Spotlight On:Parabens

I recently read an article on the pros and cons of parabens in the new issue of Skin Inc. I’m grateful to have read this article because in the end I sided with the cons of parabens and decided your skin is better off :

What are Parabens?
First of all parabens are preservatives used in skin care products, lotions, moisturizers, makeup, cleansing gels, toothpaste, and some of our foods! So when choosing products read the ingredients to watch out for any form of parabens. Here’s why:

What makes paraben’s harmful?
Ok, so there were some studies that have been done which have shown that parabens mimic estrogen, which is known to play a role in the development of breast cancer!

Also, in the July 2002 issue of the Archives of Toxicology , Dr. S. Oishi of the Department of Toxicology, Tokyo Metropolitan Research Laboratory of Public Health reported that exposure of newborn male mammals to butylparaben “adversely affects the secretion of testosterone and the function of the male reproductive system.”

Check your ingredient labels
Words like “natural” and “organic” does not mean paraben-free.
Methylparaben, Ethylparaben, Propylparaben, Butylparaben, Benzyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Methyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Ethyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Propyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Butyl-parahydroxybenzoic acid, Parahydroxybenzoic acid and Parahydroxybenzoate. These are all forms of parabens….get rid of them!

Safe and Effective Preservatives
Look for grapeseed extract, phenoxyethanol, potassium sorbate, sorbic acid, tocopherol (vitamin E), vitamin A (retinyl), and vitamin C (ascorbic acid); these are the safest preservatives that seem to cause the least irritation and have the fewest allergic reactions.

PARABEN-FREE companies

Aubrey Organics,

Dr. Hauschka

Eminence Organic skin Care

Burt’s Bees

Iredale Mineral Cosmetics

Juice Beauty

Naturopathica

Pangea Organics

View the complete list at Breast Cancer Action.

Do you know any other companies that have paraben-free products?
If so,  please share!
Thanks for reading!

Merry Christmas!

Were you naughty or nice to your skin this christmas?!

With the new year approaching set some skin care resolutions for healthier skin!

Here’s a few examples:
-I will take my makeup off before bed…
-I will wear sunscreen DAILY!!!
-I will look for benefical ingredients for my skin…
-I will get plenty of sleep and drink plenty of water…

Anyway you get the idea…have a merry christmas EVERYONE!

Happy Holidays with Hyaluronic Acid

During these winter months, your skin can become dry from the cold weather. Luckily, I live in Hawaii and I don’t have to worry about such a dramatic climate change. But, LUCKY for you there’s an ingredient that can help your skin stay plump and moisturized during the winter months and all year round!

Causes of Aging
The ability to retain and keep moisture in your skin is the key to youthful, radiant and healthy skin. But as we grow older our skin holds less moisture, leading to collagen degradation, which then leads to signs of aging.

“The key to the Fountain of Youth.”
Hyaluronic acid is a substance that occurs naturally in humans and animals, and is found in young skin and joint fluid. Hyaluronic acid is a component of the body’s connective tissues, and is known to cushion and lubricate. HA helps support the formation and maintenence of collagen, so it’s great for treating and preventing wrinkles. It also keeps skin smooth and moisturized through it’s ability to hold up to 1,000 times it’s water weight!

So put this on your wish list for Christmas and you’ll be plump and vibrant this winter and for the new year!

What are you thankful for?

Beautiful skin can seem so far away sometimes (if you know what I mean, unless you have flawless skin-lucky you!), but if you take simple steps you can feel a lot better about your skin care situation.  There are a few products that I use that makes me thankful for the skin I have today.  I don’t have picture perfect skin, but I’ve overcome skin concerns that make me feel like I do.

Here is a list of some skin care products that I am thankful for:

1. Olay Complete SPF  30 Defense Daily UV moisturizer- I love this!  Moisturizer +Sunscreen=happy, protected skin!  It’s also recommended by the skin cancer foundation with a certification sticker.
2. Phytomer Peeling Vegetal Exfoliant-  This is such a great exfoliant that gets rid of all those dead skin cells revealing a more radiant complexion!  My skin feels soooo smooth and soft afterward.
3. Smashbox Photo Finish Light-  I don’t wear foundation, but I love to put this on to make my face have a smooth matte look all day long!
4. Epicuren Vitamin CXC-  Ahhhhh!  This is perfect after I go surfing all day, I put it on right before bed…great for sun damaged and midly acneic skin.
5. Phytomer Blemish Target Gel- Perfect for those irritating pimples that pop up from time to time.  ewh!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

Beautiful skin from…bananas?!

I LOVE bananas!  Whether making tasty strawberry-banana smoothies or eating a fresh peeled banana when I’m in a hurry.  Bananas are a great source of potassium, vitamins a, b, c, e  and  have great health benefits for your body.  But this Southeast Asia native fruit also has benefits for your skin too!

Acne skin gets easily irritated and bananas have no known ingredients that cause irritation, so it is ideal for sensitive skin.  So here’s what you can do: Mash up a banana and apply it to your face as a mask for 20 minutes, then rinse it off with lukewarm water.  Potassium in bananas help kill bacteria in acne blemishes and aids in healing them at a faster rate.  Vitamin B from bananas can calm irritation and even skin tone.

Aging skin may become dry with signs of wrinkles and age spots, which can benefit from this super-fruit as well.  Vitamin A in bananas will help restore natural oil for the dry areas while Vitamin E can repair damaged skin and fade age spots.  Vitamin C restores cell function and prevents oxidation which will prevent future fine lines and wrinkles.  For an anti-aging mask, mash up a banana and mix in some honey with it.  The honey will help firm the skin while the banana will make skin functional, soft and smooth.

A Step-by-Step Guide to Gorgeous Skin

Are you asking yourself what skin care steps do I need to achieve healthy looking skin? Do you feel you might be missing something to achieve that goal or maybe you might not know where to start altogether? I’ve made your own monthly facial routine guide to help you with that goal.

This is the order in which your skin care routine should be used:

Cleanse (am/pm) Depending on your skin type choose the right cleanser for your skin.  Cleansing helps to remove makeup, dirt, grime and oil.  It also helps aid in the cell renewal process.

Exfoliate (1-3 times a week) Improves the texture and appearance of skin by removing dead skin cell layers to make dull skin look more vibrant.   It also helps to penetrate active ingredients deeper into the skin.  Do not over-exfoliate because it can lead to an over-production of oil or can irritate the skin.  Our skin undergoes natural exfoliation, so that’s why you should only exfoliate a couple of times out of the week if so.

Tone (if necessary) Another step that depends on your skin type.  You should definitely tone daily if you have oily or acne prone skin.  Other than that a quality cleanser should do the job at removing dirt, grime, oil and makeup.  If you can’t seperate from your toner,  just remember ingredients like alcohol can do more harm than good.  Rose water is a good and safe choice.  Read this blog entry to learn more.  Is toner necessary?

Treat (if necessary-am/pm) If you have any skin conerns like blemishes or hyperpigmentation there are spot treatments for these problem areas that should be put on the skin before any other product to get the full benefit.

Serums (am/pm) This is a form of liquid with active ingredients and antioxidants that can treat dehydration, excess oil and fine lines.  It is chemically formulated with smaller molecules so it penetrates deeper into the skin.

Moisturize w/sunscreen (am) Invest in a daytime moisturizer with sunscreen, so you don’t have to buy a moisturizer and a sunscreen seperately.  Protect your face daily against exstrinsic factors such as the sun, wind and pollution. Yuck!

Moisturize (pm) Ingredients in moisturizers help retain water in your skin.  Advanced ingredients help skin optimize normal cell and collagen production.

Masks (weekly) Apply a mask to benefit from certain skin concerns.  Oily skin?  Clay masks help detoxify skin and remove unwanted oil while preventing and clearing up blackheads.  Dry skin?  Revitalize it! By using a hydrating mask it helps put moisture back in your skin.  There are many face masks for different skin types!

Facials (monthly) Ahhh!  Unwind yourself  into a relaxing  facial while helping your skin concerns.  Basically this is what a facial consists of: cleansing, steam, exfoliation, neck and shoulder massage, face massage(so tranquil!), face mask, and application of a moisturizer and sunscreen.  Learn from the esthetician what ingredients are best for your skin and what products benefit your skin type the most.

Doing this will help YOU achieve your skin care goals!

Vitamins for your skin

Vitamin A (Retinol)
Certain topical vitamin A formulations improve the sign of photo-aging such as fine lines, wrinkles, collagen production and skin texture. Learn more.

 

Vitamin C (L-absorbic acid)
If properly formulated, vitamin C has been known to restore and strengthen the skin barrier.  It also improves the appearance of sun damaged skin and has a positive effect on hyperpigmentation. Learn more.

 

Vitamin D (the Sunshine Vitamin)
Sunlight is the best and only natural source of Vitamin D that is absorbed through the skin. It helps the body utilize calcium and build strong bones and teeth. Also researchers found this vitamin helps inhibit the growth of certain types of cancer and their spread.

 

Vitamin E (Alpha Tocopherol)
Skin absorbs and maintains levels of topical vitamin E, which prolongs benefits between applications.  Reduces free radicals when skin is exposed to UVA rays and other sources of skin stress. Learn more.

Beauty on a Budget

Being a female can be very expensive.  Especially if you are a frequent spa goer and cosmetic junkie.  But during these economic hardtimes, pampering yourself may not be a top priority…especially if your on a budget. I’ve come up with a few ideas to keep you looking good while not spending a whole a whole lot a money:

Idea #1: Go to a trade school for a facial.
Check out your local esthetician schools online or in the phone book and get there numbers to see how much they charge for facials. Since they are not professionals yet, there are great deals that schools offer to the public. When I was going to school, we offered facials for $35. We additionally had coupons to pass out to our friends and family for facials at only $17.95! Don’t worry on the quality of the facial though, schools offer these deals just before estheticians graduate school, so they know what they’re doing. Your usually given a critique card at the end of the facial. This makes the esthetician do their best so they get good feedback. I remember there was a mother/daughter who would come in to get facials, then they would go to lunch afterward. The mom would tell me that they would do this every month as a way to catch up with each other!

Idea #2: Check spas for specials or discounts.
Call around to different spas to see what they have to offer. Maybe they have daily or monthly specials on treatments. Some spas offer discounts for first time clients or if you refer a friend.  Check newspapers or magazines for coupons or advertisements.  Also there may be discounts if you get a couple of services within a day.  The good thing about living in Hawai’i is there’s this thing called a “kama’aina discount.”  If you have a Hawai’i drivers license you can get that discount anywhere it applies.  Our spa offers a 20% kama’aina discount.  ”Lucky we live Hawai’i!”

Idea #3:  Befriend an esthetician.
Some estheticians offer services out of there home or they can come to you if they have all the right equipment.  The prices should be low considering they don’t have to pay for a commercial space. They can offer waxing, facials and body treatments. Check craigslist, bulletin boards, or find out by word of mouth. Just make sure they have a state board license and you can trust them.

Idea #4: Befriend an esthetician(Cont.)
If you have any friends in the skin care industry they might be able to get you skin care products at wholesale prices.  As an esthetician we get discounts at beauty supply stores, so if you’re lucky enough to have a friend that can get these discounts you can save a lot of money!  Estheticians may also have samples given by skin care companies for them to use or pass out.  If there is a product line that you want to try, ask your esthetician for samples before making purchases on products you may be unsure of.

Idea #5: Get a mini-facial.
Offered at a lower price, a mini-facial is a quick way to feel fresh and fabulous!  Most spas offer this type of facial, which usually lasts 25 minutes.  Here is a scenario where a mini-facial might come in to thought: Let’s say  you want to get a massage and a facial as well, but don’t have the funds for both full services.  Get a full body massage followed by a mini-facial, which excludes just the massage part.  That makes sense figuring you just got a full body massage!

Share! Does your spa offer any discounts or specials?  What was the best deal you ever got on a facial or spa service?

Is toner necessary?

Cleanse.  Tone.  Moisturize.   Have you ever read or been told by someone that this is what your at-home-regime should consist of?  Well, lets see if  a skin toner is really necessary or if it’s just an unecessary expense…

Skin toners are said to remove makeup, dirt and help restore your skin’s pH level.  That’s good…right?  Of course it is, but a high quality cleanser should do the job for that too.  Also, depending on your skin type this may be an uneccessary step.  Read on:

 According to Jeffrey Dover, MD, associate clinical professor of dermatology at Yale University School of Medicine, the only people who really should use toner are: “extremely oily or acne-prone skin and those of us who want extra cleansing after wearing a lot of makeup.”

This is what he says and many dermatologists agree that skin toner is an unecessary expense with the exception stated above.

Many estheticians would disagree and say that toner is a necessary step in a skin regime.  As an esthetcian as well, I would’ve disagreed also, but after reading about toner I feel it should be optional for certain skin types and used once daily for oily skin and breakouts.  Here’s why:

Toners that contain alcohol can strip the skin and daily application causes dehydration and impaired skin barrier function.  The tingling and tightness that follows a traditional toner is an indication of dryness and irritation, not cleanliness.  If you have oily skin and tone too often or too aggressive you may cause an overproduction of oil.  Also daily use can exacerbate certain skin conditions.  Skip toner if you are trying to control the following skin concerns:

• Visible aging
• sensitive skin
• rosacea
• dry skin

Most toners found in drugstores have a combination of alcohol, fragrances, dyes and preservatives, which are NOT beneficial for your skin.  If you continue to use toner just make sure you read the ingredients and avoid toners with alcohol.  Witch  hazel is another option for toner, but it can be drying and irritating to the skin as well because it’s made up of 70-80% alcohol. 

If you remove toner from your regime be sure your cleanser is doing the job of removing dirt, makeup and excess oil.  Also make sure your cleanser is pH balanced(4.5-6.0), which is usually stated on the bottle, if not you can contact the manufacturer and find out.   

In conclusion, oily, acneic and people who use lots of makeup should definitely consider toner in their beauty regime.  Other than that, toners should be optional.  Avoid toners with alcohol, which won’t benefit your face or your wallet.  If you don’t use a toner, make sure you have a high quality cleanser that does the job at removing dirt, makeup and excess oil. 

I have combination skin, so I use Epicuren Enzyme Conditoner as a toner.  It contains a small amount of witch hazel, but don’t worry it’s pH level is 5.5 to 6.5, which won’t dry out your skin.  Another great recommendation is Phytomer’s Rose Visage toning lotion.  This toner is alcohol free and very gentle for all skin types, especially dry and sensitive skin.

As an esthetician please make honest recommendations.  Trust is important with a client, so don’t loose that by recommending something that may not be necessary.  Skin care should be about personal care not money.  Thanks for reading!

Share!  What toner do you use on your skin type?  Do you feel that it helps?

Spooky skin haunting you?

AHHHHHHHH!!!!

Don’t worry we all know the feeling…
Here are some tricks and treats that may help your “spooked skin”:

Scary Spider Veins

Trick:  Avoid prolong sitting and standing; if it can’t be avoided make sure you flex your ankles or take a short walk.  Don’t cross your legs when you sit.  Excerise daily to improve circulation.  Raise legs above your heart to assist with blood flow.

Treat:  Consult a dermatologist or physician to identify the treatment option best for you.  Sclerotheraphy is the highest standard among treatment options and only takes 20-30 minutes a treatment with 3-5 sessions maximum one month apart.  Another option is laser surgery.

Walking Werewolf

Trick:  Use warm water when shaving; it softens the hair and opens up the follicles and relaxes the skin.  Don’t shave when you wake up because your body fluids make skin puffy.  Wait 20-30 minutes when skin is more taught and hair shaft is exposed.  If you want longer results try waxing, a great do-it-yourself wax is Parissa wax.  If you don’t want to attempt it yourself book an appointment with your local esthetician.

Treat:  Try laser hair removal for a permanent reduction, which is better for treating bigger areas or do electrolysis for permanent removal.

Dark Circles

Trick:  Drink at least 10 glasses of water a day, massage dark circles with a cold cream 15 minutes before going to bed, use cucumber slices on eyes, eat food rich in vitamins and iron.

Treat:  Consult a physician about laser surgery or intense pulsed light therapy to treat and reduce pigment under the eys.

Blood Shot Eyes

Trick:  Avoid things that may cause them irritation such as smoke, dramatic weather, elevation changes, and dry weather.  Rinse eyes with warm to cool water, then use eye drops to help soothe irritation. 

Treat:  Use a moist compress to help cool eyes and flush out bacteria.  Get lots of sleep as well!!!

Creepy Cellulite

Trick:  Use caffeinated coffee and grind into a dust.  Combine it with a hand lotion to make a cream.  Rub the affected areas for about a minute.  Rinse it off in the shower.  Do this everyday until those areas get smoother and firmer.

Treat:  There are different types of  procedures to remove cellulite by laser, suction and injection type treatments.  If that is the case, remember to eat right and excercise daily to maintain the results!

Check out realself.com if you want to read reviews on what others think of different treatment prodedures!

If you have any of your own suggestions for any of these feel free to share!!!
Happy Halloween!!!