What does a face oil do? What’s all the hype about!?

The benefits of face oils span every skin type and goal. Because… Face oils provide skin with AH-MAZING moisture. Made of fatty acids and lipids, facial oils moisturize skin. They also lock hydration a.k.a. water into your skin and prevent transepidermal water loss. This translates to soft, supple, glowing skin. Moisturized skin also appears more youthful than dry skin, and heals more quickly. Face Oils are jam-packed with antioxidants, which fight the signs of aging AND blemishes. “How?” you ask!? Antioxidants neutralize aging free radicals Antioxidants help stimulate collagen production Antioxidants prevent sebum oxidation Face oils really lead the army when it comes to the fight against acne and blemishes. How to use face oils in your natural skincare routine. How do you apply face oil? When it comes to face oils, a little goes a long way. Dispense just 4-8 drops of oil onto the palm of your hand, rub your hands together to warm then oil, then gently pay the oil into your skin. When should you apply face oil? You can apply face oils in both the morning and evening. However, if you tend an oily skin type, you may prefer to only apply them in the evening.   Do you put face oil on before or after moisturizer? You want to apply your face oil as the last step in your routine, after applying any water-based serums or moisturizers.

HEALTH BENEFITS OF PINE NEEDLE TEA

Pine needles and other parts of the tree have been used for hundreds- and probably thousands- of years for health, but they are only just coming back into the spotlight as "an herb of the people." Here's more about the hidden benefits of pine, a simple pine needle tea recipe, and other ways to use this aromatic herb. Pine Needles for Health? Pine needles come, of course, from the pine tree (Pinus sp.). This sounds obvious, but it's actually an important thing to keep in mind because many evergreen conifers get called "pine trees" even when they are not pine at all. To get all the benefits of the needles and avoid potentially toxic trees, make sure you collect from a true pine tree, like Eastern White Pine (Pinus strobus). Look up foraging guidelines before you harvest because some evergreen species are toxic. True pine trees, however, have long been valued and used in many different herbal traditions. Native American medicine is one of the best examples of this. They used pine in many ways, including as an ointment for the skin and a general health tonic, and made use of the bark and sap as well as the needles. Today, many herbalists favor pine as a support for the respiratory system and a mild immune booster. Health Benefits of Pine Needles Rich in Immune-Supportive Vitamin C Pine needles were once used to make a tea that fought scurvy because of their vitamin C content. (This was something the Native Americans taught the new settlers.) Using the needles to make a cup of tea is a great way to give your immune system a gentle boost, especially because the needles also contain shikimic acid, a compound that may have antiviral properties. Like many other herbs and plant foods, pine needles contain antioxidants that help to protect your body from free radical damage, chronic inflammation, and disease.   Studies have found that some of the specific antioxidants in pine needles include proanthocyanidins and catechins. Not only do these antioxidants help lower inflammation, they also have shown potential for fighting cancer cells.

Why it’s important to use natural and organic products on your skin

Keeping your skin looking healthy and radiant is important, because healthy skin is one of the biggest indicators that tell us whether we are healthy on the inside too. In fact, the skin is the largest organ of our entire body, so we really should treat it with care. Here are 5 great reasons it is important to do so: 1. Using natural and organic skincare products can reduce skin irritation unlike non-organic and non-natural products. People with sensitive skin will know how easily irritated it is, and products with chemicals and other strange ingredients in them such as Benzoyl Peroxide (used to treat acne) often leave skin feeling dry, red and sore. It is easy to find natural alternatives to all skin products, whether you are targeting spots, wrinkles or just want your skin to feel clean and healthy. Natural products are kinder to your skin, and will work just as effectively. Naturally sourced ingredients such as zinc oxide, tea tree oil and lavender extract are all wonderfully healing, natural ingredients that will leave your skin feeling smooth and nourished instead of sore and irritated like other products that contain harmful chemicals. 2. Natural and organic skincare products have stood the test of time. What do you think people were using before all these supposed ‘skin enhancing’ chemicals were discovered? Natural ingredients of course! Many ingredients that are included in modern organic skincare products have been used for centuries, developed from ancient remedies that have been known for their incredible benefits for the skin. There is no better test than the test of time, and these ingredients have proven their worth and shown not to have any adverse side effects, guaranteeing healthy and beautiful looking skin. 3. If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your skin! Our skin is very absorbent, and when you use products such as moisturisers, cleansers and toners, the ingredients within these are getting absorbed into our bodies. It’s great to be health conscious and think about what we are putting into our bodies, and it doesn’t stop at what we eat and drink. Next time you are buying a new moisturizer take a look at the ingredients on the label and think, “Would I eat this?” If the answer is no perhaps it’s time to start turning your skincare routine into a more natural one! Chemical toxins are very destructive whereas natural products, which are made from flower and plant extracts, are designed to nourish our bodies and do nothing but good. 4. Buying better quality, organic and natural products actually means you end up saving a lot in the long run! How nice it would be to know we are doing something great for our health, while also saving money at the same time? Well, if you switch to natural and organic skincare products you can do just that. Organic and natural skincare products are actually very cost effective when compared to their non-natural alternatives, especially as the quality of the ingredients means you can use less, which in turn means the product will last longer over time. While some chemical based products may be cheaper, you end up needing to use a lot of them - putting layer after layer of moisturizer on as your skin still feels dry, therefore having to buy more of it, and actually costing you more in the long run 5. Buying naturally and sustainably sourced products can be much kinder to the environment. Using natural and organic products in much better for the environment. Skincare products that contain chemicals can have a very damaging impact on the environment, sprays and perfumes that are released into the atmosphere can be very harmful, as well as the manufacturing process that takes place to create them. If you use natural and organic skincare products not only will you reap the benefits of beautiful skin, but also can enjoy them guilt-free without harming the environment.

How to Cure Handmade Soap

Tips on how to cure handmade soap and how best to store it until you use it. Curing is the process of allowing saponification to complete and for the soap to fully dry. Handmade soap needs to cure before you can use it. I hope to answer any questions in this blog and to provide guidance on exactly how to cure soap. Why the need to Cure Handmade Soap? Even though it looks good to go there are reasons why you need to cure freshly made soap.  There’s no hurrying up this process and it takes about a month to complete. More on what this means further below. The Cure Time Dries your Soap Out The main reason we cure soap is to let the water content evaporate out of the bars, and for them to dry out. Water/liquid that is still in your bars when you take them out of the mold. If you don't allow them to cure and dry then your bars will not last once to start using them. They can also have impaired lather The cure time will reduce the amount of water in your soap over a period of 4 weeks. By the end of that time, your bars can lose over half of the water they originally contained. How to cure handmade soap There are many places where you can cure your soap but the premise is all the same. It needs an airy place out of direct sunlight. You can use a bookshelf, cardboard boxes or even make towers of soap. Stacking soap during curing is perfectly fine and if you live in a warm and arid place, you could even cure your soap outside. That’s how it’s been traditionally cured in the Mediterranean and middle east. Even though your bars are firm at this time, they still contain moisture that can react with surfaces. That’s why we sit them on grease-proof or baking paper to protect both your soap and the units you’re using to cure it on/in. Then space your bars out so that there is plenty of airflow around them. Again, feel free to stack them, as long as there’s plenty of air that can circulate. Curing lets the water content of the soap evaporate out leaving you with harder longer lasting bars.    

Happy Hormones With Barbara O'Neill Video

Barbara O'Neill is renowned for her extensive knowledge in natural health and wellness. With years of experience and expertise, she delves into various aspects of holistic healing, nutrition, herbal remedies, and the importance of maintaining a balanced lifestyle. Her insights have empowered countless individuals to embrace a more natural and mindful approach to health, fostering well-being and vitality in their lives. Happy Hormones With Barbara Check out this Youtube video form Barbara

Water & Sodium - Vital For Life Video

How much water do you drink? Water is the 2nd most vital element needed for life, which is why you can only survive a couple of weeks without water. Video about the importance of water and salt < click