Got Fine Lines – Wrinkles – Crow’s Feet? Research Shows Eating Sugar Could Be the Culprit!

Got Fine Lines – Wrinkles – Crow’s Feet? Research Shows Eating Sugar Could Be the Culprit!

Summer Skin Care Guide for Your Best Body & Face Ever!

Summer Skin Care Guide for Your Best Body

Ah Summertime! Gotta love it! Vacation! Kids and grandkids home from school! Trips to the beach! Daylight Savings Time brings precious extra hours of sun to play in and increased levels of vitamin D to nourish our bodies. 

Did you know that rising temperatures outside can cause your body's internal temperature to increase? When your skin is warm, your blood vessels send extra blood to the skin's surface to help cool it off. This causes a number of physiological changes, including making your face turn red and causing the skin to retain extra fluid. When your body sweats, dirt, oil and environmental chemicals can get trapped inside the pores and cause blemishes, regardless of your age. Here are several easy things you can do to look your best during the summer months, and help prevent the premature aging that follows sun damage just as sure as night follows day. 

1. Keep skin clean but avoid harsh soaps. Keep facial skin away from soaps and cleansers that contain deodorant, sulfates and potentially toxic ingredients. These can be drying, irritating and stress the natural acid mantle of your skin. If you are looking for something new, La Isha's Gentle Aromatherapy Face Wash does an excellent job of removing makeup, sweat, sunscreen, excess oil and environmental impurities without stripping the skin of the critical natural moisture it needs. It is exceptionally soothing, especially to skin that has absorbed a little too much sun.  

2. Exfoliate to minimize fine lines and wrinkles!  If you've never used a facial exfoliant you are in for a real treat! Use a gentle moisturizing exfoliant on your face and neck, and leave the loofahs (natural sea sponges available in health food stores) to remove dry, dead skin from other parts of the body like arms and legs. Most general exfoliants work well on calloused feet, elbows and knees but are way too harsh to use on your tender complexion, so make sure to choose a product that is designed specifically for the face and neck. If the product doesn't say it is, then it's not. We recommend La Isha's Orange Coconut Face Polish because it is extremely effective yet gentle enough to use under the eyes and on those pesky lines that develop around your mouth and absorb your migrating lipgloss. It also smells good enough to eat!

3. Moisturize! Moisturize! Moisturize! 

Applying a good moisturizer is critical to maintaining younger-looking, well-hydrated skin. Summer heat and extra perspiration can be irritating and disrupt normal moisture levels. Soothe your skin after sun exposure by applying a natural moisturizer that contains a light non-comedogenic (does not clog pores) oil to seal in moisture so it is less likely to evaporate. Try our Nutrient Rich Face Creme - it is extremely concentrated so a little dab'll do ya!  Plus it smells like a day at the spa! Ahh!

4. Hydration is key! Drink water - it's a great thirst quencher and a beauty essential! Not only does it hydrate your skin better than any other liquid on the planet, but it is the best beverage by far for your body and your health. Stay away from sugary juices, carbonated soda and energy drinks that can add extra calories and introduce synthetic ingredients that are detrimental to your health. Research shows that even natural sugars like fructose can be harmful to the body in large doses, so do yourself a favor: go ahead and enjoy your fruit separately, but when you need to hydrate - skip the juice and drink water instead. Add a sliver of lemon or lime for an extra refreshing summer drink without empty, synthetic calories. 

5. Protect your skin from the sun! Did you know that your skin can burn in as little as 10 to 15 minutes? Sorry girlfriends - there is no such thing as a healthy suntan! Research has conclusively shown that UVA and UVB rays not only cause premature aging but a deadly form of cancer (melanoma) as well. Sunburn is an equal opportunity menace and affects people of all colors and races, so don't think that just because your skin is dark you will be impervious to sustaining damage.

Be sure to wear a wide-brimmed hat when you are outdoors and apply a sunscreen with an SPF of 40 or 50 approximately twenty to thirty minutes before exposure to the sun in order to give it time to work. There is no such thing as a completely waterproof sunscreen - no matter what the marketing hype on the label claims, so be sure to reapply it after swimming and sweating/physical exertion. If you are not thrilled with the idea of using sunscreen, there are companies that make clothing with an SPF built right into the fabric that are definitely worth looking into. I have used them myself and bought them for my children when they were young and still amenable to my dressing them. Coolibar to this day remains one of my favorites. Check them out at www.coolibar.com.

By the way - for those Caucasian would-be sun goddesses who just don't feel attractive unless they are sporting a suntan, there are many cosmetic bronzers on the market these days that can give skin the kind of natural, sun-kissed look first made popular by Coco Chanel and her infamous sun-bathing in the south of France. These cosmetics do so without subjecting the skin to the harmful rays of the sun, but be aware that they are full of synthetic chemicals, some safer than others. Manufacturers are concerned about their bottom line and do not always have your best interests at heart...they often use cheap synthetic ingredients in their products that come with their own list of health warnings.  

We do not live in a protective bubble and it is impossible to eliminate exposure to everything that may not be good for us, but we can certainly try to reduce the toxic overload on our bodies by picking and choosing our poisons very carefully. I strongly encourage you to read product labels before you make a purchase, and weigh the pros and cons of the ingredients found in all the beautification products you use, from bronzers to faux-tanning preparations. Many contain toxic chemicals that can irritate the skin, cause allergic reactions and even compromise your short and long term health. That beautiful summer glow you worked so hard to create can be ruined in seconds by splotchy hives and itchy skin that is being scratched to the point of bleeding.

Ultimately the choice is yours. Maybe the time has come to embrace your natural color and concentrate on protecting your skin and your health? Just saying. Think about it...

Have a safe and happy summer!

Sharon Gnatt Epel

CEO/Founder

La Ishá Natural & Organic Skincare

   

Copyright June 2015 Sharon Gnatt Epel for La Ishá

#dry skin #summer skin care #exfoliation #moisturizer #hydration #sun damage #sunscreen #summerbeautytips #over40beauty

La Isha Natural Skin Care's Blog has Moved!

We have moved our blog directly onto our website. This url is being discontinued.

To continue reading our articles about beauty, safe cosmetics, health and women's empowerment, go to our new home at:  http://la-isha.com/blog

You can also sign up for our monthly e-newsletter for interesting articles, private seasonal specials on La Isha Natural Skin Care products, and guest posts from resident humorist Georgia Richardson, better know to her fans as Queen Jaw Jaw. Just click on the Newsletter link located on our home page at www.La-Isha.com to sign up. You can opt out at any time.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Is Alcohol in Your Skin Care a Red Flag?

La Ishá’s Summer Tip of the Day

We already know that drinking alcohol can accelerate the aging process and hasten the deterioration of your good looks over time. (See previous post). Some of you have asked us: What about alcohol in your skin care? Is it a red flag?” The answer: it depends on what type of alcohol it is and how (often) it is being used.

There is a difference between “fatty alcohols”: the “good alcohols” which are often used by chemists in low concentrations to increase the emolliency of certain products, and the “denatured” types of alcohol like benzyl alcohol, lanolin alcohol and cinnamic alcohol, that are considered highly allergenic substances and can literally ruin your skin. Because some alcohols are derived from rye and wheat, they can also cause extra trouble for people who suffer from Croehn’s Disease, or are allergic to gluten.

Why is alcohol used in skin care at all? Because it is cheap, and can perform tasks like thinning out oppressively thick skincare products for  better “glideability”, help ingredients like Vitamin C and some forms of retinol penetrate the top layer of skin more effectively than without, and guard against bacterial contamination. Lest you think that only harsh alcohols like rubbing alcohol and SD-alcohol are harmful to your skin, think again: a 2003 study published in the Journal of Hospital Infection showed that alcohol is not only extremely drying, but can actually damage your skin. This test was done using a concentration of less than 10% alcohol, which is far lower than the amounts normally found in mainstream skincare. These days even hospitals shy away from using alcohol to disinfect wounds, opting for gentler disinfectants instead. WebMD writes that “using rubbing alcohol to clean an injury can actually harm the tissue and delay healing.”

Repeat use of alcohol can break down the skin’s natural defenses and erode the skin’s natural barriers because it destroys the part of the cell that defends against free radicals and inflammation. This in turn can exacerbate conditions like redness, irritation, acne, dry skin, oily skin and wrinkles.

Reading labels is just as important in choosing your skin care as it is in choosing the food you eat. Make sure you check out the ingredients in your cleansers, moisturizers and serums before your buy them. Manufacturers that do not disclose their ingredients to the public do not deserve your hard-earned dollars. Remember: you can change your clothing and your accessories if they wear out or look ragged, but damaging your skin is for life. Isn’t it worth an ounce of prevention?

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care

Copyright July 20013 by Sharon Gnatt Epel for La Isha Inc.

#LaIsha #naturalskincare #antiaging #badingredients #beautytip #rubbingalcohol #beauty #skincare #freeradicals #wrinkle #inflammation #acne #oilyskin #dryskin #sundamage #WebMD 

Are You Vain? Why Caring About Your Looks Can Pay Off in $$$

There is a connection between looking good and feeling good about yourself. If you think that vanity is nothing more than narcissistic foolishness, think again. Vanity can pay off in more ways than you know.

Daniel Hamermesh is an economist at the University of Texas at Austin and the author of "Beauty Pays: Why Attractive People Are More Successful". His area of expertise is pulchronomics - the economics of beauty. His research studies revealed a number of disturbing truths, including that attractive women are more likely to land a wealthy spouse (duh!) and more importantly, earn more money than their less attractive counterparts. How much more? An average of $230,000 over the course of a lifetime. According to Dr. Hamermesh, even an average-looking person is likely to make $140,000 more over a lifetime than an ugly person. Although men are subject to similar discrimination in the workplace, women already start out earning less than men, making the pay differences for them even more pronounced.

Hamermesh’s “revelation” is nothing new to the American Cancer Society…they host a program teaching beauty techniques to cancer survivors that helps manage the appearance-related side effects of chemo and radiation treatments. It was no accident that they chose to name their program – “Look Good Feel Better”.

Whether or not you realize it, your external looks give the world a glimpse into who you are and how much or how little you value yourself. This insight teaches others exactly how to treat you. Just as physical activity generates endorphins that make you feel good, taking care of your exterior and just thinking that you look attractive creates a sense of well-being and pride that jumpstarts your self-esteem and sends a message to those around you. That’s why makeovers are so popular. Changing your looks and improving your appearance can pay off big time.

If you are a woman over 40, you know that there is no turning back the hands of time, no miraculous overnight transformation that can take us back to our youthful selves. Even cosmetic surgery is not biologically restorative, and according to Dr. Hamermesh, as an investment pays back less than $1 for every $1 spent.  Gone are the days when we could party all night and wake up after 3 hours of sleep looking as fresh as a daisy. This is where good skin care comes in. There are no shortcuts.

Dedication to the twice daily cleansing and moisturizing routines we all complain about when we are dead tired and longing to jump into bed – face unwashed – is an effort that will reward us in the long run. Like exercise, the act of cleansing and massaging our faces stimulates blood circulation, which in turn delivers nourishment to the entire body and results in a clearer, rosier complexion that literally glows with good health. That youthful glow translates directly into looking good and apparently, potential dollars earned.

So what are you waiting for? Those crow’s feet, slack skin and age spots are not going to get better unless you choose to do something to minimize them. It’s time to get back to basics and develop some old-fashioned self-discipline. Don’t settle for being a shrinking wallflower at the tender age of forty or fifty! You’ve got decades of excitement ahead of you so stop complaining about how you look, and start developing some pride in your appearance. Here is my personal game plan for “looking good – feeling better”:

1.  Start by exchanging those late nights of channel surfing for a darkened room, soothing sleepytime music and getting adequate rest. Sleep is as close to a magic elixir as you will ever find. It allows the body to heal, detoxify and rebuild. The phrase “beauty sleep” is an accurate description of what happens while you are getting some shut-eye.
2.  Remember: all sleep is not equal. The body has limited resources, making body repairs and multi-tasking less than optimal during waking hours. Certain organs and bodily functions require complete rest during specific hours of the night for maximum efficacy, so going to sleep at 4 a.m. and waking up at noon is not quite the same as going to sleep at 10 p.m. and waking up at 7 a.m.
3. Next, ease into a progressive exercise program by walking 30 minutes a day: you will be amazed at how quickly your stamina will build, your body will tone up, and your attitude will improve.
4. Reassess your hairstyle and your haircolor. Most women look older with gray hair. Are you one of them? Unless you are one of the lucky few who look absolutely stunning in white tresses, get a referral to a good colorist who can make those age-revealing grey hairs disappear like magic. There are new, healthier alternatives to the toxic dyes that used to hold our mothers hostage, so be sure to ask for them.
5. Change your diet. Eliminate excess sugar, fatty and processed foods, and get back to basics by eating lots of healthy, colorful vegetables, fruits and non-genetically modified grains. These natural foods will enable your body to detoxify and help organs regenerate naturally.
6. Be aware of your posture. Nothing says “loser” like a body slumped over. Make the effort to stand straight and own your height.
7. Don’t forget to smile. Smiling is contagious and can lift your mood, reduce stress, and make you appear more confident.
8. Give yourself a home manicure. Fancy appliques on nail polish or artificial acrylics are not necessary. File those ragged edges, push back the cuticles and clean underneath the nail for a look of simple elegance.
9. Go easy on the makeup as more is not always better. Be sure to update your application technique so that you are in vogue and look age appropriate.
10. Last but not least, find a good skincare program and stick to it. My crazy schedule does not allow for a complicated beautification routine. I use La Isha, a 3-step program that gets me in and out of the bathroom quickly, and makes my skin look as if I devoted hours to nurturing it. Which is the very best program for you? That’s easy – the one that you will actually use and stick with!

We live in an increasingly competitive world and whether we like it or not, are judged by how we look. Your appearance is your future. Invest in it wisely.  

Copyright July 2013 Sharon Gnatt Epel for La Isha

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care

#pulchronomics #danielhamermesh #beautypays #lookgoodfeelgood #LaIsha #naturalskincare #womenover40 #vanity #homemanicure #makeup #organic #smiling #healthydiet #exerciseforwomenover40 #antiaging #wrinkles #agespots #plasticsurgery #goodposture #grayhair #naturalfood  #beautysleep #crowsfeet #massage #rosycomplexion #economicsofbeauty #AmericanCancerSociety #lookgoodfeelbetter

Want smaller pores? Got Acneic Skin? Here's a do-it-yourself face mask you'll love!

Here's another Summer Beauty Tip from La Isha Natural Skin Care!

Looking for a way to help shrink large pores, tighten facial contours and help keep acneic skin at bay?
Here's an easy do-it-yourself face mask recipe that will do just that:

Combine the following ingredients:
1 egg (raw)
1 tsp organic honey
1/4 tsp organic apple cider vinegar (don't use commercial grade white vinegar as it is way too harsh!)

Apply a thin layer to your face. Leave on for 5-10 minutes, then rinse off with tepid water. Voila! Instant tightening and clearer looking skin!

This blog is brought to you by La Isha Natural Skin Care

#naturalskincare #acne #beauty #LaIsha #facemask #doityourself

On Life Experiences...One of the Most Inspirational Stories Ever - by Amelia Keith, Editor Pretty in the City

When evaluating your life experiences, do you ever stop to think about how you came to the very moment you exist in? What led to that moment? What lessons have you learned along the way? This interview got my wheels turning. For me personally, I believe that every single thing happens for a reason (cliche' I know) and we may not understand the "whys" at that moment but when you see your purpose unfold, it all makes complete sense.

These are not questions that La Ishá founder, Sharon Gnatt Epel has to answer daily. She knows exactly what led her to the success she has today and her story is truly amazing. I am thrilled she took the time to share the La Ishá story and a few personal beauty tips along the way.

Amelia: What inspired you to create your skincare line?
Sharon: I relocated to Denver from northern California in 2002, and quickly discovered that from my complexion's perspective I had moved to skin hell! Life in the beautiful state of Colorado is a perpetually good hair day for those of us prone to the frizzies, but the combination of low humidity, high altitude, and exposure to direct sunlight (over 300 days a year) aged my skin so rapidly that I hardly recognized myself a mere 6 months after the move. I looked around me and saw that pretty much everyone here was suffering from similar issues: dehydrated skin, uneven pigment, significant lines, skin creases and wrinkles, and age/sun spots on people who seemed way too young to have them.

I struck up conversations with women I met in the supermarket, the post office, the hairdresser, etc. in an attempt to figure out what remedies people were using to help their skin, and came up empty handed! No one seemed to have a good solution. I also got a strong sense of the apprehension many women were feeling about looking older, not just on an emotional level, but a practical one as they were convinced that their appearance was sabotaging their ability to compete with their younger counterparts for jobs. Some took out loans for facelifts and eyelid procedures that they hoped would improve their chances for employment and make them feel better about themselves, but not everyone has the financial means, emotional support system or desire to undergo invasive surgical techniques to accomplish this.

Another "inspirational" factor in creating my skin care line was the emergence of research suggesting that women have unknowingly been poisoning themselves in order to look good. The phthalates in many beauty preparations were linked to breast cancer and birth defects, and synthetic chemical preservatives have been identified as the second most common cause of skin irritations. It seemed ridiculous to me that women should be endangering their health and paying such a high price to look good, yet I was definitely among those beauty junkies who had been doing so, blissfully unaware of the consequences.

It was only after my son sustained 2nd degree chemical burns during a rafting expedition (be sure to read The La Ishá Story on http://la-isha.com/la-isha-story) that I was introduced to clinical essential oil therapy. I witnessed my son's miraculous recovery and wondered what effect these natural substances would have on relatively minor skin problems like mine, and how they could be incorporated into a realistic daily skin care routine to produce continuous, long term benefits.

I signed up for classes, studied online, consulted with experts in the field, and eventually wound up experimenting on myself. When my friends noticed the drastic improvement in my skin and asked me to give them whatever it was that I was using, I knew I had something significant to offer the public.

Amelia: If I were to peek in your makeup bag, what would I find? 

Sharon: Concealer, eyebrow pencil, lipstick, Zambeezi organic lip balm and a travel size of La Ishá Nutrient Rich Face Crème.

Amelia: Other than basic skincare, what three treatment products do you recommend? 

Sharon: While the La Ishá Timeless Beauty Face Collection provides the basics for everyday skin care, we offer several unusual treatments that are exclusive to La Ishá. The first is Breast SOS: this groundbreaking, patent-pending formula is designed to support the beauty and health of the breast and décolleté. This is an area that so many of us forget to address, and living proof of the precautions we have or have not taken to prevent sun damage. Breast SOS helps tone, firm and rejuvenate the chest and breast area, fade age spots, hyperpigmentation, and minimize the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and skin-creases (the kind you get from sleeping on your side). It can also restore a tighter, springy resilience to the skin that many women may not have seen in years. The ingredients in Breast SOS have been documented by international research to support good breast health and fight free radical damage. Because it is so healing and emollient, many women have used it to speed up the recovery process after breast surgery, and prepare the skin for breast reconstruction.

Our Natural Age Spot Eraser is another staple in our anti-aging skin care arsenal. It is used to gradually fade age and sunspots without the use of hydroquinone or other harsh synthetic chemicals. Because it is so gentle to the skin, it is ideal for women of color who cannot use chemical bleaches that damage the underlying pigment. Most women find that their age and sunspots have either disappeared or are greatly diminished within 30 to 60 days of regular use.

La Ishá Pomegranate Moisture Booster is another must have product. An adaptogen and incredible skin rejuvenator, it can be added to any face cream or moisturizer that you are already using to supercharge its' moisture content, help reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles, even out skin tone, improve skin texture, and provide protection from free radicals. It is customizable moisture that can be adjusted as needed. It is exceptionally effective in combating the dryness caused by cold winters, low humidity, the use of forced-air heaters, air conditioners and the gradual reduction of our skin's natural oils as we mature.

Each bottle of La Ishá Pomegranate Moisture Booster contains approximately 300 drops...because you use only 1 or 2 drops at a time, it is also extremely cost effective. It has become a staple for me and I use it religiously.

Amelia: You devote your life to improving the lives of others through your skincare line. At the end of the week, what do you do to pamper yourself? 

Sharon: Because I usually work long hours, I don't always have an opportunity to pamper myself, even over the weekend. In lieu of this I try my best to meditate at least twice a day, carve out an hour to work out every morning, and get a deep tissue massage once a month. I also love to dance, and took up West Coast Swing. It makes me happy and I believe that this has a direct effect on my outlook as well as my appearance.

Amelia: Who is your beauty icon? 

Sharon: When I think of beauty icons I think of Catherine Deneuve, the actress who was the spokes-model for Chanel No. 5. To me she was as much the embodiment of timeless beauty, elegance, femininity and grace at 65 that she was at 35.

Amelia: What is your beauty product must have? 

Sharon: That's easy: my Pomegranate Moisture Booster because it serves multiple purposes. When combined with crème or moisturizer it adds emollience...yet when applied (neat) directly to adult blemishes, it dries them up in record time.

Amelia: What is your personal definition of Beauty? 

Sharon: Physical beauty is so subjective...just like fashion trends, it is usually defined by the culture a person lives in...but for me true beauty has taken on a different universal meaning: I see beauty in people whose charisma and appeal seems to emanate directly from the soul; the kind of person who radiates a happiness and positive outlook that infects everyone lucky enough to be in his or her path. To me true beauty looks kind, warm, humble, compassionate and respectful of others. All you have to do is think back to the last time you met someone whose actions and behavior altered your initial impression of their appearance, and you will know exactly what I mean.

Amelia: Any last words? 

Sharon: For most of us there seems to be a connection between the way we look and the way we feel about ourselves. This is a lesson I learned from my late mother, a very beautiful woman who did not age well in the traditional sense of the word. She once told me that as she got older, her diminishing good looks affected her perception of herself, and this in turn robbed her of her self-confidence.

I founded La Ishá as a tribute to women everywhere, as a vehicle to help nurture and cultivate the timeless beauty that I believe resides within us all. Feeling as beautiful on the outside as we are on the inside seems to make it a little easier for women to venture out into the world; it bolsters our self-confidence and puts a spring in our step. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness month, La Ishá always donates one bottle of Breast SOS for each bottle purchased in September and October to a local or national breast cancer organization. I hope you will join me in supporting our girlfriends, mothers, sisters and daughters who are in need of our help.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Amelia: Sharon also shared with me "I think that my training as a concert pianist gave me the best preparation for the demands of being an entrepreneur. Pianists are by necessity self-disciplined; we put in many hours of solitary practice, learn how to put our egos aside in order to benefit from our mentors' critiques, and ultimately, unlike other instrumentalists, have only ourselves to rely upon when we perform. We have to provide our own motivation, be ready to make significant sacrifices in order to hone our craft, and keep our eye fixed on the objective in the face of naysayers, competition and our own nagging doubts."

Amelia: All I can say is WOW. As you all know, I adore products but even more-so, I love products with a story and a fabulous mission behind them. Sharon definitely has a story to tell. The creation of La Ishá is one of the most inspirational stories I have ever heard.

No wonder she is getting attention from a variety of media outlets such as Fox News, CBS News, San Diego Examiner, Denver Magazine, Redbook and was featured in the "Eat, Pray, Love" Segment on ABC News featuring La Ishá Orange-Coconut Skin Polish (which by the way...I LOVE).

I hope you all check back soon for my review on La Ishá . It's a fabulous line that I adore and completely give the Pretty in the Queen City stamp of approval!

Published by Amelia Keith

Amelia Keith is an avid beauty product researcher and writer, sharing her reviews and experiences on her personal blog 

#naturalbeauty, #naturalskincare, #LaIsha, #breastsos,#pomegranatemoisturebooster, #orangecocnutskinpolish, #catherinedeneuve, #anti-aging,#exfoliant, #moisturizer, #facecream, #femaleentrepreneur,#agespot,#breastreconstruction,#breastcrease,#wrinkle,#dryskin,#sundamage,#prematureaging,#nutrientrichfacecreme,#timelessbeauty,#womenoverforty