just because… essential care^®  body products

 A Luxurious Natural Alternative. 

Natural skin care has increasingly become the preferred choice by discerning consumers who are educating themselves and questioning what they are putting on/into their bodies and what possible health effects these chemical agents have on their health. Allergies and skin complaints are also becoming more common.

There are numerous natural skin care ranges emerging, catering for this demand but the majority of the new and older established brands are not at all what they seem.

Consequently, there is an increasing need for trusted and ethical body care products that are as natural as they claim.  Just because…  essential care^® is a South Australian business that does just that.  Now nestled in Kenton Valley, in the Adelaide Hills, Allison, the woman behind the range, has multiple chemical sensitivities due to prolonged exposed to fumigation chemicals ten years ago. This led her to start making vegetable oil soaps and skin care products, as what was available at the time, were bland coconut oil based alternatives that were in fact, very drying to the skin and not at all luxurious.

The just because…  essential care^® body products have evolved as a carefully considered preventative and restorative therapy for damaged and sensitive skin and for those wanting a truly natural and healthy body care without compromising quality or luxury. 

Today, all the products are still handmade by Allison and feature Australian olive oil whilst incorporating pampering oils such as rose hip, jojoba, evening primrose, carrot seed and mango butter. Where available, local, and Australian Certified Organic ingredients are always used. All products are free from parabens, formaldehyde, (SLS) sodium lauryl sulphate and its chemical close cousins, colorants, petroleum based products, or any other questionable chemicals.  Vegan friendly, there are no animal products or testing performed by any of the ingredient suppliers or by just because... essential care^®. Essential oils are added for their fragrance, aromatherapy and therapeutic qualities.

If any ingredients are problematic, Allison can usually tailor a product that excludes it, providing a personalised service for those who otherwise cannot use readily available skin care.

just because… essential care^®  body products ...

1.   Help skin balance its loss and absorption of moisture whilst also nourishing the body with vitamins using safe and natural ingredients without compromising luxury, health or the environment.

2.   Create a breathable layer or barrier for the skin, attracting and allowing in a fresh supply of moisture while preventing the evaporation of internal moisture.

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 Background information:

 THE SKIN

• Works as hard as the rest of our organs- continually ridding our body of impurities, absorbing light & moisture, readily accepts water and oil- soluble materials through the pores- both good and bad!! We must therefore consider carefully what products to use on our skin!!
• Skin acts as a protective barrier- even repairing itself from injury but each toxic exposure damages this barrier and inhibits the skin’s ability to function.
• The general health of the skin is directly related to its moisture content- how much water it is able to retain.
• Healthy skin “cleans house” under normal conditions- retains moisture; but heat, cold, pollution, UV rays, synthetic cosmetics and an over- processed diet pushes the skin passed its limits and it cannot keep up which can lead to dry skin, eczema etc.

The ingredients used in the just because… essential care^® body products. 

• APRICOT KERNEL OIL

Rich in essential fatty acids (Inhibit bacterial growth & encourage the production of antibodies, which enables our bodies to defend   against infection & inflammation. Combine with protein &        cholesterol to build membranes that link cells to one another.)

·       Deeply nourishes & enriches dry cracked or dehydrated skin.

·       Gentle enough for babies.

·        AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC

• AVOCADO OIL

·       Retains much of its original make up in soap as it has an extraordinary percentage of

        un-soponifiables.

·       Protein- amino acids

·       High amounts of Vitamin A, D & E therefore moisturizing & healing, regenerate cells, soften body tissue & heal scaly skin & scalp.

·   AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC

• CALENDULA OIL

     Pot Marigold

     Regenerative

     Anti-inflammatory

     Promotes healing of wounds, burns, tissues, softens & soothes dry chapped skin.

     ORGANIC and made by just because... essential care® from organically grown calendulas and infused in organically produced Mount Torrens Olive Grove olive oil.

• CARROT SEED OIL

·   EExcellent for wrinkled or aged skin.
Vitamin A & Vitamin C (is a powerful antioxidant-“mops” up free radical and stimulates production of elastin and collagen to help maintain suppleness.
Vitamin E and provitamin A – for dry, chapped, inflamed or irritated skin.
Promotes accelerated formation of new cells.
 

• CASTOR OIL

·       De-toxified castor oil.

·      Acts as humectants (attracts & retains moisture to the skin)

• COCONUT OIL

·      Moisturizing when used in small quantities.

·      Produces a quick fluffy lather in soaps.

• EVENING PRIMROSE OIL

·     Extremely high in omega 6 essential fatty acid and gamma-   linolenic acid (GLA).  Low levels of GLA have been found in adults and children with atopic eczema and atopic dermatitis, as well as women suffering with premenstrual syndrome.

·       AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC

• GRAPE SEED OIL

·     Soothing and helps to prevent dry and chapped skin.

·    Contains a group of bio-flavonoids (Vitamin P) that are needed for the maintenance of collagen and for  the absorption and metabolism of Vitamin C.

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• JOJOBA OIL

·      Actually a liquid wax which is solid below 10 degrees Celsius.

·      Moisturizer & humectant.

·      Does not block the natural functions of the skin.  ** SEE OLIVE OIL

·      Greaseless lubrication (healthy skin receives a regular flow of sebum which lubricates and softens the skin, trapping bacteria that we later wash away with soap.)

·      AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC

• MACADAMIA OIL

·      Acts as an anti-oxidant, protecting cell membranes from deterioration.

·     AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC

• MANGO BUTTER

·      Whipped oil from the mango kernel.

·      Said to prevent drying of the skin and formation of wrinkles.

·      Said to provide relief from the dryness of eczema, psoriasis and dermatitis.

·      Said to restore the elasticity of the skin and reduces degeneration of skin cells.

            OLIVE OIL

    Us ORGANIC EXTRA VIRGIN MOUNT TORRENS OLIVE  GROVE olive oil in liquid soaps, lotions & creams. South Australian olive oil in solid soaps.

  Good moisturizer.

  It attracts external moisture, holds this moisture close to the skin & forms a breathable layer to prevent loss of internal moisture.

   **Does not block the natural functions of the skin i.e. Sweating , releasing sebum ( oily, acidic secretion that combines with sweat to form a barrier which is antifungal and bacterial and stops drying of the skin.) & shedding dead skin cells.

   Mild & cleans well.

   Safe for sensitive skins and babies.

            PALM OIL

Cleans well & adds hardness to solid soap.

Mild

Sourced from Malaysia (not Indonesia where orang-utan’s habitat is increasingly being destroyed).

ROSE HIP OIL

AUSTRALIAN CERTIFIED ORGANIC

Has anti-aging properties to nourish the skin and repair damaged cells.

High in Antioxidants and contains 80% essential fatty acids- Omega 3 and 6.

Healing to the skin for: burns, scars including old scars and old acne scars, dry eczema rehydrates dry skin and reduces wrinkles.

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         FIG EXTRACT

Studies have shown that figs have relatively high levels of a phyto-chemical that works against skin  cancer.

Reduces superficial surface skin cells leaving the skin renewed and refreshed.

             GRAPE FRUIT SEED EXTRACT

A by-product of the citrus industry.

Contains Vitamin C and glycerine.

Anti-oxidant, antibacterial, antimicrobial, deodorizing, astringent and antiseptic.

Said to help in the treatment of psoriasis and eczema.

          GREEN TEA EXTRACT

High in antioxidants.

Helps with acne and eczema.

HIBISCUS FLOWER EXTRACT

High in Vitamin C, antibacterial.

Traditionally used to prevent dandruff and stimulate hair growth.

Soothes and moisturises.

MUNTRIE BERRY EXTRACT (from a ground cover native to Southern and Eastern Australia.)

Very high in anti-oxidants, minerals which help to nourish the skin.

Contains wax naturally found in the skin which acts as a barrier to moisture loss.

ORGANIC

OLIVE LEAF EXTRACT

Extremely high in anti- oxidants being 400% higher than Vitamin C and almost double that of green tea and grape seed extract.

High in free radical scavenging properties.

STEARIC ACID

The Stearic Acid can be animal derived but the Stearic acid that is used in just because… essential care® products is 100% Palm derived, with no added chemicals, emulsifiers or other agents. Stearic acid is used to emulsify, thicken, bind, and stabilize lotions and creams.

VEGETABLE EMULSIFYING WAX

When manufacturing water and oil based emulsions, it is necessary to include an emulsifier to bond together the water and oil, which produces a stable cream that does not separate quickly. This emulsifying wax, unlike many common emulsifying waxes available, does not contain SLS- sodium lauryl sulphate. Its main component (cetearyl alcohol) is derived from Vegetable oil. Being biodegradable, and not considered a threat to aquatic systems, this wax is safe for you and the environment in which we live.

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

 WHAT IS  SOAP?

In various forms, soap has been used for thousands of years- from herbs with their soapy residue to the potash soaps of yesteryear.

Soap is a SALT which is formed as the result of a chemical reaction b       between:

(ACID (oils)   +  ALKALI ( NaOH for solid soap or KOH for liquid soap)   +  SOLVENT water)

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN VEGETABLE OILS AND TALLOW (ANIMAL  FAT) SOAP?

• Much controversy. Some say tallow has been used for generations without any harm.  Others point  to tallow as just one of the many impurities slathered on our bodies & faces.
• For thousands of years it was a “God-send” as it maintained sanitary levels but now healthier alternatives are available.
• Tallow is highly saturated and thought to clog the skin’s pores and breathing ability which can result in blackheads and is known to cause eczema in more sensitive people.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN HOMEMADE SOAP and STORE BOUGHT (COMMERCIAL) SOAP? 

·      Profit- purity vs. Impressive balance sheet

·      Most often commercial soap is tallow or tallow/coconut or palm oil.

·      If commercial soap is vegetable oil based it is usually palm/ palm kernel oil only, which have negligible skin care attributes just a hard long lasting bar of soap.

·      Glycerin is removed in commercial soap making whilst handmade soap has it retained thereby making a naturally moisturizing bar of soap.

·      Synthetics are cheap, stable, don’t change and are a consistent quality hence more profitable and predictable for the commercial soap maker.

·      Natural vegetable oils are more expensive, change from one season and supplier to another and have a limited shelf life but are better for the skin and body.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN SOAP AND DETERGENT?

Shortages of oils and fats during WWI compelled us to look for a replacement for soap. This led to the invention of synthetic detergents (with their wide use now, it seems that we have gone down that path of no return... Washing powder….. squirt of this etc.)  Harsh chemicals clean, scent and coat our clothes and are consequently on our skins which goes into our blood stream.

Detergents are designed to work in the very worst conditions but at a price (which is unquantifiable) that indiscriminately strip clean.

         More often than not detergents are SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate) or similar which are designed for put on, wash off applications  but it crosses the blood brain barrier (a real concern when used as a bubble bath and dish washing liquid with the skin exposed to it for prolonged periods of time)

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just because...® I love to cook

Quality handmade cook ware for children from 3 years to adults

We believe that:

• Children and adults need to interact to develop relationships.
• Children can start to cook with help as early as 3 years of age.
• Being taught to cook is a vital life skill.
• It is important to nurture and develop the natural curiosity that children have in foods, their environment and the world as a whole.
• All people deserve a fair wage for their labor.
• Industry needs to be developed and supported at the village level in third world countries to stop the over crowding in the large cities.
• We have the ability to initiate and further develop Fair Trade industries and continue to provide opportunities for their quality work.
• There is a place for quality cookware for children. Cookware that they can grow up with and still cherish as adults.
• Australian made is great made!
• Food does not need to be high in sugar and fat to taste good!
• You will want your own ”just because…® I love to cook!” ware after you have shared them with the little cooks in your life!

An earthenware mixing bowl which is handmade in South Australia especially for just because…®. There are 2 sizes available, 2.5 L and 3.75L

A 25cm. wooden spoon hand crafted specifically for just because…® I love to cook! from the South of India where there are many poor families trying to live off the land. Most people go to the cities in search of work which is not there. The spoon is made from the wood of the Acacia Mangium that is a fast growing broad leaved tree found commonly found in this part of India. The spoons have only been finished with olive oil and have not been treated with anything else. The wood-worker who has made this spoon, is part of a Fair Trade industry that has already been successfully operating since 2005.
This means that a good and fair price has been paid to the wood-worker for this spoon and that village industry is maintained

Fair Trade Indian Lady making wooden spoons for just because ...®

A high quality white cotton apron which is so adjustable that it will fit children from ages 3-12 years of age. The aprons made especially for just because…® come from South India from an established Fair Trade village based industry.

Soon they will come from Nairobi, Africa as well. The aprons will be made by young women who have been taught to sew at a special centre which also includes an orphanage and school. They have not had adequate education to be otherwise employable and to survive, many work as housemaids in the afternoon after morning sewing lessons at the centre.

Before these women started sewing aprons for just because…®, all they were able to sew was brown paper because there was no outlet for their sewing.

There is no electricity in the sewing room so all that is used to make the aprons is treadle or hand operated sewing machines. So now, because of these aprons, these young women will be paid a fair wage for their work.

The future should be better for them. Maybe these women will be able to set up a business for themselves one day with the help of just because…®

Brown paper clothes was all that the young Nairobi women were sewing

Care Of your just because... I love to cook ware.

• To look after your bowl and spoon we suggest that you only hand wash them after you finish using them. This means don’t put them in the dishwasher.
• Because wood dries out, rub your spoon occasionally with olive oil to prevent it splitting. You will notice that this also brings out the beautiful grain in the wood. You can even serve your baked goodies in the bowl or use it for a fruit or vegetable salad bowl!
• The apron is made of cotton so it can be washed just like your other clothes.

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