A Bee In History.......Pretty Sweet

Honey

Honey is a natural humectant, which means it attracts and retains moisture. It’s also an anti-irritant, it is suitable for sensitive skin as well as baby products. Honey has no additives or preservatives, it’s one of the few products that can be packed and sold straight from nature. It requires no processing or refining.

Honey's natural antioxidant and anti-microbial properties and ability to absorb and retain moisture have been recognised and used extensively in skin care treatments as they help to protect the skin from the damage of the sun's rays and rejuvenate depleted skin.

The use of honey in skin care is steeped in history. It is said that Cleopatra of ancient Egypt regularly bathed in honey and milk to maintain her much storied enchanting beauty. But, Cleopatra's legendary milk and honey baths are but one of many historical examples of people using honey to pamper their complexions

Another example being ancient Greece, where beauty was determined by being naked. A woman's beauty and an athletes power and standing were also identified by their nakedness. Stripped of the clothing that would conceal, their bodies revealed a balance between the body and mind, believing from discipline came strength and beauty. Greek athletes often bathed in Olive oil and dusted their bodies in fine sands to control body temperature from the heat and to protect their bodies from the sun, in order to prevent aging. Men and women alike used honey to moisturize and olive oil for protection to improve their health and appearance.

Further examples include, Madame du Barry, the infamous last mistress of Louis XV, who is said to have used honey as a form of facial mask, lying down for a rest while the honey did its work. It was also said that Queen Anne of England used a honey and oil concoction to keep her long hair lustrous, thick and shiny. Furthermore it was claimed that famous Englishwoman, Sarah, Duchess of Marlborough, used her own secret recipe for a honey water to keep her hair beautiful. Chinese women have a tradition of using a blend of honey and ground orange seeds to keep their skin blemish-free

There are also many historical quotes espousing the beneficial health properties of honey. Greek philosopher Democritus thought to be the most prolific, and ultimately the most influential, of the pre-Socratic philosophers of ancient Greece, his atomic theory thought by many to be the culmination of early Greek thought. His hypothesis on atoms is remarkably similar to modern science, and avoids many of the errors found in his contemporaries. Democritus said this of honey, "The secret of my health is applying honey inside and oil outside". It is believed that Democritus lived to be 109.

Other quotes mentioning the healing properties of honey include that of Saint Ambrose, who stated "The fruit of bees is desired by all, and is equally sweet to kings and beggars and it is not only pleasing but profitable and healthful; it sweetens their mouths, cures their wounds, and conveys remedies to inward ulcers."

Or Sir Jonas Moore noted as saying, "Honey nourishes very much and breedeth good blood and prolongeth life and old age."

Many religious texts also praise the importance of honey for health, a quote from the founder of Islam, Muhammad reads, "Honey is a remedy for every illness."

Although no reference is made to health benefits of honey in this next quote, it's worth noting William Shakespeare waxing poetic in his most notorious of plays, Romeo And Juliet about the effects of honey on the pallet, he writes, “The sweetest honey is loathsome in his own deliciousness and in the taste confounds the appetite.”

Who I ask, can debate the likes of Cleopatra, Democritus, William Shakespeare, Queen Anne of England, the list goes on? There's no doubt honey has a rich and proven history when it comes to health and skin care. So treat your body to to some of nature's true skin nourishing magic. Visit http://www.rusticgracesoap.etsy.com/ to browse our handmade organic and natural soaps, made with the finest ingredients nature has to offer, including honey.

Experience These Honey Skin Care Recipes

Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 Tablespoon of honey with 2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds and ½ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

Firming Face Mask
Whisk together 1 Tablespoon honey, 1 egg white, 1 teaspoon glycerin (available at drug and beauty stores) and enough flour to form a paste (approximately ¼ cup). Smooth over face and throat. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

Smoothing Skin Lotion
Mix 1 teaspoon honey with 1 teaspoon vegetable oil and ¼ teaspoon lemon juice. Rub into hands, elbows, heels and anywhere that feels dry. Leave on 10 minutes. Rinse off with water.

Skin Softening Bath
Add ¼ cup honey to bath water for a fragrant, silky bath.

Tempus Fugit - Keeping Time With Steampunk Style

STEAMPUNK, inner component pieces of a fictitious alternative and rustic Victorian technology. Golden brass gears meshing, pulleys spinning, shiny metal pistons drawing, pumping and pulling . The art of the working skeleton exposed, all fashioned into visually stunning, artistically utilitarian and beautifully embellishing items.

The description according to Knowledgerush.com goes like this..."Steampunk is a sub genre of cyberpunk science fiction with dystopian, noir themes usually in anachronistic Victorian or quasi-Victorian alternate history setting."

Time and fashion being a key concepts in the Steampunk genre, I'd like to highlight Tlisza Jaurique at http://www.tempusfugit.etsy.com/. A nationally recognised and truly innovative artist, who by no means needs any accolade from me (just Google her name, you'll see what I mean). Just the same, with creations like "Teeth Grinding Gears steampunk Giant Gear Pocket Watch" (pictured above) and my favorite, the "Lost in Wonderland Steampunk Pocket Watch" along with numerous other pieces available in her shop, her pieces have my wonder and attention.

So, if you're just discovering the world of "Steampunk", or are already a card carrying member of the steampunk community, take a minute (pun intended) and visit Tempus Fugit at http://www.tempusfugit.etsy.com and be ready to have your attention commandeered by Tlisza's brilliant designs.

This flu season, you might want to think about.....thieves and essential oils? Why? Read on....

"Thieves Oil"

Is the name given to an age old essential oil blend. The blend was said to consist of the oils Clove, Lemon, Cinnamon, Eucalyptus Radiata , Rosemary, Wormwood, Meadow sweet, Juniper Berries & Sage, in a base of white wine vinegar.

As the (basic) story goes.........

The bubonic plague was decimating Europe in the year 1413, four thieves were captured and charged with robbing the dead and dying victims. When the thieves were tried, the magistrate offered leniency if they would reveal how they resisted contracting the infection as they performed their gruesome acts.
The four thieves explained that they were perfumers and spice traders and told of a special concoction of aromatic herbs, including cloves and rosemary, that they rubbed on their hands, ears, and temples.

Here's two modern day recipes for Thieves Oil.

Thieves Oil recipe 1:

Equal amounts of eucalyptus, rosemary, cinnamon, clove and lemon. Mix with base of olive oil. You can put a tablespoon of each in a 2 oz. bottle and then fill the rest with olive oil, you can also make a larger batch in a quart jar following the same proportion method.

Thieves Oil recipe 2:

Using the same ingredients as above, measure and mix in the following quantities:

Clove Bud Oil 200 drops

Lemon Oil 175 drops

Cinnamon Oil 100 drops

Eucalyptus Oil 75 drops

Rosemary 50 drops.

Interesting yes?

There's ALLOT more interesting information on the history and use of "Thieves Oil" out there, as well as a wealth products for everyday household use containing the blend. I hope this has peaked your curiosity on the subject : )

Benefits of Handmade Soap

9/2/09
Conventional soaps available in stores today are not really soaps at all, but detergents. Detergents are petroleum-based products that tend to leave your skin feeling dry, itchy and tight. Thankfully there is an alternative soap that offers multiple benefits when used. Because handmade soap has become affordable, its popularity is growing rapidly as a chemical free alternative to conventional soaps.

Get Back to Nature

Handmade soaps are made with natural ingredients instead of cheap imitations which may cause irritation. Coconut, olive, and palm oils are carefully blended to create a skin smoothing concoction that cleanses the skin without drying it out. A variety of natural fragrance oils can also be added to the handmade soap for additional moisture locking effects. An example of the types of fragrance oils used include: orange, vanilla rose petals, almond, avocado, jojoba, cottonseed, etc. Most importantly, homemade soaps are respectful of nature by not testing their products on animals.

Quality Supersedes Quantity

Handmade soap manufacturers take pride in the quality of their products. Most ingredients are hand-picked, sorted, and manufactured to produce a top quality product. Unlike conventional soap, it is said that homemade soap may even contain healing properties due to the lack of chemicals in the ingredients. People who suffer from skin conditions such as psoriasis and eczema can find relief by switching to an all-natural and chemical free handmade soap.

Handmade Soap Does a Body Good

The skin is the largest human organ as well as the body’s first line of defense against dehydration, temperature, infection and harmful substances. Handmade soaps give your skin the care it deserves by gently cleansing and locking in moisture. The fragrances used in these products can also stimulate health. Cinnamon, for example, has the ability to increase blood flow.

Spa-like Luxury

Life can be hectic at times and a humble luxury like a special bar of soap can be rewarding. A fragrant, handmade bar of soap is a simple indulgence that fosters a feeling of relaxation as well as the ever important feeling of being pampered. Handmade soap is a luxurious tool in keeping your skin healthy. With its creamy lather, wonderful fragrances, and now affordable prices, pampering yourself has never felt so good.

Creative Works of Art

Perhaps the most appealing factor about homemade soaps is that they allow the soap manufacturer to be creative and experimental with different natural products. Adding oils, essences, natural exfoliates, and creating new and exciting designs and shapes. Nowadays, homemade soaps are able to have a variety of looks and the possibilities of ingredients are endless. Bars of soap can appear to have glass swirls or can even be embedded with chunks of oatmeal. Homemade soap is nothing like the chalky bars of the days of yore. Modern soap manufacturers have turned making soap into a marketable hobby that produces the finest, silkiest bars that look and feel luxurious. The secret ingredient to handmade soap is imagination. From intricate designs to beautiful aromas, handmade soaps are a simple luxury that nobody should do without.

Original Article by: Abraar Bashir