MyChelle Minerals, Natural Makeup

December Body Care Deals
MyChelle Minerals,
Natural Makeup
Call Us Toll Free: 866-362-1143
Toll Free Fax: 866-472-9982
Barry Duke: 917-992-0187
Quick Reference Guide
Alaffia: Letter about Togo visit.
Showcase Alaffia in your store with a
display.
Baudelaire: Design your holiday
promo – 15% off
Mermaid Cosmetics: Lip Pearls
Holiday Gift Idea
MyChelle: Introducing Mineral
MakeUp in a Stick. Sign up by Dec.
20 for January Line Drive
Photo: Susan Mesko
This November marks the eighth
anniversary of MyChelle
Dermaceuticals. I founded the
company in 2000 to create skin care
products that use the highest
quality ingredients, are truly clean and
don’t use harsh chemicals. We’re
grateful that our mission has resonated
with consumers who want the same
thing; we’ve made a name for ourselves by being committed to offer only
pure, therapeutic, eco-friendly skin
care that produces exceptional results.
by Myra Michelle Eby
MyChelle Dermaceuticals has offered a growing collection of men’s and
women’s skin care products that appeal to a devoted following of
customers. We’ve been hearing from our customers in recent years that
a mineral makeup collection would round out our selection of products.
After two-plus years of rigorous research, we’re marking our eighth
birthday with the debut of a brand new collection: MyChelle Minerals™
makeup.
MyChelle Minerals is a mineral makeup that is completely natural and
pure, easy to use and travel with, while offering truly light, but reliable
coverage. Mineral makeup has swept the cosmetics industry in recent
years. Reading the print advertisements and watching the infomercials,
it’s tough to resist the concept. Who wouldn’t want to trade a heavy
liquid foundation for a light, all-natural mineral powder?
But if you look beyond the advertising, you'll find that mineral makeup
products from the big cosmetics companies are falling short in some
critical areas.
Organix South: 10% Line Drive.
Article: Neem as part of a Holistic
Treament for Acne
Parissa: 10% Line Drive
Sounds True: Holiday Gift Ideas
Soverign Silver: First Aid Gel
NEW THIS MONTH
Widu: The Original Wooden
BRISTLE Hair Brush
To your enemy, forgiveness. To an
opponent, tolerance. To a friend,
your heart. To a customer, service.
To all, charity. To every child, a good
example. To yourself, respect.
-- Oren Arnold
Editor: Diane Battistello
Mineral makeup should be a more natural choice than traditional liquid
and powder makeup, but unfortunately, now that it’s mainstream,
natural ingredients are not always present. Ingredients like talc and
bismuth oxychloride are still being used in these mainstream so-called
“natural” mineral makeups. What’s more, the loose pots of powder
can be messy and challenging to use and travel with; not to mention the
inhalation while applying, and waste of product.
MyChelle Minerals are the result of a solutions oriented approach to
provide superior alternatives to existing mineral makeup options.
MyChelle is the first cosmetics company to create a mineral makeup in a
solid stick formula. The 32-product, full color palette collection of
MyChelle Minerals natural makeup debuted with our unique, easy-to-use
stick application—it solves the “mess” problem, eliminates the guess
work involved in how much powder should be on the brush, and enables
a more even coverage. What’s more, our unique applicator withstands
the rigors of everyday travel.
MyChelle Minerals’ application process is completely new to the mineral
makeup revolution. It will change the perception of what mineral makeup
is and make it even more versatile in concept.
MyChelle Minerals are free of petroleum derivatives and formulated
without water, which means we don’t have to use natural or chemical
preservatives. Whereas conventional products choose to
(continued next page: MyChelle)
(Mychelle continued)
add chemical
ingredients to
hit the
standard two
year shelf-life
goal,
MyChelle
meets this
without the use of any chemical
preservatives. We only use natural
ingredients, which are ideal for
those with sensitive skin and acne.
We proudly stand behind all of our
products, and with MyChelle
Minerals, we have a big
commitment to live up to:
MyChelle Minerals are a truly
all natural, non toxic, nondrying product that will offer a
polished, finished look that
resists fading, all packaged in a
uniquely versatile stick
application.
The flagship product leading the
Minerals line is the Cream
Foundation, which provides
sheer matte coverage for a
beautiful, polished, finished look
that is light and fresh. This
foundation brightens complexion,
evens skin tone and diminishes
the appearance of fine lines due
to the light reflecting qualities of
micas and silica. Silica also
controls production of sebum (an
oily substance produced by
sebaceous glands in the skin), so
the skin feels smooth, not oily.
The color range is extensive
covering many skin tones.
Designed to complement the
Cream Foundation, the MyChelle
Minerals Concealer offers
superior coverage that blends
easily to erase dark circles,
blemishes and uneven
pigmentation. The Blush Stick is
offered in six key colors in a
moisturizing stick form that
leaves a rich, natural glow with a
powdery, matte surface finish.
The Eye Shimmer provides
subtle, enhancing color to the
eye area. The crayon-style
applicator allows you to apply a
single color or to mix shades for
your own unique look. Not just
another tinted lip balm, Little
Kisses is a true high shine lip
stick that stays on lips but
contains no petroleum. These
glossy lip colors perform like
classic lip stick, but contain a
healthy food grade base. Little
Kisses have beautiful glide,
luscious lip feel and rich, warm
tones that complement every
skin tone.
MyChelle Minerals Lip Gloss is
a non-petroleum, moisturizing,
plumping lip gloss offered in rich
colors and designed to be worn
alone or layered over Little
Kisses. MyChelle Minerals Lip
Gloss is formulated from a
European peptide complex that
has been clinically proven to
increase the lip’s volume and
decrease furrows around the lips
by 40 percent over the course of
30 days. These glosses use all
natural ingredients with none of
the chemicals or petroleum
adhesives commonly found even
in so-called “natural” lip gloss.
The following are key
ingredients in the MyChelle
Minerals collection:
_ Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil—
antioxidant and skin brightener;
a deeply penetrating light oil,
which gives skin a beautiful
texture and glow, and helps
reduce appearance of wrinkles,
spots, freckles and acne.
_ Silica—helps reduce the
appearance of fine lines and
wrinkles and controls sebum for a
smooth matte finish.
_ Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed
Oil—quickly penetrates the skin;
powerful antioxidant; rich in
flavonoids; inhibits allergic
reactions; protects the skin’s own
collagen, elastin and hyaluronic
acid.
_ Brassica
Campestris/Aleurites Fordii
Oil Copolymer—two vegetable
oils flash heated in a vacuum
to create a copolymer that
gives natural shine and body
without chemicals or petroleum
derived ingredients.
_ Castor Isostearate Beeswax
Succinat—Ecocert ingredient; a
castor oil derived copolymer that
moisturizes and increases wear
time.
_ MAXI- LIP™—lip plumping
peptide clinically proven to increase
lip volume up to 40 percent of what
may have been lost due to aging
and reduce fine lines around lips
over the course of 30 days use.
_ Lauroyl Lysine—a molasses
derived amino acid that promotes
lip health and has been shown to
fight cold sores.
MyChelle Minerals is designed to
be used in combination with
MyChelle’s skin care products as
a system. MyChelle
Dermaceuticals offers a full line
of cleansers, serum treatments,
toners, nourishing creams, sun
protection, intensive treatments,
mineral makeup and a selection
of men’s products. Each product
is formulated with superior
ingredients with clinically correct
molecular structures to ensure
proper absorption and
effectiveness. All MyChelle
formulas are free of artificial
coloring agents, parabens and
fragrances.
MyChelle promotes the idea of
safer natural products for the
natural products industry, while at
the same time, working to educate
the public on the dangers of the
overuse of estrogens in today’s skin
care products.
MyChelle is also the corporate
sponsor of the Hope Foal project
(which rescues the foals of horses
used to create the drug Premarin
®) at the Medicine Horse Program
in Boulder, CO. Visit
www.medicinehorse.org for more
information.
(Continued next page: MyChelle)
(MyChelle continued)
Recent changes to
MyChelle that you
should know about:
All ingredients are
now compliant with
the European Union Cosmetic Directive.
Plan Ahead: January Promo – 15% Line Drive
MyChelle requests, for their planning purposes, that you sign
up in advance. Deadline for January Line Drive promo sign up
is December 29.
The addition of more organic ingredients.
The creation of several unscented
products including a Honeydew Cleanser,
Deep Repair Cream, Pumpkin Renew
Cream and Revitalizing Night Cream.
A great new intense hydrating formula
called Guava Cactus Mask has been
added (this replaces the Blueberry
Antioxidant Mask), as well as Creamy
Pumpkin Cleanser (to replace the
scented Honeydew Cleanser) and White
Cranberry Cleanser (to replace the
Cranberry Cleanser).
The Fruit Enzyme Cleanser now uses
organic pink grapefruit instead of
pineapple.
MyChelle is proud to be the recipient of
several awards through Better Nutrition
and Whole Foods magazines. In the
category of skin care, our MyChelle
creams won the Whole Foods 2008
Natural Choice Award chosen by natural
products retailers. Consumer readers of
Better Nutrition chose MyChelle to
receive a Best of Beauty Award in
multiple categories including: anti-aging
(Perfect C Serum); cleansers (Cranberry
Cleanser); masks and peels (Incredible
Pumpkin Peel); and acne (Clear Skin
Serum).
New Eco-Friendly packaging with made
with post-consumer paper and printed
with all vegetable inks!
New from:
Natural-Immunogenics Sovereign Silver™
A breakthrough topical homeopathic gel with colloidal silver’s
outstanding antibacterial and anti-fungal healing properties.
Reduces pain and skin inflammation.
Does not sting and reduces the heat
and redness of skin irritations and
wounds.
Great for rashes, bug bites, burns,
razor burns, ulcerations, itching,
bruises, acne, eczema, blisters,
cuts and scrapes, redness, stiffness
and pain from minor wounds and
sunburn.
Non-greasy, odorless and completely
transparent.
Promotes healing and fights skin
infections.
No synthetic preservatives.
The active ingredients are metallic silver, argentums metallicum: 10X
HPUS, 20X HPUS and30X HPUS. The inactive ingredients are silver
hydrosol, carbopol and sodium hydroxide.
1oz pump $7.79 (qty 6 – 11),
2oz pump $12.03 (qty 6 – 11)
Ask for other qty discounts.
Book Now Available
Neem as Part of a
Holistic Herbal Acne
Treatment - Trinity Ava,
Organix South Herbalist
My teenage son is starting to
develop acne and has been using harsh cleansers and
treatments that I don't think are very good for his skin. I'd
like to turn him onto natural products for acne. I know about
witch hazel, but what other herbal or botanical ingredients
should I look for in an acne cleanser, toner or other skincare
product?
Skin challenges can occur at any age for teenagers and
adults. Acne can be painful, embarrassing and difficult to
treat with many of the overly harsh acne treatments
available today including many that are more “natural.”
Many acne products strip the skin of oil leaving it “squeaky”
clean and more prone to break-outs. This has often been
my experience with witch hazel extracts. I would try it first
and notice if your son’s skin becomes more red, heated or
dry from it.
From my perspective, it is ideal to incorporate a holistic
approach to address the person and the under-lying causes
for acne. For a holistic and long term strategy, I would
encourage diet and lifestyle changes to help heal this skin
condition from the inside out. Stress for many young adults
is also a key factor to consider when addressing skin
issues. I would suggest consuming nervous system
balancing teas such as Chamomile or Tulsi/Holy basil if
your son tolerates teas. Both of these herbs are ideal for
supporting the nervous system healthy digestion, reducing
inflammation and supporting greater balance in the body.
One of my favorite herbs for topical application to reduce
acne and help heal the skin is Neem (Azadirachta indica).
Neem is a tree native to Southeast Asia that is renowned for
its therapeutic benefits for the skin. The Neem tree is often
called the “village pharmacy,” as Neem has been used for
thousands of years to support the health and wellness of
the human body for a broad array of uses. Neem leaf, bark
and oil have traditional and modern uses to help heal the
skin for issues such as: acne, eczema, psoriasis, fungal and
bacterial infections. Neem is renowned for its cooling,
soothing & astringent actions to support healthy skin.
Cooling- Neem is known for its refrigerant actions, meaning
that it helps to lower body temperature and cool the skin.
This cooling action is very appropriate with acne which is
often described as a red, hot and inflamed condition.
Soothing- Both Neem leaf and Neem oil help to reduce
inflammation when topically applied. Neem is rich in
quercetin (a polyphenolic flavonoid). Quercetin is
recognized for its anti-inflammatory, bactericidal and
antifungal actions which help to soothe the skin. Neem oil is
rich in essential fatty acids that help to protect, moisturize
and balance out the skin tone and texture. Neem oil will also
help to lower any unfriendly bacterial levels on the skin that
may be caused by blemishes. These soothing qualities are
ideal for acne prone skin which tends to be overly oily or
extremely dry, red and irritated.
Astringent- The gently astringent action of Neem helps to
tighten and heal the skin and lessen secretions. This action
helps heal pimples more quickly, close pores, normalize,
balance and promote healthy skin. The idea of using oil on
acne prone skin seems a bit scary at first. I encourage you
to give Neem oil or Neem oil based products an opportunity.
Often times, people with acne find that when they feed the
skin healthy oils on the outside, that this in turn helps to
balance oil production of the skin and leads to less
blemishes. A sustainable source of high quality, organic
Neem based products and pure Neem oil can be found at
Organix South.
A Neem-based skin care protocol:
• Wash with gentle botanical based soap. There are Neem
soaps available that contain up to 20% Neem oil. Or use a
mild creamy based cleanser with a neutral pH that will not
strip the skin and destroy the acid mantle.
• Cool the skin with a Neem and clay mask 2-4 x’s per week
with acne prone skin. Be certain to not allow the clay
treatment to dry all the way - wash off right before it is
completely dry or apply more moisture to the skin so that
the mask can stay on for more cooling and drawing
benefits. Clay treatments can be used on the face, back or
chest, or wherever a blemish has occurred; it is even helpful
with bug bites and stings!
• Use a gentle toner such as apple cider vinegar that is
infused with Neem, or try organic lavender hydrosol. Try
pure witch hazel to see if it is well tolerated. For some acne
prone skin, it is too drying and leaves the skin more irritated
and red.
• Apply a Neem based moisturizer or add a few drops of
pure Neem oil per application to a gentle and natural
moisturizer.
• For back or chest acne, try a Neem Leaf extract combined
with Aloe Gel to soothe and reduce inflammation.
Clay mask congested/acne prone skin:
Use clay (French green or your favorite). You may include
½ tsp of turmeric powder for added skin nourishment and
healing properties.
Per 4 oz glass jar (an old jelly jar works well)
4 TBS French Green Clay
1 TBSP Honey
3 TBSP lavender hydrosol (available through Mountain
Rose herbs), spring water, or aloe vera juice
10 drops of organic lavender Lavandula officinalis essential
oil
10 drops of pure Neem oil
Combine the clay, liquids, lavender and Neem oil and mix
well. It should be about the consistency of tooth paste. Not
to wet that it is dripping and not to dry or it will not spread
evenly on the face, back or wherever the blemish has
occurred.
Apply to clean damp skin; Do Not Allow the clay to fully
dry; continue to spritz hydrosol onto skin or pat the skin with
damp hands to retain dampness or remove as soon as
cracks begin to appear. Allowing the clay to dry too much
for some skin is irritating. Take care!
For the extra big pimple, bump, bite, or sting: Apply a thick
poultice of the clay and allow it to dry or you can leave it on
overnight. This is not advisable for the whole face, but for
“spot” treatment to get rid of the undesirable blemish.
Free Bottle of Day Stress herb, for your
sanity during the holidays! Just ask
when placing your discounted order.
Design your own holiday promo
- 15% off
Platinum Deal = Save 20% when you order $350 in Organix-South Products!
Gold Deal = Save 10% when you order $250 in Organix-South Products!
Silver Deal = Save 5% when you order $150 in Organix-South Products!
Holiday Gift Ideas from Sounds True
Healthy Sleep (CD)
Andrew Weil, M.D. &
Rubin Naiman, Ph.D.
Wake up Refreshed and
Energized with Proven
Practices for Optimum
Sleep
Whls. $7.97
SPR: $15.95
Imagine waking up each
day alert, invigorated,
and at the peak of health—without needing that cup of
coffee to get going. For many, this sounds like a fantasy.
But according to Dr. Andrew Weil and his colleague Dr.
Rubin Naiman, healthy sleep and healthy waking are well
within your grasp, without turning to sleeping drugs. Now
in this 2-CD set, these two mind-body experts present
practical tools to help you enjoy the life-changing health
benefits that optimum sleep provides. On Healthy Sleep
you will learn:
The roots of insomnia, and natural techniques,
practices, and safe supplements to overcome it
The spiritual component of sleep and dreaming—the
missing ingredient to truly rejuvenating sleep
Eight practices from Dr. Naiman to address your
specific sleep concerns—including three sessions to
help you fall asleep
How a healthy sleep cycle can improve your
immune system, mood, sense of well-being—and even
your weight
Good sleep is not just about the number of hours one
spends in bed. It must also reflect the depth and quality of
that sleep. With Healthy Sleep, two trusted medical
innovators bring you their expert guidance for achieving a
critical yet often overlooked building block of any healthy
lifestyle: a good night’s rest.
The Biology of
Belief
Bruce H Lipton,
Ph.D.
3 CD’s,
3 ¼ hours
Whls: $12.48
SRP $ 24.95
The next great
advance in biology will change more than science
textbooks—it will revolutionize the way you live
your life. In the past, we’ve been taught that
living beings are like machines run by
biochemicals and DNA, explains Dr. Bruce H.
Lipton. What we now know is that our entire
biology is shaped by the intelligence of each of
our fifty trillion cells. And the single most
important way to influence them is through the
energy of our beliefs. On The Biology of Belief—an
original author adaptation of Dr. Lipton's
revolutionary book—this world-renowned cellular
biologist explores the mysteries of:
•
The science of epigenetics: why biologists
must look further than DNA to find out what
shapes life—and how that affects you
•
Bridging the gap between quantum
mechanics and biology—the key to knowing how
your cells listen to the energy of your thoughts
•
The chemistry of stress and love—how
your body, mind, and immune system change
with each emotional state
•
Turning the immense power of your
subconscious mind into your most valuable tool
for health and wellbeing, and much more
Since the publication of The Biology of Belief,
Dr. Bruce H. Lipton has been widely embraced
as one of the most accessible and knowledgeable
voices of new biology. Now, join this pioneer of
epigenetics as he takes you on a journey into the
world under the microscope, through the ages of
evolution, and into the miracle that is your own
life.
A Barry Duke Staff Favorite
Everyone Loves A Mermaid!
Lip Pearls are gems from the ocean.
Once your customers try these
shimmery, natural lip polishes they’ll
be hooked!! A favorite of the Barry
Duke staff, because they last on the
lips. They differ from other lip glosses
because made with only pure, natural
elements of the earth and sea.
All natural colors from minerals—
no F, D & C colors
Vitamins C & E combined with
antioxidant- rich Avocado oil protect
& repair
Nutritive plant oils bathe lips in
moisture
Sea Kelp & Aloe soothe, hydrate &
replenish
Contains no petroleum, mineral
oil, or formaldehyde derived
ingredients
Lip Pearls for the Holidays!
A simple and elegant gift that
will be loved!
Sea Coral (one of 6 great colors)
.25 oz. Whls: $8.00, SRP: $16.00.
Free 36 piece display unit
The WIDU Story:
A well-known hair stylist in Milan who
worked with models developed the WIDU®
concept. He was concerned that the
constant washing of hair and heat from the
photographic lights dried the scalp. He
developed the revolutionary idea of the wooden bristle as a way to
stimulate the scalp and reduce hair breakage and history was made.
The brushes are handmade in Italy by adult native artisans that have
perfected their skills over the last thirty years. No child labor is utilized.
Our products are of impeccable old world quality and long lasting value
unlike many of our imitators.
After an extensive study and research the hard white wood of the
hornbeam tree was chosen for the bristles. Horn beam is in the birch
family and has a strong resistance to breakage and maintains its
exceptional smooth qualities.
The WIDU® Wooden Bristle brush is all-natural. Neither animal byproducts nor synthetic materials are used in its manufacture. It is an
animal and cruelty-free product. We have discovered that:
1. Wooden bristles gently massage the scalp, move natural oils through
the hair and reduce hair loss. The brushes aid in scalp massage,
blood circulation, excess sebum absorption and the removal of hair
impurities.
2. Massaging the scalp helps promote hair growth and stimulate
acupressure points.
3. The combination of wood and natural antistatic rubber helps to prevent
flyaway hair.
4. When exposed to a blow dryer, the brush stays cool because wood and
rubber do not conduct heat. When hair is wet the wooden bristles glide
easily through the tangles.
5. The brushes and combs are naturally hypoallergenic. The comb’s
wooden teeth are turned and well finished so they do not tear at the
hair. The brushes and combs are only finished with a protective
coating of either beeswax or purified linseed oil. No toxic lacquers.
6. Only wood suppliers who agree to a policy of sustainable forestation
are utilized. This also applies to the African wood suppliers.
Product Mix: Wooden Bristles Brushes, Mixed Bristle Brushes, Elite
Collection, Boar Bristle Brushes, Baby & Children's Brushes, Combs,
Massage/Bath & Nail Brush, and Replacement Bristles & Heads
Above: Colored Purse Wooden Bristle Brushes
Whls:$12.50, SRP 25.00
Each box comes with a packet of replacement bristles.
A prepack of 12 with a black display base is $150.
Widu Best Sellers List
Product Description Widu
Item #
Large oval ash wood wooden bristle brush
1520
Rectangular brush w/ extra long BAMBOO bristles
1650
Small oval ash wood wooden bristle brush
1720
Wide tooth comb w/ handle
2040
Color Dyed Assorted Purse Brushes
1320
Lg. ash wood brsh w/ removable wooden bristle head
1120
Hair Pick
2020
Extra large pneumatic rectangular paddle with
extra long wooden bristles
1021
Travel ash wood brush w/ removable wooden bristle head 1420
Small comb w/ wide teeth
2030
Wooden bristle brush with Silver Baby Logo
7180
Dresser comb w/ wide teeth
2060
Small comb w/ narrow teeth
2031
Lg. pneumatic rectangular paddle brush w/
black natural rubber
1020
Large oval Olivewood wooden bristle
1525
UPC
713465165039
713465165039
713465172037
713465204035
713465013200
713465112033
713465020208
SRP Whs
$50.00 $25.00
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$27.50 $13.75
$21.00 $10.50
$25.00 $12.50
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$13.00 $ 6.50
713465010216
713465142030
713465020307
713465071804
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$50.00 $25.00
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$16.00 $ 8.00
$27.50 $13.75
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$20.00 $10.00
713465010209
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$40.00 $20.00
$85.00 $44.50
Opening orders: 15% off, Shipping Terms: Free Freight on orders of $150.00
Widu wooden "bamboo" bristle hair brushes: Ash wood rectangular
brush with extra long "Bamboo" wooden bristles. Excellent for thick or
long curly hair. Whls: $25.00, SRP $50.00
Natural Bristle Baby Brush: The softest natural
bristle hand set in ash wood makes this a must for
all babies. No toxic chemicals or lacquers usedonly finished with purified linseed oil. Brush makes
a beautifully packaged gift item. Whls: $13.75,
SRP: $27.50
10% off
Wooden Bristle & Bamboo
Replacement Bristles
Line Drive
Visit: www.widu.com
bicycles, we met with past and future recipients of
bicycles. The chief of Kinizao, one village that
received bicycles from our previous shipment,
remarked that teenage pregnancy is down in his
village since girls were given bicycles. Students, too,
read letters of appreciation for the bicycles,
explaining how the bikes have helped them to
continue and excel in school.
Friends of Alaffia,
As always, I would like to begin by thanking all of
you that have either directly or indirectly supported
us and make our projects possible. It is clear that
without your support, our commitment to bettering
lives in Togo would not be possible. My main
intentions for this letter are to thank all of you for
your support and to take the opportunity to tell you
about my most recent trip to Togo and Ghana
This was a deeply emotionally challenging trip,
primarily due to the state of human condition and a
testing of my commitment. Two weeks before I left
for Togo on September 3, 2008, Togo was hit with
major monsoon rains. The flooding that followed
displaced more than 20,000 families, destroyed
countless fields, and washed out a large bridge on
the main north-south road – cutting off supplies and
fuel to Togo and countries to the north. Escalating
fuel and food costs had already put a strain on local
economies, and these floods have made it even
more difficult for families to feed themselves. With
food a primary concern, families are not able to
even think about the expense of sending their
children to school. Before the huge increases in fuel
and food prices, school was already a huge expense
for the majority of Togolese families. Now, it has
become even more difficult for them.
Seeing the devastation in Togo caused by a
combination of natural and economic disasters has
only strengthened my resolve to improve conditions
in my communities. The recent global economic
crisis has only increased my commitment to
continuing our community empowerment projects,
since the impact is greatest on the worlds poorest.
I scheduled my visit to Togo in September to
coincide with the arrival of the three containers of
bicycles that we shipped in July. However, upon my
arrival, the shipping company informed me that the
containers had been delayed. They finally arrived
after I had already returned to the US. This
changed the focus of the trip to our education and
health projects. With the help of the cooperative
members, we built and donated table-benches to
three extremely impoverished schools, donated
school supplies to over 100 families in flood-affected
areas, and visited the 40 women who are recipients
of this year’s Fousena Fund for prenatal care. We
also decided to sponsor a teacher for one village
who had come together to build a school, but could
not afford the salary for a teacher. As part of our
follow-up and to prepare for the arrival of this year’s
One great positive of this trip to Togo was to see
how the Alaffia Shea butter cooperative has
empowered its members and their communities.
Even in this time of economic difficulty, the
cooperative members are able to feed their families,
pay for school, and continue saving in their
microcredit program. We were honored with a
ceremony put on by over 15 villages – where
cooperative members, village chiefs and community
members expressed their thanks with dances and
speeches. We are continually receiving requests to
set up cooperatives in other areas of Togo, and met
with various organizations producing handicrafts,
coffee, and other indigenous goods. We hope to
incorporate some of these into Alaffia in the near
future.
These community projects continue only with the
financial support of Alaffia customers and retailers
who purchase Alaffia products. With each purchase,
you directly support the salaries and empowerment
of the members of our cooperative as well as our
community projects. Some of you have also
donated directly for special projects, especially for
our donations to families affected by the September
floods.
Thank you very kindly for these donations and your
continued support of our products. I plan to return
to Togo within the next six months for the
distribution of the bicycles, and I will bring you
more updates then. In addition, in December we
will be distributing a newsletter giving project
reports and feedback in detail.
Peace,
Olowo-n'djo Tchala
Alaffia -- Sustainable Skin Care
Alaffia coop meeting in Togo
Alaffia Display Information:
Alaffia offers several different product display options for our retail
accounts. These displays are hand made and the cost of the
displays listed in the chart below is the cost Alaffia pays the
carpenter to make the display.
D107
Custom Lip Balm Display Box,
8.5"x3.5"x3.5" (holds 24 tubes)
187132001072
9.50
D109
Eco-Bulk Soap Display w/Cutter,
20"x14"x54" (holds up to 15 soap logs)
187132001096
365.00
D110
Custom Bulk Soap Cutter, 18"x4.25"x3"
187132001102
20.00
D112
Eco-Wood Floor Display, 20.5" x 14" x
63"
187132001113
350.00
187132001133
80.00
187132001140
350.00
Donated School Desks - Togo
D113
D114
Grass Basket Display, 18" x 18" x 54"
(Holds 8 baskets)
Eco-Bulk Soap Combo Display
20"x14"x54" (holds 10 soaps, 4 lotions,
3 creams)
The displays are usually made to order so please be know, that
display orders can take up to 10 days to be filled. Alaffia tries to keep
lip balm and basket displays always in stock however they are in
very high demand and often back ordered. Custom displays are
also available.
Lip Balm Displays: First time lip balm orders will automatically
include a lip balm display box at no charge (up to 3 lip balm
displays free). Additional lip balm displays will be invoiced at $9.50
per display.
Donated School Desks - Togo
Grass Basket Displays: First time basket orders of 8 or more
baskets can receive a grass basket display for free. This display will
not be automatically included and must be indicated on the order.
All free displays are considered on-loan to the store and must be
returned to Alaffia if the store no longer needs or wants the display.
Alaffia will provide a call tag to retrieve displays that are no longer
needed. Stores that do not return a loaned display will be invoiced
for the full cost of the display.
Alaffia Coop in Rain Storm