This week marks the official start of fall. This might make some of you happy and others sad. So as the summer draws to a close, we transition from hot, humid days, to cooler, dry temperatures. Our summer clothing will go to the back of the closet and slowly be replaced with cozy sweaters and boots.  And like our clothing, our skincare products should also be rotated to reflect the changing climate and needs.

One of the best transitional skincare ingredients is COCONUT OIL. Many of you may have been using this wonderful oil all summer for light hydration and summer sunning. The unmistakable aroma of coconut embodies the summer experience of relaxation, while the silky texture feels like pure indulgence as it sinks into your skin.

Coconut Oil provides excellent healing and hydration for skin all year round

COCOS NUCIFERA, as the coconut is scientifically known, was believed to have originated in the tropics of the South Pacific, but managed to spread across the globe thanks to its very useful ability to float. Over time and across the oceans, the nut washed ashore to other similar climates, allowing the natives to use the seed, nut and palm for numerous dietary, medicinal and practical purposes. The coconut fruit offers more than just a relaxing experience. As one of nature’s most nourishing fruits, coconut can revitalize skin from the outside and inside.

Used in combination with other rich emollients, coconut oil, provides the perfect base for your skincare needs in cooler weather. Using coconut oil in your diet, helps to strengthen the connective tissues in the skin and keep it pliable and smooth. You can get the beneficial antioxidant properties by  using coconut oil in your salad dressing or cooking as wells as drinking coconut water. Both help the skin prevent infection, increase radiance and fight free radicals.

Coconut oil contains mostly fats, which make it ideal for skincare treatments. Acting  as an emollient that naturally softens, restores and moisturizes.  It also helps protect the skin for the aging effects of free-radicals.

BENEFICAL PROPERTIES OF COCONUT OIL

• Forms a protective barrier against moisture-loss and re-hydrates the skin cells
• Prevents brittle, dry hair, hydrates the scalp and limits breakage
• Helps heal chronic dermatitis and psoriasis – reducing inflammation and itching
• Reduces scarring caused by acne or skin eruptions
• Eliminates dead skin cells and reduces flaking, improving the quality and appearance of skin

Modern biochemists also consider coconut oil to be an antioxidant due to its stability and resistance to oxidation and free radical formulation.  Extra virgin coconut oil is the preferred ingredient in the Vivoderm skincare products for dry to extremely dry skin, such as our INTENSE MOISTURIZER, CHAMOMILE BODY BUTTER AND ANTI AGING EYE CREAM.

As the temperature cools, the humidity drops and pulls more moisture from your skin than in the summer months. Re-hydrating is crucial to keeping your skin soft and plump.

HYDRATE YOUR SKIN

After each bath or shower, be sure to re-hydrate your skin with an all-over body butter or lotion; this will prevent dry flaking and scaling skin. Include a super-rich, facial moisturizer and eye cream to your skin care routine each time you wash your face to reduce wrinkles, dryness and flaking and your skin will glowing in no time.

Dirt, dust, oil and grime affect your skin. Hence, it is extremely essential for cleansing the face. A facial cleanser aids in unclogging the skin pores and prevents any breakouts. A good cleanser must get rid of all the impurities without damaging the natural moisture balance of your skin. It should not leave your skin dry as most soap would do to your skin.

Without proper cleansing your skin will become full of germs and microorganisms. This will lead to acne, blemishes and infections. For a clean and healthy skin, you need to incorporate a cleanser that will help to eliminate the toxins and bacteria from your skin. It will exfoliate your dead skin cells and improve the skin texture. The best cleanser for you would be the one which contains natural ingredients and is free from artificial fragrances and preservatives.

Facial Cleansers Help Prevent Dull, Dry Skin

There is an absolutely mind-boggling range of face cleansers available these days in the market. So, how do you choose? One great way to narrow the choices is to choose a natural product  – like the face cleanser from Vivoderm. It is a gentle cream cleanser, make for all skin types and cleanses your skin thoroughly drawing out impurities from your skin. It is infused with vitamins and botanicals which will leave your skin hydrated. It contains chamomile and rosemary and is free from alcohol and acid. The best part is that you can use it daily followed by the skin toner also available at Vivoderm.

A regular face cleansing routine will ensure that your skin does not become dull. The skin cleanser will help you to stay protected from skin problems like pimples and acne. So, go ahead and get your natural cleanser today and start seeing more beautiful skin!

Acne is not a new problem; people have been suffering from it for many thousands of years. In ancient Egypt for instance, oils were often used to soften and smooth the skin. It is only in recent times that people have begun to use acne creams made of chemical ingredients like benzyl peroxide, among others. These can not only have unwanted side effects, like the drying of healthy skin or the bleaching of clothing, but can be very costly.

It’s no mystery that our grandmothers seemed to know best. When it comes to health and skin, the more natural the ingredient, the better. Of course, there are times when natural remedies may not be as effective and that is Ok. However, just be aware of the natural options you have first, before you waste a lot of money on another product that doesn’t work. Many people today discovering the old-world secrets in caring for their bodies more naturally, and are turning to natural and herbal remedies, such as the following simple ‘kitchen cures’.

Acne Remedy #1: Make a paste of nutmeg powder and milk, and apply to your face in a thin layer. Leave on for up to an hour, or even overnight.

Acne Remedy #2: Take an orange peel and leave it to dry, and then grind it to a powder. Mix with water and apply directly to the pimple.

Acne Remedy #3: Applying garlic directly to a pimple can also be a great remedy, as garlic is a natural disinfectant.

Acne Remedy #4: Mix a spoonful each of fresh lemon juice and cinnamon. Apply to the acne overnight for several nights in a row to be effective.

Acne Remedy #5: Take fresh leaves of fenugreek and grind to make an acne remedy that is also said to be effective in reducing wrinkles. It should be left on for only fifteen minutes.

Acne Remedy #6: Papaya juice, which is high in natural enzymes, makes a wonderful acne solution all on its own.

Acne Remedy #7: Boil a cup of milk, and then allow to cool to room temperature, and add a spoonful of limejuice to make a acne face wash.

Acne Remedy #8: Mix rosewater, cucumber juice and lime juice in equal amounts. Apply to clean face and leave on overnight.

Chemical skin care ingredients you should avoid if you are acne-prone or have oily skin in combination with acne:
• Butyl stearate
• Cinnamon Oil
• Isotearyl isostearate
• Cocoa butter
• Jojoba oil
• Coconut oil
• Decyl oleate
• Myristyl myristate
• Myristyl propionate
• Octyl palminate
• Octyl stearate
• Peppermint Oil
• Isopropyl stearate
• Isopropyl, isostearate, myristate or palmitate
Try several of these natural remedies and see which one is best for you, be aware that it can take several days to have an effect. Make sure you use clean spoons and dishes to mix your remedies, and remember to wash your face as usual in between treatments.

Skin Care Ingredients to Avoid

Many consumers are frustrated by skin care products that don’t do what they claim to. Worse still is investing in an expensive yet ineffective cream or treatment only to discover the cheapest drug-store brand would work just as well. In a world of hyper-consumerism, false advertising and a plethora of products from which to choose, how do you choose the good from the bad?

There are some great products on the market that can genuinely improve your skin’s appearance and help your skin look smoother, more radiant, and youthful. But, there are literally thousands of products to choose from and unless you spend hours a day researching beauty products, it’s difficult to find the one of the few that actually produces real results and eliminates years of aging from your face and body.

As the law of supply and demand proves, the higher the demand for youth and beauty, the more manufacturers will rush to provide the solution. Many times this rush results in the creation of an inferior product with little to no research and development to back it.

Caveat Emptor – or “let the buyer beware” – is the rule to live by. Do your homework. Know where you are “voting” your hard-earned money. If it is important to you, make sure you are investing in a quality, skincare ingredient backed by proven results. If the environment and being ‘green’ is important to you, then be aware of the manufacturing practices of the company and product you support with your purchase.

Ingredients to Avoid

Due to certain preservative requirements, many skin care products are unfortunately loaded with ingredients that actually harm your skin over time. Following are a few prominent ingredients widely used in skincare products to day and are to be avoided if you prefer you skincare to be more natural or organic.

• Mineral Oil. This oil has been used in literally hundreds of products. Mineral oil may also go by the alternative names liquid paraffin, paraffin wax and petrolatum on the product label. Mineral oil is used pervasively in skin care products as a moisturizing agent due to its low cost.

Mineral oil, once applied, is meant to ‘trap’ moisture in the skin, but once applied, actually prevents the skin from “breathing.” As such, it clogs pores, interferes with your skin’s natural ability to eliminate toxins, and can lead to acne flare ups. Also, it is irritating to the skin and if used for any length of time, your skin can become dependent on it, causing chapping and dryness. Lastly, it can lead to premature aging of the skin.

• Dioxane: (a synthetic derivative of coconut). This substance is widely used in skincare products. It often contains high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane, which is readily absorbed through the skin. In the State of California, 1,4-dioxane has been reported as “known to cause cancer.”

• Fragrances: No one wants to smell bad, but if you want to be on the safe side, you are better off choosing an organic essential oil or diluted cologne, hydrosol or even a bodyspray. Your skin care products typically contain chemically engineered fragrances to mask the unpleasant “chemical odor” of the foundational product itself. Many of these masking fragrances are produced from ingredients that are known to be toxic or carcinogenic.

Your skin is the largest organ of the body. Anything you put on it can be easily absorbed through the pores. When you use skin care products, they are typically applied all over the face, neck, and body. This covers a lot of surface area and, therefore, a great deal of chemical absorption occurs. However, with perfumes and colognes, you can achieve what you want by a small dab here and there, which will result in less chemical absorption overall. If you really want a beauty product to smell great without the harsh side effects, try buying a fragrance-free product and add your own essential oil blend. You can customize a whole line of products with you won signature scent!

• Parabens: methyl, propyl, butyl, and ethyl paraben. Many skin care products (and moisturizing products) will use parabens as a preservative so their products have a long shelf life. The reason is purely economical. However, studies suggest that they may cause cancer and interfere with the body’s endocrine system, as well as causing allergic reactions and skin rashes.

• Alcohols: ethanol, ethyl alcohol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, isopropyl alcohol and SD alcohol. Not all alcohols have the same properties, but these, which are commonly found in skin care products, are very drying and irritating for the skin. Alcohols such as these strip away the skin’s natural acid mantle, making you more vulnerable to bacteria, moulds and viruses.

Now that we’ve looked at some of the bad, let’s examine some of the good ingredients and some ingredients that sound good but in fact aren’t.

Many consumers are frustrated by skin care products that don’t do what they claim to. Worse still is investing in an expensive yet ineffective cream or treatment only to discover the cheapest drug-store brand would work just as well. In a world of hyper-consumerism, false advertising and a plethora of products from which to choose, how do you choose the good from the bad?

There are some great products on the market that can genuinely improve your skin’s appearance and help your skin look smoother, more radiant, and youthful. But, there are literally thousands of products to choose from and unless you spend hours a day researching beauty products, it’s difficult to find the one of the few that actually produces real results and eliminates years of aging from your face and body.

Not only should a quality skin product help reduce bags under, and fine lines around, the eyes, but it should even out coloration inconsistencies caused by age spots and other unwanted pigment concentrations.

In a marketing-rich world of super models and glamorous actors, many will understandably spend any amount of money to make themselves look better or younger. Cosmetic surgery and skin care is a multi-billion dollar industry.

As the law of supply and demand proves, the higher the demand for youth and beauty, the more manufacturers will rush to provide the solution. Many times this rush results in the creation of an inferior product with little to no research and development to back it.

All of the money goes into the marketing of the product. On the surface everything looks great. The bottles and jars that the creams come in look appealing. The magazine advertisements are glossy, complete with a youthful looking model or a well known celebrity who doesn’t even really use the products.

You can’t really blame these companies. When you are spending a fortune paying for marketing, whether it be on the product containers, magazine, radio, and TV ads, royalties paid to celebrities and models, you have to charge a lot of money for your products or you’re going to lose money.

On the other hand, this doesn’t mean you and I have to fall for these types of marketing schemes. After all, these companies aren’t going to encounter any shortage of people who will open their wallets and purses to purchase their products anytime soon. The reality is most people simply won’t take any time to research products and understand what ingredients work and what ingredients are actually bad for your skin!