Natural Skincare Plants in Natural Skincare - Beautiful Balms

The Beauty of Natural Skincare

Who would not want to rub their skin with oil from marigold petals warmed in the sun? Be revived and soothed by lavender floral water? Or be perfumed by essence distilled from the exquisitely fragrant rose?

"Long has mother earth extended her green goodness; her herbs, plants and flowers. All she wants is for you to be as beautiful as her own dear self."

Ancient Wisdom of Natural Skincare

Will the ancient wisdom convince you of the beauty of natural skincare balms?

For the longest time, well before factories and laboratories were on the horizon, women have used Nature's bounty to smooth, soften and clarify their skin.

As an example, let us refer to the story of just one plant, the wholesome aloe vera. Myths tell of of the beautiful Egyptian queens, Nerfertiti and Cleopatra, using the aloe vera plant as part of their skincare routine.

The gel of the plant, so easily obtained by simply removing the outer layers of the leaf, contains no less than seventy five different ingredients including vitamins, minerals, saponins and salicyclic acid. The minerals in the aloe vera inhibit the formation of histamine, thus explaining the plant's soothing qualities. The saponins have antiseptic properties. The salicyclic acid which is anti inflamatory and antibacterial can help heal wounds.

From this knowledge, it is clear that a plant such as the magnificent aloe vera, possessing these many healing qualities, will certainly help in an everyday skin routine.

This is why aloe vera is part of so many of the beautiful balms for example, Frankincense Everyday Hand Cream, Marigold and Rose Allover Body Lotion and the cream that bears its name, Aloe Vera Clear Skin Balm.

Similar accounts can be given of many other plants, calendula and lavender, for example. These plants, like the aloe vera, contain many properties for treating the skin. They are tried and tested herbs, both safe in use, which can benefit burns and abrasions, are anti fungal and will calm inflamation.

Again Beautiful Balms uses these herbs frequently; in a cream for the feet, Lavender & Peppermint Foot Balm, a deodorant, Grapefruit Deodorant Balm and a hand balm, Frankincense Everyday Hand Cream.

Whole Plants in Natural Skincare

You may wonder why natural skincare emphasises the use of whole plants?

When we think of what goes into the making of natural skincare balms, maybe we will evoke the image of a whole plant in all its glory, even 'see' the roots reaching into the ground. Perhaps we picture our own garden plants or visualise the painstakingly beautiful drawings in herbal books.

But in conventional laboratories the plant is dissected. The biologically active substance of the plant's ingredients is extracted and isolated in a chemically pure form, the remainder of the plant being discarded.

Whereas, the herbalist stays with the wholeness of the plant, taking from the whole roots, stems, leaves, flowers or fruit.

Herbal tinctures and oils prepared in this way will contain large numbers, but very small amounts of phyto chemicals. These natural ingredients combine in a synergistic action, giving a result that is greater than the sum of the individual actions. The result being that whole plants are powerful healers, but usually with fewer side effects than conventional medicine.

The whole plant is used to address the whole person on all levels. The extending paradigm is one of harmony between plants, people and the planet.

Holistic Natural Skincare

How can natural skincare help the whole body,physical and emotional?

The answer lies in the use of pure, essential oils. These fragrance the balms wonderfully well, and also possess an array of healing properties for the emotions. Their inhalation can lift the spirits, calm jangled nerves or promote a good night's sleep.

Some oil blends, such as the head balms; Bergamot Head Balm and Rosemary and Peppermint Head Balm, will not only ease stiff muscles and soothe nausea, they will also revive the spirits and clarify the senses.

Even by simply using a face cream, for example Rose Everyday Face Cream, there can be a gentling effect on the heart as well as a smoothing of skin texture.

Lavender& Peppermint Foot Balm revives tired weary feet as much with the use of essential oil of invigorating peppermint as it does with stimulating herbal tincture of thuja.

Benefits of Natural Perfumes in Skincare

What are the benefits of natural perfumes in skincare?

It is the pure, essential oils that impart the fragrance. They are highly concentrated aromatic essences of plants. In the distillation process, when the plant becomes an oil, nothing is taken away from the essence and neither is anything added.

Synthetic fragrances, on the other hand, will be made up of a long list of chemicals, the toxicity of which is troubling. Natural perfumes can be as straightforward as the following recipe.

Natural Rose Water Recipe

Gather 50g (2 oz) of fresh, strongly scented rose petals when the dew has dried and before the flower is full blown. In a small saucepan boil 600ml (2 1/2 cups) spring water. Add the boiling water to the rose petals and leave to infuse for a couple of hours. Then strain and simmer the rose water with 50g (2 oz) of golden caster sugar for a delightful fragrance. Bottle and keep in the refrigerator.

Natural perfumes have the power to lift or calm our feelings. They also enhance our lives with their sweet fragrances which are as good and fine, I believe, as anything conventional perfumers have to offer.

In the balms the therapeutic powers of the essential oils are the first consideration. But, because we can absorb so much goodness through our olfactory sense, is important to produce a pleasing fragrance. This is achieved by 'balancing' the essential oils with one another as well as the other ingredients.

Fragrances are classified into odour types; for example citrus, spice, woody or floral. They are also described as sounding notes; top, middle and base. Into the mix comes the preferences of one's own nose.

Even with all these factors under careful consideration, a lovely if unusual fragrance can result, almost by lucky accident. Comfrey & Benzoin Soothing Hand Balm is a good example.

Conclusion

You can use natural skincare balms safe in the knowledge that the creams are a result of an ancient knowledge, tried and tested all over the globe and throughout history.

The plants utilised in natural skincare are wholesome; owning synergistic, beautifying properties beneficial for nourishing the skin with their vitamins and minerals,and also for gently balancing the emotions.

The balms are versatile and fun to use. Handcreams can be face creams and the other way round. An oil blend to firm the skin, for example Fennel Firming Oil, can also be used to nourish the scalp and condition the hair. Floral waters will make good toners, rubbing lotions, skin fresheners and also beautiful, subtle perfumes.

Now we have come full circle, back to the happy conclusion that natural skincare products are especially delightful to the senses. By using them we are loving ourselves with the most luxurious creams, lotions and potions.

As well as the undeniable therapeutic effects, the healthy plant filled balms, with their creamy texture and fragrance of pure, essential oils, extend nature's gifts, beautiful in their simplicity and holistic qualities.

References

A Modern Herbal, Mrs M Grieve, 1982 Edited by Hilda Leyel.
Culpeper Colour Herbal, edited by David Potterton, 1999 BCA.
The Country Diary Herbal, Sarah Hollis, 2003 Chancellor Press.
Cleaning Yourself to Death, Pat Thomas, 2001 Macmillan.

Balms and Flower Essences Collection

Lip Balms

Lip Balms from Beautiful Balms, natural skincare made from beeswax, sweet almond oil and aromatic, essential oils to protect and moisturise beautiful lips.

Lip Balms may be visited by clicking on the lip balm name or the lip balm photographs.

Lip Balms

Lip Balms
Vanilla Lip Balm	Bergamot Lip Balm

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Cream Balms

Cream Balms, fresh fragrant natural skincare creams that soothe and moisturise. Drawn from ancient knowledge of herbs, pure, essential oils and plant and herbal tinctures.

Cream Balms may be visited by clicking on the cream name or the cream photographs.

Cream Balms

Beauty Creams
Melissa Healing Balm	Lemon Deodorant Balm

Aloe Vera
Skin Balm

Rose
Face Cream

Grapefruit
Deodorant Balm

Rose and Apricot
Face Moisturiser

Frankincense
Hand Cream

Lavender
Foot Balm

Comfrey
Hand Balm

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Lotion Balms

Lotion balms, swift, lovely natural skincare body lotions that treat and beautify. Made fragant and therapeutic with plant and herbal tinctures and pure essential oils.

Lotion Balms may be visited by clicking on the lotion name or the lotion photographs.

Lotion Balms

Body Lotions
Lavender Lotion	Aphrodite Lotion

Propolis
Calming Balm

Marigold
Body Lotion

Horse Chestnut
Leg Balm

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Floral Waters

Floral waters, delicate, fine natural skincare floral waters that freshen and revive. Versatile in use, subtly fragranced with classic, pure essential oils.

Floral Waters may be visited by clicking on the floral water name or the floral water photographs.

Floral Waters

Floral Waters
Citrus Splash	All Rose Floral Water

Lavender
Face Splash

Sage and Thyme
Herbal Water

Rose Face
Freshener

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Oil Blends

Oil blends, aromatic, healing oil blends that cleanse and treat. Enhanced with therapeutic pure essential oils, based on nourishing carrier oils of sweet almond and jojoba.

Oil Blends may be visited by clicking on the oil blend name or the oil blend photographs.

Oil Blends

Oil Blends
Fennel Firming Oil	Bergamot Head Balm

Sweet Almond
Face Cleanser

Peppermint
Head Balm

Ginger and Pepper
Muscle Balm

Oil Blends to Buy

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Flower Essences

Flower Essences are balancing and compassionate. Flower essences have a loving capacity to give emotional support and offer a catalyst for positive change.

Flower essences may be visited by clicking on the flower essence name or the flower essence photographs.