Aloe Vera is a spiky, squishy-leafed plant -similar to a cactus- that grows in hot, dry places. It flowers occasionally, but the plants are most notable for their distinct leaves. Aloe Vera is my favourite plant to grow.

Which parts of Aloe Vera are used? 

The leaves are filled with a thick, transparent gel, which is used on skin and can also be ingested with caution. The green outside layer of the lead can be juiced or dried and used as a laxative. 

Where is Aloe Vera originally from?

Originating in Africa, Madagascar and the Arabian Peninsula. Now it is cultivated all over the world.

Where does Aloe Vera grow?

Aloes love sun and only grow outdoors year-round in the warmest places. Otherwise, Aloe grows best as an indoor plant. They can also be moved outside in the summer and kept inside during winter. I’ve grown aloes indoors and outdoors.

What are Aloe Vera’s benefits?

It’ is a wonderful healing plant. Aloe is full of antioxidants and has antibacterial properties. It can help wounds heal, treat canker sores, reduce constipation, moisturize and soften skin, lower blood sugar, and promote hair growth. Those are just a few of the amazing benefits that Aloe is known for.

Aloe is a go-to for burns, sun burns, dry skin and bug bites, it’s soothing, moisturizing and healing.

Aloe Vera is an incredible addition to your personal skincare routine.

What are the risks?

I researched the risks of Aloe and found a couple different things, although I have never experienced any of them. Some of the negative side effects could be: low blood sugar, burning or itching sensations on the skin, diarrhea, and stomach pains and cramps. However, the article specified that all these side effects are either rare or only develop after long term use or high doses. Again, I’ve never had any negative reactions to the use of Aloe Vera use, however, because everyone’s bodies are different, I highly recommend being observant and doing extra research if you feel up for it.

What are the uses of Aloe Vera?

Aloe Vera has a huge range of uses, whether for the hair, skin, or taken internally. It is beneficial for healing and soothing burns, wound and rashes. It is full of minerals and vitamins that help the skin and hair stay healthy. Taken internally, in moderation, it can help clear constipation and is very healthy for the body. I’m still exploring and discovering new uses all the time.

Where does the name come from from?

I’ve taken this from the online etymology dictionary, because it was really interesting: 

“name of a group of shrubs or herbs with spiky flowers and thick leaves, yielding bitter juice which was used as a purgative drug, late 14c., originally in reference to the drug, from Latin aloe, from Greek aloē, which is of uncertain origin, probably a loan-word from an Oriental language […] The word then was misapplied in 1680s to the American agave plant, which has a similar appearance (and also a Greek name) but is unrelated. The “true aloe” (producing the drug) consequently is called aloe vera (with Latin vera “true;” […]).”

From: this post.

3 fun facts:

1. Aloe Vera is a member of the Lily Family. It is known as the “Lily of the Desert.”
2. Cleopatra, the famous Egyptian queen is rumored to have used it in her skin care routine. 
3. Although it is rare that they blossom, their blossoms come in different colours, including red, white, orange and yellow.

Can I grow my own Aloe Vera plant?

Of course you can! I’ve been growing aloes indoors successfully for years. In places where winter gets very dark, I recommend getting grow lights. My aloes thrived with a grow light and grew strong and massive. Pay attention to how much you’re watering them, and make sure they can drain out the bottom. I found Aloes to be the easiest, most simple plants to care for, so I 10 out of 10 recommend you have some of your own!

Bonus:

Name your aloe! Why not? Aloes are people too. Some good ideas are:

• Lily
• Veronica
• Ally
• Lola
• Liam
• Allen

The post Aloe Vera – Plant Portrait appeared first on Earth Artistry Studio.

But that isn’t true. Unless you genuinely enjoy having an hour long skincare routine, it’s way better to just have a couple simple things you do every day. When you take the pressure off something, it’s more likely that you’ll be more consistent in doing it!

Rather than having a complicated, 23-step skincare routine, start with a really simple routine. A really good morning and night practice to have is this:

1. Wash your face and neck with warm water and gentle, natural soap
2. Rinse with cold water
3. Dry your face and neck gently with a soft towel
4. Lightly spritz your face and neck with rose water, witch hazel or another gentle toner.
5. Gently massage a couple drops of oil onto your face and neck.
6. Done!

Some good oils to start with are:

• Jojoba
• Olive
• Coconut
• Sweet almond
• Grapeseed

Try a couple out and see which ones work best for your skin. 

After doing this routine for a couple days, your skin will start to feel soft and smooth.

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So using topical creams, ointments, cleansers, caking on makeup and concealer, or using any sort of external way to try and stop symptoms is going to be useless, and possibly even more damaging if the real inner cause is not being addressed. 

Diet is one of the most important things to be thinking about throughout your natural skincare journey. If you are having trouble with acne, take a look at your diet. Are you eating a lot of sugar, dairy products, fast foods and/or greasy foods, wheat and meat products? If you have trouble with dry skin, check your intake of things like coffee, sugar, salty foods, wheat and alcohol. 

For acne, some really beneficial foods are: Orange and yellow veggies and fruits (apricots, carrots, oranges and sweet potatoes, for example). Spinach and other dark leafy greens. Turmeric, green tea, brown rice, quinoa, lentils and beans, nuts, blueberries and tomatoes. Along with a healthy balance of other fruits and vegetables.

For dry skin: sweet potato, red pepper, kiwi, avocado, turmeric, green tea, chia seeds, orange and yellow fruits, oats, bananas, tomatoes, spinach, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, lentils and other fruits and vegetables. 

The lists are actually pretty similar, which just goes to show the wonder of nature. The same plants can help heal seemingly opposite problems! 

It may seem like the list of skin-aggravating foods included just about everything you eat. Don’t worry, I’m not recommending cutting things out of your diet immediately, not at all. 

Going to any extreme can tend to push people right back and often to an even worse extreme. For example, I might eat some fast food every day, and occasionally get a salad. If one day I decided to eat only salad for the rest of my life, I’d likely grow sick and tired of salad. Eventually I’d fall back onto fast food, but maybe never get salads again, because now they would taste gross. This is because I would not have developed a taste for healthy foods.

There are plenty of ways to slowly incorporate more healing foods into your diet and train your taste buds to enjoy rather than suffer through them. 

Some things you could try are: 

1. Only eat fruit for breakfast for 1 day.
2. If you eat meat every day, try one day without meat.
3. If you eat wheat every day, or at every meal, try going without it for one day or one meal.
4. If you always eat dessert after supper, try skipping it one day.
5. If you drink pop, or alcohol, every day, try going a day with just water.

There’s so many little ways you can implement this. Make sure you’re listening to your body and how it feels. Did just eating fruit for breakfast leave you feeling weak and low energy? Maybe try a chia pudding or some oatmeal for a more filling breakfast. Did it leave you feeling light and energetic? Maybe try doing that 3 days a week, or every day. It’s up to you to figure out what is doable, but if you make tiny changes every day to steer yourself towards more natural, whole foods, you will begin to notice huge differences in your energy, how you feel and how your skin looks and feels.

Pay attention to your results and how you feel. Keep a little journal about them if you want. They won’t necessarily come right away, but the more you focus on what feels good to your body, the more you will notice little things piling up. Clearer, fresher, brighter, glowier skin, more energy, even things like more motivation and inspiration. Not to mention how good it feels just to feel that you are in control of your body and eating! Don’t compare yourself to others, start where you’re at and focus on how your body feels.

Drinking water, homemade fruit and vegetable juices and focusing on incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your daily eating is going to get you feeling so good. Your body is naturally regenerating constantly, Earth’s magical produce help that process along in a massive way.

What can you do today that is just a little step towards where you want to be?

The post How to Have Better Skin appeared first on Earth Artistry Studio.

Turmeric is used in cooking all over the world and is full of amazing health benefits. It is anti-inflammatory, meaning it helps heal and ease all sorts inflammatory pains and problems such as joint pain, stiffness, fevers, headaches and fatigue. Turmeric also has helpful antioxidants, is useful in relieving depression, boosting energy and has many other benefits.

Turmeric is also super beneficial for skin. It helps clear up acne, helps with hyperpigmentation, brightens and freshens skin, slows down the aging process and protects your skin from damage. It also promotes hair growth and is good for oily hair because of its anti-microbial and anti-inflammatory properties. 

Turmeric can be used in cooking, such as curries, and also as colour for pickles, mustard, cheese and other foods. It can be added to smoothies and made into gentle healing teas. It can be used in face masks, hair masks, scrubs, soaps and other skincare items. Its uses are almost endless, which makes it a perfect ingredient for us to work with!

The name Turmeric comes from the Latin “Terra Merita”, which means “Meritorious Earth”. The definition of meritorious, according to Merriam-Webster, is: deserving of honor or esteem. So, something like Rich Earth.

I’ve read that Turmeric has at least 53 names in Sanskrit, some of my favourites and their translations are: ‘bhadra’ (meaning ‘good’, ‘fortune’ or ‘auspicious’), ‘gauri’ (meaning ‘shining’ or ‘brilliant’), ‘haridra’ (meaning ‘One who is golden colored’), ‘jayanti’ (meaning ‘victorious’), ‘shobhna’ (meaning ‘ornamental’, ‘shining’, ‘beautiful’), ‘shiva’ (‘auspicious one’), ‘varavarnini’ (most beautiful lady), and ‘varna datri’ (that which enhances the body’s complexion). We can gather from the amount of names it is given alone that Turmeric is an important spice in Indian tradition. Turmeric is used in something called a “Haldi Ceremony” in Indian tradition, before a wedding (Haldi means Turmeric). Turmeric paste is smeared on the soon-to-be-wed couple as a blessing on their marriage. 

Turmeric is a super powerful healthfood and skincare ingredient. Enjoy using it to boost your body’s wellbeing and feel the benefits!

The post Plant Profile: Turmeric appeared first on Earth Artistry Studio.