The Lavender Pig

I am a huge germaphobe. I don’t like the idea of big messes staying on my hands. Bacteria are an ever-present organism that exists in every facet of our world. I know that bacteria is necessary for the proper functioning of major processes in the ecological cycle, but I am not getting sick on account of the bacteria that could easily be washed off with handmade soap.

I think that we should try to be as cleanly as possible and that is not saying a whole lot.  It’s commonsense to wash your hands before you eat and after using the restroom, but that’s not enough  Think about all the various activities that we do with our hands everyday and how much of it get transferred to orifices throughout our body. All I’m saying is that I will be careful.

Bacteria are microorganisms that exist on just about every surface on Earth. They are single-celled and are usually a couple micrometers long. The shape of bacteria differs greatly—from rods to spheres. And no matter how hard we try, the fact of the matter is that bacteria are here to stay. They have been present since the beginning of life on this planet, and they have evolved to function well in virtually any climate.

Because we are constantly battling these bacteria, many people fail to realize that there are two times more bacteria cells on the human body than our own cells. Most of these are beneficial to our various physical functions. The bacteria which are most harmful to the body affect the respiratory system and cause illnesses like tuberculosis, which kill two million people a year. Your best defense against these bacteria is to use a liquid soap regularly throughout the day.

To help fight diseases, doctors advise frequent hand washing. Dirty hands are often the avenues from which germs can get past the body’s defenses. One little act of touching your eyes, or eating with unwashed fingers can bring millions of harmful bacteria and viruses that can cause cough, colds, or worse.

That is why hands should always be washed, especially after touching commonly shared items like ATM machines, public phones or shopping carts. And while you may think that the soap you find in the store is sufficient, the chemicals and additives can dry your skin. It’s best to opt for a natural foaming hand soap, which will leave your hands squeaky clean and maintain their natural moisture.

It’s impossible to stay perfectly informed about every product we use or ingest. Still, common sense holds that goods made with familiar, all-natural ingredients are better for the body. Discerning shoppers can gain a wealth of knowledge about the foods they eat by merely pausing a moment and glancing at the ingredients. Artificial doesn’t necessarily mean harmful, but it’s best to go with natural ingredients where possible.

That rule of thumb is not limited to food products alone. Hygiene products are available in clearly labeled, all-natural options as well. Most handmade bath products, for instance, typically draw their cleaning and restorative properties from plant oils. These products tend to be biodegradable and feature a relatively short list of ingredients. Knowledge is power, and you can gain some by asking questions about the contents of the products you buy every day.

Many men completely forgo the notion of skin are, passing it off as unnecessary or feminine. But the skin is the first line of defense against disease and infection, and healthy skin will serve you best. Here are some skincare tips for men:

~ The face should be washed every day with a mild, natural soap, such as oatmeal or shea butter soap (it’s okay to do this in the shower).
~ Once or twice a week, wash the face with warm water and a deep cleanser to flush out the pores. Apply a moisturizing lotion or aloe afterward.
~ If you’re planning on being outside for an extended amount of time, apply sunscreen.
~ Take care when shaving; make sure the face is wet before applying shaving cream, and allow the cream a few moments to settle in. Apply after-shave cream following shaving.
~ Eat a balanced diet and stay active.
~ Drink plenty of water and limit alcohol intake.

It is important to exfoliate your skin regularly. This helps remove dead skin cells and impurities to give you softer, fairer, blemish-free skin. There are many exfoliants available in beauty stores, but it is crucial that you choose the right one for your skin type.

There are some that are too abrasive, some that have too many chemicals, and even others that have no effect at all. The safest ones to choose are those that are made from all-natural ingredients, like oatmeal soap. You can even make your own oatmeal scrub at home. Just make a paste out of oatmeal and water, and apply it on your face: instant exfoliation!

The chemicals and additives in most soap make them inherently harsh on the skin. It’s unfortunate that when trying to keep your hands clean you also have to deal with the resulting dry skin and chaffing. It can really become an endless cycle; the dirty, grubby hands, the lathering up, the washing, the drying off, and the scaly, parched skin. This vicious cycle doesn’t have to continue forever.

Switching soaps could very well be the answer that frequent hand washers are looking for. When purchasing soap, look for handcrafted soap that uses only natural products. This will ensure that there aren’t any potentially harmful chemicals are synthetic products that can dry or irritate your skin.

If you know that you have a propensity to get chapped lips, it can be a frustrating and even painful condition. After all, if the chapping is severe enough, it can actually cause your lips to split and bleed, which makes everything from eating to smiling painful. Therefore, if you know that you’re predisposed to chapped lips, make sure to avoid some common activities that can increase your likelihood of worsening the condition. With that in mind, stay out of extreme weather, such as heavy wind, extreme heat, or extreme cold.

If you are going to be in these conditions, make sure your lips are entirely covered with fabric or at least covered with an effective lip balm. In general, use lip balm on a regular basis as well as sunscreen as sunburned lips are sometimes erroneously called chapped lips. Also make sure that you avoid licking your lips too much. If you do get chapped lips and need chapped lip relief, make sure to continue to follow this advice. Also, hydrate often and avoid smoking, as smoking significantly evaporates your body’s natural oils.

To be healthy and happy people, we have to consume healthy and happy things.  The foods we eat as well as everything else that we put on our bodies are so important that they should not escape consideration. Using mass-produced products exposes us, and the environment, to harmful chemicals and pollution.
 
Using natural handmade bath products is one way in which we can be conscious of our consumption.  Natural things are thing that do not have any unnatural chemicals in them.  These toxins are what we want to avoid when we want to be as positive and vibrant as we possibly can be.

I have really sensitive skin and during the winter I am always looking for products that can provide me with some relief. Even though I apply moisturizing lotion every day I still suffer from itchy and dry skin. Recently I read somewhere that traditional soap was rife with harmful chemicals that can dry out your skin.

I bought some homemade body wash that was only made with natural ingredients, and it really seemed to work. I used it in the shower and immediately afterword I noticed my skin felt soft and smooth. After a few days of using it the patches of dry, red skin had disappeared. I also enjoy taking baths, so I think I will try some natural bath oil next.