Author Archives: Lili Giglia

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Health, Skincare Tips

What’s In Your Fridge?

Posted on by Lili Giglia
What's in Your Fridge
27
Dec

What’s In Your Fridge?

Contains many All-Natural Goodies
which benefit & assist your body & skin!

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Have you ever thought of opening your fridge to have fun with what’s in there?
We often just associate the fridge with foods and drinks for consumption, but not for the other benefits they may contain.

When my sister and I were in our teens, we used to wait for our parents to leave the house for a few hours before raiding the fridge! Out came the yoghurt, eggs, lemons and more as we experimented with hair treatments, colouring, face masks and girly things. We had some hilarious incidents during these sessions, though often the clean-up was more challenging than the task we were trying to reach.

During my Holistic Skincare Product making Diploma course, we learned about the kinds of ingredients that are contained in Commercial products compared to what we put in our Naturally made products. I have chosen to only use Naturally sourced ingredients as it goes with our Brand, Integrity and stays true to the About Me Story.

A while ago I wrote to my Facebook friends what they could do for a quick remedial way of treating their skin.  I shared this because often we think that we should spend loads of money on expensive Masks and Treatments, which often contain a combination of synthetic chemically made nasties that do more damage than good.  I often say to my customers, if you can read the ingredients without needing a Dictionary, then you’re on the right track!

Typical ingredients found in Commercially bought Masks include: Aqua (Water), Cetearyl alcohol, Glycerin, Kaolin, Magnesium aluminum silicate, Caprylic/capric triglyceride, Rosa damascena flower water, Cera alba (Beeswax), Polysorbate 60, Sorbitan stearate, Urea, Phenoxyethanol, Ceteareth-20, Xanthan gum, Pelargoneum graveolens (Geranium) oil, Parfum (Fragrance), Allantoin, Tocopheryl acetate, Benzoic acid, Althaea officinalis root extract, Dehydroacetic acid, Disodium EDTA, Ethylhexylglycerin, Mannan, Salix alba (White willow) bark extract, Citric acid, Polyaminopropyl biguanide, Potassium sorbate, Sodium benzoate, Citronellol, Coumarin, Eugenol, Geraniol, Butylphenyl methylpropional, Limonene, Linalool, Citral, Dipropylene glycol.

To be safe, just check the ingredients of the products you’re using, especially if you have sensitive skin and are prone to breaking out in red blotches or spots.

To end the year with something fun, here are some tips on taking care of your skin with what’s in your fridge.  Remember to wash your face with warm water before and after applying a face mask as this will help keep your skin clean and allows valuable nutrients to penetrate!

Let’s start with these:

Apple, Grapefruit, Honey, Lemon are all great for adding to your Mask.
Apricot – Fresh or dried is rich in Vitamin A.
Avocado – flesh of the fruit has high oil content, as well as lecithin, Vitamins A and B.
Avocado butter has Vitamins A, B, G and E.
Banana – Rich in Vitamin A, great to mash and put on your face.
Blackberry – use the fruit to make a mask, the leaves in a toner can help refine the pores.
Carrot – Rich in Vitamin A, use the juice with your face mask.
Cucumber – very similar pH to the skin, is soothing, cooling and healing. Use the juice in your face mask and slices on your eyes whilst relaxing;
Eggs – Use the Yolk to make a mask for dry skin and the whites to make it set!
Mayonnaise – the vinegar helps restore the acid balance of the skin whilst the oil is softening and moisturising.  I have found for me, products with Vinegar irritates my sensitive skin, so be careful if yours is the same.
Melon – added to face mask for cooling effect.
Oatmeal – is great added to masks!
Peach – the whole fruit can be used in a face mask.
Strawberries & Tomatoes both have astringent action on the skin, which is great for face mask.
Wheatgerm – Rich in Vitamin A, B and E, used dried for masks.
Yoghurt – Good for removing blackheads, great on your face.

Some other great ingredients for using in masks are: Green Clay, Kaolin Clay, Kelp, Pink Clay and Rhassoul Mud. The benefits of these ingredients is that they draw the impurities from the skin, they are rich in minerals, and are able to deep cleanse the face, body and hair during the mask cleansing process.

We will begin supplying Pink Clay in 2018 as part of our Essentially Lili Range.

Gallery: Fresh Ingredients, Bananas & Oats, Strawberries, Cucumber & Yoghurt, Avocados, Aloe Vera & Pink Clay.

How to Make Your Own Face Mask:

FIRST ONE:
1. Avocado Mask – is an excellent choice for making homemade face masks for dry skin, as it contains a has Vitamins A, B, G and E.  You only need half of the avocado, you can eat the other half and give your skin a boost from the inside as well!
2. Ingredients:½ very ripe, soft avocado &¼ cup honey
3. Directions: Mash the avocado in a bowl, then stir in honey. Apply to skin and leave for 10 minutes. Rinse face with a cool washcloth.

SECOND ONE:
1. Oat Bran Mask – is great added to masks!
2. Ingredients: 1 Tbsp Oat Bran or Oatmeal, 1 Tbsp Yogurt, 1 Tbsp Honey, 1 Teaspoon Olive Oil, 1/8 Teaspoon Bee Pollen (optional).
3. Directions: Combine all ingredients in a small dish, apply to you skin and leave it for 10 minutes or until it is dry. Rinse.Moisturize your skin with a good serum or argon oil.  Store any leftover homemade facial mask in the fridge in a sealed container. It should stay fresh for about one week.

THIRD ONE:
1. Banana, Honey and Oatmeal -For a deep moisturising Facial Treatment!
2. Ingredients:1/2 banana, 1/2 cup oatmeal, 1 Tbsp honey & Water
3. Directions: Cut the banana in half & mash it with a fork.Mix in the oatmeal, add honey & mix well. Then add water & mix until the mask’s consistency is creamy. Apply evenly to clean skin, leave it on for 15, then rinse with warm water and pat your face dry.

FOURTH ONE:
1. Cucumber & Yoghurt Mask – Cucumber has very similar pH to the skin, is soothing, cooling and healing, whilst Natural Yoghurt is good for removing blackheads, great on your face!
2. Remember to put 2 slices of cucumber on your eyes whilst relaxing.
3. Suitable for both oily & dry skin, depending on how you manipulate this versatile fruit!
4. Ingredients: 4 Tbsp of cucumbers mashed & 2 Tbsp Yoghurt.
5. Directions: Combine the mixture. Apply the mixture to your clean skin. Leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse and dry.

LAST ONE:
1. Papaya and Strawberry Mask – Many commercial masks use fruit ingredients.Here you will find a lovely fruity recipe to make for your dry skin, if you can stop yourself from eating it!
2. Get yourself some extra strawberries, and you can make a fruit salad with the other half of the papaya.
3. Ingredients: 2 large fresh strawberries & 1 cooked peach, 1/2 ripe mashed papaya,1 Teaspoon organic honey & 1 Tbsp oatmeal
4. Directions: Place strawberries, peach, papaya, honey in a mixing bowl, and mix until the fruits are blended.Stir in oatmeal a bit at a time until a paste is formed.
5. Apply the mask to the face and leave it for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and finish by applying a good moisturizer.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • What has been your favourite fridge raid ingredients for your face, body or hair?
  • What benefits did you find using them or was it a total disaster?
  • I look forward to hearing your stories and what you’d share that’s not on the list. You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered.Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili 
Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Skincare Tips

Miracles in a Jar

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Miracles in A Jar
10
Dec

Miracles in a Jar

Resolve issues without side effects,
whilst soothing, restoring, hydrating
& giving back your confidence.

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Have you ever just wanted to look like the Super Model advertising the brand of skincare, makeup, clothing, and hair products? Have you ever thought to yourself, ‘If I buy that, I will look like them?’ Well, that’s what I used to do when I was a teenager, covered from head to thighs in weeping and bleeding Eczema.

I remember feeling hideous and noticing that people stared at me, a LOT. It made me feel insecure and lacking confidence, as I tried to go about my business unnoticed.

During my youth, I used all sorts of medications, cortisone, antibiotics, natural treatments, suction cups, Chinese & Herbal medicines, Acupuncture, exercise, Naturopaths, Homeopathy, and finally Aromatherapy. When I suggest to my customers, ‘I know what you mean, I have tried a lot of methods to find a solution’, I’m definitely not kidding.

I imagine what it would have been like if someone had given my parents a small ‘Pot of Magic’ when I was growing up.How that may have changed my life, my experiences, my confidence, and ultimately how I felt about myself. To think how being ill can have such a debilitating effect on our self-esteem, we can only really overcome this with the love and support of family & friends.

For me, the all-natural Nourishing Face Balm has kept my skin free of Eczema, dryness, irritation and redness.It keeps me moisturised all year round despite the weather conditions.
During the Swiss winters, my skin is soft and fresh, whilst the summers, it’s hydrated and nourished even after a day out in the sun.It’s definitely maintained the youthfulness of my own skin as I approach the next ‘decade’, more so than when I was in my teens.

Now let’s fast forward to the past few years of making miracles in a jar.I try not to give high expectations in case people are disappointed, so I try to be a bit more realistic idea of when they should see results. What I love is when the results come even faster than what I was anticipating!The first testimonials were from women using my Signature product Nourishing Face Balm. It had calmed Rosacea for women almost overnight, and for others, it had cleared Eczema and redness around the nose area very quickly.

I initially made Renew Balm for Eczema and Oasis Balm for Psoriasis for a lady who was suffering in Albania. I asked friends of mine to translate the ingredients and instructions in order for her to understand what to do with the products. Apparently she tried it once and gave up.

Unsure if the product was good or not, I sampled out what I had to others. The feedback for the Renew Balm was mixed between those that had quick results and others who didn’t’ want to persist with trying. Oasis Balm I used myself to moisturise my hands, when another lady based in Switzerland asked if she could have some.I sent her the remaining 5ml sample pot and waited. The next day, she posted before and after photos of the Psoriasis that was on her elbows which had almost disappeared. The transformation was so evident, it was hard to believe the difference was from the night before. This 5ml sample was enough to change not only her life but that of her father’s in Ireland. I was more than delighted for her that the product had worked so quickly!

Another lady asked me about the Cool Eyes which contains the Cucumber Oil and Myrrh Essential Oil.The Cucumber smells so fresh whilst the Myrrh is thick and gooey like molasses.
I explained how to use the Cool Eyes in the mornings around the eye frames.

Soon after obtaining it and applying it, she told me that she had the skin condition around the eyes called Milia. Milium cysts are like a small white bump that can appear on the nose and cheeks around the eyes. They occur when keratin becomes trapped beneath the surface of the skin. This condition had gone down since using the Cool Eyes. I was chuffed with that result. Another customer wrote that the Cool Eyes prevented her eyes from being irritated like other products and brands had.

I made Evanesce Balm to help someone who suffered with Acne spots and breakouts on their back.
Knowing it would be difficult to apply the Magic Serum in some parts of the body, I wrote the recipe for Evanesce Balm, choosing a positive name which means to ‘disappear’ like Magic! I sent the product abroad and waited for feedback – I am not sure the product was used consistently to get the results. Others asked if I had something to help with Acne, and the sampling began again. The feedback came rather quickly – cyst type acne had cleared up, persistent spots reduced and breakouts kept under control. The age group ranged from 10 to 30s, as the ingredients were gentle enough for a youngster’s skin, as well as those who seem to be going through postnatal hormonal changes too.

Go Molly came about when a friend asked if I could help with Flying Warts, otherwise known as Molluscum contagious. I kept visualising how I would apply this if it were on me and thus the instructions for the application came about. With persistence, my friend applied as much as her child would let her. And they slowly but surely vanished. Another mum heard about the product and got a bottle for her twins and applied as much as she could. These poor kids had been going to get them cut off for over 1 year and she was beyond sick of this condition.A few weeks later she called and asked for another bottle and brought the kids for me to meet.
Raising his T-Shirt to show me, there were only a few left on his tummy – the rest had disappeared.

For me, the best part of what I do is helping others.I love researching and writing recipes for the products I make in order to help the people who ask me for help. Sometimes I get it right the first time, whilst other times I have to keep blending until the consistency of what I want is reached. The feedback and reviews together with the messages asking how to apply when the original instruction doesn’t work are all part of what I offer.It makes me feel happy knowing there is one less person with low self-esteem, yet one MORE who has found confidence and a glow.

After-all, isn’t that what life should be about? Being able to face whatever challenges you have, with your best foot forward, knowing that how you feel on the inside is mirrored on the outside.

So if you need a boost in your confidence, get your miracle in a jar from here: whether it’s for your dry cracked feet, Acne Rosacea, Irritated skin, for your kids and their delicate faces, or just because you want something that is all-natural. Should you want to discuss further, you can book a Consultation session for a holistic approach to well-being.

Gallery: Oasis Balm, Samples, Frankincense & Myrrh, Go Molly, Psoriasis before and after.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

    • Have you tried any of the Essentially Lili Products and found your miracle?
    • Would you love to share your story?
    • If you could have a product made to help resolve a condition, what would it be for?

I would love to be able to help so make sure you let me know.  You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered. Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Skincare Tips

Fusion of Essential Oils

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Fusion of Essential Oils
12
Nov

Fusion of Essential Oils

That uplifted & take you
on a sensory journey to another location!

I love to experiment with the Essential Oils I have, but don’t use enough.We often hear a lot about ingredients like Lavender and Frankincense, but not necessarily others like Lemongrass or Jasmine.

Whilst making my customer’s products, I decided to make myself something new using Grapefruit White, Lemongrass and Jasmine.The Vegetable Oils selected also keep the skin hydrated, are rich in Vitamins and help conditions like varicose veins. I called it Jazz Body Butter but this could change depending on the vote from my customers.

Mine and my husband’s instant reaction was that it has an Asian fusion that smelt a lot like yummy Thai food.   He was worried about this new product being the replacement of his other favourite Mint Body Butter.  He loves how it smells like Aero Bar and using the product feels like smothering yourself in chocolate.The best part of using these body butter is that it melts onto the skin as soon as it’s in contact with your skin.

The benefits of using the Body Butters is that they contain Vegetable Oils that are rich in vitamins
A, B, C, E and Omega 6 Fatty Acids and Lecithin. Wouldn’t you love to use a body butter that helps your skin repair as well as keep it nourished? The ingredients chosen for the 2 body butters also help with Varicose Veins which is a bonus.

I also decided to change the blend of the Hemp Hands.  It was originally made with Vanilla and Macadamia, which sounds delish like an ice-cream combo. But I wasn’t sure it was the right blend for this product.  What I love is asking my Customers what they think and what they would like to have in their products.  And just like that – out went Vanilla and Macadamia whilst n came Rose, Palmarosa and Rosemary to make the Rosey Hemp Hands products.

For Kids, I made the Natural Baby Moisturising Oil which has a gentle combination including Lavender which can be applied from face to feet. The ingredients are chosen help nourish the skin as also have the antiseptic properties for cuts and rashes they may have to overcome. The other product I have for Newborn babies is the Happy Babies Hydrosol which is made using Aloe Vera and floral Hydrolats. This product helps soothe and calm skin issues like baby rashes which are common during their early years.

Sometimes, all-natural products behave according to the weather: When it’s super cold, they can become hard, solid and difficult to apply; When it’s very hot, they can become soft and often runny. But being resourceful, we just need to think outside the box when trying to apply these!

Clean hands is a must for applying our products!Using your thumbnail to remove the balms is the other suggestion as it’s the best way to apply any of the Essentially Lili all-natural skincare products to your face, hands, feet and body!Your thumbnail allows you to apply throughout the day without needing to carry around a spatula!!

When I’m travelling in the summertime, I have found my products can become super soft from the heat. o if you are travelling by plane, keep your Essentially Lili products with your checked in luggage as it will remain cooler in the hold. I usually keep my sample pots in my carry-on luggage as it’s small enough to reapply during the flight and prevent my skin from dehydrating. When I arrive at the destination, I put my jars and sample pots into the fridge at the hotel/apartment/resort. Not only will the products re-set, but they will be lovely and cool when you need to reapply after being out in the sun all day.

When the weather is too cold, they can become solid and hard.The solution for the kid’s product is to run the bottom of the jar under warm running water to soften the Cocoa Butter and then give it a good shake. Sometimes, the product clogs the inner tube – so I suggest that you remove it, rinse it out, dry it and then re-insert it.

The best thing about all-natural products are that whilst I am making them fresh, they will not be tainted with other chemical or synthetic ingredients. Unlike commercially made products that are made to squeeze out with the same consistency, all-natural products that are untainted do what they should do ‘ naturally’.So when you receive your products, they will hopefully arrive quickly and without being stuck under a heater in the Post-Person’s delivery van which can make them look like a tsunami!

But if they do, just remember you can put your products in the fridge to re-set them!

Gallery: Jazz Body Butter, Jasmine, Peppermint Leaves, Evolution Jazz Body Butter, Rosey Hemp Hands Samples

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • If you had to choose between Peppermint and Lemongrass, which would you prefer?
  • If you had to rename Jazz Body Butter, what would you suggest?
  • Some of the choices were Asian Fusion, Fusion Body Butter, and White Jasmine which is a play on the 3 Essential oils! We would love to hear your suggestions … don’t be shy!

    Should you wish to contact us for more information about our All-Natural Products, please send me an email info@essentiallylili.com

    You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered. Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Friendship, Skincare Tips

New Beginnings & Overcoming Stress

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Moving Ess Lili Office
29
Oct

New Beginnings &
Overcoming Stress

Can be both exciting & irritating,
though being open-minded
Helps resolution!

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New beginnings can be quite overwhelming especially if you are concerned about what adventure is about to commence. Whether it is the expansion of your family with the addition of a little one, moving house to a new town or country, starting a new school, or commencing a new job.  There is a mix of emotions and feelings, from excitement to nervousness, all which can play havoc in our minds and lives.

When we bring home our newborn babies and try to fit very quickly into the role of ‘super mum/dad/parent’, we soon realise that there is only so much we can do around the needs of our infants.  Sleep deprivation makes us parents exhausted and sometimes cranky or grumpy.It’s not that we mean to be unpleasant – it’s just that we are not coping well with trying to make a perfect environment.

One of the first things to give way during times of stress is usually our sleep.  Have you ever woke up in the middle of the night having a panic or anxiety attack?  These attacks consume your energy as they keep your adrenalin pumping when you should be resting instead.

Whilst living in Zurich, we moved apartments from a lovely international community to another location.  It meant our child changed school and was having to start all over with trying to fit in again. She was the target of bullies, getting picked on by kids who were taller than me.We notice the personality change, the not wanting to go to school, fussing over what to wear, and pretending to feel ill, all so that she wouldn’t have to go to school.  Has that happened to you and your child? If so, more than likely there is something else going on at the school, and it’s worth being present to see for yourself, which is what I did.

It was during this period of time I was making my blends for Congestion with the Kids Breathe Easy Concentrate and Breathe Easier Concentrate, as well as the Blissful Minds for headaches which comes in Concentrated form as well as Inhaler.

I decided to make my child her own blend of Pick Me Up to help relax and clear her head when overcome with Anxiety.  She kept her inhaler in her pencil case so that she always had it with her. Containing Cedarwood, Frankincense and Lavender these Essential Oils help relieve her mind when inhaled through the deep breathing technique.  For Adults, the ingredients included Vetiver which is stronger for calming and relaxing our nerves when they get stressed.

This year for us has been one with many challenges. We faced a whole lot of uncertainty with our young family and future plans.We all tried to keep a level of normality at home for the sake of our kids.But we had moments of epic failure as the stress levels became too much for all of us to bare at times.  For us we had the stress of finding a new place to live in a short space of time, trying to keep the kids motivated at school whilst dealing with the main factors for our anxiety.

When we found the place to live, we packed and moved as quickly as possible, whilst continuing to keep in touch with customers and their needs.I sometimes think how did we manage with such little support and help?Besides adrenalin and our parental instincts to protect our loved ones, we keep pushing on til it was all done.

Friendships can also become estranged during stressful times.  More so if there is little understanding between friends about what is really going on in the life of the other person.I remember a wise person saying, ‘Unless you walk in the shoes of the person who is going through their crisis, you should never judge them.’The reality is true, for it is only when you find out what their journey is about, will you understand the crisis they are enduring and the stress they are trying to overcome.

During our periods of stress and anxiety, I was unable to focus on anything other than making products for my customers.Studies stopped for a period of time until I began working again in July. It was during my studies on Stress Management that I wished I had read the course material to help me deal with our periods of anxiety.  Whilst reading my materials, I performed the breathing, visualising and calming techniques which relaxed me so much I almost fell asleep.This form of relaxing the body completely is extremely powerful and it gave me the energy to complete the next parts of my Diploma courses.

I remember going to dinner with some mum friends of mine who just kept asking ‘What are you going to do?’ And all I could say was ‘I don’t know, yet’.   Feels like a lifetime ago but one thing I can say is that we eventually got through that period of time, unscathed.

Stress is always part of our lives, despite trying our best to be the positive energy for our family and others around us. Sometimes we have to take ‘stock’ of what’s beyond our control, what is really worth losing sleep over and what isn’t. But most of all, is having that person or group of friends who keep you grounded, focused, encouraged and make you feel supported when things are not going as planned.Often that is what we need most – an encouraging word and a hug from a friend or loved one.

I have been fortunate these past few months to have those few who just say I wasn’t ok and reached out to me.For them, I’m really grateful and hope that I am always there for them in return.

Gallery:  Anxiety Inhalers, First Day of School, Breathe Easier Inhalers, Friendship Concentrated Serum.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

Have you suffered from Anxiety and Stress that has kept you losing sleep?
Have you found techniques that helped you overcome these?
Would you be interested in learning more about the stress relief techniques I am currently studying?

Should you wish to contact us for more information about our All-Natural Products, please send me an email info@essentiallylili.com

You can read more About Lili here, see the range of Products on offer at Shop Categories or refer to our Blog Library for more topics covered.Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili