Hair Conditioner

Today I made more Natural Balance Conditioner and Shampoo.
The Natural Balance range is designed for those with oily to normal hair that is fine and short to medium length.
Natural Balance Conditioner contains salicylic acid for it's Beta Hydroxy Acid properties. BHA's exfoliate within the pores of the skin, breaking down dead hair, skin cells and oil build-up.
It also has oat protein which can be absorbed by the hair cuticle and strengthen hair, while d-Panthenol (Pro-Vitamin B5) is also a hair strengthener. Rosemary Extract has been used over the ages in hair products for it's rejuvenating and anti-oxidant properties.
Scented with pure lemongrass essential oil and added fragrance, this is a wonderfully light conditioner.
Leave on for one minute to allow time for the hair to absorb all the nutrients. You can also do a treatment, especially if your hair is longer or is treated. Apply thickly to hair and cover with a shower cap. Leave on for up to an hour. Rinse well.

Replenish

I made a batch of Replenish today.
This is a great moisturiser for dry, damaged skin, especially if you have a skin condition such as eczema or psoriasis.

Ugh, I'm not a photographer! I need to work on my photos...

People with skin conditions need to keep their skin moisturised all the time and it's difficult to find a product which won't irritate, but is emollient enough.
Many go for petroleum based moisturisers such as Vaseline Intensive Care, Melaleuca Renew or even just plain Sorbelene. These are safe and generally won't irritate, but they don't moisturise. Petroleum based products just coat the skin. They are unable to penetrate at all as the molecules are too large.

Moisturisers containing plant based oils and waxes can penetrate the skin and are therefore more able to prevent the skin from drying out too much and becoming even more damaged."Carrier Oils", Les Price

I spent some time researching the different oils, plant & herbal extracts when I created the formula for Replenish. I chose ricebran oil since it is light and non-greasy. The oil has been infused with calendula flowers since calendula is a powerful healing herb. Added to this is Evening Primrose oil which has a high level of gamma linoleic acid. If your skin is deficient in GLA's it can lead to dryness. Super healing allantoin is an extract from comfrey root and is known to help heal and soothe damaged skin. With added urea and aloe, this lotion can be used for everyday application anywhere on the body.
Olive leaf, calendula & golden seal extracts have been proven to be effective in the treatment of skin conditions and are added for the benefits they provide.

I've made this cream even more effective by adding a blend of tea tree and geranium oils. These are antiseptic and soothing and both have been used over the years to treat various skin problems such as dermatitis and eczema."The Encyclopedia of Essential Oils", Julia Lawless

During the testing phase for Replenish I had some great reports from my testers saying how this product had helped keep damaged skin moist and prevented further damage.

Replenish is also a great moisturiser to use after waxing. It soothes reddened and irritated skin and is antiseptic, so helps prevent further irritation.

Please note that Skinflint products cannot treat or cure your eczema. This information is not meant to replace any medical advice you may have received and if there appears to be any infection or you are concerned, it may be best to see your doctor or natural practitioner.

New Product - Reed Diffusers

Skinflint Reed Diffusers are fabulous for giving your home a light fresh fragrance, safely and cleanly. No dangerous oil burners. No need to buy sprays. Just sit your bottle on a bench or shelf and insert the reeds. Turn the reeds regularly at first, then once a week or so after that.

Available in four delicious fragrances:

Cotton Blossom is a Bath & Body Works type fragrance. A sweet and subtle blend of jasmine, violet and gardenia, with a sparkle of lemon zest on a dry down of vanilla. Gives an impression of clean laundry fresh from the clothes line.

Red Tea & Lychee has a subtle nuance of dew fruit and a unique finish that makes your mouth pucker and water at the same time. Mixed with Red Tea (also known as Rooibos), this blend finishes with the white florals of geranium and lily.

Salty Sailor is a crisp ozone type fragrance, with hints of salty sea spray. Smells like the ocean in a bottle. A unisex fragrance suited to bathroom or boys room.

White Tea & Ginger is another Bath & Body Works type. This fragrance has top notes of Bergamot, Lemon Peels and Green Daylilies. Base notes of Ginger, Nutmeg and Warm Musk keep the depth of the fragrance soft and smooth. White floral notes, such as Hyacinth, Freesia and Peony complete the mix. This fragrance is unique in many ways and it is difficult to pick out individual notes, but I'd say it smells like a bunch of fresh flowers and greenery.

The pack comes with the little triangular shaped glass bottle filled with the diffuser oil of your choice, five reeds, a cap and instructions for use. Introductory price is only $18.00 for the set and refills are available for an introductory special of $25. These will refill your bottle twice.

Baby Massage

Baby Massage is a wonderful way for Mum and Dad to connect with their baby as well as being a way of soothing, relaxing and aiding digestion. Here's a few pointers to to consider before you start:

• If you happened to listen to soothing music when pregnant, it's a good idea to play that same music softly in the background.

• Make sure the room is warm and only dimly lit or lit from outside. Keep a rug or towel ready to drape over areas which aren't being massaged.

• Ensure that you are in a comfortable and safe position. Lay baby on a folded doona on the floor or on your lap while you lean your back on a wall for support.

Here's a link to an Australian Parenting Website showing how to massage baby. If you right-click the link, choose "Open in New Tab" or "Open in New Window":

Baby Massage

I found some time to make Baby Massage Oil today. I used a blend of apricot kernel oil, ricebran oil and fractionated coconut oil. To this luxurious blend I added my blend of luxury essential oils: Rose damask, sweet orange, rose geranium & lavender.

The main oil is Apricot Kernel which is rich in essential fatty acids and Vit A, D & E. It's an elegant and luxurious carrier oil with great penetration , while ricebran is credited with being a promoter of collagen formation and is naturally high in vitamin E. Fractionated coconut oil is emollient, softening and protective. Fractionation allows more penetration and makes a much lighter, less greasy oil.



I've packaged it in a lightweight aluminium pump bottle. Since these are quite expensive, I will make refills available in cheaper PET bottles so customers can just refill the aluminium bottle.

Choc Orange Truffle Soap

Got organised and made my Choc Orange Truffle Soap today in my Nizzy Mould. It came together beautifully, but the cocoa swirl had gone to heavy trace while I was pouring the orange base part of the soap. So it was a bit of a different swirl, spooning the cocoa soap rather than pouring. It seemed to swirl quite well still, so only time will tell. It's in the freezer still to stop the gelling process.
Turned out really beautiful:

I've also been working on making room sprays. I've been playing with a few different essential oil blends. I have two favourites that I use myself in the house. One is a toilet spray with rose and eucalyptus and the other a room spray with orange, patchouli, black pepper and clove.
I'm trying to formulate a spray that won't separate and need to be shaken before use.
I've had no success with this, so will only be making it for our house at this stage.