Not Just a Pretty Flower- The Butterfly Pea.

Thailand is a tropical country rich with its local fruits and herbs. For years, Thai people have used herbs as part of the ingredients in not only Thai foods but in Thai herbal beauty treatments. One of these botanicals is the Clitorea Ternatea or Butterly Pea vine.

The butterfly Pea or dok anchan in Thai (ดอกอัญชัน) is a climbing plant originating from Southeast Asia. Nowadays, it is cultivated in all tropical areas, including Thailand.

The flowers of butterfly pea (Clitorea Ternatea) are rich in blue Anthocyanin and widely used in herbal beauty products here in Thailand. Apart from the color, it is also a natural antioxidant.
One of the products that modern day Thai beauty product manufacturers create with the Butterfly Pea flower extracts are shampoos & conditioners. They work by promoting blood circulation in the scalp, nourishing and strengthening hair follicles. The flowers as already mentioned also act as a natural antioxidant. Butterfly pea extract will moisture the scalp and nourish hair to achieve maximum thickness, density & luster.

Our on line store www.amazingthaibeauty, now stocks a Butterfly Pea Shampoo which is a scalp moisturizer that also nourishes hair. The Butterfly Pea extract used in our shampoo is concentrated with anti - oxidant and essential proteins which help protect your hair from external aggressors like sun exposure, heat, cold and dryness. Our Herbal Butterfly Pea shampoo is even gentle enough to use every day and is safe for all hair types.

To complement our shampoo we also have a Butterfly Pea Hair Treatment Cream which is superb for dry damaged hair. Our Butterfly Pea Hair Treatment will strengthen your hair and give it a long lasting shine.

For more great Thai Herbal beauty products check out www.amazingthaibeauty.com to see if we can give you touch of nature in your hair care, body care & facial care products.

Facial Cleansing Is Really Important!

Many of us only spend about 15 seconds on washing our face.  That may not be long enough to do the job!  Since we are making the effort to bring out our face wash, why not spend a few extra seconds?  The key to good cleansing is to take it slow.  I would recommend that you cleanse for at least one minute, but it does not mean that you have to vigorously rub for at least a minute.

When the dirt and dust particles get accumulated on the face, they block the skin pores and thus make the skin look dull and dry. This also causes several skin problems like blemishes, acne, blackheads, etc. But more than that it increases the aging process of the skin and makes the aging signs like wrinkles and fine line appear on face. Thus you can expect to have a sick skin if you will not do the cleansing of face. There are many facial cleaners out there in the market & we hope to help in this article to explain the benefits of each. Whatever product you do decide to use remember to clean your face about three times in a day.

So what should you use to clean your Face?

Ordinary soap is often dismissed as useless and harmful by many people. This is absolutely untrue. The purpose of any cleansing operation (a term favored by some skin care people for a process most of us know as washing) is to remove dirt and grease. Ordinary soaps do this effectively (and sometimes even too thoroughly!). Soaps contain fats which work effectively as cleansers of grease and grime. Soaps will also remove some cosmetics and the water proof eye make-up products are not easily removed with soaps – for these, a cosmetic cleanser is usually required.

One unfortunate effect of soaps is that they remove some natural oils from the skin, making it dry. A related action is that, being alkaline; soaps neutralize the natural acidic film on the skin. Though these effects are temporary, they can cause problem in people with dry skin, during cold weather and in conditions of low humidity.

The dryness, however, is easily countered by using a moisturizing cream after washing with soap.

There are various skin cleansers available in the market depending upon the skin type. Hence you can purchase the cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. If you have dry skin, then cleansing milk is the best cleanser for you, as it will provide moisturizer to your skin and will not make it dry. It is better to buy oil-based cleanser for dry skin. But oil based cleansers will not be good if your skin type is oily.

There are various skin cleansers available in the market depending upon the skin type. Hence you can purchase the cleanser that is suitable for your skin type. If you have dry skin, then cleansing milk is the best cleanser for you, as it will provide moisturizer to your skin and will not make it dry. It is better to buy oil-based cleanser for dry skin. But oil based cleansers will not be good if your skin type is oily.

Please be aware though make sure that you buy a good quality cleanser as this makes all the difference to your facial care regime.

Facial cleansers or face washes could belong to the following categories.

Foaming cleansers: These generally lather as the name suggests.

Gel cleansers: These are usually oil-free and may not foam or lather.

Water-soluble cleansers: These are good, all-purpose cleansers and are generally non-irritating.

Lotion cleansers: These are recommended for dry or sensitive skin because they leave a light soothing film on the skin.

Cleansing milks: These are modified moisturizer formulations. It does not have the surfactants-the active cleaning ingredients of soaps and face washes-that normal cleansers have which are effective for removing dust and grime.

 Toner and astringents: Toners are solutions or lotions designed to remove surface skin cells, soap residue and oils from skin. They are often heavy on water and alcohol and some-times contain other ingredients like witch hazel, salicylic acid or propylene glycol.

How do you wash your face?

This may be an obvious question but often we don’t think about this to thoroughly. There are however great tips from beauticians that can help & these are as follows:-

Start with clean skin - a good facial cleanser cream is the first step, remove with warm water only please, then follow with a splash of cool water to close your pores, whether you need oily skin treatment or need dry skin care you should always use a facial cleanser cream that is suited to your skin.

 Water is the mother of moisturizers and once you have cleansed your face, don't rub it dry, just pat gently and let the moisture remain, as you benefit from the skin being moist as you apply your additional skin care.

 Always use short, firm strokes and please always stroke upward - do not stretch the skin. Applying creams around the eyes is best done with the little finger and pat, pat, pat.

So let us sum it all up.

Do you want a youthful face with skin that glows all your life? Care for it! Proper face skin care and the right natural skin care products are the answer. Our facial cleaning products in our IR Beautina NanoFacial Care range or our Radiant Gold Facial Care range used daily offer advanced treatment for special skin conditions. Rid your skin of impurities and give it a treat instead of a treatment.

The Secrets of Thai Herbs in Modern Beauty Products

For hundreds of years Thai herbs have constituted a great part of Thai traditional medicine as a natural means of health and beauty care. This knowledge has been passed on from generation to generation so that now, in our modern times, everyone can benefit from the wisdom of Thai herbs in today’s natural cosmetics and beauty care.
In the next few paragraphs, you will discover the benefits of some of the more common Thai herbs currently being used in cosmetics and beauty care products.

TamarindTamarind seed extract contains high levels of AHA which is of great benefit in skin care. Studies have shown that tamarind seed extract significantly improves skin elasticity, hydration and smoothness.

This extract is water soluble and is recommended for facial toners, moisturizers, serums, gels, masks. It is particularly useful in anti-aging formulas.




LemongrassLemongrass has been traditionally used in Thai cooking, but has been more recently discovered that the essential oils found in this fragrant herb can be used in cosmetics and beauty products. Lemongrass essential oil has antibacterial properties and can also be rubbed on the hands to kill everyday bacteria or used under the armpits as a deodorant. In addition, lemongrass oil has great astringent properties, which helps clear up excessive oily skin that can cause acne outbreaks.

Furthermore, lemongrass is effective as a skin toner because it naturally dilates the blood vessels, tightening pores and minimizing wrinkles. Lemongrass oils have also been used for many years in Thailand as a natural way to repel insects such as fleas, lice, ticks and mosquitoes and offer an added benefit of relieving muscle pain.

Turmeric
Turmeric has been used for centuries in Thailand as a natural cleanser and is a wonderful body scrub. It leaves your skin soft, smooth and glowing. Turmeric in cosmetics has also been found to help remove blackheads and whiteheads from the skin. This Thai herb is also wonderful in reducing fats, thus purifying the blood and improving blood circulation in the body.

One other great property of turmeric is that it can slow down the growth of body hair, essential for that nice, glowing skin women like.







Kaffir Lime
Kaffir Lime is a well known herbal remedy in Thailand used to help with hair and scalp problems. Its mild acidic property reduces oiliness in the hair while moisturizing the scalp. After rinsing with clean water, the hair will be shiny with the great smell of citrus. Kaffir lime is also a popular ingredient used in herbal compresses and is excellent for aromatherapy.

Southern Marine SeaweedSouthern Marine Seaweed has long been used by the Thai’s for food and healing and becoming increasingly popular in spas and cosmetic use. Southern Marine Seaweed provides numerous vitamins and minerals including, vitamin A, B1, B2, B6, C, niacin, iodine, iron, zinc calcium, sodium, potassium, magnesium and trace amounts of B12. This seaweed also helps promote healthy skin and hair.  Tests have shown Southern Marine Seaweed can control excess sebum and is excellent in delivering essential moisture to areas most needed - balancing the skin.

 Southern Marine Seaweed can also be found in many forms of Thai acne care creams as it has great detoxifying properties.
So now you can see that Thailand is ready to bring the ancient wisdoms of Thai herbs to the global market so they can share their traditions with you.

If you would like to discover more about Thai herbs or try some amazing natural beauty products, have a stroll through our website www.amazingthaibeauty.com

Silky Skin from Thai Silk Cocoons

Have you ever wondered why Southeast Asian women have silky soft smooth skin?

One of the secrets for this is that they use cosmetics containing silk cocoons. This is the very same silk from the silkworm that spins and wraps itself into a cocoon during its hibernating period. This silk cocoon is the one responsible for creating the Thai silk threads and fibers.
 How can you make cosmetics from silk cocoons?
Silk powder is made from the silkworm cocoon. It is processed to remove impurities and pulverized into different grades. Silk of the finest micron can be dissolved in water while silk that is of a larger micron is not dispersible in water. Both types can be used in soap making. Silk that is of a lower micron is added with oils and silk that is finer in grade that is dispersible in water is added with the liquids.

So what is so special about cosmetics that use silk cocoons?

Silkworm cocoons contain a naturally woven silk protein called sericin.  Sericin helps balance the skin's amino acid content, and stimulates the skin. Silk amino acids can also help prevent dehydration of the skin. In addition, silkworm cocoons contain elastin-collagen, which can be absorbed directly by the human skin for repairing damaged skin, eliminating blackheads, dirt and aged dry skin, promoting a more supple skin.
There has been research showing silk proteins that may have topical antioxidant properties. Further studies have also found that silk cocoon powder radiates and reflects UV rays, acting as a natural sunscreen. For people that are acne prone, silk cocoon contains anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties.
Silkworm cocoon’s super fine powder is used in makeup formulations to soften fine lines, provide moisture balance, absorb excess oil and provide a silky slip. Using makeup made with silk cocoons will also allow your skin to breathe.

So what is one silk cocoon product would I recommend?

You can find many silk cocoon products on the web; in particular from Japan which after some investigation we found to be very expensive compared to products made in Thailand.  After much more investigation we sourced silk cocoons products in the North East of Thailand famous for its silk production. Like our Coconut & Cocoon Facial Sun Protection Cream SPF60 that has been especially developed for delicate facial skin. Our Coconut & Cocoon Facial Sun Protection Cream SPF60 provides protection against both burning UVB and ageing UVA rays.  Coconut & Cocoon Facial Sun Protection Cream SPF60 gives 60+ times your own natural protection.

Coconut & Cocoon Oil Facial Sun Protection Cream SPF60 contains a wide array of plant extracts to ensure that it protects and hydrates the skin as well as antioxidants to help protect the skin.

This & many other uniquely Thai body & facial care products can be found on our web store or at our trade fairs in & around Bangkok.

You can have that Southeast Asian radiant skin

So now you have read about one of the secrets of why Southeast Asian women have silky smooth radiant skin, you can shop online to look for beauty products that have Thai silk cocoon powder in them. There are many out there from soaps to cosmetics. Come on give them a try!
If you want to try some superior Thai Beauty Products have a look at our web site to www.amazingthaibeauty.com

Luxurious Skin & Hair Care from the Amazing Moringa Plant.

Moringa ( in Thai language this tree is called maroom) is often called the "Miracle Tree of Life" because of its wealth of nutrients and health based ingredients—more than any known plant or berry.
The leaves, flowers and pods of the tree contain more vitamin C, vitamin A and potassium than some fruits and vegetables. Moringa also has a well-documented detoxifying effect and helps supplement skin's natural restorative process—no wonder it's often called the "Tree of Life."

Your skin is an organ—the largest organ in your body. Skin is a semi-porous living, breathing membrane. For this reason using Moringa in Skin Care products helps in slowing down anti-aging, anti-wrinkle, while regenerative the skin. Moringa has unique skin moisturizing abilities which makes it a premier all natural skin care cream. For skin care, Moringa oil has excellent antioxidant properties and is high in oleic acid, both of which are considered to be the factors behind its remarkable oxidative stability and therefore long shelf life. Moringa Skin Care can turn-back-the-clock on wrinkles and sun damaged skin by restoring a youthful glow of healthy skin.

Moringa has nourishing and emollient properties giving it benefits for use in hair care products. Moringa oil, as olive oil is useful in lifting dirt out of the hair and is an efficient natural cleanser. Good antioxidant properties, considered to be the factor behind its remarkable stability. Vitamin A deficiencies commonly causes thickening of the scalp, dry hair, and dandruff. Moringa with its high vitamin A content helps in the hair growth and maintenance. Hair loss occurs when the diet is inadequate in the B vitamins - especially B6, biotin, inositol and folic acid. Vitamin E is an antioxidant that stimulates the scalp by increasing blood circulation. An increase in blood circulation makes more nutrients available to the hair follicles so they can grow stronger, healthier hair. Moringa contains these nutrients needed for the healthy hair.

You cannot go wrong with Moringa skin & hair care products. There is something for everyone out there. If you are not convinced, then do some searching on your own and test some of the products you find out there, after which you should draw your own conclusions.

What Are AHA Exfoliant Creams?

What are Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs)?

Many modern day exfoliation creams now contain low levels of Alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) which is made from naturally occurring acids found in fruits such as, grapes, apples, pineapple, papaya, lemon, lime, & blackberries to name but a few. These fruit acids are natural exfoliates that perform a number of functions at the level of the stratum corneum on the skin's surface. They loosen and dissolve dead cells from the skin's surface and help to regenerate new skin cells, aid in the control of acne, smooth rough dry skin, improve the texture of sun-damaged and aging skin and retain moisture which leaves your skin healthy and vibrant.
AHA's are a good ingredient to be included in natural skin care products, as long as the AHA's are still in their original content, ie: as part of a fruit hydrosol for example. That way, the ingredients in the fruit (other than the AHA's) will buffer the acidic effect of the AHA's and thus your skin is far less likely to be irritated or have an adverse reaction to the product.

How AHA Exfoliant Creams work.

 Alpha hydroxy acids work mainly as an exfoliant. They cause the cells of the epidermis to become "unglued" allowing the dead skin cells to slough off, making room for regrowth of new skin. Alpha hydroxy acids may even stimulate the production of collagen and elastin. Alpha hydroxy acids are reported to improve wrinkling, roughness, and mottled pigmentation of photodamaged skin after months of daily application. Alpha hydroxy acids found in skin-care products work best in a concentration of 5% to 8% and at a pH of 3 to 4.

Are AHA Exfoliant Creams Safe?

Because of concerns over the side effects of alpha hydroxy acids, the FDA in 1997 announced that alpha hydroxy acids are safe for use by consumers with the following guidelines:
• The AHA concentration is 10% or less
• The final product has a pH of 3.5 or higher
• The final product must have an effective sunscreen in the formulation or warn people to use sunscreen products.

Using AHA Exfoliant Creams


Using an exfoliant is one of the most important steps in skin care. If you think about it, what is the point of using a good moisturizer on your dead skin cells? None, right? So, using an exfoliant cream containing AHA once or twice a week is a great investment in your skin and your skin's health.
People with dry skin should only exfoliate once or twice a week, while those with oily skin can exfoliate two to four times a week. Stop using an exfoliant if you find your skin becoming irritated or developing a rash. Remember to moisturize your skin after exfoliating, to soothe it and keep it from drying out.

IR Beautina’s Radiant Gold Skin Care Range has an excellent Exfoliating AHA Essence which is a gentle exfoliating facial scrub. All of IR Beautina products stocked by Amazing Thai Beauty are designed to nourish, heal, repair, restore and protect the skin.
IR Beautina Radiant Gold Exfoliating AHA Essence - Amazing Thai Beauty

A Facial Toner- Do I Really Need One?

Healthy skin comes from having a good daily facial skin care routine. Your skin is able to cleanse, heal and even renew itself. How effectively it does these things is partly governed by how well you take care of it.
Having a good daily skin care routine is very important to the health of your skin and essential step towards having a good complexion.

To tone or not to tone?
Although it is universally accepted that we need to cleanse and moisturize our skin regularly, opinion is divided on whether we really need to use a toner on our skin. Most women simply skip applying a toner because they don’t understand what it does. Does it clean the skin? You use a cleanser, why do you need a toner? Does it remove traces of cleansing lotion? You clean your face with a face wash?
So the long & short of “Should I use a toner” is yes & the reasons why are listed below

What do toners do?

1. Removes final traces of cleanser and make-up, excess oil and chemicals found in tap water.
2. Helps skin re-balance its naturally acidic pH ("acid mantle"). The acid mantle is an important part of the immune system and protects the body against bacteria and micro-organisms. It can be out of balance after using alkaline products (soap and many cleansers) or cosmetics, or due to poor nutrition and simple perspiration.
3. Hydrates and reduces oil output (except if product is preserved with alcohol*). Some people have oily+dehydrated skin, so even though they have excessive oil, they also experience feelings of dryness. One common mistake of this skin type is to apply an unsuitable moisturizer, however this more often than not leads to shiny, oily skin and manifests the desire to go over the cleanse->moisture routine again, and again, and again.
4. Oily+dehydrated skin needs to be hydrated, not highly moisturized! And, most importantly, it needs to be cared for with products that do not contain high percentages of alcohol, *(ie. Products that use alcohol as an alternative preservative - these contain anywhere from 12-15%+ alcohol). In these high percentages, alcohol dries and dehydrates the skin and can cause skin cell damage. In addition, the extreme dryness and cell damage causes the body to over-compensate by producing more oil.
5. Regular hydration of the skin with products that contain water and a humectant (eg. vegetable glycerin and/or honey) are the best form of care for oily+dehydrated skin.
6. Promotes smaller looking pores. Although pores cannot be ‘closed’ by a toner, they can, when used as part of the cleansing process, help remove ingrained debris from pores while having an astringent (tightening) action on the skin tissue, effectively decreasing the appearance of pores.
7. Refreshes and soothes skin. In addition to the hydrating and refreshing action of facial toners that contain an effective humectant (water-attracting) ingredient, anti-inflammatory natural ingredients can be formulated into facial toners to help soothe reactive skin conditions.
8. Aids and extends application of other skin products. Applying skin care products to toner-dampened skin makes for both a smoother application and dilutes the product, reducing the amount used.
9. Helps set make-up (especially great for mineral make-up).
10. Provides a delivery system for actives. Facial toners can contain powerful biological actives, such as essential oils and botanical extracts that can have a dramatic effect on the skin's appearance.

Do men need a toner?

Men's skincare routines are similar to women's skincare routines. A basic skin care routine should take place every morning and evening. The first step is always cleansing. A gentle face wash and body wash will clean the skin without drying it out. Skin that is not cleaned properly or becomes too dry is at risk of developing clogged pores. This leads to blackhead and acne breakouts. There are a number of gentle cleansers on the market. Some people who have periodic breakouts benefit from a monthly facial.

Toning always follows the cleansing process. Toners help reduce the size of pores and may remove excess dirt and oil from the skin. Again, there are toners that cater to a variety of skin types. Some men's skincare products even combine cleanser and toner.

What toner should I use? Certain toners clarify and exfoliate the skin, leaving it completely oil and dirt free and removing all dead skin cells. Such toners are strong and tend to contain alcohol, which is ultra-drying. If your skin is very oily using a stronger alcohol-based toner like Clean and Clear should help reduce the oiliness, but there is a possibility that it could also cause more break-outs. The over-drying action of stronger toners causes skin to react by producing excessive oil to combat the dryness, leading to more breakouts. It is thus safer to use an alcohol-free toner. Different skins react differently though, so it is important that you stick with a regime for a couple of weeks before you can tell whether a particular product suits your skin or not.
 If your skin is normal to dry go in for a gentle toner that doesn’t exfoliate the skin but moisturizes it. Or you could go in for a toner with anti-ageing properties.

How should you apply toner?
 If you apply the toner directly on your face without using cotton, your bottle will last longer. Exfoliating toners do need to be applied with cotton wool, but moisturizing toners can be just splashed on your face. Apply toner to a cotton ball and sweep it GENTLY across your face. The cotton wool should come out relatively clean when toning. If it doesn’t, you need to change your cleanser; it’s not doing its job.
 There is also the temptation to scrub your face clean with toner every time it feels dirty, which should be avoided. This is why you should use these toners only after cleansing, when your skin is already clean so your toner functions as a toner, not as a cleanser.

IR Beautina's range of natural facial skin toners remove any remaining cleanser and prepare your skin for the moisturizing phase of your daily skin care regime.
The range of natural facial skin toners includes toners for oily, normal, dry, sensitive and combination skin types. We even have toners especially formulated for men.
All these toners & much more can be found at www.amazingthaibeauty.com.