VALENTINE'S DAY: It's History, The Rose Connection and Celebrating It via Organic Body Care

 

On February 14th, many individuals across the globe celebrate a romantic tradition known as Valentine's Day. It is a day to express and indicate how much love you have for certain family members and friends (I do believe this is something we should do everyday, I'm just saying.....). Have you every asked yourself how this tradition come to be and/or how did roses become part of its history? And, what does organic body care have to do with all of this? Let's start by chatting about its history.

THE LEGEND OF ST. VALENTINE

The history of Valentine's Day and the story of its patron saint is shrouded in mystery. One thing is certain, February has long been celebrated as a month of romance and St. Valentine's Day is known to contain vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient ritual?

The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all whom were martyred. One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome when Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families so he outlawed marriage for young men. Valentine saw this as an injustice and decided to go against the decree and continued to perform secret marriages for young people in love. When this was discovered, Claudius had Valentine put to death.

There are other stories that say Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons. One particular legend states that Valentine sent the first "valentine" greeting after he fell in love with a young girl, who could have been the jailor's daughter (thought to have visited him during his imprisonment). Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a signed letter stating, "From your Valentine, " an expression that we still use today. The truth behind the legend is a bit murky, but all the stories show a sympathetic, heroic and romantic individual.  One thing is for certain, St. Valentine has become one of the most popular saints in England and France dating back to the middle ages.

THE ROSE CONNECTION

There are several theories on how roses became a love symbol, one comes from early ancient Egypt. Ancient stories state that Cleopatra would scatter rose petals over her floor in an effort to welcome her lover Mark Anthony. However, Roman myth tells a story of Cupid spilling a sweet nectar that was part of an offering and it is said that roses grew forth from the ground where the nectar spilled. While the history of Valentine's Day is hotly debated, there's no one to date questioning that roses have come to symbolize love and romance. The Victorians began this tradition through floriograph, also known as the language of the flowers, a way to communicate feelings we find difficult to express by giving certain flowers to indicate what we are in fact feeling. For example; using red roses to express passion and romantic feelings associated with love and admiration.

ORGANIC BODY CARE

Over the years the perfume and body care industry have tapped into this tradition and found that roses not only provide an intoxicating smell for the senses but also have amazing healing properties for the hair and skin which are excellent for including in organic body care formulations (please keep in mind we are talking about pure essential oil from the roses, not chemically produced ingredients). So this Valentine's Day, why not give the gift of roses that won't wither or fade within a few days? Allow yourself, your friends/family and whomever that special someone is to fall in love with either your body or theirs this Valentine's Day. Try the following rose products at https://www.lovelyladyproducts.com at a discounted price (coupon code below).

1. Everlasting-Argan Immortal Rose Oil
2. Everlasting-Argan Neroli Rose Body Butter
3. Everlasting-Argan Geranium Rose Solid Lotion 
4. And Our Glorious Garden Bath Bar for Fresh Smelling Bathing Experience
5. All other products sitewide can be purchased using the coupon code as well (see below)

Use coupon code STVALENTINE for 25% off at checkout. Sale ends 2/14/2016.

BEAUTY

What does this word mean and how does it affect your life, your views, your health and the well being of the planet. Once you take a moment to ponder on this, it's kind of deep, isn't it? My opinion is that it all depends on what you're pouring on and into your body to influence your efforts at beauty. I also believe it to be a mental state as well as something visual.

Let's start with the standard explanation for what beauty is. 

Wikipedia states: 

"Beauty is the quality of being pleasing, especially to look at, or someone or something that gives great pleasure, especially when looking at it."

Webster's 1913 Dictionary states the following:

1. An assemblage of graces or properties pleasing to the eye, the ear, the intellect, the æsthetic faculty, or the moral sense. The old definition of beauty, in the Roman school, was, "multitude in unity;" and there is no doubt that such is the principle of beauty. - Coleridge.
2. A particular grace, feature, ornament, or excellence; anything beautiful; as, the beauties of nature.
3. A beautiful person, esp. a beautiful woman.
4. Prevailing style or taste; rage; fashion. She stained her hair yellow, which was then the beauty.
- Jer. Taylor.  Beauty spot, a patch or spot placed on the face with intent to heighten beauty by contrast.

 WordNet Dictionary States:

1. Beauty - the qualities that give pleasure to the senses. Antonyms: ugliness - qualities that do not give pleasure to the senses.
2. Beauty - a very attractive or seductive looking woman. Synonyms: lulu, mantrap, knockout, stunner, looker, peach, ravisher, smasher, sweetheart, dish
3. Beauty - an outstanding example of its kind; "his roses were beauties"; "when I make a mistake it's a beaut"

 Lovely Lady Products' Explanation on this word, Beauty:

 

Beauty is all encompassing; it's really not for one individual to interpret. It's in the eyes of the beholder and it's not singular in description. I can only explain it from my personal opinion on what I believe it's meaning is and my views on how we should be responsible with this powerful word and how it influences our lives.

To me beauty is anyone who strives to make their life meaningful by caring for others, making decisions that are based on how it will affect others, their health, the well being of the environment, their environment. Excepting ownership and responsibility for the word, not allowing others to dictate what it is and it's meaning to you and your individuality. It is a knowing, a confidence and the ability to care about things other than the superficial or just ones self. You see, I believe beauty thrives in those who shine from the inward out. A kind spirit, a loving heart and a generous and honest nature.

Yes, Lovely Lady Products create products that enhance the skin, but we do this by producing products that are created with your health in mind. We produce these products with a consideration for the planet. I believe that when one thinks of beauty, he or she should consider the effects of their efforts to attain it. How does your view on beauty affect your life, your views, your work, your career, and your treatment of others?

Beauty is within everyone's grasp and the best way to attain everlasting beauty is to aspire for greatness through love and light. Shine by being a good person and you'll find the true depth of beauty. The truth of it is to be lovely from within and everyone will see your beauty radiating outward. Beauty is As Beauty Does!

WINTERIZE YOUR SKIN WITH ORGANIC BODY CARE

Winterize Your Skin Organic Body Care Giveaway

Sign up on Lovely Lady Products Newsletter for a chance to win one of our lovely winterize your skin organic body care skin sets. During the first week of October 4th, 4 winners (a winner each week during September) will be selected to receive their customized organic body care skin set for upgrading their beauty routine with the intent to improve and keep the skin healthy during the winter months and beyond. After reading our tips on winterizing your skin, please remember to click the link at the bottom of the blog to signup for a chance to win an organic body care winterize your skin set (Facial Cleansing Bar, Facial Nutrient, Night Serum, Toner, Shampoo Bar and your choice of for a lotion, body butter or a solid lotion). 

Tips for Winterizing Your Skin With Organic Body Care

 

Hello Lovely Fans, right now you are probably scratching your head and saying, "Isn't it a bit premature to be discussing winterizing your skin since we still have a bit of time before fall hits. Not really my friends, depending on where you live, the changing of the seasons can catch you off guard. Hear in Colorado, you can find yourself shoveling snow in September, so I think it's a good idea to at the very least arm yourself with knowledge about how cold weather can effect your skin and what to do about it. 

 

Why the concern about cold weather and the skin?

During winter temperatures and humidity drops can affect skin dryness, the strong harsh winds can cause dry, parched and cracking skin (winter weather can pull the moisture from your skin). Humidity below 30% does a number on the skin, especially our lips and hands if your more than a bit over thirty something.  BIG SMILE! The winter months and its low humidity dries out your skin and if you're using harsh soaps, you can look forward to it stripping away the natural oils in your skin. The ability to produce more natural protective oils (that area called the sebum) declines with age. Please note that it's also a good idea to stay away from the toxic chemical soaps, they do a lot more than dry out your skin. Winter temperatures are also known for making your skin feel dry, especially our hands and feet. Rough!

So what are we to do, below is a list of tips for your skin and a few suggestions to help you avoid trouble during this time of year:

What not to do:

1. Avoid toxic soaps, as I stated above, they dry out your skin and the chemicals are horrible for your health (try our Everlasting-Argan Facial Cleansing Bar, the performance speaks for itself).
2. Avoid taking baths in very hot water, soaking in a Jacuzzi and taking long hot showers (I sure miss the hot baths during this time of year, love the hot water, but my skin is always lovely during this time, go lukewarm). Yes, leisurely hot baths and showers are so wonderful but too much of it is bad for the skin. Inundating skin with water breaks down the substance that keeps skin cells intact. Keep your showers and/or baths short and not too hot during the winter months.
3. No astringents during the winter, they dry out your skin. Please stick with clean ingredient toners. You might try our Helichrysum Hydrosol Skin toner.
4. Avoid wearing wool and other scratch textures next to your skin because they irritate it and can lead to itching. If you must, wear cotton camisoles or undershirts underneath wool clothing.
5. Avoid exfoliating too much. Yes, that's what I said and here's why. Exfoliation might cause more skin sensitivity in the winter months. So if you are exfoliating more than once a week, you should only do this once a week even if your skin isn't sensitive. Try using just honey and a bit of brown sugar to exfoliate or try applying lemon juice to the skin for about 5 minutes to dissolve away the dead skin.
6. Not a good idea to wash your hair every day during the winter months due to cold winds, your hair and scalp are left very dry.

What to do:

1. Drink plenty of water, its helps your skin to shine; however drinking it from the bottle can cause your lips to chap, so be armed with a lip balm. We do not make an organic lip balm because our Facial Nutrient is a multifunctional product; it's a facial moisturizer, eye cream, nail cuticle nutrient and lip balm all in one. 
2. Use a humidifier to replenish moisture to the skin's top layer
3. Do eat fat, the good ones. Try adding avocado to your salad and/or cook with olive oil, it's very healthy and beneficial so do incorporate these healthy fats into your diet, hydrating your skin from the inside out.
4. Natural sun-screens (read your labels and make sure they truly are natural). You are trying to avoid cancer from the sun, not soak it up from a product.
5. Do use serums under your moisturizer. Serums are important in the winter months, try adding it prior to your normal moisturizer for that added protection. Our immortal rose oil and the night serum are extremely light so no concerns over changing the consistency of your moisturizer. They also absorb into the skin very quickly leaving no oily residue.
6. Do keep your skin, especially your hands clean and healthy in an effort to avoid the spread of winter illnesses (colds and flu). Not a good idea to use too much antibacterial soaps gels and wipes because they are usually full of alcohol and will most likely dry out your skin. This strips away your skin's natural oils. Just note that plain soap and water will kill most germs and keep you from getting sick. 
7.  Invest in a high quality and pure shampoo and conditioner to get a healthy shine. Do wash your hair once or twice a week and use lukewarm water to avoid frizziness and to maintain maximum moisture (read about our Everlasting-Argan Neroli Shampoo/Conditioning Bar). 

Our suggested products for keeping your skin healthy during the winter months:

1. Everlasting-Argan Facial Nutrient - traditionally known as a natural medium level SPF,
2. Everlasting-Argan Immortal Rose Oil - Amazing for dry, red, irritated and aging skin (also exceptional for a deep conditioning of hair).
3. Helichrysum Hydrosol Skin Toner - wont dry out your skin during the winter and is multifunctional, serves as protection from bacteria and germs without drying out the hands and skin. Great aftershave for men too.
4. Everlasting-Argan Solid Lotion Moisturizers - All variations but Geranium Rose and Helichrysum are exceptional for dry and irritated skin.
5. Everlasting-Argan Body Butter - Neroli-Rose for very dry and aging skin and Helichrysum for problematic and sensitive skin. Lavender is helpful for itchy and dry skin. Cracked dry feet and hands are not sexy and can be very uncomfortable to whom every your bed partner is, so butter up.  :-)
6. Everlasting-Argan Neroli Shampoo and Conditioning Bar. After cleansing the hair once or twice with the bar, lather again and leave in hair for about 10 to 20 minutes for deep conditioning. If your hair is thin, perhaps not as long. A hair conditioner is a must, apply a suitable conditioner each time you wash your hair, focusing only on the strands of hair, avoiding the scalp. This provides a shine to your hair and prevents it from breakage. A hair treatment mask once a week to your hair care routine to keep your locks healthy (use our Everlasting-Argan Neroli Rose Shea Butter for this treatment). Avoid using a hairdryer. Although ideally, it is always good to let your hair dry naturally. If you are using a hairdryer, don't over dry your hair, as it will leave it frizzy and damaged. Try to set your hairdryer on the 'cool' mode, as it is gentler, although it might be a little time consuming. Try not to leave the house with wet hair. The cold weather can freeze the hair at the cuticle and cause it to break.

So as we head into the fall and winter months, it is our hope that the above hydration, protection and repairing treatments will be very useful and effective for you as the temperature starts to drop during the holiday season (one less thing to worry about during those hectic months).  Please sign up for the newsletter for a chance to win the products listed above.

Lovely Is As Lovely Does

Rules:

By subscribing to our newsletter, you are also agreeing to receive news on other Lovely Lady Products and Services. The promotion is open to new customers who sign up for the Lovely Lady Products Newsletter.  Current registrants can also enter the promotion, by re-entering their details. By submitting these details and entering for the change to win one of the organic body care skin sets, you consent to your personal details being used by Lovely Lady Products to send your our campaign, promotional and informative emails.