Our Blog

A Fresh New Look for Urban Essence Salon & Spa

2026-06-29T19:50:00-05:00

For more than two decades, Urban Essence Salon & Spa has been dedicated to creating handcrafted luxury bath and body products that nourish the skin, encourage self-care and uplift the spirit. As our business continues to grow, we believe our brand should evolve as well.

In 2014, we introduced the logo that many of our customers have come to recognize and love. It represented who we were at that time—a small but passionate company focused on quality, craftsmanship, and creating products made with care. Over the years, that logo has traveled with us through farmers markets, craft shows, wholesale partnerships, private label projects, and countless customer relationships.

As we looked toward to the future, it was time for a refresh.

About Our Refresh

Our mission remains the same, but our brand has grown. It's time for a new logo that reflects the sophistication, elegance, and the premium quality that Urban Essence Salon & Spa has become known for. The new design offers a cleaner, more modern appearance while maintaining the warmth and luxury that are at the heart of our company.

The updated logo features:

A refined and elegant monogram design

Softer, more contemporary typography

Natural elements that symbolize wellness, growth, and self-care

A clean, upscale aesthetic that better represents our handcrafted luxury product line

Honoring Our Past While Embracing the Future

A logo is more than just a graphic—it tells a story. Our original logo served us well for over a decade and represents an important chapter in our journey.

Our new logo is about presenting who we have become.

The values that inspired Urban Essence Salon & Spa in 2003 remain unchanged:

Handcrafted quality

Affordable luxury

Exceptional customer service

A commitment to holistic self-care and wellness

What This Means for Our Customers

Over the coming months, you'll begin seeing our new logo on product labels, packaging, banners, social media, and marketing materials. While our look may be changing, the products you know and trust will continue to be handcrafted with the same dedication and attention to detail.

We are excited to enter this new chapter and grateful for every customer who has supported us throughout the years. Thank you for being part of our journey.

New Logo. Same Commitment to Quality. Same Passion for Handcrafted Luxury.

Urban Essence Salon & Spa — Handcrafted Luxury Bath & Body Products Since 2003.

Learn to Make Cosmetics Class

2022-06-10T09:50:00-05:00

Many of you know that we have been making handcrafted soap and other cosmetics for over 19 years now and we have leaned a thing or two about the cosmetic industry in this time. In the beginning we didn't always make our product from scratch. It was around 2005 when my husband Timothy suggested that we start formulating our own products. When you formulate your own products it gives you a since of pride and accomplishment. Formulating your own product will allow you to use or not use any ingredient you want.

For many years we have been purchasing ingredients for our products from Candles & Supplies. Candles & Supplies is Pennsylvania's area premier wholesale supply store for cosmetic ingredients. They offer and wide variety of raw materials ranging from butter, fragrance oils, clays, waxes, bottles, top, jars and carrier oils.

In collaboration with Candles & Supplies we have formulated 4 cosmetic classes. For a limited time we will be teaching:

How to make Facial Scrub
June 24, 2022
10 am - 1 pm

Facial Scrub

Whipped Body Butter Class
July 8, 2022
1 pm to 3 PM

Whipped Body Butter

Body Spray
July 15, 2022
1 pm to 3 pm

Body Spray

Facial Mask
July 29, 2022
10 pm to 1 pm

Facial Mask

Each class will include a comprehensive participant guide which will be packed with information about ingredients, equipment, recipes, and the proper steps to make the cosmetic.

To lean more about preservatives click here and to have a peek at the soap class we taught in 2011 click here.

Candles & Supplies is located at 2580 Milford Square Pike, Quakertown, PA 18950.

Classes are fulling up fast, book your class today!

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Advanced Certified Soapmakers

2022-02-26T16:09:00-06:00

Advanced Certified Soapmaker

While growing up people often ask, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I can almost guarantee you that becoming a soapmaker is not at the top of the professional list!

Back in 2003 when Urban Essence Salon & Spa (UESS) was born, adding soap to the product line up was never a consideration. Realizing that our customers wanted soap, it was added to expand our product offerings, however at that time it was melt and pour soap. Realizing that our customers wanted soap was the catalyst to expanding our product offerings.

Interesting enough, formulating an original soap recipe and making soap from a set recipe are two different things. To put it simply, it's the difference between making a box cake vs. making a cake from scratch. Soapmaking is an art that involves science.

HSCG

We have been members of the Handcrafted Soap & Cosmetic Guild for a few years and belonging to a professional organization in our industry provides small businesses the tools needed to increase proficiency in the trade, improve business skills, and provide general exposure.

Along with my husband Timothy, we have been making soap for close to 20 years and felt that it was important to become certified to set us apart from other soapmakers. Earning this certification demonstrates that we are competent, knowledgeable, highly qualified and have a clear understanding of the raw materials and chemicals that we work with to produce soap. It also establishes that we have a clear understanding of the science involved in soapmaking.

How this certification benefit you, our customers?

It proves that we are committed to a standard of excellence.
Sets us apart from other soapmakers.
You can feel confident knowing that we take the proper steps with regard to safety and efficacy.
Credibility in the industry.
It shows that we are dedicated to professional standards and procedures.

To learn more about making soap read our blog post The Chemistry of Soap.

Your comments are always appreciated, feel free to comment below.

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Urban Essence is Featured in the Indie Business Network Blog

2022-02-21T14:37:00-06:00

It brings us great joy to be one of the 4 Black-Owned family businesses featured the latest Indie Business Network blog post.

For a number of years we have been members of the Indie Business Network. As we built our handcrafted bath & body business over the years IBN has offered us the coaching and resources we needed to learn the specific skills to be confident and operate in the bath & body industry.

IBN is a professional business organization geared to helping small businesses and entrepreneurs navigate and balance the real life of running a business. To learn more about the 4 Black-Owned business featured click here.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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Nice Things Handmade Boutique and Gallery

2020-12-21T18:50:00-06:00

We are pleased to announce that you can now find your favorite gourmet luxury handcrafted soap in Nice Things Handmade! Fragrances currently available are Lavender & Herb, Oatmeal, Milk & Honey, Sunflower & Calendula, Frankincense & Myrrh and Peppermint.

Opening just over 10 years ago they have gained notoriety in the community they serve. Nice Things Handmade offers a large assortment of handmade gift items that have been sourced from talented artists within the community. You will find ceramics, knit clothing, greeting cards, and gift items that are absolutely philly-centric. And we are proud to be part of their lineup!

Nice Things Handmade is located just a few minutes from Center City Philadelphia in the heart of East Passyunk Avenue. This shopping district is home to more than 150 independently owned businesses. Nice Things Handmade is very well known in the area and is one of the most lively boutiques. With lines stretching down the street with shoppers waiting patiently to get indoors to shop!

You can follow Nice Things Handmade on Facebook and Instagram.

They are located at:
1731 E Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19148

Store Hours:
Monday - Closed
Tuesday - Closed
Wednesday - 11AM–7PM
Thursday - 11AM–7PM
Friday - 11AM–7PM
Saturday - 12–7PM
Sunday - 12–5PM

You can also find Urban Essence Salon & Spa handcrafted luxury bath & body products at these other fine retail locations.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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POP UP Market this Sunday!

2020-09-23T15:07:00-05:00

GreenHorn Gardens POP UP Market

Hi family, you can find your favorite bath & body products at a Pop Up Market this Sunday, September 27, 2020 from 12 pm until 4 pm!

For the past month we have been showcasing our handcrafted bath & body products at the GreenHorn Gardens farmers Market and this week they are hosting a Pop Up market!

The Green House at Arlington Cemetary

GreenHorn Gardens is an urban agriculture company that specializes in growing high quality plants, flowers and produce, building gardens and hosting educational workshops.

They are located inside the Arlington Cemetery, 2401 School Ln, Drexel Hill, PA 19026.

Produce and Flowers grown by GreenHorn Gardens

Click here to learn more about the pop up market.
For more information you can find them on their website.

Follow them on:
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Check back soon for an in depth interview about GreenHorn Gardens

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Bunny Hare's Gift Shop our newest retail location!

2020-07-13T01:23:00-05:00

Bunny Hare's Gift Shop

We are pleased to announce that you can now find our bath & body products at our newest retail location Bunny Hare's! Bunny Hare's is a unique gift shop located in the laid-back suburban community of Newtown Square, Pennsylvania. For over 16 years Anne Marie Hare and her friendly staff have helped shoppers choose that perfect gift!

Bunny Hare's beach theme display

They offer fine gifts, jewelry, candles, cards, clothing, gifts, and more! Their gift items are carefully curated from local area artisans and abroad.

They offer personalized help while you shop & free gift wrapping. So if you need a gift for a friend, family, or yourself stop in and an associated will assist you in making that special purchase!

Bunny Hare's Orange Blossom Display

You can currently find our Smelly Jellies here! Smelly Jellies are a great alternative to burning candles. They last for 4 to 6 months, are non-toxic, and can be used in any location in your home or office!

Bunny Hare's Lavender Display

You can follow Bunny Hare's on Facebook and Instagram.

They are located in St. Albans Circle
15 St. Albans Circle
Newtown Square, PA 19073
(610) 325-3205

Store Hours:
Friday 10AM–5PM
Saturday 10AM–5PM
Sunday Closed
Monday Closed
Tuesday 10AM–2PM
Wednesday 10AM–2PM
Thursday 10AM–5PM

You can also find Urban Essence Salon & Spa handcrafted luxury bath & body products at these other fine retail locations.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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Hand & Body Lotion

2020-06-08T01:25:00-05:00

Moisture Rich Hand & Body Lotion

Last week we talked about What Preservatives Are & Why We Use Them. This week we're talking about lotion, more specifically our Hand & Body Lotion.

In the early days of our business, we used to use a lotion base. Quite frankly the majority of indie bath & body companies use a lotion base. And like everyone else the thought of making lotion seemed so complicated! Then one day my husband said "you make soap, don't you! That's way more complicated than making lotion." Then the light bulb went off and I thought "yeah soap making is an elaborate dance!"

So what is a lotion base?
A lotion base is pre-made base you add fragrance, maybe color, and pour it into bottles. The formulating is done for you. The problem with pre-made bases is that you are not in control. The ingredients from the manufacture would vary from batch to batch, we were not able to change the emollient feel of the base, and often the base was too watery. In the beginning, we used a lotion base for maybe 2 or 3 years and by this time many of our customers told us what they were looking for in a lotion. We studied and learned quite a bit about ingredients and formulating which helped us develop a lotion that is truly our own.

Mango Coconut Hand & Body Lotion

Choosing ingredients
The formulation and development process was not a walk in the park. We bought and tested a lot of ingredients and even had to ditch a few batches. Once we figured out the main ingredients we wanted to include everything else came together. The key ingredients that had to be included in our lotion formulation was Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, and Olive Oil. And because water plays a major part in any lotion formulation a preservative was necessary. Weeding through the preservative noise was challenging and at this point using a paraben based preservative was taboo. So we made a conscious choice to use a plant-based preservative.

Finally, by 2007 our lotion formula was set. The Hand & Body Lotion that we make is based on recommendations by you! Over the years so many of you made suggestions about ingredients and fragrances. This lotion will moisturize, hydrate, and leave your skin soft and smooth! It gives us great pleasure to offer you a lotion that is truly made by us.

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below!

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What are Preservatives & Why We Use Them

2020-06-01T01:25:00-05:00

Lotions and creams

As more people become knowledgeable about skincare products they want to know that the products they use are free from ingredients that can be potentially harmful. There are so many articles and reports in the news and on the internet detailing why you should or shouldn't use a product that contains preservatives. A lot of this information is driven by large corporations, lobby groups, and inconclusive studies that are produced for their gain. In this blog post, we going to briefly discuss preservatives and why they are necessary for skincare formulations.

A product without water

For marketing purposes, many large manufacturers advertise that their products contain natural preservatives when in fact there are no real natural preservatives. The word natural is sometimes up for debate as well. Preservatives are used and needed to fight against fungi, microbes, and bacteria and to extend the life of the product. Often the words antioxidants and preservatives are used interchangeably or incorrectly. An antioxidant is used to inhibit oxidation, meaning it will help a carrier oil like Grape Seed oil from going rancid. However antioxidants will not fight against fungi, microbes, and bacteria. Antioxidants you might be familiar with include: Vitamin E, Rosemary Oleoresin Extract (ROE), and Grapefruit Seed Extract.

Night cream

So what is a preservative anyway? Well according to Wikepedia it is defined as "A preservative is a substance or a chemical that is added to products such as food products, beverages, pharmaceutical drugs, paints, biological samples, cosmetics, wood, and many other products to prevent decomposition by microbial growth or by undesirable chemical changes." In Wikipedia page was last edited on 16 May 2020, at 08:18 (UTC). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preservative

Our goal is to make sure the products we formulate are safe for you! Any product that contains water is required to have a preservative added to protect you against fungi, microbes, and bacteria. Here is a list of our products that contain a preservative:
Hand & Body Lotion
Sugar Scrub
Body Spray
Hair Conditioner

If you want to learn more about our products drop us a comment below and let us know.

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Connecting with Small Business - Part 2

2020-05-25T01:25:00-05:00

Connecting with small businesses

Welcome to our second installment of Connecting with Small Businesses. In this post we are shinning the light on 5 small businesses. Since our last post it has become clear that supporting small business is imperative. And it's equally important that we support our independent performing artists. Supporting small business does not always mean you have to spend dollars.

Here's a few ways you can support small businesses:

Leave a positive comment on their website or blog post
Write a product review on their website
Recommend your favorite small business to your friends
Recommend a small business's Facebook page
Re-post their social media post
Send a message to your favorite small business and thank them for the service they provide
Buy a gift card now that you can redeem later
Start a Facebook post that shares all of your favorite brands
Make a purchase

You can support all of these business by joining their mailing list following them on Instagram and liking them on Facebook.

CAP Cunningham Administrative Professionals, LLC

Cunningham Administrative Professionals, LLC

Cunningham Administrative Professionals is the personal Admin you desperately need but haven't been in a position to obtain. It could be that you are a small business owner and you are spending all of your time running the operation and administrative functions of your business. Possibly you are wonderful at setting goals but have difficulty holding them all together. Also, you may have an extremely hectic personal life that you have difficulty keeping up with. You know you need help but you don't know where to turn. They will help you achieve your professional growth and offer superior leadership in virtual administrative support, developing genuine relationships, and going the extra mile to ensure success.

For more information visit Cunningham Administrative Professions, LLC:
Website
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Micah's Scents

Micah's Scents powered by UESS

Learn more about the personally curated, Shea Butter based bath and body line brought to you by 8-year old kidpreneur Micah Ruffin. Look for Summer updates and special promotions coming soon.

For more information visit Micah's Scents:
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Michelle Vanessa Williams owner of Embellish Beauty Concepts, LLC.

Embellish Beauty Concepts, LLC

Marcia V. Williams, Founder and CEO of Embellish Beauty Concepts LLC., she is a Beauty Expert and has a passion for makeup and all things beauty. She launched a cosmetic line in 2010 where she formulated and crafted her own line of cosmetics for local women. She began her wholesale journey and transcended her career as a Beauty expert for brides and local women reinventing their brands. Marcia became an accomplished makeup artist in the Philadelphia and the tri-state area. Marcia spent many years as a QVC hair and makeup artist providing beauty to Celebrities and TV personalities. The Embellish Beauty Lipstick line was launched in July 2019. Embellish Beauty signature lipsticks represent empowerment, creativity , and boldness. Lipstick has such a personal statement. Women all around the globe made their mark being able to unify and make a statement during the time when voting wasn't respected by us. Their statement and power was magnified showing up and being a voice with their empowered staple red lips.

For more information visit Embellish Beauty Concepts, LLC:
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Ramon Jackson

Looking for fresh R&B with old school flavor? Get into the latest project from singer/songwriter Ramon Jackson. His sophomore album "Silver Tongue" has already passed 250k streams on Spotify and has radio play in several countries. His social media can be found below as well as his website featuring his press releases, music videos and critic reviews.

For more information and to support and listen to Ramon Jackson's music visit:
Website
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Daddy University

Daddy University, Inc.

Daddy University, Inc. is a Male Parenting Education Company. Their focus is to use education and information to assist all men who are raising children. Their mission is to educate, advocate and support all fathers and father figures. They are here to decrease the barriers to positive parenting.
For over a decade they have been answering the question, Who We Are? They are fathers, men, husbands, big kids, spouses, significant others, partners, dads, and grands who believe that the most important gift they could give all children was the most educated fathers in the world.
Daddy University currently operates four Fatherhood classes; Father's Club in the city of Philadelphia, along with the Annual National Fatherhood Conference, the Annual Daddy-Daughter Dance, Social services training and the non-profit, School of Parent Education.

For more information and to support Daddy University visit:
Website
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Want to see more owner operated business featured here?

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Meet Our Customer: Sena O. of Sen7 Consulting

2020-05-18T01:00:00-05:00

What we enjoy most about our business is the ability to meet genuine people and to truly connect. We met Sena on our block, she was our neighbor and it didn't take long before she became a friend.

Sena has the ability to see the best in every situation. She is gracious, kind and an accomplished scholar. Her honest guidance and tough love has helped our business in so many ways!

This is Sena!

Sena O.

Meet Sena O. our friend, business coach, and long time customer. She is originally from Ghana, West Africa and now calls Philadelphia home. She is the proud mother of 3 young men and they keep a hectic, blended family schedule. She works full time, coaches working parents, and consults with entrepreneurs and business owners. She enjoys being a life-long learner and is exploring Ph.D. programs while encouraging her sons to do the same. Sena has over 20 years of combined experience in consulting, advising, training, higher education administration, diversity student recruitment, career services, creative marketing, and program management.

Click here to learn more about SEN7 Consulting - Career & Job Tips

UESS: How long have you been a customer of Urban Essence Salon & Spa?

Sena O.: UESS has been a part of my life for over 12 years now.

UESS: What features sold you on buying our products?

Sena O.: I feel in love with the Brown Sugar Scrub at first because of the luscious texture and yummy smell. I remember telling the UESS team to call me after my purchase to make sure that I wasn't trying to dip strawberries into it. It was rich, organic, and just looked delectable.

Sena O.

UESS: What do you think of our products?

Sena O.: The products are excellent. There are a few that required getting a little bit of education on in order to fully appreciate them. With less unnecessary ingredients the products sometimes looks different but have felt good on the skin.

UESS: How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?

Sena O.: UESS offers some quality, hand-crafted products that I would be hard-pressed to find a replacement for because of the scent or the effect on my skin.

Sena O. & her boys Nile, Micah and Rey

UESS: What's the main reason you recommend our products?

Sena O.: UESS offers wholesome products that help keep you feeling fresh and grounded. Plus UESS offers quality products, "treats" made by a dynamic husband and wife team who care about others. The story is compelling, the products are enjoyable, and you can get something without feeling like you are breaking the bank.

UESS: What would you tell someone who's considering our products?

Sena O.: Try them for yourself. The products speak for themselves.

Thank you, Sena, for sharing your life and thoughts with us.

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Whipped Body Butter : Video

2020-05-11T01:25:00-05:00

Whipped body butter or body butter as it is sometimes called is a cream for your skin. Whipped body butter is one of the most decadent creams that you will ever apply to your body. Made up of oils and butters a true whipped body butter does not contain any water.

Whipped body butter can be made with any number of butters and oils. Our whipped body butter is made with Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter, Sweet Almond Oil, Grape Seed Oil, and Sesame Seed Oil. These ingredients are whipped together to give them a light texture.

If you suffer from dry skin then a body butter is what you need! It's thicker than a lotion and it's excellent at penetrating your skin, leaving you moisturized without needing to reapply.

Once you use a whipped body butter your skin will love you for it!

Join us in the production studio as we make whipped body butter.

Drop a comment below and let us know what you think!

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Soap Vs. Hand Sanitizer

2020-05-04T01:25:00-05:00

Do you remember playing in the park for hours, riding your bike all over the city, and jumping rope between two parked cars? And remember running in the house afterward because you were starving and dying of thirst? You probably also remember your mother yelling at you to not touch anything until you wash your hands. As it turns out she was right! She didn’t want those germs from outside in her house. That was then and here you are now. You still don’t want those germs in your house.

Handwashing has always been a regular routine that you performed before you eat food, after using the restroom or during a time when you are not feeling so well. And handwashing will always be the most effective tool against dirt, germs and bacteria. Handwashing is your best defense against spreading germs and illnesses.

Handwashing

Let talk about how soap works. When you wash your hands with soap and water you are creating friction by rubbing your hand together. This friction creates lather. And that lather helps lift, remove and break down dirt, grease, germs, microbes and bacteria off your hands. These components are then suspended in water and washed away when you rinse your hands.

Hand Sanitizer

Now let’s look at hand sanitizers. As you may know, hand sanitizers are quick and convenient especially in a situation where soap and water are not available. They were initially introduced in 1966 in the medical field and was made popular in the early 1990s. To be effective, hand sanitizer must contain at least 60% alcohol to kill germs. Just like when using soap, after you apply hand sanitizer you rub your hands together to create friction. This action will help kill any germs on your hands but it will not completely clean your hands.

Just Oatmeal Soap

In conclusion, using soap and water regularly to wash your hand is more effective than using hand sanitizers. While hand sanitizers can reduce the number of germs in certain situations it will not completely clean your hands. It is important to know when each method should be used.

For more information about handcrafted soap check out our blog post on The Chemistry of Soap.

For more information and recommendations about handwashing check out these links.

Hand Washing and Hand Sanitizer Use Fact Sheet

Hand Sanitizer Uses Out and About

When and how to wash your hands

Show me the Science

What are your thoughts on hand washing and hand sanitizer? Leave a comment below.

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Connecting with Small Businesses - Part 1

2020-04-27T01:25:00-05:00

Connecting with Small Businesses - Part 1

Welcome to our new blog post series Connecting With Small Businesses!

Its relatively easy to start your own business these days and it can be very rewarding. But, maintaining a small business can be hard without collaborating and utilizing the services other of small businesses. And success it doesn't happen overnight!

Being an entrepreneur or small business owner can be a gratifying experience but not without hard work, determination and the help, support and mentoring of other small business owners.

Over the years we've had the pleasure of meeting several people who we have worked with or have tagged in to help us move our business further along.

In this post we are showcasing small businesses that are making their mark on the world.

Sena O.

Sen7 Consulting

One of Philadelphia's best emerging "quiet storm" coaches. Keep an eye out for upcoming news and classes from this award-winning, multi-lingual professional who works with entrepreneurs, small business owners, working parents and emerging leaders to realize their business and career goals. Be sure to get practical tips from SEN7 Consulting - Career & Job Tips on Facebook and remember to like and follow the page!
Questions? Email SEN7Marketing@gmail.com today.

For more information visit:
Website: SEN7 Consulting - Career & Job Tips
Facebook: SEN7 Consulting - Career & Job Tips

People's Virtual Solutions

Have you ever wanted to work from home? Are you looking to earn some money during this time we are currently living in? Well, now is the perfect time to work from home and People's Virtual Solutions will help you get started! They are partnered with the Arise platform to provide service to major companies looking for customer support. They contract with individuals looking to start their own mini call center. And they provide support for your business to grow.

Founder and Owner Tiffany Briddell started this business to help provide people with the ability to be their own boss and have the flexibility to schedule work that fit their lifestyle.

Start your new career today!

For more information visit:
Website: People's Virtual Solutions
Email: info@peoplesvirtualsolutions.com

Mary Tonita Austin of M. T. Austin & Associates

M.T. Austin and Associates

Mary Tonita Austin is an entrepreneur with over 30 years of professional experience within the financial industry. She is the founder and President of M.T. Austin and Associates, LLC (formerly A.H. Consulting, Inc.) a 100% woman and minority-owned accounting and consulting firm with offices in Media and Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. She also serves as the creative inspiration behind The Restoration Station, a curated online community focused on educating others on critical financial information. Ms. Austin specializes in promoting wealth activation practices and offers professional solutions which provide clients with the confidence to sleep well at night.

M.T, Austin and Associates provides comprehensive accounting services for the individual, non-profit and small business owners including but not limited to bookkeeping, payroll processing, income tax returns, audit preparation, business planning and budgeting, and accounting system implementation and training. Join M. T. Austin and Associates' mailing list to stay updated on all the latest financial and tax developments.

For more information visit:
Website: M. T. Austin and Associates
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Creole Soul - Original Spice Blend

Creole Soul

Creole Soul believes that everyone can be a great cook! Their flavors are rooted and grounded in Louisiana Culture. Their products are crafted to make every meal a delight. Their services are designed to make hospitality easy.

Born and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Chef Shermona Bates Mack started Creole Soul in 2008. At the age of seven, Shermona made her first meal (Lemon Pork Chops, Buttered Noodles & Peas). Even though she was told to never use the stove without help, her desire to cook was stronger than the consequence of getting caught. Her mother couldn't fuss after her first bite! Shermona has catered weddings, birthdays and many other events. Shermona spent her Saturdays building Creole Soul by holding a BBQ stand at a local farmers market for six years.

For more information visit: Creole Soul

Brook Smith of Baby B Soothed

Baby B Soothed

Baby B Soothed Is a company offering one on one support for new parents. They teach skills of conscious parenting through massage. Massage therapy has been proven to promote an undeniably healthy, happy, relaxed, and soothed newborn, infant, or toddler right before your eyes!

When parents perform infant massage, it encourages pre-verbal communication between the parent/caregiver and the infant which is a HUGE part of the bonding process.

Over the last ten years, founder and owner Brooke Smith has instructed classes on, Caring for baby, How to mentor teens, Planning early childhood “free” trips, Health and nutrition on a budget, Nurturing and self-esteem empowerment along with her favorite class to teach: Infant Massage Instructing and Training. Teaching infant massage is a wonderful way to connect with parents. She also offer One To One and group classes virtually and in person. Brooke is dedicated to family and working with people.

Check out Brooke's live and re-play post on here Facebook page.

For more information or a virtual appointment visit Brooke on these platforms:
Website Baby B Soothed
Facebook: Baby B Soothed
Instagram: Baby B Soothed

Mitchell & Mitchell Wine

Mitchell & Mitchell Wines

Mitchell & Mitchell Wines is a niche or craft winery. Located in Philadelphia PA. They are family owned and operated. Mitchell & Mitchell Wines was founded in 2012 by Frank & Kenya Mitchell. With the understanding that better grapes make better wine! Today they source products from across the globe. And offer them to you at Pennsylvania prices.

They source 100% of their raw ingredients from other small businesses within 100 miles of our location.

Their wine list includes, Pinotage, Sauvignon Blanc, Syrah, Viognier, Pinot Grigio, Chianti, Valpolicella and a Amarone.

The grapes used for their impressive list of wines have been imported to the United States from South Africa, Chile and the DOCG appropriate regions of Italy and processed here locally into wine at their Philadelphia location.

For more information visit:
Website: Mitchell & Mitchell Wines
Instagram: Mitchell & Mitchell Wines

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Meet Our Customer: Nicole Fuscia of Glenna Stone Interior Design

2020-04-20T01:25:00-05:00

We are excited to start a new series of blog posts featuring customers we admire and inspire us to create products you all enjoy! We are asking them to share a piece of themselves and why they have chosen Urban Essence Salon & Spa products. In this post we are chatting with Nicole Fuscia of Glenna Stone Interior Design.

Nicole using our Whipped Body Butter

Nicole is married to her wonderful husband Jim, is a lover of all things local, adores animals, enjoys cheering on our Philadelphia sports teams, is passionate about politics and embraces her Philly Lifestyle!

Nicole is the marketing coordinator for Glenna Stone Interior Design, based in Chestnut Hill (right down the street from Weavers Way!). They're a full-service design firm dedicated to creating beautiful homes for their clients that work for them and the way they live. For them, each home is as unique as the people who live there, and they should reflect that. They also design commercial projects, from wineries to offices. Every day brings something new and it's always a fun challenge! You find them on Instagram at glennastonedesign

Nicole Fuscia of Glenna Stone Interior Design

UESS: How long have you been a customer of Urban Essence Salon & Spa?

Nicole: I first met you almost 4 years ago at the Dickinson Square Park farmers’ market, and I’ve been a customer ever since!

UESS: What features sold you on buying our products?

Nicole: First, I’m sensitive to a lot of scents because I have chronic migraines, and I really liked the natural ingredients that you use in the soap and body butter. I also prefer bar soap because it’s more environmentally friendly than plastic bottles and refills. Of course, I love small and local businesses, and I want to support them whenever possible.

Nicole and her husband Jim

UESS: What do you think of our products?

Nicole: Well, I buy them a lot so it’s fair to say that I’m a big fan. The Just Oatmeal soap is my favorite because it’s so gentle (even on my face), and it reminds me of an oatmeal soap that I found on my honeymoon in Mexico. I always have a bar at both the kitchen and bathroom sinks. Since we wash our hands all the time, it’s important to have soap that’s effective and gentle. The whipped body butter is so great for me in the winter when my skin gets really dry, especially my legs, arms, and hands.

UESS: How would you feel if you could no longer use this product?

Nicole: I’d be so sad! Honestly, I don’t even know where I’d look for a comparable replacement.

Philadelphia is where Nicole's lives

UESS: What's the main reason you recommend our products?

Nicole: They’re natural, effective, long-lasting, and great for people with sensitivities. Plus, I love how long-lasting they are. Last but not least, you have amazing customer service and that counts for a lot with me.

UESS: What would you tell someone who's considering our products?

Nicole: Try them! There’s such a wide range of scents and product types that there’s something for everyone. You’re always expanding and trying new things, which is awesome. I just purchased the activated charcoal soap to try for myself.

Nicole & Jim with Philadelphia 76ers Basketball player Mike Scott

Thank you, Nicole, for sharing your life and thoughts with us.

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Making Bath BonBons : A Video

2020-04-13T00:15:00-05:00

Ms. Marion Curry

In this industry you lean that some products will resonate with your customers and others just won't!

When we started our bath & body business 17 years ago we made all kinds of bath and body products. And we fell in love with those products. Not all of those products worked so over the years we had to make hard decisions about which products we would keep and which ones need to be discontinued.

I bet you're wondering "why is she telling us about a discontinued product."

Well, when you discontinue a product that's not a fan favorite most people don't notice. But then there's that one customer, who can't live without it. You know the one, that's not just a customer but also the person that watched you grow up. The one who watched you when your parents couldn't. The one who was your first and still is a long time customer says to you "you can discontinue that product if you want to but you still have to make it for me!"

Well, that customer this Ms. Curry.

We discontinued our bath bonbons about 10 years ago but we still make them for Ms. Curry! We better!

Take a look at how we make bath bonbons.

Drop a comment below and let us know what your favorite product is.

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4 Things to Do While Staying at Home

2020-04-06T01:31:00-05:00

Cleaning house

So you've cleaned and reorganized your entire house, cooked every meal in your cookbooks and you're now running out of things to do. Well, you're in luck! Here are 4 things you can do while you're at home under quarantined.

TAKE A ONLINE CLASS

Take an online class

Ever want to learn how to take the perfect photo? Or do you have an awesome camera that has features you never learned how to use? Well, Nikon is offering free online
photography classes for all of April. Click here to take your class today!

VISIT THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA

Visit the City of Philadelphia

Ever want to tour your own city? There are so many things to do in Philadelphia and sometimes we take the attractions right in our backyard for granted. The Visit Philadelphia website will allow you virtually explore top Philadelphia area attractions without leaving the comfort of your home. Click here to take your tour today!

HELP YOUR KIDS EXERCISE THEIR MIND

Help your kids exercise their mind

Scholastic is the world's largest publisher and distributor of children's books, connecting educators and families through accessibility, engagement, and expertise. And they have created day-by-day projects to keep kids reading, thinking and growing. This free resource provides your children with 20+ days of exciting articles, stories, videos, and fun learning challenges. Children can complete them anytime, in any order. They can work on their own or together with you and your family. Click here to start learning!

HAVE MOVIE NIGHT

Have movie night

At this point most people have watched an excessive amount of television but you have to admit its one of the best ways to pass the time. Have you ever wanted to watch those HBO blockbuster movies and shows but didn't have a subscription? Well here's your chance. For the month of April, HBO is offering their most beloved shows and documentaries, plus a selection of movies — entirely for free. Click here to start watching!

Practicing social distancing and staying put at home is not so hard with quality activities for you and your kids!

We’d love to hear more about what you’re doing to pass the time. Drop a comment below and let us know what you’re up to.

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Staying Positive during these uncertain times!

2020-03-30T04:20:00-05:00

We are currently living in a time of uncertainty! And we're all practicing social distancing and are in a self-quarantine situation. This is our new normal! Every day on the news you are seeing a play by play report on

Positive morning

COVID-19 and its affects on all of us. By now you are aware of the precautions that need to be taken in order to keep yourself and your family safe. As we enter another week of self-quarantine, we wanted to remind you that it is very important to follow the guidelines that have been put in place by the CDC.

Your fast past busy life has now come to a halt. And your mental bank account is overflowing with time. What should you do? How are you filling your days? One important thing you should be doing is staying positive and practicing self-care! Here are 8 things you can do to alleviate stress and keep positive:

1. Read a book
Kindle and Audiobooks offer a massive list of books to read. Don’t have a Kindle? Download the app on your smart phone. Got a library card? Did you know that you can checkout digital books from your local library?

CDC Stress and Coping

2. Cook with your family & kids
There are hundreds of thousands of recipes on the internet. Checkout The Food Network, Allrecipes, and YouTube.

3. Rediscover your hobby
Pick up that paint brush or start writing that book you always wanted to write or work on that entrepreneurial venture.

4. Organize your photos
There are so many photo albums around today its hard to name them all here, but you could start with Google Photos.

5. Exercise
There are so many exercise classes on the internet. Start with simple exercises you can do in your home. And it doesn't require expensive gym equipment!

6. Resume your skin care routine
Remember all those skin care products you purchased but didn't have the time to use? Now’s the time to make your skin glow!

7. Watch positive television content
Plain and simple STOP watching the news!

8. Video chat with love ones and friends
This is one of our favorites! There are so many platforms to choose from. There's Google Duo or Google Hangouts, Facetime, Zoom, Skype and the lists goes on!

We have been keeping busy here too! Cooking is one of our favorite pastimes, and we've also been playing around with a new video editor. We've been wanting to produce more video content so that we could bring you behind the scenes. Come take a peek inside our first ever product making video! In this video you will get a backstage pass to how we make our deep hair conditioner!

We’d love to hear more about what you’re doing to pass the time. Drop a comment below and let us know what you’re up to.

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Our Signature Hand Treatment

2020-01-29T10:55:00-06:00

When was the last time you had a spa treatment?

Spa treatments are amazingly beneficial and relaxing and being able to pamper yourself at home is the best way to relive that spa treatment at home!

Product Display

We really enjoy attending shows, craft fairs and farmers markets it’s the perfect opportunity for us meet you all and showcase the many products we offer. My husband Timothy Minor came up with the brilliant idea to bring warm water with us to events so that we could offer you our Signature Spa Hand Treatment using our Sugar Scrub and Whipped Body Butter. This Signature Spa Hand Treatment is formulated to make your hands blissfully soft & silky and will also help improve blood flow & circulation. And the best part is, you can do it yourself at home.

The Sugar Scrub is a blend of pure unrefined raw Demerara, Turbinado & Brown sugars. Our Signature Spa Hand Treatment should be incorporated into your dally self-care routine. It will help relive dry skin, calluses and aging hands and you will experience the indulgent pleasure of revitalized, exfoliated & smooth hands with our Signature Spa Hand Treatment!

In this video we are at the LadiDeclare Teen Summit which took place on Saturday August 17, 2019 at the Philadelphia Ethical Society. Here you will see a firsthand look at our Signature Spa Hand Treatment.

Please check out our calendar of events and come visit us to get your Signature Spa Hand Treatment!

Hope to see you soon!

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Our Three Main Soap Making Oils

2019-10-17T12:26:00-05:00

In our previous blog post The Chemistry of Soap we discussed how soap is made as it relates to its chemical make up. In this blog post we will be discussing the three main ingredients we use in our Gourmet Luxury Soap.

Our goal is to educate our customers and we want you to have real and correct information. In this blog post I will be reviewing the main oils/butters that are used in our Gourmet Luxury Soap, Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Coconut Oil. I will describe the benefits of these fatty acids as it relates to soap making.

Image courtesy of africa / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Shea Butter is extracted from fruit of the Karite tree which is native to the savannahs of western and central Africa. Shea Butter is rich in vitamins A and E, and it has anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties. Shea Butter is a triglyceride (fat) derived mainly from stearic acid and oleic acid. Shea Butter is used many of our handcrafted products because of the multiple benefits that it provides for skincare. The benefits of using Shea butter include, but are not limited to, nourishing dry skin, minimizing blemishes, combating wrinkles, and stretch mark prevention during pregnancy. It is also widely used by people suffering from Eczema, Dermatitis and Psoriasis.

Image courtesy of bartosch / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Olive Oil, like many other oils, is an oil that is highly favorable. Olive oil is mainly used for cooking, however, it has many other uses as well.

Today you can find Olive oil in cosmetics and hair care products! There are also a few different grades of olive oils as well. The two grades of Olive oil that we used in our product formulations are Pure and Pomace Olive Oils. Olive Oil has a high level of unsaponifiables, meaning it contains components that will not turn into soap when combined with lye solution. This is extremely important because the unsaponifiables help to achieve high levels of moisture. The benefits of Olive oil include, but are not limited to, moisture for extremely dry skin, helps to maintain soft and smooth skin, and contains antioxidants and Vitamin E which helps the skin to regenerate and increases the elasticity of the skin.

Image courtesy of foto76 / FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Coconut Oil is obtained from Copra, which is dried coconut meat. Coconut Oil provides wonderful lathering and moisturizing properties to soap. In soapmaking Coconut oil is an anomaly and it helps achieve huge bubbles. The benefits of Coconut oil include but are not limited to its ability to penetrate deep into the skin and it also helps to condition, moisturize, and softens the skin. In addition, it can also help shrink wrinkles, sooth bug bites,and protect your skin against sun damage. It has also been used to help keep tans longer.

We understand that there is a growing number of people who are looking for products that are sustainable and free from animal fats and oils. We are committed to using vegetable-based oils and butters. And it is important to us that you are well informed so that you can make conscience decisions when purchasing your skin care products.

Please feel free to comment or post any questions you may have.

This article was originally posted on 3-15-14.

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So what exactly is Activated Charcoal?

2019-10-03T13:33:00-05:00

In our previous blog post we introduced you to our Activated Charcoal Soap and by now many of you have been enjoying the soap and have requested more!

So what exactly is activated charcoal?

Well, According to Medical News Today "Activated charcoal is not the same substance as that found in charcoal bricks or burnt pieces of food. The manufacture of activated charcoal makes it extremely absorbent, allowing it to bind to molecules, ions, or atoms. In this way, it removes these from dissolved substances. Making activated charcoal involves heating carbon-rich materials, such as wood, peat, coconut shells, or sawdust, to very high temperatures. Activated charcoal is a fine black powder made from bone char, coconut shells, peat, petroleum coke, coal, olive pits or sawdust." Huizen, Jennifer. Reviewed by Alan Carter, PharmD "What are the benefits of activated charcoal. Medical News Today, July 27, 2018

There are so many old and new additives flooding around the skin care industry everyday and we are often times asked to incorporate these ingredients into our products. Your requests are always taken into consideration when we are looking for new products to develop. And we make sure to spend a great amount of time in the research stage of investigating new ingredients. There is an equal amount of time spent in developing the actual product with this new ingredient. With that being said, we have discovered that activated charcoal is being used in many different ways and has had a major impact in the skin care industry for many years now!

Here is a list of some of the many benefits of activated charcoal:

Great for every skin type
Charcoal soap works magic on acne prone skin
Helps tame oily skin
Makes Skin Tighter And Firmer
Aids in reducing pore size
Assists in clearing skin blemishes

Developing products that will benefit you is what we strive for!

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Soap Making Class 2011

2019-09-12T12:05:00-05:00

While going through some old photos on our Facebook page I came across some photos of a soap class that I taught 8 years ago (that's right 8 years ago!). I just can't get over that it's been that long ago! When I was going through these photos it reminded me of how much I enjoyed teaching the class and how I thought it was so cool to be teaching the class in a science lab! To be able to look back on our business and see how far we have come is truly amazing! I am grateful for our challenges and achievements that we have witnessed over the years!

I recall being extremely nervous on the car ride to the venue. This was maybe the 1st or 2nd time that I came out of my shell to do a public speaking event. My husband, Timothy Minor coached me during the entire car ride. I recall him saying "just look at me and talk about what you know, then your words and conversation will just flow". He made it sound so easy! What made me even more nervous during the class was that everyone was so quite. It seemed like I was just talking into the air! Then I asked if I was boring anyone and to my surprise the students were quite because they were listening intently.

I prepared for this class for several weeks, making booklets and going over my talking points. I even made soap to give to the participants at the end of the class. Looking back and reliving this experience I have to say that this was one of the best experiences that I've had! It taught me to speak up and talk about what I do every day! According to the Merrian-Webster dictionary the definition of an expert is having, involving, or displaying special skill or knowledge derived from training or experience. I guess this means I'm qualified to teach!

I hope to teach another soap making class some time soon!

Please feel free to comment or post any questions you may have.

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The Chemistry of Soap

2019-08-28T08:21:00-05:00

This is my wonderful husband Timothy Minor

The process of making soap is called saponification. I'll be the first one to admit that I was very bored in my high school chemistry class. At that time over, 30 years ago, I didn't see how it apply to everyday life. Of course there were experiments and projects that we conducted, but quite frankly, I was just not interested! Fast forward to today; and now I can't get enough of the chemistry as it relates to making soap. Now, I long for my old high school chemistry class! The process of making soap is in fact a chemistry project that we perform over and over again.

Soap making gear

Why we make soap? There are so many reason why we make soap or any of the products we produce. For me making soap is very relaxing. In the beginning we made soap because it was much better than the glycerin soap base that we used in the past. Today, we make soap for a number of reasons. Here are just a few reasons; 1. We are in control of the ingredients that we use. 2. It is so much better for you skin. Our Gourmet Luxury Soap is very moisturizing and does not leave you with that dry feeling that you get when you use a commercial produced bar of soap. And 3. we were very disappointed with commercial detergent bars/beauty bars that are watered down and lack quality ingredients! Like most people my husband and I bought commercial produced soap with animal fats and the glycerin taken out. It is essentially a detergent bar and not soap!

Peppermint Swirl Soap

What is Soap? "In chemistry, soap is a salt of a fatty acid.^[1] Soaps are mainly used for washing, bathing, and cleaning. Soaps for cleansing are obtained by treating vegetable or animal oils and fats with a strongly alkaline solution. Fats and oils are composed of triglycerides; three molecules of fatty acids are attached to a single molecule of glycerol.^[2] The alkaline solution, which is often called lye (although the term "lye soap" refers almost exclusively to soaps made with sodium hydroxide), brings about a chemical reaction known as saponification. In this reaction, the triglyceride fats are first hydrolyzed into free fatty acids, and then these combine with the alkali to form crude soap, an amalgam of various soap salts, excess fat or alkali, water, and liberated glycerol (glycerin). The glycerin is a useful by-product, which can be left in the soap product as a softening agent, or isolated for other uses. Soap. (n.d.) . In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 1, 2014 from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/S....

This is me pouring soap into the mold

Is your soap made with lye? Often times we get asked the question "is your soap made with LYE?" Most people have memories of their grandmothers making soap and the result would be a very harsh bar of soap that more often than not, irritated the skin. The difference between handmade soap made today verses the soap that was made many years ago is the saponification chart that we use today. The Saponification chart is a table with Sap Values for oils and butters (fatty acids) that are used in soapmaking. When you multiply the sap value of each fatty acid being used by the weight of that fatty acid the result is the amount of lye that should be used to turn the fatty acids into soap. When we make soap we discount our water and lye which leaves left over unsaponified oils and fats. Its these left over oils and fats that contribute our Gourmet Luxury Soap being so very moisturizing! The word lye is the common name of sodium hydroxide (Na OH) which is used for bar soap and potassium hydroxide (K OH) is used for liquid soap. There is no other way to make REAL soap without the use of fatty acids and lye. Our soap is made with 100% natural Shea Butter, Olive Oil and Coconut Oil. We also use other skin loving ingredients such as oatmeal, milk, honey, plantains, calendula, peppermint, etc. to make up the various varieties that we produce. So the answer to the question is YES, our soap is made with lye!

Please feel free to comment or post any questions you may have.

This article was originally written on 3-15-14. And at that time I thought it was not the right time to publish it. However, over the years people have become more and more informed about the ingredients that are in the products they use.

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Activated Charcoal Soap

2019-08-21T19:19:00-05:00

Activated Charcoal Soap

You've asked for it and now its here!

Here's a sneak peek of our new Activated Charcoal Soap!

So far we have gotten really good reviews and people are enjoying the soap.

Activated Charcoal has an all-natural black color that is made from coconut shells, washed for purity, and pH neutral. Activated Charcoal Soap will produce a rich grey lather and will work hard to gently deep clean your skin.

Activated Charcoal Soap is known to reduce the size of your pores and help manage oily skin.

While gently exfoliating your skin, Activated Charcoal soap is also helpful in treating acne.

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VIX Emporium is our newest wholesale stockist

2018-04-18T18:45:00-05:00

Have you heard the great news? Urban Essence Salon & Spa luxury bath and body products can now be found at VIX Emporium!

VIX Emporium has a very well curated selection of gifts, cards jewelry, candles and apothecary items that are made in the USA by independent businesses, artists and makers, mostly in the Philadelphia region.

Their unique collection of merchandise is housed in the original mirrored cabinetry that has stood in the shop for decades, since its time as a 1940s millinery. "VIX" (with a bar over the V) is the Roman numeral for 5009, their Baltimore Avenue address in historic West Philadelphia.Philadelphia region.

If you haven't seen it on social media yet, here's a peek inside VIX Emporium.

The Emporium is owned and operated by Sean and Emily Dorn. Emily works in the shop and also makes hand-crocheted wire jewelry. You can find VIX Emporium on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

They are location in the West Philadelphia area of the city, 5009 Baltimore Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19143.

SPRING HOURS
Tue-Wed 12-7 Thu-Fri 11-7
Saturday 10-7
Sunday 11-4
Closed Mondays

You can also find Urban Essence Salon & Spa products at these other fine retail locations.