When did cleansing become so dirty? We can help... it's a clean, healthy start.
It's Caring Made Cleaner
Happy 2019! New Year ~ Same Me! We're embracing exactly that... it's still us, you... me... we're still the same person even after turning the calendar year. If you want a fresh start, here we go! We're diving-in and sharing ways to avoid the nasties and stay clean at home, at the bathroom sink, and in our heads.
With this new year, often comes new goals, ideals, and more motivation to charge ahead in a healthy direction. Family, work, health, down-time ~ all of these step-up to the plate now and ask for attention as many of us look inward and face the new days with enthusiasm and renewed energy.
Taking that step in making that commitment to detox is an exercise in self-care and loving yourself. After this past holiday season of focusing on everyone else's needs, now is the time for us to focus inward. We have to be savvy and smart because the burden on our bodies may be rising with time. It starts from within, with that first decision, and it can start here and now.
It's Beauty Made Better
Q. Can a skincare routine make us feel happy?
A. Yes!
We often say, everything matters and it all adds up. When we start by chipping away at something small, it can add up to big changes moving forward. For example, let's take washing our faces.
A little research was done by the teams at Kao Corporation on the benefits of carrying out a skincare routine. It turns out that a regular routine could be making those of us that do this... happier! That's no surprise here. :)
Their studies showed that touching our faces with the palms of our hands causes an increase in blood flow to the brain's prefrontal area. This is the area of that brain that stimulates positive emotions. Makes perfect sense to us. Our entire routine of cleansing, hydrating and moisturizing takes just two minutes... and it feels and smells great, and we carry that feeling forward.
When did washing our faces become so dirty?
If you’ve looked up ingredients found in many conventional products, you’ll know what we mean. Synthetic chemicals… they're sometimes derived from real ingredients but then are tampered with, chemically duplicated, and fragranced all for that initial sale. What can happen next is a harmful change in hormones, new sensitivities, and chronic health mishaps. We know... it’s why Qēt Botanicals was born in the first place.
This is your year! We can help to share simple ways to chisel away toxins and take a cleaner, self-care step in the right direction.
We’re all about a clean start, in fact, it’s exactly how Qēt was born. I did a purge of the harmful chemicals in my bathroom in 2011 and needed ways to heal and care for myself. Enter our facial cleansers, the first treatment that was formulated in the brand. To date, we’ve won 11 national skin, body and hair-care awards, and our Balancing Cleansing Oil with Thyme was the very first.
This was my beginning almost eight years ago, and it can be yours… the clean cleanse. Oil removes oil without over-stripping the skin, upsetting the acid mantle, or keeping residual makeup, sunscreen, or sweat on the skin. Really! Because our products are EWG Verified, it means you don’t need to worry about the synthetic, harmful, toxic, and even cancer-causing fillers and ingredients found in so many care products out there today.
Being and feeling clean; for me it’s not only about being healthier with less thyroid and Rosacea swings, but feeling great knowing that a simple cleanse isn’t dirty anymore.
Self-Care: It is not something you have... it is something you claim.
It takes a commitment, effort, and the wanting to clean up and detoxify. In our environments, it doesn't happen by itself; we have to take those necessary steps.
That being said, it's not about being perfect, it's about embracing who we are, and being our best selves.
It's the Ingredient that Matters
Small batch. Big difference.
We can't get all of the nourishment and vitamins our body needs by opening up a can of spaghetti, and we can't get all of the essential fatty acids, vitamins, and antioxidants our skin needs by feeding it with stale, over-produced, lab manufactured synthetics and artificial additives.
Even with all of those fancy names, smells, and silicone-loaded silky textures, it still can't replace the true essence and actives that come directly from the whole source.
Here are some points that matter to us in each ingredient:
- whole-plant derived
- cruelty free
- sustainably farmed and harvested
- free of modified organisms
- availability of ingredient
- pure and performing quality
- true to its source
There are no residual chemicals to soak into your skin, and you get only the purest form of each exquisite ingredient fresh and right at your fingertips. Perfect for all skin and hair conditions, our original, botanical-based treatments offer something (beautiful results!) for everyone.
Organic and Natural
What is the difference?
We keep our ingredient lists as close to the earth as possible.
We're independent and don't have to answer to any corporate headquarters other than our own, and we know what works and what doesn't. The organic and natural skincare industry is booming, and the need for clean and healthy products is growing because consumers are demanding it.
So, what is the difference between organic and natural? Organic means that the item was produced without the use of synthetic fertilizers, ionizing radiation, GMOs, pesticides, antibiotics, and sewage... yes, sewage. Natural means that it is an element that originally was derived from or existed in nature.
Highlights about our ingredients and finished products:
- Organic and sustainably wild harvested ingredients certified by Oregon Tilth Certified Organic (OTCO) and recognized by the National Organic Program for the USDA.
- Our products have been approved and enjoyed by Dermatologists, Integrative Medicine Practitioners, Naturopathic Doctors, Acupuncturists, and Estheticians.
- Cruelty-free at the start and at the finish. Never tested on animals, and we use no animal parts or by-products.
- No pre-mixed formulations. Each ingredient is carefully chosen and is of 100% true quality.
- All ingredients are 100% natural, nontoxic, and always fully disclosed.
- No pesticides, synthetic chemicals, chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or growth agents. No acids, extracts, or alcohol.
- No parabens, phthalates, sulfates, PEGs, or fossil fuel derivatives.
- Our products are plant-based, cruelty-free, there is no animal testing whatsoever, and ecofriendly.
- No artificial fragrances, EDTAs, gluten, talc, or contaminant residues.
- No fillers, slipping agents, glycols, silicones, dyes, ureas, or extenders.
It's the First Step
"I feel the difference after just cleansing my skin the right way."
"My pores are already smaller looking."
"I didn't think that oil would actually cleanse my skin. I does, and I love, love it."
"This is better than my makeup remover, and it's a real cleanser, too!"
There is nothing that makes bubbles, there are no waxes or thickeners to stretch out the product, there is nothing that strips the skin and harms the protective acid mantle on the skin's surface.
There is a clean that comes from a blend of oils and actives that remove impurities, makeup, sunscreen, sweat, and when whisking away the cleanser, it takes all of those things with it that clutter, dull, and don't benefit our skin. All of that in 30 seconds of time.
Our cleansing formulas are for oily, acne-prone, normal, sensitive skin, mature, dry, and combination.
How to Cleanse with our Cleansing Oils
Win the morning ~ win the day.
In thirty seconds, makeup, sweat, and sunscreen are whisked away. Here is how it's done.
Shake and place a small amount (start with about 1/8 of a teaspoon, or .60 ml, and add more if needed) in the palm of your hand. Massage onto your complexion ~ you'll want just enough to allow your fingers to easily move over your skin's surface. Start with a small amount.
If wearing makeup, sweeping it away first with a dry tissue is an option. This part is not optional ~ to remove the oil cleanser, and the impurities with it, it should be removed with a moist washcloth. You can rise and repeat it necessary. Makeup, sunscreen and impurities are whisked away without over drying or stripping the skin. If using our newly formulated Eye Makeup Remover, which loves lashes and brows, massage over the eyelashes and remove with a damp tissue. No need to spread eye makeup all over the face.
If exfoliating, you can add the exfoliator directly over the cleansing oil before removing, or remove cleanser completely and exfoliate afterward. It's lovely to use in the evening before the richness of the night serum. If skin is normal or dry, it may not be necessary re-cleanse in the morning, just prepare skin for the serum. Acne-prone skin and skin dealing with mishaps may benefit from cleansing morning and night.
It's the Big Picture
We're cleaning up our surroundings, embracing a healthier lifestyle, and cleaning up our routines. It requires a shift and a commitment to getting it done right.
Having a well-rounded approach to how we care for ourselves includes a handful of ways to get clean. Reaching for personal care products that are fresh and natural is a fantastic way to feed the good and avoid adding anything harmful, but it's no cure-all. It takes a handful of ways on various fronts to change our lives. Here are some things that we can start today that will markedly improve the big picture.
- It's not only what we eat, but how we eat it. Avoiding frying foods and preparing them in heavy oils is easier on the digestion, skin, arteries, and the heart.
- Choose organic when possible and avoid pre-packaged foods. We all get in a rush and are tempted to buy something already prepared or in the box and ready to go. Packaged foods have to contain additional additives to keep them stable, and non-organic fruits and vegetables are sprayed with pesticides and growth treatments that may upset our digestion and gut health. The Dirty Dozen List by EWG lists those fruits and vegetables with the highest toxic chemical load. Here they are in order from most to least... strawberries, spinach, nectarines, apples, grapes, peaches, cherries, pears, tomatoes, celery, potatoes, and sweet bell peppers. This list was updated in April of 2018. It will be interesting to see if the list changes in 2019.
- Clean the house, and our clothes, with products that avoid artificial fragrances, bleach, antibacterial products, and even sulfate sudsing detergents.
- Cleaning our teeth with toothpastes free of dyes, artificial flavorings, and extraneous chemicals means a healthier mouth, a healthier tooth, and a healthier you!
- Avoid the use of synthetic perfumes, body sprays, and room sprays and deodorizers. Choosing cleanly made candles with essential oils, diffusers, and even cut flowers is gentle and natural on our olfactory senses without the side effects of anxiety, heart palpitations, nervousness, and more that can happen when surrounded by synthetic smells.
Our last month's email touched on this and we mentioned the Netflix special, "Stink." No need to turn your nose up at it... it's a quick watch and worth it.
New Year ~ Same Me
We're in the new year, you may have set down a new set of goals and aspirations for the upcoming days, and remember to take a moment to reflect and gain from all of the great things that have been accomplished in the last twelve months. Not only think about these things, but also take a moment to jot them down and make it official. Doesn't that already feel better! There's no good in starting out this new year feeling like we didn't achieve anything in the past. We've already done some great things... remind yourself of THAT!
Those mistakes? What have they taught me and what lessons have I learned that I can now bounce higher because of it. We can find and learn from the lesson without beating ourselves up.
Clarity and de-cluttering the life in the new year ~ it's a big hit for many. Let's be willing to let go of what no longer serves us. We're fans of 'The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up,' and for me it started in the bathroom back when I purged all of the clutter from the bathroom, read the ingredients, dismissed those products that had ingredients I didn't agree with, and come to find out that they didn't agree with me either.
Time to let it go, shed it, and release it. If it's been on the list for a long time, or its paper that keeps getting shuffled, either make that executive decision to tackle it, or move it on out. If it's not in alignment with who we are today or where we want our future self to be, then let's let it go.
Left: This is me in the early stages of developing Qēt. My Rosacea, sensitive skin, hormonal and adult acne were disfiguring my nose, chin, and were extremely painful.
Right: Years later, after developing and sharing Qēt because of these mishaps, I still have no need for oral thyroid medication, or oral or topical Rosacea medication.
"I wish my skin looked like yours."
When someone walks in or emails with a struggle, after they see us glowing from the botanical oils or our naturally cleared-up skin, they say they wish they had that skin. They didn't see my photos from before, so they should know that nearly anything is possible.
More importantly than that... my response is that I wish they could 'feel' like I do.
For years I struggled trying to find the right care products. It's a relief not having to play the 'find-the-right-skincare' game. Skin upsets can still happen, but now we know how to manage them safely and effectively.
Bonus: it's the FEELING that we can really feel in our hearts and in our heads that we're not compromising our health for a product. That's what really matters."
Your January Special
A fresh start and a healthy jump into the day, or the beginning of the evening routine, it's the clean and thorough routines that bookend our days that can make a difference.
This month we're sharing a 10% savings on our ways to cleanse. Teen skin, mature skin, dry, oily, and combination skin, Rosacea, eczema and other skin upset can all benefit with a gentle clean that doesn't over-cleanse but still gets the job done.
Save on the following treatments this month:
Balancing Cleansing Oil with Thyme
Hydrating Cleansing Oil with Lavender
Restoring Cleansing Oil with Rose
Use the code QETCLEAN to save 10% on these treatments and give yourself a boost in the right direction.
Our Madison-Area Friends
The Madison Well Expo is coming! It's January, it's happening in Wisconsin, and chances are that the days it falls on might be a bit chilly. Why not take the initiative, do something for yourself, and go out and get healthy nudges to start the New Year right?!
Yes, it's the Madison Well Expo and it'll be our sixth year participating. Not only will we be having all our treatments there to experience, but I'll be speaking and sharing ways to chip away the old to bring out the new. We'll uncover some common ingredients found in many products that you may be surprised to hear that our skin is better without. We'll also dive into some shortcuts on self-care at home and on the go. Wrinkles, acne, Rosacea, hormones, estrogen, sensitive skin... we'll chat about it.
Admission is FREE Friday or Saturday with 2 nonperishable items for the River Food Pantry.
The Gift Giving Continues
Being born and raised in Wisconsin, some things are hard to get used to. Even after spending almost 20 years in California before returning to WI with our family, launching Qēt there, and then back to CA in 2017 to open our second studio here, it's still a little strange to be in this warm weather in January. Umm, no, I'm not complaining. :)
The crazy holidays are behind us and we're looking forward in the new year with enthusiasm. It's in this month that it hits me. I can't let another moment go without letting you know that I appreciate you, your time, and your support.
I'm blessed to have a great team that is as passionate about clean health and ingredients as I am, and I'm thankful for them. It's also your attention, understanding, and compassion for who we are and what we do that means so much. These are some of the most treasured gifts that you could ever give. They cost you nothing, but to us they mean everything.
Even if you miss a post, or an email from us, just because you're reading this now means that you've allowed us to connect with you. I appreciate the gift you've shared with us... your time and attention.Thank you ~ it means a lot to us.
Change your Thoughts ~ Change your Life
It starts with a thought, a desire, and a goal in mind. Then the belief comes and the accomplishing of it begins. Change your thoughts, change your life.
My morning routine often starts with a workout, a yoga practice, or a mindful, quiet time. I'm a fan of the Boho Beautiful workouts... they're visually, emotionally, and physically uplifting. Here is an inspirational message I have to share with you. "I believe" from their channel.
"I believe in taking chances. I believe that we were all brought here to find a passionate purpose and we should appreciate the little things that matter most.
I believe in being kind to all who share this land knowing each are fighting our own battles just trying to survive. In this new age of devices, time speeds up so we must learn to slow down.
I believe that each of us has the power to become anything we dream to be. I believe this is not an easy journey, but I believe in you, and you believe in me.
I believe we are all still children, we were told to grow up, that our hundred years isn't even a scratch and maybe life shouldn't be taken so seriously. If we open up to possibility, dreams can always come true.
I believe in watching sunsets, the moon and the stars, and in thinking about this existence it's a transient system that we are only a small part of. It's like a bubble, or a fog, one day forgotten. This is the beautiful nothingness. Maybe every day counts... every decision we make... we can become better versions of ourselves and believe our choices today will define our tomorrow... individually and as a planet.
I believe in falling in love with ourselves, and with you, looking past the faults and insecurities, and seeing the universe together as a beautiful creation. It's up to us how we choose to see it ~ it's our perception which becomes our reality.
I believe in following your heart no matter how much resistance we meet. I believe we each have the strength in us to evolve, that we are all beautiful, that we can do anything, and that the power of one is enough to change the course.
I believe in you. "
No matter what you believe in, no matter what you feel, just believe and feel the truth in it.
Where you are is exactly where you need to be right now. Whether it's a clean start, or it's a jumping board into a higher level... you're where you need to be.
Be confident in where you are... be confident in you.
xx
~ Lisa