Author: chatonwannatrade

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How to use a Hair Mask?

Hair Masks deeply nourish the hair. Sometimes they also provide specific treatments, like dandruff or hair-fall. How to best use a hair mask to maximize your hair treatment? What makes good natural hair mask ingredients?

What is a hair mask?

Just like a conditioner, a hair mask helps untangle and nourish your locks. Very often, masks also offer various hair treatments: from taming frizzy hair to soothing irritated scalps.

The main difference between a mask and a conditioner is that the mask ingredients are usually more concentrated and the treatment is left on the hair for a longer time. Conditioner typically is left on for a couple of minutes only. This helps untangle hair and smooth superficially. Whereas a mask can be left on for much longer: 10 to 30 minutes, and sometimes even the entire night! The reason is to let the active ingredients deeply penetrate the hair and scalp to treat and nourish.

flowers in hair

How to use a Hair Mask?

1. Wash and towel dry your hair

Most hair masks are used AFTER shampoo. However, many can also be used before shampoo. In this case, you can work your mask into dry (or slightly damp) hair and leave on, before shampooing off.

If you are opting for AFTER shampoo, read on! Start by shampooing and then towel drying your hair so it is not dripping wet.

2. Apply your mask

You can just use your fingers. Some people like to use a small brush (the type that is used to color the hair is great). This helps evenly apply the hair treatment product (and feel like you are giving yourself the spa treatment!).

If you are applying a nourishing mask, start from the mid-lengths and work your way to the tips.

If your treatment is also a scalp treatment (like for dandruff, itchy scalp or hair loss) then you’ll want to also apply at the roots too.

If your hair is on the oily side, be sure not to apply a nourishing treatment to your hair roots. This will most likely make your hair limp, greasy and heavy! Focus on the ends.

beauty product in jar

3. Spread the mask evenly

Again, you can do this with your fingers by running them through your hair. Alternatively, you can use a wide-tooted comb to evenly distribute the treatment.

4. Let the magic work!

Leave your hair mask on for as long as is recommended on the label.  Five, 10, 20 minutes or longer! Leave-on times differ, and the best recommendation is to follow the instructions especially if your hair treatment product contains specific ingredients that could be irritating if left on for too long.

You can also wrap your hair in a shower cap or warm towel, to let the product set. Definitely wrap your mane if you are going to bed with your hair mask on!

5. Rinse out thoroughly

Rinse your hair mask out with warm or lukewarm water. And finish off with a cold water rinse. The cold water helps seal the hair cuticles, making hair smoother.

 

How often to use a hair mask?

This really depends on the treatment: is it a nourishing, purifying, color-enhancing or volumizing hair mask? Have a look at the instructions on the product label.

Generally speaking, if you are using a nourishing hair mask, once or twice a week works well for mid-length normal to dry hair. Greasy manes may only need a nourishing mask a few times a month, and even so, only on the mid-lengths to tips.

 

What makes good natural hair mask ingredients?

This of course depends on the treatment you need.

If you are going for an overall nourishing mask to keep normal or dry hair healthy, here are a few natural ingredients that can help you choose a product that will deeply moisturize.

Plant Oils

Argan Oil and Coconut Oil are great choices for hair mask ingredients. They both are high in fatty acids (Argan Oil is very rich in Omega-6 fatty acids, and Coconut Oil in lauric acid). Both also have antioxidant and even anti-bacterial properties. Furthermore, Argan Oil also contains Vitamin E. Other oils that are also good for hair care include Jojoba, Macadamia, and Olive oils. The best is to try different oil ingredients and see which work best for your hair.

More on the Benefits of Argan Oil for Hair and Skin here.

Plant Butters

Natural Plant Butters, like Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter to name only a few, are rich in fatty acids and different vitamins (such as A, E, K, F…). They also are emollients, meaning they soften the hair (and skin). Commonly found plant butters in hair masks include Shea Butter, Mango Butter, Cocoa Butter or Kokum Butter. For a nourishing hair care, look out for butters with high Vitamin A and E content and test different plant butter hair products to find the one that makes your mane look its best!

 

Try Fleurance Nature Argan Oil and Shea Butter Hair Mask – Certified Organic and Made in France

This hair mask nourishes normal and dry hair the natural way without bogging your mane down with silicones, mineral oils or petroleum. Indeed, such ingredients coat the hair, hence giving it a smooth appearance and helping lock in moisture. That sounds good for a quick-fix, but they also weight the hair down, create extra build-up and end-up dulling the hair in the long run.

Organic Argan Oil Hair Mask by Fleurance Nature
Argan Oil and Shea Butter Natural and Organic Hair Mask by Fleurance Nature

 

 

 

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Is your body scrub harming ocean life?

Ever thought your body scrubs could be damaging the ocean? Probably not! Does your body scrub contain plastic microbeads?

Way too much plastic ends up in the sea and harms ocean life. You might have ditched your use of plastic cups and straws, but are you sure your favourite body scrub (or face scrub) isn’t also turning our oceans into huge plastic dumps?

 

What are face and body scrubs?

If you are like me, exfoliating face and body scrubs are part of your weekly beauty routine.

How do scrubs work? Face and body scrubs contain tiny particles that physically buff away surface impurities and dead cells when gently rubbed on skin.

Results : a more even-toned skin, and less clogged pores.

natural body scrub
Are there plastic microbeads in your favorite face or body scrub?

 

Scrubs with plastic microbeads : the problem

Some face and body scrubs contain plastic microbeads. YES you read that right, a body scrub with PLASTIC MICROBEADS!! These microbeads do not dissolve in water and do not biodegrade. After exfoliating your skin, the plastic get flushed down the drain. They are too small (usually under 5mm) to be removed by water treatment plants.

Where do the plastic beads end up? You guessed it : the plastic microbeads from face and body scrubs end up where treated water goes : in our rivers and oceans.

And we all know the urgent need to clean up and stop clogging our oceans with plastic. Not to mention that you might end up eating your own plastic microbeads in your next chilli crab or prawn noodle-soup.

 

Ban the Plastic Microbead in scrubs and skincare

The good news is that the USA, Canada, France, the UK, Ireland, the Netherlands, Sweden, South Korea, New Zealand and Taiwan have banned the use of plastic microbeads in cosmetics. A European Union-wide ban came into effect in 2020, as is a ban in India. Australia has a voluntary phase-out plan in place.

I was shocked to read “microbeads” listed on a product sold in Singapore but made in a European country already enforcing the ban. Our guess is that certain bans are more recent. The scrubs had maybe already been manufactured, and are being sold in countries where it’s not banned.

So what’s a girl to do? Let pores get clogged? NO! Choose scrubs that are better for the environment and for yourself!

 

Choose natural face and body scrubs with no plastic microbeads

Go for scrubs containing natural exfoliating agents made of fruit pits, coffee, salt, sugar, oatmeal… Jojoba beads are another natural choice for exfoliants. They are made from Jojoba Oil and made into a type of wax that we call “Jojoba bead”. These are a great alternative to plastic microbeads in beauty products because they come from jojoba Oil, are 100% biodegradable and provide great skin scrubbing!

Another choice is to look out for fruit acids. Indeed, fruit acids provide an all-natural peel effect. They help to regenerate skin and regulate sebum.

Try our gentle Organic Face Scrub with Jojoba Beads and Fruit Acids (from Blueberry, Orange and Lemon) for a satisfying face exfoliation. It also comes in a gift set, with a yellow floral print pouch and mini shower gel.

Organic Face Scrub with Fruit Acids and Jojoba Beads
Organic Face Scrub

 

And our delightfully refreshing Verbena and Lemon Scrub, made with exfoliating olive pits

Natural Body Scrub by Mademoiselle Provence
Body Scrub with fine bits of olive pits. All-natural exfoliation is possible!

 

Recognize Plastic Microbeads in body scrubs and cosmetic labels

Always read your labels! Plastic microbeads come under different names :

– Microbeads

– Polyethylene (PE)

– Polypropylene (PP)

– Polyethylene terephthalate (PET)

– Polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA)

– Nylon,

but they all end up in our oceans, waterways, wildlife and in our bellies.

 

And of course, please re-use and recycle the (often plastic) scrub container too. And try to choose cosmetics with the least packaging.

Do more to beat the beads (and plastics in cosmetics): https://www.beatthemicrobead.org

 

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What are the benefits of Rose Water for the Skin?

 

Rose Water might be new on the shelves at skincare shops, but its uses for beauty date back to Antiquity! It has stayed around all this time for a good reason : it is a beauty potion for skin! Let’s look at what types of Rose Water are most commonly sold, their beauty benefits, and how they are used in a natural skincare routine.

 

What is Rose Water?

There are 2 types. Both are from the flower’s petals, and that’s about where the similarities end.

If you are thinking about adding to your beauty routine, you’ll want to know the differences between Rose Water and Rose FLORAL water (or Hydrosol).

Read on the find out why choosing one or the other is important.

 

How do you make Rose Water?

Here are the 2 ways:

1. Making Rose Water:

One is by steeping or boiling the petals in water (like making tea) and then removing the petals and keeping the water for use.

To make this type of product, sometimes dried petals are used and sometimes fresh ones. Essential oil is often also added into the water to either make it smell stronger or to add beauty benefits. Sometimes it is simply water with drops of essential oil.

rose petals and oil

2. Making Rose FLORAL Water or Hydrosol:

This method also involves boiling the petals. However, it is a more delicate process and does not use the water that the petals are boiled in.

The floral water is obtained by steam distillation. This means that as the water boils, the steam is collected. As this floral steam cools down and turns from steam to liquid, this liquid is collected: this is the Rose Floral Water.

The steam distillation makes the entire difference. The steam extracts the petals’ active ingredients and makes them more concentrated.

Very often, Floral Waters (or Hydrosols) are more pure than what is labeled “rose water” in shops, even though their smell is more delicate. Indeed, there are many ways of making what can be legitimately called “rose water”, and the processes are not usually explained on the product label. It may be difficult to tell the quality of the petals: are they dried? Fresh? Sprayed with chemicals? It may also be complicated to know the quality of the essential oil that is added into the water. Unless of course you are making it yourself with organic petals or organic essential oil!

In contrast, store products labeled as “Rose Floral Water” (or hydrosol) are obtained by steam distillation and naturally more concentrated in the active ingredients useful to the skin. Of course, you may not be able to tell the quality of the petals in the first place, but high quality brands guarantee distillation of only-freshly picked petals! And if you choose Certified Organic Floral water, then you know you are not putting chemicals on your face.

For a quick explanation for the hydrosol making process (an even one you can try at home!) : https://www.wikihow.com/Make-Hydrosols

Organic Floral Waters by Fleurance Nature
Organic Floral Waters

 

Rose Floral Water benefits for skin

It is a great addition to a natural skincare routine. Many toners on the market today have an extensive list of ingredients. Of course, these toners or face sprays may also contain active ingredients that helps with certain skin conditions. However, sometimes simplifying a skincare routine helps to clear the problem condition. So if you are looking to put less on your skin, floral waters are a great natural toner and face mist alternative.

Floral Water for Skin Toning

This centuries-old beauty potion helps remove any remaining impurities after skin cleansing, and also helps prepare the skin for moisturizing. Applying moisturizer after a spray of floral water will also help lock in its natural active properties.

Floral Water for Skin Soothing

Rose Floral Water helps soothe irritated skin, and can help with blemishes, redness and sensitive skin.

It may also help prevent oxidative damage and thus help within an anti-wrinkle skincare routine.

So now that we have talked about its benefits, let us have a look at how to use it!

 

How to use Rose Floral Water?

As a toner, as a make-up fixer, and many other uses!

Check out the full article for 6 ways to use floral waters in your natural beauty care routine! 

And if you are ready to dive into natural beauty: here is Fleurance Nature Rose Floral Mist Toner. This Certified Organic Floral Water Spray is made from organic flowers grown in Morocco, and steam-distilled to preserve their active ingredients for skincare.

Organic Rose Floral Water by Fleurance Nature
Organic Rose Floral Water Spray for Skincare
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What are the benefits of Argan Oil for skin and hair?

 

What is Argan Oil?

Argan Oil comes from the kernel of the Argan Tree (Argania Spinosa). This tree grows in Morocco, and sometimes Argan Oil is referred to as “Moroccan Oil”.

Argan nuts are harvested mostly by women. The nuts are then roasted (in the same way as coffee or cocoa beans), and the oil is extracted from the kernel by grinding.

argan oil nut
Argan Oil is extracted from the Argan fruit

 

What are the benefits of Argan Oil for the Skin and Hair?

Argan Oil is rich in Omega 6 fatty acids. It is also very high in antioxidants and Vitamin E. It also has anti-inflammatory and certain anti-bacterial properties.

This makes Argan Oil effective in moisturizing the skin and preventing oxidative damage from the sun and free radicals.

It can also help slow signs of aging : Argan Oil helps keep skin supple and prevents premature skin drying and the premature appearance of wrinkles.

Argan Oil can help regulate oily and blemish prone skin. Although putting oil on oily and acne-prone skin seems counter-intuitive, sometimes what the skin needs is a protective barrier to help seal in natural moisture and prevent the skin from over-reacting to harsh pimple products by producing… more oil! Argan Oil is also considered a medium to light oil, and is more easily absorbed than say, Coconut Oil which is more adapted to dry skin.

Argan Oil can also be used on hair to help prevent and repair split ends, and overall to beautify dry, brittle or damaged hair. If your hair is on the oily side, apply Argan Oil to the tips (not the roots).

And last but not least, Argan Oil is great to repair damaged and brittle nails as well!

 

How to use Argan Oil on Skin and Hair?

To apply on skin, the best is to massage a few drops of Argan Oil into damp skin or damp hair. This will help lock in the moisture. You can also add a couple of drops to your favourite face or body lotion to give it an Argan Oil boost!

 

What is high quality Argan Oil?

The benefits of Argan Oil are well recognized now, as the many skin and hair products available on the market definitely show. With all these choices, how can you be sure you are buying a high quality oil?

Here are a few tips to help you shop for quality Argan Oil that will make a difference on your skin and hair.

Look for 100% Argan Oil

Argan Oil is expensive, and one way to make an oil cheaper is to dilute the oil with cheaper oils. To make the most out of Argan Oil’s many beauty benefits, be sure to get 100% Argan Oil, oil that is not mixed with other cheaper oils.

Organic Fair Trade Argan Oil by Fleurance Nature
100% Cold-pressed Argan Oil – certified Organic and Fair-Trade

 

Buy Non-refined and non-deodorized Argan Oil

Skip any oil that’s been heated or refined, and go for cold-pressed and non-deodorized Argan Oil that conserves more of its beneficial properties. How to know? Non-refined oil has a nutty smell and a rich gold colour. It may also say “cold-pressed”, “non-deodorized” or “non-perfumed” on the packaging.

 

Skip the value-pack

Non-refined oil also spoils faster, so it is best to buy Argan Oil in bottle sizes that are adapted to your use and buy again when you’re done. You may also want to buy Argan Oil that is protected from light: look out for tinted bottles or bottles packaged in boxes. Keeping sunlight out also helps to conserve Argan Oil’s beauty benefits.

 

Go Organic

Argan Oil is extracted from the heart of the Argan fruit. The very high oil content of the kernels makes them sponges for absorbing anything that’s used in cultivation. Conventional agriculture uses chemical pesticides and fertilizers that end up in the oil. Buying certified organic Argan Oil means such chemicals are not used. Less harmful chemicals is always better and choosing organic when possible is a sensible decision.

 

Buy Fair-Trade

In certain area of Morocco, the women producers are organized into Fair-Trade rural cooperatives. Buying Argan Oil from such cooperatives at a fair price helps support rural women’s livelihoods. It also helps preserve Argan tree plantations. Desertification puts these plantations at risk, and planting more trees helps to stabilize the soil and slow desertification. Fair-Trade Argan Oil probably doesn’t have a composition that’s very different from non-Fair-Trade oil, however knowing that the women who make it feel empowered and able to sustain their communities and families most likely makes them happier. And happy people make happy oil!

We sell Fair-Trade and Organic Argan Oil and Hair Mask.

Read more about the Fair-Trade communities that are supported by Fleurance Nature Argan Oil.

argan fruit morocco
Fruit on the Argan Tree in Morocco

 

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Is Organic Skincare Really Better?

 

We have come a long way from the days where the only Organic Skincare options were organic oils or thick white creams as moisturizers!

Today, there are great certified organic skincare products that are effective, convenient and wonderfully pleasant to use.

Are organic skincare and cosmetic products really better for skin and health? Let’s take a look.

Is Organic Skincare Better for my skin and health?

Let’s look at it this way: our skin is our body’s largest organ, and skin absorbs what is put on it, like moisturizers or body lotions.

Would you drink a cup-full of harmful chemicals? If not, you may also want to consider what you are putting on your skin.

woman putting cream on hand
Are you putting harmful chemicals on your skin?

 

Do Organic Cosmetics contain harmful chemicals?

Organic Cosmetics means that the natural ingredients are organically produced.

This means that NO chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers or hormones have been used to grow and make the ingredient. Just as you may not want to eat such chemicals, you can choose not to feed your skin with them either.

But it’s not just about the agriculturally produced ingredients. Organic Cosmetics also means that certain ingredients are NOT permitted. Here are a few of the chemicals that have been widely studied and proven as hormone disruptors or irritants: parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol… These synthetic ingredients may cause hormonal imbalances that can be linked to reproductive health problems, or trigger skin and respiratory allergies.

Certified Organic Cosmetics DO NOT contain such ingredients.

Are all Organic Cosmetics the same?

Let’s be clear here. It is very important to know if you are buying REAL organic skincare products and not the greenwashed type (those that claim “Organic” or “100% organic” without proof).

To be sure you are getting the real stuff there is only one way: purchase CERTIFIED ORGANIC cosmetics.

How to know if a product is Certified Organic? Certified organic cosmetics have an Organic label such as Cosmos Organic, Bio, USDA Organic… Organic cosmetic labels mean that the products have been checked by independent auditors such as Ecocert, and they guarantee a minimum percentage of organic ingredients and sustainable manufacturing practices.

Check out our list of labels and logos here to make your shopping easier.

Are all Organic Certified Labels the same?

Well, we’d love to say yes, but the answer is NO.

Each organic cosmetic label has different standards : Cosmos Organic (the European Organic Cosmetic Label) will not have the same standard as USDA Organic (the USA Organic Food label) for example.

The highest standards worldwide are the European Organic Cosmetic standards (like Cosmos Organic). The European Union has banned more than 1400 ingredients from being used in personal care and beauty products. The USA in comparison has only restricted about 30.

Skincare ingredients are more strictly regulated in Europe. Made in France or other European countries might be your best choice for skincare that’s truly organic and free from harmful chemicals. Make sure you look at where the product is manufactured!

 

So, is Organic Skincare really better for you? Not all synthetic chemicals are necessarily bad. However, it makes sense to feed our body the least harmful chemicals possible, and using organic skincare daily is definitely a way of caring for our body.

Shop our Made in France Certified Organic Cosmetic Products.

Organic Skincare better

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Singapore Supports Ethical Beauty

Who is making the local Singapore beauty scene Cleaner, Greener, more Ethical? 

Come meet the local Singapore businesses that are making a difference! Nature Beauty Glow is partnering with other Singapore businesses at the Wellness Sanctuary Event on Saturday October 12, 2019.

This is YOUR chance to raise funds for the Singapore Red Cross AND support Local Entrepreneurs through Great Food, Organic Beauty, Dance Shows, Group Yoga Classes & GREAT Vibes for the Whole Family! 

At Nature Beauty Glow, we believe in the beauty of giving back, and this is OUR chance to help raise funds for the Singapore Red Cross. We also believe in importing only clean and organic beauty products that follow the highest industry standards.

That means = No Animal Testing, No Animal Cruelty, Ethically sourced natural products, Ethical treatment of employees, No Parabens, No Silicones, No Phthalates, No Sulfates, No Phenoxyehtanol, No Paraffin, No Petrolatum  and only Clean Non-Toxic (at the very least) and Organic (certified by the world’s Gold Standard certification, COSMOS ORGANIC) skincare and baby care products.

YES! GET MY TICKET NOW and JOIN IN THE FUN!!!

 

Wellness Sanctuary Singapore