Family Health Beauty Info

Can we avoid wrinkles?

Truly I am not sure if there is anything that really prevents our skin from getting older. But we can do things to support our skin, instead of harming it.

The best step you can take is to protect your skin from UV rays. In the past, women used sun umbrellas to protect their skin. They knew the sun made them look older.

See related article ‘Sun exposure and the skin’ or watch the video          

Elastin and collagen

Two important proteins in your skin are elastin and collagen. These help keep your skin looking smooth and plump. Sun exposure dries out the collagen and elastin, and the skin hardens up. Here’s what Wikipedia says:

Elastin is a protein in connective tissue that is elastic and allows many tissues in the body to resume their shape after stretching or contracting. Elastin helps skin to return to its original position when it is poked or pinched. Elastin is also an important load-bearing tissue in the bodies of mammals and used in places where mechanical energy is required to be stored.

Collagen is the main protein of connective tissue in animals and the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 50% of the whole-body protein content. Tough bundles of collagen called collagen fibers are a major component of the extracellular matrix that supports most tissues and gives cells structure from the outside, but collagen is also found inside certain cells. Along with soft keratin, it is responsible for skin strength and elasticity, and its degradation leads to wrinkles that accompany aging. It is also used in cosmetic surgery and burns surgery.

From Wikipedia

Antioxidants

To understand how to keep your skin (and your body) healthy you also need to know about antioxidants. These are substances that may protect cells from the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. Antioxidants are found in certain foods that neutralise free radicals. These include the nutrient antioxidants, vitamins A, C and E, and the minerals copper, zinc and selenium.

To summarise:

• Avoid the sun, especially between 10 am and 3 pm
• Always apply sun block (SPF at least 15), cover up and wear a hat
• Drink plenty of water
• Eat high-antioxidant foods like fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts, grain cereals.
• Nurture skin daily with ingredients that support the skin’s needs. Look for elastin, collagen and antioxidants in beauty products. 

Watch the video ‘Can we avoid wrinkles?’

See related article  ‘What are free radicals and antioxidants?’  or  watch the video

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Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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Detoxification skin/body  reactions 

Cleansing our bodies can cause temporary setbacks

Detoxification, or detox, is the removal of toxic substances from the body, through diet and/or skin treatment.

However, some of us find that after detox our skin and hair look worse, and we feel tired. I first tried detox as a teenager, and had more blemishes than ever. I spent so much time mixing yeast mask to heal the spots. At night I looked like a spotted beetle, with powder on each spot.

What happens is that if you detoxify your body or use pure organic products for the first time, you will probably have a reaction. Don’t worry, it’s a good one! You’re cleansing your system, and that’s great.

It can take 2 to 8 weeks for your system to adjust.

When you start on a cleansing diet, be prepared and be patient. Consult with your naturopath, nutritionist or doctor.

Watch the video ‘Detoxification skin/body reactions’

See related article ‘What are the cleansing foods?’ or watch the video

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

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Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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Give up the pill – and get spots

Spots after puberty? No, please no!

This must happen to many of us, so I want to share my solution to this problem.

I stopped taking the contraceptive pill, to prevent hormonal imbalance. Well, that works: the hormones are good now BUT what about my skin?

Waking up with more & new blemishes is not fun. This brings back memories of being a spotty teenager. Some of us are lucky, but it seems I am the opposite.

So why was I getting spots? I am on very healthy diet. I drink 2 or more litres of water daily. I use certified organic beauty products only. And I exercise regularly in fresh air.

Only one answer came up: hormones. So the choice was, have a healthy hormonal balance and spots, or go back on the pill. I chose spots, because I want to stay healthy, and I hope that my skin will soon stabilise. 

My routine to deal with blemishes

Note: when using products as mentioned here, look for certified organic.

• Twice daily cleansing
• Nightly exfoliate
• Nightly apply product that helps break down impurities, while bringing moisture, clarity to skin
• Twice daily skin conditioner with nutrients (look for water-soluble botanicals, organic herbs, vitamins and essential oils)
• Twice daily moisturizer
• Every third night use a green clay-base mask for problem skin (ingredients to look for: organic echinacea, witch hazel to tone and purify, organic lavender, lemon myrtle)
• Sometimes I mix the green clay mask and apply it only on the spots, to prevent drying out the skin 

• Twice weekly remove spots by squeezing gently with the fingertips. For more on this, see topic ‘Six solutions for skin trouble’. If you have persistent acne, get professional advice from a dermatologist and a beautician.

As a result, I have it under control. But it will take a while for my body to completely detox & balance itself.

Watch the video ‘Give up the pill – and get spots’

See related blog  ‘Myth: removing spots causes scars’ or watch the video

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

Have a lovely day

Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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What does cleanser do to our skin

She says she likes just using water.

Diana told me that when she ran out of cleanser, she didn’t want to buy any products unless they were 100% certified organic. In the meantime she washed her skin with water only, and was happy about it. Her skin felt nice. So why actually use cleanser – is it a waste of money?

Cleanser does have a useful purpose. It removes the top layer of dead cells, oil, perspiration and pollution. If your skin is not cleansed properly, it becomes dull and flaky. The oil glands block up with dirt and cellular waste, causing breakouts and congestion.

Water can’t clean your skin as deeply and thoroughly as a good cleanser. 

Watch the video ‘What does cleanser do to our skin’

See related article ‘Myth: exfoliating is bad!’ or watch the video

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

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Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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Tamanu oil Anti- aging help us have great skin

If I discover a good product, I can’t wait to try it.

I was at the market and my friend (a naturopath) was talking about Tamanu oil – how great it was for the skin. He asked me if we have it in our range. I did not know, so I looked at the ingredients and yes! It is.

Of course I’ve now used this amazing essence, and my skin has improved a lot. Tamanu oil is claimed to improve the appearance of wounds, and of healthy skin. It is used widely in the Pacific Islands as a folk medicine.

I am using it mainly after exfoliating & a mask. My skin looks fantastic & other people say they love it too! When I am tired or have had a full day, I give my skin this “food”, to be rejuvenated for the next day.

Watch the video ‘Tamanu oil Anti-aging help us have great skin’

See related article ‘Great skin foods’ or watch the video

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

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Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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Thermo Coconut mask for your neck and décolleté

Smooth and nourish with coconut oil.

 What you need:

• Certified organic raw coconut oil (250 ml costs around AU$8-$9).
• Aluminium foil
• Cotton towel.

Coconut oil creates a barrier against moisture loss (wrinkle lines – ha!). The foil and cotton towel help keep the heat in the oil, aiding absorption into your skin.

Warm the oil in a small pot on stove, or briefly in the microwave to a temperature where you can easily massage it over your neck. Be careful not to make it hot – ALWAYS test a drop on your upper wrist first.

Rub the warmed oil into your skin with your hands, or a beauty brush. To seal in the oil, wrap the foil around your neck. Then wrap a towel around the foil, and relax for 30 minutes – or more, if you like. Unwrap the towel and foil, and wipe off the oil with paper tissue or a lukewarm towel.

You can do the same thing for rough skin on your hands, feet, elbows.

Watch the video ‘Thermo Coconut mask for your neck and décolleté’

See related article ‘Recipes for masks and scrubs’ or watch the video

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

Have a lovely day

Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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How to apply eye cream

Are you using the correct technique?

Here is my advice. I used to tap eye cream on with a heavy tapping movement, or really massaged it from the centre outwards, forcing it to ‘make the wrinkles go away’. After studying to be a beautician, that all changed. So here is my advice.

 Apply the cream by circling around the eye. Start from the outer edge of the eye. Then go under the eye towards your nose, and then up towards the eyebrow and back to the outer edge. The eye muscle runs in this direction, so you work with the muscle – not the opposite way, which could create more wrinkles (please nooo).

If you like tapping the cream into your skin, do this very gently. If you use heavy taps like I did, you could loosen the skin. The eyes & neck area have the least amount of fat, so wrinkles appear there sooner than elsewhere.

Watch the video ‘How to apply eye cream’

See related video ‘How to use  facial serum  to get most benefits’

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

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Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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How to use  facial serum  to get most benefits

Do you know how to make serums work for you?

Many women use expensive serums/essences/capsules that are rejuvenating, nourishing or full of vitamins. Here are some tips to get the most from your product.

Prepare your skin

For maximum absorption of the serum, do a facial first: clean, exfoliate and apply a mask. See my step-by-step facial in my e-book

Use less

Serums are highly potent, so start with just 2-3 drops. If you need more you can add 1-2 drops -  but start with less. Our skin can absorb only what it needs, so if you apply too much you waste it.

Massage it in

Massage the drops into the skin for two minutes, for greater benefit. Use only two fingers of each hand: that way the serum isn’t wasted on your palms. It will take 20-30 minutes to be absorbed.

Apply it at night

You get the most benefit if the serum can regenerate your skin overnight. Some products are also quite oily, which is impractical in the daytime. As it takes a while to be absorbed, don’t go to bed and press it into your pillow. And no kissing for 20 minutes: boyfriends/lovers stay serum-free and wrinkly!

Use as often as needed

Use serums when your skin feels tired/stressed/dry. It might be every night, or three times a week. There is no rule. But when the weather is very cold and your skin feels dry, use it every night.

Always read the instructions and consult a professional if you have concerns.

Watch the video ‘How to use facial serum to get most benefits’

See related article ‘3 step by step facials’

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

Have a lovely day

Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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Kathi & Anne: allergic reaction 

Today Kathi contacted me because her daughter Anne has an allergic reaction to her skin care products. She used a conventional range from the US for a long time & loved it till this morning. At night she cleansed her skin as usual, but “when I woke up this morning – my eyes have swollen and my face is really irritated and sensitive. So as you can imagine, I don’t want to touch the stuff again! So many nasty chemicals!”

Before we met with Anne to give her certified organic skin care, I advised her to use a cold face compress (watch the video ‘10 beauty tips’) and leave the skin completely ‘naked’. I did suggest that if she has an aloe vera plant, to make juice packs (watch the video ‘Yummy beauty recipes’ ). These can help calm and heal the skin.

She visited the dermatologist, who gave her cortisol for the swelling.

I met with Anne and we found the right type of skin care – 100% free of chemicals & toxins. We stayed in contact to see how her skin reacted (often the skin needs time to get used to new ingredients). Anne’s skin now seems very happy, and she no longer uses products with nasty chemicals.

Watch the  video ‘Kathi & Anne: allergic reaction’

See  related article ‘The right ingredients for your skin type’ or watch the video

What did you think of this article? I welcome your feedback

Have a lovely day

Lucie

www.familyhealthbeautyinfo.com

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