Guys are lucky, sort of. When we shave, we exfoliate. For those who only have to shave their moustache (not everyone has a fully beard) do also “shave” and clean the cheeks and sides as if you did have a beard. There we go. Easy no? This removal of old dead cells gives your face a glow, and cleans at the same time.

It is important to soften your facial hair before shaving. Thus, it is most beneficial to shower before shaving. And it is very beneficial to use a facial scrub to clean your whole face AND NECK. Don’t forget the neck.  Why do we need to use a scrub if we are going to shave? There are parts of the face that will not be shaved, like your forehead, but this needs to be exfoliated too. Using a scrub also softens the facial hair, making shaving easier.

Always use a lubricant like a good soap, and a badger hair brush to foam up to ensure the lubricant gets deep down. This creates a protective film to protect the skin and to allow for a smooth glide. It is best to shave WITH the grain. Shaving against the grain does give a closer shave, but, you will experience more razor burn. What is razor burn? It’s those little bumps and pimples that pop up after shaving when you forget to apply some form of soothing balm or oil.

Now that your face is nice and clean after shaving, don’t let this opportunity go to waste. After shaving, the skin is much more receptive to anything you put on it. My system (was) is to apply a serum and a thin film of moisturizer. I NEVER use any alcohol based aftershave. It severely dehydrates your skin.

About a year ago, I started using Saadia Organics 100% Pure Argan Oil after shaving. Holy sh**! This stuff was brilliant! I did not have to use a serum and moisturizer. I only needed this. It left my face feeling really nice with absolutely no oiliness. Hand-squeezed Argan Oil is nutrient rich, very fine, and remains liquid at body temperature. It is absorbed by the skin very fast and does not block your pores, allowing your skin to breathe naturally.

So, for me, I exfoliate my face with a scrub (I experimented with various brands and finally settled on the one we offer) at least once a day in the shower, and ALWAYS apply the Argan Oil after shaving. 

Please do note that there is a big difference between Pure Argan Oil and the blended rubbish being sold out there. Don’t get cheated. You get what you pay for. There is NO substitute for the real thing.

There is a difference between hand-squeezed argan oil and machine pressed argan oil. Sadia Organics Argan Oil is HAND SQUEEZED by Madam Saadia and her team in Morocco. No heat is applied, and all the precious nutrients remain intact. Machine pressing applies heat (damages nutrients) and crushes the pulp so much that even stuff you don’t want comes out of the pulp.

When you buy something, look for the value it brings to you, not the price (by the way, our hand squeezed Argan Oil costs the same as the big name brand, but you get a much higher quality and effective Argan Oil from ours, as we don’t have to pay the long supply chain. We get ours direct).  Always look for the EFFECTIVE VALUE you get from what you buy.

Link to : Argan Oil

Link to : Face Scrub

Link to : African Black Soap

Link to : Goats Milk Soap

The skin on your face is far more sensitive than the rest of your body, so choosing the correct products for the job are essential. Regular soap is usually too harsh for your face, especially if its detergent based (contains sulphates), can harm the skin as they contain nasty chemicals. A mud mask twice a week would help.

Step 2 – Exfoliation
Exfoliating (removing dead skin) is an important step for proper skin care. Use a proper facial scrub, because body exfoliators are often too rough for use on your face. We probably have one of the best Argan face scrubs every made.

To apply, wet your face with water, dab the scrub on the face and use your finger tips to massage the entire surface of your face in small circles. Do not massage your eyelids, or under your eyes as this skin is far more sensitive. Exfoliation twice a week should suffice but if you work in dirty environments, more often. We do recommend exfoliating before shaving.

Step 3 – Moisturising
Toners are aftershaves without alcohol. Nothing beats our pure hand-pressed argan oil from Saadia Organics. Alcohol dries out the skin, so applying an alcohol based product after a shave will merely damage your skin more. A toner will usually contain helpful nutrients such as vitamin E, and should be applied after shaving to help with the damage caused by the razor. Moisturising is an extremely important daily process that will help keep your skin young and glowing.

There. 3 simple steps. That’s it!

Link to : Argan Oil

Link to : Face Scrub

Link to : African Black Soap

Link to : Goats Milk Soap

A lot of people ask us what the difference is between Saadia Organics and the ones they see in their hair salon, for example. Well, for starters, our product is 100% pure unadulterated Argan Oil. Anything you’ll see in a hair salon will most likely have other ingredients besides “Argania spinosa kernel oil” on the label.

Is that a bad thing? I don’t think so. We all need shampoo, for example, and it doesn’t hurt to use one with a bit of Argan Oil in it. (Just try to choose one that is sulphate free.) Like our Seaweed Bath Company products.

Saadia Organics is like freshly squeezed Orange Juice. Pure.  Actually, we don’t know much about how the various types of orange juice are manufactured. But we do know a fair bit about how how Argan Oil is manufactured. Let’s start with our method. The ‘freshly squeezed’ method, if you will.

First you want the Argan fruit harvested in a gentle way from a goat-free farm. Goats find nothing tastier than Argan fruit and are willing to scale (and break!) the trees in order to do get a yummy mouthful. Then, you want the oil to be produced by hand. Cold pressing using only a stone quern is the way that Berber women have been doing it for centuries. We are happy that Saadia and her team get to do this in privacy (which Moroccan women appreciate) and away from the tourist’s eyes and cameras like in the co-ops.

Other methods use machinery. Some even use chemical solvents to pull the oil out of the kernels. Many brands of “100% Pure Argan Oil” put their oil through a deodorizing process. That process requires heating the oil to very high temperatures for 30-60 minutes. I don’t want to even think about how many nutrients would be lost from the salad I had for dinner last night if I were to heat it to that temperature for an hour! Argan Oil is no different. You want this precious oil in it’s purest, most natural state. Some of its best properties are lost in order to get rid of its natural, light, green, nutty, slightly olive-ish scent.

So we leave our oil alone. And we see the results. Just recently, Joel’s daughter reacted very badly to a cleaning product. (She was determined to help with the dishes and some of the cleaning product was left over in a sponge in the sink.) The rash that developed made her cry. Immediately she asked for some of Grandma Saadia’s Argan Oil to put on it. It soothed her pain immediately. The next morning, angry, dry, scaly, red, eczema-like patches were on her hands. So Joel started putting Argan Oil on several times a day. A few days later, it was like the incident hadn’t even taken place. And we really don’t think too many products could do the magic that Grandma Saadia’s does! Saadia Organics Argan Oil is the REAL DEAL.

Link to : Argan Products

Credit : Saadia Organics

Argan oil is easily absorbed by nails. When nails are over dry, argan oil help to give them more flexibility thus preventing them from chipping and breaking easily. For fuzzy nails, Argan Oil acts as a water repellent, preventing nails from absorbing too much water. Argan Oil’s richness in Vitamin E, F, and essential fatty acids thus promote strength in easily broken nails and will ensure cuticles are smooth and in great condition.

As a bonus, applying a teensy weensy bit of argan oil on your nails after applying nail polish (after they are properly dry of course) will make the coating more flexible and less prone to chipping, making the nail polish look nicer for a longer time.

But don’t forget your toes! Your toenails and feet will benefit greatly from regular use of Argan Oil.  If you suffer from very dry, cracked heels this is the product for you.

Use:  Massage a drop or two of Saadia Organics Argan Oil on your cuticles, nails and hands as needed. For a more intensive treatment, mix equal parts of Argan Oil and lemon juice and soak your nails in it for ten minutes. For heel treatment, massage thoroughly into heels before bed, then put on a pair of socks, and … well… see for yourself.  The results will put a smile on your face in the morning.

Link to : Argan Oil

To compliment argan oil treatment, also use Argan Oil based shampoos and conditioners. Seaweed Bath Co make absolutely brilliant products.

Usage: Massage a very small amount into your hair after washing and then comb as usual. You can also choose to some intensive treatment once or twice a week by applying a generous amount to freshly washed hair, massage it in the scalp for a few minutes starting at the back of the head and then working your way up and then coat the hair with argan oil. Finally, cover your head with a shower cap, (or cover your pillow with a towel!), sleep on it, then re-wash again in the morning. Do help your hair with a thin coat of argan oil after the wash, or use a good conditioner, or hair mask. It make your hair smooth and manageable.

Link to : Argan Oil

Link to : Argan Oil Shampoo

Link to : Argan Oil Conditioner

Argan Oil is good for both dry and oily skin types. Because it helps to regulate the sebaceous glands (oil producing glands), oil on the skin will reduce and issues such as acne are greatly improved.

For basic skin care, Argan Oil can be used as a daily moisturiser and as a makeup base. It is also useful for skin conditions such as: psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, contact dermatitis, inflammation, acne, wrinkles, scarring, minor burns and cracked heels.

Argan Oil also produces excellent results on new tattoos by soothing the area, decreasing itchiness and helping the skin to heal quickly.  In addition, it is ideal to use after waxing, laser treatments and even chemical peels.

Argan oil absorbs quickly into the skin, thus, it does not leave a sticky after feel. Very importantly, argan oil does not block pores, allowing the skin to breathe freely, and, allowing the skin to naturally discharge waste by sweating.

Usage: Apply in a circular motion to clean skin morning and night until absorbed. Be sure to include the area around your eyes. You will be able to see a difference within a few days of continuous use. Those with dry skin like to use it morning and night, while some with more oily skin like to just use once per day. It is recommended to allow the argan oil to absorb fully into the skin before going into the sun as argan oil is light sensitive. Let it absorb, and do it’s magic. Remember to use your sunscreen when out in the sun.

Link to : Argan Oil

1. The Ingredients – The ingredients list should be very short.  It should just say 100% Argan Oil or 100% Argania Spinosa Kernel Oil.  If it has anything else listed you don’t want it.
2. The bottle – We are wary of Argan Oil sold in clear or plastic bottles. Both can make the oil deteriorate, and most producers of quality Argan Oil wouldn’t put this liquid gold in anything other than a dark coloured glass bottle (amber or cobalt blue, for example).  Aluminium or stainless steel can work well, too.  Light breaks down the oil’s best properties and keeping it inside something dark is the best way to store Argan Oil.
3. The price – Good hand pressed Argan Oil is very difficult to make.  It takes hours of manual labour and that does not come free.  So there is no such thing as cheap Argan Oil.  $10 for 2 ounces/60 ml seems like a bargain, but if it’s just vegetable oil in that bottle, It’s no bargain at all.  You might as well just step into your kitchen and use whatever you’ve got in the cupboard.This is not to say that the most expensive Argan Oil is the best either.  You might just be paying for elaborate packaging and extensive marketing. Sometimes you can find authentic CULINARY Argan Oil at a more economical price. But know that even though this oil will taste amazing, it will not produce the best results on your skin, hair and nails.  Raw, cosmetic-grade oil is from unroasted Argan fruits, and it is much more difficult to extract oil from raw materials.

4. The scent – Strong-smelling Argan Oil that smells absolutely awful should obviously be avoided.  It most likely has gone rancid.  (To ensure freshness, keep the cap or dropper screwed on to your bottle well!)Also, if the Argan Oil you have is very fragrant and so delicious smelling enough that you want to eat it, it very well could be Argan Oil intended for culinary use.  The Argan kernels for this type of oil have been toasted first.  And this means great things for your salad, but it won’t give the results you want on your skin and hair. Argan Oil that smells like absolutely nothing might be suspicious, too.  It could be entirely fake, or at least diluted beyond olfactory recognition.  Or, it could be machine-made and possibly even put through a “deodorization” process.  However, with this said, some of the batches we get (particularly in the spring and summer) have a very, very light aroma.  Fall and winter seem to bring oil that has a deeper natural scent.Genuine, raw, cosmetic-grade Argan Oil can smell unique to the uninitiated nose.  Most say it smells ‘nutty’.  My daughter thinks it smells like popcorn.  I used to think it smelled a bit like a rubber band.  Now I just think it smells like pure luxury.  (But remember, some batches have a lighter scent than others.) If you do get a bottle that is a bit more aromatic, after a couple of days you become used to the scent and know what results the use of this oil brings, so you savour that raw, green, nutty aroma.  Even if you never learn to love that smell, the scent always disappears after a few minutes on your skin, as true Argan Oil absorbs so quickly and beautifully.However, many brands do put their precious Argan Oil through damaging heating and deodorization processes.  If a brand consistently smells like ABSOLUTELY NOTHING, then it is possible that their oil is consistently deodorized.  This process strips the oil not only of any smell it might have had, but also of some of its healing, restorative properties.Sometimes chemical solvents are used to pull the oil from the Argan kernels.  And frequently during the refining process the oil is heated to a very high temperature (up to 375-400 degrees F for 30-60 minutes). But as mentioned, light and heat break down the oil’s best properties, so we firmly believe it’s best to leave this precious oil alone in its most natural state.Again, we stress that the scent of raw, hand-pressed Argan Oil varies from batch to batch.  Sometimes the scent is lighter, sometimes it is a quite a bit more aromatic.  In our experience, the smell of the oil most definitely varies with the seasons.

5. The texture – Argan Oil should be smooth and silky.  Disappearing into your skin.  It should not feel slimy, sticky or watery.  It should not sting.  Even on uncomfortable skin conditions, Argan Oil should bring a soothing effect, not a painful one.
6. The sediment – Authentic Argan Oil often has a tiny bit of sediment at the bottom of the bottle and it appears a bit “cloudy”.  The highly refined or fake oil will not have this sediment and will look very clear.  Saadia Organics Argan Oil does have a few traces of sediment in some of our bottles.  Don’t be alarmed if you do spy a wee bit.  Just let it settle and enjoy knowing that you have the real thing.Our oil is also cloudy and pale yellow in colour.  We do not heat the oil at all, and it is run through a simple strainer, rather than put through a rigorous filtration system.  In our opinion, the less the oil is messed with and manipulated, the better.  When you see clear, bright yellow Argan Oil you know that heat and machines have been involved in the manufacturing process.

7. The results – As they say, “the proof is in the pudding”. Every single day we get people telling us how much they love our product.  Telling us they’ve tossed other things they were using for skin care, hair care and baby care.  Some even have stopped using prescription medications* as our pure, raw Argan Oil works better on their psoriasis or on their child’s eczema.  (Without the cost, potentially questionable ingredients or side effects.)

Credit : Saadia Organics

Link to : Argan Oil

Note : This product may not be suitable for those with nut allergies. Do a patch test too.

ECZEMA

For most people dry skin is not an issue, but for eczema sufferers, dry skin results in intense itch. Usually, due to micro cracks on the skin. This is made worse when the salt in sweat comes in contact with these micro cracks. When salt hits a wound, it hurts. This is exactly the same thing. But, on a different scale. Due to the cracks being so tiny, our brain interprets the “pain” as a large collection of tiny irritations, ie, an itch.

Once the itching starts, the eczema sufferer begins to scratch and the skin surface is damaged. This leads to redness and rawness, sometimes accompanies by bleeding. This could get infected. We have discovered that the key is the itch. If this can be controlled, the sufferer won’t scratch, and the skin will not be damaged. We needed to find a way to break this cycle.

Eczema usually (not always) has an age relationship. For infants, it’s the face, ears and neck. School age children usually have it behind the knees, armpits, inside of the elbows and wrists. Adolescents and adults tend to have it on the hands and feet. Eczema is also, seasonal. It hits hardest in the dry months (not hot humid months but dry months)

Understanding this, SHEA^® started our research. Our goal was to locate a substance that would not irritate the skin when applied, would keep the eczema afflicted area moisturized and promote healing. We identified a particular grade of 100% pure unrefined SHEA butter that has all these properties. It was high in vitamin E that promoted healing, it did not irritate the skin and it kept the skin moisturized without blocking the pores or leaving a sticky after feel. Yes, it took us a very long time to find the perfect type. But we did it.

We did not stop there. We did more research. And we realized that Argan Oil had similar properties. It was logical. Both Shea and Argan come from the same family of trees. We went about searching for a good Argan Oil and we got into talks with Saadia Organics who had 100% pure Argan Oil that was absolutely superb. Also, argan oil had other benefits, amongst them being able to help reduce wrinkles, fine lines and reducing fibrillation of hair, (resulting is smoother, glossier hair).

Now armed with two of the best natural products, SHEA^® is able to help eczema sufferers. We usually recommend argan oil for the face and neck areas and shea butter for other parts of the body. Explore our site and learn more in our knowledge base. Talk to us if you need help. It won’t cost you a thing (except for the phone call), and, don’t keep this info to yourself, refer other eczema sufferers to read this, you will be doing them a great service.

www.shea.com.sg

ps. Eczema sufferers, please do not bathe in very hot water. Your water should be just “not cold”. Also, apply the shea butter or argan oil immediately after you’ve towelled dry after your shower. it helps trap moisture even better. And, please, use the right soap. Your soap should not contain any of the nasty stuff. Our soaps do not contain sulphates, phthalates, EDTA, parabens, or any stuff that would irritate your skin.If you are not sure, speak to us.

Link to : Eczema Products