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beauty tips on body fragrance

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

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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

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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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Cleansing Facial Wipes For When You Are In A Rush – Which For Each Skin Type by Charene Beauty Salon

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OK, OK, so the research is out, and we know that rubbing an anti-aging cleanser into your face for a full minute is the best (full article).  However, though it’s just 60 seconds, sometimes even that feels too much for us mere mortals. And hence God (and some really smart chemists) created cleansing wipes. I’m a huge fan of these, though I must say they will not perform any miracles for your skin – they just cleanse and let you get on with the rest of your day. Here are the best cleansing wipes I’ve found by skin type:

Best for Dry Skin:  Olivella Facial Cleansing Tissues ($6.99, Amazon.com)

These cleansing wipes are less drying than many other kinds, owing in part to the olive oil.  Functioning as an emollient (agent that hydrates by softening the skin), olive oil has also been shown to fight UVA/UVB-induced damage to the skin (Toxicology, 2003).  And although olive oil can also cause contact allergy in some individuals (Contact Dermatitis, 2006), the fact that these wipes contain thick ingredients like glycerin means that the olive oil won’t be in contact with your skin for long, decreasing the probability of allergy.

 

Overall, I like these wipes very much, particularly for those with dry skin. Ingredients:  Aqua (Water),Glycerin ,Olus,Lauryl Glucoside,Polyglyceryl-2 Dipolyhydroxystearate, Phenoxyethanol, Disodium Cocoamphodiacetate, Fragranza,Olea Europaea (Olive) Fruit Oil, Polyaminopropyl Biguanide, Glyceryl Oleate, Dicaprylyl Carbonate, Benzoic Acid, Panthenol, Cocoglycerides, Dehydroacetic Acid, Sodium Stearoyl Glutamate,Tocopheryl Acetate, Ethylhexylglycerin, Citrus Medica Limonum (Lemon) Fruit Extract, Centaurea Cyanus Flower Extract, Ginkgo Biloba Leaf Extract, Panax Ginseng Root Extract, Camelia Sinensis Leaf Extract.

Best for Oily or Acne-Prone Skin:  Yes to Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes ($7.99, Target.com)

Are there better solutions for acne?  Sure.  But we’re talking wipes and on-the-go solutions, and with that, it’s hard to beat. Yes to Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes.  First off, there is 1% salicylic acid, an antibacterial agent that inhibits the production of various components of bacteria necessary for binary fission (bacterial reproduction), stopping acne growth and proliferation (Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2003).  Salicyclic acid also is believed to soften keratin, a protein within the skin, which helps to increase cell turnover. Next, there is witch hazel, which has been shown in Archives of Dermatology (amongst other sources) to decrease inflammation.

Lastly, there is alcohol, which I used to not like in skin care products, but have since learned helps to:

  1. Thin the solution, and
  2. Help skin care ingredients be better absorbed by the skin.

As a result, Yes to Tomatoes Blemish Clearing Facial Towelettes is my favorite set of wipes for oily/acne-prone skin as of July 2012.  🙂

I also must disclose that the company sent me a set for review, but I promise you, that did not influence my decision consciously at all!

Ingredients:

Salicylic Acid  1%, Water (Aqua), Glycerin, Betaine, Solanum Lycopersicum (Tomato) Fruit Extract*, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) Leaf Extract, Polyglyceryl-4 Caprate, Caprylyl/Capryl Glucoside, Sodium Benzoate, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Extract, Alcohol, Citrullus Vulgaris (Watermelon) Fruit Extract, Capsicum Frutescens (Red Pepper) Fruit Extract, Potassium Sorbate, Sodium Hydroxide, Galactoarabinan, Phenoxyethanol, Parfum

Best for Normal Skin:  Neutrogena Night Calming Towelettes ($6.49, Amazon.com)

There’s nothing special about Neutrogena Night Calming Towelettes – except, of course, one thing:  They work.  They remove makeup easily, and leave your skin feeling clean, without any residue. The secret here is that it helps to dissolve in water, whereas an ester and fatty acid (palmitate)-rich base dissolve oil-based make-up easily.  Add in a few silicones for a smooth finish, and voila!  You’ve got a clean, smooth face in seconds.  I admittedly used these all the time in med school. I kept them on my nightstand with a bottle of retinol cream.  A quick swipe of one of these, a few pumps of retinol, and I was off to dreamland! Water, Cetyl Ethylhexanoate, Isostearyl Palmitate, Pentaerythrityl Tetraethylhexanoate, Isononyl Isononanoate, Cyclopentasiloxane, Hexylene Glycol, Cyclohexasiloxane, PEG 4 Laurate, PEG 6 Caprylic/Capric Glycerides, Sucrose Cocoate, Carbomer, Sodium Hydroxide, Benzoic Acid, Dehydroacetate Acid, Phenoxyethanol, Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate, Fragrance (Parfum)

Via Future Derm

 

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Do You Know The Benefits of Paraffin by Charene Beauty Parlour

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What is Paraffin?

Paraffin wax is a common option in heat therapy treatments for people with arthritis or other rheumatic diseases — the heat helps increase blood flow and relax the muscles, which can help relieve caused by arthritis, osteoarthritis, and fibromyalgia [sources: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, WebMD]. Paraffin wax can even soften hardened skin caused by scleroderma, a disease in which collagen accumulates on the body — it increases the skin’s elasticity, allowing for increased movement and mobility, especially on the skin covering the hands.

But the benefits of paraffin wax don’t stop there. Because this treatment is a form of heat therapy, it’s often used for muscle, tendon, and ligament ailments. As with conditions like arthritis, they increase blood flow, improve joint stiffness, and reduce pain. They’re also used to treat bursitis, tendonitis, sprains, and pulled muscles.

Paraffin wax baths are typically small tubs that are just large enough to submerge your hands or feet. The tubs are heat-producing appliances, so when this wax is added to the tub, the wax melts into a warm liquid in which hands, feet, or elbows can be immersed. Because paraffin wax has a low melting point of 125 to 135 degrees Fahrenheit — which is slightly cooler than your average latte — it’s generally safe for extended skin immersion.

Can It Be Used at Home?

There are also many paraffin wax baths available for home use. These at-home spa treatments typically come with wax, fragrances, and protective gloves, and booties. However, if you’re making your own wax bath at home, be sure to follow the instructions carefully to avoid injury.

You see it in candles, crayons, and lipstick. As a child, you probably even used it to decorate Easter eggs. It’s wax. Wax plays a starring role in beauty treatments as well — it’s a popular way to remove unwanted body hair from legs, arms, chests, eyebrows, and bikini lines. But you may not know that wax has another cosmetic use: the paraffin wax bath.

Paraffin wax is a mineral wax derived from petroleum. Unlike the wax used for depilatory procedures, which is viscous and sticky to bond to hair and skin, paraffin wax is a soft wax with a low melting point, which means that it melts at a temperature cool enough to safely immerse your skin. Paraffin wax is an emollient approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration as a treatment to soften and smooth skin.

Paraffin wax has a long history of treating a variety of physical conditions. In fact, it was used in massage therapy as far back as the Roman Empire. And in more recent years, it’s become a popular physical therapy treatment for people with sports-related injuries.

Today, paraffin wax treatments are offered at many spas and salons, and these treatments are good for more than just softening and smoothing the skin. Read on to learn more about paraffin wax treatments and how they work.

 

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How to Make Rice Water Toner by Charene Beauty Salon

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In some parts of the world ‘to eat’ literally means ‘to eat rice’. One of the most important food grains, rice is a staple food for almost half of the world’s population, supplying as much as half of the daily calories.

But, rice is also an important beautifying ingredient. For centuries, Asian women have used rice water to beautify their face, body, and hair. Traditionally, female rice farmers in China, Japan, and other southeast Asian countries used to bathe and wash in the water used for cleaning rice.

The Yao ethnic women from the village of Huangluo in China are testament to this tradition. With their average hair length of about 6 feet, these women made it to the Guinness Book of World Records as the “world’s longest hair village” (Read more here). Plus these women do not have grey hair till the late 80s. The Yao women believe that the fermented rice water, which they use to cleanse their hair, is what helps to keep their hair long, dark, and clean. Rice water enables these women to de-tangle and manages their long hair, which they wrap around their heads in an elaborate high bun that is often described with names such as ‘gazing god’s bun’ or the ‘cloud bun’.

Rice Water For Hair & Skin: Evidence & Benefits

As you’ll find out, rice water has amazing hair and skin benefits. Recent research has shown that rice water exhibits hair care effects, such as decreasing surface friction and improving hair elasticity. Rice water has inositol, a carbohydrate, that can repair damaged hair, as well as protect it from damage. Specialized imaging technique shows that inositol stays inside the hair even after rinsing, offering continuing hair protection and beautifying effects.

So, Rinsing or washing your hair with rice water will improve manageability and protect it from future damage. In addition, the amino acids, vitamins, and minerals in the rice water strengthen the hair roots, add volume and sheen and make hair feel thicker, silky, and smooth. These awesome benefits explain the 6 feet, healthy, long, and beautiful hair of the Yao women.

Not limited to hair, rice water also has many skin benefits. Due to its cooling and soothing effects on the skin, rice water is often prescribed by ayurvedic practitioners as an effective ointment to cool off inflamed skin.

Rice water also has moisturizing, antioxidant, and healing properties that help to improve circulation, prevent or fade age-related spots, and ease inflammation to give you healthy, better moisturized, and clear skin. As long as it’s left on the skin, rice water is even believed to offer mild protection from the sun.

Fermented Rice Water For Toner

The effects of rice water are further enhanced if it is left to ferment. Fermented rice water is rice water that is left to ferment and has gone slightly sour. It is rich in antioxidants, minerals, B vitamins, vitamin E, and traces of pitera, a substance produced during the fermentation process. ‘Pitera’ has grown in popularity recently, and is touted as the anti-aging elixir due to its ability to promote cell regeneration, and help skin stay young and beautiful.

This ferment rice water can be used as a face cleanser, skin toner as well as a hair rinse. The nutrients in the fermented rice water are believed to shrink pores, reduce fine lines, and tighten and brighten your skin – this is a perfect recipe to look radiant and youthful.

Washing or rinsing your hair with fermented rice water is certainly better than rinsing with unfermented or plain rice water. Fermentation lowers the pH of the liquid, and this is similar to our hair’s pH, which is also on the lower side (slightly acidic). So, this slightly acidic pH plus the added nutrients through the fermentation process help restore hair’s pH balance, stimulate blood flow to the scalp, nourish hair follicles to promote healthy hair growth, and improve the overall condition of hair.

Making Rice Water Toner: Plain & Fermented

To enjoy these wonderful beauty benefits of rice water, all you have to do is just collect the water that you use to rinse your rice. And if you don’t want to cook the rice then just grind the leftover rice to make a body scrub, face mask or toner.

To make rice water, you will need:

  • 1/2 cup uncooked rice (brown, white long grain, white short grain, jasmine, or whatever you have)
  • 2 cups water

To Make Rice Water Toner:

  • To make rice water, first, rinse the rice with about a cup of water to remove any dirt or impurities.
  • Then, place 1/2 cup of uncooked rice in a bowl and cover with water. Let the rice soak for about an hour or so. Swirl it around and lightly knead it until the water turns cloudy. This will help the vitamins and minerals seep into the water, creating a nourishing rinse for your hair and skin.
  • Plain Rice Water: Now strain out the rice water into a clean bowl. Your rice water is ready to use.
  • You can either use this water for your hair or face or let it ferment for enhanced benefit.
  • To Ferment: Once you have collected your rice water, leave it at room temperature for a day or until it turns slightly sour, implying that it has started to ferment. It can take anywhere from 24 to 48 hours, depending on how warm it is. So warmer the room temperature faster the fermentation process.
  • To decrease the fermentation time, you can leave the rice sitting in the water and strain it once it has fermented.
  • Your fermented rice water is ready.
  • Store it in the refrigerator and it will last 4 to 5 days. Remember to shake the refrigerated rice water container before using it.
  • Boiling Method: You can also boil the rice to extract rice water. For this, boil the rice using more water than you would normally do. Once it starts boiling take out the excess water and use it. Or you can also let the rice fully cook, strain, and use that excess water. Let the rice water cool down and it’s ready to use. You can store the remaining amount in the fridge for 4 to 5 days.
vetiver essential oil

Vetiver Essential Oil of the Month by Charene Beauty Services

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Chrysopogon zizanioides, commonly known as vetiver (derived from the Tamil: வெட்டிவேர் věţţivēr) is a perennial bunchgrass of the Poaceae family, native to India. In western and northern India, it is popularly known as khus.

Vetiver is most closely related to Sorghum but shares many morphological characteristics with other fragrant grasses, such as lemongrass (Cymbopogon citratus), citronella (Cymbopogon nardus, C. winterianus), and palmarosa (Cymbopogon martinii).

Farmers mainly cultivate vetiver for its fragrant essential oil, which they distill from the roots. In perfumery, professionals often use the older French spelling, vetyver. Experts estimate worldwide production at about 250 tons per year. Perfumers widely use vetiver for its excellent fixative properties, incorporating it into 90% of all Western perfumes. Vetiver is a more common ingredient in fragrances for men; some notable examples include Dior’s Eau Sauvage, Guerlain Vetiver, Mr. Vetiver by Une Nuit a Bali, Zizan by Ormonde Jayne and Vetiver by L’Occitane.

Indonesia, China, Haiti are major producers.[12] Vetiver processing was introduced to Haiti in the 1940s by Frenchman Lucien Ganot.[13] In 1958, Franck Léger established a plant on the grounds of his father Demetrius Léger’s alcohol distillery. The plant was taken over in 1984 by Franck’s son, Pierre Léger, who expanded the size of the plant to 44 atmospheric stills, each built to handle one metric ton of vetiver roots. Total production increased in ten years from 20 to 60 tonnes annually, making it the largest producer in the world.[14] The plant extracts vetiver oil by steam distillation. Another major operation in the field is the one owned by the Boucard family. Réunion is considered to produce the highest quality vetiver oil called “bourbon vetiver” with the next favorable being Haiti and then Java.[citation needed]
The United States, Europe, India, and Japan are the main consumers.

Vetiver Essential Oil

The oil is amber brown and rather thick.

People describe its odor as deep, sweet, woody, smoky, earthy, amber, and balsam. Producers obtain the best quality oil from roots that are 18 to 24 months old. They dig up the roots, clean them, and then dry them. Before distillation, they chop the roots and soak them in water. The distillation process can take up to 24 hours. After the distillate separates into essential oil and hydrosol, producers skim off the oil and allow it to age for a few months to let any undesirable notes formed during distillation dissipate. Like patchouli and sandalwood essential oils, the odor of vetiver develops and improves with aging.

The characteristics of the oil vary significantly based on where the grass grows and the surrounding climate and soil conditions. Distillers in Haiti and Réunion produce oil with a more floral quality, and many consider it higher in quality than the smokier-scented oil from Java. In northern India, producers distill oil from wild-growing vetiver, calling it khus or khas. People in India regard this oil as superior to that obtained from the cultivated variety. Since domestic demand consumes most of it, this oil rarely appears in international markets.[15]

Medicinal use

Vetiver has been used in traditional medicine in South Asia (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka), Southeast Asia(Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand), and West Africa. [16]
Old Tamil literature mentions the use of vetiver for medical purposes.

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