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September 24, 2005

Smells Good!

Aromatherapy this, aromatherapy that...what the heck is aromatherapy anyway? It's the therapeutic use of essential oils extracted from herbs and plants. Each essential oil has its own healing qualites such as relaxation, stress relief, and skin care, oh, and they smell good also. There are various ways to use these oils such as dabbing them directly on the skin, adding them to handmade soaps, or even mixing them with unscented lotion.

Here are two essential oils that are great for skin care and stress relief. Give them a try!

Lavender - Lavender is an evergreen woody shrub about 3 feet tall, with gray-green narrow linear leaves with the most beautiful purple-blue flowers perched on a long stem. The name Lavender is derived from the Latin word 'lavera' to wash. The Romans used Lavender frequently in their bath routine, and it is said to have been introduced by them into England, where it soon became a favorite.

Lavender has a soothing and calming effect on the nerves, relieving tension, depression, panic, hysteria and nervous exhaustion in general. It is also effective for headaches, migraines and insomnia.


Neroli Oil - Neroli oil is extracted from the flowers of Citrus aurantium var. Neroli oil has a sweet, floral and slightly haunting aroma, the color is pale yellow and the viscosity is watery. This essential oil is also known as 'orange blossom' and it takes about 1000 lbs. of orange blossoms to make 1 lb. of Neroli oil. The name Neroli is said to originate from the Italian princess, Anne-Marie de la Tremoille, Countess of Nerola, who used the oil as a perfume and to scent her bathwater and gloves.

Neroli oil helps with the regeneration of skin cells and is useful for scar tissue, skin care and stretch marks; it is also very relaxing and can relieve chronic anxiety, depression, fear, shock and stress.

Give these a try!
Aura Cacia 100% Pure Essential Oil, Lavender (Calming)

Ananda Aromatherapy Pure Neroli Oil


Thanks to Lush Cosmetics and the Lush Life Online Newsletter for the info.

Posted by *Tammy at 11:15 AM | TrackBack (0)
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September 22, 2005

DIY Body/Face Scrub

Exfoliation is the process of scrubbing your body and/or face with gritty ingredients to remove dead skin cells. Exfoliating your skin two to three times per week is the key to keeping your skin soft and smooth.

The ingredients in some scrubs include dyes, frangrances, and even stuff you can't pronounce! Those pricey "all natural" exfoliators have ingredients that you can find in the the grocery store.

You don't need to spend tons of money on a scrub, just make your own! Here is a simple recipe to make your very own face/body scrub!

DIY Scrub:
1. Pour some sugar into a bowl, tupperware, jar, anything that will hold it.

2. Add a little water to make a paste and scrub away! This can be used for both face and body.
- Tip: Wet face or body with warm water before scrubbing.

Some variations of the recipe:
- Substitute sugar with sea salt for a salt scrub or mix both sugar and sea salt together for extra scrubby goodness!.

- Instead of mixing with water to make the paste, try mixing it with olive oil, grape seed oil, sweet almond oil, or even honey. All of these ingredients are very moisturizing and won't clog pores.

- Don't forget to mositurize, moisturize, moisturize after exfoliating! -

See, I told you it was simple. Talk to you later my little beauty hunters!

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September 20, 2005

The Real Fountain of Youth

No, the fountain of youth is not a plastic surgeon. It's in a bottle which contains a lotion called...drum roll please...SUNSCREEN!!! This stuff isn't just for summer or beaches anymore, it's the anti-aging secret that's, well, not much of a secret now that I've told you. This broad spectrum miracle lotion protects your skin from the aging (UVA) and burning (UVB) rays of the sun. Sunscreen should be used everyday, even on cloudy days; just becasue the sun isn't out doesn't mean it won't poke through the clouds once in awhile. So, which suncreen should you choose? How do you apply it?

How to Choose the Right Suncreen

1. Pick a broad spectrum one that protects against both UVA (aging) and UVB (burning) rays.
- Some key ingredients to look for in sunscreen are oxybenzone, avobenzone (Parsol 1789), octylmethyl cinnamate and cinoxate, sulisobenzone, salicylates, titanium dioxide, and zinc oxide

2. Choose a sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher.
- SPF refers to the product's ability to screen the sun's burning rays. The SPF rating is calculated by comparing the amount of time needed to produce a sunburn on protected skin to the amount of time needed to cause a sunburn on unprotected skin.
Let us take for instance a fair-skinned person who would normally turn red after 10 minutes in the sun. Ten minutes is their "initial burning time." If that person uses a sunscreen with SPF 2, it takes 20 minutes in the sun for that person's skin to turn red. Now, if that person uses a sunscreen with SPF 15, it multiplies the initial burning time by 15, so it takes 150 minutes, or 2 and half hours, for that person's skin to turn red.

3. Non-greasy ones absorb quickly and don't leave a thick film behind.

4. Just because it's more expensive does not mean it's more effective. Why shell out thirty bucks for a 3oz. bottle of sunscreen when you can get a 6 oz. one for one third of the price?

5. Some ingredients in sunscreen degrade over time, so be sure to check the expiration date.

How to Apply Sunscreen

1. Before applying, shake the bottle well to mix ingredients that may have separated.

2. Apply at least thirty minutes before going out in the sun. This gives it time to absorb into the skin so it's less likely to rub off.

3. Be extremely careful when applying around the eyes.

4. Use sunscreen on all exposed areas of skin including arms, back, legs, neck , ears, etc.

5. Be sure to apply enough sunscreen, one ounce (an entire handful) should be used for the entire body.

6. Reapply after swimming or sweating.

7. Wash your hands after applying sunscreen. If you don't wash your hands and you rub your eyes, they'll turn into a painful, stinging, blurry mess.
- If you do get sunscreen in your eyes, flush with cool water for 10 to 15 minutes. If I were you, I'd just wash my damn hands right after applying.


So, which sunscreen is my favorite?

I use Coppertone Ultrasheer Sunscreen, SPF 45 everyday. It's non-greasy, doesn't leave a filmy residue, and doesn't seep into my eyes. It also makes a great makeup primer!

Thanks to WebMD Health and MedicineNet.com for the information.

Posted by *Tammy at 09:00 AM | TrackBack (0)
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September 16, 2005

Happy Hair

Need some hair help? Here some basic tips to maintain healthy, happy hair.

1. Unless your hair is extremely oily, don't wash your hair everyday. Washing it everyday can strip natural oils that your hair needs and cause your scalp to produce even more oil to make up for the oils that have been stripped away.

2. A little goes a long way, using giant gobs of shampoo or conditioner won't make your hair any cleaner or shinier.

3. Shampoo is for cleaning the hair and scalp. The roots of the hair is where the most gunk is, so when using your shampoo, concentrate it at the roots of your hair. Conditioner fills in damaged areas of the hair and the ends of hair is where the most damage is. So, when using conditioner, concentrate it at the ends of your hair.
Note: combing the conditioner through hair with a wide toothed comb helps distribute it evenly.

4. If your hair is dry, damaged, and/or color treated, use a deep conditioning treatment once a week. Neutrogena Triple Moisture Deep Recovery Hair Mask is a great deep conditioner that doesn't weigh hair down. If you have normal or oily hair use a deep conditioner every other week (concentrate on the ends of hair).

5. Don't brush wet hair; that causes major damage! Instead, use a wide toothed comb to gently detangle hair.

6. Leave in conditioners, like Aussie Hair Insurance Leave-in Conditioner, and silicone serums (shine serums), like Neutrogena Triple Moisture Healing Shine Serum, should be used sparingly. Comb the product through hair to evenly distribute it.

7. Keep the heat syling to a minimum. If you really can't live without blow drying your hair, just flip it upside down and dry only the roots on low heat.

8. Trim your hair every 4 to 6 weeks to keep damged ends away and healthy hair intact.

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September 13, 2005

What's the Difference?

Is there a difference in quality between beauty products sold in durg stores and beauty products sold in department/specialty stores? There are diffrences, but some have larger ones than others. For instance, most foundations sold in drugstores have more "filler (stuff that really does't need to be in there)" ingredients than actual pigment. Most foundations sold at department/specialty stores have more pigment, less "filler," and gentler ingredients. I have not seen much of a difference in quality between expensive and cheap eyeliners; the ones I've tried have glided on nicely and stayed in place for most of the day or night (my favorites are Avon Oval Options Eye Pencil, Wet N' Wild Eye Liner, and NYC Eye Liner, NYC Oval Pencil).

Every month or so, I'm going to put my skin, hair, nails, and wallet at stake just so you can know which products really do what they claim to do and which ones don't. I will compare two of the same product, one from a drugstore and one from a department/specialty store. After trying them out, I will let you know whether there is a significant difference between them or not. Sometimes, I will try only one product (I'll try my best to test fairly new ones) and review it. I'll let you know which products I feel are best and which ones to stay away from.

I know everyone has a different opinion, so I invite you to try them also and email me your opinions! The very first product comparison is between Bourjois Coup de Theatre False Lash Illusion Duo Mascara in Noir Diva 11 ($17) and L' Oreal Double Extend Mascara in Blackest Black ($8-$9). Ready, set, compare!

Posted by *Tammy at 08:50 AM | TrackBack (0)
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September 12, 2005

Scratchy Soap

My cousin just came from Thailand to live with my family (he goes to college here in Los Angeles). He brought tons gifts including a great soap set. The soaps are infused with essential oils and other moisturizing ingredients. It also has a giant chunk of loofah in each one. The soaps are great, but the loofah's inside are extremely harsh on the skin. Using it everyday made my skin red and feel raw. I think I scrubbed off the first layer of skin, ouch! So, after a week of using it, I took the rest of the soaps and whipped out my trusty soap making kit. I melted the soaps, took out the loofahs, changed the colors, and poured the them into molds and let them set. An hour later, I had bars of soap without the harshness of scratchy loofahs. I'll stick to using my nylon exfoliating gloves two to three times per week with my new loofah free soaps.

Posted by *Tammy at 08:20 AM | TrackBack (0)
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September 10, 2005

Butter Me Up!

Cocoa Butter, Mango Butter, Brazil Nut Butter, so many butters! Which butter is best?

Good ol' shea butter, of course! Shea butter comes from the nuts of the Shea-Karite tree which is only found in Africa. The traditional way of extracting shea butter is as follows:
- the nuts are picked, cracked open, grilled, and then pounded.
- after pounding, they're boiled in water for hours until the shea butter rose to the surface.
- then it's scooped into gourds and left to cool down and "set." Shea Butter is solid at room temperature although it quickly liquefies right around body temperature.

Forget using cocoa butter to treat and prevent stretch marks; shea butter has way more moisturizing properties than any vegetable butter. It's full of vitamins A, E, and F which nourish and protect the skin from damage (i.e. from the sun) and dryness. Not only is shea butter great for skin, but it's also great for the hair and scalp. That's right, it also protects hair from damage (i.e. from coloring or heat styling) and moisturizes the scalp.

There are so many products that include shea butter in the ingredients, but never enough to reap any benefits from it. That's why I use 100% pure shea butter, nothing added, nothing taken away. I use it as an eye cream, lip blam, cuticle blam, body balm, everything! Note, not all shea butters are the same. There's a difference between East African Shea Butter and West African Shea Butter. There's also different types of shea butters: raw, refined, and highly refined.

NOTE: Since it is a natural product, shea butter can vary greatly in color, smell, and quality depending on where and how it was extracted.

There is some confusion as to which shea butter is better: West African (Vitellaria Paradoxa) or East African (Vitellaria Nilotica). Here are the differences between East and West African Shea Butter:

East African (Ugandan) Shea Butter


Higher in olein (the liquid part of the Shea Butter) - Because of this, East African Shea Butter is softer and more fragrant than West African Shea Butter. The product is highly valued and gives Ugandan women farmers over five times the amount received by their West African counterparts.

Lower in saturated fatty acids - This results in a higher absorption rate. Ugandan Shea Butter is excellent for dry knees, elbows, rough hands and dry scalp. It is especially helpful for dry scalp, dermatitis eczema, sunburn and as a lip balm.

Lower in vitamin A and less sterols - Not as effective for stretch marks.

West African Shea Butter


Higher in vitamin A - More effective in prevention of stretch marks.

The differences between raw, refined and highly refined Shea Butter lie in how the Shea Butter is extracted from the nut and how it is processed after that. Manual extraction processes leave more of the raw ingredients in the Shea Butter. After it is extracted, it can be further refined removing color and impurities that some people don't like. This further refining can also remove some of the smell. You can think of the difference between raw Shea Butter and refined Shea Butter as being similar to the difference between wheat bread and white bread. Truly raw Shea Butter can even be unfiltered. That is one end of the spectrum. On the other end, there is Shea Butter that is extracted using chemicals that is pure white, has no smell and has lost a lot of its healing properties in the process.

Thanks to Treasured Locks for the information.

Raw Shea Butter is extracted without color stripping chemicals. That's why this one has a yellow color and a sight smell to it. It has not been processed by chemicals to remove the color or scent.



Refined Shea Butter has been processed to remove the color and smell so all that's left is an unscented white balm. Although some of the skin saving qualitites may have been removed, it is still extremely effective. I use this kind of shea butter and am very happy with it. It protects and nourishes my skin like a lioness proctects and nourishes her cubs. Good stuff!

Posted by *Tammy at 01:20 PM | TrackBack (0)
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September 07, 2005

Be You, Do Watcha Do

Being a Los Angeles native, I know for sure that looks are everything (of course they shouldn't be). We either have to look like a celebrity and/or strive to be one. With a lot of luck and great plastic surgeon, you might be able to look like your favorite celebrity, but you will never be them. Face it people, THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN BE IS YOURSELF. Say it with me now, THE ONLY PERSON YOU CAN BE IS YOURSELF. If you try to be someone others expect you to be, you'll never find who you truely are. So, quit worrying about what others think of you. If you are around negative people, well, then stop being around them (duh!). There are plenty of people out there who like/love you for who you are. So, stand tall, smile big, and take care of yourself; be happy with who you are and work with what you've got (because you'll definitely miss those nice assests once they're gone) ;-)

Posted by *Tammy at 08:27 AM | Comments (3) | TrackBack (0)
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September 05, 2005

Flawless Skin part 2

How to apply foundation:

1. After cleaning your face and hands and applying sunscreen, follow with a primer. Let the primer "set" (most product instructions say to wait for one minute).
What's a primer? It's a product you apply to your face before foundation. It keeps oil at bay and helps make up stay on longer. It's colorless and made of silicone (some also have vitamins, some are even tinted) which gives your face a silky feel and helps make up go on more easily (which results in using less make up). It can also be worn alone on days you don't want to wear make up. It's also great for men to use after shaving. See, silicone is great for the outside of your body (skin, hair), but not inside (silicone poisoning, ouch).

2. For liquid foundation users:
- shake the bottle well before applying.
- dip a cotton swab into the bottle (never stick fingers into the bottle, bacteria from hands can grow inside of the bottle, yuck).
- dot the make up filled swab on forehead, cheeks, nose, and chin.
- use fingers, clean sponge, or foundation brush to blend make up outward and upward, don't forget to blend into the jawline.
- finish with a colorless powder to set the foundation.

3. For cream, stick, or compact foundation users:
- use a foundation brush or clean sponge to apply and blend (following the liquid foundation instructions).
- finish with a colorless powder to set the foundation.

A LITTLE GOES A LONG WAY. Start with a small amount of makeup. You can always add more if you want extra coverage.

Once you are finished using make up sponges, throw them away. Bacteria grows on them and you don't want those nasty germs on your face, do you?

Wash foundation brushes after use with baby shampoo or mild soap. Reshape the bristles and lay flat to dry. This keeps bacteria away and the bristles in tip top shape.

This is definitley a no brainer, wash your hands after applying make up (duh!).

Here are some product suggestions. I use these products and they work very well on my oily, acne prone skin. These products are also great for other skin types also because they are oil free and won't clog pores. So, if you're searching for some new make up, give these a try.

ModelCo Face Base is a great foundation primer that's packed with vitamins to nourish skin. It's a great base for make up, but can also be worn alone as a moisturizer.

LORAC Oil Free Makeup S6 is a great sheer foundation that literally melts into the skin. It blends very well and neutralizes redness. There aren't very many ingredients in it, just the essentials to help even skin tone. It doesn't irritate skin so it's great for all skin types, even sensitive skin. If it's applied right, people will start complimenting you on how great your skin looks (instead of complimenting on how great your makeup looks).

Paula Dorf Loose Powder is a colorless powder that works with all skin tones. It sets makeup without changing the color of it and is great for touch ups. I carry some in a small retractable powder brush

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September 04, 2005

Flawless Skin part 1

Celebritites have perfect skin, right? Absolutely not! It takes foundation to give them the look of flawless, even toned skin. You don't need a glam squad to fake flawless skin; all you need is a good, simple skin care routine and a little foundation. Now, when I say foundation, I don't mean that scary, goopy stuff your grandma used to use. Like most beauty prducts, foundation has come a long way thanks to technology. They blend well on the skin and are much more gentle than your grandma's stuff. There is a shade to match every skin tone on the planet. Afraid to take the foundation plunge? Try a tinted moisturizer. It's a moisturizer with just enough pigment to even out skin tone, some even have SPF. Before I go on about foundation, know that great skin starts with great skin care.

1. Wash your face with a cleanser morning and night. When I say wash, I mean massage the cleanser into your face for at least one minute to let the active ingredients (acne fighters, vitamins, etc.) penetrate the skin. Rinsing it off in less than a minute will just wash away the active ingredients without doing anything to the skin.

2. Most skin specialists say that toner is essential because it helps get everything off that the cleanser didn't clean off. It's supposed to close the pores and make your moisturizer work better. My opinion on this? It's completely illogical! If your cleanser doesn't get the gunk off, then why use it? If toner closes the pores, then how will the moisturizer penetrate the skin? It doesn't make sense at all. I stopped using toner a long time ago because all it did for me was strip all of my natural oils and sting my skin. If you really can't live without toner, try using an alcohol free one.

3. If you are acne prone, apply a treatment like salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. Most ance treatments dry out the skin, so follow with a good moisturizer.

4. Apply a moisturizer to finish off. Don't forget to apply sunscreen during the day.

Finding the right products for your skin takes a lot of experimentation. It takes about 4 to 6 weeks to see real results of the product, so be patient. If it doesn't work for you after that time period, throw it out and try a different one. Oh, if it stings or burns in anyway, run for the hills. Ok, don't run away, just throw the product away and don't use it ever again.

...Now, moving on to foundation...

There are four types of foundtions:
- Liquid - the most versitle type of foundation. Comes in sheer, medium, full, or even buildable coverage. Water based ones are good for all skin types. There are oil based ones out there, but they can clog pores.

- Cream - thick and creamy with medium to full coverage. Can be applied with a wet sponge for extra coverage. This type has an emollient base which is good for dry or mature skin. People with oily or acne prone skin should use water based liquid foundation instead.

- Compact - also known as powder foundation because it's both powder and foundation in one. Usually has medium coverage, but can be appled with a wet sponge for more coverage. Good for people on the go.

- Stick - comes in a swivel stick, emollient based, thick consistancy that can double as a concealer. Looks like a snap to apply, but it takes a lot of blending. Medium to full coverage.

How to find the right shade:
- yellow based shades work best with all skin tones. There are pink and peach based foundations, but who actually has those undertones?
- apply a small amount to your jawline and blend it in. It should "disappear" into the skin. Check it in natrual light (sun light) to make sure that there are no obvious lines.
- once you've found the right shade and formula for yourself, get happy and congratulate yourself because it probably took you awhile to find it, right? YAY for you!

...Application tips to come in part 2...

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September 02, 2005

Green Beauty

There are so many natural beauty brands on the market, but are they just as effective as the chemical filled products? Some brands include Burt's Bees, Kiss My Face, and Alba Hawaiian. I've tried cleansers, toners, and moisturizers from Burt's Bees and they've made me break out. Kiss My Face's lip balm made my lips even dryer than they were before. Alba Hawaiian's moisturzer made my face sting and burn! As you can see, I have yet to find a great natural product. If any of you beauty junkies know of any good products, please let me know. For now, I'll stick to my Neutrogena, Zapzyt, and Vitamin E Cream.

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