Issue link: https://www.ascpskindeepdigital.com/i/97199
While making your own products may sound complicated and messy, it���s not. Anyone with a juicer, a food processor, and a fresh market nearby can transform a standard facial into something tangibly earthy, organic, and special. As an added bonus, you can promote the use of salad ingredients with words and phrases like balancing, green, living foods, and vegan. These treatments will be very attractive to clients geared toward LOHAS���Lifestyles of Health and Sustainability. Refreshing Cucumbers Images of women basking with cucumber slices over their eyes are practically synonymous with spas. Many people have pooh-poohed it as a clich��, but there���s real power in those slices. Cucumber extract reduces melanogenesis, as it inhibits tyrosinase activity, and is also good for acne. It contains high levels of antioxidants and reduces the production of sebum by modulating transepidermal water loss and fortifying the skin lipid barrier. Cucumber Water Use this water as a toner or for eye and facial compresses. Ingredients: 2 organic English cucumbers (seedless) 24 ounces of warm water Lemon/lime (optional, for scent) 3 sprigs of fresh mint (optional, for scent) Wash cucumbers and pat dry. Slice cucumber (with peel on) paper-thin. Add slices to sterilized container with warm water. Cover and shake container. Let steep for 10 minutes. Make fresh daily. The same ingredients can be used to make a pure cucumber juice concentrate by running them through a juicer. The resulting concentrate should be kept in a sterilized container and can be added to many treatments, including clays and dry exfoliants. This should also be made fresh daily. 14ASCP Skin Deep January/February 2013 Botanical Oils The use of oils to condition the skin is as ubiquitous as using water to cleanse it. Historically, oils were used as cleansers, slathered on and then scraped off with an implement called a strigil. Today, botanical oils are used for their moisturizing and healing benefits. Sunflower seed oil, in particular, has been shown to produce remarkable skin cell healing properties because it contains high levels of linoleic acid, an essential fatty acid (EFA) that has been shown to be effective on even the toughest acne vulgaris, as it reduces inflammation and fortifies skin barrier function. Rice bran oil has also been touted for its multifaceted cell-protective features. This oil is packed with stable EFAs. When used topically, rice bran oil acts as a sunscreen, combats hyperpigmentation, lightens skin, and also scavenges free radicals as it soothes and regulates skin moisture. Flaxseed oil contains some of the highest levels of omega-3 fatty acids, and calms skin that is raw and irritated due to conditions like eczema or psoriasis. It helps repair skin cells and hydrates even the driest skin. If a client has extremely dehydrated, dry, sun-damaged, or tired skin, apply two layers of sunflower seed oil or rice bran oil, and follow with a flaxseed gel mask or avocado mask. Allow each layer 60 seconds to absorb. As with any mask, exfoliate the skin first for maximum benefits. Sunflower Seed Exfoliator Use this recipe for gentle exfoliation and skin moisturizing. Ingredients: 8 ounces ground sunflower seeds 4���5 ounces sunflower oil 2���3 drops of lemon, lime, fennel, or orange juice (optional, for scent) Place whole sunflower seeds in a food processor and pulse until finely ground. Combine ground seeds with oil. Massage onto skin.