Safe Cosmetics ~ Healthy Faces by Eve Organics

Healthy Skin from the Inside

Guest Blogger:   Pam Koskinen

I came across this article while searching the web (healthywomen.org) and thought it was worth passing on.  With so many things against us when it comes to our skin it's great to know that Eve Organics skin care and make-up are full of the best ingredients to keep your skin healthy and beautiful. 

Get Beautiful Glowing Skin

Ever noticed how whatever is going on in our life seems to show on our face? If we're stressed, we can expect acne and dark circles under our eyes. If we're dehydrated, our skin looks dry and flaky. If we're sick, our face appears pale. Eat or drink too much and we wake up with puffy skin. But get a stretch of feeling great, exercising, eating right, and we positively glow with health.

Well, there's a reason for that. Our skin is our body's largest organ-an average of 21 square feet, to be exact. Whatever goes on in the inside shows up on the outside.

Take smoking, for instance. Studies find that smoking prematurely ages skin by disrupting your body's natural process of breaking down old skin and replacing it with fresh skin. Smoking also triples your risk of squamous cell skin cancer (not to mention numerous other cancers).

Stress can also negatively affect your face (and the rest of the body). But the opposite is also true. What you eat and how you live your life can lead to smoother, healthier skin. Overall, your best bet for your skin is also what's best for overall health: a low-fat, high-fiber diet filled with fruits, vegetables and whole grains, plenty of water, regular exercise and enough sleep every night (not just on weekends). More specifically, here's what the science shows:

• Fats. Several studies find that the amount of poly- and monounsaturated fats, particularly omega-3 fatty acids, you get in your diet may affect the amount of sun and aging damage your skin experiences. The best source of omega-3s? Cold-water fish, such as salmon, mackerel and tuna. For healthy mono fats, we recommend olive oil and nuts.
• Tea. To understand the effect of green tea on skin health, you first need to understand what causes aging. We now know that skin aging is mainly the result of free radical damage to cell walls and other cell structures. Sun exposure and cigarette smoking contribute to the production of these free radicals. Antioxidants, on the other hand, are molecules that neutralize these free radicals. One good source is any type of tea. One Arizona study, for instance, found that the more black tea people drank (particularly tea with lemon) the less likely they were to develop squamous cell skin cancer.
• Fruits, vegetables and fish. You know these foods are good for you for any number of reasons. But did you know they may prevent wrinkling? When researchers from Monash University in Australia studied the diets of 453 people aged 70 and older from Australia, Greece and Sweden to see if there was any correlation between what they ate and the amount of wrinkles on their skin, they found those who ate the most fruits, vegetables and fish had the least amount of wrinkles. Conversely, the researchers found, foods high in saturated fat, including meat, butter and full-fat dairy, as well as soft drinks, cakes and pastries, and potatoes, increased the likelihood of skin wrinkling.
• Exercise. Regular exercise maintains healthy circulation and blood flow throughout your body, including your skin.
• Vitamins. Although it's always best to get what you need from food, several studies attest to the skin-protecting effects of supplements containing the antioxidant vitamins E and C.
• Other nutrients. Other studies suggest that consumption of borage oil (high in omega-3 fatty acids), garlic and ginkgo biloba may also protect skin from the detrimental effects of sunlight and free radicals.

10 Foods to Eat for Your Face

1. Salmon
2. Green Tea
3. Olive oil and olives
4. Sardines
5. Brazil nuts
6. Blueberries
7. Flaxseeds
8. Non-fat dairy products
9. Canola oil
10. Avocados

Moisturizer Ingredients Found to be UnSafe

Guest Blogger:  Pam Koskinen

We all know that moisturizing is so foundational for good skin care.  But, do we know exactly what is in our moisturizers? 

Spring is almost here.  With spring comes more sunshine, which is lovely. But, along with the sun comes the damaging effects the sunshine can have on your skin.

Two of the most common (bad) ingredients in moisturizers are sodium lauryl sulfate and mineral oil (a petroleum derivative). 

I found in an article I was reading recently that a study was done at the Lehman Cullman Laboratory for Cancer Research using hairless mice under ultraviolet light.  After 20 weeks, the mice developed skin cancer. 

The researchers applied four types of moisturizers (which included the sodium lauryl sulfate and mineral oil) to the animals' skin for 17 more weeks.  They found that the products increased the number of tumors from ... ready? ... 24% to 95%!  Wow!

The researchers summarized by saying that the two ingredients in the moisturizers actually promoted UVB-induced tumors.   And, products without these ingredients DID NOT increase tumor growth in the mice.

We all know that the sun can be damaging; I'm not mentioning this study to scare.  It's just another proof positive that safe, clean products do make a difference.  So, please, keep moisturizing - your skin needs it.  And remember, none of Eve Organics skin care lines contain the damaging ingredients listed above.  Never have.  Never will.   

Welcome Spring with a Smile!

 

 

Skin Care Preparation Video Tutorial

I know it's been some time since our last post, but we've been busy bees around here!  Look for new products and videos to be added to You Tube, our blog and website.  We are doing these videos ourselves, so I'm sure as the time goes on, lighting and sound issues will improve, but the information that they contain are answers to many of the questions we hear everyday.

So, let's start at the beginning . . . Video #1 - Proper Skin Care Prep for Makeup.

 

De-Mystifying Lip Balm and Lotion Ingredients

I received an article written by Melissa Cooper Sargent of LocalMotionGreen.org.  It gets down to the nitty gritty on ingredients.  I am totally reproducing it here.  It's a good read:

Lip Balms and Lotions

To beat the dry days of winter choose lotions, lip balms and other moisturizing products made from plant oils (such as sweet almond, apricot kernel, jojoba, sunflower and olive) or plant butters (such as shea or cocoa), rather than petroleum based products containing mineral oil, petrolatum or paraffin.

Debra Lynn Dadd, author of Home Safe Home, writes "Mineral oil, in fact, dries the skin, so youhave to keep applying the cream...skin absorbs the natural oil more easily, an dit is more healing than mineral oil."  The "protective" layer petroleum products form on the skin and lips actually prevents moisture absorption.  Mineral oil has also been linked to arthritis in animal studies.

Make Your Own Easy "Sugar Scrub"

Believe it or not, spring is right around the corner.  Time to start polishing that dull skin to reveal the healthy, glowing skin underneath.  You don't have to go to a spa to acheive the fresh feeling of exfoliated, energized skin. 

Try this easy sugar scrub recipe at home:

 

Easy Sugar Scrub

1 cup sugar

1 cup skin friendly oil (olive, grapeseed, apricot, etc.)

Oil from 1 Vitamin E capsule

1 or 2 drops skin friendly essential oil (lavender, orange, sandalwood, etc.)

 

 

• Combine all ingredients in a bowl until well mixed. 
• Transfer into a 16 oz. container with a lid.  The contents will settle, but this is okay. 
• Mix with a spoon or spatuala before using.  Scoop a tablespoon or so onto your hands and massage in circular motions onto wet skin. 
• Leave on for a couple of minutes and rinse.

Let us know what you think!  Do you have any make-at-home recipes you'd like to share with us?  We'll post it on the blog for others to try!  Just email us at info@eveorganics.net

Eve Organics Feedback ~ Balance Skin Care Line

Below is an excerpt from an email we received from one of our loyal customers. It's always nice to hear your experiences, reflecting honest feedback of our products! 

Hi, I met Sharon at the Green Festival in Chicago, and I told her how much I loved the products, and she wanted me to send my testimonial, so here it is :) 

I got the first samples of Eve Organics Balance line at the Chicago Green Festival two years ago.  I wasn't really in the market for an expensive organic skin care product, and to be honest, just took the samples because they were there.  We live simply and I seldom spend more where I can spend less.  However, since moving to Chicago from a different, humid and warm part of the country, I noticed that my complexion has been struggling.  Speaking of my complexion:  it is naturally beautiful when my skin is healthy.  It's fair, but does not burn, and I always have a fresh pink glow on my cheeks.  Well, those things don't look great when my skin is too dry and oily - the pink glow becomes red blotchiness and paleness turns into dark undereye circles.

My T-zone is rather oily and my cheeks are almost dry, or sometimes normal, depending on the time of year.  After being pregnant and nursing for four years, the health of my skin really suffered.  I noticed that when I tried using makeup, it really ran on my nose and forehead and caked on my cheeks, what a disappointment!

Well, back to the little samples from Green Festival two years ago.  The first time I used the Balance Cleanser, I thought it smelled nice.  When I applied the Balance Moisturizer, I noticed that a little went a long way and it smelled very good. 

The next day I could not believe my eyes, or more actually my hands; my skin felt normal.  It felt like my skin and nothing else.  No oil, no dry patches on my cheeks, no yucky residue like various products I've used over the years.  Yay!

 
I have been using the Balance line ever since.  It is definitely something I have to budget for.  I have never found brand-name skin care products worth their price.  I didn't find them to be more effective than the cheap stuff from the grocery stores.

Not so with Eve Organics. I cannot tell you what the magic ingredient is.  Maybe there is no magic, and just honest to goodness high quality oils or something, but it really, really works for me.  So, I have to budget for this like I have to budget for my supplements.  Having a healthy complexion is part of my overall well-being.  I find that one order lasts me about 4-6 months, and I run out of the moisturizer first, because it's my favorite ;)

I never used to use a toner; I thought it would be a waste of cotton rounds, time and money.  But I love the Balance toner in the spray bottle!  When it's really hot and I've been busy, I just spray some right on my face and it feels great.  Also, for a random breakout I get from fluctuating hormones, an extra spray of toner helps a lot.  I find the spray toner bottle very economical, and of the three products, it lasts the longest.

Thank you Eve Organics from me and my soft, healthy skin.

Irene

Send us your stories. . .we'd love to hear them!  Just email us at info@eveorganics.net and tell us what you love about our products!

5 Natural Remedies for Puffy Eyes

It seems like my eyes are the first to show that I'm tired, allergic, had a long night or have sinusitis.  Any time of year, I can almost guarantee I'll have puffy eyes for some reason or another.

If you are anything like me or even have an occasional case of the puffies, try one of these tried and true natural remedies:

1.  Cucumber Slices - Slice a refrigerated cucumber into 1/4" thick coins.  Lie down and place cucumbers over closed eyes for about 10 minutes;

2.  Black Tea Bags - After drinking a cup of tea, put aside your used tea bag for mornings you wake up with puffy eyes.  Prior to lying down, run bags under cold water.  Apply tea bags to closed eyes for 10 minutes to reduce fluid retention;

3.  Elevate Head - To prevent or minimize swelling from the start, try sleeping with your head elevated so that fluid drains downward and doesn't pool in the eye area;

4.  Cold Spoons - Another use for the kitchen silverware!  Run a spoon or two under extremely cold water.  Apply spoons to a puffy area around the eye for 60 seconds; moving to the next puffy area.  If spoon seems to warm, run under cold water again as necessary;

5.  Potato Slices - Place slices of potato over eyes for 5-10 minutes.  The potassium in the potato counteracts dark circles and puffiness.

So, the next time you have puffy eyes, raid the kitchen and use two pillows!

Make Your Own Natural Skin Cleaners

I came across this blog video on about.com demonstrating how to make your own skin treatments on a dime. The recipes are simple, yet can be very effective.

3 All-Natural Skin Cleaners

with Natasha Levitan

Want to beautify your skin with the most natural products around? Look no further than your kitchen and medicine cabinet to try these quick and easy recipes: witch hazel cleansing tonic, honey nutmeg scar remover, and citrus blackhead treatment.

Watch the Video Here:   video.about.com

Do you have any tips for homemade skin care treatments?   Leave us a comment . . . let us know!

3 Ways to Kiss Dry Skin Goodbye

Does your skin feel like this?

I know at this time of the year mine sure does.  With the heat blasting inside, frigid wind blowing outside and piles of paper going through my hands one page at a time, it seems inevitable that by December my body feels like cracked pottery.  Although I usually have normal skin, it's just impossible to not be affected by the extreme temperatures of winter.

Dry skin is usually a sign of damage to the skin's natural barrier caused by over-bathing, environmental changes (such as weather) or allergic conditions, such as eczema.  No matter the reason, these three tips will help put your skin on the road to softness again.

1.  Bathe less frequently.  Take showers or baths with tepid water.  Even though hot water feels better in the bitter cold months, it strips your skin of it's natural oils.  Once the oils are stripped, your skin becomes dry and flaky.  Use as little soap as possible, since soap adds to drying.  Try a body scrub infused with healthy oils to keep moisture in. 

2.  Apply a safe moisturizer (free of the "Dirty Dozen" Ingredients) after bathing to damp skin to prevent the water from evaporating too quickly.  Make sure you're using a good moisturizer or creme without parabens or fragrance, since low grade allergic reactions can surface as dry, itchy, scaly skin.  Healthy, skin friendly oils can be applied in substitution of moisturizer.  Rub avocado, olive, almond or safflower oil into moist skin (make sure you rub in completely in order to avoid transference to clothes).

3.  You are what you eat.  Even though this statement seems cliche, it is very true, especially when it comes to healthy skin.  Restocking your skin's natural oils cannot be done with external moisturizers.  This can only be done by feeding your body what it needs to replenish the lost oil.  Eat foods rich in unsaturated omega-3 fatty acids, such as flaxseed, fish or by taking an omega-3 supplement.  Try to stay away from trans fats, fried food and excessive sugar.  All affect the skin's production of healthy, protective oils, which are essential for moist, young looking skin.  Make sure to drink plenty (6-8 glasses a day) to keep up the moisture levels.

Winter won't go away in the near future, but you can feel better about your skin now!

Neem Oil

ORIGIN

Neem oil is a vegetable oil pressed from the fruits and seeds of the Neem (Azadirachta indica) evergreen tree. Neem was originally found in India, but has since been introduced to many other tropical areas.

Neem oil is generally light to dark brown, bitter and has a rather strong odor, said to smell like a combination of peanut and garlic.

Neem oil is not used for cooking purposes.  In Indiaand Bangladeshcold-pressed neem oil is used in skin care and cosmetics (known as the skin care secret and the key to flawless skin) and in Ayurvedicin the treatment of a wide range of afflictions, including skin diseases, inflammation, fever, rheumaticdisorders, insect repellentand pesticides.  Traditional Ayurvedic uses neem in a variety of other ways, including treatment of: acne, fever, leprosy, malaria, tuberculosis, tetanus, psoriasis, and eczema.

SKIN CARE USES

Neem oil is an excellent moisturizer, high in Vitamin E, rich in emollients and fatty acids, soothing dry, cracked or otherwise stressed and damaged skin. Unlike petroleum based moisturizers, neem oil actually restores the skin's natural elasticity.

Used in combination with the medicinal properties of aloe vera and tea tree and you have a perfect skin care formula ~ antibacterial properties combat blemishes/acne, anti-inflammatory properties reduce the swelling and redness of conditions like acne and rosacea, and the general support for the immune system promotes healthy skin and an even skin tone.

Eve Organics uses neem oil in many of our products.  Pretty cool stuff hugh?