Monday, March 26, 2012
Cyber Monday at Mario Badescu!
Monday, March 19, 2012
Natural Beauty at Home
I don't usually pass my readers off on other skin care websites, I do try hard to consolidate information so that you can get the information you need in a nice, one-stop spot. However, this little gem was just too good to keep to myself. I'm not sure if any of you have stumbled upon this website yet, but I found this link on, what else, Pinterest, and had to share.
This website, Homemade Beauty Recipes, has a recipe for just about any piece of skin and any ailment that you might have. It even has baby skin and hair treatment recipes! I just found this website yesterday, so I have yet to whip up these concoctions, but the ingredients seem very legitimate- lots of good oils, avocados, cucumbers, milk, and honey mentions- and having given this a good once over, the recipes seem to be in line with other at-home remedies I have tried before. Nutmeg to clear pimples, avocado to moisturize (and hold a mask together), milk & honey to calm redness.
I will recommend, when you start out with at-home beauty recipes, try not to go overboard. You can spend a lot of money buying the supplies and ingredients to some of these concoctions. I try to stick with recipes that can be made with things I already have at home- herbs, milk, olive oil, honey, eggs, etc. If you decide that at-home and/or natural beauty is working for you, then you can try more detailed recipes- ones that include essential oils, carrier oils, and other hard-to-find ingredients. DO be careful if you begin to work with essential oils, and never use them undiluted. Follow instructions, and do not try to find these "on the cheap". Essential oils are great, but only when used correctly and bought from a reputable source (like Whole Foods).
Here are some of the recipes that I plan to try this week:
I will recommend, when you start out with at-home beauty recipes, try not to go overboard. You can spend a lot of money buying the supplies and ingredients to some of these concoctions. I try to stick with recipes that can be made with things I already have at home- herbs, milk, olive oil, honey, eggs, etc. If you decide that at-home and/or natural beauty is working for you, then you can try more detailed recipes- ones that include essential oils, carrier oils, and other hard-to-find ingredients. DO be careful if you begin to work with essential oils, and never use them undiluted. Follow instructions, and do not try to find these "on the cheap". Essential oils are great, but only when used correctly and bought from a reputable source (like Whole Foods). Here are some of the recipes that I plan to try this week:
Pimple Zapper
Ingredients:
1 tsp ground nutmeg
1 tsp milk
Instructions:
Mix the ingredients together and apply to pimple. Can be washed off after 20 minutes or apply before bed and rinse in am.
Egg White Facial mask
Ingredients:
One egg white, whipped
Instructions:
Whip the egg white slightly. Apply to face and allow to dry, then rinse well. Great for tightening pores!
Fruity Alpha Hydroxy Acid facial peel
Ingredients:
1 tbs Strawberry juice
2 tbs orange juice
1 tbs whole milk
Instructions:
Combine ingredients. Apply to a clean face with tips of fingers. Allow to dry for 5-10 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Similar results of a facial peel.
Oatmeal/Almond Scrub
Ingredients:
2 tbs ground oatmeal or ground almonds (GCS Note: I think I'll include both, just for kicks, as I have dry skin.)
Instructions:
Use oatmeal for normal skin and almonds for dry skin. Cleanse in a circular motion then rinse with warm water.
Enjoy! And, if you try one of these (or the others), let me know how it works for you, and if you'd recommend it!
Tuesday, March 13, 2012
Is your allergy medicine drying out your skin?
Ah, spring! The weather is changing, the clocks have sprung forward, and the bees are buzzing around newly blossomed flowers. Sounds heavenly, right? Well, perhaps not if you suffer from seasonal allergies, a common ailment this time of year.Often miserable allergy symptoms like sneezing, runny nose, and watery eyes will motivate us to take an over-the-counter medication, like Benedryl, Zyrtec, or Claritin. These medications can do wonders for helping you to rid yourself of the annoying sneezes and runny nose*, but while they are drying out your nose, they may also be drying out your skin. Some mild acne sufferers have claimed that their allergy medicine helped clear their skin, but more often than not, dryness will actually make acne or other skin issues much worse.
So, before you head to the allergy aisle at your local drug store, make sure that while you are taking an allergy medicine, that you are also drinking a LOT of water and staying very well hydrated. Of course, I always suggest water as the number one go-to beverage, but coconut water and beverages like Gatorade can also be nice supplements. (Not only will staying hydrated help keep your skin supple, it will help to loosen any yucky yuck in your nose and chest. Seriously, ask any Mom you know!)
Lastly, and this is important, what most people don't know is that while pollen, grass, and dust can certainly cause nasal allergies, they can just as easily cause rashes, hives, and skin allergies as well.
Anytime that you begin to notice these symptoms, it's crucial to make an appointment with an allergist or dermatologist, ASAP! These may be simple allergies, or they may be a symptom of something more serious, like a food allergy. Don't try to self treat at home, see a professional!
1. Rashing around your eyes or mouth.
2. Hives, wheels, or other raised itchy patches anywhere on your skin.
3. Itchy, red, or irritated skin anywhere on your body that lasts over 12 hours.
*As I am most certainly not a doctor, do consult a physician or pharmacists before taking these medications in conjunction with other medications you may already be taking. Certainly make sure to double check the labels, especially if you are pregnant or breastfeeding.
Thursday, February 23, 2012
Improve Your Skin... With A Cocktail?!
Well, ladies and gents. I have officially heard it all. Today, in the Dining & Wine section of the New York Times, an article entitled "Improve Your Skin by Imbibing: Radical or Fadical?" caught my attention.
You can read the article here, on the New York Times website.
If you've been following this blog at all, you likely already know what I'll say about this. The fact is, many people suffer from sulfate sensitivity and don't even know it, meaning that no matter what, drinking will cause flushing and blotchy skin. For others, alcohol (which totally dehydrates you- hello, next day headache!) merely drys out your skin, making fine lines seem more prominent.
Now, I enjoy a nice drink from time to time- my friends know that I never refuse a glass of wine!- but this article actually worries me a bit. I can see women slurping down 3 or 4 drinks with the hopes that they will be more beautiful the next day, when in reality, they'll likely just have a raging headache and an upside down tummy. I'm afraid that these $22 cocktails only promote one thing: binge drinking and bar profit.
So, when you're looking for a beverage to improve your skin tone and texture, let me suggest this fancy cocktail- water over ice.
You can read the article here, on the New York Times website.
Now, I enjoy a nice drink from time to time- my friends know that I never refuse a glass of wine!- but this article actually worries me a bit. I can see women slurping down 3 or 4 drinks with the hopes that they will be more beautiful the next day, when in reality, they'll likely just have a raging headache and an upside down tummy. I'm afraid that these $22 cocktails only promote one thing: binge drinking and bar profit.
So, when you're looking for a beverage to improve your skin tone and texture, let me suggest this fancy cocktail- water over ice.
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Inside-Out Skin Care: The Supplement Boom
The concept of food as medicine is as old as dirt. Literally, Hippocrates, known as the father of modern medicine, who lived around 460 BC -370 BC, believed several foods to have healing or health promoting benefits. Ancient civilizations practiced this concept of food as medicine- the Sumerians, the Egyptians, well, you get my point.
However, it wasn't until the 1980s, in Japan, when this concept went what could be considered mainstream. As science improved, and we deepened our understanding of nutrition, the concept of food as medicine began to grow past traditional ideas about herbs, spices, and vitamins and into concepts like antioxidants, probiotics, and even phytochemicals. Suddenly, nutrition was a trend, and there was money to be made.
So, it might come as no surprise, that in the last few years, many dermatologists have begun to follow this "food as medicine" concept, and have applied it to the practice of good skin care. Doctors like Dr. Mark Hyman (who for several years was the head doctor at Canyon Ranch) and Dr. Nicholas Perricone began to tout their diet strategies as not just for weight loss, but for overall health and wellness, and also for glowing, beautiful, healthy skin. I have tried diets by both of these doctors, and I must admit, there is benefit to their whole-food, organic, healthy food approach. Broccoli really will make you look and feel better than Doritos. It's just a fact. But, like most any diet plan, it's hard to stick to these doctors recommendations, and changing your entire lifestyle around a whole-foods approach to eating is hard and takes discipline.
So, like most things in America, we did what we do best. We commercialized the heck out of "eating whole foods" and created packets of pills and supplements to help supplement your diet (presumably for when you failed at the original diet plan.) Then we sent the whole concept to Hollywood, and let celebrities take it from there.
Enter BORBA, a company started in 2004 by Scott Vincent-Borba, which promised healthy skin from the inside out. BORBA began with a high-end (and high price tag- $25 for a 16 oz beverage like the one shown to the right) line of "skin care beverages" which each promised targeted results. BORBA soon followed with a line of supplements, and then, what else, a line of skin care beverages for Target. The BORBA beauty boom hit skin care enthusiasts hard, and added an entirely new element to the skin care industry. Suddenly you didn't just wash and moisturize your face, you drank special drinks and took supplements, too.
Beauty stores like Sephora and others have entire departments dedicated to the supplements of high end skin care likes like Phyto, Murad, Kate Somerville, Dr. Perricone, and Dr. Brandt. Clear skin, firmer skin, younger skin... it can all be achieved with an expensive packet of pills!
Ok, so you may have picked up on my sarcasm. Let me go on the record as saying that I do actually believe that better nutrition and better lifestyle choices will affect your overall skin health. I am a huge advocate for the beauty from the inside out concept. Just like smoking is bad for your lungs, it's also bad for your skin. Those of you who have food allergies will probably be the first to agree with me- you notice your face and chest flush when you drink wine, you notice the skin around your eyes get red and puffy if you eat something that sets off your allergies. For those of you who are lucky enough to live without any kind of allergies, this concept may seem a bit more foreign, because you don't see the immediate impact of environment, lifestyle, or diet on your skin right away. However, the fact is, the choices we make today, will effect our skin tomorrow.
But making good choices doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating fresh fruits and vegetables- these are all fairly inexpensive (or free!) ways to improve the look and texture of your skin.
I should stop here and tell you, I'm not totally against the skin care beverage/supplement idea. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't tell you that I do take a Fish Oil Supplement (Omega 3- good stuff!), and that I do gulp down a good BORBA or Smart Water drink from time to time. However, these beauty drinks and pills are not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle and good health choices. You can not stay up all night, and expect a "skin firming water beverage" to fix your puffy under eyes. You can't smoke a pack a day, and expect a "Skin Revitalizing Vitamin Packet" to undo the damage that smoking has done. Supplements are just that, a supplement to help deepen the impact of an already healthy lifestyle plan.
So, do yourself a favor and take a good hard look at your overall lifestyle. Are you exercising? Are you eating a diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, and proteins? Do you smoke? Are you drinking enough water? Are you drinking a lot of alcohol? Are you getting enough sleep? Start you skin care regimen with these questions, instead of buying into the idea that an expensive vitamin packed water will transform your face. And, if you're already living a pretty healthy lifestyle and you want to add a supplement, go right ahead. It can't hurt. Just make sure you leave room in your skin care budget for the important things- a good face wash, a nice eye cream, and sunscreen.
Now go have a glass of water.
However, it wasn't until the 1980s, in Japan, when this concept went what could be considered mainstream. As science improved, and we deepened our understanding of nutrition, the concept of food as medicine began to grow past traditional ideas about herbs, spices, and vitamins and into concepts like antioxidants, probiotics, and even phytochemicals. Suddenly, nutrition was a trend, and there was money to be made.
So, it might come as no surprise, that in the last few years, many dermatologists have begun to follow this "food as medicine" concept, and have applied it to the practice of good skin care. Doctors like Dr. Mark Hyman (who for several years was the head doctor at Canyon Ranch) and Dr. Nicholas Perricone began to tout their diet strategies as not just for weight loss, but for overall health and wellness, and also for glowing, beautiful, healthy skin. I have tried diets by both of these doctors, and I must admit, there is benefit to their whole-food, organic, healthy food approach. Broccoli really will make you look and feel better than Doritos. It's just a fact. But, like most any diet plan, it's hard to stick to these doctors recommendations, and changing your entire lifestyle around a whole-foods approach to eating is hard and takes discipline.
So, like most things in America, we did what we do best. We commercialized the heck out of "eating whole foods" and created packets of pills and supplements to help supplement your diet (presumably for when you failed at the original diet plan.) Then we sent the whole concept to Hollywood, and let celebrities take it from there.
Enter BORBA, a company started in 2004 by Scott Vincent-Borba, which promised healthy skin from the inside out. BORBA began with a high-end (and high price tag- $25 for a 16 oz beverage like the one shown to the right) line of "skin care beverages" which each promised targeted results. BORBA soon followed with a line of supplements, and then, what else, a line of skin care beverages for Target. The BORBA beauty boom hit skin care enthusiasts hard, and added an entirely new element to the skin care industry. Suddenly you didn't just wash and moisturize your face, you drank special drinks and took supplements, too.
Beauty stores like Sephora and others have entire departments dedicated to the supplements of high end skin care likes like Phyto, Murad, Kate Somerville, Dr. Perricone, and Dr. Brandt. Clear skin, firmer skin, younger skin... it can all be achieved with an expensive packet of pills!
Ok, so you may have picked up on my sarcasm. Let me go on the record as saying that I do actually believe that better nutrition and better lifestyle choices will affect your overall skin health. I am a huge advocate for the beauty from the inside out concept. Just like smoking is bad for your lungs, it's also bad for your skin. Those of you who have food allergies will probably be the first to agree with me- you notice your face and chest flush when you drink wine, you notice the skin around your eyes get red and puffy if you eat something that sets off your allergies. For those of you who are lucky enough to live without any kind of allergies, this concept may seem a bit more foreign, because you don't see the immediate impact of environment, lifestyle, or diet on your skin right away. However, the fact is, the choices we make today, will effect our skin tomorrow.
But making good choices doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Drinking 8 glasses of water a day, quitting smoking, reducing alcohol intake, eating fresh fruits and vegetables- these are all fairly inexpensive (or free!) ways to improve the look and texture of your skin.
I should stop here and tell you, I'm not totally against the skin care beverage/supplement idea. I wouldn't be honest if I didn't tell you that I do take a Fish Oil Supplement (Omega 3- good stuff!), and that I do gulp down a good BORBA or Smart Water drink from time to time. However, these beauty drinks and pills are not a replacement for a healthy lifestyle and good health choices. You can not stay up all night, and expect a "skin firming water beverage" to fix your puffy under eyes. You can't smoke a pack a day, and expect a "Skin Revitalizing Vitamin Packet" to undo the damage that smoking has done. Supplements are just that, a supplement to help deepen the impact of an already healthy lifestyle plan.
So, do yourself a favor and take a good hard look at your overall lifestyle. Are you exercising? Are you eating a diet full of fresh fruits, vegetables, healthy carbohydrates, and proteins? Do you smoke? Are you drinking enough water? Are you drinking a lot of alcohol? Are you getting enough sleep? Start you skin care regimen with these questions, instead of buying into the idea that an expensive vitamin packed water will transform your face. And, if you're already living a pretty healthy lifestyle and you want to add a supplement, go right ahead. It can't hurt. Just make sure you leave room in your skin care budget for the important things- a good face wash, a nice eye cream, and sunscreen.
Now go have a glass of water.
Monday, January 23, 2012
The Skin Below the Chin- Part III
Head, shoulders, knees, and toes... knees and toes! And eyes, and ears, and mouth, and nose...
I don't know about the rest of you, but my grandmother used to sing this song to me when I was little and was in the bathtub, so that I wouldn't miss scrubbing any important body parts! Ok, so that's a bit TMI, sorry for that. But, now that I'm a grown-up, I do occasionally find myself humming along to this song in the shower, or as I lather up with body lotion afterwards. There is only one little problem with this tune, it leaves out one crucial spot on the ole bod. Can anyone guess what it is?
You guessed it, it's your elbows. This often-neglected (and rarely-attractive) body part seems to get left out of all the bathtub and moisturizing fun. Unfortunately, it's also one body part that could use a bit of attention. Without a proper scrub and moisturizing, the elbows can be left looking a bit like, well, rhino skin. Ashy, dry, and even on some of us a weird gray color.
So what can you do to prevent this common problem? The good news is, it's easy! Next time you are in the shower, use a good strong body scrub on your elbows. Give squirt a little bit in your hand and really concentrate on each elbow. Give it a good strong rub. Since most of us neglect our elbows, they could stand to get a nice buff. I really like Clinique's Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator. This is a nice, grainy scrub that really gives your skin a strong buffing. You can find it in most department stores, but the best price I've found is here, at Saks Fifth Avenue Online.
If you are prepared to spend a bit more, say around $35, then you might also like Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub, which you can also find online at Saks Fifth Avenue. I like this scrub, because it contains a heap of really nice ingredients like Bamboo Powders and Licorice Extract, and it will leave you feeling scrubbed, but also soft. It's a tad more expensive than I normally like to spend on a shower product, but it's a good one that I think you'd enjoy from time to time. Clarins is a great brand, so if you are interested in learning more about this product line, let me know! I've been a fan of their HydraQuench line for a long time.
If you're not looking to spend a fortune on scrubbing your elbows, there is good news. Drug Store or Grocery Store brands like Alba, Kiss My Face, e Booth, and Neutrogena all have great products that will deliver many of the same kind of results without the designer price tag. And, because your elbows won't typically be too sensitive, it's ok to find a scented scrub that you like a lot. One of my favorite "budget" scrubs is like Neutrogena Sugar Scrub, because if you use it in the morning, the Energizing Citrus scent helps give you a little "wake up lift" which is really nice. You can find this scrub on www.drugstore.com for only $8.55!
Once you've scrubbed, the second step is pretty easy. Just take whatever moisturizer you were already going to use on the rest of your body, and remember to give your elbows a little attention. I really like the Biosilk and Vaseline concoction that I mentioned in a previous post, The Skin Below the Chin- Part I. However, any good strong lotion will do. Don't be afraid of over-moisturizing. Have you ever had a zit on your elbow? I doubt it!
If you find that your elbows are very ashy and dry, you may want to try using a cream-type lotion or a body oil. Just don't let it get on your clothes, as the oil might stain more delicate fabrics like silk. One of my new favorite oils is this Sweet Almond Oil by Aura Cacia, which I find at Whole Foods. I like to put this stuff in my bath water, as well!
Now go enjoy a nice long shower and give those elbows some attention. And while you are at it, change the song! Head, shoulders... and ELBOWS! And, elbows!
I don't know about the rest of you, but my grandmother used to sing this song to me when I was little and was in the bathtub, so that I wouldn't miss scrubbing any important body parts! Ok, so that's a bit TMI, sorry for that. But, now that I'm a grown-up, I do occasionally find myself humming along to this song in the shower, or as I lather up with body lotion afterwards. There is only one little problem with this tune, it leaves out one crucial spot on the ole bod. Can anyone guess what it is?
You guessed it, it's your elbows. This often-neglected (and rarely-attractive) body part seems to get left out of all the bathtub and moisturizing fun. Unfortunately, it's also one body part that could use a bit of attention. Without a proper scrub and moisturizing, the elbows can be left looking a bit like, well, rhino skin. Ashy, dry, and even on some of us a weird gray color.
So what can you do to prevent this common problem? The good news is, it's easy! Next time you are in the shower, use a good strong body scrub on your elbows. Give squirt a little bit in your hand and really concentrate on each elbow. Give it a good strong rub. Since most of us neglect our elbows, they could stand to get a nice buff. I really like Clinique's Sparkle Skin Body Exfoliator. This is a nice, grainy scrub that really gives your skin a strong buffing. You can find it in most department stores, but the best price I've found is here, at Saks Fifth Avenue Online. 
If you are prepared to spend a bit more, say around $35, then you might also like Clarins Smoothing Body Scrub, which you can also find online at Saks Fifth Avenue. I like this scrub, because it contains a heap of really nice ingredients like Bamboo Powders and Licorice Extract, and it will leave you feeling scrubbed, but also soft. It's a tad more expensive than I normally like to spend on a shower product, but it's a good one that I think you'd enjoy from time to time. Clarins is a great brand, so if you are interested in learning more about this product line, let me know! I've been a fan of their HydraQuench line for a long time.
If you're not looking to spend a fortune on scrubbing your elbows, there is good news. Drug Store or Grocery Store brands like Alba, Kiss My Face, e Booth, and Neutrogena all have great products that will deliver many of the same kind of results without the designer price tag. And, because your elbows won't typically be too sensitive, it's ok to find a scented scrub that you like a lot. One of my favorite "budget" scrubs is like Neutrogena Sugar Scrub, because if you use it in the morning, the Energizing Citrus scent helps give you a little "wake up lift" which is really nice. You can find this scrub on www.drugstore.com for only $8.55!Once you've scrubbed, the second step is pretty easy. Just take whatever moisturizer you were already going to use on the rest of your body, and remember to give your elbows a little attention. I really like the Biosilk and Vaseline concoction that I mentioned in a previous post, The Skin Below the Chin- Part I. However, any good strong lotion will do. Don't be afraid of over-moisturizing. Have you ever had a zit on your elbow? I doubt it!
If you find that your elbows are very ashy and dry, you may want to try using a cream-type lotion or a body oil. Just don't let it get on your clothes, as the oil might stain more delicate fabrics like silk. One of my new favorite oils is this Sweet Almond Oil by Aura Cacia, which I find at Whole Foods. I like to put this stuff in my bath water, as well!Now go enjoy a nice long shower and give those elbows some attention. And while you are at it, change the song! Head, shoulders... and ELBOWS! And, elbows!
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