Please check out the Yves Rocher link on my site and view all the beautiful makeup, skin care, and body care from plants and botanical sources.  The product is wonderful and the prices are really great too.  I used this product when I was single; oh, a while ago. It’s so much fun to look at everything.  Please check out Yves Rocher! and read about the reasons to choose this make up line!

 

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I had a light bulb moment the other day at Whole Foods. I have small red lines around my lips; especially the top lip and I had no idea what from? Even after listening to someone else’s woes about how they always bit their upper lip while concentrating, it did not occur to me what my problem is! It seems it has caused broken capillaries around her lips!

I sit in front of my computer and purse my lips; habitually hold my mouth in that ‘putting the lipstick from your top lip to your bottom lip mode’ while I am writing, researching, cleaning my desk; thinking.  Apparently all the time. It never occurred to me that I could be harming my skin by constantly putting it into an unusual position. I pull and clamp down so hard my nose moves.  (after I realized what I was doing..I had to show myself). 

SO! Let that be an anti-aging natural skin tip for the day.  Try to relax your mouth!

Not so sure of a solution to this dilemma…the only one I know of would be the Capillary Calming Serum from MyChelle.  
….Capillary Calming Serum soothes and calms skin with Canadian willowherb, gotu kola and arnica, while totarol, spin trap, tocotrienols, and blue algae provide ultimate antioxidant protection.  This skin calming formula soothes and relieves inflammation while strengthening the capillary walls to improve circulation and toxin removal. Relieves redness and irritability.

Take some old skin (around your mouth) and make it better!

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Don’t laugh at my title….I get searches on this all the time.  And with good reason.  As we get older the loss of collagen in our bodies…plus the hormone estrogen helps to cause this look of ‘chicken skin’ on arms, legs, necks…wherever.  Alas; I work out, lift weights, eat pretty well, despite the butter pecan ice cream frenzies every once in a while and suffer from this lovely thing on my arms myself.

  1. Check your hormones! Refer to the articles on Hormones on my site for some views.
  2. I have heard really great things about this product, although I haven’t tried it because of cost: Toki a Japanese supplement, which is very expensive but supposed to improve your skin all over in 45 days – panned by some dermatologists (Patricia Wexler) who has her own line of skin care and others (the ones who provide injectable services).  However; if you click on the Toki link above it will take you to a page that shows an endorsement from two of my very favorite authors/heros in the natural beauty world – Kat James and Dr. Linda Paige. I have Kat James’ book: The Truth About Beauty, Transform Your Looks From the Inside Out, and one of Dr. Paiges books…that I lent to a friend and haven’t seen in about 10 years; but that’s cool!  These two ladies’ endorsement of this product is like gold for me…so I’d like to check it out when I get the money! I am always for working on your system from the inside.  Kat James is an amazing woman, a walking testament to the power of eating well. Also, if you google ‘drinkable collegan’ you will get a lot of hits to delve into.
  3. I have to put this in here – following my heart’s path of natural health and skin: A young woman I met who has incredible skin says she doesn’t even use skin care, she said she eats vegetables.  At home, in the car.  Brings a bag of mixed greens and shoves it into her mouth when she is hungry…she was trying to lose weight but found the added benefit to her skin!
  4. A very sweet woman, very knowledgeable in the health field and a once practicing health practioner gave me this tip: Right after the shower or bath; while still dripping, smooth Sesame Seed Oil all over; like a lotion.  She says the molecules are so tiny in this particular oil that it gets to the heart of dry skin, even went so far as to say it improves the look of your ‘chicken skin’! Well woo hoo!! Get organic oil!!! Spectrum makes one that is sold everywhere.  OF course I purchased some right away.  Will keep you posted.  Take Some old ‘chicken skin’ and make it better!
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  • While most experts tell you to eat your cruciferous vegetables, like brocolli and cauliflour, you may need to limit or avoid them if you are breaking out.  It’s because of the sulphur in those vegetables. I just bought 4 out of the 5 veggies below….hmmmmmm.

Broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, kale, cabbage, and bok choy are members of the cruciferous, or cabbage, family of vegetables. They all contain phytochemicals, minerals, vitamins and fiber that are important to your health. Various components in cruciferous vegetables have been linked to lower cancer risks.   It may behoove those with problematic skin to supplement with DIM – and I am speaking of adult women and men here; as men can take the supplement as well. Read below for some very interesting news on both the vegetables and the compounds in them.  You can decide which method (eating them or supplementing with DIM) is something you want to do. DIM is said to protect the female organs; and to also regulate estrogen levels in both men and women – and hormones are a huge cause of breakouts in adult women.

Information on DIM and cruciferous vegetables

  • It’s no secret that keeping your body hydrated is a must in the war against breakouts.  I usually drink a very pure oxygenated water; and was told recently by my health care practitioner to drink Ozarka Spring water, 365 Spring Water; or HEB spring water.  (anywhere; Whole Foods, local HEB stores) – because of the minerals; which we all need. I am following the advice to attack some other issues
  • Stay away from Sugar! Read How Bad Sugar IS!
  • Probiotics- everyone needs them. They help to keep the good bacteria in your body from being overrun by the bad bacteria – and the typical Western diet does a very good job of destroying the beneficial bacteria.  Good choices: Latero-Flora , (and ohmygosh, is Dr. Group easy on the eyes or what!?) No worries; I’m a happily married woman! or try Garden of Life 
    Probiotics help to move your intestines as well.  Keeping your digestive system in top working order will show up on your face!
  • Add Flaxseed to your diet. One of my favorite ways is to add it to my morning smoothies; which also has coconut oil, ginger (another aid in keeping your face young) and lemons. The surest way to make sure you are getting full benefits is to ground organic flaxseeds in a coffee grinder and use them fresh on salads; in yogurt and in smoothies. Flaxseeds have enormous benefits with fiber being a huge one as it is good for moving things along as well.  Drink plenty of water too.
  • Kefir - a very tasty way to get your probiotics shot every day.  All kinds of flavors or plain.  Great in smoothies; or just drink it up.  Click on the link to learn how to make your own.
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It’s national heart health month and I would be remiss to not address it here.  My youngest son has a rare disease that affects his heart.  Marfan Syndrom affected people can experience aortic dissections that in most cases are fatal.  When he was diagnosed at age 3; his life span was around 40.  In the 14 years since, with more technology, medications and knowledge; most can live a fairly normal life span – however most individuals I know and know of only live extended lives with aortic repairs and other surgeries that need to be done based on it being a connective tissue disease. They have multitudes of issues to deal with and take multiple medications.  

Doctors at Johns Hopkins told me that no vitamin therapy will do any good; maybe they won’t.  They will though and I would be wrong in not making sure my son had all the ammunition possible to help his condition.  Some of the very things that are good for our skin – are so because they are good for the connective tissues in our body (the glue that holds us together) and the collagen; etc. So; the nutrients that I have him on are really good for all and especially aging skin.   

Vitamin C  is involved in hundreds of vital biological processes in the body. Vitamin C is a water-soluble vitamin which means it is not stored in the body & needs to be continually replaced. It helps in maintaining collagen levels, healing wounds, fighting infections & coping with stress. 

Signs of a deficiency in Vitamin C are:

  • Shortness of breath
  • Impaired digestion
  • Bleeding gums
  • Weakened enamel or dentine
  • Tendency to bruising
  • Swollen or painful joints
  • Nosebleeds
  • Anemia
  • Lowered resistance to infections
  • Slow healing of wounds and fractures

Vitamin C has beneficial effects on: 

  1. The immune system
  2. Collagen and connective tissue
  3. Hormones
  4. Nervous system 

Sources for Vitamin C:  Botanic Choice Vitamin C   Life Extension Vitamin C

Vitamin C for your facial skin has benefits well known – much of the Vitamin C you ingest won’t make it to your skin on the outside; so applying a Vitamin C product works as an essential factor for the normal formation, maintenance and structural stability of collagen as well as pigmentation and texture and pore refining. CellexC  Perfect C  Super C Vitamix I have tried Cellex C, Perfect C, but have only heard great things about Super C Vitamix.

 Essentail Fatty Acids – Good for the Body/Heart/Skin 
Life Extension Omega 3 Product

Signs of EFA deficiency:   So you can see where they would be good for the skin! Click on the link above for a lot more information and a place to buy a very high quality EFA.

  • Heart Problems
  • Immune weakness
  • Fatigue
  • Reproductive problems (men and women)
  • Mood swings or depression
  • Poor circulation
  • Poor memory
  • Dry skin, eczema or hair loss

CoQ10

  • Good for cholesterol levels,
  •  the mitochondria in all your cells which makes it a powerhouse for your skin as well and found topically in many skin care treatments
  • Read about CoQ10 Benefits Here

Sources for CoQ10   Life Extension’s Super Ubiquinol      Botanic Choice CoQ10

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I have discussed this subject before, but I have found another product for my arsenal to help with my older skin and hormonal breakout problems.

I still break out around my mouth, on both sides and near the nasolabial folds. UGH! Not just one or two; they come to party, so there is usually 3-5 on one side or sprinkled around on the other side.  Almost every woman I talk to who is peri-menopausal has this problem. I’m working on getting my hormones balanced; but I still have breakouts.

I use MyChelle Skin Care, the Dry/Mature line. My youngest son uses their Teen Anthology Line.  I purchased the Clear Skin Serum a while back; even wrote a glowing post about it.  But even with the serum I was still having issues.  So; I do the wrong thing, I pick.  Even after I put my son’s MyChelle Spot Treatment on each and every little one.  But you know what happens when you use spot treatment….even with best intentions; sometimes it dries out the other skin a little too much surrounding it.  

You know; most women my age are flaking or chapping because of Retina A use.  Not me; it’s because I’m still using a spot treatment for acne flare ups!

I found a very helpful product, right on my bathroom counter though.  After my clear skin serum on the entire problem area, I mist with the pumpkin hydrating mist  to calm down the red, patchy, flaky skin you get when you have bothered your poor breakouts too much.  It does wonders.  Then if I need to; I put the spot treatment on top of the ’spots’.  It’s worth every penny. Two problems solved! Take some old skin…and make it better!

Read About the Benefits of Pumpkin Here

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Candida and Stress and Your Skin

by KJude

Candida is a yeast overgrowth, an insidious detriment to your health and often not recognized in the mainstream health community. My battle with it has been one of the most frustrating things I have dealt with since trying to pinpoint a cure for my nerve damage during the last 18 years. 
Knowing what I know now [...]

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Sugar and Your Natural Aging Skin and Candida Causes

by KJude

A significant amount of sugar consumption will stun your white blood cells for up to 6 hours after eating. With your immune system suppressed, candida and yeasts get started.  Sugar is in everything we eat today!  76 Ways Sugar is Harmful  You have to fight to avoid sugar in the mainstream, especially if you eat out a [...]

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Your Natural Aging Eye Lashes and EyeBrows Before and After in February

by KJude

I love mascara. I love long eye lashes which I was not blessed with.  I do have pretty decent eyebrows and never plucked them to smitherines when I was younger; although I did try.  However; I DID find a product that helps me both to keep fuller lashes and allows me to thumb my nose at eye [...]

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Bio Identical Hormones and You and Your Health and Skin Part Three

by KJude

There are wellness clinics sprouting up all over the place whose main focus is to deal with bio-identical hormones. Their usual protocol is to charge you upfront for blood work and the consultation.  Their premises is that you will go on to the hormones based on your blood work – and the blood tests are [...]

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