All posts by Suzana Vukcevic

Natural Health Advocate. My wish is to make more people aware of unconventional, natural and less known ways to deal with the health challenges or simply live healthier.

GET NATURAL FACELIFT WITHOUT SURGERY

SOME OF THE MOST POWERFUL ANTI-AGING REMEDIES ON PLANET

 

serum-face-1For centuries people have been seeking ways to stop or at least to slow down the process of aging.

 

For centuries the tales of “Fountain of Youth” have been recounted across the world and alchemists have sought to find a secret formula.

 

And today, more than ever, many people will try just about anything to stop the aging.

COSMETIC INDUSTRY’S MARKETING STRATEGY: THE MORE EXPENSIVE THE BETTER!

Cosmetic industry makes millions of dollars from myriad of expensive, “younger look” promising products.

The key marketing strategy appears to be “the more expensive the product, the better”.

As the results can’t really be seen overnight, the marketers are relying on inducing the judgment by increasing the price tag: “the product is very expensive so it must be good”.

Add to this some slogans like “Revolutionary”, “Advanced Formula”, “Results based on 1000 women saying” and you have a recipe for success in bringing many dollars to the mother brand.

No doubt, many cosmetic products do contain some good anti-aging components.

The issue is that they also contain many other unnecessary ingredients that are there to make the product look nicer (e.g water is added to make it smoother), smell nicer (“fragrance” is added which often translates to dangerous chemicals), last longer (additive and preservatives added to make the product stable on temperature extremes and increase the shelf life).

As a result, the super expensive “revolutionary” anti-age products from biggest brands end up containing a long list of unpronounceable ingredients, many of them hormone disrupting, cancer causing or at least controversial.          

Add to this story the pricey cosmetic face lifts and surgeries that offer some temporary results and after some time, in some cases months, the wrinkles begin to re-appear bringing the desperate persons to the vicious circle of never-ending surgeries.

TURNING TO THE NATURE

The aging can’t be stopped or reversed. Accepting this simple fact should be the first and most important step in our quest to look younger.

However, although the aging can’t be stopped fully, the nature in fact offers some good answers in terms of slowing down the process of aging.

The essential oils (highly concentrated plant extracts) are one of the best kept secrets.

They happen to be the safest, most effective and probably the least expensive “tool” to diminish the wrinkles and slow down the aging.

Essential oils work on a molecular level and can actually regenerate skin cells.

Some essential oils stimulate the circulation and oxygenate the blood encouraging the skin regeneration process.

As a result, continuous use of blend of essential oils will be far more effective and lasting than any cosmetic surgery or face lift.  And far better than any expensive commercial cream for one simple reason: it does not require any of those unpronounceable (equals nasty) ingredients, preservatives or additives.  The blend of carefully chosen essential oils diluted in a well chosen carrier oil will have a very long shelf life, provided it is stored in amber glass and away from sunlight.

In most cases a careful selection of few anti-aging essential oils (pick them from the list below) will begin diminishing your wrinkles in about a month.

The blends and serums, as expected, are used for face, neck and eye area or as a body rub. You can add few drops in your bath.

Remember to always use the therapeutic grade organic pure essential oils for optimum results.

The essential oils are relatively in-expensive especially when compared to big brands’ similar products, however some of the essential oils are pricey for a good reason: for example you need up to 4000kg of rose petals to extract 1kg of rose oil.

If you are not willing to experiment, you can buy our serums in our Oh Lou Lou! e-store Click Here.

HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND WHAT YOU EAT MATTERS!

One thing should never be neglected: Food In, Love and Beauty Out! Foods rich in anti-oxidants and vitamins can actually slow down the aging. Unhealthy diet rich in sugar for sure aggravates the signs of aging. Habits such as alcohol and cigarettes will slow the process considerably. A healthy lifestyle and diet will improve the results of using anti-aging serums.

serum-eye-0LIST OF THE MOST POWERFUL ANTI-AGING REMEDIES ON OUR PLANET

The following essential oils are some of the most powerful anti-aging remedies on the planet and using them in continuity may cut ten years off your look.

ROSA DAMASCENA ESSENTIAL OIL

Superb anti-aging oil • Scar Healing • Nurturing • Astringent • Helps in toning and tightening the sagging skin • Prevents early aging and wrinkles

FRANKINCENSE ESSENTIAL OIL

Anti-wrinkle • Regenerating • pH Balancing • Strengthening • Clears the skin from blemishes • Great for dry complexions • Helps smooth creases, wrinkles and scars

CARROT SEED ESSENTIAL OIL

Rejuvenates the skin • Softens wrinkles • Detoxifying • Protection from sun

GERANIUM ESSENTIAL OIL

Circulating • Healing • Toning • Firming • Oxygenating • Dermatitis and eczema relief • Great for oily and mature skin

LAVENDER ESSENTIAL OIL

Cell Regenerator • Soothing • Reduces scarring from burns and wounds •Anti-age • Lighten the appearance of age spots • Treats acne

SANDALWOOD ESSENTIAL OIL

Rich in antioxidants • Anti-inflammatory agent • Helps to improve facial blood circulation • Detoxifier • Fights the formation of wrinkle-causing free radicals • Excellent addition to any anti-aging treatment

MANUKA ESSENTIAL OIL

Anti-inflammatory • Rich in antioxidants that reduce damage from free radicals • Eliminates harmful bacteria on the skin • Treats acne

MYYRH ESSENTIAL OIL

Anti-inflammatory • Helps improve skin tone, firmness, and skin elasticity • Reduces the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles • Helps heal sun damage, rashes, and eczema • Moisturize dry, cracked skin

ROSEMARY ESSENTIAL OIL

Cell renewal • Reduces fine lines and wrinkles • Helps healing wounds and burns • Clears acne and blemishes • Anti-bacterial • Improves blood circulation • Radiant skin

NEROLI ESSENTIAL OIL

Reduces fine lines • Tones sagging skin • Rejuvenating • Cell regenerating • Preventing and healing stretch marks • Antiseptic • Balances oil production • Shrinks pores without drying skin • Beneficial for oily, sensitive, and mature skin

FENNEL ESSENTIAL OIL

Antiseptic and stimulant • Soothes, cleanses and tones the skin • Prevents wrinkles and minimizes the appearance of fine lines • Reduces water retention/ helps reducing eye bags • Regulates blood circulation.

LEMON ESSENTIAL OIL

Astringent • Antiseptic • Anti-wrinkle • Detoxifying • Rejuvenates dull skin

PATCHOULI ESSENTIAL OIL

Promotes new cell growth • Softens fine lines & wrinkles • Beneficial against eczema, dermatitis, psoriasis, and acne

PALMAROSA ESSENTIAL OIL

Helps skin damaged by prolonged exposure to the sun • Combats acne • Lessens the appearance of acne scars • Anti-wrinkle • Cools the skin • Stimulates new cell growth •Speeds healing • Anti-inflammatory

CLARY SAGE ESSENTIAL OIL

Antioxidant • Reverses signs of aging • Helps to reduce excessive production of sebum • Tightens skin pores • Skin firming • Hormone balancing • Avoid if pregnant, or suffer from estrogen caused health issues

ANTI-AGING  CARRIER (BASE) OILS

The essential oils are too concentrated and should never be used pure, that’s why they need to be diluted in carrier (base) oils. I list here some of them that by themselves have great therapeutic and anti-aging properties.

NOTE that Apricot Kernel, Sweet Almond, Hazelnut and Coconut oils can be used as a base oil 100%, whilst Rosehip, Jojoba and Evening Primrose are normally used as additions to the base oil up to 10 %.

LIST OF GREAT ANTI-AGING CARRIER (BASE) OILS

APRICOT KERNEL OIL

High in gamma linoleic acid • Rich in anti-oxidants & vitamins • Skin balancing • Improves the skin texture • Enables skin to retain elasticity • Makes skin supple • Great for normal, mixed and sensitive skin

SWEET ALMOND OIL

Anti-aging • Rich in vitamins that help delay the appearance of wrinkles • Moisturizer • Firms the skin • Soothes skin allergies and inflammation • Restores the normal PH of the skin • Glowing skin • Lightens dark marks supple • Great for normal, mixed and sensitive skin

COCONUT OIL

Rejuvenating • Helps exfoliating • High content of vit. E • Anti-viral anti-microbial Hydrating • Softening • Mild UV protection • Protects the skin from free radicals • Gentle and suitable for ALL skin types

HAZELNUT OIL

Rejuvenating • Hydrating • “Dry” oil • Softening • Mild UV protection • Antioxidant • Astringent • Pore shrinking • Acne-fighting • Toning • Reduces blackheads and pimples • Good for all skin types, especially oily and sensitive skin

LIST OF GREAT ANTI-AGING OILS (TO ADD TO BASE OILS)

ROSE HIP SEED OIL

Deeply penetrates into the lower layers of the skin • Regenerates cells and damaged skin tissue • Increases collagen production • Brightens and tones skin due to its richness in Vitamin C, Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids and retinoic acid (vit A) • Hydrates • Reduces scars • Reduces hyper-pigmentation • Helps heal burned skin and eczema • Suitable for all skin types especially mature, oily and problem skin conditions

JOJOBA OIL

Slows down the appearance of aging • Provides lasting (24h) hydration • Balances the production of skin oils • Effective in acne treatments • Nourishing (high content of vitamins and minerals) • Soothes burned skin • Suitable for all skin types including sensitive and problem skin

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

Prevents premature aging • Treats inflammation, eczema • Enhances the epidermal barrier • Dilutes sebum production • Calms acne flare-ups • Skin hydrating skin • Astringent • Soothe skin irritations and inflammations • Rich in antioxidants • Lightens dark circles around the eyes • Good for all skin types including dry, psoriasis, eczema, damaged, and mature skin

Other great anti-aging essential oils to be considered: Galbanum, German chamomile, Hyssop, Orange, Oregano, Thyme, Vervain, Violet leaf and Yarrow.

CAUTION: Don’t use the essential oil blends if you are pregnant without consulting your health care or aromatherapy practitioner. Before using any blend, always remember to perform an allergy test before applying any essential oils or carrier oils to large areas of the body. Simply apply a drop or two to the back of the hand and wait several hours (not all reactions occur immediately) to check for any adverse effects.   if the area the oil was applied is exposed to UV rays (sunlight). Use caution with citrus oils such as lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, angelica, etc are these oils cause photosensitivity  (skin pigmentation changes (dark spots)) during the sun exposure.

Oh Lou Lou! organic beauty products

Natural Homemade Alternative to Vicks Vaporub

 Natural Homemade Alternative to Vicks Vaporub Natural Homemade Alternative to Vicks Vaporub Natural Homemade Alternative to Vicks Vaporub

Natural alternative to Vicks Vaporub, only without controversial ingredients like petroleum jelly and turpentine oil.  DIY, it is easy 🙂

Creating your own homemade all natural Vapor Rub with essential oils is easy!

I am making it with a blend of 4 essential oils (eucalyptus, peppermint, rosemary and manuka) all famous for their health benefits in helping with different respiratory conditions provoked by cold and flu.

EUCALYPTUS radiata essential oil is a potent anti-viral essential oil that stimulates the immune system and enhance the activity of the white blood cells. Excellent for colds, flu, infections of the respiratory system, including bronchial infections and pneumonia.

PEPPERMINT essential oil helps clear nasal congestion and relieve cough and cold symptoms. Acts as expectorant and decongestant, and may help clear the respiratory tract.

ROSEMARY essential oil is an antiviral oil that can boost mental energy and is also efficient in clearing the respiratory tract.

MANUKA essential oil (New Zeland Tea Tree Essential Oil) provides relief and helps respiratory conditions such as nasal congestion, cold and flu, and cough and bronchitis. If you don’t have access to manuka essential oil, you can substitute it with tea tree EO.

The recipe is enclosed below – in case you are not into “Do It Yourself”, we can make it for you – follow this link to make an order All Organic Homemade Vapor Rub

Vapor Rub Homemade Recipe

  • 10gr beeswax*
  • 20gr shea* or olive oil*
  • 50gr coconut oil*
  • 10 drops rosemary essential oil*
  • 10 drops eucalyptus essential oil*
  • 6 drops peppermint essential oil *
  • 4 drops manuka essential oil*

*Make sure to use organic ingredients whenever possible.

Melt the beeswax, shea and coconut oil in a double boiler. When beeswax is fully melted, put aside and cool down and then while it is still liquid, stir in the essential oils blend. Transfer to a glass container with a tight fitting lid.

Let it sit for 24 hours.

USAGE: Rub your upper back, chest and the bottoms of the feet for a quick relief.

SHELF LIFE. Provided you use the fresh ingredients, it will be good up to a year. Do not touch it with wet fingers. Keep at room temperature.

CAUTION

This recipe creates an essential oil dilution that is a little bit below 2%. I have seen many recipes calling for doubling the amount of essential oils which is in general fine for the age of 12 up to 65 years old. I primarily created this for my 6-year old and suggest trying this lighter version of the recipe first – you can always make it stronger by adding few more drops of essential oils or even doubling the amount.

It is wise to perform a skin patch test before using any product: apply a little to your forearm and give it a little time to make sure you are not allergic to some of the oils.

SPECIAL CAUTION

This is NOT a safe essential oils’ dilution for children under 4.

Beautifying Benefits of Dead Sea Salt

Dead Sea Salts Vetiver Body Scrub

Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub

Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub is one of the great ways to receive the therapeutic and beautifying benefits of Dead Sea salt mineral-rich substance.

I recently formulated a new recipe and my daughter and her girlfriends really liked the aroma, freshness and the smoothness of the skin after application.

When creating the recipe I  went after the beautifying and anti-aging properties which I am going to briefly cover.

Dead Sea salt has been used for centuries to treat skin disorders, detox and speed up healing of the body. Dead Sea salt has a much lower sodium content, compared to the regular salt and contains minerals that nourish the skin and body.

Dead Sea salt is renowned for its anti-aging ability to renew the skin, reduce the appearance of wrinkles, smooth and soften, and leave skin rejuvenated.

The study performed by the University of Kiel in Germany demonstrated that the minerals in Dead Sea Salt can “bind water, influence epidermal proliferation and differentiation, and enhance permeability barrier repair”. Essentially this means that minerals help the skin to stay moisturized which prevents forming of the wrinkles.

Carefully chosen essential oils blend in this recipe not only provides the healing and anti-aging benefits but has a beautiful, fresh and attractive aroma that will make you look forward to your next bathing.

Dead Sea Salts Vetiver Body ScrubDead Sea Salt Body Scrub

150-160gr of unrefined Dead Sea salts

40-50 grams of extra virgin organic coconut and  sweet almond oil

Few drops of essential oils of your choice. I like using vetiver, mint and lemon.

Directions:  In a bowl add the salts (if too coarse break them in food processor), oils (warm up the coconut oil a little)  and essential oils.

Mix everything together and pour in a recipient.

In case you are not into making it yourself we can make it for you. Order it from our e-shop by following this link.

Dead Sea Salts Vetiver Body Scrub