Protect Your Skin This Summer!

Keep Cool!

Summer is pretty much upon us, especially here in Arizona!

These warm, wonderful months are great. Pool parties, barbeques, beach fun, your new swimsuit and more. However, being around all these social events leads to one huge issue – the insecure feeling of imperfect skin. Now, this is silly. You should love the skin you’re in! Be happy with that body, you’re beautiful already (yes, men, you too)! But I am human as well and share these common insecurities. Sunburn, being out of shape, acne, and what if my pores are too big, or my lips chapped up? Yikes! Even though we are our own toughest judges, it’s common knowledge that we have to love ourselves before others can even have the chance to share that experience. So what do we do about this? Face-creams, washes, medications, indoor tanning…our skin goes through a lot of rough stuff and chemicals just to reach our perception of what we feel beauty is. This has the possibility of creating damage that may appear years later. I know I personally don’t want that.

One way to help protect our sensitive skin this summer is to be sure to wear the appropriate SPF sunscreen at all times while continuously out in the sun. Re-applying is also key and very important! I designed my lotions at Ember Cove to have the most gentle ingredients possible, while still providing SPF 15. Although this isn’t an alternative to sun screen, it provides enough cover without harsh chemicals, so when you’re not out continuously, you’re still protected. The gentle ingredients in my lotion such as Aloe and Shea Butter provide wonderful healing properties so even if you get a sunburn, my lotion is safe to apply (unscented works best in this situation). This also works as a great makeup primer for the ladies, as it won’t clog pores or irritate acne. Besides this, you’ll be happy your skin is velvet soft once you meet that special someone at those summertime events. ;)

Consider covering your lips, as they are more sensitive than your normal skin. Ember Cove lip balms contain all natural ingredients which heal while keeping your lips luscious and kissable. They taste great, and won’t leave a waxy feeling or buildup on your lips that may cause unwanted attention – or keep someone from giving you welcome attention! Healthy lips are happy lips, especially during the summer.

Enjoy the Sun!

No matter what, be happy with how your skin looks and who you are. Imperfections are beautiful and they make you unique and individual. I can guarantee that confidence in yourself will attract way more people this summer than the perfect skin. However, sunscreen and other sun protection is the quickest way to healthy skin, as prolonged exposure can cause irreparable damage. Be safe, plan ahead, and you and your skin will have the best summer ever.

I design my products at Ember Cove to be gentle and have healing properties without the harsh chemicals you find in so many other products these days. They are safe to apply on sunburns, sensitive skin, and the unscented lotion is even gentle enough to apply to fresh ink on your new summer tattoo!

Remember, I am not a doctor. All my thoughts are my own opinions or suggestions and are not meant to be taken as a prescription or guaranteed healing remedy. All images used in this post belong to me.

 

Palm Oil – From a Fruit, Not Your Hands!

Since I include palm oil as an ingredient in all of my soap and lotions at Ember Cove, I felt it was time to explain the many beneficial reasons for doing this! This oil is amazing to use internally and also as a cooking oil and hair care product, but I will be covering the benefits for your skin.

Palm oil is oil collected from the fruit of oil palms, which are now grown in a variety of areas. It is rich in antioxidants such as vitamin A, and is recommended by dermatologists because of its high concentrations of vitamin E to protect skin cells and improve overall health. Because of saturated fats, palm oil is an amazing moisturizer for your skin. Your skin absorbs everything you put on it, and palm oil is a natural substitute for a chemical-based moisturizer.

Palm oil contains natural antibacterials which make it a great opponent against acne. Including this oil as an ingredient helps your skin maintain moisture, yet remain clearand blemish free. Dryness can actually cause the skin to become irritated and sensitive, which can lead to acne as well as a variety of other irritations. Palm oil is also beneficial to use if you have a cut or scrape on your skin, because the oil will kill germs. Even though it is an oil itself, it actually makes it easy to lift oil and dirt off your skin for an absolutely fresh feeling. Included in my soap and lotions for a reason, palm oil ensures your skin stays soft, supple and blemish free! Because it locks in moisture, this ingredient is essential to help heal and soothe many skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, rashes, burns and dry skin.

Palm Oil Fruit

Here is an interesting anti-aging fact about palm oil! It is rich in toctrienols, a higher form of vitamin E family which is extremely beneficial to your skin. The common form of vitamin E, tocopherol, has long been used to treat many skin ailments and is found in many anti-aging products. Vitamin E, as I have mentioned in my other blogs is a strong antioxidant that helps the skin to fight free radicals that damage the skin and cause fine lines and wrinkles. Dr. Betty Kamen, PhD confirms that as a stronger antioxidant than tocopherols, toctrienols have been proven to be more effective in preventing aging and damage from free radicals. Used topically, as with tocopherol, toctrienols are able to penetrate deep into the skin’s layers to enable healing and protection from the base up. Truly a wonderful addition to my soap and lotions!

These are the reasons I have included this amazing ingredient in my soap and lotions, and I hope this information has helped!

I highly suggest checking out the American Palm Oil Council’s website for more amazing information and a very informative and interesting video!

A thank you to my sources: eHow, Livestrong, B4tea,  SaranabuSa

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

The Healthiest Oil On Earth – Coconut Oil

Before my old blog vanished without a trace, I had written a nice long post about the benefits of coconut oil. In doing my research on it, I became fascinated with everything that this oil had to offer for not only the body and skin, but for your hair, stress relief, immunity, bone strength and more. Since none of my bath products are ever meant to be ingested, I’m going to focus on explaining some of the benefits for the outside of your body.

I created Ember Cove because I want everyone to look their best and have the healthiest skin possible regardless of their situation. Coconut oil has been quoted as “the healthiest oil on Earth” and is the base of choice for my soap and a great moisturizing addition to my lotions and lip balms. Its natural cures have benefited people worldwide for centuries. Wonderful and hypoallergenic, coconut oil contains many beneficial properties that make it an outstanding choice for any skin type. (It also produces a wonderful thick lather in my soap). The oil is unique to any other and I will explain the exact reason I chose it for my recipes.

First, we have its Saturated Fats. These are Triglycerides that keep your skin smooth to the touch by retaining moisture content, preventing it from drying out and making coconut oil a really powerful moisturizer. This has been known to delay wrinkles and help maintain a youthful appearance. By keeping your skin moisturized, it keeps it from peeling or flaking which may cause painful cracking and bleeding. Second, are more beneficial saturated fats – Capric Acid/Caprylic Acid/Lauric Acid. These three fatty acids have strong disinfectant and anti-microbial properties. When coconut oil is applied on skin infections, it forms a thin chemical layer which protects the area from external dust, fungi, bacteria and viruses. By using coconut oil as a base in my soaps, you can be sure to be providing any infected area with a clean wash as well as an amount of protection. Next we have Vitamin-E. The benefits of vitamin-E on skin are well known. It is essential for healthy skin growth, repair of scars and stretch marks, keeping skin smooth and preventing aging. Finally the proteins. Coconut oil is rich with wonderful proteins that help keep skin healthy and rejuvenated.

These powerful properties that make up Coconut Oil are so beneficial that I couldn’t pass up including them in my products. Like most of my ingredients, coconut oil also helps treat a vast amount of skin conditions and irritations such as eczema, dermatitis, dry skin, burns, infections, lice, rashes, wounds, topical effects of psoriasis – just to list a few. The antibacterial and soothing qualities make it a perfect addition to a soap for those struggling with acne as well. According to the Coconut Research Center, coconut oil also kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis and more. To add to this, it is also effective on fungi and yeast that cause ringworm, athlete’s foot and diaper rash. Coconut oil is even effective on bruises as it speeds up the healing process by repairing damaged tissues.

Not only is this an amazing alternative to some pharmacy medications*, it smells amazing – and even more amazing when added to my bath products!

I do not make any hair products, but I know some people use my soap in their hair which contains coconut oil. Coconut oil is very nutritious for hair. Its essential proteins help in hair growth and re-growth of damaged follicles. This nourishes your hair while giving it a healthy and shiny complexion. It also helps ensure your head is free of dandruff, lice, and lice eggs, even if your scalp is dry. If you don’t want to wash your head with a bar of soap (which most people don’t), I strongly suggest finding a shampoo and conditioner with all natural coconut oil. I might try my hand at making a shampoo and conditioner combo some day with coconut oil, but I’m not going to worry about it at this moment.

I’d be interested to hear about anyone’s experiences with coconut oil on their skin as well as the benefits internally. (please don’t ingest my products, I mean if you’ve ever had coconut oil in a food or drink). I don’t really care for the taste unless it’s mixed with something else, but I know it’s extremely healthy. What product would you be interested in trying if I made another with coconut oil?. Feel free to share! :)

*Remember – I am not a doctor and I will never claim to be one. My posts are not here to replace any medical advice given to you by any professional. If you experience any kind of irritation you need to stop use of the product immediately and consult an actual physician or dermatologist. Everyone is unique and only you are responsible to know what is beneficial and healthy for your skin.

A special thank you to some sources: Organic Facts, Care2, Coconut Connections, Earth Clinic, Acne.org,

Take a Goat Milk Bath!

Ember Cove soap is made with goat milk. A lot of you may think, “that’s kind of gross” but some of you who have tried goat’s milk soap will be thinking, “that’s wonderful! You must have an amazing product!” which you’ll discover, I do. So what is so special about goat milk that makes it an amazing ingredient to add to my soap? I like to focus on making products that have beneficial results on all types of skin, from perfect to irritated to extremely sensitive skin that breaks out at almost anything. I take pride in making goat’s milk soap because I have helped so many customers already with their skin conditions because of it. My specialty goat milk soap – famous for its healing properties, has helped my customers heal their sunburns, acne, rosacea, dry skin, effects of psoriasis and more.

Goat milk contains these healing properties naturally. Unlike cow milk, goat milk is already homogenized. Its molecules are smaller, making it easier for your skin to absorb the benefits. Since ancient times, goat milk has been used as a cleanser and skin rejuvenating product. Cleopatra herself is rumored to have kept her beauty through taking milk baths! It is considered one of the finest moisturizers and has amazing emollient properties. Goat milk contains Vitamin A which is known to help repair damaged tissue and maintain healthy skin, as well as several beneficial B Vitamins. (Several medical studies have shown that Vitamin A can reduce lines and wrinkles, control acne and provide relief from psoriasis).

The rich butterfat contained in the milk softens and moisturizes, and it is believed that the alpha-hydroxy acids that goat milk contains have rejuvenating effects on skin cells. These hydroxy acids exfoliate gently which stimulates the skin while healthy cells are regenerated. This anti-aging effect creates smoother, softer skin with less discoloration and visibly smoother wrinkles. Washing with goat milk soap greatly benefits acne as well because dead skin cells are exfoliated which opens the pores. Using my hand made soaps also ensures that no harmful chemicals were added, so you know that you’ll just be getting the benefits of goat milk with no negative side effects.

Another common rumor about goat milk being good for washing with is because it has a pH similar to our skin. Even though this is true, the pH similarity or difference has no beneficial or negative effect on the skin as many people think. Human skin has a natural barrier on it called the “acid mantle”. Regardless of how high or low pH is, even simple water will disrupt this acid mantle and the pH of your skin. Your skin naturally replaces the acid mantle quickly over the period of a couple hours, so the pH of any soap you use is a non issue and more of a marketing misconception. Even a low pH cleanser will disrupt your acid mantle as much as a high pH cleanser will. Even though goat milk soap is naturally close to the same pH as skin, this doesn’t offer any extra benefits but it’s still an amazing soap to use and I highly recommend it over any type of soap on the market.

All soap needs a liquid in order to be made into “soap”. Most soaps are created with water, but the liquid I chose for Ember Cove is goat’s milk for a variety of reasons. Goat milk soap will not dry out your skin. This makes it the perfect soap to use year-round, and is gentle enough for even the most sensitive skin types.  Goat milk allows your skin to easily absorb not only calcium, but the moisturizing effects of the milk and glycerin as well. This is extremely beneficial because it acts like an all natural topical medication for a wide variety of skin conditions. Many of my customers who suffer from serious skin allergies have used Ember Cove goat milk soap to their benefit. It reduces skin inflammation and provides relief to dry, damaged or irritated skin.

Read through my testimonials to get an idea of how well Ember Cove goat milk soaps work!

Sweet, Healthy Honey

Not only is honey considered a delicious treat, this superfood is a wonderful addition to any body or beauty product. Researchers are turning up new medical benefits of honey all the time so you shouldn’t even begin to wonder why I use natural, additive-free farm grown honey in all my products.

Honey has numerous natural benefits including being antimicrobial, antibacterial, a natural antioxidant, antiseptic and has amazing healing and cleansing properties for head to foot situations. It’s strongly recommended for beauty and skin care including keeping your hair healthy, healing eye infections, athlete’s foot and so much more! The powerful healing qualities of honey have been used for centuries around the world to help heal cuts, reduce inflammation and scarring, cure diseases and ailments, and help health disorders. On top of this, honey is also recommended for treating digestive problems such as stomach ulcers, indigestion, diarrhea, and gastroenteritis. These benefits of honey are just a drop in the bucket. I include honey in all my products not only because of these wonderful healing remedies just mentioned, but also because it is a natural skin care option. It helps heal acne, eczema, sunburns, the effects of psoriasis, and it also helps heal yeast infections.

So how does honey work like this? Honey naturally contains enzymes, vitamins, minerals, and antioxidants. It is formed when bees gather nectar from flowers, regurgitate it, then fan it with their wings until most of the water in the nectar has evaporated. Their saliva is enzyme rich and turns the sucrose into glucose and fructose, while another enzyme turns some of the glucose into an acid and hydrogen peroxide. This makes it impossible for bacteria to survive. It also makes it naturally resist mold, fungi, and other bacteria allowing honey to last for years and still stay fresh. The potency of honey’s healing properties is dependent on the type of flowers from which bees gather their nectar. At Ember Cove I have received nothing but positive feedback on the healing quality of my products!

The honey I use in Ember Cove products is farm grown, completely natural and additive-free. I know the bee-keeper, and the bees couldn’t be happier. By using all natural non-processed honey, the benefits are guaranteed to be free of any negative side effect.

Honey Remedies:

Tips for healing Eye Infections:

Honey, which as mentioned above has antibacterial properties and acts as a humectant (helps retain water), will clear the eye of infection and provide soothing relief. Use raw, unpasteurized honey for additional antibiotic properties. Honey can be used in several ways for eye infection.

For an eye infection that has spread to the eyelid, mix equal parts honey with distilled or boiled water to make a solution. Use a cotton ball and apply on the eye. For more effectiveness, leave the soaked cotton ball on the eye, and do not reuse to prevent spreading of infection. The same solution can be used as eyedrops. Keep the eye open and squeeze two or three drops in the eye. The mixture can also be used to rinse the eye two or three times daily until infection clears.

Honey can also be applied directly to the eye without diluting it. Place one or two drops of honey directly on your eyes. The honey will collect dirt or discharge and be eliminated through natural tearing.

Credit: http://www.ehow.com/way_5410564_honey-eye-infection.html

Tips for healing Athlete’s Foot:

Athlete’s  foot is a skin disorder caused by a by parasitic fungus called dermatophytes with symptoms of ugly dry and flaky skin, red inflammation or blistering, especially between toes. With its natural fungicidal properties, honey will naturally and effectively help.

All you have to do is soak cotton balls in honey and place them between your toes, then apply a thin coat on your foot over the affected areas and cover with a sock overnight. Wash, and thoroughly dry your feet in the morning. This can offer a wonderful alternative to over the counter medications, and leave your feet smelling honey sweet!

Tips for helping clear Acne:

My soaps at Ember Cove are perfect for fighting acne with the combination of goat milk and honey. Not only that, I make sure that the honey I use in my products is free of chemicals, additives, and has never once seen any store. This keeps everything beneficial in it that processed honey might not have to help fight your acne. Keep in mind that everyone’s acne is different and is caused by different reasons. If you experience any kind of negative effect whether small or large, to immediately stop using my soap or any other product that upsets your skin.

For acne scars that have been disturbed or picked at on your face, a dab of honey will help heal it up quickly.

Want more stories on honey and how it helps? Check this page out: http://www.benefits-of-honey.com/the-benefits-of-honey.html

Please share your honey stories with me as well! I absolutely adore feedback, especially when it’s something that has helped you!

As a disclaimer, I am not a doctor. My remedies are ideas thought up, not printed at a doctors office. Please remember if you take my advice, know that I am not a professional and do not claim to be one and I hold no responsibility for any negative side effects caused by these remedies. Consult a doctor first before treating anything yourself.