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!

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!

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!

Since all good skin care starts with cleansing, here are a few tips to help you avoid further drying and sensitizing your skin.

Never use a soap bar! Soap is drying, plain and simple. It strips your skin of natural oils and creates an imbalanced state, further drying your skin.

Choose your cleanser carefully. This is the most important step in cleansing compromised skin. The wrong cleanser will cause irritation and dryness, no matter how gently you wash. Many contain harsh chemicals that actually damage skin, and others may contain ingredients that you’re allergic to. Compromised skin is much more sensitive to dyes and fragrances than normal skin, so take my Ingredients to Avoid list with you when you shop for skin care and don’t buy anything that contains any of these ingredients. Avoid the foaming types of cleansers as well, as the agents used to boost foaming are typically irritating. Instead, look for safe, mild, and hypoallergenic cream and liquid cleansers. (If your skin is dry, use creams.) Above all, avoid antibacterial formulas. Start with organic brands, then read the labels to be sure they don’t contain any irritating ingredients. Try Petite Marie Organic Cleansing Oil with Argan and Acai, or Miessence Soothing Cleanser.

Use lukewarm, not hot water. Hot water strips the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and flaking. Protect your sensitive skin with lukewarm water.

Wash only once a day. Unless you have oily skin, try washing your face only once a day. At night is best. In the morning, apply a chemical-free sunscreen everyday.

Gently remove eye makeup. If you need to remove eye makeup at night, follow the same precautions in finding a makeup remover as you would for finding a cleanser. Many standard removers contain alcohols, sulfates and fragrances. Look for safe products that contain few ingredients and no chemical irritants. You might even want to try straight extra virgin olive oil on a cotton ball. Another good option is  Dr. Alkaitis’ Organic Eye Makeup Remover.

Use your fingers. Washcloths, sponges, and other cleansing brushes can be too harsh for sensitive skin. Rub your cleanser into your fingertips, then work over your face in gentle circles until fully lathered for one minute. Use light, upward strokes and avoid puling or tugging on your skin.

Dry with a gentle, soft towel. If you’re allergic to certain detergents, your compromised skin could be made worse when you dry. Choose soft, cotton towels that you wash only with non-toxic detergents, then pat—don’t rub—dry.

Are you gentle with your daily cleansing? Let us know if these tips help ease your skin irritation.

Photo courtesy Gerard Fritz via Flickr.com.

According to the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology, as many as 15–24 percent of Americans will experience hives at some point in their lives, while allergic dermatitis affects between 10–20 percent of children and 1–3 percent of adults.

¹ What causes these allergic reactions? Often it’s hard to nail down exactly what any one person may be allergic to, as the possible culprits are many. But there are a few that seem to be common irritants—including those listed below:

1. Latex. Found in rubber gloves and balloons, this is a common skin allergen that may cause dermatitis or even life-threatening anaphylaxis.

2. Dyes. These are the chemical colorants added to personal care products, which may commonly cause skin irritation.

3. Fragrances. Synthetic fragrances found in most personal care products, perfumes, and colognes are common skin irritants.

4. Preservatives. Chemicals used to prevent contamination in products are a common cause of allergic contact dermatitis. These include parabens, methylchloroisothiazolinone, and methylisothiazolinone.

5. Lanolin. Once a popular moisturizer, lanolin is processed in a number of ways, and some of these processing methods involve other chemicals and by-products that can irritate sensitive skin.

6. Chemicals that release formaldehyde: These chemicals are added to products for other reasons, such as to moisturize or keep the product at a certain consistency, but they may release formaldehyde and cause allergic reactions. Examples include quaternium 15, MDM hydantoin, DMDM hydantoin, and ureas.

This list only skims the surface. People with sensitive skin may also be allergic to dairy, gluten, PABA, alcohols, and nut ingredients, among others. The important thing is if you have a skin condition, particularly any of those listed above, an allergy is probably to blame. If you can pinpoint those items you’re allergic to, you may be able to reduce your flare-ups and enjoy more comfortable, attractive skin.

Your first step should be to contact your allergy doctor (or dermatologist) and ask for what is called a “patch test.” This is a common test used to identify substances that may create an allergic reaction for you. You can help your doctor by telling him/her of any substances you came into contact with before experiencing the reaction. He/she will then determine which substances you should be tested for, and place these in direct contact with your skin, usually on the upper back or on the forearm. After 48 hours the doctor will remove the patches and take an initial reading of any reactions, and then take another reading again 48 hours later. If your skin becomes red, swollen, or blistered as a result of contact with any of the substances, your doctor may conclude that you are allergic to that substance.

Once you have the results of your tests, you will probably have better luck avoiding the items that caused problems for you—and enjoy more comfortable, healthy skin in the future!

Have you had a patch test on your skin? Please share your story and suggestions.

Sources

1. Diseases 101: Skin Allergies. American Academy of Allergy, Asthma, & Immunology. http://www.aaaai.org/patients/gallery/skinallergies.asp.

Photo courtesy tkym via Flickr.com.

But what about your makeup? Again, you want to use gentle, sensitive-skin formulas that are free of toxic chemicals, but as you’re perusing your drawer of products, one more thing you may want to consider is your makeup brushes. Where did you get them? What kind are they? When was the last time you washed them?

The most important thing about your brushes is that they’re soft. And believe it or not, that could mean either natural or synthetic bristles.  Let’s look at the difference.

Natural bristles are made with animal hair that comes from goats, ponies, badgers, or squirrels. (If you’re allergic to animal hair, choose synthetic brushes.) But just because it’s animal hair doesn’t mean it’s quality—it all depends on how it’s treated and connected to the handle. Natural bristles are usually hand-shaped and glued, and range from feeling really soft to rough and scratchy. (Some goats have softer hair than others, and it also depends on how the hair is processed.) They also may shed, but they usually hold powder better than synthetic bristles and distribute it more evenly, which is why they’re often preferred by professionals.

“Squirrel hair has some of the softest bristles,” says makeup writer Teresa Hall. “Good sable makeup brushes, taken care of properly, will last the longest.”

Synthetic brushes are made using man-made materials, and can also range from rough-feeling to silky soft. You can tell their synthetic by their shinier appearance. The biggest advantage is they typically don’t shed, and glide over your face easily, which can be better for dry, flaky skin. High-quality synthetic brushes can be just as nice as natural ones, so if you’re concerned about animal rights and want to avoid natural-hair, you can still find quality brushes. However, watch out for low-quality synthetic brushes, as they can stiffen with use.

“I have very sensitive skin,” says Moo. “The only natural hair brushes that don’t bother my skin are high-quality squirrel and Italian Badger hair brushes. Lumiere’s synthetics are even softer.”

To test for shedding, run your fingers through the hair, flip the bristles back and forth, then brush the brush on your hand like you would when applying makeup. After a few times if the hair is coming off, move along and test another one. If the bristles feel stiff or prickly, don’t buy it, as it will only get worse.

If both natural and synthetic brushes can be quality tools, how do you choose? Look for a trustworthy brand. Jane Iredale has a reputation for making products that are good for sensitive skin, so we’d recommend you try her brushes, which are all hand-tied. Users rave about the softness of Lumeire brushes, and Pristine Planet has some great animal-free options. Taklon makeup brushes (a synthetic material) are reputed to be best for applying cream or liquid makeup, as they hold onto the makeup and distribute it evenly. Some Taklon brushes have anti-bacterial benefits, which can be helpful while you’re going through treatment. (Natural bristles can trap powders and chemicals in makeup.)

Finally, don’t forget to clean your brushes often (at least once a week), particularly while you’re going through treatment. Use warm water and a little toxin-free shampoo, swirl in a cup, use your fingers to clean the hairs gently in the direction of the hair, then run under clean water until the water runs clear. Air dry on a paper towel with the brush hanging over the sink overnight. Do not dry the brushes upright (with the hair pointing upward) as moisture and particles can collect into the base of the brush and cause the hair to eventually fan out or shed, or even loosen the handle.

Do you have a favorite makeup brush for sensitive skin? Let us know!

Photo courtesy of annia316 via Flickr.com.

This includes most (if not all) of the products that may now grace your medicine cabinet, bathtub, and shower. It’s time to put them in a bag and stash them out of sight, at least until you’re finished with treatment. Most contain ingredients that are way too harsh for sensitive skin. And we’re not just talking about skin-care products. Shampoos, body washes, lotions, shave creams, and perfumes can all add to the problem. If you want happier, more comfortable skin, scan your products for these ingredients, and restock your supplies with organic, chemical-free, and sensitive items.

Acids (retinol, salicylic, glycolic): This one may seem self-explanatory. After all, just the word “acid” is enough to make skin shrink away. However, because these ingredients have proven so effective at exfoliation and acne-control, they’re found in all kinds of products, including lotions, creams, body washes, gels, even foundations. Check every product you apply to your skin, and use alternatives for now.

Acne Products: Speaking of salicylic acid, put aside your acne products. They usually contain salicylic acid, retinol, benzoyl peroxide, and other harsh ingredients that further dry and irritate skin. Acne lotions are often drying, as they’re formulated to reduce skin oils. Right now, you need those oils! If you have acne during treatment, try more natural solutions like clay pastes—Nature’s Supplements suggests Bentonite, which naturally absorbs toxins. LoveLula.com offers several more suggestions, including Burt’s Bees Herbal Blemish Stick and an organic detox face mask.

High-Potency Vitamin C Products: Studies have shown vitamin C to be very effective against fine lines and wrinkles. However, vitamin C solutions are easily oxidized when exposed to air, and can encourage the formation of free radicals—something your sensitive skin definitely doesn’t need right now. In addition, high-potency vitamin C products are acidic and natural exfoliators. When you’re going through chemo, your skin is too fragile for this type of exfoliation. Wait until it recovers.

Synthetic Perfumes and Fragrances: If a product lists “fragrance” on its ingredient deck, avoid it. Most synthetic fragrances are actually mixtures of many (sometimes over 100) chemicals that can irritate and dry sensitive skin. Choose products that are lightly scented with essential oils and other natural ingredients to create lively scents.

Chemical Peels: Chemical peels use powerful acids to remove dead skin cells and stimulate collagen. No matter how you may feel about how your skin looks during treatment, do not make an appointment for a peel! Your skin is far too sensitive to withstand the assault—even of so-called “mild” peels—and you could end up with burns and permanent scarring.

Microdermabrasion: Though considered gentler than a peel, microdermabrasion still assaults the skin to exfoliate it, using air-blown, sand-type crystals. It can do wonders to liven up your complexion under normal circumstances, but remember—your skin is not “normal” during treatment. Treat it like a baby’s skin. You wouldn’t blast sand on a baby’s skin, right?

Alcohol, Menthol and Peppermint (or any product with a high content of essential oils): Products with any of these three ingredients can further irritate and dry your skin. Alcohol, because of its fast-evaporation rate, has a reputation for encouraging dryness, so stay away from rubbing alcohol, ethyl alcohol, and SD-alcohol 40.  Menthol is found in a lot of shaving creams and is known to be harsh on sensitive skin. As for peppermint, it’s natural, but it’s also powerful. According to Dr. Baumann of Yahoo Health, peppermint can cause flushing and irritation when used on sensitive skin. As for essential oils, they too can be very irritating. Be sure to use organic products that are made for sensitive skin or choose fragrance–free products to avoid any irritation.

If you’ve got a favorite sensitive-skin product, please let us know about it!

Photo courtesy of Snap Village.

During cancer treatments, however, suddenly we’re forced to pay attention. The skin is dry, fragile, tender, and easily wounded. Things that never bothered us before now cause us pain. Sometimes we become so sensitized we literally stay away from everything that could possibly feel harsh.

One thing you can do to be gentler with yourself and your skin is to invest in a few common items that feel good. Start with your towels. Typically, you use them 2-3 times a day. Hopefully you’re patting dry and not rubbing. However, even with the gentlest strokes, some materials are too harsh for sensitive skin. Many store-bought towels are cheaply made with synthetic materials, and then processed with harsh chemicals. Choose instead natural fibers such as fine cotton and silk. (Be cautious with wool and linen—depending on how they’re processed, they may feel too rough.)

Fortunately, there are many manufacturers out there creating soft, tender towels. Bamboo Linens offers organically made cotton towels, as well as bamboo towels that are naturally anti-bacterial. Rawganique sells organic cotton bath towels (and sheets) completely free or dyes or chemicals, and Ecolinen has a nice organic cotton hand towel.

Be careful, too, about what detergents you use. You can have the softest, most natural towel there is, but if you wash it in harsh detergent, ingredients like bleach, brighteners, and surfactants can cling to the towel fibers and make their way onto your skin. Read our post about popular detergents, and be sure to care for your towels with gentle, toxin-free cleansers. If you’re going through chemo, change towels daily to lower your risk of infection.

Besides the clothes you wear every day, there is one other material that touches your skin for hours—your sheets. Most of us don’t think about it, but we come into contact with our sheets for years out of our lives! Silk sheets may be more expensive, but they’ll make treatment more tolerable for you. You tend to move with more ease on silk, so you won’t get wrapped up in the sheets, and your hair is less likely to break or fall out. If you have radiation burns or other skin wounds, you’ll be less likely to catch or hurt painful areas. If you’re having trouble sleeping, which many do while going through cancer treatments, silk sheets could really help you, as they’re known to just put the body in a happier place. They typically last longer than regular sheets as well, which can make the cost worth it in the long run. Try KushTush natural silk bedding, or Ultimate Comfort bedding. If you just can’t swing the cost, try organic cotton sheets from Anna Sova Luxury Organics or Eco Bedroom.

One more thing: Remember to change your sheets weekly, if not more often. You can never be too careful while your immune system is compromised.

Do you have recommendations for soothing bed and bath products? Please share!

Photo courtesy of Snap Village.