Tag Archives: skincare

Make Your Own Spa-Quality Skincare Products

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By: +Katie Kaleita, writer for Vitacost.com

A day at the spa is a nice treat, but it’s also an expensive one. That’s why we’ve compiled this list of homemade skincare recipes to help you stay pampered – without having to take out a second mortgage.

Cleansing facial mask

  • 1/4 cup raw, organic honey
  • 1 raw egg, beaten
  • 1/8 tsp apple cider vinegar

Honey is well-known for its anti-bacterial properties, while apple cider vinegar can function as a toner to help tame oily skin. To make this simple mask, mix together ingredients in a small bowl – you may need to melt your honey in the microwave first to achieve a liquid consistency. Apply mixture to face and neck. Let it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Coconut cuticle cream

  • 2 tbsp coconut oil, melted
  • 3 tbsp olive oil
  • 2-3 drops essential oil of your choice

Are dry, ragged cuticles driving you mad? Whip up this super-easy concoction to soften ‘em up. Simply mix coconut oil and olive oil in a small, microwave-safe bowl. Heat for a few seconds, then add 2-3 drops of your favorite essential oil. Soak hands in warm water for few minutes before massaging the mixture into your cuticles.

Refreshing foot soak

  • 1 gallon water
  • 1/4 cup baking soda
  • 1/4 cup Epsom salt
  • 15 drops essential oil of your choice

After a long day, treat your feet to this relaxing foot soak. Boil the water, then add it to a basin (one you can comfortably rest your tootsies in) and let it cool a bit. Toss in the baking soda and epsom salt, let dissolve. Finally, add your favorite essential oil for a soothing scent. Next, add the final ingredient: your feet!

Satisfying body scrub

  • 1/2 cup sweet almond oil
  • 1 cup finely ground sea salt
  • 10 drops essential oil of your choice

In a small bowl, mix together the oil and salt to form a creamy paste – if it’s too scratchy, add more oil. Apply all over and gently scrub in a circular motion to slough away dirt, oil and dead skin cells.  Rinse to reveal softer, more refreshed skin!

This article has been provided by the folks at Vitacost.com. Offering more than just vitamins and supplements, Vitacost.com has a wide selection of over 35,000 organic, natural products for your healthy lifestyle. From organic foods and bath & beauty items to sports nutrition favorites and pet essentials, Vitacost.com has your needs covered – for less! Take your shopping list to Vitacost.com and take the cost out of healthy living. Vitacost.com is not affiliated with this blog and isn’t responsible for content outside of this article.

 

IPL laser and why it’s good for spring

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If you’re looking to revamp you complexion in time for spring – why not check out IPL laser? This non-surgical procedure can improve your complexion, so let’s find out more about this innovative treatment.

How does IPL laser work?

IPL laser uses intense pulsed light technology to successfully treat skin problems including acne, rosacea, sun-damage, fine lines and wrinkles, broken capillaries, age spots, blemishes, birthmarks and port wine stains. Bursts of red or blue light are shined onto the skin and these penetrate the tissue – stimulating your body to remove the injured cells. This process is known as photorejuvination and is available at numerous skincare clinics across the UK and the world.

IPL laser can also improve the tone and texture of your skin and is able to even out pigmentation. It can hydrate your complexion and requires very little, to no down time (depending on the strength of the laser) making it very popular with people of all ages. Flushing of the skin and acne scarring can be rather embarrassing, but this treatment will help reveal you natural luminosity.

When will I see results?

Dramatic results can usually be seen within a relative short period of time, although a course of treatments is usually recommended – to make sure all problem areas are taken care of. IPL treatment packages can be put together by experienced practitioners who will advise you on the best type of treatments for your skin type, so don’t hesitate to visit your nearest clinic.

If you’re desperate for a flawless complexion you might want to try additional treatments such as microdermabrasion. This non-surgical procedure polishes the top layer of the skin and helps to open your pores. Similarly, chemical peel can improve your appearance, by removing dry or damaged skin cells. Different peel formulas are available, so you can choose something that suits your skin type and complexion.
Why is IPL ideal for spring?

There are many ways to look beautiful throughout spring, but IPL laser will help you stand out from the crowd. It will leave you with skin to be proud of and should boost your confidence throughout the warmer months. You won’t have to hide away in baggy clothes and can show off your beauty in fashionable clothes. Come summer, you’ll even be able to don shorts without worrying about the broken capillaries on your legs and can walk around with pride.

Learn more about IPL laser today and get ready for the warmer months.

Sun Protection: 4 Skin Care Products with Built In Protection

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The damage the sun can do to your skin has been well documented, horror stories of people going on holiday and being unprepared are all too common and the consequences can be very serious indeed. Many people believe that sun protection is only required when on holiday in a country where the temperatures are in excess of 20 degrees Celsius, this couldn’t be further from the truth. In this article we will be looking at 4 products that have built-in sun protection and seeing the benefits and drawbacks of all four, lets get started.

Dove Deep Moisture Facial Lotion: SPF 15

Dove prides itself on natural skin care, we all remember Dove being present on the shower shelf and it seems that in order to keep up with the industry Dove have been releasing a string of SPF based products.

This Deep Moisture Facial Lotion packs in all of the natural goodness that Dove is renowned for however the main issue here is that the product seems to have been discontinued depending on which source you read. So overall a highly recommended product but hard to get your hands on.

Colway Platinum Collagen Gel

Colway manufacture a wide selection of collagen based gels and cosmetics and their flagship range is the Platinum Range, sold in the UK at Collagen UK. There is built in sun protection however that is only the start – as we age our collagen levels begin to dissipate however the biologically active collagen found in the Platinum range actually stimulates natural collagen growth, producing some pretty spectacular results, some before and after posts here.

Clinique Sun Protection Face Cream SPF 30

Clinique have also entered the SPF arena and this SPF30 face cream has become quite popular. One of the big advantages of the cream is its ‘oil free’ base, this is great for those with particularly oily skin, believe me oily skin, sweat and oily face cream don’t produce the most attractive results! Great for holiday and for at home when you are out and about Clinique seem to be onto a winner with the SPF 30.

Neutrogena Healthy Skin Face Lotion with SPF

This is the odd-ball in our review, Neutrogena are again a brand that have given us the impression that natural is the way forward and many buying this cream will be buying into this, much in the way that both Dove and Simple market their products. However one of the overiding opinions from reviews from around the web is the burning sensation that this product creates when applied. Personally I’m not too interested in face creams that burn so I would advise those with sensitive skin to perhaps try a more natural feeling face cream with sun protection.

So that rounds up our look at 4 skin care products with sun protection. Remember the sun shines everywhere so make sure you are protected no matter where you are!

Exfoliate Your Way to Smooth, Sexy, Unbelievable Skin!

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So have you ever looked in the mirror and really (no really…?) liked what you saw looking back?  Wish you had celebrity skin?  Who doesn’t!  As women, when our skin is rockin’, we feel unstoppable.  And almost nothing gives us more confidence than great looking skin…well, maybe other than a new hand bag.

But you CAN have rockin’ skin and you can achieve it by using a skincare treatment that EVERYONE is talking about.  And that my friend is…Exfoliation.

Exfoliating is the process of removing dead cells from your top layer of skin.  But did you know that there are two ways to exfoliate?  Yup!  Chemical exfoliation and manual exfoliation.  So get ready for your Exfoliating 411.  Chemical exfoliation uses acids such as BHA (Salicylic Acid), AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) or benzoyl peroxide that eat away the dry skin.  Manual exfoliation uses small granules or abrasive particles, usually suspended in a soothing cream, which scrubs off the dead skin.  Easy peasy!

Now for the hard part…which do you use?  It’s up to you!  I prefer a more natural approach, so I always recommend manual exfoliation.  Exfoliating benefits most skin types; however those with rosasea or very sensitive skin should go easy.  No worries though, most skin types can tolerate some form of mild scrubbing.

Exfoliating the skin on a regular basis (twice a week), can help improve many skin issues such as clogged pores, black head, white heads, hyper pigmentation and dry, dull skin.  And it’s not just for your face!  Scrubbing the skin on your bod will help with clogged pores or rough skin there as well.

Check out Sensaria’s Microdermabrasion Crème with volcanic pumice that’s suspended in a soothing cream with azulene from the chamomile plant for the face, and for the body, go for the Rejuvenating Salt Mud, which detoxifies the skin, as well as exfoliates it, using volcanic silt, a blend of Japanese mushrooms and wasabi.

Use both twice a week and you’re almost guaranteed to barely recognize the woman with gorgeous skin looking back at you!