Lipsticks and Lip Glazes On Schedule!

Hello Ladies,

Creating something new for Sterling Minerals™ is so much fun, yet is also very time consuming bringing it to fruition. So, I just wanted to let all of my ladies know that our lip colors so far are on schedule for the Spring release. I am very excited about the introduction of our latest line and very much look forward to offering it to all of my customers. The colors are exceptional and they look and feel great on.

Packaging has been decided and printing of our labels is underway. I have kept in theme with our brand by using cases that are easy open, lightweight with a brushed platinum silver look for the lipsticks and clear tubes with silver accents on the wand for the glazes. Once we get the labeling process completed, we will be ready to begin filling the tubes with beautiful colors. Then on to product photography, followed by uploading to our site, and then finally available for you to purchase. I am hoping to have this all accomplished no later than May.

I have decided to begin with 7 shades that are perfectly neutral with vibrant, luscious color so just about all women will be able to wear one of our shade choices. Not an odd color in the bunch. You will be able to purchase our lipsticks and lip glazes in identical shades for layering to give your pucker some smack of luscious, moist color. Or you can mix and match to create your own unique shade. From the initial launch of our lip colors, we will gradually add new shades over time.

Our Lipsticks have excellent staying power without the use of chemicals due to the combination of Vegan friendly, organic butters, oils and waxes we are using to create an excellent long wearing lip color. Absolutely preservative free!

Our Lip Glazes are made from the finest organic oils and waxes for a smooth application that adds just the right amount of color and shine to give you the look of a fuller pucker. Your lips will feel moisturized and supple. Our glazes will not cause your lips to crack or feel dried out, like chemically formulated glazes can.

All Lip Colors are created without FD& C Dyes, Lakes or Carmine, and are only made with Iron Oxides and Manganese Violet for color, and Mica for a bit of shimmer. None of our shades will leave your lips looking flat. You will also benefit from a boost of sun protection since every shade is formulated with Zinc Oxide and Titanium Dioxide.

Thanks for your patience as many of you have been asking when they will be ready. Almost there ladies! Email any questions you may have to info@sterlingminerals.com.

Have a great weekend!

Hugs!

Mineral Makeup and Portable Brushes!

Well ladies, after doing much research on trying to offer a simple solution for taking your mineral powders portable without going with pressed powders, (explained in this article) the answer is still blowing in the wind right now. I am extremely picky and I meticulously critique anything that is shown to me by vendors claiming they have the best to offer.

I looked into retractable makeup brushes you could throw in your purse with a small jar of minerals and I thought this could be promising and the case the brush was in was very attractive looking. But the brush samples that were presented to me broke in my hand when I went to open them up. Or they broke after retracting and opening only a half a dozen times. Even though I was advised what occurred as being rare, they could not further convince me since once was all I needed, especially once I factor in the defect ratio to my customers. So this brush was not an option for me or for you.

Then I tried out the portable refillable makeup brushes where you load it with your minerals and then dispense the makeup through the brush onto the face when needed. You can adjust it with a dial or use a pump to bring the minerals out to where they can be applied depending on the design of the brush. Now this was also promising until I went beyond the nice and easy concept and analyzed it long term.

Though the concept is fantastic, the downside to these little gizmos is the fact that you cannot ever wash this type of makeup brush. Due to the design of the bristles and how they are held in place, washing them would dissolve glues and loosen hairs that are held in place by tight compact friction. A hole is in the middle of the bristles that feed down into the jar so the minerals can make their way up and into the brush. Without this hole, the minerals could not flow and there are no nickel ferrules for support. Also, once the brush was used, it was slightly difficult to put the cap back on flared bristles without catching them and having them fold backwards. I did discover others that offered retractable bristles, but I was concerned about a similar problem as with the portable retractable brushes. Plus the containers seemed flimsy and not reliable to me.

Sanitizers of course were recommended by the manufacturer, but I prefer being able to cleanse a brush since sanitizing sprays may kill bacteria, but they don’t remove skin or sebum buildup. I also noted this would be another additional cost to my customer. This is a big negative for me when a brush must be handled with kid gloves and cannot be washed by conventional means.

Now beyond the problems with the containers for the brushes, there also was the problem in hair quality. They definitely were not of the caliber of natural hair I like or require. For sensitive skin ladies this would have been a huge issue. The hair was coarser and the tips seemed to be cut to shape, removing the soft ends of the naturally growing hair, so they poked and scratched my face and irritated my skin.

My main focus is always about top notch products with construction integrity so as not to disappoint (you) my customers from something that may or may not last. I take pride in offering products with near zero defects and I am not willing to sacrifice the objective of my business by which I strive to provide brand integrity, always. So anything that I decide to make for sale to my customer must hold up to my scrutiny of perfection. Unfortunately, these brushes just didn't make for a good solution for portability.

So my search continues for that perfect solution, ladies, and I will keep you informed as to how things go. I will pursue other venues to see if I cannot find a portable brush system with the level of quality in design with soft bristle application that we all desire.

Happy Weekend! ;~)

Swapping Cosmetics....Is It Safe?

Looking back at those days in high school, I remember the years of self discovery and sharing everything with my best friends. Discovering the perfect outfit together then swapping with each other, trying on all the different bangles and earrings. Going to the salon together and getting that first perm. Sharing fragrances and searching for the perfect prom dress. And best of all, having fun in discovering those wild colors by trying on each others makeup as we modeled in front of the mirror creating the perfect glam look, sometimes coming out looking like the Bride of Frankenstein. Even cherishing the precious moment of my mother showing me how to use her lipstick the first time when I was a young girl. Always admiring the pretty pots of color on display at her vanity, almost too much to resist to dip in and try when she wasn't looking. Ahhh....yes those were the days. However, I have learned much since those days of innocence and naivety of which I would like to share with you.

Many of us women have been swapping items with each other for years and continue to do this through sharing cosmetics with friends and family, which this is still not ideal, but with complete strangers.....I don't get it.

I refer to women who are doing this by way of the internet. Some swear by it and in some way it is probably a lot of fun for the women who join in, and they may develop a rapport or gain a friendship in the process like it was back in our youth. This is still a scary concept for me and one that makes me cringe when I see this happening on various message boards or forums. Knowing what I know today I ask myself, "why anyone would wish to share in someone else’s cosmetics for sake of saving a dollar"? This also includes brushes.

I have also read from others, when swaps take place, one party does not reciprocate and they essentially had their products shoplifted by way of internet theft. I’m sure those that swapped thought this person was of impeccable integrity just through anonymous chat rooms and such. We really don’t know the people we meet on line, since they can pretend to be anyone. Examples: though off topic, pedophiles, scammers, con artists, abusers, underage children, and convicted criminals whom can hide behind the anonymity of the internet and impersonate anyone they wish to.

Never mind the loss of the product perpetrated by the unscrupulous but the fact you are doing this with a complete stranger. There is no measurable way of certainty to know that the products are not contaminated, how they were stored or handled, or how old the cosmetics actually are. The person that you swap with may promise you “they are new”, (but products can be tampered with) or even if they state they only used once; once is enough for contamination. I shudder to think about someone introducing something into the product deliberately for a good laugh as a sick joke or know for a fact they contaminated their product, and rather than throw it out, they pawn it off on some poor unsuspecting person to try and recoup some of the money in order to replace it with assurances it is barely used.

I wrote a similar article about "Cosmetic Counters, The Unseen Danger!" and this applies to using someone else’s individual cosmetics. Disease, infections, viruses, mold, yeast and bacteria can all be passed along in these shared pots of color. You only need one eye infection from mascara or an eye shadow, or a cold sore from a lipstick to question the safety of its’ use. Even if something smells alright or looks normal, it can have millions of microbes infecting the product. And without microscopic testing, you’ll never be the wiser.

For many of us, this may not even dawn on us in our otherwise busy lives, or some would choose to not think about such things, but we must when our health and safety are the issue. Always buy fresh and unopened products and do so from reputable sources. It is the only way you can protect yourself, totally.

Also, please don’t think you are safe if it is mineral makeup or a product with preservative in it. Even though mineral cosmetics are inert and don’t support growth of bacteria, when contaminated with moisture of some kind, then all bets are off and you could now be faced with mold, yeast or bacteria, or even with sebum or dirt, depending on the handling of the products. Bacteria are even in our water supply, so I always recommend throwing out minerals that have been infiltrated with contaminants, this includes collecting spills from your counter and placing them back into the jars.

I have been on the receiving end of contaminated cosmetics since I did the sharing thing in high school, (she was my best girlfriend, you know how that is). Unfortunately, I got pink eye from sharing her eye shadows. And I got infected cysts on my eyelids at the lash line from putting tap water into my own mascara to make it last longer (Well, I was only in high school and allowances weren't what they are today). Even with preservatives in products, they begin to break down from oxygen and repeated use of wand to lash and back into tube. Always discard used mascara within 3-6 months, depending on usage. The scary part about my mascara faux-pas was my doctor telling me contaminated mascaras that create certain types of infection to the eye, can cause blindness if they are not treated immediately.

Needless to say, I learned things the hard way as most of us do at that age, but I know better now and plead to those that wish to swap out cosmetics with strangers or even their friends. Just don’t do it, and don’t allow vanity or your pocketbook dictate what is acceptable in your mind. Play it safe and remain hygienic, always.

Infomercial Scams…..Hype or Truth!

You know what they say, to coin a phrase, “if it sounds to good to be true”, and we have all heard this at one point in our lives.

I lay awake, blinking in the darkness trying to see the faintest of morning light, when, with reservation I look at the clock......I sigh.....another sleepless night. It is 3 am in the morning. I climb from bed and head for the family room to turn on the TV so I can whittle away the time until the sun comes up. No rest for the weary! I blink at the glaring blob of white and begin to focus on one of many infomercials that saturate the airways during this timeframe. I change the channel.....nope here is another one trying to get me to spend my buck and place me in a hypnotic state. Give me “I Love Lucy” reruns anytime over this stuff.

So I settle in to watch one that has caught my attention since it is an airbrush method for applying mineral makeup. Hmm...... haven’t seen this one before. After watching how the device works and then observing their marketing strategy, I actually became intrigued. Spray on makeup with an airbrush?! However, this can’t be for the average consumer, this must be a pitch to professionals in the industry, I thought! Nope, it is for us to use in the comfort of our homes, ladies. They always make it look so simple and fun to use, too! At least until the novelty wears off and it just becomes another mundane task in our already cluttered lives.

Some of us also receive an adrenalin rush from sheer excitement of trying something new and just the act of buying makes us feel good. Now, if you don’t get caught up in the hype and take a minute to think about the truth of this unit, you will realize this is not for women on the go. Never mind the learning curve to make sure you don’t spray it into your eyes, get it on too heavy, on your clothes, or all in your hair, but the sheer inconvenience of loading each time with foundation and then cleaning it after each use to prevent clogs, or between changes to a blush or bronzer. The instructions for this machine and the claims they make are exhausting. Also, think about how much unused makeup is wasted within or washed through the machines’ mechanism. Seems like an expensive proposition.

Then there is the issue of touchup! Do you haul this thing around in a shoulder bag? What happens when the motor breaks, how do you apply this makeup then? Does it come with a warranty? It appears to be about 3 months and you are forced to only use their makeup, otherwise this is void. Great marketing strategy to get repeat business! Going on vacation? Is this thing really even portable? Where do I store it when not in use? Another added step since some of us has limited vanity space making this a disadvantage. What if my power goes out before or right in the middle of applying my makeup? What then? Is the makeup safe, preservative and chemical free? They claim so, but can’t tell since no actual ingredient information is provided by the company in this regard! Seems like a lot of undue stress, work or mess to begin your day with.

Then they show how nice it looks on the women models, flawless to perfection. I’m thinking this is a fantastic device for a professional esthetician for doing photo shoots on models, Hollywood starlets and those special occasions. In the hands of a professional the results are probably astounding. But for everyday use for the casual user, this unit just doesn’t seem practical.

The lure of this machine is pretty incredible, until they show application on a paper face and compare it to traditional foundation and loose mineral makeup. Now I grow skeptical as I continue to watch further. They demonstrate how smooth and perfect the gradual shading is over the face as you spray it on. Hmmm.......looks good! Then they show how liquid foundation applies and it of course is thick and pasty, looking like a mask. Like this is new information! Then the loose mineral makeup is used on the face and they show how it accentuates fine lines by settling into them due to a chalky consistency. Now I furrow my brow with disdain since this is now bordering on the ridiculous. Remember now, this is all being played out on a paper face, which is a dry, flat surface with no skin texture, moisturizer, or natural skin oils to blend with the minerals. Plus they also stipulate that they have created texture in the paper to mimic facial fine lines.

Now they repeat the same, only this time they demonstrate with the mineral powders over the same area they sprayed foundation and.....hey look.....more lines are showing up again due to the chalky consistency, as they so eloquently put it. Well, here is the clue! When spraying onto a surface, the application will be uniform, plus the moistness swells the paper. So now the application of the loose minerals over the liquid are absorbing the moisture and adhering to the wet areas caught in the paper creases, hence the lines appear to return while making it appear less uniform. Excellent marketing strategy if our faces were made of paper. But, fortunately our faces are 3 dimensional, made of living tissue with oils, nooks and crannies and fine lines, and express our emotions.

All minerals are not created equal as many of us know, and a high quality blend will adhere and meld into our moisturizer or our natural oils for a smooth flawless complexion without accentuating lines or drying our skin due to its’ consistency and light refracting properties. Using mineral powders is absolutely the cleanest method for makeup application, leaving a smooth, perfectly uniform complexion with no line of demarcation either.

They further tout how this machine eliminates bacteria by not using brushes and makeup sponges. Yet they advise using a brush to smooth the makeup after application for various problematic reasons. What’s the point then if you still need a brush to correct makeup issues? Besides, I would rather clean a brush or sponge than this device after every use. And they advise running water through it and discharging it into the sink for cleaning, yet now they have created the perfect environment for bacteria, mold or yeast growth. Moist, air and dark! Common sense would dictate, next time you use it, your makeup is now contaminated with microbes and you are spraying them onto your face. But unfortunately, many of us are more enthralled with the concept rather than the reality of using a device like this. I just don’t have that much time to spare within my busy day or worry about things like contamination which occurs frequently when moisture is introduced.

Although the women demonstrating this product believe in what they are selling as innovative, I would however, appreciate it more if they sold it strictly on its’ merits and not insult my intelligence by demonstrating on a paper face or make it sound easier, safer, cleaner, and a far better, faster application than traditional makeup. It is always about truth versus hype and the tricks they use to entice us to buy. We have to be wise in determining which is which before spending our hard earned dollar. Especially at the very high price tag on this machine!

Reviews for this product on message boards are also mixed, about 50/50 of con vs. pro. However the majority of the pro reviews seemed to have been removed due to obviously being spam related for this product. So for now a true take on the perception of this machine is still a coin toss.

Good rule of thumb, never buy on impulse, sample this product if possible before making a final decision, (they seem to offer a 30 day trial period for a deposit) and then sleep on it to be sure this is a wise decision. As for this gadget; inventive and interesting.....but nice try, this gal isn’t buying into this infomercial hype!

After that entertaining ½ hour, I finally change the channel only to look at another infomercial of many, for skin crèmes. They always show the before and after and they get in real tight to the face on some. Brows appear lifted, wrinkles and fine lines seem improved. Texture on the skin is much better. If you look closely you can see an obvious shift in the position of the facial expressions such as minimizing lines around the mouth.....A slight pucker to emphasize lines, to then almost a smile to make the lines appear to have vanished or be reduced. Or they furrow the brow to emphasize folds in the skin, only to relax it in the after shot. Or they are in so tight, you see the brow furrows, lines around the eyes and the droopy eyelid all seem to be lifted and appear more youthful. I often times wonder, is someone standing there using their fingers to lift the skin just out of camera range? Or is it actually even the same person? Especially since all we get to look at is an eye or forehead of the individual. I also notice lighting is different in the before and after picture. Bright light is clearly being washed over the face in the after picture which gives a more youthful appearance by obscuring facial flaws. As my skepticism grows over the years, I decide to try this myself by using a bright light on my face with freshly moisturized skin and flaws were obscured and my face of course appeared brighter, more lifted as the light literally bounced back from the shine of the moisturizer before it was absorbed.

Then I begin to examine the content of what I am really looking at. Have you ever noticed that in the before pictures, the hair is flat and messy, they never smile, and lighting is dark? Now the after pictures, the women are made up, the hair is coiffed, they are smiling and their face is brightly lit. Of course the lines seem diminished due to the brighter light reflecting off of their skin, similar to the light refracting properties of mineral makeup. Smiling ever so slightly also lifts the face and gives a more youthful appearance. We all look better and younger after a visit to the salon.

Now I will admit, many moons ago, I too have been lured into purchasing some of these products and to my dismay, though any face crèmes I used made my skin feel smooth and soft, they did nothing to actually reduce my fine lines. In fact, one well known company that is on almost daily, I had to return their products since my skin reacted terribly to the ingredients they used, and caused burning, and made me break out.

Don’t get me wrong, not all infomercials are hype and many offer reputable products, as in the case for acne sufferers and some skin crèmes. These seem to work well for many and they swear by them. However, I have found the same active ingredients in drugstore brands as well for far less money. It is just about reading ingredient lists and doing your homework. And some of the crèmes do feel wonderful and smell good, but I have learned that natural, organic oils and butters do exactly the same job without the hype of advertising. In fact, I have found some of the best facial care products in obscure locations like my local food co-op. No advertising to get you lathered up into spending that hard earned dollar, but just plain healthy, natural, safer and better for your skin ingredients with similar or better results. No commitments, no payment plans, no repeat billing for club members.

The endless bombardment of hype thrown at us can certainly be daunting. Money making schemes with promises of becoming independently wealthy in real estate, earn money with your own internet business, getting money out of the government, and earn money on Ebay. Let me assure you, money does not come easy, it takes risk, tenacity and hard work and nothing in life worth having is free or easy. Next time you think you may want to whip out the credit card with a promise of getting rich quick, google the word "infomercials Scams or Hype" and really learn what they are selling and how they entice you out of your money. Their marketing strategies are brilliant and they are designed to enthrall you about this supposedly new and innovative breakthrough. If you want easy money, then know that you are already money ahead by closing your purse and changing the channel.

Now for my absolute favorite; weight loss gimmicks through diet pills or useless machinery. And again, I have to admit, I too was suckered by many of these products promising to help me lose weight. The disclaimer at the bottom of the screen in teeny tiny print is always the same. “Results Not Typical! These are unique experiences.” Either the products they are selling work or they don’t. There is no magic bullet for the problem of overweight Americans. It is diet and exercise and a "stick to it" mindset. So whenever I see the infamous disclaimer I know it is time to change the channel and put the credit card away.

If you're like me, it took me several times of being fooled by claims to get me to spend my money, only to finally achieve that "I get it" moment. And still today, I will come across an infomercial that is calling my name, and I bite my lip and switch channels, knowing this will only lead to the fleecing of my bank account. These marketing strategists know how to play on our weaknesses and our desires of achieving that cure for what is bothering us. Needing more money, being thinner, more beautiful, having more free time, and accomplishing this through images of fantasy of big houses, shiny cars, perfect bodies, and far away tropical places.

I found two interesting news articles that will shed more light on how the consumer is being duped out of their cash by these people who are clearly in violation of the Federal Trade Commission rules for making false or misleading claims. MSNBC Infomercial Scams is a detailed article about how they actually did a study on a fictional face crème they invent to show how through marketing, they can get you to buy it despite the fact it is completely ineffective. The New York Times Infomericals, Ceveat Emptor is a great article and addresses weight loss and medical gimmicks, and many other devices and money making programs that entice us out of our dollars.

However, I have found infomercials to be really good for one thing despite the hype, assisting me with falling asleep since now I am comatose from postulating marketing tactics. Until tomorrow, when in the wee hours of the morning I will seek out another dose of infomercials to put me back to sleep.

Beauty Industry Puffery!

How many of us take everything a cosmetologist or sales rep behind the cosmetic counter says as absolute fact? Do you buy into the promises of a claim a certain product will do for your hair or skin?

We all have at one time! Many of us still do!

I love the professional packaging and the texture and consistency of salon products. The smells are wonderful, especially within the aromatherapy blends of shampoos and conditioners. The multitude of choices are daunting, but that is what your stylist is for, to assist you with what will work best for your hair. The personal guidance and touch from a trusted professional goes far when we are trying to sort through all the information being thrown at us.

I have had many different stylists over the years and they all wanted to sell me their preferred formulas for my locks. The products are always described as the best way to keep your hair and scalp healthy. I bought into the sales buzz during the time from high school until the end of my 30’s since my hair texture was indeed improved with these salon products and the fragrances were intoxicating. My hair was always pretty and shiny and rarely split out the ends. Each time I would return for a shampoo and haircut, my stylist at that time would have more products to sell me, usually enticing me with the lovely fragrances they possessed. She would also use them on me during my visit to have a more pleasant, relaxing experience. She would remind me of how great a shape my hair was always in and how this was the proof of using the best salon products over drugstore brands as being the only way to go.

I believe salon products were made better back in the 70’s and 80’s, and they were making a dent in commercial sales through promotions within salons worldwide. Aveda was an industry leader in introducing aromatherapy, essential oil blends to salon products, including gentler and aromatic perm solutions. As consumers gained savvy insight through the help of environmental organizations and others to the chemicals and other potentially harmful ingredients that were shown to be in the drugstore products, we leaned more heavily on the professional lines using more organic approaches. The consumer made their grievances known to the cosmetics and hair care industry over the years through our solid purchases of professional, more natural lines since the salon grade products at that time really were better for hair and scalp. And with the introduction of the internet, more and more information became available to us in order to be well informed.

Suddenly, there was a shift in some commercial lines changing their ingredients for higher standards in quality as demanded by the consumer including making knock-offs that were identical in formulations to the pros, but with a generic name. They now wanted to compete for your consumer dollar against the salon products. This then launched various watchdog groups such as the infamous cosmetics cop, Paula Begoun, who began a diverse campaign of researching many of these products to prove or disprove their claims.

It was at this time by the mid 90’s I decided to do my own research and as I educated myself, I learned it is not the product per se but what ingredients are within the products. Detergent based shampoos, petrochemicals and certain types of alcohols should be avoided at all costs, were very drying to the hair, not great for the scalp and potentially harmful. It was these ingredients that permeated the cheaper store brands. So as time marched by, I decided to try out some drugstore brands that were beginning to replace the harmful ingredients for a safer choice. I researched labels that were close in relation to certain salon grade products that I had great results with and gave them a try. And low and behold, my hair was still beautifully soft and shiny after using the drugstore or generic brands at half the price. My styles held well and my hair color or perms lasted just as long. The next time I returned to the salon, my stylist told me again how great a condition my hair was in, not realizing I had switched to the cheaper brands. Her statement spoke volumes about the puffery that is still being pushed at us today in order to get us to buy into the idea that more expensive still means better!

Although salon products aren't perfection in a bottle as far as being completely safe and chemical free, you have other options available to you. If you want to reduce the use of potentially harmful ingredients, then I suggest using J.R. Liggetts Shampoo Bar. Works quite nicely without stripping color or drying out your hair or scalp and they have been around since 1985. I personally use the Herbal Formula.

Also, have you noticed that more and more salon products are landing on our grocery store shelves to the detriment of the salons’ sales? The salons debate this and state these are counterfeit or the cheaper version of the original using substandard ingredients. Unfortunately for the retail salon, this is not the case! For one thing you would see major recalls nationwide if these products were not being distributed by the maker and would be quickly yanked off the shelves. They are exactly the same products right down to the feel, performance and fragrance, with perhaps a tiny change to the ingredient list, but not so you would notice or cause problems for your hair. They might do this to provide a salon need for variation to the consumer. It is all about these companies competing for your dollar now, so they commercialized what was once exclusive to salons only. It is sad really since the personal touch you would get from your stylist is now gone, replaced by commercialized consumerism.

In the case of skin crèmes; this is an area where I pay even more attention to what is in the little jars of miracles for the skin. Ingredients play an important role in determining cost of the product, but when you step into a high end department store, the prices are out of sight for many consumers. Many prices ranging from $60.00 to $350.00 for a 2 oz size jar. And the fancy sounding ingredients don’t necessarily out perform good old fashioned soap or crèmes made simply with emollient based oils or naturally organic butters. Some of the extraordinary claims made by many of these high end lines are total puffery and you are basically paying for the privilege of having a famous name sit on top of your counter. For instance, did you know that L’Orèal Cosmetics owns Lancôme and the quality of these cosmetics are nearly identical, yet one is sold in drug stores and the other is sold in high end department stores? I have used both of these lines and my skin behaved no different with either one.

There are many factors that contribute to our skin condition, much of which is sun, aging and genetics. A skin cream is not going to alter this, but will help restore moisture to the surface layer (epidermis) and leave our skin and fine lines softened, smoothed and soothed. I personally want a crème with organic, natural ingredients for soothing my tired skin, and I avoid those with all the fancy, impossible to spell chemical sounding names with their glitz and false promises. This is also my dedication in researching and developing my new line of skin care products which is currently underway.

I personally have tested many of these products and I have discovered after years of expense and trial and error, good old fashioned Olive Oil soap or Goat Milk with Shea Butter soaps have done wonders for my skin. This is then followed by an application of organic butters and oils to smooth, soothe and soften my face, including Extra Virgin Olive Oil right from my kitchen shelf for intensive moisture at night in the winter time. My skin is like velvet the next morning without using facial creams with all the bells and whistles. The simplest of ingredients can do so much for skin without any harmful or irritating effects.

Using exfoliation techniques with Microfiber towels for reduction of dead skin cells are much less irritating than AHA (Glycolic Acid) in high concentrations or BHA (Salicylic Acid) crèmes which may damage your skin over time. Especially since use of AHA and BHA crèmes actually make your skin and face more susceptible to sun damage. Sometimes the risks outweigh the benefits of these age defying crèmes when it comes to ladies with highly sensitive skin and may actually accelerate aging. One thing is known for sure, tingling of the skin occurs and the explanation on the box is, “this is normal and will subside”. I think I would describe it more as a burning, stinging sensation and one that I could no longer endure for the sake of softening a few fine lines on my face. Besides, once you stop using these crèmes the lines return and creases deepen since the dead skin cells begin to build on the face once again. This is another reason I enjoy using Microfiber towels. I give myself a facial every time I cleanse my face and my skin glows afterwards with a freshly polished look.

I have found the results of using a Microfiber towel to be identical without irritation, and in many ways better than any of the fancy sounding crèmes you see on the market, drugstore and department stores alike. At the very least I know what is going on my skin without having to do endless research of an ingredient list on chemical exposure since these skin creams are comprised of other chemicals for maximum absorption of the AHA or BHA portion. I also have no problem paying the higher or similar prices for natural botanicals rather than for chemicals. Simpler, safer, and better for the skin!

Botanicals by nature are for me. Are they for you?