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skincare

How To Figure Out Your Skin Type And The Skincare Services

We all want to flaunt healthy and glowing skin. A radiant face gives us the confidence to step out and be in the spotlight on every occasion. That’s the reason why many of us engage in a regular skincare routine and partake in skincare services. 

Regular skin care can help keep your skin away from aging signs like wrinkles, marks, spots, etc. Maintaining a skincare routine is also an excellent way to get rid of acne and pimples. But, most individuals find it an enormous task to take care of their skin. Sometimes, they lack time, and other times, they do not know the accurate solution for their skin. 

The first step to skin care starts with knowing your skin type. When you know about the texture of your skin, you can easily figure out what it needs to be healthy. Understandably, many individuals often confuse their skin condition with their skin type. Furthermore, they adopt skincare routines that never work for them. 

You should refrain from false skincare routines and follow those that suit your skin. Let’s start by exploring different skin types. 

 

What are the different skin types for skincare services? 

There are four types of skin – dry, oily, combination, and normal skin. You can identify each type by set characteristics, explained below. 

Dry Skin

The term – ‘dry’ refers to skin that generates less sebum than normal skin. Due to the lack of sebum, dry skin does not have sufficient lipids. These lipids retain moisture in the skin and form a protective layer against external influences.

Lack of sebum results in an impaired barrier function. Dry skin can exist in varying degrees of severity. It could be there in different forms, not always clearly distinguishable.

A higher number of females suffer from dry skin than males. Unfortunately, all skin gets dryer with age. Dry skin problems are quite common, and interestingly, about 40% of visits to dermatologists are because of it. 

How to identify – 

  • You can see dry skin signs like dull & rough complexion, almost invisible pores, red patches, visible lines, and less elastic skin. 
  • The skin can also crack or peel. 
  • It tends to become itchy, irritated, or inflamed. 
  • Very dry skin can be rough and scaly, specifically on the backs of your arms, hands, and legs.

Oily Skin

‘Oily’ skin type is the one with heightened sebum production. You can also understand it as the opposite of dry skin. If you have oily skin, you may notice comedones (blackheads and whiteheads) and different types of acne. 

Light acne formation may lead to a large number of comedones appearing on the face. You may also notice some on the chest, neck, back, and shoulders. 

Individuals with moderate and severe conditions may have to deal with papules – tiny bumps on the skin with no visible black or white head. Pustules also appear at times. They are medium-sized bumps with a yellow or white dot in the center, leaving the skin red and inflamed. 

How to identify – 

  • If you have oily skin, you may notice a few or all things mentioned above. The oil may seem excessive, so much so that you can feel it on wipes or fingers when you touch your face. The frequency of acne and pustule formation may vary for individuals. 
  • Along with that, the symptoms include enlarged pores, dull or shiny, or thick skinned complexion. 
  • There could be blackheads, pimples, or other blemishes.
  • Please consider that oiliness in the skin depends on the weather and a particular time of year. 
  • Stress, puberty, or other hormonal imbalances can affect the oiliness in the skin. 

Normal Skin

Normal skin is well-balanced, and its scientific term is eudermic. This kind of skin involves T-zone (forehead, chin, and nose) that may be oily. However, the sebum and moisture quantity are balanced in the skin. So, overall, the skin is neither too dry nor too oily. 

How to identify – 

  • If you have normal skin, you may not see many imperfections
  • There is no severe sensitivity
  • There are barely any visible pores
  • Individuals with normal skin types have mostly a naturally radiant complexion. 

Combination Skin Type

Individuals often confuse combination skin type with normal skin. The difference between the two may reflect in T-zone and the cheeks. T-zone can significantly differ for both the skins – starting from a slim zone to a large area. 

As the name suggests, the skin combines oily and dry zones. T-zone and some other parts can be excessively oily & while the rest is dry. 

How to identify – 

  • If you have combination skin, pores look slightly larger than usual as they are more open, especially on the nose.
  • You may notice blackheads and shiny skin. 

The Case of Sensitive Skin

Sensitive skin and Skin Sensitivity are two different things. However, you may notice that generally, people refer to sensitive skin as a skin condition. 

Sensitive skin is easily affected by various factors that other skin types tolerate. The factors involve the usage of skincare products, cosmetics, etc., or a change in weather. 

Sensitive skin is a permanent condition for some individuals. For other individuals, specific internal and external factors trigger sensitivity. In scientific terms, it occurs when the skin’s natural barrier function is compromised, leading to moisture loss and allowing irritating elements to enter the skin. 

If you have skin sensitivity, you may notice itching, inflammation, and redness in your skin very quickly when you step into the sun or apply a cosmetic. In this case, you have to consult a dermatologist who can suggest reliable skincare products to use. 

Skin Type Vs. Skin Conditions 

You know about the different types of skin. Now, let’s learn about multiple skin conditions. 

The major difference between skin type and skin condition is – skin condition can significantly vary throughout your life, unlike the skin type. Common skin conditions are dehydration, aging signs, rosacea, and frequent acne formation. 

Our skin type tends to change during our lifetime. For example, some may have oily skin in teenage days that may turn dryer during later stages. Fine lines and wrinkles also surface on the skin, & pigmentation may evolve. You must notice these changes and understand your skin condition to take the necessary measures. 

Certain internal and external factors determine skin conditions. 

  • Internal factors can be hereditary when genes pass a condition onto an individual. Wrong medication can also lead your skin to develop a condition. Hormonal imbalances are also responsible for some skin conditions such as pain-causing pustules.
  • Climate change, pollution, and stress are external factors that may result in a skin condition such as dehydration. 

If you notice any such problem in your skin in severity, consult a trusted medical professional. 

Choosing a skin treatment is a viable option if you do not have a severe skin condition that requires a doctor’s attention. However, before choosing a course of skincare services, you must keep in mind that getting in touch with an experienced aesthetician is essential. This is the point where Charene Beauty Services come in.

More About Charene Beauty Services for Skincare Services

Imagine a wide array of beauty services by an experienced professional at highly-reasonable prices – that’s Charene Beauty Services in a nutshell. 

Charene provides beauty solutions that anyone can opt for, except for oncology patients. We offer oncology specific facials with a doctor note allowing service. The list of services includes new-age and advanced skin treatment facials like LED facial, ultrasonic facial, etc. 

If you prefer traditional skincare solutions, you can choose spa or deep cleansing facial and oxygen facial. What more? There are customized options available for a deep cleansing facial. 

You can select from relaxing, therapeutic services like facial massages (gua shu/Kansa/CBD/aromatherapy), infusion jelly mask, etc. 

Charene offers advanced skincare services to address different skin conditions for individuals looking for a specific treatment. The service selection involves the wow anti-aging treatment, acne buster, firming peptide treatment, hi-frequency to sanitize and reduce acne & inflammation, chemical peels, sculplla h2 topical facial filler treatment, and microdermabrasion. Modern and highly-effective skincare services starting from $10. 

Charene Beauty Services do not think of these services as just services. For us, these services are a union of therapy and science. Hence, we aim to provide you with an experience like never before. So book an appointment today!

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sugar beauty parlour treatment tips

Sugar – Why sugar is bad for your skin? – Facial Treatment Tips by Charene Beauty Salon

Sugar & High Glycemic = Increased Insulin Levels

Increased Insulin Levels = Inflammation

Inflammation of the Skin = Glycation

berry-close-up-delicious-141815

What is Insulin?

A hormone produced in the pancreas by the islets of Langerhans, which regulates the amount of glucose (type of sugar) in the blood.

What are High Glycemic Foods?

Foods that are assigned a value on The glycemic index according to how fast or slow a food cause blood glucose levels (blood sugar levels) to rise. 

  • High Carbohydrates
  • Dairy Products & alternatives
  • Fruits – such as oranges & pineapple
  • Legumes
  • Sugars – honey, glucose, fructose, sucrose
  • Vegetable – such as potatoes & carrots

For a more in-depth look at High Glycemic foods click here from Harvard Medical School.

Why in this Case is Inflammation bad?

I am going to talk about chronic inflammation. Chronic inflammation is persistent low-level inflammation that never stops. The body perceives a threat when there isn’t one sending white blood cells to swarm but have nothing to do and nowhere to go, and they may eventually start attacking internal organs or other healthy tissues and cells. It can lead to muscle loss, and certain diseases such as Alzheimer’s, arthritis, cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. As well as causing glycation of the skin.

What is Glycation? How Does it Affect Skin?

Glycation is when sugar molecules attach to fat and protein (such as collagen)  molecules making those molecules ridge. Causing collagen a protein to become inflexible making elastin in your skin less elastic. Collagen and elastin keep your skin firm and wrinkle-free. The loss of collagen and elastin, which as we age do lose over time but is exacerbated by inflammation causes sagging skin, wrinkles, acne, and Rosacea.  Glycation also causes free radical formation and oxidative stress. Free radicals can damage the skin by trying to grab an extra electron from atoms in the skin. When atoms are taken away from molecules in the skin, it causes damage to our skin’s DNA that increases skins aging. Again causing loss of collagen and elastin as well as causing pigmentation to the skin in spots as well as broken blood vessels. While oxidative stress is when the balance between the production of free radicals and other bodies’ antioxidant defenses is exacerbated.  Oxidative stress causes the skin to lose collagen and elastin as well as causes skin pigmentation.

Following a healthy diet by a dietician or doctor that has less sugar and low glycemic food will help not only your skin but your entire body and your aging process.

 

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essential oil beauty tips

Essential oil of the Month: Lemongrass – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

Essential oil of the month: Lemongrass!

Cymbopogon, more commonly known as lemongrass, is a genus of herbaceous plants native to Asia, Africa, Australia, and various tropical islands. Primarily, lemongrass is valued as a culinary herb in Asian cuisines, cherished for its bold citrus flavor with subtle notes of mint and ginger. Moreover, it holds a long-standing place in Indian traditional medicine as a popular healing herb.

In addition, lemongrass makes an attractive garden plant, forming tall, grassy clumps that grow 3 to 5 feet high. Its striking appearance often rivals that of ornamental grasses, making it a versatile choice for landscaping. Whether you’re harvesting its bulbous stem bases for their lemony zest or clipping the leaves to infuse teas and broths, lemongrass serves multiple purposes.

Furthermore, its essential oil is widely used as a natural pesticide and preservative. Notably, research has also shown that lemongrass oil possesses strong antifungal properties, adding to its growing list of benefits.

lemongrass

Lemongrass essential oil is known for its wide range of effects—it is stimulating, relaxing, soothing, and balancing all at once.

Interestingly, the chemical composition of lemongrass essential oil can vary depending on its geographical origin. Factors such as soil quality, climate conditions, and cultivation practices all play a significant role. Typically, the oil contains hydrocarbon terpenes, alcohols, ketones, esters, and is primarily composed of aldehydes—mainly citral, which makes up about 70–80% of the oil.

Nutritional Content

In addition to its aromatic benefits, lemongrass essential oil is rich in essential vitamins, including:

  • Vitamin A

  • Vitamin B1 (Thiamine)

  • Vitamin B2 (Riboflavin)

  • Vitamin B3 (Niacin)

  • Vitamin B5 (Pantothenic Acid)

  • Vitamin B6

  • Folate

  • Vitamin C

Moreover, it also contains a variety of important minerals, such as:

  • Magnesium

  • Phosphorus

  • Manganese

  • Copper

  • Potassium

  • Calcium

  • Zinc

  • Iron

Key Extraction and Properties

  • Common Method of Extraction: Steam Distillation

  • Plant Part Used: Grass

  • Color: Pale Yellow to Vivid Yellow

  • Consistency: Thin

  • Perfumery Note: Top

  • Strength of Aroma: Strong

  • Aromatic Description: Fresh, lemony, earthy

Popular Uses of Lemongrass Essential Oil

Lemongrass essential oil is prized for its diverse therapeutic benefits. For instance, it is widely used to help with:

  • Muscular aches, pains, and headaches

  • Gastrointestinal disorders and indigestion

  • Reducing physical and mental exhaustion, anxiety, and depression

  • Boosting self-esteem, confidence, hope, and mental clarity

Additionally, it offers potent antimicrobial and antifungal properties, making it useful for:

  • Healing wounds

  • Fighting acne

  • Lowering fevers

  • Acting as a natural antiseptic

Other benefits include:

  • Astringent qualities

  • Relief from flatulence

  • Stimulating urine flow and lactation

  • Supporting hair growth

  • Serving as an insect repellent

  • Providing sedative and calming effects


Personally, lemongrass is one of my favorite essential oils—not just for its fragrance, but for its incredible versatility and wellness benefits.

 

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beautiful travel destinations

Beautiful Travel Destinations to Help Your Skin – Secrets by Charene Beauty Parlour

Looking for a glow-up that doesn’t come in a bottle? These travel destinations and natural wellness traditions offer skin-loving benefits backed by centuries of global self-care. From mineral-rich springs to therapeutic mud, your passport might just be your best beauty investment yet.


🌊 1. The Dead Sea (Israel, Jordan, West Bank)

One of the world’s most famous natural spas, the Dead Sea is loaded with magnesium, calcium, and potassium. Its salty waters and black mud are known to soothe skin conditions, exfoliate dead skin cells, and improve skin hydration.


🌿 2. Moor Mud & Peat Moss Treatments

Found in parts of Europe, these nutrient-rich organic muds are used in body wraps and facial treatments to detoxify, reduce inflammation, and improve circulation.


💦 3. Thermal Baths & Natural Hot Springs

Thermal waters found in regions like Bad Elster, Germany, or Termas de Río Hondo, Argentina, are rich in minerals like sulfur, silica, and selenium. These minerals can help treat acne, eczema, and dry skin, while promoting deep relaxation.

Notable destinations:

  • Blue Lagoon, Iceland

  • Ein Bokek, Israel

  • Druskininkai, Lithuania

  • Ananda in the Himalayas, India


🧂 4. Himalayan Salt Spas

Himalayan salt is believed to have detoxifying properties and is commonly used in salt caves and spas to promote clearer skin, reduce inflammation, and balance oil production.


🔥 5. Traditional Bathing Rituals Around the World

Ancient wellness traditions offer more than just relaxation—they deeply benefit your skin.

  • Russian Banya & Finnish Sauna – Boost circulation and open pores

  • Korean Jimjilbang & Mogyoktang – Exfoliate and detoxify

  • Hammams (Turkish Baths) – Steam cleanses and purifies the skin

  • Roman Baths – Classic hydrotherapy for rejuvenation

  • Japanese Onsen – Rich in sulfur, these volcanic hot springs cleanse and soften the skin

Also try:

  • Steam rooms, ice rooms, sweat lodges, sitz baths, and mud baths


🧪 6. Mineral Spas & Balneotherapy

Balneotherapy refers to healing through bathing in mineral-rich waters. Common minerals absorbed through the skin include:

  • Sulfur – Great for acne and inflammation

  • Selenium & Silica – Known to improve texture

  • Radium & Lithium – Historically used in mood and skin therapies

Types of mineral springs:

  • Lithia Springs – Rich in lithium salts

  • Sulfur Springs – Contain hydrogen sulfide, ideal for oily/acne-prone skin

  • Chalybeate Springs – Contain iron, helpful for improving circulation

  • Alum, Soda, and Alkaline Springs – Varying benefits for everyone


🧱 7. Natural Mineral Formations

Don’t miss the dramatic beauty of travertine terraces like those at Badab-e Surt, Iran, or Mammoth Hot Springs, USA. These mineral deposits form from hot spring water and create a breathtaking backdrop to your natural spa journey.


Final Thought:

Nature knows best. Whether you’re taking a dip in an Icelandic lagoon or unwinding in a Japanese onsen, these destinations don’t just heal the soul—they nurture your skin, too.


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clean water helps skin

Do You Know Where Your Bottled Water Comes From?

Information Source: Consumer Reports

Bottled water reviews

Not all bottled water is the same—here’s what you need to know.

Artesian, spring, purified, and sparkling waters can differ in treatment methods and sources. While labels may feature mountains or glaciers, terms like “glacier water” and “mountain water” have no standard definitions.

Bottled water sales are steadily growing, reaching $7.8 billion between August 2010 and August 2011 across major retail outlets (excluding Walmart), according to market research from SymphonyIRI Group.

If you’re paying for something that’s often available for free, it’s worth knowing what you’re buying. Surprisingly, 47% of bottled water sold in the U.S. is simply purified tap water, according to the Beverage Marketing Association.

To make an informed choice, learn about the types of bottled water:

  • Artesian water: Comes from a confined aquifer.

  • Spring water: Flows to the surface naturally.

  • Purified water: Typically tap water filtered through reverse osmosis or distillation.

  • Sparkling water: Contains carbon dioxide for fizziness, either naturally or added.

If you’re concerned about your local water quality but want to avoid the cost and waste of bottled water, consider using a reliable water filter instead. It’s a cost-effective and eco-friendly solution that ensures clean, safe drinking water at home.

 

 

 

More from
Consumer Reports:
Water filter reviewsFlooring ratings and reviewsConsumer Reports has no relationship with any advertisers or sponsors on Yahoo!
  Artesian Water obtained from a well that taps a confined aquifer, an underground layer of rock or sand that contains water.
Example: Fiji Natural Artesian Water.
  Distilled Water that has been boiled and then recondensed from the steam that the boiling produces. Distillation kills microbes and removes minerals, giving water a flat taste.
Example:
 Glacéau Smartwater.
  Mineral Groundwater that naturally contains at least 250 parts per million of dissolved solids. All minerals and other trace elements must be present in the water when it emerges at the source.
Example:
 Calistoga.
  P.W.S. Public water source, also known as municipal water supply, or tap water. Fun fact: Aquafina, one of the top 10 selling domestic brands, used to say “P.W.S.” on its label—but changed that in 2007 under pressure from Corporate Accountability International to make clear that the water came from a public supply and not some pristine mountain spring called P.W.S.
  Purified Water from any source that has been treated to remove chemicals and pathogens according to standards set by the U.S. Pharmacopoeia. Must contain no more than 10 parts per million of dissolved solids. Distillation, deionization, and reverse osmosis are all purification methods.
Examples: Aquafina, Dasani.
  Sparkling Water that contains carbon dioxide at an amount equal to what it contained when it emerged from its source. Carbon dioxide lost during the treatment process may be added back. (Carbonated waters such as soda water and seltzer are considered soft drinks, not bottled waters.)
Example: Perrier.
  Spring Water derived from an underground formation from which water flows naturally to the Earth’s surface. Spring water must be collected at the spring or through a borehole tapping the underground formation (aquifer) feeding the spring.
Examples: Arrowhead Mountain Spring Water (Nestlé), Evian.

 

Please visit the below mentioned knowing everything about your skin, hair, and many more treatments.

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A woman lies peacefully on a spa bed with a white towel wrapped around her head and cotton pads over her eyes. Warm steam rises above her face, creating a soothing atmosphere. The background features a dark, textured surface, enhancing the calm and serene ambiance of the spa treatment.

To Steam or Not To Steam That is the Question! Benefits & Contra indications to Facial Steaming! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

Anyone who has ever had a facial has probably had steam direct at the face or a hot towel draped over the face.  It feels wonderful that is not in question. What are the skin benefits of facial steaming or using hot towels, and who should avoid them?

A History:

While steam was used in ancient times it was not used specifically for the face, it was definitely used for the body.  First made popular by the ancient Greeks and Romans. The origins of the steam bath come from the Roman bath, which began during the height of the Roman Empire. Ancient Roman baths served many community and social functions within Roman society. Everyone in Rome used Roman public baths, regardless of socioeconomic status. These Roman baths were supplied by natural hot springs from beneath the ground.

Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public can be misleading, as some public baths restrict access based on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other factors. As societies evolved, people replaced public baths with private bathing facilities as they became more widely available. Public baths have also become incorporated into the social system as meeting places. As the title suggests public bathing does not refer only to bathing. In ancient times public bathing included saunas, massages, and relaxation therapies. Members of society considered it as a place to meet and socialize. Public bathing could be compared to the spa of modern times.

The earliest public baths

Archaeologists discovered the earliest public baths in the ruins of the Indus Valley Civilization. In Bath, England, restorers have revived historical parts of a spa—Roman, medieval, Georgian, and Victorian—which now operate as a public bath or Thermae. In ancient Rome, Thermae (from Greek thermos, “hot”) and balnea (Greek βαλανείον, balaneion) were facilities for bathing. Thermae usually refers to the large imperial bath complexes, while balneae were smaller-scale facilities, public or private, that existed in great numbers throughout Rome.

A public bath was built around three principal rooms: the caldarium (hot bath), the tepidarium (warm bath), and the frigidarium (cold bath). Some thermae also featured steam baths: the sudatorium, a moist steam bath, and the laconicum, a dry steam bath much like a modern sauna.  A sudatorium is a vaulted sweating room (sudor, sweat).  The whole building comprises a double set of baths, one for men and the other for women.

To generate the intense heat needed, builders lined the entire wall with vertical terra-cotta flue pipes of rectangular section, placing them side by side to channel hot air and smoke from the suspensura to an exit in the roof.

When Arabs and Turks overran the eastern Roman Empire, they adopted and developed this feature in their baths or hammams.  The origin of Japanese bathing is Misogi, ritual purification with water.  After Japan imported Buddhist culture, many temples had saunas, which were available for anyone to use for free.  Native Americans used dry and moist sweat lodges for physical and spiritual ills.

Today, natural steam baths still exist, and often still use similar systems that the Romans used, which contain pipes and pumps that bring water up and into the large pool areas, wherever the natural springs exist. Heaters are also now used to maintain warm temperatures in the baths.

There are many different types of steam baths, which are different than sauna. (Both are hot, but the steam in a sauna is created by throwing water on a stove.

Turkish baths, steam rooms, and steam showers are types of steam baths.

Benefits of Moist (Facial Steaming):

  • Softens the surface layer of your skin (stratum corneum)
  • Helps loosen dirt, sebum, dead skin cells, and bacteria
  • Makes extractions easier
  • Stimulates circulation
  • Increases perspiration (help to sweat out toxins and body waste)
  • Dilates pores
  • Alleviate sinus symptoms

Contraindications of (Moist) Facial Steaming:

  • Rosacea
  • Fungal Infection
  • Skin conditions that sweating and increased blood circulation can aggravate.

How to do Facial Steaming at Home:

Hot Towel:

  • Hand Towel
  • Bowl (Microwaveable)
  • Water (distilled preferred)
  • Few Drops Essential Oil (optional)

After removing makeup and cleansing the face.  Wet towel with water and wring out.  Make it wet, but don’t soak it.  Place a towel in a microwaveable bowl and a heated towel in the bowl in the microwave for a few seconds.  Shouldn’t take very long in the microwave if you start with warm/hot water.   Test the towel on your inner forearm to gauge temperature.   It should be hot but not too hot that it will burn you.  Wrap towel around the face in u shape.  Place the middle of the towel under your chin, bring the ends up to your forehead covering your face, but leaving your nose exposed for air.  Leave the towel on the skin till cool.  May repeat hot towel if desired one more time.

or

Steam from Bowl:

  • Bowl
  • Body Sized Towel
  • Water (boiled till there is steam, distilled preferred)
  • Few Drops Essential Oil (optional)

 

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clean water for clear skin

Keep your Hair and Skin Healthy with a Shower Water Filter! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

I have tried several shower water filters over the years and nothing has worked as well as Aquasana.  Why use shower water filters in the shower?  City water has chlorine, traces of synthetic chemicals, high acid or low alkaline PH.  Well, water can have an excess of iron, calcium, and magnesium.  Aquasana removes 91% of the chlorine in your water, compared to 50% for other water filters, and also reduces synthetic chemicals and enhances pH balance.  They have shower water filters specifically made for well water, but you need to call (866) 662-6885 to order it is not for sale on the website.  I was able to install it like any other shower head no plumber was needed. 
 
The filter contains two stages.  Stage one copper-zinc oxidation media reduces chlorine and enhances pH balance and stage two coconut shell carbon reduces synthetic chemicals.   The filters need to be replaced about every six months and cost $52.50.  That may sound like a lot of money but if you constantly have dry, itchy skin and dandruff it can make a difference.  Also, remember that your skin is absorbing the contaminants in the water.  You wouldn’t want to drink that, why would you want to shower in it?

 

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Facial & Hair Oils Beauty Tips

Facial & Hair Oils, not as scary as you would think! – Secrets from Charene Beauty Parlour

Pure Jojoba

(Photo credit: Evelyn Parham)

First off let me say that I personally love Facial & Hair Oils when the correct oil is matched up with the correct skin type and condition.  When used correctly Facial & Hair Oils can do wonders for the skin!  I know what your thinking, “what put oils on your face!”?  For centuries people have used oils in skincare especially the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans.  Avoiding oils can actually exacerbate an acne problem. Stripping the skin of its natural oils causes dehydration, which can lead to the overproduction of sebaceous oil (sebum). Without sufficient hydration, excess sebum can create clogged pores and eventually breakouts.

The skin-the body’s largest organ naturally excretes oil, so using it to replenish, cleanse and hydrate seems fitting. In fact, in some countries, like Japan, using oil-based skin-care products is the preferred way of caring for the skin. Such as with cleansing facial & hair oils, yes that’s right, oils or oil blends are specifically designed to use in place of your cleanser.  I personally recommend cleansing oil for dry and mature skin only or as a makeup remover or first cleanse followed by a second cleanse with a traditional cleanser.  As we age, moisture levels in the skin drop, causing it to become dry and dehydrated, in turn making fine lines and wrinkles more noticeable. You may be surprised to learn that a large majority of skin-care products boast an oil agent as the main ingredient.

But how does oil work with skin? Because oil is an emollient, it fills in the spaces between the cells in the upper levels of the skin. By replacing these essential lipids, products that are oil-based smooth, and lubricate rough skin. Because of their chemical structure, the skin more easily absorbs oils than water-based moisturizers.

Oils can do many things for your skin:

  • Calm
  • Purify
  • Cleanse
  • Act as an antiseptic
  • Act as a moisturizer
  • Act as a barrier to seal in moisture
  • Protect your skin against the elements, wind, and the cold, for example
  • Provide nutrients such as vitamins and minerals to your skin
  • rich in moisturizing fatty acids, including omega-3, -6, and -9, which strengthen the skin’s lipid layer and help stabilize natural oil production
  • Plant-based oils are non-comedogenic, meaning they’re not likely to clog pores and cause breakouts.

Facial & Hair Oils Application tips

  • Since oils lack the water component of creams, it’s best to apply them immediately after cleansing, while skin is still moist, so the oil can lock in the moisture.
  • Massage in and remove extra if need with toner on a cotton pad.
  • Blend oils to fit your skin type and conditions, add essential oils again to fit your skin type or conditions to customize.  (You can always buy a pre-formulated facial or hair oil, but they tend to be pricey.)
  • If your skin is particularly dry, rich oils are ideal. Try layering oil on top of your regular lotion or moisturizer for the ultimate moisture-locking effect
  • You might also like the regimen of using a hydrating facial mist just before you apply the oil. Again, the facial oil will lock in the water to keep the skin hydrated longer.
  • Try this lymphatic drainage technique to help reduce facial puffiness: Apply oil with your fingertips using light, sweeping movements in a downward motion. Then press and release your fingertips, moving down your face, and finish by tapping very lightly all over.

Ease into it

If smoothing an oil onto your face still sounds daunting (and if the prices are more than what you typically spend on skincare), many mainstream brands are responding to consumer demand for natural ingredients by incorporating plant-based oils into their creams and serums.

Oil:                                     Skin Type or Condition:

Grape Seed                                   All Skin Type

Hazelnut (nut)                                       Oily or Acneic

Almond (nut)                                          All Skin Types, Sensitive, Dry or Mature

Olive (fruit)                                                Dry, Mature, Dehydrated

Avocado* (fruit)                                       Rosacea, Sensitive, Hyperpigmentation,  psoriasis, and eczema

Pomegranate (fruit)                               Hyperpigmentation, Oily

Jojoba (nut)                                             All Skin Types, Dry, Acneic

Rose Hip* (plant)                                   dehydrated, aging, scarred                                                                                                            hyperpigmentation

Apricot Kernel (fruit)                           Mature, Sensitive, Rosacea, Boils, Inflammation

Argan (nut)                                               All Skin Type, Pre-shower Hair Conditioner,

Peanut (nut)

Saffaflower (plant)

Sunflower Oil (plant)

Sesame (plant)

Kukui (nut)

Neem (fruit/plant)                              Pre-shower Hair Conditioner

Coconut (nut)                                        Pre-shower Hair Conditioner,

Castor                                                       Pre-shower Hair Conditioner, Massage into face prior to facial extractions to purge sebum and debris then remove

Emu (animal)                                          Dry or Mature

Wheat Germ                                             Acneic, Dry, Mature

*Refrigerate

 

 

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beauty tips on enzymes for better skin

Enzymes our Little Exfoliating Helpers, Time to Fight those Free Radicals! – Insights by Charene Beauty Salon

What are enzymes?  How do they help my skin?

Enzymes are proteins, biochemical compounds or macromolecules, that increase the rate of chemical reactions by acting as catalysts.  Created through various processes within plants, animals, and marine and human life, these are crucial life processes. There are over 3,000 enzymes in our bodies.

Enzymes protect the skin against the effects of free radicals and they enable the skin to generate new cells.  Less specialized cells join together to form specialized cells such as skin cells. Atoms, the basic unit of matter, have become unstable when their structure is changed due to at least one unpaired electron is free radicals.  The unstable atoms cause a chain reaction. Atoms stealing electrons on and on causing a radical reaction damaging the skins cells.   Protease enzymes are used for skincare.  They are able to break down the proteins holding dead skin cells together.  This aids in the accelerated renewal of healthy cells causing cell turnover by breaking down keratin, the main protein of the epidermis, the top layer of skin, thus exfoliating the skin.

By adding an enzyme mask to your skincare routine once a week or every other week if you exfoliate with a facial scrub or use Retinoids or Alpha Hydroxy Acids.   You can not only help exfoliate your skin you can accelerate cell renewal and turnover and decongest the skin and help soften it for extractions.

Cells stained for keratin and DNA: such parts ...

Cells stained for keratin and DNA: such parts of life exist because of the whole, but also to sustain it (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

 

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beauty tips on body fragrance

What is Your Signature Fragrance? – Secrets by Charene Beauty Parlour

NUIT DE LONGCHAMP by Libertine

Created for ‘Night of Longchamp’, a party held in 1934 after the Grand Prix de Paris. This fragrance was traditionally given to society ladies who attended the gala dinner. Bergamot, orange blossom, ylang-ylang, cardamom, nutmeg, iris, jasmine, rose, sandalwood, broom, patchouli, oakmoss, vetiver, rockrose, balsam, and tolu balsam.

 

Or

 

Iris de Nuit Eau de Parfum by HEELEY

Mystical, sensual and delicate, iris is one of the most rare and difficult fragrances to achieve. A seductive and delicate blend of iris, wood and Tuscan cypress, Iris de Nuit is a laid back, mellow iris fragrance. Clean and fluid, its gentle charm evokes modernity–clean spaces, soft angles and crisp white linen, quite different from the classic iris scents of the past. Perfectly wearable for anytime of day and any situation… Iris de Nuit never screeches its presence, but the air is somehow diminished when the wearer leaves the room. Memorable and tangible.

 

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Acqua di Colonia – Melograno

 

Melograno reminds of a scent I would opt to wear in the cool, fall weather. It possesses citrus, florals and earth tones jockeying for position during its opening and heart accord. In actuality, this fragrance is a good representation of what’s listed in the accords as undertones of wood, green and the suggestion of tobacco are all represented as Melograno heads into the base and drydown.

 

Some Great Scents to Mix to Create Your Own Personal Scent!

Dior Homme Intense Cologne by Christian Dior

Originally launched by the design house of Dior in 2007, this fragrance is aptly named for the man who is vibrant, vital, and intense. Furthermore, Dior Homme Intense for him is a floral, woody, musky scent that he may find himself wanting to wear every day. While casual, it remains provocative—an alluring fragrance with a strong lavender top note. In addition, middle heart notes of pear, musk mallow, and iris enrich its complexity, while deep, dark base notes of Virginia cedar and vetiver provide a grounded, lasting impression.

 

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Prada ‘Amber’ Eau de Parfum Spray

frag

This hypnotic amber scent is a modern classic that intertwines memory, reality, and possibility. Clearly made from pure essential oils this long-lasting scent is distinctive, intimate, and sumptuous. The fragrance comes in a modern sleek solid glass bottle symbolizing the future.

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Margiela Replica

 

A stroll along the ocean. Feet sink into the sand. Waves brush the skin. The sun at its zenith radiates the beach. “Beach Walk” evokes the memory of a summer day.

Or

 

LILY OF THE VALLEY / MUGHETTO Cologne

 

 

The Lily of the Valley flower is native to Europe, particularly thriving in the wooded areas of the Alps. Moreover, because of its sweet scent and delicate, fragile appearance, the lily of the valley symbolizes innocence and the return of happiness. Its fragrance, while sweet, also carries an underlying hint of green, which in turn adds depth and character. As a result, it’s a wonderful choice for both day and evening wear.

 

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