friday forte - the next dose

To recap: I'm not all that happy about the way I'm crawling thru my forties so here's how I'm planning on making the changes.



This week went well despite a prolonged period of solo parenting while DH was away on business. This week I was Back On Track after the distracting whirl of christmas. Since last Friday's post I've managed a 20 minute run while the Wee Guy was skating, a morning's cross country skiing (while he was in Jackrabbits), a 30 minute run at the gym (Wee Guy in childcare ...), 800m swim (ditto, lessons .... sensing a pattern yet) and I did manage to go to my fencing lesson thanks to some excellent childminding (by my guinea pig sitter, not kidding). Wednesday was my cool down (telecommunications and internet upgrading day - I completed my inventory logging while the tech worked around the house) and Thursday I swam again.



All in all, a good week .... and did you spot the goal achieved? Yes - childcare. A small step but one that will leave me less frustrated and a little more independent.



On reflection it is the loss of independence which frustrates me most. Pre-child I wouldn't say I didn't have a care in the world but dealing with someone else's total dependence was not on the agenda when planning late nights, spontaneous breaks, last minute treats or networking opportunities. Now it seems my whole waking life is muddled with interdependence. True, I wouldn't change it for the world since not having my little interdependent co-traveller would make my world a sadder place but ........ it does confuse even the simplest issue and I can't help but think wistfully of simpler times.



forte!



ps: currently reading "40 over 40: 40 things every woman over 40 needs to know about getting dressed" by Brenda Kinsel - wardrobe makeover next perhaps?

On Why We Don’t Use the Best Things We Have

Last weekend I took on the Herculean project of cleaning out my wardrobe... trying to cull my stuffed drawers by either throwing away damaged clothes or donating the ones I no longer wanted to charity. I tackled one category at a time (so as not to become overwhelmed). I started with my pajama drawer, and then moved on to workout clothes, and then... actually, I stopped after workout clothes. I stopped because I noticed an alarming trend. And the trend was this:

I do not use the best things I have.

Allow me to elaborate…

In my pajama drawer I have two types of pajamas. The beautiful, lovely matching kind (I went on a loungewear buying shopping spree in London last year at Intimissimi and picked up the most gorgeous sets of pajamas!) and the kind that have loooong since seen better days. You know- Calvin Klein night slips that were gorgeous two years ago but now have frayed or torn lace, or a cotton pajama night set that has seen the washer one too many times. And yet, I found myself hesitant to get rid of my old pajamas- in fact, I didn’t get rid of any of them (after all, I do love that Calvin Klein slip!) and I moved on to my workout clothes.

There I noticed the same trend. I have some lovely yoga pants and tops from Hard Tail and Lucy yet I found myself hanging on to the ratty college t-shirt and cut off sweats of years past. That is when I paused.

Why could I simply not let go of the old stuff and only keep the best? Why would I want to wear a tatty old slip when I could lounge in my beautiful sea green silk pajama pants and matching chemise? Why would I want to take my dog on a walk in faded old sweat pants when I could sport a beautiful, flattering workout ensemble instead? What was I saving my best for? An invitation to Buckingham Palace?!

In short… why was I not using the best things I had?

So quickly, without thinking about it too much, I placed all of the questionable items in a bag and got rid of them on the spot. I have spent the week lounging in my absolute best and I can’t tell you how gorgeous and liberating it feels.

I would love to know… do you use the best things you have?


Pictured above are two of my current favorite lounge wear garments... a pink lace night shirt from Intimissimi and a satin pink dressing gown from Victoria's Secret.

Bacteria In Your Mineral Makeup Jar - True Or False?!

The Myth Spreads Yet Again

I recently received a phone call from a customer letting me know how great her skin is doing since purchasing our mineral powders. She loved everything about them including the moist method of application for better coverage.

However, she was also confused by yet again, another mineral makeup company writing in their blog about Rice Powder. I asked her to send me the link and was amazed at how ill-informed this blogger was, stating that the use of rice powder promotes the growth of bacteria if you get it wet or store the container in your bathroom. Which they further add, the product containing rice powder must be preserved.

Now we have to remember that this is an ingredient they either have chosen not to use or they repackage so they don't have a choice but what is provided by their supplier. So in other words, what or how they want to explain the problem with an ingredient does not typically come from scientific data, but a personal belief or simply to cast aspersions against an ingredient to promote their mineral products. In keeping that in mind, let's take a look at reality here and not rely on unsubstantiated statements in order to proclaim what is nothing less than an absolute bogus theory.

How Do Bacteria Actually Grow?

First off bacteria require the perfect environment for multiplying in mass numbers, and only if the environmental conditions are uninterrupted, then you will have a major bacterial invasion.

5 major components for optimum growth are:

• Moisture ~ Very crucial element! As little as trace amounts or a single drop of water begins the first stage
  
• Food Source ~ Sugar enzymes to build energy which come from other wet organic ingredients or just the water itself
  
• Correct pH ~ They thrive in 5.5-7.5
  
• Temperature ~ Ideally 77°F-104°F for most types of bacteria but can enjoy temps as low as 30°F and as high as 140°F
  
• Time ~ This is determined by the other 4 factors in terms of sustaining absolute perfect conditions. But it can be in as little as 4 - 6 hours the growth rate will begin.

Now, not all bacteria have the same growth requirements. For instance, bacteria that we find growing in a skin cream or makeup jar containing moisture is typically aerobic so it requires the 6th element for optimum growth, Oxygen, (opening jar) and in some cases light. Whereas, the bacteria that causes acne is anaerobic, not requiring oxygen or light, such as a blocked pore with sebum as it's source of food, not a makeup ingredient. In essence this is a fermentation process in a warm, dark, moist spot on the face, so when introducing oxygen like a Hydrogen Peroxide, the bacteria are killed. If optimum conditions are not met for any type of bacteria, a single cell may die before it can even reproduce.

Once given the right conditions however, one cell can multiply into two identical cells, then each cell will continue to multiply two by two, right into the millions or billions until the growth conditions diminish.

In all cases however, the one consistent common denominator is water or moisture added to the medium to perpetuate growth. When wanting to grow or culture a bacteria for science research, a moisture element is incorporated in every scenario, otherwise the bacterium just sit there and does nothing until it dies.

Bacteria goes through 4 stages:

The Lag Phase: This is the first phase in bacterial growth. This is when the bacterium tries to get used to its environment. This is referred to as the "lag" phase due to it being a very slow process.

Log Phase: This is what happens once the bacterium has acclimated to its environment and starts to multiply in numbers exponentially. Their numbers mass produce in continuous succession in a short period of time until the environmental factors start to diminish. Sometimes different types of bacteria can be confused for mold growth when it is actually bacteria exploding in numbers.

Stationary Phase: This is when the growth comes to a halt due to the diminishing of food, nutrients and other environmental requirements caused by the increased number of bacteria competing for the nutrients and oxygen.

Death Phase: This is when bacteria start to produce or build up toxic wastes that are harmful to them which, along with the scarcity of food and nutrients, ultimately lead to their death.

What Does This All Mean In Relation To Minerals Containing Rice Powder?

Not a thing!.........In short, if we look at the information above, the scientific data does not support the theory that rice powder will grow bacteria when it gets moistened in terms of a single application or if it is sitting in your bathroom.

Powders are dry and inert ingredients in the jar especially with lid coming off for only the time it takes to use a single application, and they remain dry absorbing moisture throughout the day on our faces. When mineral makeup is applied with the moist method, the powder dries immediately and really never is what you would call "wet" since the moisture is actually on the brush not on the powders per se. So, no bacterial growth can or will occur.

This further makes the argument that a bathroom would have to remain humid, such as after a steamy shower, continuously....24/7 or you would have to live in the middle of a rain forest to reach sustained levels of humidity. And of course we all know that if our bathrooms were like a lush, tropical rain forest, then you have more to worry about than bacteria in a jar because your walls and baseboards are going to be growing some nasty....well I don't know what....but it would take on a life of its' own and may even grow legs.

Between forced air, steam dissipating once the bathroom door is opened and so on, the conditions are never optimal whereby bacteria will never get past the lag phase. If any growth began (and a big "if") in a time frame of what would amount to less than an hour, it is quickly interrupted with a change to the environmental conditions. Moisture dries, lag phase is stalled and log phase can never take hold because there simply was never enough time to evolve since any minute humidity is inconsistent throughout the course of a day.....never mind the other factors which is, that most makeup is stored in a closed jar, in a drawer, and oh yeah as a matter of fact, the powders are dry and remain dry. Also, the fact that most of us do not keep our homes at the optimal temp of 77°F or higher.

Sometimes I wonder, where do some of these stories come from? I mean literally, the type of moisture we are talking about here in terms of loose minerals having a bacterial growth issue, is moist to the point of caked, no longer free flowing, similar to a wet pile of sand or when making a facial masque and then it sits on your counter for a few hours. I don't know about your mineral powders, but mine have never even remotely come close to this scenario.

An example of the optimum condition for bacteria to grow is inside a skin cream jar. This is where oil and butter emulsions hold moisture, then add a trace amount of water, whether on wet hands going into the jar or just the fact water is used to create most emulsions, will be prime territory for bacteria to grow to the maximum numbers. This is why a preservative system is necessary for providing safety to the consumer.

Pressed powders is another one! These will actually pose more of a problem than a loose powder due to the repeated use of a brush on the face and then back onto the powder, repeating the application over and over. This causes buildup of bacteria, skin cells, sebum (food for acne bacterium) and any skin cream or medicine you used on your face. The pressed pot of color is virtually a dirty germ pot and also why most manufacturers incorporate a preservative when creating this type of makeup application. Moisture is typically used in order to press the color into the case. However, preservatives do little to keep your pressed powders clean and effective for each consecutive application due to oxidation and decomposition of the preservative since pressed powder containers are rarely air tight.

Ignore Supposition

So many times we must look through an ulterior motive for why someone wants to fabricate their own science and confuse the less informed. Whether it is through marketing tactics or bad mouthing without evidence, ie parabens, with the list being endless for why certain ingredients are attacked without basis, we have to disseminate the data and then use only a touch of common sense to really understand the reality behind the information.

Mineral Makeup Containing Rice Powder Supports Bacteria - True Or False!?

FALSE!

Use any mineral makeup with confidence because I can assure you that even minerals which do not contain rice powder can also grow gram positive and gram negative bacteria. No mineral makeup is immune from bacterial contamination if water is introduced and then trapped inside the jar. At the very least the growth will continue until the minerals return to their dry state and then the bacteria growth again stalls, followed by death. Plus the other optimal factors must be sustained...but as you can see there is definitely a delicate balance to making this happen....

Enjoy your mineral cosmetics and continue to enjoy the silken smooth softness and healing benefits only rice powder can offer the skin.

Have a great weekend!

Cheers!

speechless since friday - wordless wednesday

The Piano Teacher- A Review

While vacationing in Barbados I had the pleasure of reading Janice Y.K. Lee’s debut novel, The Piano Teacher. This novel is a highly moving work that took me on a journey to Hong Kong in two separate time periods surrounding World War II...

The Piano Teacher follows Claire Pendelton, a newlywed who moves from her native England to Hong Kong with her husband Martin, in 1951. It takes a while for Claire to get used to the exotic city and she eventually takes a post as a piano teacher in the home of the wealthy and illustrious family of Victor and Melody Chen. Once there, Claire strikes up a relationship with the Chen’s mysterious English driver, Will Truesdale. The two begin a torrid affair- Claire falls deeply in love with Will- even though she knows the secrets of his past leave a dark shadow on their relationship...

And the secrets of Will’s past are slowly revealed as Lee weaves Claire and Will’s story with that of Will’s earlier love affair- one that took place ten years earlier on the brink of World War II with Trudy Liang, a beautiful Eurasian socialite. Trudy and Will’s love never quite stood a chance as the brutal reality of war tore their whimsical and carefree lives apart in the darkest way possible.

Lee’s prose in The Piano Teacher is sparse and haunting. She makes you long to know more about her characters- to find out their secrets- to understand their pain. This fascinating book mesmerized me, was a thrilling read and I highly recommend it.

The Piano Teacher can be purchased at all major bookstores and at www.amazon.com

What would Jeanne Do? - My French Alter Ego Part Deux

Life is about choices and when it comes to my French Alter Ego, Jeanne (pronounced Zzzhahn), she usually helps me pick the chic choice. Below is an example of what Jennifer might do (Jenn for short) compared to what Jeanne might do:

What Jenn might do:

Buy three of the same ankle pants in different colors just because they are on sale, even though she isn’t quite sure about the fit.

What Jeanne might do:

Take her time and realize that the ankle pants on sale actually aren’t very flattering. Decides to save her money to purchase a higher quality article of clothing that isn’t on sale in the future.



What Jenn might do:

Eat an entire box of prepared Kraft Macaroni and Cheese while surfing the internet.

What Jeanne might do:

Prepare plain pasta and grate fresh gruyère cheese on top and serve with a simple salad and a glass of wine. Eaten alone while listening to music.



What Jenn might do:

Pick a fight with her husband because he didn’t load the dishwasher in the most efficient way possible.

What Jeanne might do:

Pause when agitated- appreciate her husband for who he is and realize that it’s not Jeanne’s way or the highway. Rather than pick a fight, she decides to take a bubble bath instead.



What Jenn might do:

Eat waaay too much at a cocktail party and silently curse her aching tummy on the way home.

What Jeanne might do:

Delight in a few tasty hors d’oeuvres until she is no longer hungry. Focuses more on conversation instead.



This list could go on forever so I have decided to write down my observations regarding What Would Jeanne Do? And share them with you as they come.

I would love to know- how has your alter ego inspired you?


Audrey Tautou is pictured above in a scene from the 2006 film Hors de Prix. In this scene she looks as though she is contemplating what her alter ego might do...


And as a side note... my alter ego does not smoke (even though I keep featuring pictures of women with cigarettes!). Both Jennifer and Jeanne think it is very unchic to smoke...

on this day ...

On this day two years ago I caught a flu virus. I was visiting family back home in Scotland. My husband had just flown back to work in Canada and I was in sole charge of the Wee Guy. It sucks being ill away from homebase but I was lucky in that I was staying with my sister.

Everyone had been sick with the flu that christmas. I was just waiting my turn! Instead of fevers, aches and respiratory symptoms the virus made its way to my inner ear then proceeded to chew thru my auditory nerve (cranial nerve VIII; vestibulocochlear for the curious among you). At first I felt a mild sense of anxiety and with annoyance realised that my right ear was congested. Over the next half hour I lost hearing in my right ear . An hour later I was crawling along the floor unable to stand straight. The next morning I started vomiting everytime I moved position. This lasted for almost a month, including my flight back home.

Ladies (gents?), may I introduce acute viral labyrinthitis, an uncommon complication of influenza (yes, I get vaccinated annually now!) which rarely leads to permanent complications. In this case, "rarely" meant other people.

I miss stereoscopic hearing the most. I cannot tell from what direction a sound is coming. I cannot find my wee guy in our house if he yells for me. I have nightmares about losing him, hearing him and not finding my way to him. I get dirty looks from pedestrians I bump into who come up on me on my "blind" side.

I miss conversation. Listening takes a lot of energy, especially when you stubbornly remain on my deaf side. It sucks going in to a noisy bar or whatever to meet friends. I don't enjoy meeting new people cos I can't hear what they are saying, and permanent tinnitus smothers comprehension. Selling at craft fairs is exhausting!

I'm now immune to sideways looks when I sway or overbalance. Rollerblading isn't as much fun anymore but I can stay upright on ice skates. I've tried climbing again (seems OK) and have started fencing (a bit wobbly behind the mask). I'm not very good on ladders, changing lightbulbs or tipping my head back, but I can now lie down in bed at night without a wave of nausea spilling over me.

I miss hearing music in stereo though I can "feel" bass rhythms in my deaf ear. My singing voice sounds weird to me.

Pretty much the pity party, huh? ....... Not so.

• I'm much more aware of sound being a "felt" sensation which adds more depth to music. I've discovered that there is so much more to be gained from live music recitals; it's now more of a whole body experience. My deaf ear 'vibrates' when it is listening.

• I don't have to listen to people who bore me ......
  

• My balance is actually really good because I'm constantly working on it rather than taking it for granted. I'm very aware of positioning and movement.

• Under water I'm equally deaf in both ears
  

• I'm braver socially now (I think) - I really do have to pull back my shoulders, smile and walk into that room because once I'm in there I have a whole lot of work to do listening, positioning, leaning in, to join in with a conversation. It's also easier to be out by myself since I am literally in my own little world! While some shy people sweat over what they might use as an opening gambit, my small talk is, "Let me move you to my good ear so I can hear you" which is a great icebreaker! I've been given a recent ear-bashing (ho ho) on talking about my ailments but it's been a great way of connecting with others similarly afflicted. Partial deafness is invisible and permanent vertigo often misconstrued - sharing experiences with others is a great way of coping and learning.
  

• I think my occasional nystagmus is cool!
  

• I can't always hear the phone ring = less disturbance during the day (likewise can also 'answer' the phone with my right ear and quite truthfully say "I can't hear you".
  

... and I can turn my 'good' ear to the pillow to blot out extraneous noises for a good night's sleep.

Friday forte!

Not too sure where this one is going but ....



I'm currently about halfway thru my forties which, according to some persistent myths (designed to deflect attention from the menopause I guess), means I'm sailing thru my prime years ..... except I'm not particularly happy with the route being chosen for me. Thanks to a steady diet of "having children is a waste of your time and talents" in my youth I'm now navigating my own uncharted waters as an older mother while coping with a son at elementary school. It's rough difficult; he's getting to grips with socialising, school discipline, authority and I'm wrestling with wrinkles, lack of salary and the frustration of 24/7 motherhood. Although life can get a little "shouty" at times, I certainly not zipping along thru my own Roaring Forties by any stretch.



I'm tired of whimpering thru what should be an exciting decade and, thanks to some thoroughly depressing e-counselling this Fall, have realised it's totally down to me to introduce some forte in my life. Helpful suggestions from the e-counselor included take more exercise, get out of the house more, make more friends, and think about employment to increase financial independence.



Great advice ...... but ..... my main frustration right now is childcare. And most of this list requires ... childcare! I cannot automatically rely on my partner for this. For example, last week he didn't let me know that he would be late home one evening so I missed my meeting. With no family living close (or even on the same continent!) an emergency call to grandma was out of the question. It was too short notice to ask friends to babysit. He's usually home too late anyway for making evening plans and it's not the first time this has happened - the exotic world of work outside the home can usually divvy up at least one extended work day or throw in an unexpected business trip every week or so. It's getting difficult to plan ahead these days.



I could of course just throw in the towel, abandon career/business dreams and surrender to SAH-motherhood ... or I could be more proactive in masterminding my independence. Paradoxically this will be achieved by increasing my reliance on others! I need to improve my network of childminding support and identify the situations where I will need it, eg. an hour or less cover till DH comes home, or longer during an evening when I'm teaching a class; sleepovers for later night functions (and thanks to the amazing G who has come to my rescue with this one a couple of times already!) or perhaps even whole days when craft fair season looms. Instead of being at the mercy of my husband's employer, I may be able to plan my life out semi-independently .... and roar thru the rest of my forties with a little less frustration.

abundance

.... and that which was empty is suddenly full!

Blackberry Gift Shop at the Port Moody Arts Centre is now fully stocked and will be re-opening this evening.

All are welcome to come along between 6 and 8pm on Thursday 21st January. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

This is also a great chance to view the Wearable Arts Awards 2010 entries and some of the past winners in exhibition.

UPDATE: Granpowder Lumiere, Mineral Makeup Ingredient

Making Distinct Clarifications

I am publishing this weeks article ahead of schedule because I felt it was prudent to update some very important information on a past article I wrote that has some concerned as to its' content.

In the past couple of weeks my article titled: "Diamond Powder, The New Mineral Makeup Ingredient" has created quite the controversy for some. The actual name filed for under INCI is Polymethylsilsesquioxane/Benzimidazole Diamond Copolymer.

In my article I tried to be as clear and concise and remain unbiased as I could based on the information provided to me by the manufacturer and a link to a mineral makeup site sent to me by a concerned consumer and reader of my blog. For the most part it was a non issue with how it was represented based on that information, until I received a comment from an anonymous pseudo name claiming to be a formulator also, advising me of not having my facts straight on the use of certain colorants.

I recently updated this original article referenced by dates in BOLD throughout its' content which can be viewed at the link below. You will also note the comments at the bottom of the article provided to me by the anonymous contact with my response.

As I will do and have always done in the past, if something new is brought to my attention I will update the original article to reflect my latest information.

Working Together With Grant Industries For A Fair Assessment

John Gormley, contacted me on 1/18/2010 by email expressing thanks for the updates since there was a growing concern by him and his company based on the controversy which was brewing.

After reading his email, I decided to place a phone call to John directly in order to work together to see if there was anything else I could do to clarify further on this Diamond Powder matter and to resolve the colorant issue once and for all.

The only thing John was actually more concerned over, more so than the colorants, was the breakdown of this ingredient which I have multiple times clarified. However, in always trying to see things from others perspective, I realized that my breakdown, as John explained which proved to have validity, may very well cause confusion for those less informed than that of a manufacturer and cosmetics formulator. Although he realized I explained the differences, it is the context by which some may seize on and spin it into their own explanation as to why something is "bad" and create an incorrect bias to the consumer.

Allow me to reiterate, I believe this ingredient is safe under the manufacturers recommended use of up to 5%, yet as to higher concentrations, on this I'll wait and see. Bismuth Oxychloride in the past caused very little problems for the consumer as it was only a minute amount at the bottom of a long ingredient list as well. And suppliers and manufacturers of this ingredient touted its' safety no matter what levels are used also. But once it became a 1st to 2nd ingredient in mineral makeup formulations, is only when we really began to see some serious skin health issues by women who have used mineral makeup containing this ingredient as is reflected in the comments section of that article. (Bismuth Oxychloride Complete Article)

However, make no mistake, Silicone spheres are far easier on skin than BO since silicone spheres float over skin and fill in lines, while Bismuth Oxychloride is forced into the skin through the buffing action penetrating pores, causing irritation and creating cystic acne for many women.

I will typically not delete information, but only update it since I never want to be accused of censoring myself of any unintentional mistakes, or so my readers can also be privy to the original content and then the updates which can occur all the time on any article as new information becomes available, as in this case.

However, with that stated, after listening to John Gormley's concerns that this may cause negativity unnecessarily, and there are those that can and will take an article out of context instead of it as a whole, I decided to remove and replace the chemical component breakdown part of this article with a complete chemical explanation provided by Grant Industries. I would never want to be part of a smear campaign or an agenda by a watchdog group using my content taken out of context since this has been my complaint about these entities and some scientifically challenged bloggers for some time now...... Twisting things to meet a certain anti-ingredient campaign.

Keeping It Fair And Real

Out of fairness, my decision to err on the side of caution by removal of the portion in question was not done by any pressure exerted by the manufacturer as they did not ask me to do this. I made the call to them out of my own concern of unintentionally creating confusion based on information that can be misconstrued.

This is an ingredient that is not assessed yet by the CIR or any watchdog groups and is still under patent pending and waiting for INCI assignment. I also clearly state the jury is still out on this one and everyone needs to be on board with the same information. So this is why the complete removal of its' perceived chemical structure was the fair thing to do.

While we wait for things to unfold which can take years, then I believe the resolve is to not confuse anyone with a breakdown until we see how things do come to light over the increase in use of this ingredient within the industry and what and how the CSFC and EWG will break it down and review it...... Not put the cart before the horse so to speak! Time will tell, so I decided to not jump the gun on this one based on the connotation this ingredient name may infer. CIR is also a very important part of my updates as well as I give very little credence to the aforementioned two groups, yet they will make their assessment known eventually.

I asked Grant Industries to research the possibility of misinformation that may have been provided to the mineral makeup site that declares the colorants I listed in the article so this can also be resolved to the facts only. As it turns out, my list of the colorants are accurate and they provide two different versions with two different sets of colorants, such as those that would ship overseas with restrictions or where otherwise banned for use. They do not disclose both colorant lists on their website which I feel is unfortunate in terms of keeping the information clear and concise... this would go far in eliminating any further confusion to this ingredient. I have also updated the two highlighted colorants with links to the most current information so as consumers, we will be completely informed.

Furthermore, the only way to eliminate confusion to the consumer is for everyone to have their ducks in a row and I for one have decided not to contribute to that confusion through a chemical analysis breakdown in the meantime.

So I extend my apologies to Grant Industries and to you, my readers, as I know many of you have come to know me as a credible resource and rely on my information as getting to the crux of the matter. In this instance, we must allow for the completion of this ingredients application for INCI and then see how it goes from there. I will continue to keep things updated as they become available to me.

Stepping On Toes Occasionally

As in this case, those that will formulate with or manufacture any "favorite" ingredient are excited to introduce it and use it as an addition to improve their products and will see my information as a threat to their latest venture. Though this is never my intention to create controversy, it unfortunately can be the "nature of the beast" in bringing the latest and unbiased information out to the public.

Facts are facts, and as long as I investigate thoroughly and have the researched data to back it, I am comfortable with my findings and will not allow others to sway me or spin things to their liking, or let their false accusations or condescending remarks reduce my position when it comes to stating the truth. No matter the scenario, in some cases there still will be those that take offense to my assessment of whatever I am writing about and in a few cases make it personal on some level when it should be about accuracies of information provided. Furthermore, many of my articles are not just about the single ingredient I may address, but the industry as a whole, as I did in this article.

As I stated in the original article:

For me, this is not an ingredient I plan to incorporate into my mineral makeup formulas, as most of you know me that read my blog and use our products...if I can't pronounce it or the chemical chain of how it is formed is too long to comprehend, then why would I expect my customers to do the same.

UPDATED Response: There are those that have expressed to me in an email, this ingredient can easily be called Lumiere, and this explanation is a "cop out" and just being populist .....

But hey, the reality is, I can't put it on my label that way can I?......to those that profess a level of expertise yet professional courtesy becomes lost by making such a comment, should also be cognizant of FDA Labeling Regulations. Trade names are not allowed whereby the consumer is going to read the very long chemical INCI name on a product label as required by law. So this comment is counterproductive and served no other purpose other than to be condescending in tone when dealing with the facts of this article.

However, if and when I do make a mistake, I will gladly make a prompt correction and publish the updated information as I have done with "Diamond Powder, The New Mineral Makeup Ingredient."

Thanks and Cheers to All!

My French Alter Ego

One of my favorite authors on the subject of French living and lifestyle is Anne Barone. She is the author of a handful of little books on how to stay chic and slim by adopting the French attitude to life (if you are a Francophile and aren’t already acquainted with these wonderful books- allez! Acquaint yourself with them- you will love them...)

Some of Anne’s suggestions are practical and relatable… some are a little more over the top. One of her suggestions is that you give yourself a French name. You know, a sort of alter ego. Her theory here is that your chic French alter ego will keep you in check from doing very un-chic things.

Barone argues that :

“Maybe someone named Bobbie Jo who had already eaten a good supper would snack on a whole medium pizza and wash it down with 12 ounces of cola watching three hours of television in the evening. But would someone named Marie-Jeanne or Claire do such a thing? Non, non, non! Pas possible!”

I remember the first time I read this I laughed it off as a silly gimmick but quickly I realized that, while a little nutty (I don’t know how many people I would actually admit this to) giving yourself a French name actually works! Alas, my French alter-ego, Jeanne, was born.

And with Jeanne, came a new feeling of confidence. Jeanne actually debuted in France- not when I lived in Paris but a few years before that when I spent the summer in the South of France (more on that in later posts). Jeanne is chic, she is confident, she can tackle the world and do it in style!

Occasionally, however, Jeanne is forgotten and real, messy life gets in the way…

For example:

A huge rainstorm hit Southern California this week and amidst all of the rain and thunder and utter chaos, I bravely ventured out of my home to go to the grocery store. Up until my grocery store trip I had been doing laundry and working on my book, so I did not think much about what I looked like when I bolted to the store at the first sign of sun.

I gathered the items I needed and while standing in line I caught myself in a mirrored reflection. I was wearing (I shudder to recount) a white velour tracksuit, black Ugg boots, a plaid wool coat, my hair in an unkempt ponytail and no make up. I nearly fainted from the sight.

Now here is where Anne Barone’s technique comes in handy. Perhaps Jennifer (that’s me) would do such a thing- go to the grocery store looking like a wild country club refugee, but Jeanne (my French alter ego) certainly would not. Non, Jeanne probably would have taken 5 minutes to pull her hair together, change clothes (or at least match her outfit!) and apply some blush and a dab of color to her lips…

I’m glad I caught myself in the mirror today because it brought me back to reality... That life is too short to not go through it chicly. Jeanne came just in the nick of time to remind me this and I couldn’t be more grateful…

I would love to know... what is the name of your French alter ego?


For more information on Anne Barone, or to purchase her books, visit www.annebarone.com


A model wearing Jean Paul Gaultier is pictured above.

sneak peeks!

Just a little sneak peek at some pomo mama design goodies heading to the Blackberry Gift Shop in time for it's grand re-opening on Thursday 21st January (6-8pm at Port Moody Arts Centre, all welcome, complimentary refreshments available).

grand re-opening in style

empty and forlorn, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

... but for now, the Blackberry Gift Shop in the Port Moody Arts Centre is looking a little forlorn following a fresh coat of paint and revamp.

The boxes on the floor are from the various members of the artists' cooperative bringing their work back to be displayed for sale on the shelves.

The grand re-opening of the gift shop coincides with the gallery openings at the art centre this month. All are welcome to view the new displays, including this year's Wearable Arts Award.

So come on down and be part of the celebrations on Thursday 21st January, 6-8pm. Complimentary refreshments will be served.

PS: Valentine's Day is just around the corner ......

Vacation- Comme les Français

At my resort in Barbados there were people from all over the world- Great Britain, America, Italy, Spain- but you can guess which ones I was singularly interested in... Mais oui, the French. I wanted to find out how they vacation and what differences (if any) they had from the other guests.

There were only two couples from France staying at our hotel (they were not together, in fact one couple was there the first half of the week and the other the second) but these two couples spoke volumes about French culture.

I observed three main things about them with regards to going on holiday: Dress Sense, Buffets and Man-Woman Relationships...


Dress Sense:
Most of the women in the resort (myself included) wore metallic espadrilles (mine are gold- I love them!) and bejeweled cover-ups but the French women carried their understated dress sense through to their resort clothing- a simple purple dress, a floppy hat, ballet flats and sandals- and no make up. C'est tout. I don’t think either option is necessarily better- in fact I think they are both fine- anything goes on holiday. I tend to be more understated in my every day dress sense so when I go abroad to catch some sun I like a flashy sandal or a turquoise colored wrap. The French women seemed completely unfazed by this. Their resort clothing was simple, uncomplicated and body conscious.

Buffets:
Our hotel offered a sumptuous, complimentary breakfast buffet. Every possible breakfast choice was on offer: pancakes, bacon, scrambled eggs, baked beans, hash browns, bagels and cream cheese. I am terrible when it comes to buffets. I want to try it all (so that I know what’s good, you see). Both French women I observed had a large bowl of fruit, plain yogurt and a cup of coffee every morning... completely ignoring the other tempting options! With one of the women, I kept thinking that the fruit was her “starter” and waited for her to get up and indulge in some pancakes or at least scrambled eggs. But no, that never happened. She simply sat there, completely unfazed by all of the tempting options, enjoying her bowl of fruit and talking passionately with her male companion.

Man-Woman Relationships:
There was one thing about the second French couple at the resort that both my husband and I marveled at: They did not stop talking to each other! Ever! We encountered them first at breakfast (where the French lady was demurely eating her bowl of fruit and I looked guiltily down at my apricot pastry). That morning they talked about everything from politics to cinema to weather to art (meanwhile B and I happily read our respective papers in silence- I the New York Times and him Britain Today). Then later that afternoon, the same couple sat in the sun beds next to us by the pool- where they continued to talk to each other. About what? I’m not sure- at this point I was trying to read my book and have a lazy afternoon swim. Later that day B and I took a long walk up the beach to Sandy Lane and on the way back we encountered the same couple having yet another animated conversation with each other. B turned to me and said, “How do they not run out of things to talk about?!” I, too, was very amused by this. I consider myself to be happily married and have a good healthy relationship with my husband, but this French couple- who loved to talk to each other so much- made me feel like B and I were giving each other the silent treatment!

So there you have it- and I am not surprised with my observations of how the French go on holiday: they stay true to their style- even when abroad, they do not overindulge in food- even at tempting buffets and French men and women seem to honestly enjoy each others' company…


The Sasso pool at the Tamarind Cove Hotel in Barbados is pictured above...

Sterling Minerals Receives Emily Award

This Is Fun!

I just learned this week that my company had received an award from Beauty Broadcast known as the Emily Awards for 2009, for her favorites in different categories.

We received Best Mineral Makeup Foundation in the High End Category.

I love that she loves our products and appreciates the results that they offer. I was so elated at this news that I could barely refrain from being giddy!

I love Emilys' videos since she is so down to earth and really has fun in what she does. Emily is a popular makeup guru and she does regular YouTube videos on product reviews, makeup tutorials, hair fun and so many other things that strike her fancy.

Her reviews are unbiased, articulate and she has a strong desire to keeping it real and I am all for that.

She also maintains a blog in order to categorize and keep her videos and articles up to date for all of her followers.

I think she is a lovely person and truly enjoys the process of sharing the information to all, and her many fans think she is about the best out there. She is so dedicated to those that watch her videos, rarely an entire week goes by without one or two videos being posted. Personally I don't know where she finds the time, but my hat is off to her commitment.

Our Award

Here is a link to her blog for the list of the best in 2oo9:

Blog Article

And here is the video link for those that cannot see the video below to watch a full review on our Mineral Foundation.

YouTube Link

She enjoys the Velvet formula since she seems to have oily skin and wished for a heavier coverage.

Please enjoy the entire video or if you are short on time our review is located in the time bar 4 minutes and 55 seconds into the review. Just left click on the slider and drag to the time shown.



She uses our foundation in many of her tutorials as she'll explain further in her video.

Well that's it for this week! We have been extremely busy since the Holidays and Emily's latest reviews have definitely contributed to the sudden influx of new customer orders.

Many, many thanks go out to Emily of Beauty Broadcast. Keep up the good work! Here is the original review as posted on her blog!

Saturday, May 16, 2009

Sterling Minerals Review

(all images courtesy www.sterlingminerals.com -

click the picture above to visit webiste)

Hello everyone!
Hope you're all having a good weekend so far. If you've been watching my videos for awhile, you may have noticed that while I sometimes use liquid foundations- I've also experimented with many different brands of mineral makeup. Some of them I love, and some of them I really don't like! Sterling Minerals is on my love list. In the past I've raved about Everyday Minerals, which I also love, but sometimes I hear from those who say it's irritated their skin and they've had to discontinue use. It's worked fine for me, but I wanted to test an alternate product that claimed to be very skin friendly... so if EDM didn't work for you- maybe this would.

♥

I really can't provide EVERYTHING there is to know about this brand here on my blog- but the Sterling Minerals website is extremely informative and will likely answer any questions you may have. They have a section called "research center" http://www.sterlingminerals.com/research-center.asp which is a great place to learn more.

♥

According to the website: "You can enjoy a 4 in 1 money saving formula of Sunscreen, Foundation, Concealer, and Powder. Our minerals will do more than just calm and prevent irritation; they will assist in healing and repairing your skin, and will prevent flakiness, and the itchy feeling that can occur with some other brands. They are feather light on your skin and will not settle into fine lines. They will trap excess oil and retain moisture against your skin giving you a lustrous, soft, natural looking veil lasting all day until you wash them off. Colors are transfer resistant and are virtually waterproof, sweat-proof, and will hold up in high humidity."

Foundation: $24.00

My shade: Hannah- Velvet Rose Petal formula

The first thing I noticed about this foundation was how soft it felt on my face. It gave my face a very matte appearance and seemed to be medium coverage- but it is quite buildable, while still giving you a natural, not caked-on look. This is one of the most long-wearing mineral foundations, it took me through my work day staying matte- even under the bright lights on the anchor desk!

♥

The neat thing about this brand is that they have 3 different foundation formulations: mine is Velvet Rose Petal for Normal to Oily skin, and it's meant to give you the most opaque coverage. They also have Dewy Rose Petal for Normal to Combination skin, and Delicate Rose Petal for Normal to Dry and Sensitive skin- woohoo! -I know some of you are in the market for a mineral foundation that caters specifically to sensitive skin! Also- the website gives very clear descriptions of each shade- making it easy for me to pick the right one.

♥

Mineral Blush in Sunset $15.00

I LOVE this blush! It's a super pigmented deep coral shade. Blends beautifully into the skin and I think this particular shade would work great on a variety of skin tones. It's like my Milani Minerals blush in Mai Tai- only a little heavier on the peach and lighter on the pink. On the Sterling Minerals website- they give descriptions with each blush saying what skin tone it would work best for- really cool!

♥

Satin Rose Finishing Veil $22.00

Like many mineral makeup brands- sterling minerals also has a finishing veil meant to keep skin looking matte, fresh, and decrease the appearance of pores. I'm not sure how to describe this, but the texture on this particular product is very powdery and dry- this might be hard to comprehend- since clearly, the line of makeup is indeed made up of various powders. It's not necessarily a bad thing- but this product seemed very dry as I was touching it with my fingers- but on my face it really did add to the matte effect I was after.

♥

Overall Impressions

• My skin did not have any adverse reactions to the products- they seemed to be very gentle and after continuous use- I felt the condition of my skin actually had improved!
• Fantastic website- loads of info about the products- including ingredients- and it's very user friendly in terms of finding the right shade.
• All the products are very easy to blend, and manage to provide good coverage yet a lightweight, non-cakey feel- this is a big deal to me.
• The foundation had great staying power for me- even after a day at work
• The blush is fantastic and I'd imagine the other shades would be equally pigmented and pretty
• The finishing veil is nice- but I'm not sure how well it would work for extremely dry skin... because it had sort of a dry, powdery feel.
• The price is obviously higher than what you'd pay at the drugstore, especially for the foundation- however if you're looking for something that caters to the health of your skin- this might be worth checking out
• There are samples available on the website- but they are not free. They're $3.50 apiece and the containers aren't necessarily filled to the brim with the product. The website says you should be given enough for 7 days worth of applications. http://www.sterlingminerals.com/samples.asp

♥

Thanks for checking out this review everyone! Please let me know if you've tried this brand, or are planning to try it. What did you think? Once my internet is back up and running at home, I'll definitely be using this product in tutorials so you can see it in action. Have a great day!

♥

Emily

Cheers Everyone and have a great weekend! Feel free to leave your 2 cents if you wish to share your experiences also!

automatic assumptions of childcare

ant tracks, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

OK ... so I'm mildly ticked off right now.

No, I'm really ticked off right now. It's not completely that my planned evening out has been cancelled. It's not totally that my partner is home late. It's not that I've been sole parent for an additional hour or so this evening.

It's the automatic assumption that I WILL be present as caregiver for my child when my spouse is late leaving work.

Emergencies do come up. Projects require extra work into the evening - true. A working day can overrun - I am well aware (in my dim and distant past I too worked outside the home).

but

... it would have taken very little time, loss of face and effort to have called ahead to inform that a delay was inevitable. Two hours of notice could have been enough to arrange a sitter and I would have been able to go to my meeting.

My major grievance is that this wasn't done. It was automatically assumed that I would be there picking up the childcare needs cos apparently my 'work' is just not important. FYI I 'just' missed a meeting with the local artist cooperative - nothing life or death but they are a great bunch of people to network with and I was looking forward to hearing about plans for the giftshop where I sell.

As well as this degree of personal ire I feel there are also wider implications for the world of employment (all hail the salaried world outside the home). What would a working mother have done in the same situation? Unless otherwise arranged, would she have sat silently past her childminder's deadline? or would she have excused herself to either make that phonecall, or even politely absented herself? Since I've never been a salaried motehr working outside the home I have no idea what working women do when they are faced with demands to stay late (perhaps someone could educate me?). Do 'working' fathers face the same dilemma? How are women who 'play' the motherhood/childminder card at going home time viewed by their colleagues and employers?

I'd love some answers! As a non-earning SAHM I can be prickly about my status and perceived insults but am I really delusional?

A Beautiful Blue Death- A Review

Some of you might be shocked to see I am reviewing a mystery that is not by Alexander McCall Smith. Yes, I do read books by other authors- it’s just that when I find an author I like I am a devoted fan, usually for life. Which is why I am so thrilled that I read the debut novel by Charles Finch entitled, A Beautiful Blue Death.

A Beautiful Blue Death takes place in Victorian England (plus number one) and follows amateur detective and highbrow gentleman extraordinaire Charles Lenox as he tries to solve the murder of a local servant named Prudence Smith. Lenox was put on to the case by his beautiful young widow neighbor, Lady Jane Grey, who used to employ Smith.

Lenox, whose favorite past time is sitting in front of his fire with a cup of tea, a pipe and a good book, wholeheartedly goes in to solve the case, which leads him through the upper echelons of London society (where he fits in quite nicely) to the dark underbelly of Victorian England’s crime ridden streets (where he fits in… not so much).

A cast of delightful, suspicious supporting characters, a valiant butler and a double murder round out this very impressive debut novel and has subsequently left me longing for more. Luckily this is the first in a series and I am actively seeking out Finch’s second book The September Society after I post this.


A Beautiful Blue Death can be purchased at www.amazon.com

Barbados Trip- January 2010

Happy New Year! Barbados was so much fun. This was my first time on the island and I cannot tell you how much I loved it! The island itself is absolutely gorgeous- beautiful weather, miles upon miles of white sand beaches, very friendly locals and hardly any mosquitoes! (I, in general, happen to be the mosquito's dinner of choice and while I did get one bite, it was nothing compared to the 30+ bites I received in Tortola last year... but I digress...)

We stayed at the Tamarind Cove Hotel in St. James. Situated on a beautiful stretch of beach, Tamarind Cove has lovely rooms, three freshwater pools, a very delicious breakfast and countless amenities- I highly recommend it...

Here was our hotel room...


The view from our balcony...


Me on the beach...


On a trip around the island...


It felt very good to relax but as you can imagine, my mind as The Daily Connoisseur can never fully retire. There were a few guests at the hotel that were from France and you can be sure that I was in full observation of how the French vacation! (post forthcoming). I also read two amazing books that I have to share with you... I'm looking forward to a new year of blogging, adventures and possibilities. Thanks for joining me on the way...

Jennifer xx

weak and watery welcome

weak and watery welcome, originally uploaded by ebbandflo_pomomama.

A very belated Happy New Year to all.
I've been busy with a guest over the festive season - we've been out and about (despite some very watery weather) doing 'lots of stuff', keeping me away from navel-gazing on the internet.
This morning I did manage to install a retweet button into my blog posts so here's hoping it doesn't wreck my template.
I also managed to upload the festive batch of photos to flickr - they're here in this set if you'd like to peek at a soggy lower mainland christmas!

Does Oily Skin Need Moisturizing Too?

Faces That Produce Oil

Many women write to me about how oily their skin is and want to know if they can skip the moisturizing step to their skincare regimen before applying their mineral makeup.

The answer to this perplexing dilemma is "no..... skin always needs to be moisturized, especially oily skin." However, this answer is simplistic and I find myself needing to elaborate to help them understand the benefits of moisturizing even oily faces.....and that is what has prompted me to write this article.

The word oil in any context on an ingredient list can send shivers down ones' spine if they struggle with always trying to correct the over production of sebum. Well, fear not because certain oils in skincare products are not the enemy to oily skin....and will become your skins' new best friend.

Although it sounds contradictory to apply a moisturizer to oily skin, especially one that may contain oils, except it actually will help reduce sebum production and give skin a better texture. Most women who think it makes the oily skin worse or increases their acne, which is typically a side effect of oily skin, simply need to understand this concept and to retrain their thinking of what a moisturizer really is. Oily skin also tends to be thicker than normal to dry skin types, with larger pores. Their faces can literally look like an oil slick within an hour or so after washing.

Also, they think cleansing is the only answer.....and this is great for removing excess oil, debris and grime from the face, but over cleansing will strip the skin whereby creating the cycle of the face producing more oil to compensate.

Moisturizing the face is not just for normal to dry skin types, but is for all.

What Is A Moisturizer

First off, when our face produces oil, it is not the same as hydration of the skin and in many cases can be linked to hormonal changes. That is why as we mature and then finally go through menopause, oil production is reduced, our skin becomes drier and our skin thins. Although it isn't as prevalent as in the past, oily skin can still be a problem, just not to the degree as when we were younger.

A moisturizer increases water content in the skin and prevents further moisture loss when infused with natural humectants. These will attract moisture from the air keeping skin moist and supple throughout the day. Moisturizers also smooth skin and will actually aid with skin cell turnover, especially those that have natural fruit acids. Pore clogging sebum is thicker, attracts dirt and debris, allowing skin cells to become occlusive causing the endless battle with acne. Also sebum is the food for acne bacteria, so keeping it to a minimal is a good thing.

By slowing evaporation of moisture on the face, sebum producing cells shut down, and when using certain types of organic oils which mimic our own sebum, your skin will produce less and less until such time as you can enjoy an entire day without the oil slick or at least to a much lesser degree.

Bottom line oily skin is not hydration but a reaction to a lack of it. And if you are using acne products which tend to exacerbate this condition by drying the skin, causing flakiness and tightness, then the endless cycle of cleansing and treating never ends to fight oil production and everything else is a band-aid.

Treating The Oily Skin Type

Believe it or not, women can complain of having oily skin, yet they claim their skin feels tight and uncomfortable. Now you would think with oily skin, it would feel more lubricated, but again, oil is not moisture and oily skin does not make skin smooth and supple. Women with oily skin can also be sensitive, irritated, and experience stinging conditions when using some skincare products. Though it is rare, sensitivities do occur in women with this skin type.

Typically in these instances they are using acne treatments either within the moisturizer itself (Glycolic Acid AHA, Salicylic Acid BHA, Retin A, Benzoyl Peroxide, Accutane, Pro Activ) the list can be endless, or they use them as stand alone products after they cleanse. These only serve to dry the skin further, cause peeling and excessive flakiness, and keep the face in constant state of inflammation, only making acne worse.

But I can't Stand The Heavy Feel

Yes....certain moisturizers can feel too heavy to someone with oily skin. Certain emollients (mineral oil, lanolin, paraffin, dimethicone, cyclomethicone, petroleum derived ingredients, castor oil) will cause occlusion of pores and make a moisturizer feel like you are smearing buttery grease on your face. These ingredients are too heavy for any skin type and are not necessary to achieve protection from loss of moisture. Some also can be irritating to sensitive skin such as the silicone oils and lanolin and be quite occlusive....perplexing to me, I see some of these same ingredients in skincare that is recommended for acneic skin...huh?

There are lighter weight emollients such as cold pressed plant oils (avocado, coconut, grapeseed, jojoba (actually wax ester), olive, tea tree) which work to perfection without leaving a greasy feel, are readily absorbed into the dermis layer and also possess natural humectant properties including that of vegetable glycerin. The added benefit of plant oils is they also contain natural sterolins and sterols for anti-inflammatory effect and possess antibacterial, anti-fungal and antioxidant properties for an overall holistic healing experience, leaving pore clogging and irritating synthetic chemical ingredients in the dust.

In fact Jojoba Oil mimics our own natural sebum, restores pH balance to the skin and is excellent at dissolving pore clogging sebum whereby reducing acne breakouts. This miracle oil, after only a few minutes, is completely absorbed and leaves skin with a velvet texture, and it is why it is in our Evening Rose Veil and our Mineral Makeup Foundations.

Extra Virgin Olive Oil stands alone as a face wash for dissolving excess sebum and grime and softens blackheads, supports the skins' acid mantle, and since it is non-occlusive, it assists in allowing skin to breathe. Wonderful addition to skin creams!

The problem perceived with using certain emollients and synthetic emulsifiers in commercially prepared, mass marketed formulas, is they are used in the incorrect combination and they can actually make skin feel drier. So there is this battle raging on your face with your skin trying to compensate for the drying effects of one ingredient while another is trying to moisturize, whereby an oily face occurs.

By using botanical ingredients such as Jojoba, Avocado and Olive oils, they simulate the fatty acid profile, squalene, and wax esters of your natural sebum, but without clogging your pores. The best part is, they not only do not disrupt skin function, but work in tandem with your skins natural functions while also working to soften, soothe and hydrate the skin continuously.

Now with the benefits stated and you still are unsure, when applying an organic moisturizer to oily skin, you can reduce the amount you put on due to the high concentrations of these plant oils...it takes so little for an optimal effect. They are much lighter in texture so they are quite easy to disperse on the skin and can be thinned to just using a scant portion.

Example ~ our skincare products we recommend a pearl size or less for entire face, neck and decolletage. You can thin the cream further, not only by applying to a moistened face (which is preferred for optimum moisture retention on skin) but by reducing it to as small as a pea size and move quickly across the skin thinning out the texture. This will give a very light weight feel to the extreme, yet will go far at sustaining moisture, reduce dryness, and keep skin from producing excessive levels of sebum.

Keep That Moisture Coming

Additional humectants on top of natural humectants found in some plant oils, are added to skin creams to keep skin moist throughout the day. Some examples are Sodium PCA, Glycerin, Propylene Glycerol, Honey and Hylauronic Acid.

Even if you live in a dry climate, spritzing with moisturizing sprays or distilled water throughout the day will go far to bringing additional moisture to the skin where the humectants are ready and waiting to hold it there for a time.

Reducing Oily Skin And Clearing Up Acne

When using moisturizers and other skincare products that are infused with plant extracts, plant oils, fruit acids and plant distillates, you have a winning combination for dealing with skin problems, fighting aging, not causing acne and improving overall skin texture. These ingredients create an unsurpassed synergetic blend (working in unison) of a highly effective skincare regimen for all skin types, and will go far at improving oily skin, whereby acne which is the side effect, should also improve. We also don't add water to our emulsions like so many others, but Aloe Vera Juice to supplement our skincare formulas.

Sensitivities will also reduce when products are eliminated with skin drying ingredients and the stronger AHA's (glycolic acid) and BHA's (salicylic acid). Natural fruit acids are alpha hydroxy acids also and work well since when used everyday, whether in our cleanser, toner or serum will have a cumulative effect and will maintain an exfoliated skin. Also cleansing with the use of our Microfiber facial towels can be far gentler and replace the need for stronger products which create further irritation.


Women Ask About ONATI: Which Skincare Regimen For This Skin Type

• Honey Foaming Cleansing Gel ~ will not dry out or strip skin, is detergent free as we use gentle surfactants derived from coconut and fruit sugars, and helps maintain pH levels along with providing a protective layer to the skin through the use of Honey.
  
• Perfect Balance Facial Toner ~ provides light moisturizing properties, balances pH, tea tree oil for even the occasional breakout, and has natural fruit acids for gentle exfoliation of skin. Not to be confused with a drying astringent which will strip skin of its' delicate acid mantle.
  
• Calm & Refresh Face Cream ~ very lightweight moisturizer and is infused with natural plant oils, and plant extracts for helping with acne and their scars, fights free radicals, calms stressed facial tissue and never feels greasy....it feels more like a light lotion in application.
  
• Vitamin Rich Facial Serum ~ Alternative to cream if one can't wrap their mind around putting skin cream on their face...this is extremely lightweight, it is a serum not a cream, and can be used as a very light moisturizer for oily skin. It is loaded with natural humectants and antioxidants, also possesses gentle fruit acids to assist with exfoliation of skin.
  
• Grecian Secret Body Souffle ~ Although this is a head to toe cream, its' texture is whipped light and fluffy and moisturizes without greasiness. And Extra Virgin Olive Oil only is ideal for soothing acne, is rich in sterols and is a natural humectant. Depending on usage and following directions, it is also very economical! It comes in 3 delectable scents made from an aromatherapy blend of essential oils and unscented for extremely sensitive skin types.
  

Remember, for lighter weight moisture when using any of our creams, the more damp the skin is, the further the product will go. This should finally answer the question that has been a source of confusion for those with oily skin type.

Glad to be back at writing, I think I went through withdrawal there.

Wishing everyone a great weekend and the best in 2010!