Monday, July 22, 2013

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 

Thursday, July 18, 2013

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

Wednesday, July 17, 2013

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

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

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

Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Hot Fun in the City? Not So Much When It Comes To Drinking Bottled Water in the Summer Heat.




Unless you live under a rock, you already know that BPA exposure from plastic water bottles has been linked to breast cancer and a variety of other diseases. But did you know that BPA was originally synthesized in 1936 as an estrogen replacement therapy? Later on it found even greater success as a hardening agent in the manufacturing of plastics that are used to make water bottles, sports bottles, baby bottles, children’s sippy cups, water cooler jugs and aluminum soda can liners.

BPA is a recognized endocrine disruptor. But according to scientists at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany, some of the chemicals in PET plastics also have the potential to interfere with estrogen and other reproductive hormones, in the same way that BPA and phthalates do. (FYI - BPA is now banned from use in infant products in the U.S.). 

All of these endocrine distruptor chemicals leach into the water more quickly when the plastic is heated, so please don't leave plastic water bottles in a hot car or out in the sun and then drink from them. Doing so will increase your risk of imbibing estrogenic compounds, so do yourself a favor and just stop!




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



Copyright July 2013 by Sharon Gnatt Epel for La Isha Natural Skin Care

#naturalskincare #safebeauty #womenover40 #womenshealth #summerbeautytips #breastcancer #endocrinedisruptors