When you hear the word “oil” what image does it bring to mind?
The term “oil” or “oily” make me think of two different things: first, the dark stains left underneath carports; and second, the necessity of using a harsh soap to cut through residue left by grease.
It seems as though body oils are unfortunately and inappropriately named since they are neither dirty nor greasy. In fact, the light silkiness that characterizes a good body oil is as pleasant as it is unexpected, leaving no unwanted residue on the skin. The Pangea body and massage oils are perfect examples. Most body and massage oils tend to use one base oil such as sunflower, jojoba, sesame, coconut or extra virgin olive oil. Here at Pangea, we decided to use all these oils mixed together to carry our scent combinations and to provide a more holistic care for your skin (not to mention the body and mind!). In doing so we were able to harness the consistency and high volume of essential fatty acids (EFAs) of olive oil for example and combine them with the superb absorption of jojoba oil, while capturing the zinc rich benefits of both sunflower and sesame oils on which our skin relies to repair itself and maintain its health. Coconut oil, of course, carries medium chain fatty acids which are important to our overall health, but is also a great all round moisturizer on its own!
When we think about using body oils, especially in the current season, we usually think about their ability to seal extra hydration into the skin. Skin can quickly become chapped and sensitive, especially with the cold winter winds! However, most body oils and lotions are often heavy and sit on top of the skin. Pangea's body oil, on the other (more hydrated) hand, acts preventatively and protectively, making it easier for your body to hold onto moisture and resist being stripped by the elements. You can even use the two --Pangea's Body Oil and Lotion-- in combination as well!
Body oils can also be used to energize and relax. This may seem like a contradiction, but there is nothing more calming than a good scalp massage, even as the hair follicles are being stimulated. The same can be said for a pregnancy or labor massage! Our body oils are so gentle and nontoxic that they can be used on expectant mothers without the fear of any unwanted side effects. They are also a delight post-partum as the gentle rubbing of oil into the once-pregnant body both encourages regeneration of the skin and a rejuvenation of the tired tissues there as they work to come back into shape.
The light scents used in the Pangea body oils are also designed with these goals in mind. The Pyrenees lavender with cardamom and the Italian white sage and geranium combinations help to ease and refocus the mind. In a number of different studies, lavender has been shown to help relax and reduce stress, working with the cleansing and revitalizing nature of cardamom. White sage has been shown to help rid the body of negative energy and combining it with geranium reinforces the elimination of harmful or damaging thoughts or emotions. The Malagasy ginger with lemon grass helps to gently reinvigorate and re-energize; although ginger is not recommended for those with very sensitive skin or the more sensitive areas of the body, it is known for stimulating and warming the senses, while the lemongrass is useful for detoxifying (as well as energizing).
So as you can see, body oils are a valuable and helpful component of skin health as well as overall mind-body health, used to relax, to stimulate, or both! Pangea's body oils also make for a lovely holiday, house-warming or host gift. And as a special gift to you Pangea would like to offer you a special 30% discount now thru December 31, 2009 available on our website and in the U.S. only. Just enter Promo Code Blog19 at Check Out
Besides staying moisturized and getting massaged, what are other ways you use body oils? Have any of you had Ayurveda treatments with body oils? How did they make you feel?
Thanks to kpishdadi, davosmith, alex_the_greek, and valentinapowers for the photos!
Laura
