Glow Notes

When it comes to the world of cosmetics and skincare, things can get quite complex. It seems there is a product for everything; cleansers, toners, moisturizers, serums and more fill our medicine cabinets leaving most of us a bit overwhelm on what to do with them all. To make matters more confusing, most commercial products are loaded with toxic ingredients that often do more harm than good.

Essential oils provide heavenly, non-toxic aromas and also come with many medicinal benefits. In addition to their use in diffusers for aromatic purposes, they have become popular in natural skincare products. This is because essential oils possess potent anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, mitigating the most harmful offenders to radiant and healthy skin. Discover which essential oils suit your skin type best below!

Did you know that asthma prevalence and severity is greater in women than in men? Yup, it’s true. In fact, there is mounting evidence that shows this is in a great deal related to female steroid sex hormones with estrogen being the primary subject of study.

Want a dewy, glowy, youthful complexion?  We asked the creators of cult classic beauty products about the products they rely on to achieve a flawless face.

Shannon Drake, founder of The Dirt.

Originally used only in hospitals, triclosan is a drug that has been adopted by manufacturers of conventional soaps. About 75% of liquid antibacterial soaps and 30% of antibiotic bar soap use triclosan as an active ingredient, which has resulted in an industry that is worth an estimated $1 billion. 

Synthetic fragrances have seemed to make their way into most households today. Countless products, including artificial candles, cleaners, air fresheners, colognes, and perfumes fill the residences and daily routines of people around the world. However, are people unknowingly welcoming harmful and potentially cancer-causing products into their homes and bodies? According to the science, the short answer is, yes.

If you’re looking for a simple way to enhance your daily skin routine, support your overall health, and even improve your scent naturally, then look no further than essential oils. These botanical oil extracts are not only incredible stuff for the skin, containing valuable constituents that enhance skin health, they are also extremely versatile and can be utilized in endless ways. Of the many uses and benefits essential oils offer, one of their primary benefits is their ability to beautify the skin. Perhaps the greatest benefit of essential oils is that unlike conventional skin care products, essential oils are natural and non-toxic. 

According to Functional Medicine, 95% of diseases have roots inflammation. When it comes to skin problems, the same is true. Most skin disorders, whether its acne, eczema, or psoriasis, all have one thing in common and that is inflammation. The word inflame, literally means “to make on fire”. Inflammation is essentially a normal immune response, in which the body produces “heat” to aid with the elimination of pathogens and other “foreign invaders”. In this way, inflammation is a healthy response and can be helpful in healing infections, wounds and other injuries to the body. However, when inflammation becomes chronic, it can degenerate the body tissues and cause undesirable conditions such as inflammatory skin problems.

As we enter the heart of summer, I wanted to post my best skincare and nutrition tips so you can keep your skin beautifully elastic while maintaining a healthy glow that lasts all summer long.

Follow these guidelines and prepare to be amazed by your radiant skin regardless of the harsh sun beating down on your face.

 

or years now, new technologies and scientific research have brought forth the most incredible healing abilities Mother Nature has to offer. The growing innovations have led to an increase in breakthrough anti-aging and beauty products. One of the most recent and profound findings in natural, anti-aging remedies, is the discovery of Plant Stem Cells.

While peel-off masks are nothing new, they have seemed to make a comeback in the mainstream. People all over the internet are sharing their experience with the new “charcoal peel masks” with the hopes of ridding their black heads for good. However, anything that seems too good to be true, it usually is. The fact of the matter is, while these popular masks seem promising and almost magical, they have major potential to damage your skin. As you will find out, they are simply not worth ripping your facial hairs off for.

There are countless supplements on the market that promise improved physical beauty and “anti-aging” benefits. The question is, how can you know for sure what works, and what doesn’t for healthy skin? In order to truly know, it is helpful to know a bit about how the body works and what the skin needs to be healthy. So, before you head out to your nearest health food store, consider these few tips on selecting quality and effective supplements for the skin.

As a result of an increasingly stressful and toxic world, our bodies are aging more rapidly than what is natural. This has sparked an interest in “anti-aging” and the subsequent study and developmental research of methods for the revitalization of the skin from both extrinsic and intrinsic damage. Today, scientists are aware of the primary factor in skin damage and aging.  It is the initiation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), otherwise known as oxidative stress. 

CoQ10, also known as coenzyme Q, is a naturally occurring and abundant enzyme found in every cell of the human body. This precious nutrient plays key roles in various physiological functions including energy production, neutralizing reactive oxygen species, and cellular regeneration – just to name a few. In a healthy and youthful body, CoQ10 is produced effortlessly and plentifully. However, as the body ages biologically; whether naturally or rapidly from various stressors, the body loses its ability to manufacture adequate levels of CoQ10. This results in further aging as the cells no longer regenerate as rapidly and therefore become more vulnerable to stress. Due to the obvious correlation between CoQ10 levels and biological aging, supplementing with CoQ10 has increased in popularity. It has gained special interest in the world of natural health, anti-aging and specifically, skin health.

We’ve all heard the term “beauty sleep”, and while we’ve all experienced the griefs of a sleepless night, not all of us know exactly why. Overall, there are a number of things that go wrong for the health and beauty of our skin from sleep deprivation. However, there is one primary culprit behind the eye bags, fine lines, and lackluster appearance and that is the stress hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a stress hormone that can be a helpful, adaptive hormone. But too much of it can lead to biological stress in the body, inflammation and the resulting decline in the health of the skin. This relationship between stress, sleep deprivation, and skin problems can be a vicious cycle, especially with conditions like acne and eczema, which can lead to new problems like potential scarring, scratching, and an increase in psychological stress – let’s be honest, it’s hard to feel good when your body shows otherwise!

 When it comes to skincare, there is a lot to consider: What topical treatments to use? What is the optimal diet? Should I use supplements or not? ... and so much more. While many are aware of the damaging effects of the more obvious poor choices – there is often an overlooked, underlying factor that determines whether something is “healthy” or not. That underlying factor is the hormonal effects of any given activity. Proper hormone balance is a dominant factor in determining health, especially the health of our skin and hair. There are various hormonal conditions that set the stage for skin diseases like chronic acne, eczema, dry skin, hair loss, and wrinkles. Some hormones are anti-aging, protective against inflammation and oxidation, while others contribute to disease. 

The Fall season is approaching, which means the potential for slowed metabolic rates and therefore dry, flaky skin. However, this doesn’t have to be your destiny. Dry skin is often a result of sluggish thyroid function (more common during the winter), which is caused by many things, but severely affected by a high toxic load. Of the many sources of toxicity in our environment today, the common drugstore is one of them. This Fall many people will likely head to the drugstore and browse the aisle filled with commercial body lotions in hopes to sooth their dry, chapped skin. However, these exact “solutions” are a source of the problem. They contain harmful toxins like parabens and phythlates that are known to slow the thyroid. 

The cold, windy and dry winter season can be harsh on the skin. Also, in the winter we tend to spend more time indoors in low air quality.  We get minimal sun exposure, exercise less, and eat fewer fresh foods, all of which tax the skin. To take top-notch care of your skin this winter, follow this winter skincare routine.  It will help your skin function more optimally from the inside and out.

Let's get fishy with the fascinating science and beauty benefits of marine collagen. Marine fish collagen peptides are an emerging functional food, which supports the homology of human collagen production. Marine collagen peptides, obtained by enzymatic digestion of fish skin, have been shown to have many positive health benefits. They are safe, biocompatible, highly bioavailable, and make for a potent dietary supplement that can give our skin a youthful glow. The science-backed beauty benefits of marine collagen mainly revolve around two areas: improved metabolic function and skin/hair/bone repair.

Horsetail, also known as Shavegrass, Bottle Brush or by its scientific name Equisetum arvense, is a perennial plant that resembles a horse’s tail. It commonly grows in North America, Asia, and Europe. Horsetail contains important nutrients that support the health of the skin, including iron, manganese, silica and various antioxidants. Additionally, horsetail is known to possess antimicrobial, antibacterial, and anti-inflammatory properties.

Often our attention is focused on facial care routines and we somewhat disregard the rest of our body. It makes sense as the face is what is most visible to us and others. However, our faces are not necessarily separate from the rest of our bodies. From head to toe, the skin is one massive organ that has important responsibilities relating to our overall health and wellbeing. This dry brushing benefits guide shifts the focus away from the face and brings it to the rest of the skin. Dry skin brushing is a simple little hack that comes with a multitude of health and beauty benefits, ranging from reduced cellulite to detoxification support. The best part is you only need to spare 10 minutes a day to reap the benefits of dry skin brushing.