Inspirations
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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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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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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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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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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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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TAJ MAHAL - THE BEAUTY OF SYMMETRY
I resisted visiting the Taj Mahal for a long time. I don't like visiting monuments, I prefer to observe ordinary people and the things they do, walk through bazaars and sit in parks. Since my friends from India were very keen to visit the Taj Mahal, one day we got on a train to Agra and set off on our way to this spectacular monument. Considered the seventh wonder of the world, the beautiful white building is actually a tomb, and not a Hindu one, but a Muslim one at that. It was built as a tomb for the wife of the Mongol emperor Shah Jahan. His beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, died after giving birth to her fourteenth child, and before her death she asked her husband to build a building in her honor. The emperor wanted to erect a monument in which undisturbed symmetry would reign. The building stands on the banks of the Yamuna River, in a square garden, which in Muslim architecture symbolizes divine perfection. The main building is a mausoleum with a large dome, on the sides there are two mosques made of red stone, and in the four corners there are minarets - towers from which muezzins call Muslims to prayer. In the very center of the mausoleum, his wife's tomb was to stand. However, the beauty of symmetry was disturbed, but more on that later. The Taj Mahal took 22 years to build. It was built by about 25 thousand workers. Legend has it that after the work was done, the emperor ordered their thumbs to be cut off so that they could not replicate such a structure anywhere else. The building is very interesting - built of white marble, and the entrance gate is covered with symbols made of precious stones resembling inscriptions from the Koran. Each wall is beautifully carved both outside and inside. I do not recall seeing such elaborate carvings in marble anywhere else in the world. Inside, the walls are decorated with precious stones, which, when illuminated, shine beautifully. Hindus say that the Taj Mahal is as changeable as a woman. The color of the building changes depending on the intensity of light. Illuminated by the sun and the moon from different angles, it has multi-colored visualizations. Pearl pink at dawn, opalescent yellow in the evening, bright white during the day. The Taj Mahal shows how we pollute the environment. The white facade has to be renovated quite often, because it turns gray due to pollution. The Indian authorities, wanting to protect the monument, have banned the construction of factories in the area. The beauty of symmetry was completely destroyed. By whom? Well... The emperor wanted to build a black copy of the Taj Mahal for himself on the other bank of the Yamuna. Of course, to have even more fun with symmetry. Nothing came of these plans. After his wife's death, his health deteriorated, one of his sons took advantage of this, killed the other successors to the throne, and threw his father in prison. After his father's death, he ordered him to be buried in the Taj Mahal next to his mother's grave, thus disturbing the wonderful symmetry. It really doesn't look good - a small grave in the center and a large grave next to it. But fortunately, the disturbance in proportions is visible only when we enter the mausoleum, until then we can admire the beauty of symmetry.
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strange beauty treatments in thailand
Beauty treatments in Thailand are heaven on earth. Thailand is known for its numerous spas and massage parlors and it is worth visiting one at least once. Thailand is a very popular tourist destination. However, if you want to relax in a slow style, I recommend choosing regions that are not completely overrun by tourists. Definitely do not go to Phuket. In almost every place in this country you will find a spa salon, where you can experience the entire beauty ritual, starting from washing your feet, to a calming health tea at the end. In general, massage in Thailand is very common, it takes place everywhere and everyone massages themselves ? On the beaches you will find shady booths where masseuses who know the secrets of massage, not only Thai, are waiting ready to work. In every hotel, shopping center or other public place in a large city you will find secluded places for massage, with dedicated chairs for foot massage, which is very common and important here. On the streets, by the shops, there are special chairs where you sit facing the backrest, and the masseur will massage your neck. Another interesting ritual that I came across in Thailand is a fish spa, i.e. a pedicure or manicure done with fish. We put our feet or hands in an aquarium full of fish, which nibble on them and remove dead skin. The treatment gives an effect similar to a good peeling, and during it we feel tickles. Such small nibbling fish can be found in many lakes in Asia. However, what intrigued me the most and convinced me to use it was eyebrow threading. It is a very quick method of hair removal using threads. The procedure supposedly comes from India and is widespread throughout Asia. It is a method of hair removal using a suitably braided 100% cotton thread that catches even very thin and short hairs, removing them along with the bulbs, thanks to which the effect lasts for a long time. It is safe and effective, perfect for sensitive skin, prone to irritation. It is also an extremely ecological and hygienic method. No other products are used in it apart from a clean thread, which is immediately thrown away after use. For me, it is also a less painful method than traditional tweezers, and certainly better for the skin around the eyes than waxing. Salons offering this service are already appearing in Poland.
Learn moreTRAINING IN BALI
This summer, while in Bali, I participated in an amazing training in creating traditional natural cosmetics based on old Balinese recipes. I am constantly looking for inspiration to create even more interesting natural novelties. Bali is another place that inspires a lot. The workshop included a theoretical part, where we learned about the plants that grow wild or are cultivated in Bali and their effects on the skin and the health of the body. The indigenous people of Bali value very natural ingredients, they do not use antibiotics, and basically treat all infections with decoctions from plant extracts. Doctors do not prescribe antibiotics here, but they can be obtained in pharmacies without a prescription. As I learned, none of the locals buy them. They are only available because of tourists. Mass-market cosmetics have already arrived in Bali, but just like antibiotics, they are mainly bought by tourists. On the other hand, Balinese women very often use plants and oils obtained from them for facial, body and hair care. In Bali, we can also find small shops offering natural cosmetics made from typical Balinese plants, and it is their formulas that we wanted to explore. That is why we chose a training that was to help us understand the effects of these plants and the principles of creating cosmetic formulas based on them. The training was led by the lovely Dewi, a graduate of Udayana University in Denpasar, who specializes in Indonesian botany and agriculture. She was accompanied by several people, all of whom came from local farming families and had extensive experience in the cultivation and use of plants from this region. We also visited nearby fields and gardens, where we could see how traditional plants from Bali actually grow. During the training we made four cosmetics ourselves: Hibiscus shampoo Natural sunscreen Body scrub Boreh (pain balm) All the plants we used to create our cosmetics came from the garden right next door. Below is the recipe for Hibiscus Shampoo. Ingredients: 7 fresh hibiscus leaves 3 fresh frangipani, magnolia or ylang-ylang flowers 1 thick, fleshy aloe leaf (about 5 cm long) 150 ml filtered water 3 drops of essential oil (sandalwood oil calms, lemongrass stimulates) EXECUTION Finely chop the hibiscus leaves and chosen flowers and place them in a large bowl. Cut the aloe leaf into thin pieces and add to the chopped leaves and flowers. Pour in water and essential oil. Stir vigorously and squeeze the leaves with your hands until the liquid becomes thick and soapy. Pour the entire mixture through a sieve into a dark bottle. The shampoo is also suitable for washing the body. Since it contains fresh ingredients, it should be stored in a cool place and used within one month of making. We learned a lot during this training. New ideas have already formed in my head. I hope that they will soon turn into wonderful new natural cosmetics! Check out www.orientana.pl
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