Soap making is a wonderful process, especially if you choose to go with natural ingredients that will do your body good. With that in mind, here are some important natural ingredients that your all-natural soap should always have:

Avocado Oil  

Avocados contain about 10 to 20 percent in oil content and they’re a great addition to any meal due to their content of monosaturated fat – fats that lower the content of bad cholesterol. While avocados have gained special notoriety for being a great cooking aid, they’ve also grown into the perfect ingredient for cosmetics – including and especially soap.

This is largely due to the benefits of avocado oil.

The botanical name for avocado oil is Persea gratissimia, and it is a very popular ingredient in making soap. Many soap makers love it because it provides creamy lather and conditioning properties. Of course, you can add other oils and butters in it – including coconut oil – to help improve the fluff of the lather.

Avocado oil also has a higher palmitic acid content, which contributes to the hardness of the soap. For chemical-free skincare, avocado is a great ingredient that you should have.

Ginger Root

Ginger is a pretty good remedy for just about anything. It’s been used as a somewhat cure-all for a while, and it remains prominent among soap makers to this day.

Ginger contains a significant amount of antioxidants, all of which will help to boost blood circulation and protect your skin from the free radicals that it gets exposed to on a daily basis. These antioxidants can also help to fight aging signs like lines, dull skin, and wrinkles.

Moving on, ginger also comes with strong antiseptic properties that will help eliminate the bacteria that causes acne. These bacteria clog up your pores, and when eliminated, your skin becomes clearer and inflammation is also reduced by a great deal.

Ginger can also help to improve your condition if you suffer from skin burns, and it can provide some safe skin toning too.

Obviously, ginger root is one ingredient that you will want to keep a close eye on.

Lemon Soap Fragrance 

Not many people know the benefits that lemon soap fragrance can provide for your skin, but that’s fine. As a matter of fact, this ingredient is so versatile that it works for both bathing and cleaning soap.

To begin with, it’s worth noting that the lemon scent has been seen by many as a mood enhancer. When you incorporate it into your natural skincare routine, you’re essentially making sure that you feel better daily. Studies have shown that the small of lemons can help to counter negative emotions like frustration. It can also help with anxiety and reduce the impact of being worn out.

Then, there’s the simple fact that lemon is a strong cleaning agent. The acid you get from lemons are antiseptic and antibacterial, and they can help provide a long-lasting and stronger clean. Thus, your body is kept healthy – and so is your environment.

Apart from being able to clean you through direct application, lemon can also cleanse the air around you.

Grapefruit Seed Extract

Grapefruit seed extract is an excellent natural soap ingredient. As an antioxidant, it helps primarily with ensuring that your soap is able to last for long. As opposed to getting any of the artificial preservatives that we see, grapefruit seed extract can be added to your soap and you can rest assured that it won’t clog your skin pores or have any effect on your cells. 

For people looking to enhance their complexion naturally, this is also a great addition.

Grapefruit seed extract is such a versatile tool, it comes with various benefits for various fields. In soap making, however, you get the following:

1. Vitamin C
2. Vitamin E
3. Helpful antioxidants

All of these are joined by the ingredient’s ability to preserve and extend the lifespan of your soap.

A lot of the time, soap makers will find that preservation is a significant part of the process. Instead of getting something synthetic that can harm your skin, grapefruit seed extract is an awesome choice for you.

Shea butter 

Who can forget the grand shea butter? Or decades, soap makers have been adding this beauty to their products, thanks to its rich and creamy properties and the anti-aging effects that it has.

Shea butter can help to improve the regeneration of the cells and booth the skin’s capillary circulation. This will help to improve the circulation of nutritious blood and improve the skin’s ability to heal and nourish.

Shea butter also has a high content of vitamins E and A.

Your skin is one of the most important sense organs in your body. Healthy skin is good for your health, and it also makes you look excellent. Skincare is something that we should all be concerned about. That's why some people focus more on skincare for teenagers, while others look into improving adult skincare.  

However, there’s an extensive relationship between skin health and nutrition that needs to be maintained carefully. To that end, there are some foods that you will need to keep away from if you want to maintain healthy skin. Here are a few of them:

Refined carbohydrates  

Perhaps the most significant nemesis for your skin will be refined carbs. These are mostly processed flour and sugar, and they do quite a lot to affect your skin. 

To start, these cards have little to no nutritional value. Then, they feed the bacteria in your gut. These harmful bacteria end up feeding and growing, and they end up feeding on the good bacteria in your body too. 

Acne is a bacterial condition, so when you have breakouts, it merely means you have more bad bacteria in your system than good ones. This is why a lot of routines that focus on skincare for teenagers focus a lot on balancing the bacteria levels in the body first.

Refined carbohydrates also cause you to produce more oil – which goes on to clog your skin pores. 

Consuming more refined carbs causes your body to release insulin, which keeps your blood sugar in check. Refined sugars digest quickly, so your body will need to release significant insulin amounts to combat the sugar intake. When insulin is produced more quickly, your skin also produces oil (sebum), which clogs press and forms pimples.

Junk and fast food 

This isn’t to say that you can’t go to an eatery and have fun with your friends. The only point here is that you shouldn’t make it too much of a habit.

A lot of fast food items are deep-fried and contain a significant amount of vegetable oils (peanut oil, canola oil, etc.) While you might think vegetable oils are healthy, they can make several skin conditions worse because they have a high content of omega-6 essential fatty acids. 

Now, it’ worth keeping in mind that omega-6s are essential to our health. We need a specific amount for proper growth and cognitive function development. However, omega-6s are also pro-inflammatory, and when you have too many of those (as well as lesser amounts of omega-3s), you will have a problem. 

A lot of fast food vegetable oils are also very sensitive to light and heat, so they turn bad when they get exposed to high temperatures. When these fats are dropped in the deep fryer, they get oxidized and form free radicals. 

The free radicals will destroy your cells and even accelerate the signs of aging in your body. This is why most people who teach skincare for teenagers try to get them off the fast food first.

Dairy products

You will think that dairy products are rich in protein. A lot of them are, but there are also some dangers for you to keep in mind. 

The first problem with dairy is the fact that they can increase inflammation by a great deal. So, issues like rashes, acne, and eczema will be on the rise. 

It’s also worth pointing out that a lot of conventional dairy products contain a lot of growth hormones. These hormones disrupt the natural hormonal balance of the body. This disruption can also lead to issues like acne. 

Also, it goes without saying, but it should be said still – if you’re lactose intolerant, then you shouldn’t be anywhere near dairy products.

Soy

For a long time, a lot of people who wanted to wean off the dairy products used to choose soy as a healthy alternative. Sadly, however, a lot of soy producers now throw in a lot of genetically-engineered components in their products.

There’s also the fact that soy contains a lot of phytoestrogens, which try to mimic the function of estrogen when it’s absorbed into the body.  Just like the growth hormones that many dairy products contain, phytoestrogens can disrupt the healthy hormonal balance of the body.

Remember that a lot of estrogens will only lead to acne.

Wheat  

Dwarf wheat is the typical type of wheat that we all eat today. It comes with a different chemical composition than what you used to see years back. Again, thanks to genetic engineering, today can pass as wheat has a high content of phytic acid and gluten. Both make the wheat ore difficult to digest, and they can also contribute to gluten sensitivities.

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We all want flawless skin that looks radiant. Apart from working for it through exercise, there are also some foods and drinks that can help to improve skin quality. Whether it’s skincare for teenagers going through changes or you just want something to keep you looking healthier as you grow older, there are ways to improve skin health through our food.

Here are some important, everyday ones you can start consuming today:

Salmon 

Salmon has a high content of antioxidants that can help to reduce the level of inflammation in the body. These antioxidants themselves are fatty acids, and they can help to improve the development of healthy skin cells by a great deal.

Keep in mind that the body is naturally unable to produce any fatty acids of its own. So, by eating the fatty acids in things like Salmon, you can improve your skin barrier and reduce the level of irritants and moisture that is allowed in.  

However, if you would like for your Salmon intake to be more productive, try eating it wild. Wild Salmon provides an additional amount of omega-3s, and they help much more than the usual farm-raised variants.

Almonds and Sunflower Seeds

Essentially, these foods help with improving your skin and protecting it from the harmful effects of exposure to the sin. The seeds of these fruits have a high content of vitamin E and a significant amount of the same antioxidants you can find in Salmon.  

When used collectively, these nutrients can help to protect your skin from the presence of free radicals – damaging agents that come into your skin through environmental pollution and overexposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays. 

Of course, it’s worth remembering that the skin can keep water in, thus remaining hydrated. However, when you combine this with the benefits of the seeds themselves. You get a formidable defense against free radicals and other dangerous elements.

Take about 23 almonds – or two tablespoons of hulled seeds – daily, and you should be fine.

Water 

It’s a bit of an obvious one, but it needs to be said either way. If you’re looking for the best fluid to take for proper skincare, then there’s no question about it – water is the first choice at all times.

To begin with, remember that most of the content in skin cells is water. So, if you get dehydrated, your skin begins to look parched.

Thankfully, however, you don’t need to guzzle up gallons of water daily. Any source of water (including fruit juices, fruits themselves, vegetables, and even coffee) can help to improve your daily water consumption.

Take a consistent influx of water throughout the day, and you will undoubtedly be able to reduce dehydration and its effects on your skin. Water is also a great addition into a routine that improves skincare for teenagers.

 If you ever feel thirst, hydrate, and you should be fine.

Dark chocolate  

In truth, dark chocolate is a bit of a controversial choice. Many believe that chocolates with a high content of sugar can improve acne and even spur the growth of wrinkles on the face. However, the dark variety of high-quality chocolates (that is, chocolate variants that have over 70 percent of cocoa in their build) can be healthy for the skin.

Studies have shown that the flavonols (an effective form of antioxidant) that are found in cocoa can help to reduce wrinkles and improve the elasticity of the skin. Some also believe that these flavonols can mitigate the effects of exposure to ultraviolet rays as well. This is actually a great way to improve skincare for teenagers – they sure love their chocolate. 

However, you should also remember that chocolates have a high content of calories. It’s better to stay under the 1oz. mark for the day.

Wine

Wine is another controversial choice. No one is expecting you to get drunk, but wine can help to improve your skin quality nonetheless.

In wine, you have a high content of antioxidants, polyphenols, and more that can help to fight off free radicals. Again, this is where you will need to remember the restriction. Don’t take more than one glass of wine a day is you care about your skin.  

Alcohol is a diuretic element, meaning that an increased intake of alcohol will cause your body to lose more water. In addition to that, reports have also confirmed that alcohol can impede the function of a hormone that tells your kidneys to retain water. So, as you drink more alcohol, your body actually keeps less water that it needs. 

That’s why you pee a lot when you drink and feel dehydrated. Heavy alcohol will also reduce the levels of vitamin A, which are essential for healthy skin too.

All in all, take no more than a glass a day.

We all rely on some significant beauty products to keep us looking and smelling nice. Whether we make the products by ourselves or we purchase them, we know that these products are the result of substances that have been expertly combined in them.

However, there are some of these substances that have also been found to have heightened risks for humans. They’re classified as very dangerous, and it’s important that we either stay away from then completely or use them in smaller quantities.

Here are a few of these materials:

DMDM Hydantoin

It might sound like something out of a sci-fi movie, but DMDM Hydantoin is a form of formaldehyde-releasing preservative that has found a place in skincare and personal care items for years now. Its use in body lotion has been documented pretty extensively.

This preservative will irritate your eyes and skin severely, and there is already evidence that fonrmaldehyde is a carcinogen too. If there is any impurity in the DMDM Hydantoin that your moisturizer has, then there’s a very significant chance that you have formaldehyde in there.

There are a lot of preservatives and natural products that you can use instead to keep your body lotion long-lasting. This one doesn’t have to be in it.

Fragrance + Parfum

Yes, everyone wants natural skin care products that smell like butter and ice cream rolled into one. However, when you begin to see a significant amount of “parfum” and “fragrance” in your natural skin care produce, then you might be in for a problem.  

A lot of the time, manufacturers of natural skin care products add these to their stuff, even though it is a rather toxic mix that should be avoided. A lot of the time, these include something called diethyl phthalate – an endocrine disruptor that can be very toxic to your organ system. 

A lot of synthetic fragrances also emit VOCs, which will cause a disruption in indoor airflow and can even cause some respiratory problems like asthma.

Parabens

Just about every form of all natural body butter and skin care product has parabens. However, this doesn’t necessarily mean that it is a good thing to have with you.  

If you find any of the following in your skin care product, then you’re seeing parabens - butylparaben, isobutylparaben, methylparaben, propylparaben, or ethylparaben. Their job is to prevent the growth of bacteria or any other microorganism in your product, but there have also been studies linking them to breast cancer and the disruption of hormone growth.

For now, a lot of all natural body utter manufacturers have found a healthier and much better way of ridding their products of fungus – using citric acid and vitamin E. They have a shorter life span, but given that they’re a healthier option overall, you’ll be better served by those.

Retinyl Palmitate

Retinyl palmitate is a form of vitamin A derivative that is usually used in products like lotions, creams, and even sunscreen.  

While the product comes with some anti-aging properties, studies have also linked them with the growth of tumors after exposure to light, the National Toxicology Program has found this out, after mice exposed to the product developed some shocking tumors at the time.  

If your lotions will contain this, make sure you use them at night alone.

Triethanolamine

It’s difficult to pronounce, but it’s still a part of many skin care products nonetheless.  It is a strongly alkaline substance that the products use to balance their pH levels. So far, mascara users have found special use for triethanolamine.

However, experts have confirmed that this product should only be used for short-term applications. The Dermatology Review found that it’s a respiratory and skin irritant that can also cause some significant problems in the immune system.

While the product is biodegradable and safe for microorganisms and animals, it is still harmful to humans nonetheless. Waste water that contains this substance can change the pH of streams and lakes, thus causing some danger to aquatic life.

Synthetic colors

If you look at an all natural body butter or a natural skin care product and you find the label FD&C or D&C, then you know that the product has artificial colors. The letters usually come before a number and a color, and they are synthetic colors that come from coal tar and petroleum resources.  

Many sources have linked synthetic colors to skin irritations, as well as ADHD in children. it is also considered a human carcinogen and has been banned by the European Union.

The skin is by far the largest organ on the human body. Even by that alone, you know it’s very important to you and your overall health. So, it’s important that you take good care of it. Whether you care more about your aesthetic appearance or you believe in the benefits that caring for your skin does for your overall health, it’s important that you treat your skin right and improve on it. That said, you have a strong companion in natural skin care

As its name suggests, natural skin care is a means of caring for your skin through the use of naturally-derived ingredients. Whether through oils, roots, flowers, or herbs, natural skin care deals in the use of ingredients that don’t occur artificially or which aren’t necessarily made in a lab.  

The classic definition of natural skin care, of course, involves the use of botanically-sourced ingredients that are formed by nature, and which are free of any synthetic chemicals. Products in this category are manufactured in a way that ensures the preservation of the ingredients. So, a lot of people who have chosen to adopt this definition of skin care tend to rely more on products which they make themselves or which are locally made.

Some natural skin care products themselves were also developed and gained massive adoption due to ancient stories about the ingredients and the skin care benefits that they carry. While a lot of these stories have debatable facts, there have also been some scientific studies that have gone into them and which have found that some natural skin care ingredients do make good on their promise to improve certain aspects of your skin. 

Ingredients such as Chamomile have shown anti-inflammatory and healing properties when applied topically, so the addition of this ingredient could be beneficial in helping to keep your skin’s quality over time.

Indeed, natural skin care has grown significantly in prominence. These days, beauty salons and spas have decided to pivot to the natural space, thus focusing more on naturally-derived products that help improve the skin quality of their users. Top beauty product manufacturers have also made the switch, choosing to either completely or partially focus on natural products as well. 

Some important branches of natural skin care include:

Ayurvedic skin care

Ayurvedic skin care is one of the oldest forms of natural skin care known to an. This skin care form is derived from Indian practices that date back over 5,000 years. Healing practices in this skin care methodology were used in medicine philosophy, and eve psychology. The approach to skin care is holistic, and it considers the health of the body, mind, and spirit.

In this healing method, the belief is that there are three principles born of nature’s five elements – Vata, Kapha, and Pitta. These principles are believed to work in tandem to help improve the holistic health of the body.

Skin care products under this approach usually contain avocados, aloe vera, clay, almonds, castor. Emu oil, cocoa, ginseng, cornmeal, ground almond, cucumbers, walnut shells, honey, and much more.

Honey skin care

Honey contains both anti-microbial and antioxidant properties. It is adept at trapping moisture and retaining it, and over the years, it has been extensively used in manufacturing millions of skin care products. Apart from moisture retention, however, honey can also help to protect the skin from exposure to ultraviolet rays and rejuvenate depleted skin.

Shea butter skin care

Shea butter is gotten from the Karite tree. It is known across the world for its ability to moisturize the skin, and it has also gotten acclaim as an emollient. For products that promote skin care for dry skin, shea butter is one of the most prominent ingredients.

Jojoba skin care

Jojoba skin care is a natural remedy that moisturizes the skin. The oil gotten from this ingredient is strikingly similar to the natural whale sebum, and while Jojoba is a liquid wax, it becomes oily when broken down in room temperature. The oil can help improve the skin’s pH level and help restore pH balance.

Algae skin care

Studies have shown that Algae polysacchride can act as an effective skin moisturizer, and it can be used in a wide array of cosmetics. Algae are important when it comes to skin care for oily skin, as they can help emulsify oils, thus ensuring that people with oily skin can effectively remedy that situation. Skin care treatments such as Chlorella make use of these properties to take care of excess sebum, corneous cells, and even take out skin pimples. 

What is Shea Butter?

Shea butter is a fat extricated from the seeds of the product of the Karite (shea) tree that is most regularly found in Africa. Plentiful in nutrients A, E and F that fix and secure the skin, shea butter also has fundamental unsaturated and essential fats that boosts collagen creation and it has also been observed to have anti-aging properties.

Pure shea spread is a smooth, beige solid which does not condense at room temperature however, it softens effectively in the hands and can be immediately consumed by the skin and scalp. Unadulterated shea spread has a particular smell, however regularly cosmetic firms may include scents or coloring which may cause it to appear to be white, yellow or some of the time dark. Not at all like other saturating oils, shea butter has many recuperating properties. Because, it has extraordinary moisturizing properties it has been nicknamed and called “mother nature’s conditioner”.

Why is Shea Butter Good for the Skin and Hair?

Shea butter is one of the nature’s best ingredients for a healthy skin and hair because it contains a high amount of Vitamin A, E and F.

The vitamins A, E and F are very essential to the skin and the hair because they protect against skin damage, they give the hair and skin a radiant and glowing look. They also help the hair and the skin to look and feel healthy.

Shea butter is good for the skin and the hair because it ensures that it retains the texture and nature of the hair and skin. It also helps to grow the hair and give it a fuller and healthier feel.

Benefits of Using Shea Butter

There are numerous benefits of using shea butter and they cannot be exhausted because as the time passes, more and more benefits of shea butter are being discovered. Below are some of the benefits of using shea butter for the hair and the skin:

1. It is easy to use: shea butter is very easy to use and does not require any extra knowledge. It is an easy homemade skin care product that can be used by anybody. All it requires is using a sufficient amount on the skin and the hair and you are good to go.
2. With regards to saturating and moisturizing the skin and hair, shea butter is one of nature's own marvels. Shea margarine secures dampness in the skin and keeps it from getting dry, harsh and textured by keeping it hydrated for more. At the point when zones of the skin break because of dryness the fat substance sustains the skin. Saturating and calming properties of shea margarine can likewise be viable in the treatment of bothersome skin by providing the oils the skin lacks.
3. Shea butter contains anti inflammatory properties: A 2010 studyfound that high levels of triterpenes in shea butter could provide anti-inflammatory and anti tumor-promoting compounds. In simpler terms, shea butter has properties that can improve skin conditions that arise from inflammatory conditions. Inflammations like dermatitis and eczema can be eased with shea butter and swellings that occur from sunburn, rashes or cuts and scrapes can also be treated with shea butter.
4. Shea butter also helps to boost collagen production and hydrate skin. It slows down the process of ageing for a long period of time. It also helps to restore skin elasticity. Constant and steady application of this solution can hydrate, soften, and beautify the skin.

Benefits of Shea Butter on the Hair

5. Adding Shea butter to your shampoo or conditioner makes up for that missing moisture without weighing down your hair. The all-in-one conditioner softens the hair too. We all add water for moisture but what retains that moisture? Shea butter! Using Shea butter will make the dull strands of the hair appear brighter and will also repair the brittle edges thereby making your hair softer and longer.
6. Shea butter is a fantastic means to relive you from dry scalp, dermatitis, eczema, and psoriasis. Its richness of Vitamin A and E, can soothe scalp dryness, and prevent breakage.
7. Shea butter serves as a natural conditioner for the hair. It can provide moisturizing properties for the hair, and is also better known as mother nature’s conditioner.
8. Shea butter can help increase the hair texture and length. Because of it helps to take care of brittle edges in the hair and moisturizes the scalp of the hair well, it helps the roots of the hair become stronger and as such, it helps to make the hair longer and fuller.

Understanding the type of skin you have is important in choosing a skincare regimen to follow. Given that there are various types with their characteristics, this can be a tad challenging. Here’s a quick rundown to help keep you informed:

Normal skin 

As expected, people who have the natural skin type won’t readily describe their skin as being oily or dry. While it’s possible for some oiliness and dryness to be present, these are usually very rare, and resolving them is very easy.

People with normal skin have small pores that can easily be seen. There isn’t much in the way of shine on this skin, but it also doesn’t flake or crack easily as well. you see few wrinkles or lines on normal skin, and with very few in the way of marked blemishes, you get skin that has an even tone.

It should, however, be noted that normal skin can have a few blemishes here and then. However, like dryness and oiliness, following a few simple skincare tips can help you get rid of them easily. This is to point out that normal skin isn’t perfect in any way; at the end of the day, there are bound to be a few blemishes here and there.

Also, people with normal skin will need to keep in mind that skin characteristics change with time as well. So, the fact that you don’t have any skin problems now doesn’t necessarily mean that things will continue this way forever. As life events such as menopause and pregnancy become more prominent, some skin blemishes might arise. You could also experience things like acne if you experience a change in hormone levels or make use of a skincare product that your body isn’t accustomed to.

A regular skincare regimen will also be required by people with normal skin to ensure that their skin characteristics are properly maintained.

Dry skin 

People who have dry skin tend to feel a bit of tightness in their skin. In most instances, there are also appearances of flaking and skin patches. Pores are generally invisible, and issues such as regular irritation and premature wrinkles are also very prominent.

What causes dry skin?

There are several factors that could lead to dry skin. Some people simply get it from their parents, as the amount of sebum produced in the oil glands is usually affected by hereditary traits. Others believe that skin dryness is a product of a lack of moisture.

Moisturizer for dry skin

People who have dry skin will get quite a lot of help from moisturizers. It’s also important that you stick to a skincare regimen. People with dry skin tend to benefit from using lotions, since these contain more oil and can moisturize even better. The higher a moisturizer’s oil count, the better it is for treating dry skin.

However, make sure you test every moisturizer on your skin before adding it to ensure that you don’t get any allergic reactions to it.  

Oily skin

You know you have oily skin when your face and skin shine quite a lot. Another important trait of the oily skin is the easy breakout of acne.

What causes oily skin?

A lot of the time, oily skin arises due to both hormonal changes and genetic factors in an individual. People who have oily skin due to genetics have a high amount of sebum, which helps to soften and hydrate the skin. However, when the hormone levels in the body change, there’s usually a spike in the production of androgens- a male hormone that we all have.

When androgens are produced, sebum production is on the increase as well. however, when the oil is produced to an excess, the skin’s pores are expanded, and the result is blockages that turn to acne and pimples.   

Taking care of oily skin

A lot of people believe that skin care for oily skin starts with the use of products that can “dry out” the skin. However, this could end up not getting the job done. Some drying agents could actually trigger the production of more oils, thus exacerbating the problem. 

Instead, make sure that you exfoliate your skin lightly. As oil builds, dead skin cells can get trapped in your pores and lead to blemishes and acne. So, et products with gentle exfoliators that gently take off dead skin cells and free up your pores.

Combination skin

When you have combination skin, you usually find two or more different skin types on your face. This means that certain portions will be dry and flaky, while others will have an excess of oil. It’s easy to mistake this as having one end of the spectrum, but when you find your skin being in portions, then you have combination skin. 

Combination skin is actually the most popular amongst all skin types. However, identifying and treating it is also very challenging. You’ll need to find the right skincare regimen that will exfoliate your skin, while also being mild enough not to irritate it.