Skin Care Creation

Do you actually read the labels, when you buy skin care products? I think it’s kinda scary seeing a list of 30 + ingredients, which I have never even heard of. And it gets even scarier, when you look them up on the internet.

Many chemical ingredients can have quite some unpleasant side effects, if they are used over a long period of time. Besides the obvious – visible skin allergies – they can manipulate the cells in your body, accumulate in your body and deplete or block vital nutrients. Bottom line: you don’t want to put anything on your skin that’s bad for your health. Right?

But then again, well known ingredients like mineral oil, which can be found in many skin care products and cosmetics, can be very damaging as well. Mineral oil destroys the vitamin D in your skin. Doesn’t sound very appealing now, does it? Bottom line # 2: go natural and switch to organic vegetable oils instead. They feel great, are good for your skin and they will not cause any allergic reactions. I use them plain or add them to my creams and lotions.

And to make a long story short, check out this awesome website for more info. Some heavy stuff, trust me.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

June 20th, 2008 | Tags: natural, organic, skin care ingredients | Category: Skin Care Creation, Skin Health | Leave a comment

Did you know that millions of Americans suffer from skin allergies? Allergic reactions can be caused be substances you touch, eat or inhale, and even by having too much stress in your life. Common symptoms include redness, swelling, itching, hives, rashes and blistering.

How do you find out what you’re allergic to?

If you have contact allergies, an allergy specialist can perform a patch test and find out which substances cause a reaction on your skin.

If you break out in hives when you eat certain foods? Yes, you guessed it – do not eat those foods again !!!

If you look kinda rashy for no obvious reason? Could be something you inhaled like dust, pollen, cat dander, etc. You can identify these substances by closely observing your environment for possible allergens. Some airborne allergens are actually included in a standard patch test.

If you develop atopic eczema? Could be from foods you eat, could be heredetary and could also be caused by stress. Remember that there is no cure, but you can somewhat control it and treat affected areas quite successfully.

Now, what are you gonna do about it? Well, of course you will avoid all the known substances that cause you any allergies. This concept works well for contact, food and airborne allergies.

What about atopic eczema? It is always a good idea to keep a diary, where you write down the date of your outbreaks and what could have or did trigger them. First of all, keep your skin well moisturized. It will be more resilient and less itchy. Try to avoid permanent use of hydrocortisone creams, since they will weaken your skin over time. Instead apply cold compresses dipped in chamomile or lavender tea. You can also use the teas in a spray bottle on the go. And if you like, you could try the eczema salve a made for a friend of mine. He says it works faster than his prescription medication. I will post the recipe on the “skin care tips” page this week .

What else? Avoid long hot baths and showers, because they will dehydrate your skin. Try a mild hypoallergenic cleanser and apply a mild hypoallergenic moisturizing lotion afterwards. If you’d like to make your own, I will post more recipes on the “skin care tips” page soon. Avoid any food allergens and triggers you know and those commonly known. Avoid stressful situations whenever you can.

Research suggests that certain supplements may reduce the symptoms of atopic eczema: evening primrose oil, probiotics, zinc, selenium and vitamin C.

I will keep you posted…

June 16th, 2008 | Tags: food allergies, skin allergies | Category: Skin Allergies | Leave a comment

Nutrition & Sun Protection

Many of today’s most common dietary deficiencies involve the very nutrients we most need to protect our skin from the sun damage that can lead to skin cancer.
Folic acid deficiency is a major contributor to skin cancer risk. Folic acid is destroyed rapidly by heat, cold, and exposure to light, including sunlight. According to Dr. Johnathan Wright http://www.wrightnewsletter.com, it is sunlight’s destructive effect on folic acid in the skin, not the actual sun exposure itself, that accounts for a significant part of the skin cancer problem. Folic acid (along with vitamin B12 and zinc) is absolutely key to DNA reproduction and repair. In addition to nutrient rich foods, supplementing with a good quality vitamin B complex might be a good idea, if you spend a good amount of time in the sun or have a family history of skin cancer.
To further relieve stress to the skin, extra doses of vitamin C and antioxidants such as vitamin E round out the nutrients in the DNA Repair Group that will do far more for skin health than any number of applications of the highest SPF sunscreen.

Thought you might find this interesting, especially this time of the year.

Of course, in addition to proper nurition, we still have to apply sunscreen to protect our skin from harmful UV rays. And yet, it is very important to have 15 – 20 minutes of unprotected sun exposure to get our daily dose of vitamin D. I prefer to do this in the morning when I walk my dog. After that, I am ready for sun screen.

By the way, I’ve included my very own recipe for a sun screen lotion. Interested? Then read on !!

Recipe for Sun Screen

Please note that the natural ingredients yield an SPF of approximately 7, which will be enhanced by adding zinc oxide (I use the clear kind called z-cote). Zink oxide is a harmless mineral that forms a protective layer on the skin to absorb UV rays. Depending on how much you use, it will whiten your skin a little. Don’t worry, it will not be absorbed into the skin. One more thing – all my natural ingredients are without preservatives, unrefined and possibly organic.

You will need:

3 oz. jojoba oil
3 oz. sesame oil
2 oz. shea butter or coconut oil
1 oz. cocoa butter
½ oz. beeswax
0.3 oz. zink oxide (= 1 heaping tsp.)
9 oz. green tea infusion
40 drops lavender esssential oil (optional)

First make the infusion by using 3 tablespoons green tea and 15 oz. of purified boiling water. Steep for a few hours and strain.
Meanwhile heat the oils in a double boiler. I usually combine my oils in a pyrex container and put it in a pot of boiling water ( don’t fill it up to high). Add the beeswax and stir until it’s melted. Then stir in the ZnO (it will disperse, not blend). Let it cool to room temperature. Remember to whisk the oil mix well just before blending with the infusion, because the ZnO will settle on the bottom.
Pour the green tea infusion into a blender, set on high and slowly drizzle the oil mixture into the infusion. When all the oil is absorbed and you have a thick, white cream, add essential oils and then turn off blender immediately (don’t overblend). Fill into containers, label — you’re done. Yields about 19 oz., approximately SPF 10 – 12.
Important: Don’t mix the oil and liquid component when they are still warm, cool completely to room temperature.

Okay, you’re all set. Gonna try it? If you do, let me know how you like it.
BTW, you will smell like sesame oil (or sesame chicken????) for a few minutes…hope you don’t mind…LOL
And, if you have any questions, please feel free to ask.

Have fun and enjoy !!!

PS. This recipe is not recommended for very fair skin. Fair skin requires an SPF of at least 20.
 

June 16th, 2008 | Tags: nutrition and sun protection, sun screen recipe, sunscreen | Category: Skin Health | Leave a comment

Looking good? Well, I sure hope so. And if not, then keep on reading. Let’s get to the basics of healthy skin.

Did you know that your skin is your largest organ? Pretty cool, huh? But wait – it gets better. Here is what your skin does for you:

1. It regulates your body temperature
2. It eliminates toxins
3. It protects you from bacteria
4. It waterproofs your body
5. It can feel anything you touch
6. It can indicate your state of health or disease – very important !!!!!

Okay, now what can you do to make your skin look healthy? Well, you have to stick to the basics: good nutrition, regular exercise, natural skin care, natural household products, learning to deal with stress, spending time outdoors and making time for family, friends and pets. 

Even if you can only do the three very basics – nutrition, exercise and natural skin care -  you should still see your skin improving very soon. Of course, there are special skin conditions that require additional treatments.

And yes, I will share some useful info on special skin conditions and natural treatments in my next posts.

So come back and check it out !!!! 

June 9th, 2008 | Tags: functions of the skin, Skin Health | Category: Skin Health | Leave a comment