g l o w

Green Cosmetics

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 05:16:00 +0000

Everyone is getting into green living. We regulate our thermostats, bring cloth bags to the supermarket, and recycle our bottles and cans. But not everyone has carried their environmentally-friendly habits over to their cosmetics. And they should. Because harmful chemicals in makeup are not only bad for the environment ... they're harmful to you, too.

Deborah Burnes is a leader in green cosmetics. She believes something as simple as a bar of bath soap shouldn't require a degree in chemistry to figure out what makes the bubbles bubble.

"Simplicity is the answer," she says. "You don't need a checklist to be a green person."

Burnes, 45, lives with her family in Sebastopol, Calif. She's co-founder and CEO of Sumbody, a skin-care company that's committed to all-natural, eco-friendly products free of chemicals and synthetics.

She's also written a book, "Look Great, Live Green" (Hunter House, $16.95, 332 pages), which goes beyond being a guidebook to green living. It educates, explains and, as Burnes puts it, "gets the elephant out of the room."

"We've got allergies, ailments and sensitivities we didn't have 20 or 30 years ago with regard to the products we use every day, whether it's shampoo or soap," Burnes says.

"Our bodies weren't meant to bear the burden of all the toxins we're exposed to."

Here, Burnes explains how going green is easier than you might think.

You write in the book about multi-tasking the process of living green. Where can we start?

I love that word because it's simple. There's not a big difference between body wash, shampoo and hand wash. A lot of advertising is window dressing to entice people to buy. You can use shampoo on your body. Instead of five face creams a day, just use one. You save money and reduce the amount of packaging, which is totally out of control.

Does going green mean a chemical-free makeover all at once? And can't that get expensive?

I never suggest getting rid of everything. For every product that you use up that's heavy on the chemicals, replace it with one that's free of artificial preservatives. For example, a bar of my soap would be more expensive than a bar of Dove ($5.95 vs. $1.50). You'll feel squeaky clean with the Dove, but if you follow that with a body lotion, you end up drying your skin trying to get it soft. I call this the "chemical conundrum." You end up using more products than you need. Look at your overall budget. If you swapped two products you use for two that are green, you'll eventually use less and save more money.

Do you think there will be a time when the use of "bad" ingredients in many of these daily products will be regulated?

In my humble opinion, yes. I believe consumers will use their voices with their pocketbooks. Nobody wants to be an enemy of the beauty industry. That's why you see celebrities endorsing products. Money talks. But you can believe in a product and not have a clue about what's in it or possible adverse effects. If it's on "Oprah," it will sell.

"Look Great, Live Green" is available at Barnes & Noble and Borders bookstores andwww.amazon.com. Burnes' personal care and beauty products are available at www.sumbody.com.

Source: YellowBrix, The Sacramento Bee

Skin Care for Aging Skin

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 17:07:00 +0000

Stop age spots in their tracks with sunscreen, and turn bath time into pampering. By Melanie Winderlich Medically reviewed by Cynthia Haines, MD

In a society so focused on looking young, many products and treatments promise to turn back the hands of time and miraculously get rid of wrinkles, age spots, varicose veins, and other signs of aging. Go one step better: Exercising a little protection can do your hands and the skin on the rest of your body a world of good.

Skin Care: Wrinkles in Time "As we age, skin is losing its elasticity and ability to come back to its normal state," says Rox Anderson, MD, professor of dermatology at Harvard Medical School in Boston. "Think of your aging skin as an old rubber band — it doesn't come back right away over time." This is because skin loses elastin — the fibers that create a tight, youthful feel — and collagen. We also lose the fat below the layers of skin, which causes the outer layer to thin and droop, forming wrinkles.

Genetics plays a part in whether wrinkles will be in your future. If your parents have wrinkles, you'll probably inherit this trait. However, there are other factors at work to form and deepen wrinkles — sun damage, poor skin care, and smoking may cause you to look older than you are.

Sun damage. "If you never went out in the sun, you'd still look young at age 90," says Dr. Anderson. Nothing ages skin quite as much as ultraviolet radiation from the sun or tanning beds — and we’re not just talking about your face. Besides premature wrinkling, the sun causes lentigines, otherwise known as "liver spots" or "age spots," that can dot your shoulders, chest, and arms, for example. These flat, brown spots are harmless (once properly identified by a dermatologist), but the skin cancers that may develop fromcontinuous sun exposure are not. The American Cancer Society estimates that more than 1 million new cases of skin cancer are identified a year in the United States.
Poor skin care. If you're not taking care of your skin, your skin won't take care of you. As we age, our skin grows drier and may become flaky and scaly. These signs look worse with neglect.
Smoking. Picking up a cigarette can damage much more than just your lungs. Research shows that smoking contributes to wrinkles and skin aging. In addition to the cosmetic effects of smoking, the habit seems to contribute to the development of skin cancer — the cause is unclear but could be from cigarettes acting as a skin carcinogen or suppressing the immune system.

Skin Care: Delaying the Aging Aging is a part of life, but you still have some control over how you’ll look in the future. "What you do every day affects what you look like and how people look at you," says Anderson. If you sunbathe religiously and smoke like a chimney, your skin may mistakenly tell strangers that you're a lot older than you actually are. On the flip side, good behaviors and habits can help you stay look younger, longer. Here are some tips to help skin age gracefully:

Protect against the sun. It's unrealistic to avoid the sun completely, but you can preserve your skin by wearing sunblock with a minimum SPF of 15, a large-brimmed hat, and protective clothing. Pay careful attention to your hands, reapplying sunscreen often — hands can quickly give your age away if they are dry and freckled with brown spots. Besides looking good, this protection can help guard against the development of many skin cancers.
Follow a healthy skin care regime. Pay as much attention to the skin below your neck as you do to your complexion. Bathe with warm water, not hot — it’s not as drying. Use a gentle body wash or soap-free cleanser to avoid stripping the skin of its natural oils. A rich body lotion, applied right after bath time, can help moderate cases of dry skin. Give special care to rough elbows, knees, and heels.
Eat a healthy diet. The health of your skin can be improved from the inside out. Anderson recommends eating foods rich in healthy oils and antioxidants, substances that protect your cells against free radicals. Fish, rich in omega-3 fatty acids, and green, leafy vegetables are natural antioxidants that are superior to supplements, says Anderson. Green tea also has a high level of antioxidants, called catechins, which may help protect against sun damage. Be sure to drink plenty of water, too, to stay hydrated.

Taking care of your skin at every age is crucial to looking and feeling your best. If you notice significant, sudden changes in the appearance of your skin, always visit your dermatologist.

The Fruit That Fights Wrinkles

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 14:50:00 +0000

By RealAge

You really can fight wrinkles from the inside out. And there's a fruit that can lead the charge.

It's papaya. What makes papaya so perfect? Easy. Vitamin C. Papaya has loads of it, and getting lots of vitamin C may mean more youthful skin -- fewer wrinkles and less thinning and dryness. A recent study in women over 40 confirmed it.

The Mysteries of C
Vitamin C is a natural friend to skin. The nutrient is essential for making collagen, the protein fibers that give skin its strength and resiliency. And being a powerful antioxidant, C also disarms free radicals that would otherwise chip away and weaken collagen. (Did you know? Vitamin C helps protect skin from this sun scourge, too.)

More Food for Your Face
A little extra vitamin C isn't all it takes to plump your complexion. Here are a few more food tips that can help keep your face fresh:

Munch on walnuts. In the vitamin C study, researchers also noted that diets rich in linoleic acid -- an essential fatty acid in walnuts -- meant moister, plumper skin. (Bonus: Walnuts will make this happy, too.)
Ease up on fats and refined carbs. Scientists found both were linked to aging skin. Discover the dark side of processed foods with this article.
Think whole grains. The magnesium and B vitamins you get from them help with the regeneration of skin cells. Find out what foods are mostly whole grains.
Keep the fruits and veggies coming. To stay smooth and healthy, your skin needs a whole slew of antioxidant-rich produce. Like this root vegetable.

Read this article for a complete chart of healthy food choices for your skin.

10 New, Natural Ingredients You Need to Know About

noreply@blogger.com (Unknown) — Sat, 30 Jan 2010 06:03:00 +0000

Nature is still the top source of new skin-care ingredients. These are ones worth looking into by Melisse Gelula

Each season, a new bevy of botanicals, nuts, and berries in beauty products promise to fight aging, calm acne, and brighten skin tone. But how to tell the summer harvest’s hits from its misses? We dug through studies, asked the pros, and unearthed 10 that show particular prom-ise. Some are new to skin-care products (acerola), some have a track record in another field (probiotics and yogurt), and others are performing a new beauty role (shea butter) or riding the wave of a hot skin-care trend (apple stem cells). What follows is our crop of new, natural ingredients that are entirely noteworthy.

1. ACEROLA FRUIT It’s a bit too bitter for breakfast, but acerola fruit contains one of the highest concentra-tions of vitamin C of all fruit, according to Amala Beauty founder, Ute Leube, particularly if it’s unripe. Of course, you want to get your skin in contact with vitamin C, since it’s an antioxidant that’s been proven to help prevent premature aging and melanin deposits (brown sun spots), as well as minimize signs of sun damage already done. But unlike potent forms of vitamin C that can be irritating, high-concentration fruit extracts don’t tend to take a toll on or irritate skin. Who’s got it: Amala Beauty Rejuvenating Hand Cream ($42,www.amalabeauty.com), John Masters Organics Vitamin C Serum ($30,www.johnmasters.com), and Dr. Hauschka Re-generating Day Cream ($80,www.saffronrouge.com)

2. APPLE STEM CELLS The long-living Uttwiler Spatlauber apple (malus domestica) is being tapped for its stem cells, which, according to studies published in a 2008 article of Life Extension, pre-vented sun damage, smoothed wrinkles, and even stimulated hair growth. Stem cells sound scary? Picture a carrot top or avocado pit suspended over water and growing anew. That’s what apple stem cells aim to do for skin and hair. Who’s got it: Clark’s Botanicals Cellular Lifting Serum, ($355,www.clarksbotanticals.com), Lamas Beauty Chinese Herbs Regenerating Scalp Serum ($45, www.lamasbeauty.com)

3. ARGAN OIL Oil from the pressed nut of the Moroccan argan tree is a boon for especially dry, sun-damaged skin, since its high concentration of essential fatty acids (omega-6 and omega 9) help supplement what the skin loses with age, and imparts antioxidants like skin-nourishing vitamin E. The deeply moisturizing nut oil also helps keep skin hydrated, while the leaf extract has a humectant (water-drawing) action, which plumps wrinkles. Who’s got it: Kahina Giving Beauty Facial Lotion ($52, www.kahina-givingbeauty.com), Ila Beyond Organic Night Cream for Rejuvenating Skin Cells ($99, www.spiritbeautylounge.com), and Aveda Green Science Line Minimizer ($85; www.aveda.com).

4. BLACK CUMIN SEED OIL The seeds from this Mediterranean and Middle Eastern herb are cold-pressed for a fatty-acid-rich oil that’s used in dietary supplements and now many skin-care products. The composition of the oil—and its special adaptogenic properties, meaning it’s a stress-reducing antioxidant—make it ideal for skin that’s especially dry or dehydrated, has an impaired moisture barrier (chronic redness or flakiness), or needs a serious reju-venating boost. Who’s Got It: Intelligent Nutrients Intellimune Oil ($45, www.saffronrouge.com), Jonathan Product Green Rootine Hair Silkening Crème ($24, www.sephora.com), Grateful Body Midnight Oil Body Oil ($21.95, www.gratefulbody.com)

5. CARROT SEED OIL Biodynamic beauty brands like Jurlique and Dr. Haushka were some of the first to use the orange-tinted oil, loaded with vitamin A and beta carotene, but now a handful are following suit, proving the theory that if its good for your diet, it’s good for you skin. Like many oils, the most prized is cold pressed, which promotes cell renewal and helps minimize signs of sun damage, along with providing deep moisturizing benefits. Who’s Got It: ISUN Skin Restore Nourishing Body Oil ($40,www.beautyhabit.com), Erbaviva Stretch Mark Oil ($28,www.saffronrouge.com), Carol’s Daughter Bring in the Moisture Essential Serum ($11.50, www.carolsdaughter.com)

6. SUPERBERRIES AND CHERRIES What do acai berries (from South America), Goji berries (from China and Tibet), and cof-fee cherry from the coffee tree all have in common? Chart-topping antioxidant values and loads of vitamins, minerals, and fatty acids. Take goji, one of the world’s most nutri-ent-rich berries, says Margo Marrone, founder of The Organic Pharmacy and skin-care line, “It contains 19 skin-repairing amino acids, 21 trace minerals, essential fatty acids, vitamin E, and many unique compounds. In fact, of its 23 polysaccharides that reduce inflammation and promote cell regeneration, four aren’t found anywhere else.” And both acai and coffeeberry have ORAC scores (a measure of antioxidants in foods used by the United States Department of Agriculture), of 15,000 or more, well-exceeding prunes (5,770), the highest-ranking antioxidant food. Who’s got it: Sumbody Supernatural Body Wash with acai and goji ($17.95,www.sumbody.com), The Organic Pharmacy Rose Plus Brightening Complex with acai and goji ($166.38, www.theorganicpharmacy.com), Priori CoffeeBerry Tightening Serum 99.2% Natural, ($75, www.prioriskincare.com)

7. MANUKA HONEY Obviously companies like Burt’s Bees have made honey a beauty aid in every house-hold. But Manuka honey, a variety that hails from New Zealand, has active, medicinal qualities that make it make it a terrific topical treatment world-over. “It kills acne-causing bacteria, helps soothe skin irritations, and gently exfoliates and hydrates skin,” says the founder of Plantogen, Elda Argenti, who makes a 100 percent pure manuka mask for spa facials. Who’s Got It: Living Nature Manuka Nourishing Hand & Body Cream ($41,www.saffronrouge.com), Pai Geranium & Thistle Organic Moisturiser for Combination and Oily Skin ($35.50, www.paiskincare.com)

8. PROBIOTICS Lactobacillus, acidophilus—they’re in your yogurt, and now in your beauty products. These face-friendly bacteria do a balancing act for your skin’s flora, making them great for acne-prone skin and eczema, according to preliminary studies in the British Journal of Dermatology and the Journal of Dermatological Science. And Katerina Vassilatou, head of Research and Development at Korres, says yogurt makes an excellent cos-metic ingredient, particularly for oily, dehydrated skin thanks to its levels of lactose and proteins. This natural lactic acid helps tame the oil yet increase moisture levels.Who’s got it: Korres Yoghurt Moisturizer ($29.50 WEBTK), Miessence Probiotic Skin Bright-ener ($54.50, www.miorganicproducts.com), Nude Advanced Eye Complex ($108, www.nudeskincare.com)

9. SHEA BUTTER You’ve seen it for years in the body-care section, but the super-moisturizing salve is now slipping into products for the face and hair. That’s because nut butters bolster the skin’s natural moisture barrier, nourishing cells and helping to prevent water loss. It does a similar service on frayed and frazzled strands, by restoring shine as it smoothes the hair shaft and seals in moisture. (Expect to see more nut butters, from Brazilian cu-puaçu to Californian cashew.) Who’s got it: Biodynamic Facial Souffle Elemental Herbology ($144,www.spacenk.com), Kevin Murphy Born Again Conditioning Treatment ($25,www.amazon.com), SheaTerra Organics Rose Petal & Red Bush Shea Butter Face Cream ($25, www.sheaterraorganics.com), Revolution Organics Multitasking Beauty Balm ($28; www.revolutionorganics.com)

10. AND KEEP AN EYE OUT FOR ALFALFA Organically farmed alfalfa is behind a new ingredient called VitanolBio, and was just ap-proved by Ecocert (the French organic regulatory body). It looks to have a similar effect on the skin as retinol, a top anti-aging treatment of wrinkles and collagen production, says Niki Wilson, a cosmetic chemist, who recently learned about the ingredient and predicts it will soon be scooped up for use in natural and organic skin-care products. “The science sounds really good and yet the ‘natural retinol’ likely won’t have the irritation associated with the chemical version.” Nice and natural.

Melisse Gelula is a spa beauty expert with a CSI-like approach to skin care products. She is the former editor in chief of SpaFinder lifestyle and beauty editor of Luxury SpaFinder magazine.