Archive for the ‘Aromatherapy’ Category

Introducing Moon Haven's NEW Anti-Ageing System

When I was formulating Moon Haven’s NEW Anti-ageing product line I was faced with a dilemma.

It is one I battle with, whenever I formulate a new product

You see the botanical world is divided… the wonderful extracts and compounds found in nature that deliver such amazing results to our skin, and bodies and minds … are often either water soluble or oil soluble

…and we all know that water and oil don’t mix.

In fact we can mix the two if we use an emusifying compound.   But the trouble with making an emulsion ( these are all your common creams and lotions you use on your body every day) is that the water to oil ratio is heavily biased towards the water side.

The fact is that most lotions and creams contain 90% to 95% water based components and only 5-10% oil based ingredients!

So what is a girl to do… the oil soluble extracts and ingredients are so valuable in the fight against aging that I didn’t want to compromise…
so …TA Da… we decided to formulate two anti-ageing products that work hand in hand -

- one water based gel filled to the brim with water soluble anti-aging extracts and botanicals – we call it our BioNutrient Facial Gel
-one oil based formulation choc full of all the wonderful botanical lipid based ingredients – our Age Defying Serum

While you can use one without the other and still get great results… the synergy created when you apply the water based BioNutrient Gel first…allow it to dry and then apply the Age Defying Serum …is amazing.

I am so glad that we didn’t compromise and made two, not just one anti-aging product – the results are speaking for themselves.

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an amazing compound from the olive is proving to be at the forefront of the anti-ageing movement

After months of research and formulation we are about to launch our NEW Age Defiance Skincare System.

We have formulated the  two step anti-ageing skin care system (some spell it anti-aging!!!) by doing what we do best… using natural botanical ingredients with amazing properties.

We have spent hours and hours researching all the latest information, case studies and breakthroughs in the anti aging field.  We identified those compounds which have proven anti ageing effects and looked for natural sources of those compounds.

Just to let you in on some of the workings behind the scenes…
One extract we are using comes from the olive and with  it’s ability to penetrate deep into the lower layers of the skin, combined with its emollient properties, it does wonderful things for fine lines and wrinkles…and this is only one compound amongst many we have harnessed in our Anti-Ageing system!

Then we went to work formulating and testing the best combinations of these incredible precious,  natural ingredients.

And the results….

Well the reports from our testers has been nothing short of overwhelming….

We’ll have more in a day or two as we get ready to launch our Anti-Ageing System  which includes Moon Haven’s Age-Defying Serum and its companion Bio-Nutrient Gel

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Universal Herbal Ointment - The First Aid Kit in a Jar

We know that our Universal Herbal Ointment is a very effective healing helper… and so we were delighted when Margaret sent us this email yesterday…

Dear Leonie and the wonderful team at Moon haven,

I would like to give you all a great big thank you.

I love all the products at moonhaven but I was completley amazed when I applied some universal ointment (Universal Herbal Ointment) to two toes that had split.

As a diabetic it was for surely going to be a trip to the Dr.

That night I applied the ointment under the toe where the splits were and low an behold . To my amazement they had healed the next day.

There are too many things that I have had similar experiences with from Moon haven.

So nice to find a store that creates such wonderful products, treats you like a member of the family when you call or visit.

If only the whole world was like the team at moon haven.

Kind regards

Margie Jose

Thank you so much Margaret for emailing us your comments… it made our day!

Also did you know that Universal Herbal ointment is fantastic for helping soothe mosquito bites, cold sores, even chicken pox.

Of course we have also received fantastic feedback from people using the ointment on their worst patches of psoriasis, eczema and dermatitis as well!

We think that by hand crafting our products we add something special each and every bottle, jar and bar.  We hand craft our soaps, lotions, potions and treatments for many reasons..but one of the most compelling is becasue we know tht our products are of a higher and better quality because of it.

In this short video clip I discuss this concept a little further.

Treat Acne Gently!

It appears that the word is finally getting out about how to properly treat Acne…and that is GENTLY.

While I was formulating our solid hair conditioner I wanted another solid shampoo bar to partner it.

Now we already have a wonderful bar – our Silken Shampoo Bar- but I was looking for something with a milder pH more suitable for everyday use by everyone..not just those with psoriasis.

This meant that we had to stray from a  true, pure soap bar to one which contained other surfactants. Now I wanted this bar to be as mild as possible as I have a dreadful allergy to Sodium Lauryl Sulphate and harsh detergents – so the surfactant of choice was one derived from coconuts and was one of the mildest available. I also wanted to add in some deeply conditioning agents to improve the feel of the the product in the hair after it was rinsed clean.  The last thing I wanted was stripped hair!

Because of the mildness of the surfactant I was concerned that it wouldn’t cleanse and foam as usual shampoos do… once again I shouldn’t have worried. It produces a rich creamy lather and left my hair clean and full of body.

I took the shampoo with me on my China trip and it worked wonderfully. I was surprised at how little I used for each shampoo – especially with my long hair.  Followed up with my conditioner I didn’t have any of my usual frizziness that I get up that way. I was impressed!

So the second batch of the new shampoo bar is now being sent out to my dedicated band of testers …and we’ll see what the feedback is in a few weeks.

Well almost…. it is more a round tub!  I have been playing with making a solid hair conditioner that I can travel with – and I think we have nailed it!

Last week Chris and I went to China and Hong Kong on Moon Haven business and before we went I formulated a lovely solid hair conditioner with avocado oil and organic pink clay so I could travel with it in my hand luggage ( I travel light).

While I had chosen ingredients that were excellent conditioning agents for my scalp and hair I was at first sceptical about how effective and how easy it would be to use with my long hair. I shouldn’t have been concerned… the results were fantastic.

In fact, I am so pleased that I have now made another batch and have a merry band of testers with a variety of hair types trialing the conditioner.  I am awaiting the results with great interest.. and of course will keep you posted.

Boys like Moon Haven too

We know that Moon Haven is considered kinda girly by most but here’s proof that Moon Haven is for guys too!

Over the Easter break it was not unusualy to find several males of various ages grouping together to discuss the merits of say Country Spice soap over Marrakesh for Men.  It certainly was a phenomena to behold..and one we are seeing more and more often.

You see the male of the species is finally starting to realise what all the fuss is about and want to start caring for themselves and their skin.

We are also seeing more and more men presenting with skin irritations. dermatitits, eczema and psoriasis – looking for ways to soothe their skin and ease their conditions.

Often they are sent in by wives, girfriends and mothers, but every day we see more guys  visiting us off their own bat. This is great to see.
Everyone is welcome at Moon Haven..even the guys!

ooops...Cooked legs anyone? talk about getting it totally wrong!

We all make mistakes… but this one has to be a pearler!

Read the label carefully on the bottle of Moon Haven’s  Foot Fetish – notice anything that you would say was unusual about the label?

To help you out a little – we have formulated a wonderful mint and aloe vera based gel to help calm and soothe tired legs especially those with varicose veins.

Needless to say we don’t want to promote the  COOKING of legs…but hopefully COOLING them instead.

Unfortunately this label slipped through the net of  numerous proof readers (read dedicated Moonies and crew) – as well as our printers.

So does anyone have a need for cooked leg lotion – well the labels at least – because the real Foot Fetish COOLING Leg Milk is amazing for cooling worn out and tired feet… something which cooking would definitely not help?

As promised I will talk today about how we make a vital part of our healing salve – Universal Herbal Ointment at the Moon Haven cottage in Cowaramup,  Margaret River

For the Universal Herbal Ointment we use a potent combination of infused herb oil as one of the very vital components.  By infusing carrier oils with various herbs we are able to extract the fat soluble components of the herbs into the carrier oils…hence it becomes an ínfusion’. You can do the same with water, alcohol and glycerine…to name a few more solvents.

For our Universale Herbal Ointment herb infusion we take dried herbs such as Calendula, Plantain, Shepherds Purse, Yarrow, Chickweed, Gotu Kola and several others  and place them in a sterilised glass jar.  We then take our carrier oil of choice – often this is olive or sunflower oil – fill to the brim and cover.

What follows next is magical… we place the full herb jar in the garden in a lovely sunny place.  Over the days we watch the carrier oil gradually change colour as all the fat soluble components from the herbs are infused into the oils.  Each day we give the jars a stir and let the herbs settle again.

After two weeks or so we decant and filter  the now vibrant and enriched oil into clean jars -ready to make into a Moon Haven salve or lotion.

These infused oils are precious and potent and we treasure them for what they bring to our formulations.  Our Universal Herbal Ointment, Achy Breaky Rub and all our other formulations would not be as effective without the herbal oils.