Many consumers don’t realize something that people living millennia ago in ancient Greece took for granted; that extra virgin olive oil, all by itself, is one of the best beauty secrets. In addition to being a natural, hypoallergenic way to moisturize skin, extra virgin olive oil has the added advantage of providing strong antioxidants, like Vitamins A and E that help repair and renew skin that has been damaged from overexposure to sun, air pollution, and other modern-day environmental hazards – like cigarette smoke and fast food. These antioxidants have the natural ability to stimulate cells and return skin to a firmer, smoother, and healthier state.

To provide a slightly more scientific explanation, this damage is related to the destructive activity of oxygen-related free radicals produced by skin cells. Polyphenolic components of olive oil have been compared to traditional  antioxidants, such as tocopherols, used by the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industry to prevent skin damage. There are a number of simple and inexpensive ways to get the best skin care and beauty benefits out of a single bottle of  extra virgin olive oil. The rich emollients in olive oil allow just a little to go a long way.

SKIN CARE AND OLIVE OIL
Skin Moisturizer

Whether applied to face or body, olive oil will penetrate deep into the skin and provide a long-lasting shield of moisture to keep skin smooth and supple. Used either as a night cream or daily moisturizer, it is best applied to damp
skin, when water can help reduce any feeling of greasiness. We recommend using extra virgin olive oil.

 Followers have also suggested that a little lemon juice mixed with olive oil  can provide a more bracing and refreshing feeling. In her best-selling book The Passionate Olive, Carol Firenze suggests making a moisturizer made of Italian parsley, water, and extra virgin olive oil.

 Expect the natural benefits of olive oil to take a bit longer to be absorbed into the skin than most lightweight packaged skin products. But the advantages can be longer lasting too.

Exfoliator

If dry and scaly skin is a problem, Carol Firenze also suggests mixing olive oil and sea salt in a rub and massaging it into the affected area to slough off dead skin and enrich the healthy layer beneath it. Or add a few tablespoons of
olive oil with a drop or two of lavender essential oil in a bath. This is a luxurious way to relax, soothe and moisturize the whole body.

Nail and Cuticle Care

Extra virgin olive oil makes the perfect, simple solution for dry nails and cuticles. Simply rub a few drops into the cuticle area and around the nail.  Cuticles stay plump and moist, and nails respond with a natural shine.

Eye Makeup Remover

Just a drop or two of extra virgin olive oil on a cotton pad is all it takes to gently and effectively remove eye makeup without irritating the delicate skin around the eye area. The biggest added advantage is that when used consistently,
olive oil can soften the skin around the eyes and smooth out wrinkles.

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Summer....playing in the pool, under the sprinkler, going to the beach, playing ball.  All the many things we do during the summer.  But sometimes we forget to protect against sunburn because we are enjoying ourselves too much!  If you happen to get too much sun, this is a great way to help relieve the sting. Green tea contains natural antioxidants that are known to act as anti-inflammatory agents and have a soothing effect on the skin, according to Web MD.  Antioxidants in foods and drinks, such as green tea, step in and help your skin win the war against free radical damage.

 Brew 1/2 cup of green tea (leaves or bags) in 1 quart of boiling water for at least 10 minutes. Strain the leaves and set aside.  Cool the liquid and refrigerate. If you used tea bags you may cool them as well and place them on your sunburn for about ten minutes before discarding them.  This solution will keep in the refrigerator for approximately 10 days.

 In order to use your green tea solution take a piece of cotton cloth that’s been soaked in the cold tea and apply to the sunburned area. Leave it on for about 15 minutes, or until the burned areas begins to cool. You can repeat this treatment up to four times a day. 

Now go and enjoy your summer!  I know I will.

Everyone who knows me is aware of my love of coconut oil.  It is truly an amazing oil.  It is not only good for baking and cooking, but also to create wonderful, skin and hair loving personal care products. 

Here are just a few of the amazing things coconut oil can do!  Due to its antifungal, antiviral, and antibacterial properties coconut oil is very effective against a variety of infections.  According to the Coconut Research Center coconut oil kills viruses that cause influenza, measles, hepatitis, herpes, SARS and many more. It kills bacteria that cause ulcers, throat infections, urinary tract infections, pneumonia, and gonorrhea as well as being effective on fungi and yeast that cause candidiasis, ringworm, athlete's foot, thrush, diaper rash and more.  The scientific name for coconut is Cocos nucifera and you will find this ingredient on almost all of Southern Pine Soaps products. 

Here you will find a quote from Mercola.com by Dr. Joseph M.
Mercola. “Coconut oil will not only bring temporary benefits to the skin, but it will aid in restoring your skin's youthful appearance. The coconut oil will aid in exfoliating the outer layer of dead skin cells, making the skin smoother. It also penetrates into the deeper layers of the skin to strengthen the underlying tissues.”

Fran E. Cook-Bolden, MD, a dermatologist and director of the Skin Specialty Group and the Ethnic Skin Specialty Group in New York City, is also a proponent of coconut oil. Coconut oil can help to reduce red skin caused by sun exposure thanks to
its antioxidant properties, she says. "Pure virgin coconut oil is the best formulation for sunburn and, although its exact mechanism of action is unknown, it has been extensively used in ayurveda, the traditional Indian medicinal system."  It is thought that coconut oil gets absorbed into the skin and the cell structure of the connective tissues, limiting the damage excessive sun exposure can cause. This protects the skin from the harmful effects of ultraviolet rays, she says. Coconut oil also has antibacterial properties that benefit the skin. However, it should not be used as a substitute for a good sunscreen.

Our newest product at Southern Pine Soaps is a solid lotion bar imbued with the amazing qualities of coconut oil and olive oil.   These lotion bars will satisfy the driest skin and comes in a small container so you can carry it with you anywhere; purse, coat pocket etc.  Your body heat melts just enough to give you a nice lotion and you can use it anywhere you feel your skin needs it.  They have a light pleasing citrus scent so anyone including guys who have dry skin on there hands from constant hand washing would love it!

Anyone from south Georgia and north Florida learns from an early age how to blow gnats!  Those little critters that serve no purpose I know of except to try the patience of the most stoic.  I say all this to introduce you to my most popular item; "That Gnat Stuff"!  An all natural insect repellant  that works on gnats, mosquitoes and no se  'ems (sand gnats or sand fleas).  I know, I know, anyone who hasn't used it yet  is thinking, "Yeah, right!  I bet  it doesn't work!"  because most insect  repellants either don't even claim to  repel gnats and if they do claim it they  usually don't work.  Well, all I can  say to the skeptics is, "It really does  work!"  I recently attended a festival  in South Georgia and sold all but 10 of  my containers.  A few people bought it to try and when it worked, they told everyone and before long I was over run because the gnats  were terrible that day.

It is a cream base with an essential oil blend  that absorbs into the skin just minutes after application and other than having  to reapply after heavy perspiration or swimming it repels gnats like crazy!  And  to top it off it doesn't stink like most insect repellants do.  In fact after  you put it on within a few minutes
you (and no one else around you) can smell  it.  Another added benefit, the coconut oil based cream is really good for your  skin as well.

If you live in the south and are plagued by gnats you  really should give it a try!  You won't be disappointed!