Blog Posts by Carol Belanger

Starting my day without my Olay moisturizer is almost painful. My face will feel neglected, dry, and unprotected all day long. My moisturizer prevents and relieves my dry skin condition, which in most cases is the most common cause of fine lines and wrinkles. Additionally, my daily application of moisturizer will protect my skin from free radicals, mask imperfections, and improve skin tone and texture. Another great feature of moisturizer is that it will make the application of my foundation blend that much easier.

The most basic ingredients in moisturizers are a combination of humectants, emollients, fragrances and preservatives. Humectants, such as urea, glycerin, and alpha hydroxy acids, just to name a few, are substances that absorb water from the air and hold the moisture in the skin. For humectants to be effective they need high levels of humidity.

Emollients such as lanolin, mineral oil, and petrolatum are ingredients that fill in the spaces between the cells in the

Wouldn't it be nice to create your own skin care products specific to your skin type? Common skin care ingredients such as aloe vera, vitamin E, vitamin C, and essential oils such as jojoba, almond oil and herbs such as chamomile and lavender can do so much to nourish the skin. Additionally, kitchen ingredients such green tea, black tea, whole milk and oatmeal are also commonly found in skin care products.

Here are a few skin care recipes to get you started:

Toner(s):

Soothing Toner Recipe
2 TBl. dried or 1 TBl. fresh herb depending on your skin type (see chart below)
2/3 cup milk
Boil milk and pour over herb. Cover and refrigerate. Strain through cheesecloth or muslin. Apply to skin with cotton balls. Do not rinse. Apply moisturizer. The recipe should be stored in a sterilized bottle and will keep for approximately 5 days in your refrigerator.

Anti-Aging Toner
1/2 cup pure spring water or distilled water
2 teaspoons green tea leaves (or 1

Have you always wanted to try a body wrap, like the ones they do in spa, but just could not bring yourself to spend the money. A body wrap is a spa method used to melt away inches, reduce cellulite , smooth the skin, and reduce toxins in the body. In addition it will tone and tighten the skin and is especially useful after weight loss or pregnancy.

A body wrap consists of wrapping the body in hot cloths soaked in herbal essences and/or mineral oils and spirits or applying a paste to the skin. Once wrapped you are in your body wrap about 60 minutes.

Prior to wrapping you should take your body measurements (around arms, thighs, hips, breasts, etc), so that you can compare the changes in your measurements after the wrap comes off. In addition, you should take a warm shower to open your pores prior to your homemade bodywrap.

Here are some body wrap recipes that you can do at home. You will see a remarkable difference in your skin in smoothing and tightening.

The lack of moisture in the skin causes cracking of the upper layer of the skin, thus fine lines and wrinkles appear. There are various reasons for developing a dry skin condition. Some of the causes are, but not limited to, living in a dry climate, hormonal changes, excessive exfoliation and/or cleansing, or using skin care products that are to harsh for your skin. Additionally, dry skin can also be genetic and or inherent of one's own skin type. Dry skin also comes with aging as the sebaceous glands become less productive.

Whatever the cause of dry skin, there are simples remedies to nourish your skin and ward off premature lines and wrinkles.

The most effective treatment for dry skin is application of a moisturizer and following a good skin care routine such as cleansing, toning to restore pH balance and moisturizing..

Generally moisturizers are classified under 2 categories based on the way they provide or retain moisture to the skin. The first category is a

Skin sensitivity to environmental factors, personal care products and cleaning products is quite common in women and men. Additionally, babies and children can develop skin sensitivity to certain products or rather the ingredient(s) therein.

Sensitive skin can also occur out of nowhere, by this I mean - you have been using a particular product for years and then all of a sudden you skin doesn't seem to tolerate it anymore and reacts with redness, rashes or tiny bumps. That is my story, I never had problems with household cleaners and skin care products but now I have to be extremely careful with what products I use and always read the label. That is one of the reasons I have switched to non-toxic cleaners with safer ingredients and use skin care products that are more natural. Additionally I do make my own skin care products and soaps which I just love.

So what exactly is sensitive skin? My definition would be "any product when applied to the skin that makes the skin

Selecting a hair care styling product can be a 30 minute event. There are so many types of products each meeting a specific hair care need. How many hair care styling products are in your bathroom? Did you know that the overuse of hair care products can weigh your hair down and leave it to oily or dry and brittle? Well hopefully this summary will help you sort out the differences in hair care products and help you select the right product for your hair.

Mousse: also know as shaping foam, it is good for loose natural hairstyles. Mousse is lightweight can be applied to the roots for volume and lift. Because mousse is lightweight it offers modest control and leaves hair soft and flowing and not crunchy or sticky. To apply mousse, dispense a golf-ball size into your hands and work it through damp hair from roots to ends. Additionally, you can use as a spot treatment for an unruly area such as a cowlick. Try ISO Daily Foam

Gel: also comes in spray form and has different degrees

Have you ever met women that cover their face with the wrong color or type of foundation? It is a shame that women will take the time to apply foundation and take care for their skin and end up with an unnatural appearance. Additionally, too many women think that they need a heavier foundation to cover wrinkles and discolorations. However, heavy makeup and powders only accentuate fine lines and wrinkles and gives a cakey appearance.

The purpose of foundation is to smooth out skin and create a flawless finish. Foundation is not supposed to be used to change the color of your face but is used to create a natural canvas for the rest of your makeup.

To achieve beautiful makeup you must have the correct foundation suited for your skin type and skin tone. When the correct foundation is applied the rest of your makeup such as eye shadows, blush, etc., will be enhanced and promote a natural appearance.

A key step in your makeup routine is moisturizing. Prior to applying any

Mineral MakeupMineral makeup seems to be the latest craze in the cosmetic industry. But what exactly is mineral makeup and what makes it so much better. I have read various articles on the pros and cons of mineral makeup; additionally I have found that there are those people that love it for its smooth texture and those that do not for various reasons.

The main ingredients in mineral makeup are mica, zinc oxide, and titanium dioxide. Ironically though these ingredients have been in cosmetics for years so what is the difference in today's mineral makeup? The mineral makeup advertised today is (or supposed to be) free of fragrances, binders, synthetic dyes and preservatives thus they are considered to be purer and gentler to the skin than traditional cosmetics. Additionally, the titanium and zinc oxide in mineral makeup have anti-inflammatory properties which is useful for those suffering with problem skin such as acne or rosacea. Mineral makeup will not clog pores as it is non-comedongenic,