Louise Forrest asked:

To understand organic skin care, you have to understand organic farming because all of the ingredients in organic skin care are organically produced. This means that each and every ingredient should be certified as organically grown, not just the majority of them.

It is a good idea to check companies that you are considering for your organic skin care products to make sure that they are selling certified products and that the products you purchase from them are certified.

There are companies out there which make false claims about being organic and those that sell some non organic products along with organic products. Through understanding organic farming, you will see that organic skin care is better for both you and the environment.

Basically, organic farming is a return to the way farming used to be done, utilizing a number of things to replenish soil nourishment including: crop rotation, composting, and cover crops. Climate hardy plants grown in well nourished soil have better insect and disease resistance than their non organic counterparts do.

Because of this resistance, the organic plants do not require fertilizers and pesticides in massive amounts. Even when help is needed, organic farmers protect their plants through a variety of ways that still do not utilize synthetic chemicals. Sadly, this does not mean that there are absolutely no pesticides in organic plants.

Because of the over use of pesticides, even our rain carries them, which means that organic plants are subjected to them through the rain.

Biodiversity is promoted by the organic farmers way of growing different crops and natural resource systems (like air and water) are protected because of the way that organic farmers store and compost the animal waste they use in replenishing soil nutrients.

The overall effect on the environment through organic farming can be seen through reduced greenhouse gases. On a local level, farmers see less water used, less soil erosion, improved fertility, safer groundwater, and more abundant wildlife.

Organic is all about the way that various agricultural products are grown (or raised) and processed. By farming organically, the health of the ecosystem is maintained. Toxins in fertilizers and pesticides are bypassed because these products are not used in organic farming.

The focus is on the environment: soil regeneration and water conservation being the two biggest issues and animal welfare playing a large part as well. During processing quality is retained because organic foods are not subjected to artificial ingredients, irradiation, or preservatives.

Aside from man made additives, pesticides, and fertilizers, organic food is also free of man made herbicides and GMOs (genetically modified organisms). Animals raised organically are not fed by products of other animals (rather, they eat organically grown foods) and they are free to roam and enjoy their existence (instead of being locked in cages).

In raising animals organically, a diet of certified organic food is used; this means that, in addition to the absence of the above mentioned synthetics, there are no hormones ingested by organically raised animals.

Prevention of disease is a by product of the animals healthy living, so antibiotics are also not passed on to us through ingestion. Through this well nourished, free to roam life, it has been found that animals raised for things like milk and eggs tend to live much longer than their non organic counterparts.

According to the United States National Organic Standards Board, Organic agriculture is an ecological production management system that promotes and enhances biodiversity, biological cycles and soil biological activity. It is based on minimal use of off farm inputs and on management practices that restore, maintain and enhance ecological harmony.

For products to be certified organic, they must meet a set of strict standards within the industry. These standards are verified by a third party agency, sometimes the government. In order to be certified, both farms and processing plants must be checked and found to be in compliance with the standards that have been set. After initial certification, farms and facilities are still inspected regularly to verify that the organic standards are still being met.

Organic does not just refer to the actual plants and animals produced for human consumption. It applies to anything which is manufactured in such a way that it meets the certification standards.

This is why one moisturizer may be organic while another is not, even though both companies use the same ingredients. Organic farming has grown to the extent that you can find a huge variety of food (even processed foods), but it goes even further than food. You can buy organic clothing, organic bedding, linens, and other items.

World of Supplements

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Whether it is a tired eyes, wrinkles, insect bites or burns, there are times that things can happen to your skin. With the following organic skin care recipes and tips, you can treat various ailments naturally, leaving behind many of the man made pollutants that are absorbed into our bodies through most over the counter aids.

Insect Bites

Recipe #1: Mix 1 drop of organic almond essential oil and 2 tablespoons baking soda and 4 tablespoons of distilled water to form a paste. Apply to bite and let sit for 20 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry

Recipe #2: Mix 8 ounces distilled water with 2 tablespoons Epsom Salt. Apply compress made of a wash cloth soaked this mixture.

Oily Skin/ Acne

Recipe #1: Make a mask of 1/4 organic apple (cored but unpeeled), 1 organic egg white, 1/2 organic lemon (peeled and deseeded), 30 organic Thompson seedless grapes, 4 tablespoons organic watercress (finely chopped). Blend all ingredients on medium for 3 minutes. Apply to face using cotton balls and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Recipe #2: Mix 1/4 cup organic yogurt (plain) with 1 tablespoon brewer’s yeast. The mixture should be runny; if not, add a bit more brewers yeast. Apply to oily zones and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Recipe #3: Mix 1/2 cup organic oat flour, juice from 1/2 organic orange, and 1 teaspoon organic honey. Apply to face and let sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Scrapes

Recipe #1: This remedy should be made in advance and kept for times when it is needed. First you will need to create 4 special oils. You will need organic extra virgin olive oil, three airtight, glass jars and 4 fresh organic herbs: calendula, plantain, red clover, and St. Johns Wort.

Let the herbs wilt for one day, then put each type in its own jar and cover the herbs with olive oil. Close the jars and leave in direct sunlight for two weeks. Strain oil to use. Once your oils are made, you will need 1/4 cup of each of your special oils and 1 cup organic beeswax.

Melt the oils and beeswax in a large, microwave safe bowl, pour into an airtight, glass jar and let cool. If the mixture is too runny after completely cooling, you need to add a bit more beeswax and melt again, if it is too thick, add a bit more oil and melt again. Apply to wounds when needed much like you would with ready made antibacterial ointments.

Recipe #2:Soak the area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

Splinters

Recipe #1: Soak the area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it. Because Epsom Salt draws toxins out of the skin and acts as an anti inflammatory, this bath will draw the splinter to the surface.

Recipe #2: Bandage a thin slice of organic potato over the splinter and let stay overnight. Potato draws things out of the skin and the splinter should be to the surface by morning.

Sunburn Relief

Recipe #1: Mix 5 organic cucumbers (pureed) and 2 1/2 cups powdered milk in a bowl. Pour mixture into tepid/warm bath and soak burned areas for 20 minutes. The mixture can be applied directly to the burned skin, if you prefer.

Recipe #2: Soak the burned area with Epsom Salt dissolved in warm water. This is easiest done by taking a tepid/warm bath with 2 cups of Epsom Salt in it.

Tired Eyes

Grate raw potato and wrap in cheesecloth. Apply to eyelids for 20 minutes, wiping the starchy residue away before applying makeup.

Wrinkles:

Recipe # 1: Cut organic Thompson seedless grapes in half and crush on wrinkles, especially near eyes and mouth. Leave the juice on your face for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water, repeat daily.

Recipe # 2: Mash a very ripe organic banana extremely well, apply to entire face and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

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Julia Elorriaga asked:

Organic skin care is on a rise. There are several firms that have started selling organic products. People’s faith towards organic products has been on a rise. This because of the growing acceptance of products prepared without the use of chemicals. Initially it was organic foods that were popular. People started to look for organic products everywhere as organic foods became popular. Now there are several organic skin care products that you can see in the malls and other stores. The ingredients of these organic products are grown naturally without the addition of any chemicals as mentioned above.

These organic products tend to costly as the production price per unit is high. Organic skincare products cannot be manufactured on a large scale because of the difficulty of sourcing the ingredients required for these products. Large scale production of these ingredients is extremely difficult because of the threat of nature. This is why small production of these ingredients is done. As scale is not achieved, the cost of the products is high which is why they are available at high prices in the market.

There are several firms that sell organic skin care products that provide regular skin care. Most of these are moisturizers and purifying creams. All these firms claim that their products are free of sulphates, paraben and petrochemicals. These firms are continuously striving towards formulating better organic products that provide skin care. One of the most used ingredients is the olive oil. Olive oil was used as a moisturizer by Greeks. It has the unique property of mixing with water. This is a potent combination as this solution penetrates into the skin and cleans the dirt from the inside. When chemicals are removed from the products containing these ingredients, the cream stands a much better chance to allow the skin to function better.

The natural skin care product review was done in 2006. Each product was rated out of ten for its mix of natural ingredients. The tope four skin moisturizers were Mt personal choice, Terressential’s Moisture cream, Burt’s bees complexion oil, nature’s bounty skin cream. The worst skin care was also ranked in terms of which had the most toxic ingredients. These were Jergen’s natural glow skin moisturizer, Rite Aid skin care lotion, Jason Natural moisturizer, Dove face care essential nutrients and Zia natural body gel. These ratings show that even if the companies claim to be natural or organic, you have to check the ingredients to find out how organic they are. Inspite of claims to be organic, these skincare products will be containing some amount of chemicals in them. This does not mean all the products out there are not 100% organic. There are fully Organic Skincare products available in the market. The first two products in the top 4 rated moisturizers are 100% organic.

The chemicals present in the regular products harm your skin in the long run. They may produce short term results, but in the long run they are detrimental to your skin. If you find the organic products expensive you can prepare your own cosmetics at home. One such website that has instructions on it is http://www.aboutorganic.com. This information is available in the personal care section of organic home. If you still use regular creams, shift to organic as they have the advantage of being natural and not causing any harm on your skin.

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Julia Elorriaga asked:

The word organic is not only for food but now it expands to skincare. Problems like irritations, rashes and other skin reactions due to chemicals used in products prompted the way for organic skin care. Many organic brands are now available in the market and some also includes organic ingredients in their products. You can now shop for pressed powder made from natural minerals and all-natural body washes and scrubs.

But what is organic? And why should we go for organic skin care? Organic simply means natural and chemical free. Most beauty products contain chemicals that may be harmful to our body. Chemicals are used as colorants, fragrances and preservatives to prolong the product’s shelf life.

Consumers should beware of components like formaldehyde, imidazolidinyl urea, methyl paraben, and propyl baraben and many more. These chemicals may cause irritations and other bad reactions especially if you are allergic to these substances. Some chemicals are too harsh and make skin dry and look dull. Chemicals are widely used in soaps, lotions, creams, cosmetics and perfumes.

Why go for organic skin care? First, it is natural therefore; you can be assured that it is safe to enter your system. Organic products are best for people with sensitive skin that is very prone to irritations. People prone to acne are advised to opt for organic skin care products to avoid chemical reactions and may worsen the skin problem. Chemicals that are used to combat bacteria in our skin may be too harsh.

Since it natural it is also good for the environment. When released to the environment, they don’t harm animals or plants unlike synthetic products. Organic substances will just naturally break down and blend with nature.

However, consumers should be extra careful in choosing organic skin care products. Some products are misleading, labeled as organic though the product only contains a very small percentage of organic components. How to avoid this? Look for essential oils in beauty products like tea tree oil and jojoba oil. Shop for products that are fragrance free and doesn’t have colorants. Carefully read the label and check for chemicals stacked in the product. Look for products that used natural ingredients like milk and plants like lemon, calamansi, avocado and many more.

But the best and surest way to have organic skin care products lies in your own hands. Check what you have in your kitchen and what is stored in your fridge. Coffee, eggs, oats, honey, yogurt and milk can be used as part of your skin care. Coffee or oats (with little water or honey) make a good facial or body scrub. Raw eggs or milk is a good facial mask. Cucumber and empty tea bags can do wonders for your eye bags. You can certainly prepare these by simply adding water or put it directly in your skin.

In closing, it doesn’t matter if where and how you obtain your organic skin care product. It is fine if you just shop for one or make your own. What matters is that you are sure that it uses all natural ingredients for your skin. For sure, your skin will thank you later.

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Skin Care: Body Care Lotion and Moisturizers

Body care lotions and moisturizers are an essential element of the daily skincare routines. Read on to find out more…

The human skin is the largest organ of the integumentary system and its primary function is to guard the underlying muscles, bones, ligaments as well as the internal organs. However, at times the importance of healthy skin is ignored. Here is everything you need to know about skin care, body care lotions and moisturizers. Read on how to get a healthy glowing skin and avoid the harmful side effects of all the creams and moisturizers available in the market.

Skin Care: What Does it Take to Get a Healthy Skin?

A skin is a reflection of your overall health. In order to keep your skin healthy and glowing it is very important to take all the measures for maintaining a healthy body. Regular exercises definitely ensure a healthy skin since exercising helps your body to get rid of excess fat. Increase the blood flow as well as increase the oxygen provided to the body. In addition to exercise, a balanced diet is also necessary for healthy skin. In case you just can’t finish your day without fast food, then you should know about the hazardous effects of fast food. In addition to exercising and dieting, it is your overall lifestyle that will determine the health of your skin. For example irregular and inadequate sleeping patterns can make your skin dull. A good night’s sleep is a pre-requisite for a healthy skin.

Prolonged exposure to sun or extremely cold weather can also harm the skin. Harmful addictions like drugs, smoking and alcohol abuse can also rob your skin of its healthy glow. In addition to all the above factors it is very important to take good care of your skin with a regular skincare routine. Holistic skin care routine includes exfoliating, cleansing, moisturizing and toning of the skin. Skin care is thus crucial in order to keep your skin clean, healthy and supple. Always remember that skin care routines differ according to the type of your skin. There are different skincare routines for dry skin, oily skin or combination skin. So before you move on to decide on your moisturizer, you might want to analyze your skin type. Determine your facial skin care routine based on your type of skin.

skin care: Things to Keep in Mind while Selecting a Moisturizer

There are various skin creams in the market which promise you a glowing healthy skin. However, not all of these creams will provide you the results that they promise. Here are a few things to keep in mind while selecting a moisturizer or a body cream for yourself:

• Analyze your skin type and select a moisturizer, which is best suited for your type of skin.
• There are anti aging-moisturizers, moisturizers for acne-affected skin as well as customized moisturizers to suit oily, dry and combination skins – pick the right one which satisfies your requirements.
• Avoid using too many moisturizing products, find a good product that suits your skin type and stick to it instead of experimenting after every few weeks or months.
• If you have an oily skin try and pick a moisturizer with a gel-base or water-base. On the other hand an oil-based moisturizer can work fine for dry skins.
• While buying a moisturizer pick a moisturizer with a simple formulation and lesser ingredients. Avoid picking up a moisturizer with too many chemical compounds.
• Do not use body lotions for your facial skin. Try and get a milder moisturizer for your face since the body lotion might not necessarily suit the requirements of your facial skin.

In case you are ready to abandon all the moisturizers in the market there are several natural and effective moisturizers that can enhance your skin quality within weeks. Nourishing oils like almond oil or olive oil can be a great way to replenish your skin – just massage your entire body with these oils before you take a bath. Allow the body to absorb the oil for a minimum of 20 minutes and then take a bath using a mild scrub or soap. You will have a beautiful glowing skin, which will not have the need to dab on any additional moisturizers or creams. In case you are using any of the moisturizers from the market – try and apply the moisturizer right after your bath when the body will absorb all the moisture.

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Organic skin care

Organic Skin Care products are not only safe, but also very effective. However, sadly due to the secondary position of extensive research and rigorous safety testing in the manufacture of skin care products, the manufacturers do not conduct the long term studies to ensure the safety of their products.

The organic skin care or natural skin care products are synonymous with the phrase: No Side Effects! This is a fact and springs from the fact that these skin care products are made from natural ingredients found in nature. Recent research tests revealed that the Environmental Working Group found many reputed products containing toxic chemicals. Some of these toxic components are even linked to the onset of cancer! The organic skin-care products help to avoid this problem. The natural ingredients are tapped from the earth and not the laboratory. A number of herbs, botanicals, minerals and special soil types, like Fuller’s Earth make up the components of these organic skin care or natural skin care products.

The natural ingredients flaunted in the manufacture of organic skin care or natural skin care products are selected on the basis of the ability of the soil type or herb to heal and protect the sensitive skin, without the need for harmful additives like synthetic fertilizers and pesticides. All skin care products do need preservatives; however, during manufacturing process, the use of synthetic additives is minimized to a great extent. This ensures that the marketed product is actually pure and natural, without pesticides and fungicides!

The term ‘organic’ generally refers to fruit or vegetable or grain grown without the use of anything synthetic – pesticides, insecticides, hormones or any of the synthetic or toxic substances usually sprayed. In the case of organic skin care or natural skin care products the ‘Organic Certification’ is awarded only when the product range is developed over a three-year period without external synthetic protection and there are no artificial flavors or colors added. The certification does not encourage the use of ingredients that are irradiated or with genetically modified organisms. The latest national standard for organic labeling includes basic classification criteria.

The organic skin care or natural skin care products have to be 100% organic, which means that the product should contain only organically produced ingredients. The product should essentially contain at least 95% organic ingredients and it should be made with Organic Ingredients. The FDA ahs stepped in to force organic skin care or natural skin care product manufactures to ensure the display of simple and explicit ‘warning labels’ on the product containers, declaring the use of harmful chemicals, if any. All natural organic skin care products are water- chemical- cruelty- paraben- free! Botanical ingredients not only nourish the sensitive skin with bio-actives, but also enable the body to benefit from the naturally encapsulated liposome delivery system.

The organic skin care or natural skin care products offer deep trans-dermal absorption of the natural ingredients and this results in a rejuvenated you! There are a number of skin renewal activators available today that flaunt components that are bio-compatible and bio-available. This ‘all natural’ approach enables your skin to breathe, feel and look younger. The manufacturers of the organic skin care or natural skin care products have now come up with potent formulas to offer customers the desired skin lift, the natural way. A soft, smooth feel and luminescent skin is possible and probably the ingredients already grow in your backyard!

The water portion subscribed in each of the organic skin care or natural skin care products is replaced with botanical extracts and rich sea extracts, full of plant energy. The hydrosols and other bio energized liquids activate the skin, and prepare it for cell-penetration, for the desired skin lifting and toning. The healing vibrations balance skin and body. The fermentation of the natural liquids results in the one key product used in organic skin care products – the miracle broth – capable of healing enzymes and producing the essential vitamins and minerals required for a glowing skin.

The natural ingredients used in the organic skin care or natural skin care products imbue the epidermis with regenerative and anti-oxidant constituents. All natural organic skin treatments help to heal and balance the skin, with the help of the undiluted ingredients and minimal processing.

See all the hand made organic skin care  products from Anousta

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What is the Difference between Organic Skin Care and Natural Skin Care Products?

As more and more people wake up to realize the wonders of nature, the sales of ‘organic’ skin care products and ‘natural’ skincare products are on an all time high. Environment-conscious consumers are increasingly moving towards organic or natural skin care products from the chemical treated ones. And to cater to this increasing audience, skin care products’ manufacturers are coming up with new innovations and products of the lot.

Both Natural and Organic skin care products comprise of the same things but they are by no means interchangeable. This is because they are grown differently. Organic Skincare products are produced naturally while natural skin care products, though cultivated naturally, use certain chemicals like pesticides and sludge. For instance tomatoes are grown conventionally but to make them reap better it is treated with pesticides and insecticides. They are natural but they aren’t organic. Organic skin care products record lesser amounts of nitrates than natural skin care products and have high levels of antioxidants and vitamins.

The phrase “derived from natural fruits or vegetables…” is often seen on the ingredients list of cosmetic products. The real truth behind them is the derivation process itself involves the use of certain chemicals. Likewise some companies label their cosmetics as “organic” just because it contains carbon.

Therefore it is very essential that you know what you are buying! There are no legal requirements for using the term in most countries. So, you need to be aware in order to make the right decision. Here are some tips:

• Look for any organic certification that the product may carry. If the products are really pure and natural, it should carry a certification from some or the other organic industry standards.
• Read the labels very carefully. Check out the ingredients list of the products and note the first four elements for they make the base. If there is something on the list that you do not understand, its likely it’s the name of some chemical ingredient.
• If you are not sure about any of the product, run down a search on the Internet with MSDS along with it. MSDS stands for manufacturers safety data sheets.

Using organic beauty products not only gets you the benefits of natural ingredients but also you can boast of your cosmetics to be environment-friendly. Organic products make use of natural components that have been used as beauty ingredients since ancient history. But using natural substance to heal your skin and protect it, you can be rest assured that the healing process is totally safe without any risk of chemicals.

Here are some common beauty products that are available in organic forms:

• Cleansers and Toners
• Moisturizers
• Body lotions
• Massage oils
• Facemasks
• Sun protection and so on.

Dr. Marilynn Syrett graduated from Western University of Health Sciences, College of Osteopathic Medicine Of The Pacific in 1998 and has a keen interest in the use and effectiveness of skin care products and acne skin treatments.

www.skincareheaven.com

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