Looking After Your Vagina Naturally

When it comes to our vaginas (or our 'good bits' as I like to say) we don't really give much thought to taking care of them.

It's just there and we do all the normal things we do to it such as washing it with soap, wiping it down with baby wipes, slathering on the personal lubricant etc.  I mean who really knows what people do to their good bits, or what iffy ingredients they put into contact with them????  I'm sure there are all sorts of things people are putting near their good bits that aren't at all good for them.

Did you know that personal lubricants contain propylene glycol and if you've followed this blog you'll know propylene glycol (one of the most widely used man made chemicals in skin care) is so toxic you have to wear PPE (personal protective equipment) to handle it and the only way to dispose of it is to bury it in the ground.  Best not to even buy into the production of such a chemical...  Anyway, by using personal lubricant we're applying propylene glycol to one of the most sensitive areas of our bodies - not to mention our partner's good bits.

The use of baby wipes holds the same concern.

When it comes to your vagina you should never use soaps to wash it.  Most soaps and body washes contain sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES).  Both of these are detergents that started out as industrial degreaseants and garage floor cleaners.  When applied to the human skin it has the effect of stripping off the oil layer and irritating and eroding the skin, leaving it rough and pitted.  SLES / SLS corrodes hair follicles and impedes hair growth., penetrates your eyes, brain, liver and remains there for a long time, and also retards the bodies natural healing process.  It is one of the ingredients that causes urinary tract infections to occur after using bubble bath lotions.  It also enhances the allergic response to other toxins and allergens and can react with other toxic ingredients to form cancer-causing nitrosamines.

Ok so that's the scary stuff... let's get to the good stuff!

Firstly JOLI's Facial & Body Wash does not contain propylene glycol, parabens or SLES/SLS.  It does contain organic aloe Vera gel and jojoba oil that moisturise your skin and replenish lost oils while you cleanse.  NOTE: it is very important you NEVER clean the inside of your vagina.  Both vagina's and penises (under the foreskin) have their own built in cleaning system and stripping them away with soaps and cleansers - especially inside vaginas - in NOT a good thing to do.

If you need to freshen up your vagina use our organic Purifying Cleansing Toner with added vitamin B applied to a cloth instead of using baby wipes.  Yes you could use plain old water however there are two things to consider.  1. water strips the body of it's natural oils and dries out skin because it has a different pH level to our skin.  2. anyone who uses a water purifier will tell you water contains iffy things.  Plus the toner has a nice light floral scent and essential oils that are good for your skin.

These are our good bits we're talking  about, why not use the best on them?

When it comes to personal lubricant our Massage Oil does just as good a job if not better and is also water proof so you can have fun in the shower or bath, as well as in the bedroom, on both his and her good bits.  Massage Oil comes custom scented, however, I recommend the Sexual Energy blend when it comes to enjoying intimate moments with your lover.  Also Massage Oil doubles as a body perfume, dab some on your good bits for an inviting scent, as well as being moisturising.

Soothing Salve can be applied after hair removal to ease the soreness and redness of the area and also help prevent ingrown hairs.  Don't use products that contain iffy ingredients and potentially toxic chemicals on your good bits.  It's bad enough people use them on their skin let alone sensitive areas of the body.

If you need to exfoliate prior to any hair removal Enliven Facial & Body Scrub is the perfect product for this.  Made for sensitive skin types it also moisturises as it exfoliates.

Skin Serum can also be applied to your good bits if you have a sore down stairs.  The rejuvenating and regenerative properties help heal sores quickly without stinging.  Skin Serum can also be used a luxury personal lubricant for the ladies and it is good for your skin!

So that is the run down on how to take care of your vagina (and penis) using natural alternatives.  Now off you go and use these products on yourself and your partner, have some FUN knowing you're taking care of your good bits safely.

NOTE: To keep your groin muscles in shape and help stop your pelvic floor from prolapsing, stop part way through urination and hold for 3 seconds before continuing.  At first you might not be able to do it, however with continuous practice once a day you will strengthen your pelvic floor.  This will also aid with incontinence.

pee chart - how to tell if you're dehydrated

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Have a horror story about products being applied to good bits?  Feel free to share.

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November Gift Box Giveaway!!

Our BEST gift box ever!!  We have 7 awesome businesses contributing to this months gift box to bring you a fantastic PRIZE!!

In this months gift box you get:
* Gorgeous petite peach vintage button stud earrings by Creative Mandie
* $15 gift voucher from Precious Princess Pieces and Tutus - beautiful handmade tutus and hair pieces for your lovely princess
* 2 handed decorated scented candle sticks by Bushland (supplied by JOLI)
* Stunning silver dangle earrings handmade by TTTreasures
* $50 gift voucher from Carma Living - breathtaking outdoor furnishings
* Superb quality pink embroidered face washer, plus handy note pad and book mark from Your Cheeky Monkey
* Simply beautiful pink, black and white scarf from Stunt Girls
* Choc Strawberry Bubble Bath Bomb cupcake, gorgeous Fluffy Lime Eye Cream and yummy Lip Balm by JOLI Natural Skin Care

 "How do I enter?"

Step 1: like ALL of the pages of the businesses who have generously donated prizes to this Gift Box Giveaway by clicking the links below.  Even if you've already liked the page click the link so that you get the full 7 points needed to enter.
Step 2: LEAVE a message on the JOLI Facebook page - if not all of the business Facebook walls - letting them know: "I am liking your page as part of the November Gift Box Giveaway"
If you're already a liker of any of these pages still leave a comment saying you are already a fan wanting to be part of the November Gift Box giveaway.

The pages and comments will be monitored and names of those who comment and LIKE ALL the pages will go into the draw.  NOTE: If you do not like ALL of the pages and comment on at least one page your entry will be null and void.

Winner will be announced Friday November 30th at approximately 6pm on the JOLI Facebook page.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

  

Bad Reaction To Hairwax

Hubby had been using a certain brand of hair-wax then, foolishly, decided to use try another over-the-counter brand.  It wasn't long after using the hair-wax that he started to notice a small lump at the base of his skull.  He thought it might be a blindie (a large pimple under the skin) or a cyst.  Some time later he notices another lump on his scalp about an inch or two away from the first one only this one is bigger.

Over a period of a few hours he finds more and more lumps and also notices a gland on his neck is noticeably swollen.  The lumps are painful to touch and even lightly touching hair in the area hurts.  His head is aching and throbbing and the lumps are red with sores on them.  Off to the doctors, the doctor prescribes some hair treatment for tinea / psoriasis and sends him on his way.

I grab the hair-wax in question and take a look at the ingredients.  Aside from water, glycerine, beeswax, alcohol, salt, wheat starch, castor oil, the rest reads like a chemistry lab:

Ingredients: cetearyl alcohol, bis-diglyceryl polyacyladipate-2, va/vinyl butyl benzoate/crotonates copolymer, tribehenin, ceteareth=33, isoceteth-20, propylene glycol, PPG-2-myristyl ether propionate, aminomethyl propanol, phenoxyethanol, acrylates/c10-30 alkyl acrylate crosspolymer, methylparaben, parum/fragrance, propylparaben, limonene hexyl cinnama, linalool, colourants, sodium chloride, magnesium chloride...

• Linalool: narcotic, respiratory disturbances, attracts bees, causes CNS disorder, toxic to animals, used in perfume, cologne, bar soap, shampoo, hand lotion, nail enamel remover, hairspray, laundry detergent, dishwashing liquid, Vaseline lotion, air fresheners, bleach powder, fabric softener, shaving cream, after shave, sold deodorant. 
•  va/vinyl butyl benzoate/crotonates copolymer is a polymer of vinyl acetate.

Alcohol is high on the product list and as you can see there are parabens in this product along with propylene glycol.  What concerns me though is the use of vinyl in this product.  It makes me think of some builders left over window puddy being stuffed into a container and sold as hair wax!

Interestingly enough my husband doesn't have especially sensitive skin.  In fact he's not one to fuss about what he puts on his body.  Yet the above blend of ingredients caused a severe reaction on his head and scalp.  Doctors expect it will take 2 weeks to improve and a little longer for his swollen gland to dissipate.  Glands swell up because the 'infection' moves down to the glands.  Glands swelling up are a sure sign the body has an infection / problem to begin with.

Needless to say hubby thought he had cancer and was quite worried, though doctors say he will be ok.

However, his hair started to fall out in these affected areas, causing bald patches. To this day his hair thinned out noticeably in those areas and hasn't grown back.

Have you ever had an adverse reaction to a skin care product?  Share your story with us.

  

Product Giveaway #2 Choc strawberry bubble bath bomb

One Chocolate Strawberry cupcake bubble bath bomb - large, the size of a muffin.

The base of the cupcake is a chocolate scented bath bomb.  The icing is strawberry scented with silver sparkles and bubbles up in water.
Break up the cupcake under running water or plonk in your bath water and watch it fizz and bubble away.  Can be cut in half and quarters if you want to use more than once.
*contains fragrance.

One to giveaway absolutely FREE.  All you have to do is like our JOLI Facebook page by clicking on the ENTER TO WIN [NOW CLOSED].  When we reach 25 "likes/entries" one name will be drawn and YOU could be the lucky WINNER!!  Note: if you already like our page you can still click the link and enter.

  

Product Giveaway #1 Bath Salts Serenity

Bath Salts - Serenity ~ 250gm

Relax and feel uplifted while you soak… Naturally.
With vibrant scents of lemongrass, cedarwood and petitgrain these salts will help relax your mind while leaving you feeling warm and revitalized.
Also suitable for foot and hand spas.
[vegan]

One to giveaway absolutely FREE.  All you have to do is like our JOLI Facebook page by clicking on the ENTER TO WIN [NOW CLOSED].  When we reach 50 "likes/entries" one name will be drawn and YOU could be the lucky WINNER!!  Note: if you already like our page you can still click the link and enter.

(comp open to Australian residents only).

  

Baby Wipes + DIY recipe

Recently I purchased a packet of baby wipes because a bird flying overhead pooped on my shoulder and I needed something to clean myself off with quick smart.  The wipes I purchased have the words ‘Babies Choice ŸAlcohol Free’.

When I turn the packet over to read the ingredients it says:

Aqua, polysorbate 20, propylene glycol, phenoxyethanol, methylparaben, butylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben, disodium cocamphodiacetate, tocopheryl acetate, aloe barbadensis, fragrance, methylchloroisothiazoline, methylisothiazolinone, 2-bromo-2 nitropropane-1, 3-diol, citric acid.

• That is a LOT of parabens in these baby wipes!  The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) reported that parabens displayed estrogenic activity in several tests and can have endocrine-disrupting action.  
• ‘2-bromo-2 nitropropane-1, 3-diol’ has an incredibly high hazard rating as a known human immune system toxicant.
• ‘methylisothiazolinone’ has been associated with allergic reactions and neurotoxicity.

While they say Babies Choice I’m fairly sure if babies could talk and they knew what these ingredients meant they wouldn’t choose to use these baby wipes.  It’s up to us adults to make the RIGHT choice for them.

Even the eco friendly baby wipes with the biodegradable packaging contain propylene glycol.  Propylene glycol is an alcohol commonly used as a skin conditioning agent. It has been associated with irritant and allergic contact dermatitis as well as contact urticaria in humans; these sensitization effects can be manifested at propylene glycol concentrations as low as 2%. (Information from: http://www.ewg.org).

Overuse of Baby Wipes

There was a story about a woman with OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) who used baby wipes to clean every surface of her home, every day of the week, numerous times a day.  She used baby wipes because they were convenient, just grab a wipe from the packet and off she goes cleaning her house, and also because she felt they had germ killing properties and was obsessed with wiping out germs around her home.

The OCD was the main topic, however, they did mention her recent doctors visit where it was found the lady had excessively high amounts of toxic build up in her system and thus her health was failing due to constant exposure to the toxic chemicals in the baby wipes.  It surprised me that doctors are aware of the potential risk of over exposure to the chemicals in baby wipes (and other products) yet we hear next to nothing about it.

Limit Your Exposure

It’s fair to say most of us are most likely not using baby wipes in the same manner as this woman.  We might clean a baby bottom a couple of times a day or use them randomly to wipe bird poo off our shoulder.  The main point is: baby wipes do contain undesirable ingredients and it is important to limit your use of them or replace them altogether with a cloth and water.

Baby Wipe Recipe - make your own

* A rectangle container to put wipes in

* 1 tablespoon castile liquid soap

* 1 tablespoon calendula oil

* 1 cup pure water

* Cotton face washers, paper towels, or other suitable cloth.

* [optional] add a drop or 2 of lavender essential oil

Mix the liquid soap, calendula oil and water in a jar and shake well to amalgamate.  Place cloths of choice into your chosen container and pour liquid over the cloths.  You might need to ring the liquid out of the cloth prior to use.  Note: there are no preservatives in this lotion, depending on how you store your cloths they could begin to smell damp after a little while.

An alternative is to store the lotion in a bottle and dampen cloth with some solution prior to changing baby bottom.

  

Make Your Own Washing Powder & Dish Liquid

Went through my cupboard the other day and found a bunch of toxic products I never use.  This is a picture them before I cleared them out (some are brand new never used).  Not meaning to throw my husband under a bus (sorry hubby), I am NOT the one who purchases this stuff.  I know what nasties are in these bottles.  Hubby however likes to come home with shining new toys that burn your nose hairs off when you use them, he thinks they work better when they stink to high heaven.

Around the home I use a number of different green all natural cleaning products from Nature Direct, and I'm in the process of showing hubby they do work.  No need for those other toxic potions.

There are two products I am yet to find all natural green alternatives for: 1. clothes washing powder 2. dish washing liquid.  So I had a play around and made my own.

Clothes washing powder recipe:

1/2 cup of water
1 cup grated castile soap (or other natural soap)
1 cup washing soda
1 tablespoon eucalyptus oil [optional] - can be substituted with another scent



1. Boil 1/2 cup water, add grated soap flakes and stir on low heat until dissolved.






2. Remove from heat and add the washing soda.  Mix thoroughly.

 3. Add eucalyptus oil and mix well.  Pour the mixture into a flat plastic or glass tray and spread it out so that it is about 3mm thick only.  Leave to sit for a few hours or over night.



At first the solution comes out wet and runny, however it does dry out, in fact sets rock hard.  This is why it is important to place it on a tray in a thin layer.



Break up the the dry powder to makes clumps then either grind it up in a food processor or mortar and pestle.  Store in a well labeled container and keep by the washing machine.  Use about a tablespoon at a time to wash clothes.


Alternatively: pour washing powder into a wide mouth jar and leave to set.  When set, you can use this as a natural marble paste to clean tough surfaces such as shower grout.





Dish washing liquid:
4-6 soap nuts
2 cups water
1 teaspoon eucalyptus oil [optional] - substitute with another scent if you prefer

Place the water and soap nuts in a small saucepan.  Bring to the boil then simmer for 30mins.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  Add eucalyptus oil if using it.  Alternatively use lemon essential oil or another scent of choice.  Pour liquid into a pump bottle and leave by the sink and use to wash dishes.

NOTE: can also be used as a liquid hand soap.
NOTE: this liquid soap will last around 2 weeks, it contains no preservatives. If you wish to keep it for longer store in the fridge.

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Authors notes: the above dish liquid recipe doesn't bubble up so if you like LOADS of bubbles this might feel like a let down.  It cleans wonderfully regardless of having no bubbles and the eucalyptus oil helps to further break down grease and grime.