Thursday, November 29, 2012

What Is Glyceryl Stearate???

Glyceryl Stearate is found in many cosmetic products from hair products, to lotions, to skin creams and its one of those ingredients that is always questionable. Well here is some info on Glyceryl Stearate which is derived from palm kernel, vegetable or soy oil and is also found naturally in the human body. It acts as a lubricant on the skin’s surface, which gives the skin a soft and smooth appearance (Source). It easily penetrates the skin and slows the loss of water from the skin by forming a barrier on the skin’s surface. It has been shown to protect skin from free-radical damage as well.

Chemically, Glyceryl Stearate is used to stabilize products, decrease water evaporation, make products freeze-resistant, and keep them from forming surface crusts. Glyceryl Stearate reduces the greasiness of oils used in certain cosmetics and personal care products, according to CosmeticsInfo.org.

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Are Your Hair Products Fresh??



Have you ever opened a bottle of shampoo and noticed an odd odor? Or has it turned an odd color or consistency?
Even the highest quality hair products have a shelf life. And depending on the ingredients, that shelf life can vary dramatically.
Most large companies put enough preservatives in their products to last roughly four years. These preservatives, such as methylparaben, quaternium-15, methylisothiazolinone and propylparaben, help prevent the products from becoming contaminated by mold and bacteria.
If you use preservative-free, all-natural products, remember that they will not stay fresh as long as commercial products.
The most effective all-natural preservative is a citrus extract, such as grapefruit seed, combined with antiseptic essential oils, such as chamomile, rosemary and echinacea. Antioxidants, such as Vitamin E, also are natural preservatives.
But most of these natural preservatives can only protect shampoos and conditioners from bacteria, staph, mold and fungus for 120 days, according to Tim Schaeffer, spokesman for Avalon Natural Products.
These companies constantly test the products using a challenge test. The product is baked in special ovens, with one month equivalent to one year. Each month, they inject several bacteria to test how effective the preservatives perform.
But even with preservatives, precautions should be taken to protect the product’s quality. Products should never stand in direct sunlight for a prolonged period of time. Be cautious of products sitting in a window display.
If you have a choice of buying your favorite hair product in a tube or a jar, opt for the tube. Jars must be opened to dispense the product. When you dip your fingers into the product, it may be exposed to germs that can contaminate it.
For this reason, many cosmetic and hair care companies are moving toward pump dispensers. Pumps offer the advantage of measured doses while being more sanitary.
Some say the shelf life issue would be solved if shampoos and conditioners were refrigerated, or if they had expiration dates. But most products don’t have sell-by dates, and most products are kept on shelves at room temperature.
Because of this, make sure you open the cap and smell the product before you buy. (CurlMart‘s inventory is kept small and turns over quickly, so it is always fresh.)
For products in your bathroom, regularly check the smell and the consistency. If the product has separated, it’s probably time to throw it away.
Christo of Christo Fifth Avenue recommends discarding products you’ve had for two years or longer. The potency of some of the ingredients will be lost through regular exposure to oxygen and light, making it less effective.

The Best Ways to Maximize Shelf Life

  1. Keep products in a cool, dry, dark place away from sunlight, humidity and heat. (That means out of your bathroom.)
  2. If your product comes in a large jar, you can sterilize several smaller containers and put the cream into the smaller containers.
  3. Try not to travel with too many products. Changes in heat and humidity can change the consistency of products.

Protecting Preservative-Free Formulations

  1. Be sure your hands are sterile.
  2. Store products in dark containers or opaque packaging to keep them away from the harmful effects of sunlight.
  3. Make sure packaging is airtight. Natural products can oxidize and go rancid when exposed to air.
  4. Heat can damage natural products. Store products in a cupboard or other cool place.
  5. Because fingers can carry bacteria, avoid dipping fingers into jars and bottles. Instead, use a clean spoon, popsicle stick or other appropriate utensil. Pumps are good at dispensing more liquid-y products.
Written By Michelle From Naturally Curly.Com

Tuesday, November 20, 2012

The Essentials Of Winter Skin For Women Of Color


Most of us notice an improvement in our skin during the summer months we look more radiant and the skin is supple, but as the leaves begin to fall so does our radiance. Winter is extremely harsh on our skin, that’s subjected to cold winds, dry air and smoggy rains. This black woman’s essential guide to winter skin care is going to walk you though the necessities for great skin all throughout winter.


Extra Moisture 
As it gets colder the air gets dryer and robs the skin of moisture. It is important to switch to richer moisturizer during winter and increase the frequency of application whenever possible. Moisturizers vary largely in price  and studies have often shown that the pricier products are usually not much better than those of high street brands.

Cool Showers
Long, hot showers in winter feel heavenly but the high water temperature only serves to dry the skin. It’s best to shower in luke warm water, reduce the temperature gradually if you really can’t imagine parting with steaming hot showers.

Gentle Body Wash 
Choose a body wash or soap that will not strip the skin of all its moisture, here is an article detailing ingredients to be avoided in beauty products.  Alternatively if you don’t have the time to hunt out the best product find the baby section of the super market and purchase baby care as it contain a lot less chemicals, is gentle and less drying for the skin.

Go Natural 
Go all out for natural ingredients – Black skin is quite sensitive so don’t let harsh ingredients touch it. Green tea, grape seed, citrus fruits, jojoba, sage, rosemary, aloe vera, virgin coconut oil and olive oil are just some of the safe ingredients to use.


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