Did you know that the air inside your home is often more toxic than the air outside? In fact our indoor air environment is two to six times more polluted than the outdoor air environment. Indoor pollutants in dust and air are often generated from sources such as tobacco smoke, building materials, furniture, cleaning and hygiene products, air fresheners, computers, printers, cooking and from people themselves. Here are our top tips for reducing pollution and detoxing your home.

Air Purifying Plants

In 1989, NASA published the results of their Clean Air Study, stating which plants were best able to neutralise toxic chemicals in the air. Whilst plants are absorbing the carbon dioxide they need to survive they also take in particles from the air. Through the process of photosynthesis, they transform those toxic particles into lovely, pure, healthy oxygen which they then release into their environment.

Micro fibre Cloths

Micro fibre Cloths are made up of super-fine microfibres that have an asterisk-like structure. All of those nooks and crannies make it incredibly absorbent, which is why microfiber can hold up to six times its own weight in water! But it doesn’t just pick up liquids—it’ll grab onto anything, making it a perfect material for cleaning. The ultra-tiny fibres can fit into even the smallest crevices to pick up dust, dirt, grease, and bacteria.

Use Natural Cleaning Products

Full of petrochemicals and a host of other toxic ingredients, these cleaners release fumes and toxic residue that get ingested through inhalation and skin contact. Short term effects can be immediate and include asthma, skin rashes, dizziness, and blurred vision, while longer term effects from prolonged exposure can result in neurological impairments, respiratory ailments, birth defects, and cancer. Luckily there are a slew of alternative cleaning products that work just as well as the traditional chemical laced ones, and that will not slowly poison you and your home. And, in addition to purchasing ready-made non-toxic cleaners, consider making your own using easy to find ingredients like vinegar, baking soda, essential oils, and Colloidal Silver, a powerful disinfectant and immune booster.

Ditch Paper Towel

Many paper towel and napkin brands use bleach, chlorine, formaldehyde or bisphenol. Exposure to chlorine and formaldehyde may boost our risk of cancer, while BPA disrupts our endocrine system – which is responsible for our hormones. To mop up kitchen spills, try using cut-up old dish towels and t-shirts. They are absorbent, re-usable, and it’s likely you already have some old pieces hanging about in your home!

Install a Water Filter

Tap water contains chlorine, a disinfectant. Chlorine disrupts our gut flora and boosts our cancer risk. Some cities treat water with fluoride, a potential endocrine disruptor. Installing a water filter in your kitchen is easy to do, or you can purchase a unit for your counter to detox your kitchen. Whatever you do, don’t buy bottled water. You’re exposing yourself to the risks of plastic and creating environment waste, not to mention that companies draw from municipal sources, treat it and then bottle it. You might as well skip the middle man and the continual cost and install a water filter yourself.


Air Purifying Sprays

Rather than opting for the commonly used air fresheners which are packed full of synthetic fragrances and harmful chemicals, it is a good idea to opt for a more natural based spray that not only is fragranced using essential oils but also works to detoxify and purify the air around you. 1001 Remedies, Pur air spray vivifying fresh scent regenerates you and the essential oils work to kill common bacteria as soon as 15 minutes after spraying.

Although there are some great face masks on the market, it is really easy to create amazing ones using the ingredients you have in your kitchen! Whipping up a quick freshly made face mask is great fun and delivers a boost of nutrients to your skin. Here are our favourite three recipes for achieveing beautiful skin with the ingredients you have in your own kitchen!

 

Clay Mask for Acne prone skin

Clay face masks can help treat blackheads, spots and other blemishes by unblocking pores, alleviating toxins and balancing out or replenishing the natural occurring oils of the face. Clay has the capability to absorb any excess oils, grime and other unwanted toxins from the skin. As well as exfoliating and toning, it will also promote the growth of new cells! Green clay is particularly beneficial for problem or acne-prone skin, as it has wonderful cleansing abilities and will draw out any unwanted toxins or impurities and then shrink the pores to stop them getting back in. Aloe vera gel can help sooth and moisturize the skin, and is particularly beneficial for certain skin conditions involving inflammation or dry skin. Aloe vera gel can soften dry skin, heal scars, soothe sunburns, and speed up the healing and moisturizing of dry inflammatory skin conditions such as eczema and psoriasis. It can also speed up the healing of acne, and it’s antiseptic properties can prevent further flare-ups. 

Ingredients:

2 table spoons of green clay 

1 table spoon of aloe vera gel

Mix ingredients together in a bowl and apply a thick layer to the skin, leave for 10-15 mins and rinse off.

 

Oat and Honey mask for sensitive skin

Oats gently exfoliate skin and are also anti-inflammatory, making them ideal for dry, itchy skin. Antioxidant-rich and antibacterial honey is another ingredient with acne-fighting power, helping to balance skin tone and leave you glowing.  For anyone with irritated skin, this will work as an anti-inflammatory. It also aids in preventing skin ageing, and is rich in anti-oxidants. Honey also contains an enzyme that produces hydrogen peroxide, a well-known disinfectant. A thin coating of honey can be applied to the skin to disinfect and heal minor skin wounds and chapped lips.

 

Ingredients:

2 table spoons of raw honey

1 table spoon of ground oats

Mix together in a bowl and apply a trick layer to the skin for 20-25 mins before rinsing off with cool water.

 

Avocado, Olive Oil and Apple Cider Vinegar Moisturising & Brightening  face mask

The high content of Vitamin A in avocado helps in the removal of dead cells from the body. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, and is involved in the creation of elastin and collagen which bind your skin cells together and maintain your skin's firmness. Avocados also contain an amino acid called glutamine which cleans and protects your skin from environmental damage. Avocado oil is a great moisturiser for skin; it can soften dry skin and is often used as an ingredient in massage lotions. Due to it's ease of absorbtion, it can penetrate deep into the layers of the skin to clean and restore nutrients. Avocados also have powerful humectant qualities which can draw water from the skin and plump it up. The antioxidants in avocados help eliminate the toxins that are responsible for premature ageing and wrinkling of the skin. Vitamin E is a fat-soluble antioxidant which helps in preventing free radical damage by oxidizing fats in your skin cells which helps to prevent skin ageing. Olive oil has been used for centuries as a beauty routine to improve skin condition; the properties of olive oil do not clog your pores as many moisturizers you find on store shelves may. It penetrates deep within your skin's layers and the oil provides protection from free radicals while cleansing the skin cells. The combination of vitamin A and vitamin E in olive oil repairs cells from harmful environmental factors. Vinegar is rich in potassium, which helps regulate the skin's pH levels and also helps treat allergies. The lactic, acetic, and malic acids in vinegar are powerfully anti-fungal and also have antibacterial properties which help treat and prevent infections. Additionally, these compounds are also great at reducing inflammation and relieving dry, itchy skin.

Ingredients:

1 mashed avocado

1 table spoon olive oil

1 tea spoon apple cider viager

Mix the ingredients together in a bowl, apply for 15-20 mins and rinse off thoroughly with cool water.

 

 

If you like Pina Colada’s then this is the blog posts for you! Fruity cocktails are a summer stable however it’s easy to  indulge a little much so substituting for a superfood cocktail concoction every now and then is a great move (and they are really really tasty)!

 Ingredients:

 4 kale leaves (stalks removed)

Handful spinach

1 cup fresh pineapple

1 small pear

Water from 1 young coconut

Meat from 1 young coconut

8 ice cubes

Simply place all ingredients into a blender, adding the ice cubes last. Blend on high speed until smooth pour into a glass and enjoy whilst soaking up the sun!

Ingredient Benefits:

 

Kale

Curly kale is a nutritional powerhouse packed with antioxidants such as vitamin C, beta-carotene, kaempferol and quercetin. In addition to providing pure health benefits, kale's antioxidants can also provide beauty benefits. The free radical neutralizing effects of the antioxidants in kale can help keep your skin looking great by preventing loss of skin elasticity triggered by excessive ultraviolet radiation. 

Spinach

Spinach contains special protective carotenoid compounds that have been linked with decreasing the risk of many diseases, including cancer, heart disease, diabetes, neurodegenerative diseases, and obesity. It’s phytonutrients include such carotenoids as beta-carotene, lutein, and zeaxanthin, the same time of antioxidants found in other vegetables like carrots, kale, and broccoli. Spinach also supplies flavonoids, which are a type of powerful antioxidant that protect against disease by fighting free radical damage within the body. These protective compounds make spinach on of the best anti-aging foods there is.

Pineapple 

Pineapple contains an impressive amount of the trace mineral manganese. Manganese is essential for the strengthening of bones as well as their growth and repair.Aids in digestion as rich in fibre and high in vitamin It also contains beta- carotene which improves eye health and reduces the risk of macular degeneration Contains anti-inflammatory properties.

Pear

Pears are naturally high in vitamins C and K, as well as nutrients such as copper—all of which act as antioxidants to protect our cells from damage from free radicals. One pear contains up to 11 percent of our daily recommended intake of vitamin C and 9.5 percent of our daily recommended intake of copper.

Coconut Water

One cup of coconut water contains Fibre, Protein, Magnesium, Manganese, Vitamin C, Potassium, Sodium, Calcium and Carbs.

 Coconut meat

Raw coconut is rich in dietary fibre, which may boost your health by supporting digestion, boosting metabolism, and normalizing bowel movements.

Your guilt free treat full of nutrients and benefits that you can enjoy copious amounts off while feeling amazing!