I created this brand specifically for those with sensitive skin or skin conditions like psoriasis and rosacea. Now I want to help you figure out how to make these products work for you.

Do you struggle with skin traumatized by chemotherapy treatments? Are you pregnant and concerned about safe skin care? Following are eight questions and answers to help you find solutions to these issues and more. If you have other questions, please add them below in our comment section!

1. I have psoriasis, and so far not much is helping. Do you have any tips?

• Be sure to avoid products that dry out your skin, or that have potentially drying ingredients like sulfates and mineral oil. You do want, however, to exfoliate a little bit—enough to slough off dead skin cells—and get rid of any bacteria that may exacerbate your psoriasis.
• Try a non-toxic cleanser, pat dry, then apply Calming Moisture for Face, Neck, & Scalp on the face, or Repair Body Lotion on the body. These products nourish skin with goodies like aloe vera, oat extract, St. John’s wort, calendula, and more, and contain no harsh chemicals or preservatives.
• For extra dry patches, try nourishing Restorative Skin Balm, which has a trio of plant antioxidants and fat-soluble vitamins to help soften severely dry, rough areas.

2. I’m going through chemotherapy and my skin is breaking out in an acne-like rash. What should I do?

• First of all, don’t use harsh acne products on your skin. Though your rash may look like acne, most likely it’s a reaction to the chemo drugs, which means acne products will only make it worse and could put you at risk of permanent scarring.
• Instead, start with Rescue and Relief Spray on freshly cleansed skin. Its unique Tri-Rescue Complex has anti-inflammatory properties that will help soothe and calm your skin without potentially harmful chemicals.
• Follow with Calming Moisture for Face, Neck, & Scalp, which has cooling aloe and redness-reducing oat extract.
• Oatmeal baths and masks can also help soothe the rash and reduce inflammation and swelling.
• Don’t forget to use a safe, non-toxic sunscreen every day!

3. I’m going through chemotherapy treatments and my doctor says I have hand and foot syndrome. My hands and feet are red and sore. Is there anything that will help?

• First of all, avoid hot water. Wash your skin in lukewarm or cool water, then apply Rescue + Relief Spray for instant cooling and calming effects. This product has no fragrances, parabens, or other toxic ingredients to worry about, but it does have water lily and comfrey to help tone down inflammation. Tip: If you keep it in the refrigerator, it will be even more cooling on hot hands and feet.
• Hand and foot syndrome can also create cracking and peeling, so make sure you’re moisturizing regularly. Try Body Repair Lotion, which is deeply hydrating, and then use the Restorative Skin Balm for extra dry, rough areas like on the heels, knuckles, and palms

4. I’m a cancer survivor and I have scars from the incisions made during surgery. Any recommendations that will help soften them up?

• Scars from surgery are often full of fibrous tissue that makes them tough and stiff. Some can even interfere with movement.
• Try Restorative Skin Balm. This deep-penetrating salve helps soften scars, but it’s completely safe to use—no synthetic fragrances, parabens, or other potentially harmful ingredients. Calendula and sea buckthorn oil help skin regenerate itself, and vitamin E encourages wound healing.

5. I’m a teacher so I’m constantly washing my hands all day to avoid all the germs. Unfortunately, that makes them really dry and now they’re starting to chap and flake. I’m putting moisturizer on whenever I can—do you have other tips?

• Your skin needs some deeply nourishing therapy at night. Try Restorative Skin Balm before you go to bed. Apply this penetrating salve all over your hands before you go to sleep, then cover with some soft, cotton gloves. When you wake up in the morning, your skin will be soft and smooth—recovered and ready to face another day!

6. I have extremely sensitive skin. I can’t use a lot of products out there because they make me break out in a rash or they make my skin itch. Any suggestions?

• Most people with sensitive skin are actually sensitive to the harsh chemicals in most skin care products. The solution is to find products that avoid these chemicals and use safer ingredients instead.
• Try CV Skinlabs. This new line of safe skin care avoids potentially harmful ingredients like synthetic fragrances and dyes, parabens, phthalates, petroleum products, sulfates, and hormone-altering ingredients.
• Instead, the products contain aloe, chamomile, bee’s wax, vitamins, cucumber, and other natural goodies, and are formulated specifically for people with chemical sensitivities, or who have skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, or rosacea.

7. I wanted to get a tan, but I ended up staying out in the sun way too long. What’s the best way to cool down this burn?

• First, spritz Rescue + Relief Spray directly on the burned area. The chamomile and cucumber in this product helps to speed calming relief to your inflamed skin. Tip: Keep it in the refrigerator for extra cooling.
• Follow with Body Repair Lotion, which has calendula and aloe to calm and soothe inflamed skin.

8. I’m breastfeeding and I have to say, my nipples are sore! This is such a tender area, and I don’t want to use anything that may harm my baby. Is there anything I can use so it doesn’t hurt so much?

• First of all, realize that many things can cause nipple soreness, including using a breast pump improperly, friction or suction from a poor or shallow latch, a thrush infection, or contact dermatitis—a reaction to other nipple creams or medications. Be sure to check with your doctor or dermatologist right away so you can find the cause of the issue.
• Next, rinse the nipple after each feeding with water, then spray with Rescue + Relief Spray, which is 100% free of synthetic fragrances, dyes, and other potentially harmful chemicals and safe for your tender skin. This product also includes calming chamomile and cucumber to deliver cooling and softening benefits.
• Finally, apply Restorative Skin Balm at least once a day, which is an advanced therapy for wounded and irritated skin. It includes U.S. Pharmacopoeia lanolin—a recommended deep-moisturizer for breastfeeding mothers—as well as vitamin E, bee’s wax, and calendula to help heal and safeguard the skin.

Have you tried these SOS skin solutions? Let us know what you think! And let us know if you have other questions about how to use CV Skinlabs.

What is Dimethicone?

Dimethicone is what the chemists like to call a silicon-based polymer—”polymer” meaning it’s a large molecule made up of several smaller units bonded together. Simply put, it’s a silicon oil, man-made in the laboratory and used in personal care products as an anti-foaming agent, skin protectant, and skin and hair conditioner.

Manufacturers like it because it makes products easily spreadable, so you get that feeling of the lotion or cream gliding over your skin. Dimethicone also helps form a protective barrier on the skin, and can fill in the fine lines and wrinkles on the face, which is why it’s often used in makeup primers.

Is Dimethicone Safe?

The FDA has approved the use of dimethicone as a skin protectant ingredient in over-the-counter products, and the Cosmetic Ingredient Review (CIR) panel has assessed it as safe to use in personal care products. Some studies have found it to soothe and help improve chronic hand dermatitis, and to help reduce inflammation and irritation. The Skin Deep Database also lists it has have a low hazard risk.

For me, though, this is not a good ingredient to be using in your daily skin care. Like petroleum products, silicone oils can actually make dry skin worse over time. Instead of sinking into your skin and nourishing it from the inside out, like healthy ingredients do, it forms a sort of plastic-like barrier on the outside of skin.

Why Dimethicone is Bad for Your Skin

That artificial coating on the outside of skin causes several issues:

• It traps everything under it—including bacteria, sebum, and impurities—which could lead to increased breakouts and blackheads
• The coating action actually prevents the skin from performing its normal activities—like sweating, temperature regulating, sloughing off dead skin cells, etc.
• Prolonged exposure to dimethicone can actually increase skin irritation, due to the coating property and because dimethicone is listed as a possible skin and eye irritant
• Those with sensitive or reactive skin are at risk of an allergic reaction to dimethicone
• On top of all this, dimethicone is a non-biodegradable chemical—bad for the environment

I also believe that using these types of ingredients on your skin can actually exacerbate skin aging. Why?

• You’re inhibiting skin’s natural processes
• You’re creating a dependency on the coating product, disrupting the skin’s own hydrating processes, which in the end increases dryness, making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable
• The coating properties may increase breakouts, particularly if you’re susceptible to acne, which will lead to scars and older-looking skin
• You’re doing nothing to boost the health and vitality of the skin, thus letting aging take its toll

Much better to use nourishing ingredients that help keep your skin hydrated naturally! (Speaking of, check out my new skin care line here!)

To avoid this ingredient, stay away from all dimethicone and similar ingredients like cyclomethicone, dimethiconol, and phenyl trimethicone.

What do you think of dimethicone? Has it caused you to break out? Please share.

Source

Fowler JF Jr., “Efficacy of a skin-protective foam in the treatment of chronic hand dermatitis,” Am J Contact Derm 2000 Sep; 11(3):165-9. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/11012005?dopt=Abstract.

Dimethicone. Truth in Aging. January 1, 2006. http://www.truthinaging.com/ingredients/dimethicone.

Material Safety Data Sheet, Poly(dimethylsiloxane), May 14, 1999. http://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/95130.htm.

Photo courtesy kisluvkis via Flickr.com.

I created this brand specifically for those with sensitive skin or skin conditions like psoriasis, eczema, extremely dry skin and more, who want to use products free of irritants and potentially harmful chemicals. These products work together to form your family’s new SOS kit—the perfect in-home solution for skin issues that need some rescue, relief and TLC. You may be wondering, though, exactly how to use these products for certain issues. If so, I have answers for you below.

Following are eight questions and answers to help you find solutions to your most common skin issues. If you don’t find what you’re looking for here, don’t worry—I’ll post on this topic again in the next couple weeks! Or you can always contact us with any questions you may have here.

1. I went skiing over the weekend and now my cheeks are all sunburned. What’s the best way to avoid peeling and scarring?

• First, spritz CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray directly on the burned area. The chamomile and cucumber in this product helps to speed calming relief to your inflamed skin. Tip: Keep it in the refrigerator for extra cooling.
• Follow with CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp. The Tri-Rescue Complex provides anti-inflammatory properties to help calm the burn and encourage faster healing, without potentially harmful chemicals. Apply frequently throughout the day to avoid peeling.
• For sunburns on the body, try nourishing CV Skinlabs Body Repair Lotion.

2. My friend and I took a hike in the woods and I accidently stepped into poison ivy. Help!

• First, wash the affected skin as soon as you can. Use a gentle cleanser and cool water.
• If your skin is itching, take an over-the-counter antihistamine, and wash all the clothes you were wearing on the outing in hot water.
• If you’re experiencing a rash, spray on CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray, which has a unique Tri-Rescue Complex for anti-inflammatory and antihistamine benefits.
• If your skin is still uncomfortable, try a paste of 3 tablespoons baking soda and 1 tablespoon water.
• Once your skin calms down, apply CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm, which uses calendula and arnica to help heal and regenerate wounded skin, and has no potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives.

3. I’m going through radiation treatments and my skin is starting to burn. What do I do?

• Check with your oncologist, as he or she may have restrictions what you can apply to your skin before treatment.
• Use cooling compresses, and try CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray directly on the burned area. Key ingredients like water lily and comfrey provide instant cooling and calming relief while helping to support skin healing. Plus this product contains no potentially harmful chemicals or preservatives.
• As long as you don’t have weeping sores, follow with CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm, which provides advanced therapy for burned, wounded, and irritated skin.

4. I’m going through chemotherapy and my skin is dull, fragile, and paper-thin. Is there anything that will help?

• Chemotherapy kills fast-growing cells, which means your skin can’t regenerate itself as quickly as it normally does. The key is gentle, tender care.
• Moisturize often with a safe, non-toxic product like CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture for Face, Neck, & Scalp, and CV Skinlabs Body Repair Lotion. Both are made for compromised skin, contain no potentially harmful chemicals, and deliver the unique Tri-Rescue Complex, which provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant benefits.
• Use CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm for those areas where your skin is super dry and needing extra care. The Carnauba and bee’s wax safeguard the moisture barrier so your skin can recover.

5. I’ve got eczema on my hands, so they’re always red, dry and itchy. I’m embarrassed by how they look. Any tips?

• Eczemic skin is crying out for nourishing moisture. Try CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp, along with the Body Repair Lotion. Both contain the unique Tri-Rescue Complex, which provides anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties to skin, helping to soothe and soften without harmful chemicals.
• Follow with CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm on places like your knuckles, cuticles, elbows, heels, and other areas that are super dry and rough. A trio of fat-soluble vitamins and plant ingredients provide healing and skin-regeneration properties.

6. My skin is always dry. I moisturize and moisturize, but nothing works. Help!

• Dry skin sometimes needs more than hydration. Often the outer layer has been damaged, which makes it much more difficult for skin to hold onto any moisture it may have.
• Avoid potentially harmful chemicals, sulfates, and parabens. Try safe CV Skinlabs Restorative Skin Balm—a nourishing salve that helps protect and instantly soften severely dry, rough, and chapped skin. It’s got carnauba and bee’s wax to help safeguard that moisture barrier, along with vitamin E, which aids in wound healing. Yet it’s free of any potential harmful chemicals, so your skin will be able to recover without having to defend itself from irritants.

7. I’m going through cancer treatments and I lost my hair, so I’m wearing a wig, but it makes my scalp itch. Can you help?

• CV Skinlabs has a new Rescue + Relief Spray made specifically to soothe itching, burning skin such as that caused by wearing a wig. Formulated with a unique Tri-Rescue Complex, it provides anti-inflammatory and antihistamine properties to calm itching and irritation. Plus it’s free of potentially harmful ingredients like fragrances, parabens, and mineral oil, so you can feel safe putting it on your tender scalp.
• Tip: Carry a bottle with you for a quick mid-day refresher. Just take off the wig, spritz your scalp, let it dry for a few minutes, then put the wig back on.
• If your skin is dry, follow with nourishing CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp.

8. I have rosacea, so I’m always battling with redness. I use makeup to cover it up, but are there any other solutions?

• Rosacea can flare up at the most inconvenient times. Try carrying CV Skinlabs Rescue + Relief Spray with you. This cooling product is made with chamomile and cucumber to soothe and cool hot, flushed skin.
• Next, moisturize regularly with CV Skinlabs Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp. It’s got aloe vera and oat extract—two of the most effective cooling and redness-reducing ingredients available. Plus it has no potentially harmful chemicals, so you can use it as often as you want.
• Try an oatmeal mask at night. Just mix up some fine-grade oatmeal with water or yogurt and leave on your face for 5-10 minutes.
• Don’t forget to use a safe sunscreen every day!

Have you tried these SOS skin solutions? Let us know what you think! And let us know if you have other questions about how to use CV Skinlabs.

Repeated Toxic Alerts Reached Government Ears

You may have seen my posts on lead in lipstick, mercury in mascara, formaldehyde in personal care products, and phthalates in hair spray and baby lotion. These issues and more have prompted the House Energy and Commerce Committee in Washington, D. C. to convene a Congressional hearing on the topic of cosmetics safety.

During the hearing, members of Congress listened as witnesses came forward to voice their concerns about an industry that has seen little change in regulation since 1938. Manufacturers and the FDA are operating under laws that were set back when research on chemical ingredients was new. We know so much more now about how certain ingredients may impact human health, and while we must continue to conduct research, the results so far have indicated we need to be more cautious about what we’re bringing into our homes and putting on our bodies.

Members of Congress Speaking Out

The hearing was announced after 50 businesses and 50 environmental groups sent a letter to the Energy and Commerce Committee urging them to change regulations and phase out ingredients linked to cancer and hormone disruption. They also called for full disclosure of ingredients on labels including those chemicals used to make fragrances, as well as flavorings, colorants, and ingredients in salon products.

Some members of Congress are advocating for stricter regulations when it comes to cosmetics safety. According to Lisa Archer, director of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, “Despite the heavy industry influence, safe cosmetics champions Reps. Jan Schakowsky (D–IL) and Ed Markey (D–MA) gave voice to the strong science supporting concerns about toxic chemicals in cosmetics and were staunch advocates for the public health, worker safety, and consumers’ right to know.”

Three Bills to Consider

Concerned members of Congress have already drawn up three bills that are currently circulating through the legislative offices. These include:

1. The Safe Cosmetics Act by Schakowsky, Markey, and Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D–WI)
2. A new bill introduced March 27, 2012, by Reps. Frank Pallone (D–NJ) and John Dingle (D–WI)
3. A third proposal by the Personal Care Products Council—which seeks to have the FDA codify into law decisions made by the Cosmetic Ingredient Review Panel about ingredient safety

This hearing is a move in the right direction. Stay tuned to see what comes of it. Let’s hope it results in meaningful, productive change that will improve the health of us all!

Have you been following this hearing? Have any comments? Please share!

Photo courtesy chucka_nc via Flickr.com.

Review from EcoKaren

This is a long review…just warning you. Because this Rescue + Relief spray by CVSkinlabs is just so magical and amazing that I have to tell you everything about it! So grab some coffee and read on.

My kids suffer from moderate to severe Eczema, all year around. I accidentally discovered how foods might play a role in exacerbating their symptoms a few years ago but since then, we discovered, through allergy testing, that there are environmental factors that aggravate their symptoms, BIG time. And sometimes their skin flares up for no reason, it seems. I mean, I’m sure there are r.e.a.s.o.n.s – it’s just that, we don’t know what they are sometimes….

Well, their “flare ups” seem almost daily, especially in the winter & spring, and when they play sports. And, unfortunately, the Northesast is the WORST for Eczema. Milder and not too humid temperate areas, like the Southeast, is the best. Stress does cause flare ups too but environmental issues play a bigger role, in my kids. Ask a college kid and a High School Junior. They know s.t.r.e.s.s….but it’s seasonal allergies that wreak havoc on their skin more than the stress.

I am always on the look out for some magical lotions, soaps, shampoos and creams that will either calm their skin when they are inflamed, or prevent flare ups.

So, when I read that Britta Aragon, the author of When Cancer Hits, a book I just reviewed on Monday (there is still time to enter the giveaway!), created this magical potion for inflamed and irritated skin called Rescue+Relief Spray, I was th.rill.ed! I was going to review her book anyway so I asked her about the spray. She was generous enough to send me a bottle try. Yahoo!!

Trying Rescue + Relief

What is “Rescue + Relief” and does it work?

This refreshing, milk-like emulsion coats the skin with moisture while calming and soothing flushed, sensitive skin. The relief is almost immediate when applied to hot inflamed areas. When my kids skin get this red and angry, they are too tender and delicate to touch. The R+R spray brought instant relief from itching and burning skin. I can imagine how it can help soothe skin from sun burns and even from cooking mishaps.

Here are the photos to prove what I mean.

Day 1, Rescue + Relief

Day 2, Rescue + Relief

Day 3, Rescue + Relief

Now, do you believe how magical this spray is? I wondered, “What is in this thing????“, since it worked like a miracle in just two days.

I know what you are thinking. How could all these plant based natural ingredients work so well on something only steroid cream can calm?

My thoughts are exactly but I am NOT surprised. Mother nature has great resources for everything we need. You just have to know the right combination of ingredients to use on the right condition.

Oh, and her spray was featured on April issue of Real Simple magazine! I trust that magazine and I was so happy to see it featured on one of my favorite magazines!

What Do I think or Rescue + Relief?

I LOVE Rescue + Relief spray!! Like I said, it is magical. I couldn’t believe the red and angry inflamed areas started to disappear within hours. The thin milky spray has a pleasant odor and it has a very refreshing natural scent. Not chemically induced or artificial smell. It dries quickly and it seemed to get absorbed rather quickly, without dripping down to a waste. It left the skin very soft and smooth and my kids said it felt cool almost immediately.

When I took my kids to an acupuncturist, he told me to give them foods that are cooling to reduce internal heat. It only makes sense to apply something that will cool their outside too when their skin is inflamed.

Have you tried Rescue + Relief, or any of the other CV Skinlabs products? What did you think?

My father struggled with an acne-like rash while he was going through cancer, and I have to say it was one of the most difficult side effects he had to deal with. He didn’t want to leave the house! Realizing how devastating these effects can be, I dedicated chapter 5 of my book, When Cancer Hits, to caring for the face during cancer treatments.

Changes to Your Regular Routine

How should you care for your skin when you’re going through treatments? What changes should you make? These are the questions answered in chapter five, where you’ll also discover:

• How to develop your new facial care routine
• Skin-saving solutions from your own kitchen
• Skin-care products you should not use during treatment
• Ingredients that are particularly helpful to fragile, dry skin
• How to adapt shaving habits
• How to keep your facial-care items bacteria free
• The best way to protect your newly sensitive skin from the sun

Dealing with Specific Concerns

In addition to adjusting your daily habits to care for tender, fragile skin, Chapter 5 also covers specific concerns that often come up during treatment. I’ll give you tips on how to deal with that acne-like rash like my father had, as well as flushing and burn-like pain; dry, chapped lips; and photosensitive skin.

Is it Still Safe to Go to the Spa?

If you enjoyed facials before treatment, you may be wondering now—are they safe? In Chapter 5, I’ll give you the guidelines you need to still enjoy your spa treatments, but to minimize your risk of dangerous reactions and injuries. Plus I’ll clue you in on some industry secrets—namely, some that will save you money at the spa cash register.

The key to a healthy, glowing complexion always starts with careful skin care. Cancer treatments will challenge you to change your old routine, but with a few adjustments, precautions, and new habits, you’re likely to be able to recognize your old self in the mirror again!

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

Have you read Britta’s book? Please let us know what you think.

Contest Giveaway: look below for our last contest—you could win free CV Skinlabs products!

Restorative Skin Balm

This petrolatum-free, nourishing salve helps protect and instantly soften severely dry, rough and chapped skin—including lips, cuticles, cuts, scrapes, IV areas, abrasions, new scars and areas needing extra care.

• Tri-rescue complex soothes and heals
• Rich, thick salve designed to coat skin and create a soothing barrier to trap in moisture.
• Calendula, sea buckthorn oil, and arnica encourage healing, boost immune activity, protect from contaminants and help regenerate skin
• Carnauba and bee’s wax safeguard the moisture barrier
• Vitamin E provides powerful antioxidant activity while aiding in wound healing
• In a blind, independent clinical study with women and men panelists, 70% saw an improvement in the overall condition of their skin after one week of use
• 100% natural content with 15% organic ingredients

Four Unique Products—Easy to Use Together

We’ve now introduced all four premiere products in the CV Skinlabs line. For best results, use them together as follows:

• After cleansing, apply Rescue + Relief Spray to any area that is flushed, dehydrated, or irritated. Also great for use after shaving, waxing or laser treatments.
• Follow with Calming Moisture to the face, neck and scalp, and Body Repair Lotion to the rest of the body.
• Use Rescue + Relief Spray throughout the day to refresh, soothe, and hydrate. This product is especially effective when sunbathing, traveling, or visiting dry climates, or for freshening the scalp under a wig.
• For difficult areas that need extra care, use Restorative Skin Balm, which is perfect for lips, elbows, knees, heels, cuticles, scars, and scrapes. Especially effective when used overnight.

For a quick review, here are the four products:

Calming Moisture for Face, Neck & Scalp: Super-rescue moisturizer helps instantly soothe and hydrate dry, flushed skin suffering from the post-procedural effects of chemotherapy, microdermabrasion, laser and chemical peels­—leaving skin soft and dewy, with an even tone and healthy radiance.

Rescue + Relief Spray: This refreshing, milky emulsion drenches skin in moisture, bringing instant, cooling relief to itching, burning, inflamed skin caused by radiation, sun exposure, laser treatments, chemical peels, shaving, household appliances, or from wearing a wig.

Restorative Skin Balm: This petrolatum-free, nourishing salve helps protect and instantly soften severely dry, rough and chapped skin, including lips, cuticles, cuts, scrapes, IV areas, abrasions, new scars, and areas needing extra care.

Repair Body Lotion: Ultra-soothing, fast-absorbing, deeply hydrating body lotion that replenishes and soothes dry, inflamed skin compromised by chemotherapy, dermatitis, eczema, radiation burns and post-laser hair removal.

Last Chance On Our Launch Giveaways – WIN CV Skinlabs Products!

To win the Restorative Skin Balm this week, take the following steps:

1. Please leave a comment below by midnight (EST) Tuesday, April 2^nd, 2012 and your name will be included in the drawing.
2. If you’d like another chance to win, “like” our CV Skinlabs Facebook page and leave a comment below the post named “CV Skinlabs Skincare—Introducing Restorative Skin Balm and Last Contest Giveaway!”

Introductory Promo Offer

Lasts until March 31^st: 20% off when you purchase a minimum of $125 at www.cvskinlabs.com!

• Use code Launch20 at checkout (case sensitive)
• These prices won’t last—stock up now for yourself and those you love.

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

“Stress is personal,” said dermatologist and psychologist Richard G. Fried, “so what might be stressful for one person may be a non-stressor or even exhilarating for someone else.”

That’s good news. If you can determine exactly what your stresses are, you stand a better chance of figuring out how to alleviate them, which can help reduce your flare-ups.

Stress Directly Affects the Skin

According to the American Academy of Dermatology, when a person experiences stress, nerve endings in the skin release chemicals called neuropeptides that can create inflammation and itching or tingling. Stress can also make the skin’s outer barrier more permeable, sensitive, and reactive. Psoriasis seems particularly more sensitive to stress than other skin diseases. Unfortunately, as stress increases flare-ups, those flare-ups can cause more embarrassment and stress, causing more flare-ups.

What are Your Stress Triggers?

Which of the following are most likely to get you revved up?

• Emotional stressors: you worry you may be fired, or that you won’t make a good impression on a first date.
• Family stressors: you’re in conflict with a loved one, coping with a difficult adolescent, or struggling with your in-laws.
• Social stressors: you get stressed about speaking in public, meeting new people, or going to a party.
• Changes stressors: you get stressed over changes in your life, like moving, getting a new job, or having a baby.
• Work stressors: you’re stressed by the pressures of performing at work, meeting deadlines, or satisfying a difficult boss.
• Phobic stressors: you’re stressed by flying, riding in elevators, going to a high-rise office building, or riding in a cab.
• Physical stressors: you feel stress when you don’t get enough sleep, work too many hours, eat unhealthy foods, or fail to get enough exercise.
• Environmental stressors: you get stressed out when there’s too much noise, pollution, lack of space, or too much heat or cold.
• Pain stressors: chronic back or knee pain, muscle pain, or other types of pain stress you out.

Once you’ve figured out what you’re stressors are, you can try some coping mechanisms to alleviate them.

Stress Management for Psoriasis

• Meditation and Yoga: Some studies have found that patients who engaged in yoga and meditation experienced faster clearing of their psoriasis flare-ups.
• Hypnosis: studies show that hypnosis can effect tiny changes in blood flow and immune function, improving skin conditions.
• Tai Chi: according to the Mayo Clinic, tai chi is “meditation in motion,” and helps reduce stress, which can reduce psoriasis flare-ups.
• Acupuncture and Massage: According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, acupuncture and massage are both excellent measures of stress reduction, which can help psoriasis.
• Psychotherapy: Studies show that meetings with a clinical psychologist where patients discuss their skin problems and learn relaxation techniques can help reduce stress, thereby reducing flare-ups.

Have you tried stress-relieving techniques for your psoriasis? Please share your story.

Sources:

Naldi L, Chatenoud L, Linder D et al. Cigarette smoking, body mass index, and stressful life events as risk factors for psoriasis: results from an Italian case-control study. J. Invest. Dermatol. 125(1), 61-67 (2005).

Antigona M. Gercari, “Psoriasis Manifestations During the War,” Revista Latinoamericana de Psoriasis y Artritis Psoriásica 2011, 3: 60-64. http://www.fmv-uba.org.ar/RevistaPsoriasis/Vol1_N3_2011/Ingles/Gercari%20Mybera%20DURING%20THE%20WAR.pdf

“Managing Stress Can Help People Improve Their Skin Conditions,” American Acadmey of Dermatology. August 4, 2011. http://www.aad.org/stories-and-news/news-releases/managing-stress-can-help-people-improve-their-skin-conditions.

Kabat-Zinn J., et al. Influence of a mindfulness meditation-based stress reduction intervention on rates of skin clearing in patients with moderate to severe psoriasis undergoing phototherapy (UVB) and photochemotherapy (PUVA). Psychosom Med 1998, Sept-Oct; 60(5): 625-32. http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/9773769.

Photo courtesy Gerard Fritz via Flickr.com.

Contest Giveaway: look below for this week’s contest—you could win free CV Skinlabs products!

Body Repair Lotion

Soak in the restorative power of this ultra-soothing body lotion. It gently glides on to absorb quickly and provide deep-hydrating and nourishing benefits to fragile skin. It replenishes and soothes inflamed, dry skin. Designed for sensitive, dry skin, dermatitis, eczema, radiation burns and post-laser hair removal.

• Tri-rescue complex soothes and heals
• Gently glides on to absorb quickly and provide deep-hydrating and nourishing benefits to fragile skin
• Beta glucan and St. John’s wort super moisturize, boost collagen production, and encourage wound healing
• Calendula and aloe calm, soothe, and reduce inflammation
• Replenishes and soothes inflamed, dry skin, and relieves dry, itchy skin
• Leaves skin soft, looking luminous and healthy
• In a blind, independent clinical study with women and men panelists, 70%-72% said the overall condition of skin and overall feel/texture of skin was improved after one week of use.
• 99.4% natural content with 58.5% organic ingredients

High Performance Natural and Organic Ingredients

CV Skinlabs is dedicated to choosing only the best natural and organic ingredients for our products—those that have no known links to health hazards or skin irritation. Here are just a few of the ingredients we’re using:

• Aloe Vera and Water Lily: Help cool and heal burns, encourage healing, calm irritated skin and reduce inflammation.
• Jojoba, Olive, and Safflower: Provide superior moisturization, protect from dryness, soothe irritated skin, protect skin’s outer layer and give skin a smoother, softer appearance.
• Oat Kernal Extract and Beta-Glucan: Conditions skin, helps encourage healing, relieves itching and discomfort.
• Calendula and Sea Buckthorn: Reduces inflammation, encourages wound healing, supports skin-cell regeneration, promotes skin recovery, protect from the damaging effects of the sun, soothes skin conditions like eczema and dermatitis.
• Ginger and Vitamin E: Provides antioxidant protection, conditions skin, controls oil production, protects from the damaging effects of the sun, helps reduce age spots.
• Fair trade, certified organic shea butter from the Léo region in Burkina Faso provides superior moisturization to help heal cracks and peeling.

Medical Panel

To ensure maximum efficacy and safety of all our products, CV Skinlabs assembled a team of doctors and experts in the field of health and safety to provide objective feedback during research and development. Each professional offered a unique perspective on patient care, skin treatment and topical applications appropriate for all compromised skin.

1. Jennifer Choi, M.D.: Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Director of the Yale  Oncodermatology Clinic. Director of clinical research trials investigating the prevention and treatment of cancer-therapy-related side effects. Specializes in treating patients with skin cancers. 
2. Madeline Krauss, M.D.: Board certified in dermatology. Practices general and surgical dermatology with an interest in aesthetic dermatology & laser medicine. Voted “Best Non-surgical Cosmetic Improvement” in the Boston area by the “Improper Bostonian Magazine.”
3. Donald Richey, M.D.: Board certified in dermatology and histopathology. Family practice physician for two years in the U.S. Public Health Service Department of Indian Health. Founded Brighter Days, a skin care program dedicated to patients undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatments where he volunteers his time on a monthly basis.

And the Giveaways Continue…WIN CV Skinlabs Products!

For your chance to win a Body Repair Lotion from CV Skinlabs:

1. Please leave a comment below by midnight (EST) Tuesday, March 27^th, 2012 and your name will be included in the drawing.
2. If you’d like another chance to win, “like” our CV Skinlabs Facebook page and leave a comment below the post named “CV Skinlabs Skincare—Introducing Body Repair Lotion and Third Contest Giveaway!”

Introductory offer (lasts until March 31^st): 20% off when you purchase a minimum of $125

• Use code Launch20 at checkout (case sensitive) at www.cvskinlabs.com
• These prices won’t last—stock up now for yourself and those you love.

Stay Tuned for more FREE products next week!

We’ll have another giveaway  next week, when you can win our last premiere CV Skinlabs product for FREE. Good luck!

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

I’m so excited to tell all of you—starting today, you can shop for your new CV Skinlabs products online!

As a special “thank you” to all those in the Cinco Vidas community, and all those who have supported me on this journey, CV Skinlabs is offering a great launch promotion.

Purchase our products anytime between today and March 31^st and receive 20% off your entire order! (When you spend $125 or more.) Simply use the code: LAUNCH20 (case sensitive) at checkout at www.cvskinlabs.com

Take advantage of this special offer to try CV Skinlabs products for yourself, or to stock up on gifts for loved ones.

Enjoy a higher standard of safety—products that are 100% free of potentially toxic ingredients and designed to help nourish and heal all types of compromised skin.

Shop NOW!

CV SKINLABS FEATURED IN REAL SIMPLE MAGAZINE!

We are so excited to appear in the April 2012 issue (in newsstands today!) of Real Simple magazine, featuring the Rescue + Relief Spray!

Check out this amazing testimonial from one of our readers:

I did try the R + R Spray and I loved it! I have Psoriasis on my scalp and it extends down onto the back of my neck. I would spray it on and it would soften the tight, dry and itchy area of my neck and scalp. I felt relief soon after I sprayed it on….The R+R Spray was so light and non greasy that I could put my hair up after application and it wouldn’t make me self conscious at all, my hair would dry. Thank you so much for a great product Britta! 

— Helena Elias

This refreshing, milk-like emulsion drenches skin with moisture while calming and soothing flushed, sensitive and irritated skin.

MORE INFO

My new wesbite CVskinlabs.com Launches TODAY!

At CV Skinlabs, we’ve been working hard to bring you the best website resource for everything from product safety to ingredients to avoid, and of course, our solution to an unmet need: A new brand of safe skincare for compromised skin!

On our new CV Skinlabs website, each product page tells you more about the ingredients, the clinical results, and benefits to your skin. Our “Skin Clinic” gives you tips for dealing with conditions like rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, rashes, and more. Curious about our Tri-Rescue Complex™? We have more information on our Tri-Rescue page and much more.

The site is live today! Please go look it over, and let us know what you think. We’d be delighted to hear from you! Thanks for your support!

Visit us at www.cvskinlabs.com.

WIN CV Skinlabs Products in next weeks GIVEAWAY!

Win Your FREE product next week as we continue to unveil CV Skinlabs one product at a time! Next week we’ll feature our third product in the line and give readers a chance to win one for free. Look out for our newsletter in your inbox next week or check back on this blog for more.

Meanwhile, I’d love to hear what you think of the products!

In chapter 7 of my book, When Cancer Hits, I help you understand how these treatments affect different parts of your body, and what you can do to help soothe and comfort those areas.

Create Loving Energy

One thing most people are not used to doing is being slow and gentle with themselves. During cancer treatments, your body is crying out for your loving attention. I show you how to deal with fear and replace it with love instead.

Change Bathing and Showering Habits

If you continue to hurry through your morning shower, your skin and nails will suffer. Instead, I give you tips for creating a new bathing and showering routine that will be kinder to your skin, and may help you avoid itching and scratching all day long.

Dealing with Side Effects

Nausea, radiation burns, bruising, dermatitis, injection site wounds, metal taste, dry mouth, mouth sores, itchy eyes, night sweats, fatigue, joint pain, and more—this chapter covers them all. For example, did you know that your regular toothpaste could be making your mouth sores worse? Or that your eyes could benefit from hydrating goggles you can wear at night? Find more tips like these in this chapter. There’s always something you can do to help yourself feel better!

Redirecting Your Thoughts

Do you find yourself overwhelmed sometimes with uncomfortable side effects? Does it seem as if it all is never going to end? I share with you some ways to deal with the emotions that come up as your body struggles to heal itself. You may feel like treatments will never end, but they will, and in the meantime, it helps to set goals for yourself that refocus your mind and help you keep the faith.

Caring for your body while you’re going through cancer is one of the best things you can do for yourself. In chapter 7, I help you find ways to soothe the hurts at home, while giving you tools to help handle the emotional challenges as well. The more you can ease the pain and encourage yourself, the more you’re helping your body to get well.

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

Have you experienced difficult side effects because of cancer treatments? Please share your tips for recovery.

Contest Giveaway: look below for this week’s contest—you could win free CV Skinlabs products!

Rescue + Relief Spray

This refreshing, milk-like emulsion drenches skin with moisture while calming and soothing flushed, sensitive skin. It provides immediate rescue to super-inflamed areas that are too tender and delicate to touch while bringing instant comfort to itching, burning skin.

• Excellent to calm and soothe flushed, red skin or rosacea. Can be used over makeup to refresh and soothe skin or while traveling to keep skin hydrated.
• Perfect for anyone suffering from hot, inflamed or reactive skin from over exposure to sun, laser treatments, radiation or chemical burns—just spray on for instant relief.
• Formulated with the unique Tri-Rescue Complex^™, a combination of three natural ingredients (bisabolol, Reishi mushroom and turmeric) that provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antihistamine benefits.
• Helps support wound healing so skin recovers more quickly.
• A great on-the-go refresher for itchy, irritated scalp and facial flushing.
• Calms irritation from shaving and from wearing a wig.
• Contains 99.6% natural content and 84% organic ingredients.

Some of the great soothing ingredients in this formula include calming chamomile and cucumber, water lily, valerian, comfrey, and honeysuckle. It also contains a significant amount of aloe—the first ingredient!—to help soothe and heal burned skin.

Our Exclusive Blend: Tri-Rescue Complex^™

I’m particularly excited about the CV Skinlabs “Tri-Rescue Complex,” a combination of three natural ingredients that appears in all CV Skinlabs formulas. Each of these ingredients has been shown to be effective in scientific studies, and helped heal damaged skin in clinical tests.

Three natural ingredients come together to rescue damaged, inflamed, and sensitive skin.

• Bisabolol: main active ingredient from the medicinal plant chamomile; delivers powerful anti-irritant and anti-inflammatory properties.
• Reishi Mushroom: known as the “mushroom of immortality;” increases cellular turnover and hydration.
• Turmeric: an ancient spice; strong antioxidant and anti-inflammatory benefits.

Thoughtful Packaging

In creating CV Skinlabs, we wanted to produce not only safe, nourishing, formulas, but deliver them in bottles that would be safe, easy to use, and protective of the key ingredients.

• Keep the product safe from contamination: CV Skinlabs uses no jars, but only one-way evacuation pumps and tubes to reduce the risk of contamination, and to protect the ingredients from the effects of the air around us.
• Customized and ergonomic bottles with an easy-to-hold shape: CV Skinlabs created customized bottles which are easy to use by people with arthritis, neuropathy, or other movement challenges.
• Recyclable, safe & BPA-free packaging: Our bottles and tubes are picked up through most curbside recycling programs as well as not known to leach any chemicals linked to cancer or hormone disruption.
• No glass bottles: They can crack, break, and shatter, creating a safety hazard.
• Reduce our ecological footprint: In an attempt to contribute to earth-saving manufacturing processes, CV Skinlabs included our product brochure on the inside of the packaging where appropriate, and avoided the use of glue wherever possible.

WIN CV Skinlabs Products!

For your chance to win a Rescue + Relief from CV Skinlabs:

1. Please leave a comment below by midnight (EST) Monday, March 12^th, 2012 and your name will be included in the drawing.
2. If you’d like another chance to win, “like” our CV Skinlabs Facebook page and leave a comment below the post named “CV Skinlabs Skincare—Introducing Rescue + Relief Spray and Second Contest Giveaway!”

Stay Tuned!

Win your FREE product next week as we continue to unveil CV Skinlabs one product at a time! Each week until our launch on March 15, we’ll be holding a giveaway, with the winner taking home FREE CV Skinlabs products.

(Note: Products will not be available until the launch of the line and website on March 15, 2012.)

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

Contest give away: look below for this week’s contest—you could win free CV Skinlabs products!

Calming Moisture for Face, Neck, & Scalp

This super-rescue moisturizer helps instantly soothe and hydrate dry, flushed skin suffering from the post-procedural effects of chemotherapy, microdermabrasion, laser, and chemical peels, leaving skin soft and dewy, with an even tone and healthy radiance.

• Perfect for anyone who wants softer, smoother skin on their face, neck, and scalp, without potentially harmful chemicals.
• Works great for those who are bald, or who are experiencing hair loss, to soothe and moisturize tender skin on the scalp.
• Formulated with the unique Tri-Rescue Complex (turmeric, Reishi mushroom and bisabolol), a combination of three natural ingredients that provide anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and antihistamine benefits.
• Helps promote collagen production, firming and smoothing skin and reducing the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.
• Speeds wound healing and reduces redness and itch.
• Cools hot and burned skin, helping to reduce inflammation.
• Contains 99.6% natural content and 57% organic ingredients.

Some of the delicious natural and organic ingredients in this formula include aloe vera, oat extract, jojoba, chamomile, shea butter, vitamin E, and ginger. This lotion is all about calming and soothing dry skin and returning radiance to dull skin!

How is CV SKinlabs Different? A New Standard in Safety

The most important thing for me as I was thinking about this new line of skin care was to create something that people could use without having to worry about reactions, burns, redness, and more—those things that my father suffered from a high-end cream while he was going through cancer treatments. The truth is that a lot of the skin care products out there contain harsh chemicals that can cause reactions—and sometimes even damage—to sensitive skin.

With that in mind, CV Skinlabs has succeeded in developing something unprecedented in the world of skin care—a new standard of safety. Setting the bar extremely high on the safety of the ingredients, the functioning of the packaging, and the thoroughness of the testing has produced products that may be used with full confidence by the general public, and specifically by those with chemical sensitivities, compromised skin, and conditions like eczema and chronic dryness.

• Board certified dermatologist-tested, clinically tested, and hypoallergenic
• Toxicologist-screened for carcinogens, xenoestrogens, and other potentially harmful ingredients
• Extensive micro-challenge, stability, safety, and clinical testing in an independent lab
• Research team of natural formulations chemists and doctors reviewed a multitude of medical journals and used scientific results to exclude ingredients with even remote links to health issues
• Consumer tested on women and men with compromised skin
• Tubes and pumps keep the formulas free of contamination (one way evacuation)
• Proprietary, functional, easy-to-use packaging for anyone suffering from arthritis or neuropathy
• No glass bottles—they can crack, break, and shatter, creating a safety hazard

Who can use these products? Men, women, children, and people who:

• Want to reduce their toxic exposure
• Want skin care free of potentially harmful ingredients like parabens and petroleum products
• Want to nourish their skin with soothing and calming organic and natural ingredients
• Have compromised skin, sensitive skin, or chemical sensitivities
• Have conditions like rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis
• Have skin battered by medical treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and medications
• Have fragile, thin, or reactive skin that needs serious, tender care
• Have skin that often reacts to other skin care products
• Have skin allergies
• Need something to calm skin after laser treatments, waxing, chemical peels, microdermabrasion and shaving

GIVEAWAY: WIN CV Skinlabs Products!

For your chance to win a Calming Moisture from CV Skinlabs:

1. Please leave a comment below by midnight (EST) Monday, March 5, 2012 and your name will be included in the drawing.
2. If you’d like another chance to win, “like” our CV Skinlabs Facebook page and leave a comment below the post named “CV Skinlabs Skincare—Introducing Calming Moisture and Contest Giveaway!”
3. Winner will be chosen on Tuesday, March 6!

Stay Tuned!

Win your FREE product next week as we continue to unveil CV Skinlabs one product at a time!

Each week until our launch on March 15, we’ll be holding a giveaway, with the winner taking home FREE CV Skinlabs products.

(Note: Products will not be available until the launch of the line and website on March 15, 2012.)

Don’t forget to follow us on Twitter!

I had been working in the beauty industry for over 8 years and hadn’t ever thought to read product labels. No one had ever taught me to do so. This one incident changed everything—I read the label of the product I bought for my dad to find out just what he could have reacted to, and I was shocked to find many potentially harmful chemicals—some even classified as carcinogenic.

Upset and disheartened, I decided right then and there that someday, I was going to create line of skin care products that would be safe for anyone to use, especially people like my father who were going through health challenges that created difficult reactions on their skin, or anyone with compromised skin.

Working on a Dream

After my father passed away, I started work on that dream. I knew I couldn’t do it alone, so I gathered some top experts around me. These included a toxicologist, a chemist specializing in natural formulations, doctors experienced with the ins and outs of skin care, an experienced product developer, and more. For over a year we engaged in extensive research, and for the next two years we worked on putting together just the right natural and organic ingredients into safe, nourishing formulas that are bio-compatible with skin, yet non-irritating and toxin-free. Today, I’m super excited to be revealing the result of all our efforts.

Introducing: CV Skinlabs
A New Sanctuary of Safety

Who’s It For?

Who can use these products? People who:

• want to reduce their toxic exposure
• want to nourish their skin with ingredients from nature, without the risk of potentially harmful chemicals
• have compromised skin, sensitive skin, or chemical sensitivities
• have conditions like rosacea, eczema, psoriasis, or dermatitis
• have skin battered by medical treatments like chemotherapy, radiation, and medications
• have fragile, thin, or reactive skin that needs serious tender care
• have skin that often reacts to other skin care products

100% Free of:

The most important thing to me in creating these products was to avoid all the potentially harmful ingredients that are often present in most brands today. CV Skinlabs products are all 100% free of synthetic dyes, parabens, formaldehyde, 1,4-dioxane, phthalates, mineral oil/petrolatum, silicones, propylene glycol, SLS/SLES, PEG/PPG, triclosan, hydroquinone, disodium EDTA, talc and MEA-DEA-TEA—all suspect ingredients when considering the health of the skin and body. (Check out my Ingredients to Avoid list.) Synthetic fragrances are also not allowed, as most are made with a combination of hundreds of chemicals.

Finally, only non-hormone-altering plant extracts provide a light scent to each CV Skinlabs product. And since even organic essential oils can irritate sensitive and fragile skin—while some may have a slight potential to mimic the action of estrogen—they were removed from consideration as well.

Natural and Organic Ingredients

On the other hand, what did we decide to put in these formulations? We wanted to find natural ingredients that had the power to really improve the skin’s condition, so again we spent a lot of time going over the current scientific research out there, and I’m very excited with what we came up with. (Stay tuned to this blog as we reveal more about the ingredients over the next few weeks!)

Ergonomic Bottles and One-Way Evacuation Packaging

In addition to taking extra care with the formulations themselves, we only used one-way evacuation packaging (no jars) to minimize contamination and oxidation of our active ingredients. We also designed and created our own bottles with a firm grip and easy-to-hold shape so that people with neuropathy, arthritis, and other challenges can easily open and work with CV Skinlabs products.

Stay Tuned!

Watch this blog over the next 3 weeks, as we’ll be revealing more about each of the products, plus announcing opportunities for you to win some of them for free! Our shopping website officially launches on March 15, 2012. That’s only a few weeks away! Meanwhile, I’ll be revealing more about the line in the coming weeks—the products themselves, the testing behind them, the ingredients, and what our early clinical testers had to say.

Check back—starting next week, we’ll hold a weekly contest, and the winner will receive FREE products!

Don’t forget to like our CV Skinlabs pages on Facebook and Twitter!

Studies have shown that newborns may be born with several chemicals already in their blood, including fragrances and bisphenol-A (BPA). At least some of these chemicals are believed to come from daily personal care products. As your doctor has probably already told you, when you’re pregnant, what you eat as well as what you apply to your skin and hair could end up in your bloodstream, where it can affect your unborn child. Since babies are so tiny and vulnerable, even small amounts of chemicals are more dangerous to them.

To protect yourself and your unborn or breastfeeding child, avoid any products with the following ingredients.

1. Read my ingredients to avoid. I’ve already put up a list of 24 ingredients to avoid for anyone who’s concerned about reducing their toxic exposure and their risk of health problems. This list is even more important for women of childbearing age, and includes key toxins to avoid during pregnancy like formaldehyde, parabens, petroleum products, lead, 1,4-dioxane, phthalates, and aluminum.
2. Vitamin A and retinoids. Derivatives of vitamin A have long been used in skin care products because of their ability to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. High doses of vitamin A taken orally, however, have been shown to be potentially harmful to a fetus. According to the March of Dimes, women who consume more than the recommended amount of vitamin A in early pregnancy doubled their risk of having a child born with birth defects. Anti-acne medication isotretinoin is also known to increase the risk of birth defects. So far, however, studies have not shown that topical retinoids cause any harm to an unborn baby. Doctors advise women, however, to be on the cautious side, and avoid ingredients like retin-A, retinoic acid, retinol, retinyl linoleate, retinyl palmitate, Renova, Differin (adapelene), and Tazorac and avage (tazarotene). Watch out for these ingredients in your sunscreens as well!
3. Salicylic acid. It’s great for reducing acne outbreaks, but the chemical can bore deep into the skin, and high doses of the oral form have shown to lead to pregnancy complications. The strongest concern is related to face and body peels that contain the ingredient, as these treatments increase absorption. Most doctors will advise caution, suggest you avoid these types of peels, and reduce or avoid salicylic acid in toners and moisturizers. (Also watch for beta hydroxy acid and BHA.) If you struggle with acne, ask your obstetrician how to safely treat it, and make sure your skin care products are non-clogging.
4. Chemical sunscreens. I’ve highlighted the potential dangers of chemical sunscreens in a former post. A study performed at the Mt. Sinai School of Medicine found that one such sunscreen—oxybenzone—was linked to low birth weight in baby girls who mothers were exposed during pregnancy. Avobenzone can also be absorbed into the skin where it may cause free radical damage. Choose a safe sunblock like zinc oxide during pregnancy and breastfeeding.
5. Acids and benzoyl peroxide. Scientists haven’t yet studied some ingredients to determine whether or not they may be harmful to an unborn child. These include many exfoliating acids, like glycolic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, and even topical vitamin C, as well as acne-fighting benzoyl peroxide. Some doctors feel these are safe, and some are extra cautious. If you’re suffering from a difficult skin condition, talk to your doctor about your best approach to treatment.

Above all, don’t panic! If you’ve been using one of these ingredients and didn’t realize the potential health hazards, it’s okay. Just stop using it. Problems are typically rare and rely on repeated exposure. The best approach to protect the health of your baby is to try to reduce your toxic exposure to chemicals in every way that you can, through your food, personal care items, and environment.

Are you a pregnant woman concerned about her toxic exposure? Share your tips for safe skin care.

Sources:

“CDC: Americans Carry ‘Body Burden’ of Toxic Sunscreen Chemical: Separate Study Links Sunscreen Chemical to Low Birth Weight in Baby Girls,” Environmental Working Group press release, March 25, 2008, http://www.ewg.org/release/cdc-americans-carry-body-burden-toxic-sunscreen-chemical.

Photo courtesy ChristineLouiseFerguson via Flickr.com.

In chapter 6 of my book, When Cancer Hits, I cover everything you need to know about makeup and concealing the facial effects of chemotherapy and radiation.

First of All: Avoid Health Dangers

The most important thing is to avoid any products that may put you at risk for reactions, burning, or other health concerns. In this chapter, I answer questions like:

• Is mineral makeup really better for you?
• What’s the safest type of mascara?
• How do I find out if my lipstick has lead in it?
• Which sunscreens are safest?

Best Makeup During Treatment

Should you still use the same makeup products you’ve always used while you’re going through treatment? Maybe, maybe not. Depends on what you were using before. While going through treatment, your skin is likely to be much dryer, so you may need to change the types of foundations, concealers, eyeshadows, and blushes you use. I help you determine what products you may need to replace.

Avoiding Infection

Cancer treatments can lower your white blood cell count, putting you at a higher risk of infection. That’s why it’s very important to take steps to avoid contamination around your face, lips, and eyes. In this chapter, I’ll show you:

• The best makeup brushes to use during treatment.
• When to toss old makeup products.
• How to create your own safe makeup tool set.
• The key items you need in your new tender-care makeup bag.

Troubleshooting and Application Tips

Once you have all the general things down, it’s time to talk about targeting particular problems that pop up during cancer treatments. I’ll help you to conceal and transform:

• Facial swelling
• Scars and pimples
• Under-eye circles
• Loss of lashes
• Loss of eyebrows
• Dry lips
• Pale, ashy skin
• Dull appearance

I’ll also give you some tips for how to prepare for those emotional days that come more frequently during treatments, so you don’t have mascara running down your cheeks.

There’s no shame in wanting to look good even while you’re battling cancer. If you can help yourself to feel more confident, you’re more likely to spend time with friends, continue your work, and get out for a needed complementary massage or facial—all critical for your healing process!

(When Cancer Hits is available now—click here.)

Have you struggled with makeup challenges during your cancer treatments? Please share any tips you may have.

In today’s market, “organic” and “natural” just aren’t good enough. A product may have organic ingredients, but still contribute to dry skin. It may have natural ingredients, but cause allergic reactions. It may be organic and natural, and still contain hormone-altering ingredients. So how can you tell what’s safe and what’s not?

Here are a few key things to watch for.

Ingredients used. This is probably the most important thing when it comes to safety in personal care products. What ingredients are used? Are there any that could be potential hormone-disruptors, like phthalates and preservatives? Have any been connected with other health hazards? Are some of them harsh on the skin, like sulfates, or actually drying to the skin, like petroleum products? If you’re looking for products with safe ingredients, take my Ingredients to Avoid list with you when you go shopping. I’ve made it easy for you!

Potential for reactions. Some ingredients, though they may be generally safe, have a higher potential for causing allergic reactions than others. Some essential oils, for example, may actually be harsh on the skin, or cause allergic reactions in some people. Some preservatives, like ureas, are well established as encouraging the development of contact dermatitis, while others, like parabens, are often reported to cause rashes. Sodium lauryl sulfate can cause eye irritations and allergic reactions. Avoiding these ingredients, particularly if you’re sensitive, is key to staying safe.

Type of preservatives used. There’s no doubt that personal care products need some kind of preservatives. Otherwise they become contaminated with microorganisms, and that’s definitely not safe. But what type of preservatives are used? Ureas (which can form formaldehyde), parabens, and some other types have been linked with health problems, but still they’re used in a wide variety of products. Safer options are those approved by organizations that set high standards for safety, like ECOCERT, NaTrue and the Soil Association.

Thoroughness of the testing. Manufacturers of personal care products don’t have to gain FDA approval before they put their products on the market. That means that their safety testing is totally up to them. Do they actually test the product before they sell it? How extensive is that testing? Do they test it in the lab to be sure it remains free of microorganisms and that it remains stable over time? Do they conduct consumer testing to see if the product is satisfactory to users? A program of rigorous testing helps ensure a safe and effective product.

If you’re curious about how “safe” your products are, try these few tips:

• Buy from reputable brands known for their safety, like Kahina Giving Beauty, Jurlique, RMS Beauty, Waleda, Sophyto, Marie Veronique Organics, and others.
• Read labels, always, read labels!
• Organic is a good start, but just because it says organic or natural doesn’t mean it’s safe. Look a little deeper.
• Know yourself—what are you allergic to? Do you have sensitive skin? Use my Ingredients to Avoid list, and be extra cautious with harsh ingredients.
• Check out the website of the company you’re buying from for more information on their policies.
• Check your favorite products against the Safe Cosmetics database.
• Shop at locations known for carrying safer products.

Are you seeking safe personal care products? Do you have suggestions?

Photo courtesy calignosus via Flickr.com.

Original packaging. Unlike many intimate products that you want to tuck away in a drawer somewhere, these discreet bottles can sit out in your room or bathroom and they won’t draw undue attention to themselves. “So many of us are worried when it comes to that department,” says Michelle. “This takes a level of uncomfortableness out of the game.”

No bad stuff in intimate places. I talk a lot in this blog about potentially harmful ingredients in personal care products. We don’t often think about the products we use the bedroom, though, and we should. I mean, talk about sensitive skin! Not only that, these products can get inside our bodies. Did you know that other lubricating products like K-Y Jelly and others may contain parabens, phthalates and hormone-disrupting ingredients? This Yes product is chemical- and preservative-free.

Great nourishing ingredients. In addition to what it doesn’t have, we love what this product does have. Two rich organic butters—cocoa butter and shea butter—provide great moisturizing properties, which is why this also doubles as a great massage oil. Organic sweet almond oil and sunflower oil create a silky texture, and the preservatives are natural—vitamin E and organic bees wax.

Safe for those with health concerns. Michelle and I have both spoken to a lot of women who have been affected by cancer, and many of them were particularly worried about the loss of intimacy in their lives. Chemotherapy, medications, and surgeries can all create changes in the body so that it no longer naturally lubricates. Of course these woman are understandably concerned about using regular lubricating products because of the questionable ingredients. This is one product we’re happy to recommend wholeheartedly to women who have been through cancer or who have sensitive skin concerns.

So if you’re looking for a natural, safe, and nourishing oil-based lubricant with many uses, give this product a try, then let us know how you like it!

Have you tried Yes Pure Intimacy? Please share your thoughts.

All this stress affects our health, of course. We may not get enough sleep or exercise, and may eat more unhealthy foods. The result not only affects our insides, but our outsides as well. You can tell by that inconvenient acne eruption or psoriasis flare up, and who wants to look stressed at that work party, family get together, or New Year’s Eve celebration?

How Stress Affects Skin

People with compromised skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea know that stress can trigger uncomfortable and embarrassing flare-ups. But even people without these skin conditions will note the affects of stress on their skin.

Dermatologist Flor A. Mayoral, MD, FAAD, spoke at the American Academy of Dermatology’s SKIN Academy in 2007, and had this to say: “In treating hundreds of patients over the years with skin conditions such as eczema, rosacea, and psoriasis, I have seen firsthand how stress can aggravate the skin and trigger unexpected flare-ups that, in effect, create more stress for patients.”

When you’re dealing with stress, your body releases the stress hormone—cortisol—into your bloodstream. This causes an increase in oil production, which can lead to oily skin, acne, and rashes. A study in the January 2001 Archives of Dermatology found that stress had a negative effect on the barrier of skin, resulting in water loss and a reduced ability for the skin to repair itself. Stress can also increase hair loss and brittle, peeling nails.

Methods to Help You Cope

How can you reduce the effects of stress on your skin? First of all, try to use coping techniques like exercise, meditation, calming music, and more to reduce your stress levels. In addition to that, increase your attention to your skin with these methods to help you reduce your risk of acne, flare-ups, and other issues.

1. Avoid hot showers and baths. They strip your skin of moisture. Use lukewarm instead and moisturize immediately after your shower.
2. Wear sunscreen. Though sun exposure can be helpful for some skin conditions, it can also cause flare-ups and increase the look of aging. Wear sunscreen even in the winter.
3. Eat a healthy diet. Your skin really reflects your diet. During the holidays, do your best to continue to eat healthy foods like leafy greens, fruits and vegetables, whole grains and healthy fats like olive oil.
4. Get enough sleep. Sleep helps recharge your body and make it more resilient to stress. Lack of sleep shows up as those ugly circles under your eyes. Try to stick to a regular bedtime and do something relaxing beforehand like yoga or aromatherapy.
5. Keep your hands away from your face. Bacteria from your hands can stimulate an acne outbreak, especially when you’re stressed.
6. Hydrate. Drink enough water to flush impurities from your body, which can help keep skin clear.
7. Throw away the magnifying mirror. We’re already hard enough on ourselves—we don’t need to be examining our skin up close for flaws. Reduce your stress and put the magnifying mirror away for the holidays!
8. Exfoliate. Getting rid of those dead skin cells helps your newer cells show through, which increases the glow of skin. Try a natural exfoliator like Zia Natural Skin Care Pumpkin Exfoliating Mask.
9. Try an herbal facial. These can perform double duty—relax you and relax your skin. Try some of the natural herbal facials found here.
10. Commit to a daily skin-care regimen. During the holidays it’s easy to forget our regular skin care routine. You feel rushed, or maybe you’re too exhausted at night to put in the time. Just five minutes morning and night to cleanse, tone, and hydrate can make a big difference!

Do you have any tips for fighting the effects of holiday stress on the skin? Let us know.

Sources

American Academy of Dermatology. “Feeling Stressed? How Your Skin, Hair And Nails Can Show It.” ScienceDaily, 9 Nov. 2007. Web. 5 Dec. 2011.

Photo courtesy blue_glasses via Flickr.com.

Then she went to the Philippines on a church mission and went through a life-changing experience. Today Todra is a hardworking advocate for non-toxic cosmetics and the small brands that make them. You can find great recommendations on her website, HealthyBeautySocial.com. We spoke with Todra to find out just what changed her mind about beauty products, and what she feels is important for women’s health today.

Changed by a Child

“I’m not a kid person,” Todra says, “but when I went on a mission to the Philippines with my church, I ended up working at the orphanage.” She laughs and says she tried to fix the mix-up, but there was nothing for it. The orphanage was to be her place of work for the 2-3 weeks she was there.

“I realized really quickly that these children were different,” she says. “I had brought some crackers with me from the airport, and this little girl just kept staring at me, so I gave them to her. Her face lit up and she was like, ‘Are you sure, ma’am?’ I told her of course, to enjoy them, so she got ready to eat them and it was like someone stopped the record. All the children in the courtyard turned and stared at her, like, ‘Look what she’s got!’ I mean, these kids eat rice and bananas every day. The little girl looked around at all their faces, and then she took that small package of crackers—they were like Nutter Butters or something—and broke them all into little pieces and held her hand out so all the other kids could have a taste. I was crying!”

That was just one of the many moving moments Todra experienced on her mission, and when she came back to the United States, she wasn’t the same person anymore. “I was miserable,” she said. “I started thinking about all the people that were really poor and going through so much, and I felt my life was really extravagant, frivolous and silly.”

A Spiritual Journey

Looking for something spiritual and grounding, Todra turned to yoga, and found that her practice gradually broadened her desire for a cleaner, healthier life. “I realized I was consumed with so many things that have very little relevance,” she says. “Bit by bit changes started happening.” Todra took the junk food and sweets out of her diet and started feeling more energy and vitality. “What other natural things can I do?” she asked herself. “What other things are more in line with who I’m becoming?”

Natural Works Just as Well

As a makeup artist, Todra often receives free products from various brands to try in her profession. “Someone sent me a mineral makeup,” she says, “and I remember thinking, ‘What’s the difference?’” Her thoughts turned to the thousands of dollars worth of makeup she had in her professional kits. What was in them? Slowly, she began to separate herself from the flashy marketing, the celebrity glitz, and the design of the products, and began to read the ingredient lists.

“At first I had no idea what I was reading,” she says, but over time she began to research each chemical, even calling cosmetic representatives and researchers. Her blog, which she originally used to update people on her makeup projects, soon became a place to tell readers about safer alternatives. “I found small companies making amazing products, but they were not featured in major magazines like Vogue. I tried them, and realized these were good products—they just weren’t as well known.”

A Better Alternative

Todra became friends with the representatives from the natural cosmetic brands, and soon it was inevitable that she would end up helping them get the word out. Her website, HealthyBeautySocial.com, does just that, providing a forum where women can talk to women—and direct to the manufacturers—about safer alternatives.

Todra and her team screen the brands before allowing them to create pages on the site. Once the brands have established their presence, site visitors may ask questions about products and ingredients, and sometimes even make requests for customized items.

“We wanted the members of Healthy Beauty Social to be able to talk directly to these brand owners,” Todra says. “I love it because I see the heart these manufacturers put into their products,” she says, “and I like their products!”

As for her own journey, Todra says there’s no looking back. Today she continues to be careful what she eats, to use beauty products “without junk” inside them, and to work toward a satisfying exercise program. “I really notice a difference in how I feel,” she says, “and I love it when I tell someone my age and they go, ‘No! Really?’ I think a big part of that is just taking care of myself.”

If you’d like more information on Todra’s recommended products, see her website HealthyBeautySocial.com.