Relish that Cranberry (for skin health)!

Vaccinium oxycoccos: Cranberry

Cranberries, a fruit that we think of only (or particularly) around the holiday season.  We think relish, cranberry sauce, cranberry scones, but rarely do we think, "Oh those lovely red fruits that are so healthy for us (and our skin)!" Native to northern North American and Southern Canada, these low lying, evergreen shrubs have been a staple for the indigenous people of this area for thousands of years.

Since it IS the season, the glory days of these shiny red fruits, let's delve in a little deeper and glean an understanding as to the health benefits that they tout. When talking about the "big gun's" of cranberries we are mainly talking about it's staggering amounts of vitamin C. Vitamin C is an anti-oxidant that helps your body (and skin) fight off free radicals.  Free radicals are a major cause of premature aging for our skin.  Also vitamin C helps reduce inflammation making it great for people who suffer from acnea, eczema, psoriasis and other itchy, red, signs of irritated skin.

Let's look at some of the other special qualities that cranberries have:

*Perfect ratio of omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids: meaning not only is our skin very willing to
   accept this oil as wonderful hydration, it also helps as a catalyst to bring other nutrients into our
   skin with ease.
*Anti-yeast and anti-fungal properties: great for a skin and scalp wash. Helps alleviate dandruff, itchy
   scalp and dull, limp, lifeless hair.
*High in tocotrienols and tocopherols: (vitamin E) another very powerful antioxidant, power fighter
   of free radical invasion to the largest organ in our body system (our skin).
*Vitamin C (already mentioned) is needed in the formation of hydroxyproline and hydroxylisine
   and other amino acids required to produce collagen. Collagen is what makes our skin, firm, healthy
   and wrinkle free.  This is what young vibrant skin has that aging skin lacks.

Cranberries, Seeds, and Oil

Now that we know what is in this potent holiday fruit,  how do we reap the benefits of cranberries?  There are a couple of different way to do this depending on what you are looking for. Drinking 1 ounce of pure (no sugar added) cranberry juice daily is said to have wonderful results for your body both internally and externally.  If you would like to target the skin however it is also recommended to either use the pulp of fresh berries (blended into a puree) and made into a masque, freshly juiced and applied to skin and hair, or in the form of cranberry seed oil.  The oil is deeply penetrating (due to the ratio of fatty acids mentioned above), where use of the actual berry is not only fun and festive but also gives antioxidants that the seed oil does not.

DIY CRANBERRY POWER MASQUE: 

1 tsp plain yogurt

1 tbs raw honey

1/4 c. cranberries

cranberry juice (no sugar added) to moisten as needed

take cranberries and put into blender and liquify. add raw honey and yogurt and continue to blend until a paste is made.  If liquid is needed cranberry juice is a great option, another option would be to add milk (as milk has many beneficial properties to skin as a cleanser as well)

Other add ins: 

Gelatin: add a few pinches of non flavored gelatin to very small amount of warmed milk or water. 

              gelatin will help loosen and slough off old, wary cells. great addition for non vegans to this

              masque. 

Clay: any of your favorite clays (french green, kaolin, etc) 1/4 tsp.

As always we would love to hear from you! Do you have product with cranberries in it? Let us know some of your favorites.  Happy Thanksgiving, give thanks and praise. 

Until next time, 

From us to You. 

Recherche Organics

Which Witch Hazel is Which?

Hamamelis virginiana

Witch Hazel, Hamamelidaceae, is often seen as a yellow flowering shrub or more rarely as a small standing tree. Etymologically the name is believed to stem from the Middle English word wiche and reaching further back to Old English wice, meaning "bendable or pliant". Occasionally this plant is referred to as "winter bloom" for it's odd nature of blooming throughout the fall and winter months.

Witch Hazel Distillation

Historically,  Witch Hazel was taken as a tea or in a bath.  However during the 1800's herbalist began distilling this plant thus began the path to the Witch Hazel product of today.  The clear liquid Witch Hazel with which we are most familiar, is made by distilling the bark, twigs, and leaves of the Hamamelis virginiana a species found in North America. During the distillation process anywhere from 15-30% alcohol is added to the liquid content.

Witch Hazel Leaf

The main component in Witch Hazel is  tannins. Tannins are a naturally occurring polyphenol that many plants make as a way to protect them selves from predation.  Even if we don't know what tannins are directly, most all of us have experienced them in our wine, and under ripe fruit.  It is the substance that makes the "dry and puckery" feeling in our mouths. This is called astringency.

Witch Hazel Flower

Witch Hazel "Fruit"

Witch Hazel is almost exclusively used externally.  It is considered a strong anti-oxidant and astringent.  Often used for skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, hemorrhoids, varicose veins, treating insect bites and poison ivy rashes, as well as to reduce swelling and ease minor wounds.
Now why would it work on such an array of issues? For one, Witch Hazel works wonders on fighting bacterial attacks.  The tannins which we spoke of earlier, once applied to the skin shrink the pores basically sequestering our  internal bodies from external agents.  In all making our skin even better at doing the job of keeping the outside world out of our bodies. Another property of Witch Hazel is its proanthocyanins, catechin and flavonoids. These little beauties are what give this plant it's cell protective antioxidant and anti-inflammatory qualities.  This means if any bacteria has been trapped under the skin once the pores have been closed off, it is also the job of Witch Hazel to destroy the "invaders".

After Shave

The beauty behind this plant, continues on.  As mentioned earlier Witch Hazel shrinks pore size and thus tightens and tones the skins appearance.  It is a common ingredient in aftershaves for men. It has been found that using Witch Hazel (the less alcohol content the better for all Witch Hazels) on a cotton pad and going over the surface of the face works wonders for people with oily skin as well as for people who sweat profusely from their faces!  It has also been used by many as an acne treatment that doesn't dry out the skin.  So many benefits from a commonly known substance. As always it is important to get your products from a reputable source and be sure in reading the labels all that you are purchasing is Witch Hazel distillation and 15% or so of alcohol by volume.  

I hope you have enjoyed the read, please as always comments and questions are wanted and welcome.  Have you had a particularly great experience using Witch Hazel? We would love to know. 

Warm Regards, 

Recherch'e Organics

Crazy about Kombucha! The Beauty Behind it's External Use.

Kombucha: Fermented Tea

 Kombucha:
Many of us have become familiar with this probiotic rich drink over the last 2 decades (introduced into mainstream America in the early 1990's) but did you know that this sweet fermented tea has been around in different parts of the world for at least 2,000 years? There is record of it's uses and benefits in China (Qin Dynasty) dating back to 220 BC!  Early records indicate it's traveling to Japan and Russia early on as well and then continuing it's spread through out many cultures.

This "elixir of health" as it has been referred to world over, has a naturally effervescent (bubbly carbonation), and known for its probiotics, antioxidants, and B vitamins, and almost too many to name bacterial acids (yes this is good for you and your skin).

Kombucha Scoby

 This strange membranous thing pictured above is called a kombucha scoby.  It is a cellulose membrane that forms with all the health giving bacterias colonizing on it. This is what turns your tea from regular a sweet tea to a fermented and health giving "liquid gold".

So how can this fermented tea be of external use for our health and beauty regime?  Many people who love kombucha begin home brewing, caring for their  scoby, and making their own delicious concoctions. Sometimes by accident (or purposefully) we let a batch sit just a little too long, turning into a vinegar like drink instead.  Many people prefer the stage right before the kombucha turns to a vinegar for drinking purposes.  Here are some wonderful reasons WHY  to let a batch or two every once in a while sit a little too long...

Facial Toner:
Kombucha, just like regular vinegar, helps to balance the pH of your skin.  But unlike normal apple cider or white vinegar it also has many different acids and healthy bacteria to help fight bacterial imbalances that come with conditions such as acne.  Kombucha also gently tightens, firms, and tones the skin that it is applied to.  It has been seen to over time reduce dark spots and color imbalances fro the face and neck as well.  Application with a cotton pad followed by a cool water rinse, or kombucha added to a small amount of other facial ingredients (aloe water, hydrofoils, etc.) and spray misted on to the skin are both great ways to incorporate this into your daily (weekly) routine.

Hair Rinse: 
Another application that can be substituted for regular apple cider or white vinegar; the hair rise!
The longer you have allowed your kombucha to ferment the better.  This rinse will strip your hair of all of the build up from daily usage of hair sprays and gels, shampoos and conditioners, as well as the build up that happens from toxins in our environments.  It gently takes off residue and helps begin the repair process of damaged, dry, and over treated hair strands.  Not only does it work with each strand of hair, it gently removes the built up oils from the scalp, helps balance pH, and is great for reducing and eventually eliminating unwanted itchy scalp and dandruff.

2:3 Herbs for Skin Health: Rosemary

Rosmarinus officinalis; Rosemary

  This herbacious evergreen plant hails from the Mediterranean however now can be found the globe over.  Rosemary belongs to the mint family, a family that includes other common plants such as basil, lavender, myrtle and sage.  

Rosemary in Bloom

This plant has been used for centuries for medicinal, culinary, and beauty regiem purposes. It is said that in the 13th century, Queen Elizabeth of Hungary (who had suffered from debilitating gout and rheumatism) claimed at age 72, that drinking rosemary infused water helped her regain back both her strength and beauty over the years.

Rosemarinic acid (property of rosemary) is known for it's ability to kill bacteria, fungi, and various viruses on the skins surface.  This makes it an ideal helper in wound healing, acne, dermatitis, eczema and psoriasis.  The extract or essential oil of rosemary as well as rosemary tea, helps stimulate cell renewal, supports healthy creation of collagen, increase skin tone and fights free radicals.  Free radicals damage the support structure of skin cells, leading to wrinkles, sagging and uneven skin texture and color.

This plant is found in many skin cleansers, soaps, masks, creams and shampoos and conditioners. It is effective for many skin types but especially for oil or acne prone skin. It improves micro circulation within the dermal layers of skin.  This means that it helps  bringing in fresh oxygenated blood filled with nutrients to all the cells.

Rosemary is also great for hair care.  When used on a regular basis, it stimulates the hair follicles, making hair grow longer and stronger.  It is also said to help slow down premature hair loss and the graying of hair. It helps improve scalp conditions such as dandruff and balances your hairs secretions of sebum (oil).

 *Like most essential oils do not apply directly to the skin.  It is better to use diluted in a carrier oil or mixed into a product.

DIY BEAUTIFUL SKIN:

 *1 small sized cucumber (or 1/2 a med. large) peeled and either juiced or pulverized into liquid with food processor 

 *Add 15-25 drops of rosemary essential oil

 *Add 3-4 tbs of clay (any type) kaolin white, pink, french green, cambrian blue, rhasoul

 *Allow mixture to sit for 5 or so minutes while the clay absorbs some of the moisture.

      your mixture should be that of a paste

 *Apply to facial skin for 10-15 minutes and gently remove with warm water and a wash cloth. 

 * ENJOY~

3:3 Herbs for Skin Health: Camomile

rechercheorganics.com

Chamomile

 Chamomile is a member of the Asteraceae family and there are many, many different species of chamomile within this family.  The two most common being German Chamomile, Marticaria recutita, and Roman Chamomile, Chamaemelum nobile.  This plant has been used since ancient times for it's calming and anti-inflamatory, and anti-irritant properties. 

So why is this plant that we hear so much about in the form of calming teas, also good for our skin?
Due to Chamomile's anit-inflamatory properties it soothes skin rashes and irritated skin, including eczema, psoriasis, nettle/poison ivy rashes, burns, and sun burns.  It has also been noted that Chamomile helps speed up the healing process of minor cuts, scrapes, and wounds.

There is more to this common wonder though, it contains a compound called Alpha-bisabolol.  This natural chemical compound helps to improve the appearance of scars, stretch marks, fine lines and wrinkles, and contributes to evening out the natural tones of the skin.  There are enzymes in Alpha-bisabolol that renew cells by gently removing build up of damaged and over stretched dying cells.  This helps reduce scar tissue and further more Chamomile allows the vitamins and biomarin collagen to penetrate the skin for reproduction of new and healthy skin cell growth.   Chamomile helps to cleanse, moisturize and improves the overall metabolizm of skin cells. 

Dried Roman Chamomile

The powerhouse of antioxidants found within Chamomile help fight acne breakouts as well as reducing the potential from acne scars forming.  Also this plant fight against free radicalss that damage the skin and reduce the healthy, youthful glow that we all strive to keep.

 In addition to all of this, Chamomile also has benefits for hair.  It is highly effective in preventing and the elimination of dandruff by soothing the irritated scalp and helping maintain a healthy gleam to each individual strand of hair. 

DIY Chamomile Hair Rinse: 

1) Take 3 cups of water and set to a simmer.

2) Remove from heat and add a couple pinches of chamomile (loose flower if possible) and let steep

    until this tea is around skin temperature. 

3) Strain Chamomile from tea (or better yet have put the chamomile into a satchel and now remove 

     the satchel from the tea

3) Use as final rinse in bathing ritual. Either after shampoo and condidtioner or after a vinigar rinse. 

4) Notice the difference. It is OOHHHHHH so lovely. 

1:3 Herbs for Skin Health: Calendula Officinalis

Calendula Officinalis

Parts of the Flowering Plant

This common yet lovely little flower "pot Marigold" know also as Calendula Officinalis, is native through out southwestern Asia, western Europe, and Micronesia, and the Mediterranean.  It has been cultivated world wide as an ornamental plant. Its name, Calendula, in Latin refers to "little clock" or possibly "little weather-glass". 

Calendula Officinalis

This flower has been used for skin treatments in it's native regions for centuries.  Calendula has very high amounts of flavonoids, a plant based anitoxidant that protects cells from being dammaged by free-radicals in our environment. This flower is known for its anti-inflammatory, antimicrobial, astringent, and antifungal properties.  And is very useful for treating minor wounds, chapped and chafted skin, bruises, burns, acne, and diaper rash.  

A lesser known fact of Calendula Officinalis is that it stimulates the production of collagen at the wound site.  This helps to minimize the scarring and of regular wounds as well as with stretch marks. Because of it's ability to stimulate collagen, Calendula is also able to protect the skin from premature aging and thinning.   This plant is gentile enough to treat even the sensitive skin of infants and babies making it a very versitile plant indeed.  

Calendula Oil

Calendula is found in many beauty products, bath products, creams, salves, ointments, facial systems, tinctures and teas.  The beautiful orange/yellow color of the flower seeps into the oil turning it a lovely golden color.  

DIY: 

Calendula Bath:

Get a large handfull of dried/fresh flower heads 

Mix with a quarter to half dollar size amount of lavender buds (optional)

Add flowers to a simmering pot of hot water and reduce heat

Allow 10 minutes to steep in water

Add 1/4 c. Sea Salt or 1/4 to 1/2 c. epsome salts

Allow time to dissolve in water

Strain out plant material 

Pour into Bath Water and Enjoy!!!!

Have you used Calendula for skin health? Do you have photos that you would like to share of Calendula Officinalis that you have grown your self? We would love to see and hear your stories. 

Note Worthy Neem Oil

Azadirachta indica: Neem Tree

 Neem has been called The "tree of promise", this is an Indian Lilac,  a large standing tree of the mahogany family.  The Neem tree, Azadirachta indica, is native to the Indian subcontinent and has it's roots deep in historical uses of this culture.  Used both internally and externally, this tree has been used as a "cure all" in many tropical cultures throughout the world.

Immature Neem Seeds

 Every part of the Neem tree has medicinal and botanical uses; the branches, leaves, bark, fruits, flower and roots are all extreemly beneficial as they contain a compound called azadirachtin which gives this plant it's anti-septic, anti-viral,  anti-bacterial, anti-fungal and anti-parasitic qualities.

Fresh Harvested Neem Fruit

Neem Oil is procured from the fruit of the Neem Tree. Often hand harvested, this oil has become a cash crop of the the tropics.  Since being "discoverd" by the Western culture, demand for this precious oil has sky rocked.  The oil it's self comes in an array of different colors, depending on methods of extraction and quality of how the Neem fruit has been handled.


 


Often times, the oils is obtained by crushing the interior kernal and extracting the oil it's self by methods of cold process or temperature controlled heating.  In India, neem oil extractors, "Teli" or oil men, were considered as a specialized profession.

 Recentally, hexane extraction has become a cheap and quick method in comparison of more traditional methods of oil extraction. It is important to note that this chemical extraction  is always an inferior oil end product.

Lets begin to talk about the oil it's self.  This oil is rich in Omega 3, 6, and 9 fatty acids.  It also contains Palmitic acid and palmitoleic acid, the rarely known omega 7.  These acids provide building blocks for hair, skin and nails, help combat wrinkles, increase elastin in skin, help maintain hydration and helps repair sun and oxidative damage to skin cells. It is widely considered for it's anti-bacterial, anti-microbial, and anti-fungal properties.

Benificial Uses of Neem for Beauty

Hair: Neem is a natural cure for dandruff and dry scalp.  Weekly applications of this oil have shown to reduce dandruff, cleanse hair folicals, strengthen individual hair strands, and promote growth.  It can also be used to condition rough or frizzy hair as well as countering the effects of thinning hair due to stress, medication, pollution and more.

Skin: Neem has proven its effectiveness with eczema, psoriasis, and acne prone skin.  Due to it's astringent properties, it helps with wound healing and skin dammage caused by the above said skin conditions. Neem helps fight acne by distroying the bacteria that causes break outs. Neem oil contains an asprin like compound that helps with on site pain relief while it's anti-inflammatory agents (nimbidin and nimbin compunds) help reduce redness and further inflammation.  The high fatty acid content in this oil helps prevent scar tissue from forming and the oil it's self is non-comedogenic (or non pour clogging).

Neem naturally has a high level of anti oxidants which protect the skin from environmental dammage.  It also contains carotenoids, an anti-oxidant, that helps defend the skin from free-radicals.  All of the vitamin and esssential fatty acid content is readily absorbed into the skin, improving elastin, and smoothing out fine lines and wrinkles. 

Neem can also be used to fight fungal infections of the skin, such as athletes foot, ring worm, nail fungus.  Tests have proven that 2 compounds found in the leaves of the neem tree, gedunin and nimbidol, are effective against 14 different cultures of fungi. 

DIY BEAUTY TIP:

*1 TBS: of you favorite Clay (bentonite, french green, kaolin to name a few) 

*Add 3-5 drops of neem oil 

*Add coconut oil or another liquid until the consistancy of tooth paste.  Other liquids could

        include: water, aloe vera water, hydrosol, any carrier oil of choice, milk, etc...

* Put on face in nice circluar motion and allow about 7-10 minutes to dry. 

*Rinse with warm water just before clay mask gets totally dry.  This is when the most of the 

    toxins have been pulled out and nothing is yet being taken back into the pores. 

This mask is good to use on a weekly basis, much more and skin will begin to dry out.  It is natural for our skin to produce oil and constant stripping of this natural process is less beneficial for our skin.

The Secret behind Sea Buckthorn (Oil)

Hippophae rhamnoides Sea Buck Thorn

Hippophae rhamnoides, commonly known as Sea Buckthorn, gets its common name from growing near the sea and from it's many spines or thorns that are similar to that of true Buckthorn species.  This plant is native to Russia, and the northern parts of both China and Mongolia. It's uses can be traced back to a meteria medica from the Tang Dynasty 617-907 AD. Historically the oil from this plant has been used as a beauty treatment to preserve youthful skin tone and texture, whiten teeth and as an internal medicine since long before the time it was finally written down.

Sea Buckthorn "fields"

 Sea Buckthorn is considered a drought resistant plant and can grow in extreme teperature variations anywhere from -45 to 104 feirinheight (-43 to 40 C).    It sends out extensive roots systems very quickly and is an ideal plant for controlling soil erosion.  Today, this plant is being grown extensively in Canada and through out Euroupe, as it's health benefits have began to become more widely known.

Sea Buckthorn Berries

There are two main variations of Sea Buckthorn oils.  That made from the seeds and that from the pulp of the entire fruit. There is a considerable difference in the fatty acid make up of each of these oils.  Linoleic acid and a-linolenic acid are the major fatty acids in the seed produced oil.  These essential fatty acids are also known as omega 6 fatty acids.  They are anti inflammatory, acne reducive, very moisture retaining and a powerful antioxidant. While the main fatty acid make up in the oil derived from the pulp is called palmitoleic acid and palmitic acid.  These are also known as omega 7 essential fatty acids.  These acids provide building blocks for hair, skin and nails, help combat wrinkles, increase elastin in skin, help maintain hydration and helps repair sun and oxidative damage to skin cells. 

Sea Buckthorn Pulp and Seed Derived Oils

Let's revisit this oil as a whole.  This ancient fruit contains 190 active ingredients between the two types of oil.  Nutrients including Vitamins A, B1, B2, C, D, E, K, carotenoids, flavonoids, amino acids, phenols, folic acid, and over 20 different minerals.  What's more, it is the only plant know to contain Omega 3,6,9, and 7 essential fatty acids.  Most remarkable, perhaps, is this oils ability to heal wound damagaed skin.  It has a high success rate as a skin conditioning and repair oil.  It is nourishing, revitalizing, and restorative to the skin membrains, and can be used to topically treat burns of all kinds.  It has a remarkable sucess rate at helping heal damaged skin after chemotherapy and radiation burns and dryness. 

Healthy Teeth and Gums

Another interesting use for this oil is it's ability to work with strengthening gums, whitening teeth, and providing over all good oral hygene.  It helps with the healing time of herpes and canker sores and simply makes for a beautiful smile.

Argan oil ~ from Morocco's Tree of Life

Information brought to you by: Recherch'e Organics

 ARGAN OIL

Moroccan Oil, have you heard the term fluttering around your salon, are your girlfriends reporting shining results due to it's use?  More about that petroleum based product later, what I really want to delve into is the history, cultural influences, the whats and whys of Argan Oil and because of this oil, Moroccan Oils rise to fame.

Argania spinosa

Goat Tree's

The Argan Tree, which grows only in Southwestern Morocco, reaches heights of 8-10 meters tall and provides much desired shade in this arid part of the world.  This tree is home to the fleshy green fruits that produce Argan Oil, a vitamin rich oil used both for nutritional and beauty purposes.   Inside the green fruit casing there is an extremely hard shell protecting 2-3 almond shaped kernels filled with this Argan "liquid gold".   These trees have supported the local Berber community since the dawn of time.  Hailed as the "Tree of Life" the Argan tree's leaves and fruit have sustained the goats, camels and sheep of the Berber peoples for centuries. Cattle live off of the pressed nut cakes that remain after the Argan Oil has been extracted.  The people of this region eat the oil and the nut shells are used as a source of fuel for their fires.  Argan tree's need no cultivation and are perfectly suited to their dry and arid natural environments.  Living any where from 125-450 years these trees are viable source of both food and income for generations to come. 

Argan Fruit

Within this Argan fruit there lies in wait a glorious moisture enhancing oil. Upwards of 50% of this fruits total weight by volume is oil weight.   It is a time intensive task however, for the local Berber women to retrieve this precious oil.  It takes 3 days for a single woman to produce just one liter of oil.  Traditionally the Berber women have collected the seeds, which are then dried in the open air. Once dried, the pulpy flesh is removed and often used for feed for livestock and animals.

Sun Dried Argan

Next, the nut is cracked open to reveal the Argan kernels.  These kernels are then roasted and cooled if to be used for culinary purposes, and then ground and pressed (weather for culinary or cosmetic use).  Many attempts to mechanize this entire process have been tried,  however the traditional ways have always prevailed.  This time and labor intensive process has been the only way thus far to retrieve the precious Argan Oil to date. 

3 Phases of the Argan Kernels Life

 After pressing the oil is left to decant for approximately 2 weeks.  This allows any remaining pieces of the kernel to settle to the bottom.  Natural unrefined oil may still contain some small amount of sediment.

Argan Oil

Argan Oil has extremely high levels of Vitamin E and upwards of 80%  of the total volume is comprised of essential fatty acids.   Making Argan a perfect natural serum for many skin aliments as well as protecting the skin cells from aging caused by oxidation.  One of the leading active substances in Argan Oil is called triterpenoids.   This group of sterolins improve skin metabolism, reduce inflammation, and promote true moisture retention.  Argan Oil is reported to help in the reduction of fine lines and wrinkles by it's ability to restore the skin's hydro-lipid layer. It has also been used effectively for treating skin aliments such as chicken pox, acne, psoriasis, eczema and stretch marks from rapid weight gain/loss.

MOROCCAN OIL vs. ARGAN OIL

So what is the difference you ask?  Moroccan oil is a company that highlights the use of Argan oil.  The only problem here is their formulas only contain approx 3% or less of natural Argan Oil.  The rest of the "filler" ingredients are things like silicons, petroleum byproducts, and fragrance.  To reap the true benefits of Argan Oil, one is much better off going strait to the source.  Below are many different ways in which one can add Argan Oil to their daily beautification regiments. 

*Facial Moisturizer: Argan Oil is considered a dry oil, it absorbs quickly and will not be greasy or clog pores.  Adding a couple of drops of pure Argan oil to your favorite facial moisturizer or using a direct application where fine lines and wrinkles appear. 

*Leave on Conditioner: After showering, while hair is still wet, ad a few drops of pure Argan Oil to your hair, both ends and scalp to hydrate and moisturize.  It is especially useful if you often dye your hair or daily use a blow dryer. 

*Cuticle Softener: Apply a drop or two of pure Argan Oil to a cue tip or other such device and liberally apply to your cuticles at night.

Since this is such a labor and time intensive oil and is a huge supporter of the communities of Southwestern Morocco, it is always best to by from reputable fair trade companies.  These companies are not only insuring the pureness of product but also insuring the livelihoods of the people who harvest, dry, and render this precious oil. 

Bath your self with... Wine?

Information brought to you by: Recherch'e Organics

...Wine, Vino, Vin, Wijn, Wein, Viini, Vinho, Wine...

For the love of wine... Many of us come home in the evening and begin our daily routines of helping kids with homework, cooking dinner, sitting down with the family, cleaning up, and somewhere in this litany of things we do, we crack open that bottle of wine. We sit back, cherish the first sips, and relax. Well, have you ever thought of bathing with wine? This is something that is usually last on peoples minds when they think of this drink, hailing from grapes, descending from Italy (and now from many places around the globe).

Lets talk about it...
There are very few companies that are creating body care products with wine as an ingredient.  A spa in Japan, the Hakone Kowakien, has taken this idea to a whole different level. As viewed below...

Hakone Kowakien Spa, Japan

Why would one want to use wine for skin care???

(example: Recherch'e Organics has just come out with a new soap, Black Currant Rose and Red Wine).  Red wine contains high levels of antioxidants and polyphenols which soften skin, fight free radicals, stimulate circulation, increase elasticity and flexibility within the cell walls, the tannins firm skin and shrink pore size, all while evening out skin tone and color, leaving you with youthful glowing skin. Red wine is also effective in helping combat things like eczema, psoriasis, and acne.  It helps detox the skin, pulling many skin dulling and harmful toxins from the pores, leaving the skin fresh and healthy.  

There is secret ingredient, possibly the most potent aspect for the argument of using wines in your beauty products, this little lovely is called Resveratrol.  Resveratrol is a naturally occurring part of a  plant's defense system.  It is an anti-microbial substance created in response to stress, infection or strong UV radiation that the plant goes through while alive.  It appears Resveratrol uses its antioxidant effects in a two fold manner; savaging existing free radicals, and preventing new free radical formation.  It has also been reported that this anti-oxidant stimulates healthy cell proliferation as well as collagen synthesis.  As we age the natural collagen and elastin structures within our skin's matrix diminish, leaving us with a wrinkled and loose appearance to our dermal layer (skin).   Resveratrol may in fact be able to help improve the function of "fibroblasts"(a cell in connective tissue that produces collagen and other fibers), which in turn creates new and healthy connective tissue with in our skin. 

In a recent study that I read this is an exact excerpt from those pages:

"In a recent study, the antioxidant strength of 1% resveratrol was compared to that of 1% idebenone. Idebenone is a powerful pharmaceutical antioxidant. Its benefits include shielding the skin from environmental damage, improving the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, reducing dryness, and smoothing skin texture. The results of the study revealed that resveratrol had a stunning 17-fold greater antioxidant capacity than idebenone!"

Maybe this isn't such a bad idea after all!!!!!

For more information on where to purchase bathing products imbued with wine, please contact Recherch'e Organics at (406) 209-3755

Thank you. 

Hemp Seed Oil: Fad or For Real?

Information brought to you by: Recherch'e Organics

Hemp, Seeds, & Oil

I have been asked often what is all the hype about hemp seed oil? Is it merely fad or is there truly something behind this taboo substance? I would like to explore this oil in depth and allow you, the reader, to make up your mind if in fact there is something beneficial about this oil.
  

Can You Get High From Using Hemp Seed Oil? 

 In a day and age when Marijuana is all over the news, every state in the USA is trying to figure out their own methods to the "war on drugs, and every third person is proclaiming the "health benefits of this almighty plant", it is difficult to discern what is true and what is merely hype.  So lets first start with this question.  Can you in fact get high from using hemp seed oil? The answer is NO and here is why.  Plants that are being grown for oil production (mainly Canadian seeds are here in the USA) have a very low resin content to begin with.   The resin or THC (tetrahydrocannabinol the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana)  is not found with in the seed it self.  Instead it is contained in the flowering bud and to a lesser degree the leaf of the plant. Once the seeds are harvested, they are then washed and cleaned of any potential resin (industry average says up to 99.99%) that could have encountered the outer husk of the seed.  The seed is then sterilized (so it will not be a viable plant producing seed any longer) and then pressed into the finalized product... the oil.  

So What is in Hemp Seed Oil (if not THC)?

With that question behind us, lets take a further look as to what is in hemp seed oil.  Hemp seed oil is in fact a nutrient dense and highly usable oil.  It can be used in skin and beauty care as we will be looking further into.  It can also be used as a food grade oil (though not recommended for cooking  even low heat exposure). This oil contains antioxidants, protein, carotene, phytosterols, phospholipids, as well as many valuable minerals such as calcium, magnesium, potassium, iron, sulfur, zinc and phosphorus.  It is considered a complete protein and contains all 20 amino acids, including the 9 amino acids that are essential aminos (meaning our body does not produce them).  It also has a horde of vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6, C, D, and vitamin E.  With each oil, with each natural ingredient, there is always one thing that stands out above all else.  The ONE, possibly single most important or interesting fact about hemp seed oil is the fact that it has a very high percentage of Essential Fatty Acids (or EFA's)  and not only is the percentage high, it is also in perfect balance between omega 6 and omega 3 at a ratio of 3:1.  This is the perfect balance for our human bodies. 

From whole seed, to ground seed to oil

What Does This Mean For Our Skin? 

Now understanding that hemp seed oil is full of nutrients, how does this oil benefit our skin and hair? 

The protein found with in this oil repairs damaged skin on the cellular level.  It is able to strengthen the cell walls while it is hydrating and helping the epidermal layers of skin maintain its moisture content. This oil is great for skin suffering from inflammatory conditions, such as acne, roseacia, eczema, psoriasis.  It has strong anti-inflammatory agents such as; GLA gamma-linolenic acid to aid in reducing the skins inflammatory response. This natural moisturizer contains vitamin D (as above mentioned).  Vitamin D helps achieve soft, smooth and well hydrated skin.  It has been used abundantly to help prevent premature aging and does this by helping maintain the moisture balance with in the skin cells.  In 2005 a study conducted in Finland by J. Callaway and was published in the Journal of Dermatological Treatment.  J. Callaway's findings were the "symptoms of skin dryness and itching significantly improved in dermatitis sufferers after suing to hemp seed oil for a period of 20 weeks."

Hemp Seed Oil for Beautiful Skin and Hair

DIY

1 Tbs of Hemp Seed oil massaged into the the scalp 1 time per week and followed with regular shampoo and conditioning will strengthen the hair follicles, help repair damaged hair, and leave a beautiful and lustrous shine.