Sea Buckthorn Oil

Posted on by Satsuki Gormley
25 Jun

Sea buckthorn oil, or otherwise known by its botanical name, Hippophae rhamnoides, literally means “tree that makes the horse shine”. For years it has been known for its ability to improve horses’ health and make their hair shiny and soft. But the benefits of buckthorn don’t stop with noble steeds! This nutrient-rich yellow-orange berry derivative is ideal for post-sun and anti-aging skin treatments too!
Here’s how it works:
The benefits of sea buckthorn oil have been known for centuries! It’s suspected to have originated in the Himalayas, but was also used by several different cultures, including ancient Greeks, Egyptians, the Chinese, and Mongols throughout time. It was certainly a hot commodity along the Silk Road. For years, a variety of health benefits have been documented in ancient literature, including everything from alleviating pain to aiding digestion.
Today, sea buckthorn oil is most well known for its healing and rejuvenating effects on the skin! Topical application can help with exfoliation, cleansing, healing sunburn, and slowing down the signs of aging. It does all this by starting from the source and nourishing the tissues in your skin and body.
There are two types of sea buckthorn oil: seed oil and fruit oil. While they are very similar in nutrient composition, fruit oil tends to be much darker and thicker, while seed oil takes on a paler color and more fluid viscosity.
The sea buckthorn berry itself contains over 190 nutrients and phytonutrients, including vitamin C; 12 times higher than that of an orange! The oils are also full of antioxidants like phenols, terpenes, and glucosides and additional vitamins A and E. In other words, this stuff is excellent for your skin and it has the nutrition profile to prove it.
Sea buckthorn oil is particularly pro at combatting acne and promoting skin vitality and regeneration. As the summer is here and our skin is more susceptible to those harmful UV rays, maintaining a skin regimen is key. There is nothing that speeds the skin aging process along faster than too much sun exposure. It’s absolutely crucial to protect your outermost layer with a good SPF and absolutely recommended to follow up time in the sun with rejuvenating oil.
Sea buckthorn oil is one of the main ingredients in our Magic Face Potion. The wise woman knows that true magic always starts with clear intention and the right tools. We have formulated this anti-aging Magic Face Potion to be a powerful self care tool for women over 40 who intend to move forward with vitality and clarity. In here are botanicals that are anti-oxidant for quenching free radicals and anti-aging. Properties also include helping promote cell turnover, collagen production preventing blemishes, supporting scar healing, soothing adult acne and rosacea, replenishing after sun and wind exposure, and also simply for deep moisturizing. Stop by our virtual herb garden here and start protecting your skin today!

7 Fun Ways to be a Feminist

Posted on by Satsuki Gormley
27 Apr

1 Make dirty jokes in public. At my gym, all the guys make dirty jokes, but the women
almost never do. No one is really gross or offensive and it is all in good fun. Today I
made a little sideways comment and made one of the trainers blush. First of all, it was
fun to watch him squirm a little. Secondly, it is a fun and subtle way to remind people,
that women, you know, are people.

2 Do at least one push up every day. If you can’t do a complete push up, cheat. Do it
however you can, but do it every day. Become strong, physically. It feels good to be
strong. It feels empowering, because, you know, women can either be strong or not
strong. Somehow it is not surprising when women are not strong, but when we are, it
carries an uplifted message both to ourselves and to those around us.

3 Connect with the other women in the room first. When entering a new social
situation, I like to try to introduce myself to the sisters first. Even if a woman is not super
friendly, connecting with her first, feels like a stand up thing to do. We are in it together.
We can lead the conversation and command respect in this non-aggressive and warm
way. Usually, no one even notices, but I find it sets a certain tone of respect for the
women and for the men as well.

4 Go support women and girls who are doing cool things. There are now so many
movies, woman comedians, plays, speakers, trainers, woman owned business, all of it.
This is normal to my daughters but remember, this is actually kind of new in our culture.
Let’s support them! It’s true that they aren’t all good, choose what you like! Let’s face it,
a funny woman is, you know, really funny.

5 Carry a pocket knife. I like my pocket knife because I am a mom and I like to be able
to cut up apples or cheese or open a box. I also like it because sometimes I notice
people double taking when I use it. It’s surprising for a woman to have a pocket knife.
Not sure why, but I think it may be a little bit feminist.

6 Choose your look. Decide what to wear and how to look based on your preference
and not based on the expectations of others. I’m not sure why this is a feminist thing,
but I think it really is. Shave, don’t shave. Make-up, no make-up. Jeans, fishnets. All
these choices are yours and no one else’s.

7 Be a woman, it’s fun!

Ok, that’s my list of 7 fun ways to be a feminist. It would be fun to add to it! Any more
fun ways to be a feminist? E-mail them to info@orasamazingherbal.com

Thanks and be well,
Ora

Makeup Remover Oil

Posted on by Satsuki Gormley
26 Mar

The Dirty Little Secret Behind Oil Makeup Removers

Believe it or not, some of the best makeup removers on the market are oils!

After a long day (especially during those summer months), removing your makeup before cleansing your face is crucial.

In fact, we’ll go as far as to say that skincare is the most important part of your makeup routine. Any professional will tell you that keeping your skin clean, soft, and nourished is the first step in maintaining a healthy glow. And oils are the ideal makeup-removing product in more ways than one:

Oils have the power to remove long lasting, waterproof mascara, eye shadows, liners, and foundation because they can break down virtually any ingredient found in makeup. Here’s how: The oils in the makeup remover bind with your skin’s natural oils and any dirt on the surface, which makes it a breeze to wash everything away.

Here are a few tips:

It’s very important to take off your eye makeup with something targeted for that area, as to not clog the rest of your pores. First, you don’t want to risk an eye infection or discoloration by dragging a dirty wipe or cotton ball over your eyes. And second, you don’t want to risk clogged pores by dragging a dirty wipe or cotton ball over your face. It’s typically best to place a cotton ball with an oil-based remover over your eyes first, let the oil dissolve the makeup for a minute or so, and then wipe clean.

The same type of oil can then be used to take off your face makeup! The key is applying it correctly.

First, start with a dry face and dry hands. Water and oils are not known for mixing well based on the principle of polarity. In order for the makeup remover oil to fully break down the makeup, your skin should be dry.

Second, it’s important that you use the correct amount. If you don’t use enough, it will feel like you’re pulling on your skin. Rubbing it in your hands first, thins it out so that it can be spread evenly over your face and then massaging (in small, circular motions) into your pores helps it bind with your natural oils and accumulated dirt.

Third, follow it up with your daily cleanser and a moisturizer. This will prevent your skin from feeling tight and ensure clean pores. You deserve to have the best of both worlds: flawless makeup and beautiful skin. No one says you should have to choose!

If you’re looking to change up your skincare routine in favor of those nourishing oils, we want to provide you with the perfect solution! Our Daily Nourish Face Oil, available here is perfect for maintaining a youthful glow. It can be worn under makeup, instead of makeup, or to remove makeup. Smell the touch of fruity olive oil, our herbal infused Base Oil, rosehip seed, apricot kernel and meadowfoam oils, without any chemical additives. Many of our friends who wear makeup, also use our Touchy Skin Salve for makeup removal. They say it can even remove more stubborn eye makeup and leave their skin feeling soft and nourished.  Ora’s Amazing Herbal provides you with products that are 100% natural and nourishing because herbs are amazing!

Bear a Better Beard and Keep it Kissable. Hint: Natural Beard Oil Helps

Posted on by Satsuki Gormley
09 Mar

Beards have fallen in and out of popularity throughout the 2000s. Some years they’re “in” and some years they’re “out”; it’s honestly hard to keep track! Regardless, we’ve broken the stereotype that beards are unprofessional. A well-kept, soft beard certainly has its place in the workplace, but keeping it that way is easier said than done. We’ve all seen beards across the tameness spectrum, ranging from ridiculously unkempt to meticulously neat and for the later we may have even asked ourselves, what is their secret?

 

Beard care and maintenance certainly differs from man to man, but we have a few suggestions on keeping your scruff soft:

 

  1. Be Patient: Growing a beard is hard work and you’re not going to wake up one day with perfect facial hair. But we all know that we have to work hard for what we want. Growing a nice beard takes stamina; you have to resist the urge to trim and shave (especially during the beginning stages), despite the itchiness. However, it’s never too early to start moisturizing. Our line of Beard Oils isn’t tough on skin and actually works to maintain and strengthen its natural moisture barrier. Moisturizing during the growth process makes everything a little bit less scruffy and a lot easier to manage.

 

  1. Evaluate your face shape and beard limitations: First, just like with haircuts, different shaped beards look best with different shaped faces. While every man has the right to bear whatever shaped beard, here are a few general suggestions:

 

Square Face:         Keep hair fuller on the chin, shorter on the sides

Round Face:         Grow hair longer on the bottom, shorter on the sides

Rectangular Face:     Keep the sides fuller, and the bottom shorter

Oval Face:         Most styles work well

 

Second, it’s important to accept your beard’s strengths and weaknesses and then embrace them. If the patchiness is real, work around it. Choose the areas you want to keep and improve and touch up the rest with a razor. Just because you have a patchy section doesn’t mean you’re doomed (especially if you keep it soft).

 

  1. Maximize the transition phase: If there’s a time to take the most care of your beard, it’s during this phase. Just as your beard starts to take shape, you should be focused on keeping it clean and moisturized. It’s almost like laying down a strong foundation before you begin construction on a home. If those pioneer hairs aren’t happy, the next generation won’t be either. Definitely invest in a beard wash and beard oil.

 

  1. Get to shaping: Once you have something substantial to work with, you can begin crafting. Since by now you’ve already familiarized yourself with the best shape beard for your face, the transition to style should be smooth. At this point, feel free to hand over the reins to a professional barber. It will just be up to you to maintain, trim, and soften. A poorly trimmed beard is a one-way ticket to unprofessional city, so remember the value of neatness.

 

At Ora’s Amazing Herbal, we know that growing a beard is hard work and we’re here to support you along the way! Our Beard Oil Set makes a great gift for that hard to buy for, rustic kind of bearded guy. Beautifully and simply packaged in our 100% recycled kraft gift box. Try a little variety with this 3 pack including Revive, Refresh and Unscented. Each is one ounce for convenient travel and ideal for conditioning, and softening. By adding a few drops to your beard and face, the properties of Argan, Rosehips and Jojoba oils will help you keep it kissable.

 

Does It Really Matter If My Skincare & Cosmetic Products Are Gluten-Free?

Posted on by Ora
29 Jan

Gluten-free is everywhere these days. We have seen a welcomed increase in awareness of celiac disease, a serious autoimmune disease that requires a strictly gluten-free diet and affects roughly 1 in 100 people. Non-celiac gluten intolerances appear to be on the rise, and the popularity of low-carb, ketogenic, grain-free and paleo diets have also increased demand for gluten-free foods. With gluten-free foods popping up in even the most mainstream grocery stores and eateries, eating gluten-free has never been more popular nor easier to do.

However, you are not alone if you have wondered why you are seeing the term “gluten-free” on items that aren’t food!  Seeing your lipstick, shampoo, or skin lotion labeled gluten-free has left many consumers perplexed. After all,  ”gluten” is a protein found in foods – Namely, wheat, barley and rye. Some oats also contain immunoreactive proteins that some bodies react to similarly to wheat gluten, plus they are often contaminated with other gluten-containing grains. When people with celiac disease ingest gluten, the villi of their intestines are dangerously damaged, which may cause everything from diarrhea to weight loss and from nutrient malabsorption to serious neurological issues. This autoimmune disease has serious long-term health effects and can only be treated with a strictly gluten-free diet. Celiac disease is sometimes accompanied by a skin condition called dermatitis herpetiformis. Dermatitis herpetiformis can cause itchy rashes, bumps and blisters. People with eczema and irritable bowel syndrome as well as with some autoimmune diseases (e.g. inflammatory bowel disease, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis) may also find that gluten causes flare-ups of their conditions.  But if all of these conditions are triggered by eating these foods, why would it matter if topical skincare products and cosmetics contain gluten?

Take a moment to imagine that you are washing your hair in the shower with a shampoo or conditioner that contains gluten. The water streams down your face, some of it dripping into your mouth. You dry off and apply gluten-containing body lotion, not rinsing off what remains on your hands, which you’ll then use to eat your gluten-free breakfast that may be made of foods that may well be cross-contaminated with small amounts of gluten. Right before leaving the house for work you apply your lipstick or lip balm which you’ll re-apply many more times throughout the day. It contains small amounts of gluten as well. You may also apply more hand cream that will eventually end up in your mouth. These are just a few examples of how gluten can be ingested without eating gluten-containing foods. It’s not hard to imagine how all of these trace amounts can add up to enough unconsciously-ingested gluten to trigger symptoms in the gluten sensitive person!

How much gluten does someone with celiac disease need to ingest in order to have a reaction? A shockingly small amount, it turns out. The ingestion threshold varies greatly from person to person. Research shows, however, that the villi of the intestines can atrophy (causing malabsorption and other symptoms) with the ingestion of as little as 10 milligrams of gluten per day. That is 1/350th of a slice of bread! When you consider the cross-contamination of many of the foods ingested by even people who are careful to stick to gluten-free diets, and add to that the small amounts present in makeup, skincare and body care products, it is surprisingly easy to ingest enough to cause damage and symptoms for those with the highest sensitivity. For some people with celiac disease, and those with wheat allergies, even 10 milligrams is too much.

 

For those with non-celiac gluten intolerance, irritable bowel syndrome, gluten-sensitive autoimmune diseases like psoriasis or multiple sclerosis, wheat allergies (or allergies to other gluten-containing grains) or eczema that is triggered by gluten ingestion, there is unfortunately no research that shows what a safe threshold is. Therefore, some people may choose to be more careful than others- For example, those who have a history of anaphylaxis or severe skin reactions.

In addition to the accidental ingestion of gluten through products used in the shower or on your lips, topical application on the skin of gluten-containing products can also cause serious reactions for some people with gluten intolerance. The presence of gluten or wheat on the skin can trigger unsightly and uncomfortable flareups of eczema, for example. For people with wheat or oat allergies, it can cause rashes and hives as well as more serious allergic symptoms.

Gluten-containing ingredients to watch out for in cosmetics and hair and skincare products include this non-exhaustive list:

  • Wheat and derivatives: Triticum vulgare (wheat) germ extract, germ oil, starch, protein, hydrolyzed wheat protein/PVP crosspolymer, hydrolyzed wheat starch
  • Oats and derivatives: Avena sativa (oat) kernel flour, hydrolyzed oat flour
  • Rye (Also known as Secale cereale [rye] seed flour)
  • Barley flour & barley extract
  • Fermented grain extract, hydrolyzed malt extract, phytosphingosine extract,  yeast extract, hydrolyzed vegetable protein, Vitamin E (if derived from wheat germ), S-amino peptide complex, and sodium C8-16 isoalkylsuccinyl.
  • Dextrins: Dextrin and maltodextrin (usually gluten-free if made in the United States, but may in some cases contain gluten), dextrin palmitate, cyclodextrin

The core of maintaining one’s health with gluten intolerances and celiac disease is consuming only gluten-free food. Still, learning to recognize gluten-containing ingredients, and identifying skincare and cosmetics companies that make gluten-free products, could play an unexpected role in avoiding symptoms, optimizing health, and maintaining a truly gluten-free lifestyle.

T.Gidseg is a nutrition, health and wellness writer, recipe developer, and mother of 4

Happy Yom Kippur

Posted on by Ora

Reality is not my forte. Never has been.

Keeping my heart open in reality takes too much work, too much courage. As a young child I would go into the trees behind our house and play with imaginary friends instead of the real ones I had.

As an elementary school kid I would go ride my bike and feel the wind in my hair, instead of doing my homework.

As a teenager I would, well, avoid reality whenever I could.

As an adult, I focus on things that are not important such as their messy room, how it takes them too long to respond when I am talking, and how they forgot to do their laundry.

I focus on goals I am not accomplishing in each moment such as feeding all the hungry children of the world and housing all the homeless.
I waste precious time escaping reality on Facebook and watching movies on Netflix when I could be spending time with the people I deeply love, giving them all my heart.

My mind is visibly elsewhere during Minecraft explanations, origami demonstrations and D & D .. whatever they are called.
I am busy trying to brush their hair and make them eat broccoli when they are just wanting a hug and a book read to them.
I am planning the open design kitchen my husband will build me instead of the amazing way he sits with the children to help them focus on their homework every school night.

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All these things do want to get done, but in each moment, I want to be in that moment, not the next or the one before. What is it they say about having one foot in the present and the other in the future.. something happens to the present, ahem.

I want to walk with my heart in the lead, not with my mind spinning.
This is the work for me this coming year. Writing it here makes it true, yes?

This Yom Kippur, I will praying for more time to do this work and correct this tendency as much as I can. I will be praying for one more year to give them hugs, sit down to dinner, and maybe even pretend to love Minecraft. I will be praying for one more year and the wisdom to appreciate it and to treat it as the gift that it truly is.

May it be a beautiful year of peace, health, love and light for all of us.

5 Things Not To do When Getting Your Kids Ready For Overnight Camp

Posted on by Ora
31 Jul

How can a made bed possibly bring so many emotions?
Deep breath, smile. Ok,.. as promised..

Getting Kids Ready For Sleepaway Camp For The First Time

1 Do not start 2 days before they leave for camp.
2 Unless you function best under ridiculous pressure, do not start a week and a half before you launch 8 new products on your herbal skincare line.
3 Do not do the laundry and pack their stuff on a really beautiful day when you would rather have everyone outside.
4 Do not think about all the little things the camp doesn’t know about your kid like how he forgets to drink water and will never put on a jacket unless you tell him to. It doesn’t mean he isn’t cold, it just means he is busy with more interesting thoughts.
5 Do not let them see you cry, it is good, they are blessed to have such a wonderful place to go to. Be grateful and let go.

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.

5 Fascinating Musings Over Why I hate and love my dehumidifier.

Posted on by Ora
19 Jul

1 Well, it pulls humidity out of the air. In soupy New Jersey in the summer, that means your dehumidifier is your best friend.

2 Dehumidifiers smell bad because the bucket holds stagnant moisture pulled from the air. I keep a bottle of leftover essential oils from experimental recipes, and fill a dropper of it into my dehumidifier every time I think of it (a few times a week) to keep it from molding. I just started this genius practice this summer, so far so good.

3 A portable dehumidifier, handy as it may be is also a pain in the butt. Ok, so you can hook it up to a drain in the basement, that’s smart and you never have to really think about it. But in our house in summer, we need the thing upstairs, and there is no good place to hook it up just for summer, so it sits in the hallway. In a house with 4 kids, another thing in the hallway is a pain in the butt.

4 I don’t know where you live, but here in the garden state we have to empty it every day. Another thing to do. I’m not kvetching but, wait no I am kvetching. Get over it. 🙂

5 A dehumidifier is meant to pull moisture out of the air in summer but it blows out warm air. It’s 2015 people, we couldn’t find a way to make it blow cool air?

There you have it. My relationship with my dehumidifier. Complex and baffling.
What paradoxical feelings do you have about your various home appliances? Be in touch below or on your favorite social media, please let me know I am not alone it this struggle!

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