Acai berry was relatively unknown to the mainstream public until a couple of years ago. When Dr. Oz appeared on The Oprah Winfrey Show in 2009, everyone wanted to know more about the amazing acai (which is pronounced ah-SIGH-ee) berry.

This small berry thrives in the lush Amazon rain forests in Brazil. They are about the same size as blueberries and look similar but have a bigger seed. Unlike blueberries, fresh acai berries perish very quickly.

Natural preserved acai berries in beauty and fitness products harnesses the abilities of this powerhouse. Acai berries offer antioxidant, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. An anti-aging ace, acai has vitamins, minerals, phytonutrients, essential fatty acids, antioxidants and enzymes including CoQ10.

The acai berry contains a wealth of ingredients that are beneficial for your skin including Vitamin C, powerful antioxidants and fatty acids. The antioxidants help to eliminate free radicals, the culprits of premature aging. Fine lines are smoothed away thanks to the fatty acids in acai as Vitamin C combat wrinkles.

Acai is beneficial because it is a safe alternative to other essential oils used in natural cosmetics. Unlike many other oils, acai oil continues to have high antioxidant levels after processing and storage.

The CoQ10 found in acai works to rejuvenate your skin for a more youthful appearance. Meanwhile, phytonutrients promote radiant skin for that gorgeous glow you crave. This non-toxic beauty solution is natural and used in a variety of safe cosmetics.

For example, a favorite of our specialists is the  C + Resveratrol Anti-Aging Elixir along with many other Sevani Products which contain the Sevani Signature Certified Organic Very Berry C Blend of acai, goji berry, amalaki (gooseberry) and sea buckthorn berry too. This synergistic blend improves skin elasticity and protects it from environmental damage.

Acai in combination with other natural elements is a powerhouse against the signs of aging. The ongoing topical use of acai protects the skin against harmful elements and smooths away fine lines and wrinkles.

Want to experience the rejuvenating benefits of Acai berry?  Start today by using it along with the other potent vitamin rich berries in Sevani’s signature blend and you will be preventing aging.  Drink it too!

While acne is not life-threatening, it can make a major impact on your appearance and self-esteem.  Sampling an array of drying, irritating lotions, and potions often makes the condition worse.  Dr. Schrammek blemish balm contains a unique blend of ingredients and conceals as it heals.

What Is Acne?

Acne is actually a disease involving the skin.  Oil glands under your skin are connected to your pores through follicles.  The follicles are where small hairs grow.  The glands produce an oily liquid called sebum that transports dead skin cells through follicles to the skin’s surface.  When follicles get blocked, acne happens.  Bacteria from oil, cells, and hair form a plug.  Resulting bacteria causes inflammation. Untreated acne can cause scarring.  Dr. Schrammek blemish balm is an easy way to reduce inflammation and cover up acne as it heals.

Types of Acne

All pimples are not created alike.  There are types of acne and each one looks different.  Some are more prone to cause scarring than others.  Types of pimples include:

-        papules are the small, pink bumps we often see;

-        whiteheads are barely visible white clogs under the skin;

-        blackheads are visibly black and come out on the surface of your skin;

-        pustules are red with a pus-filled top;

-        cysts are also filled with pus but tend to be painful and are likely to cause scarring; and

-        nobules are large pimples that are embedded on the skin but can be seen on its surface.

Acne Cause and Effect

The cause of acne is still undetermined.  Acne can be aggravated by stress, eating certain foods, hormonal shifts, or oily cosmetics that clog your pores.  The opposite are drying cosmetics.  Often they irritate the skin without clearing up acne and might make skin more prone to sunburn.

Severe acne may require attention from a dermatologist.  For mild to moderate acne, cleaning the skin is essential.  Never go to bed wearing makeup.  Use natural skin care products.  Safe cosmetics are

non-comedogenic so they don’t further clog your pores. Dr. Schrammek blemish balm was created and tested by dermatologists.  It includes a host of natural healing elements to address skin concerns and conceal flaws.

Skin Conditions Dr. Schrammeck Blemish Balm Combats

Dr. Schrammek blemish balm was developed to deliver non-toxic beauty solutions for a variety of acne-related skin conditions.

-        Perfect your complexion with a concealing makeup in four shades to match every skin tone. Smooth away large pores, imperfections, red blotches, rosacea, uneven spots, hyperpigmentation, and impurities.

-        Spot treat pimples and blackheads to prevent them from happening.

-        Minimize redness and irritation, flaking from harsh medicines and improve redness from rosacea

-        Reduce the irritation and itching of insect bites, sores, and blisters on the lips.

-        Encourage faster regeneration after laser treatment.

The plant powered elements in Dr. Schrammeck blemish balm include joboba to bind moisture; licorice root extract to relieve irritation; allantoin for healthier cell regeneration; zinc oxide to reduce inflammation; and bisabolol to calm and soothe.

Toss away those skin-clogging makeups and invest in natural, safe cosmetics for acne.  Dr. Schrammak blemish balm is the solution you have been searching for.

From eating right to safe cosmetics, everything you do affects you and your unborn baby. Are natural beauty products safer to use than synthetic ones during pregnancy?

Natural, organic beauty products are preferred over synthetic skin care and makeup. Certain ingredients can be potentially harmful to a growing baby.

Retinoids, a form of Vitamin A, taken orally in high doses can be harmful to an unborn baby. However, they have not been shown to cause any problems when used topically.

Stay away from traditional nail polish with toluene, phthalate, and formaldehyde. Use non-toxic beauty products on nails during pregnancy in a well-ventilated area.

Dihydroxyacetone (DHA) used in chemical tanning was approved by the FDA, but still might cause risks to a developing fetus. Avoid tanning and maintain beautiful skin with a natural skin care cream.

Fragrances with botanicals and essential oils are the preferred choice over chemical perfumes that often contain phthalates. These phthalates may have a negative impact on the growth and development of a fetus.

Oral and topical Acne s tetracycline, Accutane, and Retin-A should be avoided during pregnancy as they are associated with birth defects. Try the Advanced Complexion Corrector as an alternative to combat those unwanted blemishes.

Steer clear of chemicals and opt for natural, non-toxic beauty products while pregnant and nursing.  It’s not worth the risk, especially when you can purchase high quality products of natural origin.  Just use caution, even many organic brands use chemical preservatives!

Stress, divorce, and hair loss were recently linked by the American Society of Plastic Surgeons. Other contributing elements toward hair loss were smoking and drinking.

Co-author of the studies, Baham Guyuron, MD, said genetics remains a strong predictor in hair loss but stress and unhealthy factors also contribute toward losing hair.

We believe relaxation is crucial to optimum health and beauty. Rather than smoking or drinking to unwind, use natural resources to relax.

A bath with natural skin products is an excellent way to wash away stresses of the day.

Eating organic foods without toxins helps your body function with less stress.

Yoga, tai chi, and stretching make it easier to de-stress.

Take time to laugh and play to melt stress away.

Non toxic beauty products with essential oils such as lavender, neroli, and frankincense help reduce stress.

Topical products, such as Revitalash, help stimulate the growth of thicker eyelashes and eyebrow hair.

You can also massage your scalp for increased circulation and it feels pretty good too!

And of course, always seek medical attention when hair loss is sudden, excessive or extreme.

Treat yourself right by pampering yourself with high quality products and some self nurturing procedures.
You have just one life to live and one head of hair……nourish them both!

Your diet is important for every system in your body, including your skin.  Eating a balanced diet is essential for overall health and wellness yet some foods are more beneficial for your skin than others.

One of the most popular “foods for the skin” and overall health are those foods containing high levels of omega fatty acids.  Also known as EFA’s or essential fatty acids, these omega 3s are found in foods like fish including wild salmon, tuna, and halibut as well as flax seeds and oil, avacados, and grape leaves.  They provide benefits for the skin such as improved circulation, reduced inflammation and redness, increased hydration, and even help to delay the physical aging process.

Deciding where to get your Essential Fatty Acids is important.  Fish is often farm raised with antibiotics or can contain mercury which can cause hormonal challenges so we recommend you opt for organic sources of fish.  In case you don’t enjoy eating nuts or fish, there are other options to get omega fatty acids in your body internally.  Most health stores offer fish and nut oils in capsule or liquid options which are much more palatable.   Read the label for dosages so you don’t drink too much and look closely to make sure no synthetic fillers are used.

These amazing omega 3 fatty acids achieve beautiful skin both by being eaten and by being used topically.   Skin care products like those made by Sevani utilize essential fatty acids in their natural and organic skin care creams and serums to make reaping the benefits of EFAs easy.  Look for ingredients like Argan Oil, Evening Primrose Oil and Kukui Nut Oil to get the best natural omega 3 fatty acids for your skin.

Through eating the right types of food you are able to look good outside as well as inside. However, you also should combine eating these beneficial foods with other important daily habits. Try drinking plenty of water. This way, you can rehydrate yourself from the inside out to help prevent dry skin and encourage a youthful glow. You should also add exercise as well as daily meditation to you improved diet in order to facilitate your pursuit of a healthier and more beautiful you.

Most men and women purchase topical beauty products in an effort to help their skin, hair, nails, etc feel and look better.   After years of research though, the data has shown that many of the supplements we take orally may also benefit the skin’s appearance, not just topical remedies and solutions.

Here at The Skin Specialist, one of the nutrients that we find offers tremendous benefits for health and beauty is MSM.   MSM stands for methyl sulfonyl methane and is a highly sought after supplement today.  With regard to the benefits it offers the skin, MSM is considered by many to be a precursor to collagen and, has the power to help the body keep the collagen it already has longer.  As many know, collagen is essential for supple, youthful looking skin as it helps prevent signs of aging in your including wrinkles.

MSM has been found to have plenty of benefits for us internally as well.  It can help relieve symptoms of gastrointestinal disorders like constipation, diarrhea and hyper-acidity.  In addition, MSM is known for its ability to relieve chronic arthritis. And, along those same lines, if when you exercise you find yourself suffering from muscle pain or stiffness, try including MSM in your diet and see if it doesn’t help make your workouts more pleasant.

Where do you find it?  MSM occurs naturally in certain meats, fruits, vegetables, and other foods. Nevertheless, you can also find them in your nearest stores in a caplet or even liquid form; easy to take and include in your diet daily.

MSM should also be in the skin care products you choose.  The natural skin care products by Sevani offer a wonderful option when it comes to effective formulations that include MSM.  You’ll find this wonderful supplement in many of their 100% natural creams and serums.  To see what these products can do for you, visit our store today.  You can view Sevani’s entire skin care line as well as their ingredient lists and learn more about how they incorporate this awesome skin care ingredient into their formulas.

Whatever you do, be sure to find a way that works for you to include MSM in your diet and skin care routine today.  You’ll notice a difference in the way you look and the way you feel right away.  The greatest benefit though will be seen over the long term as continued use of the supplement is the optimal way to obtain the greatest effect.

Looking for more skin care advice?  visit us on Facebook and Twitter for regular skin care tips, tricks and helpful info.

We hear from many clients that it’s difficult for them to see why they should spend the extra money for high end beauty products when there are others at the drug store that have a less expensive price tag.

Our response; just because the tag on the bottle has a lower price doesn’t mean you’re really getting more for your money.

Luxury skin care products cost more at the start yes, but, what if you spent a little more and got a product that actually worked?  Many people we talk to that finally give professional skin care products a try report that they’re amazed at how effective they are vs the drugstore brand beauty products they used to use.  Those products that cost less don’t seem to really do all that much for their skin now that they see what true, high end skin care can do, and they don’t see the reason anymore to spend even a dime on something that doesn’t work.

Also, because professional skin care products do use high quality ingredients and are so effective, a little goes a long way.  That bottle of moisturizer at the drug store  (that’s mostly water and waxes) will likely be gone way before a higher end moisturizing product of the same size simply because you don’t have to “apply liberally”.  Instead, you use just a bit of the luxury brand and see even better results!

We really do encourage you to give professional grade beauty products, like those sold here at TheSkinSpecialist.com and try and see if you aren’t convinced you actually get more for your money when you choose high end skin care.  We think you’ll find that finally all those promises of firmer skin, less acne, smaller pores and radiant skin will actually come true!

As the seasons change so do the needs of our skin.  Soon, in the northern hemisphere, we’ll be coming up on winter.  With all the extra heat in our homes, offices, vehicles and everywhere else we go to keep us warm this time of year, our skin can get very dried out.

Proper hydration is important for every system in the body, including your largest organ – your skin!  Without the moisture it requires skin becomes tough, rough, loses elasticity and is much more susceptible to premature aging and other skin problems.

As we said though, during the winter, your skin is even more prone to these problems because it’s the first place all this dry, artificially hot air hits.  Not to mention there are often cold, biting winds outside that can also be drying and, the overall humidity levels are generally lower in the winter time; which doesn’t help our hydration efforts at all!

Here though, are some skin care tips that will help your skin battle the dehydrating effects of the winter this year so you can look your best the whole year long!

Add A Humidifier To Your Bedroom

One of the easiest ways to help your skin stay hydrated is to give it extra moisture.  Adding a humidifier to your bedroom can be an excellent way to do this.  You could put it in any room really but, because you’re stationary at night, you get a full 8-10 (or however long you sleep) hours worth of hydrated air as opposed to going in and out of your living room or office.  If you have the availability to put another humidifier into your home in addition to the one in your bedroom, that would be ideal.  If you only have one though it should go in the bedroom for maximum benefit.

Moisturize Your Face At Least Twice Daily

Find a luxury skin care brand that makes a moisturizer that’s good for your skin type and use it  – Often!  We recommend you moisturize every time you cleanse your skin, which should be at least twice a day; once in the morning and once in the evening.

Use A Toner Before Your Moisturizer For Added Hydration

Many people know to cleanse and moisturize but skip the equally important middle step of toning the skin.  Using a toner after cleansing and before moisturizing not only provides added benefits to your skin, but, it also boosts the effects of the moisturizer you use.

Be Sure To Drink Water And Eat Fruits And Veggies Even In The Winter

Of course diet is an important part of skin care the whole year through.  Getting enough water and eating fresh, organic fruits and veggies are an important piece of this goal, but, especially the fruits and veggies part can be extra hard in the winter.  Give your diet a little extra attention this winter  by being sure to drink enough water and eat enough fresh food, and you’ll see results in the increased hydration of your skin.

Employ even one of these tips and you’ll notice a difference in your skin – use them all, and, well, it’ll be the best winter your skin has seen in a LONG time!

At it’s most basic, a complete skin care regimen is “cleanse, tone and moisturize”.  Many people though just cleanse and moisturize skipping the always important use of a skin toner in between.

Using a high quality toner like those in Sevani’s all natural skin care line really is a large part of the process though.  Toners that contain highly prized natural ingredients not only tone your skin but offer many other benefits as well including:

reducing redness

preventing accelerated aging

decreasing pore size

balancing oil secretions

eliminating dead skin cell build up

improving circulation

minimizing fine lines and wrinkles

In addition to all of these positive effects toners offer your skin, the major reason behind using them regularly is maintaining the overall PH Balance of the skin.  This in turn prepares your cleansed skin to receive the many benefits of your eco certified moisturizer.  Without using a toner though your skin not only misses out on the benefits the toner itself offers, but also many of those your moisturizer would have provided had the toner been able to prepare the skin properly first.

When selecting the skin toner you’d like to use, remember that all natural skin care ingredients are the best choice both for effectiveness and quality.  For example Sevani’s toners use mild organic fruit acids and/or willow bark  to enhance collagen and exfoliate the skin gently while helping skin retain moisture and look its best.

Another reason organic toners are recommended is that they don’t contain isopropyl alcohols, phthalates, chemical preservatives or parabens like the conventional toners use.  These ingredients can actually work against your efforts for healthy skin and instead, damage it.  For example, alcohol actually dries out your skin and some research shows that phthalates can cause cancer.  Plant-based ingredients and preservatives though are actually safe to use and add moisture and other beneficial properties to the skin.

Not all natural skin care products are created equal though so be sure to read the ingredient list and, if you’d like, you can even contact the licensed holistic aesthetician here at The Skin Specialist for advice about what to use and what NOT to use.

After you’ve chosen the natural skin toner you’d like to use you can apply it in one of three different ways

First, you can use a damp cotton pad, this is the method that is commonly used.

You may also simply apply to clean hands and press into the skin.

An atomizer can also be used to spray the toner onto your face. Another method is through the use of a tonic gauze facial mask. This mask is made out of a piece of gauze which has been covered or soaked in a toner solution and is made to stay on the face for a few minutes.

No matter what method you choose, now that you know how beneficial toners made out of organic,  chemical free ingredients are, you’re surely on your way to a healthier, more refreshed, and youthful looking skin.

Help support national breast cancer awareness month and make your lashes look longer and more beautiful at the same time when you buy Revitalash eyelash products!

During the entire month of October, Revitalash is donating 20 Percent of their sales to help in the fight against breast cancer.  This makes it a great time to try their products for the first time or, to restock your current stash while supporting a great cause.

Actually, did you know that RevitaLash was originally developed to help regrow the lashes of a woman going through chemotherapy treatment to battle breast cancer?

From their website:

“It all began when a Doctor wanted to give his wife a very special gift.

RevitaLash® was developed by Michael Brinkenhoff, M.D. as a special gift for his wife, Gayle, while she was recovering from metastatic breast cancer treatments. Intensive chemotherapy had damaged Gayle’s once-beautiful eyelashes, leaving them fragile, sparse and thin. Based upon his knowledge and experience as a practicing ophthalmologist for over 25 years, Dr. Brinkenhoff believed that he could develop a formula that would give Gayle’s eyelashes the look of renewed health, strength and beauty.”

Purchase your Revitalash eyelash products today from an authorized salon reseller and support breast cancer research and awareness through the companies special donation right now!  Hurry before October is gone.