Beauty news

STEAMCREAM announces 2014 Design a Tin Competition

STEAMCREAM, the all-in-one natural moisturiser for face, body and hands, has announced a competition giving the public the chance to design a tin for the brand. This annual competition in its 6th year running gives individuals the chance to have their artwork transformed into a limited edition STEAMCREAM tin and sold worldwide. The competition is set to launch on the brand's Facebook page on 1 October, and closes on 14 November. The public will then be able to vote for their four favourite designs to go forward to a panel of judges, who will then decide on the winning design. The winning design will be announced on the 21 November, and will be turned into a tin for general release for autumn 2015.
Twitter: @steamcream

Food Fact

Nutrition Adviser

Beauty Good Enough to eat - Ahh Hormones

At the moment I am very much using my blog to help me research for my Beauty Nutrition and Diet management and sharing with others is a great way to motivate me and hopefully giving you some useful info along the way.This one is mainly directed at us females although hormones play a big part in skin problems and weight issues for all. I have been looking into the Contraceptive pill and implants and foods that can help diffuse the problems that can occur.It seems that the Hormone Androgen is The main reason why acne arises around puberty as is made in larger amounts during this period. Androgen is primarily a male hormone but is produced in females and is a precursor for estrogen. Inflammatory and non-inflammatory acne can improve in girls and women who use the contraceptive pill as a form of birth control. The combination of Hormones can help relieve the symptons of Acne and certain pills are prescribed to reduce the effects of Acne. However certain combinations of Hormones  can actually cause Acne and it best to discuss this with a GP to get the correct
combination for you. The other problem is you may get the correct combination for your skin but you put on lots of weight or vice versa. The medical profession say there is no link between the Pill and weight gain but we all know that this is not always the case. It can be said that certain Pills increase your appetite and this can cause weight gain as well as fluid retention, but it may be necessary to try a couple before you find the right combo. It is important to understand that sometimes the change within the body can cause problems that right themselves over a prolonged use, especially when using the implant, Nexplanon which contains etonogestrel which as with the pill comes with many possible side effects, but is also very positive for many who use it.
 The pills that appear to reduce acne had ethinyl estradiol in them, combined with one of the following drugs:  levonorgestrel,  norethindrone, norgestimate, drospirenone, cyproterone acetate, chlormadinone acetate, dienogest or desogestrel.

    so how can we naturally help prevent problems with skin and weight gain from our hormones Firstly, I would say it is important to keep our skin spotlessly clean and make sure any products we are using are not causing any irritation, as spots can occur from this also. Then avoid exstrinic sugars (any added or processed sugars) this will help skin and weight issues.

      Then we need to reduce the amount of Androgens we produce and balance our hormones. Licorice is a good balancing  herb 

     Eat plenty of essential fatty acids from

 Omega 3 Fish Oil (5ml per day)

Evening Primrose Oil (5ml per day

Sunflower Seeds

Pumpkin Seed Grape Seed Oil

 Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Avocados

 Nuts and Seeds

 Coconut Oil

Natural Anti-Androgens

Green Tea Extract

 Saw Palmetto

Nettle  

Pumpkin Seed Oil

 Soy Isoflavones

 Beta Sitosterols

 Alzelaic Acid

It is very important to make sure you are getting  your vitamin and minerals to promote good

 skin health the most significant being 

Vitamin C

 Vitamin B’s (especially Vitamin B6)

 Zinc

 Magnesium

 Vitamin A

I hope this of interest.

Femail portraits

500 years of the female portrait

http://www.goodnet.org/articles/this-what-500-years-female-portraits-in-under-3-minutes-looks-like-video

Thought this was really interesting.

Beauty Good enough to eat - eczema

Having worked with so many faces and bodies over the years, skin  and skincare is close to my heart.
Now as a nutrition adviser eating to promote great skin is a top priority. 
I have obviously come across many different skin conditions over the years as a make up artist, beauty therapist and massage therapist and eczema is probably the most prevalent.
Eczema literally means "to boil over", which nicely describes the irritation and inflammation of the skin that eczema can cause.
Eczema is a condition that is often inherited and closely linked to hay fever and Asthma.
The condition can range from a minor irritation through to a debilitating reaction. Which can be triggered by many different things from food groups to cleaning products.

There is thought to be a transient deficiency in the immune system of the gut during the first few months of life, when Atopic eczema often starts, thus allowing food allergens to enter the blood. There are several types of Eczema. http://www.eczema.org/types-of-eczema.

One main characteristic of Eczema is very dry skin and the use of an Aqueous cream, emollients can be used as a soap, cleanser substitute. All perfume/chemical free and Lanolin free, which can cause an allergic reaction. 

Certain lifestyles and food can exacerbate the condition of Eczema. So as with many of 21st Century life's growing problems like high Cholesterol or Diabetes, Eczema can be helped with how we live our life and what we eat. Promoting good Gut Flora is very beneficial for the skin.

Lifestyle Recommendations:

Stress

Identify any areas of stress in your life. Allow space for relaxation. Start Pilates/yoga classes, breathing techniques etc. and even counseling or employing a life-coach. Physical exercise promotes fitness, wellbeing.

Toxicity

Avoid any toxins that may exacerbate eczema symptoms, particularly the chemicals in household cleaning products use non-bio washing powders and bio-degradable cleaning fluids. House dust mite has been implicated in cases of eczema and therefore hypo-allergenic bedding, dust filters and air filters may be beneficial.

Best Nutrient choices for Eczema

VITAMIN C

Citrus fruits, kiwi fruit, sprouted seeds, black currants, tomatoes and peppers.

VITAMIN E

Wheat germ oil, nuts and seeds, fish, eggs, avocados, green vegetables.

ZINC

Oysters, fish, liver, brewers yeast, eggs, whole grains, pumpkin seeds, mushrooms.

RUTIN

Buckwheat

QUERCETIN

Red & yellow onions, shallots, and apples.

ESSENTIAL FATTY ACIDS

Oily fish, nuts and seeds. 

ACIDOPHILUS & BIFIDUM BACTERIUM

Natural bio-yoghurt.

As always the message is to reduce white sugars and animal fats , avoid chemicals and any thing that can trigger your Eczema. Together with good nutrient choices, stress relieving tactics and plenty of moisturizing  in turn can help to reduce your Eczema.