The ABCDE of moles vs cancer
A – Asymmetry
B – Border
C – Colour
D – Diameter
E – Elevation, Evolving

Basically, any mole or growth that is CHANGING needs to be checked by a physician. There is a lot more to this, but seeing this, I am sure you will do your own research.

LINK TO : ORGANIC SUNSCREEN

First, UV = ultra violet light.
White light is a combination of different colours. Amongst them, violet. The ultra- violet rays (invisible) are the ones that damage your furniture, fades your curtains and…damages your skin the most. UV rays are split into three types, depending on their wavelength. UVA have the longest wavelength and penetrates the skin the deepest, causing aging, dark spots etc. UVB are shorter and don’t penetrate as deep, but, damage the skin surface, which could cause skin cancers. UVC, the shortest wavelength of the three, is usually filtered off by the ozone layer. But in places like Australia, where there is a huge gap in the ozone layer, the UVC rays do get through. These are the most damaging to the skin, causing skin cancer too. In Singapore, and most places, we just need protection from UVA & UVB.

Remember, your sunblock MUST say Broad Spectrum

Link to : Sunscreens

We like to buy the best. But is it necessary? Is an SPF rating of 65 necessary?
Look at the graph.

SPF 15 filters about 93% of UV-B rays;
SPF 30 filters about 97% of UV-B rays; and
SPF 50 filters about 98% of UV-B rays.
The difference between SPF 30 and SPF 50 is only a 1% filtering improvement

SPF is a rating of protection against UVB rays!
Yes, UVB is the one that causes skin cancers etc. But UVA causes deep damage (aging, spots etc)
What one MUST look out for is the words BROAD SPECTRUM protection. This protest from both UVA and UVB.
So, an SPF rating of 30 is really, quite good, for a broad spectrum sun block.

Types of Sunscreen

There are 2 ways of protecting from the sun. Use a mechanical mechanism like reflecting the UV rays away, or chemically, where the chemicals absorb the UV rays and convert them to heat energy. Skip the chemical version, go for the ones that use the reflective mechanism.

Here again, we have to look out for the use of nano-particles. We do not want nano -particles.

Nano particles can penetrate the skin and get into the body.
TiO2 (titanium dioxide) penetration is considerably more problematic than ZnO (Zinc Oxide) because ZnO breaks down into zinc and oxygen, which the body can handle. We do not have the same ability to break down titanium dioxide. One disturbing study linking titanium dioxide nano-particles with brain damage in fish is perhaps the first of more to come that will shed new light on the various toxic effects of titanium dioxide. Titanium dioxide is toxic.

So, we have actively prevent harm when evidence indicates that something may be harmful. It would be wise to assume that non-nano zinc oxide is safer than nano zinc oxide, and that any form of zinc oxide is safer than titanium dioxide.

Until more studies fill in the information gaps, it is safest to conclude that sunscreens made with non-nano zinc oxide are the best alternative. There are still many manufacturers out there who will say that there is not enough scientific evidence to prove that the above ingredients are toxic. I agree with them! I am simply not willing to jeopardize my health or the health of my family with exposure to ingredients that are toxic or even potentially toxic — especially when better alternatives exist.

In Summary – for a good sun screen
SPF 30 to 35 is good enough
Broad spectrum.
Zinc Oxide based
No nano-particles
No titanium dioxide
No unnecessary chemicals.

Link to : Sunscreens 

It happens in 5 steps.

• Fat metabolism is disturbed
• Fat cells increase in size
• Fat cells squeeze capillaries and disrupt micro circulation
• Skins collagen & elastin support structure breaks down
• Fluid retention increases

The image explains this quite clearly

Simple enough, the formation of cellulite is known. But, getting rid of it is a whole other story. So, to decrease cellulite, choose products with ingredients that can concentrate cellular energy to help do the following

• Break down fat
• Reduce fat storage
• Increase circulation to remove toxins
• Increase the firmness of the skin
• Even out affected areas

This is best done by eating correctly, exercise and massaging the affected areas with the right topical creams & related products

Our Seaweed Bath Anti-Cellulite products do just this. The soap helps massage the affected areas and the cream penetrates the skin and helps drain the retained fluids.

Link to : Cellulite Control Products

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.