Can Alcohol Ruin Your Skin??

Most of us enjoy a little tipple every now and then, whether it’s celebrating the end of the week at the bar on a Friday night, enjoying a champagne brunch at the weekend, or sipping a warming nightcap to help you drift off to sleep, and we don’t tend to think anything of it. Light and moderate drinking is an accepted social norm so many people don’t think it can have much of an effect, but it does, particularly on your skin. After a night out, have you ever noticed that your eyesand lips especially look dull, dry, and tired? That is a direct result of alcohol consumption, and it shows just how quickly your skin can be affected by how you treat your body. Sadly, alcohol can make us look old before our age, so we really need to take the time to look after our skin to keep it young, healthy, and fresh.
Drinking plenty of water after much alcohol consumption can quickly aid to flush out the toxins of alcohol. What about the skin? Give your skin a good mask using the Arnica and Calendula healing mask and spritz your skin often using the Rose Spritz. This will help to brighten up your skin and replace moisture.

Alcohol as a Diuretic

As you’ll probably know, alcohol is a diuretic, which means that it encourages the excretion of fluids from the body (which is why you need to use the toilet more when you’ve been drinking at the bar). Along with caffeine, alcohol is one of the most effective natural diuretics, and it can reduce the water levels in the body by up to 32 percent. Water is an essential nutrient for the body as it keeps organs functioning to the best of their ability. Skin is the largest organ in the human body, so it relies heavily upon hydration to maintain health. Water is used to build up and maintain a barrier that acts as a way of regulating the amount of water that is absorbed by the skin, and the amount that is released as sweat, but dehydration caused by alcohol consumption can break down this barrier. This can prevent water from being absorbed, and can also increase the amount of fluid that is secreted from the body. It’s in these cases that the skin really starts to suffer, and it begins to dry out, producing wrinkles and losing elasticity. Think about the transformation of a grape to a raisin! It’s exactly the same. If you don’t want to look raisin-esque, it’s time to start taking better care of your skin.

Increased Risk of Psoriasis

While dry skin is easily treatable and reversible, alcohol can also cause more severe skin complaints that are much more challenging to cure. Psoriasis is one such condition, and although the exact cause and relation to alcohol consumption isn’t fully understood, it is widely believed that alcohol suppresses the immune system, which causes the body to overcompensate by producing new skin cells within days, rather than months. The circle of cell production and cell death becomes more rapid, and people suffer with red, dry, itchy, and somewhat painful flaky skin. While it is thought that psoriasis is more common amongst heavy drinkers than light drinkers, this condition, and other skin conditions, is a very real risk if light or moderate drinkers don’t take adequate care of their skin.
A table spoon of Organic coconut oil first thing in the morning, after lunch and before bed will help to better moisturize the skin from the inside. Keep your healing balm handy too as this will be your best friend during these times.

Alcohol Addiction Recovery

Unfortunately, it’s not only current drinkers that suffer with the aesthetic effects of alcohol consumption. Even those in alcohol addiction recovery can present with problematic skin, especially if they’re taking medications such as disulfiram as part of their treatment. Disulfiram is considered to be very safe and it can work wonders in helping people control their cravings for alcohol and other drugs, but one of the most common side effects of the medication is dry skin and subsequent skin rashes or widespread acne. Although it’s not known why this occurs, some researchers have suggested that these drugs cause a temperature increase in the body that can cause facial flushing, and can dry the skin out (much like the heat would when you’re on a sunny vacation), leaving it vulnerable to dermatitis. It’s recommended that people suffering with skin conditions as a result of alcohol addiction recovery drugs chat to their doctor as it may be that the dosage needs to be lowered.

Take Preventative Measures

If you’re worrying that the only way you can protect your skin from the effects of alcohol is to give up your well-deserved glass of wine at the end of the week, don’t panic! You don’t need to go teetotal to see an improvement in your skin; you just need to take greater measures that go some way towards counteracting the effects. These measures include keeping your skin well hydrated from both the inside and the outside by drinking lots of water (some professionals recommend 8 x 8oz glasses of water every 24 hours), and moisturizing twice daily using any of Marina’s Ambrosia raw cream moisturizer or the popular Organic All Over as they don’t contain any irritants such as fragrances, mineral oils and chemicals. Of course, the best thing for your skin is to stay as natural as possible; the absolutely Pure Mineral Make up at Marina’s Ambrosia not only covers your blemishes but treats, heals and allows your skin to breath. You don’t have to leave the house au natural! If you wouldn’t dare face the world without a bit of slap, Marina’s Ambrosia products are all made from plant extracts and natural minerals which actually help your skin, rather than hinder it.

Lisa Hawksley for Marina’s Ambrosia

www.marinas-ambrosia.com



 



 

Moisturize Your Skin From the Inside and Out

With a surface area of two square meters, the skin is the largest organ in the body and most people know they must protect and repair their skin to keep it looking its best. However if you lack vital vitamins and nutrients in your diet, your skin is going to show it - no matter how great your skin regimen is. Fixing your diet and choosing the right type of moisturizer are two of the most important steps to keep your skin looking fresh and healthy.

Moisturizing and skin type

Moisturizing can keep your skin looking radiant throughout the day. Different moisturizers are intended for different skin types however, and not all contain the same ingredients. If you suffer from a skin condition like acne vulgaris or eczema, choose a moisturizer that contains less harsh ingredients as part of your skincare regime. Organic or natural moisturizers won’t aggravate or dry out the skin and M.A brand is economic and affordable. If your skin feels oily when you use a particular moisturizing cream, then you will need to choose a different brand as you may be causing damage to your skin with continual use. Avoid as much as possible petroleum based creams.

After washing your face with a skin cleanser for your particular skin type, it is advised to moisturize shortly afterwards in order to keep moisture evaporating from your skin. To protect your skin from sun damage, it is best to apply a high protection sunscreen separately from your moisturizer. Moisturizers with SPF included in them act like a sunscreen so you are not nourishing your skin. You need to first nourish the skin and then apply your sun protection. SPF 15 is NOT a high enough SPF factor. Spending time moisturizing your face every day will keep it healthy and hydrated for years to come.

Moisturising and diet

Diet plays a major part in the moisturization of your skin. Drinking water is a great way to achieve glowing, hydrated skin and
keep your fluid levels up, which improves your overall health. Skin looks younger when your body is fully hydrated as water helps to eliminate the buildup of toxins in your system and helps retain important nutrients. If you are not drinking enough water, your skin can appear tired and dry. Drinking two litres of water every day can have a dramatic effect on the appearance of the skin and can aid the body’s digestive, encourage weight loss, and improve circulatory and excretory systems. Eating foods which are rich in fluid such as soup, fruit and vegetables can also help, whilst heavily caffeinated drinks and alcoholic beverages can do the opposite and cause the body to lose fluids. Research shows that eggs in particular contain vitamins B2 and B12, as well as vitamin E which has been proven to help hydrate and significantly improve the levels of moisture in the skin. Consuming an egg every day is an excellent source of nutrition as they contain significant levels of iron, zinc and phosphorus, are low in cholesterol and can help curb your appetite.

Citrus fruit, nuts, seeds, grains and milk can repair skin damaged by the sun. These foods contain high levels of vitamins B, C and E which help to hydrate and improve the levels of moisture in the skin. Omega 3 and omega 6 are essential fatty acids found in foods like nuts, oats, flaxseed oil and fish. These fatty acids help the skin produce lipids which can strengthen the cells of the skin. A fish oil supplement or vitamin capsule can help to increase your fatty acid intake if you don’t consume enough fish in your diet.

Moisturising and skin benefits

Substances called humectants and emollient lipids are often found in moisturising lotions. Humectants help to absorb and maintain the levels of water in your skin. If your skin is flaky or dry, a moisturizer normalises cell production and replenishes the skin cells. Emollient lipids help to repair the skin and create a barrier to stop water from leaving the skin which can leave it feeling tough and dry. A skin supplement or multivitamin tablet can provide benefits to your skin if you are not consuming enough nutrients and vitamins in your normal diet, especially if you have certain dietary restrictions. Vitamin A can help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and help to fight skin conditions like acne vulgaris and eczema. However, Vitamin A needs to avoided if you are trying to conceive, are pregnant and breastfeeding.

In topical form, vitamin C can stimulate the production of collagen production which can strengthen the skin. The Avocado Facial cleanser is rich in Vitamin C. Vitamins C is found in certain types of collagen-based moisturising creams as it helps to combat the anti-ageing process. Vitamin E can also help in diminishing fine lines and wrinkles on the skin. The Vitamin E stick, which can be used around the eyes, face and any part of the body that requires skin healing, is also very high in Vitamin E. Many moisturizers contain antioxidant ingredients which can cease the effect of free radicals on your skin cells. Free radicals starts a process of “cellular oxidation” within the body that damages the body’s cells and its functions.

 Lisa Hawksley for Marina’s Ambrosia

www.marinas-ambrosia.com

 

The AFTER Easter effects.... and it isn't SWEET!

Don’t you just love the Easter season? You could of gone without chocolate as your sacrifice for "Giving Up" something for Lent or eaten more fish during Lent than you would have ever eaten in a year. You could have even been on the brink of insanity because you have ALSO chosen to GIVE UP all alcoholic beverages during Lent. Either way, Easter Sunday reaches its climax at 5.30am when the sounds of what resembles a stampede, is followed by a sensation which can only be described as a mini earthquake when you are being shaken to wake up and screams of "THE EASTER BUNNY CAME LAST NIGHT.... GET UP, GET UP ITS EASTER!!"

What comes next in our household might shock those of you whom know me well. The chocolate hunt begins and it ends with everyone (including myself and hubby) eating chocolate for breakfast. I can see myself being in my 60's and still doing that, BUT then washing it all down with freshly squeezed orange juice and a shot of vodka. Chocolate for breakfast is allowed and not monitored at all during the day. I pass it as being acceptable just for this one special day in the year.

BUT what about the after effects?

Chocolate is fantastic for your health. It’s one of nature’s God given ingestible gifts to the human race. There are so many health benefits that comes from eating chocolate and I am not talking about the varieties that come wrapped in packages and mixed with nuts and filled with Caramel. Raw chocolate itself is bitter and it is hard. What make it so delicious and addictive are the milk fats and solids combined with a generous amount of sugar. My friends, it is the marriage of these ingredients that makes chocolate toxic to our health and our bodies react with the side effects.

The first and most immediate side effect felt when the body has had too much chocolate is a headache, especially when consumed with red wine. Children will often suffer with this towards the end of the day due to the sugar overload and not enough water.  Therefore, lots of water and perhaps some electrolytes won’t hurt. This will aid in the event of dehydration.

Excessive chocolate consumption and or a constant daily intake of chocolate can lead to weight gain. Unless you are a marathon runner or stay on your feet and constantly moving and burning calories and fat, you are going to put on weight.

Sugar complications will arise. Without sugar, chocolate would not be enjoyable for a lot of people to eat and excessive amounts of sugar can cause dental problems. For diabetics, their blood sugar level becomes so high that it is almost a meals worth of sugar and this can be extremely dangerous.

Intestinal upset and discomfort due to high levels of caffeine and also being that chocolate is very acidic. Caffeine stimulates the bowel and can trigger IBS attacks. The high acid level in chocolate can lead to heartburn, stomach ulcer inflammation and acid reflux all accompanied by pain in different severities depending on the consumption of chocolate and the overall statues of the persons health to begin with.

Chocolate can cause over stimulation in people with high blood pressure, irregular hearth rhythms, anxiety, insomnia, nervousness and mental issues. Even those taking prescription medications should check if they are allowed to ingest chocolate and or coffee with whilst taking the prescribed medication. Cocoa in itself is a natural stimulant and therefore make these symptoms seems more pronounced.

NOW FINALLY.. WHAT EVERYONE WANTS TO KNOW...

NO!! Cocoa does NOT NOT NOT cause acne, breakouts and bad skin. In fact it is a good remedy to treat those suffering with these skin conditions. BUT what DOES cause all these nasty things appearing on our skin like a curse is the INGREDIENTS MIXED with the cocoa to make the chocolate bars that we love... LIKE CAFFEINE, MILK SOLIDS/FATS and SUGAR!! ( I know you didn’t want to hear that and as you are reading this blog you might be eating chocolate, quietly drooling for it or in 30 minutes time after freaking out about what I have written go and attack your - or your children’s - chocolate stash)

Excessive caffeine intake promotes acne growth whilst the sugar aids the multiplication of bad bacteria in the stomach (leading to an imbalance there too). Sugar itself causes a spike in acne-inducing hormones. As caffeine is a diuretic, if water isn’t consumed to replace the fluids leaving the body, there will be a build up of toxins as water is required to remove the toxins from the body. Food with a high glycemic index contributed to skin inflammations like acne, rosacea, psoriasis and eczema. Caffeine affects the stress levels and triggers the hormone cortisol which in turn activates the oil products in the sweat glands. An accumulation of oil may clog pores and without appropriate water levels in the body as I said earlier, excretion of these toxins is inhibited, leading to acne breakouts.

Ok BAD NEWS out of the way. The GOOD NEWS is that you can still enjoy eating chocolate as well as reaping the health benefits that come with its consumption. The higher the cocoa percentage the better the chocolate is for you. The best chocolate to eat is 80%, 85% and 90% chocolate (this is the dark variety). It might take a little getting used to, but once you aquire a taste for it, it is very delicious. It works wonders on sugar cravings, gives you a natural burst of energy, treats shock and helps to calm the body down quickly after a stressful situation, works wonders on your skin and is jam PACKED with healthy antioxidants.

Now that Easter is over, I hope that everyone has gotten their chocolate fixes under control. Water and exercise will help to reverse any damage that has been done and perhaps cutting back a little on unnecessary sugar intakes will slow and even inhibit any weight gain. GOOD LUCK!! (I'm off to nibble on some Organic Cocoa Nibs....!)

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Young Kids and Makeup

I remember back in the early 80's which I like to think were more
innocent days of children growing up, it was a rare and memorable occasion when my Mum allowed me to play with the last ml of her favourite lipstick with a cotton ear bud. When I put it on, I remember Mum telling me that I was hiding from the world my real beauty behind paint and when I grew up I would come to get tired of wearing it. I never knew what she meant back then.......BUT I do NOW!

A while ago I was walking down the kids toy isle at the well known retail store at the shopping centre and I was horrified to see a particular item, stacked proudly beside the Barbie dolls. It was a makeup pallet. There wasn’t just one make up pallet but a few different types. In them were various eye shadow colours, lipstick, blush, nail polish, mirror and a couple of different application accessories. On the top of the box was a label which read from ages 3 to 12. Now if this doesn’t make you raise your eye brows and say "What THE?".... When I flipped over the box I noticed some very familiar ingredients that are on the toxic list of chemical ingredients to avoid in personal care products. There were dyes in the make up in particular which mothers are being cautioned to avoid in food products.

6 Years old

I did purchase a couple of these pallets purely to research the ingredients more in depth and then later took them back to the shops. WHAT I FOUND was so disturbing... The ingredients list for the makeup was soooo long that they had to use a tiny font to fit it all in. Would you believe, there was MORE toxic ingredients in the kids make up than what there is in regular chemical based woman’s make up. There were more hormone disrupting and carcinogenic ingredients in kids make up and just when I thought that nothing else will shock me more, I was horrified to find that around 90% of the ingredients on the list of "toxic ingredients to avoid in personal care products" were IN THE KIDS MAKE UP.

As a mother of 4 children, and 3 of my kids happen to be girls, this worried me. I am confident that I won’t have this make up given to my kids and I won’t allow them to wear makeup full stop, BUT It raises the question of what message manufacturers, retailers and society are giving CHILDREN. Now this box was labelled to suite children from the ages of 3 years old (yes you read that right.....) to 12 years of age. This range of age sets the danger ball rolling into the world of very venerable children whom may be given this as a gift from Grandma, Nana, the neighbour, Dad (whom are well known to be easily wrapped around their little daughters fingers), Mum (who thinks it is just fun to play with and pretend that they are older) or from a friend in the event of the child’s birthday.

There are some very strong and negative messages being sent out to a child in the event of giving them makeup. Children whom seek make up should be told "they look more beautiful without it" they shouldn’t be encouraged to use it even if Mum or the big teenage sister is using it. There is enough media exposure of false looking youths and woman out there that are giving young kids an unrealistic view of how they should look when they are in their teens and young adults.

Then there are dangers of what side effects these chemicals have on the skin. Short term side effects range from skin irritations, eye irritations, allergic reactions and long term side effects can include premature aging, dryness of the skin and early break outs due to acid imbalances in the skin.

Children are well known to be like sponges. They absorb and take in everything they see and process it in their innocent minds and everything to them is taken literally. That is where parents, corporations and society need to take responsibility for what is OUT there for the eyes of children.

Makeup in the kids isle is targeting impressionable young minds for the sake of retail spending and profits without a second thought given to what the behind the scenes dangers these colourful, fun and innocent looking pallets carry. Successful sales of products are the ones that meet supply and demand. Even though there is a supply of children’s make up readily available, it is sad to think that there is a demand for it.

Am I being over protective and over cautious?

It might pay in the long run to think twice before allowing young children below the age of 12 to use make up. After all we are extremely careful and educate ourselves on what we put in the mouths of our children..... the same should apply with what we openly allow them to put topically on their skins too.... especially something as toxic as chemicaly based make up on their soft and delicate skin.

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