Make Your Own Cosmetics From Home – Naturally
Let the late Margaret Roberts inspire you to make your own cosmetics from home. Discover her secrets to a basic skin lotion, skin cream, facial scrub and how to make a fragrant facial steam.
Let the late Margaret Roberts inspire you to make your own cosmetics from home. Discover her secrets to a basic skin lotion, skin cream, facial scrub and how to make a fragrant facial steam.
Many indigenous African botanical extracts are blessings in disguise, for all manner of purposes and uses, from therapeutic to cosmetic. These brief comments highlight some of the topical cosmetic benefits.
Every year, one in four of us will seek treatment for a chronic skin complaint such as eczema, psoriasis, acne or rosacea, but many holistic health experts believe that addressing common symptoms such as inflammation, redness and scaly skin won’t solve the problem. A good integrative practitioner will look at everything from kidney and liver health to gut function when treating skin complaints.
Plants have been used since the dawn of time for food, medicine and beauty. Some plant extracts in cosmetics have been good for the skin, some not so good.
80% of us will experience acne at some point in our life, but for some the psychological impact can be more severe than the condition itself. Acutane, synthetic hormones and antibiotics are not benign drugs and come with side effects and risks – there are alternative effective options.
The skin is the body’s largest organ and acts as a sponge, absorbing approximately 60% of what is put on it. To ensure good health and well-being avoid skin care products that contain toxic ingredients. Through the application of a large variety of beauty and skin care products we expose our skin, and body, to a large number of ingredients – many of which have not been tested for their long-term effects. Many of the products that we apply consist of ingredients that are toxic, without us even knowing.
Hyaluronic acid, sometimes referred to as ‘the fountain of youth’, is known to many of us as a ‘hot’ new ingredient in skin creams. HA is a polysaccharide (a type of carbohydrate molecule) naturally present in the human body. Levels decline with age, and supplements are often recommended to treat or prevent ageing-related health problems. It is found in the highest concentrations in fluids in the eyes and joints, and in connective tissue, and it helps the body resist wear and tear. What exactly is it, and does it have other benefits?
Baobab seeds are cold-pressed to release a rich golden-amber oil which provides impressive moisturising qualities to both skin and hair. Sought after as an ingredient by many major cosmetic houses, baobab oil contains omega-3, 6 and 9 fatty acids, vital for maintaining a healthy glowing skin.
The many beauty products available to us come in pretty packaging, but don’t be fooled – wise up and check those labels for the chemical nasties lurking in the ingredients that will only do long-term harm to both you and the environment.
Are we alone in facing the pressures of maintaining a youthful appearance? Certainly not, if one considers the sheer size of the global beauty industry, predicted to reach the R400 billion mark within the next 5 years.