Saturday, March 28, 2009

Baking Powder (Sodium Bicarbonate)


Did you know?!!
Baking soda helps wash away oil and perspiration, and it also neutralizes acids on the skin. Baking soda is especially great for soothing skin rashes, and can even help chronic problems like eczema and psoriasis. Some also claim that it helps counter the negative effects of radiation (whether from the sun or from x-rays, cancer treatments, and the like). It certainly helps a sunburn!

Interesting benefits of some essential oils

An essential oil is the aromatic and volatile extract of a plant. The essential oil may be liquid, semi-solid or solid, depending upon the product and climatic conditions.




Eucalyptus Essential Oil
(Eucalyptus Globulus)
Often used to relieve muscle, nerve and joint pains. The fragrance of the oil is believed to help combat exhaustion and dispel mental sluggishness.

Grapefruit Essential Oil (Citrus Grandis)
Rich in antioxidants, primarily in Vitamin C. Grapefruit essential oil is used for muscle fatigue, stiffness, acne and skin tightening.

Lavender Essential Oil (Lavandula Angustifolia)
Is the all purpose oil. Known for it antiseptic and antibacterial properties thus helps to combat acne and eczema. It also encourages the growth of new skin cells. Moreover it is known to help relieve headaches, insomnia, tension and stress.

Lemon Essential oil
Is an astringent that restores the skin's natural acid balance.

Orange Essential Oil (Citrus Sinensis)
Rich in vitamin C. Has anti-inflammatory and antiseptic properties. Also widely used to treat acne and dermatitis.

Peppermint Essential Oil (Mentha Piperita)
Known for its antiseptic and antispasmodic properties. Contains menthol, which is good for the skin. Also nourishes dull skin and improves oily skin.

Rosemary Essential oil
Rosemary has antibacterial and antioxidant activity. In hair care it is believed that rosemary encourages hair growth by improving blood flow to the scalp.

Tangerine Essential Oil
(Citrus Tangerina)
Has various benefits when used in skin care product formulations such as refining the texture of the skin, while also having good antiseptic and cell rejuvenating properties.

Tea Tree Essential Oil (Melaleuca Alternifolia)
Now favoured in soaps due to its ability to treat many skin conditions. The clear clean smell of tea tree has expectorant, antifungal and bactericidal properties.

Vanilla Essential Oil(Vanilla Planifolia)
Considered a supreme sensual aphrodisiac and one of the most popular flavours and aromas. Often used as a relaxant for nervous tension and stress.

Ylang Ylang Essential Oil(Cananga Odorata)
Historically, it has been used for its aphrodisiac properties. Sensual, balancing, relaxing and uplifting. This scent relaxes the body.



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Please Note: All essential oils must be used with caution while it's important that they are ALWAYS diluted with a base oil such as grapeseed oil/almond oil etc.

Essential oils must NOT be used while pregnant or breast feeding, or be used on children under 3 years of age)

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Is it Fake or real?


Armed with a little bit of knowledge, real handcrafted natural soap is fairly easy to spot. First, it should say "soap" on the label. By law, fake soaps can't use that term so they call it a "beauty bar" or a "moisturizing bar" or some other nonsense. Next, look for soaps with cold pressed or extra virgin olive oil as a main ingredient which is rich in antioxidants and skin nutrients.

Harmful synthetic additives to avoid are: dyes, antibacterial triclosan & triclocarban, EDTA, TEA, DEA, sodium laureth and sodium lauryl sulfates, and other chemical sounding names you don't recognize or can't even pronounce. Avoid them all. They're not kind to your health or the environment.

Of course the real test will be when you use the soap. If it dries your skin out or makes it feel tight or itchy, question its origin. There's nothing like well made, glycerin rich, handcrafted natural olive oil soap to leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and nourished. So if you're looking for skin loving soap, take the time to seek out natural handmade real soap. It may cost a little more, but your skin will thank you for it.