In the cosmetics industry, a moisturizer is a topical cream, lotion, serum, or an oil designed to maintain optimal levels of oils and water in the skin.

Among the thousands of various moisturizing products on the market some are tailored for morning or evening use; some are for a particular skin type, such as dry skin, combination skin, or oily skin; others are for skin prone to redness or rosacea, etc.

If formulated properly, each moisturizer is a balance of three types of ingredients: humectants, emollients, and occlusive agents. The concentration of these three elements determines the moisturizer's characteristics and use.

Let's break this down to understand how a moisturizer works, using ONLY natural, organic ingredients.

HUMECTANTS

A humectant is an ingredient that helps retain moisture. A moisturizer with a humectant ingredient will draw water from the dermis below, helping to re-hydrate the skin’s surface, but can cause some irritation to the skin in high concentrations.

The classic humectant is glycerin. (You might see it listed as glycerol, which is its alcohol form, on a product's ingredients list.) We do not use glycerin for a couple reasons. It can draw too much moisture, causing irritation and can produce a sticky or tacky feel. We opt for better humectants, such as shea butter, avocado oil, olive oil, castor oil, borage oil, lecithin, aloe vera or honey.

EMOLLIENTS

An emollient is an ingredient that fills in cracks between skin cells, helping to soften and smooth the skin’s surface and making it more flexible. They work by increasing the ability of the skin to hold water, providing the skin with a layer of oil to prevent water loss, and lubricating the skin to prevent dryness.They also contribute to the creamy texture of a moisturizer. 

There are many emollients used in natural cosmetics, most of which are oils like jojoba oil, sunflower oil and rice bran oil.

OCCLUSIVE AGENTS

Occlusive agents are the ingredients in skincare that form a film or barrier on the skin and prevent water loss through the skin. They can be very effective, but if too much is included in a product it can feel waxy or greasy on the skin.

The classic cosmetic occlusive agent is petrolatum, or petroleum jelly, which, of course, is never used in natural, organic products. Natural occlusive agents include zinc oxide, waxes, and some oils, like castor and jojoba oil. In the case of jojoba oil, it is most like our natural sebum and is a humectant, emollient and occlusive ingredient.

All of our moisturizers, be they creams, serums, body oils or body butters, are carefully formulated to give you the perfect balance of humectants, emollients and occlusive agents. Check them out HERE.


Here's hoping our explanation gives you some food for thought. Questions?

Today, February 28th, is my daughter's birthday. Eden was the inspiration for the company name, EdenSong, because she is a Song in my heart. When I became pregnant with her over 40 years ago, I did a turnabout and became completely immersed in all things natural and organic - be it food, gardening, skin care, clothing, or cleaning products . . . and the journey began.

Happy Birthday, dear Eden . . .

To learn more about us, check out our "about" page here: 
http://www.edensongskincare.com/about-us.html#axzz2uYjfHkTJ

What a great way to end the year . . . and start the New Year off with a bang!!!

We are extremely excited to introduce our new sister line, RawSum Organics, which has been in the works for quite a long time. We are starting off with 3-ingredient vegan, food-grade, organic products, available in a kit or they may be purchased individually in 1 oz and 4 oz, all in glass containers. The reusable organic cotton Eco-Pads come in a natural laundry/soap bag.

At RawSum Organics, all products are made from scratch using only pure, food-grade, highly effective ingredients. More is not always better, so for this product line, less IS more. The RawSum 3Sum Basics work fantastic and are more potent with just the absolute essentials. You won’t find any synthetics or fillers, and never any toxins. That’s why they are safe for even the most troubled or sensitive skin. Our Back to Basics Kit has only 3 ingredients in each product and, of course, they smell awesome from the natural infusions or have no scent at all, which is also awesome! The packaging is eco-friendly, too!

How do you use the products? Oh, that’s simple! Here are the directions for each product that are included in our kit.

Exfoliant: Mix a spoonful with your favorite liquid to make a paste (cream for dry skin, milk for normal skin, water for oily skin, yogurt for all skin types or your favorite oil). Massage into skin and rinse off with warm water, then cool water to close pores. Use this at least a couple times a week to remove dead skin. (Ingredients: Organic Rose Petals, Organic Almond Flour, Organic Sea Salt)

Cleanser: Massage a spoonful onto damp skin and rinse with warm water, removing daily grime. (Ingredients: Organic Carrot-Infused Sunflower Oil, Organic Grapeseed Oil, Organic Castor Oil)

Toner: After cleansing, use our Eco-Pads to apply to your face. This evens skin tone and balances pH. (Ingredients: Organic Rose Hydrosol, Organic Witch Hazel, Organic Apple Cider Vinegar)

Cream: Apply to fingertips to warm up, then to damp skin for better absorption to moisturize and nourish. Works great for face and all over your body! (Ingredients: Organic Kokum Butter, Organic Babassu Oil, Organic Meadowfoam Oil)

ALL DONE! Now, wasn't that easy??

The Mini Kit in our organic cotton canvas bag is a wonderful way to be introduced to our food-grade "back to basics" organic skin care.

You'll find out quickly how awesomely effective the products are with only 3 ingredients in each product! Did we mention that they work marvelously,too? 

Going on a trip? The grab-n-go Mini Kit is the perfect travel companion.

Kit includes 1-oz sizes of our Exfoliant, Cleanser, Toner, Cream, some Eco-Pads, and the eco-friendly organic cotton canvas bag.  (See individual products for more details.)

Makes a perfect gift for your favorite guy or gal, too!

Have you already tried RawSum Organics products? Tell us how you liked them. If you haven't tried them, what are you waiting for?

Above is a video I came across on the Beauty Food Tips site for an easy wine mask. Here are the instructions:

Directions:
Always start by cleaning your face using a cotton pad with your usual cleansing milk.
Mix all the ingredients together well until completely blended. The consistency will be a little jelly-like (the smell and appearance is really yummy, remember you DON’T have to eat it  . Apply a thick layer to your face with your clean makeup brush, avoiding the lips and the eye area. Let it dry for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. Finish with a moisturizer.

It’s a luxurious mask for your skin with luxurious results!

The antioxidant properties of wine help in getting the toxins out of the skin and giving an instant wrinkle-free effect. Honey hydrates and tones the skin. Yoghurt, which is rich in zinc, helps clearing the skin and improves the overall skin texture, besides adding a healthy glow to your skin. Least but not last, the cocoa powder is amazing for our skin: fit helps firm and renew skin cells.

And not only: Cocoa is a mood enhancer and it helps stabilize your mood by initiating serotonin release. The lavender essential oil enhances the relaxation, making you feel rejuvenating and at peace.

A true homemade vinotherapy at the cheapest cost possible therefore what are you waiting for to show your skin some love? 

Remember to always make an allergic test on a small angle of your face before applying the mask.

Enjoy! Do you have a favorite homemade mask? If so, please share!

We're very proud to announce that EdenSong Essentials is featured in official gifting for some of the biggest names in Country Music, as well as executives for The 46th Annual CMA Awards! 

Watch LIVE on Nov. 1 at 8p/7p Central on ABC.

The first “CMA Awards Banquet and Show” was held in 1967. The following year, the CMA Awards was broadcast on NBC Television for the first time – making it the longest running, annual music awards program on network television. The Awards aired on NBC through 1971, on the CBS Television Network from 1972 through 2005, and has aired on ABC since 2006. ABC will be the network home of the CMA Awards through 2021.

Our participation is possible because of our affiliation as a proud member of The Artisan Group.

The Artisan Group is an elite art promotions group representing talented artisans at Hollywood’s best celebrity gift lounges. It provides a sampling of handcrafted products to celebrities and members of the press at major award show gift lounges such as those leading up to The Academy Awards, The Golden Globes, The MTV Movie Awards and The Primetime Emmys. Membership in the Artisan Group is juried and by invitation only. Members showcase a broad range of specialties including jewelry; spa and bath products; designer stationary and paper goods; crocheted apparel; children’s clothing; accessories and toys; ceramics; purses and totes; hand-poured candles; book binding and journals; illustrations and paintings; hand-dyed scarves; fine art photography; hair accessories; pet apparel and toys; woodworking products and more. The Artisan Group also offers its members guidance in the areas of sales, marketing, social media and public relations.

The Artisan Group is in no way associated with MTV, The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, The Hollywood Foreign Press Association or The Academy of Television Arts and Sciences.

Talent gifted: Blake Shelton, Brad Paisley, Brantley Gilbert, Carrie Underwood, Colbie Caillat, Connie Britton, Eli Young Band, Faith Hill, Hayden Panettiere, Hunter Hayes, Jana Kramer, Jason Aldean, John Legend, Keith Urban, Kellie Pickler, Kelly Clarkson, Kenny Chesney, Kevin Canady, Kimberly Williams-Paisley, Lady Antebellum, Lisa Marie Presley, Little Big Town, Love & Theft, Luke Bryan, Martina McBride, Mickey Raphael, Miranda Lambert, Reba, Scotty McCreery, Sugarland, Taylor Swift, The Band Perry, Tim Allen, Tim McGraw, Vince Gill, Will Hoge, Zac Brown Band, along with a number of executives from ABC and the CMAs.

We're excited to see our specialized edible organic skin care product line getting this exposure!

People are always talking about how great broccoli is for you - well kale kicks broccoli’s butt when it comes to good health comparison. Yes, broccoli IS great for you, yet kale is leaps and bounds better, packed with the vitamins like A, K, B6, as well as niacin, riboflavin, thiamin, calcium, iron, protein, magnesium, and more. 

Many people include kale into their diet to help lower cholesterol and decrease the chance of getting cancers, such as breast cancer, colon cancer, ovarian cancer, or prostate cancer. This might vegetable is also a natural antioxidant and anti-inflammatory, naturally detoxifying the body, keeping it healthy and full of energy. Raw kale creates enzymes to cleanse the liver, which helps detoxify cancer causing issues in the body.

Besides eating kale raw or steamed, let's open our options to a wonderful, tasty treat - kale chips! It's become quite the rage recently, so if you search online, you'll find an assortment for kale chip recipes.  

One of the best recipes I've found is from Erika at A Little Insanity Blog.  As a wife and mother of 3 boys, she strives to make healthy, raw foods for her family. Here's Erika's recipe:

Raw Maui Kale Chips in the VitaMix & Dehydrator

Soak Ingredients:

• 1 Cup Macadamia Nuts (this gives it the creamy, dreamy taste!)
• 1/2 Cup Sunflower Seeds
• 1/4 Cup Cashews
• 1/4 Cup Sesame Seeds (optional)
• 5 Sun Dried Tomatoes
• 4 Dates (pits removed)
• Approx. 1 1/2 Cups Water to Cover the Soaked Ingredients

Other Ingredients:

• 4-5 Heads of Green Leafy Kale (Washed & De-Veined – see image)
• 1/2 Sweet Yellow Onion
• 1 Single Stalk of Celery
• 1 Carrot
• 1/4 Cup Olive Oil
• 3 Tablespoons Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2 Tablespoons Braggs Aminos (or to taste)
• 1 Teaspoon Cayenne Pepper (or to taste)
• 1 Teaspoon Lemon Juice
• 1 Cup Nutritional Yeast (this gives it the ‘cheesy’ flavor) – Add Last!
• Additional 1/4 – 1/2 Cup Water – only if needed.

Procedure:
1. Place the Nuts, Seeds, Sun Dried Tomatoes & Dates into a medium sized bowl and place just enough water to cover them (approx 1 1/2 cup).  Let soak for approx. 1/2 hour.

2. While Nuts are soaking, Wash the Kale and strip the leaves off the Center stalk or ‘Vein; and set them aside.  (We will not be using the stalk/veins for this recipe, so be sure to add them to your Dirty Juice or Compost Bin!)

3. Once Nuts are done soaking, dump the veggies & nuts (including the water) into the VitaMix, then Blend on High until smooth.

4. Add the remaining ingredients into the VitaMix with the Nutritional Yeast last.

5. Blend everything until smooth… using your VitaMix Tamper to mix it around as needed.  Feel free to add another 1/4 to 1/2 cup water if the mixture is too thick.  Ideally the mixture should have a consistency like mustard, but smooth.

6. Scoop approx. 1 Cup of Mixture into a large bowl – lining the sides and bottom of bowl.

7. Add in a couple of handfuls of Kale Leaves to the bowl, and Coat each piece of Kale generously with mixture.

8. Transfer onto your lined Excalibur Dehydrator trays (I use the Paraflexx non-stick liners for the Excalibur)

9. Dehydrate at 125-135 degrees for 1-2 hours, then reduce heat to 115 degrees for an additional 20-24 hours or until all of the Kale is very crispy and flakes if crushed.

10. When done, remove the chips from the Dehydrator and store in airtight containers or Ziploc bags in the fridge until use.

Yields:  Approximately 4-5 dehydrator trays of Chips (which fills up 3-4 large Gallon Ziploc)

Preparation & Cooking Time: 30 Minutes Prep & Soak.  Approx. 20-24 hours dehydrating time. (your dehydrating time may vary depending on humidity, temperature, mixture, etc…)

You can check out her video below:
All ingredients I used in the video were Raw and Organic. 

At the beginning of the new year, we promised you new products and we are getting ready to roll them out!  It takes a lot of work to make sure our products are ready for you through proper formulation and testing, so thanks for your patience.

Take a peek at what we have in store for you.  We're sure you'll be as pleased with them as we are!

Jagged Defense Shaving Cream 3 oz $25

Our natural shaving cream is ideal for both men and women. It is excellent for a man's bristly beard, as well as for the softer feminine hair on legs, underarms, bikini and Brazilian.  It soothes the skin and helps with razor nicks. Jagged Defense moisturizes, provides a smoother, irritation-free shave, creates slip with superior lubrication and prevents razor drag.  Helps eliminate razor burn and rashes, while protecting against the harsh environment.  You can expect smoother and suppler skin. Works great in combination with our Razor Glide Shaving Oil.

To use:  Massage cream into clean, wet skin to soften skin, uplift hair follicles, and provide slick razor surface.  Shave with the grain to prevent nicks.  Can be used solo or combined with our Razor Glide Shaving Oil for turbocharged results.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Peel Extract, Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

Razor Glide Shaving Oil 1 oz $25

Works wonders for both men and women on even the most sensitive skin. Razor Glide provides greater protection, smooth glide-enabling and superb moisturizing properties, giving you a closer, consistently smooth and irritation-free shave.  The organic ingredients help eliminate razor burn due to its protecting ability and moisturizing effect without clogging pores, leaving your skin conditioned and moisturized, not oily.  It applies clear, so you can actually see where you are shaving with no mess! Say goodbye to cuts and nicks!

Our shaving oil is a blend of vegetable oils or silicone oils and essential oils that can be used as a stand-alone shaving lubricant or as pre-shave underneath shaving cream, soap or gel, to facilitate shaving facial and other body hair. If a pre-shave is your preferred method, we highly recommend using it in combination with our Jagged Defense Shaving Cream. Often these products would work best by wetting the area before the razor being used.

The concentrated formula delivers a comparable number of shaves as commercial brands, up to 100 shaves.

To use: Massage a few drops of oil into clean, wet skin to soften skin, uplift hair follicles, and provide slick razor surface.  Shave with the grain to prevent nicks.  Can be used solo or combined with our Jagged Defense Shaving Cream for turbocharged results. Razor Glide moisturizes, provides a smoother, irritation-free shave, creates slip and prevents razor drag.  Helps eliminate razor burn and rashes. Works great for men and women.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil

Calming Comfort Balm 2.5 oz $50

Potent cell regeneration and repair capabilities help to alleviate irritated skin, bumps, bruises, wounds and burns. Treat ouchies organically with our special blend that promotes skin recovery, reduces redness and inflammation of the skin, while helping to relieve pain.  It assists in soothing and calming skin, and aids in reducing discomfort, as it helps restore and protect dry or damaged skin.  It is powerfully antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal, with natural relaxant, anti-depressant properties.

To use: Apply to affected skin and gently massage in, as often as needed. Safe for all ages, including infants.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Dromaius Novaehollandiae (Emu) Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Pentadesma Butyracea (Kpangnan) Seed Butter, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Infused Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

We are also working on a honey facial scrub that gently exfoliates, tones with anti-aging and anti-acne properties. Sweeeet!

We expect to roll out these new products within the next month, so be sure to check back soon.

What products would you like to see in our store that we don't already offer?

Why is it still so hard to find truly pure skin care products?

I'm taking about products that are free from parabens, fillers, petroleum, chemical preservatives, and who knows what else that may contain toxins?  One would think with the movement towards green and clean, organic and natural, that more and more of the major companies would meet the demands of the public, but unfortunately, the majority do not.  They continue to produce products with known ingredients, which are considered detrimental to our health.  Why?  Because it's cheaper and because they can.

Let's face it -- not everyone chooses to go organic and natural, green or even cares what's in their skin care products.  For those that do wish to use purer, greener ingredients, and are having trouble finding them or may not quite understand how to decipher the labels, rest assured there are formulators that care.  We, at EdenSong Essentials, are among the latter group and our goal is to provide you the best and purest edible 100% natural organic skin care.

We urge you, as the reader, to ask questions, get informed and educated about everything you are putting on your body, because we are what eat.

What is your skin eating?

We will be covering skin care ingredients in future blog posts, along with simple recipes you can make at home, as well as other relevant skin care topics - and some random subjects now and again.