How To: Correctly Manicure Your Cuticles

 Not enough time or money to head to the spa for a true TLC treatment? Not to worry, we have a short guide that will help you get those ragged cuticles back into shape! You may not know that cuticles serve a very important purpose. They are a barrier from infection and protect the area between the skin and the nail.

DO:

1. If your cuticles have gotten a little out of hand (ha!), start by pushing them back into place. You can do this with an actual cuticle pusher, or use your fingernails to do the pushing. You’ll want to do this when cuticles are softest. We recommend doing this each day in the shower. Be careful though, and don’t push the cuticle too far back.

2. Use a powerful cuticle cream on your nails to keep them soft and healthy.

3. Use gloves when working in the garden or washing dishes to keep hands and cuticles from being exposed to extra germs or becoming dry and cracked.

DON’T:

1. DO NOT cut your cuticles if they are healthy. This promotes infection. If you have a hangnail, clip the hangnail off rather than tear it. Leave as much of the cuticle in tact as possible. Cover nail with a band-aid to keep it from becoming infected.

2. DO NOT overuse nail polish or nail polish removers. Try to find a nail polish remover without acetone if possible.

3. DO NOT use your nails and letter openers or any other office supply. Shuffling papers all day can be hard on your cuticles, so treat them well.

Some more interesting cuticle information:

What are Cuticles?

Nail Care Do's and Dont's

Friday's Organic Skin Care Tip #3

Friday Organic Skin Care Tip #3

After you have cracked the eggs open during baking, use your finger to swipe the excess egg white from the shell.  Apply on face for a quick face mask!

Does Chewing Gum Cause Wrinkles?

This is a very interesting article about the consequences that chewing gum has on your skin…I bet you didn’t even think of this!  Enjoy this article!

Does Chewing Gum Cause Wrinkles?

How To: Get Your Hair to Last Another Day Before Washing

I know, this seems kind of gross.  However, for busy people, dry shampoo can be a lifesaver!  Fortunately, there are ways to make it last without harmful chemicals as well.  If you find that you need to stretch your hair one more day before washing…for whatever reason…try some of these options:

1.  Baking Soda – Take a little (not a lot!) and lightly sprinkle throughout the roots of your hair.  Use a bristled brush to brush the baking soda down towards the ends and out of the hair.  Warning:  your hair might turn a crazy color of gray before it’s brushed out.  Don’t freak out!

2.  Cornstarch – Do the same things as you did with the baking soda, but be careful – cornstarch has a tendency to poof all over the room whenever you use it.

3.  Cocoa Powder – I know, sounds suspicious.  But this is a better option for those with darker hair.  Use this the same as the baking soda and the cornstarch, being careful again.  Brush out!

You can make your own concoctions with ground oatmeal, the above ingredients and some essentials oils.  There are tons of possibilities, so just play around with what works for your hair!

Friday's Tip of the Week

#2 You went to the store and bought strawberries. And didn’t manage to finish all of them, so half the carton is about to go bad. Instead of wasting nearly overripe strawberries, use them to exfoliate your hands and feet! We don’t recommend using the strawberries on your face because the seeds could possibly cause micro cuts on your face, resulting in a possible breakout or sensitivity. However, used on the stronger, more durable skin on hands and feet, your skin will be fine.

Ingredients

• 6 strawberries
• 2 tbsp olive oil
• 2 tsp salt (either Kosher or Sea Salt)

1. Mash up the strawberries. You can use the back of a large spoon or a potato masher. Do not use a blender because it will leave your scrub a little watery
2. Add the olive oil and salt.
3. Mix together.
4. Massage into hands and feet.
5. Rinse with water.

How To: Soften Your Skin

There are several different ways to soften your skin with both external and internal products.

1. Use additives in your bath to help soften your skin while you soak
1. Add 2 cups of oatmeal to your bath to help soothe skin
2. Add olive oil to your bath water
3. Moisturize after bathing, either with olive oil or a heavy body cream containing vitamin E
4. Use milk in your bath with a few teaspoons of honey
5. Exfoliate with baking soda

2. Take supplements to soften your skin from the inside out
1. Take Evening Primrose supplements
2. Take Flaxseed supplements
3. Take vitamin E supplements
4. Drink plenty of water

Softening Skin Link 1

Softening Skin Link 2

It’s Almost Halloween, Where’s Your Mask?

Hair masks rock. Really, they do. So below are just a couple good recipes for dry and normal hair, and a basic rinse for oily hair and/or to get the mask off. We’ve included the links so you can look up even more awesome recipes from the site itself. If you’re going to try hair masks, here are a couple of tips:

1.     Don’t use a hair mask twenty minutes before a date, or going out, or doing something that requires you to actually DO your hair. The oils/moisture in the mask will still be having a very noticeable effect on your hair, so it might not do what you want. Try doing it three to five days prior to a big event for best results

2.     Don’t rinse out ALL the oil that you just put in. If you are rinsing out your hair and it starts to squeak, you’ve done too much, and just stripped the oils from your hair. Again. Use the rinse provided below. Hair should feel silky and absolutely should not squeak. You can always do another rinse later if you really need to, but better safe than sorry.

Dry Hair

This mask is for dry, frizzy hair. If you’re wondering whether or not your hair is dry, if it’s breaking at the ends, or considerably lighter at the ends than at the root of your hair near your scalp, it’s dry. If you’re hair is curly, then it would also benefit from this treatment, as curly hair is naturally a drier hair type.

Ingredients

• 1 egg white
• 1/4 cup plain organic yogurt
• 1/4 cup mayonnaise

Instructions

1. Beat egg white until frothy.
2. Mix with yogurt and mayonnaise.
3. Massage into wet hair.
4. Cover with plastic shower cap or plastic wrap.
5. Leave in for 30 minutes, then wash out with a mild shampoo.
6. Rinse with very cold water.
7. Use monthly to moisturize hair.

Hair Masks 1

Normal Hair

This protein-rich conditioner nourishes hair and is mild and quick enough for everyday use.

Ingredients

• 2 tsp olive oil
• 2 egg yolk
• 1 cup distilled or filtered water

Instructions

     1.  Beat egg yolk until frothy. 
     2. Add oil and beat until well-blended. 
     3. Add to water and distribute through hair, massaging into scalp. 
     4. Rinse thoroughly.

Hair Masks 2

Oily Hair

If you already have oily hair, we don’t recommend adding a mask to it, as most masks contain oil and you obviously have enough of that already. Instead, try the hair rinse listed below to clarify your hair after conditioning. 

Hair Rinse

To effectively get the hair masks out, or to combat oily hair, we recommend using the following rinse:

Ingredients

• 4 cups water
• 1 cup apple cider vinegar

Instructions 

      1. Mix well
      2. Rinse hair using about one cup at a time and testing to make sure that you haven't rinsed too much.  

(You can mix more or less of this as needed, just be sure the ratio is one part apple cider vinegar to four parts water.)

Caring for Your Skin as You Age

We all want to age gracefully, but there are many things we do that unknowingly harm our skin. Below we sum up some basic skin care regimens that assist you in  looking your best as you age. We have also included links to these articles for your convenience!

1. Always wear sunscreen and moisturizer
1. Moisturize both day and night
2. Be sure to keep a healthy diet
1. Eat plenty of vegetables and fruits
2. Keep lean protein regulated
3. Get your Omega-3 fatty acid
1. Eat fish or take supplements. Fish oil and flax seed are great choices

3. Exfoliate at least once a week
4. Drink your water!
5. Be gentle when washing your face

Articles
How to Care for Aging Skin
Age and Dry Skin
The Right Skin Care for Your Age

Friday's Tip of the Week

#1 You should always apply some type of lotion, cream, or oil under your eyes at night to help keep this sensitive skin hydrated and supple. When applying, always use your ring finger to dab on the cream. Why? Because your ring finger is the finger that applies the least amount of pressure, which is important when working with such a thin and sensitive area of skin.

How To: Do a Spot Treatment on Blemishes

1. Add about 2 tsp baking soda to your face cleanser, if it doesn’t already have an added exfoliant.
2. Wash face with warm water
3. Pat face dry
4. Add astringent (optional). See recipe ideas here
5. Lightly dab ONE of the following onto the pimple you are trying to get rid of
1. Tea Tree Oil

                                                    i.     Either undiluted or lightly diluted with a carrier oil, such as Argan Oil or Sweet Almond Oil. The undiluted tea tree oil will probably burn a little, so beware!

2. Fresh Lemon Juice

                                                    i.     Only use at night

3. Witch Hazel
4. Fresh, crushed garlic

                                                    i.     Only use at night

5. Fresh egg whites

                                                    i.     You can apply this on your entire face or just on the blemishes

Things to Remember:

-        If you are using an essential oil, do a test on your skin before applying to your face. Put a couple drops of the oil on a cotton ball, and tape it to the inside of your elbow. Leave for a few hours. If the skin becomes irritated in any way, do not use the oil on your face.

-        Be sure you are drinking plenty of water

-        Eat more garlic, or take garlic supplements to help with acne. Most blemishes are caused by a hormone imbalance or candidae (yeast) imbalance, so prevention is key.

Don't Forget Your Armpits!

One area of the body we seem to overlook is our armpits. We don’t think about this often, but it is more important than you think. Every day you use deodorant, but do you really know what you are putting on your skin?

Below are some interesting articles to help you understand what is in the commercial deodorants we use. We hope this information will help you decide whether or not you feel comfortable continuing to use them.

What’s In Our Deodorant?

Concern Over Deodorant Chemicals

Antiperspirants/Deodorants and Breast Cancer

Can Deodorant Hurt You?

If you are looking for natural deodorant options, check out The Daily Green for tips on choosing natural deodorants or the Good Guide for basic product reviews of top natural deodorants.

Most Common Allergic Reactions on Skin

 Atopic Dermatitis (Eczema)

Characterized by dry, scaly, itchy patches on the skin.

Photo courtesy of: www.eczemasufferers.com

Read more:

See information on eczema here on our blog.

Contact Dermatitis

Looks much like Atopic Dermatitis but is localized to only the portion of the skin that have touched the irritant. Common irritants include jewelry, detergents on clothing, perfumes/colognes, and cosmetics.

 

Photo courtesy of: www.contactdermatitistreamtent.com

Urticaria (Hives) and Angiodema (Swelling)

Characterized by raised and red patches of skin that are often localized and very irritated. It may be accompanied with swelling at the site.

 

Photo courtesy of: www.healthy-skin-guide.com

Pruritus

This condition often has no rash, but is characterized by extremely itchy patches of skin, which will ultimately result in open wounds on the affected area, due to scratching.

Photo courtesy of: www.howtogetrid.org

Educate Yourself

Find more information and helpful tips on common skin allergic reactions at the American Academy of Asthma and Immunology

Tips on dealing with Atopic Dermatitis and Contact Dermatitis:

Organic Home Remedies

Atopic Dermatitis

Tips on dealing with Urticaria:

Hives: Alternative and Natural Health Guide

How to Naturally Cure Hives

Tips on dealing with Pruritus:

Native Remedies: Pruritus

The statements, information and/or products listed and discussed in this blog have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. Any statements, information, and/or products listed and discussed in this blog are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease.  We always recommend speaking with a physician before beginning or stopping any health care regimen.

Blackheads

Blackheads are acne.  I know, that’s elementary.  But if you keep in mind that blackheads are acne, you can do a lot in treating them.  If you recall one of our past posts, The Science Behind Acne, blackheads are just a form of acne.  Blackheads occur when pores become clogged with dead skin, dirt and debris.

Blackheads can plague even the most clear-skinned individuals.  They can be very irritating.  Fortunately, there is some things you can do to work on clearing up those blackheads:

After washing your face at night, splash on a little natural astringent:

      Apple Cider Vinegar – This can be a little harsh by itself.  Dilute it with some water.

      Witch Hazel – This is a bit more gentle on the skin and is also very refreshing.

      Aloe Vera – This is rejuvenating and helps moisturize your skin as well.

      Green Tea – This will also provide antioxidants for the skin…make sure it’s cool first!

      Lemon Juice – This may be a bit more harsh, but it really cleans out your pores.

One technique that is particularly effective, is to gently exfoliate with baking soda.  Rinse everything off and dab some type of natural astringent on your face and leave for a couple minutes.  Rinse again!  This technique will help on working to clear out those blackhead, and at least minimize the appearance of them on your face.  So don’t despair!  Work to take care of your skin naturally and organically!