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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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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Weird 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
Learn moreWHAT I LEARNED IN BORNEO
My family and I flew to Borneo a few years ago and spent a dozen or so days in the Malaysian rainforest. I wanted to see orangutans in their natural habitat. I was given the contact details of someone who was supposed to help me with this endeavor. We were directed to a national park located in the state of Sabah, in the northeastern part of Borneo, and is strictly protected. You can only enter there by showing documents. I was a bit surprised that you can only enter the jungle this way, but I quickly found out why. We spent a few days walking from morning till night with a guide, Mike (that's a name for Europeans, his real name was Darum). The park is about 43,800 hectares, there live 340 species of birds, 120 species of mammals, including elephants and orangutans. We didn't have to wait long to see them. During our trek Mike told us why the jungle is so heavily protected. The reason is theft of animals. Although it is illegal to take animals out of Malaysia, there are mafias that steal animals and smuggle them, for example on ships with other goods to countries where they are in high demand. Have you seen videos on Facebook and YouTube where a little monkey is bathing in a bathtub, dressed in clothes or jumping on someone's couch? I hope you didn't like this post because this monkey was probably kidnapped by smugglers and smuggled into a country where someone bought it to keep as a domesticated pet, away from other monkeys and its natural habitat ☹ Mike also told us about how orangutans are dying because of the clearing of jungles for palm forests. Palm forests are currently planted in many places in Asia, these are palm oil plantations, which are used in many food and cosmetic products. The high demand for oil causes jungles to be cleared and even burned to make room for plantations. And in this jungle, among others, live orangutans. Despite the fact that their home has been destroyed, they keep coming back to this place, and here... there is already patch cultivation. Orangutans considered pests are killed on the spot or captured. I encourage you to give up products with palm oil. I will also add that it is very unhealthy. Choose cosmetics consciously. Some natural cosmetics, especially soaps, also contain palm oil. Orientana natural cosmetics do not contain it. http://www.ekonsument.pl/a654_nie_kupuj_oleju_palmowego.html
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KONJAC – A UNIQUE GEL BASE FOR COSMETICS
Have you already managed to get to know the essence of Orientana better? These are the only natural cosmetics in Poland, the base of which is a 100% natural gel base from the Konjac plant. You probably know Konjac in the form of sponges, which are used for effective and gentle face washing. However, this plant has much more power! - applications and properties. Konjac is a Japanese plant called the devil's tongue. It contains many valuable nutrients for the skin such as proteins, fatty acids, microelements, vitamins A, E, K, C and a complete set of B vitamins and folic acid. Rich in polysaccharides, it stimulates the synthesis of collagen and elastin. It also increases the synthesis of hyaluronic acid, thanks to which the skin becomes more taut. Under the influence of water, it swells to form a gel. It increases its volume up to 200 times, and the resulting gel creates an occlusive layer and prevents water from escaping through the skin. This is the latest discovery of natural cosmetology - the only natural gel that perfectly moisturizes and penetrates the deep layers of the skin! The gel base of the Essence is an innovative use of the Asian KONJAC plant, which in the form of a gel moisturizes the skin very well and facilitates the introduction of active substances into the skin. ESSENCE for the face at night is a gel essence with intensive moisturizing, firming, repairing and discoloration reducing effects. Essences are the heart of the Asian beauty ritual, and the Essence with snail slime works best at night when the skin regenerates intensively. This is when the most cell divisions and repair processes occur. Konjac powder has also gained fame as Glucomannan - a polysaccharide that is structurally similar to pectin, which is why the Japanese call it "intestinal broom" and use it orally. In this form, it is also available in Polish health food stores or herbal shops. It absorbs water in the digestive system and promotes faster excretion of deposits, leftovers and toxins, which improves the weight loss process. It is one of the most hygroscopic fibers known to man! The plant has been used for 1500 years in Japan in herbal mixtures and traditional foods, including tofu, Shirataki noodles and jelly. In China, it has been used for over 2 thousand years as a medicinal plant. Konjac extract is a pure, 100% natural, water-soluble agent produced exclusively from the plant without any additional unnatural ingredients. During production, the tubers are ground and mechanically cleaned. This produces flour - konjac powder, which after extraction turns into a gel. In order to avoid lumps and clumps, it is beneficial to add glycerin to the gel and for a nice smell, a minimum amount of non-allergenic fragrance ingredients.
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