FORBES
30
May
FabFitFun
27
May
4 reasons to exfoliate
The dry climate of winter and furnace heat combined dries out your skin. People exfoliate with textural elements like sand, sugar, and dry brushes, or opt for non-physical options like hyaluronic acid, which is especially important when the temperature drops. Here are four reasons to exfoliate, especially during colder months, and prevent cell dye-off.
Why You Should Exfoliate in the Winter
1. Reducing Dry Skin
Homes have low moisture content during the winter because of hot, dry air produced from furnaces. This extra warmth dries your skin out and creates flakey, itchy, ashy areas. Exfoliating removes excess skin and promotes new cell growth, which reduces itchiness and improves comfort.
2. Improving Moisturizer Success
Areas coated with dead skin cells can’t absorb as much moisturizer. When you buff off dead skin, you’re providing better access to lotions and creams for new pores. Exfoliating first in your skincare routine ensures these tiny holes can take in moisture better.
3. Bettering Coloration
Dead skin cells are grayish, making your skin look unhealthy and dull. As you exfoliate and remove the top layer of cells, you’ll uncover the healthy skin underneath. Exfoliating evens out skin tone by balancing dry and oily areas, giving your cells a natural, youthful tone and glow.
4. Minimizing Blemishes
Using physical exfoliants like textured scrubs reduces skin blemishes. These unique materials get into the pores, taking out dirt and sweat that cause acne. Exfoliate your entire body to address acne on the back, arms, and neck while promoting soft skin. Adding this to your skincare routine prevents pimples and lowers pore size, which reduces clogging and makes them look less noticeable.
Wild Ark
13
Jan
Dry Brushing
What is dry brushing?
Dry brushing has been used for centuries around the globe. The Chinese used fibers of a fruit called silk squash. Native Americans used corn cobs. As a child my mother would use cornmeal. In all cases the premise is the same: the scrubbing must be done on dry skin.
30 years ago a Finnish doctor began recommending his patients to dry brush to stimulate, exofoliate and detoxify the body. This appears to have taken dry brushing from cleansing to detoxifying. Over a third of the germs and toxins in our body are excreted through our skin. Logic would tell us that increasing this flow is beneficial to the skin through dry brushing.
My first experience was years ago in Morocco in a small village bathhouse where stones similar to pumice were used. In Finland, I had a similar treatment but birch twigs were used instead of a brush. When I lived in France, a similar procedure was used on dry skin to reduce cellulite.
How to
Brush before your bath when you are completely dry, standing in the shower or tub. Brush towards your heart starting at your feet. Be gentle and stay away from any cuts, bruises or sensitive skin areas. After brushing, bathe in lukewarm water and follow up with your favorite nourishing body oil. Clean your brush regularly and store it in a dry place.
Benefits
The main benefit is exfoliation – no more dead cells on the skin surface. Your skin will be baby soft. In winter we tend to have drier and flakier skin so dry brushing makes the skin healthier. It eliminates black heads by cleansing your pores of toxins and debris.
It circulates blood flow that helps eliminate toxins and waste from our largest organ: our skin. Proponents of dry brushing claim that it stimulates the lymph flow thus detoxifying the body. The reasoning is that the lymph system is just below the skin’s service and the brushing increases activity and flow. It is known to tighten the skin reducing the appearance of cellulite.
As it opens your pores, the skin absorbs more easily moisturizers and lotions. We of course, use our body oil afterwards. Scented with ylang ylang and black pepper essential oils, this luxurious Body Oil seduces the senses to a state of repose. With each use, skin is optimally hydrated, smoothed, and softened, giving the body an enviable glow.
Georgia Mountain Laurel Magazine
31
Dec
31
Dec
EatingWell
08
Dec
Pomegranate Seed Oil
History
Pomegranate seed oil began it’s journey literally eons ago. Native to Persia the pomegranate is one of the oldest fruits on the planet. It was known as the nectar of the Gods. Its first journey was to China in 100 B.C. For Christians the pomegranate represents hope of life eternal. Some scholars believe it was the pomegranate and not the apple that was the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden.
For the Jewish religion, it represents righteousness. In China it represents wealth and is a common wedding present. In Buddhism, it is one of the three blessed fruits along with peaches and citrus.
The varied uses of the tree and fruit include tanning leather, treating leprosy and dyspepsia.
The Fruit
Pomegranates grow on a shrub that can be pruned to look like a tree. They can grow to 20 feet in height. There are some shrubs in Europe that have lived for 200 years. Although there are hundreds of cultivars, only 14 grow in the U.S
Pomegranate Seed Oil
200 pounds of pomegranate seeds are need to make 16 ounces of pomegranate seed oil. There are approximately 800 seeds per fruit. This luxurious oil is made by cold pressing the organic seeds.
The luscious oil produced by the pomegranate seeds contains flavonoids, antioxidants and punicic acid, a fatty acid. This reduces inflammation and hydrates as well as protecting the skin and repairing from sun damage. These components aid in protecting and firming the skin. Research has proven the efficacy of the oil on the skin in its ability to stimulate cell growth of the epidermis. Coupled with its bounty of antioxidants this is a must for glowing and healthy skin.
It easily penetrates the skin without leaving a greasy residue making it perfect for oily and dry skin. The oil is viscous and only a small amount is needed for the skin. This prized oil is found in our eye serum, nourishing body oil and body balm.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
What is Ylang Ylang?
Ylang ylang (pronounced e-lang e-lang) may not be an aroma you know by name, however chances are you have encountered its sweet, floral fragrance. Perfumes and skin care products use ylang ylang as an ingredient, most noteworthy the best-selling perfume Chanel No. 5.
Ylang Ylang Essential Oil
Ylang ylang oil is from the flowers of the ylang-ylang tree, which are native to the Philippines and Indonesia. Steam distillation extracts the oil from the flowers in multiple batches. The first batch is extracted an hour after the process begins, resulting in the highest quality essential oil. Several other batches are extracted at different time intervals.
History
Ylang ylang has a long history, dating back to the fairytales of the Philippines. When a couple asks the gods to give them a child, they receive a daughter named Ylang on the condition that she never know the touch of a man. One day while picking flowers, a suitor takes her hand, causing her to vanish. When a small tree begins to grow where she stood, the suitor names it Ylang-Ylang. This love myth inspired young girls to wear ylang ylang petals and spread ylang ylang petals over the bed of newlyweds.
Medicinal Use
Ylang ylang also serves medicinal purposes. The oil is used to treat malaria and other infections, also it is good for calming stress and rapid heartbeat. In modern day, the oil is used for PMS, high blood pressure, depression, sleep disorders, and also anxiety.
Perfume & Skin Care
The warm, floral aroma of ylang ylang is a staple in perfumes and skin care. Ylang ylang essential oil soothes irritation, moisturizing dry skin. HollyBeth utilizes ylang ylang essential oil in her hydrating Body Oil and Flourish® calming perfume, consequently one of my favorite perfumes of all time. These luxurious organic skin care products nourish and perfume at the same time!
Source – The Essential Oils Book