Safe Cosmetics ~ Healthy Faces by Eve Organics

Neem Oil

ORIGIN

Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the Neem (Azadirachta indica) evergreen tree. Neem was originally found in India, but has since been introduced to many other tropical areas.

Neem oil is generally light to dark brown, bitter and has a rather strong odor, said to smell like a combination of peanut and garlic.

Neem oil is not used for cooking purposes.  In Indiaand Bangladeshcold-pressed neem oil is used in skin care and cosmetics (known as the skin care secret and the key to flawless skin) and in Ayurvedicin the treatment of a wide range of afflictions, including skin diseases, inflammation, fever, rheumaticdisorders, insect repellentand pesticides.  Traditional Ayurvedic uses neem in a variety of other ways, including treatment of: acne, fever, leprosy, malaria, tuberculosis, tetanus, psoriasis, and eczema.

SKIN CARE USES

Neem oil is an excellent moisturizer, high in Vitamin E, rich in emollients and fatty acids, soothing dry, cracked or otherwise stressed and damaged skin. Unlike petroleum based moisturizers, neem oil actually restores the skin's natural elasticity.

Used in combination with the medicinal properties of aloe vera and tea tree and you have a perfect skin care formula ~ antibacterial properties combat blemishes/acne, anti-inflammatory properties reduce the swelling and redness of conditions like acne and rosacea, and the general support for the immune system promotes healthy skin and an even skin tone.

Eve Organics uses neem oil in many of our products.  Pretty cool stuff hugh?

Breathe Better This Cold and Flu Season ~ Make Your Own Vapor Rub

This year's cold and flu season is upon us.  That said, it is inevitable that someone close to you (maybe even you) will have some form of a cold or flu in the near future.

By blending therapeutic grade essential oils and either inhaling them through a vapor rub (recipe below) or massaging them into the skin through a carrier oil, cold, flu and minor respiratory infection symptoms can be lessened.

Use approximately 10 drops total of essential oils per 4 Tablespoons of carrier oil (such as grapeseed, sesame, jojoba or olive).  If you are making this mixture for a child, only use 1 drop per 4 Tablespoons carrier oil.

Eve Organics Makeover at Gluten Free Gateway

Do you have an intolerance to gluten?  Do you have celiac's disease or IBS?  Many consumers who have been diagnosed with any of these problems or are just living a gluten/wheat-free lifestyle have found that personal care products that are FREE of all synthetic chemicals and are also gluten-free fit their holistic outlook.

Loretta Mirabella, founder of the Gluten Free Gateway, has all of the information on a gluten-free lifestyle.  She has a great new blog and website with helpful ideas and current articles.

She recently did a makeover with Eve Organics makeup and posted it on her website.  Check it out here:  http://glutenfreegateway.com/articles/20091002_1

Thanks Loretta!  Keep up the good work. 

3 Reasons Why Eve Organics Products Contain Essential Oils

If you've been following our blog and have read some of the information on the Eve Organics website, you can see a common thread to our posts and products . . . essential oils. 

I truly believe in the healing properties of essential oils.  The essential oils in our products are therapeutic grade (or hospital grade), the highest quality available.  Except for the few essential oils, such as jasmine, rose, and neroli, which are never safe for ingestion, therapeutic grade essential oils are always extracted by steam distillation or cold pressing, depending on the plant.  This grade of oil is pure enough to ingest.

I love to use this forum to give you all ideas on how to use these wonderful oils at home for other purposes, such as natural remedies, make-at-home skin care and other aspects of well-being, because after all, although Eve Organics provides skin care and makeup, we are not only made of skin and faces. 

I will continue posting periodically about ways you can use essential oils in every day life, because it works . . . that's how Eve Organics evolved.  It started with essential oils.

Eve Organics uses essential oils in our products because:

1.  For thousands of years, essential oils have been known to assist the body in healing itself. Different essential oils effect the body in different ways.  We use specialized blends in our skin care to promote skin health.  Each skin care line is formulated with essential oils to correct a specific skin condition: 

• Balance is for hormonal balance, formulated to keep the combination skin's balance between dry and oily and help with periodic hormonal breakouts.
• Clarity is for acne prone or oily skin, formulated to to keep the skin clear by killing bacteria and calming breakouts.
• Renewal is for dry/mature skin, to promote skin regeneration, help fine lines and wrinkles and lighten dark spots.

2.  Essential oils are natural preservatives.  Most are antibacterial, antifungal and/or antimicrobial.  This is how we are able to preserve our products naturally and safely, without chemicals, which are the culprit of many sensitivities and allergies. 

3.  We believe in bringing ourselves back to the basics.  Our bodies are so bombarded with environmental, household, and other types of toxins, that we believe that simplifying our routines and the products we use everyday may help our bodies fight off the irritants, pollution, chemicals and pesticides that we cannot control coming in contact with.

What do you want to learn about essential oils or what types of remedies would you like to try?  Comment here and we'll do our best to post about your interests!

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Make Your Own Skin Smoothing Scrub

During the autumn months, as the seasons change, so does our skin, especially the delicate facial skin.  The furnace turns on and dries out our skin; the blustery wind kicks up and dries out the skin; and we tend to drink less water which . . you got it . . . dries out our skin.

Here is a great make-at-home mask that is perfect for exfoliating and smoothing the skin (and it's not expensive to make).  The oatmeal helps breaks down impurities and the bran gently lifts them from the skin.

Bran and Oatmeal Scrub (Make Fresh for Each Use)

1/2 c. bran

1/2 c. oatmeal

2 Tblsp. whole milk (maybe more)

2 drops frankincense (optional)

Mix together the dry ingredients.  Add frankincense to milk and add little by little to the bran and oatmeal mixture until you get a looser consistency than a thick bowl of breakfast oatmeal so that it is easy to handle.  If you need a little more milk, add it a drop or so at a time.

Apply handfuls of mixture to face and massage into the skin.  Use leftovers on thighs or buttocks!  Rinse with luke warm water. 

Naturally Energize Tired Muscles

Have you been stepping up your exercise lately?  Or do you just feel like your muscles have had it and need a little pick-me-up?

The remedy is right in your kitchen!  I got this quick tip from the book, Fast Beauty - 1,000 Quick Fixes. . .and it's simple. 

1. Just grate a small piece of ginger
2. Mix it in your hand with a good amount of body lotion
3. Massage your ginger-spiked lotion to wherever your muscles are sore.

Your muscles should feel invigorated and ready for the next ironwoman competition (well maybe that's a little exaggerated).

Do you have any tips on feeling better when you're wiped out?  We'd love to hear from you.

7 Lessons for Living Longer (From the Oldest People on Earth!)

I love Dr. Weil's publication, Self Healing.  It contains so much valuable information on creating optimum health for your body and soul. I still have every issue for reference.

Straight out of the premiere issue of Self Healing, tips from the oldest people on earth ~ the residents of Okinawa, Japan.

1.  Take pride in your status as an elder.  Embrace your age and wisdom.  Don't treat it as a curse.  In Okinawa, there are special celebrations for key birthdays between 73 and 100, where the elders touch younger family members to symoblically pass on their good lives and good health.

2.  Stay Active. It is extremely important to stay agile as we age.  Okinawans continue to work, garden, and follow their passions throughout their elder years. 

Because of this, most over 100 still live independently.  

3.  Help each other.  The Okinwans live according to the principle of yuimaru, or mutual assistance.  Neighbors and friends help each other regularly, knowing that when they will be assisted when needed.  This goes for finances as well.  Groups (moais) meet regularly, each donating small amounts into a pot.  Whoever needs it the most at the time takes it home.