2.2+Body+care+and+the+garden

The Santuary (Halinda's Beauty Salon) A dedicated garden bed has been built on the green to grow plants that can be used in the beauty treatments. The wonderful produce from the garden can be used to nourish our skin as well as our pallete. media type="custom" key="21941234" Lessons can be as simple as cucumber on the eyes or crushed mint paste spread under the eyes. There are recipes on the net and in books on herbal medicine. A sage leaf can be a quick tooth cleaner too! For this lesson we relaxed the afternoon away with cucumber slices on our eyes and the pureed cucumber paste painted on our face.

We tried cooking with coconut oil and decided it was not for us. So with the left over oil we will use it to rid our hands of dry skin. By mixing course raw sugar with the liquid oil and rubbing it on our hands after working hard in the garden. The sugar will be the exfoliant and the oil the moisturiser. Have a go !We use this cream after working in the garden. .

Here is a basic plan for one classes term program Week 1: Preparing and decorating jars to store products – (soak jars to remove any labels, dry each jar. Students can decorate the jars by painting the lids, adding ribbons or making labels for the products). Week 2: Refreshing Orange scrub (Needed: oranges and cornmeal ) Week 3: Cucumber – Honey toner (Needed: Cucumber and honey ) Week 4: Thyme and Fennel seed cleanser (Needed: thyme, fennel seeds, water, lemon ) Week 5: Lavender Hand and Foot Wash (Needed: Lavender, sage, water, lavender oil ) Week 6: Cucumber Hair Drench (Needed: egg, olive oil, cucumber ) Week 7: Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant (Needed: strawberries, olive oil, coarse salt ) Week 8: Coconut hand cream (Needed: Coconut and sugar ) Additional Recipes if Required: Lemon Mint Elbow Bleach (Needed: mint water, lemon ) Cardamom Body scrub (Needed: brown sugar, orange rind, lime rind, water and cardamom oil ) Cinnamon and Ginger Bath Salts (Needed: sea salt, cinnamon, ginger and orange essential oil )

The Skinny On Product Labels
One of the most important things to do when selecting your skin care is to read the label of ingredients! Forget the terms on the front “organic”, “natural” or “fragrance-free” and jump straight to the small print. Here are a few things to stay clear of:
 * **Thimerosol** || Is a mercury-containing preservative. Mercury may cause allergic reactions, skin irritation and adverse effects on the nervous system. Studies have also show that it can affect reproduction. Thimerosol is used as a preservative for products applied in the area of the eye, such as eye drops and contact lens solutions. ||
 * **DMDM Hydantoin, Diazolidinyl Urea and Imidazolidinyl Urea** || Used as preservatives and can release formaldehyde. Formaldehyde is a sensitizer and a proven carcinogen. Exposure to formaldehyde may cause joint pain, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness and loss of sleep. ||
 * **Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate** || A known skin and eye irritant and enhances allergic response to other toxins and allergens. It is used as a lathering agent and detergent, and is present in hundreds of commercial shampoos, body washes, and bubble baths, as well as skin creams and some brands of toothpaste. ||
 * **Benzyl Alcohol and Isopropyl Alcohol** || Both can irritate the skin. They are used as fragrance ingredients as well as preservatives, solvents and anti-foaming agents for lotions, sunscreens, hand sanitizers, sunscreens, and baby wipes. There is also evidence that these two alcohols are neurotoxic. ||
 * **1,4-Dioxane** || Classified by the US Environmental Protection Agency as a probable carcinogen. It is a contaminant in shampoos, body wash, children's bath products and other sudsing cosmetics. 1,4-dioxane is a contaminant and not an ingredient, therefore it does not appear on ingredient labels. ||
 * **Parabens** || This is a preservative that is able to mimic estrogen hormones and has been found in breast tumors. ||
 * **“Fragrance”** || An ambiguous term where many toxic chemicals are hidden under, including synthetic fragrances containing phthalates - a plasticizing material used in polyvinyl chloride PVC which can mess with your endocrine system. ||

So, how do you keep your skin care toxin and chemical-free? It’s simple... go “au naturel!” use some of the ideas above or do it from the inside out.

One of the best ways to promote glowing skin is eat yourself beautiful!! Below are 10 of David Wolfe’s all time favorite beauty-rich foods:

1.Olive Oil & Olives Olives and their oil are one of the highest natural sources of vitamin E, a well known beauty vitamin that nourishes the skin by repairing connective tissue. Olives and their oil are an amazing beauty enhancing food full of vitamins, minerals and healthy fats all working to keep the skin smooth and to boost the immune system. 2.Cucumber Fantastic for cleansing our bodies. The skins of cucumbers are high in silicon although are often grown with pesticides and waxed in stores so it is best to choose organic. 3.Radishes The radish is one of the most rejuvenating foods for our bodies. High in sulfur, silicon and vitamin C. These all play a major role in connective tissue formation and working together to create glowing skin! 4.Hemp Seeds One of the most nutritionally complete foods containing all nine essential amino acids making them exceptionally high in protein whilst also high in omega 3 and 6 fatty acids and minerals. Eat them as a snack, add to a salad or use the hemp oil in your smoothie. 5.Aloe Vera Believed to be a food of long-lasting youth and rapid healing. The anti-inflammatory power in acute inflammation is one of its best known actions. The gel of the Aloe Vera can be used topically or add to your daily juice. 6.Coconut Oil Contains a number of health giving properties including being high in antioxidants, control blood sugar levels, assist the thyroid gland and repair the skin. You can eat it straight, blend into smoothies, use in cooking and on the skin. 7.Avocado Abundant in vitamins and minerals that are crucial to your entire body and especially beneficial for your skin. Particularly high in beta-carotene, lutein, vitamins B6, C, E, K, selenium, zinc, folate, potassium, glutathione and healthy fats to nourish the body and skin. 8.Arugula Highly alkalizing ranking high in sulfur and vitamin A. The perfect combination to help protect skin from sun damage. Vitamin A also helps to inhibit acne. 9.Pumpkin Seeds A wonderful source of B vitamins, many minerals (including zinc), phytonutrients and fatty oils. All of these contributing to their ability to produce clear and glowing skin. They also have anti-parasite properties.

10.Turmeric Considered a restorative food, with strong anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-cancer and anti-microbial characteristics. Well known for its ability to purify blood which is essential for clear skin.