Beauty Exposé
V OL U ME 1, I SSU E 1
S U MMER E D IT ION 2010 /2011
Inside this issue:
Look a little closer… More people are searching for healthier skin care products and opting to use brands that claim to be natural or promote the inclusion of specific natural elements. Unfortunately all may not be as it seems as many brands that include some natural ingredients (usually minimal amounts) also have a wide variety of chemicals still as part of the formula. It is important to read the ingredients list to ascertain just what is actually contained in the product and this will also give you an idea of just how much is included. The higher an ingredient is on the list the greater the quantity included. There are some ingredients quite commonly used in skin care products that are not good for you or your skin and products containing such ingredients should be avoided.
We are going to look at 3 of these ingredients in this edition of The Beauty Exposé:
The Natural Guru 2010
Mineral Oil/Petrolatum/ Petroleum jelly/Liquidum Pariffinum A Hydrocarbon derived from petroleum. It is extremely occlusive, remaining on the skins surface. It is used in cosmetics mainly because it is cheap and it's use justified by having the benefit of being able to prevent moisture loss from the skin. It is akin to covering your skin with cling wrap but with much more dire results; it blocks pores and causes formation of blackheads, leaches required vitamins and minerals from the skin, interferes with cell development and the skins ability to eliminate toxins and may also contain contaminants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons) that are carcinogenic. It also interferes with the skins natural lubricating function and with continued use exacerbates dryness of the skin.
Propylene Glycol This is widely used in cosmetics as a moisture vehicle, to hydrate the skin, plumping it up and diminishing fine lines and wrinkles. It is used as antifreeze and in hydraulic and brake fluids. Propylene glycol is a strong skin irritant and can cause problems in both liver (abnormalities) and kidneys (damage). Parabens (Butyl, Ethyl,
Beauty Tips
2
Make up—Preparing the ‘canvas’
3
Medical Science and Alternative Therapies
4
Aromatherapy Part 1
5
About D&M
6
Special points of interest:
Methyl and Propyl) These are preservatives that are widely used in cosmetics. They destroy enzyme activity and thus inhibit microbial activity. These preservatives can get into the blood stream and, as such, the organs of the body where the preservative activity continues, limiting the body‟s enzyme activities. Cancerous tumors dissected in laboratories showed paraben residues and their suspected carcinogenic potential led to the banning of parabens in Japan
Not all ‘Natural’ products are so natural. A promoted natural ingredient doesn’t make the product All Natural. Chemical concoctions in skin care can cause health issues. Read the ingredients list of all products before purchasing them.
Beauty Tips.
Summer Essentials – Manicured Feet - Sacred Sage 2010
Book yourself in for a do-it-yourself pedi and get your tootsies beautifully groomed for the summer season: Cut & File nails to shape prior to soaking your feet. Tip: Keep a little bit of length on your nails to elongate the look of your toes and feet.
Are your feet ready for exposure during the summer season?
Brighten stained nails by squeezing lemon juice onto cotton pads/ balls and rubbing all over your nails. Tip: Leave the soaked cotton pads/balls on top of your nails for 3-5 minutes for extra stain removal power. Remove ridges by lightly buffing your nail plates (top of your nails) using a block buffer or a gentle nail file. Tip: Only buff on the nails with ridges and only until a powdery coating appears on the nail plate- Do Not over buff! Soak your feet in warm water for 5 mins to soften your cuticles and skin. If you have a cuti-
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cle softening product, apply to your cuticles and leave for a couple of minutes. Wrap a tiny piece of damp cotton wool around an orange/ bamboo stick and gently push your cuticles back. Tip: Add a few drops of essential oil to the water prior to soaking to stimulate tired feet- try Rosemary or Peppermint essential oils.
Cooling Foot Balm for a real feet treat! Tip: Put some bed socks on and go to sleep and wake up with rejuvenated, soft and energized feet.
Remove calluses and dead skin build up using a variety of tools- a callus shaver (only use on calluses), a rasp and a pedi paddle. Ensure your feet are damp and gently use the callus shaver over calluses, then work the rasp briskly back and forth over the dead skin build up and finish with the pedi paddle to smooth the soles of your feet. Tip: Apply some foot/ body lotion to your feet prior to callus and dead skin removal for a soft finish and to reduce the chances of removing too much skin.
To keep your feet in tip top condition throughout summer: Applying cuticle oil and foot balm daily. Have them next to your bed so you can just pop it on before you go to sleep.
Paint your toes nails the next day and you have summer ready feet! Ensure you use a good base and top coat to prevent staining and chipping!
Exfoliate your feet weekly with a scrub, pumice stone or pedi paddle in the shower. Remove chipped polish and apply new polish as soon as chipping occurs. Give yourself a full pedi every 3-4 weeks.
Massage a couple of drops of cuticle oil into each cuticle and nail. Try D&M‟s strengthening and nourishing cuticle oil. Tip: Buff your nails with a 3 way buffer for that professional finish. Lather some foot balm onto your feet and massage it in- try D&M‟s Volume 1, Issue 1
Make yourself over Part 1 – Skin Prep - Sacred Sage 2010
It‟s very easy to get caught up in the daily grind and apply the same make-up every single day. But every now and then we all look in the mirror and think I‟m really sick of what I look like! Well with summer and 2011 fast approaching now is the perfect time to refresh your look using easy tips and techniques to suit your skin and features. We are stripping it all back and starting with skin preparation. We‟ve all
heard the saying “you need the perfect canvas to start with” so let‟s invest a couple of minutes into skin prep to give you just that- a perfect canvas!
“Try these quick solutions and see which one/s work for you:”
Problems and Solutions Does your skin look dull even after you have applied your make-up? Your skin is probably a little lifeless and in need of a boost. Try these quick solutions and see which one/s work for you: Apply a light, hydrating moisturizer underneath your foundation if you don‟t already do so. Use an illuminating product underneath or on top of your foundation to give your face a healthy glow. Apply most prominently to the top of your cheek bones, bridge of your nose, centre of your chin and forehead and dust the excess over your chest. Think about when the last time was that you exfoliated and if it‟s been a while aim to exfoliate twice a week. Apply a night treatment product before you go to bed for a vibrant and well rested complexion ready for morning make-up application.
Beauty Exposé
Does your make-up wear off quickly or just disappear? This generally occurs on oily skin types and if: The make-up formulation has a high oil content which is unsuitable for your skin. Your skin requires more pre make-up preparation or the use of a primer. You are using poor quality make up with minimal lasting power. The chances are that your skin is quite oily and the best skin preparation for you involves the following quick steps: Cleanse your skin in the morning and if you like to moisturize in the morning only apply a tiny amount of a suitable and a light moisturizer (free from mineral oils) to your skin. Allow your moisturizer to be absorbed for a few minutes and then apply a primer. A primer will give your skin a good base to work with and will enhance the staying power of your make-up. NOTE: If you don‟t apply moisturizer in the morning, then just
cleanse and prime your skin. Apply your foundation and concealer and allow it to set for a couple of minutes. Sweep and gently press some translucent powder over the top to seal. Apply powder and/or bronzer and blush. Continue with further make-up applications.
Do you experience caking or blotchy make-up? There is nothing more irritating than realizing your make up is blotchy once you have finished applying it all! Normally this occurs when you don't leave enough time between applying your liquids (moisturizer/ foundation etc) and your powders causing the powder particles to group together and set on the moist areas of your skin. The other cause of caking and blotchiness can be due to the application of cream based products on top of powder based products- ie a cream blush on top of your bronzer or powder. Always stick to using products with the same base to
ensure your make up application is even and always allow a few minutes between applying your liquids and your powders with extra time if you have applied a moisturizer and/or a sunscreen as well.
Does your make-up crack? Usually this occurs on skins that tend to be dry and/or dehydrated and by using foundation and concealer products that are unsuitable for your skin. People with a tendency to dryness and or dehydration should be applying a light but hydrating moisturizer underneath their make-up and should be using a foundation with a high oil content to protect against further dryness and cracking. With the above make -up issues exposed and the inclusion of a good skin prep rout ine you should now be able to turn your face into the perfect canvas every day!
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Medical Science and Alternative Therapies. - The Natural Guru 2010 Many people have not heard of the term 'Iatrogenic Disease', not surprisingly, as it is a term Physicians would prefer you did not learn. The term is a reference to disease caused by medical intervention of a health problem by a physician and/or medication prescribed. Most people would recognize the term more if I said 'adverse reactions' or 'side effects'. If we look at iatrogenic disease caused by medication we are describing illness or ill health in varying degrees as a direct result of taking medicine prescribed for a specific complaint. An example would be the development of thrush in a person as a result of ingesting anti-biotics.
A Doctor’s Hippocratic oath states “First do no harm”
A recent television programme that compared alternative therapies/ medicine to scientific drugs caused me to be alarmed by the bias and the fact that the host, a professor at a prestigious university, and a scientist himself, concluded that people should trust the scientific drugs created by scientists as it proved it's worth through having to undergo double blind testing to ensure it's safety and viability. No-where in the programme did the host mention that many deaths and many more suffer ill health, caused by these scientific drugs and their 'iatrogenic disease'. Neither was it mentioned that many drugs that have undergone the double blind testing are removed from use due to the dangers of serious disease or death after having been on the market for a period of time. Medical science has indeed come a long way in terms of developing medication which can provide relief from health problems, however, it is not the only form of relief to be found for
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health issues nor the only proven means of sustaining health and addressing health related problems. Alternative therapies and medication developed from natures bountiful array of supplies have been used since the beginning of mankind and, indeed, many formulated scientific drugs are based on elements from natures medicine chest. Why medical scientists feel threatened or alarmed enough to produce such a programme proclaiming their drugs are better and should be trusted more is beyond my comprehension. I feel that scientists and medical professionals should be more open with regards to alternative therapies and their benefits for some people. Perhaps learning to work along with rather than against natural therapies should be practiced. The host of the television show did try some alternative therapies but made it quite clear from his comments that he believed it was all hocus pocus nonsense. It was quite obvious that his intention was not to be open minded to the alternative treatments but rather to find fault with them due to his lack of faith or belief in them. In my opinion faith or belief in any form of help for health related issues will have a bearing on the outcome of results. This is quite clear when you take the fact that during double blind testing of scientific drugs patients given nothing more than a „sugar pill‟ find cure or relief from their illness being 'treated'. Their belief that they are actually being given the real drug enables the power of the mind to procure the healing
intent and result. If there is no faith in the drug, regardless of where it came from, the power of the mind based on the belief that it will not work procures a result equal to the power of the lack of belief. In conclusion; Why should it matter if someone has more faith in and thus gravitates towards natural (alternative) therapies for their health issues? If they find relief or cure for their problem through these forms of help it should be of no consequence to anyone else. I believe it is time for science, and those practicing in this field, to realize that they are not alone in their ability to provide relief, help or cure for health issues. Science is not perfect and its belief in how you must prove everything before it is viable or true needs to be reconsidered. It cannot prove how we homosapians came into being yet here we are! Scientists and orthodox medical practitioners also need to allow other people to believe in what they wish without prejudice and trying to change their ideas and ideals to be the same as theirs. We are all different and, as such, what is right for one may not be so for another. Let us learn to live with that rather than trying to make everyone conform to one ideal.
Volume 1, Issue 1
Aromatherapy— using essential oils around the home. Part 1 - The Natural Guru 2010
Essential oils are the life force of the plant from which they come and are highly concentrated so care needs to be taken when using them. There are many essential oils available on the market with each having its own variation of properties that can be employed to aid the mind and body during times of stress, dis-ease or injury and these beautiful oils can be used at any time to create an atmosphere or simply create a wonderful aroma around the home.
There are several ways in which the aromatic oils can be delivered to the mind and body; through massage in a massage medium, through evaporation in an oil burner, room sprays, bath, or a medium such as body lotions or creams and shower soaps etc. Once the oils have been dispersed onto the body or inhaled through breathing the evaporated oil/s they deliver results according to their properties. Some oils can be ingested but should never be administered in this manner unless advised by a qualified aromatherapist. Oils that have been administered through a medium (shower gel/soap, a lotion or cream or in a carrier oil) begin to be absorbed through the skin and eventually find their way into the blood where they can circulate through the internal body and deliver their properties as required. The essential oil/s or components unused in procuring a result are simply eliminated from the body via exhalation, sweat, urination or defecation. Oils inhaled are taken into the brain, where they can initiate hormonal release responses and into the nasal passages, sinuses, throat and lungs, where they can immediately procure result; from here they also find passage into the blood stream and initiate responses as they circulate throughout the entire body. This form of administration works well for sinus and lung congestion as well as for things such as depression and fatigue and is the perfect way to create a specific atmosphere within the home. Certain memories can be invoked when specific aromas are smelled, e.g. when a woman wears a particular perfume for a period of time Beauty Exposé
others in and around her life will recall her when that aroma is smelled even if she is not in their presence. With this in mind you can burn a specific oil or oil blend at special occasions Christmas, Mothers day, Birthdays, etc.) and begin the process of creating memories for those who attend the occasions. Fragrant oils or Essential oils? Essential oils and fragrant oils are two entirely different things. Fragrant oils are synthetic smells created to mimic pleasant smells from nature. They are uniformly cheap and readily available from many stores ($2 stores right through to high class department stores) but they have no therapeutic values, they simply smell nice. These synthetic fragrances can cause sensitivity to the nasal passages and sinuses and some people experience headaches when they are used as well as develop skin sensitivity or rashing if used in a medium and delivered to the skin. Essential oils on the other hand vary in price from oil to oil but even at the lower end of their price range are more expensive than fragrant oils. They also smell differently from their synthetic nemesis (try smelling a synthetic fragrance and the real thing, the difference will be notable) and are available through chemists, health stores and shops/stores that sell alternative therapy items. All essential oils should have a use by date on the bottle, the Latin and common name of the oil, storage instructions and the term '100% pure essential oil'. Just to confuse things a little more, there are essential oils that are of B.P. Standard. These oils are still 100% pure but can be made from different species and harvests of the plant and may have undergone further processing so that a specific standard (set by the British Pharmacopeia) is obtained. In such oils there is no variation as it conforms to the standard and thus remains constant, whereas in essential oils that are not of B.P. Standard there can be variations depending on that year‟s harvest, where the plant was grown and how and when it was harvested. B.P. Standard oils are fine to use for the
therapeutic value but are to be seen as of a lesser quality than the purest oils not set to any standard other than what Mother Nature delivered. Please note: It is vitally important you purchase your essential oils from a reputable supplier as there are some unscrupulous people who adulterate their oils simply to make more money. Ask questions about the supplier's oils, where they come from and their process for purity assurance. If they are not forthcoming with their answers or cannot give you assurances then look for another supplier. Storage of your essential oils Essential oils have a shelf life and should be used before this date. This shelf life can be lessened if the essential oils are not stored correctly as light, heat and oxidation can destroy their properties. The correct storage conditions are:
In a coloured (amber or cobalt blue) glass bottle
Away from direct sunlight
Do not refrigerate
Away from a direct heat source
Below 30 degrees centigrade (optimum temperature is 16 degrees centigrade)
Ensure caps are screwed on correctly after using
Use of a storage box for essential oils is recommended as it will help to keep light out and maintain a cooler temperature. If you follow the correct storage conditions for these precious oils they will remain viable for use until their expiry date arrives. In our next Beauty Exposé we will look at choosing and blending essential oils. Page 5
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