Beauty Update: Moisture overload

As I mentioned previously I want to make sure my skin will be well looked after for my coming months in Spain considering the quality of water over there is nothing like what we have in NZ and also my skin is exposed a lot more to pollution, dust, sun and every other external element over there! Therefore I had a day of creating 2 moisturisers for both me to take to Spain and also for family members here.

My parents absolutely LOVE an over-night moisturiser I made for them a couple of months ago and asked for a top-up so I decided to use the original recipe I used for them as well as adapt it for both a daily face moisturiser.

I have used essential oils: Sweet Orange & Lemon but you can used whatever essential oils you prefer - This is just what I had in my home and want to use the ingredients before I head off overseas.

So I want to share 2 recipes - Created in exactly the same way but just a slight change in ingredients.

Apricot&Coconut Body Cream:

7 Tbl Apricot Kernal
2 Tbl Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
2 Tbl Vitamin E Oil
2 Tbl Organic Beeswax
1 Tbl Coco butter
2 tsp Pure Lanolin
10 Tbl water
1 tsp Vegetable glycerin
20 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
20 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Method:

1. In a double boiler place Apricot Kernal, Coconut Oil, Vitamin E, Beeswax, Coco butter and lanolin and melt very gently until the beeswax has JUST melted.
2. At the same time put the water and Vegetable glycerin in a separate pot and heat gently until almost boiling.
3. Take both pots off heat and leave on kitchen bench uncovered for approximately 10 minutes or until the oil mixture has a glazed appearance and is almost like a salve.
4. Place the oil mixture into your food processor and pulse for 30 seconds - It will become thick and yellowish in colour.
5. Slowly add the water mixture to the food processor mixing constantly on a slow speed - It will become beautiful and silky-white.
6. Add the essential oil and mix through.
7. Pour into small jars and leave lids off until completely cool.

I would recommend this moisturiser for the body as it does appear quite thick and buttery, alternatively use an overnight cream.

The main ingredient; base oil - Apricot Kernal is recommended for use around the eyes and face as it contains the ability to tighten then skin and also has a astringent quality.

Almond&Coco Butter Cream:

7 Tbl Almond Oil
2 Tbl Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
1 Tbl Vitamin E Oil
2 Tbl Organic Beeswax
2 Tbl Coco butter
10 Tbl water
1 tsp Vegetable glycerin
20 Drops Sweet Orange Essential Oil
20 Drops Lemon Essential Oil

Same method as above.

Almond Oil has a high fatty acid content and has the ability to penetrate the skin well. I use this moisturiser as my daily face cream in the morning and I opt to use Almond Oil alone at night time before sleeping.

Let me know if you need any help or have any questions about these recipes!

X

Beauty update: Olive&Coconut Body Butter

My big brother is currently visiting from China for a family friends wedding - Plus it is winter there right now so he came to grab a few rays of sun. He works as an explorer for a Chinese mining company in Mongolia so spends much of his time either on the field in the middle of nowhere or running around Bejing at the office. We all know that the pollution levels in a big city like Beijing have to take a massive toll on your skin as well as working on the field in the Mongolian desert you have to deal with things like... extreme cold, living in a tent for weeks, no showers, crappy food and long hours working. Needless to say I quite happily assumed him as one of my patients and set about creating a body butter for him that will protect his skin form the harsh conditions and stop it from drying out constantly.

Ulziit Ovoo Exploration camp - My brother uses the Mongolian
yurt as sleeping accommodation.

I have chosen in this body butter to use extra virgin olive and extra virgin coconut as my base oils as well as use my usual ingredients of coco butter and beeswax. I have also put a decent amount of pure lanolin to this mixture to really fortify the skin during those cold months.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1/2 cup Extra Virgin Coconut Oil
2 Tbl Beeswax
2 Tbl Coco Butter
2 tsp Pure Lanolin
1 cup of water
30 drops sweet orange essential oil

Method:
1. In a double boiler slowly melt together all ingredients minus the water
2. In a separate pot at the same time slowly heat the cup of water till almost boiling
3. Take both pots off heat and let cool for 10 minutes
4. In the food processor scrape out all of the oil combination and pulse for 10 seconds
5. Slowly add the water to the oil mixture keeping the processor at a low speed constantly
6. Once all water is added pulse again for 10 seconds
7. Mix in the essential oil of your choice and pulse again for 5-10 seconds
8. Pour in pots and let cool before sealing.

Enjoy!

Birthday celebrations

On the 11th of January it was the 25th birthday of fellow wolverine Kimberley !!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KIMMY!

On the 11th we went on a fabulous boat cruise around the Auckland Harbor with a bunch of friends who could make it - It was a very eventful evening including ripping out a couple of moves on the disco dance floor.. photos below.

The weekend just passed, we decided to get away and celebrate Kimmys birthday outside of Auckland so we packed our bags & chilli bins and drove up on Friday evening to Kai iwi Lakes. We had a primo spot with a massive house looking over the lake. It was a perfect weekend full of fantastic food, sunshine, kayaking, golf and facials.

The ladies on the holiday were brave enough to try out some of my face masks! Photos and recipes below :)

Facials:

First of all the ladies all cleansed their faces with an almond and sunflower seed mix wetted to a paste with water, they then had a choice of 2 face masks depending on their skin type:

1. Banana smoothie face-mask

Skin type: Normal to dry/dehydrated skin

Ingredients: Buttermilk & Banana

Buttermilk helps to clear and brighten skin as it contains lactic acid which helps remove hyper-pigmented cells. And banana serves as a nourishing and moisturising ingredient, a non-abrasive exfoliant also with skin lightening action. It is good for all skin types especially dry skin :)

1. Deep cleanse mask

Skin type: Oily to normal skin

Ingredients: Almonds (crushed), sunflower seeds (crushed), rolled oats (crushed), almond oil & tomato flesh (seeds and skin removed). 

Almonds are high in emollients and work as a good exfoliant, also works as a gentle bleaching agent to even skin tone. Sunflower seeds are rich in essential fatty acids, emollients and nutrients - makes a good moisturiser and is very gentle, fantastic for exfoliation. Rolled oats are soothing to irritated skin and also makes a gentle abrasive base for the face mask. Almond oil (I use this religiously every day) is high in fatty acids and penetrates the skin well. Lastly tomatoes are high in anti-oxidants and are great on inflamed or blemished skin.

All ingredients used - the mixes can be prepared in advance!

Cleansing with an almond mix

Helping each other apply the mask

The girls relaxing as their masks work magic!

Even Porsche wanted to join in!  

Amazing meal prepared by Jess to top off a perfect day at the lake :)

More good food the next day

Thank you very much ladies! X

Megan's New Years resolution 2013

I am not one to make New Years resolutions only because I don't believe you should wait till the end of the year to make necessary changes that you see fit in your life. But after a conversation with some health conscious friends today I decided I could use the New Year as an excuse... it is always good to try new things - right?

So although I already started changing my lifestyle from about midway through last year I have now made a commitment to better living and taking care of my body the way it deserves!

To support this change I have adapted the 'Seven lifestyle keys' by Stephanie Tourles

1. Daily cleansing

2. Maximal nutrition intake

3. Regular consumption of pure water

4. Regular elimination of internal and external toxic buildup

5. Daily movement

6. Moderate exposure to sunlight

7. Sound sleep.

I truly believe the real beauty comes from knowing and loving your own body inside and out and this can be easily achieved using the 7 steps above.

Wish me luck people!

Let's all be natural this year!

"When you improve appearance, you also boost your morale. And we all function better and are more comfortable when we know we have presented our best to our critical selves and to the world."
-VIRGINIA CASTLETON

Treatment for Rosacea

 
Recently a middle aged man in my life (daddy-dearest) asked me to do some research on Rosacea and the treatment of this skin disorder through natural remedies. He does not necessarily have Rosacea himself but does experience some redness and dryness in his upper cheeks, like myself, so I set about some research on the web and created a face-paste (similar to my Tumeric face mask) as well as a night cream.

Symptoms and signs of rosacea include:

• Areas of redness on your face
• Small red bumps or pustules on your nose, cheeks, forehead, and/or chin
• Small blood vessels on your nose and/or cheeks (called telangiectasia)
• Tendency to flush or blush

Resource: http://altmedicine.about.com

Worsening Symptoms of Rosacea:

• Sun Exposure
• Stress
• Hot weather
• Drinking alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Exercise
• Wind
• Hot baths
• Hot drinks
• Cold weather 

Resource: http://dermatology.about.com

Below I would like to share with you the two quick recipes I cooked up :)

1. Tumeric face paste - Helps to reduce redness and soothes skin

To be applied daily to problem areas, left on for 10-15 minutes then washed off with a hot face cloth.

1. Put 1/2 cup of water to boil
2. Once boiling sift 1/8 cup of Tumeric to boiling water
3. Constantly stir till a thick paste is formed (Can take around 5-10 minutes)
4. Then add 1 Tbsp of Virgin Coconut Oil and mix through
5. Sift through 1 tsp of Rice flour to thicken

NB: Remembering to constantly stir is the key here!

Why Tumeric is useful in treating Rosacea:

Although the exact reason behind onset of Rosacea is not yet known, doctors claim that inflation of facial blood vessels initiates the unusual redness of skin. The pimples are caused due to clogged skin pores and bacterial infection. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities of turmeric fight these skin problems and regular use of it checks the relapse of the skin disease. Hence, use of turmeric is a safe and handy method for controlling rosacea.

Resource:http://www.ifood.tv

2. Coco Butter & Jojoba skin protector - creates a protective barrier on the skin to keep moisture in
To be applied daily before going to bed

1. Put 100g Cocoa Butter and 50g Beeswax pellets into a double boiler
2. Stir until both ingredients have compeltely melted.
3. Stir through gently 100 ml of Jojoba Oil
4. Pour into glass jar and leave lid off till completely cooled

About the ingredients

Beeswax. Beeswax acts as a humectant and is found in numerous body and lip balms. It helps lock in moisture in the skin and provides protective coating from the environment, making it a great alternative to petroleum jelly. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and is often used with other skin care ingredients to treat eczema and psoriasis.
Cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is a centuries-old treatment for dry skin. It is considered an occlusive that provides a coating on the skin, creating a protective barrier and slowing the natural escape of moisture from the skin. It also helps relieve irritation and inflammation of the skin and therefore is good for conditions like eczema. Cocoa butter is often used to fade scars and stretch marks.
Jojoba oil. Jojoba oil, which is similar to human sebum, acts as a humectant and creates a protective coating over the skin to help keep moisture in. It is used quite often in aromatherapy because it doesn’t go rancid like vegetable oils. It also doesn’t clog pores and is not greasy. Jojoba oil contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage, a cause of premature skin aging. It helps improve skin elasticity and has been used for skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, and  Rosacea.

Resource: http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com

Tumeric - My new Super Spice!

 So the last few days I have been experiencing dry skin on my upper cheeks and there is nothing that frustrates me more than having issues with my skin. So I did a bit of research on home remedies especially face masks and came across many articles that suggested Tumeric as a cure for not only dry skin but also (apparently) quote 'helps the treatment of acne blemishes, blackheads, dark spots and hyperpigmentation and other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It helps heal and prevent dry skin, and to slow the skin aging process, and is used to diminish wrinkles, keep skin supple and improve skin’s elasticity. Tumeric is also being used as an ingredient in sunscreens. It is used daily by East Indian women as a facial cleanser and exfoliant.' http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com.

I am convinced immediately! PLUS my latest fad in cooking is highly South East Asian inspired (my 'boss' is from Pakistan and this influences me everyday more), so I love the fact that I can bring this spice into other areas of my life LOL. Apparently Thandie Newton places a sprinkle of Tumeric in her daily moisturiser and works a treat for her! SO I ignored all the warnings for white woman trying these face masks may cause yellow staining to skin HAHA and produced the following:

Tumeric face mask for dry skin & colour lift:

1 Tbsp of Rice flour (because I have become a normal flour snob as of late)
1/4 tsp of Tumeric powder
2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil

Method:

1. Mix flour and Tumeric together
2. Chuck in the Coconut Oil, which at first is hard so you need to mix this well till it creates a thick paste.
3. Apply to the skin CAREFULLY! The paste may crumble a bit so make sure you are doing it in a suitable place ie. not infront of the mirror in the garage with a white carpet underneath = yellow stains hmm NOT GOOD!
4. Leave on for 15 minutes and then wash off with a DARK coloured hot face cloth.

NB: Excuse the rank photo but this is just after taking the mask off and with no make up ;)

FEELING GOOD?

Blogged by: Megan