Cold Pressed Oils for Skin Benefits:
– Coconut Oil: One of the most easily sourced, purest forms of coconut oil, which is proven to be more hydrating and moisturizing than olive oil. They are easily absorbed into the skin, and are also rich in vitamin E and Vitamin K. If you are someone with oily and acne prone skin, kindly skip coconut oil. You can use it as a massage oil, body oil, and even as a makeup remover. For baby massage, a perfect oil that you can go with!
– Hemp Seed Oil: One of the best oils which is suitable for all skin types, even oily skin type folks. They are rich in Omega 3 fatty acids, which means they can help in repairing skin barriers. Also, hemp seed oil for skin does not clog pores, and helps in naturally hydrating and nourishing your skin.
– Olive Oil: Olive oil is rich in vitamins and antioxidants. It can give greater benefits when you are taking them internally too. Adding olive oil in your skincare everyday, delays the signs of aging. Olive oil can be avoided by people who have oily skin.
– Sesame Oil: A game changer in skincare, when you add sesame oil in your facial and body skin. It adds shine to the skin, and works on skin concerns like pigmentation and signs of aging. You can give a gentle massage with sesame oil everyday before bath, and you will see the changes happening. Also before going to sleep, applying sesame oil on your feet with massage, will calm you both physically and mentally. Since most parts of the body are connected with feel, massaging them can activate the pressure points. Sesame oil suits all skin types.
– Almond Oil: One of the best oils which is packed with positive benefits like vitamins, minerals, potassium, and zinc too. They are non-comedogenic, which means they are suitable for oily skin people. One of the light weight oils, which can be used for hydrating skin and also removing makeup.
– Jojoba Oil: One of the best oils, which is suitable and does not react to any of the skin types or concerns. This oil can be used for both skin and hair. It has a skin lightening effect, which means they lighten the spots and marks on the skin.
]]>By incorporating the body care routine everyday, it will help in keeping your skin way more healthy and hydrated throughout the summer season.
]]>While most of us concentrate mainly on the facial skin care routine, it is equally and sometimes even more important to focus on body care. Taking care of our body not just enhances the outer appearance but makes you feel good too. While choosing products, it is important to check your skin type and choose products accordingly. This is because when you choose products opposite to your skin type, it might worsen and damage your body skin.
Looking for a perfect body care routine? Not to worry, you are in the right place here. The best body care in summer tips are just a few scrolls away! Time to grab them now.
When it comes to body care tips, the first and foremost tip that most of us receive will be “Abhyanga”. It is a self massage which is done with warm oil all over your body from head to toe. Doing this at least once in a week, can help in enhancing your overall physical well-being. You can take any cold pressed oil of your choice like sesame oil or coconut oil; But sesame oil works wonders on your skin. Heat them using the double-boiler method, and gently massage all over your body. Focus on areas like knees, elbows, feet, etc, as these areas tend to be dry.
The next and most important step of body care is to choose the right body care products that will help in keeping your skin clean and fresh. For cleansing, you can either go for organic soaps or body washes. Choose products that suit your skin type; For example if you have dry skin, choose products that are nourishing and hydrating for your skin. In either case, if you are looking for body care in summer for oily skin, go for watery based ingredients or light-weight products.
A body care must have products that should always be a mild exfoliating scrub or soaps. Make sure to scrub and deep cleanse your skin once in a week or two. This process helps in shedding away the dead skin cells that are on the top layer of the skin. Choose mild scrubs so that they don't hurt or damage your skin. A small tip for body care would be to add two to three drops of oil on bathing water to reduce the effects of dryness on the skin.
Moisturizing is a key step of skincare, no matter what area of skin you are focusing on! Choosing a good, hydrating moisturizer will help in keeping the skin well moisturized, without any sort of dryness. Choose moisturizer according to your skin type, so that they suit and make your body care ritual almost done. A light-weight and non-greasy moisturizer makes you feel comfortable especially during the hot summer season.
Make sure to use sunscreen on the body parts that are exposed to the sun. Using SPF 30+ & mineral sunscreen (physical) would be a better choice; Using sunscreen is one of the effective and best tips for body care in summer, especially when it comes to protecting your skin from tanning.
Tips and Tricks for Body Care during Summer:
By incorporating the a body care routine everyday, it will help you in keeping your skin way more healthy and hydrated throughout the summer season. Also keep yourself active and engaged in any exercises like gym, yoga, for a healthy mind & body.
]]>Since the beginning of time, we've started our days with water. It's become such an involuntary element in our day to day life that we end up taking water for granted.
A simple way out of all of these calamities is to make a switch by making better choices for our health and planet's well-being. Dadi / Nani ke nuskhe were so scientific that simple ingredients like reetha, shikakai or moringa would eventually clean the drain water in the process. We actually had clean water until few decades ago.
A simple switch to biodegradable personal and home care products can help create a better tomorrow so that one day you as a grandparent can provide clean water to your future generations.
Let us pledge today, on world water day to be more conscious of our water usage and water pollution that we are causing and take action for a water secure tomorrow. We, at Rustic Art are committed towards SDG 6: Clean water & sanitation. Join us today to make this world a better place.
About Author: Surabhi holds a Ph.D in environmental economics. Her dissertation topic was Economics of Wastewater Management, Recycling and Reuse in Maharashtra.
]]>Sustainable & Eco friendly: Our organic shampoo bars are made with natural & plant based surfactants, is completely biodegradable making it gentle on the environment. It also reduces waste compared to traditional bottled shampoos as it comes in FSC certified paper packaging.
Healthier for hair: We have combined traditional & ayurvedic herbs that our granny's always made us use like amla, shikakai, hibiscus, rose etc. into a convenient shampoo bar with all its benefits. It is a perfect substitute to the messy powders & pastes that suits our modern lifestyle. It also contains benefits of multivitamins and butters that helps maintain hair and scalp health. It prevents damage and promotes healthy hair growth.
Convenient for travel: Our shampoo bars are small and compact, making them a great option for traveling without worrying about flight restrictions or spills (No major shampoo explosions :P ). Here's an opportunity for you to reuse all those pretty jars you have been storing.
Cost-effective: One shampoo bar lasts 3 times longer than regular liquid shampoo of same quantity making it better for your pocket as well.
Safe for All Hair Types
Color-treated hair, curly hair, straight hair, wavy hair or chemically treated hair: our shampoo bars are silicone free, sulphate free & paraben free.
No transition period: Since our shampoo bars are 'soap free' and made with same ingredients as a natural shampoo. Your hair won't feel sticky or dry. If you are switching from a toxic/silicone based hair care, these shampoo bars will cleanse your scalp of all the build up and make way for healthy, shiny hair.
In short, our organic shampoo bars is a perfect choice for you and planet. Give it a try today, we promise you won't regret it. :)
Winters are synonymous with dry, cracked, chapped lips. While everyone suffers from this discomfort, some do suffer more than others. Here are some quick and easy ways to maintain health of your lips and keep them soft and smiling :)
1. Stay hydrated!
We often forget to drink water in winters and dry lips is usually first sign of dehydration. Drink enough water to keep your lips, skin and hair hydrated and prevent excessive dryness.
2. Mild exfoliation
The lip tissue is much more delicate than rest of our skin. Although satisfying, scrubbing lips can cause damage and cuts to the tissue. If you want to exfoliate your lips anyway following following steps to prevent bleeding & wounds.
3. Ayurvedic hack
The best way to keep your lips soft and moisten is by applying a drop of cold pressed sesame oil in your navel. You can apply it immediately after shower or at night to maintain healthy lips. Cold-pressed oils are light weight and non-greasy and hence won't remain sticky. Sesame oil is highly nutritious and detoxifying and most recommended in Ayurveda texts.
4. Lip moisturizers are your best friends
Use petroleum free lip balm to keep your lips nourished. You can use our organic, vegan & cruelty free, not to mention delicious lip moisturizers as many times as you like. Do not forget to use it before you go to bed to wake up with soft and nourished lips.
5. Follow an avoid list
Rustic Art Lip Moisturizers are natural, vegan, cruelty free and organic. It is prepared from 100% natural oils and butters, which last for longer hours and keep the soft tissues of the lips nourished.
Don't let your lips be sealed. Speak up for the environment!
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Here I am sharing few cleaning tips for pressure cooker:
Cleaning tips:
Methods to clean scaly surface of cooker:
With regular use the inner base and the inner surface of cooker becomes scaly, so to refresh your cooker, every week clean your cooker with the following tips -
What to do if cooker burns:
Why do cooker bottom bulge:
Maintenance & Safety:
Storing:
You take care of your pressure cooker with love and in return it will take care of you and your loved ones and cook healthy, nutritious and tasty food for you with love.
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Markets are flooded with many popular brands which makes it difficult to choose any one product, moreover every few days these brands come up with new schemes and eye-catching advertisements, which attracts us and leaves a great impact on our minds.
We pick up any one of the popular branded detergents from the shelves and happily start using them without much thought.
But do you know, problems like skin allergies, rashes, body acne, respiratory disorders may also be triggered through some toxic ingredients in the detergents. It's a bit difficult to believe but it's a fact, generally people don't understand this at the initial stage and by the time they realize the problem becomes huge.
This doesn't mean that a particular brand or particular product is causing an allergy; sometimes a particular ingredient used in that product doesn't suit you and that may cause allergies or rashes.
Everyone knows that detergent powder is essential for washing clothes, but no one thinks that even this may contain harmful ingredients which may harm our health and environment too.One fine day all of a sudden when a person sees rashes or acne on their body, it's really difficult to figure out the cause for such reactions.
First thing which comes to mind is, it may be food or drug allergy, no one thinks that even detergent can be a culprit. So to be on safer side, it's very important that everyone should develop the habit of reading product details before buying.
Few harmful ingredients in detergent which may cause allergy are -
Preservatives
Surfactants
Artificial Fragrance:
Sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) :
Bleach:
Formaldehyde:
Dyes:
Common allergy symptoms are -
Few more disadvantages of detergents are
What should we do to avoid unwanted problems:
To avoid unwanted problems always do some research, there are few brands which are chemical and toxin free and are biodegradable. You can also try some DIYs if you can spare time for the same.
Some popular DIY for regular use can be:
Rustic Home Laundry Care Range
Our laundry powders are made with only natural and organic minerals. They contain organic soap made from Neem and Coconut, other natural minerals and additional goodness of essential oils to further disinfect the laundry.
It is safe for use for you, your family and environment. It is also biodegradable, which means it is safe for the environment too. It does not pollute water and soil hence animals and birds are also unaffected.
Here I would love to share that a few Rustic art power laundry users have shared their experience, how they have recovered from allergic reactions, back acne and rashes after switching to Rustic art power laundry and the best thing is that their doctor advised them to use it. Don't you think this is so amazing?
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Considering that the majority of our days as an Indian are going to be filled with downpours and misty atmospheres, I took it upon myself to research and experiment all the different combinations that favored my hair. It’s like they say I suppose, “Invest in your hair, it’s the crown you never take off.”
If you’ve turned to this article because you can relate, then don’t worry, Rustic Art has got your back! ;)
Some of the most common problems faced by us during the monsoon season are frizziness, hair fall and dandruff, all caused by the remnants of salts, oil and polluted water. Let’s understand the root cause of these problems in order to crack the solution-
The monsoon season is well known for its humid days. Humidity is one of the main reasons for frizzy hair in monsoons. The misty air makes our hair damp and frizzy, which can lead to split ends in the future.
Our old friend, humidity also contributes to hair fall. Contaminated rain water significantly affects the hair roots as well, thus making them weak and causing breakage.
Increased exposure to humidity and reduced sun exposure leads to a dry, flaky and itchy scalp, often resulting in dandruff flakes. Dandruff also, at times, leads to hair fall. Humidity also contributes to numerous fungal and bacterial infections in the scalp.
The moisture in the air during monsoons causes our hair to look dull and non-lustrous.
Dietary recommendations
I would’ve jumped right into the products I had in mind to get you started on your hair care journey, however the right hair care products and a balanced nutritional diet go hand in hand.
Just as exercises alone are not enough for your body to be fit, using marketed products are not enough for your hair to shine through all the environmental stresses the weather has to offer.
Our hair constitutes a protein called keratin. This would mean having a protein rich diet is a combat essential to boost hair strength. Include lots of green leafy vegetables, eggs, milk, peanut butter, fruits, etc to your diet for healthy hair growth as per your dietary prefrance.
Omega-3 helps in fighting hair problems like hair fall and flaky scalp. Seeds and nuts like flax seeds, pumpkin seeds, etc and other items like fish, walnuts, tofu are great sources of Omega-3.
Food items having antimicrobial properties help kill germs and bacteria, which are the main causes of dandruff and flaky scalp, while also contributing to hair growth. These include turmeric, ginger, garlic, lemon, curd, honey, etc.
Hair & scalp health is directly linked with hydration. Drinking plenty of water helps to keep our scalp healthy and hydrated, and helps to combat problems like dry hair and dandruff. This results in faster hair growth.
Caffeine consumption and oily food consist of unhealthy amounts of processed sugar. Caffeine in any form also dehydrates our body leading to hair problems like weakening of roots. Eating junk food on a regular basis increases the bad fats in our system, also causing hair fall.
Rustic Art Monsoon- Kit
Rustic Art is an organic and natural personal and home care brand that believes in sustainable manufacturing and sustainable lifestyle. The best part about it is that Rustic Art ensures that all its products are cruelty free & vegan! :)
Check out the following Rustic Art products for healthy and happy hair this monsoon!
Healthy hair begins from roots. Never forget good old hot oil champi is all your hair and soul needs. Pamper yourself with a good head massage while relaxing with hot cup of chai.
Our Nourishing Hair Oil is the perfect relaxation partner to make you feel all warm and fuzzies of nostalgia while the herbs makes way for new hair growth, strong roots and real healthy hair! This hair oil is made with pure organic castor oil, onion seed oil, rosemary, brahmi and more and is free of mineral oils.
Try the world's first Shampoo Butter with Rustic Art which is sulphate, paraben and silicone-free!
Mint Eucalyptus Shampoo ButterCypress Hemp Oil Shampoo Butter
It helps in reducing hair fall and frizziness by moisturizing the scalp.
Shampoo Bar
Rustic Art Shampoo Bars are 100% soap free & biodegradable, vegan, free of sulphates, paraben and silicones. It is the next best thing to the freshly sourced herb!
It repairs damaged hair by regulating hair growth and reducing dandruff and other impurities in the scalp.
ConditionersLast, but not the least, is to include the right conditioner to your hair care routine. A conditioner helps to moisturize your hair, prevent its breakage and keeps your hair frizz-free.
When Amla is paired with its gentle counterpart Methi and other hair loving ingredients, it regenerates and revives the health of your hair.
A smart formula that creates an invisible shield on your hair from pollutants, environmental damage and overall urban defense. It controls frizz, makes hair silky and glossy. Its non-greasy and lightweight texture makes it a perfect tool in your hair care kit.
Coconut Coriander Hair Cream - Leave in Conditioner
It is a perfect pick me up for those really rainy days to delay hair wash. It helps control frizz and adds shine to hair while giving it a soft hold.
Happy Monsoons!
Jump in a puddle and make a splash, dance in the rain and enjoy the wonderful monsoons.
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Sweat has got a pretty bad name but remember that our sweat by itself doesn’t stink. It is the combination of bacteria and sweat that creates the problem.
Enough with the technicalities,
How do I solve it?
By using a deodorant and not an antiperspirant.
What’s the difference?
Antiperspirants contain an active ingredient - aluminium salts. These salts produce an insoluble substance that blocks the sweat secretion.
It is good if I don’t sweat, no?
Evaporation of sweat is important for body temperature regulation. Sweat glands also have an excretory function of getting rid of metabolic waste and toxic compounds.
So, how do I make a balanced choice which is eco-friendly, solves my body odour and also doesn’t interfere with my natural processes like sweating in my body?
Spray-on deodorants are a big no no - Believe it or not, they do contribute to air pollution and respiratory disorders. Sounds extreme, but when you use a spray-on deodorant you are releasing toxic chemicals (volatile organic compounds) into the air which are also harmful to human health. The spray on deodorants also contain alcohol which dehydrates the skin and also lead to darkening the skin.
To make a better choice we need to know how deodorants work - Deodorants mask the funky smell with perfume or eliminate them with antimicrobial agents. As we already know, it is the bacteria which is the problem. These antimicrobial agents can be synthetic, like most deodorants in the market. However, plant oils and extracts, essential oils also have antimicrobial activity and do not interfere with your natural sweating process.
Look out for these potentially toxic ingredients in your deodorants:
Triclosan - It is an antimicrobial agent to prevent odour causing bacterial growth. Triclosan can cause skin irritation and disrupt the functioning of our hormone systems and thyroid gland. It also pollutes the water when washed away from our body.
Alcohol - It is used as propellants in aerosol deodorants. It dehydrates the skin and leads to pigmentation and darkening of the skin, specially of the soft thin skin of underarms. It may also cause itching and redness.
Synthetic Fragrances & Phthalates - They are usually undisclosed compounds with numerous potentially toxic ingredients. Synthetic fragrances may cause respiratory disorders and reproductive disorders. Exposure to phthalates and synthetic fragrances may not cause an immediate effect but body may develop allergies and inflammation in long run.
Aluminum & its Salts - It is commonly used ingredient in antiperspirants. Aluminum plugs the sweat glands to stop sweating. It interferes with natural bodily process of sweating and may lead to tumor growth.
Next thing to keep in mind is the packaging - Packaging might seem a trivial issue but is the most essential aspect. An average person uses between 10 - 30 deodorant cans every year, estimating to 9 billion total cans a year. How are these going to be disposed of? They can be recycled but only half of them are being recycled, the remaining 4.5 billion cans end up in a landfill. Opt for recyclable cans and environment-friendly packaging.
Check out our Gingerange and Pepperine organic deodorants which provide you with vegetable butters and oils that keeps you odour free by inhibiting the growth of odour causing bacteria without interfering with bodily functions. It is enriched with vitamin E which keeps the skin nourished along with other oils and butters. The minimal fragrance of the product does not interact in case you wear perfumes later. The long term use of rustic art deodorant balm will help even tone the skin and keep it healthy. It is safe for even teenagers to use.
Do you put your blood, sweat and tears towards achieving your dreams? Now put in your blood, sweat and tears without any odour with Rustic Art's organic deodorants!
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Every one has at least one advice of saving the earth. But, there is no one
way for it. Here, we are making an effort to create a guide, small everyday actions that can have big impact, one on that path to a sustainable present and a green future.
Sustainability isn't a hashtag that tends; trends diminish. Sustainability is a lifestyle! We all grow up desiring a lifestyle that aims at eating healthy, helping others, keeping our surroundings clean and being mindful of others. Being mindful for the environment is the need of the past, which is now dictating our future. The only way to change the future is to control the present. Many of us would like to make changes but don't know how and what.
Here's a guide -
Make these subtle lifestyle changes and experience the change first hand as you save the planet furthermore!
Stay tuned for simple steps towards a convenient sustainable living!
]]>I don't remember my first introduction to menstrual cups. However, I can say without a doubt, that it was from the internet. Rediscovering cups in the pandemic ignited a flame in me. I was intrigued. I had to try it. How can I not? The reasons were pretty straightforward. 1. It was a way for me to get rid of my boredom. I could actively invest my time in it, 2. For a frequent complainer about uncomfortable sanitary pads, it felt like a dream come true, 3. It was a chance to try something new and finally, 4. It also gave me a chance to do some good in the world.
So I set off on an adventure. Exploring and researching about cups. Article after article and video after video, embarking on a journey filled with red stained pants, messy bathrooms and a lot of uncertainty. But before that, there was the task of convincing my mom. Hesitant at first (as any Indian parent might be if you declare to insert something in your body), but eventually tired of my constant nagging, she decided to give them a chance. The cup was ordered as soon as the go-ahead was given. There started the not so patient wait for its arrival. On the auspicious day that the cup arrived, I felt giddy with joy. It marked the start of something new.
Inserting the cup properly was the next task on the list. It was daunting, but exciting. Accidents did happen. The number of bloody pants rose. But along with that, so did my confidence.
One thing I realised during this time, is that cups aren't for everyone. Not everyone can depend on cups for five straight days. Sometimes, compromise is the key. So, I did precisely that.
The solution to my red-spotted pants was... drumroll please... The period underwear. Using these two products, the cup and the underwear, ensured that I would never have to worry about leakage again. They had me covered, for heavy as well as light flows. I felt empowered, like the women in the sanitary pads advertisements. (Seriously, why don't they make ads for these?!?) I felt ecstatic, smelt flowery and could sit any way I wanted! I wanted to dance and sing while parading across the street.
An average period, let us assume, consisting of 15 pads for each month of the year, for about 40 years, will lead to using about 7200 (i.e 15×12×40) pads in a lifetime. Compared to that, the combination of one menstrual cup (used for ten years) and 2 period underwear (used for 2-3 years) proves to be a lot more cost-effective and favourable for the environment.
I learned a bit about myself through this journey. First, I can get crazy obsessed with things I care about (aka menstrual cups). Also, anything I care about, will reach your ears some way or the other (I went pad free y'all!!!).
This was my journey towards a sustainable period. I have to say, till date, this has been one of my proudest, most rewarding achievements ever.
Megha Kajale
About the author- She is an 18 year old student from Fergusson college. She is a part time book lover, part time sportsperson and a full time procrastinator. She is interested in pursuing further studies in economics.
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Last but not the least; don’t stress out on your favourite TV characters dying. Stress causes dehydration leading to dryer skin and eventually, a dry scalp and hair loss.
Be happy, stay hydrated, stay nourished, be hairy!
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