MINT EMULSIFIED SUGAR SCRUB!

Mint Emulsified Sugar Scrub

Let me start out by saying that I love, love, love this scrub.  I have made many a scrub, but this one tops them all.  It's a gentle scrub, great for the face, and leaves your skin feeling soft and slightly energized.  The fragrance is soft and delicate, and the sugar provides a gentle scrub.  I found the recipe on one of my favorite supply websites, Wholesale Supplies Plus.  It's a winner in my book, and here's why:

Avocado Oil

• Avocado Oil:  I've extolled the benefits of this wonderful fruit oil before, but it's so good I'll share it again.  Cold pressed avocado oil is one of the richest sources of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid.  Not only is avocado oil extremely good at hydrating and softening your skin, it is often recommended as an effective treatment for acne and blackheads, eczema and other forms of skin inflammation.  It's an excellent source of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. It also facilitates in the healing of scars, diminishing of spots, removal of stretch marks and shrinking of large pores. Avocado oil can increase collagen, reduce wrinkles, and heal damaged skin.  The avocado, actually a fruit, is rich in proteins and fats, sterolin, lecithin and potassium. The natural oils in an avocado can penetrate deep into the skin, helping to soften and hydrate dry and flaky patches.

Mango Butter

• Mango Butter:  Mango Butter is extracted from the fruit kernels of the mango tree. Pure Mango Butter is thought to exhibit excellent moisturizing properties while countering the drying effects of bar soaps and cleansers! Mango Butter is well suited for use in homemade sugar scrubs, lotion bars, soaps, cuticle creams and more!  In skin care, we love mango butter for its moisturizing essential fatty acids. It's rich in oleic acid, a mono-unsaturated omega-9 acid; and stearic acid, a saturated fatty acid. These are ingredients that the skin readily recognizes, absorbs, and uses to help add moisture to the skin.  It both tightens and firms while providing super nourishment to the skin.

Vitamin E

• Vitamin E:  Vitamin E oil works to block free radicals from the body, which play a large part in the aging process. If we can fight off free radicals, then we can reduce wrinkles and keep the skin youthful-looking. It has basic antioxidant properties that everyone needs.  The term vitamin E actually refers to a group of fat-soluble compounds that have different antioxidant abilities. Because vitamin E helps ward off sun damage, it can reduce the signs of aging including fine lines, wrinkles, and brown spots. Vitamin E is also known as a wound healer.

Sugar

• Sugar:  Sugar scrubs have a few benefits over salt scrubs. For one, small sugar granules are generally gentler than salt, which can cause microscopic tears in the skin.  Secondly, because of sugar's natural humectant properties, these scrubs are more hydrating than salt scrubs, which can strip skin of natural oils.  Exfoliation is necessary as we age, it removes dry and dead skin cells on the surface of the skin.  It is one of the most important aspects of your home skincare routine for face and body. Exfoliation not only helps many skin problems, it also increases blood circulation, which in turn helps you to achieve healthy and glowing skin.  By exfoliating first, then moisturizing, you are getting the nutrients right where your skin needs them.  Moisturizing dead skin cells is of little benefit to your skin.

Mint Emulsified Sugar Scrub

So, I have just completed the three step process that you need for healthy, glowing skin after you have cleansed:   Exfoliate to get to your healthy skin; Clay Mask to pull impurities, shrink pores, moisturize, and nourish; Moisturize to nourish and protect your skin from the free radicals and impurities floating around in our atmosphere  that can cause premature aging.

LAVENDER CLAY FACE MASK!

Lavender Clay Face Mask

Most facial masks that I've used leave my skin feeling dry and taught, or the more gentle ones don't seem to do much.  I have a recipe for a facial mask that is so gentle, but still very effective, that you may want to use it every day, but probably don't need to.  It's full of nourishing ingredients along with ingredients that will pull impurities from your skin without leaving it dry or taught.  Lavender Clay Face Mask has the ingredients that will increase collagen and reduce wrinkles, it will ease inflammation and moisturize, it won't clog pores, and will prevent free radical damage, it absorbs excess oils and stale sebum, and helps to prevent aging via magnesium.  Simply apply to a clean and dry face, wait for it to dry, twenty to thirty minutes, then rinse off and apply moisturizer.  May I recommend my Revitalizing Night Cream!  I love the way my skin has responded to these latest products.

Let's take a look at what's in this little amazing jar:

Avocado Oil

• Avocado Oil:  Cold pressed avocado oil is one of the richest sources of beneficial monounsaturated fatty acids like oleic acid.  Not only is avocado oil extremely good at hydrating and softening your skin, it is often recommended as an effective treatment for acne and blackheads, eczema and other forms of skin inflammation.  It's an excellent source of antioxidants, essential fatty acids, minerals, and vitamins. It also facilitates in the healing of scars, diminishing of spots, removal of stretch marks and shrinking of large pores. Avocado oil can increase collagen, reduce wrinkles, and heal damaged skin.  The avocado, actually a fruit, is rich in proteins and fats, sterolin, lecithin and potassium. The natural oils in an avocado can penetrate deep into the skin, helping to soften and hydrate dry and flaky patches.

Argan Oil

• Argan Oil:   Argan oil is most commonly used as a skin moisturizer to hydrate and soften skin. With its high vitamin E and fatty acid content, Argan oil is the ideal product to give skin a natural boost. It absorbs easily and is non-greasy and non-irritating, which makes it a great natural moisturizer.  It is considered to be a dry oil meaning it absorbs quickly.  One of the main reasons that Argan oil is so therapeutic is because it’s rich with vitamin A and vitamin E.  However, Argan oil is also packed with antioxidants, omega-6 fatty acids and linoleic acid. Research shows that when applied to skin, Argan oil benefits include easing inflammation while moisturizing the skin.  When applied externally, tocopherol from the vitamin E helps to boost cell production while promoting healthy skin.  

Evening Primrose Oil

• Evening Primrose Oil:  Research shows that people with eczema don't have the normal ability to process fatty acids.  This results in a deficiency of gamma-linolenic acid, or GLA.  A benefit of Evening Primrose Oil is it's ability to help naturally cure various skin ailments because the essential fatty acids in Evening Primrose Oil help with hormone imbalances.  It contains anti-inflammatory properties that help reduce redness in the skin.  It is a good moisturizer with a low comedogenic rating.  It is one of the best oils for anti-aging due to it's ultra-moisturizing qualities that can help keep the skin supple, smooth, and soft.  It has strong anti-oxidant properties that help prevent free radical damage which helps to prevent premature aging. 

Kaolin Clay

• Kaolin Clay:   Kaolin clay is a fine and light clay that has natural absorbency properties. Kaolin, also called China clay, is named after the hill in China, Kao-ling, from which it was mined for centuries.  When applied on skin, it will absorb excess oils and stale sebum on the skin and within the pores.  It is a naturally occurring clay mineral used in cosmetics for its absorbent properties. Kaolin's absorbent properties make it a popular ingredient in clay masks.  White Kaolin clay, also known as White Cosmetic clay, is a very fine and light clay that has natural absorbency properties. White Kaolin clay is found in virtually all powdered and dry cosmetics and most wet cosmetics, including soaps, scrubs, poultices, deodorants, facial powders and masks.  Kaolin is one of the State of Georgia's largest natural resources. According to the U.S. Geological Survey, more than 8 million metric tons of kaolin are mined from Georgia each year, with an estimated value of more than $1 billion.

Purple Brazilian Clay

• Purple Brazilian Clay:  Brazilian clay is a type of kaolin clay that comes from Brazil. They come in a variety of different colors, including red, purple, black, and gold. The clay is naturally colored — they don’t contain artificial dyes or pigments. Instead, the color comes from the minerals that the clay has absorbed over time. Because Brazilian clay is available in a variety of natural colors, it’s often used to add color to homemade soap, skincare products, and cosmetics.  Purple Brazilian clay is a great option for people who want to help prevent aging skin. It’s chock full of magnesium, which promotes healthy cell maintenance — an essential part of maintaining a youthful appearance. Also, purple Brazilian clay helps prevent your skin from absorbing impurities, which is why it’s often used in soap and facial cleansers.

Well, it seems that I need to look into a great face soap recipe that includes Purple Brazilian Clay!  Stay tuned, it may be coming soon!

REVITALIZING NIGHT CREAM!

Revitalizing Night Cream

We have a new baby born here on the Farm!  No, it's not what you are thinking, but it is still very exciting!  I haven't made a new face cream in quite a long while.  I've been feeling like I needed something different, something better.  So, I hit the Internet and began to look around for some new and better ingredients that would do what I needed them to do.  And, voila, here it is!

Revitalizing Night Cream is exactly what it's name says it to be.  After cleansing my face at night and applying the new cream to my face, I woke up the next morning in love with my skin.  I am excited to see where this cream will take me.  I believe it's the best face cream I have made, and far better than much of what is available out there in the retail market place, and a far better value.

Come along with me and let's look at some of the ingredients in this little miracle-like jar:

The Aloe Vera Leaf

• Aloe Vera Juice:  To start, there's no plain distilled water in this formula.  I decided to see how much better it might be if I used all Aloe Vera Juice to replace the water.  We all know the benefits of Aloe Vera to the skin., it treats sunburn, it acts as a moisturizer, it treats acne, it fights aging, it lessens the visibility of stretch marks, it's nutrient rich for good health, it soothes in periodontal disease, it aids in digestion.  Aloe Vera has wound healing and anti-inflammatory properties that help to reduce skin inflammation and promote the growth of new cells.

The Jojoba Plant

• Jojoba Oil:   Jojoba Oil moisturizes skin.  A jojoba oil benefit is that it plays the role of sebum and moisturizes our skin and hair when our body stops doing it naturally. On the other hand, too much sebum, which happens during puberty or when hormone levels are high, can result in oily skin and acne.  It may seem counter intuitive to put oil on your face, especially if you're prone to breakouts, but jojoba oil might actually make oily skin better. Jojoba oil moisturizes skin all day, so it's ideal for dry faces, too. Jojoba oil is very mild, and you can apply it directly to your face.  Following are five properties of Jojoba oil:  (1)  Long-lasting moisture: Studies have documented that jojoba oil improves the feel of skin, and provides a substantial long-acting, 24-hour skin hydration effect.  (2)  Nutritious:  Jojoba oil contains nutrients like vitamin E and B, as well as minerals like chromium, copper, and zinc, which all nourish and protect skin from environmental stressors.  (3)  Gentle:  Jojoba oil is recommended for people with sensitive skin because of its gentle nature.  Applying jojoba to compromised skin can help keep it moist.  (4)  Anti-aging:  Because it is the perfect moisturizer, jojoba oil can help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.  (5)  Conditioning:  Jojoba Oil is also used in many hair products because it's moisturizing and conditioning properties extend to the hair, making it soft, shiny, and manageable.  Those with frizzy or damaged hair should love jojoba oil.                   

Evening Primrose Flower

• Evening Primrose Oil:  Use of this oil as a remedy for eczema began in the 1930's.  The most common course of treatment is easing symptoms, often with herbal supplements, such as evening primrose oil. It is also a treatment for psoriasis and acne.  It's excellent for the overall health of the skin. This seemingly magic oil is known to be a great moisturizer. Not only does it make the skin soft, but it also supplies it with essential nutrients and healthy fats, helping to make your skin look youthful and flawless.  The anti-inflammatory properties of this oil also help reduce swelling, redness, itching, and rashes on the skin.  Evening primrose oil is known for treating hormonal imbalance in the body. This, in turn, helps reduce acne and breakouts on the face.  By applying this oil to your face every day, your breakouts will start clearing up faster than normal.  Using this oil topically, or in the form of capsules, has been thought to improve eczema within just a few short weeks.  The fatty acids present in this oil can help to nourish the nails and prevent them from cracking.  Just rub a few drops of this oil on your fingernails as well as toenails every night.  I would suggest that you use what's left on your hands after applying to your face to massage into your nails and hands, and even your hair.  I do.  Evening primrose oil is known to lighten the skin and reduce hyper-pigmentation or any dark spots.  It can help to normalize your skin tone when needed.  There's so much more out there on this special oil, but I'll leave it to another time.

Grapes, Seeds, & Grape Seed Oil

• Grape Seed Oil:  Grape seed oil is the oil that's extracted from grape seeds. - It's non-comedogenic, which is just a fancy word for "it doesn't clog pores".  It is high in linoleic acid, which has been thought to reduce clogged pores!  It is known to treat acne, tighten skin, help diminish dark circles around the eyes, moisturize, reduce scars, restore collagen and fight aging.  Second, it has a great amount of vitamin E, about twice as much as olive oil!  This means it provides antioxidants for your skin. It is thought that grape seed oil has the ability to help oily skin. 

If I were to stop right here, we would have an amazing product for your skin, whether you have aging skin like me, or youthful skin that is fighting acne, or just about anything in between.  But, there's more...

Hyaluronic Acid = Moisture

• Hyaluronic Acid:  Body collagen declines as our skin ages, contributing to the appearance of wrinkles and discolouring. Maximizing collagen levels keeps skin more supple. Hyaluronic acid keeps collagen synthesis up, retains moisture in the skin, both contributing to the anti-aging benefits to the skin.  Hyaluronic acid is a lubricating fluid that's naturally found in the skin, eyes, joints, and connective tissue. Because it has a very high capacity for holding water, 1000 times it's own weight, it is used to give structure and moisture to damaged tissue in skin care products.  Hyaluronic acid isn't harsh or skin-stripping, in fact, it has the exact opposite effect.  It is a powerful humectant, or moisture-binding ingredient, that keeps skin plump, hydrated, more youthful looking. 

Horsetail Herb

• Horsetail:  Also called Snake Grass and Puzzle Grass, Horsetail is a perennial herb that contains silicon which is a trace mineral required by the body for glowing skin, stronger bones, and  flexible joints. The ability of this herb to help tighten, firm and reduce the appearance of lines and wrinkles make it a perfect choice for my Revitalizing Night Cream.  What makes horsetail stand out in the cosmetic world is that it's reported to contain more silicon in the form of silica and silica acids than any other herb, in a form that's easily absorbed by the body.  Horsetail promotes a tighter and firmer look, cleansing properties help minimize the appearance of large pores and tone the look of skin, improves skin texture with a moisturizing effect, it's good for sensitive skin, it's a natural source of nutrients like calcium, magnesium, zinc, manganese, phosphorus, potassium, selenium, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, and vitamin C.  It's antioxidant activity protects from free radicals in the environment.  

• Vitamins C and E:  Just in case there's not enough in the above ingredients, I've added more to give your skin an additional boost.  Actually, twice as much as was in this product's predecessor. 

You will see the difference when you choose to use this Revitalizing Night Cream.  I have been using my products for years now, but I noticed a difference the first day after using this Revitalizing Night Cream.  It just keeps getting  better and better.

Carpe Diem! Lil and Bill