Nature’s beauty, no purchase necessary

September 13th, 2010

Let’s face it ladies………..beauty can get confusing. Natural beauty, organic beauty, green beauty and anti-aging beauty products are just to name a few. But if you think about it, natural beauty is also about embracing what beauty nature gave you – and you don’t need a miracle product for that.

So with that said I thought we could address the “all-natural” things we can do to enhance our own beauty.

  • The best and the cheapest way you can enhance your beauty naturally is to get enough sleep. An average person needs at least 8 hours of full rest. If you snore you lose about 2 hours per night. Make sure your head is postured the correct way. There’s a likely chance you could be losing air when you snore.
  • Eat less meat and more veggies. You don’t need to completely eliminate meat but maybe make at least one day a vegetarian day – Meatless Mondays???
  • Add more fiber, omega3 and omega6 acids into your diet, they improve digestions. If fish is not your thing, feast on almonds as a mid-afternoon snack.
  • Limit your take-out. When you cook your own food – even if you splurge on a little grease- you know exactly what you put in it.
  • Excercise
  • Drink plenty of water
  • Exfoliate your body once a week with a product such as Scandle’s Dead Sea Salt Body Scrub. Exfoliating and steaming your skin helps to eliminate toxins you body release through the skin.
  • Moisturize daily – your hands, face and body.
  • Finally, have a positive attitude and self confidence!

How do you enhance your natural beauty? Got any tips I missed?

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Posted in Beauty Care & Treatments, Body Scrubs, Skin & Body Care/Treatments | No Comments »

Scandle-ous Friday news, reviews & Shimmering Lotion Candle giveaways

September 10th, 2010

It’s Friday already? Although it was a short work week, with our new candle hitting stores and the tropical storm that dumped over 10 inches of rain and a couple of tornadoes, it really didn’t feel like a short week

I think a relaxing massage is in order for this weekend! Get you own Scandle-ous massage tips with these great reviews and Shimmering Lotion Candle giveaways:

  • My New Life as…….Mom
  • It’s Me Melbie!
  • Blogfully
  • Giveaway Blogdom
  • Review Retreat click here to enter the giveaway!
  • The Frugal Bug
  • Hollywood Glamorous
  • Little Yaya’s
  • The Thrifty Things

Told y’all, it has been a very busy week!! Have a great weekend

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Posted in Giveaway, Scandle Candle | No Comments »

Silicone goes al naturale

September 9th, 2010

Okay, I know what you are thinking but I’m not talking about that type of silicone - the silicone-based ingredients used in skin and hair care products.

As we continue to move toward safer cosmetics and more nature-based products, global silicone manufactures are too, targeting natural formulations that can improve the texture of largely natural beauty and hair care products.

Silicone-based ingredients have been used for decades in skin and hair care products to help improve the texture of formulations, create a soft, silky feel and improve the spreadability of the product.

In recent years as consumers move to more natural-based products silicones have gotten a bad rep. While a large part of its mass starts as silicate or sand, the ingredients are forged together to create silicone through a synthetic process that voids the natural elements of its base.

Some of the bigger silicone suppliers throughout the world are developing silicone and silicone-type formulations that are partly vegetable-derived. Because one of the problems facing natural cosmetic manufactures is finding elements in nature that can replicate the results silicone-based ingredients can produce.

This development is great news for smaller, natural product producers that need a way to implement the many benefits of silicone-based ingredients but keep their product truly natural. Remember this formulation is still a while away so if any product you use says its natural but contains silicone - it’s not.

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Posted in Beauty Treatments, Hair Treatments, Skin & Body Care/Treatments | No Comments »

Flawless skin - how everyone can have it

September 8th, 2010

Clear, glowing skin is one thing almost any woman can agree on, after all the beauty care industry is a multi-billion dollar one

Skin conditions like stretch marks, cellulite, skin pigmentation and imperfections leave their mark behind. And despite thousands of ad campaigns, there is NO cure for stretch marks or cellulite.

Here is a quick definition of each of these skin conditions and ways to improve the way you deal with them:

• Stretch Marks

These marks are a form of scarring that occurs on the skin and has a white or reddish tint. When your skin tears or stretches due to loss of elasticity and collagen, scars can appear.

Contrary to many advertising claims, you cannot “cure” stretch marks or cellulite, only minimize the appearance. Retinol is a successful product for doing just that. As well as professional body treatments, if they are used in conjunction with a good home care system. If you are experiencing stretch marks due to rapid weight gain during pregnancy DO NOT use retinol, it is not safe for use while pregnant.

Stretch marks are minimally affected by diet and exercise; instead, they occur when the skin is stretched too quickly. Although the effects of a healthy change in diet and exercise are not directly related to the decrease of stretch marks, research suggestions when they are combined with a topical skin care regimen, the visibility of stretch marks decreases quicker.

• Cellulite

Cellulite is the visible accumulation of fat that presses against the connective tissues underneath your skin. It causes a bumpy or cottage cheese-like effect.

Cellulite cannot be “cured” and recent research suggests genetics play one of the biggest factors in the formulation of this cottage cheese enemy.

Unlike stretch marks, diet and exercise can decrease the appearance of cellulite over time, but remember its all in the genes.

• Skin Pigmentation

These are two main categories related to pigmentation. Hypopigmentation cause the skin to appear blotchy and lighter and hyperpigmentation makes the skin appear darker. Both of these are due to an imbalance in melanin – which determines hair, skin and eye color.

Skin pigmentation disorders are caused by varying factors, including sun exposure, allergic reactions and genetic inheritance.

All of these skin conditions can be treated to reduce their appearance but those treatments take time. For an instant fixer, which can mask imperfections by deflecting light, pick up Scandle’s revolutionary Shimmering Lotion Candle to give your skin a healthy glow.

How do you mask you little imperfections, we all have ‘em? What is your favorite treatment?

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Posted in Beauty Treatments, Cellulite Causes and Treatments, Home Treatments, Scandle Candle, Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Skin Care, Skin Damage | No Comments »

Skin Care Foundation gets tough on sunscreen

September 7th, 2010

The US Skin Cancer Foundation has updated its Seal of Recommendation for sunscreens, bringing a more stringent industry standard.

The Foundation introduced the seal over 30 years ago and since that time not much has changed in their requirements. The seal, which has become a recognized symbol in most households, is used on over 800 products all over the world.

This year the sun care industry has come under strict scrutiny for ingredients and formulations that might not be as tough as they claim. In an effort to meet tougher minimum sun protection recommendations, the new seal will focus on tougher UVA protection and proof of photostability - which makes a formulation resistant to change under the influence of radiant energy and light.

Along with stricter minimum requirements, the new seal will be divided into two key categories – Daily Use, which is protection to every day incidental sun exposure, and Active, which will give minimum recommendations for individual’s exposure to the sun for longer periods of time.

Any product containing the Daily Use seal must have at least SPF 15 UVA and UVA protection to a critical wavelength of 370 or PPC 5, together with proof of formulation stability.

For the Active seal, manufacturers have to prove a minimum UVB protection SPF 30, and UVA protection to a critical wavelength of 370 or PPD 10, combined with proof of photostability and proof water resistance.

The organization began to accept applications for the new seal back in July and will require full compliance by all current seal holders by May 2012.

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Posted in Skin & Body Care/Treatments, Skin Cancer, Skin Care, Skin Damage, Sun Damage | No Comments »

Beauty on the vine

September 1st, 2010

Grapes are good for us, we all know this. Consistent consumption has been linked to a decrease in the risks of heart disease, some types of cancers and viruses. But not only are they great for our insides, they are now a staple in many spa treatments.

In less than 10 years, vinotherapy has become a celebrated development in the spa industries of Europe, South Africa and South America. Now, wine spas are gaining momentum in the US and Canada.

Wine grapes contain natural antioxidants, polyphenols, which exfoliate, detoxify and soften and repair damaged skin.

Resveratrol is a type of polyphenol found in the skin of the grape. Red and purple grapes have significantly more resveratrol than green grapes. This is because red and purple grapes are fermented longer with the grape skins. Grape seeds have strong anti-aging properties that fight damaging compounds in the skin called free radicals.

If you are looking for a more do-it-yourself grape beauty routine, grape seed oil is a natural skin care treatment and is easy to find and very affordable.

Grape seed oil contains essential fatty acids similar to those that combine to create the skin’s sebum, a naturally lubricating and protecting fatty substance. Some other benefits of using grape seed oil are:

  • It is a natural moisturizer, replacing the skin’s sebum removed during your cleansing routine
  • Locks that moisture in and keeps toxins out of the pores
  • Prevents and repairs free radical damage (perfect as an under-eye treatment)
  • Can aid in the repair of stretch marks

For great at-home treatments be sure to check out The Grapeseed Company for high quality, grape seed oil products.

Have you tried a grape spa treatment or do you use grape seed oil in your beauty routine? Let us know what your favorite treatments are…….

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Posted in Antioxidants, Beauty Treatments, Body Scrubs, Budget Friendly Beauty Treatments, Home Treatments | 1 Comment »

Beauty from the inside - is it legit?

August 30th, 2010

If you are not familiar with the term nutricosmetics then this post is for you

This industry, while one of the newest beauty industries, is also one of the most confusing. This new industry contains all of the ‘beauty from the inside” products that have grown to be worth about $2 billion!

The term nutricosmetics refers to nutritional supplements which can support the function and the structure of the skin from the inside out. These usually come in food or drink form and claim to be fortified with a cocktail of ingredients that promise anti-aging and skin-nourishing benefits.

The problem arising with this sector is the debate between food and drink or beauty – which category is it? Since these beauty foods, drinks and supplements have not been around very long, the science backing their claims remains formative and regulators simply just cannot classify them.

Problems with regulating nutricosmetics:

  • Are they half way between drugs and cosmetics or between cosmetics and food/food supplements?
  • How do we determine what type of claim it submits to the FDA – food supplement or drug? Or is that down to the ingredients used and their dosage? Or both?

Are you getting confused yet? I am!

Problems with claims and advertising:

  • If a nutricosmetics company claims their product can promise better hair, skin and nails is it a health claim or a beauty claim?
  • If the product helps prevent the onset of eczema – is that a health, drug or cosmetic claim?

So what’s a consumer to do when the FDA, FTC and Health Canada cannot even make up their minds? Be careful with “edible beauty” because not only is the science lacking in the industry, the US is evaluating claims on a case-by-case basis until a blanket set of rules can be determined. Most products have not even been evaluated yet.

Have you tried any of these new products? Please share your experience about this emerging industry…….

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Posted in Anti-Aging Treatments & Products, Beauty Care & Treatments, Beauty Treatments, Skin & Body Care/Treatments | No Comments »

Scandle-ous Friday news, reviews & last-minute giveaways

August 27th, 2010

Happy Friday everyone!!!!! Below are this weeks Scandle-ous mentions. And be sure to stop by Scandle Candle to see the newest product we have added to our line, The Shimmering Lotion Candle, the first of its kind.

Don’t forget to check out these giveaways, they end this month!

  • With Our Best has a Eucalyptus travel tin to giveaway, ends 9/1
  • Chubby Cheeks Thinks has a Sex on the Beach travel tin, ends 8/30

Have a great weekend!

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Posted in Giveaway, News, Scandle Candle | 1 Comment »

Synthetic vs. natural - choosing the right massage oil

August 26th, 2010

Massage oils can be broken down into two main categories, natural or synthetic. And in today’s “green” market, massage/spas are moving away from synthetic formulations but not all natural oils are fit for this job.

While there are two distinct categories, those two categories cover thousands of formulations and ingredients. Here is the breakdown:

Synthetic:

  • Usually contain at least one of the following elements: silicones, glycols and chemically modified mineral oils
  • Have significantly decreased in use over the past 10 years.

Natural:

  • Are made from vegetable oils and other botanically derived oils
  • Commodity oils, while natural, are used primarily in food. These oils (sunflower, safflower and canola) are generally extracted to maximize their oil yield to produce massive volumes for the food industry’s demand. While these oils are suitable as base lubricants they are mainly used in massage formulations as a means of cost saving. Many low-end formulations will use commodity oils as the bulk base lubricant for this reason.
  • Specialty oils have been the main staple ingredient in European massage formulations for years now. These oils (grapeseed, sweet almond oil, avocado oil and apricot kernel oil) increase performance properties like feel, glide and also provide added cosmetic benefits to the skin. (Scandles produce an all-natural, cosmetic-grade soy massage oil)

Have you tried both synthetic and natural? If so, what’s your take…..

Posted in Massage, Scandle Candle | No Comments »

Put it in writing - Safe Cosmetics Act

August 25th, 2010

In business, it’s always a good idea to get it in writing. Whether it’s a contract, the correct recipe for a new product or your upcoming holiday retail plan, you are always better off if you get it in writing.

And when it comes to the Safe Cosmetics Act it isn’t any different.

Lela Barker, founder of Bella Luccé was featured today on Cosmeticsdesign.com to discuss this legislation. If you are not familiar with the Safe Cosmetics Act, please take a look at this article.

The Safe Cosmetics Act needs to be more in tune with science

Click here to find out how you can join Scandle LLC and thousands of others (yes, we are thousands strong) take action and put it in writing. Another way to put it in writing is by contacting your representatives in Washington. Vote personally to oppose the bill at Open Congress.
Have you signed the petition yet? If not, lets talk about this legislation……

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Posted in Safe Cosmetics Act | No Comments »

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