Shaving Oil? Never heard of it!

Ember Cove Shaving Oil & Skin Salve

As many of you know, I have launched my newest product which is Ember Cove Shaving Oil & Skin Salve. I have such sensitive skin that even after shaving with an electric shaver I get razor burn. Shaving with an actual razor? It used to be out of the question. I became tired of razor burn, irritations, ingrown hairs and the acne caused by both of these, so I decided to look for an alternative. I was doing research on oils one day and a wonderful idea for a shaving oil came to mind. After doing an extensive search, I discovered myself that there are “pre-shave” oils, but little to no shaving oil, so I decided to make my own!

A couple months ago when I was trying out recipes for it, I asked my significant other if he’d try it. Since he is in the military, he needs to shave every single day and is prone to razor burns and irritations so I thought this would be perfect for him. The only answer I received from him at that point was, “I don’t think that’s going to work”. Perfect. He’s the hardest person to convince! I developed my recipe and gave it to him to try, and after a few days of ignoring the shaving oil on the counter he finally did. Immediately, he said it felt wonderful and a couple weeks later he actually came up to me and said, “you know, I actually like shaving now”.

So why does this “shaving oil” work? And why the “skin salve” part? Well, the shaving oil & skin salve is made up of 6 extremely healthy oils that all have individual benefits for your skin. Each oil works as a different salve and helps heal and soothe skin ailments. Like every product I make, this shaving oil serves multiple purposes and benefits to your skin besides just providing a close shave. The oils it is made with consist of Sunflower Oil, Aloe Vera Oil, Calendula Oil, Olive Oil, Sweet Almond Oil, and Lemon Oil. Sounds great, right? Maybe not yet, but I’ll explain why these are awesome.

• Sunflower Oil has calming and emollient properties. It is nourishing and softening and can help skin that suffers from acne, eczema, rashes and redness. It contains very high levels of vitamin E.

• Aloe Vera has been prized for hundreds of years for its medicinal and cosmetic properties. It can be used to treat various skin ailments like eczema, psoriasis, ulcers, dermatitis, acne and also to stimulate cell regeneration, as it is an excellent softening agent. The various enzymes in aloe vera oil reduce the itching, swelling and inflammation. The oil and gel of aloe vera can also be used to treat wounds, burns, scalds and even sunburn, as the plant extract counters any bacterial infection while increasing the circulation, which speeds up the healing process.

• Calendula Oil has become one of my favorites. Its use is for skin irritations, cracks, slow-healing wounds, razor burns, psoriasis, eczema, sunburns, dry skin, itchiness, and inflammation. Perfect as a shaving oil ingredient!

• Olive Oil has so many great benefits! It has a high vitamin content, antibacterial effects, antioxidant content (which may help prevent premature signs of aging on the skin), promotes wound healing, has anti-inflammatory properties, cleanses skin, increases collagen levels and so much more!

• Sweet Almond Oil is an excellent moisturizer. It also soothes and softens the skin. Safe for all skin types, baby massages, wrinkles, stretch marks, and great for really dry skin.

• Lemon oil deploys antiseptic effects on minor infections of the skin, including acne. When mixed and diluted correctly (which mine is), this oil will leave you feeling refreshed with smooth, soothed, healthier skin.

Okay, that sounds a lot more awesome! But it sounds like an oily mess, why would I want to use this? Quite the contrary! This shaving oil will not make your skin feel oily at all with proper use, and will provide amazing benefits to  your skin that your normal shaving routine never did before! There are a few ways to use shaving oil, but for Ember Cove Shaving Oil & Skin Salve I recommend:

• Wet the area with warm water
• Shake the bottle to ensure the oils are mixed well
• Apply Ember Cove Shaving Oil & Skin Salve, making sure to cover the entire area to be shaved
• Optional: Apply shaving cream. However this product was made to eliminate the need for this.
• Shave!
• Rinse your razor often.
• Rinse lightly and pat dry.
• Rub the remainder of the oil into your skin and enjoy!

I also recommend making sure your razor is sharp, as dull razors are more likely to pull.

I am extremely proud of this product and quite excited about it as well. In fact, I guarantee that after trying it you will be hooked as well! If you’re not, there’s always a full refund waiting so what do you have to lose? I can write about this shaving oil & skin salve all day and night, and many people will be skeptical to even give it a quick try. I am confident that like my other products, this one is an amazing benefit to your skin – both to women and men alike! It comes in a few awesome fragrances that are faint enough to not irritate your nose, but pleasant enough to give off a sort of aftershave scent. This makes an awesome gift for anyone who shaves, and I highly recommend it to those who have to shave every single day.

Tried the oil already? Leave your feedback here! I am always eager to hear comments about any and all of my products.

Psoriasis – Not a Skin Condition

I have seen numerous websites advertising that goat milk soap cures psoriasis. However, this is not true. There is no cure for psoriasis but there are treatments for your skin (and this is where my special recipe of goat milk soap really helps). Psoriasis is a medical condition that occurs when skin cells grow too quickly and instead of just being a skin disease, it is an inflammatory disease of the immune system that appears on the skin. Faulty signals in the immune system cause new skin cells to form in days rather than weeks. The body does not shed these excess skin cells, so the cells pile up on the surface of the skin and lesions form.

There are five different types of psoriasis but none of them are contagious. You cannot get psoriasis from touching someone who has psoriasis, swimming in the same pool, or even intimate contact. Psoriasis is much more complex, and it is unknown as to why it forms. Scientists are still studying what happens when psoriasis develops. They know that the person’s immune system and genes play key roles. In studying the immune system, scientists discovered that when a person has psoriasis, the T cells (a type of white blood cell that fights unwanted invaders such as bacteria and viruses) mistakenly trigger a reaction in the skin cells. This is why you may hear psoriasis referred to as a “T cell-mediated disease.”

This reaction activates a series of events, causing new skin cells to form in days rather than weeks. The reason T cells trigger this reaction seems to lie in our DNA. People who develop psoriasis inherit genes that cause psoriasis. However, not everyone who inherits genes for psoriasis gets psoriasis. For psoriasis to appear, it seems that a person must inherit the “right” mix of genes and be exposed to a trigger. Some common triggers are a stressful life event, skin injury, and having strep throat. Many people say that that their psoriasis first appeared after experiencing one of these. Triggers are not universal. What triggers psoriasis in one person may not cause psoriasis to develop in another.

For some people, psoriasis is a nuisance. Others find that psoriasis affects every aspect of their daily life. The unpredictable nature of psoriasis may be the reason. Some people have frequent flare-ups that occur weekly or monthly. Others have occasional flare-ups. When psoriasis flares, it can cause severe itching and pain. Sometimes the skin cracks and bleeds. When trying to sleep, cracking and bleeding skin can wake a person frequently and cause sleep deprivation. Sometimes a flare-up requires a visit to a dermatologist for additional treatment.

Ember Cove soaps are specially made to help treat and soothe inflamed skin caused by psoriasis. The mixture of goat milk and honey along with my other all natural, gentle ingredients has been helping many of my customers with their psoriasis treatments, depending on how severe it is. A nice alternative for heavily medicated products, my hypoallergenic soap and lotion is extremely beneficial to treating this chronic disease.

Please note that I am not a doctor and will never claim to be one. Consult your dermatologist and ask them if my soaps and lotions could be right for your skin. Everyone is different and reactions to products vary from person to person. Always know what’s good for you and make your decisions based on how you know your skin reacts. If you experience any inflammation or irritation, stop use of any product you’re using immediately and contact a doctor or dermatologist.

A thank you to my sources: Psoriasis Speaks, Psoriasis Net, eMedicineHealth, MedicineNet, NIAMS, Medical News Today, Psoriasis Connections, National Psoriasis Foundation, Inside-Psoriasis

Food For Thought Friday – How to Make Ember Cove Soap Last!

Ember Cove Soap on a Sisal Scrubber

Hey everyone! I’ve been getting a lot of comments on how great Ember Cove all natural goat milk & honey soap is, and how to make it last longer. My bars of soap are naturally softer than any store bought brands, so it is easy to use too much and waste a lot of the soap if you are not used to it. I take a shower almost every single day washing my whole body with a bar of Ember Cove soap, and wash my face twice a day with the same bar. One bar of soap lasts me almost one month. So, here are a few tips on how to make your own bar last that long, and you should definitely see improvement on your soap’s lifespan!

A couple things to always keep in mind:

– Never leave your soap in running water, or in a pool of water. Make sure your soap dish elevates the soap enough so if it drips, the water won’t stay on the soap. Keep it away from where the shower will hit it at all times.

– A little goes a long way! The coconut oil in the soap makes a very rich and heavy lather, so you don’t need that much to get a good wash.

– Before using the soap, wet it enough and create a small lather with your hands. This way you won’t have to over-scrub to start a lather.

Different ways of washing:

Washcloth – Take your washcloth and soak it with water. Place the soap in the middle of the washcloth and fold it over. Scrub the soap between the two sides of the washcloth 7-10 times, then take the soap out and place it where it won’t be in running water. Wash.

Salux Cloth – Make sure the Salux Cloth is as wet as it can be. Take your bar of soap and place one end of the Salux Cloth on your palm. Scrub a circle pattern onto the cloth over your palm 7 times. Pull the cloth while still on your palm until it reaches a part with no soap. Scrub another circle pattern into this part of the cloth over your palm 7 times. Do this until you reach the end of the Salux Cloth (I usually have to repeat the step 5 times for a full Salux Cloth). Place your bar of soap some place where it won’t be in water. Do not put the Salux Cloth back in the water. Instead, if you are in the shower the water on your body should be enough to give you enough lather for a really good wash. (If you have never used a Salux Cloth I highly recommend them for use with my soap. It’s all I use anymore and it’s only $5.98 including shipping.)

Bath Pouf – Soak the Pouf then scrub your bar of soap in a circle pattern around the Pouf for 10-20 circles. Put the soap some place where it won’t be in water. Wash.

Sisal Style Body Scrubber (Big) – Soak the scrubber then circle your bar of soap in a small pattern on the bottom half of the Sisal Scrubber 5 times, then repeat on the top half. Place soap some place it won’t be in water. Wash.

Sisal Style Face Scrubber (Small) – Soak the scrubber then circle your bar of soap around the entire “face” of the Sisal Scrubber 5 times. Place the soap some place it won’t be in water. Wash.

Loofah – Soak your loofah in water. Scrub the soap up and down twice all the way around the loofah. Place the soap some place it won’t be in water. Wash.

Soap Saver – Get it wet and wash your body, then leave it somewhere not in water – preferably where it can hang and dry off.

Bar Itself – Just rub the bar all over your body, place it some place it won’t be in water, then scrub yourself with your hands.

What to do when the soap gets too small to use properly:

Don’t throw it away!!! Get your old soap sliver and a brand new bar of soap. Wet both bars and create a small lather with each. “Stick” the sliver of your used bar of soap onto a brand new bar while they are wet, and slide them together side to side a few times then let them sit and dry. After they dry, you will now only have one bar of soap and your sliver won’t go to waste!

If you have any other types of scrubbers or bath tools you’d love to see on here, please let me know! I hope these tips help, and I’d really appreciate any feedback on them. My soaps are meant to benefit your skin but they are also meant to last you about a month per bar. If they’re running out before that, try following these tips. If they’re still running out before that – email me and I’ll try help you out! :)

Eczema – What is it?

I take pride in making products that help soothe and even heal eczema. With all-natural hypoallergenic soaps and gentle lotions, I am excited to announce that I have helped many people with their eczema ever since I launched Ember Cove, including myself! So what exactly is this skin condition that I keep talking about on my site and in my blogs? Eczema is a general term for a set of chronic skin conditions caused by inflammation. Atopic dermatitis (AD) is the most common type of eczema, and has been called the “itch that rashes.” The general term “eczema” is usually used to refer to AD. The word “atopic” means an allergy that is usually hereditary, and “dermatitis” is defined as inflammation of the skin.

The word “eczema” also has a more general meaning. Eczema can mean a family of skin conditions that causes the skin to become swollen, irritated, and itchy. Many skin conditions are considered a type of eczema. Atopic dermatitis is just one type. Other types include hand dermatitis, nummular dermatitis, and seborrheic dermatitis. Dandruff is a mild type of seborrheic dermatitis. Diaper rash and the rash that many people get after coming into contact with poison ivy are other types of eczema.

What causes some types of eczema is pretty clear. One type of eczema, irritant contact dermatitis, develops after frequent exposure to a mild irritant such as a detergent or brief exposure to a strong irritant such as battery acid. Another type, allergic contact dermatitis develops when an allergen (substance to which a person is allergic) touches the skin. Common allergens include poison ivy and nickel. A nickel allergy is actually one of the most common causes of allergic contact dermatitis. Many everyday objects contain nickel, including coins, buttons, jewelry, and eyeglass frames. Eczema is not contagious, but since it is believed to be at least partially inherited, it is not uncommon to find members of the same family affected.

The exact cause of other types of eczema is not fully understood. Researchers believe that atopic dermatitis develops when many factors combine. These factors include inheriting certain genes, having an overactive immune system, and having something that dermatologists call a “barrier defect.” A barrier defect is a term that means “gaps in the skin.” These gaps allow the skin to lose water too quickly. The gaps also allow germs and other things too small to see with the naked eye to enter the body.

Seborrheic dermatitis is another type of eczema that seems to develop when a number of factors interact. These factors include the person’s genes, yeast that live on human skin, stress, climate, and overall general health. Research shows that seborrheic dermatitis tends to be severe in people who have the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This indicates that the person’s immune system plays a role.

Eczema can be a very stressful and frustrating condition, and can make living your daily life challenging and uncomfortable. The intense, frequent itch can cause loss of sleep and extreme discomfort. Eczema most commonly causes dry, reddened skin that itches or burns, although the appearance of eczema varies from person to person and varies according to the specific type of eczema. Intense itching is generally the first symptom in most people with eczema. Sometimes, eczema may lead to blisters, but it can also result in dry and scaly skin. Repeated scratching may lead to thickened, crusty skin. While any region of the body may be affected by eczema, it typically occurs on the face, neck, and the insides of the elbows, knees, and ankles. In infants, eczema typically occurs on the forehead, cheeks, forearms, legs, scalp, and neck.

Eczema can sometimes occur as a brief reaction that only leads to symptoms for a few hours or days, but in other cases, the symptoms persist over a longer time and are referred to as chronic dermatitis. By washing with Ember Cove goat milk & honey soap and applying our luxury gentle lotion, you can help soothe and heal your eczema the natural way and make sure it doesn’t come back! Goat Milk, Honey, Coconut Oil and many other ingredients used in my soaps and lotions have already been explained in my blog as an eczema cure.

Remember, if you think you have eczema or any other skin condition, you need to consult with a dermatologist first. Only you know what is healthy for your skin, and my products are not intended to be a “cure-all” for everything, even though that would be awesome. Everyone has different skin types and not all conditions are the same, please note that I am not a doctor and will never claim to be one. If you experience any irritations while using mine or any other products, discontinue use immediately and consult a dermatologist.

A special thank you to my sources: WebMD, TeensHealth.org, NetDoctor, Medical News Today, EczemaNet, Neosporin Essentials, MedicineNet