Beauty Out of Africa

How Does My Garden Grow?

Red Peppers, Tomatoes, Egg Plant

Rosemary, Basil & Thyme

Tolu rests after an afternoon of hardwork:)

Our Vegetable Garden Part 1

The rising cost of gas and food definitely added to my motivation to start a vegetable garden this Spring. Hubby and I have always done a few tomato plants every summer, but this year we decided to build a raised bed and really grow some serious veggies. The kids joined in on the fun this weekend. I am looking forward to a bumper crop of tomatoes, peppers, egg plants and lots of herbs this Summer

 

Put my 10 year old to work :)

He did a pretty good job too!

We're gonna have fun watching our food grow

Shea Radiance Introduces Black Soap -Alata Samina

An Incredibly Exotic Cleansing Bar  -Natural, Organic Vegan Black Soap from West Africa

It is with much joy that I write this post about our new line of Black Soaps recently received from our producers in Ghana. The Alata Samina black soap is a little different from other black soaps because it is light brown instead of dark in color. The lighter color color can be attributed to the ingredients and the production process.

Sliced Bars of Black Soap

Why We Love Alata Samina
What I love about this soap is is the incredible rich lather it produces. It leaves your skin feeling squeaky clean.  I recommend slathering some rich shea butter based cream after bathing with this soap to complete the luxurious experience.

 

You  Can Get It Here
I have large Bath size bars available at Shea Radiance retail store. If you need bulk quantities check out Shea Radiance Supplies.

Natural Remedies for Treating Eczema

Eczema can be caused by several factors that must be identified in order to minimize future recurrences
Some of these reasons might include:

• Allergic reactions to foods such as dairy (Milk, cheese and  milk are pretty common)
• Reactions synthetic Fragrances & Dyes
• Dryness caused by seasonal changes, geographic location, heaters or air conditioning

There are a few things to keep in mind when seeking relief from eczema

Cleansing

• Reduce number of Bath/showers. Frequent bathing can be drying and aggravate eczema.
• Avoid hot baths showers as these strip skin of oils and cause additional dryness, instead opt for a  warm bath or shower.
• Use a natural cold pressed soap. They are full of moisturizing oils and are less drying than commercial soaps

Moisturizers

• Moisturize skin while it is still damp from Shower.
• Select moisturizers rich in Shea Butter, Cocoa butter and carrier oils such as Jojoba, Sweet Almond, grapeseed, Olive and avocado oils just to name a few.
• It also helps if the moisturizer is rich in humectants like glycerin, aloe vera or honey which help retain moisture in the skin

Aromatherapy
Lavender, geranium and carrot seed. Others to consider are chamomile, sandalwood, patchouli, rose, hyssop, palma rosa, rosemary, neroli and ylang-ylang. These are all reasonably gentle and nourishing for dry skin. Add about seven to twelve drops total of the essences of your choice to about one tablespoon of the carrier oil of your choice