Hello and welcome to all our new subscribers since the last issue. As the last days of Indian summer come to a close, fall is finally upon us. This is one of my favorite times of year. The air starts to turn crisp and cool, the leaves change color--transforming the landscape into a beautiful blossom of oranges and yellows, and sunsets out here in the Bay Area are quite spectacular, especially at the beach.
The advent of fall presents new challenges for keeping your skin hydrated. Wind, cooler, drier air and dry indoor conditions set the stage for the winter of our skin's discontent (in a manner of speaking). To help you get a leg up, this issue's article summarizes the 5 key elements of a healthy natural lotion or cream that you should look for to ensure maximum moisture and elasticity through the fall and into the winter. And our current subscriber special makes it easy for you to stock up on our moisturizing hand and body lotions too!
Yours in health and prosperity,
Donya
p.s. If you like our products then help us spread the word! Follow us on Twitter or become a fan of Dropwise on Facebook.
The 5 Key Elements of a Healthy Natural Lotion or Cream
With the growing popularity of natural and organic body care products there are more options than ever before to choose from with new and interesting products coming out almost everyday. So how do you decide on a lotion or moisturizer that is not only safe but will impart real and lasting benefits to your skin? Reading and understanding ingredients and product claims is key to avoid being duped by companies who are just trying to cash in on the latest marketing trends. But if you don't really have time to do this, here's a simple guide to the 5 key elements of a healthy natural lotion or cream that can help you find good products fast.
1. No petroleum or synthetic ingredients.
2. Plant-based vegetable or nut oils and butters are used as the primary base and should be the second or third ingredients listed on the panel after water.
For maximum effectiveness, look for products made with vegetable and/or nut oils and butters like Jojoba, Coconut, High-oleic Safflower, Olive, Sunflower, Almond, Grapeseed, Avocado, and Shea or Cocoa Butter in place of mineral oil (which is the primary base for most commercially mass-produced lotions). These plant-based oils are the same ones that are used for culinary purposes and are fully biodegradable.
Generally speaking, if they are safe to ingest, then they are safe to put on your skin and will not harm the environment when they are washed down the drain and make their way into rivers, streams, and landfills.
Jojoba, Macadamia Nut, Virgin Coconut, Extra-Virgin Olive, and High-oleic Safflower or Sunflower oils are excellent choices because they have highly moisturizing and protective qualities and are readily absorbed for fast, dry skin relief. They also have the added benefit of high to very high stability resulting in an excellent shelf life, which in turn minimizes and often eliminates the need for preservatives. If you can get products made with certified organic versions of these oils then that is your best possible option for finished products that are highly effective, safe, and long-lasting.
3. Inclusion of herbal extracts or infusions (either in the oil or in the water portion, or both) or other antioxidants.
Herbal infusions and extracts like chamomile, calendula, lavender, slippery elm, mallow root, comfrey or yarrow are often a bonus as these herbs promote and are highly supportive of healthy skin. Chickweed is especially helpful for controlling itchy skin, and calendula and comfrey can aid in repairing damaged skin, speeding up the healing process by promoting the regeneration of new skin cells.
Antioxidants whether consumed via diet and supplementation, applied topically --or both-- are key to fighting the "free radicals" caused by sun damage coupled with a diet high in saturated fats. The ingredients that have shown the most promise in this area so far are Vitamin A (or Beta Carotene), Vitamin C and Vitamin E, and Green Tea extract. Selenium, zinc, and copper are minerals that have also been found to support the process of neutralizing free radicals. Of course, naturally occurring versions of all of these are always preferable to their synthetic counterparts.
4. For scented products stick to those made with only 100% pure essential oils instead of "fragrance" or "fragrance oils" or a combination of fragrance and essential oils.
Watch out for combination products --ones that use both fragrance and essential oils-- particularly if you are chemically sensitive or allergy-prone. Be aware that certain floral or fruit scents like Lilac, Plumeria, Fig, and even most Vanillas and Coconut are synthetic fragrances that are NOT made from essential oils and may contain other unidentified harmful chemicals like phthalates. Since fragrance manufacturers are not required to list the components used to create their fragrances, there's really no way to know if they contain phthalates or other harmful chemicals. Pure essential oils are safe and if properly combined, can have the added benefit of lowering stress, increasing alertness, and improving your mood.
5. A freshness or expiration date on the label. You wouldn't buy a carton of milk without knowing it's expiration date would you? Then why not demand the same from your skin care products?
If you find a freshness or expiration date, that's usually a good indication that the ingredients used are fresh and natural with minimal preservation, which is why it should be used up by a certain date for best results.
Most commercial creams and lotions don't have an expiration or freshness date because the use of parabens and other synthetic preservatives ensures that the product has an almost indefinite shelf life. Have you ever bought a lotion or cream on a whim and then set it aside in your bathroom cabinet or linen closet and totally forgot about it only to pull it out many years later and find it exactly as it was when you bought it? It takes a powerful cocktail of chemicals to keep a lotion in that state for that long!
Remember, the benefits of using natural products come with regular use. If your skin is dry and you switch to a healthier product you will notice a difference right away. But to realize the benefits of that improvement going forward, you need to use the product on a regular basis. On the upside, having a freshness date on your product reminds you to use it up while it's still fresh and can have the maximum impact, rather than leaving it unused on a shelf or in a bag somewhere where it will just oxidize and eventually turn rancid!
With some experimentation you'll find a good product that works for you. Eventually, as your skin begins to heal itself and become properly hydrated, you'll notice that you won't need to use as much of the product as you might have when you first switched.
Copyright 2009 Dropwise Essentials
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Dropwise Essentials was founded by Donya Fahmy, a writer, producer, and consultant whose avid interest in the curative powers of aromatherapy and herbs ultimately led her to design and create the seven products and seventeen unique essential oil blends that make up the current Dropwise product line. She has studied aromatherapy with Carol Schiller - a successful author of several aromatherapy books - and with Dr. Daniel Penoel - a renowned expert in the field of medical aromatherapy.
