It’s cold outside and the air inside is dry. It only takes a few days for our bodies to start feeling the effects. Drinking a lot of water throughout the day helps but not enough to relieve the symptoms of winter exposure. Using a quality skin care product is essential in maintaining smooth skin that looks and feels good. I’ve mentioned in my other blog about how our skin essentially soaks in whatever you are applying into the surface, or epidermis, then a little bit more into your dermis (connective tissue, hair follicles, sweat glands) and then below that is your hypodermis (fat and connective tissue). Now think about this: if you are wanting to be careful about what you eat and drink, why wouldn’t you be careful about what you put on your skin? Your skin is porous, so anything you use as a skin care product is absorbed into your fat and tissue areas. This is a really important distinction. Penetration is when a chemical makes it into the deeper layers of the skin, while absorption is when the chemical actually makes it into the bloodstream. These two terms are often used interchangeably, and that’s not correct.
While both things are important considerations when you’re choosing skin care products, absorption rate is really what we’re after here. Most chemicals, even if they can penetrate to the deepest levels of the skin, are too big to be absorbed directly into the bloodstream or does it?
The truth is, every chemical has a different absorption rate. To complicate that even further, some chemicals react on the body and make other chemical compounds more or less absorbable.
Ethanol (alcohol), for example, is a common additive in skin care products that increases absorption rates of other chemicals that are present—both because it breaks down the skin’s natural barriers, and because it pulls apart chemicals into individual constituents, so that they are small enough to absorb.
On the other hand, silicone additives, like dimethicone, sit on top of the skin and don’t allow anything to absorb. In fact, dimethicone is so adept at blocking absorption that it’s causing problems for aquatic animals that breathe and take in nutrients topically.
Will our body absorb what we put on our skin? Unfortunately, the answer is yes and no. We can most assuredly absorb things through our skin and into our bloodstream, but it’s not as simple as “60 to 70 percent of everything.”
Some things absolutely absorb right into our bodies, especially if there are other chemicals present that increase the absorption rate. That being said, most things don’t absorb directly into our bloodstreams through the skin, though they can often penetrate into the deeper layers of the skin.
I would suggest that researching penetration and absorption rates of any specific chemical or additive that you’re curious about. Even though there isn’t a black and white answer for this myth, it’s comforting to know that there is research out there that we can use to make informed decisions.
Stick with natural, organic skin care products to ensure that we are nourishing our skin and bodies, but we're also happy to know we're not blatantly absorbing everything we come into contact with.
So back to winter care! None of The Point Naturals products have harmful chemicals or synthetics. Having said that, every individual has different reactions to all products, including natural. organic compounds. I suggest sticking to an all natural product, using a small amount to begin with to ensure your body is happy with the new product, especially when used on babies and kids.
Baby Bum Balm is wonderful for people with sensitivities to certain essential oils. Great for bum rashes, and anywhere else on your body that is dry. This can also be used on lips. The base is quality oils and beeswax so it will be slightly greasy for a few minutes until you have rubbed it in sufficiently. a little goes a long way so start small, massage in well and only add more if you feel it’s needed.
Hand & Face Soother. It’s the exact same thing as Baby Bum Balm except there are a few more essential oils for nourishing your skin and a slight peppermint scent. Lip Balms have the same ingredients as Hand & Face Soother.
THE BEST for your face and neck is the Skin Repair Oil. I am constantly running out of this product after I do a show. Customers keep coming back for more and referring friends. 1 to 3 squirts of this amazing oil on the palm of your hand then massage into your face and neck after washing Skin Repair Oil can also be used on scar tissue, problem skin areas and rashes.
Skin Repair Lotion is a result of pressure from some of my best customers to make something that is a combination of the Skin Repair Oil and the All Natural Sunscreen. The results turned out beautifully! Another hot seller that I keep running out of! Wonderful for silky smooth arms and legs all year round.
A great new product to enhance your stay at home spa and create glowing skin is the Divine Time Natural Clay Mask: Sensitive, Dry and Mature Skin Types, Oily and Combination Skins Types, Normal and Combination Skin Types. Easy to use and a wonderful experience for taking a little extra time out just for you. See my blog site for added recipes to mix your own special facial mask.
My soaps create a luxurious silky lather that doesn’t dry the skin like commercial soaps. You get clean with my soap then you moisturize. The Complexion Soap with Clary Sage and Star Anise is a favourite for skin care regimes. Smelling deliciously of licorice and flowers with super fine pumice as a gentle exfoliant.
I mentioned my All Natural Sunscreen earlier. Many tropical destinations are now asking people to avoid commercial sunscreens with harmful chemicals as they are now proven to have detrimental effects on coral reefs and fish habitat. Moisturizing AND effective at filtering harmful rays from the sun, you will love this scent, the feel of it and how it performs.
Get out and enjoy the snow! Make The Point Naturals products a part of your daily skin care regime and you will look and feel wonderful!