Oil of Life: Argan Oil

Argan oil comes from the argan tree which is found primarily in Morocco.  Argan tree’s used to cover most of North Africa, but they are now endangered.  The tree is protected under UNESCO (United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization).

The argan tree has a deep root system that helps to protect soil erosion from the Sahara, essentially keeping the desert at bay.  For centuries this tree and it’s oil has been used for feeding livestock, cooking and cosmetic purposes.  The argan tree is very important to the people of this region, and now the world has an appetite for its precious oil.

Argan oil contains tocopherols (vitamin E), carotene (vitamin K), and essential fatty acids.  In many cases argan oil is more resistant to oxidation than olive oil, argan oil will keep for 12-18 months.
 
Now here is the awesome part about argan oil...

Almost all argan sold today is produced by a women's co-operative that shares the profits among the local women of the Berber tribe. The co-operative has established an ecosystem reforestation project so that the supply of argan oil will not run out.   In addition to that the income that is currently supporting the women will not disappear. The money is providing health care and education to the local women, and supporting the entire community as a whole. 
Argan oil provides income for three million people in the area. 

Kinda groovy to know that something so great for your skin and health is also good for the lives of others.

Gift Ideas Under $50

Rogue Beauty's Cabinet: March

Hair Masks

Eye Treatments

LIP BALMS

THE ULTIMATE

My ultimate favourite is La Roche Posay-Ceralip.  Hands down this one does the trick for me, but I reserve it's use for winter when my lips need uber TLC.  It uses high emollient and can heal cracked lips, perfect for someone suffering from eczema, and babies too!

GOOD AND CHEAP
My go to lip balm for when I'm a little broke is Nivea- Milk and Honey Lip Balm.  Really cheap and works better then some pricier ones I've tried.  Truth be told I always have one or two hanging around, just in case.

LOOKING PRETTY

When I want something a little glossy and or some colour I love Rosebud Salve and Dior Lip Glow.  The Rosebud Salve offers a sleek sheen to lips that is not sticky.  And the Dior has an SPF of 10 and turns a slightly different colour for everyone, on me it's a sheer hot pink. 

TASTY TREATS
For taste I get picky and usually opt for (like the ones above) very light on the scent.  But I do LOVE Kiehl's Lip Balm in any of their flavours.  They feel and look like the Rosebud Salve, but in a far more convenient tube.  Also Korres Lip Butter has some delicious tastes, smells and colours.  And Korres is also all natural as well.

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Winterize Your Skin

It’s that time of year again! People rushing around with a crazed look in their eye trying to get a moisturizer that will help them brave the approaching cold weather. So who needs what and how much of it?

People with dry skin have it hard, but OILY SKIN types have trouble too during the winter. The problem for oily skin is if you don’t moisturize well enough then you may over dry your skin. And in a cruel stroke of fate for oily skin types this will cause the skin to go into panic mode and produce more oil to compensate and to protect the skin. Thus you will be oily-ER then before. So gel-cream’s with a humectant is a good idea, something that is oil free.

Of course DRY SKIN types are the ones who panic the most during this season, because some will be in actual pain from the tightness of dry skin. These types need shea and cocoa butters, jojoba and avocado oils to nourish. Beeswax will protect you from wind burn.

COMBO SKIN can switch to a cream that has some ingredients that increase radiance to combat dull winter blah skin. I love anything with vitamins and minerals, or plant extracts like Lycopene that lights up the skin from with in.

I feel for the ones with SENSITIVE SKIN. I wouldn’t change things up too much because change is usually a problem for sensitive skin. But I would invest in a balaclava or large scarf to brave the winter cold and wind. Sure it’s not the height of fashion, but neither is red inflamed skin... so make your choice.
Try one of these, they’ll keep you warm and I swear to god I saw it on an actual cool person so it can't be all that bad:
http://store.americanapparel.ca/rsa0503.html?cid=51


Any skin type can benefit from good internal health. Are you eating a well balanced diet, or are you finding that you could build a small house out of pizza boxes in your recycling bin? Try foods that have vitamin C, A, E and Omega’s to aid in lipid growth and make your skin glow. If you have difficulties because of time, money or sheer lack of cooking expertise (I’ve been there, I understand). Then talk to a pharmacists or herbalist about what supplements you can take to get your skin ready to battle the elements.

As always I say find a good trust worthy cosmetician, beautician, skin specialist, esthetician, or dermatologist who can assist you in finding the best product to winterize your skin.
But here are my favorites.

Sensitive Skin
Eau Thermal Avene: Skin Recovery Cream.
This is a light, yet emollient rich cream that will soothe and protect skin. For sensitive skin this is recommended for all year long.

Oily Skin
Kiehl’s: Sodium PCA.
This is perfect for someone with an oil issue because this formulation is a gel-cream that is oil free using a humectant to bind moisture from the air to the skin.

Combo
100% Pure: Tomato Lycopene Face Cream.
This light cream has the power to give dull skin a healthy glow, with a completely natural formulation to boot. This one does have a tomato smell, it takes some getting used to but it’s totally worth it. This Rogue Beauty loves this cream for night time, I wake up to radiant skin.

Dry
Clarins: Energizing Morning Cream.
Love, Love Love this formulation. It’s a comforting soufflé of whipped heaven chock full of vitamins, and minerals to treat dry skin and make it full of life in the coldest of winters. Best used in the morning for it’s great citrus scent, but frankly if you wanted to drench your self morning, noon and night I would not blame you in the least.

Dryer than a desert
La Roche-Posay: Nutritic
This formulation relies on fatty oils and shea butters to condition dry chapped skin. In fact this product was tested in northern Canada and passed with flying colour’s. Please note thought that this product contains a hypo-allergenic fragrance but could still irritate reactive skin. This product is for extra dry skin, not for extra sensitive skin.
Nutritic comes in a 2.5% and 5% biolipid format and to be honest the 2.5% may just be enough to quell the dryness. But if your a spazz or think you need that extra layer of moisture then try the 5%.

Can a shampoo change your life?

Yes it can!

Recently I tried the Amino Acid Shampoo from Kiehl's and in one use realized why they call it one of their classic products. No kidding people I have had only good hair days since this discovery, and when coupled with the Olive Fruit Oil Conditioner I believe I have kissed bad hair day's good bye. So if you have not tried this shampoo then you should go out and try it like yesterday. And you don't need to thank me when you're having the best hair ever, the good karma for passing this on will do me and you fine.

Give and Take

When you’re thinking about including a mask into your skin care regime, you must think about what you want it to do, the result you desire. The best way to ask your self this is by asking if you want the mask to TAKE or GIVE something to your skin. Essentially this is how a mask/masque works. If you want to reduce surface oil, or clarify the skin tone then you should be considering a Take Mask. If you want to add moisture, calm skin irritations then you want a Give Mask.

Here is a quick list of what the differences are:

TAKE:

Oily Skin

Acne

Brown Spots/ Pigmentation

GIVE:

Dry Skin

Aging Skin

Sensitive Skin

The Take category will draw out toxins or regulate a function that is causing pigmentation issues (the illusion of clarifying the brown spots). Clays will suppress surface oil, Acids will clear acne and brown spots.

The Give category injects the skin with moisture for parched dehydrated skin. Aging skin will benefit for the surge of moisture, and ingredients like Aloe or Chamomile will soothe irritated sensitive skin.

Here are some Rogue Beauty choices:

TAKE: Acne/ Oil

Origins: Clear Improvement®

Kiehl’s: Rare Earth Deep Pore Cleansing Masque

TAKE: Pigmentation

Shiseido: White Lucent Intensive Brightening Mask

GIVE: Moisture/Radiance

Bliss: Triple Oxygen Instant Energizing Mask

GIVE: Moisture/Wrinkles/Fine Lines

Clark’s Botanicals: Deep Moisture

GIVE: Moisture/Sensitive/Irritations

Eau Thermale Avene: Soothing Moisture Mask

Should you use a toner... or better yet

To Tone or not to Tone?

This is a question that everyone has an answer for, and it’s either a “yes I do” or it’s a “no thank you”.  The no thank you is usually because people think it’s not necessary OR that it’s a beauty business scheme to persuade you to purchase more.  Both these assumptions are false.  

The idea that toners are a beauty industry lie is ridiculous, because the invention of the toner came many hundreds of years before the notion of “marketing ploys”.  And it is very necessary for all skin types to use a toner.

When we wash our skin with water it can contain some elements that are not H2O and can disrupt the delicate PH balance of the skin.  But a toner will neutralize those irritants and soothe the skin.  It also helps to reduce oil (if that is an issue) and or add moisture.  And all toners ready the skin for what most people do next which is moisturize.

The last reason why anyone would be opposed to a toner is they have had the wrong one for their skin type.  Some toners are harsh and aggressive, because those toners are for acne prone or oily skin and they are chalk full of alcohol or a harsh AHA to clean and disinfect skin.  On a dry or sensitive skin type these sorts of toners are disastrous and can cause great havoc on the skin, and can subsequently turn someone off a toner for life.  

But if you get the right one it’s so worth it, and you’ll wonder what you’ve been doing all this time without one.

So for the different types of skin here are my favorites, or ones that I know my customers/ friends / coworkers have told me about.

Acne:

Neostrata Toning Solution

With 8% Glycolic Acid and an unfiltered, natural alcohol this toner is ideal for anyone with hormonal to complicated acne.  The glycolic acid performs cell renewal that removes dead cells (skin).  This works well with oily skin because this clears any debris under dead cells that would cause acne, and allow for great tone and texture to be revealed.  This toner also comes highly recommended by dermatologists and pharmacists.  However if you have very sensitive skin, then I would maybe skip this one because the glycolic acid may be a little too harsh for those skin types.

Combo/Combo Oily/ Combo Dry:

Kiehl’s Cucumber Herbal Alcohol-Free Toner

This one is fresh and has my two favorite ingredients, cucumber and witch hazel.  This toner will not strip your skin, nor will it leave it oily.  It is a perfect balance for all combo skin types.  The witch hazel will gently disinfect skin, and the cucumber will soothe.  It’s so basic and simple that one will not be surprised that the formula has been around for a while (the company has been making people pretty since 1851).  

Use this product in the morning to freshen skin and in the evening to soothe it.  You can even take a cotton pad with the toner on it and use it as an eye treatment.  Just lie back with a pad on each eye and let the coolness of the liquid and the cucumber ease away puffiness.

Normal to Dry:

Clarins Extra Comfort Toning Lotion 

With Sweet Almond and Marsh Mallow this toner is super moisturizing.  It’s meant for a dry skin tone and is also good for sensitive skin.  It is best used at night to replenish the moisture that the day had stripped away.

Kiehl’s Ultra Facial Toner

Had to add this one!  It’s loaded with Apricot Kern Oil, Avocado Oil, and Squalane it’s soothing and super moisturizing.  It has a milky texture and feels soothing when you apply it on.    

As with my professional job as a skin care consultant I would love and encourage feedback if you try or have tried these toners, even if you didn’t like it.  And also any questions are welcome.