Friday, June 23, 2023

Elina Organics x Acne Awareness Month


The month of June is Acne Awareness Month, so before June's end, it is important to highlight the best products and the best habits for preventing acne. Elina Organics is a go-to brand for all things skincare. Created by Cosmetic Chemist and Celebrity Esthetician Elina Fedotova, Elia Orgnaics is (of course) organic, vegan and cruelty free. Her latest product launch is the perfect summer defense for your skin. As a bundle of three products, her Oceanic Acne Defense Trio is hydrating, soothing and effective. Featuring an Oceanic Resurfacing Mask, an Oceanic Face Cooling Infusion and an Oceanic Acne Defense Lotion - Use these products in conjunction with Elian's top tips in preventing acne (see below!), and you're sure to have a fresh-faced season!

Elina’s 9 Tips to Prevent Acne:

  1. Nutrition: We start addressing inflammatory skins conditions like acne and rosacea with suggesting the dietary changes – reduce or eliminate soft drinks and processed foods, because they are packed with different synthetic additives like nitrates, artificial dyes, and flavorings. All those ingredients could stimulate inflammatory processes in the entire body including the skin. The majority of people see reductions of acne just after they eliminate dairy and sugary foods. If indulging in a desert, I would suggest choosing dark chocolate, fruits, or baked goods made from whole grains like oatmeal cookies instead. 
  2. Vegetables & Fruits: In general, you should increase eating foods that help to clean your skin from the inside out, and those foods include all organically grown greens like celery, cucumber, broccoli and spinach. Substitute these for pasta or potatoes with a clean source of protein. One of the most beneficial skin purifying foods is artichoke. It has a high concentration of silymarin which helps to detoxify and calm our skin. The most beneficial way to eat an artichoke is to boil it for 10 minutes with your favorite spices and to use the broth daily at least a cup a day. Organically grown watermelon also helps to purify the body and improve your complexion. Organic berries like red and black currant, blackberries, raspberries, blueberries: pineapple and papaya will help your skin as well. 
  3. Limit Stress: One of the main contributors of acne is stress. Cortisol and other stress hormones intoxicate our body and could be damaging for all aspects of our health including skin.
  4. Sleep: Generally good sleep plays an important role in making sure the body is producing all necessary hormones for healthy cellular function. We need to make sure we are not going to bed too late and to make sure you are not sleeping in a room with working computer and TV screens and EMF emitting devices. I also would suggest having a cup of relaxing herbal tea with rose, chamomile, or valerian root. It helps you to relax and calm down to have a restful sleep. 
  5. Skincare Routine: It is very important to have a healthy skin care regimen which will include cleansing products that can remove excessive amounts of oil and pollutants without damaging your skin’s protective barrier. I would suggest avoiding ingredients with SLS and using sulfate free cleansing lotions. I also would not suggest people use bar soap for acne prone complexion. If for some reason you cannot really find a natural and affective cleansing lotion you can simply substitute it with mixing organic kefir with a little bit of baking soda and cleanse your skin with that solution. The baking soda will absorb excessive oil and impurities. Kefir will help to balance the skin's microbiome. 
  6. Skin Hydration: We all heard that the skin needs to be hydrated but a lot of the time people mistake hydration with emollience and use oil-based products on their skin as a moisturizer. I would never suggest doing that for acne or rosace prone complexion because it can contribute to more breakouts and redness. It is very important to use special treatment serums with ingredients like salicylic acid extracted from willow bark, herbal extracts of burdock, dandelion, red clover, peppermint, and essential oils of turmeric, tea tree, yarrow. They are all helpful for problem complexion. 
  7. Makeup/Beauty Routine: It is very important to make sure that after using a healthy skin care regimen you do not poison it with a conventional makeup based on talcum and silicone. My advice is that if you are using foundation, it should be water based with zinc oxide as main pigment that protects our skin from sun damage and has healing anti antimicrobial effects on the skin. Crashed pearls and Zinc oxide-based makeup powders would be the best choice. Avoid silicone-based ingredients like dimethicone or cyclomethicone in your makeup because they act as a plastic wrap over your skin, not allowing it to breathe or absorb moisture from the air and can contribute to more inflammation. Look for ingredients like pearl powder, sink oxide, sunflower phospholipids, herbal extracts, and essential oils. 
  8. Limit Sun Exposure: Many people with acne prone complexion are addicted to sun exposure and tanning. UV rays have antibacterial effects on the skin and help to dry up blemishes and reduce oil. Tan also helps to hide scarring and redness, but it is a very temporary benefit, because continues sun exposure will lead to premature skin aging and discolorations, even skin cancer. I cant say that sun exposure contributes to acne -in fact, it does not. It can even help for a short time, but I do not suggest using it as an acne therapy because it is a dangerous habit. Make sure your skin is protected with a zinc oxide-based sunscreen with also contains pearl powder, which helps to keep moisture in the skin and absorb excessive amounts of oil from the pores.
  9. Smoking Habits: One of the main functions of the skin is elimination. Our sweat and oil glands release toxins from the body through the pores. So, if we put more toxins into our system like smoking a cigarette, more toxins will come out of our pores which can result in worsening our skin. 
To learn more, see more and to purchase Elina Organics, click here.
Big Thanks to Jennifer Thomas of Beauty Results PR for making this possible!

xx.
M

Tuesday, June 20, 2023

The Glow Up Journal



Summer is the perfect time to hit reset and realign your mind, body and soul. It's the perfect time to relax and take time to yourself. The perfect tool to keep your goals in  check is The Glow Up Journal. Brought to you by Danielle Richardson, The Glow Up Journal: Everything You Need to Set Goals, Create Inspo - and to Make It Happen! is your guide to creating the life you've yearned for. Personalized to your journey, you set the tone as to who you want to be and what you want to do in the future. This journal helps you glow up to the best version of you that you want to create! Your life will be glowing in  no time! 

To learn more, see more and to purchase The Glow Up Journal, click here.

Big Thanks to Kourtney of Pacific & Court  for making this feature possible!


xx.

M

Sunday, June 18, 2023

Curlsmith Flawless Finish



Great hair, we care! Curlsmith is your go-to brand for taming and styling your magnificent mane and their Flawless Finish Hairspray give you just that - a flawless finish! Finish off your hair routine with any of these sprays for hair that holds in  the perfect position all day long.

To learn more, see more and to purchase Curlsmith products, click here.

Big Thanks to the entire team over at Jennifer Ruff Communications for making this possible!


xx.

M

Sunday, June 4, 2023

DermAfirm

 


We can affirm that DermAfirm is the new standard for beauty. Innovation, ingredients and careful research and execution of products are the contributing factors to the fact that the brand has been named # 1 in the K-Beauty industry. K-Beauty brands are highly regarded in the beauty and skincare space and DermAfrim proves to be a true standout. Dedicated research of trusted dermatological sciences have supported the brand's journey in collecting awards along the way, but regardless, their formulas are tried and true since 2002 to bring you the results you are seeking. 

To learn more, see more and to shop for DermAfirm, click here.

Big Thanks to the team over at Jade Umbrella for making this feature possible!


xx.

M