Your skincare routine shouldn't be a chore. Taking a little extra time each week to do a face mask or try a new skincare tool is a great way to practice self care, can improve your skin health, and can help you relax.
An easy way to add a bit of pampering to your skincare routine is to incorporate skincare tools. Chances are you have heard of some of these skin-boosting tools and practices, and aren't sure how to use them.
Here's your guide to some of our favorite products we carry in the shop!
Improves Circulation
Decreases puffiness by stimulating lymphatic drainage
Encourages toxin removal + cellular regeneration
Reduces inflammation
Allows Skincare Products to penetrate the skin deeper
Using facial massage, Gua Sha stones can improve circulation through lymphatic drainage
Revive dull skin
Help relieve tension in your face
Help relieve sinus pressure
Help relieve muscle pain throughout the body
Cleanse + tone the skin, and apply a generous amount of facial oil before you begin the facial massage
Instead of rolling, Gua Sha technique will use more pressure like massage would
Using the same movements you would use with a jade roller, angle the stone at a 45-degree angle, stroke upward and outward along the perimeter of your face
Click here to watch a video on Gua Sha techniques.
Exfoliates by gently removing dead skin cells that would otherwise clog pores
Increases circulation
Stimulates lymphatic drainage
Tones + Firms skin
*It is important to safely dry brush. Over exfoliating or using the wrong brush can irritate sensitive skin, cause excessive drying or over-oil production, and damage the skin's protective barrier.
Dry brushing should be limited to once per week, and only used if no other manual or chemical exfoliation is used.*
Always start with a clean, dry face, and start at your forehead and work down.
Use short, deliberate strokes, applying minimal pressure, and sweeping out. Do not scrub back-and-forth.
Gently sweep down your nose, and out towards your cheek and hairline.
Finish at your chin, brushing down.
Click here to watch a video on Dry Brush techniques.
It is important that you clean your skincare tools after every use. Not only will your tools not work as well or be as effective if dirty, you can end up spreading bacteria all over your face if you were to use a dirty jade roller or brush.
Wet your hands and lather a small amount of a gentle facial cleanser between your palms. Roll your skincare tools over your hands to work them through the cleanser, then rinse them off.
If your skincare tools are coated in a lot of product buildup, you can give them a more thorough cleansing by soaking them in a bowl of warm water with a little soap mixed in. After a 15-minute soak, pull them out, give them a rinse, and lay them on a towel to dry.
After using, wash the bristles of your dry brush directly under running water while rubbing it gently. Rubbing the natural bristles will help loosen the collected gunk from brushing.
Shake the water off to help with drying the bristles. Then dry the rest of the brush with a towel.
Hang it dry where there is enough airflow and far from moisture. Make sure to hang the brush with its bristles facing down to let excess water drip.
Avoid soaking the wood head to avoid molds.
Shop All Facial Tools.
We are here to help!
Need To Know
Thicker formula than lip oils, with smooth, no gloss finish
Usually made from heavier butters, waxes, and oils
Hydrate, soothe, and form a protective barrier on lips
Pro Tip: Avoid lip balms made with menthol, that will actually dry out skin faster. Instead, use a lip balm that contains natural flavor oils and essential oils.
Castor Oil: Anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial
Avocado Oil: Shields, hydrates, and soothes skin
Candelilla Wax: Rich in Vitamin A, which promotes cellular regeneration
Coconut Seed Oil: Improves skin elasticity for firmer skin
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What is it?
Hyaluronic Acid is a naturally occurring compound in the body, responsible for much of the skin's structure.
Why we love it:
Used in skincare, Hyaluronic Acid helps give the skin elasticity, retain water, prompt your body to produce more collagen, and reduces scarring.
Shop all of our favorite Hyaluronic Acid products here.
it's always good practice to go through your skincare at least once per year and throw away expired products. Rafa skincare has a natural shelf-life of one year, other brands may have a date or 'period after opening symbol'.
these tools harbor a ton of dirt and bacteria, so we recommend cleaning them once per week. nothing fancy is needed, either! just a gentle, non-toxic soap.
there are many amazing benefits to sleeping on silk pillowcases, but some of our favorites include: No pesky face wrinkles in the morning, they are much less irritating on your skin, and they absorb less moisture than other fabrics, so you'll wake up with hydrated skin. plus, they allow for smoother, healthier hair!
whether you make the switch or not, make sure you wash your pillowcase 1-2 times per week.
To learn more Clean Beauty and Skincare Tips Follow:
To book a facial with Courtney at her Bartow, FL studio, click here.
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1. SHOP ONLINE
Shop online, and add whatever items that you'd like to your cart! If you aren't finding what you are looking for online easily, simply use the search bar on the top right of our website. If you STILL can't find what you are looking for give us a call at 863-712-7620!
2. CHECK OUT
When you are checking out, you will go through the prompted steps to complete all of your typical info. You will then see that you have the option to choose your shipping option. It's here that you will be able to surpass the typical online shopping shipping price since nothing is getting shipping. Choose your curbside pickup location- Lakeland, Bartow, or Lake Wales. It costs nothing extra to shop curbside.
3. PICK IT UP
We will then call you to arrange a good pickup time! During your time slot, your order will be set right outside our door at the location you've chosen. This is a 100% contact-free pick-up.
Bok once said, “Wherever your lives may be cast, make the world a bit better or more beautiful because you have lived in it.”
Leslie Thomas, The Shop at Bok’s Retail Manager, says that’s how her partnership with local businesses all started.
“We just want to have items that will help people remember and extend their visit,” she said.
Thomas says the unique items found inside the shop help keep Edward Bok’s legacy alive, by spreading the beauty of Central Florida and Bok Tower around the globe.
Bok wanted to make everything beautiful, that’s how the 205-foot Singing Tower came to be. Ninety years ago, Bok’s goal was to turn the land Bok Tower is on into “a spot of beauty, second to none in the country”.
Now, more than 260,000 people from all over the world visit Bok Tower every year. Thomas says when visitors come inside The Shop at Bok, they are given a chance to bring home a little piece of the beauty created by Bok himself. From fine jewelry made from pieces of Bok Tower to Rafa Natural – there’s something for everyone.
She says the products available from Rafa Natural allow people to remember the scent of the land Bok Tower is on, making the memories of their trip even more vivid.
“The scent we have is so us,” she said. “It’s a nice mix of magnolia and orange. As you walk into Bok Tower, you see the blossoming magnolias and you can smell the orange groves nearby.”
A wide variety of Rafa Natural products are available, including coconut oil soaps, Wash + Lotion, Room + Body spray, skincare favorites and candles.
Bok Tower is open daily 8 a.m. until 5 p.m. Geert D’hollander plays the carillon (60 bells inside the tower) daily at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
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It seems like “drinking more water” is the cure-all for many things, and turns out that being well-hydrated can help improve acneic skin. Many people don’t know that the skin is a great indication to your internal health. (It is the largest organ of the body, after all!) Being sure to drink plenty of water will ensure that you and your skin are properly hydrated. Dehydration can lead to an over-production of oil, which can cause clogged pores resulting in acne.
Try avoiding touching your face throughout the day. Putting your hands on your face transfers oil and bacteria onto your skin, which are two of the top causes of acne. If you think about how many door knobs and surfaces that you touch in a day and those germs and bacteria being on your skin, it’ll definitely deter you from wanting to rest your face on your hands.
Similarly, avoid picking at your face and popping your own pimples. This can cause inflammation and infection, and in turn make your acne worse. See a professional esthetician to have proper extractions done.
Foods that spike your insulin can cause inflammation inside the body, which results in faster skin cell growth and increased sebum production, making acne worse.
Refined carbohydrates and sugars, whey proteins, dairy, and greasy fast food are all foods that will promote acne. Instead, try adding in omega-3 fatty acids, fruits and vegetables, probiotics and green tea. Foods high in Vitamins A, D, and E as well as zinc and turmeric are known to help prevent and reduce acne.
It’s a bit ironic to suggest reducing stress for acne prevention when acne is a major cause of stress, but hear me out. When we get anxious, stressed, or tense, our body naturally produces hormones such as cortisol, also known as the “stress hormone”. This results in increased oil production, which not only causes acne but these hormones can make it harder for the skin to repair itself like normal, leaving acne lingering longer and possibly scarring.
A great way to relieve stress is soaking in the tub before bed. Adding in some bath oil, bath salts, a bath bomb, or a tub truffle can really enhance the experience. All these relaxing products can be found at Rafa Natural, alongside your skincare.
Find what works for you to reduce stress from your life. Some other great ideas are going on a long walk, reading a book, meditating, or journaling.
Many people complete their morning skincare routine and leave out the super important SPF. Besides creating lifelong skin damage, a sunburn leads to increased oil production. (Are we seeing the trend here?)
When the skin gets sunburned, it dries out, which tells the body to produce more oil than it normally would, creating an environment where acne can live happily. Don’t let a fun beach or pool day be ruined by causing a breakout. Be sure to use an SPF of at least 15 for daily use on the face, especially on days with increased sun exposure.
The tools you use on your skin such as makeup brushes and sponges, or cleansing brushes can harbor dirt, oil, and bacteria, which are the exact things that clog your pores. The same goes for textiles such as the towel you use to dry your face with, and your pillowcase that your face rests on all night. Sleep more soundly and start your day better knowing your pillowcase and towel are clean by replacing with a fresh set at least once a week. Wash makeup brushes and sponges regularly to avoid cross contamination on the skin.
Exercise is a prescription similar to drinking more water. It is known to positively affect your health in many ways, including your skin health. Although, be vigilant in caring for the skin surrounding a workout. When you exercise, your body temperature rises and your pores open up, which makes the skin extremely susceptible to breakouts. A good tip is to remove your makeup before exercising and cleansing and toning your face directly following a workout
Spearmint contains the highest amount of anti-inflammatory properties of all mint, and is the most affective in killing acne-causing bacteria. It is especially helpful for adult and hormonal cystic acne. Studies suggest drinking two cups per day to combat acne.
The screen of your phone is touched constantly with dirty hands, and then is pressed to your face when taking a phone call. Try talking on speakerphone when possible to prevent the spread of bacteria to your skin.
Another piece of technology that tends to stay dirty are over-the-ear headphones, especially when worn while working out or for long periods of time. In order to keep these germs and bacteria off your face, wipe your phone and headphones daily with alcohol or alcohol wipes, which are easy to stash in a purse or gym bag.
Turns out, beauty rest is a very real thing. Remember that stress hormone cortisol we talked about? It can also be produced from a lack of sleep! Adults should get between 7 and 9 hours of sleep per night. When we don’t get enough sleep, our bodies don’t have the proper amount of time to go through all of the healing processes that it normally would, and your skin could suffer. Also remember to always remove makeup and follow through with your nighttime skincare routine!
]]>Hey, guys, have you heard that you can use Rafa Natural skin care products too? We mean it! Our Rafa Natural team believes that everyone is entitled to finding the best routine for their particular skin care needs, which is why we have a wide range of products for cleaning, moisturizing, and maintaining both your face and your beard!
Even though there’s not a single go-to manual for how to deal with everyone’s unique and sometimes difficult skin types, we’ve got you covered. With our variety of all-natural products, we guarantee that we can help you with your search for the most effective skin care routine. No matter if you have sensitive skin, oily skin, or dry skin, here at Rafa Natural, we’re here to help both ladies and gentlemen!
As Always: Clean Away!
A healthy skin care routine starts with a clean slate. Clearing off the dirt, debris, and bacteria that builds up throughout the day makes your skin easier to maintain and helps to limit clogged pores. The same way umpires make sure home plate is always clear and ready for the next run, you clean your face to keep it ready for the next day.
To help with that, we have several incredible all-natural cleansers. For gentlemen who might prefer the most versatile cleanser with the lightest possible scent, we recommend giving our Clarifying Cleanser a shot as part of your daily routine. This foaming cleanser is perfect for acne prone skin, sensitive skin, or oily skin. The unique combination of extracts and vitamins help protect and nourish skin while charcoal thoroughly cleans away bacteria. To help eliminate and prevent breakouts, we’ve also added in essential oils of bergamot, tea tree, and both Roman and German chamomile, an effective combination with a very light scent.
Toning is Not Just For the Gym
In the same way one set of bicep curls doesn’t mean you’re done working your arms, washing your face doesn’t mean you’re done taking care of your skin. Applying a toner or astringent to your skin after you’ve thoroughly cleansed helps to completely remove dead skin cells, fully close your pores, and maintain proper pH balance.
For this, we recommend using our AHA Toner. AHA, which means alpha-hydroxy-acids, is completely natural and found in foods such as citrus, dairy, apples, and almonds. Applying our AHA Toner to your skin helps to fully clear away residual dead skin cells to reveal newer, smoother, healthier skin underneath.
If you feel like you need a little bit of an extra boost with toning, maybe because you’re dealing with oily skin or consistently clogging pores, we recommend our Clarifying Astringent. This astringent is similar to our AHA Toner, but with that extra kick to help tame excess oil. Like our AHA Toner, our Clarifying Astringent contains AHAs for exfoliation of dead skin cells along with black willowbark and essential oils to fight the root causes of acne and DMAE to give the skin a tight and polished look and leave your skin oil free.
A Little Lotion Never Hurt Anyone
There’s a common misconception that lotion is only for the ladies, but Gents, face moisturizer works for you, too! Keeping your skin soft not only keeps it healthy, but keeps it looking younger and more vibrant as well. By just using a small amount of lotion after you wash your face and apply your toner or astringent helps you look younger, longer!
Our most popular face moisturizer is our Vitamin C Crème. This crème works as both a moisturizer and an anti-aging cream by incorporating a variety of berry and citrus fruit extracts to create a barrier over your skin to help protect it against free radicals, which can speed along skin aging process. Adding in Vitamin C helps to improve complexion, reduce fine lines, and help prevent future lines.
Looking Deep Into Your Own Eyes
Both men and women, at some point, starts to notice that our eyes have a few more smile lines than they did the last time we looked in the mirror. This is totally normal! As people age, our skin starts to lose collagen, making our skin look a little thinner and a little more wrinkled than we think it should. But, we can combat collagen loss by adding in small amounts of eye cream into your skin care regime.
We recommend our Revitalizing Eye Crème, which uses peptides to promote collagen production and help minimize the appearance of wrinkles. We’ve also mixed in a healthy dose of rice bran and soybean proteins to reduce dark circles under the eyes and caffeine to calm down any puffiness.
Don’t Forget the Beard
Whether you’re trying to grow out your beard, maintain your beard, or keeping up a clean-shaven look, Rafa Natural’s got your back! In conjunction with Mason Danger Beard Co., Rafa Natural’s team is there for you throughout your bearded journey.
If you’re just starting out on your bearded journey or have had some struggles getting started, we recommend adding Got Your 6ix Beard Growth Serum into your skin care routine for an added boost. This serum helps immensely if you deal with slow growth, patchy growth, or skin conditions that inhibit growth of the beard of your dreams. Additionally, this serum conditions both your beard and the skin underneath.
If you already have a magnificent beard, incorporating some Allure Beard Oil into your daily routine will help you maintain it by strengthening, conditioning, and promoting healthy growth. We’ve also added tea tree to not only enhance the scent, but also help with skin issues including dandruff and flaking.
Whether you want to keep your beard neat and trimmed or a beard just isn’t your thing, we have our Rafa Natural Super Shaving coconut oil based bar soap. We’ve created this shaving soap to mimic the refreshing and nostalgic scent of an old-timey barber shop by blending oakmoss, bergamot, and a touch of refreshing mint along with kaolin clay to provide great slip. The coconut oil base helps to prevent dry skin and further moisturize your face.
Because our skin naturally turns over once every 28 days, cleansing and toning with the right all-natural ingredients can help restart your skin’s reparation. We have products that will take you through every step toward your healthiest, most radiant skin yet.
Often when we search for a skin care routine that works for us, we become discouraged by the countless over-the-counter products that just don’t seem to suit our skin’s needs. But at Rafa Natural, we’ve committed to helping our customers find their best personal skin care routine because we believe great skin is an attainable goal. Whether you find yourself acne-prone or are unsure of what routine for oily skin is best for you, we believe your skin can find balance and healing through these practical regimen steps:
The first and most important step to starting your skincare routine is to clean your skin. We recommend starting your routine with our all natural Clarifying Cleanser. Our cleanser contains active charcoal, tea extracts, vitamins, and Essential Oils which remove dead skin cells and help with clogged pores, all while absorbing up to 1,000 times more excess oil than any other over-the-counter product.
By including vegan-friendly ingredients, our cleanser naturally disinfects your face from any accumulated impurities and helps prep your skin to fully absorb the astringent/toner used in the next step.
Another product we wholeheartedly recommend for oily skin is also from our Clarifying line. After thoroughly cleaning your face, you’ll want to use our delightfully refreshing willow-bark infused Clarifying Astringent. This powerful bottle is intentionally crafted with fruit acids that balance your skin tone and help with dark spots along with DMAE to naturally tighten your skin and help cleanse your pores.
Sometimes when people hear the term astringent, they become hesitant because it typically means they’ll find alcohol listed on the ingredients table. But we’ve replaced the common use of alcohol in all of our astringents with all-natural willow bark, witch hazel and salicylic acid.
Every time water touches our skin, it messes with our PH levels and takes our skin out of balance. This astringent will help to bring us back into a cleansing balance and revive the skins cells to repair any acne-prone areas or facial damage.
Our soft scrubs are another helpful step in your new skincare regimen! This practice is crucial to refreshing the skin, but we typically encourage for people to exfoliate only one to two times a week. Some people will exfoliate their face every single day, which can lead to an overproduction of sebum and ends up hurting more than helping. Sebum production is natural, but an overproduction of sebum leads to excessive oil production.
We recommend applying one thin layer of our Australian Clay Scrub after cleansing and toning your skin. Lather the apricot seeds onto your skin, enjoy the light fragrance of ylang-ylang with hint of lime, and rinse!
Combining our facial scrubs once or twice a week with daily cleansing and toning will make your home-spa nights even more enjoyable! Add in weekly exfoliation, our scrubs are perfect for the occasional home spa treatment or as an overnight clay for reduction of blemishes.
Now that you’ve cleansed your skin from impurities, toned with astringent, and exfoliated with your scrub, it’s time to moisturize! Take a few drops of our Hydra Crème Moisturizer to nourish and refresh your skin. This particular moisturizer is our heaviest, but is still malleable in nature and features a soft shea base. We’ve intentionally designed this combination to significantly calm any breakout inflammation. We’ve also included DMAE and hyaluronic acid to produce a naturally soft and soothing effect to the skin.
People often think they can replace the moisturizing step with serum, believing that a serum provides the exact same results. While serums are beneficial, they’re completely different things that work hand-in-hand to provide maximum results for your skin. As your face is being stripped of its dirt and oils through your new revitalizing skin care routine, incorporating a moisturizer will help replenish your face to its original dermal balance while keeping it beautiful and clean. In addition to providing wholesome balance and moisture, it gives you a protective layer that helps to keep out free ranging radicles.
Serums, on the other hand, are designed as preventive aging and anti-aging solutions. They help to naturally put things back to our skin, such as DMAE and collagen, which is the sticky substance that keeps our skin lifted and toned. Serums are especially beneficial for dealing with fine lines, but they don’t work the same as moisturizers for keeping your skin balanced, clean, and oil free. However, you can use both a serum and moisturizer by applying a layer of moisturizer over your serum to seal the serum and increasing its benefits.
Don’t let oily skin defeat you! Even though oily or drying skin can seem unmanageable or impossible to bounce back from, it is an achievable goal with these four simple steps. Incorporating these positive changes in your skin care regime will help you discover the shine and confidence that comes with healthy skin.
All of our products are plant-based and created with you in mind. We want to empower our customers with all natural formulas that promote nourishment for all skin types. Oh, and please remember, your skin is unique and deserves pampering!
Ready to try this routine out? Click the links above to explore and shop!
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Let me be clear. For YEARS, I was standing outside "the store that shall not be named" on Dec. 26. Why? Cause I knew I could get great smelling lotion for $2.75 at their annual clearance sale. Did I even pause for one moment wondering why I could buy lotion so cheap? Heck no. If it smelled good, I bought it. Never did I wonder or even care what was in that lotion that allowed BBW to sell it so cheaply.
However, a few years ago, I decided to start to study ingredients because I was making my own natural skin care products. As I learned about the benefits of coconut oil, shea butter and essential oils, I began to look for them in the products I was buying. And they weren't there! If they weren't using these ingredients, then what were they using? Things I had never heard of like Triethanolamine and Imidazolidinyl Urea (which is a formaldehyde releaser, I've since learned) and other things I had heard of and was scared to death of like Propylparaben and Mineral Oil. Let's be clear, Mineral Oil is a by-product of petroleum. It's molecule size is so large it cannot be absorbed by the skin (thank goodness) and sits on top of the skin. My bigger concern, though, is the use of parabens. Whether they go by the name of methylparaben, propylparaben, and butylparaben, they are not friends to humans.
A LOT of information is floating around the internet on parabens which are used as a perservative and give products a very long shelf life. Most of the comments are in a blog from copied from someone else's blog with no scientific evidence to back it up. So, here's the scoop. There is no definitive determination that parabens are linked to cancer. But that doesn't mean I don't find it them scary.
Here's what the FDA has to say on the issue. All of the underlined words were underlined by me:
A study published in 2004 (Darbre, in the Journal of Applied Toxicology) detected parabens in breast tumors. The study also discussed this information in the context of the weak estrogen-like properties of parabens and the influence of estrogen on breast cancer. However, the study left several questions unanswered. For example, the study did not show that parabens cause cancer, or that they are harmful in any way, and the study did not look at possible paraben levels in normal tissue.
FDA is aware that estrogenic activity in the body is associated with certain forms of breast cancer. Although parabens can act similarly to estrogen, they have been shown to have much less estrogenic activity than the body’s naturally occurring estrogen.
The Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act) does not authorize FDA to approve cosmetic ingredients, with the exception of color additives that are not coal-tar hair dyes. In general, cosmetic manufacturers may use any ingredient they choose, except for a few ingredients that are prohibited by regulation.
The FDA is saying there is no direct link between parabens and cancer, but parabens do 1) increase estrogen which we know is linked to breast cancer and 2) they don't authorize cosmetic ingredients anyway. So I'm not very bright, but it seems to me that even though studies (ok, 1 study) shows there's no direct link between parabens and cancer, why risk it? The FDA has been wrong before (just look at all the lawyer commercials for drugs that have been recalled).
I'll leave it up to you. Would you rather use ingredients you can't understand that might (or might not) hurt your well-being, or ones like Aloe Juice, Rose Distillate, and Organic Coconut Oil? Yes, they cost a little more, but in my view, you're either going to pay now in the form of using better products or later in the form of higher health bills.
Bottom line, I don't care if you buy my products or some other natural products. That's the truth. I just want awareness to grow among my friends that just because it's packaged pretty, smells pretty, and has a natural sounding name, doesn't necessarily mean it's safe.
So now you can see why friends don't let friends shop at Bath and Body Works. Cause true friends care about what you put on and in your body.
For natural alternatives that also smell amazing, visit our site at www.RafaNatural.com.
]]>It's hard not to get excited about one of our newest products, the Overnight Facial Oil. It was developed to help one of my customers who had one of the worst cases of red, flaking skin I’d ever seen. Nothing I had worked for him. Research led me to essential fatty acids from nut and fruit oils as the solution. This oil was developed to help heal and soften the skin while fighting the signs of aging such as fine lines and wrinkles.
This product includes a powerful blend of oils help to increase oxygenation & cellular regeneration. Below is a summary of each ingredient, but truthfully, each ingredient does significantly more than the summary indicates!
Essential oils of Cistus, Myrtle, Neroli, Petitgrain & Frankincense have been added to this blend to help to tone & tighten skin and fight wrinkles.
We’re confident you’ll love this fast-absorbing facial oil. If not, simply return any unused portion for a full refund!
To orders yours: http://rafanatural.com/intensive-overnight-facial-oil
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This is a nice oil to use when you’re going to be in the sun and want natural protection from the sun. You can find these supplies at well-stocked natural food stores or from my friends at From Nature With Love (http://www.FromNatureWithLove.com). You can delete any ingredients that are difficult to find, but try to stick with the ingredients that offer the most protection.
Recipe:
¼ cup Jojoba Oil
¼ cup Wheat Germ Oil
1 tsp Vitamin E (use capsules if desired)
1 ½ tsp Carrot Oil
1 tbsp. Raspberry Seed Oil
2 drops Lavender
1 drop Frankincense
1 drop Myrrh
Mix all ingredients in a glass bowl. Store in a glass container for up to 6 months.
]]>Supplies can be purchased from my friends at From Nature with Love (http://www.FromNatureWithLove.com) or a well stock health food store.
Recipe:
1 oz. Beeswax
7 grams Carrot Oil
21 grams Raspberry Seed Oil
1 oz. Shea Butter
7 grams Vitamin E
10 grams Zinc Oxide
10 drops Lavender Essential Oil
10 drops Frankincense Essential Oil
10 drops Myrrh
Method:
1. In a double boiler melt the beeswax with the carrot oil & raspberry seed oil.
2. Remove from the heat and then add Shea butter and stir. This will keep the Shea butter from getting too hot which could make it grainy.
3. Allow to cool slightly, then add vitamin E, zinc oxide and essential oils and gently stir to incorporate ingredients. (When using the zinc oxide, take care not to inhale as it has been proven to be perfectly safe on skin, but can be dangerous if inhaled).
4. Pour into prepared container (will need to hold approximately 3 oz. of finished product).
5. Allow to cool and harden overnight.
]]>Recipe:
½ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. sea salt, finely ground
1 drop peppermint oil
Several drops tap water
Method:
Combine ingredients in a small bowl and mix thorough with a small spoon until a thick paste forms. Try not to make too runny so it can stay on your toothbrush.
Dip toothbrush into paste and brush teeth.
]]>First of all, let me warn you. This is a long article and does get a little technical. I get carried away sometimes, but it's such great stuff! Anyway, you may want to break it up into "sessions." Ok, you've been warned.
Why You Should Care
Drink 8 glasses of water a day. We hear it over and over again. Yes, we need to drink lots of water during the day and I would argue that 8 glasses isn’t going to be enough for some people.
But what you haven’t probably heard is that a lot of that water goes to waste. We are supposed to drink water to flush out toxins, to provide the means for nutrients to travel to all our organs, regulate body temperature, transport oxygen to our cells and protect our joints and organs. But if our cells are damaged, they can’t hold onto the water properly and the water we drink floats aimlessly in our body. Don’t believe me? Ever see someone with swollen ankles from traveling or pregnancy? What is that under the skin? It’s water that has lost its way.
I know how people think. You may not care that your body isn’t efficiently using water because you don’t know how that translates into everyday life. So here are some things that will change by improving your cell's ability to absorb water properly:
• Cellulite reduction – that’s right. If you apply the principles listed below, you will see an incredible difference right there on your thighs.
• Energy Increase – your blood will be circulating better delivering nutrients where they’re needed.
• Better memory and reasoning skills – how can you expect your brain to work if it’s dying of thirst?
• No constipation – get things moving along again.
• Better breath – what? Yep. Because you’re moving smelly toxins out of your body.
• Better looking skin – if your skin is dehydrated, it shows every wrinkle. Plump up your skin and you’ll look younger immediately.
How the Body Uses Water
The body uses water in two main areas, cells and connective tissues. Muscles, organs and the largest organ in the body, skin, are made up of cells. Connective tissue is like the net that hold everything together, linking organs to one another and keeping muscles in place. Even though every part of our body has its own unique job and make up, they all have one thing in common…
The body LOVES water. In fact, as babies we are made up of almost 75% water. As adults, our bodies should be about 70% water. However, because of damage done to our cells and connective tissues, there are some people who are only made up of 50% water (I think I saw them at the beach.) Blood is 83% water, muscles 75%, the brain 74%, and even bone, yes that dry looking bone, is 22% water. Amazing.
The problem is, as we age, our cells and connective tissue become damaged and cannot hold onto water like they used it. Our cells become damaged from the abuse we put them through by eating poorly, getting tans, using drugs (legal and illegal), and all sorts of other nefarious things. So all the water we drink that should end up in our cells and connective tissue ends up in the spaces between causing problems like puffy eyes, bloating, and other wonderful things. The truth is, you can drink 80 glasses of water a day and still be dehydrated! (please don’t try this – it’s merely to make my point.)
The key to getting the most from the water you drink is to first repair your cells and connective tissues.
Repairing the Damage - Showing Your Cells You Appreciate Them
Enough of taking our bodies for granted! I want you to look at your skin and apologize for the baby oil you applied while basting in the sun your senior year. Look at the place you think your liver is (hint, it’s on the right above your stomach), and confess that you shouldn’t have taken antibiotics for a cold!
Now that we’ve reconciled with our bodies, let’s show it that they are not mere empty words, but that this time we mean it. We will right what we’ve wronged.
The body does a great job of maintaining itself. It can repair cells and connective tissue, but only if it has the materials to do it.
Repairing Our Cells
Let’s start with our cells. Cell walls are made up of lecithin and lipids.
Lecithin
Lecithin is a fat like substance. It is produced daily by the liver, but only if the diet is adequate. It is needed by every cell in the body and is a key building block of cell membranes. Although it’s a fatty substance, it is also a fat emulsifier, which means that it breaks down cholesterol and fat. Lecithin causes fats, such as cholesterol, to be dispersed in water and removed from the body.
Sources in Food:
If you’re like me and don’t eat a lot of the items listed above, and easy way to get lecithin is to take a supplement. Buy a supplement and aim for 2000 – 4000 mg/ day. It’s the same amount as 1 egg.
Lipids
Lipids is another word for “fats.” Lipids can be more formally defined as substances such as a fat, oil, or wax that dissolves in alcohol but not water. Lipids include fatty acids, neutral fats, waxes and steroids. We are concerned mostly with fatty acids here.
Fatty acids are acids produced when fats are broken down. They are considered “good fats.” These acids are not highly soluble in water, and they can be used for energy by most types of cells. Fatty acids are found in oils and other fats that make up different foods. Fatty acids help move oxygen through the bloodstream to all parts of the body. They aid cell membrane development, strength, and function, and they are necessary for strong organs and tissue. Fatty acids can also help keep skin healthy, help prevent early aging, and may promote weight loss by helping the body process cholesterol.
There are different types of fatty acids. You have most likely heard of certain types, such as Omega-3. Omega-3 is considered an “essential” fatty acid, as is Omega-6. There is one other, Omega-9, but this type can be readily produced by the body, while the other two types cannot.
Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids are found in fish and certain plants. Since they cannot be produced in the body, they must be ingested in the form of foods or natural supplements.
Sources in foods:
If you struggle with eating the above foods, take 4 – 1000 mg flaxseed oil
plus 100 – 300 mg of micro-algae-derived DHA.
Repairing our Connective Tissues
Repairing our cell walls is only one step, although it’s a big one. But to finish the job off right, we need to fix our brittle connective tissue.
The connective tissue I’m going to write about is the skin, but these principles apply to all connective tissue.
Connective tissue is made up of the body’s matrix or glycosaminoglycans or GAGs. (Big word, but bear with me.) To repair your connective tissues, you have to give it what it considers to be it’s food sources, and that is glucosamine, amino acids, and essential fatty acids.
Glucosamine
Glucosamine is produced by the body but not in sufficient amounts to replenish all of its connective tissue. You must supply the body with this important nutrient in order for your skin to be able to repair itself. A dosage of 1000-2000 mg a day will do the job.
Amino acids
Amino acids actually can repair the collagen and elastin in our blood vessels. Our bodies use 20 different kinds of amino acids, but only 11 of them can be manufactured by our body. The other 9 have to be supplied by food.
Amino acids are derived when we consume protein. The body breaks down the protein into different amino acids. The body absorbs these amino acids and then sends them off to where they are needed by the body. Because amino acids are derived from protein, a lot people think if they eat meat they’ll be in good shape. But the truth is, the amino acids in meat takes a lot of work to get to. The amino acids in meat have already been converted into collagen and elastin in the animal’s body. So then our bodies have to break down their collagen and elastin first in order to get the amino acids from them. It’s just not that efficient. The better way to get amino acids is from more direct sources like:
Sources in Foods
Essential Fatty Acids
We discussed fatty acids above. The difference is Essential Fatty Acids are those that cannot be produced by the body, so you must get them from food sources.
Sources in Foods
If you struggle with eating the above foods, take 4 – 1000 mg flaxseed oil EFA supplement plus 100 – 300 mg of micro-algae-derived DHA supplement as mentioned above.
Yes, water is vitally important to life. But in order for our bodies to get the ultimate use of the water we consume, we need to prepare our bodies to absorb it. By taking this extra step, you’ll notice your skin glows more, you have less cellulite, your memory will miraculously improve, constipation will be a thing of the past, and wrinkles will actually appear smaller because your cells are hydrated and happy!
I’ve compiled a list of the supplements mentioned above so you can print them off and take the list with you to the health food store. Obviously, integrating the right food sources is the best way to absorb the nutrients we need, but I’m a realist. I know there are going to be bad days in my eating. So I take these everyday to ensure I get what I need:
Supplement List
I always recommend shopping at a local store, but if you can't get to a vitamin or health store, a great place to get supplements is iherb.com. Their site isn't fancy, but has great reviews and fantastic prices. And, if you use promo code TOT923, you'll receive $5 off your first purchase.
Send me your results after you’ve taken the supplements for 30 days and changed your diet to include at least some of the above mentioned foods. I’d love to hear about it! And drink that water!
]]>Place the herbs in a large bowl. Bring water to boil and pour water over herbs. Cover and steep for 3 to 4 hours. Strain the herbs while squeezing the herbs to get as much of the infusion as possible. Set the infusion aside and throw the herbs away. It will look like a dark tea.
Dry brush your skin to remove dead skin cells and prepare the body to absorb more of the infusion and essential oils.
Run your bath and add the 1 cup of Epsom salts and your herbal infusion. Add the essential oils, swishing the water with your hands. It's very important the essential oils are dispersed through out the water to prevent too much contact with oils that could burn skin.
While soaking for 20-30 minutes, be sure to drink lots of water with fresh lemon squeezed into it. It's important to sweat during this bath to flush toxins from the body.
Do not rinse off the detoxifying elements when you get out of the tub. They will continue to detoxify your cells throughout the day. Dry off with a fluffy towel.
]]>Summer in Florida. It’s crazy. Hot, humid, miserable. This dog’s got the right idea. So the combination of the crazy hot temps along with the “prompting” of our social media guru to post a Live video on FB led to this post and recipe. It’s a quick, easy way to create a natural spray that you can carry with you and use it to cool off during summer or after exercising. It smells wonderful and it really does work! This recipe makes a small 2 oz. bottle. If you want more, you can easily double or triple the recipe. Just don’t use too much Peppermint! It’s a strong essential oil. If you choose to increase the recipe, I would only add a couple more drops of peppermint. Don’t double it like the rest of the ingredients. I found the best way to use this spray is by spraying it on the back of my neck and my feet. And my production manager when she’s getting sleepy . I don’t recommend spraying it on your face. The oils could get into your eyes and you’ll be hating me. If you are looking for a spray that is already done and you CAN spray on your face, our Refreshing Cucumber Mist is wonderful. It not only cools you down, but contains lots of vitamins and minerals to make your skin glow. It’s even in a handy 3 oz, TSA compliant container so you can take it with ya on the place. Sweet! Ingredients to make DIY Cooling Spray for Summer: 2 oz. Distilled Water 2 teaspoons Witch Hazel (make sure it has a small amount of alcohol in it) 5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil 2 oz. glass bottle with sprayer (note: NOT plastic! Essential oils can break down plastic and ruin your natural creation!) Directions: Measure out 2 oz of distilled water into glass measuring cup (like pyrex) Add 2 teaspoons of Witch Hazel (this allows the oil and water to mix) Add 5 drops Peppermint EO Stir well Pour into 2 oz. glass bottle & add sprayer Watch our video below for more info on how to make this DIY Cooling Spray: If you are looking for more uses for Peppermint Essential Oils, I love this article by Dr. Axe (who has so much great information on healthy living on his website.)
The post DIY Cooling Spray for Summer Video Recipe appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>
It’s a quick, easy way to create a natural spray that you can carry with you and use it to cool off during summer or after exercising. It smells wonderful and it really does work!
This recipe makes a small 2 oz. bottle. If you want more, you can easily double or triple the recipe. Just don’t use too much Peppermint! It’s a strong essential oil. If you choose to increase the recipe, I would only add a couple more drops of peppermint. Don’t double it like the rest of the ingredients.
I found the best way to use this spray is by spraying it on the back of my neck and my feet. And my production manager when she’s getting sleepy. I don’t recommend spraying it on your face. The oils could get into your eyes and you’ll be hating me. If you are looking for a spray that is already done and you CAN spray on your face, our Refreshing Cucumber Mist is wonderful. It not only cools you down, but contains lots of vitamins and minerals to make your skin glow. It’s even in a handy 3 oz, TSA compliant container so you can take it with ya on the place. Sweet!
2 oz. Distilled Water
2 teaspoons Witch Hazel (make sure it has a small amount of alcohol in it)
5 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
2 oz. glass bottle with sprayer (note: NOT plastic! Essential oils can break down plastic and ruin your natural creation!)
Watch our video below for more info on how to make this DIY Cooling Spray:
If you are looking for more uses for Peppermint Essential Oils, I love this article by Dr. Axe (who has so much great information on healthy living on his website.)
The post DIY Cooling Spray for Summer Video Recipe appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>How do you balance your life while balancing your inner craving for play. We all need a break, now and again. And again, and again…. I know, the to-do lists get longer while the days are not getting longer – a true dilemma! And, since congress has not passed legislation for a 25-hour-day, we will have to resort to the 24 hours. So what do we do?? The solution: Preserve your energy – Your level of energy largely determines the quality of your life. Also, since now a days everybody thinks you’re open 24/7, preserving your energy is an important survival strategy. When we meet someone we decide immediately whether they have a “good vibe” or a “bad vibe.” We read their energy and decide if we want to be around them more. On the flip side – there are energy vampires. Energy vampires zap our energy and they are a big distraction. Word of caution – avoid energy vampires! And when you can’t – be happy, it really annoys them. Positive energy is contagious. Increasing our energy leaves us more to share with others! With this in mind, how do we increase our energy? Easy peazy! By incorporating meaningful habits into our lives with rituals and routines. When you create rituals that increase your mental, physical, and spiritual energy, you become more energetic, happier and successful. Because we are made up of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional energy, each one of these areas contributes to our total energy. 1. Physical Exercise - who has time for this when we don’t even have time for family, friends? Use the buddy system, this way you can spend more quality time with your spouse, children, family, and friends, etc. This can be as simple as a walk after dinner for shared time. Get fit together and bond at the same time. Get your rest! No need to lecture you here – “just do it”, like the Nike slogan says. Hydrate - “You’re not sick you’re thirsty! Water for Health, for Healing, For Life, is a book written on the epidemic of chronic dehydration in our society. Author F. Batmanghelidj, MD state that dehydration has been labeled as diseases by the mainstream medical establishment. So do yourself a favor and hydrate, daily. If drinking water seems boring to you, add fruit, herbs or veggies. It will make it prettier, taste yummier and you’ll get added health benefits too! 2. Mental Safeguard your thoughts. Energy is found in the thoughts we think and the words we read and hear. Have you ever gotten excited about an idea and felt energized? Or listened to an energetic speaker and become motivated to take action? Or read a book and become inspired? Words are powerful, so use them to create positive mental energy. 3. Emotional Listen to music – Music has the tremendous power to make us laugh and cry. Think of the Rocky theme song. When I hear “Rocky” theme song I still get the urge to sprint a hundred yards. Music sets the tone in restaurants and shopping malls. It plays during sporting events, religious services, and family holidays. After all, what would a birthday be without a “Happy Birthday” song? Music makes us think and feel because it is a powerful source of energy and each day you have the opportunity to make the energy of music work for you. Music that lift your spirits, music that give you confidence, music that relaxes you, etc. Music is energy that you can use to fuel your life whenever and wherever you need it. Based on your choice of music, you might want to wear a headset! Connect with Nature – Ever wonder why people love the beach, the mountains, and gardening? Because they are powerful sources of energy. Whether it’s the ocean air, the sunlight reflecting off the water or the the waves crashing on the shore, large trees or fields of green, a vibrantly colored sunset or sunrise. Nature provides a profound effect on our mind and body. So, connect with nature and enjoy the energy it will generously share with you. 4. Spiritual Give back – Studies have shown that the happiest people are those who give. It doesn’t have to be anything huge either. Sometimes just letting someone cut in line in front of you at the grocery store or picking up something someone dropped can release endorphins that make you feel good. We have had these experiences and many more like them because we are energy beings and as energy beings we interact with other forms of energy every day. We give, receive, share, transform, maximize and focus energy every day. It’s all about energy. So give yourself these powerful infusions to retain energy throughout the day.
The post The Balance Game: Energy Boosters to Keep You from being Overstressed, Overworked, & Overtired! appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>I know, the to-do lists get longer while the days are not getting longer – a true dilemma! And, since congress has not passed legislation for a 25-hour-day, we will have to resort to the 24 hours. So what do we do??
The solution: Preserve your energy – Your level of energy largely determines the quality of your life. Also, since now a days everybody thinks you’re open 24/7, preserving your energy is an important survival strategy.
When we meet someone we decide immediately whether they have a “good vibe” or a “bad vibe.” We read their energy and decide if we want to be around them more. On the flip side – there are energy vampires. Energy vampires zap our energy and they are a big distraction. Word of caution – avoid energy vampires! And when you can’t – be happy, it really annoys them. Positive energy is contagious. Increasing our energy leaves us more to share with others!
With this in mind, how do we increase our energy? Easy peazy! By incorporating meaningful habits into our lives with rituals and routines. When you create rituals that increase your mental, physical, and spiritual energy, you become more energetic, happier and successful.
Because we are made up of physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional energy, each one of these areas contributes to our total energy.
Give back – Studies have shown that the happiest people are those who give. It doesn’t have to be anything huge either. Sometimes just letting someone cut in line in front of you at the grocery store or picking up something someone dropped can release endorphins that make you feel good.
We have had these experiences and many more like them because we are energy beings and as energy beings we interact with other forms of energy every day. We give, receive, share, transform, maximize and focus energy every day. It’s all about energy. So give yourself these powerful infusions to retain energy throughout the day.
The post The Balance Game: Energy Boosters to Keep You from being Overstressed, Overworked, & Overtired! appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>One of the very first things I ever made when I started playing with bath and body products is Tub Truffles (my name for them. Others call them Bath Melts, Cocoa Butter Melts, etc). They are so simple and people LOVE them! They are perfect for people with super dry and itchy skin. I thought it’d be fun to show you how we do it and, if creativity calls, you can make your own. If you would just rather order ours, no problem. You can get them here. This recipes makes 40 truffles weighing about .40 ounces each. We use a small plastic truffle mold available here. You can either wrap them in candy wrappers, like we do, or simply store in an airtight container. Ingredients: 12 oz. Cocoa Butter (Refined & Deodorized) 20 grams Sweet Almond Oil 20 grams Colloidal Oatmeal (powered oatmeal) 8 grams Essential Oil of choice (lavender is always a great choice for dry skin & sleep inducing properties) Directions: Measure out Cocoa Butter into glass bowl Melt in microwave in short bursts, stirring every 30 seconds After completely melted (taking care not to overheat), add Powered Oatmeal and stir well. Then add Sweet Almond Oil and stir well. Add Essential Oil/Fragrance Oil and stir well. Pour into truffle molds Place in refrigerator overnight Unmold and let sit on cooling rack for 24 hours before wrapping Wrap with candy wrapper (if desired) or place in airtight container Watch our video below for more info:
The post How to Make Tub Truffles (Bath Melts) – DIY Video Tutorial appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>I thought it’d be fun to show you how we do it and, if creativity calls, you can make your own. If you would just rather order ours, no problem. You can get them in-store at our Bartow or Lakeland Locations.
This recipes makes 40 truffles weighing about .40 ounces each. We use a small plastic truffle mold available here.
You can either wrap them in candy wrappers, like we do, or simply store in an airtight container.
12 oz. Cocoa Butter (Refined & Deodorized)
20 grams Colloidal Oatmeal (powered oatmeal)
Watch our video below for more info:
The post How to Make Tub Truffles (Bath Melts) – DIY Video Tutorial appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>There is nothing better than having your home saturated in the scents of the fall! Rafa Natural’s soy candles are sure to fill your home with your favorite scents! In addition to the Pumpkin and Cranberry and Oak Leaves, Oh My…Fall Candles are Back!
YES, the scents of apples and Pumpkin, and harvest time are back too! Whether you fancy a snow covered forest with hints of vanilla (The Woods)
Or a festive blend of crisp apples, spiced cranberries and cinnamon with a touch of black currant, cassis, clove, and vanilla spice (Cranberry Apple)
Or maybe a warm blend of molasses, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ground cloves and pumpkin (Pumpkin)
Or it could be a slightly spicy scent with dried fruit notes, vanilla & cinnamon (Harvest)
Rafa Natural has the perfect seasonal scent for your home or office. These and many other scented soy candles are hand poured in our shop. Why choose soy candles over parafin wax? First, soy burns cleaner and longer than wax candles. Second, soy is a renewable resource and is better for the environment.
Our candles come in 50-Hour glass containers with glass lids which are made right here in America.
Rafa Natural is located on North KentuckyAvenue in beautiful Downtown Lakeland, Florida. Stop by today or visit us online.
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]]>In addition to the Pumpkin and Cranberry and Oak Leaves, Oh My…Fall Candles are Back! YES, the scents of apples and Pumpkin, and harvest time are back too!
Or a festive blend of crisp apples, spiced cranberries and cinnamon with a touch of black currant, cassis, clove, and vanilla spice (Cranberry Apple)
Or maybe a warm blend of molasses, ginger, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ground cloves and pumpkin (Pumpkin)
Or it could be a slightly spicy scent with dried fruit notes, vanilla & cinnamon (Harvest)
Rafa Natural has the perfect seasonal scent for your home or office. These and many other scented soy candles are hand poured in our shop.
Why choose soy candles over paraffin wax? First, soy burns cleaner and longer than wax candles. Second, soy is a renewable resource and is better for the environment. Our candles come in 50-Hour glass containers with glass lids which are made right here in America.
Rafa Natural is located on North KentuckyAvenue in beautiful Downtown Lakeland, Florida.
Stop by today or visit us online.
The post Pumpkin and Cranberry and Oak Leaves, Oh My…Fall Soy Candles are Back! appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>Rafa Natural’s Vegan and Gluten Free Dead Sea Mud Masque – Removes Toxins, Oils and Impurities Who would have thought that smearing mud on your face would make you more beautiful? But this is no ordinary mud. This specially formulated Dead Sea Mineral Mud helps to remove toxins and improve skin clarity and elasticity. Got oily skin? You’ll love how this masque drinks up that extra oil and dries up acne. Had I known this I would have spent more time playing in the mud, during my horrible young adult acne phase… Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Dead Sea Mud Masque. Dead Sea Mud Help to draw toxins and excess sebum (Oil) from skin. Making it perfect for those with acne and oily skin. It also increases blood circulation imparting a healthy rosy glow. Moroccan Lava Clay (Rhassoul Clay) A great natural skin detoxifier. It deep cleans pores and tightens skin. Due to its unique mineral makeup, it replaces minerals in the skin. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron are replenished resulting in firmer, plumper, and more even toned complexion. Rose Hip Fruit Oil This amazing oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that are known to correct age spots and hydrate the skin, while reducing scars and fine lines. It’s even helpful for eczema and psoriasis due to its high essential fatty acid content. Shea Butter There are butter, then there are super butters. Undoubtedly Shea falls into the super category. Full of essential fatty acids it’s deeply moisturizing. It repairs scars and fine lines, protects skin, acts as a UV protectant, stimulates collagen production, and more. So why a heavy butter in a masque designated for oily people? Because left on their own Dead Sea Mud and Rhassoul Clay would be too drying. That kind of uncomfortable “my skin is too tight for my face” feeling, plus with all of the other benefits it offers skin, it’s a great ingredient to include in this masque. Organic Essential Oils of Sweet Orange, Ylang-Ylang, Pine, Palmarosa, and Spearmint All of these work together to decongest skin, remove toxins, and improve skin clarity, plus they smell darn good! Pseudocollagen Naturally derived from yeast, this skin-building additive help build collagen for fewer lines and wrinkles. Fruit Extracts of Pineapple, Banana, and Papaya These ingredients provide naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells and brighten the complexion. Ginkgo Biloba Used in traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, it’s recently been discovered to provide benefits to the skin as well. It’s a powerful antioxidant that detoxifies skin. It also provides a healthy rosy glow due to its stimulating qualities. Ginseng Extract Used as a well known stress reliever, when taken internally; when applied to skin it has revitalizing properties that refresh dull and lack luster complexions. Green Tea Extract An amazing antioxidant that is said to repair environmental damage to skin. To try Rafa Natural’s amazing Dead Sea Mud Masque visit us at Rafa Natural.
The post Dead Sea Mud Masque – Removes Toxins, Oils & Impurities appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>Who would have thought that smearing mud on your face would make you more beautiful? But this is no ordinary mud.
This specially formulated Dead Sea Mineral Mud helps to remove toxins and improve skin clarity and elasticity.
Got oily skin? You’ll love how this masque drinks up that extra oil and dries up acne.
Had I known this I would have spent more time playing in the mud, during my horrible young adult acne phase…
Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Dead Sea Mud Masque.
Dead Sea Mud
Help to draw toxins and excess sebum (Oil) from skin. Making it perfect for those with acne and oily skin. It also increases blood circulation imparting a healthy rosy glow.
Moroccan Lava Clay (Rhassoul Clay)
A great natural skin detoxifier. It deep cleans pores and tightens skin. Due to its unique mineral makeup, it replaces minerals in the skin. Magnesium, calcium, potassium, and iron are replenished resulting in firmer, plumper, and more even toned complexion.
Rose Hip Fruit Oil
This amazing oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that are known to correct age spots and hydrate the skin, while reducing scars and fine lines. It’s even helpful for eczema and psoriasis due to its high essential fatty acid content.
Shea Butter
There are butter, then there are super butters. Undoubtedly Shea falls into the super category. Full of essential fatty acids it’s deeply moisturizing. It repairs scars and fine lines, protects skin, acts as a UV protectant, stimulates collagen production, and more. So why a heavy butter in a masque designated for oily people? Because left on their own Dead Sea Mud and Rhassoul Clay would be too drying. That kind of uncomfortable “my skin is too tight for my face” feeling, plus with all of the other benefits it offers skin, it’s a great ingredient to include in this masque.
Organic Essential Oils of Sweet Orange, Ylang-Ylang, Pine, Palmarosa, and Spearmint
All of these work together to decongest skin, remove toxins, and improve skin clarity, plus they smell darn good!
Pseudocollagen
Naturally derived from yeast, this skin-building additive help build collagen for fewer lines and wrinkles.
Fruit Extracts of Pineapple, Banana, and Papaya
These ingredients provide naturally occurring alpha hydroxy acids to remove dead skin cells and brighten the complexion.
Ginkgo Biloba
Used in traditional Chinese Medicine for centuries, it’s recently been discovered to provide benefits to the skin as well. It’s a powerful antioxidant that detoxifies skin. It also provides a healthy rosy glow due to its stimulating qualities.
Ginseng Extract
Used as a well known stress reliever, when taken internally; when applied to skin it has revitalizing properties that refresh dull and lack luster complexions.
Green Tea Extract
An amazing antioxidant that is said to repair environmental damage to skin.
To try Rafa Natural’s amazing Dead Sea Mud Masque visit us at Rafa Natural.
The post Dead Sea Mud Masque – Removes Toxins, Oils & Impurities appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>Rafa Natural Facial Cleansers & Scrubs Most of us have spent so many years cleaning and scrubbing our faces with chemicals that it does seem hard to believe that our faces would be much happier with good, old fashioned, ingredients from the earth. Will organic, vegan, and natural facial cleansers actually clean your face? Yes! Our cleansers are made with organic ingredients and essential oils to provide your skin with nutrients while deep cleaning. Dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin, Rafa Natural has the facial cleansers and scrubs you need. You’ll love how your skin looks and feels with these organic, vegan, and natural facial cleansers and scrubs. Visit us at Rafa Natural to learn more about our facial cleansers and scrubs.
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]]>Most of us have spent so many years cleaning and scrubbing our faces with chemicals that it does seem hard to believe that our faces would be much happier with good, old fashioned, ingredients from the earth.
Will organic, vegan, and natural facial cleansers actually clean your face? Yes!
Our cleansers are made with organic ingredients and essential oils to provide your skin with nutrients while deep cleaning. Dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin, Rafa Natural has the facial cleansers and scrubs you need. You’ll love how your skin looks and feels with these organic, vegan, and natural facial cleansers and scrubs.
Visit us at Rafa Natural to learn more about our facial cleansers and scrubs.
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]]>Rafa Natural’s Vegan and Gluten Free Dead Sea Detox Bath Salts - Simple Soaking Solutions Taking a therapeutic bath is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your health. While it is tempting to soak in a tub full of bubbles, the truth is most bubble bath formulas do more damage than good. Soaking in a combination of Epson Salt, Dead Sea Salt, and Essential Oils replaces vital minerals, distresses the body, improves sleep, and detoxifies. Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Dead Sea Detox Bath Salts. Epson Salt While not actually a salt, Magnesium Sulfate has been around for years. It’s readily absorbed through the skin, helping to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness. It’s also thought to draw toxins from the body and ease stress, since it replaces magnesium that stress can deplete fro the body. Dead Sea Salt For over three-thousand years people have flocked to the Dead Sea due to its healing powers. Due to the unique mineral make-up it can help conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis (it’s even recommended by The National Psoriasis Foundation as an affective treatment), and allergies. It has also been shown to improve skin hydration and reduce inflammation and wrinkles. Essential Oils of Bergamot, Cypress, Lavender, Juniper, Tea Tree, Grapefruit, Patchouli, and Lemon This combination of essential oils calm the body, boost circulation, reduce cellulite, improve sleep, and detoxify. Visit us at Rafa Natural to learn more about our dead sea detox bath salts and other detox products.
The post Dead Sea Detox Bath Salts – Simple Soaking Solutions appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>Taking a therapeutic bath is one of the easiest and most effective things you can do for your health.
While it is tempting to soak in a tub full of bubbles, the truth is most bubble bath formulas do more damage than good. Soaking in a combination of Epson Salt, Dead Sea Salt, and Essential Oils replaces vital minerals, distresses the body, improves sleep, and detoxifies.
Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Dead Sea Detox Bath Salts.
Epsom Salt
While not actually a salt, Magnesium Sulfate has been around for years. It’s readily absorbed through the skin, helping to reduce inflammation and muscle soreness. It’s also thought to draw toxins from the body and ease stress, since it replaces magnesium that stress can deplete fro the body.
Dead Sea Salt
For over three-thousand years people have flocked to the Dead Sea due to its healing powers. Due to the unique mineral make-up it can help conditions such as arthritis, psoriasis (it’s even recommended by The National Psoriasis Foundation as an affective treatment), and allergies. It has also been shown to improve skin hydration and reduce inflammation and wrinkles.
Essential Oils of Bergamot, Cypress, Lavender, Juniper, Tea Tree, Grapefruit, Patchouli, and Lemon
This combination of essential oils calm the body, boost circulation, reduce cellulite, improve sleep, and detoxify.
Visit us at Rafa Natural to learn more about our dead sea detox bath salts and other detox products.
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]]>Rafa Natural’s Detoxifying Seaweed Body Scrub A Simple Detox from the Ocean I just love anything from the ocean. Sea Salt, seaweed (kelp is a type of seaweed), sushi…oh great. Now I’m hungry. This scrub is super detoxifying due to the powered kelp and Dead Sea Salt. It will smell a little fishy due to the seaweed, but the essential oils will mask some of that. Be sure to use the fine grain salt to get the best scrubbing action. If you already have Dead Sea Salt on hand but it’s not fine, you can throw it into a coffee grinder and grind it. (I keep one just for making products, not coffee.) If you don’t have Jojoba oil on hand, any kind of light oil like Grape Seed or Apricot Kernel Oil. Before you begin, be sure to sterilize your working utensils and jar you are going to use for the scrub with isopropyl alcohol. Ingredients 1/4 cup powered kelp 1/4 cup Dead Sea Salt – Fine Grain 1/3 cup Jojoba Oil 5 drops Cypress Essential Oil 3 drops Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil 3 drops Fennel Essential Oil 8 oz. sterilized glass container (wide mouth mason jars are perfect). Just remember that glass in a bathroom can be hazardous, so you can use plastic if you feel that’s safer. Directions: - Mix the powered kelp and Dead Sea salt together in a sterilized bowl. - Add the Jojoba oil and mix well. - Then add the essential oils and mix very well. - Spoon into your prepared glass container and seal with a tight fitting lid. It should be good for 2-3 weeks. To use, scoop out desired amount and rub into skin in a circular motion. Do not use on face. Rinse well but try not to use soap afterwards. Instead, let the essential oils linger on your skin for greater detoxifying benefits. Pat skin dry. If making your own scrub is too much work for you, you can always try our Dead Sea Salt Detox Scrub. It doesn’t contain seaweed but it’s chocked full of amazing detoxifying ingredients and smells amazing. Visit us at Rafa Natural to place your order and to learn more about our many organic, vegan, and all natural products. Enjoy!
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]]>I just love anything from the ocean.
Sea Salt, seaweed (kelp is a type of seaweed), sushi…oh great. Now I’m hungry.
This scrub is super detoxifying due to the powered kelp and Dead Sea Salt. It will smell a little fishy due to the seaweed, but the essential oils will mask some of that.
Be sure to use the fine grain salt to get the best scrubbing action. If you already have Dead Sea Salt on hand but it’s not fine, you can throw it into a coffee grinder and grind it. (I keep one just for making products, not coffee.)
If you don’t have Jojoba oil on hand, any kind of light oil like Grape Seed or Apricot Kernel Oil.
Before you begin, be sure to sterilize your working utensils and jar you are going to use for the scrub with isopropyl alcohol.
1/4 cup powered kelp
1/4 cup Dead Sea Salt – Fine Grain
1/3 cup Jojoba Oil
5 drops Cypress Essential Oil
3 drops Pink Grapefruit Essential Oil
3 drops Fennel Essential Oil
8 oz. sterilized glass container (wide mouth mason jars are perfect). Just remember that glass in a bathroom can be hazardous, so you can use plastic if you feel that’s safer.
Directions:
- Mix the powered kelp and Dead Sea salt together in a sterilized bowl.
- Add the Jojoba oil and mix well.
- Then add the essential oils and mix very well.
- Spoon into your prepared glass container and seal with a tight fitting lid. It should be good for 2-3 weeks.
To use, scoop out desired amount and rub into skin in a circular motion. Do not use on face. Rinse well but try not to use soap afterwards. Instead, let the essential oils linger on your skin for greater detoxifying benefits. Pat skin dry.
If making your own scrub is too much work for you, you can always try our Dead Sea Salt Detox Scrub. It doesn’t contain seaweed but it’s chocked full of amazing detoxifying ingredients and smells amazing. Visit us at Rafa Natural to place your order and to learn more about our many organic, vegan, and all natural products.
Enjoy!
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]]>Rafa Natural’s Organic, Vegan, and Gluten Free Sea Mineral Toner - Hydration from the Ocean Toner. A lot of people have no idea why we need it, so we skip this critical step in our skin care routine. Or we associate with Isopropyl Alcohol because honestly, in the 80′s that’s pretty much all toner was. It dried out skin and left us feeling not so great about it. But before you write it off completely here are a few things that may make you change your mind: It removes make-up and dirt that remained after washing. It closes pores. It adjusts pH. Most people do not care about the pH of their skin, but it can make all the difference in making your products work better. Your face enjoys being at a pH between 3.5 and 4.5, if your water is very alkaline, your pH can go up to 8 or greater just by washing your face. It can take up to 30 minutes for your face to get back down to where it need to be, using a toner can make that happen instantaneously. Rafa Natural’s Sea Mineral Toner does all of the above and more. It’s full of goodness straight from the ocean. Anything from the ocean draws water from itself. That’s why this toner is perfect for dry skin. Its ingredients actually attract moisture from the air to help keep skin hydrated. Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Sea Mineral Toner. Organic Kelp Extract The Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Center reports that Kelp Extract demonstrates both antioxidants and skin firming attributes. It also contains minerals that contribute to more radiant skin and Vitamins A, C, and E that help to regenerate skin. Blue-Green Algae It’s high in proteins and fatty acids. Protein is crucial for collagen production which makes skin look firmer. The fatty acids provide moisturization and hydration. Hyaluronic Acid First, don’t let the word acid scare you. This ingredient doesn’t strip your skin. In fact, it does the opposite, it plumps it up! We have Hyaluronic Acid naturally in our bodies, but we lose it as we get older (especially after 40). It resides in the spaces between skin cells providing plumpness, moisture, and suppleness to skin. Not only does it increase hydration, but it also improves elasticity and reverses free radical damage. Dead Sea Salt For over three-thousand years the salt from the dead sea has been used for therapeutic benefits. The minerals in Dead Sea Salt promote quick healing of skin tissue, cleanse pores, hydrate skin, and provide antioxidants to help reduce the early signs of aging. Our 8oz. recyclable bottle comes with a sprayer that allows you to limit the amount you use, preventing waste by pouring too much onto your cotton pad. Read some of our customer reviews to learn more about why people love this toner! To try this amazing toner go to Rafa Natural.
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]]>Toner. A lot of people have no idea why we need it, so we skip this critical step in our skin care routine. Or we associate with Isopropyl Alcohol because honestly, in the 80′s that’s pretty much all toner was. It dried out skin and left us feeling not so great about it.
But before you write it off completely here are a few things that may make you change your mind:
Rafa Natural’s Sea Mineral Toner does all of the above and more. It’s full of goodness straight from the ocean. Anything from the ocean draws water from itself. That’s why this toner is perfect for dry skin. Its ingredients actually attract moisture from the air to help keep skin hydrated.
Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Sea Mineral Toner.
Organic Kelp Extract
The Memorial Sloan – Kettering Cancer Center reports that Kelp Extract demonstrates both antioxidants and skin firming attributes. It also contains minerals that contribute to more radiant skin and Vitamins A, C, and E that help to regenerate skin.
Blue-Green Algae
It’s high in proteins and fatty acids. Protein is crucial for collagen production which makes skin look firmer. The fatty acids provide moisture and hydration.
Hyaluronic Acid
First, don’t let the word acid scare you. This ingredient doesn’t strip your skin. In fact, it does the opposite, it plumps it up! We have Hyaluronic Acid naturally in our bodies, but we lose it as we get older (especially after 40). It resides in the spaces between skin cells providing plumpness, moisture, and suppleness to skin. Not only does it increase hydration, but it also improves elasticity and reverses free radical damage.
Dead Sea Salt
For over three-thousand years the salt from the dead sea has been used for therapeutic benefits. The minerals in Dead Sea Salt promote quick healing of skin tissue, cleanse pores, hydrate skin, and provide antioxidants to help reduce the early signs of aging.
Our 8oz. recyclable bottle comes with a sprayer that allows you to limit the amount you use, preventing waste by pouring too much onto your cotton pad.
Read some of our customer reviews to learn more about why people love this toner! To try this amazing toner go to Rafa Natural.
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]]>Rafa Natural’s Vegan, Organic, and Gluten Free Vitamin C Creme - Antioxidants for Wrinkles and Brown Spots Our Vitamin C Creme is not only our #1 selling creme it is our #1 selling product, and for good reason! Vitamin C has received a lot of attention lately due to its ability to protect skin from free radicals, those nasty skin damaging molecules. But not only does it protect skin, its thought to improve skins complexion, reduce fine lines, and prevent future lines from forming Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Vitamin C Creme. Coconut Oil Shunned for years, recent studies have shown this oil is truly a SUPERFOOD, while including it in your diet can provide a lot of amazing benefits, applying it to your skin can as well. It can improve skins moisture while providing a natural sunscreen, blocking up to 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It’ s also thought to strengthen underlying tissues which means fewer wrinkles. Who doesn’t want fewer wrinkles? Vitamin C Ester There are two types of Vitamin C, water soluble (ascorbic acid) and fat soluble (Vitamin C Ester). While the first type is preferable for ingestion Vitamin C Ester displays better antioxidant activity in skin cells. It is great at stimulating the growth of cells that help produce collagen and elastin, that means skin with greater strength and flexibility and that means fewer lines and wrinkles and/or sagging skin. Fewer lines? Less wrinkles? No more sagging skin? I gotta get me some of this! Green Clay Extract This clay, found deep in the earth, aids in: - healing skin cells - stimulating blood circulation - removing dead skin cells - freshening your skin It’s natures natural skin brightener! Organic Wild Blueberry, Organic Bilberry, Organic Cranberry Extracts These awesome fruit extracts: - provide a natural source of Vitamin C - help create a barrier for the skin Helping you to naturally fight against the assault of free radicals, from sun pollution, etc… Rose Hip Seed Oil This amazing oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that are known to correct age spots and hydrate the skin, while reducing scars and fine lines. It’s even helpful for eczema and psoriasis due to its high essential fatty acid content. The Moral of the Story…FEED YOUR FACE! Read some of our customer reviews to see why this is our #1 selling product! To try this amazing face creme go to Rafa Natural and experience the benefits of Rafa’s complete line for dry to normal skin. Our starter kit includes a full size Green Tea Cleanser, the Sea Mineral Toner, Vitamin C Creme, plus samples of our AHA Scrub, Rooibos Eye Creme, Charcoal Mask, and Face Buff. All packaged in a cute crate!
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]]>Our Vitamin C Creme is not only our #1 selling creme it is our #1 selling product, and for good reason! Vitamin C has received a lot of attention lately due to its ability to protect skin from free radicals, those nasty skin damaging molecules. But not only does it protect skin, its thought to improve skins complexion, reduce fine lines, and prevent future lines from forming
Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Vitamin C Creme.
Coconut Oil
Shunned for years, recent studies have shown this oil is truly a SUPERFOOD, while including it in your diet can provide a lot of amazing benefits, applying it to your skin can as well. It can improve skins moisture while providing a natural sunscreen, blocking up to 20% of the sun’s ultraviolet rays. It’ s also thought to strengthen underlying tissues which means fewer wrinkles.
Who doesn’t want fewer wrinkles?
Vitamin C Ester
There are two types of Vitamin C, water soluble (ascorbic acid) and fat soluble (Vitamin C Ester). While the first type is preferable for ingestion Vitamin C Ester displays better antioxidant activity in skin cells. It is great at stimulating the growth of cells that help produce collagen and elastin, that means skin with greater strength and flexibility and that means fewer lines and wrinkles and/or sagging skin.
Fewer lines? Less wrinkles? No more sagging skin? I gotta get me some of this!
Green Clay Extract
This clay, found deep in the earth, aids in:
- healing skin cells
- stimulating blood circulation
- removing dead skin cells
- freshening your skin
It’s natures natural skin brightener!
Organic Wild Blueberry, Organic Bilberry, Organic Cranberry Extracts
These awesome fruit extracts:
- provide a natural source of Vitamin C
- help create a barrier for the skin
Helping you to naturally fight against the assault of free radicals, from sun pollution, etc…
Rose Hip Seed Oil
This amazing oil is full of vitamins, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that are known to correct age spots and hydrate the skin, while reducing scars and fine lines. It’s even helpful for eczema and psoriasis due to its high essential fatty acid content.
The Moral of the Story…FEED YOUR FACE!
Read some of our customer reviews to see why this is our #1 selling product! To try this amazing face creme go to Rafa Natural and experience the benefits of Rafa’s complete line for dry to normal skin.
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]]>Rafa Natural’s Vegan and Gluten Free Cucumber Cleanser - Refreshing Solution for Redness and Large Pores Doesn’t washing with cucumbers every day sound absolutely refreshing? It is! It’s the perfect solution for those of us with oily skin but not necessarily breakouts, like acne. The cucumber and chamomile extracts reduces redness and inflammation as well. Gentle enough to be used twice a day, without over drying like cleansers with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can do. Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Cucumber Cleanser. Cucumber Extract Reduces inflammation and pore size, revitalizes, hydrates. Chamomile Leaf Extract Soothes skin, acts as an antioxidant, stops excessive dryness. Provitamin B5 Hydrates, moisturizes, soothes, heals, and regenerates skin. So while all of these ingredients are amazing, our customers most often comment on how refreshing this cleanser feels without being drying. It’s true that the scent is wonderful, but it also does a fantastic job at what it was created to do, CLEANSE YOUR SKIN! Read some of our customer reviews to hear more about the refreshingly clean results. To experience this for yourself visit us at Rafa Natural.
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]]>Doesn’t washing with cucumbers every day sound absolutely refreshing? It is!
It’s the perfect solution for those of us with oily skin but not necessarily breakouts, like acne.
The cucumber and chamomile extracts reduces redness and inflammation as well. Gentle enough to be used twice a day, without over drying like cleansers with Sodium Lauryl Sulfate can do.
Below is a more detailed description of the ingredients within Rafa Natural’s Cucumber Cleanser.
Cucumber Extract Reduces inflammation and pore size, revitalizes, hydrates.
Chamomile Leaf Extract Soothes skin, acts as an antioxidant, stops excessive dryness.
Provitamin B5 Hydrates, moisturizes, soothes, heals, and regenerates skin.
So while all of these ingredients are amazing, our customers most often comment on how refreshing this cleanser feels without being drying. It’s true that the scent is wonderful, but it also does a fantastic job at what it was created to do, CLEANSE YOUR SKIN!
Read some of our customer reviews to hear more about the refreshingly clean results. To experience this for yourself visit us at Rafa Natural.
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]]>Rafa Natural’s Organic & Vegan Clarifying Cleanser for Acne & Oily Skin The Clarifying Cleanser is an incredibly refreshing foaming cleanser which is packed with extracts and vitamins to protect and nourish skin while the charcoal deeply cleans all the bacteria away. We’ve also added Essential Oils of Bergamot, Tea Tree, Roman Chamomile, & German Chamomile to help eliminate break outs. Acne is the result of clogged pores. When the skin’s sebaceous glands produce too much oil its the perfect environment for acne causing bacteria to grow. Many products try to stop oil production by drying out the skin resulting in red flaky skin. Rafa Natural’s Clarifying Cleanser takes a three prong approach: 1. Deep Clean – Activated Charcoal, Tea Tree, Hydrogen Peroxide 2. Calm and Heal – Rooibos Extract, DMAE 3. Smooth and Prevent – Organic Fruit Extracts Below is a more detailed description of Rafa Natural’s amazing Clarifying Cleanser. Activated Charcoal – has pores that expand and trap toxins and bacteria, prevent the absorption of toxins; plus it is a wonderful make-up remover Tea Tree – kills bacteria Hydrogen Peroxide – not a natural ingredient, as in you can’t go into your garden and pick a bottle of hydrogen peroxide. If you look at what it is composed of, however, it is simply water plus oxygen – specifically H2O2. Bad bacteria are anaerobic meaning they thrive in a no to low oxygen environment. Hydrogen Peroxide kills bacteria by oxygenating your skin cells. It’s like killing them with oxygen. Cool, huh? Rooibos Extract – has large amount of antioxidants, soothes irritated skin, heals acne, prevents skin from being too oily; it also provides zinc which is thought to help acne as well. DMAE – Dr. Perricone made this nutritional substance famous. It helps to reduce inflammation but can also keep skin clear. Organic Fruit Extracts – contain AHAs (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) help bring new skin cells to the surface, which helps the complexion appear smoother. They also help to prevent new lesions from forming. Countless people, of all ages, have come into the shop struggling with acne. We know that not one product works for everyone, however, we have seen amazing results with combined use of Rafa Natural’s Clarifying Cleanser and Clarifying Astringent. Acne does not discriminate based on gender or age and neither do our products. Read some of our Customer Reviews at the bottom of the product page. To try this powerful but gentle cleanser go to Rafa Natural.
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]]>The Clarifying Cleanser is an incredibly refreshing foaming cleanser which is packed with extracts and vitamins to protect and nourish skin while the charcoal deeply cleans all the bacteria away. We’ve also added Essential Oils of Bergamot, Tea Tree, Roman Chamomile, & German Chamomile to help eliminate break outs.
Acne is the result of clogged pores. When the skin’s sebaceous glands produce too much oil its the perfect environment for acne causing bacteria to grow.
Many products try to stop oil production by drying out the skin resulting in red flaky skin. Rafa Natural’s Clarifying Cleanser takes a three prong approach:
1. Deep Clean – Activated Charcoal, Tea Tree, Hydrogen Peroxide
2. Calm and Heal – Rooibos Extract, DMAE
3. Smooth and Prevent – Organic Fruit Extracts
Countless people, of all ages, have come into the shop struggling with acne. We know that not one product works for everyone, however, we have seen amazing results with combined use of Rafa Natural’s Clarifying Cleanser and Clarifying Astringent. Acne does not discriminate based on gender or age and neither do our products. Read some of our Customer Reviews at the bottom of the product page.
To try this powerful but gentle cleanser go to Rafa Natural.
The post Clarifying Cleanser for Acne & Oily Skin appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>It can be challenging to find a cleanser that washes off make-up but doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry and stripped. That’s gentle enough for sensitive skin while not feeling too “wimpy” for those with normal skin. The Green Tea Cleanser is the perfect solution. This non-foaming, organic Aloe juice and anti-oxidant rich Green Tea Extract based cleanser is perfect for deep-cleaning and peeling away layers from your skin without leaving a residue. Ingredients Here are some descriptions of the amazing ingredients in our top-selling face cleanser and what it can do for you. How to Order Yours To see just what the Green Tea Cleanser can do for you, you can order it from our website. We think you’ll love it.
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]]>It can be challenging to find a cleanser that washes off make-up but doesn’t leave your skin feeling dry and stripped. That’s gentle enough for sensitive skin while not feeling too “wimpy” for those with normal skin.
The Green Tea Cleanser is the perfect solution. This non-foaming, organic Aloe juice and anti-oxidant rich Green Tea Extract based cleanser is perfect for deep-cleaning and peeling away layers from your skin without leaving a residue.
Here are some descriptions of the amazing ingredients in our top-selling face cleanser and what it can do for you.
Aloe Vera: Helps to moisturize the skin and prevent pre-mature aging, while reducing acne.
Green Tea Extract: Calms skin irritations, and helps even skin discoloration. Diminishes the appearance of cellulite, and soothes redness and swelling.
Lactic Acid: Helps promote the shedding of dead skin cells. Helps fade sun spots and aging spots.
Organic Lavender Distillate: Detoxifies and soothes skin. Helps with eczema and dry-skin conditions.
Roman Chamomile Distillate: Helps redness, hyperpigmentation, and curbs acne.
Rose Distillate: Has antiseptic and astringent properties which helps control and prevent acne.
Grape Seed Oil: Protects against free- ranging radicals, evens skin tone, and prevents fine lines and wrinkles.
To see just what the Green Tea Cleanser can do for you, you can order it from our website. We think you’ll love it.
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]]>
So I have a confession to make. I have a tea addiction. But it’s not necessarily an addition to drinking tea. I mean I like it, but usually only do a cup or two a day. No. My addiction is to buying tea. I have a ridiculous amount of tea in my kitchen. And laundry room. There’s just something about those pretty, organic looking leaves and flowers that call to me. So it occurred to me one day, I’m never going to drink all of this. So why not create something out of it? Like a bath tea? I mean why not? Teas have herbs and we take herbal baths, so why not put to use some of those teas I “just had to have,” as my husband would say. Steps to Making a Bath Tea 1. Select a Tea Just keep it simple and keep it herbal (i.e. nothing with caffeine unless you want caffeine for some reason). If you have a relaxation tea, chances are it will have chamomile, lavender, St. John’s Wort and more. Nothing wrong with bathing in those. If it’s a energizing tea, it will likely include citrus. Just know that what you put on your skin, you absorb into your body. So if it’s bedtime and you want to take a bath, stay away from energizing herbs or teas with caffeine. If you’re not sure about some ingredients and what they do, just Google it. For example, I have no idea what skullcap leaf is that’s listed here on my Nighttime Tea. Give me a minute and I look it up….ok, I’m back. According to WebMD: Skullcap is used for trouble sleeping (insomnia), anxiety, stroke, and paralysis caused by stroke. It is also used for fever, high cholesterol, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), rabies, epilepsy, nervous tension, allergies, skin infections, inflammation, and spasms. Sounds good to me. 2. Put Tea in Bowl If you are using loose leaf tea, this part is easy. If it’s in a little brewing bag, just cut the tea bag with a pair of scissors and then pour into a bowl. 3. Decide If You Want to Add Anything Else I like to use Epsom Salts a lot. They replace magnesium and help with muscle soreness. You may also want to consider adding baking soda as it helps to remove chlorine from the water and softens skin. If you choose to add anything else to the herbs, pour it into the bowl, but keep the proportions predominately the tea herbs. 4. Mix up your ingredients You know. Just mix them up with your hand. Easy peasy. 5. Put mixture into an organza draw string bag. You can find these at craft stores just about everywhere. Because we are using in a bath, a bigger size is needed. Something like 4 x 6 is good. If you think you’ll be doing herbal baths a lot, you may want to invest in a large mesh tea ball from Mountain Rose Herbs. It’s 3 3/4 inches in diameter and you can use it over and over. Click on the banner to your right and it will take to you their website. You might even find some other things you can for better health. They have great herbs and essential oils. 6. Take your bath Fill up the tub with slightly hotter water than you would normally use. Place the tea bag in the water and let it steep for 20 minutes or so. You can hang the bag from the water spout as the tub fills and then place in the tub. When you get in the tub, squeeze the bag to make sure you get out every drop of goodness. Sit back and relax and enjoy your naturally derived tea bath!
The post DIY Bath Tea Recipe appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>So I have a confession to make. I have a tea addiction. But it’s not necessarily an addition to drinking tea. I mean I like it, but usually only do a cup or two a day. No. My addiction is to buying tea. I have a ridiculous amount of tea in my kitchen. And laundry room. There’s just something about those pretty, organic looking leaves and flowers that call to me.
So it occurred to me one day, I’m never going to drink all of this. So why not create something out of it? Like a bath tea? I mean why not? Teas have herbs and we take herbal baths, so why not put to use some of those teas I “just had to have,” as my husband would say.
Just keep it simple and keep it herbal (i.e. nothing with caffeine unless you want caffeine for some reason). If you have a relaxation tea, chances are it will have chamomile, lavender, St. John’s Wort and more. Nothing wrong with bathing in those. If it’s a energizing tea, it will likely include citrus. Just know that what you put on your skin, you absorb into your body. So if it’s bedtime and you want to take a bath, stay away from energizing herbs or teas with caffeine.
If you’re not sure about some ingredients and what they do, just Google it. For example, I have no idea what skullcap leaf is that’s listed here on my Nighttime Tea. Give me a minute and I look it up….ok, I’m back. According to WebMD: Skullcap is used for trouble sleeping (insomnia), anxiety, stroke, and paralysis caused by stroke. It is also used for fever, high cholesterol, “hardening of the arteries” (atherosclerosis), rabies, epilepsy, nervous tension, allergies, skin infections, inflammation, and spasms. Sounds good to me.
If you are using loose leaf tea, this part is easy. If it’s in a little brewing bag, just cut the tea bag with a pair of scissors and then pour into a bowl.
I like to use Epsom Salts a lot. They replace magnesium and help with muscle soreness. You may also want to consider adding baking soda as it helps to remove chlorine from the water and softens skin.
If you choose to add anything else to the herbs, pour it into the bowl, but keep the proportions predominately the tea herbs.
You know. Just mix them up with your hand. Easy peasy.
You can find these at craft stores just about everywhere. Because we are using in a bath, a bigger size is needed. Something like 4 x 6 is good.
If you think you’ll be doing herbal baths a lot, you may want to invest in a large mesh tea ball from Mountain Rose Herbs. It’s 3 3/4 inches in diameter and you can use it over and over. Click on the banner to your right and it will take to you their website. You might even find some other things you can for better health. They have great herbs and essential oils.
Fill up the tub with slightly hotter water than you would normally use. Place the tea bag in the water and let it steep for 20 minutes or so. You can hang the bag from the water spout as the tub fills and then place in the tub. When you get in the tub, squeeze the bag to make sure you get out every drop of goodness.
Sit back and relax and enjoy your naturally derived tea bath!
The post DIY Bath Tea Recipe appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>I recently discovered Matcha Tea. I’m sure I’m behind the times and it’s old news, but this stuff is amazing! I’ve been drinking it a lot and truly think it has helped me to slim down some. Plus, it has amazing antioxidant values. Why Antioxidants Important are Important Antioxidants are critical for good heath. They fight free radicals that are responsible for aging and disease. There’s a theory called Free-Radical Theory of Aging that we age over time due to free radical damage. So if we feed our bodies things that fight free radicals, like antioxidants, then the theory is we can slow down aging and all the negative things we associate with it like wrinkled skin and disease. Nice, huh? There are lots of different antioxidants and they come from different sources. For example, there are well-known vitamin antioxidants like Vitamins C & E. There are lesser-known enzyme antioxidants like Superoxide Dismutase. But the antioxidants from Green Tea are classified as Phytochemical Antioxidants, which plants use to protect themselves from free radical damage. When we utilize these plant sources (i.e. Matcha Green Tea), we access these important antioxidants. Phytochemical Antioxidants are divided into different categories and all green teas are high in polyphenols, or more specifically, catechins. Catechins make their living, so to speak, by eating free radicals (see the cute chart to the right to get an idea of how this works). And they are more powerful than vitamins C & E in halting oxidative stress. How Antioxidants Benefit Your Skin So, you’re thinking, ok. I get it. I need to eat & drink foods and teas with lots of antioxidants. But does applying them to my skin do anything? Glad you asked! UV Protection Both animal and human studies have shown green tea applied to the skin to reduce sun damage by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation. So while it doesn’t block UV rays like vitamin C, it can work great in conjunction with it to prevent premature aging. Help for Rosacea In another study, green tea extract was shown to be effective in reducing rosacea. That’s why our Green Tea Cleanser is so great for rosacea suffers since it reduces redness and inflammation. Plus, since rosacea sufferers are notoriously sensitive to the sun, the UV protection from catechins are an added bonus. Wrinkles, Skin Firmness, and Elasticity What about wrinkles and sagging? The jury is still out on that. There have been some small studies that show that green tea extract has improved the skin’s matrix leading to firmer skin tone. I’ve read several bloggers who swear by doing Matcha Tea Mask once a week saying it brightens their complexion and gives them a glow. I found that my skin did look brighter after using it. The main benefits of Matcha seems to come from consuming it, but applying it directly to your skin is a better option than skin care developed in a lab. The Magic of Matcha So why Matcha Tea? Why not just grind up some green tea leaves and make a mask from that? Well, that’s exactly what’s been done for you! Matcha Tea is the whole tea leaf that has been ground into a powder. When you brew traditional tea, you’re only getting an infusion. But with Matcha you get up to 10 times the antioxidants because you’re ingesting the actual tea leaf. ORAC Value There is a term called ORAC value that provides a measurement of antioxidant value of a given food item. It was developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The higher the number, the more antioxidant power it has. There’s a cool website called ORAC Values that you can search if you want to look up some of the food you include in your diet to see if they are providing the punch you want. Or maybe you’ll see another food that gives you way more antioxidant protection than a current one you’ve been enjoying and a simple switch can make a lot of difference in your health. As you can see from the chart below, Matcha’s ORAC value is extremely high (click on the picture to enlarge). Recipes Here are 2 simple recipes you can whip up at home. If you can’t find Matcha Green Tea at your local market, you can buy it by clicking here. Face Mask #1 Best for Oily to Normal Skin 1 tsp. Matcha Green Tea Few drops of Water or Aloe Vera Gel Put Matcha Green Tea into a small bowl and slowly add water or aloe vera gel. You don’t want to add too much liquid or it won’t stay on your face. Aim for a thicker consistency than thinner. Apply to clean face and leave on 15 minutes or longer if desired. Face Mask #2 Best for Dry Skin 2 tsp. Matcha Green Tea 1/2 tsp. Organic Coconut Oil Water Put Matcha Green Tea in a bowl. Add coconut oil and a few drops of water. Mix until a thick paste forms. Add only enough water to make it spreadable. Avoid adding too much water or it will not stay on your face. Apply to clean face and leave on 15 minutes or longer if desired.
The post Matcha Green Tea Face Mask – DIY appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
]]>I recently discovered Matcha Tea. I’m sure I’m behind the times and it’s old news, but this stuff is amazing! I’ve been drinking it a lot and truly think it has helped me to slim down some. Plus, it has amazing antioxidant values.
Antioxidants are critical for good heath. They fight free radicals that are responsible for aging and disease. There’s a theory called Free-Radical Theory of Aging that we age over time due to free radical damage. So if we feed our bodies things that fight free radicals, like antioxidants, then the theory is we can slow down aging and all the negative things we associate with it like wrinkled skin and disease. Nice, huh?
There are lots of different antioxidants and they come from different sources. For example, there are well-known vitamin antioxidants like Vitamins C & E. There are lesser-known enzyme antioxidants like Superoxide Dismutase. But the antioxidants from Green Tea are classified as Phytochemical Antioxidants, which plants use to protect themselves from free radical damage.
When we utilize these plant sources (i.e. Matcha Green Tea), we access these important antioxidants. Phytochemical Antioxidants are divided into different categories and all green teas are high in polyphenols, or more specifically, catechins. Catechins make their living, so to speak, by eating free radicals (see the cute chart to the right to get an idea of how this works). And they are more powerful than vitamins C & E in halting oxidative stress.
So, you’re thinking, ok. I get it. I need to eat & drink foods and teas with lots of antioxidants. But does applying them to my skin do anything? Glad you asked!
Both animal and human studies have shown green tea applied to the skin to reduce sun damage by quenching free radicals and reducing inflammation. So while it doesn’t block UV rays like vitamin C, it can work great in conjunction with it to prevent premature aging.
In another study, green tea extract was shown to be effective in reducing rosacea. That’s why our Green Tea Cleanser is so great for rosacea suffers since it reduces redness and inflammation. Plus, since rosacea sufferers are notoriously sensitive to the sun, the UV protection from catechins are an added bonus.
What about wrinkles and sagging? The jury is still out on that. There have been some small studies that show that green tea extract has improved the skin’s matrix leading to firmer skin tone. I’ve read several bloggers who swear by doing Matcha Tea Mask once a week saying it brightens their complexion and gives them a glow. I found that my skin did look brighter after using it.
The main benefits of Matcha seems to come from consuming it, but applying it directly to your skin is a better option than skin care developed in a lab.
So why Matcha Tea? Why not just grind up some green tea leaves and make a mask from that? Well, that’s exactly what’s been done for you! Matcha Tea is the whole tea leaf that has been ground into a powder. When you brew traditional tea, you’re only getting an infusion. But with Matcha you get up to 10 times the antioxidants because you’re ingesting the actual tea leaf.
There is a term called ORAC value that provides a measurement of antioxidant value of a given food item. It was developed by the National Institute on Aging in the National Institutes of Health (NIH). The higher the number, the more antioxidant power it has. There’s a cool website called ORAC Values that you can search if you want to look up some of the food you include in your diet to see if they are providing the punch you want. Or maybe you’ll see another food that gives you way more antioxidant protection than a current one you’ve been enjoying and a simple switch can make a lot of difference in your health. As you can see from the chart below, Matcha’s ORAC value is extremely high (click on the picture to enlarge).
Here are 2 simple recipes you can whip up at home. If you can’t find Matcha Green Tea at your local market, you can buy it by clicking here.
Best for Oily to Normal Skin
Put Matcha Green Tea into a small bowl and slowly add water or aloe vera gel. You don’t want to add too much liquid or it won’t stay on your face. Aim for a thicker consistency than thinner.
Apply to clean face and leave on 15 minutes or longer if desired.
Best for Dry Skin
Put Matcha Green Tea in a bowl. Add coconut oil and a few drops of water. Mix until a thick paste forms. Add only enough water to make it spreadable. Avoid adding too much water or it will not stay on your face.
Apply to clean face and leave on 15 minutes or longer if desired.
The post Matcha Green Tea Face Mask – DIY appeared first on Rafa Natural Blog.
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