Curry for your Complexion?

Tuesday, June 21, 2011

One of the spices used to make curry is a fabulous root called Turmeric (Curcuma longa). Not only is it delicious in your favorite Indian dish, but its natural healing properties make it fantastic for your skin.

Turmeric is full of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. It provides prevention and healing for many skin issues including acne, eczema and psoriasis. Great for bruises, cuts and burns as well.

Turmeric is an excellent helper in the elimination of toxins from your skin and body. It also stimulates your immune system. 

This calming and warming oil reduces pain and swelling making it great for joint and muscular pain relief.



Rubbing a natural massage oil containing turmeric on your abdomen may help with digestion, reduction of fluids and prevention of gas. Fantastic for menstrual cramps and nausea, too.


Turmeric powder is what gives curry its yellow color. So, you can expect the oil to be yellowish as well. The scent of turmeric is delightfully earthy, spicy, woodsy and warm.

Turmeric is regularly used in Ayurvedic medicine. Some of its medicinal uses include skin, heart, liver and lung treatments as well as with the treatment of diabetes.

Currently research is being performed on the use of turmeric as a cancer tumor inhibitor, an aid in the recovery of stroke patients, and as a diabetes and Alzheimer's medication. Exciting stuff! 
Turmeric may irritate very sensitive skin and should be avoided during pregnancy.
 
As always, this information is provided for educational purposes and is not intended for any other use. Always follow safety guidelines when using essential oils and never use them without the guidance of a clinically trained aromatherapist or physician.  



If you are a follower of this blog, I would like to show my appreciation for your time by offering a 20% discount on your entire order when you purchase any of my products containing turmeric during the remainder of June. Use Coupon Code "CURRY" at Etsy check-out.


Follow My Blog

Friday, June 10, 2011

Begin following my blog, Spoil Yourself Rotten!, today and take 20% off your entire order when you purchase any Eight Ounce Mineral Cleanser or Clay Mask!

How? 

1. Look up to the right of this page and click on "Follow". Follow the directions.

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Geisha Mineral Cleanser (For all skin types, especially mature)
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Grumpy Skin Clay Cleanser and Mask (For all skin types, especially oily, acne-prone)
Oatmeal Cookie Mineral Cleanser (For all skin types except sensitive, especially helpful for acne-prone skin)
Pixie Mineral Cleanser (For all skin types)
Tres Leches Mineral Cleanser* (For all skin types, especially dry, dehydrated, mature)

*Not Vegan: contains animal milk or honey.



3. Use the coupon code: 8OUNCEDEAL

4. When you check out type the name you are following the blog under
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Deal ends Sunday, 6/12/11 Tuesday, 6/14/11 at 8:00 p.m. eastern U.S. time; or while supplies last.

 Enjoy!

May Flowers -GARDENIA

Sunday, June 5, 2011

Gardenia

The gardenia symbolizes love, purity and refinement. These beautiful flowers have a very strong sweet scent. 

Believe it or not, gardenias are from the coffee family.  I recently had the opportunity to sniff some coffee flower oil and it had a scent very similar to gardenia. Who knew?!

Gardenia oil is fantastic for calming nerves and irritability. It is useful in treating anxiety and insomnia, too. Makes a lovely perfume.


Gardenia oil reduces pain & swelling, stops bleeding, treats muscle & joint injuries and wounds & infection and is even helpful in alleviating some of the symptoms of menopause.



When choosing a product made with Gardenia, please be certain that the gardenia was not obtained using a chemical solvent. In my opinion, this negates much of the therapeutic benefits of the oil (and any other oil for that matter). Unfortunately, due to the very high cost of the alternative extraction methods, this is how much of gardenia is extracted.  




May Flowers -GERMAN CHAMOMILE

Friday, May 27, 2011

German Chamomile


There are many types of chamomile from which you will find essential oils produced for Aromatherapy.


For the purposes of this blog entry I will share information about German Chamomile, which is also known as "Blue Chamomile".

The Latin name for this plant oil is Matricaria recutita.


Like Lavender, this variety of Chamomile is quite gentle on the skin. Therefore, it is acceptable for use with children. 

The blue color of this variety of Chamomile comes from the azulene (or chamazulene) that is produced during distillation of the oil. It is this blue component that helps make German Chamomile one of the very best oils for reducing inflammation.


Because this beautiful blue oil is so soothing to the skin and acts as a disinfectant, it is fantastic for use on cuts and splinters. German Chamomile relieves dull aches and pains including those related to menstrual and menopausal issues.



German Chamomile is helpful for all skin types, but especially sensitive and dry. It can be helpful in alleviating redness, flakiness, eczema and other itchy skin issues.

Emotionally, German Chamomile is calming. It is an antidepressant which helps with stress and irritability.



May Flowers -LAVENDER

Monday, May 23, 2011


Lavender
Lavendula angustfolia
Lavender flowers are considered an elegant luxury. They are a sign of refinement, wealth, wisdom, purity and devotion. 

Many think of lavender as a girly flower with a feminine scent. I don't usually even associate lavender with flowers. I find the fresh and minty scent to be more unisex than other floral oils.



Lavender essential oil is extracted from the buds of this beautiful purple flowering plant. 

Lavender is by far my favorite essential oil. Not just because it smells wonderful, because it does, but because lavender is the single most versatile essential oil I know. I purchase more lavender, personally and professionally, than any other essential oil. Almost every single product I craft has lavender oil in it. 

 
Not just any lavender, mind you. The lavender I use is 100% pure essential oil extracted from organically grown French Bulgarian lavender buds. This type of lavender is known to contain higher healing components than any other lavender. It is grown in very specific conditions and harvested at very specific times of the year. 

Lavender is so gentle on the skin that it is one of very few essential oils that I ever recommend for undiluted skin application.

Lavender is fantastic when applied to burns because it not only helps to prevent infection and inflammation, but it also reduces pain and promotes healing.
I rarely recommend essential oils for use while pregnant or breast feeding. Nor do I usually recommend essential oils for use with a newborn baby, but lavender is so gentle that it is an occasional exception. It is usually safe for older infants, toddlers and children. (Please ask a trained clinical aromatherapist before using any essential oil!)


Emotionally, lavender is soothing and calming to the nervous system. I highly recommend lavender for those in need of a restful night’s sleep.

Inhaling lavender brings immediate relief from stress and anxiety. I don't go anywhere without my lavender inhaler!


I am often surprised by the number of clients who aren’t familiar with the scent of true lavender. This is likely because lavender is another of the most chemically-copied oils. These fragrance oils do not have the therapeutic value of essential oils. In fact, they can do a lot of harm to your skin. Please make sure to use products only made with real and pure organically grown lavender essential oil.



May Flowers -YLANG YLANG

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Ylang Ylang

"Flower of Flowers"
-or-
"Rare Wilderness"

Think of the name, "Elaine". Now replace the final "e" with a "g". "Elang". Repeat. "Elang Elang". That's the easiest way to remember how to say Ylang Ylang.

Whichever meaning you prefer, and no matter how you pronounce it, Ylang Ylang is as beautiful a flower to look at as it is to sniff. Strong and sweet.

I think it must be what Heaven smells like!


The best Ylang Ylang essential oil is said to come from the yellow-green sea star-like flowers as opposed to the rare pink flowers.

Ylang Ylang is naturally calming to both the nervous and circulatory systems. Widely known as an aphrodisiac, Ylang Ylang is also helpful in relieving depression and the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome.

Ylang Ylang balances the skin's production of oil making it a great for balancing both dry and oily skin and scalp. 

Additional benefits of Ylang Ylang essential oil:
  • relieves pain
  • reduces inflammation
  • fights off germs and infection
  • lowers blood pressure
  • reduces anxiety
  • cooling


Because of the way the Ylang Ylang flower is distilled, there are different grades of the essential oil available. From an aromatherapist's perspective, Ylang Ylang extra and 1st grade  are the most therapeutic. Personally, I only use Ylang Ylang extra because its components hold the highest therapeutic qualities. 

Make sure when purchasing products for therapeutic reasons, you are getting the good stuff!

Interesting Fact: Coco Chanel's Chanel No. 5 was supposedly created to smell just like the Ylang Ylang tree. Coco herself has said that Ylang Ylang is "the ideal scent for a woman".

May Flowers- NEROLI

Tuesday, May 17, 2011


It has been claimed that neroli is named for the Italian Princess Anne-Marie Nerola, the Roman Emperor Nero, the Duchess of Tremoille (la Nerola), and the Sanskrit and Arabic words for aphrodisiac. No matter which legend you believe, I think it is safe to say that we all love neroli.



Neroli is the beautifully fragrant essential oil that is extracted from the flowers of the orange tree. 

The blossoms that come from the bitter orange tree tend to have a higher therapeutic value than those that come from other types of orange trees.

Because it takes over one hundred pounds of blossoms to produce just one quart of oil, neroli is quite costly.The numerous skin and health benefits as well as the incredible sweet floral scent make neroli essential oil worth every penny.



Neroli is fantastic for all skin types, but especially sensitive and mature skin. Because of its ability to to stimulate the growth of new healthier skin cells, it works wonders on stretch marks, scars and wrinkles.

Neroli has a soothing effect on the nervous system. So, it is helpful for those seeking relief from depression, anxiety and stress. Neroli is also an aphrodisiac.



Physically, the components of neroli help to make it fantastic for use with cold and flu, stomach ache, flatulence, digestion, headache, poor circulation insomnia, muscle spasm and cramping. 

Neroli is an antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and anti-fungal oil. 



The scent of neroli is so fabulous that it is widely used in the perfume industry. Because of its popularity and expense, it is often replicated using harmful chemicals. If you are purchasing a product containing neroli
please make certain you are getting the real thing.

What other neroli products would you like to see in my shop?