B for Blush/Bronzer..

I have been reading up a lot on natural skin care and make up and I am totally fascinated with the numerous options nature has to offer us! Most of what we want is available in abundance in nature, yet we keep creating stuff that not only harms us but also disturbs our ecosystem.

For all those interested in make-up, have you given a thought about what goes into those tubes and pots of color that sit in your vanity case? Most of us wouldn’t have.. It’s not just with make-up/skin care or personal care .. but as consumers, more often than not we are so oblivious of the world around us that we get carried away by false promises and the glitzy and glamorous advertisements thrown at us. Hope this gets you thinking..

On that note, I would like to share with you a recipe to make your own natural blush/bronzer. Please keep in mind that making your own make-up is more of an art than science as you have to experiment a bit to arrive at a color/tone that suits you best. What’s better than customizing make-up which is all natural to perfectly suit your skin? So let’s get started..

The ingredients can be bought off stores selling heath supplements, vitamins or the internet.

What you will require:

Arrow root powder or Organic Corn Starch powder for the base

Beet root powder or Hibiscus powder for the colour

Cocoa powder or Cinnamon powder for depth.

The quantity of the ingredients required depends on how much blush you want to make. Since the ingredients are dehydrated (free of moisture), you wouldn't have to worry about bacteria, which leaves you with a preservative free formulation. However it is always safe to make such products in small batches, (don’t worry about the hassle of making it as it’s a very quick & easy process) as bacteria may accumulate over time if the product comes in contact with unclean brushes/hands or even through air.

Method:

Take a tablespoon of arrowroot powder and keep adding beet root powder or hibiscus powder (depending on what color you want) in small quantities until you get the desired tone. A tiny bit of cocoa powder or cinnamon powder can be added for depth. If you wish to make a bronzer, substitute the beet powder/hibiscus powder with cocoa and cinnamon powder (for glow) to arrive at the desired tone. If you think you have arrived at a very dark shade, you can add more arrow root powder to lighten it.

Mix the ingredients well and store it in a clean and dry container. Voila! You have your own customized natural blush.

Hope you have fun making it and do share your experience with me. If you have other ways of making natural blush, you are most welcome to share them here. Take care and stay healthy!

The Miracle Oil- Tea Tree Oil!

Hellooo.. Another new day brings me to another new post! This time it is going to be a product review. As a follow up to my previous post, I would like to write about the Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil, a product of Australia.

I was on the lookout for a ‘no frills’ tea tree oil upon hearing about its multifold benefits. Since I was going to try it for the first time, I was not quite sure which brand to buy. I knew The Body Shop had a tea tree oil range and I had even tried their tea tree facial cleanser. (Which I absolutely adore) However, I decided to first try a drugstore brand, so I popped into Guardian (Singapore) and happened to find the Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil. It looked like a good buy as it was an Australian product (Tea Tree Oil is obtained from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia, which is native to Southeast Queensland, Australia).

It was priced at S$19 for 25ml. They have a 10ml bottle too for S$11. I found the bigger bottle to be a better bargain (wooed by marketing I must say!) Ironically, The Body Shop tea tree oil is also priced at S$19 approx., but for 10 ml!J

The packaging is quite convenient and easy to use. The product comes in a glass bottle with a screw on cap. The label has a brief description about the products history which is an interesting read. I seem to like the strong smell of the product; however I doubt many others will.  It isn’t a smell that would put you off, but it wouldn’t appeal to many either. And don’t get carried away by the word ‘Oil, because the product has a very light and watery texture that is easily absorbed by the skin.

Now coming to its benefits.. I bought the product primarily to ward off pimples. I must say it did a good job of drying those zits and reducing the inflammation around the affected area. The zits also reduced in size after a couple of applications. The only downside that I can think of is that it can be difficult to apply during the daytime as it dries the skin and can appear patchy. Otherwise, I would say that it worked very well for my skin (combination skin).  A little goes a long way and the product has a long shelf life too as it is an essential oil..I would definitely be buying it again, (maybe I would try The Body Shop Tea Tree Oil too and f I find any difference, I will update it in this post).

Let me also tell you that Tea Tree Oil has a host of other benefits, not just for the skin but also for hair-dandruff and general cleaning purpose – as kitchen cleaner etc. It is known for its antiseptic, antifungal and anti-biotic properties and hence is a great remedy for acne, boils, cuts, insect bites and inflammations. Another interesting benefit is its odour neutralizing property (due to its antibacterial property) and thus it can be used in homemade deodorants and as a treatment for stinky feet.

I can go on raving about this miracle oil but I will stop here for now. J Hope you have a blessed week and stay healthy and happy! My next post is on B for ……….??? 

A for Acne..

The very sight of those tiny bumps surfacing on the skin can cause distress (no exaggeration :) ) among us women. We then try every possible way to hide them from the world but most often fail miserably and end up causing more harm to our skin. These annoying zits appear at the most inconvenient of times, especially when you think the world is watching you.

I have found that going the natural way works way better than over the counter remedies. However, there is still a catch to it. Every individual’s skin is different and reacts differently to natural remedies. So you may have to find out which one suits your skin the best and stick to it.  Personally, tree-tea oil works best for me (I have combination skin with an oily T-zone).

So here are some of the tried and tested remedies to combat acne.

Baking Soda- is an excellent exfoliator and helps remove dead skin cells. It helps in wiping out break outs and also reduces inflammation.

Method:

·         Take equal parts of baking soda and lukewarm water to make a paste. Apply it on the acne individually and not on the entire face.

·         Leave the paste on for about 10-15 minutes or until dry.

·         Wash off with cold water to help close the pores.

·         Repeat at most twice a day.

Apple Cider Vinegar- has powerful antibacterial and antifungal properties. Since it is in a concentrated form, it is advisable to dilute it with water (dilute few teaspoons with ½ part or ¼ part water) and apply to skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes or just let it stay.

Tea tree oil- is a Godsend miracle oil that is an all-natural remedy for acne. It has amazing anti-bacterial and anti-fungal properties and can be used for a host of other problems. Dab some tree tea oil onto the acne with a cotton ball and let it stay. Keeping it overnight works even better. It can be reapplied as and when required throughout the day. Tea tree oil can be bought from drugstores or beauty stores.

Lemon juice- Lemons are rich in vitamin C and have antibacterial and astringent properties. Cut a lemon in half and gently rub it over the acne. Keep it on for about 15 minutes and remember that citric acid in lemon has bleaching properties. So use sun screen afterwards to prevent skin from sun damage.

Garlic- is a great remedy not only when consumed internally but also works great topically. Thinly slice a clove of garlic and rub the slices on your skin, making sure the juice of the garlic is applied. Leave it on for about 15-20 minutes.

There are several more remedies but I thought I would give you the most tried and tested ones. They seem to be effective if used regularly and result in clear and smooth skin. These tips are quick and easy and most importantly, you can find these ingredients right in your kitchen.

There is an amazing all natural cleansing method (for clear and glowing skin) that I would like to share with you, but I have decided to keep that aside for a new blog post. Also, note that these tips are to combat acne. Remedies to target pimples spot on will again be featured in a separate blog post.

That apart, it is very important that you keep your mind and body in good form by eating healthy, drinking plenty of water and exercising regularly as more often than not, acne is caused by hormonal imbalance, stress and unhealthy diets. Also, make sure to keep your bed cover and pillowcases clean, as they can carry bacteria if they are not changed regularly and result in acne.

Hope these tips benefit you and please feel free to drop in comments about the ones that worked for you. You could even suggest new remedies that have worked for you. Stay blessed and healthy until my next post. A product review coming up soon..

How it all started..

I had never taken skin care seriously until a few months ago when I happened to view a couple of videos on skin care regime, product reviews and the likes from YouTube gurus. I began developing a keen interest in this area and went on to do a bit of research.

For very long, I had never been bothered to read the ingredients of any skin care product that I purchased. Little did I realize that I had been using tubes and pots of chemicals in the hope of doing my skin good.

Once I began my research, I found that there were a whole lot of products out there for concerns that I didn't even know existed. They came in different textures, colors and were jazzed up with indecipherable chemical names. Now I was beginning to get concerned about the stuff that I applied on my face and body. I began reading up on the ingredients that went into making skin care and came to learn that most of them did more harm than good to the skin in the long run. This is when I ventured into finding out more about natural skin care products and remedies. I could see a huge potential that this market offered but I also noticed how we, consumers were being deceived by false claims of natural products.

I have taken it as a challenge to launch my own line of natural products- that are true to their name and benefit the consumer and the environment. Since then I have been reading up on this and now that I have my own blog to share my thoughts, I am all the more excited.

In this blog, I intend to write about skin care concerns for women between the age of 18-28 years, share some quick tips, product reviews and natural remedies that are effective and value for money. I have also been interested in the "green concept" and "cause marketing" which will appear in my blog posts. You are most welcome to give your feedback or suggest topics for my future posts. Stay blessed and in good health and shape and keep watching this space for my next post.