Edelweiss Extract and Anti Aging Treatments

I hadn't spent much time experimenting with some of the more exotic ingredients until very recently. I heard about Edelweiss first in The Sound of Music, then again a couple of months ago while talking with one of the gang here, about a product that she had tried. Of course, we are trying to figure out which active ingredient we want, and how to get it! Apparently, it is really popular with women who enjoy North European spa treatments. I bet you can find a spa in your area that has anti aging treatments featuring Edelweiss Extract.






Edelweiss extract comes from Edelweiss flowers, which are short lived perennials. Edelweiss is a German word which means noble and white. The Edelweiss flower is found at altitudes which range from 1,700 meters to 2,700 meters, general in areas with light soil, good drainage and southern exposure.

In ancient times the Edelweiss flower was sought after by men who wished to prove their bravery. Because the flower grew at such heights and was often on cliff sides and in dangerous areas many people were known to have been injured, or even killed in pursuit of this flower, which led many men to wear it in the lapel as sort of a badge of honor. Of course, the fact that the Edelweiss flower was the favorite of the Austrian Emperor Franz Joseph and his wife, the Empress Elizabeth also gave it prestige. The flower became so popular among hikers that the governments of Austria, Germany and Switzerland took steps to protect it in certain parts of the Alps. Today Edelweiss is grown on many continents and is no longer in the danger it once was. It became even more popular however the 1960's when a song called Edelweiss in the popular stage play and film The Sound of Music sang its virtues and beauty.

For centuries Edelweiss extract has been believed to have positive health effects. Edelweiss teas have been popular as well as use of Edelweiss extract in hot milk, often sweetened with honey. Diarrhea and dysentery were two ailments that it was believed Edelweiss extract could cure. People also believed that it could help fight ailments such as diphtheria and tuberculosis. Today research by the pharmaceutical industry indicates that there was something to these ancient beliefs. Used in high quality anti aging and anti wrinkle cosmetics.

Edelweiss extract is used in ancient folk remedies, and is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. Modern scientific analysis has revealed the presence of ultra violet light absorbing chemicals, artifacts of its high altitude environment, making it an effective, natural and organic additive for sun block. Pharmaceutical researchers also are interested in the way some chemicals in the plant prevent amplification of oxides, tied to the aging process.

New: Cool pallette!

Warm Weather Moisturizing

Your facial is finished, your nails are perfect, and your dress is gorgeous. You step outside and within an hour your face has a shine that only another oil slick would love. Sound familiar?

One of the most daunting tasks is switching from a cool weather moisturizer to one light enough for warm, even hot, weather. As you reevaluate your make up shades, refresh your supply of oil free moisturizers and sunscreens. It is easier than you think, but you have to read labels!

• Compare ingredients...

Your fall and winter moisturizers probably show several oils in the first few ingredients. Since skin tends to be oilier during warmer months, it is wise to look for products showing oils further down the ingredients list.

My favorite maneuver is to use a moisturizer that has hyaluronic acid. It doesn't create shine the way many moisturizers do. It seals in moisture against the skin and draws moisture from the environment. In fact, I buy hyaluronic acid alone and use it as the main moisturizing ingredient in personal, warm weather blends. My skin has improved dramatically.

This isn't to say that all oils are undesirable during the warmer months. Jojoba oil is very light and has less shine than a safflower or avocado oil. The key is to spread the oil as thin as possible. Place one or two drops in the palm of your hand, rub your palms together, them pat or lightly stroke the oil on a clean, damp face. This might be all that you need before applying your foundation.

• Do serious moisturizing at night...

Some ladies, and gentlemen for that matter, use night creams as their main moisturizer. You don't have to worry about how it looks with make up, there are no worries about sun exposure, and you look a little better when you wake up! You can also use a heavier moisturizer as part of your home spa regimen. The only warning here is to keep tabs on your skin's behavior during the day as it may become oilier. If this happens, decrease the frequency with which you apply your night cream.

• Do a test drive...

Before a special event, try wearing your moisturizer with the make up you intend to wear, for a few hours. Look in the mirror after 2 or 3 hours to see how much oil or shine is present. This will let you know if you need to make a few adjustments. Use less moisturizer or add a little water.

Don't add water directly to your container of moisturizer, though! This can encourage the growth of bacteria. Spread your moisturizer on your dampened face or add a couple of drops to moisturizer in the palm of your hand, rub your hands together to mix, then apply the mixture to your face.

• Avoid the sun...

A hat, a shady spot, or a colorful parasol will serve you well during outdoor events that start during the afternoon hours. Here, perspiration can add to the break down of your make up and moisturizer. Keep your compact handy! Light dusting of loose mineral veil helps control the shine.

A note about "slip".....

Slip is that smooth glide we seek when applying make up. It is easier to create even coverage for foundation and colors are easier to work with when the skin's surface primed and smoothed. Often, some of that slip is lost when we got to a lighter moisturizer. To preserve slip, look for products that have plant silicones as one of the ingredients. Cyclomethicone is lighter than dimethicone, but both will help your make up glide on while adding a moisture preserving barrier.

I start experimenting with lighter blends during the first weeks of spring, but that time investment isn't for everyone. I just love the creative process, and the results! Read your ingredients, think about problems you have had in the past, and think about your warm weather beauty regimen. There is a product or process, that can solve problems and improve your sense of well being!

Want to see what others do?

I always enjoy seeing how other women create the perfect face. There are as many variations as there are colors and desires!

Use the suggestions here, but don't be afraid to build your own arsenal of techniques to create your look for the approaching summer season!

Let's make Body Sprays!

When spring hits I open windows and freshen the whole house. This, of course, starts my never ending search for the perfect new scent to spritz in the drawers and on the curtains to stretch that fresh feeling....sounds like deodorant, eh?

You might be going through some of the same things and drinking from the same well of frustration, especially when it comes to new body sprays and perfumes. Don't you hate spending money for a scent that smells like any other woman who can pay for it? When guy gets that hint of scent, you don't want it to remind him of his ex, you want him to focus on current events, meaning you!

Using fragrance oils is less expensive that upscale perfumes and body sprays!

Try blending your own body sprays and colognes! Most of the time, it is less expensive than buying from the perfume counter, and the scent is all yours. With a fresh spray bottle, some distilled water or inexpensive vodka and a fragrance oil or two, you can blend a scent that makes you stand out without being over bearing.

Body sprays are the easiest to begin with as you are looking for a light scent that doesn't have to carry the burden of top notes and bottom notes. Buy distilled water at your grocery store, and vodka at the liquor store, then choose the fragrance oil you would like to start with. Essential oils can be used also, but unless you are already accustomed to working with them, fragrance oils are best.



Five drops of fragrance oil go into about 1/4 cup vodka, then add distilled water. This blend has a shelf life of several weeks, allowing you time to adjust the intensity of the scent with distilled water. Why distilled water? Because tap water has chlorine, which kills scent!

This is a basic "once over lightly" for a body spray. There are several sources and recipes that can be just as satisfying and more complex, just surf the web.

Enjoy!!!!!

New Spring Colors: Lips, Cheeks, and Eyes

The end of winter is in sight. I hope you are as happy about this as I am!

Nothing lifts the spirits like planning a new cosmetic color palette, highlighting the perfectly prepped skin I have worked on all winter. All of those days spent experimenting with facials, peels, and creams have paid off and it is almost time to show off!

I start building my spring make up "to do" list mid February, which means I start trying mineral make up samples almost daily. Using compatible shades means I can save buying separate colors for each zone of my face.

New eyeliner colors

I have been known to stick with blacks and browns in my eyeliner drawer but found a wonderful deep green that enhances the eyes while bringing out those lower lashes where mascara runs amok. Since my eyelashes are black, the green allows them to show up without creating a ghastly pale line beneath.

Try pairing pencil colors to define, creating depth with subtle highlights.

I took Pencil Me In - Natural Eyeliner for a test drive and am thoroughly impressed with the staying power. Be sure to look at all of the colors...there's no reason to think this pencil can't be used for other special effects. Picture yourself on a warm, late spring evening grabbing the attention of an admirer with those Marilyn Monroe like eye lids. A little pink above the darker line right at the edge of the lid will cast that perfect glamour. No worries about the ingredients as they are all natural. It even has its own sharpener attached!


Versatile loose mineral powders.

Give me a jar of the right mica or oxide and I can make it work almost anywhere on my body, but right now I need to focus on the lips and cheeks. Not the hollows of the cheeks, but the cheekbones themselves. I want a hint of highlight there, very sheer, that works as the echo to of the deeper, almost opaque lip color. A smoldering kiss that glows at the cheek. Blended with a matte powder, it will carry an etheric but sultry glow just under the brow.

I found Paradise Sand Mica works for cheeks and lips!

A violet shadow might be the perfect highlight for afternoon gatherings, dusted with something that sparkles, for evening. I happen to love Rose Sparks Shadow and Hi Light Violet Shadow. They are light enough to stay in place and to layer without creating that caked on look, with Rose Sparks bearing flecks of glittery minerals guaranteed to catch moonlight.

This is Rose Sparks!

Simplicity = Perfection

I have a feeling that beauty and fashion gurus are cooking up "new" looks that are striking but simple. Using the same colors for lips and cheeks, while adjusting their depth, will make eyes stand out.

Have your new look ready to go when spring settles in....start here!

Taking One for the Team!

This week I received little package I purchased on Ebay.

The price was spectacularly low for the 30% glycolic acid and there were those oh so tempting added items like the "egg white" facial and the "Free 10 Amazing Healing Serums (60.00 Value). Of course, the first thing I did was unpack the items when they arrived. One brown bottle with a label "30% Glycolic Acid" that looked about standard, but things started going south when I saw the "Amazing Healing Serums".

Ladies, how much would 10 capsules of vitamin E cost?

I left my feedback on Ebay, simply stating that the item did not bear the appearance of what I saw on the seller's page, nothing more, then wrote the seller to ask what was in the capsules. What was this "Amazing Healing Serum"?

I then looked at the instructions for the glycolic acid peel. Ladies, would you put an acid on your face and then not take steps to neutralize it? Well, there was no mention of that step in the directions. In fact, "After the appropriate wait time, rinse with cold water and gently pat the skin" is followed with, "Apply appropriate moisturizer". This sort of omission might be harmless for the experiences user. Most of us have baking soda or neutralizers left over from other home peels. What about the the new user?

Well the seller contacted me, harped on the bad feedback, I guess she didn't appreciate the restraint I showed with the one comment I left, but never explained what was in those capsules of "Amazing Healing Serum". They were in a plastic sample bag with directions on usage, but nothing explains what the serum actually is, and I a sitting here looking at it while I type! Should the FDA be contacted and informed of a violation? Naw, I am not so heartless. Something like that would make it impossible for careful and concerned small skin care and cosmetics businesses to keep filling this wonderful niche, and that is not my goal at all.

The seller had a perfect chance to explain the capsules and the reason there were no instructions about neutralizing the glycolic acid, and I told her I would be writing about this in my next article. She accused me of blackmail...oh well. When a few others - and there really aren't that many at all, have left negative feedback, she accused them of not following the directions. I know that my direction were incomplete, so the likelihood that others are is pretty high.

Ladies...and Gents....be careful when you find a really good price on any item. Too often, sellers want to take money for less than stellar products and customer service. I have a feeling that the seller I purchased from is selling on borrowed time.

Contact me if you would like to know more.

Sprained but Smiling...want to know why?

Hello everyone!

The Latest ......

I thought I would start out with some of the fun we've been having with mineral make up, or what I like to call "color play".



Just when I am enjoying myself, I sprain my wrist at the base of my right thumb. Yes, yes it is a cruel world but I will never let something like this stop my indulging my little hobbies. I can use a make up brush with my remaining fingers, just watch!

We've been playing with some wonderful mineral veils lately. I had some of my cohorts try the shades that are too light for my Afro-American / Native American "light chocolate with cherry" skin and the smiles have been heartfelt. The veils give a finished look to well cared for skin bearing the all natural mineral foundations and blushes we all love to use. I haven't tried one of the "preloaded" brushes ... those that you fill with loose powder, but I bet they are pretty handy in their own right.



Special Needs.....

I haven't forgotten my vow to do more home-spa activities for myself. Sometimes I get into a rut with a deep skin care regimen and need to shake things up a bit. I am still truly impressed with the home peels I have found but we all know it takes a while to try every option that might float by. I also found lovely gadgets to use between deep skin care sessions.

Using physical exfoliants instead of chemical or enzymatic exfoliants gives your skin a break from the acids while maintaining a smoother texture. Home microdermabrasion is also a good adjunct to natural peels like apple, pineapple, and cream masks. Simply alternate between these milder acids and your favorite home microdermabrasion kit from week to week. Just be careful. Don't rub the skin raw! It might heal darker than it's previous shade, creating another area that must be concealed.

If you use a system, like Artemis Woman Healing Gems Home Microdermabrasion, the Vita-K Solution At Home Microdermabrasion Kit, or any of the kits that have marvelous gadgets with attachments, be sure to use a good sunblock after your home treatments, assuming you can't avoid the sun altogether!

Choosing a kit.....
Read the boxes and decide based on the ingredients in the creams and aftercare products when you can. Home microdermabrasion kits often provide vitamin serums for use after the treatment is done. This aids healing and protects against opportunistic bacteria. Some kits include a vitamin C serum to help brighten and tighten the skin.

A decent kit will cost between $17.00 (Vita K) and $65.00 (DermaNew). Cost doesn't seen to make much difference with results as far as I can tell. If your skin is going to respond favorably you will know after several uses, so be sensible. If using the kit between home glycolic or lactic acid peels there is really no reason to plunk down top dollar for microdermabrasion. It is better to be patient and enjoy the process!

I Can't Say "Yum" Loud Enough!

Oh My!

If you ever needed a lift, no matter the season, a good scrub for the body does wonders for the soul. Get the perfect scent blended to with natural shea butter and the shower will be your new relaxation zone. I just tried Sugar Butter Delight, also known as Spa Excel Sugar Scrub, and it definitely lives up to its name.

All natural and pretty sinful! This rich scrub lifts the spirits while softening your skin!

It smells great in the shower or bath, and you won't need lotion afterward. Moisturizing oils penetrate dry skin, soothing tightness and itchiness. Every inch becomes supple and touchable. I couldn't decide whether I wanted to just smell it or actually use it...such a dilemma, but I tried it for an evening dinner party. Trust me, people can see the subtle glow of skin that is exfoliated, nourished, and deeply moisturized. I felt great, my skin looked great, and there were compliments, ladies!

Choose the ready made version or create a custom blend with a signature scent that floats with you for hours. My test run was Coconut Melon which is simply divine! It is perfect for snugly evenings with hubby ( winkety wink)!

Ingredients:

• Shea Butter
  
• Pure Cane Sugar
• Coconut Oil
• Jojoba Oil
• Olive Oil
• Castor Oil
• Citric Acid
• Vitamin E
• Add your favorite fragrance!
  

Sugar Butter Delight has found its way to my favorite body care and home spa list. If you love products that serve multiple purposes, try this. I am definitely keeping Sugar Butter Delight on hand!

Happy Holidays!

The greatest gift is the time we spend with those we love. I will be spending time with my wonderful husband and my cohorts in cosmetic experimentation!

Happy Solstice!

Ga-Ga Over Glossi Glaze

I have been experimenting with different blends for lip care for about a week now, evaluating blends that give the results I want. While I love the research before making my own, there are so many products that just don't deliver and I discard any further research into the blend. Not so with my latest find, though.

I snagged a small pot of CS Glossi Glaze and just love it! It is a great blend and worth a try, before you blend a batch for yourself, but is also great to purchase ready made. The blend of castor wax, castor oil, jojoba, and shea butter combine to soften more than most premade glosses. Just add your favorite color during blending and have a shade that balances with your complexion perfectly.

If you are ready to blend your own colors and foundations, along with this luscious gloss, the ebook, Mineral Makeup Secrets Revealed is a must have. It provides a step by step look at blending your own shades. I downloaded this little gem a while back and use it ALL the time!

There's nothing better than seriously moist lips in harsh winter weather. Get yours conditioned with this wonderful find. I think you'll like the results!

Pre-Party Planning: Need a Mild Peel?

Using the calender and natural substances is a simple way to put forth the freshest face possible for holiday festivities. There is still time for treatments to ensure glowing skin in candle lit rooms. Exfoliating chemical and enzymatic masks are straight forward, all natural, and the perfect way to get ready to look fabulous. Apples, heavy cream, sugars and salts can all play an external role and it's easier to rinse the ingredients for apple pie filling from a face then trying to erase evidence of it having been eaten, from thighs.

Two Apples and some honey can tame pimples when blended together until they resemble a paste. The malic acid in the apple acts as a gentle peeling agent and the honey is a natural moisturizer with antibacterial properties. This is a bit milder than a salicylic acid wash or mask and useful if aspirin sensitivities might be an issue. Blend heavy cream with apples and the lactic acid from the cream will join in and soften your face.

Just as most of us have used the cucumber trick on our eyes, crushing or blending the cucumber into a slushy paste can be cooling relief for the rest of the face as well. Cucumber also tightens the skin ever so slightly so this is a great mask to use before special occasions, especially if your soiree is during an evening after you have worked all day. Take about 20 minutes after you wash away your office face and before you put on your party paint. You will look more rested and, more importantly, feel refreshed enough to have fun.

Remember the heavy cream? It's also great with carrots. Put both in a blender and make a thick paste. Spread it on and relax for about 20 minutes. Let the Lactic acid and the Vitamin A from the carrots work their wonders. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.


Since none of these mixtures have preservatives, remember to refrigerate any unused portions. If started tomorrow with one facial every 5 days, skin should look fresher as newer cells are revealed. The psychological boost will be unmistakable.

Have fun!

Doing it at Home

I have always been fortunate in finding ways to get around paying high prices for skincare, mainly because I want to get things from individuals who are most like me.  Small businesses with educated people striking out on their own.  They feel like my friends and not a method to control my behavior.  I am especially drawn to those that don't advertise, but quietly turn out their product, or write the recipes I can tweak for my own evil purposes.

If you are ready to do some mild experimenting there are some staples you should have on hand. These are basic and harmless, and help you evaluate how your skin will respond.

Oils

The oils you stock will reflect your skin type.  Heavier oils, like Avocado and Jojoba are great for dry skin and can also be used as warm oil treatments before shampooing.  Grape Seed Oil is great for mature skin that cannot bear the weight of a heavier oil.  Try blending it with a bit of  Jojoba if you need the extra moisture. Apricot Kernal oil is another choice for blends or to use alone.

Along with these base, or carrier oils, a few essential oils can be added.  Since science hasn't determined the exact effects of different essential oils, we all go by their reputations which have been passed down through the ages.  My favorite essential oils are Lavender, Lemon, Frankincense, Ylang Ylang, and Rosemary.  Always mix the essential oils with another oil or cream and put no more than about 12 drops total in any blend, assuming your goal is to have about 8 ounces of finished product.  For me, 3 or 4 drops each of Lavender, Lemon, and Ylang Ylang is a great blend.  Adding a few drops of this blend to an inexpensive face cream or premade base is always nice.  Lavender is known for its healing properties, Lemon for its skin lightening properties.  Ylang Ylang has been touted as an aphrodesiac, but I use just two or three drops in my dreams because it creates a nutty under tone.  Any more than about 3 drops is overpowering.

Start with small amounts while you experiment, then reinvest in those ingredients that you use the most of.  An essential oil starter kit is a great way to sample the different possibilities.  Many kits will have a booklet listing the properties attributed to each essential oil making the "learn as you go" process much easier.

Why not make this project one of your New Year's resolutions.  Taking control of your skincare is your right.  In the long run, you save money by not paying for corporate advertising and creating your own, sustainable program of skincare.

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Beauty Market Buzz: Herbs and Skincare: Where Should You Begin?

Hyaluronic Acid: The key to Moisture

Herbs and Skincare: Where Should You Begin?

Herbs have always been a mainstay in treating illness. Even though western medicine requires a substance through a series of tests before getting the stamp of approval, allowing pharmaceutical companies billions in profits, there are those plants that have been accepted for their efficacies based on generations of experience.

Borage, WhiteWillow Bark, and Lavender are some of the most common ingredients blended with base oils or plant silicones to treat those little problems that vex our vanities. With the drive for more environmentally concious and toxin awareness, the potential client or customer struggles with labels and hearsay with little help, unless they devote their lives to researching and comparing laboratory names, INCI names, and proprietary blends to find out exactly what they are getting in the $50.00, 1 oz, bottle of eye cream or serum. Of course, research can be fun, but it takes time.

Greatskin borage leaf cleanser

Periodically I search for products using one ingredient as my guide rather than the product's focus. Instead of looking for general eye cream I will look for something that has Borage or Ginseng. Placing a sheet of paper in coat pocket with a list of other names the ingredient goes by, I like to call these their "stage names", helps. In the case of this eye cream, Borage seed oil smooths and softens, very good for fine lines. Ginseng is found in many skin care products that fight fluid retention so I will look for that if I am worried about puffiness under my eyes.

Bioelements Acneplex™ - Daytime Treatment Gel

Many acne products have Salycilic Acid which acts as an exfoliant. This makes a great anti-aging product as well!

White Willow Bark is something that my nature loving friends swear by, but won't recognize it by its lab name, Salycilic Acid. The arguments about this one are interesting to listen too, but its all natural, regardless of what it is called. In a pinch, a paste of aspirin placed directly on a pimple will send it packing before a full 48 hours passes, for most people.

Greatskin Age Defying Milky Cleanser Blended with Pure Essential Oils&Anti-Oxidants

Lavender Essential Oil is one of the best natural cleansers.

Lavender was used by the Roman Empire for personal cleansing, keeping their soldiers from developing nasty infections from reusing personal cleansing items. Remember, they didn't have toilet tissue! I love a bit of Lavender Essential oil in the spray on hair oil I create and use periodically. Lavandula Angustifolia sounds pretty scary but it's the same, wonderfully aromatic oil that the Romans used. It has a reputation that includes soothing nerves, facilitating healing, and toning and revitalizing the skin. Looking for products with this can be time consuming so adding a few drops to my favorite skin cream is great, especially during winter, as long as I don't use it near the eyes.

Don't be afraid to explore products when you need to focus on a specific problem. Sometimes the product that is less expensive and less well known has the perfect ingredient to suit your needs. Your can be realized by planning ahead. As with all skin related issues, analysis is the first step. The GreatSkin® Analysis Questionnaire is a good way to choose which of your personal goals to tackle first!

Enjoy!

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Something New!!!!

I found an interesting product advertised on my Yahoo e-mail called " Dermitage ".  Advertised for dark circles, it's a good bet there are more products for skin care on the way, using  the Dermitage patented blend and delivery system.

Vibran C Firming Eye Gel; not quite Hydroderm or Dermitage, but Vitamin C gels have many characteristics that can be equally effective!

Much different from Hydroderm, the pictures on the main page are not simulated, but actual photos, lending more credibility in an instant.  Dermitage does offer a free trial, though, which should be well worth the time it takes to evaluate the product for yourself.

Why do companies create products, and then conceal most of the ingredients with a patent?  Mainly because they are approved for most of the blends used in the industry and by those who make their own skin care items, but more importantly, delivery methods are changing all the time. After all, having too many ingredients in common with other companies and their offerings wouldn't lend the air of magic needed to create the buzz needed, but changing the way the ingredients reach their intended target is more than a little noteworthy!  Rest assured; there aren't too many surprises lurking in the deep dark labs at Dermitage, which is probably true for Hydroderm as well.

Strivectin SD boasts a great blend, but has one ingredient, included for it's effects, which appears to be harmless.  Definitely try it before making your final decision!

It's always fun to try new products, though and a freebie is the best way.  If you aren't feeling that brave then you can always look at existing products to get an idea of how your skin will respond.  Part of the fun is shopping, but you may also notice that your skin starts responding to the changes favorably, as a new blend may have concentrations of active ingredients that differ from your normal product or blend.

I prefer getting a set of products to try, for skin problems that tend to travel in groups.  Then, I see what is working and start planning!

What would the world be without the variety that continues to pour out of innovative companies?

Enjoy!

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Keeping Your Balance While Keeping it Clean

How we cleanse our skin is just as important as the quality of our daily diet.  As we get older, harsh ingredients cease to be appropriate as skin takes longer to recover from having its pH disrupted and our natural oils stripped from its surface.  It is crucial to change our approach to avoid altering an already delicate balance.

Even mature skin needs to guard against developing acne, contrary to popular belief.  Great Skin Oil Control Cleanser balances the need to maintain the natural pH and oil content of the skin while removing the daily grime that clogs pores and dulls the complexion.

 Great Skin Oil Control Cleanser also acts as a gentle exfoliant, which can delay the signs of aging by encouraging cell renewal, then providing the moisturizing power of Allantoin.  One of the most interesting bits of information about Allantoin, is it's being a derivative of Ascorbic Acid.  With regular use, Great Skin Oil Control Cleanser will result in brightened skin tone and fewer age spots, without the use of Salicylic Acid, a.k.a. aspirin.  This is great for people who are allergic to aspirin and its derivatives.

Remember, once you use Great Skin Oil Control Cleanser , think about the active ingredients, do a little reading, and consider including some of these ingredients in your own hand made toiletries, but do try this formula first to see what the possibilities are!

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A Touch of Blusher: Fall 2007 Makeup Round-Up (#10-#7)

A Touch of Blusher: Fall 2007 Makeup Round-Up (#10-#7)

Stepping out of skincare mode for a moment.....I ran across this post and thought I would share it, mainly for its use of color.

One of the greatest influence on our sense of well being is color. The beauty market buzz ladies, just a few friends who are hooked on analyzing products and reproducing the results on our own, also play with color in blending our mineral make up.

Look at the color palettes and take a mindful moment to notice how you feel when seeing them. If you are extremely organized, jot down the colors that lift your spirits and consider changing the way you buy your cosmetics. It's alright to go with what is popular, but the connoisseur will purchase based on personal feelings.

To enhance your glow, pamper yourself with a personal home spa day. Try blending your own facial scrub the day before to allow the ingredients to "settle in", then gently scrub. Apply your handmade moisturizer or favorite, all natural brand. This creates a new, refreshed skin tone will support you new found approach to beauty. Including mood as part of your regimen is sure to enhance your aura with confidence.

The beauty market buzz is all about a total package. Analyze, then take control. Create your own buzz with an inner glow that comes with choosing the colors that lighten your mood!

Enjoy!

There's Nothing Better Than Free Stuff.....

Discoveries always make me smile and this is no exception. I found a wonderful little ebook with simple recipes for home made bath and body products that I will give away as a little gift to those who subscribe to Beauty Market Buzz or Black Market Beauty news letters and/or feeds.

As the months roll on I hope to widen the collection to include recipes for more complex skin care items, but will always include recipe blends that can be created with items form the health food store, including vitamin C serums, specialty facial masks, exfoliating cleansers....well, you get the idea!

All you have to do is join and the freebie will be emailed. Don't worry, I have no intention of flooding your email like many sites do with daily fluff. Just what I find that will help everyone recover stretch their beauty and skin care dollars!

What are you waiting for?

Warning: You Can Do This Too!

It's always a pleasure to take time out to give our skin a good going over. The more natural the ingredients, the more of our senses get filled and the greater our sense of well being.

L'Occitane Almond Apple Sweet Peel strokes the senses with some familiar home spa ingredients. The market buzz is about the simplicity of this product.

The first impression is that you are going to smell like an apple pie with almond ice cream topping, but this isn't the almond and apple here. Apple cider vinegar is the mild astringent used with almond shells as the scrubbing portion. Very basic, very homey. Rosemary supports the apple cider vinegar as a mild stimulant and glycerin is added to soften newly revealed skin as older skin is sloughed off through scrubbing. This is not only a time saver but a great way to boost your skin during the cooler months that are easing their way to our doorsteps.

Most of the buzz among the beauty market discussion “pod” has been wrapped around the different ways a home made version of this scrub gets altered to include different oils - like almond oil, coconut oil, or olive oil – and even the addition of essential oils. It is a tried and true scrub that can be approximated with turbinado sugar instead of almond shells...the sky's the limit! My little hoodlum, beauty market friends all got hooked on making their scrubs after trying out manufacturer's versions. You should see all the jars.

If you are ready to try this version of a home brewed skincare system L'Occitane Almond Apple Sweet Peel is a good way to introduce yourself to this sort of scrub, before you start blending your own!