Skin-Friendly Skin Care

Preface

My journey in cream and lotion making began in 1997 when I met Tracie Acheson, a naturopath from Australia. I am forever thankful to her for introducing me to the art of creating my own skin care. Being very sensitive to many of the store-bought skin care products, and especially sensitive to fragrance, I would have headaches when I was near someone wearing strong perfume. I was congested and sounded like I had a cold all the time. I got rid of my moisturizer and other skin care products, and all perfumes as well as strong cleaners in my home. The result was absolutely amazing – all my reactive symptoms disappeared!

Being able to create my own products was a gift. It was not only a satisfying experience but it gave me the freedom of choice. I could choose the ingredients therefore I knew exactly what was in my moisturizer and other products. Since I had come to the understanding that what I put on my skin can get absorbed in my body, I made the conscious choice of using skin-friendly and skin-safe ingredients.

These easy hand-made creations that started as my self-care products soon became popular with family and friends. This in turn encouraged me to introduce them to my clients and their satisfaction led me to start my line of Si Naturel! Skin Care.

In 2006, I completed a course in Aroma Cosmetology-Holistic Skin Care at the Institute of Aromatherapy in Toronto. I am thankful to Jan Benham for all that she taught me, especially for the relaxing facial treatment. I started appreciating the value of creating my own products when I started offering Aroma-Facial treatments to clients. Now, I could customize the products to suit each client’s needs and since I make the products, I could tell them exactly what is in each of them – no hidden ingredient! I find that this is very helpful for those who are sensitive to certain ingredients. Knowing what is in their product makes them more relaxed. After completing the Cosmetic Making course taught by Jan, I started creating cosmetics such as eye shadows, foundations, lip gloss and lipsticks. My line of products expanded and became Si Naturel! Skin Care and Cosmetics.

Some of my friends and clients say that they hope I will never stop making these products. Some say that they would love to make their own one day. I do teach workshops on how to make your own skin care and cosmetics and there are many others who teach this skill and art around the world. I am all for learning and making your own. I believe that commercial preparations cannot be compared to your own creations. Imagine holding in your hand a jar of moisturizer that you created with ingredients that you know are right for you and your skin. You can’t get a more personalized product, tailored to your own personal needs, than that. Your skin will love and thank you for that! Mine does.

Some of you say you want to make your own products but don’t have the time. As long as you have the awareness that what you put on your skin matters, that’s great. There are some good companies that sell natural and organic products and you can purchase those. If you know someone who makes such products, and you are reading this book right now, you can create your own recipe and get it custom-made.

Being sensitive and easily reacting to food and products, I make sure I read the list of ingredients before purchasing them. I can certainly relate to those with sensitivities and allergies. The beauty of making your own product from scratch is that you can use only ingredients that you know are good for your skin and your well-being.

A word of caution then for those who have sensitivities or allergies: if you know you have sensitivities, intolerances or allergic reactions to any of the ingredients you see mentioned in this book, please do not use them. The safe and proper use of the ingredients is your responsibility. For example, some individuals are sensitive to certain nuts and so I don’t use those nut oils in their products. If you are unsure about any ingredient, don’t use it. As far as my experience goes, these are all ingredients that have been used by me, my clients and others, and have not been problematic. However, each individual is unique and what works for one may not work for another.

Remember that the more you get to know the ingredients, the easier it will get to formulate personalized products. It is the exploration, the experimentation, and the experience that give you the best results. Create new combinations, try them out, and keep record of the ones you like most so that you can change your moisturizer from time to time. It is often said that it is good to rotate your foods. You can do the same with your skin care products. This way your skin gets a variety of nourishing oils, butters, and essential oils. I certainly like to treat my skin to a new moisturizer, cleanser, or toner whenever I make new ones. This way my skin doesn’t get fed the same thing over and over. The more you create, the better you will get at it. So allow your Creative Self to guide you, and get creating!

Are you creative? Do you want to make skin-friendly products and gifts? Do you want to make some extra money or start a home-based business? Are you health-conscious and truly care about what you put on your skin? Do you want to reduce, or even eliminate, the use of harsh and harmful chemicals in your skin care? Do you care about the planet and want to stop pollution? Whether you answered yes to one or all of these questions, I dedicate this book to you. There is a saying that goes like this, “Don’t sing me your song – teach me how to sing.” It inspires me to teach you the art of creating your own skin care and share with you what I have learnt along the way. In adding this book to the many books on the subject out there, I am simply adding my own beats, rhythms and tunes to the collection.

If you are experimenting with the recipes in this book, I wish you great enjoyment and much success. I am sharing with you my passion and enjoyment. I find that making products is very therapeutic. It invariably leads me into a state of meditation and relaxation. I have chosen a picture of the beach and ocean as my cover to reflect that state. In the process of creating moisturizers and other products, I remember ‘The Creator’ and feel thankful for being endowed with a spark of that creativity. Thus this creative process always brings me a feeling of heart-felt joy and ‘healing’.

I would like to hear about your experiments and creations in using this book. If you would like to share, comment or ask questions, I can be contacted at:
1- 905 953 8775
rani@ranisaromatherapy.com
www.ranisaromatherapy.com
250 William Roe Blvd., Newmarket, Ontario, L3Y 1B5, Canada.
Happy creations!
Rani Johnson