Health and Beauty

Natural anti aging skin care products are the best anti aging skin care lotions and creams. Indeed, naturally occurring compounds are always the best, but synthetics are cheaper and that’s why manufacturers use them.

The subject of anti aging natural skin care products is very intriguing to most people. The cosmetic companies have taken advantage and brainwashed us with their commercials, their advertising, their labeling and their pretty bottles.

As far back as the fourth century BC, people knew about the best anti aging skin care. Traders from other areas brought around different roots, spices and medicinal remedies. The market place was a place to learn. Of course, it was also a place for snake oil salesmen that disappeared swiftly in the middle of the night.

The most effective anti aging natural skin care products are derived from plants, seeds, fruits, vegetables, oils and waxes that have been in existence for thousands of years. Of course, don’t expect today’s cosmetic companies to give you good advice.

The cosmetic companies are no better than the snake oil salesmen, but instead of disappearing, they introduce their anti aging skin care as “new and improved”. Just using those words is an advertising trick that has been used for years, but still attracts unsuspecting customers.

Instead of something new and improved, the consumers should be made aware that the companies are introducing only “tried and true” methods for attracting customers, but they are not selling the best or the safest anti aging natural skin care products. The Food and Drug Administration is the organization that regulates the cosmetic industry in the US, but it uses different methods than the ones used for the food and drugs.

Since cosmetics are not to be taken internally; they don’t have to be safe. Just a few ingredients are prohibited. With regards to the use of the term “natural”, the substances only need to be naturally occurring. But, some naturally occurring substances are bad for your skin’s health. Others substances are suspected of being carcinogenic, and a few are “known” to cause cancer and birth defects, but the companies keep still using them.

The best anti aging skin care systems do not contain anything that could be hazardous to your skin’s health. It’s counterproductive. You want to improve your skin’s health, so that it will create new cells, new collagen and elastin fibers.

Unhealthy cosmetics won’t induce the reproduction of new cells, elastin fibers or collagen. Their production will continue to decline until you either die or find better anti aging natural skin care products.

You should make it a habit to read labels and check the ingredients. Definitely there are ingredients you need to avoid when buying anti aging natural skin care products. The list of ingredients to avoid is considerable lengthily and includes a number of difficult to understand or identify chemical names. Nevertheless, some of these less than desirable ingredients are not that difficult to spot, once you know what to look for, and they are commonly used in cosmetics and skincare products of all kinds.

Paraffin, liquid paraffin, paraffin wax, mineral oils, and petrolatum should be avoided for many reasons, but also because when it comes to the best anti aging skin care they inhibit the skin’s ability to regenerate. Fragrances and preservatives are very familiar allergens, and parabens are the most frequently used preservatives, but they have been linked to cancer in numerous studies.

Anti aging natural skin care products should contain natural vitamin E, because it moisturizes and provides other benefits, but also because it is a natural preservative. There is much more to learn, but those are subjects for other articles.

How frustrating is it to go out during the summer and have to deal with annoying mosquitoes and worry about applying an oily mosquito repellent on your skin. You have to debate if you want to use insect repellent and if you should spray it on your face. If you battle from acne or sensitive skin this can be a major headache.

Traditional mosquito repellents are oil based and contain harmful chemicals that can cause your skin to break out. There are certain chemical based insect repellents that are linked to causing your pores to produce excess oil. If you are out during the day and have repellent on your hands there are going to be times that you are going to touch your face.

Scientist have discovered there are over 300 chemicals that our body produces that mosquitoes are attracted to. They have kept some of these chemicals a secret, but has made public that these chemicals are embedded in our lactic acid. Lactic acid is excreted from our pores.

This is also the reason why some people get bit more than other people. Some people produce more lactic acid that others and some produce more chemicals that the mosquitoes are attracted to. It?s just like body odor.. some people smell worst than others when they sweat or not.

The way most mosquito repellents work is by reducing and changing the chemical structure of your lactic acid by clogging your pores. Think about how certain deodorants keep you from sweating and smelling awful. Deet which is the active ingredient in most insect repellents clog your pores and prevents your lactic acid from being identified by mosquitoes. The major problem with Deet is that it has many harmful side effects. There are also certain parts on your body that produce more lactic acid than others. This is also why people receive more bites in certain spots. The bad news is that if you are prone to acne you produce a larger amount of lactic acid on your face. The last thing you want to do is spray harmful pore clogging insect repellent on your face. There is actually a new product on the market that is scientifically proven to mask the chemicals from your lactic acid without having to clog your pores or apply anything to your skin. It releases a natural aroma that has been proven to cover up and eliminate the chemicals that are found in your lactic acid. It works exactly how Febreze works by eliminating odors in your house.

According to PBS.org, two decades ago 48 states outlawed gambling. Now 48 states have some form of gambling, only Hawaii and Utah do not. Whether you are betting on a game, playing online gambling, watching the World Series of Poker on TV or spending the weekend in Las Vegas, gambling is everywhere. Unfortunately, where there is gambling, there is addiction. According to PBS.org, 5% of gamblers are addicted. Sure this number seems small. But think about this, PBS.org also reported that in 1997 alone, 87% of people who visit Las Vegas gambled. Of those 87%, 67% played the slot machines. That was ten years ago, those numbers and stats have only gone up. Many people are ok gambling for fun, but others become addicted and obsessed.

PBS.org estimates most gamblers spend four hours in a casino and spend $580.00. This amount is for the recreation gambler, this number can more than double for an addict. Just the thought of winning the jackpot is enough to intrigue anyone, but for someone who suffers from addictive behaviors, this thought only adds fuel to the fire. Links to addiction can sometimes be traced back to a memory. It could be something as simple as being a child and hearing your parents talk about winning the lottery and never having to work again. You and your parents might have talked or dreamed about what you would do with all that money. As you get older you associate happiness and financial freedom with the lottery or gambling.

Marketing companies are not stupid, they want people to be drawn to their products and spend money. When you walk into a casino or enter an online gambling website, you are greeted with bright colors, flashing lights and visually appealing games or machines. Who wants to by pass a shiny new car slot machine at a casino, not me! Every time you see these images, an emotion is triggered, maybe a happy one, an excited one or simply one of anticipation to get the new car or money. These can be very powerful feelings and persuade you to play, quickly you become sucked into the marketing trap.

Obsession quickly follows the addict. You start playing the slot machine or online game and you start small, maybe a few bucks. Of course you lose your money, so you play a little extra to win back what you already spent. Next thing you know, you are gambling away your house payment, each time thinking to yourself, the next one I will win big. This obsession quickly takes over your mind and you life. Before you know it you have gambled away everything in your life you were trying to save, you marriage, house, savings account and the kids’ college fund.

It is difficult to admit when you have lost control of something, especially something as large as your life! You have already taken the first step, if you are reading this, you know you are suffering from an addiction. There is help out there for you. Gamblers make excellent candidates for hypnosis because they are able to regularly fall into a trance. Hypnosis will help you identify why you gamble in the first place and pin point emotional attachments as well. The subconscious mind is very powerful and while in hypnosis, you are able to replace negative triggers such as bright displays. Instead of wanting to gamble, after hypnosis you will simply be able to walk by with no problems.

Imagine what your life could be like without gambling. You will have extra money to take a vacation (not to Las Vegas), fix up your home, or save money for a special occasion. You will have all kinds of extra time as well. You can start exercising, working in the yard, hanging out with friends, and simply stop being a house or casino hermit! Addiction with anything, whether it is drugs, alcohol, or gambling, but with help is out there for you. Once you find a treatment for your lifestyle, you can begin leading a normal happy healthy life. Conquering addiction is possible, but difficult without help, don’t delay.

Not withstanding the fact that Coca-Cola has stuck by their secret formula for about 120 years they are now carrying out research on other beverages and food lines designed to improve your health. Coca-Cola can be found in almost every country on the planet and is now especially interested in the lucrative Chinese market. In order to be more Chinese, they are looking into the ancient system of Chinese herbal medicines.

Why Is Coca-Cola Now Based in Beijing ?

In October of 2007, Coca-Cola announced grand plans for its Beijing operations, incorporating the modern taste and convenience of Coca-Cola with traditional Chinese herbal medicines. Their plan is to have many combinations of these herb powders mixed into the Coca-Cola, bringing, what Coke?s vice president and chief scientific officer says, ?the insights and benefits of traditional Chinese herbal medicines to consumers all over the world.?

The Beijing base was opened in 2004 in order to start research on how to make healthier Coke. Chinese herbal medicines contained the knowledge while Coke contained the marketing power and the money. In this way, Coca-Cola hopes to not only promote holistic health, but corner the market in it.

Is This A Good Idea Or Not?

Whilst the combining of Chinese herbal medicines into Coca-Cola is theoretically possible, the combination would make taking the Chinese herbal medicines more palatable. It is hoped that the cost of the Chinese herbal medicine-formulated Coca-Cola can reduce the price of the medicines currently available.

Most Chinese herbal medicines are distributed not as raw botanicals, but as a concentrated powder form made from extractions of the raw material. This not only makes the medicine last longer, but makes it easy to mix in water, applesauce or tea. Since the powders are already used in liquids to administer, why not stick it into Coca-Cola?

The research is into whether the Chinese herbal medicine powders will remain as effective in the planned line up of Coke drinks rather than taken as it is now. Coke will no doubt do a lot more research before putting any drinks on the market. Owing to it’s size and wealth, Coca-Cola has the money for intensive research.

Coke aren’t just limiting production of a new Chinese herbal medicine drink line to just fizzy soft drinks. They are also investigating the possibility of marketing ready made teas, bottled water, juices and energy drinks. Coca-Cola knows that people are becoming more health conscious and the likelihood that future trends may turn them from carbonated soft drinks altogether. Could it be that Coke is looking to survive with the help of Chinese herbal medicine.?

At one time or another, many of us have accidents or surgery that can result in unsightly scars. The same can happen from difficult cases of acne. Even stretch marks from pregnancy or significant weight loss can leave permanent unsmooth textures on the skin. There are few treatments available beyond silicone patches, and these won’t work in all cases. If one is looking for a natural means to improve skin appearance as a wound heals, or to smooth old scars or stretch marks, scientific aromatherapy literature provides some formulas that may help.

There are a few primary essential oils used in skin care which offer their regenerative properties; these oils can be used in low concentrations, and are generally well-tolerated - certainly more so than many synthetic ingredients. The most important of these may be Helichrysum italicum, also known as Everlasting oil. This wonderful oil is distilled from the daisy-like flowers of the herb. It has a lovely earthy aroma and, despite it’s apparent expense, works in very low concentrations (only a few drops per tablespoon of your total blend). Helichrysum is strongly anti-inflammatory and contains powerful regenerative molecules unique to this oil only.

Helichrysum essential oil is the cornerstone for many blends for healing the skin, and is the only one necessary for supporting currently healing skin damage - it should be used at appropriate concentrations with Rosehip Seed and Hazelnut oils, as mentioned later in this article. As noted by well-known aromatherapists Kurt Schnaubelt, “The triple unsaturated fatty acids (of Rosehip Seed oil) strengthen the cell membranes and, combined with the regnerative qualities of Everlasting oil (Helichrysum), heal wounds with minimal or no scarring”.

As mentioned above, Lavender is often included in skin care blends - it has gentle anti-inflammatory and tissue regenerative properties, along with very soothing, anti-anxiety aroma. Lavender essential oil itself began the modern aromatherapy revolution when a scientist burned his hand in a laboratory accident, and after cooling the wound in a beaker of Lavender found the wound to heal remarkably quickly. It is also thought to ’synergize’ or improve the efficacy of other essential oils in combination.

Next up is the essential oil distilled from the leaves of common Sage, or Salvia officinalis. Sage is used in low concentrations in very specific conditions - where the scars are old and require a little extra phytochemical power to heal. Sage oil can bring circulation to the area, and can assist the scarred area of the skin to regenerate, particularly in concert with other oils. Sage can be used in stretch mark formulas, but should only be employed post-partum because of the high thujone content of the oil.

Rosemary will be the final essential oil we’ll mention here for scar treatment. For the skin, Rosemary of the Verbenone chemotype has many important properties - it contains regenerative ketone molecules, and stimulates cellular metabolism. This oil helps new skin form, bringing nutrients into the cells and supports the removing toxins and wastes.

Finally, these essential oils need to be diluted carrier oils, which are seed or nut oils made up of fatty acids. These oils help the skin absorb the essential oils, and provide important nutritive oils to help the skin heal and look its best. The most important is Rosehip Seed oil, cold-pressed from Rosehip Seeds native to mountainous regions of South America. In addition to its unsaturated fatty acids, this oil contains natural vitamin A compounds similar in effect to the pharmaceutical preparation Retin-A but without the over drying or redness that often accompanies its use. Hazelnut oil is also a wonderful carrier well tolerated by all skin types; its gentle astringent qualites prevent the skin from feeling oil upon application.

So how does one mix these natural botanicals for particular uses? There are a few simple but effective recipes specifically for wound healing and scar reduction. For old keloid or acne scars, use one ounce each of Hazelnut and Rosehip seed oils - to this, add one milliliter of Helichrysum Italicum essential oil and Sage officinalis essential oil. Apply regularly for three to six months for best results. For more recent cuts, scrapes, and even surgical incisions (that have reached the point where they are safe to get moist), use the same Hazelnut and Rosehip seed blend, adding one milliliter of Helichrysum and one milliliter of Lavender (Lavendula angustifolia). Apply twice a day while the wound is healing. For the reduction and possible elimination of stretch marks post partum, again to one ounce each of Hazelnut and Rosehip seed oils, add one milliliter Sage and one milliliter Rosemary verbenone. Like the formula for old scars, use this regularly for several months.

So these are just a few skin care formulas commonly used in aromatherapy. Many more exist for a great variety of skin conditions - there is much information available on the internet or in bookstores. Remember, when creating your own blends, be conservative with the amounts of essential oils - they do work in small amounts. Also, it’s always fun to add to these recipes one or more of your favorite aromatic oils - Jasmine, Ylang Ylang, Rose or other oils can add a lovely complex aroma to the blend; one that you’ll enjoy wearing. Be creative, be safe and have fun!

Steps to starting a small business on the internet are identified here with some good ideas for business ideas. The first thing you have to determine is what you are going to do. Will you be selling your own product or service or that of someone else’s?

One rule of thumb in choosing something to do is find something you love and are passionate about. Your service could simply be educating other like minded people about a particular subject. There are more ways to make money online than just providing a product or service.

Next you will need a domain name. Godaddy.com is as good a place as any to buy a domain name but you can do a search on google for domain names to find many others. Also choose a domain name that incorporates your company name. For example my domain name is: homebasedbusinesslegitimate.com and my online business name is Home Based Business Legitimate.

Next you need a website. This can be daunting but I highly recommend it because this becomes your location. You will want a site you can begin linking to and providing content for. You can go to google.com and type in website building or free website creation and you will find several choices. Yahoo has a great service that is very inexpensive and easy to use.

Now that you know what your business is and you have a website you need to drive traffic to it. This is key to your success as an online business owner and for most it is the most difficult. If you go to google.com and type in internet traffic you will be exposed to tens of thousand of websites saying they have cracked the secret code. I know because I have looked at many of them. But let me tell you the best way and the only way to build long term success is through writing articles. You want to get the word out about your product or service anyways and this will also provide important content for your website.

After you write your first article you need to submit it so it gets out on the net. The best service I have found for this is Unique Article Wizard. You can find a link to their site by going to my website. With this service you will be able to submit an unlimited amount of articles each month to up to 9,000 different article directories and websites. A truly incredible service.

The last step I cannot stress enough is to write and submit an article two or three time a week. If you are consistent you will have long term success.

In conclusion, the steps to starting a small business online are to first decide what you are going to do. Next you need to register a domain name and then build a website. After this you need to market this website and the best way I know of is through writing articles and then submitting them using Unique Article Wizard.

For some people work is simply a nine-to-five job that requires their presence. They do not particularly enjoy their job but know that in order to make ends meet they must show up each day and get their work done. They do what they have to do but seem to have no spark. Perhaps they have lost sight of their chosen career path. Could this be what is going on with your job? With the help of a business coach you can do more than just get by. You can find a career and find joy in your work again.

Look around you and take stock of what successful business men and women are doing to get ahead. They are not just sitting around waiting for an opportunity. They are making their own opportunities. You need a business coach to help you do the same thing.

Leadership mentoring is a one-on-one process that involves someone with more experience helping out someone who has less experience. This is often done when a new person enters a career field. A business coach does offer one-on-one coaching but it is more like helping you achieve your own goals or motivating you to become more involved in your career field.

You have probably heard of motivational camps where employees are brought in and play team games with one another. This creates and fosters a competitive atmosphere but lets employees bond with each other.

Business coaches can not perform miracles and should not be promising great achievements. Those who do may be operating under fraudulent means. This is to say that a coach should not make grand promises to up sales by fifty percent or have employees thinking that the coaching process will automatically result in advancements and promotions. This is simply not the case.

Coaching people should be more about showing them that they can rely on themselves to make the necessary changes to help the business operate better.

Bringing in a business coach can mean better performance if the person is educated about the business field and has experience motivating large groups of people. Sure, he or she can motivate on a one-on-one level but the person is more likely brought in to help motivate the company as a whole. It can mean more revenue, sales or a rebirth in enthusiasm for working for the company but that depends on how much the employees are willing to give.

I seem to lost count on how many times I’ve read and heard of celebrity marriages failing almost left and right. Not that I care (and personally I don’t), it seems strange that we often see movie and TV stars as flawless people, living the fairytale life of riches and glamor. I suppose we all have to stop sticking our heads in the clouds and face reality.

There are many ways to lose your sense of self-esteem despite of how trivial it could get. But whatever happens, we should all try not to lose our own sense of self. So what does it take to be a cut above the rest? Here are some of the things you can think and improve on that should be enough for a week.

1. Acknowledge stress is good: Make stress your friend! Based on the body’s natural “fight or flight” response, that burst of energy will enhance your performance at the right moment. I’ve yet to see a top sportsman totally relaxed before a big competition. Use stress wisely to push yourself that little bit harder when it counts most.

2. Commit to yourself as well as those you love to create powerfully a life you can love. Instead of reacting, commit to creating from your heart and soul, out of love rather than fear. The American Dream will always be there, but a dream will still be a dream without motion. Be amazed as the transformation begins.

3. Recognize and embrace the thought that each moment is perfect regardless of its outcome. Every time you hit on something that may appear too extreme, why not give it a shot and see if it will work. You will be surprised to see of there are other ways to get the task done in time. If you are not pleased with the outcome, decide to use that moment to learn from and make the appropriate shift.

4. Know your passions: You know who you are and what you truly enjoy in life. Obstacles like doubt and lack of enthusiasm will only hinder you, but will not derail your chance to become the person you ought to be. Express yourself and honor the people who has inspired you to become the very person you wanted to be.

5. Use a Passion Formula of Recognize/Reevaluate/Restore in place of the Shoulda/Woulda/Coulda whirlwind. The former is based in increased knowledge and abundance while the latter focuses on scarcity and lack. As you face people or tasks that may seem harder than scaling the summit of the Himalayas, allow yourself to realize that the task is just as important as giving out orders to your subordinates. You would rather be richly passionate!

6. Honor your strengths: What are your positive traits? What special talents do you have? List three - if you get stuck, ask those closest to you to help identify these. Are you imaginative, witty, good with your hands? Find ways to express your authentic self through your strengths. You can increase your self-confidence when you can share what you know to others.

7. Serve others: When you live authentically, you may find that you develop an interconnected sense of being. When you are true to who you are, living your purpose and giving of your talents to the world around you, you give back in service what you came to share with others -your spirit - your essence. The rewards for sharing your gift with those close to you is indeed rewarding, much more if it were to be the eyes of a stranger who can appreciate what you have done to them. Self-improvement is indeed one type of work that is worth it. It shouldn’t always be within the confines of an office building, or maybe in the four corners of your own room. The difference lies within ourselves and how much we want to change for the better.

It’s no surprise several of the world’s finest formulas for beautifying mature skin contain natural essential oils. Therapeutic grade essential oils used in aromatherapy are each selected for their distinctive healing action; many oils are specifically indicated for skin healing and healthy skin maintenance. Of greatest interest here are the oils known for their tissue regenerative effects and support of the skin’s metabolic functions. An effective personal blend using premium therapeutic grade oils is easily made by choosing a few oils corresponding to the needs of your skin type, and blending with easy-to-follow formulas.

You may ask, “What makes essential oils and their complementary carrier oils so effective for natural skin care?” The answer is found in nature herself. It happens that the elemental structures of plant oils are beautifully and decidedly compatible with that of our skin. Essential oils are easily absorbed through the skin’s various layers, and even through the skin’s individual cell walls. This compatibility makes the process of creating and using your own formulas extremely simple. One only need blend together a few ingredients to create a state-of-the-art healing and nourishing formula for better looking and feeling skin.

In describing the ingredients, we’ll start with the carrier oils (also known as ‘base’ oils). These natural seed and nut oils will make up the bulk of any skin care formula. There are a great many carrier oils to choose from for mature skin support: Avocado - hydrating, and nutritive, with a medium consistency, avocado oil is most often included at about 1/5 of the total base oil mixture. Apricot Kernel - Excellent for dry skin, also for healing damaged or irritated skin; can make up to 100% of the base oil. Borage - Used as a small (5-15%) portion of the base oil mixture; supplies important fatty acid nutrients, which also act to calm inflammation. May be interchanged with Evening Primrose oil, though the Evening Primrose should be used in slightly larger amounts than Borage (up to 25%). Hazelnut - This is the most common carrier in skin care blends. It has a relatively thin consistency, and is best used by those with oily skin conditions. It is mildly astringent, and should not exacerbate trouble with overactive sebaceous glands. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, Rosehip Seed - this oil contains a wealth of therapeutic properties, including Retin-A like compounds that increase skin cell turnover without the drying side effects found in pharmaceutical preparations. In summary, a good base oil for mature skin might be 70% Apricot Kernel, 15% Rosehip and 15% Evening Primrose. If the skin is dry, reduce the Apricot Kernel to 50% and add 20% Avocado. If the skin is oily, use Hazelnut in place of Apricot Kernel.

Then of course there are the ‘active’ ingredients - the essential oils. We will look at eight incredible oils that are all beneficial to mature skin: Considered one of the most potent revitalizing oils for the derma, Carrot Seed essential oil is distilled from the seeds of Wild Carrot. Carrot seed is chosen principally as a tonic for skin that has become dull and lifeless through any sort of stress. Carrot seed has a smooth, warm and earthy aroma that will blend well with many other essential oils. Next is Rosemary Verbenone, which contains a high amount of regenerative ketones and is highly effective for regeneration. This specialty skin care essential oil is noted by professionals for its wonderful ability to improve the metabolism of skin cells - in essence, increasing both the removal of waste products and the intake of nutrients.

Clary Sage essential oil is noted as being particularly suited to natural beauty care. It contains sclareol, which mimics the effects of estrogen; this is noted by one expert author as the primary reason it helps with skin aging. It may also be the reason Clary Sage is said to regulate the skin’s secretions, bringing balance to both over-dry and over-oily skin. Elsewhere, it is noted as relaxing - even mildly euphoric - which may also contribute to its positive effects for wrinkles. Sweet Fennel is another ‘estrogenic’ essential oil, called for by Valerie Worwood in ‘The Complete Book of Essential Oils’ as an ingredient in wrinkle-preventative blends for all ages.

Sea Buckthorn Berry CO2 extract is gentle oil with a pleasingly sweet aroma - it contains significant amounts of essential fatty acids and antioxidants. It is noted as a particularly effective anti-wrinkle and skin softening agent. Users have commented on its benefits for a wide-variety of skin conditions. Cistus, another specialty essential oil for the care of mature care, is distilled from a plant that grows in hotter climes. The oil is used for its firming effects where sagging skin is a concern. Its natural astringent action also makes it an excellent choice for those with adult acne.

And what review of therapeutic skin oils could ignore the vast healing properties of Lavender? Well-known for its relaxing effects, true lavender can be included in aromatherapy blends for skin of any age. With regenerative, anti-inflammatory, and balancing effects, lavender is especially supportive of aging skin. Lavender’s support for stress reduction alone can result in improving the appearance of your skin. It may be added in whatever concentration one chooses in alignment with one’s personal taste. For those wanting even stronger anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects, try Helichrysum essential oil. Helichrysum is known widely as a profoundly healing essential oil for damaged skin, and is often called for in blends for healing wounds or reducing the appearance of scars. Note that if you are combining aromatherapy with other treatments such as chemical peels or microdermabasion, this essential oil would be a valuable ingredient in your personal formula. Finally, Rose oil is absolutely spectacular for mature skin - and has a fantastic aroma. Just a little goes a long way toward’s a balanced and hydrated skin texture.

The formulas for therapeutic care for mature skin are fairly straightforward. Oftentimes, you can start with 10 drops of each essential oil per ounce of carrier oil. For example, if you have four total ounces of base oil, you could use 40 drops of each desired essential oil as a starting point. Much more essential oil than this is rarely better; in fact, many oils work best at low concentrations, and some can potentially irritate the skin at high doses. Further, if you are combining several essential oils together in one blend, try not to go over a 5% total concentration of essential oils (approximately 30 drops per ounce) - the face and neck are relatively sensitive areas, and will respond best to small amounts of nature’s ‘active’ ingredients. If you are not working with a recipe, you can start with equal amounts of each essential oil, and adjust according to your perceived potency of each oil; some oils will have more powerful aromas than others, and you could likely do with slightly less in your overall blend. You can also adjust according to your aromatic preferences as well, creating a formula that not only supports your skin’s health and metabolism, but smells lovely too.

Though many of these ingredients are preferred for women’s beauty care, comparable recipes are also used by men. A more masculine formula can be created using essential oils from woods - Cedarwood and Sandalwood are both good examples, having excellent therapeutic properties. Both Frankincense and Myrrh essential oils both have warm earthy aromas and are also noted for their positive effects on aging skin. Including oils purely for their aromas is always an option, too! Please note, there are a there are a few oils that should not be applied to the face: Cinnamon, Oregano, Clove and Red Thyme; pressed citrus as well as Angelica Root oil are ‘phototoxic’ (make the skin more sensitive to UV rays) and should not be applied to skin that will be exposed to sunlight in the following 72 hours. If you’re not sure about a particular essential oil, check with a reliable resource.

Making therapeutic blends for mature skin is enjoyable, easy-to-do, and cost effective. By using therapeutic-grade oils and carriers, you’ll be creating an effective, beautiful smelling formula precisely for your own skin condition. Moreover, you can adjust the recipe over time as your needs change, or make different formulas with various aromas to double as natural perfumes. As always with aromatherapy, start slowly, listen to your body and have fun!

The one time you do not want to see any specious flowers or plants is during a garden wedding. Even as it is true that wedding planners are notorious for their use of these fake flora in order to bring to the forefront a certain mood or ambiance, within the confines of a beautiful garden wedding, these kinds of decorations should be avoided.

At the very heart of a nature setting is of course the purity of the elements as well as the purity of the emotions it evokes. Unadulterated love is being celebrated at this kind of outdoor marriage celebration and the clean air, the scents of the flowers, and the gentle rustling of the breeze in the tree tops makes for the ideal backdrop to this kind of occasion.

As a wedding planner you wish to ensure to preserve the integrity of the nature theme while at the same time working within the confines of the budget concerns your client couple may have as well as the available locations. Another thing to consider when planning a garden wedding is of course the weather. While many understand that a November garden wedding is ill advised ? no matter where in the country you reside ? because of the possibility of inclement weather, it is also true that with a bit finesse you will be able to present the kind of venue to your clients that comes close to the garden without actually being located out of doors.

Make yourself aware of local venues related to horticulture. These may include private rooftop gardens, large greenhouses, municipal conservatories, an enclosed portion of an arboretum, and a host of other locales where the outdoors are conveniently moved inside. Of course, if the weather cooperates, then the perfect nature themed wedding will be the garden celebration during the late morning or early evening hours when the sunlight is soft and the flowers are opened. The perfect sun will also show off your different engagement rings.

If you are outdoors, ensure that a rented canopy or tent is at hand and may be unrolled within seconds to cover the bridal party and the guests in case of a rainstorm. Furthermore, the wise wedding planner knows the local fauna as well as flora, and will carry ant spray, wasp repellent and also mosquito candles as a matter of necessity during such weddings.

Integrate the color scheme of the venue where the nuptials are being held and ensure that the flowers you will see during the ceremony may have their likenesses found on the cake as well. Some couples may wish to incorporate animals into their themed wedding and while this may make for a stunning ambiance it is wise to discourage this notion. Children present may seek to interact with the animals in ways that are not appropriate and if the reception is to take place in the same venue, the possibility of the animals ingesting food they are not permitted to eat is great. It is best to rely on just flora and other props for ambiance.