Difficulty:

Moderate

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

Hand cream or moisturizer formulated for nails
Cotton gloves
Bowl of warm water
Topical cuticle remover product
Orange stick
Cuticle cream with alpha-hydroxy acids (AHAs)

Fix Dry, Peeling Nails

1

Massage your nails and cuticles with a moisturizer twice a day, as part of your regular beauty routine. Use a hand cream or an over-the-counter moisturizer formulated especially for nails.

2

Reapply moisturizer after washing your hands or getting your hands wet.

3

Use gloves when handling chemicals – such as household detergents – that may having a drying effect on your nails.

4

Use acetone-based nail polish remover no more than once a week, or switch to an acetone-free product.

5

Apply moisturizer to the nail bed, cuticles and surrounding skin of each nail at bedtime. Cover your hands with cotton gloves to enhance the hydrating effects of the moisturizer overnight.

Fix Ripped or Untidy Cuticles

1

Soak your clean fingertips in a bowl of warm water for up to three minutes.

2

Massage an over-the-counter cuticle remover product into the cuticles, as per the manufacturer’s instructions.

3

Gently push back the moist translucent cuticle skin of each nail using an orange stick, being careful not to apply excessive pressure that could damage the nail bed.

4

Move the orange stick in small circles at the base of each nail to remove any remaining translucent cuticle skin.

5

Massage a cuticle cream containing alpha-hydroxy acids into the base of each nail to moisturize and smooth the surface.

Tips & Warnings

Get into the habit of moisturizing your nails when you are doing a passive activity such as reading or watching television.

Be aware that soaking your fingertips, especially for longer than three minutes, may cause them to swell temporarily. Wait for the nails to return to their original shape before applying nail polish to avoid chipping, peeling or cracking.

Don’t bite or pick at your cuticles or attempt to trim them. This can result in cuts or tears that allow harmful bacteria or fungi to enter and cause an infection.

Always moisten cuticles before pushing them back. This makes the job easier and is less likely to result in damaged cuticles.

Consult a doctor or dermatologist if you notice changes such as redness, swelling and pain around your nails. This may be a sign of infection that requires professional diagnosis and treatment.

Causes

An increase in hormones can cause a rise in the skin’s production of oil. Excess oil is a breeding ground for the bacteria that cause acne.

Timeline

Acne usually is at its worst during the first trimester. Later on in the pregnancy, as estrogen levels increase, acne typically starts to disappear.

Prevention

While there’s no way to stop an increase in oil production during pregnancy, washing the face twice a day with a gentle, non-comedogenic cleanser, and blotting excess oil on the face with a tissue, can help to reduce the chances of acne progressing. Cleansers containing retinoids and salicylic acid should be avoided.

Safe Treatments

Rubbing slices of fruit containing alpha hydroxy acids on the affected areas is a natural, effective way to treat acne. Lemons, oranges and tomatoes are examples of some fruits containing alpha hydroxy acids.

Warning

Medications containing Vitamin A, such as retinoids and tretinoin, can cause birth defects. Antibiotics used to treat acne can retard bone growth in a developing fetus. Creams with salicylic acid should also be avoided.

Mandelic acid has risen in popularity as a skin-care ingredient in the early 21st century. Touted as an acne treatment due to its powerful antibacterial properties, it has made its way into several regimens targeted to clear blemishes.

Acne

A common skin condition characterized by blackheads, whiteheads and inflamed cysts, acne causes distress in teenagers and adults alike.

Mandelic Acid

With a long history of use in clearing urinary tract infections, mandelic acid has an established role as an antibacterial agent. Derived from bitter almonds, and part of the alpha hydroxy acid family, mandelic acid works both as an exfoliating and antibacterial agent.

Significance

Considered a gentler alternative to popular alpha hydroxy acids, such as glycolic and lactic acids, mandelic acid penetrates the skin at a much slower rate due to its larger molecular structure. Unlike conventional acne treatments that have a potential to irritate the skin, it is suitable for individuals with sensitive skin.

Research

A 2009 study done in India compared glycolic acid peels and salicylic-mandelic acid peels. The study concluded that salicylic-mandelic combination peels cleared active acne lesions and post-inflammatory hyperpigmentation slightly more effectively than glycolic acid peels.

Considerations

Mandelic acid may not work at clearing all types of acne. Severe acne may require a comprehensive treatment plan that addresses multiple causal factors of the condition.

When a scar has formed, it can be noticeable due to the difference in skin tone. For example, a white scar is very noticeable on dark skin. There are ways decrease the whiteness of the scar and improve the skin’s appearance. These techniques can be used to get rid of scars on your leg.

Difficulty:

Easy

Instructions

Things You’ll Need

Sunscreen
2 tbsp. sandalwood powder
Bowl
Exfoliating cream w/ alpha hydroxy acid

1

Put sunscreen on the scar every time you go outside. Sun exposure can make the scar stand out even more than it already does.

2

Put two tbsp. sandalwood powder into a small bowl. Add one tsp. water to the powder. Stir it in to make a paste.

3

Put the paste on your scar before you go to bed, and leave it on overnight.

4

Scrub your scar with an exfoliating cream that contains alpha hydroxy acid once a day. Removing dead skin cells causes the scar to fade over time.

A lovely exfoliating choice for all skin types is ground almonds and/or ground oatmeal mixed with honey or smashed grapes or pineapple juice. If Alpha Hydroxy Acids irritate your skin (found in the grapes and pineapple), try crushing an aspirin into your ground almonds and adding green tea concentrate, honey or olive oil to form a scrub. Aspirin contains Beta Hydroxy Acid which doesn’t have the same irritating factors of Alpha.

Make a green tea concentrate to moisten your dry ingredients. Research shows it reduced carcinogenic activity in mice … Can’t hurt! Green tea, honey, oatmeal almonds … sounds like breakfast!

A centuries-old Japanese secret to gentle exfoliation is rice bran powder. You can add it to most any natural scrub to absorb dirt, moisturize and add balance to your skin. Look for it at an Asian market or health food store.

A word of caution: There are many recipes that call for baking soda, but I found some concerns around alkalinity when researching scrubs, so I wouldn’t advise baking soda as an ingredient. There are also LOTS of recipes that include salt and/or sugar. Again, I advise caution as these can be quite coarse and irritating. Always let your skin be your guide!

The fun thing about scrubs is how many choices you have from your kitchen. Play with scrubs and masks, search out recipes online … Have fun and enjoy taking care of yourself!

Well, I feel like the dumbest person ever, because all I would have had to do was an internet search for the ingredients.  Can we all say, “No brainer”?

When Neutrogena discontinued their New Hands® lotion and then their Norwegian Formula Age Shield Hand Cream® (my emphasis), I wrote to the company both times and asked if they were going to produce an equivalent replacement.  Both times I got a canned, vague answer that essentially said “Not now,” and I was terribly disappointed and had to resort to not-nearly-as-good substitutes.

A few days ago I had the bright idea to Google the important ingredients in New Hands® — SPF 15, alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), vitamins C and E, 7.5% octinoxate, and 5.0% oxybenzone — and what do you think I found?  Another product from Neutrogena!  It’s called Healthy Skin® Face Lotion.  Yes, it’s for faces and not hands, and it’s a lotion and not a cream, but you better believe I almost ran to my nearest drugstore and bought some.

You can read more about it at Neutrogena’s site here.

Now, why couldn’t the company have told me about this when I emailed them in the past?  I don’t mind spending a bit more and using a facial product on my hands, since it’s worth it to me.  If you find the cost prohibitive (although it’s on sale at Neutrogena’s site at the time of this writing), there are house brands at CVS and Wal-Mart, to name just two, with what appear to be most of the same ingredients.

I’ll stick with the Neutrogena brand, because despite my past frustrations with availability issues, I do like their products and believe they have good quality control.  When I used their two hand creams mentioned above, my hands looked great — the small age spots I had went away, no new age spots developed, and my hands stayed hydrated even in our very dry climate.  I expect the same from Healthy Skin® Face Lotion.

You don’t need a lot, just one or two pumps, then rub the backs of your hands together so you don’t waste too much of it on your palms, and then massage it in.  I also rub a tiny bit into my cuticles and around my nails, especially after a bath or shower.  I use it every morning and again at night before I go to bed.  If you’re hoping to get rid of existing age spots, be patient because it might take weeks.  Since the SPF is only 15, I’ll use a stronger sunscreen on top of the lotion if I’m going to be out in the sun much.

So there you go.  Hope my search helps you!

And no, not to be used on your face as a scrub.  That is such a no-no.  Only to be used as a peel.

The Magic of Almonds.

What is Mandelic acid?

Mandelic acid is an alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) extracted from bitter almond.  It has great results for common skin concerns such as aging(sun exposure), acne and melasma(pigmentation).  Mandelic acid is an AHA that it’s molecular size is smaller than most other AHAs, making it a supremely effective choice in the chemical peel arena.  Also another fact – due to its smaller molecular size, it is less irritating than glycolic acid.

 The almond will definitely be my star attraction!

pic via IMDB.com

In the Middle Ages, old wine with tartaric acid as its active ingredient was used for exfoliating, smoothing and giving the skin a rosy glow. Today, these historical chemexfoliants are known to contain alpha hydroxy acids, which are the active ingredients responsible for the skin exfoliation.

Photo Via Camposszto.org

With my background of over 10 years of experience with these little magic treatments, I hope to shed some light on how truly skin friendly and gentle the peel experience can be.  Maybe we can get something magical started this spring……….. *dreams*

Keri

Win this: Zirh Body Bar

Our latest giveaway features the fresh-smelling, body acne-clearing Zirh Body Bar.  To find out how to qualify for our giveaways please visit the Contests section.  One lucky winner will be randomly selected.  The deadline to qualify for this contest is Monday, July 18th at 11:59pm Pacific Standard Time.  Good luck!

See our review for the Zirh Body Bar here.

I remember purchasing a sugar scrub from Sephora a while back and I can say that it was not the cheapest product on the block and it worked ok it was not to awe inspiring and I could not pronounce most of the ingredients  so I don’t feel like I am missing out on anything with my new at home scrub. So when I was trying to figure out what to do with my extra packets of Sugar in the Raw, which is a raw turbinado sugar from Hawaii, I knew it would make an excellent scrub. Raw sugar is so good for your skin; it is high in antioxidants and contains natural alpha hydroxy acids to reveal radiantly soft  glowing skin and also helps with discoloration. I love using this scrub for my lips and also as a manicure it is nourishing, gentle and just a wonderful treat when you want to have a pampering day at home.

Tisha’s Scrub

3 Packets of Sugar in the Raw

½ Tbsp of Grape seed Oil     

½ Tbsp of Avocado Oil

A pinch of Lemon Zest

If you don’t already have these oils you can use Olive Oil or Honey as well.

Let sit for about 30 min in a small bowl so the oils can penetrate the sugars and soften them up a little before you put them on you delicate lips.

An organic antioxidant face peel, claimed to reduce free radical skin cell damage.

Review of product:

A certified organic, paraben free, user-friendly, affordable, antioxidant face peel which smells divine and produces results. Sound too good to be true? Well, it’s not. Cue: Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel.

After a long holiday and massive strain on my skin, it needed some serious TLC. But the crux being: I wanted it to also be organic. Beauty and brains in one package is not easy to come by these days.

Low expectations for organic products

I have found some organic products either smell great and look lovely but don’t actually do much. Or do produce results but at a cost. Therefore, I didn’t have high expectations when I tried this product. That could explain my great surprise for the results I did have, after just the first use!

On application, this gel-like substance easily smooths on your skin. It has a lovely cinnamon and apple scent (which made me want to eat it!). The result after the first use was incredible. A red spot that I had had noticeably disappeared by about 50% and was no longer as red. The second application did not produce as dramatic results, but I think continuous use of this product will maintain a fresh skin tone.

The ingredients list is a sigh of relief as there are no parabens, petroleum, sulphates or other baddies. It’s hard to comment on the reduction in free radical cell damage but this is a bonus that we can just hope is true!

Would I recommend this product?

Yes, for anyone looking for an organic acid skin peel treatment, this is surely one of the top contenders.

Website: http://www.juicebeauty.com/

Here is a super easy recipe to make your own pore cleansing strips! You know, they can get really expensive, especially if you use them frequently. Which, by the way, you shouldn’t do. Use pore cleansing strips only about twice a week. You should always adopt a healthy regimen of cleansing your skin at least twice daily. This is especially important if you have problem skin. Cleanliness is essential to getting and maintaining good skin health.

Super Simple DIY Pore Cleansing Strips

Ingredients:

• 1 Tbsp. Milk (Organic if possible) 
• 1 Tbsp Unflavored Gelatin
• 1 Clean Make-Up Brush (choose one that you do not mind getting messy)

The How To:

1. Mix the ingredients together in a small glass / microwavable cup.
2. Place in the microwave for 10 seconds. The consistency should be like glue.  
3. Allow to cool down enough to be comfortable on your skin.
4. Brush on areas that you wish to treat, nose, forehead, chin, cheeks etc. (use on one or two small areas at a time)
5. Allow to dry completely (Takes about 10 minutes)
6. Peel off and enjoy looking at all the grungies you just cleaned out of your pores!

Acne help recipe #2

Refreshing Lime Face Mask Peel

Ingredients:

• 1/4 Cup Milk (Organic if possible)
• 1 Whole Lime
• 1 tbsp. Liquid Glycerin

The How To:

1. Boil the milk and mix in juice of one freshly squeezed lime, and 1 tbsp. glycerin.
2. Remove from heat and set aside a few minutes to cool down.
3. Once the mixture is cool, stir and apply to your face, making sure to avoid the eye area.
4. Allow to dry completely (about 10 – 12 minutes)
5. peel or wash off with luke warm water.
6. Enjoy your fresh glow

So there you have it! Two super simple do it yourself, very effective recipes for you to try at home! Woo Hoo!!!! How great is THAT!?

As always, let me know by way of comment on this blog if you tried a recipe and how it worked for you!

Lastly, don’t forget to check out THE Eco-Chic Boutique for GREAT all natural and organic spa quality products! I have a super effective all natural alpha hydroxy coconut lime sugar scrub to die for that would go great with today’s recipes!

Thanks so much for reading! and Have a Beautiful Day!

All The Best To You!!!

~Patti (Yeshuazgirl)

I woke up to a BIG sale this morning. I have to get to packing it up and adding extra goodies in there as I always ship with a free gift or two. I do not advertise the gift, I just let it be a very nice surprise. I like to be surprised, don’t you?

I am very thankful for each and every sale but, when the sale is for multiple items and $100.00 or more it is always very nice. I love all of my customers and have built a “faithful following” of sorts.

Several ladies that keep coming back for more of my products and have shed their chemical laden cosmetics and beauty products in favor of all natural ones. I am excited at this turning over a new leaves (pardon the pun) for these ladies!

I am working on formulating products for the entire family. Kids, teen and men’s lines as well as expanding my current offering for us gals.  Next up for the us women-folk, will be milk baths and teas, and some massage oils and aromatherapy goodies as well as spa baskets ranging in price from $19.99 all the way to $125.00 for Christmas gift giving!  For the rest of the family, well.. you’ll just have to wait and see…

For now, I will leave you with that and a great recipe just in time for Thanksgiving to try! Have any extra pumpkin puree hanging around after making that pie? Well try this!

I have finally found some intriguing , published studies with alpha hydroxy acids ( including  lactic acid and glycolic acid) that  back up our observations.  It even has a name!  Called ‘accomodation’, it simply means that the skin cells no longer respond to an active ingredient in a beauty care product.

Here’s how it works:  For example, glycolic and lactic acid  improve skin texture and reduce wrinkles primarily by stimulating cell growth.  But over 3-4 months of constant use, cell growth starts to slow down again. Its still better than untreated skin, but you don’t  get that shock and awe of the first 8 weeks on these  anti-aging  acids.  

I’m really glad to  know that its not my imagination that  a product  seems to stop working, but what do these findings tell me about  the best approach to skin care.  What can I do?   If   the skin  “accommodates” to an age fighter, maybe mixing  things up will keep   the  cells from getting bored.  For example,  since I am using Retin A every other,   night, maybe I should  alternate with  a vitamin C  cream.  Would that keep my skin  interested?  What about using Retin A for eight weeks, switching to glycolic acid for another eight weeks, and then switch back to Retin A? 

Have you used a great  product that seemed to lose its mojo?  What did you do?

Life is special, life is curvy, there are no straight answers, no easy roads, no short-cuts. To live your life fully and richly, live simply to simply live ~ Me

So in the spirit of that thought from me today, here are some super simple recipes to try! AND.. announcing two new great alpha hydroxy sugar scrubs in my stores! YEAH!! Make it a great day!

All out of your favorite salt or sugar scrub? Use baking soda instead!

Simply mix 3 parts baking soda to 1 part water and voila! you have a super simple almost as effective replacement until you can re-stock   

And Now A Word From Our Sponsor… 

I have two GREAT and unique sugar scrubs now available in my stores!

Why are they unique? Well I am sooo glad you asked! Here’s why:

For my Always Anjavacal coffee sugar scrub, I only use 100% organic medium-dark roast coffee freshly ground by me and I add precious Argan Oil! This coffee sugar scrub is superb for helping to stimulate your skin to produce collagen and renew your cells! Stimulates circualtion and reveals a beautiful healthy glow! The argan oil is so wonderfully beneficial in so many ways for your skin and as an added bonus, is noncomedogenic as it will not clog your pores!

For my All new coconut lime sugar scrub, I use pure virgin organic coconut oil, pure lime essential oil and add kukuinut oil! 

This sugar scrub is most beneficial for those with acne as the citric acid from the lime essential oil penetrates your pores to break up trapped oils in acne prone skin! The kukuinut oil helps to sooth, moisturize and protect against photoaging and is noncomedogenic! (won’t clog pores) leaving your skin to stay beautifully healthy and balanced and free to breathe!

So there you have it. I truly do not know of any other maker of sugar scrubs that includes such beneficial ingredients! Trust me I have looked! So far I am unique. Do I expect to be copied? of course. But, my formulations are tested on real people of all types of skin and THEN put out for sale. I also do not know of many who go to that extent as well… there are far & few between.

Anyway, I hope that you enjoy your day! If you want to treat yourself to some great products, my main store can be found here: http://www.bonanza.com/yeshuazgirl

I am still building my ArtFire & Etsy stores and only keep limited stock there for now.

All The Best To You & Have A Beautiful Day!

~Patti (Yeshuazgirl)

In researching my Eco-Chic Boutique beauty line, I kept coming across lots of acronyms. Some of the most used were AHA and BHA.

Laughingly I said to myself – A-ha! B-ha ha ha & LMNOP

I stopped laughing however; when I read deeper about what the heck AHA and BHA were! Raised my eyebrows and said hey! That’s great! Except for….. (we’ll get to the except for in a bit)

AHA stands for Alpha Hydroxy Acid and BHA stands for Beta Hydroxy Acid. 

Alpha hydroxy acids are derived naturally from fruit and milk sugars. The most commonly used alpha hydroxy acids are glycolic acid (sugar) and lactic acid (milk) because they have the special ability to penetrate the skin. They also have the most scientific data on their effectiveness and side effects. The following are the 5 major types of alpha hydroxy acids found in skin-care products and their sources:

• glycolic acid – sugar cane
• lactic acid – milk
• malic acid – apples and pears
• citric acid – oranges and lemons
• tartaric acid – grapes

Alpha Hydroxy also has been found to help the skin to produce collagen. 

Collagen works hand-in-hand with elastin in supporting the body’s tissues. Basically, it gives body tissues form and provides firmness and strength; elastin gives the same body tissues much need flexibility.

BHA (Beta Hydroxy Acid) There is only one beta hydroxy acid – salicylic acid (found in Aspirin). The main difference between alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acid. Alpha hydroxy acids are water soluble only, while beta hydroxy acid is lipid (oil) soluble.

OK Now back to the AHA part….the exfoliation benefits, stimulating the production of collagen and that except for part I mentioned earlier….

OK So AHA is Alpha Hydroxy Acid, key word being “Acid”. 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.  AHA is very beneficial to help slough off skin cells making it a very effective exfoliant. AHA helps exfoliate those dead cells to reveal the fresh “new” skin underneath and also helps stimulate your skin’s production of that all important collagen. Here is that “except for” part…

AHA / BHA based products have two main side effects. They can cause skin irritations in hyper-sensitive people and can increase your skin’s sensitivity to the sun by up to 50%. Photosensitivity can cause skin irriation, rashes and premature photoaging (aged skin due to sun exposure). *Sigh* Just when you think you find a “Holy Grail” of beauty, there’s a tarnish to the grail’s shine. There are some FDA guidelines that provide some wise counsel in using AHA/BHA products.

FDA Guidelines Alpha Hydroxy Acids
Because of concerns over the side effects of alpha hydroxy acids, the FDA announced in 1997 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

So there you have it. I make sugar scrubs (glycolic acid) that of course provide the great exfoliation qualities of a basic AHA however; I have taken careful measures to ensure that my sugar scrub formulation adheres to the FDA guidelines and provides a safe yet effective product for you. My sugar scrubs all contain the multi-beneficial and healing Argan Oil which contains the qualities of a natural sun screen, deeply penetrates the skin and serves as a natural  preservative for the product. The Argan oil also deeply penetrates and moisturizes your skin as you scrub. Leaving your skin feeling impossibly silky and smooth.  

I’ll be adding those scrubs in the next day or two. So I hope that you enjoyed today’s article and found it as helpful information in choosing your next AHA/BHA based product purchase. Because, whether you purchase from my beauty line or not, I still care about your beauty and health.

Have A Gorgeous Day!

All The Best To You!!!

~ Patti (Yeshuazgirl)

The challenge is not screwing  it  up.  A good cleanser will take off  the top  layer of  stale oil and dry, dead skin cells,  but will not strip  the skin of moisture or leave a sticky film.  Bar soap for normal skin or rinseable cleansers are excellent choices.   During the day use an oil freee moisturizer with at least a 15SPF ( 30 would be ideal).  At bedtime, treat the skin with an alpha hydroxy acid, one of my all time favorite  beauty ingredients.

Alpha Hydroxy acids ( AHA’s)  are found naturally in  common foods including apples, tomatoes, sugar crane, lemons, wine, and apples. In fact women have been using AHA’s as beauty aids for centuries.  Cleopatra has been reported to bathe in milk to soften  desert-dry skin.  Women in 18thC France packed their faces with  mashed up grapes to soften and purify their skin. 

AHA’s  like glycolic  acid, are a baby-step Retin A.  They encourage healthy skin growth, lighten dark patches and help the skin hold moisture.  There are even  studies that suggest  AHA’s can stimulate production of strong healthy collgen.  And it does all these things without the dryness and irritation of Retin A.  In fact AHA’s are known to  produce a characterisitc gentle glow.   As the years pass, your skin will need the shock and awe of Retin A.  In the twenties, AHA’s will deliver the goods.

In addition to daily care,  dermatologists use  glycolic acid  for a gentle yet effective peel that leaves the skin soft and radiant.  You can also buy safe and affordable gycolic home peels that  give the twenty something  skin a lovely boost.  You can even make  AHA face masks from ingredients you probably  already have in your kitchen.

Tomorrow I will provide  AHA beauty product recipes  as well as recommend products and a daily care program that makes the most of twenty-something natural youthful beauty.

Here is the truth about AHA solutions and how the percentage of  glycolic acid is determined. A 100% glycolic acid (also known as AHAs) solution is not possible.  Most anti-aging  skin care formulations use a 70% glycolic acid  solution.  AHAs must be suspended in a base like a cream or lotion. That makes up the remaining 30% of the product.  When using a 70% glycolic acid solution, 20% of 70 equals 14. That means that the ACTUAL amount of AHA is really 14%, not 20%.  Misrepresenting the formula leads consumers to believe they are getting a higher percentage.

At Alpha Hydrox, we are honest and forthcoming about the percentage of AHAs in our skin care products.  We make a 10% lotion and cream, a 12% cream and a 14% AHA wipe. We list the percentage right on the front of the box.  We want to help consumers to know what they’re buying because the more they know, the more likely they are to buy Alpha Hydrox.

 www.alphahydrox.com has more information about all our skin care products.

We attempt to combat these reactions in our skin with cleansers, toners, moisturizers, sun-block, healthy eating habits, a regular sleep schedule, vitamins, exercise… All of these are important, and they all play a part.

Today I thought I’d share a recipe for a facial scrub/mask and complemetary toner. It’s easy to prepare, inexpensive and it’s all natural… So it has no harsh chemicals. This isn’t just for girls either. Guys should be interested in caring for their skin as well. Women aren’t the only ones with blemishes and dry skin. We also aren’t the only ones who like pampering ourselves. Even those “manly” men might try this at home when no one is looking.

Optional Ingredients:

(If you are allergic to vinegar, please don’t try this recipe. Also let me stress again… Do not use distilled vinegar. It is far too harsh. It will burn, and it has none of the benefits that are the point of this facial.)

I bet you’re still thinking “Vinegar, that’s going to stink…I don’t want to make my face smell like feet… That’s gross… blah blah blah…”

Don’t whine so much. The vinegar does smell, but the smell goes away after a while. Do it at night if you’re worried about the smell. Besides, you know you want to try it. I did, and my skin felt so good afterward.:-)

Honey is a natural acne treatment, moisturizer, and anti-inflamatory. It stimulates skin renewal… and makes this whole concoction smell better.

Those of you heading to the beach for the holiday weekend, take note. We’re running through a last-minute natural beauty regimen that will tackle the dull skin, rough patches and cellulite that you’ve been hiding since winter. It’ll take ten minutes- fifteen at most- and deliver substantial, albeit temporary, results (we all know that we’re not getting rid of our cellulite, right?). So, let’s begin. Our skin below the waist is the most likely to give us problems, so we need to knock it back into shape with a one-two punch of natural exfoliation and moisturizing massage. The result? Temporary glow and toning worthy of those high-priced spa treatments. Your regular natural body scrub will suffice as an exfoliant, increasing circulation and stimulating lymphatic flow as you deeply massage (toward your heart works best). If you’re looking for a new scrub on the cheap, go for the deliciously tropical Coconut Vanilla Sugar Scrub from Organics by Noah’s Naturals. If you’ve ever been swayed, even the tiniest bit, by a warm vanilla scent, you will fall over for this one! As a bonus, it contains Vitamin A to increase cell turnover. Follow with a lotion that boosts collagen to gradually thicken the epidermis of your skin, creating a buffer. REN’s Wild Yam Omega 7 Firming Body Repair Crème works (natural) wonders with lipid-boosting seabuckthorn berry oil and collagen-improving wild yam. And my personal favorite duo, for skin that’s silkier than you ever thought possible, is Nude’s Moisturizing Body Polish and Smoothing Body Refiner. The polish is made with sugar and hibiscus-infused monoi coconut oil (as luxurious as it sounds) and is applied directly to dry skin for serious sloughing. Follow this with the alpha-hydroxy Smoothing Body Refiner, a cult favorite for its fig and organic mountain ash that both slim and detoxify. Incredibly, testers who used this lotion twice daily for three months lost about six pounds! Who says natural beauty doesn’t work wonders? And if you’re still a bit self-conscious about skin exposure, nothing lends the appearance of slimming and toning quicker than a little self-tanner (check out our picks here). Happy 4^th! Writer :: Jolene Hart

There are many skin types, but the basics are:

1. Mature / thin skin
2. Dry / Dehydrated skin
3. Sensitive / Red skin
4. Pigmentation problem skin
5. Normal skin
6. Oily skin
7. Acne skin (typically teens and young adults)

1. Mature skin
For mature, thin skin, there is a variety of treatments you can use. The best possible treatment is IPL skin rejuvenation with a collagen mask to help increase its thickness. This will help build new collagen and it also repairs your old collagen.  The results are immediate and very noticeable, but it only lasts for about 3 weeks. You can also use facials with extreme hydration like the Optimum Hydration Facial, or the Lifting and Firming Vitamin C treatment to increase the tonicity that may have become lost in your skin over time. Always try to include oil-based creams and make-up in your daily routine to keep your skin hydrated.

2. Dry / Dehydrated skin
When you have dry skin, you can be most any age, and you typically have thinner skin that is more susceptible to the outside elements.  If you have alipic facial skin, characterized by invisible pores and a tight, tugging sensation, you should consider a Basic facial without any extractions. It’s the most inexpensive facial, but perfectly suited for your type of skin (lucky you!). You can also go one step further and do the Optimum hydration facial for a moisture rich treatment, or the Oxygenating stimulation treatment for moments when your environment is what makes your skin dry (think of hospitals, high heat at work, visiting an overpopulated city, etc…).

3. Sensitive / Red skin
For sensitive skin, you most always have circulatory issues. You’re very reactive to the things you eat or drink (think of a glass of wine), or physical activity, or a drastic change in temperature. You often have rosacea, which is a temporary redness that disappears with any of the above-mentionned triggers, or couperosis, a permanency of broken capillary veins on your face. In this particular skin type, you should try the Anti-redness desensitizing treatment, to calm your skin and reduce the blotchiness of your skin. You can also use the Calming mask facial for better blood circulation and cell regeneration, which will help even out your skin. Last but not least, the best kind of treatment for you would be IPL rosacea and /or couperosis treatment because the IPL will target broken capillaries and it will help your blood circulation immensely, and the results are immediate. Also, spas that offer thermal therapy, like cold lakes to jump into after a trip to the steam room or sauna, are terrible for your skin because you’re changing your body temperature too drastically and too fast for your your body to adjust. In fact, anything that can aggravate your skin, you should approach with caution.    

4. Pigmentation problem skin
When you have a pigmentation issue, you can have either too much or not enough. When you have vitiligo (white spots), you don’t have enough pigmentation, and for this particular issue, there is no known treatment. A good concealer is the only trick to look like your skin is even. Most common, however, is hyperpigmentation, when you have darker spots on your face. You have a variety of treatments you can work with, starting with an Alpha hydroxy facial which primarily reduces skin discolouration, but as an added bonus, also removes wrinkles. You should also consider Microdermabrasion to remove the layers of skin that help darken that spot. You see, the more layers of skin that you accumulate over the melanin, the darker it looks- so if you have thick skin, your hyper pigmentation should look much darker. Unfortunately, with this treatment you can expect red marks on your face that takes 1 or 2 days for your skin to recover (though, it’ll often recover over night). But when it does, your dark spots will be a much lighter colour, and it’ll also help diminish wrinkles and remove pesky blackheads.  You should also look at IPL age spot fading, where you can have the age spot burned so that by the end of the week, it should crust off, and a much lighter, faded colour beneath it will surface and therefore hide your pigmentation issue. Those with this skin type should be very aware of any sun exposure or medication that can cause photosentivity. You are at the highest risk of more pigmentation issues, so keep a high SPF cream handy (40+).   

5. Normal skin
For normal skin, you can dabble with any kind of facial, since you might have a very temporary tendency to sometimes be on the borderline of any type of skin. Ultimately, if you take care of your skin, you should easily be able to get away with a Deep cleansing facial every season change, and you’ll be perfectly fine.

6. Oily skin
For oily skin, you have hyper secretions, and so your face might look shiny with open pores, and your skin is generally very thick. This type of skin is very common for Asians and African Americans. Microdermabrasion and Glycolic acid peelings are great solutions for you to help reduce the thickness of your skin. Once your skin thickness is reduced, you typically have normal skin underneath.  You should also consider the Optimum pureness treatment facial to help prevent excessive sebum secretion for a more matte look. For this skin type, you should always avoid any oil-basd substance on your face; you have enough of it naturally! Find creams and make-up that is non-comedegenic, and blotting papers are a great way to keep fresh looking.  

7. Acne skin
When you have acneic skin, your skin is trying to tell you that it’s in hormone overload! It’s often asphyxiated with blackheads (comedones) and many puss-filled pimples. This condition often affects teenagers, but is also known to affect some adults. Every treatment for oily skin applies here, only there are 2 additions: the Lifting and firming Vitamin C treatment, which is normally for tonicity and firming skin, but Vitamin C is also known as a wonderful detoxifier and increases blood circulation, which will help reduce your acne breakouts. You can also have an IPL treament for acne, especially when you have a big event coming up- it almost immediately dries up the acne you have within a day or two. Since acne is a bacteria, it’ll return, but you can fight it easily with IPL.

That should just about cover the different skin types out there and what can help solve their different issues. Some skin types, however, are a mix of different issues above, and it’s highly recommended that you may want to talk with an aesthetician to make sure you’re doing the right treatment.

Goatmilk Cucumber

Today I took the Goat Milk Cucumber Bars off the rack. I couldn’t wait to try one. This was the first time I had used fresh goat milk instead of powdered. It may be all in my head but I swear there is a huge difference. This is also the first time I have used the cucumber distillate instead of a fragrance oil also. I love it! I bought the goat milk from a fellow vendor at the Farmer’s Market here in Evansville. I also bought 2 dozen free range eggs from him. They haven’t lasted very long. I can see my cholesterol rising off the chart, but boy are they great. It is difficult to explain the difference to anyone who have never eaten an egg from a free range chicken.

Great for Mature Skin

Nature’s Best Known Skin Softener

Hydrate, nourish & rejuvenate your skin with our all-natural whole goat milk & cucumber soap. Indulge in the natural moisturizing properties of a soap made with both whole goat milk and whole cucumber.  Goat milk contains naturally occurring alpha-hydroxy  acids, proteins, minerals and high vitamin levels that can help slow the effects of aging.

We use the whole ground cucumber in this fantastic soap. Cucumber is loaded with Vitamin E and natural oils. Cucumber acts as a natural emollient that softens and hydrates the skin after prolonged environmental exposure.  It improves and helps rejuvenate mature skin. Cleopatra had her own recipe for a cucumber mask consisting of cucumbers, milk and honey.

This bar is made from nature’s finest oils and butters, goat milk and cucumber distillate and handcrafted in small batches by the cold process method.  Your skin will thank you!

There are 2 major types of exfoliators:

• scrubs – these physically rub off the dead skin with beads or rough particles, they work fast but aren’t good for sensitive skin or acne prone skin because it can spread bacteria
• chemical exfoliators – like alpha hydroxy masks are more gentle on the skin since you don’t rub them, you leave them on for 20 minutes or so and the chemicals loosen the dead skin from your face

Skoah offers great exfoliators, all made with natural plant ingredients both cost $30

their face skrub is pinapple sented and the beads are perfectly rounded so they don’t scratch your skin.

and their aha mask has 1% pure alpha hydroxy and works great on acne prone or sensitive skin.