What causes Scalp scaling (flakes or 'dandruff')?

Everyone will have a touch of flakes on the scalp once a while as a result of dead skin. However, the excessive shedding and build up of dead may give the scalp a scaly appearance and if unattended, it may lead to persistent itching and scratching. This can be quite annoying, frustrating, uncomfortable and embarrassing as the flakes become visible on the scalp and hair.

This phenomenon can be associated with a few common skin conditions or irritations that affect the scalp leading to reactions by producing dry or oily/greasy scales or flakes and crusty sores. This depends on the root cause of the inflammation which could be internal or external to the sufferer.

What causes scalp scaling and flakes?

Cradle cap – This mostly affects newborns. A common symptom is a greasy scalp with yellowish flakes that may spread to parts of the face and eyebrows.

Dry scalp – A dry scalp tends to be itchy and may flake as a result. The causes of a dry scalp are mostly environmental ranging namely cold winters, shampooing too much, shampooing too little, scalp sensitivity to harsh hair products like chemicals, gels, hairsprays and dyes, use of alkaline soaps or alcohol based shampoos, as well as excessive heat from dryers.   

Scalp psoriasis – This can be identified by red and white small powdery (thick if severe) plaques on the scalp that may spread to the forehead, ears and neck. They tend to be itchy and painful and may lead to temporary hair loss on the affected areas.   

Dandruff – Dying and flaking off of skin cells from the scalp is normal but sometimes, if the shedding and build up is excessive due to internal or environmental causes, it tends to give the scalp a scaly appearance leading to irritation. It can be identified by dry, fine flaky skin on the scalp. Most people will simply complain of white/grayish flakes on their shoulders which are mostly noticeable on dark clothing.

Seborrhoeic dermatitis/ eczema – this is dandruff accompanied by inflammation particularly affecting the sebum gland rich areas of skin. It may extend from the scalp to other areas like eyebrows and folds of the nose with possible redness and itching which may be worsened by stress, allergies, hormonal imbalances, poor diet and immuno-suppression. The flakes can be yellow, white or grayish and if left untreated, can lead to hair loss.

Head lice – Head lice mostly cause irritation and itching of the scalp but scratching can lead to crusting and scaling of the scalp. They are usually confined to the scalp, especially the occipital and post-auricular regions and diagnosis is by identification of the lice as they are visible with naked eyes.

Tinea Capitis – Commonly known as ringworms, this is an infectious fungal infection that affects the skin. Symptoms of scalp ringworm are a flaky, circular patch of baldness which could have a rash and itch.

This blog is aimed at providing suggestions of the common scalp conditions that cause scaling and is not a replacement to physician advice. It is important to contact a physician for all medical problems.  

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Caring for a Sensitive/problematic skin

This type of skin is very sensitive to environmental factors; it burns easily in the sun and is easily irritated by mainstream cleansers and perfumed cosmetics. Typical reactions include itching, burning, excessive dryness, peeling, chaffing and stinging. It could be dry, oily, combination or acne prone. To know your specific type of skin, refer to our previous article know your skin type.

To care for this type of skin, avoid alcohol based, petroleum based, perfumed products or products with artificial colors. Avoid touching the face unnecessarily, and whenever you have to do it, clean/sanitize the hands first.

Cleanse the skin twice daily with a nonabrasive cleanser. Opt for a gentle, glycerin based, pH balanced, non comedogenic cleanser that does not clog pores. Use only as much quantity as needed; not too much, not too little. Use warm water to cleanse, not hot or cold. To open up clogged pores, you could dab a slightly cooled hot clean washcloth on the face.

Exfoliate with a gentle non abrasive facial scrub that will not clog pores twice or thrice a week, depending on the condition of the skin. If skin irritation occurs, stop. Avoid scrubbing the skin when it is irritated. Use a clay or moisturizing mask once or twice a week, depending on your specific skin type and the condition of your skin.

To tone the skin, opt for water based toners that do not list alcohol based ingredients. If you have to use a salicylic or acne solution to deal with small white heads/break outs, dab it on the area with a cotton ball, do not rub.

To moisturize, opt for an oil free, non scented, water based light moisturizer. You can also opt for 100% organic vitamin E moisturizer that will not clog your pores. Always protect your skin with a non comedogenic sunscreen lotion with an SPF of at least 15 before going outdoors.  

Finally, eat a healthy and balanced diet. Eat foods rich in antioxidants, essential oils, minerals, fibre and vitamins and maintain a high consumption of water to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. If you experience an unexpected or a sporadic skin reaction, consult a dermatologist to prescribe treatment to control it. 

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Caring for an oily skin

Caring for oily skin tends to be challenging for some people but it should not as oil production by the skin is a natural process carried out by a series of glands located in the dermis or middle layer of the skin of mammals called sebaceous glands. These glands are distributed over the entire body with the exception of the palms of the hands and the soles of the feet and are most abundant on the scalp and face. The sebaceous glands are attached to hair follicles and release an oily substance called sebum into the follicular duct and hence to the surface of the skin. Sebum helps keep the skin moist and is protective to the skin. But for some people, the glands produce too much of these oils (sebum), leading to a much dreaded skin type. This skin type is most common with teenagers due to high hormone production. But some adults also have this type of skin. To know if you have this skin type, refer to our previous post ‘Know your skin type’.  

Most people with oily skin react by stripping away the excess oil with harsh soaps and facial washes as they feel they clog the pores leading to break outs and giving the skin a sheen and that greasy look. It is important to note that these oils, although they cause complexion problems, they act as the skin's natural moisturizer. They therefore, only need to be controlled. By stripping them away, the sebaceous glands instinctively replenish the lost oils and one ends up creating a bigger problem as the skin becomes very sensitive. Caring for this skin means keeping the pores open to avoid build up of dead cells, dirt and bacteria that will clog and infect the pores causing acne.

Cleanse twice daily with warm water (not hot water) and a gentle facial cleanser. Look for a cleanser meant for oily skin to help keep the pores clear and lift impurities without irritating and drying out the skin. Follow with a water based toner that does not list alcohol based ingredients. Alcohol tends to be astringent and strips off moisture from the skin.

Exfoliate the skin one to two times a week with a non abrasive facial scrub. This depends on the condition of your skin. Avoid scrubbing when you have a break out not to spread it. Using a facial mask is also recommended one to two times a week to cleanse deep down into your pores. This again depends on the sensitivity of your skin. A clay mask is most suitable as it is oil free.

Use oil free, water based, non greasy and non comedogenic moisturizers meant for oily skin to hydrate your skin without clogging the pores. Sun protection lotions and make ups should also be oil free.  Always remember you are what you eat; watch a healthy and balanced diet. Eat foods rich in antioxidants, essential oils, minerals, fibre and vitamins and maintain a high consumption of water to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. 

Your efforts to keep your oily skin clear can only go so far and you may experience sporadic acne breakouts. You should consult a dermatologist to prescribe an acne treatment lotion or salicylic solution to control it.  

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What is Tamanu oil?

Tamanu oil, also known as Foraha oil, is a product of the Tamanu tree (Calophyllum Inophyllum) which is native to the islands of Tahiti and Madagascar but also found in other tropical areas. It has been used by indigenous communities for centuries and elicited a lot of interest from scientists as early as 1918 for its unique benefits to the skin. The Tamanu tree grows wild and upto between 8 to 20 metres high and blooms twice annually with fragrant, small white flowers. These flowers eventually yield to clusters of about 4 to 5 yellow, round, edible fruits about the size of apricots. Harvesting of the fruits involves collecting mature fruits after they drop to the ground and cracking them open mechanically. Within the fruit’s thin pulp lies a large nut that contain kernel. The kernels contain no visible oil and have to be dried in the sun for at least a month until they turn chocolate brown and become sticky with dark, thick, pleasant smelling oil. The longer they are dried, the better as they tend to give more oil usually upto around two months. The kernels are then cold-pressed to produce a dark green oil with a rich, deep scent called tamanu oil. It takes large amounts of tamanu fruit to yield just a few litres of tamanu oil which makes it rare and expensive.

Tamanu oil is a remarkable topical healing agent with scar healing, antibiotic, antioxidant, anti-neuralgic, anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial properties. Due to its anti-oxidant, antimicrobial and anti-bacterial quality, it provides a solution to many skin problems from aging, blemishes, acne, shingles, eczema, herpes, rosacea to rashes with no side effects as it is 100% raw and organic. Applied to wounds, cuts, burns, insect bites and stings, it accelerates healing by promoting formation of new tissue and growth of blemish-free healthy skin. It is known to improve skin appearance by reducing visible scars, improving skin elasticity, firmness and smoothness hence works well on scars and stretch marks. Its anti-inflammatory and analgesic qualities helps rid the body of pain extremely fast and is hence beneficial in cases of neuralgia, sciatica, shingles, rheumatism, sprains, pulled muscles and ligament damage.

Tamanu oil is easily absorbed by the skin, it is non greasy and will not clog your pores. It can be used directly on the skin or diluted with a carrier oil. Its pleasant aroma and silky texture makes it ideal for use in creams, lotions, ointments, and other cosmetic products. SliceofNature stocks Tamanu oil from Madagascar which is rare and favored by aroma therapists because it is typically purer and more aromatic. 

Caring for a combination skin

If you have a combination skin, the central part of the face (T-zone); the forehead, nose and chin may be oily, while other parts, like the cheeks and the delicate skin under the eyes, can be dry or normal. In other words, it is a combination that is characterized as normal and oily skin or, oily and dry skin. Exactly which areas are affected most often changes with age; like for example adolescents find their foreheads and noses a problem, which is linked to hormones, whereas older women find chins some times breaking out, most often linked to increased stress levels.

Caring for combination skin is therefore a delicate balancing act as it involves tackling the problem on one area of the face without harming the skin on the other areas. You don't want to over-moisturize the oily areas and you don't want to apply products formulated for oily skin to the dry skin and end up with a skin that feels tight, dry or scaly, especially around the eyes and mouth. With this type of skin, you may therefore require a little more time for the care regimen, but it will be well worth your time and effort since you will achieve a healthy looking and glowing skin.

The first step is cleansing. Cleanse twice daily with warm water and a gentle facial cleanser for combination skin. Avoid using hard water, soap or harsh cleansers formulated for oily skin or milky cleansers formulated for dry skin and instead use a moisturizing cleansing bar or facial wash. The foaming action strips the oil on the oily skin without dehydrating the dry areas on the cheeks at the same time.

Exfoliate periodically, using a gentle scrub, say twice or thrice a week to keep the skin looking fresh and radiant. Exfoliating reduces the dry flakes of skin from the dry areas on the cheeks that stick on the oily areas causing blockage of pores. To loosen blackheads, you can use pore strips. These are little sticky pads which you place over the blocked pores and then pull off. They are perfect for combination skins as they allow you to focus your treatment on the affected area (oily areas). To start, use the strips every day for three days, then, reduce to once a week.

Follow with a water-based or glycerin-based toner to help remove remaining residue as well as spread the excess oil in oily areas to the dry areas of your face. Avoid astringent toners, alcohol based toners and cleansing lotions as they strip off the moisture on your skin. These can be very harsh for combination skins.

The use of a facial mask is recommended at least once a week. Combination skin may require the use of two different masks to adequately meet your skin's needs. Start with a clay mask on the T-zone, it should feel tight as it dries. Wait for a few minutes and rinse it off with warm water. Follow with a moisturizing mask on the drier areas. Wait for around 5 minutes then rinse it off with warm water.

Finally, moisturize your skin. For an oily-normal combination, you need to keep it hydrated, but dry in the areas prone to excessive oil. Choose water-based moisturizers for this as opposed to oil-based ones, making sure to apply sparingly to oil-prone areas. For an oily-dry combination, use emollient-based moisturizers on the dry areas to keep the skin feeling fresh. You may need a heavier moisturizer for the eyes but be sure to keep it off the T-zone.

You can now apply your make up. If you choose to use a liquid foundation, try to find one that is made especially for combination skin, to better manage the oily and dry areas of your skin. Do not forget to apply a sunscreen at all times when going outdoors. Try to shop for foundations and powders that double up as make-up and sunscreen to make your life easier. Remember you are what you eat. Watch a healthy and balanced diet. Eat foods rich in antioxidants, essential oils, minerals, fibre and vitamins. Maintain high consumption of water to keep your skin healthy and hydrated. 

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Caring for a dry skin

Dry skin ages much more quickly than healthy, hydrated skin so it is important to put in place a good skin care regime to tackle this early. Caring for dry skin involves locking in as much moisture as possible especially in extreme weather conditions (winter, windy or low humidity conditions) as they cause dryness by stripping skin of its natural oils. Dry skin hardly feels like it needs to be cleansed as it is not acne or shine prone, but it does, twice daily, morning and night to keep it healthy and clear.

To start with, only use mild soaps or cleansers meant for dry skin; these will not strip the skin too much of oils and moisture. Use warm, not hot water and finish off with a cool rinse for the same reason, not to strip the skin of too much natural oils. After washing, pat it dry but not completely with a soft towel to leave a little moisture. You should be very gentle with dry skin, avoid scrubbing it dry, and when rubbing in skin care products use gentle, massaging action. Moisturize using deep but light moisturizers preferably with vitamin E after washing to prevent that tight, drawn feeling. If wearing make up, use foundations which contain vitamin E and other moisturizing ingredients just like a moisturizer. Protect dry skin in extreme weather conditions by wearing sunscreen always including winter. Most foundations have this ingredient but look out for it while shopping for one. Avoid using products that contain alcohol because alcohol dries out the skin. Avoid exfoliating your skin on a daily basis as this irritates and dries out your skin more, do it two to three times a week with a gentle scrub.

Finally, take note to maintain a healthy diet. Boost and maintain high water consumption to keep your skin hydrated. Eat foods rich in antioxidants, essential oils, minerals, fibre and vitamins. 

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Caring for normal skin

Having looked at ways of identifying your skin type and the different skin types, we will now be looking at ways to care for your specific skin type starting with normal skin. You are lucky if you have this type of skin as it has a good oil/water balance hence glowing most of the time. This however does not mean that you neglect it as this balance can fluctuate leaving it more dry or oily at times. Over time, neglect will lead to signs of aging and wrinkles. To retain the glow and make it last, you will therefore need to adopt a daily regimen that will work for you which we have simplified for you here.

Cleanse your skin at least once daily with warm water and a gentle foaming facial wash/cleanser or mild soap. This will remove dirt and excess oil so they don't block the pores. Cool your skin with a gentle refreshing toner. Toning brings back your skin’s pH/acidity level to normal. Finish off with a light weight moisturizer. Your skin produces just the right amount of moisture so the goal is to simply maintain the moisture balance. Massage it in with your finger tips in light upward strokes. Always wear a sunscreen when going outdoors to protect your skin from sun damage. Most foundations and powders nowadays work as both make-up and sunscreen, look out for this while shopping for one. Exfoliate your skin two to three times per week with a gentle scrub to remove dead skin cells and refine the skin’s surface.  

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What is Marula oil?

Marula oil is extracted from the kernels of marula tree fruit which grows widely across Southern Africa. Marula oil has been used for centuries by the women of the Tsonga in South Africa and Mozambique to moisturize their skin, cooking and as a meat preservative and to treat leather.

The marula oil production process is mechanical. The kernels are separated from the fruit and the nuts cracked and crushed by hand using hard rocks. The crushed nuts are then cold pressed and the oil filtered without use of any solvent making the process 100% organic. The extracted oil is light yellow in colour, clear and has a nutty aroma.

Marula oil is known to be rich in antioxidants and monounsaturated fatty acids namely palmitic, linoleic, alpha-linoleic, stearic and oleic acids. These qualities are essential in maintenance of healthy and glowing skin as well as making the oil extremely stable to oxidation and it beats most known natural oils hence combined with its high nutrition value, it is used as a carrier oil in cosmetic formulas for aromatherapy purposes, soaps, massage oils and skin care formulas.

Marula oil is known to soften and revitalize the skin due to high concentrates of oleic acid. It is hence used as an ingredient for dry skin care products to hydrate the skin and reduce redness or irritation. It absorbs quickly and is non greasy hence can be used on any skin type. It has a high concentration of palmitic acid which forms a protective coating on the skin's surface hence helping heal skin tissue and minimizes transepidermal water loss. 

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Know your skin type

The first step towards knowing how to care for your skin is to identify your skin type. This will enable you to focus on using products specifically addressing your skin's unique needs. It will also help you avoid sensitivity and allergic reactions and save time and money on products that just won’t work you. A beauty product might do wonders for someone else and do absolutely nothing for you or even worsen your skin. It is important to regularly analyze your skin every six months or so as the nature of your skin will change over a period of time and adjust your skin care routine accordingly.

Here is a simple way of testing your skin at home:

• Wash your skin with a mild lathering cleanser meant for normal skin. 
• Tone your skin.
• Blot the skin dry with a soft flannel cloth.
• Allow 30 minutes for skin oil to return and examine skin in a mirror under broad daylight or white light to identify your skin type.

Skin types

1. Normal skin.

After a wash it feels smooth and comfortable irregardless of cleanser used. It has a nice glow, looks clear and tone is even; never feels oily or dry. It has a fine texture and free of blemishes (with the exception of periodic break out in spots perhaps before or during your period or when you are under a lot of stress). It is firm and feels comfortable after applying a facial toner or a rich night cream. Pores are visible but not large or clogged.

2. Dry skin

This skin type has a fine and thin texture. It feels dry to touch; it also feels tight and drawn after washing and may have dry patches. It tends to have fine lines around the eyes and mouth. It rarely suffers from acne outbreaks. It feels stingy on applying a toner and comfortable after applying a rich night cream. The pores are very fine.

3. Combination skin

This is a normal skin with a few dry and oily skin patches; the extent of the dry and oily patches varies. After washing, some areas feel smooth and others dry. Dryness is usually on the cheeks and oiliness on the T-zone namely the forehead, nose and chin. This skin often breaks out in spots in the T-zone and requires a separate cleaning routine to balance it. Most women have this type of skin.

4. Oily skin

Oily skin has a greasy and sallow complexion, with thick and coarse texture. After a wash, it feels fine but oiliness appears within hours and make up is absorbed quickly. It often breaks out in spots and tends to have pimples, black heads and white heads. It feels fresh after applying a facial toner and oily after applying a rich night cream. It has large and visible pores.

5. Sensitive/problematic skin

Sensitive skin is easily irritated and has a lot of trouble with environmental factors. It burns easily in the sun and is very sensitive to perfumed cosmetics. Typical reactions include itching, burning, chaffing and stinging. This skin is usually oily with large pores and red blotches and becomes more irritated under stress sometimes requiring the attention of a dermatologist.

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Will exercise and sweating cause acne?

Different views exist on the relationship between acne and exercise all with a focus on the role of sweat in aggravating acne. Though there is no proven direct correlation between exercise and acne, it is presumed that exercise enhances blood circulation to the skin hence circulating abundant oxygen to the skin cells, which in turn improves skin texture, helps quicker healing of spots and blackheads, and reduces acne. Exercise also helps in rebalancing body hormones and reducing stress both of which are aggravators of acne. Proponents believe sweat is helpful in cleaning the pores from inside through flushing out toxins (dirt, dead skin cells and excess sebum) from the skin hence prevents acne from occurring and curbing existing acne.

Some people believe that sweat causes acne and that exercise can lead to breakouts on the face and other acne prone areas. Reports suggest that sweat does not cause acne directly, but plays a major role in breakouts. It is believed that sweat contains salts which could be a major aggravator of existing acne. Another possible way that exercise could contribute to acne is through bacteria found on the skin. Bacteria thrive in sweat, and if sweat is left on the face or body after exercise for long, these bacteria multiply and work their way into the skin from the open pores after exercise and irritate the skin leading to acne.

In our opinion, exercise is encouraged for the health of your body and sweating should not deter anyone from exercising. But, it is important to be safe than sorry. Our recommendations include:

§         Use oil free and noncomedogenic sunscreens, moisturizers and cosmetics to avoid clogging the pores as this leads to breakouts. Let the skin breath freely.

§         Drink plenty of water much before and after exercise (in short, throughout the day) to replenish water lost during exercise through sweat. Water flushes out the toxins from your body. Acne has been reported in people who do not have sufficient water intakes. Water is also considered better than electrolyte-rich drinks like sodas and sports drinks which increase the salts and sugar in the body hence an increase in the toxins being sweated out onto the skin. *Refer to our previous blog post ‘Boosting your water intake improves the skin too’.*

§         Always (if you can) keep your hair tied at the back and off the face to prevent spreading bacteria on your hair and scalp to your face and chest.

§         Wear loose clothing during exercise; this will minimize the chances of bacteria on your back, chest, and arms getting trapped in direct contact with your skin. It will also lessen the irritation likely to be caused by friction of the clothing on the skin. If prone to body acne, summarily avoid synthetic clothing like nylon and lycra as these fabrics can trap heat and moisture against the body creating a conducive environment for bacteria to multiply and can aggravate acne.

§         It is important to use clean towels to blot your face and acne prone body parts instead of wiping as it can irritate the skin.

§         Finally, shower as soon as possible after exercise using an antibacterial soap and get a change of clothes. Showering washes away the sweat where bacteria could grow, toxins, dirt and dead skin cells that could clog pores and cause or aggravate acne. It will also bring down the desirable bacterial load on the skin back to the normal count hence a healthy balance on the skin. 

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What causes Acne?

What is acne? Acne is the most common of all skin disease reported worldwide. It is a skin condition characterized by inflammation of the skin and formation of whiteheads, blackheads and pimples on the face especially the fore head, chin and jaw line, neck, chest, upper back, shoulders, and arms. These parts are affected because they have the highest concentration of sebaceous glands. When stimulated, these glands can overproduce sebum/oil. Irregular shedding of dead skin cells results in irritation of the hair follicles of the skin and build up of bacteria under and on the skin contribute to the formation of acne too. The skin should naturally be capable of expelling excess oil but sometimes, pores may be blocked by hair follicles and dead skin hence, impair excretion leading to a bacterial infection and acne.

It is therefore important to learn the most common and known factors leading to over production of sebum as well as acne aggravators so that we are able to prevent acne flare-ups, manage it and also enlighten ourselves in the quest for the right treatment for acne.

Hormonal imbalances and stress: Over production of hormones such as androgen  and cortisol, causes the sebaceous glands to enlarge and excessively produce sebum. If the pores are clogged the extra sebum accumulates under the skin, creating a conducive environment for the growth of bacteria leading to break outs on the skin. Stress can aggravate acne as it causes over production of these hormones as well as increase the levels of harmful toxins in the body.

Diet: A diet that is high in starch, sugary and processed foods can aggravate acne as they increase blood sugar and the chemicals in processed foods can disrupt the body’s system and increase the levels of toxins in the body’s system.

Genes: Acne can be acquired hereditary. A child whose biological parent has acne has a high probability of developing acne.

Birth control pills: Acne has been reported as one of the side effects on people taking or stopping progesterone contraceptives. The hormones increase the chances of developing acne.

Drugs and medications: Some drugs, prescription and non prescription, like steroid creams and ointments used for eczema and some anti-epileptics have been proven to stimulate acne. Vitamins are beneficial for your body and good for the skin, but excessive intake of vitamins B1, B6 and B12 may cause acne flare-ups.

Make-up: Heavy make-up, especially oil-based cosmetics, add more oil to the skin and can clog pores and aggravate an already existing oily skin problem.

Environmental Factors: You can suffer from acne due to your increased exposure to the sun, high humidity and pollution. High humidity causes swelling of skin. The skin is in constant contact with the environment, pollution may lead to clogging your pores and infection of the skin even.

Mishandling the Skin: Picking, squeezing and pricking pimples and whiteheads worsens acne. Your hands contain a lot of bacteria that can cause acne flare-ups. It is important to note acne is not caused by dirt. Harsh exfoliators, scrubs and cleansers damage the skin and spread an infection.

Clothing: Tight fitting clothes and garments made of materials like nylon, that do not allow the skin to breathe can also cause or worsen acne.

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What is baobab oil?

Baobab oil is extracted from the seeds of the fruit of baobab tree which is found in Eastern andSouthern Africa. The extraction involves cold pressing of the seeds and filtration. Cold pressing ensures that the valuable nutrients in the oil are not destroyed making it organic. Baobab oil is semi–fluid golden yellow in color with a gentle scent. It is known to be rich in Vitamin A, D, E, F, oleic acid, linoleic acid and Omega 3, 6 and 9 fatty acids. These nutrients give itsmoisturizing qualities to the skin and hair.

Baobab oil has been used for centuries to improve elasticity of the skin and encourage regeneration of skin cells. It is easily and quickly absorbed and does not clog pores. The omega fats in the oil make it useful in treating acne, eczema and psoriasis. It also known to reduce scarring from acne, heal scars and stretch marks, reduce signs of aging and improve the skin tone. It also alleviates pain from burns. Baobab oil is used in small quantities in carrier oils like creams, lotions, body butters and other skin care products.

It is also used to moisturize dry and brittle hair. The vitamin A, E and F in the oil aid in soothing itchy and irritated scalps, reducing hair breakage as well as regeneration of hair follicles. As a conditioner, apply it after shampooing your hair and leave it for 30 minutes then rinse it off. As a leave in conditioner, rub a small amount of the oil in your palms and massage it in your hair. You can also choose to mix a few drops of the oil in your normal hair conditioner. 

SliceofNature sells great high quality organic and pure baobab oil.

What is African sage?

African Wild Sage also known as leleshwa, is a small tree or shrub common in the Great Rift Valley of Eastern Africa. Leleshwa oil is obtained through steam distillation of the flowers and fresh leaves of the leleshwa shrub. This condensation process is safe and completely organic. The oil is a pale greenish/yellowish liquid and mobile at room temperatures. Research has proven it to be more effective in cleansing the skin than Tea Tree oil. Its scent is herbaceous with a floral camphor note to it.

Benefits and uses

Leleshwa oil has powerful antiseptic, antifungal, anti-acne and anti-dandruff properties. It is good to note that application of this oil is only safe in small quantities unless diluted with a carrier oil or a solubilized solution. It is great when used in lotions, creams, masks, soaps, cleansers, shampoos and gels. It is also used in detergents as a natural disinfectant (non toxic and non irritant). Leleshwa oil is also great in aroma therapy for the treatment of anxiety and headaches. It is also used as a relaxation oil and great for soothing sore legs and feet.  Used in a diffuser, it promotes sleep, clears most stagnant residual odors in a room and acts as an insect repellant. It also reduces transmission of infectious diseases like colds and flu. Aromatherapy is however not recommended for pregnant women in the first three months.  

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Boosting your water intake improves the skin too

Water intake varies from one person to another, but, at least 8 to 10 eight – ounce glasses of water a day is good or a healthy person. You need more if you exercise a lot or live in hot climates.  It is also important to be careful on what water you take; distilled water is not good for your health as it sucks out the minerals from your body.

Clean water high in minerals keeps the body and skin hydrated hence keeping the skin supple and looking young. Water helps supply and move nutrients around the body and flushes out toxins and impurities through sweating and waste. Sweating is therefore healthy as it keeps the pores clean and clear leaving the skin looking smoother and younger. It also replaces the moisture lost due to everyday activities. Water is therefore vital to a beautiful skin. 

Tips: You can add lemon or lime to your water to make it taste better. This makes you want to drink more of it. Stick to warm water, cold fluids disrupt proper energy flow in the body and shock the body. Avoid sweet drinks as they add calories to your body, unsweetened fresh fruit juice is however ok. Caffeinated or alcoholic drinks should be avoided except in modest quantities as they cause or worse health related problems.  

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Natural clay and mask: Rhassoul Clay!

Yes, rhassoul clay is here with us, a product we have used and approve its benefits, but first….

What is Rhassoul clay? Rhassoul Clay is an exceptional clay mined from ancient deposits in the Atlas Mountains of Morocco and has been used as a natural beauty treatment for skin and hair for over 1400 years. This clay is rich in potassium, calcium, magnesium, silica and other trace minerals that are healthy for skin and hair. It is extremely absorbent more than other cosmetic clays which makes it ideal for cleansing and detoxifying. The skin and hair absorb a lot of toxins from the environment including heavy metals. Detoxification improves the skin and hair by removing these toxins and excess oils. It detoxifies by replacing toxins with these minerals and as it removes these toxins, it also nourishes the skin and hair by adding these trace minerals.  The clay's high level of ions exchange also makes it ideal for toning.

Benefits: Rhassoul clay benefits are visible after just a single use. Continued use impressively improves the skin and hair. Studies have shown that it reduces dryness and flakiness of the skin and scalp; it improves skin texture, firmness, clarity and elasticity; it yields to a smoother skin and as well reduces surface oil on hair and skin. Unlike other commercial soaps and cleansers, rhassoul clay contains no surfactants or artificial colors, no petrochemical derivatives and no synthetic preservatives.

Application:  It can be used as soap, shampoo, facial, hair and body masks as well as a skin conditioner.

SliceofNature is now stocking this product.