The Best Of Skincare Tag

Hi Lovelies,


Welcome back! And if you are new here, welcome 💕💕💕

Earthwise Beauty, Nyr, Neal's Yard Remedies, Mahalo - my Holy Grail items of the moment

(The pic borrowed from my IG. It is my AM routine. I have my skincare listed in a separate blog post if you are interested.)

So, today is the day when I feel like giving birth to a blog post, as it doesn't happen easily and organically like other times. Maybe it is that I am back on the school run after two weeks of sickness (flu first, eye infections second, don't ask!) and feeling very disorganised, I don't know? I am not short of ideas or blogging material, so I don't know what it is - I write and delete and write and delete stuff all day, it is like I have aquarium for a head today, haha! So when I watched Jenna Catherine video on Youtube where she did a tag about the best of skincare, then the penny dropped and I shamelessly self tagged in it! Yes, that is how I roll :) I will tag a few people on Instagram, this looks like fun!

The Questions:

What's your skin type?
Dry and uber sensitive. Also prone to dermatitis and I have hyperpigmentation or should I say dermatitis scars. My under eye area is like a real estate, with permanent darkness there, that no amount of green smoothies, sleep, fresh air or sport can cure. I am a lucky gal, I know :)

How do you store your skincare products?
I try to store as little of it in the bathroom as I possibly can, and the rest of my stash is stored on a shelf where I can easily see what I have and I can make sure I am using all my products. It is categorised in frequently used products, products that I need to test and unopened products in a separate basket.

Favorite ingredient?
There's two at the moment, blue tansy and turmeric, both have done wonders for my dermatitis prone and inflamed skin!

Most indulgent product?
At the moment those would be Mahalo products. I won those in a giveaway, and I am sure I will wince when it will be the time to repurchase the products. What can I say? My play budget is so small it's practically invisible.

Best budget buy?
Hands down coconut oil! Can replace so many things at once. At this point I feel everyone knows fifty uses for coconut oil :)

Do you use any tools (Clarisonic, Foreo, etc.)?
No, never had them and no plans to buy them either. Even with their sensitive heads they are way too harsh for sensitive skin and gentle is the way to do it for me - I am all about kognac sponges and organic face cloths. I believe we are not meant to scrub away a layer of our skin even if your skin is not sensitive.

Best mask?
Any DIY mask that involves manuka honey! I am working on a blog post about it. Expensive shop bought masks are nice too, but I am all about DIY if I can help it, and manuka (or plain raw honey) is amazing for the skin!

Best multi-use?
Again, coconut oil! I will also use my make up in many ways too, blush as a lip colour, bronzer on the eyes, luminous eye shadows as a blush toppers/luminisers, etc. Have fun and play around!

If you had to stick to only one skincare brand, what would it be?
Impossible to answer! I enjoy many great products from different brands, but if pressed to choose one, I would say Mahalo (even if they don't have face cream and are pricy) - purely on the grounds that I am yet to come across another line of product where EVERY SINGLE PRODUCT suited my skin and I had zero irritations or reactions whatsoever! Maryna knows my skin.

Best spot treatment?
Tea tree oil. I have used this and only this for years and years. Recently I acquired manuka honey gel with tea tree oil, which is also nice.

Favorite step of your skincare routine?
Moisturisers and oils.

What's on your skincare wishlist? 
Ha, how much time have you got? It is two miles long! But if you really want to know, all of the Mahalo, lots of Living Libations, Josh Rosebrook - yes, really! Plus May Lindstrom Blue Cocoon and Honey Mud just to name a few. Looks like I need more faces or time, ha? Not sure which.


So, there you go, that is my post for the day, and I will tag a few people on Instagram, purely because of convenience reasons. And if I haven't tagged you, but you want to do this tag, I tag you too!


Lot's of love,
Renata.

My Top Three Natural Products - Coconut Oil, Tea Tree Oil, OreganolP73

Hi Lovelies,

Today I wanted to share with you my top three natural products that I am most happy to have found, and I am also starting a tag on Instagram because I am really curious to see what other people deem their best products! To see my tag post, as well as the comments, click here. And of course, join in the conversation yourself, let's share out best products, be it health, skincare or make up items! I am really excited about this :) 

The idea came about when one morning I was carrying the bottle of OreganolP73 back from the bedroom to it's designated place (I have used it on my younger daughter's soles the previous night, but more about that later) and I thought to myself "I am so glad this came into my life" and it got me thinking what else I appreciate so much? What are my top five items? My top three items that I couldn't live without? So I came up with my top three, asking myself, if everything I have disappeared, what items I would run to buy first?  So let's see what my top three items are and why I love them so much? 

Organic Coconut Oil

It has to be organic, virgin or cold pressed if you want to get the most benefits from it. This is the first "green" item I purchased  when I transitioned into all things natural, and I am so glad I did! It truly has a myriad of uses and can single handedly replace all your skincare for the most part. I like most people find it a bit too much when used on the face, but for body moisturisation you can't beat it, and that's what I actually used for many years. if you mix this with a bit of Weleda's Sea Buchthorn Oil it will smell like toffee, I kid you not, and if you want to be totally purist and frugal, you can use only this for your body moisturisation, you won't need anything else. It is great for softening the elbows, feet, you can use it as a hair mask too, just bear in mind it can be a bit hard to wash off, you will need to shampoo twice to remove it, but it is totally worth it. For the longest time ever this I used as my hands moisturiser too, in fact I used to use it for my skincare so much, that I almost forgot it is edible thing, and very wonderful at that! You can use it for baking, in your bulletproof coffee, as an eye make up remover, diaper cream, you name it, it is good for it, haha! On the more serious note, you can google "101 use for coconut oil" if you are in the beginning stages to give you some ideas, but if you are like me and use it for a good number of years already, it is safe to say it has a million uses, right? Right now I want to get fractionated coconut oil (it is modified to stay liquid) to try and make my own natural perfumes with essential oils.
Coconut oil has a multitude of health benefits, which include but are not limited to skin care, hair care, improving digestion and immunity against a host of infections and diseases.It can actually help you with weigh loss, heart disease, improve immunity and digestion, keep the candida in check and is good for liver, kidneys, and practically for your whole body. I seriously urge you to research the many benefits of it and start using it asap if you are not using it already.
(P.s. if you live in Ireland, go to supermarkets like Dunnes, SuperValu and such and you will get it trice cheaper than in Holland and Barrett. It pays to shop around. One tub of it will last you years too, so invest in a good stuff. Make sure it's raw and organic).

Tea Tree Oil


Tea tree, also known as melaleuca, is well-known for its powerful antiseptic properties and ability to treat wounds. Tea tree oil is derived mainly from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia has been widely used throughout Australia for at least the past 100s of years. And it is proven in numerous medical studies to kill many strains of bacteria, viruses and fungi.

Tea tree oil has hundreds of uses too, from making homemade cleaning products, diffusing it in the air to kill mold, applying it topically to heal skin issues. I truly feel it should be in in medicine cabinet in every house.
Some of the many traditional uses for tea tree include but are not limited to:

• Acne
• Bacterial infections
• Chickenpox
• Cold sores
• Congestion and respiratory tract infections
• Earaches
• Fungal infections (especially Candida, jock itch, athlete’s foot and toenail fungus)
• Halitosis (bad breath)
• Head lice
• MRSA
• Psoriasis
• Dry cuticles
• Itchy insect bites, sores and sunburns
• Boils from staph infections
• Anti-microbial laundry freshener
• Insect repellent
• Natural deodorant
• Acne face wash
• Removes foot order
• Removes mold
• Household cleaner

I myself also use this for more than 7 years already, and my main uses are for the skin issues, spots and cuts and grazes and such, where the skin needs to be disinfected and treated at the same time. I can also be used for cold sores, but you might want to dilute it with coconut oil if you find it too strong on it's own. Do not use it anywhere near eyes and wash your hands throughout immediately after using it. Speaking of washing hands, you can add a few drops into your hand soap to make it antibacterial (You know that "traditional" antibacterial soaps are nothing but bad news, don't you? Some countries banned them completely). Again, I strongly suggest you do your own research and be informed consumer. I also successfully removed skin tag with it, no visits to the doctor, no cutting or freezing! You can see it here. My mom (who resisted all my suggestions for the longest time ever) now is also a die hard fan of it, and always asks me to supply more if she runs low.

OreganolP73

This is new(ish) addition to my collection, and by that I mean I use it for the second year running. Yes, I like to test things thoroughly before I speak about them or feature on my blog or social media. Please bear in mind that i am not qualified in medical field to give advice, so I can only talk about how I use it myself.
OreganolP73 is an extract of wild oregano, and not only it is a natural antibiotic, but it is also a powerful antioxidant! Say what? I admit I need it to research it much further myself, and I mainly use it as an antibiotic. Trust me, as a someone with non existent immunity, I used to get sick 8 times during winters (any wonder why I hate winters?) and since discovering this beauty I haven't seen a doctor, nor any of my family members took actual antibiotics in the last two years! I take 2-4 drops in a little of water followed by a large glass of water. It tastes nasty, but boy does it work, so I just put up with it. If you are in the beginning stages of flu, take it three times a day for a day or two and you will be back on your feet in no time, you will see.If your kids just won't take it, rub their soles with it. Be sure to look for P73 on the bottle, because not all extracts of oregano are created equal. I also suggest getting the undiluted version, because some of them come already diluted, but you are better off getting the potent version in the long run, as it will last you years, no kidding. Ours is a family of four, and my first bottle lasted me 1.5 years using it internally and externally. Externally I used it to treat my dermatitis, you can see more of it here, and I have to say it was brilliant for it. You can also use it to treat gingivitis, bronchitis, candida, yeast infections and fungus caused diseases.
Used as an antibiotic, it does not have side effects like the they do, it does not wipe off your good gut bacteria, does not reduce vitamin absorption, does not damage digesting lining causing leaky gut, etc.
As all good natural  remedies this is increasingly hard to find, I got mine in a health shop, but it wasn't on the shelf, I had to ask for it. It is also avail online.
(useful link about dosages/how to use it here)

*Update a couple of years later:

I had to go back to this article and remove a good few links about Oreganol, because for some strange reason information about this wonderful natural remedy is disappearing from internet - and fast! I had to remove links from Live Strong and Mind Body Soul and similar websites. I think it is only a matter of time it will be outlawed - but let's hope it is only my imagination running wild.

 So, let's see the benefits of this thing no one knows about?

Wild Oil of Oregano has the following medicinal properties: Antibacterial, Antiviral, Antifungal and Antiparasitic

First and foremost, wild Oil of Oregano is a powerful antimicrobial. Numerous scientific studies and human experience have confirmed its ability to destroy all types of "germs" causing infection - viruses, bacteria, fungi and parasites. When you consider how many health conditions are caused by these pathogenic microorganisms, it becomes apparent why Oil of Oregano is such a useful remedy. In vitro studies have proven oregano essential oil to be as effective as leading prescription antibiotics against bacteria. Yet unlike these toxic drugs, wild oregano oil is safe for internal use and does not allow for the development of resistant germs (a.k.a. "super bugs").*

Anti-inflammatory, Antispasmodic, Analgesic, Antirheumatic and Vulnerary Oregano Oil Benefits
Oil of Wild Oregano also has strong anti-inflammatory and analgesic properties, which makes it useful for many conditions where pain and inflammation is present. For instance, it is excellent for sore muscles and joints, athletic injuries, as well as open wounds and burns. For those conditions where pain and inflammation are symptoms of infection (ie. toothaches), Oil of Oregano is the perfect treatment - it aggressively fights invading pathogens, while relieving discomfort. Many people are surprised at its ability to reduce or stop the pain of severe tissue damage. However, veterans of Oil of Oregano argue that it is "the closest thing to morphine in nature".*

To compliment its pain-killing ability, it also has vulnerary properties, so it speeds the healing of wounds and open sores. Needless to say, it is an invaluable item for first-aid kits and a necessity for anyone who spends time in the backcountry. Oil of Oregano is an ideal topical rub for muscles and joints for several reasons: 1) As an essential oil, it deeply penetrates tissue and reaches the source of the problem; 2) Its natural anaesthetic compounds reduce pain; 3) Its anti-inflammatory properties combine with antispasmodic actions, to relax and sooth inflamed and spastic tissue; 4) It is also an antirheumatic, which means it eases the stiffness of joints and improves mobility. Many people have found Mediterranean Oil of Oregano helpful for arthritis, and athletes with reduced joint mobility and muscle injuries have also found it beneficial. It is not surprising that an increasing number of massage therapists are using wild oregano oil in their practice, and are recommending it to their clients.*

Expectorant and Antitussive Oregano Oil Benefits
Oil of Oregano is also a strong expectorant, which means that it loosens phlegm and mucous in the sinuses and lungs. As an antitussive, it relieves coughing. These two properties compliment Oil of Oregano's powerful germ-fighting actions - and the result is a cold and flu remedy that is unmatched by all other natural and pharmaceutical products on the market. In addition to colds and flus, there are other infection-related conditions characterized by congestion and/or coughing - for instance, bronchitis and sinusitis. Many people have successfully treated these virulent infections using wild Oil of Oregano, after years of trying pharmaceutical drugs that have not worked. It's worth noting that Mediterranean cultures have relied on wild oregano for thousands of years, for its ability to conquer respiratory infections while easing congestion and relieving coughing fits.*

Carminative and Choleretic Oregano Oil Benefits
Wild Oil of Oregano is also a carminative, so it relieves gas upset and helps settle the digestive system. As a choleretic, it stimulates bile excretion which aids in digestion. It's anti-inflammatory and antispasmodic properties further aid in digestion by relaxing and soothing spastic and inflamed tissue within the stomach and intestines. As a result, Oil of Oregano is used for conditions such as indigestion, bloating, stomach cramps, nausea, diarrhea and gas. In some cases, these are only symptoms of a larger problem - infection. Bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites commonly root themselves within the digestive system, and cause illness. When infection is the culprit, Oil of Oregano aggressively attacks these pathogenic microorganisms while helping to alleviate unpleasant symptoms, and assist with digestion.*

Other Properties
Mediterranean oregano is a potent antioxidant. It has proven in many scientific studies to be far more effective at halting free radical production than most plants and fruits. It is also a cytopylactic (increases white blood cell activity), and a febrifuge (combats fever). Many people are surprised to learn that Oil of Oregano is also an antitoxic and antivenom. It counteracts the effects of toxins and poisons - and neutralizes venom from insect and snake bites! Of course, in the event of a venomous bite we recommend immediate medical attention. However, if Oil of Oregano is frequently applied and taken orally it will certainly help - and may keep you alive while getting to a hospital.*

My natural medicine cabinet

So that is all for now my lovely readers, your turn! I really surprised myself by not choosing any make up item considering how much I love it, but when I come to think of it, the health is more important, right?

What are your Top Three Natural Items that you enjoy or use the most? Please share with me :)

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Lots of love,
Renata.
 

Mini Natural Haul before NO BUY

Mini Natural Haul

Some mini haul to show you, before NO BUY until the end of the year, not to go into details, but I have no income from now on. Sad but true.

Some things I bought in Indian shop in city centre, some i grabbed in Health Shop in Pavillions yesterday.

So a little about each items and first impressions:

Jasmine Hair Oil:

KTC hair oil based in coconut, with jasmine extract, but has mineral oil in it, which I didn't like so probably won't repurchase it. Smells like petrol by-product - hello, mineral oil! - which I didn't like at all. I used this oil in the evening and left it overnight, not the best idea as I even woke up from the bad smell :( cost about 2€, you can get it in Indian shops or Superdrug.com

Amla Jasmine Hair Oil:

After much research I convinced myself I need amla - Indian gooseberry - in my life badly, because it's supposed to help with hair growth, my main reason for getting it. (it has more benefits, if taken as a powder internally it helps to strenghten the immune system and much more). i knew it will have distinctive smell to it, but what I didn't expect that i will get headache from it.. so probably it's a no for me again.

These two oils did strengthen my hair, made it silky and more manageable, so if you don't have a problem with mineral oil, I'd say go ahead with it, but i decided to do my own jasmine hair oil from coconut oil and jasmine essential oil (which I bought too, as you can see in the picture). As for amla, I'll try to get it in the powder form and make my own infusion with almond or Evoo, again, to avoid mineral oil.

Rose Water:
It was a bargain at about 1.25€ but can't give any feedback on it as I didn't open it yet, still using my Atlantic Aromatics Organic Rosewater. will update later.

Neem toothpaste and Clover toothpaste:
These are not pictured, got them from the same Indian shop at around 1.50€ each and I do really like them as both of them do not have fluoride and are more natural than regular toothpastes. Neem one was supposed to whiten my teeth as well as strenghten them, one week later I don't see much difference, but we will see. Clover one is good for gums, which is why I chose it. I will repurchase both of them, but the trouble is my daughter hates the taste of them -well, they're not minty which is why she hates them -and absolutely refuses to use them.

Jasmine Essence Absolute:
It's by Atlantic Aromatics, cost me €7 or so, but I'm disappointed in smell.. the one in KTC hair oil was sooo much better. Nevertheless, I made my own body butter using 5 or 6 tablespoons of coconut oil and about 60 drops of jasmine essential oil. (started with 30 and kept adding more as I couldn't smell much).

Dr.Hauschka Rose Body Oil:
Yay, my first purchase from DrHauschka range! I knew about this range for years but never bought anything because I deemed it too expensive, and my friends were not impressed by it. My original plan was to buy Trilogy organic rose hip oil, but after trying it in store I couldn't bring myself to buy it as thought of using it everyday on my face was off putting - the smell again.. And I am so glad I didn't like it, as for the price of that one bottle I got so much more- this rose body oil and organic neem oil together, a winner. Anyways, I really like this oil and I'll use it as a face oil/serum. The texture is nice, smells nice too, not too grannyish as you'd expect from rose oil.. My only worry is it's limited edition, which probably means by the time I will finish it, it will be gone. I got it in The Health Shop and it cost €8.95 for 30ml.

Pure Organic Neem Oil by Serendipity:
This was 10€ for 30ml and I grabbed it s soon as I walked into the shop. It says external use only so I'll use it for my skin and hair only, and for internal use I'm still on the look out for neem powder. If you know the place to get it in Dublin let me know, please? Pretty please?
I made a pre-shampoo treatment already, consisting of 50/50 coconut and neem oils, now let's wait for long luscious locks, because it's supposed to be the bomb when it comes to hair.

Cocowel Raw Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil:
It's only €6 for 500ml in Dunnes, so go and get some. No, don't go - run! You can thank me later :)
Before I found this, my trusty raw coconut oil was the one from Nourish, Essential Organic, but it costs €14.65 for 690ml. So, do your maths, I am so switching - the new one seems just as good as the old one, organic, raw, all the things I look for in a coconut oil, don't see any differences in texture or otherwise so far, the only thing I can fault is the plastic packaging for Cocowel, but for €6 i am willing to overlook it.

So, to sum things up, i found some new favourites and the things I didn't like only cost two euros, so no big deal.  So far I was always onto new best thing, but now I'll give some love to the things I already own.
 My new motto is - Use The Things You Have.
How about you, any new exciting natural purchases? Tell me below!
Have an awesome day :)