We are proud to announce that we have two new kawakawa products, a hydrosol and an infused oil.
Both have an exquisite aroma, and are lovely to be around!

Kawakawa (Macropiper excelsum) is a New Zealand native shrub or small tree which has family members around the Pacific.

Kawakawa grows throughout New Zealand. Its beautiful heart shaped leaves are very aromatic, and native looper moth caterpillars find them irresistible - you can see some holes in the leaves in the photo! As a defence against being chewed to bits, the kawakawa plant releases an oil that gives the leaves their medicinal value.

Kawakawa leaves contain up to 3.5% volatile oil, comprised mainly of myristicin (70%), an aromatic ether related to eugenol (a local anaesthetic found in clove oil). These aromatic volatile oils give a unique scent to the hydrosol and infused oil – it’s an uplifting and refreshing perfume, quite unlike anything else – distinctly New Zealand.

Kawakawa has a long history of traditional and modern use, both internally and externally. Here we will concentrate on the external applications. (Internally, it has been taken to help the body adapt to stress, to relieve digestive problems, to treat internal parasites, and as a blood purifier and diuretic. Kawakawa is also used to treat coughs, colds and bronchitis.)

The hydrosol is a clear liquid, while the oil is made by infusing kawakawa in extra virgin olive oil.

Here are some ways of using the hydrosol:

Baby wipes: Being antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, the hydrosol is a wonderful base liquid for home-made baby wipes.

Skin conditions: Kawakawa hydrosol’s analgesic properties help to sooth a range of skin conditions, from neuralgia to some kinds of eczema.

Cuts, wounds, abrasions, boils & abscesses: An effective antimicrobial plant, Kawakawa is popular for treating injuries and wounds – great for cleaning kids’ scrapes and cuts.

As an insect repellant: Combine the hydrosol with a few drops of essential oils such as manuka, citronella, lavender and/or lemongrass.

Some ways of using the oil:
 
Baby nappy balm: Combine the oil with beeswax in a proportion of 85:15 – see the recipes on our website for more info.
 
Eczema: For dry eczema, make a barrier cream by combining the oil with beeswax.

Moisturiser for skin conditions: Add the oil to a high-quality unfragranced moisturising cream.

Circulatory stimulant: Rub the oil gently into the skin to improve circulation in conditions such as bruising, chilblains and Raynaud’s.  

Aches and pains, arthritis: Add kawakawa oil to a high-quality unfragranced moisturizer, and rub this on aching joints.

Muscular cramps: Use as a massage oil.

Kawakawa is a nice plant to become acquainted with. I have had a series of kawakawa plants as indoor pot plants – I love their shapely bright green leaves. When they get too big or spindly, I move them into the garden to join the other natives.

When I read your Facebook posts, I realise I need to think of my kawakawa patch as a herb garden! Some of you have said that it's the holey leaves that have the most medicinal value - I guess those leaves are working hardest to repel the caterpillars!

Baby skincare basics -
Here are some thoughts on caring for baby skin.
They seemed to fall under six main ideas:

• Skin can absorb what we put on it
• The basics haven’t changed
• Natural tends to be … well, more natural
• Babies vary in sensitivity/tolerance
• Fragrance – baby doesn’t need it
• Avoid mineral oils

Skin can absorb what we put on it
We think of skin as a barrier, but it absorbs some substances. Just think of smoker’s nicotine patches! Baby’s skin is delicate, and easily upset. But there are wonderful oils and butters that nourish the skin with natural nutrients.

The basics haven’t changed
Babies have been around for as long as humans have! And loving mothers have been thinking about how to care for them for just as long.
In Western society, where (unlike many traditional societies) we encase our babies’ bottoms, a traditional basic has been zinc cream, used to waterproof the tender skin. Zinc oxide has been used in ointments and sunblocks for a long, long time. Zinc as a mineral is important for healthy skin – that’s one of the reasons we seek pumpkin seeds, for example.
I find it interesting to look at veterinary care: good levels of zinc prevent facial eczema, a horrible illness of cloven-footed animals that affects the liver as well as the skin. (I’m keeping an eye on my sheep as I write, looking for tell-tale signs – conditions are perfect just now for the fungal spores that cause it.)
You can make your own zinc cream that will have none of the extras that the pharmaceutical industry may use to ensure long shelf life and perfect texture. There’s a recipe on our website – it’s called Soothing Diaper Cream.

Goats milk soap is another traditional baby-care item. Something strange and wonderful happens when goats milk is added to a pure soap. The result has a rich, smooth quality that makes it ideal for baby’s delicate skin – and let’s face it, babies do need cleaning at times!
 
Before the packaging for baby wipes had been invented, mothers used to carry around a moist flannel in a plastic bag, and a towel. You can make your own baby wipes that have none of the additions needed for long life in the commercial product.  There are heaps of suggestions on the net.

Natural tends to be … well, more natural
Over the last hundred years, science has permeated our lives – and one curious   thing throughout that period is the top scientists who say that we know most of the really important stuff now – there’s only bits around the edges that are unknown. Maybe the huge unfolding of scientific knowledge in recent years has made this attitude less common, but we need to remember that what’s currently known isn’t the last word. Many old wives’ tales have been found to be scientifically sound.
Naturally occurring, lightly processed oils and butters may well contain substances as yet undiscovered – present in tiny but significant amounts – that may make other (known) nutrients more bio-available to the skin. There’s nothing to lose, and potentially much to gain!

Babies vary in sensitivity/tolerance
Babies, like us, are all different.
I have two nieces who (like their parents) are totally different: As a baby, Emma was quiet, shy, hated noise and activity – but was very alert and took in everything. The sensitive one, you’d say. Whereas baby Sarah was in your face, social, funny, taking on every challenge, but slower to reach milestones.
But who had eczema? Sarah. Her mother felt that somehow her eczema was an expression of her inner (and invisible to the world) turmoil, unlike her sensitive sister’s inner calm.
You know your baby. It’s likely that s/he has characteristics that you recognise from your family or your partner’s. You can care for your baby in a way that lovingly takes account of those qualities. Your baby’s skin is an integral part of who s/he is!

Fragrance – baby doesn’t need it
Fragrance is for grown-ups. We want our baby to smell as gorgeous as they look. But the fragrance industry is not baby-friendly. In the USA, fragrance ingredients apparently slip through a regulation loophole that may have developed because fragrance is such a tiny percentage of a product. A small proportion of babies will react to some fragrance ingredients, and other ingredients may have a cumulative effect if used over a long period.

Avoid mineral oils
Mineral oil, one component of crude oil, is the main ingredient in many supermarket skincare preparations for baby. It is very cheap, it doesn’t go rancid, and it is odourless and tasteless – great from the manufacturer’s point of view. It’s also nutrient-free.
Opinions differ on whether mineral oil is absorbed by the skin – probably most cosmetic-grade oil remains on the surface. Scientific studies suggest that cosmetic-grade oil doesn’t block the skin pores, as some believe.
But what a wasted opportunity to use mineral oil on your baby! Vegetable oils contain a multitude of substances that feed the skin and are probably absorbed by the body.
 
But essential oils, they are natural – surely they are fine? For most babies, a few drops of essential oil in a product would bring the benefits of that plant. But essential oils are potent ingredients, and to be used with great care in preparations for baby.
 
So… go with your intuitions, and go gently with your baby’s skin. There’s no single right way – just the right way for you and your baby.

Vegetable lanolin
 
We are delighted to be able to offer you an Ecocert approved vegetable lanolin.
In the past we have stocked traditional lanolin (made from the protective oils of sheep wool) which has been used for probably thousands of years to soften and protect.
This vegetable lanolin is very similar in appearance and texture to traditional lanolin but (unlike lanolin!) has no odour. (The texture could be described as gluggy. It’s sticky and thick – not the easiest stuff to handle.)
It is 100% plant origin – manufactured from shea butter, glyceryl rosinate and olive oil – and is free of polyethylene glycol (PEG).
It is an excellent emollient, safe and non-irritating, and can be substituted for lanolin in any recipe with the same result.
Use it in products for body care, baby care, and sun care. For more uses, see the product information on our website.
 
Vegetable petrolatum
 
Our other new product is this transparent gel which is very similar to traditional Vaseline, and can be used in the same way.
It is Ecocert-approved, 100% natural and of vegetable origin – made from castor oil, carnauba wax and beeswax.
It has a wider range of use than Vaseline – for example, it can be used for all skin types and does not block skin pores, whereas Vaseline is not recommended for normal and greasy skins.
Vegetable petrolatum enhances shine in gloss, lipsticks, and lip balms, and can be used as a hair conditioner to bring shine to the hair.
Vegetable petrolatum has similar water resistance to Vaseline.
See the product information on our website for more details.

 

We want to write about things that will interest, inform and inspire you.
Making skincare products and other things can be so much fun. We look forward to sharing our enjoyment and enthusiasm.
We know that you do all kinds of amazing things with our ingredients, and we hope that you will share your experiences with us.