DIY Face Pack- Removing blemishes

Image Source: Wikihow

Oranges are rich in Vitamin-C, which helps in restoring collagen to your skin.They also have vitamin A which will remove blemishes from the skin by restoring hydration to the skin. Clean the orange well and extract the juice from the orange and mix it with honey.You can store the mixture in the refrigerator for about 5 days.Apply the mixture on you face and let it stay for  15 minutes or so. Then wash your face and apply shea butter on your face. It is very easy to prepare and you can make a part of your daily routine. 

Avocado and Tomato Salad

I tried this salad at home and would like to share the recipe with you all.

Traditional Ingredients to make this ultra delicious salad: (this serves 3)

2 vine ripe tomatoes (de-seed)
3 large perfectly ripe Haas avocados, cut in half and peel carefully with a sharp knife and cut into larger slices
1 green onion (thinly sliced)
1.5 tbsp olive oil
pinch of sea salt to taste
juice of 1 large lime
1 tbsp cilantro, very finely chopped

Mix carefully and chill for 30 minutes prior to serving. Enjoy with your favorite protein!

Source: Nuttykitchen

Shea For Your Hands

Image Source:Smerete.com

"Hands not only are susceptible to the first signs of aging, but very often age even faster than the face," says Ellen Marmur, MD, chief of dermatological and cosmetic surgery at Mount Sinai Medical Center in New York City. That's because the skin on the back of the hand is much thinner than that on your face.

"There is very little fat on the backs of the hands, so when even a small amount of collagen or elastin fibers begins to break down -- which is part of the normal aging process and partly from sun exposure -- it's going to have a noticeable impact on your hands," says Gregory Buford, MD, a Denver plastic surgeon.

The end result, say experts, is wrinkly, crinkly crepe-like skin texture and the noticeable appearance of bulging veins, which also grow larger over time.

Did You Know?

The moisturizing effect of shea butter peaks within one hour of application and lasts about eight hours.(Source: Pobeda and Sousselier)

Understanding Acne- Infographic

I came across this interesting infographic about understanding acne, its causes,myths and when to see dermatologists.

Unrefined Shea Butter Conditioner for Hair ( Buzzle.com)

I came across this hair conditioner which is full of healthy oils with our favorite miracle product unrefined organic shea butter.I thought I would share it with you guys.

Ingredients:
2 ounces unrefined shea butter
1 tablespoon coconut oil
1 tablespoons olive oil
½ tablespoon amla oil
½ tablespoon almond oil
½ tablespoon castor oil
1 tablespoon of aloe vera oil
5 drops of rosemary oil

Preparation
In this recipe, the goodness of shea butter is blended perfectly with essential oils for hair growth. First of all, melt shea butter in a microwave safe bowl in the oven. To this, add the remaining ingredients - coconut oil, olive oil, amla oil, almond oil, castor oil, aloe vera oil and rosemary oil. Using a wooden spatula, stir well the mixture, and make a cream like concoction. The final result will be a thick conditioner for natural hair care. You can try this shea butter recipe for natural hair and use it right after shampooing, for softening hair.

Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/homemade-shea-butter-recipes-for-hair.html

Harmful Ingredients in Contaminated Shea butter

Never buy shea butter from a source that does not have a proper certification or unsure of the process of shea butter. Have you heard about moldy shea butter?It comes from not properly cleaned shea nut.It presents in black layer on the top of shea butter.This moldy shea butter worsens the problem when it penetrates into the open wounds/scars.

There is a list of harmful ingredients that you should be aware of if shea butter is not properly tested:

• Lead
• Mercury
• Yeast
• Coliform Bacteria( E.coli)
• Hexane 

It is always best to buy Premium Grade A shea butter from a reputed source.Shea Butter that are grade F is reserved for Shea Butter not fit for human use. Grade F Shea is contaminated by micro organisms (such as mould, yeast or coli form bacteria) or contaminated with heavy metals (such as lead or mercury).

Shea For Winter

Image Source:Bareness.co

Winter is fast approaching. Lights, decorations, treats, gifts and love fills the air with that also comes along dry skin and cold hands and feet. Cold air has less moisture content than warm air, which leads to dry, rough, itchy and cracking skin during the winter months. Harsh winter winds can also strip lipids from the skin that protect the skin barrier and keep it from drying out.

Shea butter which is filled with fatty acids and antioxidants comes to your rescue and can be used as part of your daily routine.It can be applied multiple times depending on your skin type without you worrying about any side effects.

Mediterranean Detox Salad

Could this be the healthiest salad you've ever eaten? It's only 200 calories and packed with vegetables, including cucumbers, watercress, artichoke hearts, celery, and red onion, and gets a hint of tangy flavor from feta cheese. Even the simple dressing—fresh lemon juice and extra-virgin olive oil—is heart healthy and light. Cucumbers are a Mediterranean superfood as they're very low in calories; provide 62% of the vitamin K recommended for daily-consumption, and offer a healthy dose of vitamin C.

Latex In Shea Butter

Does shea butter contains latex? The answer is yes.It contains latex in very small quantities which is responsible for binding the moisture content to the skin and protecting the skin from the sun. The latex is not exactly the same as the sap like latex extract from the rubber tree, but it is very similar in chemical composition.

There have been studies done whether people react to latex found in shea butter.So far no cases have been reported to the FDA.

Some people who have latex allergy will not react with a single application of shea butter. Prolonged exposure of shea butter over a period of time may sometimes trigger the allergy.So do a patch test before applying unrefined shea butter on the skin.Use your own judgement when applying shea butter on your skin.Not everyone with latex allergy may have a reaction to the shea butter.

Did you know?

Shea butter is another great way to treat lip eczema and to keep your skin thoroughly moisturized. You can use the pure form of shea butter or find it infused in lip balms and lip gloss so you can treat your lips using a convenient application. You can apply shea butter as often as you like to prevent drying, cracking and crusting.

Shiny,Strong Hair Tips

Image Source: thehealthyhavenblog.com

Shea Butter For Scalp Massage

Benefits of Scalp Massage:
Your scalp is healthiest when it's clean. But it may also need a little stimulation to keep any potential problems away. Although further research is necessary to formally define the benefits of massage, some studies have shown that massage can increase the production of certain chemicals in the body, including endorphins and serotonin [source: National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine]. These chemicals can help put you in a better mood, reducing your stress and creating an environment for relaxation.

Scalp massage also can relieve pain by improving circulation and removing muscle tension [sources: WebMD]. This can be especially helpful if you have a migraine or headache. Migraines are sometimes caused by a decrease in serotonin levels; scalp massage may be able to increase serotonin levels and relieve pain. Headaches, on the other hand, may be caused by muscle tension, which a scalp massage can also alleviate [sources: Mayo Clinic].

Not only it provides so many health benefits, but also it helps in less breakage and split ends.Plus it provides lustrous and shine to the hair.The scalp massage using warm shea butter relieves you itchy scalp and dandruff.It also helps you alleviate chronic insomnia and provides you restful sleep.

What Green Beauty Labels/Terms to look for?

We are seeing so many green labels on the products nowadays. What exactly does it mean?I found an interesting informative site- thedailygreen which explained clearly about the various terms.

Paraben/Phthalates/PCB-free
Contains no traces of these harsh chemicals. Parabens and phthalates are found in the ingredient list of a product, while PCBs can be found in the plastic of the product's container.

USDA Organic certified
Through the National Organic Program, the U.S. Department of Agriculture regulates food ingredients found in cosmetics, and the Certified USDA Organic symbol is one of the most trustworthy labels around, especially on foods. But because the USDA only has jurisdiction over farm-raised ingredients, not all beauty product ingredients are regulated under this program, and there are more than enough ways to get confused.