Dry Skin Brushing with Bodecare Natural Bristle Brushes

Video

Hello natural beauties how are you? I’ve written about dry brushing before (dry brushing basics and dry brushing for your face) when I discovered some fabulous natural, vegan brushes from Bodecare – one for my face and one for my body. It took me ages to get into it and then after a couple of house moves they disappeared! I was very excited to run into Rebecca from Bodecare at the Sydney Mind Body Spirit Festival last month (before we all got sent inside by Mother Nature). Read on for some simple healthy techniques to make your skin look amazing!

Buy my 100% natural and organic botanical perfumes, and paperback book here:

suzannerbanks.com.au

Digital downloads and paper backs of my book Revelation! Reveal your Destiny with Essentials Oils here:

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

_____________________________________________________________________________

**A selection of brushes at the Mind Body Spirit Festival**

About Rebecca and Bodecare

Rebecca Gaspert, the owner of Bodecare, has been in the beauty industry for decades. She is a makeup artist and qualified Beauty Therapist who has owned 2 award-winning salons, and that is how her dry brushing journey commenced. Many of her clients had skin problems from dry skin to acne which started her on a trajectory that is now Bodecare. Rebecca started dry brushing in 2003 and has never looked back.

What are the benefits of dry brushing?

According to Rebecca, dry brushing:

can improve venous blood circulation and lymphatic drainage, aid in the release of toxins, exfoliate dead skin and reduce ingrown hairs. It can also:

* Reduce skin conditions such as Psoriasis, Keratosis Pilaris, Eczema and other dry skin conditions.

* Reduce cellulite

* Relief of arthritis

* Increase circulation of scalp

* Reduce stress

* Remove bumpy skin

Use this code at checkout for a 10% discount: SUZANNE10

**My fave Bodcare brush is the one with the detachable handle** **called the TAMPICO FSC BODY BRUSH**

6 Tips from Rebecca to Kick Start Your Body Brushing

1. Always use a plant bristle skin brush. Try the tampico body brush with a removable handle for flexibility.

I love the detachable handle on the Tampico body brush. Give it a go if you’re in quiet Covid19 mode.

2. Perform on dry skin only as this will provide the best stimulation and exfoliation.

3. Generally stroke upward in one motion. Except for fingers and toes, you can brush back-and-forth between them.

4. Ensure you use the jute brush for gentle face exfoliation. Don’t ever use your body brush. When brushing, use upside-down U-shape brush strokes, pressure on the upward stroke and lightly on the way down.

This is the wonderful jute face brush, I encourage you to try it, it’s really wonderful!

5. Always use a good quality organic body cream and face moisturiser after your shower, to ensure your skin is kept hydrated and supple.

6. Always clean your brush after use. If you do not clean or allow your body brush to dry completely, you are susceptible to spreading bacteria back on your skin when dry body brushing. Simply use a tea tree hydrosol on the bristles after every use of your brush.

Hey while you’re immersed in natural bristles why not try the toothbrushes too? They have won an award!

Use this code at checkout for a 10% discount: SUZANNE10

Let me know how you go with your dry brushing – good luck!

10 Recipes with Cedarwood Atlas Essential Oil – Cedrus atlantica

Posted on February 17, 2016 by suzannerbanks

Hello natural scent lovers. It’s been a while since I’ve done a “10 Recipes” post and this gorgeous cedarwood is next on the list. This is a true cedarwood, unlike the more common cedarwood (Juniperus virginiana), which as you can probably tell, is a juniper. Lets get into some recipes ….

*************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

**************************************************************************************************************

Atlantic cedar

Cedarwood is a great oil that blends well with so many others. As a wood oil it is considered a ‘base’ and in this way can anchor a blend, and help lighter oils from flying away too quickly.

In aromatherapy cedarwood is used:

as an astringent for oily skin
as a hair and skin tonic
for stress relief

I use it for the above and also as an oil of abundance. Yesterday I used it with a client who was quite tired and it helped her relax and get back to her base energy levels, rather than running on Adrenalin and stress. It was very comforting too.

Sexy black diffuser from puzhen.com

Scent Your Space

In a traditional oil burner with a candle or a diffuser add 25 drops of oil

Mountain High

Cedarwood Atlas 8 drops

Lime 8 drops

Pine 5 drops

Siberian Fir 4 drops

Faeries

Cedarwood Atlas 6 drops

Rose Geranium 6 drops

Palmarosa 10 drops

Cypress 3 drops

The Only Way is Up

Cedarwood Atlas 7 drops

Spearmint 7 drops

Mandarin 6 drops

Cinnamon 5 drops

Treat your face – its lovely!

Facial Oil Treatment

Mix one or two drops of essential oil in one teaspoon of carrier oil. You can warm the oil slightly first if desired – it will be very relaxing! Massage your face and rest for 10 minutes. You can also place a cool or warm wet face cloth on your face as a compress over the oil mask. Remove excess oil with a tissue or cloth if necessary.

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

Frankincense 1 drop

Sea salt – pic via cooks.ndtv.com

Skin Scrub

Use 2 cups of fine sea salt, add some unperformed lotion, or some carrier oil, mix into a paste and then add your essential oils (only a few drops). You’re ready to scrub under the shower or in the bath, but remember to be gentle! If you use the scrub while standing in the bath you can then soak in the salt and oils too. When you shower scrub most of it gets wasted.

Oh Yeah!

Cedarwood Atlas 2 drops

Orange 2 drops

Date Night

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

Patchouli 1 drop

Ylang Ylang 2 drops

Anoint yourself with pure essential oil blends

Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

Putting Myself First Today

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

Geranium 1 drop

Ginger 1 drop

Get Going!

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

Lemongrass 2 drops

Cruise

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

Bergamot 1 drop

Peru Balsam 1 drop

Wish Upon a Star

Cedarwood Atlas 1 drop

Basil 1 drop

Lavender 1 drop

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

How do you love using Cedarwood?

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

10 Recipes with Australian Sandalwood – Santalum spicatum

Posted on November 4, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Ah beautiful sandalwood oil! Our lovely Australian sandalwood essential oil has a hint of the bush and some herbaceous tones too. The Aussie species is not as syrupy, heady or as sweet as Indian (Mysore) sandalwood, but adds depth and the wisdom of this great land to your world. It can can also be found as a CO2 extract, so dive in and experience Australia.

**************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

**************************************************************************************************************

Santalum spicatum – pic via http://www.australian-aridlands-botanic-garden.org

1. Nourishing Body Oil Blend

For a coat of your body use 3 teaspoons of carrier oil in a little dish and, add 7 – 8 drops of essential oil. It’s always best to patch test first, before you apply all over.

***** Always put the drops of essential oil into the bottle or dish first, then add the carrier oil. It gives the scents time to create a synergistic fusion.

For a 50ml bottle of oil add 25 drops and see my articles “Ratios for Blending Essential Oils – A Reminder of the Basics” and “Aromatherapy – It’s Easy as 1 2 3”

“Courage”

Aust. Sandalwood 3 drops

Lavender 2 drops

Geranium 1 drop

Black pepper 1 drop

“A Potion for my Man”

Aust. Sandalwood 4 drops

Mandarin 4 drops

“Relaxing AND Energising all at the Same Time”

Aust. Sandalwood 2 drops

Lemongrass 2 drops

Orange 4 drops

Salt makes a great base for a scrub

2. Skin Scrub

Aust. Sandalwood 2 drops

Lemon 3 drops

Anyone can give themselves a face mask!

3. Face Mask

Usually I add 1 or 2 drops of oil to 2 teaspoons of clay, and add water, floral water or hydrosol. Keep the mask on for 5 minutes then rinse off with cool water. Mist with a hydrosol or floral water and moisturise.

Aust. Sandalwood 1 drop

Rose 3% 2 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

Australian sandalwood thrives in semi-arid conditions - pic via www.fpc.wa.gov.au

Australian sandalwood thrives in semi-arid conditions – pic via http://www.fpc.wa.gov.au

4. Personal Aura Cleansing Mist & Room Mist

In a 50ml mist bottle filled with water add 25 drops of oil

(depending on the packaging you have, you may need to use a little alcohol -like vodka- at the bottom of your bottle first, so the oils disperse into smaller drops to prevent clogging the atomiser top. I’ve found sometimes it works just with water, and sometimes it doesn’t – very annoying!)

“Bush Magic”

Aust. Sandalwood 8 drops

Palmarosa 8 drops

Lavender 5 drops

Basil 3 drops

“Manifestation”

Aust. Sandalwood 8 drops

May Chang 10 drops

Cypress 7 drops

The classic Duralex glass dish is handy to make oil blends and quick perfumes in

5. Pure Pulse Point Perfume

In a little dish mix these oils and anoint your pulse points or chakras – 3 drops of essential oils and dilute with a few drops of carrier oil – always patch test first!

“I Will”

Aust. Sandalwood 1 drop

Peru Balsam 1 drop

Lime 1 drop

“Lovely”

Aust. Sandalwood 1 drop

Neroli 3% 4 drops * see my article for more info on 3% blends in jojoba

“Double Torus”

Aust. Sandalwood 1 drop

Juniper 1 drop

Rose Geranium 1 drop

*******************************************************************************************************

Like our Facebook page to stay tuned for more info on the inaugural

Australasian Artisan Botanical Perfume Expo in Sydney, 24th April 2016

******************************************************************************************************

Happy blending and remember to use your intention when you are creating your formulas. See my article about intention.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

Must-Have Mid Season Essential Oils!

Posted on August 5, 2015 by suzannerbanks

Time marches on and so do the seasons. I’m getting excited because all around my neighbourhood in Sydney I can see the jasmine blossoms building strength, until one day soon, their beautiful, scented little white flowers will tell me it’s getting warmer. Phew!

***************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

***************************************************************************************************************

Jasmine in Sydney

And if you’re in summer it’s probably peaking right now and you’re feeling warm and lovely and happy. There’s nothing like late summer on a beach in Mexico, or in a park in Europe savouring the long lingering summer light. I’m envious of all of you northerners right now.

Remember for us, everything happens in summer. Well there’s summer for starters, Christmas, New Year, Chinese New Year and finishing of with Sydney Gay and Lesbian Mardi Gras.

Then it’s winter.

Just winter.

So you’ll understand my excitement when I see the jasmine getting read to bloom.

I took this pic in Mexico last year

Mid to Late Summer Essential Oils

Lavender

If you’ve had a bit of sun over the past couple of months lavender will help your skin heal and regenerate. The perfect after sun oil, lavender is also the perfect first aid kit in a bottle. Make sure you dilute it in the right proportions before you coat your body with this grounding, centering and calming oil.

Palmarosa

This mildly rose scented grass (like lemongrass) is great for skin renewal too, and allows you to be flexible and flowing in your attitudes. If you haven’t already warmed up this summer, palmarosa with help your mind unwind and open up to new adventures – there’s still plenty more spontaneity to be had this summer.

Peppermint

Lovely peppermint is a cooling oil, but take care if you are using it on your body as it can be sensitising. The best way to cool down with peppermint is to put a few drops into the shower and let the beautiful aroma surround and cool you. Breathe in deeply and enjoy your scented summer.

Brrrrrrr

Mid to Late Winter Oils

Rosemary

Warm up and get the circulation going! Rosemary can help fatigued muscles feel better, and generally stimulate your mind so you can dream up the best spring and summer possible. It is also an oil of remembering to help us tune into our multi-dimensional existence, and to prepare us for the abundance of summer.

Juniper

Release excess fluid in your body and joints with juniper essential oil. It is a wonderful oil for releasing negativity, so if you tend to get a bit sad during winter because of lack of light, this is your oil. It’s fresh, clean scent can lighten the vibe of any house or space, including your mind.

Sandalwood

Whether you choose Mysore (Indian) sandalwood or Australian sandalwood, this spiritual oil can help you focus within. Take time this winter to meditate – the perfect accompaniment to a cold day or night. Winter is a time of planting ideas that can come to fruition over summer so don’t delay in creating your life.

Essential oils can help support you mentally, physically, emotionally and energetically if you allow them too. You can create a scented paradise for your self and your loved ones, creating life long memories and rituals.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

To Dry Brush or Not? Yep … Another Question!

Posted on June 3, 2015 by suzannerbanks

The Soft, Supple Skin Series Part 3 – Dry Brushing

The series continues with question about how effective dry brushing is.

***************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

***************************************************************************************************************

The best dry brushes are made from plant fibres and have detachable arms - pic via amazon.com

The best dry brushes are made from plant fibres and have detachable handles – pic via amazon.com

Dry brushing has been a health and beauty regime for many people over the past century. I have to admit I have had a dry skin brush in the past but found it hard to get into a routine with it. In summer I found I didn’t really need it and in winter I found it was too cold to dry brush before the shower. Having admitted my downfalls I am a proponent of the dry brush because of its simplicity and they way it can make you feel truly enlivened.

History

From my research into this topic it seems as though the dry brush (although probably used for hundreds of years if not more), sprang into modern culture via the Nordic countries in combination with the sauna. Dr Paavo Airola extolled the wonders of dry brushing in his book “How to Get Well”. He was born in 1918 and died in 1983, having written 14 books on health and wellness, he was definitely ahead of his time. Dr Airola talked about juicing, taking supplements, a raw diet without meat and many other health regimes we accept today as part of the norm. Looking back, his work on nutrition and biochemistry helped form the naturopathic way of life.

Feel fresh and enlivened with body brushing

The Benefits of Dry Brushing

From his book, and what we know today, some of the benefits of dry brushing are:

* increase lymphatic drainage which is one of the detoxification systems of the body

* which in turn helps to remove cellulite

* and increase immunity

* remove dead skin cells

* gently massage internal organs and promote healthy digestion

* make you feel fresh and alive by tightening the skin, improving muscle tone and increasing circulation

How to Do It

The best way to brush is to be gentle and let the bristles do the work.

Brush toward the lymph nodes and I understand you might not know where they are so here’s an easy guide:

Easy dry brushing guide - pic via www.fengshuidana.com

Easy dry brushing guide – pic via http://www.fengshuidana.com

So basically you work up the legs to the groin.

Up the arms to the arm pits.

Downwards on your neck.

Upwards on your back.

Up and down on your stomach.

This is why its better to have a detachable arm as it easier to do the dry brushing with your hand on top of the brush and just add the arm for your back.

Have a shower after your brushing!

Detach the arm for most of your body as its easier to use - pic via www.athleticaesthetic.co

Detach the arm for most of your body as it’s easier to use – pic via http://www.athleticaesthetic.co

Why Can’t You Use the Brush In the Shower?

* the bristles are better when dry

* it doesn’t work as well with water, as the water can make the brush heavy, and you are working against the force of the water flow. This can lead to over scrubbing and very red raw skin – ouch!

* it’s generally less effective for improving skin tone

So yes dry brushing is probably the best way to exfoliate and make your skin feel great because it has many other health benefits that using a scrub does not. It even surpasses the body puff and gloves for this reason.

Do you dry brush?

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

To Loofah or To Body Puff? That is The Next Question!

Posted on May 27, 2015 by suzannerbanks

The Soft, Supple Skin Series Part 2 – Loofah’s, Body Puffs and Body Gloves

The series continues with question of how hygienic and effective these body scrubbers really are, and should we be using them?

***************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

***************************************************************************************************************

1. Loofah or Luffa

Loofah with soap. The grainy texture of the loofah is why people use it for skin scrubbing

The “loofah” is the fruit of a plant which is part of the cucumber family (Cucurbitaceae). The botanical genus name is Luffa and the fruit is harvested from either/or Luffa aegyptiaca and the Luffa acutangulaIt species. It is very fibrous and when matured and dried forms the slightly strange looking sponge we call a loofah. I remember having these in the 80’s but can never remember loving it. I seem to recall always throwing it out after a while.

According to some articles on the net from dermatologists and health websites, when you use the loofah to polish or scrub your skin, your dried skin cells stay trapped within the structure. Add a moist shower or bathroom, and the fact that it rarely dries out, and you have a hive of bacterial activity!

And then you keep using it.

And then it gets more unhygienic.

So perhaps it’s better if you wash it and sanitise it with essential oils, for example, every time you use it. This will definitely keep the loofah slightly healthier, but the fact is, you’ll never get all the way into the maze of fibres, to release all the dead skin and to make it a completely santised sponge.

Verdict

Good: It comes from a natural source and works well

Bad: You can never really get it clean and need to discard it after a month (my personal view).

Can start to smell after the first few uses

It starts to breakdown as soon as it gets wet, it is natural after all

Recommendation: Create a skin scrub that can only be used once. See To Scrub or Not To Scrub? That is the Question!

2. Body Puff or Body Exfoliating Gloves

Body exfoliating gloves – pic via aliexpress.com

Both the puff and the gloves are made from a synthetic mesh. While the same issues exist with santising after each use, like the loofah, it’s so much easier to do. They wash out easily and dry quite quickly.

Verdict

Good: Easy to use

Wash and dry quickly

Cute and colourful

Long lasting

Bad: Man-made fibre

Recommendation: Wash and sanitise after each use with a few drops of essential oils in the rinse cycle.

These are better to use than the loofah.

50 ml bespoke body oil made by me for a treatment

So perhaps reconsider using the loofah and opt for the hardier synthetic puff or gloves, and always moisturise afterwards.

Remember to treat yourself first, then everyone will benefit.

Check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

To Scrub or Not To Scrub? That is the Question!

Posted on May 13, 2015 by suzannerbanks

The Soft, Supple Skin Series Part 1 – Skin Scrubs

Natural skin scrubs are easy to make, and thanks to the internet it’s easy to find recipes – but are they good for your skin?

***************************************************************************************************************

Please check out my new book REVELATION! – Reveal Your Destiny with Essential Oils

Barnes & Noble Booktopia AU Amazon UK

and many other stores worldwide as an ebook and paperback

***************************************************************************************************************

Salt scrub – pic via themethuselahcenter.com

Skin scrubs can make your skin feel soft and new, providing you don’t use them too often.

The skin is called the Integumentary system. It is the largest organ of the body – and yes it’s actually classified as an organ, just like your liver and heart are organs. The skin has its own intelligence and it separates us from our environment and gives us our unique quality. It is also the most exposed organ in the body and needs some care and attention.

The skin on our faces is finer than in other parts of our body, but generally speaking it works in a particular way. It is estimated we could be losing about 30,000 skin cells per hour. Yes, per hour! New cells are formed from within, and push up to the external layer of the epidermis. This means our skin is already taking care of itself in a complicated and intelligent fashion, so is it ok to use a scrub?

Salt makes a great base for a scrub but use fine salt or grind up coarse salt

I think using a scrub once every week to 10 days is good for your skin, just be careful when actually scrubbing your skin so as not to give yourself scratches. Also the scrub you make to use on your body, could be a little too rough for your face so plan ahead and do your recipe research first.

* Winter skin tends to need a scrub more frequently as hot showers and layers of clothing can interfere with the natural release of skin, and we can get that dry crocodile looking effect.

* Basically you will be washing dead skin down the drain rather than letting it pile up around the house.

* Ideally soak in a bath for 5 minutes. Use your scrub on all parts of your body, then soak for at least another 5 minutes for a real spa treatment feeling. Some of us only have a shower so make the best of what you have.

* Always moisturise after your scrub, and of course I recommend you use a body oil and face oil or serum which will give your skin a velvety smooth finish.

Sea salt – pic via cooks.ndtv.com

Bases for Your Body

* Fine sea salt is the best. Don’t use coarse as you will scratch yourself.

* I see recipes all the time using sugar but I just don’t understand why you would use sugar when you have salt?

* Oil and/or moisturising cream to make a slurry

* Green or pink clay

* a little water

Bases for Your Face

* moisturising cream on its own or with some white or yellow clay

* almond meal – I love this gentle scrub base for the face

Use a mortar and pestle to grind up anything you want to use in your scrub

Additives to Your Bases

* a few drops of essential oil (1 drop for face – 5 drops for body – or a few more) – don’t go overboard you don’t want to burn or irritate your skin, especially if you are adding other botanicals to it

* coffee grains

* almond meal

* fresh rind of lemon/orange/grapefruit/lime

* dried citrus peel

* ground cacao nibs

* ground rose petals

* ground pumice

* dried or fresh herbs

Use your imagination but also your intuition as to what might be good for your face and what is best left for your body.

lovely legs!

A basic body scrub could look like this:

2 cups fine sea salt

grated lemon rind

3 – 5 drops lavender essential oil

a tablespoon of oil

a tablespoon of clay

a little water or cream to make a gooey paste

A face scrub:

3 teaspoons almond meal

1 teaspoon white clay

a little water to make a paste

1 drop bergamot essential oil

The only issue for me using these types of scrubs is that we are washing the gooey paste down the drain. I think that’s fine for the salt on it’s own but what about the oil and botanicals too?

Stay tuned for more in my Soft, Supple Skin Series and check out my YouTube channel too, thanks.

suzannerbanks

scent . intention . consciousness . essential oils

Tag Archives: skin scrubs for healthy skin

Dry Skin Brushing with Bodecare Natural Bristle Brushes

Video

10 Recipes with Cedarwood Atlas Essential Oil – Cedrus atlantica

10 Recipes with Australian Sandalwood – Santalum spicatum

Must-Have Mid Season Essential Oils!

To Dry Brush or Not? Yep … Another Question!

To Loofah or To Body Puff? That is The Next Question!

To Scrub or Not To Scrub? That is the Question!

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this:

Share this: