FOODS!!! “Don’t knock it til you try it”, ok?! here are some crazy cool things to try straight from your kitchen!

1. Whole milk plain yogurt (if you tend to have more oily skin, use skim milk)! With loads of zinc and lactic acid, yogurt can not only help lighten acne scars, but helps close pores, prevent acne, exfoliate dead skin cells, moisturize the skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines. You can blend yogurt with a variety of fruits, cucumber, lemon (this gives your skin a blast of pure vitamin C and acts as a natural bleach to lighten scares) or honey for additional healing ingredients in your homemade facials.

2. Nuts Sunflower seed kernels, sunflower oil wheat, almonds, hazel nut and germ oil are rich sources of  Vitamin E.

More Home Remedies!: this is an incredible one page sight with quite a few home remedies just for acne scars that you MUST check out!!

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NOTES:

1. Be aware that Iron hinders the absorption of Vitamin E (if being taken internally), according to the Acne Resource Center, which also recommends that the two supplements be taken eight to 12 hours apart in order to be effective.2. Know that although the use of Vitamin E improves the texture of acne scars by leaving the skin feel smooth, do not expect it to erase ALL evidence of scarring.

3. Anticipate some forms of Vitamin E to feel greasy, especially gel from a capsule.

4. Expect Vitamin E to have an odor. (Some say it resembles motor oil…this is normal: )

5. If you don’t see the results you anticipated, you can always seek the care of a dermatologist to consider other options.

Okay so right off the bat here, i am happily overwhelmed with information on this subject! My heart goes out to all those recovering from or currently dealing with the effects of any type of acne! Whether you are scaring from mistreatment of breakouts or scaring from the natural effects of acne as a long term skin condition, there are so many natural solutions! (which is proven the best approach).

This is always a great testimony to the Great Designer of our world and everything in it! It’s so amazing to see how herbs, flowers, vegetables, fruits, and plants can help sustain our bodies in so many ways!

Well, lets get going!!

Vitamin E!!!  This natural resource can be found at your local natural food or regular drug store and easily applied in many ways…..

1. Apply Oil Directly You can apply a vitamin E oil directly to your scars at nighttime and work it into your skin just as you would a moisturizer.

2. Lotion Form -Vitamin E also comes in lotion form as well.

(Remember to avoid lotions with mineral oil as it has been know to clog pores, thereby causing more breakouts).

3. Vitamin E Capsules -Another option is to simply take a capsule and crack it open or pierce it with a needle. Apply the liquid contents directly onto your face or any other acne scars. (using capsules secludes the oil and preserves the effectiveness and longevity of the product).
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Hear from others!  

Cant wait to hear from you!

~maresah~

Check out our interview with the Columbian!

A year before “Mad Men’s” Betty Draper and Joan Holloway first sauntered onto television screens in pencil skirts and curve-accentuating dresses, Salmon Creek designer Christa Taylor was building an eponymous clothing line spotlighting those same looks. The underlying philosophy behind the clothes in “Mad Men,” set in the 1960s, and Christa Taylor’s line is that it’s possible to emphasize a woman’s hourglass shape and be sexy while leaving something to the imagination.

Taylor started building her women’s clothing line right after completing high school in 2006. She launched her online clothing store, christa-taylor.com, in January 2007.

Her clothes are inspired by 1950s and ’60s icons such as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, Lucille Ball, Doris Day, Audrey Hepburn and Barbara Billingsley as June Cleaver.

Taylor, who was home-schooled, started designing because she was frustrated by the lack of fashionable, feminine yet modest clothing options available.

“I want to feel classy, sophisticated and chic without feeling that half my chest is exposed,” (more…)

Alright! the final step to the simple 1-2-3 before bed system that will change the world as your face knows it!!!

1. Cleanse    2. Tone     3. Moisturize

Following these first two steps with moisturizer is the completing act to a healthier face!

Moisturizers: Prevent and treat dry skin, protect sensitive skin, improve skin tone and texture, and can help mask imperfections.

Application: After applying toner, let stand for about 5-10 seconds and apply moisturizer to fingers. Try not to work the product too much in your hand before applying it to your face as this will break down the product, making it less effective. Proceed by applying the product first to the upper chest and neck (use upward sweeping motions) and continue up the face working the jaw and chin, the cheeks, and finally the forehead. I like this order of application as it prevents my applying too much moisture to the forehead area, which is usually supplied daily with more oil than the rest of your face. You may make a swipe around the eyes, although a facial moisturizer can be a little too heavy for the tender skin there, (this can cause puffiness and sagging) so i recommend using an eye specific cream.

NOTE: Some things to be aware of as you use your moisturizer; the most effective and safe moisturizers should have a lockable top such as a lid that twists to a closed position, or a pump with a lid to cover it when not in use. However, if it be in a tub like container (which many night creams are as they are of a thicker consistency) always use a spatula to remove the product. All of these methods help prevent bacteria growth and prolong the shelf life of the product.

Remember that with all products you are not just looking to “moisturize” the skin, as with this step, but to feed the skin what it needs with appropriate ingredients!   (can’t wait for that post!!)

~Maresah~

On to the next step of those important moments before you go to sleep tonight!!

After Cleansing: 

Tone! A toner refers to a lotion or wash designed to cleanse the skin and shrink the pores. To be honest, many people either do not know about this step or simply don’t think it is necessary. I, however, have found that using a toner makes a wonderful difference in how much moisturizer is used and the reduction of redness in the skin.

Application:     1) Spray directly onto the face with a spritz top nozzle on the bottle.
2) Apply to a damp cotton round, then onto the face.

One form of toner is a freshener –
These are the mildest form of toners; they contain virtually no alcohol (0-10%), water, and a humectant such as glycerine. Humectants help to keep the moisture in the upper layers of the epidermis by preventing it from evaporating. A popular example of this is Rosewater. These toners are the kindest to skin, and are most suitable for use on dry, dehydrated, sensitive and normal skins.

Another form is a Tonic –
These are slightly stronger and contain a small quantity of alcohol (up to 20%), water and a humectant ingredient. Orange flower water is an example of a skin tonic. Skin tonics are suitable for use on normal, combination, and oily skin.

Another form are Astringents –
These are the strongest form of toner and contain a high proportion of alcohol (20-60%), antiseptic ingredients, water, and a humectant ingredient. These are commonly recommended for oily skin types as they are drying, but NOTE that the removal of oil from the skin can lead to excess oil production as the skin tries to compensate for the lack of natural moisture left on the skin. (a little oil is natural and healthy). Witch Hazel is an example of an astringent.  To prevent dehydration, astringent is best applied only to problem areas of skin, such as blemishes.

As toner is formulated to shrink the pores to retain moisture, it is somewhat drying because of this. Therefore, always moisturize afterward(which we will talk about later as our next step)!!

~maresah~

Aveda:
Has a skin care line to target every skin type, along with a wide range of daily, weekly, and monthly specialty care. I have many masks and facial products from Aveda and have only wonderful things to say about them. I definitely like how their packaging is NOT gender specific so gentlemen are comfortable using it as well. Products are available in Aveda product stores and salons as well as the internet.

Pangea Organics:
Every product explains what natural ingredients make up the product and what it does. Very interesting and helpful! I am currently using some of these products and have absolutely loved them! I have not found a store that sells this line, but it is available via internet ordering.
(See their: “very natural”  line)

Arbonne:
Products range from teen focused skin care to the very mature. Generally you must order through a consultant with this line as it is not sold in stores, (contact me if you would like to get in touch with a consultant) or you may order via internet.

Jafra:
Carries a wide range of facial products targeting every skin type from baby to teen to mature. I have and do personally use the Royal Jelly products from this line and have found instant benefits from it! love it! This line, as well, is generally ordered through a consultant as it is not sold in stores (contact me if you would like to get in touch with a consultant) although you can order via internet.

Well, there is some information for you all to munch on for the week!! As i said in the beginning, my goal is to educate on matters of the body in a relatable and understandable way, so as i break down information i will also give more references to check out and easy step lists to follow: )

Stay in touch for next week’s goals as we move on to the next steps of caring for your facial skin (Toning and Moisturizing)!! For as i hope you all know, its just not enough to wipe down with soap!

~Maresah~

What skin type are you? 

Severely dry, flaking, or very mature skin: you’re going to want to use a cream based cleanser. This type of cleanser does not suds up and is formulated to hydrate while cleansing.

Normal to oily/dry skin: you’re going to want to use a foaming or gel cleanser. This type of cleanser is formulated to prevent too much moisture from staying on the skin while offering effective cleansing properties.

Sensitive skin: you’re going to want to use a cleanser that targets your most obvious issue, if that be oiliness or dryness, choose a cleanser which still targets the issue, but more gentle. (many companies do not carry a “sensitive” line per say, but some do) if you suffer from consistent redness, or common allergies to fragrances or astringents, just do a little research and find whats right for you.

Ladies and ….gentlemen!!! The necessity to wash our faces is something not to be overlooked!!
To think of all the nasty things in the air, on our hands, and in daily products that come in contact with our faces is simply disgusting!!

Now think about all the things i just listed and imagine going to sleep tonight. You’re going to fall on the same pillow case you slept on last night, You will fall asleep, start to dream, and your body will begin its night process of restoring and repairing not only your skin but your mind and internal body as well. On the surface, your pores will open on your face as you softly begin to sweat (or heavily depending on who you are) and allow the release of toxins from your body. As this process is happening, whatever is on the surface of your skin will begin to seep into the freshly opened, desperately thirsty pores.  Thus begins an unhealthy, habit forming cycle that produces premature aging, unnecessary skin conditions, breakouts, and unhappy morning faces.

The simple solution to wash your face BEFORE you go to sleep will save years from showing up on your face, help you wake up more refreshed, and actually aid your body in ITS attempt to help repair YOU each night as you sleep.

So now i’m sure you’re saying, “Ok, Maresah, it sounds like a simple solution, and i could probably dedicate three minutes of my time before i go to bed at night to prepare my face……..BUT, what in the world do i use? and better yet, How do i do it?”

Well, there is a reason this is called “How To”….i will do my best to never leave you hanging or wondering where, when, or how to do something!

GOALS FOR THE WEEK: 1) Find out if your cleanser is really right for you. 2) Find a cleanser right for you. 3) learn to cleanse more effectively.

So here we go!!

Step 1) WASH YOUR HANDS!!!! Never attempt to cleanse your face without first preparing the instruments to do it; in this case, your hands. also, use a clean towel to dry them… (i generally keep two hand towels for myself, one for my face and one for my hands) this way i don’t have to worry about carrying bacteria from one to the other.

STEP 2) CLEANSE YOUR FACE. Start by splashing some luke warm water on the surface of your face, neck, and upper chest. Apply no more than a dime to nickel size of cleanser to finger tips. Briefly massage in 3 circles into fingers and transfer to face. Begin with the forehead working in outward circular motions, down around the eyes, over the nose, around the lips, along the cheeks and jaw. Move down to the neck area (apply more product if necessary) and use an upward sweeping motion from the clavical to the chin as you cleanse from one side to the other. Move down to the upper chest, and cleanse using circular motions from one side to the other. Allow product to sit for about 10-20 seconds (prolonged exposure to a cleanser can cause irritation so please remember that a cleanser is NOT a mask, it is simply meant to breifly cleanse).

STEP 3) RINSE WITH LUKE WARM WATER. This temperature will not only be sufficient to break down the product, but will help calm the skin, reduce dehydration, and help prevent redness which are all caused by using too hot of water. (Anyone trying to cleanse in the shower and having issues with dry or red skin??) Once rinsed, pat dry with your face specific towel.

The whole cleansing process should take no more than a 40-60 seconds. Very quick. Very simple.

Enjoy the pics!

My Dress:

By  Photo credit by Holly Gantenbein  , Dress Christa-Taylor

Jewelry designed for the dress, by Cynthia

Portland Fashion Synergy, board of directors.

Christa-Taylor Raincoat on the runway.

Several Portland Designers were shown, I was privileged to be among them.

Q: Would you like a straight up answer?

A: Curl them BEFORE you apply mascara!!

Whew, now that we got that out on the table, let me give you just a few pointers.

Curling the lashes is a simple 3 step process, again, done BEFORE the application of mascara.

Step 1. Position lash curler as close as possible to the base of the top lashes and curl (if you are too close, however, you can risk pulling lashes out so be careful).

Step 2. Slide curler half way down lashes and again, curl.

Step 3. Slide curler to the tips of the lashes and again, curl.

Now that you have completed the proper lash curling steps, go ahead and apply your preferred mascara!

Has anyone experienced an “oops” moment with their lash curler? Feel free to share…..I’m sure we’ve all done a similar thing at one point or another: )

~maresah~