Calendula Oil – So many remedies!

There is an incredibly great reason I use calendula oil as the main ingredient in my Shaving Oil & Skin Salve at Ember Cove. The wide variety of healing remedies this little herb has to offer the skin are simply amazing. You may recognize “calendula” as its other name, the common flower, Marigold. When the flowers are infused into an oil base, the healing properties flourish. For many cases, calendula oil can be used as an alternative to Neosporin. Time to list a few big words. Calendula naturally contains anti-oxidants and offers antibacterial, antiseptic, antimicrobial, astringent, anti-fungal, antiviral, and immunostimulant properties. Wow! This makes it useful for disinfecting and treating minor cuts, wounds, and scratches (hence the “Skin Salve” part of my Shaving Oil). Not enough? It is also anti-inflammatory when applied topically. Because of this, you will more than likely find relief and a speedier recovery when applying it to other irritations as well like burns, rashes, bruises, yeast infections, athlete’s’ foot, bee stings, and dry or chapped/cracked skin. In further addition, it will also benefit those suffering from skin conditions such as eczema, acne, and psoriasis.

My first experience with calendula oil marked the end of my shaving problems for life. I had won a contest on another blog where the prize was a small sample of calendula. When it arrived in the mail, I set it aside for future use. I had read a few things about the healing remedies it had to offer, but the timing wasn’t right to add it to any of my existing Ember Cove products. Well, a few weeks passed and I was getting sick of the red bumps and irritations that my electric shaver caused me, so I tried to shave with a razor instead. I used regular foaming shaving gel, applied liberally, let it soak in and shaved. It felt great, or so I thought. The next morning, my legs were COVERED with razor burn, ingrown hairs, big splotchy rashes…it was a disaster, I even took pictures because it was so bad. Because I own a bath & beauty company that focuses on healing skin irritations, the first thing that popped in to my mind was to grab some ingredient to slather on my shaving battle wounds. I thought of Shea Butter, but that’s really greasy when applied alone, same with coconut oil. Both of those were great options, but I didn’t want my legs to have that greasy shine. The calendula came to mind and I figured, “why not?”. I applied the oil, completely rubbed it into my skin and waited. The next day, the swelling that the ingrown hairs had caused had gone down, but there were still little scars and a few bumps from the previous irritation. A week went by with daily application, the scars completely healed and the ingrown hairs went away. Since I was due for another shave, I used the calendula and mixed it with sunflower oil to experiment. I used a regular throw-away razor with only three blades. The moment of truth came the next morning. I woke up and looked at my legs, and for the first time in 24 years, my legs had no irritations on them. They were as smooth as a baby’s bottom. I was hooked for life! I immediately started working on a recipe for my business, infused the calendula with olive oil and a few other choice oils, and came up with my Shaving Oil & Skin Salve at Ember Cove.

Speaking of baby bottoms, anyone with a baby in their life will appreciate this. One of the best uses for calendula oil is healing diaper rash. It soothes the area instantly, and helps with a speedy recovery for baby’s little hind end! Bed sores and rug burns can even benefit with an application of calendula oil. For the “older” kids, it contains anti-aging properties and broken or varicose veins will benefit from the healing properties. I have seen it suggested to “apply calendula oil after cosmetic waxing or laser procedures to calm the skin and reduce the inflammation and redness quickly while bringing a sense of relief to the site. As a bonus, it will reduce scarring”.

The process of creating calendula oil involves immersing the flower heads in an oil (I use olive oil at Ember Cove), and letting them slowly infuse with each other over a period of weeks. Because of this, individuals who are allergic to ragweed, goldenrod, or any other plant in the Asteraceae/Compositae family will probably not benefit from a calendula application. If you aren’t one of these unlucky people, then go ahead and enjoy the benefits of this medicinal oil all you want! Just be sure not to go absolutely bonkers and when using calendula topically, follow general guidelines for first aid, (aka don’t apply it to gaping or oozing wounds).

Be sure to check out the Shaving Oil & Skin Salve I make at Ember Cove! My business is how I make my living, so know that any purchase you make helps me personally. In return, my products are guaranteed to help you so it’s a great deal for both of us! :D Link this article to your friends and family, maybe even the guy at Starbucks who is always on his laptop! Educate everyone with the healing properties of calendula. Consider sending me a “like” on Facebook as well so that I can reach more people with my information. :)

A thank you to my sources:  Effortless  Eating, The Mountain Rose Blog, Delighted Momma, Ageless, Livestrong, Score Skincare, Langua Vert, List of Birthstones

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,

The Healthy Benefits of Oatmeal

Oatmeal is another breakfast food that is amazing. It is healthy as a food by being a great source of fiber and known to lower cholesterol levels as well as boost your immune system. Even though it has a rather bland taste to a lot of people, a healthy diet that includes oatmeal is strongly recommended and may even help burn body fat more quickly. Researchers have actually found that oatmeal can help increase endurance when eaten a few hours before you work out.

But why do I add it to my soap? Oatmeal contains many beneficial qualities that make it the perfect all-around skin irritation remedy. Known to nourish your skin, it is the perfect ingredient to mix with goat milk and honey to make you look absolutely radiant! Oatmeal contains something called “polysaccharides” which is quite a mouthful but is actually a complex carbohydrate. When mixed with water, a gel forms that softens and moisturizes the skin which protects it from drying out even after the oatmeal is washed off. It has long been used to promote healthy, rejuvenated and beautiful skin. Gentle enough for babies and your pets, it is strongly recommended to soothe and heal dry, itching or cracked skin, sunburns, poisonous plant irritations, eczema, chickenpox, bug bites and reducing inflammation.

Your skin is a natural barrier against harmful pollutants, and oatmeal helps strengthen this barrier which keeps not only your skin healthy, but you healthy as well. The natural fats contained in oatmeal keep your skin moisturized which helps soften and repair damaged tissue. Oatmeal naturally makes removal of surface dirt easier by naturally absorbing and removing it. This makes it a perfect wash for acne and blackheads as it gives a deep natural cleanse that heals your skin and opens your pores while protecting it with its natural gel barrier.

Oatmeal naturally and gently exfoliates your skin as you wash. It effectively removes dead skin and leaves behind softer, smoother looking skin. After washing with an oatmeal soap you’ll see a noticeable glow to your skin! (If you’ve never washed with oatmeal soap, try it – you’ll see the glow too!) Exfoliating is an important step to ensuring your skin is looking as healthy and radiant as possible, and using an oatmeal soap is by far one of the most pleasing and relaxing ways to do it with noticeable benefits right away!

When making my oatmeal soap, I make sure that the oats are completely cooked in the mixture so the benefits are completely infused. Even after the oats are all gone, the soap continues to provide your skin with the luxurious qualities the oatmeal provided. Try this relaxing soap today, with satisfaction guaranteed there’s no going wrong!

Remember, if you have an allergy to nuts please be careful when using any kind of oatmeal product. Every skin type is different and it’s up to you to know if it will irritate you. If your skin is irritated at all by any product or any ingredient, discontinue use of it immediately and consider consulting a dermatologist before testing something else.

As an added bonus –

My Mom’s Oatmeal Quick Cookie Recipe:

What you’ll need for part 1:

– 1/4 cup cocoa
– 2 cups sugar
– 1/2 cup milk
– 1/2 cup butter

Have pre-measured out for part 2:

– 1/4 cup peanut butter
– 3 cups oatmeal
– 1 tsp vanilla

Part 1:

Mix everything from part 1 in a pot and take it to a boil. Make sure it’s on a full roaring boil then time for 1 minute.

Part 2:

After it boils for one minute, take it off the heat and add 1/4 cup peanut butter, 3 cups of oatmeal, and 1 tsp of vanilla immediately. Mix thoroughly. Spoon onto wax paper or foil, let cool and enjoy!

Be sure to let me know what you think if you use this recipe, and I’ll pass the good word on to my mom! :D

Shea Butter

Shea-Karite Tree

I use Shea butter in a lot of products, and it came to my attention that many of my customers had no idea what it is or where it is from, let alone it’s wonderful healing properties it has to offer. This amazing butter has been used by people for centuries but has just recently started to gain a spotlight for itself. Shea butter is created from the nuts of Shea-Karite trees that grow in Africa. The nuts produced from these trees generally don’t grow until the tree matures to about 15 years old, but it takes even longer for the nuts to age enough to create Shea butter. The aging can take up to 30 years before the nuts from the Shea-Karite trees produce the correct level of fatty acid that is required for perfection. This fatty acid is what provides Shea Butter with its unique healing properties. Shea butter is non-toxic so it is often used in foods and cooking as well as soaps and beauty products. Africans have been using Shea Butter for thousands of years to rejuvenate their hair and skin. It contains special natural wind and sun protection which made it perfect to apply to skin that was exposed to Africa’s weather. The substance is one of a kind and incredible in its healing effects on burns, skin conditions, dryness, and even stretch marks. It contains vegetable fats that promote cell regeneration so it’s highly suggested to help delay wrinkles and aging skin. Its natural components of fatty acids help heal wounds and repairs rough, damaged skin gently. All natural Shea butter is solid at room temperature but liquifies at body temperature, making it a wonderful cream that absorbs easily into skin. I make sure to include Shea butter in my lip balm recipe, as well as my soaps and the main ingredient of my lotions.

Shea Nuts

By including Shea butter in my products, I ensure that they not only moisturize the skin, but help heal it as well. Many of my customers who suffer from dry, cracked skin have noticed an immediate difference after using my handmade soap and lotion. Even cracked lips caused by sickness have felt the rejuvenating properties of Shea butter as I have received a lot of positive feedback on how soft my customers lips felt after applying my lip balm. My whole goal of making my products is to benefit my customers in some way, and Shea butter is a great beneficial ingredient that is perfect to apply to any skin type. My belief is that if you have something negative to say about Shea butter, you have never tried my products.