marymary’s Neighborhood

Check out all of these Skin Care Tips I found on skincaretips.net.  They are pretty cool home remedies and skin care tips and tricks.

Aging Skin
The thickened skin texture associated with middle age is caused by cellular build up. It responds very well to mild, abrasive daily cleansing with beauty grains such as finely ground corn meal, ground sun flowers or almonds. Massage gently to cleanse and stimulate.
Beautiful Skin

To make or keep your skin beautiful, it's best to work from the inside.

Eating the right kind of food can do you more good than any medicine, and go a long way in helping your body's own healing forces. Eat a balanced diet that includes raw foods, plenty of yellow and orange vegetables (they contain beta carotene - a precursor to vitamin A). Foods high in sulfur such as garlic, onions, asparagus and eggs. Include fruits, seeds, grains and nuts.

Dry Skin Remedy
Blend together one ounce safflower oil, one ounce avocado oil and two ounces of sesame oil. Apply this to your dry skin areas.

Skin Care Tip on Facial Mask
An excellent facial mask can be made with stewed and mashed apricots. Apply to your freshly cleaned face and leave for 20 minutes or longer. Rinse away with warm water, and blot dry. One application will help sallow, dead skin tones, but applying this 3 or 4 times a week will do wonders.

Tea Tree Oil for Fungal Infection
If you suffer from fungal infections of the nail, the most effective natural anti fungal is tea tree oil. Apply to the nails and surrounding skin twice daily, in the morning and at bedtime.

Using Honey Treatments
Honey applied under a dry dressing every two or thee days promotes rapid healing of ulcers and burns.

Try the following. A compress made with skim milk or powdered milk or soak the affected area in a colloidal bath made with oatmeal, corn starch or baking soda.

Homemade Skin Lotion
The following body lotion is easy to make, and can be used after bathing. Mix one teaspoonful of honey, one teaspoon of lemon juice and a half cup of water. Massage into your skin after bathing.

Mayonnaise for dry skin: Facial
If you have a tendency towards dry facial skin, a gentle daily massage with mayonnaise will do wonders. You can use lemon juice, egg and safflower or other such oil to make your own dry skin lotion.

Oily Skin
Here is a cleansing stimulating facial treatment that is very helpful for those with oily skin. Mash together the pulp of one garden ripe tomato and enough fuller's earth (should find it at most pharmacies) to make a smooth paste. Rub it into your skin and leave it on until it dries completely (note: do not apply to eye area). Rinse with warm water, then splash your face with cold water. Blot dry.

Treating Large Pores
If you have large pores that resemble little holes on your skin, the following steps may be helpful. Stop using commercial products on your skin. Instead, use homemade skin cleansers. Splash warm water onto your face and pour half a handful of stone-ground cornmeal into your wet palm. Massage the moistened meal into your entire face area, adding water as needed. Another homemade cleanser can be made by adding a few drops of lemon or lime juice or apple cider vinegar to milk (use powdered skin milk if your skin is oily).

Soak yarrow (check health food stores or botanical supply stores for this herb) in water overnight, and apply this astringent several times a day - less frequently if your skin is dry.

Avoid all creams. Use an unsaturated vegetable oil if you need to (e.g. vitamin E oil).
Rashes

Whether it's diaper rash, chicken pox, measles, insect bites or hives, corn starch can provide relief. For measles and chicken pox, bathe in a tub of water to which a large handful of cornstarch has been added. For the other rashes rub the cornstarch on as a powder.
Softening Your Skin

Avocado oil used regularly is an excellent skin softener. It is in rich in vitamins and minerals, especially the skin vitamins A, C and E.

With all the money I spend on candles here and there testing out different scents, mixing and matching etc. Ive always wanted to know how to make my own.  I stumbled across this great class that you should check out if you're in the Los Angeles area

CANDLE MAKING NATURALLY
with PERSEPHENIE

Sunday JUNE 8, 2008

Create beautiful natural & affordable handmade candles that burn slowly using wax from renewable resources.

• Learn how to make different types of candles using beeswax and soy wax.
• What works when scenting wax naturally.
• How to make a candle burn smoothly without wasted wax residue.
  
  

 

12PM to 4PM
$85 Hands-on , Plus materials List, Some materials included

 

Class is in a intimate setting with max 8 students per class.
Class is held at: Blunda Aromatics Studio , 304 S. Edinburgh Ave
(1 block West of Fairfax, South of 3rd Street)

 

If anyone knows of other cool and fun classes or events about candle making, skincare, bath and body stuff etc. let me know, I would love to hear about it!

For more information on this and other scent-related classes visit http://www.blundaaromatics.com

Hydration is one of the best and most important ways to improve and maintain your complexion.  Hydration essentially means to keep your body filled with enough water and moisture to operate at optimum performance and keep your skin healthy and glowing.  We lose on an average 10 cups of water a day in exhaled air, perspiration and well, you know the rest.  In actuality, by the time you feel thirsty you have probably already lost about 2 cups of water and considering the body is between 50 and 70 percent water and the brain is over 70% water, it is easy to see how we may not always be at our hydration optimum.

   Water is critical in regulating all body organs and temperature as well as moving nutrients and oxygen to cells in your body.  What is the largest organ in the body?  The skin!  Also, keeping the body hydrated helps to flush out toxins and pollutants in the bloodstream as well as combat dehydration caused by exposure to the sun, perspiration and harsh winds.  All factors that are known to increase skin damage, dull complexion and dry your skin. Hydration is necessary to help raise the skin's natural barriers and to moisturize and nourish the skin. The use of gentle cleansers can prevent stripping the natural essential skin oils and combat winter dryness.
 
    Of course the easiest way is to hydrate the skin is to get water into it.  As easy as this advice is there is one problem.  The skin is virtually waterproof and water cannot penetrate its resilient surface.  The best solution is to drink enough water and prep your skin with external elements that have essential oils rich in nourishing elements like almond oil, grapeseed oil, coco and shea butter, among others.  Water is still the most effective way of replacing lost fluids.  Because water is naturally low in sodium, has no fat, cholesterol or caffeine and isn't flushed straight through the body like many other beverages, it's the natural solution that your body chooses to help reach its daily fluid quota.

   We all know that we need to keep hydrated and drink at least 8 cups of water a day. However,  we sometimes forget (myself included) how truly important it is and how much it will help maintain our body and our skin.

ThomFlemingSkinCare.com

Ingrowns suck and can become a chronic annoyance from the big ones to the bumps, so here are some tips to help!

1. Exfoliate! Exfoliate your skin before you shave, the dead skin cells can clog your razor and prevent a close shave, so get rid of em!

2. Exfoliate!! Ingrown hairs are caused when the hairs curl back under the skin. Avoid ingrowns by exfoliating daily and using a glycolic acid body lotion.

3. If you have chronic issues consider an over the counter lotion specifically for ingrowns such as Tend Skin or Smooze. Smooze is actually a mens product but works great.

4. Probably my favorite little trick Ive found that is fun and inventive: Take some sugar and soap, shave some soap off the bar or use soap flakes and mix with raw sugar & water into a paste "(mask consistantcy)" apply to ingrown folical with a bandage, leave on over night and take off next morn :D

And also dont forget that for your daily exfoliating needs you can use the lovely and delectable products found at www.thomflemingskincare.com ; )

WITH THE NON-STOP LIVES MANY OF US lead, slipping into a warm bubble bath can be one of the most soothing and rejuvenating delights after a stressful week. As a British poet and physiologist Thomas Lovell Beddoes eloquently wrote, “We have bathed, where none have seen us, in the lake and in the fountain, underneath the charmed statue, of the timid, bending Venus.” Indeed, historically, bathing has had a long evolution: from public bathing in rivers, to social and communal bathing in the baths of Greece and Rome, to a mostly private respite at home.

   
    The typical Roman bath was a large gathering place where one could not only bathe, but also exercise, socialize, and even shop. These baths would have a warm area for bathing, called the calidarium— with water heated by subterranean streams. Most often, there was also a frigidarium—a large chilled swimming pool area; A sudatorium, which is similar to our modern day sauna bath; and a caldarium, akin to our concept of a steam room.
 
    Similarly, the Greeks not only bathed, but also socialized, exercised and discussed philosophy in large baths/gymnasiums. Hippocrates and his contemporaries believed that diet and exercise could aid the natural healing powers of the body. A study by the Mayo Clinic appears to confirm Hippocrates—the study found that soaking in a hot bath gives many of the health benefits of exercise with less strain on the heart. Bathing gently increases the heart rate, while simultaneously lowering blood pressure.

    Evidence of the first personal-sized bath tub was found on the Isle of Crete, where a five feet long pedestal tub was unearthed, built from hardened pottery. This tub is most likely an inspiration for the classic 19th century clawfoot tub. Today, most modern bathtubs are made of acrylic or fiberglass, but alternatives are available in enamel over steel, cast iron, or other materials. If you are planning to update your tub, the company Kohler (www.us.kohler.com) carries many fine, classic designs like the standard clawfoot—as well as many modern tubs, fixtures, and accessories.

   A bath can help you unwind, relieving tension and easing sore muscles. Bathing at night can also help you sleep better. According to the National Sleep Foundation, immersing yourself in hot water for at least 15 minutes before bedtime will raise your body temperature and increase your ability to fall asleep faster. Adding your favorite bubbles, salts, or oils will enhance the experience and make your soak seem more luxurious. And, if your tub is large enough to accommodate two, a long hot bath can also be one of the most romantic things to share with the one you love.

BATH EXTRAVAGANCES
Here are some of our new favorite bath accessories to make your
respite even more relaxing and satisfying.

Salts: Ole Henriksen’s Muscle Comfort Soak relieves those fluseason aches and fatigue with sea salt and eucaplyptus (See www.olehenriksen.com). The downtown Los Angeles Bath Petals factory carries all organic, cruelty-free bath products. Among many other lavish items, they have bath salts made from natural Pacific sea salt, essential oils, natural colors, and petals or leaves, depending on the scent (See www.bathpetals.com or phone (888) BATH-PET).

Soaps: For a wide variety of organic soaps from all over the world, as well as massage oils and candles, it’s worth a trip to Organica Bath & Body (Call 323/852-4960 or stop in to their shop at 313 North Edinburgh Ave, off Fairfax). Save Your Skin rainforest soap is handcrafted and pampers skin, while donating proceeds to a 200,000 acre reserve in South America (See www.saveyourworld.com). And the
Napa Soap Company’s Mandarin Chardonnay Liquid Soap makes washing any of your body parts a fragrant experience. We’re big fans of their entire product line, which includes lotions and delicious handmade soaps (See www.napasoap.com). If you’ve been wanting to try organic hemp bath products, Hempstead in Laguna Beach caries a great deal of wholesale hemp lotions, washes, oils, as well as hemp shampoo, and hemp conditioner (Call 800/284-4367 or
see www.store.hempsteads.com).

Scrubs: For an invigorating treat, try The Ultimate Man Body
Scrub Soap, or for more moisturizing exfoliation, try Crème de Corps Soy Milk and Honey Body Polish, both by company Kiehls (See www.kiehls.com, phone 323/965-0569 or visit their L.A .store at The Grove). Juice Beauty’s Green Apple Body Peel exfoliates with fruit acids, and smells like a moonlit apple orchard (See www.juicbeauty.com). Thom Fleming Lemon Souffle body scrub smells like a lemondrop in a bottle, and makes your skin fresh and soft (See www.thomflemingskincare.com). Finally, for a spa-inspired bath, try Avance Seaweed Spa Bath, which hydrates and detoxifies your skin, making it silky soft (See www.avanceskincare.com). Bubbles: Jason Natural Cosmetics offers a terrific supply of bubble baths, washes, and other products. The Chamomile Satin Shower is sumptuous, and contains relaxing herbs of chamomile and comfrey, along with rich natural oils of sunflower, avocado and vitamin E (See www.jasoncosmetics.com).

ThomFlemingSkinCare.com
Check out a Thom Fleming favorite, CURE spa in Mailibu.  Choose from a variety of revitalizing treatments including a signature Thom Fleming treatment.

Experience CURE, Malibu’s premier seaside Medical Spa and treatment center!   Spoil yourself…indulge.  Enjoy luxurious spa treatments by top professionals in an atmosphere of sophistication.  Let the staff pamper you as your senses are invigorated with Signature Treatments that boast genuine medical value in an air of elegance. Dedicated to providing advanced treatments in state of the art facilities, CURE is presented by renowned Malibu Doctor, Lisa Benya. Call today and experience Malibu’s CURE for yourself!

Check out CURE Spa and the signature Thom Fleming Treatment


Cure Spa
         23707 Malibu Road
         Malibu Ca 90265
         Tel: (310) 456-1458

From: LA-Story.com

From: All About the Pretty.net

I usually don't like my scrubs with too much sweetness.  I love great scents, but sometimes even I can get overwhelmed.  I adore a good body scrub that gives me that as "soft as a baby's bottom" feeling.  Plus, it needs to be moisturizing.  The kind of moisturizing that leaves soft supple skin and not the dehydrated extra flaky-as-a-snake-scale-skin.  Well, Thom Fleming Rainbow Sorbet Body Scrub is such a beauty item.  The scent is a mixture of lemon, raspberry, and lemon that is so delectable you have to stop yourself  from sniffing your arm over and over again.  It's my new favorite scrub and is providing so much joy in my life right now that it has me singing The Rainbow Connection.

From: Well Above Average

I'm a sucker for skin care stuff, so when I got the opportunity to check out Thom Fleming Skin Care, I was all over it. Currently the line consists of three decadent body scrubs--which contain fruits, natural oils, Dead Sea salts, vitamins and minerals. The scrubs come in Lemon Soufflé, Mochanilla and (the one I got to test drive!) Rainbow Sorbet Body Scrub.

The Rainbow Sorbet is accurately named because you actually get four scrubs in one--apple, raspberry, peach and lemon layered in colorful stripes. I've tried many different body scrubs and Thom Fleming's are fairly unique in a number of ways:

1. It comes in a tube--how brilliant is THAT?!!! Most of the scrubs I've used are packaged in big ol' jars or tubs. A squeeze tube makes it that much easier to get the product out and only use the amount you need.

2. It doesn't separate. I always have to dig into the jar and mix the salt or sugar back up with the oil before I can use it to exfoliate in the shower. It's messy and bothersome--not to mention just a bit unsanitary. The formula of the Thom Fleming scrubs is such that the Dead Sea salts don't separate from the natural oils. So there's no digging in to mix it back up. Did I mention that you can just squeeze it out of a tube?

3. The gentle lather. With most scrubs, I end up using a bodywash first, and then exfoliating with the scrub after. The Rainbow Sorbet Body Scrub worked up into a gentle lather, eliminating that extra step.

4. Not feeling like an oil slick afterwards. I love how soft and moisturized my skin is after using a scrub, but I never did like the residue of oil that remained on my skin. The Thom Fleming scrub left my skin soft without feeling greasy. Just clean and fresh!

The Thom Fleming Skin Care motto is: "When you can't get away...escape." And with these luscious body scrubs it certainly is like a mini spa getaway right in your own shower!