Fall Lip Pick!

As the weather cools off, inevitably the lip colors deepen. My very favorite for this season is the brand-new Dr. Hauschka #3 Decoratives lip color. It comes in a beautiful and modern square compact and provides a gorgeous sheer blackberry stain on the lips.

From the Dr. Hauschka website:

Lip Colors 01-04

Four new lip colors in shimmering, semi-transparent tones that can be applied by brush or finger. Mineral pigments are fused with healing waxes and oils to soothe and protect lips.

• Creamy consistency for easy application
• Extracts of anthyllis, carrot and rose hip keep lips moist and nourished
• Rose and Jojoba waxes soften and protect
• Colors from nature highlight your natural tones
• Natural mineral pigment tin oxide provides a silvery shimmer

Ingredients:

Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract, Simmondsia Chinensis (Jojoba) Seed Oil, Lanolin, Beeswax/Cera Flava, Daucus Carota Sativa (Carrot) Root Extract, Argania Spinosa (Argan) Kernel Oil, Euphorbia Cerifera (Candelilla) Wax, Mica, Silica, Copernicia Cerifera (Carnauba) Wax, Rosa Damascena (Rose) Extract, Anthyllis Vulneraria Extract, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Prunus Armeniaca (Apricot) Kernel Oil, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil (Jojoba Wax), Rosa Damascena (Rose) Flower Wax, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Linalool, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Limonene, Geraniol, Benzyl Salicylate, Eugenol, Lecithin, Maltodextrin, Tin Oxide, Carmine/CI 75470, Iron Oxides, Titanium Dioxide/CI 77891

Heal Humanity, Heal the Earth!

Photo taken from the New York Times article


There are two great recent articles about Dr. Hauschka skincare and their manufacturer in Germany, Wala.

Here is an article from the New York Times that discusses Dr. Hauschka's 'cult following' and discusses their biodynamic garden and a little about the company's history and background.

This article focuses on Wala and talks about their program in Afghanistan to buy rose oil and other rose products from farmers who otherwise would be forced to earn a living growing opium poppies.

They are such an amazing company and I love reading articles that highlight some of the many great programs they are involved with worldwide.

Stay tuned for my upcoming entry on the FIFTEEN new exciting products from Dr. Hauschka that are launching for fall!

Sunscreen Application & Protection: 10 Tips!

It is probably no surprise that I do not use chemical sunscreen products. I don't want some of their more toxic ingredients making their way into my body, my children's bodies or the bodies of any unfortunate fish or other wildlife that may be swimming along with us.

That being said, I think that the way mineral sunscreen is applied can decrease the level of protection it can provide. I wanted to give a few sunscreen tips now that we are officially into the hot and sunny summer months to help you maximize the effectiveness of your chosen (mineral!) sunscreen!

1. The two mineral sunscreen ingredients are zinc and titanium dioxide. In my two favorite sunscreens, Juice Beauty SPF 30 mineral light moisturizer and Dr. Hauschka SPF 30 for Children and Sensitive Skin, the only sunscreen ingredient is titanium dioxide. It's easy to tell what the sunscreen ingredient is in any product by looking on the ingredient list under "active ingredients."

2. When using a moisturizer with sunscreen it is best to apply two thin layers: a moisturizing layer that will penetrate the skin and a protective layer that will sit on top of the skin's surface and physically filter out the sun's harmful rays.

3. When applying, it is best to "warm" the first layer in your palm and gently press into the skin including the neck and upper chest. The second sunscreen layer is best applied to the top of your non-dominant hand and dotted on your face, neck and chest. After letting it rest a minute, it will easily blend over the moisturized surface of your skin. Rubbing vigorously to blend or apply will break up the minerals. They should be as large as possible so they protect more fully.

4. You do not have to wait fifteen minutes before going out into the sun with mineral sunscreen. They will protect immediately.

5. The use of sunscreen does not fully block out all of the sun's rays. UVA and UVB rays are only two of the many kinds of UV rays there are. Even products labeled "broad spectrum" can't block them all, they only filter out UVA and UVB, which are the rays associated with burning and aging/skin cancer.

6. The SPF factor indicates how much of the active ingredient is present in the product. The number will be a guide as to how long you are protected. It takes me about ten minutes of unprotected sun exposure to begin to burn so ten times (spf) 30 is 300 minutes or five hours of total sun protection. After that I should cover up or move to the shade. Reapplying after five hours will not give me five more hours of protection. After that, burning will occur because the skin has already absorbed the maximum amount of UV rays it can tolerate.

7. Most sun damage occurs from incidental exposure: driving, walking from your house to your car or workplace, etc. Even if you won't be out in the sun all day or even if it's cloudy, sunscreen should still be applied daily to exposed areas. Remember the tops of your hands and feet and ear/earlobes too! (trust me, I have had a serious burn on my ear and it is not pretty!) Use a lot of product, do not skimp! Have someone help you with hard to reach areas.

8. Sun damage is especially present on the left side of the face along the temple area due to exposure while driving. I always apply an extra layer of mineral makeup on top of my mineral sunscreen along that area.

9. Mineral sunscreen should be reapplied if it has been washed off while swimming or perspiring or has been rubbed off with hands or a towel. It will then protect you for the remainder of minutes you have since you first applied sunscreen.

10. Clothing such as a wide-brimmed hat or loose-fitting button long sleeve shirt are very effective along with SPF to help protect from the sun. When I was younger I would have rather died than wear a long sleeve shirt during the summer but now I do so religiously. I was surprised to find that it feels much nicer against my hot summer skin than the scorching rays of the sun. It also absorbs excess perspiration and keeps me dry and fresh even on the hottest of days.

Miracle Ingredient: Manuka Oil

Like a lot of products I now use regularly I first discovered manuka oil when I was working at Elephant Pharmacy. I was able to bring in new products and had been sent a sample of an essential oil I had never heard of: manuka oil from New Zealand.

The literature claimed that it was far more effective at battling acne, body odor and infection than it's well-known cousin, tea tree oil.

I took the sample home and tried it out. My earrings had irritated my ears and I had a nasty infection in one of them that had been raging for over a week. I remembered the manuka oil and applied a few drops. At first sniff it is mild and woody, but later smells a little strange, like feet.

I woke up the next morning wondering what the unrecognizable smell was, then realized my ear was not throbbing and itching like it had been. I looked in the mirror and was amazed to see that the infection was completely gone.

Since then I have used it to treat many, many different first aid issues in my home. It wiped out ring worm on my then-infant son, it has helped fungus on my husbands toenails, it has sped up the healing of monthly breakouts on my chin, the list goes on. Another great thing about manuka oil is that it is far more mild than tea tree oil and never stings the skin, even when applied to blemishes.

It's the best essential oil to have in your first aid kit and a great one to have for summer. It can treat insect bites, sunburn and aching muscles in addition to treating acne, fungus, rashes, scrapes and other abrasions and various other ailments.

I noticed recently that it is an ingredient in the Dr. Hauschka Pure Care Cover Stick (the concealer that replaced the discontinued Cover Stick Puncto) I first suspected it in the product the first time I took the cap off, the smell is very distinct. Here is what the DH website says about it:

"Tea tree and manuka oil in the Dr.Hauschka Pure Care Cover Sticks provide antimicrobial qualities."

I've been experimenting with making my own lip balm, I am also going to make a first-aid salve for my family to use during the summer and manuka oil will be the main ingredient!

Hot Weather Survival Tips

Here in Texas we are careening towards summer at a breakneck pace. We normally have a two to four week period between seasons where it is in the 80's and gorgeous. We skipped right over that and have been in the 90's now for weeks.

That means that my skincare normal skincare routine flew straight out the window. Luckily I have some emergency products in my arsenal that have kept my skin from freaking out too badly in response.

Here are a few tips and my current faves.

Modifying My Regimen:

During the cooler months I love the full-on Hauschka ritual complete with twice-daily warm compresses. This time of year I cringe at the thought of having anything warm come near me (aside from my morning tea. )

Luckily, the Dr. Hauschka lemon bath is there to step in where my Spruce and Lavender baths left off. A cool lemon compress after a day outdoors is absolutely dreamy. Simply dip a Dr. Hauschka biodynamic cotton compress or a cotton wash cloth or diaper in a basin filled with cool water, squeeze out the excess and press onto clean skin. The point of the warm compress is to soften dead skin cells and relax pores, but if you are in warm and/or humid weather that will do the trick instead.

It feels even better if you refrigerate your Cleansing Milk and Facial Toner and cleanse as usual beforehand. The antiseptic properties of lemon also help keep breakout-causing bacteria in check.

Any mask you may use, especially a gel or cream-based mask feels great when refrigerated, especially if you have a sunburn (just spot-test first to make sure there are no acidic ingredients that may irritate sun-sensitized skin)

Toner is the usual refrigerated skincare product, and you can also make your own skin refresher using distilled water and essential oils in a non-plastic bottle. Aluminum chills nicely, so I have a few on hand to make my own aromatherapy face and body splash. (lavender -peppermint is a favorite combination of mine)

Accepting Nature:

2. I have oily skin (I am just now admitting that to myself! Hi! I'm Jennifer and I have OILY SKIN!!) and love the beautiful semi-mostly-matte finish that my Glominerals pressed powder foundation usually provides. However, during this time of year I embrace the sweaty dewy look instead. It is much less of a hassle and looks much more beautiful and natural in the bright sunlight. Powder touch-ups + sweaty skin = cakey mess.

The best way to do this is to use a tinted moisturizer. If you need more coverage than this provides, you can additionally use a thick, creamy concealer on any blemishes, hyperpigmentation or redness you may want to tone down. (apply after you apply your tinted moisturizer) I also love this sheer foundation which is one step up from tinted moisturizer and doesn't feel heavy at all.

It's important that it is thick and slightly sticky to provide staying power in the hot sun and I like to apply with a brush. The fingers will melt the concealer slightly due to body heat and therefore it will be a bit thinner and not stand up well to sun exposure.

Start at the center of the area needing to be covered and concentrate the product there, blending outward in short, feathery strokes. Blend the edges until they disappear into the surrounding skin and leave the middle well-covered. You can finish with a tiny bit of translucent powder applied with a small brush. The idea is to not apply powder all over the face, so you would just use it to set the concealer. I only do this on major breakouts that I want to minimize and leave the redness around my nose, etc. to fend for itself.

If you are using a tinted moisturizer with SPF you will need to do one of two things. Either apply a thin layer of a non-SPF moisturizer underneath or apply two thin layers of tinted moisturizer with SPF. The reason for this is that a moisturizer needs to be able to penetrate the skin while the SPF needs to sit on top of the skin to protect from the sun. If your skin is dry it will absorb the moisturizer leaving your skin less protected from UV rays. I love using the Juice Beauty oil-free moisturizer underneath either the Juice Beauty Light Tinted Moisturizer SPF 30 or the Dr. Hauschka SPF 30 for Children and Sensitive Skin mixed with a) Translucent Bronze Concentrate on good skin days or b) Kevyn Aucoin Sensual Skin Enhancer on not-so-good skin days.

Controlling Excess Oil

I have the unfortunate problem of a combination of active sebaceous glands along with a dry, dehydrated epidermis that refuses to slough itself off properly. This has led me in the past to believe that I had dry skin. I actually have oil-rich, water-dry skin.

If you're still following me, this means that I should drink LOTS of water, especially in hot weather, take an EFA supplement daily and exfoliate regularly. A manual exfoliant doesn't really provide a uniform finish on my skin so I need to use a mild chemical exfoliant instead.

I am IN LOVE with the Nude Skincare Miracle Mask. I have tried EVERYTHING to help combat the milia that form inside my skin when I do not exfoliate often enough. The very first time I used this mask I got such incredible results. If I use it weekly my skin is much brighter and smoother. It was due to this mask that I could actually experience the oil level of my skin. It turns out I was quite oily underneath that layer of sandpaper skin!

Which leads me to my next "miracle" product, the Dr. Hauschka Normalizing Day Oil. If I use a few drops of this after toning my oil level is regulated within a day or two. Once it is balanced I can switch back to a light moisturizer underneath my sunscreen.

Finishing Touches:

I love makeup so much, but this time of year it is easy to overdo it when applying the same amount you would use during the winter. The sun is bright and will unattractively highlight a heavy-handed makeup application.

Once your (very few!) flaws are concealed and your skin is protected from the sun all you need is a touch of color. That is where you Sun Goddesses would sweep on a bit of bronzer. I am fair-skinned and turn as pink as a little piglet in the sun so bronzer just makes me look dirty and unnatural.

Instead I use a bit of bright pink cream blush on the apples only, well-blended and a touch of highlighter along the cheekbones and slightly up the temple and on the inner corners of the eyes.
Shimmery nude or matte taupe eyeshadow, a smudge of brown liner and a coat of mascara finishes the breezy, summery look I'm after.

The Dr. Hauschka Blue Mascara is one of my favorites. It really makes my brown eyes stand out. This is not Diorshow, however so if applied heavily it WILL smudge and run. Applied with a light touch, though it stays on great all day.

If I want more dramatic lashes during steamy weather, I need one of the "Japanese tubing technology" mascaras. These surround each lash with a plastic-polymer formula and stay on until you apply both water and pressure. This means it will stay on if you go swimming UNLESS you also rub your eyes afterwards.

This one has always been my favorite brand, I've used it for about five years. The Kevyn Aucoin mascara is almost identical. It's important to point out that this is not a natural product. However, I do use it for it's superb performance during the allergy season and throughout hot, humid weather.

I hope this helps you beat the heat beautifully!

Remember: stay protected and stay hydrated!

Natural Deodorant Tips!

*Note:
For some reason the font gets bold/wonky at the end of this post. I have this problem with this blog but not my personal one. It's driving me crazy but it's late and it's not letting me fix it. I apologize!


I have tried every natural deodorant I could get my hands on over the years in the search for the one that would do the trick for my body chemistry.

I have a specific approach for making sure I am protected all day. There is absolutely nothing worse than feeling self-conscious about body odor or worrying about having wet spots on your clothes. This takes quite a bit more effort than using conventional deodorant, but for me it was absolutely worth it and it does become second nature after a while.

First, find a deodorant. Like I said, I've tried a lot of them. These two are the only ones I would buy again. I currently have both on hand. (see below)

Next, apply a layer of body powder. I avoid baby powder--it's thick and made of yucky talc and makes everything feel gunky. I have two that I love and also a "recipe" in case you're in a DIY kind of mood. (see below)

Carry a package of baby wipes (I love the Whole Foods 365 brand. They are in a convenient travel pack and come in handy in general. Don't bother getting hand wipes. The baby wipes are stronger, softer and bigger) with you for emergency touch-ups for extra hot days or if you are wearing something made of synthetic fabric and it's not wearing well.

It's best to wear loose-fitting shirts made of natural fibers anyway, but definitely when you are making the transition to natural deodorant. I like wearing cotton and linen and there are all kinds of great, soft bamboo and other plant fibers on the market now.

Ideally you will have a second deodorant that you can stash in your bag (mine is huge so it's not a problem) in your car or at work. You should bring powder too, I put it in a snack-sized baggie but that could be awkward to explain if it falls out of your purse. ;)

A better way for on-the-go reapplication is to invest in a refillable powder brush.

Using a brush is the absolute best way I've found to apply it. It's best to apply before getting dressed. You can also apply it to areas that are prone to chafing or extra wetness like between the breasts or inner thighs.

The last thing you should do is go internal. Like everything, starting from the inside is the best way to support health and wellness on the outside.

Two good supplements to try are chlorella and probiotics.

The biggest thing to understand is that this is a process and well worth making it through. Your body has to adjust and you have to get used to changing the way you think about how deodorant is supposed to feel and work.

I once read somewhere that it takes one month for every year you have been wearing aluminum-based deodorants to transition, but I have no idea if that is true or not or even where I heard it. For me that would have been fourteen months. And although I felt comfortable after a few weeks, it was over a year that I didn't feel tempted to go back. At this point I would never consider using conventional deodorant again.

Best Deodorant:


Dr. Hauschka Fresh (spring/summer) Dr. Hauschka Floral (fall/summer)
$$: $19.95


Ingredients:
Water/Aqua, Alcohol, Triethyl Citrate, Glycerin, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Zinc Ricinoleate, Bentonite, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Limonene, Linalool, Geraniol, Citral, Benzyl Benzoate, Farnesol, Coumarin, Citronellol, Eugenol, Benzyl Salicylate, Hydrogenated Jojoba Oil (Jojoba Wax), Sucrose Laurate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Lecithin, Sodium Magnesium Silicate, Xanthan Gum, Citric Acid


I prefer roll-on deodorants. Sprays tend to drip and sticks feel either chalky or sticky depending on the formulation. And don't even get me started on the idea of putting water on a giant rock of salt every day. The DH deodorants are a thick lotion-style formula and really make me feel like I'm getting a nice even application.

I first tried this deodorant when I was pregnant and it gave me a terrible rash. I put it away and forgot about it, then gave it another shot after I had my boys. I have never had another reaction.

The DH deodorants do take a bit longer to dry than my other top pick, but not by too much.


Naturally Fresh Liquid Crystal Roll-On
$: $3.99


Ingredients: Purified Water, Natural Mineral Salts, Xanthan Gum, Phyotphingosine, and chamomile extract


I first tried this deodorant for the first time when I was in Massachusetts for a Dr. Hauschka training, ironically. I was out of my trusty DH and had brought another brand that I had recently bought. What a mistake. I went to CVS and this was the only other option besides Tom's of Maine (which DOES NOT work for me) so I gave it a try.

It has a really nice, fresh fragrance and the thin consistency dries quickly and evenly. I feel like I can wear the DH alone but with the Naturally Fresh I definitely need to back it up with an application of body powder.


Body Powder:


Dr. Hauschka Body Silk
$: $32.95



Ingredients:
Oryza Sativa (Rice) Starch, Silk/Serica Powder, Silica, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Linalool, Limonene, Geraniol, Coumarin, Citronellol, Citral, Gentiana Lutea (Gentian) Extract, Quercus Robur (English Oak) Bark Extract, Salvia Officinalis (Sage) Leaf Extract, Diatomaceous Earth/Solum Diatomeae

Nutribiotic Body Powder with Grapefruit Seed Extract

$: $4.95

Ingredients:

• Treated Corn Starch - Heat treated corn starch to absorb a greater volume of moisture. You can actually eat this.
• Silicone Dioxide - A food-grade flowing agent added to prevent clumping of the powder. See above for further explanation.
• Grapefruit Seed Extract - Added for its antibacterial and antifungal properties. Helps to curb yeast growth and support generation of healthy skin.
• Tea Tree Oil - Another all natural antibacterial, antifungal herbal oil.

DIY Recipe:

2 parts cornstarch :

1 part baking soda

A few drops of your favorite essential oil (lavender and tea tree are good bets for the anti-bacterial benefits) or perfume oil. Or you can leave fragrance free.

Mix together cornstarch and baking soda. Add a few drops of fragrance oil of your choice, making
sure that you do not add too much and that it doesn't come into contact with any plastic. Leave unopened for a few hours until the essential oils have dried, then break up any clumps with a spoon, stir well and enjoy!

*Other body powders using corn starch usually heat treat it to maximize absorption of wetness so this version won't work quite as well as a store bought, but pretty close!


Another Great Powder Trick:

Have you ever noticed how long it takes to get through a container of loose facial powder? I have had some that I have had for years.

The same ingredients that will absorb excess facial oil will also do a good job absorbing extra wetness. I would use a different brush for each purpose but if you have it around there's no reason not to multi-task. (my favorite!)

Just make sure it's translucent! (colorless)

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.

It's Back!!!

The Dr. Hauschka SPF 15 spray is back just in time for Spring!
This is the one and only product ever recalled by WALA and I was really sad to see it go. Now it's back, with a new formulation and better spray-a-bility (the clumping that some people experienced before was the reason it was recalled, although my bottle pumped just fine)
This product is perfect for short days in the sun (for me it would be about 2 1/2 hours before I would have to cover up or find shade) and it's great for getting sunscreen on wiggly kids.
I have pale skin and tattoos to protect so I also rely on a linen button down and straw hat to help keep me fully protected but for days when I want to bare my shoulders this is what I will reach for.

Hello Spring, Goodbye Winter!

Today is officially the first day of Spring. I have been spending weeks reorganizing my closets, putting away the things I wore during the colder months and bringing out clothes more suitable for warmer weather.
I take a similar approach to my skin care as well. The beginning of a new season is the perfect time to re-evaluate your products and the condition of your skin.
The skin does not have a set type that never changes, but rather different conditions that respond to internal (stress, diet) and external (weather, things that come into contact with the skin) factors.
Even though my calendar tells me it's Spring, my body still feels stuck in Winter, I've had a cold for the past three weeks, but thanks to a few great holistic products I'm on the road to recovery. Here are a few products I am currently using and a few that I will be adding to my regimen for Spring:

1. Grateful Body D*Congest/RX:
This product is great for relieving congestion in the chest and sinuses, both places I am currently stuffed up. I rub it on my chest at night before I go to sleep and throughout the day as needed.

Ingredients:

Organic or ethically wildcrafted herbal infusions of pleurisy root, cowslip root, astragalus, white horehound, elecampane, vervain, seneca snakeroot, cardamom, horseradish root, wild cherry bark, licorice and nettles in a base of organic or expeller pressed oils of sesame, sweet almond, extra virgin olive, golden jojoba & oregano, extracts of organic turnips, persimmon and ginger, extract of yellow mustard seed, organic or wild essential oils of green myrtle, hyssop, camphor, cypress, basil, eucalyptus, rosemary, thyme & lavender, organic sage & rosemary extract, grapefruit seed extract, vitamin E.


2. Essential Oils:
I probably would have been better sooner had I remembered to use a humidifier during the night. Every morning I have been waking up feeling so much worse, except for this morning because before I went to bed I put a blend of pine, lavender and eucalyptus into a humidifier and ran it all night while I slept. I finally got a good night's sleep and woke up feeling like I am finally kicking this lingering cold.

3. Earth Mama Angel Baby-- Angel Baby Bottom Balm:
This is a soothing salve that is great for other things besides baby tushies! I have been applying it to my chapped and raw nose and lips and they feel so much better, despite repeated nose-blowing.

Ingredients:

Olea europaea (organic olive) oil, Calendula officinalis (organic calendula) extract, Hypericum perforatum (organic St. John’s wort) extract, Stellaria media (organic chickweed) extract, Plantago major (organic plantain extract), Butyrospermum parkii (shea) butter, Euphorbia antisyphilitica (candelilla), Simmondsia chinensis (organic jojoba) oil, proprietary blend of Lavandula angustifolia (lavender) oil, Melaleuca alternifolia (tea tree) oil and Commiphora myrrha (myrrh) oil, Tocopherol (vitamin E)



4. Dr. Hauschka Rhythmic Night Conditioner, Sensitive:
These are oil-free ampules that are good to use seasonally, during times of extreme stress or when transitioning into using DH from another brand. Texas doesn't have four distinct seasons per se so I use them three times a year, once for each decade I have been alive. I use the RNC Sensitive because I have issues with redness and inflammation. They should be used on a 28-day cycle so I will start using them tonight instead of toner.

Ingredients:

Water/Aqua, Fragrance/Parfum (Essential Oil), Borago Officinalis (Borage) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Matricaria/German Chamomile) Extract, Rosa Canina (Rose Hip) Fruit Extract


5. Enfusia Body Care:
During the colder months I love using shower gels and body moisturizers with a rich, comforting scent, like vanilla. But when the weather turns warmer I enjoy the invigorating aroma of mint. Enfusia products are perfect for year round use and come in all my favorite fragrances.

6. Rich Hippie Bliss Perfume Oil:
This is the perfect Spring fragrance, clean fresh citrus and enough rose to be feminine and sexy.

Hot and Cold

In the basic Hauschka regimen warm compresses are used to increase circulation, soften dead skin cells and relax the pores. A cool compress or splash after cleansing will constrict the pores and force any excess oils out, preparing the a skin for either toning or conditioning.
Hot and cold also have an impact on an emotional level, warm will relax and soothe and cool will energize and refresh.
Lately I noticed that I am rushing through my twice-daily ritual, not breathing and getting the full effect of the products, hurriedly splashing a bit of cold water on my face at the end. Although the lavender bath is great all year-round and for all skin types, there are times when the other baths in the line can be very beneficial.
A good alternative is the spruce bath. Spruce is also very relaxing but more importantly it promotes deep breathing which I really need help with. After doing five or six warm spruce compresses, (you can do just one but it feels so lovely after a long day so I do several) rinse your compressing cloth and bowl with cool water, then fill about 1/4 full of cool water and one squirt of lemon bath. Finish your regimen with five or six cool lemon compresses, inhaling deeply. You can also do a few on your neck, throat and decollete'. This feels especially nice during warmer months or during a fever or hot flash.
I usually only do the cool lemon compresses in the morning since it is too energizing for me in the evening. I do the cool splash in the evening.
It can be too expensive to collect every aromatherapy bath, so what you can do is purchase the kit (pictured above) and decide which baths you prefer. I can get about six uses or three days' worth for facial compressing and two full baths per glass vial, and you get one of each bath: lavender, lemon, spruce, sage, and rosemary. Rosemary is NOT for use on the face, it is far too warming and could be irritating.
Happy compressing!!

Kiss Me

The best red lipstick on the planet is Dr. Hauschka 06 Fortissimo.
It's a rich, true red not too blue or orange but a pure blood red. It's great for every skin tone which most reds are not. Even women who thought they couldn't wear reds can pull this one off.

In case you were wondering....

Yes, I have bad skin days too. This is a nasty hormonal breakout from stress and PMS. Also, I have not compressed in a couple of days. If the excess sebum my sebaceous glands were pumping out had not have been blocked by a layer of dead skin cells I may not have broken out so severely.

The Ritual

Left: Mama and Alex press and roll, me and my monthly cleansing clay mask.

What makes Dr.Hauschka skincare so special is the daily skincare ritual. Everyone has a skincare routine, but with Dr. Hauschka it goes from being five seconds in the shower to five to ten minutes of special time for yourself.
The difference between a routine and a ritual is that routine reinforces continuity while rituals foster connection. In this case, it is a special time to reconnect with yourself before or after a hectic day.
Ironically, it was this aspect that kept me from using the products at first. I was intimidated by the pictures in their catalog of ceramic pitchers, special bowls and a serene environment. I just wanted to wash my face quickly, discreetly in the shower. I first used the cleansing cream in just that way, happily scrubbing away, the exact opposite of what the back of the tube instructed me to do. Needless to say, I was underwhelmed by the Dr. Hauschka products.Taken out of the whole line, the wonderful Cleansing Cream seemed strange and ineffectual. Of course, this was in my early-to-mid twenties, a time when I wasn't exactly taking the best care of myself.
Now I am in my thirties and I have two small children. I welcome the time to focus on me and apply my products to my skin lovingly and mindfully. It's exactly the kind of attention I would lavish on a client when doing a facial but never gave to myself.
And the serene environment? It's my kitchen. I do it even when both of my boys are racing around my legs. I do it even if I'm tired (especially when I'm tired) I started washing my face in the kitchen after I had my twins. My bathroom is connected to the bedroom where they sleep and I was always afraid of waking them. Slowly my skincare products migrated to a shelf in the kitchen, under the spices. Now they are all there, lined up like little soldiers waiting for me to call them into duty. It's actually a much better spot for them, they are not exposed to the steam from my showers. I also really like looking out the kitchen window into my backyard in the mornings as I do my skincare ritual.
I keep all of my skin compresses and headbands in a square plastic box with a lid and my stainless steel facial bowl in the strainer next to the sink.
Here is my interpretation of the Dr. Hauschka daily facial ritual, created by Elisabeth Sigmund. (who, by way is in her nineties and still and still doing the original regimen)

Daily: (a.m)
Step one: Compressing
Boil water. This is more something I do rather than a Hauschka-thing. I boil water in a kettle for several reasons. I can heat the water and not have to get to it immediately, I can do other things first. I also use part of the water for my morning cup of tea. I can use hot water from the tap, but it is a waste of water, waiting for it to be hot enough. So I boil the water in a kettle and pour it over my prepared facial bowl. The bowl is a basic stainless steel bowl that can be found at any Target or Bed, Bath and Beyond-type store. It is commonly used in the kitchen. (how appropriate!)
To the bowl I have added two pumps of lavender bath or one pump of lavender bath and one and a half pumps of lemon bath. I use lemon bath if I am feeling groggy or unfocused or if my skin is feeling particularly oily. I then place my compress into the bowl.
The water that is now in my bowl is clearly too hot to use. If I want to compress immediately then I add cool water until it is the right temperature. It should be very warm, but comfortable on the skin. If I don't want to compress right away then I do other things until the water cools and possibly add more warm water from the kettle.
Compressing is very important. It is the most relaxing part of the regimen and prepares the skin for the deep-pore cleansing benefits of the cleansing cream. It reminds me of watering dry, cracked earth. At first, the water just rolls off of the top of the soil because it is too dry to absorb moisture. But after a minute of being exposed to water it is softened enough to soak in and retain moisture. Sometimes when I first apply the compress my skin feels unreceptive to the moisture, then after a minute I can feel my skin softening.
At Dr. Hauschka they say that after one compress your skin is ready to cleanse but I enjoy it so much that I compress 4-6 times. I feel this really helps soften blackheads.

Step two: Cleansing:
There are technically two cleansers in the line, the creamy cleansing milk and the granular cleansing cream. They are for two specific purposes and not really meant to be interchangeable. The smooth cleansing milk is meant to remove makeup, the cleansing cream is to be used solely if you do not wear makeup and in the a.m if you do.
The cleansing cream is not a scrub. It does feel "scrubby" but isn't meant to be rubbed into the skin. You squeeze about 1/4" of the product into your palm, adding drops of lavender water until a loose paste has formed. You then apply you whole hands to your face, one on each side, wrists pointing down. With cupped hands, gently "press and roll":

Cleansing Cream: What do you mean by “press and roll”?

"Our unique "press and roll" cleansing method goes beyond the surface to stimulate the lymph and awaken your skin. First, dampen your face with warm water and mix 1/2" Cleansing Cream with a few drops of water in your hand. Relax your hands to gently cup the face. Beginning at the forehead, press the product in using your fingers and the tops of your palms, rolling outward from the center and lifting as you roll. The mild suction created helps remove dead cells, dirt and oil. Work downward and outward with this press and roll motion for one to three minutes, then rinse with warm water and finish with a cool splash." (from www.drhauschka.com)

I am quite stingy with my cleansing cream so I only use about 1/4" of product, and that seems to be just as effective. After massaging the cleansing cream into the skin, remove using the lavender-soaked compress. I usually use one side, remove the product starting at the forehead and firmly swiping down the face, then across towards the ears then turn over and use the other side to do the same. This will remove most of the product. I then set the compress on the sink (not back in the bowl) and splash my face about three times with the lavender water to remove any lingering cleansing cream. I then splash my face about three times with cool water to activate the erector pili muscle, squeezing any excess oil from the follicles to the surface of the skin. I then use a recycled paper towel to pat my skin dry (just so it's not dripping wet) then wipe off my sink. I rinse my bowl and my compress with the cool water. The compress is a very smooth, soft organic cotton and the cleansing cream rinses right off. Since the compress is white, you can see if there is any lingering behind. I then wring all excess water out of the compress and hang it to dry on a peg next to my sink. It dries really quickly and is ready to be used again for my p.m regimen.

Step three: Tone, moisturize, and protect
Right now I am using the clarifying toner and I am the opposite of stingy with this. I spray it liberally over my face and neck. I have counted when I am feeling particularly free with my toner and counted up to twenty-five sprays. For everyone else, about five to seven is about right. You can also spray into your palm and press into the skin.
Then you are ready for moisturizer. I use normalizing day oil when my skin is breaking out and either quince day cream or rose day cream light when it is balanced. I am also stingy with this product, a little goes a long way. I squeeze out a pea-size amount into my palm then dab onto my forehead, both cheeks, and chin then pat the rest of the moisturizer onto my entire face and neck.
Once this is absorbed (there will be a thin protective layer but shouldn't feel greasy or too slippery or tacky) I mix the translucent bronze concentrate (a few drops) with the spf 30 sunscreen and apply the same way. If my skin is not breaking out, this eliminates the need for foundation. If it is, then I will use a little concealer and follow up with translucent powder.

Daily: (p.m)
Follow steps one and two as in the a.m regimen. Follow with toner. Go to sleep!

Weekly: (p.m)
Once a week I compress and cleanse like usual, then apply the Rejuvenating Mask and leave on for twenty five minutes. I then compress it off and apply toner.

Monthly: (p.m)
Once a month I compress and use the cleansing clay mask. I usually do this around the time of my period.