The Lavender Pig

I am sitting here in the hot Alabama heat watching my kids swim in the pool.  In the summer time moisturizing is the one of the last things on your mind, but it is very important.  The chlorine in the pool and the hot summer sun can be very drying. The moisturizing properties in handmade shea butter soaps and lotions can greatly benefit your skin.  So, don’t forget to moisturize!

Many people have heard of shea butter but only in the cosmetic context. Shea butter, however, has a very large and diverse range of uses. On the most basic level, shea butter is actually a natural fat extracted from the shea tree fruit. Taken alone, shea butter is edible and has been used in West African cooking for centuries. Less commonly, it replaces cocoa butter in chocolate.

Aside from eating it, shea butter is a common ingredient in high end cosmetics by virtue of its moisturizing characteristics. Some people even claim that shea butter has been effective in treating scars, acne, rashes, eczema, and more. Finding itself in everything from shampoo, conditioner, and shea butter soap, it is also commonly used in other cultures during indigenous ceremonies. In Uganda, for example, a small group believes that covering the body in shea butter will stop bullets.

If you have extremely dry skin or skin that is susceptible to irritation, it can be difficult trying to find soap that works for you. While store bought soap works relatively well for most people’s skin type, there are those people who suffer from such sensitive skin that mass produced cosmetics cause everything from breakouts to more severe irritation. For these individuals, it’s best to determine the ingredients that cause you discomfort as soon as possible.

If you can’t figure it out on your own, seek out the help of a dermatologist. Once you know what causes you problems, you’ll have a better idea what kind of products you should and shouldn’t buy. If a large majority of store bought soap is going to be problematic, you may have to look into handmade soap. These usually have far less ingredients and can be purchased with little to no scent. If you find the right site, you might even be able to pick and choose which ingredients go into your soap to ensure you don’t have a reaction.

 Shea Butter is only found in the tropics of Africa.  It is extracted by hand from the nuts of the Karite tree.  The Karite tree which means “Tree of Life” begins to bear fruit after about 15 years; and can take up to 30 years to bear a quality crop of nuts.

 It is the high content of irremovable fatty acid that gives Shea Butter its unique healing properties.  Shea Butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F.  Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy.  Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator.  The all-natural moisturizing properties of Shea Butter make it a valuable addition to hand creams and soaps.

Soaps containing milk have recently been rediscovered by the beauty industry. The resurgence of milk soap in the market place can be attributed to recent research showing the skin benefits from contact with lactic acid. Lactic acid helps smooth skin through exfoliation, and milk also contains vitamins A and D. These vitamins give skin smoothness and suppleness. Much milk-based soap is created from goat’s milk. Goat milk soap has the same ph as human skin.

Goats’ milk is high in fat and creamy. People who have trouble digesting cow’s milk often choose to ingest goats’ milk as an alternative. The protein profile of goats’ milk is more similar to human milk than cows’ milk. Another benefit to using goats’ milk products is that goats are more easily farmed than cows; they forage on all kinds of feed, are resistant to disease and can provide meat, milk and wool.

Oatmeal is extremely beneficial for dry skin. Oatmeal soaps and baths are good for every skin type, but are most healing for dry and irritated skin. Oats are anti-inflammatory and ease itching while nourishing and smoothing dry skin. If you are suffering from the itchy, dry skin that is often caused by cold winter weather, you should try soaking in an oatmeal bath.

To create a simple oatmeal bath at home: grind 2 cups of rolled oats with one cup of baking soda in a blender, food processor, or coffee grinder. Add the oatmeal powder and baking soda to a tub of warm water. Soak for 15 minutes to sooth dry skin. This oatmeal combination will also offer you temporary relief from rashes.

The continued use of oatmeal soap will be helpful for your dry skin problems.

Let’s be honest, sometimes we don’t have the time to take a shower and scrub all of our skin with soap.  But it’s important to smell nice, especially when you’re trying to impress someone special.  When stepping out of the shower, try hitting yourself with a quick mist of body spray, and you’ll be amazed at the fragrance.  It’s almost like putting on perfume or cologne, but a little less potent.  In fact, a lot of people use body spray instead of perfume or cologne because it’s not quite so powerful.  We all know there’s nothing worse than being over-scented. 

Body sprays come in hundreds of different scents that are just as diverse as deodorant.  In addition, both women and men can make use of body spray.  You can think of body spray just like perfume or cologne; one spray isn’t the solution for all occasions, be sure to try different scents and see just who notices you!

Lavender is a flower belonging to the mint family and is characterized by its beautiful purple flowers, as well as a fresh, relaxing scent.  The plant has a variety of uses, and is widely grown in gardens.  Lavender is often dried and used in flower arrangements, as well as perfumes and potpourri.  It has also been grown for commercial use, mainly for the extraction of lavender oil, which is used in lavender bath gift baskets and for aromatherapy.

 Lavender nectar is a favorite of honey bees, who produce a lavender honey, and amongst other sweets, there is a lavender sugar which is sugar combined with the lavender herb.  The plant is also often used in fine cuisine to provide a semi-sweet, elegant flavor.

Let’s face it, there’s nothing worse than having chapped lips in the winter.  Having chapped lips outdoors, at work, or during a holiday gathering ruins the occasion just as fast as spilling wine on your suit or dress.  While it’s not necessary to carry lip balm all the time, during the winter you’ll seldom regret it if you keep a tube in your coat or jacket pocket.  When it comes to lip balm, you also want to ensure that the flavor doesn’t spoil your food.  Nothing’s worse than having cherry lip balm and then eating spicy barbeque – Yuck! 

It’s also important to remember that if you apply lip balm regularly, even if your lips aren’t chapped, you won’t have chapped lips as often in the future.  It’s a good idea to put on lip balm at least three or four times per week during the winter, and more often if your lips are chapped of course.