Healing Dry Sensitive Skin

The future should in theory be looking rather less grim for parabens. The SCCS (the Scientific Committee for Consumer Safety) has issued its draft opinion saying propylparaben and butylparaben are safe for use in cosmetics at the levels currently used by the industry. It also confirms its previous opinion that methylparaben and ethylparaben are safe in cosmetics, again at the levels currently used by the industry.

There is no getting away from the need for preservatives in personal care products. When we handle them, we introduce bacteria and other contaminants that are hazardous if left to thrive unchecked.
Organic manufacturers have been forced to use alcohol in their products because USDA allows so few choices in their approved list of ingredients. But alcohol is far from ideal. It dries the skin.
Meanwhile, synthetic preservatives have been demonized.
Perhaps there is a middle ground, based on understanding of the real risks and benefits? What do you think?

Today’s consumers are taking the adage “we are what we eat” to heart when it comes to what they put in or on their bodies, and that includes makeup and personal care products. They are getting smarter about decisions that impact how they feel both physically and emotionally, especially given the extensive and growing access to information about the adverse effects specific ingredients or products can have on their bodies.

Beyond the personal health issues, we are becoming more aware of the environmental impact of synthetic chemicals in the everyday products we use – from detergents to pharmaceuticals. There is a broadening movement among consumers to embrace a more holistic approach to life on the planet. Good to see it developing in the beauty industry. Gaelle Organic

Don’t leave the skin bare for longer than 60 seconds after cleansing, before applying moisturizer
After cleansing, you must IMMEDIATELY use an alcohol-free toner and moisturizer. If you leave your skin bare for more than 1 minute, it will start to dehydrate as the dry air attracts moisture out of the skin. Perform your skin care routine quickly, and be sure to always leave your toner damp on the skin. This will leave your skin protected and avoid the tight and dry feeling.

My own simple skin care routine
takes 3 minutes, total, even on the days when I exfoliate my face, so there is not much chance of drying out between steps, but this is good advice. You’ll find more helpful information on the post.

It’s no news flash that skin can get extremely dry in the winter. Your face, which is more exposed to the wind and cold than the rest of you, can suffer the brunt of the season’s effects, while indoor heating casts the final blow by sucking any remaining moisture from your skin.

The good news is you can combat that dryness and dehydration, the beauty experts say, by bumping up your skincare regime in the cold winter months.

Here’s good advice from Canada about how to winterize your skin care regime. The extreme cold up there sure can create extra dry skin!

As far as the skin is concerned, there are certain ingredients needed in order to perform at tip-top shape. If you want to keep acne and wrinkles at bay…make sure you are truly FEEDING your body and skin.

Vitamins A, B, C, D, E and K all help improve skin health. Your skin also needs protein and essential fatty acids (Omegas) to build collagen, hyaluronic acid to boost skin hydration and moisture retention, and alpha lipoic acid which, among other antioxidants, to keep skin protected from inflammation caused by the overproduction of free radicals!

Great post by bien-etre, with handy (and beautiful) charts that show you how to eat so that you feed your skin what it needs to thrive. For those with extra dry skin, eating well can be as important as using the right products.

A survey conducted in the US could make expectant mothers keen to try natural skin care products to avoid potentially harmful chemicals entering their bodies.

Carried out by the University of California – San Francisco, the research involved checking for levels of 163 different chemicals in pregnant participants.

The team behind the study found almost all the women tested showed levels of chemicals including phthalates, which are used to control viscosity in some cosmetics, moisturisers, soaps and detergents.

There are lots of ways we can be exposed to toxic chemicals. Some scientists believe that exposure from personal care products is not a major worry. It may be that we are being manipulated by scare-mongers. But for pregnant and nursing mothers, erring on the side of caution seems like a really good idea. For me, I use natural products because I find they work better.

Recent findings published in the journal Evolution and Human Behavior have shown that you can literally “eat your beauty food.” Is there really a food for beauty you may wonder? In fact, the study, by Ian D. Stephen, Vinet Coetzee, and David I. Perrett found that both Caucasian and African populations find faces more attractive which convey a certain warmth of color—a measure of “yellowness,” if you will. Carrots, oranges, yellow and red bell peppers, cantaloupes—these rather obviously carry yellowish pigments. But you can find the same carotenoids in leafy greens such as kale and spinach. Consume a solid share of these, and you’ll be imparting a glowing warmth to your skin tone.

It turns out you can get a better skin tone than from sunbathing by eating vegetables and fruits with a high concentration of carotenoids. A recent study showed that the enhanced skin tone was actually preferred by observers to the tan from being in the sun.
The post above advocates raw fruits and vegetables, and it’s true you get the most benefit that way, but don’t let the raw part get in your way. Some vegetables, for instance tomatoes, can actually deliver more value when they are cooked. Gaelle Organic

We humans are a funny bunch. Even when we’re unsatisfied with something in our life, the idea of proactively changing is overwhelmingly terrifying. We’d rather continue living the life we know, even if it makes us unhappy, even if it means we’ll never reach the goals we’ve always wanted to reach.

Want to eat better and take better care of yourself (especially your extra dry skin)? Here is a great post about how to actually make the changes that you want. Slow and steady is the way, not massive bursts of unsustainable activity and change. It’s what we do every day that counts.

In my opinion the best anti-agers are a big fat smile, a healthy diet, lots of sleep, lots of water, and some healthy plant oils applied topically to keep the skin radiant, lines and all. Bonus if they contain antioxidants, of course.

Yes! I agree entirely. I’d go for organic plant oils, and use the best grades – for instance extra virgin olive oilextra virgin olive oil is a WHOLE lot better for your skin than the lesser grades. And I don’t think you need any more than 4 products. Simple care is all it takes. Gaelle Organic

Carry a first aid skin kit: Bring any personal ointment, lubricant, cream or powder you wouldn’t want to be without if some part of your body decides to flare up. A friend of mine was in France and her athlete’s foot became aggravated from walking so much. She could not communicate what she needed despite pointing at her feet and making faces that they bothered her to the pharmacist at the drugstore. While packing, she had contemplated whether she should take her powder with her but then she forgot and left home without it.

This is tip number 8, and the one where I went “ah ha”. It is really good advice.