Why all the hype about Aloe being so important to healthy skin and hair?

The aloe plant has been in existence for thousands of years. It’s restorative and medicinal properties have been used since ancient times to fight everything from treating burns to counteracting wrinkles. Simple, yet highly effective remedies survive and remain popular because they have stood the test of time! In other words, they work!

The aging process is natural and unavoidable. Don’t let clever or deceptive marketing lead you to believe otherwise. Cell function begins to slow as early as our 20’s and 30’s. Poor diets, sun exposure, and environmental toxins are but a few of the contributing factors that accelerate this natural process.

Fortunately, Mother Nature has provided us with a host of natural remedies to ease the aging process. One such element is the essence of the Aloe Vera plant.

Aloe Vera possesses remarkable moisturizing properties and is excellent for the skin and hair because its pH value is almost identical to that of skin (slightly acidic). Scientific analysis reveals a complex group of chemicals and enzymes that are biologically active.

Aloe Vera is one of several natural substances scientifically documented to work. Scientific research into the benefits of Aloe began in the 1930’s. To date, volumes of research is available to review documenting the aloe plant’s ability to positively aid in the healing and repair of skin.

One remarkable benefit of Aloe Vera is it’s ability to increase the skin’s support protein, Collagen (which keeps skin firm and youthful looking), by increasing human fibroblast cells six to eight times faster than normal cell production.

Aloe Vera has also been known to be an excellent cleanser; it exfoliates old cells; cleans the pores; mops up excess oils; and removes wastes and toxins.

In addition, Aloe Vera has the tightening, astringent action which reduces large pores and the possibility of blemishes. It also contains an aspirin-like compound that makes the Aloe leaf and juice have an anti-inflammatory effect.

Aloe Vera aids in:
•    keeping skin firm and youthful looking
•    ridding old, dead skin cells
•    tightening the skin to make you look younger
•    cleaning and flushing skin’s pores
•    Combats excessive sebum (oil) buildup
•    Removal of all wastes and skin toxins
•    reducing large pores
•    reducing the possibility of blemishes
•    and is suited for every skin type and every skin tone
•    Aloe Vera is an anti-irritant, anti-inflammatory, and antibacterial.

Next to Cannabis Sativa (Hemp Seed Oil), extracts of the Aloe plant are the most important and most beneficial natural substance our skin and hair has.

Hemp Seed Oil - Nature’s Most Perfectly Balanced Oil

Hemp and Skin Care

Hemp seed oil is renowned for its skin moisturizing and rejuvenating properties and has the highest concentration of essential fatty acids (EFAs) of any essential oil, as well the perfect balance of Omega 3 and Omega 6 EFAs. Essential fatty acids have the ability to enter directly into the lipid layers of skin cells, replenishing the oils that are missing due to sun exposure, poor nutrition or neglect; and as shown by clinical studies can actually slow down the aging effects on skin.

Throughout history the anti-inflammatory properties of hemp seed oil have been used as a soothing restorative to dry, damaged skin. The replenishing nutrients of hemp seed oil are able to penetrate deep into skin cells - providing natural emollients and a lasting barrier to moisture loss - increasing the skin’s natural capacity for moisture retention.

Hemp and the Environment

Is hemp the same as marijuana? No. The Industrial hemp used in cosmetics contains no marijuana although they are from the same species (Cannabis Sativa). No trace of THC - the mind-altering compound is found in hemp body care products. Industrial hemp can be grown with relatively little fertilizer and without the pesticides that have been known to pollute ground water and river systems. Hemp is a sustainable, renewable crop that can be substituted for virtually any petroleum based product currently on the market. This includes plastics, paints, combustible fuels, rubber, vinyl, textiles, building materials, paper, and food.

The Hemp Skin Care System from ECO-LOGIQUE

ECO-LOGIQUE uses generous amounts of organic hemp seed oil in it’s hemp body care products - body creams, body washes, bar soaps, conditioning shampoos, lip balms, and eco-travelers. Research has clearly shown that hemp seed oil is extremely beneficial for healthy skin and hair. Once you experience the hemp benefits in ECOwLOGIQUE Body Care products, we think you’ll agree.

Discover the benefits of hemp. Discover the ECO-LOGIQUE Hemp Skin Care System from Sunrise Scents.

Browsing through some archived email of yester-month, I came across an article title that caught my attention: “All Natural Care Products Contain Canscer Causing Chemical”

I aint no english professor, but the way the title reads leads one to believe each and every all-natural product contains a cancer (or as the author spells it, “canscer”) causing chemical.

For no other reason, the article is worth reading for a good chuckle. One question, however is eating at me: What are petroleum compounds doing in natural and organic skin care products???
http://www.dogflu.ca/03152008/08/all_natural_care_products_contain_canscer_causing_chemical

Quarter after quarter, Yankee Candle Co. has been posting impressive gains in revenue and market shares. I was quite surprised to read today from Forbes.com that Moody’s Investors Service has revised its outlook for Yankee from stable to a negative “B2” rating. The service cited negative consumer trends in both the retail and wholesale side of the business was to blame. With the bankruptcy of Linens N Things, a major wholesale client of Yankee, the outlook grows dimmer.

Yankee is the undisputed leader in the candle industry, as has certainly gone to great strides to respond to consumer trends by developing a line of home fragrance alternatives to burning candles.

The demand for candle products isn’t what it once was. There is still respectable growth in the market (3-4%) however, non-flame delivery systems are consumers choice as of late (12% growth).

Many predict the wave will return as a new generation of candle burners is near on the horizon, particularly for greener candles such as those made with soy or palm wax.

Yankee will weather the storm and remain America’s most recognizable brand of candle, all the while gobbling up smaller manufacturers who demonstrate good market savvy. And I for one, can live with that.

This is a short video of Dawn pulling a custom luminary candle from it’s form. Luminaries fun because customers bring in all sorts of photos for us to embed, including photos of family, pets, new cars, etc. This is a wedding announcement.

Earth Day Set As Launch Day For New Omega-3 Hemp Skin Care System From Sunrise Scents.

What day could be more fitting than Earth Day (April 22) to launch a new system of natural body care products formulated from Omega-3 rich Hemp?

Ephraim, Utah – April 13, 2008 – Sunrise Scents Candles Bath & Body have chosen Earth Day (April 22) to launch their latest in line of natural body care products, the Hemp Skin Care System. The new hemp skin care system will initially be available only through the Sunrise Scents web site (sunrisescents.com), exclusive affiliates and select retails. After May 1st, Sunrise Scents will open availability of the Hemp Skin Care System to general retailers and specialty stores.

“This is such an important product line.” Says owner Dawn Beal who, with her team of experts, have been working continuously for months preparing for this launch. “Hemp seed oil is without doubt one of the most nutrient rich but under utilized natural oils available for proper skin and hair health.”

“In cosmetic and body care products, Hemp Seed Oil has a staggering list of benefits. Hemp seed oil is anti-inflammatory, anti-ageing, balances dry skin, fights skin inflammations, helps heal skin lesions, has anti-oxidants, and contains moisture balancing properties. The oil is non-greasy, readily absorbs into the pores, is an emollient, and has rejuvenating and moisturizing properties for the skin. The vitamins and minerals present in Hemp Seed Oil are easily absorbed through the skin, resulting in a more vitamin and mineral enriched body care product.”

The Hemp Skin Care System will compliment other premium natural body care products already on the market from Sunrise Scents.

The introductory price for the new Hemp Skin Care System, thus far, has been a carefully guarded secret. “Each package we ship will be stuffed with lots of extra goodies,” promises Marla Poloski who heads up marketing for Sunrise Scents.

Learn more about the benefits of hemp seed oil and it’s use as a body care formulation visiting hempskincaresystem.com

About Sunrise Scents

Sunrise Scents Candles Bath & Body is a dynamic young company focused on the manufacturing, wholesale, and retail sales of natural skin care and premium home fragrance products. Founded in 2005 by Owner Dawn Beal, the company objective is to deliver extremely effective natural personal care and highly desired home fragrance products at reasonable and fair prices. For more information about the Hemp Skin Care System, visit http://hempskincaresystem.com or contact Sunrise Scents at (435) 283-3886. On the web, visit http://sunrisescents.com

With Earth Day is just around the corner (April 22), now is a great time to reflect on what kind of environmental impact each of us are making and begin taking baby steps to improve.

When you hear the term “green living,” what sort of images come to mind? Hippies living in communes making everything they use? Protesters chained to trees?

Truth is, the definition of green living has changed. The concept simply includes doing things to help the environment be viable for future generations. There is no need to shed your worldly possessions. We don’t need to live in a mud, and you don’t need to a lifetime membership to Green Peace to be “green.”

“It’s about taking baby steps” says Dawn Beal, owner of Sunrise Scents, a natural body care and natural wax candle manufacturer (Ephraim, UT). “Just being a little more aware, a little more informed, and a little more intentional in your actions. Baby steps over time will have a big impact.” She continues, “Before you know it, your world is a little greener.”

Dawn suggest everyone begin by read the labels on your body care products. “Consumers are becoming very savvy about what is in their skin and hair care products – or more importantly what is not in them.” She suggests scaning the label and avoiding products which are petroleum-based and have controversial synthetics in them such as sulfates, parabens, synthetic colors, TEA, DEA, glycols, and silicones. Most ultra-natural products won’t even use synthetic fragrances.

“Women use on average 25 different products each day containing over 240 different chemicals – few if any are FDA regulated.” Dawn continues, “If you’ve never used truly natural skin and hair care products, you’re in for a real treat. Synthetics are only trying to mimic what nature already does…naturally.”

She continues. “Using natural household products that don’t contain chemicals are better for the environment and safer for your family as well. You can make various natural cleaning products from items already in your kitchen, like vinegar.

“At the grocery store,” Dawn points out, “make sure products claiming to be natural have more than just a few natural ingredients.”

Along this same line are the air fresheners and purifiers. Synthetic fragrances are loaded with carcinogens. But if you’re not ready to give up those scented candles, look for candles made from natural vegetable-based waxes such as soy, palm, hemp, or beeswax.

“When we first opened Sunrise Scents, hardly anyone knew what a soy candle was.” Dawn recalls. “Today, soy and palm wax candle products are the only wax bases people are buying.”

“Paraffin is the most common candle-making wax. It’s a petroleum-based product that performs well, but natural waxes perform just as well and without the toxins and suspected carcinogens.”

Another place to “go green” is with organic produce. Organic farmers use little if any chemicals at all. Most take steps to reduce water and soil degradation, along with other problems caused by traditional agriculture. Buying your produce from a local farmer also reduces the need for long distance trucking, which causes environmental pollution. If you don’t have a local farmer’s market or co-op, consider starting your own organic garden.

And then there are the three R’s Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle.

Reduce. We’ve all heard, “reduce, reuse, recycle.” But while we tend to do well on recycling, we forget about the reducing part. Try choosing products that don’t end up in landfills like cloth diapers instead of disposables or regular towels instead of paper ones. Another great idea is to buy concentrated products because they come in smaller packages.

Reuse. Did you know there is more supply than demand when it comes to recyclables. That’s why it’s also important to reuse items if you can. Before you throw something in the recycling bin, consider whether you could reuse it for something else.

Recycle. We should all have a recycle bin in our homes, but we can recycle on our own. Instead of using potting soil in your garden, build a compost pile and make your own rich soils. You can also use products like shredded plastic bags to mulch your garden. If you get creative, there’s lots of recycling you can do on your own.

Finally, conserve, conserve, conserve.

Conserve energy, for instance. There is so much we can do to save energy. The big plus on this is that it also saves you money. Get low energy light bulbs for your fixtures. You could also take more drastic renovation steps by getting new energy efficient windows or installing solar panels. Even small steps like setting the thermostat a few degrees higher or lower can make a big difference.

And don’t forget about conserving water. Many places have had record snow falls this past season, but there were several years of drought prior. Those lean years will have to be made up for so lets not get spoiled with water this summer.

You wont be able to change the world on your own in a few short days, but taking small baby steps in the right direction puts us a little closer each day. Start a trend by teaching others to be more environmentally friendly. Begin with your children. Make sure they are aware of the baby steps you make on a daily basis to improve the environment.