Product Review: Now Solutions Shea butter

During the winter we all suffered from slightly drier skin. In an effort to deal with the remaining dry skin from this past winter, and prepare for Spring, I purchased Now Solutions Shea Butter. Now I currently have a product I love to use but it isn't 100% natural. With my current state, pregnant with twins, I wanted to look for something natural and affordable.

Here is what they claim:

From the Manufacturer's Label:

Condition: Dry, cracked or chapped skin in need of intense repair, especially on tougher areas such as the elbows, knees and feet.

Solution: Natural Shea Butter has a rich, luxurious texture that penetrates deep to condition and moisturize every type of skin. As a natural derivative of the karite trees that grow in Western and Central Africa, Shea Butter is a wonderful emollient that's perfect for daily use. Can also be used as a scalp moisturizer.

Hexane-Free

COST: $8 - $10 online

SKIN BENEFITS:

Shea Butter nourishes the skin with Vitamins A, E and F. Vitamins A and E help maintain the skin and keep it clear and healthy. Particularly helpful for sun damaged skin. Vitamin F acts as a skin protector and rejuvenator.

Daily skin moisturizer (face and body)
Dry skin relief
Dry scalp
Skin rash- including diaper rash
Skin peeling, after tanning
Blemishes and wrinkles
Itching skin due to dryness
Sunburn
Skin cracks
Soften tough skin on feet (especially heels)
Stretch mark prevention during pregnancy
Eczema
Sun and wind protection
Reduce blemishes and scarring
Helps restore elasticity to skin

These are only some of the benefits for skin, it can also be used on scalp, hair, to treat minor burns and more.

They make note on label that it is a Hexane-Free product. So I started researching from there. Here is what I learned. "Hexane is a solvent widely used as an industrial cleaner and degreaser and is an ingredient in many consumer products. Easily inhaled or absorbed through the skin, hexane has been recognized for more than 40 years to cause long-lasting and even permanent nerve damage in feet, legs, hands, and arms." See direct link to learn more. Needless to say, I was happy this product didn't contain it. Industrial cleaner and degreaser, why would anyone w . ant that on their face?

REVIEW:

So I purchased the product from Amazon. Immediately started to use it. The product cold is very thick and grainy but does melt into skin rather quickly. I found that my skin remains well moisturized through out the day. Any redness from dry skin and itch was relieved. It also gave my skin a nice healthy glow without a greasy feel.

Though I do like the product and believe in its benefits there was one negative for me. If you don't heat it up it leaves a crumbly feeling on your skin. Kind of like you ate toast in bed. So it didn't feel so luxurious to me, as claimed. Heating it up in a separate glass bowl helps but isn't always practical.

The benefits to me still out way the small negative so I would absolutely recommend this product. Hope you will try it for yourselves and let me know what you think.

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

Winter Lip Blues

Is the winters cold affecting your lips texture? Dried, dehydrated and possibly cracked lips are usually a tell tale sign.

Weather exposure can cause your lips to dry out (cold weather) or become dehydrated (hot weather). If your the outdoors type in the winter, Sun exposure can affect lips as well. Just as the rest of your skin can be damaged by the sun, so can your lips. Leaving your lips unprotected in a strong wind can cause damage too. A major cause of most dry or cracked lips is simple dehydration. If the body does not have enough water the extremities, including the lips, will show that lack first.

So what can you do if you find yourself licking your lips just to keep them momentarily moist? Here are some simple home and store bought solutions.

Try gently exfoliating dry lips with a sugar scrub or toothbrush. Followed by a drop of Almond oil or Olive oil to lock in moisture and heal lips. Also, try using a lip balm that doesn't contain perfume or dyes. These elements can sometimes have an adverse reaction and continue to dry out lips.

LUSH has a Bubble Gum lip scrub that can gently exfoliate your lips. Follow that up with their None of Your Beeswax lip balm or try EOS lip balm to seal in moisture.

If your going to be out exposed to the sun, add a lip balm with sun protection SPF 15 or more if you can find it. Reapply often.

The most important thing to do is drink plenty of water. As this helps hydrate your entire body, especially your lips since they often show the first visible signs of dehydration. Reapply your lip balm regularly and exfoliate once a week depending on need.

Hope this is useful to some of you dealing with the harsh winter cold.

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

Homemade body oil spray

Moisten skin after shower

With the winter fast approaching my skin has been starting to dry out at bit. Plus, I am super guilty of taking the occasionally long hot shower. I know its horrible for my skin but sometimes my muscles are just screaming for it.

In any case, I like to lather on Coco or Shea butter or both sometimes. In addition to my normal routine, I wanted to use something while still in the shower or just after the water gets turned off. So I made my own oil body spray. It works great and is made with natural ingredients. Only problem is that it has a short shelf life. I remedied that by placing the product in a smaller spray bottle. The kind you use for the air travel. Only make small batches at a time.

1 part Glycerin
4 parts Grape seed oil
and 2-3 drops of any essential oil of your choice.
4 oz travel size spray bottle

Pour directly into bottle while making. You can eye ball really since it is only 4 oz or if you like to be precise, you can use a measuring cup to be exact.

Shake and spray directly on your body after showering or taking a bath. Or apply to hands and rub in to avoid the slippery tub. Pat skin dry. Moisturize as normal. It's just an added layer of moisture for your skin. It is really great to do especially after exfoliating using a scrub or luffa.

NOTE: Spray tub with a tub cleaner after spraying in shower otherwise, it can be slippery for the next person who has to use the shower/tub.

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!

Winters dry skin repair routine

Well the winter is fast approaching and for many of us, that means dealing with dry dehydrated even cracked skin. It is important to avoid dry skin so that cracks don't develop. Moisturizing properly  prevents damaged dry skin, itch, infection or inflammation of other underlying skin disorders that can break out as a result like eczema.

STEP ONE:
Change your cleanser - Face
Choose a product with oils (moisturizing products)
Avoid dyes and alcohol products

STEP TWO:
Exfoliating - Face and Body
Use loofah or scrub with microbeads 2-3 times a week
Chemical exfoliation like lactic acid, once a month

Exfoliate your lips once a week as the cold air can damage the skin cells causing cracking. Follow with a moisturizing lip balm that replenishes lip moisture. I like to use olive oil followed by L'BEL Lip Moisturizer, Smith's Rosebud Lip balm or Nivea Lip balm.

STEP THREE:
Toner - Face
Witch hazel works great and is affordable toner.

STEP FOUR:
Moisturize your face with Virgin Coconut oil or a creamier moisturizer of your choice after you cleanse and tone. Try Eucerin Pro Repair for body, apply directly after showering to lock in moisture.

Remember that your skin is your first defense against unwelcomed bacteria or infection. Cracked skin is an open doorway for germs to be introduced into the body. So do your best to keep it healthy.

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

Hurricane Sandy Recovery

NJ's devastation from Hurricane Sandy

Sorry it has been so long since I last posted. Hurricane Sandy hit town and turned lives upside down. It took us 10 days to get our power back.

My last post was preparing for the storm and disappointed over the fact that I couldn't go to a conference. I'm certainly happy that I didn't take the risk of driving to PA only to return in horrible weather. It was bad!

Since the storm, I have been busy helping family and cleaning out my storage unit that was flooded. A great deal of my aesthetic equipment was destroyed as well as clothes and photo's. Sad when all the things you thought were treasure end up on curb for trash. Though I consider myself one of the lucky ones. My home is intact,  as is my family. My brothers home was hit hard and his entire first floor was damaged. But even he was lucky because his family is okay. You can reconstruct a house but not a life once it is taken.

Do any of you know anyone who was affected? I do hope you are taking out some time to help. Send a donation or lift a hand to help. Make some meals to help out those who are trying to rebuild their lives. You can visit RedCross.org to donate, or text REDCROSS to 90999 to give $10 to American Red Cross Disaster Relief.

The scenes here are straight out of a movie. It's so difficult for so many. Even the smallest gesture of kindness can help change the victims perspectives and give them hope. So I do hope that after that after a few weeks, we have not forgotten what so many will be dealing with this in the coming holidays.

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

Storm wipes out my weekend!

Haven't updated things lately because I was hoping that this weekend I would have more to share.  I was planning on attending The International Congress of Esthetics and Spa convention this Sunday.  The lovely hurricane by the name of Sandy is keeping me from getting there.

My disappointment lies in the fact that there were so many products I wanted to check out, classes to take and now I wont be able to. So my sharing new products with you and reviews will have to hold off for a while. At least for the new stuff out there.

Am looking into ordering some products soon for new reviews. In the meantime, be your own skin care advocate. Make smart choices by researching products and looking at reviews.

Will be back in touch again soon with new information.

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