evan healy natural skin care

Sweet Blossom Hydrating Body Oil

2010-06-23T13:09:00.000-07:00

Sweet Blossom Hydrating Body Oil
with Petitgrain, Neroli, Ylang Ylang and Frankincense

For all skin conditions: quenches dry, dehydrated skin, calms sensitivity and redness, deeply moisturizes the skin. A nourishing blend of cold-pressed certified organic oils of apricot kernel, sesame, sunflower, jojoba and vitamin e. Scented with the fine, fresh fragrance of petitgrain leaf, layered with sweet neroli blossoms, a hint of exotic ylang.. and balanced with the harmony of rich, resinous frankincense.
Sweet Blossom Hydrating Body Oil is a special treatment for all-over body care. Nourishing and soothing with certified organic essential oils, our new intensive body oil blends cold-pressed, premium plant oils that work to create softer, smoother skin while protecting its natural hydro-lipid moisture balance.

Daily use after bath or shower eliminates dry, dehydrated and damaged skin caused by the extremes of environmental conditions in summer and winter. Sweet Blossom Hydrating Body Oil can be used as a massage treatment oil, this vitamin-rich blend activates the body's circulation which helps to eliminate toxins and excess water while refining, softening and firming the skin.

How to: Smooth oil onto skin still damp after bath or shower; penetrates quickly leaving the skin glowing and feeling soft and silky smooth.

Alternative use: pour one to two ounces into bath water for fragrant, soothing, hydrating body soak treatment.

INGREDIENTS (INCI): Cold-pressed oils of sunflower seed (Helianthus annuus),* sesame seed (Sesamum indicum)*, jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis)* and apricot kernel (Prunus armeniaca)* with essential oils of petitgrain and neroli (Citrus aurantium), frankincense (Boswellia carterii) and ylang ylang (Cananga odorata) and Vitamin E.
* Certified Organic
No GMOs, parabens, petroleum-based products, synthetic fragrances, gluten, or animal testing. No sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates. Just pure plant love.

Sweet Blossom Hydrating Body Oil click here to purchase

Prayers for the Gulf

2010-06-17T12:57:00.000-07:00

Dear friends,
I am flooded (apt metaphor, eh?) with emotions about the disaster in the Gulf. Every time I see a picture of a bird or a turtle or other animal affected directly or indirectly by this tragedy, salty tears (more ocean water metaphors) silently drop from my eyes and I am overwhelmed with useless emotions: anger, rage, grief, frustration... I don't want this utter sense of helpless frustration in my body, so when my friend Lynne sent this prayer to me from Wise Woman Newsletter I was thrilled. We are after-all, 98% water and store emotions, past and present in the fluid element of the body and its tissues. The water metaphor is too obvious to ignore. So here was a way to infuse this environmental catastrophe with positive emotions instead of being awash with negativity.

'Waters' are at the heart of my philosophy of caring for the skin. I rely on our small and extended family of organic farmers and distillers to supply us with our fresh hydrosols. Our Facial Tonic Hydrosols represent the alchemical journey from earth to plant matter to water and its hydrating effect refreshes, replenishes, vitalizes and restores the skin and our emotions. Without water we will not exist, a point we realize all too keenly.

Peace Prayer on Facial Tonics
What we propose to do, starting as soon as our printer gets me the label, is to attach the Peace Prayer (the same one that is on my Puja Perfume bottle: "May all beings everywhere be happy and free") onto all our Facial Tonic Hydrosol bottles. As Dr Emoto suggests, it sends 'hidden' messages of wisdom, reassurance and peace through the beautiful crystal element of our Tonic Waters resulting in Energy and Beauty.

Please join me in sending our collect healing thoughts and prayers to the waters of the Gulf. I refuse to believe that we can't make a difference! Together our hopeful intentions will speed the healing and maybe even a send a fluid, watery cleansing miracle to this besieged area.

Thank you,
Evan

With thanks From: June 2010 Mid-Month Wise Woman Newsletter.
Blessing the Water - set an intention of love and healing:
Dr. Emoto - author scientist, and humanitarian - has shared a brief, yet power prayer and we are passing it along here as a focal point, a space of conscious creation allowing us to move past fear, judgment and retribution into Unity, Harmony and Wholeness. This prayer is structured using Ho'oponopono and is directed initially at WATER - the element connecting ALL Life on the planet. Water ... the carrier of Spirit and the flow-er of Love!!!

Dr. Masaru Emoto's Healing Prayer for the Gulf:

"I send the energy of love and gratitude to the water and all the living creatures in the Gulf of Mexico and its surroundings.

To the whales, dolphins, pelicans, fish, shellfish, plankton, coral, algae, and all living creatures . . .

I am sorry.
Please forgive me.
Thank you.
I love you. "

We are passing this request to people who we believe might be willing to participate in this prayer, to set an intention of love and healing that is so large, so overwhelming that we can perform a miracle in the Gulf of Mexico.

We are not powerless. We are powerful. Our united energy, speaking this prayer daily...multiple times daily....can literally shift the balance of destruction that is happening.

We don't have to know how......we just have to recognize that the power of love is greater than any power active in the Universe today.

Please join us in oft repeating this healing prayer of of Dr. Emoto's. And feel free to copy and paste this to send it around the planet. Let's take charge, and do our own clean up!

Kali the Hindu goddess of life and death, of creation and destruction...

Arghand Soaps - Handcrafted products from Afghanistan

2010-06-02T15:48:00.000-07:00

"Afghanistan is a country with an average income of $300 a year. Most people live without electricity or running water, drivable roads are scarce, and few are educated. Many have had little hope for improvement. That kind of environment is always a breeding ground for insurgents and fundamentalists; and if the only hope of improving one’s family’s situation is to join a insurgency, then that’s what often happens. Which led me to the conclusion that: No matter how much money we spend, no matter how many young men and women from the U.S. and allied countries deploy to Afghanistan, no matter how much blood is shed or how many sacrifices are made, unless something gives the local populace a reason to hope for a better future, it will all be in vain.
Arghand Co-op is that hope. It’s giving people the chance to participate in improving their lives. Members have been willing to risk their lives to make it work. And they did. They now produce a unique line of handmade natural products that are not only healthy, but attractive. Now it’s up to us to help them succeed."
- Sarah Chayes, Arghand Co-operative

Launching in July.... We are thrilled to offer a beautiful and unique line of hand crafted soap from the Arghand Cooperative located in Kandahar, Afghanistan. Arghand soaps are laboriously hand shaped to resemble river-polished local stones. The soaps are made from nuts, seeds, herbs, fruits and flowers that are indigenous to southern Afghanistan. These soaps are gentle on the skin and their scent comes only from the rich natural fragrance of their ingredients. Each hand-polished soap (4.5 oz, or 125 g) will come individually wrapped in a page from a regional Afghan newspaper...The soap and its presentation makes a unique and exceptional gift!

Arghand Cooperative, a bold experiment in local initiative and sustainable development, was founded in May 2005 by Sarah Chayes, formerly an international correspondent for National Public Radio.

In 1995, after going to southern Afghanistan to report on the war, Chayes decided to remain in the country to help the people rebuild their community. She knew that the land was good for more than growing opium, and that Afghanistan would never free itself from instability unless it could find a new export.
So she began working with a handful of brave men and women, seizing on the increasing demand for natural products by growing almonds, apricots, pomegranates, and the precious blossoms of Rosa damascena, and turning them into gorgeous, 100% natural soaps. The result is a unique line of soaps and oils, whose aesthetic beauty and skin-nourishing virtues are truly unparalleled.

Soap, not dope!
Arghand (the word means triumph in Persian) Cooperative's purpose is to contribute to the economic development of southern Afghanistan by producing luxury soaps from the legendary fruits of the Kandahar region thus also competing with the opium industry by expanding the market for licit crops. Arghand’s long-term objective is to contribute to the process of weaning southern Afghanistan off its dependence on opium poppy. This scourge is distorting the region’s economy, criminalizing its politics and putting its people at the mercy of armed gangs and so-called insurgents. Only by expanding the market for licit local agriculture Arghand members believe, can the rural population be liberated from the grasp of opium.

Labor-Intensive
The women prepare the raw materials (cracking nuts, washing pomegranate seeds, etc.) from which the men extract a variety of cold pressed and essential oils.
Using these oils, they make soap which then gets passed back to the women. The women grate the soap and melt it back down, adding in both the precious essential oils and natural dyes for color. They weigh and hand mold each of the bars, which have become hard enough by the following day to be hand-smoothed in a basin of cool water. After this first polish, the women take the soaps down to the basement where they sit curing for six weeks. It is the men who retrieve the soaps and use their strong, gloved thumbs to perform the final polish. When this step has been completed, the men wrap the soaps in strips of turban silk, attach the labels, wrap them again in newspaper and load the shipping cartons.

Arghand works directly with local farmers for the provision of its raw materials and over time will be including them among its members. Arghand also hopes to be a catalyst for new agricultural techniques – organic wherever possible and conservative of resources – as well as general know-how and equipment to participating farmers. Your purchase supports this very worthy cause.

Stay Tuned! Launching in July evanhealy

Brown Spots/ Hyperpigmented Skin

2010-05-03T11:43:00.000-07:00

This is a question from a customer regarding the appearance of brown spots, and my answer:

"Dear Evan,

I am a woman in my 60s who has been using Pomegranate Repair Serum and Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer for 3 months. I have noticed his healing effects and have been delighted. However, in the last couple of weeks I have begun to develop a significant number of brown splotches on my cheeks, some of them are growing larger. I am very concerned and would very much appreciate hearing from you. Should I discontinue using the Pomegranate Repair Serum? Do you have any ideas why this condition has developed on my cheeks? What would you recommend? I would like to continue using your products as I have liked them very much, but I do wonder if I may be having a reaction to one or both of them.

Thank you very much for your products and your support."

Monday May 3 2010 09:05 AM PDT

ANSWER:

evan said...

Hi Jean - Thank you for your question... These brown spots could be hyperpigmentation, also called 'liver spots'. There can be a variety of causes: sun exposure (from years before), changes in hormones, illness or injury, or prescription drugs including some antibiotics, antiarrhythmics, or antimalarial medication.

Hyperpigmentation seems to come on slowly: one day you'll look in the mirror and notice brown spots that (seemingly) weren't there yesterday! This happens to all of us. The origin of hyperpigmented skin comes from the skin's deep melanin layer (see more below).

The good news: I can reassure you it is not from the protective Rose Vetiver Day Moisture or the Pomegranate Repair Serum.

In fact, the Pomegranate Serum (or our RoseHip Serum) is a synergistic formula rich in essential fatty acids and the natural vitamins a + c, as well as valuable plant lipids – all of which actually contribute to beginning to fade or minimize these brown spots. To prevent deepening of the color or the spread of these hyperpigmented areas, (also called ‘solar lentigines’), I highly recommend limiting your exposure to sun: either by covering face and arms when you in the sun – or - daily use of a sun block to prevent the spreading and darkening of the spots. I like zinc oxide as an active sun block ingredient. (see my earlier blog on sun protection).

I also want to add, there is a very common product ingredient in almost all "anti-aging" skin care product that is the cause of a high percentage of hyperpigmented skin that I saw over my years in skin care practice: AHA's, (alpha hydroxy acids) or fruit enzymes. I would witness sometimes drastic changes in skin, month to month in both texture and pigmentation. AHA's literally dissolve the protective epidermal layer of the skin – this layer offers an important protection from the sun. So, I strongly suggest that if you are using AHA's, to stop.

Hyperpigmentation: is a common, usually harmless condition in which patches of skin become darker in color than the normal surrounding skin. This darkening occurs when an excess of melanin, the brown pigment that produces normal skin color, forms deposits in the skin. Hyperpigmentation can affect the skin color of people of any race.

Melasma: These spots are similar in appearance to age spots but are larger areas of darkened skin that appear most often as a result of hormonal changes. In practice I would see more hyperpigmented arise as a woman enters menopause, or in the years beyond. These spots do take years to appear, both from hormones as well as sun exposure. Pregnancy, for example, can trigger overproduction of melanin that causes the "mask of pregnancy" on the face and darkened skin on the abdomen and other areas. Women who take birth control pills may also develop hyperpigmentation because their bodies undergo similar kind of hormonal changes that occur during pregnancy. If one is really bothered by the pigment, the birth control pills should be stopped.
Hope this helps!
Cheers, Evan

Monday May 3 2010 11:12 AM PDT

Menopausal Skin

2010-04-20T11:13:00.001-07:00

A happy face is ageless
This photo, from my own collection, was taken on our way to Kanyakumari and further adventures on a Ferry to Vivekananda's rock, Meditation in Cave, Visit Gandhi's Memorial...with Rasa Ayurveda [dot com]

The skin is metabolically teeming with life.

It is one of the largest hormone secretors in the body and is the on-site manufacturer of approximately fifty percent of your immune cells. It has more hormones and enzymes than the liver and is the proverbial synthesizer and bio-converter of substances including hormones, enzymes, proteins and vitamins.

Holistic skin care products, and products rich in plant lipids in particular (rose hip, pomegranate, sea buckthorn, olive, hemp, evening primrose, etc) can offer immense help both psychologically (soothing to the nervous system; you feel better because your skin looks beautiful and glowing) as well as physiologically (physical comfort, regeneration, smooth, soft, vital) when coping with hormonal changes.

Here are a few facts:

As we age, the number and activity of sweat glands is reduced. This explains why older people are more susceptible to heat strokes. The sebaceous glands become larger (because of decreased estrogen), but as circulation decreases, the number and activity of these glands falls. This results in more dry, coarse skin prone to itchiness and other dry skin symptoms. Fat tissue, which acts as an insulation is reduced. This loss of insulation contributes to increased susceptibility of the skin to bruises. Collagen and elastin (ability of the skin to 'bounce back') production is also decreased: the skin crinkles, and its supportive, scaffolding-like nature diminishes.

Estrogen keeps the skin metabolically active, soft, supple and well hydrated (I am not encouraging HRT!). Estrogen stimulates the synthesis and turn-over of collagen and elastin and increases the production of hyaluronic acid which is the major contributor of the jello-like substance known as glycosaminoglycans.

This is the substance in the dermal layer which provides the medium from which the fibroblasts draw their nutrients to produce collagen and elastin. The collagen and elastin fibers are suspended in the glycosaminoglycans - which is also known as mucopolysaccarides.

So, okay, where's the good news you're asking!

In holistic skin care, rather than treat the areas of imbalance, the more successful and long term solution is to support the totality of skin functions, encourage the skin to self-regulate by using a combination of:

RoseHip and Pomegranate Repair Serum: Our natural Oil Serums are rich with sustainable plant lipids: combinations of essential fatty acids, essential for regenerating skin at the cellular layers.

Facial Tonic Hydrosols: replaces hydration and balances oil content, saturates the skin with gentle aromatic molecules, and mixes perfectly with Oil Serums to regenerate the cells, replace tone and vitality, and leave the skin glowing.

Whipped Shea Butter with Olive Leaf Mask Treatment: Once a week mask treatment with our Whipped Shea Butter replaces moisture lost daily, is rich in anti-oxidant vitamins of E, A, C, D and flavinoids - all in their natural forms; enzymes, bio-actives and valuable unsaponifiable fats which act to plump and bring a rich, soft feel to dry, dehydrated skin. Whipped Shea Butter can also be used as a daily protective (it's the ultimate in protection for skin) moisturizer for skin exposed to sun, wind, hot or cold temperatures.

Plant oils have a special affinity and relationship to the skin's own lipids and can help to restore the lipid balance in the skin, and encourage the skin to regulate itself and retain it's own moisture.
And that is the ultimate anti-aging treatment for skin!

Cultivate a Peaceful Face

2010-04-09T10:18:00.001-07:00

"An affectionate disposition not only makes the mind more peaceful and calm, but it affects our body in a positive way too. On the other hand, hatred, jealousy and fear upset our peace of mind, make us agitated and affect our body adversely. Even our body needs peace of mind and is not suited to agitation.This shows that an appreciation for peace of mind is in our blood."

- HH the Dalai Lama

an online interview with Evan

2010-04-06T18:47:00.000-07:00

the classic beauty ideal

1. What is your favourite product to use?

A/ Oh, yikes. Asking me which product is my favorite is like asking a mother which child she loves best! I enjoy all of my products, and their therapy is enhanced when they are used in combination. For instance: I especially love the gentle scents and hydrating calming effects of our pure Facial Tonic Hydrosols. I love the way they interact with skin to restore much-needed hydration and vitality to skin. I literally saturate my skin, pressing the droplets of water into my skin. These plant waters are best utilized in combination with our Oil Serums.
I have to also mention my Whipped Shea Butters. A few years ago I worked all summer perfecting this shea butter for dry, dehydrated, hyperpigmented and devitalized skin. The Whipped Shea Butters are so therapeutic - I even use them to cleanse my skin at night!

2. Home use of procedures like microdermabrasion and chemical products such as AHA and Retinol creams have really taken off over the last 10 years; do you think the public is more, or less receptive to natural products as a result?

A/ I have to disagree with the premise that these products have 'taken off'. Or perhaps more to the point, I simply disagree with this ubiquitous treatment model, the one that places products and treatment methods that inflict a purposeful burn at its center.

Your epidermal layer is there for a reason.

Constantly dissolving the skin with micro-dermabrasions, AHA's, BHA's etc, not only create product addiction, it has been my experience that they leave the skin desperately thinned; it becomes dehydrated, overly sensitive, flaky, with broken capillaries, and because it has lost it ability to protect itself, another side effect is significant hyper-pigmented areas of the skin. This uneven pigmentation is created when the skin, stripped of its protective acid mantle, its pH balance, is exposed daily to the sun. Unfortunately, it is only in retrospect that the damage is discovered.
These acids are quick fixes with no long-term benefits.
The fibers that contribute to the structure of the skin, its scaffolding network - begins to collapse. The glue-like cement that once held the cells together is dissolved every time an acid or microdermabrasion is applied, and with this loss goes the skin's integrity. It is worn away over weeks, months, years, and unfortunately, as we get older our cells loose the ability to regenerate.
The very issues the client is trying to solve with these products are actually becoming exacerbated. And so yes, I have been seeing a change of attitude in the public for a number of years now, there is a growing awareness and enlightenment with regards to their skin care treatments and their skin's health.

3. Do you think you can get competitive results and still respect the environment?

A/ Absolutely. In fact it has been my experience that you get better, more authentic results by working with our environment, by respecting nature and the natural world.

We work with the people who are closest to healing plants, the growers, distillers of plants who are alchemists and artisans in their own right. Our plant material is fresh - it is organic - it is vital, vibrant and fragrant and its effects on the skin carry these same attributes.
We are terrestrial beings. We have a direct, interactive and symbiotic relationship with the earth and its healing plants: we breathe out carbon dioxide and inhale oxygen – plants do the opposite. We are dependant on the plant world and its many chemical interactions that contribute to a beneficial atmosphere, trees are the lungs of the earth...

Our personal environment (body and skin health) is simply an outer reflection of our inner nature or cosmology. The organ of the skin is constantly changing and adapting us to our immediate environment the more we use organic plant actives, rather than synthetic chemical isolates which are akin to slathering our skin with silicone (dimethicone, for instance) the more vital, balanced and relaxed our skin will be, and the better it will look!

4. You have a new line of fragrances and hydrosols are part of your product regimen; how does fragrance relate to beauty in your world?

A/ My fragrance line and the perfumes are offered as much for their specific healing effects on the psyche and are directly related to beauty in all its guises. These perfumes are sourced and created from traditional artisan distillers and are all natural with no synthetics. In this way they contribute as much to our sense of well being as do the natural aromatic molecules of the hydrosols or essential oils contribute to the health of our skin.

Inhaling natural fragrances contribute in important ways to ones health and have been used as integral healing substances over the ages. For instance our new Puja Attars are, in the Ayurvedic tradition, applied to the body (ear lobes, wrist pulse points, forehead etc) to help balance the body and its doshas [in Ayurveda, the doshas are the body's three vital energies].

Anosmia is a disease where the sufferer has lost the ability to smell and its loss has been associated with depression, loss of vitality, lower libido and possibly even a lower life expectancy. Clearly, smell and its associated sense of taste is central to a feeling of happiness and a positive experience of our surrounding world.

5. What is your idea of beauty?

A/ Philosophers over the ages have attempted to give definition to this question. I can only answer that from my perspective, as an aesthetician: I believe beauty has nothing to do with the way we look. To me there is an aspect of beauty that is ephemeral and intuitive, it is a quality of inner peace, a state of emotional and spiritual equilibrium that is reflected as a soft glow on the face and its expression is as simple as a smile.
It is often said that true beauty comes from within, and I agree. Beauty is wonderful by-product of a healthy body, and your health is your most important possession. If you are healthy and happy, you will be beautiful!

Mudra - Yoga for Hands

2010-03-25T16:19:00.001-07:00

This gesture symbolises the connected nature of human consciousness with the divine

As an aesthetician for over twenty years, the touch of my hands on a face has been the vehicle for how I would communicate a sense of calming peace and ahimsa to my clients. In applying a Puja Attar (vetiver + edwardian rose!) the other day, it occurred to me that I was using specific marma points in placing this plant perfume (in the tradition of Ayurveda, a marma is a vital energy point located on the surface of the body), but I also noticed that I was holding my hands in a specific mudra position as well.
The significance of this realization to me was to note how important our own touch is to the overall healing process and that applying nourishing skin care products via massage of face and body is an important and significant part of this process. When you apply natural and vital nutrients to skin with your hands, as you do when you apply evanhealy products, it sends a message of self caring and reassurance to your psyche and your body -- your touch is also activating and awakening the life force in these products which supports natural beauty and long term benefits.

What's a Mudra? (source/Mudras: Yoga in your Hands - Gertrud Hirschi) A Mudra has many meanings. It is a gesture, a mystic position of the hands, a seal, or even a symbol....There are also eye positions, body postures and breathing techniques that are called mudras. These symbolic finger movements can vividly depict certain states or processes of consciousness, or lead to the states of consciousness they symbolize.

The best-known hand mudra of yoga is the position called Chin Mudra: the index finger and the thumb touch. The thumb is symbolic of the divine and the index finger is symbolic of individual (human) consciousness...The ultimate goal being the unifying of humanity with cosmic consciousness. This gesture, the touching of index finger to thumb in a circle, expresses this desire....in this gesture, inspiration and intuition form a closed unity.

The next time you apply evanhealy Cleansers, Day Moisturizers, Whipped Shea Butters or Oil Serum to your face, take the time to close your eyes and inhale the gentle fragrances and notice how soothing your own touch is to your spirit and skin.

To visit our website: click here!

Om Shanti

Mitti Attar

2010-02-28T22:04:00.001-08:00

Monsoon Rain. So vital for life, offered by the creation spirits of the skies, the first droplets of water hit the earth after a long, blisteringly hot summer...

Mitti Attar is the ancient and elemental perfume of the earth.

As the first monsoon droplets hit the fissured and cracked earth, as gritty dust and rain water mingle to produce the "fluidum vitale" a perfume is composed; earth and water elements combine to create a primordial mixture that infuses the warm air with a soft, soothing scent: earthy and strangely exotic.

Mitti Attar is baked earth from the Ganges River hydro-distilled in to pure sandalwood oil. It is the scent of the earth and expresses a grounded physicality: this is a smell with depth and nuance. It's a wonderful fragrance for men.
On men and women alike, Mitti Attar bestows therapeutic benefits and encourages expansive and rhythmic breathing, restoring a sense of deep and abiding calm that revitalizes the nervous system.

As an attar penetrates into the skin, your own personal chemistry will transform the fragrance and as the oils warm and evolve, unfolding over time, they become a singularly individual fragrance, no natural attar smells the same on anyone else.
In Ayurveda, the ancient medical system of India, attars are reported to have therapeutic health benefits, and it is safe, even suggested to reapply attars through the day.

May the divine presence in this oil calm your mind, soothe your spirits and quiet your heart.

Available now: Puja Sacred Fragrances click here

Saffron Attar

2010-02-25T15:08:00.001-08:00

Photo by Ruth Cincotta

Saffron Attar - Crocus sativa - The thread of myth, from the Arabic za’fran, is the beautiful, energetic color of sunlight. The fragrance is rich, warm, spicy and sweet. There is a dimension of creaminess that comes from sandalwood’s mellow influence adding softness to the overall scent.

Aromatic oils have long been the friends of my senses. I apply Saffron Attar on my forehead (as a fragrant bindi) and over heart chakra, almost intuitively, in the morning. I love its rich, spicy, warm and soothing aroma and having a golden droplet the color of sunlight on my third eye.

The fragrance also feels like it somehow provides a protective easement, a subtle early morning buffer-zone allowing me the time I need to move into my day more slowly and mindfully.

In the tradition of Ayuveda, the purifying, heart-opening aroma of Saffron Attar is also a heart tonic – bestowing serenity and a feeling of expanded awareness and compassion.

As an attar penetrates into the skin, your own personal chemistry will transform the fragrance and as the oils warm and evolve, they become a very personal and individual fragrance, no natural attar smells the same on anyone else.

Puja Attars, by evanhealy fragrances can be used alone or combined to create a completely unique and personal fragrance...I encourage you to experiment.

One of the hallmarks of traditionally distilled Attars is that they improve with age growing softer, richer, rounder and more mellow, bestowing the wearer with not only fragrance, but a therapeutic feeling of deep, restorative calm.
Wear in fragrant good health. Om shanti

Available March 8th. Puja Sacred Fragrances click here

Please Note: Unlike conventional fragrances and perfume, PUJA Fragrances and LIMITED EDITION Hydrosols are unique and seasonal, therefore will be limited in availability. While we will most likely be able to offer our range of Attars and/or essential oils on a consistent and on-going basis, each Oil or Attar will be marked by a batch number. The individual scent characteristics particular to a fragrance will vary season-to-season, reflective of the inevitable changes that occur in the natural world.

Scented Dryer Sheets + Laundry Detergent: Fluidum Letale

2010-02-24T23:05:00.001-08:00

I love my neighbors, but they use the most hideous smelling laundry detergent and dryer sheets. I have to close all doors and windows on laundry day. And the amazing thing about the "loudness" of this stench? They don't smell it, at all. It is truly fluidum letale: a scent destructive to human beings!

Those of us in the natural skin and body care industry, and our customers are keenly aware of ingredients that we put on our skin, but i would like to suggest that our alarm and our awareness expand to include scented fabric softeners and highly scented laundry detergent sheets.

They contain chemicals such as chloroform, benzyl acetate, and pentane, known to cause cancer and/or damage to lungs, brain, and the central nervous system.
The fragrances (aroma chemicals) that are used are not regulated by any government agency, there is no law that requires fragrance ingredients to be out on the product labels.

Fabric softener chemicals are made to stay in clothes fibers and slowly release for a very long time. That slow release of chemicals into the air affects the health of those wearing the clothes and of the people around them.

This highly sensitizing chemical soup of toxic fragrances in laundry detergent and fabric softener sheets affect us directly in two ways: topically through our skin (look for unexplained skin rashes, headaches, nausea, depression, etc) while we wear the clothes (and sweat) and via lungs and inhalation, we breathe in the fumes. In fact when neighbors dry laundry that has been washed in scented detergent, and dried with scented sheets whole neighborhoods are affected by the invisible, but highly toxic, cloud of fumes, especially children and babies.

The effects of these poisonous aroma chemicals are amplified by the super heating of the drying cycle which only increases their sensitizing effect. The olfactory system tries to warn us but the chemicals also exhibit subtle 'numbing' effect that create a 'scent immunity', so eventually your sense of smell turns 'off'. Our number one alarm system is our olfactory system, the nose.

What can be used instead?

Obviously an easy switch for a laundry detergent would be to look for an unscented choice. Read labels. I like Seventh Generation and...Soap Nuts!

To soften fabrics and to reduce static cling add a cup or more of plain baking soda to each wash.

And personally... I love the smell of clothes, towels and sheets dried outside on a line...fresh and clean!

Just Say No.

Nsekanabo: 2008 - 2010

2010-02-09T15:55:00.001-08:00

Nsekanabo, son of Tumaini and Kabirizi.

This baby gorilla was found painfully trapped by a poacher's snare yesterday with severe facial injuries. The vets thought they had found him in time to save him, did an intervention, then discovered he had died overnight. Nsekanabo was Tumaini’s first known child. Tumaini is also the sister of Ndeze, one of the 2 orphans in the Senkwekwe Centre.

Tumaini is still carrying him around, so the Rangers will now follow the family closely (maybe for several days), until she leaves Nsekanabo behind. Then the Rangers will recover the body, and the Gorilla Doctors will be able to perform the necropsy - an autopsy performed on an animal to determine cause of death.

This is terrible news. Nsekanabo seemed to be doing well after the intervention by the Gorilla Doctors. And now this. The Rangers are devastated.

Protecting the Mountain Gorillas of Virunga - DR Congo: If you wish to donate, even a little will help to save these endangered and magnificent animals who share 95% of our DNA: Donate here

More information about the help for Nsekanabo that was provided by the vets of the Mt Gorillas Veterinary Project here

PS/ Although this post has nothing to do directly with skincare and holistic treatments, it does have everything to do with nourishing the soul, doing things in life that contribute to the feelings of happiness or satisfaction. Positive emotions increase endorphins, the brain chemicals responsible for those "feel good" emotions.
I have contribute because this is the least I can do, it helps to alleviate my feelings of helplessness at such a tragic situation, and it is a cause that is deeply important to me, personally. I want to help animals that are unable to help themselves and are struggling to survive in war-torn environments such as DR Congo.

How I was first introduced to essential oils...

2010-02-05T17:23:00.001-08:00

Huahine, Tahiti

It was 1977 and with my father as captain, my family and I were making the overnight sail from Papeete, towards the outer Tahitian island of Huahine.
It was dawn, we had just moored in a small quiet cove. My mother had boiled a pot tea, and coming up on deck, wedged her cup in between the deck cushions.
I came up after her, and, plopping down next to her on the cushion, upset her cup of tea and it spilled all over her thigh. Her polyester shorts, unlike cotton which would have had more of a wicking action, held the freshly boiled water tight against her leg.

I watched helplessly as she tried to yank her shorts off to give relief from the scalding water. In what seemed like an eternity but was only seconds, she was finally able to get the pants off but not before sustaining a serious burn. She pulled layers of skin off with her pants and was in pain. Our primary concern at that point was staph infection, Tahiti lies just below the equator.

My introduction to essential oils (you still with me?) came next as my father and I rowed her ashore to try to find a doctor in this very remote French island.

We finally found a small clinic off the beaten path, literally, run by a French doctor. After cleaning up my mother's wound, he layered pieces of a saturated, highly aromatic gauze over the burn, taped it down and told my father to bring her back in one week, and she was not to get the dressing wet, or to change it.

In one week my dad and I rowed her back ashore and made the same trek back to the jungle clinic. We were still not sure what to expect, but when the doctor cut away the dressing we all were relieved to see...fresh, clean and healthy pink tissue had grown back with no signs of infection.

Speaking French, my father asked the doctor what the fragrant 'miracle' substances were. The doctor told us that they called it 'BioGauze', that the gauze was saturated in aromatic substances - oui, aromatic essential oils! Ravintsara, thyme, cinnamon, oregano, lavender, lemon and some very blue oil too (german chamomile, yarrow?) ...I can't even remember the entire list but the invigoratingly clean, uplifting and fresh fragrance of all those crazy essential oils will stay with me always!

Years later as I would being doing aromatherapy facial or body massages, I would often think back at that time and what a coincidence it was that I ended up in this field...Essential Oils had truly become the friends of my senses.

PS/ my dad decided to stock his boat up with as many tins of Bio Gauze as the doctor was willing to part with...he still had the return sail back. One year later, he and his crew of 4 made a successful crossing of the Pacific...and all along the way wrapping every wound, burn, cut or bruise in the fragrant Bio Gauze...

My mother today - 33 years later

Cistus ladaniferus/ Rock Rose

2010-01-25T16:06:00.001-08:00

yet another in a long list of favorite fragrances...

New: A fragrant offering...Puja: evanhealy fragrances

2010-01-24T19:24:00.000-08:00

visit Puja evanhealy fragrances here

Toxic Beauty*

2010-01-19T16:51:00.001-08:00

"Anti-aging skin products are known as cosmeceuticals, as they overlap the distinction between cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. These products have become the fastest growing sales sector of the entire cosmetics industry, and are widely marketed as being safe. However, altering the physical structure of skin with chemicals so as to look more youthful comes at a hidden price to the skin, and even more so to health.

The term 'cosmeceutical,' applied to anti-wrinkle and anti-aging creams, was first adopted by the cosmetics industry in 1984. It was developed as a way to avoid subjecting the industry's claims to the authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The idea had been to create a new category of products that did more than just improve the appearance of the skin, yet do somewhat less than designed by pharmaceutical drugs.

"Ninety percent of all cosmetics sold in the world today are probably cosmeceuticals," warned Dr. Albert Kligman, the dermatologist who first coined the term, in a 2005 interview with Dermatologic Surgery. "The terminology regarding the distinction between cosmetics and drugs is a marketing game in the U.S. If you reverse aging, you are a drug. If you smooth skin, you are a cosmetic. Categorization depends more on the language on the bottle rather than the product in the bottle."

These statements raise troubling concerns regarding the identity and safety of ingredients in cosmeceutical products. So many women, and even some men, slather these products all over their skin, the largest body organ, in the naïve belief that they have nothing to fear but aging.

The industry markets cosmeceuticals with anecdotal or even wild claims of effectiveness, rather than scientific data, and with reckless disregard for safety. In 2007, The Mayo Clinic warned that cosmeceuticals have rarely been tested for safety, and also that they may contain "powerful active ingredients that can affect biological processes."

Cosmeceutical manufacturers "make a calculated decision not to make claims that will result in scrutiny by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration of the product as a drug," stated Dr. Mary P. Lupo of the Tulane University School of Medicine in a 2005 issue of Dermatologic Surgery. "Clinical testing could also draw the attention of the FDA, so some manufacturers opt instead to allow the consumer arena to become the test market."

So there you have it! People who use cosmeceuticals are guinea pigs in reckless and self-serving industry experiments to test whether these products are safe for human health. This should be a loud siren wakeup warning for anyone who still believes that these products have been tested for toxicity by the industry, and approved by the FDA.

Here is what we know, based on toxicology and clinical testing, of the overwhelming majority of cosmeceuticals.

[My italics]:

To increase the permeability of skin, hydroxy acids -- alpha-hydroxy acids (AHA), and beta-hydroxy acids (BHA) -- common ingredients in cosmeceuticals are widely sold on store shelves and used in cosmetic salons. Worse still, AHAs are used in an estimated five percent of all products without any labeling to this effect. However, even the industry's Cosmetic Ingredient Review Compendium has admitted that these ingredients strip the skin of its protective surface which absorbs long-wave ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and tanning salons. Apart from increased risks of sunburn, AHAs also increase risks of a dangerous skin cancer, known as malignant melanoma. Reacting to these concerns, in 1992 the FDA issued a consumer warning that products containing these ingredients "could destroy the upper layers of skin, causing severe burns, swelling and pain." However, the FDA took no regulatory action to this effect.

Bisabolol is another cosmeceutical ingredient which strips off the surface layers of skin. More seriously, this chemical is also a penetration enhancer, meaning that it increases the absorption of cosmeceutical ingredients through the skin. Limonene is also a common ingredient in anti-aging products. Apart from being an irritant, it is a well-documented carcinogen.

Parabens are commonly added to cosmeceuticals as preservatives. However, these ingredients are hormonal. Even when tested at low concentrations on the skin of pregnant rodents, they induce toxic hormonal effects in male embryos and infants.

Nanoparticles are more recent and ultra-dangerous ingredients in cosmeceuticals, particularly anti-wrinkle creams. By reducing the size of ingredients to the ultra-microscopic scale, they penetrate readily and deeply through the skin into the blood and organs all over the body. In spite of these disturbing concerns, dermatologist Dr. Nicholas Perricone, author of three New York Times best-selling books, is an active proponent of a "Men's Skin Care Line," his patented product based on nanoparticles.

Apart from the ineffectiveness of the great majority of cosmeceutical products, most are highly priced. In 2006, Consumer Reports magazine evaluated anti-wrinkle creams on the market, and concluded there was no correlation between price and possible effectiveness. "The best advice is prevent those wrinkles in the first place," read the review. "Stay out of the sun and don't smoke." An exception to this is Restylane, a Swedish anti-wrinkling agent based on the natural ingredient hyaluronic acid, one of the very few scientifically proven safe and effective cosmeceuticals.

Besides Botox injections, which have been on the market long enough to be accepted as safe, there are emerging 'green' alternatives to the wide range of conventional anti-aging products now on store shelves. These include natural botanicals, such as date palm oil, which have been found to be safe and effective for certain types of wrinkles, and topical green tea cream, which has proven effective for treating sun damaged skin.

It is anticipated that Margaret Hamburg, M.D., the highly respected new FDA Commissioner, will take appropriate regulatory action to protect the unsuspecting public from the dangers of cosmeceuticals."

*Author:
Samuel S. Epstein, M.D. is professor emeritus of Environmental and Occupational Medicine at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Public Health; Chairman of the Cancer Prevention Coalition; The Albert Schweitzer Golden Grand Medalist for International Contributions to Cancer Prevention; and author of over 200 scientific articles and 15 books on cancer, including the groundbreaking The Politics of Cancer (1979), and Toxic Beauty* (2009).

Edward Rose + Vetiver Oil

2010-01-17T17:49:00.000-08:00

I am working on a lovely combination of subtle and sweet Edward Rose essential oil from Rajasthan combined with cooling and grounding Vetiver root from Madagascar for our new fragrance line Puja...stop by the website!

visit us here

Helping Haiti

2010-01-13T11:43:00.001-08:00

Haiti chief says thousands may be dead

We will be donating a percentage of sales to help Haiti.

Here's how you can help:

american red cross

unicef usa

From NPR- How to Help Haiti

perioral dermititis: a testimonial and solution

2010-01-08T12:52:00.000-08:00

I am always thrilled to get testimonials and this one comes from one of my sister-aestheticians...

(Perioral dermatitis is usually characterized by an uncomfortable burning sensation around the mouth. Itching is not a common symptom. In most cases, bumps (papules) and fluid- or pus-filled bumps (vesicopustules) are seen around the mouth. Rarely, a similar rash may appear around the eyes, nose, or forehead. The rash looks like acne, but is not.)

~~~~~~~~~~
Hello!

I don't know if Evan is the one who reads these emails, but if she does......

Hi Evan,

We share a mutual dear friend... I live on the East Coast.

I was introduced to your products and I love them. I am a licensed esthetician and have referred many clients to your products.

I wanted to give you a testimonial about your product, "Shea Butter Face and Body Cream," with Olive Leaf. I have perioral dermatitis. At times, my chin looks completely red, inflammed and bumpy. During a recent visit to the Dermatologist he pointed it out to me. He said that many women in their late thirties and forties will have this and many of them are very upset about it. He said of course it is hormonal and many doctors will prescribe birth control pills to clear it up ( he does not do that). He pretty much concluded that it is what it is and the more I stay away from that area (try not to use anything on it, cleansers, toners, or moisturizers) the better....I started using the Shea Butter Face and Body Cream. I keep it on my bed stand along with your Lavender Facial Tonic Hydrosol. Whenever the dermatitis is flaring up, I warm a bit of the cream in my hands, I press it into my chin and spray with Hydrosol before I go to sleep and wake up in the am with no redness, no inflammation, no bumps, just velvety soft, evenly toned, lovely skin!

I am in the beauty business, so I get samples, gratis, introductions to many many skincare lines. I have tried many products, some have helped but yours is the only one that has successfully and consistently helped my perioral dermatitis. I am sure you have had many testimonials about this product, however, I know that the more people who speak to its efficacy the better. I am an esthetician. The first thing I notice about people is their skin and I see this skin condition all the time. When its appropriate, I tell people about the product and how it has helped me, but more women need to know this. They don't have to fill their bodies with birth control pills in their forties to control this skin condition (of course if they want to, no judgment), your clean, organic, sustainably sourced, "I can pronounce and probably eat everything on the ingredient list, " product does the trick.

Be Well and Happy,
Blessing for a beautiful and peaceful 2010

JoAnne C.
Glastonbury, CT

coming soon...

2009-12-31T15:38:00.001-08:00

We are waiting for labels which proved more intricate than first anticipated, but we will have a gorgeous, if tiny, label...and Valentines Day is just around the corner!

So, my first New Year's Resolution is...to get PUJA completed and uploaded onto our web site...It is our wish that fragrant, blissful garlands of flowers surround you in the New Year!

- evan

Your New Year's Sankalpa

2009-12-30T15:18:00.001-08:00

In 2010 I am going to get a tattoo......But, also, in the next 24 hours or so before our NEW YEAR, I am also going to aspire to, and list here, way more important resolutions than simply getting a tattoo - how frivolous of me!

How about you? What's your NEW YEAR's Sankalpa, a Sanskrit word, sankalpa means resolve, determination or good intention...

We here at evanhealy sincerely thank all the people that have made our year so blissfully successful and we hope that December's Blue Moon will be the start of amazing, wondrous things to come for all! We wish that your new year will be overflowing with joy and good fortune, and that this New Year brings all of us, world wide, true peace and tranquility.

Om Shanti.......evan

Yoga + Meditation: a calm mind will clear the skin

2009-11-20T11:56:00.000-08:00

As a longtime student of yoga, I have found that the insights, tradition and philosophy of yoga and meditation to be very helpful in my life. It is my belief that too many of us (this certainly includes me) waste our precious time ensnared on the treadmill of circular worry: the daily anxieties and frustrations that mingle with constant concern about the future, while hanging onto regrets about the past. Researchers have discovered that our bodies 'remember' and hold onto these thought patterns in ways that can lead to chronic stress and illness. When our minds are constantly preoccupied, we are not paying attention to the present moment. Following the breath brings our attention back into the body. It calms the mind, soothes the spirit and quiets the heart, allowing the magic of the present to be experienced, and the distractions of the world to fall away.

Claude Monet- Sun Setting Over The Seine At Lavacourt, Winter Effect - artnet.com

Yoga and meditation are not necessarily for everyone, but many people have found that they offer meaningful alternatives to help center us (place a drop of vetiver essential oil on a tissue, breath deeply), allowing our minds to settle into a place of quiet serenity and vibrant awareness that can bring a sense of joy and happiness.

I find solace during times of stress and anxiety when I take the time to venture deeper into myself, quieting my thoughts by watching the breath and disconnecting, if even momentarily, from the world.

- evan

Visit us at our UPDATED Website!

2009-11-19T09:58:00.000-08:00

evanhealy.com

Stop by and say hello!

thanks,

- evan

Le geranium - Matisse 1910

The Secret to Glowing Skin: (No) Magic Bullets

2009-11-10T16:47:00.001-08:00

I get asked by hopeful customers if there is a secret, a magic bullet (hopefully organic and safe) out there to achieve beautiful, vibrant, healthy skin. The simple answer is....Smile (And OIL!) A simple smile will exercise all the facial muscles, increase blood and oxygen circulation to head and neck...and make you and the people around you feel better, and that is what really matters. Believe me.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
The Secret to Beautiful Skin:

Don’t believe everything you read in a magazine

There are no magic bullets or short cuts to achieving glowing and healthy skin

Do not expect overnight miracles

Stop using petroleum-based, synthetic chemicals and junk cosmeceutical ingredients

Don’t fall for the promise of ‘cutting edge science’ (If you are on the cutting edge, you're holding the knife the wrong way)

Just because an ingredient is ‘organic’ doesn’t make it good for the skin

Your skin is part of your immune system and wins fights you never even know are happening - it's only the ones you lose that you know about

Allow 60 days for your skin to detoxify and transform

Breathe deeply, this nourishes your entire body and calms your mind

Believe in the inherent wisdom of your body and its ability to heal itself

Stop buying scented laundry detergent and dryer sheets, your olfactory system will thank you

If it burns your skin, stop using it! Don’t wait for your skin to magically adjust to a purposeful burn, it won’t.

If you have impure skin and just treat your skin without also addressing diet, digestion and assimilation, you're just shooting the messenger.

Your epidermal layer is there for a reason - don’t dissolve it with acids or fruit enzymes.

Understand that your skin works hard (along with your lungs and kidneys) to rid your system of toxic metabolic byproducts, it exhales impurities

Pay attention to what you eat, drink and how you feel - this is the beginning of conscious skin care

Eat dark chocolate*, studies find it can significantly protect the skin from UV light

Your skin is constantly changing and adapting you to your environment

As your external nervous system, your skin reflects your thoughts, moods by changing color and temperature

Use more plant oils on your skin – not less!

Use the whole plant. The whole plant contains the whole wisdom. If you extract a part from the plant you’ve created an imbalance

Saturate your skin with plant waters (hydrosols) – this brings refreshment, tone, purity and hydration to all skin conditions

The oilier your skin, the more you need to saturate with hydrosols, this will balance excess oil, and loosen clogged pores

Mask with natural clay masks once a week, this will purify your skin and shrink the appearance of large pores

If you have dry, delicate, dehydrated or sensitive skin use Whipped Shea Butter as a Mask Treatment once a week

At night before bed, give yourself a warm foot bath and massage, you will sleep better and your face and shoulders will be relaxed

Respect your body

* (a specially produced dark chocolate with high flavanol levels)

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“Honor your body, which is your representative in this universe. Its magnificence is no accident. It is the framework through which your works must come; through which the spirit and the spirit within the spirit speaks. The flesh and the spirit are two phases of your actuality in space and time. Who ignores one, falls apart in shambles. So it is written . . .”
- from an ancient Sumerian text

sketch courtesy of bible origins [dot] net

Retinoids, Retinols, a Q + A:

2009-10-25T18:03:00.000-07:00

A customer asks - Question:

"Hey there, I was just curious to know what you think about vitamin A in skin care... Too harsh?"

Answer:
The simple answer to your question is: Yes, in my opinion and based on my experience as a holistic aesthetician, synthetic 'Vit A' in skincare is too harsh. Here’s why:

Retinoids are compounds derived from Retinoic acid, a form of Vit A. Skin care products such as Retin-A Micro® and Renova® are brand names for tretinoin, a form of retinoic acid, are topical retinoids. Accutane, on the other hand, an isomer of tretinoin (a retinoid), is used orally for chronic or severe acne. It is a teratogen (connected to birth defects) which strikes me as a particularly vile and hideous way of ‘treating’ the skin.

‘Vit A’ (for simplicity) treatments focus on a purposeful burning of the skin. The theory is that this will jump start the skin into recovery but I disagree with this inflammatory method that’s at the core of almost all conventional skin treatment/products today. Continued use of Vit A leads to chronic skin irritation (rosacea, a condition I have seen increase in alarming amounts over the last 10 years), topical product addiction, skin thinning, hyper-pigmentation and finally, it also weakens the skin’s ability to protect us from the environment. Simply put, continuous exfoliation/desquamation mortgages the future health and look of your skin. And, Vit A, an oil soluble vitamin (ok, not sure of its derivatives, but who wants to take that chance?) might possibly build up in the body’s fatty tissues, and who needs that?

Yet there are effective, results-oriented, ECO- alternatives:

It has been my experience that nature always provides an answer (plants and the skin speak the same language), one that won’t harm or pollute the environment, one that builds and supports organic agricultural methods and one that also support indigenous, tribal, and other small local farmers and distillers, increasing the awareness of our ‘global garden’. I rely on the of ‘eco physiology’, that medicinal plant actives such as essential oils and other nut and seed oils can heal more completely and with long term improvements than any synthetically derived substance, especially one as potentially toxic as synthetic Vit A.

There are many different products containing various forms of Vit A. Retinol, the weakest form of Vit A, is a form that also occurs naturally and in abundance (along with naturally occurring Vit C) - in plant oils such as the cold pressed oil from the rosehip seed (Rosa mosqueta). The research on rosehip seed oil shows that consistent, daily use over a period of 4-6 months will positively affect cellular turnover rate, boosting collagen production which will help to reinforce the supportive scaffolding nature of the skin while also minimizing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, as well as scarred, burned or sun damaged skin. Seed oils with as active a chemical profile such as rosehip, pomegranate, sea buckthorn, etc, appear to optimize and reestablish cellular activity without compromising the integrity of the epidermal layer.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

About our artisan distilled Lavender Facial Tonic Hydrosol

2009-10-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

courtesy: everything-lavender [dot com]

Aesthetician's Question:

"I have a new client who has rosacea, she bought the trial sized BLUE KIT, tried it, loved it, and came back and bought large sizes of everything - so far so good!

She likes it all and it is helping calm her redness, but isn't a fan of the Lavender Tonic Hydrosol, and wonders if there is something else she can use, or, wonders if she'll get used to its fragrance? Her condition is pretty bad, and I wonder if this degree of heightened sensitivity is also affecting her emotions? What do you think?"

Evan Answers:

Yes, I love our Lavender too! It is a work of art, (thanks Mother Nature) and a true 'artisan quality' distillation, as is our Rose Geranium. These are exceptional waters with remarkable potential to heal skin..

RE: not liking the scent – This is usually temporary and transitional. While it is true that we all prefer some scents more than others, often people discover after using these pure plant waters that they do like them after all! Such is the beauty of restorative skin care (restores a sense of smell too).

Many (if not all) skin care products, as you well know, contain either extracted, single aroma molecules which are supposed to approximate a natural scent, or worse, a toxic cocktail of petrochemical, phthalate-laced, synthetic 'aroma' molecules. When an olfactory system is exposed to highly toxic aroma chemicals daily, as happens with skin care or chemical perfumes, at the very least, their sensitive olfactory system needs a few days/weeks to detoxify from the chemical overload. The Facial Tonic Hydrosols provide a gentle detoxification, reorienting our sense of smell back to its healthy normal.

In short, I have seen, time after time, that the more people use the waters (Facial Tonic Hydrosols) the more they like them, also finding their beneficial effects very compelling.

Our Hydrosols ~~~~

Our waters (hydrosol) are distilled with the focus and goal being for the hydrosol alone.

Our grower/distiller’s focus is on the alchemical process of distillation, one that creates and enhances the beneficial qualities that are inherent in a really good Hydrosol - rather than the focusing on the distillation of the essential oil - with the hydrosol being the by-product, as is typical in most hydrosols. For instance during the gathering of plant material they are careful to weed out all the dry, hard, twiggy, or rooty parts of the plant, and no dirt clods either - just sweetly fragrant, certified organic, lavender flowers - pure and simple.

Over the past few years we have been working closely with our distiller - see her pic on page 20 of our booklet - to blend certain types of lavenders (there are hundreds of different varieties) together to take advantage of both their fragrance and healing potential to create a Hydrosol that is uniquely 'ours' (and Mother Nature's). The fragrance of our Lavender Facial Tonic which is distilled in a manner that respects and maintains the full range (rather than the isolated molecule) of beneficial aromas, reveals sweet, gently floral and grassy notes that calm the skin and soothe the emotions, an important part of healing inflamed skin, and in fact, aren't we as aestheticians, sometimes really working more on a subliminal level of their nervous systems + psyche instead of their skin?

With rosacea, and depending on the severity of it - I feel that the Lavender Tonic, for all the above reasons, is the best choice. It is such a gentle 'wetness' for the skin adding valuable, anti-infectious, naturally-occurring aroma molecules that work so well for healing and calming the heightened sensitivity of rosacea, or any irritation that occurs on the skin.

USAGE: The key word with regards to using our Facial Tonic Hydrosols is: saturate.

Spray saturating mists on the skin, and always apply along with the RoseHip Serum or Pomegranate Repair Serum. This combination releases the skin-drenching magic of WATER + OIL, restoring a hydrated balance, leaving the skin calm and refreshed, cooled and serene, glowing and incandescent.

Simple, uncomplicated plant-based skin repair, thanks Mother Nature.

Not a lavender flower, but still lovely, no?

Faces of the earth

2009-10-11T13:09:00.001-07:00

Dry Skin Regime: "this stuff works"

2009-10-10T12:48:00.000-07:00

I am always thrilled to receive testimonials, and here is one that outlines exactly which products to use, and how to use them. I couldn't have said it better!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Hi there.

I am a frequent customer of Whole Foods located in Colorado.
I have been buying your products for the past couple of years and
absolutely love it!

I am 53 years old and trying to take care of my skin has become more and
more of a challenge. I can feel a difference in the texture of my skin
and I'm very happy with the glow your products give my face.

I use Rose Cleansing Milk in the morning and at night. I also use the
Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer, Chamomile Eye Care Cream, Pomegranate
Repair Serum and Rosehip Treatment Facial Oil.

I was recently introduced to your Green Tea Clay - wow! Upon my
purchase, I was given a booklet with your email address in it and
thought I would drop you a line of thanks.

This is the first time I've ever been on a regimen of products that
actually work!

Everyone's skin is different, mine happens to be very dry and the
Colorado weather conditions don't help. I think your products have put
years back into my face and neck.

Again, I absolutely love this product line!!!

Thank you much.

K.G.

YOGA for Skin

2009-08-30T15:16:00.000-07:00

"Natarajasana is a standing pose, a back bend, and a balancing pose all in one, so it has great physical benefits. The beginner’s version builds leg strength, opens the shoulders and chest, and enhances inner steadiness and poise. Natarajasana also provides a wonderful psychological lift. The name Shiva literally means “benign” or “noble”. Shiva, who is supreme goodness itself, is the reality that underlies all creation. So each time you practice Natarajasana, the pose can remind you of your own innate goodness." John Friend - AnusaraYoga.com

Breath work, the regulation of breathing that comes with a practice of yoga, and which can also be achieved by adding, for instance, a regular and vigorous walk to your day, is at the foundation of what I consider a necessity for creating healthy skin metabolism, balance and regulation. It begins to address in real and significant ways the cause of, not the symptoms of skin problems. Deepening the practice of breath work can stimulate the circulatory system and increase the oxygenation of blood, which in turn brings nourishment to the entire body.

Did you know that sweating is very beneficial for the skin? Increased rate of breathing, the kind that comes naturally during a yoga practice (or a vigorous walk, etc) leads to producing a good cleansing sweat, releasing salts and metabolic impurities from pores. This is purifying and cleansing for the entire body.

Think of it as taking a sauna!

If you can encourage your breathing to become deeper, slower, quieter and more regular, over time the results can lead to harmonizing the central nervous system, decreasing inflammation in the body, lowering blood pressure, increasing the ability to cope while in stressful situations, and more efficiency in digesting your food, etc..All of which contribute in significant ways to increasing the skin's glow, luster and muscle tone. And it's waay more green and clean than a botox injection, needless to say.

This interesting photo is from the Contortionists Gallery

Fragrant Attars - Sutras for the Soul

2009-08-29T13:02:00.000-07:00

Good view of the receiver(bhapka) sitting in the waters of the of the cooling tank(gachchi) where the vapors of the distilled plant materials collect in sandalwood contained in the bhapka

In the next month, as we get ready to launch our newly designed website, I will be releasing my line of limited edition natural fragrances. This fulfills a long held dream of mine which has been to offer a select range of my favorite scents from around the globe. These fragrant offerings called Puja, will only be available on our website.

This selection represents years of searching and researching, inhaling (and exhaling), traveling and wandering around making contacts, giving me the opportunity to learn and observe the traditional and ancient processes that go into producing the fragrant offerings from the aromatic plant world. These precious fragrances will include my absolute favorites of traditionally distilled attars, ruhs, absolutes; the gentle CO2 extractions, solo-note essential oils, hand rolled incense, and my own perfume blends in organic grape alcohol, as well as a solid perfume hand made in beeswax and jojoba.
One such example is an absolute I just received: the stunning and rare Night Queen (Cestrum nocturnum) which may be one of the last batches ever made. Night Queen, from the Nilgri Hills in South India has been harvested at night by the local villagers who abandoned the project because the sweet scent of the flowers was said to attract cobras!

I have also searched, rummaged and fossicked around the globe looking for an exquisitely simple crystal glass bottle to present them in, itself a representation of all that is elegant and divine, an apt vessel for the daily ritual of anointing our bodies with these sacred, precious and aromatically healing oils. In fact, the more you anoint with attars, the closer to the gods you ascend, the Latin words per fume literally meaning to ascend 'through smoke'...Your own rhythmic breath, the process of simple inhalation and exhalation being the vehicle of this ascension and purification through scented vapors, ethers... prana. In Ayurveda, attars are ancient healing aromatic substances, imparting a quiet serenity to the mind and body. In the mornings, chanting the Peace Invocation in Sanskrit (w/help from Manorama's cd!) I apply my favorites of Saffron Attar or Summer Rose Attar to marma points at wrist pulses and over heart before my morning yoga practice.

The traditional attars of India are rarely found in their pure form today. They are often adulterated with synthetic chemicals or the base oil, sandalwood, is stretched with liquid paraffin and other substances. In the traditional process various flowers, roots, herbs, spices, etc are hydrodistilled in copper vessels into a receiving vessel containing sandalwood oil.

It means that a certain proportion of flowers or other aromatic plants is put into a copper vessel containing water, sealed and the aromatic vapors produced from a wood or cow dung fire, rises through bamboo pipes and passes into another copper vessel containing sandalwood oil, sitting below the larger distilling one. There the vapors condense and after the days distillation the water and oil separate, allowing most of the aromatic molecules to become adsorbed into the sandalwood oil. The water is decanted off and added back to the distilling vessel for the next day's distillation. The process, in the case of single flowers like rose, jasmin, kewda, night queen etc is repeated for a minimum of 15 days until the sandalwood becomes totally saturated with the perfume of that particular flower.

receiving vessels

The process for making Hina, Shamama, Amber, and Saffron Attar is much more sophisticated and requires numerous other steps as as many as 60 natural ingredients go into their production which takes place over a couple of months. Some of the best-known attars are rose, saffron, and parijata.

Close up view of chonga bamboo pipes connecting the distilling unit with the receiver

It is worth noting that many many oils in India in the common marketplace are called Attar but they are not at all what their names claim to be. Authentic Attars require a huge amount of labor and fresh materials which makes them costly items to produce, think of them as fragrant precious gems.

Healing with Fragrances:

The daily use of pure plant based perfumes produces mild euphoria and peaceful feelings. Gifts from nature, these rich and complex aromatic molecules are bathed in the ethers of ancient knowledge. In Ayurvedic Medicine, these perfumes are known as attars or ruhs, and their production is an art and science that has been passed down over hundreds of years.

Applying an Attar on the wrist pulse points, or on the marma points (subtle energetic pathways) called ajna or sthapani in the mid-forehead area, or over heart center, behind the ears or under the hair line allow the fragrant oils to absorb fully into the skin encouraging their fragrant silage to gently and subtly surround the body. The aromatic effects are soothing, calming and regulating to breath, the heart, and nervous system...and uplifting to the spirits of you and those around you. We become the embodiment and human diffuser of aromatic plant wisdom, carriers of light and prana, vital energy, the subtle life-sustaining force of all living beings.

Antique Silver Attardan shaped in the form of a lotus. Small vials in center contain attar.

May all beings be happy

May all beings be free from sickness

May all see and experience what is auspicious

May no one be unhappy

Om.

May all beings be happy.

May all beings be free from sickness

May all see and experience what is auspicious

May no one be unhappy

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A word about the sandalwood used in Indian Attars:
Several times a year in the states of Tamil Nadu and Kerala, sandalwood auctions are held at the government centers where sandalwood is stored which has been collected from legally harvested sandalwood trees. The attar makers, incense manufacturers, furniture makers etc go to these auctions and can legally procure the sandalwood logs, chips, dust etc there.
There is also a government distillery in Tamil Nadu from which sandalwood oil can be legally procured by businesses situated in India.
This is only for sale within India and according to current law very few permits for legal exportation of pure sandalwood are currently being issued but there is no ban on exporting the attars created from this sandalwood.

No toxic diluents. No phthalates. No synthetic chemicals.

Please note: Puja Aromatics will not be available till November 30, but they will be ready just in time for the Holidays. Ho Ho Ho!

1/ Marma Points of Ayruveda, by Vasant Lad, B.A.M.S., M.A.S.Sc. - and- Anisha Durve, MSOM, DIPL. Ac., A.P.
The Ayurvedic Press - Albuquerque, New Mexico - 2008
ISBN-13:978-1-883725-08-2

2/ Manorama's Sanskrit Studies

Agarwood - Oud oil: The Wish-Fulfilling Gem

2009-08-26T10:15:00.000-07:00

agarwood/oud seedling plantation - Assam, India

This is an earlier post that I am bumping to the top again because of my recently renewed love of, and addiction to, oud. Yowsa, I simply can't get enough of it, and though I dab only the tiniest, most sclerotic amount on my wrist, it lasts and lasts, enduring, unfolding and transforming from an 'animalic' note (read: fecal) into something that is so compelling and addictive, if a fragrance can be, that I finally understand the full and complete power of scent... more articulate and sweeter poetic words are escaping me here, perhaps finally too much oud?

These days if you pass me on the street you'll see a woman with her nose squished against her arm, inhaling oud...

Where to buy?
I can recommend both Floracopeia, a site mentioned here in my blog, as well as Enfleurage.com - and Trygve, Enfleurage's owner, is constantly on the move traveling to, among other places, the Middle and Far East and has now an incomparable agarwood (Aquilaria crassna), a Lao oud: "This is the superior quality oud, completely fabulous, rich, deep, ethereal and bottomless. Very limited production" yes, an expensive addiction to have, yet, so very soul-expanding...and wish fulfilling! Read on:

Mature Agarwood trees/ Aquilaria Agallocha

True agarwood also known as aloes wood and Oud is rare and precious. Pieces of agarwood produce a sweet, soft, and warm fragrance. Called the "Wish-Fulfilling Gem" in Tibetan and Ayurvedic medicines, this ancient, renowned, and sacred incense is deeply meditative, tranquilizing, and mood uplifting.

...and this from David Crow: (visit his website - floracopeia.com - where you can purchase this precious oil):

"Agarwood is... mysterious, unusual, and highly exotic, this true oud oil is distilled in the mountains of Assam from sustainable groves of Aquilaria agallocha trees. These trees have been planted over thirty years by a family dedicated to protecting this valuable botanical resource from unregulated plundering by the local eco-mafia....Not every agarwood tree growing the in the mountainous areas of Southeast Asia produces the treasured black resin that delights the mind and intoxicates the senses. First, the bark of the tree must be pecked by a certain species of bird, which then renders it vulnerable to fungal infection. If a fungal infection sets in, the tree responds by producing a dark resin within the heartwood....Because of its high value agarwood is now one of the foremost agro-forestry products, so valuable that it offers a sustainable economic alternative to destructive logging."

This agarwood oil comes from the first distillation of the agarwood, which produces a deep, dark, and thick oil. It is not sweet like the CO2 extracts of the resin, although a sweetness is present as the oil absorbs in the skin. A classic oud oil, its predominant notes are smoky, animalic, urinaceous, resinous, and musky...fragrances that are highly desirable to Arab and Japanese cultures, but somewhat of an acquired taste for the unaccustomed Westerner.

Agarwood distillation Unit

This agarwood oil is surrounded by myths and legends: it is reputed to have magical powers of attracting wealth and love. The agarwood is burned as a sacred incense in temples, and used in numerous Ayurvedic, Tibetan, and Chinese herbal preparations.

Agarwood tree developing oud/agarwood resin

Harvesting Lavender with Anita

2009-08-22T17:59:00.000-07:00

Anita is in the upper corner of this picture

I spent a few hours with my dear friend and organic gardener, Anita Boen this past Monday learning how to harvest lavender at a lovely local home here in Rancho Santa Fe. She showed me how to clip the blossoms while also leaving a round shapely plant, not just a buzz cut!
Anita is harvesting this crop for immediate distillation...I'll post more after I smell the results. The yield will be both hydrosol and essential oil, and so far, initial reports have both the hydrosol and the essential oil being very good, and with age will improve, becoming sweeter and more floral.
San Diego in general and where we are in North County, is an area considered semi-arid/ coastal. This often yields a lavender with a fragrance that is more camphorous and sharper; it's action on the skin is therapeutic and anti-infectious. It is not as sweet as the lavender found at the higher altitudes of the Haute Provence, for instance...
This distillation and harvest is the start of the development of our "Garden" a venture that I will describe in more depth in coming blogs... stay tuned!

Make-up Removal - Blasting pigments from pores!

2009-08-21T10:57:00.000-07:00

Feel like you need a jackhammer to remove your mineral powders?

I am often asked about how to thoroughly and completely remove mineral powder makeup from skin. Here is an answer to one customer who writes that she is having a hard time removing all the mineral pigment powders from her skin and the residue is contributing to clogged pores and infections.

The secret is to pre-cleanse, details below:

Mineral powders do pose a problem with regards to being able to completely remove them from the surface of the skin, in fact one company who sells mineral powders advises buying their wash mitt to facilitate complete removal (it is some sort of magic material!).

It is the nature of crushed pigments, “raw” minerals, to lay on the skin with an amazing ability to adhere, an attribute that makes them so very effective for covering flaws on the skin – yet almost impossible to completely remove. This is the problem I see with many skin conditions.

Often other ingredients such as talc, bismuth oxychloride, the parabens, dimethicone are added to the mineral makeup powders contributing to irritation and clogged pores.

There are two pre-cleanse methods I suggest. One uses my Cleansing Milks: 2 pumps on a cotton pad; the alternative method uses either a cold pressed oil such as sesame - or - my Whipped Shea Butter. Both should be followed by an additional quick cleanse with steamy water and wash cloth. With either method, Clay is always an appropriate addition – about 1/4 – 1/2 tsp – or more! And yes, I do add Clay to Shea Butter and/or Oil – this is a super effective method for really cleansing makeup off of skin – and disinfecting pimples and loosening the hardened waxy deposits that are blackheads.

Here’s how with my Cleansing Milks -

1/ Pre-cleanse by putting 1 or 2 pumps of undiluted cleanser (or the Tea Tree Gel) on a cotton pad and wipe thoroughly all around face that is slightly wet from splashes of water. The Cleansing Milk on a cotton pad, and swirled around on the face, works to breaks the minerals up.

TIP: a few minutes spent steaming the face over a bowl of boiled (NOT BOILING) water will help in significant ways to loosen and soften congested makeup in pores.

2/ Follow with a more thorough cleanse by adding splashes of water to the remaining cleanser on skin and massaging this water + cleanser combination all over face.

TIP: It is helpful to add a 1/2 tsp of Green Tea or French Rose Clay Mask to one pump of Tea Tree Gel Cleanser (by combining the two, with dribbles of water, in the palm of the hand) this increases the detoxifying activity of Tea Tree Gel Cleanser, and adds Clay's significant drawing action.

3/ If needed add one more pump of cleanser and add more water. Then wipe thoroughly with a wash cloth, adding water as needed. You can't use too much water. Seeing makeup on the wash cloth indicates that you are removing it.

Here’s how with Oil or my Whipped Shea Butter:

1/ Splash warm water on your face.

2/ Take a finger full of Whipped Shea Butter –or- approximately 1/2 tsp of one of above veg oils and massage all over skin.

3/ Wipe all over face with a steamy wash cloth (I get inexpensive ones at Target). Follow with a more thorough cleanse & rinse and Facial Tonic patted into skin.

Check your pores after pre-cleanse with a 5X magnifying mirror available at drug stores or Whole Foods Body Care – skin pores will be exquisitely clean.

I actually love using my Whipped Shea Butter (fragrant and creamy soft) as a massaging pre-cleanse when removing makeup and/or mineral powders. The oils that are in my in my Shea Butter formulation are idea for loosening and softening the makeup and any debris in the pores...You can also use any cold pressed oil such as olive, almond, apricot, sesame. Plant/vegetable oils, or Whipped Shea Butter are the best at dissolving the mineral pigments and allowing them to be easily and thoroughly rinsed off.
Follow the Oil or Shea Butter pre-cleanse with a more thorough cleanse with hot, steamy water and a wash cloth, then sprays of Tonic Hydrosol.

You may feel, as I do, that after this enriching (but not clogging!) pre-cleanse that you actually don’t need any additional night moisture, if you were using one.

By the way, I love -and wear- natural crushed mineral powders! I am not advising that you stop wearing them, heavens no, just suggesting how to completely remove them in a way that will allow your skin to breathe...and your face to glow.

~~~~~thanks to: tall pauls rentall - dot com - for the picture of a jackhammer as makeup remover!

The Skin Breathes... but it also purges

2009-08-17T11:36:00.000-07:00

Recently I received an email from a woman who is devoted to turning around her skin's condition using our range of natural, holistic therapies. For many years she had been using a common OTC drug store brand cleanser and other similar products and attached a picture of her bathroom counter full of brands that are...well, not my favorites.

She writes that the natural scents and silky feel of our serums, hydrating Tonic Hydrosols, hand made creams, and whipped shea butters have already contributed to increasing the light in her skin, it is more supple and luminous.

But within a week her skin began to break out and she wondered if the Clay Treatments (which are actively detoxifying and drawing) and the oils were too 'much' or too rich for her skin. I told her to hang in there and allow her skin to purge, and release (the skin literally exhales the impurities) the built up toxins from her previous skin care products.

The action of blocking, counteracting or suppressing is often how conventional skin care is designed to work, but it goes counter to how the skin is designed to work.

In my capacity as a holistic aesthetician I consider my role as an educator to be the most important. I want my clients and customers to understand from a holistic perspective why their skin is doing what it is doing, and to realize that if they follow the body's innate wisdom, trusting that the skin knows what it is doing and stop manipulating from the outside, that the result will be long term, authentic and lasting clean, soft, supple, glowing and ultimately properly functioning skin.

And who wouldn't want that?

Dry Skin, a description

2009-08-14T12:27:00.000-07:00

I have been in Santa Barbara for the past few days doing public talks and also staff training in our stores. I was asked by a young man to give him a brief description of what dry skin looks like and here it is:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Dryness and dehydration are two of the most common skin imbalances in skin care.

Symptoms include uncomfortable tightness, flakiness and an appearance that is often lacking in suppleness and luster. When skin is dry from overuse of AHA's or other harsh exfoliants, the dry tightness can be accompanied by sensitivity and irritation which can persists no matter how much moisture is applied.

Dry skin is an indicator of the skin's state of imbalance which can be a result of many things or a combination of: acne or harsh exfoliating treatments, detergent based cleansers, acidic toners, seasonal changes and/or environment (winter and/or dry heat, high altitude), diet lacking in oils and last but not least...the aging process.

What remedies dry skin?

The combination of Water and Oil........and not just any water - but plant waters (hydrosols) and not just any oil, but a plant oil. I prefer an organically plant sourced oil from the seed, nut, berry etc - over a mineral oil or petroleum based oil.

In an earlier post I wrote about our Whipped Shea Butters being the ultimate in protecting and restoring moisture to the cells that make up our skin. Shea Butter, aided by hydrating mists of our organic Facial Tonic Hydrosols, penetrates deep down into the layers of the skin to restore and replenish nourishment, tone and silky suppleness to all skin conditions.

Other Skin Treats - Pomegranate Repair Serum with Sea Buckthorn Oil - this extraordinary combination of fruit, seed and berry oil are known for their revitalizing effects on skin. Two pumps on the skin followed by saturating mists of Facial Tonic Hydrosols (try Lavender for cooling the summer's heat) will restore and repair.

Gently anti-inflammatory and calming to psoriasis, eczema, rosacea and any dry, dehydrated skin condition.

Back Bends

2009-08-10T09:50:00.001-07:00

Flexibility and beauty too - form and function: Back bender from CustomYogaProps.com

Doesn't just looking at this make you want to take a deeep breath?

Back bends have always been a challenge for me despite that I am a long time yoga student. Renewed commitment to my practice has helped, but when I saw this at a yoga teacher's house, I had to have it! Supportive back bending is for me the perfect solution to sitting for hours hunched over my computer, brow furrowed. Prior to use, I spend time warming up which makes going for the back bend so much easier, not to mention wiser.

Check out their web site. They hand make all furniture to order, and they're nice too!

PS/ Of course, not to mention the flexibility gained when you do even a little yoga and/or stretching daily (on super busy days, my mantra is: "something is better than nothing"). It contributes to nourishing all the body's organs and encourages a deeper breath, one that reaches down to the lower abdomen and expands the side ribs... Daily practice increases blood circulation and oxygenation...the results? Skin that glows.

Clay: The unsung Hero of natural skin care

2009-08-05T11:54:00.001-07:00

Clay is alive. It is the oldest healing material on earth. It is present everywhere: ocean floors, fields, valleys, and river beds. It is also a naturally occurring mineral rich in silica, calcium, iron, magnesium and other trace minerals; its structure depends on its environment. It shimmers with electromagnetic energy and has been around for a millennium as a natural, traditional healing substance for detoxifying the skin and drawing impurities out of tiny dermal pores. A weekly clay mask treatment supports the scaffolding network of the skin’s fibers and adds, as its main claim to fame, its exceptional ability to deeply cleanse and purify the pores of the skin.

Yet the use of clay as an effective skin cleanser, absorber of toxic infectious material, pore minimizer, stimulator of cellular renewal, has taken a back seat to the salicylic (beta hydroxy) and alpha hydroxy acids (AHAs) and their related chemical brethren: the overused and ubiquitous fruit enzymes. Natural or not, organic or not, an acid is still an acid.

In contrast to clay’s gently beneficent nature and action, AHA’s are like carpet bombing the skin: when used consistently the constant exfoliation drastically thins the skin weakening its immune function. Their daily use creates a long term "burn" effect - resulting in, or increasing chronic skin irritation (rosacea), broken capillaries, surface dehydration and flakiness, hyper-pigmentation and ultimately, topical product addiction. Last, but certainly not least, I add a word of caution about the serious sun damage that can be done to skin while using these harsh acid products when not enough sun protection is used: SPFs, hats, clothing and monitoring one's sun exposure.

During the years I was in practice I wanted - and needed- to utilize an effective alternative to AHA’s. I disagree philosophically with what I see as the inflammatory model at the core of skincare today. I feel that it’s a short sighted way of treating the skin. The epidermal layer is there for a reason.

Also, as a practicing aesthetician I needed to get results everyday for my clients: “If you don’t look good, I don’t look good” (an old Vidal Sassoon saying but it works here) and I refused to use the chemical acids.

I needed a product that would actively draw the metabolic impurities from the skin, detoxify and minimize the appearance of the skin’s pores and absorb excess oil, smooth, soften and polish the skin all without dissolving the protective epidermal layer. It also needed to be cost effective and safe to use daily if needed for all skin conditions. I chose Clay - it does all this and more.

Energetically, clay has a cooling effect on the skin so it's appropriate for sensitive and delicate conditions. ‘Primum non nocere’ became my creed too.

Clay activates skin metabolism and lymphatic drainage. Think of it as a gymnastic workout for your face: it exercises the collagen and elastin fibers in a literal way, by tightening and releasing, delivering an opportunity for the deeply nutritive Clay Treatment preparation to work. A weekly Clay Treatment Mask also increases blood circulation and oxygenation reducing puffiness and inflammation and naturally stimulates the skin’s cellular turnover rate.

I have two clay products:

1/ Green Tea Clay Treatment – this is a mixture of green Montmorillonite (from the region in southern France called Montmorillon) clay into which we blend an organic Matcha green tea which adds antioxidant benefits to the skin treatment. Green Mont clay has strong anti-infectious properties and has a more activating action than Rose clay, so it is appropriate for use on congested, infected skin in need of detoxification and purification.

2/ French Rose Clay with Rhassoul – Since there are no ‘pink’ clay minerals in nature, rose clay is created from a mixture of red and white kaolin clay which creates the more gentle action of rose clay which, besides the purifying and drawing action, also has a wonderful polishing effect on the skin. Rhassoul clay comes from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, and has a high content of naturally occurring minerals including lithium and shows a special affinity for drawing excess water out of the skin. A Rose Clay Treatment Mask is calming and healing to eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and other sensitive skin conditions.

Both of my Clay Treatments are sold in recycled glass jars in their DRY form. Clay is an inert substance, but when water or a fluid is added the clay becomes active and starts to 'draw' and absorb. If clay is packaged in a plastic container such as a tube, it will be out-gassing the chemicals in the plastic.

Scented Doves

2009-07-31T11:39:00.000-07:00

Always on the lookout for the quirky or different, I offer here an alternative to the electric room diffusor or wand of incense:

...a passage from the "Settler" (?) by Alexis, a Greek comic poet - about B.C. 350

" For he t'annoint himself
dipped not his finger into alabaster,
The vulgar price of a former age;
But he let fly four doves, with unguents drenched,
not of one sort, but every bird a perfume bore
Peculiar, and differing from the rest;
And they hov'ring round us, from their heavy wings
Showered their sweets upon our robes and furniture.
And I - be not too envious, gentlemen, -
I was myself bedewed with violet odours!"

From the Art of Perfumery - 1891 - Charles Piesse - 2 New Bond St. London, England

Sun Protection Information - a Q & A

2009-07-29T16:19:00.000-07:00

The Sun is a Star

Hello Evan!

Let me start by saying how impressed I am with your philosophy and
promotion of natural beauty. I truly believe in the power of nature and am
so excited to get started on a regimen of your products.

I'm sure you get thousands of questions about SPF, but please humor me by answering one more :)
Along with your cleanser and treatment oils and tonics, I feel like I need
to use a daily SPF to protect myself from damage over time. If I were to
use one, should I apply it before or after the use of the rose hip oil? Do
you recommend using a daily SPF at all? Are there ones out there with
natural ingredients that will not upset the balance that your products are
helping to facilitate?

Thank you so much for your time, looking forward to your response.

Sincerely,
TR - California
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~evan answers:

Dear TR,

Thank you for your kind words and support, we appreciate it!

I certainly don't mind answering, to the best of my ability, how to apply sun protection, and how to choose one:

In general I suggest applying the sun block over my day time Moisturizer or Whipped Shea Butter or Sea Algae -or our Oil Serums. I have read some manufacturers suggest the other way around - sun block first - but it is my experience that we need to protect the skin from the chemicals in most sun blocks as much as against the rays of the sun!

It is my philosophy that my Day Moisturizers, Serums, Whipped Shea Butter (a great barrier protector for sun exposed skin!) etc, work to protect your skin against the sun block and the sun block protects your skin against the sun.

That said, and despite the fact that I am creating a Safe and Green sun screen product (summer 2010), I am not a huge fan of sun blocks in general for many reasons. The single number one reason is: the use of sun protection creams and lotions tends to lull the user into a feeling of complacency about what constitutes real and significant protection against the sun.

I believe that more important than applying sun creams is #1/ limiting exposure -and- #2/ covering up adequately, which means wearing a hat that has a wide brim; wearing long sleeved shirts, and loose fitting long pants.

I have lived in close proximity to the southern California beaches most of my life and over the years I have observed mothers slathering their children and teens with sun protection products and I am convinced they feel that applying sun block bestows a protective shield offering protection against sun exposure. Yet years of studies and research have shown that this is not true, especially in the light of our changing physical environment....And I love the sun... and I'm Irish! But I cover up and am very careful about exposure.

I also find two primary problems with sun block application: not enough is applied initially nor is it always applied adequately to cover the sides of the face for instance -or - the sun protective cream is not reapplied. Sun protection is not Brill Cream, a lil' dab will not do you.

One ounce of cream is the rule of thumb for just the area of the face.

The subject of ingredients and safety of most otc sun block creams is an entire subject on its own, however, regarding preferences (until mine comes out that is!) I like products that:

- are unscented
- are in the range of about 15-25 SPF, no higher is needed. A higher SPF just contributes to skin irritation, and is marketing hype.
- contain no mineral oils, no essential oils especially citrus oils; or synthetic chemical sun protection ingredients
- uses Zinc Oxide as its active sun protective ingredient
- NO NANOS!

The simpler the formulation the better. Whole Foods usually carries a well vetted selection of products, should you choose to wear one.

I hope this helps...

Cheers, Evan

...and tanning beds? I don't like them at all, and besides, don't they look like space-age coffins?

Breathe - the skin does it too

2009-07-27T13:15:00.001-07:00

picture of nadi shodhana - alternate nostril breathing:

*Benefits (benefits the skin too!):

Lowers heart rate and reduces stress and anxiety
Said to synchronize the two hemispheres of the brain
Said to purify the subtle energy channels (nadis) of the body so the prana flows more easily during pranayama practice

*yoga journal.com
credits for picture go to chopra.com

whoo hooooo...

2009-07-23T12:44:00.001-07:00

Well... clearly this has absolutely nothing to do with clean + green skin care....but it contributes to a feeling of happiness and that always looks good on the face!

The Skin: Barrier or Sieve?

2009-07-10T10:18:00.000-07:00

The skin is a kind of schizophrenic organ, both denying access to the body of some things while actively encouraging the passage of others. It is a selectively permeable membrane allowing substances such as dissolved salts to be excreted and others, such as fresh water selectively taken in.

Through to the middle of the 20th century, the skin was seen predominantly in its barrier role, preventing water loss, keeping the body out of contact with (most) noxious chemicals and inhibiting the ingress of bacteria through its acid-mantle. Dermatologists now know the skin is a much more subtle "barrier". For instance, the daily lathering of soap, a detergent, is counterproductive to healthy skin flora because a high pH soap alters the skin's acid mantle.

Human skin strikes a remarkable balance between rigidity and flexibility, permeability and water tightness, and without the ability to protect and moisturize itself (the skin is a self regulating organ) skin would literally desiccate and collapse. Which translates into: while we must moisturize, we must also recognize that skin needs to be given a break (from dusk to dawn) from a compulsion to be constantly slathering stuff on.
Allow your skin to Breathe. Feed your body a diet rich in fish and other natural oils and foods that nourish deeply the skin from within, which will also contribute to providing luster to the skin.

Source:
Lappe, Marc PhD (1996) "The Body's Edge - Our Cultural Obsession with Skin" Henry Holt & Co. New York

Marma Facial Points, stimulating Prana

2009-07-09T17:04:00.000-07:00

Marma Point Massage for Face

It is believed that prana, the body's vital 'air' or energy is similar to chi in Traditional Chinese Medicine nourishes the cellular system, as well as the mind and spirit. A key component in marma massage is the invigoration of free pranic flow: in early Hindu philosophy, prana was held to be the principle of vitality that could survive a person's last breath for eternity - or until a future life - so the effects of marma point massage are long term.

In TCM, there are thousands of pressure points, but only 107 exist in the Ayurvedic System, with the mind sometimes considered the 108th point. Marma points correspond the body's seven chakras...There are 37 facial points in the face and neck.

Location of Pimples (TCM)

Forehead - intestinal
Cheeks - lung
Nose - heart
Mouth area - reproductive organs/ hormonal balance
Jaw - kidneys
Shoulders digestive
Chest - heart and lungs
Back - lungs

Facial Cleansing Massage - Try this:
As you wash your face, using this chart as a guide, massage each point in a circular motion which will stimulate chi and vital energy points contributing to tone and circulation.

Inglis, Kim - The Indian Spa - 2008 Talisman Singapore

Cistus - 'Anti-Wrinkle' par excellence

2009-07-02T18:27:00.001-07:00

cistus ladaniferus
One of my favorite fragrances is Cistus. I first fell in love with its dry/sweet/herbaceous scent when i was spending time in Mexico. As I would walk in the cool evenings (it was late spring) I would find my attention being riveted by a soulful scent wafting about in the mountain air which made me feel happy, secure, serene, peaceful. I finally tracked down the source of the scent... and discovered my love for cistus. An unassuming, scraggly, resinous plant with delicate, paper-thin & petal pink, rose-like blossoms. To my eye it was an odd combination of attributes, but i was enchanted.

In addition to its singular scent, it has a significant and important value in skin care as an anti-wrinkle supplement. Because I love the fragrance of cistus so much, I will often add 1 - 2 drops to my personal Pomegranate Repair Serum, which has no essential oils for a reason. I felt the formulation, a trio of highly nourishing oils, was already so impressive and effective in its action, working to reinforce the skin's structural integrity by boosting the appearance of sagging skin tissue, resulting in skin that appears firmer, plumper, more toned.

Nothing else was needed in our Pomegranate Repair Serum....unless you love the aroma of a quirky, scraggly, little drought resistant plant called cistus. I will try to locate some of the hydrosol - I have a few connections - and bottle it up for us all to saturate our skin with!

Cistus, also know as rock rose, is one of the ingredients in Rescue Remedy

A Shea Treatment Mask for DESERT-DRY skin

2009-07-01T08:59:00.000-07:00

Lovely, but dry.

This is an answer to a customer who has dry, flaky skin after years of over using corneolytic agents (AHAs, fruit enzymes, microdermabrasions etc) and wants a natural treatment mask that will restore, repair, revive and re-hydrate her desert-dry skin.

WHIPPED SHEA BUTTER w/ OLIVE LEAF TREATMENT MASK - with mists of Facial Tonic Hydrosols

Here’s how:

1/ After you cleanse with one of my Cleansing Milks - Rose or Blue Lavender, or Tea Tree Gel - (always dilute the milks or gel w/ water) spray a mist of Facial Tonic Hydrosol all over skin, pat in.

2/ While skin is still moist, warm up a good fingerful of Whipped Shea Butter with Olive Leaf (or try my Patchouli Vanilla) between palms of hands till warm and creamy, then apply in a layer all over face, concentrating on the areas that are especially dry, and massage into skin. Let it absorb for 5-20 minutes.

3/To Remove the Shea Mask: fill a basin with hot steamy water, dip your washcloth into the warm, steamy water, then wring it out and hold against skin for a few breath cycles (5-10 seconds). DO this 3-4 times and on the final one, wipe any remaining Shea Butter off skin. This is penetrating the nourishing SHEA BUTTER into the skin which heals, hydrates, revives and restores dry, flaky skin. Your skin will feel silky smooth and creamy!

Follow with mists of Facial Tonic Hydrosol – then massage 2-3 pumps of the Pomegranate Repair Serum into face. Mist again.

Alternatively, you can also add a finger tip amount of Shea Butter to the Pom Repair Serum daily - if your skin is really dry.

Yoga + Menopause: The Skin Breathes

2009-06-21T16:57:00.000-07:00

uh, no, not me.

Yoga is helpful in reducing anxiety, mood swings, depression and fatigue. Adding a daily routine is calming, introspective and restorative to the central nervous system, but did you know it can improve overall skin appearance, tone and function too?

Try these simple routines:

1/ NOURISH your skin - in the morning after cleansing, saturate your skin with any of my Facial Tonic Hydrosols and then pat fully into skin. Put two pumps of Pomegranate Repair Serum on your palms, rub together gently and press into slightly damp skin.

2/ RELAX all those tight muscles in the face by doing this simple movement: without opening your lips, separate the biting surfaces of your teeth, just let your jaw hang open, while keeping your lips closed. Inhale slowly - exhale completely. Notice how the tension and tightness held in the jaw and cheeks recedes. Continue the breath cycle by also releasing forehead, eyes, cheeks...

Breathe.

Happy Summer Solstice!

Sharing Inspirations - Tuberose

2009-05-23T10:41:00.000-07:00

- Rainer Maria Rilke -

Despite the sky, still low,
and the hesitant air,
something new
floats into scent.

Some perfume, entirely green,
frees itself discreetly.
A pleasure begins to move;
spring is open

Want an H1N1 Flu Remedy? Try Flowers

2009-04-30T22:32:00.000-07:00

The Terra Flora Gardens of fesflowers.com

Bach Flower Remedy for Swine Flu-feeling:

Gives you the comfort of emotional distance from your fears of falling ill, increases deep sense of well-being:

Aspen
Cherry Plum
Crab Apple
Mimulus
Star of Bethlehem
White Chestnut

Mix 2 drops from each remedy in a stock bottle (30ml) of brandy and take 4 drops, 4 times a day.

You may also want to add a drop or two of this mixture into your day moisturizer, or body lotion. Allow the gentle, protective nature of these flower vibrations to encircle your body.

check out the website: learnhomeopathynow.com for more information

Earth Day is everyday - 2009 - Be the Solution

2009-04-19T14:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day - April 22, 2009!

An excerpt from AL Gore's Nobel Peace Prize speech:

"We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency – a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst – though not all – of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.
However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat: “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”
So today, we dumped another 70 million tons of global-warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an open sewer. And tomorrow, we will dump a slightly larger amount, with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heat from the sun.
As a result, the earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing alarm, is that something basic is wrong.
We are what is wrong, and we must make it right."

Earth Day April 22, 1970

May the heavens be peaceful. May the space between the sun, moon, and stars be peaceful. May the earth be tranquil. May the waters be calm. May all herbs be healthy and peaceful. May the vegetable kingdom nourish and be peaceful. May the elements and all luminous forces be peaceful. May our body, mind and soul be calm and joyful. May everything be at peace and may this peace be real. May peace and harmony flourish through all.
Om shanti shanti shanti

Vetiver - the oil of tranquility

2009-04-12T15:58:00.001-07:00

I fell in love with vetitver essential oil (vetiveria zizanioides also known as Khus in India) many years ago. I loved it so much I decided to create a creamy ode to vetiver for the face. It is a combination of nourishing floral oils, seed and fruit oils, and rich in the gentle harmony of vetiver, rose geranium, carrot seed... This particular combination of essential oils are of exceptional value for treating the signs of aging and stress that appear on the skin as fine lines and wrinkles. Vetiver essential oil appears to be able to attract moisture to the face, adding a hydrating, plumping action to aging and dry, dehydrated skin conditions.
It is said that the ancient perfumers of Kannouj discovered that the most beautiful combination of fragrances were vetiver and rose. These two essential oils, each so complex scent-wise, are exact polar opposites. Vetiver essential oil comes from the tiny rootlets that reach deep into the earth -vs- ethereal, thorny petal-sweetness of rose, whose warm, radiant, rosaceous bouquet was cherished by perfume connoisseurs around the world.
---------
Vetiver is one of the most complex oils known. Modern science has been able to isolate out more than 150 aromatic molecules from vetiver but still there are ones that cannot be identified....

"At the international ISO board for essential oils, the subject of vetiver is always one that creates intense interest because it is such an unusual oil with many mysteries yet to be discovered... its wonderful complexity is due to the fact that it has many hundreds of fine rootlets that are in direct contact with the earth in which it grows and that it is able to extract from this earth subtle and rare molecules are absorbed into its vascular system which in turns transforms them into a galaxy of molecules within the plant. When we stop and consider how plants distill from the earth such a rich abundance of exquisite aromatic molecules in an infinite variety of combinations, we can only acknowledge that we are participating in a miracle of life which is full of mystery and wonder." Christopher McMahon, White Lotus Aromatics

Vetiver or khus, is a grass that grows up to six feet high with an intricate thread-like root system that reaches deep into the moist earth. These tiny, compact rootlets provide a substantial scaffolding-effect to surrounding soil and are referred to as "living nails" in Indonesia for their ability to maintain areas of soil erosion. Vetiver's fragrance comes from these tiny rootlets which are saturated with the sweet, deep rich fragrant undertones reminiscent of precious woods or marshes. Vetiver exhibits different olfactory characteristics depending on the type of earth it grows in. Because of the diversity of compounds present in different soils, vetiver oil is one of the most biochemically complex of all essential oils.
Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer

Vetiver belongs to the same botanical family as lemongrass, citronella and palmarosa and in some countries such as India its role as a perfume may even precede that of rose.
Since ancient times in India, the versatile qualities of vetiver roots have been used in other ways such as: woven into sweet sleeping mats or hung as curtains in desert homes; when the fierce hot winds blow people sprinkle water on these woven grass curtains which then release sweet cooling vapors into the air. Dried roots are woven into sandals, mats, screens, window blinds, hand fans and ornamental baskets, plus aromatic sachets are used to fragrance bed linen and clothing garments.

Vetiver roots being woven into mats for natural cooling of the homes

A Fragrant Grass

At the heart of vetiver essential oil lies the scent and secrets of mother earth.
The fragrance of vetiver root is cool, deep, dark and mysterious. Its scent is a source of vital energy and regeneration and supports all those who have lost touch with the earth or with their roots. This earthy essential oil, from the tiny rootlets of a tropical grass, nourishes those who have cold feet or their heads in the clouds... If we loose contact with the ground beneath us we pay the price with a weakened immune system. When in touch with the earth, we breathe deeply, enjoy the magic of an open fire and feel the wind in our hair.

Vetiver essential oil is a fragrant remedy for exhausted women, it is peaceful and soul-soothing, bestowing calm and serenity on anyone who wears it...and is one of the essential oils in our Rose Vetiver Day Moisturizer.

Vetiver has been used for thousands of years in Ayurvedic medicine where it is considered to be anti-toxic, astringent, bitter and cooling, and was used for fevers and sweats, blood diseases, foul breath, headaches, infections, urinary ulcers, an antidote to poisoning as well as to strengthen the central nervous system and overcome depression, insomnia, anxiety and stress.

According to ancient inscriptions it was worn as a perfume by royalty, and it is still used in an estimated 30% of high-quality modern perfumes to create oriental notes and as a fixative.

In India vetiver is known as the ‘Oil of Tranquillity’ due to its grounding, soothing and calming effect on the psyche, but it also communicates this same grounding and strengthening - nurturing and revitalizing action to the skin, our flexible, supple, protective suit of armour. It strengthens connective tissue, restores balance to hormonal and emotional conditions, and has a regenerative action where ever it is applied. These attributes make it an exceptional oil to use in any area of skin care. The essential oil is beneficial for treating nervousness and exhaustion and is a particularly useful remedy for women whose diminished energy reserve makes them vulnerable under stress...and who doesn't need that? Rubbing a small droplet of the essential oil on the wrists gives you emotional distance from the stresses of life - a diluted droplet applied to the forehead before bed soothes and calms an overactive mind.
Essential oil of vetiver has been known to balance overactive sebaceous glands which makes it perfect for controlling very oily skin and acne conditions. It encourages the production of sebum on dry and mature skin. It also has an impressive healing and rejuvenating action that can be put to good use for treating wounds, irritated skin, wrinkles and stretch marks. Used in massage it brings relief to arthritis, rheumatism and muscular aches and pains.
Vetiver oil is excellent for long term, deep-seated anxiety, depression and stress related conditions. It brings stability and strength to those who feel damaged by life’s circumstances and adversities, acting as a ‘grounding’ agent to the weary soul. It has the ability to help focus the mind and elicit concentration where endurance is required. Personally, I love its calming, equalizing effect on both body and soul.

Vetiver Hydrosol is another exceptional possibility for the holistic treatment of dry, irritated or sensitive skin conditions such as rosacea, eczema, psoriasis or sun burn. It bestows the same cooling, peaceful and hydrating effects of vetiver essential oil - and application is only a spray away. Saturating your skin daily with vetiver hydrosol will instantly restore suppleness, hydration and vitality to skin that suffers from dehydration, heat and rash. It appears to draw moisture to the skin making it an invaluable tonic spray for all skin conditions. The number one skin condition I saw in private practice was: dehydrated skin.

Additional article sources: Complete Aromatherapy Handbook, Fischer-Rizzi, Susanne, 1990 Sterling Publishing

If you are interested in learning more about this very important grass, I highly recommend visiting: The Vetiver Network whose mission it is to promote the worldwide use of the Vetiver System (VS) for a sustainable environment particularly in relation to land and water..

Just for MEN - The 1-2-3 Basics

2009-04-11T15:33:00.001-07:00

I have been asked by our male customers to make a few suggestions for their skin using my products and my husband has suggested I keep this information as brief as I can (he caps the male attention span at 30 seconds)...I'll try!
Here goes:

First things first: I developed my line for skin. The truth is, men and women's skin care needs differ very little. Besides the obvious, shaving and hormones, human skin requires the same basics. Assuming you are healthy, your skin is capable of take care of itself regardless of whether you are male or female. This is tapping into the wisdom inherent in a healthy body: homeostasis, metabolic equilibrium.
The treatment and selection of products that aim to re-hydrate, nourish and moisturize will be the same. This is the simplicity and wisdom of intelligent, holistic skincare.

Let's start with the basics of how (and why) the skin (re)acts and adapts:

One of the skin's many complex functions is to interact with other organs of digestion. Along with the lungs and kidneys, the skin, through its thousands of tiny dermal pores releases toxins and the metabolic by-products of digestion and other impurities.

Worth Noting:
It takes 60 days to change the skin's condition. This is a fact that bears remembering since we are a society that likes to see instant change. When working with any organ system, especially the one that you can see (the skin) remember that you are on "body-time" and it takes time to correct and restore normal function to skin.... Most disease processes on the skin have been going on long before they become apparent to the eye.

The skin literally ‘breathes’; it has an inhalation and exhalation function. This exhalation function is one way the body releases -or- exhales- impurities. And I don't know about you, but I want to keep this releasing mechanism functioning at all times.

The moisture balance of the skin (as simple as oil and water) was developed by Mother Nature, not by Estee Lauder. Our skin is the on-site manufacturer of a perfect balance of these vitalizing and protective oils and waters, and under ideal conditions, nothing more is required to keep the skin's appearance creamy smooth, supple and functioning in a healthy manner. But because we may be subjected to environmental toxins, physical and/or emotional stresses, poor dietary choices, fluctuating hormones, etc, and the possibility that the skin care products you are using are filled with synthetic ingredients and not be doing their job, we are "faced" with troubled skin.

A few dos and don'ts:

• Don't bother "typing" your skin - holistic skin care strives to balance all skin conditions, hence my next suggestion:

• Don't buy 'oil control' products

• Don't over exfoliate, men who shave daily already exfoliate. Using additional acids such as the AHAs: glycolic, salicylic; Vit C Esters, fruit acids, etc... is overkill and only creates more flaky dryness -or- excessive oiliness, and can also be responsible for broken capillaries (along with-over aggressive rubbing or scrubbing or too much sun exposure, etc...).

• Look for pH balanced cleansing creams or gels

• Avoid the use of alcohol-based toners or after shave products

Regarding skin "types":
It has been my experience as an aesthetician that the organ of the skin is constantly changing, adapting you to your environment. To 'type' with certain products (such as "oil control" products) is to limit it's functions, and only serves to block, counteract or suppress the skin's natural, inherent ability to self regulate. This, more than anything, is what perpetuates problem skin.
However, that said, it is helpful for most men to understand what the general skin conditions look like, below are simple descriptions - but remember, don't get attached to typing your skin, the goal is to encourage the skin to regulate itself.

Normal skin (almost no one has 'normal' skin)
• Small, clean pores
• Smooth complexion
• Firm skin elasticity
• Few blemishes or none at all

Oily Skin
• Large pores clogged with dirt and oil
• Skin is thick, sallow, insensitive to irritants
• Face is shiny, even after cleansing
• Few wrinkles or fine lines
• Problems with blemishes

Dry Skin
• Small or invisible pores
• Fine lines, especially around eyes
• The skin appears to 'crepe' or crinkle
• Men of color: Skin can appear grey or ashen
• Caucasians: Skin is thin, flaky, transparent

Combination Skin
• Shiny "T" zone (forehead, nose, chin)
• Large pores on nose
• Dry or normal eye areas, cheeks, neck
• Dry areas have small or invisible pores
• Fine lines around eyes

Sensitive skin
• Skin reacts to sun, wind, fabrics, cosmetics
• Exposed skin burns easily in direct sunlight
• Skin is dry and thin
• Skin always itches or stings
• Shaving is often extremely painful

SUGGESTIONS for BALANCING ALL SKIN CONDITIONS with evanhealy skin care:

1/ CLEANSE twice a day with evanhealy Rose or Blue Lavender Cleansing Milk -or- Tea Tree Gel (all pH balanced).

Into one or two pumps of cleanser in the palm of your hand, dribble a little water then massage cleanser thoroughly all round face for 10 seconds (or more if you want), always working in an upward motion.

Rinse well with warm water. Pat dry.

NOTE about SHAVING: TRY our BLUE LAVENDER CLEANSING MILK and/or TEA TREE GEL Cleanser, together or separately, they provide a 'slip' that is comfortable for shaving. The base is derived from coconut oil and can provide a clean, smooth base for shaving, while the organic plant oils in our formulation help to guard against redness and irritation and will leave skin feeling soft and moist with no uncomfortable dry or tight feeling. After, always spray generously with Facial Tonic Hydrosols and apply one or two pumps of RoseHip Serum.

2/ TONE - Generously spray (or saturate) the entire face with Facial Tonic Hydrosols. Pat these antioxidant-rich, hydrating and oil-balancing waters completely into the skin with a pressing, rolling motion.

3/ MOISTURIZE - choose one of my Day Time Moisturizers for your skin:

RoseHip Treatment Serum - Rose or Blue - for normal skin that tends to be normal to dry (my husband uses this one after shaving) Apply Daily with Tonic Hydrosol - Repairs skin, reduces inflammation, stimulates cellular renewal.

Pomegranate Treatment Serum - an exceptional antioxidant treatment for normal, dry, sensitive, flaky skin - a super nourishment for working to restore the skin's protective function. Apply 2-4 pumps daily, combined with any of my Facial Tonic Hydrosols.

Sea Algae Serum - A very sheer, anti-aging firming treatment. Apply 2-3 pumps after shaving - for skin that tend to be more normal to oily - or in need of an on-the-spot 'firming' treatment.

Rose Vetiver or Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer - a fingerful massaged into skin. If you have drier skin in need of more nourishment, you may add one pump of any one of the Serums to a small amount of cream in the palm of the hand, then massage this combo into skin...

Oops, my 30 seconds are up...

enlightenment (yes, it can be found in skin too!)

2009-04-02T09:16:00.001-07:00

The goddess Saraswati

"If you think you're enlightened, spend a week with your family."

- Ram Dass

Above, Manorama chanting the Saraswati mantra in Toronto, visit her website: sanskritstudies.org

Saraswati Devi is a Hindu goddess of learning and possesses all the teachings of the Vedas, scriptures, dancing, musical power and poetry. Her origin is the lost Vedic river, Saraswati and is the source of her profound connection to fluidity in any aspect. Saraswati represents creativity, language, nourishment, splendor, devotion, art, music and the endless stream of wisdom.

Hydro-distilled essential oils - the soul of a plant

2009-03-20T13:18:00.000-07:00

Rose Geranium and lavender coexist very happily together
photo courtesy: Anita Boen

Happy Spring!

"Hydro-distilled essences are a unique product of the distillers' and extractors' art and craft. In modern times, the delicate essence of flowers such as jasmine, osmanthus, champa, and tuberose have been captured by using the low heat, solvent (hexane) extraction process, whereby the waxes pigments and volatile oil are extracted in the form of a concrete (a solid, waxy, aromatic substance) and further concentrated by washing in alcohol, to produce an absolute.

Hydrodistilled essences are produced by placing the concrete in a water bath in glass vessels and gently distilling. Only the highly volatile essences are distilled out of the concrete, leaving behind the waxes and pigments. While more expensive to produce, the hydrodistilled essences are 3 to 5 times more concentrated than the absolutes, light in color, and more easily soluble in carrier oils and perfumer's alcohol. They are a wonderful delight for people working in the domain of natural perfumery."
- Christopher McMahon - White Lotus Aromatics [dot com]

~~~~~~~~~
I have chosen to use a small selection of hydro-distilled essential oils (in glass) in the formulation of my skin care products both for their superior fragrance as well as for their exceptional therapeutic properties.

Our hydro-distilled rose geranium (Pelargonium graveolens), for instance, is effective and appropriate for many skin conditions such as excessively oily AND dry skin, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and skin exhibiting hormonal imbalances.

When compared to steam distillation which utilizes high temperature and high pressure, this specifically low temperature/low pressure hydro-distillation of eo's preserves more of the 'soul' component of the plant which are responsible for the unique fragrance profile of select essential oils. During steam distillation a number of the more subtle aromatic constituents get lost due to the high temperature, according to some distillers.

As a holistic aesthetician, I have found that utilizing certain hydro-distilled essential oils in the formulation of my skincare products has a more efficacious and therapeutic action on the skin, this perhaps owing to their more complex and dynamic life force. When smelled and compared to steam distilled eo's - the hydro-distilled geranium eo, for instance, possess more nuanced, green and leafy-rosy notes than are detected in steam distilled geranium.

Please note:
This does not diminish the value of steam distilled essential oils! They are more affordable, more readily available and support many organic farmers, distillers and growers. The nuances that differentiate between the two are meaningful to me, both from a personal standpoint, as well as to me as a creator of skin care products that attempts to move skin care therapy into the realm of an art form!

I find that when you apply, for instance, my RoseHip Treatment Serum, or Rose Vetiver Day Cream, you will experience an entirely different kind of healing, one that is more expansive and inclusive of a very subtle shift - a soul-centering - simply by breathing in aromatic molecules from the creams or oils. In that moment, and just below the threshold of perception, lies an understanding of 'who' we are and our relationship to this earth. It's at that point that the plant, releasing both light and scent, communicates to us.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"....he went on to speak of photosynthesis the way an artist might describe color. He said that at dusk, the process is reversed and that plants actually release small amounts of light.

He referred to sap as the green blood of plants, explaining that chlorophyll is structurally almost the same as the pigment of our blood, only the iron in hemoglobin is replaced by magnesium in plants.

He spoke of the way plants grow, a seed of grass producing sixty miles of root hairs a day, six thousand miles over the course of a season; a field of hay exhaling five hundred tons of water into the air each day; a flower pushing it's blossom through three inches of pavement...a tree living for four thousand years. Unlike every botanist I've had known, he was not obsessed with classification. For him, Latin names were like koans or lines of verse. He remembered them effortlessly, taking particular delight in their origins.

'When you say the names of plants,' he said at one point, 'you say the names of the gods,'..."

- Wade Davis, remembering his friend and contemporary, the late Timothy Plowman whose research interests at Harvard, under the guidance of Richard Evans Schultes, focused on ethnobotany.

Davis, W. (1996) "One River" Simon and Schuster Paperbacks, New York.

Rose Geranium - photo courtesy Anita Boen

Vitamin C Serums - Q & A:

2009-03-13T16:38:00.001-07:00

Vit C - too much of a good thing?

QUESTION:

Hi Evan,

I love your product line and the concept behind it.
I am in the process of switching over to your product line from a less natural product line and unfortunately I have noticed that some of the fine lines and melasma that faded while I started using a high potency vitamin C serum have returned.

I was wondering what you feel about the use of high potency vitamin C serums or powders (10-20 percent)?

Many thanks!

------------
ANSWER:

Hi...

Thank you for your kind words and support, we appreciate it!

Besides differences in philosophy, I think one of the problems with high potency vit c serums and/or powders, or any product that claims to treat fine lines and/or a pigmentation disorder is that biologically and physiologically, to me, the theory simply doesn’t make sense from a holistic perspective.

Another reason is one of efficacy, as you have discovered, the effects don’t last: once you stop using the product, the condition (wrinkles or pigmentation) returns. Another issue is skin sensitivity, the higher the potency the more irritating - and at 20%, the question is, is it penetrating at all?

The bottom line for me is, I don’t completely agree with the premise behind treatments with AHA's or fruit acids and/or topical application of high potency Vit C - but then I am notoriously holistic! My solution for melasma is a very pragmatic one: cover up, wear sunblock and limit the hours you are in the sun.

The more unprotected time you spend in the sun the deeper and larger the discoloration will become. Personally, I use RoseHip Treatment Oil or Pomegranate Repair Serum, and when it’s hot or very cold, I add to that a fingerful of my Whipped Shea butter as the ultimate in skin nourishment and protection. A weekly application of either of my Clay Mask Treatments will significantly help to clarify skin tone by absorbing, in a holistic manner, the dead skin cells that contribute to grey, discolored skin. Clay Mask treatments also acts to stimulate both cellular renewal and to nourish by increasing blood flow and oxygenation of skin tissue.

Unfortunately, the practical use of vitamin C in skin care presents some difficulties due to its lack of stability. When exposed to air, vitamin C solution undergoes oxidation and becomes not only ineffective but also potentially harmful (oxidized vitamin C may increase the formation of free radicals). Taking Vit C internally makes more sense to me! The organ of the skin does not metabolize Vit C, it is merely the (ascorbic) acid working on your skin, dissolving the epidermal layer. This constant “refreshing” of the skin has distinct drawbacks, one of them being that it heightens skin vulnerability to solar radiation and unless you are scrupulous in applying your sun protection, keeping covered or staying out of the sun completely, your risk of skin cancer can skyrocket yet you won’t see signs of over-exposure till 10-15 years later, by that time it's hard to pin the blame on any one specific regime.

Ultimately, it’s my opinion that the skin is not the originating organ of aging skin or pigmentation problems, the skin is merely revealing symptoms.....in other words, by treating the skin with acidic and harsh products you’re “shooting the messenger”.

I hope this answers your question adequately.

Cheers,

Evan

CLIENT'S RESPONSE:

Hi Evan,

Thank you so much for your response to my email!!!!! I really appreciate how quickly you responded and the depth of the information you provided. You raised some very good points about the skin only revealing a symptom and is not the originator of the problem and the potential damage to the skin years later by making the skin more vulnerable to the sun!

Thank you again for your informative email!!!!

:-)

Trivandrum arrival notes

2009-03-11T15:19:00.000-07:00

Trivandrum, Kerala, India

Namaskaaram!

By the time we land in Trivandrum (now called Thiruvananthapuram, and it takes me the entire trip to master pronunciation) we had been traveling for many more than 24 hours, of that i am sure. We left SFO at 3:45p flying Emirates Air winging our way towards Dubai, UAE. We had a great flight, turns out it was only about 1/2 full (apparently this is a good time of year to fly) and therefore Anita, Jan and I each had a row to ourselves so we were able to stretch out and sleep...Which was good since this was a 16+hour flight.

The lay-over in Dubai gives us a few hours to walk around and explore the airport which is gorgeous - this area of the world has some disposable income, anyway, we loved it, and this was just the airport. Our return trip allows us to spend a few nights and expore this facsinating city, but that's a story for another time...

We finally land in Trivandrum in the wee hours of the morning and even though we don't know who will be here to meet us, quickly find our names on hand-held cards and introduce ourselves to Vyshak and Vino, our 'main' guys, who greet us with smiling faces. We are loaded into a car festooned with fresh jasmine garlands and are soon weaving our way through quiet streets to Rasa Clinic (rasaayurveda.com).

Upon arrival we are served a plate of pomegranate seeds and tiny bananas and drink cool glasses of vetiver water. Afterwards we are each shown to our rooms. Vyshak heats water for each of our 'baths' and I am finally able to sponge away 26+ hours of smelly, cramped, stressful travel. No hot running water and two big pails for showers, but I am clean and content.

The next day after breakfast we have our initial evaluation by Dr. Geetha and are given our scheduled treatments along with nourishing drinks tailored to our doshas. The first day I have an ahbyanga, a massage where I am slathered with a warmed oil called mukuttu (a cured combination of: coconut, sesame and castor oils) by two sweet-faced women followed by a long, invigorating head massage. My series of treatments finishes with svedhana, steam therapy. Svedhana draws excess Pitta out of the body and encourages the balanced flow of Vata. I am placed into the warm hug of a tightly woven, coconut-palm enclosure. Steamy mist slowly encircles my body, the moist heat easing and soothing the creaks and groans of cramped, jet-lagged muscles.

We are given drinks after treatment to revive us for the short trip down marble stairs to our rooms where they fill our bath buckets with hot water and instruct us to wash, rinsing with a mixture of grains. After, I immediately fall into a deep sleep.

The next day's treatment expands to include shirodhara. Warmed oils rhythmically applied back-and-forth over the third eye area of the forehead by a cooper vessel which sits suspended overhead. To say a shirodhara treatment is deeply relaxing would be a master of understatement.
I feel my awareness slip away into a place of peace, silence and refreshment. This is a treatment that profoundly quiets the central nervous system. Depending on the constitution (prakruti) and current state (vikruti) of the individual, and the season of the year, coconut, sunflower and other oils are sometimes used, as well as herbal infusions in water, milk and buttermilk. Shirodhara pacifies Vata, nourishing and calming the nervous system, who doesn't need that?

Hammocks at Rasa

In the languid hollow of the afternoons at Rasa, I can be found rocking slowly back-and-forth in the colorful hammocks that are strung between coconut trees ('Kerala' means coconut in Malayalam) watching the clouds drift by and listening to the songs of birds and the lowing of the neighborhood cows. The whisper of humid air against my skin feels lush and soothing.

Sound and scent awaken me in the mornings. In the quiet of the dawn I can hear the call to prayer from a neighborhood mosque and later, the music of flutes and chanting from a nearby temple. The perfume of fragrant smoke from morning fires permeates and fills my tiny room.

I am going to stop now because the electricity will be going out soon - they light candles here instead...

More later.

"...ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o'clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft teacakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum."
- Harper Lee (1960) To Kill A Mockingbird, Harper Collins - New York

I'm in a field of holy basil, tulsi

Tulsi - Holy Basil to protect Taj Mahal

2009-02-27T12:41:00.000-08:00

This article appeared in the newspaper one morning while our Ayurvedic Aromatherapy group was staying in Kanyakumari at the southermost tip of India:

"Tulsi (Holy Basil) To Protect Taj Mahal

Press Trust of India-Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Wonder herb, ‘Tulsi’, which is known for its medicinal utilities, will now help protect the Taj Mahal against the ill-effects of environmental pollution.

In a joint exercise being undertaken by the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and Lucknow-based Organic India Private Ltd, one million Tulsi saplings would be planted in the vicinity of the Monument of Love.

Company MD and global CEO Krishan Gupta said, “Till now, nearly 20,000 Tulsi saplings were planted. These saplings will be planted in nature parks near Taj Mahal and throughout Agra.”

On being asked why Tulsi was chosen, Gupta said, “It is one of the best plants which purifies the environment. Its cleansing action is due to its property to release high amount of oxygen, which minimizes the adverse impact of industrial and refinery emission.”

Apart from Tulsi, Neem and Peepal can also help in conserving monuments.

Superintending Archaeologist Devkinandan Dimri said, “Tulsi can certainly help in reducing air pollution due to its oxygen releasing property and can help in checking the pollution at the periphery of the monument. By purifying the air, Tulsi can certainly minimise the impact of industrial and refinery emission.” "

Sandalwood Forests of Tamil Nadu

2009-02-23T08:04:00.001-08:00

The day we visited the sandalwood forests in the region of Marayoor where you are guided by 'forest rangers' and need to sign in and out on a visitor's register, we were told that the night before there had been a break-in of the forest and some trees cut down and carted out. This protected area is patrolled and surrounded by high barbed wire fences.

*Pancha Mahabhuta: connecting Ayurveda and Aromatherapy in India

2009-02-20T04:37:00.000-08:00

Hand rolling incense sticks - Masala Bathi - is, trust me, harder than it looks. The sticks that I rolled stubbornly refused to evolve no matter how many I rolled and all of my attempts ended up looking more like a Coney Island corn-dog rather than the delicate and finely rolled sticks our teachers were producing.

Munnar - The lovely and cool tea-planted hill station region.

Pink Lotus in the Chottupara region Spice Gardens

Our time at Rasa Ayurveda Clinic in Kerala (the name means 'coconut' in Malayalam and for good reason - this is coconut country) went fast - we were immersed in many aspects of both aromatherapy and Ayurveda - traditionally they don't go hand-in-hand, yet these two subjects were woven together and presented in comprehensive detail by our teachers, David Crow and Niika Quistgard. So, whether we were being guided in fragrant meditation or being introduced to each dosha's 5 subdoshas or enjoying daily yoga or Chi Gung classes - we were able to balance all this mental energy with daily, soul-centering restorative and revitalizing body therapies. A perfect combination.
Niika Quistgard - Director Rasa Ayurveda

The Ayurvedic therapies we were experiencing daily, such as Shirodhara (a deeply relaxing treatment that involves slowly and rhythmically pouring oils back and forth over the forehead and is noted for its ability to restore the nervous system to transcendent calm ) Abhyanga (four handed massage with specially prepared medicated oils) and Svedhana (full body steam in a palm frond woven basket) helped to integrate our jet lagged bodies and restore our over stimulated senses.

During my time in India I was most keenly reminded that we in the US tend to treat the physical symptoms of disease rather than prevent illness:

"Don't fight disease - strengthen health!"

This is me helping to create our Pookalam, a flower mandala

PS/ I am just beginning to 'download' all my written notes and fragrance-based experiences - so check back for more pictures and insights..

What does *Pancha mahabuhta mean?
It's the ancient Indian philosophy that all materials, living or non-living are made of five (pancha) fundamental elements (mahabhutas) representing five fundamental categories of matter. These are:

Akasha (ether)
Vayu (air)
Teja (fire/energy
Jala (water)
Prithvi (earth)

Trivandrum, Kerala INDIA

2009-01-12T10:42:00.000-08:00

champa

Picking jasmine

more to come!

I will be leaving for Trivandrum (the southwestern-most tip of India) on January 26 for a 16 day immersion in Ayurveda and aromatherapy. Above are a few pictures courtesy of White Lotus Aromatics (dot com).....I will be returning with lots of my own as we journey through the countryside..

here is the link for the class, take a peek!

http://www.ayurvedatrip.com/index.html

daucus carota - queen anne's lace

2008-12-13T15:53:00.000-08:00

The distilled seeds of wild carrot, Daucus carota, is an exceptional anti-aging essential oil for skin, smoothes the appearance of wrinkles and stress lines and is also known to be a great tonic for the liver.

Daucus carota is not to be confused with carrot root oil (a deep berry-red color) If you have an allergy to carrots, you will be able to use Daucus carota.... unless, of course, you also have an allergy to carrot seed!

Carrot Seed essential oil are in these products:

Rose Vetiver and Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer
RoseHip Treatment Oils - Blue and Rose

Butters For Skin

2008-12-13T15:34:00.001-08:00

Vanilla is an orchid

Which of our Butters is right for you?

We offer two: Whipped Shea Butter with Olive Leaf and my newest addition, Whipped Patchouli Vanilla Shea Butter. This post will describe the Patchouli Vanilla:

Whipped Patchouli Vanilla Shea Butter – a fragrant balm for dry, dehydrated, aging and stressed skin:

I’m an addict. I love premium vintages of Patchouli essential oil and I developed our Whipped Patchouli Vanilla Shea Butter to feed my addiction. (see my earlier posts devoted to patchouli)

Some people have a wine cellar, I have a patchouli cellar. Patchouli ages extremely well and if left in a cool dark space over time will develop a complexity of deep, warm, rich notes...eventually evolving into a powdery, delicate sweetness.

dried patchouli leaf

If you share my enthusiasm for the healing richness of organic shea butter combined with the aromatic hug of Patchouli + Vanilla... AND... you need a super effective restorative treatment for dry, devitalized, wrinkled and stressed skin, try our Whipped Patchouli + Vanilla Shea Butter!

Patchouli Vanilla Shea Butter is a coconut oil-infusion of vanilla pods from Madagascar, an olive oil infusion of organic rose petals, and our own sweet and vintage, Indonesian patchouli. Your skin will be soft, smooth, glowing and sweetly fragrant.

Application: Apply it daily to treat wrinkles on the face caused by stress. After a bath or shower, slather it on when you want to surround yourself with the fragrance of soul-centered calmness.

For a special Facial Treatment, apply it as a mask. Penetrate this nurturing whipped shea butter balm into the skin with repetitions of steamy towels.

PS/ it takes our lab staff FOUR HOURS to whip up a batch of this lovely stuff!

Medicine Buddha

2008-12-10T12:01:00.001-08:00

"From the elemental cosmic landscape of earth, air, water and space, the Medicine Buddha manifests on a multi-colored lotus throne. Deep blue in color, translucent and luminous like a brilliantly clear night sky, he holds a healing herb in his right hand in a gesture of giving. His left hand rests in a meditation position, holding an almsbowl filled with medicinal plants.

Snow lions support his throne symbolizing the power and strength of the Buddha's commitment to heal the physical, mental, and spiritual ills of all beings and bring clarity and balance to their lives."

Our Newest Booklet

2008-12-06T15:46:00.000-08:00

Greetings

Our newest booklet is available and in all stores that carry our products. If they are out, please give us a call and we will happily send you one....888 335 0190

Stay Tuned for the launch of our new, and loong overdue, website! New products, new ideas, and holistic solutions for all skin conditions.

Happy Holidays!

Evan

Warm Holiday Greetings from all of us at evanhealy!

More Q + A's

2008-12-03T16:19:00.000-08:00

Customer Q/

hello! first i wanted to share my gratitude for your product line. i had previously been using the * products with great satisfaction until they changed the formulation on several of my favorites. what to do! fortunately, a woman working at whole foods introduced me to yours! i started out with the tea tree cleanser. i'm so picky about the way my skin feels after washing (i want clean, but not stripped) and was disappointed by several of the higher end lines that whole foods offers. but the tea tree is perfect! my skin looks and feels wonderful. so i just purchased the entire blemish kit and am excited to try the other products out.
i have two questions for you:

first, is there a makeup line that you would recommend? i am looking for a face powder with a fair amount of coverage. dr. haushka's is great for the summertime when i have some color in my skin, but not enough (and too drying) for winter.

second, i have a rash (mostly around my mouth) known as perioral dermatitis. i understand the skin is a reflection of internal health and i continue to find myself frustrated because a healthy, whole food, alkaline diet, vitamins, minerals and oils, various antibacterial supplements and homeopathic remedies have not helped. of course, western physicians prescribed me antibiotics and metrogel (neither of which i will take!) i'm at wits end. if you have any experience with this or any wisdom to share, i would be ever greatful.
thank you again! your products and philosophy have made a difference in my life!

warmly...

~~~~~~~~~~

A/

Thank you for your kind words, we appreciate it! I am glad to know you like our Tea Tree Gel, really a perfect choice for a gentle lathering cleanser that respects the skin and all its myriad functions.

Hint: You can add a 1/2 teaspoon of either of our Clay Masks to the Tea Tree Gel along with dribbles of water (combine in palms and massage into skin) to create a gentle scrub that also helps to draw impurities out of tiny dermal pores and absorbs dead skin cells from the surface of the skin, too, leaving it clear and luminous.

1/ I do like some of the natural makeup lines carried at Whole Foods and other natural food stores and Co-Ops...There are a variety of makeup lines and many are good alernatives to conventional makeup that uses toxic FD&C colors and a long list of offensive chemical ingredients.

With regards the category of mineral foundation powders: try to steer clear of Bismuth Oxychloride and all the nanoparticles and micronized ingredients. They are irritating and create itchy skin especially if you exercise while wearing the powders (sweating aggravates the itchiness).

I am working on a line of pure, crushed earth mineral powders for makeup - end of 2009. Clean and non toxic, and No NANO Particles!

2/ Yes - I have had other clients who have had Perioral dermatitis. It is very possibly connected to toothpaste allergies -or- a hypersensitive reaction (if not actually an allergy) to an ingredient in the paste that we all use habitually twice a day, everyday. So all the good foods may be helping, but the problem might the toothpaste...

If you have been using the same toothpaste for a long time you may have built up a sensitivity and be reacting to one or more of the bleaching ingredients that are in the toothpastes these days - the ubiquitous "whiteners" - which can be very sensitizing to mucous membrane (the type of tissue that surrounds the mouth).

Try switching to a really simple and clean formulation or at least switching to see if the rash quiets down.

Hope this helps...

Cheers,

Evan

------

Q/

Subject: HELP! Nasolabial folds!

Hello: I just started using some of your products and I am liking the results. I do have a question: Which one of your products do you know to be effective for those very annoying “naso-labial” creases? I have very complex skin, so I am not going to take the time right now to give you “history”, although I can do that if necessary? Thank you for your time & I look forward to your response! Sincerely...

A/

Greetings...

My entire line (general daily use: cleanse-tone-moisturize) functions to help minimize and soften the appearance of naso-labial folds. This does not mean that you need to use the entire line, however!

Oil + Water (RoseHip Oil and Facial Tonic Hydrosols):

Two pumps of my RoseHip Treatment Oil layered with generous sprays of my Facial Tonic Hydrosols (or combined together in palms and apply daily) are a general good start for treating that area of the face. The combination of nourishing rosehip oil and the antioxidant power of pure plant hydrosols, packed with activating aromatic molecules stimulate circualtion and increase suppleness, restoring the overall tone to skin.

There are significant benefits to using Rosehip Oil daily (with pure plant hydrosols): they supply both linoleic and linolenic fatty acids - the essential fatty acids (EFAs), and called essential because, while our body needs them, it does not manufacture them so they must be ingested. They are an ideal treatment for regenerating and enlivening skin tissue and restoring the scaffloding network of collagen and elastin, resulting in stronger, firmer skin appearance.

However, do keep in mind the perspective that our facial structure is a result of our genetics and that the constant our use of our facial muscles – and the repetitive emotions that play constantly across out faces - will, over the years, leave their mark.

Still, I firmly believe that a well nourished skin, both inside and outside, is the best solution to a healthy...and peaceful face.

Thanks for your interest, we appreciate it!

Cheers

Evan

Q + A's

2008-12-03T16:15:00.000-08:00

Customer Question:

Hi Evan,

I came across your products at Whole foods last week. In desperate need of a nourishing eye cream I tested yours and fell in love with it. I began using benzol peroxide face care products with sulfur and glycolic acid 7 years ago in my teenage stage due to having/ preventing acne. The outcome has left my skin extremely dehydrated with constant oil being secreted under my dead layers of top skin. I am also beginning to have crows feet in my forehead due to the over drying ( I am only 22). After getting a second opinion about my skin I have been informed I am in deep need for moisturizing facial routine instead of what I have been using.

In the past each time I move away from the acid and peroxide my face begins to break out very badly. Which care products would you suggest I use to help replenish and moisturize my face while preventing my skin from breaking out. I also have very small pores which makes it difficult to stop a breakout once it begins.

I truly appreciate your skin care advice and love your products. I look forward to hearing from you and see what you would suggest and give me hope to naturally heal my face!!

Best Regards...
~~~~~~~~~~~~

Answers:

Greetings and thank you for your kind words about my Eye Care Cream – we love it too!

- A little background info on skin:

The skin is an amazing organ, it is composed of literally thousands of tiny dermal pores that cover your body and literally breathe. They inhale oxygen and nutritive substances and exhale toxins, you want your skin to do this, you do not want to hang on to toxic material! The skin also does an important job of interacting with your organs of digestion to release toxins from the digestive processes the body, too.

The skin, along with your lungs and kidneys it is one of three major pathways your body uses to rid itself of metabolic impurities. So you can see that keeping the surface of your skin healthy and functioning at an optimal level is very important for the entire body, not just the surface of the skin and preventing blemishes and wrinkles. However, those are, by the way, very important diagnostic symptoms

One way of keeping the skin clean, clear and functioning properly is to use efficient, clean and non toxic products that won’t clog those tiny pore openings, and the ONLY way to do that, holistically (I am a holistic aesthetician, after all!) is to stop using the toxic, synthetic cosmeceutical and/or pharmaceutically-based skin care treatments such a BP and the ubiquitous fruit enzymes and glycolic acids - which in my experience are some of the worst substances ever created for skin care, the acids literally dissolve the epidermal layer of the skin, leaving it too thin to function as a barrier organ and also desperately dry, dehydrated and flaky, as you have experienced.

- The Value of Plant Oils and Plant Waters – Our RoseHip Treatment Oil and Facial Tonic Hydrosols:

I would suggest that you start with our Face Care Kit – we have three: Blemished, Rose (for combination skin) or Blue (for sensitive skin) all of which contain both the Facial Tonic Hydrosols and a sample of RoseHip Treatment Oil and you need both.

Use them (the rosehip oil and facial tonic hydrosols) combined together – you can combine them between the palms of the hands - or on your face, apply one after the other, either way you choose – this will be an important restorative therapy for you skin, the Oils will penetrate fully into your skin assisted by the Facial Tonics. Spray generously, these aromatic waters are also gently antimicrobial and antiseptic and will help fight pimples and infection, and the RoseHip Oil, trust me, will also regenerate your skin leaving it feeling silky, clean and smooth.

I realize that suggesting you use an Oil on your skin sounds counter intuitive, but a plant oil is completely different from the synthetic and cheap mineral oils most OTC conventional skincare use. They are rich in valuable nutrients and essential fatty acids (called essential because your body needs them yet does not produce them, so EFA's must be taken as nutritional supplements) which are very regenerating and anti inflammatory and assist the skin in its ability to repair and revitalize, significantly improving the appearance of skin that has been damaged by years of relying on AHAs and BP, etc...

...and one last word about the benefits of CLAY as a detoxifier and exfoliant par excellence. Clay is the secret to a millennium of healthy skin, it increases circulation and oxygenation to the entire skin. It draws impurities from tiny pores to the surface allowing them to be swept clean by our Cleansing Milks or Tea Tree Gel. A once-a-week clay treatment will renew and regenerate skin cells and is an appropriate exfoliating treatment for all skin conditions. We think Clay is so important for skin health that we have included a sample of either on of our Clay Masks in each Face Care Treatment Sample Kit....Wear it in good health!

I hope this helps and thank you for your support, we appreciate it!

Cheers,

Evan

Customer Questions:

2008-11-04T11:14:00.000-08:00

I have recently had two customers write in and ask about using our certifed organic Chilean RoseHip Treatment Oil for treating their acne and acne-scarred skin conditions:

Summation: Daily use of our RoseHip Treatment Oil /or our new Pomegranate Repair Serum with Sea Buckthorn Oil applied along with saturating sprays of our Facial Tonic Hydrosols is one of the most effective treatments I have seen as a holistic aesthetician for healing congested and scarred skin. Rosehip seed oil works by softening and loosening the hardened waxy deposits that contribute to congesting and infecting pores, diminishing acne scars and over all regeneration of skin tone and glow.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Q/ "I recently bought a few products from your skincare line from a Whole Foods in Chicago, and am a bit confused about rosehip seed oil- hoping you can shed some light. I have extremely oily and acne prone skin (even after 5 years on a whole foods, mostly raw and plant based diet) and have a both hyperpigmentation and pitted scars. I have read much about rosehip seed oil and its usefullness with regards to scarring, however, everywhere I read about it, I notice "not recommended for acne prone skin" in bold. You indicate on the packaging of your rosehip seed oil that it is not a problem for oily skin types, and might even be effective in helping to clear congestion. Is it safe for those with acne? Is it helpful for pitted scars??
Thanks for your time"

A/ I have had clients using rosehip seed oil daily on acne prone skin for years without a problem. However, I am aware that conventional wisdom cautions against rosehip specifically for acne treatment. This has not been my experience with the conditions I have worked on. Acne is sometimes misdiagnosed and a pimple is not always acne.

Regardless of whether you choose to use rosehip oil to treat acne, it is an important first step to be familiar with your own particular skin condition and what has caused the acne and/or oily skin conditions to begin with. For instance: is it a hormonal imbalance or problems with BC pills? Genetically predisposed? Poor food choices/ Digestive/or liver imbalances? Toxicity? Reaction to high stress? To heal acne you first need to know what caused it.

Acne is not caused by rosehip oil. Nor, in my personal experience, has rosehip oil – on it’s own – made it worse.

Problems with using rosehip seed oil on an acne-prone skin condition can arise depending whatever else is being applied to the skin. This is an important point.

If you are mixing rosehip oil with OTC makeup or a chemical-laden sun-protection product that contain petroleum ingredients, such as mineral oils or petrolatum, then it will aggravate and/or exacerbate congested oil glands whose primary purpose it is to release metabolic debris form tiny dermal pores.

Like a breath, the pores exhale metabolic impurities.

Covering the surface of the skin with toxic, pore-clogging synthetic ingredients that block, counteract or suppress this 'exhaling' action, will encourage acne breakouts.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Note: Below I have posted the initial email I received, also asking about using rosehip oil on acne. I include it here because it adds additional information:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

In my experience as a holistic aesthetician, the claim that organic rosehip oil (rosa rubiginosa, mosqueta) contributes to acne has not proven to be true.

It has also been my experience that oily skin is not caused by plant or vegetable sourced oil applied to the skin, but more often, is the result of the skin releasing too much sebum in an attempt to correct an imbalance -or- a synthetic oil or ingredients, such as in makeup products. They can be full of chemicals that clog tiny pores!

The value of using an organic, plant sourced oil (such as rosehip, hazelnut, avocado, evening primrose, olive oil, hemp seed oil, sunflower, calendula, sea buckthorn, jojoba, etc) is that it actually works to restore suppleness and glow to skin as well as to thoroughly cleanse congested matter out of your pores by softening and loosening. This was my direct experience as an aesthetician in private practice for many years. Plant oils cleanse better than any soap, fruit acid, glycolic acid or other harsh enzyme cleanser.

RoseHip oil, rich in essential fatty acids, and Vit. A and C, is no more a culprit of creating pimples or pustules on skin than is any other nutritional oil - and if you look at ingredients lists of many other holistic skincare products, my guess is that most of them contain at least one plant-based oil.
The primary cause of congested, impure skin is usually a combination of factors: wrong dietary choices, digestion, assimilation + elimination, stress, hormones, heredity, etc. The skin is merely one of the pathways that the body uses to rid itself of metabolic impurities.

On the occasion that I hear that someone is not seeing improvement with their skin when they are using the RoseHip Oil, I make sure that they are:

#1/ NOT combining other skincare treatment lines when you are starting use with mine. It is *important* when you are trying to correct imbalances or heal an existing skin problem that two different lines with different philosophies and ingredients not get all mixed together. Especially if the products contain synthetic ingredients or petroleum oils. Mineral oils do not have the same softening and loosening effect that natural plant based oils do, such as rosehip, sea buckthorn, pomegranate, jojoba, olive, sesame, grapeseed....

#2 Washing off all makeup and then cleansing afterward. Apply the RoseHip Oil on moist skin, either from water or saturated with the Facial Tonic Hydrosols.

#3/ Applying a weekly Clay Mask. This is a really important step that will encourage the skin to release toxins. Clay is very effective at drawing out all the impurities that the skin is busy releasing. “
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Lavender

2008-09-28T14:35:00.001-07:00

"The problems that face us cannot be solved at the same level of consciousness that created them. What we need is a shift in consciousness." Albert Einstein

Bottled Water and Energy

2008-08-04T17:53:00.000-07:00

BOTTLED WATER AND ENERGY - A PACIFIC INSTITUTE FACT SHEET

The growing consumption of bottled water raises questions about the product’s economic and envi-
ronmental costs. Among the most significant concerns are the resources required to produce the
plastic bottles and to deliver filled bottles to consumers, including both energy and water.

The Pacific Institute estimates that in 2006:
• Producing bottles for American consumption required the equivalent of more than 17 million barrels of oil, not including energy for transportation.
• Bottling water produced more than 2.5 million tons of carbon dioxide
• It took 3 liters of water to produce 1 liter of bottled water

Total U.S. Consumption of Bottled Water in 2006
According to the Beverage Marketing Corporation,1 Americans bought a total of
31.2 billion liters of water in 2006, sold in bottles ranging from the 8-ounce
aquapods popular in school lunches to the multi-gallon bottles found in family
refrigerators and office water coolers. Most of this water was sold in polyethylene
terephthalate (PET) bottles, requiring nearly 900,000 tons of the plastic. PET is
produced from fossil fuels – typically natural gas and petroleum.

Energy Required to Make PET Plastic
According to the plastics manufacturing industry, it takes around 3.4 megajoules of energy to make a
typical one-liter plastic bottle, cap, and packaging.2 Making enough plastic to bottle 31.2 billion liters
of water required more than 106 billion megajoules of energy. Because a barrel of oil contains
around 6 thousand megajoules, the Pacific Institute estimates that the equivalent of more than 17
million barrels of oil were needed to produce these plastic bottles.

Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Consumption of Bottled Water
The manufacture of every ton of PET produces around 3 tons of carbon dioxide (CO2). Bottling
water thus created more than 2.5 million tons of CO2 in 2006.3

Water Required to Make Bottled Water
In addition to the water sold in plastic bottles, the Pacific Institute estimates that twice as much wa-
ter is used in the production process. Thus, every liter sold represents three liters of water.

Transporting and Recycling Bottled Water
More energy is needed to fill the bottles with water at the factory, move it by truck, train, ship, or air
freight to the user, cool it in grocery stores or home refrigerators, and recover, recycle, or throw
away the empty bottles. The Pacific Institute estimates that the total amount of energy required for
every bottle is equivalent, on average, to filling a plastic bottle 1⁄4 full with oil.

1 Beverage Marketing Corporation estimate for 2006.
2 Plastics Europe. http://lca.plasticseurope.org/petb5.htm
3 I. Bousted. 2005. Eco-profiles of the European Plastics Industry: Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET), (Bottle grade).

Info Courtesy: Pacific Institute · 654 13th Street, Preservation Park, Oakland, California · 510.251.1600 · info@pacinst.org · www.pacinst.org

Pomegrante Repair Serum w/ Sea Buckthorn Oil

2008-07-03T17:30:00.000-07:00

Pomegrante Repair Serum with Sea Buckthorn Oil is an extraordinary combination of fruit, seed and berry oils known for their revitalizing effect on skin.

This nutrient-rich therapeutic treatment adds powerful antioxidant benefits to skin, while a high polyphenol and conjugated fatty acid content assists in the wound healing process. This combined effect also results in strong anti-inflammatory properties, offering an effective solution for rosacea –or- any sensitive skin condition.

Daily use increases vitality, elasticity, and softness while providing an elegant silky feeling.

Pomegranate Repair Serum has exceptional moisturizing and nourishing properties. Its visible healing effect on mature and aging skin, dry and cracked skin, irritated, sun damaged sunburned skin is truly remarkable. This oil should also be used to treat acne, eczema and psoriasis, as well as rosacea.

Pomegranate Repair Serum with Sea Buckthorn Oil:

• Boosts restoration and repair of the skin
• Evens skin tone
• Scavenges free radicals
• Helps with collagen production
• Helps reverse the damage of sun exposure
• Heals poorly healing wounds such as bed sores
• Calm and soothes symptoms of rosacea, eczema, acne and general dermatitis
• Assists the skin in healing both new and old scars

The addition of Sea Buckthorn Oil adds a nourishing, revitalizing and restorative action. Studies of sea buckthorn oil have suggested that the restorative properties present in the fruit and berry extract may be due in part to its high content of essential fatty acids, carotenes, tocopherols and phytosterols, elements which are all important in the maintenance of a healthy functioning skin.

Daily Application~~~~~
Apply two pumps to slightly moist skin in the morning after cleansing. A small amount may be used in the evening. Follow application with saturating sprays of our Facial Tonic Hydrosols. Pomegranate Repair Serum can be used alone –or- one or two pumps may be combined with our Rose Vetiver or Blue Chamomile Day Moisturizer.

Ingredients~~~~~
Certified organic Pomegranate seed oil* (Punica Granatum), certified organic rosehip seed oil (rosa rubiginosa), certified organic jojoba oil* (Simmondsia chinensis), certified organic Sea Buckthorn Oil CO2* (Hippophae rhamnoides), and vitamin e.

Sea Buckthorn Berries

Lavandin essential oil

2008-06-05T22:20:00.001-07:00

Lavandin essential oil and tea tree essential oil are the two active aromatic ingredients in our Tea Tree Gel Cleanser

Tears of Tara: Tibetan Salt

2008-05-30T14:48:00.000-07:00

Namtso, which means 'Heavenly Lake' in Tibetan, is the largest salt lake in the Tibetan Autonomous Region~~~~

In The Saltmen of Tibet, a stunningly beautiful 1997 Swiss documentary, director Ulrike Koch follows the incredible physical and spiritual three-month journey undertaken each year by nomadic tribesmen on the Himalayan plateau to harvest salt from the holy lakes of the Changtang region.

Observing the age-old taboos and steadfast homage to the deities of nature, four men meticulously plan this grueling three-month yak caravan to fetch "the tears of Tara", the precious salt from the holy lakes of northern Tibet.

For these nomads, sea salt is still the primary currency, just as it was in China and India more than 2,000 years ago.

Salt has been worth its weight in gold, literally, from the days of the Roman Empire through the European spice trading of the 16th-18th centuries, when salt traded one-to-one for a pound of gold. More recently, in 1930, the British government in India imposed a salt tax, and Mahatma Gandhi and thousands of followers walked 240 miles to the sea (the famous Salt Satyagraha, or Salt March) to collect their own salt and protest the tax.

Made by the evaporation of sea water, sea salt is expensive, its high price fueled by popularity, limited supply, and labor-intensive harvesting methods.

Lavender Facial Tonic Hydrosol

2008-05-22T08:52:00.001-07:00

Summer 2008
Fragrant, sweet and soothing....our certifed organic Lavender angustifolia Hydrosol comes to us from local growers and distillers and is distilled in a pure copper alembic which eliminates the 'still' scent. Repeated sprays throughout the day with our Lavender Facial Tonic Hydrosol tones and refreshes facial skin, balances sebaceous oil content, adds healing aromatic molecules and pure plant antioxidants....and calms the spirit. Take a deep breath.

No alcohol. No perservatives. No synthetic ingredients.

Rosehip seed oil - Daily nourishment for Skin

2008-05-16T20:02:00.001-07:00

evanhealy certified organic RoseHip Treatment Oil - Blue or Rose Blend - Daily application adds clarity, smoothness and overall luminosity to facial skin.

The petroleum industry

2008-05-15T12:21:00.000-07:00

Where would you rather your skin care products come from, here:

or here?
Biodynamic gardens at Terra Flora

Puffy Eye Lids -or- Under Eye 'BOGS'

2008-05-12T12:24:00.001-07:00

A Cranberry Bog:

A bog is defined as "wet, soggy, muddy ground too soft to support a heavy body". The metaphor is an apt one, and except for the "muddy" part, I think you can see where I am going with this.

One of the most frequently asked questions I hear is: "how do I get rid of swollen, puffy eye lids?" or "How did I get them to begin with?"

The purpose of a moisturizing treatment, in this case an eye treatment cream specifically, is to slow water loss and act as a barrier protectant. Used at night this is exactly what an eye cream does: slows water loss. This can result in a water-logged area around the eye......viola, your very own (eye) bog.

A little anatomy: The skin on the face is the thinnest on the body and is composed of 'dry' skin and the 'transitional' skin of the eyes, nose and mouth. The area around the eye is composed of apocrine sweat glands and soft, comfy fat pads, this is the good news, this is the bad news. The opposite of our eye's tissue-thin skin and protective fat pads would be the tough, thick callus on the bottom of your feet.

In an attempt to minimize the appearance of swollen eye 'bogs' women will try anything from the literally thousands of "miracle" creams and cosmeceuticals -to- surgery.

The one common denominator with regards to the vast array of miracle creams is the accompanying "helpful" information:
"APPLY AT NIGHT".

My term for eyes swollen from products worn at night is: EYE BOGS. They are caused from the nightly application of thick, rich eye creams, and most OTC formulations are made with synthetic mineral oils (inert, pore-suffocating and very cheap lubrication, just to add insult to injury) and are responsible for causing puffy, soft and swollen skin "too soft to support a heavier body" which in this case is the surrounding skin and its structure.
Eye products applied around the eye at night tend to increase swelling and fluid retention because the eye is, by necessity, an area of the anatomy that is surrounded by fluid-loving fat pads, and is assisted by the fact that you are in a deep sleep, heart rate and respiration has become deep and slow.....and you are virtually unmoving for eight hours. Bodily fluids love to "pool" in our eye socket area, it's a perfect environment.

I differentiate between puffiness of eyes caused by nightly application of thick, rich, occlusive products - and eyes swollen from a systemic imbalance or disease. There are any number of physical reasons that the eye area can be swollen, and if you have any reason to believe that this is a symptom of a deeper disharmony, I encourage you to pay attention to this important signal, and go see your health care provider.

One easy way to check and see if the product you are slavishly applying everynight is the culprit, is to stop applying it for 2 weeks and see if the swelling goes down. Amazingly, this seems to remedy many cases of 'eye bogs' I have seen over the years.

evanhealy CHAMOMILE EYE CREAM - an excellent choice!

During the day is the optimal time to apply an eye product and we offer one of the lightest, most nourishing Creams: CHAMOMILE EYE CREAM. Warm a small amount between the two middle fingers and apply around the eye, upper and lower lid, in the morning after cleansing and toning.

The body's metabolism, blood circulation, respiration and lymph fluids are moving keeping the eye area (and body) protected and nourished...and, not bogged down!

Ethiopian Frankincense

2008-04-22T16:37:00.001-07:00

...In our SHEA BUTTER FACE and BODY CREAM.

Good news for your skin.

olive leaf

2008-04-20T16:58:00.001-07:00

We use certified organic, infused olive leaf in our whipped Shea Butter Face and Body Cream with Olive leaf - see earlier post for description

GLUTEN FREE: Celiac Disease and skincare

2008-04-07T08:15:00.000-07:00

Occasionally I get asked whether my skincare products are GLUTEN FREE, and while they DO NOT contain gluten, I was puzzled because it was my understanding that unless you were eating your skin treatment products (and in the case of lip balms this is entirely possible) that skincare treatment products were not a trigger for celiac disease, I was under the impression that gluten was not absorbed through the skin. But, because I was finding conflicting information, I decided to check with the Mayo Clinic and here's their answer:
~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Q/ Can gluten be absorbed through the skin? If I have celiac disease, do I need to be concerned about sunscreens, shampoos and cosmetics that contain gluten?

A/ Gluten can't be absorbed through the skin, although this is a common misperception. Celiac disease is triggered by consumption of gluten. For this reason, people with celiac disease must eliminate all gluten from their diet. Gluten-containing skin-care products and cosmetics aren't a problem unless you accidentally swallow them. For this reason, you should avoid using such products on your lips or around your mouth. Also, avoid using gluten-containing dental products, such as mouthwash and toothpaste. If you're uncertain about whether a product contains gluten, check the ingredient list on the product label or call the manufacturer.

Some people develop a form of celiac disease called dermatitis herpetiformis (DH), which causes an itchy, blistering rash. This skin disorder is also linked to gluten intolerance. But although it involves the skin, DH is caused by ingesting gluten, not by skin contact with gluten. So, eliminating gluten from your diet will help clear up DH as well.
If you use a cosmetic or skin-care product that contains gluten and you develop a skin reaction, seek the advice of your doctor or dermatologist to help identify the cause. It is possible to have an allergy to wheat or another grain that could cause a skin reaction." [Content provided by MayoClinic.com]

A description of the Layers of the Skin

2008-04-06T16:24:00.000-07:00

Those of you who are my clients and/or customers are well aware of my holistic philosophy of skin treatment and my general recommendation to avoid products that work to constantly dissolve the epidermal layer of the skin, such as synthetic exfoliating acids and the overuse of harsh fruit enzymes. You are well acquainted with my belief that the epidermal layer is there for a reason.

Here is a description of the skin and it's layers and sublayers for those of you who might be interested:

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
LAYERS of the SKIN:

The EPIDERMIS:

The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin, and protects the body from the environment. The thickness of the epidermis varies in different types of skin; it is only .05 mm thick on the eyelids, and is 1.5 mm thick on the palms and the soles of the feet. The epidermis contains the melanocytes (the cells in which melanoma develops), the Langerhans' cells (involved in the immune system in the skin), Merkel cells and sensory nerves. The epidermis layer itself is made up of FIVE sublayers that work together to continually rebuild the surface of the skin:

~~~~~The Basal Cell Layer
The basal layer is the innermost layer of the epidermis, and contains small round cells called basal cells. The basal cells continually divide, and new cells constantly push older ones up toward the surface of the skin, where they are eventually shed. The basal cell layer is also known as the stratum germinativum due to the fact that it is constantly germinating (producing) new cells.
The basal cell layer contains cells called melanocytes. Melanocytes produce the skin coloring or pigment known as melanin, which gives skin its tan or brown color and helps protect the deeper layers of the skin from the harmful effects of the sun. Sun exposure causes melanocytes to increase production of melanin in order to protect the skin from damaging ultraviolet rays, producing a suntan. Patches of melanin in the skin cause birthmarks, freckles and age spots. Melanoma develops when melanocytes undergo malignant transformation.
Merkel cells, which are tactile cells of neuroectodermal origin, are also located in the basal layer of the epidermis.

~~~~~The Squamous Cell Layer
The squamous cell layer is located above the basal layer, and is also known as the stratum spinosum or “spiny layer” due to the fact that the cells are held together with spiny projections. Within this layer are the basal cells that have been pushed upward, however these maturing cells are now called squamous cells, or keratinocytes. Keratinocytes produce keratin, a tough, protective protein that makes up the majority of the structure of the skin, hair, and nails.
The squamous cell layer is the thickest layer of the epidermis, and is involved in the transfer of certain substances in and out of the body. The squamous cell layer also contains cells called Langerhans cells. These cells attach themselves to antigens that invade damaged skin and alert the immune system to their presence.

~~~~~The Stratum Granulosum & the Stratum Lucidum
The keratinocytes from the squamous layer are then pushed up through two thin epidermal layers called the stratum granulosum and the stratum lucidum. As these cells move further towards the surface of the skin, they get bigger and flatter and adhere together, and then eventually become dehydrated and die. This process results in the cells fusing together into layers of tough, durable material, which continue to migrate up to the surface of the skin.

~~~~~The Stratum Corneum
The stratum corneum is the outermost layer of the epidermis, and is made up of 10 to 30 thin layers of continually shedding, dead keratinocytes. The stratum corneum is also known as the “horny layer,” because its cells are toughened like an animal’s horn. As the outermost cells age and wear down, they are replaced by new layers of strong, long-wearing cells. The stratum corneum is sloughed off continually as new cells take its place, but this shedding process slows down with age. Complete cell turnover occurs every 28 to 30 days in young adults, while the same process takes 45 to 50 days in elderly adults.

The DERMIS:

The dermis is located beneath the epidermis and is the thickest of the three layers of the skin (1.5 to 4 mm thick), making up approximately 90 percent of the thickness of the skin. The main functions of the dermis are to regulate temperature and to supply the epidermis with nutrient-saturated blood. Much of the body’s water supply is stored within the dermis. This layer contains most of the skins’ specialized cells and structures, including:
*Blood Vessels - The blood vessels supply nutrients and oxygen to the skin and take away cell waste and cell products. The blood vessels also transport the vitamin D produced in the skin back to the rest of the body.
*Lymph Vessels - The lymph vessels bathe the tissues of the skin with lymph, a milky substance that contains the infection-fighting cells of the immune system. These cells work to destroy any infection or invading organisms as the lymph circulates to the lymph nodes.
*Hair Follicles - The hair follicle is a tube-shaped sheath that surrounds the part of the hair that is under the skin and nourishes the hair.
*Sweat Glands – The average person has about 3 million sweat glands. Sweat glands are classified according to two types:
*Apocrine glands are specialized sweat glands that can be found only in the armpits and pubic region. These glands secrete a milky sweat that encourages the growth of the bacteria responsible for body odor.
*Eccrine glands are the true sweat glands. Found over the entire body, these glands regulate body temperature by bringing water via the pores to the surface of the skin, where it evaporates and reduces skin temperature. These glands can produce up to two liters of sweat an hour, however, they secrete mostly water, which doesn’t encourage the growth of odor-producing bacteria.
*Sebaceous glands - Sebaceous, or oil, glands, are attached to hair follicles and can be found everywhere on the body except for the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet. These glands secrete oil that helps keep the skin smooth and supple. The oil also helps keep skin waterproof and protects against an overgrowth of bacteria and fungi on the skin.
*Nerve Endings – The dermis layer also contains pain and touch receptors that transmit sensations of pain, itch, pressure and information regarding temperature to the brain for interpretation. If necessary, shivering (involuntary contraction and relaxation of muscles) is triggered, generating body heat.
*Collagen and Elastin - The dermis is held together by a protein called collagen, made by fibroblasts. Fibroblasts are skin cells that give the skin its strength and resilience. Collagen is a tough, insoluble protein found throughout the body in the connective tissues that hold muscles and organs in place. In the skin, collagen supports the epidermis, lending it its durability. Elastin, a similar protein, is the substance that allows the skin to spring back into place when stretched and keeps the skin flexible.

The DERMIS layer is made up of TWO sublayers:

~~~~~~The Papillary Layer
The upper, papillary layer, contains a thin arrangement of collagen fibers. The papillary layer supplies nutrients to select layers of the epidermis and regulates temperature. Both of these functions are accomplished with a thin, extensive vascular system that operates similarly to other vascular systems in the body. Constriction and expansion control the amount of blood that flows through the skin and dictate whether body heat is dispelled when the skin is hot or conserved when it is cold.

~~~~~~The Reticular Layer
The lower, reticular layer, is thicker and made of thick collagen fibers that are arranged in parallel to the surface of the skin. The reticular layer is denser than the papillary dermis, and it strengthens the skin, providing structure and elasticity. It also supports other components of the skin, such as hair follicles, sweat glands, and sebaceous glands.

The SUBCUTIS:

The subcutis is the innermost layer of the skin, and consists of a network of fat and collagen cells. The subcutis is also known as the hypodermis or subcutaneous layer, and functions as both an insulator, conserving the body's heat, and as a shock-absorber, protecting the inner organs. It also stores fat as an energy reserve for the body. The blood vessels, nerves, lymph vessels, and hair follicles also cross through this layer. The thickness of the subcutis layer varies throughout the body and from person to person.

Spring Cleaning

2008-03-29T18:24:00.000-07:00

"Spring has arrived. The season of new life in the plant and animal kingdom. In the human kingdom, spring symbolizes growth, renewal and possibly a new handbag. And with pie season officially over, it’s the perfect time to detox. Now, without getting all master-cleansy or juice-fasty on you, here’s a simple way you can benefit from a wonderful seasonal detoxifier — dandelion.

The word dandelion comes from the French for “lion’s tooth”, a reference to its coarsely shaped leaves. In modern day French, the plant is called “pissenlit” which means “urinate in bed” because of it’s diuretic properties. But more on that later…

Dandelion root is an incredibly versatile plant that’s found and eaten all over the world. The leaves and crown of dandelion leaves can be eaten raw in salads or as cooked greens and the flowers can used to make wine. Dandelion root has untold medicinal uses: it’s a blood and kidney cleanser; a liver detoxifier; it can treat pneumonia and other respiratory illness; and it’s “also useful for clearing obstructions of the spleen, pancreas, gallbladder, and kidneys. It is of tremendous benefit to the stomach and intestines, balancing the enzymes that simultaneously benefit digestion, assimilation, and elimination”.

Oh, and beauty wise, it can also avert or help eliminate age spots.

One of the best ways to ingest dandelion root is as a tea. Although widely available as tea bags from most health food brands, committed spring-cleaners can opt to make their own. This recipe, courtesy of care2, shows you how:

DANDELION HERBAL TEA

Ingredients
4 cups pure water
6 tablespoons. dried dandelion root (1 year old minimum)
6 tablespoons dried dandelion leaf (double amount if fresh)

Simmer the dandelion root in the water, uncovered, for 20 minutes, then strain the liquid over the dandelion leaf. Cover tightly and steep for another 20 minutes; strain the tea again.

Just a tip: avoid drinking too close to bedtime. You don’t want to experience “pissenlit”."

courtesy of gliving.tv

G Living, that's G as in 'Green'

2008-03-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

G Living (gliving.tv) You can look at it like this: G Living is not about just Green Living, it's about smarter living. Here is the equation to figure out if something is "G": it must have, The Green factor + Quality + Function + Design + Style + Price = "G".

Take a peek:

The link is conveniently located in the 'My Favorite Links' - at 'G Living'/

The earth, too, is our 'skin'

2008-03-26T11:50:00.001-07:00

Ocean floor ecosystem/national geographic

An excerpt from AL Gore's Nobel Peace Prize speech:

"We, the human species, are confronting a planetary emergency – a threat to the survival of our civilization that is gathering ominous and destructive potential even as we gather here. But there is hopeful news as well: we have the ability to solve this crisis and avoid the worst – though not all – of its consequences, if we act boldly, decisively and quickly.
However, despite a growing number of honorable exceptions, too many of the world’s leaders are still best described in the words Winston Churchill applied to those who ignored Adolf Hitler’s threat: “They go on in strange paradox, decided only to be undecided, resolved to be irresolute, adamant for drift, solid for fluidity, all powerful to be impotent.”
So today, we dumped another 70 million tons of global-warming pollution into the thin shell of atmosphere surrounding our planet, as if it were an open sewer. And tomorrow, we will dump a slightly larger amount, with the cumulative concentrations now trapping more and more heat from the sun.
As a result, the earth has a fever. And the fever is rising. The experts have told us it is not a passing affliction that will heal by itself. We asked for a second opinion. And a third. And a fourth. And the consistent conclusion, restated with increasing alarm, is that something basic is wrong.
We are what is wrong, and we must make it right."
forest floor

Champa

2008-03-05T19:11:00.001-08:00

lovely and fragrant~~~~~
photo courtesy of Christopher McMahon - White Lotus Aromatics.com

Sample Kits

2008-02-26T12:12:00.000-08:00

Experience skin that feels like it's resting in its own natural state....Four Face Care Sample Kits:

Rose - for skin exhibiting signs of imbalance: areas of both excess oiliness and parched, flaky dryness; mature and/or hyperpigmented skin

Blue - for sensitive, reactive skin/ or skin prone to breakouts with areas of sensitivity

Blemish - for impure, congested and/or sluggish skin; teen skin care. Contains a full size of our Blemish Treatment Roll-On.

Clay Kit - provides a small hand-made, terra cotta clay bowl and fan-shaped mask brush to facilitate mixing our masks, create a weekly ritual! Also includes a sample size of both our Clay Mask Treatments: French Rose Clay w/ Rhassoul and Green Tea Clay Mask - enough mask for one full face treatment.

A Kit contains the five key products for each skin condition. Each sample-sized poduct within a Kit is hand-bottled in recycled glass. The sample Kit was created to offer an experience of our gently fragrant, pure plant "elixirs" for complete care of the skin.

There is enough product in each bottle to last for approximately 7-10 days of use.

Our Kits retail for $24.95 and are sold at many natural food stores, Co-Ops, boutiques, naturopathic clinics, spas and aestheticians specializing in natural skincare. Call for a store location: 888.335.0190

What makes evanhealy skincare different?

2008-02-22T14:16:00.000-08:00

A simple philosophy: The Skin Breathes.

evanhealy is a unique skincare treatment line created by holistic aesthetician Evan Healy. Her range of plant-based products, prepared by hand in small batches and packaged with zen-like simplicity, are considered not just 'green', but 'deep green'.

Rather than rely on toxic by-products of the petroleum industry to restore the myriad and complex functions of the skin, Evan has borrowed from the wisdom of nature utilizing many certified organic ingredients such as: nourishing nut and seed oils, herbal extracts, homeopathically prepared flower essences, pure plant hydrosols, and fresh, steam distilled essential oils to create her cleansing milks, serums, creams, emulsions, butters and natural clays.

Her philosophy draws from traditional plant lore, aromatherapy and homeopathy. “Plants and the skin speak the same language” she says and believes rather than treating areas of imbalance such as an overly oily condition, the more holistic, successful and long term solution is to support the totality of skin functions using natural ingredients and non-invasive treatment methods which encourage the skin to regulate itself - to “breathe”.

evanhealy skincare heals, repairs, refreshes and regenerates a wide variety of skin conditions from oily, sensitive and blemished to dry, dehydrated, inflamed and delicate… and all the subtle nuances that lay between.

“The less you interfere with the skin’s own ability to achieve balance, the better.” ....evan healy

February 25, 2008....spring is approaching, huzzah!

Let there be KALE

2008-02-17T16:22:00.000-08:00

...or, let FOOD be your medicine.

People often want to know what they can do to improve their skin's condition and if genetics hasn't dealt you the bonus card, then, as the saying goes "make lemonade!" Just relying on skincare products alone, no matter how high quality, won't improve skin tone and texture, create suppleness and vitality or increase hydration.
Adequate sleep and exercise and, of course, water are always at the top of my list, but a balanced diet, well digested (and eliminated!) is fundamental to good skin. A diet too high in sugar and refined carbohydrates creates havoc with blood sugar metabolism which creates deficiencies and imbalances in hormonal levels, digestion and assimilation not to mention making you cranky and hyperactive.

Plants and Skin Speak the Same Language:

I see immediate improvements in my own skin when I eat a diet primarily centered around fresh and organic fruits, greens and vegetables in general, they work to cleanse the system and add valuable nutrients naturally. One of the other suggestions I always make is that Oil be added to the diet if it is lacking, such as fish oil high in EPA and DHA, and plant oils such as flax, olive, hemp, sesame etc...Skin will become lustrious, supple and glowing within weeks, if not sooner. I believe that the more deficient you are the quicker you will see an improvement.

I am winding up to speak about the humble kale, and lovely GREENS in general! We are approaching Spring (finally), a good time to consider a liver cleanse (see your health care practioner) or simply increase leafy greens, either via fresh juiced cocktails, a salad, steamed or lightly cooked, in your diet.

A few days ago I found myself wandering down the produce aisle thinking "okay, what sizzling dining experience can I whip up for us tonight?". We tend to eat lightly in the evening, so I don't need to have an impressive main course. This day I spied a vibrant bunch of young KALE, organic Lacinato Kale to be precise, it was gorgeous and it was speaking to me! The deep green-ness and crinkly leaves of this tiny bunch of tender kale was exactly what I was looking for.

In the past, kale, chard, collard greens and the like were not my husband's favorite because I would just wash, steam and serve, no romancing the greens [to say that I am not a gourmet chef would be a master of understatement]... But this time, in a blinding flash of inspiration, I borrowed a preparation tip from Alice Waters' - Chez Panisse Vegetables (Harper Collins 1996) and removed the tough midrib of the larger leaves....Big difference. Preparation was a simple light steam, followed by drizzles of organic olive oil, a squeeze of lemon, and viola, dinner was served.

In fact, I liked it so much, freshly steamed kale was breakfast the next day with a slice of avocado and smoked salmon.

There are many good suggestions and absolutely endless nourishing vegetables (always organic and whenever possible support your local farmers market) - I am happy to hear what your favorite is....

what can be more captivating than a picture of kale, eh?

About Our Shea Butter from Ghana

2008-02-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

Tapko Widows Group - Ghana, West Africa

Our Shea Butter from Ghana is certifed organic, unrefined and unbleached....It is creamy, naturally fragrant and soft. It is hand made by the Tapko Widow's Group....

Tapko is a small village located near the Burkina Faso border, just northwest of Wa, in Ghana's Upper West Region. Life is very difficult for village residents. During the dry season, the hot dry Harmattan winds blow down from the Saraha. There is little cash economy and villagers must grow and harvest enough food and supplies during the rainy season to last them through the long hot dry season. This is hard for everyone, but especially difficult for women whose husband's have died and who still have young children. In Tapko Village a group of these women recognized that by working together they would be better able to support their children and families. They formed the Tapko Widow's Group and set out to identify opportunities to earn income to support their subsistence agriculture activities. With assistance from a Peace Corp volunteer, a small micro-credit program was established. The group now has about 70 members.

Our whipped Shea Butter Face and Body Cream with Olive Leaf is made by hand, at my production area in San Diego using the Tapko Women's shea butter from Ghana....for product description please see earlier post...

marigold

2008-02-08T11:47:00.000-08:00

“...change comes like a little wind that ruffles the
curtains at dawn, and it comes like the stealthy
perfume of wildflowers hidden in the grass.”

– JOHN STEINBECK

the flowering amazon...

2008-02-03T20:55:00.001-08:00

This is a watercolor painting (Gustavia augusta) by artist Margaret Mee, a British botanical artist who lived almost half of her life in Brazil. She is best remembered for her paintings of flowers she saw in Brasilian forests and her fifteen journeys into the depths of Amazonia.

I love her work and include it here for the sheer pleasure of it!

helichrysum essential oil

2008-02-03T18:11:00.001-08:00

I am often asked which essential oils I put in my Blue or sensitve skin line. Most people are familiar with blue chamomile and its stunning deep blue color and anti-inflammative action on sensitive skin, and, of course, tranquil lavender, calming and soothing both emotionally and physically. I have added the lessser known essential oil of Helichrysum italicum, also called Everlasting or Immortelle (what more perfect name for a skincare oil?)....The name Helichrysum is dervied from the Greek word for sun: helios and chysos meaning: gold... and it is almost as expensive.

Helichrysum italicum, pictured above, grows throughout the Mediterranean. Luca Turin* describes its fragrance as "an odd fenugreek-like smell halfway between curry and burnt sugar" - while Steffan Arctander** wrote "...sweetness... rich and overwhelming, honey-like and deep...sweet-fruity and tea-like...with a delicate and unique undertone...."

To me, helichrysum has always revealed an almost buttery note.

Helichrysum is well known in aromatherapeutic circles for its remarkable healing effects on bruised, wounded and/or hypersensitive skin.

* Perfumes - The Guide - Luca Turin and Tania Sanchez - Viking Press, 2008
** Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin - Arctander, Steffan - Allured Publishing 1994

what is clay?

2008-02-02T22:59:00.000-08:00

Is clay dirt?

It is important to understand that clay is above all a mineral. It has a crytal structure. Soil is made up of clay, organic debris, minerals, organic chemicals and wide variety of other substances. Dirt is...well, just dirt.. a blend of just about every imaginable discharge.

Soil is not dirt.

The soil on the side of the road is not dirt (although it may be very dirty). Soil is the TERRAIN, it is a vital and interactive substance, and one of the most important concepts in holistic medicine. The terrain is where we come from and where we will end up. It determines the quality of the crop, the air, the water, all the basic elements composing the living world. Some herbs will grow in sandy soils, others in acidic soils, still others in clay soils...Clay is present in all types of soils. Some have a large percentage others have a low percentage. Nothing grows on 100% clay.

Skin and the earth's surface:

The layers of the skin present an eloquent analogy for describing the various layers of the earth. Clay is present underneath the outer layer of the earth's crust (the dermis), and soil makes up the outer surface (the epidermis). When the soil, rocks and mineral erode, they progressively transform into clay. The outer layer of the earth's surface is made up of soil and dirt settles on top of that. Depending on the geographical situation of the soil, it can be more or less dirty. The side of the road is dirty, the middle of a corn field is not. Clay makes up the underlying structure of the outer layer of the earth's crust. It is the result of the degrdation of rocks, minerals, soil, dirt and all other substances that could end up on top of the earth.

It takes about 4 million years for this transformation to occur.

So, whereas clay is a mineral with a tetrahedral crystal structure, dirt is nothing more than a concentration of just about anything including waste matter and other more or less filthy substances. Clay interacts and mixes with the soil, and soil eventually turns into clay. One might say soil is the kingdom of life. It has seriously been put forward that clay could well be at the origin of all life on this planet.

In other words, dirt is waste, clay is genesis.

Clay is definitely not dirt.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
evanhealy skincare offers two Clay Treatment Masks:

Green Tea Clay Facial Mask - a pure, super finely powdered, organic Matcha Green Tea combined with green clay
and
French Rose Clay with Rhassoul - a silica and lithium-rich mineral clay from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco

The use of either Clay Mask will deep clean, restore structure, rebuild skin damaged from too many fruit enzymes or AHA treatments; and clay actually softens skin noticably! Weekly use draws impurities up and out of tiny dermal pores, detoxifying, refining and stimulating cellular renewal.
[see evanhealy product booklet for detailed information]

marigolds

perfumed days

2008-02-01T14:12:00.001-08:00

Of all our senses I think perhaps the sense of smell is my favorite. Fragrance is my one constant, I start my day by washing my face with a warm combination of Rose Cleansing Milk to which I add a few sprays of the Rose + Jasmine Facial Tonic and massage remnants of sleepiness right off my face. I follow with more sprays of our fragrant Hydrosols, for instance Orange Blossom (neroli) on cloudy, gloomy, cold days, and Rose Geranium when I need a burst of energy, and cooling Lavender when it is summer... I moisturize my skin with truly luscious Shea Butter Face and Body Cream with Olive Leaf which is whipped to a creamy lightness. It is a combination of shea butter and organic OIive Oil, to which we have folded in vanilla infused coconut oils and rose petals....Protective and nourishing, it wraps its scented arms around my face. I need nothing else...Now wandering into the kitchen, I light my favorite wand or stick of incense, and brew a mug of steamy-creamy Irish tea. There's a large pot of jasmine growing on a sunny window sill, and while I work the etheral scent of sweet, fragrant blossoms soothes and quiets me.

Patchouli

2008-01-22T16:41:00.001-08:00

Indonesian Patchouli

I really love patchouli. The older the better.

Like fine wine, patchouli ages extremely well, and over time if left in a cool, dark space, will develop an extremely rich, almost fruity note growing fuller, richer, rounder and deeper. A well developed oil has an ethereal-floral sweetness, aromatic-spicy and herbaceous notes with a woody-blasamic body that evolves into a powdery, delicate earthiness......all this fragrant glory despite being the essential oil from the dried leaf of Pogostemon cablin.. a small plant primarily found in Indonesia. Regardless of where it is distilled, the fragrance of the oil improves upon aging. The sharp-green or "wet-earth", minty notes are subduded or vanish, and the sweetness ascends to the surface of the odor pattern...

Patchouli's aphrodisiac quality has a very comforting, grounding and relaxing effect. The essential oil used in skin care products (evanhealy shea butter) is beneficial for dry and irritated skin conditions. It regenerates and repairs, heals and restores, and has an absolutely amazing effect on wrinkles, and not JUST the garden variety-type, but most specifically on wrinkles and fine lines caused from stress. Well, that may be an oxy-moron.

coming soon!
Creamy & Smooth - Whipped Patchouli-Vanilla Shea Butter - a soothing balm for all over body 1.9 fragrant ounces

Sources:
Perfume and Flavor Materials of Natural Origin, Steffen Arctander, Allured Publishing 1994
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Photos courtesy of Christopher McMahon - WhiteLotusAromatics.com

Patchouli Curing Shed

Hand Made Clay Bowls

2008-01-20T15:38:00.000-08:00

I am standing here with our wonderful potter from Mexico who hand-makes all our clay bowls that go into our Clay Kits. Clay, a living and vibrant mineral, is what I refer to as natural skin care's unsung hero, it is also an effective eco-alternative to harsh enzyme peels and AHA's etc. We offer two different Clay Masks (the clay the bowls are made of a different type of clay than the clay we sell for facial use): Green Tea Clay and French Rose Clay. [Please visit my website from more information]. Here's how to mix a mask: Put about a teaspoon or more of either of my Clay Masks into the bowl, and into that dribble about a tablespoon of fresh Hydrosol into clay and mix to create a creamy consistency.....apply to all over face, leave to dry. Rinse and moisturize. Your skin feels and looks light, clean, soft and clear.

Facial Tonic HYDROSOLS

2008-01-20T13:59:00.000-08:00

rose geranium leaf and flowers

evanhealy Facial Tonic Hydrosols - Flower Power!

what are hydrosols?

Hydrosol means "water solution"... Hydrosols are pure plant waters rich in water-soluble aromatic compounds. Co-created during the steam distillation of essential oils, hydrosols contain all of the plant in every drop bringing balance, vitality and much needed hydration to all skin conditions.
Hydrosols exhibit a natural ability to mix with the skin’s own natural oils resulting in softer, smoother skin.

They are chemical free - but not fragrance free!

These subtle, natural plant fragrances are saturated with dynamic aromatic molecules that repair and regenerate. Being some of nature’s best anti-oxidants, frequent daily use of Facial Tonic Hydrosols will contribute to protecting the skin from free radicals, pollution and sun damage.

Available Hydrosols: Lavender - Rose Geranium - Orange Blossom - Rose & Jasmine

No Alcohol. No Preservatives. No Synthetic Ingredients.

Orange Blossoms

Shea Butter Face and Body Cream with Olive Leaf

2008-01-20T13:56:00.000-08:00

Shea Trees

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Our Fair Trade shea butter comes to us from the West Afrcian country of Ghana. It is certified organic, non-bleached and unrefined. Your purchase of our fragrant Shea Butter Face and Body Cream helps to support the group of women responsible for making this superior product: the Tapko Widow's Group. These women, despite being widowed, remain responsible for their children and extended families. This remarkable group of women hand-harvest and process the shea nuts into shea butter using labor-intensive, traditional methods that have been handed down over centuries.

evanhealy whipped Shea Butter Face and Body Cream with Olive Leaf is rich in essential fatty acids to stimulate skin renewal; tocopherols to provide antioxidant properties; and cinnamic acid to provide UV protection; it also contains phyto-nutrients, vitamins C, E, and K, and we further enhance our formulation with homeopathic Flower Essences. Daily use heals many types of dry, sensitive and dehydrated skin conditions while providing maximum barrier protection without a heavy feeling or clogging tiny dermal pores. Shea Butter Face & Body Cream is especially effective for treating inflamed skin condtions such as rosacea, psoriasis, general dermatitis, rashes and burned or sun damaged skin.

The Shea Fruit

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This soothing balm is whipped (by our own hands!), into a creamy lightness and the subtle fragrance comes from a heady combination of rose petals infused in extra virgin olive oil and a luscious vanilla-infused coconut oil and underlying all is the mysterious whisper of smokiness inherent in regional shea butter production.

I developed this formulation to be the ultimate in creamy, nourishing sweet scented protection for anyone's skin - but especially dry, sensitive and/or sun damaged skin.

To apply simply warm and soften a small amount of shea butter in the palms of the hand before applyig to skin. Massage thoroughly into skin that is still damp from a warm bath or shower. Your skin will feel velvety smooth, hydrated and protected!

1.9 *fragrant* ounces - $26.95

Ingredients:
Fair Trade shea butter* from Ghana, olive leaf extract* (extra virgin olive oil infused into olive leaf*), vanilla-infused coconut oil; calendula, St John's Wort, comfrey leaf and evening primrose oils, rose petals infused into olive oil*, Vitamin E, essential oils of ylang ylang, orange, frankicense and Flower Essences of Crab Apple* and Self Heal*. *= certified organic