New Natural Bath Guide Published by Osmia Organics

Carbondale, CO (PRWEB) April 02, 2013

Osmia Organics, a new line of natural and organic soap, skin care, and perfumery, has published an article about natural bath enhancements. The company, founded by Dr. Sarah Villafranco, is focused on bridging luxury skin care with environmentally-conscious ingredients and packaging. Dr. Villafranco's philosophy is that natural skin care does not need to feel less luxurious or be any less effective than the top, mainstream products, most of which are filled with chemicals that are increasingly being shown to have negative, sometime serious, health effects.

In the article, Dr. Villafranco explains how the bath is an especially important place to avoid the use of these types of toxic chemicals. One reason explained is that the absorption rate of the skin, the body's largest organ, is substantially higher when immersed in warm water, due to peripheral vasodilation. This increase in absorption applies to anything in the bath water or applied to the skin after a warm bath, whether natural and beneficial or synthetic and potentially detrimental. Another point of consideration is the large quantity of water used in a bath: if the bath water is full of sulfates, phthalates, and ethoxylated compounds, those compounds end up in the water treatment facilities or septic fields, where they have been shown to have harmful consequences for humans, plants, and wildlife.

She goes on to explain that while the bath tub is an especially bad place for chemicals, it is an especially good place for organic and botanical enhancements. The article outlines some of the options for taking a natural bath, including salts, milk, herbs, oils, and essential oils. Most people know about bath salts, but perhaps don't understand the mechanism by which they replenish moisture in the skin, which is explained in the article. Using milk and herbs in the tub are less common, but equally effective, ways to add nourishing qualities to the bath water. The addition of essential oils and dried botanicals add an aromatherapy component, as well, resulting in a relaxed mind in addition to softer skin and happy muscles.

For more information about using environmentally-conscious skin care, and to learn more about how to make a luxurious, natural bath, visit http://www.osmiaorganics.com.

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Osmia Organics Releases New Detox Exfoliating Face Mask on Earth Day 2013

Carbondale, CO (PRWEB) April 22, 2013

Osmia Organics has a new take on exfoliation and facial masks - can't they be combined? The company has two exfoliating masks - the Protein Exfoliating Mask and, starting April 22, the Detox Exfoliating Mask. These dual-purpose powders come in dry form, and are combined with fresh water each for each use, using the included dish and stirring spatula.

With three kinds of "earth"- Rhassoul Clay, Fuller's Earth, and Pink Australian Clay - the Detox Exfoliating Mask is the ideal Earth Day release. Rhassoul Clay is rich in minerals, and can help with flaky, dry patches. Fuller's Earth clay is known for its skin-lightening effects, and can help control oily spots with its absorptive power. Pink Australian Clay is excellent for sensitive, dehydrated skin, drawing moisture to the skin. The dry powder, also comprising organic, raw powders of cacao bean and manuka honey, comes in a glass bottle with a small, reusable ceramic dish and stirring spatula. Making the mask fresh each time eliminates the need for harsh preservatives, which are commonly present in liquid masks. With this product, two teaspoons of powder are to be combined with 1.5 teaspoons of water to make a paste. Osmia's founder, Dr. Sarah Villafranco, says "When I first developed this detoxifying mask, I was so enchanted by the earth-plus-chocolate smell of the dark mixture that I chose not to add any essential oils for fragrance. The clays and cacao and honey look and smell like dark, rich, nourishing dirt - and who doesn't want to play in the mud?"

The face mask may be used in one of two ways. First, it may be used as a mild facial scrub alone - extremely finely-ground, organic, black walnut shells and organic olive leaf powder provide a gentle, physical resurfacing of the face, sloughing away older skin cells, addressing fine lines and dull skin. Alternatively, the paste may be applied as a mask: the clays and activated bamboo charcoal draw impurities from the skin, manuka honey heals and hydrates, and raw cacao provides nourishing fatty acids and gently tones with its inherent caffeine content. After the clays tighten and dry on the face (approximately 10-15 minutes), the mask may be softly massaged away, providing the exfoliating action at the end. (This is best done in the shower or tub to allow the mask to rinse away with less mess.) Pore size is minimized, and open comedones (blackheads) reduced. Due to the pulling and tightening action of the mask, very slight redness, especially in those with sensitive skin, may be experienced for up to 20 minutes, but will resolve, leaving the skin healthy and revitalized.

The detoxifying mask is suitable for all skin types. It should be used once a week as part of a skin care regimen to encourage cell turnover and deep cleansing of the pores. It may be followed, if needed, with a moisturizer or a facial serum.

For more information about Osmia products, or to purchase the Detox Exfoliating Mask, please visit http://www.osmiaorganics.com.

Black Soap Demystified in New Article Published by Dr. Sarah Villafranco of Osmia Organics

Carbondale, CO (PRWEB) May 01, 2013

Osmia Organics, a new line of natural and organic soap, skin care, and perfumery, released a new article today about two types of black soap, and their respective benefits for the skin. The company's founder, Dr. Sarah Villafranco, became increasingly intrigued by the soap as she came across a surprising number of claims that it had helped people with skin conditions such as eczema, psoriasis, and dermatitis. In this short article, she explains the traditional, African method of making black soap, as well as the reasons it can be helpful for the above skin conditions.

For many years, "black soap" has caught the interest of consumers who suffer from various skin issues, starting with simply dry skin, and ranging all the way to more complex dermatological diagnoses. The soap has a near-mystical reputation among its devotees, which may be founded in, at the very least, some anecdotal evidence. The article examines reasons why the African soap might be helpful for alleviating some of these skin conditions, based on its component parts.

Dr. Villafranco, who has perioral dermatitis herself, then worked to develop a different version of the soap, based on her research and experience with her own skin. Her goal was to take the facts about African Black Soap and combine them with current-day, cold-process soapmaking techniques. Without losing the artisan process used by Osmia and many other independent soapmakers, Dr. Villafranco hoped to create a consistently reproduceable, domestically-made product with many of the same attributes, specifically designed for the face. "I loved the idea of using black soap, from the mystery of it to its notably high mineral content. But I wanted to create something of our own, which we could produce in predictable way, using as many certified organic ingredients as possible," says Villafranco.

Also explained in this article is the manner in which some of the ingredients (in both recipes) act on the skin. Ultimately, it seems to come down to moisture - helping skin cells retain water is one of the paramount goals of cosmetic formulation, and a high mineral content is one way of doing that.

Generally speaking, facial soap is steadily gaining popularity - making a comeback of sorts. While commercial face soaps of the last few decades have earned a reputation for being drying, loads of of smaller, artisanal companies are helping people understand that a handmade, natural soap can be more moisturizing than many liquid cleansers on the market today. Says Dr. Villafranco, "There is no reason to assume a face soap in bar form will be more harsh than a liquid cleanser. With the right process and carefully chosen ingredients, a bar soap can strike the perfect balance, and it doesn't come with unnecessary chemicals and a plastic bottle to throw away."

This article clearly explains the differences and similarities between time-honored, African Black Soap and Osmia's recently developed Black Clay Facial Soap. The benefits of each variety are considered, and the consumer is then left to make a more educated decision.

For more information, or to purchase the soap, please visit http://www.osmiaorganics.com.

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