One of my favorite beauty reviewers “Tashagogo” from Megsmakeup.com wrote a strong testimonial about the powers of coconut oil a few summers ago.  Tasha’s words and Morjorie’s physique encouraged me to try, and have since incorporated the use of coconut oil in my daily beauty routine.

Most recently my daughters and I relied heavily on using coconut oil to soothe and repair the effects of our unfortunate first-of-the-summer sunburns, drat nab!  I observed that by using coconut oil on my sunburn, not only did it heal and moisturize my skin; the peeling seemed less dramatic than in sunburns of the past.  Viva la coconut!

This is an insightful, well-articulated YouTube video of Sean demonstrating the various health and skin benefits from the use of coconut oil.  Really, really love this guy.  Enjoy!

Skin Benefits from Coconut Oil: Underground Wellness

Sean Croxton, owner of UW, is an expert Diet and Lifestyle Coach as well as a Certified Personal Trainer.

Opinions from three Beauty Reviewers can’t be wrong.  Read on about what we think about Basa Body skin and body care products…

From the keypad of Mo:

In case you didn’t know, coconut is good for your outside AND your insides.  My sister in law regularly uses it on toast in place of butter, and it’s one of the main ingredients on a great body cream she sometimes makes me. Alas, until she gets her formula fine tuned, I have to buy my lotion elsewhere.  Basa Body uses organic virgin coconut oil in their products, and I believe it really makes a difference. I’m not nuts about coconut’s scent, so I find the light citrus tang very pleasant. I really enjoy how quickly this absorbs, you’re rubbing it in and then *poof*, it’s gone and your skin is soft. I would love to try the chocolate cherry truffle soap, it sounds fantastic and nourishing.  In the Kiss Me Pack ($29.99 + shipping) you’ll receive the chocolate cherry truffle soap, a mint truffle soap, the Basa Body stick, and the Basa body coconut oil lotion.  (more…)

“50 Health and Beauty Products You Can Make at Home“

Follow this link written by Jessica Merritt for a fabulous list of homemade hair, cleansers, facial treatments, and makeup recipes!

Natural Homemade Beauty Care Tips

Take control over your skin care (and improve your cooking skills) with easy DIY recipes you can make at home at the TotalBeauty.com site.

Looking for some creative (and cheap) ideas for holiday gifts? These beauty recipes make great personalized gifts for all your girlfriends, and they’re a cinch to do.

See tips

Take control over your skin care (and improve your cooking skills) with easy DIY recipes you can make at home.

We present our favorite beauty recipes so you can cleanse, moisturize and exfoliate your skin the easy way. (And for those of you who just aren’t DIY-types at heart, we feel your pain; check out the natural store bought alternatives after each recipe.)

See recipes

One attribute I greatly admire is the art form of making things from scratch.  Anyone can throw a frozen pie into an oven, but to prepare a pie crust, roll it out and carefully lift and place it into a pie plate is a thing of beauty.  To peel and slice freshly picked peaches and pour them lovingly into your prepared pie crust is even more spectacular.

The ability to create and perform these once everyday actions are lost to many of us.  I cannot tell you the last time I rolled my own pie crust!  We use our rolling pin for play-doh these days.

The art of making handmade soaps is another amazing art form to me.  And lately, many independent handmade soap and skincare companies are appearing around the country.  Beautifully thought out and carefully manufactured beauty products from their own kitchens. 

Today I would love to introduce to you Pam Keller the owner of The Golden Goat, LLC from the heartland of America, OshKosh, Wisconsin.  

In 2003, Pam found her passion for animals, particularly goats.  Being a one income family, Jeff decided that the animals would have to pay for themselves so as not to affect the family budget.  Pam, being a researcher at heart, discovered numerous ways to fulfill that demand, and settled on soapmaking. 

She taught herself to make soap, and when the goat milk started flowing, she was ready to start selling her fantastic products.  Local Farmer’s Markets and crafts fairs gave her a good footing and a loyal following.  Soon, the customers requested a retail store front from which they could buy her products year round.

The first product that caught my attention was The Golden Goat’s Goat Milk Shampoo Bar.  Being a fan of some different shampoo bars on the market, I found that this formula was easily equal if not a little more nourishing than the other shampoo bars I have tried (It must be the goat milk).  This shampoo bar creates a lovely lather and has a naturally sweet scent.  Shampoo bars are wonderful for anyone with a sensitive scalp, dry, or naturally curly hair (you can read more about my post on shampoo bars here).  If you are a fan of shampoo bars you must try this one!

A few months ago, we went out to dinner with some good friends.   I noticed that my friend Chris’ neck and face looked slightly irritated and also had a few knicks from shaving earlier that evening.   Chris has been bothered by this issue for as long as he has been shaving, and I asked him if he would like to try a different type of shaving soap.  He was more than glad to volunteer as a guinea pig!

Here is a bar soap for shaving.  The added bentonite clay forms a slick coating on the razor edge. The razor glides sleekly over the skin, cutting the hairs in its wake. Less scraping the skin means fewer nicks, no dry skin, more softness. Amazingly, the clay does not dry your skin!

You have to try this to believe it. Men love it for their faces (and some men shave their entire head with it), preventing razor burn and nicks. Women love it for legs, underarms, bikini area…

No more little red bumpos on your legs. Sleek, shiny, soft legs are the norm wth this soap. As an added bonus, your razors will last longer since the blades aren’t being dullled from scraping your skin!

Chris has been using The Golden Goat’s Goat Milk Shaving Soap for the last month and has reported significant improvements with his skin.  Less knicks, less irritation and a much happier face altogether. 

No need to thank me, just doing my job Chris, just doing my job!

Not only does Pam create handmade soaps, she offers a variety of homemade skincare and cosmetic products at her online store, The Golden Goat, LLC.   I am confident you will find something that you will want to try, and Pam is so incredibly nice; you might even make a new best friend in OshKosh, WI no less!  Pam would like to sweeten the deal by offering $5 off any $15 plus purchase when you put MYTHS in the coupon box!  Thanks Pam!

Hey Tracy, can you send me your recipe for fresh Peach pie?

I have discovered another skincare contradiction.

Toners. I have been using them. I generally use a toner to remove excess makeup, and to take away that “tight feeling” I sometimes get after cleansing.

And after reading several books about pH, residue, and the skin’s protective barrier, I felt it was imperative I use them. Then I got another perspective from a new book called, “The Surgery-Free Makeover,” by Brandith Irwin, MD who puts a novel spin on toners:

“Toners are generally useless in my book. Though they’re meant to remove “residues,” I don’t think it’s a problem if a few molecules of a gentle cleanser get left behind on your skin after washing! They also supposedly restore the pH balance of your skin (your pH comes from the natural oils and sweat on your skin). But if you’re using a gentle cleanser, it shouldn’t much change the pH balance of your skin, because it’s not removing your natural oil. What’s more, studies have shown that your skin will replenish its natural pH balance in fifteen to thirty minutes after you wash it. If you love toners, it’s fine to use them, but they’re not really necessary.”

Now that’s a different attitude from what a skincare line will tell you!

Recently in a newsletter from Renee Rouleau skincare, they listed the reasons why toners are important in your daily skincare regimen:

1. THEY GIVE YOUR SKIN A DRINK OF MOISTURE
Make sure to use an alcohol-free toner. As long as it’s alcohol-free, toners will plump up and hydrate the skin with water. After cleansing, apply toner to Toning Cloth and wipe over the skin, making sure to leave it damp. Immediately follow with serum and/or moisturizer. By leaving it damp on the skin, your moisturizer will help to seal in all of the hydrating properties of the toner. *Remember: Skin cells are like fish. They need water to live. So toners are a perfect way to saturate your skin cells with nourishing moisture.

2. THEY REMOVE DRYING CHLORINES AND MINERALS FOUND IN TAP WATER
Many chemicals are put into tap water to destroy harmful bacteria. But, they can be very drying to the skin, so the use of toner after cleansing will remove impurities from the skin.

3. THEY BALANCE THE PH IN THE SKIN
If you use a bar of soap or foaming face wash that might dry out the skin due to their low pH balance, a toner will help counteract the dryness that could occur.

4. THEY CAN ENHANCE THE RESULTS OF YOUR SKIN CARE PROGRAM
Depending on the ingredients used in the toner, they can help calm, control oil, stimulate blood circulation, destroy acne-causing bacteria, provide anti-oxidant benefit and more.

5. THEY SUPPORT YOUR SKIN’S PROTECTIVE BARRIER
By supplying the skin with essential hydration and nutrients, you repair the skin’s protective barrier making it less sensitive and resistant to environmental damage.

Renee Rouleau isn’t the only skincare line that purports that using toners are beneficial in your skincare regimen. In a recent article by the Beauty Brains, they discuss the use of toners, and quote the Smartskincare.com on the subject:

“Toning is often touted as an essential step in a skin care routine. It is not. At least not always. The only exception is very oily skin. If you have oily skin and after cleansing it remains sticky or oily, you might benefit from applying toner after cleansing. Otherwise toning may do more harm than good.

Most toners contain alcohol and/or witch hazel. Both are drying and irritating, especially if you have dry or sensitive skin. If you still feel you need a toner, use a soothing toner free of alcohol or witch hazel, such as alcohol-free toner with chamomile.

You do not want to strip every last molecule of oil from your skin. Only grime, makeup and excess oil on the surface needs to be removed. The underlying thin coat of fresh sebum is best left undisturbed. Toners, especially alcohol-based ones, tend to strip everything off, leaving the skin dry and/or irritated.

Some experts argue that toners help close pores and tighten cell gaps after cleansing, thus reducing the penetration of impurities and environmental contaminants into the skin. Whether this is true is debatable. Even assuming it is, most people finish their skin care routine by applying skin care products with active ingredients, in which case you actually want as much penetration as possible. Preceding an active treatment with a toner that closes pores and tightens cell gaps may be counterproductive. After the active product has absorbed into your skin, you can close pores simply by cooling your face. The cold constricts blood vessels and closes pores, producing a toning effect. You can simply step outside if it is a cold time of the year or gently pat your skin with a cold pack (refrigerated but not frozen) for a few seconds. If you are not using any active products, you can tone after cleansing by wiping your face with a chip of frozen green tea. The cold from the ice helps close your pores; the caffeine and tannins in the tea help tighten skin and reduce puffiness; and green tea polyphenols may provide antioxidant benefits. But don’t overuse the cold – frequent excessive cooling may increase the risk of developing rosacea (stubborn skin redness).”

My conclusions?

I would have to agree with Dr. Irwin and The Beauty Brains, which is, if you love using toners or have oily skin, you can continue to use them. Like I said earlier, I do enjoy the relief from the “tight feeling” I get with using a toner product, but maybe I am using a cleanser that is too harsh for my skintype? In last weeks post, “Beauty Truth = Modern Jackass,” my friend Kate (who is a true beauty guru) swears by toners. She commented in response to my question, “Should you use a skin toner? Is it necessary, or just an extra superfluous step?” that, “I like toners. I’ve recently gotten into them. The extra step of exfoliation had done wonders, I look brighter and glowier and its great since you can’t use a gritty exfoliant every day.”

I also have felt that toners must be a fairly inexpensive product to make, because its main ingredients are water and Witch Hazel Extract (Hamamelis Virginiana), and the profit margin must be very high. I would think you could formulate a homemade toner fairly easily. Any ideas?

Here is a wonderful skincare question from my blogging friend Tracy or “Dandelion Mama.”  She is experiencing some fun changes that many of us encounter after the magical age of 35, aka “the dark side of 30.”  I have some suggestions, but would appreciate any other advice from the Council of Jedi-Master skincare experts out there.

“Ok, I have a question. I’m heading towards the dark side of my thirties, and I’m noticing my pores on my cheeks and nose much more than I used to… help. Is the sugar rub above a good solution? Is there anything I can do about it getting worse?”

First and foremost, I am right there with you.  Those 30’s ticked by WAY too quickly.  From what I have read, there is no known way to shrink your pore size.  In writing this, I am reminded of  the wish cast by the good Fairy Merryweather from Sleeping Beauty, “I cannot take back that wicked spell, but perhaps I can soften it.”

By keeping your pores clean, by either a scrub, exfoliation, or a deep professional cleaning, you can make your pores appear smaller.   Once a week try a homemade facial using yogurt, ground almonds or flaxseed, or using the fruit enzymes found in papaya, lemons, or pineapple.  Not only are these products organic and affordable, I think we just created a recipe for a wonderful fruit salad!

I have been testing another very nice product from Renee Rouleau called, “Matte Moisture“ which is good for the appearance of pores and provides an oil-free moisture that combats shine.  This product uses Sodium Hyaluronate which is known for its ability to retain moisture.  This lotion is very soothing and contains cucumber and mallow extract.  They add dimethicone to smooth the skin’s appearance and make your skin feel soooo lovely.  It retails for $33.50 for 2 ounces.  

The treatment product that I swear by is Perricone’s Ceramic Skin Smoother.  After using this, I noticed that the large pores on my nose appeared significantly smaller.   I am searching for its equivalent because this product costs a small fortune ($75).  Mo’s review of Dr. Brandt’s ”Pores No More”  ($45) was good for her pores and made her skin feel like velvet, but she had some reservations on its color.   Two Drug Store brands I would recommend are Olay’s Regenerist Daily Regenerating Serum ($20 for 1.7 ounce), and Boots No7 Restore & Renew Beauty Serum (1 ounce for $21.99 at Target).

Tomorrow, I will revisit the Dark Side and discuss another of  Tracy’s skincare dilemnas, the cursed beauty mark! 

BTW:  Check out Dandelion Mama’s brilliant, original artwork at her ETSY boutique shop!   Tracy, you rock!

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/v/tYyh-ax6Qnk&rel=1"]I have only heard positive reviews about Kate Somerville’s skincare line.  In this video, Kate is demonstrating her own homemade facial recipies and techniques.   I love how easy and simple this facial is!

All of the ingredients for this facial can be found at your local grocery store: 

• plain yogurt (lactic acid for chemcial exfoliation) 
• ground flax seed meal (for physical exfoliation)
• Brewer’s yeast – eliminates oils, stimulates skin cell, and kills bacteria
• avocado – provides natural oils, moisturizer

Kate describes that we have different “Eco Systems” of the Skin. 

• Only use the Brewer’s yeast mask where you have acne and are oily.  
• Kate does not recommend using avocado directly onto acne-prone skin; only use on areas of your face where you are dry and needing moisture.

Caution:  Natural products can sometimes cause skin allergies, always do a patch test, and do not try new products like these shortly before a big outing or event (like your wedding, a big date, or the Oscars)!

Have fun with this homemade facial and let me know how things go!

A post called, “Beauty and Personal Grooming: Pore shrinking mask recipes from home” listed several wonderful ideas of great facial masks that can be made from things you might already have in your kitchen cupboard or bathroom cabinet.

• The Blog’s Author, Aparna, suggests trying the following homemade facial mask recipes,“Cleanse your face with a mild face wash. Then splash ice cold water over your face or alternatively rub an ice cube wrapped in a towel over your face. Cold ice constricts the facial muscles for a while and this action can shrink the pores temporarily. Then pat dry. You can then apply fresh lemon juice over your face, that is, if you do not have an extremely sensitive skin which is allergic to lemons. Lemon juiceacts as an astringent which helps to close the pores.”

Lemons contain natural AHA’s (Citric Acid) and is known to promote clarity by gently exfoliating the skins surface.

• After cleansing your face you can apply a spoonful of milk of magnesia. Keep it on for 15-20 minutes and then wash it off with lukewarm water and finish it off with a splash of cold water. This pack also helps with acne.

I have heard about using Milk of Magnesia as a facial mask. Milk of Magnesia if slightly diluted, can also be used as a eye or face primer for oily skin.

• Egg whites are not just skin-tighteners but also excellent pore-shrinkers. Beat an egg white. Add a tsp of lemon juice to it. Then apply it evenly over your face until it dries and tightens around the skin. You may skip using lemon juice if you wish and use only a well-beaten egg white on your face. Wash it off with tepid water and a splash of cold water.

Using slightly beaten egg whites is a tried and true facial mask that my mother and my grandmother used and passed on to me.

• Soak a few almonds in water. Grind it to a paste with water. Add 2 tsp of lemon juice and apply it to your face. Let it sit for 15-20 minutes, then wash it off as usual. This also lightens your complexion.

I have never tried this, but use a honey/almond mask regularly and love it.

• A sugar scrub might also help with open pores. Combine a tsp each of olive oil, honey, lemon juice to a few sugar crystals and gently rub over your face. Immediately follow it up with any of the above packs and/or a splash of ice cold water.

Sugar is an amazing exfoliant, sugar is one of the main ingredients used in my very favorite Suki’s Lemongrass Cleanser. Her cleanser combines organic rice flour, organic sugar, pure handmade organic saponified olive oil, powdered organic chamomile, lavender, calendula, rose hips, lemongrass & orange, pure vegetable glycerin, sea extracts & pure, premium, steam distilled essential oils.

For more homemade facial mask ideas, you can visit Aparna’s blog: Beauty and Personal Grooming. Many thanks for the great ideas Aparna!

“Mo” one of my most loyal and faithful contributors to Mythbuster Beauty, recently sent me a distress call:

“Hey Jen, I have a mission for ya! Winter has hit and we are in desperate need of a good lotion for our family. Last year I used bath and body works cream and it was nice and thick and did well, but this year we seem to be drier than ever! I’m getting red bumps all up my arms and my hands are starting to crack. My husband spends all night scratching his legs and rubbing up against things like a bear.

We’ve already switched to a bath gel instead of bar soap, and the scrubbies ensure we get exfoliated pretty well. The dryness and itch is excruciating!!! We can’t afford to keep buying and trying lotions until we find what works. So, we need something relatively inexpensive (Under $20) that will work well and that doesn’t smell very strong, so my husband will use it! I know you can do it!! Thanks, M”

Oh, the agony of winter dry skin… I had to rule out the obvious questions, was there a sudden change that might have led to this dry skin attack?  No.  Mo reports nothing obvious has changed. They are using the same laundry detergent and soap products, just the change of season. Her husband aka “Curious” is scratching himself like a bear? That is a bit concerning! I suppose most bloggers wouldn’t fret about another family from a different state suffering from epithelial issues, but I sense her desperation! When Poppa Bear ain’t happy, ain’t nobody happy.

My family also suffers from the winter itchies. Utah being a desert, becomes even more arid during the cold months. My 8 year old daughter Sarah licks her lips and ends up with a sore red mouth all winter long, this problem led me to find a lip balm that would help her, and wrote the post, “Sarah Loves Chicken Poop.”  We all get cracked and bleeding knuckles as well. Finding good dry skin solutions that don’t sting, smell perfumey, or feel too greasy is a challenge.

Now Mo, I realize that you would specifically love to solve the dry skin issue with a magical lotion or cream. However, winter dry skin is a tricky, multi-faceted issue. After doing some research, the Green Living website had some interesting solutions that might be worth a try:

• AROMATHERAPY - To help chronically dry skin retain more of its natural moisture, Fair Oaks, California, aromatherapist Victoria Edwards recommends this fragrant face and body oil:  Add ten drops each of the essential oils lavender, Roman chamomile, neroli, rosemary and carrot seed to two ounces of a carrier oil such as almond, olive or sesame. (Carrier oils are available in most health food stores.) Apply the oil once a day after your bath or shower, while your skin is still slightly damp, says Edwards.
• FOOD THERAPY – “Eat fish at least twice a week,” suggests author Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D. The oil in salmon, herring and other cold water fish is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which help replenish lost moisture in dry skin and hair, according to Dr. Mindell. Up to two tablespoons of flaxseed oil a day can also help replenish hair and skin oils, says Julian Whitaker, M.D. It has a nutty-buttery taste, so you can use it as a topping on popcorn, potatoes or other foods you might otherwise flavor with butter, he says. Flaxseed oil is available in most health food stores.
• REFLEXOLOGY – To deal with dry skin, pay special attention to the thyroid and adrenal gland reflexes on your hands and feet, says reflexologist and author Dwight Byers. To help you locate these points, consult hand and foot reflex charts.

Mo, I am only beginning to “scratch” the surface of this dry skin issue. After all this extensive research I came up with some amazing information. Too much information for any one post. I will continue to write more on this subject! So hopefully some of this will help, and please kind readers, let us know if you have any other suggestions…