Beneficial skin carrier oils

When it comes to looking after our skin using natural ingredients, the first thing that comes to our mind is Oil. Yes! Oils like extra virgin coconut oil, olive oil, sweet almond oils are wonderful to our skin.

You may think that oils are not suitable for oily complexion as it will cause breakouts like pimples and acne. That is actually not the case. What causes our breakouts is really a combination of hormones, poor lifestyle choices, and dirt and bacteria that gets caught in our pores.

It turns out that using the right oils, like EVOO, almond oil, or even jojoba oil will cleanse your skin more effectively than some of those chemical-laden store-bought products.

Ayurveda is a 5000 year-old holistic system of medicine and natural healing originating in India. It is the oldest known form of healthcare in the world. Central within this healing system is the use of therapeutic oils for self massage (abhyanga).In India, self massage with Ayurveda oils (thailams) forms an integral part of everyday life to maintain our natural state of optimum health

The below oils have different skin nourishing and healing properties that helps in cleansing, moisturizing the skin and brings a natural glow to our skin. The essential fatty acids found in some of these oils have anti-ageing properties as well.

We will discuss about some of the commonly used beneficial skin oils which also includes exotic oils like Jojoba (my favourite!) and Argan oil.

Coconut oil

 Coconut oil is highly emollient base oil derived from the fruit of the coconut palm and is solid at room temperatures below 76 degrees F. It is excellent oil for all-over use. It is the ultimate skin softener, hair conditioner, and after-sun treatment. Use only unrefined Coconut oil. Its sweet, exotic fragrance is reminiscent of a tropical paradise. Its shelf life is indefinite.

Sesame seed oil

Sesame oil contains mono-unsaturated fatty acids, polyunsaturated, linoleic acid. Sesame seed oil is comparatively stable and does not turn rancid on contact with the air. The oil is also rich in vitamin E, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus. It is a good source of vegetable protein and rich in lecithin. Natural Sesame Oil, as is a well known fact, has very high medicinal value. This oil is used for edible purposes as well as physical purposes. The oil is heavily used in massages throughout the world. The ancient Indian massage therapy as used in Ayurveda has a very prominent role for sesame oil.

Castor oil

This clear to slightly yellow, shiny, viscous base oil is processed from the seeds of an annual shrub. It’s highly emollient and provides staying power and shine to the skin. It is particularly good for softening rough, dry heels, knees, elbows and patches of eczema and psoriasis. When applied to nails, it imparts a protective shield against exposure to drying detergents, hot water and winter-dry air.

Sunflower seed oil

This is a light- to medium- textured base oil high in essential fatty acids; antioxidant vitamin A, D and E; and lecithin derived from pressed seeds. The vitamin- E content of sunflower oil helps to heal blemishes and improve scar tissue. Deeply nourishing and moisturizing for all skin types. It is reasonably priced and easy to find. Avoid processed, supermarket- grade oil and instead choose unrefined oil.

Olive oil

The olive is traditionally regarded as a symbol of peace. The best olive oil comes from the fruit which is nearly fully ripe and handpicked. The oil comes from the pulp and not the kernel. Olive oil is high in minerals, vitamins and essential fatty acids, alpha linolenic acid. It is also used for cooking and dressing in salads. It is good massage oil for babies. Do not expose the oil to extended period of light.

Sweet Almond oil

Pressed from the edible nuts of the sweet almond tree, it is rich in minerals and oleic acid, a skin-nourisher and hydrator. This oil has a slippery feel, so you will need to massage it thoroughly into your skin. Once you have, the surface of your skin will improve dramatically, feeling smooth and silky. Do not use sweet Almond oil if you suffer from a nut allergy.

Grapeseed oil

Grapeseed oil is pressed from the pips of grapes, as a by-product of wine-making. The oil is pale green and extremely high in polyunsaturated fatty acids, making it light textured and easy for the skin to absorb. It is a good massage oil and suitable for people suffering from nut allergy. Massaging with a very light grapeseed oil leaves no residue and creates a lovely smooth finish.

Avocado oil

Avocado oil is extracted from the flesh which contains up to 30% pure oil. The oil is rich in many nutrients including vitamin A and D, lecithin and potassium. The oil is rich in chlorophyll, the reason for its dazzling green colour. Avocado oil can be used to soothe the skin being useful for conditions such as nappy rash and eczema. It is ideal for dry, mature skin and suitable for undernourished or aged skin.

Apricot kernel oil

This oil comes from the kernels of the apricot fruit. It is rich in oleic acid, a nourishing fatty-acid compound also found in olive oil. It is safe for all skin types. Apricot kernel oil rehydrates dry skin, especially when it is inflamed by the sun or wind. This carrier oil replenishes and rejuvenates mature skin.

Rosehip oil

Rosehip oil is produced in Chile and has recently become popular oil, particularly in regenerative skin care. It is beneficial in tissue regeneration for conditions such as burns, facial wrinkles and the treatment of scars. It is a natural anti-oxidant and a slight astringent. It is expensive and goes rancid quickly. Use the oil within 12 months of expiry.

Soyabean oil

Soyabean oil comes from the soya plant. Cold pressed soyabean oil is the second best source of vitamin E. It contains more lecithin than any other vegetable oil. It is high in unsaturated fatty acids and suitable for all skin types. It is regenerative, anti-oxidizing and anti-inflammatory. Its shelf life is 6 to 9 months.

Other exotic oils (liquid gold)

Jojoba oil

This is my favorite all- purpose oil. I use it as a skin moisturiser, to heal my dry lips and calm my child’s skin affected by rough weather. It is pronounced as ho-ho-ba. This is a unique oil because the oil is not composed of fat but of liquid wax. This carrier oil has been used by Native Americans for centuries to protect their skin from dehydration. Jojoba is similar in composition to sebum, the skin’s natural oil, so our skin is able to absorb it easily. It is safe for all skin types. Jojoba strengthens sensitive skin, balances oily skin and clears acne and even long-term scars (with regular use). It helps to soothe and heal skin damaged by eczema or psoriasis. It is a great cleanser. Its waxiness dissolves away dirt and excess oils.

Argan oil

If you’re a fan of Dr Oz , then it’s quite possible you may have heard him recently mention an oil extract from a special little tree found only in Morocco. It’s called argan oil and it has a whole host of benefits including its ability to nourish hair, treat acne and even helps to prevent obesity. It is the future of anti-aging!

Argan oil has been used for centuries by the inhabitants of Morroco and is still being used today, mainly as a natural form of moisturizer to replenish dry, cracked skin – a common result seen after excess exposure to the dry desert heat and sun.

Like almond oil, it’s derived directly from the nuts of the argan tree. The Moroccans call it Moroccan Gold, mainly due to the fact that it’s just so hard to get given that it only grows in a tiny 8000 km² reserve in a small North African country.

The oil itself is made up of 80% unsaturated essential fatty acids, which are used to form the makeup of the membrane (protective layer of the cell, kinda like a force field) of a skin cell. A thicker membrane, reduces the chances of the moisture inside the cell from leaking outwards, plus is better able to remove unwanted waste formed from within the cell.

Argan oil contains around 80% of the good fatty acids, most people who apply it actually see a decrease in oily skin and this is because it has an uncanny ability to help regulate and maintain normal levels of oil production.

Hope you enjoyed reading on some of the common beneficial oils used for our skin. Until then, bye from PetalDew - with love from Nature.

Rose and only Rose

Imagine yourself in a garden full of roses (only roses) - Roses of different colours and bloom. Don't you think it is a pure bliss to sink in the magic of aromatic and beautiful roses? . Roses are not only aromatic and pretty to look at; it has got many skin healing and rejuvenating properties.

My garden will be in colorful bloom next month - Pink, yellow, red, white and velvety dark pink roses dominating my garden with its radiance and sheer beauty. I can already spot rose buds covering the shrubs and it is not long to go for my roses to be in full bloom. My rose plants will eagerly stretch its arms and extend a warm welcome to use its rose petals and when the bloom is over for this season, it will be happy to show off its hips - I mean Rose hips. Rose hips can be used to make rose hip tea as it has got lot of health benefits. Many skin care products contain oil made from rose hip which has got anti-aging and skin reviving properties.

I will share with you some ideas and tips to make use of your rose plant.

The first and foremost important thing to remember when you are using rose petals to make rose water, sun-infused rose oil and other skin care recipes at home, make sure that you have not sprayed the plant with toxic pesticide or chemicals. Same thing is applicable when using rose hips.

Beautiful things that you can prepare from Rose petals:

A. Sun-infused Rose oil:

This is my ultimate favorite because Rose infused oil has properties of being a astringent, firming the skin, moisture retaining, stimulating, anti-bacterial, healing and relaxing. Rose infused oil can be used for therapeutic massage. Rose infused oil is used in skin products such as lotion, balms, salves, scrubs, bath oils. It is better to use dried rose petals for making sun-infused rose oil.

How to make rose infused oil:

1 part dried roses

2 parts oil (olive oil/sweet almond oil/grapeseed oil)

Sterilize a glass jar. This is done by placing the jar in hot boiling water for 4-5 minutes and drying it well. To make smaller batch, put your 1 part of dries rose petals in the jar and pour your oil on top of it to cover the petals well. Seal the jar with clean and dry tight lid.  Place the jar on a windowsill with lots of sun for 3 - 4 weeks. Give the jar a quick shake once daily. The object is to keep the jar warm as the herbs steep in the oils, so if you live in a cold climate, take that into consideration. After one month, filter the oil through muslin/cheese cloth and make sure you squeeze the last drop from the petals as the essence of the flower is concentrated in the petals.

B. Rose water:

 My favorite use of rose water is to use it as a face spritz. All you need is a spray bottle. Fill your spray bottle with rose water. Add a drop of Lavender essential oil and use it whenever you need to cool and tone your skin. Rose water acts as a good toner. You can use it as an aromatic mist for your room.

How to make rose water:

I found this simple homemade recipe for rose water under Times of India website. I tried it at home and wow!

http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2012-07-17/beauty/32174313_1_petals-water-pot

C. Rose petals in scrubs and face mask:

Dried rose petal combined with fine oats and honey makes an exotic face mask and dried rose petal with fine oats and rose water acts as good face scrub.

How to make simple face mask using rose petals:

1. Put 1/3 cup of the rolled oats into a food processor. Using the "pulse" feature, grind the oatmeal for a few seconds until it resembles a coarse flour.

2. 1/8 cup of freshly picked red/pink rose petals to the oatmeal in the food processor. Pulse again for 10 seconds.

3. Add two teaspoons of rose water, and then 1/4 cup of honey to the rose petals and oatmeal mixture. Pulse for 10 seconds. If you have a difficult time getting the mixture to blend well in your food processor, you can mix it vigorously by hand, or try it in a blender. Often larger food processors don't work well for small mixing small amounts of ingredients.

4. Apply the rose petal mixture to your face and allow it to stay on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and gently towel your skin dry.

D. Dried rose petals can be added to your pot pourri or to your linen sachet (Look under linen sachet recipe in my blog) to scent your home and cupboards naturally.

E. Rose hip tea and Rose hip oil:

Rose hips are the fruit of the rose tree, or what is left after the rose petals fall off. They are an excellent source of vitamin C. Rose hip tea is both delicious and good for you. Also known as rose mosqueta, rose hip oil is used in facial products for aging skin. It contains essential fatty oils and can help with scarring.

- Rose hip tea:

Rose hip tea is refreshing, pleasantly tart and contains vitamins A, B, C, E and K, pectin and organic acids. Besides battling colds, the nutrient-rich tea boosts your health in other ways as well. This popular medicinal tea strengthens the body's resistance to infection, reinforces digestive function, combats all kinds of illnesses with fever, flushes out the kidneys and urinary tract and relieves mild rheumatic pain. The vitamin C content gives rose hip tea its primary benefit, the ability to help prevent and treat colds and flu.

Pour 1 cup of boiling water over 2 heaping teaspoons of chopped rose hips. You can use rose hips with or without their seeds. Steep the herbal tea, covered, for 15 minutes and strain. Sweeten the refreshing, slightly sour tea with honey, if desired. Drink the tea lukewarm at bedtime for maximum effectiveness.

 - Rose hip oil:

 Rose hip oil is naturally rich in beta-carotene and lycopene, a power antioxidant found in tomatoes and watermelon. Foods rich in lycopene have many health benefits. The lycopene in rose hip oil helps to protect skin from premature ageing and is responsible for the oil's rich amber colour. It is a natural source of Vitamin A known as trans-retinoic acid. Research shows that topical trans-retinoic acid is effective in helping to prevent premature ageing caused by sun exposure.

Do share your ideas and tips to make use of rose petals from the garden and write it under comments.

Thanks and bye for now - with love from PetalDew.

Aaahh My foot :)

On the request of a well-wisher, I am writing this post on foot care. 

Our whole body stands on our feet. The average moderately active person takes about 7500 steps a    day. Don't we need to pay humble respect to our feet and pamper them with absolute care for the hard work it does? There are few simple steps that we can follow to keep our feet supple and healthy.

1. Wear comfortable footwear whenever you go out. My feet recently had a terrible experience facing constant soreness because I did not wear comfortable footwear . Make sure your feet and toes feel comfortable with the footwear you choose. Comfort comes before style (strictly no wearing high heels sandals when you face constant feet soreness).

     2. EFM (Exfoliation – Foot soak – Moisturization):

A.      Exfoliate your feet to remove dead cells and dirt. You can use fine sugar and fine salt with any carrier oil to exfoliate your feet gently. To the exfoliation mixture I prefer to add 1 to 2 drops of peppermint essential oil to relieve tension and soreness in the feet. Massage your feet gently with the exfoliation mixture for 5 minutes.

To make exfoliation mixture: 2 tbsp of fine sugar or fine sea salt, 1 tbsp of warm olive oil/coconut oil, 1 drop of Peppermint essential oil (Peppermint oil gives warmth to your feet) . Mix the given ingredients and scrub away the flaky skin.

B.      Foot soak: Fill a small tub with warm water and soak your foot for 10-15 minutes after exfoliation to provide warmth and suppleness to your feet. To the water, you can add powdered oats with lavender essential oil to have that extra special SPA experience.

C.      Moisturization: After foot soak, take 2 pieces of a ripe banana or ripe papaya or cut potato and rub the piece all over your feet, toes, heels and massage gently. Let your feet absorb the essence of the fruits for 10 minutes and wipe off the fruit remains by putting your feet back in the same water tub. Later pat your feet dry with a clean towel.

Follow the above “E-F-M” once in every two weeks or whenever you feel like doing. All it takes is 30 minutes to pamper your feet to glory!

 3.    Follow a healthy diet rich in Magnesium, Omega 3. Eating fruits regularly in addition to above will keep your skin and feet healthy.

 4.  Cracks in the heel is a common problem. The way to reduce cracks in the feet is to keep the feet dry and dirt free. Whenever possible, use comfortable sandals when walking inside the home. Follow “E-F-M” method once a week and have magnesium rich food like green leafy vegetables, bananas, nuts and omega-3 rich foods like flax seed, fish oil tablets, walnuts.

Ladies - Get ready to show off your feet! Bye for now. With love from PetalDew.

Fifteen quick and effective natural beauty tips for your Skin, Hair and Body

                     

Here are the fifteen effective natural remedies/ beauty tips for your skin, hair and body. You have to follow the below remedies regularly to experience long term benefits. 

Face and Body:

• To make your face glow : Mix 2 tsp of Besan powder/green gram powder, curd and rose water and apply the paste to your face and leave it on for 30 minutes .Wash it off with warm water.

• To reduce scars on your face caused by pimples or acne : Make paste from Nutmeg by grinding it on a stone slab with rose water and dab it on the scar affected area of your face.

• To bleach your face naturally:  Mix 2 tsp of honey with 2 tsp of lemon juice and massage your face and hand with the mixture.

• To make your eyebrows and eyelashes thicker and black  - Apply castor oil everyday before going to bed and let it stay overnight.

• To remove the puffiness and redness from the eyes - Take 2 thin cucumber slices and leave it on your eyes for half and hour. If cucumber is not available, soak 2 cotton pads with rose water and leave it on your eyes.

• To make your lips stay pink, healthy and supple - Make juice from coriander leaves and mix it with almond paste and apply the paste on your lips and wash it off after half an hour.

• For quick body scrub : Fine salt or sugar mixed with olive oil and massage it to your skin - hands, feet , legs to remove dead skin.

• Face scrub: Grind oats, mix it with fine rice flour, make it into a paste with rose water and use it as a face scrub.

• For oily skin : Juice of tomato and lemon applied on your face will remove the excess oil on your face

• You can use milk as a natural cleanser to remove the dirt and grime off your face. Dab milk with a cotton wool and gently wipe your face in outward stroke.

• Rubbing red grapes juice regularly on your forehead will remove fine wrinkles.

Hair care:

• Do not shampoo your hair often as it removes natural oil from your hair. Use gentle and mild shampoo. Natural alternative to commercially available shampoo is hair rinse made out of soapnut or "pungangal" (http://corporate.greenandnutty.com.au/?q=node/65)

• To reduce the  dandruff on your hair : soak 2 to 3 tablespoon of "Khus-Khus" (white poppy seed) for one hour and grind the mixture. Extract the milk from Khus-Khus and apply it on your hair scalp and let your scalp absorb the milk for 10-15 mins before rinsing your hair with mild and gentle shampoo. Do this regularly to keep dandruff at bay. 

• To cool the scalp and conditioner for the hair: Soak 1 tbsp fenugreek seeds overnight in water and grind it to make a paste. Apply the paste after shampooing and apply it on the scalp and  your hair. Leave it on for two to three minutes and rinse your hair for that soft and shiny look.

• If you have split end problem: Regularly massage your scalp and hair ends with warm olive oil and let it stay overnight before shampooing your hair in the morning.

Please share your natural quick and effective beauty tips in this post and I will be happy to include it with your name and publish it in this post.
Until then  - Bye for now. With Love from PetalDew

Humble sugar and Modest salt- For our skin (Part 2)

In my previous post on "Humble sugar and modest salt - for our skin Part 1" .
we saw the shocking truth of plastics and other harmful ingredients found in some of the scrubs. The safer options are -
1. Buy  scrubs made from 100%  skin safe natural and herbal ingredients (or)
2. Make your own scrubs at home with Sugar and salt.

My simple recipe for sugar scrub which is used to smoothen and exfoliate our skin is -
Sugar scrub-
Ingredients:
Fine sugar - 2 teaspoon
Olive oil - 1 teaspoon
Lemon juice - few drops
Add olive oil to the sugar and mix it.  then add lemon juice to it.
In a gentle circular motion apply the mixture gently on your hands/neck/elbows/knees/feet to smoothen the rough areas of the skin. Sugar removes the dead skin cells, Olive oil moisturize the skin and lemon acts as astringent and has got anti-bacterial properties.
Salt scrub -
Use finely grounded sea salt/epson salt/Himalayan salt for making the salt scrub. You can follow the same recipe as above or instead of Olive oil, you can also use extra virgin coconut oil. Adding skin safe essential oils like lavender oil, Rose otto oil will have added benefit to the skin.
The above scrubs can be used on the face provided the sugar and salt are in fine granules. Avoid the sensitive areas of the eye when applying the scrub. 

I made this exotic sugar scrub using pink rose petals from the garden, Coconut butter (Coconut oil in solid form) , Cane sugar, Sweet almond oil and 2 drops of lavender oil.

How to make it:
You’ll need: a glass jar, coconut oil/butter, raw cane sugar, almond and one fragrant rose (here I used pink roses because it is most fragrant roses ever)

Use a small  clear glass jar with a lid. Start by putting a large scoop of coconut oil in the bottom of the jar. It’s an “oil” but at room temp it’s more like a butter consistency and has a white paste texture.
Next, pluck your rose petals and put them into the jar on top of the coconut oil.
Add your raw sugar. If you can’t find raw cane sugar, brown sugar is a great option! 
Add your almond oil on top of the sugar. Almond oil is great because it doesn’t take away the scent in this jar.
Wait a minute for your oil to seep down to the flower petals and then top it off with a little more almond oil. Last but not least, put your lid on and let it sit so the oils can soak into the flower petals.
When you (or the person you’re giving this to as a gift) are ready to use it, take a spoon and mash it all up. The sugar will break up the rose petals and they’ll continue to break up as you rub the scrub on your skin. The smell is INCREDIBLE .Enjoy.
Store it in a dry cool place and it has got a shelf life of 6 months.

Until then Bye from PetalDew - From nature with love.

Humble Sugar and Modest Salt - For our skin (Part 1)

Modest Salt

As we all know, eating too much sugar and salt is bad for our health. But the humble salt and sugar plays an important role in removing the dead skin on our body accumulated over time when used as a skin scrub .It also helps to smoothen the  dry and hard skin on our elbow and knees. 

Dry skin is a year-round problem. The solution? A body scrub that sloughs off flakes and leaves skin hydrated. 

Humble sugar

When you are buying a body/ facial scrub sold commercially, make sure that it has got natural/ herbal ingredients which do not damage our skin and our environment. Some  of the scrubs available in the market contains harmful chemicals and skin- harming ingredients. I had a look at one of the sugar scrub sold in a shop and was shocked to find that the first ingredient on the ingredient list was POLYTHELENE. You don't need to be a scientist to know what Polythelene is. I straight away knew that it is a form of plastic. So the best selling scrubs use polythelene as one of their ingreidents? Can you imagine polythelene going into our skin, into the drains and washed into the ocean only to be eaten by aquatic living beings? 

Please read this write-up by a consumer on "microbead" facial scrub. I bet she had a similar experience to mine when she was looking for a scrub.
http://tinychoices.com/2008/05/06/microbead-facial-scrubs/
That is the reason why I am careful in reading the ingredient list on cosmetic products, tooth pastes, soaps,cleaning liquids etc, even though it may be a popular brand or a best selling cosmetic. I don't go by brands. 

I buy a product on the basis of the Ingredients list! Please read the ingredients list and think before you buy a cosmetic/ skin products for yourself or for your friends and family as a gift.

Now, back to Sugar and Salt scrub:
It is best to use fine grains of sugar and salt in the scrub to have a gentle exfoliating action to avoid micro abrasion of the skin.
Best fine grain sugar comes in the form of cane sugar and white sugar and caster sugar.There are other other exotic sugar that can be found in organic stores like Coconut sugar (It is expensive though).  If you dont have fine sugar, powder the sugar in the food processor to attain the desired fine grain consistency. Similarly good salt that can be used for exfoliating our skin are sea salt, epsom salt or pinkish himalayan salt which are fine and contains good trace minerals. I strongly discourage you to use store bought table salt to be used as scrub as it is mainy sodium chloride and lacks all the good trace minerals which is completely removed at the time of processing the salt.

Sugar and salt scrubs are easy to make at home with the available ingredients in our kitchen pantry.  Please follow my next post on recipes ( A simple as well as an exotic skin pampering recipe) for home made salt and sugar scrub.
Until then. Bye from PetalDew- From Nature with Love.

Beauty secrets around the World

                                           Haldi Ceremony in India

From volcanic glacial clay in Iceland to rainforest super berries in Brazil, “backyard” elixirs offer the secret to true beauty for women in all corners of the world. How society defines “beauty” changes across cultures, of course, but tending to one’s appearance has always been a special preoccupation for women. Women in every society have been valued by their beauty, whether it’s for their hair, their skin, or their figure. The indigenous beauty secrets  honor the body as a whole. To glow and look confident is the goal, rather than our culture’s obsession with wanting instant results.

If you want in on some of the secrets of any given country, look no further than its kitchens. A region’s agriculture and their culinary traditions can tell you a lot about their beauty lore. Food and beauty are intimately tied together, and it’s amazing to see the creative solutions women come up with based on what they have available. Call it intuition, but so often the same local ingredients women choose to cook with (those high in antioxidants, minerals, and healthy fats) end up on their faces and hair, where the nutrients they contain feed the skin.
With the advent of lightning-fast communication and high-speed travel, the best of these tonics are making their way into high-end skincare products faster than you can say “babassu butter.” So join me as we take a trip across all five oceans and uncover the ingredients making waves.

AFRICA
Morocco. For thousands of years, the Berber tribeswomen of Morocco have been the sole cultivators of vitamin E-rich argan oil. Nicknamed “the gold of Morocco,” masseuses still use argan for skin massages in the traditional hammams or steam baths. Its high concentration of unique phytosterols and EFAs make it especially good for combating dry skin, wrinkles, and even psoriasis.
Do-It-Yourself: Please see http://arganbeaute.com/how-to-use-argan-oil.

Egypt. A fairly common seed of the Mediterranean region, fenugreek was prized by pharaohs for its restorative qualities—one ancient papyrus even mentioned it as a tonic that could “turn an old man into a young man.” When crushed, the seeds have a well-earned reputation as a skin softener.
Do-It-Yourself: Crush 1 teaspoon of dried fenugreek seeds with a mortar and pestle and mix with 1/4 cup of almond oil or moringa oil (known as behen oil in its native Egypt). Allow the seeds to sit for 30 minutes; strain the oil and apply it to your face for a time-tested youth serum. This seed’s oil extract also strengthens hair and keeps dandruff at bay. 
Cleopatra’s beauty secret was taking milk baths to soften her skin and remove dead cells. 
Do-It-Yourself: To try the treatment at home, add 2 cups of powdered milk to your bath. It will make your skin look absolutely gorgeous and feel so smooth, silky and soft.

Israel. Believes in the healing powers of sea salt. When you swim in the Dead Sea, all of the salt helps your body rid itself of toxins, and it has also been known to help cure skin diseases. 
Do-It-Yourself: To get the detoxifying benefits of sea salt at home, try this Lavender Sea Salt Scrub recipe:  Mix together ¼ cup finely ground sea salt, 1 pinch seaweed/ green tea powder, ½ cup massage oil (sweet almond oil/ coconut oil) and 10 to 15 drops lavender oil. Apply to skin to gently exfoliate the skin.   

ASIA
Japan. Many of us already know that drinking green tea, brewed from the Camellia sinlensis leaves, acts as an internal age-defying tonic. But who knew (besides the Japanese) that the oil extracted from camellia seeds delivers its own external skin-saving benefits as well? Omega-3 fatty acids make up more than 80 percent of the oil, giving it the penetrative power to stimulate collagen and elastin growth.
Do-It-Yourself: Green tea powder  face mask -
Green tea powder(Green Tea powder is a form of powdered green tea ground from the highest quality Japanese green tea leaves and is the form of green tea used in the Japanese green tea ceremony) ; Fresh honey, Lemon juice, Yougurt. Mix all the ingredients into a thick paste. Apply on your face and leave it for 15-20 mins and rinse off with warm water.

China. From maintaining silky hair to cultivating creamy complexions, Chinese women know the secrets of soy. Home made Soy milk is used as face wash. It gives the skin a creamy appearance and leave it supple and soft. Studies have shown that topically applied soy milk actually increases the skin’s production of hyaluronic acid, an essential component of younger-looking skin.
Do-It-Yourself: If you’re not keen on letting straight soy milk dribble down your face, soak rolled oats or barley in it for 30 minutes, then apply the mixture to your face as a soothing mask.

India. Beauty Secrets of India are very popular through out the world as they are herbal and natural in nature . India is a country which is famous for its years old knowledge about the functioning of human body. The secrets are old and proven. Herbal beauty remedies are the most natural way that does not even harm your skin and yet makes you look beautiful and presentable.
For Hair: Whether they are lathering on rich coconut oil or applying henna dyes, Indian women understand how to treat their hair right. One of their favorite tress tonics? Amla fruit, also called Indian gooseberry, which can be rubbed straight onto the scalp to prevent hair loss and dandruff, or mixed with soap nuts (the dried fruit of the soapberry tree, native to China and India) to create a luxurious shampoo. Try: Amla teams up with sesame oil to make a cooling tonic for those suffering from premature graying or thinning of the hair.
For skin: Turmeric Face mask:
1 tsp turmeric powder, 2 tsp rice flour (you could also use garbanzo flour or finely-ground oats), 3 Tbsp plain yogurt (you could substitute milk/ rose water)
Mix everything together to make a thick paste and then slather it on a clean face. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes, and then rinse off, gently scrubbing as you go.Please be sure to wear an old shirt that you don’t mind staining when you use this. 

EUROPE
France and Italy. The great grapes of wine country, from chianti to chardonnay, have found their way onto women’s faces as time-stopping tonics. Their polyphenols and linolenic acids make ideal free-radical fighters—primary enemies in the aging process—but the true superstar is resveratrol, a potent antioxidant credited with protecting the skin from cancer-causing UVB rays.
Do-It-Yourself: Cut a grape down the middle and rub the flesh over your skin, or mash whole grapes with almond meal and use as a mask to reap the additional benefits of the nutrient-dense grape skin.

Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. The tiny edelweiss flower of the Alps grows between 6,000 and 9,000 feet above sea level and blooms in spring and early summer. Its proximity to the sun’s beams has given it UV light-absorbing chemicals, and Eastern European women reap the flower’s protective benefits by steeping it as a tea to use as a face rinse.

                                                     Edelweiss Flower
LATIN AMERICA
Brazil. When the nuts of the 65-foot tall babassu palm fall to the ground, local women, known as “babassu breakers,” gather the kernels and cold-press them into a rich oil. Much like coconut oil, the Amazonian babassu oil stays solid at room temperature, but melts instantly when applied to the body, making it a protective emollient and good cooling treatment (since the oil uses the body’s heat to melt).Like coconut oil, You can use babassu oil as bath oil, massage oil or as a normal moisturizer.

                                          Babassu Breakers

Caribbean Islands. The acerola berry, also called the Barbados cherry, beats out all other fruits for its vitamin C content relative to its size (over 30 times the amount found in an orange). When mashed up and used as a mask, the berries deliver a shot of ascorbic acid that helps brighten skin and stimulate collagen growth. Acerola berries also contain a hefty store of minerals like magnesium and potassium, both essential components for new skin cell growth.

Chile. Chilean women credit the antioxidant powers of red grapes for their luminous skin. They create a paste by mashing up a handful of the fruit and adding 2 tablespoons of white flour. They then apply the mask to their face and leave it on for 10 minutes before washing it off. It wakes up the appearance of tired and fatigued skin to give you an amazing glow.

SOUTH PACIFIC
New Zealand. Noted for busting bacteria better than many antibiotics, manuka honey is harvested from the bees that feed on the manuka bush, which is native only to New Zealand. Combating both inflammation and dryness simultaneously (as well as serious problems like eczema and chapped skin), the honey makes a favorite face mask among Kiwi women of all skin types.
Do-It-Yourself: If you can’t find manuka honey at a local health food store, try using regular honey as a healing and moisturizing mask. Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with Yougurt and green gram flour, and leave the resulting mask on your face for 20 minutes before rinsing with cool water.

Australia. The Aborigines have long known the benefits of emu oil as a natural sunscreen, arthritis fighter, and wound healer, but scientific studies are now backing up its claims as a skin soother and inflammation buster. Extracted from the back fat of Australia’s second largest bird, the oil absorbs easily and delivers essential fatty acids to sustain and support the skin’s lipid layer.
Yarrow extract is used by Australian Aboriginal women to prevent stretch marks, thanks to its moisturizing and hydrating properties. Yarrow root is also an anti-inflammatory, which soothes the skin.

Tahiti and Fiji. Found only on a few islands of the world, the tamanu nut contains barely any oil when it first falls from the 80-foot-high trees on which it grows. Only after the nut has dried for two weeks does oil start to appear on its surface. Tahitian women put the oil on wounds to speed healing, and even on their babies to prevent diaper rash. Its skin-regenerating properties, thought to come from the unique fatty acid calophyllolide, make the tamanu nut oil especially useful for reducing the appearance of scars and wrinkles.

Region-specific beauty tips go beyond the best local ingredients. Here are a few techniques—ranging from the mundane to the out-of-this-world—guaranteed to get your whole body glowing.

Dry brushing: This daily exfoliating technique is popular in both Japan and Scandinavia. Brushing the skin (skip your face) with a dry, vegetable-fiber loofah (or brush) in circular motions towards the heart stimulates lymph flow, which helps the body eliminate toxins that can otherwise show up as blemishes or dry patches. For best results, begin in the shower. Start with your feet and brush your whole body before you turn the water on. Alternating warm and cold water in the shower can help boost circulation even more to further aid the detox process.

Thalassotherapy: Literally translated as “sea therapy,” this Mediterranean healing treatment transforms salt water, sand, and seaweed into a spa therapy. As the skin’s positive charge pulls the negatively charged salt water deep into the epidermis, the trace minerals and nutrients in the seawater help balance and detoxify the skin. True thalassotherapy centers should only be a few thousand feet from the coast (the only one in the US is Gurney’s Inn in New York, but you can also find them in Mexico, Ireland, Scandinavia, and the south of France). Treatments usually include seaweed wraps, exercise in seawater pools, and yes, even long walks on the beach.

The Lulur Ceremony: Javanese princesses enjoy this rejuvenating experience every day for 40 days before their wedding. The ritual starts with a coconut oil massage, followed with a scrub of turmeric, ground rice, and ginger to clear away dead skin. The scrub is removed with yogurt, and the bride finishes her treatment in a bath filled with jasmine and frangipani petals. A little luxury goes a long way, according to royals; they believe that the more relaxed the bride, the higher her chance of conceiving on her wedding night.

Mehndi ceremony of India: Henna or Mehndi is also known worldwide for its medicinal properties. It was, in fact, used as a cosmetic in earlier times due to its therapeutic features. Mehndi is widely adopted around the world as a conditioner and dye for hair by both men and women. It is a natural dye that renders a beautiful color on hair and creates a lustrous look. Also, mehndi is popular for its cooling effects, thus, used in hot climates in India and other countries. It can also help in lowering body temperature and soothe headaches, fevers, burning feet and even hysteria or a violent temper. It can increase the luster of nails, is effective in muscular rigidity and even in Jaundice. 
Mehndi Ceremony is among the pre wedding rituals in Indian weddings performed a day prior to the marriage. Just as Haldi ceremony symbolizes cleanliness, mehndi signifies beautification.  Mehndi-Ki-Raat is usually a private affair with close relatives, friends and family members, celebrated amidst lot of dancing and feasting. Even the color of mehndi is given high importance in Indian culture as the darkness of the color signifies the degree of husband's love. It depicts love and affection between the couple as it is believed that the longer it retains, the more auspicious it is.

Mehndi Ceremony 

Haldi ceremony of India: Before the mehndi ceremony, there will be a ceremony known as the haldi ceremony.  Haldi, which to most of you is probably better known as tumeric, is an unbelievable important/popular spice in India. It is added to almost all dishes, is used in many religious rituals and has many other uses due to it's medicinal properties. In this case, it is used for it's beautifying and purifying properties.
As per tradition, the haldi ceremony takes place the day before the wedding.  A paste is made out of a mix of haldi, rose water and sandalwood powder and applied to bride and groom's face, arms and legs. The beautifying and purifying properties of haldi, come into play here, as application of this paste to the skin has wonderful effects on it and leaves the bride and groom with glowing complexions.
To match the colour of haldi, the bride-to-be traditionally wears yellow clothes during this function - however these days anything goes - so long as it isn't black or white. The guests, especially the female guests, are also encouraged to dress up colourfully. Not just for this ceremony, but for all of them - it's heaps of fun.

   If you know any beauty secrets used by women from different countries, please feel free to share in this Post via comments. Until then, bye from PetalDew - With Love from Nature.

ARTICLE

Natural ingredients drive growth in cosmetics and toiletries

by Leonie Tait.

Cosmetics and toiletries products containing natural ingredients are reviving growth in maturing cosmetics markets, according to a new report from Euromonitor International - "The Growth of Natural Ingredients".

Over the past five years, developed markets, such as the United States, have been facing stagnating cosmetics and toiletries sales and slowing growth. In an effort to improve sales, manufacturers have capitalised on growing consumer interest in health and wellness and have started to invest in new products containing natural ingredients.

This investment looks to be paying off, with certain industry sources predicting that the natural/organic skin care, hair care and colour cosmetics markets will grow by an impressive average of 9% a year between 2003 and 2008. This growth is expected to provide a boost to the total cosmetics and toiletries sector, which Euromonitor International forecasts to grow by only 1% a year to 2009.

Consumers are drawn to natural products

One of the main drivers of growth in natural cosmetics has been the consumer trend towards healthier lifestyles. Rightly or wrongly, good health is often associated in consumers’ minds with all things natural, while chemicals are considered by some to be the root of all evil. Consequently, these perceptions have given rise to demand for natural additives and ingredients used in cosmetics.

Certain synthetic ingredients used in cosmetics have also faced considerable negative publicity, which has only solidified consumers’ negative perceptions of chemicals. Media coverage of the possible carcinogenic effects of phthalates and triclosan, used in hair care, oral hygiene and colour cosmetics, have especially had an impact on consumers, encouraging them to shop for alternative products containing natural ingredients.

The baby care sector has been particularly impacted, as medical professionals and manufacturers have warned parents’ of the health effects of certain additives, thereby heightening consumers’ fears of chemical ingredients. To appease their customers and to maintain their share of the market, manufacturers have begun to highlight the natural ingredients in their products. Johnson & Johnson, for example, managed to maintain its share of the US baby care market under the Aveeno brand name, when it extended its oatmeal-based Aveeno adult skin care line into baby care products in 2000.

Manufacturers capitalise on the natural products trend

Consumer are drawn to cosmetics containing natural ingredients not just because of their perceived health benefits, but also because many believe they have higher standards of quality. This has enabled cosmetics manufacturers to charge higher prices for natural products, thereby injecting value into the market. Major manufacturers have also used this perception of quality to drive packaging developments, which convey fresher, more upscale appearances for natural products.

Origins and Aveda, for example, have achieved success by emphasising the quality of their products, which in turn have prompted smaller producers to introduce competing products and rejuvenate their packaging.

Also benefiting manufacturers of natural cosmetic products is their widening availability. Upscale department stores such as Nordstrom’s in the US are taking advantage of the growing interest in natural personal care products and are expanding their selections accordingly. "Natural supermarket" chains and health food stores, such as Whole Foods in the US, are also educating consumers on the benefits of natural personal care products and some now devote considerable space to natural personal care products, including moisturisers, lip glosses and toothpaste.

Outlook

Over the next five years, Euromonitor International predicts that natural cosmetics and toiletries will grow strongly, but will remain inferior to mainstream products in terms of overall sales. The largest potential for growth in natural cosmetics and toiletries market lies in sectors such as baby care, bath and shower products and hair care.

In the future, manufacturers are likely to increase the amount of natural ingredients used in their products in order to satisfy consumers, without completely abolishing chemicals that they deem necessary to increase the shelf life or effectiveness of their products. At the same time, the major players are likely to dedicate huge marketing budgets to promoting the natural aspects of their products.

A potential hindrance to the industry, however, are forthcoming regulations in the EU and US that will force manufacturers to disclose ingredients that are known to cause allergic reactions. Since many synthetic ingredients are actually found to be safer than natural ingredients, this could potentially damage the market for some natural cosmetics and toiletries products.

"The Growth of Natural Ingredients: Implications for Global Marketing Strategies" is part of Euromonitor International’s new IMIS Strategy Briefings series.

Consumer demand for natural ingredients and an increased desire for healthy lifestyles is directly affecting the market for personal care and packaged foods. This report analyses how suppliers are rising to meet the challenge beyond the label and what the impact will be for the ingredients industry and consumer goods companies’ marketing strategies.

http://www.euromonitor.com/natural-ingredients-drive-growth-in-cosmetics-and-toiletries/article