In a nutshell, oil cleansing is when you use a carrier oil, such as jojoba, to cleanse your skin instead of soap. Simply wet your face with a warm, wet washcloth, squirt a small amount of your oil of choice onto the wet washcloth and gently massage the oil all around your face using a circular motion. Then rinse your washcloth and wipe gently around your face once more. From here you can follow with more carrier oil for additional moisture, apply your favorite serum or leave your skin as is.
The reason that oil cleansing is gaining in popularity is that it is just as, if not more, effective than traditional cleansers for dissolving dirt and excess oil, as well as removing makeup. And it has the added benefit of not stripping the skin of its natural protective barrier, called the acid mantle, the way that soap does. This is one of the main differences between using oil instead of a regular facewash: your skin is actually better equipped to protect and regulate itself when you use oil because its acid mantle stays intact. With soap, that acid mantle is removed and must be superficially replaced by something like a moisturizer or serum.
Oil cleansing with an oil like jojoba also helps the skin to regulate the amount of oil it produces, another benefit you can’t get from using soap. This is because oils like jojoba are adaptogenic, which means they help the body better respond to and cope with stress. Whether your skin is too oily or too dry, using jojoba oil every day as a cleanser will help your skin self regulate so that your complexion can be more balanced and easily maintained.
Lastly, when you oil cleanse, your skin gets to soak up all the essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants from the oil(s) you use, making it a multi-tasking skincare product that’s affordable, efficient, and most importantly, effective.
]]>The reason that using certain oils on your skin is actually beneficial is because your skin is covered by a very thin lipid layer known as the acid mantle. Think of it as your skin’s immune system; a healthy and properly functioning acid mantle knows what to keep out and what to let in and maintains the proper pH which is crucial for infection (think acne) free skin. Soap strips your skin of the acid mantle, which in turn renders your skin vulnerable to outside invaders, disrupts its natural pH and predisposes it to premature aging. Thus, the more you can nourish and maintain your skin’s natural acid mantle, the better off your skin will be.
One of the best oils to use on your skin is jojoba oil. This golden oil comes from the desert growing jojoba plant, and every glistening drop is filled with the full spectrum of vitamin E. Interestingly, jojoba oil is actually not an oil at all, but a plant wax that is almost identical to the skin’s own sebum. Because of this, jojoba oil is extremely easy for the skin to absorb and utilize, making it an extra effective anti aging skincare oil for all over use. It helps to unclog pores, remove dirt and even makeup with ease, all while being perfectly moisturizing, light and balancing.
Raw shea butter is another plant oil that is extremely beneficial for the skin. Similar to jojoba oil, shea butter is very helpful in helping to balance the skin- especially skin that is irritated. Many people notice that a single application of high quality raw shea butter instantly reduces their redness. It is also very high in skin cell lubricating essential fatty acids, which are very important for ensuring that your skin’s cellular function is working correctly. It is moisturizing, protective, keeps the acid mantle happy and fed, and one of the best moisturizers you could ever use.
]]>Luckily, there are things you can do to help your skin deal with the sun, regardless of sunscreen or hat cover. To start, make sure you eat lots of bright colored foods. While not necessarily a replacement for things like sunscreen and hats, eating a diet high in brightly colored foods means that your body will be getting plenty of antioxidants which help to neutralize and combat free radical damage resulting from too much sun exposure. Antioxidants found in the color pigments of plants have been found to actually help the skin absorb sunlight without getting burned- the exact same function they serve in the plants themselves.
While not a sunscreen or hat replacement either, using raw Shea butter on your skin has been shown to help the skin be more resilient under the sun. While we aren’t allowed to say that Shea butter has an actual SPF rating, it has been compared to a low rating of 6, making it a great addition to your sunscreen routine or even an ingredient in your very own DIY sunscreen formula. It is also rich in essential fatty acids that help your skin perform at its best, which in turn helps support your skin’s overall wellbeing and ability to be in and deal with the sun. Some people even like to mix it with their sunscreen.
Build a base tan. This might sound silly since it’s not technically in the same category as sunscreen or wearing a hat, but making sure that your skin has a healthy base tan before you go out in the sun for longer periods of time can really help prevent a sunburn. How many times have you gotten burned because you got excited and either stayed out too long or forgot/didn’t apply sunscreen or used a hat? Well, with a base tan the chances of that happening go down.
]]>Lavender: Lavender essential oil is a fantastic essential oil for beginners and advanced users alike. It’s very gentle and using it on children is great for helping them to calm down during temper tantrums and to fall asleep when they’re too wired for anything else. It’s aroma is pleasant and grounding, and is great for helping with headaches, feelings of anxiety and tension. Just make sure that the lavender you’re buying is real lavender, not the popular lavender adulterant, lavandin.
Lemon: Lemon essential oil is great for children in school and adults with busy schedules. It significantly enhances mental focus and concentration and helps bring feelings of lightness and joy to all who smell it. Because it’s so beneficial for the mind, using it in the diffuser is especially helpful and convenient.
Frankincense: Frankincense essential oil comes to us with a sacred history filled with ritual and travel across the middle east. Coincidentally (or perhaps not so coincidentally) it is a fantastic aromatherapeutic aid for meditation. It imparts a calm, concentrated focus to the mind and helps to dissolve tension. It goes fantastic blended with other oils, including lemon, and is equally wonderful on its own.
Rose: Rose essential oil is an oil fit for a queen, and indeed rose is often nicknamed “Queen of the flowers”. Its aroma is as ethereal as it is strong and a little goes a very long way with this potent plant essence distilled from the delicate petals of the rose flower. Heralded as an aphrodisiac, rose can help to induce feelings of joy and lightheartedness and has even been said to bring a sense of confidence to the mind and heart of whoever smells it.
Though there are many more essential oils to choose from, these four are a great place to start your aromatherapeutic journey. Use them one by one, experiment with making your own blends and enjoy the many benefits of the wondrous plant nectars known as essential oils.
]]>We’ll come out and say it: raw shea butter is one of the best moisturizers on the planet. And that’s not just our ego talking! Maybe we’re biased, but does it really count as bias when it’s backed by science and real life, tangible results? Here’s the thing: there are a lot of fantastic lipid based plant moisturizers out there. Oils like coconut and Jojoba, butters like cocoa and even certain hydrating essential oils like rose. If you use any of these on your skin, you’re doing the right thing, and no doubt you can see the results. But shea butter is unique when it comes to plant based moisturizers. Here’s why:
Shea butter does more than just moisturize the skin. It protects it. And by protect we don’t mean via antioxidants- although it does that too. We’re talking about the very thin and light layer it leaves on the skin that protects it from harsh environmental elements like whipping winds and biting cold. While other moisturizers deliver necessary fatty acids to the skin cells, shea butter does that and protects the skin from further environmental factors that would damage and dry out the skin.
Shea butter is also rich in the ultra hydrating essential fatty acid known as Oleic Acid. This fatty acid is not only extremely hydrating to the skin, it also helps the skin to hold onto moisture instead of losing it- a critical component for delaying the onset of premature aging and issues like leathery skin and sagging. Shea butter also contains Stearic acid, an EFA that helps to support the skin’s natural protective barrier by protecting and helping to build it. This is important because if your skin’s protective barrier, known as the acid mantle, isn’t functioning correctly, the quality of your skin will suffer. This might look like anything from acne to extra dryness, but with shea butter, those things are in the past.
As you can see, shea butter is a fantastic moisturizer. Not only does it moisturize and lubricate, it also protects, holds in moisture and keeps the skin’s natural immune system healthy and intact. A little goes a long way, it’s completely natural, and best of all, it works.
]]>Silky soft skin is a hallmark of a healthy complexion, and with the height of spring time right around the corner there’s never been a better time to revamp your smooth skin routine. While many people think the buck stops at daily lotion applications, we’re here to tell you that it definitely does not! Everything from the quality of your diet to how much water you drink plays a role in the overall smoothness of your skin, and one of our favorite ways to make sure everything is silky smooth and glowing is to dry skin brush.
At its most basic level, dry skin brushing helps the skin stay soft because it brushes away dead skin cells from the uppermost layer of the skin. This keeps the skin soft because, if allowed to build up, these dead skin cells can create a scaly and rough layer that blocks the soft, juicy and new skin underneath. The result is skin that looks rough, scaly and dull and feels dry and flaky.
So why not just use a body scrub then? Well, while there’s nothing wrong with using a body scrub to exfoliate, dry skin brushing is more convenient than using a scrub because you don’t have to do it in the shower or the bath. It can be done at any time of the day, takes about 60 seconds and leaves you feeling invigorated. You can choose to moisturize after you dry skin brush, or simply go along with your day. You can also put a drop or two of an essential oil like Peppermint on the palm of your hand, run that over the bristles of the dry skin brush and proceed to dry brush for an added aromatherapeutic, energizing and lymphatic system supporting boost.
To start, simply take your dry brush and begin at your feet. Doing 3-6 light strokes per area toward your heart, move your way from the tops of your feet to your legs, torso, arms, etc. If there are areas where you have cellulite you can spend some extra time there and move the dry brush in circles to increase circulation. Once you’ve finished, jump in the shower, put on some lotion, or simply get dressed and move on with your day. It’s simple, easy, feels good and most importantly, effective.
]]>Depending on where you look, the answer is yes. Armed with the right information, you can find the skincare products you need to make sure your skin has what it needs from both ends of the spectrum. And two of the best skincare categories to help you do that are raw shea butter and essential oils. Here’s why:
Raw African shea butter is extremely protective for the skin. It guards it against environmental irritants and aging factors while simultaneously delivering a rich array of essential fatty acids that help the skin to function optimally by keeping the skin’s cellular membranes in tip top shape. These essential fatty acids also help to keep the skin smooth and moisturized. Raw shea butter also contains antioxidants like vitamins E and A, both fantastic for neutralizing free radicals that cause wrinkles and fine lines.
Even though essential oils don’t contain essential fatty acids like shea butter, what they do contain are powerful antioxidant and terpene factors that further help to repair and guard the skin from damage. Essential oils are basically concentrated plant essences rich with all the healing goodness contained in the plant. This means that essential oils contain both universal properties, as well as properties distinct to that particular oil because of the plant it’s derived from. For example, both rose and lavender essential oils are fantastic for the skin. Both have anti aging and healing properties; where they are unique is that lavender excels at soothing the skin while rose is adept at providing and protecting cellular hydration.
So, when you’re out and about looking for skincare to heal and protect your skin, look for ingredients like raw shea butter and essential oils. Or, you can easily make your own skincare by mixing them together at home.
]]>Your skin’s magical shield is called the acid mantle. It’s a very thin layer made up of lipids that resides on the surface of your skin. It’s called the acid mantle because it maintains a naturally acidic pH that is actually very important for maintaining the acid mantle’s shield-like qualities. See, just like the rest of your body, your skin requires a certain pH level in order to be healthy. The acid mantle is what regulates that pH, and when you use certain skincare ingredients and products, you can either support your skin’s naturally acidic pH, or you can change it.
Soap based products are naturally alkaline, and because of this they actually strip away the natural, oil based and more acidic acid mantle- which does not bode well for your skin. Oil based products and ingredients, on the other hand, including raw shea butter, have a pH that supports the acidic nature of the acid mantle and helps to keep it healthy.
The acid mantle, when functioning correctly, also serves to keep the amount and type of bacteria present on the skin in balance. Similar to your gut, there are certain types of beneficial bacteria that live on your skin and depend on the acid mantle for their survival. They also help keep bad bacteria away. When the acid mantle is stripped or its balance disrupted, that means that the good bacteria are disrupted as well which in turn leaves openings for harmful bacteria to colonize the skin instead. This throws off the delicate and crucial balance of the skin and can even contribute to skin issues like acne.
As you can see, taking proper care of your skin’s acid mantle is not only very important, but essential for optimal well being of your skin. And it’s easy! Just make sure to use high quality plant oils, like shea butter, on your skin and stay away from harsh soaps and detergents. That’s it!
]]>Sometimes, no matter which brand you choose to buy, your shea butter turns out a little grainy. It’s not ideal, plenty of people really don’t like it, and it can be discouraging to first time buyers. What you need to know is that first, sometimes grainy shea butter happens, and second, that it’s an easy fix. All you need is a little bit of time, patience, and the right trick to make it happen. Next time you come across a batch of shea butter that isn’t as smooth as you want it, try one of these solutions:
Melt it slowly: often times the cause of a grainy batch of shea butter is due to the supplier melting it down too quickly, or the shea butter re-melting in its container during transport. The best way to fix this is to re-melt down your shea butter over low heat, and allow it to solidify slowly at room temperature. The hardest part is scooping your shea butter out of the tin, and if you don’t want to do that, you don’t have to! Simply take your container of shea butter and place it in a sink or container of hot water, or even in a warm windowsill, and let it soften slowly there. This will potentially take longer, but it’s as easy as setting it there and forgetting about it until you need it next.
Whip it: another way to deal with grainy shea butter is to whip it into a light, fluffy and smooth body butter. You can whip the shea butter alone, or add in another oil like coconut or cocoa butter for added moisture and a fun way to mix it up. Simply take your shea butter and other oil of choice (if you have one) and soften them over low heat in a double boiler. Some people use the microwave for this, but we don’t recommend that since the high heat damages the therapeutic compounds in the shea butter. If your shea butter is already soft and very pliable, then you can skip the warming step. Simply place all your oils in a mixing bowl and whip with a hand held mixer until the mixture is light, fluffy and smooth. Then transfer to your container of choice for easy, daily use. You can also add some essential oils if you would like.
Next time your shea butter comes out a bit grainy, try one of these easy tricks- they work!
]]>This DIY boo boo balm is simple and easy to make and is great for those every day scrapes and scratches that don’t need serious attention but could still benefit from some healing help and protection. If there is a certain ingredient you don’t have on hand, feel free to replace it with something similar that you do have.
You will need:
In your small bowl mix together the shea butter and jojoba oil until well combined. The mixture should be nice and smooth, not too thick and definitely not runny. Once the two oils are combined add 5 drops of each essential oil and mix again. If you know you or someone else who will be using the balm has sensitive skin then this amount of essential oils is fine. If you don’t have sensitive skin and want it to be stronger go ahead and add more essential oils, starting with 2 drops per kind.
When your desired level of strength is reached, transfer your balm into your container of choice and let it set in a cool place or even the refrigerator. Simply keep it stored in a dry, preferably cool place and use it whenever a bump, bruise, scrape or bug bite arises. It should feel soothing on affected areas and the recipe can also be adjusted if there is a certain kind of oil you know you like and want to include.
]]>It’s actually really easy to do, and the benefits outweigh the small amount of time it takes to make. While most sunscreens contain unnatural ingredients and preservatives, homemade shea butter based sunscreen is completely natural and actually good for your skin. The tradeoff is that it’s not a standardized and tested product and thus an SPF rating is not possible or allowed. But that doesn’t need to stop you from trying it out!
For your very own DIY sunscreen you will need:
In your double boiler place the shea butter and cocoa butter and let melt over low to medium heat. It will take a minute, but you want to keep the heat on the lower side so none of the beneficial properties in the oil get damaged. Once melted, add the zinc oxide powder and mix until well combined. If you want to use a whisk, do so now. You can also add a couple drops of whatever essential oil you like if you so choose. When everything is thoroughly incorporated, transfer to your jar or container of choice and let set on the countertop or in the fridge.
This recipe is great for getting the sun protection you desire without exposing your skin to the potentially harmful or irritating chemicals and unnatural ingredients found in commercial sun block products. Feel free to experiment with other oils as you like, but be sure to keep the shea butter in there for its great texture, stable make up and protective qualities.
]]>With shea butter’s rich history that dates back to the days of Cleopatra, the list of uses for it only seems to grow. To learn the many ways you can use and benefit from shea butter, read on!
Derived from the Karite tree mostly found in Africa, shea butter is made from the fruits of these trees, and even more specially, the nuts within the fruit. In producing shea butter, the nuts must first be extracted from the fruits. From there, the nuts are crushed and then gently heated until the shea butter melts. From there, the resulting mixture is strained to remove the shells and any other debris that may have found its way into the shea mixture.
The resulting shea butter is rich in vitamins A, E, and F, as well as essential fatty acids, including palmitic, stearic, oleic, linoleic, and arachidic acids. Additionally, since shea butter is more non-saponifiable than similar oils & fats, it’s healing properties for the skin and suitability for making soap are virtually unmatched.
Because shea butter presents a range of uses and benefits for its users, it’s always best to choose raw shea butter, like what we carry here at 24Karite Gold. When left unrefined and processed at a low temperature, shea butter is even safe to consume—and it can even be beneficial! Whether it’s the antioxidants, anti-inflammatory properties, or essential fatty acids, shea butter is the ultimate solution to an array of skin issues, and can be used in many different way. These include:
As you can see, shea butter can be used for a broad range of skin issues, but it’s also great for hair care and even helping to protect your skin from the sun’s harsh UV rays. Plus, you can use it as an ingredient for virtually any skin care product you want to make at home. From massage creams to lotions and soap, shea butter is extremely versatile.
Keep in mind that the uses and properties above are specific to raw and unrefined shea butter. Refined shea butter is often processed with various chemicals to alter the color and scent of the shea butter with the hope of making it more appealing. Unfortunately, these chemicals reduce many of shea butter’s inherent benefits. Here at 24Karite Gold, we only use the most ethical, effective, raw, wildcrafted and unrefined shea butter.
We proudly work with a women’s cooperative in Ghana, Africa to source our shea butter. As a result, the strong women workers of the cooperative can maintain a steady, fair income and provide for their families, while our customers (like you!) get access to raw shea butter straight from the source!
Feeling convinced? Try it for yourself! If you’d like to experience the benefits of raw shea butter and it’s many uses for skin and hair care, be sure to check out our entire selection of shea butter products at 24Karite Gold. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact us.
]]>You will need:
If your oils aren’t already soft and easily mixable, gently soften them in a double boiler over low heat. They don’t have to be completely melted, just soft and easily mixed. Transfer all your oils to your mixing bowl and whip them with your hand mixer until fully incorporated and the texture is light and fluffy. Transfer your moisture intensive cream to your glass jar and store it somewhere cool and dry. As long as you keep moisture out of the container it will last at least a year- though you will use it up long before then!
You can use this cream all over your entire body, including your face. It’s great for any season, and especially great for dry, cold winters that make your hands, elbows and knees chap and crack. If you prefer a scented body butter, feel free to add some drops of your favorite essential oil(s). Lavender, Peppermint, Rosemary and Frankincense would all be great additions, and are good for your skin as well. But feel free to use whatever oil(s) you like best. This cream also makes a great gift, party favor and stocking stuffer. You could easily put it in a bunch of mini jars for the cutest hand made presents! Whether you decide to give some away or keep it all for yourself, you’re sure to love the deep, healing and protective moisture this cream offers.
]]>In short, moisture is connected to fats and hydration is connected to water. A moisturizing skincare product is going to use the essential fatty acids from plant lipids to lubricate your skin, while a hydrating product is going to deliver water to your skin cells, and ideally help that water stay there. But here’s the catch: putting water on your face (and in skincare products) is actually dehydrating to the skin! While moisturizing is pretty simple and straightforward, keeping your skin hydrated requires a little more thought and strategy.
First, remember that the amount of hydration you give your body via water and hydrating foods contributes to your skin’s overall hydration. For the skincare part, in order to rehydrate your skin, and keep it that way, you need to prevent the existing water in your skin cells from leaving. And that’s where shea butter comes in. Shea butter is deeply moisturizing to the skin while also preventing cellular water loss. This is absolutely key for maintaining a plump, juicy and soft complexion.
One of the main ways it does this is by forming a thin yet protective layer across the surface of the skin. This layer protects the skin from dehydrating and aging elements like strong sunlight, wind and dry conditions. Shea butter also helps to enforce strong cellular membranes by way of the nourishing fatty acids it supplies. This in turn keeps your skin cells better equipped to hold onto adequate amounts of water.
Using raw African shea butter on your skin is the perfect way to deliver deep, healing moisture and keep your skin’s hydration level where it needs to be. Each application ensures the right amount of moisture and hydration so you can stick to one product instead of many. It’s easy, fast effective skincare you can count on.
]]>You will need:
Into your mixing bowl, drop a very generously heaping spoonful of either coconut oil or Shea butter (make sure they are warm and easily mixable). To that, add 5-10 drops of each essential oil. Mix and mash it all together with your spoon, then transfer it to your container of choice. When you’re sick you can keep this right next to your bed for easy access, otherwise it will store just fine in your medicine cabinet or other cool, dry place. If you are someone who is sensitive to essential oils start on the lower side of the oil concentration, even if that means only using a few drops of each oil. Every person is different and you want to listen to your body. You can also substitute or add in other essential oils if you like. For example, Lavender or Eucalyptus would both be great in this formula.
While this isn’t a cure, we have found it to do wonders for helping with calming a night time cough and opening up the chest and nose so sleep can come swift and easy. The essential oils also have beneficial aromatherapeutic properties that help with tension and impart an overall feeling of wellbeing. When stored properly, this can last a very long time, and a little goes a long way. Enjoy!
]]>Easy and quick, these moisturizing soaking salts make a great gift for basically any bath time lover (including you). All you need is:
First, measure out your soaking salts into your mixing bowl (you can use however much you want). Then, take your Shea butter (about 1 tsp for every 1 to 1 ½ cups of soaking salts) and melt it slowly over low heat. It’s important you keep the heat low so the Shea butter’s therapeutic properties stay in tact, so be patient. Once it has melted, pour it over your soaking salts. If you are using any essential oils, now is the time to add those as well. Start with 10 drops for every cup. Mix everything together until the Shea butter has evenly coated the soaking blend, then transfer the mixture into your container of choice. Keep it stored somewhere cool so that the Shea butter doesn’t melt in the container (but it will melt and lightly coat your skin when you add it to the bath- which is exactly what you want!).
Now, next time you want to take a bath you don’t have to worry about getting itchy and dried out skin. Use this soaking salt blend to relax, rejuvenate and softly moisturize your skin all while sitting in the tub. And don’t worry about it being too oily, the amount of Shea butter used is just enough to moisturize your skin without being too much.
]]>When the winter weather comes in full force, so does the extra dry skin. Skin care products that previously worked great for you are now falling short. Your cheeks get red and rough, wrinkles start to look deeper and those smile lines that used to not bother you seem a little too pronounced now. All these signs are your skin’s way of letting you know that it needs more moisture! It needs more protection from the elements, and it needs more skin care ingredients that feed and strengthen it so it can better adapt to the cold weather and elements. Now, you could go buy a product that might help your skin with these things. Or, you could whip up your very own hand made winter face cream with ingredients you probably already have on hand. If you’re feeling crafty today, here’s a recipe just for you:
Ingredients-
Measure the raw Shea butter, Jojoba and Seabuckthorn oil into the mixing bowl. If you are using the essential oils, measure 5-10 drops of each into the bowl as well. With your hand mixer, whip up all the oils together until thoroughly combined. You will know when it’s done because the texture will be light, fluffy and have a whipped kind of consistency. When it’s ready, transfer to your container of choice and store in a cool, dry place. This cream can be used daily on your face as well as on your body.
Raw African Shea butter is the base for this face cream because it meets all the criteria mentioned above for what your skin needs during the cold and sometimes harsh winter weather: it strengthens your skin, protects it externally, and keeps it hydrated. Jojoba oil helps your skin to adapt to the weather and provides the full spectrum of vitamin E, Seabuckthorn provides extra antioxidants and youthening lipids, Lavender essential oil soothes and speeds up cellular healing and Frankincense essential oil lends an extra anti aging and reparative ingredient to this already extremely restorative formula.
This DIY winter face cream would also make a fantastic gift or mini party favor and is great for massage and especially rough places on the body like the feet, knees, elbows and cracking hands. Though formulated for your face, it can do the job anywhere you need it to.
]]>Cellulite comes from a combination of lack of muscle tone, insufficient circulation and compromised connective tissue structure. So, the best way to help keep cellulite at bay is to support your body’s natural systems of circulation, tissue integrity and muscle tone. For example, some people find that incorporating some exercise and muscle toning into the areas where they experience the most cellulite helps to diminish the appearance of their cellulite. For circulation, activities like rebounding and massage help to bring blood flow and oxygen into the affected areas, while using a cellulite cream with circulation enhancing ingredients like caffeine and niacinamide also help to support cellulite ridden areas to clear out and find some balance.
While both increased circulation and muscle tone can help with connective tissue structure, there are other skin care ingredients you can use that further help to enhance and strengthen your skin’s collagen and elastin. These include ingredients like MSM and plant stem cells- both of them excellent substances for rebuilding the structural matrix of your skin so everything looks smooth and tight.
It’s important to note that when targeting your cellulite, your approach must include supporting the connective tissue of your skin. Many cellulite creams only target the circulation aspect using temporary means like caffeine extract to produce a short lived result that doesn’t last. If you want your results to last, you have to rebuild that connective tissue, and that takes a little bit of time. But it’s worth it! The good news is that patience is the hardest part.
]]>The answer to this lies in the skin’s ability, or inability, to stretch at the rate that the body expands. This is most obvious in teenage or preteen children who hit a growth spurt, women who become pregnant and those who experience weight gain. All of these instances are normal life events, but in instances where stretch marks develop, the skin didn’t possess the elasticity necessary to stretch and/or bounce back without experiencing any damage. And that’s what the stretch marks are. So, in order to help your skin better stretch and come back, you need to build and protect your skin’s very structure.
One of the ways you can do this is by using healing plant oils like raw shea butter to keep the skin supple and lubricated. The essential fatty acids found in rich and moisturizing plant oils help to keep the outer membranes of your skin cells supple instead of shriveled. This in turn makes it so that your skin has an easier time stretching because the very texture and integrity of the cells that make it up is flexible and plump instead of brittle. You can choose to use plain shea butter, or mix it up and use other oils like coconut and even olive oil to give your skin its daily dose of cellular loving magic.
Another way to help prevent the development of stretch marks is to use skincare that has ingredients in it that encourage the formation of collagen and elastin. Both collagen and elastin are important proteins within the body that are imperative to the overall structure of your skin and connective tissues. Elastin especially, is important for your skin’s ability to be elastic. Ingredients to look for include things like MSM, which is so important and effective that it already occurs naturally in your tissues, plant stem cells and amino acid complexes that help rebuild damaged tissues.
]]>Shea butter comes from Shea nuts that grow on the Shea, or Karite, tree. While many plants used for the skin care market place are cultivated, Shea butter can be very easily and responsibly wild crafted because the trees are already a part of Africa’s natural and wild eco system. And like every tree, they help to prevent soil erosion, provide homes and food for animals and other critters, as well as providing a valuable community resource for the people who live there.
Additionally, Shea butter is traditionally viewed as a food item in Africa since it’s used often as a cooking oil. Traditionally, food items are seen as being under the jurisdiction of women, and since Shea butter is considered to be a food item it automatically falls under the umbrella of resources available to women. Additionally, Shea trees are viewed as a community resource that cannot and should not be owned or exploited, which basically ensures their survival and thus the survival of all the life their existence in turn supports. Because of this, we are able to source wild harvested Shea butter from Shea trees that support their native ecosystem to flourish.
In terms of wild harvested versus organic Shea butter, because Shea butter grows so abundantly and naturally, the difference between the two terms can become a little blurred. You can err on the side of safety and go with wild crafted Shea butter because wild grown Shea is automatically “organic”, even if it isn’t cultivated and certified. This is one of the really great things about Shea butter: it actually surpasses organic by being wild, and in the process supports the integrity of its natural ecosystem, along with the women who harvest it for use on your skin, not to mention all the other traditional uses it has in Africa.
Now, every time you apply some raw African Shea butter, you’ll know that you’re not only supporting the health and integrity of your skin, but of big forests and the communities that rely on them.
]]>You will need:
First, make sure that your Shea butter and coconut oil are soft enough to easily mix. If not, you can place them in a warm place or even put them in a double boiler over low heat until they soften (they don’t need to be melted). Then, measure out your Shea butter, coconut oil and tamanu oil into your mixing bowl and mix and mash with your spoon until evenly and thoroughly incorporated. The texture should be rich, smooth and easy to spread on the skin. Transfer to your container and keep it stored in a cool, dry place.
You can use this tattoo balm every day, multiple times a day for tattoo protection and healing. Coconut oil soaks easily into the skin and goes on without a fight, making it the perfect plant oil for applying to recently broken skin. It also has natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties that help to prevent infection and aid in faster healing. Tamanu oil is richly hydrating and, like coconut oil, possesses natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory components that make it excellent for tattoo healing and maintenance. Raw Shea butter is not only extremely moisturizing and healing, it also leaves a light yet effective protective layer on the skin that is perfect for protecting tattoos from the elements.
Whether you have a lot or a little, one small one or a giant one, you want your tattoos to come out looking clean and well done. Aside from picking a quality artist, making sure you take excellent care of your tattoo while it’s healing is the best way to ensure it comes out with clean lines and bright colors.
]]>Here’s what you need:
Here’s what you do:
Fill your spray bottle up about ¼ of the way with Witch Hazel. This ingredient is actually quite important, as its purpose is to keep all the essential oils from evaporating off the top. Next, add 20 drops of your essential oil of choice. If you’re using a combination of essential oils, use more of the softer smelling oils and less of the stronger ones. This isn’t an exact science and there’s room for change so allow yourself to be creative. Now, add the water but leave some room at the top. Shake up your room and body spray, then check the smell. If you like it, great, you’re done! If you don’t, or if you think it could be better, now’s the time to add a couple more drops at a time of the oils you think it needs more of. Adjusting the smell can be a tricky business if you add too much too fast, so go slow to ensure you make a smell you’re happy with.
Aside from this being an enjoyable and creative activity, this also makes a great little stocking stuffer or heartfelt gift and has the added bonus of being aroma therapeutically beneficial since the ingredients are essential oils. Chances are a whiff of this will not only make your clothing or your room smell good, but you’ll also get a nice feeling of calmness or a wave of clarity and uplifting energy. And because there are no toxic chemicals folks who suffer from skin and/or smell sensitivities or even allergies, don’t have to worry.
]]>Body butter: I mean seriously, who doesn’t love a good body butter? Silky, smooth and lusciously hydrating, a good body butter should be the perfect combination of thick and light. After all, no one wants to feel like they’re clogging their skin whenever they want to moisturize. But at the same time it needs to be more moisturizing and soothing than a regular lotion. To reach this kind of effect, we recommend using a base of raw Shea butter and whipping it with a little bit of another carrier oil, like coconut or even cocoa butter. The result is a light and fluffy body butter that delivers the famous moisture of Shea butter.
Soaking salts: One of the best gifts for relaxation and self-care, soaking salts are super easy and fast to make. Packed in little glass jars they make a fantastic stocking stuffer or hand made gift, and they are extremely easy to store for your own personal use. We like to blend a couple different kinds together and add a little bit of essential oils to the mix for an experience that relaxes the mind and body through multiple senses.
Muscle rub: Muscle rubs are great, even if you aren’t someone who feels like they have frequent aches and pains. They can easily double as a massage balm and because they’re formulated to soothe sore muscles, they feel that much butter when used with a massage. You can also use Shea butter as the base of this and because it’s not a body butter, there’s no need to whip it. Simply make sure your Shea butter is warm enough to easily mix, then add in another carrier oil if you’d like, along with essential oils such as peppermint and lavender.
]]>Recipe as follows:
If your Shea butter isn’t already very soft or even slightly melted, you can place it in a sink of hot water, a warm windowsill or in a double boiler until a very soft, pliable and easily mixable texture is achieved.
Place your Shea butter and sugar in mixing bowl and mix and mash until thoroughly incorporated. Then add the pumpkin seed oil, along with any of your essential oils (if you so choose) and mix thoroughly once again. Once everything is completely combined you should be able to tell if the texture is to your liking. Most likely the only change you will want to make, if any, is to add a bit more sugar. Otherwise, it should be perfect. Transfer to your container of choice and keep in a cool, dark place. If you do choose to store it in the shower, just remember to keep the lid on at all times and keep water out of the container as much as possible to avoid the oils going rancid and the sugar dissolving.
]]>The answer is: yes, Niacinamide can not only be used on the body for anti aging purposes, it also makes a fantastic strategic addition to skincare formulas specifically formulated for specific things. This is why we use it in our stretch mark cream. The same properties in Niacinamide that make it valuable for anti aging skincare make it valuable for our cellulite cream.
These properties include boosting the production of three different proteins within the skin that increase plumpness, hydration and wrinkle protection, stimulating circulation within the skin and acting as an anti-inflammatory. This is great for those wanting to address their cellulite because the Niacinamide helps to target it from different angles instead of simply going with the traditional route that only temporarily reduces the appearance of cellulite.
The three different proteins that Niacinamide helps produce as well as its circulation boosting properties means that it is particularly helpful for skin that wants to be more full and have better connectivity and elasticity within its overall structure. This is great for cellulite because one of the issues with it is that poor connective tissue quality means dimples and sagging instead of smoothness and softness. By using something like Niacinamide, you can help your skin stay supple and firm. Additionally, increased circulation helps to keep toxins and lymphatic debris and fluid moving effectively throughout the body instead of pooling in one place. Once again, a contributing factor to cellulite development is stagnant lymphatic flow and build up in certain areas; increased circulation means decreased stagnancy.
There’s no good reason to only temporarily relieve the appearance of something when you can address it more holistically by basically doing the same thing: using a cellulite cream. This is why we chose to add Niacinamide to our cellulite cream formula, and why we feel confident you’ll be happy with the results.
]]>You could easily anoint your temples or wrists with this fantastic botanical elixir, or you could use it in the diffuser for your morning or evening meditation session. Both of these are great options, but the buck doesn’t stop there. When combined with some silky smooth and hydrating carrier oils and plant butters, Frankincense essential oil makes a fantastic botanical meditation balm. To make your own you will need:
Add your Shea butter and Coconut oil to your double boiler over low to medium low heat and allow them to slowly melt. You don’t want them to heat up very much so it may take a little while but it’s worth it. When your oils have melted remove bowl from heat source and add in 20 drops of your Frankincense essential oil. Stir in and take a whiff to make sure the aroma is of a strength that you enjoy. Remember that this is a meditation balm and so the Frankincense needs to be prominent but also not overwhelming; feel free to adjust the essential oil amount as you see fit. Once ready, transfer your balm into your container of choice and set in the fridge or cool place and allow it to solidify. You can store this in a cool dry place away from direct sunlight.
Use whenever you would like some calming, focusing, mentally elevating assistance in your meditations. This would also be great for any time you simply want to relax and feel uplifted. Rub it on your temples, wrists, back of neck, heart center and even the soles of your feet for a timeless way to help you meditate.
]]>If you’re in the muscle rub camp, you know how easy it is to simply go out and buy a ready to go salve. There’s a good chance you might even have a favorite already. And while it’s great that it’s so convenient to find and purchase when you need, it’s also worth noting that it can be just as convenient, not to mention fun, to make your own DIY muscle and joint rub for use at home.
With a creamy and moisturizing Shea butter base and a couple analgesic essential oils added in, this easy to use and make aromatic muscle rub can be made in minutes and used indefinitely. You will need:
In your mixing bowl pour and then mix your Shea butter and coconut oil until thoroughly incorporated. It’s important that both oils be soft enough to easily mix. Add to this 15 drops of Peppermint and 15 drops of Eucalyptus essential oil, then mix once again. If you find you have sensitive skin or a delicate nose, then keep the amount of essential oils here. If you would like it to be stronger, go ahead and add more essential oil, starting with 5 drops of each at a time, until your desired strength is reached. When you’re done, transfer your muscle rub to your container of choice and store in a cool dry place.
You can use this rub any time you feel you need some relief, and it has the added bonus of smelling great and moisturizing your skin while your pain melts away. Additionally, both essential oils have aroma therapeutic benefits that you get to enjoy whenever you use this, most notably their ability to help with energizing your mind when it’s feeling sluggish.
]]>DIY projects are a great way to customize your skincare choices to fit your specific needs. Whereas when you buy a ready made product you have no say in what went into the formula, at what amount and what quality it was, doing a simple DIY project ensures that you have total control over the entire process and can know that what you are putting onto your skin is not only exactly what you want, but that it will do exactly what you want it to do.
For your cracking hands, dry and chapped cheeks and lips, try this easy and effective DIY moisturizing balm recipe featuring the heavy duty moisturizing and protective powers of raw African Shea butter with other healing plant oils for the kind of no nonsense skincare your skin needs.
Here’s the recipe:
Measure and add your warm Shea butter, coconut and Tamanu oil into the mixing bowl, along with 10 drops of the Lavender essential oil if using. Thoroughly mix and mash all the oils together until very thoroughly blended. If you want the texture to be thinner, add more Tamanu. If you want it to be thicker, add more Shea butter. When you are satisfied with the consistency, transfer your skin balm into your container of choice and keep it stored in a cool, dry place away from direct sunlight.
You can use this Shea butter based skin balm all over and whenever you need it. If you have a favorite skincare oil you want to add, go for it! Treat this recipe as an outline and feel free to experiment and make changes as you see fit.
]]>While most cellulite creams on the market focus on quick and temporary fix ingredients like caffeine, you will be hard pressed to experience long lasting results from a product that doesn’t contain ingredients to create those results in the first place. And this is where anti aging ingredients come into play. Because anti aging skincare ingredients like peptides, vitamin C and MSM support and stimulate the skin’s natural abilities to rebuild itself. They help with elasticity, collagen and overall cellular quality- all things needed and necessary when it comes to smooth, happy skin.
Anti aging ingredients also set up your skin for the long haul. Each use builds upon the last so you’re not starting from square one every single time. In contrast, quick fix ingredients are just that—quick. Their effects wear off, which makes it so that by the next application it’s like you never used them in the first place. By choosing to use anti aging skincare ingredients in your cellulite cream that support the long term quality of your skin, it just gets better and better the longer you use them. And because ingredients like MSM and vitamin C work with your skin’s natural processes, you are effectively killing two birds with one stone by using your skin’s natural internal processes as well as supporting and adding to them from the outside.
Cellulite is tough. It’s annoying and can be quite stubborn. Add to that feeling jerked around by all the gimmicky products and short term “results”, and you’ve got a recipe for frustration and even giving up. But as long as you keep sticking to quality, long term anti aging ingredients, there’s a good chance you’ll find relief and satisfaction at last.
]]>DIY botanical perfume: Rose has a very light and distinctive aroma that makes it fantastic for botanical oil blends that aim to uplift, brighten and induce a light state of euphoric bliss. It blends well with other oils like Jasmine, Geranium and Palma Rosa, and can also be used alone. Because it is a very poignant and potent oil, don’t hesitate to dilute it in a carrier oil so that the smell stays pleasant instead of becoming overwhelming. Rose is very concentrated and a little really does go a very long way. You can simply blend with other essential oils, dilute in a carrier oil or make it into a solid perfume with some Shea butter as the base.
Aromatherapy blend: Because Rose is so powerful and positive for the psyche, it is a fantastic oil to include in your aroma therapeutic arsenal. You can use it in other oils, both essential and carrier, similar to a perfume blend, except that it is formulated with specific aroma therapeutic intent. This is great if you lead meditation (or meditate yourself), are a massage therapist or participate in/facilitate any kind of activity that requires relaxation and a positive mental outlook.
DIY skincare: Rose essential oil is well known for its beautifying properties. It is very popular in anti aging formulations and you can easily use it to make your own! You can keep things simple and place a couple drops in a homemade facemask or serum, or even make your own DIY facial toner with it for a quick and refreshing, beauty inducing spritz. Just like with the botanical perfume, a little goes a long way.
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