5 Ways For Moms To Make Their Face More Beautiful In Summer

Posted on by Ora
20 Jul

1 Every time you make your kids drink water, drink water. Hydration is key.

2 Every time you make your kids eat some fruit and veggies, eat some fruits and veggies. Your skin will thank you for the nutrients.

3 Every time you get your kids in to bed to make sure they get a good night sleep, get yourself into bed for a good night sleep. Say goodbye to having tired looking face.

4 Yeah right, ok fine, go for a nice brisk walk. Increasing your blood flow brings better color and tone to your skin.

5 When you put a sunhat on your kid, put a sunhat on yourself. Protecting your skin from the sun is important, but sunscreen has its drawbacks and limitations. A hat and sunglasses are a great idea for helping prevent dun damage.

6 When you look at your kid and smile and tell him/her “I love you so much”, go find a mirror and repeat.

No Matter How Crunchy You Are, Think Twice Before You DIY Sunscreen

Posted on by Ora

Natural sunscreen do’s and don’ts.

People keep asking me why I don’t sell a natural sunscreen.
The truth of the matter is that I use my Nightly Repair Face Serum in the morning, and although I state no claims, it has enough natural SPF from the tamanu, carrot, and other oils that I don’t need any SPF on my face most days. (See below for citation on a study I found about SPF of tamanu). If I am to spend a day in full sun I use a lab tested, mineral based high SPF sunscreen from a company I trust such as Badger Balm, with sunglasses and clothing as sun protection. A day of full sun happens for me about once a summer. At most I tend to spend an hour or two in full sun, during which I am happy to soak up the rays and feel my melanocytes getting their Vitamin D absorption on.

In the meantime here are a few do’s and don’ts.

1 Do refer to the EWG guide to sunscreen to educate yourself and to double check your choice. They have a search bar, where you can enter the product you are considering and they will rate it for you. (We aren’t on there yet, but we sure hope to be soon!)
http://www.ewg.org/2015sunscreen/

2 DON’T shmear yourself or your kids in a bunch of oil that you read somewhere online has SPF *8-10 and go to the beach all day. YOU AND YOUR FAMILY WILL BURN! For example I have seen people say things like, “Just use coconut and olive oil!”. As a pale skin person with experience in the sunburn from just shmearing oil department I can say to you, “NO! Make sure you have actual sunblock on if you are going to depend on a skincare product to protect you from the sun.

3 Any natural DIY recipe that has only oils, and no mineral blocking agent such as non-nano zinc oxide, is not to be depended upon.

4 If you want to make your own sunscreen you can check out this article for guidelines. She is talking sense. http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-sunscreen/

5 An easy option is to add some non-nano zinc oxide (see chart in #4) to some of our body butter which is about SPF 8 and use that as sunscreen. Just warm up the body butter in the sun or however else you want and mix it in, then place in freezer to re-solidify. This is basically what I do for my own DIY sunscreen. I don’t use it for a day at the beach though, for that I call in the big guns that have been lab tested for SPF of at least 30.

In case you are interested. Here is a link to the abstract about the tamanu oil study that I found. It was designed in order to assess the possibility of using tamanu oil in an opthalmic solution, since chemical sunblocks are cytotoxic (kill cells) and cause damage to the eye.
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17188472photo(46).

Oraʼs Amazing Herbal Lifestyle Ideas

Posted on by Ora's Amazing Herbal

Donʼt be the stinky person in the room!

6 Tips for keeping laundry fresh naturally.dryer ball

Around here, we do ALOT of laundry. We are pretty crunchy and try not to use paper towels in the kitchen, we use rags instead, and we use cloth napkins as much as we can. We also have six people in the house. Soooo, lots and lots of laundry. Avoiding the use of endocrine disrupting and cancer causing synthetics is important to us, so we have learned a thing or two over the years about how to keep the laundry situation naturally fresh.

1. If you are a non-cigarette smoker, you can smell when a smoker walks into the room, right? The smoker canʼt smell it but to those who do not smoke, you make the whole room smell like an ashtray almost instantly, yuck. Same thing with Febreze, Tide, and Downy for example. The smell hits us no-synthetic fragrance people like a cloud of toxic smoke. It even makes some people ill with migraines, nausea and vomiting, and that is not to mention the endocrine disruption and cancer they are known to cause. Letʼs all avoid these unnecessary chemicals, ok friends?

2. We recommend using one of the laundry detergents that the EWG rates with an A or B at the least. You can find their list here http://www.ewg.org/guides/cleaners/content/ top_products. (No we are not affiliated with them, we just trust their information as a good source.) Or, if you canʼt do that, commit to using “free and clear” unscented detergents.

3. Donʼt leave wet laundry sitting in the machine or anywhere else for more than a few hours. We used to start a load in the morning, and then come home at the end of the day and switch it to the dryer. Here in NJ where mold and humidity prevails, when you donʼt use strong chemicals, you have to wash and then dry. So for us that means only doing laundry when we will be home to switch it pretty soon after the load is done. This is a little inconvenient, but really helps us avoid the need for stronger laundry chemicals.Oras Essential Oil

4. Leave the washer open when not in use. This helps keep microbes and spores from festering in you wash.

5. In lieu of fabric softener we recommend using one of the wool dryer balls that are available for sale such as these Dryer Balls or these Woolzies Dryer Balls 6 pack.

6. Sometimes you just want stuff to smell extra nice. We also feel that way sometimes, so to freshen things up, we drop a few drops of essential oil on a wood dryer ball or a rag (the oil may stain the direct spot where you put it), before putting it into the dryer. You can use whatever essential oil you are into, and you can always change it up as your inclinations change. So there you have it, fresh laundry that everyone can live with. Hope it helps!  – Ora

How to Make Green Eggs That Your Kids Will Love

Posted on by Ora's Amazing Herbal

Last week my childrenʼs school celebrated Dr. Seussʼs birthday. In the kindergarten class they made green eggs by mixing spinach with eggs. My 5 year old who had been refusing eggs for months came home asking for green eggs. I wasnʼt there when they made it at school so I winged it.

I filled the container with fresh spinach and then added 3 eggs. I use organic extra large. I then sczoozced them together.

photo 1 (7) photo 2 (6)

photo 2 (5)photo 1 (6)

I heated my trusty cast iron frying pan, added a pat of good quality butter, spread it around the pan and added the green mixture and cooked it just like regular scrambled eggs.

I called it “green eggs in a pan” … get it? Green Eggs and Ham… green eggs in a pan…? My 5 year old didnʼt get it either, she said “No! Itʼs just called green eggs!” Ok, we can call it whatever you want.

Served it with tomato salsa and a size of frozen cherries.

Why frozen cherries? She wanted frozen cherries, what can I say.

This was a super easy way to get some protein, iron, B vitamins, and fiber into my kid with a bout 5 minutes of cooking time. My kind of instant gratification.

photo 3 (2) Green Eggs

Is Tamanu Oil the New Argan Oil? The Story of a Little-Known Miracle Oil That Can Transform Your Skin

Posted on by Breina Gidseg
Tamanu
04 Mar

One of the key ingredients in our Advanced Nightly Skin Repair Phytonutrient Face Oil Serum is tamanu oil, an oil that is still unknown to many in the Western world. Although the mainstream market has discovered Moroccan argan oil and added it to all kinds of hair and skin products, tamanu oil is just starting to gain attention as the public starts to learn about how this humble little nut can be transformed into an oil with incredible skin-healing and anti-aging properties.

Tamanu nuts (Calophyllum inophyllum) are typically grown in Southeast Asia, East Africa and Australia. They are dried for several months until the nut secretes its precious oil that is cold-pressed to create a skin-healing oil that has anti-viral and anti-microbial properties. It is noted for its ability to heal scars and wounds and reduce stretch marks as well as its effectiveness in the treatment of mild abrasions and rashes. It is strongly anti-inflammatory and also full of antioxidants that can help prevent or reverse signs of aging. Tamanu oil has been used by traditional cultures to protect the skin from extreme weather. Preliminary research has indicated that tamanu oil contains an anti-inflammatory compound called calophyllolide as well as a form of vitamin E and other anti-oxidants.

Tamanu oil is strongly regenerative for the skin thanks to its free-radical-neutralizing polyphenol content, which is why Ora’s Amazing Herbals uses it as a key ingredient in our Night Serum. But it is also used for psoriasis, acne, athlete’s foot, rheumatism, scabies, eczema, sunburn and to prevent wrinkles. It is also used for topical pain relief, as it can relieve some of the symptoms of shingles, joint pain and other conditions. It is known in Southeast Asia and the Pacific islands for its ability to heal chapped or burned skin. Peer-reviewed research studies have shown tamanu oil’s efficacy in healing scars.

Tamanu oil, in combination with other phytonutrient-rich oils such as carrot seed oil and pomegranate oil, is a critical ingredient in our popular new Advanced Nightly Skin Repair Phytonutrient Face Oil Serum. Our restorative serums use only gluten-free, all-natural ingredients to protect and repair your skin and keep your face glowing all year long.

Alternatives to Steroids for Eczema in Kids & Adults

Posted on by Breina Gidseg
Natural Eczema Treatment
04 Mar

Anyone with eczema can testify to the quick speed with which most doctors are ready to dispense prescriptions for steroid creams. However, an increasing number of people are turning a skeptical eye towards this conventional approach to treatment and questioning steroids’ safety. These creams are absorbed into the body through the skin. There are strict maximums on steroid dosages due to potential side effects, which children are particularly prone to. Although regarded by many as a benign medication, steroid creams can actually cause growth restriction for children, thinning of the skin, depigmentation, contact dermatitis, stretchmarks, and more. Although there are cases where eczema requires medical treatment, there are safer alternatives to steroid creams that can be tried first.

The first “treatment” to try for eczema is not a treatment at all but rather prevention via the identification of eczema triggers. Take a look at what some factors might be in causing the appearance or worsening of eczema. This includes infections; very hot or very cold weather; environmental allergens such as pollen, mold, dust, or pets; skin exposure to substances that can irritate the skin, such as many soaps and laundry detergents, body care products, and cleaning products. Even emotional stress can cause an eczema flare. Changing hormone levels may also trigger it, as can certain foods (whether or not you have a truly allergy to them).

The second natural approach that can be taken to treat eczema is the use of chemical-free moisturizers, emollients and oils to sooth the skin and deeply moisturize it, as well as protecting it from weather changes and irritants. When Ora’s Amazing Herbal was first launched, two of our first products were our All-Purpose Salve and Touchy Skin Salve. These were initially created by founder Ora Assayag to treat her own child’s severe eczema in order to avoid resorting to the antibiotics and corticosteroids suggested by doctors. Ora quickly discovered these salves were effective for the treatment of eczema and extremely dry skin, didn’t cause stinging for people with irritated and sensitive skin, and provided a protective barrier for people engaging in work or play that can irritate and dry out the skin, in addition to having many healing properties. They can be applied to a child’s exposed skin before going out into the cold or heat, used to treat rough, dry or irritated patches of skin, and can even be effective for cradle cap. Consider giving safe salves and healing oils a try before resorting to medical treatments that may cause as many problems as they solve.

5 Things You Need to Know About Gluten-Free Skincare Products

Posted on by Breina Gidseg
22 Feb

You have no doubt noticed an astounding array of new gluten-free offerings popping up on grocery store shelves and at restaurants as awareness of celiac disease and gluten intolerance have grown. But did you know that there’s another gluten-free trend that goes hand and hand with gluten-free diets? It’s important for anyone with celiac disease, dermatitis herpetiformis, gluten-reactive eczema or gluten intolerance to keep the following things in mind:

  1. You eat more shampoo and face wash than you realize!
    These products frequently drip down your face and into your mouth along with water. Many shampoos and face washes include various wheat proteins, barley and oat extracts, and other gluten-containing ingredients.
  2. Use soap and bodywash that is clean for your insides and your outsides.
    Soap and bodywash residue remains on your hands, which you then use to eat and wipe your mouth. It is only natural that one would want to make sure these products, too, are free of any ingredients that compromise your body’s wellness.
  3. Your mom told you not to eat that delicious flavored Chapstick™, but you still do.
    Lip balms and lipsticks frequently contain gluten. As you go about your day you consume more of it than you might realize. One study that found that lipstick use was corrollated with rates of systemic lupus erythematosus found that lipstick wearers consume an average of 60 milligrams of it a day. Lip balm wearers likely consume a similar quantity. Make sure any lip product you choose is as gluten-free as your food!
  4. Gluten can cause eczema flare-ups and rashes.
    Ingestion is not the only way that gluten can irritate the body. There are some people who find that applying skin creams that are not gluten-free cause skin problems… Whether it causes you or your child’s eczema to flare up or leads to an itchy contact rash, you may find that gluten-free lotions and oils help moisturize without irritating.
  5. Gluten hides in skincare products under a lot of sneaky pseudonyms.
    Ingredients sometimes found in skincare products that should be avoided by gluten-free individuals include avena sateva (oat) extract, hordeum vulgare (barley) extract, wheat germ oil, wheat amino acids, hydrolized wheat starch, triticum aestivum, triticum carthlicum, triticum durum, and triticum vulgare. You can avoid these ingredients by purchasing your skincare products from a company that is 100% gluten-free such as Ora’s Amazing Herbals.

Breina Gidseg is a mother of five and is a nutritionist, health and wellness writer, recipe developer and cooking teacher based in New Jersey.

Do NOT Put THAT On Your Skin!

Posted on by Ora's Amazing Herbal
Shea Butter
22 Jan

It seems intuitive that using natural and pure skincare and clean eating are the same thing. Everything that goes on your skin gets absorbed through your skin to your underlying adipose (fat) cells, to your blood, and from there to your whole body.

When I cook food, I do not add Triethanolamine, Methylparaben, or Propylparaben. When I shop at the store I read ingredients, and when I see things like yellow #5, which are known to accumulate over time in the body, I do not purchase those products.

For me, the same goes with skincare. So when formulating my new Ultra Healing Body Butter, it was a no-brainer to select ingredients that I want absorbed into my body.

Shea Butter
Shea butter is an all-natural ingredient made from the nuts of karite nut trees (Butyrospermum parkii or “butter seed”) that grow wild in the savannah regions of West and East Africa. I particularly love the addition of shea butter in this formula, for a few reasons. Obviously the way it feels and how well it works are the first reason. The next is its high nutrient density, vitamins A and E and essential fatty acids, to be specific. Shea butter can be used on babies and pets without any concerns, and feels delicious from the minute it goes on until hours later. It is often used for eczema, stretch mark preventions and minimizing, razor bumps, and plain ol’ dry skin and hair. Organic unrefined shea butter has a buttery texture and nutty scent, as well as an approximate SPF of 6.

Complementing organic shea butter with apricot kernel, castor, and my herbal infused base oil, gives me all the elements I could imagine wanting in a body butter.

I love to take a long hot shower or bath, scrub down, and then after drying off and body powdering, use my face serum and body butter. My skin is fed, I am a whole new me.

My skin is truly clean and happy. And so am I.

Oy! It’s Eczema And Allergy Season Again?

Posted on by Ora's Amazing Herbal
Herbal Skin Care - Ora's Amazing Herbal
20 May

A Time To Itch And Wheeze, A Time To Shmear And Breathe

In our house, the eczema comes and goes, just like the weather. Come to think of it, it comes and goes with the weather. When the flowers bloom and the temperature goes up, the sneezes and scratches are likely to follow. Here is what we do for the kids in our house that are prone to allergies, asthma, and eczema.

Try to avoid dairy and sugar. I know, it’s a bummer during ice cream season, but dairy is the #1 food sensitivity associated with both asthma and eczema. Sugar is a known irritant in addition to suppressing the immune system. The main real danger of eczema is infection, so we want to keep our immune systems strong.

Eat lots of veggies, the darker and more colorful the better. I don’t want to explain this one again any more than you want to read about it, so let’s move on, shall we?

Hydrate. Drink lots of water. Wet is the opposite of dry. In order to keep skin from getting dry it helps to keep the whole body hydrated.

Fragrance free everything. Even the green laundry detergent that we use that only has essential oils in it, can irritate our reactive ones when their systems are agitated. We switch to the unscented version for this season.

Essential fatty acids and anti-oxidants. There are a million ways to supplement these nutrients, but the most important thing we have found is that consistency is the most important. We do a yummy real foods based chewable that the kids always come asking for that is very high in vitamin C and flavonoids. We also do a lemon flavored liquid cod liver oil. With 4 kids, we simply can’t keep any of the fancy chewable fish oil pills in stock! Just keep the bottle in the fridge and act like it’s the best treat in the world. Take some with them every time too to make it look good. We do this anti-inflammatory regimen year round but I really try to be more mindful to do it daily during this time.

Nettles (Urtica dioica) and licorice (Glycyrrhiza glabra) seem to be the two most important herbs in our house for this season. I buy them in bulk and keep a pitcher of iced tea sweetened with raw honey in the fridge and bring it out at meal time. I put about 2 cups of dried nettles (don’t touch with your bare hands, it stings) and 1/4 cup licorice in a 1/2 gallon mason jar of hot water. Steep covered for a few hours then strain, add a little raw honey or maple syrup and fresh lemon and chill. If it tastes too strong for you, you can always add water. Delicious and quenching.

Shmear them down. Doing a daily or twice daily shmear of all the areas prone to dry and irritated skin, really makes a huge difference. My bigger kids have their own jar of herbal infused salve, and I just make sure to remind them to shmear. My little one still gets the mommy spa treatment. Applying an herbal salve regularly gives the herbs a chance to work their magic so waiting for kids to complain doesn’t do anyone any favors. Just like you wouldn’t brush your teeth every three days and expect a good dentist visit, you have to be diligent with the shmear. Keeping both internal and external inflammation down requires maintenance. Make sure that whatever you use is free of those toxic parabens and/or petroleum based products.

So there you have it. Nothing ground breaking here, just a couple of good reminders on how to keep touchy skin happy during the weather change. Have a happy spring!

Ora Assayag loves creating simple and pure but effective concoctions for the skin, tummy, and soul. Ora’s Amazing Herbal, natural skincare for the whole family.

– Ora Assayag, Ora’sAmazingHerbal.com

Our little one loves her Touchy Skin Salve
Our little one loves her Touchy Skin Salve

So Funny, So True

Posted on by Ora's Amazing Herbal
28 Mar

Just read this hilarious post called The Tragedy of the Healthy Eater:

“I know you. We have a lot in common. You have been doing some reading and now you are pretty sure everything in the grocery store and your kitchen cupboards is going to kill you…”

You will laugh: http://www.nwedible.com/2012/08/tragedy-healthy-eater.html

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