Happy Valentine's Day!

Since it is Valentine's Day, I thought I would share this body scrub with you all. It will leave your skin super soft and energized. Try it but don't eat it. Or at least try not to eat it. 


Mocha Coffee Body Scrub:

1/2 Cup Raw Sugar
1/2 Cup Coffee Grounds
3/4 Cup Coconut Oil (Hard)
2 Tbsp Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
You may add a few drops of Vanilla, Hazelnut or Almond extract to give it your favorite coffee scent. 


NOTE: Try to use Pure/All Natural extracts or essential oils that won't agitate skin. Last thing you won't is a skin reaction.


May your hearts be just a little extra full this Valentine's Day. Blessings and Love to all. #Valentinesday2016 #skinscrub #skincare #diyskincare 


As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!




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It’s PEEL season!!

When the leaves start to fall off the trees, I am reminded of one thing...It's Peel season!

Many of you would like to go to a spa or doctor to turn back the clock but maybe you don't feel you have the time or more importantly, the money to do so. I hear you! Though I believe that peels should be done by professionals, especially the more powerful levels, more and more companies are offering them to non-skin care professionals.  Why? Mostly because people just don't seem to have the time anymore  or money to get it done and at home treatments seems to be the latest movement for DIYers.  There are many different companies out there that sell at-home chemical peel kits. Some of which I have spoken about but be careful, not all peels are of the same quality. 

Chemical skin peels are made up of different strengths for different skin types or concerns. Some can be used by the majority of skin types for mild exfoliation while others are way more specific. Be sure you know what's going on with your skin before attempting one of these at home. If you have open soars or cuts wait until your skin has healed to do a peel. Start off with a very low percentage then work your way up gradually to layering or a stronger peel. Glycolic and Salicylic Acid peels are most common for beginners at 3-50%. TCA 70% or Blue Peels are some of the strongest and harshest peels but those are only done by professionals. For newbies, I like to try an Apple Cider Vinegar peel weeks before to gage how sensitive their skin is and may become. (Give your skin at least a week to heal from Apple Cider Vinegar peel before you try any chemical peel.)

That being said, there are those of you that will still jump right in without testing the waters. So for you, I recommend to please start off low and slow. Work your way up in timed layers. If you are the type of person that thinks, "if it hurts, it must be working", get a licensed professional to do this for you. You may leave it on to long and cause serious and perhaps permanent damage to your skin. Be smart and honest with yourself. Look at your needs as well as your limitations. If you want great skin, take your time to read the instructions and follow them accurately. No short cuts or thinking excess is better when it comes to at-home Chemical Peels. 

There are a few chemical peel companies out there that I have tried and I am okay with recommending. The percentages offered are less then a dermatologists office could offer but they still can cause harm, so again, PROCEED WITH CAUTION. 

Still want to try it on your own? Though I am a bit careful with people that want to do at-home peels, there are great products out there. The key is not to get carried away applying to much, to quickly, to often. 

Now to the brand I currently like and use. 

Perfect Image. Their chemical peels do the job and their recovery products are just as great. This company is strictly about the chemical peel process and skin recovery. They sell and recommend their product lines based on that commitment. The product lines are paraben free, sulfate free, and phthalate free. As an added bonus for you PETA fans, they are cruelty free as well. They have a great Sampler Pack option for those who want to work their way up to a stronger peel. 

As you are looking to shed that summer dry skin, remove sun spots, minimize wrinkles or prep your skin for winter, peels are great for that. You can start anew and have glowing skin all winter long if you follow the instructions, keep a good skin care regimen, exercise regularly, rest well and hydrate both from the inside and out. Also remember that the skin adjusts seasonally,  take that into consideration when looking into peels and the after peel care. I can't say this enough, always apply sunscreen, year round. Especially after doing a chemical peel. 

Before you start any skin care regimen, ask your doctor if there is any reason you shouldn't and learn what would work best for you. Hope you found this informative. Should you have any questions about this or any other skin care related questions, please comment below and I will answer them. 

Please take a moment to comment, Like, Share or Google+ my posts. Thanks so much.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Product Review: Pineapple Facial Enzyme Mask

While wandering the product aisles, I have often seen these little pouches for facial masks but never grabbed one to try them out. Since I had some time, I grabbed one and new that at one point I could try it prior to jumping into the shower. Considering that now a days shower time is the only alone time I get anymore, I try to fit in a quick pampering session in.

Their claims:

 - Restores radiant skin

 - Contains natural ingredients

Made with natural, botanical ingredients, Freeman Feeling Beautiful products help you look and feel your best. This enzyme mask, with Pineapple extract and AHA's gently exfoliates while lightly moisturizing, leaving your skin soft, supple and younger-looking. 

Key Ingredients:

Pineapple Extract  - Contains the enzyme bromelain, which can break down the connecting layers between skin cells to exfoliate skin. However, bromelain used alone is a more effective source of exfoliation, and does not have the irritating properties of the pineapple.

 

Sea Kelp - Rich iodine, mineral, anti-oxidant and natural anti-inflammatory aspects, kelp is believed to moisturize, soften and help skin retain its moisture.  Kelp also contains elements that help remove toxins, soothe and can easily penetrate the skin for instant hydration. It also aids in keeping skin smooth. This nourishing extract has no adverse side effects and works well with other antioxidants and vitamins such as Vitamin C and E.

 

Alpha Hydroxy Acid - Similar to microdermabrasion - erasing fine lines and giving the skin a smoother appearance
Note: It is important to note that the effects depends on the percentage of AHA used. The higher the percentage the better and longer the effects last. Consumers use an AHA of ten percent or less. Trained professionals, Dermatologist or Estheticians can give a AHA treatment like a Glycolic peel ranging from fifty to seventy percent.

The Freeman Beauty lab is a familiar name in home beauty products that has been developing products for over 30 years. With that much time in the business you know they must be doing something right. Right?

The packet I chose was the Freeman Beauty Feeling Beautiful Pineapple Facial Enzyme Mask in the travel size for $1.99. This is a great way to try out a product before committing yourself to a large tube or tub. Following the instructions I cleansed my skin then while my skin was damp I gently scrubbed the mask into my skin and let stand for a few minutes before washing it off.

My final thoughts:
I have to say that I liked it. The product gives you a gentle exfoliation, slight tingle and it does leave your skin feeling refreshed and prepped for serums, gels or lotions. I don't think it left my skin glowing but I did feel refreshed. By refreshed I mean that it did the job of scrubbing away the dead skin cells on my face and neck. There by allowing my skin to absorb my Vitamin E serum afterwards much faster.

So if you are looking to fit in a Microdermabrasion like treatment, I suggest you try this. One packet can be used 3 times. I would use this every other day and I say it works for all skin types except for skin with extreme acne or lesions. Be sure to gently rub skin in upward circular motion from decolletage to forehead. Trust me it matters. Scrubbing up and down harshly can lead to damaged skin and scarring.

Check out the attached link to the Freeman website where they currently have a promo code for 25% off on their products. Happy shopping!

As always, Be Blessed, Be Happy, Be Beautiful! 

Pregnancy and skin concerns

When your pregnant some things are a given.
1. You will gain at least a few more pounds i.e. baby weight, water retention / basic body fluids
2. You will be hormonally driven at times. i.e. Cry, laugh, scream or in some case all 3 at once.
3. Your skin will either react kindly or unkindly to the hormonal changes occurring. i.e. "The Glow", breakouts, Melasma, stretch marks etc.

Really, I could go on with a few more but these are the most common and why bore you or scare you with the other stuff. Since I focus on skin majority of the time, I will focus on point number three. Your skins response to being pregnant.

Keratosis Pilaris "Chicken Skin"

So far I have been lucky in the sense that my face hasn't had to many breakouts or Melasma a.k.a. "The Pregnancy Mask." Yet, I am not exactly giving "The Glow" either. What I am dealing with is the makings of stretch Marks on my belly and Keratosis Pilaris (K.P.)  a.k.a. "Chicken Skin" on my upper arms. When I was pregnant the first time around I only developed a small amount of stretch marks on my hips and they are light. After I gave birth, some exfoliation and peels, I managed to keep them from getting worse. For the K.P. I used a topical cream, Urea, prescribed by my Dermatologist which helped a great deal.  However, now pregnant with TWINS!! I know, right. They have both returned with a vengeance. I'm stretching to maximum capacity and my arms are plagued with K.P.

With that said, I have taken a different approach this time. Since I can't use peels or Vitamin A capsules or even Urea, I exfoliate my arms regularly with either an Almond scrub or Baking Soda (1 tsp) and Honey  (1 Tbsp) mix. Any scrub will do really. You just want to be able to scrub away the dry skin that develops over the trapped hair follicle. Then you want to follow up with a moisturizer to keep it from getting rough and bumpy again. It won't go away completely but it helps minimize the appearance.

The added bonus is that the same lotion I use to moisturize my arms, I use on my belly for the stretch marks. Now for the stretch marks, I have accepted that I will have some more added to my war stories of motherhood. But it does help to moisturize and to do it often. I apply about 3-4 times a day, minimum. You could very gently exfoliate the belly with Baking soda and honey as well to try help the skin regenerate while it stretches but I am not sure how well that works. I have done it a few times but I wont know the real results until post-partum. Note: If you scrub to hard you could actually make it worse because skin is so delicate while pregnant. So not to hard. My hope is that they wont be super noticeable like the first time around. If so, I may consider Fraction Laser treatments for the stretch marks.

In any case, I want to share one of the recipes I use to make my own body lotion. Through my many web surfing searches for skin care recipes and books, I found this one. I regret, I don't remember where I found it but I am using it and I love it.

Here is the recipe:

Coconut Whipped Body Butter

What you need:

1 cup coconut oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil (optional)
a few drops of your favorite essential oils for fragrance (optional) I skip it. Pregnancy makes oders stronger for some. I'm one of the some. 

What to do:

1. Put all ingredients into a mixing bowl. (You do not have to melt the coconut oil first.)

2. Mix on high speed with a wire whisk for 6-7 minutes or until whipped into a light, airy consistency.

3. Spoon the whipped coconut oil body butter into a glass jar and cover tightly. Store at room temperature, or in the refrigerator if your house is so warm it melts the oil.

Tip: An electric hand mixer will work, I used my Kitchen Aid mixer. It whips it up like egg whites.

Note: Your whipped coconut oil should stay relatively soft, even at colder temperatures. I noticed mine beaded into a froth of tiny coconut oil pearls that melt right into my skin.
Also try, 1/2 cup Virgin Coconut oil with 1/2 cup Natural Shea butter for a thicker consistency.

You'll notice that it may become a bit liquid with sweat like beads. That is fine. The liquid oil will soak right into your skin and the beads will melt right in as well. Trust me, this is so great for the skin. It goes on feeling greasy but after your skin eats it up you'll be impressed. I do hope that you try it out and like it as much as I do. Either way, let me know.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Happy, Be Beautiful! 

Ordinary Bar of Soap

While training to become an Aesthetician, I had a teacher once ask "Would you use the same bar of soap that you wash your butt with?" Seriously, that is exactly how she posed the question. This changed the entire way I look at skin care and the products I would use from now on.

So ask yourself, do you use the same bar of soap to cleanse your face that you use on your body? I am sure some of you reading this do. However, I like to think that most of my readers are educated enough in skin care to know this is a major no, no.

Here is why.

Your basic bar of soap even if it has added moisturizers is stripping the skin of its natural oils and moisture. Especially if you like to shower with hot water. You leave the skin dehydrated and dull from having washed away natural oils. A necessity in order to get rid of the daily grime that accumulates through out the day. This can easily be remedied by using an exfoliater like a loofah in the shower followed by a creamy moisturizer  or oil for the body. I recommend exfoliation and moisturizing all year round but you can change the thickness of your moisturizer by season or need of your skin.

However, for you face you want to be a bit more gentle. Since you technically should be washing your face at least twice a day, morning and night, you want to be careful not to dry it out. Also, the change of season needs to be factored in as well. Your basic bars of soap that are not produced for the skin can leave skin itchy and dry. So focus on buying facial cleansers that are mild and moisturizing. I recommend Cetaphil Gentle Skin Cleanser which works well for all skin types.

If you prefer a bar of soap, then try Neutrogena® Naturals Face & Body Bar. It gently cleanses, conditions and softens your skin without over drying. This way your covered head to toe by one product. It is important to say that I do recommend that you use a loofah for your body and a gentle cleansing cloth or pad for your face. Otherwise, I just think thats gross.

Be sure to use a body oil directly after showering while skin is still damp to lock in moisture and a thicker facial cream to lock in and provide long lasting moisture through out the day. And an extra thick night cream for body and face will help your skin replenish at night. Look for one with humectants that will bring moisture directly into the skin, i.e. aloe.

Hope you all find this helpful.

As always,  Be Blessed, Be Healthy, Be Beautiful!

Move into the next season

With Fall here and Winter fast approaching, it is time to prepare your skin for the current season  and coming winter season. After a long summer of taking in the sun and lounging at the pool, one should consider repairing their skin from possible sun damage received and prepare for the coming cold season. So how does our skin benefit from the season changes and what to do to prepare your skin to move into the next season?

Fall is absolutely Exfoliation season. The leaves shouldn't be the only thing shedding, you should shed some skin too. You can exfoliate in a few ways. You can get a professional treatment that exfoliates by Microdermabrasion, Laser, DermaPlane, Chemical Peels, etc. You can make or buy your own scrubs at home which is cost effective and in some cases less evasive. Exfoliation is important because it prepares the skin to absorb serums and lotions to hydrate and repair skin by shedding old dead skin cells.

For clients that have dry skin, I recommend microdermabrasion, mild chemical peel (Glycolic), a gentle scrub or using an exfoliation puff. The last two can be done at home daily/weekly. Reducing minor wrinkles and hyper pigmentation.

For Oily skin, I would add to the above options a Chemical peel (Salicylic/Jessner), which can be more aggressive but more effective in treating the appearance of large pores, hyper pigmentation and fine lines. As well as using at home exfoliants like a microdermabrasion scrub or exfoliating puff.

Now the second thing you want to be diligent with is moisturizing. For dry skin complexions you want to use a cream rather then a lotion. You are going to want to keep moisture in and a thicker cream can do that for you as the winter approaches and through out. For Oily skin, it is still very important to moisturize. But you want to be sure that you use an oil free lotion with oil control. Both should contain humectant ingredients that allow moisture absorption like Aloe, Hyaluronic Acid and Vitamin E.

Lets not forget the importance of serums. They can add a boost to your skins needs that are easier absorbed into skin just after exfoliation and prior to moisturizing. There are also serums that focus on specific needs like fighting wrinkles, redness, acne or hyper pigmentation.

Speak to your skin care therapist or dermatologist for more treatments that will work best for you.


An all-star cast of the cosmetic industry's top peeling agents team up with the power of nature to create the ultimate exfoliation experience.

As Always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

Oatmeal Fig and Papaya Mask

Here is a great mask that is super easy to make that you can make very quickly to heal dry skin, itchy skin and minor acne breakouts.

Cooked Oatmeal

Oatmeal is extremely soothing to the skin, a natural anti-inflammatory. Highly recommended for dry skin, rashed skin to soothe and exfoliate. Great for all skin types. I use it often in a warm bath for my son to keep his skin soft and refreshed.

Ripe Figs

Figs have been used both topically and as a diet supplement due to their high vitamin and fiber content. Figs also have natural Alpha-hydroxy acid properties to help refresh and brighten the skin. Fig fruit contains very high levels of phytochemicals that help fight cancer and filter UV rays, thus protecting the skin. Figs are rich in oils in both the skin and the seeds and they have some mild antioxidant properties, which of course helps reverse damage in the skin.

Papaya Seeds

The seeds of Papaya are believed to have an antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effect. It contains papain which promotes skin renewal and cell turnover. Papaya benefits skin as it is rich in vitamin A, E and C and anti-oxidants which moisturize the skin and clears it from dirt and dark spots. Papaya can be used as facial scrub for skin brightening and moisturizing or as a face mask to treat acne.

This mask is not only great for your skin but it smells so good too.


Oatmeal Fig and Papaya Mask

1/2 cup Oatmeal (cooked and cooled)
2 small Figs (crushed)
2 Tbsp Papaya Seed (Fresh)

Blend well with fork or food processor (two pulses). Brush on to clean, toned skin. Let sit for 20 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water. Use a skin toner to rebalance skin and remove excess mask. Use eye serums followed by your favorite moisturizer.

Any unused mask can be refrigerated and used again with in a week. Or you can add a cup of brown sugar and use as a body scrub.

As always, Be Blessed, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!

EJ

Natural Exfoliating Wash

Pure and Natural Vanilla Seeds and Mango Butter Body Wash is just that, pure an natural. I recently used this on a vacation an fell in love with it. However, it is hard to find.

This gentle exfoliator is great for summer dry skin because it contains mango butter to moisturize your skin as well. I love that they use vanilla beans to gently exfoliate instead of some of these other exfoliates that use apricot or other nuts to scrubs skin (WE NOW KNOW MICROBEADS ARE UNACCEPTABLE TO ENVIRONMENT). Jojoba beads are the only exfoliator I use but the vanilla seeds is now on my personal list for acceptable exfoliator. In addition, the calming scent is wonderful. If you can image yourself in a tropical place, this is the wash for you.

This natural body wash is Hypoallergenic and made in the USA. Thats always an incentive.
It cost about $6. Attached is their web link so you can find where to purchase near you. Click for where to buy. I am sure you can always find it on Amazon. Pure and Natural has other body wash alternatives as well.

As always, Be Happy, Be Healthy and Be Beautiful!