Blog
Massage has so many benefits that we wonder why we do not do it more often. For some it is a treat and for others once you know the benefits you schedule it for more often, like monthly or even weekly.
Here are the Main Benefits of Massage;
- Reducing stress and increasing relaxation.
- Reducing pain and muscle soreness and tension.
- Improving circulation, energy and alertness.
- Lowering heart rate and blood pressure – activation of the parasympathetic nervous system’s ‘rest and digest’ mode helps regulate blood pressure and heart rate.
- Improved bone blood supply – brings calcium and other minerals to your bones to support their strength and function.
- Lymphatic detox – balance the fluid and the function of your immune system.Digestive Wellbeing – stress takes it toll on your digestive system – increases saliva, gastric juice, and insulin.
- Improves breathing – release of tension in your shoulders, chest and neck muscles assists respiration – deeper breathing.
A wonderful treat for yourself or partner. You can use SPoil Hydrating Massage oil which is formulated to glide over the skin and not dry out. You can either use it on its own or add your own essential oil blend depending on what you want to achieve e.g. lavender for relaxation, rose for romance, rosemary for muscle tension.
Doing it Yourself -
You can massage your own feet and get the benefits of reflexology, which is an ancient Chinese art of applying pressure to areas of the foot that correspond to the energy of specific organs and body parts to promote healing and release energy blockages. Foot reflexology can boost the immune system, increase circulation, cleanse toxins from the body and balance energy, triggers relaxation resulting in reduced levels of stress and tension. This practice is also helpful in increasing blood flow and circulation throughout the body.
It is recommended to drink a full glass of water to replenish what is flushed out. Avoid tea, coffee and alcohol as these are stimulants and will reduce the effectiveness of the treatment. Eat a light and healthy diet to allow your body to put its energy into healing.
Here are some of my favourite aromatherapy essential oil blends that will help with certain wants from your massage:
Uplifting Foot Massage:
10ml massage oil and add
2 drops thyme
1 drops geranium.
Relaxation Body Massage:
30ml massage oil and add
4 drops frankincense
4 drops lavender
2 drops orange
Muscle/Joint Massage:
15ml of carrier oil and add
15 drops eucalyptus
10 drop lime
10 drop ginger
5 drop basil.
Always use 100% essential oils and then blend with SPoil Hydrating Massage oil
How to hydrate for healthy glowing skin with 100% natural ingredients
Do you have skin that is dry, flaky, wrinkled, irritated or inflamed? Perhaps your moisture barrier is in need of some loving care.
The skin’s moisture barrier is responsible for locking in moisture and keeping your skin hydrated and healthy. But when it’s damaged or compromised it can cause serious hydration issues.
Think of your skin like a wall of bricks with mortar. When your moisture barrier is broken, it is like the mortar is breaking down. For your skin, those cracks expose your sensitive skin layers to dry air, causing them to dehydrate.
Luckily, moisture barrier damage isn’t permanent — and with the right changes to your lifestyle, you can reverse the damage and restore proper hydration to your skin.
Hydrate from the inside out
When it comes to repairing your moisture barrier, you might just think of what you will put on top of your skin, however it is just as important to focus on what you put into your skin.
So, if you want to repair your moisture barrier and replenish hydration to the skin I recommend doing these next 6 things and you skin will thank you for it.
- Drink plenty of water
Your skin is made up of 30 percent water so increase your water intake every day. Keep a water bottle at your fingertips and aim to have two bottles a day. If you feel thirsty then you are already dehydrated.
In addition to drinking plenty of water you’ll also want to avoid any coffee or alcohol as this can dehydrate you, as well as your skin.
- Getting enough sleep
Your sleeping hours are when your skin repairs itself and replenishes moisture — and getting more sleep goes a long way in helping your skin repair it’s moisture barrier.
Aim to get at least 8 to 9 hours of sleep to encourage the skin’s healing process.
- Use a mild cleanser
It’s important to wash your face every day — but if you’re using the wrong cleanser, it could be stripping the skin of its protective oils and doing more harm to your moisture barrier than good. Avoid gels and foams.
I would recommend an oil-based cleanser that are tailored to your skin condition
- Eat right to feel bright
Eat daily foods high in essential fatty acids, which help strengthen the skins moisture barrier, like nuts and seeds, tuna, salmon, flax and pumpkin seeds. Add some LSA in your smoothie. Zinc is also great for boosting collagen production.
Eat food high in Vitamin C - one of my favourite food for tea is kumara which has replaced the good old potato in our family. Roasted with olive oil which is full of the essential fatty acid.
- Apply a nourishing product.
The most important ingredients to look for are:
- Humectants – which is an ingredient that binds moisture and helps to slow down the rate at which water evaporates from the skin.
- Occlusives – oils and waxes that form an inert layer on the skin and physically block trans epidermal water loss.
- Emollients – fatty acids helps with skin barrier function and leads to overall skin texture and appearance.
Essential fatty acids and vitamin E present in vegetable oils are absorbed through the skin which are helpful for all of your cell membranes.
Sweet almond, wheatgerm, borage, carrot, evening primrose and apricot kernel oils are used used to create our range of SPoil Special Oils – body and facial serums. We add 100% essential oils to target certain skin needs like – hydration, moisture, toning ,tighening, soothing, nourishing, boost production of collagen and elastin and healing scar tissue.
Specifically SPoil Vibrancy and Rejuvenating facial oil can either be used on its own or as the last step in your skincare regime to lock in moisture. Making all products much more effective.
- Breathe deep
Stress can cause impaired barrier function and delay the repair process. So if you want to repair your moisture barrier, you need to keep the stress to a minimum.
One way you can do that is by applying Soul Light energising oil to your pulse points, then hold your wrists up to your nose and breath deep. Feel yourself being transported to an inward space.
This oil helps balance your energy centres and connects you to your essence of yourself. Feeling good and supported.
When you feel yourself getting stressed, pause and take a few deep breaths.
Close your eyes, sit comfortably with you back straight. Put one hand on your chest and other on your stomach.
Breathe in through your nose. The hand on you stomach should rise. The hand on your chest should move very little.
Exhale through you mouth, pushing out as much air as you can while contracting your abdominal muscles. The hand on your stomach should move in as you exhale, but your other hand should move very little.
Continue to breath in through your nose and out through your mouth.
I challenge you to do this for a month and see how good you feel, and see how hydrated your skin appears. Probably looking more youthful and feeling bright.
Taking care of your skin is taking care of yourself.