I realize I haven't posted in a while (sorry; in the middle of end of the semester projects and finals!) so here is a quick post on using aloe as a cleanser. I'll try to post more regularly in the summer!
Though aloe is most often used in toners, lotions, and creams, I also occasionally use aloe as a gentle morning cleanser. It effective cleanses and refreshes the skin, providing moisture without stripping the skin of its natural oils. It's better for skin that doesn't need deep cleaning or makeup removal, hence why I recommend using it in the morning rather than at night. (I recommend washing your skin with soap or a liquid or cream or oil cleanser, depending on your skin type, for your nightly routine).
You can use it as is, or mix it with hydrosol, a small amount of oil or glycerin, and also a few drops of essential oil to make a fantastic aromatherapy cleanser. If your skin is oily, you can also add a tiny bit of apple cider vinegar or witch hazel. Apply with a cotton pad or ball. I love this light cleanser since it is so soothing and infuses my dehydrated skin with moisture! And best of all, it also doubles as a toner, saving me an extra step!
Saturday, May 06, 2006
Monday, April 10, 2006
Magical Aromatherapy by S. Cunningham (Aromatherapy book review)
One thing that frustrates me when I'm trying to book shop on the internet is that it's sometimes hard to tell how good of a resource a book is or not. Looking at Amazon's site helps, since they offer 'sneak peaks' into many of their online books, but sometimes those peaks aren't enough. Reading the reviews also helps, but most of the time the positive reviews don't tell me much otherwise than the fact that someone enjoyed it (the 'bad' reviews often tell me much more!). So I'm going to start posting about aromatherapy/natural skin care/natural household/herbalism etc book reviews. I've done a few "mini" aromatherapy/miy book reviews in the past, but I'll be sure to blog about each book in depth! I have 30-40 or so books in my collection so it's probably going to take me a while to get through all of them, especially since I plan to keep blogging about other things too! :)
"Magical Aromatherapy" by Scott Cunningham:
This was one of the first aromatherapy books I got, and I still use and love it. Aside from the usual well-known uses of aromatherapy (skin care and medicinal/psychological), another use of aromatherapy is the use of natural fragrances (essential oils) in spiritual matters. Though I've read other aromatherapy and herbal books that provide some information about spiritual uses of essential oils and herbs, I haven't found another book quite like this one. This one, first of all was written by a well known pagan/wiccan (who has since passed) who truly knew and understood herbal lore and ritual uses of plants--but even if you aren't pagan or wiccan don't let that stop you from getting this book! Cunningham was well known for writing for all audiences, so whether you are Christian or Taoist, or are just interested in crafting things such oil blends to wear during meditation or personal growth rituals, this book can be used by people of all faiths to incorporate in their own belief systems. It is not geared towards any one specific religion or belief system.
Chapter 1 begins with a few of Cunningham's thoughts on the subject of aromatherapy and magic. He defines magic as 'the movement of subtle natural energies to manifest needed change' (p. 5), in this case, basically using the scent of plants with visualization to bring change. His concept of magic is similar to what other personal and spiritual growth authors have also described as visualization, and also similar to meditation or prayers used in religion.
In Chapter 2 he describes the use of natural fragrance for spiritual matters in cultures throughout the world. Some of the cultures he describes are the Egyptians, Native Americans, and the Greek and Romans. I think this chapter is very fascinating but it is it way too short! Though he describes some cultures in depth, he only briefly mentions (in a single sentence) that scent has also been used in other places such as Asia and Africa, but doesn't go into detail about any of those cultures.
Chapter 3 briefly lists fresh and dried plants that you may want to grow. Very short chapter that basically lists which herbs are better used as fresh versus dried.
Chapter 4 is about essential oils. While this chapter is also short, it is full of useful information. He describes the difference between synthetic versus natural essential oils in an easy to understand manner, and the importance of using natural essential oils instead of synthetic. There is also a comparative chart of essential oil prices. Though this book was written in 1993, with the exception of a few oils, this very useful chart is still pretty accurate in terms of prices for essential oils.
Chapter 5 is on methods and techniques. He lists several inhalation techniques and describes examples of how visualization can be used. On the usage of essential oils he gives a lot of good suggestions on inhalation techniques (like placing a drop on a cotton ball or using it in a bath) but I much prefer using essential oils in a base oil (which he doesn't describe in this chapter but does in another chapter). Basically his message is to breathe in the scent and he doesn't give any elaborate rituals on how to use the fresh herbs or plants or essential oils. On one hand this is an advantage because then the user can the information in the book to cater it to their own beliefs. On the other hand if you are a beginner you may want to check out another book that describes visualization, meditation, or religious rituals more in depth.
Part 2 is titled "the aromas". This is the bulk and most important part of the book. He lists the common and Latin names, parts used (fresh, dried, essential oil, or specific part of plant), ruling planet and ruling element (western elements), magical influences (what the scent acts upon, for example: healing, love, wisdom, etc), and lore (historical, ritual, and magical uses of plants), for over 100 plants! I love this section especially the lore sections! The herbs are listed in alphabetical order, making them easy to find.
Part 3 consists of tables. The first table is a table on herbs used for specific magical/spiritual matters. For example, under herbs to use "for courage", herbs such as black pepper, clove, fennel, ginger, onion, sweet pea, thyme, and yarrow are suggested. Other lists include aromas of the days, seasons, lunar cycles, those associated with crystals, elements, planets, and the zodiac. After checking out the lists, you can read about the herbs more in depth in Part 2. In this section he also describes how to make a basic aromatherapy base oil, lists six examples of blends (including healing, spiritual, and protection blends), and lists generally true and generally synthetic essential oils, and hazardous essential oils. There are also appendixes and a short glossary, and a good bibliography.
I found these lists very useful, since I don't have to aimlessly flip through part 2 first to figure out which herbs to use. The instructions on making base oils were very simple but clear. I love the examples of blends he suggested, but as I mentioned this book is more of a reference to make your own blends, rather than using the author's "recipes". I actually prefer this, since I may not have all the oils listed in the recipes, but I may have adequate different herbs or oils listed on the lists that I can use to make a blend that caters my own needs.
The true and generally synthetic essential oil lists are still pretty accurate with the following exceptions: he says that true coconut oil has no coconutty smell. This is only partially true; if coconut oil is refined, it has no smell, but extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil does smell coconutty. I think he was comparing artificial coconut scent with refined coconut oil (fatty oil NOT essential oil. To my knowledge there is no coconut essential oil). He lists frankincense as often imitated; while this may be true, if you buy from any reputable supplier, it shouldn't be a problem obtaining genuine frankincense. He mentioned an absolute of honey is produced but not available to the public. Currently, it is now available to the public but it is extremely hard to find. He also mentions mimosa is unavailable, but it has recently been made available but it is very difficult to find too. Furthermore, he states that tuberose is rarely available; this is still true but it is becoming more popular and easier to find.
For the hazardous oil list, the information he provides is still for the most part accurate, but I don't completely agree with all of his advice. Some of the citrus, peppermint, and lemon like scents can be irritants (and the citrus are usually phototoxic) as stated, but they can still be used on the skin by most people, though at very low concentrations (less than 1/2%), and, in regards to the citrus, at night. Those with sensitive skin should probably avoid usage as suggested.
Overall, I love this book. This book is unique in that it lists herbs for different spiritual uses, and can be used by any belief system. It is easy to use and comprehend, and full of useful information. Since this book was written over ten years ago some things (like which essential oils are genuinely true and which are synthetic) can be a little out of date, but for the most part those lists are still accurate. Definitely a must-have for anyone who wants to make their own spiritual blends for meditation or ritual work.
"Magical Aromatherapy" by Scott Cunningham:
This was one of the first aromatherapy books I got, and I still use and love it. Aside from the usual well-known uses of aromatherapy (skin care and medicinal/psychological), another use of aromatherapy is the use of natural fragrances (essential oils) in spiritual matters. Though I've read other aromatherapy and herbal books that provide some information about spiritual uses of essential oils and herbs, I haven't found another book quite like this one. This one, first of all was written by a well known pagan/wiccan (who has since passed) who truly knew and understood herbal lore and ritual uses of plants--but even if you aren't pagan or wiccan don't let that stop you from getting this book! Cunningham was well known for writing for all audiences, so whether you are Christian or Taoist, or are just interested in crafting things such oil blends to wear during meditation or personal growth rituals, this book can be used by people of all faiths to incorporate in their own belief systems. It is not geared towards any one specific religion or belief system.
Chapter 1 begins with a few of Cunningham's thoughts on the subject of aromatherapy and magic. He defines magic as 'the movement of subtle natural energies to manifest needed change' (p. 5), in this case, basically using the scent of plants with visualization to bring change. His concept of magic is similar to what other personal and spiritual growth authors have also described as visualization, and also similar to meditation or prayers used in religion.
In Chapter 2 he describes the use of natural fragrance for spiritual matters in cultures throughout the world. Some of the cultures he describes are the Egyptians, Native Americans, and the Greek and Romans. I think this chapter is very fascinating but it is it way too short! Though he describes some cultures in depth, he only briefly mentions (in a single sentence) that scent has also been used in other places such as Asia and Africa, but doesn't go into detail about any of those cultures.
Chapter 3 briefly lists fresh and dried plants that you may want to grow. Very short chapter that basically lists which herbs are better used as fresh versus dried.
Chapter 4 is about essential oils. While this chapter is also short, it is full of useful information. He describes the difference between synthetic versus natural essential oils in an easy to understand manner, and the importance of using natural essential oils instead of synthetic. There is also a comparative chart of essential oil prices. Though this book was written in 1993, with the exception of a few oils, this very useful chart is still pretty accurate in terms of prices for essential oils.
Chapter 5 is on methods and techniques. He lists several inhalation techniques and describes examples of how visualization can be used. On the usage of essential oils he gives a lot of good suggestions on inhalation techniques (like placing a drop on a cotton ball or using it in a bath) but I much prefer using essential oils in a base oil (which he doesn't describe in this chapter but does in another chapter). Basically his message is to breathe in the scent and he doesn't give any elaborate rituals on how to use the fresh herbs or plants or essential oils. On one hand this is an advantage because then the user can the information in the book to cater it to their own beliefs. On the other hand if you are a beginner you may want to check out another book that describes visualization, meditation, or religious rituals more in depth.
Part 2 is titled "the aromas". This is the bulk and most important part of the book. He lists the common and Latin names, parts used (fresh, dried, essential oil, or specific part of plant), ruling planet and ruling element (western elements), magical influences (what the scent acts upon, for example: healing, love, wisdom, etc), and lore (historical, ritual, and magical uses of plants), for over 100 plants! I love this section especially the lore sections! The herbs are listed in alphabetical order, making them easy to find.
Part 3 consists of tables. The first table is a table on herbs used for specific magical/spiritual matters. For example, under herbs to use "for courage", herbs such as black pepper, clove, fennel, ginger, onion, sweet pea, thyme, and yarrow are suggested. Other lists include aromas of the days, seasons, lunar cycles, those associated with crystals, elements, planets, and the zodiac. After checking out the lists, you can read about the herbs more in depth in Part 2. In this section he also describes how to make a basic aromatherapy base oil, lists six examples of blends (including healing, spiritual, and protection blends), and lists generally true and generally synthetic essential oils, and hazardous essential oils. There are also appendixes and a short glossary, and a good bibliography.
I found these lists very useful, since I don't have to aimlessly flip through part 2 first to figure out which herbs to use. The instructions on making base oils were very simple but clear. I love the examples of blends he suggested, but as I mentioned this book is more of a reference to make your own blends, rather than using the author's "recipes". I actually prefer this, since I may not have all the oils listed in the recipes, but I may have adequate different herbs or oils listed on the lists that I can use to make a blend that caters my own needs.
The true and generally synthetic essential oil lists are still pretty accurate with the following exceptions: he says that true coconut oil has no coconutty smell. This is only partially true; if coconut oil is refined, it has no smell, but extra virgin, unrefined coconut oil does smell coconutty. I think he was comparing artificial coconut scent with refined coconut oil (fatty oil NOT essential oil. To my knowledge there is no coconut essential oil). He lists frankincense as often imitated; while this may be true, if you buy from any reputable supplier, it shouldn't be a problem obtaining genuine frankincense. He mentioned an absolute of honey is produced but not available to the public. Currently, it is now available to the public but it is extremely hard to find. He also mentions mimosa is unavailable, but it has recently been made available but it is very difficult to find too. Furthermore, he states that tuberose is rarely available; this is still true but it is becoming more popular and easier to find.
For the hazardous oil list, the information he provides is still for the most part accurate, but I don't completely agree with all of his advice. Some of the citrus, peppermint, and lemon like scents can be irritants (and the citrus are usually phototoxic) as stated, but they can still be used on the skin by most people, though at very low concentrations (less than 1/2%), and, in regards to the citrus, at night. Those with sensitive skin should probably avoid usage as suggested.
Overall, I love this book. This book is unique in that it lists herbs for different spiritual uses, and can be used by any belief system. It is easy to use and comprehend, and full of useful information. Since this book was written over ten years ago some things (like which essential oils are genuinely true and which are synthetic) can be a little out of date, but for the most part those lists are still accurate. Definitely a must-have for anyone who wants to make their own spiritual blends for meditation or ritual work.
Tuesday, March 28, 2006
Indigenous Peoples of the Circumpolar North (Arctic)
This semester I am taking a course on culture and environment in local and global prespectives, focusing on the Arctic region and the indigenous peoples of those areas, in particular Russia. I am enjoying learning about these different but wonderful cultures, though I am very concerned about the social, economical, and environmental problems these groups face. These troubles are not unlike what other indigenous groups throughout the world have suffered, abeit maybe in a colder and harsher environment. In my research I've found several awesome resources on the environmental, economic, and social problems of indigenous peoples of the Arctic region, and thought I'd share them.
Here is an awesome link to the Arctic Network for the Support of the Indigenous Peoples of the Russian Arctic. This site discusses a wide range of topics that the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation face: environmental, social, cultural, and economic issues. I love this site since it contains vast amounts of in depth, but easily comprehensive information!
For a great short summary of ecological, legislative, and economical issues and viewpoints, download the poster under the environmental and health articles (under the society and land section) titled:
Poster: Oil development and indigenous peoples in the Russian Arctic: Environmental changes, mistrust and dialogue, by W.K. Dallmann and V.V. Peskov. Note: I did not have trouble downloading this (I used Safari as my browser and opened it Photoshop) but some other browsers may have problems accessing this file.
One of the best resources I've found on environmental, social, cultural, and economic issues in the Arctic, focusing mainly on the Yukon region, is by a professor of Yukon College. Dr. Graham's course website has five modules online, which contain numerous articles on the circumpolar north. A good place to get a sense of the issues, including northern myths (stereotypes).
The University of Connecticut hosts a marvelous page on the Arctic called Arctic Circle. This website by Norman Chance (a well known Arctic anthropologist) and others contains in depth, but easy to understand research on natural resources, history, culture, environmental justice, and more! Not only does this site discuss these issues, but there are also examples of art and a virtual classroom.
The Alaska Native Knowledge Network has a lot of great information on the Alaska's indigenous people and their traditional knowledge systems, including publications (books and CDs). Definitely a great educational resource!
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a good resource to learn about Alaska's different indigenous peoples. They also provide numerous programs (in Alaska) to educate people about and preserve indigenous culture. If you are planning on visiting Alaska some time soon, be sure to check out their native art and culture programs out! They look awesome!
Here is an awesome link to the Arctic Network for the Support of the Indigenous Peoples of the Russian Arctic. This site discusses a wide range of topics that the indigenous peoples of the Russian Federation face: environmental, social, cultural, and economic issues. I love this site since it contains vast amounts of in depth, but easily comprehensive information!
For a great short summary of ecological, legislative, and economical issues and viewpoints, download the poster under the environmental and health articles (under the society and land section) titled:
Poster: Oil development and indigenous peoples in the Russian Arctic: Environmental changes, mistrust and dialogue, by W.K. Dallmann and V.V. Peskov. Note: I did not have trouble downloading this (I used Safari as my browser and opened it Photoshop) but some other browsers may have problems accessing this file.
One of the best resources I've found on environmental, social, cultural, and economic issues in the Arctic, focusing mainly on the Yukon region, is by a professor of Yukon College. Dr. Graham's course website has five modules online, which contain numerous articles on the circumpolar north. A good place to get a sense of the issues, including northern myths (stereotypes).
The University of Connecticut hosts a marvelous page on the Arctic called Arctic Circle. This website by Norman Chance (a well known Arctic anthropologist) and others contains in depth, but easy to understand research on natural resources, history, culture, environmental justice, and more! Not only does this site discuss these issues, but there are also examples of art and a virtual classroom.
The Alaska Native Knowledge Network has a lot of great information on the Alaska's indigenous people and their traditional knowledge systems, including publications (books and CDs). Definitely a great educational resource!
The Alaska Native Heritage Center is a good resource to learn about Alaska's different indigenous peoples. They also provide numerous programs (in Alaska) to educate people about and preserve indigenous culture. If you are planning on visiting Alaska some time soon, be sure to check out their native art and culture programs out! They look awesome!
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Online Aromatherapy Resources (Aromatherapy information)
Though I have a fairly large aromatherapy book collection, sometimes I like surfing online to find new articles and facts about my beloved essential oils! Here are a few of my favorite online resources on aromatherapy. :)
Aromaweb is probably the online resource I use the most! This website has it all: articles, essential oil and carrier oil profiles, recipes, lists of essential oil companies, and an awesome aromatherapy book list! Definitely my favorite!
Jeanne Rose's website has a lot of awesome articles on aromatherapy, herbalism, and natural cosmetics. She is one of the pioneers of modern day aromatherapy and herbalism and her books and articles are among my favorites in providing descriptions of the cosmetic and medicinal uses of essential oils and herbs.
AGORA's page has a lot of interesting articles on a wide range of aromatherapy topics. Some sections can be kind of hard to navigate through, but this site contains a wealth of information.
Aromaweb is probably the online resource I use the most! This website has it all: articles, essential oil and carrier oil profiles, recipes, lists of essential oil companies, and an awesome aromatherapy book list! Definitely my favorite!
Jeanne Rose's website has a lot of awesome articles on aromatherapy, herbalism, and natural cosmetics. She is one of the pioneers of modern day aromatherapy and herbalism and her books and articles are among my favorites in providing descriptions of the cosmetic and medicinal uses of essential oils and herbs.
AGORA's page has a lot of interesting articles on a wide range of aromatherapy topics. Some sections can be kind of hard to navigate through, but this site contains a wealth of information.
Tuesday, March 14, 2006
Carrier Oils for specific skin types (Aromatherapy/Natural Skin Care)
*This entry was editted July 13th.
I've suggested carrier oils for specific skin types before, but here's an expanded list. If one oil doesn't work for your skin, try a different oil. I've used all of these oils on my body with no problem, but my face is a different story! It took me a long time to find the right oils to use, but once I found them, my skin simply glows. Be sure to try to get cold pressed, unrefined, organic whenever possible; which has more vitamins and nutrients that highly refined oils.
Note: Though you can generously apply natural oils, creams, and butters on your body, apply only a small amount to your face. Natural serums (carrier oils plus essential oils) and creams are much more concentrated than the conventional stuff, and applying too much may clog pores and lead to blemishes. For the facial skin, apply no more than 2-5 drops of serum or 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of natural cream. Be sure to apply to very damp skin. I like spraying my skin with hydrosol or aloe and then massaging the serum or cream in, though you could use toner or herbal infusion as well!
ALL SKIN TYPES:
-Jojoba: actually a liquid wax, this oil is similar to sebum (the skin's natural oil). It has a long shelf life and will not go rancid. People love using this as a base for perfumes for this reason. You can use it full strength or add up to 10% to extend the life of other oils.
-Camellia: from the green tea plant. This is a very light weight oil that is good for all skin types from dry to blemished skin. This is my favorite oil for skin care. Great for anti-aging (actually most of the oils on this list are good for that). A bit pricey but worth it!
-Kukui nut oil: this oil is one of my favorites. It is good for both dry skin and blemishes. It absorbs quickly, and is very light weight (it is probably the lightest weight oil described here). It is also one of the most expensive. I like unrefined but some people may not like the smell. I actually love it, it reminds me of water melon seeds.
DEHYDRATED:
This skin type looks like dry skin, in other words finely textured and flaky, BUT the dry, flaky areas are also oily at the same time; the skin produces oil but evaporation of water/moisture occurs too quickly. Pores may be clogged. May have blemishes. The following list is what I use on my skin. This skin type is generally not discussed in most books.
-Kukui nut oil
-Kukui nut butter-I love this butter. Like the oil, it absorbs quickly. Totally non-greasy.
-Shea butter: this butter is good for blemishes too. It forms a breathable barrier on the skin that holds in moisture. It is also easily absorbed. Make sure you spray your skin with lots of hydrosol or water or aloe, and only apply a tiny amount (to avoid clogged pores).
-Camellia
-Some people with this skin type may find help with jojoba
COMBINATION:
Certain parts of the face are oily and other parts dry. Generally the t-zone is oily and the cheeks dry. This is different from dehydrated skin where the dry parts are also oily. Suggestions of carrier oils for this skin type are usually not given in books (some recommend using different oils for specific parts of the face) but I think the following would be suitable:
-Camellia
-Shea butter
-Jojoba
-Kukui nut oil
-Hazelnut: this oil is light but astringent. Usually suitable for oily skin, some dry skins may like this as well.
-You may also want to try some of the other oils in the other lists below; many people like olive.
DRY:
-Kukui nut and butter
-Camellia
-Argan: this medium weight nut oil is good for dry skin.
-Olive: this is a medium weight oil; heavier than grapeseed, almond, or kukui, but not as heavy as avocado. Many people with dry skin love this oil, and some people with normal skin love it too
-Avocado: this oil is very thick and rich; you may want to combine this with a lighter oil (up to 10% in a blend)
-Rosehip seed: this oil is a bit expensive, and is usually combined with other oils because of its expense. But you can use it full strength, if you like. Note: Do NOT use this oil on active acne or really oily skin, as it can aggrevate acne. However, it is great at getting rid of old scars (including acne scars).
-Coconut oil: many people love this oil for dry skin. However use only small amounts since too much may be a bit drying. Be sure to get extra-virgin, unrefined (which is solid when it is cool) since refined is very drying, contains less vitamins, and is a lot waxier. Not to mention refined doesn't smell like coconuts like extra-virgin, unrefined!
-Macadamia nut: this light, nourishing oil is great for mature, drying skin. It resembles sebum.
-Shea butter
-Seabuckthorn berry oil: this healing oil is high in vitamins and must be diluted in another carrier (it can stain some light skins orange)
-Hazelnut (only suitable for some people with dry skin since it's astringent)
-Jojoba
-You can also try almond and apricot if your skin is only mildly dry.
NORMAL:
-Almond: a good light all purpose oil. Often used for massage.
-Apricot: a nice light oil
-Jojoba
-Kukui nut
-Camellia
-Many people also love olive and coconut oil
OILY:
-Grapeseed: this light oil is well absorbed into the skin. Many people also like to use this oil for massage since it is so light. Most of the time this oil is solvent extracted, though a cold pressed version is available
-Hazelnut
-Jojoba
-Kukui nut oil
-Camellia
For more information on the benefits of these oils, check out Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromaweb, and Nature's Gift. All three sites have oil profiles (MRH is my favorite).
I've suggested carrier oils for specific skin types before, but here's an expanded list. If one oil doesn't work for your skin, try a different oil. I've used all of these oils on my body with no problem, but my face is a different story! It took me a long time to find the right oils to use, but once I found them, my skin simply glows. Be sure to try to get cold pressed, unrefined, organic whenever possible; which has more vitamins and nutrients that highly refined oils.
Note: Though you can generously apply natural oils, creams, and butters on your body, apply only a small amount to your face. Natural serums (carrier oils plus essential oils) and creams are much more concentrated than the conventional stuff, and applying too much may clog pores and lead to blemishes. For the facial skin, apply no more than 2-5 drops of serum or 1/8 to 1/4 teaspoon of natural cream. Be sure to apply to very damp skin. I like spraying my skin with hydrosol or aloe and then massaging the serum or cream in, though you could use toner or herbal infusion as well!
ALL SKIN TYPES:
-Jojoba: actually a liquid wax, this oil is similar to sebum (the skin's natural oil). It has a long shelf life and will not go rancid. People love using this as a base for perfumes for this reason. You can use it full strength or add up to 10% to extend the life of other oils.
-Camellia: from the green tea plant. This is a very light weight oil that is good for all skin types from dry to blemished skin. This is my favorite oil for skin care. Great for anti-aging (actually most of the oils on this list are good for that). A bit pricey but worth it!
-Kukui nut oil: this oil is one of my favorites. It is good for both dry skin and blemishes. It absorbs quickly, and is very light weight (it is probably the lightest weight oil described here). It is also one of the most expensive. I like unrefined but some people may not like the smell. I actually love it, it reminds me of water melon seeds.
DEHYDRATED:
This skin type looks like dry skin, in other words finely textured and flaky, BUT the dry, flaky areas are also oily at the same time; the skin produces oil but evaporation of water/moisture occurs too quickly. Pores may be clogged. May have blemishes. The following list is what I use on my skin. This skin type is generally not discussed in most books.
-Kukui nut oil
-Kukui nut butter-I love this butter. Like the oil, it absorbs quickly. Totally non-greasy.
-Shea butter: this butter is good for blemishes too. It forms a breathable barrier on the skin that holds in moisture. It is also easily absorbed. Make sure you spray your skin with lots of hydrosol or water or aloe, and only apply a tiny amount (to avoid clogged pores).
-Camellia
-Some people with this skin type may find help with jojoba
COMBINATION:
Certain parts of the face are oily and other parts dry. Generally the t-zone is oily and the cheeks dry. This is different from dehydrated skin where the dry parts are also oily. Suggestions of carrier oils for this skin type are usually not given in books (some recommend using different oils for specific parts of the face) but I think the following would be suitable:
-Camellia
-Shea butter
-Jojoba
-Kukui nut oil
-Hazelnut: this oil is light but astringent. Usually suitable for oily skin, some dry skins may like this as well.
-You may also want to try some of the other oils in the other lists below; many people like olive.
DRY:
-Kukui nut and butter
-Camellia
-Argan: this medium weight nut oil is good for dry skin.
-Olive: this is a medium weight oil; heavier than grapeseed, almond, or kukui, but not as heavy as avocado. Many people with dry skin love this oil, and some people with normal skin love it too
-Avocado: this oil is very thick and rich; you may want to combine this with a lighter oil (up to 10% in a blend)
-Rosehip seed: this oil is a bit expensive, and is usually combined with other oils because of its expense. But you can use it full strength, if you like. Note: Do NOT use this oil on active acne or really oily skin, as it can aggrevate acne. However, it is great at getting rid of old scars (including acne scars).
-Coconut oil: many people love this oil for dry skin. However use only small amounts since too much may be a bit drying. Be sure to get extra-virgin, unrefined (which is solid when it is cool) since refined is very drying, contains less vitamins, and is a lot waxier. Not to mention refined doesn't smell like coconuts like extra-virgin, unrefined!
-Macadamia nut: this light, nourishing oil is great for mature, drying skin. It resembles sebum.
-Shea butter
-Seabuckthorn berry oil: this healing oil is high in vitamins and must be diluted in another carrier (it can stain some light skins orange)
-Hazelnut (only suitable for some people with dry skin since it's astringent)
-Jojoba
-You can also try almond and apricot if your skin is only mildly dry.
NORMAL:
-Almond: a good light all purpose oil. Often used for massage.
-Apricot: a nice light oil
-Jojoba
-Kukui nut
-Camellia
-Many people also love olive and coconut oil
OILY:
-Grapeseed: this light oil is well absorbed into the skin. Many people also like to use this oil for massage since it is so light. Most of the time this oil is solvent extracted, though a cold pressed version is available
-Hazelnut
-Jojoba
-Kukui nut oil
-Camellia
For more information on the benefits of these oils, check out Mountain Rose Herbs, Aromaweb, and Nature's Gift. All three sites have oil profiles (MRH is my favorite).
Thursday, March 09, 2006
Carrier Oils, Essential Oils, Hydrosols (Aromatherapy/Natural Skin Care)
One thing that confuses people about aromatherapy and natural skin care is some of the terminology. Since I've posted a lot about carrier oils, essential oils, and hydrosols, I've finally decided to distinguish them below.
What is a carrier oil?
Carrier oils are just another name for any vegetable, nut, or seed (fatty) oil that is used in aromatherapy and natural skin care. They are called "carrier" oils because they are the oils that are used to dilute essential oils; the "carriers" or base of the blend. They are also sometimes called base oils. Examples include: olive, jojoba, and apricot oils.
A good, in depth explanation may be found at Aromaweb.
What are essential oils?
Though they are termed "oils", they are not greasy, "oily", or fatty, but are highly volatile substances. I've read many definitions from almost 30 books and there is no perfect definition on exactly what they are. What is agreed upon is that they are volatile substances, and that they are generally made of hundreds of chemical components that are responsible for a plant's fragrance as well as disease prevention and insect attraction/repelling activities.
Within the plant, essential oils are stored in special plant cells. Depending on the plant species, these cells can be found in either the leaves, flowers, roots, bark, fruit peel, or seed (fruit). One plant may yield up to several different types of essential oil. For example, neroli (flowers), petitgrain (leaves), and bitter orange (peel) essential oil all come from the same plant: Citrus aurantium, the orange tree. Not all plants have essential oils.
Plant matter is typically steam distilled to produce essential oils, though some (mainly citrus peels) are obtained by expression (pressing), and others (in particularly delicate and expensive flowers) may be extracted by solvents. There is also a new extraction method that involves CO2 that some people consider produces the purest product, though CO2 extracts contain many of the plant's waxes and constitutes not found in other types of essential oils. Since CO2 extraction is such a new method, all of the medicinal and cosmetic benefits of CO2 extracts are not yet known.
Aromaweb also has a great article describing essential oils in detail.
What is a hydrosol?
In the process of creating essential oils (steam distillation), two end products are created: essential oils and hydrosols. Hydrosols, also called flower waters or hydrolates, can be thought of as a distilled herbal water--kind of a fancy way of producing an herbal tea that has many more components than a regular herbal tea, and also contains trace amounts of essential oils. They also have one up on regular herbal teas in that they have a shelf life of 3-4 months rather than days. Popular hydrosols that you may have heard of are rose water and orange flower (neroli) water that are often used in many cosmetic recipes as well in Indian and many Middle Eastern cuisines.
Please note when buying hydrosols that there are two products that are called "flower waters". The other is basically essential oil mixed with distilled water; which is a different product. This type of flower water makes a wonderful all purpose aromatherapy spray, but should NOT be used in cooking. Though I've used the essential oil type of flower water in skin care, I much prefer the true hydrosol for use as a skin toner.
What is a carrier oil?
Carrier oils are just another name for any vegetable, nut, or seed (fatty) oil that is used in aromatherapy and natural skin care. They are called "carrier" oils because they are the oils that are used to dilute essential oils; the "carriers" or base of the blend. They are also sometimes called base oils. Examples include: olive, jojoba, and apricot oils.
A good, in depth explanation may be found at Aromaweb.
What are essential oils?
Though they are termed "oils", they are not greasy, "oily", or fatty, but are highly volatile substances. I've read many definitions from almost 30 books and there is no perfect definition on exactly what they are. What is agreed upon is that they are volatile substances, and that they are generally made of hundreds of chemical components that are responsible for a plant's fragrance as well as disease prevention and insect attraction/repelling activities.
Within the plant, essential oils are stored in special plant cells. Depending on the plant species, these cells can be found in either the leaves, flowers, roots, bark, fruit peel, or seed (fruit). One plant may yield up to several different types of essential oil. For example, neroli (flowers), petitgrain (leaves), and bitter orange (peel) essential oil all come from the same plant: Citrus aurantium, the orange tree. Not all plants have essential oils.
Plant matter is typically steam distilled to produce essential oils, though some (mainly citrus peels) are obtained by expression (pressing), and others (in particularly delicate and expensive flowers) may be extracted by solvents. There is also a new extraction method that involves CO2 that some people consider produces the purest product, though CO2 extracts contain many of the plant's waxes and constitutes not found in other types of essential oils. Since CO2 extraction is such a new method, all of the medicinal and cosmetic benefits of CO2 extracts are not yet known.
Aromaweb also has a great article describing essential oils in detail.
What is a hydrosol?
In the process of creating essential oils (steam distillation), two end products are created: essential oils and hydrosols. Hydrosols, also called flower waters or hydrolates, can be thought of as a distilled herbal water--kind of a fancy way of producing an herbal tea that has many more components than a regular herbal tea, and also contains trace amounts of essential oils. They also have one up on regular herbal teas in that they have a shelf life of 3-4 months rather than days. Popular hydrosols that you may have heard of are rose water and orange flower (neroli) water that are often used in many cosmetic recipes as well in Indian and many Middle Eastern cuisines.
Please note when buying hydrosols that there are two products that are called "flower waters". The other is basically essential oil mixed with distilled water; which is a different product. This type of flower water makes a wonderful all purpose aromatherapy spray, but should NOT be used in cooking. Though I've used the essential oil type of flower water in skin care, I much prefer the true hydrosol for use as a skin toner.
Sunday, March 05, 2006
Vegan article (Vegetation Information/News)
There is a good article in the Washington Post's Sunday Source section on veganism called"Vegan Venture: Going All-Veggie in the Company of Carnivores" By Bridget Bentz Siz. It includes four recipes that has been rated by a panel of five eaters (including a meat eater). The recipes include chocolate cake and a nut loaf. It also includes a section on the best vegan restaurants in the D.C. area.
Friday, March 03, 2006
Farmer's Market (Market information)
I recently found an awesome website from the USDA that lists all of the farmers' markets in every state (plus D.C.). I never knew there were so many farmers' markets in the VA and D.C. areas; if I actually have any time soon, I'm going to try to go to some of them!
Blog update
Hi all,
This blog is still undergoing updates; still in the process of placing all my old posts into links on the right side bar, so it'll be easier to find information! Almost done with that (just a few of the earlier posts left to do), and then I'll work on adding more environmental and skin care links (other resources). :)
This blog is still undergoing updates; still in the process of placing all my old posts into links on the right side bar, so it'll be easier to find information! Almost done with that (just a few of the earlier posts left to do), and then I'll work on adding more environmental and skin care links (other resources). :)
Monday, February 27, 2006
About comments on blog
I was just posting an old post from my archives on a forum, and noticed some comments that I have not read--sorry if you posted a comment and I didn't answer; I usually don't look at my old archives much!
But I just figured out how to set blogger to show the date when people post, and for blogger to also e-mail me when someone actually leaves a comment, so hopefully I won't miss replying to a post in the future!
But I just figured out how to set blogger to show the date when people post, and for blogger to also e-mail me when someone actually leaves a comment, so hopefully I won't miss replying to a post in the future!
Friday, February 24, 2006
Tips to go veggie! (Vegetarian Information)
I love being a vegetarian. Aside from the personal and environmental reasons, the thing I love most about being veggie is the food! (I think it must be in the genes, since my sister loves veggie food as much as I do!). I literally become veggie overnight, but I realize that for some it's not that easy! Here are some easy and delicious tips to incorporate more veggie foods in your life!
Tip #1:
Try eating your favorite foods.
Try looking at recipes of things you enjoyed before you became veggie, and then convert them to veggie recipes. For example, if your favorite food was pepperoni pizza before you became veggie, substitute the crust with a whole wheat dough for more nutrients (or if you are in rush, french bread or whole wheat pitas), and then top the pizza with cheese or soy cheese, tomato sauce, and then your favorite pizza toppings, like veggie 'pepperoni', olives, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, roasted garlic and red peppers, artichokes, etc, and some fresh or dried herbs. Or if it was chicken parmesan, make eggplant parmesan.
Tip #2:
Try cuisine from different cultures.
There are a lot of tasty vegetarian recipes from Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America (like hummus, curries, quesadillas, vegetarian sushi rolls, etc). Go to food network's website. Hundreds of recipes; a lot are veggie, and those that aren't can be easily converted.
Tip #3:
Try easy to make but nourishing foods.
If you are really tired after work and don't want to cook, try soup or yummy smoothies! Make a veggie/fruit/bread/cheese/dip platter. Sometimes when I can't think of something to eat, I'll just cut up my favorite breads, cheeses, veggies, and fruits, and add a couple of dips or sauces. The possibilites are endless. Examples: fruits with yogurt or chocolate sauce; breads with brie/cheddar/soy cheese, and also olives, roasted red peppers, artichokes, hummus, gaucamole. Other good things to add: peanut or almond butter, cheese fondue, an herbed cheese spread, etc. Yum!
Tip #4:
Jazz things up with herbs and spices.
Even when you are cooking with the same ingredients, a bit of rosemary or sage here, and a bit of cumin there will really make a difference.
Tip #5:
Add foods that are high in vitamins.
Things that are high in vitamins: herbal tea (especially when made with organic herbs. Herbs have a lot of trace nutrients), actually any organic food, and also all types of sea weed (which has the highest concentration of nutrients).
Tip #6:
Try looking in your freezer section.
Places like Whole Foods have a lot of organic frozen veggies and fruits (which are great for making smoothies), so that could increase the variety of your diet during the winter when fresh produce may not be available.
For veggie resources click here.
Tip #1:
Try eating your favorite foods.
Try looking at recipes of things you enjoyed before you became veggie, and then convert them to veggie recipes. For example, if your favorite food was pepperoni pizza before you became veggie, substitute the crust with a whole wheat dough for more nutrients (or if you are in rush, french bread or whole wheat pitas), and then top the pizza with cheese or soy cheese, tomato sauce, and then your favorite pizza toppings, like veggie 'pepperoni', olives, tomatoes, onions, mushrooms, roasted garlic and red peppers, artichokes, etc, and some fresh or dried herbs. Or if it was chicken parmesan, make eggplant parmesan.
Tip #2:
Try cuisine from different cultures.
There are a lot of tasty vegetarian recipes from Asia and the Middle East, and Latin America (like hummus, curries, quesadillas, vegetarian sushi rolls, etc). Go to food network's website. Hundreds of recipes; a lot are veggie, and those that aren't can be easily converted.
Tip #3:
Try easy to make but nourishing foods.
If you are really tired after work and don't want to cook, try soup or yummy smoothies! Make a veggie/fruit/bread/cheese/dip platter. Sometimes when I can't think of something to eat, I'll just cut up my favorite breads, cheeses, veggies, and fruits, and add a couple of dips or sauces. The possibilites are endless. Examples: fruits with yogurt or chocolate sauce; breads with brie/cheddar/soy cheese, and also olives, roasted red peppers, artichokes, hummus, gaucamole. Other good things to add: peanut or almond butter, cheese fondue, an herbed cheese spread, etc. Yum!
Tip #4:
Jazz things up with herbs and spices.
Even when you are cooking with the same ingredients, a bit of rosemary or sage here, and a bit of cumin there will really make a difference.
Tip #5:
Add foods that are high in vitamins.
Things that are high in vitamins: herbal tea (especially when made with organic herbs. Herbs have a lot of trace nutrients), actually any organic food, and also all types of sea weed (which has the highest concentration of nutrients).
Tip #6:
Try looking in your freezer section.
Places like Whole Foods have a lot of organic frozen veggies and fruits (which are great for making smoothies), so that could increase the variety of your diet during the winter when fresh produce may not be available.
For veggie resources click here.
Monday, February 20, 2006
Green House Cleaning (Natural House Cleaning)
When I started using more environmentally friendly products many years ago, I found that one of the hardest things to find were good natural house cleaning products. Not only were they expensive and hard to find but half the time they didn't work very well! I often just used the conventional stuff, until I slowly researched and made some of my own products, or finally found natural brands that worked. Nowadays things are different as more products are readily available, companies are producing better products, and the prices have really gone down!
I've found that some of my favorites still are the ones I make: they are simple to make and use and are highly effective, not to mention light on the wallet! Here are a few of my favorite books on the topics to make your own green cleaning products!
Books on how to make your own non-toxic cleaners, including basic information on toxic chems:
Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. Great overall book: it has many recipes on how to make all types of products, information on why to switch to natural, dangers of common chemicals, and how effective her natural recipes are compared to commercial chemical brands. She also lists how much money you can save by making your own products (since the book was written in 1997, the price comparisons may be a little dated, but you will save money). An important thing she notes, is that you often how to add the ingredients in a specific order so that the cleanser will work.
Clean and green: the Complete Guide to Non-toxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping by Annie Berthold-Bond. Sim to above; lots of good non-toxic, earth friendly recipes and information.
It's So Natural by Alan Hayes. More than just cleaning, this book has a lot of information on all kinds of environmentally friendly hints from cleaning to skin/hair care/health to garden tips. Highly recommended. Check out Hayes' website
Since I'm a busy graduate student I don't always have time to make my own and sometimes prefer to buy products from the store or online. These are some of my favorite cleaners and brands. Natural products may be a little more expensive than conventional, however, I've found that natural products are often more highly concentrated than convetional products (read: less water in them) so you really use a lot less. Not to mention it's not only better for the planet (since it's biodegradable) but healthier for you and your family!
Brands:
For a great 100% natural all-Purpose Household Cleanser try Aubrey Organics Earth Aware Household Cleanser (made with soap, soap bark extract, and herbs). I love to use this to clean my counters and my tub out. It does not leave a residue! I didn't care for using it too much for laundry (since it has orange essential oil in it, and that's a solvent) but you could use it for that. It comes in a big 32 oz jug that's under $7. They also have a Liquid Sparkle Spray Cleanser. Haven't seen it in the stores, but it's available online.
Another good 100% natural and organic cleaner is Vermont Soap's Liquid Sunshine (made with soap). You can use it for stain removal, general cleaning, dishwashing soap, etc. They recommend it for laundry too, but since it has orange essential oil I'd do a test patch on your clothes first just to be sure. I am not sure if the formula is similiar to their aloe castille liquid soap with sweet orange or not (the ingredients look the same) but they are the same price so it probably doesn't matter which one you get. (I usually make my own recipes with their aloe castille liquid soap; or you could use Dr. Bronner's). Vt. Soap also has a veggie wash, and a yoga mat cleaner.
Earth Friendly Products are really good too. "Natural" but not just soap and herbs/essential oils like the two in my first post (it's made with natural and naturally derived ingredients like citric acid and coconut oil derived surfactant, BUT not SLS and no chemicals). Wide range of products, including laundry soap (which is the only laundry soap I've found that I like). You can find it at Whole Foods and other health food stores. Some info on website about use of chemicals.
Seventh Generation also makes some nice products. I don't care too much for their laundry soap but I do like their dishwashing soap. Their dishwashing soap is made with vegetable surfactants (so natural derived aka partially synthetic detergent derived from a natural source). It is fully biodegradable, and does not contain toxins like conventional soap. It comes in unscented or is naturally scented with essential oils. This brand does not contain a high amount of water, so its very concentrated.
For more brands, companies, and eco-friendly services all over the U.S. check Greenpeople's directory. I use it to find all sorts of natural products. OCA (see below) sponsers them.
For articles and information about all things organic check out The Organic Consumers Association's website. You can also subscribe to a news letter. Lots of good information, book suggestions, etc. Great website.
I've found that some of my favorites still are the ones I make: they are simple to make and use and are highly effective, not to mention light on the wallet! Here are a few of my favorite books on the topics to make your own green cleaning products!
Books on how to make your own non-toxic cleaners, including basic information on toxic chems:
Clean House, Clean Planet by Karen Logan. Great overall book: it has many recipes on how to make all types of products, information on why to switch to natural, dangers of common chemicals, and how effective her natural recipes are compared to commercial chemical brands. She also lists how much money you can save by making your own products (since the book was written in 1997, the price comparisons may be a little dated, but you will save money). An important thing she notes, is that you often how to add the ingredients in a specific order so that the cleanser will work.
Clean and green: the Complete Guide to Non-toxic and Environmentally Safe Housekeeping by Annie Berthold-Bond. Sim to above; lots of good non-toxic, earth friendly recipes and information.
It's So Natural by Alan Hayes. More than just cleaning, this book has a lot of information on all kinds of environmentally friendly hints from cleaning to skin/hair care/health to garden tips. Highly recommended. Check out Hayes' website
Since I'm a busy graduate student I don't always have time to make my own and sometimes prefer to buy products from the store or online. These are some of my favorite cleaners and brands. Natural products may be a little more expensive than conventional, however, I've found that natural products are often more highly concentrated than convetional products (read: less water in them) so you really use a lot less. Not to mention it's not only better for the planet (since it's biodegradable) but healthier for you and your family!
Brands:
For a great 100% natural all-Purpose Household Cleanser try Aubrey Organics Earth Aware Household Cleanser (made with soap, soap bark extract, and herbs). I love to use this to clean my counters and my tub out. It does not leave a residue! I didn't care for using it too much for laundry (since it has orange essential oil in it, and that's a solvent) but you could use it for that. It comes in a big 32 oz jug that's under $7. They also have a Liquid Sparkle Spray Cleanser. Haven't seen it in the stores, but it's available online.
Another good 100% natural and organic cleaner is Vermont Soap's Liquid Sunshine (made with soap). You can use it for stain removal, general cleaning, dishwashing soap, etc. They recommend it for laundry too, but since it has orange essential oil I'd do a test patch on your clothes first just to be sure. I am not sure if the formula is similiar to their aloe castille liquid soap with sweet orange or not (the ingredients look the same) but they are the same price so it probably doesn't matter which one you get. (I usually make my own recipes with their aloe castille liquid soap; or you could use Dr. Bronner's). Vt. Soap also has a veggie wash, and a yoga mat cleaner.
Earth Friendly Products are really good too. "Natural" but not just soap and herbs/essential oils like the two in my first post (it's made with natural and naturally derived ingredients like citric acid and coconut oil derived surfactant, BUT not SLS and no chemicals). Wide range of products, including laundry soap (which is the only laundry soap I've found that I like). You can find it at Whole Foods and other health food stores. Some info on website about use of chemicals.
Seventh Generation also makes some nice products. I don't care too much for their laundry soap but I do like their dishwashing soap. Their dishwashing soap is made with vegetable surfactants (so natural derived aka partially synthetic detergent derived from a natural source). It is fully biodegradable, and does not contain toxins like conventional soap. It comes in unscented or is naturally scented with essential oils. This brand does not contain a high amount of water, so its very concentrated.
For more brands, companies, and eco-friendly services all over the U.S. check Greenpeople's directory. I use it to find all sorts of natural products. OCA (see below) sponsers them.
For articles and information about all things organic check out The Organic Consumers Association's website. You can also subscribe to a news letter. Lots of good information, book suggestions, etc. Great website.
Monday, February 13, 2006
Re: Sugarloaf Craft Festival (Festival information)
I had an awesome time at the Sugarland Craft Festival a couple weekends back. No matter how often I see hand crafted items, I am just amazed at the quality and pure artistry of hand made crafts. There were so many amazing artisans, it was hard choosing a few pieces to buy, and the majority of what I bought was for my sister!
There were literally dozens of potters there, but I got my sister two beautiful large soup/chowder mugs from "As the Pottery Wheel Turns, Inc.". What caught my eye about this potter was that his pieces were of a very high quality but inexpensive; the gigantic mugs only cost me $10 each. Many other potters had nice pieces too, but they were charging more (up to $60), and the few others that I saw who sold more affordable pieces, were of a lower quality (bumps in clay, bubbly glaze, etc). Unfortunately this crafter only seems to sell his wares at the Sugarland Craft festivals, as he does not have a website, and did not have business cards or a catalog. He did tell me that he will be at the next Sugarloaf Festival in Chantilly in May.
I also brought Bexn some handmade fudge and some maple leaves from Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum. This museum on elephant collectables also sells old time candy. I'm not sure about all the ingredients they use in their candy production (how "natural" it is), but my sister said the fudge was very good.
Though there were mainly potters, jewelry makers, wood and metal workers, and food vendors, there was a natural cosmetic company there, Pretty Baby Herbal Soaps. They are a family run business that have been making soap for five generations. They sell a vast assortment of herbal all natural soaps (no chemcial preservatives or colors, made with all natural ingredients, colored with natural pigments). They also sell several other products, including balms and creams. Of the ingredient lists I've read they were all 100% natural, though I am not sure what kind of wax they use to emulsify their creams with, either way their creams are 90-100% natural too (all of the other ingredients in their creams are natural ingredients from plants, but they just listed vegetable wax or something like that as the wax ingredient, and some "vegetable" waxes are not natural). So far I've used the La-Tea-da soap, and it is very nice! Very emollient and fresh smelling (lime/ginseng/irish moss/green tea/lavender scent). I also have the gardenia soap which smells wonderful. (I also brought Bexn a couple).
There were literally dozens of potters there, but I got my sister two beautiful large soup/chowder mugs from "As the Pottery Wheel Turns, Inc.". What caught my eye about this potter was that his pieces were of a very high quality but inexpensive; the gigantic mugs only cost me $10 each. Many other potters had nice pieces too, but they were charging more (up to $60), and the few others that I saw who sold more affordable pieces, were of a lower quality (bumps in clay, bubbly glaze, etc). Unfortunately this crafter only seems to sell his wares at the Sugarland Craft festivals, as he does not have a website, and did not have business cards or a catalog. He did tell me that he will be at the next Sugarloaf Festival in Chantilly in May.
I also brought Bexn some handmade fudge and some maple leaves from Mr. Ed's Elephant Museum. This museum on elephant collectables also sells old time candy. I'm not sure about all the ingredients they use in their candy production (how "natural" it is), but my sister said the fudge was very good.
Though there were mainly potters, jewelry makers, wood and metal workers, and food vendors, there was a natural cosmetic company there, Pretty Baby Herbal Soaps. They are a family run business that have been making soap for five generations. They sell a vast assortment of herbal all natural soaps (no chemcial preservatives or colors, made with all natural ingredients, colored with natural pigments). They also sell several other products, including balms and creams. Of the ingredient lists I've read they were all 100% natural, though I am not sure what kind of wax they use to emulsify their creams with, either way their creams are 90-100% natural too (all of the other ingredients in their creams are natural ingredients from plants, but they just listed vegetable wax or something like that as the wax ingredient, and some "vegetable" waxes are not natural). So far I've used the La-Tea-da soap, and it is very nice! Very emollient and fresh smelling (lime/ginseng/irish moss/green tea/lavender scent). I also have the gardenia soap which smells wonderful. (I also brought Bexn a couple).
Sunday, January 29, 2006
Happy Chinese New Year!
Xinnian kuai le! Happy New Year! Gong xi fat cai! I wish everyone much health, luck, and happiness in the coming year :)
Sugarloaf Craft Festival in Chantilly, VA (Festival information)
For those of you that live in the Washington D.C. area, today (Sunday the 29th) is the last day of the Sugarloaf craft festival in Chantilly, VA at the Dulles Expo center. There will be 350 artisans there, showcasing a wide variety of crafts from papermaking to metal work to pottery to glass work to jewelry and more! The festival will run from 10 am to 5 pm, and costs $7 but if you check out the website, you can print out discount coupons for $1 off of the regular admission price. Children (12 and under) can get in for free!
I'm definitely going to try to catch this festival at least for an hour or two today!
I'm definitely going to try to catch this festival at least for an hour or two today!
Saturday, January 28, 2006
Quick remedy for inflammed skin and information on latin names (Skin care/aromatherapy)
During the winter skin can become super dry, cracked, and red. For extremely irritated, dry skin skin add 2-4 drops of essential oils to 1 ounce (2 tablespoons) of aloe vera gel or juice. Good essential oils to use are lavender, blue chamomile, roman chamomile, or helichrysum. This remedy is also good for sunburn or as an all natural toner.
Always check the latin name of essential oils before purchase, as there are many different plant species (for example there are over 17 different species of lavender), and not all essential oils are suitable for usage in aromatherapy.
Lavender latin names: Lavendula officinalis, L. vera, or L. Angustifolia
Blue chamomile latin name: Matricaria chamomilla.
Other Blue chamomile common names: German chamomile
Roman chamomile latin name: Anthemis nobilis
Helichrysum latin name: Helichrysum Italicum
Other Helichrysum common names: Everlasting, Everlast, Italian Everlasting, and Immortelle
Always check the latin name of essential oils before purchase, as there are many different plant species (for example there are over 17 different species of lavender), and not all essential oils are suitable for usage in aromatherapy.
Lavender latin names: Lavendula officinalis, L. vera, or L. Angustifolia
Blue chamomile latin name: Matricaria chamomilla.
Other Blue chamomile common names: German chamomile
Roman chamomile latin name: Anthemis nobilis
Helichrysum latin name: Helichrysum Italicum
Other Helichrysum common names: Everlasting, Everlast, Italian Everlasting, and Immortelle
Sunday, January 22, 2006
Bigwords.com: Cheap Textbooks, books, music, and more! (book resource)
If you're a student like me, you're probably on a budget and constantly looking for the best place to purchase textbooks at a cheap price. One great place to check out is Bigwords.com. This search engine finds and compares prices between online booksellers--from the mega giants of Amazon and B&N to medium and smaller vendors such as E-campus and Abe Books. Other things you can search for are dvds, music, games, and other supplies! I've been using this search engine since my undergrad days, and I've found I generally save anywhere from $5 to $25 or more for each textbook. Once, I found one of textbooks super onsale for under $8!
Thursday, January 12, 2006
Bar Soap Mania part 1 (Natural Skin care)
I am obsessed with bar soap. I'm one of those people that have no less than two bars of soap in the shower, and sometimes as much as six! Now, of course, I'm not talking about that synthetic crap that is sold as soap, that strips the skin so much of its natural oils that it becomes red, itchy, inflammed, and chapped (this happens to me whenever I am shopping or at school or out in general and forget to bring my natural liquid soap with me). I'm talking about real soap: the kind that is made with vitamin-rich vegetable and nut oils, a wide range of herbals, with most if not all of the natural glycerin retained*.
One thing I don't get is people's reaction to the price of natural, real soap. True, it is generally more expensive than your typical bar of Dial or Dove, but they are a lot gentler and more nourishing for your skin (natural, real soap usually costs anywhere from $2-8, or more if made with expensive essential oils). And most important, they won't leave your skin red and itchy. And considering a bar of natural soap generally lasts 3-5 weeks, I really don't think they're expensive at all! If you've never used real soap before, try some of the companies listed below. Once you try one, you will never go back to the chemical stuff.
I love the soaps made by Karla the soaplady. Her soaps are definitely my favorite for my face, and are fast becoming my favorite overall. In the past, I used liquid castille soap for my face, since most bar soaps dried out my facial skin too much. As always when I buy a new brand of bar soap, I'll try it on my face, just in case. After I tried her bar soaps, I was amazed at not only how well they cleaned and how silky the lather felt, but also how it did not leave my skin feeling dry and 'tight'. And the scents, truly delicious! The only qualm I have is that while most of her soaps are 100% natural, some of them contain synthetic fragrances. They are sold at Karla's own company: Heart of Iowa Soapworks, and also at Jlynne Cosmetics and Prarieland Herbs. I usually buy them at Jlynne, since they have samples of the soaps and I can buy mineral makeup at the same time!
Aubrey Organics. If soaps smelled like heaven, then these would be pretty close! These soaps are probably my favorite body soaps out of all the brands I've tried. They are all natural, handmade in France, produce a very rich and dedacant lather, and smell absolutely wonderful. Aubrey offers tantalizing (and expensive) scents that most other soap companies don't have, like honeysuckle, sandalwood, and jasmine (they use real essential oils). They also use base oils that have many skin nourishing benefits like rose mosqueta oil (rosehip seed), camellia, and sea buckthorn. Those that are allergic to peanut oil may want to avoid these.
The Bee Folks. I just tried one of my soaps from the Rennfest. And I've got to say I simply love these soaps. These round soaps are made with a lot of nourishing honey--a wonderful substance that gently removes oils, dirt, and other toxins from your skin, yet doesn't dry out my skin. Their essential oil scent combinations, like ylang ylang, sandalwood, nutmeg, cinnamon are extremely lovely.
*An interesting note is that many people have never tried a bar of real soap before; the majority of the stuff that is sold as soap (which should be more adequately called cleansing bars, and sometimes called beauty bars) actually isn't real soap, but a blend of synthetic detergents/surfactants. The only bar of real soap that I can think of that is sold in your average grocery or drug store is Ivory (which is not what I would call a quality natural soap since it is very drying, and made with tallow!).
One thing I don't get is people's reaction to the price of natural, real soap. True, it is generally more expensive than your typical bar of Dial or Dove, but they are a lot gentler and more nourishing for your skin (natural, real soap usually costs anywhere from $2-8, or more if made with expensive essential oils). And most important, they won't leave your skin red and itchy. And considering a bar of natural soap generally lasts 3-5 weeks, I really don't think they're expensive at all! If you've never used real soap before, try some of the companies listed below. Once you try one, you will never go back to the chemical stuff.
I love the soaps made by Karla the soaplady. Her soaps are definitely my favorite for my face, and are fast becoming my favorite overall. In the past, I used liquid castille soap for my face, since most bar soaps dried out my facial skin too much. As always when I buy a new brand of bar soap, I'll try it on my face, just in case. After I tried her bar soaps, I was amazed at not only how well they cleaned and how silky the lather felt, but also how it did not leave my skin feeling dry and 'tight'. And the scents, truly delicious! The only qualm I have is that while most of her soaps are 100% natural, some of them contain synthetic fragrances. They are sold at Karla's own company: Heart of Iowa Soapworks, and also at Jlynne Cosmetics and Prarieland Herbs. I usually buy them at Jlynne, since they have samples of the soaps and I can buy mineral makeup at the same time!
Aubrey Organics. If soaps smelled like heaven, then these would be pretty close! These soaps are probably my favorite body soaps out of all the brands I've tried. They are all natural, handmade in France, produce a very rich and dedacant lather, and smell absolutely wonderful. Aubrey offers tantalizing (and expensive) scents that most other soap companies don't have, like honeysuckle, sandalwood, and jasmine (they use real essential oils). They also use base oils that have many skin nourishing benefits like rose mosqueta oil (rosehip seed), camellia, and sea buckthorn. Those that are allergic to peanut oil may want to avoid these.
The Bee Folks. I just tried one of my soaps from the Rennfest. And I've got to say I simply love these soaps. These round soaps are made with a lot of nourishing honey--a wonderful substance that gently removes oils, dirt, and other toxins from your skin, yet doesn't dry out my skin. Their essential oil scent combinations, like ylang ylang, sandalwood, nutmeg, cinnamon are extremely lovely.
*An interesting note is that many people have never tried a bar of real soap before; the majority of the stuff that is sold as soap (which should be more adequately called cleansing bars, and sometimes called beauty bars) actually isn't real soap, but a blend of synthetic detergents/surfactants. The only bar of real soap that I can think of that is sold in your average grocery or drug store is Ivory (which is not what I would call a quality natural soap since it is very drying, and made with tallow!).
Tuesday, January 10, 2006
Cheetahs and Sustainable Development (Environmental News)
Here are a couple of interesting articles from the Washington Post over the last couple of days. The first is an article about drought, starvation, and sustainable development in Kenya, and the second is an article on cheetahs in Ethiopia. The article on Kenya could have addressed sustainable development a little more in depth, but it does mention some of the most important issues that the people of Kenya face, such as poverty and food shortages. I found the cheetah article very interesting; it addresses several issues such as animal treatment, and the factors that influence conservation or the lack of conservation in some areas. Both articles nicely highlight the complexities of environmental issues, which are often entwined in social or political issues.
Friday, January 06, 2006
Simple, natural remedies for cold feet (natural health remedies)
Cold feet??? Here are a few simple but effective remedies to warm cold winter feet.
Wear hiking socks:
Hiking socks are made in different weights (including heavy-weight). They can be a bit pricey (compared to regular socks) but they sure keep my feet warm (when I'm inside or when I'm hiking!). You can buy them in any hiking/camping/sports stores like EMS or LL Bean. Also, I found some in Costco once!
Wear a hat:
Not kidding :). The body's priority is to keep the head/brain warm, so if you cover you head and keep it warm, your body can utilize its resources for other parts of the body.
Drink hot liquids:
I like drinking ginger tea to ward off the chill; ginger helps improve circulation. I usually make lemon and ginger tea (which is also great at warding colds). If you find this combo too strong tasting, you can add a spoonful of honey to it.
Try an aromatherapy foot bath:
Add 2-4 drops of your favorite essential oil to small tub filled with very warm or hot (but not boiling) water. Soak your feet for 10-15 minutes, preferable while sipping tea! Good essential oils to try are ginger, peppermint, cypress, and rosemary.
Wear hiking socks:
Hiking socks are made in different weights (including heavy-weight). They can be a bit pricey (compared to regular socks) but they sure keep my feet warm (when I'm inside or when I'm hiking!). You can buy them in any hiking/camping/sports stores like EMS or LL Bean. Also, I found some in Costco once!
Wear a hat:
Not kidding :). The body's priority is to keep the head/brain warm, so if you cover you head and keep it warm, your body can utilize its resources for other parts of the body.
Drink hot liquids:
I like drinking ginger tea to ward off the chill; ginger helps improve circulation. I usually make lemon and ginger tea (which is also great at warding colds). If you find this combo too strong tasting, you can add a spoonful of honey to it.
Try an aromatherapy foot bath:
Add 2-4 drops of your favorite essential oil to small tub filled with very warm or hot (but not boiling) water. Soak your feet for 10-15 minutes, preferable while sipping tea! Good essential oils to try are ginger, peppermint, cypress, and rosemary.
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