I tout my organic skincare as much as the next, but somehow the idea of growing my own bath & body apothecary appeals to both that inner purist and the little mad scientist, not to mention my oft frugal side. Skincare companies will charge exorbitant amounts for their proprietary concoctions of cure-all creams, but sometimes going straight for the source and tapping into the potency of a pure plant’s benefits (that you’ve cultivated and harvested yourself!) has advantages that go far beyond the fruits of mass production. These three plants will get you started, and who knows the brilliance that will gleam forth.

Skin care treatments in the store have two things going against them. They're expensive and full of mystery ingredients. If you're looking for a natural, inexpensive way to get your body more bikini-ready, check out this healthy, DIY anti-cellulite tincture recipe, complete with treatment instructions!

Anti-Cellulite Tincture

1 tablespoon Apple Cider Vinegar
1 teaspoon Evening Primrose Oil
2 teaspoons (brewed) Coffee
1 bag of each of the following teas, Rooibos, White Tea, Green Tea, Black tea
2 tablespoons Rosemary, parsley and any seaweed.

I don't go to nail spas anymore. I haven't been in one for about four or five years. When I tell my friends this, they are shocked and ask me why. My answer: nail spas are toxic. To find out if a nail spa is toxic, all you have to do is walk in, smell the air, and take a look around. If the air smells like chemicals and you see manicurists wearing masks, you'll know the products they use are toxic. It's not rocket science.

Santa Monica hair stylist takes us back to our roots.

Santa Monica hairstylist Frederic States embraced the organic movement years ahead of the curve. States incorporated the organic movement into his work as part of an overall organic philosophy which extols the many benefits of a whole health and beauty philosophy. This philosophy is all about keeping everything that comes into contact with you and your body as pure and natural as possible, not only in terms of what one puts into one’s body but also what products one puts on one’s body and the hair.

States has advised his clients to go with naturally organic products for their hair his entire career and in fact he uses only non-toxic plant based products on his clientele. States’ respect for natural products translates into his philosophy of a woman’s beauty. “When a client comes to me with a Pamela Anderson photo and says this is how they want me to do their hair, I talk to them about them. I show them their eye color, I show them their skin color, I put color swatches up against their skin.” States said, “I sort of talk them out of that and into what I think will be a much better result for them.”

Owner, Green Bliss Eco Spa

Did you know the average woman who wears lipstick on a regular basis will end up swallowing about 10 pounds of petroleum by-product (in the form of common lipstick ingredients mineral oil and petroleum jelly) during her lifetime?

That’s because the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not regulate what goes into our beauty products.  So it’s up to you, as an informed consumer, to read the labels on EVERY skin care and cosmetic product that you purchase – just as you do with food labels.

Summer is here, which means you'll be baring more skin than usual. So, how do you make sure your skin is radiant and glowing? This article presents some basic organic skin care solutions.

Why make your own organic skin-care products when you can easily purchase them at a beauty boutique or whole foods store?

Some organic consumers choose the do-it-yourself approach to save money, but many beauty product "junkies" enjoy great satisfaction from the creative experience, says Donna Maria Coles Johnson, author of "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions."

"The materials are readily accessible, whereas 10 years ago they were not," she tells OrganicAuthority.com. "It's fun. Families can do it together. Moms can do it with their daughters. You can make fabulous things with stuff that's already in your pantry -- you just don't know it yet! A lot of times, no special shopping is required."

Donna Maria Coles Johnson has always been attracted to great-smelling beauty products. When she purchased her first green apple-scented facial mask as a preteen, "I closed my eyes and fancied myself a world-famous model with a flawless complexion and perfectly conditioned hair," she notes in her book, "Making Aromatherapy Creams & Lotions."

Donna Maria practiced telecommunications law for major corporations, but left the rat race to become an aromatherapist and create natural, handmade beauty treatments.

"I was bored and frustrated with my lack of any creative outlet to speak of in my career," she tells OrganicAuthority.com. "What it ultimately turned into was a desire to set up the kind of lifestyle that I wanted when I had a family."

Be honest: Whether you're male or female, your feet can sometimes get a bit skanky - and it's no wonder. According to the American Podiatric Medical Association, an average day of routine walking places several hundred tons of pressure (no exaggeration!) on your tired tootsies. If you're a power walker, hiker or runner, you subject your feet to even greater friction and pressure.

Spa pedicures are a wonderful luxury, but treatments are pricey for high-maintenance feet. Why not whip up some do-it-yourself recipes for organic beauty treatments? They're fast, simple, ideal for home use and budget-friendly.

Admit it: You're a beauty product junkie. Your eyes light up every time you spot a new organic soap, cleanser, body wash, lotion, body scrub or bath salts in a magazine advertisement or in-store product display.

But as we all know, bath and beauty products can put a crimp in your budget-especially if you like to share your latest finds with friends and relatives when gift-giving time rolls around. (Check out the Lemon-Brown Sugar Body Scrub below.)

Here are some great spa "recipes" for creating do-it-yourself organic beauty treatments. They're fast, simple and, best of all, easy on the pocketbook. We recommend using certified organic ingredients in all recipes to minimize your risk of exposure to pesticides, chemicals, toxins and preservatives. Remember: What you put on your skin will be absorbed by your body, so why take chances?