As a living, breathing organ, your skin is exposed to all sorts of pollutants called free radicals - from cosmetics, our homes and our external environment.

In our society, we often lather on products containing harsh chemicals without knowing what kind of damage is being done - all in the name of beauty.

The amount of toxins in the majority of cosmetics is alarming and the FDA does not have the authority to regulate the ingredients prior to packaging. Many lipsticks contain lead; formaldehyde can be found in 
nail polish; while fragrances are full of neurotoxins. Considering these products are applied to your skin, which is porous, continued use can have devastating affects on your health.

We are finally beginning to see more and more companies climbing on the "green" bandwagon; however, BEWARE. Labeling and marketing can be deceptive. We have always encouraged our clients to read the labels for all products - be it food, cleaning supports or household products and clothing. Even 1 to 5% toxins can wreak havoc on your body, so always choose products containing 100% pure ingredients.

Ahhhh, how wonderful it is to climb into bed after a long day. It's suppose to be your sanctuary for rest and relaxation, right? But is it?

Our linens can be covered with dust mites, which feed off your dead skin and produce excretions that are unseen by the naked eye,and which cause allergic reactions in most people. If you sleep with your face against your pillow, think about the oils your body and scalp are eliminating that is being rubbed right back onto your skin. What to do? Change your pillowcase every day and your bed linens twice a week - or at least once a week. Also, choose an organic mattress cover and organic linens to avoid synthetics, which may contain toxins (this applies to clothing as well). Be sure to vacuum often and hopefully you are using a bag-less vacuum, because what may be inside those bags is a whole other issue. You may want to read about what's living in your vacuum.

We may have control over products we use in our homes, be it furniture, linens, toys, clothing, cleaning products, or skin care products, but what about the outside environment? If you live in an urban area, you are mostly likely constantly being bombarded by free radicals from car exhaust, gases, fumes and grease from food establishments, etc. You get the picture. What can you do?

Protect your skin from these chemicals. Keep it clean and unclogged. Be sure to cleanse and exfoliate everyday, and apply a natural barrier moisturizer with sunscreen properties. And, of course, that means you should be using natural, organic products. By being proactive and warding off these environment dangers, you are taking care of yourself, and that's a wonderful feeling!

What do you do to protect yourself from these skin gremlins?

In the cosmetics industry, a moisturizer is a topical cream, lotion, serum, or an oil designed to maintain optimal levels of oils and water in the skin.

Among the thousands of various moisturizing products on the market some are tailored for morning or evening use; some are for a particular skin type, such as dry skin, combination skin, or oily skin; others are for skin prone to redness or rosacea, etc.

If formulated properly, each moisturizer is a balance of three types of ingredients: humectants, emollients, and occlusive agents. The concentration of these three elements determines the moisturizer's characteristics and use.

Let's break this down to understand how a moisturizer works, using ONLY natural, organic ingredients.

HUMECTANTS

A humectant is an ingredient that helps retain moisture. A moisturizer with a humectant ingredient will draw water from the dermis below, helping to re-hydrate the skin’s surface, but can cause some irritation to the skin in high concentrations.

The classic humectant is glycerin. (You might see it listed as glycerol, which is its alcohol form, on a product's ingredients list.) We do not use glycerin for a couple reasons. It can draw too much moisture, causing irritation and can produce a sticky or tacky feel. We opt for better humectants, such as shea butter, avocado oil, olive oil, castor oil, borage oil, lecithin, aloe vera or honey.

EMOLLIENTS

An emollient is an ingredient that fills in cracks between skin cells, helping to soften and smooth the skin’s surface and making it more flexible. They work by increasing the ability of the skin to hold water, providing the skin with a layer of oil to prevent water loss, and lubricating the skin to prevent dryness.They also contribute to the creamy texture of a moisturizer. 

There are many emollients used in natural cosmetics, most of which are oils like jojoba oil, sunflower oil and rice bran oil.

OCCLUSIVE AGENTS

Occlusive agents are the ingredients in skincare that form a film or barrier on the skin and prevent water loss through the skin. They can be very effective, but if too much is included in a product it can feel waxy or greasy on the skin.

The classic cosmetic occlusive agent is petrolatum, or petroleum jelly, which, of course, is never used in natural, organic products. Natural occlusive agents include zinc oxide, waxes, and some oils, like castor and jojoba oil. In the case of jojoba oil, it is most like our natural sebum and is a humectant, emollient and occlusive ingredient.

All of our moisturizers, be they creams, serums, body oils or body butters, are carefully formulated to give you the perfect balance of humectants, emollients and occlusive agents. Check them out HERE.


Here's hoping our explanation gives you some food for thought. Questions?

At the beginning of the new year, we promised you new products and we are getting ready to roll them out!  It takes a lot of work to make sure our products are ready for you through proper formulation and testing, so thanks for your patience.

Take a peek at what we have in store for you.  We're sure you'll be as pleased with them as we are!

Jagged Defense Shaving Cream 3 oz $25

Our natural shaving cream is ideal for both men and women. It is excellent for a man's bristly beard, as well as for the softer feminine hair on legs, underarms, bikini and Brazilian.  It soothes the skin and helps with razor nicks. Jagged Defense moisturizes, provides a smoother, irritation-free shave, creates slip with superior lubrication and prevents razor drag.  Helps eliminate razor burn and rashes, while protecting against the harsh environment.  You can expect smoother and suppler skin. Works great in combination with our Razor Glide Shaving Oil.

To use:  Massage cream into clean, wet skin to soften skin, uplift hair follicles, and provide slick razor surface.  Shave with the grain to prevent nicks.  Can be used solo or combined with our Razor Glide Shaving Oil for turbocharged results.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Peel Extract, Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

Razor Glide Shaving Oil 1 oz $25

Works wonders for both men and women on even the most sensitive skin. Razor Glide provides greater protection, smooth glide-enabling and superb moisturizing properties, giving you a closer, consistently smooth and irritation-free shave.  The organic ingredients help eliminate razor burn due to its protecting ability and moisturizing effect without clogging pores, leaving your skin conditioned and moisturized, not oily.  It applies clear, so you can actually see where you are shaving with no mess! Say goodbye to cuts and nicks!

Our shaving oil is a blend of vegetable oils or silicone oils and essential oils that can be used as a stand-alone shaving lubricant or as pre-shave underneath shaving cream, soap or gel, to facilitate shaving facial and other body hair. If a pre-shave is your preferred method, we highly recommend using it in combination with our Jagged Defense Shaving Cream. Often these products would work best by wetting the area before the razor being used.

The concentrated formula delivers a comparable number of shaves as commercial brands, up to 100 shaves.

To use: Massage a few drops of oil into clean, wet skin to soften skin, uplift hair follicles, and provide slick razor surface.  Shave with the grain to prevent nicks.  Can be used solo or combined with our Jagged Defense Shaving Cream for turbocharged results. Razor Glide moisturizes, provides a smoother, irritation-free shave, creates slip and prevents razor drag.  Helps eliminate razor burn and rashes. Works great for men and women.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil

Calming Comfort Balm 2.5 oz $50

Potent cell regeneration and repair capabilities help to alleviate irritated skin, bumps, bruises, wounds and burns. Treat ouchies organically with our special blend that promotes skin recovery, reduces redness and inflammation of the skin, while helping to relieve pain.  It assists in soothing and calming skin, and aids in reducing discomfort, as it helps restore and protect dry or damaged skin.  It is powerfully antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal, with natural relaxant, anti-depressant properties.

To use: Apply to affected skin and gently massage in, as often as needed. Safe for all ages, including infants.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Dromaius Novaehollandiae (Emu) Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Pentadesma Butyracea (Kpangnan) Seed Butter, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Infused Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

We are also working on a honey facial scrub that gently exfoliates, tones with anti-aging and anti-acne properties. Sweeeet!

We expect to roll out these new products within the next month, so be sure to check back soon.

What products would you like to see in our store that we don't already offer?

Head into spring with your best face forward, using a simple four-step regimen: cleansing, toning, and moisturizing twice a day, and use a mask once a week.

Using a mild cleanser, like our Minnie Pore Facial Oil Cleanser, will do the trick, whether your skin is oily, dry, sensitive, menopausal, or acne prone.  Our mild Rosie Apples Facial Toner is the perfect compliment for all skin types.  Our Mighty Mud Facial Mask will tighten your pores and reduce oiliness. Its soothing skin-cleansing properties soften the skin as an emollient, reduce inflammation and aid in the removal of dead skin as an exfoliant with its natural alpha hydroxy acid properties, while producing a mild massaging effect. Choose from a number of facial moisturizers, like our popular Goddess Envy Moisturizer for the final step.

If you're adventurous, try these at-home recipes for winter-into-spring pampering skin care.

Brown sugar/olive oil/ginger body scrub: Mix 2 cups of brown sugar with 1 cup of olive oil and add a small amount of ground ginger. Mix well into a paste. Using circular motions, rub your entire body, paying special attention to elbows, heels, and knees. Rinse well. The result: Softer, suppler, and less dry skin.

Milk and honey foot treatment: Pour 2 cups of milk per one cup of honey into a basin large enough to hold both feet. Soak for 15 minutes, lightly massaging the mixture into skin. Results: Softer, smoother skin without harsh exfoliation. You can also use the milk/honey combo to soak elbows or hands, or pat gently onto the face and massage in. Always rinse with tepid water.

Egg white and citrus face mask: (normal to oily skin) -- Mix 2 raw egg whites with 1/4 cup of fresh orange juice. Apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes until dry. Rinse well with warm water. The result: Tighter pores and a brighter, less dull complexion.

Oatmeal face mask: (sensitive skin) Mix oatmeal with boiling water according to package instructions. Let cool, then apply to skin and let rest for 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water. The result: A radiant, moisturized glow.

What special recipes do you like to make for your renewed spring skin?

Thou shalt not go to bed without first removing makeup.  Gals, this is a major no-no. When the accumulation of dirt, oil and makeup is left on your face for more than 24 hours, you’re just begging for acne. Wash with a mild facial cleanser, tone, if desired, and moisturize.

Thou shalt not ever leave the house without applying sunscreen.  Sun is the number one skin-aging culprit. Worse still, harmful UV rays can lead to more serious skin diseases like skin cancer.

Thou shalt never forgo water for soda.  Drink 8 glasses (approximately 2 liters) of water per day to flush out toxins and re-hydrate the skin.

Thou shalt not skip regular beauty sleep.  We can’t always get 8 hours of sleep a night, but 8 hours most nights of the week will allow your body the time it needs to recuperate. You will awake refreshed and glowing.

Thou shalt not allow stress to consume your life.  Sure, we all get stressed out once in a while, but a life wrought with stress is a face wrought with wrinkles.

Thou shalt not sacrifice beautiful skin for junk food.  No doubt junk food is likely responsible for the majority of pimples. So nix the potato chips and French fries for some yogurt, granola and fruit. You don’t have to cut junk food totally out of your life, just enjoy it in moderation.

Thou shalt not pick and pop pimples.  Your dermatologist will agree, popping and picking at pimples only spreads oil and dirt around your face – causing more pimples. It can also result in acne scarring that will stay with you for the rest of your life.

Thou shalt not use the same soap on your face that you use to wash your body and hands.  Shower washes, body washes and hand soaps are too harsh for your face and continual use will lead to dry, flaky skin.  Use a mild cleanser, especially made for the face.

Thou shalt not refrain from moisturizing just because you are a male.  That’s right men – listen up! Your skin collects oil and dirt, and it dries out just like the rest of us. So test out your mom’s, wife’s, girlfriend’s or sister’s facial cleanser and moisturizer to see if you like it…we won’t tell.

Thou shalt not use heavy foundations if you’re prone to acne.  Most teenage girls cake on the foundation in the hopes that they’re covering acne and blemishes. When in reality pancake powder and heavy foundations just block pores and create more acne. If you have acne-prone skin, choose a light foundation and wash your applicator sponge or brush after every foundation application.

Got anymore tips you'd like to add?