Skin Care Myths!

We’ve all heard it: French fries cause acne. What?! Nothing could be further from the truth! In this post, I debunk some of the common (and sometimes dangerous) skin care myths.


Myth #1:
You have oily skin, so you can’t use a moisturizer.
False! For our oily skinned sisters, balance is key. Our skin naturally produces oil for lubrication. But when you have oily skin, that production is always in overdrive. Trust me. I know! I used to always avoid the use of moisturizers because I thought, “I have enough moisture. I don’t need anymore!”. False again. Actually, when your skin is not adequately moisturized (meaning water content) or dehydrated, it will try to correct the problem itself and produce MORE oil! Ugh!

Something that I always tell oily-skinned people to remember is, your skin is oily. It was always oily, and it will always be oily. You will NEVER be able to change your skin type. However, you can help minimize some of the slickness by giving your skin what it craves – moisture. Stick with an oil-free, non-comedogenic formula and use it twice a day. You’re still going to have some shine, but over time, the total grease factor should decrease. Besides, we oily skinned beauties age beautifully!


Myth #2
You don’t wash your face enough. That is why you have acne.
Ummm, excuse me?! Did you just say I don’t clean myself enough? Now, we got beef! Acne is a skin disorder, mostly triggered by hormonal issues. Nothing more. Nothing less. It has very little to do with how often, or how vigorously, you wash your face. In fact, washing acne-prone skin too often will almost always lead to more breakouts (and oilier skin). The key to acne is keeping your pores clean and free of debris. When you have pores clogged with dirt, oil, old makeup and sweat, breakouts will follow. Try cleansing your skin with a mild cleanser morning and night and follow with a salicylic acid product at night. Salicylic acid is great for gentle, gradual exfoliation. It is also really good at cleaning out clogged pores. Benzoyl Peroxide is another favorite ingredient of mine. Use it on an active pimple to help kill the bacteria that has set up residence on your face. Be careful with this product though. It can be extremely drying. A moisturizer 


Myth #3
Sweets & fried foods cause breakouts.
There are two things a large order of curly fries, 20 piece wing dings, and a 20 oz Coke will not do:  help you win the Beyonce look-a-like contest and cause you to get a pimple. Pimples and acne are caused by bacteria and abnormal cell division, not Big Macs with extra Mac sauce. The idea behind this myth is that an overall healthy diet, full of fresh green vegetables, fruit and mega doses of clean water daily will help you to become a healthier person, period, thus making your skin, hair, nails, etc. healthier in the process.


Myth #4
Women of color don’t get sunburn or skin cancer.
Please, please, please stop spreading this dangerously untrue information. While it is true that people of color are less likely to get skin cancer, when we do, we are more likely to die from it. This is the same deadly disease that took the life of Reggae legend, Bob Marley. Many people don’t realize that it takes years (and I mean 20, 30 years) for sun damage to appear on anyone, and usually by the time it appears on us chocolate skinned beauties, it’s far too late. I could go on and on about the dangers of UVA and UVB rays but suffice it to say, a broad-spectrum (meaning it protection against UVA and UVB rays) is a daily necessity. Make it a habit now to begin examining your skin monthly for new spots or moles that maybe were not there the previous month.


Have you heard any skin care advice that you later found out to be a myth? Tell us below!

Cosmeceuticals vs. Natural skin care – “Should I feel guilty about using skin care products that contain non-natural ingredients?”

Skin care is a very expansive field. Walk down the health and beauty aisle at any drug or department store and you are likely to be bombarded with moisturizers, night creams, eye creams, butt creams, everything you can think of! The average lady (or gent) perusing the aisles is likely to become overwhelmed. I mean, exactly what is an AHA? Why does that foot cream have so many ingredients? You really need to be armed with a slew of information in order to get the most of your visit.

Lately, there has been a big shift in buying to natural products. Many people (including myself) have chosen to educate themselves about their skin care and decided to make some changes. Many of the traditional products found on the shelves at your local department store contain ingredients that could wash away battery corrosion (okay, that is an exaggeration, but you catch my drift). Because of this, thankfully, consumers are becoming more informed and letting cosmetic manufacturers know “We’re not gonna take it!”. 

Ok, so just what is a cosmetic? In the simplest of terms, a cosmetic is any product that cleanses or beautifies the skin, hair or nails. So then, what is a cosmeceutical? This funny looking word is a combination of “cosmetics” and “pharmaceuticals” (or drugs – legal ones). It’s used to describe products that both beautify (the cosmetic) and treat/prevent (the pharmaceutical). Some examples are dandruff shampoo, antiperspirant deodorants, or a moisturizer that contains alpha hydroxy acid (or AHA). These product both cleanse or beautify and provide a treatment as well. A cosmeceutical will always have an active ingredient. Think about a tube of toothpaste. It always says “Active ingredient: Fluoride”, then it lists the other ingredients.

Sample cosmeceutical ingredient list

In recent times, a big debate concerns the use of natural products versus using products formulated with synthetic ingredients. It took me a while to figure out my position on this topic. I mean I have a natural skin care line. So I should be all natural, all the time, right?

Wrong.

Anyone who follows me on YouTube or knows me knows of my struggle with my skin. They know all about my acne issues. And I mean serious acne issues – cystic acne – that can not be treated by applying Tea Tree Oil (trust me, I tired it all). I finally accepted what I knew as fact: cystic acne forms and lives in the dermis (2^nd layer of skin) and nothing that is not a drug is able to penetrate down to the dermis. Nothing. I came to the conclusion that I had to visit a dermatologist. I visited the derm, and was prescribed a retinol-based, topical gel called Ziana. I was at a crossroad because this product is chocked full of preservatives and fillers. The same preservatives and fillers I was trying to get away from. But, I took a good look in the mirror at the speckled face staring back at me and knew I had to use it.

I began applying the gel very lightly every night, then switched to every other night, using a Vitamin E cream on the nights I didn’t use the gel. Wow! What an improvement I saw in my skin in about 6-8 weeks. I still maintain my “as-natural-as-possible” routine and am very pleased with the results.

The moral of the story is: Don’t be so attached to one specific thing that you don’t get a chance to do what’s right for you. My philosophy has now become that some synthetic ingredients are possible to make a product do a specific thing. I, personally, do not believe that everything can be cured or treated the natural way. I am very thankful, however, that consumers are becoming more aware and expressing an opinion in their skin care formulations.

What do you think? Do you follow an all-natural skin care routine? How do you feel about some of the ingredients that are in your products? Let us know!

"Scrubs are scary!"

I've had quite a few people ask me what to do with a body scrub. Exfoliation is a very important part of skin care. And I'm not just talking about facial skin, our ENTIRE bodies need exfoliation from time to time.

The term exfoliation refers to the "peeling or sloughing of the horny (outer) layer of the skin, known as the corneum". This simply means removing the top layer of skin, that can become dull, dry and dehydrated. The skin can be exfoliated via chemical (think chemical peels) or mechanical (think scrubs, something that is done manually) methods. The method we will focus on today will be mechanical. 

Exfoliating the skin mechanically, or manually, involves using a product with an abrasive material. You may find a scrub made with salt, sugar, or crushed nut shells. This type of scrub can be used all over your body. But, when you use a scrub on your face you want to be especially careful. Personally, I prefer to use a scrubbing pad on my face. They are gentler and safer for sensitive facial skin. 

Facial scrubbing pad

One of the number one questions I get from customers trying out  Ámbreöse Collection is "What do I use a scrub for?". I have to admit, the first time I heard this I was really surprised. I thought everybody knew what a scrub was and what it was used for. But then I started getting this question more and more, and I realized many people really don't know or understand what a scrub is or it's importance. 

I recommend using a scrub 1 - 2 times per week. I like to use my Whipped Shea Butter Scrub every Monday and Thursday night all over my entire body (except for my face, or course). The most effective way to use a scrub is after cleansing but before shaving or waxing. After cleansing, stand back from the water (or stand up, if you're taking a bath) and starting at your ankles, apply a generous amount of scrub and work your way up your legs, scrubbing in small, circular motions. With this particular scrub, I like to really rub it in, to make sure I get the Shea Butter into my skin. I move on to the other legs, the work my way up my body. I focus on my knees and elbows because the tend to get very rough. I like to save my feet for last, since the scrub can cause the tub to get really slippery. And for my feet, I need something a little more aggressive, so I like to use the Body Polish instead.

Body Polish

Since following this twice weekly regimen, I can honestly say my skin is smoother and less elephant-like. So, please, don't be afraid of exfoliation. It is necessary, and you skin will thank you. Trust me. 

So how do you really feel about scrubs? Do you use them? Do you think they are unnecessary? Let us know!

JUNE, 2011 NEWSLETTER

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NEWS & UPDATES

DISCONTINUED SCENTS

After much deliberation, we have decided to discontinue the Sexy Vanilla Musk and Kiss Me fragrances. Even though we loved them, they did not seem to be too popular with customers. Sugar Mama is still a fan favorite, followed by Night at the Peach and Hawaiian Love.

BODY SPRAY or BATH FIZZIES???

We hear you! You want more products, more choices! So, we need your help. What new products do you want to see? Take the survey and give us your feedback!
Take my Survey: We need your feedback!

NEW WEBSITE DESIGN!!!

Take a look around the newly designed online store at http://shop.ambreose.com! 
Easier navigation, and more ways to find your favorite fragrance and products!
 

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COMING SOON!!

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Ask Me Monday

Today's question comes from Ladeesunshyne78. She asks:

I have oily skin and been trying for a little while to get a daily routine down to properly cleanse and moisturize my skin. Is it too much to use a facial scrub everyday? I started doing that maybe a couple weeks ago (every morning and night before I go to bed) Im not having any problems just wanted to know if I could be doing any damage to my skin?

Girl! If you don't stop exfoliating twice everyday!!!! Lol!! That is way too much! Exfoliation should only be done 1-2 times per week! Too much exfoliation can actually cause small tears in your skin which can lead to an entirely new set of problems.

Over-exfoliation also over-stimulates the skin and can cause your skin to produce more oil, leading to more breakouts! Please scale back to no more than 2 nights per week. I also don't recommend exfoliating in the morning because there's no real need to. Think about it: You wash your face at night, moisturize and go to sleep. What has gotten on your skin or in your pores? Very little. All that's needed in the morning is another cleansing or even just plain, very warm water.

Kudos on the exfoliation; it's a very important step. But like everything else, it must be done in moderation. Hope this helps!!

Got a question that you would like for me to answer? Email it to victoria@ambreose.com to get it answered!! Let me know if you would like to remain anonymous.

Giveaway Time!!!

Hey!!

I'm having a giveaway!! Two lucky winners will receive TWO free products of their choice from my new bath and body line Ámbreöse Collection!!

To be entered in the giveaway:

1) Subscribe to my YouTube channel: http://www.youtube.com/user/MzTori728
2) Follow this blog
3) Send an email to victoria@ambreose.com and let me know your YT name & the name you signed up with on the blog

Contest will run from Wednesday, March 16, 2011 until Thursday, March 31, 2011 at 11:59 pm EST.

Everyone entering will be assigned a number starting with number one. I will used the website random.org to randomly generate two numbers that will determine the winners.

Here's a video demonstrating the products:



GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!

Coming Soon!!!

Hello Luvies ~


I've been thinking of new, exciting things to incorporate into my blog. And I think I've came up with some great ideas!


To begin, I have a YouTube channel - MzTori728 - where I have received much love from my subscribers! I love them all so!! They are always asking me questions about skin and hair, and I love taking these questions. So naturally I thought, why not share these questions and my answers with everyone? And "Ask Me Monday" was born! So, send me your questions and I'll answer them here, on my blog. Please email your questions to me at victoria@ambreose.com, or you can send me a private message via YouTube. Let me know if you wish to remain anonymous. I love talking about skin, so ask away!! I will feature 1 or 2 questions each Monday!!  


Secondly, as I stated on my Getting it Together post, I've got to Get it Together!! It is my goal to become more active physically and be able to walk 3 flights of stairs without seeing stars. So Wednesdays are now "Work It Out Wednesday"!! I will be featuring a new move that we can incorporate into our days. It should be fun! I know I need to workout more, and having a buddy makes it just that much easier. Also, if you all know of any moves that you would like to see featured, please shoot me an email and I will post it for everyone. We're all in this together! Let's vow to be healthier!


And lastly, I would like to start "Thursday's Tip". This will be something that we all may be able to do to make our lives a little simpler. I think we all can use that; I know I can! Again, if you have a tip that you would like to share with everyone, email me at victoria@ambreose.com and I will share it!

Also, once I get more subscribers to the blog, I plan to host different contests and giveaways! Who doesn't love a free gift!! So, if you're reading and you're not a follower yet, go head and hit that button to join.

The new features will begin Monday, March 21, 2011!!
:-)


~Victoria

First things first...

One area that a lot of people lack in (especially including myself) is water consumption. It has even been said that many people spend their days in a mild state of dehydration! Water is the beginning and sustainer of all life. Life, as we know it, would cease to exist without the presence of this simple compound. If you're ever asked what two items you would take with you to a deserted island, drinking water should be one of them.

Our skin is comprised of a whopping 90% water!! Water hydrates, detoxifies, and oxygenates our skin. It encourages and stimulates blood circulation and regulates our skin's natural balance (known as the acid mantle). Stands to reason we should be drinking it like our lives depend on it (wait a minute, our lives do depend on it!).

Something that many people don't realize is that water is the purest form of moisture. It is, in itself, moisture. This is what makes skin supple and soft. But since water evaporates, keeping it (and getting it, for that matter) in our skin is no easy task. Just think about when you ease into a warm bath at the end of your work day. You soak for hours (ok, maybe that's just me) and when you get out you finger tips are all wrinkly! See, our skin has a protective substance on it called sebum. This oily substance helps protect nasty things from penetrating our skin. But sebum takes his job as security guard a little too serious sometimes and keeps the good things out too, like our boo, water.

But after awhile, even sebum gets tired and (hopefully) washed away, then water makes its way into our skin. Good, right? Well, water evaporates over time and eventually all of that goodness is no longer sitting in our epidermis (the layer of skin that you can see). So the key is to put that water on lockdown and keep it in our skin. This is where oils, creams, and butters come into play. By mimicking the sebum on your skin (so to speak) the oils, creams, and butters "lock" or "seal" moisture (water) into your skin and attempt to prevent it from escaping. And since water evaporates, this is a process that must be repeated regularly.

This is the process that a "moisturizer" attempts to achieve with every application. See, "moisturizers" typically contain water (or another moisture heavy ingredient such as aloe vera) as a top ingredient, followed by emollients (oily substances). The idea is to introduce both the water and the sealent into the skin to effectively keep the water there. And this does help out, IF the correct emollients are used. And by that, I mean emollients that are skin friendly, and hopefully chocked full of vitamins and skin-loving nutrients like Vitamins A & E and other antioxidants.

However, in my opinion, the best way to get the water that your skin needs is to actually consume it (as is with all vital nutrients). Therefore, starting tomorrow we're going to make sure we consume enough water. To figure out the right amount for you, take your body weight and divide by 2. Take that number and divide by 8. That's how many 8 oz glasses of water you should be aiming for.

Drink up! Expect to make a few extra bathroom runs tomorrow! Lol!

P.S. To help tackle this astronomical number of ounces, think of it like this: one bottle of water (16.9 oz) is two glasses. If you can drink one bottle of water before you walk out of the house in the morning, you've probably consumed 20% - 30% of your water for the day. Then when you get to your destination, drink another bottle of water. Now you have 50% - half - of your water consumed for the day. Drink another bottle at lunch, one before you leave work for the day, and maybe one more with dinner. Voila!! You've gotten your water for the day!! 

You go girl!!! (in my best Martin voice)!