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Shea butter comes from the nut of the Karite tree found the Savannah Desert of Africa. This butter is a natural wonder - it is the only natural substance that can increase the elasticity of your skin. We lose elasticity as we age, get skin damage, or lose weight.

It is also a great way to add moisture to skin by making it part of your nighttime skin cleansing routine. Makeup dissolves quite easily with this butter. Simply rub a dollop onto your skin, and your body heat will melt the butter. Tissue off the makeup. Massage a bit more butter onto your face then press a warm, moistened washcloth to your skin. The heat activates the anti-microbial properties and infuses into your skin! What a cool, multi-purpose product.

Other uses:

-condidtion lips
-treat scars
-treat eczema, rashes, and burns
-skin moisturizer after shower

So many purposes in one little tin! 

Let's talk feet. It may not be the most pleasant of subjects, but let's face it - they aren't going anywhere. So we might as well treat them right, right? Listen, I'm a busy woman too. It's a rare moment when I actually get to pamper myself and apply a face mask, let alone give tender attention to my feet. But while I'm religious about slathering cream on my body, my poor feet remain dry, cracked, and calloused. That is no way for them to live.

For me, the best foot cream combines heavy moisturizers (like shea butter) with a calming scent (like peppermint oil) which will soothe my feet, and me, before bed. I would recommend getting a good pumice stone to scrub to use first, in order to get all that dead skin to flake off. Then coat your puppies in a decadent softening cream and wake up to beautiful feet as soft as clouds!

Acne, whether mild or severe, plagues every woman. I know that every time I look in the mirror I wish those red spots would disapper and that the scars would diminish. But what's a girl to do? Since I don't want to buy a chemically-infused cream at the drugstore, I explored what other options there are. And thus discovered tea tree oil. This site specialized in Equine supplements but the tea tree oil is a good price and is of course 100% pure.

Tea tree oil seems to be quite the glorious little essential oil. It has antiseptic and antifungal properties that are great weapons against acne. Because of this bacteria-killing power, it reduces your chance of acne reoccuring as well. Use a Q-tip to apply on old scars directly, mix 2-3 drops with Vitamin E oil to combat redness, or apply directly to spots on the skin before going to bed.

Be consistent with this as it will take up to a few weeks to see any results. Let me know how it goes for you!

Blueberries are one powerful little superfood. Packed with antioxidants and age fighting power, you'd be crazy not to integrate these little blue babies into your diet. Grab a handful daily and fight off those awful wrinkles that you stare at 5 times a day.

Blueberries are noted for reducing scarring from wounds and burns, and giving your skin a revitalizing lift. But what is so great about this fruit is that it can be used internally or externally. If you need to get your fruit servings in AND want a little cancer fighting power, well you have the perfect fruit for it. Suffering from redness or scarring on your face? Mash up some blueberries and apply the poultice directly to your face.

Here's a great recipe for getting rid of scarring or redness:

You’ll need:

• Half cup of plain oatmeal
• ¼ ounce olive (or jojoba, or sweet almond) oil
• 10 – 15 blueberries

Instructions:

1. Grind oatmeal finely
2. Mash blueberries into a paste
3. Combine oatmeal, blueberry paste, and oil into a bowl
4. Apply to face and allow it to sit 10 – 15 minutes
5. Rinse face and apply normal moisturizer

I'm sure almost everyone has heard of parabens at one time or another. They have been used for years by the beauty industry as a preservative for their products. In fact, as far back as the 1950's is when parabens were starting to be used to prevent bacteria growth.

Nowadays, as people are becoming more organically aware, they are demanding that unnatural substances such as parabens be removed from the products they use. We still have a long way to go - parabens are in around 85% of cosmetics. In it's place, companies are starting to incorporate darker bottles, grapefruit seed extract and oil-based formulas to curtail bacteria in an organic manner.

What's the problem with parabens? A study was conducted in the 1990's that proved them to be xenoestrogens - which means that the chemical acts as an estrogen imitator in your body. Excesses of estrogen have been linked to breast cancer, tumors and reproductive failures. The opposing side of the argument says that parabens have very little effect on overall health and have weak estrogenic effects. But one side effect of parabens can be contact dermatitis as in this picture. People would just think they are breaking out and not even realize that the creams they are using are causing this problem.

So where does this leave us, the consumer? We have one side saying yes; the other saying no. It may be impossible to avoid parabens completely, but the best way to start would be with your body cream. Since body lotions cover the widest area of skin, absorption levels are very high. We don't know what the solid truth is yet, but at least modifying your body cream should make you rest a bit easier.

Click here for a great reference of organic products.

I'm not much of a foundation junkie. I know I should be, as it makes my complexion look stunning, but I just haven't managed to make it part of my daily makeup routine.
Call it laziness or indifference, but it's the truth. Hand in hand with that goes finishing powder. What? Why do I need finishing powder AND foundation? So here is a little of what I found:

-it prolongs the wear of makeup
-it protects the skin
-controls sebum production
-visibly reduces pores, lines, and imperfections

Okay. I can get on that bandwagon. I mean, who doesn't want their imperfections reduced?? Pure Anada offers a great product, and they also claim that it's a great substitute when you're looking for the benefits of minerals but without the heavy coverage that foundation provides. Perhaps that is just what I need.

http://www.organicskincareonline.ca/products

With so many products out there, it's easy to get lost in the sea of options available. Use this cream BEFORE makeup, use this product only AFTER makeup, use this cream mid-day, etc... Why don't we just talk about the basics?

Night cream is essential for several reasons. Your skin repairs itself during your sleep from the harmful substances it was exposed to during the day. The right night cream gives your skin the help it needs in order to do this. It is important for your face to be clean and pores open so your night cream can work to its fullest power with your face.

It's best to find a cream with regenerative oils that coax your skin back to its more youthful look. Other bonuses to these kinds of creams are that it provides a protective barrier while you sleep and prevents water loss from your skin. Night creams improve the quality of your skin by fortifying it with the nutrients lost throughout the day. It is especially important as you age, since skin loses elasticity and moisture.

For best results, look for organic night creams with avocado and almond oils. Anything with aromatherapy (rosemary/lavender) is just an added bonus!

Don't we all just love our antioxidants?! Sending them out there to fight those aging free radicals that love to terrorize my skin is one of my greatest thrills.

Our Pure Anada Green Tea & Grapeseed Hydra Lotion will prove to be a powerful tool for your face. Grapeseed oil has been used for centuries by the ancient Greeks and the Egyptians. They recognized its healing properties long before we did, and now we follow in their footsteps. The oil is a natural astringent which will tighten your pores and firm up your skin. Combine that with soothing cucumber and antiseptic green tea, and you have quite the concoction for protecting yourself against the elements.

Apply to skin after cleansing and toning for a scrubbed, fresh look. Grab yours here!

Toner should be part of your skin cleansing routine. Not only does it remove any lingering traces of cleanser, but it also brings your skin back into its proper pH balance and prepares it for your moisturizer. It also works well with temporarily closing your pores, helping to prevent excess bacteria from creeping in.

Try our soothing and luxurious Truly Organic Toner in Rose, from our new line of Jiade Cosmetic Products. It contains no alcohol and won't leave a sticky finish. You will love the light, airy fragrance of the roses too!

Mineral cosmetics are recommended by Cosmetologists and beauty experts because minerals don't block the skin pores. On the contrary they benefit the skin and give the user a natural healthy glow. The skin needs to breathe just like we do and when studying Chinese Medicine I realized how the skin is an extension of the lungs therefore keeping the skin free of debris and toxins become an issue of health, as well as beauty.

Mineral makeup, eye shadow and foundation are the mainstay of my cosmetic bag.  Minerals do not fade, crease, and can handle moisture like rain or perspiration. They are the best choice for all day use and for those special occasions where you don’t want to have to do touch ups. You can trust minerals to stay put. I suspect that when I see great looking skin on actors and TV personalities that they are using minerals because their cosmeticians understand the benefits of lighter, easy to remove makeup that works great under the lights and heat these personalities must endure, day after day.

You will find when researching drug store cosmetics and body care products that mineral oil and petroleum are the key ingredients of many lotions, soaps, baby oil, Vaseline, and many of the baby skin care items. Mineral oil is not beneficial to the skin or body because it is fossil fuel that can block pores, stop the skin from breathing and releasing debris. In addition these oils are absorbed by the skin, passed down the intestinal tract and absorb fat soluble vitamins from the body. Note that we are not talking about mineral oil when we talk about mineral cosmetics. Dry powder foundation, eye shadow and blush are in fact beneficial to the skin and body.

Nature has a bounty of beneficial herbs, botanicals and oils that can be used to benefit the skin and body. There has never been a better time to use organic products as we watch our bodies and environment struggle against the toxic load we are heaping on ourselves and our earth. We are a microcosm of our earth and we all know the changes the earth is displaying as a signal to let us know something must change. She can no longer endure this seeming endless on slot of abuse we heap on her. Also we are seeing more incidences of disorders caused by toxins we ingest. Now is the time to look after your skin and body to gain or sustain your health, as well as, our mother earths.

Why Use Mineral Makeup?
• 100% pure mineral base makeup is beneficial for your skin.
• Oil free so skin can breathe, prevents potential bacteria.
• Talc free prevents use of known carcinogens.
• Chemical preservatives free of paraben or synthetic fragrances, fillers, or chemical dyes which irritate the skin.
• Natural light reflector mica gives the skin a youthful and healthy glow.
• Organic ingredients reduce the chance of allergy risk.
• Organic sun screen SPF 30 contains zinc oxide which is a natural sun screen.
• Broad color choices for every wardrobe and occasion – get creative.
• Highly water resistant because titanium dioxide and zinc oxide repels water!
• No Animal Testing
• Recommended by plastic surgeons and dermatologists, they can be applied after laser or peel. The titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are anti-inflammatories that sooth the skin.

Sandie Hardman

Natural Health Consultant