Summer Drying Your Skin Out?

While visiting some family these past few weeks, I ran out of my moisturizer. I went a few days without any and wow was my skin totally reacting to the lack of extra moisture. With no time to place an order for L'Bel USA, I decided to do some product hunting and share the results with you.

A local beauty supply store, Sally's Beauty Supply Store, had a variety of skin products all claiming to do many things. My skin is normally dry but it is super dry from the climate and the water here. I have been scratching at it and rubbing trying to find relief.

I tried using fresh Aloe to calm and hydrate my skin but that didn't take care of it all. It reduced a majority of the redness and bumps from inflammation I had developing on my skin but I was still dry and itchy.

So while at the store, my eyes focused in on one product and its straight to the point label "face fix mix: Hydrating Skin Quencher" by Claudia Stevens. Nothing fancy about the packaging and no major promises of turning back time. Just a simple facial moisturizer. Fix my face indeed! For approximately $6, I was willing to try it out.

I applied it on my clean, damp skin and felt my skin gobble it up very quickly. I reapplied throughout the day as needed. After two nights, I felt the itch starting to calm as well as the redness from scratching my skin. This cream works really well with Vitamin E oil which I put on prior.

A week has passed now and my skin is back to its healthy self. With the face fix mix, Vitamin E and plenty of water to drink, my skin is back where I want it to be. For $6, I couldn't be happier with the product. As a humectant, it refreshes the skin without any harsh oils and blends well with extracts or oils. I would recommend it to clients for sure. Face Fix Mix has other products available as well but I haven't yet tested those out. You can order online or pick it up at your local Sally's Beauty Supply Store and to try it out for yourself.

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

Acne prone skin. Oregano can help.

Wild Oregano leaves

If I were to ask many of you what you could use Oregano on, few would say your face. Pizza, pasta sure but your face...how's that right? Did you know that Oregano can be used on your skin?

Oregano, specifically Wild Oregano, known as Origanum Vulgare has wonderful benefits. 

BENEFITS: 

- Antifungal, antibacterial, anthelmintic and antiseptic

- Antioxidant

With these great benefits it's great for the skin topically. However, it is a very potent extract so you do have to use it with caution on its own. I would not even suggest using it alone. Many products contain Oregano or an element of oregano. Dilution is always necessary. So it is mixed with a carrier oil to protect the skin, otherwise it would irritate your skin in its purest state. Carrier oils recommended are Almond oil, Olive oil or Safflower oil.  Active ingredient will show Origanum Vulgare with Thymol and Carvacrol. 

How do you use the product on the skin and who would benefit from it?

USES:

- Spot treatment for breakouts

- Acne

- Facial masks

- Foot creams

- Skin toners

For spot treatment and acne, I like Origins Spot Remover Anti-blemish Treatment Gel. I've mentioned it before. I really think it's a great product and it's way easier then mixing up your own batch and risk irritating your skin any worse. For foot cream, you could use what ever lotion you use normally for your feet and add 2 drops of oregano oil to it. That will help kill any bacteria on your feet.

If you want to try making your own treatments try either or both recipes below.

FOR A MASK -  1/4 cup Aloe Vera, mashed Cucumber and 1-2 drops oregano oil

I would recommend that you start off with 1 drop to see how your skin reacts and work your way up to 3 drops. NEVER exceed more than 3 drops to avoid skin irritation.

FOR A SKIN TONER - Here's a quick recipe for you to try on Youtube. It's really easy from Green Living! Toner Recipe

When dealing with acne don't go it alone. Seek help from your dermatologist in conjunction with your Esthetician. And don't be afraid to ask questions or push for more natural treatments. Good luck!

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

   

At Home Skin Mask that Helps Dull Skin

Being a Esthetician, I subscribe to many newsletters and magazines regarding the skin care industry. With that, I received lots of information and ideas on skin care. 

Recently a friend discussed with me how she was unhappy with her skin and that she wanted to start a new skin regimen and would like to know what I recommend. I provided her with some L'BelUSA recommendations as well as some natural treatments. This is great for dull, lifeless skin. So I wanted to share another at home recipe for you all that like to try your own hand at making your own skin care items naturally. As for my friend, you know who you are and this is definitely for you to try.

Here is a recipe that I received from Rena Levi Skin Care in which she calls it her "Secret Homemade Mask". If it's a secret it must be good, right? Well it is. 

Here's why I know it helps.

Carrot Juice

- has Vitamin A, which is essential for tissue growth in the body

- has Vitamin C, which helps with collagen production in the body

- fights sun damage

- helpful for treating uneven skin tones due to pigmentation

- helps in eliminating and preventing acne

Lemon Juice

- Vitamin C - see above

- Citric acid, a peeling and exfoliating agent great with dark spots and acne

- B Vitamins, slow down the signs of aging and provide added moisture to skin

Beer Yeast

- rich source of B complex vitamins

- brewer's yeast can improve acne

p.s.- "Holistic Online.com notes that when these deficiencies are added to the diet as with brewer's yeast, the symptoms of eczema and dermatitis have gone away."

Yogurt

- Lactic Acid, Lactic acid helps to eliminate germs, toxins and dead cells from the skin s surface

- helps to maintain the skin's pH level.

- B Vitamins, See above

Olive Oil

- Vitamin E, improves the elasticity of the skin.

- Oleic acid, helps to soften the skin

Here is the mask for you to try. Enjoy!

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

Home Mask for Healthy Skin that Glows:

2 teaspoons carrot juice

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 tablespoon beer yeast

1 tablespoon yogurt

1 teaspoon olive oil (do not use if your skin is oily)

Mix together and apply generously to cleansed skin; leave on

for 10-20 minutes then rinse with cool, clear water. Allow to air dry.

   

Link to You Tube video host that helps

As a professional, I am constantly looking for new ideas to tell my clients, friends and family. I often use YouTube as a way of finding information from other professionals who post videos. Something I myself need to start working on. NOTE TO SELF: GET TO IT!

Any ways, while trolling through YouTube, I found a simple video on a Strawberry Yogurt mask. The young lady hosting, Jennisse, really caught my attention. Very bubbly! Because of her personality, I decided to check out more of her videos. She has a great page and I wanted to share her YouTube link, JennisseMakeup, with you. This way you can watch her video tutorials on skin care and make up.

She is fun to watch and the tutorials are easy to follow. You're welcome!

Have a great day all!

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

Homemade Oregano Toner

Dried Oregano

You ever wake up unsure what to do with yourself. Today was one of those days. I wanted to do something for me. Something I enjoy doing. I came up with the idea of making my own Acne toner. Why not  mix up a concoction while mine son was asleep.

This is how I began. I took some Oregano from my herb garden that had dried out and placed the leaves and the stems in a pot of boiling distilled water (1/2 cup). I let it come to a rolling boil, pressed the leaves and stems with a spatula a few times. After that I placed it on simmer  for about 3 more minutes. Pressed again with Spatula and recovered pot.  Then I let it steep for about 5 minutes after turning it off.

I had a glass container with top that I could use to place my finished product. With a strainer and a steady hand, I poured the hot mix into the little bottle. It will have little pieces that get through the strainer but I wouldn't worry about it.

Once cool, I placed in fridge for later use. It's great for spot treatments or for your full face if you get a great deal of acne. For the occasional breakout, which is what I deal with, it's great. If you have oily skin, this would be great to use as well. It dries and tightens skin. As well as being antimicrobial. You can rinse with cold water and pat face dry or leave on and let it dry on its own. I left it on my skin then applied a lotion after it dried.

The toner will have to stay in the fridge but can be used for up to 2 months. Assuming you haven't used it all by then.

If you aren't the "Susie Homemaker" type and prefer to buy something. My husband used the Burt's Bees Acne solution toner for awhile and seemed to have good results. Though he has since started using L'Bel's products. Or good old fashioned Witch Hazel for Oily skin. But this is a great affordable way to try and take care of your skin.

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

   

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!

Natural Skin Shop 4th of July Sale

This week, our nation will celebrate 236 years since declaring its independence in 1776. Picnics, BBQs and firework displays will commemorate this celebratory day in America along with some great savings from Natural Skin Shop. From July 2nd - July 6th, Natural Skin Shop is celebrating Independence Day with a 15% OFF SALE.

Did you know that back in 1776 women used hog lard to moisturize their skin? Fortunately, women today can enjoy luxurious and nutrient-rich moisturizers and serums from NaturalSkinShop.com in addition to FREE UPS ground shipping for orders over $75. Take advantage of the kits. They are great!

15% OFF 4th OF JULY SUPER SALE: (SALE ENDS: JULY 6th) Save 15% OFF Your Order at NaturalSkinShop.com! Coupon Code: NSS15.

PREMIUM PEEL KITS PROMOTION: (VALID: ONGOING) Save 15% on Premium Peel Kits. Use coupon code NSS15 at checkout. This coupon is valid through December 31