24 Natural Beauty and Health Uses for Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is an Amazing Health and Skincare product

Coconut Oil is a must have in a healthy eating and natural skin care routine. A must have! This post will highlight some of the reasons for this and show you how I use it my Awesome Naturelles approach to health.

I have been using it for the past twelve months and have grown to love and respect it more and more each day. Love It.

Why is Coconut Oil Awesome for your Health and Beauty?

Coconut oil is nowadays considered to be a good fat because it is made up of MCFAs or medium chained fatty acids. Our bodies love MCFAs because it can break them down much easier than it can the LCFA or long chained fatty acids. 

Neem for Excellent Anti Ageing Skin care

Rain on Neem Leaves

Neem is something new that I have added to my arsenal of hair and skin care treatments. I am amazed by its natural potent properties and it does what it says it will do for such a low affordable price. Three key things that I look for in Awesome Naturelle products: Power packed, natural and affordable! You can eat it, drink it, put in on your skin and it's all good. That's what we call awesome.

Neem comes from a tree that grows across Asia, in India and Pakistan. It has been used for thousands of years by people in these parts and every part of the tree has medical benefits. It is often referred to as 'Village Pharmacy' offering a cure for many ailments and skin conditions.

It's great to do some research because it is often the simplest things in life that carry the most powerful punch. Even better that it will not be a burden on your pockets! Love!

Neem is great for treating skin conditions such as eczema and acne. You can use it in the form of a powder, an oil, you can boil the leaves to use the water and you can also find neem soap, amongst many, many other products. Research and reveal!

The Wonder of Neem

The wonder of Neem lies in its antibacterial properties which help to calm skin  inflammation and irritation if you are having a flare up from acne or eczema. You can make a paste with water and apply it to the blemish or affected area for 20 minutes before washing off.

There are two super hero compounds found in Neem: Nimbin and Nimbidim
Nimbin fights bacteria and fungus while Nimbidim helps fight the pain.
There are many other super hero chemicals present in Neem which work to help repel insects, and do the job of an insecticide and fungicide.
Neem oil is an excellent choice for removing head lice and their eggs. Just massage the oil unto the scalp and leave for several minutes, then rinse out with shampoo.
Alternatively, you can use a neem shampoo for this purpose as well. The oil does not have the most pleasant smell and needs to be masked with some essential oils.

Gorgeous Green Colour that brings healing to your Skin.

Neem in Hair Care

I love Neem powder for my hair care treatments.
At present I mix it with Amla, Aritha and Brahmi powders and leave it on my hair for at least 30 minutes while I do the housework or write a blog post. I often use green tea instead of water for some extra antioxidant power in the mix.
I then shampoo it out and my hair left is soft, dark and curly. Even better for me is that my scalp is clean and without any irritation, which I used to have with shampoos.
I have also noticed that I have much less hair fall which is a huge plus point for me as I am growing my hair.

The antiseptic and anti bacterial properties of Neem help to reduce hair fall, increase hair growth and keep your scalp healthy. Happy!

Neem can also be used as a moisturiser. You can mix the powder with honey for some extra boost for dry fizzy hair and see your hair be tamed. This can also be done for a soothing, moisturising skin care treatment.
Paint on the mixture with a soft brush and be amazed 20 minutes later.

Neem in Skin Care

For an anti ageing skin treatment, you can mix Neem powder with Multani or Fuller's earth for a face mask. This is a great deep clean for your skin and should be done at least once a week. The regenerating properties of Neem help the skin to fight any pathogens below the surface. After treatment your skin is left supple and clean. These clays help to draw out all the dirt and germs that remain on and in the skin.

For oily skin, mix a paste with Neem powder, lemon juice and some yogurt. Leave it on for 15 minutes before washing off. Use rose water as a toner to finish the treatment. This will control the excess oil and prevent acne that often comes with oily skin types.

For pigmentation on your skin, use Neem powder with Tulsi, Sandalwood and rose water. This paste with regular use will lighten the blemishes.

I hope that this will encourage you to try Neem in your beauty care regime.
You can buy it on Amazon or in your local Asian Stores
It really is awesome!

Credit: Photos taken from Photopin

Have you tried Neem yet?
How do you use it?
Share your ideas on Neem with us below.

Easy Homemade Moisturising Facial Oil

3 Oils for Anti Ageing Moisture

When you feel that your skin is a bit flaky and not as smooth as usual, then you know its time to switch up your beauty regime.
This is good because skin is a living organ and can sometimes get used to certain products. The seasons change and so should your skin care as well.

This post is all about a simple mixture that can helps to add moisture to your skin during these times. My skin is combination type and it works for me in my personal routine.

This blend uses three oils:

• Sweet Almond Oil
• Rosehip Oil
• Rose Absolute Essential Oil

First Oil

Sweet Almond Oil is my base oil of choice but you can also choose from:

Argan Oil: Great for all skin types including acne prone,

Grape seed oil: Great for normal, oily, acne prone skin

Jojoba Oil: Great for all skin types

There are several others that you can select so feel free to do more research for your skin type.

This oil should make up two thirds of your mixture in whichever bottle you are using.

Second Oil

This oil carries extra weight as it costs a bit more and brings with it an extra punch of awesomeness to your skin.

You can skip this, if you wish but why deny yourself the extra luxury!

My oil of choice here is Rosehip Oil. Love it! 

Rosehip Oil: It brings a boost of regenerating, firming and anti ageing properties to the blend. 

Carrot Seed Oil: Superb and Awesome for any skin type. My second favorite booster oil.

Sea Buckthorn Oil: Power packed nourishment for ageing and dry skin. 

Fill your bottle with one of these or similar of your choice. If using Carrot Seed Oil, you will only need a few drops of that power oil.

Third Oil

Next choose an essential oil of your choice or rather of your skin's choice.

The list is endless and I'm sure you know many of them already.

Lavender Oil for its healing qualities

Rose Absolute which is very expensive but worth it. You might find cheaper ones mixed with another oil at a lower price. You will be able to use a greater quantity of this type. Read your labels and check your supplier.

Rosemary oil: Great for acne and oily skin

Rose Geranium is another one of choice for ageing skin.

Add up to 7 drops of this oil to your mixture. Check your quantities according to the size of your bottle

Shake your bottle well and leave to stand for a few hours so that it all blends together.

Awesome Tips

Make up small mixtures that would last a week so that you can assess your skin's response and not waste these quality oils. You can have fun seeing which combination your skin loves for this season. Then you can make up a bigger batch to last a month but not more than that.

The smell of the oil should not be too pungent and if you find that it is you can add more base oil to dilute.

Always, of course use this on clean skin.

I have to say that I have found this mixture amazing for my skin.

If I need to pack some extra moisture overnight or on weekends, I use coconut oil or olive oil as an extra layer over this.

My skin says YES, YES, YES.

Disclaimer: The information here is not given in any professional capacity and is shared as a natural skincare enthusiast. Please consult trained experts for your specific needs. 

Have you tried these oils?

How has your skin responded?

The Goodness of Spirulina

Spirulina Explained

What is It?

Spirulina has been described as the most nutritious food source in the world.
It is a natural algae which is power packed with health boosting nutrients.
When produced correctly from non-contaminated water supplies, it is a potent source of protein, iron and minerals, such as Potassium, Calcium and Phosphorus.
The protein-iron mix make it ideal for pregnant women and helpful to those wishing to boost their immune system

Great Health Benefits Too

• It contains Omega 3, 6 and 9. Especially high in 3
• Super high levels of chlorophyll which helps to remove toxins from the blood and give a boost to your immune system
• Extremely high in calcium, up to 26 times more than milk so it would be great for children and the elderly.
• High levels of beta carotene which is converted to Vitamin A, essential for healthy teeth, bones, skin and eyes. 
• Research shows that it may help to increase your fat burn during exercise.

How to Use It 

It can be taken in capsule form or in powder form. At present I have used the powder form in smoothies.
It is an acquired taste which is easily masked with a fruit smoothie but you will still have the  earthy flavour in the background.
There is however no escape from the extremely dark green colour which stains, so care is needed when using it.
I have found that some of it always escapes and the drink usually splashes on the counter. Messy me, I suppose.
I even found that some remains in the corner of your mouth after drinking the dark green loveliness.

Other methods that I would like to try include adding it to vegetable juices.
Some have suggested mixing it with water and having it like a shot as well.

Beyond all this, you can also take the tablets.

So far, I have used a teaspoon daily in my smoothie. The recommendation is to take 2 teaspoons daily but build up to this slowly so that your body can get used to it.
I cannot imagine how dark the smoothie be with two teaspoons of spirulina.
May have to take a water or juice shot at that time.

How do you take it?

Awesome 
This is a great super boost awesome product for extra energy.

Investing in yourself can only be a good thing so let me know when you have tried this and what you think of it?

Homemade Exfoliating Facial and Body Scrubs

Olive Oil a great choice for exfoliation

Brown Sugar and Oil for basic sugar scrub

.

Skin exfoliation is a great method of pampering yourself at home.

Some of us dream of visiting a spa three times a year but the cost of it becomes a major barrier and we lose out on the great benefits it can bring us. No more! 
Help is at hand and you can achieve smooth, moisturised and youthful looking skin right now with a few simple, natural remedies.

Exfoliation is the process where dead skin cells are removed from the surface layer of skin. It helps to control oiliness, pimples,  and scars and leaves you with smooth, renewed dewy looking skin because the new skin is of even better quality and its fresh and new. 

There are things in our cupboards that we can use to create affordable, effective and beautiful exfoliating beauty treatments.
Open those cupboards and have a look! I can only share a few in this post but there are a million others also worthy of mention such as honey, yogurt, egg whites and more.

The main ingredients we shall use here are brown or white sugar and oil.


For the face
Step 1
Clean your face of any make up or oil build up
The Oil Cleansing Method works superbly for this but use whichever suits you best.

Step 2
You can use either brown/white sugar/fine cornmeal or oatmeal ground (which you should grind to smaller grains) 
Oatmeal is a good choice for sensitive skin but for all skin types, do a patch test first
Remember that these measurements are a guide

Add 1 tbsp of your chosen exfoliation product in a bowl
Add 1 tbsp Oil of choice such as Sunflower oil, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil. Sugar with coconut oil is a delicious smelling combination. 
Mix together

Be adventurous and add 1 drop of essential oils such as rose, lavender or ylang ylang.
Lemon juice can be added to help remove dark spots but be careful not to go out in the sun after this treatment.
You can use any leftover mixture on rough areas such as elbows and knees to use it up. Nothing wasted!

Step 3
Apply to your face in circular motions and enjoy 
There is no need to scrub the skin as it may irritate but be gentle, allowing the ingredients to do their work.
The circular motion helps to increase circulation to the skin, which is often an ignored but much needed part of skin care. 

Take your time and enjoy this part of the cleansing, enjoying the benefits of the amazing ingredients in your kitchen cupboards and how wonderful your skin will feel afterwards. 
Leave it on for 3 minutes if possible but not absolutely necessary.

Step 4
Soak a cloth in warm water and gently wipe off the mixture, allowing the steam from the cloth to open up the pores of your skin.

Keep wiping until all the mixture has gone and there is no oil left on your face

Step 4
Tone with a cotton pad dipped in cooled green tea or a mix of apple cider vinegar and water to completely cleanse and seal your skin

Step 5 
Moisturise with your lotion of choice or a simple oil such as coconut, rosehip,sweet almond or jojoba.

Your skin will love you for it and everyone will notice the new glow.
Do this no more than twice a week so that the skin's natural oils can have a chance to work. 

Some people substitute salt for sugar but be careful as this may be too harsh on your face. 

For A Body Scrub
Sea Salt is great for an all over body scrub using greater quantities, starting with 1 cup of salt with up to 4 tbsp of oil. It is best to add the oil gradually to get it to the consistency that works best for you. You are looking for the balance of oil and salt that glides over the skin allowing you to massage without dragging your skin. 

Step 1
Prepare your mixture

Step 2
Set up the room

Prepare by putting on your favorite music, having a chair or stool handy, spreading towels on the ground and even having a scented candle burning. This is your time so do it in the way that you will enjoy the most. 

Step 3
Wash in the bath or shower
Step out and scoop some of the sugar mix into your hand and apply in circular motions all over.
Rinse off

Moisturise with Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Coconut Oil, Jojoba Oil or any similar oil to seal in the moisture.

Use Olive Oil or Coconut Oil for moisturising your skin

You should notice that your skin has become smoother and a change in its texture and tone, possibly remaining moisturised for at least a week. This is what you pay for in a spa or salon and now you are easily achieving it in the comfort of your home.
Even better is that you should feel like a million dollars with a spring in your step.
This can be done up to once a week.

The whole body mixes can last in a sealed glass jar for up to 3 months.
You can add a tsp of Vit E oil for extra preservative to be certain. The best method is to make it just what you need at the time.

Try it and tell all your girlfriends to try it too!
Awesome Beauty Tips!

Omega 3 Breakfast Beauty

Variety is the spice of life and based on that today I am trying a new addition to my breakfast oats

I'm always looking to get the best nutrients from my food and the two I am focusing on here are

• Omega 3 
• Fiber

The Linwood mixes work really well for great ingredients, taste and convenience.

I use a lot of the Linwood range of milled flaxseed mixes and recently bought one this one that I've always looked at but left behind on the shelf.

I was inspired to give it a try after a conversation with my son who says that he loves the chocolate range of those quick packet oats you can buy. They may not be the best but if that's his introduction to healthy, I am not standing in his way. So after that conversation I decided to make a more healthy version to see if I could use this new flavour mix

This mix is made up of 86% flaxseed and 10% cocoa. They claim to have processed the cocoa in such a way, that would reduce the fat and maintain a high level of flavanoids, which are the antioxidants we need. These antioxidants give us a healthy heart and maintain our circulation around the body. The mix is gluten free with no added sugar.
Of course there are berries in the mix which are strawberries and blueberries.

The packaging on the mix is full of health information which is very encouraging so that you can gain a full understanding of the product and why you are using it. 
Excellently done.

The mix looks just like it does on the pack as you can see and only one tablespoon is needed.

Flaxseed
Flaxseed should be ground before eating so this pack has done the job for you. The health benefits of flaxseed are that it may contribute to heart health as it is a vegetarian source of heart healthy omega 3 fatty acids. 
On the Livestrong website, it says that 2 tablespoons provides 100 percent of our daily intake of omega 3.

Ground flaxseed is a super supply of dietary fiber, you can get 15 percent of your daily needs from 2 tablespoons. This is great news because fiber helps to keep you feeling fuller for longer which in turn means you eat less and should assist in weight loss.

A good intake of water is also necessary to ensure that you do not get constipated. You can see previous posts on this blog for ideas on how to increase your water intake.
You will find that after you use any of these mixes that it thickens the porridge or your smoothie as that is the nature of flaxseeds. In hair care it is used as a gel because of these properties.

So do I like this flavour in my porridge?
I have to admit that I did not. The reason for that is because I don't think chocolate with oats is my ideal combination at all. 
So I will have to leave my younger ones to enjoy that blend in porridge.

Would I still use it? 
Not this flavour! Just my personal preference, you might just love it. 
I do think that it will be best in a smoothie with bananas and fresh strawberries and that was my intention when I bought it. So I will share when I make that one as I won't waste all that goodness in a pack.
That said, I really do enjoy the other flaxseed mixes that Linwood make, especially the one with brazil nuts and almonds and would wholeheartedly suggest that you try them for yourself.
I will definitely continue to add this to my shopping cart every month.

They are easily available in the supermarkets and health food stores near the oats and cereals. One pack usually lasts for a month so the investment is worth it because you are more than worth it. 
PS They have not paid me to say any of this and I do not benefit financially by sharing it with you. I just find it a great product and thought you should know xx

Have you tried this yet?
How has it helped you?
What is the best way that you use it?
Leave a comment here and on Awesome Naturelles Facebook page
I would love to hear your awesome health stories

Awesome Minty Lip Balm

Awesome Minty Lip Balm

It's time to get creative and make some lip balm. I'm having the girls over soon and decided to make them something to take away other than a full belly!
Here is a recipe I found on Mountain Rose Herbs but there are a zillion on the internet that you can follow with great results.

2 Tbsp Cocoa Butter
4 Tbsp Sweet Almond Oil
2 Tbsp Avocado Oil
1 Tbsp plus 1 Tsp Beeswax
15 drops Peppermint Essential Oil
a few drops Vitamin E

Cocoa Butter in solid form and broken up on spoon; Beeswax Pellets

In a glass bowl or measuring cup, melt the oils, butter and beeswax. Put the glass bowl into a bigger saucepan or pot with water and heat it gently on the stove. This is called the double boiler method. Make sure that no water gets into the oil mixture and keep the heat on a low setting for gentle heating. Use a wooden bamboo stick or spoon to stir.
Once it has all melted, add the essential oil, Vitamin E and stir.
Pour into lip balm pots and leave to set

Melt it all in glass bowl; Pour into lip Balm Pots and leave to cool

This is really minty so next time I would add 10 drops on Peppermint EO. 

I love the consistency and the smoothness of this recipe. 
Easy to make, Awesome to use.
I'm sure the girls will love it!!

Ten minutes later it begins to set 

Try it and let me know what you think.
Luscious Kisses!