Day Creams - Why you should use them.

You are not alone if you wonder why you need a day cream for day time and a night cream for night time . In case you don't know, day creams are meant to protect your skin from harmful factors and rays during the day, that can be caused by UV rays, pollution or generally neglecting your skin. While night time Is when your skin sleeps and is in a relaxed mood to absorb and repair itself.

Most day creams are generally lighter,contain sunscreen and nourish the skin at the same time.It is vital to note that the skin functions differently during night and day. And it is advisable to use suitable products. And adhere to a good skincare regime.

At WuChi by Maks our Rose Rejuvenating Day Cream contains Rose hip Oil, Rose Water and Rose extract. If you are serious about your skincare regime, these are some of the vital ingredients that your skin needs to help nourish, heal repair and rejuvenate itself naturally.

Our day cream  address and balance the issues that affects the skin  like, dry skin, break outs, lifestyle, pollution, and the problems that arise from not looking after your skin properly. Our Rose rejuvenating day cream work in harmony with your skin by addressing this issues. We are committed to helping our customers achieve radiant, healthy glowing skin natural and very happy with the good customer feed backs.

Read the reviews and what our customers are saying.

A bit more about Rose Oil

Rose oil is obtained through extraction from the delicate petals of the Rose flower.
Rose oil is known as the Queen of essential oils. Very expensive due to the high quantity of Rose petals needed to extract a tiny amount of Rose oil. Rose oil can be used for all skin types especially for dry, sensitive, or ageing skin. Has tonic & astrigent effect on the capillaries and helps diminish redness & thread veins, soothes, rejuvenates and repairs. Good for wrinkles and ageing skin.

Rose Hip Seed Oil
These are ingredients that work in harmony and penetrates deep down in to your skin to give it a natural healthy skin.
Rosehip oil is pressed from Rose hip seeds. Contains natural retinoic acid(Vitamin A). 
Studies have shown Rosehip oil to be a powerful skin cell regenerator which helps prevent premature aging and wrinkles, it contains a powerful amount of GLA. 
Rosehip oil is excellent for problem skin, stretch marks, scar tissue, eczema, psoriasis.


Pic credit: Shin@WuChi HQ

African Herbs for Beauty and Well-being

In Africa, herbs have been used for thousands of years to heal, as food, commerce and for health  and well-being. Generally, people all over use herbs to cook and to look after themselves. I will heighlight some herbs that grow in Africa  and can be found in other countries. Africa is blessed with thousands of plants, botanicals and herbs; but for this issue of Ingredient Feature, I will focus on these four ingredients, Neem tree, Shea butter, Palm oil and Black Soap.  On the benefits they have brought and how they have been used for thousands of years for different purposes.


1. Neem tree- (Dogonyaro)

Neem tree is indigenous to India, Burma, Nigeria, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. And is referred by various  names as; Dogon Yaro (Nigeria), Neeb, Margosa (Arabic), Azad Dirakht (Persian). This evergreen shady tree grows luxuriously in the tropical and semi-tropical

In Africa, the Neem tree can be found in the norther part of Nigeria  and know as the Dogonyaro tree. It is very medicinal and highl y regarded for it's antibacterial properties. Traditionally, It is boiled and drank as a cure for malaria. Neem oil is also used to treat all sorts of skin and hair problems from, hair lice and dandruff to infections. However, Neem oil, very smelly and unpleasant, with a very strong strength that over powers any other oil that it is used with and so should be used in moderation.  The Gunky smell can be ovelooked due to the benefits it provides.

2. Palm Kernel oil-Elaeis guineensis

Palm oil is extracted from the pulp of the fruit kernels (seeds) of the oil palm. Palm oil is naturally reddish in color because it contains a high amount of beta-carotene.

Palm oil is edible and used for cooking, the body , frying and in soaps and cosmetics. The benefits of palm oil.

The demand for palm oil is growing and can be found in almost everything you eat from magarine, to butter,cakes, preserves and more. However, you can't talk about palm oil without highlighting the problems.There has been alot of conroversies sourrounding palm oil because of the deforestation, devastation and tragedy that it is causing the Orangotangs and some communities.You can read an article here from the independent about problem palm oil is causing in the western region.

3. Black Soap-oshea Dudu

Black soap also comes from West Africa. It is made from plantain leaves, palm tree leaves, cocoa pods or other leaves. The leaves are burned and then water and oil is added. The oils can be coconut oil, shea butter, palm oil or cocoa butter. The process can take up to 2 weeks and recipes are passed down through generations. This means that different regions and tribes have their own ways of making black soap. Black soap is known as Ose Dudu in Nigeria – ( ‘soap black’).Black soap helps with acne, rashes and hyper-pigmentation. It is not as drying as most soaps and can be used all over the body.

Black soap is medicinal and can be found in Ghana, Nigeria and other aprts of West Africa.

4. Shea Butter-

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Shea butter known as Karite butter, is a cream coloured fatty substance extracted from the fruit, they grow only in the wild and can take up to 50 years to mature. Alsos known as Mangifolia tree found in the west and central Africa. Western countries are just begining to recognise the benefits of shea butter, something that African have known for thousands of years.

For centuries, Africans have used Shea butter to: 
• Moisturize and regenerate skin and hair
• Reduce inflammation, stretch marks and wrinkles 
• Treat eczema and arthritis

Shea butter has proven healing properties, dubbed the women’s gold of Africa, it has great healing properties. Heals burns and wounds, promotes cell regeneration, used to treat Eczema, rashes, severe dry chapped skin, provides natural protection against sun damage and ultra violet rays. Good for stretch marks; long application helps delay appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. We use Unrefined shea butter in our Creams and lotions.

What are your experiences with using any of the herbs and plant above? Have you come across them or used them. We use all of these ingredients I have written about and more,  in making our products because of the benefits they provide. Our ingredients are sourced from sustainable resources and suppliers who maintain fairtrade principles. Nature heals, So why change it.

Pic Credit: Google images

The Healing Power of Honey

For centuries honey has been used for its therapeutic purpose to heal all sort of ailments including cough and sore throat and of course as a natural sweetener for food.

According to research, the antiseptic and antibacterial properties of honey is as effective as modern medicine.

A senior lecturer in biochemistry at the University of New Zealand Dr Molan, found that Manuka honey from the flower of the famous New Zealand Tree Bush has medicinal properties not found in other honey. Mauka honey is known to strengthen the immune system, it helps heal wound and fights all kinds of infection internally or externally. As a drink, natural honey and lemon juice also make a great drink to start the day, as the honey will boost your energy level with a gentle detoxifying effect.

Honey is versatile and the effectiveness is noted across the food and beverage industry, health, beauty and in complimentary medicine.


Mauka honey contains nutrients vitamins, amino acids and minerals the benefits are extraordinary it is moisturising, rejuvenating, nourishing, protecting and healing.Honey works as a humectant by drawing moisture into the skin.

Here at WuChi by Maks we love our honey, we use honey in our products and are very careful where we source our honey from and the honey we use in our products is from sustainable resources.

While at the natural and organic product exhibition I  became an fan of a company called Tropical Forest honey.. very delicious honey sourced from wild bees that thrive in forest across Africa. They were so kind to also give us some sample of their Organic Beeswax to try in our products.

For a home spa  beauty experience try using honey at home for a facial.  Apply honey on your face leave for 5-10min and rinse off.

The healing power of honey to stimulate wound healing and rejuvenate healthy skin is well documented.

Clay Face Mask: My Favourite Recipe

Before I share my favourite home- made face mask recipe with you, I will share a bit of why we all need a face mask and why we should all have one.... at least once a week.. depending on your skin type and why you really don't need to be in a spa environment to get one.
For thousands of years mask has been used to clarify the skin and get rid off any unwanted pores or problems . The benefits of clay was discovered by Egyptian slaves who noticed the benefits of how their skin felt each time they washed their clothes at the edge of the Nile River.

The benefit they noticed was softer feet.. and so decided to apply it to their face and hands and the rest they say is history. We have evolved to add different ingredients to suit our skin types as it applies to us with the discovery of new potent plant ingredients, essential oils , extract and botanicals.

Just to clarify when I say Mask I refer to the following,

Green clay( used for the treatment of various problems & suitable for normal or sensitive skin)
White clay( used for sensitive skin)
Pink clay (used for dry or sensitive skin)
Yellow clay (mostly for normal and or oily skin)

Personally I use green clay and and will refer to this as it applies to almost everyone and mostly used in the skincare and cosmetics industry.


Finally-My Recipe

Ingredients:
2-Tbs- Clay
2- Tbs-Rosewater

Directions:
*Combine the Clay and Rose water
*Mix all the ingredients together thoroughly until you get a smooth paste.
*Apply to your face and leave for 10-15min
*Rinse off with warm water or (use muslin cloth) and follow with a moisturiser.

Benefits: this mask is deep cleansing, it will help to tone and heal congested skin + make your skin supple, glowing and healthy the honey has antibacterial benefits.

What you need to know:
*Mask are best applied to a well- cleansed face
*for better results , steam your face for 5min before application or soak a muslin cloth in warm water wring and cover your face to steam for 5 min.
*The steam opens your pores to allow the mask sink in deeper.
*Frame your face with a hair band to create a canvas!


So there you go... What do you think? Let me know how your skin feels after words..
image from web.

Speak soon!