Pregnancy
During pregnancy the skin will change, perhaps drastically. This change will be different for each person, depending age. The two main factors that cause this change are first Hormones that are greatly fluctuating during this time. Each stage of the pregnancy requires the body to produce hormones in different amounts and combinations. This directly affects the skin’s state, as hormones control the oils, hydration, and subsequent elasticity and self-healing capacity of the skin. The second major factor in the skin’s changing is the physical strain it endures through the bodies growth and expansion as a new being is growing, being nurtured, and sustained within. The significant affect these factors contribute is the actual strain and expansion of the skin. This expansion likes to tear and create “fibrin” growth as a protective and useful mechanism in dealing with this strain. These factors all contribute to visible skin changes including various degrees of “stretch marks” from mildly visible to raised and textured. Proper cell hydration and maintaining proper cell membrane health (suppleness) (including healthy fats and oils for actual membrane health, and the indicated EFA’s to help regulate the symptoms of hormonal fluctuation) can reduce and sometimes eliminate the occurrence of “stretch marks” and other associated long term effects of skin changes during this time.

Skin Conditioning
It is easier to prevent stretch marks than to get rid of them. By using shea butter to make the skin on your stomach and breasts highly elastic before your skin begins to stretch, it is possible to avoid stretch marks altogether.

Nipple Conditioning
The best prevention for sore nipples is protection. Newborn babies have a tendency to camp at the breast, and this frequent use can cause some wear and tear. Conditioning of the nipples can begin during pregnancy, with simple and natural emollients, such as Shea Butter. Black Seed Oil is a good option when nursing, it need not be removed to nurse, and can be applied prior to feedings to protect and nourish the nipples. Regular use of Black Seed Oil will help to prevent tears on the nipples, which aside from being painful provide an opening for bacteria and increase the likelihood of developing mastitis. Go braless for periods of time, or leave the nursing flaps of your bra open for a "breather”. A teabag of Rooibos Tea is soothing aid for sore nipples.

Nutritional Aid
Black seed is not recommended during pregnancy. However during lactation it is an excellent form of added nutrition for both mother and the growing child. The immune system boosting properties serve as a natural, safe way to build resistance against illness. In addition as studies have shown black seed oil helps increase milk production during breast feeding.
Both pre natal and breast feeding Mothers supplement their intake of manganese, calcium and fluoride drinking Rooibos and therefore promote strong teeth and healthy bones in their babies.

Baby Skin Care
Baby skin is five times thinner than an adults’. Many harsh chemicals in traditional skincare products can irritate their sensitive skin. Harmful synthetics in many skincare products include petroleum-based paraffin wax, mineral oil and petroleum jelly. These chemicals coat the skin with an impenetrable barrier that inhibits the skins natural balance, robbing natural moisture from the delicate skin. Infant bathing may be one case where less is actually more. According to Loyola University researchers, the average one-month-old baby is bathed four times each week and shampooed three times in the same period. Most babies need only an occasional bath in warm water with no soap or shampoo, unless you are treating a condition such as cradle cap. Following a bath, a gentle rubdown with a natural oil such as Jojoba Oil helps to replace lost skin oils. Mother Nature can also help you to protect your newborn's skin. The vernix caseosa, a whitish protective coating that covers the skin after birth, can have long-term beneficial properties: Natural childbirth advocates believe that if this coating is rubbed into the child's skin instead of being washed off (as is the practice at most hospitals), the child's chances of developing skin problems in the future will be reduced.
Shea Butter is a perfect choice for massaging and protecting babies delicate skin. It also works great on cradle cap and dermatitis. Shea Butter and Cocoa Butter can both be used for diaper rash protection.
Jojoba Oil can be used for massaging and protecting babies delicate skin. A natural treatment for cradle cap. Rub a small amount of Jojoba Oil into your baby's scalp. The oil will break down sebum or excess oily scalp build up and make it easier to brush or comb away.
In addition to its many nutritional components, black seed contains carotene, which is essential for infant growth. During the toddler years, black seed provides children with all the energy they require for this active stage of life. Regular usage of black seed, which increases its immune system strengthening effect on the body, will decrease the length and severity of natural childhood illnesses, particularly during winter when children are most susceptible to contracting colds and flu.

Baby Massage:
Benefits for Babies
• Improves the immune system
• Helps baby learn to relax
• Promotes sounder and longer sleep
• Promotes a positive body image
• Promotes bonding and communication
• Helps to regulate digestive, respiratory, and circulatory systems
• Helps relieve discomfort from gas and colic, congestion and teething
• Decreases production of stress hormones

Benefits for Parents
• Provides a special, focused time for bonding
• Helps parents to understand and respond appropriately to baby's nonverbal cues
• Promotes feelings of competence and confidence in caring for baby (especially fathers!)
• Improves parent-infant communication
• Increases parents' ability to help baby relax in times of stress
• It's fun and relaxing for parents to massage their children

Other Benefits
• Cross-cultural studies show that babies who are held, massaged, carried, rocked and breast-fed grow
• into adults that are less aggressive and violent, and are more compassionate and co-operative.
• Recent research shows benefits for premature infants, children with asthma, diabetes, and certain skin
• disorders.
• Mothers with post-partum depression have shown improvement after starting infant massage

Infant massage is fairly new in the United States and other western countries. However, massaging babies has been a parenting tradition in many cultures for centuries. In Africa Babies are massaged with oil and butters from head to toe.
Massaging your baby is great in so many ways. It deepens the bond between parent and baby, helps tone muscles, can reduce colic by soothing away tightness in the abdomen and is a special pleasurable time. Massage has also been used to alleviate stress on the child due to the rapid acquisition of knowledge during the first two years of life. . When we give our babies massage, we teach them how to relax. When relaxation is learned this early in life, they can have a lifetime tool for dealing with stress.
It is important that the massage is done in a warm place. Always follow the lead of your baby, if they are crying or hungry stop and soothe them, if they fall asleep that is the greatest vindication of your massage, cover them and let them sleep.
Some people like to massage just after a bath, others in the middle of the morning during baby's awake time. You and your baby should decide what is best. Massage can take anywhere from 5 minutes to 30 minutes. It is best not to massage immediately after feeding or when your baby is desperate to eat.
Begin by undressing your baby completely (have something nearby in case of accidents) and laying them on their back on a towel. Maintain eye contact, talk or sing to them as you are giving the massage. Start by massaging the legs and feet. Use gentle strokes from hip to the ankle, with your thumbs on the inner leg, gently rotating your hands inwards as you travel down the leg. Massage one leg at a time and finish by massaging the sole from heel to toe using your thumb.
Now massage the chest area, using gentle downward strokes one hand following another so there is continuous motion on your baby’s skin. Gently massage the stomach using a clockwise stroke around the belly button. For colicky babies it is also beneficial to gently stroke along the line of the hip bone from side to center. Massage your baby’s face, with the remaining oil left on hands, it is not necessary to add more oil. Stroke outwards from the nose to the ears, and across the forehead. Be sure to avoid area around eyes. Finish the face by gently drawing one finger down from the forehead to the chin. Turn baby over and slightly more firmly draw your hands down the back on either side of the spine. When your baby can hold up his head you may gently slide your hands down both arms at the same time from the shoulders and carefully pull your baby up so his head and shoulders come off the towel. This will help strengthen the back muscles in preparation for sitting.
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Face Care:
In order for our body to function we require oxygen. This same oxygen can create harmful side effects, or oxidant substances, which cause cell damage. Oxidants, commonly known as “free radicals,” can be introduced through exposure to the sun, pollution, stress as well as poor diets, and cigarettes. In much the same way as rust occurs when metal oxidizes, oxidation in the body causes a breakdown of cells. Free radicals produced by this breakdown attack healthy cells, which in turn weakens immunological functions as well as speeds up the aging process. Antioxidants, reduce the effect of dangerous oxidants by binding together with these harmful molecules, decreasing their destructive power, and also helping to repair damage already sustained.
To slow skin aging and partially reverse it, an individual must take a comprehensive approach to gaining control over all the factors that have been identified in the skin degeneration process. Aging causes a progressive decline in our ability to internally synthesize the essential fatty acids required by the skin to maintain a youthful appearance. Nourishing the skin with topical ingredients is important, but in addition it is essential that you feed your skin nourishing food and drink. When skin is properly nourished, it shows less of the effects of aging. That means consuming lots of purified water, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, minimizing alcohol and caffine intake, and being sure to wear sunscreen.

Teen Skin:
When a teen goes through puberty the body begins to produce hormones in varying amounts and combinations. These hormones control the oil production of the sebaceous glands within the skin. The general effect is an increase in oil production, which leads to oily skin, and increases the chance of getting acne. The use of detergent based face washes and watery moisturizers will cause the skin to try and combat the dryness by pumping out more sebum. At this point you would think that the last thing needed was more oil but pure plant oils, have the ability to penetrate to the deepest layer of the epidermis restoring the natural balance of the skins oil. It is important to care for ones skin during this age, as some damage can be permanent, and some issues while not immediately apparent will contribute to problems later in life.
Treatments:
Jojoba Oil
Argan Oil
Carrot Seed Oil
Tamanu Oil
Witch Hazel
Honey
Rooibos Tea

20’s Skin:
Skin at this period is thought to be at its best. Skin is relatively smooth with no enlarged pores. Proper care and maintenance during this time can be easily overlooked, but will be well rewarded with the benefits being visible well into ones 30’s and 40.
Treatments:
Jojoba Oil
Argan Oil
Witch Hazel
Ghasoul Clay

30's Skin:
Skin at this time will begin to see the first signs of aging. The skin under your eyes begins to thin, with this comes the likelihood of dark circles and puffiness. The skin looses more water at this age, which can lead to drying and also decreases the skins natural protection barrier. These factors all contribute to the beginning stages of wrinkles, lines, blemishes, discoloration, puffiness, and sagging.
Treatments:
Jojoba Oil
Kalahari Melon
Marula
Witch Hazel
Ghasoul Clay
Morrocan Clay
Honey
Rooibos Tea

40’s Skin:
Skin at this time will continue to experience decline ad to this the visible effects of “photo-damage.” Blotches, freckles, age spots, discoloration, and changes in skin color, begin to become more noticeable. The proper care of the skin during the 20’s and 30’s (along with diet) will determine the extent to which the skin will be affected during this period.
Treatment:
Jojoba Oil
Baobab Oil
Marula Oil
Argan Oil
Carrot Seed Oil
Witch Hazel
Ghasoul Clay
Morrocan Clay
Honey
Rooibos Tea

50’s Skin
Skin at this time having experienced loss of volume and fullness in past years has now begun to sag. Pigment changes continue, and the collagen breakdown becomes more noticeable. The skin will continue to thin, and lose its protective barrier. This will leave the skin more susceptible to the environment, weather, and bruising.
Treatments:
Jojoba Oil
Baobab Oil
Argan Oil
Marula Oil
Carrot Seed Oil
Shea Butter
Cocoa Butter
Witch Hazel
Ghassoul Clay
Morrocan Red Clay
Honey
Rooibos Tea

Menopause:
The primary function of estrogen in the skin is to keep it soft, supple, and hydrated. After menopause the body’s estrogen production has generally halted. Additional moisturizing and cellular hydration becomes crucial. The skin is generally in a completely new state by this time. It is thin, drier, less elastic, and more susceptible to the environment and weather. The coloring is varied with sunspots, age spots, and other pigment variations, being more pronounced. While most of these changes cannot be reversed or halted entirely, maintenance can slow some of the effects, and prolong the protective function, and cosmetic appearance of the skin To slow skin aging and partially reverse it, an individual must take a comprehensive approach to gaining control over all the factors that have been identified in the skin degeneration process. Aging causes a progressive decline in our ability to internally synthesize the essential fatty acids required by the skin to maintain a youthful appearance. Nourishing the skin with topical ingredients is important, but in addition it is essential that you feed your skin nourishing food and drink. When skin is properly nourished, it shows less of the effects of aging. That means consuming lots of purified water, eating plenty of fruits and vegetables, minimizing alcohol and caffine intake, and being sure to wear sunscreen.
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Skin Care:
Our skin is the largest organ in the human body weighing approximately ten pounds and covering an area of about 16 sq. ft. People often take skin for granted and tend not to take optimal care of it. Our skin is responsible for protecting our internal organs from the toxic external world. Our skin protects us from heat, cold and physical injuries. It also provides us with sensory information about the nature of the external world, and is our first defense against invasion by bacteria, viruses and other toxic elements. The skin is also an excretory organ, that works as hard as the liver to clean and detoxify the body removing toxins from the body via perspiration.

Basic Guidelines for maintaining healthy skin:
Protect yourself from the sun. Sunscreen (SPF 15 of higher) is a must. Use generously year round.
Diet with plenty of fruits and vegetables. Drink plenty of water. Don’t smoke.
Avoid extremes of heat and cold. Exercise. Get your beauty sleep. Exfoliate.
Treatments:
Jojoba Oil
Shea Oil
Coconut Oil
Shea Butter
Cocoa Butter
Dead Sea Salt
Dead Sea Clay
Ghasoul Clay
Apple Cider Vinegar
Castile Soap
Natural bristle brush

Removing the top layer of dead skin and stimulating the circulation of blood feeding the skin are essential for maintaining youthful, glowing and supple skin. Skin Brushing has been used throughout the world for centuries, and is making its way back into popularity. . Also, keep To brush your skin, start with the soles of your feet first. The nerve endings there affect the whole body, next brush the ankles, calves, and thighs, do circular counter-clockwise strokes on the abdomen then brush across your back and buttocks lastly brush you hands to the arms. All skin brushing movements should be towards the heart, to encourage the return of blood and encourage lymphatic flow. Be sure to cover the entire surface of the skin except for the more tender skin of the face and breasts. This technique works not only at the skin level, but also affects deeper organs. It has many immediate benefits, including exfoliation of dry skin, stimulation of blood circulation and lymphatic flow, and detoxification, just to name a few. It has been found to be very beneficial for the treatment of constipation and diarrhea, menstrual cramping, poor circulation, dry skin, and for toning up loose skin from weight loss.
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