Moisturizers do what their name says: add moisture. After all, the outer surface of your skin is more or less dead cells, and they need a drink to stay looking good! There are different types of creams, including heavier products that protect the skin’s surface, increasing water content of the cells beneath by preventing evaporation up through the skin’s layers. But a good day cream can be pretty light most of the year, unless you live in a super dry or cold climate. Your product should moisturize the skin’s surface after cleansing (which can be drying) and prep it for makeup..

Other things to seek out:

- Anti-oxidants. Every product should have some good free-radical fighters because we’re exposed to so much in our environment. The innovation in natural ingredients takes advantage of the protective measures native to plants, but you can also look for things that provide A, C, and E, traditional anti-oxidants.

- Pure, natural vegetable oils and butters. While most creams will need to contain some thickeners to give the product the texture we’re used to, products that don’t list natural oils fairly high up on the list seem like a waste of money to me. Some good ones: olive, jojoba, sunflower, argan, shea butter, and squalane, which is olive-derived.

- Sunscreen. This is a tricky one. I like sunscreen best on its own or in makeup, because moisturizers with sunscreen can be irritating. But if the only way you’ll wear sun protection is if it’s part of another product, to simplify your regimen, by all means pick a product with at least SPF 15.

You may also see smoothing ingredients (aspen bark is a common one) and peptides, which signal body processes that support collagen and elastin, which you lose as you age. Smoothers are great in the a.m., when you’re about to apply makeup, but for my money I prefer peptides at night, when the skin is healing, so they can really do work.

BIO: The Skin Detective is a licensed esthetician who is now a skincare industry insider. Check our her blog at www.theskindetective.com.

Photo Credit: F_fczuardi

Chemical peels, made from mostly alpha hydroxy acids, are designed to jump start your skin’s renewal process. This philosophy is sometimes called “peel and heal” and is more popular today in the US than Europe, where gentler so-called “herbal” or “green” peels and enzyme treatments are more common–even though chemicals peels actually made it here from France in the 30s. The alpha hydroxy acids originally came from natural stuff like milk and sugar, but now are synthesized for standardization and safety.

Known in the trade as “chemical exfoliation,” peels dissolve the cellular glue that holds dead skin together on the surface, revealing newer skin underneath. Acne-prone ladies might want to start on peels in their 20s for their benefits in acne treatment, but for anti-aging effects, 30s and 40s can be a good time to start. The MISS friends at Skin Spirit break down peels this way:

Lactic Acid Peel

Ideal for first time peelers, this peel lightens and brightens while helping the skin retain moisture. Great for all skin types, especially sensitive. Very little to no peeling is expected.

Glycolic Acid Peel

This peel penetrates deeper than a lactic acid peel and is ideal for aging skin, addressing fine lines and pigment concerns and stimulating collagen production.

Salicylic Acid Peel

This peel is ideal for thick, oily and/or acneic skin. Salicylic acid breaks down oil and exfoliates inside and outside follicle walls. Mild flaking can be expected.

TCA/Pro–Retinol Peel

Ideal for skin with visible, moderate aging such as sun damage and wrinkles and collagen depletion. Mild to moderate shedding of the skin is expected.

Remember that while estheticians administer these light peels (30% AHA content or less, with a pH of at least 3), deeper peels are for the dermatologist’s office, for your safety.

The Skin Detective is a licensed esthetician who is now a skincare industry insider. Check our her blog at www.theskindetective.com.

Screen shot of michellephan.com – click to go to site

As those Champagne bottles pile up after the holidays  - we couldn’t resist this DIY facial using Champagne, from uber beauty blogger, Michelle Phan of Michellephan.com brought to us by our latest contributor, DIY fanatic and third grade teacher, Julie Fritz.

From Michelle…

“Champagne is a favorite toner of mine for its detoxifying properties and its ability to fight free radicals. It also contains a number of antioxidants thanks to the grapes used to make it. Additionally, the tartaric acid in champagne helps to lighten and even out skin’s tone and texture.“

Here’s what to do:

1.  Pour less than a sip of your favorite Champagne into a small dish.
2. Use a cotton pad to soak up the bubbly.
3. Swipe it over your face to feel the coolness of the Champagne.  You will feel the bubbles fizzing and it will detoxify your skin.
4. Finish your superficial treatment by treating, moisturizing and protecting your skin as usual.

Not sure about it?  Check her how-to video

Since our skin care consultant had to take a pass on the validity of these claims- (though she says it might work- she’s just not sure the tartaric acid would be strong enough)- we wanted to leave you with a few more things to do with that leftover bubbly thanks to Myrecipes.com, which offers seven recipes using champagne.  Our favorite, the risotto with Champagne and radicchio and a Champagne vinaigrette from TLC Cooking.

Screen shot from allrecipies.com click to go to the page. 

 

MISS contributor and beauty blogger Vanessa Roberts has a new book Simple Pimple Remedies: How To Get Rid of Acne Naturally in 30 Days that is full of tested natural solutions on how to get rid of acne as well as powerful pimple-popping DIY recipes that use natural ingredients to help one live without acne, for good. While this has worked for Vanessa and her test subjects, if you have a case of serious, painful, can’t-smile-cause-it-hurts, acne, please see a doctor, there are cures. Of course these medications contain some iffy chemicals -as in don’t get pregnant while on Accutane, but they do work for most people. For those looking for a natural – solution to mild acne – check out more about her book below – and download a copy today! Now that we’re done with our disclaimer … here’s Vanessa;)

Did you know that something as small as a change in diet could affect your acne? Yes, it’s that simple. And it doesn’t stop there. Exercise, lifestyle choices, stress and many other things play a big role in acne development.

Though we may be able to control some of these factors, there’s one thing we just can’t do anything about; the weather!
Have you ever noticed that when winter comes around and the cold harsh winds are beating on your face, treating your acne becomes much more troublesome?

Treating wind-burned acne-covered cheeks is no treat. That is why I turned to natural, home remedies to cure my ailing acne.
Instead of dishing out the dough on pricey products that only dry out my skin more, I developed a fail-proof acne-fighting facial cleanser that soothes my painful acne and prevents future breakouts.
 Curious? Follow along as I share my secret with you!

A Mean, Green Acne Fighting Facial Cream



What you need:

• 1 freshly pulped aloe stalk (or 1 tbsp 100% natural aloe gel)
• 2 inches of freshly peeled cucumber
• 5 drops of tea tree essential oil
• 1 tablespoon baking soda
• 2 teaspoons rosewater
• A blender

Once you have gathered up everything you need, the process is simple:

1. In your blender, mix together your rosewater and cucumber
2. In a clean dish, pour your rosewater and cucumber blend, then add remaining ingredients
3. Stir together vigorously until all your ingredients come together in unison
4. Using clean hands, gently massage your facial cream all over face then quickly rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry

What’s great about this quick and easy DIY acne cream is that it costs pennies to make and the ingredients are naturally good for your skin.

While cucumber and aloe help soothe and rehydrate your skin, the baking soda gently exfoliates dead skin cells away while the tea tree oil and rosewater (a natural antiseptic) prevent future breakouts!

Not too shabby for an at-home remedy!

Want more recipes? Today we are gifting you with Vanessa’s new Kindle guide Simple Pimple Remedies: How To Get Rid of Acne Naturally in 30 Days– for free!

Not only is this guide chocked full of compelling, and actionable, information on acne but you will also find quick and easy-to-replicate natural DIY acne remedies that will help you keep your skin acne-free for good!

All you have to do is click this link and download your way to acne-free skin!

AUTHOR BIO:

Vanessa is a skincare blogging babe for BesSkincare.com  where she blogs and vlogs about all things skincare including product reviews and handy DIY tips and tricks, such as What Causes Under Eye Circles and How the Hell to Get Rid of Them that help her readers look and feel their very best!

Think of the old-school white paste on lifeguards’ noses in those beach party movies from the 50s. That’s a physical sunscreen. Ding ding ding! Also known as mineral sunscreens, these products use the minerals zinc oxide and titanium dioxide to protect the skin. The mineral particles sit on the skin’s surface and physically reflect the sun away. New technology means the mineral ingredients screen out sun but don’t show up as a big white patch.

Some think mineral-based sunscreens are healthier for the body because minerals don’t penetrate into the skin. They may also be healthier for the planet because the particles don’t break down into chemical compounds that can persist in the environment. And because they work on the surface of the skin, you can put on a physical sunscreen and go, no 30-minute wait time needed. A few more things to know:

1) Many companies use nano technology to achieve the small particle size so the skin doesn’t appear white. The jury is still out on nano particles in general and whether they may have any negative effects. There is some belief that if the particles are a certain size, they are probably OK. If nano technology is not used, mineral sunscreens lend the skin a whitish tinge, which is especially noticeable on people with darker skins.

2) Though the formulas are getting better all the time, making the mineral particles mix well into healthier skin care ingredients, such as natural oils, can be tough. That means some of the most natural mineral sunscreens can be heavy, greasy, even sticky, and tough to apply evenly.

3) Use caution with powdered mineral sunscreens, as these minerals aren’t the best to breathe in. It’s probably better for kids to avoid using the powdered versions entirely.

The Skin Detective is a licensed esthetician who is now a skincare industry insider. Check our her blog at www.theskindetective.com

When it comes to sunscreen and your skin, the major message is pretty basic: Sun exposure is the number one factor that causes aging. And science suggests that the sun is getting all the more serious with the changes in our environment. Once upon a time the sun was strongest around noon. It’s now recommended that we protect our skin from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., all year round, even when it’s cloudy, no matter how old we are, and no matter our skin color.

A few more sun protection must-dos:

• Use at least SPF 15 that works against both UVA and UVB rays (otherwise known as “broad spectrum”).

• Pay careful attention to the edges of your face around your jawline, your neck and upper chest, and the backs of your hands. We don’t remember that these areas are exposed, but it’s the neck and hands that make you look old even when you’ve kept your face young!

• Reapply, reapply, reapply! Some sources say every two hours.

• Don’t worry about expiration dates for sunscreen products. If you’re using them as generously as you should be, you should run out long before the product loses efficacy.

• See a dermatologist regularly, so he or she can set a baseline and notice any skin cancer before it gets serious. It’s truly deadly.

The Skin Detective is a licensed esthetician who is now a skincare industry insider. Check our her blog at www.theskindetective.com.

You know what they say – to know ‘blank’ is to love “blank”. With that in mind, our very own MISS skin care consultant is here to shed some light on this very important organ. By the end of the month you will not only understand what skin is (read below) but how to best care for and protect your skin. Check out our new “shop” section for selected products that meet the criteria set by The Skin Detective. Enjoy!

What?

You read the phrase all over: “Your skin is the body’s largest organ.” It’s usually used to tout natural products free of toxins, the theory being that the purer your products, the less likely any nasties will get into your system. But what exactly does it mean to say your skin is an organ?

Organs are body tissues with a specific function, like your heart, kidneys, liver. The skin’s purpose is to provide a waterproof outer shell for all those other organs inside (think of it as a prettier parka). But more than just an organ, your skin is a system (like digestive or muscular), with the crucial job of regulating heat and cold for the body within. It’s complex and powerful, including blood vessels by the mile and nerves to perceive temperature and touch. It releases sweat to detoxify and oil to protect itself from the elements and keep body cells hydrated and healthy. It breathes, taking in your blood’s oxygen and discharging CO2. And, most remarkably of all, your skin repairs itself (come on, how many things do you have around your house that do that?). Pimples, bruises, cuts, sunburns, they all heal in rapid time with very little help from us, as the skin does its work to protect the body from infection.

How to Care for Skin

So, now that you know just how amazing your skin is, don’t you want to take care of it?

As part of its job as one of the body’s major organs and systems, your skin renews itself constantly, building new plump cells below the surface and pushing them up as they dry out and shed. Nearly all of the skin we show to the world is actually made up of dead cells, which is why we slather on those creams and peel away layers to try to get rid of dullness and give fresher, newer (or newer looking) skin the stage. And, as we all know, looking fresh and new gets harder as we age, because this constant process of renewal begins…to…slow…down (cue groaning and grinding cog noises here). Is there any way to make it stop?

Sun exposure is responsible for most aging, because one thing that doesn’t readily renew in your skin is the stuff that’s deeper within and gives your skin its shape and tone: collagen and elastin. UV light speeds up their natural degradation by an order of magnitude. So of course, step one is stay out of the sun and slather on the sunscreen. Why the heck did tans get so popular anyway? Here’s a post on a couple of favorites blockers (and fake bakes) from MISS:

Mineral Sunscreens that Work

The Skin Detective is a licensed esthetician who is now a skincare industry insider. Check our her blog at www.theskindetective.com.