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Cottonwood Buds: Healing with the Matriarch

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Cottonwood Buds: Healing with the Matriarch

Meet the Matriarch of the Plains, Queen of the Salix and her entourage of Salicin rich courtiers; Aspen, Willow, Cottonwood. These are all Salix plants, all Salix plants contain an important pain relieving compound called Salicin. Salicin is the precursor of Salicylic Acid. Aspirin is a derivative of Salicylic Acid. Since the dawn of time Salicin has been extracted from plants by various means and employed to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation associated with inflammatory issues of the skin and musculoskeletal system. Cottonwood buds are a rich source of Salicin … a true and enduring gift from the world of plants.

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Are you using coconut oil as a moisturizer? Please read this!

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Are you using coconut oil as a moisturizer? Please read this!

I’m absolutely thrilled when I speak to someone using coconut oil as a “moisturizer” with good results! Organic, virgin coconut oil is a healthy, traditional oil and so many people are having an all-out love affair with it! But if you ARE NOT getting the results you’d hoped for, you are NOT alone! I’m constantly hearing reports from those who are developing NEW skin problems after using just coconut oil as a moisturizer (or any pure oil for that matter) for a period of time. The bad news is that the deteriorating condition of the skin will probably get worse, the good news is we can fix this!

There’ SO much anecdotal evidence indicating real problems with this practice that it surely warrants further study.

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Part 1: Beauty and the Bee: Nourishing, Cleansing and Beautifying with Honey

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Part 1: Beauty and the Bee: Nourishing, Cleansing and Beautifying with Honey

I was expecting a weird sticky mess the very first time I washed my face with honey - well, was I pleasantly surprised! Honey, along with many other Nourishing Skin Care Traditions is making a comeback. Join me in discovering the benefits honey has to offer all skin types at any age, and how honey works its special magic on those with inflammatory skin disorders such as acne , rosacea, and psoriasis and for those seeking to support strong, healthy resilient skin as the years go by.

I hope you’ll be inspire you to try some things with honey you’d never have thought possible! Stay tuned for the next installment in this series.

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Beauty and the Bee: Nourishing, Healing & Beautifying with Honey Part 1

Dip into a jar of pure honey, wash your face it. Smear it all over as a mask, spot treat your outbreaks, and apply to wounds. Gentle and conditioning for sensitive skin, it’s also one of nature’s most effective humectants - drawing moisture form the environment and holding it next to the skin.

For this reason, honey has been used for centuries as a medicinal remedy. Because it’s so thick, rejects any kind of growth and contains hydrogen peroxide, it creates the perfect barrier against infection for wounds.

Helps dehydrated sensitive skin

heals, soothes and promotes skin regeneration and rejuvenation.

ACIDIC: Honey is very acidic and varies widely from one honey source to another - average pH of honey is 3.9 (with a typical range of 3.4 to 6.1 depending on the source. - in this acidic environment microbes are unable to take up residence and proliferate. Pure Honey properly cultivated and carefully handled, then sealed tightly, can be stored for a long long long time ….. thousands of years in fact. As long as the lid stays on it and no water get's in honey will not go bad.

ANTIMICROBIAL ACTIVITY OF HONEY: A COMPLEX ALCHEMY

SUGAR

ACIDITY

The antibacterial activity of honey is highly complex. Most varieties of honey owe this to a high concentration of hydrogen peroxide.

A magical alchemy unfolds in the chemistry of honey production inside a hive. Bees produce an enzyme called glucose oxidase, which mixes with the nectar they collect on their journeys. The enzyme mixes with the nectar, breaking it down into gluconic acid and hydrogen peroxide. Hydrogen peroxide is a powerful antimicrobial, preserving and protecting the honey from invasion by pathogens and spoilage organisms. Glucose Oxidase (101): sc-66043

“Non-peroxide honey” is created by bees collecting pollen from the Manuka shrub. Its unique and very significant antibacterial effects are proven even when the hydrogen peroxide activity is blocked. Its mechanism may be related to the low pH level of honey and its high sugar content, which alone can impair the growth of microbes. Medical-grade Manuka honey has potent bactericidal activity against antibiotic-resistant bacteria (MSRA) responsible for several potentially deadly infections.

Incorporating raw honey into you routine is a must for us natural skin care lovers. We have been doing this for thousands of years to heal , nourish and beautify. Blending and infusing honey with medicinal herbs adds even more benefits and can target different skin conditions, such as eczema and acne.

The nourishing and healing properties attributed to the topical use of honey are well documented and supported by science. Its many uses have been studied for hundreds of years. Medical Grade Honey is used in hospitals to heal and treat wounds and many available . Honey is a broad-spectrum antimicrobial agent that has been used in treating wounds for thousands of years. It has been shown to inhibit the growth of a wide range of bacteria, fungi, protozoa, and viruses

The list of benefits derived from this practice is long indeed. Wouldn’t you like to join me in discovering this nourishing skin care tradition?

ACNE

The high sugar concentration, hydrogen peroxide, and low pH are well-known antibacterial factors in honey. More recently, scientists identified several additional compounds in raw honey, including the antimicrobial peptide bee defensin-1, as important antibacterial components of honey.

Honey: its medicinal property and antibacterial activity - PMC

The use of traditional medicine to treat infection has been practiced since the origin of mankind, and honey produced by Apis mellifera (A. mellifera) is one of the oldest traditional medicines considered to be important in the treatment of several human ailments. Currently, many researchers have reported the antibacterial activity of honey and found that natural unheated honey has some broad-spectrum antibacterial activity when tested against pathogenic bacteria

In most ancient cultures honey has been used for both nutritional and medical purposes. The belief that honey is a nutrient, a drug and an ointment has been carried into our days, and thus, an alternative medicine branch, called apitherapy, has been developed in recent years, offering treatments based on honey and other bee products against many diseases including bacterial infections. At present a number of honeys are sold with standardized levels of antibacterial activity. The Leptospermum scoparium(L. scoparium) honey,the best known of the honeys, has been reported to have an inhibitory effect on around 60 species of bacteria,

Natural honey from other sources can vary as much as 100-fold in the potency of its antibacterial activities, which is due to hydrogen peroxide. In addition, honey is hygroscopic, which means that it can draw moisture out of the environment and dehydrate bacteria. Its high sugar content and low pH can also prevent microbes from growing.


The first written reference to honey, a Sumerian tablet writing, dating back to 2100-2000 BC, mentions honey's use as a drug and an ointment. Aristotle (384-322 BC), when discussing different honeys, referred to pale honey as being “good as a salve for sore eyes and wounds

There are many reports of honey being very effective as dressing of wounds, burns, skin ulcers and inflammations; the antibacterial properties of honey speed up the growth of new tissue to heal the wound.

One study in the Journal of Antibacterial Chemotherapy showed that honey (in concentrations between 2.5 percent and 5 percent) is effective against staphylococci, a very harmful bacteria," writes Schueller. "We could not find any studies that tested honey’s effect on P. acnes, the bacteria that helps cause zits. However, given what we know about the antibacterial mechanism of honey, it is plausible it would work on this bacterium as well." So while there isn't hard evidence, in theory it has a similar biomechanism. Antibacterial activity of honey against coagulase-negative staphylococci | Journal of Antimicrobial Chemotherapy | Oxford Academic says honey has been shown to help wounds heal, but it won't affect scarring. "Many studies have been done using honey as a topical treatment following skin burns, as it does appear to help stimulate wound healing and also to prevent infection. However, no evidence exists that it can help with scar repair.


"Raw honey works to make inflammatory acne look less angry because it has an osmotic effect on the skin—it can draw out [excess fluid] and help reduce inflammation," says Kavita Mariwalla, a dermatologist in West Islip, New York. "Honey can be a calming agent, so it also helps to reduce redness." However, you won't want to look to the sweet-and-sticky stuff for cleansing your pores. "Do not be fooled into thinking that the honey will pull out dirt because it is sticky. It may leave a film on the skin, which you then have to rinse vigorously,"

the truth is when it comes to honey for acne, the research is pretty clear (no pun intended): Using any type of honey, no matter how exotic, won’t cure or heal any type of acne. However, it can play a role in diminishing the visible signs of acne (such as redness and swelling), but it won’t stop breakouts all by itself.

The fatty acids, peptides, amino acids, antioxidants, and B vitamins present in honey help visibly minimize the redness common to acne breakouts.

These calming compounds can also help hasten the fading of post-acne marks. 

Although honey has calming effects on skin, the pollens and bee protein that are naturally present in all types of honey can be allergens for some. The risk is low (it’s more of an issue when you eat honey), but honey isn’t completely in the clear for sensitive skin.


The healing properties of honey were demonstrated in a study comparing honey treatment to that of silver sulfadiazine, the standard treatment, for burn victims. The results show that honey treatments result in a much greater sterility of the wounds, a faster rate of healing, and a faster onset of healing. These experiments not only showed that honey is superior to standard treatments, but also better than artificial honey made from the sugars, but omitting the glucose oxidase, hydrogen peroxide, flavonoids, and other minor components of honey.

A plethora of in vitro studies has revealed that honey from all over the world have potent antimicrobial activity against skin-relevant microbes. Moreover, a number of in vitro studies suggest that honey is able to modulate the skin immune system. Clinical research has shown honey to be efficacious in promoting the healing of partial thickness burn wounds while its effectiveness in the treatment of non-burn acute wounds and chronic wounds is conflicted. Published research investigating the efficacy of honey in the treatment of other types of skin disorders is limited. Nevertheless, positive effects have been reported, for example, kanuka honey from New Zealand was shown to have therapeutic value in the treatment of rosacea. Anti-carcinogenic effects of honey have also been observed in vitro and in a murine model of melanoma. It can be concluded that honey is a biologically active and clinically interesting substance but more research is necessary for a comprehensive understanding of its medicinal value in dermatology.


Several phytochemical contents, such as phenolic acid and flavonoids. These have been reported to have antioxidant and antibacterial activities. Moreover, the polyphenol compounds are essential for improving the potential effects on human health. Phenolic compounds are some of the most important groups that can be found in plants and honey. In addition, the composition of phenolic and flavonoid compounds of honey depends on floral sources, seasonal factors, and environmental factors

Flavonoids are a type of phenolic compound widely found in food products derived from plant sources and honey. Their potential is considerable in protecting the pBR322 plasmid DNA against reactive oxygen species (ROS) or H2O2-induced oxidative damage.

Darker-colored varieties of honey (buckwheat and heather) showed total phenolic contents higher (71.7 μg/g to 202.6 μg/g) than those of lighter-colored honey (rape honey). However, after long periods of storage the color of the honey was observed to become too dark from hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF) 

The antioxidant activity is due to the presence of various substances such as enzymes, organic acids, amino acids, Maillard reaction products, phenolic compounds, flavonoids, tocopherols, catechins, ascorbic acid, and carotenoids. The high antioxidant capacity of honey correlated with the presence of phenolic and flavonoid compounds. Schneider et al. (2013) found a strong correlation between antioxidant capacity and polyphenol content since polyphenols are the major contributors to the antioxidant effect of honey.

The antibacterial activity of mānuka honey was mainly from non-peroxide component such as methylglyoxal Antibacterial activity of Thai honey was due to peroxide activity, whereas the activity of mānuka honey was from non-peroxide activity of the honey

Additionally, the antibacterial activity of mānuka honey (Leptospermum scoparium) against S. aureus, MRSA, and Pseudomonas sp. were demonstrated. The antibacterial activity of honey depends on various factors that function either singularly or synergistically. The honey consists of hydrogen peroxide, phenolic compounds, lower pH, osmotic pressure, and other phytochemical content. Honey has the ability to generate hydrogen peroxide-related antimicrobial activity. The production of hydrogen peroxide by transforming glucose substrate with the glucose oxidase of honey depends on the enzyme level and the floral sources of honey 

Activities of different types of Thai honey on pathogenic bacteria causing skin diseases, tyrosinase enzyme and generating free radicals | Biological Research

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Our skin loves this. Raw Manuka honey is antioxidant-rich, packed with vitamins B and C, amino acids, and loads of live enzymes— all the good stuff you want seeping deep into your pores.

Manuka honey is sourced from New Zealand, it’s produced by bees that feed on Manuka shrubs laced with white and pink flowers. All honey is healing when it’s left raw and unpasteurized, but what makes Manuka honey different is that it possess more therapeutic benefits for skin health because of its high anti-bacterial count and anti-inflammatory properties. Our skin loves this. Raw Manuka honey is antioxidant-rich, packed with vitamins B and C, amino acids, and loads of live enzymes— all the good stuff you want seeping deep into your pores.


WHY -

It contains Hydrogen Peroxide, which kills bacteria (and pesky breakouts), and Methylglyoxal (MG). MG is a component found in other types of honey, coffee, and cocoa, but only in small quantities. In Manuka honey, the MG count is very high and comes from the conversion of another compound known as Dihydroxyacetone (impossible to pronounce, but skin likes this stuff), which is found in the nectar of a Manuka flower. The higher the concentration of MG, the more potent the antibacterial effects are, which is why we say yes to Manuka honey. This is what our skin needs for healing, hydrating, anti-aging, and preventing acne in a clean, natural, and healthy way. Manuka honey also contains four-times the mineral content than your average flower honey. It’s packed with healing goodness, including zinc (zinc supplements are great for skin), copper, iron, potassium, and selenium, among others. When purchasing, look for an MGO rating of 400 or higher. The higher the rating number, the more antibacterial milligrams of MG are bioavailable for the skin. You may also see UMF listed, this stands for “unique Manuka factor.” It’s another way to rate the potency of Manuka honey. A UMF rating of 20+ is a good place to start for optimal skin health. Amazon.com : Manuka Health UMF 13+/MGO 400+ Manuka Honey (250g/8.8oz), Superfood, Authentic Raw Honey from New Zealand

“Honey contains (among other things) a complex assortment of enzymes, organic acids, esters, antibiotic agents, trace minerals, proteins, carbohydrates, hormones, and antimicrobial compounds. One pound of the average honey contains 1333 calories (compared with white sugar at 1748 calories), 1.4 grams of protein, 23 milligrams of calcium, 73 milligrams of phosphorus, 4.1 milligrams of iron, 1 milligram of niacin, and 16 milligrams of vitamin C, and vitamin A, beta carotene, the complete complex of B vitamins, vitamin D, vitamin E, vitamin K, magnesium, sulfur, chlorine, potassium, iodine, sodium, copper, manganese, high concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, and formic acid… and the list goes on. Honey contains more than 75 different compounds! Many of the remaining substances in honey are so complex (4-7 percent of the honey) that they have yet to be identified.” 

RELEVANT PEER-REVIEW RESEARCH:

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Glycerin: One of nature's miracles or something else?

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Glycerin: One of nature's miracles or something else?

Debunking myths in this day and age is quite a task! The internet is overflowing with misinformation. I have just finished my adventure down the proverbial rabbit hole in my search for published data on the safety of glycerin in your skin care products. Seeing as glycerin is the #3 most common ingredient in skin care, behind water #1 and fragrance #2 , it is important to know how it functions and what the literature has to say about it.

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Are seed oils moisturizing?  A cautionary tale

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Are seed oils moisturizing? A cautionary tale

UPDATE 1/1/2020 HAPPY NEW YEAR!

The #1 condition I’m asked to help resolve is “dry skin”. The vast majority of you actually have “normal skin” - meaning your dry, flaky skin is not a problem on your torso. This means also that parched, dehydrated skin on your face, arms and legs can be resolved relatively quickly.

Know what it craves helps so you can give it what it needs because dry skin can lead to more serious conditions such as eczema.

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Thermal Water or Steam Distilled Hydrosol Water? Hint: it's all about pH

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Thermal Water or Steam Distilled Hydrosol Water? Hint: it's all about pH

Thermal Waters are making a big splash in the world of natural skin care. We like simple, pure things which benefit our skin. But there’s a hidden danger lurking in that bottle of clear, pure water.

Next time you’re tempted to try this popular French skin care “secret” make sure you understand why maintaining the right skin pH is so darn important - you’ll reach for 100% pure, steam distilled hydrosol water instead.

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Seaweed and Hyaluronic Acid: 2 Master Hydrators

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Seaweed and Hyaluronic Acid: 2 Master Hydrators

Many of today's skin care habits, products and routines can contribute to dis-ease of the skin. Adopting practices and skin treatments which support skin's biology and chemistry will help us to reconcile our modern lifestyles and our skin's needs. Adopting nourishing skincare traditions in novel ways, and by wisely applying modern science and technology we can help support strong resilient skin, able to be withstand the ravages of the environment, lifestyles and time. 

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Skin Issues? Aging Skin?  Skin Functions in the Modern Era

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Skin Issues? Aging Skin? Skin Functions in the Modern Era

Add the acid mantle to the long list of bodily functions which doesn't receive much attention but which can easily be at the root of skin issues, or be making them worse. If we knew better how the acid mantle functions we would take better care of it!  It's surprisingly easy to damage it; unknowingly, we don't properly nurture this microscopic film. In the past 100 years our habits and expectations have been entirely altered by the explosive growth of the cosmetic, beauty, fashion, hair and skin care industries. And this is spelling bad news for the skin of people of all ages. If we knew a bit more about the acid mantle and the history of cleansing we would be adopting more nourishing approaches to skin care, and making a habit of employing a few simple tricks to help along the way. 

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Nourishing Skin Care Traditions - An introduction

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Nourishing Skin Care Traditions - An introduction

I love nourishing traditions! I like growing a vegetable garden, making traditional food, foraging for edible and medicinal wild plants, and creating nourishing skin care based on ancient traditions. Here are some of my favorite ones I have written about. I hope you will be inspired to give them all a try!  You skin will love you for it ... promise.

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What is REAL SOAP: The History of Soap and Bathing

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What is REAL SOAP: The History of Soap and Bathing

This ain't your grandma's "lye soap" my dear!  Dispelling the myths surrounding REAL, old fashion soaps made from plant oils, seed butters, and fats is helpful to those seeking natural products. Learn what it is, how it's made today, it's ancient past and modern history. I found learning about how people cleansed themselves and their dirty stuff in the past to be particularly interesting.    

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My Favorite Hydrosol Waters - for all skin types

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My Favorite Hydrosol Waters - for all skin types

In a past post I explored some of the benefits of distillates (aka hydrosol waters) in general. Here I will explore in more details the specific benefits of individual plant (leaves, flowers, roots, needles, bark etc) hydrosols. Starting with the lovely Rose.  But first I want to restate some important aspects of hydrosols in general.  

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FRESH IS BEST: The Power of Wildcrafted Plants from the Pristine Forest

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FRESH IS BEST: The Power of Wildcrafted Plants from the Pristine Forest

I am very fortunate to live in a place I can harvest FRESH plant material from pristine wilderness for my creations. Few people have year round access to such a place. I have been exploring and learning these mountains for 27 years I have memorized dozens of secret spots, deep in the wilderness where I wander silently through the forest soaking in the peaceful quietude of this magical place and filling my basket with wild plants. 

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BONE BROTH  - A Nourishing Skin Care Tradition

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BONE BROTH - A Nourishing Skin Care Tradition

Strong, resilient skin, able to perform it's vital functions from the beginning to the end of life, requires us to carefully consider our diets.  In order for our largest organ to develop properly so it can perform it's critical functions we must supply our bodies with optimal nutrition. We aren't born knowing what this means or how to achieve it. It's knowledge we have to acquire. 

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HYDROSOL WATERS - A Nourishing Skin Care Tradition

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HYDROSOL WATERS - A Nourishing Skin Care Tradition

You know I love nourishing traditions! So when I spritz my face with a Hydrosol water I know I'm not just nourishing my skin with pure, plant quintessence, I'm participating in an ancient healing ritual.  The use of hydrosol waters predate essential oils by hundreds if not thousands of years! Here's a brief intro to these healing waters and how to use them to nourish, condition & beautify your skin. 

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THE POWER OF PINE (AND SPRUCE AND FIR)

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THE POWER OF PINE (AND SPRUCE AND FIR)

The coniferous denizens of the Northern Forest possess powerful healing properties. I am enthralled by these evergreen sentinels of my alpine world and the more I learn about them, the deeper in love I fall.  Oils infuse with spring Evergreen needles, resin, bark, and cones are featured in many of my oil blends and salves. Not only do these creations smell like heaven, they are imbued with the power of these mighty trees .... which studies show might compare to that of the well known cancer killer Frankincense.

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OIL CLEANSING METHOD: Cottonwood Buds, White Willow Bark, Salicin and Salicylic Acid

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OIL CLEANSING METHOD: Cottonwood Buds, White Willow Bark, Salicin and Salicylic Acid

The lovely Salix plants ... hugging the banks of the rivers and climbing the slopes of the mountains.  If you are interested in natural skincare, you are probably familiar with White Willow. White Willow Bark is part of the Salix family of plants, which all contain Salicin in their leaves, bark and buds. Salicin (the precursor of Salicylic Acid) is a natural compound renown for it's ability to relieve pain, swelling and inflammation. White Willow bark is the most common Salicin source found in natural skincare formulas and the herb most easily acquired, but it is not the only one. And this where Cottonwood Buds fit in ....

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Foraging a Frozen Land

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Foraging a Frozen Land

Spring has arrived ... But here in the high country of Colorado, at 9'000' above sea level, you have to look closely for the signs. The obvious ones, the new green growth pushing up through the ground and the tops of tulips and crocus peeking through the damp earth are hidden beneath the snow as it slowly melts under the sun's strengthening rays.

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THALASSOTHERAPY: Mineral Rich Sea Salt Skin Care

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THALASSOTHERAPY: Mineral Rich Sea Salt Skin Care

Mineral rich sea salts are unique in their ability to mitigate the impact of environmental stress & pollution, sun damage and cellular aging.  Earth minerals dissolved in water and allowed to remain on our skin will help keep it plump & healthy, free of pathogenic bacteria and yeast, control outbreaks and acne, enhance cellular communication and increase hydration. 

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PRESERVATIVE FREE SKINCARE - what you need to know!

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PRESERVATIVE FREE SKINCARE - what you need to know!

Just say the word "Preservative" and many people looking for natural skincare back away shaking their heads! Many of us have a deep aversion to these ingredients but at the same time we want super fresh products with a shelf life, and we don't seem keen on the inconvenience of storing our skincare in the refrigerator much at all. Some products just must include a preservatives – otherwise bacteria, mold, and fungus will be swarming in your lovely creams and lotions quickly, and you won't even know it! OMG yuck. So please don't just run screaming when you see a preservative listed on a label! Take a moment to learn when they are needed.

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