INside OUT

I know I have blogged about it in earlier postings, but I can't stress it enough. The statement "beauty comes from within" is true in many ways. You can rub all the $100 serums and creams all over your face, but if you have unhealthy eating habits, you smoke, drink too much and don't get enough sleep, you are not going to have beautiful skin. Before you spend anymore $$$ on products, take a step back and look at your lifestyle and work on that first. You will find that by making these healthy changes, your skin will follow. Healthy skin has a GLOW, it looks FRESH not DULL, it is CALM not INFLAMED, and has a radiance that products alone can not mimic.

* For more info on positive lifestyle tips for beautiful skin, look through my blog archives (3/2011) and read " Stop STRESSING... Sometimes the best things in life are free! "

Product Obsession!

Who would have thought of putting concentrated nutrients from breast milk in a skin care product??? Epicurin did=)  Epicurin's signature Colostrum Cream Serum is one of my favorite moisturisers ever made. If you like that dewy, supple feeling you will love it too! The Colostrum serum speeds up the growth of skin cells and acts as a great night repair and cell regenerator. The formulation is also packed with other great ingredients such as Aloe Concentrate (which is also exfoliating), raw finely processed Almond , Macadamia & Kukui Nut, Seaweed Extract, Witch Hazel, and Apricot and Orange Oil. It is great for dry skin, sensitive skin, Rosacea, or anyone who needs that extra hydration and glow. 

Shop around, prices vary from $70 for the 2 oz. bottle, to $140 for the 4 oz. My advice to is buy the smaller bottle (keeps fresh that way, the 4 oz lasts a long time) if you don't get a much better deal for the bigger. 

Save $$$, Make your own Vitamin C Serum

In an earlier blog, I discussed the benefits of Vitamin C. Some benefits discussed include; anti-aging & the prevention and correction of sun damage. Unfortunately, the expensive Vitamin C products are not always stable and effective.  When exposed to air, vitamin C undergoes oxidation and becomes not only ineffective but also potentially harmful (oxidized vitamin C may increase the formation of free radicals). So many of the Vitamin C products we buy, may be ineffective a week after opening or sometimes sooner. Another issue with Vitamin C products that are bought in department and drug stores are that they claim to give amazing results from the Vitamin C, but don't contain nearly enough quality Vitamin C to product results.

***The cheapest and most effective thing to do is make your own. Make batches weekly to ensure quality, and store DIY (do it yourself) product in a small dark amber, air-tight bottle to avoid oxidation.

Here are 2 great recipes I found on a website=)

Vitamin C Serum #1

This serum is quite flexible, but you need to make new batches regularly so it stays fresh and potent.

Ingredients:

• ½ teaspoon l-ascorbic acid powder
• 3½ teaspoon distilled water (bottled water is fine, should be at room temperature)
• 1½ teaspoon vegetable glycerin or aloe vera gel
• 1 amber or dark blue glass bottle

Directions:

1.     Make sure your glass bottle is sterile by boiling it in some hot water. You can also sterilize it with some rubbing alcohol.

2.     Wait for the bottle to cool and dry completely.

3.     Add the l-ascorbic acid to the bottle.

4.     Add the distilled water.

5.     Swish around the bottle or use a stirrer until all the l-ascorbic acid is dissolved.

6.     Add the propylene glycol or glycerin or others. 

7.     Mix well (cap the bottle and keep shaking until everything is blended or use a stirrer) and use up as early as possible.  

Vitamin C serum #2
This vitamin C serum mixes vitamin C with ferulic acid and E. Ferulic acid stabilizes the vitamin C. 

Ingredients:

• 2 shot glasses
• 1 oz. cobalt or amber dropper or pump bottle
• 1 tsp L-Ascorbic Acid
• 1/4 tsp (1 ml) Vitamin E (equals 1%)
• .5% of Ferulic Acid (1 good pinch)
• 2 tsp SKB (Sea Kelp Bioferment)
• 3 + 1/2 tsp of distilled water
• 1/2 tsp of vodka (vodka will dissolve the FA so it's not gritty, and it also keeps the ph low enough.) 

 Directions:

1.     In first shot glass, put 1 tsp C into the 3 + 1/2 tsp of distilled water. Put on the side, stirring occasionally till FULLY dissolved (This can be anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour, so have patience.)

2.     In 2nd shot glass put in 1/2 tsp vodka, and sprinkle the FA in and mix. When it has dissolved fully, add in the vitamin E + SKB and stir it all up well.

3.     When the LAA has fully dissolved in the 1st shot glass, mix the contents of both glasses together, stir very well, and carefully pour into your 1oz bottle.

4.     Keeping it in a cool, dry and dark place or the fridge will keep it potent and stable.

More YUMMY skin secrets

I think I will dedicate this week to yummy cafe finds that are good for your skin. ACAI bowls!!!! My healthiest addiction. It has been a craze in Hawaii for a while, and is slowly but surely making it big around the world.

What is it??? a dark purple antioxidant rich berry that comes from a type of palm tree native to Central and South America. It is quickly becoming the most Amazing "SUPERFOOD" in the world because of its many mood enhancing & health benefits. 

Benefits...

Healthier skin and a more youthful appearance, improved sleep, better digestion, & detoxification benefits (all which contribute to healthier skin as well), weight loss and increased energy are also some nice benefits.

Bonus:  Acai bowls are made from frozen Acai ,other powerhouse (high in antioxidants and vitamins) berries such as, blueberries & strawberries and can be blended with HEMP milk!!! It is then topped off  with other fresh fruit, honey, and bee pollen. ( All GREAT for your skin)  OOOH and the taste is heavenly!! 

P.S- I appologize in advanced for contributing to your new addiction XOXO 

HEMP

Its been a while, but feels great to be back. I took a month off of writing to enjoy the last bit of summer with my family. We did a lot of road tripping and had a ton of fun. One of the cool trends that I found while cafe hopping was hemp milk. In coffees, smoothies and cereal. The taste is similar to almond milk and a little heavier than rice milk, but it is gold for your skin. It is rich in essential amino acids, fatty acids such as Omega-3 and ALA (alpha linolenic acid) and also contains Vitamins B, C and E!! What does all this mean for your skin???

Benefits of Hemp Milk for your skin:
HEALTHY
CLEAR
SMOOTH & SUPPLE
HYDRATED

So next time you are at a cafe or health food market ask for HEMP MILK. Enjoy XOXOXO!!

MEN's Choice Product Picks

Cleanse- Anthony Logistics Men's Algae Face Cleanser cleanses, moisturizes and calms the skin. It is PH balanced for men and also helps prep the skin for shaving. It has Algae, Aloe, Azulene, Lavender and Rose Hip Oil! All great ingredients to help sooth, heal, cleanse and refresh the skin. Lather up a dime size amount 2x a day!




Shaving Issues- Zihr product line created a product called Erase which addresses razor burn, redness associated with shaving, and ingrown hairs. Erase is an alcohol free product, which also has moisture enhancing ingredients. It can be applied 1-2x daily with a tissue or cotton ball on affected areas. 

Moisturize+ Sun Protection- H2V Protect SPF Moisturizer is one the Mens choice top selling products at Burke Williams, due to its easy to use, light yet hydrating formulation. It also has a gentle built in SPF without a strong fragrance.  L'oreal also has an affordable men's SPF daily moisturizer (VITA LIFT spf 15), that has anti-aging ingredients added in as well. 


Got other faves???  I would love to hear about them XOXO

MEN...this one is for you

I love going to skin training classes and seminars, they always remind me to touch on subjects that I tend to overlook. So this blog is dedicated to MEN; whose skin care market currently measures at $12.1 billion and is expected to grow.  

What Men need to know about their skin (generalization):  
1. Men typically have thicker and more sensitive skin
2. Men's skin has a tendency to produce more oil or sebum and tend to have larger pores than women
3. Men also have a lower PH (more acidic) making them sensitive to chemical peels and other agressive treatments
4. Male skin cells also carry fewer antioxidants, which may lead to a greater number of aging issues 
5. Men suffer from ingrown hairs, rash and dryness from shaving

So what does this mean... 


1. Your cleanser should have a PH of about 5.5 or lower to keep your skin balanced and protected. Most bar soaps men use have a PH of 9.5+  which will strip your skin.


2. You should opt for enzymes as an exfoliant, rather than an acid. It will be gentler on your skin, but still get the job done.


3. Load up on the antioxidants... both internal and external. Drink that green tea, yerba matte & red wine. Alpha lipoic acid and DMAE are also great internal supplements. Externally, you can find all sorts of moisturizers with antioxidants packed in. (Vit. C, grape seed, alpha lipoic acid.... the list goes on)


4. SUN PROTECTION!! 70% of the skin cancer cases were found on men. Free radical exposure, in combination with naturally low antioxidant levels make you great skin cancer targets. And with your thicker skin, you may not burn as easy, which tricks you in to thinking you don't need an SPF. That is not true. Burning and Cancer are 2 different things, so PLEASE find a good SPF and use it daily.


5. As for shaving. Try to find hydrating shaving creams or gels to protect skin in that area and always shave in the direction of hair growth. If you are prone to ingrown hairs, you may use a gentle salicylic acid to help with the breakouts as needed. 


6. Lastly, make an appointment to see your favorite esthetician once a month. You won't regret it!
 Men SPA-ing is the biggest growing trend. 


Stay tuned for some great MEN worthy skin care products!! XOXO