A Guest Post by Clare Frances C.

This post has been a long time coming, so when Keri approached me, asking if I was willing to contribute an article to share my Reiki story, I could not refuse. Reiki has and continues to be a pivotal part of my personal growth, and life as a whole. It is something I wish for everyone to experience, and I hope that sharing my story may inspire others.

I remember my very first experience as if it were yesterday. It happened seven years ago when my friend kindly offered to give me a Reiki healing treatment. I had no idea what it was. All she told me was that I would feel deeply relaxed. That was all I needed to hear to agree to it.

She had me lay down on a yoga mat, with a pillow under my head, and asked me to close my eyes and relax. What was really interesting was, despite her hands not physically touching me (she hovered them an inch above) throughout the one hour treatment, I felt sensations around the crown of my head, which felt like a mix of tingling and buzzing. There was also a pulsating warmth unlike anything I had felt before – not quite the same as what I know to be regular body heat. This was different. It felt like a radiating heat pack. I was intrigued to say the least. What was this, I wondered?

I must have drifted off to sleep because the next thing I knew, she was gently nudging me awake. I felt incredibly calm and relaxed – a lightness in my being unlike anything I had experienced before. I did not quite understand it, but I knew I wanted more. Five years later, I decided to learn Reiki for myself, which remains one of my best decisions.

So, what exactly is Reiki? It is an energy therapy, which works with the body’s own remarkable healing capabilities, helping to encourage and accelerate its natural healing process, and restore overall balance to the body’s physical, mental, and emotional well-being.

Reiki originated in Japan and was founded by Mikao Usui. The word ‘Rei’ may be referred to as divine, spiritual, pure or source, and ‘Ki’ refers to energy – similar to ‘Chi’ in Traditional Chinese Medicine, and ‘Prana’ in Indian Ayurvedic philosophy. Reiki today is commonly known as Universal Energy, and to me, is energy at its purest.

A Reiki treatment is done through the hands, simply by having the practitioner place or hover their hands on, or above the body (fully clothed), which activates the energy to flow into the body. No special movement, posture or action is required. The Reiki energy will be used by the body to help heal, rejuvenate and reinvigorate. Whatever health or wellness issue the person suffers from, including physical ailments, disease, stress or anxiety, and any emotional or trauma based issues, can often be helped with Reiki in a very gentle and releasing way. Another wonderful trait of Reiki is there are no known contraindications. This means that Reiki is complementary to other forms of healing, be it conventional medicine or other holistic therapies.

When I signed up to learn Reiki, I went in with my sights on level two – at this level, we learn advanced tools like how to send Reiki over distance, and often seems to be what gets most people excited. This was appealing to me because I wanted to be able to offer healing to my loved ones – who live overseas – in times of need. I saw it as my way of offering them love across the miles, in a tangible manner. However, in order to do that, I had to go through level one first – getting Reiki activated in my hands, and learning how to use it.

I expected to stop at level two, but life had other plans for me. Level two progressed to level three, and before I could fully make sense of what was happening, I found myself signing up for the Reiki Master Training (RMT). I remember having many doubts, the main one being my fear of public speaking. How could I possibly teach a class?! It was never my plan to go on this journey with the intention to teach Reiki. My focus was always on personal growth, and to offer healing to my loved ones. However, it grew into something much bigger than myself. I felt a pull to go further. So I asked for a sign. Early one morning, two weeks before the start of the RMT course, I looked out the window. As I was gazing at the trees, I was surprised to see four white butterflies fluttering above the canopy. I live on the seventh story, and had never seen any butterflies from that height, let alone four of them together. I took that as my sign. I cannot explain how I knew, I just did – one butterfly to represent each of the three levels I had completed, and the fourth, to represent my future Reiki Master certification. I will always remember that magical morning, and since then, life has repeatedly given me moments of wild synchronicity to affirm me that I am on the right path. I completed my Reiki Master Training in September 2016, and in addition to hosting upcoming healing groups for beginners, I also have plans to conduct my first level one workshop later this year.

Although my desire to learn to Reiki was intended around offering healing to others, I soon learned that at its very core, Reiki is fundamentally a way to self-healing. Two years on, I can tell you that Reiki has helped me far beyond my physiological ailments. What I feel I have gained the most is deeper awareness, profound clarity and insight into issues that I previously didn’t have, being mindfully present, and having greater peace from being able to accept circumstances as they are, as opposed to resisting them when the outcomes were – in my limited belief – not ideal. Having a full time corporate job also means that Reiki helps to balance and ground me from the daily stresses that it brings.

There are many various forms of holistic healing therapies, but the wonderful aspect which Reiki offers that I find lacking in others, is the element of self-empowerment. My role as a practitioner and teacher allows me to shine light where needed, so that my clients and students can realize how to heal themselves, through greater clarity and their own Reiki practice. In my experience, the body has proven to be highly intelligent and remarkable, capable of profound healing.

Reiki has shown me that true peace and happiness comes from within. My purpose as a Reiki practitioner and teacher, is to inspire others to uncover this potential within themselves, and to be a guiding light for them on their own journey of self-healing, towards a more holistic and fulfilled life.

Clare Frances C. is a certified Reiki practitioner and affiliate teacher with The Reiki Centre (read more HERE). Through Reiki, Clare is passionate about empowering her clients and students to realize the potential of self-healing within them, towards a more holistic and fulfilled life. Clare also has a full-time corporate job which helps to fund her burgeoning crystal and Lotus Wei obsession. Clare recently discovered a new-found love for Kundalini Yoga which she shares along with her favorite natural lifestyle choices and reflections on life, on her social media platforms. Clare has three beautiful nieces whom she adores. They live aboard, in the Netherlands, and she dedicates her free time FaceTiming with them.

The post Guest Post: What is Reiki? Clare shares her transformational journey appeared first on The Greenly Guide.

To help you out with some of that discomfort, we’ve done the research and put together this curated list of laundry detergents that are better for your skin than conventional detergents. We’ve found 6 of the best laundry detergents for sensitive skin that are trusted and used by some of the most scrutinizing of customers. Aside from trying many of these ourselves, we’ve checked these products against the EWG and the think dirty app, so you can trust our picks.

These detergents include natural ingredients to replace harsh chemicals. So, they reduce the risk of triggering allergic reactions and irritation. Eczema, Psoriasis, and general inflammation are issues my family is very familiar with. I can tell you that switching to a gentler detergent, free from fragrance and harsh chemicals is one of the best things to begin with when addressing itchiness and irritation.

Things to Consider Before Buying Laundry Detergent for Sensitive Skin

Natural laundry detergents can be the best choice for anyone interested in the well-being of our environment. Since they’re plant-based, they include no toxins that can harm our planet.

Also, they aren’t packed with the types of chemicals or fragrances that typically cause skin irritation. Therefore, they’re especially great for children and babies who have sensitive skin.

In addition, people with eczema and other skin conditions may find these choices most helpful. Some may find that a change to natural detergents improves symptoms.

The only reason these detergents might not work for you is if you want your laundry to be heavily scented after washing.

Before buying laundry detergent for sensitive skin, you should consider the following:

• Price 
• Whether it’s powder or liquid 
• If it’s HE (high efficiency) friendly 
• Ingredients 

We’ve put all these factors into consideration before bringing you these choices, but you should check out which one suits you best.

At a Glance (our top picks)

Title	Image	Features
Better Life Unscented		- Liquid, plant-based formula - Ultra-concentrated and color-safe	Buy Now
Molly's Suds Unscented		- Powdered detergent formula - Eco-friendly and safe for sensitive skin	Buy Now
Seventh Generation Unscented Pouches		- Mess-free pods - Quadruple-enzyme formula to fight tough stains - Hypoallergenic detergent	Buy Now

1. Better Life Unscented

Our first featured product is this plant-based detergent that can reduce the risk of rashes and irritation a great deal. Let’s find out how it can be a good replacement for traditional detergents.

First off, it doesn’t include harsh chemicals that you normally find in most detergents. Using 100% natural cleaning agents like soap bark extract and potassium cocoate, it leaves your laundry fresh and clean without the residue and fragrance of common detergents.

Not to mention, it’s biodegradable and non-toxic. All the more reason that we love this eco-friendly product.

The Better Life natural laundry detergent formula doesn’t cause colors to fade despite being concentrated. Therefore, you can use it with both cold and hot water with no worries.

Last but not least, it’s compatible with all washing machines. For people with sensitive skin, eczema, or other conditions, this hypoallergenic detergent may just become your best friend.

What We Like:

• Plant-based formula
• Ultra-concentrated and color-safe
• Non-toxic and biodegradable
• Works with all types of washing machines
• Moderately-priced

What We Dislike:

• Might not be suitable to use with tough stains

2. ECOS Free & Clear Liquid

Another product that we think you should try is this detergent by ECOS. For its many qualities, it’s been rated Amazon’s Choice.

The first thing you might come to admire is that it’s 4-times ultra-concentrated than standard detergent. For this reason, it can balance the scales between being safe for the skin and powerful on stains.

Secondly, we couldn’t help but like the design of the container. Unlike the previous product, this liquid detergent comes with a pump so you can use it with ease. According to the manufacturer, a dose of 5 pumps is suitable for one HE load.

This laundry detergent comes with a built-in fabric softener. This way, it can save you money that you could’ve spent on a softening product. If you struggle with rashes after using normal detergent, you should give this one a shot. It contains no dyes, parabens, phosphates, or optical brighteners.

What We Like:

• Ultra-concentrated formula
• Easy to use
• Comes with built-in fabric softener
• Doesn’t include harmful chemicals
• Moderately-priced

What We Dislike:

• You might need to use more than 5 pumps for standard washers

3. Molly’s Suds Unscented

The next product on our list can be a game-changer for a lot of people with sensitive skin. The makers of this detergent took great care when they created its formula. Made of naturally-derived ingredients, it has been rated ‘A’ in EWG’s Guide to Healthy Cleaning.

As a result, it can be one of the best choices for people with allergies, fragrance sensitivities, as well as newborn babies.

Also, Molly’s Suds laundry powder works with all sorts of washing machines.

It’s safe to use with all types of fabric except for silk and leather. You can use it with synthetic clothing, natural fibers, and blends with no risk of fading colors.

Let’s not forget about its price, which should be affordable for the average household.

What We Like:

• Eco-friendly and safe for sensitive skin
• Works with all washing machines
• Mid-range price

What We Dislike:

• The powder might take a long while to dissolve into water
• Might not be the best choice for heavy stains

4. Charlie’s Soap Powder Unscented

Another product that we really like is Charlie’s Soap Powder. Unscented and free from chemicals, it is a great option for those with sensitive skin, including babies.

The manufacturers of this detergent paid a lot of attention to its ingredients, using sodium carbonate and sodium metasilicate as cleaning agents. Being non-toxic and hypoallergenic, these ingredients shouldn’t leave any residue on your laundry.

Most standard detergents use synthetic fragrances or dyes to cover stains or odors. This isn’t the case with Charlie’s Soap Powder. Yet, it works effectively to remove stains, odors, and grease from your garments.

Also, even though it’s safe on the skin, this detergent might not be the wisest choice to use on black clothes. It can cause dark colors to fade.

What We Like:

• Made with natural ingredients
• Powerful detergent
• Doesn’t cause any residue
• Compatible with washing machines as well as hand washing
• Budget-friendly

What We Dislike:

• Not recommended for use on black clothing
• Since it’s in powder form, it can be hard to dissolve in some cases

5. Dropps Unscented Pods

Our fifth favorite laundry detergent for sensitive skin is a unique pick because it comes in the form of pods instead of powder or liquid. Let’s take a look at Dropps Unscented Pods and what they have to offer.

For starters, these pods come free from a lot of ingredients that might cause irritations such as dyes, enzymes, NPE, phosphate, and chlorine.

In addition to that, they’re safe to use in all HE and standard washers. All you need to do is add one pod of the Dropps Laundry Detergent into the washing machine drum on any cycle. You can also use them with hot or cold water.

Not only that, these pods work to clean most types of fabric, no matter their color. The only downside here is that you might not be able to use them on delicate fabrics such as silk. This is because pods usually need hot water to dissolve faster, which can damage those materials.

We also love that these pods are made with a plant-based formula. This way, they’re considered eco-friendly as well as better for sensitive skin.

Another way they are better for the environment is that they come in recyclable packaging. Not to mention that the formula itself is biodegradable. Plus, you can rest assured that they’ve never been tested on animals.

What We Like:

• Natural and biodegradable ingredients
• Compatible with all washers
• Great to use with hot and cold water
• Works with a wide variety of fabrics and colors
• Moderately-priced

What We Dislike:

• Shouldn’t be used with delicate fabrics
• The pod membrane might not dissolve easily in front-loading washing machines
• Might leave some residue on laundry under certain circumstances

6. Seventh Generation Unscented Pouches

Last but not least, here’s our final candidate that might be one of the best laundry detergents for sensitive skin. With its chemical-free and powerful formula, it can be the perfect choice for people with eczema or allergies.

The first thing that we admired about these pouches is that they contain no fragrances, dyes, or artificial brighteners. 

They’re also fast-dissolving in HE washers and should leave no residue on your laundry. Additionally, they can do their job at all temperatures, so you can use them in hot or cold water.

Let’s not forget that these pouches have landed the EPA Safer Choice Certified Product rating.

If you want a product that combines stain removal and skin safety, you should check out these unscented pouches by Seventh Generation.

What We Like:

• Quadruple-enzyme formula to fight tough stains
• Hypoallergenic detergent
• 94% of the ingredients are plant-based
• Fast-dissolving and suitable for use in hot or cold water
• Works in all washing machines
• Moderately-priced

What We Dislike:

• The pods might become clumped when used with cold water

FAQ

What are some chemicals in laundry detergents that I should avoid?

Standard laundry detergents include a lot of harmful substances within their composition. For the majority of people, these can be problematic at times. 

However, for a baby or someone with sensitive skin, these chemicals can lead to further issues like rashes and outbreaks.

Whether your skin is sensitive to these components or not, you should do your best to avoid the following substances.

• Chlorine bleach
• Phosphates
• Ammonium sulfates 
• Formaldehyde
• SLS and SLES 
• Optical brighteners 
• Heavy synthetic fragrances 
• Dioxane

When should I use hot or cold water with laundry?

Hot water is best to use when you are trying to remove germs or heavily soiled fabrics. It’s also effective in dissolving powdered detergents. Be aware that hot water can cause colors to fade and can be harmful to delicate fabrics.

On the other hand, cold water minimizes clothes shrinkage, color bleeding, and fading. It may not be the best for removing stains, that’s why washing with cold water works best with a heavy-duty detergent. Cold water is also better for man-made fabrics or loosely-knitted clothes. Overall, it might not damage your clothes as much as hot water could. 

Keep in mind, if you’re using powdered detergent or pods, it might not dissolve well in cold water.

What can I use to wash my clothes if I run out of detergent?

While they won’t necessarily replace your powerful detergent, the following ingredients can act as substitutes in a pinch, believe it or not.

• Vinegar
• Vodka
• Dish soap
• Baking soda

Wrap Up

If you’re on a mission to address problems with sensitive skin, your best next step is to use a gentler laundry detergent. Even if you’re wearing 100% cotton clothing that’s gentle on your skin, washing it with harsh chemicals can cause irritations.

Hopefully, after checking out our top picks for the best laundry detergent for sensitive skin, you feel more equipped to make a strong purchasing decision.

Before wrapping up, let’s review the reasons why these laundry detergents are helpful to address problematic skin issues.

First of all, they don’t include strong chemicals like dyes, fragrances, or artificial brighteners. Not to mention that they should leave your laundry clean (as much, if not more than normal detergents do).

Secondly, they’re plant-based and made of naturally-derived ingredients. So they are better for the environment and better for our bodies.

All in all, it’s a win-win situation for everyone. Natural detergents are better for the environment, better for your skin and better for your overall health.

The post 6 Best Laundry Detergents for Sensitive Skin appeared first on The Greenly Guide.