The Pros’ Guide to Pampering - Real Simple Magazine

From the Editors of Real Simple Magazine

Perhaps no month begs for the spa experience more than February. Before you grab your coat, here’s what top beauty experts do at home to look and feel better.

* Hair moisturizing mask: To get her hair looking soft and shiny, Ji Baek, owner of the Rescue Beauty Lounges in New York City, wets her head and applies a handful of hair mask cream that’s rich in shea butter, avocado and organic essential oils. Next, Baek wraps her hair in a plastic bag for 20 minutes (heat helps masks penetrate deeply into the hair shafts), then rinses.

* Pore-purifying facial: Los Angeles makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian loves to give her face a deep cleansing. Chang-Babaian takes a warm shower then uses an electric facial steamer (available at beauty-supply stores) to begin unclogging pores (putting your face over a pot of steaming water for five minutes will also work). She applies a purifying mask with marine clay to dislodge oil and debris.

* Tall drink for really dry skin: When her skin is feeling tight and moisture-sapped, Ashunta Sheriff, a New York City makeup artist, rubs a freshly cut lemon half over her complexion (the fruit’s natural acids remove flakes and smooth skin), then steams her skin over a pot of warm water. Next, Sheriff slathers her face and neck with extra-virgin organic coconut oil.

* Beneficial brush-up: Persephenie Lea, the Los Angeles-based creator of Persephenie Studio, a line of body-care goods and custom perfumes, dry-brushes her skin before her morning shower. “It helps increase circulation, sloughs away dead cells and makes my skin look healthier,” says Lea. Starting at the soles of her feet and working up, she uses a soft-bristled body brush and long, smooth strokes, taking care to avoid sensitive areas and broken skin.

* Hand and foot healer: When manicurist Elisa Ferri finds her feet feeling rough, she uses a coarse emery board to smooth them, then massages with a thick salve containing petrolatum and lanolin to hydrate skin. She slips on a pair of cotton socks and pads around the house while the product goes to work. When Ferri’s hands and cuticles are dry, she applies olive oil.

* Head-to-toe works: Teddi Cranford, a hairstylist for Bumble and Bumble in New York City, exfoliates with a scrub for the face and another for the body. Cranford then draws a bath and adds Epsom salts and a long pour of olive oil. While Cranford soaks, she combs a treatment through her hair.

* Sleep-inducing soak: Makeup artist Helen Macaulay slips into a steaming bath after a long day on her feet. She adds several drops of relaxing essential oils (available at health-food stores), like jasmine, rose and neroli. “After bathing, I slather my skin in sweet-almond oil,” she says.

Copyright 2010 Time Inc. REAL SIMPLE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Used by permission.

Check out some of bluebasins bath & body’s natural skin care products:

• Facial Masks
• Facial Steams
• Facial Scrub
• Body Scrubs
• Foot Products
• Luscious Shea Butter Body Butter

Essential Oils for Pain Relief

By Shellie Enteen, BA, LMT

It is safe to say that a great number of clients come to massage seeking relief from muscle and joint pain. Many will also be suffering from stress and need to relax. Others may be athletic or high-powered performers who want pain relief without becoming tired or drowsy.
Essential oils can address all of these areas and add a pleasing fragrant dimension to your therapeutic work.

Source

The most famous essential oil for pain relief and relaxation is lavender (Lavandula officinalis, L angustifolia, L vera.) Distilled from the flowering tops, the best lavender oil comes from Bulgaria, France, England, Yugoslavia and Tasmania, though it can be grown all over the world. Lavender Vera is grown in higher altitudes, which produces more esters and a finer scent. Lavender has a long list of applications for skin; because of its anti-inflammatory and cell regenerating properties, it is one of the only essential oils that can be applied neat, or undiluted, to the skin.

Lavender is also antimicrobial, anti-infectious and antiseptic, making it effective in the treatment of wounds and as a frontline defense against respiratory infection. It is tonic to the cardiovascular and digestive systems, lowers blood pressure and helps thin the blood due to the presence of coumarins. Lavender is indicated for muscle spasm, sprain, strain, cramp, contracture and rheumatic pain. It is sedative to the central nervous system and relieves headache, nervous tension, and insomnia; it can also help balance mood swings. Spiritually, lavender is said to balance the physical, astral and etheric planes.

Because of lavender’s many therapeutic properties, if aromatherapists were stranded on a desert island with only one essential oil, many would hope it was lavender (it also takes the itch out of insect bites and helps heal sunburn!) But what other essential oils can be called in to use here in civilization? What should you use if your client does not want the deep relaxation or sleep-inducing effect of lavender, or if they have a tendency toward lowered metabolism or low blood pressure? What if they need to relax because they are about to take an exam, give a presentation or walk down the aisle? It’s a good idea to ask the client who indicates a need to relax what their stress is about and what life circumstances may be contributing to their pain cycle. This will help you select an essence that is most appropriate for their needs. Also keep in mind that when too much lavender is used it takes on the stimulating effect of a cup of espresso, so it is good for both you and your client to vary the relaxing, pain-relieving blend.

We’ll begin with an exploration of aromatherapy for pain and stress, and profile some other sedative oils. Space allows for a partial list of the properties; consult The Aromatherapy Practitioner Manual, Vols. I and II by Sylla Sheppard-Hanger, Aromatherapy for Healing the Spirit by Gabriel Mojay, and others for more information on each essence.

When you want slightly less sedation but powerful pain relief, there is another type of lavender, Lavandula latifolia, L. spica, or Spike Lavender. A hybrid of lavender officinalis and latifolia, Lavandin, Lavandula-super is less expensive and often used to adulterate true lavender but is still a powerful antispasmodic well-suited for muscular, respiratory and circulatory problems, and not as a sedative for the mind.

Moving away from the lavenders altogether, other pain relieving sedative oils are chamomile (Roman, Anthemis nobilis and German, Marticaria recutita), Clary sage (Salvia sclarea), helichrysum (H. angustifolium), sweet marjoram (Origanum majorana), sandalwood (Santalum album) and vetiver (Vetiveria zizanioides).

Chamomile is a highly effective anti-inflammatory. It eases headache, neuralgia, dull muscle and low back pain, and TMJ syndrome. It relieves dysmenorrhea, PMS and stress that manifests as digestive symptoms.

Clary sage (not to be confused with sage, Salvia officinalis) is considered mildly intoxicating and euphoric, and should be used in small quantities and preferably not before an evening of cocktails, as it augments the effects of alcohol. Apart from this, the ability of Clary sage to relieve spasm, muscle ache and cramping makes it extremely useful in massage. It is a digestive aid and can be blended effectively with chamomile for tension and discomfort due to PMS and dysmennorhea.

Along with lavender, Clary sage is one of the essences chosen to ease labor. It is also associated with dreams and increased inner vision.

Helichrysum has a long history as anointing oil, but well deserves an honored place in therapeutic massage. With many of the properties of lavender, helichrysum is also indicated for bruising and burns, depression, shock and phobia, and is helpful in detoxification from drugs and nicotine. Helichrysum is said to improve the flow along the meridians and to increase spiritual awareness.

Sweet marjoram is highly sedative. It relieves pain, stiffness, sprain, spasm, neuromuscular contractions and is indicated for both rheumatoid and osteoarthritis, dysmenorrhea and migraine. It has a powerful effect on the mind and emotions, relieving deep trauma, grief and heartache.

Sandalwood, well known in Ayurvedic treatment and as incense, also relieves muscle spasm and is helpful in treating sciatica and lymph congestion. It is tonic in the cardiovascular and digestive systems and relieves depression, insomnia, obsession, grief and aggression. Sandalwood opens the mind to spiritual connection and grounds this awareness in the material world.

Vetiver is interesting because it relieves arthritis, muscle ache, pain, sprain and stiffness, but increases venous circulation to help detoxification of tissues. It is said to balance the central nervous system and is grounding and revitalizing, while relieving insomnia, tension and depression.

Apart from lavender, all of the sedative essences listed are pretty potent and require few drops in a blend. The flower essences: rose, jasmine, neroli and ylang ylang, relieve anxiety and have properties that induce relaxation and pain relief.

The citrus oils: sweet orange, grapefruit, lemon, lime, tangerine and Mandarin, reduce tension and instill courage and optimism. Flower and citrus oils blend well with the other sedative oils and add their own dimensions to the therapeutic experience.

If you have a great pain relief or relaxing blend and want to share it, please contact me. In the next Aromatic Message, we’ll look at some of the less sedative and stimulating oils for pain relief.

Source

An Apple a Day to Keep the Wrinkles Away?

Can Apple Extracts Give You Younger, Smoother Skin?

by Dr. Jessica Wu

Did you know that apples are good for more than eating? It turns out that an apple a day may help keep the wrinkles away. According to Swiss researchers, an extract from a rare apple found in a remote part of Switzerland has been shown to have potential anti-aging benefits. This variety of apple, called Uttwiler Spatlauber, was cultivated in the 18th century, long before the appearance of crispers and modern farming techniques. It was a popular fruit back then because it could be stored for a long period of time without spoiling. Some of these apple trees are still being grown in Switzerland, and researchers believe that the fruit’s longevity and resistance to spoiling result from the apple tree’s unusually long-living stem cells.

Recently, scientists have shown that an extract containing plant stem cells from the leaves of this apple tree could stimulate the production of human stem cells. In another study, subjects who applied a cream containing the apple extract saw an 8 percent reduction in their crow’s-feet after two weeks, and a 15 percent reduction after four weeks. While these initial studies are promising, I’m waiting to see more research before recommending skin creams containing this ingredient.

Apples also contain a compound called malic acid, which is related to glycolic acid. Malic and glycolic acids are alpha hydroxy acids, which help “unglue” dead skin cells and loosen clogged pores. This is why alpha hydroxy acids are popular in acne treatments. Malic acid tends to be less irritating than glycolic acid, so it may be a better option if you have sensitive skin. Malic acid has been popular in Asia for years; you can find it in M2 Skin Refinish serum, which contains both malic and mandelic acid, another alpha hydroxy acid that’s derived from bitter almonds (m2skincare.com).

Gifts that Bloom - Aromatherapy Lavender Garden Kit

We saw this online and thought what a wonderful gift idea!  It’s from a company called Gifts that Blooms.

Aromatherapy Lavender Garden

Create a warm and invigorating scent throughout your home with the lavender plant aroma from this complete Aromatherapy Garden. Carefully selected rich, aromatic lavender seeds. These flowers are rich in essential oils, which can be used to make potpourri and cosmetics. Complete Garden Kit includes easy grow seeds, enriched soil & nutrient mix and a leak-proof growing container. Just add water and sunlight to enjoy.

Grow a miniature garden inside these 3.75″ tall x 3″ diameter cardboard growing containers. Everything is included inside: leak-proof liner cup, enriched nutrient soil mix, and premium seeds. Simply Open the Lid - Pour Out the Contents - and Add Water and Sunlight, to create your own lovely miniature garden.

These complete garden kits can be started indoors during all four seasons. Available in various attractive designs. Makes a wonderfully unique gift, and perfect addition to any gift basket

Happy New Year!!

We are excited to reconnect with current clients as well as form relationships with new ones.  We look forward to sharing bluebasins’ 2010 happenings with you.  Keep up-to-date with us through our mailing list, twitter and facebook.

Natural Skin Care Oils - What Natural Oils Are Best For Your Skin

Most of the companies in the cosmetics industry are not providing you with the natural skin care oils that you need in order to treat your skin effectively. These oils are all derivatives drawn from plants, and they contain a wealth of antioxidants, vitamins, minerals, and essential fatty acids that are necessary for the health of your skin. All natural essential oils are the best for your skin and without these compounds a product does not have much to offer.

What most companies try to pass off as natural compounds are derivatives of a petroleum byproduct. In my mind anything that is unintentionally created by a man-made process is not really “natural”, and I am sure that others would agree with this. That is not important however, because the point is that these compounds offer nothing to your skin.

These pseudo natural skin care oils are known as mineral oil, and paraffin wax, and they are incapable of effectively penetrating your skin due to how dense they are. The substance that they are derived from is so incredibly dense that it regularly forces the repair of the industrial machinery on which it forms. A substance like this can only be broken down to a certain degree.

Mineral oil and paraffin wax are the result of a distillation process that skims the thinner oils out, but they are not as readily available to the skin as plant based oils are. These substances will remain near the surface of your skin, where the will form a dirt trapping film. They will interfere with your skin’s natural exfoliation process, clog your pores, and eventually cause your skin to become drier than it was before.

Plant derived natural skin care oils are very soothing to the skin, and they moisturize very effectively. These oils are able to penetrate deep down into the skin, because they contain properties that are very close to those of our own natural oil. The antioxidant properties that these components posses will even reduce your wrinkles due to their ability to repair the damage to skin molecules caused by free radicals.

One of the best natural skin care oils for reducing wrinkles is avocado oil, because it has actually been found to promote the growth of new collagen. It is compounds such as this that your skin needs, and not some compound that comes from crude oil.

About the Author:

Sharon McCarthy is a health enthusiast and a dedicated researcher of natural skin care products. Visit her website now http://healthy-skin-care.info and discover proven cutting edge skin care products that protect your skin and slow down the aging process.

Women put 515 chemicals on their faces

By James Mould

Some women are putting more than 500 different chemicals on their face when they apply their makeup, according to a new report which suggested that people could be placing themselves at risk.

Bionsen published the study, which claimed that typical women use 13 different products in their skin care regime and there are more than 20 different ingredients in them, some of those being chemical-based.

Charlotte Smith of Bionsen told the Sun: “The new ‘wonder treatments’ contain more chemicals to be able to achieve better results, which means that women are more at risk.”

Lipstick contains an average of 33 ingredients, with body lotions being made up of 32 and mascara 29, which could interest fans of natural skin care.

The Daily Telegraph recently reported on the rise and benefits of mineral makeup, which it said can feel nicer on and soothe the complexions of people who suffer from sensitive skin.

The Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract

Did you know that olive leaf extract and the leaves themselves have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes for thousands of years? It is one of the few medicines referred to in the Bible. It has been mentioned in medical texts from the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and other ancient cultures. But, why do we need it, today? We know that used alot in Turkey is well.

Alot of olive trees on the Bodrum Milas Highways and locals has a olive oil factories. Its very popular in Milas and surronding areas. Olive is the main business for farmers in Milas, Bodrum, Gemlik and many other places in Turkey. Pharmaceutical researchers and scientists from all branches of study have always looked at the medicinal activity of plants.

If the work was being done for a pharmaceutical company, an attempt would be made to change the naturally occurring molecular structure of the active components, in order to patent and synthesize them. Since we have a multitude of drugs available, many people wonder about the point of taking herbal remedies.

They aren’t covered by their health insurance policies. They are mostly recommended by alternative, not mainstream practitioners. So, what are they really good for?

Well, one example is in the area of antibiotics. The overuse of prescription antibiotics has led to the formation of stronger, more resistant bacteria. Oddly enough, these bacteria respond to natural antibacterial agents.

When it comes to skincare products, those containing olive leaf extract have natural antibacterial activity, which is beneficial for healing acne blemishes and reducing the risk of further breakouts. The oils, derived from the pits are beneficial, as well.

Many women say that their continued youthful appearances are due to the regular use of olive oil as a moisturizer.

Modern researchers have been able to isolate the active compounds and make them even more effective for reducing wrinkles, improving the skin’s moisture content and fading scars. So, it is possible to improve on what nature has done, without causing problems. When it comes to a supplement that you take orally, the best choice is an all natural olive leaf extract.

It can be used to speed recovery from colds and other infections. It may be beneficial for acne and skin diseases, in which inflammation is involved. Skincare products, on the other hand, must be properly formulated, or the oils will not penetrate.

They can cause greasiness, clog the pores and, in general, don’t feel nice. So, from a naturalist’s standpoint, it may seem that using well-designed skincare products is a “no-no”. But, as long as the manufacturer does not use artificial preservatives, added fragrances or artificial colors, you’re safe. We need olive leaf extract, today, because it works better than the plastic compounds created by petrochemical companies.

If taken orally, it supports immune system health. If applied topically, in the right form, it nourishes the skin’s cells and layers. Petrochemicals are not nourishing and they may contribute to our risk of cancer. Everyone’s risk increases with age, but there is reason to believe that exposure to petrochemicals, throughout a person’s life, greatly increases their risk.

So, avoid petrochemicals, including artificial preservatives and fragrance ingredients. Take some olive leaf extract or a multi-nutritional supplement that contains it and look for skincare products that contain the active compounds found in the oils.

You’ll feel better and look better, too.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/the-benefits-of-olive-leaf-extract-1556407.html

Health Benefits Of Almonds

The almond is drupe belonging to species of Prunus belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. Almonds are scientifically classified as drupes, which have several health benefits.

Be it healthy cholesterol levels, almonds provide several health benefits that are not known to everyone.
Health Benefits of Almonds

Almonds have a vast number of health benefits and these beneficial properties are used via various forms like almond oil, almond paste or whole almonds. Here are all the health benefits of almonds that you should know about:

• Almonds contain monounsaturated fats and some polyunsaturated fats and hence they help to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol, while maintaining healthy high-density lipoproteins or good cholesterol levels.

• Almonds have great health benefits in terms of healthy skin. Almonds prevent premature appearance of wrinkles, black heads, pimples and dry skin as well. A regular massage with almond oil will help you to get a glowing and flawless complexion.
• Almond oil is also used to treat black circles around the eyes, since almond oil helps to re-vitalize the fatigues cells and improve the blood flow.
• Almond oil is extremely useful for treating all sorts of hair problems as well. Almond oil helps as a cure for treating hair-fall, dandruff and avoids untimely graying of hair as well.
• Almonds have an extremely high nutritive value since they contain copper, iron and vitamins and are hence used as a remedy for anemia.
• Almonds are also beneficial in treatment of constipation since they increase the fiber content of the foods as well.
• Almonds are also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Sweet almond oil is used as a carrier for injectable drugs, which deteriorate in water-based carriers.
• Almonds decrease the after-mail rises in blood sugar and are hence help in maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
• Almonds also have antioxidant properties and are hence very beneficial for the health.
• Almond oil is also considered as one of the most popular choice of massage oils, which rejuvenates the body and replenishes the skin. It is also known to relieve the stress.
• Babies who have lactose intolerance, can be given a mixture of powered almonds mixed with warm water, which provides as much if not more nutrition as milk.
• Almonds contain Alpha-tocopherol, which is a major source of Vitamin E and is hence really great for healthy hair and skin.
• Almonds also increase the blood flow to the vital organs and are also used as aphrodisiacs.
• Almonds provide nutrients that help to increase the bone mineral density, which helps to strengthen the skeletal system. Owing to this it can also be considered as a remedy to cope up with osteoporosis in the elderly.
• Aromatherapy also makes use of sweet almond oil, which is one of the essential oils in aromatherapy and is frequently used as carrier oil.
• Almond oil also possesses laxative properties and helps to produce soft stools and avoid any other problems of the digestive system.

—————-

Source

What skin care manufacturers don’t tell you

Here’s a great article by Dr. Lorne Brandes from Toronto’s CTV news station writing on the hidden ingredients manufacturers won’t tell you about. Results found that a lot of the rejuvenating creams have  contained significant amounts (up to 0.61%) of estriol or estrone, two potent forms of estrogen!

Skin care products and cancer: What manufacturers don’t tell you

by Dr. Lorne Brandes

On a recent visit to a department store cosmetics counter, I was amazed at the number and variety of “rejuvenating” skin creams and lotions for sale — and not just for women!

“How much did all that cost?” I asked warily as the smiling clerk handed the Visa card back to my wife.

“If they help my skin look younger, it’s worth it,” was all she would say.

It now appears that her faith in the products she bought may have been misplaced: a new report in the Journal of Clinical Oncology (JCO) warns that an ingredient in some skin creams may have serious long-term health consequences for women with, or at risk for, breast and uterine cancer. The offending substance? Estrogen!

The story began with an alert by an oncologist. He observed that… Read on.

—————

Here at bluebasins bath and body our skin care product ingredients are all natural. We only use what mother nature has provided for us to create our products. Check out our ingredient list.

Next Page »