Organic Stuff

In this post I will be profiling Mixaroma Masage Oil.

Mixaroma has massage oils for professionals and the rest of us too. Their professional massage oil is used in many high-end spas and massage therapists, as well as hotels. They also have a line of massage oils for everyday use. 

These come in a variety of scents: Lavender, Citrus, Mint, and Geranium. 

The Lavender is great for an evening or late-night massage as it has calming properties. The Citrus is great for morning massages to get the day going right!

Check out their full line to see all of the uses and suggestions.

Well first of all this isn't a joke. Although April Fools day is a great day to pull the wool over someone's eyes, even if its just for a minute, I think its even more fun to get FREE stuff and discounted goodies. 

This brings me to Mixaroma's April Fools Day sale, which is over in about 58 hours. You get 20% off all their goodies which include candles, organic soaps, essential oils, massage oils, gift baskets and much more. 

There is also FREE SHIPPING on orders over $50, which is a great value, but even if your order doesnt get to that they offer flat $5 shipping on anything else.

The National Association of Nurse Massage Therapist (NANMT), supports nurses who believe that touch therapy is an integral part of a patient's recovery. Although this form of therapy has been less prevalent since the mid 20th century, there is a long history of the use of touch in healing.

Please support this organization and its aims to increase education and promote the status of practicing nurse massage therapists.

Organic soaps come in all shapes and sizes, with scents as varied as good old peppermint, to juicy fruit cranberry chocolate. What makes them different, other than their scents is the materials they are made from.

Palm, coconut, olive, and palm kernel oils are all popular ingredients in organic bar soaps. Lately, castile soap is becoming very popular with both bar soaps and foaming soaps.

Stay away from fragrance bars. They are cheaper but you also get all the bad stuff that comes with them.

Finally, add a good scented massage oil, and you’ll have the beginnings of a great home spa day.

Organic soap comes in all shapes and sizes. There are organic soap bars, and organic soap foams. The choice of whether to go with an organic bar, or organic foaming soap is a personal one.

Some people like having a bar of soap in their hands and also the fact that you don’t have to constantly replenish with more soap. Other people like the convenience of a foam, the feel of it, and the fact the it doesn’t make as much of a mess. 

Whichever one you choose, there are organic versions to choose from. There are some soaps that have no scent, and some that come infused with various scents. Scented soap is one of my greatest indulgences. I love the smell of a citrus soap in the morning, a Lavender soap at night, and a Eucalyptus or Tea tree soap when I want my hands to feel clean after doing the dishes or cleaning up a mess at home.

Organic Soap is found at many healthfood stores, and bigger chain stores countrywide.

What makes organic soap better?

Well first of all, most Organic soap is made with organic ingredients. This means that by USDAs standard, it is at least 70% organic. I haven’t seen a 100% organic soap out there, mainly because the process of making soap doesn’t lend itself to making 100% organic products, and if it does, then it would be prohibitively expensive. Hey 70% is better than nothing, and it’s much better than what most soaps are made of. You couldn’t pay me to put that stuff on my skin.

Part 3 will be about my top 3 massage oils infused with essential oils.

1.      Lavender essential oil

2.      Peppermint essential oil

3.      Tea Tree essential oil

These three essential oils are all very popular in massage oils. Usually the base oil, whether single or blend (see my previous posts) will be infused with 100% pure essential oils.

This process yields a massage oil that not only has the vitamins and minerals that are part of the massage oil itself, but also the added vitamins, minerals, and special properties of the essential oil as well.

Lavender massage oil will tend to have a calming effect.

Peppermint massage oil will have an energizing effect.

Tea Tree massage oil will invigorate, and also cleanse the skin. (It’s a known antiseptic)

So, if you’d like a certain effect in addition to the vitamins and minerals in the base oil, ask your massage therapist to offer you massage oil with essential oils, next time you visit!

Thanks for all the great comments guys! It really makes my day.

In my last post, Massage Oil Tips, which I guess is now Part 1, I discussed several questions that I received from my readers here, on twitter, and facebook. 

In this post I'll be giving some more answers to questions on massage oils. I have a feeling that there will be a part three of Massage Oil Tips so stay tuned!

QUESTIONS

1. Where can I get massage oils, or another variation I got was, where to get massage oil, which to me is basically the same question.

2. Should oils for massage have essential oils in them?

3. Should oils for massage be a blend of several oils or, just one oil?

ANSWERS

I'll start by answering question 3, because it is somewhat related to a question in my last post. The short answer is that it depends on the person giving the massage and what the massage is supposed to achieve. Blends are usually favored by therapists because the different characteristics of different oils in a  good blend will give a better glide, or traction, or any of a variety of other needs that are individual preferences depending on the therapist. Single oils are used when there are allergies, sensitive skin, or the person getting the massage just likes a certain oil, and the vitamins in it.

Number 2 is somewhat along the same vein. Every essential oil has properties that create a certain mood, or experience. Essential oils have been used as mood enhancers for 100’s if not thousands of years. Lavender is a good calming agent, citrus is a good energizing agent, etc… So I’m of the opinion that if you’re already getting a massage, and usually paying for it, then the oil that is used might as well also enhance your mood in the way that you want.

Number 1, is an easy question to answer for me. There are very few oils that I trust to put on my skin. After all it is the biggest organ in our body and it absorbs things right into our bloodstream. So first I always use an organic oil, and second I like the essential oils in the massage oil, if any, to also be organic. Now some of you might say, but isn’t organic more expensive? Not always, and even if it is, this is one place you should spend the extra money. Do you really want chemicals that cause cancer to go directly into your blood stream? And yes, there are a lot of products out there with cancerous agents in them that the FDA doesn’t regulate. Surprise! The company I trust with my skin is Mixaroma, and you can find their body oils and massage oils online, and also at top hotels, spas, and stores.

Up next, Massage Oil Tips Part 3

I’ve gotten some requests for massage oil tips. Here are some questions I’ve received.

1.      How much massage oil should be used?

2.      Is it important to heat massage oil before application?

3.      Do you need different massage oil for different areas of the body?

I’ve received many more questions, and I might have another post soon, but these were the most popular questions so I will try to address them now.

So, the answer to the first question really depends on the area you’re trying to cover, how thick (viscous) the oil is, and the absorption rate. The larger the area, the faster the absorption, and the thinner the oil, the more massage oil is needed.

The second answer depends on your preference. Some therapists swear by having their oil warmed before application. Warmth in general relaxes the muscles. That’s also why some massage therapists use warm towels during treatment.

The third answer also depends on preference. Different essential oils can be used to target areas of the body. For example, dry skin on face, and dry skin on feet can be treated with different massage oil infused with essential oils. Also, face oil used for dry skin on face, needs to have different properties than the oil used on the rest of your body.

I hope this helps!

I was recently browsing the yahoo questions and answers boards. I frequently visit there because there are a lot of people asking questions about skin care in general and organic skin care as well. I've noticed over the last year or so that people are defnitely showing more interest in organic skin care. 

So, yesterady I found a question which was right up my alley. Which is the best organic massage oil? Click on the link if you want to see my answer in Yahoo questions.

When you think of Cyber Monday you think of deals.

This year, you can get your TV at Best Buy, and your Xbox at Target, but if you want to know where to get everything aromatherapy, this is for you.

What do you get when you put Cyber Monday and Gift Baskets together? Huge value, at a great price.

Gift baskets on some of the big websites start at $50, and go up to the $100s. Don’t get me wrong, I like getting gift worth that much, and giving them too, but when I give them I like to pay a lot less!

So, to get gift baskets, and gift boxes for $10-$50 when they’re worth $25-$150, is something that makes Cyber Monday special.

Where should you look for essential oils, massage oils, candles, organic soap, diffusers, and of course gift baskets?

Visit this site and I guarantee you’ll get a great deal. The site is www.mixaroma.com.

So get going on your holiday shopping and make it easy on yourself by ordering online. Free shipping on orders over $50, and $4.99 flat rate on everything else.

Happy Cyber Monday, and good luck shopping!

When you think of Black Friday you think of deals.

This year, you can get your TV at Best Buy, and your Xbox at Target, but if you want to know where to get everything aromatherapy, this is for you.

What do you get when you put Black Friday and Gift Baskets together? Huge value, at a great price.

Gift baskets on some of the big websites start at $50, and go up to the $100s. Don’t get me wrong, I like getting gift worth that much, and giving them too, but when I give them I like to pay a lot less!

So, to get gift baskets, and gift boxes for $10-$50 when they’re worth $25-$150, is something that makes Black Friday special.

Where should you look for essential oils, massage oils, candles, organic soap, diffusers, and of course gift baskets?

Visit this site and I guarantee you’ll get a great deal. The site is www.mixaroma.com.

So get going on your holiday shopping and make it easy on yourself by ordering online. Free shipping on orders over $50, and $5 flat rate on everything else.

Happy Turkey day, and good luck shopping!

Well it's that time of year again. The turkey is marinating, the weather has changed, and the time for presents is fast approaching. 

This year, save yourself the hassle of running around and buy your loved ones gift baskets. It's personalized, it's easy, and with several items in one gift, your loved one is much more likely to find something they really like.

Usually gift baskets run upwards of $50, but you don't have to spend that much to get a great quality gift this year. In fact, you can find lots of gift baskets under $10 that have a retail value of $20-$25 and more. 

How you ask? Well the secret site I've been using this year is www.mixaroma.com.

What can you find there you ask?

Candles, essential oils, massage oils, organic soap, diffusers, and of course gift baskets and gift boxes full of goodies.

So make it easy on yourself, and others, and let them know where to buy you a gift this year.

So I've been asked this question by a close friend. “What is the difference between organic massage oil vs. organic body oil?”

While there are many products out there that have either or both of those statements on their label, it can get confusing. In general body oil is used for the same reason a body lotion is used. Primarily body oils are used for moisturizing skin. Some people need body oil to moisturize their hands, legs, or dry skin on face. Dry skin in general is what oils, and lotions are used for.

Massage oil is generally used for light to heavy massages depending on the consistency of the oil. Blends are usually preferred as they tend to give more well-rounded properties that massage therapists like. (grip, traction, glide, etc..)

My last post was about a blog I enjoy that features Essential oils uses in one of their series. I looked for blog posts on dry skin and I didn't find any so I thought I'd write one myself.

Dry skin is something we all encounter at some point. Some of us have dry skin more frequently than others.

In order to write this post intelligently, I spoke with the person that has the driest skin I know of. I figure if she doesn't know about dry skin no one does!

So some background. She is a massage therapist, and although the rest of her body is well moisturized, her hands are very dry. When I asked her about the disparity, she explained that since she uses lotion to massage people all day, her hands end up very dry.

Wait, I thought, wasn't lotion supposed to moisturize? So here was her answer.

1. The best moisurizer is made by your body by way of your natural oils. 

2. Lotion usually has alcohol in it, and this will dry your skin. (Stearyl, Cetyl, and Cetearyl, are somewhat ok depending on the form used, but any other alcohols are a no no.)

Her advice was to avoid getting rid of your body's natural oil in the first place. The soap you use being the first culprit. Make sure your soap doesn't get rid of your natural body oil. Whether its dry skin on face, hands, or somewhere else, investing in a good soap that doesn't dry out your skin is a must!

As many of you who have read my previous posts know, I'm all for organic. In this case, organic body soap. My favorites are organic oatmeal soap bars, organic lavender soap bars, organic woodspice soap bars, organic patchouli soap bars, organic tea tree soap bars, and aromatherapy foaming soaps that are made from organic Castile soap. Organic Castile soap is wonderful for your skin. Some people have a natural allergy to the latex found in most Shea butter products, and Castile soap doesn't have those issues. Don't get me wrong, I love Shea butter as much as the next woman, but some people have issues with it. Oh, and if you are going to buy something with Shea butter in it, make sure its fair trade Shea butter so that the farmers who actually make it are actually compensated for their hard work!

Finally, some people overlook a good organic body oil, or organic massage oil to supplement their natural body oil. I have found that the good quality body oils really moisturize well and they absorb very fast. If yours doesn't or leaves your with oil stains on everything, it's time to switch products.

I was browsing a friend's blog and i found this so I thought I'd pass it along.

"This series of articles will focus on various essential oils uses, both common and historic.

Lavender is one of the most popular essential oils. Lavender essential oil is also one of the most versatile and safest to use. It enhances the healing power of the body, and can promote a general feeling of relaxation.

The fragrance is usually described as sweet, soft, and floral, but since it can be derived from hundreds of species from different climates, soil, and water quality, the aroma can be quite different.

For Ayurveda fans, Lavender is said to be pacifying to the vata, which means that it is a relaxing agent, which calms and invigorates the nervous system.

Lavender essential oil, comes in both organic and conventional varieties. It is available in absolute as well. It is used in soaps, body oils, massage oils, diffusers, candles. It is commonly made into a Lavender spa set, or bath set with several products infused with lavender put together.

It has been grown for centuries in Provence, France, but has migrated to New Zealand, California, and other places around the globe."

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Well its almost time for the workweek again. I had a great weekend testing my aromatherapy spa set. I hope your weekend was a peaceful and productive one.

So, my Lavender spa set consisted of Lavender essential oil, Lavender Massage oil, and an oatmeal Lavender soap bar.