Natural recipes that nourish your skin for a healthy appearance

There are natural ingredients that is impossible to hand craft even with natural preservatives. Here, I'd like to share some "home-made" recipes with you that I'm sure you will enjoy. Most of the ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen. Have fun!


A Feast for Your Skin!

The following are home made facial masques using common foods. Tempting ingredients imbued with tasty aroma’s that nourish your skin achieving a healthy ‘fruit fabulous’ appearance.

TROPICAL BREEZE (Get the Caribbean Glow)
* For All Skin Types
* Omit the olive oil for oily, combination or acne prone skin

1 Banana
1 Mango
1 cup crushed pineapple (or canned pineapple)
1 tablespoon olive oil.
Use olive oil if you suffer from very dry skin

Mix banana, mango, pineapple and olive oil in a blender on slow speed until it becomes a thick liquid. Avoiding eye area, apply to face for 5 minutes. Wash off with warm water and your Motion Medica cleanser. Take a wash cloth and run cold water on it. Gently pat your face with it. Allow to air dry.

WITH EGG ON YOUR FACE (my apologies for the corny name)
* Best for oily prone skin
* Do not use this if you are allergic to eggs
* If using raw egg avoid getting into your mouth or eyes for risk of salmonella

1oz Pasteurised egg substitute. For very oily skin 1 regular raw egg.
1 Tablespoon of skim milk
Whisk both ingredients together in a ceramic bowl. Apply on face and leave on for 10 minutes. Wash off with warm water and cleanser. Gently pat dry skin.

STRAWBERRY FIELDS ( I'm a Big Beatles Fan)
* Great for All Skin Types

2 Cups Strawberries
2 Cups Plain Yogurt
2 Tablespoons of Honey

Place all ingredients in a blender and blend at slow speed until it becomes a thick liquid. Leave on for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water and cleanser. Gently pat dry your skin. Anything left over-drink it!


By Sandy Alcide. Copyright 2011 All rights reserved. Permission needed for re-print. Sandy is the Founder of Motion Medica skin care. A certified natural line widely known as the innovator of beauty products for the fitness lifestyle and has expanded with skin care products for all lifestyles.

Are spray moisturizers better than creme moisturizers?

New Spray Moisturizers Vs. Creme Moisturizers

In a time crunched society people are always seeking products that are more convenient and less time consuming. Before you purchase a moisturizing spray, you may want to know what the difference is between a spray on moisturizers and a creme moisturizer.

Originally, spray moisturizers were available for a person’s hair. Now, they are being made and touted by the skin care industry as a convenient moisturizer for the skin. Proven effective for hair; they may be convenient, but are they really an effective moisturizer to ward off dryness of skin?

Hair is different than skin. The outer layer of the hair (cuticle) covering the hair protects the molecular layer of lipid that makes hair repel water. But the complex structure of skin is different from hair.

There are two basic categories of moisturizers: humectants (absorb water from the air) and emollients. Emollients soften the skin by delivering the ingredients directly into skin. Unlike humectants, emollients bring moisture to your skin by the ‘composition’ of the product.. A main function of an emollient is to trap moisture in the skin. If you don’t properly apply an emollient, such as a “creme” composition-you may just be trapping moisture outside the skin, eventually leading to dryness.

Moisturizers are a creme or lotion that act like natural lipids found in healthy skin and the deep layers of the skin. Creme moisturizers work by preventing water from evaporating from the skin. Creme and lotions, in a non-greasy formula are easily absorbed into the skin. Cremes are slightly thicker than lotions and are better for those with very severe, dehydrated skin. A spray moisturizer mostly contains water will simply lay atop of your skin and give you a temporary feeling of softness. Not all creme moisturizers are heavy and greasy feeling and skin can be breathable. A common ingredient found in a lot of creme/lotions is mineral oil, one ingredient to avoid when choosing a moisturizer. Water, the main ingredient in spray on moisturizers, will not give your skin adequate moisture levels.

A key ingredient in creme moisturizers is Dimeticone (also known as silicon fluid), is a water-repellent substance used to protect the skin. This ingredient is not found in spray moisturizers because it can not be sprayed or in a mist form.

A spray on moisturizer advertised their product by stating: “The world’s lightest moisturizer ever”. A mist solution to heavy creme moisturizers”. The key ingredients are Water (Aqua), Sodium PCA, Cetrimonium Chloride, Sea Salt, Parabens, Fragrance (Parfum).

The name of a spray on moisturizer being sold is: “Mineral Spray Skin Moisturizer”. It then stated “Refresh & Invigorate Your Skin With A Fresh Spritz of (name of product excluded). The two ingredients listed: Water, Nitrogen as Propellant. Water, the main ingredient, will not give your skin adequate moisture levels. A propellant serves to dispense the contents of an aerosol or liquid. How does this product moisturize your skin? It doesn’t.
For people with extremely dry skin from certain lifestyles as frequent sun exposure, use of tanning beds, frequent swimmers in chlorine and salt water, and eczema; it is vital for them to use a creme moisturizer as their skin will severely dry out leading to a weathered appearance and speed up the signs of aging the skin.

It’s important to apply moisturizer regularly, at least twice a day and always after cleansing to prevent skin from drying.

Quick, convenient skin care products can result in a disappointing appearance to your skin. A little extra time taken to apply the correct moisturizer is a smart investment for your skin’s health. If you would like to refresh your skin with water and other non-essential ingredients for adequate moisture, then the spritzers may be good for you. Obviously, if a spray-on product is called a moisturizer, it really isn’t.

By Sandy Alcide
Copyright 2012 All Rights Reserved
Sandy Alcide is the founder of Motion Medica. A certified all natural skin care line. Her skin care line is widely known as the innovators of beauty products for the athletic lifestyle and skin care products for all lifestyles.

You can use the same skin care products that celebrities and socialites use on a budget

Socialites and celebrities don't use skin care products that you think they do.

The general public are under the assumption they need to be a millionaire to buy the same skin care products as the privileged do, when, in fact, they don't. How is this possible?

To touch the face of one who is always in the limelight (whether they want to be or not), your product needs to be good. No. Great. While most mass produced brands spend a ton of money on advertising and unique bottling and jars, they must work on a high profit margin to pay for the advertising and to make a profit. The ingredients listed are also over the top and unique. But how much of them is really in the product? Not much. Working on a high profit margin, with expensive ads in prestigious magazines-put a high price on the product, and well, it must be good? Not really. Some consumers believe the higher the price the better the product. Take a 2oz jar of moisturizer selling at a fancy department store with a price of
$135.00. A comparable product with the exact ingredients and amount of ingredients, not found in the department store can sell for $35.00 and give you the same excellent results.

Socialites and celebrities are savvy with their personal products.

Most of them purchase "underground' skin care lines. The word underground can have a few meanings as a noun, verb or adjective. In skin care it's a term used for products that are outside the use of the general population. They are more socially conscious than "mainstream", or a better known term-"mass produced" products.

Underground or sometimes called "boutique" skin care lines are usually hand crafted with the finest ingredients while following all FDA regulations. The money is not spent on corporate advertising teams, hundreds of thousands of dollars for advertising in glamorous magazines and national television ads.

You may be wondering "well a famous actress appears in the T.V ads", she must use the product". Um, sorry-no. When you are working in the industry, and are trust-worthy, many personal assistants and make-up artists to the stars will disclose the product line their boss uses. It's rarely mass produced-or appears in television and magazine ads. Also, an ethical owner of an underground skin care line will always remain discreet who she has as clients and would never exploit a famous client. It's simply not worth losing the reputation of being trust worthy and ethical. A business owners' personal reputation is as important as her products.

Don't underestimate your non-mainstream skin care products or judge the line by the unadorned packaging or website.

As for "Awards" given to skin care lines by magazines. Did it ever occur to you that these awards are always given to the skin care products that advertise in their magazine frequently? Ponder that a bit.

Consumers are confused what really is the best skin care products. People spend lots of money trying different brands with sometimes disappointing results and always hoping for radiant, clear skin. Step out of mass produced skin care lines and give your small underground skin care company a try. You may be pleasantly surprised and with a lot of money saved. If you are not receiving a compliment on your skin at least once a week, or people noticing a remarkable improvement with its appearance; it may be time to switch your brand-without regret.

By Sandy Alcide. Founder/Product Developer of Motion Medica botanical skin care. Innovators of luxury beauty products for fitness lovers and luxury products for all skin types. Sandy Alcide is a BioChemist and Esthetician specializing in skin disorders. You may use this article or portions, but you must include this paragraph and a link to www.MotionMedica.com

Copyright 2012. All rights reserved.

TSA approved skin care products? Marketing gimmick? Or better products for airplane travel?

Recently, I received an e-mail from a source requesting to submit the "best products that are TSA approved". (Transportation Security Administration) for their readers. Better products you can carry on to an airplane.

Belonging to all sorts of skin care associations, this was the first I heard of this. I googled the request and found no skin care products approved by the TSA. What I did find, are websites named around this ploy that their products were better because they are TSA approved. In fact, one website had it's name and product name related closely to air travel, with a picture of an airplane for their logo (I'm not one to name names). One product line claimed "our products will get you through security check quicker".

Giving benefit of doubt. I read the ingredients of the products and found none of them to have an edge for poor quality air in a plane. Nevertheless, the products were 3.4 ounces or less and non-aerosol.

I decided to contact the TSA directly and spoke to a helpful agent. I asked her if there were skin care products approved by the TSA for travel after explaining my confusion. Her answer to me was: "The TSA does not endorse, select or give any type of approval to skin care products. As long as the products are 3.4 ounces or less and non-aerosol in a clear bag-they are approved to carry on a plane at security check".

So, next time you are packing for a trip via airplane-you don't need to use a particular skin care line to get you through security check any quicker than your current favorite brand. Nor will a skin care line with a logo of an airplane on it get you points and extra smiles from an agent at security check out.

Happy, safe traveling!

By Sandy Alcide founder of Motion Medica skin care. A non-mainstream skin care line without the fluff.

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.