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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Instead of "clearcutting" your skin's "forest" by washing away all the diverse creatures living there, learn how to nourish them! These microbes help support, maintain, and nourish strong resilient skin which is better able to withstand the ravages of the environment, air borne toxins, aging, stress, and sun damage, and help it heal from more quickly from injuries. Skin microbes also play a vital role in supporting your immune system. Your skin loves you .... LOVE IT BACK!
All skin types at any age benefit from the correct application of facial treatment oils. Facial oils are also part of the Oil Cleansing Method and a nourishing skin care tradition. Even those with oily skin, clogged pores and outbreaks benefit from the right facial oils. Mature and aging skin respond amazing to the Oil Cleansing Method and using facial oils. Reducing use of foaming cleansers & soap, and the overuse of harsh topical applications, we can help heal, nourish and protect our precious skin.
One of the most basic principles of chemistry is that “like dissolves like.” The best way to dissolve skin oils is by using another oil. With carefully selected oils we can cleanse pores of dirt, grime, sunscreen, makeup - even bacteria and virus - naturally, gently and effectively, without the need for soap or cleansers. Seed oils not only clean, they heal, protect and nourish your skin, preserves the beneficial microbiome living on us, and do no damage to our precious acid mantle. Use my list of cleansing oils to pick and make your own blends or single oils.
We have so many fruit and seed oils to choose from to create oil blends for our 2 different purposes, cleansing and nourishing. This article will help you understand which oils to choose for your needs and how to apply them for the best results
Oh how I love nourishing traditions! Cleansing ourselves with oils is a beautiful one to rediscover. I made the switch. I'm happy I did.
And for good reason! This old fashioned practice is being rediscovered by beauty divas everywhere!
