Jun 11

Be informed, not fooled!

Nourish Organic Citrus Deodorant Be informed, not fooled! – This statement on the back of the product basically summarizes the good things that I can say about the “organic citrus fresh stick deodorant” from Nourish. They list all their ingredients, and it is all good stuff. The statement “no chemicals” is a bit misleading because at least the informed of us know that almost everything is a chemical and can be reproduced in a lab. I would let Nourish get away with that little scientific slip-up, if the product would keep at least one of the promises it makes when it comes to underarm aroma…

For starters, the deodorant stick is very pasty and gives you the feeling of smearing cookie dough in your armpits. The product does smell like oranges but the fresh scent does not last long. I do not know which ingredient is supposed to neutralize odor, but one thing is for sure: it doesn’t do its job. Maybe it is the sweltering Florida heat but the deodorant does not keep the underarms dry and it also does not keep them from becoming smelly. The orange scent is still there but it smells more like a bag of oranges gone bad.
I was excited when I bought the product but it was a waste of money. That is particularly sad because I am really waiting for a deodorant that does not contain ingredients that mess with my hormones. However, this point clearly goes to Secret® and Co.

Big applause to the company for using renewable, recyclable and industrially biodegradable packaging and labels.

By Ggal | Posted in Skin Patrol - Product Reviews | Tagged , | Comments (0)
May 30

Don’t break a sweat…

Alba Botanica Clear Enzyme Deodorant Stick
(Aloe unscented)

If I had compiled a list of types of products that I still am not happy with- meaning that I have yet to find the one that is right for me – deodorant would be on the top of the list.

Being a very active person, and living in Florida, often makes me sweat profusely; not just while working out but simply by crossing the parking lot of a shopping mall. Besides the fact that wet underarms completely freak me out anyway; I also am very self-conscious about smelling good – or not… Fragrance-free deodorants never seemed to work for me, and the ones that are scented either smell weird and powdery, or they leave a white residue on my clothes.

At one of my recent trips to Whole Foods, where I always browse the skincare aisle for about an hour (yeah…so what…it takes time reading every ingredient list..!!), I found Alba Botanica’s Clear Enzyme Deodorant Stick in Aloe unscented (also available in Lavender and Tea Tree). The claims on the packaging promise the following:

-          Crystal clear
-          Safe, long-lasting protection
-          No aluminum
-          Preservative and P.G. free

I bought the deodorant with a mix of excited anticipation and the feeling that I just spent $7 on a product that will go right in the garbage after its first use.

I applied the deodorant after my shower the next morning, and I immediately hated the way it smelled. Despite the claim of this product being unscented; the coriander oil listed on the ingredient list should have given it away… I passionately dislike anything that smells (or tastes) like anise or licorice, and there I was – standing in my bathroom with cardamom armpits, and 5 minutes left to get ready for work…

To keep this story short:  When I arrived at the office, at 9:00am and 85 F already, I went straight for the ladies’ room to make a “smell check” without being watched.  To my surprise, the detestable cardamom scent had completely disappeared, and all I could smell was  – well… nothing…! Absolutely, wonderfully, incredibly, nothing…  And this clean, non-residue nothingness lasted ALL day.

Needless to say; I am convinced, won over, swayed, converted… And I think you should give that one a try.  http://www.albabotanica.com/?id=67&pid=125

Love…to you and your skin,
G-gal

By Ggal | Posted in Skin Patrol - Product Reviews | Comments (0)
May 09

Celebrity Skin

So…who is yours..??! Nicole Kidman; Eva Longoria; Gabrielle Union; or Sandra Bullock, latest Oscar winner for “The Blind Side” (..sooo deserved..!)..??

Mine is, and has been for years, Gwyneth Paltrow.

What am I talking about..?? Well, celebrity skin, of course…!!  Those beautiful women who seem to have the most gorgeous, flawless, velvety looking skin. Women who are blessed with skin like that can only be successful in life, right…!?? They were born with it, and that makes them destined for happiness, fame, and VOGUE cover shoots.

Well, I’ll let you in on a little secret… While as a woman, I admire beauty and seemingly perfect skin; as a licensed esthetician, I can tell you that while good skin can be hereditary (just like strong white teeth, or a big bank account), there is quite a lot you can do if you struggle with less than perfect skin.

The skin you were born with is the skin you have to live with. Although the upper skin layer renews itself every month, you can’t change your skin type. However, what you CAN do is keeping your skin balanced, and harmonize it by treating it with lots of TLC and good skincare products.

Skin is the biggest organ of your body, and whatever you do…your skin usually shows it first. Remember the big, red zit on the nose that showed up just before you had a big date? I found a nasty pimple on my chin the morning of a professional photo shoot. And do you know why? Because I didn’t treat my skin the way I should have.

There are 3 basic steps to healthy and beautiful skin:

1. Cleanse
2. Exfoliate
3. Moisturize

The products you choose for your daily skincare regimen are extremely important. In addition to buying products that are appropriate for your skin type, you should also make sure that the products are actually good for skin. I hear all the time that women try a new product, and their faces break out. And NO…skin does not “get used” to that new product. If your skin breaks out in hives, gets red, or starts burning, it is clearly communicating that it doesn’t like what you put on it.

Sometimes it could be an allergic reaction to an otherwise great ingredient but usually red, hot, bumpy skin is the result of such nasty ingredients as: alcohol, fragrance, dyes, or certain preservatives.

Always read the ingredient list and make an educated choice when buying a skincare product. That is what the celebrity dermatologists do for their celebrity clients..!! (Oh, Gwyneth…)

…and just FYI: Skindred Soul® products are made without sulfates, parabens, dyes, fragrance, and irritating preservatives.

Love, to you and your skin,
G-Gal

By Ggal | Posted in Skincare - The Crucial Basics, Skindred Soul Products | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)
Apr 12

1.7 oz. Nourish & Care Soothing Anti-Aging Available Soon!

After our recent release of the the reformulated Nourish & Care Soothing Anti-Aging, we have had such overwhelming positive customer feedback that we are going to release a larger 1.7 oz. version of the product.

Look for it available soon in the Skindred Soul online store.

http://www.skindredsoul.com/skincare-store
By Ggal | Posted in Skindred Soul Products | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
Apr 09

Skindred Soul’s Reformulated Anti-Aging Now Available!

Have you been wondering why our Nourish & Care Anti-aging cream has been out of stock for so long?

Many of you have asked us and now we can finally reveal our little secret!…

Nourish & Care Anti-aging cream has been reformulated utilizing the latest anti-aging technologies available and Skindred Soul’s proprietary skin rejuvenating formula, Neutroxy 16™, offering the ultimate in protection from free radical damage and nature’s own skin rebuilding technology.

Neutroxy 16™ is comprised of 16 carefully blended certified organic ingredients including select dry seed oils, fruit, flower, tea and root extracts to offer the ultimate in skin rebuilding technology. You can read more about and purchase the newly reformulated Nourish & Care Anti-aging cream from the Skindred Soul Skincare Store.


By Ggal | Posted in Skindred Soul Products | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
Apr 06

Introducing Certified Organic Neutroxy16

Skindred Soul® introduces their proprietary skin rejuvenating formula Neutroxy 16™ comprised of 16 carefully blended certified organic ingredients including select dry seed oils, fruit, flower, tea and root extracts.

Neutroxy 16™, offers the ultimate in protection from free radical damage and nature’s own skin rebuilding technology.  Neutroxy 16™ is included in the recently reformulated Nourish & Care Anti-aging cream and will be included in new products currently in development.

Look for the reformulated Nourish & Care Anti-aging cream available soon in the Skindred Soul online store.

By CEO | Posted in Skindred Soul Products | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
Apr 01

Face Cream 101 – Part 1: How to find “the One”

When we sold out of our Nourish & Care cream I was all of a sudden faced with a situation that I hadn’t been in for over 2 years: the challenge to buy a face cream.

If you are anything like me then finding the perfect face cream is like finding the perfect jeans (or even like finding Mr. Right..?). Anyway…it is a major undertaking that is not to be taken lightly.

I hadn’t shopped for face cream for a while, for obvious reasons, and I don’t really find talking to overzealous sales people at the cosmetic counter enjoyable.  So, I started my search on Sephora.com where the selection is huge, and where the ingredients for most of the products are listed.

I was looking for a natural product without fragrance, without alcohol, without parabens, and without dyes (did you ever notice how many pink and baby-blue creams are out there..???!).

Shopping for skincare products with me is my friends’ nightmare as I read the ingredient list of every single face cream in the store, and then bitch about it. When it comes to skincare, I turn into a snobby elitist.

While most people may find this habit rather annoying, it is actually not completely unjustified. Most skincare products on the market today contain at least one or two ingredients that are potentially dangerous for the skin, and I have seen many face creams that contain tons of skin irritants.

When I talk to my customers or to friends about irritating ingredients, most of them put preservatives on top of the list, followed by fragrance, then alcohol. While some creams still contain potentially harmful preservatives, most preservatives used in skincare today are mild and food-grade. (for more in-depth information go to the Skindred Soul preservatives page )

On top of my list are actually ingredients of natural origin (i.e. essential oils). Many plant extracts, herbs and fruits may smell awesome, may taste really good, or may be a heaven-sent cure for internal problems, such as stomach pain; but they have no business being on the ingredient list of a face cream, especially if the product is labeled for sensitive skin.

According to numerous clinical studies, essential oils have been found to contribute to tumor development and other harmful changes in the body. Most essential oils can be damaging to the skin, liver and other organs, even in concentrations as low as 3%. They most often include a mix of alcohols, ketones, phenols, linalool, borneol, terpenes, camphor, pinene, acids, ethers, aldehydes, and sulfur, all of which have extremely irritating and sensitizing effects on skin.

Be very careful with products that contain the following ingredients, especially if they are high up on the ingredient list:

  • Essential oil blend
  • Natural fragrance
  • Rosemary extract
  • Thyme extract
  • Peppermint/ Menthol/ Spearmint
  • Lavender (Research also indicates that components of lavender, specifically linalool, can be cyto-toxic, meaning that topical application causes skin-cell death (Source: Cell Proliferation, June 2004, pages 221-229).
  • Lemon oil/ Mandarin/ Sweet orange oil (these oils are usually obtained as by-products of the citrus industry, and are really cheap ingredients.)
  • Clove
  • Linalool
  • Geraniol
  • Citronellol
  • Cinnamon
  • Camphor
  • Lemon Balm
  • Vetiver
  • Eucalyptus
  • Ginger
  • Basil oil
  • Myrrh

This list is not complete but it contains the essential oils and irritating plant extracts most widely used in skincare.

Many face creams are a mix of good and bad ingredients which I find very unfortunate. Too often I start getting excited about a product because it lists really amazing ingredients, such as Evening Primrose oil and White Tea extract; just to become really disappointed when I also find alcohol, essential oils and irritating plant extracts on the label.

On top of my official “Shun List” of face creams for use of irritating ingredients are the following brands:

  • Jurlique
  • Juice Beauty
  • Lancôme
  • Dr. Brandt
  • Ole Henriksen
  • L’Occitane
  • Pangea Organics
  • Clarins (their Super Restorative Serum is a Super shocker: alcohol, perfume, parabens, essential oils…)

To end this post on a positive note: YES, there are some skincare gems out there; one of them being the Repairwear line from Clinique. Also check out the moisturizers from MD skincare or Aloe Vera Eye Defense from The Body Shop which I used allover my face.

Oh, I almost forgot: Skindred Soul’s Energize & Care and Nourish & Care are chock-full of absolutely amazing ingredients, and they don’t contain ANY of the ingredients I always bitch about… LOL

Be good to your skin.

G-gal

(PS: our reformulated Nourish & Care will available soon!)

By Ggal | Posted in Skin Patrol - Product Reviews | Tagged | Comments (0)
Mar 15

Skindred Soul 7 Day Starter Kit Tips

Skindred Soul® Introduces the 7 day Starter Kit!

Now that you have ordered the 7 day Starter Kit, we want you to get the most out of our products, so we have provided some tips below on the use of each product in the kit.

1.    Included with the kit are directions for the proper use of every product. By following these directions, you will make the most out of the kit and achieve noticeable results by the end of the 7 day period.

2.    Try to exclusively use the Skindred Soul products during the 7 day period to avoid any possible negative interactions with other products.

3.    The products are very high quality so a little bit goes a long way.  This is especially true of the Gentle Wash & Care Cleanser and the Nourish & Care Anti-Aging Cream.

4.    Since the Nourish & Care Anti-Aging Cream is very rich, we recommend starting with using a pea sized amount.  If you feel your skin demands more moisture, you can always apply more.

5.    If you have problems with dull skin or clogged pores, we recommend starting your 7 day routine by applying the Unveil & Care Exfoliant as a mask and let it remain on your skin for 5 – 10 minutes before washing off thoroughly with plenty of water.

6.    Be sure to let your skin dry completely before applying the Energize and Care Serum as this will allow for complete absorption of the product.

7.    For added benefit, the Tone & Care Calming Toner can be used in place of water to activate the Unveil & Care Exfoliant.

Have fun and please let us know what you think by either rating the products on the product page or by sending us an email through our contact page.

Skindred Soul

By Ggal | Posted in Skindred Soul Product Tips | Tagged , | Comments (0)
Mar 12

Animal Companion Pet Sitting Service

Some of our staff including ourselves have pets so when we need to entrust our “babies” to a pet sitting service we know we can rely upon and trust, we turn to Animal Companion Pet Sitting Service.  The service they provide is one that practically can’t be bought elsewhere.

Their dedication to the pet community is a lifetime commitment and each of their pet care providers volunteers for local no-kill pet rescues and/or participates in local pet-related charitable and educational events.

Animal Companion Pet Care also donates a percentage of its profits to local no-kill animal rescues and pet-related charities as well as sponsors local pet-related initiatives.  Their collective endeavors include educating the public on responsible pet care and advocating spay/neuter, supporting local no-kill rescue groups and pet-related charities, as well as encouraging positive pet development and growth.

For more information on their services  and even how you can volunteer for opportunities in animal rescue and/or fundraising visit their site by clicking on their logo below.

Aminmal Companion Pet Sitting Service

By CEO | Posted in Friends of Skindred Soul | Tagged | Comments (0)
Feb 23

Change in Free US Shipping Policy

Many of you are familiar with our policy we’ve had for the last 2 years for providing Free Fed Ex Ground shipping on orders over $50 shipped within the continental United States.

With the turn of the new year and the continual climb in fuel prices, all the mail carriers have continued to increase their shipping prices. This occurred last year as well, but we chose to leave the over $50 free shipping available. Unfortunately, we cannot continue to keep offering the free shipping option at this minimum order price and are now forced to increase the minimum order price to $65 to keep this free shipping option.

We apologize for having to do this, but we have no choice right now. It certainly looks like we should all start buying electric / hybrid automobiles :) to make gasoline prices fall again.

We hope that this does not discourage you from continuing to order our products and we appreciate your understanding on this policy change.

Sincerely,
Skindred Soul

By CEO | Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | Comments (0)
Dec 12

Heavenly Treatment for Eczema Skin

The dry, cold air in winter is not very nice to any skin type. However, those of you who suffer eczema, and the flaky and painfully itchy skin that comes with it, need to give yourself some extra TLC. Here is a natural, super-healthy remedy that will pamper your skin and lift your mood:
After a nice, warm shower when the skin is particularly receptive for treatment, vigorously massage your still wet skin with organic, cold-pressed Kukui Nut oil, paying extra attention on the dry and itchy areas on your body. Kukui Nut oil is known for its soothing and nourishing properties, especially for eczema and psoriasis skin. It provides immediate relief, and it replenishes the skin with essential fatty acids and vitamins. It also has a light, pleasant smell of roasted nuts. After the massage, rinse off any excess oil with warm water, and then gently pat your skin dry. I sometimes wrap myself in a cozy bathrobe and snuggle in my warm, comfy bed until I am completely dry. The additional warmth helps the oil to absorb into the skin. No additional body lotion will be necessary, and your skin will feel great all day/night.

High quality Kukui Nut oil can be ordered from Mountain Rose Herbs (www.mountainroseherbs.com)(link opens in a new browser window). It is 100% pure and cold-pressed, and it comes at a very reasonable price (4oz approx. $10). Enjoy..!

All the best to you and your skin,
G-Gal

By Ggal | Posted in Skincare - Natural Remedies | Tagged , , , , | Comments (0)
Dec 12

Mountain Rose Herbs

Skindred Soul blog posts may refer to natural remedies, etc. that we often use ourselves and Mountain Rose Herbs guarantees their customers the absolute best in quality organic herbal products at very competitive prices.

Mountain Rose Herbs has been known for its uncompromising commitment to organic agriculture and steadfast focus on the pure aesthetics and freshness of botanical products.

Visit their company website at (www.mountainroseherbs.com) (link opens in a new browser window)

By CEO | Posted in Friends of Skindred Soul | Tagged | Comments (0)
Dec 03

Skindred Soul Toner – Reusing The 1.0 oz Spray Mist Bottle

Some of our customers have indicated that they like the functionality of the spray mist 1.0 oz toner provided in the travel packs and in the sample kit you request.

These customers have indicated that they like to refill the small spray mister bottle from the large 5.1 oz toner bottle. In order to prevent product contamination, we don’t endorse opening the product containers, however once you purchase these products they are yours and you can do what you wish with them. However if you are careful about how you open the containers, here is what our customers have told us that they do.

Carefully unscrew the pump head of the large airless container by grasping the silver band and untwisting counter-clockwise. Place the pump head on a clean surface (clean paper towel etc.). Unscrew the spray mister pump head by grasping the ridged area of the pump head and unscrewing counter-clockwise. Again, place the spray mister pump head on a clean surface.

Refill the small 1.0 oz spray mister bottle from the larger toner bottle and replace both caps.

VERY IMPORTANT – after replacing the large container pump head, you will have to pump all the remaining air out by depressing the pump a fair amount of times. We are told that this works effectively but may take a short time to get all of the air out of the container. If this is not done, the anti-oxidants can break down due to exposure to air, but this will take a little while to occur.

Please take care not to contaminate your product. We purposely do not offer a spray mister on the large container as the delicate anti- oxidants in the toner are well preserved for longer periods of time by using airless pump containers. Of course, these are your products when you purchase them and you can do what you like with them so we hope that the feedback from other customers is helpful to you.

If you find this tip helpful, we encourage you to post feedback by rating the products directly through the Skindred Soul site on the toner product page and posting your comments.

By Ggal | Posted in Skindred Soul Product Tips | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
Dec 02

Skindred Soul Exfoliant Combined with our Toner

The product directions on Skindred Soul’s Unveil & Care Exfoliant state that the exfoliant is mixed with water to form a paste. For an added benefit, in place of water, the exfoliant can be mixed with Skindred Soul’s Tone & Care Toner instead. At the same time, this will provide the added benefits of the toner. If using the exfoliant as a mask that stays on the skin for up to 10 minutes, the properties of the toner will also be imparted to the skin for that length of time.

If you find this tip helpful, we encourage you to post feedback by rating the products directly through the Skindred Soul site on the exfoliant product page and posting your comments.

By Ggal | Posted in Skindred Soul Product Tips | Tagged , , | Comments (0)
Oct 15

Skindred Soul Attends Festival Of Speed Orlando 2009 Event

Friday October 23rd 8 – 11 pm – Jet Port Drive at Galaxy Aviation (Invitation Only Event)

Skindred Soul will be part of a fun event for speed fanatics called “The Festival of Speed” (www.festivalsofspeed.com).

Come out and see us at the Jet Port invitation only event on Friday October 23rd 8 – 11 pm.  We’ll be giving away our regular size retail products so don’t wait.  The event should be a great time!

The event at the Ritz Carlton on Sunday October 25th 10 - 4 pm is only $12 per person and is open to the public.

If you love fast cars, boats, planes, etc. check out the site for the Festival of Speed (www.festivalsofspeed.com)!

See you there!

- The Skindred Soul Team

By Ggal | Posted in Events | Tagged | Comments (0)
Sep 12

Alcohol in skincare – are they all bad?

I think that by now many people have realized that alcohol in skincare is really bad news. Alcohol dries out the skin, strips skin of its protective layer, and it causes irritation and inflammation. Even somebody with really oily skin should not use products that contain alcohol. It dries out the skin so much that it not only makes the inflammation that comes with acne much worse. In addition, the skin reacts to this kind of attack with the production of even more oil to make up for what was so forcefully removed. And the fact that so many people with acne have a very red face allover is basically only due to irritating skincare products.

 Checking out the ingredient label to make sure a skincare product doesn’t contain alcohol is an important first step. However, there is a hitch…

 Not every ingredient that has the word “alcohol” in its name is necessarily evil. Some ingredients, such as Stearyl Alcohol, and Cetearyl Alcohol; so-called “fatty” alcohols, are completely benign thickeners and emollients. They are mild and often even plant derived.

The types of alcohol to look out for (and to avoid) are the following ones:

Alcohol
SD alcohol
Alcohol denat.
Benzyl alcohol
Methanol
Ethanol
Isopropyl alcohol
Ethyl alcohol

Now, a word of reassurance: If a skincare product has a really long ingredient list (i.e. 15+ ingredients), and at the very end you see “SD Alcohol”, don’t freak out. Chances are that the amount of bad alcohol in this product is so tiny that your skin won’t mind.

If alcohol shows up within the first third of the ingredient list; looking for another product would be a good idea…

Love your skin!

G-Gal

By Ggal | Posted in Skincare - The Crucial Basics | Tagged , | Comments (0)
Aug 17

Skindred Soul’s “Skin Patrol”

Hello, and “Welcome” to our first blog entry..!

Make sure to check us out frequently for interesting, exciting and/or maddening news from the world of skincare and make-up; including sharp, unbiased product reviews, rants and raves. The Skin Patrol team researches and tests tirelessly to get you all the info you need to have healthy, gorgeous skin. See you soon…

Love your skin,
G-Gal

By Ggal | Posted in Miscellaneous | Tagged | Comments (0)