Not long ago, I wrote a post on argan oil and its many beauty benefits.  From anti-aging and antioxidant properties to hair and nail treatments, this oil is a wonder ingredient.  Safe and natural, light and hydrating, argan oil has many uses in the beauty world.  But the argan tree and its fruits have a long history with Moroccan women that goes beyond beauty.

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I have always loved the idea of aromatherapy and at times (headache, extreme stress…) have tried it.  But the idea of having to 1) research which essential oils are appropriate for which need, and 2) buy and combine said oils without coming up with something obnoxious, sounded like more than I wanted to take on.  And even though essential oils can be very beneficial they are also very potent and care needs to be taken when using them.

Not long ago Stancie Wilson reported on Nuworld Botanicals Aromatherapy Personals on her blog Fig+Sage, and I just had to try them.  They are little rollerball vials that combine aromatherapy and acupressure, along with health benefits of antioxidants, vitamins and 100% certified organic essential oils.  Nuworld Botanicals uses a base of 100% certified organic Jojoba oil to dilute the essential oils for safe use.

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We are thinking about our skin now more than ever, with sleeveless tops, shorts and (shudder) bathing suits on the horizon.  There are many things you can do to get the bod summer-ready.  Starting with, of course, a healthier diet and picking up where we left that exercise program last fall.  As for the skin, a little self tanner goes a long way, evening out skin tone and giving you a nice glow.

To have truly healthy skin from the inside out you absolutely have to think about what you are feeding it.   Be sure you are using skin care and cosmetic products that are safe (free from harmful ingredients) and right for your skin type.  But don’t stop there, your diet definitely shows up in your complexion.

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Believe it or not you can get too much of a good thing and we may be overdoing it without even realizing it.  Most of us use too many beauty products. Not only that, but we tend to use too much of each product at one time.

Only a handful of safe and effective items are really needed in our beauty arsenal to keep our skin happy and healthy.  A nontoxic cleanser, a toner for those with oily or acne prone skin, one good moisturizer for the season, an eye cream you can use in the morning and at night, a treatment and a product for exfoliating your skin.  Pair these items up with mineral makeup and blush, nontoxic mascara and your favorite lip color and you are good to go most days.

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But their stand out product, in my humble opinion, has to be Pit Putty.  This stuff really works and best of all, it’s aluminum-free.  Like your typical organic deodorant this one controls odor, but unlike others it even seems to help keep you dry.  It is made with organic arrowroot powder, which absorbs wetness and doesn’t cause skin irritation like baking soda can.  Pit Putty also contains organic extra virgin coconut oil for moisture and essential oils to keep you smelling nice.  Comes in two scents; Lemon and Clove (unisex) and Geranium Lime (more girly).

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Leslie here at Crafting A Green World has talked to us about non-toxic dyeing using natural materials.  This collection is a larger scale equivalent of Leslie using her landlady’s plums to cook up some pretty fabric.

The collection is carried by Z&S Fabrics and Strawberry Patches, and the latter of which has some background information about the collection that is not found on Andover’s website. 

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Photo copyright Billi-Jean.com. Used with permission.