Gotta have the moisturizer

Starting my day without my Olay moisturizer is almost painful. My face will feel neglected, dry, and unprotected all day long. My moisturizer prevents and relieves my dry skin condition, which in most cases is the most common cause of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, my daily application of moisturizer will protect my skin from free radicals, mask imperfections, and improve skin tone and texture. Another great feature of moisturizer is that it will make the application of my foundation blend that much easier.

The most basic ingredients in moisturizers are a combination of humectants, emollients, fragrances and preservatives. Humectants, such as urea, glycerin, and alpha hydroxy acids, just to name a few, are substances that absorb water from the air and hold the moisture in the skin. For humectants to be effective they need high levels of humidity.

Emollients such as lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum are ingredients that fill in the spaces between the cells in the skin thus providing a smoothing effect. There are basically two types of emollients; they are either water based or oil based. My daytime facial moisturizer is water based but my night time facial moisturizer and body lotion is oil based. A good example of an oil based lotion would be Eucerin. I use Eucerin for my body moisturizer and it feels wonderful after shaving my legs. Eucerin seems to lavish my legs with much needed moisture.

There is an array of moisturizers on the market and finding the right moisturizer can be trial and error. However, when you find the right one, your skin will reward you with a beautiful complexion and smooth finish.


For skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy





Here is my "can't live without" product! Olay Daily Hydrating Lotion

What is your "cant live without" skin care product?

Beauty on a Budget

What used to be considered an everyday necessity, such as skin care products, are now somewhat of a luxury item. The dollars you spent freely trying various skin care and beauty products seems a little extravagant now. Times are tough for a lot of people, the stock market is down and people are losing their savings, and losing their jobs. Prices keep going up but increases in pay are minimal. However, there is hope, and there are inexpensive alternatives than expensive store bought skin care and beauty products.

Easy exfoliation: Add a little sugar to your existing cleansing cream. A sugar scrub is ideal for sensitive skin. Another exfoliate is Epsom salts, mix some Epsom salts with your cleansing cream for a microdermabrasion treatment.

Under eye bags and circles - skip the expensive cream and try a tea bag. The main ingredient in a tea bag is tannin and it works naturally to reduce puffiness and dark circles. All tannins act as astringents, shrinking tissues and contracting structural proteins in the skin and mucus. So while sipping your tea, save that tea bag. Cool it in the refrigerator and apply the cooled tea bags to your eyes for about 10 minutes.

Customize your own lip tint - how fun! This lip tint will last longer than many lipsticks and so much fun to experiment with the colors. Select your favorite gelatin color then dampen a foam tipped applicator with water and dip into the gelatin powder. Apply the color directly to the lips. Add more than one coat to deepen the tone, if desired. For shine, add a touch of glycerin or lip balm on top.

Easy Skin Toner - a toner is used after cleansing to remove leftover residue and restore pH balance.
Anti-Aging Toner
1/2 cup pure spring water or distilled water
2 teaspoons green tea leaves (or 1 green tea bag)
Bring water to a boil. Place the tea leaves or tea bag in a glass or bowl. Pour the boiling water over the leaves or bag and steep for 2 to 3 minutes. Strain the green tea into a bottle, and let it cool. Apply to skin with cotton balls. Do not rinse. Apply moisturizer.

Green tea provides antioxidants and protects against free radicals here is a simple skin care recipe:
Moisturizing Mask for Hydration
2 Tbls plain yogurt
1 Tbls oatmeal, cooked and cooled
1 Tbl Honey
Mix all ingredients together, then let cool. Apply to face for 15 minutes. Yogurt gently exfoliates and cleanses while oatmeal and honey have moisturizer and hydrating properties.

Stretch your foundation:
Mix your foundation with your moisturizing cream. You will find the foundation is easier to apply and blend, and your foundation will last a lot longer. Usually it is 2 parts moisturizer to one part foundation but you can adjust as needed. The best part is you are sure not to neglect your moisturizer treatment, a very important step in a good skin care program.

Finally simple steps to finish off a beautiful you are:

Shape those eyebrows: Well shaped eyebrows accent the eyes and frame the face. If you can afford any beauty treatment, the eyebrows should be at the top of the list.

Hair shine - There are so many hair shine products on the market these days I get tired of reading all the labels. An easy hair shine recipe is to apply olive oil or glycerin onto freshly washed or dry hair. Also a milk or vinegar rinse will add vibrancy and shine.

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

No money for skin care? Easy homemade skin care recipes!

Wouldn't it be nice to create your own skin care products specific to your skin type? Common skin care ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin C, and essential oils such as jojoba, almond oil and herbs such as chamomile and lavender can do so much to nourish the skin. Additionally, kitchen ingredients such green tea, black tea, whole milk and oatmeal are also commonly found in skin care products.

Here are a few skin care recipes to get you started:

Toner(s):

Soothing Toner Recipe2 TBl. dried or 1 TBl. fresh herb depending on your skin type (see chart below)
2/3 cup milk
Boil milk and pour over herb. Cover and refrigerate. Strain through cheesecloth or muslin. Apply to skin with cotton balls. Do not rinse. Apply moisturizer. The recipe should be stored in a sterilized bottle and will keep for approximately 5 days in your refrigerator.

Anti-Aging Toner
1/2 cup pure spring water or distilled water
2 teaspoons green tea leaves (or 1 green tea bag)
Bring water to a boil. Place the tea leaves or tea bag in a glass or bowl. Pour the boiling water over the leaves or bag and steep for 2 to 3 minutes. Strain the green tea into a bottle, and let it cool. Apply to skin with cotton balls. Do not rinse. Apply moisturizer.

Herbs used to make common toners are as follows:
Dry skin: Elderflower, linden flowers and marigold
Normal skin: chamomile - especially good for antiseptic values, fennel, lemon balm, parsley and rosemary.
Oily Skin: Chamomile-especially good for antiseptic values, fennel, lemon balm, parsley, rosemary, and peppermint and sage-especially good for antiseptic values.
Any of these herbs can be mixed with milk for soothing and nourishing dry skin as well as for sunburned or sensitive skin. Whole milk should be used for normal to dry skin, and skim milk for oily skin.

Exfoliate

Gentle Oatmeal Almond Facial Cleansing2 Cups Rolled Oats
1/2 cup Almonds
2 Tbl. Dried rose petals
2 Tbl. Dried lavender flowers
Finely grind all ingredients separately in a grinder (a coffee grinder works). Mix all ingredients together, cover and store in a cool dry place.

For Dry Skin:
Mix 1 heaping teaspoon of cleansing grains with warm water to make a creamy paste and add 1/2 teaspoon almond oil.

For Normal to Oily Skin:Mix 1 heaping teaspoon of cleansing grains with warm water to make a creamy paste, omit the almond oil.

With your fingertips and in an upward circular motion, gently massage the cleansing grains into your skin. Rinse with warm water and then apply a toner and moisturizer. Naturally if you are allergic to nuts, substitute the almond oil with another.

Cleanser
Honey Cleanser (For Dry Skin)
*Castile soap
1 Teaspoon Honey

Wet face. Pour a little castile soap into the palm of your hand, add honey. Mix honey and soap into a lather, wash face.

*Castile soap is made from vegetable oil as opposed to animal fat like other soaps. Oils used in castile soap include olive, coconut, almond, hemp, and jojoba.










Well I hope you enjoy the recipes. Just think - skin care products that are effective, low-cost, no animal testing or cruelty, fun to make, and not harmful to the environment.

For skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Skin Care and Hair Care Recipes - Right from the Kitchen

From my observation, it seems like more and more people are seeking natural products for skin care and hair care. Additionally people are looking for products that are inexpensive, do what they claim, and are eco-friendly.

Well here is my favorite skin care and hair care recipes that are eco-friendly, inexpensive, work, and there is absolutely no animal testing involved!

Skin Lightening - We have all heard of Cleopatra's infamous milk baths and her beautiful skin. Here is today's version: add a pint to one quart of buttermilk to your bath! The buttermilk will soften and lighten dark patches. For an aromatherapy treatment too, add your favorite essential oil, such as lavender for relaxation.

Dry skin - try this exfoliate to scrub away dry patches. 2 cups of Epsom salt with olive oil. Be careful in the shower, olive oil can be slippery!

Cellulite - There is a lot of products that claim they can reduce cellulite - are they working for you? How about coffee grounds? Apply the grounds directly to affected area then wrap with kitchen wrap, much like a body wrap. Leave the wrap on 30 minutes and rinse. Repeat regularly until cellulite is gone. I think it is the caffeine in the grounds that stimulate the fat cells under the skin that makes this recipe work.

Dull hair - To add shine to your hair, apply a nickel size amount of olive oil in your hands and rub together, work your hands through your shampooed hair, then comb to distribute evenly. Allow oil to sit for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water, dry and style as usual. This is as good as any hot oil treatment to add shine to your hair.

Hair Product Buildup and overload - Vinegar is a natural choice to remove hair product buildup. Hairspray, mousse, gel, etc. leave behind residue in hair. Mix equal parts vinegar with water and after shampooing and conditioning, work the vinegar solution through hair and rinse. Vinegar also detangles.

Anti-Aging Mask -to reduce the appearance of wrinkles. Mix together 2 tsp. plain yogurt, 1/2 tsp. honey, 1/2 tsp. lemon juice and 3 capsules vitamin E (equivalent of 300 units). Combine all ingredients. Open the Vitamin E capsule and fold contents into the mix. Gently apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a toner and moisturizer.

Lavender Sugar Scrub -
1/2 cup of jojoba oil
3/4 cup of white cane sugar
1 teaspoon Vitamin E
1/4 cup almond oil
6 drops of lavender essential oil
Directions: Combine all ingredients in large bowl. Mix until combined, and then pour into desired container.What a wonderful scrub, and also a great gift!

Blackhead remover - Much like the strips you can buy in the store but less expensive and eco-friendly. Mix 1 tablespoon unflavored gelatin and 1 1/2 tablespoons milk. Warm the mixture in microwave. Warm nose and/or chin with warm cloth to open pores, apply mixtures to nose and chin area. Do not use around eyes or other delicate areas. Allow mixture to dry on nose and chin for 15-20 minutes, or until a stiff film appears. Peel off the film and there you go, all the debris in your pores has surfaced to the top. Follow with a cool toner to close pores and restore pH balance, then follow with a moisturizer. Note: this does not smell the best when taking it out of the microwave, but this recipe actually removes blackheads!

Dry or damaged hair - avocado has wonderful nourishing properties. Cut up an avocado and blend, mix with1/2 cup mayonnaise or a few tablespoons olive oil. Wash and towel dry hair and apply treatment, thoroughly working down the shafts of the hair to the ends. Wrap hair in shower cap and allow nourishing for 10 to 20 minutes. Rinse and style as usual.








These are just a few ways you can use common kitchen ingredients and essential oils in your skin care and hair care products.

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy

Are you bothered with sensitive skin?

Skin sensitivity to environmental factors, personal care products and cleaning products is quite common in women and men. Additionally, babies and children can develop skin sensitivity to certain products or rather the ingredient(s) therein.

Sensitive skin can also occur out of nowhere, by this I mean – you have been using a particular product for years and then all of a sudden you skin doesn’t seem to tolerate it anymore and reacts with redness, rashes or tiny bumps. That is my story, I never had problems with household cleaners and skin care products but now I have to be extremely careful with what products I use and always read the label. That is one of the reasons I have switched to non-toxic cleaners with safer ingredients and use skin care products that are more natural. Additionally I do make my own skin care products and soaps which I just love.

So what exactly is sensitive skin? My definition would be “any product when applied to the skin that makes the skin irritated, such as redness, tiny bumps, topical dermatitis, excessive dryness, etc”.

There are many products on the market today specifically for sensitive skin. These products have a reduced amount of chemicals, such as parabens, alcohols, fragrances, mineral oils and dioxanes which are usually known to be the culprit for skin sensitivity. The products although labeled for sensitive skin doesn’t necessarily mean that it is safe for your skin. There are varying degrees of skin sensitivity too. Some may experience sensitivity to a whole lot of products while some are just sensitive to specific ingredients. It is important to read the label and determine and isolate the ingredient(s) that are causing the problem.

When selecting your skin care products for your sensitive skin look for natural ingredients such as green tea, avocado, chamomile, lavender, neroli, rose, or sandalwood. Not only will these products be gentle on the skin, they offer anti-aging properties too. Better yet, why not consider making your own skin care products, the cost is minimal, the result is great, and you know exactly what you are putting on your skin.
Below are a couple of simple recipes for sensitive skin:

Gentle Toner
2 Tablespoons fresh herbs (lavender, calendula, lemon balm)
2/3 cup boiling milk
Pour boiling milk over herbs, cover and let cool. Strain through a cheese cloth and store in sterilized bottle or jar in the refrigerator. A cooling and soothing toner.
Avocado Face Mask for Dry and Sensitive Skin
1 avocado
3-4 drops of almond oil
Preparation
Peel and mash avocado and thoroughly mix in almond oil stirring till you get a consistent texture. Apply to face while massaging it gently. Let it rest for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Follow with toner and moisturizer. Of course if you are allergic to nuts I would not use this recipe.

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy


For great skin care ingredients, bath and body and wonderfull teas, visit Mountain Rose Herbs

Remedies for Dry Skin

The lack of moisture in the skin causes cracking of the upper layer of the skin, thus fine lines and wrinkles appear. There are various reasons for developing a dry skin condition. Some of the causes are, but not limited to, living in a dry climate, hormonal changes, excessive exfoliation and/or cleansing, or using skin care products that are to harsh for your skin. Additionally, dry skin can also be genetic and or inherent of one's own skin type. Dry skin also comes with aging as the sebaceous glands become less productive.

Whatever the cause of dry skin, there are simples remedies to nourish your skin and ward off premature lines and wrinkles.

The most effective treatment for dry skin is application of a moisturizer and following a good skin care routine such as cleansing, toning to restore pH balance and moisturizing..

Generally moisturizers are classified under 2 categories based on the way they provide or retain moisture to the skin. The first category is a moisturizer that retains and protects the moisture already in the skin. These products provide a covering over the skin and would include a product like Vaseline which seals in the moisture already in the skin.

The second category is humectants. They work by drawing moisture from the atmosphere; they pull in and hold water to keep the skin moist. Additionally they slow down the evaporation of moisture from the skin. A natural humectant is honey and glycerin and the synthetic ingredients would be propylene glycol and glyceryl triacetate.

To get the most benefit from your moisturizer a good skin care routine should be followed. Below are some tips to give your dry skin some relief.

First, cleansing the skin is a vital step in promoting healthy skin. Your cleanser should be mild and non-foaming. Foaming agents in cleansers have a tendency to dry out the skin even more. Furthermore, never use soap on the face or neck and water temperature should be mild and never hot.

Exfoliation does help with dry skin by removing the dead top layers of the skin. Additionally it promotes new cell growth and improves circulation. However, exfoliation should be minimal no more than once a week or even less if you suffer from extremely dry skin.

Toning is meant to restore pH balance and removing traces of cleanser left behind. Keeping your toner in the refrigerator adds a nice cool splash to your face and the cool toner will close pores. Avoid toners that are alcohol based better yet consider making your own toner.

Moisturizer is the last step. If your facial moisturizer does not provide SPF protection then apply sun screen over your moisturizer. For total body moisture, after your shower or bath, apply a body moisturizer while the skin is still damp.

No matter what skin type you are, i.e. dry skin, oily skin, or combination skin, a good skin care program is about being gentle with your skin. To promote a healthy glow, be sure you are selecting the right products for your skin type.

For more skin care recipes and skin care articles, visit Complete Skin Care Therapy