Life begins again at 50!

Life does not end at 50. In fact, it is the start of something new. A famous magazine recently announced that it is banning the term "aging" when referring to women in their late 40's and beyond. We are in agreement to this, simply because the time is ripe for a culture embracing the grace and glory of these women in their "golden years". To feel happy and satisfied with whatever you've got is great, but, we simply cannot brush reality aside. Truly, it is at this age that confidence will be at its finest, and it is also the age where women will begin to wonder why they are slowly feeling some remarkable changes in their skin. It may be hard to admit, but menopause, is there before us, gnawing with its ill consequences. Sometimes, it gets a bit frustrating for these amazing women (who should be feeling free and elated at these times!). As our beloved hormone called Estrogen plummets, the skin loses its natural hydration and moisture. Sad, but this should not be a big issue, as there are many ways to face this challenge. If, and only if, you know how to confront the problem head on.

Actually, there is no need to drastically change your current skin regimen. You just need to check if the items that you are using are still applicable to the changes that are happening to your skin (the post-menopausal syndrome). Check the labels, and the ingredients. You see, at this stage of life, you just deserve more, in value and in effects. Gone are the carefree days when we simply don't care.

Here are some of the tips which can be very helpful to restore that youthful vibrance and glow:

1.Clean your face gently! - Wash your face with mild, chemical-free soaps. At this age, since the skin is dry due to loss of collagen, it is more susceptible to skin problems like rashes, acne, and inflammation which sad to say, speed up aging. Using soap or facial cleansers laden with toxic ingredients will do your skin more harm than good.

2. Exfoliate regularly – Skin cell regeneration is at its slowest pace at these ages. Tolerance for strong substances is low. You should use mild treatments like organic masks, and soaps with exfoliating ingredients to remove the dead skin cells and allow fresh cells to grow.

3. Moisturize (lavishly!) – As your skin becomes more sensitive, and drier, your best choice is to always keep your skin moisturized. The steady decline in Estrogen causes collagen production to drop so you need to hydrate and boost your skin’s natural glow.

4. Eye Cream is a must! – The skin around our eye area is one of the most sensitive parts of our face. It is thinner and wrinkles and folds easily, showing fine lines that indicate dryness. Others will notice dark circles and what they call crow’s feet around the eyes. These can be managed by choosing the right treatment that is rich in collagen-boosting properties. Be very careful though as some substances will not only harm your skin, but will just worsen the problem.

5. Eat lightly and stay happy! – The key to rejuvenated skin lies not just on the skin treatments. Keeping tab of what goes inside your body is very important. Be conscious of your daily food intake, focusing more on vegetables and fruits. Drink the required 8 glasses of water per day and do some brisk walking when you have the chance (it clears your mind too!). Real beauty simply goes beyond the surface. Most of the time, it emanates from deep within you. Smile often, and you’ll see that inner happiness radiate from you (rubbing it off to others too!). Soon, they will notice the difference and they will start to ask you, "Hey gorgeous, what's your secret for looking young and beautiful? (Despite your real age!). Far from being offended, you will definitely feel proud of this accolade.

#anti-aging #anti-wrinkles #faceandneckelixirs #aunaturel #wonderfulelixirs #dailyessentials

Top 3 Reasons Why We Need to Switch to Organic Skin Care?

When people hear or come across the word “organic”, the reactions and response will most often be, “what is that?”, or “what is it made of?”, or “actually, I am not very familiar with that”.

Although, this term has been around us for quite some time now, still a lot of people are in the dark (willingly or unwillingly) when it comes to this item. Organic is simple, plain, pure, unadulterated, straight from the vine. It means no chemicals, no pesticides nor fertilizers were used for the products except the very basic natural ingredients. Dictionary actually defines the word as relating to or derived from living matter; something that is living, live, biological, natural.

This brings us to the idea that if it is organic then it is sustainable, ethical, harmless, and is very usable.

Organic Skincare are products derived from nothing but natural ingredients (again, without the harmful chemicals). No toxic ingredients were used. Again, plain and simple and very basic, but meticulously and lovingly prepared to ensure its value and worth.

So why do we need to use them? Here are the 3 top logical reasons why:

1. It is Healthy! – You may do a rundown check of the items in your dresser, or your vanity closets. How many items are there which does not contain any harmful chemical? Check the labels, and the ingredients. You will be surprised that most of your favorite creams, lotions, moisturizers, serums, deodorants, colorants, even your beloved make-ups are nothing but chemicals hiding behind the scents. Now, these are the clearest reasons why the global trend is now drastically shifting to organic products. First and foremost, the toxic ingredients they contain can (and do) cause cancer. As the creams, lotions, serums, etcetera, are absorbed through the skin, they travel in your bloodstream, causing havoc to our system and destroying our bodies. Countless studies have proven and shown the ill effects of these toxic ingredients. They can and will cause cancer!

2. We need to Care for our Environment! – Whenever we take a bath, wash our dishes or do our laundry, have you noticed the residues that come out of the soap, cleanser, detergents that we use. They look like foam, or suds (in white or cream color). These are the chemical components of many products that goes into the tub, into the sink, travels down the drain, and clogs our waterways. Why? Because they don’t break down and instead accumulate in our ecosystems, harming our environment. Even the manufacturing industry itself contributes to this mess with the products laden with chemicals.

3. For Economic Reasons! – They say that organic products are far more expensive than branded skin care products. A lot of people have this wrongmind set for so long. But this is not true!. It is a misconception. Check the prices of known brands in the market today! (Am pretty sure they’ll be as pricey as can be!) Although organic products are not cheap at all, but they are affordable considering the time, care and efforts spent for its production.

Adding to that will be the number of people we are indirectly helping out (by the jobs being produced by this industry, which are mostly in the rural areas – farmers, growers, and the workforce which are directly involved in the production process. This country is so rich in natural resources. They are all around us, waiting to be tapped and made use of. We are blessed with that. It is just amazing that not many people know, or simply care. These organic products are the fruit of those blessings. An industry which can thrive, if only people will support them.

These are not just the reasons why organic is a better alternative. The list can go on and on. Yet, the choice still lies in our hands. Think, and choose what's best not just for you but for the world as well.

#goorganic #trendisnatural #pure #gawangpinoy #tataklokal #aunaturel

Top 4 Skin Benefits of Activated Charcoal

There’s a new beauty ingredient that is fast gaining ground in skin treatment – it is called Activated Charcoal. The black color may be off, but it has been proven to have many health and beauty benefits. A lot of people across the globe are now discovering the thrill of adding activated charcoal to their beauty routines and they can now attest to its amazing results.

The activated charcoal can absorb toxins, which results in clear and detoxified skin. The minute that the substance touches your skin, you can instantly feel its effect. It has 100% all-natural ingredients, without any harmful chemicals added.

Here are the top 4 skin benefits that we can get from Activated Charcoal:

1.Deep Cleansing and Clarifying

Every day, millions (if not billions) of toxins surround us anywhere we go. These will stick to our skin and clog our pores. How to get rid them? Cleaning will be the best action for this, but, you have to use the right cleaning material. Ordinary soap will do you no good. Instead, wash your face with organic soap (preferably black activated charcoal soap too for deeper cleansing effect), then use activated charcoal face mask. Both products are guaranteed to pull out deeply embedded dirt out of your pores, leaving your skin clean,smooth, and feeling fresh. You may also opt to include using a facial scrub for even deeper cleansing of your skin.

2.Taking care of Oily Skin

Activated charcoal has just the right ingredient to remove the unwanted excess oils from your skin. It is advisable though to stick to just once or twice a week usage to avoid making your skin dry. For daily maintenance, you can use the activated charcoal with coconut milk and essential oils. This will definitely make your skin, smooth, soft and moisturized.

3.Acne Treatment

With its exfoliating and healing properties, you may ward off the presence and outbursts of acne in your skin. Since it pulls out excess oils and dirt from your pores (these are the culprit why our pores appear bigger), it will leave you with a much smoother skin (and finer pores). You may now kiss those blemishes away!

4.Best for Skin Problems

When applied as a paste on the affected areas, activated charcoal will absorb the bacteria causing the ailment and infection. It also has amazing properties which can speed up the healing process, aids in eliminating swelling and inflammation,while lessening the pain.

For more information, you may visit: https://www.facebook.com/aunaturelphil/


#aunaturel #organicskincare #allnaturalskincare #pureingredients #nontoxic #nochemicals #ecofriendly #goingnatural #simpleisbetter

Why go “Natural”?

Natural is real, untainted, inherent, and pure. It does not need any adornment or cover-ups. Back to basic principle is slowly gaining ground. The simpler, the better. Real beauty does not need to be covered with make-up, but should be enhanced by a little touch of it, just highlighting the remarkable features instead of hiding it. The base should be just a clean, clear and smooth skin.

Daily beauty routine must be simple and straightforward for the Gen X and the Millenials. They just have too much on their plates (travel plans, career, hobbies, etc.), that even love aspects now take a back seat (uh-hum). Confidence is no longer defined by how glammy or how fabulously dressed up you are. Feeling good is more on what one has achieved so far (career-wise or in any other fields). The new set of women has the IDC attitude. They are more concerned on how they feel - comfortable and at ease. You will see them on the streets dressed up in plain white tee’s and tattered jeans, matching these with worn down sneakers and backpacks. They are simply amazing, looking and feeling good, with just the way they are.

Again, their best bet will be a clear skin. This is the basic. No one can fail with that (sans the makeup). All the glorious wonders of “woke up like this” trend is for real. Gone will be the need for the long list of beauty products (ointments, solutions, scrubs, masks) with harmful chemicals and toxic ingredients. They are being tossed out of the window and going green is what’s hip and cool and “high key” now. Organic products, with all natural ingredients are fast becoming popular for it will never harm the skin, in fact, it will even rejuvenate it while protecting the environment as well.

One natural skin care treatment business has this slogan, "you are what your skin eats". This is very true, as the choices we make in terms of what we put on our skin echoes our awareness of its impact onus. Not just on the outside, but on the inside as well. Remember, our skin has pores. These are the tiny openings which can absorb whatever we apply on our skin. Once it goes inside, it will either harm us or nourish us, from deep within. Effects may be gradual. At times, it may even take longer. But, just the same, you will reap the results of our choices, whether it be good or bad.

So the next time that you pick a product, whether it be a soap, lotion, cream, moisturizer or what have you's, check the label. Does it have any harmful chemicals? If so, then please, by all means, don't buy such product. Natural is healthy. That should always be the most logical choice.

Interesting reads:
https://healinglifestyles.com/5-reasons-to-use-organic-skincare-makeup/
https://fashionista.com/2017/06/millennials-skin-care-habits-trends
https://littlegreendot.com/spring-2017-natural-beauty-trends/

#aunaturel #organicskincare #allnaturalskincare #pureingredients #nontoxic #nochemicals #ecofriendly #goingnatural #simpleisbetter

Top 3 Reasons why you should use “Natural” Soaps

Soap usage takes an inevitable chunk of our daily routine. They touch our skin several times in a day (depends on how stringent you are when it comes to hygiene). Each one of us has our own special reasons why we prefer certain kinds of soaps. But for women in general, this will never be an impulsive buy as most of the time, purchases are out of brand, quality or price (or all three, if they can have it!). Call us OC’s on vanity but we’re made to be like that, period. Choices come in so many forms, brands scents, and design. The look may not necessarily translate into effects, but, we tend to be swayed by it at times. We may even veer away from what we have been so used to using, out of curiosity, just to try if it will give us anything different.

Actually, we can narrow down the choices into two: Commercial Soaps and Natural Soaps. Commercial soaps are readily available, in the local stores. They are the usual ones that you buy at the grocery, supermarket or beauty products outlets. We get them directly from the shelves. They are the ones that are heavy on the ads. You see them anywhere. Fact is, almost all of us grew knowing that they are the only soaps available in the world.

What we do not know, however, is that long before we were born, natural soaps are already being made. But why are they not popular? Or why are they not commonly used? There can be a lot of possible reasons for that. The glory and wonders of commercial soaps has been deeply inculcated into our being that we wouldn’t care less about its effects on us anymore. That’s the common mind-set imprinted on us (and into our subconscious as well!). Economic reason takes second place, because of the price stemming from it be ng mass produced, commercial soaps are definitely cheaper.

Why Use “Natural” Soaps? Here are the 3 good reasons:

1.Ingredients

Natural soaps are made from organic, simple yet nontoxic ingredients like vegetable oils and butters that are rich in antioxidants, vitamins and nutrients. These elements were proven to be essential to maintaining healthy skin. These soaps are carefully handcrafted to ensure that the important components are retained and not removed from the end-product.

Whenever we buy soaps from the shelves, we are not even conscious of what it is really made of. Check the labels and scrutinize the ingredients. Most of the time, we are not aware that they contain synthetic ingredients which can dry our skin, and at times, it can even cause allergic reactions, or worse, can even cause skin cancer.

Natural soap is created by mixing together organic oils (olive oil, coconut oil, other kinds of oils) or fats and lye, resulting in a reaction called saponification, a process which actually converts oils into soaps and glycerine. Glycerine is one component which has been proven to be beneficial as it attracts moisture to your skin and is renowned as a soothing emollient. This important substance is actually being taken out of the commercial soap, to be used only for higher-priced beauty products. In handcrafted natural soaps, this is actually created during the soap making process. To make things simple and much easier to understand, natural soaps are not made from pure, organic and uncomplicated ingredients, harmful chemical nor synthetics are added as compared to commercial soaps.

2.Beneficial Effects

Why do we use soap? Direct response to this will be to cleanse ourselves, to feel refreshed, to feel good and beautiful, and of course, to smell great. These are the same benefits that we can get from both natural d commercial soaps. Using natural soaps, however, can give you more. They will not just clean you, they can make you healthier and make you feel a whole lot better too.

Natural soaps can be combined with a wide array of organic oils, butters, plant extracts and exfoliants. These ingredients have been proven to be genuinely good for your skin and overall health. Coconut oil for instance, has moisturizing and disinfectant properties combined with a dose of vitamin E which are essential for healthy skin. Honey has the remarkable and amazing properties which can actually make your skin smoother and can even heal rashes and inflammations. Oats can also be added which can make your skin younger. Then there’s Shea butter, with its skin healing properties. Natural antibacterial and antifungal properties can be drawn from eucalyptus, while peppermint leaves can act as a decongestant and create a fresh invigorating scent. The list can be endless, and there’s a wide array of possible variations and combinations which are all proven and tested to make our skin glow with youthful vibrance and health.

Natural soap won’t dry out your skin or cause any other skin irritation as all of the ingredients are gentle and skin safe.

3. Price

The plain and logical principle here applies. Don’t look at the price tag, lest we will be missing out on one important value – and that is the true quality of the product we are buying. In the long run, the money that we spend on cheaper alternative will not be worth it. Why? It will simply be because we will just end up blaming ourselves for short changing something that we truly deserve. Natural soaps are worth every penny that we will spend, after all, we have only one lifetime to nourish the gift of beauty that we are blessed with.

For interested buyers, you may visit: https://www.facebook.com/LauNaturel/

#aunaturel #organicsoaps #cocowonders #wildcoconutph #healthyskin #pureingredients

Liwliwa - My Carefree Junket!

Saddled with worries and disappointments for the past weeks, I asked my travel buddy to bring me somewhere where I can breathe, sit still and just do nothing. My sole goal was just to unpack the tons of stress within me and so I searched for the perfect place in the net. Criteria are simple – anywhere near the metro and should be within my modest budget. Going north will be more ideal, perhaps? After some hours of random searches, I’ve found my choice – Liwliwa in San Felipe, Zambales. 

A bit odd for me to be picking an unfamiliar place which is totally different from my usual destinations, but there is an inner urge that is telling me to go and see the place.

We initially planned to leave for Zambales early on a Saturday morning but we encountered a lot of hinges causing so many delays. Not really familiar with the destination (last time that I went to Zambales was about 4 years ago); we opted to rely on Waze,

The entire trip took us almost 5-6 hours (including the traffic and our brief lunch). Liwliwa is not hard to find (and will never be easy to forget). 

Based on my research, I am ready to see a laid-back place, unpretentious, chill, with an artsy and creative vibe. All these you can do in a beach setting – with wide shores and cajoling waves. True enough, we were greeted with these and more… this place is teeming with friendly folks, mostly young people, mix of locals and visitors. Instantly, you will feel at ease and at home.

Quickly, we found our spot near the shore. Glancing around, I knew I made the right choice.

We reserved a cottage prior to this trip at Balud sa Liwa which is just a few steps from the seafront. Some resorts are a bit far. Our cottage costs us only 1,500.00 pesos which is good for 5 persons. My daughter and her friends decided to sleep in the cottage but my hubby and I opted to just while away our time in the open cottage by the sea. After we ate dinner, we just stayed there sitting, exchanging stories, staring at the vast horizon in front of us. This is exactly what I need… and it is so relaxing! Priceless.

This is truly an unforgettable trip! Liwliwa is a blissful haven for the burned out spirits.

Liwliwa is a haven for anyone - surfers (with its consistent surf breaks which are good for beginners and professional surfers as well),  beach bummers, and for carefree souls. My daughter even said it looks like “Camp Sawi”, as no one cared whether you get drunk and be lost. You can shout at the top of your lungs or just walk, run or lie on the sands. You’re free to do anything and no one would mind! For me, Liwliwa is like a soothing haven pampering my tired and weary mind.

Accommodation: Board Culture or Good Karma, The Circle Hostel, La Zerena, plus a lot more. Bunk beds and hammocks are available for 350-400 pesos a night. Cottages are available in most resorts at 1,500 to 2,500 pesos (mostly kubo or nipa huts with common bathrooms and CR). You may also pitch your tents at most places, even at the shore for 150-200 pesos.

Food: There are two famous places - Mommy Phoebe’s Place and Ate Fely’s. You can buy food (yummy silog meals plus a lot more) on both stores for less than a hundred pesos! A must-try will be their fresh fruit shakes which they sell for around 40-80 pesos.

Activities: This is a surfer’s spot so expect a lot of them around. You may also try other activities like skim boarding, skate boarding, hiking, biking plus a lot more!

Internet: Signal is poor in this place although you may be lucky enough to catch some strong signal by the beach. Perhaps, it's a giveaway clue that you need to spend quiet moments to reflect on things.

How to get there:

Public Transportation: You may ride at Victory Liner (Iba-bound) at Cubao Station and asked to be dropped off at San Felipe. Fare is just around 300 pesos. At the corner of Bobulon Elementary School, you may take a tricycle to Liwliwa for 30/person.

Private: Take NLEX-SCTEX route heading off to Subic. From there try to find Kalaklan Gate and turn left going towards Castillejos. You will pass by the towns of San Marcelino, San Narciso and then you will reach San Felipe. Just after the bridge and the town sign, watch out for the Bobulon Elementary School on your left. Turn left on the street before the school and just go straight until you reach Sitio Liwliwa.