“What is the secret to better, younger looking skin?”

My answer is always the same:

“Exfoliation.“

A basic definition of exfoliation is the removal of scales. In skincare it equates to getting rid of that dull dry lifeless skin…as fast as possible and changing the overall appearance and health of the skin. As we age, our “cell turnover rate” (that is the rate at which a juicy plump cell travels from the dermis to the epidermis) dramatically decreases. If we can help this process along, by exfoliating regularly and appropriately for our skin type, we can create healthy skin. There are several types of exfoliations and the all have their merits and drawbacks, just like everything in life. Lets take a moment to talk about the top 3 methods of exfoliation.

Manual exfoliation- Most people are familiar with this method. A scrub, an abrasive agent mixed in with a cleansing agent that manually removes dead skin cell from the epidermis while you massage it in. While manual exfoliation is fine, I do not recommend it for my acne clients as I feel it abrades the skin too severely and creates a breeding ground for bacteria.

Enzymes- Enzymes are any of various proteins, as pepsin, originating from living cells and capable of producing certain chemical changes in organic substances by catalytic action, as in digestion. Put more simply, enzymes eat your dead skin cells. A marked benefit of enzymes is that they only go after the dead cells, leaving the live cells intact.

Acids- Sometimes I see people cringe when I mention putting acid on the skin. One thing you need to know is…your skin is acid! Yes, its true, human skin on the pH scale is somewhere between 4.5 and 6. This is due to the fact that the primary function of your skin is protection. Putting acid on your skin breaks up the bond that holds dead, and live skin cells together. An esthetician might use a lower pH acid then you could find in the corner store or get in a “take home” skin care product, but that’s what he or she went to school for. Many nightime lotions and creams contain some levels of acid that helps increase your cell turnover rate.
In summation, if you are in the habit of removing your dead skin cells with regularity then you are doing right by your skin. Ask an esthetician which method of exfoliation is best for you as skin changes with the seasons and with age.

Eli Rohde practices Esthetics at:
Tangles Hair Salon
3417 Highland Ave
Manhattan Beach, CA
310 977 1579
eligirl@gmail.com

by Maureen

We all know how The Teen Years can wreak havoc on skin. For a flawless complexion Urban Cowgirl has concocted Tea Tree Oil Foundation, which battles breakouts, heals trouble spots, and glides on with a natural feel ($27.50).

Flirtsticks are a collection of sheer cream color in a stick — to be used as a blush, a contour stick, a touch of color on the eyelids and on the lips…toss in your saddle pocket for a touch-up while on-the-dusty trail ($25.90).

Yup, the tag line is Giddi-Up. Available in stores out west, naturally, and at www.urbancowgirl.com. Grab your lasso, and round up the goods.

“Some prairie girls owe their fresh, flawless complexion to Urban Cowgirl’s Tea Tree Oil Foundation, which battles breakouts, heals trouble spots, and glides on with a natural feel ($27). Whether you’re queen ofthe rodeo or of Rodeo Drive, this will help conceal your skin secrets when in the limelight.” NYCBeauty

Tea tree oil is a clear to very pale golden color essential oil with a fresh odor. It is taken from the leaves of the Melaleuca alternifolia which is native to the northeast coast of New South Wales, Australia. The oil has beneficial medical properties (including antiseptic and anti fungal, antibacterial action), and is also believed to have beneficial cosmetic properties. Tea tree oil is usually used diluted, as reactions are common with pure tea tree oil, and can cause irritation.

Why would I want it in my cosmetics?
Tea tree oil has been recognized as a potent antiseptic in Australia anecdotally for much longer than there has been scientific evidence. However, recent studies support a role for tea tree oil in skin care and treatment of various ailments. In the treatment of moderate acne, topical application of tea tree oil has shown an effect comparable to benzoyl peroxide, albeit with slower onset of action. In another study in 2007 strength gel was compared against a placebo, with statistically significant results.

What is the history behind tea tree oil?
Use of the oil itself, did not become common practice until researcher Arthur Penfold published the first repons of its antimicrobial activity in a series of papers in the 1920s and 1930s. In evaluating the antimicrobial activity of tea tree oil was rated 11 times more active than phenol.

Can it irritate my skin?
We at Urban Cowgirl love our liquid foundation but we always recommend you do an allergy patch test with any new cosmetics. Just put a dab on your neck or in the soft fleshy underarm area. Applying the product to the skin for 15 – 20 minutes and observing the skin for redness, swelling and itching. It is recommended that no more than 1% ofthe tea tree oil be present in cosmetics by the EU–UrbanCowgir|’s Foundation contains 1%

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