Difference between body and facial lotions?

I'll be brief and straight forward: Yes.

Body lotions are richer in emollients than facial moisturizers. Notice how a person tends to breakout with pimples on the face rather than the tops of hands, arms and legs? The skin condition between our face and body are different.

Have you ever seen a body lotion marked as "non-comedogenic"? You see this a lot on cremes and moisturizers for the face. Ingredients in facial and body lotions can be similar, but the concentration of certain ingredients, mostly emollients, are higher in body lotions, hands, arms and legs tend to be drier than the face. Products that contain "oil" in both facial and body lotions should not be used. Oils will clog the pores of the face leading to possible breakouts of white/blackheads and pimples. Oils in body cremes may make your skin feel soft but they tend to lay on top of skin rather than absorbing into skin for proper hydration.

A product you can apply both on face and body? You can apply facial moisturizer on your body especially where skin may tend to breakout like the chest, back and shoulder area. Never apply body lotion or hand lotion on your face.

A new moisturizing body lotion with Citrus, White Tea and Lactic Acid softens and reduces dry skin. It absorbs quickly with no after greasy feeling. Algae derived from seaweed will condition dehydrated skin with Retinyl Palmitate (Vitamin A) to increase skin elasticity for dry skin. It's paraben and oil free. Click here to read more > Citrus & White Tea Blossom Body Lotion

Body lotions-keep them on the body where they belong.

By Sandy Alcide, founder Motion Medica skin careCopyright 2011

What not to do to your skin in winter

Ever hear of Hydrotherapy? It's a widely suggested technique for skin care. However, by eliminating this technique and keeping your skin care regimen simple-you can have soft, glowing skin in the most harsh winter months.

Working With Winter Skin Ailments – What To Do and What Not To DoPosted By Ann Sandretto Comments (0)
Friday, October 14, 2011

Winter is coming and with it comes dry skin. Skin care professional, Sandy Alcide, has some great tips for facial skin care. Here’s what she says:

Around the country, climates vary. Winter is coming and our skin experiences are similar. Your skin is dealing with strong winds, indoor heaters, cold dry air, rain, snow sleet. You get the idea. Skin can become dull and dry – but have no fear. Your skin’s prevention of winter ailments are simple.

What NOT To Do:

There is a new buzz word going around in skin care called “Hydrotherapy“. It’s even suggested and used by skin care professionals. What is “Hydrotherapy“? They suggest you start your day with a hot steamy shower and when you finish showering switch to cold water for a few seconds. Then, repeat the process for 2 minutes. This technique claims to revitalize your skin by stimulating the flow of blood through skin.

What it actually does is “shock your skin” and the hot water dries the skin. Going from steamy hot to cold water can cause broken blood vessels. Your water temperature should be lukewarm. If you want your skin revitalized by stimulating blood through it – exercise.

Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

If your skin is itching or you have dry patches, it’s because the dry air of winter causes the moisture in the top layer of your skin to evaporate quickly. Use an extra dose of moisturizer for these areas. Never use pure oils on your skin. This will clog your pores and only make your skin feel soft, but it’s temporary as your skin can’t really absorb them well for hydration. Use a good quality moisturizer specifically for dry skin. Anything else will leave your skin incapable of warding off dry skin.

Exfoliate!

At least twice a week exfoliate to remove dead skin cells which work as a barrier for moisturizers to penetrate your skin. Dry indoor heat plays havoc on the natural sebum our skin produces which makes skin lose water in the lower dermas layer of skin. In the winter you have more dry skin cells that need to be sloughed off. Those dry flaky patches are proof of this. Simply applying moisturizer on them will not cure it. You need to exfoliate them off and then apply moisturizer. Do not use exfoliators that contain nut shells or fruit seed as inexpensive exfoliating agents. This will abrade delicate skin tissue.

Showering:

Another suggestion going around in the skin care industry is to use hair conditioner on your body in the shower for dry skin. Hair conditioner is formulated for hair-not skin. If you want a film on your skin and a cause for possible breakouts than hair conditioner will do it. After showering or bathing, pat your skin dry and use a body creme. Motion Medica has launched a new body creme with lactic acid that breaks up dead skin cells with emollients to hydrate skin without oil and parabens.

And, yes, I admit I have a habit of repeating myself. Drink lots of water, continue with a healthy diet and use a sunblock on sunny days and as a skin protectant from extreme weather conditions-if you decide to go for a run or power walk outdoors in 10 degrees don’t use petroleum jelly, use a sunblock.

Keep it simple and your skin will be soft and radiant in the coming winter months.

For some more facial skin care tips, read what Sandy says about “How To Give Yourself A Facial – The Correct Way”

Sandy Alcide – Founder Motion Medica skin care
http://fitnessandskincare.blogspot.com
http://www.americanathleticskincareassociation.webs.com
salcide@fbscc.com
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Is your "natural" bronzer toxic or non-toxic?

Consumers may be spending more time and money than necessary to avoid products that are "unnatural" and, therefore unsafe. This comes to the controversy over the ingredient-bismuth oxychloride, a chemical compound found in products labeled "natural". This ingredient is popular in mineral powders, bronzers, blush, eye shadows and nail polish.

What is bismuth oxychloride and what is it used for? Bismuth oxychloride is a synthetically prepared compound derived from natural elements. Oxygen and chlorine (oxychloride) is being approved for use up to certain concentration levels in cosmetics in many products. So, the questionable element is bismuth. Bismuth is a natural metal. It's actually a non-toxic heavy metal approved for use as a color additive in cosmetics by the U.S. FDA. It is also widely used for it's ability to create a shimmery look and silky feel in addition to its ability to adhere to skin.

Why all the conflict if approved for cosmetics? Bismuth is in the same family of elements as arsenic, and thus resembles bismuth. Another concern by opposers of the compound is that it is listed in Material Safety Sheets (when handling the ingredient in the raw), that bismuth oxychloride can cause skin irritation. This may be the reason why some people feel they are sensitive to mineral powders, when it's actually this ingredient sensitizing the skin. Also, by applying the mineral powder and blushers more than twice a day to "fix up" their make-up may intensify the sensitivity.

Approved by the FDA, cosmetic consumers will continue to see bismuth oxychloride on the list of ingredients found in many make-up labels. It is up to the individual if she will continue to purchase these products with this ingredient. Persons with sensitive skin should try to avoid it. If you absolutely love your cosmetics with this ingredient in it and the side effects are of no concern, then continue with your favorite brand.

By Sandy Alcide, founder Motion Medica skin care. A division of Fitness Botanical Skin Care Co.
Copyright 2011. All rights reserved.

Your face does not get all the anti-aging attention!

A rather frequently asked question to me: Why Does the Face Get All The Anti-Aging Attention? My answer: "It doesn't".

Read my recent article in Always New You, the publication for today's modern, mature woman and find out what else the eye is drawn to even with flawless face skin.

Click here: Always New You

Is it sunburn or sun damaged skin?

As a contributing writer for the publication Always New You. Please read my recent article Is It Sunburn or Sun Damaged? Most persons mistake it as a mere sunburn. Click Here: Always New You

Confusing information about exfoliating blackheads

Many people are sometimes confused about new information they hear about or read. A popular day time television show recently e-mailed me about how they wanted to do a segment about "exfoliating blackheads". I replied, "Although I appreciate the offer, I can't provide you with any information because this will worsen peoples' skin with this ailment". I don't know if it ever aired, I haven't had time to watch day time television in many years.

So why should you not use this skin care method with blackheads? What exactly is blackheads? They are the result of excessive oil and dirt in our pores. Medically defined as, "open comodone", are usually the first stages of acne. They may or may not develop into skin inflammation and infection = a pimple.

The "black" of the blackhead is not dirt. The oils blocking your pores when exposed to air, oxidize causing oil to become solid. The blocked pore reflects light and looks black.

Getting rid of blackheads is easy. You are only removing clogged oil from pores. Exfoliating them will not get rid of them but will irritate it and cause acne. Blackheads need to be extracted-correctly. If you don't know how to extract blackheads visit a skin care specialist. The most important element in not having blackheads is preventing them to occur. This is where exfoliating your skin comes into a major role among one of the benefits of exfoliating.

Buying a cleanser and buying an exfoliating wash is not necessary. Simply use a 2-In-1 exfoliating cleanser with the correct ingredients. One that has exfoliating agents that will not abrade delicate skin tissue incorporated into the cleanser with salicylic acid-and other natural ingredients that will promote healthy skin is even better. Use one that avid exercisers use because avid exercise promotes more excessive oil and dead skin cells.

Hard scrubbing with excessive motion will not only irritate your skin but will worsen the condition. Scrub gently with warm water in a circular motion and you'll see greater results. Using a facial brush of any kind, even when it comes with the product is not only unnecessary but will cause irritation. Blackhead strips have minimal effect and have been found to cause excessive inflammation because only the surface of the blackhead is removed. Not getting "into" the pore leads to pimples. A strip can't do this.

Adhere to a regular routine of cleansing, for both face and body. A daily exfoliater is not necessary in addition to other skin care steps. The best exfoliater only needs to be used 3-4 times a week. This will clean away excess oil and dirt and dead skin cells that trap these into your skin. You'll also help give your skin a radiant boost and prevent anti-aging. For ladies, avoid wearing excessive make-up and make-up that is not water based. Allow your skin to breathe. Never exfoliate more than once a day. Too much of a good thing can be bad for your skin.

Visible results of clear, blackhead free skin will result if you use the above suggestions. Give it a try.

By Sandy Alcide, founder of Motion Medica skin care.
Sandy is a published author about effective skin care and President of the American Athletic Skin Care Association-Raising Awareness Among the Rise In Melanoma Among Outdoor Athletes.
Copyright 2011 all rights reserved.

Second thoughts about Safe Cosmetics Act 2011

"I own my words. Even if I have to occasionally eat them". I took this pledge with Blog With Integrity. Rather than deleting my original post about the new Safe Cosmetics Act 2011; I am admitting I hastily agreed with it until I read the Act in full. I agree with some of the new Act. I certainly don't disagree about synthetic chemicals in cosmetics and skin care that can cause cancer but congress went a bit over-board into misleading persons that natural ingredients, even cold pressed essential oils from fruit should be banned if not properly listed on the ingredients label. One essential oil they are opposed of is Orange Essential Oil. I can't write about this any better than Michelle Rhoades on her blog The Hive. Click here for her informative article.

The new HR 2359 bill for Safe Cosmetics Act is now publicly available and you can read it here.

There are lots of petitions from credible organizations who support all natural ingredients that are opposing this bill. When you click on the link to read about the new bill you can support or oppose it.

By Sandy Alcide founder Motion Medica skin care