Treating Back Acne

The warm months are here and that means nasty sweating and increased back acne for some folks. It sounds like such a gross topic but it's not an uncommon problem. I used to deal with it but it's pretty much gone. Now I'm dealing with back heat rash - go figure. I'll research that one next.

Anyway, Acne is a common problem but it is a little more difficult treating back acne than it is to treat facial acne due to location. Back acne is caused by clogged sebaceous (oil) glands that have attracted the growth of bacteria. You can treat mild back acne with body washes that contain salicylic acid. More severe back acne may require a trip to the dermatologist.

Sometimes treating back acne with natural remedies are quite effective. Here are a few natural remedies to treat back acne:

1. Apply Therapeutic Grade Tea Tree Oil directly to the affected area. All natural tea tree oil soap can be used regularly to prevent future back acne outbreaks.
   


2. Apply Therapeutic Grade Lavender Essential oil directly to the affected area. Lavender Essential Oil is a natural antiseptic and is effective for treating wounds and scar prevention.
   


3. Apply water diluted apple cider vinegar to back acne twice daily. Increase to a 50% apple cider vinegar, 50% water solution after about a week with no signs of irritation. Apple cider vinegar is a natural astringent. If your skin is sensitive, you may need to user a weaker, more diluted solution.

If you suffer from back acne, while treating back acne with any of these remedies may be effective, also be sure to avoid clothing items or bed sheets that are washed in harsh chemicals. This can irritate back acne.
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Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils can be obtained from Young Living. You'll need to purchase from a distributor. You can use distributor #1066504

Naturally Release Skin Toxins

Every day our systems are overwhelmed with toxic elements from the environment, from what we put in our bodies and what we put on our bodies. While your body is designed by the Creator to heal itself naturally, there are times when the systems can be overwhelmed with toxins that need some help being released.

Often when the body is toxic, it’s reflected in the skin. Acne, rashes and other skin conditions are sometimes the result of an abundance of toxins in the body. Toxins are released through the skin when the pores are opened so there are things you can do to encourage the opening of your skin pores to naturally release skin toxins:

• 
  
  Perspiring – Exercise encourages perspiration
  
  
  

• Bathing – Bath with ingredients such as clay or Dead Sea Salts which have the ability to draw out toxins through your skin
  
• Skin Brushing (Exfoliates the skin) – Brushing the skin while dry with a natural bristle brush with long, firm (but not rough) strokes. This causes the skin to open and discharge waste. You well also be removing dead skin cells and improving circulation.
• Having a sauna session – This is a common way to unclog your pores. Afterwards, your skin will feel tight and refreshed

All of the ways mentioned are natural ways to help remove toxins from the skin. There are other ways to detox but the suggested ways will help you to eliminate toxins from your skin safely and naturally.

Brown Sugar Scrub/Combo Mask

Sunscreen Products Exposed

MSNBC did an expose today on sunscreen products. Apparently there are 9 law suits pending against popular brands including Coppertone, Banana Boat, Hawaiian Tropic, Bullfrog and Neutrogena. The law suits name Johnson & Johnson Inc., Schering-Plough Corp., Playtex Products Inc., Tanning Research Laboratories Inc. and Chattem Inc. as defendants. See what I mean when I say that just because a brand is popular doesn't mean it's necessarily best??

As reported by MSNBC, The law suit against the providers of popular sunscreen companies alleges that "manufacturers dangerously inflate claims about the protective qualities of sunscreens, lulling consumers into believing they are safe from the dangers of prolonged sun exposure." One lawsuit filed in LA says that the sunscreen is “snake oil of the 21st century." Isn't that something???

Basicaly, it appears that popular manufacturers of sunscreen lead people to believe that using their sunscreen will protect your skin from UVA and UVB rays and is effective even when you are in water. The suit states that the actuality of it all is that at best these so called sunscreen products, only protect the skin against harmful UVA rays with shorter wavelengths and NOT against harmful UVA rays with longer wavelengths which will penetrate the skin and cause damage.

All I have to say is, "As with most products, take what the labels say with a grain of salt. If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is."

Calling All New Yorkers

I wanted to share an upcoming event with anyone in the NYC area that I will also be attending. It's A Day of Fun and Pampering for you and your gals; bridal party, or diva group. It's called, "Lights! Camera!...I Do Diva Day of Fun" and is being held on Friday, June 19, 2009 from 2:00 - 6:00pm at the Spark Center at 161 W. 22nd Street Bet. 6th & 7th Ave. http://www.lightscameraido.eventbrite.com/

VIP PACKAGE INCLUDES:

• Beauty Makeovers at Makeup Bars
• Photoshoots
• Facial and Hand Spa Treatments
• Great Food
• Vendors To Shop
• Door Prizes
• FREE Raffles
• Swag Bags filled w/Goodies
• Mingle and Chat

You can get a VIP EARLYBIRD PACKAGE for only $30 from now through June 6th and then normal registration up to the day of the event. Group rates are also available for groups of 6 or more.

If you are in the New York City area, this is an event you do not want to miss. You deserve to be pampered!

Again, you can register at http://www.lightscameraido.eventbrite.com/. Vendors are also welcomed. To register as a vendor, visit http://www.lightscameraidovendor.eventbrite.com/. Also, proceeds from the event will be donated to Beauties On The Go Teen L.U.V.E. Program, visit them at www.beautiesonthego.ning.com

Homemade Facial Mask

Happy Memorial Day! Let's talk about Facial Care Today

Facial masks are an important part of any weekly skin care regimen. There are a variety of facial masks that can be used for restoring or maintaining fresh, radiant skin. You can choose from facial peel off masks, clay masks, mud masks based on your skin type. There are many facial masks available on the market but sometimes you may not have money in your budget to buy them. Not to worry; You can still do your weekly facial masks without spending a lot of money.

Did you know that you can create your own homemade facial from ingredients right from your local supermarket? I’ve done some research and discovered a really simple home made facial mask you can make. Remember seeing the pics of ladies with cucumbers over their eyes to reduce puffiness and swelling? Well, cucumbers contain certain natural acids that prevent water retention. This is why cucumbers can be so effective for swollen, puffy eyes by preventing the water retention that causes the eyes to appear swollen. Cucumbers also contain a trace mineral called silica, which can strengthen the connective tissues of the body.

All that’s needed for a simple homemade facial mask is a cucumber, some plain yogurt and a blender. Combine half of a peeled, sliced cumber and a tablespoon of yogurt in a blender. Blend until pureed. Apply the mixture to your face and leave on for approximately 15 minutes. Splash face with cool water to remove the facial mask and there you have completed your homemade facial mask.

Soy Votive Candles Liquidation

I have a number of 4 ounce scented soy candles in glass votives that I am currently liquidating. The reason I'm liquidating these soy candles is because they're from a recent special fundraising order. The fundraiser didn't require as many soy candles as were ordered due to other items being for sale.

These soy candles are made with 100% soy wax with cotton wicks and scented with pure essential oils resulting in a delightful release of scents that are completely natural. The soy candles are available in Sweet Almond, Lavender, Yuzu Grapefruit and Sweet Orange Vanilla for $7 a piece but they are not available on the website, so if you are interested please contact me via email at info@freshradiantskin.com.

Keep in mind that the four ounce candles in the tins normally retail for $12.00 so it's a real deal to get these in a frosted glass votive, complete with the decorative organza bag (the Sweet Almond soy candle is in the gold bag, the Sweet Orange Vanilla soy candle is in the pink/silver bag, the Lavender soy candle is in a Lavender floral bag not shown and the Yuzu Grapefruit is in a aqua blue bag, also not shown. I'll add more photos later. There's a limited number of soy candles available, approximately 18 (3-5 in the various scents) so get them while you can

Testimonial from a recent event:

"I cant wait to meet you!!! i am coming tomorrow, i have to find a present for my mother for sunday and also i want the creams you sent me the samples of,plus orange sugar scrub is good enough to eat,and oh my gosh the candle!!!it is great!!!! T. Wentland - Buffalo, NY

Shower Gels, Sugar Scrubs and Whipped Body Cream

The summer months are soon approaching and the heat can really rob your skin of moisture. To keep your skin fresh and radiant, it is important to use the right skin care products. Shower Gels and sugar scrubs infused with essential oils keep the skin hydrated and nourished.

Taking a warm shower in the summer with a fresh smelling shower gel provides a delightful and aromatic experience as well as a refreshing smoothness to your skin. Sugar scrubs exfoliate away dead skin cells to reveal a fresh layer of skin. Follow either of these delightful cleansers with a whipped body cream also packed with essential oils and your skin will be totally refreshed....moisturized, smooth and oh so silky. Whipped body cream is light and non-greasy, unlike some of the so called moisturizers people use such as vaseline which clogs the pores.

For a limited time, you can bring back that sassy skin with a shower gel, sugar scrub and/or whipped body cream made with organic ingredients (Shea Butter, Soy, Essential Oils and more) at a discounted price. Get these items at a real bargain online, when you use coupon code SUMZ for a whopping 15% off regular prices! This bonus is not advertised on the site. It is only available to my blog readers but feel free to let others know. Shop.

Available Scents:

- Natural Unscented
- Lemon Essential Oil
- Lavender Essential Oil
- Sweet Orange Essential Oil
- Mint Thyme Essential Oil Blend
- Honey Almond Essential Oil Blend
- Chamomile/Neroli Essential Oil Blend
- Lemon Sage/Ginger Essential Oil Blend
- Bergamot/Grapefruit Essential Blend

Cheers
www.freshradiantskin.com

The World's Largest Yard Sale Joke

I'm back after a very loooong weekend. Happy Belated Mother's Day to all the moms.
So, I'm going to get right to it in this post because it's some adventure.
Friday, I drove up to Buffalo, NY for the World's Largest Yard Sale. What a joke. The joke was on me. I drove 7 hours and stayed at a hotel with my husband and children to sell at an event on Saturday that I was led to believe was an event to promote your small business. Instead, it was nothing more than a cheap garage tag sale where people went to buy other people's junk. I was so disgusted because Blended Naturals is NOT junk. Can you believe I was actually in a sales event where people were selling 50 cent clothing, used shoes and get this........happy meal toys???? Now, don't get me wrong. If you want to sell used items fine, if someone wants to buy them. However, shouldn't the items be cleaned up? A woman tried to sell me a dirty old cordless phone!

Anyway, the event was the least of my issues these past few days. While I only sold a few items, I then had to encounter getting lost on my drive from Buffalo to Canada to see the Niagara Falls. My family and I were taken an hour out of the way by the GPS system trying to get to Canada. Instead of arriving at the planned time of 12:30pm, we arrived at 2:30pm and still had to drive from Canada back to NY which was a 7 hour drive. Nevertheless, our brief stay in Canada was nice and we are planning to go back.

Now on to the drive back home. What a nightmare! The GPS had us going all over the place. After 5 hours of driving, I come upon a sign that says, "Welcome to Pennsylvania"! How on earth I wound up two states away from NY I'll never know. I guess I need to ask the creator of the Garmin GPS system!

So you would think that would be the end of my turmoil right? Nope. Here's where I end up:

Yep, a new 2009 Ford Escape. Why? Because while driving home from PA on Monday, the transmission in my Mazda 626 imploded! I had transmission fluid all spilled out under my hood and was driving with only a 1/4 of fluid left. The car was shaking and over driving. I stopped at a local mechanic in PA and they were kind enough to add fluid but that's all they could do. We actually wound up driving all the way home praying to God that we would make it and we did. Tuesday, I had my car towed to the dealer to find out that the transmission was completely done and it would cost me over $3,000 to replace it. Well, for a 10 year old car, it made no sense so I got a new one. I even looked at used models and with the interest rates I was looking at and the cost on a 3 year used model, I actually netted out the same buying a new model. Even the insurance rates are good.

So, while it may seem like a nice thing to get a new car. I was not prepared to buy a new vehicle but my son's in a wheelchair and has to get around and public transportation is not working for him. Besides, where we live there isn't any transportation that goes to some of the places he has to go. On top of that, now I can actually put his wheelchair and equipment into the vehicle without having to spend 10 minutes dismantling it (removing the wheels, arms, back and seat)

All in all God was good because I could have gotten stranded in Canada. I also got a 1.9% APR on my new vehicle because of good credit and favor from God. However, this is an added expense I didn't expect so please feel free to help a sister out by supporting the business!

Thank You and You can Shop ANYTIME at:

www.freshradiantskin.com (99% Natural Skin Care)
www.stressreliefbyrv.com (Stress Relief and Alternative Pain Relief)
www.premiumcoffeebyrv.com (Gourmet Coffee)

Just consider your purchases a contribution to the "Help Get Michelle out of debt fund" LOL

Beautifying Ugly Skin Naturally

So your skin is your pride and joy right? If you have unsightly acne or other skin conditions, it can be somewhat embarrassing right? Well, what if you found natural products that have the ability to beautify that ugly skin? Not, that you are an ugly person. Pretty people can have ugly skin. This is a matter of the condition of your skin and if it's healthy or not.

I've suffered with acne, dry patches, oily skin and uneven skin tone. With each of these skin conditions, I've discovered some pretty effective remedies to beautify my skin when it was ugly. By the way, it made me feel ugly too!

During the winter months many people who have seemingly normal skin, suffer with dry patches that resemble eczema. Present! Acne is also a common problem among many, especially those with oily skin. Then once the acne has healed, uneven skin tone can be a result. Present again!

For the acne, I tried Proactiv. I tried products formulated with salicylic acid and benzol peroxide. None of these worked for me. Now, they may work for you but I suspect that if you are still reading this post, it hasn't. While everyone's skin is made up of the same basic layers(epidermis, dermis and subcaneous tissue) people respond differently to different skin treatments. I am at a place now where I opt to look for natural herbal remedies over pharmaceutical based treatments. I discovered three products that I am having a LOT of success with treating acne, minimizing oil production AND smoothing dry patches. I'll share where you can get these three products in a bit but first, here's what they are and how they work:

• Young Living's Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil - Purification or Acne Serum for acne prone skin and oily skin to minimize oil production


• AHA Night Time Facial Peel - AMAZING for smoothing dry patches and evening out skin tone.


• Result: Minimized frequency of excess oil production in the skin, less acne break outs and faster healing from breakouts

These products are nature's gift and have seriously improved the condition of my skin. The oils, the AHA facial peel AND drinking lots of water have made the difference between me having ugly skin and having healthier more vibrant looking skin.

To learn more about Young Living's Purification Therapeutic Grade Essential Oil or Acne Serum, visit http://www.youngliving.org/. You will need a distributor # to purchase. Use 1066504

Click > AHA Night Time Facial Peel to learn more about what AHAs do for your skin and to purchase.

Black Skin Care Problems

When it comes to caring for your skin, the type of skin you have should be considered. Is your skin oily? dry? combination? Do you have fair skin? dark skin? Today, I'd like to talk about how black skin problems and how to care for African American skin. Since I'm African American, and 40 years old (no, I'm not ashamed of my age), I have some experience caring for dark skin. While I'm not amongst the darkest skin types around, I have experienced some of the challenges common to African Americans. Common skin problems amongst African Americans are acne, ingrown hairs, keloids and vetiligo.

When it comes to acne, African Americans usually have oily skin resulting from an excess production of oils from the sebaceious glands. This produces acne and blackheads. African Americans with acne are also more prone to having skin discolorations or blemishes resulting from acne. Long after the break out has gone, blemishes are a common problem for black skin. One problem is the picking of pimples. I have this problem. There's something about knowing that there is this ugly pimple sitting there that keeps one self conscious and to start picking at it. This is however a bad idea. Picking at the pimples or bumps causes blemishes and scarring.

African Americans also have naturally curly hair. This curly hair often curls up into the hair shaft causing ingrown hairs. It's very common amongst African American men and in private areas of the body on women.

Keloids is also a big problem in the African American community. Fortunately, I do not suffer from keloids but it can be a painful condition that can make one feel embarrassed. Keloids are a type of scar that occur as a result of a wound that heals beyond the size of the original wound. It appears as a large growth and usually requires surgery to be removed. However, surgery can also cause the keloid to grow back larger. Some African American women get keloids on the ear lobes after having their ears pierced.

Another skin care problem amongst the African American population is vitiligo. Vitiligo is a condition where the pigments in the skin attacks each other and the result is damaged pigment that appears in the form of white patches. There are not many effective treatments for this condition but there are some herbal treatments that are available which may prove effective for some.

If you have black skin and experience any of these skin care problems, how you care for your skin will vary. Since, I'm of the oily skin type and am prone to break outs I'll talk about that a bit. For starters, NEVER use soap on your skin. Actually, it doesn't matter what skin type you have, soap is a no no to cleanse skin.

Cleanse Oily Skin with a gentle creamy cleanser that will unclog pores and remove excess oils without stripping the skin of essential oils. Exfoliate oily skin twice a week to remove dead skin cells from pores. Moisturizing is still important, even for oily skin. Oil is not moisture. Oil is oil. Your skin needs hydration (moisture), regardless of the type of skin you have. Oily skin should use gel or lotion moisturizers as opposed to cream moisturizers. Cream moisturizers provide more oil which is what you are trying to control if you have oily skin.

If you have oily skin, you should also drink plenty of water and focus on using products that are non-comedogenic (doesn't block pores). Your body is made up essentially of water so it makes sense that you should consume lots of it to stay hydrated.

I've also discovered that there are a number of essential oils available that are quite effective for oily skin care. Lemon, Rosemary, Grapefruit and Orange Essential Oils can help with oily skin problems. It's important to note however, that you should only use Therapeutic Grade Essential Oils to ensure purity. I use an essential oil by Young Living called Purification. Purification has been amazingly effective at treating acne. I have literally applied Purification to a bump and overnight, it shrank in size by 75%! I was amazed and love this blend of Essential Oils. Purification is a combination of Citronella (Cymbopogon nardus), lemongrass (Cymbopogon flexuosus), rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis), Melaleuca aka Tea Tree Oil (Melaleuca alternifolia) lavandin (Lavandula x hybrida), and myrtle (Myrtus communis) essential oils. If you suffer from acne, Purification is very effective. You can get it at Young Living. You'll need distributor # 1066504 to purchase.