The Healthy Long Life

If you are to believe its proponents, shea butter has a long list of benefits that focuses on the skin and the hair. To name just a few - it moisturizes the skin of the face and body; it can remedy skin rashes, skin peeling after tanning and sunburn. It can remove itching due to dryness and soften tough skin on the feet. It prevents stretch marks during pregnancy and helps restore the elasticity of the skin. It also provides luster to the hair.

For these reasons, shea butter is a much sought after ingredient in cosmetics. It is found in handmade shea butter soap; in lotions and hair treatments. Shea butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E keep the skin clear and healthy while Vitamin F acts as skin protector and rejuvenator. Its highly absorbable quality makes it an ideal component in skin rehydrating products.

Many soaps available in the stores these days are actually made of detergents which are petroleum-based products like gasoline and kerosene. They tend to leave skin feeling dry, itchy and tight. Some ingredients in mass-marketed soaps have even been proven harmful to health as they can cause severe irritations in some people.

If you suffer from skin conditions or have sensitive skin, it’s time you switch to handmade soaps to find immediate relief. These soaps are milder and contain glycerin that helps draw moisture to the skin and combat dryness. They do not contain potentially harmful chemicals. They are ideal for both face and body and will leave you with clean, soft and nourished skin.

Encourage regular hand washing in your family. Little children need to be trained to frequently wash their hands to prevent illnesses. Let them have fun with a foaming hand soap that they can lather on. It will not only eliminate germs, the soap will also leave hands soft.

Hand washing should be a habit. When done properly, it is one of the best ways to avoid getting sick from infections. The action of scrubbing hands with soap and rinsing them with water loosens and removes bacteria from your hands. To be effective, rub your hands vigorously together for 15 to 20 seconds before rinsing.

I work 12 hour days, so at the end of the day, all I want to do is relax. As soon as I get home, I start a bath, pour in some bath oils and soak my stress away. And to feel even more relaxed and pampered, I use green tea soap. It helps soothe and pamper my skin. And because it’s completely organic, I know my skin is safe from harmful toxins and residual chemicals.

Another good thing about using green tea soap is the assurance that I’m not harming the environment. It’s great to know that I am using a soap that is not just gentle on my skin, but is environment friendly too.

The handmade soap of yesteryear has been making a comeback. More and more soap enthusiasts prefer good old lye soap over any commercial soap. The current soaps in the market contain many chemicals that may be harsh especially on sensitive skin.

Lye is a caustic agent that is obtained from wood ashes. They must be handled with care because they can also be irritating to the skin. However, with the right procedure and using the right measurements, a soap made of lye is actually mild and gentle. Natural oils such as aloe, coconut, almond, or jojoba can be added to the soap to make it more fragrant. Because it is all-natural, lye soap is recommended for those with delicate skin.