A blog dedicated to natural skin care, chemical facts, home made DIY recipes, product information & reviews and other interesting, healthy, good for you, tidbits. Enjoy!
I wanted to write this blog to show you that there is so much more to JOLI (aka me) than natural skin care. While natural skin care is a big part of my world, living naturally in many other aspects is also important to me (and for my family). Like all people I am multifaceted and have numerous talents, in fact I could say I'm a veritable Martha Stewart of the natural world.
When I'm not making natural skin care I'm making hot chilli sauce.
When I'm not making hot chilli sauce I'm growing my own produce.
For many having a bath is a luxury. Many don't have the time or the freedom (children) to indulge in a long hot soak in the tub.
I'm no different to many in that regard. When I do have a bath it has to be planned just right. I.e. hubby must be home to mind the children or I wait until the children are in bed so I can enjoy my soak uninterrupted.
Baths maybe a luxury that I don't get to indulge in often, however, when I do get the chance to have a bath I make a point of making it a Beauty Queen ritual. I use this time to fully indulge and relax and rejuvenate my mind and body.
I start with:
1) Stretch. Yep, firstly I warm up my muscles in the hot water then I stretch any stiff body parts. Moving in warm water helps the body be supple, without jarring joints and muscles.
2) Face. Then I clean my face while the water is still fresh and clean.
3) Hair. I was my hair next, then soak for a bit letting the soaps, butters and oils I've added to the water do their thing (i.e. moisturise my skin).
4) Body. I like to rub Luscious Body Butter or Massage Oil over my body so richly moisturise.
5) Feet. Lastly I do my feet, soaking the heals, pumicing the hard parts of my feet, then moisturising. Then I hop out because by now I'm grodied up the water... * wink
1) Slowly lower the bath bomb into water in your hand. Don't let go. Watch it fizzing and releasing all the goodness within.
2) Move the bath bomb around water and watch it disperse in the water. If it has some colour to it there will be a nice trail of colour.
3) Drop the bath bomb in and enjoy. That is: enjoy your soak in the bath while the oils/butters/clays etc. in the bath bomb work their magic on your skin and senses.
For the past several weeks I've been struggling to want to get out of bed, to face the world, to get the work done, to exist... to smile.
I had been feeling pretty good for a couple of months then all of a sudden, without notice, I came crashing down and haven't been able to shake this mood.
It's how I've always been and as much as I don't like being this way there isn't much I can do to change who/how I am. I can do as many positive things as I can to try and move through the feeling but I'll never be like those shiny happy people who manage to face the world day in day out.
It's one of the reasons I work for myself, because it isn't acceptable (yet) for an employee to ring work and say, "I can't come in today because I'm struggling to get out of bed." "Can't adult today!" We can have migraines, colds, flu, death in the family etc. yet we cannot call up and say, "I have depression... can't come in."
My depression gets in the way of friendships, outside work, my relationship, my children...
Friendships are affected because sometimes I just can't face people, can't face answering the phone, talking to people, seeing people. During these times I hide out for days and weeks. For the most part I can fake it. I can go out with friends and fake smile and try to laugh at their funny jokes and stories yet inside I'm dying a little from the struggle of having to 'act' and wishing I felt joy.
Work (home salon) is hard because my energy affects wanting to see clients, especially if it's a procedure that requires lots of conversation. I pretend to be fine and cheerful with clients yet I worry that my inner feelings can be sensed. I have weeks were I can barely function because I can't crack a smile... and (thankfully) I find the Gods are in my favour during these times and usually don't send clients my way when I'm sad. My mood swings can be too extreme for me to function.
It affects my children in that I won't go to their school for interviews or organise play dates if I'm feeling low. And quite often I avoid people simply because they won't understand why I'm suddenly being antisocial and unable to interact with them or be cheerful. I'm too hot and cold and people don't understand that and take it personally. Instead I shy away and avoid letting people get too close. For example, I bumped into a school mother in the supermarket where I was hiding my sadness behind sunglasses. She happily approached me all talkative and I wanted the ground to open up and swallow me. I did my best to hide my mood yet I could tell by her expression that I was failing big time! She didn't understand my lack of genuine happiness, probably assumed I didn't like her, and stopped being my friend.
It affects my relationship because my husband probably thought he was getting someone 'normal' (what ever that looks like) only to find he has a woman who will mope around for days/weeks/months and struggle to get out of bed some days. He has often said he wishes I'd get a 'real' job... because he thinks me working outside the house would make me feel better/less sad/less time to think and be down. If only it were that easy. I've worked outside, in 'real' jobs, and it was torturous pretending to be fine. I would be happy and jovial one day then sad and withdrawn the next. People would wonder why I was being 'off' or 'quiet'.
This is why I sell online!!!! I can still be down from behind my computer screen and get the job done. No one needs to see my sad face or feel my sad vibes or even know I have depression. I can still reply to emails and questions and do online things without it affecting my lovely customers. I might struggle to get out of bed but it's rare that I won't get an order done because of my depression, mostly because making products is a flow activity for me which can help with my moods.
In saying that, I've been making and selling natural skin care for years and the fact that I'm still yet to make a livable income is one of my biggest depression triggers. I can't help but feel that when I'm finally successful i.e. having daily orders, I'll feel better because I'll be doing an activity I love. Unlike how it is now where I get up, check for orders, have so few and feel really down - like a giant loser who is wasting her life away. Worse still, I've no way of gathering orders because so little of what I've tried and am trying is working (I feel like I am largely ignored and irrelevant - why am I bothering, what's the point?). No wonder hubby wants me to get a 'real' job... he thinks I'm wasting my time on this work (trying to save people from toxic chemicals) and that's it's pointless and leading to nothing but 'failure'.
It's hard having depression and failing at my work, and having a husband who comments on that failure, reiterating how I'm already feeling...
I don't have suicidal ideations so much as I often just feel like I could disappear (quit social media, close the website, go off into the wilderness etc.) and no one would care. I have family that have lived past 100 and I move between wondering how old I'll live to, and how long I want to live. My children keep me alive because they need me and would be devastated if I was gone... and yet I have days where I feel like I can't do this anymore, what's the point, no one cares anyway etc. etc.
Do you have depression? How does it affect your life? How do you deal with your mood swings when they happen? How do you cheer yourself up?
If not for my garden I might go a little stir crazy. Inside the house is tedious at times and even more so because I spend most of my there. Sure I can paint or colour in, I can create or read a book. Yet outside is so much more appealing, even on cloudy days (especially on cloudy days!)
random garden art: two old metal bars through wire fencing
It's nice to get out in the garden, check on how plants are doing, check out how they're growing and what they're producing, or check if they're dying and need more attention. It might be new flours, new fruit, new leaves, new growth... exponential growth.
There is nothing clean lined or neat about my garden. It's a jungle with interesting bits of undergrowth and hidden plants, spots of garden art and favourite sitting areas. Mind you what I call garden art is random bits of stuff (maybe junk to some) that I kind of piece together to make something 'eye catching' - or just 'there', 'different'. Nothing particularly 'arty' about them.
shady spot to sit under the olive tree
I don't have a lot of muscles... well technically I have the same as everyone else - though not quite as strong... but I do like to use them by rolling heavy pots about, digging, cutting wire, pruning, climbing up and down ladders. Gardening is an active thing.
There is also the produce which the whole family enjoys: pumpkins, olives, herbs, lemons. It's all very exciting to go out and find things are thriving or ready to enjoy. Being able to grown and eat things from the garden makes it just a little bit more special, more personal, more enjoyable. Plus the neighbours grown different things and sometimes we get to trade.
always something to see or find
Things I never / rarely have to do: weeding [link], lawn moving, pulling out, killing off. The garden was well prepped to combat weeds long term. There is NO lawn to mow; it's all bark and stones and plants and paths. It's rare that something requires removing or changing spots. It's rare that something takes over and requires kulling.
If you're a garden lover what is it about your garden and being outside that appeals to you?
Looking after your wooden chopping board is pretty much the same as looking after your face and body.
When washing your face you apply a cleanser, then a toner that kills off bacteria and hydrates the skin, then you apply a moisturiser.
The same applies with your chopping board.
First you want to clean your chopping board with water and a natural cloth, which acts much like an exfoliating scrub does for your
skin - smoothing and refreshing the surface of your board.
Follow with some natural vinegar (making sure it's the real deal i.e. fermented and not a fake vinegar substitute). This is the antibacterial aspect of the cleanse. Leave to dry before doing the next step.
Lastly drizzle some olive or coconut oil over your board, not too much, and massage all over the board with your hands (moisturising your hands as well). Leave to sit for a couple of hours or over night before using. This allows the oils to penetrate the wood.
When done your dried out dull board will look renewed and refreshed.
clean wooden chopping board with water and eco cloth
tools of the trade: natural vinegar and olive oil
after vinegar application leave to dry
after olive oil application leave to soak in overnight
Using the words 'pure & natural' on their Body Lotion, joining the 'pure, natural, organic' wagon because they know this is
what more and more consumers are looking for.
How natural is it really?
The ingredients:
aqua,
glycerin, alcohol denatured, cetearyl alcohol (3rd & 4th on the
ingredients listing which means there's a lot of alcohol - though yes technically alcohol is natural),
isopropyl palmitate, glyceryl stearate citrate, octyldodecanol, argania
spinosa kernel oil, glyceryl glucoside, sodium carbomer,
methylisothiazolinone, phenoxyethanol, linalool, limonene, citronellol,
benzyl alcohol, butylphenyl methylpropional, alpha-isomethyl ionone,
geraniol, parfum.
Can you read all that? It's hard to
know what's in the product with all those technical names and there are a
number of ingredients in there that I personally choose to AVOID.
So let's investigate.
isopropyl palmitate = it's a type of stearic palmitic acid with alcohol
glyceryl stearate citrate = is a citric acid
octyldodecanol = a long chain fatty alcohol
argania spinosa kernel oil = argan oil
sodium carbomer = sodium salt of carbomer
methylisothiazolinone = preservative [hazard rating 5 out of 10 - irritation]
phenoxyethanol = prservative
linalool = is a terpene (a large group of volatile unsaturated
hydrocarbons found in the essential oils of plants, especially conifers
and citrus trees) [hazard rating 6 out of 10 - irritation]
limonene = limonene is a scent ingredient and solvent naturally occurring in the rind of citrus fruit
citronellol = a natural occurring scent derived from plants
benzyl alcohol = a naturally occurring and synthetic ingredient used
as solvent and preservative; has been associated with contact allergy.
butylphenyl methylpropional (also called lilial) = is a synthetic
scent ingredient; associated with allergies and contact dermatitis [hazard rating 7 out of 10]
alpha-isomethyl ionone = a group of naturally occurring and synthetically produced scent chemicals
geraniol = a naturally occurring scent oil found in plants [hazard rating 7 out of 10]
parfum = fragrance [high hazard rating]
The product is 'pure & natural' because it contains NO
parabens, silicones, colorants or mineral oils. It's a good start. The brand is owned by a European country and in Europe many of the chemicals we
use are banned there.
As to whether they test on animals, for all appearances they do not, however, they do state: "we cannot guarantee that ingredients we purchase have not been tested for or by someone else."
Regarding selling their products in China which requires testing they state: "The answer to this problem is to convince the Chinese authorities that animal testing for cosmetic products is unnecessary. AND: According
to our (website) statement concerning animal testing we do not or make
anyone else do animal tests for us and we are the great promoter of
alternative test methods wherever possible."
Compare the above product to JOLI's Light Moisturiser face & body lotion:
The Ingredients:
aqua,
almond oil, chamomile,citrus seed extract,cypress,emulsifying wax,
natural preservative, pro vitamin B5, rosehip oil, vitamin E.
Can you read that? Yes! It's nice and simple isn't it. This is what I choose for my 'pure & natural' moisturiser. What do you choose?
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate (SLS) is a common ingredient found in our cosmetics and personal care products, including shampoo, soap, shower gel, toothpaste, shaving cream and bath foams. SLS is also known as a surfactant - a surfactant breaks down the surface tension of a liquid, allowing it to foam or to penetrate solids. It is widely used by manufacturers because it is cheap. Sodium lauryl sulphate is also used as an industrial degreaser to clean the grease off garage floors and in engines.
SLS & Skin - Sodium lauryl sulphate is a known irritant and is actually used in clinical studies for that purpose - to irritate the skin so that the effects of other substances can be tested. When applied to human skin it has the effect of stripping off the oil layer then irritating and eroding, leaving it dry, itchy and sometimes inflamed. It cleans by corrosion and dries the skin by stripping the protective lipids from the surface so it can not effectively regulate moisture balance. SLS can also aggravate more serious skin
conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
SLS & Eyes - In experimental, acute eye tests, a solution of 10% sodium lauryl sulphate caused corneal damage to the eyes if not irrigated or irrigation was delayed. A solution of 5.1% caused mild irritation. Studies have also shown that SLS could retard the healing and keep childrens eyes from developing properly by denaturing the proteins and not allowing for proper structural formation. Children under six years old are especially vulnerable to improper eye development. It has also been said that SLS could cause cataracts in adults and delays the healing of wounds in the surface of the cornea.
SLS & Hair - Because sodium lauryl sulphate is such a caustic detergent it can cause scalp irritations, corrode the hair follicle - impairing the ability for hair to grow, and strips moisture from the delicate hair shaft, leaving it dry and brittle.
SLS & Science - Sodium lauryl sulphate has a low molecular weight of just 40, ingredients under the weight of 75 enters the body. Therefore SLS can rapidly be absorbed into the body and be retained in the eyes, brain, liver and heart, which may result in harmful long term effects.
SLS & Ethoxylation
-
When SLS goes through a process called ethoxylation (this is where the degreasing agent becomes less abrasive gives it enhanced foaming properties) this compound then becomes Sodium Laureth Sulphate (SLES). The problem here lays with the fact that ethoxylation causes residues of a compound called 1, 4-dioxane to form. 1, 4-dioxane has shown in tests to be carcinogenic in rats and mice and is absorbed through the intact skin of the animals. Furthermore, this compound has been classified as a possible carcinogen in humans. According to the European Economic Community directive on cosmetics, 1, 4-dioxane must not be present in commercial products. Consequently, the assay of this substance in marketed cosmetics is of a direct concern.
Parabens are a group of chemicals widely used in the cosmetic industry, it is reported that 99% of beauty products contain them. They are preservatives that inhibit the growth of bacteria, fungus and mould, to extend the shelf life of a product. The most commonly used parabens in cosmetics are methylparaben, propylparaben, ethylparaben and butylparaben. Parabens may cause skin irritation, cause allergic reactions and interfere with the intestinal flora which is vital for the cleanliness of the intestines. Recent research suggests that parabens are able to mimic the action of the female hormone oestrogen, so there is a link with breast cancer, although this has not been proven and further studies are needed.
Phthalates are chemicals used in many toiletries to help the fragrance last longer. It is estimated that around 90% of beauty products contain these symthetic preservatives. Animal studies on certain phthalates have shown the chemicals may cause a variety of problems, including reproductive and developmental harm, organ damage, immune suppression, endocrine disruption and cancer. The major concern is that as phthalates are so ubiquitous in our environment, no one knows for sure what the long term exposure, even in small doses, may be doing to human health, particularly developing infants. Phthalates are so widely used that it may be nearly impossible to eliminate your exposure entirely. However, we feel just by omitting them from the cosmetics we use will make a difference. Phthalates may be listed as: Dibutyl phthalate (DBP), Diethyl phthalate (DEP), Butylbenzyl phthalate (BBP).
A recent study conducted at the University of Washington in Seattle has shown that potentially harmful phthalates (plasticisers) are absorbed through childrens skin. All of the 163 urine samples from infants up to 28 months contained at least one phthalate, and 81% had seven or more. High doses of phthalates have been known to produce unnatural hormone activity in tests.
Propylene Glycol (PG) is a colourless, nearly odourless syrupy liquid that is derived from a natural gas, that is commonly used in anti-freeze and brake fluid! It has found its way into cosmetics as a binding agent. It penetrates the skin and can weaken protein and cellular structure. It is considered so toxic that it requires workers to wear protective gloves, clothing and goggles when being handled. Because Propylene Glycol penetrates the skin so quickly, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) warns against skin contact to prevent consequences such as brain, liver and kidney abnormalities.
Oxybenzone (also known as benzophenone-3) is the widely used chemical in many sun products with high sun protection factors, its function is to 'filter' ultra violet light on the surface of the skin, converting it from light to heat, but it can also be absorbed through the skin. As yet there has not been any conclusive research to indicate what happens when the oxybenzone is absorbed through the skin, but UV light causing cell damage is well known and you may choose to avoid this form of sun protection. If light is converted to heat in the basal layers of the skin, damage to growing cells is very likely.
Formaldehyde is a toxic, colourless gas that is an irritant, and a carcinogen. When combined with water, formaldehyde is used as a disinfectant, fixative or preservative in deodorants, liquid soaps, nail varnish and shampoos. Also known as formalin, formal and methylaldehyde, it is a suspected human carcinogen and has caused cancer in rats. Formaldehyde can damage DNA, irritate the eyes, upper respiratory tract and mucous membrane, and may cause asthma and headaches. It is banned in Japan and Sweden.
Nitrosamines are not intentionally added to cosmetics, they are contaminants accidentally formed during either manufacture or storage if certain ingredients are combined. There are NO safe levels of these chemicals and whats even more worrying is that they are able to penetrate the skin. Products to watch out for are those containing amines or amino deerivatives, particularly di- or triethanolamine (DEA, TEA, MEA see below), which may form nitrosamines if combined with an ingredient which acts as a nitrosating agent, e.g sodium nitrate. Amines and their derivatives are mostly present in creams, cream lotions, hair shampoos and cream hair conditioners. Beware of mixing products.
Diethanolamine (DEA), Monoethanolamine (MEA), Triethanolamine (TEA) are hormone disrupting chemicals known to form nitrates and nitrosamines, often in conjunction with other chemicals present in a product. They are almost always present in cosmetics that foam: bubble bath, shampoo, body wash, soap. Dr, Samuel Epstein, Professor of Environmental Health at the University of Illinois, reports that repeated applications of DEA based detergents result in increases in liver and kidney cancer.
Apparently keeping it real is an important part of running a business and something that sets small businesses apart from large corporations. Yet there is this thought in my mind that no one really wants you to air your dirty laundry. People only want to see the rainbows and sunshine part of you and think of you as Wonder Woman (or Superman) - invincible, awesome and amazing. And what if you do air your laundry and it's so bad people balk and you go down in flames?
Yes there is a real fear there!
On a whole JOLI is a veritable wealth of information (just read through this blog and you'll see) with a skill set in many areas such as: nail technician, beauty therapist, aromatherapy (therapeutic use of essential oils) and natural herbal medicine. The experience and the knowledge I have garnered over the 10+ years I've been in business astounds even me at times, from building websites for friends and treating my families ailments with natural remedies. In that sense I am accomplished and proud.
However, when it comes to running a successful business I'm not blitzing it. I have tried as many things I can think of and followed all manner of advice including creating an outrageous product (1million for your very own live in personal beauty therapist for a year) because it's meant to be ATTENTION GRABBING. Huh! Only one person ever said anything/noticed!
I've placed adds in green magazines and green online websites/directories, free listing websites like Hot Frog, Yellow Pages, local school and kinder newsletters, mail-outs, prizes, donations, community newsletters, brochures at animal rights events, products in goody bags at business events, approved by PETA and Choose Cruelty FREE, accredited by Safe Cosmetics Campaign, basic SEO courses, backlinks, articles for like minded websites, listed products on other people's websites, customer and independent reviews/testimonials, refer a friend program and subscriptions, loyalty rewards, network and marketing events, my own newsletters plus freebies when you signup, website blog and this blog to show my vast knowledge, Youtube, LinkedIn, expos, markets, pamper parties, DIY classes, eBook, colouring books, Facebook page & adds, competitions, eBay, car signage, promotional material, my own website, invested in brand design/new logo & labels, free samples with orders, free products with orders, free mineral makeup samples (working with like minded companies), gift cards for other businesses to give to their customers, spoken with business advisors, letters to salons and gift shops and retreats, gift cards/product samples and other surprises in the mail boxes of my customers and subscribers...
Short of running down Bourke Street Mall naked (which is looking pretty good right about now)... You name it. I've tried it.
And nothing has worked! I'm still not even remotely where I wish or need to be (embarrassing to admit) - which means I can't afford much by way of courses or promotions or PR or all those others costly things that people say "You have to spend money on to make money." Ok so let's say I spend even more than I already have... where do I invest that money? What is a sure bet? Most people will put there hand up and say "Invest in me!" but they offer no (don't pay unless it works) guarantees and my dollars could be wasted - like they have been so far.
I am tired, fed up and FRUSTRATED over reading endless marketing articles (from the numerous companies I subscribe) and umpteen sales books only to hear empty platitudes like:
"Develop a strong story – why does your business exist and what problems
does it solve for customers? Be clear about what your company stands
for, what it aims to achieve, and identify SMART (Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Relevant and Timely) business goals." KBB
That's nice dear! Done that. Now what?
Or find your target audience. That's nice dear! Done that. Now what? Going to tell me specifically how and where I reach them? No, didn't think so.
Or you need to be on social media. Tried that... didn't work. Ended up spending hours a day on there with so little to show for my efforts because no one was seeing my page unless I PAID & even then it only got me a few more likes that didn't convert to sales. It was depressing and disheartening to only have 800+ likes when others in my industry had thousands. Feeling like a loser with a capital L :-(
Or find yourself a mentor? That's nice dear! Going to tell me where I can find a decent (doesn't rob the bank / doesn't say the same as everyone else) mentor? No, just going to tell me I should get one. Alrighty then.
Or articles that say How This Lady Turned A Hobby Into a Thriving Business with one useless line "I used creative ways to market". That's nice dear! Care to elaborate? No. Then what's the point of reading this article when you've basically told me NOTHING!
Or establish yourself as an expert in your field. That's nice dear! Thought I was already doing that. How? What? When? Where? Why?
Or you have to upsell, give the customer more than they expected. Been doing that right from the start. Now what?
When I first began, way back when it wasn't even cool to be into
natural, eco friendly, animal friendly, chemical/toxic free skin care, I
sat down with a business manager who explained to me how few people
there were who were interested in what I was offering (something like
less that 1% of the Australian population when you minus the men,
children and ignorant). Since then numerous businesses have joined
the 'natural' band wagon (including mainstream companies); a number of whom have become successful even though they're not as natural as they claim. And here I am, offering the real deal and still struggling along.
I don't stick my products on store shelves because they're made to order which saves the planet's resources - because we're only using what is needed when it's required. To do anything otherwise (i.e. mass produce) is not environmentally friendly.
Months ago I sat down with a biz mentor only to be told the same thing
everyone else is saying: I need to work out my target audience and get
back on Facebook with some new and exciting content. Well Gee! If the
content I was creating wasn't working for me then (and I thought it was
exciting) how will it suddenly work now if I go back on? He also suggested I come up with new products to pique people's
interests. What is the point in doing that (since it costs lots of dollars to make happen) when the current products are
barely selling because very few people have heard of me, therefore, very few of
my products are selling in the first place? And when I do create new and exciting products they don't sell.
I'm frustrated and pissed off because I can't find the answers and for all the millions of articles and marketing experts out there. There are so few willing to cough up advice that will actually help and make a difference to small business. There is a plethora of information on basic knowledge, helpful for getting off the ground... but then what? It's not like there's a Life Line for small businesses to ring and say "I'm thinking of ending it all.... Help!"
On the one hand it's awesome I've hung in here so long!!!! I know plenty of businesses who have come and gone while I'm still alive and kicking. I just wish I knew the secret formula to success... "When will I, will I be famous!" I just wish that others who knew the answers weren't so lacking in coming forward and sharing that information (and I'm not talking about experts who charge 2.5k for others to learn what they know because that sum is painful!). [I've spoken with marketing businesses who offer to do marketing for 2.5k a month for a couple of hours per week work. If I had 2.5k to spend each month I wouldn't need marketers. And they don't guarantee results. I'm meant to just take a leap of faith that they'll work and if they don't bad luck and I've wasted my money.] What I'm talking about is... imagine if those who knew the answers didn't rip you a new *sshole just to teach you what you need to know. Imagine if marketing articles were actually helpful and didn't just give you wishy washy clichés or useless one liners but actually taught you the skills and steps to you need to take.
Imaging how many small business would NOT fail and close down if this were the case!
Got a small business of your own and want to share your thoughts... please do.
