Saturday, July 30, 2016

Olive Essentials Facial Oils - Food For Your Face

Hello Friends!  Today, I'm going to introduce you to two amazing skin care products that I've formulated for Healthy Harvest - www.healthyharvests.com (yes, there is an "s" at the end of the website address - it's not a typo).  I'll explain why I formulated OLIVE ESSENTIALS Facial Oils No. 1 & No. 2 and their benefits to your skin.  This blog is rather long, but it's quite educational . . . besides, don't you want an education about the ingredients in a skin care product prior to making the decision to purchase it?



I'm just going to jump right in and start by saying  . . . if you want to have beautiful, healthy skin for life, then you've got to stop slathering it with crap (and stop eating a diet full of crap - that's a given) - plain and simple. Pardon my frankness, but that's the truth. Let me explain why I say this . . . and I deliver this message during every presentation that I make about skin and body care.  Your skin EATS!  What I mean by that is it absorbs up to 60% of what is applied to it (read: "transdermal penetration").  The healing, rejuvenative, restorative constituents in your pure, natural skin care/body care products will penetrate your skin and oftentimes end up in your bloodstream (if the molecules are tiny enough such as those in essential oils) or . . . at least penetrate into or affect the sub-surface of the skin and muscle tissue.  So, if the good-for-you ingredients can affect your skin, so, too, can the potentially irritating synthetic colors, fragrances, and artificial ingredients in standard skin care - which I suggest that you avoid.  REMEMBER . . . your skin is your largest organ - your "living hide" - so to speak, a living, breathing, and excreting organism - not just an inert covering or container that holds the rest of your organs and bones together.  The ingredients in OLIVE ESSENTIALS Facial Oils are totally biocompatible with your body - your body will recognize the natural nutrients/chemical constituents and your cells will literally drink them up . . . thus, aiding in healing, nourishing, rejuvenating, comforting, restoring, and youthifying your skin - for years to come.

Earlier this year, I partnered with Karl Burgart, owner of Healthy Harvest -  www.healthyharvests.com  and importer of the finest raw, unrefined, unfiltered, enzyme-rich, organic, high polyphenol count (read: high in antioxidants), single estate olive oils (and olives) and created OLIVE ESSENTIALS Facial Oils No. 1 & No. 2 using his ultra-fine, low acid Tuscan olive oil as the base for these wonderful products.  Tuscan olive oil is different . . . it's light and velvety upon the skin - unlike many olive oils - which tend to be moderately heavy.  Think of these facial oils as skin food - essential nourishment for the health of your face, neck, chest, and hands (the texture of your hands will greatly benefit each time you apply these - so be sure to massage it in real well).

I fell in love with using oils to nourish and pamper my skin and body way back in the 1990s. Back then, the so-called "holy grail" of new skin care products were launched by the big commercial cosmetic houses - these being - tiny bottles of expensive facial serums.  I did some ingredient sleuthing, and discovered that they were primarily full of synthetics that irritated the skin and only seemingly worked short-term.  So, I decided to create my own.  I've formulated and used oils to care for and condition my skin (and my client's skin) for decades - way before it was trending. In fact, using oil on the skin to cleanse and/or moisturize is not new . . . it's the beauty secret of ages past.  An ancient secret to youthful, supple, near ageless skin.  Just look at the skin of the elder Greek and Italian women - those who have followed the true Mediterranean diet, eating volumes of fresh, REAL olive oil AND slathering their skin with the same oil. Their skin looks near flawless up into their 80s.  You can enjoy the same experience.  Buy pure olive oil from Karl Burgart at Healthy Harvest (to ingest) and use the facial oils that I - a licensed holistic esthetician - have formulated using his Tuscan olive oil. It's a win-win for your face and body!  I both eat AND slather myself with his oils daily.  I'm 53 and friends tell me that I look years younger!

So, if you're looking for a new moisturizer and/or nourishing facial serum, then look no further.  You simply apply 4-8 drops into your palm, rub palms together, then gently massage (using upward and outward strokes) into your clean, damp chest, neck, and face every morning and evening.  That's it!  OLIVE ESSENTIALS Facial Oils No. 1 & No. 2 are ultra-pure and guaranteed to contain no synthetic fragrances, silicones, mineral oils, parabens, GMO ingredients, phthalates, propylene glycol, DEA, EDTA, acrylates, nano technology, BHT, or any other questionable ingredients.  And, positively no cruel animal testing!  Additionally, I've included organic and wildcrafted essential oils into these formulations.  Here's a breakdown of the products and their ingredients:

1.  OLIVE ESSENTIALS Facial Oil No. 1: This rejuvenative, gentle, protective, skin-nourishing treatment oil, when used consistently, will seal in moisture and balance and tone most skin types, including combination, normal, dry, and mature.  An especially soothing herbal remedy for inflamed, chapped, cracked, and environmentally-damaged skin.  Contains antiseptic, antifungal, anti-inflammatory, vulnerary (tissue healing), emotionally uplifting, and anti-anxiety properties - a truly multi-purpose oil blend.  Does wonders for skin suffering from acne, too, as it helps rid the skin of nasty, subsurface bacteria.
- Ingredients: Organic Tuscan olive oil; essential oils of organic French highland lavender, organic geranium, wildcrafted myrrh resin, and organic palmarosa.

2.  OLIVE ESSENTIALS Facial Oil No. 2: With consistent use, this highly emollient, luxurious formulation will seal in moisture - deep within the tissues - and is recommended for normal-to-dry and very dry skin, helping to reduce the appearance of visible fine lines and wrinkles, plus it helps to prevent and/or delay the onset of future wrinkles.  Revitalizes, tones, and tightens environmentally damaged, lackluster, and mature skin.  Softens and retexturizes scar tissue.  Gentle and calming, beneficial for reactive, sensitive, and couperose skin conditions, too.
- Ingredients: Organic Tuscan olive oil; essential oils of organic French highland lavender, organic frankincense CO2, and organic Australian sandalwood.

If you're searching for skin care that's ALL GOOD . . .  with NONE of the bad - then please give one of these facial oils a try, won't you?  Your skin will thank you!  For more information, go to www.healthyharvests.com.  The oils are $39.99 for a 1-ounce bottle - which will last for approx. 2-3 months.  Thanks for listening.  I'm passionate about quality skin care!
 

Tuesday, July 5, 2016

DIY Herbal Mosquito & Tick Repellents - Part 3

Hello There My Fellow Health-Minded Readers!  Summer's in full swing, and what comes with  it?  The hoards of hungry, winged, biting insects - of course . . . namely mosquitoes, midges, gnats, and no-see-ums.  Today, in Part 3 of my "DIY Herbal Mosquito & Tick Repellents" series, I'm going to share a pleasantly-fragrant recipe that's specifically formulated to be safe for children one year of age and older, and can also be used by those of you who have extremely sensitive skin.  It appears on page 76 of my latest book, "Naturally Bug-Free: 75 Nontoxic Recipes for Repelling Mosquitoes, Ticks, Fleas, Ants, Moths & Other Pesky Insects.  If you're looking for DEET-free, mosquito and tick repellent recipes for yourself; recipes for flea and tick repellent powders, shampoos, and herbal bedding sachets for your dogs and cats; and easy-to-make (and effective) insecticide recipes for your home, then this is the book for you.  Folks, it's only $10.95!  Not much moola for a boat-load of useful, safe, natural information!  Available in bookstores nationwide and, of course, online - just about anywhere books are sold.
Child's Play Spray  

Young children are not little adults - they cannot tolerate the standard concentration of essential oils in strong formulations of homemade insect repellents.  This spray is designed for children one year of age and older.  It has a pleasing aroma that's wonderfully effective at keeping mildly to moderately hungry biting bugs at bay.  When bugs are voracious, clothe children appropriately and inoculate their clothes with a few spritzes.  Never "drown" their bare skin in bug spray, even an all-natural one, in an attempt to keep bugs away.  Use common sense, please.

Cautions:  To ensure gentleness and safety, you MUST use one of the two species of eucalyptus essential oils specified as well as the "linalool" chemotype of thyme. Thymus vulgaris thymol or a non-chemotype specific thyme essential oil - is WAY TOO HOT to use on a young child.

Ingredients: (Photos of the plants from which the essential oils are harvested are shown below.)
- 3 drops EACH of the following essential oils:  eucalyptus (species radiata or smithii), cedarwood, rosemary, lemongrass, thyme (chemotype linalool)
- 1/2 teaspoon neem base oil
- 1/2 teaspoon liquid castile soap, peppermint or eucalyptus scented (Dr. Bronner's is fine)
- 1/2 teaspoon vegetable glycerin
- 1/2 cup unflavored vodka (use 80-proof and an inexpensive brand)
- 1/2 cup purified water
- 8-ounce spritzer bottle (PET plastic or dark glass) 

Directions:  
1.  Add the eucalyptus, cedarwood, rosemary, lemongrass, and thyme essential oils directly to the storage bottle, then add the neem oil, liquid soap, glycerin, vodka, and water.  Screw the top on the bottle and shake vigorously to blend.  Allow the spray to synergize, or rest, for 1 hour prior to use.

2.  Store at room temperature, away from heat and light; use within 1 year.

Application:  Shake well immediately before use.  Spray lightly onto skin as needed - you may need to reapply it every 20 to 30 minutes.  May be sprayed on clothing but might stain light-colored fabrics.
 
Yield:  Approximately 1 cup or 8 ounces

Note: Portions of this blog were excerpted from, "Naturally Bug-Free", by Stephanie Tourles (c2016), with permission of Storey Publishing.  The information is true and complete to the best of Ms. Tourles' knowledge.  All recommendations are made without guarantee on the part of Ms. Tourles.  She disclaims any liability in connection with the use of this information.  It is for educational use only.

 Eucalyptus (species radiata or smithii)

Cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana)

Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis)


 Lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus)

Thyme (Thymus vulgaris chemotype linalool)  It's the plant in the middle.