Tag Archives: Bergamot

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Skincare Tips

Neroli Fit for a Princess

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Unsplash Citrus Spa
04
May

Neroli Fit for a Princess

The orange tree essence used by the

Duchess of Bracciano & Princess of Nerola, Italy.

Image – Unsplash Citrus Spa Treatment

QR BLOG MAY2023

Neroli Essential oil (Citrus aurantium) had been used for centuries in Ancient Egypt, where the priests and priestesses included it in their spiritual worship rituals and physical aspects, like incense is used in churches today.  Neroli Essential Oil is associated with being in love, romance, often used for Chinese weddings, as it symbolises omens for purity, fruitfulness, fertility and moral virtue.   Ancient Chinese used it in their wedding bouquets, where eligible bachelors used the ‘collection of orange blossoms’ when looking for a wife.  It was also traded in both Egypt and China for its medicinal benefits.

The bitter orange was originally grown in Tunisia and Northern Africa, before being cultivated in France and throughout the Mediterranean regions. Today it’s also grown in parts of Florida and California USA.

Why is Neroli fit for a Princess? By the end of the 17th Century, Anne Marie Orsini, the French born woman who became the Duchess of Bracciano & Princess of Nerola in Italy was using this orange essential oil as perfume. She would add it to her baths and onto her gloves. ‘Neroli’ became the name to describe the essence as a result.

Fun Fact:  To create just one kilogram of this wonderfully deep and intoxicating mix of citrus with floral aromas, over one thousand kilograms of hand-picked flowers need to be collected. By-products of the Citrus tree’s fruit include Orange flower absolute from the peels, Neroli Essential oil from steam-distilling the small, white, waxy flowers, Orange blossom water from the steam distillation process, and the leaves yielding Petitgrain oil.

Gallery: Unsplash Image Heather Barnes. Edgar Castrejon Citrus, Chelsea Shapouri Citrus, Neroli Orange Blossom.

How beneficial is Neroli Essential Oil for our Health?

There are many wonderful benefits from using Neroli Essential Oil.  It contains a super strong floral smell which contains a number of fantastic elements.  Let me share some of them:

Skin Repairer & Rejuvenator – Neroli Essential oil is known for its capacity to regenerate skin cells, together with improving its elasticity. Included in Essentially Lili’s Ladies range of skincare products, it is extremely beneficial for maintaining and invigorating your cells.  It aids prevention of wrinkles, scars and stretch marks, treating bacterial conditions and rashes.  These include Frankincense Face Serum, Diamond Era Balm, Cool Eyes and Tango Twinkle Toes.

Antimicrobial & Antioxidants – Neroli Essential oil has both antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, which allows it to kill microorganisms and stop growth of their bacterial agents.

Reducing Inflammation & Pain – studies conducted and written about in the Journal of Natural Medicines found its’ ability to diminish chronic & acute inflammation, as well as the sensitivity to that irritation.

Using Neroli Oil as part of your regular day:

Purify the air in your home – add a few drops to your diffuser to clean the air and inhale the anti-germ properties it contains.

Clear Your Head & Reduce stress – adding a few drops to your warm bath can aid lowering anxiety & stress, or inhaling Neroli before a hectic journey could give you a more pleasant perspective.

Helping you to sleep – put a few drops on a cotton ball and slip it inside your pillow case for a relaxing wonderful night’s sleep.

Skincare magic – seeing that it contains strong antibacterial composition, it’s able to treat acne breakouts gently, whilst regenerating skin cells.

Neroli Essential Oil is contained in the Frankincense Face Serum and Cool Eyes to help repair and maintain the youthful appearance of your skin.

Remember, whenever you’re applying essential oils directly to your skin, ensure that it’s diluted with a vegetable oil like Coconut, Jojoba or Apricot.  Use this on your skin, on stretch marks or broken capillaries to help reduce their appearance.   It’s often used with other citrus oils like Bergamot, Orange and Petitgrain.

Summarising the benefits of Neroli Oil:  It’s quite easy to see why Anne Marie Orsini, the Duchess of Bracciano & Princess of Nerola, Italy, loved using the orange essence in her baths and on her gloves.   

Neroli is used quite a lot in Aromatherapy as its properties can reduce feelings of anxiety and stress, increasing a peacefulness and calm.   The rejuvenating oil contains a natural chemical called Citral, which is the main element found in citrus fruit’s peel oil, particularly orange peel.  This is what helps to regenerate cells, promoting growth and restoration. For this reason, it is said to be very good at preventing and minimising stretch marks, whilst the antiseptic & antibacterial properties balance oil production, guard against breakouts, shrinks enlarged pores without drying the skin, revives its appearance and keeps it clean.   It helps treat oily, sensitive and mature skin as Neroli is great for smoothing fine lines and toning sagging skin.

‘Why I love making Essentially Lili All-Natural Skincare Products’.

About Lili Essentially Lili  – My Health Studies include from 2016-2019 Diplomas in Aromatherapy, Holistic Skincare Products, Clinical Nutrition, Stress Management, Reflexology, Holistic Pain Management, and a Member of International College of Holistic Medicine.  I’m currently studying Clinical Nutrition for Over 50s.

My aim is to help you get the results you want as I have already been on that hard journey to overcome the autoimmune disorder. If you wish to know more about Clinical Nutrition and how to kick start your health, book a private Consultation. Please send an email  should you need further assistance.

At Essentially Lili, the products made are all using 100% Natural Ingredients. See the wide variety of Products which are available on the webpage.

Should you need help in deciding, start by reading the Reviews & Testimonials about other Customers who have enjoyed using the products.   We have had some amazing Before & After results from Clients using the All-Natural Skincare products. Please don’t forget to write your comments and reviews on our pages to share the love with others.

See the Blog Library for previous writings.  These include topics like Face Mapping, Dry Skin in Winter, Anguish of Acne/Rosacea, How to deal with Cystic Acne & Understanding Your Body.  Your feedback allows us to improve the content and information provided and products made.

Always love hearing from you, your feedback and reviews.  With Love Essentially Lili.

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Skincare Tips

The Shocking news about sunscreens

Posted on by Lili Giglia
SunProtection
05
Jul

The shocking news
about Sunscreens

Where well-known Brands
contain ingredients that can
cause more harm than good whilst
attempting to ‘protect’ your family’s skin.

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The shocking news about known brand sunscreens, the ingredients which can bring more harm than good whilst ‘protecting’ your skin. And this is what makes buying sunscreen can be so hard to buy. What do you look for when choosing sun protection for you and your family? Do you go for what’s familiar, a popular brand, something you heard or recommended? It can be so difficult, almost as bad as asking your kids to choose only one type of sweet in the candy store!! There are so many colourful options, funky names, and functionality which makes selecting even harder than choosing based on the SP Factor.

I recently posted a pic of my Sun Kissed Balm which was originally made for a fair-skinned friend of mine who was bothered by the sunspots discolouration that appeared on her face after holidaying in Spain. Apparently, she hadn’t applied sunblock or sunscreen to her face causing different tones to appear which didn’t make her happy.

Of course, when I take on the challenge to make a new product, I do my research about what I’m trying to achieve. For me, choosing the ingredients based on their benefits and the overall outcome is most important before I create the small sample batch. It’s necessary to note that some ingredients are best used at night time only, as they can make your skin super-sensitive when exposed to the sun,

In the last blog I wrote Getting Ready for Summer I explained how it’s not only wise but crucial to ensure your skin is protected before going outside and being subjected to the sun’s UV Rays. When growing up in Australia, the advertising campaigns were all about that gorgeous golden tan which made one appear healthy.This was before we knew better about the sun’s harmful rays, the Ozone layer and skin cancer. Today, the children in Aussie schools are not allowed to enter the playground unless they’re wearing a hat and sunscreen.It’s where the slogan ‘Slip Slop and Slap’ came from – Slip on a T-Shirt, Slop on some sunscreen and Slap on a hat.

Sometimes we forget to apply, can’t be bothered, or just don’t put enough sunscreen to protect ourselves. The risks of the skin burning and developing other complicated issues increase for those with lighter tones or less melanin. Despite my being of Sicilian background with an olive complexion, my normally non-tanned skin becomes extremely golden brown with blonde, whilst our kids, with their Italian and North Indian blend, obtain a rich gorgeous colour in the summertime. (If only I scored the tall genes as they did from their dad!) Irrespective of our natural genetic skin tone, we still apply sun protection before heading out to prevent burning, damaging or accelerating the aging of our skin.

Moderate doses of naturally sourced Vitamin D from the sunshine are beneficial for our overall health. Standing under sunlight for 5 to 30 minutes at least twice a week should be sufficient to naturally get what’s needed. And only 10 minutes of sunshine will help your body produce approximately 10,000 units of natural Vitamin D.

The other option is to eat foods that are rich in Vitamin D. The benefits of Vitamin D include boosting your brain’s health, keeping your bones strong, improving the function of your immune system, and assisting with managing weight. Foods that are rich in Vitamin D include:
• From Fish: Cod Liver Oil, Wild Salmon, Tuna Fish, Sardines and Mackerel;
• Fortified Cereal and Milk;
• Mushrooms;
• Eggs;
• For the brave, Beef Liver and Caviar.
• Note: Vitamin D deficiency has been linked to other serious conditions, like depression, heart disease, certain cancers, osteoporosis, and autoimmune concerns.

We need to make sure we’re not over-exposing ourselves to the sun and therefore preventing ourselves from burning red raw like a lobster. This can increase our risks of skin cancer (Melanoma) , which can happen to anyone.It’s necessary to be aware of what’s happening to your skin, preventing sun damage and excessive burning. Did you know that some of the ingredients contained in sunscreens can actually encourage skin cancer?

The Environmental Working Group (EWG)’s recent 2019 Sunscreen report showed that almost 2 out of 3 sunscreens bought in the USA contained worrying ingredients that are easily absorbed by the body. Within a day or so of using these particular sunscreens, high levels of the chemicals contained can be traced in the bloodstream. Approximately half of the sunscreens sold in the USA not only contain these harmful ingredients, but don’t work at all, or fail to provide protection from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays. This same 50 % of sunscreens sold in the USA with insufficient UVA ray protection would NOT be allowed in Europe. This means that 3 times more UVA rays are being transferred through the skin in comparison to the brands that are available in Europe.

Why does this matter? The damage your skin endures with UVA rays is invisible whilst aging and suppressing the immune system. Over-exposure increases the risk of developing various forms of melanoma and carcinoma (which is a malignant tumor or cancer which begins in the lining of the internal organs or skin tissue.) Despite our skin protection, these SP Factor products are still allowing us to be exposed to large amounts of UVA.

Choosing a ‘perfect sunscreen’ will be extremely difficult as many contain harmful ingredients, nanoparticles which can pass through the blood but also damage life in the waters (lakes/sea). Usually, a product like soap is washed off soon after its application, but sunscreen is absorbed and reapplied throughout the day, remaining on the skin for a long time. Some US brands have ingredients like Oxybenzone which is known as an endocrine disruptor and acts like an Oestrogen in the body. This has been linked to conditions like endometriosis in women or abnormal sperm functionality in men . This same ingredient can affect coral reefs, in which the Hawaiian state took the opportunity to ban oxybenzone in sunscreens to protect their sea-life. Others like Retinyl palmitate, a type of Vitamin A can not only affect the skin but could lead to skin cancers.

The last 12 years have seen an increase in mineral sunscreens that according to the EWG are rated safer and block UVA rays better than those sunscreens with chemicals. Therefore, choosing safer sunscreens together with prevention, covering yourself with a hat and T-Shirt, and enjoying the shade are also methods to prevent being over-exposed to the sun.

In summary, some of the crazy sunscreen ingredient risks are:
•They are loaded with Hormones like Oxybenzone;
• They can cause allergic reactions
• Vitamin A which should be avoided includes Retinol or Retinyl Palmitate/Acetate/Linoleate as these can affect our hair’s growth, the liver, cause our nails to become brittle, osteoporosis or hip fractures for older adults;
• The higher the SP Factor doesn’t necessarily mean there’s more protection from being burnt by UV rays;
• The Sprays can be inhaled, or areas missed when trying to cover the skin.

To read more, please check out the link to the EWG Org Sunscreens 2019 Comprehensive list here.

Images include Best Sunscreens of 2019 & Most Toxic Sunscreens to Avoid.

Best Sunscrens List
Most Toxic Sunscreens Jul19 v2

Should your skin develop any kinds of sun spots that are aggressive in their appearance, get them checked out by a Doctor as soon as possible. Whilst prevention is best, early detection and medical attention can speed up the healing and recovery process. Please don’t ever just look at holistic alternatives but rather seek professional expert advice first.

Remember to also stay hydrated, switch your outing experience around by moving to the shade for cooling off. This will give your whole being a break from too much sunshine and heat.

In the evenings, take care of your skin afterwards too, a gentle scrub to remove the traces of sunscreen and rehydrating with moisturising product.  We have a few products to help hydrate your skin – Geranium Hands & Body, Jazz Body Butter and Mint Body Butter.  Check the ingredients to find the one best suited for you and your family.

Note that a lot of known body wash brands also contain harmful ingredients which are readily absorbed by the skin and transported into the bloodstream.

If your skin has developed sunspots, or changes in the tone, check out the Sun Kissed Balm . This product was made to help re-balance the discoloured tone of the skin which had been altered from being in the sun. It’s best used at night time as Bergamot Essential Oil can cause your skin to become more sensitive to the sun, if used during the day.

Having gone through the list of good vs bad sunscreens, I was happy to see the All Good sunblock for the face was included. The other is Goddess Garden sunscreen which was delivered today.

Should you wish to get some Sunblock or Sunscreen, I have 2 of each brand new and spare.  Just message me and I can help create a special order for you. It will include a portion of the delivery cost to save you money ordering yourself.

Images: Sunscreens we’re using, Hands & Body Products, Sun Kissed Balm, Nourishing Face Balm, Lavender Spike.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • Have you read the EWG Report about their shocking findings?
  • Did you ditch your previous brands and replace with a new one on the list? 
  • Have you dealt with sunspots and discolouration, and if so, what did you do to treat them?
  • Would you be interested in trying Sunscreen made by Essentially Lili?
  • Feel free to comment and share your personal stories below.
  • For the Latest list of Sunscreens from EWG: 2020 Best Sunscreens list

About Lili & Essentially Lili

My Health Studies include from 2016-2019 Diplomas in Aromatherapy, Holistic Skincare Products, Clinical Nutrition, Stress Management, Reflexology, Holistic Pain Management. I’m a Member of International College of Holistic Medicine. I’m currently studying Clinical Nutrition for Over 50s.

My aim is to help you get the results you want as I have already been on that hard journey to overcome the autoimmune disorder. If you wish to know more about Clinical Nutrition and how to kick start your health, book a private Consultation. Please send an email to info@essentiallylili.com should you need further assistance.  At Essentially Lili, the products made are all using 100% Natural Ingredients.  See the wide variety of Products available on the webpage.

Shou ldyou need help in deciding, start by reading the Reviews & Testimonials about other Customers who have enjoyed using the products.  We have had some amazing Before & After results from Clients using the All-Natural Skincare products.  Please don’t forget to write your comments and reviews on our pages to share the love with others.

See the Blog Library for previous writings about Alopecia Areata, Face Mapping, Dry Skin in Winter, Raiding Your Fridge, Keratosis Pilaris Tips, Anguish of Acne/Rosacea, How to deal with Cystic Acne & Understanding Your Body. Your feedback allows us to improve the content and information provided and products made.

We look forward to hearing from you, With Love Essentially Lili x

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Skincare Tips

Essential Oils Can Help With Stress

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Essential Oils Help Stress
22
Feb

Essential Oils
can Help With Stress

Essential Oils can help with stress
related symptoms, their amazing
properties have many benefits for our health. 

QR BLOGFEB18

Today our lives are becoming more stressful as we try to juggle the demands of our homes and work environments. Whether or not we have children added to the mix, if the home & work life is not balanced, the stress levels can overwhelm us.  Whilst we may not notice at the beginning, the effects of stress will start to take its toll on our Holistic being: our body and health, our mind and spirit.

Symptoms of stress can affect us in various ways.Some of us suffer from various kinds of Headaches or Migraines, whilst others could have stress related Digestive issues. Often our sleep is disrupted, making us irritable towards others. No-one wants to become a yukky version of themselves, especially towards our loved ones.Stress can make you feel frustrated, angry and sometimes like you have no control. Stress can cause us to have itchy skin, whilst in some cases, it can develop into more severe disorders like Eczema & Psoriasis.Let’s look into these with a little more detail:

Headache can include Migraine, Tension, Sugar, or Sinus related thumping heads.
• Migraine headaches can be worsened when stressed, going through hormonal changes, suffering anxiety, or feeling deprived of sleep.These types of headaches can also make us feel nauseous.
• Tension headaches can be caused by stress, bad posture, eating irregularly, withdrawing from caffeine consumption, not sleeping well, straining your eyes from prolonged computer use or watching telly.
• Sugar headaches can commence when your blood sugars are too low.
• Sinus headaches can commence from the season changes, pollen, congestion, making us feel stuffy. Often the symptoms can be so awful that we cannot breathe, our eyes itch and face can swell from the discomfort.

What I love about Essential Oils is that these concentrated natural blessings have so many amazing properties, and when used correctly, they can bring wonderful results.

Essential oils like Rosemary, Peppermint, Eucalyptus, Chamomile, and Lavender are soothing, uplifting and provide relief for these kinds of Headaches. See more about the benefits of the Essential Oils on our Ingredientspage.As the blended concoction enters our blood stream, the Essential Oils which have anti-viral, antiseptic, sedative and anti-depressant properties can relieve and calm the systems.

Blended with a carrier oil, they can be inhaled with a travel inhaler to help bring instant relief when the symptoms arise. Or they can be massaged to the chest, the temples of your head, back of your neck and tips of your nose for inhalation, or they can be added to a warm, relaxing bath to have a pampering spa session. Just be aware that some Essential Oils are unsuitable for Kids, Expecting, and Nursing Mums.

Gallery: How Essential Oils can help With Stress: Aromasticks, Ylang Ylang, Kids & Adults Breathe Easy, Herbs to Eat & Can Be Found as Essential Oils, Jasmine Flowers.

Our Blissful Minds blend was made considering that kids can get headaches too. It consists of Jasmine, Lavender, Rosemary, Frankincense & Roman Chamomile in Apricot Oil, making this product suitable for kids and Mums as well as for the bath, providing relief all year round before the symptoms become too strong.

For those who are getting headaches, fatigue and hot flushes due to the Menopausal stage of their lives, a stronger blend of Essential Oils called Changing Seasons has been made to assist. The Concentrated Serum can be used in the bath or directly onto the skin at various points, or the Inhaler can be kept in your bag to use when the symptoms arise.

For Stress that affects our digestion, we need to ensure that we watch what we eat.Cut back on those foods that aggravate your system like chilies and spices, as well as foods that are high in sugars which can cause your gut to become sluggish.Drink plenty of water to help flush out your bodies. Marjoram Essential Oil is closely related to Oregano, which is a highly concentrated source that promotes bioactive compounds. It also helps keep your heart healthy.Other Essential Oils that can assist with a sluggish digestive system are Coriander, Ginger, Nutmeg and Tarragon. Blended with a Carrier oil, these can be applied to the tummy area to bring relief. Though eating fresh in a soup would not only be a delicious alternative, but it would bring quick relief to your digestion.

Note: Only a Clinical Aromatherapist should be able to instruct ingesting Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils. Please seek a professional’s assistance if you choose to ingest Essential Oils.

Stress affecting our sleep keeps our minds ticking all night, stopping us from getting the rest we need. Insomnia is when we find it hard to fall asleep, or we lay awake for too long. If this happens 3 nights per week, for 3 months or more, it would be considered as chronic.Whilst sleeping pills can be considered for a short-term solution, they can have other side effects over a longer period including feelings of drowsiness.Alternatively, natural sleep aids with little or no side effects would be better in the long run. Some of the symptoms for sleep deprivation include: • Finding it difficult to fall asleep when you lie down;
• Being unable to stay asleep throughout the night;
• Waking up too early and having trouble going back to sleep;
• Feeling low in energy, tired or fatigued when you wake up;
• Not feeling like you have had any rest when you get up;
• Feeling irritable, aggressive or moody throughout the day;
• Finding it hard to concentrate at work/school;
• Your work/school relationships can become affected by feeling cranky and overtired.

Essential Oils blended in a carrier oil can be used in the home with diffusers or Aromasticks to assist in making the mood more pleasant at home. Blending Lavender, Bergamot, Mandarin, Ylang Ylang are amongst those Essential Oils which can help your sleeping patterns with time.  Using these in an Inhaler to reduce the Anxiety levelscan also bring calmness to the mind when you are on the go.

For more information about the Congestion & Sinuses products, we make Concentrated Serums which parents have been using in the bath to help their little ones with congestion and coughs. The carrier oil makes the products safe to use in the bath, which are Kids Breathe Easy Concentrate and Adults Breathe Easy Concentrate is the stronger blend with Peppermint & Vetiver. This has helped my husband snore less at night time when I have been able to place the concentrated serum on the tip of his nose which equals Happy Wife!

The Pick Me Up (Adults & Kids) Anxiety Inhalers will be available on the webpage soon. The blend will help calm the nerves when feeling overwhelmed, anxious and stressed out.

Lastly on the list is when Stress affects our skin. Our hormones can become imbalanced as the blood flow to our skin, hair, teeth and throughout the body can be somewhat hindered. A common reaction to stress is Eczema, Acne, Hives, Psoriasis, Rosacea, gum disease and hair loss. Being aware of when our body is not reacting well is key to getting back in control.  A lot of times, controlling the foods we eat can affect our body’s recovery process.

Essentials blended with Butters and Vegetable Oils that are rich in Vitamins and healing properties are a wonderful way to bring relief and restoration to skin that has been affected by stress.In our Skin Assistance category, we have a range of products suitable for Kids to Adults for Eczema, Dry Skin, Rosacea, Psoriasis (including the scalp). We have had some amazing Before & After results using the All-Natural Skincare products, which have been shared on the Reviews & Testimonials’. Some of our Happy Customers have been featured at the beginning of the Testimonials page, which is awesome. If you wish to be included, please send me a recent picture of yourself without makeup with your testimonial.

You can also refer to the previous Blog: Understanding Your Body for the signs before they manifest in your body, as they will need a longer time period to resolve.

Note: I will be working on making a Blend this year to aid digestion as well as a balm to help with menstrual pains.Let me know if these kinds of products would interest you.

Should you want help to get the long term results you want, Book a Consult Therapist and check out the variety of Products online.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

  • How has Stress affected you?
  • What signs does your body give when you are coming down with symptoms of stress?
  • What do you do to help overcome it?
  • 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