MADARA news

Put some fennel into your Midsummer crown... and have no worries at the table

Dill essential oils improve one's appetite, stimulates digestion, helps get rid of the gases, so you must not worry, even if you have eaten a little too much. Fennel also helps against insomnia and respiratory problems.

Cut some sweet flag roots and scater along the floor... and enjoy peace and harmony into your home

Sweet flag smell during Midsummer not only brings a special festive feeling into your house, but also scares away the insects, improves the guests appetite and gives energy. You can also put a small piece of sweet flag into your pocket - for a pleasant scent and great mood!

Rub your skin with peppermint leaves... Insects will leave you alone

If you'll rub your skin with peppermint, basil, wormwood or melissa leafs, you will keep your soft skin safe from mosquitos. These plants contain essential oils, which scare the insects away. Nevertheless, it is recommended to repeat this rubbing from time to time, for a longer-lasting effect.

Wash your mouth in the morning dew... and be beautiful till autumn

Dew is the only naturally available water on the earths surface which doesn't contain any salts or minerals. In it's softness it is similar to distilled water! Together with the ozone formed by the plants during the process of photosynthesis, dew also obtains a bleaching effect, therefore when washing your mouth in the dew, the skin becomes whiter, fresher, cleaner and softer. You can also prepare a dew mask for your hair - early in the morning pull a towel around a damp meadow, then take all the ticks and mosquitos off the towel and put it around the head.

Dandelion leaves for tired eyes

If your eyes are tired or a little irritated from the Midsummer bonfire's smoke, place some chopped and crushed dandelion leaves on them. Dandelion leaf juice is used externally to treat eye diseases, as well as a facial skin treatment for acne and freckles. The small leaves you can also put on cheese slices. Not only it'll improve the taste, but also complement your body with iron and make you less tired after the fest.

Rinse your hair in birch juices... and make your hair shining and smooth

If you have some birch juices left over from spring, rinse your hair with them. Birch juice, as well as birch bud and leaf decoction has a reinforcing effect of hair roots. You can also flush wounds with it.

Hops for a sweet sleep in summer's shortest night

Collect hop fruits, put them into a cloth bag and place near the bed or below the cushion - you will have good sleep. Hop has a calming and pain-reducing effect.

If bruised a knee, put some comfrey leaf on it

Comfrey juice has antibacterial, styptic and curing effect. It will also help against mosquito bites and various skin irritations.

Rinse your hair with nettle broth

Pick some nettle, cooke a broth and rinse your hair with it - they'll grow bushy and strong. Also, you can try other brewages for strengthening your hair roots - take equal doses of sweet flag roots, burdock roots, hops and camomile flowers, cook, then leave to brew, filter and wash hair.

Cornflower, cornflower

Decorate the refreshments table with cornflowers - you can eat them too! Before a bath drink cornflower tea - it'll let you sweat more and make you slimmer. Cornflower has an excess water-wasting effect, it also reduces irritations. Also you can prepare an eye-wash out of cornflower tincture - it'll remove swelling!

Wild strawberries for rosy cheeks

Collect a handful of wild strawberries - eat a half yourself, the other half squash in fingers and apply on the face. Taste for the stomache, beauty for the face! For external use, the wild strawberry cures various skin irritations and improves facial color. If eaten, forest strawberries regulate the metabolic process and have a positive effect on intestinal activity.

Before kissing - St John's Wort and oak leaves

Collect St. John's wort and prepare a tincture. Wash your mouth with it before leaving in search of a fern flower. St. John's Wort has antibacterial and astringent effect. It cures gums and oral mucosal. For the same effect you can use oak leaf infusions, which will help against an unpleasant smell from your mouth.

For many years I'm trying to remember that song, that funny melody with childish lyrics which i was always singing as a kid a day or two before summer solstice, when I was walking at hand with my parents through a forest and searching for flowers. The lyrics were something about meadow clover, dandelions and sun... It was so long time ago but every year at the same day this past memory bothers me and brings back such powerful emotions that I just can't keep them inside.

I don't want to loose it. Just as I never want to loose this one night. When everything around you becomes a bit magical, spooky, when people loose their masks and disguises, turn to nature and all of a sudden unveil that not so long ago exactly here was their real and only home.

 

Titanium dioxide is a physical barrier of the sun, which blocks UVA and UVB rays, as well as UVC rays. It is a natural inorganic pigment that, when in a cream, coats the skin with a reflective and protective layer. Anyone that wants to protect the skin entirely from the sun should look for titanium dioxide in the ingredients labels of sun blocks. Moreover, thanks to its inorganic origin, titanium dioxide is one of the most inert and antiallergenic sun filters. This is an important aspect, taking into account that many synthetic, organic substances can irritate the skin and cause allergic reactions. In comparison with other filters, the allowed maximum amount of titanium dioxide in a product is 25%, while the larger part of chemical substances are limited to 2-10%.

Another popular substance, equal to titan dioxide, is zinc oxide. Check the labels of sun blocks - if Titanium Dioxide or Zinc Oxide is mentioned, you can be certain that this cream protects you from both UVA and UVB rays.
Alongside inorganic pigments, other great UV filters can be found in nature. Carotenoids (red and yellow pigments) found in plants have a dual effect: they block the sun's rays and also, as an antioxidant, lessen the damage already done. For example, sea buckthorn, which is one of nature's more powerful antioxidants and contains all forms of vitamin E, was lauded in ancient Greece as a wonderful agent to keep skin looking young. The extract from the yellow berry not only protects the skin, but also facilitates the renewal processes of cells and eliminates free radicals created by the rays of the sun. Other plants that are well known to contain carotenoids are calendula, sweet briar, and tomatoes. A popular antioxidant from far-away lands is green tea. Combining these and other plants together with inorganic pigments, a powerful sun-protection and anti-aging cream is made. And all the better - it's completely natural.

 

"Opening the first ever MÁDARA store is the fulfilment of a long held dream. This is a place where we can finally meet our clients in person and get a better insight into what people actually want," explains SIA MADARA Cosmetics Chairman of the Board, Lotte Tisenkopfa. "We're delighted that MÁDARA is continuing to grow in this difficult climate. MÁDARA is one of the companies whose export results and future prospects strengthen the Latvian economy. We hope that our growth will also inspire other entrepreneurs to look to the future with optimism!"

The store's opening ceremony was attended by a number of guests including Latvia's 'first lady', Lilita Zatlere and other well known public figures including musicians, celebrities and media representatives in a show of support for products produced in Latvia and the natural lifestyle.

"Being here today is an emotional experience for me. I've always supported natural and economically clean things. In this industrial era, people are far removed from that which is natural and real. And yet here, we see a return to these basic values which it is clear that people do appreciate. True values don't disappear. They're our future," said Lilita Zatlere commenting upon MÁDARA'S achievements.

The layout of the MÁDARA store has been created using environmentally friendly paints and economic light bulbs. The store's furniture, wallpaper and décor have all been produced in Latvia. MÁDARA is particularly proud of its ceiling lamps which were produced by the new Latvian lighting designer, "mammalampa". In an attempt to persuade the public to care for nature more actively, the MADARA store also contains a collection point where old MÁDARA cosmetics packaging units are collected from customers for recycling. For every item of packaging they bring along, customers will have the chance to acquire the same product for a significant discount.

 

It is a misconception that only the most advanced technologies can produce ingredients for cosmetics that ensure the best results. In fact, the opposite is true: natural ingredients carefully selected and included in the formulas of cosmetics, produce great results in skin care. Large companies promise amazing transformations - to smooth out wrinkles in the span of just a few weeks, to have perfect skin without the aid of plastic surgery, and other believable and not so believable claims. Certain synthetic substances in skin care products may create a fantastic illusion of smoother skin and a youthful glow, but it's all only an artificial effect. Does anyone ever stop to think that this is achieved with irritating chemicals, which cause micro-infections and oedema, causing the skin to swell with water, but not actually smoothing out wrinkles? This effect lasts only as long as the use of the product that causes it, and there has not been enough research about the long-term effects on the health of consumers that use such products.

On the contrary, plant extracts used in creams do not create illusions, but actually nourish the skin with biologically active substances and facilitate the skin's natural protection and renewal processes. "Metabolic processes at the cellular level are similar in plants and humans," says Vija Eniņa, Associate Professor and Dean of Riga's Paula Stradiņa University Pharmacy faculty. "Just like a human being, the plant's life processes are maintained by chemical reactions, in which enzymes, vitamins, and minerals are involved. When they come in contact with the human body, many active substances work in the same way as they do in plants. For example, antioxidants improve the well-being of a person's cells and give them energy. The human body accepts the plant cells as similar to its own, rather than as foreign bodies. The plant cells are therefore biologically able to engage in the life processes of the person's cells."

 

Refresh your body

Spring is the most popular season to start cleaning. Purification can aid in freeing oneself from extra kilograms and can improve energy and liveliness. In accordance with Chinese medicine, spring is associated with the liver - an organ that has a vital role in digestion and ridding the body of toxins. Especially harmful to the liver is alcohol, chemical substances, medicine and antibiotics, fried foods and meat. Symptoms of an overworked liver are exhaustion, stress, changes in mood, and various infections.

Methods of cleansing are various, but a universal and simple one is a three-day diet, consisting of fresh fruit and vegetable juices, while also drinking a lot of water. By increasing physical activity and sweating, the body can more easily rid itself of toxins. By adding to the diet greens, for example, sprouted wheat, radish, and other seeds, the body is fortified with the rich nutrients and energy of the sprouts. Cleansing of the liver will be well aided by drinking water with lemon, or freshly cold-pressed linseed or olive oil.

Put on a mask!

Beauty comes from inside - a pure and healthy body. Still, we can help bring it out! After the greyness and cold winds of winter, the skin has earned a little treat. Natural masks can be used to cleanse and nourish the skin. Masks can be made of various natural substances - clay, mud, etc., as well as foodstuffs found at home - milk, yoghurt, oatmeal, fruit, yeast.
Clay and mud are excellent purifiers of the skin. They can be mixed with still mineral water or green tea in order to make a soft, easily coating mass. If the skin is dry, a teaspoon of vegetable oil can be added, or milk or yoghurt used in the place of water. The mass can be coated not only on the face, but also on the décolletage, chest, shoulders, and upper back. The mask should be allowed to harden and to remain on the skin in such a state for at least five minutes in order to activate the skin's circulation. It should be removed by means of gentle massage, so that the small granules can exfoliate the skin.
When preparing nourishing masks, creativity is key. One could grind oatmeal, mix it with warm tea, add mashed avocado, a few drops of linseed oil. Or mix yoghurt with banana, or finely grated carrot with a little oil. Yeast with warm milk. Fresh potatoes can be put in a blender and then the mass in cheesecloth and on the eyes to get rid of dark circles. Everything that is rich with vitamins and biologically active substances will stimulate and refresh the skin. It's important to massage the face with lotion after washing off any mask so that it's moisturised well. Of course, it's best if the lotion, just like the mask, is natural and fresh!
Don't forget about the skin of the body! A refreshing, cold shower in the morning will awaken your body and mind. One should wash with natural soap that cares for the skin. The best skin-cleansing product known to civilization is real soap, made with traditional methods and from pure vegetable oils and alkali. The fatty acids of the vegetable oils bond with alkali, creating soap. In this process, the vegetable oils secrete glycerine, a substance that moisturises the skin. Soaps of good quality retain glycerine, and this moisturises the skin during washing. Cheaper, mass-produced products have less glycerine, because it's lucrative for manufacturers to sell it separately as an ingredient of cosmetics. Moreover, cheap soap is made mostly of animal fat, synthetic foaming agents, and perfumes, which isn't very green, and can actually dry out the skin.
In order for beauty care to render the biggest effect, it's advisable to take note of moon phases: the body and skin cleanse best during the waning moon, and best take in nutrients during the waxing moon. That's why one should use masks and peeling agents during a waning moon, but renewing and nourishing courses during a waxing moon.
This year, April 1st is the first day of a waxing moon, which will be followed by a full moon on April 2nd, and the waning moon from the 3rd to the 16th. The moon will wax full again from April 17th to May 1st. The skin reacts very well to beauty care procedures when the moon is in Capricorn, which is from April 9th to the 11th, and cleansing procedures during these days will be most effective.

Clean your mind and home

We spend most of our time indoors during winter, which often is the cause of havoc in the home. An overflowing worktable, closet, or bedroom is usually the sign of havoc within the mind as well. We often cling to material things that we no longer need, and these create energy blocks both in our lives and homes. Feng Shui teaches that an orderly house is connected to an orderly mind. One could make every object in the room go through a "test of orderliness", by asking oneself questions like, "Does this object enliven me when I think about it or see it? Do I really like it? Is it useful or necessary to me?" If the answer to any of these questions is "no" or "a little", free yourself of this object. Throw it out, or, better yet, give it to someone who needs it. Create space in your mind and environment for new things. This principle could also be applied to memories, creating space for various ideas. If certain memories do not aide you in life for a goal, free yourself of them.
When changing from one's winter wardrobe to warm-weather clothes, put everything you haven't worn in a long time into bags and donate them to charity. A general rule of thumb is to weed out everything you haven't worn in a year's time, since you probably won't even notice that it's no longer taking up space in the closet.

Feed your soul

The soul or spirit is what connects us with something higher - Nature and our innate creative spirit. Feeding one's soul is different for everyone. Someone might see this as spiritual holidays or friendship with people who share their views. Others find relaxation in yoga, Tai Chi, or meditation. Others still can enrich their souls with a walk in the park, a day at the beach, an afternoon of weeding the garden, or shared laughter with children. Whatever may be your soul-feeding activity, find time to connect with your inner Self. Breathe deeply, keep a diary, and ponder the meaning of your life.
When the soil of your life is rich, what kinds of seeds will you sow? Allow yourself to dream, yield to this activity that is so often forgotten in childhood. In truth, it's of great importance to each of us. A flight of fantasy is the best way to get to know one's real self, creative goals, and desires. Visualise the life you would like to lead. Create a plan of action and take the first small steps. The spring rain will help your dreams grow and bloom, the summer sun will give them strength and endurance, and the harvest time of autumn will bring you success and accomplishment. But only if you start today.