Vitamins for Your Skin

When picking the right skin product it is a good idea to check the ingredients to see if it has the right skin nourishing combination. Good product should contain most if not all of following vitamins to keep skin supple and healthy:

a) Vitamin A

Vitamin A is in charge of maintenance and repair of vital skin tissue, and is the key to healthy skin. Lack of vitamin A can cause skin dryness and wrinkles.

b) Vitamin B Complex

Vitamin B complex contains the nutrient, biotin, which forms the basis of nails, skin, and hair cells. It is anti-inflammatory, it hydrates the skin cells and gives a healthy glow to skin.

c) Vitamin C

In skin, vitamin C can help collagen production. This in turn reduces wrinkles, improves skin texture, and reduces photo damage.

d) Vitamin E

The trick to getting soft touchable skin is vitamin E. It regenerates skin and can improve appearance of acne scars.

e) Vitamin K

Vitamin K is your secret weapon to fighting dark circles and bruises. This vitamin helps fade discolorations on the skin, reducing puffiness and dark circles that so many of us suffer from.

While off the shelf cosmetic product can come packed with artificially synthesized vitamin groups, you really want to go as organic as possible. Organically sourced vitamins absorb into skin better and are more potent bringing better overall skin benefits.  Whenever possible choose the facial products that source vitamins from organic ingredients.

When it comes down to your skin, healthier is better. Please check out our  great selection of organic products at Nina Bella Organic Collection.

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Paraben and Cancer

Paraben is a preserving agent commonly used in most cosmetics and personal hygiene products in order to prevent growth of harmful bacteria and fungi, to extend products’ shelf life and to decrease production cost.

While allowing affordable fast tracking in cosmetic manufacturing, Paraben is a harmful substance that can adversely affect your health. Studies report paraben found in high quantities in breast cancer patient’s tumor samples. Paraben is also reported to increase the hormonal reactions in human body especially affecting estrogen in a way that is found to cause breast cancer. Experts from oncology department in Edinburgh University found paraben in 20 different tumors in cancer research. And that is just the tip of the iceberg…

Paraben in yet another clear example of what is good for mainstream cosmetic industry is not necessarily good for your health.

Tune in to more ways in how common cosmetic chemicals can harm your health on our blog.

How Do SLS Free, Natural and Organic Bath and Beauty Products Differ?

In quest for healthier bath and beauty products more and more of us are tuning toward organic/natural alternatives. Question that consistently comes up in organic/natural bath and beauty market is what is difference between SLS free, natural and organic bath and beauty products?  It is really simple really…

SLS Free Bath and Beauty Products

As the name implies SLS Free products do not contain SLS (Sodium Lauryl Sulphate), SLS Free products use mild saponifying agents, such as Decyl Glucoside and raw Coco Glucoside, derived from natural ingredients. Mild saponifying agents clean equally well, but foam less and are not damaging to skin, hair and body. Mild saponifying agents closely match skin’s pH, and thus do not overstrip skin from natural oils while cleaning. This means they will not cause skin irritation, allergies and skin dryness and leave skin soft, moisturized and balanced skin and hair soft, manageable and touchable.

Natural Bath and Beauty Products

Natural products are made from natural, wild crafted and organic ingredients in different proportions. When a product is labeled as “natural”, this means that the entire product is made from greater than 70% and up to 95% of natural, wild-crafted, organic and/or organic certified ingredients. Natural standards vary from country to country but there are rules that determine what can and what cannot be labeled as natural in Canada and USA. When a product is labeled as “natural”, this means that the entire product is made from greater than 70% and up to 95% natural, wild-crafted, organic and/or organic certified ingredients whichever the case may be.

Organic Bath and Beauty Products

Organic products are made from organic certified ingredients only. Organic certified means that a plant or other natural material is certified produced as pesticide free. Organic standards and certification vary from country to country but there are rules that determine what can and what cannot be labeled as organic in Canada and USA. When a product is labeled as “organic”, this means that the entire product is made from greater than 95% organic certified ingredients.

The proof is as they say in the pudding. And in the natural/organic bath and beauty market it all comes down to what kind of pudding you like… And remember – when in doubt – ask – Nina Bella Collection is always here to answer.

Nail and Hand Care Treatment

Life puts a lot of stress on our hands and nails. Dish washing, tub scrubbing, cleaning, hot and cold weather and genetics all cause chapped hands and weak, peeling nails. Natural home-made nail and hand care treatment is an easy and cost effective solution.

By default anything with jojoba oil is a good bet. Jojoba oil resembles skin sebrum and absorbs into nails and skin easily and rapidly. It also has antioxidants nails and skin need to maintain healthy balance and defend against elements. Plant based oils, such as olive oil, create moisture barrier over skin and nails which prevents dehydration so you may want to add some of those. Any juice packed with Vitamin C blends well with oils, makes nails stronger and skin supple. Don’t be afraid to get creative and add some essential oils to your treatment. Essential oils smell great, have many benefits and are a great way to customize any natural beauty treatment.

 Feel free to use our favorite nail and hand treatments recipe or create your own using following guidelines:

 Ingredients:

 2 tablespoons lemon juice

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 tablespoon rose water

2 teaspoons jojoba oil

1 teaspoon essential lavender oil

Mix lemon juice, rose water and jojoba oil until blended. Add olive oil and essential lavender oil and mix well. Rub in a small amount of ready treatment to your hands and nails daily. Mix well before each use. Store in dark, cold space.

To learn more about natural cosmetic crafting, check out many Nina Bella Collection favorites updated weekly.

Jojoba Oil in Organic and Natural Beauty Care

Jojoba is evergreen tree, native to the Sonoran Desert in the American Southwest. It requires minimum amount of water and manure to cultivate, is extremely resistant to plant diseases and insects, and perfect choice for dry, arid regions. Jojoba oil is extracted from nuts of jojoba trees and used in variety of applications from food to beauty.

Contrary to the popular belief, jojoba oil is not oil at all. Chemically it is a mixture of liquid wax esters. The only reason it is called so is because is it an oil-resembling liquid.  It is a highly stable, oxidation resistant liquid wax with high molecular weight, meaning it can stand for a long time without becoming rancid.

It is most commonly used in its refined and unrefined form. Unrefined jojoba oil is a clear golden liquid while refined jojoba oil is a colorless and odorless liquid. Based on purification and processing, jojoba oil is additionally divided into four grades:

• Grade one
  • Pure and natural type jojoba oil, with a golden or yellow color, preferably used in organic and natural cosmetics.
• Grade two
  • Refined and bleached jojoba oil that is colorless.
• Grade three
  • De-colored and deodorized grade, commonly used in mainstream cosmetics.
• Grade four
  • Molecular distilled oil that is very expensive.

Grade one jojoba oil is most similar to skin sebum which is why it is preferred as an additive to many skin care and hair care products. It is non-toxic, non-comedogenic, non-allergenic, anti-bacterial and non-irritating, so it does not clog pores and does not cause allergic reactions. This makes jojoba oil a logical choice for natural and organic bath and beauty products.

Being similar to skin sebrum, jojoba oil is readily absorbed into skin and does not leave oily residue like other oils do. It has a high content of beneficial minerals and vitamins such as Vitamin E, so jojoba oil is very nutritious and unparallel in dry skin and hair care. If that is not enough, jojoba oil is a strong antioxidant which protects skin from the damaging effects of free radicals which ages skin prematurely.  This is why 90%of all jojoba oil produced is used in the cosmetic and hair industry. Many bath and beauty organic and natural products are also built and manufactured around it.

Who knew such an unassuming little oil wannabe could be so good at keeping us beautiful?

For ideas on how to use jojoba oil in everyday beauty care, follow Nina Bella Collection blog and visit our website!

Peppermint Foot Treatment

Dry, calloused feet are never a welcome or a pretty sight. Whether just for cosmetic or practical reasons, most of us will agree that dry calloused feet are an annoying and persistent nuisance. Dryness can be caused by variety of factors, from genetic to environment. The most common denominator seems to be exposure to harsh cleaning agents, walking barefoot, cold weather and yes – natural tendency toward having dry skin. Whatever the reason, loss of natural skin oils will cause feet skin to loose moisture which in turn causes dryness. This, in combinations with poor footwear choice, flat feet and general lack of foot care, can lead to corns, calluses and bunions. Left untreated, this can bring about skin cracking, bleeding and infection. In other words, cranky, painful, dry, tired looking feet.

But there is hope! Wearing cotton socks, avoiding going barefoot and well fitted shoes are a great start towards preventing dry calloused feet. Adding foot soaks, pumice stone scrubs and comprehensive foot moisturizing treatment will go a long way toward healing dry callused skin. Here is one of our favorite natural foot treatments which uses almond oil to moisturize, lemon to exfoliate and peppermint essential oil to smooth and refresh dry foot skin:

 Peppermint Foot Treatment:

 Ingredients:

 6 drops of peppermint essential oil

¼ cup almond oil

¼ cup lemon juice

Add peppermint essential oil to almond oil and mix well. Add lemon juice and mix well. To use apply a small quantity of ready Peppermint Foot Treatment to clean dry feet. Rub in well until fully absorbed. Use four times a week for best results. Store ready mixture in the fridge for up to three weeks.

Treat your feet kindly and your feet will treat you kindly in return!

Enjoy this and more natural treatments from Nina Bella Collection every week!

Peppermint Essential Oil: Ancient Beauty Secret

Peppermint essential oil, originating from mystic East, is one of the worlds’ oldest medicinal plants. Believed to enhance the well-being of digestive and respiratory system, to promote body cleansing, to eliminate odors and to help with mental fatigue, peppermint essential oil has been widely used for over 3000 years as far back as ancient Egypt and Rome.

Even today we revel in the old world luxury by adding peppermint essential oil to our bath and beauty products. As the science comes to bear, the secrets behind this popular plant are revealed and understanding of its benefits better understood.

Peppermint from which the essential oil is extracted is a hybrid mint plant, a natural cross between watermint and spearmint. Easy to cultivate and extremely durable peppermint is spread worldwide. It is typically found in moist areas habitats, dotted with natural streams and ditches. Being a hybrid, it is usually sterile, producing no seeds and reproducing only vegetatively by spreading by its rhizomes. However, it can grow anywhere, and that is why it remains a popular plat additive to cosmetic, bath and beauty products.

Peppermint oil is steam distilled from the partially dried tops of the plants, just before the flowering as this produces the most fragrant oil. Peppermint essential oil extracted from mature flowers results in lower grade, less-sweet and complex oil.

Chemically peppermint essential oil is made of menthol, often used as food and toothpaste additive, menthone, menthyl esters, numerous minerals and nutrients including manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, folate, potassium, copper and omega-3 fatty acids, Vitamin A and Vitamin C. Menthol, menthone and menthyl esters are responsible for a natural minty scent peppermint lends to bath and beauty products. They also create a cooling skin sensation in low concentrations and warming skin sensation in higher concentrations. The cooling sensation comes from a natural ability of peppermint oil property to constrict the skin surface capillaries in low dilutions. This also allows peppermint essential oil to act as natural analgesic and decongestant which is why is often found in natural migraine and sinus inflammation aids. In higher concentrations, body reacts to cooling by triggering heat response creating warming skin sensation. And this is a root cause of high applicability of peppermint essential oil. Add a little to soothe and cool and add more to warm and relax.

Together with its minerals, vitamins and omega-3 fatty acids delivers analgesic and soothing care or plump and increase skin tone and elasticity as needed which is why you will often find natural skin care products listing peppermint oil. The trick is to go for products that have peppermint essential oil, not the fragrance oil.

Be careful with peppermint essential skin oil in bath and beauty products. While it is tempting to go for higher concentrations due to combined cooling heating effect, adding too much will irritate skin and that beats the whole purpose. Stay away from products that exceed higher than 5% peppermint essential oil concentration and you will be fine.

Want to know a natural secret for get rid of tired, achy feet? Simple! Use a generous hand-full of peppermint oil bath salt in warm water and soak your feet for 15 minutes. You will love it, your feet will love it and most of all your family will be love seeing you relaxed and pain free.

Enjoy reading about our peppermint essential oil solutions and more at Nina Bella Collection website and blog.

Epsom Salts in Bath and Beauty Products

Naturally occurring pure mineral, made of magnesium and sulfate, Epsom salts is as unusual in origin as its many health benefits. Named by saline spring at Epsom in Surrey, England, Epsom salt has been used as a natural remedy for decades. Owing to natural tendency of magnesium and sulfate to be absorbed by skin, Epsom salt slowly but surely became a one of the most powerful natural agents in modern bath and beauty industry. Already, there are strong indications that Epsom Salt has properties to detoxify, ease pain, reduce swelling and relax muscles.

Studies have shown that magnesium is crucial in a great number of regulating functions of over 325 enzymes, and takes active part in reducing inflammation, promoting muscle and nerve functions, decreasing blood pressure and stimulating healthy blood vessel function. Similarly, sulfates have been proven to improve nutrients absorption, stimulate toxins elimination and yes even and help ease pain, asthma and headaches. And together, magnesium and sulfate help regulate electrolytes in the body, making sure the muscles, nerves and enzymes work better. This explains while traditionally Epsom salts have been used as a natural remedy for a while range of everyday discomforts and disorders from constipation, bad circulation, unpleasant body odors to relaxation.

As far and bath and beauty industry goes, Epsom salts are unparallel and commonly used as natural skin exfoliant, breakout aid and a skin softening agent. Its exfoliating and detoxifying properties are particularly great in treating oily and acne prone skin. Equally great is Epsom salt application as a natural foot scrub and refresher. One simple 15 minute soak in warm water and Epsom salts can revive tried achy feet and remove bad foot odor. Sprinkling a handful of Epsom Salt in soapy bath water can work wonders for one’s mood and beauty especially in hot summer months. And let’s not forget the well kept salon secret-a dusting of Epsom salts in your daily shampoo doubles as shampoo clarifier and volumizer. And this is just the tip the iceberg.

So really, as far use of Epsom salts in bath and beauty industry goes, the possibilities are endless and skies are blue. And you are better off using what nature gives us naturally for pennies then what a chemical lab puts out for hundreds of dollars.

For more on How Epsom Salts can make you glow, visit Nina Bella Collection and all its great Epsom Salt ideas and solutions.

Basic Beautiful Skin Mask for All Skin Types

All skin, no matter the skin type, needs a little extra care now and then. This is particularly true in winter when extreme cold and harsh winds dry, flake and crack the skin. At home natural mask can be your best friend in beating winter blues and keeping your skin supple and healthy. Used regularly a good skin mask can help hydrate, purify, and exfoliate skin revealing more youthful complexion. Natural skin masks are particularly good solution as they use fresh ingredients that deliver natural emollients, nourishing vitamins and minerals. For a quick and affordable fix, use this easy to make basin skin mask, suitable for all skin types.

Ingredients:

• 1 egg white
• 1 tablespoon chopped parsley leaves
• 1 small raw potato
• 2 tablespoons soy flour
• 1 teaspoon grape seed oil

Finely grate 1 small potato and squeeze juice from potato pulp. Boil chopped parsley leaves in 1/4 cup of water, let cool off and drain the liquid. Add 1 tablespoon of parsley juice and 1 tablespoon of potato juice with egg white and mix well.  Gradually add 2 tablespoons of soy flower mixing to uniform consistency. Add 1 teaspoon of grape seed oil and continue mixing until paste forms. Apply ready paste in thick layer over clean face and let rest for 20 minutes. After 20 minutes wash (avoid rubbing skin) with lukewarm water and pat dry. Repeat twice a month for best results. Discard remaining paste after each use.

Beautiful skin is Nina Bella Collection skin. Come back soon for more quick beauty solutions!

Plum Oily Skin Treatment

Roughly 30% of population suffers from oily skin. Oily skin is caused by over-active sebaceous glands that produce skin oil which acts as skin lubricant. Over accumulation and buildup of oil on the skin surface interferes with natural skin cycle, leads to clogged pores, blackheads and dead skin cells buildup causing skin thickening, shininess, blemishes and pimples. This is why oily skin often has enlarged pores, dull, rough and worn appearance. On the upside, oily skin is very resistant, less prone to wrinkling, ageing and bad weather. That, however, is small comfort to those of us who have to reach repeatedly for oil and shine minimizing products, heavy powders and mattifiers in desperate attempt to quench the daily oil spill.

Like in everything, when treating oily skin, moderation is the key. Over stripping skin oil leads to skin dehydration as the skin natural protective layer is removed and over-stimulation of sebaceous glades so that even more oil is secreted in a desperate attempt of our skin to protect itself. Best results are achieved by using natural and organic face cleansers formulated especially for oily skin. Any natural/organic skin cleanser with pH close to skin’s natural pH, 5.4, is a good bet. Getting one is as simple as looking in your fridge and making your own, natural and cost effective oily skin tonic. Try one of our favorites – plum tonic:

Ingredients:

4 ripe plums, green or black
1 tablespoon of mineral water
1 teaspoon of essential lavender oil

Remove plum pits and skins. Pure cleaned plums with mixer.  Separate plum juice from the pulp. Add essential lavender oil and mineral water to plum juice and mix well. To use apply generous portion of plum tonic to clean skin and let rest 20 minutes before rinsing off. Pat dry. Apply three times a week for best results. Store plum tonic in fridge for up to one month.

Visit us soon for another edition of Nina Bella Collection favorites!