Beauty Ingredient 101: Rosehips | Beauty Is Wellness

From Jolene Hart's blog: http://www.beautyiswellness.com/featured/beauty-ingredient-101-rosehips/

Rosehips are my beauty ingredient of the moment, for their strong inner and outer beauty benefits. Rosehip oil is the ingredient to put on your skincare radar immediately- especially with the potential for summer sun exposure (and damage) in the coming months!

So what are rosehips? They’re simply the fruit of a Chilean wild rose plant (pictured above).

If you’ve already tested a natural skincare product with rosehip oil, I’ll bet you took note of its exceptional healing properties. It’s one of those ingredients that can reap overnight benefits for sun-damaged skin, scars, dry patches- even wrinkles. What makes it such a nourishing skin elixir? Rosehip oil is nutrient-dense (it contains trans retinoic acid, a form of vitamin A, and lycopene, plus essential fatty acids) and has a pH and molecular structure quite similar to that of our natural skin lipids. It’s quick to absorb and won’t leave a greasy residue behind, making it practical to use on all skin types.

A wonderful brand of certified organic rosehip oil is Trilogy (nearly all of their products contain organic rosehip oil, so you can’t go wrong). If you’re curious about the oil itself, check out Trilogy Certified Organic Rosehip Oil. Rosehip oil has been found to reduce the appearance of fresh scars and heal old ones and (Trilogy’s product in particular) was found to reduce scars by 41% and stretch marks by 43% when used twice daily for 12 weeks. But my guess is that you’ll like the results even sooner!

Bye Bye Eye Bags...

If you're like millions of other people suffering from bags under your eyes and dark circles that make you look like a raccoon, you've probably wondered what's causing them, and why those half-dozen eye creams in your dresser  haven't helped.

First of all, it's important to know that it may not just be lack of sleep or stress causing them: it may be a breakdown of how your skin's components are interacting.

You're Losing It!

You see, sagging, baggy skin is often caused by a breakdown in how collagen and elastin react in your skin. Collagen and elastin are two important proteins that your skin needs to remain smooth and firm, and to 'snap back' after you frown or bend an elbow or make a funny face.

As we age, collagen and elastin production slows in our skin, weakening the ligaments under the eyes and making bags start to appear.

You Are Responsible

There are several ways to address depleting collagen and elastin stores. First of all, check your diet: if you aren't getting enough protein and nutrients in your diet, all the creams, gels, serums, and lotions in the world won't help you.

While the old folk advice to place cucumbers or tea bags on your eyes may soothe bags temporarily, what you eat will actually have more of an effect over the long term.

1. Look for foods rich in Vitamins A, B and C to contribute to a better complexion. 
2. Some foods to consider are: carrots, sweet potatoes, spinach and liver.
3. Look for good sources of Zinc, such as crab, oysters and beef. Look for high-quality ways to get selenium into your diet as well, using fish, chicken and nuts.
4. And watch the intake of salty snacks.  These can cause water retention which increases the fluids under your eyes.

Because You Need All The Help You Can Get

                                                       ROSEHIPS-E FACE SERUM

Of course, a good face and eye serum also helps! When shopping for skin care products , there are certain ingredients that can make a difference in the appearance of the skin around your eyes, and lots of ingredients that make no difference at all!

Rosehips- E wonder face serum is an effective facial serum locks in moisture and intensively nourishes with its potent blend of organic rosehip, Emu oil, Jojoba oil to revitalize and boost the appearance of tired, stressed skin and with added vitamin E to help reduce puffiness and dark rings around the eyes (helps get rid of them fast!) while eliminating wrinkles and fine lines. The problems of "crow’s feet" in as little as few days and larger wrinkles will diminish in a few weeks, after applying this antioxidant serum twice daily.

Rose Hip Oil’s potent cell regenerating and wound-healing properties help to replace ugly scar tissues with healthy, normal skin. It not only remodels damaged skin structure, it also improves skin color and elasticity. Rose Hip Oil is a natural protector from the sun & wind.

Facial Exercises to Complement Your Beauty Regimen

The face is one of the most hard-wearing parts of the body. It is constantly exposed to a lot of sun and pollution. We do a multitude of tasks with our facial muscles. With every second that passes we work out our face by talking, chewing, swallowing, blinking or even by yawning. It won't be a shock if at the end of the day there are tell tale signs of weariness-disgusting lines across the forehead that is surely brought on by everyday stress!

Unlike other parts of our body, our face cannot lift dumbbells to firm up and strengthen its muscles so you can prevent your facial skin from sagging which in turn makes you look haggard. However, there are specific exercises we could do  with our face that can help relax the muscles. These exercises can improve blood circulation on the face and this helps in releasing some stress that can make you look old.

• Exercise to relax the optic nerves around your eyes
  
  
  Begin your exercises by sitting comfortably on a chair with your back straight. Close your eyes then inhale and exhale as hard as you could. Put your palms together and rub them fast until you feel some heat on your skin. Form them into cups and place them over your eyes. Repeat the whole routine.
  
  
• Stress-busting routine for the temple and jaw area
  
  
  Use the middle and index fingers of both hands and place them in the middle of the forehead. Create little circles by rubbing them on your forehead. Move your fingers slowly from the center down to your temples without stopping the circular rubbing action. Once you reach your temples pause there for a minute and gently massage. From your temples move your fingers down to your jaw line. Then move them upwards until it touches your cheeks, pushing up the skin to the side of your nose. This routine helps eliminate stress that you feel on your head particularly in the temple and jaw area.
  
  
• Exercise to Relieve Eye Strain
  
  
  To release some stress you feel around your eyes you can try using your index and middle fingers of both hands and place them on each side of your nose right under the bridge of your eyebrows. Feel for the notch in your eye socket. It is the part of the bone where it flips downwards. Rub that area using your fingers and move them along the rim of your eye sockets located below your eyes. Then move them back towards the center meeting at the bridge of your nose. Repeat these steps around 3 to 5 times.
  
  
  These exercises are meant to be done every day to complement your current skin care regimen.  Whether you like using commercially available creams and serums or prefer home made skin care solutions, facial exercises would certainly help your face look fresher and younger.

The Next Hot Product in Skincare: Emu Oil

From: Beauty News LA

What comes to mind when I say EMU? An Australian bird that’s six feet tall with tons of dark brown and black feathers. Oh yes, and it’s a bird – but it can’t fly. What does this have to do with the latest craze in beauty products? My idea of emus and their place in my beauty regime changed when I talked to some of the top celebrities and the make up artists who tend to their pampered skin.

The oil produced by the emu is closest of all oils to natural human skin oil. It’s odorless, lightweight and doesn’t clog pores. Its moisturizing abilities are phenomenal and it is helping to create and maintain some of the most gorgeous complexions in Hollywood. The amazing healing powers of emu oil were known to Aboriginals in Australia over 50,000 years ago when it was used to treat joint pain, burns and to hydrate the skin, making it softer, firmer and more elastic. Hollywood is now following the lead of the Aboriginals, who must have been onto something!

Among the many beneficial aspects of this light, sweet, odorless, non staining oil are its positive effect on such problems as acne, arthritis, cuts, abrasions, joint pain, sun burns, dry skin, stretch marks, psoriasis, and even eczema. One of the main reasons for its popularity among the product- jaded movie types for whom glowing skin is a requirement under those unforgiving stage lights, is that it not only makes you look good, it also slows down the aging process of one’s skin.



Dr. Bo Wagner of Sherman Oaks, California realized the benefits of the oil and decided to start producing it for his demanding clientele that includes some of Hollywood’s most gorgeous faces. Unlike other companies that manufacture the oil, Dr. Bo Wagner’s products are certified 100% organic. Many companies mix in chemicals such as Drain-O into the oil to make it less thick and heat the product up to 520 degrees Fahrenheit, which destroys some of the important properties in the oil that contribute to healing, says Dr. Wagner. Nothing goes into the small bottles with adorable hand printed labels other than pure, organic emu oil. Rather than mass producing the product, Dr. Bo Wagner and his employees use a patented slow process to produce the oil that is “flying” off his shelves faster than the ungainly emu could run!

Dr. Bo Wagner produces several unique products that include this magical and environmentally friendly oil. My favorite is the pale yellow pure emu oil which can be applied at night on face, hands and even the scalp and lets me wake up feeling and looking younger than when I went to sleep. Emu oil lotion, a mixture of pure emu oil and skin enhancing vitamins, can be applied any time of day and is light, fresh and incredibly moisturizing. There are a line of six different scented hand-crafted soaps, one of which can also be used as a shampoo. Last but not least there is a line of natural, organic lip balms which are very popular among make-up artists for men! Yes, the guys are onto the emu too and male celebrities just love the unscented but ultra moisturizing lip products!

At half the cost of some touted beauty products, this super healing elixir straight from nature has calmed down many ruffled feathers of million dollar complexions that just have to look perfect. Now us non-celebs can look as good with the help of this quirky but miraculous bird. Emu is the new buzzword for healing, calming and rejuvenating and so it has become my favorite must have item and not just for the beauties of Sunset Strip. You know what they say – birds of a feather, flock together, well I’m flocking with some of the most gorgeous faces in town and protected from the harmful rays of the sun while looking good and rejuvenating my skin.

Getting to know Rosehips Oil

                                                                      Rosehips

Rosehips oil is a cosmetic wonder due to its exclusive formula of natural occurring trans-retinoic acid (Vitamin A) and Vitamin C. It is scientifically proven to aid and reduce (if applied twice a day every day for approx. three months) scars. Likewise, it will reduce and prevent stretch marks, wrinkles & premature ageing, scar tissues, hyper-pigmented spots and redness and photo aging. It will also immediately relieve dry skin and eczema and is an excellent skin moisturizer for normal to dry skin.

Rosehips Oil is extracted from the seeds contained in the intensely red berry-like fruits –or hips- of a wild rose-bush that grows in the cool, lush mountain rainy valley of the southern Andes, in Chile.

This wild rose is known by the people of Chile as “Rosa Mosqueta“, and by scientists as Rosa Affinis Mosqueta. Its healing properties were a well kept secret of the native people of Chile for centuries. Now they have been validated by scientific research worldwide.

Rosehips oil is also known as dry oil because of its ability to permeate into extremely dry, ageing and wrinkled skin without leaving a greasy film on the skin. This oil is loaded with essential fatty acids and works wonders on dehydrated, acne prone and scar ridden skin.

Vitamin A which helps to slow down the skin ageing process is found abundantly in this oil. By increasing the collagen and elastin levels of the skin and promoting cell regeneration, Vitamin A helps to make the skin appear firmer, smoother and more elastic. Rosehip oil is also rich in linolenic and linoleic acids which are essential skin nutrients.

For people suffering from hyper-pigmentation, application of rosehip oil will help to diminish the skin blemishes and restore the skin's normal tone. Applying rosehip oil on sunburned skin can accelerate the healing process and prevent long term damages.

Stretch marks, chicken pox and acne scars can be treated with the nourishing rosehip oil. The anti-inflammatory properties of this oil can help to treat burns and dermatitis. Regular application of this oil can help to lighten these scars.