make a memory

art clay pendant, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

We (the Wee Guy and I) made this a couple of weeks ago. It's a pendant for Mothers' Day to be sent to my mother (who, being in the UK, has her own Mothers' Day a couple of moths earlier than in North America).
It's become a struggle to know what to give for celebrations since I live so far from family and don't see what their day-to-day life is really like. I'm certain that some items never see the light of day again and others are a tad disappointing just because I have no idea what current tastes are!
This one, I hope, is a winner (and now not a surprise unless Ma doesn't read my blog - fairly sure she doesn't!). It has a smudge of a fingerprint from her (only) grandchild and her name spelled the way she likes it. It is also handmade, unusual and unique AND almost pure silver since it is made from art clay silver.
Now to get on with some unusual cufflinks for my Pa .......

Our New Skin Care Line Has Arrived!

Hello Everyone,

I am so pleased to announce the arrival of the new addition to our Sterling Minerals Online Store. At long last, after a year of product testing and research, my dream of introducing my skin care line has been achieved.

You will love how wonderful your skin will feel with these exceptional products. Your skin will feel smooth, supple and soothed. Free from all the chemicals, dyes, parabens and sulfates, which you can still find in comparable high end products and other professional lines today.

Each and every product was thoughtfully and carfully chosen in order for them to work for all skin types, and to assist men and women with achieving healthier, more youthful looking skin.

ONATI is our premier skin care line offering holistic benefits aiding toward healing of many problems associated with sun damage, acne, eczema, rosacea, and chemical peels.

You can learn more about ONATI on our About Us page and within each product description. We also provide you with an ONATI Ingredient Glossary within the header of Sterling Minerals so you can review our ingredient labels with comprehension as to why and how each ingredient is utilized.

Also for being so patient and to show my appreciation to everyone for that patience who was expecting these products 2 weeks ago, I am offering them at an introductory price giving you 20% off retail until March 14th, 2009. No promo code is necessary since price has been marked down within the cart already.

Our skin care line also works beautifully in conjunction with our mineral powders for the ultimate in achieving a flawless face.

So get started today toward better skin health with these great introductory prices. It's never too late to begin pampering your skin.

Thanks to everyone and I wish you continued skin health.

Have a wonderful weekend!

rotational symmetry

rotational symmetry, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

My eggbox must have symmetry of one sort or another. It completely throws me if I have to disturb the arrangement by taking out an inauspicious number of eggs. Determining the symmetry of the remaining eggs can add minutes to a simple task.

I will even rearrange the eggbox after mr ebb has been tinkering with it (sometimes i know he does this on purpose).

Asymmetry in my domestic surroundings disturbs me.

...... but not in necklaces, wire crochet cuffs or other pieces of jewelry I make (with the possible exception of earrings).

I am not sure what this says about me.

rich colours

erm! At this time of year rich colours aren't really my thing - after dismal days of endless rain the last thing I want to see on the crafting desk in front of me is darkness. Hence for me spring is what I focus on and pull out the greens, whites and aqua's to go with very shiny silver.
But I guess I do appreciate the dark colours, as shown in the byhand.me spotlight above. I've even blogged about my winter hips necklace in greys, black and reds which was inspired by this photo taken last christmas in scotland. My sister jokingly referred to it as my 'winter hips' so the name stuck (but thankfully the pudge didn't!).
For some reason whenever I do think of rich colours I reach for the copper wire or even pewter. Copper seems to contrast well with jewel tones and even clash beautifully with hot pink.
Silver just seems too bright and shiny to be weighed down with rich tones (though dead centre above you can see I've started oxidising it!). My comfort zone is seafoam, aqua, pale green, white; all elements which blend well with polished sterling.
Except in cufflinks - making jewelry for men throws me into the rich colours world and there I am happy to mix it with the silver.

The Return of Etiquette

The last few weeks for me have been very busy and have gone by in a blur. I would like to thank my readers and fellow bloggers for sticking with me as I have become less the 'daily' connoisseur and more the 'every other weekly' connoisseur. I would, however, like to report that my book is coming along swimmingly and that I am having the time of my life writing it... so thanks again for all of your support.

OK, now on to my exciting observation!

I couldn't be happier to report that etiquette has made a comeback. Over the last few weeks I have noticed an interest and resurgence in the subject (and just in the nick of time too!)

I have mentioned in past posts my obsession with etiquette. With such shows like Ladette to Lady and From G's to Gents you could keep me happily occupied all season long... but this time around there is a new show on the block...

Fresh off of the success of From G's to Gents, MTV, together with producer Donald Trump, has created a new show entitled The Girls of Hedsor Hall. This is the American version of my favorite British import Ladette to Lady- it even has the same instructors! For those of you not familiar with the format, a handful of rather undesirable young... er... women, are sent to a finishing school in the English countryside, with the hopes of polishing up their act and becoming ladies.

As in the original, the young women in the American version are given school uniforms, a strand of pearls and are launched into lessons and experiences they have never had before; such things as: flower arranging, cookery and how to hold a knife and fork. In the beginning, as is typically the case, these women are completely out of their comfort zone. Fighting, binge drinking and obscenity-laden monologues ensue but eventually the weak are weeded out and the true gems are allowed to shine.

I am not sure why I am so excited that this show is on MTV. Maybe it's because I have noticed a recent turn for the worse concerning manners and etiquette, especially from younger girls and maybe this show will reach them and help them realize that there is more to life than a fake tan and a hook-up! I know that on this subject I am no angel, but I do feel that all of this is terribly important and can lead one down the right path in life.

So in honor of The Girls of Hedsor Hall, I have re-read my favorite book on etiquette: Debrett's Etiquette for Girls, by Fleur Britten. This book is for the modern lady and is chock-full of useful information regarding contemporary etiquette dilemmas. It reads like a conversation from a very knowledgeable best friend and even had me laughing out loud at various moments. So, I invite you to raise your champagne glasses in a toast to the art of being a lady... let's hope this is a trend that lasts. Cheers!

Debrett's Etiquette for Girls can be purchased at: www.amazon.com

Image provided by www.whatagirlneeds.co.uk

endless winter

winter hips necklace chain detail, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

In this part of the world endless winter conjures up not images of vast snowfields but days and days of pouring rain. Last week's sun is a distant memory as the wet stuff pours from the sky.
Mustn't grumble - it'll be falling as snow at higher and colder elevations (and maybe here too if the Google weather forecast can be believed.
OK so I didn't get a table at the craft fair, and I am fed up with having an achy neck, and maybe it would be nice to feel inspired and creative again.
Chill - it will happen! I've got a lot of other things On My Plate which need clearing before then. And I guess I'm just stressing a little about them.
I have had some cool new ideas for some wire crochet creations, all a little more out-of-the-box than my previous ideas and am itching to try them out. (makes mental note: write them down somewhere!).
I also attended a really inspiring seminar given by an artist exhibiting her awesome textile art at Place des Arts which made me think about my 'flotsam' on a slightly different scale. Ho hum - need some more time in my day (and energy, damn flu). If you are in the area check out Kirsten Chursinoff's exhibition, on until mid March. Her beach pieces are my personal faves.
I have managed to list a few new items for sale (including 'winter hips' above and have even got all spring-y with a spring greens section in my etsy shop.

winter hips opera length necklace with matching earrings
available here

polish

packaging inserts
Originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama

ebb pendants - fine silver art clay pendants
Today I will be working on some packaging inserts to give my products more polish and a professional air.

The cavies however, will be eating non stop and attending to some nap time.

random

skookumchuk main
Originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama

i searched 'random' in my flickr stream and got this
which reminds me, since i sold most of the mini art brooches i really should make some more

oooh hardship!

The Latest News At Sterling Minerals

Hello Everyone,

Today I wanted to bring you up to date as to what is happening at Sterling Minerals. As you know, we are launching our new skin care line this month and it has been slightly delayed due to matters beyond our control.

I had hoped the products would be available this week, but due to labeling issues we had to postpone. We are currently getting this resolved and finally the products will be going to product photography on Monday February 23rd. It is my sincere hope, pending no more interruptions of the process to bring them to market, we will have them available for sale next week. I do apologize to all my customers and future customers for the date getting pushed back since I realize many of you are waiting with their orders until these are available.

I am pleased to say no other products were cut from the final line, so there will be 7 products total for launch. We will offer 3 luxurious face creams for different skin types and preferred moisturizing capabilities, 1 intensive facial serum with age defying properties and is positively delightful, 2 facial cleansers, one an extremely calming and gentle cleansing lotion and the other a cleansing gel with gentle foaming properties, and last but not least, 1 facial toner with similar age defying properties as our facial serum, with a lovely refreshing natural inherent aroma of rose distillate and can be used by all skin types.

Once you have the opportunity to use these synergetic emulsions and see how well they work on your skin and in combination with your mineral powders, you may never return to commercialized products again.

Natural Mascara Has Been The Question Lately:

I have been asked by many who use Sterling Minerals if I will be introducing a mascara formula anytime soon? At the present time this is a product where I have little focus and the reasons are as follows.

I am a true believer in all things natural with as few chemicals and synthetics as possible being infused into our everyday products which come in contact with our skin. Mascara doesn't fall into this category. Fortunately, mascara is applied to our eyelashes which are not living tissue, whereby there is no uptake of chemicals. The only time mascara may come in contact with the skin is during the removal of it at bedtime, but then it is being washed away.

It is not to say at some point down the line I won't create a product for an overall completion of an entire cosmetic and skin care line, but right now my primary focus is taking care of myself and my customers by providing products which are safer for our skin and our overall health.

If you go to the drug store, you can find a few mascaras that have some very good formulas. One mascara that I use myself and I'll share with you is made by L'Oreal.

It is called Voluminous Naturale Mascara, not to be confused by the original Voluminous product which is what I used before they released the Naturale version. The original version was great, however I fought clumps on occassion due to the thicker consistency, yet my lashes remained quite soft and touchable. So, I still loved the original version. The Naturale version is an excellent mascara also, has great staying power, won't flake, smudge, clump or run and is extremely water resistant. Gives you a natural looking eyelash and will last all day until you take it off. This product nicely separates all eyelashes and drys to a stiffer consistency which assists with correcting crooked lashes or holding your curl after you use this weird tool which I personally never got the hang of. The price range is anywhere from $5.00 to $9.00 depending on where you buy it. For my complexion and hair color, I use the Black / Brown shade for the most natural look.

Now if the name could only reflect the ingredient label, but alas commercial products are still full of the cheaper stuff for mass production.

Well that is the skinny on what is happening of late, and until next week, everyone have a pleasant weekend!

Tips For Soothing Irritated, Dry Skin

After spending these past few months mostly indoors during very cold winter temperatures, it can take a toll on our skin. Some of us who live in very cold climates experience our share of itchy, irritated skin during this time period. It seems no matter what we do, our skin at some point will begin to get flaky, dry, itchy and for some we may even experience cracked skin and / or fungal infections due to heavier clothing being worn trapping perspiration against our skin. Our skin is also our largest organ and requires the most care in order for it to last for our lifetime.

Forced air heating is not the greatest for keeping our skin in good condition either. I personally struggle with dry feet and hands along with flaky skin on my extremities. My back in particular can drive me insane due to the dry itch I get since this is a tough area to reach with my moisturizer. I keep the old back scratcher handy since these itchy attacks hit me during the middle of the night.

Especially as we mature our skin becomes thinner and our age can be reflected in our skin during this time of year. Dry skin enhances fine lines and wrinkles.

Here are some things you can do to keep the irritation down to a minimum until our warmer weather comes around again, and return that youthful healthy glow we all know and love to our faces and body once again. Oh how I miss my trips to warm tropical climates since my skin begins to heal and feels wonderful as soon as I step off the plane. (daydreaming) But I digress!

Despite what you may think, absolutely be sure to bathe daily since this will bring added moisture to the skin, just follow these guidelines.

Only bathe for 5-10 minutes in a lukewarm bath or shower. The longer you spend in a shower especially with hot water, the drier the skin becomes as it begins to strip your skins' natural oils. Men especially will spend long periods of time just letting the hot water run over their aching muscles, my husband included. Men may have a thicker dermis layer than women, but their skin is not impervious to damage or aging caused by stripping the oils from their skin.

Hot tubs and jacuzzis, although therapeutic for our muscles and our mind, they are extremely damaging to our skin due to the extreme in temperature which is borderline scalding. Your skin will truly suffer from this intense heat. And itchy skin...oh boy watch out!

If you must do something for tired, achy muscles then a moist air or steam sauna can do the trick. This treatment can be beneficial to the skin as a substitute for a jacuzzi. It will open the pores, detoxify the skin, and intense moisture can flood the skin, making it more supple and your cream or lotion will penetrate more deeply for the ultimate in moisture care of winter skin.

Use a mild cleanser or natural soap bar. Those with fragrances and alcohols will definitely dry out skin. Deodorant bars are the worst for drying out skin and can be quite irritating. Natural bar soaps used on the skin are excellent for moisturizing skins delicate mantle due to their natural glycerin and saponified oil content. Body butters are also wonderful to use during your shower since these are full of natural rich butters that work well on extremely dry skin. Shea and Mango butters are moisture rich and work wonders on ashy, flaky, dry, cracked, inflamed skin. Their healing properties are extraordinary. Body scrubs are excellent for exfoliating dry dead skin cells and restoring oils to the skin. Just make sure that the scrub portion is in the form of sugar and not salt since salt is very drying to the skin. Avoid body brushes and loofas since these will further irritate already delicate skin despite the relief they bring to scratching that itch.

Blot the skin dry, don't rub since this can further irritate itchy, dry skin. Plus through blotting instead of wiping, the body butters used will remain on the skin and will prevent further dryness.

When applying additional moisture, be sure to do it while the skin is still moist, typically within a few minutes of getting out of the shower. Best results for absorption of moisture is by closing the door during your shower or bath since this will trap the humidity in the room helping to provide continued moisture to the skin until you can slather your favorite cream or lotion all over your body. For reaching your back, they now have bath tools you can use and are found at a bath and body store. Or for best results and perhaps more fun, have your sweetie help you out.

Avoid high concentrations of AHA and BHA creams since these are extremely irritating and drying to the skin during this time of year.

Moisturizing daily and also before going to bed at night will surely assist with keeping the skin free from irritation. Consistent use of moisturizers will keep dry, flaky skin from returning.

For those with cracked feet, like me, pay special attention to these areas. I usually use a heavy moisturizing Shea butter cream and then wrap my feet in socks before going to bed. Lovely smooth feet are a result within a weeks time of this treatment.

Selecting a good moisturizer: Try to pay attention to the ingredients. Natural oils and butters are exceptional for delivery of essential moisture for parched skin. A product containing Aloe is excellent for soothing irritated skin and the results are nothing short of amazing. Also a body cream moisturizer that contains natural humectants to draw moisture from the air are imperative for keeping the skin from drying out throughout the day. Our Grecian Secret Body Souffle with essential oils is perfect for providing excellent skincare for severe dryness. Great ingredients for increasing moisture are Olive Oil, Vegetable Glycerin and Honey are known to work as natural humectants. Hyaluronic Acid is known for pulling moisture from the air and this ingredient occurs naturally within our skin. However this diminishes as we age so supplementation is necessary to receive the same benefits it provides.

Using a humidifier at night while you sleep is not only soothing for a peaceful sleep, but will add extra moisture to your skin throughout the night. It also makes for easier breathing for those of us who have a mild form of asthma.

Also avoid wearing sweaters or any clothing that is fabricated from wool or other rough material since these will wreak havoc on already itchy, irritated skin.

Spotting A Fungus: If you feel an itchy spot coming on, go get your moisturizer and avoid scratching if you can since this can break open the skin and perhaps cause a fungal infection. Typically this occurs when we scratch an area on our skin that is in a fold of our body such as behind our knees, maybe after shaving our legs, or in the crook of our elbow. Or for some of us this may be in a fold of skin from sitting such as on our stomachs or at a bra line for ladies. Once the skin is opened, trapped moisture, no air circulation, and warmth become the perfect breeding ground for many fungal types of infections to take hold. Ringworm for one! Usually a fungus is noticeable when you develop a red circular patch, perhaps raised as well, and doesn't seem to resolve with cortisone which only seems to help with the itchiness yet the spot remains.

An OTC fungal cream will work well. When I get an occasional fungal infection, I found Lotrimin to be excellent for resolving the problem. Just make sure you use the recommended dosage since fungal infections can be difficult to resolve and can return if you stop the treatment prematurely, even if the area looks healed.

For Hand Care: Pay special attention to your hands especially if washing them often or working in the yard. Don't scrimp on washing your hands due to worry of dry skin since you very much want to still protect yourself from viruses and bacteria. When going out in the cold, always wear gloves. And if you suffer from cracked fingers, similar treatment for the feet will work wonders. Apply the heavy moisturizer and then cover hands with gloves before going to bed. The results are baby soft hands once again. Also keep your hands protected with rubber gloves when using cleaning products around the house.

Don't forget to keep emollient rich lip balms or lip colors on the mouth for prevention of cracked, dried lips. Allowing the lips to dry out can be a painful proposition. Not only can they crack, but they can bleed. And baby those occasional fever blisters or cold sores we all get, make sure they are always kept moist while healing, since the cold air can make these suckers worse.


Time To See The Dermatologist: When you have a skin condition that simply won't clear up no matter what you do then it is possibly time to see the dermo. A fungal infection that won't clear up with OTC treatment or in some cases, especially in an older individual, it could be eczema that is afflicting the skin. This can only be determined by your doctor since it may be the underlying cause for severe dry skin. Medical treatment in this instance will be required and only your doctor can know what will be the best treatment.

So be kind and gentle to your skin and your skin will be kind to you.

Ruminations on a Junk Drawer

I'm not sure if the familiar urges for spring cleaning have just reached me early this year or if my home was crying out for an overhaul, but I have spent the past two weeks culling and cleaning chez moi. Not a junk drawer went unturned, not a picture frame undusted.

I tend to be a very tidy person anyway and always have a clean home. Every night before I go to bed I do a once over and make sure there are no dishes in the sink and that the cushions on my couch are propped up in an orderly fashion. There is nothing worse, to me, than waking up to a messy house. And, of course, I make my bed every morning without fail. (I think my mother told me when I was a kid that if I didn't make my bed, spiders would crawl into it- that scare tactic seemed to work wonders as I still do it today!)

However, just because it looks outwardly tidy does not an organized home make. I would hide things away in drawers, cupboards and baskets thinking that out of sight meant out of mind. The trouble is that whenever I would pass these drawers and cupboards I would get an uneasy feeling because I knew deep down that the clutter behind those doors was there to stay... until I dealt with it.

So I decided to tackle my home, one junk drawer at a time. I probably thew away 5 large trash bags full of things that I had been storing- talk about junk! Now, as opposed to having- count them- 4 junk drawers in my kitchen, taking up highly valuable space, I now have one drawer that I call my 'miscellaneous' drawer. It no longer contains 'junk', but has highly useful things like take out menus, nuts and bolts, errant pens and appliance manuals.

The best method for tackling junk drawers for me? Do one at a time. Dump everything out on the floor while you are watching television (preferably some cleanliness motivating show like Clean House, How Clean is Your House? or Anthea Turner Perfect Housewife). You'll be amazed at what you can accomplish in a half an hour- horrified at the trivial junk you've been holding on to- and proud that you have done something productive rather than merely wasting away in front of the television.

I am not sure how long this junk-drawer-free life will last, as I tend to be a very "going through a phase" type of person. But I aim to do my best.

So I would love to know... how many junk drawers do you have?

Image of Anthea Turner, Perfect Housewife courtesy of www.dailylife.com

Myths About Acne Revealed And Debunked

What's In The Past, Is Not The Future For Acne Sufferers

As a teenager growing up I never experienced a problem with acne. And most of my friends didn't either, yet there were some kids we would see with horrific cases of acne that not only destroyed their complexion but their self esteem as well. We were always under the mistaken belief they were drinking too much soda, or they had really oily skin, or ate all the greasy foods they got their hands on. This was the consensus, at least at that time. But what was strange is that I ate Big Macs and french fries and drank gallons of Dr. Pepper through my teen years and I still never got acne. However, if I got an occasional pimple once in awhile, I remember my mom commenting, "you need to quit eating the junk and stay off the soda pop."

Makeup was a big factor for getting the blame for acne breakouts. In part this was true, but not for the reasons you may think. Not any one ingredient was causing it, yet this was plausible theory as we went into the 80's and 90's. Makeup became the scape goat for our acne woes. But if we think about it, if makeup was a key factor, then why did some kids have acne on their backs also? So now the plot thickens and makeup is no longer the culprit as once thought.

Now I did have some friends with quite severe acne and I remember their treatments back in the 70's, and they amounted to tetracycline, cyclosporine, and sun lamp treatments since many doctors back then believed sun was an excellent healer of the skin and face. The oral antibiotic was for treating the bacterial side internally with the use of topical cyclosporine convinced they needed to bombard the skin with this questionable topical aid. We have learned so much more since then and finally got some answers and safer ways to treat it for this generation of our kids. Plus I am not a big fan of pumping our bodies full of antibiotics unnecessarily. This is why we see more and more mutated strains of bacteria that are getting tougher to kill due to prophylactic treatments with these drugs. Unfortunately, for those of us subjected to the old fallacies, you can imagine not only what damage the acne did but the added bonus of sun lamp exposure to their already delicate skin, and they weren't near as safe as the lamps used today, if you consider any tanning safe.

For instance: Acne is not entirely related to oily skin as was once thought. Even those with dry skin can be afflicted with acne or the occasional pimple. However, those with oily skin struggled more due to an excessive production in sebum, which when the pore got blocked the bacteria had a endless supply of food to live on and in many cases got extremely cystic causing severe damage to the skin cells.

To give you the actual causes of acne, the facts are as follows:

Acne is caused by a buildup of sebum in the pore that is not functioning properly. Then it gets clogged and the usually harmless bacteria which is naturally occurring in your skins' pores begins to multiply, which are called Propionibacterium Acnes. The bacteria take its' food source from this sebum buildup, not from any ingredient applied to your face as was once thought, yet some still blame it on this today. They are sadly misinformed.

As the pore remains clogged the bacteria multiply which in turn releases chemical substances, which then causes inflammation, which then gives birth to the latest pimple on your face. If not tended to, the acne can grow to become cystic.

What To Do To Help Skin Become Restored

Getting and keeping the pore unclogged is the important factor. There are natural ways to tend to your acne which have shown to be quite effective.

Allantoin is a great holistic herbal extract from Comfrey which aids in skin cell proliferation throughout the day.

Another great extract is Jojoba oil. However, Jojoba oil is not a true oil but a wax esther and it will inhibit the over production of the bacteria and help to naturally replace and dissolve the sebum plugging our pores due to its' affinity to our own skin.

Rice powder gives an additional soothing skin cooling element to the face and is known in Ayurveda as a holistic curative treatment for skin ulcerations and inflamed or bleeding pimples. It is also considered to be an emollient for the skin. It can be used as a very gentle facial scrub in its raw form and is excellent for delicate skin types. You can locate Rice flour in your local grocery coop or an Asian market and along with its fine texture, you will notice a slight feel of grit. This is what helps to exfoliate the skin while giving soothing relief to distressed skin. Also, not to be confused with modified rice powder found in cosmetics as this is the more refined, sterilized form of rice flour.

The use of Kaolin Clay whether in dry form in mineral makeup or in the form of distilled water and kaolin clay mixed to form a mask, can help to draw out the toxins within the skin cells helping to dry up the pimples.

Zinc Oxide, also a natural anti-bacterial and astringent, reduces inflammation and also assists with skin repair by calming irritation. There are many other herbal extracts and essential oils known to be beneficial in the fight against acne but they are too many to list here. Others are Tea Tree Oil and Neem oil for example and they have been shown to do wonders for all skin types.

Things To Watch Out For

Now there are other ways to help you fight the onset of acne by following a few simple facts. There are many components which contribute to acne and most of which were once believed to cause it are now debunked through better research and holistic medicine becoming more popular as alternative treatments.

Aggravating Factors: Things like hairsprays, types of creams, gels, hair conditioners, heavy oils, synthetic chemical-laden cosmetics and certain waxes are what contribute to acne by further clogging pores. Also utilizing heavier applications of your mineral makeup or by over buffing it into the skin can cause future problems for skin in the way of acne. Or using a dirty brush consistently, can cause acneic conditions by blocking pores with dirt and debris by collecting skin cells and sebum from the face, and then being redeposited.

Tip: wait to cleanse your face after showering to make sure you remove any pore clogging ingredients from your face that may have been left there after rinsing your conditioner out of your hair since this can be a strong contributing factor to causing acne.

Body postures: such as resting face in hands, wearing hats, eye glasses, masks and headbands that are blocking air flow especially after prolonged sweating or high humidity, keeping the damp fabric against your skin are a huge factor in contributing to acne.

A product that is typically non-occlusive like certain types of mineral makeup, will give you better control over your acne problem by controlling perspiration on the face while allowing your skin to breathe.

Myths: like eating chocolate, drinking soda, eating greasy foods, dirty skin, once believed to be a cause of acne, are now found to be unrelated. Eating the bad stuff may be bad for the waistline, but it is not a factor in causing acne. Only acne causing bacteria can create the skin ruptures of acne and not other forms of bacteria unrelated to acne such as those found in dirt or other sources. Blocked pores, with an over production of sebum are the problem for acne prone skin types.

Other Factors: Hormonal changes in men and women are what contribute greatly to the problem by causing an overabundance of sebum giving that oily shine to the face. Testosterone in both men and women can be a leading culprit. Women during a menstrual cycle can have severe outbreaks. This is why hormonal teens struggle with acne as well.

Accumulation of dead skin cells can create a problem by blocking pores, so make sure you gently exfoliate your skin daily through gentle holistic means or micro fiber washcloths. Again, Allantoin is an excellent natural preventative against cell build up when applied daily and can be found in our mineral makeup.

Certain drugs like lithium or barbiturates are known to play a role in the long list of acne causes.

Unfortunately, you may simply be plagued with acne due to hereditary factors and there is nothing you can do to change that except practice good skin care treatments and keep any makeup you choose clean and light.

Also, over use of acne treatments, too much scrubbing of the skin and over cleansing will exacerbate the problem and cause further inflammation. Despite what you may think, over-cleansing your skin will not help clear up acne since it has been explained earlier it is not related to dirty skin.

When the glands are working correctly, sebum is what keeps the collagen in your face healthy, and naturally keeps the skin moisturized. When afflicted with acne it can damage collagen cells and the skin will begin to thin, causing the scarring we see on those afflicted with severe cases.

Do It The Right Way

Care And Treatment: To prevent further inflammation do not pick the acne, squeeze or pop it, this can further damage the cells that produce your natural sebum. If you see a single pimple popping up on otherwise healthy skin, don't attack it as though life as you know it is now over, this will only help it get worse. Treat it gently with a mild solution of hydrogen peroxide and watch it go bye bye! You can read more on the benefits of using Hydrogen Peroxide here. Or the use of our Evening Rose Veil works exceptionally well for helping with acne outbreaks.

Over buffing mineral makeup, especially those with irritants like Bismuth Oxychloride and Mica, then grinding the ingredients into the skin, will further clog pores, increase bacterial growth, and aggravate already tender skin. This is why in some cases, not all mineral makeup (not being created equal) will help with clearing up your acne but will actually aid acne in continuing to flourish. It may help conceal it, but it won't help it heal.

To avoid hurting your skin further, use botanical poultices, clay facial masks for gentle extraction of pore clogging sebum. If you have acne on your back, you may need help from a friend or loved one to assist you with a treatment regimen.

Also keep your pillow cases fresh since sebum and bacteria can build up on the sheets and be deposited back onto your skin while sleeping. Also if you should drool, (ok, I know... yuck) on your pillow case at night and have your face buried in it, this will certainly lend insult to injury for your skins' acne problem.

Taking A Look At AHA's And BHA's

AHA creams are great for gentle exfoliation of your skin, especially one with Salicylic Acid which is a BHA. These will aid in reduction of acne and keep bacterial growth to a minimum.

However, there are divided camps on the use of Beta Hydroxy Acids due to their ability to penetrate deep into the pores breaking through the oily barrier which helps to break apart sebum buildup and unclog the pore. However, with this ability can bring perhaps some concerns for it aging the skin despite the benefit to it helping to clear up acne. Salicylic Acid in a way is systemic. It continues to work deep inside the skin which is why it can cause damage to the cell renewal process. Using this ingredient on a consistent basis may be less desirable.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids on the other hand exfoliate surface cells and are far more gentle to sensitive skin..except in the case of Glycolic Acid which is a derivative of sugar cane. This is typically found in higher levels of 10% and this is where ones' skin experiences the burning or stinging sensation. Although this works well for therapeutic treatment of acne it is also a stress factor on skins delicate mantle. Repeated use of this concentration works on acne but will create an ongoing inflammation (redness) of the skin. We want to calm and soothe our acne not create more damage. A daily use of a blend of fruit acids in lower concentrations can have similar benefits through a cumulative effect without the irritation. Just remember, when using AHA or BHA products, you watch your sun exposure since your skin is more prone to burning.

If you must use these ingredients, try to limit them to once per week so skin can calm and heal in between. If skin is never allowed to calm and rejuvenate, your acne will actually never completely heal and your skin will always have a slightly pinkish tinge to it from irritation.

Best Case Scenario For Fighting Acne

People with acne should also not use commercial facial scrubs, and should only wash their face twice a day, maximum, unless doing so after extreme exercise, and even then, a simple rinsing of the skin with warm water may be all that is needed. Use all natural facial creams and cleansers without pore clogging ingredients with a Micro Fiber washcloth. We offer a waffle weave for aiding in gentle exfoliation of skin. Or for those with extremely sensitive skin we offer our velvet touch washcloth which is extremely gentle to fragile skin. These towels will exfoliate and buff skin to a lovely healthy shine without any irritation. The results are actually quite amazing.

Benzoyl Peroxide can be another great acne medication and works very well in concentrations as little as 2-5%. It creates oxygen within the skin so the Propionibacterium Acnes can not survive since the bacteria lives in an anaerobic environment and oxygen being aerobic, kills it. Again however, those with mature skin may not find it beneficial based on how dry it can make skin.

I prefer a gentle solution of hydrogen peroxide once in awhile after I wash. This can contribute greatly to healing acne or the occasional pimple and its concentration is perfect for doing it very gently, plus it oxygenates and then it is gone. While other peroxide treatments in ointment form tend to be systemic until washed off.

Also remember, you must moisturize even if you have oily skin since acne treatments will tend to cause severe dryness to the face creating an environment for more sebum to be produced.

Now this is the real kicker for some and might be difficult to believe; a pimple takes 3-6 weeks to form under the skin. You will not even know it is there until it pops up of its own accord over time. This is why our faces will get the occasional zit or several pimples here and there. It is all about timing and how and when the pimple began to form. One day of not cleaning our face, wearing a pore clogging makeup, perspiration under a headband left on too long. The pimple forming was created by something we missed or did to our skin several weeks back.

Please realize that the use of any acne treatment may result in a few more blemishes due to the cell proliferation which occurs in removing dead skin cells from the face, can take up to several weeks before you notice an improvement and can make it seem as though your acne is getting worse. A new organic skin care or acne regimen can cause a massive breakout due to the toxins within the pores are now being drawn out and the regeneration of new skin is occurring much more rapidly. These pimples were already there hiding under the skins surface, only now being exposed because of ingredient profiles which enhance the ruptures and then begin the healing process. So be patient and allow the new regimen of skin care time to help detox your skin and correct your acne problem. Be kind to your face with the proper skin care and preferably use products that will be gentle to already fragile skin.

Soon you will be making your way to healthier, brighter, more youthful looking skin with a better understanding of how to take care of acne prone skin like you'd see in those Noxzema commercials...remember those? Ahh...memories!

Wishing you continued skin health!