My Mama's Love

I dread using chemical laden products on my family, especially products containing DEET. Unfortunately, dangerous mosquito-born illness in Central Florida is a very real risk this summer so it is crucial to find a bug repellent that is effective. Thankfully, I had the chance to try an organic and all natural bug repellent called “Bug-Off-Me” by My Mama’s Love. This family owned business began in 2004 to meet the skin care needs of their daughter so I was eager to give it a try.

“Bug-Off-Me” (paraben and preservative free) worked wonderfully and the fresh herbal scent was an added bonus. The first opportunity that we had to use it was one evening when the kids wanted to swim in our pool after dark which is prime time for mosquito bites. I applied Bug-Off-Me on the entire family and even a few drops around the pool area. After over an hour of pool time, I inspected everyone and there were NO bites.

The next time we used it was while hiking through our swampy State Park. I was most concerned about ticks so once again I applied it to the entire family, including our dog. I applied it once in the morning and again in the afternoon. Even though the bottle states to apply liberally, I was impressed by how small of an amount actually needed to be used to be effective. We are a family of five (plus our boxer) and used the product on four separate occasions, including reapplications with over half a bottle still left. Once again, no bug bites and no ticks.

“Bug-Off-Me” is a wonderful blend of all natural and organic ingredients, including tea tree, citronella, lavender, eucalyptus, lemon and lemon grass. My daughter and son have very sensitive skin due to eczema and there was no irritation of the skin at all. In fact, my daughter usually screams in pain anytime a new product is tried on her skin but she didn’t mind it at all and said “this smells really good” as she helped rub it into her skin. For those people who suffer from allergies, “Bug-Off-Me” is dairy, soy, corn, egg, gluten and yeast free.

If you are concerned about protecting your family not only from pesky insects but from potentially harmful chemicals too then “Bug-Off-Me”  is the product for you.

-A product review by Simply Stacie. Visit her review here

“Your skin curative is AMAZING. My son had a rash for 7 months. My sister bought me this this product and it cured it in one day.  It was an under the neck rash and the Dr. had me buying several expensive products including a $ 20 powder;  nothing worked.  So I gave up trying and just kept it dry.  I have before and after pictures.  Not even 24 hours and it’s gone.  I told everyone I know about it!”

Debra-Spokane, WA.

Mineral oil versus natural oils in skincare—are all oils created equal?

As a skin care professional, one of the obstacles I run up against on a regular basis is the fallout of mass-marketing campaigns preaching that consumers should avoid oil-based products if they have skin issues. The truth is that oil is one of the very best things you can put on your skin — natural oils, that is, not synthetic, chemically-altered oils. It is these synthetic oils such as mineral oil to which the campaigns are really referring to. Oils derived from plants, such as olive, coconut, avocado, or grape seeds are in fact illustriously beneficial to our skin.

To understand the difference, it is helpful to know where the oils are derived from and why this makes them so different when applying them to the skin. Mineral oil is a distillate of petroleum used to produce gasoline and other petroleum-based products from crude oil. It is ubiquitous in skincare products because it is inexpensive and rarely causes allergic reactions. Aside from the obvious—it is a derivative of crude oil—why is it so bad for your skin? Mineral oil is used commercially as mosquito control where it is sprayed on the surface of water to make an impervious film that prevents mosquito larvae from breathing. Translation: it clogs your skin. It coats the skin like plastic and interferes with the skins ability to eliminate toxins, which promotes acne and other skin disorders. Mineral oil also slows down skin function and cell development that can result in premature aging.

On the other hand, unadulterated oils, found naturally in nature and derived from plants, have immense benefits. For example, olive oil has antioxidant properties and is rich in vitamins, minerals and nutrients, thus having multiple healing effects on the skin. The vitamin E content is high in olive oil, thereby assisting in repairing cells and preventing cell damage. It is soothing and healing to all skin types. It has an excellent moisturizing effect on the skin, and leaves a breathable protective film that holds in moisture. Olive oil produces very mild long-lasting skincare products which are suitable for small children or those with sensitive skin since olive oil is unlikely to cause allergic reactions.

Coconut oil is another natural choice for skincare because it is high in the fatty acids lauric and capric. These fatty acids are just like the fatty acids found to be so beneficial in human breast milk and are extremely powerful antimicrobial agents. Coconut oil’s antimicrobial properties are beneficial for the skin and help to quickly re-establish the skins own natural antimicrobial and acid barrier. Coconut oil’s small molecular structure allows for easy absorption, giving the skin a soft smooth texture without feeling greasy. As well as aiding healing and repair, its effects are long-lasting. Coconut oil is an amazing moisturizer keeping the skin soft and smooth.

So the answer is no – all oils are not created equal. Don’t be scared off by an oil-based product. Look closer at what the oil is and steer clear of synthetic oils such as mineral oil, but feel good about purchasing products with rich, natural, beneficial properties such as avocado, grapeseed, olive, coconut and sesame.