Product Review: Arcona Magic White Ice Lotion and Eye Dew

By Siobhan O’Connor for NoMoreDirtyLooks.com

You know how you know it’s love? You get just a little taste and you want more. You find ways to work the object of your affection into conversations that have nothing (nothing!) to do with the topic at hand. Your thoughts kind of loop.

A few weeks ago, my latest order from NuboNau showed up. The new Ilia mascara, that RMS Un-Powder—and a ton of free samples, as usual. Huh! Arcona, I thought. I’ve never tried Arcona.

What kind of clean-beauty blogger am I that I’ve never tried Arcona? To be honest, I was a little scared of the line. Years ago, someone told me it was very “active,” and my skin doesn’t like “active.” My skin likes “soothing,” “calming,” and “hydrating.” But the little sample of Magic White Ice was calling to me. Also, while I’d never tried it, Arcona’s Eye Dew is easily the most tantalizingly named product under the sun. So I’d had that one on my mind for a minute, too.

About a week earlier, I’d done a TV thing for work* and the makeup artist commented on how dry my skin was. She was nice about it—as nice as a person can be when they are telling you your skin is super-dry under insanely bright lights—but I was kind of embarrassed.

I needed some help, and I was hopeful that this little tube would perform, well, magic on my skin.

After two weeks of twice daily use, the verdict is in: Hydrated, calmed, soothed. Hooray!

And the Eye Dew? It lives up to the name. I feel good about the ingredient lists, filled with botanical anti-agers and moisturizers, with lots of antioxidants. I like that the lotion has tea tree and witch hazel, preventing spots, but doesn’t dry me out. And the Eye Dew. I don’t have any words for the Eye Dew. The name says it all.

When I ran out of the samples, I bought full sizes. And like anything you learn to love, I already have a hard time remembering life (OK, my skin) without it.

Have you ever tried Arcona? Any other skin or eye serums you’re loving?

Keep reading…

Why a good moisturizer isn’t enough for great skin

By Well+Good NYC

Moisturizers get all the marquee billing, especially come fall when back-to-beauty ads punctuate every repeat episode of the Real Housewives of New Jersey. But if you’re not using a good exfoliant, you’re throwing your money away—and missing a key skin-rejuvenating opportunity. Just ask any NYC facialist, who would almost never skip the skin-sloughing step during a spa treatment. Why?

A good scrub can whisk away visible blackheads and help keep pores open and clean. Great example: Christine Chin Resurface Exfoliating Scrub ($28, http://www.christinechin.com), which uses micro-aluminum particles to scrub away dead skin, leaving a blackhead-free T-zone and a much-desired baby-bottom softness. Chin’s facials are probably the city’s fiercest.

A chemical exfoliant (or peel) dissolves dead skin cells as a way to remedy dryness, uneven skin tone, and a rough texture—in the time it takes to wash your face. Great example: Susan Ciminelli Algae Deep Cleanse ($65, http://www.susanciminelli.com), laced with a sinus-clearing scent of peppermint and papaya enzymes that brighten skin tone almost immediately. It’s also great for red, bumpy acne, as opposed to scrubs that can inflame it. Ask Cimminelli, whose chakra-balancing facials are meant to calm your mind and your skin.

Keep reading…

Want supple skin? Strike with oil

By Well+Good NYC

One of the best pieces of skin-care advice I ever gotwas also one of the most counterintuitive: Slick my skin with oils. Not just my body. My face. That is, if I wanted to age like Dorian Gray (or just protect my skin from losing its natural luster).

I took some convincing, so I understand why, when I say I’m now an oil-slathering convert, and use oils twice a day under my moisturizer, it often provokes a violent head-shaking reaction. But before you say, “No way, I will break out!” Check to see if you’re not already using one. Your skin-care brand may have just called it a “serum” because you’d never buy it otherwise.

I get that my fanaticism flies in the face of what conservative dermatologists and Neutrogena commercials advise. But here’s some of the reasoning that’s made me an oil addict culled from dozens of interviews with chemists, facialists, aromatherapists, and formulators.

• The smaller oil molecule (I’m talking jojoba seed, grapeseed, rosehip seed, apricot kernal, black currant seed, and more) can penetrate into the skin and nourish it. Creams can’t.
• The skin likes oil because it resembles its cell structure; so it lets it in.
• Oils help protect the skin from water loss and feed it hydrating, firming nutrients like essential fatty acids, gamma linoleic acid, and vitamin E that help boost elasticity.
• Using pure face oils spares you from chemical emulsifiers that many face creams and lotions need to keep the oils from separating with the water.

Facial oils often come in apothecary-style packaging

So how come we’re so convinced that face time with oil will cause our skin to freak out?

It’s likely most of us are still drinking the Clean & Clear Kool-aid. Maybe teenagers don’t need the extra oils, but your adult skin does thanks to three dozen years on the planet + sun exposure + free radical damage + accumulation of cocktails.

Not convinced it’s time to update your skin-care operating system? What if we told you your skin won’t break out?

Keep reading…

Exploring Manuka Honey Benefits

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

Honey, that wondrous miracle product of nature and nature’s little helper, the bees. Its numerous uses and benefits are well-known throughout the decades. An ancient Greek physician dubbed honey as “good for all rotten and hollow ulcers.” Today we still use it for its healing properties. So what makes the recently popular Manuka honey special when there are numerous benefits already that can be obtained from any ordinary honey? What sets Manuka honey apart?

Taking a quick look at the background of Manuka honey will probably already set it apart from the rest. It is not just any ordinary honey, but a special honey that is made from the nectars obtained from Manuka bushes in New Zealand. Manuka bushes are uncultured and are known to have antibacterial effects.All honeys have antibacterial effects because they discharge hydrogen peroxide that can eliminate bacteria. But the manuka honey aside from releasing hydrogen peroxide also releases more antibacterial compounds that are non-peroxide.

Manuka honey, because of its antimicrobial properties can help treat a wide array of diseases. It is well-known for curing stomach ulcers. This is done by inhibiting the growth of helicobacter pylori or H. pylori, the bacteria that causes ulcers and dyspepsia. Other ordinary honeys do not exhibit the same result in fighting against H. pylori.Taking a teaspoon one hour before meals and one at bedtime will provide beneficial results. Another bacteria that can be eliminated using Manuka honey is the bacteria that causes sore throat. It shows that propolis or the antibiotic substance in honey is the substance that is most effective against bacteria. .

There are several Manuka honey benefits for various skin disorders like ulcers, boils, cracked skin and wounds. Its antimicrobial properties can diffuse into the skin which in effect kills even germs buried deep within.  It is effective in cleaning wounds which makes healing faster. It also lessens scarring because it aids in the cell formation that will ultimately avoids scar to appear. It also has anti-inflammatory qualities that will prevent swelling.

There are however various grades of Manuka honey to test its effectiveness against ailments. TradeNZ and Honey Research Unit established a classification of antibacterial qualities of honey. UMF or Unique Manuka Factor is created to rate the antibacterial activity. UMF registered trademarks are the ones considered to have therapeutic benefits. UMF strength of 10 or more is the grade ideal for healing.

Dry Skin Cures – What You Should Know

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

Dry skin is a concern that many people have. The type of skin one has is generally hereditary and sometimes related to one’s own body chemistry as well as fluctuations in hormones. If you have dry skin, generally you will be able to take some daily measures to help moisturize your skin. Generally, dry skin does not go away and is rather a trait that you will have for the rest of your life. That said, there are some instances where depending on the situation, dry skin cures will work.

Having dry skin is normal, and in some cases especially in young adulthood when acne problems run rampant, is actually a blessing. In the older years however when dry skin becomes more of a problem because wrinkles are more likely to develop on dry skin than oily skin. So, what does this mean? More importantly, what are some easy dry skin cures that you can employ?  Below are two major tips to follow.

Drink More Water and Less Caffeine

This is not a clique skin care tip. This is a reality. If you want to have more vibrant, healthy and hydrated skin you need to consume more water, pure, filtered preferably so it is as clean and healthy for you as possible. Your internal health will directly affect your skin. Caffeine from soda and coffee can not only lead to overall body hydration which can temporarily impair your cognitive functioning, it also affects your skin giving it a gaunt and ashy look in some particularly unfortunate cases. So for every cup of caffeine you have, you need to drink at least 4 cups to reimburse the liquids lost. Drink water and herbal teas as part of a daily routine to improve your dry skin.

Find a REAL Moisturizer

Sorry folks, over the counter moisturizers don’t cut it. In fact many drug store so-called facial moisturizers have a lot of irritating chemicals (that can lead to premature aging) that also can put your skin in a cycle where it perpetually needs more lotion to stay moist and soft, rather than truly hydrating your skin.  Go to a reputable spa or esthetician that specializes in professional level skin care products to get the best options. Generally, the most hydrating ingredients tend to come from pure natural sources such as from nut and plant oils, rather than petroleum by-products. Makes sense if you think about it.

In some cases, dry skin can be attributed to other issues and problems going on in the body and that advice is best taken from dermatologists or medical doctors who are experts in your particular situation and can give you the best dry skin cures to fit your needs. Otherwise, drinking water and using a real moisturizer is incredibly helpful for your dry skin.

Healthy Benefits of Green Tea on the Skin

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

For ages, tea has been a favorite drink all over the world. It is not just an ordinary well-known beverage but it is famous for its health benefits as well. Different kinds of tea can actually prevent and ease symptoms of many diseases like cancer and heart disease. Some varieties even claim to help in losing weight.  Another popular benefit of tea is how it helps in digesting food and eliminating toxins. A type of tea that is gaining popularity these days because of its health benefits is green tea. The component of green tea called polyphenols and its subtype catechins is the substance that has medicinal properties. Green tea is known to lower bad cholesterol and lowers the risk of certain cancers. It also has anti-bacterial qualities that can prevent tooth decay and protect the body against food poisoning. There are also studies conducted that show great benefits of green tea on the skin.

Your skin is a major organ that can take advantage of the health benefits of green tea. The most powerful positive benefit of green tea to the skin can be attributed to it being a powerful antioxidant. It is known to fight free radicals that may damage the skin and cause premature aging. Although, green tea is not known to protect the skin from UV rays but it does lessen the damaging effects of free radicals caused by sun exposure. It is also known to reduce inflammations that are caused by several damaging factors.
Green tea nowadays is used in many beauty products especially for anti-aging. They are used as ingredients in creams that are said to increase the skin’s quality by increasing its elasticity. This will then counteract the aging process and make the skin suppler.
Green tea has anti-inflammatory qualities that are useful in treating acne. Research shows that it is as effective in treating acne as Benzoyl Peroxide but is actually less irritating and has lesser side effects. It can lighten skin color therefore reducing the appearance of blemishes.
Many skin care and beauty products are available that contains green tea in its ingredients. But there are some ways that green tea remedies can be made at home. One of the easiest way is perhaps freezing freshly brewed green tea then thawing it for only a while to avoid freeze burn then applying it directly on the skin. It will act like a toner. Drinking green tea regularly can also be beneficial since it is always best to keep a healthy skin from within.
Perhaps the best advantage of green tea as compared to other beauty products is that it is a product of nature. It not a chemical that might have some side effects that may not appear instantly but will have long term damaging effects. The benefits of green tea on the skin is all natural therefore trying it out is less risky than trying out new products that can cause allergic effects and may cause more damage in the long run than the benefits it claims. Go ahead and try green tea for the skin and see how you can greatly you can benefit from it.

Organic Soapbox Soaps

Soapbox Soaps, 85% organic soap line gives a bar of soap to someone in need for every bar purchased. I tried all the scents lavender, oatmeal clove and lemongrass. I loved all of them they all create a unique scent and feeling to your body and I find all 3 scents are perfect for anyone men or women. Soapbox Soaps really goes above and beyond with its giving policy: the company tailors its soap formula to the particular region to which it is donating.

Buy: Soapbox Soaps Shop

Like: Soapbox Soaps on Facebook

Follow: Soapbox Soaps on Twitter

About Hyaluronic Acid Serum for Skin

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

Hyaluronic acid serum for skin is a popular product in many anti aging skin care lines. When we are young, our bodies are amply supplied with a special form of molecules that bring about and maintain youthful looking skin. The substance, hyaluronic acid, is a glycosaminogy can form of a polysaccharide. It is naturally formed in the body and is instrumental in the regulation of the growth and regeneration of cells. It is a very important component of our bodies’ make up. It is in all of our body tissues and it is embedded far beneath the skin. One of its functions is to keep the skin moisturized, making it supple. It is capable of holding much moisture and, in fact, can maintain nearly one-thousand times more weight in moisture than its own body mass. This is why retaining moisture is a primary function of hyaluronic acid and why it is also instrumental in promoting the development of  skin cells, improves blood flow, and revitalizes dry skin.

Because of its part in the growth and maintenance of the cells that are most connected with tissue building, hyaluronic acid serums, creams and moisturizers have grown popular in the fight against aging. When hyaluronic acid is injected under the epidermis it gives a vitalizing appearance to the skin at the point at which it was injected. Skin wrinkles and lines disappear and the effects last for nearly half a year. Because of the amazing reaction that hyaluronic acid serum has on the skin, many companies have created hyaluronic creams and hyaluronic acid moisturizers. These make a group of supplements that all fall under the hyaluronic acid anti-aging category of skin care products.

Hyaluronic cream supplements have been tested and reported with excellent results in the firming and revitalizing of facial tissues. Many people report that as they use hyaluronic acid cream over a period of about 1 month, their skin appears with less lines, wrinkles and, in general, has a much fuller appearance than when they had not been applying the cream. The skin becomes more hydrated and because of this, a youthful vitality begins to appear.

By nature, hyaluronic cream is a hyaluronic acid moisturizer. It is its job to retain moisture. So with application of this cream there should be no surprise when you see a fuller, healthier, and more robust looking appearance emerge.

This is why many people today use hyaluronic acid anti-aging supplements. They are anti-aging solutions based on chemicals that naturally occur in our bodies. Research has even found that people in cultures that eat foods high in hyaluronic acid quantity tend to have smoother skin than those in cultures that consume less. In short,  hyalluronic acid anti-aging supplements are capable of reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, and give the face a more robust, youthful vitality.

Vitamin C Face Cream and Gel

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

Vitamin C is a nutrient that is safe and effective. The healthy benefits that come about from a diet filled with an adequate amount of Vitamin C are increased immune system, reduction in the chance of contracting heart disease, early childhood/pregnancy problems avoided, healthy vision, and smoother, healthier skin. Who would have thought so many problems could be prevented with just a bottle of orange juice, right?As it relates to smoother, healthier skin, Vitamin C face cream is a product that is capable of giving you a healthy, radiant complexion.

Out of the numerous vitamins and minerals our bodies need in order to function properly, only three of them can be absorbed through the skin and all three of them are antioxidants as well. They are Vitamin E, selenium, and yes, vitamin C. Of these three, Vitamin E is known to replenish aging skin so that it takes on a smoother complexion, but Vitamin C goes a step further in that it is an antioxidant that helps delay the natural process of aging skin.

Our skin typically begins to show its first traits of aging and wrinkles when our bodies begin to decrease in the production of two proteins: elastin is the first and collagen is the other. These building blocks are extremely important in maintaining a youthful complexion.

Wrinkles usually begin to appear in certain places of the face. Around the eyes and lips are two of the most common places and the use of Vitamin C serum and Vitamin c wrinkle cream for face problems may prove to be very favorable. The reason for this is that Vitamin C liquid and Vitamin C gel contribute to the production of the collagen necessary to develop a more youthful appearance. Vitamin C gel also helps reduce the damage caused by the sun’s UV rays by using its antioxidant properties to disarm the free radicals that further destroy damaged skin.
It can be concluded that Vitamin C serum for face, as well as Vitamin C liquid and Vitamin C gel creams, will not only slow down and correct the signs of growing older (i.e. wrinkles, fine lines, etc.), but it will also give you a more brilliant, radiant and softer complexion. While using topical supplements, it is best to eat foods high in Vitamin C content. Studies have concluded that working from the inside-out and the outside-in simultaneously leads to fewer wrinkles than people that do not use both at the same time. In balancing a diet, with foods high in vitamins and minerals, and utilizing a high quality Vitamin c face cream you will undoubtedly improve the look and feel of your skin.

Try Vitamin E Oil for Skin Health

By VIBRANT BEAUTY

It is important that the cells of our skin be guarded by nature’s antioxidants. Therefore, the use of antioxidants like Vitamin E gels  and Vitamin E capsules on skin are wise solutions in a world filled with less nutrition and more pollution.

Vitamin E is an antioxidant that is fat-soluble and is known to have eight forms, of which Vitamin E supplements are available either naturally or synthetically. Look for the letter “d” for the natural forms and “dl” for the synthetic forms. Vitamin E has been used in the prevention and treatment of a variety of health issues because of its antioxidant properties and there is still a research being conducted on its use in the prevention and treatment of many diseases such as heart disease and cancer.

There are various benefits found in the use of Vitamin E which are related to the care of the skin and body. It can protect your skin from damaging sun rays. It can prevent cells from being damaged by free radicals. It can assist your cells in relaying information to one another. These are just some of the numerous other benefits you get when using Vitamin E. With Vitamin E oil, skin becomes healthier and more balanced.

Vitamin E is put into a variety of skin care products. It may be ingested into the body by the mouth or even Vitamin E capsules on skin oil directly applied to the skin. It has been known to have an important part in the anti-aging of our skin. Vitamin E gel helps us in the fight against the effects of aging by making the skin look more youthful. It does this  by reducing fine lines and wrinkles. Although there are many antioxidants that are believed to play a major role in anti-skin aging, Vitamin E has proven to be one of the most important in fighting skin problems.

When Vitamin E gel is used directly on the skin, it gives the skin a softer, smoother complexion. When applied on scars, it gives the scars a less obvious appearance, and many think that the scar tissue is even loosened and smoothed to the body’s natural tone. However, an ongoing research is still underway to determine the exact effects of Vitamin E oil on skin. Surely though, the research has found that the Vitamin E oil is of utmost importance when used to reduce and even repair the body from the effects of the sun.

Taken in its recommended daily amounts, Vitamin E can begin to prevent and repair many of nature’s aging effects on your skin. All in all, caring for your skin with the use of Vitamin E gel and Vitamin E oil provide beneficial results in your quest to attain a healthy, clear, even-toned complexion.