Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. Valentine's Day is just a couple of weeks away. This holiday is usually thought of as a day for lovers, but it's really a day dedicated to all kinds of love: friendship, family, and romantic love alike. Whether you're single or attached, Valentine's Day is an opportunity to celebrate what's great about the people you love.

Traditional notions of Valentine's Day involve giving a romantic gift to that special someone --things like jewelry, lingerie, roses, chocolates, heart-shaped candies, champagne, and candle-lit dinners are the defining hallmarks of this occasion. But the commercialization of Valentine's Day has created a prickly set of expectations that revolve around these material gifts and gestures. On the one hand, not conforming can create disappointment and speculation as to your true intentions, on the other hand, not giving the specific type of gift or experience that someone expected can also create disappointment -a damned if you do, damned if you don't situation that also relies heavily on the notion that Valentine's is the time that men are supposed to woo their female mate or love interest.

I think gifts from the heart, in whatever form they take, are always the best. And naturally I'm biased when it comes to giving the gift of aromatherapy and green beauty! What better way to say 'I love you' than to give someone a gift that helps them relieve stress, nurture themselves, or just makes them feel good? And for couples, gifts you can share or use together (i.e. bath salts, massage oil, products for mani-pedis, candles, etc.) are also a wonderful way to celebrate the occasion. To that end, we've created 3 different offers you can use to buy a gift for that special someone or one for yourself! Read on for more details ...

Yours in health and prosperity,

Donya

Valentine's Extravaganza: 3 Ways to Celebrate!

• Get F*REE Shipping on orders of $35 or more;
• Take $10 OFF orders of $35 or more; or
• Give a Gift, Get a Gift! Get a F*REE Lip Balm with any Gift Set you purchase.

3 Ways to Reach Out & Touch Someone You Love for Valentine's Day

The phrase "Reach Out and Touch Someone" was a clever and highly successful advertising slogan originally designed to encourage people to use long distance phone service to do just that. Its long-running success has been attributed to the way the ads effectively spoke to the emotional and "heart" connection that comes from talking to and sharing your feelings with someone you love or care about.

This advertising campaign was so effective it's been credited with practically launching long distance phone services. We've come a long way since those days. Now, with the advent of email, smart phones, and wireless Internet, the ability to communicate with practically anyone, anywhere, any time, has become almost ubiquitous. So much so that it's hard not to wonder if the emotional connection that we crave and the positive feelings it normally generates are still possible with this type of frenetic and short-hand communication.

Picking up the phone and calling someone you love on a special occasion like Valentine's Day makes perfect sense if they live far away or you're not able to see them in person. But this year for Valentine's Day, why not reach out and touch someone for real? Whether you celebrate this occasion with a romantic partner or by connecting with other people you love, the gift of touch can have a far more profound effect then the simple gesture of a phone call.

Studies in brain science show that touch is good medicine for both the body and the brain. Even the simple act of holding hands can significantly relieve stress and anxiety. The best news of all … the far-reaching positive effects of touch are not strictly limited to romantic gestures or even therapeutic massage. Many sensory experiences involving touch --caressing a baby, petting a cat or dog, or even receiving a handshake from someone-- all positively affect your physiological well-being leaving you better equipped to manage stress which in turn, boosts your immune system.

Here's why … your skin represents the body's largest sense organ. Your body is wrapped in approximately eighteen square feet of it! Even a tiny cross-section the size of a coin reveals several million cells, up to 100 sweat glands, 50 nerve endings and three feet of blood vessels. The human hand contains a staggering 100,000 nerves of at least 20 different types, while each fingertip contains more than 3000 nerve receptors. Together they interpret various touch sensations, and report to the brain on joint and muscle activity, pressure, temperature, vibration, and pain.

So you see, your magnificent skin acts like the eyes and ears of your brain --faithfully receiving commands and returning messages from the outside world. With the amazing power of touch, you literally have at your fingertips a variety of ways to offer gifts of love to those you care about. Here are some simple ideas for gifts of touch you can offer on Valentine's Day:

1. Give the gift of a Massage. If you don't have a lot of time then you can give a gift certificate or card for a one-hour (or 55 minute) massage. If you have a massage therapist then send them to yours. If not, ask people you know for referrals or contact a local spa. If you don't have the funds, or prefer to give a gift of a more personal nature, then offer to give them a massage yourself. It doesn't need to be anything fancy or professional. You can give them a simple neck and shoulder massage, a hand massage, or better yet, a foot massage. Applying gentle pressure to tight muscles always provides relief.
   
   Incorporate a little aromatherapy into the massage by adding a few drops of essential oil (like lavender or orange to relax, rosemary, lemon or grapefruit to stimulate) to a tablespoon of carrier oil (olive, jojoba, safflower, sesame or almond). Or use our Certified Organic Aromatherapy Body Oil, which comes with the essential oils already blended in. Just be sure to use scents that you know the person likes. If you're not sure then ask beforehand.
   
   For a romantic couples massage, try a blend that includes sensual or earthy essential oils like ylang ylang, patchouli, vetiver, lime, lemongrass, bergamot or other citrus fruit, rose or rose geranium, cedarwood, sandalwood, or vanilla.
2. Give the gift of a Mani-Pedi. Another lovely, pampering gift of touch is a manicure or pedicure (or both!). Again, if you don't have time to do it yourself give them a gift certificate to a salon or spa but make sure it includes a generous amount of massage!
   
   Giving a manicure or pedicure is an opportunity to literally reach out and touch someone. Even better is to give each other manicures and pedicures. Take the lead by inviting your friend or loved one over for a pampering home spa treatment, or pick up all the accessories you need and bring the spa treatment to them. This is also an excellent way for couples to connect and bond.
   
   Try our Hand & Foot Care Gift Set. It contains a nail or foot brush to clean the nails and get into those hard to reach places, a bag of aromatherapy bath salts, a small bottle of aromatherapy body oil that can be mixed with a handful of the bath salt to make an exfoliating nail and cuticle scrub, a small bottle of aromatherapy liquid soap to rinse off when you're done grooming, and a small bottle of aromatherapy lotion to moisturize your hands and feet. Available in 5 different aromatherapy blends, you can pick one you know you will both enjoy. And avoid the toxic nail polish! Use a nail buffing kit instead for a natural gloss that looks like it was painted on.
3. Give the gift of a Facial or Scalp Treatment. Just think about the pleasure you derive from getting your hair shampooed at a salon before a haircut or getting your face gently massaged as part of a facial. Give that special someone a gift certificate to a spa or salon, or offer to do this yourself.
   
   Have them sit in a chair or lie on a couch, recliner, or chaise long. Use a pillow or bolster wrapped in a towel to support their neck. Keep a basin with warm water nearby for rinsing and another one with a pot of boiling water at the ready for steaming.
   
   Start with a gentle plant-based creamy cleanser or virgin coconut oil to remove surface dirt or makeup. Gently apply to the face with your hands then wipe off with a soft towel or bath sponge dipped in the warm water. Next apply a gentle exfoliating scrub (one made with brown sugar will give the best results) then wipe off with a textured loofah or ramie bath mitt.
   
   After exfoliation, fill the basin with boiling water and add a few drops (5 or so) of essential oil like lavender, juniper, geranium, cedarwood or rosemary. Have them sit up then place a towel over their head and have them lean over the basin for 3-5 minutes to let the steam penetrate and open pores.
   
   Follow this with a splash of cool water or a spritz of hydrosol. Try one of our Aromatic Mister Sprays chilled in the refrigerator beforehand! Finish with a gentle moisturizer like our Aromatherapy Hand & Body Lotion or hydrating and moisturizing oil like our Certified Organic Body Oil that you massage into the face and neck. With each application, use circular motions and apply gentle pressure to the jaw area, which tends to hold a lot of tension.

Any of these gifts will surely be received with much gratitude and when done together, will provide a truly memorable experience.

Copyright 2011 Dropwise Essentials

WANT TO USE THIS ARTICLE IN YOUR EZINE OR WEB SITE? You can, as long as you include this complete blurb with it: Donya Fahmy, is a green business owner and the creator of Dropwise Essentials' spa-quality aromatherapy body products that help you safely relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or simply manage your emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. For more free tips and valuable information visit www.dropwise.com and subscribe to the Dropwise Health & Beauty News Ezine or blog feed.

If you enjoy the articles in this newsletter then be sure to visit our blog The Aroma Zone for even more valuable articles, practical tips, and helpful resources on Aromatherapy, Health & Beauty, and Greener & Better Living. You can access the blog any time by clicking on the links to the Aroma Zone found throughout our site. If you don't want to miss anything then you can subscribe to the RSS Feed and all new posts will be sent to you via email.

Please feel free to post comments. Your feedback is always welcome. If you have a burning question about something send it in an email to feedback@dropwise.com.

Dropwise Essentials is a San Francisco-based manufacturer of pure aromatherapy and organic plant-based personal care products that give people a safe and effective way to relieve stress, increase vitality, improve confidence, or manage their emotional state any time or place without popping a pill. Our products are:

• Free of synthetic chemicals and petroleum ingredients
• Made with high quality certified organic oils and pure essential oils sourced from around the world
• Packaged in re-usable or recyclable materials
• Hand-made locally in northern California

Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.

Dropwise Essentials is a proud member of the Indie Beauty Network (formerly the Handmade Beauty Network), the Green America Business Network (formerly Co-op America), Green Product Alliance, Natural Ingredient Resource Center, and a Friend of PETA. We were among the first companies to join the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics by signing their Compact for Safe Cosmetics - which simply formalizes our existing commitment to formulate products free of known or potentially toxic ingredients.