Love Your Skin

How to Prevent/Eliminate Congestion

Sun, 16 Sep 2012 01:55:00 -0400

First off you need to maintain the two most important steps: cleansing &exfoliating

1) Cleaning the skin: having clear follicles starts with properly washing your face. However, properly washing your face means using a gentle cleanser that will remove dirt and excess oil from the skin without stripping the skin of its natural protective barrier. This protective barrier is also know as the acid mantle. The acid mantle is a mixture of excretions from the sudoriferous (sweat) and sebaceous (oil) glands, as well as, moisture from the air. It helps the skin by keeping bacteria out, maintaining moisture levels, and protecting the skin from environmental trauma such as UV rays and pollution.

2) Exfoliating: Using a daily exfoliant such as Dermalogica Daily Microfoliant can do wonders for the skin. The process of exfoliation will clear out dead skin cells lingering on the surface of the skin. Whenever the skin has a build up of dead skin cells, the excess cells will combine with oil secretions and form almost a “cement” that will block follicles and allow dirt, oil, and bacteria to fester in clogged follicles.

Also note:

Dehydration: when the skin is dehydrated the follicles cannot work properly. They do not have the fluidity and flexibility of normal skin cells. The skin, when given the opportunity, is perfectly capable of taking care of itself by expelling excess waste.

Using harsh/drying products: Maybe products associated with congested/problem skin are extremely drying &often contain SD alcohol 40 (one of the worst ingredients to put on the skin). These products strip all oil, leave the skin with a tight, “clean” feeling. This however is only temporary. The skin then reacts by producing even more oil then necessary.

Steaming: put your face over a steaming pot (not too close/hot cause stream burns hurt) this will help the pores to open. Also try putting some tea tree oil in the water and splashing some on the face after the steaming process. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic and has a positive effect on congested &acneic skin

Honey &Yogurt

Sun, 15 Apr 2012 00:11:17 -0400

For all skin types

Treats dryness &exfoliates

Ingredients:

1 tbsp honey

1 egg yolk

1/2 tsp almond oil

1 tbsp yogurt

Directions:

Place all ingredients in a large bowl and stir until the mixture become sticky and thick. Apply the mask to your face for about 15 mins or so and wask thoroughly with a mild facial soap

I LOVE this stuff. it makes my skin feel so soft after using....

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:56:00 -0400

I LOVE this stuff. it makes my skin feel so soft after using. The product is made with a gentle exfoliating agent, corn cob meal &rice bran, with uses smooth round particles to gentle scrub away dead skin cells. Also contains enzyme papain &salicylic acid that help dissolve excess surface cells. Brightening agents are also included such as grapefruit, bearberry, &licorice.

USUALLY people tend to over-exfoliate their skin by either pressing too hard or using the wrong product. The St. Ives Apricot Scrub is a perfect example of using the wrong kind of exfoliator. The particles used to exfoliate the skin in this product are hard, jagged shells that leave micro-tears in the skin. Micro-tears in the skin can cause people to become over-sensitized (reacting easier to environmental harm, other products/ingredients, and increased redness) &if one has breakouts, it will tear them open and spread the harmful bacteria across the clean skin &cause even more breakouts!!!

Banana &Honey

Sat, 14 Apr 2012 22:40:00 -0400

For all skin types, especially sensitive &dry

treats inflammation, dryness, &exfoliates

1/2 mashed banana

1/4 cup of oatmeal cooked with milk*

1 egg

1/2 tablespoon of honey

Directions:

Mix ingredients together. Massage onto face in a slow circular motion and leave on the skin for 15 mins &rinse.

*Maybe instead of cooking with milk, try cooking with french vanilla creamer for some added deliciousness

Information:

Banana flesh has soothing properties that can help alleviate symptoms of acne and other types of skin imbalances that cause inflammation. Also used to reduce wrinkle appearance and brighten skin (with regular usage or homemade recipes of course).

Oatmeal is high in nourishing vitamins and minerals; it gently cleanses and heals skin.

Eggs contain lecithin, a natural skin emollient &honey helps to maintain the skin’s natural protective barrier.

Honey helps the skin to retain moisture and as an added bonus it’s also antiseptic, killing harmful bacteria lurking in the follicles &capable of causing breakouts. See more info on honey under skincare (:

Enjoy <3

Strawberries Key Benefits Exfoliate: Strawberries contain salicylic acid which sloughs off dead...

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:35:00 -0400

Strawberries

Key Benefits

Exfoliate: Strawberries contain salicylic acid which sloughs off dead skin cells. Through the process of exfoliation, the dull epidermal cells are no longer able to clog follicles and trap harmful bacteria, dirt, and debris within. Regular exfoliation will give ones face unmatched freshness, and a radiant glow. Your skin can breathe again!

Calming: strawberries leaves are commonly used to reduce swelling and inflammation caused by acne and other skin problems. The presence of breakouts makes the skin more acidic in that area, therefore, by applying a substance that will neutralize and produce an alkaline effect (strawberry leaves) it will take the swelling, inflammation, and redness down. Can also be used to reduce sunburn! Just cut or smash a strawberry and leave the juice on the face for 5-30 mins depending on the severity

Astringent: An astringent is any substance that will physically contract biological tissue. For skin care purposes, it visibly shrinks pore size. This creates a protective epidermal layer of firm tissue between lower layers (dermal and subcutaneous) and environmental stressors. The strong concentration of vitamin C is what produces the astringent affect and if found in the berries, root, and leaves of the strawberry plant.

Vitamin C is ESSENTIAL for collagen synthesis

&forming the intercellular “glue” that holds the skin cells together

Vitamin C is often listed as ascorbic acid or magnesium ascorbyl phosphate on products. Sadly, not all forms of vitamin C are stable in products. Even exposure to air can cause it to become ineffective. Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is typically considered more stable than other types.

Brightening: contains the highest concentration of vitamin C, even more than an orange

Antioxidants: vitamin C may also help to reverse or reduce the aging process because it is a powerful antioxidant. Studies have shown that antioxidants may be very useful for repairing damaged cells, which could result in healthier looking skin for many people.

Antibacterial: contains malice and citric acid giving it antibacterial properties. Thus, during exfoliation when the dead skin cells are cleared and the follicles are unclogged, the antibacterial properties of strawberries can easily make their way into the follicle and kill any harmful bacteria that would otherwise leave the blemishes.

Strawberries &Cream

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 00:21:00 -0400

for all skin types

treats: breakouts, dryness, & exfoliates

I like to use my magic bullet when i mix this exfoliating masque. makes life much easier (: you can add more or less of any ingredient depending on what kind of thickness you like. see information on strawberries &honey for added benefits.

add one strawberry

optional: add the strawberry leaves too

tsp of sugar

tsp of honey

tbsp of french vanilla cream (can use milk or other flavors of creamer)

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