What is that stuff anyway?
Have you ever wondered what all that stuff is that is on the product label or why it is in there? If you're like me, you like to know what you're putting on your skin. With that in mind, I have composed an alphabetical listing of some of the ingredients I use and their benefits.
| Ingredient | Properties |
|---|---|
| Apricot Kernel Oil | This oil is rich in fatty acids. It easily penetrates the skin without feeling oily. Apricot kernel oil is moisturizing and revitalizes dry or aging skin. |
| Avocado Oil | Avocado oil comes from the pulp of the Avocado Pear. It contains Vitamins A, D, & E, as well as protein and amino acids. Avocado oil promotes skin elasticity and cell regeneration. |
| Cocoa Butter | Cocoa butter is pressed from the cocoa beans - the same beans that are used to make chocolate and cocoa. Cocoa butter is a good moisturizer and skin softener. It is also used to improve skin elasticity. |
| Coconut Oil | This wonderful oil comes from the dried meat of the coconut. In moderation, coconut oil is moisturizing, but the reverse is true is you use too much. |
| Mango Butter | Mango butter comes from the kernels of the mango tree. A nourishing butter, it helps to replenish moisture to dry skin, as well as to provide some protection from the damaging effects of the sun. |
| Meadowfoam Seed Oil | This oil comes from the seed of the meadowfoam plant. It helps to revitalize dry skin and cracked lips. |
| Milk | Whether it's whole milk, goat's milk, coconut milk, or milk powder...milk is a nice 'drink of water' for your skin. The fat content in the milk yields a more moisturizing bar of soap. Cleopatra was famous for her milk and herbal baths! |
| Olive Oil | Olive oil is an excellent moisturizer. It attracts moistuire and holds it close to the skin without blocking the skin's ability to 'breathe'. Olive oil also makes a mild bar of soap. It is also the base oil used in infusing calendula petals to make calendula oil. |
| Shea Butter (unrefined) | Shea butter comes from the shea nut, which is inside the fruit of the Karite (shea) tree. Pure shea butter (unrefined) can restore the skin's elasticity, enable your skin to absorb moisture from the air, and has natural sunscreen properties and anti-inflammatory agents. With regular use, pure shea butter has been known to help with skin conditions and ailments such as dry/cracking skin, eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis, skin allergies, minor burns, fungal infections, blemishes, wrinkles, stretch marks, scars, scrapes, and more. Many people also use shea butter as a hair conditioner. Unrefined shea butter has a yellowish color (like mustard) and a somewhat "smokey" odor. Refined shea butter is white and odorless. The butter is solvent-extracted (typically using hexane or other petro solvents), which removes most of the rejuvenating, healing & nutritive properties of natural shea butter. In addition, the resulting butter from this process still contains some solvent residues - and it's healing, moisturizing, & nutritive properties are significantly reduced. Unrefined shea butter is the way to go! |
| Sunflower Oil | Yet another moisturizing oil, sunflower oil comes from the seeds of the sunflower. It also contains Vitamin E. |