Tag: oils


Serum vs Oil: What’s the difference?

November 18th, 2013 — 2:53am

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Are you confused by what makes a facial serum different from a facial oil? Are you overwhelmed by the ever-growing number of both kinds of products on the market, particularly the green beauty market?  Don’t know where to begin your research to find the perfect oil and/or serum for you? You’re definitely not alone. This photo shows just some of my favorites from my ever growing collection, and is an indication of just how many delicious – and different – options are available (and potentially overwhelming!)

I love a good glow, the kind that only comes from super hydrated skin. I start 90% of my makeup applications on skin that I’ve prepped with a facial oil or serum, including my own skin. But what defines one product an oil, and another a serum?  The woman behind the eponymous skincare line, May Lindstrom, explained it wonderfully well:

  • A face oil adds hydration and nutrition.
  • A serum does something bonus – it brightens, slows the onset of lines and wrinkles, it tightens, it exfoliates, etc.
  • Serums can be essentially a face oil blend with an extra ingredient(s), or it can be an oil-free base of aloe or an emulsion of oils and floral waters, or any number of other things. Serums vary wildly in texture and use. Some replace your face oil (because it’s basically one), and others are sticky and do not wear well alone at all and must be layered with a face oil or cream.

So where should you start when you make the decision to incorporate an oil and/or serum into your routine?

  • There’s a great resource/reference site called rank and style that uses algorithms to search the internet to determine which products are selling the most and getting the best blogger, editor, and industry  recommendations, and then synthesizes all the info they collect to put out top 10 lists on just about everything, from specific items like puffer jackets or yoga mats, to all-natural face oils or brown ankle boots. I must admit I was skeptical at first, but I knew that since I’m familiar with all of the natural serums on the market, this would be a great list to test how spot-on their data collection really is.

    I was super happy when their list, which you can check out here, included all great, all truly green options, all of which I can give my stamp of approval.  I didn’t include them in my pic above because I’d used up my stock of them, but in addition to those you see, I’m also huge fan of the serums from Tata Harper and Burt’s Bees, which came in at numbers 3 and 5, respectively (very different price points, but both really great).

  • You may know me to mention this site: Spirit Beauty Lounge from time to time (that means all the time). I’ve gotten to know Spirit over the years and hands down, she’s the most knowledgable person I know when it comes to all things green beauty.  Check out her thoughts and recommendations on oils and serums here  and here. She’ll send you samples so you can see which your nose (the aromatherapy aspect is key for me) and your skin respond to the best before you commit to full containers – but I can assure you, there’s not one on her site that I don’t like.

    A funny side note: A while back Spirit and I were at lunch and she asked which serum I was using. I told her I was fearful of serums because of my constant outbreaks, and that I’d basically stopped using everything on my skin. The look of disappointment that spread across her face told me that my understanding of serums was off, and she promptly schooled me. I’ve been using serums ever since and have seen a HUGE improvement in texture, lines, and coloration of my skin, and even a decrease in outbreaks. Who knew?

  • Finally, this cheat sheet article on Birchbox.com, in which Los Angeles aesthetician, Rita Csizmadia is interviewed, really helps break down why you should be using an oil/serum, and specifically which types of oil are best for your skin.

WHAT ABOUT THOSE OF US WITH SUPER SENSITIVE SKIN?
SHOULDN’T WE STAY AWAY FROM THESE PRODUCTS?

We’ve all been made to fear oils and oil-based serums – especially those of us who break out easily – because of oil-free product-marketing that has been heavy in the media for decades now. I can attest, however, that for *most* people, incorporating a serum or an oil into your weekly (if not daily) routine is beneficial. The only times I’ve seen problems is when A. I applied oils to models who don’t frequently exfoliate, therefore the oil or serum wasn’t able to penetrate into the skin, onto which I then piled foundation, concealer, and powder for a day – or week! – of photographing,  or B. when I used a very active serum – one that is chock full of high doses of plant extracts – on highly sensitive skin (like my own), and the skin just straight away had an allergic reaction to it, and got all red and bumpy.

If you have eczema or rosacea you may benefit greatly from a gentle face oil or serum, and you may want to top it off with a moisturizer to help strengthen and protect the external layer, as well. If you’re acne-prone, do not fear – the most wonderful thing about oils and serums is that they penetrate quickly, which means they don’t have waxes and other heavy components to sit on top of the skin and clog pores.

Finally, know that if one oil or serum breaks you out in pimples or a rash, that doesn’t mean they all will. Keep trying until you find one that doesn’t, and remember that you don’t necessarily need to use it daily. Sometimes a bi-weekly application is more than enough to keep those deeper layers of skin hydrated and plump.

There are numerous variations in ingredient lists, and it’s a good idea to familiarize yourself with which oils and extracts are right for your skin. The above links will help you do just that.

HOW TO USE A FACE OIL/FACE SERUM

  1. On freshly washed skin that is still damp from washing, OR on freshly washed skin that has been spritzed with a hydrating spray, apply a few drops of your product with your freshly washed fingers.
  2. Gently glide the product across your forehead, cheeks, chin, and give yourself a gentle massage, gently pressing it into your skin, making sure to bring it down onto your neck, and the area of skin below your collarbone, even down to your chest. You’ll notice that a little product goes a long way when you apply it to damp skin.
  3. Allow the product to sink in for a few minutes before applying your moisturizer (if you determine you still need one) and your makeup, and if you’re a nighttime applier, be sure to complete your regimen long before your face hits your pillow to allow maximum absorption time.

Let us know what you’re using that you love, and how you would describe your skin before and after you discovered oils and serums, here, on the Facebook page for this blog.

Do I need to include a disclaimer line here? Just in case, here goes:  You all know I’m not a dermatologist, nor a scientist. I’m just a person who looks at, touches, and learns about different skin on a daily basis. I also ask a ton of questions and do a ton of research. Finding an aesthetician, dermatologist, or holistic health care practitioner you feel you can trust is wonderful, but I believe we each have the responsibility and the ability to do some of the research about what’s going to benefit us by ourselves, for ourselves.

xoxo

 

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Alexis Smart Flower Remedies

August 18th, 2013 — 10:57pm

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Late one night while I was in LA this winter, I was trolling the internet, and  came across a store selling small blue bottles filled with liquid. The print on the label read: Alexis Smart Flower Remedies. How curious. The link took me to Alexis’ website, where I very quickly read about her, and learned that an interested buyer could go so far as to have a consultation with Alexis – a skilled flower remedy practitioner – and that she would mix up a special batch for that person, tailor made to treat their woes.  I erroneously came to the conclusion that these little bottles contained essential oils for aromatherapy purposes, and I decided I would contact her immediately for a consult since I’m so often helped by pick-me-up scents in the afternoon, and calm-me-down scents in the evening (and when I’m freaking out).

I read through the comments on Alexis’ website. Person after person had left her glowing reviews. It seemed that through working with Alexis, everything from anxiety to depression to over-eating to acne and even irritable bowel syndrome could be eradicated. The reviews were written in such different voices that even my skeptical nature – thinking that the owner of the site wrote all the comments – was quelled. I emailed her immediately to ask for a  consultation so that I, too, could find scented relief from my worst ills.

The response email from Alexis was so kind. She invited me to come in, and gently stated that it seemed I didn’t fully understand what kind of practitioner she is, or what was in the little blue bottles, but that she would explain when I arrived.

My consultation with the beautiful, soft spoken, kind, and intuitive Alexis lasted about an hour, and consisted of me telling her about myself – how I’ve come to be who I am,  how I deal with the emotions I experience, past hurts, thought patterns, physical ailments – you name it; Alexis said she was the detective, trying to learn every little thing she could about me, as she wrote down key pieces of info that would lead her to making the contents of my little bottle.

She asked me a handful of questions, wrote and then crossed things out on a notepad–all the while, making me feel extremely comfortable – and then when I’d shared enough, she began to tell me so much about myself – things I knew, but hadn’t ever been able to put into words. She told me how the classifications of flower remedies worked, and then we discussed which ones she thought I needed to take. I agreed with everything she suggested.

How would I know it was working, and what exactly would it do to me, I asked her when she returned from the kitchen with a little bottle on which she’s written the ingredients and my name. She smiled and said: you’ll just know. For me, this wasn’t sufficient, and I asked again: but how long until most people feel like it’s working? Alexis’ response was the best visual ever: I want you to picture you are a loaf of bread, standing on one end. I’m slicing off the top end, looking in at all of the holes, and pouring the remedy over the top. The liquid knows where to take itself, how to navigate the holes, and soak in where it’s needed.  It can heal old wounds we didn’t even know were causing us problems and make us feel whole and vibrant when we didn’t know we weren’t. If you want to know more about flower remedies,  Alexis breaks it down into pretty simple English here.

I’m about to request my third bottle (with each new bottle, you consult with Alexis about what’s going on with you, what changes you’ve seen, what you’d like to see), and I can honestly say this: Flower Essences are powerful, real, and Alexis Smart knows her stuff. In addition to the emotional stuff she’s helped me with, without a doubt she’s helped clear my acne. That alone has me indebted to her for life!

She offers pre-mixed versions of the little blue bottles on her website and in select stores around the country. She’s also available for in-person and telephone consultation sessions. I’ve sent a few friends and clients to her since we met less than a year ago, and each has reported back glowing reviews.

I’m about to enlist some friends to take part in a little beauty experiments using Alexis’ Beauty Formula No. 8. I’m very excited to see how this goes. Keep ya posted!

Everyone, meet Alexis:

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and this is the view as you approach her house:

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I can’t wait to go back!

 

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