Have you ever encountered the incredible horsetail plant, also known as "shavegrass"?
This invasive perennial plant, tracing its roots back to prehistoric times, boasts a long, green, and densely-branched stem that thrives in the wild from spring to fall. Today, I want to shed light on this extraordinary plant, particularly because it houses a vital compound – silica – renowned for promoting stronger, healthier hair. Silica, being 100% natural, not only benefits you but also keeps our environment safe.
A Solid Shampoo for Skin, Hair, and the Planet
Enter my journey to create a solid shampoo that embodies practicality and environmental friendliness by eliminating the need for plastic bottles. After extensive experimentation and testing, I've formulated a shampoo solid bar that not only simplifies your hair care routine but also leaves your hair looking and feeling better and healthier.
Silica plays a pivotal role in this formula. A 2016 study highlighted the correlation between high silica content in hair and reduced hair loss, attributing it to enhanced collagen production and, consequently, improved hair growth. The inclusion of horsetail, a plant rich in silica and abundantly available in my local surroundings, became an obvious choice for a key ingredient.
However, working with horsetail isn't straightforward due to its coarse nature. I handpick fresh and green shoots in early June, leveraging their peak potency for wild crafting. After a brief drying period, I initiate two distinct macerations to extract the plant's benefits.
The first maceration involves steeping horsetail in unpasteurized, raw, organic apple cider vinegar for two to three months. This infusion, a key component in my Solid Shampoos, not only aids blood circulation but also balances the shampoo's pH, mirroring that of the hair and scalp.
The second maceration consists of carefully infusing wild-crafted horsetail in sweet almond oil over several months. This oil-maceration becomes the star ingredient in my Hair Elixir, a luxurious blend designed for detangling, massaging, and nourishing your precious strands.
Tailored Shampoo Solutions for Your Hair
With options ranging from unscented to conditioning formulas, each solid shampoo caters to specific hair needs.
The Clarifying Solid Shampoo go beyond horsetail, incorporating nettle extract and lemongrass essential oil for supported hair growth and a refreshing zing.
The Conditioning Solid Shampoo, enriched with chamomile extract and Cupuaçu butter, targets dry hair for reduced irritation, extra hydration, and enhanced elasticity.
The Soft Solid Shampoo supports scalp health, moisturizes, and strengthens hair strands. Ideal for normal to sensitive skin, it features yucca extract and sea buckthorn for improved scalp blood circulation.
Perfect for On-the-Go
The compact format of Green Acre Scent's solid shampoos makes them ideal for travel. Store them in a tin can, or purchase them from our store, for an eco-friendly alternative to traditional travel-size bottles, and bid farewell to chemical-laden products that compromise quality.
How to Make the Most of Your Solid Shampoo
To optimize your solid shampoo, avoid prolonged water exposure.
Dampen your hair, rub the bar against your hair, massage gentle the scalp and hair, rinse thoroughly, and voilà!
To prolong its life, allow it to dry between uses and keep it on top of a slotted soap dish. Depending on your hair type and length, each bar can last anywhere between 40 and 90 washes.
Unveiling the Power of Horsetail in the Hair Elixir Blend
Our Hair Elixir – an exquisite fusion of nature's wonders, features the rejuvenating essence of horsetail extract. Enriched with the power of silica, derived from wild-crafted horsetail oil maceration, the elixir offers a unique blend that promotes hair strength and resilience. Complemented by the goodness of broccoli seeds oil and radish seeds oil, this hair elixir provides a holistic approach to hair care.
Immerse your strands in the nourishing embrace of nature, leaving them fortified, radiant, and irresistibly vibrant.
Unveil beauty with the Hair Elixir
Begin on damp hair, effortlessly detangle with the lightweight formula. Distribute drops for nourishment, letting horsetail extract, broccoli seeds oil and radish seeds oil restore vitality. Indulge in a luxurious scalp massage for soothing revitalization. Wash if desired or leave in overnight for extended nourishment.
Horsetail Beyond Hair Care
While horsetail's primary claim to fame is its contribution to healthier hair, its diuretic properties make it renowned for other purposes. Caution is advised for consumption, especially for those with specific health conditions. If many steep it in water for tea to help reduce excess water in the body, the consumption of horsetail comes with many counter indications, especially for those who are pregnant or have diabetes or kidney issues. And as it contains traces of nicotine, it’s definitely not suited for children.
Topically, horsetail, with its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, it is said that can work wonders on wounds.
Explore further possibilities, such as creating a hair rinse or a sore throat gargle by infusing horsetail in water with added sea salt and lemon juice.
Ready to embrace the transformative potential of nature for your hair? What aspects of our horsetail macerations intrigued you the most, and how might it revolutionize your hair care routine?
Share your thoughts as you embark on this journey towards healthier, radiant hair!
DISCLAIMER
This content is for informational and educational purpose only and it is not intended to provide medical advice or take place of such advice or treatment. Neither Green Acre Scent, its legal representatives, nor the publisher of this content takes any responsibility for possible health consequences of any person or persons reading, following or applying any information of this educational content. For any specific health conditions ones may have, currently presents, wants to prevent or develops in the future it is strongly advised to consult with their qualified physicians, doctors or qualified healthcare professionals.
Around the world, in February there are different cultural customs from ancient rituals celebrating the victory of good over evil, to celebrating the coming spring season or expressing love to each other. They all have in common the expression of kindness, love, joy and respect of everything that surrounds us.
Dragobete, a Romanian traditional love celebration
Being born, growing-up and having lived in Romania most of my life before I moved to Canada, I had the chance to experience Dragobete, the Romanian traditional love celebration.
Dragobete is celebrated each year on February 24th and has its roots in the Romanian mythology of an old-age cultural traditions dating more than 2,300 years ago.
The legend’s main character, Dragobete, who is the son of Baba Dochia (“old lady Dochia”), the daughter of the last Dacian King Decebalus, is pictured as being a courageous, kind and loving young man. He is the patron saint of love and cheerfulness who didn’t use his powers to make people fall in love, but rather to encourage them to never stop celebrating love.
This traditional Romanian holiday also marks the beginning of the rebirth of nature, when farmers start preparing for spring planting crops activities, and the birds begin to build their nests and mate. It is the reason why this day is known as “the day when the birds are betrothed”.
During Dragobete’s traditional celebration the boys (young men) and girls (young women) would search for wild spring flowers in their nearby, either forests or plains. The boys would run after girls they like and when they would catch her, they will kiss, if the girl likes him back. That is how the couple announce their love to the entire community.
Traditionally those who are single would meet a person they are attracted to and a simple hug will turn their love life for the best.
If you would like to find more about this Romanian legend, I am inviting you to read this wonderful written Romanian blog that describes some particular traditional customs still practiced these days by Romanians during the Dragobete celebration.
Small gestures to show kindness
Why not showing love and kindness to each other every day, instead of doing that in a particular day?
Being kind is a gift that everyone can give freely, and this small gest has a big positive impact on ones well-being and everyone around.
We can all celebrate love and show kindness using small gestures as:
Taking care of our wellbeing, is also a form of love. When feeling good and healthy, ones positive energy spreads around and help others to feel better.
What other gestures of showing love and kindness you can recommend? Thank you for sharing with us on the comments below.
- Sending Love , Mihaela
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Ah, Christmas and its many souvenirs of joy, warmth, laughter, caring and sharing… Souvenirs that are sweet and tangy, just like cranberries, this month’s featured ingredient!
When the winter comes, I may start to miss my garden but there’s nothing quite like an evening walk in the crisp air filled with big snow flakes falling to the ground. Plus, there are many other things to keep me busy!
A year of challenges
If COVID-19 has greatly affected us artisans and makers by provoking the suspension of most in-person Christmas markets that make the gift shopping experience so special, nothing makes me more grateful than to see an online order come in. I take great pride in putting together personalized packages and always imagine the reaction of recipients when they open my box – hopefully a feeling of excitement, followed by the inhalation of the delicate scent, and then by a sigh of relief and a smile.
Even if I’m very careful not to use a lot of harmful packaging, the act of wrapping my products is always done with love and care. I find it important to pay attention to the details to ensure the best customer experience possible. Who knows, you may find a little surprise in your box!
Cooking with dedication
If I approach skincare products with health, nature and the environment in mind, I do the exact same when it comes to food, and I am as dedicated in the kitchen as I am in my “lab”.
I source local, organic food as much as possible, even if they’re not from my garden. I stay away from processed foods because I know my body doesn’t react well to them. I love the feeling of eating raw, fresh ingredients, but I also love to cook wholesome meals – I just try to limit the processing of ingredients so to still be able to taste what makes them unique.
During the holidays, one such ingredient is the cranberry.
Cranberries weren’t always part of my holiday rituals but nowadays, I wouldn’t miss them for anything in the world. Sweet and tangy, they just need to be on the table.
Cranberries are native to North America and once grew wild in the east side of the continent, consumed by many Indigenous nations. Today, Canada produces close to 33% of the world’s cranberries. In Quebec, a third of cranberries are produced organically, making it less harmful for the environment.
It’s also interesting to learn about the origin of the name “cranberry”, a story told on the website of Upper Canada Cranberries, a local Eastern Ontario producer:
“There are different opinions as to how the name 'cranberry' came into being. Better dictionaries say it is probably derived from the German word 'kranebere.' Folklore suggests this fruit was once called craneberry. Some say the cranberry blossom, perched on its curved stem, with its petals bent back fully at maturity, resembles the neck and head of the crane, a long-legged, long-necked bird. Others believe that the cranberry, or craneberry, was so named because it is a favourite food of that bird.”
A “superfood” and antioxidant
Cranberries are recognized for their antioxidant properties, namely its vitamin C and quercetin, which have an overall positive effect in our immune system. Do you know that both compounds are found in a higher ratio in cranberry than in blueberries? In addition, cranberries are high in anthocyanin, a flavonoid that gives the fruit a dark red colour and displays anti-inflammatory benefits.
Although the consumption of cranberry juice alone has been questioned with regards to its ability to treat urinary tract infections, cranberries have indeed been recognized by the medical world for their benefits in preventing and relieving urinary dysfunctions.
Did you say stocking stuffer?!
The antioxidants found in cranberries are also beneficial for your skin.
I’ve added this fruit to one of my soaps, using its fresh pulp as a gentle exfoliant. Containing bentonite clay and Shea butter, the Cranberry Soap cleanses the skin while keeping it hydrated. And it’s a great stocking stuffer or hostess gift thanks to its fresh and seasonal scent of Canadian Fir balsam with hints of orange and clove.
From the bottom of my heart, may this holiday season bring you peace, health and joy!
If you’re like me, every once in a while, you love taking a warm, relaxing bath, no matter the season.
But when the holidays come, my bath ritual becomes a definite must in my busy schedule.
Not only are the holidays a busy period for Green Acre Scent with everyone wanting to make natural beautifully-scented gifts that are good for the body and the soul, but I’m also busy keeping up with my own personal commitments.
I’m not complaining. Christmas is an important holiday and I love it. Even if you’re not into the commercial aspect of Christmas, I’m sure you’ll agree that nothing beats seeing the smile on someone’s face when they open your thoughtful gift to them. Ultimately, we all want the same thing – build memories and spoil our loved ones a little.
Over the years, self-care has become increasingly important for me and stability plays a big role when aiming for a complete state of wellbeing. To achieve the right balance, I make sure to include some “me” time to ease my spirits and unwind.
My go-to? A warm bubble bath - with my bath salts, of course!
Although bath salts don’t need any presentation, here are a few interesting facts you may not be aware of:
Shift your mood, nourish your skin
Adding botanicals to your bath has many benefits. When soaked, the plants release all of their goodies into the water, acting as a booster, a relaxant, or a moisturizer depending on the type of plant.
As the properties of the herbs are released into the water, a pleasant aroma fills the air which provides soul therapy, skin therapy, and aromatherapy all at once.
Through the use of organic grades of essential oils, Green Acre Scent’s bath salts come in three different aromas: Unwind (lavender, with patchouli and lemon), Vitality (rosemary, with eucalyptus and ginger) and Romance (a floral combination of rose, ylang ylang, geranium and sweet orange).
You may also like to know that all of my bath salts recipes contain more than 30 % of Dead Sea salt, which is much more than standard commercial sea salts.
Bath salts make for a lovely gift, whether it’s for yourself, for someone in need of a little pick-me-up or as a hostess gift.
Green Acre Scent’s come in stunning glass jars that can be exposed in your bathroom as any other décor item. Your purchase also comes with a salt spatula and a reusable muslin bag to prevent it from clogging your drain.
For a full bath, count approximately a quarter cup of salts.
Happy bathing!
*Children under the age of 2 shouldn’t bathe in bath salts. Other restrictions may apply therefore speak with a health care professional when in doubt.
We often hear about rosehip oil and how it has been considered the oil of youth by women all over the world for more than 2,000 years. The fact is, although it adorns the packaging of many skincare products, many people don’t fully understand what it consists of exactly.
Yes, rosehip oil is a derivative of roses. But what you may not know is that, to the contrary of hydrosols, essential oils and infusions, rosehip oil is not extracted from the rose’s petals but from its seed pods, commonly known as its “hips”. Rosehips are the small, reddish berry-resembling “fruits” that remain on a rose bush once the flowers have died.
Extracting the oil
Rosehip oil is obtained by cold-pressing the seeds of specific varieties of roses (Rosa Canina, Rosa Rubiginosa, Rosa Eglanteria, and Rosa Moschata). These varieties are mainly cultivated in Chile and South Africa.
After blooming during the summer, the flowers begin to die and the petals fall off, unveiling the flower base - the rosehips protecting the seeds of the plant. Rosehips are usually picked after the first frost to soften them more easily. Rosehip oil cannot be extracted from all roses because modern varieties of roses simply don’t produce rosehips.
Since the 1980s, studies have demonstrated the benefits of rosehip oil for sensitive skin types such as those with eczema, neurodermatitis and cheilitis. One study mention that the oil contains a lot of linoleic acid (omega-6), which helps soothe acne and retain moisture in the skin. Rosehip oil also contains vitamin C and exhibits anti-inflammatory, brightening and antioxidant properties, contributing to reducing the look of scars and blemishes and the signs of aging on the skin.
A “dry” oil perfect for the winter
At Green Acre Scent, I use rosehip oil in many products. As a “dry” oil (meaning that it is fast absorbed into the skin), its consistency is perfect to create skincare that is moisturizing without obstructing pores or leaving an oily residue.
Winter is coming and our luxurious facial oils are just what you need to avoid that cracking feeling that comes as soon as temperatures drop. The oils will leave your skin feeling soft but not greasy, nor shiny.
The Nourishing Facial Oil has a light spicy-woody floral scent that promotes relaxation. It moisturizes your skin therefore contributing to its youthful appearance.
The Radiance Facial Oil has a sweet-spicy-exotic floral scent, giving it an extra edge. It helps ease the itchiness of dry and sensitive skins and supports the regeneration of skin cells for a younger-looking you.
You’ll be happy to learn that these oils can also double as relaxing and invigorating body massage oils and as scalp and hair moisturizing masks.
The oils can help improve the appearance of the skin texture and promote a healthy shine-looking hair strands. You may want to give your hair a thorough rinse following application, depending on your hair texture and how much you’ve applied. You can also add a drop to your favorite shampoo.
If you’re looking for something a bit lighter in texture, you’ll also find rosehip oil in our Wild Violets Lotion and our Black Currant Rejuvenating Lotion, while our Rejuvenating Facial Toner contains rosehip extract, which is full of beneficial vitamins and promotes skin elasticity.
Read our post on keeping your skin moisturized during the cold season.
But who says winter also says chapped lips and brittle nails
Our lips butters contain 80 % organic ingredients (think rich raw Shea butter, rosehip oil, pure almond and jojoba oil, and raw Canadian beeswax) and come in two marvelous scents: refreshing peppermint or soothing frankincense. No lips are too dry for these babies!
Our cuticle cream will do wonders for the dry skin around your nails and will give your hands a healthy glow. Combining tea tree, rosemary and lemon essential oils, it sure will enhance your mood while keeping away fungus and eczema.
Apply every night before bed (some people like to wear cotton gloves to keep all the moisture in) and within a few days, your nails will feel like new!
A favorite in the kitchen
I must say, even if I don’t grow my own, I absolutely love rosehip, not just on my skin but also in my belly. In fact, I love it so much that I infuse the dried fruits in tea and eat it as a homemade jam quite often. It has a tangy-citrus flavour that has been used in kitchens all over the world, both fresh and dried, in sweet and savoury dishes.
Making rosehip jam is quite easy. Get the recipe from our Facebook page.
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Like in other European countries, grapes hold a special place for Romanians and this was no different in my family.
The giant pergola at my grandparents’ farm was covered in 75-year old grapevines.
Most of our time was spent sitting under this pergola, enjoying the breeze. It was where the whole family met on weekends or special holidays. It’s also where each of us would go to seek refugee, relax and contemplate the view.
Every September, the smell of ripe grapes filled the air, signaling it was time to hold our annual harvest. We couldn’t resist eating grapes straight from the vines. We also made must, a sweet, opaque and unfiltered traditional juice and sweetener made of freshly crushed grapes, including their seeds, skin and stems. The remaining grapes were placed in wood barrels for us children to mash with our bare feet to help extract the juice that would later be transformed into wine.
These days, if you go to Romania, you can still find families hosting big celebrations during harvest season.
From Romania to Canada
At Green Acre Scent, we grow three different types of grapes. The vines are not 75 years old – they are actually quite young - but they will yield more and more grapes every year so that one day, I can offer my grandchildren a taste of my home country. 😊
Although grapes have existed for 6,000 years and have been used for medicinal purposes for a long time, the origin of grapeseed oil is thought to go back to 1569, when Emperor Maximilian II of Italy granted a musician the monopoly of pressing grape seeds into oil to preserve his musical instruments.
Grapes being one of the most cultivated fruits in the world, grapeseed oil can now be found virtually everywhere as seeds are thought to be the healthiest part of the fruit.
The seeds of youth
Grapeseed oil is an ingredient we use in a few of our products because of its great benefits for the skin.
Recognized for its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, emollient, astringent and antibacterial properties, it is ideal for oily, sensitive, mature and acne or eczema-prone skins.
Containing omega-6, omega-9, beta-carotene, vitamin E as well as palmitoleic, palmitic and stearic acids, grapeseed carrier oil is found to:
Nothing but greasy
Linoleic acid (omega-6) in particular is an effective emulsifier in the formulation of soaps and quick-drying oils, which is why you’ll find grapeseed oil in this month’ star products. Used topically, grapeseed carrier oil is easily absorbed by the skin, delivering intense moisture without irritating, leaving an oily residue, or clogging pores.
With such a stellar resume, it’s no wonder we’ve chosen to add it to our Radiance Facial Oil!
This light, non-greasy facial oil is good for all skin types. It nourishes the skin, helps to regenerate it and improves the appearance of fine lines, blemishes and brown spots. With its spicy-sweet-exotic scent and its fresh woody note, this facial oil will leave you feeling relaxed.
Rich in compounds that support the collagen restorative process, the Radiance Oil should be applied to the face before bed or in the morning on a fresh cleaned skin. It can also be used on the entire body, helping reduce the look of cellulite and appease tense muscles.
Green Acre Scent’s Country Breeze Soap is my most loved soap, a fact that fills my heart with joy considering I created it to capture the memories of growing up at my grandparents’ farm in Romania.
Made of fair trade unrefined shea butter and scented with an organic oil blend of French lavender, basil, rosemary and a touch of patchouli, its aroma will make you feel as if you’ve stepped into a rich, opulent countryside garden filled with flowers, fruits, herbs and freshly cut grass where butterflies, ladybirds and bees sing along and intertwine in a beautiful dance only known to them.
Will you join me under the pergola?!
Happy Thanksgiving!
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Black currants were one of the first things I planted in my garden when I launched Green Acre Scent. I have fond memories of picking them around my grandparents’ farm in Romania, where they are quite common. More often than not, we would eat them raw, straight from the bush. What a delight it was!
In Canada, this small dark berry is not as common and is usually consumed in jams or pies as it can be quite tangy. I actually love its sweet earthy taste and pungent aroma! Plus, both the fruit and the leaves can help activate our body functions. This is why I’ve made it the star ingredient of my Black Currant Rejuvenating Night Cream.
High in anthocyanins (a flavonoid primarily found in the skin of the fruit), black currants display antioxidant properties, which support fighting against free-radicals. Their seeds are also a rich source of both the omega-3 fatty acid ALA and the omega-6 fatty acid GLA.
Applied topically, black currants seed carrier oil calms irritation and helps soothe, tighten and soften the skin by supporting skin cell regeneration. It is said to increase elasticity in the skin, and may be used to protect and nourish skin tissues, helping to prevent chronic skin conditions such as dermatitis and eczema. Studies have shown to help alleviate symptoms related with rheumatoid arthritis, and also to provide support in slowing skin premature aging.
The Black Currant Rejuvenating Night Cream puts black currants front and centre, giving it a divine aroma. Handmade from mostly organic ingredients – some of them being picked directly in the Green Acre Scent garden, it is a luxurious nourishing cream that deeply moisturizes while still feeling light on the skin. It is fast absorbing and smoothens the skin for a finer texture.
Great ingredients all around
In addition to the black currant, the cream also contains Cupuaçu butter, allantoin and frankincense hydrosol.
Native from the Amazonian forest of Brazil, Cupuaçu butter is a cold-pressed butter extracted from the seeds of the Cupuaçu tree that can absorb four times its weight in water. No wonder it can do miracles for dry and sensitive skins! It is known to help slow down skin deterioration and promotes its elasticity.
Allantoin is an active ingredient naturally extracted from comfrey, a perennial plant displaying anti-inflammatory properties that tones and nourishes the skin. Used topically, this gentle compound acts as an emollient on dry and irritated skin and is excellent in supporting skin cell regeneration.
Frankincense is a resin extracted from the tree of the same name. It is known to have a soothing effect on irritated skin, reducing redness and promoting an even tone.
Feel beautiful AND respectful
When I started Green Acre Scent, it was important for me to be as respectful of nature as possible. Therefore, this night cream is 100 % vegan and is not tested on animals. I’ve even chosen the bottle based on the fact that it is reusable. Once empty, just clean it thoroughly and refill it with whatever pleases you. What I also love about it is that it’s airless, preventing it from oxidizing and therefore preserving all of the great properties of the ingredients.
The Black Currant Rejuvenating Night Cream is meant to be applied - you may have guessed it - at night! I always start by washing my face with clear water (no soap!) and follow with the application of my Rejuvenating Facial Toner ensuring an instantly deep skin hydration and toning effect. I finish my routine by massaging a pea-size amount of cream all over my still-damp face and neckline.
This cream smells so good that I’ll use it all over my body when I want to feel uplifted. I even have a container in my purse to hydrate my hands when they need an extra boost!
Be careful though. Store the lotion in a cool and dry location so to avoid premature deterioration.
And on this note, enjoy! We always love to hear your feedback therefore don’t hesitate to send us a note if you have questions or comments.
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Historically used for medicinal and culinary purposes (such as food colouring!), it is a great addition to any salad, cookie recipe, broth, or tea concoction, providing a spicy taste that is similar to that of saffron.
As an annual, it is quite easy to grow and requires little maintenance. If its bright orange and yellow shades are any indication, the calendula flower loves the sun - but not the heat. It is quite adaptable and can therefore do particularly well in partial shade or full shade. Calendula is a type of marigold often called pot marigold or English marigold that is part of the Asteraceae family which also includes daisies, black-eyed Susans and chamomile.
Lush and colourful
Every year, I grow my plants from seeds that I’ve harvested the previous year. Before sowing into the ground I’m certain that frost is no longer a threat (although calendula is relatively frost-resistant). Indeed, calendula seeds can be sown directly in the ground but I prefer to start them indoors to be able to rely on fresh and beautiful flowers early on in the season. Not only do I add the petals to food and skin care recipes, the flowers are just a lovely sight and a great addition to any ornamental garden, creating the effect of a lush and colourful rug.
Calendula repels a number of harmful insects in the soil, but can attract slugs, especially if it is placed near plants from the Brassica family such as broccoli, cabbage or kale. Planting it next to tomato plants can be helpful.
Deadheaded regularly, this plant can bloom from spring through fall and beyond. In the heat of summer, it sometimes takes a break, only to start blooming again in early fall. In l’Ange-Gardien where the Green Acre Scent garden is located, flowers bloom from May all the way through November.
It’s all about the petals
At Green Acre Scent, products featuring calendula are made with calendula-infused oil. This implies that I handpick flowers directly from the garden within two days of blooming, allowing butterflies and bees to do their due diligence while ensuring I get the freshest flowers possible.
But the work doesn’t stop there. The flowers are put to dry before being hand-plucked one at a time, petal by petal, thus avoiding the loss of pollen. It’s a real labor of love, I’m telling you!
Once this process is over, I use a cold infusion method, macerating the petals in olive or almond oil for up to six weeks. This liquid gold is then strained and the petals are hand-squeezed without the use of equipment to gently extract as much oil as possible, understanding that close to 25% of the liquid typically is absorbed or lost in the process.
Did you say irritated skin or fungus?!
Yep, that’s right. Calendula’s greatest asset is that it is soothing, thanks to its antibacterial, microbial and anti-inflammatory active compound. People with irritated skin or those experiencing eczema absolutely love it, and this is why it appears on the ingredient list of our foot cream and our foot lotion. Fungus can cause the skin to be itchy but calendula can really help alleviate the sensation because of its soothing properties.
With all the summer walks I take, I’m telling you, these are my two best friends at this time of year! Not only do they help me keep my feet healthy, they are absolutely essential to making them look and feel soft after a long hike or barefoot walking in my backyard, when my heels are very dry and prone to cracking.
The foot cream is quite rich; I always recommend you put it on right before bed or that you wear cotton socks for a good hour to help your skin absorb it properly and to avoid slipping and hurting yourself . The peppermint-citrus aroma will put you in a great state of mind and will envelop your room with a nice smell all night long.
The calendula lotion bar is also hydrating but the feeling and smell are different, especially as it contains tea tree oil, which enhances its antifungal and antibacterial properties. It is eco-friendly and its metal tin makes it easy to carry anywhere you go, from the gym to the camping ground.
The good news is that you don’t have to make a decision. You can compare the two and decide for yourself how best to use each with our beautiful gift set that contains other goodies as well!
Last but not least, our calendula-chamomile soap is ideal for those with sensitive or irritated skin. Its whole Canadian goat milk content provides nourishment and an extra boost of moisture. Unscented, it’s perfect for anyone who doesn’t like strong flowery smells and those fighting eczema.
All in all, whether you use calendula on your plate, in a bouquet, on your skin or in your garden, it is a beautiful multipurpose flower that I find always comes in handy.
Happy gardening!
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When I first started Green Acre Scent, one thing was clear to me, and that thing hasn’t changed: I wanted to create products in respect of Mother Nature and of our bodies.
After all, it was my personal journey that had brought me here. I wanted to develop face and body care products that would enhance my well-being and my inner and outer beauty. To me, the solution lied in using the most natural ingredients possible. I couldn’t see why I would want to apply harsh chemicals and industrial by-products on my skin. Not only do parabens, phthalates, triclosan, petroleum and coal-based products and other synthetic ingredients can have an impact on our health, they also have an impact on the environment.
Green Acre Scent’s full-proof process
You would be surprised to find out how much research and development goes into creating my products. However, as a maker of handcrafted skincare products, I believe that your body is too important for me to thread lightly. My goal is not to solely make products that won’t harm your skin, I make products so that they deliver results.
Every time I create a new product, I start with the following question: what need is Green Acre Scent aiming to fill and what is the best product to respond to that need? But it’s the following question that is most important: what is the recipe to make that product and what are the best ingredients to use to make it as efficient as possible?
Truth is, there have been times when I’ve decided to scrap an idea because the results weren’t conclusive. If most of the ingredients required are not natural in some shape or form, I either go back to the formulation board and try to develop a new recipe or I look at addressing the initial need from a different angle.
When I source ingredients, I ask myself a handful of key questions:
Chances are that if I answer ‘no’ to most of these questions, the ingredient is rejected.
But if the answer is ‘yes’ for most or all of the ingredients, then this is only the first step. I still have to refine my recipe!
A fine balancing act
Creating a product is a fine balancing act, especially when it’s entirely made of natural ingredients. There are so many things to consider: color, scent, texture, feel, packaging, aging and so on.
If I’m working from a raw ingredient, I need to process it first. This can mean drying, infusing or extracting. It’s important to note that I always favour cold extraction methods not to alter the properties of the plants and that no perfumes or artificial colourings are used in the process.
Once all the ingredients are ready, I combine them in various quantities in order to make different variations of the same product. That’s when the testing begins.
At Green Acre Scent, although we don’t use any harmful ingredients, no testing is done on animals. I’m usually the first one to try out a new product! The final product has to pass the stability and microbiological test in order to be safe for your skin and have an acceptable shelf life. If I see that the texture, the scent or the color is not right or that the product changes over time, then it’s back to square one. I can tell you that it’s not always easy but I’ve definitely learned patience and perseverance. What an amazing feeling it is when I finally get it right!
Just a little bit of packaging
Our love for Mother Nature doesn’t stop at the type of ingredients we use in making our skincare products. In this industry, packaging can have a huge environmental impact. This is why we always strive to identify the best possible solution that will lower our environmental footprint while maintaining the integrity of the product.
We tend to use as little packaging as possible. When possible, we encourage clients to buy our products' refills or the ‘naked’ version of our soaps. This being said, our packaging is made of recycled materials and are either recyclable, biodegradable, compostable or reusable.
We understand that those extra special gifts sometime require extra special wrapping; in those instances, we use Lokta paper, a renewable non-wood forest product that is handmade in rural communities of Nepal from the inner bark of the Daphne plant.
Final Line
I’d love to know: what do you do to lower your environmental footprint and reduce your reliance on packaging? Feel free to share your ideas and your suggestions on how Green Acre Scent can champion even more a sustainable lifestyle!
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Ah, those dandelions… Many people dread this time of year when their beautiful green lawn transforms into a field of yellow “weeds”.
But, I must admit that this is the time I rejoice.
I’ve told you on different occasions that I love dandelions. They remind me of spring. They remind me of Romania, my home country. Moreover, they help feed the bees at a time of year when pollen can be hard to find, thus helping save the bees.
In Europe, dandelions are seen in a more favorable light than in North America. In certain countries like Italy and other Mediterranean nations, they are often added to salads or steeped in hot water just like any other flowers and herbs.
In fact, dandelions are not native to North America. Europeans would have brought them here because of their amazing properties. Traditionally, the Chinese and many First Nations used dandelions for medicinal purposes and believed they could help treat conditions and illnesses like cancer, hepatitis and digestive issues.
Dandelions are full of vitamins A, B, C, and D, and contain minerals such as iron, potassium and zinc. When picked early, their leaves have a mild taste, making them easy to consume raw while offering many health benefits. Dandelion roots and leaves are known for their powerful diuretic properties, one of the reasons why some consume them in a warm concoction. Truth is, they are edible from tip to root.
Dandelions also have amazing properties for the skin.
When used topically on the skin through skincare products, dandelion water or oil extracts play an anti-inflammatory and antioxidant role and help reduce the signs of aging.
Dandelions contain cichoric acid which prevents enzymes to break down the hyaluronic acid naturally present in the body. Knowing that hyaluronic acid helps our skin attract and retain moisture, the benefits are obvious. A recent study even found that dandelion leaf and flower extracts could help the skin prevent UVB damage.
At Green Acre Scent, our dandelions are foraged directly from our land, away from roads and other potential sources of contamination.
As the flowers open every morning as the sun rises and close every night as the sun sets, we find that morning is the best time to pluck the freshest blooms.
Once picked, we spread them out on a clean cloth to allow them to wilt and dry for a few weeks before turning them into extracts that will get added to some of our products.
Find dandelion extract in our products.
Although many people use the Dream Body Butter as a winter moisturizer to soften the cracked skin, it also does miracles in the summer, soothing sun-damaged skin. Thanks to its organic cocoa and Shea butters content and to its distinct aroma combining orange, clove, cinnamon and lime, you’ll feel like you’re in paradise! Simply massage it on damp skin upon exiting the shower to allow for better penetration.
If you prefer an unscented moisturizer or if you have sensitive skin, the Soothing Herbal Butter might be a better solution for you.
Personally, I’m particularly fond of our Nature’s Joy Soap. Not only is it made of dandelion infused oil, but it smells like spring and is an absolute sight to the eye, unveiling a magnificent pattern of marbled colors. A great gift idea!
Now, I’m curious. Did I convince you that dandelions are worth it?
Bonus: Download Free our loved Dandelion Spring Salad
Caution: By no means does Green Acre Scent pretend to provide medical advice nor does it make any scientific claims. This content should be interpreted for what is is, an informational blog post. In doubt, always consult a health care professional before making changes to your diet or your skincare ritual.
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Cherished memories
I have a lot of memories attached to my home country, Romania. I remember spending my summers with my grandparents in the country. They would teach me about the treasures of the land surrounding us. We would harvest the garden and make delicious meals out of fresh ingredients. We would pick berries and mushrooms in the wild and they would show me how to differentiate the poisonous varieties from the good ones. We were surrounded by greenery and animals. I was a happy child.
My grandparents taught me to be grateful to Mother Nature and to say thank you for everything it provides for. At a time when we didn’t talk about climate change nor the environment, we were very aware that we should treat it with respect and act with preservation in mind.
Of course, it took me years to really absorb all of this and to fully appreciate the legacy passed down by my family.
New beginnings
In 2006, I made the difficult decision to move to Canada. It was now or never. We had always hoped our lives would improve but reality had started to set in. It was time to leave everything behind and start over for our own well-being and more importantly, that of our son. Like every mother, I wanted only the best for him and was certain I could find it in Canada.
It was hard. Like many immigrants, we arrived with almost nothing. But with time and tremendous effort, we were able to get by. I am grateful for all the support and encouragement that I received from the wonderful people I met during these past years and I am proud of calling myself a Canadian. Unfortunately, my body was not collaborating. All of the stress and hardship were affecting my health. I was experiencing heart attack types of symptoms but doctors were saying everything was fine.
I started researching and reading. I would spend hours educating myself, trying to figure out what was wrong with me. It turns out I was having panic attacks. I would be driving, feeling as normal as can be, and all of a sudden, I wouldn’t be able to breathe and the road would get blurry.
Out of everything I was reading, naturopathy seemed to make the most sense and it was this realization that brought childhood memories to resurface. I remembered how peaceful my grandparents were back home. And I started craving the same life.
Seeding Green Acre Scent
In 2012, we moved to Les Arpents Verts (which translates to “green acres”), a little patch of green land nestled in the municipality of l’Ange-Gardien, Quebec. Slowly but surely, I started planting the seeds (literally!) of what would become Green Acre Scent. Soon enough, we were surrounded by wildlife, worms, butterflies, bees and birds of all colours and I was studying chemistry and herbalism to learn to make botanical skincare products.
My gift
Green Acre Scent is my gift to help you care for your mind and body in harmony with nature. I grow edibles, herbs and flowers from seed, choosing varieties based on their capacity to withstand the weather and their amazing properties for the health and skin. Black currants, calendula, garlic, lavender, apple trees, every season comes with new learning and beautiful surprises.
Each product is handcrafted and packaged by myself, from the bottom of my heart, using the plants from my garden whenever I can, sourcing the finest of ingredients from the Canadian market.
Join me on this journey to help people care for their minds and bodies sustainably!
With love,
Mihaela
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Thank you for visiting my booth on the weekend of March 30th -31st, at the Spring Ottawa Craft Show.
I enjoyed meeting and chatting with everyone who stopped by to sample our products, to speak about their skincare concerns, to provide interesting feedback or to show support. This means so much to me! I appreciate your interest and business and I am glad that these botanical skincare products you brought home will pamper your skin and enhance your well-being.
Do you remember the box of four soaps that was presented at the craft show to be given away? Now it is the time to reveal the winner of the contest.
But before doing that, let me present you with the highlights of each soap that the lucky winner skin will benefit.
Soaps created with love for delicate skins
Green Acre Scent natural soaps are artisanally crafted in a traditional way from natural, organic (whenever possible) skin loving rich oils and butters which not only gently clean your skin but leave behind a soft skin with a silky feeling appearance.
Unrefined fair trade organic Shea butter and organic cocoa butter are key ingredients in all our soaps for their emollient properties to the skin.
In each soap, as in all our products, we add botanical extracts specially selected to provide an extra benefit: from gently cleaning a sensitive skin, dead skin exfoliation or an extra moisturizing layer added for a dry skin.
Read here to find more about what to expect from artisanally crafted soaps?
Giveaway box soaps key ingredients
The key ingredient in Aloe Vera Soap is the fresh harvested gel from the organically grown Aloe vera. Being highly rich in essential vitamins, amino acids, enzymes and trace minerals Aloe Vera soap supports the irritated skin in its process of regeneration, helps with skin’s dead cell exfoliation, contributes to balance skin oil level and enhance the overall skin health.
Activate Charcoal and Tea Tree Soap was added to this giveaway box to give you a natural choice for your periodic routine of deep skin cleansing. The soap helps your skin remove impurities and dead skin cells while improving its texture, and providing freshness and antibacterial properties.
Cranberry Soap, which is made with fresh pulp of Canadian Cranberry and Canadian Fir balsam essential oil, is a perfect addition to your bath ritual not only for its energizing scent but also for leaving behind a cleaned skin with a silky texture.
With the Orange Cinnamon Soap your skin will be visibly refreshed and your senses will be pleasantly touched by the aromatic sweet scent of cinnamon bark, sweet orange, and clove top grade essential oils.
Drum roll to announce the giveaway box winner
To make it more traditional, I took the time to prepare a contest ticket for each person who subscribed to the list and my husband had the privilege to draw the lucky winner’s name.
And ….. the winner is: Cathi (su_ _ _ _ _ _t@h_ _ _ _ _ _.com) !!! Congratulations! I will personally contact you by email to make all the necessary arrangements to free deliver your gift.
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What exactly can express a rose or lavender flower?
The ancients Greeks and Romans used rose flowers as a symbol of love and passion to convey messages without words. Each color had its own meaning: red expressing passion; white being the symbol of innocence; yellow for friendship; pink for admiration and gratitude; orange for enthusiasm and desire; lilac and purple for love at first sight. [Ref1]
On the other hand, lavender flowers represent purity, innocence, serenity, devotion, grace and calmness. [Ref2] Its soft and sweet flower scent is soothing and promotes relaxation and sound sleep. Being one of the most versatile and used plants in the word, from ornamental gardens, potpourris, culinary herbs, aromatherapy to traditional medicine, lavender had became an indispensable plant to everyone.
For us, at Green Acre Scent, rose and lavender flowers are very close to our heart. We are in love with their scent, their velvet touch, elegance and we do cherish them for all the benefits they provide to our skin. This is one of the reasons we use their buds, petals and essential oils in a variety of our skincare products alongside other amazing botanicals nature provides us with.
Today, we are excited to introduce to you Rose and Lavender Soaps (just in time for Valentine’s Day), two newly created botanical soaps made with much love for our skin (as we always do) using organic rose petals respectively lavender flowers.
Meet Rose Soap - a soap of romance!
With a lovely combination of sweet floral aroma reminding us about the velvety romantic rose partum and the tangy-fruity hibiscus flower scent, this lovely skin moisturizing soap enchants not only your senses but gently takes care of your sensitive skin.
Meet Lavender Soap - a luxurious soap choice for your skin and mood!
Who can resist the heavenly French lavender scent? It is not only relaxing, but also soothing to our senses! Adding the nourishing and emollient effect from Shea butter, this soap gently cleans your skin while soothing itchy symptoms related with a dry skin.
What do rose and lavender flowers represent for you?
We would love to hear about your preferences of using lavender and roses!
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Our lips are more sensitive and will lose their moisture fast as they have a very thin layer of skin and are directly exposed to the harsh weather elements. We have the tendency to lick them often, but we shouldn't, as it will only get drier.
To keep the lips hydrated and moisturized it is recommended to drink plenty of water, use a humidifier in the house, especially into the bedroom, and apply a lip balm regularly.
At Green Acre Scent we like to use Shea butter as a main ingredient in our lip butters, which features emollient properties and helps to create a barrier to lock in the moisture.
Combined with sweet almond oil, a lovely oil for dry skins featuring A and E vitamin properties, will nourish and sooth the skin, and keep them moist.
In the winter, I prefer to protect my lips from getting dry and cracked by regularly applying on them Frankincense Lip Butter for its soothing added benefits of the wild frankincense essential oil and for its light sweet relaxing scent. Some of our clients prefer the refreshing feeling of light-scented Peppermint Lip Butter.
What about you? Which one do you prefer?
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We like that the entire process, from the moment the raw paper fiber is harvested to the moment the soap bar nicely surprises a client, is sustainable and artisanally crafted with care and love for the nature, communities and our special clients. It is one of the reasons why we prefer to use this soft and durable handcrafted paper as a packaging method for our botanical soap bars.
You may ask yourself (as we also did when looking to find an eco-friendly package choice), what makes Lokta paper so special ?
Here are a few of our findings:
Lokta paper, an eco-friendly non-wood forest product. is handmade by the Nepalese communities from the fibrous inner bark of Lokta bush, which is an evergreen shrub belonging to Dahne plant family.
The shrubs that grows in the southern slopes of Nepal's Himalayan in the high altitude forest (6500-9500 ft.), is an important eco-friendly resource and a reliable revenue stream for the local rural communities.
The earliest surviving paper made from Lotka appears in a form of sacred Buddhist text, Karanya Buha Sutra, which is estimated to be 1000 - 1900 year old.
The bark of the Daphne bush is harvested by hand-cutting its stem at the ground level without affecting the main bush roots. Lokta bush naturally regenerates within 2-3 years and reaches a full grown high of 5 m after 5-7 years.
After being transformed into a paste, by boiling the fiber for 8 hours, the resulting paste is added by the skilled artisans to a wooden/mesh frame. Before sitting to naturally dry in the sun, flower petals, seeds or leaves will be laid onto the pulp in order to create a unique paper.
When dried, the paper sheet is hand-dyed using water based paints ( which do not contain synthetic chemicals or acids, but are created from plants and natural minerals) to create interesting patterns, and once again will sit to dry in the sun.
This strong and durable handmade paper can last for 2000 to 3500 years. The soft handmade paper are non-perishable in the water, free of germs and highly resistant to insects, which makes it a popular alternative to be used for books, wallpaper, wrapping, packaging origami, and official government documents.
Can you see why we fell in love with this eco-friendly hand-crafted paper?
When we handle with care a Lokta paper sheet to handcraft a soap bar wrap, we can feel the love added in the process of its creation by these amazing Nepalease artisans, and we can only be grateful to each one of them.
Next time, when you will gift a bar of soap from our Artisanally Crafted Soap Collection to your loved ones or to yourself, try to experience this amazing feeling and send us a few words about it. We would love to know about your unique experience.
References and further readings:
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Our Dream Body Butter, a nourishing rich whipped cream, was special created to keep the skin moisturized and hydrated even during the harsh Canadian winter.
Organic cocoa and Shea (fair trade, unrefined) butters, featured as key ingredients in our Dream Body Butter, are skin-loving sources of healthy fatty acids known for helping the skin produce its natural oil barrier.
Cocoa butter features great skin moisturizing and hydrating properties, which are very beneficial for the skin, especially during cold temperatures as it adds a protective layer of hydration to the skin, preventing it from cracking or peeling off. Also, as it is mentioned in a study [1] made on the potential benefits of the cocoa butter, its polyphenols exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and have a positive effect on the skin structure associated with skin tone and elasticity.
Shea butter, a rich creamy butter, when applied to the skin acts as an emollient by soothing the dry and sensitive skin, and supports its hydration by covering the skin with a protective layer trapping in moisture.
Due to high percentage of unsaponifiable fat fractions, the Shea butter exhibits anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, especially due to its triterpenes compounds which are shown to enhance the skin repair process [2]. These benefits make it very attractive to be used in cosmetic products related with sensitive, dry and eczema skin issue.
Organic botanicals - calendula, dandelion, and borage - gently infused in rich moisturizing oils, were added to sooth and help the skin remain hydrated. Their anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidation and cell regeneration properties will also support the skin to keep a healthy looking appearance.
Calendula officinalis is an annual herb originated from the Mediterranean origin and is primarily used for soothing the dried, chapped or inflamed skins and help relieving symptoms related with eczema. [3] Calendula infused oil extract improves the skin hydration and firmness and helps in reducing skin itchiness, sensitivity and dryness which are amplified by the cold weather.
Dandelion (Taraxacum officinalis), a beautiful wild flower that we love so much, but unfortunately it is generally overlooked as a weed and is removed from the yard, features many benefits for our well-being. When used topically on the skin, it provides anti-inflammatory support due to its sesquiterpene lactones compounds. [4] [5]
As mentioned in a study from 2016 [6], dandelion is rich in micronutrients, such as Vitamins (A, C, D, E, B) and minerals (Iron, Magnesium, Sodium, Calcium, Silicon Copper, Phosphorus and Manganese), and is the richest vegetable source of beta-carotene, from which vitamin A originates. Carotenoids and vitamin A pose potent anti-oxidant properties and are widely used in the skincare products in the attempt to prolong youthful skin appearance [7].
Borage (Borago officinalis), also known as a start flower, is topically applied to the red, itchy or irritated skin and used in skincare products to soften the skin and normalize skin’s barrier function [8]. Borage contains high levels of the essential fatty acid Gamma Linolenic (GLA) that is important in supporting the functionality of the skin and is very effective in addressing the skin’s atopic dermatitis. [9].
Featuring anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and free radical scavenging activities [10], it’s no wonder that the extract of borage plant enhances skincare products ability in supporting a younger and healthier looking skin.
Our in-house winter scent adds a distinct touch to the body butter. This special aroma which is made by blending together pure essential oils of orange, clove, cinnamon and lime, envelopes you in a good cheer and uplifts your spirit.
Love your skin and keep it well moisturized during the cold season by using as needed our silky Dream Body Butter.
PS: On top of all these natural goddesses we added a special touch of Love for our-well-being. We will be glad to know how was your experience using the body butter.
Cautions:
All skincare products may present a very low potential risk of individual allergic reactions. We recommend doing a small patch test prior to fully apply the product to your skin, particularly if you have allergies or sensitivities. Discontinue using the product if swelling or itching occur and contact us to arrange for a refund.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding: As there is not enough reliable information about the safety of using calendula, dandelion and borage it is recommended to stay safe and to avoid using the botanical extract or a topic application.
References and further reading:
[1] Cocoa Polyphenols and Their Potential Benefits for Human Health, NCBI, PMC, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
[2]Anti-inflammatory and chemopreventive effects of triterpene cinnamates and acetates from shea fat, NCBI, PubMed
[3]Calendula, WebMD
[4] Best Springtime Beauty Herbs, Herbs & Hedgerow
[5] [6] The Physiological Effects of Dandelion (TaraxacumOfficinale) in Type 2 Diabetes, NCBI, PMC, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
[7] Discovering the link between nutrition and skin aging, NCBI, PMC, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
[8] Borage, WebMd
[9] Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils, PMC, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
[10] Report: Comparison of qualitative, quantitative analysis and antioxidant potential between wild and cultivated Borago officinalis leaves from Palestine, NCBI, PMC, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
8 Cocoa Butter Benefits and Uses, Dr.Axe
Cocoa in natural skincare, Herb & Hedgerow
Shea butter , WebMD
Emollients, NHS
Dandelion, WebMD
Taraxacum—A review on its phytochemical and pharmacological profile, Sciency Direct, Elsevier, Journal of Ethnopharmacology, Volume 107, Issue 3, 11 October 2006, Pages 313-323
Taraxacum, Wikipedia
]]>This lovely peppermint-citrus foot cream, with a hint of tee tree and rosemary, is hand-crafted using a cold blend method in order to provide your skin with all natural moisturizing and nourishing benefits of raw and pure organic oils and butters, such as shea butter and sesame oil, and complemented with nature's goodness benefits from botanical plants, such as calendula and plantain.
Want to know more what happened behind the scene and why this cream is so special? Continue reading ……
We love the nature and appreciate it for providing us with plenty of resources to be used whenever is needed. So in return, we do our best to protect it, use only what we need and help it to flourish year after year.
The process of preparing the foot cream started in the beginning of spring when the first green leaves of plantain were so happy to show up in our back yard and garden. We were also happy to see them, especially after the long winter we experienced this year! We even walked around them to not disturb their growing process.
The wild grown plantain leaves were harvested on a sunny day from our organically grown land, and after being cleaned and slightly dried were ready to be infused in oil.
In a second jar, we prepared oil maceration from organic calendula flowers that were out-sourced as harvesting season was to start later in the summer, but usually calendula is a ray of sunshine in our garden.
So, for the next 8 weeks both infusion jars enjoyed capturing the energy from the sun and the moon and worked their wonders to extract all goodness from the plants. From time to time we were shaking them a little bit to ensure all plants particles are well covered by the golden oil.
When the maceration was ready, the plantain oil infusion turned into a nice green-yellowish color, and the second one, the calendula infusion, into a golden-orange oil having a slightly viscous consistence.
To create the foot cream we used a cold blend method, in which no heat is used to mix the ingredients. By doing that all the natural properties of the organic and raw ingredients we used making the cream remained un-altered for our skin to benefit from it.
So, the next step is for you to apply the foot cream gently and generously to your cleaned heels, elbows, knees and feet at bedtime and in the morning to have a soft, moisturized and well nourished looking skin.
With love for our well-being: 15% OFF new product release discount that ends on August 15th, 2018, 11:59pm. The discount is already applied to the product's price.
Treat your skin with love and enjoy your Foot Cream !
We will be happy for receiving your real feedback on how was your experience using the cream.
Wonder what benefits the cream offers for your skin? Here below we listed the featured key ingredients most known properties. Enjoy reading!
Shea Butter, a rich creamy butter, is extracted by women by hand from the nut of the African Shea tree, known as karate tree, using an artisanally long process. For the women community this is not only a tradition but also a way of sustainably supporting their families.
Shea butter, known for its luxurious moisturizing and vitamin (A, E, F) rich properties, nourishes and provides moisture to the skin and keeps it supple and healthy, helping it to have a satiny finish. The emollient benefit of the cream helps in softening and smoothing the dry and sensitive skin’s condition as cracked elbow, heel and feet or itchy sensation related with eczema skin issues.
Sesame Seed Oil is an ancient oil-seed crop that was cultivated more than 5000 years ago during the Indus civilization and is believed to be the world’s oldest oil plant.
In the traditional Taiwanese medicine it has been used to relieve the inflammatory pain of joints and wounds [1].
Known to contain vitamin E and fatty acids (linoleic acids, stearic acids and palmitic acids), sesame oil exhibit anti-inflammatory properties and helps the skin to retain its moisture while promoting skin elasticity and softness.
Its emollient and conditioning benefits helps the dry knees and elbows and the cracked heels to improve the skin appearance and become soft and supple.
Plantain (Plantago major), also known as greater plantain or broadleaf plantain, is native to most of Europe and northern and central Asia, but now it is widely dispersed throughout the world and is mostly known as a weed.
An article published in the December 2017 [2], reviewed the benefits and chemical constituents of Plantago major that were published in journals from year 1937 to 2015. As per the studies mentioned in the above paper review, the plant contains a number of effective chemical constituents including flavonoids (luteolin, apigenin), alkaloids, fatty acids, polysaccharides and vitamins (vit.C, carotenoids). Many studies mentioned in the paper review shows the positive activity related with wounds manifested by plant’s chemical compounds. Also, the plant shows activity as an antioxidant and free radical scavenger.
Rich in all these compounds, Plantain make a great botanical to be added to skincare products for dry and sensitive skin, as well as those targeting to relieve itchy sensation related with skin eczema.
Calendula (Calendula Officinalis) known as pot marigold should not be confused with the ornamental marigold (Tagets genus). It is a perennial or annual plant (in the cold climate) of the family Asteraceae, which is probably native to the southern Europe.
Calendula oil which is distillate from the flower top of the plant is viscous and sticky oil, and is used in skincare products to help with skin conditions related with dry skin and eczema.
Showing anti-inflammatory and moisturizing benefits, it helps to soothe the dried, chapped or inflamed skins, while relieving the itchy sensation and pain.
Calendula’s antifungal properties are great in helping to relieve symptoms related with foot fungus or eczema.
Treat your skin with love and enjoy your Foot Cream !
Sources, references and further reading:
[1] Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils, PMC, US National Library of Medicine, National Institute of Health
[2] Chemical constituents and medical benefits of Plantago major, Science Direct
Shea butter , WebMD
Sesame Oil, Wikipedia
Plantago major treatment enhanced innate antioxidant activity in experimental acetaminophen toxicity, Science Direct
Plantago Major, Wikipedia
Discover the Little-Known Uses of Sesame Oil, Mercola.com
Calendula officinalis, Wikipedia
Calendula, WebMD
Here’s Why You Can Count on Calendula Oil, Mercola.com
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Now in the spring season, for a tastier and much more nutritional meal, we all can take advantage of seasonal fresh leafy greens, for example spinach, lettuce, and green onion. And, why not to try something different and add some tasty fresh nutrient-rich dandelions greens to the regular salad. When harvesting dandelions greens pick only the youngest leaves as their taste are not that bitter, and always make sure to harvest from a yard that is not treated with synthetic fertilizers or pesticides.
We are sharing with you our dandelion spring salad that not only delights your taste, but also provides full of nutrients and vitamins. This nourishing salad is made with dandelions greens, spinach, radishes, and onions greens, and topped with wild violets and lemon balm, on which we drizzled for taste just a touch of lemon balm infused apple cider vinegar and hot pepper infused extra virgin olive oil.
Dandelion is a very rich source of beta-carotene which our body can either convert into vitamin A (one serving of 100g dandelions green provides 203% daily value of vitamin A) , or use it as an antioxidant to help protect cells from the damaging effect of free radicals. Also it is a source of vitamin C, fiber, iron, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus.
Studies shows that vitamin C, which is found in epidermis (skin’s outer level) and dermis (inner skin level), has antioxidant properties and plays an important role in stabilizing collagen ribonucleic acid production, thus it increases collagen synthesis for repairs of damaged skin. Vitamin C also increases the proliferation rate of fibroblasts which are responsible for collagen production, and by that gives the skin its structure.
Spinach, which is a nutrient-rich food and important source of iron, chlorophyll, vitamins E, A, and C has antioxidants properties that fight against skin problems and help fight inflammation.
Olive Oil with its healthy fats Omega-3s and Omega-6s, helps the skin to improve its natural oil barrier, and its essential fatty acids and nutrients improve the skin appearance to look healthier and younger.
Lemon Balm (Melissa officinalis) is an herbaceous plant from the Mint family which has a mild lemony fragrance. In the traditional Austrian medicine, its leaves have been prescribed for the treatment of ailments related to gastrointestinal tract, nervous system, liver and bile, and in the alternative medicine, it is used for digestive aid and sleep aid.
Wild violets, Viola, is an edible perennial plant having a light sweet taste, that is culinary used for decorating salads, poultry stuffing, creams or desserts. Studies reveal that many wild violets (Viola) contain antioxidants called anthocyanins, which shows strong antioxidants activities.
Love your skin and enhance your skin beauty from the inside out. Enjoy our Dandelion Spring Salad!
Subscribe to our Newsletter to get free the Dandelion Spring Salad recipe.
Reference and further readings
Slideshow: Foods for Healthy, Supple Skin, WebMD.com
Vitamin C and Skin Health, Micronutrient Information Center, Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University
Mellisa Officinalis, Lemon Balm, eol.org
Lemon Balm, Wikipedia.org
Viola (Plant), Wikipedia.org
Rapid Separation and Identification of Anthocyanins from Flowers of Viola yedoensis and V. prionantha by High‐performance Liquid Chromatography–Photodiode Array Detection–Electrospray Ionisation Mass Spectrometry, Research article, Wiley Online Library
]]>Foraging for dandelions
]]>We enjoyed yesterday a few nice hours foraging for dandelions flowers and leaves. Their beautiful yellow color spread around our fresh green backyard brought a smile into my face. They have a magic effect on me. Every time I see their bright yellow color I feel like energy flows into my body from the outside in.
Unfortunately, the dandelions are generally overlooked as a weed that should be removed from the yard. However, this beautiful wild flower is one of the first to show up in spring providing bees with so much needed pollen after a long winter. Its moderately nutritious pollen and nectar prevents bees from starvation. So, instead of quickly removing the dandelions from the yard help the bees and in return bees will help keep our food supply plentiful.
In addition to that, did you know that dandelion greens make a very nutritious spring salad? Or that the tea made from its roots is used as a mild diuretic and liver cleanser?
Also, dandelions water or oil extract make a valuable addition to skincare products for its high antioxidant content that help fight the free radicals and reduce the appearance of skin aging. Very rich in Vitamins (A, C and E) and minerals (Iron, Phosphorus, Potassium, and Calcium) it is good for the skin and hair health.
We are so excited to announce that very soon a new natural product, limited edition, made from the dandelions infused oil that we self-prepare, will be added to our collection.
Don’t miss this limited edition and subscribe to our Newsletter to receive news on its availability.
Treat your skin with love.
]]>Why to choose organic and natural skincare products? Chapter One - Avoid toxic chemicals and promote love for our well-being
]]>Because we are caring about our well-being, strive to protect the environment and support Communities improving the quality of their life, we are inviting you to actively participate in a discussion gravitating around the topic: “Why to choose organic and natural skin care products?”
Are you curious about why we love natural and organic products that are reflected in our philosophy and our body-care products, and we are sharing it with you with so much love?
Follow us on Facebook, join our Newsletter or read our Blog to learn about all the 8 factors we consider are important to make the switch for organic and natural products.
Avoid toxic chemicals and promote love for our well-being
We are exposed every day to dozens of toxic chemicals; either to poor outdoor and indoor air condition, or to toxic chemicals found in consumer goods, cleaning products, skincare products and cosmetics.
It is alarming to know that even when satisfying our basic necessities, like trying to have proper personal care hygiene or providing a good meal to our family, we expose ourselves and our children to the potential risk of hormone endocrinal disruption, cancer and even impair brain development in children.
Our skin is the largest organ of the body, accounting for 10% of our body mass, which depending on some important factors, for example substance’s concentration, exposure time, age and physical condition, among others, may absorb more or less of the substances coming in contact with the stratum corneum, the skin’s epidermis first layer. Dermatitis is the skin disease known to be one of the most common occupational diseases, but also skin cancer and infections may occur.
The toxic trio chemicals: BPA, Triclosan, and Phthalates, is used respectively to make plastic shatterproof; as preservative found in different household products, for example in soaps, shampoos, skin cleaners, fragrances; or to enable claims of antibacterial properties. These toxins can be found in our body, in our waterways, and even in the Arctic.
Triclosan is a toxic chemical which is an endocrine disruptor (hormone-disrupting chemical), poses risks to the environment and has been linked to antibiotic resistant bacteria. It is known that in most cases, antibacterial soap is not necessary for safe, effective hand hygiene. Washing your hands with warm water and regular soap has been shown to be equally effective.
Phthalates are a group of chemicals used in plastics to soften and increase flexibility and as a solvent in household products, as for example in cosmetics, children’s toys and child-care articles, paint, fabric and textile, even in laminate floors and school supplies. It is also a common fragrance substance found in air fresheners, detergents, cosmetics, as for example in shampoos, perfumes, and lotions.
There are warnings from leading scientists about the phthalate increase effect on the rates of behavioral problems related with ADHD and for lowering IQ levels in children, when the mother has a prenatal exposure to phthalate.
To minimize your exposure to these above mentioned toxic chemicals, it is important to read the product labels and to choose all the time the Phthalates, BPA or Triclosan free-product (which can be very challenging).
You may also consider looking for organic and natural product to avoid all together many other toxic chemicals (which are much more than those above mentioned toxic chemicals), to protect your health and to treat your body with natural love. Consider a toxic-free alternative or product whenever is possible.
We would love to hear about your challenges and successes in choosing the right product for your well-being. Leave us a comment below.
References and Further Reading:
Phthalates, Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), Skin Exposures and effects, Centers for disease control and prevention
Improving Human health and cutting pollution are one and the same, Environmental Defense, Canada
Asthma rates in children are on the rise, and so are toxic chemicals in our everyday products, Environmental Defense, Canada
Uncanny toxics: Who has the power to stop them?, Environmental Defense, Canada
Environmental Defense applauds U.S. Government ban on harmful Triclosan, Environment Defense, Canada
Canada misses the mark (again) in its decision to not ban harmful Phthalates, Environmental Defense, Canada
Triclosan, Government of Canada
Phthalates, Government of Canada
Phthalates, Project TENDR
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