Essential oils

Picture courtesy of (http://tajrii.com/beauty-wisdom/aromatherapy/)


I love everything natural.
So i have been looking into essential oils which are 100% all natural steam distilled/extracted from plants and flower parts.

Looking up the internet gives a wealth of resources on aromatherapy and essential oil uses.

Initially, i wanted to make my own facial serum so i researched high and low on different essential oils and their properties, as well as different formulations to create DIY face serums.


You could actually create a face serum using 5% essential oils of your choice and mixing them in a carrier oil of your choice.

I tried different carrier oils: jojoba, camellia, sweet almond, tamanu, argan, sunflower seed, apricot kernel, emu and olive oil

I also tried different essential oils: frankincense, lavender, helichrysum, lemon, sandalwood, rosewood, rose, geranium, rosemary, tea tree, carrot seed (can't remember what else)


Sad to say, my skin reacted to all carrier oils but the emu oil. I've been using emu oil ever since. It's said to be collagen producing and helps in anti aging.

And, i find that i can't use ANY essential oils on my face at all! None of them, no matter how diluted or differently mixed up, never sits nicely on my skin. I react to virtually ALL the essential oils. How frustrating. So there goes my quest for a DIY face serum.

But the funny thing is, MooGoo's scalp cream has three essential oils in it (rosemary, lavender and tea tree) and my skin did not react to the scalp cream. In fact, in my previous post on MooGoo review, i love the scalp cream on my face. How ironic. Perhaps i can't use essential oils mixed in carrier oils, perhaps i need to mix them in an emulsifier with water content. But that's too difficult for me to make.

Now i use my essential oils in a vaporizer when i sleep at night and it is so relaxing, especially lavender. The bulgarian variety has the best and most calming scent, in my opinion.

Wish i  could i find a way to incorporate essential oils into my facial regime.

Natural skin care: MooGoo Review

Review on MooGoo.

I'm on my "natural" journey at the moment, and am trying to keep as many things as i slap on my face, hair and body as natural as possible.
Trying to avoid as much as possible harmful and toxic chemicals and preservatives that seep into skin and get absorbed into the body.


MooGoo is an Australian company specialising in natural, safe products with effective active ingredients designed for people with skin and scalp problems. Their website: http://www.moogoo.com.au/

Their policy is to list ALL ingredients and never hide any including all the natural preservatives and emulsifiers they use. So you can basically research on each and every ingredient to make a decision on the product. MooGoo does not use gimmick ingredients and marketing, or cheap filling ingredients




Well, I've had bouts of sensitive skin that will break out in rashes and itches and whatever you name. So far no cream or ointment has been able to satiate, calm and soothe my skin. I gave up on all brands of skin care including the ones from Korea that i've been loving. I used to like sidmool, but suddenly, even sidmool's acclaimed natural skin care range could not help my skin.


Well, browsing at a pharmacy one day,  I stumbled across MooGoo and decided to give it a go. So i got these MooGoo products from the local pharmacy when they were on a discount.
I'm never looking back and MooGoo will be my one and only skin care brand that i will use on my face and body for now.




What I have in my stash:




MooGoo Scalp Cream

Description:
A natural moisturiser for Cradle Cap in Babies or Seborrhoeic Dermatitis in Adults. 


Many people, including babies, are troubled by skin that becomes red, dry and sometimes itchy around the scalp, hairline, neck, ears, eye areas, and along the side of the nose and mouth. These are oily areas of the skin and sometimes yeast on the skin can become more prevalent and cause irritation. This version of our moisturising cream helps return the skin to a healthy condition. Like all our creams, it is safe and non-irritating and can be used anywhere on the body. MooGoo Scalp Cream can also be used as a general moisturiser.

Oooo, i think i have a mild case of seborrhoeic dermatitis because i respond very well to this cream. I use this on my face! and it soothes, calms and provides a sense of rest to my easily agitated skin. The rashes seem to calm down within a short time of use and i have no problems at all with this stuff around my eyes, except if it goes into my eye, it stings.
This is one my top creams and a must-have for me!


Rating: 5/5





MooGoo Full Cream

Description:

This is a "creamier" version of the original Udder Cream moisturiser. It is designed to moisturise easily irritated skin using natural ingredients. The base oil of the cream is Sweet Almond Oil. This is high in the types of fatty acids needed for troubled skin. 
Also raw Coconut Oil which naturopaths often use as a skin soothing oil. Other ingredients include pasteurised honey (so safe for babies). The pH is balanced to the skin through the use of Apple Cider Vinegar. Naturally, the apple and honey give the cream a wonderful fragrance and there is no need for us to add any other fragrance.

Well, you are supposed to use this on the body, but i love this for my face. It is a lot heavier than the original Udder cream and also the heaviest of all creams. It can be a little greasy but still, this stuff moisturises my skin without any irritation whatsoever.




This cream contains milk protein and olive squalene which are great for skin elasticity and anti aging! Skin feels smooth and moisturised. Skin elasticity ensures lines and wrinkles are minimized after any movement of the skin.


Rating: 4.5/5  (minus 0.5 due to it being a little greasy for the face)







The original: MooGoo's Udder Cream (Skin Milk)

Description:

Our original udder cream that started it all. The Skin Milk Udder Cream is the lightest of our creams. It easily penetrates the skin with healing ingredients and is non-greasy. Full of skin repair ingredients and Milk Protein for Skin Elasticity.

MooGoo’s Skin Milk Udder Cream is being recommended by a number of oncologists and hospitals due its efficacy in helping the recovery from the side effects of chemo and radiotherapy.

this one is a very light face cream. It goes on light and stays on light. This one also contains milk protein and other great ingredients to nourish the skin beautifully.

I'm also in love with this cream but i prefer the Full cream even if it were a little greasy. This one somehow feels kinda dry on my skin. So what i do is, i mix them up!

I mix this light cream with the heavy cream and ta-dah! i get my own mid way cream!

Rating: 4/5 (i prefer the full cream even on its own!)

MooGoo's Irritable Skin Balm

Say "NO" to steroids and chemical based ointments!

Description:

This revolutionary cream that took over  a year to formulate and license. It is for both sensitive & troubled skin.

Active Ingredients: Matricaria recutita (flower extract), Centella Asiatica (herb tincture), Sage Oil (dalmation), Aloe barbadensis (leaf juice).  

Excipient Ingredients: Purified Water, Sweet Almond Oil, Emuslifying Wax, Olive Oil, Olive Squalene, Allantoin, Vitamin E. 

This balm can be followed by our MSM Soothing Cream which is designed to keep easily irritated skin moist and supple. 

So next time your practitioner suggests steroid creams, mention that there is now another option available.

Well, i thought this one would be a star for my agitated, irritated, red skin. To my surprise, no. I actually don't fancy this balm/cream and find that it did not soothe my skin and did not moisturise at all.

This one is not for me .

Will not be rating this one.

MooGoo MSM Soothing Cream

Description:

This cream is made using the moisturizing base of our Full Cream with the addition 10% MSM (Organic Sulfur) and the removal of Milk Protein. This is the maximum amount of MSM we could add to the cream. Just mention MSM and watch the Naturopaths go nuts about its skin calming properties. The cream uses Sweet Almond Oil which is one of the best moisturising oils for irritated skin due to its essential fatty acid profile. The cream is also fully loaded with other natural skin healing ingredients. These include Allantoin (Comfrey Root Active), Vitamin E, Aloe Vera and Honey. Check our "We Got Mail" Page to see how it has worked for others.

This one is quite good. I like that it does soothe my skin somewhat, helps with some acne when i have them. MSM is supposed to be very beneficial for the skin either taken internally as a supplement or applied topically. 

Quick look at MSM:

(http://www.rawgaia.com/skin-care-info/skin-and-health-benefits-msm.html-0)

MSM, which stands for Methyl-sulphonyl-methane. MSM is a nutritional form of sulphur, which is an essential component in the formation of collagen, elastin, cartilage and keratin. It gives flexibility, tone and strength to muscles, bones, joints, internal membranes and especially the skin, hair and nails.

Adequate levels of sulphur in the body help to promote a radiant complexion, glowing skin and mineralised hair. Therefore sulphur is often referred to as “The beauty mineral”. However, research has found that most people are deficient in sulphur and that deficiency increases with age.

What i like about MooGoo's MSM cream: soothing, heals acne/pimples.

What i dislike: Not moisturising enough. I prefer the scalp cream.

Rating: 4/5 






MooGoo Milk Wash

Description:

MooGoo Milky Wash uses a glucose based cleanser called "Capric Glucoside". This was originally developed for baby wipes and face wipes and has the same skin irritation score as water.
We added genuine ingredients (not gimmicks) to prevent drying of the skin. Milk Protein (Casein) is similar to the skin's own protein and helps maintain elasticity.  The natural ester Glycerol Oleate prevents skin water loss and leaves the skin smoother.


Our body wash does not create big bubbles like a synthetic detergent. It washes gently and without drying of the skin. Because it is so gentle it is also a no tears formulation in children's eyes.

I'm on the fence for this one. 
Some reviews mentioned that this could be use as a face wash. This is not the case for me. It irritated and dried out my skin!
It's mediocre as a body wash and i do not find anything special about it. But of course, the natural ingredients are the big plus point.

Rating: 3/5, nothing special.

You can find all the ingredients listed fully on their website. They have other stuff like shampoo and conditioner, lip balms, nappy balms, bath soaps etc............. all made with natural ingredients.
They even have deodorant and their highly raved range of facial cleansers which are oil based.


MooGoo has come out with anti-ageing creams and eye serums.
They have a SPF 15 anti ageing sunblock with plenty of antioxidants.

Overall, i'm loving MooGoo very much. Please don't stop making the Scalp cream and the Full Cream.