Got Dry, Cracked Hands? Try This!

Washing your hands can deter the flu, but wreak havoc on your skin! Here's how to remedy this...

If you are like millions of people who are washing their hands frequently to avoid catching the flu, you may be suffering from dry skin that is so irritated it may even crack and bleed. What can you do to remedy this?
1. Wash your hands with a mild soap or cleanser. Look for one that contains tea tree oil, which is anti-viral, anti-bacterial and anti-fungal.

2. Use a gentle exfoliant to smooth rough skin. You can make one at home by mixing honey, brown or white sugar, and a few drops of oil (extra virgin olive oil works great!). Apply this to your hands and rub gently. Rinse when done.

3. Moisturize your hands immediately after washing them and seal the moisture in by applying a heavy lotion or rich cream onto still-moist skin and massaging it in until it is absorbed. Look for one that contains vitamin E, botanical oils or shea butter. This will help create a barrier between your skin and the environment. Make sure to reapply cream every time you wash your hands.

4. At night, after applying cream, cover your hands (and dry, cracked feet too!) with light cotton gloves. This will help the moisturizer soak into your skin, and you may see and feel a significant difference by morning. Severely dry, cracked skin will require diligence, and can take days or even weeks to heal.

5. Don’t use scalding water to wash your hands.

6. Wear (latex-free) rubber gloves when washing dishes or using cleaning products to limit your exposure to water and abrasive chemicals that can irritate your skin.

7. Drink more water!

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

You Might Want To Think Twice About Getting a Tattoo If...

Part 4: If You Have Any of These Medical Conditions You Might Want to Think Twice About Getting a Tattoo…

1. Allergies and Skin Sensitivities: Having an allergic reaction to the dyes and inks used in the tattoo process is fairly common among people who have sensitive skin. An allergic reaction can lead to an itchy rash, scarring and other dermatological symptoms that can linger for a long time after getting a tattoo, and actually take years to clear up.

2. Acne: If you tattoo skin that is prone to acne, you can get one heck of a rash that could result in permanent scarring.

3. Keloids: Are you a keloid healer? Unlike regular scars, keloids are hard, thick, red or purple raised scars that sometimes form after trauma to the skin, and often spread to the surrounding tissues. They can develop anywhere on the body and are an over reactive response of the fibrous connective tissue of the skin to anything from minor abrasions, burns or piercings to surgery and severe injury. If you already have a keloid on your body, you stand a pretty good chance of developing more from a tattoo, so think twice before you go ahead with it.

Here is a picture of a keloid that occurred as a result of a tattoo.

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

Things To Do and Not To Do Before Getting a Tattoo

Part 3 of La Isha's series on Everything You Always Wanted to Know About Tattoos, and Then Some...

Things To Do Before Getting a Tattoo
1. Take the time to visit the parlor and observe the tattoo procedure on someone else before you have it done to your body.
2. Check the tattoo parlor for cleanliness. Make sure they use disposable needles, and/or sterilize them and the rest of their equipment with a professional autoclave.
3. Make sure the artist uses disposable gloves and changes them between clients.
4. Disposable towels and cleaning products should always be used to wipe the skin as the tattoo is being applied. If not, or if the tattoo artist is not wearing a glove, leave.
5. Make sure they are opening brand new tubs of ink and disposable needles that they have not been previously used. This will lessen the chance of catching something communicable.

What NOT To Do Before Getting a Tattoo
1. DO NOT take pain killers like aspirin or ibuprofen beforehand as they may cause increased bleeding.
2. DO NOT get tattooed on an empty stomach because it may make you feel faint, dizzy or even nauseated.
3. DO NOT get tattoed while you are drunk or drugged… your taste in art may be impaired, and you may live to regret it later!

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

Part 2 of La Isha's series on Everything You wanted to Know About Tattoos, and Then Some...

What exactly is a tattoo?

A tattoo is essentially a puncture wound, where the design is made by piercing the skin with an electrical machine that has one or more needles that deposit dye into the dermis layer (the second – not the top layer of the skin). The cells of the dermis are considered more stable than the cells of the epidermis, and are responsible for the tattoo pretty much staying in place for the duration of a person’s life.

The tattoo process is done without anesthesia and can cause varying levels of pain and even a little bit of bleeding. What determines this is how experienced the tattoo artist is, where on the body the tattoo is being drawn (some spots are more tender than others!), and last but not least, your pain threshold.

btw - The word tattoo comes from the Tahitian word 'tattau,' meaning 'to mark'.

Next Installment: What you need to do before getting a tattoo.

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

Thinking About Getting a Tattoo?

Tattoos are a form of body art that have been enjoying a resurgence in popularity over the last few years. If you are thinking about getting one, make sure you know what’s involved ahead of time. Over the next few days, we will show how you to assess whether or not to get one, based on long-term beauty and the potential health risks involved. If you are considering getting a tatt, you will certainly want to do it safely, so be sure to read our series on Getting a Tattoo!

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

How to Fix a Fake Tan That Has Streaked!

Okay, it's definitely winter, and in some parts of the country the weather is too cold, the sunlight too sparse, and some of you feeling the need to add a healthy-looking glow to your pale face by applying a self-tanner. Before using one, you should always exfoliate your skin with a loofah or a body scrub to eliminate dry spots that could attract and absorb too much color.

Even if you do this, mistakes do happen. If you have ever gotten streaky or too orange from using a self-tanner, here is an easy way to help minimize the damage, using ingredients you probably already have at home!

You can make an exfoliating paste by combining baking soda with water, and using it to exfoliate the areas where your unnatural-looking color has accumulated. Going over these areas with the baking soda paste will lighten the globbed-on "tan" spots and rub out the excess color in the streaks. Please remember to be gentle, though, and not scrub too hard! This is a gradual process, and may need to be done more than once.

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

Are you over 35 and still applying blusher to the apples of your cheeks?

Today’s Natural Beauty Tip from La Isha!
How many of us were taught that the best way to apply blush is to smile first and then apply the color to the apples of our cheeks? I recently read an article suggesting that women over the age of 35 should never do this. Why?

When we stop smiling, the face falls, so the blusher winds up lower on the face than would be natural. Smiling also creates little creases in the skin, making it hard to get a smooth finish. Instead, try applying the blusher over the upper cheekbone, and blending the color higher up toward the eye, rather than lower down on the face. This creates an illusion of high cheekbones.

Try it, and let us know what you think!

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

Peppermint oil soothes sore legs, tired feet, and upset stomachs!

Got sore legs and feet? Applying a drop of essential oil of peppermint to the soles of your feet can be a refreshing, reinvigorating pick-me-up! A cup of tea made from steeped peppermint leaves can also be used to soothe an upset stomach.

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

Got Dandruff? Here is a Safe, Natural Solution!

More Natural Beauty Tips from La Isha'...

Applying Tea Tree Oil to your hair can help prevent dandruff.
You can either mix a couple of drops in with your shampoo and leave it on for a few minutes, or apply a few drops directly to your scalp and massage it in before you shampoo. Remember: tea tree oil has a very strong scent. Be sure to take a test sniff before you decide to use it!

Shea Butter: It's Good for Your Hair As Well As Your Skin!

You probably already know that shea butter from the African shea tree (Vitellaria paradoxa) is wonderfully hydrating to parched skin, but did you know that it can also be applied to your hair as a conditioning mask or used in small amounts as a leave-in hair conditioner? Try it! You'll love how soft and manageable it makes your hair feel!

This Simple Makeup Trick Can Make Your Eyes Stand Out and Give the Illusion of Fuller Lashes!

Are your eyelashes getting sparse? Here's a makeup trick for women over 35 that creates a natural, yet stunning everyday look.

Tightlining is a special method of applying eyeliner that involves gently lining the area between your lashes instead of above the lash line. (See picture). It can make your eyes stand out and give the illusion of fuller lashes and bigger eyes. Best of all, you don't need to be able to draw a straight line!

Here's how to do it: Using clean fingers, gently push your eyelid back, and line the upper waterline from UNDERNEATH the lashes with a soft pencil or a gel liner. Try wiggling the brush or pencil in-between the lashes to get as close as possible to the lash line itself and fill it in. That's it! Instant glamour!

Be sure to give yourself a test run at home over the weekend to make sure this method is not irritating to your eyes before you venture out in public! ;) Happy lining!

Can Raw Potatoes Help Fade Acne Scars? YES!

Okay - here's another home remedy that some women swear by. Try it and absolutely let us know if it works for you!

Fading Acne Scars with Raw Potatoes. I can remember my own mother recommending that I rub a fresh piece of raw potato on the red marks and scars that were left behind by my teenage breakouts.

While it may sound bizarre, there actually is some science behind this: Potatoes contain enzymes and other substances like potassium, sulfur, phosphorus and chlorine, all of which make for a good scar home remedy formula. To use: cut a raw potato into chunks and rub all over the scars, making sure that the juice from the potato covers the area. Allow to dry and repeat several times.

Using Camellia Nut Oil as a Do-It-Yourself Hot Oil Treatment!

More Natural Beauty Tips....
Have you ever heard of Camellia Nut Oil?
It is used in many Asian countries in a variety of beauty treatments.

You can use it at home as a hot oil treatment, by warming it up and massaging it into your hair and scalp. Cover hair with saran wrap, a shower cap or even a warm towel and leave on for 15-30 minutes. Then lightly shampoo it out for softer, more manageable hair.

Special Bonus: You can also rub the same camellia nut oil into your nails to strengthen the nail bed!

What natural food can help clear your skin, detoxify your body and help speed up weight loss?

Want Clearer Skin, Your Body Detoxified, and Help With Weight Loss? Drink Warm Lemon Water 1st Thing in the Morning!

Here’s how: Make your lemon water fresh every morning using 1/4 to 1/2 of a lemon, mixed with warm or hot water.

Here’s why: For weight loss - Lemons are high in pectin fiber, which helps fight hunger cravings. Maintaining a higher alkaline diet has also been shown to result in quicker weight loss.
For detox - Toxins are released more rapidly because lemons increase the rate of urination in the body, which helps to purify it.
For clear skin – Lemon water helps purge toxins from the blood, which can improve skin clarity. The high levels of vitamin C can also help decrease wrinkles and scars.

Insider Tip: If you have sensitive teeth, drink your lemon water with a straw to bypass the enamel entirely. Lemons are – believe it or not - alkaline and do not create acidity in the body once they have been metabolized.

How to Make Foundation Look More Natural on Dry Skin!

Dole out a teeny drop of La Isha's Pomegranate Moisture Booster and add it to a dollop of your foundation in the palm of your hand. Mix and apply to your face. The Booster will make your foundation more emollient (while adding moisture to your skin all day long!), soften the look of the foundation, and make your skin glow!

Natural Beauty Tip to Shrink Large Pores

If you are self-conscious about having large pores, this next natural beauty tip is for you!

Mix together a small amount of orange juice and water in equal parts.
Dip a cotton ball in the mixture and apply all over your nose, cheeks, and anywhere else you feel you have large pores. Leave on for 5-10 minutes before rinsing off with cold water. Voila! Tighter skin and smaller looking pores.

Insider tip: If you have oily skin, try using Mandarin juice. The enzymes in mandarin oranges are very effective at controlling oil production in the skin.

Copyright 2013 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare

A Do-It-Yourself Mask to Restore Moisture and Firm Up Your Skin!

Ready to make 2013 your best beauty year ever?

Here is a simple recipe you can make at home to combat the excesses of New Year's eve partying! Apply this mask to help restore moisture levels, purify, revitalize and firm up your skin.

Sea Kelp Mask
Get 7 ounces of seaweed (dried seaweed is available at your local Asian market)
Soak it in warm water to remove added salt; then drain and place in a pan with 16 ounces of water.
Simmer on low heat for 10 minutes, stirring intermittently.
Next, pour the seaweed into a blender or Cuisinart and mix it to make a creamy paste. Add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice once it has cooled.
Refrigerate this mixture for three days (you can freeze what you won’t be using). Apply a thick layer to skin, avoiding eye area (see picture) and leave on for 20 minutes.
Rinse with tepid water.

Copyright 2013 Sharon Gnatt Epel/La Isha Natural & Organic Skincare