Category: organic skincare

Posted on by

The Benefits of Royal Jelly in your Natural Skincare Routine and Saying Thank You to Bees

You’ve probably heard of the nutritional and health benefits of honey and royal jelly, but did you know that royal jelly in your natural skincare regimen can also work wonders? Is this post, we’ll explore how royal jelly can not only help moisturise your skin but also protect and heal it.

What is Royal Jelly?

Queen bees and baby bees (larvae doesn’t sound so nice) absolutely love and thrive on royal jelly. The industrious worker bees feed their delicious secretion to their most precious ones throughout the hive. Baby bees absolutely gorge themselves on royal jelly to grow strong and healthy. Baby bees who will one day become Queens are fed the most copious amounts of the good stuff. Worker bees make sure to stock plenty of royal jelly in their honeycombs. Just eat, little princesses!

Royal jelly is essentially made of water (lots of it), proteins and sugar. It packs a lot of antioxidants, vitamins, and has amazing antibacterial and antibiotic properties. Royal jelly doesn’t contain just any type of protein though, but what is known as “Major Royal Jelly Proteins”. In other words, proteins that can only be made by bees! Queen bees who exclusively feed on royal jelly carry on their majestic duties for years, compared to a few short weeks for worker bees. To boot, the long lived queens are comparatively gigantic. Could feeding exclusively on royal jelly be the secret to their longevity?

 

Royal Jelly and Honey

What are the benefits of Royal Jelly in natural skincare?

Royal jelly has been shown to have antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and wound healing properties. Don’t take our word for it, if you’re a skeptic, do check this research paper published in Nature on wound re-epithelialisation using bee derived antibacterial peptide (ok, in plain English: royal jelly helps heal skin wounds in lab experiments but also in live people!).

A little royal jelly in your natural beauty routine will help protect, hydrate and heal your skin. We can’t promise that you will look ten years younger but you will look radiantly awesome and your skin will feel smooth and energised, a little like a Queen bee!

 

Gift Box Organic Royal Jelly Face Eye Cream

Why use organic and ethically sourced Royal Jelly?

Since times immemorial, bees have been working really, really, hard for nature and for humanity, pollinating plants and crops. Egyptians, some 5000 years ago, were probably the first ones to domesticate the little critters. Until the advent of the removable comb, beehives had to be smashed open to collect precious beeswax, honey and royal jelly.

Royal jelly is the bees’ most precious treasure. Secreted in small quantities, royal jelly is essential to the development of baby bees, as well as to the prodigious fertility of their queens. While beehives no longer need to be broken up, careful harvesting of royal jelly is a delicate procedure. Take too much royal jelly, and the health of the entire colony will direly suffer.

Sniffing a quick get rich scheme, the cosmetics industry (the same guys who sold us paraben and chemical laced beauty skin cream for years, saying it’s ok), started putting royal jelly in face creams, body creams, body wash and so forth.

 

Worker Bees

 

At Nature Beauty Glow, we only carry skin care products that use organic and sustainably harvested royal jelly. We’ve partnered with Fleurance Nature, a French and European pioneer of organic agriculture to be their exclusive distributor in Singapore. Fleurance Nature was established by farmer Michel Descamps in 1972, because he was concerned about the health and welfare of his cows. Michel foreswore the use of pesticides and harmful chemicals. As they say, the rest is history… Half a century later, Fleurance Nature still has deep rooted commitment to community development, sustainability and organic agriculture. Fleurance Nature has been a sponsor of the “roof for bees” movement for Southwest France to help promote sustainable beekeeping and biodiversity.

On our online store, you can shop for Fleurance’s bestselling line of organic and natural royal jelly skincare: royal jelly regenerating body lotion, royal jelly anti-wrinkle face cream and royal jelly eye and lip contour.

All made in France, in the eponymous village of Fleurance, without harmful chemicals, without cruelty to animals, and independently certified organic by the European COSMEBIO label. Shop smart, know your organic and natural certification labels.

Thank you little bees!

Posted on by

What are the benefits of Argan Oil for skin and hair?

 

What is Argan Oil?

Argan Oil comes from the kernel of the Argan Tree (Argania Spinosa). This tree grows in Morocco, and sometimes Argan Oil is referred to as “Moroccan Oil”.

Argan nuts are harvested mostly by women. The nuts are then roasted (in the same way as coffee or cocoa beans), and the oil is extracted from the kernel by grinding.

argan oil nut
Argan Oil is extracted from the Argan fruit

 

What are the benefits of Argan Oil for the Skin and Hair?

Argan Oil is rich in Omega 6 fatty acids. It is also very high in antioxidants and Vitamin E. It also has anti-inflammatory and certain anti-bacterial properties.

This makes Argan Oil effective in moisturizing the skin and preventing oxidative damage from the sun and free radicals.

It can also help slow signs of aging : Argan Oil helps keep skin supple and prevents premature skin drying and the premature appearance of wrinkles.

Argan Oil can help regulate oily and blemish prone skin. Although putting oil on oily and acne-prone skin seems counter-intuitive, sometimes what the skin needs is a protective barrier to help seal in natural moisture and prevent the skin from over-reacting to harsh pimple products by producing… more oil! Argan Oil is also considered a medium to light oil, and is more easily absorbed than say, Coconut Oil which is more adapted to dry skin.

Argan Oil can also be used on hair to help prevent and repair split ends, and overall to beautify dry, brittle or damaged hair. If your hair is on the oily side, apply Argan Oil to the tips (not the roots).

And last but not least, Argan Oil is great to repair damaged and brittle nails as well!

 

How to use Argan Oil on Skin and Hair?

To apply on skin, the best is to massage a few drops of Argan Oil into damp skin or damp hair. This will help lock in the moisture. You can also add a couple of drops to your favourite face or body lotion to give it an Argan Oil boost!

 

What is high quality Argan Oil?

The benefits of Argan Oil are well recognized now, as the many skin and hair products available on the market definitely show. With all these choices, how can you be sure you are buying a high quality oil?

Here are a few tips to help you shop for quality Argan Oil that will make a difference on your skin and hair.

Look for 100% Argan Oil

Argan Oil is expensive, and one way to make an oil cheaper is to dilute the oil with cheaper oils. To make the most out of Argan Oil’s many beauty benefits, be sure to get 100% Argan Oil, oil that is not mixed with other cheaper oils.

Organic Fair Trade Argan Oil by Fleurance Nature
100% Cold-pressed Argan Oil – certified Organic and Fair-Trade

 

Buy Non-refined and non-deodorized Argan Oil

Skip any oil that’s been heated or refined, and go for cold-pressed and non-deodorized Argan Oil that conserves more of its beneficial properties. How to know? Non-refined oil has a nutty smell and a rich gold colour. It may also say “cold-pressed”, “non-deodorized” or “non-perfumed” on the packaging.

 

Skip the value-pack

Non-refined oil also spoils faster, so it is best to buy Argan Oil in bottle sizes that are adapted to your use and buy again when you’re done. You may also want to buy Argan Oil that is protected from light: look out for tinted bottles or bottles packaged in boxes. Keeping sunlight out also helps to conserve Argan Oil’s beauty benefits.

 

Go Organic

Argan Oil is extracted from the heart of the Argan fruit. The very high oil content of the kernels makes them sponges for absorbing anything that’s used in cultivation. Conventional agriculture uses chemical pesticides and fertilizers that end up in the oil. Buying certified organic Argan Oil means such chemicals are not used. Less harmful chemicals is always better and choosing organic when possible is a sensible decision.

 

Buy Fair-Trade

In certain area of Morocco, the women producers are organized into Fair-Trade rural cooperatives. Buying Argan Oil from such cooperatives at a fair price helps support rural women’s livelihoods. It also helps preserve Argan tree plantations. Desertification puts these plantations at risk, and planting more trees helps to stabilize the soil and slow desertification. Fair-Trade Argan Oil probably doesn’t have a composition that’s very different from non-Fair-Trade oil, however knowing that the women who make it feel empowered and able to sustain their communities and families most likely makes them happier. And happy people make happy oil!

We sell Fair-Trade and Organic Argan Oil and Hair Mask.

Read more about the Fair-Trade communities that are supported by Fleurance Nature Argan Oil.

argan fruit morocco
Fruit on the Argan Tree in Morocco

 

Posted on by

Is Organic Skincare Really Better?

 

We have come a long way from the days where the only Organic Skincare options were organic oils or thick white creams as moisturizers!

Today, there are great certified organic skincare products that are effective, convenient and wonderfully pleasant to use.

Are organic skincare and cosmetic products really better for skin and health? Let’s take a look.

Is Organic Skincare Better for my skin and health?

Let’s look at it this way: our skin is our body’s largest organ, and skin absorbs what is put on it, like moisturizers or body lotions.

Would you drink a cup-full of harmful chemicals? If not, you may also want to consider what you are putting on your skin.

woman putting cream on hand
Are you putting harmful chemicals on your skin?

 

Do Organic Cosmetics contain harmful chemicals?

Organic Cosmetics means that the natural ingredients are organically produced.

This means that NO chemical pesticides, chemical fertilizers or hormones have been used to grow and make the ingredient. Just as you may not want to eat such chemicals, you can choose not to feed your skin with them either.

But it’s not just about the agriculturally produced ingredients. Organic Cosmetics also means that certain ingredients are NOT permitted. Here are a few of the chemicals that have been widely studied and proven as hormone disruptors or irritants: parabens, phthalates, sodium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, formaldehyde, phenoxyethanol… These synthetic ingredients may cause hormonal imbalances that can be linked to reproductive health problems, or trigger skin and respiratory allergies.

Certified Organic Cosmetics DO NOT contain such ingredients.

Are all Organic Cosmetics the same?

Let’s be clear here. It is very important to know if you are buying REAL organic skincare products and not the greenwashed type (those that claim “Organic” or “100% organic” without proof).

To be sure you are getting the real stuff there is only one way: purchase CERTIFIED ORGANIC cosmetics.

How to know if a product is Certified Organic? Certified organic cosmetics have an Organic label such as Cosmos Organic, Bio, USDA Organic… Organic cosmetic labels mean that the products have been checked by independent auditors such as Ecocert, and they guarantee a minimum percentage of organic ingredients and sustainable manufacturing practices.

Check out our list of labels and logos here to make your shopping easier.

Are all Organic Certified Labels the same?

Well, we’d love to say yes, but the answer is NO.

Each organic cosmetic label has different standards : Cosmos Organic (the European Organic Cosmetic Label) will not have the same standard as USDA Organic (the USA Organic Food label) for example.

The highest standards worldwide are the European Organic Cosmetic standards (like Cosmos Organic). The European Union has banned more than 1400 ingredients from being used in personal care and beauty products. The USA in comparison has only restricted about 30.

Skincare ingredients are more strictly regulated in Europe. Made in France or other European countries might be your best choice for skincare that’s truly organic and free from harmful chemicals. Make sure you look at where the product is manufactured!

 

So, is Organic Skincare really better for you? Not all synthetic chemicals are necessarily bad. However, it makes sense to feed our body the least harmful chemicals possible, and using organic skincare daily is definitely a way of caring for our body.

Shop our Made in France Certified Organic Cosmetic Products.

Organic Skincare better

Posted on by

NEW Hand Cream Gift Bundle

Do you know the properties of Verbena, Almond and Rose in skincare?

Organic Tropical Verbena (also called Lemon Verbena) leaf extract is used for its anti-oxidant and energizing properties. The delicate lemon fragrance is also used for stress-reduction. Reach for the Tropical Verbena Hand Cream for an uplifting and zesty pick-me-up!

Organic sweet almond oil deeply hydrates and softens skin. Its high Vitamin A content is idea for fragile skin. Extra dry hands from all that washing? Reach for the soothing powers of Almond Hand Cream!

Organic Damask rose floral water is loved the world over for its delicate fragrance and skin toning and purifying properties. Reach for Rose Hand Cream for all-round hand care, especially in city environments and if your skin feels dull. And of course, for it’s delicate rose fragrance!

 

What’s inside our Hand Cream Gift Set?

Because great things come in small packages!

And now we’ve included 3 great things in one sweet organza pouch.

We’re very excited to introduce Singapore to our Organic Hand Cream Trio Gift Set! The gift bundle contains 3 of our wonderfully scented hand creams from French brand Fleurance Nature, and come ready to gift in an organza pouch.

But first, here’s our 3 x 30ml hand cream gift set (available in Singapore).

Organic Hand Cream Gift Set Pouch by Fleurance Nature

 

We’re bundling up 3 of Fleurance Nature’s most popular certified organic hand creams : Verbena, Almond, and of course, Rose.

Organic Hand Cream Gift Set by Fleurance Nature

We also love the 30ml sizes : great for having at your desk, in the bathroom, kitchen, or purse.

So no matter what your mood is, this hand cream bundle has got you covered. Keep washing and hydrating those paws! Our hand creams are certified organic, made in France, and of course, cruelty-free. Slather up with goodness!

 

 

 

Posted on by

Singapore Supports Ethical Beauty

Who is making the local Singapore beauty scene Cleaner, Greener, more Ethical? 

Come meet the local Singapore businesses that are making a difference! Nature Beauty Glow is partnering with other Singapore businesses at the Wellness Sanctuary Event on Saturday October 12, 2019.

This is YOUR chance to raise funds for the Singapore Red Cross AND support Local Entrepreneurs through Great Food, Organic Beauty, Dance Shows, Group Yoga Classes & GREAT Vibes for the Whole Family! 

At Nature Beauty Glow, we believe in the beauty of giving back, and this is OUR chance to help raise funds for the Singapore Red Cross. We also believe in importing only clean and organic beauty products that follow the highest industry standards.

That means = No Animal Testing, No Animal Cruelty, Ethically sourced natural products, Ethical treatment of employees, No Parabens, No Silicones, No Phthalates, No Sulfates, No Phenoxyehtanol, No Paraffin, No Petrolatum  and only Clean Non-Toxic (at the very least) and Organic (certified by the world’s Gold Standard certification, COSMOS ORGANIC) skincare and baby care products.

YES! GET MY TICKET NOW and JOIN IN THE FUN!!!

 

Wellness Sanctuary Singapore

Posted on by

FLOWER POWER : 6 ways to use FLORAL WATERS in your beauty routine

How to use the magical sounding “Floral Waters” packed in mysterious dark blue bottles? No need to be a pixie or a flower fairy (though that would be very cool) to use the wonderfully versatile Floral Water (or Flower Water) in your beauty routine!

How to use Floral Water in skincare?

Floral waters are very versatile : they cleanse, purify, refresh, tone, make you smell nice and floral, and even help set your make-up.

Our top 6 Ways to use Floral water in your skincare routine :

1. Cleanse and Tone

In the morning, wake up your face by spraying floral water! Or spray floral water as a toner, after cleansing your face.

2. Prep your face for moisturizing and make-up

Spray on floral water before you apply moisturizer.
Then, either let the floral water dry (that’s what I usually do), or dab off excess with a face towel. Follow up with your moisturizer, and make-up as usual.

3. Set your make-up with floral water

When your make-up is all done, lightly spray floral water and let dry. You’re all set!

4. Spray on floral water as a pick-me-up anytime during the day

This is one of my favourite pick-me ups! I always have a travel size floral water spray in my handbag for on the spot face (and soul!) refreshing. It’s like having my portable flower garden oasis I can reach for anytime.

GREAT for your PURSE and BUSY people on the go.

5. Finish off your make-up removal with floral water

When you have removed your make-up, spray on floral water to finish: the wonderful mist spray helps dislodge any residues, and freshens the skin.

6. Use floral water as gentle natural perfume

If you can’t do the usual eaux de toilette or perfumes, but would like to use some flower scent! The smell won’t linger as much as perfumes, but it’ll leave your skin fresh and lightly floral… smelling like your favourite flowers?
This is a great option for kids who want to wear perfume like mum or dad, because flower water is much gentler and more natural.

Ready, set, spray! Shop our range of Organic Floral Waters made in France from organic Mediterranean flowers: Damask Rose and Orange Blossom.

Organic Rose Floral Water by Fleurance Nature
Organic Damask Rose 200ml 

 

Organic Orange Floral Water by Fleurance Nature
Organic Orange Blossom 200ml
Posted on by

Go Clean Skincare Routine : How to SWITCH to ORGANIC SKINCARE in 4 steps

You’re ready to go Organic for your skincare routine : YEAH! Then you look at your beauty stash and you don’t know where to start! How do you easily switch to an organic and natural skincare routine?

Here are 4 tips to get you going on the next step of your life with Organic Skincare (or at the very least, Clean Skincare)!

 

1. Step-by-step move and switch to Organic Skincare

You probably didn’t build your skincare collection in a day, so start small. When you finish a product, replace it by an organic (or clean, at least) equivalent. This way, you’re saving yourself cosmetic overwhelm (and not spending half your salary on a whole new skincare range).

Start small with our Organic Rose, Lavender, Verbena or Almond Hand Creams! They’re ONLY 15.20$SG with your 20% Welcome Coupon when you sign up for our Newsletter! (+3.50$ shipping)

Organic Hand Cream Box by Fleurance Nature
Verbena, Rose,Almond and Lavender Hand Creams from Fleurance

 

2. Get your basics in organic skincare

Start with products that you use most often and products you keep on your skin longest. Think : face moisturizer, body lotion, lip balm, hand cream. You want your everyday basics to be as clean (or organic) as possible.

Start your organic skincare adventure with one of our customer favourites: Rose Face Moisturiser

Organic Rose Face Moisturizer by Fleurance Nature
Organic Rose Face Moisturiser from Fleurance

 

3. Get educated and get labelled

I’m not talking about getting an organic chemistry degree. Find out about the big cosmetic nasties (hormone disruptors, possible carcinogens, irritants…). A few big cosmetic no-no’s for you : Parabens, Phenoxyethanol, Silicones, PEG (Polyethylene Glycol / Oxide), Benzophenones, MIT (Methylisothiazolinone), MCIT or MCI (Methylchloroisothiazolinone), Glycol Ethers.

Words too long to remember ? Leave the work to the international organic product certifiers (like Ecocert or Quality Assurance International…). They independently check products and only those that pass the test can flaunt Certified Organic Labels.

This is what to look out for : REAL Certified Organic labels such as Cosmebio, Bio, USDA Organic or Australian Certified Organic.

The bottom line : it’s not because it’s says “Natural” or “ Organic” on the tube that the product is truly up to international organic and natural cosmetic standards.

Master Certified Organic Labels with our post.

Certified Organic Cosmetic Logos

 

 

4. Be Curious!

Changing skincare products can be challenging, especially if you really love your conventional version or have been using it for years! You may need to try different clean or organic products to find one that meets your needs. But don’t give up: clean and certified organic cosmetics are always improving and new products come up.

Be curious, try out different products and brands and you’ll find your match!

All our products are either Certified Organic or at the very least clean (no sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) or sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), parabens, phthalates, silicones, EDTA, Phenoxyethanol, Paraffin and Petrolatum)

Shop Organic Natural Face Care

Shop Organic Natural Body Care

Shop Organic Natural Hand Care

Shop BabyBaby

 

 

Posted on by

3 Reasons YOU WANT ORGANIC SKINCARE

 

So you drink enough water, exercise and eat a healthy diet. But have you ever thought of what you put on your skin?
What you feed your skin matters. Here are 3 reasons why you want to use organic skincare now.

Continue reading 3 Reasons YOU WANT ORGANIC SKINCARE