December 17, 2020

COSMETICS STRAIGHT FROM THE KITCHEN - RECIPES FOR HOME MADE FACE MASKS AND SCRUBS

In our cosmetics, we are guided by the principles of Ayurveda. One of them is that we do not put anything on the body that you cannot eat. Orientana natural cosmetics are full of ingredients that you will find in your kitchen. These are pomegranate, cherry, turmeric, saffron, ginger, green tea, honey, cinnamon or papaya. Thanks to them, you can have a more beautiful complexion, strong nails or hair. Look into your fridge or kitchen cabinet and see how many cosmetic ingredients you have in it - superfoods for the skin! You are probably also familiar with moringa, which you drink in cocktails or teas. Due to its amazing antioxidant effect (it contains as many as 46 antioxidants!) it was chosen as the superfood of 2018! Now it's time to do something for your skin from the ingredients you use to make desserts or salads. And you can really do a lot. In this post today, we'll present you with a few ideas for homemade face masks, scrubs or masks! Maybe you have some of your own favorite methods? After all, our kitchen hides so many wonders rich in vitamins, minerals, fatty acids. Let's use them! THE WAY TO GET SMOOTH, SILKY SOFT HANDS Are your hands rough and dry? Make an avocado mask. How? Mash half an avocado with a fork, add an egg yolk, a teaspoon of honey, a teaspoon of bran and 10 drops of evening primrose oil. Mix everything together. Rub the mixture into your hands (you can also rub it into your feet!). PERFECT SKIN WITHOUT DISCOLORATIONS Do you know what is an effective way to deal with acne discolorations and scars? Use a very simple ingredient that you sometimes add to tea. Yes, it's lemon juice! Soak a cotton pad in the juice and apply it to your skin for a few minutes (no more than 15 minutes!). Then wash your face. Do this in the evening after removing your makeup. You will notice a brighter face, but it is also a great way to tighten pores! A FRESH, RESTED LOOK Everyone probably knows the method with cucumber slices. We put the cooled slices on our eyes and relax lying down for 10-15 minutes. Then we wash our face with cold water. This is a great proven idea for dark circles under the eyes and puffiness!! It also has an astringent, smoothing, cleansing and refreshing effect on the skin. THE WAY TO BEAUTIFUL HAIR Do you know what the secret product is? A cheap one that is well-known to us – vinegar! A great way to have smooth and shiny hair! Okay, so we have vinegar, so what should we do with it now? Add half a glass of vinegar to water and rinse your hair with it after washing! What does vinegar do to our hair? It has an acidic pH, so it closes hair cuticles, prevents them from tangling and allows for thorough washing off of all cosmetics. It will also take care of the scalp, fight dandruff and prevent oiliness. EFFECTIVE HOME MAKEUP REMOVAL Did you know that oils are the best way to remove makeup? This is because fats dissolve best in oils, and makeup is nothing more than fats. You can use slightly warmed olive oil to cleanse your skin. Wet your skin, massage the oil in, and rinse it off with warm water. If your skin is dry, you don't have to wash the oil off thoroughly, just wipe your face with a cotton pad. Did you know that olive oil will also strengthen your eyebrows and eyelashes? HAIR LIKE BEACH WAVES To get them, all you need to do is get a can of coca-cola. Mix it with a little water and pour it into the atomizer. You can now spray dry strands. You don't have to buy a texturizing hair spray anymore! SEXY SHINY LEGS Mix half a glass of olive oil with half a glass of coarse sea salt and rub into damp skin of legs and buttocks in circular motions! Your legs will shine sensually after such a scrub and your skin will be firmer. A REMEDY FOR SUNBURNED SKIN If you sit in the sun for too long, try applying a mixture of a few spoons of natural yogurt with half a grated cucumber to your skin. Leave it on your skin as long as possible! A method with just kefir or buttermilk will also be good, which you probably know from your grandmothers or mothers. CINNAMON PEELING - DRY SKIN In a bowl, mix five teaspoons of sugar and 1/4 teaspoon of cinnamon. Add olive oil to create a uniform paste. Apply the scrub to your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Massage gently in circular motions and rinse with water. The scrub soothes dryness, and your skin becomes soft and moisturized! COFFEE SCRUB WITH SALT Mix a tablespoon of salt (fine or coarse) and two tablespoons of freshly ground coffee and a teaspoon of cinnamon. Add unscented shower gel to create a fairly thick consistency of the mixture. Now it's time to gently massage the entire body, especially the thighs, hips, feet and stomach. Rinse the body with alternating warm and cold water and then pat in a moisturizing or firming balm. The scrub removes dead skin, smoothes and makes the skin soft. QUICK AND EASY HAIR MASK You need a glass of flaxseed, which you pour boiling water over. It will create a pudding consistency, which you need to pass through a sieve or gauze. You will only need a liquid, without seeds, which you apply to clean, damp hair. We keep it for a few minutes, then rinse it off. The hair will be moisturized and nourished. You can also make a mask with turmeric, the recipe for which can be found in our previous post Turmeric and its amazing properties . Now choose your recipe and organize some relaxation time for yourself with cosmetics from your kitchen! I wonder which one you will choose? Maybe you know some other interesting and effective recipes?

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December 17, 2020

10 THINGS THAT SURPRISED ME IN TOKYO

ANIMAL CAFE In the cafe you can cuddle and pet various animals not seen in Japanese homes, such as an owl, a fennec fox, a rabbit, a guinea pig. There are also cafes with only cats. The Japanese have very small apartments and are often not allowed to keep animals in them. More and more Japanese people do not form relationships, they do not have another person to live with, so they seek closeness with animals. They sit in such a cafe, drink quite expensive coffee and cuddle cats. PEOPLE IN MASKS I understand wearing masks when we have an infection. It is a kind of responsibility that is difficult for us to understand but very common in other Asian countries. I am used to it. However, in Japan, masks are also worn for two other reasons. And probably for these reasons, they are worn more often. When riding the subway in Tokyo, you will notice that there are often more people with masks than without. Why? It is a kind of isolation, the Japanese want to cut themselves off from others in this way, discourage contact and acquaintance. Another reason is to cover minor skin imperfections or lack of make-up. Did you get a pimple? Put on a mask and cover it. A mask is an essential product here and everyone has one at home. BALL MACHINES FOR ADULTS Do you remember those machines with plastic balls? After inserting a coin and turning the lever, a ball flies out, which has a surprise inside - a plastic figurine. In our country, there are usually one or two such machines in a place where children appear, because they are the ones who persuade their parents to insert a coin. In Tokyo, I saw entire walls of such machines and they are mainly used by adults. There is still a plastic toy in the ball. The Japanese call them Gashapon. Gashapon toys are figurines of characters from Japanese manga, games or anime, but also figurines from the American entertainment industry. Yes, adults here collect plastic Spiderman figurines. PEDOPHILE MANGA The Japanese have really great bookstores – several floors, including at least two floors occupied by manga – a type of Japanese comic book. There is a section of pornographic manga (homosexual and heterosexual) as well as comics about intimate relationships between adults and children. It was a shock for me. In Japan, having sex is legal with a person from the age of 13 (if they agree – I don't know how to comment on that ☹)! "Light" child pornography is also legally available. The "heavy" kind was legal until 2014. Manga in which adults have fun with children in bed is within arm's reach here. It didn't even surprise me, but it did make me nervous. RESTAURANTS WHERE YOU ORDER AND PAY AT THE MACHINE In the totally old-school-looking, tiny bars serving udon noodles (in 12 or more varieties) they don't have waiter service - you don't order or pay a human here. When you enter, you come across a cabinet with a selection of dishes - here you press the appropriate button, choose a dish and pay. You hand the receipt to the cook, who immediately gets to work. PROFESSIONAL KARAOKE STUDIOS Karaoke as we know it in Poland is no match for Japanese karaoke. These are small professional recording rooms that you usually rent with friends. You can order drinks and snacks for such a room, but most importantly you can rent a stage outfit. And so, dressed as Cher, I could perform her greatest hits - and see it all on the monitor as if I was giving a real concert. For many Japanese, karaoke has a therapeutic effect, they treat it as relaxation after work, and that is why in districts where there are many offices there are also many such karaokes. FOOD SHOPPING MALL How surprised I was that in Tokyo there are shopping malls with only restaurants and no shops. In a huge multi-story building you have a choice of dozens of restaurants and bars where you can eat and drink alcohol. These bars and restaurants are crowded in the evening because after work everyone goes to eat something - Japanese people rarely cook in their apartments because they either don't have a kitchen or they don't have permission from the owner of the property because the smell can bother the neighbors. Everyone there probably eats out! PACZINKO - GAME AROUNDS These are places so crowded and smoky with cigarette smoke, and so loud that it's hard to stand for a few minutes. In addition to the shooting and scoring machines, where adults sit with poker faces (so I don't know if they win or lose), there are machines for pulling out plushies. These are also besieged by adults - they pull out plushies from Moomins, Pokemon, Harry Potter. POPULAR SWEETS AND SNACKS IN STRANGE FLAVORS In specialized shops in Tokyo we can buy Kit Kat in flavors that I have not seen in Europe or the USA or anywhere else. Kit Kat in matcha tea flavor, apple, strawberry and others. Pringles in flavors of octopus dishes, with lime and chili, cinnamon and wasabi. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE - ROBOTS IN BANKS In Japan, which is known for its technological innovations, I met for the first time robots the shape and size of a large child, which helped with customer service in a bank. You could communicate with them freely, ask a substantive question and receive an answer. It was great! My trip was purely business but I had some time to walk around the city. In Tokyo, Orientana presented natural cosmetics at the Cosme Tokyo cosmetics fair.

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December 17, 2020

HOW DO HONG KONG PEOPLE DEAL WITH STRESS?

I was last in Hong Kong six years ago and I can tell you that changes are happening quickly, because I hardly recognize the city now. And its inhabitants too? A few years ago there was more British influence here and the city seemed calmer. What is Hong Kong like today? Very interesting modern architecture, luxury shops and a lot of Teslas on the streets, but also... smog, noise, excessive activity of residents and overstimulation. Hong Kong residents suffer from overwork and huge competition in the workplace. They have no prospects for their own apartment (1 m2 in a good location in Hong Kong costs about PLN 100,000), they have no time for friendships and relaxation, they live in constant crowds and noise. The Chinese, and especially those who live in Hong Kong, are very loud, shouting at each other, talking on phones, honking and screaming. I have seen their aggressive behavior more than once. All this makes them one of the most stressed groups in the world, and the suicide rate and mental illness rate there is increasing rapidly. I spoke to Hong Kong residents because I wanted to find out how they cope in such a difficult environment. Here are some of the basic ways Hong Kong residents relieve stress: ACUPUNCTURE There are many salons in Hong Kong that offer body needling. Needling equalizes the flow of energy in the body, brings balance to the body, can treat all kinds of neuroses and obsessions. Acupuncture increases blood circulation and tissue oxygenation, reduces heart rate and lowers blood pressure, helps manage stress hormone, releases endorphins and relaxes muscles. USING ASIAN HERBS In Chinese medicine, there are hundreds of herbs specifically used to achieve body balance and thus reduce stress. The goal of Chinese medicine is to have the body function in harmony. Stress can be combated with a proper lifestyle, and in extreme cases, you should go to a herbal shop, of which there are many on the streets of Hong Kong. A good herbalist will be able to determine where imbalances occur and will prescribe the appropriate herbal mixture. It is popular to drink valerian or chrysanthemum tea every day and eat the fruit of the common jujube, which has a strengthening effect for people with delicate and sensitive health. FIRE THERAPY Fire therapy (huǒ liáo) involves heating larger areas of the body with fire. The procedure involves isolating the skin with a warm, wet towel. An isopropyl alcohol solution diluted with water is spread over the isolated skin, e.g. on the back, a fire is lit for a few seconds, and then extinguished with a warm, wet towel. This procedure draws toxins out of the body and reduces tension in the body. QIGONG GYMNASTICS It is a popular exercise that combines meditation with tai chi movements. It is usually done outdoors and slows down the heart rate, relaxes muscles, causes breathing to stop and lowers blood pressure. Regular daily exercise for 5 to 30 minutes can help relieve stress. MEDITATION Meditation is a great way to relieve stress. The Chinese have been meditating for thousands of years and it is one of the pillars of their tradition. It helps lower blood pressure and eliminate cardiac arrhythmia, improves sleep quality, relieves headaches and migraines, and reduces chronic pain. If your life is also full of stress, you can try the methods of coping with stress described above. In Poland, you probably won't try fire therapy, but acupuncture is available. I also encourage you to meditate. If you would like to try it, you can learn it, for example, in yoga schools.

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December 16, 2020

ECO CONFERENCE - SMOG AND OUR HEALTH

On 27.11 Orientana was the organizer of the eco press conference "SMOG AND OUR HEALTH", which took place in the modern interior of Cook Story By Samsung in Warsaw's Wilanów. The meeting was led by the wonderful journalist Beata Tadla! Anna Wasilewska – creator and owner of the Orientana brand presented a new product – BIO Active Protective Cream ANTI POLLUTION. She talked about its properties and the effects of the cream's ingredients – moringa and schisandra, as well as scientific studies that confirm the protective effects of both ingredients. She explained how the cream blocks the penetration of harmful particles from the air such as PM2.5 and PM10 or from cigarette smoke. Moringa and schisandra also prevent them from settling on the skin! Additionally, the cream has a protective filter SPF15, which provides stable protection against UVA and UVB radiation. Bio Active Protective Cream is a cream that not only protects the skin, but also deeply cares for it. It will long-term moisturize, nourish, regenerate the skin and protect against oxidative stress, delaying and preventing skin aging processes. And did you know that the Oxford Dictionary has named TOXIC the word of the year for 2018? This applies not only to interpersonal relationships, which are often unclean and toxic these days, but also to the environment – ​​toxic and polluted. However, we can protect ourselves and make conscious actions and choices. The meeting was also attended by the creator of the social campaign "First Day Without Smog", in which famous Poles hold their breath - @wstrzymajoddech. He started the entire discussion panel and began by outlining the problem of smog and explaining how large a scale of the problem it is. It is present all year round, and in the heating season it intensifies even more. Year by year, there are more and more victims of polluted air. The smog campaign "First Day Without Smog" was created thanks to Global Compact Network Poland and Grupa Walk. Many famous faces from the world of media and television took part in the campaign and its aim is to build awareness of the problem of smog and the preventive actions that each of us can take. The dermatologist spoke about the harmful effects of polluted air on the skin. Remember that not only does the skin age faster, suffer from inflammation and become hypersensitive, but it also lets carcinogenic substances from smog into the bloodstream. We need to take care of our health, but also start making conscious choices and contribute to making our planet more friendly and clean. At the end of the conference, we heard about the advantages of the electric car Nissan Leaf, which does not imitate exhaust fumes. You can cover a really long distance with it, and charge it along the way at special stations, of which there are supposed to be more and more. You can also have such a charger at home! The meeting participants were journalists from well-known magazines and journals, influential influencers and famous people from the world of media and television. The problem of smog was taken up by actress Anita Sokołowska (an actress appearing in the series "Przyjaciółki"), Kasia Dziurska (multiple fitness champion, finalist of "Dancing with the Stars"), and Kasia Krupa (presenter and dancer, appearing in the program "Dancing with the Stars"). Everyone listened to all the presentations with interest and concentration. Everyone was surprised by the information about how bad the air quality in Poland is. Many Polish cities are on the list of the most smog-ridden cities in the world! However, there are methods to combat it! Each participant received a new Orientana cream to test, and the Orientana team answered countless questions about the cream's effects and its use.

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December 16, 2020

WE CONQUER ASIA - ORIENTANA AT THE FAIRS IN HONG KONG AND INDONESIA

Despite the autumn, October and November are hot months for our company! In October we presented the ORIENTANA brand at the Cosmobeaute Indonesia Trade Fair in Jakarta, and in November at the largest trade fair in Asian countries, Cosmoproof Hong Kong. In both countries we were warmly welcomed, and in Hong Kong our Actively Protective Bio Cream ANTI POLLUTION premiered. The fair was an interesting experience for us. Customers from Asian countries understand the ingredients, they know them from old natural recipes, but they do not have access to them in modern formulas. That is why Orientana has a field day here. We had a lot of work, and the interest from local distributors exceeded our expectations. Our hair products were a hit in Jakarta. They will soon be available in Indonesia in specialist salons. In Hong Kong, where smog is an everyday occurrence, customers were interested in a cream that protects against smog. Large cities in Asia are struggling with this problem, and recently awareness of this problem has increased here. We also had many talks with distributors in China, but we had to painfully reject their offers. We do not want to test our cosmetics on animals, and Chinese law requires it if cosmetics are offered in stationary stores. Hong Kong, on the other hand, as a free city, is subject to a different law and here you can sell in stationary stores without testing. Our Bio Breast Oil also enjoyed great interest and it is possible that it will soon be on the shelves in stores on this island. Attending the fair is also an opportunity to see the latest trends in cosmetics. We were of course interested in trends in natural cosmetics and we discovered that we have good intuition. We have prepared new catalogues in English and Chinese for the fair, as well as advertising spots, which we will show you soon. And soon we are flying to Tokyo.

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December 16, 2020

ASIAN PLANTS ARE NOT ONLY USED IN COSMETICS BUT ALSO FOR OUR HEALTH

Did you know that almost all Asian plants that are ingredients of our natural cosmetics work perfectly as effective agents preventing infections and natural remedies for colds? Of course, the basic principles of Asian medicine are prevention through a healthy lifestyle. We should breathe properly, do sports in fresh (clean!) air, eat healthily, sleep well. It doesn't always work, does it? Especially when we live in a hurry and are exposed to viruses and bacteria, which are especially active during the autumn grey. So sometimes we need to support ourselves with something additional to strengthen our immunity. My secret is a drink with an Asian plant every day on an empty stomach. Do you know which one? Ginger. Every morning I grate a piece of ginger root (2-3 cm), squeeze it through gauze, add juice from 1 lemon and half a glass of warm water. Sometimes I add a pinch of cayenne pepper. I drink this drink every day on an empty stomach. It helps. I stay healthy. As a preventive measure in the fall I add turmeric to all dishes. However, if we do not protect ourselves from the disease and symptoms of a cold appear, Asian medicine recommends sweating well. Toxins leave the body through the skin pores. Another recommendation for a cold is to drink a lot of warm drinks. Green tea in particular is great for cleansing toxins and unblocking the nose. During illness, we should drink large amounts of tea with ginger, licorice, lemon grass, cinnamon or star anise. It is good to drink milk with turmeric, and Ayurveda also recommends eating amla or chewing ginger with salt. All these plants are ingredients of our cosmetics If my family has a cold, I cook a power soup at home according to the five transformations. You can find the recipe on the Smakoterapii blog. I highly recommend it. Below is a recipe for golden milk, perfect for colds, which every mother in India prepares for her sick child. Ingredients: A glass of milk 1/4 teaspoon fresh or powdered turmeric 1/4 teaspoon fresh or powdered ginger 1/4 teaspoon black pepper A pinch of saffron 1 teaspoon honey (if you want to improve the taste) Boil the milk, add the ingredients one by one, cook for 5 minutes on low heat. Golden milk can be prepared in larger quantities and stored in the refrigerator. Always serve warm. Of course, if you continue to feel unwell, visit a doctor. In the meantime, I wish you health and encourage you to try Asian plants in your autumn menu.

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December 16, 2020

KOMODO TRIP

Today I want to take you to the beautiful island of Indonesia – Komodo. On this island lives an endemic species of lizard – the so-called Komodo dragon, and in the world known as the Komodo dragon. It is the largest lizard on Earth! Because it occurs in small numbers, it is protected by law. To protect dragons, Indonesia creates national parks where they live wild and where we tourists can observe them without interfering in their lives. Entry to the park is only possible with a ranger who will safely guide us through the area. A few words about these beautiful animals – a lizard about 3 m long, weighing about 100 kg. Komodo mainly feeds on water buffalo, deer and wild pigs. Its saliva contains 54 bacteria, which after biting the victim enter its blood and cause infection and then death. During the period of the victim's illness, Komodo follows it, waiting for it to fall and then devours it. Terrifying, isn't it? There are about 6,000 lizards living on the islands belonging to Indonesia. I really wanted to see them because soon man may completely destroy them. The Indonesian islands are very attractive to tourists, which means it is an extremely lucrative business. Not always ethical and very often not ecological. I learned that 80% of the real estate on the islands is in the hands of foreign investors. They buy land and build hotels. And often the desire for profit causes great destruction of the natural environment. Currently, there are great attempts to acquire places where Komodo dragons live for investment. To prevent this, the inhabitants of Indonesia have started a campaign on social media. You can follow it under the hashtag #savekomodo #savekomodonationalpark. When I was on the islands, I also noticed frequent fires. I was told that investors set fires because it is easier and cheaper to buy land for investment when it is burnt down. The same is done with tropical forests. This procedure even has its own name and is called "slash and burn". The idea is to make it easier to obtain land for planting, for example, oil palms. The big companies investing in Asia, the ones we all know and we all buy their products, are responsible for this. Of course, in addition to the facts described, being in Indonesia you can enjoy heavenly landscapes, wonderful regional delicacies and get to know an interesting culture. For me, however, corporate social responsibility is a key issue, so in addition to the idyllic views, I also wanted to share with you important information about the natural environment. See you soon!

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December 16, 2020

LIQUID SKIN TREASURES - VEGETABLE OILS

This time we answer questions related to oils - where do they come from, what valuable ingredients do they have, how to use them and which one to choose for yourself. Be sure to read the entry below and see what a wonderful effect natural oils can have on your skin! The beneficial effects of natural plant oils were known in ancient times by Egyptians, Hindus, Greeks and Chinese. They have been used in their beauty rituals for thousands of years. WHAT ARE VEGETABLE OILS? Vegetable oils are vegetable fats that are liquid in consistency. They are obtained from seeds, fruits, pits or plant sprouts. Cold-pressed and unrefined oils have the best properties. Such oils are the most expensive, but also the most valuable. They retain a delicate, natural smell and have high biological value. WHAT DO VEGETABLE OILS CONTAIN? Vegetable oils are a wealth of many beneficial ingredients such as natural polyunsaturated fatty acids, vitamins, phospholipids and phytosterols. In addition, they provide many antioxidants to our skin and create a protective barrier against water loss from the epidermis. WHY DO THEY MATCH SO GREAT WITH THE SKIN? They have a high affinity for it, which is why they are so well absorbed and tolerated by it. Thanks to this, they penetrate very deep layers of the skin. HOW TO USE BODY OILS AND WHO ARE THEY SUITABLE FOR? It is worth using them as a supplement to daily care. They can be applied instead of cream. You can also add a few drops to cream. Oils are a great choice if you have dry, dehydrated or irritated skin. They provide our skin with firm, moisturized and radiant skin, improving its color. Oils do not irritate the skin, they only soothe it. They can also be used by people prone to allergies. They will not only perfectly care for the skin of the face, but also the body. WHAT OILS ARE CONTAINED IN ORIENTANA NATURAL OILS? The two basic categories of oils used in Orientana are: Carrier oil – pure, organic oil from a natural source (e.g. sesame, almond, coconut, olive or sunflower) Herbal oil – a base oil infused with a decoction of one or more herbs – combining the nourishing and soothing properties of the oil with the healing properties of herbs (sandalwood, turmeric, rose, ginger, jasmine or lemongrass). WHICH OIL TO CHOOSE? If you have dry skin, it requires nourishment and regeneration, choose the Japanese Rose and Saffron Face Oil . Additionally, it has many substances that rejuvenate our skin! And if your complexion is tired and gray and you struggle with frequent imperfections, then the Sandalwood and Turmeric Face Oil is for you, with anti-inflammatory, bactericidal but also strongly nourishing effects. It will protect the skin from the formation of frequent inflammations! All our natural oils have been composed according to original Ayurvedic recipes. If you have already chosen the right oil for your face, now it's time for the body oil. Choose the one with your favorite scent and effect: – Indian Jasmine Body Oil – for dry, sensitive and irritated skin, – Ginger and Lemongrass Body Oil – for sagging, dry skin that requires elasticity improvement, – Japanese Rose and Geranium Body Oil – for tired, grey and irritated skin, – Sandalwood and Turmeric Body Oil – for problematic, contaminated, tired skin. We hope that from now on you will approach the topic of oil care differently and start choosing the right one for you! Your skin will be soft, with a healthy color and strongly moisturized. You will also see an improvement in its firmness. We will reveal to you another great way to use Body Oil - straight from India: apply it to your body before bathing! Such a morning bath will provide you with a lot of positive energy for the whole day! After getting out of the shower, your body will be perfectly smooth, moisturized and fragrant! We love it!

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December 16, 2020

COSMETICS WITH SAFFRON? WE ARE FOR IT

Saffron is the most expensive spice in the world! But not only that! It is also a valuable ingredient in cosmetics, aroma and medicine. It is not very common because it is very expensive. What is the reason for the high price of saffron? To obtain 1 kg of dried saffron, 150 thousand saffron flowers are needed. They are collected exclusively by hand. What is more, the pistils must be pulled out from the inside of the calyx very early in the morning, when the flowers are just opening. Saffron (Crocus sativus) is a purple flower, and part of it is used in both cooking and cosmetics. It is actually the red pistils inside the calyx, of which there are only three in each flower. After separating the pistils from the calyx, they are dried in such a way as to preserve their color and flavor. Available historical sources mention saffron as far back as 3,500 years ago. We know that in ancient times saffron was used by the Greeks and Romans as a perfume. In India, saffron is grown mainly in the Jammu and Kashmir region – the northernmost states, most of whose territory is occupied by the Himalayas. The appearance of saffron in South and East Asia is shrouded in mystery and there are various legends and contradictory information that describe where saffron came from in these territories. One theory, based on historical accounts gathered from Persian sources, suggests that saffron was first introduced to India by Persian rulers who brought it to their gardens. Another is that the Phoenicians introduced saffron from Kashmir via their extensive trade routes, and it was used primarily to treat melancholy and as a dye. Another Kashmiri legend has it that saffron first appeared much later, when two foreign Sufi wanderers, Khwaja Masood Wali and Hazrat Sheikh Shariffudin, were wandering into Kashmir. The foreigners fell gravely ill and requested a cure from the local ruler. When they received the cure, the holy men gave a saffron bulb in gratitude. In modern times, during the saffron harvest, grateful prayers are offered to these two saints. A shrine has been built in their honor in the saffron-growing village of Pampore in India. Currently, saffron is used in dyeing clothes, in cooking and in cosmetics. As a spice in the form of a red-gold powder, it gives dishes an intense yellow color . It is used to season rice, seafood, poultry and soups. In cosmetics, it plays an antioxidant role, prevents skin aging, has a whitening effect on discolorations and reduces inflammation. Ayurvedic cosmetics with saffron have extraordinary power. The effect of saffron in cosmetics has been confirmed quite recently by world-famous scientists.

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