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Traditional Natural Beauty

"Women in the modern world look for beauty in a bottle"

The thought of putting a product plucked directly from the ground or even straight from the fridge or kitchen cupboard might seem rather repulsive to many. But in ancient times, beauty products were by nature "natural".  They ranged from goats milk in which to bathe to red ochre used as a blusher.

For the ancient Egyptians, beauty was an extremely important part of both mortal and immortal existence.  It was believed that to be accepted into Heaven, the body needed to be clean, scented, and made-up upon burial. Makeup was treasured and ritualized, kept in special jars that were kept close at all times.

For the Romans, beauty was very important in their social culture. The Romans too used natural products, for example, sweat and dirt from sheep's wool (today's lanolin) and bear's fat used as a wax to bind pigment.

 

However not all in ancient times were pure, natural and healthy. In roman times height of beauty was a white face, red lips and dark brows and lashes. To accentuate the paleness of the face, many toxic substances were used, the worst being a form of lead. It was known, even thousands of years ago, that lead caused skin conditions and other health problems, but it continued to be used nonetheless.

Are we in the modern world any wiser?

With all of the research available today on sulphates, parabens, dyes and preservatives many women continue to use potentially toxic products in the name of beauty. Look at the packaging of your everyday toiletries and cosmetics you’ll be amazed at what you find.

Go back to Nature

Natural products have an enormous variety of health and beauty properties. You can even create your own spa and beauty regime from your own kitchen cupboards, for example most of us will have these basic kitchen staples lurking somewhere at the back of the cupboard:-

• Avocado – rich in unsaturated oils which hydrate, nourish and moisturise the skin
• Apple Cider Vinegar – can be used as a toner for skin and hair
• Banana – aids moisture retention and is itself a moisturiser
• Bran – great for exfoliation
• Carrot – crammed with anti-oxidant, great for aging skin
• Coffee – a soothing anti-inflammatory. As a hair rinse it enhances dark highlights
• Cucumber – soothing, cooling, refreshing and toning properties
• Honey – a good moisturiser and also has antiseptic properties
• Lemon – a wonder fruit, astringent and toner, highlights fair hair, it is also an antiseptic
• Oats – nourishes, softens and cleanses. Great in facial scrubs and other exfoliants
• Strawberry – good in face masks for cleansing, cooling and toning
• Yogurt – cleanses and conditions the skin

As you can see these ingredients are as good to eat as they are for your skin!

Simple Recipes

Have a go at making some simple natural beauty preparations, here are two to start you off:-

Avocado Face mask

This mask combines avocados, which are rich in Vitamin E, with carrots, which are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and cream, which is high in calcium and protein.  These ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.

• 1 avocado, mashed
• 1 carrot, cooked and mashed
• 3 tbsp double cream
• 1 egg, beaten
• 3 tablespoons honey

Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.  Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10-15 minutes.  Rinse with cool water and follow with your favourite toner.

Exfoliating Body Scrub

Oats are cleansing and the bran deep cleans, ground almonds can be added for a more nourishing effect:

• 4tbsp bran
• 4tbsp oats

Place the mix in a muslin bag and hang it over the bath taps so that the bath water runs through the bag. When in the bath rub your skin with the bag paying particular attention to any areas of dry, hard skin.

 

Natural Beauty from The Celtic Herbal Company

We don't always have the time to make our own natural beauty treatments, so we at Celtic Herbal Company can offer some alternatives which are all handmade in North Wales. Our recipes are sulphate and paraben free and none are tested on animals.

Our range of natural herbal bath and body products includes:-

Soaps

We offer 27 varieties of handmade natural soaps (including two specifically created for baby sensitive skin); each long lasting bar has a luxurious creamy lather. They are packed full of quality base oils which thoroughly cleanse but leave the skin softly moisturised.

Bath & Spa

Taking a bath is the most effective and pleasant way to care for your skin. Bathing relaxes the mind, body and soul. The effect of relaxing and healing does not only come through the water, which provides the warmth, but also through the herbs, which blend in with the water.

We have three therapeutic herbal ranges to choose from:

• Bath oils which contain a coconut oil based dispersant which makes the bath a little cloudy but ensures the benefits of the base oils and essential oil blends are fully absorbed into your skin leaving you beautifully moisturized without the oil scum left in the bath!
• Organic Bath Blends are two 'tea bags' stuffed full of organic herbs. Three blends, Relaxing, Reviving and Flower each with their own distinctive therapeutic recipe
• Natural Sea Salts, the salt softens the water, opens the pores and this way provides the full benefit of the herbal extracts which four blends to choose from you’ll find the right one for you
• Baby Bath Milk, calming and soothing blend of milk, oatmeal flour and essential oils.

Skincare

We all need to look after our skin; our simple natural products will help to maintain healthy bright skin:

• Natural Facials, firstly an Organic Steam facial and a Pink Clay Mask both very simply but strikingly effective.
• Massage Oil, one for Mum and one for Baby, fabulous for conditioning the skin.
• Balms, 100% natural soothing hand, healing lip and refreshing foot balm.
• We also have  a fabulous 100% natural nappy cream.

 

All text copyright © The Celtic Herbal Company Ltd.