We are offering  pure ingredients specialty products:

Sodium Hyaluronate

Also known as nature’s “moisture magnet” delivers advanced levels of hydration. It is a high molecular weight substance belonging to the group of glycosaminoglycans and has a molecular weight of 0.4-3 million. Effect on the skin: Owing to its high molecular weight, S H is not absorbed when applied to the skin. Instead, it forms a thin, invisible, transparent, viscous-elastic surface film. The film fixes moisture on the surface of the skin in a similar manner as Hyaloronic acid does in the ground substance of the tissues. The SH film helps to retain the most important characteristics of youthful, healthy skin, such as suppleness, elasticity and tone. The SH film supports the natural protective mechanisms of the skin.

Apply a few drops all over clean the face and spread with long strokes. Can follow if desired by any other cream. Do not use on breakouts. 

Our price : $35 1 oz.

What are peptides? Do they actually make you look younger?

Many skincare products use peptides to treat wrinkles. But what are peptides? And do they actually make you look younger? Skin is made up mostly of collagen; it is the foundation that gives your skin its support and thickness. Young people have lots of collagen and taut, smooth skin. In contrast, older people have much less collagen and thin, wrinkled skin. Collagen is protein and made up long chains of amino acids strung together, like chains of linked building blocks. When it is broken down, short segments of 3-5 amino acids form.  These are called peptides.  Peptides are not just junk collagen; these "mini proteins" are active molecules - and you pay a whole lot for them in your wrinkle cream. Here are three ways that peptides claim to improve wrinkles and make you look younger: 1. Peptides Signal Your Skin to Make More Collagen When we age collagen is destroyed but not replaced. As a result, young and smooth becomes thin and wrinkled over time. One strategy to improve winkles and to make you look younger is to replace lost collagen. When collagen breaks down, it forms specific peptides. These peptides act as a signal to tell your skin it was damaged and to make new collagen. Applying peptides directly to your skin is a way to trick your skin into thinking that it has lost collagen recently and needs to make more. The most popular signal peptide for cosmetic use is palmitoyl pentapeptide (Matrixyl). It can be found in many peptide skin products and might be effective in improving the appearance of fine lines.  2. Peptides Deliver Copper into Your Skin Because peptides are small, they can penetrate the skin's protective barriers to get to the deeper layers. When copper is attached to a peptide, the peptide can deliver copper to the living layers of the skin. There is research showing that copper is an effective agent in healing skin, which is why it has been used for years to treat chronic wounds. Copper peptides seem to promote collagen production and act as antioxidants. They are needed for natural healing and regeneration of your skin and to help remove damaged collagen.  3. Neuropeptides Might Act Like Botox Some peptides might block transmission of signals from nerves to your facial muscles. In particular, a neuropeptide called Argireline has been shown in the laboratory to block the release of neurotransmitters from nerves. If Argireline was absorbed all the way through the skin to the level of the muscle, then it might block contraction of the muscle, leading to smoother skin, similar to Botox. However, it would be like pouring a small glass of water onto a mattress and expecting it to soak through the underside of your box spring -  it's very unlikely. Neuropeptides are sold in products often called wrinkle-relax creams  Peptides Might Not Do Anything There are many things that have to go right in order for peptides to actually have a benefit.  Because they are break-down products of proteins, they have to be stabilized or they might continue to break down further in a topical cream, becoming useless. Also, they have to be in a cream that allows them to penetrate the skin. If a great peptide is in a thick cream that only sits on the surface, then it will never penetrate and will eventually be washed off, without any benefit.That being said, signal peptides and copper peptides seem to have the most evidence for their efficiency.

Easy, Fast, Fresh Mask for all kinds of skin:

Mix 1 teaspoon yogurt, 1 teaspoon honey (warmed up slightly) with 3-4 drops of fresh made green tea.  Apply to face and leave on for 15 min.  Or, you can mix in oatmeal for a thicker consistency.  Apply to face, neck and décolleté.  Leave on for 15 min and remove first with warm water, then use cold water for the final rinse.  Use 3-4 times a week for the first month. Then twice a month will be enough to keep your skin refreshed and toned.

Hair Massage your scalp with a brush, and never wash your hair right before bed.  You can wake up with a headache.  That happened to me!  
Use an herbal solution to rinse your hair at the end of the shower.  For blonde hair, use chamomile.  Boil 1 liter of water.  Turn off heat.  Add a handful of flowers.  Leave for 10 min.  Strain and then use it after you shampoo your hair.
Or, boil 1 tablespoon Rosemary and 1 liter of water for 5 minutes, and proceed the same way.  For auburn hair rinse with black tea.  It will intensify your color.  Or, mix 2 egg whites,  a freshly made cup of coffee, and one cup of water.  Make a paste, apply on your hair for 10 min, then wash with shampoo.  For red hair, smash 4 strawberries in 2 oz of hydrogen peroxide.  Apply to your hair for 15-20 min, then shampoo.

Start your morning by massaging your face with these delicious ice cubes:

1. Bring apple and orange peels to a boil. Let sit for two hours and then freeze it.

2. Miracle Parsley. Boil 50gr of parsley with 500ml of water for 15 minutes. Strain and freeze it.

Specialty  Masks:

1. Mix 2 grated apple, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon olive or almond oil. Put on your face for 10 minutes.

2. Cook 100gr rice (no salt). Smash 1 pear and mix it with the strained rice paste. Use for 15 minutes.

3. Make a paste from white grapes. Use for 10-15 minutes.

4. Blend a small zucchini with 1 egg yolk. Use for 15 minutes.

5. Blend a small eggplant with 1 teaspoon apple juice. Use for 10 minutes.

6. Be creative! Any fruit combined with yogurt (do not use non-fat) can be a great mask. 

It's best not to use tap water to remove your mask. Use filtered water for best results. Always follow with a hydrating cream. It is a lot of fun to make fresh masks. It can be messy too. When applying a mask, lie down and give yourself time to relax. It is your time after all - enjoy it!!

Skin Deep  Q & A
Q: What are some ingredients to be avoided in skin care products?

A: Petroleum Products do not penetrate skin: they are not even absorbed by it. Many active substances are less absorbed when a petroleum base is used.  Petroleum inhibits the secretion of perspiration by 40-60%.  When larger areas are covered with products containing petroleum or mineral oils, heat build up might result.  Hair follicles and sweat gland orifices could become obstructed.  They often lead to the formation of comedones and other symptoms of irritation.
Mineral oils, petroleum, paraffins, ozokerite, ceresin - all are derived form crude petroleum, and are alien to the body and therefore incapable of replacing skin fat.  On the contrary, application and rubbing off may lead to a degreasing of the skin.

Perfumes and essential oils cause allergic reactions in many people, reactions such as skin irritations, rashes and acne. When perfumes and essential oils are added to eye creams, puffiness and irritation around the eyes may occur.  Alcohol in facial creams can dry the skin.  It also may cause rashes or a burning sensation on the skin surface. Dyes and coloring agents can also produce allergic reaction in sensitive people.
Unscented products may contain chemicals to mask the unpleasant odors of some of the ingredients used.
More to follow in next newsletter.

Q: Is coconut oil good for my skin?

A:  It may be natural, but it clogs pores, causing blemishes.  Dioxane is derived from coconuts and widely used in skincare products. The most serious problem is that it can contain high concentrations of 1,4-dioxane, considered a chemical "known to the State of California to cause cancer."

Q: What are natural emulsifiers?
Natural emulsifiers and emollients can be traced back to the original methods of making cosmetics.  Those are beeswax and 100% vegetable and animal oils.  Most cosmetics companies have stopped formulating cosmetic products in this way many decades ago, with the arrival of petroleum products and ammonia based emulsifier such as trethanolamine (T.E.A.).  It is harsh on skin and may possibly be carcinogenic if it combines with other chemical agents to form nitrosamines. DEA (diethanolamine ) is a thickener and emulsifier used in shampoos. Glycerin and propylene glycol are common moisturizers, but both dry out the skin.

I do carry a special line of cosmetic products which uses only natural emulsifiers and emollients. To request more info, please email me.

Remember: even one bad ingredient in the product's formula can cause a negative reaction.