With all the warnings about the toxins in households products, it’s often scary to think about what we’re slathering on our skin on a daily basis. Sometimes the surest way to be safe is by creating our own beauty products. While it’s easy to make an avocado face mask or olive oil hair treatment, what about more complex daily creams? European company Rowenta has created a new consumer product that lets users easily create professional products at home with naturally decadent ingredients.

Using “helical emulsion technology,” the Naturalis allows for perfect preparation of hot and cold creams, guaranteeing perfect texture and quality every time. Start with the emulsifier, a gelling agent and preservative, and add any ingredients of your choice from lavender to argan oil. A recipe book is included for recommended creations. Fun containers allow you to bottle your potions and protect them from going bad. The Naturalis appliance is currently in sale in France for around €200. It’s definitely an investment, likely only for those serious about making and gifting their own cosmetics. In the meantime, we’ll continue experimenting with a double boiler and mason jar.

A slew of startups, from Birchbox to TestTube are allowing ladies to sample new beauty products monthly. You sign up for a subscription (anywhere from $10-$50) and get a surprise box with a selection of miniature or fullsize samples to try out monthly or quarterly. We tried out Birchbox, and were disappointed by the small size of the samples. (Why pay for free samples?) Although most people don’t need more toiletries to fill their beauty kits, it’s a fun service that feels like getting a surprise present in the mail every few weeks.

We just discovered Eco-Emi, based in St. Charles, MO, a company that operates on the same principles, but with green goodies. The growing world of organic products can be daunting in deciphering the good from the bad. Eco-Emi gives users a carefully-curated selection of products to help them discover what’s worth adding to their daily regime. A recent box included nine samples, including eco-friendly bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and fragrance, all from companies with a conscience. At $15 a month, including shipping, the products turned out to be well worth the cost. We think an eco stationery box of the month club would be a fun idea, and it would certainly get us writing more personal letters.