Moisturizing Allantoin

Used primarily as a skin protectant, allantoin is a soft, non-irritating and non-toxic substance. It is a soothing and odor­less emollient that does not leave traces, and it also has the properties to inhibit the proliferation of certain bacteria. It is safe and effective as published by the Food and Drug Ad­ministration (FDA) and is water- and lipo-insoluble. This stability of allantoin is used to balance ingredients in prod­ucts that could be irritating to some skin. It also stimulates new cell growth and has soothing, moisturizing, softening, regenerating and healing properties. It is an ideal ingredient in skin care preparations used for dry and mature skin, and in any product formulated to provide or to maintain the skin’s well-being. Ask your esthetician for home care prod­ucts that incorporate aliantoin so you can take advantage of its soothing properties. Your skin will appreciate it.

Puffy Skin?

Does puffy skin around the eyes plague you in the morning? Avoid this by consuming fewer salty foods and less alcohol, which increase water retention. In addition, ask your esthetician for more informa­tion about specialized treatments designed for this condition.

Human Pheromones

Do human beings respond to subtle chemical pheromone messages as do other members of the animal kingdom2 Pheromones are odorless, tasteless chemical “messengers” present in most living creatures that stimulate a biological response in other members of the same species. California’s Human Pheromone Sciences, Inc. (HPS) has made significant contributions to the understanding of hu­man pheromones, reaffirming the existence of the vomeronsasal organ (VNO), a tiny sensory organ found in each nostril that detects the presence of pheromones from members of the same species. HPS researchers also demon­strated that reaction to human pheromones differed by sex; some creating more reaction in females with others proving more active in males.
In addition, researchers found that test subjects reported distinct emotional reactions to the presence of certain pheromones. Scientists have known that insects and animals communicate through pheromones. In animals they indicate food sources, mark territories and display sexual interest. The chemical signals trigger a nerve impulse directly to the hypothalamus, which, in humans, regulates sexual desire the fight or flight response, anxiety and aggression, appetite, heart rate and blood pressure. In response to this finding, HPS research now includes tests to measure the range of influence on human emotions created by the presence of specific pheromones.

Sense of Scents

Aromarherapy is the therapeutic use of essential oils by inhalation or application, to help heal mentally, physically, and some believe, spiritually. It uses only natural essential oils or hydrosols, not synthetic fragrances, which have been attributed with the power to relax, revitalize, cleanse, disinfect and heal. The therapeutic use of essential oils is what makes aromatberapy a practice distinct from perfumery. Essential oils are used in a variety of industries, from cosmetics to foods, and always should he diluted in a carrier such as almond or grapeseed oil, or lotions and creams. The following is a chart of essential oils and the conditions they soothe:

Condition:	Essential oil(s):
Dry skin	sandalwood, geranium, rosewood, ylang ylang, lavender, orange blossom
Oily skin Aged skin	cypress, lemon, bergamot, lavender
	frankincense, myrrh, lavender, neroli
Sensitive skin	chamomile
Inflaniniation	chamomile
Blemishes and acne Itching and redness	eucalyptus, peppermint, lavender, thyme peppermint
Eczema	thyme

Popular Herbs

According to Physicians Financial News, ~ in 1997 the best-selling herbal were:

Ginseng ($78 million)
Garlic (567.6 million)
Ginkgo biloba ($66 million)
Echinacca ($14 million)
Sr. John’s Wort ($13.5 million)
Saw palmetto ($13.3 million)
Echinacea/Goldenseal combo ($13.1
million)
Pycnogenol/Grapeseed ($9 million)
Goldenseal ($6.6 million) —
Evening primrose ($6.4 million)

Massage for Life

If you’ve never had a massage, try it! Humans need healthy touch to survive. You may he amazed at how good it feels. Research has shown that touch is more important than food for survival. It is helpful for muscle aches and pains, and especially relaxation. Add touch into your daily life—ask your skin care professional for a recommended service.

 

Uncovering Masks

Total body masks of various products and essential oils cover the entire body and treat a variety of conditions such as water retention, thick ankles and knees, cellulite, stress and tension. The main categories of body masks include:

Algae — remineralizes the skin and body, rebalances all systems and detoxifies the tissues.

Herbal — relieves tension, induces, perspiration and stimulates the body’s internal system for the purpose of detoxification.

Moor —provides stress relief, detoxification, pain relief and therapeutic benefits for rheumatism, arthritis, eczema and other dry skin conditions.

 

Localized packs are similar to body masks, but are concentrated on specific parts of the body, such as the legs, arms, bust and abdomen. Three types of localized packs’ include:

  Algae to detoxify, remineralize, hydrate or tone depending on the algae used.

  Parafango or pain, inflammation and sports rehabilitation therapy.

  Moor to nourish and tone.

Compression wraps can be used to enhance the masks. When compression is used with an algae localized detoxification pack, such as when treating cellulite, the pressure from tight bandages helps force the toxins, along with the excess fluid they create, into the lymph system for permanent elimination through the bladder. When done without a topical product, using plastic wrap will only cause perspiration that results in temporary loss of water and inches.

Talk with your esthetician to see which treatments are best suited for your needs and lifestyle.