You’ve all heard that the skin is the largest organ on the body; not only does it help protect your body; it is an important part of your appearance. However, it can be difficult to keep the skin healthy at all times – rashes, sunburn and acne may occur and compromise the health of the skin. When this happens, it is not always necessary to reach for an over the counter remedy that may or may not work. Natural remedies are often better for the skin and are more effective.
Natural remedies are safe, but it is also important to proceed with caution where the skin is concerned. They should be treated with the same caution as an over the counter remedy. Each person’s skin reacts differently to different medicines, including the ingredients in many home remedies.
“Natural” does not always mean that it’s right for everyone. After all, arsenic is natural! Don’t use any natural remedies that contain an ingredient to which you are allergic. In addition, be careful with large portions of the skin that need to be treated. For example, if your arm has broken out in an eczema rash, test on a small part of your arm before covering the whole area. By doing this, you ensure that the natural remedy that you use will not irritate the skin condition any further.
Here is a quick list of natural oils that are good for the skin:
Shea Butter – A product of the shea nut, shea butter can be used on the skin for the treatment of sunburn, eczema, stretch marks, scars and wrinkles. Shea butter may be combined with a liquid oil to improve skin “spreadablity”. Of course, it is advised to do a small patch test on your skin to determine there is no allergic reaction.
Hemp Seed Oil – Products that contain hemp seed oil can help reduce inflammation in the skin, such as what occurs in eczema outbreaks and penetrates deep into the skin to help alleviate dry skin and reduce the appearance of wrinkles.
Virgin Coconut Oil – An excellent oil for the skin, virgin coconut oil (VCO) may help delay wrinkles and serves as a great moisturizer for the skin. VCO is also wonderful for skin massage.
If you try these natural oil remedies for the skin or products that contain these natural oils, you may find out that they work better for you than those over-the- counter remedies.
Please note that this information is not meant to diagnose or treat any skin condition or disease, nor is it meant to give medical advice. Contact a medical professional on advice on how to treat your specific skin conditions.
Thursday, February 5, 2009
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
Facts about Organic Body Products
When shopping for personal care products, there is an amazing array of bath and body products for your choosing. The labels scream “organic”, “natural”, “made with organic ingredients” and the like. You certainly want to choose the best for your health and your family’s health, so your question may be, “What’s the difference?” Read on for the facts about organic body products.
1. The FDA (Federal Department of Agriculture) does not regulate or define the term “organic” in reference to personal body care products. In other words, the government does not certify organic body care products as “officially organic” but they do regulate the ingredients that are contained within that body product.
2. In order to be certified organic, the product must be made up of organic agricultural ingredients (susample_picture02ch as cocoa butter, shea butter, herbs and oils). In addition, the way in which the ingredients are produced, the handlers of these ingredients and manufacturer of the final product must be certified by an organic certifying agent who is USDA accredited. (Water and salt are excluded from the ingredients.)
There are several levels of certification for these organic body products:
4. A product which is labeled as “100 percent organic” indicates that the product includes only organically produced ingredients. These products carry a USDA Organic Seal and display the certifying agent’s name and address.
5. A product which is labeled “organic” should contain at least 95% organic ingredients and the remaining percentage of the ingredients must be on the approved National List of approved substances organic products. These organic body products will display the USDA organic seal as well as the certifying agent’s name and address.
6. “Made with organic ingredients” indicates that the particular product contains at least 70% organic ingredients. These products cannot carry the USDA organic seal but must display the certifying agent’s name and address.
7. An “organic body product” with less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” on the main label. They should not carry the USDA seal, nor the certifying agent’s name/address.
Understand that while the USDA does regulate agricultural ingredients that go into the organic body products, they do not regulate and have no authority over the labeling or production of products that do not utilized agricultural ingredients. Which basically means if that mascara you’re buying claims to be “organic” it’s most likely is not. In addition, be aware that the organic body products that you may purchase in the store might also be certified by private agents that are not connected with the USDA and thus are subject to private standards, not the government’s.
Hopefully, this information will assist you in making an informed choice when you visit the personal care product section of your local store.
1. The FDA (Federal Department of Agriculture) does not regulate or define the term “organic” in reference to personal body care products. In other words, the government does not certify organic body care products as “officially organic” but they do regulate the ingredients that are contained within that body product.
2. In order to be certified organic, the product must be made up of organic agricultural ingredients (susample_picture02ch as cocoa butter, shea butter, herbs and oils). In addition, the way in which the ingredients are produced, the handlers of these ingredients and manufacturer of the final product must be certified by an organic certifying agent who is USDA accredited. (Water and salt are excluded from the ingredients.)
There are several levels of certification for these organic body products:
4. A product which is labeled as “100 percent organic” indicates that the product includes only organically produced ingredients. These products carry a USDA Organic Seal and display the certifying agent’s name and address.
5. A product which is labeled “organic” should contain at least 95% organic ingredients and the remaining percentage of the ingredients must be on the approved National List of approved substances organic products. These organic body products will display the USDA organic seal as well as the certifying agent’s name and address.
6. “Made with organic ingredients” indicates that the particular product contains at least 70% organic ingredients. These products cannot carry the USDA organic seal but must display the certifying agent’s name and address.
7. An “organic body product” with less than 70% organic ingredients cannot use the term “organic” on the main label. They should not carry the USDA seal, nor the certifying agent’s name/address.
Understand that while the USDA does regulate agricultural ingredients that go into the organic body products, they do not regulate and have no authority over the labeling or production of products that do not utilized agricultural ingredients. Which basically means if that mascara you’re buying claims to be “organic” it’s most likely is not. In addition, be aware that the organic body products that you may purchase in the store might also be certified by private agents that are not connected with the USDA and thus are subject to private standards, not the government’s.
Hopefully, this information will assist you in making an informed choice when you visit the personal care product section of your local store.
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