The chemical-free myth 

When we think about the dangers lurking in our skin care and our food, the focus is usually on the threat posed by artificial chemicals and additives. A climate of fear has built up around chemicals. The word ‘chemical’ is frequently misused by green skin care and organic food aficionados – and the industry itself – to mean something really bad; something poisonous that must be avoided at all costs. We talk about living chemical-free lives, and how evil mainstream cosmetics companies cynically stuff their products full of chemicals. Of course, we all know what is meant by this lazy language, and perhaps it’s nothing but pedantry to pick up on it. We mean artificial ingredients, of course; we mean man-made chemicals. There is not (usually) a deliberate intention to mislead, and most people don’t want a science lesson about how everything is made of chemicals every time they buy their face serum or toner. This point has already been well covered so I don’t need to rehash what has already been said – these excellent articles say it all:

The Myth of Chemical-Free Cosmetics by Lorraine Dallmeier of Herb & Hedgerow
Can We Claim a Skincare Product to be Chemical Free? by Sarah (Sugarpuffish)
Manmade or natural, tasty or toxic, they’re all chemicals… The Guardian science blog

Natural v man-made chemicals

At Siam Botanicals, we’re all in favour of using natural ingredients. 100% natural skin care is what we are all about. But just because something is man-made, it doesn’t make it inherently bad. And just because something is natural, it doesn’t mean you can consume it or slather it onto your skin in as high a dose as you please. It’s just not that simple. It can’t ever be assumed that because something is 100% natural, it is 100% safe. Would you eat lightly steamed poison ivy, for example, or a fricassee of unverified wild mushrooms? Would you choose a body lotion whose active ingredient was arsenic or Clostridium botulinum? They’re all natural, after all.

Take a look at this useful infographic by Sense About Science, which tackles some of the misconceptions we have about chemicals:

Natural and man-made chemicals

 

To take one example from this infographic, amygdalin is a dangerous toxic chemical that can produce hydrogen cyanide when metabolised. It is found in apple pips and apricot kernels (among other fruit and veg). Aaaagh! Apples contain a toxic ingredient! Therefore, apples are poisonous! We must stop eating apples or we’re all going to die!

But wait a minute. Unless you’re planning to consume a cupful of apple seeds or 20-odd apricot pits in one sitting (and I don’t mean swallow whole, I mean chew extremely thoroughly), you don’t need to worry about the toxic effects; the body is more than able to detoxify cyanide in small doses.

‘The dose makes the poison’

For me, the key sentence in the infographic is this:

Chemical toxicity is a sliding scale, not black and white – and whether a chemical is naturally occurring or man-made tells us nothing about its toxicity.’

The truth is that almost everything has the potential to be toxic – even water and oxygen. Both natural and artificial chemicals can be dangerous; and by that logic, both can also be safe. Pretty much anything, if consumed in the wrong concentration or if put into contact with the wrong part of the body, can prove damaging to your health. Aside from the all-important concentration of the ingredient, there are other factors to take into consideration – your skin colour, your age, where you live, the part of the body to which the product is being applied (because absorption rates can differ substantially) to name a few.

You’re right, of course, to care about what you’re putting in and on your body. It’s the very reason why we decided to make our own skin care products. But remember the sliding scale. We don’t all react in the same way to individual ingredients, whether natural or not. Nor do we all have the same boundaries – what is an acceptable ingredient to some is blacklisted by others.

Our advice? There’s no right and wrong. Decide where your own boundaries lie and find a company you trust, whose ethics and ingredients reflect your personal choices.

Do you have a list of ingredients you try to avoid, or do you choose your skin care products based on other criteria? Where do your personal boundaries lie? Let us know in the comments below!

Why oil cleansing works

The oil cleansing method was the hot topic of conversation in a #tweetchat I recently took part in. To a large extent we were preaching to the converted – the majority of those who joined in with the chat were already big fans – but there were some people who had tried it and felt it wasn’t for them.

Ingredients such as alcohol and harsh synthetic chemicals in mainstream cleansers can actually leave the skin dry and stripped of its natural oils, causing it to over-compensate by producing excess oil, which in turn leads to annoying pimples and blemishes. If this endless cycle of dry and oily skin sounds familiar to you, we would encourage you to give the oil cleansing method a try. Of course, there’s no such thing as a ‘one-size-fits-all’ skin care solution, but oil cleansing can work wonders for any skin type and, when done correctly, will not only remove make-up and draw out pore-clogging dirt and other impurities but also help to balance, moisturize and nourish your skin.

How to oil cleanse

Are you using your oil cleanser correctly? It struck me in the course of the tweetchat that sometimes oil cleansing is rejected not because the product or process is wrong for that person’s skin, but because the user is unknowingly using the wrong technique and so isn’t getting the best out of it. We have some fantastic oil cleansers at Siam Botanicals and we want to be absolutely sure that our customers are getting the most out of them. So here’s the oil cleansing method in four easy steps!

Oil cleansing method - oil cleanser, flannel and hot water

1. Pour a coin-sized amount of oil into the palm of your hand, rub your hands together to warm the oil and then smooth over your face.

2. Massage the oil into your skin with upward movements.According to Jennifer who does Swedish Massage at Greentoes, you should do this for a minute or two at least; longer if you have the time. Linger over this process – it can be very enjoyable!

3. Soak a clean flannel in very hot (NOT scalding!!) water. Wring it out and press it over your face until it cools. This steaming process will remove the oil, bringing any dirt and impurities with it. It feels wonderfully relaxing, too – like a mini spa treatment! Repeat this stage if necessary.

4. Wipe away any remaining oil residue and repeat the whole process again.

Yes, we know it’s almost certainly more time-consuming than the routine you’re used to, but trust us, it’s worth it! You can get away with a single cleanse if you don’t wear make-up, but even then, a little extra time invested in a double cleanse really will pay off. If you establish oil cleansing as part of your regular skin routine, we think you’ll notice a big difference! Your skin will look and feel more hydrated and take on a radiant glow.

We have four great oil cleansers that cater for every skin type:

Oil cleansing: Siam Botanicals Rosehip & Tea Tree Face Cleanser

Thanks to the antibacterial powers of tea tree, our Rosehip & Tea Tree cleanser is great for blemish-prone and problem skin

 

Oil Cleansing: Siam Botanicals Olive & Neroli face cleanser

Our Olive & Neroli cleanser is gentle but deep-cleansing; suitable for normal and oily skin

 

Oil Cleansing: Siam Botanicals Apricot Face Cleansers are available for dry and oily skin

Our light, easily absorbed Apricot cleansers come in two formulas – for dry skin and for oily skin. They’re very gentle, so are also recommended for sensitive skin types

Alternatively, you can of course create your own oil blends to suit your personal skin requirements – there are plenty of great recipes on the internet to help you with this. If you’re not sure what your skin type is or which oils are likely to work best for you, this really useful article on Wildly Natural Skincare will help you work it out.

What do you think about the oil cleansing method? Is it an essential part of your skin care routine, or do you think it’s nothing more than a fad? We’d love to hear what you have to say about it in the comments below.

It has been a busy time at Siam Botanicals HQ but finally we’re back on the blog! This month, the spotlight is on one of our favourite ingredients, lavender (Lavandula Angustifolia), in the second of our FOCUS series.

Lavender growing (close up)

English Lavender Essential Oil

Lavender is a perennial herb native to the Mediterranean. Its pretty purple flowers, evocative scent and the fact that many of its varieties are hardy and easy to grow make it a highly popular choice among gardeners. Lavender can be used as an ingredient in cooking, usually to infuse sweet dishes such as biscuits, shortbread and cakes, but is also an interesting addition to meat or fish marinades. It has long been used in a variety of beauty, personal care and cleaning products; in fact, it is thought to have been used in Roman times during bathing to help purify the body and spirit.

Lavender essential oil is steam distilled from the spikes of the flower. When you think of lavender farming, you might picture the vast and glorious fields of Provence in France, where lavender has been grown commercially for centuries. But it is also a flourishing industry in the UK, and this is where we source our essential oil.

Lavender & Rosemary Skin Conditioner and Natural Balance Face Serum

Balancing Skin Conditioner and Natural Balance Face Serum

Lavender essential oil has a soft, herbaceous and deeply relaxing scent and is one of the most versatile essential oils in natural skincare and aromatherapy. It is perhaps best known for its ability to soothe and relax – we all know that a few drops on our pillow can promote sleep – but it has many other prized properties. Thanks to its antibacterial, antiseptic and anti-inflammatory properties, it can be used to treat cuts and scrapes and heal sunburn and other minor burns. It’s a ‘must’ for your medicine cabinet! In skin care, it tones and revitalises. It is suitable for all skin types but can also be used to target specific skin problems such as oily skin, acne, and psoriasis.

Lavender essential oil features in many Siam Botanicals products, from our Lavender Toning Mist to our Relax, Revive and Meditation Massage Oils. To achieve a perfectly balanced complexion, try this dynamic duo:

And don’t miss this bevy of beauties from our stunning Oriental range, featuring (among other nourishing 100% natural ingredients) aloe vera juice (all except Body Oil), rose hip oil (Milk Cleanser), coconut oil (Body Oil) and, of course, lavender essential oil!

oriental range collage

Clockwise from top left: Oriental Body Oil; Oriental Body Lotion; Oriental Milk Cleanser; Oriental Conditioner; Oriental Shampoo

In this new series of blog posts, we will be focusing on some of the individual ingredients in Siam Botanicals products, looking into their provenance and talking about their amazing properties and the therapeutic skin care benefits they provide. First up is one of our signature ingredients, Lemongrass (Cymbopogon).

Lemongrass is a fast-growing perennial grass native to India and tropical Asia and is an extremely popular herb in Thai cuisine, used fresh or in powdered or dried form to give a citrus kick to curries and soups. It is thought to have immune-boosting properties and is often combined with other health-giving ingredients such as chillies, coconut milk, garlic, galangal, turmeric and coriander, making Thai cuisine one of the healthiest there is!

Lemongrass is native to India and tropical Asia

Lemongrass is native to India and tropical Asia

Lemongrass essential oil has a refreshing, pungent citrus scent with hay-like top notes and grassy undertones. Its uplifting and energising properties make it a popular choice in aromatherapy, helping to relieve the symptoms of jetlag and to combat stress-related conditions. Its analgesic properties have long made it a popular choice in traditional Thai herbal treatments, where it is used to soothe headaches and stiff muscles. As well as boasting antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and antifungal properties, the oil is also mildly astringent, making it useful as a skin-cleansing agent that can help control oily skin and reduce acne and blemishes.

Our lemongrass essential oil is distilled from both East Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon Flexuosus) and West Indian lemongrass (Cymbopogon Citratus). Its amazing properties make it a key ingredient in many of our products, including our Rudis Oleum Day and Night Formulas, several of our massage and body oils (‘Siam Roots’, ‘Refresh’ and ‘Rejuvenate’), and our ‘Refreshing’ bath salts.

Siam Botanicals products that contain lemongrass

Thanks to its exceptional cleansing properties, it is also the star ingredient in two of our most popular personal care products – our Lemongrass Shampoo and Lemongrass Body Wash. There’s nothing better than the fresh, invigorating scent of lemongrass to wake you up in the morning!

Lemongrass body wash and shampoo

This wondrous oil is also an effective insect repellent and can be found in our DEET-free bug spray. Now you can even keep those mozzies at bay the natural way!

Bio Guard insect repellent

All of the above products can be purchased on our website, as can our pure lemongrass essential oil.

Note: Essential should be used with a ceramic oil burner to release their fragrances, or as directed by your aromatherapist. They are for external use only and should not be applied directly to the skin in undiluted form.

Sources http://thaifood.about.com/od/introtothaicooking/a/healthbenefits.htm http://health.howstuffworks.com/wellness/natural-medicine/aromatherapy/aromatherapy-lemongrass.htm http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cymbopogon http://www.essentialoils.co.za/essential-oils/lemongrass.htm

BIH1Business in Heels (BIH) is Australia’s premier business networking group for women, and this year, thanks to Nicola Jones-Crossley, it has arrived in Bangkok. BIH aims to connect like-minded businesswomen and provide them with opportunities to meet, socialize and share ideas with one another at informal meet-ups.

Although the Bangkok branch was only recently established, Nicola has been working hard to build up awareness of the organization and its aims. The Facebook page already has over 500 members and Nicky tweets on a regular basis as @BIHBangkok.

Nicky has been an enthusiastic advocate of Siam Botanicals products, and we are very pleased to offer our support as the main Event Partner at BIH Bangkok’s official launch event, which is taking place on 26 March at the Swissôtel Nai Lert Park. It’ll be a great opportunity to listen to some interesting and inspiring guest speakers and to mingle, glass of fizz in hand, with Bangkok businesswomen from a wide range of industries. And of course, there’ll be some fabulous Siam Botanicals goodies for you to take home at the end of the night!

If you’re a businesswoman in Bangkok and would like to buy a ticket for this event, click here. We’d love to see you there!