Category Archives: oil

Need a healthy snack?

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pumpkin seedMonday morning and back on the diet treadmill?

A simple, easy way to get you back on your healthy eating path, is to snack on foods that are great for your body, especially your skin.

This week why not snack on seeds? And in particular Pumpkin Seeds.

These guys are jam packed full of powerful beautifying elements such as zinc, vitamin B, vitamin E and essential fatty acids, omega 3,6 and 9. They also contain phytosterols, which help reduce cholesterol.

You can buy pumpkin seeds from just about anywhere now and when you start to look for something to snack on its a good idea to have a packet of these bad boys on your desk or kitchen cupboard. Replace them in the spot you would normally put your biscuits, sweets or savoury snacks, that way you’ll be more inclined to eat them and not be tempted by the others.

Incidentally,  It’s external benefits are also amazing as its a natural antioxidant. Pumpkin Seed Oil is one of the potent ingredients in SkinGuru’s Rejuvenating Facial Serum, for which we’ve just received a commended merit in the Free From Skincare Awards 2013!  

Share this with your friends and please leave your own snack suggestions below.

 

 

Amazing Results Superglow Facial!!

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As it’s Friday and I want my skin to look great for this weekend, I decided to spend some time on my skin this morning, not too much time though as I have a busy day ahead.

Time to put my 20 minute Superglow Facial into action! Trust me this simple 20 minute facial is like a little miracle for tired, dull and dry skin! You can use this whenever your skin needs a serious pick me up or before you have a big night out.

Make sure you leave your comments and questions, which I will personally review and answer!

For this you will need:

1 Facecloth

1 teaspoon Bicarb of Soda

Honey (preferably organic)

1/2 teaspoon fine sugar

olive or coconut oil

1/2 avocado

STEP 1:

mix together the bicarb of soda, sugar and 1 teaspoon of oil, mix well then add 1/2 teaspoon of honey mix into paste. Apply using circular motion over face and neck area (Be careful not to be over zealous as you don’t want to damage surface of skin). Leave on the face for 5 minutes to allow sugars in paste to breakdown dead skin cells. Rinse out clean cloth in hot water, wring and apply cloth over face for 30 seconds. Remove mixture from face using cloth, then splash off any residue with lukewarm water. Pat dry.

STEP 2:

Mash avocado until it becomes thick paste. Add 1/2 teaspoon honey and 1/2 teaspoon of chosen oil. Mix together thoroughly and apply all over face and neck. This mixture can be applied around the eye area, but be careful not to take it into corners or it may get into eyes. Leave on for 10 minutes, then remove facemask and splash face with cold water. Pat dry.

Your skin will now be glowing and feel super smooth. Apply a natural serum and allow to soak in for 10 minutes before applying any make up.

Enjoy:-)

Remember to post your comments or questions!

How do I get rid of Rosacea?

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Is this cold, horrible weather playing havoc with your skin? Well, spare a thought for those who suffer from Rosacea!

 

Rosacea is a skin condition that usually makes its very unwelcome appearance around the mid thirties.

Pronounced roh-zay-sha, it can be extremely distressing and uncomfortable for the person it affects. Manifesting as an area of redness across the forehead, nose, cheeks, and chin but may also appear on the ears, neck and chest. In its progressive form it turns into an itchy, bumpy rash and occasional pustules may also appear.

The condition affects mostly women and unfortunately our 21st century lifestyle really doesn’t help. Spicy food, alcohol, vigorous exercise and stress are amongst the many triggers that can cause Rosacea to flare up.

We at SkinGuru have been having amazing positive feedback from our customers who are affected by Rosacea and have been using our products! But I also suggest that you treat yourself holistically, as well as applying topical creams and potions. Follow these simple guidelines and you will experience a reduction in your symptoms.

 

  1.  Stress. This is by far a major factor in the flare up of Rosacea. Incorporate deep, calm breathing for a few minutes every day, take up yoga, and use visualisation techniques.
  2. Food and drink: These affect individuals in different ways. Amongst triggers are hot and spicy foods, alcohol, hot drinks. Monitor which ones affect you the most and eliminate them from your diet.
  3. Avoid very strenuous exercise for long periods of time and make sure your environment is cool and well ventilated.
  4. Medical conditions: (such as menopause) and drugs can influence triggers, if this affects you speak to your doctor about possible side effects of medications.
  5. The weather: not much anyone can do about the weather! Although there are precautions you can take. Keep your skin cool in the summer and moist in the winter, using a nourishing serum to protect against harsh winds and cold.
  6. Skin Care Products: Avoid alcohol in products. If it burns or stings it is not doing your skin any good. Strangely enough some people still believe if a facial product stings it must be working!!

I highly recommend cleansing with our gentle Facial Cleansing Oil, using our GlowCloth to remove cleanser and then following with our Nourishing Facial Serum. The results we are seeing are speaking for themselves. In fact we will soon be posting a YouTube video, of an interview with a customer who says it has changed her life!

 

For further information on Rosacea I recommend the National Rosacea Society.

 

http://www.rosacea.org/

 

 

Winter Skin SOS Face Mask.

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Oh dear, the temperature is plummeting and just about everyone is feeling it in their skin!

Here is a fantastically effective Face Mask, that will moisturise and nourish your skin, helping to protect it from the elements.

Ingredients:

1 tblsp mashed avocado

1 teaspoon organic honey

1 teaspoon organic yoghurt

1/2 teaspoon of olive oil

Mix all the ingredients together till resembles smooth paste. Apply to face and neck. Lie back, kick off your shoes and relax for around 20 minutes. Remove with damp cloth. Splash face with water and pat dry. Apply Nourishing Serum immediately.

 

Naturally Beautiful Lips

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Over the last week, like many I have succumbed to a heavy head cold and with it, as usual the dreaded cold sores! Even if you don’t suffer from cold sores I’m pretty sure at some point during this winter, you will have dry, cracked lips, which feel horrible and look awful.

There is a simple natural way to remedy this problem and it will leave your lips soft, plump and oh so kissable!

Mix together:

Half tspn of any organic vegetable oil

Half tspn of fine sugar (not granulated – it’s too abrasive for the delicate skin on lips)

Honey

Using the ring finger smear over closed lips, then use circular movements, rubbing mixture all over the lips for at least 1 to 2 minutes. Remove with wet cloth. Smear honey onto lips and leave on for further 2 minutes. Rinse off.

Keep lips moisturised and protected using a natural lip balm.

Voila! Beautiful soft lips.

 

 

Amazing Argan Oil

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Argan Oil is not a new discovery. Although you would be forgiven for thinking it is when you read the hype from many of the Skin care companies promoting it as such.

It is produced exclusively in Morocco (beware cheap, diluted imitations), where it is known as ‘liquid gold’. It contains high levels of Anti Oxidants, Essential Fatty Acids and Vitamin E, which are all essential for the maintenance and health of your skin. It is the high levels of the active substances triterpenoids that make this oil so efficient at protecting and healing the skin.

SkinGuru Anti Aging Serum

This wonderful oil has amazing anti aging properties, which far surpass many top end laboratory made ingredients, which potentially could damage your overall health. The tocopherols within the oil will protect your skin from harsh environmental pollution, which unfortunately we are now all exposed to. It will even help to fade old scarring from spots or acne.

When carefully blending our Anti Aging Facial Serum, Argan Oil was always on my list of must have ingredients, and we only use the purest organic blends available. It’s benefits perfectly compliment the other ingredients in our serum, making it super efficient at rejuvenating your skin and keeping wrinkles at bay.

 

Avoid Dry, Winter Skin: Top Five Tips

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As winter bites ever deeper into our skin (sorry it’s nearly Halloween, so couldn’t resist the vampire pun!) I hear lot’s of moans and groans from clients and friends about the annual appearance of dry, flaky skin that looks unsightly and can be very itchy and uncomfortable. There are many causes of this, such as low humidity which dries out the skin. The wearing of more clothes which are often made from synthetic materials which irritate the skin. And we use too much washing detergent and fabric softener, full of chemicals that also irritate skin.Many people change their diet from summer salads and fruit to more stodgy, comfort foods which may lack essential fats and vitamins needed for healthy skin. I suggest you try to implement the five tips below

Winter Skin

to help keep your skin soft and supple during the winter months:

  1. Moisturise your skin daily. Immediately after showering or bathing apply a moisturiser to your skin, which helps to seal in surface moisture.
  2. Cleanse your facial skin with a nourishing oil cleanser to avoid stripping all of the natural oils from the skin. Avoid detergent based cleansers!
  3. Place a bowl of water under each radiator, to help keep some humidity in the air. It’s especially lovely to add a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil to lift your mood. Or add eucalyptus oil, to help kill air borne bacteria and unblock stuffy noses!
  4. Have a bath (don’t have water too hot), and put 3 tablespoons of oats inside a muslin bag which is tied and secure at top, under the hot tap while the bath is running. The oats will release a lovely milky substance into water which is amazing for the skin and is especially beneficial for children or anyone with eczema or sensitive skin. You can remove the bag from the tap and rub the bag over the skin, coating it with the oaty milk, before rinsing off. No need to use soap.
  5. Supplement your diet with essential fatty oils, Omega 3 and Omega 6. Consult your local health food store for advice.

These are five simple steps, that if followed will prevent the flaky, dry skin that we all dread every winter. If you have any other tips for preventing dry skin, share them and  leave your comments below.

Castor Oil for Beautiful Skin!

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What do you think off when you think of Castor Oil? Midwifes, Grandma, old wives recipes? Well the surprise is Castor Oil is as amazing and effective as any of the ‘trendy’ oils doing their rounds today.

It has been around for three thousand years and its uses and benefits are many, but for now let’s talk about, skin!

Castor Oil comes from the castor seed, Riccinus Communis. It is extremely high in ricinoleic, which is a fatty acid known for its anti inflammatory properties and this is what is thought to give it its amazing healing benefits. It is also an excellent anti bacterial and helps to destroy harmful bacteria.

In a skin cleanser castor oil is fantastic as it combats any bacteria on the skin, preventing

 

breakouts and spots. The composition of the oil is such that it acts like a magnet to dirt, breaking it down and drawing it out off the pores. It penetrates the skin deeply, taking with it any other ingredients it is mixed with, nourishing and rejuvenating the skin, if used with heat, it goes deeper into the skin increasing its efficiency ( see our video on our home page). If used in a skin cleanser daily you will see astonishing results! One last important point! Make sure the cleansing oil you use is derived from seeds that are pesticide free and have been produced without chemicals!

 

 

 

 

My SOS facemask!

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So you’ve spent the whole day cleaning and it’s nearly time to get ready to go out for a well deserved soirée (or to bed!) Take 15 minutes to give yourself this fantastic home made face mask, it will brighten, tighten and rehydrate your skin and all for a few pence.

  • I egg yolk
  • I teaspoon honey
  • I teaspoon natural yoghurt
  • 1/2 teaspoon olive oil
(try to use organic ingredients)

Mix all ingredients together. After you have cleansed your face apply face mask and relax, chill out and let the mask do it’s work! Remove using warm water and cloth (hopefully one of our Glow Cloths!) To finish splash face with cold water and pat dry. Let me know how you get on!

Oatmilk and Rose bath soak…..Delicious bath for stressed, dry, itchy skin!

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So I decided I needed to concoct a potion to put in my bath, as for some reason my skin was feeling itchy and irritated (could have been washing powder!) It had to be soothing, moisturising and smell divine, plus be easy to make and completely natural. So into the kitchen pantry and I got 2 tablespoons oatmeal (or porridge), 1 muslin square cloth an elastic band, and any oil of your choice, I chose 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil with 5 drops of rose essential oil. Place the oatmeal in the middle of the muslin square, gather the corners and secure with elastic band, ensure there are no gaps for oatmeal to escape,( if you can get a muslin bag even better), secure the pouch to the tap so that the water runs through the pouch. Run your bath and add your oil mixture under the running tap so it disperses into the water. Once you are in the bath, you can untie the oatmeal pouch from the tap (keep secure with elastic band), and rub the pouch all over the skin, coating it with the oatmeal milky residue. Then just lie back and relax and let your skin soak up the amazing soothing properties in the water! This is especially good for babies and children who suffer from childhood eczema, just leave out the oils as it makes them a bit too slippery in the bath!!