Your Skin....

Your skin is a protect covering against germs. The skin also helps regulate your body temperature. Everyone wants to have smooth soft skin. Have you ever wonder why a baby's skin is soft and smooth? According to BBC Health News, a natural moisturizer called vernix gives the baby's skin it's softness.  This covering starts developing in the womb around 18 weeks gestational. So how can we get that same results? We need keep our skin hydrated and moisturized.           A good product to use is Shea Butter. Bloomfield Bath uses unrefined shea butter in all of our products, even the bath bombs and our sugar scrubs.  With repeated use, the characteristics of shea butter can give your skin the youth and softness similar to a new born baby's skin. With this end focus in mind, hydrate, exfoliate and moisturize your skin for that effortless serene, silky skin you want to have....again!

Koketta Knowles

Cleansing Your Hair vs Using Shampoo

Bloomfield Bath Hair Care Line

What's the difference between cleaning your hair with shampoo and cleaning it with a cleanser? The difference is shampoos dry your hair out. Shampoos are made with surfactants, that surrounds the oils in your hair and allows it to be rinsed away. Thus, causing your hair to become dry and brittle. Cleansing Conditioners are products that cleans your hair without stripping away the natural oils needed to keep your hair strong and healthy. Cleansers essentially conditions your hair will cleaning it. 

  We all grew up thinking shampoos should smell good, feel thick and make lots of bubbles. In order for this to happen, a few key ingredients has to be added. To clean the hair/scalp most shampoos contains an alkly benzene sulfate, tetrasodium EDTA is added to bind with the calcium and magnesium. This will rinse out of your hair without making scum, cocamide (PEG-5, DEA, MEA or TEA) to give the shampoo thickness and make the bubbles. And preservatives and fragrances are added as well. Each shampoo product may have their own variation of these ingredients or other elements maybe added. The result in the end is usually the same, hair that is stiff, fragile and may even have breakage. For those of you who have dry hair, using shampoo products is only making it worse. Dry hair will break easily, resulting in hair loss, split ends and of course it will damage your hair. 

Natural Cleansing Conditioners cleans and conditions your hair without the use of surfactants, detergents, or chemicals. They may contain ingredients such as amino acids to increase moisture levels, phytantroil for preventing split ends and reduce the damage cause by daily combing or heat, Vitamin C to help protect the hair against UV rays, and panthenol to help protect the hair from becoming frail or weak. Most natural cleansers contains essential oils and/or natural preservatives so the cleanser can smell good. Using cleansing conditioners will nourish your hair while cleaning without drying it out. 

+Bloomfield Bath's Cleansing Conditioner

So skip the "poo" and clean your hair and scalp with a good conditioner. Your hair will will thank you for it. 

Works for all hair types

Product Shelf Life

Bloomfield Bath uses unrefined, organic ingredients.

Have you ever wonder, how long will my shampoo or lotion last? What will happen if I use my product after its expiration date? How can I find out the expiration date? These are all great questions to ask when you are using anything on your skin. The shelf life of a product is basically the time a product is usable or fit for consumption. Usually after this time that product will not be as effective. Typically, if you use a product after it has expired, best case scenario, it just stops doing what it should do or it can change how it looks or feels. On the off side, it could also, cause skin irritations or infections.  Therefore, I am going to explain how you can find out what is the expiration date on your body products. Below are examples of how the shelf life of products can be displayed on their containers. These pictures show "12M" on an open jar. Some containers will have 6,24 or 36M. the "M" stands for months. So the picture below is telling their consumers these products will be best if used in twelve months from period after opening (PAO). PAO is the time after the container has been opened.  

                         

 When the items are exposed to light and air, bacteria can begin to break down the benefits of the products and you will want to use the items within the PAO time frame. Even if you do not open your products heat and humidity can also reduce practicality of the products. Generally some products, unopened, can be good for 2-3 years. Organic and natural products have a shelf life of about six months. This is probably because of the absence of preservatives. If your product does not have the above image or "use by date" on the back of the container, you can assume the expiration date is presumably twelve months. You can also contact the company directly to get the PAO date or visit this website, 
CheckCosmetic.net   

Bloomfield Bath does use vegetable base preservative in their products. Thus, giving many of the items a longer shelf life. You can read all about Bloomfield Bath's ingredients here.

 Now check the back, bottom, or inside of your containers for the shelf life of your products to protect your skin. If your product is expired replace it. Check out my website to order natural, handmade hair, face, and body products today? 

Taking Care of Sunburn Skin

Aloe, Water & Essential Oils

Taking in the rays of the sun can be good for the body, but getting to much sun can cause serious skin damage, or sunburn.  I love that warm feeling of the sun's rays on my skin, but to much UVA and UVB rays from the sun can alter DNA causing damage to the skin and premature aging. According to the Mayo Clinic, there are more than three million cases of sunburn in the United States every year. Many of these cases are mild and can be treated at home. 

 If you find yourself out in the sun to long, here are a few natural ways to care for sun burn skin. The most common response I have seen in my research for treating sunburns, is drinking lots of water. Keeping yourself hydrated is key in  healing sunburns. In addition to drinking water, you could drink herbal teas and water kefir. Another way to treat sunburn is Aloe Vera. This has been in use for not only sunburns, but many other types of burns for a long time. Getting the aloe from the plant instead of using a lotion with aloe may be the best option for nursing your sunburn. 

Oatmeal can be another way to tend sunburn skin. Add half a scoop or one cup to cool bath water, then soak. It's that easy! If  the sunburn is only covering a small area, you can add oats to cool water, put inside a cheese cloth or gauze, then place onto the burnt area. You may want to change gauze and re-cool the oatmeal as needed.  In addition to putting oatmeal on sunburn skin, you could use a clean potato. You would want to puree the potato first, placing the puree inside gauze, then applying to burnt area. My favorite way to ease sunburn is the use of essential oils, like lavender. I love the way essential oils smell and feel on my body without sunburn. Just image how much comfort you could have if  these oils are used on sunburn skin. When using these and any other remedies, try keeping the ingredients cool. This can help soothe that searing sensation felt on the skin. There are many other natural remedies used for the treatment of sunburn. Some items you may even have in your home. It's summer time and the sun is out longer. Sunburn can occasionally occur on anyone, what's essential is knowing how to treat it.

Here are other Sun Burn Relief Remedies:

after making keep cool

Andrea's Comment from Wellness Mama Blog: add into a 2 oz bottle with a mist top.

• aloe vera juice-1/8 tsp.
• vitamin E oil-1 1/2 tsp. 
• fractional coconut oil  
• roman chamomile 2 drops 
• lavender 2 drop 
• 2 drops melaleuca 

Herb Spray from Wellness Mama Blog:

• Boil 1 cup of water and add 2 tablespoons of dried mint leaf, lavender flowers, and dried plantain leaf. 
• Remove from heat and let cool. 
• Once cool, strain out the herbs. 
• Add an equal amount of apple cider vinegar to the cooled tea mixture and pour in to a spray bottle

Koketta Knowles

Seaweed Soaps

Includes vitamins A1, B2, B6, B12, potassium , calcium, iron & zinc. Weighs Approximately 2.75 pounds total

Today I am going to talk about the benefits of using seaweed in your soap. There are three seaweed classes: red, brown, and green. Seaweed that are used in soaps come from the brown class, also known as kelp. As I researched, I found that seaweed soaps exfoliate, nourishes and tones your skin. Seaweed in soap is great for exfoliation because it removes dead skin cells from your body, unveiling new, youthful skin underneath. This process also stimulates blood circulation and with constant use your skin will look healthier, fresher, younger. Using seaweed soaps unclog pores, reducing acne breakouts, and it can remove toxins from your body. Helping your skin to feel silky and look smooth. With regular use, it is noted, you could partially remove cellulite and stretch marks. Scrub the area several times a day for about a month. ( I am thinking of trying this.) There are stories circulating the web today which says, using seaweed soap can increase your metabolism and oxygen intake. There is not enough scientific evidence to prove this rumor true or false, but with all the natural qualities of seaweed soap, it's worth trying. 

Bloomfield Bath's Artisan Soaps

+Bloomfield Bath has Bath Bombs!

6 Jumbo Bombs, weighing more than 6 lbs each, 4 Jumbo Bombs w/ Shea Butter, and

4 Jumbo Bomb Cakes. These bath bombs are made with natural ingredients and have a great fragrance to help you unwind after a long days work. Bloomfield Bath's Bath Bombs are a wonderful way of adding natural ingredients to your bath water, helping to boost the moisture needed in your skin. Check out Bloomfield Bath for more information on their Bath Bombs.  

Jumbo Shea Butter Bath Bomb~Fig
Jumbo Bath Bomb~Baby Powder

Jumbo Bath Bomb Cake~Pear Drop

Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Years

                                         

     The end of the year has so much going on. There are three holidays back to back and it seems like a everlasting gathering. It begins in autumn, the leaves changing colors and air crisp and cool. You're on a natural high rolling into the month of November. Probably from all that Halloween candy or the excitement for whats to come. You don't take the time to figure out which, just going with the flow. Time to start preparing for Thanksgiving. This is the time you begin to think, who's turn is it to host Thanksgiving dinner?  This year it was my turn, time to plan dinner and get a head count. I knew the main dishes the symbolizes Thanksgiving had to be on the table, Turkey & Stuffing and in my family Macaroni & Cheese, but what else should I prepare. After a little thought, I decided not to go crazy with to many dishes. 

               My Dinner List:          

       

Turkey

Stuffing

Mac&Cheese

Bake Beans

Potato Salad

Collard Greens

Dinner Rolls

Desserts 

Now that I know what I am making, I have to do a shopping list because many of these dishes require more than one item. I love shopping, but at the grocer, not so much. I decided to pick the perfect time when the store is not to full. For me, that's 5 o'clock in the morning the Monday just before the holiday. Everyone else is sleeping and waiting to do their shopping later in the week or just finish shopping that weekend. I can stroll the aisles and price match items. Such a quiet time. I don't start cooking until Wednesday night. Actually, I only make my desserts and maybe prep some of the meals. Then, I am up early Thanksgiving morning to start cooking.  

      The beautiful thing about cooking during the holidays is, it's a family event. In my family, there's music playing in the background and we are dancing, taking and reminiscing in the kitchen. Everyone has a job. One person is chopping all the ingredients, another is mixing and another cleaning the dishes to be reused. No one notices all the work that goes into making a delicious meal  because the work isn't really that hard when you have family together. Even though things have changes since the very first Thanksgiving meal, I would imagine this is what the Pilgrims and the Indians did to prepare the food they then shared on that very last Thursday in November 1621. 

Now that Thanksgiving is over, our thoughts go towards preparing for Christmas! 

The Holiday for Giving.

     For some, the Christmas decor goes up before Thanksgiving. But for me, I wait until the day after, that Friday, to hang my Christmas decorations, place my tree and turn on my lights. I am not thinking much about what to cook for dinner, I am thinking about what gifts to give those I love and respect. As long as I can remember, my family has celebrated Christmas. It is a long tradition dating back to ancient times. Before being named Christmas, this holiday was named Saturnalia by the ancient Romans. In the 1800's, Santa Claus came into the story to excite the children. As a child, I enjoyed getting new toys and games to show how well behaved I was for the year. Now, I enjoy shopping and purchasing the gifts to be given. I look around for hours and days until the right gift comes to sight. 

                                               Yes!!! I found it, and now time to wrap it.  

These are the things I enjoy about Christmas. Putting your heart into picking the perfect gift and wrapping it. I do not really like putting gifts in bags, unless I have decorated the bag or it has something on it that stands out. For me, picking and wrapping the gifts has to resemble to person I am getting the gift for. I want that person to know that their gift from me was given from the heart. 

New Years is more like a night of celebrating and a day of relaxing. 

I celebrate a year of greatness, of accomplishments, of happiness, all night long. There is music and family and friends together feeling euphoric with smiles from ear to ear that last the whole night long. In the last minutes of the old year, you look up at the sky, and see fireworks, confetti and glasses of champagne. Everyone is singing the "New Years" song, hugging, kissing and relishing that moment of new beginnings. I love these three holidays. It's all about celebrating Life, Love and Family. How do you feel about these three holidays? Share your story. 

Koketta Knowles