Aloe Vera Juice is in all of our lotions, body wash, Natural Balance facial toner and facial cleansing bar, Meadowfoam Rose moisturizing Serum, Tangerine C Serum, and Lula Blue Tea Tree & Lavender Dog Shampoo. Aloe is great for the skin.  It has a natural astringent quality.  It helps to soothe burns, rashes, and other skin maladies.

Essential Oils are powerful, natural, concentrated, oily liquids extracted or distilled from plants.  They have been used throughout history for their healing and medicinal characteristics.  I have been known to call them the immune system of a plant.  They are the aroma in the word “aromatherapy”.  Only products made with true essential oils can honestly be called aroma-therapeutic. Essential oils, by their very nature, want to disperse into the air and penetrate into the skin to bring their soothing and healing properties to the body.  Each essential oil has unique qualities to produce precise healing effects on the body and mind.  By mixing different essential oils together, powerful synergistic blends may be created to produce specific healing effects.  The essential oils used in Grace’s Green Garden products are listed below.

Angelica Root
Bergamot
Carrot Seed
Frankincense
Geranium
Grapefruit
Jasmine
Lavender
Lemon
Lemongrass
Melaleuca (Tea Tree)
Neroli
Orange
Patchouli
Peppermint
Pine
Rosemary
Sandalwood
Tangerine
Tea Tree (Melaleuca)
Ylang Ylang

Mango Butter, in my opinion, has been underestimated by the skincare industry.  It has been used for centuries by people in the rainforests for moisturizing and protecting the skin.  It helps to soothe, soften, and moisturize the skin and combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  It is a wonderful total body moisturizer. It has natural UV protection properties. Mango Butter also helps reduce degeneration of skin cells, restores elasticity, soothes rashes, and helps heal dry, cracked skin. We use Mango Butter and Shea Butter together in all of our lotions and balms.

Methylsulfonylmethane (MSM) is a naturally occurring sulfur compound that is found in all living things.  It proforms many functions, one of which is to provide the chemical links needed for the body to produce collagen and keratin.  It is sometimes call the “beauty mineral” and helps improve the skins clarity, smoothness, elasticity, and also diminishes the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. This ingredient is so amazing; I think it might be the fountain of youth.  Some studies indicate that wounds heal faster when MSM is applied topically and used in conjunction with vitamin C.  Based on this information, MSM has been used in products to improve skin wellness, suppleness, and to help improve skin that is acne prone.  MSM is used in the Natural Balance Aloe and Herbal Facial Toner and also in our Meadowfoam Moisturizing Serum.

Neem oil, (Azadirachta indica), is reported to remove toxins,
purify blood and prevent damage caused by free radicals in the body.

The medicinal properties of neem exhibit antibacterial,
antipyretic, antimalarial, antitumor, antiulcer, antidiabetic, and
antifertility effects, as well as positive effects on the central nervous and
cardiovascular systems.

The insecticidal qualities of neem oil are well known. The
main active ingredient in neem is azadirachtin. It is responsible for repelling
as well as limiting the pupation and reproductive abilities of many insects.

Source: Snowdrift Farm, Inc –  snowdriftfarm.com

Shea Butter has natural UV protection and moisturizing qualities.  It is rich in naturally occurring nutrients and melts at skin temperature.  It is non-greasy and is easily absorbed by the skin. It helps to soothe, soften, and moisturize the skin and combat the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  It is a wonderful total body moisturizer.  Used on a regular basis, it helps reduce degeneration of skin cells, restores elasticity, soothes rashes, and helps heal dry, cracked skin. We use Shea Butter and Mango Butter together in all of our lotions and balms. Shea Nut oil is also included in the Grace’s Green Garden body wash, Ultra Skin Ease body wash, and Lula Blue Tea Tree and Lavender Dog Shampoo.

Vitamin C is essential for the healing of wounds and also for the production of collagen.  Vitamin C helps your skin fight off the attacks it encounters on a daily basis from free radicals, exposure to everyday pollutants, and damage caused by the sun.  Vitamin C also helps to improve the skin’s tone and clarity, and brightens the complexion.  It may also minimize the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Tamanu Oil, also known as Foraha oil in Africa, is obtained by mechanically crushing the dried nuts of the Tamanu tree. The Tamanu tree is typically found in the Pacific and Asian Tropical regions. The oil is rich and deep green in color, and has an aroma similar to Curry leaf. Tamanu oil has a soothing effect on the skin, and it helps to relieve irritations such as sun burn, inflammation and general rashes. Tamanu oil is also known to help regenerate skin cells and has a hydrating effect on the skin.  Research shows that Tamanu oil is a strong anti-inflammatory, which may make it useful for the treatment eczema and inflammatory skin conditions. The oil has been used for its ability to help heal cuts and wounds while acting as a germicide to help prevent infection.  I do not recommend using Tamanu oil full strength around the eyes as it may cause irritation to the eyes.

Disclaimer: All products statements are made by me, (Grace Vitale), from personal usage of Grace’s Green Garden products and the ingredient used in them.  Our products are not guaranteed to treat, heal, or help any medical conditions.  The claims made on this web site are not guarantees.  Grace’s Green Garden products are not intended as a replacement for professional medical counsel.

Recently my mother was watching the Dr. Oz program.  She very excitedly called me to ask me if I had heard of Tamanu oil.  I had not but her excitement made me curious.  It seemed like something I should check out.  A couple of days later I googled, thank heaven for google, tamanu oil/dr oz. A video clip came up on youtube and the clip was impressive.  I went to some other sources and gathered more information.  The more information I gathered the more impressed I became.  I found a supplier and ordered enough to do some testing with.  I’m telling you, I love this stuff.  It’s practically magic.  The beneficial effect it has on the skin is remarkable.  Here is a link to hear what Dr. Oz has to say about the magic of Tamanu Oil. Dr. Oz on YouTube

The Tamanu oil used in GGG products comes from Madagascar.  It is a new discovery for our part of the world although it has been used for hundreds of years in Polynesia.  Its anti-aging properties are amazing, as are its ability to benefit many skin problems such as acne, psoriasis, eczema, rosacea, rashes, and diabetic sores, to name a few.  It does have an interesting aroma, almost like curry leaf.  Some say it smells like butter pecan ice cream.  I’m sticking with the curry leaf.  I was a little apprehensive at first, not knowing how it would affect my essential oil aromas.  Then I was so pleasantly surprised.  It makes the already exotic Jasmine Breeze smell more like Jasmine Breeze.  It warms up the Lavender and I didn’t notice any change in the Happy Feet aroma at all.  What it does do is make skin soft, comfortable and smooth.   I am using the pure, unaltered, form of Tamanu oil and the pure form is green, not a little green, it is a dark green.  So it also imparts a slight green hue to most of the products I have used it in.

I have made Tamanu oil, in its pure form, available on this web site for those of you who would like to experiment with it yourself.  It may be added to lotions, body wash, hair shampoos or used straight from the bottle.  I use it straight from the bottle on skin irritations, bug bites, dry patches and especially around my cuticles.   It is amazing how it instantly moisturizes and feeds the nails and cuticles.  I will caution you, however, not to use it in its pure form around the eyes.  It must be diluted first.  Because of its natural chemical elements, it can be a bit stingy to the eyes.  At least it was on mine.  Remember, I test everything I make on me first, then on my two legged family members, thanks mom, dad, brothers, and sisters, then on friends.  I never test anything on animals that are not human.

I learned, at an early age, that essential oils possess very unique and special qualities. At 17, I befriended a woman from India who began to educate me about the healing properties of essential oils. Years later, while working with Melaleuca Alternifolia (tea tree) Leaf oil, I discovered that it, dramatically, helped to heal burns and abrasions and also helped fight infection. From a great deal of study, and in the course of sharing information with other aroma therapists and natural chemists, I discovered that essential oils produced a calming effect not only on the body, but also on the mind.

I opened a little shop and yoga studio in Chagrin Falls, Ohio, in 2000.  I had been studying essential oils for about 25 years and was very much aware of the value of essential oils, aroma therapy, and their function in integrative medicine. In my studio I used aroma therapeutic candles made by a friend who is also a talented essential oil expert. The students who practiced yoga in my studio loved the way the studio smelled and also noticed the calming affect the essential oil aromas had on them. I noticed that no matter how frazzled a student might be when they arrived for class, as soon as they stepped into the studio, their tension seemed to drain away. At the urging of my friend who supplied the aromatherapy candles, I started to work on a signature scent for my studio and shop.

Through countless experiments and much meditation, I developed my first essential oil blend, Yogini, which is now called Jasmine Breeze. I first used it in a hand poured soap I made as a gift for my students at Thanksgiving time. They wanted more, and I started to sell it in my yoga shop. The response from my clients was overwhelming. They loved the Yogini aroma and the calming effect it had on their mind and body. They started to press me for a Yogini body lotion. Up until this time I had made only soaps and body scrubs. I had no experience in making a lotion but, I finally relented and went back to the drawing board and continued researching and experimenting.

About a year later, after much searching, I found a high quality lotion base from a lab in New York. I started to experiment with it, adding to the base all the ingredients that I thought I would want in a lotion. After several months, I had created my first body lotion that was vegetarian and vegan friendly. Although the feedback was very positive, I felt there was still work to be done and continued to experiment. I discovered that with the addition of Shea and Mango Butter the product improved tremendously. I had finally made the, almost, perfect vehicle for my essential oil blends. The Truly Namaste Beauty Butter product line was born.

My family, friends, and clients enthusiastically embraced the Yogini Beauty Butter formulation. I then expanded the natural skin care product line to include the essential oil aromatherapy blends of Sun Salutation and Moon Salutation and aroma-therapeutic Lavender.

They say necessity is the mother of invention. I do believe this is true. In 2006 my younger brother was diagnosed with esophageal cancer. The doctors ordered a 7 week course of radiation treatment therapy for him. My brother’s skin had always been very sensitive. I wanted to make the finest, most healing, skin soothing, cream I could for him. I did not care how much it cost. Knowing that even a low dose of radiation on a daily basis may cause skin to burn, I decided to take the water out of the lotion I made and replace it with Aloe Vera juice. Aloe Vera is a known burn remedy. I noticed immediately that the Aloe Vera made the lotion smoother and silkier, and helped the healing ingredients in the lotion to penetrate the skin more quickly.

Replacing the water for Aloe Vera juice was a great start. I also needed to use the right blend of essential oils to help increase and encourage healthy new skin cell generation. I decided to use a blend of essential oils that I had made for my niece to help heal a reoccurring staph infection she had on her legs. Up until this time, this particular essential oil blend was not a part of my skin care line. It was, and still is, very costly to make because it contains 100% pure, uncut Sandalwood essential oil. It had been reserved for family, friends, and special orders only. I decided to call the new formula “Skin Ease” because of the skin easing qualities used in the essential oil blend.

The new essential oil blend was incorporated into a lotion for my brother to try.  He applied the Skin Ease moisturizing lotion three times a day to his neck, face, and chest, once in the morning after radiation treatment, once in the afternoon, and again before bedtime. He said his skin would cool instantly after applying the Skin Ease lotion. His skin held up beautifully through the radiation therapy and the doctors and technicians were impressed.

At my brother’s request, I then made him a balm to use with the lotion.  Ultra Skin Ease ~ Skin Soothing Balm is super concentrated and has a very high percentage of soothing and healing essential oils.  It is a balm, so it is thicker than the Ultra Skin Ease lotion. It coats and protects the skin and works wonderfully in conjunction with the lotion. It is remarkable for easing and soothing the skin from burns caused by radiation treatment.  It is also great for easing sunburn, eczema, rosacea, stretch marks, scars, and many other skin maladies. These, and all of my amazing products, are now marketed under the Grace’s Green Garden label.

The skin is the largest organ of the body. It is alive. The skin breathes, it helps eliminate waste, and also absorbs whatever is put on it. Essential Oils, Aloe Vera, Shea Butter and Mango Butter all do wonderfully amazing things for the skin. I have taken these ingredients, as well as many other skin nourishing ingredients, and created an elegant delivery system to bring them to your skin.

Aloe Vera contains 27 natural vitamins, trace minerals, amino acids and natural enzymes that are essential for life. The stabilization process I use, is referred to as a cold process, to lock in the amazing nutrients that Aloe Vera has to offer mankind. Some other producers of Aloe use processes involving heat that burn off the good beneficial properties that are found in natural Aloe Vera and destroy most of the natural occurring enzymes and radically change the trace minerals and vitamins. Because of the high content of minerals (Iron, Manganese, Copper) found in our Aloe Vera after a few weeks or about a month the color will change into a light amber. This process does not inhibit the performance of our certified organically grown Aloe Vera. You will still achieve an excellent feel, tone, nourished and replenished skin , while enjoying the youthful benefits of the greatest Aloe Vera on the market.