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.

Why Organic Handmade Beauty Products?

Many people are looking for alternatives to commercial cosmetics.  Whilst the reasons may not be that obvious, they are quite disturbing, once you get to the bottom of what’s behind the curtains.  Here are some of the top reasons.

    1. Traditional cosmetic products contain dangerous toxins like heavy metals, phthalates and hundreds of others linked to cancer, hormonal disorders, fertility issues etc. The United Nations Environmental Program estimates that approximately 70,000 chemicals are in common use across the world, with 1,000 new chemicals being introduced every year!
    2. Women absorb an estimated 2.5 kg of chemicals a year just from the makeup they use. Most items we rub on the skin end up in our bloodstream, and are distributed throughout our body.
    3. The skin is actually our largest organ, and it is highly absorbent.A large portion of the toxins we are exposed to on a daily basis comes through our skin, not just through the food.
    4. Using chemicals on our skin is actually worse than eating them. When we eat something, the enzymes in our saliva and stomach help to break it down and flush it out of our body. However, when we apply these chemicals on our skin, they are absorbed straight into our bloodstream and going directly to our delicate organs. They tend to accumulate over time because we typically lack the necessary enzymes to break them down.

5. Even when the product is certified as organic (biological) it may still contain some controversial ingredients and preservatives.

For example, Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is an approved ingredient by many eco and organic certification bodies even though nearly 16,000 studies mention the toxicity of sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS). SLS is a surfactant used as foaming agent, detergent and emulsifier in thousands of cosmetic products and industrial cleaners.

So what to do, what is an alternative?

Luckily, most of the beauty and skin care products can be made at home at affordable price and far superior quality. The recipes can be found all around the web; I also post them regularly at http://foodinloveout.com along with many other natural beauty tips.

For those who don’t have the time or desire to go into the adventure of making the products, you can order them from our shop at  http://www.ohloulou.com and we will be more than happy to produce them for you. Or look at the other shops making small batches of truly handmade and toxin-free products.

Our handmade beauty products are almost entirely made of organic, mostly edible ingredients like raw butters, unrefined cold pressed vegetable oils and pure essential oils.

This in essence means ZERO toxins, ZERO preservatives, ZERO dangerous ingredients.

Our products are delicate and pure and since no preservatives are added, they need to be carefully handled (kept at dark and dry place, the temperature usually needs to be below 25C).

Once you understand the need and importance for natural toxin-free products, staying true to them will be easy and rewarding.

Food On, Beauty In & Out

Oh Lou Lou! organic beauty products

 

 

HOW TO CLEAN FACE WITH OILS

https://www.etsy.com/listing/227404871/smooth-oil-face-wash-acne-prone-skinSOAP & SOAPY PRODUCTS STIMULATE PRODUCTION OF EXCESS OIL, ACNE AND IMPURITIES.

The simple concept of cleansing the facial skin with oils is based on the fact that oil dissolves oil.

The soaps strip the oil out of the skin, leaving the skin trying to repair itself by producing more and more oil.

The answer is in cleaning the face with oils.

You can try it with pure coconut oil or olive oil (always use extra virgin) or oil mix according to your skin type.  We also like enriching it with a blend of essential oils like lavender or tea tree; if you don’t like experimenting, you can visit our shop and order here

HOW TO CLEAN FACE WITH OILS

1. Put few drops in your palm and spread it over your face and neck.

2. Massage your face and neck for couple of minutes allowing the oils to penetrate the skin.

3. Take a small towel and run in under a very warm water (as warm as you can bear without burning yourself). Put in on face and wait until the steam does its work for couple of minutes.

4. Wipe off the face with the towel and repeat once more if needed. Do not overdo it, rather make sure you leave a thin protective layer. No need to put the daily cream afterwards unless you have a very dry skin.

5. Enjoy your silky, softened and nicely hydrated skin 🙂

P.S if you have been using soaps to clean the face for long time, your skin will need up to 7 days to adapt to the new way of washing (it may still produce excess oils) before you see the real results.  Be patient 🙂

Get Rid of Cellulite Naturally. 6-Step Ritual.

Unlocking a New, Cellulite-Free You.

6- Step Ritual To Get That Perfect Summer Body.

IMG_6891Most women of all ages and sizes have at least a few orange-peel patches of skin.

Many experts believe that cellulite is caused by a combination of factors including poor diet, stress, lack of exercise, hormonal imbalance and aging.

The researchers found that individuals who had chronically elevated cortisol (stress hormone) levels were much more likely to have cellulite accumulation.

Some experts believe that the female hormone estrogen is one of the main culprits (also the reason why men don’t get the dreaded dimples).

Liposuction Is Not The Answer

Cosmetic surgery is at an all-time high with over 11 million cosmetic procedures performed in 2013 only in the US. Most of these surgeries have focused on eliminating cellulite, in fact the liposuction tops the list with 363,912 procedures performed. Source

However, the surgeries are not only dangerous but they never address the root cause of the issue.

The Cellulite-Free Regimen.

This regimen contains a series of effective strategies for greatly diminishing the appearance of cellulite.

Depending on how deep and extensive the root causes are, the regimen needs to be performed anywhere between three and six weeks to show the visible results.

Prepare Your Body

  1. Diet. Eat healthy food and balanced diet with plenty of raw vegetables & free range meat. Vegetables and fruits need to be fresh, ideally organic, and locally grown. Eat loads of antioxidant-rich foods, such as oranges, strawberries, broccoli, and tomatoes  which all contain vitamin C – important for restoration of skin structure.  Eat more apples. The pectin in apples helps detoxifying the digestive tract by making you go to the toilet more often. Pears, bananas, citrus fruits, carrots and cabbage all contain pectin.
  2. Fresh juices. Citrus Tonic – this miraculous drink will help you melt your cellulite. Another good choice is a Miracle Drink is wonderful for your skin as they contain carotenoids, which give red, orange, and yellow fruits their color, and also occur in green vegetables.
  3. Supplements. Add 1000mg of vitamin C, Vitamin E and complex of vitamin B (avoid those derived from yeast). Zinc, Selenium, Vitamin A are also important and their intake is preferably ensured through the right food choices (1 & 2).
  4. Exercise. Exercise  will burn off fat and improve your muscle tone, thus reducing the appearance of cellulite. Perform exercise that engages cellulite areas like squat, step-up etc. Sweat it out in the gym, then hop into the sauna to open up your sweat pores thereby increasing the elimination of toxins. Practice some deep breathing; this will not only relax you, but will improve your circulation and oxygenate the body. Also try to get some fresh air every day.
  5. Relaxation. Practice meditation, yoga or any other exercise that focuses on deep relaxation.
  6. Cut down on the toxins.  Cut down on coffee, alcohol, foods with lots of chemical additives and over-processed foods. No DIARY from cows.
  7. Water. Drink spring water, lemon water (squeeze a lemon or add 1 drop of lemon EO), detox teas. I like starting my day with Honey Apple Cider Vinegar Syrup that is excellent aid in speeding up the metabolism and process of burning fat.

  https://www.etsy.com/listing/226545247/smooth-anti-cellulite-30day-supply-trio6-Step Ritual

The ritual is made of 6 steps each of which designed to get rid of cellulite effectively.

You’d need at least an hour and a half a day to follow the ritual as described, but it is well worth it 🙂

Step 1. Skin Brushing.

IMG_7373Dry-skin brushing with a natural brush has long been known as one of the best ways to reduce cellulite naturally. Brushing will increase the blood circulation, break down fatty tissues and open the toxins elimination channels. You can buy a natural bristle brush in many health stores. The brushing should be done for minimum of 5-10 minutes starting from your toes and moving upwards. Always brush towards your heart, which is best for circulation and your lymphatic system. Brush your entire body: start at your feet and work your way up your legs to your arms, chest, back, and stomach. Avoid brushing your face (unless you have a facial delicate brush).

Step 2. Coffee Scrub.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226447232/smooth-anti-cellulite-coffee-scrubWhilst drinking coffee should be avoided during the regimen, when used on the skin, coffee reduces the appearance of cellulite. Caffeine helps with drawing out excess moisture from the skin, giving your skin a firmer and smoother appearance. Also note that Juniper berry, Grapefruit, Lemon, Fennel, Oregano Essential Oils are one of the best known remedies used in fighting and preventing the cellulite.

The Coffee Scrub will be absorbed by the skin and in return will improve circulation & collagen production and prevent premature aging. You can make your own coffee scrub, there are plenty of recipes on the net, or we can make it for you.  Order it here: Anti-Cellulite Coffee Scrub

Step 3. Take Aromatherapy Daily Bath.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226454162/smooth-anti-cellulite-bath-saltstoxinsFill the bath tub with hot water (as hot as you can take it) and put 15-20 drops of the Anti-Cellulite Massage & Bath Oil that preferably contains Juniper berry, Lemon, Grapefruit, Fennel, Rosemary etc.  This aromatherapy bath will enable your body to absorb nicely the essential oils that have cellulite fighting and healing properties.

Twice a week, instead of Anti-Cellulite Massage &Bath Oil, you can use Anti-Cellulite Bath Salts preferably enriched with a blend of essential oils that stimulate toxins elimination. Epsom salts for example make you sweat out toxins, while relieving aching muscles. The cellulite areas need to be massaged while they are under water.

You can buy Anti-Cellulite Oil  and Bath Salts or we can make it for you. Order it here:  Anti-Cellulite Massage & Bath Oil  and  Anti-Cellulite Bath Salts

Step 4. Cold Shower Drainage.

The bath should be followed by a cold shower drainage. Turn the shower on cold (yes cold :), or as cold as you can take) and use the water pressure to massage the legs (focus on thighs), then abdomen (circular movement) and then up the inner arms to the armpit. This will further improve the circulation.

Step 5. Apply Seaweed or Cabbage Poultice.

(Optional step, for difficult and stubborn cellulite cases. If you decide to do it,  you need to prepare it in advance)

Take some grated cabbage or seaweed, iron them between 2 pieces of gauze, cool a little and keep on the skin for 10-15 minutes.

https://www.etsy.com/listing/226464692/smooth-organic-anti-cellulite-massageStep 6. Apply the Anti-Cellulite Massage Oil.

The Anti-Cellulite Massage Oil is massaged with circular movements into the skin and left for 5 minutes. If there is any excess oil left, wipe it off with a gentle cloth. If your skin is still dry you can follow with body butters that contain coconut oil, raw shea butter, raw cocoa butter or similar.

The Anti-Cellulite 6-step Ritual is best to be performed once a day. If you decide to try it let me know how it went.

Unlocking A New, Cellulite Free You.

Most women want the results fast and prefer some short term focused protocol even though they know it will bring only some temporary results. So for those wanting a cellulite-free body only for the summer the regimen as outlined above should do.

You’ve guessed that  “The (long-term)  Cellulite-Free New You” requires a personal revolution in how you live your life. For those willing to revolutionary change the lifestyle and the way of eating I recommend Step-by-Step Practical Guide to Longer and Healthier Life

Best of luck!