BODY BALMS, OILS & SELF-MASSAGE.

By now you are probably feeling dry all over and your skin is screaming for some extra oil.  
Indoor heating, extra layers of clothing... same story every winter. 
You can slap some oil on just to improve the skin hydration 
or, I have a better idea.
A bit more involving but a whole lot more rewarding:)

body and face oils in Ottawa

You will need:
a natural bristle brush
oil or body balm (preferably specific to your body type and needs... I can help you with this) 
and about 20minutes of your time.
Best to practice in the morning... it is invigorating and will make you feel all tingly.
Start with the dry brush:

run it up your body starting with the feet and legs, hands and arms and the rest.
it is not brain surgery... simple upward or circular strokes will do.
Do not be too rough. gentle does it!
You can jump in the shower when you are done
or use a warm damp cloth to wipe of the loose dead skin cells still lingering on.
You are ready for a self massage now.
Warmed up oil feels amazing and works great on dry skin.
Drop a small bottle of oil into hot water, wait few minutes and there you have it.
Start with your head, working down all the way to your toes. Be generous with the oil... it is good for you.
Take your time, massage gently and increase the pressure to what feels right for you.
Self massage or Abhyanga in sanskrit is a daily Ayurvedic practice. 
'Aba' means glow and Anga means 'limbs'.
Benefits of daily Abhyanga : improved sleep, well nourished tissues, healthy skin...
If you do it daily your skin will be very happy and it will feel like a baby's bottom and that's a promise.
If you would like to indulge in an organic handcrafted body oil here is more info.
Not to brag but my latest Cardamon Rose Body Balm is luxurious and smells divine.

For the love of essential oils - Sweet Orange

The scent of orange has uplifting qualities; sweet, fresh, cheerful light and fruity.

Perfect for the 'end of winter blues'.

Think... refreshing aroma of an orange peel.

The essential oil of Sweet Orange (Citrus sinensis) is perfect to improve your mood.

Spray some in your room - mix 15 drops of orange essential oil and distilled water (fill up) in a small 50ml - 100ml spritz bottle.

If used in massage, Sweet Orange essential oil will not only uplift but it will also stimulate lymphatic flow and move fluids (good for cellulite), calm your nervous system, help relax the muscles and stimulate the digestive system.

In skin care I use it sometimes in my bespoke blends for oily skin but be cautious, it can be irritating to the delicate skin of your face.

*Do not apply before sun exposure... it can make your skin photosensitive.

Definitely a great oil to have for the grey, slow days...:)

Sweet & sensuous vanilla body oil.

It is my daughter Carollyne who turned me on to vanilla ... she loves the scent. Last Christmas I gave her a bottle of hand-crafted (by my own hands) vanilla infused jojoba oil as a gift. I must say as I was preparing this infusion a few weeks before Christmas, I developed a bit of a love affair with it myself. 

I am putting together a new batch and it will be ready in about 4 weeks. Some of it will be available as simple vanilla in jojoba body oil and part of it will serve as a base for more complex formulations.

Vanilla body oil by Woman Divine

Vanilla is a member of the Orchid family. It is valued for its aphrodisiac qualities and you will often find it as an ingredient in sensual body oils and perfume.  Vanilla is believed to stimulate the release of serotonin which triggers feelings of arousal and satisfaction. An idea for Valentine's night... actually any night. 

Vanilla body oil by Woman Divine

Sweet smelling Vanilla is also beautifully soothing and calming for the nervous system. For this purpose it works great in body oils.
If you wish to make your own Vanilla infused oil please use organically sourced vanilla seedpods and carrier oil.
How to infuse vanilla into jojoba oil?
3 organic vanilla pods
l cup of organic jojoba oil
Cut up vanilla pods into small pieces place in the amber glass and cover it with oil.
Place on the window sill and let it infuse for the next 3-4 weeks.
Strain and you are ready to go.
If you like a softer scent, you can always dilute it using more jojoba oil.

If you are not the kind to play with making stuff but would like to have a bottle of organic, beautifully sensuous and relaxing vanilla infused body oil, my batch is brewing as we speak. I will let you know when it is ready... in about four weeks.

Calendula - the soothing flower for your skin.

Today I was playing with Calendula flowers. I was simply making tea for myself but when I poured hot water over dry Calendula flowers, magic happened. My cup of Marigold tea has turned into a 'poetic thing', kind of sort of... :) I took some pictures... hope you like them.

I use Calendula officinalis (Marigold) on a daily basis. This flower is very well suited for sensitive skin and skin inflammation due to infection or physical irritation. It can also be used on wounds, bleeding, bruises... Herbalists often use it as the key ingredient in healing skin ointments.
I prepare a Calendula infusion every morning and use it as a soothing hydrating mist or as an addition to the raw sensitive skin masks I create throughout the day. 
I also use Calendula infused oil for facial massage in face masks and in face oil blends.
Powdered Calendula flowers can be added to ground up oatmeal, to form a lovely home made face scrub.
Calendula tea makes a good remedy for indigestion,  gall-bladder and liver problems, gastric and duodenal ulcers as well as for menopausal problems and menstrual pains. Some herbalists say it also supports healthy lymphatic function.

Herbal tea:

(daily dose)
2-4 tsp of dry organic Calendula flowers 
or 4-8 tsp of fresh flowers
500ml of (purified) water just off the boil 
steep for 10-15min 
strain
drink 3 times a day hot or cool 
*use your tea as a wash for sensitive skin 
place it in a spray bottle and mist onto your skin

Infused oil:

(yes, you can make it yourself)

pack a jar tightly with calendula flowers (fresh is better but dry will do)
completely cover with oil (organic cold pressed virgin olive oil or sunflower oil) 
put the lid on 
leave on the sunny window sill for two weeks
strain 
repeat the steps using once infused oil and a new batch of fresh herbs
leave on the sunny window sill for two more weeks
strain
store in the amber bottle away from light and heat

I must say, I am mesmerized by the flowers which became the essence of my tea. How beautiful... I am drinking it thinking some of their beauty will surely rub off on me:)

  

Papaya Coffee body scrub.

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My friend Mary, a yoga teacher, has introduced me to a wonderful Papaya Coffee body scrub.

Mary has experienced some amazing treatments while vacationing in Costa Rica and this one was her favorite. After trying it myself I totally see why…

Ingredients:

All you will need is:  

a cup of fresh papaya meat (no seeds please)

1/2 banana 

1 Tbsp. of ground coffee.

How to prepare:

In a small bowl mush the papaya and banana.

Add the coffee.

How to apply:

Hop in the shower and start applying the mixture from the feet, working your way up. Work in a circular motion, always moving toward your heart.

Rinse off.

Moisturize your skin with an oil like almond, apricot, coconut...

This scrub smells wonderful, if you love coffee that is.  I can never drink coffee because it gives me jitters but this scrub I can definitely do. It will leave your skin smooth and your body invigorated. 

Why to use the papaya coffee scrub?

Besides smelling and feeling great this stuff actually does a very good job on your skin.

Use it in the morning; it will wake you up.

Native to Central America, papaya removes dead skin cells and is very effective for overall skin dryness; it nourishes the skin, lightens freckles and is used for healing wounds. It is rich in Vitamin A, C, E and beta-carotene as well as calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Coffee in this blend does much more than scrub your skin or wake you up.  Caffeine and coffee berries have the power to improve a number of common skin issues.

The caffeic acid found in coffee grounds can significantly affect anti-inflammatory activity and skin wound healing. The main chemical in coffee is caffeine, a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals, which can damage the inner layer of skin.

The scent of coffee acts to clear a person's mind of excessive thoughts and as an anti-depressant. 

Caffeine has a diuretic effect, which helps speed fluid on its way, reducing the appearance of cellulite.

If you have sensitive skin, coffee scrub may help soothe it by tightening your blood vessels.

Banana softens, nourishes and soothes sensitive and dry skin.

Enjoy your scrub!

Since you have used only a little part of your papaya fruit for this scrub you may as well splash some lime juice on the rest and have it for breakfast.

Papaya is high in digestive enzymes and has a tonic effect on the stomach. It also has a high mucus solvent action.

When consumed regularly papaya will improve the health of your skin, hair nails and eyes.

Let me know how you like it.

Magdalena