For the longest time, whenever I passed by a display of “natural beauty products,” visions of trustafarians – dreadlocked, patchouli-scented trust-funders who spurn consumerism yet have no qualms driving around in Mom and Dad’s Lexus SUV – danced in my head.

The closest I ever came to hippiedom was buying a tie-dyed Grateful Dead shirt and an incense burner my freshman year in college, so it took me a while to get on board with the whole essential oils thing. For years, the only natural products that ever appealed to me were Origins, but they’re a little posh for my budget.

So I used whatever smelled good or whatever was on sale. When I heard a report that your skin absorbs nearly 60 percent of anything you apply to it, I decided to scour local boutiques and the natural foods section of the supermarket to find something a little kinder and gentler.

Who needs all sorts of unpronounceable chemicals seeping into her body? Not me. I do enough damage on my own without the help – or hindrance – of my skin care regimen.

But could I find something that wouldn’t make me smell like I just spent a quiet evening at home with my bong? And would the lotions actually be smooth and creamy, rather than coarse and gritty? Let’s just say botanical-based products have come a long way since my college days. Now, natural doesn’t have to equal crunchy. In fact, many of the products I tried were downright luxurious.

Take, for instance, The Body Shop’s products. I used to love these when I was younger, and after a long hiatus, I rediscovered them at a home-shopping party. So I called local rep Stephanie Campbell (848-7385) for a tub of Mango Body Scrub and some Coconut Body Butter.

Not only do I now smell like a fruit cocktail, but my skin is as smooth as a nectarine.

I get a similar feeling when I use my Natural Apricot hand and body lotion from JASON organics. I first received this as a gag gift because ShopGuy’s name is Jason, and it’s almost as sweet as he is. Plus, it’s 70 percent organic. You can find the brand at Natural Living Center in Bangor, John Edwards Market in Ellsworth, the Belfast Co-op, the Green Store in Belfast and many natural foods stores.

My new favorite product, however, is the Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme from Burt’s Bees that I picked up at the Grasshopper Shop. It smells good enough to eat, and, like all the company’s products, you actually could if you wanted to. But I’m far more interested in slathering it on my hands before bedtime. For the rest of the body, I love Burt’s Bees’ Milk & Honey lotion, which smells sweet and light, but not cloying.

As a birthday gift, my pal Jess gave me the Gardeners Hand Therapy kit from Crabtree & Evelyn. Step one is like a salt scrub for your hands. It sloughs off dry skin, and after you wash it off, you treat your hands with step two, a softly scented cream that feels like a dream.

On the cleansing front, I’m addicted to The Body Shop’s Olive Glossing shampoo. It smells amazing – not sweet, not perfumey, just right. And speaking of aromas, Aveda’s ShamPure may leave everyone wanting more, but I’m all about their Rosemary Mint shampoo. Heaven-scent. Must be something about the rosemary, but I’m also wild about Avalon Organics’ rosemary conditioner.

I have a real thing for locally made bar soaps, but for a commercial product, I have to stick with Kiss My Face moisture soap ($3.99 at The Store/Ampersand in Orono). It doesn’t strip the oils from your skin and – this is important – I love the way it smells. It makes me feel like a natural woman.

Just don’t expect to see me in dreadlocks anytime soon.

ShopNotes

. Last week, during my ShopGirl segment on WLBZ-2, I mentioned that Dansko clogs were for horseback riding. A viewer pointed out my error. While they’re seen quite frequently in the equestrian world, they’re unsafe to wear while riding.

. Looking for a way to tame your mane? Try Pantene’s Winter Rescue conditioner. My long-tressed colleague Nok-Noi Hauger says it’s the only thing that works to keep static at bay.

JASON apricot moisturizing lotion, $7.29 at Natural Living Center in Bangor

The Body Shop mango body scrub, $16, cranberry shower gel, $9, coconut body butter, $16 and vitamin E cream (sample size), visit www.thebodyshopathome.com for a local representative.

Kiss My Face Moisture Soap, $3.59 at Natural Living Center in Bangor

Crabtree & Evelyn Gardeners 60-Second Fix hand therapy kit, $25 at The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor

Burt’s Bees Milk & Honey Body Lotion, $9, Lemon Butter Cuticle Creme, $5 at The Grasshopper Shop in Bangor