An introduction to skin care, Step Three

Extractions!! OK, some people Love this step, and others Hate it. This may be something that you want to skip altogether - which is a-ok with me, and it might be the best idea if you have super sensitive skin! Extractions can be done at anytime, but - there is a right and wrong way of doing them... And of course, it is completely up to you and your comfort level to determine how often you do them, and the amount of area you cover!

Extractions are a great way to help get rid of blackheads and pimples. Generally, extractions are easier on hydrated skin because it is more willing to release the excess oil. If you are finding the extraction process difficult, or that it hurts your skin - wait. Wait and concentrate on hydrating your skin more thoroughly. Make it a point to properly moisturize your face (twice a day) for a week, then try again.

Once your skin has reached proper hydration levels, you can apply a desincrustation solution which will liquefy sebum (oil) in your skin. Your own solution can be prepared by mixing one teaspoon of baking soda with one cup of distilled water. Apply the solution to your face with a piece a cotton covering all of the oily areas and any place that is prone to breakouts. If you want, you can also steam your face with a hot cloth or a bowl of hot water for 3-5 minutes. This will help the solution dissipate into the skin by opening the pores.

Directions: Wash your hands, then wrap your fore fingers in tissue and gently apply pressure on either side of blackheads and open clogged pores, drawing out oil and debris. This can also be done with cotton swabs (Q-tips). Wipe away debris with a piece of clean cotton dipped in toner, making sure not to infect surrounding skin. For white heads, and other closed breakouts, you can use a lancet to carefully open the skin and draw out impurities.

*CAUTION* Always make sure your lancets are sterilized or brand new. By using a lancet to make a small hole, your skin is less likely to scar compared to bursting the skin open to remove impurities. Again, wipe the area clean with cotton and toner. You will want to make sure the face is clean after extractions so that the open pores are not infected.

If you are uncomfortable doing this yourself, you can go to a spa for a facial, and they can do the extractions for you. This normally includes a desincrustation formula application and warm steam before hand. They may also use an extraction tool - but I must warn you... it will be a bit more rough on you than you might be to yourself and will leave you with a red face, but the job will get done.

An introduction to skin care, Step Two

Step two in your skin care regimen is my favorite, it's extremley satisfying and makes my skin feel very smooth! It's ... -drum roll please - ... EXFOLIATION!!!! Although you only need to exfoliate your skin once a week, it is such a crucial step that quite a lot of people leave out. When you neglect to exfoliate, dead skin cells can build up on your face, clog pores and cause breakouts. Your expensive and exotic skin care products will loose full penetration potential, and your skin tone can look a dull and sallow.

By dedicating one morning out of the week to exfoliating right after you cleanse, you are relieving the surface of your face of dead skin cells, which in turn allows deeper cleansing of the pores because products are able to penetrate deeper into you skin. Your face will have a healthier, even skin tone because of the increase in circulation, and it helps encourage faster cell turnover. That means wrinkles, scars, and spots have a harder time of establishing themselves, and you'll have softer, smoother skin!

The most common type of exfoliant is a manually activated kind - or in other words, a face scrub. The scrub will contain a granular substance that feels rough or grainy to the touch. The granuals can be made out of anything, like sugar, ground pumice, seeds, even coffee grounds! Of course every scrub will have a different kind of texture when applied to the face. Some may be rougher than others. If you have a sensitive skin type, try to avoid hard scrubs like pumice, and maybe opt out for something that disolves, like sugar.

The second most common type of exfoliant is chemically activated. These products contain natural enzymes and alpha hydroxy acids such as pineapple and papaya. They cause a chemical reaction on the skin, which gently releases dead and dry skin cells. These products are not the same as a "chemical peel" - which is a more intense method of removing the top layer of skin which chemicals, which is always done by professionals. Always be sure to read the ingredient list, and follow directions carefully in any case.

There are more intense methods of removing the top layer of skin, such as chemical peels and micro-dermabrasion to help remove deep scars, wrinkles, and even freckles. These will undoubtedly include a trip to your local dermatologist, and could even end up costing a pretty penny. Either way, no matter what you choose to do, exfoliating is a crucial step towards healthy skin, and always be sure to choose a product suited for your skin type.

Garden Update!

This morning I woke up and noticed that there were some new blooms in the garden! So I slipped on my shoes and grabbed the camera to go out and snap some pics of the pretty flowers. Along the way, I found some mushroom clusters growing along the fairy rings!! Not just a few, but a whole bunch actually!

After I cried over the mushrooms, I noticed that some of my lilies in the very front garden have started to bud! I cant wait to see what colour they are!

There are some beautiful iris's throughout the yard as well, a whole bunch of pretty vibrant purple ones along the front of the house, and some amazing yellow and purple ones hiding along a pathway!

After trekking around, I decided to pop into the veggie garden and take a look around. Lately I haven't been spending much time around that area because I feel so overwhelmed by all the weeds that have taken over, and I don't really know what to do about it! I guess I figure I'll just let it go this year, and then next year I'll start anew.

While I was looking around, I noticed that there was actually a row of veggies growing - a few rows - no, not just a few, quite a bit actually! It was just hard to distinguish them in amongst the weeds! Some of the radishes were actually ready to be pulled! So I started grabbing a few here and there, some are still going to need another week or so, but some were HUGE! All in all I was able to pick about 2-3 dozen radishes! Check it out:

New Tattoo!

My friend Lindsay and I have been talking for some time now about getting hummingbird tattoos together. Originally the plan was going to be her, me, her mom, and her sister all getting matching hummingbird tattoos, but only Lindsay and I followed through with it. Of course, if the other 2 wanted to still get theirs, they could later on. Either way, last December Lindsay and Mikey gave me a fantastic birthday gift and said that they would each split the cost of my hummingbird tattoo! This meant so much to me because I was currently not working, and didn't have a whole lot of money to spend - but I really wanted the tattoo.

The tattoo holds meaning to both Lindsay and I for different reasons, but is still a great symbol and reminder of our friendship. For myself, hummingbirds have always reminded me of my Grandpa Norm and Grandma Wilma. One year when I was younger, the family was over visiting them, and a hummingbird got into the house through the sliding door! It flew around and around and all together we tried to get it redirected out. Finally it found the open door, and got back outside. That year for Christmas, my mom and I found a handmade glass hummingbird ornament, which they hung in the same doorway that the bird came in from - I suppose it also doubled as a reminder to close the screen door! Every year after that, the glass hummingbird hung there.

Lindsay and I finally booked an appointment with an artist that we have both had work done by, the amazing Miles Kanne at Lucky Strike Tattoo in Edmonton. I have been getting tattooed by him since... 2006-ish I believe - HE IS SERIOUSLY AMAZING! He did both of the sugar skulls on my forearms, my mermaid, and now my hummingbird! He also did Lindsay's amazing Buddha!

Sugar skulls:

Mermaid:

Buddha:

Here are some photos of the new tattoos!

Lindsay's:

Mine:

Together!

An introduction to skin care, Step One

Now that we have had some time to examine our skin types and conditions, we can make a customized skin care regimen for your personal needs. Skin care should take about 5 minutes out of your day, once in the morning, and once before bed. I will list everything in the order of application, how often to use each product, and why that product is going to benefit your skin.

Step One: Cleansing

Cleansers should be used once in the morning, and once at night - everyday. You may need to use your cleanser twice at night if you are wearing a heavy makeup application. And of course, a cleanser should always be chosen to suit your skin type. A lot of people I know just use soap and water to clean their face, you may be one of them. It's great that you are cleansing - but - if you want to take it to the next step and start treating some of the problems you are facing, you may want to consider switching.

When you use soap made for the body on your face, it is normally too alkaline and can actually strip away your natural acid mantel (the natural oil and moisture on your face). Once your natural moisture content is washed away, your face is going to feel tight and dry. Anyone with oily skin will know how great that can feel, (including myself) but what's actually happening is dehydration, and dehydrating your skin can cause fine lines and wrinkles! *GASP*

Not to mention, your skin is thinking "WOW, I am sooo dry! I'm going to make some more OIL (sebum) to make up for it!" - leading to more breakouts and blemishes! Isn't that what you were trying to avoid in the first place? When you use proper cleansers suited for your skin type, your natural acid mantel is not stripped away, however it does remove excess oil, makeup, dirt, and environmental toxins and pollution from the skin.

Normal/Oily/Combination: I know what you're thinking. You love that tight clean feeling after washing. How else will you know that your skin is actually clean? You may want to put down that bar of soap, and opt for an gel or foaming cleanser suited for an oily or combination skin type. Some are deep cleansing - without removing your essential acid mantel. Look for products that are oil free, that are non-comedogenic, and have naturally healing ingredients.

Normal/Mature/Dry: Look for a milk or cream cleanser suited for your needs. Many cream cleansers are formulated to keep more moisture in the skin which would be great for a mature or dry skin type. A basic, non-drying, non-oily milk type cleanser is great for a close to normal skin type. Look for products that are alcohol free, and have naturally rejuvenating and moisturizing ingredients.

Sensitive/Reactive: You can find gentle cleansers that are formulated as a basic soft face wash that wont leave your skin feeling tight or irritated - such as a gentle milk cleanser. Look for products with basic, natural ingredients, and state that they are for sensitive or reactive skin.

The biggest word of advice I can give anyone is to always read the ingredient labels, and make sure you know what you are putting onto your skin. Some ingredients may cause your skin to dry out or even clog pores. Steer clear of ingredients such as Mineral Oil and Sodium Lauryl/Laureth Sulfate, just a few among many others. If you are shopping for new products, and don't know what the ingredients listed are, write them down and look them up.

I suggest giving your current skin care lineup the third degree. Throw out all of your expired products - any active ingredients past their prime will not benefit your skin, and if the products contain natural ingredients, they may go rancid - ew. Write down each one of your products, then look up every ingredient. I know it sounds tedious, but write out all the pros and cons for each one. Is it worth putting on your face? Here is a skin care ingredient glossary, which can be very helpful.

After your skin care interrogation, you may feel overcome by a sense of power. YES, you ARE bigger than these bottles of cream and toner, and you can control the good and bad that goes on your face. Stay posted for Step Two!