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 

SKINtervention 101

Chia seeds

I am 43 years old.  Just turned 43 earlier this month and I didn't blink an eye, cry into my pillow or run to the plastic surgeon's office to have myself oddly altered in any way.  Instead, I looked in the mirror and thought, "you could stand to lose a few pounds, but you're holding up well lady!"  The confidence I have gained along the way and into this new part of my life is endless.  I have lost the self consciousness that kept me from enjoying life in my youth.  There was a time when I wouldn't swim in a pool for fear or ruining my hair or causing my mascara to streak.  These days I can (soberly) fall into a certain famous celebrity's pool, have everyone laugh at my goofiness and laugh also as streaks of mascara run down my face.  Who knew I wouldn't end up taking myself so seriously at 43?  I had a lot to prove in my youth or so I thought and now...it's about enjoying the moment as it comes and laughing as often as I can.

This newfound breezy attitude doesn't mean that I'm going to sit back and let the wrinkles take over my face or body.  Oh, I'm going to fight alright, just not with scalpels and botox injections!  I prefer fruits and vegetables and the occasional sea algae.  I have learned that olive oil and avocados, roses and marshmallow root pack an antioxidant punch that can really transform my skin.  Wish I would have learned this some years ago because I believe my skin would be in even better shape, but I'm grateful now nonetheless.  I have also recently been aware how much my actions affect my skin.  I recently spent a weekend with my girlfriends in New York City and man did it show up on my face!  My skin appeared sallow, circles formed under my eyes and dry patches formed all from living it up, eating street food, staying out late and having a few too many cocktails with the ladies.  I needed a skintervention and needed it fast! 

Raw coconut cream

The first thing I did when I came back home was to exfoliate.  The dry patches were caused by dehydration from the alcohol.  Alcohol is very bad for your skin in large quantities.  (A little wine has proven to have skin protecting benefits and resveratrol found in red wine is actually beneficial in anti aging.)  I used a superseed mix of organic brown rice, chia and flax and blended it with raw coconut cream (the flesh of the coconut and oil) with a few drops of fennel oil and used this to gently exfoliate the dry patches into submission.  I prefer a gently seed exfoliator rather than walnut or apricot shells because they can "break" delicate skin and cause capillary damage.  My skin was instantly soft, dry patches gone.

Next, I needed to open my pores with a gentle facial tea steam.  I have formulated my own facial tea, but at home you can heat water in a kettle, add a few drops of essential oil for an aromatherapy effect and pour right into your bathroom sink.  Carefully, put your face over the sink with a damp washcloth over your head and allow the steam to open your pores.  You only need to do this a few minutes.  Once your pores are open, apply the damp washcloth over your face and let your skin rest.  This only takes a minute or two as well. 

While my skin has soothed and tissue has been softened by the exfoliation and facial tea steam I apply pure, Vitamin E rich argan oil to gently heal any abuse I have caused my skin.  Argan oil also contains rich polyphenols that protect skin cells and quickly fight free radical damage.  For my delicate eye area I apply Decouverte under eye repair serum, which contains barbary fig seed oil.  Barbary fig seed oil has a higher contentration of Vitamin E than argan oil and a unique composition of high linoleic  acids.  Decouverte also contains lycopene, natural retinol (from plant derived Vitamin A) found in rosehips, caffeine from cold pressed green coffee oil and azulene, a powerful anti inflammatory.  This serum is a super healer and just one night time use was all it took for the puffiness and dark circles to disappear. 

These tips, along with healthy eating of fruit, vegetables and lean protein and replenshing lost electrolytes with coconut water, plain water and antioxidant rich juices help to aid my partying ways.  This is a skintervention in the healthiest form and highly recommended after your girlfriends attempt to convince you that you are 25 all over again.  Thanks, but no thanks ladies!  I'll take confident and self depricating at age 43 over insecure and not as fun 25.   Although, that weekend was surely fun and I have the pictures to prove it.

An interview with La Bella Figura co-founder, Victoria Fantauzzi

Victoria Fantauzzi, CEO and co-Founder of La Bella Figura, LLC

LBF: What is your first beauty ritual of the day

Victoria:  The first thing I do is wash my face.  I use an organic coconut and olive oil liquid soap for sensitive skin that I've enhanced with grapefruit essential oil as a natural antibacterial.  Then I moisturize immediately.  You want to moisturize while skin is...dewy.  Weird word, but true. 

LBF:  What do you use as a moisturizer?

Victoria:  You know what I use!  Tesoro is my favorite. It smells so good and it keeps my skin clear.

LBF:  Okay,  what is something you would like people to know about natural beauty products?

Victoria:  Good question!  I want people to know that using natural ingredients doesn't mean it will be ineffective in what it can do for your skin.  I think there is a myth out there that natural means it can't stand up to tough issues, but in actuality going natural is exactly what you should be doing if you have sensitive skin or eczema or acne.  Some of the chemically laden products out there can make those skin types worse! 

LBF:  I agree with you on that.  I've had allergies all my life and had tried just about everything and nothing really worked until I gave up the junk.  What do you think about all the folks that are scared to death about using a face oil?

Victoria:  I think they need to read their ingredient list because most likely they are already using oil on their face, just the really bad kind.  I know it sounds crazy to some people, but using a great quality antioxidant rich oil with no other ingredients is about as pure as you can get.  Mineral based or animal fat oils are pretty gross stuff.  Pure plant oils are best.

LBF:  Well I know we have tons of work to do so this is my last question.  What La Bella Figura product are you eager to share?

Victoria:  Aha, I think it'll have to be Decouverte our new under eye repair serum because it contains an exciting new ingredient, barbary fig seed oil!  Barbary fig seed oil has such a unique chemistry in France they call it "nature's botox."  I'm really proud of our eye serum because it contains such high performing ingredients like green coffee bean oil, tomato seed oil, which is full of lycopene and beta carotene, rosehip seed oil and of course our favorite..argan oil.  We also use rose otto, palmarosa, helichrysum, lavender and the wild blue tansy!  Blue tansy is so fantastic because it's naturally blue and features azulene, but like chamomille it's a calming essential oil for sensitive skin.  Decouverte is our little rockstar for sure and I can't wait to introduce it to everyone. 

LBF:  It's so exciting to introduce barbary fig seed oil to Americans!  Thanks, Victoria.  Let's get back to work! 

We're talking about face oils...yes, oil on your face!

Let's talk about oils and your face!  Does the thought of applying oil onto your skin instantly make you break out?  I am going to change your mind and convert you.  Oh, how I hope!

Many of us, perhaps even most of us have been told to stay away from oily creams and moisturizers in order to keep our skin blemish, smooth and wrinkle free.  We have been taught that oil is our enemy and anything that contains an oil base should be avoided like a birthday party for four year olds!  What many of us fail to realize is your cream or lotion with the "oil free" caption sitting in your bathroom cabinet is actually loaded with oil.  It's probably a petrochemical, a mineral oil, animal oil (fat) or even a good oil that has been chemically extracted and therefore has lost its potent antioxidant benefits.  How else does one create a cream, if not for emulsifying an oil and liquid formula?  We all know that oil and water don't mix.  Don't feel silly, it's not your fault that you never knew the liquid by-product to produce gasoline from crude oil was in your oil-free face lotion.  Cosmetic companies are not in a hurry to let you in on that fact.   Not many are adding glossaries with their long list of ingredients to help you to decipher the language either.  Now you know,  you have been using oil all along and you can just imagine if petroleum can fire up your car every morning it can't be good for the health of your skin.  Now that you know better you can do better. 

As we learn more and more about health and nutrition, we have discovered that oils are in fact, amazing for your skin!  That is if you believe that antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids fight free radicals, help with cell renewal and slows the signs of aging.  I was never the type to run away from oil since my fabulous Grandmother cured my every childhood ailment with olive oil.  From cradle cap to a chest cold, my Abuelita (Spanish for Grandmother) always had a spoonful of pure, cold pressed olive oil for me to ingest.  She even taught me that applying a little olive oil to your eyelashes keeps them thick and healthy and a few drops to your hair produces a gorgeous shine enviable by the rich woman who just spent a fortune at the salon.  In case you didn't know, my Abuelita was a genius! 

When I discovered argan oil I knew that I had hit the jackpot in an oil so full of nutritive benefits it would make my skin look like I had rested for 10 hours a night and just been on the best vacation of my life.  Argan oil is an oil from Morocco and produced when the kernels are cracked and cold pressed for a rich oil that, ironically is light and absorbs into your skin immediately.  It is loaded in essential fatty acids, has twice the amount of Vitamin E than olive oil and is high in antioxidant power.  It, like my Abuelita is another genius.  I began to use argan oil in lieu of my expensive moisturizers at first for its hydrating power.  After all the years of creams and lotions I will admit it was disconcerting, but I quickly adapted and after just one week of use I saw the amazing benefits and was ecstatic to say the least.  My skin looked radiant, felt soft and I could not believe a couple of unwanted blemishes were gone!  I wanted to convert everyone to try this amazing oil, however some folks were just not buying it.  When people started to notice and comment on how lovely my skin looked and asked about what I was using I would tell them my secret, much to gasps of horror.  It seems an oil on a person's face was the craziest thing anyone had ever heard of!  Until some became curious and of course, the results for them were also quick and amazing.   I suddenly had a few converts.  I also knew that I was on to something pretty special for the health of my skin without all of the parabens and petrochemicals that I had unwittingly used for years.  It was like discovering chocolate for the first time, I was hooked and I wanted to share my excitement. 

I am sure I have captured some interest in many of you and that's good.  Some of you may be just a little more suspicious and will be slow to try the power of a face oil or just have to wait to experience it for yourselves. That's okay too.  There was a time when folks were distrustful of the blueberry or made jokes about the heart healthy benefits of olive oil.  They most likely had never encountered my Abuelita.  I'm just hoping that soon enough the thought of applying topical antioxidants, vitamins, omegas and plant derived polyphenols sound like a good thing for beautiful skin.  Unless, you are committed to continue using crude oil on your face. 

Face oils are here to stay because they nourish the skin with pure plant derived benefits.  We at La Bella Figura have done some amazing things with plant derived oils and would love for you to try our products so that you too can become a fan of chemical, toxin and paraben free face oils.  It will change the way you take care of your skin and make you wonder why you haven't used a face oil long before.  We have some incredible things in the works and newly discovered oils for the best looking skin you never thought possible.   Just wait until you hear about organic barbary fig seed oil,  rosehip seed oil, coffeebean oil..I could go on with the amazing ingredients we work with at La Bella Figura.  My Abuelita has been gone for some time now and I find myself emulating her as I chase my niece with a bottle of argan oil to heal her dry skin or add shine to hair and even to apply to her lashes for healthy, long lashes.  She thinks I'm a little bonkers now, she'll be thanking me in a few years I'm certain of that!

Find us at www.labellafigurabeauty.com and learn more about La Bella Figura.

Best in skin health,

Victoria
La Bella Figura, LLC