Au Naturel Botanicals

Natural Enzyme Exfoliants

2011-09-06T09:17:00.000-07:00

Bromelain, derived from the fruit of the pineapple and Papain, derived from the fruit of the papaya are natural enzymes that digest unwanted pore debris without harsh side effects from chemicals.

Bromelain is a mixture of proteolytic (protein-digesting) enzymes found naturally in the juice and stems of pineapples. Traditionally, pineapple has been used as a medicinal plant among the natives of South and Central America for its ability to treat indigestion and reduce inflammation. When used topically, bromelain has been known to assist in removing dead skin cells, soften tissue, improve the skin’s natural function, promote blood circulation and speed recovery of certain infections.

Papain is a cysteine protease found naturally in the fruit of the papaya tree. Used for thousands of years in its native South America, it has been commonly utilized to care for chronic wounds by removing dead tissue. Other uses include meat tenderizer, sting treatment and teeth whitener. In skincare, its ability to dissociate cells, break up and dissolve debris has been beneficial for gentle, non-abrasive exfoliation.

Bromelain and papain are two key ingredients in our Hawaiian Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Mask. This mask refines skin texture and dissolves pore debris with the action of natural fruit enzymes to reveal a smooth and radiant complexion. Gluten-free ground oats soften the skin as you delight in aromatic essential oils of ylang ylang and orange.

Uses:

Add 2 parts hot water to 1 part dry mask to create a thin paste. Brush over face and neck in a thin layer. Leave on 5-10 min until almost dry, then remove with warm water and a washcloth
For a full body treatment, use one jar

Ingredients: GLUTEN FREE Ground Oats, Papain (papaya enzymes), Bromelain (pineapple enzymes), Guar Gum, essential oils of Ylang Ylang and *Orange. *Organic

Health Benefits of Aromatherapy

2011-08-26T10:52:00.000-07:00

Essential oils nourish and protect the skin as they enhance the emotional, mental and spiritual framework. They are the active ingredients in our formulas, rich in plant hormones and vitamins and provide preserving and antiseptic qualities. The molecular structure of essential oils allows them to be easily absorbed into the skin, delivering nutrients as deep as the dermal layer.

Our aromatherapy products contain the purest, therapeutic quality essential oils from around the world that benefit the respiratory and circulatory systems when inhaled. In addition to their rejuvenating qualities and concentrated healing powers, essential oils scent, preserve and color our products. Our natural preservation system is based on ancient Egyptian formulating; plants with strong antifungal, antibacterial and antiviral properties were used in cosmetics as well as sacred embalming practices. Our formulations work in harmony with the skin, supporting and enhancing its natural function.

Recent scientific studies have shown that essential oils have the ability to relieve physical pain and discomfort from fibromyalgia and stimulate the immune system. According to the Medical News Today article "The Benefits of Aromatherapy: M.D. Anderson Teaches How to Soothe and Heal", essential oils can complement cancer treatment by boosting the system's ability to fight off infections. Certain oils may stimulate lymphatic drainage and have antibacterial, anti-fungal and antimicrobial properties.

There are certain oils however, that should be avoided based on physical condition such as:

High blood pressure patients should avoid rosemary, sage and thyme.
Diabetics should avoid angelica
Pregnant or nursing mothers should avoid star anise, basil, juniper, peppermint, rose and rosemary in the first trimester

The benefits of aromatherapy are many, and just a few have been named. It is apparent and undisputed that essential oils can calm, soothe, energize and heal the body inside and out. Aromatherapy has many uses that work in harmony with the respiratory and circulatory systems to promote better overall health.

Is Vegetable Emulsifying Wax Natural?

2011-03-29T16:44:00.000-07:00

Vegetable Emulsifying Wax is an emulsifier used in many cosmetic and skincare company products, to keep oil and water from separating. In the cosmetic industry, this is one of the most difficult challenges for companies who strive to use only natural ingredients in formulating creams and lotions. During production, the initial dispersion of water and oil will emulsify and life is great, but then the inevitable occurs. The emulsion breaks and you are left standing over a pot of separated water and oil that looks like drowned yogurt. What is one to do? Well, there are a few options.

ONE--live with it. If this is your choice, don't expect much in the way of sales, but sleep comfortably knowing you aren't adding chemicals to your skin.

TWO--Use a vegetable emulsifying wax and call it natural. After all, the original ingredient, prior to the chemical derivative, was natural.

THREE--find an alternative such as beeswax, candelilla wax, soy lecithin, xanthan gum, or a variety of other natural emulsifiers.

As mentioned earlier, vegetable emulsifying wax is a commonly used and controversial ingredient due to the inconsistency of the "naturalness" of the ingredient. Although it is loved by many in the skincare industry for its inexpensiveness and ability to emulsify without much effort, it is not considered to be a natural ingredient (even by those who sell it). It is derived from natural vegetable fatty alcohols; however to create the emulsifying effect, thickening properties are added, such as cetyl alcohol and stearyl alcohol, both of which may be produced from sperm whale oil or petroleum. Although vegetable emulsifying wax has been deemed "safe" by the cosmetic industry standards, these standards are not regulated by the government and should be researched by each individual who is concerned about using absorbable chemical ingredients on their skin.

Be aware of misguided labeling when making decisions about which products are truly natural and which are not. Anything that goes onto the skin has a strong likelihood of penetrating into the skin. Would anyone you know drink or eat petroleum products? Probably not.

Coconut Oil as an Excellent Natural Moisturizer

2010-12-08T13:05:00.000-08:00

Coconut, grown and used widely throughout the tropics, produces a rich oil which is extracted from the inner meat. Throughout history, this soothing oil has been used for its health benefits both internally as well as externally. Coconut contains Vitamin E, Vitamin K and a variety of minerals. It has natural antimicrobial, antifungal and antioxidant qualities.

Coconut oil is commonly used in cooking and is an excellent alternative to the hydrogenated vegetable oils found on most supermarket shelves. It has a nutty sweetness that works well in baked goods as well as sauteed recipes. Although high in saturated fat, it provides a variety of health benefits including aiding in digestion, stress relief, maintaining cholesterol and reducing high blood pressure. It can treat various skin conditions including psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis, is a nutrient-rich moisturizer and skin softener excellent for all skin types. Slather on and let your skin soak up this easily absorbed natural moisturizer.

The Life of a Honey Bee

2010-10-20T11:28:00.000-07:00

There are nearly 30,000 bee species worldwide, most of which do not produce honey. Our glorious, hardworking and lovable honey bees are treasured for their relentless efforts to pollinate and reproduce pollinators for all life on Earth to survive. The hive of a honey bee is divided into three divisions of responsibility:

workers--sterile females

queens--fertile females

drones--fertile males

The workers truly live up to their name, beginning their life's work gathering pollen and nectar (often times traveling miles), feeding the larvae, maintaining the cleanliness of the hive, fanning the queen for temperature control, manipulating the wax and processing the honey. A typical bee colony contains only one fertile female (the queen), who is the mother of every individual within the hive. The queen, the largest of the bees within a hive, has the longest lifespan and are responsible for laying all eggs within the hive until she is unable to reproduce. A new queen for the colony is chosen from approximately 6-8 fertilized eggs surrounded within a specialized wax cell. The first to emerge from the cell will typically sting the remaining fertilized eggs and often the queen if she still remains within the hive. Brutal...

The emergent queen then leaves the cell, finds a mate among ten drones and stores the sperm to be utilized for the remainder of her reproductive life. The drones (males within the colony) are the result of unfertilized eggs. They are larger than the queen, have large eyes, lack a stinger, cannot fly, do not clean, gather food or provide care for the young bees. Their main role within the hive is to fertilize the new queens, often resulting in death for the drone from loss of his reproductive organs and abdomen used to plug the new queens reproductive tract to ensure fertilization.

So instead of swatting a bee next time one flies in your house or onto your patio, remember the immense efforts that each bee contributes to the pollination that all life requires for survival. Thank a bee, not swat a bee.

Skin care as the weather changes...

2010-10-08T10:04:00.000-07:00

As the weather changes, so does our skin. It is important to increase the "usual" routine and protect your skin from potential environmental damages. Harmful UV rays are still a threat, even when the skies are cloud covered. Using natural sun protection, as with our Hawaiian Aloe Sun Oil, will increase moisture, assist in reducing signs of aging and improve skin's overall health.

Additional facial moisturizing is also necessary during these colder Autumn days as the chill can dry the skin, damage cells and increase brittleness of the epidermal layer. Using the Almond Cream during the day and Dream Cream at night will protect, nourish and promote cell regeneration. Oh, and don't forget to exfoliate! : ) Our bi-weekly regimen of Hawaiian Fruit Enzyme Exfoliating Mask, followed with the Sea Plant Rejuvenating Mask removes pore debris using natural enzymes, softens skin texture and refines pores.

Remember to moisturize, moisturize, moisturize! This is the best way to promote skin softening, stimulate sebaceous glands to produce the skin's natural oils and reduce signs of aging. Following these basic guidelines will result in a youthful, healthy and happy complexion.

Get the skin you've been waiting for!

Benefits of Jojoba

2010-10-01T11:53:00.000-07:00

Jojoba (pronounced ho-ho'ba) is a botanical wax ester extracted from the seed of a jojoba tree native to southern California, Arizona and the Sonora Desert of Mexico. This easily absorbed oil is highly revered due to its similarity in make up to the skin's natural sebum. As we mature, our skin produces less and less of its own natural oils and requires added moisturizers to maintain a smoother, less wrinkled appearance. Jojoba provides a non-greasy, non-tacky moisture control to provide all-day, long-lasting moisturizing for softer skin, a smoother complexion and a more radiant finish. It is widely used in the skin and hair care industries for it's ability to recondition hair follicles and dissolve excess sebum and residue from airborne pollutants.

Causes of Clogged Pores

2010-10-01T10:59:00.001-07:00

Why do we all experience, at one time or another, clogged pores? Is it poor diet? Reaction to medication? Hormonal Changes? Genetics? Sun Damage? Touching our face with our hands? The answer is yes.

There are a number of factors that can increase the chance of getting clogged pores. Large pores are often the culprit for acne prone individuals, so participating in a regular cleansing, toning and moisturizing routine will help battle the blemishes. Yes, that's right, I said moisturizing. Cleaning with a gentle, mild vegetable based soap removes unwanted pore debris and is a necessary activity for healthy skin. However, the alkalinity of soap (pH of 7-8) can increase the risk of bacterial growth, so using a natural astringent after cleansing will rebalance pH to 5.5, creating a more acidic pH that will match the skin's natural level to prevent bacterial growth and infection.

Moisturizing is also a key ingredient to maintaining a healthy, non-greasy glow. Adding natural plant and nut oils after toning will discourage overactive sebaceous gland activity and provide nourishing oils to replenish, moisturize, protect from environmental stresses and improve overall skin health. Alexandra Avery Body Botanicals products we recommend to help control sebaceous production are the Complexion Care Cleanser, Aromatherapy Toner, Overactive Purifying Tonic, Detoxify Me Mask and Almond Cream. For more information on specific products and ingredients please visit our website at http://www.alexandraavery.com.