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How to Create Natural Scents for Your Bath or Shower
By hawkhill8
Some people love to take long, luxurious baths. Others can't wake up without a shower in the morning. Whichever you prefer, hydrotherapy, in the form of a bath or shower, is something almost everyone enjoys. There's nothing better for waking us up in the morning than a nice, hot shower. And there's nothing better for relaxing our bodies and soothing our minds into restful sleep than a bath before we go to bed. It lowers our body temperature and prepares us for sleep, naturally.
Scented Bath Salts
When I want to relax, I take a bath with these bath salts. I've been making them since the 70's when I sold them at craft fairs. Now I make them for my own enjoyment. They're so simple to make and leave your skin soft and silky. Kids love to watch them color the bath water and they're not irritating like commercial kids' bath products can be.
Ingredients:
2 Cups Sea Salt, Kosher Salt or Rock Salt
20 Drops Essential Oil
Add the essential oil to the salt. Spread it out on a cookie sheet covered with tin foil or parchment paper. (Don't use paper towels, because they'll absorb the scented oil.) When it's dry, which may take as long as 24 hours or as little as 3, pour it into a pretty glass jar with a cover. If you like colored bath salts, use a couple of TBSPS of beet juice, or non-toxic food coloring to the salts with the essential oil. You can find non-toxic food coloring at Health Food Stores. To use, just scoop out about a half-cup and add to running water.
Remember, scent is a very personal thing. It's wonderful to surround yourself with it in your own home. But it's considerate to keep it very light or just not use it in public.
Scented Shower Gel
Ingredients:
1 Cup Water
1 1/2 Cups Liquid Glycerine Soap, Scented (Dr. Bronner's or any natural brand)
2 TBSP Finely Milled Sea Salt
Natural Food Coloring (optional)
Add liquid soap to water. Do not add water to liquid soap, because you'll have a kitchen full of suds. Stir in salt and coloring, if you want it. If it separates, shake gently before using.
Variations: Use unscented liquid soap and add about 20 drops of essential oil to it. Or add a stick of cinnamon, a tsp of ginger, nutmeg, vanilla, coconut or chocolate extract. Store in a shampoo bottle.
Simple Soothing Milk and Honey Bath
Ingredients:
2 Cups of Dry Milk Powder (I use organic)
2 TBSP of Dried Honey Powder (I use HoneySweet Brand)
2 Cups of Finely Processed Oats (I use my food processor)
12-20 drops of essential oil (I use half lavender and half rose)
Mix milk and honey powder in large bowl. I use a whisk. Add essential oil, mix well and put in a plastic bag or tightly covered jar. Let the powder absorb the oil for at least 24 hours. Add 1/2 cup under the tap while you're running your bath. This is a good bath powder for children, although I omit the essential oil for children under 2, just in case it irritates them.
Looking for Natural, Organic and Green information? Get craft ideas, recipes and formulas for homemade household helpers. Lill's List is your resource for everything that's good for you.
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Aromatherapy Bath Body Products Work
By: John Hilaire
For hundreds of thousands of years, aromatherapy has been used by people for a variety of purposes from honoring the gods and ancestors, to healing, to using them for cosmetic and bathing purposes.
Nothing much has changed even until today. Incense burned at temples and at home is still infused with the fragrant essences of plants and herbs. Perfumes as still made from essential oils extracted from plants and flowers. And we still use herbal and floral products to scent our baths.
Aromatherapy bath body product works in a hundred different ways. For one, aromatherapy bath body product works by offering us therapeutic, as well as physical benefits. Sometimes, aromatherapy bath body product works depending on the type of essential oil, carrier oil, hydrosol, and the like used.
To find out how aromatherapy bath body products work, you need to know what the specific effects of each type of essential oil are. Fortunately, we have here a list of essential oils and how they work for your benefit.
Monoterpenes
Monoterpenes in aromatherapy bath body product works as an anti-viral, antiseptic, and bactericidal. Examples of monoterpenes are lemon, pine, and frankincense. Monoterpenes can be highly irritating to the skin but at the same time, they can also be used to help cleanse the skin from dirt and germs.
Esters
Esters in aromatherapy warm bath body products work as a fungicide and a sedative. It helps relax muscles and joints, relieving you of stress and pain. Esters are also very aromatically pleasing, thus contributing to the overall relaxing feel. Examples of esters are bergamot, clary sage, and lavender.
Aldehydes
Aldehydes in aromatherapy warm bath body product works as an antiseptic generally. But like Esters, aldehydes may also be sedating. Some examples are Melissa, lemongrass, and cirtronella.
Ketones
Ketones in aromatherapy warm bath body products work to ease congestion. They accomplish this by aiding the flow of mucus. They can be a good addition to a hot bath, especially if you are feeling the effects of cold or flu, but you must exercise caution because they can be toxic as well. Aromatherapy baths body product works of this kind include fennel, hyssop, and sage.
Alcohols
Alcohols in aromatherapy warm bath body product works as antiseptic for the skin. Alcohols, such as rosewood, geranium, and rose are also anti-viral with uplifting qualities.
Phenols
Phenols in aromatherapy warm baths body product works as a stimulant. They are also bactericidal, therefore very good at preventing skin disease or disorders. However, they can be highly irritating to the skin so add only a few drops of phenols in your bath to dilute them. Examples include clove, thyme, and oregano.
About The Author-- John Hilair writes the articles about aromatherapy candle associate or aromatherapy electric diffuser.
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The Top 6 Skin Care Ingredients To Avoid
By
Gina Buss
If you have acne-prone skin, or your skin is often itchy and red, avoiding common ingredients in many skincare products and makeup may be the easiest way to calm irritated and blemished skin.
The first thing to remember about skincare products is that you get what you pay for. Cheap ingredients, while more easily obtained, are often harsh and pore-clogging. Secondly, ingredients are listed on product labels in order of quantity, so if you cannot avoid products containing bad ingredients, try to find products that list such ingredients near the end. Third, if you are purchasing products from behind a counter at the mall or from an online store, ask to see the ingredients - you may be surprised at what you find.
Although there are many ingredients you should avoid in skincare products and makeup, here are some of the worst offenders:
Octyl Stearate
This chemical is used in moisturizers, sunscreens, tanning oils, and eye creams, among others. It is both an irritant and comedogenic, meaning it clogs pores. Although proper moisturization is a must for healthy skin, avoid products containing octyl stearate. If you have ever noticed pimples in the delicate skin around your eye, consider switching your eye cream. Finally, while the dangers of tanning have been stressed due to the potential for skin cancer, harsh ingredients in tanning products is another reason to learn to love your pale skin. Products containing octyle stearate include Elizabeth Arden Flawless Finish Foundation, Almay Kinetin Eye Treatment, and Cellex-C Sun Care.
Algae Extract
While this ingredient sounds "natural," that doesn't mean your skin will be receptive to its irritatant and comedogenic properties. Algae Extract, also listed as seaweed extract or gelidiela acerosa extract, can be found in many products such as Clairol Hydrience Haircolor, Estee Lauder Re-Nutriv Eye Cream, Origins A Perfect World Eye Cream, and Murad Skin Perfecting Lotion, among many others. Two other algae-derived products, algin (or sodium alginate) and carrageenan, are also used to stabilize or emulsify skin and hair products such as facial cleansers, moisturizers, and exfoliants, shampoos and conditioners, and shaving cream. Fortunately, algin is easy to avoid; carrageenan is more prevalent.
Laureth-4
This coconut-derived surfactant, dispersant, and emulsifier (meaning it evenly suspends one liquid throughout another, rather than allowing it to settle) is an extremely common ingredient in all kinds of skincare products that can be difficult to avoid. Some Aveeno bath products and body scrubs contain Laureth-4, and it can also be found in Gillette shaving gels and even some acne treatments. It is worth your while to search out products free of this comedogenic and irritating alcohol.
Sodium Chloride
Otherwise known as salt - yes, the kind used to flavor food - sodium chloride is a pore-clogging chemical found in products too numerous to mention. Just because you can safely eat it doesn't mean you should put it on your skin! Aveeno- Ultra-Calming Foaming Cleanser is a good bet if you want to avoid sodium chloride and most other harsh ingredients, such as those listed in this article.
Isopropyl Myristate
Primarily comedogenic, isopropyl myrstate may also be somewhat irritating to sensitive skin. It is derived from both plant and animal fatty acids and helps the skin absorb the skincare product. Isopropyl myristate is a common ingredient found in body lotions, like Neutrogena Light Sesame Formula, tanning lotions by Banana Boat, and foundations by Estee Lauder and Cover Girl.
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate
This chemical is a detergent used in many hair and skin products. It helps the product to lather. Until recently, sodium lauryl sulfate was nearly impossible to avoid, but because of industry safety concerns and a little bad press, it is much less difficult to find alternative products. If you must use a product with sodium lauryl sulfate, make sure you rinse your skin and hair thoroughly. Never leave a product with this ingredient on your skin. Also avoid sodium laureth sulfate.
There are numerous other ingredients to avoid, if possible. Acne-causing ingredients include: hexadecyl alcohol, oleth-3, and wheat germ oil. Irritants include: acetone, isopropyl alcohol, and colloidal sulfur. Mineral oil (petrolatum) may dry out skin in the long run, as will propylene glycol.
Even if a chemical has been approved as "safe" for skincare, it is important to remember that it may not be ideal for individuals with sensitive and/or acne-prone skin. Although "natural" ingredients (like the algae ingredients listed above) are touted as better for your skin, you should still be discerning about which products you use. With care - and, perhaps, the sacrifice of a few more dollars - you can prevent many of the problems these products are intended to solve.
Gina Buss, M.B.S. is a health and science writer. You can learn more about the benefits of using natural products at her website:
Naturalopolis - Natural Health, Preventive Health
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Bed And Bath Products Create Comfortable Surroundings
By
James Brown
Most people are not conscious about the number of bed and bath products that are in the home. These products are present when people sleep and when they dress for work each morning. Other bed and bath products originated in the kitchen and now hold a coveted place in the corner of the dining room. People pass by these products each day and barely notice them because they have become a part of their lives. If they disappeared from sight one day though the absence would be noticeable.
A couple might be used to sleeping in comfort and get used to sleeping on percale sheets. The bed ruffles might tickle some toes when they climb into bed each night and the smell of fresh sheets might invigorate some. When the mate changes the linens a bit and substitutes silk sheets to lay down on that night, there is certain to be a few quirky smiles exchanged between two people before the lights go out for the night. A zippered mattress cover might have replaced the ruffles. The mattress is noticeably softer and seems lighter in the darkness.
The bedroom will be visually different in many ways on many nights of the year. Changing window treatments is an affordable decorating option that many women cannot do often enough. One night the room might have beaded curtains in the windows that catch the light that comes from candles. Other nights the bedroom will have embroidered panels in the windows, with sheer curtains behind them.
These standard, everyday room decorations do not take long to change. The bedding in a room can change dramatically on every single day of the week if some changes are desired. There are wide varieties of valances that can set a new mood entirely or keep the room enveloped in billowy fabric until another color change is needed. The same mood changes can occur in the bathroom with the help of a few bath products and bathtub ornamentations.
The addition of space savers and shower caddies in the bathroom are always noticed, but a homemaker could make the bathtub a luxurious place to visit with a little ingenuity and creative thought and bath products that are affordably priced. With the addition of new shower curtains, a bathroom can become a beckoning oasis after a tiring day at work. Bath ensembles can coordinate any theme, color, or alter any disposition.
With the addition of new bath accessories and luxurious towels, the task of taking a bath will become a thrill and not a chore to many people at home. By installing pulsating showerheads, the bath experience will be even better. Adding scents from bubble baths, gels, and beads will leave every bather feeling refreshed and emollient bath products like lotions and oils will make everybody's skin much softer.
Some bath products can turn tired, ugly feet into works of art with a little work. Many tools for the bath can be used regularly to smooth away calluses and make feet lovely to look at. Nails can be trimmed with clippers, and sparkling colors can be applied to each toe. Foot massages will be luxurious and lengthy with the mechanical foot spas that can be set up easily. All other areas of the body can be massaged and the spirit can be revived in a matter of minutes.
James Brown writes about The White Company bargains, Click Bathrooms online coupons
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Body and Bath Products to Nourish Skin
By
streditorial
Properly caring for your skin can ensure that it remains supple and healthy. There are many different tools you can use to keep your skin in good condition. Especially important are maintaining a proper balance of vitamins and nutrients. It is important that you take in enough vitamins from food to meet your needs and apply additional vitamins to the skin to have added health benefits.
I describe three of the most important vitamins for skin care, as well as the different sources to provide the benefits of these nutrients to your skin.
Often, botanical extracts that contain one of these vitamins will be added to body and bath products as well as dry body oil spray products to provide conditioning and healing for the skin.
Some of the more important vitamins for skin care include Vitamins A, D, and E. These antioxidant vitamins are vital and can prevent your skin from peeling and cracking.
Vitamin D can be manufactured with the addition of sunlight, but if you are spending most of your time indoors, or it is winter or a northern climate, you may not be receiving enough of this vitamin to help your skin.
It can also be dangerous to expose yourself to the sun to gain Vitamin D if you have sensitive skin as you risk exposing yourself to too much UV light. The catch-22 is using even the weaker types of sunscreens will block most of the ultraviolet light and prevent your skin from making more vitamin D.
To prevent the risks from exposure to too much sunlight, you may consider that this vitamin is provided in some dry body oil spray products for topical application.
Vitamin A is important to maintain the skin as well as other organs such as the eyes. It is found in many natural products including carrots, pumpkins, sweet potatoes, beets, and apricots, as well as many other red or orange fruits and vegetables.
These natural ingredients are frequently added to skin creams, as the fruit and vegetable extracts contain many other valuable minerals and antioxidants. They can also be used to improve the fragrance and the texture of skin products.
Many times they are used in perfumes as well as body and bath products. Fruits and vegetables are commonly added to shampoos, conditioners, and other hair care items to prevent hair from becoming dry and loose and to protect the scalp and ensure that your skin also receives necessary vitamins and nutrients.
Another important antioxidant, Vitamin E, is often used in dry body oil spray and bath products. This natural protective compound is usually found as a component of vegetable oils. These vegetable oils such as sunflowers, hazelnuts, and olives provide a source of this skin care vitamin along with other beneficial nutrients and minerals.
Often, vegetable oils can be used as a base for perfume, and natural perfume body products usually make use of a blend of several types of vegetable oils. These can be used to ensure that the combination has a great smell and texture.
Other botanical extracts can be added to provide additional antioxidant properties and provide additional benefits to the skin. Look for all natural botanical extracts for the most concentrated delivery of these vitamins.
For more information on products with natural botanical extracts, minerals and vitamins, look at Vinci & Rakos. Their body and bath products have long lasting, moisturizing of conditioning oils and vitamins. For detailed vitamin ingredients, visit http://www.whomakessense.com
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