face than in the mouth…and then there is the weather…you with me? So, the first product I developed in the Zoe Organics baby line was the Baby Balm. This balm is conveniently packages in a large chapstick looking tube, that is easy to apply. My toddlers actually prefer to apply it themselves – which is great! This balm is so moisturizing, and the perfect protection from the “elements”. I always carry one in my diaper bag. We apply it after a bath, and as often as needed.
4. Last, but not least…no baby skincare routine would be complete without the diaper balm. What I love about the Zoe Organics Diaper Balm (can you tell that I made this stuff?!) is that it is a clean balm that goes on clear. No icky, pasty guck here. I use this diaper balm at every diaper change, which provides my babe with a constant barrier . I don’t ever have to use the white pasty stuff (which by the way, is loaded with un-natural ingredients), because this diaper balm does its job! Cloth diaper user? This is the balm for you! The infusion of organic herbs; calendula, chamomile and lavender are so restorative and healing you don’t need any other diaper balm.

These 5 products cover, what I consider to be the perfect skincare routine for babes. Whether your child is blessed with beautiful, problem free skin, or suffers from severe ezcema; these completely organic and natural products are so effective. Not to mention, you will feel like your own bathroom has become a baby spa…

zoe organics baby skincare line now available for purchase!

Listen up, our lovely Zoe Organics community who has been waiting patiently for this baby skincare line to launch! You can now purchase our products on our website!  www.zoe-organics.com

The baby skincare line includes 5 amazing products:

• Organic Baby Bath Tea (100% organic ingredients)
• Gentle Hair & Body Wash
• Organic Baby Massage Oil (100% organic ingredients)
• Organic Baby Balm (100% organic ingredients)
• Organic Diaper Balm (100% organic ingredients)

After you’ve tried them, drop us an email. We’d love to hear your feedback and success stories!

more than design

About a year ago, I decided that it was time to take my skincare concoctions to market. A few months prior, my husband had introduced me to Pam Golafshar, a friend from college, and I instantly loved her. Not only was she an incredible designer (check out her company, Oratia Design) but she and I quickly connected over our core beliefs and values, and I knew she would be a perfect fit for the company I was creating. I began to (somewhat timidly) share my business plan and concepts with her and asked her if she would create the designs associated with Zoe Organics.

After hours of phone calls and emails, Pam produced something that I believe truly captures the essence of Zoe Organics:

Over the past year, Pam has become a dear friend. She has been a sounding board, a source of encouragement, and a valuable resource. Although this past year has been very chaotic, we have weathered it well.

Pam currently lives in Hong Kong with her husband, Mike and sweet toddler, Darius. And, although we are separated by miles and miles of land and sea, she will always be the designer (and friend) I call up. I am looking forward to what the future holds for Oratia Design and Zoe Organics and am (somewhat selfishly) hoping it brings her back to the States!

So…thanks Pam.  For being so much more…

zoe organics baby care launch!

It is finally going to happen! After months of hard work we are about to officially launch our Zoe Organics baby care line!

Friday (5/21), we will start the day off early at the St. Helena Farmer’s market (7:30 am – noon). Friday is also the day we will launch our new website, complete with an online store.

Our baby care line includes 5 beautifully handcrafted, organic products:

• Gentle Hair & Body Wash
• Organic Baby Bath Tea
• Organic Baby Massage Oil
• Organic Baby Balm
• Organic Diaper Balm

In addition to our online store, our products will be available at select brick and mortar stores throughout the United States and Internationally. If you are interested in a wholesale account with us, please contact us.

This summer we will also introduce Zoe Organics Home Parties!  Our home parties will be a fabulous way to enjoy the company of friends while learning valuable information about caring for baby’s delicate skin and the hidden dangers in skin care products. Products will be available to sample, purchase, and even win! More details to come…

If you are not yet a fan on Facebook or following us on Twitter - we want to connect with you and value your feedback!

Looking forward to a fantastic weekend!

zoe organics signed the compact for safe cosmetics

Zoe Organics is proud to announce that we have signed the Compact for Safe Cosmetics! You can find us listed here, alongside other companies who, by signing the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, are publicly making a commitment to keep their skin and body care products free of toxic chemicals.

When companies sign the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, they are pledging not only to make safer products, but also to provide greater transparency to consumers about their products. By signing, cosmetics manufacturers pledge that:

1. All cosmetics and personal care products made by the company anywhere in the world meet or exceed the formulation standards and deadlines set by the European Union cosmetics directive to be free of chemicals that are known or strongly suspected of causing cancer, mutation or birth defects.
2. The company will implement substitution plans that replace hazardous materials with safer alternatives within three years, and publicly report its progress in meeting these goals.

Zoe Organics products are NOT tested on animals, and contain NO:

• parabens
• phthalates
• sulfates
• petrochemicals
• animal products (except organic beeswax)
• artificial colors or fragrances

You will always have peace of mind that our products are safe, gentle and effective.

on mother’s day

This morning I woke to the sound of my 22 month-old singing the sweetest song from his crib. I don’t know what little tune he was singing, but I am sure it was a special mother’s day song. Not long after, my (nearly) 4 year-old came in and gave me a big hug, while my 22 month-old climbed into bed with me for a morning snuggle.

I honestly can’t imagine not being a mom. From the age of carrying around dolls and turning my primary-school-aged birthday parties into baby showers, my deepest desire was to be a mom. On June 22, 2006 this dream became a beautiful reality with the birth of my first son, Boyd Allan Hamilton. Two years later, Wyatt Taylor Hamilton was born and my life became all that much sweeter!

Until I became a mom I didn’t realize the depth of love, or the sacrifices and challenges motherhood brings. My admiration and appreciation of my own mom deepened and I (humbly) realized how much I took my own mother’s years of devotion for granted. Whose touch and presence did I seek most when I was sick? Who took me to music classes, taught me the art of cooking and cultivated my appreciation for gardening? Who taught me that contentment comes from seeing the beauty around you and not striving for what you don’t have?

Motherhood is one of the most powerful miracles of life. The pure joy a woman feels when she learns she is pregnant, and the complete awe of childbirth (as a birth doula, I have never escaped the tears that come to my eyes or the lump in my throat from watching a new baby come into this world). A mother’s heart can fall instantly in love with her new little babe; and she would give her life for this little person without a second thought.

Today is mother’s day and I am so thankful for the mother’s in my life and to my husband and my own boys for making my dream come true. May all mothers have a blessed day, and may the beauty you have brought to this world be lavished upon you!

zoe organics at the st. helena farmer’s market

St. Helena, located in the heart of the Napa Valley, is one of my very favorite places in the world. In fact, I spent the first 20+ years of my life here. So, of course I am thrilled that Zoe Organics is going to be part of the charming St. Helena Farmer’s Market this year!

Top 10 reasons to Shop at St. Helena Farmers’ Market (as listed on the SHFM website)

1. Support local farmers and the local economy

2. Reduce pollution and fuel usage. (Our fruits and veggies are grown in California- several of our vendors are from the Napa Valley.)

3. Support growers who respect the environment and protect our natural resources

4. The produce is really FRESH! (Many of our farmers pick just before coming to market- which makes produce more nutritious.)

5. Help protect our farming heritage- keep small family farms in business. Help stop corporate take over of food production.

6. Keep diversity alive in produce choices. Our farmers raise many heirloom varities not available in local supermarkets.

7. Our local produce often costs less than the local produce sold at nearby stores.

8. It’s a good excuse to meet friends for coffee and pastries.

9. Maintain the heritage of this “Community Treasure,” founded in July 1986.

10.It’s fun!

Don’t forget to put these dates on your calendar; Zoe Organics will be a vendor on the following Fridays:

May 21

June 11

July 23

August 13

September 10

October 1, 15 & 29

If you are going to be in the Napa Valley on these dates, come by between 7:30am and noon for coffee, pastries, locally grown organic fruits and vegetables, fresh cut flowers, and receive 10% off your Zoe Organics purchase when you use this code: farmersmktblog.

You won’t be disappointed!

zoe organics is moving!

The countdown has begun! After nearly 8 years in Orange County, my husband, two boys (almost 2 and 4 years old) and our dog will be making the move up to northern California! I grew up in the Napa Valley (which is where I met my husband – in elementary school!). Our parents still live there, so not only do we get to raise our boys in the beautiful countryside, but we will have our parents (grandparents) close by!

I feel like this move is not only positive for my family, but will also provide some much needed breathing room for Zoe Organics. Country living inspires me; rolling hills, vineyards, winding country roads, wild flowers, fresh air…

Farmers Market season is about to begin and Zoe Organics is making plans to participate in several of the local markets. We will post a schedule once the dates are confirmed. I can’t wait to get involved with the community and am looking for local farms to source some of our raw ingredients from.

This move is still a bit surreal, maybe because things have happened quickly. I will deeply miss the friends and the network of brilliant people we have been so blessed by here in the great OC. But, the truth is, we are only a drive, or short flight away and we will visit often…

We are entering Easter weekend, and I can’t help but feel thankful; for my precious family and loved ones, for health and for the beauty that exists both within and around us. I am both humbled and grateful to my loving Savior, who gave the ultimate gift. How sweet it is.

a new month, a new look

Today is the final day of March. Tomorrow starts a new month and we have yet to launch the products we have been raving about.

We are (once again) putting the finishing touches on our labels and working on our e-commerce site! A few weeks ago, Pam (Oratia Design) and I decided to take another look at the containers and labels for Zoe Organics. This process has involved hours of research and brainstorming to find a superior option.

One of the core values of Zoe Organics, from conception, has been to find alternatives to the abundance of consumer packaging waste and to use materials that are non-toxic, functional, and beautiful. Little did I know what a challenge this would be!

I have an aversion to plastic, however, finding alternatives; options that are easily recyclable, reusable or biodegradable is not nearly as simple as I once thought. I have been shocked to find that very few packaging materials exist – especially for a start-up on a budget!  If you are lucky enough to find something unique, it is often lacking in functionality, aesthetic appeal, safety, or financial feasibility. It is no mystery why it has taken me so long to commit!

All this to say, I am really happy with what we have come up with. I don’t have a photo to share yet, but the new logo on our blog is a hint to what our labels will look like.

And, I have to admit, this process has been humbling. It is much easier to look critically on what needs to be changed, than to actually be that change. I am learning that it really is about baby steps. Doing what you can, even if it means you can’t have it all at once. Isn’t life like this? We make the most of what we are given.

We do have some unique initiatives in the works to help achieve our long-term goals and we will stay current on new superior alternatives that come available. I believe that over the next several years we will begin to see new innovative materials and technology that meet the demand for cleaner, greener containers and packaging.

We really are only weeks away from our official launch. Thank you for coming along on this adventure. I promise it will be well worth the wait!

natural products expo west

I am a little behind in writing this post, but I have been trying to organize my thoughts after an amazing weekend at the Natural Products Expo West, March 13 & 14.

It is always inspiring to be surrounded by innovative entrepreneurs, and it is an added bonus when said creative folk are passionate about living green! After two days on my feet, and having sampled enough organic food to feed my entire family, I left the show with renewed energy and inspiration for the launch of Zoe Organics!

So what is “natural” anyway? Who exhibits at a “natural” products expo? Whoa. The spectrum is so broad, it covers the company who incorporates some healthier, more natural ingredients into its sugary snacks, to the 100% organic body care line, contained in biodegradable packaging. I don’t mean to be a pessimist, but for a group of people who are so concerned about saving the environment, there was enough waste created from all of the samples distributed throughout the show that we could have created our own mini landfill!

It doesn’t take long to spy the wolf in sheep’s clothing. The company who is just trying to capitalize on a hot market trend, but in all reality, doesn’t know a thing about walking the walk. On the other hand, some of my favorite organizations were there, like Mountain Rose Herbs, where I purchase many of my raw ingredients, and Healthy Child, Healthy World, a non-profit organization committed to educating parents and caregivers on the negative effects of toxins.

A few of my other favorites from the show were Andina Diapers, these beautiful cotton diapers made in Peru, and my new favorite (triple certified) coffee company; Caffe Ibis.

I was interested to see how the cosmetic industry responded to what I believe is one of the biggest challenges for a “green” company: packaging. How can we eliminate the excessive waste in product packaging? Plastic bottles, tubes, jars, pots, compacts…they all end up as waste. A really fascinating man I spoke with from LivingEcho, told me that only 5% of these containers are actually recycled! I suspected the number would be low, but ONLY 5%?! I guess this shines a new light on all of these companies touting recyclable plastic. I was, however, intrigued by the invention of biodegradable packaging by Ellery West of Eco-Vision.

Finally, although there is a lot of “greenwashing” out there, the natural and organic products industries are really making steps in the right direction. There are so many hurdles for a company to overcome in greening their organization; finding cost effective alternatives, overcoming perceptions, finding the right resources, and staying current.

Without a doubt, it is an exciting and rewarding movement to be a part of.