Chemical Free Skin Care!

Your skin is a living, breathing organ, and performs many important functions. It is your body’s largest organ and works alongside your kidneys, liver, lungs, large intestine and lymphatic system to eliminate wastes from your body. Your skin constantly sends messages to your brain to help regulate temperature, detect pain and all sensations of touch. The condition of your skin is an indication of your inner health, and reflects your lifestyle. Therefore a healthy lifestyle including good nutrition, physical fitness, relaxation and stress management all play an important part in achieving healthy skin.
Skins Absorption of Different Products?
We expose ourselves to hundreds of chemicals everyday through our personal care products, from shampoos, body washes, lotions, cremes and deodorants, not to mention food. The quantities of chemicals used in skin care products may vary and seem like small doses but they can have an accumulative effect that can be detrimental to your skin and your health.
Which Ingredients Should be Avoided?
The following ingredients have all been questioned in regards to their safety and it is better to avoid these ingredients as there are more natural and safer alternatives.

• Sodium Lauryl Sulphate – common foaming agent used in shampoos, body and facial cleansers and baby products. (It is also present in car washes and engine degreasers!)
• Petrolatum Products - mineral oils, petroleum jelly. These impair skin respiration even though they are used a lot in skincare, makeup and baby products.
• Isoprpyl alcohol – used as a solvent in skincare
• Paraben Preservatives – very common preservative used in a great number of cosmetics and skin care products.
• Propylene Glycol – a common emulsifier used in cosmetics.
• DEA (Diethanolamine) and TEA (Tiethanolamine) – detergents and emulsifiers used in cosmetics.
• Artificial Colours – many of which can effect sensitive skin.
• Imadazolidinyl Urea – Another common preservative.
• Aluminum – commonly found in deodorants.
• Animal products – used in cosmetics. Also known as Epiderm Oil and Collagen and Elastin Amino Acids.
• Amines – derived from ammonia mainly used in hair care products.
• AHA’s – acids commonly used in cosmetics.
• PEGs – binders used in cosmetics and skin care.

What To Use Instead?
There is an abundance of amazing ingredients that are supplied to us in nature and there are companies tapping into these resources and supplying us with quality natural products that not only support your health, but that deliver vitamin rich ingredients into your skin.:

• Cold Pressed Plant and Nut Oils. These are extracted without heat, therefore retain a lot of there own vitamin and mineral content. They feed and nourish the skin without congesting or suffocating it like mineral oils do. Particular favourites of ours are Rosehip Oil, a very fine and vitamin rich oil that delivers a good dose of essential fatty acids into your skin that are responsible for tissue growth and repair. It is highly recommended by plastic surgeons for burns and scarring, also beneficial for wrinkled and sun damaged skin. Another favourite is Calendula Oil – a wonderful, soothing oil great to help remove eye makeup and to use on babies delicate skin.
• Pure Essential Oils – extracted from the leaves, flowers, roots, fruits and resins of plants, these essential oils offer an array of health giving properties to your skin.
• Honey – nature’s sugar and humectant. Drawing moisture to your skin.
• Natural clays – Fullers Earth, Kaolin, Green Clays. Natures ingredients to purify and cleanse your skin.
• Aloe Vera – best used straight from the plant, it is a wonderful healer and skin tonic.
• Natural herbs and extracts – nature provides an abundance of healing and toning herbs and plant extracts that can support your skin to optimum health.

Essential oils can be applied a number of ways including massage, vaporisation, bathing, compressing, inhalation, footbaths, spritzer and, in a few instances, directly. Below is a quick reference blending chart to give you the precise total number of drops to use for each method of use for a healthy adult. Less is required for babies, children, elderly and pregnant women.  It is important to measure accurately, label all blends, store your essential oils in glass (preferably amber or cobalt) and be aware of all cautions.

Massage	100ml = 50 drops (2:1 ratio or a 2.5% dilution)
Body Rub	6mls = 3 drops
Vaporising	6-8 drops
Bathing	3-6 drops
Compress	3-4 drops
Inhalation	3-4 drops
Footbath	3-6 drops
Spritzer	3-6 drops
Direct Application	Place 1 drop on damp cotton bud

SAFE MAMA SKIN CARE CHEAT SHEET
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DIRTY DOZEN IN SKIN CARE
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TEN NASTIES IN SKIN CARE
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ESSENTIAL OILS AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO SKIN CARE
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SKIN CARE TERMS GLOSSARY
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