Many of you might be familiar with coconut oil; however, this might not be the case with virgin coconut oil. There are notable differences between the two, namely in their source, method of extraction and subsequent benefits. Virgin coconut oil is becoming increasingly popular throughout the world in comparison to ordinary...
Riding astride on magnificent camels through the harsh Saharan desert, the Tuareg are masters of the vast realm, which has earned them a near-mythic reputation. They guard their secrets of survival jealously. As nomadic herders, they navigate through the desert dunes that rise and fall, by the colour, texture and taste...
As an ivory coloured and smoky scented natural fat extracted from the nuts of the karite tree (Vitellaria paradoxa), Shea butter has been lauded for its many virtues. Its history as a precious and luxuriant West African commodity traces back to as early as Cleopatra’s Egypt, with records of caravans...
Perhaps one of the least known treasures from the Horn of Africa is etan, both a tree and what has been described as a god-like resin. Ancient civilisations crazed over etan, and used it profusely for a number of purposes, particularly in cosmetic, healing and spiritual rituals. During the ancient era,...
The founder of the Mughal dynasty, Zahirud-din Mohammed Babur ‘the Tiger’, had been a descendant of Timur and Genghis Khan, the mighty Emperors of Central Asia. Descending from the Fergana Valley and later from the snow-capped mountains at Kabul, in 1525 Babur crossed the Indus and swept into Punjab, the...
First cultivated 5,000 years ago in China, tea has become one of the most popular beverages around the world and a rich history that spans continents and cultures. It has been an excellent source of both disease-fighting flavonoids and antioxidants that help detoxify damaging free radicals in our bodies. But...
The Renaissance was a period in which the senses were fully reborn. Beginning in Florence, Italy in the 1400s, it ushered the search for perfection of form through the harmony of proportions, the establishment of anatomical standards and with it, it brought about a new ideal of female beauty. Art...
Beauty, they say, goes only skin-deep. But the importance of skin goes a lot deeper. What most people don’t know is that your overall skin health is disproportionately determined by your inner layer of skin (dermis), as opposed to the outer layer (epidermis). Our faces are like magic mirrors reflecting the...
The Story of Cosmetics examines the pervasive use of toxic chemicals in our everyday personal care products, from lipstick to baby shampoo. The seven-minute film reveals the implications for consumer and worker health and the environment and outlines ways we can move the industry away from hazardous chemicals and towards...
Although your skin is designed to be a protective barrier, it is porous and will absorb the ingredients in many skin care and cosmetics products. Regular use of chemical laden ingredients will cause the body to store these chemicals. Over time this accumulation can cause many health issues. Take the...