Summer of 2014 – Bronzed, glowing, healthy summer Tip #5 Using SPF: Shiseido, La Roche-Posay, Macadamia, René Furterer, Diet Esthetic

Tags

body, Diet Esthetic, face, hair, La Roche-Posay, lips, Macadamia, Rene Furterer, review, Shiseido, SPF

We can not talk bronzed, glowing, healthy skin without talking about sunscreen!

Sunscreen’s job is to absorb or reflect some of the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) radiation on the skin exposed to sunlight and thus helps protect against sunburn.

According to the American Cancer Society it “aids in the prevention of developing squamous cell carcinomas and basal-cell carcinomas. Many sunscreens do not block UVA radiation, which does not cause sunburn but can increase the rate of melanoma and photodermatitis, so people using sunscreens may be exposed to high UVA levels without realizing it.

The use of broad-spectrum (UVA/UVB) sunscreens can address this concern.

Diligent use of sunscreen can also slow or temporarily prevent the development of wrinkles and sagging skin”.

My products of choice are, for the face, the Shiseido Urban Environement UV Protection Cream SPF 50 High Protection. It is an oil-free formula that protects skin against UV rays as well as environmental damage from free radicals, which makes it a good anti-aging product.

It has the texture of a moisurizer and it absorbs easily ( acts as a moisturizer as well as an SPF = less products to layer ) leaving behind a beautifully smooth finish which not only protects your skin against UVA/UVB rays but also protects skin from cell damage and oxidation. It does not break me out nor irritates my skin, as I have sensitive skin, even though it has a bit of a scent to it.

For my lips I use another Shiseido product the Sun Protection Lip Treatment SPF 20 or the By Terry Baume de Rose SPF 15. They keep my lips moisurized and protected at the same time. Since the Shiseido balm comes in a stick, I keep it in my purse to re-apply during the day.

Shiseido products do not contain Oxybenzone and have a paraben-free formula.

For my body I bought this La Roche-Posay Anthelios SPF 30 High Protection Nutritive Oil. It is an light oil which protects against UVA and UVB radiations, good for sun-sensitive skins like mine. Because I’m pale, I burn like nobody’s business! My skin turns red and peels off! TMI?! Maybe… My point is I need a minimum of SPF on my skin everyday during the summer.

Being a light oil it absorbs immediately and does not leave that greasy feeling most sunscreen do. It has a subtle perfume which fades anyway.

Good to use for both face and body!

It is also Paraben-free!

We are so busy taking care of our skin that we often forget that our hair is exposed to sun damaging rays too!

For my hair I recently bought this René Furterer Hydrating Shower Gel Hair and Body with Palm Butter. This ultra repairing shampoo nourishes and restructures hair damaged by the sun while effectively removing chlorine and salt build-up. Since I have used it I can sense a difference in the condition of my hair when I go to the pool. Using this before and after the hair is softer, easier to comb and did not changed its colour.

And it smells amazing! Floral and fresh at the same time!

To make sure I keep my hair in the best condition, I use the very hyped Macadamia Natural Oil Deep Repair Masque, everyone knows and loves – and for good reason! It is a blend of oils: macadamia and argon along with tea tree oil, chamomile oil, aloe plus algae extracts to rejuvenate and rebuild the hair, leaving the it deeply nourished, more elastic and shiny with long-lasting conditioning benefits. 

Absolutely recommend this one year-round!

And last but not least, sun protective sprays for the hair!

The one I have here is the Laboratorios Diet Esthetic SUN UVA SPF 30 Hair Protection Spray. They used natural ingredients to create the first UVA and UVB sunlight hair protector, with high protection factor. It is an oil-free formula to spritz on your hair when you leave the house.

Does not contain mineral oils or parabens.

It is a Bio and Eco certified product which is always a plus. And cruelty-free!

Take care of your skin every single day and see you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

SPA AT HOME – DIY 1 – Body

Tags

apricot oil, body, body mask, body scrub, camomile oil, coconut oil, diy, olive oil, santal amyris oil, skincare, SPA

Last week I shared with you my own version of a SPA AT HOME – Luxury Products 1 – Body. For that post I chose the high-end products I use and love at the moment. For my SPA session this Sunday I plan to use only products everyone has at home, that are not that expensive and they are healthy and organic. It is going to be a do-it-yourself kind of post that I am sure anyone can do and enjoy.

For my SPA at home I am going to need some basic ingredients: natural essential oils ( Camomile and Santal Amyris oils ), cold pressed apricot oil, coconut oil ( review here ), olive oil, sea salt, brown sugar, coffee, honey, yogurt, cornflour, barley flakes… You are allowed to use whatever ingredients are good for your skin that you can find in your kitchen.

First of all, same as I did in my previous SPA post, I like to prepare my bathroom. I light some candles, some oils. I fill my bath top with hot water, I add simple sea salt, some oatmeal and I also add a few drops of Camomile and Santal oils. The Camomile Oil ( Anthemis Nobilis ) is a calming and relaxing  pure essential oil which helps reduce  stress and chronic insomnia, muscular tensions, skin allergies, helps healing eczema and scars. The Santal Amyris ( Amyris Balsamifera ) is a pure essential oil that helps decongest the lymphatic and the circulatory systems but it also helps reducing the cellulite. The sea salt helps detox the skin and relax your muscles and the barley flakes can be used to heal skin affections.

To clean my skin I use a scrub I make myself out of: coffee, sea salt, brown sugar, olive oil, apricot oil and a few drops of camomile oil. I rub my skin gently to remove any dead skin cells then I clean my skin with warm water.

After that I often use a body mask. That is right! You can also use masks for your body not only for your face and neck! We often forget to take deep care of our body’s skin. We don’t exfoliate enough, we don’t give our bodies the moisture it often needs. Me included… But when I do, this is what I use: I mix in a bowl one cup of cornflour, one cup of Greek yogurt and three tablespoons of organic honey from my grandfather’s bees. I apply that mixture all over my body and go on with my routine for another few minutes, then I rinse it off.

After the scrub and the mask my skin feels so soft and smooth that I don’t even need to apply a body lotion. Nonetheless, I like to apply an oil to be sure my skin feels moisturised for a long time. And for that I use cold pressed coconut oil, that I gently massage into my skin insisting on my very dry areas: elbows, knees, hands and feet.

I usually prepare enough scrub and body mask for a one-time-usage. But sometimes I happen to do more, so whatever is left I like to keep it in a dark colored glass jar with a lid that seals the recipient for safe keeping. I am careful not to keep the product too long though because since it is made out of natural ingredients without preservatives, it can easily go bad.

This is my SPA at home affordable DIY version. I like natural ingredients and I like mixing them.

But tell me, do you like such natural remedies? Do you use any of these? Please share with us some of your “recipes”!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie

 

Beauty | Why Gluten May Be Your Skin’s Worst Enemy

Tags

body, gluten, healthy, intolerance, simptoms, skin, skin care

– this is a picture I took the liberty to copy from area414 blog post and paste it here

This is a post I found on area414‘s blog. It is about gluten intolerance. How does it feel when you have it, what you should do to try to limit its effects as much as you can… Bottom line to live a normal life and most of all to enjoy it!

This is for all of you gluten intolerant people out there!

Beauty | Why Gluten May Be Your Skin’s Worst Enemy.

Stay healthy!

See you soon, beautiful!

xx, Annie