05/09/2012 In Skin Care 101 by bien-être

Summer is almost here! If you are anything like me, it’s a time for sundresses, flip flops and beach walks. All this means showin’ a little extra skin. Is your skin up to summer standards? Follow these 5 easy tips and get your skin ready for summer:

Dry brush before every shower – I say this all-the-time. The dry brush is our friend! Doing this before every shower will gently exfoliate, stimulate the lymphatic system and increase circulation. All of these things are necessary for beautiful skin. Dry brushing is also highly recommended for those of us wanting to minimize or prevent cellulite!!

Re-hydrate from the inside out – Aim to drink half your body weight in ounces of water every day to keep your skin fully hydrated. Limit sugary and caffeinated beverages, and drink more water or herbal tea instead. Load your meals with hydrating fruits and veggies, instead of filling up on starches or carbs. If you haven’t already, enjoy a green drink or juice (once a day is ideal.) Greens are inflammation busters and help keep skin glowing from the inside out. They will also help to detoxify the body and reduce acid, which keeps skin youthful.

Switch your shower head – Unless you have a built-in water filtration system for your bathrooms, think about getting a filtered shower head. They are available at Home Depot and online. In California, we have a very high amount of fluoride and chlorine in our tap water, which dries the skin and hair (especially when used hot – and most of us are taking hot showers.)

Don’t forget to moisturize – after every shower or bath, apply a natural lotion or body oil from shoulders to toes. This will seal in moisture to help protect your skin from dehydration. Using a plant based oil, like coconut, will provide extra antioxidants and vitamins to keep skin plump and smooth.

Get a better shave – switch from a traditional shaving cream (which are loaded with synthetic chemicals) to a more natural version. (We like Alba botanicals shave cream.) Better yet, don’t buy a separate shaving product, and use Dr. Bronner’s Castille Soap (which acts as a soap / body wash / shaving cream) or use your natural hair conditioner to shave. Your skin will stay softer for it in the long run, without the use of harsh chemicals or dyes.

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05/03/2012 In Non-Invasive Skin Care Techniques that Work, Skin Care 101 by bien-être

Have any of you ever accidentally burned yourself getting something out of the oven, with the curling iron, or ah-hem, in the sun? It hurts, and it’s even worse when the skin blisters. Most of our mothers have told us that running the burn under cold water immediately helps to soothe the burn and prevent it from getting worse (which is true.) But I’ve found another little trick that can easily be done after the cold water treatment to help prevent blistering: tomatoes!

Slice a fresh cold tomato and apply (skin-side out) directly to the affected are of the skin. Hold the tomato in place for at least 10-15 minutes. Tomatoes contain lycopene, an important nutrient that reduces the heat from minor burns. (*Common sense note: If you have a serious burn, get to the doctor immediately.)

Incidentally eating tomatoes on the regular can help prevent sunburn, so make sure you stock up this summer! The antioxidants and lycopene found in tomatoes strengthens the skin’s natural protection from UV radiation and inflammation.

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04/24/2012 In Skin Care 101 by bien-être

Gluten is an ingredient that can be found in skin, body and personal care products. It is used as a cleansing agent, a thickening agent, even an emollient to help make your skin soft and smooth. Is it always a necessary ingredient? No. Is it overused? Yes. I was surprised by how many companies use gluten containing ingredients in their products. Everything from shampoo to lipstick, and even in many organic or “green” products. Gluten is being added into countless foods, so I should have assumed that it was a popular additive among beauty products as well. What is it with gluten? Do we really have that much extra gluten lying around that we need it added into EVERYTHING just to get rid of it? Well, maybe.

Internally, gluten is known to wreak havoc on your intestinal walls and cause everything form tummy troubles to dermatitis and brain fog. Many people are on to gluten’s gastrointestinal mischief, and choosing to get tested and eliminate this protein from their diet. For these people, gluten may not just show up in the gut. The digestive tract and the skin are closely related in the human system. If digestion is out of balance, the skin will respond.

The most common skin rashes from an allergic reaction to gluten include hives, eczema and general itching…General skin itching, irritation and inflammation are common from a gluten allergy. -Livestrong.com

If ingesting gluten can do all of this to a person who is intolerant, can it directly affect the skin if topically applied? The typical response from the medical community has been this: since Celiac Disease and Gluten Intolerance affects the gut, it will only affect the skin if ingested.

Michael F. Picco, M.D. is quoted saying

“Gluten-containing skin care products and cosmetics aren’t a problem unless you accidentally swallow them. For this reason, avoid using such products on your lips or around your mouth. Also, avoid using gluten-containing dental products, such as certain mouthwashes and toothpastes.”

However, he does go on to say this:

“If you use a cosmetic or skin care product that contains gluten and you develop a skin reaction, see your doctor or dermatologist to identify the cause. It is possible to have an allergy to wheat or another grain that could cause a skin reaction.” - mayo clinic

The only problem with this medical statement is that there has been little to no research done on the subject of topical irritation from gluten…until recently. New research is starting to come out about the connection between topical gluten application and skin irritation.

‘The lack of readily available information about cosmetic ingredients may cause patients with celiac disease who use lip, facial or body products to unknowingly expose themselves to gluten — an ingredient they need to avoid, according to the results of a new study unveiled at the American College of Gastroenterology’s (ACG) 76th Annual Scientific meeting in Washington, DC.

“While information on the ingredients of food products has become increasingly available, recent reports have revealed that the use of some cosmetics, including products used on the lips and face, can result in unexpected exposure to gluten,” said researchers Marie L. Borum, MD, EdD, MPH and Pia Prakash, MD, of George Washington University. -sophyto.com

It just makes sense that if gluten can easily disrupt the digestive tract when consumed, that it could also irritate the skin when applied on a regular basis. The skin is porous, but whether or not gluten can penetrate the skin is still debated. However, for those who suffer from celiac or gluten sensitivity, why not avoid all bodily contact if possible? One big reason for this is that we accidentally ingest some of these products by touching our face or licking our lips. It’s always better to play it safe, especially when there are many great gluten free options available! On the other hand, if you are already using gluten-containing products, and haven’t experienced any skin or digestive sensitives – you may not need to throw them out!

At bien-etre, we support gluten free skin care. Osmosis Pur Medical Skincare, Jadience Herbal Skincare, *certain Sanitas Skincare products and Malie Organics are gluten free!

For further reading, check out this great article on gluten and acne:

http://www.natural-acne-solution.com/gluten-and-acne.html

For a list of gluten containing ingredients:

http://glutenfreecosmeticcounter.blogspot.com/2007/11/here-is-very-interesting-list-of.html

*For any questions on Gluten containing ingredients please contact us directly at info@bienetrespa.com

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04/09/2012 In Skin Care 101, Skin Nutrition by bien-être

Have you ever looked at the clock at 3pm and realized you haven’t left the computer, or eaten, since breakfast? How about the good ole sweet tooth that forces you to down a venti frappuccino or handful of peanut butter cups? This happens to a great many of us, and when it does – it wreaks havoc on our blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar level is the amount of sugar (glucose) preset in the blood at any given moment. Glucose is gathered from the food we eat and used as a source of energy for all body functions. The amount of sugar found in the food (or drinks) we consume is a huge factor in the amount of glucose it will provide for our bodies and the speed at which it goes into our bloodstream.

Everything we eat gets broken down through digestion and converted to glucose. The rate at which our food converts to glucose is determined by the amount of sugar in the food and how quickly it can be digested. Candy, for example, is almost pure sugar and will transfer glucose to the blood very very quickly without providing nutrition. Broccoli and fish convert to glucose much slower and provide the body with protein, vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health.

When your blood sugar level spikes or drops to frequently, it is out of balance. This triggers stress and cortisol production in our body and can disrupt healthy digestion, mood, and hormone levels. This stress shows up on the skin as breakouts, redness, uneven tone and dehydration. Over time, it can prevent the skin from properly healing and renewing itself as well and this can lead to premature aging or scarring. Bottom line: pay attention to your blood sugar level and keep it in balance.

People with diabetes suffer from chronic irregular blood sugar levels and need insulin to help maintain balance. However, you don’t have to be diabetic to be affected by a spike or dip in blood sugar level. Going long periods of time without eating, ingesting too many sugary or processed foods, or eating sugar or refined carbohydrates on an empty stomach can all trigger a spike or dip in blood sugar.

Keep Your Blood Sugar Level in Balance:

Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Eat every 3-4 hours except when sleeping (generally speaking, this translates to 3 meals and 2 snacks.) Need a good breakfast recipe? We LOVE this smoothie!

Upon waking in the morning, drink water before anything else (warm water with lemon works really well) to wake-up your digestive tract.

Make meals and snacks with foods that will be slowly transferred into glucose in the blood (stay away from refined grains and sugars and load up on veggies and lean protein.

Look at Fiber: fiber helps maintain energy levels and prevents a spike in blood sugar – look for it in natural whole foods like whole grains, vegetables, legumes, etc.

Limit or eliminate sugar ‘spikers’: soda, sports drinks, desserts, table sugar, and alcohol (this is ESPECIALLY important for those of you with skin imbalances you want to improve like acne, rosacea, scarring, hyper-pigmentation, and wrinkles)

*If you are eating carbohydrates or sugar, try pairing them with vegetables and protein (foods that are more slowly converted to glucose) in order to help slow the sugar spike in the blood.

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03/06/2012 In At Home Spa, Skin Care 101 by bien-être

It’s smart to have a first aid kit on hand at home or in the office. Most first aid kits include bandages, ointment and other odds and ends – but many of those products are synthetic. I wanted to create something a bit more helpful for everyday needs. I always keep gloves, bandages, and hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel around, but added other products in that I love to use for those bumps, bruises and ouchies that come with being human.

My natural “first aid” kit includes:

Surfer’s balm – this wonderful natural balm is made with olive oil, plantain leaf, comfrey leaf, beeswax, aloe, rosemary, lavender leaf, vitamin E, tea tree oil and lavender essential oil. It’s made on Kauai and great for overexposed, chapped, sun or wind burned skin!

grapefruit seed extract - 10 drops of this liquid supplement into purified water will help keep sore throats and cold symptoms at bay. Grapefruit seed is a natural anti fungal antibacterial ingredient, and calms inflammation as well.

Sanitas Topical C - this product is meant to be a moisture serum for the face and neck, but it can also be used to help heal minor burns, cuts, scratches and abrasions. The high concentration of Vitamin C speeds healing time and acts as a protectant from free radicals. (Just make sure the skin is sealed before applying.)

coconut oil - for a great all over moisturizer. I also use this as the base of my body scrubs and many of my facial masks!

tea tree oil - I use tea tree oil post waxing to prevent irritation and remove excess wax, on nailbeds to keep them clean, and on bug bites to calm the itchy sensation and kill bacteria. You can also dilute in water and add a bit of lavender for room freshener or yoga mat cleaner!

Raw Organic Honey – the BEST facial mask all on it’s own. I use this for dry skin, sensitive skin, chapped lips and as a gentle exfoliant. Raw honey contains all the B vitamins (pun intended) exfoliating enzymes, and has natural antibacterial properties. It also helps draw moisture into the skin.

Traumeel - a wonderful arnica-based gel that can be used on sore muscles, bruises, achy joints, and for menstrual cramps.

Collect all the items you find most helpful, or steal some of my ideas…and put them in a cute cosmetic bag: I found some great bags at Walmart and Target – and voila, fancy first aid kit!

Another Favorite Not pictured :

liquid chlorophyll- added to drinking water,. liquid chlorophyll provides your blood with extra oxygen to help keep your immune system healthy and provide extra energy. The green power of chlorophyll will also help calm internal inflammation.

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