Photo submitted by Picky Fussy.

Photo submitted by Traci French. Check out Traci’s blog, Bliss.

Limited Time Offer: Save 20% on any Purify collection purchase, including the Purify Blemish Treatment–our featured product this month. Simply enter: clearskin at checkout. Offer expires March, 10, 2010.

Clear Skin in 20 Minutes? Naturally.

Organic essential oils are well known for their aromatherapeutic benefits, but to the plants they’re derived from, they are much more than a pleasing scent. Essential oils protect plants from bacteria and disease, making them essential to the plant’s health and survival.

Understanding how plants protect and heal themselves was integral to the development of a formula that effectively fights bacteria, clears skin and works with it to promote a healthy, more radiant complexion.

Our Purifying Blemish Treatment harnesses nature’s power to naturally eliminate pore-clogging debris and restore a healthy, blemish-free balance. A proven effective, whole plant blend of anti-bacterial Lemon and Ginger, amino-acid-rich, wildcrafted Blue Lotus and antioxidant White Tea clears the skin without harsh, drying chemicals, leaving it as clear and smooth as nature intended.

In our clinical studies, 90% of blemish-causing bacteria was removed after 20 minutes of using the Blemish Treatment.

Save 20% on the Purifying Blemish Treatment. Simply enter “clearskin” at checkout.

Learn more about the Blemish Treatment via our Q&A with Amala Founder, Ute Leube and Head of Research and Development, David Hauck.

Q: How does the Blemish Treatment eliminate bacteria?

A: Pure, essential citrus oils have tremendous antibacterial properties. In nature, lemons and oranges are protected from bacteria by the high concentration of essential oils in their peels. These oils have a similar effect on the skin. When unaltered from their natural state, as they are in the case of all Amala formulas, they are incredibly powerful, yet very gentle to the skin. We also included Tea Tree Oil for its ability to effectively fight bacteria.

Q: What are some of the key active ingredients, and what do they do?

A: Lemon, Orange, Tea Tree and Ginger eliminate bacteria from the surface of the skin, which is important when it comes to preventing future breakouts and inflammation. Blue Lotus provides essential amino acids that hydrate and help repair skin damaged by breakouts. White Tea promotes healing and delivers a high concentration of antioxidants that supports healthy skin now and in the future.

Q: The Blemish Treatment is Non-Drying. Why is this important?

A: Products that are drying to the skin can cause more breakouts because the skin over produces oil to heal the dry, damaged area. It’s an unfortunate cycle in which to be stuck. You can eliminate the blemish by “drying it out,” but the surrounding skin is often damaged in the process. Therefore it’s important to work with the skin, not against it, by preventing and correcting imbalances to maintain the skin’s naturally healthy state. Wildcrafted Blue Lotus and Jojoba oil support hyrdration and rejuvenation.

Q: Is it safe for pregnant women?

A: Yes, very safe.

Q: Can you talk about the clinical studies?

A: In a 28 person clinical study, 80% of women showed a significant reduction in number of blemishes and 75% demonstrated a significant improvement in blemish-causing excess sebum. 80% of women surveyed agreed that the look of their skin was improved, and that the product effectively soothed and purified their skin.

Photo submitted by Blue Hour Designs.

Photo submitted by Nichole Robertson.

Photo submitted by Journey with a Simple Girl.

Photo submitted by LostNcheeseland.

What better month to celebrate love than February?

We’re celebrating by showcasing photos that capture affection in its many forms: a kiss from a child, holding hands, embracing a pet.

Add your love-themed photos to our Flickr Group–Finding Beauty in the Pure and Simple, and we’ll feature them here on the blog.

And what would February be without the rose? Not the cliched dozen roses, but pure, organic, fragrant rose.

At the end of the month, we’ll randomly select 3 photo contributors who will receive a set of our Aroma Apothecary Rose Concentrate and Rose Room and Linen Mist.

It takes 3000 roses to make 5ml of our Rose essential oil, so it’s our way of giving you 3000 roses instead of a dozen.

My earliest experiences of menswear consisted of going with my father to pick up his custom made clothes from the tailor. He had his tailor who made most of his clothes. This was quite common in the Philippines when I was young. It still is. Men (and women) often had their clothes tailor-made. More often than not back then, it cost less than ready-made clothes. I’ve always loved the idea. It was just how gentlemen were dressed. The notion of a tailor was something I thought would fade away, something part of my father’s generation and not today’s mass manufactured, change-by-the-minute culture.

When I learned about Brooklyn Tailors‘ bespoke, handmade clothes, I was delighted. Established by (soon-to-be-wed) couple Brenna Boyce and Daniel Lewis in 2007 in the Clinton Hill neighborhood of Brooklyn, the increasingly rare personal service of beautifully handmade mens’ clothes. Every garment only passes through one or a few pairs of hands. The select group of skilled artisans take pride in their work. What brings them the most gratification by working closely with each customer is the chance to truly give them exactly what they want. I would imagine it’s also a pleasure to know exactly who made your clothes for you. According to Brenna, they’ve even become friends with some of their customers.

I love that companies like Brooklyn Tailors are around to dress a new generation of men. I also love the idea of establishing a personal relationship with the people who made your clothes. There’s something romantic about well-made, beautiful clothes sewn just for you. Don’t you agree?

– myturtleneck

Photo submitted by Blue Hour Designs.