Excessively dry skin, easy natural fix

If you're suffering from excessively dry skin and can't get to the spa for microderm or a peel, I have a natural affordable treatment you can try.

If you find that you are shedding excessive amounts of skin on your face and body try using a body scrub to remove unwanted dead skin cells.

Face: use 1 teaspoon of baking soda mixed with 1 teaspoon cold pressed Grape Seed Oil and gently rub areas affected in small circles (do NOT rub for more than an 2 minutes). This will brighten and moisturize skin.

Body: use 2 tablespoons sea salt with 4 tablespoons cold pressed Grape Seed Oil and rub on affected area/(s) while taking a warm shower. Taking care not to slip in shower, I usually sit on edge of tub for this. To maintain moisture after shower, I use a bit more oil on my entire body.

As for a daily moisturizer, I personally use 3-4 eye dropper drops of organic cold pressed Grape Seed oil. It is a great natural way to moisturize and help repair damage to skin cells. It's used in many lotions, creams and sunblocks.

Grape Seed Oil is a great source of polyphenols - flavonoids, Essential Fatty Acid - linoleic acid, vitamin E and vitamin C. It is believed through studies that Grape Seed Oil and its Extract constitute anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-histamine, anti-aging, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, and adaptogenic activity. Adaptogenic meaning (in herbal medicine) a natural substance considered to help the body adapt to stress. Impressive right! So it's great for all skin types ranging from acne, dermatitis, eczema, overly dry skin, age spots and wrinkles to name a few. As well as other physical ailments.

Grape Seed Oil can be used from the inside out through ingestion of extract supplements. With your doctors okay, can be used to help with diabetes, high blood pressure and Rheumatoid Arthritis. Always talk to your physician before starting a supplement of any kind. And if you have grape allergies, do not use. You can substitute with olive oil.

I also like to dab a small amount around the eyes just before I go to bed to help with dehydration, wrinkles and inflammation.

You can pick it up at a local health food or organic food store. I use La Tourangelle Grape Seed Oil but there are other options.  Try it out and let me know if your hooked on this powerful oil and helpful tid bit. Maybe you have a skin question, feel free to ask me by posting a comment.

  

Keihl's finally opens Spa

Great news for all you Kiehl's fans in New York/Tri-State, the opened a spa in a two-story locale at 157 East 64th Street on the Upper East Side.

It has a great vibe and only makes sense that they open up in a city where they first began 160 years ago. Great way to commemorate their anniversary. Established in 1851, something tells me they know a little something about skin care and product formulation. :)

I happen to love the Creamy Eye Treatment with Avocado. It's calming, refreshing and moisturizing. I have dry skin so this is excellent! But perfect for all skin types. This product contains powerful amino acids and antioxidants to help with signs of aging and Shea butter to moisturize. So if you can't get to the Spa, pick yourself up one of these. It's $27 for .5 fl oz jar but a little goes a long way. I recommend twice a day (morning & evening) after cleansing and toning skin but before you moisturize and SPF.

Whether you attend the new spa, stop in at a store or Shop online, I'm sure you'll be happy either way.

Skin...what is it really?

The skin is made up of several layers divided into three simpler layers. It's a way to protect ourselves from the outside elements, our body's thermostat and a sensory organ. The three layers are the Epidermis, Dermis, and the subcutaneous Layer.

The Epidermis is the layer of skin we present to the world, the outer most layer. This layer has an additional five layers. This is what I call "the skin factory". The youngest layers are produced at the bottom layer known as the stratum basale. Eventually moving up remaining layers to the stratum corneum. This is where our skin dies and sheds off.

Cells found in the Epidermis are keratinocytes, melonocytes, Langherhan's and Merkel cells. The primary function of keratinocytes is the formation of a barrier against environmental damage such as pathogens (bacteria, fungi, parasites, viruses) heat, UV radiation and water loss. Melonocytes produce pigment which gives us our skin color. The less melonocytes you have the easier you get sunburned because you have less of a defense. Langerhan cells are basically the immune system in the skin. They work by ingesting the antigens(i.e. Infection) that get into the skin and present them to immune system cells that fight them off by producing antibodies. As for the Merkel cells, there purpose is unknown, however, they are said to have both sensory and hormonal functions. All this and this is just the outer most layers.

The Dermis contains nerve endings, blood vessels, oil glands, and sweat glands. It also contains collagen and elastin. Collagen is a protein that works with keratin to provide the skin with strength, flexibility, and resilience. Elastin helps to keep skin flexible but tight, providing a bounce-back reaction if skin is pulled. This is a standard test all estheticians do to measure the elasticity of a clients skin, pinch and pull. Collagen and elastin is the rubber band of the skin. You always what it to be tight but flexible. Once these proteins start to breakdown it becomes challenging to repair. Creating wrinkles or lose skin.

The Subcutaneous layer, which is made up of subcutaneous tissue, is the deepest layer of the skin and consists mainly of fat cells known as adipose.  These fat cells act as shock absorbers and protect the body from trauma.  They also work as heat insulators and help to keep body temperatures stable.

In a nut shell, your skin is a complex living organ that requires care. Though all these layers work hand in hand that doesn't mean it can take care all by itself. You have to help it along.

Hydrate your skin by drinking plenty of water and moisturizing often. Use an SPF with UVA and UVB protection. I recommend no less then SPF 30. This includes people of color/ethnic skin. And remember you are what you eat. If junk is what you eat, thats exactly what you'll see all over your face. See a dermatologist for yearly skin exams and see an estheticians at least two times a year for a proper cleaning and care.