1. Honey & Oatmeal Mask – The benefits of oatmeal have been touted for years, but did you know that it also makes for a great facial? Best applied at night, this oatmeal and honey mask is safe for almost all skin types.  Mix ½ cup fast cooking oatmeal and ½ cup water and cook. Let the oatmeal cool about 5-7 minutes, then add ¼ cup honey.  Mix well into a paste.  Apply this ‘mask’ to cleansed skin, and let dry. Rinse after about 15 minutes. I found this recipe at Diva Village, click here for more great info from their site.

2. Coffee anyone? – When you’re done with your morning cup of Joe, don’t dump those coffee grounds, use them to exfoliate. Mix 1/4 cup used coffee grounds and one egg white. Massage onto face, let it dry and then rinse with warm water. Caffeinated coffee grounds can also be used to help relieve cellulite and remove common kitchen odors. Check out additional uses and recipes here.

3. To lighten dark circles under eyes wrap a grated raw potato in cheesecloth and apply to eyelids for 15-20 minutes. Wipe off residue and apply an eye cream (see #5). For more homemade beauty recipes, visit healthrecipes.com.

4. Banana & Yogurt, and no, it’s not a smoothie! – For all you naturally curly/kinky ladies, the combination of banana, yogurt and coconut cream results in a treatment that adds much needed moisture and softness to overstressed tresses. I found a pretty good recipe at  A Girl Can Mac, and great discussion threads at Naturallycurly.com. Check out the conversation and tweak the recipe for your specific needs.

5. Vitamin E – A friend,who looks ten years younger than she is, attributes her radiant skin to good genes and Vitamin E. She buys natural Vitamin E oil at her local health food store, or when time or budget doesn’t permit, buys vitamin E capsules, breaks them and applies the oil directly to her face. When I do it consistently I find that my skin is smoother, softer and more moisturized, particularly in the winter months.

As with all products – homemade or not – everyone’s experience will be a bit different. Be mindful of allergies (citrus oils make me look like Will Smith pre-Benadryl in Hitch), and experiment with the recipes and ingredients until you find the combination that’s right for you. If you’ve got any tried and true natural beauty recipes that work for you, share them with the WAF community in the comment section or on our Facebook fan page.

Rachel

Products used: Striking Multi-Vitamin Cleanser, Striking Multi-Peptide Serum, Striking Rejuvenating Eye Crème and Striking Restorative Moisture Crème

Length of time used: 28 days

I really enjoyed using the Striking Skin Care product line! At first, I thought I might not be the best candidate for the products since (thankfully) at 39 years old I’ve yet to develop wrinkles or sagging skin… I am happy to report that these products addressed other issues one might not associate with aging skin and I would definitely recommend them to others. The four-step system is easy to use and all of the products have a subtle, yet fresh scent. I kind of think of it as Pro-Activ for grown-ups.

Step one, Striking Skin Care Multi-Vitamin Cleanser is gentle, yet quite effective. While I am more accustomed to facial cleansers that are sudsier and actually lather, I also know that harsh, drying sulfates are what generally makes that lather and despite not using them on my hair for more than two years, I was still using them on my face (the shame). My rationale was that by the end of the day my skin felt a bit oily so a good scrub was in order. I was also exfoliating with a Buf -Puf type pad in the morning and using an Olay Cleansing Cloth at night (which caused dry spots) and then slathering on moisturizer to replenish.

While using the Striking Skin Care product line, I used only my hands to cleanse my face—nothing more. Within a week I noticed that my skin seemed brighter, smoother and more evenly moisturized. Visibly large and clogged pores on my nose became smaller and within 3 weeks were almost invisible.

Step two, the Striking Multi-Peptide Serum goes on smoothly and absorbs into my skin almost instantly. It reminds me of using a makeup primer, leaving my skin feeling smooth and taught—but not uncomfortably so. I think of it as my skin- perker-upper.

Next up is Striking Rejuvenating Eye Crème. This product particularly impressed me as I am guilty of rarely getting more than three to four hours of sleep nightly. While I use a wonderful under-eye concealer and most people could never imagine the havoc beneath my carefully-concealed eyes, every morning and every evening I was greeted by tired-looking eyes that were taking on a darker hue. The product goes on smoothly and absorbs quickly, and within two weeks I saw a marked improvement—to the point that the concealer is no longer necessary.

The final step in the Striking Skin Care System is the Striking Restorative Moisture Crème. It spreads evenly and leaves my skin feeling moisturized throughout the day. This was particularly impressive for me as someone who is unaccustomed to cold winter weather and the drying effects of perpetual use of radiators and heaters to keep warm. Regardless of sitting on top of space heaters or hovering over radiators, my skin remains soft and well-hydrated from day to night. After using the product again before bed, I awaken to soft skin the next morning and at no point does my skin feel oily or waxy.

All in all I’d say that the Striking Skin Care System is an absolutely wonderful addition to any woman’s skin care arsenal and will likely replace several other products and thus simplify the bathroom cabinet as well as her skin care regimen.

For more information on Striking Skin Care’s line of products, visit them at www.strikingskincare.com.

Note: Neither participants nor ‘Women at Forty’ were paid or reimbursed for their reviews. Reviewers were allowed to keep the products tested.

Editors Note:

To get different points of view, we recruited two of Women at Forty’s contributors, Kim and Rachel, shipped them the Striking Skin Care System and asked them to give us their honest opinion – Love it or leave it?  Today, Kim shares her take on the product line, and on Thursday you’ll read Rachel’s point of view.

Kim’s Review

Crows feet and laugh lines are NOT something a woman looks forward to….so when I was offered the chance to test new skin care products called “Striking”, I jumped at the chance.They are made with the Smartpeptide technology which is supposed to target signs of aging to smooth fines lines and wrinkles while improving skin firmness.

I tested out the skin care line for approximately 15 days, applying once in the morning, and once at night.
Step 1 in the skin care regime is the “Multi-Vitamin Crème Cleanser”. This comes in an 8 fl oz bottle and is a milky white, lotion-like consistency. It is very gentle and does not produce a lather, but seems to clean and rinse away nicely. There is no odor to this product and it did not leave my skin feeling tight afterwards.

Step 2 is the “Multi-Peptide Serum” in a 1.13 oz pump bottle to be used right after cleansing. This is a gel like serum that you smooth over your face before the moisturizing products. I really liked this product…it was my favorite step because….as odd as this sounds, and I know it’s probably all in my head…but just the word ‘serum’ conjures up all kinds of magical potions and makes me think it will boost the effectiveness of the subsequent moisturizers used. Nevertheless…this is a very nice product to use – it is cool going on the skin and absorbs quickly. You are supposed to let it completely dry before applying the eye cream and moisturizer, so I would apply it, and by the time I brushed my teeth I would be ready for the next step.

Step 3 is the “Rejuvenating Eye Cream” in a .5 oz jar. I dabbed a little under and around my eyes as well as on my eyelids. I have to admit my eyes teared the first few times I used it….I’m not sure if I was putting it TOO close to my eyes, or if I just needed to get used to it. The product is of a thick white consistency, odorless, and absorbs quickly into the skin. I did notice that my eyelids seemed to tighten up a bit, which was very nice! I luckily don’t have too many lines or bags around my eyes so I didn’t really see a difference there.

Step 4 is the “Restorative Moisture Cream” in a 1 oz jar. This product is also of a thick white cream like consistency, and is odorless. It absorbs quickly and nicely into the skin without feeling like you slathered Crisco on your face. I don’t have too many facial lines yet (luckily and hopefully because I STAY OUT OF THE SUN!), but I do have fine laugh lines and I did notice I was getting one of those fine forehead lines. So, I made sure to target those areas with the cream, and I really do feel like my laugh lines diminished a bit as well as that pesky horizon line on my forehead, and I did feel an overall increase in the firmness of my skin.

Overall, I really did like the products and would recommend them to other women in their late 30s and up. The fact that all the products are colorless and odorless were a big plus in my book, and the diminishing of my laugh lines will only keep me laughing more!

You can learn more about Striking Skin Care by visiting them at www.strikingskincare.com.

Note: Neither participants nor ‘Women at Forty’ were paid or reimbursed for their reviews. Reviewers were allowed to keep the products tested.

One of the most effective facials for over 40 skin or premature aging is Galvanic Therapy. Nothing has been shown to provide the results of Galvanic without shots, pain or invasive procedure, yet so few women have heard of it. Galvanic cleanses, purifies, tones, tightens and lifts as well as reduce signs of aging such as wrinkles and fine lines. When I was working in a spa this was my favorite treatment to perform.

So what is Galvanic Therapy?

Galvanic Therapy is a low level electric current that is applied to the skin with a specifically designed devise for use by Estheticians. It’s been in use for over 50 years in facial services. Sophia Loren has known about it for a very long time, and that lady has some pretty amazing skin for a woman of a certain age.

Galvanic has the ability to stimulate the circulation of oxygen and blood in the facial skin supplying an elevated level of nourishment. Galvanic also creates an environment in the skin that allows for up to a 70% increase in the efficacy of the skin care and anti-aging products you use after the treatment for up to 24-48 hours.

During a facial procedure a negative charge is used to deeply cleanse and purify the skin. This first part of  the treatment is called Disincrustation. A negative charge in the instrument will repel a negatively charged cleansing gel and push it deep into the skin. Toxins and impurities are neutralized.

The second and positive charge cycle is called Iontophoresis. This positive charge pushes positively charged anti-aging ingredients into the skin where they can do the most good. Deep in your skin, in the dermal layer you have something called a fibroblast. This is where your collagen and elastin is produced like a little youth factory, I like to say. And that is where you want anti-aging and cell communicating ingredients to reach. Having a product just sitting on top of your skin isn’t even close to as effective.

Getting this done in a spa can get quite costly especially since the treatment needs to do be done regularly to see and maintain results. Spa costs can range from $150-$220 per treatment and each treatment needs to be repeated at least 1-2x per month. Home versions of Galvanic Therapy are available and are more cost effective.

As an Esthetician, I’ve done my research and use and endorse a particular at home Galvanic Therapy product that has a patented ingredient in the positively charged gel that attacks an enzyme in the skin that causes aging. It’s excellent for all ethnicities and skin types. I use it regularly and absolutely love how my skin looks and feels.

To learn more about Galvanic Therapy, check out this article at Beauty and the Blog. You can read the whole thing or just scroll to the bottom to learn about the ingredients and see a video demonstration.

Jeffrie Ann Hall is an Esthetician specializing in Anti-Aging Skin Care for women 40+.  Through her blog Beauty-and-the-blog, and sales of innovative science based skin care, Jeffrie focuses on helping women stay fresh and vibrant at all stages of life.

Today Women at Forty welcomes a new contributor, Jeffrie Ann Hall. Jeffrie’s an Esthetician specializing in Anti-Aging Skin Care for women 40+.  Through her blog Beauty-and-the-blog, and sales of innovative science based skin care, Jeffrie focuses on helping women stay fresh and vibrant at all stages of life. In her first post she covers everything from microdermabrasian to chemical exfoliation, and shares  some secrets about facials and finding ingredients that will slow the onset of wrinkles…

So you’re 40…

So you are 40. And when you look in the mirror do you feel like saying “hi mom”? Seeing little lines and sags creeping up that you never thought would happen to you? And OMG, that’s mom in the mirror. Not that your mom isn’t lovely, mine is. But maybe you aren’t exactly ready for your face to start showing its age. I wasn’t! And I still am not, even now that I am way past 40.

Well, sit tight because we have an advantage that our moms didn’t have. Skin care for women in the 40+ group now offers so much new technology, product and ingredient advancements. The number of products and choices can be confusing and mind boggling though.

So I am going to give you a few tips and recommendations for keeping your skin glowing and fresh. Plus tell you what ingredient you need to look for in skin care to slow the onset of wrinkles, and improve the appearance of the ones you may already have. By the way, I am an Esthetican (facialist) with advanced training from The Aveda Institute in Minneapolis.

The importance of exfoliating

The first thing you absolutely must be doing is exfoliating your skin. Dead skin cells must come off in order to glow. There are a number of ways to do this. What you choose will have much to do with your skin type and how much time you want to spend on this step. There is manual exfoliation which involves you spending time with a product that has mild abrasives in it. Think “at home microdermabrasion kit”. In my experience this is best for medium to fair skins. There are also various scrubs with particles that gently remove dead skin cells. You will need to gently massage these products with very light pressure over your entire face. These are generally recommended for strong, thick and oily skin, any ethnicity. Just be sure to stay away from scrubs containing nut shells. Those are fine for your body but a major no-no for the face!

You can also choose to do a chemical exfoliation using products that contain one of the three effective ingredients that remove the dead cells from your skin by dissolving them. These are Alpha, Beta and Poly Hydroxy acids. This works well for all skin types and only requires a few seconds to apply the product. The difference between the three is that Alpha works best for mature skin that lacks radiance, Beta is best for skin that is oily, and Poly is the best choice for sensitive skin. They all work well and are great for any ethnicity. I personally use the Alpha Hydroxy. And keep in mind that Alpha and Beta come in different strengths, start low and build up.

Exfoliation is the number one most important thing to do for your skin at and after 40 to keep a radiant glow. The aging process involves a gradual slowing of the natural sloughing of dead skin cells and regeneration of fresh new cells. Exfoliation helps to keep this process working at a faster rate. And if you aren’t removing these dead cells, anything else you use on your skin is just sitting on top of dead skin. It’s not penetrating, it’s a waste.

The truth about collagen and elastin

Next you need to consider what is in your treatment serum, if you use one, and/or your moisturizer. The most important thing to remember here is that collagen and elastin molecules are too large to enter your skin’s pores. You will not be adding collagen or elastin to the structure of your skin. Just using a very expensive moisturizing ingredient. What needs to be in your product whether it is a serum or a moisturizer is Peptides. Peptides are amino acids that have the capability to get into the skin. They are “cell communicating”. Peptides can restore normal function in the skin to keep producing collagen and elastin naturally, from the inside out. Wrinkles are really only symptoms of the aging that is going on at a deeper cellular level.

A good facial is also another great tool in keeping fresh and glowing skin. You can go to the spa and pamper yourself or it can be as simple as giving your skin a good steaming and applying a moisturizing masque. If your skin tends to be oily, use a clay masque followed by a moisture masque.

When at the spa, go for things that are not too exotic. These are generally just money makers for the spa. Stick with the basics. A good Esthetician can customize a basic facial to meet your needs. Anyone who says they can’t is just looking to make extra money.

There are also a variety of tools you can use for an at home facial. My personal favorite is Galvanic Therapy. This is low level electric current that actually pushes moisture, peptides and nutrients into your skin. It also increases the efficacy of any skin care you use, allowing it to penetrate deeper into the layers of the skin. Galvanic also has the ability to firm the skin as well as giving it a lift. I used to do these facials in the spa when I was still working in one. Now I can do this at home as there is a home version that is very effective. I do it twice a week for 15 minutes and am very happy with how my skin looks!

And by the way, nearly any facial is fine for any ethnicity as long as it is tailored to your skin type, meaning dry, oily or sensitive.

If you are interested in more information on how the skin ages, what products I recommend, what to avoid, or some advice, visit me at my own blog, www.Beauty-and-the-Blog.com. It’s all about Anti-Aging and Skin Care Solutions.

Photo: Jeffrie Ann Hall – happy and beautiful!