Dry Skin Workshop Week (Day 4): Mask of the Month - The California Roll!!!

Welcome to the final day of Dry Skin Workshop Week!

We've scrubbed our bodies, we've softened our lips, so it's time to give our mugs a little attention!

January's Mask of the Month was inspired by my oldest daughter, who always answers my question of "What would you like for dinner?" with "California Rolls." She would eat them until they came out of her ears.

So, I got to thinking, that everything in a california roll is lovely for dry skin:

• Avocado, with it's wonderful oil, is moisturizing.
• Cucumber is hydrating.
• Rice softens skin.
• Seaweed soothes, nourishes and moisturizes.
• Crab - oh, dear - I'm not going to have you put crab on your face!

Taking the basic roll, with the addition of some sesame oil (a super oil for dryness) and sake (great for dry skin and it also evens out skin tone when used over time - yippee!), this is what I whipped up...

The California Roll

2 Tablespoons leftover rice (white or brown)

1-2 Tablespoons sake

1/4 avocado

A chunk of cucumber

1 teaspoon sesame oil

2 teaspoons kelp powder (optional)

1. Blend all ingredients in a blender or food precessor until very smooth.
2. Apply mask to freshly cleansed skin. For hydrating cleanser and exfoliant suggestions geared to your skin type, please revisit the product suggestions on the post from Day 1.
3. Leave mask on for 10-15 minutes.
4. Rinse off with lukewarm water and follow with your favorite toner, serum and/or protective moisturizer.

And that, peeps, is how we roll...

I hope you have enjoyed this week of tips, ideas and recipes! I've enjoyed sharing with you and hope that you are on the road to softer skin!

I'm planning on more Workshop Weeks in the future and would love to hear your feedback and thoughts on how you liked this first one. 

Are there any topics you would like to see covered in a future workshop?

Love to you all today and have a beautifully soft weekend!

Dry Skin Workshop (Day 3): Bye-bye, Dry, Flaky Lips!

Welcome to Day 3 of Dry Skin Workshop Week!

Today I will be covering some tips on keeping lips soft and hydrated during the cold weather months, as well as a quick, yummy mini lip facial! I'm a lip product junkie, so today, I'm getting my fix and I hope you get yours, too!

Lips are one of the first parts of the body to dry out and are the hardest to keep hydrated, as the skin is thinner and more open and vulnerable to the elements. The key to keeping them moist is, basically, keeping them constantly protected with a quality lip balm.

But, what else can ya do to keep your smoocher soft?

Dry Lip Tips

• Stay hydrated
• Use a lip balm with only natural ingredients. Many lip balms out there contain ingredients (like mineral oil and petrolatum) that actually can upset your skin's natural moisture process, drying your lips out further!
• Look for protective ingredients, like shea butter, avocado butter and beeswax (or candelilla wax if you are a vegan friend). These ingredients provide a protective seal, while still allowing lips to breathe.
• Stick to balms or salves without added flavors. I know, I know! Peppermint lip balm is awesome, but some essential oils can irritate delicate rose petal lips and make dryness worse. Plus, flavored lip balms invite one to lick them off, which brings me to the next bullet point...
• Avoid licking your lips. Lip licking dries lips out like crazy.
• If your lips are majorly chapped and cracking, run to your nearest calendula salve to help add moisture and major healing at the same time.
• Do a mini lip facial once a week (see below) for a little extra lip lovin'!

Mini Lip Facial

Note: Please do not perform this treatment if you have active cold sores, wounds or cracking on the lips.

• A cotton washcloth
• A pinch of your coconut and sugar scrub from yesterday
• Your favorite natural lip balm (or body butter works in a pinch, too.)

1. Moisten the washcloth with warm water and use it to gently exfoliate your lips in small circular motions.
2. Apply the coconut/sugar scrub with a fingertip in gentle, circular motions on the lips and the area of skin around them (this helps to minimize those fine lines around lips - not that you have them! But I do, and this helps. :) )
3. Moisten the washcloth again with warm water and gently remove all traces of the scrub.
4. While lips are still damp, apply loads of your favorite lip balm or salve.

Want to take this treatment a step further?

Luxurious Additions

• Add a drop of vanilla essential oil (or vanilla extract) to the scrub for a coconut/vanilla extravaganza!
• Apply a lip mask made of a pinch of kelp powder mixed with enough water to make a paste after removing the scrub. Leave the mask on for 5 minutes, remove with a warm washcloth and apply your lip balm.
• Use a tinted lip balm (try my homemade recipe here) for a little pop of color!

Voila! Soft lips! 

What are your favorite lip products or treatments?

Tomorrow is the last day of Dry Skin Workshop Week. Sniff. But to send us off with a bang, it will also be January's Mask of the Month! See you then!

Dry Skin Workshop (Day 2): 3 Steps. 5 Ingredients. Soft, Silky Skin.

OK, now that we've covered some of the basics yesterday for preventing and treating dry skin, it's time to get down to business! Today we will be doing a full body scrub treatment to tackle itchy, dry skin all over.

When it comes to skin on the body (when I say "body" I mean everything other than your face - not that your face isn't part of your body, but, well, anyway, for purposes of this treatment, I just mean everything below your neck) there is a simple 3-step formula that I use for getting soft:

EXFOLIATE + HYDRATE + PROTECT = SOFT

By exfoliating, then layering hydrating and moisturizing ingredients, you will transform skin to a silky butterfly wing!

A soft, silky visitor to last summer's garden.

You can follow this formula using different techniques and ingredients. For today this is what we will be using:

1. EXFOLIATE:

• A soft to medium bristled body brush (you could also use a loofah or exfoliating hand mitts, which you can usually find at your local drug store)
• 1/2 cup sugar (white or brown - I used brown because I discovered I ran out of regular! LOL!)
• 1/4 cup coconut oil

2. HYDRATE:

• 2  teaspoons vegetable glycerin
• 1 teaspoon aloe juice or gel

3. PROTECT:

• Your favorite packaged body butter (or a single butter, such as shea, cocoa, avocado or mango)

Personally, I like to do body scrubs at the end of the day, so I have time to relax, but you can rock this simple treatment even on a busy morning in just a few minutes! It's so easy and just three simple steps!

Treat yourself to this scrub once a week, in addition to also applying body butter or lotion daily, for maximum results.

IMPORTANT NOTE: If you have acne on the body, abrasions or open wounds, rashes, chronic skin conditions, sunburn or any other skin irritation  please avoid this treatment as it can irritate these conditions.

5-Ingredient Body Scrub Treatment

1. EXFOLIATE

• Use your body brush (or loofah or exfoliating mitts) to gently exfoliate your skin WHILE IT IS DRY, moving with long, GENTLE strokes along the body toward the direction of the heart. This technique is called "dry brushing" and it has a myriad of benefits (helps minimize cellulite, detoxes body, etc.), but for this treatment we are looking simply for initial exfoliation of dry, flaky surface skin. Be gentle and loving on sensitive areas, such as tummy and breasts. For a nice visual, here is a lovely video from the folks at Bliss Spa showing a dry brushing treatment...

• Mix your coconut oil and sugar to make a scrub paste (you can add more or less of either ingredient to make the paste to your liking). While standing on a towel (you will make a mess, which is part of the fun!), apply the scrub in gentle circular motions all over your entire dry body. Give extra attention to hands and feet, as these tend to be the driest areas on the body. Be sure to save a tiny bit of the scrub, because you will need it for tomorrow. 
• Rinse the scrub off in a warm (not hot) shower, taking care as the bottom of the shower might be slippery from the coconut oil.
• Pat skin dry with a towel.

2. HYDRATE

Your skin should already feel softer from the coconut oil and this next step helps to "seal the deal"!

• Mix the vegetable glycerin and aloe juice (or gel) in a small bowl and, while skin is still damp, apply it to your body as you would a lotion. You can also apply using a spray bottle, but that is just an extra step and I'm too lazy. :)

3. PROTECT

This final step gives the extra layer of love your skin needs and helps prevent losing the moisture that you've already locked in.

• Apply your body butter from neck to toe. Lie back and feel your softness!

If that weren't luxurious enough, here are a few things you can do to enhance this treatment...

Luxurious Additions

There is no bad day that heated booties can't make better...

• Add 1-2 drops of your favorite essential oil to each step for a little aromatherapy action.
• Use a pumice stone or pedi-wand along with the scrub to give the bottoms of feet additional exfoliation.
• When applying body butter, slather a little extra on to hands and feet, slip them into cotton gloves/socks, then into heated hand mitts and heated foot booties. 
• Kick back afterward and enjoy a cup of tea or a glass of wine.
• Have a partner perform this body scrub on you, then you can return the favor!

Ahhh. Feelin' softer? I know I am!

Wow! We are halfway through the workshop! Do you have any questions???

Tomorrow we will get a little lippy (hint, hint!)! See ya then!

Dry Skin Workshop Week (Day 1): Dry Skin Tips

Woohoo! Welcome to Day 1 of the Dry Skin Workshop Week! 

Today I wanted to share with you some general ways to keep dry skin in check, specific ingredients to look for in skin care products (pre-packaged or homemade) that will help you on the road back to softness, as well as suggestions for products you can readily purchase to treat skin in a jiffy.

Winter can really do a number on skin in many different ways. Dryness is caused from being both indoors and outside - its like ya can't win! Indoors, forced air heat parches and dehydrates skin. Outside, bitter cold causes skin to lose moisture to the air and winter winds chap and irritate. Ugh!

Unless you live in a gloriously, year round warm and humid climate, in which case I would love to come and visit (please?)!!!

So here are a few tips to help get us started...

General Tips To Prevent Dry Skin

• Drink plenty of water and/or coconut water to help keep your skin hydrated. Eat plenty of fruits and veggies to also increase hydration in your body.
• Try to avoid caffeinated drinks, as they dry out your skin. If you must have your coffee in the morning (and, believe  me, I understand!), drink an extra glass of water for each cup.
• Try to avoid alcohol, as it also dehydrates your skin.
• When headed outside, cover your skin as much as possible with clothing. Cover any areas of exposed skin with a thick lotion to prevent moisture loss.
• Apply lip balm frequently throughout the day, especially before you go outside.
• Keep baths and showers short and warm (not hot). Hot water dries skin out by stripping your skin of its natural oils. 
• Add fatty fish, like salmon, to your diet or take a good quality fish oil. The good omega-3 fatty acids help to keep skin moist.
• Avoid using harsh cleansers, soaps or exfoliants. These will only further strip your skin and lead to dryness.

General Tips to Treat Dry Skin

• Gently exfoliate dry skin with a brush, loofah or exfoliating gloves as part of your body cleansing routine in the shower before using any topical treatments (oils, lotions, etc.). Dry, flaky skin needs to be removed from the surface of skin to allow topical treatments to work more effectively. Be SUPER gentle if your skin is overly sensitive and use these items only a few times a week. Avoid them if you have any rashes, open wounds or general irritation.
• Avoid cleansing your entire body every day, especially with a foaming soap or body wash, as they can strip your skin. Skip a day of sudsing, or wash only those most important bits daily. ;) 
• Better yet, use a body wash of 1 part honey to 1 part oil (jojoba is lovely) a few times a week in place of your regular soap.
• Apply lotions, body butters, oils, etc. immediately after showering while your skin is still damp. You want to capture the water and seal it into your skin.
• Avoid using products with artificial ingredients, as they can dry and irritate skin, too.

Helpful Ingredients For Dry Skin

• Humectants like honey and vegetable glycerin help to pull moisture from the air into your skin.
• Oils like olive, coconut, hazelnut, grapeseed, jojoba, sesame and sunflower work to replace lost moisture, while being easily absorbed into skin.
• Oils like rosehip seed and carrot seed help to increase cell regeneration.
• Essential Oils like chamomile, lavender, ylang ylang and sandalwood help to soothe and heal dry itchy skin.
• Aloe Vera soothes, heals and stops itching from irritated, dry skin. Just be sure you use the pure aloe gel, not the stuff full of colors and added fragrances.
• Hyaluronic Acid is an ingredient found naturally in skin, it attracts and retains moisture in your skin, while plumping and softening, which is great for dry skin and wrinkles (bonus!).
• Fruits and Veggies like avocado and banana help to add moisture to skin.
• Fruits and Veggies like papaya, pineapples and grapes help to naturally exfoliate dry skin due to their natural fruit acids and enzymes.
• Herbs like calendula, chamomile and lavender are soothing, healing and anti-inflammatory for dry-irritated skin. A nice oil infused with these is great for dry skin.
• Herbs like rose, licorice, marshmallow and chickweed are cooling and demulcent (they form a soothing, protective layer on dry skin).
• Sea Kelp is amazing for skin when used externally. It's gelatinous texture soothes, hydrates and protects dry skin.

Just a friendly note: Avoid any of these ingredients that you may be allergic or sensitive to.

A Few Of My Fave Products

For exfoliating dry facial skin:

• dermaE Cleansing Enzyme Mask - This gently cleansing and exfoliating clay mask uses papaya fruit enzymes and is great for sensitive, rosacea, combination or acneic skins. 
• Collective Wellbeing Honey Buff - This gentle, physical exfoliant is great for normal and dry/mature skins. It removes the flakies and hydrates with organic honey, glycerin, aloe, sunflower oil and sea kelp.

For hydrating dry facial skin:

• dermaE Hyaluronic Acid Products - A complete line of cleanser, hydrating mist, mask, serum, day cream, night cream and lip repair treatment. You will be so dewy after using these, you won't want to stop touching yourself!
• Heritage Store Rosewater & Glycerin Toner - A classic protective and hydrating facial spray.

For protecting everywhere skin:

• Mirror Lake Organics Coconut Body Butter - This body butter is loaded with protective ingredients like organic sunflower oil, organic cocoa butter, organic beeswax and organic coconut butter. I use this daily on my entire body, including lips. If I could buy this by the bathtub full, I would! It's like a tropical vacation without leaving my house. Handmade here in Michigan, too. Wooot!

So, see you tomorrow! Grab your coconut oil and stay tuned!

Do you have any dry skin secrets or favorite products? I'd love to hear them!

Dry Skin Workshop Week!

Any of you feelin' flaky? A little Yoda-like? I know I am! The winter skin dryness has kicked in, but that doesn't mean it has to stay that way!

May the moisturizing force be with you!
Image from starwars.wikia.com.

So, I'm planning a fun week for you all full of DIY dry skin relief and tips and tricks to keep skin flake-free and hydrated! Stock up today on the following items and you will be on your way to softer skin! Some of these you may have in your kitchen already, others can be found at your local natural foods store. Feel free to omit items that you may be allergic or sensitive, too.

Stuff You Will Need

A natural bristle body brush (with soft to medium bristles)

Sugar

Coconut Oil

Vegetable Glycerin

Aloe Juice or Pure Aloe Gel

Your favorite packaged body butter (or any single butter such as cocoa, shea, avocado or mango)

Rice (white or brown are both cool)

Sake

Cucumber

Avocado

Sesame Oil

Powdered Kelp (optional if you can't find it)

Your favorite moisturizer (if you don't have one, I will be giving some of my fave suggestions!)

Looking forward to getting soft with you!!! :)

As Blogged for Herb Companion Online: Homemade Lip Tint

There are many lip colors on the market today that are loaded with undesirable ingredients. You can easily make this lip tint at home in just a few minutes, using only 4 natural ingredients that can be readily found at your local natural foods store.

This lip tint recipe is a cross between a lip gloss and a salve and adds a hint of both sheer color and moisture to lips. It is a great natural look for everyday wear and the lighter texture also makes a great alternative if you if you don’t like the heavier look or feel of a lipstick.

The coconut oil and glycerin in this recipe help to keep lips moisturized. The addition of the beeswax protects lips from the elements and also creates a barrier to moisture loss.

While this recipe calls for using beet juice, you can also experiment by using different combinations of raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, elderberry or pomegranate juice.  I used a juicer to extract the beet juice, but you can buy packaged juice and it will work just as well. 

Homemade Lip Tint

1. Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in a small glass bowl in a shallow pan of water over low heat until the oil and wax are completely melted.
2. Stir the beet juice and glycerin into the oil and wax mixture until incorporated.
3.  Store in a small pot or jar and apply with either fingers or a lip brush.

Melt the coconut oil and beeswax in a small glass bowl in a shallow pan of water.

Stir the beet juice and glycerin into the oil and wax mixture.

Apply lip tint to lips as often as needed. It will give them subtle color and shine!

Blank Post Protest

Yesterdays blank blog post was brought to you in protest. Please watch this video to find out more about SOPA/PIPA and how it could affect you...

Ask the Esty - NOW LIVE!

Ask the Esty is now live! Do you have a natural skin care or cosmetics question you would like to ask a seasoned esthetician? Just click on the Ask the Esty tab at the top of this blog or the Ask the Esty icon on the right and complete the form. Your question could be featured in an upcoming blog post!

I look forward to your questions and will periodically feature answers to hand-selected questions here on the blog. Answers will be geared from a skin care therapists perspective, as I'm not a doctor (nor do I play one on TV). I'm unable to provide a diagnosis or medical advice, so if you have a chronic or serious skin condition, please see a qualified doctor or dermatologist :)

Oh, and, all answer posts will be anonymous - meaning none of your identifying information will be included - so no worries! Ask away! I look forward to hearing from you!

A Great Herby Blogroll from Methow Valley Herbs!

Looking for some good herbal blog reading? Check out this handy list compiled by herbalist Rosalee de la Forȇt of Methow Valley Herbs. While you peruse her site, be sure to check out Rosalee's Children's Cold and Flu Ebook and also sign up for her newsletter to receive her free Taste of Herbs ebook! I really enjoy reading Rosalee's wealth of herbal knowledge and I think you will, too! 


Have a very herby day!

Springtime Fun in January!

It has been eerily warm around these parts with temperatures almost hitting 60 the other day! So wonky for this time of year in Michigan! We are usually out sledding and building snow forts by now!

While we have had a few small snows, nothing has stuck around. Today my littlest and I actually took a break to rollerskate with the dogs and a special guest (our neighbor's cat, Franklin) in the driveway!

Well, she rollerskated, anyway. The rest of us just cheered her on! :)

Having any weird weather in your neck of the woods?

Zoe howls at the, er, sun.

I think Niko is pouting because there isn't any snow to play in.

Frank soaks up some rays.

The loneliest sled in the world...

Super Love-Powered Calendula & A Tale of Chapped Fairy Lips

Last week my daughter developed a fierce case of chapped lips. Actually, it was beyond lips - it created a full-on half moon that extended below her lower lip - almost like a second smile. It came on abruptly overnight, and I'm certain was from anxious lower lip biting due to the excitement of school being back in session after our long break :) It was dry, burning and miserable for this dainty little fairy.

I initially tried using some lavender and shea butter balm that I had made as gifts over the holidays (and had been using on my own dry lips with success), hoping it would help to soothe and heal the dryness and irritation. This was met with shrieking and face fanning due to it burning the tender area - and it actually made the irritation even worse :( It was a humble reminder that not all products (even natural ones) work the same way on different people. And that lavender essential oil, though an amazing, healing oil, can actually irritate some individuals or certain skin conditions.

So, time for Plan B.

Giving thanks so last summer's beautiful herb garden, I reached for a very special fresh calendula flower infused oil that my daughters helped me to harvest and prepare in the midst of a sunny summer day.

The finished, love-powered salve.

I melted a few spoonfuls of oil in a bowl with a bit of trusty beeswax to give it some legs, then added a few drops of the last of my Roman Chamomile oil (a very gentle, healing oil that my daughter loves the scent of). We applied it right away and crossed our fingers.

After one nighttime application, the chapping was significantly improved. After 48 hours, the improvement doubled. By 72 hours, the chapping was nearly gone. And the following day, you could barely tell it had been there. Yahooooo!

The first day of chapping. From far away she looked a little bit Angelina Jolie.

After 48 hours of multiple salve applications with a happier smile.

While calendula salves are a pretty standard herbal preparation (and can be readily found in natural food stores if you don't have ingredients to make your own), I can't help but feel that the love and care that went into the growing, harvesting and preparation of this oil infinitely increased its healing power. Plants heal...

Coming Soon! Ask the Esty!

Coming Soon - Ask the Esty! - a new feature I will be adding to the SCFYS blog! Ask the Esty (esthetician) will be your chance to send in any skin care questions you've been burning to get an answer to! Stay tuned for more details!

Nourish Yourself in 2012!

Wishing you balance, abundance and nourishment in 2012...

2012 came into my world, peaceful and slow. This holiday offered us the most relaxing and low key stretch of days that my family has had in recent memory. Plenty of time with nothing to do but play games, read and just be with each other. The free time also gave me lots of time for personal introspection.

I don't do New Year's Resolutions. I find that they usually just set one up for failure and unpleasant feelings that go along with not meeting one's goals. Not that setting goals is a bad thing. It is certainly a good thing. But, in my own experience, I've found that leaving things flexible, with intention and an open heart, will guide you in the direction you should be headed. That is what lead me to do this blog in the first place. 

So, I've been spending some heavy mind time pondering all of my current intentions - for myself, for my family, for my relationships, for my skin care practice and for this blog. Toward the end of 2011, honestly, I was feeling unbalanced with all of the above and absolutely drained. And many of my family, friends and clients were feeling the same.

I think, by nature, many people are givers that nourish those they come into contact with. In my ponders, I realized that, also, by nature, many people put themselves last on the list of people to nourish. By "nourish," I mainly mean taking the time to do something that regularly feeds your soul - whether something creative, athletic, meditative, relaxing or just plain old fun. Although, "nourish" can also mean, literally, nourishing your body with healthy foods and a healthy lifestyle or nourishing your brain by learning something new.

I think, sometimes, our fast-paced, goal-based society looks at nourishing one's self as indulgent, or something to put on our "To-Do" list, crammed between commuting and grocery shopping. No wonder so many folks feel out of balance. We just aren't feeding our souls, man.

So...to tie all this rambling up in a pretty bow. My intention for 2012 is simply to nourish every aspect of my life, including this blog, to contribute to a flow of balance in my life and, hopefully, in yours, too. This blog is always a work in progress and I do have some fun ideas for the future of it. I'm always open to comments on what you'd like to see. My true hope is that my blog will nourish your life as much as it nourishes mine. :)

When we nourish ourselves, we feed that part of our soul that makes us feel alive. How will you nourish yourself today?