Defining Skincare

Skincare Products

Skincare includes products for the skin. This includes cleansers, exfoliants, moisturizers, acne treatments, anti-aging treatments, serums for specific skin concerns, as well as sunscreen. Find Skincare product recommendations for specific skin concerns and skincare products using organic ingredients.

Skin care includes ways to care for the skin, including facial skin, throat, decolletage, and body skin. Visit the Skin Care guide section of StyleChicks for more skin care how-to information.

What to Expect from a Vitamin C and Retinol Skincare Program

January 1, 2018 · 11 Comments

The first time one spots fine lines, crows feet, brown spots, or eleven lines on their face, one is probably only in their late twenties, but it feels like the start of a slippery slope into looking like a full-fledged card-carrying AARP member on their way to get a free senior coffee. To combat signs of aging, dermatologists recommend a combination of Vitamin C serum and Retinol. Considering starting a Vitamin C/Retinol topical skin care program? Find out exactly what to expect and when from this topical anti-aging power couple, as found in Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains both 2.5% pure Retinol and 20% Vitamin C Serum

AGING IS SNEAKY: WHY RETINOL AND VITAMIN C ARE THE FIRST LINES OF DEFENSE

Aging skin sneaks up on you. Your skin may seem dull, less dewy or vibrant, but not old, just… lackluster. This aging starts in our late twenties when collagen starts to decrease, and by 40, aging typically exhibits in increased uneven pigmentation, dark spots, redness, broken capillaries, along with the usual aging suspects of wrinkles, crinkles and sagging.

It’s easy to focus on the wrinkles and sagging, but the discoloration, dullness and cumulative sun damage effects are far more aging to the overall facial appearance. According to an article in the December 2006 Clinical Interventions in Aging Journal, “solar UV radiation unquestionably is the single major factor responsible for skin aging” (Clin Interv Aging. 2006 Dec; 1(4): 327–348).

Fortunately, both Vitamin C and Retinol excel at both building more collagen and undoing sun damage, its’ resulting discoloration, and skin texture changes, as well as restoring a youthful glow regardless of age. While there is a slew of anti-aging remedies and products out there, this sun damage reversal ability is one of the chief reasons that dermatologists will recommend a Vitamin C and Retinol combination.

CHOOSING YOUR TOPICALS

The temptation in anti-aging skin care is to panic and use too much too soon, attempting peels, scrubs, and topical treatments all at once, leading to dry, irritated skin. But the tried and true combination that addresses the broadest scope of anti-aging issues is Retinol and Vitamin C. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it’s an all-in-one product that combines a 2.5% pure Retinol with 20% Vitamin C serum plus Hyaluronic Acid for deeper penetration, plus a host of moisturizers to buffer the powerful active ingredients.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides gentle but effective Retinol plus Vitamin C in an all-in-one product

ABOUT VITAMIN C: HOW IT REVERSES SKIN AGING

Vitamin C is needed for collagen production. Collagen is the scaffolding of the skin, keeping it supported and firm. We produce less collagen as we age, and we also lose collagen, which is tantamount to pulling bricks out of a wall – it eventually causes sagging and deterioration. But these missing “bricks” in the skin can be patched with Vitamin C application to produce more collagen. Because the skin makes less collagen as it ages, it’s helpful to apply Vitamin C topically to have it present at the cellular level where skin makes collagen, as Vitamin C is involved in all three collagen production processes. Vitamin C also fights free radicals which age the skin via oxidation and exposure to pollutants. Vitamin C fades away discoloration without bleaching it, just returning the skin to its’ natural tone.

Vitamin C can build collagen even around the delicate eye area

ABOUT RETINOL: HOW IT REVERSES SKIN AGING

Retinol helps retain existing collagen by preventing collagen breakdown and stimulate new collagen production. It is a great pairing with topical Vitamin C that provides the production process tools while Retinol gives the skin “orders” to make more collagen. It also increases skin thickness which makes it less prone to wrinkle and appear more even in tone. It breaks up discoloration and scars, which makes it easier for Vitamin C to fade it away. And it sloughs away dead skin cells and encourages new, younger skin to take its’ place. It shrinks pores, which tend to enlarge with age, and purges blackheads.

Retinol also uniquely retains the healthy glow or luminosity of youth that no other product or active ingredient can truly emulate or effect. If you have ever seen an older person without wrinkles or sagging, but their skin does not glow, you know they are maintaining their skin in some unnatural (surgical, laser or injectable) fashion. That glow is what gives older skin a natural young look.

Vitamin C and Retinol both accomplish different parts of many of the same tasks, making them a great team.

Just one pump of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats the face and throat with a potent combination of Retinol, Vitamin C and a bunch of natural, effective moisturizers

TIMEFRAME: WHEN CAN I EXPECT RESULTS?

Results can be seen between a week to three months, depending on the type of aging concerned. The return of skin radiance happens fairly quickly, whereas reversing deep wrinkles and sagging requires collagen production which can take a few months of daily Retinol and Vitamin C use to start to visibly show.

A key factor in how long it takes for Retinol and Vitamin C to improve skin is how well you tolerate the flaking, redness, and dryness that occurs with many retinol and even some Vitamin C products. Many people can only tolerate every other day Retinol use. This will delay results. A Retinol we like is Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it contains 2.5% pure retinol, 20% Vitamin C serum and a host of natural moisturizers that serve as a gentle buffer so effective that it can be used twice a day with zero skin irritation, even around the delicate eye area, and even for those with very sensitive skin, like myself.

LUMINOSITY: ONE TO TWO WEEKS

This famous elusive Retinol glow appears just after a major skin sloughing. And it is fabulous.

SMOOTH AND EVEN SKIN: TWO WEEKS TO TWO MONTHS

Within the first week or two, the combination of Vitamin C and Retinol leads to rapid dead skin turnover, which makes skin look and feels soft and smooth, like after exfoliating. Wrinkles appear smaller and less deep because the light reflects better off of smooth skin than dead skin cells, but wrinkles are not actually improved at this stage, they are just attractively “buffed”. Prescription retinol is highly effective in dead skin sloughing but tends to have several weeks of itchy peeling to suffer through. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer also has rapid dead skin turnover, but without tell-tale peeling or redness often seen in prescription retinol.

REDUCED PORES AND REDUCED BLACKHEADS: ONE TO THREE WEEKS

A particularly satisfying part of Vitamin C/Retinol use is watching pores shrink down to nothing and blackheads mass exit your face, even the stubborn ones around your nose. This pore-shrinking is surprisingly youthifying, as it’s something that unknowingly makes one look older.

ACNE: WEEKS THREE AND FOUR

Vitamin C tackles acne quickly. Retinol removes the dead skin cells and sebum congesting pores. There is a brief period a few weeks into retinol use that the pores purge with a temporary major breakout, then skin remains largely clear after that period. Cystic acne takes longer to clear but daily Vitamin C use is excellent for shrinking the inflammation out of cystic acne.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats even adult cystic acne with Retinol and Vitamin C, plus reduces inflammation with Wildcrafted Green Tea and Aloe Vera

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats even adult cystic acne with Retinol and Vitamin C while reducing redness and inflammation with Wildcrafted Green Tea and Aloe Vera. Plus, it fades brown spots, uneven tone and discoloration caused by years of sun damage and even fades old acne scars

DISCOLORATION FROM PHOTOAGING (SUN DAMAGE): 2 to 6 MONTHS

This is one of Retinols and Vitamin C’s best tricks, reversing years of sun damage. How fast you see results depend on how much damage you have, but even severe sun damage can be vastly improved within three to six months. Vitamin C builds collagen and fades discoloration, improving sun damaged skin’s texture and even tone. According to the same article cited above, Retinol is the most effective treatment reversing skin damage, generally within three to six months, but most users won’t tolerate the burning, scaling, itching, peeling and general dermatitis issues associated with retinoid therapy. This is where buffering your retinol with moisturizers, such as those found in the all-in-one Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, becomes crucial to assure regular, consistent use.

CONCLUSION

Few treatments can hold a candle to what daily use of Retinol and Vitamin C can do for the skin in terms of reversing sun damage and restoring the skin. The key to making this program work for you is finding a Retinol and Vitamin C that you can use consistently each day without excess irritation or redness. Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer provides 2.5% pure Retinol with 20% Vitamin C serum in a highly moisturizing cream base that contains many natural moisturizing agents so that you can tolerate daily use. In fact, you can use it twice a day without irritation. Once you see the wonderful youthful luminosity that Retinol can give your skin, you won’t want to stop, so Lordsbury gives the ability for daily use without any irritation, just soft, smooth, increasingly younger and better skin.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol-enhancing ingredients

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Boost your Organic Hair Care Game with Complete Organics InstaNatural Avocado Oil

December 29, 2017 · 6 Comments

We eat Avocados to improve our skin, hair, nails, and bodies from the inside, why not apply it topically to enhance the beauty benefits? Complete Organics InstaNatural Avocado Oil makes for an excellent addition to a pre-shampoo conditioner, whether on its’ own or combined with other oils or even store bought hair conditioners. It adds shine, thickness, hydration and bounce right down to the very ends. Use it to rejuvenate hair made crunchy by alcohol riddled styling products, hot styling tools, and environmental stressors such as cold air, wind, and forced indoor heat.

Unlike some brands of Avocado oil we’ve used, Complete Organics by InstaNatural actually smells like Avocado and has a thick, golden-green color. It absorbs well and is not greasy.

Complete Organics Instanatural Avocado Oil is a USDA Organic oil ideal for moisturizing the face, body, hair, and nails

TIPS & TRICKS

For hair, so far I’ve used Complete Organics InstaNatural Avocado Oil on my hair in two ways:

I pump some into my hand, rub my palms together and apply it directly to my hair ends and work up to the scalp to smooth, plump and add bounce. It makes brittle hair more pliable in as little as 15-20 minutes, which makes it an ideal multi-tasking workout conditioning treatment that doesn’t leave hair sticky or greasy looking.
I mix a few pumps of InstaNatural Avocado Oil in a bowl with just a basic hair conditioner to turn my conditioner into a super vitamin packed pre-shampoo hair masque treatment.

Also great on stubborn cuticles, legs and for soothing chapped lips and dry winter facial skin. A little goes a long way.

WHAT AVOCADO OIL DOES FOR HAIR

Massaging avocado oil into your scalp also prompts blood flow to your hair follicles.
Avocado Oil is 72% monounsaturated fatty acids (higher than the trendy Coconut or Grapeseed). Monounsaturated oils readily penetrate into the hair strand.
Avocado Oil also has a slight polarity (it mixes with water better than other oils) meaning it can uniquely penetrate the hair cortex. This polarity also makes it excellent for blending with other hair or skin conditioning agents, whether water or oil based.
High levels of antioxidants like Vitamin E, are well absorbed into our scalp and hair strands.
Avocado Oil doesn’t sit on the scalp like many oils (I’m looking at you, Coconut), it absorbs, making it an ideal moisturizer for dry, itchy scalps

What does this mean for you? A good Avocado Oil, like this Complete Organics InstaNaturals Avocado Oil, can super-size any basic hair conditioner or skin moisturizer, into an effective hair masque or skin masque treatment.

Complete Organics InstaNaturals Avocado Oil comes boxed and sealed with a convenient pump-top for ease of use.

It also makes for a non-greasy, highly absorbent skin moisturizer. I like to apply it to my face after a shower before bedtime, or even apply it lightly after a shower in the morning and let it sink in while I dry my hair, then I apply my sunscreen and makeup. I find in the harsh winter, that the Avocado oil gives a nice bit of moisture to my dry skin without making my makeup run or making my face greasy.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Complete Organics by Instanatural Avocado Oil at https://instanatural.com/products/complete-organics-organic-avocado-oil

Plus, right now, until January 2nd, it is on sale for 35% off!

Style Chicks received this product for evaluation and testing purposes. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Ingredients to Optimize Retinol Use: A Close up of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer

December 17, 2017 · 18 Comments

We’ve all heard it: Retinol is a miracle worker of anti-aging, and we see it on the ingredient list in products ranging from cheap drugstore brands to luxury spa products to mass-market chains, dermatologists offices, and all the way to the cosmetic counters at Barneys, Neiman Marcus and Bergdorfs. What accounts for the differences in efficacy and price? Two factors: the strength of the Retinol and the products other supporting ingredients such as Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, or Jojoba. These Most Valuable Players of skincare are the real test of how well any given Retinol will work for you and if it is worth its’ price. Let’s take a closer look at some of the ingredients you do – and don’t – want to see on a Retinol’s ingredient label.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains 2.5% Pure Retinol, 20% Vitamin C, Hyaluronic Acid, Jojoba, Wildcrafted Green Tea, Shea Butter and many other Retinol enhancing ingredients

ALL-IN-ONE RETINOL

Let’s cut to the chase: Is there a Retinol that combines ALL of the good Retinol ingredient pairings? Yes. For an all-in-one Retinol product, we find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer to be a highly effective combination of ingredients to best support the many skincare benefits of a good Retinol. It combines a prescription strength 2.5% Retinol with 20% Vitamin C Serum, Hyaluronic Acid, along with multiple buffering moisturizers including nourishing Jojoba Oil, calming anti-oxidant Wildcrafted Green Tea, calming Aloe Vera, Shea Butter, Cocoa Butter and many more.

How does each of these ingredients work in tandem with Retinol to increase its’ overall efficacy? Here are some details about these key player ingredients.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer comes in a generous 2.8-ounce container

RETINOL

It seems obvious, but there should be a respectable amount of Retinol in your Retinol product. Prescription levels begin at about 2.5% up to 5%, although some prescriptions are low as 1%. About 2% and up is needed for a Retinol to be effective, but not all Retinol products contain very much Retinol.

VITAMIN C

Vitamin C Serum is Retinol’s BFF, a partner in crime, and all around pal. Vitamin C works in tandem with Retinol to accomplish the same thing but in different ways.
For example, where Retinol refines surface skin texture, Vitamin C builds collagen to strengthen and support the skin so it is as strong as it looks. Retinol fights acne by cleaning out pores and eradicating bacteria-trapping dead skin, Vitamin C reduces acne inflammation and fades post-pimple scarring. Both Retinol and Vitamin C promote collagen, but each is involved at different stages in the collagen production process. Together, they ensure the maximum amount of collagen is produced.

Vitamin C can build collagen even around the delicate eye area

These reasons are why applying Vitamin C and Retinol daily is considered the best anti-aging topical program.

Just one pump of Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer treats the face and throat

HYALURONIC ACID

If you have old acne scars or sun damage and had to pick only one other ingredient for an active ingredient product with Retinol, it would likely be Hyaluronic Acid. Hyaluronic Acid is like your friend with VIP access. First, Hyaluronic Acid holds massive amounts of moisture to plump out wrinkles and fine lines while making skin look dewy and young. But more importantly, Hyaluronic Acid also can pull active ingredients deeper into the skin, including Retinol. The deeper these ingredients get, the better the supporting collagen structure becomes, and even older and darker scars fade.

Hyaluronic Acid makes skin instantly dewy and soft, it plumps wrinkles and helps Retinol sink deeper into skin to address deep wrinkles, scars, and discoloration

Many treating active ingredients, including Retinol and Vitamin C, have molecules that are too large to permeate these skin layers, but somehow, Hyaluronic Acid can bind with Retinol and bring the Retinol into deep skin layers it could not access alone.

What does all this mean? If you have deep scars, wrinkles, discoloration, sun damage, sagging, or stubborn cystic acne, a Retinol product containing Hyaluronic Acid can assist Retinol to treat those deep skin level problems. When Hyaluronic Acid helps Retinol sink into the deeper skin layers, it helps eradicate uneven skin texture and tone, including sun damage and deep scars.

Buffering Agent Moisturizers

It may seem counter-intuitive, but one must buffer Retinol with a gentle, soothing moisturizer, ingredients like Green Tea, Jojoba, or Aloe Vera. Here is why:

For all that Retinol can do, it can also give a pretty nasty accidentally, haphazard self-imposed chemical peel, and the results are not pretty. It’s easy to give oneself an accidental Retinol chemical peel, because skin starts looking so good, that one might feel applying “more is better”, which works for a few days, until suddenly it doesn’t, and your face goes from looking dewy and younger to looking like a bad sunburn.

Even if you follow the directions and only use the prescribed amount of Retinol, skin becomes more sensitive to Retinol after about two weeks, because the old skin is sloughed off, and the new skin is more delicate, yet the same level of Retinol is being applied to skin that isn’t ready to exfoliate yet. This leads to redness and irritation.

HOW TO NOT BURN YOUR SKIN WITH RETINOL

The key to avoiding burning yourself with Retinols, prescription or over the counter, is buffering. To buffer either apply moisturizer first (if you’re very sensitive) or after applying Retinol, and don’t skimp. Buffering allows for the maximum frequency of Retinol use per week. If you still can’t tolerate the peeling and dry skin, apply Retinol for twenty minutes to an hour, then wash it off before bed. This way you at least get some Retinol benefits.

But ideally, your Retinol product comes with built-in buffering moisturizers. We like Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer because it is SO emollient without being greasy. In fact, it’s gentle enough to use twice a day without redness, irritation or dry, flaky peeling.

The moisturizing ingredients make Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer gentle enough to use everyday

Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer contains quality, organic, soothing, nourishing moisturizers including:

Wildcrafted Green Tea feeds and moisturizes the skin, calms irritation and is an excellent antioxidant. Green Tea can calm the irritation that Retinol causes
Jojoba Oil is very similar to the composition of our natural skin oils, so skin tends to absorb Jojoba very well. As a carrier oil, it enhances the ingredients it is paired with instead of creating a barrier. Made of 98% monounsaturated fats so it can penetrate deeply. Jojoba has a very similar structure to sebum, replacing the natural oils the skin needs to stay healthy and gives skin elasticity and softness
Aloe Vera is best known for burn treatment on the skin, but it is highly nutritious to skin with numerous vitamins that the skin can use topically to enhance cell turnover and repair skin cells.
Shea Butter can be tricky in some products, as inorganic Shea Butters can tend to make skin breakout. Because of this, you may have had a bad experience with Shea, which is unfortunate since it can both feed the skin and overhaul the skin texture, even on deep burns. If you’re going to apply a product with Retinol, make sure the Shea Butter is organic, such as is found in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer.
Cocoa Butter has long been used for stretch marks because it helps skin remain resilient and elastic. Retinol is also excellent for stretch marks, whether they are in the new “red” stage or older “white” stage. If you’re interested in Retinol for stretch mark repair, Cocoa Butter is an excellent pairing.
Vitamin B5 helps soothe and regenerate skin.
Vitamin E softens rough skin patches including scars. Retinol refines the texture and fades scarring, while Vitamin E makes the skin more pliable.
Organic Sunflower Oil softens the skin and is an excellent carrier oil. It works well with Retinol because it is so hydrating to the skin and can calm red, irritated skin when other products cannot be tolerated.
Propolis is a bee product, it fights infections and heals wounds. It allows for an aggressive Retinol and Vitamin C cell renewal program without skin becoming too red, irritated, flaky or raw. Some Retinol programs leave skin dry and peeling; the Propolis helps keep skin at its’ best. If you are allergic to bee products, take note.

Lordsbury Retinol+C Moisturizer contains buffering moisturizers built right in like Aloe Vera, Green Tea, Sunflower Oil, Jojoba and Vitamin E

With a line up of moisturizing buffering ingredients like that, you can see why we use Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer. It is gentle enough to use twice a day without any irritation, even on delicate skin. That is an impressive amount of moisturizing ingredients!

CONCLUSION

There you have it, some of our favorite ingredients for boosting the efficacy of a Retinol product. Pairing Vitamin C helps Retinol do its’ job best, Hyaluronic helps Retinol reach the deeper skin layers to fight sagging, build collagen, and fade deeper scars. Moisturizing ingredients that do not cause breakouts are vital to tolerate any Retinol program. The long list of high-quality moisturizing agents in Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer, paired with prescription strength Retinol and 20% Vitamin C makes it an ideal all-in-one product for your Retinol needs.

WHERE TO BUY IT

Find Lordsbury Retinol+C Cream Moisturizer at Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01M3PSEQX/

Style Chicks received compensation for our time and effort as Brand Ambassadors of Lordsbury. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

ELAJ Emollient: All-Purpose Natural Skin Softening Protectant

February 27, 2017 · Leave a Comment

ELAJ is an unscented, all-purpose, natural emollient cocktail for rough heels, cracked elbows, dry scalp, chapped lips & ragged cuticles. It won’t clog pores and can be worn under makeup while treating facial psoriasis or eczema. BONUS: ELAJ does double-duty as a moisturizing, light sheen lip gloss containing a natural SPF

ELAJ Emollient is a healing emollient safe for any skin, even sensitive skin areas. Made of natural ingredients, it will not clog pores, so it is safe to use on the face. It is safe for even children and treats cradle cap and minor rashes. FDA registered, ELAJ is helpful for psoriasis and eczema and other skin conditions that require gentle daily cleansing and care. It is healing and protective to severe and painful skin conditions and works wonders as a go-to beauty tool for skin concerns that just won’t respond to commercial treatments.

ELAJ for multi-tasking skin care

ELAJ USES

Some areas of skin require an intensive hydration treatment to soothe conditions such as extreme dryness. ELAJ allows the skin to breathe while treating all of the following:

Ragged cuticles
Skin inflammation or irritation from sunburn
Dry, chapped lips
Eczema, even on the face. It stops the itching for 8 hours you can get a good night’s sleep
Burn scars
Fresh acne scars
Dry, rough, cracked feet
For use as a gentle eye makeup remover that doesn’t sting the eyes!

THE ELAJ STORY

Developed by Dr. M.A. Bchihalouk, the founders’ grandfather, this emollient has been used by Suhein Beck’s family for any skin related problem for years. She indicates that everyone who tried it found it wonderfully healing for their eczema, contact dermatitis, cold sores, skin conditions or just rough and dry skin on elbows, feet, hands, and knees.

ELAJ INGREDIENTS

ELAJ all-natural ingredients including Sweet Almond Oil, Vitamin C & Avocado

A powerhouse of natural active ingredients that soothe, hydrate and protect the skin including:

Almond Oil a hypoallergenic oil that is safe even for babies, it is an intensive moisturizer with anti-inflammatory and antioxidative properties, rich in Vitamin E. It also protects skin against UV radiation damage and helps heal existing damage.
Avocado is intensely emollient with protective with high oleic acid content. This monounsaturated fatty acid maintains moisture in the epidermal layer of your skin, helping to make it soft and hydrated.
Vitamin A & E feeds and restores skin, assists in healthy skin cell turnover
USP White Petrolatum is a purer form than that which is found in Vaseline
Honey retains moisture, has natural cleansing properties
Yellow Beeswax is a superior protective barrier cream for skin
Soy Wax relieves psoriasis, eczema, dry skin, cracked skin, cracked heels and rough cuticles.
Zinc Oxide is a natural sunscreen
Colloidal Oatmeal soothes the skin, stops itching

ALL-PURPOSE ELAJ USES

BODY: For use all over including on dry knees, elbows, rough and cracked heels, hands, and cuticles.
FACE: ELAJ is safe for use on the face as it does not clog pores, making it suitable for treating eczema, psoriasis, acne, razor burn, dry spots, chapped lips, and cold sores. Also delicate skin around the eyes, earlobes, and nose.
AN FDA REGISTERERED SAFE ALTERNATIVE TO CORTISONE FOR ECZEMA: MAKEUP & ELAJ FOR ECZEMA ON THE FACE: To cover eczema on your face, blend ELAJ with your foundation and use this mixture to conceal the eczema patch. Finish with a light coating of powder for a matte finish, or leave without powder for a dewy glow.
ELAJ FOR A LIPGLOSS WITH NATURAL SUNSCREEN: ELAJ doubles as a lip gloss with a soft sheen and has the natural sunscreen property of Zinc Oxide.

ELAJ FIRST IMPRESSIONS

ELAJ comes in a small plastic jar; it is semi-transparent with a light golden color, lighter than honey. There is no unpleasant scent. It is a thick consistency which is firmer than Vaseline but not as hard as wax. It melts on contact with the heat of your skin. It is not greasy like Vaseline but does leave a light sheen to the skin.

ELAJ is a firm but spreadable all-purpose emoillent

ELAJ is a firm but spreadable all-purpose emollient

ELAJ is thicker than Vaseline but more pliable than Beeswax

MY EXPERIENCE: PUTTING ELAJ TO THE TEST

I’ve two near-constant dry skin issues: my almost always chapped lips and my ever-dry cuticles.

DRY LIPS: My lips have been dry since I was a kid. I’ve tried everything from drugstore to high-end boutique counter products (READ: slathering CREME DE LA MER concentrate on my lips). I’ve done Pinterest recommended remedies like black tea bags on the lips and Coconut Oils and other treatments.
CUTICLES: Even if I use gel lined gloves, my cuticles never look good. I have even consulted my dermatologist over recommended products for my cuticles. If I slather my hands with Coconut Oil at night, by the afternoon staff meeting, my cuticles are red and peeling and dry all over again.

While some things work better than others, nothing gives me smooth lips or non-irritated cuticles for a full day, especially when exposed to dry air in my office.

APPLICATION
The emollient is thick but softens to smoothly and evenly spread into a thin layer when held between the fingers (similar to the Creme de la Mer creme emulsion process). It looks like a thicker “Bag Balm” or Vaseline consistency, but it is not greasy once worked between the fingers for a minute.

CUTICLES: To apply it to my cuticles, I softening it and rubbed into directly into my cuticles and into the nail beds all around the nail and on a few rougher spots on my knuckles.
LIPS: For my lips, I applied ELAJ directly onto my lips. I massaged it in, and much of the dead skin sloughed off. I applied a second light coat before going to bed. My lips were smooth in the morning, not chapped. I sometimes get cracks on the side of my lips, these felt a bit different after application, slightly numb, and in the morning the crack was healed without a rough skin patch as normally appears.
ELAJ VERSES VASELINE TEST: As a third test, I applied ELAJ to the rough heel on my left foot, and straight vaseline on my right foot overnight. In the morning, the hardened skin on my left foot was soft as if I had exfoliated it off and it stayed that way for several days. My Vaseline covered foot was softer to the touch, but the hard skin remains hardened.

Apply ELAJ generously and allow 5 minutes to absorb

CONCLUSION

ELAJ is a very useful, all-natural, all-purpose emollient that tackles multiple skin needs, it is safe and effective for eczema treatment and can be worn with makeup on the face. ELAJ stops the itching of psoriasis and eczema, allowing skin to breathe while still providing a protective coating. A natural SPF lip gloss and makeup remover, keeping the two-ounce size ELAJ in your bag is a great multi-tasker when traveling.

Find all-natural ELAJ here http://elajnaturally.com/collections/all

Style Chicks received this product in exchange for our unbiased review and received compensation for our time and effort. However, our experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% ours.

Skincare: Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

December 8, 2016 · Leave a Comment

Are you at that age that you are fighting aging AND acne? I think it should just be called “The Unfair Age.”

But Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub fights both at the same time and leaves skin bright and radiant.

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

WHAT IT DOES

Do you like the results of professional microdermabrasion, but hate the pulling on your delicate skin? Do you worry that the grit is clogging your pores, not cleansing them?

HOW IT DOES IT

Professional Microdermabrasion is pretty rough on the skin. The suction on most of the machines used in doctor’s offices seriously pulls at the skin. If you have this treatment on any regular basis, this can result in premature sagging of the skin. What’s the point of getting an expensive treatment if it is going to make you look older in the long run?

This isn’t a problem with Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub. It gently loosens dirt and blackheads the pores and sweeps them away, without any tugging or roughness. The gentle exfoliation makes it ideal for promoting collagen production as well, so facial skin looks brighter, less wrinkled, and more youthful, scars are diminished, and stretch marks get a boost towards healing.

Thanks to several ingredients in the organic formulation, skin is also deeply hydrated. That’s quite a lot from one scrub!

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

WHAT ARE THE INGREDIENTS

Aloe Vera is familiar to many as a plant that can soothe minor burns, scrapes, and heal the skin can also serve to nourish the skin. It contains Vitamins A, C, B, and E as well as minerals and enzymes. This food for skin can heal and hydrate, accelerate skin cell growth, provide anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties. This is important in any scrub that is powerful enough to remove dead skin cells, as the skin underneath is exposed and can easily become irritated. Aloe heals naturally and quickly.

And this is not just any Aloe Vera, but a Hospital Grade Organic Aloe Vera. I didn’t know what that meant: it is the quality of Aloe Vera that heals skin well enough that it is suitable for use in Hospital level Burn Care Units.

Another ingredient is Manuka Honey, which has amazing healing and hydrating properties. An anti-aging powerhouse that boosts collagen production and cellular regeneration. It also has natural anti-fungal, anti-bacterial and anti-viral properties to heal skin conditions including acne.

Rapeseed Oil is an anti-oxidant that preserves moisture in the skin, making it smooth and elastic. It also cleanses pores, clean the skin and gives skin a natural glow. With anti-inflammatory properties, it heals skin and reduces redness.

Walnut Shell is a finely ground powder that is hard enough to exfoliate dead skin cells but is still gentle on the skin. It is important to note the finer mill of this walnut, as the smaller the size of the powder, the gentler it is to the skin. There are some products with larger pieces of walnut and that can tear the skin. This product contains a finer mill that does not scratch. As a natural product, Walnut Shell Powder does not irritate the skin the way plastic beads or some oil based beads can cause an allergic reaction.

Orange Oil is an anti-oxidant that reduces inflammation. It also can kill bacteria and improves the complexion by increase the production of collagen resulting in the reduction of dark spots and wrinkles. The bacteria fighting and inflammation reduction properties also make it suitable for gently reducing acne without excess drying to the skin.

WHY WE RECOMMEND IT

Finding a natural active ingredient exfoliation product that gently but effectively treats both acne-prone skin and the signs of aging without causing irritation is an impressive feat.

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub reduces enlarged pores, blackheads, and dry skin. Unlike many scrubs, it reduces the signs of aging including dark spots.

I especially like the combination of healing and hydrating ingredients in this scrub that exfoliate away dead skin without irritating fresh skin underneath. I also like the anti-bacterial properties in the hydrating ingredients as they protect newly exposed skin and freshly cleaned pores from potential infections and breakouts. Some scrubs can actually cause acne breakouts because they remove too much skin, subjecting the skin to infection, and they contain acne-inducing ingredients. But Era Organics has a nice balance of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial ingredients that heal, hydrate and protect freshly exfoliated skin, all while pre-emptively treating skin for acne.

TIP: Use it as an anti-aging mask by applying it to dry skin and leave it on for 5-10 minutes.

GIVEAWAY

The good folks at Era Organics are giving a Style Chicks reader a free jar of this awesome scrub! To enter, send us an email at [email protected] and tell us something you think you will like about this scrub. You can find out more information about the product from their website and social media, which is listed below. For extra entries, share something from the Era Organics website (http://www.eraorganics.com/exfoliating-facial-scrub/) on social media using their social media share buttons and let us know in your email! This contest will run through Friday, December 16th, 2016.

Even if you don’t win, everyone can get 25% off with coupon STYLEC25.

Find it at https://www.amazon.com/dp/B018H32LHQ and learn more about this great product at https:// www.facebook.com/eraorganics, https:// www.pinterest.com/eraorganics, and their website, http://www.eraorganics.com/exfoliating-facial-scrub/

Era Organics Manuka Honey Walnut Facial Scrub

I received this product in exchange for my unbiased review and received compensation for my time and effort. However, my experience with the product and the opinions expressed in this review are 100% mine.