Wash Away Your Problems With African Black Soap

When it comes to beauty, Ancient Africans knew exactly what they were doing. They used many beauty products that we are just rediscovering today. African black soap is just one of those wonderful concoctions used by Africans centuries ago. There are several benefits to using the soap, not only for the skin but for the hair as well.

Black soap is usually made with dried plantain peels are dried in the sun. These skins which sometimes includes palm and cocoa pods are roasted and then turned into ash. When the roasting is finished water is added to the ashes and filtered. At this point Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, palm oil and/or cocoa butter are warmed and added to the mix. The women of the village then stir the mixture for 24 hours. Eventually, the soap solidifies and moves up to the top of the batch, it is then scooped out and the mixture is set out to cure for two weeks.

After this the soap is ready for oils and other ingredients to be added. Or it can be sold on its own in its natural state.  When looking to buy African Black soap remember the less the ingredients the better the soap. When handling the soap, it should be soft and a little crumbly, it should never feel hard like regular store bought soap. It shouldn't have any artificial fragrances or coloring. The soap will have an earthy scent with a hint of chocolate, this comes from the cocoa butter added.  One last thing it shouldn't have is artificial lye. Black soap has naturally occurring lye, so none needs to be added.

Improves Skin Tone
Many people suffer from a skin tone that is uneven, this comes from sun exposure, genetics and pollutants that are in the air and our bodies. African Black soap contains shea butter as well as cocoa butter, these are very moisturizing and contain antioxidants, that neutralizes free radicals in the skin. This helps in keeping the skin tone even and healthy looking.

Skin Protection
Free radicals not only help with evening the skin tone, the antioxidants protect the skin from free radical damage that causes premature skin aging, wrinkles and facial lines.   

Tightens Skin
Black soap firms and tones skin and improves skin texture, for more glowing and healthy looking skin.

Alleviates Skin Problems
One of the most talked about benefits of using black soap is the relief of acne. It helps lessen treat and totally clear up acne as well as eliminates black heads, psoriasis and eczema.

Deep Cleansing
African Black Soap is naturally antibacterial and antifungal, this is great for deep pore clearing as well removing makeup and oils from the skin.

Stops Razor Bumps
African Black Soap is very protective to the skin, this protection prevents razor bumps when used for shaving.

Hair Benefits
Your hair will love this soap! It will not strip it of its natural oils, and will moisturize the hair leaving it soft and manageable. The shea butter and cocoa butter in the soap gives the soap all the benefits.  

Chocolatey Creamy CoCoa Butter

Have you ever smelled unrefined cold pressed cocoa butter?

The chocolaty, creamy, intoxicating scent is more than enough to make it you fall for its essence.  But a beautiful scent isn't all Cocoa butter has to offer, it has many health benefits as well.

 Cocoa butter comes from the cacao bean which is located inside the pod that grows on the cacao tree. The tree contains large fruits that hold up to 30 to 40 cocoa seeds. These seeds are also where our delicious chocolate comes from. So the next time you buy unrefined cold pressed cocoa butter, smell it, it'll smell just like a chocolate bar, well a good quality chocolate bar. You can even taste it, but if you do don't be surprised by it's creamy chocolaty taste. 

To produce the actual cocoa butter the seeds are fermented in bananas leaves, dried then roasted and pressed. This releases the vegetable fat, which is what we know as cocoa butter.

All beans don't have to be roasted though, and some are cold pressed. When the cocoa butter is cold pressed, it releases the cocoa butter while retaining the antioxidants that are great for the skin and hair. When the using the cold pressing process only the heat from the friction of pressing the beans is used. This heat does not strip the beans of any vital nutrients.

Because cocoa butter is the fatty acid from the bean, and has many nutrients, it works wonders on dry skin. It is able to penetrate the top layers of the skin and nourish the skin from the inside out.You can also use cocoa butter cream for your hair it penetrates deep into the scalp, healing dandruff and many other scalp and hair ailments.

We all know about those horrible free radicals that are released in our body because of the exposure to pollutants like car fumes, pesticides and tobacco smoke. These free radicals destroy cells, making you age faster. This process is called oxidation. That's where all those unwanted wrinkles come from.

Fortunately, cocoa butter is loaded with antioxidants, which literally stop the oxidation process in its tracks by killing the free radicals.  Cocoa butter is even known to have a higher content of antioxidants than well know superfoods like blueberries and acai!

Though there are no guarantees when it comes to stretch marks, pregnant women have sworn by cocoa butter for years to prevent those nasty little strips. Antioxidants and the nourishing power keep the skin elastic, so the skin can grow easily. Cocoa butter is also good for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, dermatitis and many skin irritations.  

So where do you buy this awesome cream? Well first lets talk about a very important matter, should you buy refined or unrefined?

Refined cocoa butter is what is left over after the cocoa butter has been processed. This method strips away all the goodies the cocoa butter had before, even the scent and its natural yellow beige color. Many cosmetic companies use this type of cocoa butter because it is easier to work with, and works well in recipes. They just add fragrance and colour later. Can you say gross?!?

As mentioned earlier unrefined cocoa butter is cold pressed, allowing it to retain all of it vital nutrients, so please don't waste your money on cocoa butter that is not up to your high standards!

Purely Beautiful Butter CoCo, only contains unrefined Organic coco butter, and has many other great organic ingredients like shea butter and coconut oil, all which nourish your skin and hair!

Just click the paypal link on the right side and select the size you want! What to add essential oils to your butter? Well I make every butter to order so just leave a message stating what you would like.

Happy Nourishing!!

 

Lovely Lavender

 
Oh, the scent of Lavender. Swaying romantically in the wind under the hot summer sky. Not only does lavender look beautiful it smells beautiful as well, it has tons of healing properties to go along with the beauty of it. It is one of the strongest remedies in the plant world, giving us a well rounded amount of relief from everyday ailments. Lavender is rich in aromatic molecules that are called esters, which are antispasmodic. These esters calm anxiety, stress and nervous tension.

Here are a few more ailments Lavender can heal.

Insomnia
Migraines
Burns
Insect Bites
Repels Insects
Skin problems
Viral Infections
Anti bacterial
Anti Inflammatory

The list goes on and on. Just the simple act of inhaling lavender brings respiratory relief to those who suffer from asthma, coughs, colds and influenza. It eases breathing by breaking up the phlegm blocking the lungs.

Refresh a tired mind by taking a whiff of lavender, it immediately aids in refreshing your senses. Try it at work when have a stressful day or you get that 2:30 feeling. Do you suffer from aching muscles or joints? Rub lavender mixed with a carrier oil like Jojoba, on the skin and it will relieve stiffness and pain, even if its from rheumatic discomfort.

Lavender also works beautifully on the skin and scalp, relieving skin conditions like eczema, dandruff, psoriasis, scabies and dermatitis.

Though lavender works wonders it should be avoided if pregnant or suffer from epilepsy.

Here are some ways to enjoy Lavender.

Take a Lavender Shower
After soaking your body and hair in the shower, add a few a drops of lavender oil to a little bit of water in a very small container, like a shampoo bottle cap and hold it over your head. Let the water fill up and run over on to your body. This causes the lavender oil to connect with the steam, great for your skin and lungs.

Lavender Vapor
Shower not enough vapor for you? Grab an oil burner or a vaporizer and fill it with warm water, add 6-8 drops of Lavender oil, grab a tea light and place it under the dish, in the space provided. You can use it in your bedroom or bathroom. This is a very good method when feeling cold coming on, or are suffering from insomnia. Keep the dish away from open windows and drafts to get the full effect.

Lavender Bath
Baths in general are good for several things like aches, stress relief and joint pain. Add 6-8 drops of lavender oil to your bath and give it a boost. Add the drops of lavender while the water is running or agitate it a lot to mix the particles in the bath. You can also add Epson salts and milk for a little extra happiness. Now just lie back and let the lavender do its work.

Lavender Massage
On of the fastest and most effective ways to treat sore and tight muscles is having a massage with lavender oils. When the lavender is applied directly to the skin it goes straight for the blood stream, relieving your body of its ailments almost immediately. Always dilute the oils when using lavender as a massage. A good carrier oil is Jojoba, apricot and coconut oil, they also have great benefits and will bring relief to your body.

Lavender Tissues
Great for stressful days at work, instant relief from the flu, sinusitis and anxiety; and super easy to make! Just drop 1-3 drops of lavender oil to a handkerchief or tissue and inhale it immediately! Just breathe in the relief.

Lavender Hand and Foot Bath
Have you been working all day on your feet? Well lavender oil can help relieve those tired, sore feet and hands. In a large bowl of warm water add between 4-6 drops of lavender oil, soak the ailing limb for 10 minutes, dry and apply lavender infused lotion. Enjoy the relief.

Lavender for Burns
After running cold water on the burn for approx 10 minutes, put a few drops of neat lavender oil onto the burnt area. Use this with sunburn, for you water babies! This will greatly assist the healing process. ONLY use lavender. Remember serious burns must be seen to by a doctor.

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