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Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Exfoliating or Scrubbing




Exfoliating, Buffing or Scrubbing are not just beauty chore s designed to steal two minutes of precious sleep in the morning – they all have incredible health and skin benefits.  Always, always, moisturize your skin after exfoliating, buffing or scrubbing.  The moisture helps skin cells to mature and create a barrier.  You need to rejuvenate your skin from head to toe with scrubs and creams that lift off the old and bring on the new.
For you face areas you might prefer the more traditional exfoliation creams that lift off dead skin cells without scrubbing. 




You can also use this exfoliator or scrub on your hands to.  Moisturizing face masks can be good on your hands also.  Before you start remove any old nail varnish so the nails get a cleanse and a moisture burst too.
You should aim for at least once a week to give your hair and scalp a good wash to lift the dead skin and sebum from the scalp and pollution and styling products from the hair. This is very important particularly if you have pale blonde hair as pollution makes white hair look yellow.









As well as being good for scrubbing those hard to reach places body brushes are used by those in the know for dry body brushing – you gently brush the skin before getting into the shower or bath   this is to promote blood circulation and elimination of toxins especially cellulite-prone areas buttock or thighs
Always brush towards the heart starting at your extremities such as the feet and hands.



What is a Bath Brush?


A Bath Brush is a long-handled plastic brush with soft bristles that is designed to massage and exfoliate the skin and stimulate blood circulation on hard-to-reach areas like your back.





Some things to consider -
  • Bath Brushes can be made from recyclable plastic, so it is hard-wearing, durable and will not crack after being used in water for long periods, as well as being kind to the environment if you dispose of it correctly.
  • Bath Brushes can also be made from wood.
  • Making a wood bath brush is a more natural process and doesn't leave as large of a carbon footprint as manufacturing a plastic one.
  • Nylon bristles are soft and provide very gentle exfoliation.
  • Particularly good for use on dry skin that needs to be exfoliated regularly, it can also be used as an effective massage tool.
  • Over time, wood can splinter and warp when exposed to continuous moisture--but plastic is susceptible to mildew
  • Plastic bath brush handles can also shatter if dropped
  • Body brushing, which helps stimulate circulation and improve the skin's appearance, requires a long-handled bath brush.
  • When you use a bath brush, don't scrub your skin too vigorously or you might damage the protective acid mantle on your skin which helps fight bacteria, and this can make delicate skin more sensitive.
  • Many beauty therapists recommend wood bath brushes with natural bristles for gentler body brushing.
  • It is important to hang up your bath brush to dry completely instead of letting it sit in standing tub/shower water.
  • There are mildew-resistant and shatterproof bath brushes are available.




Monday, February 21, 2011

Cleansing your skin

Cleansing is the most important skincare step but it is easy to overlook the value of it.   It is one of the most important parts of a daily skin routine that you can do.
It is no good slathering yourself with the latest cream designed to produce a glowing complexion if you skin is not clean.  When we mention clean we mean that the pores aren’t clear and clean.
Some of our daily products such as sunscreen will cling on your skin unless your use a cleanser. Your daily cleansing routine should be more that just washing off the day’s grime.  It should include a massage of you face with warm water to help stimulate the circulation and bring new oxygen to our face.
Cleansing your skin twice a day is great for it.



One of the two main types on oil on your skin is sebum –it comes from the oil glands inside your hair follicles.  As it water proofs your skin it also traps bacteria, dust and pollution.  The other type of oil on your skin is ceramides – by using an exfoliate you can dissolve this oil and this lets the dead cells fall off and new cells are allowed to come through.
There are 2 ways to wash away these fats and oils – one is with a detergent added (or surfactants) – the cleanser containing detergents feels like it washes away the oil.  It is OK to have a little detergent but if your skin feels tight afterwards that is way too much for you.   



If you find the cleanser you are using has these high on their list maybe it’s time you found a milder product.As you do in the supermarket for food you can also read the ingredient list on your cleanser.
Detergents (that can cause problems) commonly used include:
  • Sodium laurel sulphate
  •  PEGS
  •    Coco amidopropyl betaine


The other alternative is to find a completely natural option.  You can make good skin cleansers from natural products. For example, products that contain vegetable oils, such as coconut oil, and water, combine with sebum and allow it to be dissolved and rinsed away. At the same time, water dissolves dirt.
Effective skin cleansers can contain a number of different vegetable oils, including coconut, sesame, or palm oils. These are safe and effective cleansers and have a relatively low pH.
A good cleanser should never leave your skin feeling stripped of oils, dry, flaky or tingling – if it does stop using it NOW.
Harsh products and over-washing only make oil problems worse.



There is no need to cleanse your skin more than twice a say.   If your skin feels sweaty or dirty at other time simply wash over with warm water.


Cleansing your face

1.    Moisten your face with warm (not hot) water and a cleanser for your skin type.
2.    Use your fingertips and massage the lather into your face and throat.
3.    Rinse thoroughly (making sure all the cleanser is gone) with a washcloth or with splashes of water.
4.    Take three times as much time for rinsing as compared to what you took for lathering.
5.    The important thing is that you remove all of the cleanser so any caustic it may contain won't burn your face.
6.    Do a final rinse with cool (not cold) water to close pores.
7.    Blot your face dry with a soft towel; vigorous rubbing with coarse material aggravates and tugs at your skin and it can spread bacteria.
8.    Allow to air dry for a few minutes and then moisturize your face with a moisturizer for your skin type.

Friday, January 14, 2011

Dry Skin Moisturizers




What is a Skin moisturizer?   A skin moisturizer will help moisturize and soften your skin -  and we know that soft skin is something everyone longs for.  No matter what your skin type is you need to use a moisturizer.  The secret to better looking skin is to be sure that you apply it regularly. Dry skin can be effectively managed with good skin care regime consisting of cleansing, toning and moisturizing. Dry skin looks and feels dry, flaky, and sensitive and often feels tight.  The causes include under or inactive oil glands that do not produce enough sebum to keep the skin naturally lubricated.

So what can you do and should you use a moisturizer?

Yes as with all good skin routines you need to use a face moisturizer that is targeted for dry skin. Unfortunately the trick is in finding the right product for dry skin that suits you.  The ideal dry skin face moisturizer must possess a thick texture and it must be highly hydrating without leaving your face skin oily. Importantly the moisturizer must be absorbed fast into the skin. The face moisturizer for dry skin must be hypoallergenic, mild and must not react with the skin.
Moisturizing helps in restoring the natural moisture to your face and making it more soft, supple and glowing.
To care for dry skin we need to gently clean without drying, moisturize with a rich moisturizer and nourish with a rich night cream.
Exfoliation is also an important part of caring for dry skin and we need to exfoliate once a week and follow with a nourishing mask.  If the dead cells are allowed to build up they  accumulate and prevent the nourishing ingredients from doing their job.  Your skin becomes pale and you begin to look unhealthy. A nourishing mask once a week is very helpful, as well as a light eye cream for daily use. Remember the right face moisturizer for dry skin will revitalize and hydrate your skin. Also, make sure that the moisturizer has sunscreen present in it as it is very important for dry skin and also protection from sun damage.

Wednesday, January 12, 2011

Skin Types



The human skin is a remarkable organ and being the body's largest it is often taken for granted. Most people are content to let skin be until dryness, oiliness, a rash or a wrinkle attracts their attention. Do not let your skin get to this point!!!

You should have a daily skin care routine that is tailored to your specific skin type. If you aren't customizing your skin care routine, it's possible that the products you're using are causing your skin to become uncomfortably dry or break out. Before customizing your skin care regime, you'll want to understand your skin type. Most skin is a mixture of different types and yours will be no exception.

We have found that there are five basic recognizable face skin types; however, a person’s facial skin can vary at different times during their lives due to illness, stress or for other reasons.
Where does your skin fit in the 5 types? How is the best way to care for it?

Dry skin
Dry skin looks and feels dry, flaky, and sensitive and often feels tight.  The causes include under or inactive oil glands that do not produce enough sebum to keep the skin naturally lubricated. You must keep dry skin hydrated regularly from the inside (with fresh water) and outside with (mists), as well as moisturized with rich hydrating creams or lotions. Always use mild, alcohol-free make up and toner, and a rich, creamy cleanser.  There is one benefit to having a dry skin it is less likely to develop acne than oily skin.  As with all good skin routines you must protect your face with a good quality SPF sunscreen (even during the colder months).




Oily Skin
You can tell if your skin is oily because it usually appears shiny a shine to it, has frequently has large, clogged pores and may be prone to black heads and acne. The oil is caused by glands that produce too much sebum (a substance that helps protect the skin by maintaining its moisture levels), resulting in skin that has a greasy slippery texture.
Benefits of an oily skin include that this type of skin generally remains younger looking and more supple over time than other skin types.  You need a skin care routine that is specially formulated to target the oils.  Please don’t use harsh products as this may cause the skin to produce more excess oil in response to this treatment.  Treat yourself and have a periodic herbal steam treatment and clay mask. As with all good skin routines you must protect your face with a good quality SPF sunscreen (even during the colder months). All skin types will benefit from regular hydration from the inside by drinking lots of fresh water on a daily basis.




Sensitive Skin
Star does do know a lot about this skin type as this is her skin type. Sensitive skin reacts adversely to cosmetics containing alcohol, synthetically manufactured oil type ingredients, fragrance oils, and artificial colors.
Sometimes her skin can be a combination of dry, normal, or oily and is always very soft, peopled have expressed the opinion that it is more of a skin condition than a skin type.  It is a constant battle to treat Sensitive skin as it frequently reacts adversely to environmental conditions and often requires special treatment in order to remain in good condition.  To treat sensitive skin try a natural, gentle, skin care products and treatments, including light steaming and some essential oils. Star has only treatments designed especially for Sensitive skin types at least once a month. As with all good skin routines you must protect your face with a good quality SPF sunscreen (even during the colder months). All skin types will benefit from regular hydration from the inside by drinking lots of fresh water on a daily basis.


Normal Skin Type
This skin type has barely visible pores and looks consistently plump, moist, and vibrant. It also possesses no blemishes, flakiness or red spots.  It sounds the ideal skin type; however, it still requires no less attention than other skin types. The treatment of normal skin types includes a regular cleansing, toning and moisturizing routines. All skin types will benefit from regular hydration from the inside by drinking lots of fresh water on a daily basis. As with all good skin routines you must protect your face with a good quality SPF sunscreen (even during the colder months).
All skin types will benefit from regular hydration from the inside by drinking lots of fresh water on a daily basis.

Combination Skin Type
A majority of the population have this kind of skin. It consists of an oily center area or a T-zone across the forehead, nose, and chin, and areas of dryness on the cheeks, and around the eyes and neck. Unfortunately outside the T-zone the skin can be dry and flaky.  Combination skin types can be identified by blackheads and oily skin in the T-zone area, dry skin on the cheeks and large pores in some areas of the face. Unfortunately these different types of skin call for different treatments, so people with combination skin should assess their skin regularly and use different products on different areas of the face. If you have combination skin, it's important to wash your face with a mild cleanser. All skin types will benefit from regular hydration from the inside by drinking lots of fresh water on a daily basis. As with all good skin routines you must protect your face with a good quality SPF sunscreen (even during the colder months).
You may need to use different facial products depending on the weather, as combination skin tends to change often.


Please note: “These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration and are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.”