J.R. Watkins Cares About You

There's a new (well, since 1868) natural apothecary in town

By ISABELLE DAVIS

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As a devoted Burt's Bees user, I have been wary of venturing into the uncharted territory of any other natural apothecary (Dr. Bronner's hardly counts, since you can use that stuff to clean your body, hair, laundry, car and toilet). I have been using Burt's famous beeswax lip balm since my teens, and even though I'm a girl who loves new products, I apply the "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" mentality to beauty. Until now.

Since 1868, J.R. Watkins Natural Apothecary has been making environment- and health-conscious products from renewable resources while avoiding chemicals, parabens and animal by-products. Their purity philosophy has expanded to include full home and beauty lines, and the Winona, Minn.-based company follows strict recycling and biodegradable packaging programs while providing one of the largest outlets for employment in the small Mississippi River town. Also, their stuff smells fucking incredible.

Their Peppermint Rejuvenating Foot Cream made my heels as soft as they were the day I was born, and the Aloe and Green Tea Body Cream is like a wonderfully whipped soufflé for the skin. There are four standard scents that parlay themselves into cuticle salves, body oils, lotions and hand creams: lavender, lemon, mango and aloe & green tea.

But J.R. Watkins doesn't stop at the body: Their Natural Home Care line includes bathroom cleaners (for tub and toilet), lemon laundry detergent, furniture polish, room sprays and (my favorite) the Lemon All-Purpose Cleaner, which cleans up the same grit your Clorox Wipes would, except with a fresh and non-nauseating smell.

And, while I am loath to admit this, Watkins' Natural Beeswax Lip Balm is in my purse right now, waiting to be applied. Call me a post-Burt convert.

[Available at Target, Shaw's and WatkinsOnline.com. jrwatkins.com]