CSI Natural Beauty Episode 3: Wrinkles **Sorry its a tad bit late!**

Don't you hate how sometimes, life just catches up with you?  That's what happened this week.  Which means that I had completely forgotten about this post!  I'm sorry... I suck, I know.  Okay, well here it goes...

Wrinkles: A Little Background...
Wrinkles are a result of the aging process.  Everyone is going to get some degree of wrinkles, regardless of their lifestyle or genetics.  Wrinkles are caused from the wear and tear on your skin.  As you age, your skin becomes less elastic, thin, and dry.  Some things that can influence wrinkles are habitual facial expressions, sun exposure, smoking, and dehydration.   Sun exposure seems to be the number one contributor though, because sun damage actually speeds the aging process. 

What Works for Treating Wrinkles
Vitamin C is probably your best when searching for an at-home remedy for wrinkles.  Vitamin C is used when producing collagen.  Vitamin C is also an antioxidant.  The reason sun damage is so bad for your skin is that it the free radicals from the sun are causing damage, and the anti oxidants can stabilize them.  So, when treating wrinkles, you'll definitely want to utilize Vitamin C plus ingredients that are extremely moisturizing.

Remedies & Recipes

• 3 vitamin E capsules (poke with a needles and empty the capsule.  Or use approximately the same amount if you have a bottle of vitamin E),  2 teaspoons yogurt (plain), 1/2 teaspoon honey, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice.  Mix in a bowl and apply to skin.  Rinse after 10 minutes.
•  Rub coconut oil onto skin before sleeping.
• Either use the center of a pineapple to rub against your skin, or apply pineapple juice.   
• Make an egg white mask to tighten this skin.  I add a little lemon juice to mine.   Just mix together, rub on your face, and rinse off after about 20 minutes.
•  Rub pure castor oil on your skin.

 
Sources
Ayushveda: Wrinkles 
Mayo Clinic: Wrinkles 
Natural Cures for Wrinkles 
Vitamin C for Wrinkles & Skin Aging 
Wikipedia: Wrinkle (skin) 

A New PreConditioner!

It's been awhile since I have provided you with an actual beauty remedy, and I performed one this morning... so I would like to share it!

I am finding that I really enjoy Hair Pre-Conditioning.  You still get that deep conditioning without weighing it down, like can happen with a commercial deep conditioner.

In the past, I have performed 2 different, really simple remedies for you...  The first was when I slathered Mayo all over my hair.  & I didn't like that because, while it gave my hair TONS of shine, it also made it look dirty.  So, next I tried pure Olive Oil.  I liked that one a lot better, but it did weigh my hair down a bit.  I have found a really nice middle.  :D

Perfect Pre-Conditioner
I didn't measure any of my ingredients out, so here are some approximations.. feel free to adjust as you need.

• 1 1/2 egg yolks (Egg yolks are great for dry hair/skin.  If you're not on the dry side, use 1 egg or if you're really oily, use an egg white.  Mine egg yolks were what I didn't use from my morning breakfast!)
• 2 tablespoons olive oil  (Olive Oil is verrryyy conditioning.  Use more or less depending on how dry your hair is)
• 1 teaspoon honey (Honey is a humectant, which means it attracts moisture to your hair.)
• 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice (I used Lemon Juice for two reasons.  The first was because I'm trying to lighten my hair some, and lemon juice works for blondes.  It also adds shine to your hair.  If you're not blonde, I would suggest using Apple Cider Vinegar for darker hair.)

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Mix all ingredients in a small container and then apply to your hair, concentrating on the ends.  Because the mixture is a little on the runny side from the oil, I used a hair color brush. Once I was done, I ended up just tying my hair back, but I think using a warm towel (maybe one that's a little damp) is a good suggestion.  This will open the cuticle and further deepen the conditioning.  The reason why I said to use a damp towel is because this will dry in your hair (and it kind of makes it hard to get out) ... so I just feel if it was kept a little wet, it'll keep the mixture damp.  You'll then want to leave it on for about 30-40 minutes and then you can rinse.  Anyways, after rinsing your hair, you just wash and condition as normal.

I noticed right away that my hair felt more moisturized than it did before going in the shower, even while it was wet.  Once I dried my hair, it felt super soft without feeling heavy.  And the shine is incredible!

I really think that no matter your hair type, you could enjoy a remedy like this... just adjust the ingredients as needed!

Much Love!!  Xoxoxo

CSI Beauty: Episode 3- Dry Skin

The topic of this week's discussion is Dry Skin.

Causes of Dry Skin
Dry skin is horrible.  It's itchy, red, flaky, and overall, just dry!  According to WebMD dry skin is usually caused by the environment and not by an internal condition, but there are usually 7 causes of dry skin.

1.  Misusing Moisturizer:  Applying moisturizer when your skin is already dry means that it will just sit on the surface of the skin as opposed to soaking it in.  Also, people with dry skin should use thick moisturizers.
2. Dry Air: This is the primary cause of winter dry skin.  In that case, it's usually the heaters we use for our homes.  But you can also find dry skin outside the home.
3. Hot Showers & Baths:  Hot water rinses away more of your skin's natural oils than cool water does.  At least when showering, this water is always moving around you, as opposed to bathing, when you're soaking in it.  
4. Soap: We have become a culture that is terrified of germs, and this has caused us to use way too much soap, which is stripping all our skin's oils.  Bubbles are your enemy.  I won't lie... I hate washing my hands and I try to avoid it as much as possible because it causes my hands to get super dry.  
5. Itchy Clothing:  Dry skin is itchy enough, let alone clothing that is further irritating our skin.
6. Medications & Drugs:  More commonly... diuretics, antihistamines, and retinoids.



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7. Medical Conditions:  Such as skin conditions, Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, and malnutrition. 

Dry Skin Symptoms

• A feeling of tightness
• Rough skin
• Itching
• Flaking, Scaling, and/or Peeling
• Redness
• Fine Lines/Cracks

Home Recipes & Remedies

• There are a few ingredients that are great for dry skin and can be applied right to your skin after showering.  These can include almond oil, olive oil, and aloe vera
• Lactic acid is also effective.   You can take a milk bath by adding powdered milk to your bath water.  You can also add a small amount of your favorite oil for further moisturization.
• You can make an exfoliating face mask that is also hydrating.  Combine equal parts green clay and honey, apply to your face/body for 15 minutes and rinse in lukewarm water.
• Egg Yolks and Oatmeal are also good for dry skin.  You can mix the two (you can use powdered oatmeal, like the Aveeno Bath packs) and apply to your skin.  After 15 minutes, rinse off in lukewarm water.
• A similar treatment to the last one involves yogurt, which is high in lactic acid.  Combine some yogurt with honey and an egg yolk for another moisturizing mask.  Rinse it off when it's dry.  Add some oatmeal for its soothing properties. 
•  Avocado Oil is high in fatty acids, which can help to repair your skin's protective layer.  And using an avocado is really as simple as rubbing the inside of an avocado skin on your face.
• Another avocado treatment also involves lemon juice and egg yolk.  Mash 1 ripe avocado, and mix with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and an egg yolk.  Apply to the skin and rinse after 20 minutes.

Prevention 
There are a few things you can do to combat the environmental causes of dry skin.  Like previously mentioned, dry skin is usually caused by dry air, so using a humidifier will really help, especially during the winter.  You can also take cooler baths, and more showers, and you can make them shorter.  Use cleansers as opposed to soap, because cleansers will clean the skin but soap will strip the skin.  You can also wash less.  The typical adult doesn't really get too dirty, so its only essential to wash your hands, feet, face, groin, and underarms.  You can also avoid things that will further irritate your dry skin, because dry skin tends to be on the more sensitive side.   And finally, use the thickest moisturizers you can find.  If you put some on your hand and then turn your hand upside down and it runs, then its too thin.  You can also eat foods that are high in fatty acids, which will restore your skins fatty acid layer.

Sources
WebMD: 11 Causes of Dry Skin Problems 
Mayo Clinic: Dry Skin
Natural Home Remedies: Dry Skin
Holistic Online: Dry Skin
Dry Skin Care

CSI: Natural Beauty Edition, Skin Whitening & Hyperpigmentation

Okay, so sorry this came so incredibly late!  Its just been a crazy past couple of days (obviously) and we're still having problems with the internet at work (despite 3 technicians coming out in the past couple of days).  But here it is.  I hope this is okay, because I feel like I could've been more informational, but I really wanted to get this out there.  If you do have any questions, let me know through comment or email!  On Tuesday will be Dry Skin!

Skin Darkening has a number of causes including heredity, skin disorders, sun damage/tanning, adrenal/liver/intestinal disorder, malnutrition, and vitamin deficiency.  There are definitely a number of different causes.   Hyperpigementation is another form of skin darkening.  Hyperpigmentation occurs when there is an excess production of melanin.  (Melanin is responsible for your skin color, so the more that you produce, the darker your skin is).  There is also Post Inflammatory Hyperpigmentation, or PIH, which results in "scarring" from an inflammed wound (such as acne).  The difference between PIH and Hyperpigmentation is that PIH should eventually go away with time, although it may take awhile.

Typically, if you would like to whiten your skin, you could try over-the-counter creams (which could contain bleach!), or for more dramatic results, you could visit a doctor for stronger creams or to have procedures performed.  The most common cream on the market, for skin whitening, is Hydroquinone.  However, due to recent research, Hydroquinone may not be safe. 

Its important to note that skin whiteners only work once all the dead skin cells have flaked off.  You'll always have dead skin cells on your face, actually quite a thick layer, especially when compare to living skin cells.  About every 28 days, your skin is completely renewed, therefore, it will take at least 28 days to see the affects of skin whiteners.

Thankfully, there are a number of things in nature that have this lightening affect...

Ingredients that Promote White Skin
Glycolic Acid
It is an acid that is derived from Sugar Cane.  Also used for exfoliation and acne.
Kojic Acid
It is found in mushrooms, fermented rice wine, soy, and rice.  Its primary purpose in cosmetics is for skin whitening.  It is also antibacterial and an antioxidant.
Lactic Acid
It is found in milk. 
Emblica Powder
It is an herb, that also goes by the name of Amla.  It has the highest level of Vitamin C of any natural plant.  It is an antioxidant, and is also quite beneficial when used on hair. 
Lemon Juice Extract
Obviously comes from lemons.  It is high in Vitamin C and also acts as an astringent. 
Bearberry Extract
It is derived from the Uva Ursi Plant, and contains a natural form of hydroquinone. 
Mulberry Extract
It comes from the dried out skins of mulberrys. 
Vitamin B3
Also effective in treating acne.
Alpha Arbutin
Licrorice Extract
Also an anti-inflammatory.
Hyrdogen Peroxide
Is also a disinfectant, removes oil, and removes dirt. 
Vitamin E

The Recipes & Remedies

• You could make a paste from dried orange peels & raw milk.  You would first let the orange peels dry out in the sun.  Once done, grind the peels and then add enough milk to make a paste.  Once its dry, rinse off.  You should use this everyday.
• Rub a potato slice over your skin each night.  There are enzymes in the potato which have a bleaching effect.
• Almonds also have bleaching effects due to their large content of vitamin E.  What you would want to do is soak a small handful of almonds (about 5?) in a bowl of water, overnight.  The next day, peel the almonds and then mash "meat" and add a little milk to create a paste.  Apply the paste to your skin and then rinse once the paste has dried.  You should do this twice a day.
• Equal parts of milk powder, honey, lemon juice, and half of almond oil.  Apply to your skin and wash off after 10 minutes. 
• 2 teaspoons gram flour, a pinch of tumeric, a couple drops lemon juice, and a couple drops milk cream.  Mix together to make a paste and apply to your skin.  Once dry, rinse off.

Preventing Dark Skin

• Use Sunscreen, duh!

Sources:
iloveindia.com, Dark Skin Information
American Osteopathic College of Dermatology: Hyperpigmentation
Beauty & Makeup Tips: Home Remedies for Skin Whitening
Natural-homeremedies.com
Buzzle.com: Health Benefits of Almonds
Glycolic Acid
What is Kojic Acid?
Health Freedom Nutrition: Emblica Extract
All About Skin Lightening
eHow: Skin Discoloration Remedies