Happy New Year!!

Greetings Ayurved Heads!

I hope your holidays were enjoyable and relaxing! Its a new year and new things are happening at AyurNatural Beauty.

If you've been following the store's Facebook page, then you already know the store is being stocked with new ayurvedic herbs. Many were devastated by the loss of Hesh powders, but as explained in a previous newsletter, given the uncertainty surrounding Hesh and the recall in Canada, it was best to discontinue selling Hesh herbs. Many waited patiently for the arrival of these new herbs and the wait is now over! You can take a sneak peak at all of AyurNatural Beauty's herbs on the site.

As a bonus, long lost Karishma Herbal Henna has returned to stock! Its available NOW!


In this New Year, AyurNatural Beauty will continue to stock your favorite ayurvedic herbs as well as stock new products and product lines throughout the year. While there are products that we already have planned to include into our offerings, ANB remains open to product suggestions, so never hesitate to let me know!

Shipping Cost Increases - Now for a little bad news... as you know, with a new year, there are usually price increases made by shipping carriers to cover their increased costs. This was the case for 2011 and went into effect on Jan 3 and 4th for both USPS and UPS. What this means is that at checkout, you will see the price increases reflected in shipping costs. The quotes are still real-time direct quotes from the carrier as AyurNatural Beauty is not in the business to make money on shipping costs.

Shipping, Returns, and Cancellations Policy - Please note that our policies for shipping, returns, and cancellations have changed. This change took place in November before Thanksgiving holiday. Our former order processing times was 1-3 business days to ship an order. During the holidays, it was best to increase that time to 1-5 business days as order influx increased. At this time, 1-5 business days for shipping will remain in effect until noted otherwise. Please plan accordingly and if an order is needed by a certain date, there are priority and express shipping options available at checkout. Additionally, ANB continues to stress that we cannot be responsible for carrier delays, lost/stolen packages, or when incorrect addresses are provided cause packages to be delayed or returned. Our complete store shipping policy can be reviewed here. Lastly, if you have questions or concerns, feel free to send an inquiry.

Well, I think that's all for now...... oh wait.... that's right... I mentioned something about a sale for the New Year.... stay tuned this week of Jan 10th. If you aren't a Facebook follower or subscribed to the newsletter, you should do one or both now!

Signing off for now...
 




~ Ayurlista

October Facebook Giveaways!

October is my favorite month of the year! Every Tuesday and Friday of this month, I will give away prizes to Facebook fans ONLY! Rules to win and prizes will vary per day of contest.

There will be a SPECIAL giveaway on 10/10/10 where 2 Facebook fans will win!

For any of the giveaways, you MUST be a Fan to win, so 'Like' AyurNatural Beauty on Facebook NOW and suggest us to your FB friends!

Today's giveaway has already started, but there's still a chance to win!

Been So Loooongg....

I've received a few messages inquiring if I could update the blog with more information, updates, recipes, product info, my own regime, etc.

Let me first apologize. From February until now, AyurNatural Beauty has experienced a lot in terms of growth, as well as headaches. My first priority is to see to customers' satisfaction and that means getting orders out in a timely manner and doing what's necessary to keep this store running efficiently. But it seems that everyone from suppliers to postal carriers to my own host company would like to keep that from happening. I also went on a mini frenzy of store updating and expansion that's still not done. I'm testing out new products as I type this. Blog posting became secondary and I found it was easier to make quick posts on Facebook and/or Twitter than to write blogs regularly. I'd squeeze some info into a newsletter, but the blog has been dormant.

Don't get me wrong. There's much I want to share. Some things that I specifically want to address as well. Anyone who asked a question via email or private message on a forum receives an answer, its just this blog that had been neglected.

To be be fair, this did start with the blog not working for a short period of time. Some say they have not been able to post comments and I wasn't able to properly make posts without a good formatting... but still... let's start again, shall we?

I'll touch upon some of the things that others have already requested first, but if there's anything that you would like to see specifically, let me know!

... Aaaaand The Winner For Week #3 of the Social Giveaway Is ...

... Tene Woods!!

Tene is a fan on our AyurNatural Beauty Facebook page . Her name was chosen out of a random selection of all subscribers, fans, and followers of AyurNatural Beauty. Her prize is a mini bundle of 1 box of Hesh Amla and 1 box of Hesh Brahmi. Congratulations to our Week #3 winner!

Winning is easy. Just become a blog subscriber, Facebook Fan, or Twitter Follower to be entered into the drawing. Drawing is every Friday when the winner will be announced... (I know I was late this week, and I do apologize)

I'm not quite sure what will be the prize for next week, but I have a few thoughts, so stay tuned!

It's the weekend! Enjoy yourselves!

AyurNatural Beauty Social Giveaway Week #3

Hey Everyone!

I hope you all had a great weekend. I was down Friday not feeling well at all, but felt better by Saturday and took some time on Sunday to relax.

Last week, I was able to get in an ayurvedic treatment for my hair and this time around I went back to basics with an amla/brahmi combo. For those interested, here was my mixture.

75g of amla
75g of brahmi
Hot, hot, hot spring water (enough to make a cake frosting consistency)
1 capful of extra virgin olive oil

I mixed the amla and brahmi together with the hot water. I add water, mix, and add water until I get the consistency that I am looking for - very similar to chocolate pudding or cake frosting. Once that is done, I add the evoo last and mix in again. You should have very little lumps, if any, as soon as you are done stirring well.

I wore my hair in braids until Saturday when I took my hair down. Seeing my full fluffy hair made me decide to do a bundle giveaway this week.

So, Week #3's prize:  

 (1) 100g box of Hesh Amla Powder and (1) 100g box of Hesh Brahmi Powder

You all should know the rules by now... Good Luck!

... Aaaaand The Winner For Week #2 of the Social Giveaway Is ...

... Bella Luna!!

Bella Luna is a subscriber to our AyurNatural Beauty Talk blog. She was chosen out of a random selection of all subscribers, fans, and followers of AyurNatural Beauty. Her prize is a 150g pack of Karishma Herbal Henna. Congratulations to our Week #2 winner!

Winning is easy. Just become a blog subscriber, Facebook Fan, or Twitter Follower to be entered into the drawing. Drawing is every Friday when the winner will be announced.


Next week, I'm giving away a mini bundle of a personal favorite of mine....

Have a great weekend... stay warm, safe, and healthy!

AyurNatural Beauty Social Giveaway Week #2

I'm a little late posting today, but I wanted to announce the prize for week #2 of the Social Giveaway....

One 150g pack of Karishma Herbal Henna is up for grabs this week! A store favorite, Karishma Herbal Henna is a blend of Rajasthani henna and additional herbs such as amla, shikakai, aritha, bhringraj, and more to provide a combination of both natural hair color and conditioning for your hair.

Winner announced Friday.... good luck!

... Aaaaand The Winner For Week #1 of the Social Giveaway Is ...

... Cheris Courtney!!



Cheris is a Facebook Fan of the store. She was chosen out of a random selection of all subscribers, fans, and followers of AyurNatural Beauty. Her prize is one bottle of Dabur Vatika Coconut Hair Oil 150ml. Congratulations to the first winner of AyurNatural Beauty's Social Giveaway!

Winning is easy. Just become a blog subscriber, Facebook Fan, or Twitter Follower to be entered into the drawing. Drawing is every Friday when the winner will be announced.

Next week, the prize will be.... well, I'll wait until Monday to tell everyone!

Have a great weekend everyone... and remember, the 15% Off Storewide Sale is still going on through Monday, Feb. 15th! Apply coupon code: ILOVE15OFF at checkout.

A Note On Shipping Delays

I have received a few inquiries with concern about potential shipping delays from AyurNatural Beauty due to the recent inclement weather that devastated the East Coast recently.


I wanted to let everyone know that being located in Chicago, IL, although we were hit pretty hard on Tuesday, we were spared the worst of the snow. Today, mail has been running back to normal as far as I can tell. Packages are still leaving my location.


However, I cannot say if there are any delays with USPS or UPS in transit due to a backup at other post offices/facilities in other cities. It will definitely be best to contact the carrier to be certain of delivery status.


I do hope that everyone affected by this, whether out east or elsewhere, is staying safe and warm during this time.

AyurNatural Beauty Social Giveaway Week #1

Hello Friends, Fans, and Followers!

For this week's giveaway, the prize will be 1 bottle of Dabur Vatika Coconut Hair Oil 150ml!

Vatika is the Hindu word for garden and in Dabur's Vatika Coconut Hair Oil you will find a garden of herbs such as amla, neem, henna, brahmi, and more! Coconut oil is known for is deep penetration into the hair shaft providing needed nourishment. With the addition of these ayurvedic herbs, Vatika Coconut Hair Oil can aid in obtaining healthier hair. For anyone whose hair loves coconut oil, this product is not one to miss.

Although the directions state to use this oil regularly on your hair and scalp, I personally use this Vatika oil as a pre-poo prior to shampooing my hair. My hair has an on/off affair with coconut oil which is a shame, because this oil smells so rich and good!

Ok, so the winner will be announced on Friday. New prize for next week. Remember, you don't have to do anything other than just simply be a blog subscriber, Twitter follower, or Facebook Fan!

Good luck!

February Hearts Sale & Exclusive Weekly Giveaway!

Hey Everyone!

Hope you all had a great weekend relaxing, hanging out, or both. Were any of you able to get in an ayurvedic treatment? Me? Nothing for my hair, but I did mix a quick paste of amla and rose petal powders with warm water for a face mask. 20 Mins later, my face felt great! I followed with a little rose water and got right into the rest of the day. My hair is jealous of my skin now.. lol.. Its very simple to make: 1 tablespoon of amla, 1 tablespoon of rose petal powder, enough warm water (or rose water) to make a thick paste. Use any excess on your neck, avoid the sensitive eye area.


Ok, onto the point for this entry... I'm excited for a couple of reasons:

1) If you received the email flyer this past Friday, then you saw that there is a sale starting Monday through Feb. 15th! 15% Off Storewide, with a minimum $10 purchase PLUS free shipping when you order $60 or more (US addresses only)! Coupon code is ILOVE15OFF Only at www.AyurNaturalBeauty.com. While supplies last.

2) Also, in the newsletter, an EXCLUSIVE SOCIAL GIVEAWAY was announced! Strictly for our blog subscribers, Twitter followers, and Facebook fans! I will be giving away a different item (or items) each and every week through April 2nd to one lucky winner across the sites! Think that's too much? Well, if you are subscribed to all 3, that's 3 entries! Two for two, and of course, one for one. One winner per week. To be fair, you can only win once during the entire promotion. Winners announced every Friday. I'll announce this week's prize tomorrow.

So, yes, I'm excited... I hope you all are too!

New Products and New Look!

Can you believe it? I'm making a second post this month! Seriously, I am definitely working on being better about blog posts. Once a week is the new goal... I'll get there!

Ok, enough jokes. I know you're probably wondering what are those products over there to the left. Some may be familiar, but maybe not all. You're looking at the latest offerings at AyurNatural Beauty.



Emami Malai Kesar Cold Cream will be the replacement to the Emami Oil of Almond Cold Cream that we originally carried. Malai is the south Asian term for clotted cream that is made from cow's milk. Kesar is the same as saffron. Saffron is a commonly used herb in India in skin care recipes to help nourish the skin. With the addition of Aloe, and other herbs, Malai Kesar Cold Cream is ready to help fight the stress on skin caused by the winter elements. Check out Emami Malai Kesar Cold Cream today!


Jamila Henna Summer Crop 2009. The latest and freshest and just recently arrived direct from Pakistan and, as you can see from the pic, just opened and unpacked! This popular henna is the Superior Quality, super sifted henna with date stamps at the bottom of the box. The super sift will make mixing and rinsing from hair an easier step. Suitable for both hair and body art, this grade of henna yields beautiful color and dark stains. Jamila henna will be available at a low everyday price.  Jamila Henna


  

Ramtirth Brahmi Oil. This herbal oil starts with coconut oil infused with 22 additional herbs to produce a product meant to help stop hair fall, stimulate hair growth and even find use as a massage oil! Best of all, this oil is mineral oil free - perfect for those who prefer to avoid oil containing mineral oil. Available in 200ml bottles. You'll find Ramtirth Brahmi Oil on our eCrater site and, of course, at AyurNatural Beauty 

Reshma Henna is 100% pure henna, all natural with no chemicals or additives.  Reshma Henna is used as a natural hair conditioner, to keep hair soft and silky, to add beautiful color to dark hair, removes dandruff from scalp, strengthen hair to help stop hair fall, help hair growth, and as a dye on palms and feet. Packaged in 200g size, you'll find Reshma Henna today on both AyurNatural Beauty and our eCrater site.

You may have already clicked to check out the products and noticed something different. We recently switched hosting companies and put on a new look. I'll talk more about the story behind the move in an upcoming blog. For now, just know that discounts and customer logins are still the same.... with one small change... no more need for a code to receive free shipping in the US! Spend $60 and it will apply automatically! Yaaaaayyy!

Talk to you all soon....

Happy 2010!

Hey Everyone,


Let me first start by sending a warm thank you to everyone who helped make the Holiday Sale a big success! Many were new customers who had never ordered with us before, so word of mouth is getting around... again, many thanks!... Over this past season, I hope everyone had a safe and enjoyable times with loved ones and took time to reflect on the blessings in their life no matter how small, taking heart and comfort in them.


With 2010 in front of us, I wanted to share just a few immediate happenings at AyurNatural Beauty.

Adding UPS shipping options

With USPS steadily raising their rates, the latest taking effect on Jan. 4th, I'm adding UPS as a shipping option for buyers who want to order more stock and not get charged so much for it. UPS should be ready to go within the coming week. FedEx may be following shortly after.

More Products

I thank those who have sent emails inquiring and suggesting products to carry. I've also been on the lookout for certain items that will be of benefit as well. So throughout the next few months you will see more products added to our store offerings. Finally, Ramtirth Brahmi Oil will be available next week. I am also serious about growing the herbal supplement section of the store. There will definitely be an increase seen in that part of the store as well.


There are some additional happenings in the works here at AyurNatural Beauty that will get revealed as the year moves forward, so stay tuned!


Again, I can't express enough thanks to those who have supported us these past few months of operation. We will strive to continue to do our best and provide excellent customer service.
 

Holiday Sale....

Despite having missed the traditional Black Friday due to previous commitments, I wanted to still have a holiday sale since there is still time in the season to get some goodies for yourself or loved ones for lower than our already low everyday prices!

So, better late than never... this Friday (12/11) and Saturday (12/12) is our Holiday Storewide Sale!


Spend $10 or more - 15% off with code GIFTS15
Spend $60 or more - 20% off with code GIFTS20
Spend $100 or more - 25% off with code GIFTS25

Please note: This sale will only be found on our www.ayurnaturalbeauty.com site. Only one coupon code per customer. Our regular daily specials will be suspended during this sale. See our site for more details!

Don't forget to spread the word!

Vacation Time

Vacation - I'm going to be out of town for Thanksgiving visiting family. I have one of those families that are spread out from one another and this year its been decided by the family elders that we have to come together during that time.

Therefore, although the store will be open, any orders that come in between Monday, 11/23 and Monday, 11/30 will not be processed until Tuesday, 12/01.

Please also be aware that only ayurnaturalbeauty.com will take orders during the vacation period. The ecrater site will be closed during the vacation time.

More info on a holiday sale will soon follow....

Free Shipping and Discount Codes - Updates

Hey Everyone, I know its been a while, but I had to make a post to clear a little confusion.

Recently, there were posts made regarding free shipping and discount codes working in conjunction with one another. That was accurate at the time given that was the way the system was supposed to work. Unfortunately, I quickly discovered that the automatic free shipping was implemented before discounts were applied not after. So free shipping was taking place at a lower value than it should have. Definitely too much.

Thus, I have implemented a code specifically for free shipping over $60: FREESHIP

This code will give free USPS Priority Shipping for US customers who's total is $60 or more spent when utilized. No other discount codes will be able to work with this code. Only one coupon code will work with an order.

I apologize for any confusion that may have been caused. Feel free to contact me, if there's any questions.

www.AyurNaturalBeauty.com - New Site!

Working on your own site can be fun and frustrating, even for a techie lover like me. Trust, even when you have help, getting everything together is never smooth and never as fast as you would like!

Well, I'm happy to report that our new site at www.AyurNaturalBeauty.com is open and ready to take orders!

I'm still "clearing out some dust" and "sprucing up the place" but come on in and take a look around.

Our beloved eCrater store will still remain open for the forseeable future, so you will need to use the .ecrater.com extension to get there. Otherwise, the new AyurNatural Beauty is the official site.

I will post shortly on some of the additional products that are coming soon!

Thanks again and as always, your business is appreciated!

Bless,

AyurNatural Beauty Store Giveaway.... Did You Say Giveaway???

That's right!

As mentioned from the initial interview...

AyurNatural Beauty is sponsoring a $20 Store Giveaway of products on Kinky Rhonnie's Spot... RIGHT NOW!

$20 worth of items in the store of YOUR CHOICE for absolutely FREE!

A Nice Treat!

Additional info and rules found here at Kinky Rhonnie's Spot!

Deadline to enter is Wednesday, Sept. 16, 2009 at midnight.

HURRY!!

Karishma and Godrej Henna - One More Day

I've decided to extend the sale on the Karishma Herbal Henna and Godrej Nupur Henna one more day. So you will have a chance to still take advantage of getting extra of your favorites for FREE!

Again...

Karishma Herbal Henna - Buy 3, Get 1 Free

Godrej Nupur Henna - Buy 4, Get 1 More

Today 9/14/09 will be the FINAL DAY for this sale!

Store Specials -- This Weekend Only

This Weekend ONLY (Friday 9/11/09 - Sunday 9/13/09

Karishma Herbal Henna (Buy 3, Get 1 Free)

Godrej Nupur Henna (Buy 4, Get 1 More)

================================
Don't forget our ongoing sale....

Cassia 100g -- $5.50

Indigo 100g -- $5.25

Rajasthani Henna 100g -- $5.00


Through the rest of this month while supplies last!

================================
Daily and Ongoing!!

Remember -- Free Shipping for a US order of $60 or more throughout the entire store!!!*

Don't Miss Out!!!!


* Shipping costs will be refunded back to you through your method of payment *