Featured Product: Dr. Hauschka Blackthorn Body Oil

This is my skincare/professional blog so I don't talk much about my "real life" but this particular product deals with both of my "professions": being a mom to twins and being a holistic esthetician.

When I was pregnant in 2004/2005, one of the very first books I picked up after finding out I was having twins informed me that I would end up with what is known as "twin skin."

This basically means really loose skin similar to what someone is left with after a gastric bypass surgery.

Needless to say, I wasn't thrilled at this prospect, but I made a commitment to myself in the beginning to eat well for my babies' sake and to try not to worry about the ways in which my body was starting to change. I figured I would deal with it once I was through breastfeeding and my body was "mine" again. (big joke on me, I'm still nursing!)

I was motivated to write this blog after reading this blog and also because I am a big fan of this website. I have been following The Shape of a Mother for a few years now, since I was pregnant and I see the dramatic way women's bodies change during normal pregnancies and childbirth. (I'm not convinced that breastfeeding will harm the appearance of your breasts. I know that the rapid growth that happens when your milk comes in will create stretch marks but I don't think that the act of lactation and breastfeeding will cause changes in your breasts that time alone wouldn't have created)

All of the products I work with in my line of work are "luxury" skincare items, meaning they are high-end ingredient-wise and budget-wise. I am lucky because I had been in the skincare industry for a number of years when I became pregnant so I had all of these products at my disposal. I had been selling Dr. Haushcka skincare for a number of years in the retail world so I told many a pregnant woman about the Blackthorn Body Oil to help with skin elasticity and preventing stretch marks. A lot of them took one look at the price ($26.95) and politely inquired about alternate products but some of them practically snatched the bottle out of my hands.

I had many, many women come back to tell me that although their mother's and their sisters and every other birthing female in their family had gotten severe stretch marks, they faithfully used the Blackthorn Oil and got not a one. I heard enough of these stories to reach straight for the oil when I became pregnant.

I started using it right before I found out I was having twins, right as I was entering my second trimester. Although my baby bump was still small, my skin was starting to itch like crazy. At that point I didn't care if it prevented stretch marks or not, I just wanted it to soothe the itching. And it did, immediately.

By the time I gave birth, at 37 1/2 weeks I had gone through nine bottles. Most pictures of me pregnant are of me sitting on the couch with a giant shiny belly with a bottle of Blackthorn Oil next to me.

I am a little embarrassed to admit, I didn't look at my tummy for two days after I gave birth. I just wasn't ready to face what it may look like.

When I finally did look I was pleasantly surprised. I had some pretty intense abdominal diastasis and my poor belly button got the worst of it (my mom was right when she said I shouldn't have pierced it!!) but other than that I didn't get any stretch marks. (see second tummy pic above to see the belly button damage)

I went back and forth trying to decide whether or not to write this blog. I didn't want it to come across as bragging or boasting at all because that is not at all where I am coming from. But I did want to get the information out there in case other moms want to hear of something that "worked."

I became an esthetician to help my clients understand and take care of their skin and this falls under that umbrella, so here is my story, for what it's worth. I felt like I had to post at least a couple of pictures as evidence. I have been too shy to actually post my story or pictures to SOAM so this is the next best thing.

Would I have not gotten stretch marks if I hadn't have used this product? Who knows, maybe I wouldn't have gotten them anyway, but I think probably would have. I have told several friends about this and they all have used it and not gotten stretch marks either, so that's enough evidence for me.

What is blackthorn?

Blackthorn is a rose (rosacea) family shrub, also known as sloe. Also in the rose family are quince, almond, apple and pear. Flower extracts of blackthorn are strengthening and rejuvenating. Both fruit and flower extracts are strengthening to connective tissue.

Ingredients:

Arachis Hypogaea (Peanut) Oil, Prunus Spinosa (Blackthorn) Flower Extract, Betula Alba (Birch) Leaf Extract, Hypericum Perforatum (St. John'swort) Extract, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Citronellol, Citral, Coumarin, Farnesol, Eugenol

I Still Miss the Glass Ampules

What type of plastic is used for the Eye Solace and Rhythmic Conditioners? Does the plastic leach into the product?

A medical-grade high density polyurethane is used for Eye Solace and Rhythmic Conditioner ampules. Our tests show it does not deteriorate or leach any undesirable compounds into the product under conditions of normal usage.


I am a huge fan of the Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Night Conditioner ampules.

I just finished up a 30 day round of the sensitive ampules recently, as a matter of fact. (I usually do them at seasonally.)

They really help when my skin starts to look sluggish and lifeless and really help soothe redness and inflammation.
The ampules are now packaged in a medical grade plastic, but not too long ago were packaged in glass.

You simply tapped the bottom of the ampule until all the liquid was settled, then snapped off the top and used like usual.

Apparently enough dummies people cut themselves on the glass (myself included, but only once or twice!) for them to decide to repackage the ampules, but only in the U.S. Last I heard, the ampules still come in glass in Europe and other parts of the world.

This doesn't surprise me, I have had more than one person during my retail days tell me that they applied the product by tapping the broken glass edge directly onto their skin.

I still have a mini-stockpile of the glass ampules but I will be very sad indeed when they are all gone.

Alternate Uses for Juice Beauty Products

Lately I've been finding all kinds of other uses for Juice Beauty facial skincare products.

I was having a minor shaving crisis because I really hate to buy extra products and it just seems that shaving cream isn't necessary. (but try telling razor-burned legs that!)

I had been using Kiss My Face Moisture Shave cream because I received it in a Makeup Alley swap. I really liked the fragrance, (both the name and the smell!) Vanilla Earth and it felt ok on my skin, but I still noticed some razor drag and the ingredients weren't great. (the website says 'contains no unnecessary chemicals! Ha!)

Ingredients:

Water, Potassium Myristate, Sodium Myristate, Propylene Glycol, TEA Stearate, Coconut Oil, Olive Oil, Aloe Vera, Vitamins A & D, Tocopherol Acetate (Vitamin E), Allantoin, Lecithin, Extracts of Lime, Peppermint, Lady’s Mantle, Soapwort, Horsetail, Watercress, Lemongrass, Sage, Goldenseal, Orange Flower, Arnica, Hydroxyethylcellulose, Methylparaben, Propylparaben, Fragrance, Sodium Benzoate

Also, it foamed slightly which I just don't want or need in a shaving cream. Not only do I not want the foaming agents, but if I wanted a foaming shaving cream I would just keep using shower gel. (even though right now I'm using Dr. Hauschka rose body washl and it doesn't really foam)

I had this issue every time I took a shower and every time I went to Whole Foods or any of my other natural product haunts I felt frustrated when I was looking at all the shaving cream options. I just didn't want to buy a shaving cream.

So one day I decided to use a bit of my Juice Beauty exfoliating cleanser to shave with. It was fantastic. I got the closest shave I have had in recent history and the jojoba beads didn't clog my razor, like I feared they would.

Later I tried using the cleansing milk, and it works great, too.

Using a $25 cleanser to shave with probably doesn't sound like a very good bargain but I only shave the lower half of my legs and so only need a tiny bit for each leg and find that I can easily use what is leftover from washing my face.

Another great alternative use for a JB product is to use the oil-free moisturizer as a smoothing cream for the hair. Their oil-free moisturizer is the most nourishing oil-free product I've tried and I love it underneath sunscreen.

I have very fine hair and everything I use makes it flat and oily...but one day I had a bit of oil-free moisturizer on my hands so I ran it over the ends of my hair and it was great! It smoothed and sealed my dry ends and added a bit of shine. It even added a bit of definition to my layers without weighing down my hair or causing it to look oily, even hours later. As with the exfoliating cleanser, I only used a tiny amount, less than a pea-size.

A local esthetician who uses JB products in her practice gave me the tip of refrigerating the cleansing milk to use as a post-extraction soothing mask. It feels amazing. It would be a great to refrigerate the entire Spring/Summer to use as a refreshing makeup remover or mask for dry or post-swimming skin.

The last JB tip is to use the hydrating mist(which is one of my favorite JB products) as a room spray. It smells amazing and sprays in a very wide arc so you only need one or two sprays for a small-to-medium sized room.

Which products (Juice Beauty or otherwise) do you multi-task with?

*complete list of Juice Beauty ingredients can be found at www.juicebeauty.com

Target Goes Natural

I first noticed a few natural products at Target a couple of years ago. I was horrified at first to see them there but now I kind of like the idea.

If more natural companies are selling their products in stores like Target and Wal-Mart then it will bring the concept of using less toxic ingredients to the masses and make it seem less "weird."

The companies currently represented in my local Target are Burt's Bees, Giovanni (one of my favorites for hair care!) Weleda (love love love Skin Food) Alba/Avalon (same company) Jason, Kiss My Face, and Burt's Bees.

Most of these brands are what I have always considered "gateway natural products" meaning, the products are only so-so in quality but they are a good way to get people to begin to use natural products before moving on to higher quality brands with better ingredients and eco-friendly practices.

I have mixed feelings about Burt's Bees as a company now.

I have never been a huge user of BB products, but I do love their Pomegranate lip balm and their kids' shampoo.

But since they have been bought by Clorox I am extremely hesitant in supporting them in even a small way.

I have seen Clorox on many lists of companies that use animal-testing and while I don't necessarily think that they are doing animal testing on the Burt's product ingredients (the previous owners of the company didn't test on animals and the raw ingredient suppliers are already in place so they probably aren't using ingredients tested on animals for the Burt's products) but all of the money funnels back into Clorox, the parent company.

I have noticed that they have come out with a "green" cleaning line, a very obvious and obnoxious case of "greenwashing" if I've ever seen one.

I know Target was experimenting with bringing in organic clothing and I've seen more fibers like bamboo in the linen department. In my local store, though, the organic t-shirts were only there for a short time before being discontinued, which makes me think they didn't do very well.

But if the blown-out shelves are any indication, there is quite a market for more natural products at Target.

For me, this is great since if I need a product in a pinch I won't have to resort to a conventional brand that I would otherwise never use.

What do you think?

*Note: I was using the 'you can be girly and green' sidebar before I saw this bag at Target, but the pink and green idea has been the concept I have used since I first started Skin Rhythm. All along I have been interested in promoting the idea that you can be glamorous and ecologically responsible. Plus, pink and green are my favorite colors. ;)

Ultimate Summer Body Lotion

The Nude Skincare Hibiscus Manoi body lotion is the most gorgeous, decadent warm-weather body moisturizer I have seen in a long time.

The lotion is a coconut oil base and has a beautiful, lush, tropical fragrance.

A little goes a long way so one bottle is perfect for the Spring/Summer seasons. Can be used on hands, feet and body but I wouldn't put in on the face due to the rich coconut oil and fragrance.

$72.00 for 200ml (about 8oz.)

Ingredients:
cocos nucifera (coconut), gardenia tahitensis flower, hibiscus sabdariffa flower extract, cananga odorata flower oil, fragrance (parfum), tocopherol (vitamin E), linalool (essential oil), benzyl benzoate (essential oil), benzyl-o-hydroxybenzoate (essential oil), geraniol (essential oil), farnesol (essential oil), eugenol (essential oil)

Cream Blush

I love cream blush. Some find it to not be very long-lasting and it may not work well with very oily skin, but my skin is usually combination and it looks great and lasts all day. I normally wear powder foundation so I try to avoid piling on too many layers of powder. It catches and accentuates dry patches and tends to look too artificial. Every time I wear cream blush, especially when I add a highlighter (I'll write a post about my favorites next) I ALWAYS get compliments on my skin, even if I'm having a few skin issues at the time. Cream blush makes the cheekbones pop and the complexion come alive and for those of you who are hesitant to use blush, the fact that it blends so easily makes it almost fool-proof. It can be set with a finishing powder for an all-day matte finish or left alone for a dewier look.

SukiColor Pure Cream Stain in Nectar:

A natural, innocent pink that's great for most skin tones. Gives a soft, natural, healthy flush. Double as a lip stain. Downside: A bit sticky. $36.50 (Not suitable for vegans due to carmine and beeswax)

Ingredients:

organic sunflower seed oil, castor seed oil, non-gmo corn starch, candelilla wax, shea butter, beeswax, kaolin, organic rose hip seed oil, cetearyl alcohol, organic jojoba seed oil, carnauba wax, pure rose wax, organic mixed tocopherols, chamomile extract, tea tree leaf oil, fragrance (made only from pure, steam-distilled essential oils) [may contain: mica, titanium dioxide, iron oxides, carmine]

Mychelle Blush Stick in Berry:

Rich, matte finish packed with antioxidants. Berry is a deep, romantic pink great for most skin tones.
$20.86

Ingredients of interest:

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil: quckly penetrates the skin; powerful antioxidant; rich in flavonoids; inhibits allergic reactions; protects the skin's own collagen, elastin, & hyaluronic acid.
Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil: antioxidant and skin brightener; a deeply penetrating light oil which gives skin a beautiful texture and glow; helps reduce appearance of wrinkles, spots, freckles, and acne.
Silica: helps reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and controls sebum for a smooth matte finish.
Silk Powder: high in skin nourishing proteins and amino acids, silk powder also gives a beautiful surface finish to the skin.

Ingredients:

Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Camellia Oleifera Seed Oil, Silica, Silk (Powder), Prunus Persica (Peach) Extract, Psidium Guajava (Guava) Extract, Passiflora Edulis (Passionfruit) Extract, Tocopherol (Natural Vitamin E), Lauroyl Lysine, Carthamus Tinctorius (Safflower) Seed Oil and Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract, [+/-: Titanium Dioxide (CI 77891), Iron Oxides (CI 77491, 77492, 77499), Mica (CI 77019), Manganese Violet (CI 77742)]

*Eco-cert organic

GloMinerals gloCream Blush in Plumeria:

This color looks ridiculously bright in the compact, but it's actually a perfect punch of color that's fantastic during the Spring and Summer months.

Downside: The ingredients could be much cleaner than they are.
$25.00

Ingredients:

Isopropyl Palmitate, Phenyl Trimethicone, Caprylic/Capric Triglyceride, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Nylon-12, Silica, Kaolin, Microcrystalline Wax, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Tocopheryl Acetate, Tocopherol, Ascorbyl Palmitate, Retinyl Palmitate, Phytonadione, Camellia Sinensis Leaf Extracts, Dimethicone, BHT, Vegetable Oil, Propylparaben