Top 3 All Natural Face Creams!

Terms like sustainability, recyclables, and organic are all the rave no matter the product nowadays but it’s time to forget the fancy words and go natural. What’s good for the earth is also good for your skin!  Earth Day may only be one day a year but you wear your skin 24/7 which means you’re always in need of a good natural cosmetic. Here is one of our favorites from our all natural selection!

#1 Burt’s Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing Cream

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Burt’s Bees strives to create natural products that are both positive for the consumer and the environment they’re used in. The brand is best known for their beeswax lip balm and, out of 150+ products, over half of them are 100% natural. The cream is a rich cleanser that is infused with Aloe Vera, Chamomile and Echinacea that helps keeps your skin moisturized and soft. The cleansing abilities come from the Soap Bark which is a natural cleansing agent that removes dirt, oil and make-up.

We currently carry Burt’s Bees 5 piece set and the Head to Toe Starter Kit (6 piece) at a fantastic price, come check it out!

#2 Ahava Extreme Day Cream

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Natural active ingredients from the Dead Sea and the Himalayas help to protect against environmental aggressors and minimize the appearance of lines and wrinkles. They help to firm the skin for a more youthful appearance while providing the ultimate in hydration.

#3 Derma E Skin Lighten Natural Fade and Age Spot Cream

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Derma E Skin Lighten Age Spot Cream is a natural fade and age spot cream which contains Licorice, Alpha-Arbutin and Vitamin C. Skin Lighten is a unique, natural blend of vitamins and herbs, a new idea which helps to remove age and liver spots, lighten your complexion and even your skin tone. It uses no harmful bleaches or hydroquinone. Inhibits melanin production (skin pigment) and helps to disperse existing melanin.

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With the advancements in the beauty industry and more health conscious consumers, green can look good on any and everyone. Here’s to nature and the natural beauty!

 

 

 

Why Winter Sun Protection is a Must

For most of us, the first time we had ever been exposed to sunscreen was by our mothers slathering it all over us while she fussed about the importance of its use. sunFrom adolescence to the teenage years we rebelled one time or another and found out the hard way that too little sunscreen could turn into a painful situation.  Sunburn is a common occurrence when we fail to either use sunscreen.  We only think about sunscreen in the summer but the thing is, sunscreen isn’t just for the beach. Sure our skin can get burned by the sun but, it also can receive the same damage from the cold as well especially in seriously cold weather. Winter sunburn is something everyone should worry about.

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At Image Beauty, we’re all about helping our readers get the best of the best when it comes to their beauty regiment so of course we have some sunscreens that are perfect to combat the damage that winter chill and sun can cause. Here are a three amazing brand name favorites you can get both online and in store.

Dermalogica Redness Relief SPF 20spf20

Redness can easily lead to dryness and flaky skin so to nip it in the bud, use redness relief by Dermalogica. No matter your skin type, it’s very likely that you have experienced redness, whether it is from the sun or the cold. There is an even greater chance that this has caused some form of skin irritation afterwards. Well with Redness Relief your redness prone skin will benefit greatly from this three-in-one SPF moisturizer that not only will protect you from harmful UV rays and damaging elements, but will also help minimize flare ups.

Banana Boat Ultra Defense Sunscreen Stick

Our face is the most vulnerable place on our body when it comes to protecting it from the cold weather. bundled upThe main reason is that it is harder to cover up our faces like we do our hands and bodies.  Prolonged exposure to harsh weather can be adverse to your skin but, so can even a quick blast of frigid air. bananaboatWell whether you find your stay out in the cold prolonged or not, this sunscreen gives quick protection to your most sensitive spots. The great thing about the Ultra Defense Sunscreen Stick is that it can be worn under makeup so you don’t have to forgo beauty for the sake of winter weather protected skin.

 

palladio uv defensePalladio UV Defense Daily Moisturizer with SPF 15

In addition to your sunscreen, make sure you keep your skin moisturized. Using a dual sunscreen that works as a UV protectant and moisturizer is your best bang for a buck. Palladio UV Defense daily moisturizer is a great example of a moisturizing sun block. Even with its two in one capability the formula is light weight and non-greasy which makes it comfortable to wear all day long as well as daily use. It will protect your delegate skin from the signs of premature aging that sun damage can cause.

Share your secretes to keeping healthy skin in the winter in the comments section!

Foods that Improve Your Complexion

Acne: At some point in our lives, most of us get it and all of us hate it. We investigate products that clear our pores and reduce oil, but perhaps we should also be considering acne-causing factors in our lives, like our diets. While many of us associate junk food and simple carbohydrates with breakouts, there are also nutrients that help to prevent and counter acne!

Fish: most seafood is a rich source of omega-3 fat, especially eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). This plays a crucial role in hydrating skin and preventing excessive oil production. Furthermore, it helps to fight signs of aging, including wrinkles, sagging and sun damage. Most importantly though, omega-3 fat boosts our cellular health to help protect us from internal and external harm.

 

Beans, Blueberries and Artichokes: These foods are extremely high in antioxidants, which helps to keep your complexion youthful and glowing. What exactly is an antioxidant? It is a vitamin, mineral or enzymes that insulate cells and body tissue from oxidation and its effects of aging, inflammation and acne. There are many foods that contain plentiful amount of this valuable component, including many nuts, fruits and vegetables. When in doubt, turn to foods that contain high amounts of vitamin A,C & E.

 

Oysters, Nuts & Whole Grains:  Among its many functions, Zinc plays an important role in helping to strengthen your immune system against free radicals, creating collagen, regulating oil production  and soothing inflammations. Not only is it helpful to prevent pimples, but it also minimizes what acne you do have and has healing properties that speeds up the recovery process.

 
Bananas, Figs & Brown Rice: Magnesium is a crucial factor to our body’s makeup and so  foods that are high in this element help to level up hormones that, when out of whack, lead to breakouts and irritation. An added bonus is that it helps to relieve PMS symptoms and stress, both which commonly lead to acne as well.

 

Watermelon, Cucumbers and Oranges: These foods contain a high amount of classic H20, which helps to flush toxins from your system, especially your colon and liver. Furthermore, it hydrates the skin to prevent dry, flakiness.

Product Review: Derma E Micodermabrasion Scrub

Dry, flaky skin = my nightmare. Every year when the weather changes from hot to cold, my face is the first to react . . . poorly. As someone who cycles to-and-from work, the elements are especially harsh on my skin and the results are less than flattering. I have found that a really good exfoliating wash is key to keeping my dry skin problem at bay, so I was psyched when I was told that I would be reviewing the Derma E Microdermabraison Scrub. What’s my take? The first thing I noticed is the amazing smell: it has the light  scent of lemon drops with refreshing citrus undertones. I also love that this product is very gentle; throughout my time, I have tried a lot of exfoliating scrubs and this one works very well to remove dead cells while leaving the skin underneath soft and healthy instead of red and raw. I used this product every night before bed for one week, and the change is highly noticeable. I would absolutely recommend this product!

This state-of-the-art scrub utilizes a crystal blend system to remove dead skin cells and absorb excess oils. Markedly diminishes the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles, acne scars, and retexturizes your skin, leaving it silky smooth. The crystal blend used in this product is a large molecular structure and is therefore not bio-available to the body, so there is no possibility of absorption through the skin.

The Importance of Removing Your Makeup at Night

Despite the multitude of advisories against it, a surprising amount of women do not wash away the day’s makeup before hitting the sheets. Admit it, at least once or twice, you perhaps left the party two hours later than intended, and wanted nothing more than to exhaustedly dive headfirst into the soft pillows of your bed. In such a moment, it’s hard to convince yourself to wipe away the day’s foundation and mascara. What’s the harm anyhow?

Trust me, the dermatologists (and your mother) have their reasons for lecturing about the nightly removal of  cosmetics.

A clean face allows your skin to be rejuvenated.  Pores produce oil called sebum, which provides the skin with a natural shield and helps clear away dead cells. When makeup clogs the pores, the sebum excessively builds up and can cause to acne. Furthermore, the makeup prevents the skin’s natural flushing habits, leading to dead skin and other grime (dirt, pollution and free radicals) to grow to create pimples, blackheads, etc.

However, acne is not the only reason your skin needs to be able to breathe. Just like a good night’s worth of sleep can do wonders for your mind and spirit, your skin benefits from relaxation as well. Nighttime is when your skin revives itself from the stress of the day; during this crucial time, makeup is heavy and strains the skin’s elasticity when it would otherwise be repairing itself. Additionally, makeup dries the skin out, especially the delicate area around the eyes. Both of these factors cause your skin to age prematurely.

Sleeping in makeup is unhealthy for your eyes. For starters, you can thin or lose your eyelashes! Mascaras and eyeliner contains wax that melts throughout the day; if not routinely removed, it can weigh on the lashes and block the follicles that would otherwise help them grow. More importantly though, the atmosphere’s unhealthy particles can cling to the sticky, waxy lashes and lead to serious eye infections.

For an extreme example of cosmetics’ effect on your face, we turn to the case of Bae Dal-mi; having formed an unhealthy emotional dependence on cosmetics, the 20-year-old South Korean hadn’t washed her face in two years and daily caked on more makeup. After finally being convinced by her mother and dermatologists to remove her mask-like makeup, doctors determined that her skin’s condition should belong to someone twice her age!

Washing away the makeup doesn’t have to involve scalding your skin and vigorous rubbing at your eyelids to be rid of the waterproof mascara. For products that gently clear the grime without drying the skin, we recommend Derma E Evenly Radiant Makeup Remover and Dermalogica Soothing Eye Make Up Remover.

 

A few facts about Derma E Natural Skincare

Derma E Natural Skincare is one of the most award winning natural skin care lines on the market today.  Their product range is all encompassing, from anti-aging to skin lightening to acne fighting.  Just last weekend all of their products became FDA approved, which separates them from much of their competition.

Here’s some facts you may not know:

Essential Derma E Facts

  • Full line of topical skincare products that are formulated for results
  • Specializes in antioxidants and skin treatments
  • Award-winning productsDerma E Natural Bodycare
  • Over 25 years experience in natural skincare
  • Family Owned/Operated (just like us!)
  • All products are paraben-free and all but 2 products are Gluten Free (the only two that contain Gluten are “Melon and Ginger Hand and Body Moisture Therapy” and “Stop Itch”)
  • The entire bodycare line is 100% vegetarian and vegan.
  • Has been voted “Top Natural Skincare” line by Whole Foods Magazine over 4 times!

Derma E Does…

  • Include only the finest natural ingredients available
  • Use ingredients with scientifically proven effectiveness
  • Use a safe, gentle, paraben-free preservative system.
  • Formulate pH balanced products that optimize skin health
  • Provide full disclosure on all product labels
  • Have a 100% satisfaction gurantee

Derma E Does Not…

  • Use pore-clogging ingredients such as petrolatum, mineral oil or lanolin
  • Make unsupported claims about product effectiveness
  • Withhold any information on ingredient lists
  • Use token amounts of ingredients
  • Use animal testing

Derma E’s commitment to the Environment:

  • Uses non-GMO ingredients
  • Includes organic ingredients whenever possible
  • Supports green business practices
  • Uses 100% recyclable packaging
  • Supports animal welfare and land conservation programs
  • Donates to the military and a percentage of all sales to The Paraguay Project
  • Manufactures with 100% Wind Energy

 

Please share your thoughts or experiences with Derma E in the comments section!

Murad Skin Care In The Media

Murad Skin Care has been featured numerous times in magazines.  Their products are widely publicized and highly rated.  Here are a few recent award winning products.

Best Primer from Shape Magazine 2011:  Murad Skin Perfecting Primer (available in 3 finishes)

Murad Anti-Aging Moisturizer SPF20:  Featured as a Best Beauty Buy in Good Housekeeping August 2011

Murad Pomphenol Sunguard Dietary Supplement:  Featured in Marie Claire July 2011

Murad Post Acne Spot Lightening Gel:  Featured in InStyle September 2011

Murad Active Radiance Serum:  Featured in Cosmopolitan Magazine August 2011

Murad Clarifying Mask:  Featured in WebMD Magazine September 2011

 

For a Limited Time Only, receive 15% off all Murad Products by using code Murad15.  Expires 3/31/2012