skincare

The Truth About Sunscreen

The Truth About Sunscreen

Marketing often leads consumers to believe that sunscreen is a summer skin care essential, however, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), sunscreen should be your last resort.  There is a huge discrepancy between what people think they should be doing for their skin and what is actually safest and healthiest. While some types of sunscreen are safe, many sunscreens are actually...

Skin Care for Pregnancy

So you’ve got a bun in the oven.  What does that mean for your skin?  You could soon be experiencing anything from a “pregnancy glow” to stretch marks and even skin eruptions. Here’s our full scoop on the skin care changes we recommend that Mamas-to-be incorporate into their beauty routine:

Be Super Selective About Your Beauty Products

We highly recommend cutting out products containing toxic chemicals, parabens and additives whether you are pregnant or not, however if you haven’t done so already now is the time.  Your skin can absorb up to 60% of what you put on it, which means that any toxic ingredients in your beauty products are being absorbed directly into your blood stream and can also make their way into your baby’s blood supply and potentially negatively impact your growing baby.  Ideally everything that you put on your skin including soaps, lotions, beauty products and makeup should be chemical-free, pure and organic.   

Tend To Your Expanding Belly

Many new mamas complain about stretch marks across their belly.  While there are great products out there that can help fade stretch marks, it’s much easier to prevent them from forming in the first place.  So what can you do to make it through pregnancy to birth with little to no stretch marks? The answer is quite simple. Take impeccable care of your skin and give it the building blocks it needs to stretch easefully.  For starters, eat foods that will help boost your skins elasticity.  Incorporate collagen rich foods such as bone broth, gelatin, eggs, cod liver oil and other healthy oils in your daily diet.  This will nourish your skin from the inside out and give your skin the nutrients it needs to improve its elasticity.  In addition, make sure to drink plenty of water, which will help keep your body and skin adequately hydrated. Next, give your belly maximum moisture topically in order to support your skin as it stretches.  The best way to do this is by using a highly emollient natural oil such as 100% pure Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter.  Make a twice-daily belly massage part of your pregnancy self care routine.  And finally, ensure that you are getting plenty of the key nutrients that help prevent the formation of stretch marks.  These nutrients include zinc, which can be found in lamb, pumpkin seeds, eggs and whole grains and Vitamin C, which can be found in kale, bell peppers, broccoli and oranges.

Make Sure Your Diet is Squeaky Clean

What you eat is more important now than ever. First off, everything you consume being absorbed by your growing baby, which means that the foods you are consuming are either nourishing or potentially harming the little one developing inside of you.  Second, since high amounts of vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients are being sent straight to your growing baby, your system is getting less of these nutrients than you typically would.  If you aren’t getting enough nutrients that can easily impact the health and appearance of your skin.  Combat this by eating a lot of fresh, nutrient-rich foods such as spinach, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, berries, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and wild caught fish. 

Combat Skin Eruptions

Acne is the most common skin problem among pregnant women and is caused by the secretion of oil induced by increased hormone fluctuations.  The most common area for breakouts during pregnancy is around the mouth and chin.  Avoid reaching for any harsh or acidic products to treat this pesky hormone-induced skin problem.  Instead, treat your problem areas naturally using the following tips:

  1. Avoiding over washing your skin.  Twice a day is plenty.
  2. Change your pillowcase often.
  3. Don’t use a harsh exfoliant.  Instead use something gentle.
  4. Use a natural, simple toner to help absorb excess oil.  Good options for this are rose water, apple cider vinegar or witch hazel.
  5. Make a spot treatment using one TBSP baking soda and 1 TBSP water.
  6. Combat stress and calm your hormones with relaxing activities such as a prenatal yoga class, massage, nap or walk in nature. 

What About Essential Oils?

The use of essential oils during pregnancy is very controversial and there are a wide variety of options on the matter.  According to Naturopathic Doctors, there are some essential oils that are safe to use in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy.  These “safe” oils include lavender, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang, all of which help calm and soothe.  There are also several essential oils which can cause contractions and should be avoided during pregnancy.  Some these include Cinnamon, Rosemary, Clove and Clary Sage.  For a complete list of essential oils to avoid we recommend that you consult your Naturopath or Physician. 

Eczema 101

Eczema 101

What is Eczema?  Eczema is a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding.

What Are the Causes of Eczema?  
While medical science isn’t sure about the exact causes of eczema, there are factors that are thought to be contributors to this condition. The following factors...

3 Small Changes Your Skin Will Love

3 Small Changes Your Skin Will Love

Small changes are actually the best changes because they are much easier (and a lot less stressful) to stick to long term.  Plus over time, small changes add up and become big changes.  For healthy, glowing skin we recommend these 3...

5 Raw Foods That Will Make Your Skin Glow

5 Raw Foods That Will Make Your Skin Glow

“Raw” food is getting a lot of buzz these days, but exactly does it mean to eat “raw”?  Well for starters, the term “raw” indicates that the food has never been heated above 118 degrees (this includes heating through pasteurization) and thus retains all of its enzymes, vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. The Raw Food Diet is rich in...

How to Heal a C-Section Scar

How to Heal a C-Section Scar

Every scar has a story.  Weather you’ve realized it yet or not, your C-section scar happens to tell one of your life’s most fruitful stories, the story of baby’s’ birth.  

While most mamas want to remember the precious moments of their baby’s birth, most don’t need a scar to help recall their story.  The vivid memory of this special day is often enough of a reminder.  So what can do to help minimize the 4-6 inch long mark above your public bone? 

Radiant Skin in your 40's

Radiant Skin in your 40's

Duller skin, uneven skin tone, enlarged pores, more pronounced wrinkles and sagging skin around the neck. So this is 40.

Your 40’s are the years of perimenopause- the period of time leading up to menopause marked by a decline in estrogen levels. This hormonal shift can often lead to thinner skin and the loss of elasticity, which are big contributors to the more noticeable signs of aging that you will most likely begin to see in your 40’s. A proactive approach to caring for your skin throughput this decade can help to protect your skin from further damage and offset the effects of your body’s changing hormones. Here is everything you need to know about caring for your skin in your 40’s:

Radiant Skin in Your 20's

Radiant Skin in Your 20's

Although most signs of aging probably won't kick in until your 30’s, its never too early to start getting into the habits that will help you preserve your youth as long as possible. Good skin-care habits in your 20’s are the perfect foundation for maintaining your youthful glow throughout the decades that follow. Here is what you need to know about skin-care in your 20’s:

Adopt a natural skincare regimen and stick to it
A proper skin-care routine is the foundation for healthy, glowing skin. Start with a gentle cleanser, which removes dirt, oils and impurities from pores and prevents them from getting clogged. Next, restore your skin’s natural ph balance by spritzing a hydrating toner all over your freshly cleansed face. After giving your toner a few seconds to dry, slather a...

Radiant Skin in Your 30's

Radiant Skin in Your 30's

In your 20’s you could easily get away with falling asleep with a face full of makeup or spending the day at the beach sans sunscreen. Unfortunately, at some point we all must begrudgingly bid adieu to that decade of our lives. In your 30’s, you’ll most likely start to see noticeable signs of aging such as fine lines, wrinkles and uneven skin tone. This is the perfect time to revamp your skin-care routine to help slow the signs of aging. Here is what you need to know about skin-care in your 30’s:

Exfoliation is Essential
Beginning in your 30’s, cell turnover and metabolism starts to slow down, causing your skin to look dull and aged. Fret not, my dears. The answer to this worrisome dilemma is simple: just exfoliate! Topical exfoliation (such as a scrub) helps stimulate cell turnover by sloughing away dead skin cells. Many aestheticians also recommend that in addition to topical exfoliation, exfoliate at a deeper level once you hit the big 3-0. This can be done by using an...

The Essential Lifestyle Component For Getting Glowing Skin

The Essential Lifestyle Component For Getting Glowing Skin

Ranging from diet and lifestyle to environmental factors and types of products used, there are many factors that can affect your skin’s health and appearance. Although many of these factors play a role, there are some that have a more noticeable effect on your skin than others. One of the biggest contributors to the condition of your skin is the amount and quality of sleep that you get. Deprive your body of sleep and it won’t take long for your skin to begin showing the beauty-diminishing effects of sleep deprivation. On the flip side, if you consistently get a good night’s sleep you will see visible results in your skins appearance.

How does sleep affect skin? Deep sleep stimulates collagen production and helps our skin cells repair and regenerate themselves. In addition, when you are sleep deprived your body produces more cortisol (the stress hormone), which may lead to an increase of...

Skin Care 101

Skin Care 101

Taking excellent care of your skin is one of the best things you can do to combat aging and maintain your youthful glow, but with so many skin-care products and treatments out there it can be really confusing to know how to best care for our largest organ. That’s where we can help! Our approach to skin care is simple and is centered around good habits and natural (we mean TRULY natural) products and ingredients. Here are our skin-care basics:

Use Products and Ingredients that are in Harmony with Nature
Mainstream cosmetics are chocked full of toxic chemicals, parabens and sulfates that can wreak havoc on your skin as well as your health. Some of these chemicals may help to temporarily alleviate symptoms such as acne, skin rashes and puffy eyes, but in the long run they can cause more damage than good.   For long-term skin health, opt for clean, natural and ideally organic products made without synthetic ingredients or additives. Our favorite natural skin care brand is Pangaea Organics, whose line of all-natural skin-care products...

Skin Food: 5 Foods that Will Give You a Glowing Complexion

Skin Food: 5 Foods that Will Give You a Glowing Complexion

Food has the power to either create beauty or to sabotage it. It’s widely known that diets high in sugar, processed food and chemicals can lead to skin irritations, breakouts and dark circles underneath your eyes. Time and again you have heard and read about the foods to avoid in order to create health and beauty inside and outside of your body. But what foods CAN you eat in order to nurture your natural beauty and help your skin glow its brightest? Here are our top five picks:

1. Kale: Kale is packed with a powerhouse of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, which protect your body against free-radicals and prevent wrinkles. Kale is also very high in sulfur, a mineral that your body needs in order to produce collagen. Collagen helps keep skin soft and supple---so eat some kale and say “hello” to a youthful glow!

2. Turmeric: This brightly colored and aromatic spice is a potent blood purifier, which is essential for clear skin. Turmeric also helps to reduce inflammation and thus protects against premature aging.

All Natural Guide to Preventing and Healing Acne Scars

All Natural Guide to Preventing and Healing Acne Scars

What Is Acne?
Acne is an inflammatory disease of the skin characterized by pimples on the face, neck, back and chest. In severe cases, pimples are cystic and can lead to scarring.

What Are the Causes of Acne?
There are several contributors to this condition. One of the most common causes of acne is a change in hormones. During puberty this manifests as an increase in testosterone. In adulthood, there could be a number of catalysts for hormonal changes including birth controls pills, prescription medications and stress.   Other causes of acne include diets high in sugar and processed foods, pimple-causing ingredients in mainstream beauty products as well as hidden causes such as touching your face too much or using a cell phone.

Factors That Can Make You More Prone to Acne Scars
While its widely known...

Fountain of Youth: 2 Habits that Will Keep You Looking Forever Young

Fountain of Youth: 2 Habits that Will Keep You Looking Forever Young

Protecting your skin against the signs of aging isn’t rocket science, but it does require the cultivation of a few good habits. Aside from the obvious ones (drink tons of water, avoid getting too much sun and don’t smoke), there are two simply non-negotiable habits we suggest you adopt in order to preserve your youthful glow.

The first? A solid skin-care routine consisting of the highest quality, natural skincare products. And by “natural”, we are not referring to brands that are positioned as natural. What we are referring to are truly natural (and preferably organic) brands that don’t use harmful chemicals such as propylene glycol, parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate and synthetic fragrances. Your daily skin care arsenal should ideally consist of a gentle cleanser, a toner, a light moisturizer and highly effective wrinkle cream (our scar cream doubles as a wrinkle cream and significantly reduces the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines).

The Second? A diet chocked full of...

Spring Clean Your Skin

Spring Clean Your Skin

As the temperature slowly rises and nature’s tiniest buds sprout into existence, we begin to feel an unmistakable nostalgia- and just like that we recognize that spring has arrived. It comes bearing the gifts of renewal and rebirth and has the magical ability to inspire us to soak up its life-giving energy into all of our cells. All of sudden we feel drawn to clean out our closets and clear the clutter from our lives, taking full advantage of this “fresh start” that nature has inspired.

Because of our deep love for healthy skin, we believe that revitalizing our largest organ is just as important as clearing all of the clutter outside of ourselves. We know firsthand how great it feels and how beneficial it is to give a big dose of attention and special care to our skin. So in celebration of spring, we would like to offer some inspiration for spring-cleaning your skin. The following deep cleansing routine is perfect for any change of seasons:

Start on the Inside: A 5-7 day nutritional cleanse is in order. Cleansing helps your body flush...