Tea Tree Oil

Who hasn’t heard of tea tree oil?  Lot’s of products even those manufactured artificially contain this essential oil in order to help remedy a number of ailments including pimples, dandruff, lice, boils, eczema, psoriasis and even yeast infections.  It is a common ingredient in creams, shampoos, lotions and soaps.  But how much do you really know about tea tree oil?

Tea Tree oil is distilled through steam from a plant called Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to Australia.  It was originally used as a substitute for tea, hence the name.  The medicinal part of the plant is its leaves which contain antibacterial, antiseptic and antifungal properties.

The Australian Aborigines used Tea Tree oil to cure burns, skin cuts and infection by grinding the leaves and applying the crushed leaves directly onto the infected area.

Today tea tree oil is used in a wide array of personal care cosmetics.  One of the most well known applications is to help minimize and remedy acne or pimples.   Researchers in Australia noted during a study that people who experience mild to moderate acne found a significant improvement after application.

People who suffered from dandruff also benefit from tea tree oil.  The same study also extended the research to dandruff sufferers and found that dandruff was controlled after 4 weeks of continuous use.

Tea tree oil has been around for centuries and researchers are finding more ways to utilize this product.  This oil is used in diluted form as allergic reactions can be experienced when used in its full strength.

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Healing Acne With Natural Remedies In Your Pantry or Fridge

Acne is considered as a disaster that strikes at the most important times of your life. We’ve heard teenagers ranting about them on their prom nights and even brides on their wedding day. While acne won’t certainly kill you, it’s very unsightly to sport them hence the need to keep them at bay, at all times, at all costs!

Due to our unrelenting desire to finally win the battle against acne, we indulge in expensive creams and whatnot that promises to instantly solve your acne problems. What we, consumers, don’t know is that half of the price we paid for these acne creams goes straight to the brand’s adverts which convinced us to buy the product in the first place. Moreover, what these brands won’t say is that most of the ingredients they use can also be found in your pantry or fridge—minus the harmful chemicals they add to prolong the product’s shelf life.

Acne is caused by your own hormones as well as your personal hygiene. With that said, if you are the type of person who’s prone to having acne then there’s not much you can do about it but keep your face clean at all times and pinpoint what triggers your acne attacks. Natural acne healers like garlic and orange peel can help clear away acne in no time.  Here are some more natural acne healers you can find inside your own home:

·    Crushed peppermint leaves or mint juice. Both, of course, have menthol, the plant’s most active ingredient. When crushed, you can rub them directly on the affected area, leave for 5 minutes and rinse. The juice on the other hand can be used for washing the face at night.
·    Garlic. Peel and halve a seed of garlic then rub on affected area during the day. Do this until the acne clears up.
·    Cooked oatmeal with honey. Let it cool then apply to face. Leave it for 10 minutes and rinse. Oatmeal absorbs oil from the skin.
·    Lemon juice with rose water. When combined, it makes a powerful antibacterial acne healer. Use as toner for your skin.

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Nanotechnology Being Used In Products Despite Toxicity To Humans And Environment

When the nano technology was first introduced in the early 1980s, most of the people were amazed by this spectacular idea. Share holders invested a lot of money in nano based industries because they knew the next growing business is nano technology.
‘Nano’ means extremely small or mathematically it means one billionth (10-9) of a meter, so Nanotechnology is that knowledge and ability that can construct potent devices by engineering a single atoms until they are molecularly sized.
After only three decades the industries working on this technology is so much enhanced that we are fascinated at how technology is advancing and how efficient we can use the resources around us to make life easier. Nanotechnology is being used every day to develop new electronics and cosmetic products. However, are we really being environmentally friendly by producing and using these products?
The more the particles become small, the more it is a threat to human defense system. Today many leading multi-national cosmetic companies are manufacturing these nano-particle contained products that can be toxic to humans and their environment. Some bizarre facts about the harmful effects of nano particles are listed below:-
1.    In 1997, an Oxford scientist discovered that nano-particles found in sunscreen created free radicals that had damaged DNA.

2.    In 2004, British scientist Vyvyan Howard published initial findings that had indicated gold nanoparticles might travel through a mother’s placenta to the fetus.

3.    In early 2002, the University of California in San Diego revealed that cadmium selenide nanoparticles, also known as quantum dots, may cause cadmium poisoning in humans.

4.    In 2002, CBEN (Center for Biological and Environmental Nanotechnology) indicated that nanoparticles accumulated in the bodies of lab animals and fullerene could easily travel through soil and be absorbed by earthworms. This is a potential link up in the food chain to humans.

Nanotechnology may appeal as the wave of the future and advancement in skincare with the allure of warding off signs of aging but consumers must understand the damage these nano particles can do to the human body.

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Placenta: Is It Really Good for Your Skin?

Placenta usage for your skincare needs is still a debatable issue and an ongoing one. Manufacturers claim that they are as natural as it can get while critics stand firm in their belief that the product is not only unethical but poses a real health risk as well. Unfortunately, placenta creams are virtually flying off the rack these days as more and more users come out to attest to the product’s effectivity. Apparently, it also made a rift in green communities worldwide.

The main ingredient in placenta creams is of course, placenta, particularly the ones coming from cows and humans. It undergoes purification process and then extracted to be formed in creams, lotions and soaps. They are so effective they earned high praises from its loyal users. Placenta, by the way, is the lining of the womb that comes out along with your child when giving birth. In a nutshell, the placenta acts as the nutrient supplier to your developing child inside the womb. Naturally, a placenta is expected to be rich in nutrients by the time it comes out but do take note that it also acts as toxin reliever for the fetus inside since he or she is still unable to do this on his own.

Placenta is indeed natural since it is not man made but what shakes critics the most is that manufacturers claim their products to be natural when in fact, it is already processed and mixed with chemicals to stabilize the product and make it more attractive to use. Also, studies have found that placenta-based skin care products can be heavily laden with hormones triggering hormonal surge to humans making it very unsuitable for children’s use.

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Keep Your Skin Safe This Summer!

Summers are synonymous to the sun and, of course, the beach. What’s a summer without a trip to the beach anyway? For many, you mark a great summer by going to the beach as many times as you possibly can and get that awesome tan before the season is over. Unfortunately, it is not wise to expose your skin to the harsh sun especially with the ozone’s current state.

Your fun summer need not suffer with the threat the sun may hold since there are things you can do to make your summer as fun as it can be but at the same time, stay safe against too much sun exposure:
·    Avoid sun during those times when it’s intense usually at around 10AM-4PM. Basically, you can go out when the sun is not too “prickly” for your skin and avoid it when it stings.
·    If going out around these times is unavoidable, try wearing protective gears to ward off the sun. Sporting an umbrella never killed anyone before, so use them when necessary or if it’s too strenuous for you then try a wide brimmed hat. Use sunglasses to protect your eyes too.
·    Most swimsuit manufacturers came up with designs that are sun-protective. While they may cost higher than your regular bathing suit. It lessens the sun’s impact tremendously.
·    Be a shade-hugger. Staying out of the harsh sun will do you good, always remember that. If there’s none then bring your own beach umbrella to the beach.
·    Apply sunscreen before you step out of the house and reapply as per brand’s instruction. Lather up especially if you intend to lounge in the beach for a while. There are natural sunscreens that are free of all harmful chemicals. Do check them out.

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Home Recipes for Organic Bubble Bath

Bubble baths are fun and very relaxing.  Soaking the warm water after a long day in the office is an ideal way to wind down and reflect.  Concocting a home made bubble bath is not only fun it can also help save money and even the environment especially if one uses environment friendly products.  Here are a few simple and earth friendly recipes for some home made bubble bath.

For a basic bubble bath, get 2 cups of almond oil, 2 cups of distilled water, 1 cup of grated soap or soap flakes, and 2 tablespoons of Witch Hazel.  Boil the distilled water and melt the soap in it. In another container, mix the witch hazel and almond oil together and shake well. If you have a blender, then use it for this step.   Then slowly add the soap mixture to the witch hazel and oil blend and again, shake or blend well. These amounts will make a large quantity of basic bubble bath mixture to which you can add the essential oils of your choice.  For example if you want a calming bubble bath, then add lavender as the essential oil or if you want to be reinvigorated then peppermint would be very good or if you want to feel refreshed then orange or strawberry are very good examples.

Another recipe also very good for relaxing is a mint bubble bath.  Mix together 1 cup fresh mint or ¼ cup dried mint leaves, 1 cup of finely chopped fresh bay leaves, a teaspoon of coconut oil and 1 teaspoon of almond extract.  Once ingredients are combined, put it in a mesh bag or cheese cloth.  Tie the cloth or bag to hot running water and enjoy.  For best results, chop your fresh mint finely to maximize on the effect.

These organic bubble baths are not only cheaper than the commercial kind, they are also safer on the environment because they are made of natural ingredients as opposed to chemical and synthetic ones.

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Anti Wrinkle Home Remedy Recipe

Anti-wrinkle creams are some of the more popular cosmetics available in the markets today.  The good brands usually sell anywhere from $50-$200 a jar.  And during these tough economic times, that amount seems too much to spend on vanity.  However, there are home made recipes available that may just help in preventing fine lines and wrinkles from forming.  Here are some of them.

Vitamin C is a very good source of anti-oxidants plus it is also a very good exfoliant.  Oranges and other fruits rich in Vitamin C can help reduce wrinkles by helping renew skin by speeding up the peeling process of the dead upper layer of the skin.  Simply dip a cotton ball on some pure orange or pineapple juice and apply liberally onto the skin.  Let the juice stay for about 15 minutes and then rinse with warm water and pat dry.

To get rid of puffiness around the eyes, place a metal spoon inside the freezer overnight.  Press the back of the spoon directly on the eye to help reduce puffiness.  This also helps minimize lines around the eye area as well as dark circles.

For an anti-wrinkle toner, mix 2 table spoons of vodka, 1 table spoon fennel seeds and 2 tea spoons honey.  Let the concoction sit for three days before initial application.   For best results, use twice a day.

For an anti-wrinkle facial mask, mix ½ oz yeast with warm milk (for normal skin) or olive oil (dry skin) or 3 % hydrogen peroxide (oily skin).  Whip in one egg white and the juice of half a lemon.  Add a pinch of salt to the mixture and apply on the skin in layers.  Leave on the skin for 20 minutes and then rinse with warm water.  A full course is 20 masks.  This yeast mask is full of Vitamin B which boosts blood circulation in the skin.  It also clears pores and is recommended for dry or wrinkled skin.

All these concoctions can be made from the comfort of your own home with materials readily available straight from the kitchen.  These recipes are inexpensive,  natural and safe.  But to err on the side of caution, apply these mixtures in a small area first before applying to a big area like the face to make sure that there are no allergic reactions.

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Minimizing Your Cosmetic Health Risks

You and I both are aware on how intricately woven these issues pertaining to cosmetic health risks are. If we take them at face value, it is easier to see warning signs but with the constant evolution of cosmetic products, it becomes harder to distinguish the good from the bad. For me, the best way to prevent cosmetic health risks from touching our lives is to avoid using them all together. Sadly, this is something that is easier said than done. So, we resort to the next best thing, minimizing. Here are some ways to somehow lessen harmful cosmetics’ impact to our health:

·    Always read labels. This is done for you to know what things were used in manufacturing the product. Labels are required by the law so more or less, they are dependable.
·    Hypoallergenic doesn’t mean it won’t harm you. It only lessens the chance of you having a reaction to the product when applied.
·    Always do a patch test when you’re about to use a new brand/ product even if it looks harmless.
·    Cosmetics expire too. Take note of their expiration date since most of the time, they are not indicated accordingly.
·    Avoid using spray cans whenever possible. Healthcare authorities are concerned about the risk of inhaling the chemical particles when they are used by the consumers. When this happens, it may trigger a reaction within the lungs.
·    Cosmetics can be very harmful for your children too. Place it somewhere that’s not within their reach.
·    Not everything that the manufacturer claims is true. Be very weary when you hear a good sales pitch. Instead, do your own research and use your own gut-feel.

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Fight Acne by Eating Right

In truth, there is no known connection between the food you eat and acne. There’s no proven diet that can clear up your face as well as those that can aggravate its already worst condition. Young adults are always reminded not to eat oily and sugary foods but experts say it bears no difference at all whether or not you choose to eat them.

On the other hand, nutritionists the world over strongly support eating right to fight acne. Eating healthy will keep acne at bay. The key to keeping your skin healthy is giving your skin everything it needs to maintain optimum health and radiant glow. Aside from that, one should be aware that toxins inside your body are also a suspected cause of acne so as much as possible, rid the body of these acne-inducing substances. Here are some foods that can give you all the essential nutrients your skin will need:

·    Water. Keep yourself hydrated all the time. When your body lacks the hydration it needs, the first to giveaway is your skin. The recommended daily intake is about 8 glasses, more if it’s a hot day and you perspire a lot.
·    Fiber enriched foods. They act as brooms inside the digestive tract. When you maintain a healthy, daily dose of fiber-enriched foods, rest assured that toxins won’t live long in there to accumulate and cause acne. Munching on fruits and vegetables in your snack time instead of junk foods and empty calories would be your best move.
·    Since acne is closely associated with hormones, it is but natural to seek low-glycemic diet to help stabilize your insulin levels.
·    Lastly, anti-inflammatory substances such as vitamins and herbal products may help in naturally calming down skin breakouts.

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Natural Supplements for Skin Cancer Prevention

Poor eating habits contribute to many lifestyle diseases and cancer is no exception to the rule; in fact, skin cancer is found to be a result of poor nutritional habits developed overtime. Due to this factor, it is but normal for us to seek preventive health care measures the safest way we know of and that is through natural supplements. The body needs natural supplements; these are foods we eat everyday—nutritious, natural foods not those you grab in fast food chains. Natural supplements boost up your body’s natural defenses for skin cancer. Here are some of the most important natural supplements to keep skin cancer at bay:

·    Lycopene is the most powerful antioxidant to protect the skin from diseases and anomalies—one of the most convenient too since it can be found in your regular tomato sauce and ketchup.
·    Citrus peel can be used for teas and baked goods. This aromatic substance prevents free radicals from forming. Candied citrus peel is very popular amongst people who look after their cholesterol levels.
·    Turmeric is an antioxidant, anti-carcinogenic and most of all, has anti-inflammatory properties. All the things you need to ensure great, healthy skin.
·    Fish oils are not only good for your heart but also for your skin since it strengthens the immune system therefore fights free radicals from harming the body.

Natural supplements are your best bet in fighting your risk of getting skin cancer. When engaging yourself in a healthy living composed of natural, nutritious eating habits, you’ll be adequately protected from all damaging factors that affect the body.

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