13 December, 2009

Seabuckthorn Oil

Seabuckthorn oil is made from the seeds and pulp of the seabuckthorn plant.

Seabuckthorn oil is full of vitamin A and E as well as natural anti-oxidants. It is excellent oil for the skin which is why it is popular with massage therapists and makers of natural body products.

This oil has wonderful healing properties. It has been used for hundreds of years in folk remedies to heal skin complaints. It can assist in healing burns and skin injuries as well as conditions such as eczema. Because of the vitamin and anti-oxidant content it is highly valued for its ability to help protect skin from aging. It seems to help with cell regeneration and keep the skin looking healthy and youthful.

The oil is sometimes used in hair care products and it keeps the hair and scalp in great condition. There have been reports that the oil can help slow baldness. The oil is also used by Russian astronauts who report that it helps prevent damage to their skin caused by radiation. The fruit of the plant is edible and is said to be excellent for the digestion. It seems to be a miracle plant.

Seabuckthorn is a really interesting plant with many of its benefits probably still undiscovered. One thing we do know is that when seabuckthorn oil is used in natural body products you know that your skin will benefit.   Our Anti-Aging Night Cream contains this amazing ingredient, along with a number of other Natural Skincare products Purely Natural Living has.

11 December, 2009

Nature

After you have exhausted what there is
in business, politics, conviviality and so on -
what remains? Nature remains.

Walt Whitman



Come forth into the lght of things,
Let Nature be your teacher

William Wordsworth

09 December, 2009

Jojoba Oil


Jojoba is not actually an oil, although we call it by that name. It is actually a liquid wax that is thicker in consistency than many oils and is made by cold pressing the seeds of the jojoba plant.

Jojoba has a chemical makeup that is very similar to the sebum that our skin produces to keep it protected and waterproof. It is rich in Vitamin E which helps to nourish and rebuild damaged skin. Its likeness to sebum makes jojoba oil suitable for use by all skin types.

Jojoba oil is excellent for use on skins suffering from eczema and other irritations because it has anti-inflammatory properties. It works wonders on skin suffering from acne because it is also anti-bacterial. It is an amazing oil, isn’t it?

The cosmetic industry loves to use jojoba oil. It acts as a wonderful moisturiser but is also light and won’t clog the skin. It is often used in shampoos to keep the scalp and hair healthy.

Jojoba can be used on its own but it is a wonderful carrier oil for essential oils. We use it in our Natural Calendula Baby Oil because we know it is gentle enough to use on baby’s delicate skin. It absorbs beautifully into the skin and doesn’t leave that greasy feeling left by other oils.

Jojoba oil is a wonderful base for many natural cosmetic products and now you know why.

01 December, 2009

Why do we use Australian Pink Clay in our products?

Clay has been used as a medicinal aid for thousands of years in societies all around the world.


The Australian Aborigines used local clays not only in their art and body decoration, but as medicine. They knew that clays are able to draw out toxins from the skin and so they would apply it to stings and certain wounds. Not only did they use the clay externally but they actually ate clay with some meals to treat certain intestinal problems.

Australian clay is very pure. The geography of our harsh continent has meant that we have quality mineral and nutrient content in the clay which has not been contaminated by centuries of inhabitation and subsequent environmental damage. The clay is mined under strict conditions and is sun dried so that it stays pure..

Clay comes in different, naturally occurring colours. Each colour has a different effect on the skin because of its different mineral composition.

Pink clay is very gentle. It helps to clean the skin by gently drawing out the impurities in the pores. It helps to give skin a firm and toned look. .You will often see pink clay used in a face mask because as it dries it lifts out all the dirt clogging up the pores but it is gentle enough to leave the skin feeling soft.

Our Rose and Pink Clay Goats Milk Soap relies on the pink clay for that extra deep cleaning power. When that is combined with rose, which is well known for being excellent for the skin, and the skin softening power of goat’s milk, we have a soap that becomes a spa for the body. Other products we have with this wonderful ingredient include our Goddess soap and Our Goddess Bath Salts

Australian Pink Clay is a special product that you know will be beneficial for your skin.

29 November, 2009

Rainforest Sugar Scrub

Not everyone wants to smell of flowers, do they? Sometimes, especially in the heat, a little freshness is best.



Rainforest Sugar Scrub has a fragrance that is fresh and gorgeous It is a unisex scent blended from ginger, eucalyptus and peppermint. Doesn’t that sound refreshing? It really does give you a lift. The scrub is gentle enough to use every day.

Peppermint has a cooling effect on the body. It also brings a feeling of energy. Eucalyptus has an amazingly clear and zingy fragrance, doesn’t it? It is great for opening up your nasal passages and seems to clear out the dust of the dry weather. We have added ginger to balance out the blend. It adds a touch of warmth to soften the cooling oils and gives a delicious fragrance hit as it is warmed by application to the body.

So how do you use our foaming sugar scrub?

Make sure that the area you want to use the scrub on is moist. The Rainforest Sugar Scrub is perfect for use in the shower. Just scoop out a small amount (perhaps a level teaspoon) and pat it gently onto your skin. You can add more as you work your way along your body. Gradually start massaging the scrub across your skin so that it can exfoliate all those dead skin cells. There is no need to rub hard because the texture of the scrub will do the work for you. The gentle foaming action will help the scrub to rub smoothly across the body. I find that a circular motion works best and it is excellent for my circulation, bringing a healthy look to my skin.

Rainforest Sugar Scrubs are a great way to start your day. Your skin will be fresh and glowing and the fresh, forest scent will help to get you started with energy.

22 November, 2009

TowTabs – Instant Towelettes


Have you seen the TowTabs in our store? This is a really useful and versatile item that everyone can use.


A TowTab is an instant towelette. It comes in tablet form – small, round and compact. You just add 15mls of water directly to the tablet and watch it expand instantly. Just unroll it and you have a large, moist towelette ready to use. Once it is opened up the towelette measures 20cm x 25cm – much larger than the usual towelettes available.


These are excellent for travelling and take very little water to activate. Add some to your first aid kit or just carry them in your handbag. The tablets are small and won’t take up a lot of room. They come in a handy little refillable case which holds 6 towelettes or in a roll of 10 that is shaped like a roll of lollies.

They are so easy to take wherever you go. Add them to your picnic hamper or BBQ kit. Take them to sporting events or on family days out. They will wipe up spills, clean sticky fingers and deal with grazes. They are quite strong so you can reuse them. They will clean more than one set of sticky fingers.

Best of all TowTabs are environmentally friendly. The towelette is made from cellulose which is extracted from wood pulp. They contain no chemicals or dyes so they are biodegradable and can break down in around 3 weeks.

These are so cheap, convenient and useful that everyone should keep a roll or two of TowTabs handy.  You can get them from Purely Natural Living, today.

20 November, 2009

How Natural Products Protect the Earth

We hear a lot about products being environmentally friendly these days, but what does it really mean?

An environmentally friendly product is one that causes little or no damage to the earth either during its production, its use or once it is finished. Realistically, anything we make or do has some impact on the environment but an environmentally friendly product is one that makes the least impact of all.

Bath and body products can do a lot of damage to our earth. They often contain synthetic materials and chemicals which artificially provide fragrance or some supposed benefit to our skins. We don’t really know what the long term effect is on the human body but we can already see what effect they have on the world around us. We won’t even talk about the testing on animals…..

Did you know that talc comes from great big open mines? Some of them have even been located inside National Parks. Not only are they digging this out of the earth, they then turn the products including talcum powder which has been linked to cancer.

Mineral oil sounds nice and gentle, doesn’t it? Sadly, mineral oil is poorly named because it is actually derived from petroleum. This is the same product that we know as baby oil and for generations it has been plastered all over our skins. Not only does it stop our skin from breathing but it as it passes through the body it interferes with the elimination of toxins. We damage the earth by mining petroleum, which is not a sustainable product, only to damage ourselves by using it.

You have probably seen reports on how phosphates are feeding the algae in our waterways and causing our fish to die and our water to be polluted. Phosphates are found in laundry and dishwasher products. SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) is another chemical that is in most of the soaps and hair products we use. Although they say it is ‘derived from coconut’ SLS is actually quite corrosive and can cause skin damage. It is also used on animals when manufacturers test for skin reactions. Can you imagine what happens when a chemical cocktail of our household cleaners and cosmetics is flushed into our waterways?

Natural products are made from plants and products that occur naturally in the environment. They are environmentally friendly because they do not interfere with the earth or with plant and animal life. The materials are sustainable so that balance is maintained. Natural products are not processed with chemicals so they have no poisons to seep into the earth nor are they tested on animals. Natural, environmentally friendly products have no side-effects on us or on the Earth. The waterways stay clean and the micro-organisms that are the basis of our food chain stay healthy.

Look around your home and read the labels on the products you are using. How natural are they? Try eliminating chemical products from your home. Why not start by replacing your harmful bath and body products with our natural range? Every step towards natural products is a step towards a healthier life for your family and for the planet.

18 November, 2009

Purely Natural Living & Christmas


Now, although I do most of my shopping these days online, I have recently been out and about checking out what the Big Stores have for us this year.  OK, OK, I'm really doing research to see what my competitors are doing.  I've been looking at the Gift hampers they have out and am not pleased to say that alot them are no so good for you. 

Do you ever wonder about your skin care ingredients?


You should - the amount of unnecessary chemicals and additives that go into our body care products is mind boggling. From parabens, leaching mineral oils to isolated components of natural products such as linalools, the skin care we use is packed full of a variety of harmful additives. Some are natural derivatives so even get into 'natural' beauty products, which lead us to believe they are good for us.  How far do you want to go back in the processing of this ingredient to see if it is natural.

At Purely Natural Living I create natural products that are good for you and the environment.  Why don't you check out some of the Gift Packs I have this year.  There really is something for everyone.


Beauty Tips from Audrey Hepburn


For attractive lips, speak words of kindness
For lovely eyes seek out the good in people
For a good figure, share your food with the hungry
For beautiful hair, let a child run his or her fingers through once a day
For poise, walk with the knowledge you will never walk alone
People, even more than things, have to be restored, renewed, revived, reclaimed, and redeemed; never throw out anybody.
Remember, if you ever need a helping hand, you will find one at the end of your arm.
As you grow older, you will discover that you have two hands, one for helping yourself, the other for helping others.
The beauty of a woman is not in the clothes she wears, the figure she carries, or the way she combs her hair.

16 November, 2009

Coconut Oil is good for you

Coconut Oil is different from most other oils because it is solid at room temperature. I remember years ago buying my first bottle of coconut oil and expecting it to be a fragrant, liquid oil. I thought I had a faulty product when I opened it and saw a solid white mass like wax instead of oil.


Coconut Oil has many benefits for the skin which is why it is a favourite ingredient for soap makers. Coconut oil provides a protective barrier on the skin, protecting it from daily damage. It is an oil that really helps to give your skin a more youthful appearance as it is absorbed into the cells of your skin, helping to keep them strong and healthy. Coconut Oil contains anti-oxidants which are known to help fight off the free radicals which cause such damage to your skin.

Virgin Coconut Oil is pure and has not been damaged by vigorous refining processes. It has antioxidant, antifungal, and antibacterial properties. In fact, it has health benefits far beyond skin care. Scientists have found that by cooking with coconut oil it has a positive effect on heart disease, blood pressure, cholesterol and much more.

There is no real fragrance from Coconut Oil. It has a very light scent to it but certainly does not smell of coconuts!

Soap and skin care makers love to use Coconut Oil because of its wonderful health and skin protection benefits. It is easy to use, taking only a gentle heating to melt, but it also stays stable during the production process. That means that it will produce a quality product each time.

If you look at our lovely range of soaps (http://www.purelynaturaliving.com/TheSoap.html) you will notice that they all list Coconut Oil as an ingredient. Now you know why. When you use our soaps you know that you are doing the best that you can do to keep your skin healthy and gorgeous.

12 November, 2009

Natural Baby Wipes

Have you ever thought about making your own baby wipes...well here is a really easy recipe and great for little bottoms, not to mention it's quick. You don't need to buy anything special, you should have most of the ingredients in your cupboard.



1 ltr of brewed chamomile tea
1/4 cup Olive Oil
A few drops of Lavender Essential Oil
Poured over the folded cloth wipes & drain of the excess

I found out about this recipe from my sister who was trying to save money, after having her children.  I have been using them for my son and have had no need for any rash ointment.  I love these and they are also so much cheaper than the ones you buy in the store and there's not nasty chemicals

09 November, 2009

Purely Natural Living Product Review

We have been getting reviews on our products recently, have you seen them? Here are a couple of them;


Here is some of what Mum e Assistant had to say


"I have been alternating between the Goats Milk Soap and the Liquid Soap on a daily basis now for about 1 ½ weeks and in that time have not felt the need to apply moisturiser after showering as these wonderful natural products do not contain any harmful chemicals that dry your skin only natural oils.

So do yourself a favour and visit Purely Natural Living today and pick up some wonderful handmade Christmas gifts. "

You can read the full article and other articles at Mum e Assistant Blog.

Here is some of what Your Cheeky Monkey had to say

You can read the full article and other articles at Your Cheeky Monkey Blog.

"Not surprising, I have to rave about the Goddess Bath Salts – just the name alone is enough to win me over let alone having an excuse to bathe in a sea of pink bath salts with rose petals… take it from me, you just have to try these! I managed to sneak a bath in at the end of a very stressful day using the Goddess Bath Salts, and afterwards felt like a new girl!
The great thing about the Purely Natural Living soaps is that they are so natural and soft to use I have no hesitation using them for my sons (in fact I wouldn’t have a problem using them for a baby either). ..... "

Thank you very much to Leigh Pendergast from Mum e Assistant and Monique Nickalls from Your Cheeky Monkey for your reviews. If you would like to try these or any other Purely Natural Living product please visit us.

Remember for every $30 spent at Purely Natural Living, before 1 December 2009,  you go into the draw for a $50 Gift Voucher

06 November, 2009

Why We Use Quality Oils

You have probably wandered shops or markets and seen lovely ranges of sweet smelling oils with prices ranging from really cheap to seriously expensive. Perhaps you have wondered what the difference is between them. Let me tell you a little about essential oils.

Some of the oils you have seen are probably scented oils. They are oils laced with a fragrance so that they smell wonderful. These oils are created in a laboratory and they do not have any health or therapeutic properties about them. They will make your room or products smell lovely, though.

The more expensive oils are probably ranges of essential oil. Essential oils are derived directly from plants and herbs. They can come from many different parts of a plant. Some oils use the bark, some the berry and some the flowers, fruit or leaves of the plant. These contain oils that are known to have health benefits for us.

Even among essential oil ranges you will find quite a variation in quality and price. If you are choosing oils for their therapeutic qualities then it is worth paying the extra price and buying the best quality oils you can find.

At Purely Natural Living we use both scented and essential oils in our products. We label them clearly so that you know what ingredients go into every item that we make. We use high quality Bramble Berry scented oils for their lovely fragrances. Sometimes it is not possible to get an essential oil in that fragrance. It may be far too expensive. For example, rose fragrant oil is only a few dollars per bottle but rose essential oil can be around $50 and even then it is only 3% of the oil blend. Scented oils bring us perfume that we may not be able to get anywhere else.

We use quality essential oils in our products because we know that they are pure and not diluted with other oils. They do not have cheaper but similar smelling plant oils substituted for the real thing. With the cheaper oils you don’t really know how the oil was produced or where they sourced their plants from. Some regions produce plants of purer quality than others so of course the oils extracted from them are much better in quality. We use quality essential oils because they are far more likely to have health benefits than the cheaper oils.

Scented and essential oils are both beautiful products but it is worth buying the best quality that you can. Your nose will notice the difference.

05 November, 2009

A Humanist Code of Ethics ~ Arthur Dobrin

Do no harm to the earth, she is your mother.
Being is more important than having.
Never promote yourself at another's expense.
Hold life sacred; treat it with reverence.
Allow each person the digity of his or her labour.
Open your home to the wayfarer.
Be ready to receive your deepest dreams;
sometimes they are the speech of unblighted conscience.
Always make restitutions to the ones you have harmed.
Never think less of yourself than you are.
Never think that you are more than another


04 October, 2009

Benefits of using handcrafted soaps

There are so many benefits to using handcrafted soaps & body products that I don’t even know where to being! Handcrafted soaps & body products are good for your body, good for the environment and good for the economy. Let me tell you why…

For starters, handcrafted soap is great for your skin. There are so many fillers in mass produced soaps & body products that even though they may claim to produce soft skin, have moisturizing content, and even vitamins or other essentials, the truth of the matter is that they can also be full of detergents, chemicals and dyes. Handcrafted soaps & body products on the other hand, are typically made from a natural glycerine base and have added ingredients such as olive oil, Jojoba & coco butter, just to name a few. From there, they are scented and dyed from natural dehydrated ingredients that we may find in or own local market. Sugar, Oatmeal, honey, you name it and it may be in your soap, but it’s all natural! Many of the ingredients found in handcrafted soaps & body products are nothing less than the quality of the food you eat. And thought I can’t speak for everyone, I know that I take pride in suing the best quality ingredients I can find. If I wouldn’t eat it, then I won’t use it in my soap.

This brings me the next benefit of using handcrafted soaps & body products. Not only are they good for our skin, but there are also have many social benefits to buying handcrafted soaps & body products. If you are an animal rights activist or even just someone who cares about their quality of life, then buy handcrafted soaps & body products may be something that’s important to you because handcrafted soaps & body products are never tested on animals, like many of the mass produced products we buy. In fact my soaps & body products are all tested on family & friends. Mass produced soaps & body products are often full of high content animal fat, while handcrafted soaps & body products are full of vegetable based oils making them vegan friendly, beside Goats Milk Soaps & body products. And not only removing animals from the equation, but handcrafted soaps & body products are also better for the environment. Think about every time you take a shower, and how many detergents are being washed down the drain, into our sewage system. Well, with handcrafted soaps; body products, you can put your mind at ease knowing that what you are using in the shower is an all natural product made up of items grown by the earth, thus being safer for them to go back into the earth after being used. So as you can see, being environmentally conscious can have a great impact on more than just what you eat, but what you use for cleaning your body as well.

And finally, aside from the environmentally friendly socialites in the world, there is yet another group of people out there striving to make our economy a little more structurally sound, and that would be nothing less than the group of entrepreneurs, like me, Purely Natural Living. While you might pay a little more for handcrafted soap you would for mass produced commercial soaps & body products, you’ll find that there is an added benefit to buying something made right here at home. There are many people making soaps & body products and other wonderful handcrafted products can help our economy become more stable and locally sufficient. Let’s support these small businesses and bring the jobs back home!

So the next time you run across an art fair or craft show and wrinkle your nose at $5 for one little 100gm bar of soap think again. Not only are you doing something good for your body, but with that comes peace of mind for your lifestyle and the economy that you live in. Your skin will thank you, the environment will thank you and so will the economy. So give it a try! You might just find that handcrafted soaps & body products are your new favourite and affordable pampering treat.