Fabulously Cheeky

I was recently reading about chemabrasion with Phenol, a substance that causes burning and blistering of the skin on the face. The purpose of this barbaric procedure is to get rid of fine lines and wrinkles by removing the top layer of the skin, and then growing new skin over the next 3 – 6 months! You may have seen some before and after pictures of people who have had the procedure done, but has anyone ever told you of the risks involved in this procedure?

In case they haven’t, I’ll tell you myself. The person has to first be anesthetized, to be able to endure the procedure, because needless to say, having acid poured over your face is not painless! Then the acid is poured or painted on the skin, and the skin is covered with a tape mask to make sure it goes as deep as possible. And, do you know how deep the Phenol actually goes??? It goes right into the bloodstream!

If it is poured on too quickly, it can enter the bloodstream at such a concentration that it can change the heart rhythm and atually make your heart stop. And, if that isn’t bad enough, the acid can also damage the eyes, if it is dripped into them by accident, and the lungs, from breathing the vapors!

In addition, the patient has to sign a release form before the procedure where she accepts the dangers of the procedure and takes responsibility for wanting the procedure anyway. And, of course, the docs have a disclaimer at the bottom of the contract where they don’t even guarantee any desired outcome!

Besides the fact that you can die, your lungs can collapse and your eyes can be damaged in the procedure, there is also the danger of infection, permanent disfigurement and you can almost count on pigmentation changes.

I can’t even imagine that women will accept such horrible procedures just to reverse the aging process of their skin. We have become so identified with our outer “packaging” that we have completely forgotten who is inside! We have forgotton that the energy of GOD or the universe, whatever you choose to call it, flows through all of us and expresses itself in so many ways! So, why are we so obsessed with temporary beauty, which, unfortunately, will fade over time, no matter how much we resist?

We have lost our connection to source, or GOD, that’s why. When we look inside, there is just a deep, dark hole there, that has to be filled, somehow. A new car, a new mate, a new face…

But the problem is, the hole cannot be filled from the outside. It doesn’t matter what we try to fill it with, the emptiness still remains. You can ask the richest person you know, and if they are honest, they will admit that the emptiness becomes darker the more they accumulate. Why? Because they KNOW that things don’t make you happy! At least poor people can still hope that they’ll be happy if they achieve their material goals, but when you have achieved everything you ever wanted, and you are still unhappy, then what???

Then, it is time to realize that you are on the wrong path. Looking outside for happiness, is not the answer. We have to start looking within. Who are we, and why are we here? This is what we are here to figure out. Not “how can I stop my face from aging,” or “how can I be eternally attractive so I never have to face my loneliness and emptiness again.” The truth is, that whenever we try to fight the natural cycles, we are bound to lose, so why waste energy on that which is not permanent?
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I was hoping to get some feedback yesterday about what sizes you would prefer my new skincare line to come in, but I guess you prefer to be lurking in the background, and that’s ok. (You can still comment, if you change your mind). If, however, you are anonymously interested in my new skincare line, you are welcome to send me an email using the contact form button at the top of the page, and I’ll send you notice of new products, and occasional promotional offers, samples and coupons. Your email address will never be sold to anyone, it will only be used to send you updates and offers about my new, totally natural, non-toxic, chemical free, green, anti-aging, luxury skincare line which is going to be released soon. So, right now, I am starting to collect a mailing list of interested individuals. Therefore, if you want to join my mailing list so you can be notified directly, just send me a quick email with “green cosmetics” in the subject line.
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Tags: natural skincare, non-toxic skincare, Skincare

Hi all you lovely ladies out there. Some of you might already know that I am currently in the process of developing a completely chemical free, non-toxic, green luxury skincare line. I believe that everyone should have the right to buy products that are good for their skin, health and the environment, so my new product line will be made with the finest natural ingredients that can benefit your skin. However, I will tell you more about the products at a later time.

Right now I need to ask your opinion about bottle and jar sizes. When buying a new skincare product, what do you prefer to buy first:
Sample sizes
Travel sizes
or Full sizes
Are there any of these sizes you would not usually buy?
I would very much appreciate a small comment on this issue, since it would help me decide what I should offer for sale.
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Tags: natural skincare, non-toxic skincare, Skincare

How can you tell if your skin is hydrated? There is a very simple “pinch-test” you can do. Lightly try to pinch your skin in different areas of your face. If the skin goes back to normal in less than a second, your skin is hydrated, but if it takes 2-3 seconds for it to go back, it is dehydrated.

Often times, you’ll find that the skin on your cheeks and chin is fine, while the skin under your eyes are dehydrated.

Why does the skin under the eyes get more dehydrated than the rest of the facial skin? It is because there are almost no sebaceous glands under the eyes, so there is basically no oily barrier to stop evaporation of water from the skin in that area.

This is why it is very important to to treat the eye area with the correct products. This area needs moisture, first of all, and also very light oils that can create a barrier that stops the evaporation of fluid. My two favorite products for the eye area are:
the very hydrating natural face moisturizer and the age defying peptide serum. Check it out!
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Tags: skincare tips

Alpha-hydroxy acids and scrubs are both popular alternatives to dermabrasion and chemical peels. Alpha-Hydroxy acids work by dissolving the glue that holds the keratin cells on the surface of the skin together so you can get the dead skincells off. Dead skincells tends to make your face look a bit dull, and when you remove the top layer, the skin looks much fresher and younger. However, as with everything in life, it has to be done in moderation!

In our obsession to dig out younger looking skin, there is always the temptation to use our alpha-hydroxy acids more than we should. So, what happens when we use them too much? The skin can become sore, thin, dry and irritated, and not only that, it becomes way too sensitive to the sun as well. Recently, I read that the FDA had done tests on AHA’s, and they found that after using those acids for 3-4 weeks, the chances of sundamage from UV radiation increased 18%!!! They also found, however, that the sun sensitivity decreased as soon as they stopped using the product, so at least it is not irreversible.

So, how much is too much?
First of all, the concentration of acids should be less than 10% if you don’t want to damage your skin. Dermatologists use much stronger acids, but after one of their chemical peels, you have to stay out of the sun for at least 3 months, and you’ll most likely experience redness, swelling and irritation as well. Well, you may look a lot younger after you have had half of your skin removed, but it doesn’t sound healthy to me! I would prefer healthy skin with wrinkles any day!

Second, it shouldn’t be used too often. It takes the skin about 1-2 weeks to recover from the kind of AHA cream you would use at home, so it shouldn’t be used more than about once a week, or even twice a month, if your skin is sensitive. (And don’t forget using sunscreen afterwards!)

So, how can you tell when it is time to exfoliate again?
If you can rub a finger down your cheek, and feel skincells rolling under your fingertips, it is time to get rid of some more cells. If nothing happens, you don’t need to do it.

The dead skincells actually do have a purpose, even though they look a bit dull. They protect your deeper layers of skin from the environment, so when you keep removing them, you are also reducing your skin barrier, and therefore also your protection against the elements.

So, basically, there is a fine line between exfoliating too much, and not exfoliating at all.

Scrubs are another way to remove dead skincells. However, there are way too many scrubs on the market that are so rough that they literally scratch up and damage the surface layer on your skin. So, stay away from scrubs with pummace, ground up apricot seeds and other very rough substances. Instead, look for masks and natural face scrubs that contain gentle scrubbing agents like oatmeal, corn flour and jojoba beads.

In addition, you have to use your intuition, use your “finger on the cheek” test and if your skin becomes red, dry or sensitive, stop using the product. Moderation is the key.
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So, what solution can homeopathy offer to combat acne? Externally first: If the skin produces too much sebum, it needs to be treated with a moisturizing face oil. Yes, you heard me right – oily skin is treated with oil because the first principle of homeopathy is that like cures like. By applying an oily substance to oily skin, it gives the skin the message that too much oil is being produced, so better cut back on sebum production. This is the homeopathic way. But, before you start yelling at me for being insane, I also have to add that the oils must be non-comedogenic so they won’t clog the pores.

Examples of non-comedogenic oils are:
(0 is best, 5 is worst)
Almond oil 2
Aloe 0
Apricot oil 2
Avocado oil 2
Beeswax 0-2
Calendula oil 1
Candellila 1
Carnauba 1
Castor Oil 1
Emulsifying Wax 0-2
Evening Primrose Oil 2
Glycerin 0
Jojoba 0-2
Olive oil 2
Sesame Oil 2
Soybean Oil 3
Squalane 1

These are the oils you should look for in non-comedogenic skin creams that will benefit acne users. It is probably good to have ONE good deep cleanse from an esthetician first, to make sure that all the plugged hair follicles and pores have been opened, but then healthy oils should be added (don’t listen to your esthetician!!!). And, stay away from products that suppress or strip the oils away! They will just make things worse!

When you suppress the sebum production, you create an imbalance that can make you sick, because many sicknesses are caused by suppression of symptoms on the skin. If you suppress eczema, for example, you can end up with asthma instead. And if you strip the oils away with harsh cleansers and medications, the body has to keep producing more and more sebum. So the nasty cleanser will actuallly make the skin uncomfortably dry and sensitive, and also cause the body to produce more oils to make up for what you stripped away.

Internally: In homeopathy, we never treat single symptoms, we always look at the whole person and their life situation and mental/emotional state as well. This is why homeopathy is called a holistic form of natural healing. If the acne condition is caused by a hormonal imbalance, a remedy can bring the body back into a state of balance, and the acne will heal itself as a result.

Homeopathy is an awesome form of alternative healing that, unfortunately, is not very well known. To read more about homeopathy, or to see my homeopathic psychology book “Beyond the Veil of Delusions,” you can visit my website @ http://www.homeopathyonline.biz.
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Tags: homeopathy

From a homeopathic point of view, the symptoms we are experiencing, in this case acne, aren’t really the problem. The problem is caused by a deeper, underlying imbalance, and this imbalance is what needs to be addressed.

Basically, it is the overproduction of sebum that needs to be balanced, but balancing something is very different from suppressing it. Retin-A simply suppresses the production of sebum without balancing anything. The thought behind it is that if we can reduce the production of oil, the acne problem will go away, which sounds very logical. However, the problem with this kind of thinking is that, not only do you get dependent on using a suppressive product on your skin everyday, it also has side effects that you have to put up with:

Some of the side effects are: Less oil on your skin, which leads to drier skin, obviously! Drier skin means less protection against the elements. Drier skin means more sensitive skin. Drier skin means more tendency for appearance of wrinkles. Retin-A also leads to suppression of keratin production, which are cells that create a protective barrier against the elements. So, you end up with skin that is drier, thinner, more sensitive, and more prone to sun damage! And, who wants that???

In addition, they also found that because Retin-A improves cell turnover in the hair follicles, they could use it as an anti-aging cream as well. But, for a so called “anti-aging” cream, it seems to me that it can just as well be causing what it is supposed to cure!!! And, from a common sense point of view, increased cell turnover can just as easily turn into an overproduction of skincells in a localized area, which is actually the definition of a tumor… Even though there is no research that I know of that links Retin-A to tumors, intuitively, I know there is a connection. Overproduction of skincells can easily get out of control, especially when suppression is involved too, and when it does, it is my personal opinion that pre-disposed people can eventually end up with skin cancer!

So, basically, Retin-A is actually upsetting and harming the natural balance of the skincells and oil glands in an effort to suppress acne and remove wrinkles. However, suppression cannot cure anything, ever, because suppression doesn’t follow natural law. What is pushed down, must either come back up with a force, or it must go somewhere else instead. This is just simple physics….
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Anti-aging skincare and products to create blemish free skin are extremely popular because everyone wants perfect skin. One of these products, Retin-A is commonly used for getting rid of both acne and wrinkles, usually by prescription of a dermatologist.

What is Retin-A?
Retin-A is a medication used to treat acne and unwanted lines and wrinkles on the skin. It is supposed to be one of the only products that can effectively make a difference when it comes to removal of wrinkles, but the question is, at what price?

How does it work?
It actually does a few nasty things to your skin – like suppress your sebum production (oil production) as well as the production of keratin cells (surface cells on the skin), and this is why it is a very popular method for treating acne.

Acne is caused by the effect of hormones on the hair follicles and sebaceous glands (oil producing glands). When the glands produce too much oil, the follicles can be plugged through a combination of sticky oil and lose skincells, and if you add bacterias to that, you end up with acne. So the idea is to use Retin-A to suppress the production of sebum as well as the production of keratin cells, because that will solve two of the problems that cause acne in one go. In addition, it was also found that Retin-A stimulates the cell turnover in the walls of the hair follicles, which will basically push out the sebum and skincells that are clogging the opening, and when that happens, your acne will magically disappear.

Sounds great, doesn’t it? But something is very wrong with this kind of thinking – this is what I call allopathic thinking. For anyone who doesn’t know, I am a homeopathic practitioner by trade, so tomorrow, I will share with you the homeopathic view on the problem of acne.
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Tags: homeopathic, Skincare, wrinkles

A moisturizer is supposed to moisturize the skin, so it has to be able to penetrate the skin and not just sit on the top. If you have dry skin, people love to recommend that you use thick, heavy creams. Although the heavy creams definitely make your skin softer, they don’t normally penetrate the deeper layers of the skin, and they don’t usually have enough water in them to be really moisturizing either. Fat and oil are not moisturizers!

Many of the people who make natural skincare products, often use olive oil based balms with lots of essential oils in them. They avoid putting water in the balm because as soon as you introduce water, you also need to use a preservative. So they avoid the water and put lots of essential oils into the mixture instead. There is a possibility that essential oils can have a preservative effect if you use them in a high enough concentration, but the problem with that is that they can be highly irritating to the skin.

A friend of mine is selling a totally natural product called “Simply Divine Botanicals.” She was giving her friends free facials to introduce the product line, and I went over to try it. The cleanser didn’t do much on my skin at all, and we had to use it twice. The toner looked like an old cup of coffee, and the moisturizer reminded me of clear shoe polish. I rubbed it all in, and my face looked nice and shiny when I left with a smell of roses strong enough to sink a ship.

Before I got to the post office, which was about 10 minutes away, there was an odd, prickling, hot sensation on my forehead. I picked up the mail and went straight home and looked in the mirror. I looked like I had the measles!!! My whole forehead had broken out in a nasty rash, and my cheeks were starting, too. I dug out my own cleanser and started cleaning it off. The oiliness was so heavy I had to use my own cleanser twice, just to get it off. By then my face was red and hot, and I felt like an idiot.

Anyway, natural or not, that was NOT what I call a moisturizer. To be truly moisturizing, a moisturizer should have enough water that it becomes a serum type liquid, even for dry skin! Remember, thick heavy oils are not moisturizers and can leave the underlying skin still dry!

The most important humectant, besides water, is hyaluronic acid, which is a natural ingredient that can hold its own weight in water 1000 times, and also supposedly stimulates collagen production. Other humectants can be honey, glycerin and lecithin. Lecithin also has the ability to increase the permeability of the skin so the moisturizer can penetrate deeper. This is great, if your moisturizer contains only natural products, but not so great if it contains harmful chemicals. So read the labels!

A moisturizer also needs to leave a membrane that can keep the moisture from evaporating. This can be in the form of oils, butters and waxes. If your skin is oily or has a tendency to break out, the oils need to be non-comedogenic so it doesn’t clog the pores. So, it doesn’t have to be oil-free. The so called “oil-free” moisturizers are usually so full of chemicals I wouldn’t touch them with a firepoker. It just has to be made with light oils, like olive squalane, jojoba and soybean oil.

So, the three things to look for in your natural face moisturizer is, water, hyaluronic acid, other humectants, and some good natural oils. If it has lecithin, it should be soy based. And, stay away from moisturizers with too many essential oils in them, or you could end up like I did. So, even when it comes to natural moisturizers, we have to watch out and still read the labels.
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Tags: Skincare