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Natural Skincare

Hawaiian Girl Watercolor by Christina Moss

How to Take Care of Your Skin – The Power of Natural Ingredients

Your skin is your body’s largest organ, a protective barrier that deserves thoughtful care. With so many skincare products on the market, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, the secret to healthy, radiant skin lies in simplicity and nature. By prioritizing natural ingredients and high-quality skincare products, you can nourish your skin effectively and sustainably. Here’s a guide to building a skincare routine that celebrates natural ingredients and promotes glowing, healthy skin.

Why Natural Ingredients Matter

The skincare industry is flooded with products containing synthetic chemicals, artificial fragrances, and preservatives that may do more harm than good. Harsh ingredients like sulfates, parabens, and phthalates can strip your skin of its natural oils, disrupt its balance, and cause irritation or long-term damage. Natural ingredients, on the other hand, work in harmony with your skin, providing nourishment without unnecessary additives.

Benefits of Natural Ingredients

  • Gentle on the skin: Ingredients like aloe vera, chamomile, and green tea soothe irritation and reduce inflammation.
  • Nutrient-rich: Natural oils and plant extracts are packed with vitamins, antioxidants, and fatty acids that hydrate and repair.
  • Eco-friendly: Products made with natural ingredients are often sustainably sourced and biodegradable, supporting both your skin and the planet.
  • Less risk of sensitivity**: Free from synthetic fragrances and harsh chemicals, natural products are less likely to trigger allergies or irritation.

By choosing natural skincare products, you’re investing in your skin’s long-term health while minimizing exposure to potentially harmful substances.

Building a Natural Skincare Routine

A consistent skincare routine tailored to your skin type—whether oily, dry, combination, or sensitive—is the foundation of healthy skin. Here’s a step-by-step guide to caring for your skin using natural ingredients and products.

  1. Cleanse with Care – Cleansing removes dirt, oil, and impurities without stripping your skin’s natural moisture. Look for gentle, plant-based cleansers that use ingredients like aloe vera, which hydrates and calms while cleansing. Also, tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic ideal for acne-prone skin. Then, the botanical chamomile that soothes sensitive skin and can reduce redness. Tip: Avoid cleansers with sulfates, which can dry out your skin. Double cleanse at night if you wear makeup or sunscreen, starting with an oil-based cleanser (rosemary essential oil is wonderful for skin) to melt away impurities, followed by a water-based natural cleanser.
  2. Exfoliate Sparingly – Exfoliation removes dead skin cells, revealing a brighter complexion. However, over-exfoliating can damage your skin barrier. Use natural exfoliants 1-2 times a week. Try Oatmeal to gently buff away dead skin while soothing irritation. Sugar or coffee grounds mixed with honey or coconut oil creates a nourishing scrub. Fruit enzymes from papaya or pineapple will dissolve dead skin naturally without abrasive scrubbing. Tip: Always follow exfoliation with a hydrating product to replenish moisture.
  3. Tone for Balance – Toners restore your skin’s pH and prep it for moisturizing. Natural toners hydrate and refine pores. Try rose water that can help hydrate, reduce redness, and add a natural glow. Witch hazel is a gentle astringent that minimizes pores and controls oil. Green tea extract is packed with antioxidants to protect against environmental damage. Tip: Mist toner directly onto your face or apply with a reusable cotton pad for an eco-friendly approach.
  4. Moisturize to Nourish – Hydration is key to plump, healthy skin. Natural moisturizers lock in moisture and strengthen your skin barrier. Look for products with Shea butter that can deeply moisturize dry skin and heal cracks. Jojoba oil mimics your skin’s natural sebum which can balance oil production. Plant-derived hyaluronic acid draws moisture into the skin for a dewy finish. Tip: Apply moisturizer to damp skin after cleansing or toning to trap hydration.
  5. Protect with Natural Sunscreen – Sun exposure is the leading cause of premature aging, hyperpigmentation, and skin damage. Look for formulas infused with ingredients like red raspberry seed oil which offers natural SPF plus antioxidants. Carrot seed oil may help support skin repair as well as sun protection. Tip: Reapply every two hours when outdoors, and don’t skip sunscreen on cloudy days.
  6. Treat Troubled Skin with Targeted Care – Address specific concerns like acne or fine lines with natural serums or treatment. Vitamin C (from kakadu plum or acerola cherry) is a long-known anti-oxidant. Tea tree or lavender essential oils can work to fights skin issues and promote healing. Rosehip oil is rich in vitamin A, it reduces scars and boosts collagen. Tip: Patch-test new products to ensure they suit your skin, and introduce one product at a time to monitor results.

Choosing the Right Natural Skincare Products

Not all “natural” products are created equal. To ensure you’re using high-quality, effective skincare, keep these tips in mind:

  • Read labels carefully: Look for recognizable ingredients like plant oils, herbal extracts, or essential oils. Avoid products with vague terms like “fragrance” or long lists of unpronounceable chemicals.
  • Support ethical brands: Check is the company prioritizes transparency and fair trade sourcing. Is the product from a respected business that has longevity and traction rather than a fly-by operation interested in making a quick buck using hype and unrealistic claims?
  • Know your skin: Natural ingredients work best when tailored to your needs—oily skin loves lightweight gels, while dry skin thrives with rich creams.

Lifestyle Habits for Radiant Skin

  • Skincare isn’t just about products; your lifestyle plays a huge role. Complement your natural routine with these habits:
  • Stay hydrated: Drink at least 8 glasses of water daily to keep your skin plump and flushed of toxins.
  • Eat nutrient-rich foods: Incorporate fruits, vegetables, nuts, and omega-3 fatty acids (like chia seeds or walnuts) to nourish your skin from within.
  • Get enough sleep: Aim for 7-9 hours to allow your skin to repair and regenerate overnight.
  • Manage stress: Go for walks in a pleasant environment, paint, sketch, read a book, start a journal or do a puzzle. Each of these activities can calm the mind, as well as reduce stress and inflammation.
  • Exercise regularly: Exercise helps boosts circulation, delivering oxygen and nutrients to your skin for a natural glow.

DIY Natural Skincare Recipes

For a budget-friendly and fun approach, try making your own skincare products with these pantry staples:

  • Honey-Oat Face Mask: Mix 2 tbsp raw honey with 1 tbsp ground oats. Apply for 15 minutes to hydrate and soothe.
  • Coconut Oil Makeup Remover: Massage a small amount of coconut oil onto your face, then wipe off with a warm cloth.
  • Turmeric Spot Treatment: Combine a pinch of turmeric with aloe vera gel. Dab on blemishes to reduce inflammation.

Note: Always patch-test DIY recipes to avoid irritation, especially if you have sensitive

Long-Term Benefits of Going Natural

Switching to natural skincare is more than a trend—it’s a commitment to your skin’s health and the environment. Over time, you’ll notice:
  • A stronger skin barrier, less prone to dryness or irritation.
  • A brighter, more even complexion thanks to nutrient-dense ingredients.
  • Fewer breakouts and sensitivities as your skin finds balance.
  • Confidence in knowing you’re using safe, sustainable products.

My Final Thoughts

Caring for your skin doesn’t require complicated routines or expensive products. By embracing natural ingredients and high-quality skincare, you can achieve a healthy, radiant complexion while supporting your overall well-being. Start small—swap one product for a natural alternative, listen to your skin’s needs, and enjoy the journey to glowing skin, naturally.
What’s your favorite natural skincare ingredient? Share your tips and let’s glow together!

Yours Naturally,

– Christina Moss

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Essential Oils vs. Carrier Oils

What is a Carrier Oil?

One hears a lot about essential oils these days, but not so much about carrier oils. So, what is a carrier oil and why is it important?

A carrier oil is an oil derived from nuts or kernels or seeds of plants.

Here is a list of common carrier oils, but there are many more:

  • Avocado
  • Olive
  • Coconut
  • Grapeseed
  • Almond
  • Walnut
  • Etc.

Why Is It Called Carrier Oil?

It is called “carrier oil” because it can carry other ingredients into the skin with it. This can be beneficial. For example, carrier oils are used in aromatherapy or for massage or moisturizing the skin. If you add a little essential oil to a carrier oil, the carrier will carry the essential oil into the skin. Each carrier oil has a unique quality unto itself.

Carrier oils are made by crushing and spinning the seeds or nuts or kernels of plants to release the oils within. Cold-pressed oils are best because they contain more nutrients than heat-pressed oils or oils obtained by chemical extraction. I do not like applying chemicals to my skin, and you probably do not either. So, I recommend using only cold-pressed oils.

What Is the Difference Between a Carrier Oil and an Essential Oil?

An essential oil is significantly different from a carrier oil. It is called “essential” because it captures the pure essence of the leaf or bark or root of a plant. It is very highly concentrated. That is why the smell is so strong. In fact, essential oils are so concentrated and so strong that they must be stored in glass or metal containers only. They cannot be stored in plastic because they will break down the plastic and leak out over time.

Essential oils also differ from carrier oils in that they are volatile, which means they evaporate rapidly. Therefore, it is important to keep them tightly capped. Carrier oils, on the other hand, do not evaporate.

How Much Essential Oil Should Be Added to the Carrier Oil?

The best combination is 2% essential oil to 98% carrier oil. A quick and easy formula is to add 12 drops of essential oil to one ounce of carrier oil.

Cautions

You have to be careful when handling essential oils. They must be kept away from children and from eyes and mucous membranes. Plus, you should never use an essential oil or a carrier oil if you are allergic to the substance from which it is produced.

A little bit of essential oil goes a very long way, but it MUST be combined with a lot of carrier oil before it is applied to the skin. It is never a good idea to apply essential oil directly to your skin as it can seriously irritate your skin or cause other reactions.

But when used responsibly, essential oils are really special and can be very beneficial. They are distilled down to the pure essence of the plant itself, and because of that, they each have a unique and noteworthy quality that can benefit a person’s health, wellbeing or mood in a different way. There is a vast amount of information about the specific qualities of each essential oil, which is a study itself. They are worth learning more about.

So, now you know. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to contact me.

– Christina Moss
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Skincare for All

Skincare for All

Skincare for different skin types

Skin types and conditions vary widely from person-to-person, therefore more than one way to approach skincare is necessary. A person’s appearance, specifically their skin, face and neck are focal points to first and lasting impressions. Stay positive and once solutions are found, keep it up. Don’t drop what works.

Hopefully, the information below will help shed light on this topic of skincare. This is a summary of knowledge we have accumulated over time, taking care of our own skin and helping tens of thousands of customers along the way. Consequently, one might learn a thing or two. Enjoy!

To your health and happiness!

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Fragrances

I’d like to take a minute to pay respect to a part of the body that’s often overlooked: your nose. Scientists estimate that the nose can distinguish between over 1 trillion different odors, making it the most sensitive organ in the body, by far. Scent and memory are strongly combined, so with a single sniff, your nose can transport you to some of the best times in your life. Your sense of smell is truly amazing.

So why abuse it with artificial fragrances?

Continue reading Fragrances