Beauty

Now these recipes of course are to be experimented with  as everyone has different kinds of skin. If you have oily skin, you’ll want to apply a lighter layer of moisturizer, and if you have dry skin, you’ll want to apply more. First of all, if you want a simple recipe that requires no mixing with the bare minimum of time needed, I would just use Virgin Coconut Oil that is organic and unrefined. I buy my coconut oil online from Tropical Traditions. You can put as much or as little as you want on your skin. So if you have dry skin, you’ll use more than just a little, etc. The only draw back on using the oil on your body is the fact that it gets on your clothes if you put your clothes on right away after using it. You can opt to only use the oil on your face or exposed parts of the body or just wear clothes that you don’t care about before going to bed. (Alternatives to coconut oil is almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil).

On a side note: Tropical Traditions also have lotions and a face cream to prevent the hassle of oil stains on your clothes. All their products are petrol chemical free with no animal products used. Check out their website for more information.

HOMEMADE MOISTURIZERS: You will use a combination of essential oils and a base oil (aka carrier oil). It is not wise to use essential oils directly on the skin without your base oil! Essential oils are very concentrated and are to be used carefully. If you don’t know if you’re allergic to a particular essential oil you can put a dab of it on your inner arm. If after some time passes no reaction on the skin occurs you are safe. If you feel itchy or have sensitivity in any way, do not use the essential oil.

Almond, grapeseed or even sunflower oil is a good base oil to use with your essential oils.

Method:

Mix together 10 teaspoons of base oil (aka carrier oil) with 5-6 drops of any combination of the essential oils suggested in the next paragraph. Or you can use just one essential oil on its own. One oil may be your favorite, so by all means, go with your favorite!

Here are some combinations you can use (essential oils):

lemon and geranium for normal skin

lime and orange for oily skin

lavender and rose for dry skin

OR

lemon, neroli, and geranium for normal skin

lime, orange and jasmine for oily skin

lavender, rose, calendula for dry skin

Essential Oil Moisturizing Cream

For those of you who own a bain-marie or a double-broiler, here is a more challenging recipe–but it’s still on the easy side.

—for all skin types—

3 teaspoons beeswax granules

5 teaspoons almond oil

4 tablespoons water

5-6 drops suitable essential oil

You can also choose from the essential oil combinations suggested above, that is suitable for your skin.

Melt the beeswax in a bain-marie or a double broiler keeping the heat very low. Once it has melted, remove it from the heat and stir in the almond oil. Heat the water, or use hot water from the kettle, and try to make it about the same temperature as the melted wax. Return the wax and oil mixture to the heat and gradually add the water, stirring constantly. Remove from the heat and using either a fork or an electric beater, mix until it begins to cool and set. Then add the essential oils. Pot the cream and keep it in the fridge.

Budget and Recycle Tip:

To save money and the environment, why not keep used moisturizer cream jars that you have bought with product inside of it to store your homemade creams in? Just peel off labels and wash jar before using it. Make sure to label your jar (use address labels) before putting it into the fridge to store it. This will prevent confusion as to what is inside the jar. You can also use small jam or jelly jars or any other glass food containers that is small and easily accessible (to put your fingers into).

Drugstore Eyebrow Pencil

Defining your eyebrows is a very beauty movement that we yet need to keep it calm down. Even those who have accepted this challenging application trend of this product, have realized that if you use it on the reg, those completely powerful pencils get dull and run really fast. If you have been born with eyebrows that are not naturally filled and shaped, then you are going to look for ways to refill it. Spending a lot of money in eyebrow pencils not always is the best option. That’s why, we are here to introduce you to the best drugstore eyebrow pencil that not only will help you fill the stock on your eyebrows but it will also save your budget.

Drugstore Eyebrow Pencil Products

It’s not just a pencil. This compact duo is just powerful. You’ll get a soft gel that naturally fills your brows and leaves you a smooth finish. The other side of this duo compact features a powder, that you will apply on top of your fresh brows. We recommend you to use an angled-eyeliner brush that helps to apply the gel. This will give a better control to your look. You can use each side individually and with a price of $3 that you can’t really beat it.

CoverGirl Bombshell POW-der Brow & Liner

Another drugstore eyebrow pencil that will make you rethink the powder based eyebrow products. If you are looking for something that will fill in stray hairs in a defined set of eyebrows, this is the best drugstore eyebrow pencil for you. This eyebrow pencil has a soft applicator that you can use to dab on tops of your brows. Fall out won’t occur because the powder is thick enough. To set the look, use a brow gel wand. If you are still on fence with bold brows, this pencil will ease you into trend. And, you’ll get an eyeliner out of it, and all this by only $12.

Maybelline Eye Studio Brow Precise Shaping Pencil

This is the brow pencil. This actually brings thin lines that enhance tiny brow hairs. But, let’s be real. You want your filled eyebrows to look as natural as possible. Applies a sort of a wax but also blends easily like a powder. You can find this product in four different shades, giving you the freedom to pick the color that suits you best. An awesome drugstore eyebrow pencil for only $8 each.

L’Oreal Paris Brow Stylist Sculptor

This drugstore eyebrow pencil product, features a pencil at one end for a precise filling, and clear pencil at the other end to set the look in place when you are finished. Cap also features a little soft brush that you can use for sharpening. $7 at all!

 NYX Eye Brow Marker

In this article we have covered almost anything. Powders, pencils and gels. Now it’s time for a brow marker. Only $10, extremely thin, pointed felt-tip like this drugstore eyebrow pencil, is designed for a total precision. Meanwhile the liquid formula is resistant to smudging.

Skin peels is amongst the several different techniques of cosmetic treatment, which is used to treat the acne scars and acnes as well as to get rid of the facial lines and wrinkles that appear by age. Even young people experience different problems of skins besides acne, which can be treated with skin peel. One of the most common problems is the discoloration of the skin. In this condition, the facial color tone is not consistent in all areas. The skin treatment therapy through peeling of skin layers is an all-in-one technique to avoid skin problems and achieve the best result. Only trained dermatologists perform the skin treatment. However, it is important to also ensure that the dermatologist has sufficient experience in this field to understand the details of such skin problems and provide the best treatment solution. It is likely that these dermatologists know which product is the best in the market and can be used to treat skin problems on a particular skin type.

Dermatologists use different chemicals to peel off the upper layer of the skin. For this purpose, chemicals such as acids are used that do not harm the skin. In some cases, aluminum oxide crystals are put to use. Skin layers are also peeled by various manual techniques. Based on the techniques applied, the time required to perform skin peels also differs. Techniques using chemical for peeling skin layers take the least time spanning approximately 10 minutes. Same as the one applied in Skins Peels San Juan Capistrano, Skins Peels Dana Point, Skins Peels Laguna Niguel. Both mild and strong chemicals peels are readily available in the market. While the mild chemical peels only take off the upper most layer of the skin to reveal the fresher and more beautiful skin beneath, the stronger chemicals penetrate deeper. It has been observed that by using skin peels, it is possible to lift the topmost epidermis off and get healthier and tighter looking skins in minutes.

Some of the skin peels also stimulate growth of collagen, which is a protein supplement present within the skin. This supplement is responsible for the radiance and tightness of the upper skin layer. Though aggressive skin peel procedure should not be performed frequently, one can perform the mild treatment once in every two to four weeks. If the scars are deeper in the skin, then a routine check up and necessary treatment becomes part of the entire process. Sometimes medications are also prescribed in order to help the wound heal faster and easier. With this skin treatment process, it is possible to even clean the blackheads, acne scars and the whiteheads. If someone is suffering from appearance of age spots or has freckles and skin pigmentation problems, skin peels is an ideal treatment. Some skin treatment processes also include the use of Alphahydroxy acids for the peeling purpose. In this process, usually two to four sessions are carried out to get the desired result. Some people may experience slight itching of the skin; however, such effects are dampened by using ice and or other necessary medication.

Skin treatment can be done for anyone irrespective of the age, skin tone severity, acne conditions. Therefore, such treatment processes are taken care of by experienced dermatologists who take utmost care to get the best possible result depending on the skin type. Skin peel treatment is one of the most affordable techniques available today. Alternative therapies provided by Skins Peels San Juan Capistrano, Skins Peels Dana Point, Skins Peels Laguna Niguel are available for achieving younger and better looking skin, but the risks and the other long-term health implications of such procedures must be taken into account. It is necessary to try for safer treatment processes that can provide a natural healing of skin problems.

Eyebrow implants are referred to the surgical procedure of permanently implanting your eyebrows. With the older techniques, hair use involved taking individual hair from any part of the body and transplanting it to your eyebrows. Hair from the back of your head is also used since it is much more similar to your eyebrow hairs. Requests for this treatment come usually from those women who have over-plucked their eyebrows. This has ended up leaving these women with thin or virtually no eyebrows.

Eyebrow Implants Procedure

During the procedure, each hair gland is implanted using a transplanting needle. This ensures that the micro grafts obtained from donor are well fixed into your brow area. Again, when getting hair implants from donor’s scalp, they must be divided to single glands units and any excess epidermis or dermis will be removed. When you are healed, the transplanted hair will grow normally and you will still be able to pluck, shape or trim your brows. They will practically behave like normal eyebrows that have not been transplanted. This will make you feel even better, without concerning that people will find out that you have eyebrow implants.

Eyebrow Implants Cost

When you are ready to go for eyebrow implants, before you decide, you need to know they cost your budget. Normal price for eyebrow implants ranges around $3000 to $8000. This depending on the kind of implants you want, the clinic you are going to and the condition of your eyebrows. There are also two type of main procedures that you need to know:

Full Eyebrow Implants: Full eyebrow implants is a procedure done to men and women who for one or another reason have lost their eyebrows. This is done on people who completely have no eyebrows or have very few ones. This procedure costs a little bit more money compared to partial one, since it involves more hair transplant or implants. You might need or require 300 to 400 hair per one bow.

Partial Eyebrow Implants: This procedure usually is done for cosmetic reasons. This is done to help enhance eyebrows or increase them. As a woman, you deserve to know that aggressive plucking of eyebrows through various methods such as grasping or waxing, can result to permanent eyebrow hair loss. This can happen also from harsh use of eyebrow makeup.

Warning & Advises

Do not ever be excited by the way your eyebrow implants look before and after. What you need to know is that, the procedures have their own problems, risks and dangers. Don’t tell your self that you know all about eyebrow implants. Follow the advises and choose the right way for your face. Decide, get the money, find the clinic and be careful! Good Luck.

As my infection was so minor, I was able to deal with it myself with no medical attention. This week however, I have experienced a more sinister infection. In true tattoo blogger style, I instantly had to share this with the world, to help those who might find themselves in the same sticky situation. My initial article is one of the most viewed on this blog, and I receive at least one email per week from individuals suffering with tattoo infections, not knowing where to turn. If you think you may have a tattoo infection, do head over to read this guide. If you’ve already done that, and are worrying that your infection may be more severe, then this new blog is for you.

---

LESSON 1: BLOOD INFECTIONS

Any wound can become serious. If you get an infection in the wound, it can potentially (in extreme circumstances) spread to your blood. Blood poisoning can be fatal and must receive immediate attention from a hospital.

So, how can you identify a severe tattoo infection, and reduce any risk of blood poisoning?

If you experience pain in the limb that’s been tattooed, it feels numb or like you can’t move it – go to hospital With my tattoo infection last year, it was extremely small (the tattoo was 2 inches square and the main infected area 1 centimetre square). I was able to treat this on my own, from home, with antiseptic cream, and not freak out about anything more serious, like blood poisoning. The symptoms of which are available on the NHS website.

If you experience any of these symptoms, go straight to A&E:

• Extreme swelling, pain, heat
• Red streaky marks or rashes on the skin
• A foul smelling wound
• Flu-like symptoms / shivers
• Sickness / diarrhoea
• Dizziness / disorientation
• Muscle pain / inability to move the limb which has been tattooed

---

LESSON 2: IDENTIFYING SOMETHING IS WRONG

Firstly, when it comes to fresh tattoos, you cannot be too careful! Read our tattoo aftercare guide, and make sure you dedicate time and energy to looking after your new tattoo. Wash your hands with antibacterial soap before touching and cleaning your tattoo – whether it’s infected or not! If you get tattooed regularly, you’ll spot something wrong quickly. I normally stop ‘leaking’ after 24 hours… when I was still staining bed-sheets in the second day of healing, I knew something was up. Most people follow a tattoo aftercare procedure that involves keeping your tattoo wrapped for at least 48 hours. Sadly, this means that if you’ve contracted an infection, it’s going to get worse and breed in this wet, hot environment. If your tattoo is still extremely weepy (leaking liquid) after these first two days, ditch the cling film and give it some good, fresh air.

---

LESSON 3: IDENTIFYING AN INFECTION

Within the next 24 hours, I experienced an increase in weeping (yellow liquid), redness, foul smell, heat and scabbing – a potential signs of an infection. With a new tattoo, symptoms you experience should start to decrease and get better after the first couple of days, not get worse. As mentioned, it can be extremely difficult to identify a tattoo infection. Allergies to inks, tender skin from re-working and cover-up tattoos, and normal post-tattoo discomfort and weeping can ring alarm bells but aren’t necessarily an indication of anything sinister. My tattoo was a re-work, of a re-work, and so I initially put my reaction down to traumatised skin. The healing will be different for each and every tattoo in the world. Some heal quickly, some take longer, some experience difficulties – it’s not always going to go smoothly each time, and just because your tattoo is aggravated, doesn’t mean you definitely have an infection. New tattoos tend to be weepy, red and tender in the first few days. The first reaction from most is to analyse the source of a potential infection.

If your tattooist is respectable and following all the correct hygiene procedures, then you’re likely to have picked up an infection during your own aftercare process. Things to look out for – good artists will have single-use needles and sterile tattoo machines, run a clean, sterile working environment, and change their gloves after touching anything else during your tattooing period. My advice – don’t waste time analysing the source of your pain. Focus on getting better and fighting it! What’s done is done. That being said, my first and biggest tip with all of this is to seek out advice, help and reassurance. If you’re like me, and can fester in health worries, just speaking to someone you trust on a regular basis can make the world of difference.

I reached out to various artists, friends and family members, and was able to collate lots of different advice. Even those without tattoos have dealt with open wounds before, how to keep them clean and what to look out for. Good old-fashioned common sense, chatting to people, and my friend Google told me that I had an infection due to my increasing symptoms of heat, redness, swelling and weeping (thick yellow liquid or puss). I knew straight away that I needed to keep any infected wound dry, clean and open to the air.

I did just that, and followed this advice to begin with:

• Do not use cling film or cover your tattoo in any way from now on
• Wash your tattoo two – three times a day with just water or light antibacterial wash
• Once a day (if necessary) apply a very thin layer of Savlon (some tattooists would discourage this as it can ruin tattoos and how the ink looks)

---

LESSON 4: IDENTIFYING THE NEED FOR ANTIBIOTICS

I followed these steps but later on that day, I began to feel ill – I had a temperature, felt run down and tired, and even began to feel the symptoms of a urine infection and tooth infection (both of which I was very prone to already). My body wasn’t happy. If you similarly feel like an infection might be taking its toll on you, or your infection is large, as mine was, e.g. weeping over a large surface area (more than a couple of inches), you’re likely to need something else to help you fight this thing. It might be the case that a course of antibiotics is needed to help you fight infection A quick trip to the GP confirmed an infection and high-temperature, and I was put on a 7 day course of antibiotics that were specifically designed to fight skin infections.

There’s no harm in a trip to your doctor if you’re worried – better safe than sorry. I’m on day 2 of my antibiotics (coupled with rest, healthy food, Vitamin C, no alcohol and drinking lots of water) and already feeling mentally better, noticing my symptoms reducing over time (contrary to seeing them getting worse each hour before). Don’t expect overnight miracles. There’s a long road ahead once a thick scab has formed over an infected tattoo – you’re looking at 2-5 weeks before the scab has dropped off and the skin feels initially healed. Throughout this period you need to:

• Focus on getting better – no alcohol, late nights or anything that might hinder your body getting well
• Keep your tattoo dry and clean, following the original steps listed above
• As the antibiotics fight your infection and your tattoo dries, out it will form a thick scab – do not pick or touch this, it must fall off naturally (as mentioned, this may take weeks)
• Do not submerge your tattoo in water, be care when showering and post-shower use a clean towel to dab off excess water
• Until a proper scab forms, your tattoo will still weep – don’t hesitate to take a clean towel, flannel or strong tissue (like kitchen roll) with you so you can dab it to avoid dripping everywhere (disinfect your hands first and throw away / clean anything you use)
• Other than the odd bit of Savlon, don’t put anything else on your tattoo
• Once completely healed, you may feel coconut butter, coconut oil or Bio Oil is a good choice for moisturising your skin. Assess the damage at this point and consult your artist on any touch ups (which won’t happen straight away, you’ll need to leave your scar for a certain period of time before attacking it again, a rest is no bad thing!)

That bottle of celebrity-endorsed designer perfume you got at the department store may certainly smell sweet, but the fact that it’s full of synthetic petrochemicals kind of stinks. Yes, the fine art of perfumery has largely been taken over by cheaper-to-produce lab-faked fragrances, offering questionable chemical consequences with each aromatic inhalation.

Fortunately, there are still some natural perfumeries that create olfactory magic the old fashioned way, with distilled botanicals, essential oils, floral waters and other organic ingredients expertly blended into alluring potions. Extracting, infusing and combining essences from nature’s bounty is a complex, time consuming process but the end results can be divine – and certainly better than a nose full of coal tar.

To be fair, even natural perfumes can trigger sensitivities in some people as allergens can be found in the garden as well as the test tube. So have some common sense about the scents you choose, but with an array of organic options you’re bound to find a signature fragrance that speaks to you.

The scent you choose can be a subtle yet powerful part of your self-expression. It adds to your style, reflects your personality and enhances your sensuality. Your daytime fragrance might exude a light, fresh, confident air while a nighttime scent might convey a warm, spicy, sultry vibe. Some prefer feminine floral notes, while others are drawn to citrus or earthy tones. Perfume, eau de parfum, cologne and scented oil products come in different concentrations, price points and applications from spritz to roll-on.

Get a whiff of some of our favorite natural perfumes at Saffron Rouge.

One of our latest lines is Honoré des Près from Paris, where they know a thing or two about perfume. These enchanting ECOCERT certified organic scents were designed by the legendary Olivia Giacobetti, one of the world’s most respected fragrance composers committed to phthalate and cruelty-free practices. The I Love NY Eau de Parfum collection is a particularly eclectic marriage of refined Parisian couture and sassy New York attitude, served up in a quirky coffee cup package. Unexpected concoctions include sexy Vamp à NY which blends tuberose and rum, optimistic Love Coconut, which mixes coconut milk and coriander leaf, and joyful Love les Carottes, a delightfully unique orange, vanilla, iris and, yes, carrot-based fragrance. You have to smell it to believe it.

Another exotic natural perfume line we carry is red flower, which produces scented products and skin care based on the principles of world traditions, sustainable sourcing, well-being and aesthetics. The company procures unusual, preferably certified organic botanicals from around the world for their pure flower and herb distillations. Guaiac, named for the South American tree of life, is woodsy with citrus notes plus a touch of leather and tobacco. Champa is a fruity, floral, feminine fragrance. Ambrette is a sophisticated, spicy, earthy musk topped with a sprinkling of fresh herbs. These scents are available in perfume concentrates or handy no-spill roll-on bottles.

Tallulah Jane creates fun, sassy, whimsical fragrances with personality, artfully blended with botanical essences, wild-crafted oils and natural balsams in an organic jojoba or grape alcohol base. These vintage scents are hand poured in small batches the old fashioned way, but with a bold, modern sensibility. A line of body oil, perfume and eau de parfum options are available, including chic and sexy Gotham, elegant wild-flower infused Leotie and delicious signature blend Tallulah. These natural scents evolve over time on your skin, expressing different layers, notes and facets as mysteriously complex as you.

When people first make the conscientious switch to natural shampoos, they often lament the lack of lather on their locks. After years of dousing hair in a fragrant froth of bubbles, they tend to equate suds with effectiveness – but actually foam is not an essential component to cleansing.

That lather we have grown to expect in our shampoos is usually produced by synthetic petrochemical agents such as sodium lauryl sulphate – the same nasty stuff used in commercial floor cleaners. The cumulative consequences of daily exposure to these chemicals are hard to quantify, but they can certainly enter the bloodstream through our porous scalps, cause irritations and allergic reactions and are pretty harsh substances to let flow down the drain.

But let’s not get on a soap box about the environmental/health hazards of these objectionable ingredients here. This post’s focus is more about the do than the don’t. While we all want to be kind to the earth, we would rather not have this noble philosophy doom us to perpetually bad hair days, right?

The awkward truth is, many natural and organic shampoo formulations do take a little getting used to. There’s often a short transition period where your hair might seem a bit flat, dull or lackluster as it weans off its familiar chemical bath. Some note their tresses seem a tad greasy during this adjustment phase. This is because conventional shampoos that work by stripping the sebaceous oil from your hair and scalp actually trigger your head to produce more oil, setting off a vicious circle. Years of striving for “squeaky clean” locks has actually been perpetuating the problem, so understandably it takes some time to break this pattern and get your body’s natural oil production in balance.

The botanical ingredients in natural shampoos wash away dirt, flakes and grease without this stripping, drying, damaging extreme. After all, a little oil is necessary to maintain shine, bounce, elasticity and manageability. Be patient as your hair adjusts to this new healthier approach to cleanliness.

On a related note, it often takes a few washes to breakdown and detoxify your hair from the residue left over from previous product usage. You might need a special clarifying rinse like John Master’s Herbal Cider Hair Rinse Clarifier to eliminate this buildup before the natural shampoo can begin to work effectively.

Some people use an excessive dose of natural shampoo in a mistaken attempt to generate that familiar halo of bubbles. Then they complain that they run out of the product too soon and balk that the “green” brands are too pricey. But if you stick to the recommended quarter-sized dollop (or whatever the label dictates) you should find a bottle lasts a long time and is actually good value on a cost per usage basis. The trick is to wet your hair thoroughly before applying the shampoo, then massage it into the scalp for a good minute or two, really working it in there. The agitation of your finger pads along with ingredients in the formula are what clean and nourish your hair, not the lather.

A second shampooing can really make a difference in the cleanliness and effectiveness of the wash, so if they say rinse and repeat, do so. Speaking of rinsing, hard water minerals coming out your taps is more often to blame for flat, lifeless hair than the shampoo you use. Try using purified or distilled water as a final splash, and cap off your shower with a blast of cold water to help seal your cuticles.

So go on and get over your misguided desire for soapy suds. Once you persevere through the first few washes, your crowning glory will start to adapt, benefit and thrive from the wonderful pure ingredients in these natural shampoos. Here are a few recommended products:

Nourishing Shampoo by Living Nature gets its gentle natural lathering action from kumerahou, a remarkable indigenous plant from New Zealand.

Organic Herbal Shampoo by Dr. Alkaitis blends aloe vera gel, coconut oil, grapefruit seed extract and other botanicals to stimulate the scalp and nourish the hair.

Rahua Voluminous Shampoo by Amazon Beauty smells as good as it works, combining potent ingredients from the South American rainforest along with lemongrass, lavender and green tea for a refreshing clean that thickens without drying.