Your feet takes a pounding everyday (especially in those killer heels), so set aside some time and pamper them this long weekend. 

• Fill a large bucket with hot water.
• Mix 1 tbsp of cold pressed coconut oil with 5 tbsp epsom salt and 3 drops of your favourite essential oil. I would personally recommend spearmint or a fine lavender.
• Add oil and salt mix to the hot water.  Flower petals, dried herbs and citrus peel  optional.
• Now lean back in your favourite chair with a book  or watch some telly while you soak your feet for at least 15 minutes. 

Magnesium in epsom salt is detoxifying and helps you relax, coconut oil softens the skin and eucalyptus is utterly refreshing! After you're done soaking, towel your feet dry and apply a nourishing foot cream or balm. 

Here are 5 ways to tell if an essential oil is pure. This does not include resins (frankincense, amyris) and absolutes (rose, jasmine, carnation).
 
1.  NO GREASE FEELING ON THE SKIN
Pure essential oil gets absorbed within a minute when applied onto the skin. To test, rub a drop of essential oil between your thumb and index finger, if it leaves a greasy film behind, you know it has been mixed.
 
2. NO STAIN, DISAPPEAR ON A SHEET OF WHITE PAPER
100% pure essential oil are naturally volatile and will evaporate, leaving no greasy stain, no residue.
 
3. DOES NOT DISSOLVE IN WATER
Unless the essential oil has been produced cheaply for cosmetic purposes, pure essential oil will not float on top of water. The liquid in a plastic bottle you are buying for your air purifier is also mixed with chemicals. If you are running an aromatherapy bath, mix your essential oils with Epsom salt or a cup of milk and dispense gradually into running water.
 
4. NO STRANGE ODOUR
The essential oil that you've bought should not smell funky or alcoholic. Ethyl alcohol is very commonly used and often the reason why some of us get a headache with a whiff of fragrance (especially perfume). Essential oil that are diluted (knowingly and unknowingly) with base oil gone rancid will also produce an "off" smell.
 
5. FRAGRANCE OILS ARE NOT ESSENTIAL OILS
When shopping for essential oil, note that fragrance oil, aromatherapy oil, aroma essence and perfume oil are not pure essential oil. They are usually a combination of essential oils and chemicals or entirely chemicals. Be wary of essential oil sold in plastic or clear glass bottles.
 
Ultimately, it is important to use an essential oil that is pure, natural and wholesome. You should not have to play guinea pigs to unethical merchants. Avoid buying essential oils from businesses that do not provide the botanical Latin name (which in the case of lavender, will tell you which part of the plant the oil is distilled from), country of origin or method of extraction. Now that you are suitably informed, are you ready to put your essential oils to the test?
 

Rose Geranium is truly a feminine scent - strong and floral, highly reminiscent of roses. Unknown to many, rose geranium is one of the few essential oils, besides Angelica Root (当归 / dong kwai) that has an affinity for the female reproductive system and hormone regulation. In short, rose geranium is compulsory for for female health and skinare, and here's 5 very good reasons why.

1.  Rose geranium oil stimulates the lymphatic system and acts as a diuretic to help correct and balance the elimination of water and waste in our bodies. It's detoxifying effect helps keep your immune system in good shape and condition.

2.  When inhaled or used on the body, rose geranium is effective at addressing PMS symptons like abdominal cramps, sore breasts andother menopausal symptons.

3.  The pharmaceutical industry wouldn't want you to know this, but rose geranium is remarkably effective against yeast infection and other fungi without affecting bacterial flora. If used at the first sign of an yeast infection, it will knock the nasty bits out. Just remember to dilute it (1:10) before applying it in case your skin is sensitive.

4.  Rose geranium oil is anti-inflammatory, antiseptic and detoxifying. It balances all skin types and is very effective at controlling acne. It does not matter if your skin is dry or oily, rose geranium balances the skin’s production of sebum according your needs. It’ is also regenerative at the cellular level and helps give a radiant glow.

5.  Rose geranium oil relieves anxiety and mood swings. In aromatherapy science, rose geranium is highly ranked for easing tension, anxiety and irritability. The ester content of rose geranium gives it a soothing effect like lavender, which makes it an excellent nerve tonic.

This Christmas, we are delighted to bring all customers the following Rose Geranium products -- Pure essential oil ($23)  /  Organic body wash + body lotion gift set ($30)  /  Organic body & massage oil ($55)  /  Premium soy candle ($28)

Since the dawning of time, rose has been highly revered for its beauty and grace. Its intoxicating aroma is light, up-lifting and soothe tired minds and skin. Its hydrosol has been used in religious rituals, cosmetics, holistic medicine and Ayurveda all over the world. While most of us are familiar with rose oil, do you know that rose water, the hydrosol portion in the distillation of rose petals possesses equal dermatological benefits.

So what is rose water? Simply put, it is the by-product of the production of rose oil for use in perfumery and aromatherapy. It contains a small amount of essential oil that is still left on the distilled rose petals, hence its calming and restorative properties.

It is essential that you choose and use a 100% pure rose water as mass market versions are flavoured water made with a combination of chemicals, colour and preservatives. 

Skin Care Benefits 
Pure rose water truly hydrates the skin permanently and protects it from dirt, oil, irritation and environmental pollutants. Due to its antiseptic properties, rose water is also used in the healing and treatment of skin infections such as dermatitis, inflammation and eczema. You can also apply it on sunburn and insect bites. 

And as mentioned in an earlier post, rose water helps to soothe dark eye circles caused as a result of eye fatigue or poor circulation. Soak a cotton pad in rose water and apply on eye lids for 10 minutes as a hydrating eye mask.

Hair Care Benefits
Little known, rose water is also effective in hair care. It nourishes your hair and calms itchy scalp. Rose water can even be used as a natural hair spray to help in hair loss prevention and avoid frizzy hair on a humid day,

When you invest in a bar of natural soap, your overall health and well being will benefit as well since more than 60% of anything we put on our skin is absorbed into the body. But with a wide array of body cleansing products in the market, how does a simple bar of natural soap competes with the fancier perfumed body wash and shower gel? Essentially, all body cleansing products, natural or synthetic, have the same objectives to remove dirt, perspiration, bacteria and unfortunately some if not all of your natural body oil as well. This dries your skin out and result in a vicious cycle where the common solution is to apply moisturiser after shower or to look for a body cleanser that is specifically moisturising, where the additives help to replenish the oil first removed during the cleansing process.  

Unless your body cleanser is of a natural or pure botanical source, chances are it is packed with 20 to 30 man-made chemicals, including fragrance. In order to remain thick, coloured and perfumed, a typical shower wash/gel must contain at least 20 chemicals - a mixture of synthetic and a small amount derived from plants. It will also contain detergents, a blend of aroma, salt for thickening, glycerin and preservatives. Most of the plant extracts used have very little practical purposes and are just for clever marketing so the product can have fancy names and tag lines. 

Glycerin is a natural occurring byproduct in the process of soap making. It is removed during commercial manufacturing in order to produce a harder, longer lasting bar of soap and subsequently resell as a separate ingredient in the cosmetics industry. Glycerin is however retained in handmade soap (with the exception of Melt & Pour) and this results in a softer, more emollient bar of soap that keeps your body natural oil and moisture level in check.

While we are on the topic of glycerin, it helps to know that due to the high content of this super moisturising liquid, natural soap tends to dissolve quicker when in constant contact with water and produces a layer of gel after use.  For this reason, dry your natural soap out between use and do not leave it sitting in a damp shower or a pool of water. If you use soap everyday, consider 2 or 3 bars of your favourites and rotate them every second day.  And there, you now have a luxury bath spa.

It is always a good idea to moisturise, both day and night. While moisturising doesn't stop your skin from aging or keep wrinkles and spots at bay, it will ensure your skin stays skin supple and hydrated. 

Aromatherapy is gaining popularity in facial treatment and application for dryness, pigmentation, acne and wrinkles. While aromatherapy is not supported as a medical science in Asia - in modern France, it is used as part of phytotherapy (herbalism, alternate medicine) to treat symptons and diseases. But did you know essential oils are very efficient plant-based additives in facial products because they penetrate very quickly through the epidermis and enter general circulation? To supplement the functions of aromatherapy, it is also important to catch enough "beauty sleep" to stimulate collagen formation and hormone growth. 

In addition to face serum and moisturiser, French women swear by facial oil and you would have probably seen or tried some of them from well known French skincare brands, Clarins and Decleor. I worked out a few simple versions using jojoba oil, which is well tolerated by all skin types. Depending on skin condition however, you may substitute the recommended essential oil with Roman/German chamomile for anti-inflammation and Frankincense for wrinkles. 

*Caution: Please do not apply facial oil on skin that is highly sensitised or inflammed from dermatologic conditions.

For those of you who are interested in natural moisturising options, we have developed a new organic face cream (unscented) containing French lavender, Damask rose and frankincense. It works beautifully for normal, dry and dull skin as it moisturises and brightens your complexion! Trial size available for sale, 26 Jan - 1 Feb at the Star Vista bazaar, Level 1. 

Each year, we spend hundreds and thousands of dollars trying to make our skin look clearer, our body smoother and our hair healthier. And each year, we apply no end of chemicals on ourselves just to achieve those ends. Yet before the mid 19th century, there were no commercially produced cosmetics besides soap, and many of our great grandmothers age with barely any wrinkles and skin damage. 

I am not suggesting commercially produced skincare is bad, especially since they undergo strict testing to ensure they are safe to use before market launch. But many people that you know and I know find themselves allergic to mineral oil, synthetically manufactured fragrances and preservatives, and have started looking for natural options and DIY solutions. 

The mantra for a clear complexion - Cleanse. Tone. Moisturise. is really simple but has long been replaced by mass produced skincare delivering big promises. 

While I do not have celebrity skin, it is still skin that I can quite happily live with. I use commercial face products like everyone else but occasionally make my own face preparations for extra therapy. One of the easiest cleansers to make has buttermilk as its base and contains only 3 ingredients - 150ml buttermilk, 2 tablespoons lemon juice and 5 tablespoons floral water or herbal infusion of your choice. Simply whisk all ingredients together, pour it into a jar and store it in the fridge where it will keep for up to a week. To use, soak a cotton pad in the milk and wipe it gently all over your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. Et c'est tout! 
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• For normal skin, try Calendula, Chamomile or Lavender (lavandula angustifolia) water.
• For dry skin, opt for Chamomile, Neroli (citrus aurantium) and Elderflower water.

• Oily skin would benefit from Lavender (lavandula angustifolia), Fennel, Witch hazel and Rosemary (rosemarinus officinalis).
• Sensitive skin should stick to Damask rose, Chamomile and Neroli (citrus aurantium)
• For mature skin, go for Damask rose, Geranium or Frankincense water.

*INCI names in brackets are to help you in getting the right essential oil of therapeutic grade.