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Aloe,
Aloe Vera — Aloe barbadensis. A
healing agent for wounds and abrasions. It is considered one of
nature's most effective remedies for sunburn and skin irritations,
and a superb hydrator for dry hair and skin.
Annatto
— Bixa orellana. The waxy extract from a South American
shrub, used as a natural color. Annatto is a reddish-brown color,
but when mixed with an acid becomes a deep red.
Apricot
Kernel Oil — Prunus armeniaca. Essential
oil from apricot pits, also known as persic oil. An emollient
similar in composition to almond oil, it has a softening effect on
the skin.
Beeswax
— Apis mellifera. Obtained
from the honeycomb of the honeybee. A natural thickener and
emulsifier.
Bergamot
Oil — Citrus bergamia. Essential
oil from the peel of the fruit, an analgesic and tonic, sometimes
used as a fragrance.
Calendula
— Calendula officinalis. The common Marigold, known for
its healing and analgesic properties. It is a frequent ingredient in
ointments and natural deodorants. Contains saponins. Sometimes used
as a natural yellow colorant.
Carrot
Oil — Daucus carota var. sativa. The
seeds of carrots yield an essential oil that is rich in beta
carotene, orange or red compounds that are precursors to vitamin A
and occur naturally in plants. Also high in vitamin E, it is
essential to skin cell regeneration and stimulates the production of
sebum in dry, scaly scalps and skin.
Cedarwood
Oil (Red) — Juniperus virginiana. Essential
oil known for its anti-irritant properties and its soothing effect
on the skin and scalp. Sometimes used as a natural fragrance.
Cinnamon
— Cinnamomum zeylanicum. Fragrant
spice used as a coloring agent in natural makeup powders.
Citric
Acid — Extract
from citrus fruits used as a natural pH adjuster in cosmetics. Added
to shampoos, it acts as a chelating agent, binding to chlorine and
iron (from hard water) and removing them from the hair.
Citrus
Seed Extract — Citrus paradisi. The extract from
grapefruit seeds, shown to have anti-fungal, anti-microbial and
antiviral properties. Combined with antioxidant vitamins, it makes
an effective plant-based preservative.
Cocoa
Butter — Theobroma cacao. The solid fat extracted from
the seeds of the cocoa plant. A rich emollient used in lipsticks,
creams, soaps and sun care products for its moisturizing and
soothing properties.
Coconut
Oil — Cocos nucifera. Rich emollient expressed from
coconuts. It is naturally converted into a soap through a
saponification reaction with an alkaline salt. Beware of cosmetics
that bill themselves as "natural" and use a synthetically
processed derivative, sodium lauryl sulfate, claiming it comes
"from coconut oil." Accept nothing but the real thing in
its natural form.
Corn
Meal — Zea mays. Meal
obtained from ground corn, used as a thickener and mild exfoliant in
cosmetic formulations. It has a soothing and softening effect on the
skin.
d-Alpha
Tocopherol — A
natural form of vitamin E.
Echinacea
— (Coneflower) Echinacea angustifolia, Echinacea
purpurea. Two
varieties of this versatile herb are used both internally and
externally in folk medicine as natural antibiotics to treat a
variety of ills. A number of studies have pointed to its
antibacterial and anti-fungal properties. Its root extract is used
in cell therapy and anti-wrinkle creams as a hydrator and firming
agent.
Essential
Oils — Volatile
liquids extracted from plant materials by steam distillation or
expression, which contain the characteristic plant aroma. Unlike
fixed plant oils (such as olive oil), essential oils evaporate at
room temperature and do not leave an oily residue on the skin.
Eucalyptus
Oil — Eucalyptus globulus. Essential
oil with powerful antiseptic, antibacterial and anti-fungal
properties. Used in cleansers, massage formulations and bath soaks
for its cooling, soothing effect on the skin. Herbalists recommend a
few drops of the oil in a hot bath to open up blocked sinuses and
help clear a stuffy nose.
Geranium
Oil — Pelargonium graveolens. Essential
oil with astringent and tonic properties, an excellent normalizer
for oily skin. Sometimes used as a fragrance.
Ginger
— Zingiber officinale. Anti-inflammatory
and stimulant with warming and soothing properties. Used in creams,
lotions and hair care products, it promotes circulation to the skin
and scalp. In both powdered and essential oil form, it is an
excellent ingredient for bath soaks and other personal care
products. Sometimes used as a fragrance.
Grape
Seed Oil — Antioxidant-rich
oil cold-pressed from grape seeds.
Grapefruit
Oil — Citrus paradisi. An essential oil extracted from
the peel of the fruit. Used in creams and lotions for its astringent
and skin-freshening properties. Sometimes used as a fragrance.
Grapefruit
Seed Extract —
Green
Clay — (Montmorillonite Clay) Commonly
known as French green clay, rich in minerals and other nutrients.
Used in deep-cleansing face masks to draw out impurities and balance
and clear the skin.
Green
Tea — Camellia sinensis. The benefits of green tea to
the skin have been widely documented. This powerful antioxidant (20
times stronger than vitamin E) inhibits the formation of
cancer-causing free radicals and helps prevent skin cell damage
caused by sun exposure and pollution. An important ingredient in sun care
products, as well as in creams, lotions, shampoos and conditioners.
An anti-inflammatory and anti-irritant, it is high in xanthenes,
very soothing and moisturizing to both hair and skin. Powdered
Matcha green tea from Japan is the finest.
Iron
Oxides — A
naturally occurring mineral used as a coloring agent in cosmetics.
Jojoba
Oil, Jojoba Wax — Simmondsia chinensis. Waxy
oil extracted from the bean, which helps the jojoba desert plant
retain water during the long summer drought. When used in cosmetic
preparations, it not only acts as a humectant, but actually creates
a protective film over the skin and hair shaft that helps seal in
moisture. The oil is highly stable and very effective on dry skin,
damaged hair and split ends.
Kaolin
— (Mt. Kaolin Clay) A
fine, natural clay from Mt. Kaolin, China, known for its drawing
properties. Often used in deep-cleansing face masks.
Lavender
Oil — Lavandula angustifolia. Essential
oil obtained from lavender flowers. Added to skin and hair care
preparations for its soothing and antiseptic properties and pleasant
fragrance.
Lemongrass
— Cymbopogon citratus. Anti-microbial
and anti-fungal often used as a fragrance.
Has antioxidant
properties. An excellent normalizer for oily skin.
Lime
Oil — Citrus aurantifolia. Essential oil extracted from
the peel of the fruit. A natural antiseptic and tonic, often used as
a scent.
Mint
— Any of a variety of aromatic plants (genus Mentha) used as a
natural antiseptic and freshener. Sometimes added as
fragrance.
Myrrh
— Commiphora myrrha. A
superb moisturizer and freshener with skin-regenerating properties.
Ideal for sensitive skin. Often used as a fragrance.
Oatmeal
— Avena sativa. Natural
cleanser and toner, its mild exfoliating action makes it an
excellent addition to facial masks. Has a slight bleaching effect
and is said to help fade age spots and other skin imperfections and
to even out skin tones.
Olive
Oil — Olea europaea. Rich
emollient high in oleic acid, very beneficial to the skin. Used in
skin care preparations for thousands of years for its softening and
smoothing properties.
Orange
Blossom Oil — (Neroli) Citrus aurantium. Aromatic
oil obtained from orange blossoms, often used as a fragrance. A mild
astringent.
Palma
Rosa Oil — Cymbopogon martinii. Essential
oil used for its pleasant scent and hydrating and tonic effects on
the skin.
Patchouli
— Pogostemon cablin. Aromatic
essential oil used as a fragrance for its rich, herbaceous scent,
and as a fixative in perfumes and soaps.
Peppermint
Oil — Mentha piperita. Excellent
antiseptic frequently used in shampoos and rinses for its toning
effect on the scalp, and in bath oils for its warming/cooling
properties on sore muscles. A natural anti-inflammatory, very
soothing to the skin and scalp.
Rose
Geranium — Pelargonium roseum. Essential oil used in
skin care for its soothing and aromatic properties.
Rosemary
Oil — Rosmarinus officinalis. Essential oil beneficial
to both hair and skin for its antioxidant, toning and purifying
properties. In hair care products it is said to stimulate hair
follicles to grow and encourage circulation to the scalp. Used in
hair rinses, particularly in combination with sage, it soothes and
conditions the scalp and helps remove buildup and prevent flaking.
Sandalwood
Oil — Santalum album. One
of the oldest fragrance components, this aromatic essential oil has
been in use for over 4000 years for its deep, woody, long-lasting
scent. In recent years, the Indian sandalwood tree has become
endangered. We use only farmed, sustainable Australian sandalwood in
our products.
Sea
Salt — Mineral-rich
salt naturally obtained from sea water. Used in bath soaks and body
scrubs for its softening effect on the skin.
Shea
Butter — Butyrospermum parkii. Moisture-rich
butter obtained from the nuts of the Mangifolia tree in Central
Africa, also known as karite butter or African butter. A superb
emollient, high in fatty acids and other nutrients, it is an ideal
ingredient for skin moisturizers, sun care products and hair
conditioners.
Spearmint
Oil — Mentha spicata.
Essential oil used for its stimulating and tonic properties and
refreshing fragrance.
Sweet
Almond Oil — Amigdalus communis, var. dulcis. Excellent
emollient high in oleic, linoleic and other fatty acids, ideal in
the treatment of very dry skin. Soothing and moisturizing. A good
absorption base.
Sweet
Orange Oil — Citrus sinensis. Essential oil expressed
from the peel of sweet oranges (Navel, Jaffa, Valencia). An anti-inflammatory,
antibacterial and anti-fungal used for its refreshing properties and
pleasant scent. Contains flavonoids and vitamins A, B, C and E.
Tea
Tree Oil — Melaleuca alternifolia. Essential
oil with powerful antiseptic and germicidal properties, similar to
eucalyptus oil. Due to its strong odor, it must be used in small
amounts in cosmetics, but makes an excellent addition to dandruff
shampoos and therapeutic masks and moisturizers.
Titanium
Dioxide — Naturally occurring mineral that actually deflects
the sun's burning rays off the skin, offering significant protection
from damaging UVA/UVB rays. Often combined with Padimate O, it is a
superb ingredient for sun blocks.
Vegetable
Glycerin — Rich
humectant, emollient and lubricant naturally extracted from
vegetable oils, used in cosmetic formulations for thousands of
years. (Synthetic glycerin, otherwise known as propylene glycol, is
highly irritating to the skin and scalp and should be avoided.)
Vetiver
— Vetiveria zizanoides. Soothing
essential oil used in cosmetics for its smoky, earthy scent. Due to
its sedative properties, in India it is known as "oil of
tranquility."
Vitamin
E — (d-Alpha Tocopherol) The most potent antioxidant vitamin
around, it protects skin from cancer-causing free radicals and is
essential for proper utilization of oxygen in the tissues. In
cosmetics it also acts as a natural preservative, protecting the oil
phase in creams and lotions.
Wheat
Germ Oil — Triticum vulgare. Extracted
from the embryo of the wheat kernel. An anti-inflammatory and skin
nourisher that also acts as a natural preservative because of its
high vitamin E content.
Wheat
Protein — Triticum vulgare. Water-soluble protein
naturally derived from wheat. Applied topically, it helps attract
and retain moisture and is clinically proven to minimize fine lines
and wrinkles. In hair care formulas, it coats porous and damaged
areas to strengthen and mend hair fiber.
Wintergreen
Oil — Gaultheria procumbens. A
tonic, stimulant and freshener, this aromatic oil has a
"heating" or "warming" action on the muscles and
skin. Excellent in body rubs and bath oils, as well as mouthwash and
toothpaste formulations. Is very high in salicylic acid.
Witch
Hazel — Hamamelis virginiana. A byproduct of the
distillation of the leaves and stems of the plant, this hydrosol or
floral water is a natural astringent and tonic. An anti-irritant and
anti-inflammatory, it is an excellent ingredient in facial
cleansers, toners and lotions.
Ylang
Ylang Oil — Cananga odorata. Essential
oil used for its skin-soothing properties and spicy floral scent.
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