February News
Love Your Hair And Skin This Month February wintertime—for our hair, skin, and nails, that is. Whipping winds, dry air, and chilly temps can really do a number on soft skin and hair. Cold air outside and central heat indoors can strip moisture from strands and pores, making hair rough and skin itchy and dry. But endure cracked hands no more: Items hiding in the back of your kitchen cupboard could just be the answer.
Body Talk—the Need-to-Know Hair and skin aren’t just for looking pretty—they’re required for specific bodily functions too.
Skin isn’t only the barrier between the environment and our insides—it’s a living organ that’s responsible for keeping the body cool, protecting it against germs and “invaders,” and many other metabolic processes. It’s important to keep these tissues in good condition and working well all year long so they can do their jobs and keep us healthy and safe. Cracked, flaky, irritated, or inflamed skin is normal during winter, though it’s not exactly fun. If red, scaly, itchy skin lingers or is causing serious discomfort, be sure to visit a doctor; it might be a serious dermatological condition, such as dermatitis, eczema, or athlete’s foot. Barring more serious issues, there are a few strategies that can give your body a break when the mercury plunges:
1. Keep it cool.
A 20-minute long, boiling-hot shower might feel great on a cold day, but stick to warm or lukewarm water for 5 minutes or less. Long exposure to hot water can strip moisture from hair and skin.
2. Dress for success.
When heading into the great outdoors, dress for the weather with a hat, scarf, and gloves to avoid windburn and prolonged exposure to cold air.
3. Stick to healthy fats.
At the grocery store, fill up a cart with foods full of healthy monounsaturated fats and omega-3 fatty acids, such as fish, nuts, olive oil, flax, sardines, and avocados.
4. Stay hydrated.
It’s a good idea to drink plenty of water during winter
5. Grab some vitamin C.
While at the market, load up on vitamin C-rich produce, such as citrus fruit and dark, leafy greens. Vitamin C can help boost the body’s production of collagen, a protein that maintains skin and other connective tissues.
Try this wonderful recipe shared by one of our healthy living clients
A Detox Green Smoothie Recipe for The New Year
Healthy eating is a top priority on most peoples’ New Year’s Resolution list; especially after all of the heavy eating/drinking associated with the holidays. Start your day with this Detox Green Smoothie Recipe — it will clean out your gut and kick the holiday bloat!
What You’ll Need: (Serves 1)
2 cups rinsed baby spinach (tightly-packed)
1 pear (diced)
2 celery stalks (diced)
1 inch knob of ginger (peeled and sliced)
1/2 cup parsley leaves (tightly-packed)
1 medium banana (sliced and frozen)
1/2 large lemon (juiced)
1/4 cup water
Add all ingredients to your high speed blender. Blend untill smooth and enjoy.
Smooth Sailing—Your Action Plan
1. Dry Skin
To cure dry skin all over the body, go big or go home. Mix a few drops of olive or grape seed oil in bathwater and hop in, or apply a thin layer of oil to the body after showering (and maybe wear some old PJs to bed). As weird as it may sound, adding a few cups of whole milk to bathwater can moisturize skin. The proteins, fats, and vitamins in moo-juice can help soothe rough skin.
If feeling lactose-averse, the old chicken pox standby of an oatmeal bath can make red, irritated skin feel better. Immediately after an oil/milk/oatmeal bath, apply plenty of thick cream or coconut oil for seriously dry skin and crank up the humidifier before hitting the hay. Slathering on lotion within three minutes of stepping out of the bath or shower is most effective for trapping in moisture.
2. Red Nose
The holidays are over, so there’s no reason to keep dressing up like Rudolph. When outdoors in cold weather, the blood vessels cut off circulation to the nose. After coming indoors the blood vessels dilate quickly, causing a rush of blood (and bright-red color). To bring the nose back to a normal hue, apply a warm—but not hot—compress to the skin for several minutes after coming indoors.
Sometimes a winter cold and the tissues that come with it can make the nose raw and chapped too. When the sniffles hit, use extra-soft tissues and blot the nose; don’t rub it.
3. Rough Hair
Hair needs a little extra TLC during wintertime. At Rapture Organic Salon we recommend our Organic Aqua Boost Moist Shampoo, Treatment, and Aqua Boost Leavin Conditioner which will also stop the static electricity that happens in dry conditions.
Everyone's hair is different—if washing once or twice a week is normal for you, consider adding some time between shampoos to take dry winter conditions into account. And don’t skip the conditioner. To prevent breakage or other damage, avoid blow-drying and brushing hair when wet because those locks are most delicate when waterlogged. When hair is depleted of protein it easly breaks. Strengthen your hair with” Zerrans Redemption” protein hair reconstructor.
4. Rough and Cracked Feet
Nothing screams “dead of winter” like gnarly, callused feet with cracked heels. Save some cash and skip the pedicure by exfoliating and moisturizing at home. Scrub calluses with a pumice stone in the shower once per week to slough off rough, dead skin.
Moisturize feet, especially the heels, every day with thick cream—lotions containing lactic acid are especially effective—and wear cotton socks to bed. It may look nerdy, but sporting socks while snoozing can help creams absorb. Moisturizers are most effective when applied to warm, damp skin.
5. Dry Hands
It’s bad enough to have freezing digits, but cracked and painful skin on the hands is the icing on the cake. To prevent hands from drying out, apply moisturizer after hand washing and at least several timesthroughout the day. Keep a bottle of lotion by each sink in your home and in your desk at work. If hands are very dry, use cream instead of lotion because the former has a higher oil-to-water ratio.
Wearing rubber gloves while washing dishes can prevent hands from getting dried out due to excess contact with hot water too. To really rehab the skin on hands, use very thick hand cream right before bed and then slip on white cotton gloves—the enclosed space will help the moisturizer absorb into the skin.
6. Chapped Lips
Keeping a tube of natural lip balm in an easily accessible pocket is a good first step, but winter winds can take chapped lips to a whole new level. If lips are flaky, take a clean toothbrush and very gently exfoliate the skin to remove excess skin. A great moisturizing natural exfolliant you can make yourself is coconut oil, organic sugar and a drop of peppermint oil.
7. Brittle Nails
Dry air saps the moisture right out of nails and leaves them delicate and susceptible to breaks and tears. To treat them, apply olive oil or coconut oil with gloves on to help aid absorption.
A thin coat of clear nail polish can protect brittle nails from the environment. Also consider adding biotin-rich foods (also called Vitamin B7) to the diet—this essential vitamin helps the body process amino acids and produce fatty acids. Vegetables (including carrots and Swiss chard) and protein sources, such as nuts and fish, are good ways to pack in enough of the vitamin. Biotin is also very effective when taken in supplement form.
8. Itchy, Dry Scalp
A dry, flaky scalp is uncomfortable and just a wee bit embarrassing too. Step one in preventing dandruff is to take cooler, quicker showers to reduce the scalp’s exposure to drying hot water. Think about switching to our Zerran Dandruff shampoo with tea tree and eucalyptus.
Before hopping in the shower, massage the scalp with Vitamin E, olive, or coconut oil. These oils replenish natural scalp oils and can moisturize dry hair too.Tea tree oil is also a popular treatment for fungal and bacterial infections like dandruff or athlete’s foot. Wash the hair and scalp with tea tree oil daily to cure a dry, itchy head naturally.
Sometimes the issue can be caused by product build-up—not winter weather. If you think this may be the case, try our “ Zerran Absolution Clairifying” shampoo.
9. Irritated, Dry Eyes
Wind and dry air are not a good combination for sensitive eyes. Sporting sunnies on a sub-zero day might look weird, but the lenses can protect eyes from glare and wind. Keep a bottle of non-medicated saline tears or eye drops on hand and use it to refresh eye moisture when needed. Prevent irritation by keeping those well-moisturized hands away from the eye area.
10. Static-y Hair
The only thing worse than winter hat hair is fly-aways that won’t stay in a hat to begin with. A dried-out scalp produces fewer oils, which can make hair full of static. Don’t skimp on conditioner, and simulate natural scalp oils by combing a bit of vitamin E oil through the hair before bed to replenish moisture.
If static is a major problem, consider switching up your grooming routine. Our Olivia Garden Natural Boar Bristle brushes help redistribute oils from the scalp to the rest of the hair and also conduct less static than plastic brushes and combs. Need a quick fix? Run a bit of argan oil through your hair and scalp, we are in love with our Damask Rose Moroccan Organics Argan.
Made from the stem cells of the argan roots this moisturizer is 7 xs more effective than traditional argan oils.
11. Scaly Elbows
The skin over high-pressure joints like elbows, knees, and heels is thicker to cushion the essential bones underneath. It’s great to have some extra padding, but ashy, scaly elbows are uncomfortable and unattractive. The key to keeping elbows (and other rough spots) soft is to exfoliate once or twice per week and moisturize every day.
Combine a scoop of organic sugar, a tbs. of olive oil, and a drizzle of lemon juice to make a quick scrub. Even shorter on time? Halve a lemon, add a few pinches of sugar or sea salt, and rub the surface over rough skin. After exfoliating, rinse the skin and moisturize with a thick cream. If the dryness situation is really dire, apply a thin layer of coconut or olive oil to the area before bed. When elbows are really itchy, soak them in milk or apply cold compresses. Thick, red skin with flaky white patches that doesn’t go away may be psoriasis.
12. Windburn
Kudos to those who enjoy the great outdoors even when it’s frigid. Protection is not just for the summer sun, protect sensitive skin by layering on thick face cream and our Glo Natural Mineral Makeup in Liquid or Powder with protective SPF.
13. Cold Digits
If fingers and toes are still cold despite wooly socks and gloves, it’s time for a different strategy. To encourage blood flow all the way to the hands and feet, keep the core toasty warm with plenty of layers. Avoid tight garments or jewelry at joints (hands, ankles, and wrists) that could constrict blood flow. Studies have shown that rosemary and gingko biloba can naturally improve blood circulation too.
14. Dry Face
It’s unfortunate (but unavoidable) that the body’s most sensitive skin is always exposed to the elements. Definitely take some time this winter to give your mug a little extra lovin’. First things first: During winter, avoid any face products with alcohol, and switch to a milder face wash and a thicker moisturizer.
Need to mix up the routine a bit? Wash your face once a week with Greek yogurt. It sounds weird, but the lactic acid works as a gentle, non-abrasive exfoliator.
For a moisturizing face mask, take a look in the kitchen before heading down the beauty aisle: Bananas, avocado, egg yolk, and milk can all make great moisturizing face treatments. Another good option, whole grains and aromatic veggies contain selenium, a compound that gives skin the elasticity to make silly faces. Snack on quinoa, brown rice, onions, or garlic when skin gets tight and dry. For an extra treatment try our rich Glo Moisturizing face cream restores and repairs skin with nutrient-rich, ultra-hydrating ingredients Get Ready Here It Is … Extra Savings This Month Buy 2 Zerran Products Get 1 Free!
