A product can be
labeled organic is 100% of the ingredients meet organic standards.A natural product cannot have more than 1% of
unnatural ingredients in its formula.
Ph balance is a balance of moisture in your skin;
keeping the beneficial oil on your face at a level that will protect your
skin.A ph level of 7 is optimal to keep
our skin from being too oily or too dry.
Preservatives protect the integrity and effectiveness
of ingredients in a product.Products
that contain water need a preservative if it will not be used within a few
days.Water is a breeding ground for
bacteria which will eventually breakdown all ingredients and cause a product to
be less stable.Our preservative combination,
Phenoxyethanol and EDTA is used at 1% or less.
Parabens are preservatives.The most common are Methylparaben,
Propylparaben, Ethylparaben, Benzylparaben, Isobutylparaben, and
Butylparaben.According to an EPA study
parabens displayed estrogenic activity in several tests, which means the
chemicals mimic your body's own hormones and can have endocrine-disrupting
action.There have been studies that
link it to breast cancer.Parabens are a
widely used preservative and are found in food, pharmaceuticals, deodorants,
and cosmetics.
Phthalates are fixatives that make a fragrance
last longer and stick to you or your clothing.Phthalates can be found in many artificial fragrances; any item that
contains a fragrance, laundry products, air fresheners, hair and nail products,
cosmetics, etc.When you read fragrance
on an ingredient label it can hide up to 200+ ingredients.These do not need to be listed on the label
because it can be considered a trade secret and therefore this information is
allowed to be kept from you.They
affect the reproductive system; are linked to stillbirths and miscarriages and
birth defects.They can also damage the
liver, kidney and lungs.One way to control the chemicals you ingest in
day is to watch what you inhale.Make
sure the fragrances you surround yourself with are organic essential oils or
fragrance free products.
Sulfates are the primary foaming agents in
soaps, bath gels, and shampoos.It also
increases the permeability of the skin, which is a concern when you considered
the ingredients that accompany sulfates in a product.Sulfates can dry your skin and for those with
sensitive skin it can cause irritation, rashes and aggravate more serious skin
conditions.Most commonly known as
Sodium Lauryl (Laureth) Sulfate (SLS). SLS has been linked to1,4-dioxane(a known carcinogen) and nitrate contamination.
What
Are These?
Cremes/Lotions/Moisturizers
work to protect
your skin.Not only do they restore
moisture to your skin but protect against moisture loss and even pull moisture
out of the air to draw into your skin.
Serums are an intense restorative skin
product.They are packed with active
ingredients and work deep into the layers of your skin for fast results.
Exfoliating keeps our skin renewal process at a
regular rate.As we age the rate which
our skin cells renew themselves slows down.It is good to exfoliate every 3 to 5 days.This stimulates new skin cell production and regulates this process.
Masques cleanse, nourish, and tighten our
skin.They draw out impurities that are
deeply embedded into our skin.
Toners rehydrate and refresh your skin.They are also important in balancing the ph
balance of your skin.Without this
balance your face can end up being too dry and prone to infections, or too oily
leading to breakouts.Dry, combination
and mature skin benefit the most from toners.
Astringents are often used with Toners.They strip away the oil and dirt from the
skin.Toners are applied afterward to
restore the ph balance and keep the skin from getting too dried out from the
astringent.Oily and acenic skin benefit
the most from astringent.
The
Basics For Beautiful Skin
1. Cleanse - Too often people take this step for
granted.Remember you are washing away
all the contaminants from the day and dead skin cells.Cleansing should be done in the morning and
at night, with extra emphasis at night.Our skin cells regenerate while we are at rest, and if it is not working
through all the dirt and oil build up from earlier in the day it is going to
work better.
2. Tone - Toning keeps the ph balance of your
skin in tact. If your skin is too dry,
it does not have the natural oils from your skin to protect it.If it is too oily, your pores will be clogged
by and it will cause breakouts.
3. Hydrate - Moisturize with lotions, cremes, or
moisturizers.These protect your skin by
keeping moisture in your skin.Dry skin
can lead to cracked and chapped skin, which leave you vulnerable to various
bacteria.
Extra
Steps To Take - But Not Everyday...
4. Exfoliate - Exfoliation rids the skin of dead skin
cells and stimulates your skin to produce new skin cells.
5. Masque - A masque once a week draws the dirt and
oil out of the deeper layers of your skin.A good masque will also, tighten and nourish your skin.
Going
The Extra Mile
These steps are deeply connected so even improvement in one
area strengthens the others.
6. Eat Right - Sugars and quick snacks for bursts of
energy are no match for sustained and steady energy you get from eating natural
foods.Stay away from prepackaged food
and eat what you prepare yourself.It is
time consuming but worth it.Your body
functions better with healthy food, and if you are feeling better, it will improve
your sleep, thinking, and general well-being.Life takes energy and it starts with the food you choose.
7. Sleep - Lack of sleep affects your body, mind,
and emotions.Sleep is connected to
food.Studies show that the less you
sleep, the more you eat and it is likely to be a sugary snack for the energy
boost.When your mind has a chance to
rest your body can focus on renewing itself.
8. Reduce your
stress - Stress
drains you of everything.It affects
your health and ages you.It can lead to
depression and affects your sleep and eating habits.Stress is a reaction to feeling a lack of
control in a situation or circumstance in your life.Through meditation/prayer, one can gain
perspective and even insight and regain the control in a situation thought
lost.
