The Benefits of Natural Skin, Hair, Bath and Body Products

The vast majority of us use toiletries and cosmetics for personal care, hygiene or beautifcation purposes throughout our lives. Starting with nappy rash creams, bubble baths, shampoos, oils and talc as a baby; to perfumes, hair dyes and products, aftershaves, creams, lotions, deodorants, bubble baths, shower gels etc from our teens right up until our twilight years.

Unfortunately, many of these Skin, Hair, Bath and Body products contain synthetic chemicals, which can be toxic and harmful to our health. There is consistent evidence to suggest that some synthetic chemicals can cause various degrees of harm, ranging from allergic reactions to the skin, imbalances to the hormonal, immune and nervous systems, disruptions to foetal growth and even cancer.

As the Skin is an absorptive organ, i.e has the capacity to absorb what we put on to it, it is really important that we use products which are not harmful to our health. It would be wise to raise one’s awareness of unsafe ingredients and to read product labels before purchasing goods.

As more and more people are becoming aware of the safety issues relating to popular toiletries and cosmetics, the demand for natural products is increasing. By natural I mean finished products which are derived from natural ingredients (which are also classed as chemicals, only natural) such as Shea Butter, Coconut Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, Herbal Extracts, Essential Oils etc. They are neither man-made nor synthetic. This trend is also linked to a wider issue of toxicity in our food, the air we breathe, the water we drink and of the various diseases this may cause.

Just to bring a balanced view, the issue of safety and toxicity is still present even with natural ingredients. Some can cause allergic reactions, others are safe to use but in restricted quantities and others are simply not safe to use at all. There is also the danger of some contamination, as impurities from pesticides, insecticides and pollution in the air and water enter into the ingredients whilst they are growing in nature.

The extraction, distillation or refining methods of ingredients such as oils, butters, essential oils etc can also affect the purity and potency of the ingredients. For this reason, it is important to buy your products from a manufacturer or supplier, who uses quality ingredients. Organic, unrefined or cold pressed are the purest and most potent. If you are unsure and cannot find the information from the label, ask the manufacturer or supplier. Any reputable company with strong ethics will be willing to reveal this information.

Despite the safety issues regarding natural products, they are still my preference. Natural products have many powerful therapeutic properties for the Skin and Body. Some ingredients are even holistic in that they have a therapeutic effect on the whole person, Body, Mind and Emotions. A good example of this is Essential Oils, natural extracts of various fauna and flora, such as Lavender, Rose, Chamomile.

On a personal note, there is something very special and nurturing about creating and using natural Skin Care, Bath and Body products To me, they help build a closer connection between myself and Mother Earth, which can easily be lost living in a concrete, hustle and bustle inner city environment.

The Properties of Ingredients commonly used in Natural Skin Care, Bath and Body Products

Cocoa Butter Excellent for use on very dry, dehydrated and chapped skin as it moisturises, soothes and protects. It is a natural source of vitamin E which has numerous skin benefits. Often recommended for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis. Helps to protect sensitive skin from external elements by providing a moisture-retaining barrier to the environment. Cocoa butter has a long tradition of being used by pregnant women to help prevent stretch marks as well as reduce their appearance.

Evening Primrose Oil When applied externally, it is an exceptionally nourishing oil for dry, aging or chapped skin. Its high GLA makes it valuable for the healthy functioning of body tissues and can help conditions such as, eczema, psoriasis, fine lines and wrinkles. Taken internally, it helps with arthritis, asthma, breast tenderness, depression, eczema, high blood pressure, overweight, PMS.

Rose Essential Oil PMT and PMS, menopausal problems, depression, tones the entire system, stress, aphrodisiac, acne, decongesting the tissues, bactericidal, regulates the entire female reproductive organs, frigidity, impotence, sterility, uterine disorders, tension, post natal depression, tonic for many organs, good for dry, sensitive and mature skin. Excellent for sensitive and mature/ageing skin and mild enough for young babies and small children.

Lavender Essential Oil regulates nervous systems, aches and pains, rheumatic conditions, faintness, palpitations, stress and fatigue, depression, highly antiseptic, coughs and colds, high blood pressure, allergies, burns, insect bites, cuts, bruises, insomnia, eczema, acne, regulates scanty periods, cardiac regulator, asthma, bronchitis, epilepsy, flatulence, dermatitis, diarrhoea, headaches, hysteria, flu, migraine, nervous tension, promotes healing, helps scar tissue, antibiotic, reduces pain in labour, diuretic, sore throats, general tonic.

Honey is a natural humectant, which means it has the ability to attract and retain moisture. Its natural hydrating properties make it ideal for use in moisturizing products. It is also suitable for sensitive skin products. Studies have also revealed that honey has significant natural antioxidant properties. Antioxidants play a role in protecting the skin from the damage of UV rays, and aiding in skin rejuvenation. It is also antimicrobial (prevents the growth of certain bacteria) and so is useful for minor acne or infected areas of skin.

Aloe Vera is a powerful moisturizing, cooling and soothing ingredient, often used in After Sun products. It contains vitamin B complex, Folic acid, vitamin C and carotene (a precursor of vitamin A)

Shea Butter This is extracted from the nut of the Shea (Karite) tree, and like Cocoa butter has been used in Africa for natural skin and hair care for many centuries. Useful for many skin conditions: dry, dehydrated and mature skins, it is deeply moisturising and can help to maintain skin elasticity, useful for chapped or sore skin, helps dry skin with eczema and psoriasis as it is healing and soothing, excellent for damaged skin (including stretch marks – a good ingredient for pregnant belly balms), and protects the skin from external elements, excellent for rehydrating the skin after prolonged exposure to the sun.

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The Importance of Public Relations in Food and Travel

Creating a successful public relations campaign is not an easy task by any standards. There are many domains for which such a project can be developed and each one of them requires a completely different approach. In the last couple of years, more and more PR companies have started to focus their attention on a few areas alone, such as food and travel.

Food PR is usually revolving around the immediate need of the consumer, but more importantly around the problems which can appear in certain situations. Nowadays, more and more serious diseases have started to be transmitted through our food supply and getting ill after consuming any type of food is not uncommon. This means that you’ll never know where the next case will appear: maybe from a piece of meat or perhaps from vegetables.

Even if most of these incidents are isolated, the situation remains the same: potential customers will change their opinion based on what they see and hear in the media, not on the actual facts and statistics. This is where public relations come in; a successful campaign will be able to transmit the right message and it will create a bridge between your company and your potential clients.

More importantly than dealing with incidents is making a new brand successful. In this situation, Food PR plays the important role of bringing the product to the attention of the right persons.

In the case of travel public relations, the task is a little more complicated. An entire web has to be created and you need to make the connection between your client, his transportation means, his accommodations and the activities he will partake in while going on a vacation. After that, the right PR campaign needs to stand out among thousands of others and make sure that your company is the one which gets all the attention it deserves. Traveling is no longer a problem for anyone and this is why so many travel agencies are trying their best to make offers which can’t be refused. The right travel PR campaign can tip the scale in your favor even if you are not the market leader, which is something that can’t usually be achieved in most domains.

The power of the right PR strategy can’t be underestimated, especially if you take a look at your competitors. Instead of trying to create a campaign on your own, you should find a company which already knows exactly how to get a head start and grab the attention of the public without too much effort. This way, you will save a lot of time and money and the results you were hoping for will appear sooner than you initially thought.

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