Food for Thought

*From the AOMA newsletter:

Foods for Skin Health:
What you put on your plate can be more important than what you put on your skin:

Carrots and Sweet Potatoes - Healthy skin is directly dependent on the amount of vitamin A in our diet. Vitamin A acts as an antioxidant to neutralize harmful elements in our skin, helping to prevent wrinkles, resist infection and maintain the skin's elasticity. One of the best places to get Vitamin A is vegetables that are deep orange in color.

Blackberries, Blueberries, Strawberries, and Plums - In a study recently published in the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry, these four fruits weighed in with the highest "total antioxidant capacity" of any food. The antioxidants and other phytochemicals in these fruits can protect the cell from damage and disintegration, thus guarding against premature aging.

Salmon, Walnuts, Canola Oil, and Flax Seed - Essential fatty acids (EFAs) are responsible for skin repair, moisture content, and overall flexibility, but because the body cannot produce its own EFAs, they must be obtained through the diet. Fish, walnuts, and flax seed oil are among the best sources for omega 3 fatty acid.

Olive Oil - Olive oil contains more than essential fatty acids. Eating good-quality olive oil helps keep skin lubricated and keeps it looking and feeling healthier overall.

Whole Wheat Bread, Brown Rice, Turkey, Tuna and Brazil Nuts - Selenium is an antioxidant mineral responsible for tissue elasticity and healthy skin. It may play an important role in preventing skin cancer, as some recent studies are showing that skin damaged by the sun may suffer fewer consequences if selenium levels are high.

Green Tea - Green tea's ability to slow down the development of some signs of aging is attributed to its high levels of polyphenols, which have been well-documented for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Green tea also may help prevent or reduce the risk of skin cancer according to a study published recently in the Archives of Dermatology, which shows that whether taken orally or applied to the skin, green tea can reduce the risk of damage from ultraviolet light and thus reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Water - Hydration plays a key role in keeping skin cells healthy. It is essential to maintaining your skin's elasticity and suppleness. Keeping cells hydrated helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out, which helps keep skin clean and clear.

Source: www.acufinder.com

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!

Love Your Whole Body!

This month at Whole Foods Market online the Whole Body department will be featuring three podcasts.

This is a quick and easy way to learn more about Whole Body and what they have to offer.

If you need a last-last minute gift for Mom, head to Whole Foods and choose products to help her create a blissful spa experience right at home!
And don't forget the essential oils!

How to Build the Perfect Spa Basket

Most everyone enjoys the pampering and results of a day at the spa. Not everyone has the things they need to enjoy a similar experience at home any time. So, whether you’re gifting or stocking your own personal spa “toolkit” here’s a how-to walk-through, featuring quality natural products that provide benefits beyond the normal spa ahhhh. (Video)

Demystifying Aromatherapy

Have you ever wished you could enjoy a spa right in your own home? Listen and discover how easy it is to: create the perfect relaxing—or energizing—bath; make your own professional quality massage oils; and add aromatherapy to your lifestyle. You’ll also learn the benefits of pure essential oils, and what differentiates them from other oils on the market. Tim Blakey has been an aromatherapist and herbalist for 30 years. He travels extensively doing education and sourcing oils from around the world for Aura Cacia and Frontier.

(AUDIO)

Now that we are moving into the warmer months, it is the perfect time to re-evaluate your skin, diet and exercise level and tweak your daily regimen.

If you are new to natural skincare or are confused by all the choices, this podcast will be a great way to get started. If you need more help, contact your local store to see if they have an on-site aesthetician.

Many stores now have licensed skincare professionals on staff to do skincare consultations and makeovers. Even if your favorite store does not have a licensed skincare practitioner on staff, the Whole Body team is very well-trained on all products and can also help support the skin internally by suggesting the proper supplements.

Beauty truly does begin from the inside and I have seen dramatic results when pairing my favorite skincare with supplements such as B vitamins, Chinese herbs, anti-oxidants and probiotics-- just to name a few.

May 12th

Natural Facial Care for Your Skin Type
The natural facial care shelves are loaded with hundreds of products. Which ones are right for you? Holistic Aesthetician Traci Reazer guides us through a daily healthy skin care regimen for three common skin types. She discusses a variety of natural facial care products and the properties that make them effective. Take a fresh look at face care!

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.

Jojoba Oil!

One of my beauty staples is organic jojoba oil. It is very similar in molecular structure to our skin's own sebum, or natural oil and is very well received by the skin. It penetrates beautifully without causing breakouts and is one of my secret weapons.
If I am too tired or rushed to do the full DH regimen in the evening here is what I do instead:

1. Put about a quarter-size squirt of jojoba oil in my palm, massage into skin to dissolve makeup and grime from the day.
2. Dip both ends of a q-tip in the oil, use to remove eye makeup.

3. Remove with a warm compress.

4. Spray toner directly onto skin, wipe off with a cotton round. This will get rid of any makeup residue.

5. Spray five squirts of toner into palm, press into skin.

6. Pat any remaining oil around eyes or on the lips.


Here are a few other great uses for jojoba oil:

*Mix with shampoo or conditioner when hair is looking dry and dull or scalp is feeling tight or irritated.
* Use for facial or body massage, mix with essential oils or use alone.
* Use as a moisturizing serum underneath your regular moisturizer during winter months to protect the skin from dry, cold weather.
* Use on an infant to remove scales from cradle cap.
*Apply to eczema or psoriasis patches.
* Mix with salt or sugar to make a body scrub.
*Add to a bath for extra silky skin.

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.

Skincare Consultation

I have helped probably thousands of people pick out skincare products over the years.
For part of that time I was working in smaller stores that sold only their own brand and after that I was with a natural pharmacy and a natural grocer who both sold lots of natural skincare lines ranging from very inexpensive to top of the line.
At both of those jobs I was an esthetician which almost made it harder in some cases. I would ask questions and get a lot of "well....you're the professional, what do YOU think?" Or I would get customers that would misunderstand why I was asking certain questions and get defensive. Here is what I normally would ask. In parenthesis is what information I was really after.

1. What are you currently using? (what is your price range?)
I'm not judging you. I don't care if you are using Clean & Clear or La Mer, you don't need to tell me every single product you use, I just need a ballpark range. I don't want to show you the $50 eye cream if you only want to spend $7.

2. Do you prefer a foaming or creamy cleanser? (what kind of skin do you think you have?)
Someone who is normal/oily will usually want to use a foaming cleanser while a normal/dry or mature client will want creamy. I don't usually say 'what is your skin TYPE' because no one is in one set category their entire life. I will also never say 'I can see you have mature skin' or 'I can see you have acne.' I know that everyone is very sensitive about their appearance and I would never want to be insulting.

3. Going back to #1 this also tells me if this is a person who wants every serum and eye cream out there or just wants a very basic regimen. This also will tell me if they are on harsh prescription topical products. If so, I would never suggest something too "active." (glycolics, enzymes, etc.)

4. Do you use sunscreen? (please tell me you use sunscreen)
This is basically a chance to educate customers on the damaging effects of the sun. A lot of people will say they aren't 'in the sun' often. Most sun damage I see here in Texas is on the left side of the face, where the skin is exposed while driving.

5. Are you taking supplements? (a good multi-vitamin, fish oil, probiotics and antioxidants are great for the skin and if someone has a particular problem that is not going away, treating internally can really help.

6. Are you under a lot of stress? (do you manage your stress well?) Most people have stress in their lives, it's just how modern life is. If someone tells me they are really having problems with their skin, and also they have a really stressful job and don't exercise, eat right or otherwise manage it, then that tells me that maybe they need a yoga class, not a new moisturizer.

I am always amazed at what most people use on their skin. 'oh, just bar soap.' 'ummmm....I don't remember, just something from the drugstore' or the worst: ANYONE over fourteen using Clean & Clear or Biore pore strips. (don't get me started...that's a whole other blog)
Everyone knows their skin better than I do, especially under fluorescent lights and a coat of foundation. I've had customers get mad at me because I can't tell them what their skin is like. I would need to take off their makeup, touch their face, ask lots of questions and look at their skin under a magnifying lamp in order to have even the first clue. I'm an esthetician, not a clairvoyant. If I could ask one thing of my customers it would be to take back their power, get to know their skin and it's habits and to be open to making lifestyle changes. Not everything can be fixed by a cream in a pretty jar.
Oh! And don't fully trust people on commission or with no formal skincare training. They don't always have your best interest at heart.