With all the news of this bad Flu season, I wanted to share something I came across from the Red Cross. Here is a very good article on Taking Care of the Flu.
And oh by the way if you haven’t donated blood lately ~ Â It’s National Blood Donor month. The need is great and you’ll feel great about helping others in need.
This time of year everyone is saying’ It’s going around” and “IT” is not a good thing. Â Colds, flu’s, sinus infections, stomach virus; Â they all hit hard in the winter months. But what can you do to reduce your sick days this winter? One of the easiest ways and one near an
d dear to our hearts is to wash your hands often. Of course if you ask we would recommend only using hand sanitizer when you can’t use Alabu Goat milk soap and water; soap and water is recommended as the best way to remove germs from your hands. Try to wash your hands every time you come back home too. Another easy way is to increase the amount of fresh fruit you and your family eat.
Clara just turned two, she is Faith’s little sister, well she is actually her younger sister, she is bigger than Faith now and growing like a very healthy weed. One day after a lunch-time visit, Clara needed a bath; yes, she really enjoyed her lunch. I asked if she wanted a bath and she was excited and said yes. So I filled my kitchen sink with warm water, but when I went to  put her in the sink she was a little panicked and looked at me like maybe I had lost my mind. I explained to her that when her mommy was little she took a bath in the sink all the time. It’s a nice bath, it’s just a little bath.
Something clicked with her and she agreed to a bath in the sink. She had lots of fun and kept saying, “I’m taking a little bath”. Then she decided that she wanted her sister to take a little bath too. My daughter thought I was kidding when I said ok. I have a double sink and yes I filled that one up with warm water and Faith had a little bath too. There was lots of splashing and laughter and of course they each insisted on having their own bar of Alabu Goat Milk Soap! Â Now every time I say “little” Clara wants a little bath! Â Yes, I am one happy grammy.
Facial toners can be a confusing topic, especially if you have sensitive skin. Â What does it do for your skin and how do I know if you should use one?
There are three different products that can all be called toners; astringents, fresheners and toners. Astringents are made with alcohol and used to tighten skin, remove excess oil and reduce the appearance of pores, they are very drying and irritating to sensitive skin.  Fresheners are are not usually made with alcohol but also have a tightening effect on skin and reduce the appearance of pores. They are made with ingredients like green tea. Toners are designed to constrict your pores and soothe your skin. They are usually made with water, botanicals and light moisturizers.   A good toner can also help reduce inflammation, add antioxidants, soothe skin. The mildest toners are made with ingredients to draw water to your skin (humectant) and are alcohol free, and are perfect for sensitive skin. While toners may be slightly acidic, it is not necessary because your skin will naturally return to it’s pH balance on it’s own.
If you are looking for something to make your pores look less visible you can give toners a try. As part of your skin care routine toners are used after cleansing your face with a mild cleanser.
Toners can be inexpensive or expensive – but you want to be careful they don’t contain ingredients that are skin irritants.
You may want to try making your own toner, it is easy, economical and fun. And you will know exactly what ingredients you are putting on your face
An old fashioned and all time favorite and best smelling toner;
Rose Water Toner-Â great for all skin types, especially sensitive skin.
 Aloe Vera Toner –
These next few homemade toners for sensitive skin use herbal teas. Because they use just one ingredient, you’ll be able to see how your skin reacts. If you are salicylate sensitive or allergic to herbs or botanicals then you should avoid using herbal teas.
A side note on salicylate sensitivities and allergies in general; the Feingold Association is a great resource.  Alabu products have been reviewed and accepted by the Feingold Association as good products for sensitive skin care.  Here is a link to their salicylate sensitivity page as well.
Alabu Trivia
~Maryclaire
Winter is so drying to your skin. Although the climate around the country varies, the problems our skin experiences are similar. In the winter your skin is exposed to many harsh environments like dry indoor air, cold and wind outside, not to mention the lack of sunshine. All this can cause very dry, flaky irritated skin in the winter months. But there is relief!
What you need to do is moisturize, exfoliate, and moisturize again. Your skin reacts differently in the winter so you need to adjust accordingly.
Cleansing: In the Winter one of the most important things to keep in mind is hot water dries your skin. As good as it feels to take a steaming hot shower your skin will suffer the consequences. If your skin is very dry try washing with water that is warm but not hot. You want your cleansing routine to be as moisturizing as possible, so you might want to change to one of our more moisturizing soaps such as Baby Me or Olive soap if you are not already using it.
Moisturize: Replenish Facial Moisturizer is great but if you need something more in the winter try the Shea Body Butter, even though it is a heavier moisturizer, the ingredients are all non-comedogenic, so it can be used on your face without fear of clogging pores.
It is a good idea to use a heavier moisturizer in the winter since your skin has more extreme conditions to deal with. Itchy skin often happens because the dry air of winter is causing the moisture in the top layer of your skin to evaporate.
Exfoliate: This is done to remove dead skin cells and allow your skin to absorb the extra moisturizer you are applying. But don’t exfoliate more than twice per week.
Hydrotherapy: This stimulates your circulatory system for better blood flow to your skin. You can do this at home by using your shower. Start out with a warm shower, before you finish switch the water to cold for about fifteen seconds then back to warm. Repeat the process for two minutes. Try it and see if you don’t feel better.
Moisturize: The best time to moisturize is right after a bath or shower. The bath helps to hydrate your skin and our moisturizers help to form a protective barrier to keep the moisture from evaporating.
And remember healthy skin starts from the inside, so eat healthy whole foods and drink plenty of water.