Are you Ready to Use Nightingale Droppings to Beautify Your Skin?

La Isha's Natural Beauty Tip #5

Okay - so this one is a real stretch and definitely not for everybody!

Nightingale droppings (known as "uguisu no fun"), have been used by Japanese Geishas for centuries as a way to lighten excess pigmentation and whiten their skin. Still available today, today's modern version is still made from bird droppings but has undergone some serious UV sterilization, and then ground into a fine white powder. You can buy it in little pouches at your local Japanese import store, and mix it with water to make a face pack or mask. The droppings have a natural enzyme in it (guanine, an amino acid that has bleaching qualities) that has a natural lightening action, and urea, which is an excellent moisturizing ingredient.

I'm told that it doesn't actually smell like poop...more like musk, and if you can get past the notion that you are applying poop to your face, it's supposed to work quite well!

Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

How To Combat Hormonal Breakouts!

La Isha's Natural Beauty Tip #4

For hormonal type breakouts, apply only 1 drop of La Isha's Pomegranate Moisture Booster directly to the blemishes and massage in gently. Our high-potency pomegranate oil is a known adaptogen, which means that it works with your body chemistry to regulate and balance your skin's reactions to stress. It may seem counter-intuitive to use oil on a zit, but it works!

Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

How To Zap Acne-type Zits Naturally!

La Isha's Natural Beauty tip #3

Ready for natural beauty Tip#3?
Need to clear up your skin fast? For acne-type breakouts, zap those zits by applying Manuka honey from New Zealand topically. Available in better health-food stores, Bio-Active Manuka honey is rich in minerals and contains an antiseptic oil that kills germs and helps heal wounds!

Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

A Safe Natural Way to Whiten Yellow Nails!

TGIF! Got holiday party plans for the weekend? Here is Tip #2 on getting ready to look your best for the holidays!

Are your nails yellow from wearing nail polish all the time?
Here's a safe, non-toxic and easy way to get rid of the discoloration: Real lemon juice can help whiten and brighten yellow nails. Mix the juice of one lemon with a cup & a half of warm water and soak your fingers for 5-10 minutes. You can also use the lemon juice to make a buffing paste by mixing it with a little baking powder. Be sure to buff lightly! You don't want to damage the nail bed....

Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

Secret International Beauty Tips to Help You Look Your Best for the Holidays!

Here is part 1 of our new series on secret international beauty tips that can help you look your best for the holidays!

Holiday Tip#1: Coconut Hot Oil Hair Treatment

Organic, all-natural coconut oil is a terrifically effective rehydrating treatment for colored, dry, brittle or processed hair. You can buy ready-made expensive preparations, but why bother when it is so easy to make it yourself?

For thick or long hair, melt 2 or 3 tablespoons of coconut oil in the microwave or on a stove top and apply it to freshly washed hair. One tablespoon should be sufficient for short or thin hair. Massage the oil into your hair and scalp, then wrap your head in saran wrap or a warm towel and allow the oil to soak in for a few minutes. Rinse well, or shampoo lightly if necessary. Your hair will be soft, manageable, and much healthier looking than before.

Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

La Isha Introduces new Travel-Size Sampler Box!

TA-DA! Drum-roll please: Here's a peek at La Isha's new Travel Size Sampler Kits! Each box measures 3 x 3 inches and closes securely, so you can pop it in your handbag for easy access! Great way to keep your favorite formulation with you at work or play for a quick mid-day application. No problems with air travel either, as all 7 sample sized formulations are compliant with FAA regulations. What do you think?

Makes a great holiday gift at only $18, which includes free shipping anywhere in the U.S.! Order them on our website at: http://goo.gl/1V7U1




Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

How To Dry Your Cosmetic Brushes

Here is my final installment on how to clean your cosmetic brushes!
Part V: How to dry your brushes!

Now that your cosmetic brushes are clean, it's time to dry them. Squeeze out the excess water from your brush with your fingers, or with a clean towel, and gently apply pressure to reshape the bristles into their original form.

There are several ways to let brushes dry. One way is to lay the brushes on a clean towel or paper towel on their side, and turn them over periodically to make sure the bristles on the underside dry as well. I prefer to stand mine up in either a toothbrush holder or a drinking cup so that the air dries all sides at the same time. You can also drape the brushes over the side of your sink and let them rest there until dry. Get creative!

The one thing you don't ever want to do is use a hairdryer on them, as this will not only cause frizzy bristles but destroy up the shape of the brush, rendering it pretty much useless. Happy cleaning!

P.S. Now that you know how to clean your cosmetic brushes - look what I just found: brush trees from Benjabelle.com. They work with most major brands of brushes. Aren't these awesome?

Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

How To Safely Clean Your Cosmetic Brushes

Do you use cosmetic brushes to apply your makeup? It is important to remember to clean them regularly to avoid bacterial contamination, especially for those brushes that come in direct contact with your eyes. There are commercial brush cleaners available, but plenty of ways to use household ingredients instead. Here are 3 methods we recommend for cleaning!

Method #1: Vinegar
Combine 1/4 cup vinegar to 1/2 cup water, and pour into a shallow bowl. Don't let the liquid reach the ferrule (the metal ring around the bristles). Stir slowly, using the bristles of your brush. Empty and refill the bowl as the solution gets dirty, and repeat until your brush is clean. Then rinse the bristles with water. Do not use hot water to rinse, because it can make the bristles frizz.

Method #2: Shampoo.
Hold the brush upside down (remember from yesterday - you don't want the water to run into the ferrule) and wet the bristles with warm running water. Add a small, squirt of shampoo into the palm of your hand and rub the bristles into it in a circular motion. then rinse the brush (facing downward). Repeat these steps until the water runs clear.

Method #3: The Olive Oil Method.
Not only can olive oil be used as a facial cleanser for dry skin, but it can also be used to clean your makeup brushes. Here's how:
Pour a small dab of olive oil into a glass dish and using circular motions, gently but thoroughly rub the bristles in the oil to loosen the dirt.
Next, squirt a little bit of shampoo or Dawn liquid (Dawn seems to work best on heavy oils) into the palm of your hand, add a little
water and rub the bristles into the suds. When you are done, turn your faucet on and holding the brush with the bristles downward (once again, to avoid getting water into the ferrule), rinse the bristles thoroughly with lukewarm water. If necessary, repeat these steps until the oil is gone and the water runs clear.

Next Installment: How To Dry Your Brushes!



Copyright 2012 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare