Why Using A Serum Can Really Revitalize Your Skin Health

With the release of our new reparative Barbary Fig Renewal Serum comes many questions about serums and what they do for your skin.  Serums in general are meant to treat your skin with more nutrients and concentrated doses of anti aging ingredients than a face cream can. They can also target an array of skin issues that you wish to work on and can be used under makeup or under your moisturizer if you like.

Our Barbary Fig Renewal Serum is unique in that not only does the formulation help to heal and repair skin from environmental damage, it also moisturizes and promotes new cellular growth with a kiss of primer action for a flawless makeup application. That's right, it's a 3 in 1 product and a skin wonder product that will have you cheering for joy!  You will find the need for additional moisturizer won't be necessary nor will a chemical laden primer or those skin brightening creams everyone is talking about, which can contain the horrific ingredients mercury chloride and hydroquonine in large doses. We worked around that to brighten skin naturally with magnolia oil and natural Vitamin C.

The main ingredient in Barbary Fig Renewal Serum is of course, barbary fig seed oil. With its high levels of the super antioxidant we all covet for skin boosting healing, Vitamin E, barbary fig seed oil is the latest ingredient to use for exceptional skin care.  It also contains Vitamin K, which treats concerns such as broken capillaries, dark circles and blotchiness. Our serum also contains other skin healing ingredients such as broccoli seed oil (which gives the serum the silicone-like texture allowing it to act as a natural primer and to blend flawlessly into skin), milk thistle, guava and pineapple oils as well as the purest plant energy from rose, frankincense, magnolia, melissa and Italian blood orange essential oils. These essential oils are the plant's vital energy source and are loaded with nutrients that perform beautifully to treat skin issues.  It's not by accident that the rose has been used for thousands of years to beautify or that melissa essential oil cures skin disorders. There is definite scientific facts behind these delicate scented powerhouses in healing.

We at La Bella Figura work endlessly to create formulations we believe customers want.  Ever notice how some skin creams still don't get to the root of the problem and don't moisturize enough? And when was the last time you noticed real change in your skin? Because of our desire to bring you responsible and effective skincare Barbary Fig Renewal Serum was born and we are excited for those of you that haven't discovered the power of a serum to do so with La Bella Figura. It is a product we proudly stand by and are delighted every time a customer or beauty editor or retailer calls to compliment us on.  Try a serum this winter and revitalize your skin.  It's worth every penny and with the quality of ingredients you won't feel guilty in investing in your skin health.

http://www.youbeauty.com/skin/galleries/natural-skincare-ingredients#9

Read the article about the best in natural skincare from Dr. Oz's fantastic site YouBeauty.

10 Tips for Healthy Skin So You Don't have to be Afraid of Go Nude Sunday!

Here at La Bella Figura, we love Go Nude Sundays. More than just a day to run around without makeup, it's a chance to relax, cam down, and take a moment to take care of ourselves in order to prepare for the busy work week. For many, the idea of going nude is just a bit terrifying. I've compiled some tips that I've been using the last few years to really keep my skin in tip-top shape and making Go Nude Sundays less terrifying.

1. Get a good nights sleep. Not just one but as many as you can during the week.

Try to get anywhere from 7-9 hours a night. Well rested skin is healthy skin. If you have trouble falling asleep try turning off the TV, computer, and phone at least one and half to two hours before bedtime. Get into a bedtime routine. Try light stretching, wash your face, journaling or reading. The experts say that a bedtime routine helps prepare your mind and body for bedtime.


2. Change your pillowcases and sheets often.

Aim for every other day. Our skin, especially our faces, is in direct contact with our sheets and pillowcases every night. They can absorb oil, dirt, and bacteria resulting in blemishes and breakouts. Clean sheets and pillowcases equal clearer skin.

3. Wash your makeup off every night before bed.

This is my biggest beauty blunder. There are so many times I have gone to bed with a face full of makeup and I was too lazy to spend the extra few minutes washing it off. I've learned the hard way, going to bed with makeup still on almost always leads to a blemish on my face. I'm finally heeding what the experts have been urging for years: wash your makeup off!

4. Keep your hands off your face and off of your blemishes.

For years as a teen and a young woman, I happily picked, prodded, and squeezed anything that cropped up on my face. Luckily, I wasn't prone to many breakouts, but over the years, I've learned that the more I touch my face the greater the chance for a breakout. Our skin changes as we age and what was an inconsequential beauty habit in our youths can become one big beauty blunder later. If a blemish pops up nowadays, I treat it with a mixture of french clay, witch hazel, willowbark extract, a tiny bit of honey, turmeric, tea tree oil, and lavender.

5. Exfoliate

I've always been on and off with exfoliators. I've never been able to find one that I've really liked. They either seemed to harsh or not exfoliating enough. We started experimenting with some around the LBF studio. A mix of super seeds seem to the do the job quite well and leave my skin feeling fresh, smooth, and super silky. I recently made an exfoliator and added organic kelp powder to it and my skin felt brand new! We might just be onto something over here! I try to exfoliate twice a week now, it keeps my skin feeling smooth and healthy. Two warnings though: be careful not to over exfoliate or use a too harsh of an exfoliator as they can damage your skin.


6. Juice for beautiful skin.

Juice is a nutritious and delicious way to detoxify and hydrate skin cells. Look for juices brimming with free radical fighting antioxidants like prickly pear, pomegranate, guava, blackberry, blood orange, pineapple, kale and tomato juices. Juicing hardly requires any digestion so these powerful vitamins and minerals get delivered to your system fast!

7. Eat plenty of veggies, quality protein, and swap processed carbs for whole grains.

 "High-glycemic foods cause your blood sugar to rise, triggering a surge of insulin. The insulin stimulates oil-producing hormones called androgens, leaving you with pimples," says Leslie Bauman of the Journal of the American Academy of Dermatology. Try foods such as peanut butter, nuts, avocado, and salmon that contain healthy fats that are great for the hair, skin, and nails.

 8. Forget synthetic retinoids and use the vitamin A packed powerhouse Rosehip seed oil.

It seems like every beauty article these days is touting the effect of retinoids but how do you get the benefits without the synthetics? The answer: Rosehip seed oil. We love Rosehip;  it sinks into the skin beautifully. It's the only vegetable oil that contains natural Retinoic acid (vitamin A acid). Gentle enough for sensitive skin, it helps tighten skin, reduce pores and inflammation, and diminishes fine lines and wrinkles.

9. Clean your makeup brushes.

Brushes accumulate bacteria and dirt just like your makeup does and can cause clogged pores and bacterial infections. Keeping them clean helps keep your face clear.

10. Don't be afraid of oil on your skin!

For many years, the cosmetic industry told us that oil would cause blocked up pores, infections, and oily skin. Oils such as Argan, and Barbary Fig among others actually mimic the natural sebum your skin produces and helps balance and restore your skin to it's healthy levels. There's actually many people and doctors that promote the oil cleansing method, where it is believed that oil dissolves oil and after steaming, oil is rubbed into the face to break up dirt and oil. Our serums and face oils are blended with highly effective essential oil blends that target a number of skin issues and  they work great!

Well my lovelies,, I hope you find these tips helpful.

                                                                                 En bonne santé,

                                                              

                                                                                                              Karen 

La Bella is back! Our new Bella is Joanna Runciman of Actual Organics.

Joanna Runciman

Joanna Runciman is a writer, wellness coach and advocate for detoxifying your life from chemicals. We crossed paths because I was enjoying her blog and found her passion for clean and green living inspiring. We sent Joanna products to sample and luckily for us she became a fan! Joanna has changed her own life and now helps others weed out the toxins in their life and is a leader in healing and wellness in Canada. Check out her site at www.actualorganics.com



La Bella Figura: Who are you?

Joanna Runciman: Mrs Joanna Runciman.  A passionate advocate for non-toxic living, I educate and empower women to live more radiantly, through eliminating unnecessary toxic synthetic chemicals and toxic practices from their life.
Where do you live? 

JR: In the mountains of British Columbia, Canada.

LBF: What is your occupation? 

JR: Wife, friend and I also run a little business called Actual Organics.  I am currently writing my first book.
LBF: What is your astrological sign?

JR: Born in April, but actually the only guidance I seek is God!

LBF: What do you do for fun and recreation?

JR: Ski, walk, Feldenkrais and cooking, I also love watching comedies, my favourite being, Love Actually.
LBF: If you could travel anywhere, where would it be and why? 

JR: I would love to go to the rainforests around the world.  The majestic trees that have lived on this earth for centuries would be amazing to experience. 

LBF: What do you enjoy most about your life? 

JR: My husband is my best friend and I feel truly blessed everyday to be married. As well as that I am encouraged by the possibility for positive change; my educating others to take a stand and clean up their life- a sort of get the gunk out & get the radiance in! 

LBF: What made you try organic products? 

JR: Chronic acne for over ten years, I then began to reduce my toxic body burden; starting with what I used on my skin, moving to genuinely organic skincare was a logical choice.  I encourage reading ingredients thoroughly as organic can hide some horrors pretending to be healthy.

LBF: If we "shadowed" you for an entire day, what beauty horror would we
find out about you? 

JR: I occasionally wear a Bobbi Brown mascara that I was given a sample of at a big department store in London, it has butylene glycol and phenoxyethanol and all manner of toxic synthetic ingredients but the occasional times I wear it my lashes do look longer! 
LBF: What are your favorite beauty products, something you could not be on\
a desert island without?

JR:  I love the La Bella Figura Barbary Fig Renewal Serum so would want an endless supply of that with me, some Shea butter, coconut oil and Ora Wellness tooth oil.  Baking soda is pretty handy too to clean my beach house on the desert island, so I'd like some of that too!
LBF: What will you be doing this weekend? 

JR: Skiing, having a massage, cooking and going for a long walk, drinking tea and playing cards. 

LBF: Sum up a motto that best describes you:

JR: You may not like what I say but detoxing your life will serve you well, so be brave (you are braver than you think) and get rid of the clutter be it physical, emotional or synthetic chemical!  Make your life more simple and enjoy the radiance that is yours to shine for the world to see. 

Thank you Joanna! We hope you had a lovely ski trip and are excited about your upcoming book. We can't wait to read your first book and hope you are inspired every day. Follow Joanna on Twitter @ActualOrganics and on her Facebook page, ActualOrganics.

PARIS, the next tribute in our organic perfume collection

Oh, Paris! In the Spring, Summer, Fall or Winter, Paris is the capital in chicness of all the European cities. You will fall in love there or want to and even if you don't speak a word of French, there is something about Paris that will have you saying, "oui" in no time.

La Bella Figura has created a delicate, floral and universally appealing scent that will remind you of the abundance of love your heart swells up for while in Paris. Gentle notes of floral fields, chamomile, and sweet vanilla will have you sitting outdoors in that little French Cafe you can't stop thinking about. Our tribute bespoke scent is due to make its debut this SPRING-2012.