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Newsletter - July 2007

The warmer weather has finally arrived so it can mean only one thing - summer has officially arrived! So to keep your skin glowing this summer try using your aromatherapy carrier oils, since they can put back the moisture and nutrients lost when you've been out in the sun too long.

In this months issue, Sue concludes our 2 part special feature on aromatherapy carrier oils, Back to Basics. If you have ever struggled trying to decide which carrier oil is right for you, or do not understand what some of them are actually used for, then this article is just for you!

Sue gives you a list of the top 12 carrier oils to choose from and explains which are the best ones to keep your skin beautifully soft and supple all year round.

This month sees the addition of some new products to our range, and this time we are supplementing our Incense and Massage Tools categories. After searching for quite some time we have found an exciting new aromatherapy range of incense sticks, and an inexpensive facial massager to help with puffy eyes.

And finally, you may be interested to learn that we have reduced the price of all the CD's in our Relaxing Music Collection. More on this below.

 

Age Defying Skin Care Kit Offer!

Buy this comprehensive collection of anti-aging skin care products online this month for only £41.47 and save over 15% off the usual retail price of £48.98!

And that's not all - because we are keen to show you how effective our natural skin care products are you will also receive a 30ml jar of Nourishing Hand Cream worth £5.99 - absolutely FREE!

From our Award-Winning Aroma-botanicals® range, these luxury skincare creams are a revolutionary step forward in natural skincare, uniting the therapeutic benefits of Organic Essential Oils with the beautifying qualities of botanical extracts:

• Age Defying Cream 30ml
Hold back the hands of time with this revolutionary cream that melts into your skin, delivering essential nutrients to preserve a soft, youthful and radiant complexion. The advanced formula combining organic English Lavender and Rose Otto oils together with Shea Butter and Aloe Vera slows down the ageing process and improves micro-circulation.

• Lavender and Seaweed Gel 30ml
The miraculous properties of Aloe Vera, Seaweed and organic English Lavender are captured perfectly in this refreshing hydrating gel. Its cooling and soothing action is ideal for red, irritated skin, or after over-exposure to the sun.

• Gentle Exfoliating Cream 30ml
Refine and improve skin texture with this creamy scrub containing organic Lavender, Apricot oil and marine botanicals. Olive stone micro-beads impart a gentle polishing action, removing dead skin cells and lifting impurities to reveal smoother, more radiant looking skin.

• Marine Clay Mask 30ml
Deep-cleanse and refine your skin with this wash-off mask rich in purifying botanicals and absorbent clay. Mineral rich Seaweed, Sea Lavender and balancing Organic Geranium oil gently lifts impurities to reveal smoother, refined, more radiant skin.

• Rose Otto Hydrosol 200ml
An intensive hand treatment to condition and protect your hands containing oils of Coconut, Myrrh and Elemi, plus soothing botanicals of Primrose and Horse Chestnut. This nutrient-rich combination promotes smooth, supple hands and provides effective protection against the environment. Massage over nails and cuticles daily to prevent splits and breaks.

• Frankincense Hydrosol 200ml
An intensive hand treatment to condition and protect your hands containing oils of Coconut, Myrrh and Elemi, plus soothing botanicals of Primrose and Horse Chestnut. This nutrient-rich combination promotes smooth, supple hands and provides effective protection against the environment. Massage over nails and cuticles daily to prevent splits and breaks.

• FREE - Nourishing Hand Cream 30ml
An intensive hand treatment to condition and protect your hands containing oils of Coconut, Myrrh and Elemi, plus soothing botanicals of Primrose and Horse Chestnut. This nutrient-rich combination promotes smooth, supple hands and provides effective protection against the environment. Massage over nails and cuticles daily to prevent splits and breaks.

And there's more! When you take advantage of our Special Offer online this month the price even includes delivery to your door!

But you must hurry - this offer is only available online during July and is limited to the first 75 customers. So order now to save over 15% and claim your own FREE Nourishing Hand Cream!

 

Back to Basics Pt 2

In the first part of Back to Basics last month we looked at what carrier oils actually do, how they are manufactured and why different 'grades' of oil are available for some of them. This month, I am going to show you how to choose the best carrier oil for your particular needs, - whether it is for use in massage or your daily skin care regimen.

Choosing a carrier oil can be a little bewildering for newcomers to aromatherapy, but in reality it is exactly the same as choosing an essential oil, - you choose one with the properties that you need for your particular requirements. You just need to know some basic facts about the properties, actions and viscosity of these vegetable oils, then the decision is quite easy.

For example, if you need a carrier oil for a simple body massage then Sweet Almond oil would be an ideal choice, but it would not necessarily be the very best carrier for a facial treatment. Why? Because there are other carrier oils that contain more of the essential fatty acids and vitamins which are needed to nourish to the skin and keep wrinkles at bay.

Carrier oils can be blended too

Carrier oils like unrefined Avocado and Wheatgerm are packed with nutrients, they are far too rich to use in massage, and also have a strong odour that some people do not like.

You should dilute these oils in a lighter carrier that has no fragrance such as Almond, Apricot or Peach oil at around 15% or 20%, and then you can enjoy all of the therapeutic benefits for both body massage and facial treatments too.

This same tip also applies to the slightly richer and more expensive oils such as Black Seed, Borage, Evening Primrose, Jojoba Moringa and Rosehip. All of these vegetable oils are the very finest that you can use for intensive facial treatments, but you may wish to mix them with a lighter carrier if you want to use them in a body massage.

Synergy is formed

Carrier oils are often mistakenly thought to be of less importance than essential oils, but it would be foolish to think this. Typically, an aromatherapy treatment typically consists of 2% essential oil and 98% carrier oil, and in facial treatments that ratio falls to around 1% essential oil and 99% carrier! Think about it for a minute.

Carrier oils provide some amazing benefits for your skin - especially when a synergy is formed between the essential oils and the carrier. When blended correctly the results can be spectacular, softening wrinkles and bringing softness, suppleness and radiance to your skin.

Here are are 12 of the best and most versatile carrier oils;-

• Almond Sweet oil
With its smooth feel and nourishing properties, this is often the oil that aromatherapists prefer for body massage. Sweet Almond is both protective and nourishing to skin when used regularly.

• Apricot Kernel oil or Peach Kernel oil
Almost identical in constituents, these two oils are ideal for facial applications and leave the face feeling beautifully soft and supple.

• Avocado oil (unrefined)
Deeper penetrating than most other carriers, unrefined Avocado conditions, moisturises and softens dry and mature skin. Add Avocado to another carrier if you find the smell a bit too strong, or use it undiluted to enjoy its full-powered benefits.

• Black Seed oil
Black seed oil is particularly rich in unsaturated and essential fatty acids which makes it perfect as a skin food, and despite its deep moisturising qualities it does not leave skin feeling greasy. When used in massage it delivers an energising boost and excels with everyday muscle and joint aches.

• Borage oil
Borage oil is the richest source of gamma linolenic acid (GLA) containing up to 25%, and clinical trials have shown that GLA helps to encourage healthy, mobile joints, and used regularly on facial skin it helps to soften fine lines and wrinkles. Mix with a lighter carrier for massage.

• Coconut oil
Perfect for moisturising both hands and body, Coconut oil is light and easily absorbed into the skin leaving it satin smooth. It can also be used as an intensive treatment to moisturise and condition brittle, dull or dry hair. Although you do not read about it very often, it is a great massage oil.

• Evening Primrose oil
This is another great facial oil that moisturises, softens and soothes dry and irritated skin because it contains high levels of linoleic acid and gamma linolenic acid. These vitamin-like substances can not be manufactured by the body and are essential for healthy cell function and also appear to have a beneficial effect on the immune system and the brain. Mix with a lighter carrier for massage.

• Jojoba oil
Due to its molecular structure, Jojoba oil mimics the action of sebum, which is the skins own natural lubricant. This versatile oil deep cleanses blocked pores, moisturises and promotes a healthy, glowing complexion, making it another ideal facial oil. Dilute in a carrier for massage.

• Macadamia oil
This highly nourishing oil is rich in palmitoleic acid which promotes young looking, soft and supple skin. As we get older our bodies produce less palmitoleic acid, so regular use of Macadamia oil may help in the fight to prevent premature aging skin. Another excellent facial oil.

• Moringa oil
Rich in Palmitoleic, Oleic and Linoleic acids, Vitamins A and C, Moringa oil has excellent moisturising and nourishing qualities. It is a very stable carrier which is highly nutritious to the skin and similar in composition to olive oil but much lighter. Moringa is a powerful natural antioxidant with excellent skin smoothing properties.

• Rosehip oil
Studies have shown Rosehip oil to be a powerful skin cell regenerator that also helps to actually prevent premature skin ageing whilst softening wrinkles. Produced from the seeds of Rose hips, this oil is excellent for use with stretch marks, scar tissue or problem skin types. Unbeatable overnight treatment to soften wrinkles and scars.

• Wheatgerm oil
A highly nourishing oil containing vitamin E which makes it the perfect oil for dry, mature and lifeless skin. Wheatgerm oil is too heavy to use as a massage base, so add it at 15% to your massage blends to nourish the skin.

Remember, these oils are excellent for intense facial treatments but not all of them are suitable straight out of the bottle for body massage since some of them are very rich. To enjoy the therapeutic benefits of these oils without the heaviness in massage, add between 10% - 20% to a lighter carrier such as Sweet Almond, Apricot or Peach Kernel. Just experiment with your mixture until you find what works best for you - that's the whole key to enjoying aromatherapy!

You can really turbo-charge your carrier oil facial treatments by simply adding 1 drop of pure essential oil to every 5mls of carrier oil that you use. Choose from rose, neroli, geranium, palmarosa, sandalwood and lavender for dry to normal skin, or cypress, lemon, juniper berry and geranium for skin that is prone to oilyness.

When you are having a facial treatment remember to avoid the delicate under-eye area and don't apply too much oil - a little goes a long, long way in aromatherapy. Gently work the oil into the skin until it has all been absorbed, and your skin will be left feeling soft and silky smooth - perfect for summer.

Take care, and I look forward to seeing you again next month.

New Products!

The Magic Wand was the Silver Award Winner in Pure Beauty 2006, and was later given the Women's Own "This Works" seal of approval in the May 28th issue. As soon as we tried one out we knew we just had to add it to our popular Massage Tool collection - it's brilliant!

This facial massager was specifically designed to diminish dark circles, puffy eyes and minimise wrinkles. It boosts facial circulation which improves delivery of nutrients to the skin for efficient cell renewal and skin tone.

High speed micro-vibrations of the Magic Wand produce a non-invasive stimulation of acupressure points in the face and neck. This encourages lymphatic drainage, relaxed muscles and increased blood circulation, helping skin to look toned and more radiant. More info

Aromatherapy Incense Sticks

Here's a new concept in Incense Sticks that combines different aromas in one stick to produce a range of moods; Meditation, Energising, Sensuality, Refreshing, Stress Relief and Relaxing.

This new range is available as individual packs containing 20 sticks, or as seen opposite the entire range is presented in a Gift Pack containing 8 sticks of each type. More info

Nag Champa Incense Sticks

After numerous requests from incense lovers we have finally managed to track down one of the very finest manufacturers of Nag Champa incense sticks. Made by Shrinivas Sugandhalaya, this renowned Sai Baba Nag Champa is the most popular Indian Incense in the world and its exotic and stimulating fragrance exudes a sensual and romantic aroma.

The hand rolled blend of sandalwood and champaka flowers, plus spices, resins and masala all unite together to create the perfect soothing aroma. The unique sweet fragrance of these incense stick also reveals a spicy and earthy back note, creating a special ambience for all occasions. More info

Soapstone Ash Catcher

Also imported from India, these hand-made soapstone ash catchers make an interesting alternative to their conventional wooden counterparts. Featuring an attractive flower motif inlay and a countersunk channel to catch the ash, these soapstone ash catchers are really great value for money. More info

CD Prices Down!

We also have some great news for those of you who enjoy listening to soothing, calming or inspiring music along with your aromatherapy!

The continual increase in demand for these items has strengthened our bulk-buying power, and we have just finished negotiating a new, even lower price from the CD publishers. This means that we can now pass these saving along to our customers.

From the 1st June, all of the CD’s in our Relaxing Music Collection will now be only £11.97 , which gives a you saving of over £1.00 off the price of every CD!

And remember,- the price of these Relaxing Music CD's even includes delivery to your door! There are no further hidden charges to be added to this price.

If you are hassled, stressed or having trouble sleeping, then just relax for 30 minutes every day with the simple but effective combination of aromatherapy and music, and you will discover the natural way to health and wellbeing.

In fact, these CD's are so relaxing, soothing and serene that you'll wonder how you ever managed without them in the past!

Browse the full range of our Relaxing Music CD's

 

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