Category: Blog Post

Geranium Oil A Skincare Favorite Blog Post

Geranium Oil: A Skincare Favorite

Posted on by Lydia D

Geranium Oil: A Skincare Favorite

Geranium oil has been a favorite essential oil for the skin for thousands of years. There are may essential oils with beneficial properties for skin and hair. The oil of the Geranium plant, commonly grown throughout the eastern Mediterranean, is extracted via steam distillation of the leaves and stems. Its odor can range from lemony to more rose-like, depending on the plant’s age and the type of Geranium being distilled. There are as many as 400 different species of geranium, and its oil was used by the Egyptians to treat skin ailments and to boost mood.

Benefits of Geranium Oil

Geranium oil has numerous benefits. A few of them are highlighted below.

    • To help alleviate acne flareups and other skin eruptions
    • To help reduce inflammation
    • In aromatherapy to help relieve the negative effects of stress
    • To help balance sebum production
    • Has astrigent properties that makes it good for oily skin

Geranium oil combines well with most other essential oils for added benefits to skin and hair. A little goes a long way; just a few drops in a carrier oil are sufficient to impart skin-boosting benefits.

The latest additions to our product line (Whole Earth Body Actives) take advantage of geranium oil’s balancing properties. They are the Facial Cleansing Oil and Makeup Remover and the Age-defying Vitamin C Face Creme. We firmly believe in the aromatherapeutic benefits of pure essential oils, and we use them in all of our products. If you would like to be introduced to this one, why not give our products a try?

References:
Dr. Axe blog post on geranium oil benefits

2018 Mother's Day Gift Guide

2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Posted on by Lydia D

2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide

Mother’s Day is on May 13th. Our 2018 Mother’s Day Gift Guide has a wide selection of products and services designed to make mom feel special. She does so much for us during the year; doesn’t she deserve to be treated one day out of the year? Here are a few suggestions that we feel are sure to surprise and delight.

Gift A Subscription Box – There is a subscription box for everything from beauty to clothing to food and wine. It’s a gift that gives all year long. Popular favorites include Birchbox, Fabfitfun, Blueapron and Stitchfix. Other nice offerings include Rocksbox (jewelry subscription box), Hellofresh (meal delivery service), Vegancuts (vegan products), Naturebox (healthy snacks), and Yogaclub (activewear). Or how about fresh organic flowers delivered regularly by a farm like this one? It’s a great way to introduce mom to items that she might never come across.

Enroll Her In A Class – Does mom love to learn new things? If so, why not enroll her in a class? Cities from New York to California have cooking schools that offer cooking and baking classes. Many retail outlets offer knitting and sewing classes. She can also learn to paint or throw pottery. Make it more fun and suggest that she bring a friend. Because it’s never too late to learn a new skill.

Introduce Her To A Unique Product – How about a portable diffuser for her car? You can find some ideas here. Or a hydroponic herb garden? You can see a few of them here.

Give A WEBA Gift Box – Speaking of unique products, we couldn’t leave our products off the list, could we? WEBA can craft a custom gift box for mom based on her current likes, or you can check out our Spa Box, Gift Tin or Six Soap Set. No matter what you choose, the cocoa and shea butter soaps, scrubs and moisturizers will surely leave her smiling.

Earth Friendly Hacks You Can Try Right Now

Earth Friendly Hacks You Can Try Right Now

Posted on by Lydia D

Earth-Friendly Hacks You Can Try Right Now

In honor of Earth Month, we’ve assembled a bunch of earth-friendly hacks that will not only make your life easier, but will save you money. We firmly believe in eliminating unnecessary product purchases as much as possible. Replacing them with more earth-friendly and sustainable options just makes sense. Give these a try and see if you don’t save time, money, and your sanity.

  • Buy white vinegar by the gallon – vinegar is not just for dressing. White vinegar is, in fact, great in the bathroom. Use it full-strength in the toilet to remove lime buildup. Dilute 1:1 with water in a spray bottle and remove soap scum in the shower. It’s great for cleaning glass, as well. In the kitchen room, it’s great for sweetening the coffee pot. In the garden, use it full-strength to kill weeds without the need for toxic pesticides. These are only a few of the many uses for this versatile staple.
  • Not just for cleaning wounds, the bathroom staple hydrogen peroxide is the secret ingredient in “oxyclean” products, and is thoroughly biodegradable. It’s great as a whitener and spot remover on clothing. In the bath, create a paste using hydrogen peroxide and baking soda to remove stains from porcelain sinks, toilets, bathtubs and tile. Save on cleaning products and detergents by using this one item.
  • Trade up to Cartridge-free Printers – Even though printer cartridges are recyclable, over 50% of them end up in landfills. Recycling cartridges can be complicated and they are expensive. Many companies have responded by creating all-in-one printers with refillable ink tanks. This allows them to print as many as 7,000 pages, while keeping printer cartridges out of landfills. You can find a list of printers here.
  • Barter for goods and services – bartering is coming back in a big way. All networks have one thing in common; members take advantage of a network of individuals or businesses that combine their resources and provide them for free. From babysitting coops to business-related networks, individuals and businesses can save lots of money. It’s a win-win! Examples include the Hudson Barter Exchange and Hudson Valley Current. For individuals, try swapright or barterquest.com. There are also product-swapping Facebook groups that help keep used products out of the trash. You an even housesit for free using sites like trustedhousesitters.com
  • Embrace solar – Today, earth friendly solar powered products are everywhere. They are capable of powering everything from cell phones to entire homes and communities. Moving off the grid has real benefits. One of the biggest ones is the advantages to the environment. Solar power is entirely renewable compared with oil and gas. It is also getting less expensive every day. From solar powered backpacks to solar lights, solar power can make our lives easier, save money, and make our planet a cleaner place. Check out the solar devices available here.
  • Learn how to forage – Food foraging is the norm in many parts of the world and it has caught on in the United States as well. Many great herbs and vegetables grow wild in our own backyards. and are loaded with vitamins, minerals and flavor. From dandelion greens and purslane to wild garlic and burdock root, there are many opportunities to add plants that you can harvest for free, with a little guidance. Check out a foraging manual and get picking! You’ll save money and add awesome taste and nutrition to your usual garden vegetables.
  • Choose reusable stainless steel – We love earth-friendly stainless steel items for many reasons. It’s inert, easy to clean, and endlessly versatile. Most stainless steel has about 60% recycled metal, making it pretty sustainable. One of our favorite products is this stainless steel food carrier from Thrive Market. You can also find water bottles, straws, camping gear and cookware that will last for years to come.

We hope you enjoy our list of earth-friendly hacks. Look for more ideas in the coming months. For us here at WEBA Natural Products, every day is Earth Day.

References:
Forbes article on bartering

Is There A Real Fountain of Youth? WEBA Natural Products Blog

Is There A Real Fountain of Youth?

Posted on by Lydia D

Is There A Real Fountain of Youth?

The legend of the “Fountain of Youth” has existed since the days of Herodotus in the 5th century B.C. Great. Many were believed to have set out in search for this elusive fountain whose restorative waters would turn back the clock.

This search persists to this day, although in different ways. For centuries, women used milk baths, herbs, skin whiteners, and coverings in order to stave off the effects of harsh sunlight and environmental conditions. They would pamper themselves and use natural colorants to adorn their skin and hair.
Today, men and women continue to seek out a “magic” solution to the aging process. The term “anti-aging” has come to refer to products and processes that arrest the hands of time, just like the mythical fountain of youth. The question is whether many of the products claiming to be anti-aging really do what they claim. Add to this the tendency in this country for society to worship youth and outward beauty, and you have heightened pressure for consumers to find the magic bullet.

Are Skincare products the New Fountain of Youth?

It is highly unlikely that any single skincare product can halt aging. The human body is a complex machine, and the skin is its largest organ. Scientific studies point to things like shortened telomeres, genetics, lifestyle and environmental factors in an attempt to understand what causes aging in the first place.
As far as the skin is concerned, things like oxidative stress and too much sun exposure can cause the skin to lose elasticity. Loss of collagen can be caused by smoking and other factors, which can cause skin to sag. Cell turnover also decreases as we age.

In order to counteract some of these changes, there are a few topical ingredients that have shown results:

  • Products containing retinoids can help lighten age spots and increase cell turnover.
  • Scrubs and lotions containing alpha-hydroxy or beta-hydroxy acids help eliminate dead skin cells. Examples are citric acid, glycolic acid and salicylic acid. Alpha-hydroxy acids, which are water soluble, tend to be gentler than beta-hydroxy acids, which penetrate deeper and are oil-soluble.
  • Antioxidants like ALA (alpha-lipoic acid) and catechins and polyphenols (found in green tea) help with inflammation that can damage skin and other organs. Vitamins C, E, and H (Biotin) help maintain healthy skin and hair. These are found in many foods, but skincare products often add them, too. However, since it is unknown how much will be absorbed by the skin, it’s best to eat a variety of healthy foods or take a supplement if a deficiency is suspected.

Finding our Fountain of Youth

Just how much you feel you need to do in order to slow down the aging process depends on many factors, including lifestyle, diet, environmental toxins, cultural mores and heredity. Just how young do we want to be? We prefer to use the term “age-defying” to describe the steps we take to keep ourselves as healthy and vigorous as possible, while embracing age-related changes to our bodies. Our new Vitamin C Face Crème with Niacinamide is designed to gently renew the skin’s surface while smoothing without silicone. While some might welcome such procedures as Botox, dermabrasion and collagen smoothies, others might be happy with aging gracefully with such practices as yoga and meditation, gentle exfoliation, and a detoxifying diet. Whatever your preference, it’s important for us to balance self-care and self-acceptance. After all, being happy with ourselves may be the best beauty treatment of all.

References:
Medical News Today article about Biotin
Healthline article on AHA/BHA comparison
World Vitae article about catechins
Fitness Magazine article about natural ways to remain young