Tag Archives: Nourishing Face Balm

Brand, Essentially Lili Products, Skincare Tips

Summer Time & Sun Protection

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Summer Time - Sun Protection
16
Aug

Summer Time &
Sun Protection

Get your fill of Vitamin D,
rest & recharge your energy levels!

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We all love the summertime – well most of us do!It gives us a chance to chill, relax, spend time with our family and friends, and change our daily scenery.

Holiday destinations whether near or far can assist us in feeling revitalized. I particularly love seeing where my friends go to for their vacations as it gives me something to add to my bucket list of places to see.

During the change of weather, some of my customers write to me to ask about what sunscreen products to use and whether or not I make any. For strict legislative reasons, I don’t make certain products to sell, one of which includes sunscreen.
Though over the years, I found it difficult to find sunscreen products that wouldn’t irritate my super sensitive skin.

Australia is famous for being a ‘Slip Slop Slap’ culture when it comes to the outdoors – Slip on the T-shirt, Slop on the sunscreen and Slap on a hat. Even Aussie kids at school cannot go outside in the playgrounds without wearing a hat to protect themselves from the sunshine.

During our jet-skiing days with my siblings in Melbourne, Australia, we spent most of our days and weekends out in the sunshine having a blast.  Besides needing to keep hydrated drinking plenty of water, we had to protect our skin at the beaches and lakes for long periods of time. We wore our wetsuits & our caps but sunscreen had to be applied and reapplied especially after hours of being in the water & the sun.

One time I tried using the Cricketer’s famous ‘White Zinc’ on my face across the nose and cheeks.
‘Oh-My-God’ what a disaster trying to get off my face!

I had to cleanse and scrape at the end of the day and it still wouldn’t come off. The frustration of looking like a tomato face from both the sunshine AND the remains of White Zinc was so Urgh! Then there’s using Sun Creams which I found so rich on my skin, that they clogged my pores and caused me to break out with acne spots.

One day I tried something else.  The discovery of Sunblock in the form of a stick was the best thing ever for someone like me. Of course, once I started using this, I stocked up big time and always carried it with me. What I found with Sunblock is that I could reapply it when needed, carry it in my bag all the time, and not worry about clogging my skin.

For those that tend to break out in acne during the summer, Sunblock is definitely a protection treatment for your skin. It keeps your skin hydrated and protected without overfilling your reserves with excess ingredients.

The other annoyance of the summertime are bugs, insects & mozzies which like to feast on our yummy sweet skin. And if you’re sweet like my family, then the mozzies will be hiding and biting whilst we sleep. For this, I made an All Natural Mozz-Off which contains ingredients like Lemon Lime, Eucalyptus Essential Oils that are great for our skin but not what bugs and mozzies like to smell. It was especially requested for a Customer’s gorgeous wedding which was held in a garden and the ‘Mosquitos were NOT invited’.Now I carry a small bottle of the concoction in my bag and apply on the skin to avoid being bothered by bugs!!

As the Sun draws the moisture from our skin, we need to stay protected and hydrated throughout the day. Preferably using sunscreen, sunblock for our faces, shade, a decent hat and drinking plenty of water.
This means that our after-sun care becomes just as important as protecting our skin during the day.

Start by making sure you cleanse your skin with a gentle product that replenishes and restores, rather than draw out more natural oils from within. Remember water and natural oils that are stored in our skin have been slowly evaporating from our skin whilst being outside in the heat. Our Cypress Cleansing Balm is made with Beeswax, Butters and Essential Oils.It makes your skin feel like it’s been re-boosted from within as the ingredients replenish your natural reserves.The gentle removal process allows for exfoliation of the skin even though the reserves have been filled up again. I just love this concept of treating without damaging your delicate skin.

For kids, I made the skin boosting Natural Baby Moisturising Oil which allows their skin to be rehydrated from face to feet. The ingredients chosen are soft and delicate for youngsters up to 10+ years of age and includes Cocoa Butter, Calendula, Apricot Kernel together with Lavender and Roman Chamomile essential oils. I love using this on my kids as it protects & replenishes their skin, especially after spending hours basking in the sun like lizards!

For Adults that suffer from prickly heat or fungal infections, I have other products that help calm and restore the skin.
Depending on where the condition is, Nourishing Face Balm or Renew Balm works a treat assisting with the heat rash and fungal infections, amongst other conditions like Eczema.

For those that have been ‘kissed by the sun’, there’s Sun Kissed Balm which helps with re-balancing this discolouration of the skin. (Though it does not remove freckles!)  One of the key ingredients in this range is the Kukui Nut Oil which is rich in essential fatty acids linoleic and linolenic, Vitamins C, D and E to act as a natural preservative. The discontinued Sun Kissed Serum contains both Tamanu and Kukui Nut Oils for double the benefits.

For the body, we have 2 products that just melt with your body’s temperature when on the skin. The Mint Body Butter is what my husband describes as ‘Aero Bar’ for his body and always asks me to make bucket loads for him .
Unfortunately this is not suitable for ‘Expecting & Nursing Mums’ so for you, we have Geranium Hands & Body Butter. Both are applied the same way and benefit the skin without needing to apply very much!

In the previous blogs, Favourite Vegetable Oils , I shared about a whole lot of oils that I like to use. Sunflower Oil (Helianthus annuus) absorbs very quickly into the skin and leaves little residue.It has highly concentrated levels of Vitamins A, B, D, and E, together with insulin, lecithin, and minerals. Whilst great for the skin, it has added UV Protection qualities in addition to the unsaturated essential fatty acids contained.

When I write a blend recipe to make for my customers, I always try to pick ingredients with the best benefits to help speed up the recovery, rejuvenation, repairing and replenishing process.When the products work a treat for you, please share with others so that they too can benefit as you have! I love hearing these stories as it makes me love doing this even more.

Gallery: Mozz-Off, Sun Kissed Range, Beach Summer Fun, Mosquitos Not Invited, Summer Sunblocks.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

Have you had problems with your sunscreen or are you one of the ‘lucky’ ones that can use anything?
What is your favourite product for protecting your skin?

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, Skincare Tips

Dry Skin During Winter

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Renew Balm Dry Skin During Winter
20
Feb

Our 5 year old played in the snow
without gloves during Swiss winter.
His dried out hands hurt so much
he couldn’t bend his knuckles.

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Dry Skin and the Winter months wherever you are, the weather can be cruel to especially if you are prone to your skin drying out quickly, cracking and becoming irritated. Eczema loves to play havoc during the cold season which is not pleasant if you suffer badly.

Last year, during the cold Swiss winter, our 5-year-old son enjoyed playing in the snow at kindergarten without his gloves.
After a few days, his hands and knuckles were red and sore from drying out.He found it hard to dress and play with his Lego as bending his hands hurt a lot.He was also in a habit of using lots of soap when washing his hands and not rinsing properly, which was also drying the skin.

For him, we started monitoring him whilst he washed his hands to make sure there was no residual soap. as well as drying the water off. At bedtime, we applied Renew Balm to his hands, then put a pair of socks on his hands to keep the product contained, allowing it to penetrate into his dry skin whilst he slept.We only had to carry on with this routine for a week, which gave his dry skin a chance to repair.

Here are a few other suggestions for taking care of your Dry Skin During Winter Months.

1. Hydration
Make sure you keep your body hydrated and replenished with plenty of water. This helps your body to function, flush out toxins and keeps your skin looking fabulous. The recommended daily intake of fluids for children aged 5-8 years of age, 5 glasses (1 litre); from 9-12 years of age, 7 glasses (1.5 liters); from 13+ to Adults, 8-10 glasses (2 litres).

2. Avoid Hot Water
Make sure you only wash your face and neck with lukewarm or tepid water.This includes your baths, showers, shaving, cleansing and exfoliating. When your skin is sensitive and prone to drying out, you want to make sure that the temperature is not going to cause more damage and break the tiny veins in your face.Blotches are likely to happen when super hot water is applied to your face.If you really want to have a steamy hot shower, ensure the water is on your back or chest, but not directly on your face.

3. Be Gentle with Your Skin – all the time!
Try not to use harsh ingredients on your face. Avoid techniques that require you to pull or stretch your skin.Use gentle circular upward motions, and pamper your skin by tapping and stimulating the blood flow to your face. This will help you feel wonderful as you get ready to start your day or prepare for a restful night.

4. Moisturise Your Face
It’s important to ensure you keep your face moisturised for your day out in the cold weather. Use a good one that keeps your skin feeling soft and nourished, without the need to keep reapplying throughout your day. Often products are water-based and fluid, which tend to be drawn from the skin quicker than butter and oil-based products.
We make a range of moisturisers for various ages which help make the skin feel soft and nourished.
Natural Baby Moisturising Oil For Babies & Children,
Youth Face Balm for Under 30s,
Hydrating Face Balm for men Over 30s,
Nourishing Face Balm for women Over 30s and
Diamond Era Balm for women Over 50s.
We also make the Vitamin Rich Mens Face Balm and Vitamin Rich Womens Face Balm if your skin needs more tender loving care due to irritation or damage, and Evanesce Balm for those that have Acne which needs treatment.

5. Don’t Forget Your Hands, Feet & Body
Your body also needs to stay nourished in order to seal the moisture in your skin.The butter-based products literally melt onto your skin, helping it to stay soft and nourished.Our Geranium Hands & Body is lush and great for applying all over the body and suits expecting and nursing mums.For those that love Peppermint, Mint Body Butter is so delish you will be tempted to eat it … please don’t though! Peppermint Feet is a favourite for those that have cracked heels. It also helps with fungal infections and smelly feet.Though Peppermint shouldn’t be used if you’re expecting and nursing, so try Tango Twinkle Toes instead!Made with Tangerine, my daughter and I named it imagining expectant & nursing mums wanting to dance with their little ones whilst they were being taken care of!

Gallery: Before and After with Eczema, Renew Balm, Before & After using Pink Clays.

6. Rug Up & Stay Warm With Breathable Fibers
Prevention is always best, so make sure you keep your gloves on when out in the cold weather. Wearing Cottons also helps your skin breathe and prevents irritation.Avoid wearing synthetics, polyesters, and other fabrics which can cause your skin to sweat and itch. Pyjamas feel nicer when they are cotton too, particularly if you have skin prone to getting irritated whilst you sleep.

7. Have A Cleansing Routine at Night Time.
Did you know you are only meant to cleanse at night time?The reason for this is because our skin is subjected to pollution, dust and smog from traffic and the environment we live in. It builds upon our skin and if we don’t cleanse it out, the muck can begin to clog our pores.Make sure you are gentle when cleansing and to include your neck and shoulders if they are also exposed to the environment. Remove your makeup with either Almond or Coconut Oil.If you don’t like using oils, try removing makeup with a little Aloe Vera instead. Then you can use our Cypress Cleansing Balm which is made with Beeswax, Butters and Essential Oils.It feels wonderful as it penetrates the skin’s reserves – it’s just like having an all-natural Botox fill!

8. Monitor the Temperature in the Home
During the winter months, the temperature at home is usually really warm and toasty. This often high temperature dries out the moisture in the air and affects us with dry skin the most.In the mornings, you should start by opening your windows and changing the air in the home, refreshing any stuffiness. This is particularly important if you have sensitivity to dust or dust mites that thrive in warm climates.In the evenings, you can place bowls of water in your rooms to prevent your skin from dehydrating. You will be pleasantly surprised how much water remains in the bowl the following morning. You can also turn on your humidifiers to replace any moisture which is lost from having the heating on.Steamers are also great, especially if you are able to add Essential Oils to freshen and help clear any signs of Congestion and Sinuses.
We make Concentrated Serums which mums 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 Breathe Easier Concentrate .They can also be applied to the chest, feet, and tips of the nose for easy breathing.For infants, it can be used in a diffuser 30 minutes before being put to bed and on nearby linen. From 1 year of age up, you can apply to their pyjamas and feet. The direction is with the Product information.

9. Patience …
Patience is key especially if your skin dries out very quickly during the winter months. You have to keep applying, keep drinking fluids, keep yourself rugged up, stay moisturised and monitored your clothing and temperature all the time to prevent your skin from cracking.It’s often frustrating especially if your skin feels like sandpaper and looks like it’s been hacked by a knife.With time, and persistence, it will get better for sure. Just be patient!

10. Lastly… start all over again from Step No 1
And we go back to the top .. Hydration, Avoid Hot Water, Be Gentle With Your Skin – All the Time, Moisturise Your Face, Don’t Forget Your Hands, Feet & Body, Rug Up & Stay Warm with Breathable Fibers, Have a Cleansing Routine at Night Time, Monitor the Temperature in the Home and have Patience!

These are the steps I found worked best for me and when I don’t do these, my skin suffers for it.

And to treat yourself, if you love mucking around with Masks & Facials, you might enjoy doing this too:
1 teaspoon of Pink Clay mixed with 2 teaspoons of Aloe Vera, mixed onto your palm.
Apply to your face and allow to set.
When it dries, apply some warm water to soften before removing with either tissues or cotton wool.

The pink clay has a unique blend of Kaolinite, Iron, Montmorillonite, Illite, and Calcite. It helps to detoxify your skin, removing any dead cells and allows the creation of new ones whilst leaving you feeling refreshed.

BLOG PARTICIPATION:

We would love to hear what annoys you the most about the winter months and what you do to keep your skin from drying out. Share your tips and stories with us and we’ll give you something to try out.

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, Skincare Tips

Jump In With Both Feet

Posted on by Lili Giglia
Jump in With Both Feet - Ramont, CH
11
Sep

When Essentially Lili was founded
it was pretty much a
‘Jump in with Both Feet’ experience.
Starting a business from scratch
can be quite scary. 
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When Essentially Lili was founded, it was pretty much a ‘Jump In With Both Feet’ kind of experience.

We were unsure of going ahead with this venture. We were afraid of failing, scared, and worried that it would become such an overwhelming experience, that we would not cope as a result.

I contemplated becoming a consultant for a well-known established Brand as the safer option. But I knew I would be unable to promote products that I was unwilling to use on my own face due to what I suffered in my youth.

I remember feeling somewhat overwhelmed as my brain processed the negative thought process of, ‘What if I can’t?What if I fail? What if no one likes what I do?’It is so easy to remain in a negative mindset and so much harder to pull yourself out with your head held high as you plan to ‘Jump in with Both Feet’!

To help overcome my uncertainty, I went to see what other women and mums were doing in Zurich. These Mums are inspirational, to say the least, as they juggle their often very young families, commitments, and businesses to be a success!   They make, create, sell, inspire, share, help, promote, build each other up and encourage other women to do the same.

I said to myself … ‘Well, why not?  If I don’t try, I will never know and might regret this for the rest of my life.

What if they absolutely LOVE Our Brand containing all-natural ingredients for our homemade Products you can choose at Shop Categories, which have No Chemicals or Unnatural Preservatives?  Wouldn’t it be better for people to use the Essentially Lili Products and share via Word of Mouth their love for it to others?

Excited about the prospect of helping others, the name Essentially Lili came to life by bringing together the use of Essential Oils and my name Lili.

Two days later, with a bag of sample containers obtained from our local Chemist / Drogerie, we cleared the kitchen and began making a batch of Nourishing Face Balm to give out to people.We went to Zurich and handed out Essentially Lili samples with a note about the ingredients contained, details about Essentially Lili and how to contact us for more information.

We waited… and waited… and waited for Feedback.   This was the hardest part, waiting and then collating feedback.

Our first client’s face to face feedback (which can be found in Testimonials had me in tears of joy, as I listened to her story and how the Essentially Lili product had helped her in such a short space of time.

Since then, we have been asked to make so many other products that are now in the Essentially Lili Range.  There is feedback about the various products in the Testimonials part of the website which we hope you will enjoy reading.

It has been a roller-coaster journey so far, with mixed emotions of joy and frustration. We have had to juggle the time around our young family and studies.We have been building the brand and reputation, whilst creating and blending products.  The amazing stories shared by people make this journey all worth it.

Blog Participation:

Do you remember a time when you just ‘Jumped Into’ an adventure, a relationship, a new job, a travel destination or even moved to a new Country?How did this make you feel – scared, excited, anxious, nervous or thrilled to the core?

We would love to hear in the comments below what you did, as sometimes we forget just how brave we really are.

Should you wish to Contact us for more information, 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.

The photo of the kids was taken at Romont in Switzerland expressing how we feel!!

Kind Regards Lili @ Essentially Lili