From leaves to bark, Neem has been used for millenia for maintaining wellness, body healing, skin and hair care and for repelling insects. In the ancient Siddha system of medicine originating more than 10,000 years ago in the Tamil Nadu region of South India, Neem is among the core plants used. It met the Siddha medicinal goal of maintaining health for long life. All parts of neem tree were (and still are) used in traditional Indian medicine remedies for various human dis-eases.

The word NEEM comes from the Sanskrit, Nimba, meaning bestower of good health. As far back as 5000 BCE, Indian Ayurvedic texts have described the Neem tree and its remarkable healing properties. In fact healing compounds containing its leaves were found at the excavation of Mohanjo-Daro and Harappa, ancient city sites that date back to this time period and older.

Back in that day (to this day), a Neem tree was considered sacred, symbolizing good health and protection. One would be planted in public gathering spaces or in the front garden of the temple or the home where became part of daily life. Kind of like living among the Ent healers. The Neem tree provided shade from the sun while naturally repelling insects for those sitting under its protective canopy. When wind blew through the Neem tree and into the home, it was believed that the winds carried with them the anti-bacterial properties of the tree, keeping the homes free of bacteria while providing residents with a cool breeze in the summer months. Neem was also used to protect animals, food and grains. Livestock and cattle were fed Neem leaves for relief from ailments; soil was fertilized with seeds, leaves, and bark which all doubled as pesticides.

Used in medicinals, its properties strengthened health and boosted immunity. Infusions from leaf and bark would be drunk to help maintain blood sugar, clear lungs and keep the digestive tract running smoothly; neem twigs would be used oral care; young neem leaves were included in vegetarian curries; the gum from the tree was sucked on to ease a dry throat; and in the summer, the fruit of the tree would be eaten. All this Neem goodness worked together to strengthen the immune system. 

Traditionally, Neem was used topically to address such ailments as fevers, respiratory issues, tetanus infections, rheumatism, arthritis, jaundice, malaria, ringworm, lice, fungal and bacterial infections of the skin, scabies, hives, eczema and psoriasis. And to help help hair grow and remain thick and lustrous. Historically, Neem Oil was even used as a topical contraceptive.

That is  one versatile plant, right?

Neem oil is extracted from the seeds of neem tree fruit. Neem Plant Powders are basically dried and finely ground Neem Leaves. So, what is in Neem that makes it so amazing for skin? Both Oil and leaves have serious Anti-inflammatory, anti-bacterial, Anti-oxidant, Astringent, Oil Regulating and Moisturizing properties: 

• OLEIC ACIDS (OMEGA 9), known to support graceful aging by easing wrinkles and fine lines; protect skin with its anti-oxidant properties; and prevent joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain
• STEARIC ACID, which cleanses skin of dirt, sweat and excess sebum. It does double duty as a skin softener.
• PALMITIC ACID, which is also softens skin
• LINOLEIC ACIDS (OMEGA 6), which moisturize skin, facilitate wound healing, soothe acne and help balance sebum production in the skin. 
• ALPHA-LINOLENIC ACID (OMEGA-3), known to lessen inflammation and control blood clotting on the skin. It also soothes joint pain and eases stiffness to improve flexibility.
• VITAMIN E, known to be an effective anti-oxidant that protects and supports skin in graceful aging. It also helps repair damaged skin tissue found in scars and acne 
• CAROTENOIDS, known to be effective anti-oxidants that prevent cellular damage and protect skin from environmental toxins. It is  a champ in the skin repair department while helping reduce hyperpigmentation caused by UV radiation, hormones, or acne. Carotenoids help skin appear smooth and supple, stimulate regeneration of  skin cells, boost skin collagen and elastin production to increase thickness, elasticity, firmness, softness, and smoothness and hydrate skin by reducing water loss.
• NIMBIN, which has antiseptic, antifungal, and antihistamine properties. It helps relieve redness and swelling
• AZADIRACHTIN, which is an insecticidal and fungicidal pesticide property. It keeps the bugs away

When I was formulating Face Chai for Oily and Breakout Prone Skin, I researched ingredients extensively, looking into their properties, lore and historical uses. With all its benefits to healing breakouts and acne scars and its ability to balance out sebum production, Neem just had to be a featured ingredient. It works beautifully with the other Oily Skin supporting ingredients in this formula. FYI, Neem Oil has a really strong smell. But worry not. I mixed in other skin supportive carrier oils and essential oils to compensate. Your nose will be happy! Your skin will be happier.

Our Facial Oils are a complex blend of lightweight oils specially chosen for their ability to soothe, protect, repair and regenerate healthy skin. I love Neem Oil for its anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, antioxidant properties. I am also excited by how these properties help kill the bacteria that gets into pores to cause the infections we know (and don't love) as "zits". Hello Neem, bye bye breakout.

Neem also does its part to stimulate skin cells to regenerate. it also helps heal acne scars and sooth acne irritation, while balancing out the sebum in your skin to reduce the chance of future break outs. Such a win win!

Neem has antioxidants that help protect your skin from environmental stressors. It moisturizes and helps keep skin soft and supple by boosting skin collagen and elastin production to increase thickness, elasticity and firmness. It also helps to reduce hyperpigmentation caused by UV radiation, hormones or acne.  

The Facial Oils can be used daily as a moisturizer, for oil cleansing, for overnight moisturizing or The feedback  from peeps in my test crew who used the Facial Oils for Oily Skin is that pimples and other skin eruptions disappear overnight. The oils are light and easily absorbed, leaving a lovely skin glow.

I have included Dried Neem leaf powder in this wonderful combination of plant powders and clays that blend up into a mask with a pump or two of Facial Oils plus some yogurt, honey or just plain old distilled water. It all depends on what your skin needs in the moment due to hormones, diet, stress. You know, LIFE.

Neem brings its anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties to work once more, to help kill the bacteria that could lead to zits, regulate your skin sebum production, and soften and protect it. The formula is quite robust with ingredients that are soothing, oil absorptive, cleansing, astringent and exfoliating. 

Feedback from my testing crew included loving the way the Mask Grains soothed their skin, settled eruptions and gave a gentle exfoliation, leaving  a lovely skin glow. 

I included neem oil in this formulation for its moisturizing properties. I love its ability to deeply penetrate skin and repair heel cracks caused by dryness. It works with the other oils to soothe itchy, red, inflamed skin.

I also chose Neem Oil for its anti-bacterial properties. It teams up with Tea Tree Oil, which has some serious  anti-bacterial properties of its own. By soothing skin irritation and eradicating the bacteria that causes them, Neem Oil and Tea Tree Oil can calm Athletes Foot and nail fungus. Then there is Neems ability to help ease joint inflammation, stiffness, and pain. Neem works with Rosemary Oil to help ease your feet into relaxation.

Neem oil is one of many amazing ingredients in this formula that helps soothe bug bites and insect stings. Neem oil has an impressive, well-researched track record of not only being incredibly moisturizing for all skin types, but anti-inflammatory and soothing as well. Shoo Fly! Is full of ingredients like Neem oil that will take the itchy edge off a bug bite and help decrease swelling of even nasty ones, like wasp stings. 

I had originally formulated Shoo Fly to help keep bugs away. The ingredients I chose do have properties that do that, naturally. But as a small biz maker, my products are classified as cosmetic by Health Canada. Bug repellent, however, is classified as a drug.  So I am not able to make direct repellent claims about Shoo Fly! But I CAN tell you about Neem and it’s amazing properties. You can try it to soothe bug bites. And if it keeps bugs away, well BONUS!!

Nature is full of wise plants who work with us to support our health and wellness. Thanks for hanging out with Neem and me,

I love a good facial exfoliation! I really enjoy this part of my skin care rituals for its massaging moves, and the almost instant payoff of skin that feels soft and smooth, refreshed and reset. 

Plant powders are my go-to for facial exfoliation. They are straight out of my grandmothers’ beauty playbook and I have been using them since childhood. I love them for their ability to gently remove dirt and toxins for a glowing, clear complexion. Using natural ingredients, like plant powders, gives you all that without destroying your skin biome. Win-win, right?

Your skin is in a constant state of cell turnover: As new skin cells are made, the older skin cells rise to the surface, dying in the process. Over time, the surface of your skin becomes host to a buildup of dead cells on the skin’s surface. Add pollution and other forms of environmental stressors to the mix, and-- hello, dull, rough and itchy skin. 

That’s where plant powders augmented with plant oils can really bring some beneficial goodness to your skin and its biome. Here’s why plant powders are a brilliant ingredient to add to your skin care routine.

When mixed with water (ideally distilled) and a few drops of plant oils, plant powders transform into a luxurious paste that draws out toxins and smooths the skin. They are incredibly gentle on the skin, exfoliating without scratching. No extra pressure is needed -- the granules will do the work. The massaging action you bring helps promote circulation and skin cell turnover.

Plant powders are high in minerals and naturally derived proteins, vitamins and acids, all of which help draw out toxins, enhance skin cell health and  provide additional exfoliation by dissolving dead skin cells.

Depending on the day, season or your skin type, you can customize your plant powder paste to suit your skin’s needs. If you want more of a mask feel, use less water. If you want more of a general soft cleanser, use more water. If you need more moisturizing, add a few drops of oil to your blend. If you are having breakouts or skin irritation, add yogurt. If you need more antioxidants, add lemon juice. If you need to even out your skin tone and bring down inflammation, add turmeric. The possibilities are endless.

Plant powders have a long shelf life. They don’t need preservatives, as they are not pre-mixed with liquids. You mix them up fresh, every time you use them. And because they are liquid-free, they can be carried while traveling with no fuss. Your face care will be there with you, where ever your destination.

Now that you know the overall benefits of using a plant powder to your skin, here is how to use them as a gentle cleanser:

1. Put a heaping teaspoon’s worth of dry plant powder into the cupped palm of your hand
2. Add a small amount of water and/or a few drops of oil
3. Rub your hands together to create a creamy paste
4. Apply to your face, using gentle circular motions, careful to avoid the delicate eye area
5. Rinse your face thoroughly with water and pat skin dry
   
   

Here is how to use them as a face mask:

1. Put a 1-2 heaping tablespoons of dry plant powder into a bowl
2. Add a small amount of water and/or a few drops of oil and/or additional active ingredients. For oily skin yogurt, lemon juice; for normal skin, avocado paste; for dry skin, mashed banana. Honestly, the options are endless here.
3. Blend into a smooth paste.
4. Apply a layer of your mixture to your face using your fingers, careful to avoid the delicate eye area.
5. Now go get a book or turn on Netflix. Let the mask sit for at least 20 minutes.
6. Now exfoliate and cleanse your face with your fingers, using gentle, circular, lightly massaging motions, careful to avoid the delicate eye area
7. Rinse your face thoroughly with water and pat skin dry
   
   

Have you used plant powders in your skincare routine? Which are you favourites and why?

The monkeys have it folks! We're grubby; we live in a pile of dead skin. If you want any moisturizer to work on your skin, you've got to remove that flaky dry layer off first to get to the healthy layers. Your skin is layered, like an onion. Now onions make most people cry but you don't want to cry when you exfoliate!

Here are some key things to have in mind when incorporating exfoliating into your skin care routine. For oily and normal skin, lots of scrubbing and sloughing may not be the answer to reducing your oil production. You may be exacerbating the problem by over-exfoliating. Think of it as gently brushing off the old dead skin rather than scrubbing at the young, living skin. For dry and sensitive skin, be mindful of how your skin is feeling. Go slow and less often.

Natural exfoliants range in hardness, sharpness and durability. General rule of thumb? Soft and gentle for the face; mid-range hardness for the body and full on hard for calloused feet. As always, do a patch test first to make sure your skin isn't irritated.

Here are some natural options for Face Exfoliation

• Ground Oatmeal helps normalize skin pH levels, relieves skin irritation and gently exfoliates dry, sensitive skin.
• Dried Rose Petals have been used since ancient times for skin care. They cleanse, moisturize, fade blemishes and gently exfoliate, leaving a bright, healthy glow. Rose Petals work best for Dry and Normal skin.
• Organic Cane Sugar, small grains, exfoliates while drawing moisture to the skin, leaving a healthy glow. Sugar has rounded edges that won't be too abrasive, especially for Normal skin. The other good news is that it melts quickly so that, by default, you don't over-scrub.
• Dried Lavender flowers gently exfoliate while countering the effects of pollution with their anti-oxidant and anti-bacterial properties. Lavender flowers work best for Normal and Oily Skin.
• Gram Flour, an Indian Beauty routine staple, removes dead cells, excess sebum and dirt, leaving skin clean and smooth. It's brilliant for all skin types.
  

Here are some of the best natural options for exfoliating your body's skin

• Epsom Salts, high in magnesium and sulfate, can reduce inflammation, kill bacterial and flush out toxins while removing dead skin cells. The edges on these crystals are harder than sugar but just the right range for body skin.
• Ground Coffee invigorates and tightens up the skin, decreasing the appearance of cellulite. Ideal for thighs and butts.
  
• Ground Apricot Shells are just hard enough on the skin for a thorough, deep cleansing
  
• Ground Brown Rice exfoliates, detoxifies and deeply cleans the skin while tightening and smoothing
  
• Ground Adzuki Beans have been a staple in old school Japanese Beauty care for centuries. They exfoliate, detoxify and deeply clean the skin while tightening and smoothing and leaving a healthy glow.
  

Here are some natural options for exfoliating your feet.

• Ground Walnut Shell boasts a higher level hardness to scrub tough, calloused skin. Keep this one just on your tough skin bits--it will strip off more than you need on more tender skin. There are other blogs that advise using walnut scrubs on the face. Ok, we tried it and were red and raw for days after, taking a full week to recover.
  
• Pumice stone, for feet that are hard as a rock. This volcanic rock with Swiss cheese like pockets is ideal for scrubbing off callouses. Soak feel first to soften hard skin.
  

When you look in the mirror, consider and reflect on the thoughts that rumble around in your mind. Are they who you really are or someone else's idea about who you should be? Our minds are fluid and we can shift our thoughts at any time. Compassion comes with choice and self-care. Slough off the old expectations and images of yourself so you can nourish and grow the liberating and living pictures of who you actually are. Life's an adventure; enjoy yours!

The Free Lion Team