We’ve just introduced a new mineral makeup range to Beauty Necessities Laser and Beauty Salon.

Hush Cosmetics Mineral Makeup is an Australian Mineral Make Up Company that is passionate about producing Safe Natural Make Up products.

Hush Cosmetics Mineral MakeupWhy use a potentially harmful product everyday when you can get these great Benefits from using Hush Mineral Cosmetics.

• Offers broad spectrum, UVA/UVB sunscreen
• Lightweight feel on the skin yet Natural and Powerful Coverage
• Safe Zinc Oxide Base. Zinc is a natural healer and anti inflammatory
• Helps calms and sooth irritated/allergic or acne skin
• Quick and easy to apply and blend
• Does not clog your pored and allows the skin to breathe to remove its own toxins
• You can exercise and swim with it on
• No artificial colors/fragrances or preservatives.

Our clients are loving the look and feel of this pure, professional mineral makeup. Follow the link to read more about our Hush Cosmetics Mineral Makeup range.

It is well known that drinking the recommended 8 glasses of water everyday will improve our body’s health. After all it is estimated our bodies are made up of 90% water.  So to ensure the body’s cells and systems are functioning to their maximum ability, we all strive to drink as much water as possible!  Although I’m sure most of us would prefer an orange juice or coke!

But to answer the question that drinking 8 glasses of water a day will keep our skin moisturized is a white lie told by many to make sure we are drinking enough water.  “Make sure you drink plenty of water and your skin will look good.” is a phrase I’m sure heard spoken by mothers and drummed into our heads.

But the truth is, the outermost layer of our skin (the part we see!) is composed of dead skin cells and therefore does not absorb any water.  So it doesn’t matter how much water we drink, this layer of the skin will not be affected as the moisture level of the skin is determined by external factors.  For example, hot or cold air, dry heat, extreme weather conditions and the number of oil producing glands we have.

So here it is… the secret to keeping well moisturized skin is a two-part process.

1. exfoliate your skin 2-3 times a week.  Removing the dead skin will avoid congestion build up, flakiness & dryness, thus revealing a fresh skin.
2. after exfoliating be sure to use a rich moisturizer while the skin is still damp.  This will help trap moisture on the skins surface by creating a barrier with a cream.

Now this doesn’t mean we don’t have to drink any water at all!

Keep our bodies healthy by drinking water and our skin moisturized by a good skin care regime of exfoliating and moisturizing!

As we all know, the skin is the largest organ on our body, but it is usually the most neglected or abused organ as well.

We go out and buy a $400 outfit or suit, which only lasts 2 seasons (if you’re lucky), and spend little or nothing on our skin which has to last our whole life.  We need to look after it and give it the time and care it deserves.

When we use inferior products and implements, we are not helping our skin, and I commonly get asked: why is my skin so dry?  It is usually because they are using the cheaply made loofas that don’t exfoliate the skin and products that claim to be moisturizers when they are clearly not.

To loofa your skin everyday is very important as your moisturizer can’t get through the thick exterior of dehydrated skin, which builds up when we don’t look after ourselves.  There are quite a few loofas on the market:

• The “natural fiber” loofas soften too much when they get wet, and only last about 6 weeks before they get too many germs growing in them.
• The “glove” type ones that have the 5 fingers, they are also too soft to be of any use.
• The “sponge” type ones are really a glorified face washer, they are worse than too soft.

A good loofa to use is one that has tiny loops on it, so it can pick up the ingrown hairs and excess skin that has not sloughed off. This helps to reveal a nice healthy skin and allows the moisturizer to get in and DO IT’S JOB.

To moisturize your skin is equally as important as using your good quality loofa.  If you don’t replace the lost moisture from your skin the dehydration will come straight back.  There are a few misconceptions as to what are moisturizers, and what are not:

• Vitamin E cream, can be used as a moisturizer, but should mainly be used to heal the skin as it has a calming and healing effect. It also helps with infection, so is great on open wounds and sores.
• Sorbolene is not a moisturizer; it is in many products as it carries the moisture molecules through the skin to be deposited where needed.  It is recommended by dermatologists for people who are allergic to skin preparations as it is fabulously harmless and won’t irritate even the most sensitive skin, and although it will create a film over the skin it will NOT moisturize it.
• Body Milks and lotions are great for people who have mild dehydration, but for most of us in the hot Australian summer these really are not enough.
• Moisturizers from the perfume companies are used to layer the perfume, not moisturize your skin, if you like you can apply them over your moisturizer to get the lovely fragrance gently wafting behind you.
• Body butters are usually the way to go.  They are thick enough to nourish and rehydrate the driest of skins.  We recommend La Clinica body butters, because they use the finest plant oils and waxes instead of paraffin oils.  They also contain key ingredients of essential oils and vitamins.

If you are still having trouble with exterior moisture levels, La Clinica also have a fantastic dry skin relief serum.

You can also help maintain your skin from the inside as well.

1. Drink plenty of water, at least 2 litres per day. This will also help clear blockages and congestion as well as the dehydration, and not only on the face, but the whole body.
2. Do not sit directly in front of heaters and do not have really hot showers as they literally suck the moisture from your skin.
3. Eat properly, your skin hair and nails are the last part of your body to get nutrition, so if you are not eating properly, your body sends the nourishment to the vital organs and your extremities miss out.

What to do now.

If you have a problem with excess dry skin, soak in the bath for a total of 1 ½ hours, while soaking, loofa every ½ hour for a total of 3 times.  When you get out of the bath apply a thick layer of body butter, wait 10 minutes, then another layer, wait 10 minutes and keep applying until the body butter stops soaking in.  You can do this once a month when the buildup gets too much.  This does not excuse you from loofering and moisturizing every day, if you want to maintain the nice healthy skin you have obtained then maintenance, maintenance, maintenance is the key.

If you want the best results for your skin then it’s critical to make sure that the type of skin you have is determined before any beauty treatment occurs.

Your skin will glow, look fresher and more youthful when the right facial treatment is prescribed for your skin type.

Here’s how you can determine the facial skin type you have.

COMBINATION

Skin usually has an oily t-zone. Skin usually presents with congestion and blemishes along jaw line, under cheek bones and on chin area. Skin may break out occasionally. Skin looks dull, sallow, lifeless and unbalanced. Combination skin type can be accompanied by an overall feeling of sluggishness, exhaustion and “burn-out”.

OILY / ACNE

Skin suffers from acne, large blackheads and excessive oiliness. Skin breaks out with pimples and blemishes on a regular basis. Oily/acne skin types can apply to all ages but is most common during adolescence.

MATURE / DRY

Skin is showing signs of ageing, loss of skin tone, premature wrinkles, dryness and dehydration. Skin may feel tight and lack translucence. Skin renewal and moisture levels start to drop from the age of 25, with the first visible signs around the outer eye area. Mature and dry skin needs specific treatments, extra nourishment and protection.

SENSITIVE

Skin is prone to redness, irritation, flakiness, inflammation and itchiness. Sensitive skin conditions include Rosacea, dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. This sensitivity may be caused by an environmental factor or may be a genetic predisposition and can occur at any age.

PIGMENTED / SUN DAMAGED / SCARRED

Skin may have many fine lines, millia, blackheads, enlarged pores, acne pitting and uneven skin coloring. This skin type is a result of environmental damage (sun exposure), chemical damage (e.g. Medication resulting in photo-sensitivity), acne scarring, pigmentation and neglect.

MEN

Men’s skin may react to shaving by becoming red and sore, sometimes culminating in a spot like rash. Men’s skin can be further aggravated with an active life style and time spent outdoors. As a result, men’s skin can show signs of stress and premature lines and will be in need of extra protection and replenishment.

Next time you visit your beauty salon, make sure the consultant determines the best treatment for your particular skin type.