BellaSugar

Definition: Emollient

BellaSugar — Tue, 03 Jul 2007 12:15:06 -0700

An emollient is an agent used externally and/or topically to soothe and to soften dry skin. They keep water and oil together, which is why lotions and lipstick have a soft and creamy texture to them. They are often used to treat flaky skin and eczema. Some common emollients include olive leaf, fig, hollycock, almond, comfrey root and aloe.

Emollients range from milky lotions to heavy ointments. An easy way to tell if a product is a strong emollient is by its lipid to water ratio. If a product has a greasy and thick (messy) texture, it will be an effective emollient.

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Sabon Goes Organic

BellaSugar — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 10:00:37 -0700

Sabon started out in 1974 with one natural soap handcrafted in a backyard in Israel, and the brand now has shops around the world. Today, it expands into the organic market with its Sabon Organic line.

Even though the "organic" labeling of beauty products (vs. food) often comes under fire for lack of consistency and regulation, this line comes ECOCERT-approved from an international organization that examines organic cosmetics. To be certified, the products must have 10 percent minimum approved organic ingredients, and at least 95 percent of ingredients must be from natural plant sources. In addition, certification requires the absence of synthetic fragrances and dyes, silicones and glycol, petro-chemical and mineral oils, and parabens, and no animal ingredients/testing.

I got a sneak peek and sniff of one of the products from this line. Read my thoughts on the item I tested when you read more.

The Organic Butter Cream, $39 (bottom right), is a rich emollient moisturizer. I can hold the open jar upside and shake it, but the cream stays in! It feels just as thick going onto the skin, but not sticky or greasy. Along with the familiar shea butter, jojoba oil, and aloe leaf juice were other plant extracts like maris sal (dead sea salt), dill extract, and macadamia seed oil. Plus each label lists exactly how much is natural - this item has 98.86 percent total ingredients of natural origin and 82.41 percent from organic farming - and comes in recycled packaging. I'm popping this in my fridge as soon as I get home for a cool Summer treat.

DIY Spa Treatment: Soothe Shaved Legs With This Cheap Trick

BellaSugar — Wed, 08 Apr 2009 11:59:33 -0700

Remember that classic doctor's advice of "Take two aspirin and call me in the morning"? Well, I'm not a doctor, but that's my remedy for just-shaven, now-irritated legs. I've already dabbled in aspirin-based remedies for face and hair, but this one's meant for your stems. Get my recipe for the remedy when you read more.

Start by crushing two aspirin between two sheets of wax paper.
Dissolve the aspirin bits in 1/4 cup of distilled water.
Add three drops of glycerin to the solution. This emollient acts as a solvent for the aspirin while holding moisture in your skin. Stir the paste until the pills are dissolved.
After shaving, apply the mixture to your skin with a cotton ball to avoid shaving bumps and calm any irritation.

If you've taken a rest from the razor in Winter months, you may be extra sensitive to shaving now that Spring (and shorts and skirts) are here. So grab those ingredients and you're good to go . . . bare-legged.
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Hydrate Botanica Is Full of Spice

BellaSugar — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 07:00:22 -0800

If your daily styling routine includes a dollop of leave-in conditioner, consider Hydrate Botanica ($20) this season. Since it's even more important to keep hair hydrated in cold and dry weather, using a moisture rich product can de-stress your hair . . . and your mood in dealing with that hair. When checking the label on the bottle, it read something like a spicy grocery list – nettle, fennel, sage – and I was intrigued as to what these yummy ingredients could do for my strands.

As part of a seven ingredient Naturina Complex, nettle nourishes, fennel softens, and sage refreshes, along with vitamin-rich arnica, emollient chamomile, yarrow for conditioning . . . and hops. Ummm, beer?! Just like that beer facial led us to believe, it's a natural hair and skin softener. Bottoms up on this bottle and let it go straight to your head!

Doing Drugstore: Dr. Scholl's For Her Ultra Overnight Foot Cream

BellaSugar — Fri, 06 Feb 2009 10:01:33 -0800

For some products promising extra moisture, that translates to a generous coating of greasy gunk. You'll have to excuse my skepticism in testing this, but I was imagining sticky feet picking up invisible "grit" from my hardwood floors. Do. Not. Want.

Thankfully, while this lotion does soothe my rough skin, it goes on smoothly and doesn't feel tacky to the touch once dry. With active ingredients of aloe and palm oils, it felt pretty ordinary all alone, but as part of a new nightly regimen, it gets great results. Simply start with a pumice foot scrub before tucking toes into cotton/lycra socks to seal emollients into the feet while you sleep. It'll keep them warm, too. Would you consider trying this, or does the idea of wearing socks to bed make you sweat?

Your Lipstick Could Be Hurting You and the Earth, Says Canada

BellaSugar — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 12:00:16 -0800

We've heard a lot about potential health hazards in cosmetics, but so far, the US government hasn't done anything in response. Not so in Canada, whose government recently declared four chemicals to be toxic.

Siloxanes D4 and D5, used as emollients in products such as moisturizers and makeup, are unhealthy for the environment. While they aren't considered harmful to human health, they do cause problems for streams, lakes, and rivers after they've been washed down the drain. The chemicals accumulate in microrganisms and other aquatic life, and some scientists suspect that they may harm fish. There's no talk of an outright ban yet, but Canada proposes setting concentration limits.

Equally unsettling is the announcement that two known human carcinogens, isoprene and epichlorohydrin, are used in cosmetics. You'd think they would be banned, but, uh, not exactly: They're being added to the Cosmetic Ingredient Hotlist. If that sounds like a puny response to ingredients that can cause cancer, that's because it is. The ingredients are prohibited, but enforcement sounds pretty weak: The manufacturers "may be advised to remove the substance from the formulation," among other similarly not-so-intense-sounding options.

Photo by Tanakawho

Product Review: Skinceuticals Emollience

BellaSugar — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 09:00:58 -0700

A friend of mine got a facial in Boston and fell head over heels for a moisturizer from SkinCeuticals called Emollience ($50). Her rave reviews about how her skin looked even, supple and hydrated after just one month made me run faster than Forrest Gump to the store. So far I've been using it for two weeks and here are my thoughts:

Emollience has a thin, slip-like texture, but it delivers heavy moisture. It has a light and clean scent that feels refreshing on your face and makes your skin look dewy and smooth. Also, I love that it is reasonably priced for such a large jar. It lasts long too. All you really need is a pinky nail bed-sized dollop for your entire face and neck.

The texture aside, the results are really what make this such a solid purchase. I apply it in the morning and my face doesn't dry out even the slightest bit all day. It absorbs quickly so I can put my makeup on right away without any base or powder sliding off. I use a little bit extra in the evenings, along with an eye cream and when I wake up, my skin looks splotch-free and feels like buttah.

It's recommended for those with dry skin since it contains restorative oils (grapeseed, rose hip and macadamia), but my skin is combination and it seems to be responding well to the formula (meaning, it's not too oily, even around my t-zone). Is this the best face cream in the whole wide world? No, but it definitely ranks high, and I can confidently recommend it to anyone looking for a gentle cream that will give your thirsty complexion a tall drink of water.

Product Review: Benetint Lip Balm SPF 15

BellaSugar — Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:00:44 -0700

Unless you been living under a rock for the past few years, you've likely heard of Benefit's best-selling, award-winning lip and cheek stain called Benetint. This red rose-colored liquid creates a natural, healthy-looking flush to whatever it touches. Its popularity has spawned many other products like Pocket-Pal, a smaller version of the tint with a clear lip gloss, Posietint, a brighter and sheer pink tint and Benetint Lip Balm ($20) a deep pink, non-sticky and light lip balm that has recently been updated to include SPF 15.

I've been dying to check this out for ages, and this past weekend, I played around with the petite pot. The texture is delicate, smooth, ever-so-slightly waxy, but mostly creamy and refreshing. This has a lot do with the fact that it contains not only Vitamin E and other emollients but also real rose petals that give it a signature sweet and girly fragrance.

It can be worn alone (it looks way lighter on than the original tint does), or you can wear it over or under your favorite lipstick to make it appear more sheer. Lip balms are a great love of mine, and I'm happy to add this one to my list.

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A Quick Tip About Razor Burn

BellaSugar — Wed, 18 Jun 2008 07:00:58 -0700

For anyone who has ever nicked themselves shaving or has gotten raised, red razor bumps from shaving, you know it can be uncomfortable (even painful) and remain irritated for days. I learned about an inexpensive and easy fast DIY fix to help reduce redness, inflammation and the pain.

Simply apply a wet tea bag to the area and let it sit for a few minutes. The tea's tannic acid is the active ingredient that should help relieve the symptoms. Tip: Choose a cheapie brand, since it is likely to contain a higher concentration of tannic acid. Just remember to lay a towel down underneath you, as tannic acid stains.

If you're out of tea bags, then try applying a tea tree oil to the area to fight off infection and help soothe the bumps. Aloe vera and hydrocortisone are other topical remedies that help speed up recovery while cooling the skin and controlling the swelling.

For a few helpful shaving tips to help prevent razor burn, read more.

Always shave in the same direction as your hair grows. Going "against the grain" can cause razor burn and can lead to ingrown hairs.
Use an emollient-rich moisturizing shaving cream, gel or lotion to ensure a smooth shave that will provide steady contact to the skin.
Remember to change your razor blade frequently. Using a dull razor can inflame your skin, cause nicks, razor burn and irritation.

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A Quick Tip About Manicures

BellaSugar — Fri, 30 May 2008 14:00:56 -0700

Ever get frustrated with your manicure? Whether you do it yourself or have it professionally done, it's a real bummer when your polish starts to chip or peel the very next day. I just picked up a little tip from Neri Ortega, lead manicurist at The Butterfly Studio Salon in New York City, that I'd like to share with you.

After your hands have been massaged or moisturized, clean your nail bed twice with nail polish remover. Doing it twice is important, so that there is no oily or creamy residue left on your nails. I knew that this step was important, but I thought that one sweep of soaked cotton ball would do the trick. Apparently this is where I've gone wrong. An emollient-free and dry nail bed are the keys to a long-lasting manicure.

Now don't be shy. The next time you're at the salon, if they only clean your nails off once, ask them to repeat the process. There's no harm in speaking up if you want your manicure to stay intact.

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