Preserving & Protecting the Canvas of our Beauty
My journey with essential oils has been a bumpy one, on the one hand I am interested in experiencing more and wanting to concoct my own blends, but I am convinced that it is something best left up to those who truly understand the workings of these powerful essences. At the same time, I am concerned about product quality and safety, and am hesitant to engage with pushy sales people. And now with the arrival of Canvas Beauty in Singapore, it seems all my cares will be met!
Canvas was founded in 2004 in Australia by Margaret Smith who has been formulating tailor-made skincare solutions using organic plant-based ingredients for over 40 years. And like with all things Aussie, Canvas strives to provide the highest quality and safety standards – Canvas products that are marked as organic contain a minimum of 95% certified organic ingredients that have been approved by ACO, and where applicable TGA as well. Nasties such as parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, phthalates, GMOs, triclosan, petrochemicals, and synthetic dyes or fragrances have been eliminated from Canvas products.
The brand currently carries an extensive range of 36 essential oils, 6 carrier oils and 5 body oils. There is even a nicely curated selection of skincare formulated with the essential oils. Each of the essential oils come in a small 12ml bottle ideal for personal use and a 100ml professional sized bottle. These are pure essential oils of the highest grade, and a couple of them are so precious that they come in 1.5ml vials. What I love is that each essential oil is clearly labeled with their origins and benefits, so that at a glance it is easy to pick out what you need. More importantly, the sales staff is on hand to recommend complementary oils and there is even a “recipe book” of blends that you may consult to mix and match at will.
I had never paid much attention to carrier oils in the past, but with 7 to choose from, I am suddenly excited by the endless possibilities. Each carrier oil differs in their texture and natural fragrance, and depending on which you choose, there may be additional benefits too. Rose Hip Oil is a top pick of course, but Grape Seed Oil is also a good choice for antiaging concerns. Jojoba Oil is great for dry and eczema-prone skin, and Avocado is nourishing as well. These are perfect for using on the body, face and even hair… and can be used on their own or mixed in with one or more drops of essential oils for massaging. I have terribly dry skin on my body which is prone to eczema, and love using body oils in place of fragranced moisturisers as they tend to absorb much better, have greater efficacy and smell good naturally without irritating my skin. I am currently also using carrier oils on my 4 year old son and he loves it, when in the past he would scream when I try to apply any creams on him!
Of course, if buying several bottles of essential oils and carrier oils seem like too much of an investment to start, Canvas also offers many pre-blended oils and lotions to get you started. One of my favourite is the Lymphatic Drainage Body Oil which contains Cypress leaf essential oil, Niaouli leaf essential oil, and Geranium leaf essential oil to assist in circulation, and relief of muscular cramps and spasms. When I first received this, I had been walking around with a swollen foot for days as I had dropped a heavy glass bottle on myself and it was so painful I could barely bear to massage the spot. With the encouragement of the Canvas folks, I started dabbing the Lymphatic Drainage Body Oil on the back of my knee, ankle and other lymphatic spots on my leg and used it to gently massage my foot. Overnight, the swelling subsided and with continual use, the pain gradually went away!
Canvas Beauty is available in Singapore at Level 3 Takashimaya. Do pop by to check it out and experience all that they have to offer for yourself!
This post featured products that were kindly provided for my consideration. Regardless, all opinions expressed here are my own honest, unbiased views.
