Skin Health — acne

Overzealous face washing, can actually cause more harm than good. Constant washing, especially with products designed to combat oiliness, can strip skin of its own natural oils and compromise its barrier, which can set you up for irritation and derma-dehydration. Avoid cleansers that contain harsh surfactants, which rid skin of too much oil and leave it unnaturally dry. Read the labels. Some common surfactants include sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium lauryl ether sulfate (SLES), and ammonium lauryl sulfate (ALS). Instead, look for gentler cleaning agents, which may be derived from coconut oil, olive oil and shea butter, among others. Rub...

WHAT EXACTLY IS AN ESSENTIAL OIL? It's a most remarkable substance extracted from flowers, buds, seeds, leaves, twigs, bark, herbs, wood, fruits and plant roots. The aromatic oil generally possesses a lower density than water and is extracted by hydro-distillation, steam distillation or dry distillation with the exception of citrus fruits. In citrus the oil is extracted (pressed) from the rind by a mechanical process (no heat). AROMATIC Plants each possess their own unique scent. The aroma of each oil results from the combination of the aromas of all components of the plant material itself. Unlike synthetically derived fragrance oils (parfum),...