SkinDeep Naturals

2010-05-14T12:12:00.000-07:00

'Tis the season for Sunscreen

2010-05-08T19:21:00.000-07:00

My favorite pick for summer sun protection is Badger brand sunscreens. They provide physical sun block (as opposed to chemical). They are naturally water resistant and free of stinky synthetic fragrances. Click here to find a retailer near you!

7 Days to better skin:

2010-05-04T13:55:00.000-07:00

You’re much more likely to stay hydrated if you carry a water bottle around with you. Fill your 24 oz. bottle up first thing every morning and try emptying it before noon, fill it again and drink before dinner. Try to drink another 8-12 oz. before bedtime if you can. You will save calories by replacing high calorie sodas and coffee drinks, and you will be pleasantly surprised at what it will do for your complexion.

Try incorporating one or two servings of pure fruit juice into your daily routine. I like R.W. Knudsen’s Just Black Cherry. Cherry juice has lots of minerals and helps to neutralize acid waste in the blood and lymph liquid. The more tart the cherry juice the better it is for you. Just make sure the only ingredient listed is cherries.

Soak in sunshine in healthy doses. Five or ten minutes of unprotected sun exposure will allow your body to convert certain chemicals into Vitamin D. Do this in the early morning or late evening when the suns rays aren’t as powerful. For prolonged sun exposure, slather on a good chemical free SPF every couple of hours to protect your skin from too much UVA exposure. Wear a wide brimmed hat and sunglasses to protect your face.

Get a good night’s sleep! (Easier said than done, I know.)

If you have trouble with cystic acne, try cutting back or eliminating your dairy intake for a week or so and see what happens. The excess hormones that dairy cows pass on to us tend to be excreted through the sebaceous glands, which are plentiful around the chin and jaw line. You should also eliminate refined sweets (candy, cake and sodas) from your diet. Studies have shown that an overload in blood sugar stimulates the chain of events that can cause acne formation.

Invest in a good loofah. Exfoliating your body in the shower every couple of days encourages healthy cell renewal and stimulates the lymphatic system.

Get rid of expired makeup and skin care products and invest in new ones.

Shopper's Guide to Pesticides

2010-04-28T08:02:00.000-07:00

Buying organic fruits and vegetables can be expensive, especially when you're on a tight budget with a few mouths to feed.

The Environmental Working Group has released a list (based on scientific research) of which foods to always buy organic (based of their high pesticide content) and which foods you can get away with buying non-organic (based on their low pesticide content):

Always buy these organic:

Celery
Apples
Bell Peppers
Cherries
Peaches
Blueberries
Spinach
Potatoes
Strawberries
Nectarines
Kale
Grapes (imported)

Lowest in Pesticides:

Onions
Avocado
Sweet Peas
Eggplant
Sweet Potato
Asparagus
Cantaloupe
Honeydew Melon
Sweet Corn
Kiwi
Watermelon
Cabbage
Pineapple
Mangos
Grapefruit

Remember that fruits and veggies that are in season are at their peak nutritional value. Take advantage of organic produce at your local farmer's market this summer. If you don't have space for a large garden, start a container garden or plant a few veggies and fruit trees in the flower beds around your home. Start incorporating edible plants into your landscape.

Get out a pencil and paper and plan a small garden for this summer. Learn about companion planting here. Try to use heirloom seeds when available!

Organic Cheaters

2010-04-25T09:46:00.000-07:00

About 12 or so years ago I discovered Dr. Andrew Weil's book 'Eating Well for Optimal Health'. I learned the importance of reading food labels and what kinds of ingredients to avoid (hydrogenated oils, FD&C, refined or bleached grains, high fructose corn syrup, unfortunately the list goes on...). In the past few years it has become well known that Trans Fats (hydrogenated oils) are dangerous. Product packaging advertises 'Trans Fat' free on labels. But some of these products still contain hydrogenated oils and you will find this listed on the back of the box in the ingredients. If a product contains less than 0.5g of trans fats per serving they are considered by the government to be trans-fat free. The moral of the story is to read your ingredients.

The same can be said for cosmetic labeling. Just because a product claims to be Natural or Organic doesn't mean it is healthy. The Natural and Organic industry is booming which means there are a lot of companies out there trying to get in. So please, read the labels of your cosmetics and skin care products. I'm going to list a few common ingredients used in products marketed as natural and organic that I believe you should be aware of if you are looking for a truly natural, organic product:

Coca betaine (Cocamidopropyl betaine or CAPB) - a synthetic surfactant derived from coconut oil and dimethylaminopropylamine. It sounds so pretty when they tell you in the ingredient list that it's coconut derived and they leave out the dimethyla-lalalala part. Anyway, besides the fact that it is synthetic (which is the exact opposite of natural!!), it is a known allergen and can cause contact dermatitis.

Fragrance - Synthetic fragrances are comprised of many toxins and chemicals that can be absorbed into the blood stream and are highly allergenic. They probably also contain phthalates and/or phenoxyethanol (more on that below).

Grapefruit seed extract - a preservative used for its anti-microbial properties. While GSE in itself is harmless, it is often manufactured by combining methylparaben, triclosan, benzethonium chloride, and glycerin with the seeds and pulp of grapefruit. It is not necessary for these additional ingredients to be disclosed. So basically, you don't know if you're getting true grapefruit seed extract (which has been tested for its anti-microbial properties and many believe it is not an effective preservative without the addition of synthetic preservatives) or if you're getting the beefed-up version of GSE. The latter being most likely since it has proven to be more effective.

Emulsifying wax - Most vegetable based emulsifying waxes on the market today consist of a combination of Cetearyl Alcohol + Polysorbate 60 + PEG-150 Stearate + Steareth-20 which = trace levels of carcinogens. Emulsifying wax is used to hold the oil and water in a lotion or cream together and make it nice and creamy and spreadable. It doesn't ad any beneficial nutrition to the product.

Stearic acid - Another emulsifying agent that can be a pretty bad skin irritant. If you must use a product with stearic acid, make sure it's vegetable based, not animal based. It has been known to be carcinogenic and comedogenic.

Phenoxyethanol - The ingredient label will brag that it's a "paraben-free preservative". It is also a synthetic ether alcohol preservative that is made from carcinogenic compounds. It is also a common ingredient in Fragrances, even those that say they are "phthalate free".

Phthalates - This is probably one of the worst... thankfully it is slowly being pulled from products like baby bottles and water bottles. But sadly it is still a common additive in synthetic fragrances as well as "fragrance free" products (fragrance chemicals are actually added to "fragrance-free" products to cover up the natural smell of the ingredients).

Not everyone cares whether or not their food is cage free or organic and probably fewer people still are concerned with the types of ingredients in their skin care products. But for those who are concerned with using clean, honest, natural ingredients, I hope that this has been informative.

Update: I just found an article that inspired me to re-name the title of this post. Read the article here. I'm glad people are getting mad about this misinformation and more importantly, are doing something about it!

Sign up for our Newsletter!

2010-04-22T16:40:00.000-07:00

Sign up for the newsletter to receive information on shop specials, new products, and the occasional free shipping special! I'll never bore you with emails you don't have time to read. I like to get right to the point :) And I'll never share your name or email address with anyone.

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Skin Conditions: Acne

2010-03-06T06:52:00.001-08:00

Acne is a condition of the hair follicles and their associated sebaceous glands and is the most common skin disorder in the U.S. Acne is often thought of as a teenage condition, but as most of us know it is not exclusive to that age bracket. Children, teenagers and adults experience some form of this skin condition.

The first stage of any type of acne is an enlarged and plugged hair follicle. The follicle is clogged with accumulated skin cells and oils that have not reached the skin's surface. This is called a closed comedone, or "whitehead". Once the follicle has been opened and the blockage reaches the surface, the debris oxidizes and turns black, resulting in a "blackhead".

The second stage of acne is when the follicle becomes inflamed due to bacteria being introduced to the follicle. This bacteria feeds off of the sebum and skin cells that have accumulated in the follicle and can result in the development of a Papule (inflamed, swollen, itchy bump). White blood cells enter the picture here and begin a war with bacteria, which can result in a pus filled bump called a Pustule or Nodulocystic bumps (multiple deep, painful, pus-filled lesions).

The best way to prevent and control acne is to be proactive with your skin care routine. Proper cleansing should include not only washing away surface dirt and makeup but also exfoliating the dead skin cells that promote the acne bacteria. If you have naturally oily skin, you need to be especially dilligent about cleansing and exfoliating daily due to the fact that excess oils create a sticky environment in the hair follicles which makes them extra prone to becoming clogged.

Peppermint Stick Lip Balm

2010-02-28T12:55:00.000-08:00

I made a big batch of lip balm this weekend. I love this stuff!! And I'm totally addicted..

Skin Care Prescription

2010-02-24T13:40:00.000-08:00

Normal Skin:

Cleanse - Lemon Lavender Cleansing Scrub
Tone - Pure Organic Rose Water
Moisturize - Pure Moisture with Calendula

Dry/Mature Skin:

Cleanse - Lemon Lavender Cleansing Scrub - For delicate skin, apply the cleansing scrub in a press and release motion rather than scrubbing. The scrub will provide a deep pore cleanse and remove dirt and makeup without the scrubbing motion.
Tone - Pure Organic Rose Water
Moisturize - Pure Moisture with Healing Calendula - Add 2 - 3 drops of Healing Rose Serum to one pump of lotion to treat wrinkles and uneven pigmentation.

Combination/Oily/Acne Skin:

Cleanse - Lemon Lavender Cleansing Scrub - For delicate skin, apply the cleansing scrub in a press and release motion rather than scrubbing. The scrub will provide a deep pore cleanse and remove dirt and makeup without the scrubbing motion.
Tone - Blemish Control Toner
Moisturize - Blemish Control Serum - Add 2 - 3 drops to Blemish Control toner, rub between hands and press into face, neck and chest
Mask - Herbal Treatment Mask - Spot treat breakouts or use as a treatment mask once or twice a week.

ALL Skin Types:

Eye care - Pure Moisture for Eyes & Lips
Face & Body Lotion - Pure Moisture with Healing Calendula and Pure Moisture with Organic Lavender - Add 2 - 3 drops of serum to one pump of lotion when skin needs more hydration

I ♥ Calendula

2009-09-20T14:59:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite flowers of all time is the Calendula Flower, better known as the Marigold. Calendula petals are edible and have been used for centuries for medicinal and healing purposes. I started 6 plants from seed last spring that still have lots of blooms. They can sometimes tolerate the first frost, so I'm hoping to enjoy them for a few more weeks!

I want to show you how I plan to incorporate them into skin care -

First I cut the flowers from the stem:

...pluck all of the petals from the flower head:

Here are the seeds I pulled from flowers that had already dried (They look like little maggots ;) ) I used a few of these to start some new plants that I'm going to try and grow in the sunroom this winter. I'll save the rest of the seeds for next spring..

These are the flower heads. When they dry up I'll collect the seeds and add to my stash :) The little green crescent shape things you see surrounding the orange middle are the seeds:

Next I mixed the petals with about 1 cup of organic jojoba oil and simmered for about 3 hours:

Then I strained the oil through a piece of cheesecloth into a jar. I'll leave the cheesecloth on for a few days then I'll seal it up and let it infuse for another couple of weeks before I use it. It smells REALLY good and I plan to use it in a salve for eczema :)

Here are some facts about Calendula that I found on www.calendula.name: 'Biologically active ingredients of Calendula include carotenoids, such as lutein and zeaxanthin, sterols, saponins, glycosides, and numerous antioxidants, including terpenoids, flavonoids, isoquercitin, narcissin and rutin.'

I hope I don't sound bitter...

2009-09-13T17:25:00.000-07:00

Working in the day spa setting was an interesting experience for me. A typical facial menu looks something like this: Renewing Facial ($70), Deep Pore Cleanse ($95), Ultimate Deluxe Hydrating Detoxifying Facial ($135). Most clients choose the basic most cost effective (?) option. Others spring for the higher end multiple word description option in hopes of walking away looking like an air-brushed model on the cover of a magazine. I rarely encountered a client needing more than the equivalent of an exfoliating cleanse, a relaxing, circulation inducing facial massage and hydrating mask - which should be a $45 service. My over-active conscience produced an uneasy feeling about working in the day spa industry.

Upon gaining experience and product knowledge, I was able to go out on my own and lease a little space and provide services on my own terms and at prices I felt were fair and appropriate.
I believe in spa treatments. It's always a good idea to check in with your esthetician so that he or she can assess your skin, point out problems, or potential problems, and recommend adding or subtracting this or that from your daily skin care routine. (It's kind of like someone else walking into your house and noticing the clutter you have learned to overlook on a daily basis.)

It would always excite me to meet and work with the rare client who suffered from an acneic condition and would walk away with money well spent on an appropriate skin care treatment. My guess is that most people having such conditions were too embarrassed with their appearance to come up close and personal with an esthetician peering through the glass of a magnifying lamp.

My goal as a product manufacturer is to provide a great product, support and knowledge to my customers. I don't want you to buy a product that you don't need. I want you to have a product line that gives you the kind of result you expect from a $70 or $170 spa treatment.

Eco Bags

2009-08-08T07:03:00.000-07:00

I found these lunch/snack bags for the girl's lunch boxes. I hope the velcro holds up. I'll try to remember to post after a few weeks of use and report how sturdy they are :)

Update: The velcro gets really curly after a couple of washes (which I kind of expected). I still like these bags. It's always nice to have something on hand to transport snacks.

Product development and essential oil safety

2009-03-19T16:36:00.000-07:00

I love developing new products! Especially when someone has a specific request regarding a certain skin condition. I had a request the other day and it has sent me into mad scientist mode. I'm researching and writing down potential recipes, gearing up for Saturday when I plan on spending the whole day in the kitchen experimenting with new skin care recipes :) (haven't told husband this yet ;) ... )

In case you're wondering how this whole product making process works, here's a brief description. The first ingredient for me to consider is the carrier oil. Some carrier oils have cleansing and astringent properties, some have moisturizing properties, some have anti-aging properties, etc. If, for example, I am making a 'light day lotion' for someone who has problems with an oily complexion and clogged pores (non-hormone related breakouts), I would probably choose hazelnut oil, kui kui nut oil, and/or evening primrose oil. From there I would decide which essential oils to "carry" into the skin (via the carrier oil). Essential oils are highly concentrated essences of plants that are obtained through distillation. They are beneficial via external application, internal ingestion (some, not all), and aromatically (aromatherapy). If I were choosing an essential oil for this particular lotion, I may choose lavender for it's soothing and anesthetic properties, tea tree oil for its antibacterial properties, and so forth.

Now, in order for me to get the light, hydrating lotion consistency I want, I need to add some purified water. But since oil and water don't mix, I need a way to bring and keep the oil and water together. I like to use organic lecithin (which is derived from soybeans) as an emulsifier. I'll also throw in some beeswax, aloe vera, maybe some lanolin and that's pretty much it.

It is important for you to know which ingredients you should avoid if you have allergies (i.e., essential oils from the ragweed family or butters from the nut family, like shea butter, should be avoided) or are pregnant (I will include a list of essential oils to avoid during pregnancy below).

Oils to avoid during pregnancy:

Anise, Bay, Basil, Camphor, Caraway, Carrot, Cedarwood, Cinnamon, Clary sage, clove, comfrey, cypress, fennel, hyssop, jasmine, juniper, marjoram, mugwort, myrrh, nutmet, oregano, pennyroyal, peppermint, rosemary, safe, sassafras, tansy, thuja, thyme, wintergreen, wormwood, and yarrow.

Oils to avoid in first trimester:

Chamomile, frankincense, geranium, melissa, rose

(green) Cleaning tips

2009-03-12T20:14:00.000-07:00

I hesitate to use the word GREEN ! It's an annoyingly over-used buzz word these days.

Anyway... my Real Simple magazine came in the mail today. It is the only thing in this world that inspires me to cook :) I love the recipes. They're usually quite delicious and, well, Simple. This month's copy highlights "Back-to-basics cleaning" tips. I'm always looking for alternatives to store-bought household cleaners. I felt inspired to share a few:

(courtesy of RealSimple)

*Dip the cut side of a lemon half in baking soda to clean countertops (not delicate stone, like marble, or stainless steel)

*for marble countertops, stir 1 TBS. liquid castile soap into 1 quart warm water, dampen cloth with solution and wipe surface. rinse, then dry with a clean cloth

*add a teaspoon of lemon juice to your dishwasher detergent to increase grease cutting power

*sprinkle salt on the outside of a lemon peel, rub tea and coffee stained mugs until stain disappears

*to combat lime scale: rub lemon juice onto the taps of your faucets and let it sit overnight, wipe with a damp cloth

*add a few squirts of liquid castile soap to 2 cups hot water. apply to stovetop, burners and vent hood to cut through accumulated grease

*Add lemon juice to 1 - 2 tsp. of cream of tartar to make a paste, scrub grout with a toothbrush to eliminate stains

*add 1/2 cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle of your washing machine to brighten whites

*pour salt on spills in the oven. when the oven is cool, wipe with a damp sponge

*rub tomato stained plastic food-storage containers with lemon juice and let dry in a sunny place, then wash as usual

*wipe glass shower doors with a few drops of lemon oil twice a month to eliminate and prevent soap scum build-up

*add 2 teaspoons of tea-tree oil and 2 cups of water to a spray bottle, shake, spritz along the toilet's inside rim. Let set for 30 minutes then scrub

*create a homemade soft scrubber by combining 1 TBS liquid castile soap and 1/3 cup baking soda to clean sinks, showers, tubs and ceramic tile

*mix 2 oz. water and 10 drops lavender or lemongrass oil to wipe grime off windows. Bonus: these oils may repel flies.

*pour rubbing alcohol onto a cotton ball and apply to permanent-marker stains on finished wood floors or solid-surface countertops

true testimonial

2009-03-10T06:22:00.000-07:00

husband: "i bought some lotion today, my skin is itchy and dry"
me: "you do realize I make lotion, don't you?"
husband: "well where is it? I couldn't find any"
me: "well, there are 3 jars in our bathroom, 1 in the girls bathroom, 1 by the kitchen sink, and another by the computer"
husband: "oh, hmm"

2 days later

husband: "that aveeno stuff is crap"
me: "have you been using my lotion?"
husband: "yeah, it's awesome. i really like it! you should throw that other stuff away"

The truth about natural skin care

2009-02-23T19:08:00.000-08:00

A good friend of mine was in San Diego last week visiting her sister-in-law who is currently undergoing chemotherapy for breast cancer (and has a 4 month old son). They were in a store that supplies wigs, accessories and cosmetics specifically for cancer patients. My friend noticed a lotion for women undergoing chemo and radiation. She glanced at the ingredients on the label and found an extensive paragraph of ingredients she couldn’t pronounce, as well as well-known carcinogenic ingredients. A product designed for cancer patients containing carcinogens. Seriously?

Similarly, as I browse different forums on the Internet and read product reviews, I am saddened and irritated that cosmetic manufacturers (both big-time and mom and pop) are falsely marketing products as natural and organic. Maybe they don’t know that some of the ingredients they are using aren’t truly natural. Maybe they don’t think it matters. But the people it does matter to are unknowingly buying these products. That matters!

Most of us know by now how important it is to read the ingredients of food and cosmetic products. For example, ‘trans-fat’ is a big buzzword; we all know to avoid it. But what some people don’t know is that “partially hydrogenated oils” are trans-fats and are in the list of ingredients of many of the foods advertising themselves as trans-fat free. If there are less than .5 grams of trans-fat per serving, the label can say trans-fat free. But if you eat more than one serving, you are eating trans-fats.

My point is that for many consumers, it is difficult, if not impossible, to truly decipher whether a product is natural or not. We certainly can’t count on the integrity of the manufacturers making such claims. I have compiled a list of cosmetic ingredients you should know and stay away from. I have also included a couple of links to articles that go into more depth and point out other ingredients that are toxic.

Ingredients I love to hate:

Emulsifying Waxes – These are pretty common in ‘natural’ skin care products. When making a lotion or cream, you are combining oil and water. Emulsifying waxes bind the oil and water together and make for a nice, creamy consistency. Unfortunately, the compounds that make up these waxes are linked to the creation of free radicals and prostaglandin inhibitors. Free radicals kill cells (eventually). Prostaglandin inhibitors have been known to inhibit or deplete certain minerals and fatty acids from the body.

Parabens – (Also known as phenonip) Parabens are petrochemical, estrogenic, carcinogenic and allergenic. Estrogenic means ‘related to or caused by estrogen’. Read this.

Tetrasodium EDTA – Acts as a preservative in skin care products. It is a compound made from sodium cyanide (a toxic salt) and formaldehyde (a carcinogen).

Fragrance – Fragrances may contain phthalates (which is currently being banned for use in most plastic containers) that are proven hormone disruptors, particularly affecting the way the female hormone estrogen works in your body (in men, women, and children). Furthermore, fragrances are highly allergenic and contain large quantities of toxins and chemicals not disclosed. Fragrance-free means that fragrance chemicals have been added to the product to mask the natural aromas of the ingredients.

Synthetic colors - FD&C Yellow and D&C Green are made from coal tar, and can be skin irritants, hormone disruptors, and formaldehyde donors.

Here is an interesting article on phthalates and formaldehyde and formaldehyde donors.

It is to your advantage to educate yourself and know your ingredients. I hope this was a good start!