What Does Charlie's Angels Have To Do With Dr. Lucy?

A repost worth reading!...

A week or so ago I was sooo mentally tired and wanted some form of quick entertainment that was light and easy that did not involve "The Game Of Thrones". So I came across "Charlie's Angels," not the movie versions just the wonderful 1970's series! I sat there with a glass of wine and found myself taking in deep breaths realizing how fast we are all going in today's world. Anyway, back to the "Charlie's Angels" show and specifically Jaclyn Smith, you know the brunette angel with the long dark hair? I remember when I was in high school and thinking how beautiful she was. Then, one day on a TV talk show she told the world one of her beauty secrets, I swear all the women in my house spun around with eyes glued to the TV, it was so quiet you could actually hear a pin drop!

Tell me the big secret you say?!

I'm sure some of you are shouting out the answer right now while you are reading this newsletter. The secret is Albolene cream! WHAT! Are you kidding me! Yes, I can hear you from here and I agree with your response! So you can imagine how my mom and grandmother became very vocal as they stood and watched this beautiful woman say the best thing in the world for her skin was a mineral oil, petroleum by product! I didn't understand at first why they were so shocked, but I soon learned the hard way.

You guessed it, I ran out and bought a tub, I mean a jar of the stuff...

The container was so unusually large, I asked the sales lady if this was the only size they had and that I think I was getting the giant economy size. She then proceeded to tell me there is just one size of the Albolene cream. That was actually just fine with me, who doesn't like economy size when it comes to something so wonderful as a jar of cream that will make me look like a Charlie's Angel? So off I went! I was so willing to leave behind everything the women in my life taught me and so happy I just found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow, or in my mind the beauty secret that unlocked Cleopatra's tomb!

I walk in the house...

Mom and my grandmother looked at the tub in my hand, looked at each other, looked back at me and said almost at the same time, "You are not going to put that stuff on your face...are you?!" I said yes, I need to find out why this "Angel" is so beautiful and what this amazing secret is, spoken by a true 16 year old.

Into the bathroom I go!..

I locked the door so the two of them could not barge into the bathroom and watch me with their mouths open applying this wonder cream. First the wash cloth came out of the cupboard, then I opened the magical Pandora's box! Much to my dismay it looked like Vaseline... yes Vaseline! Now, I think I know why mom and grandma were so upset. I cleansed my face first with this stuff then reapplied, jumped into the shower like Jaclyn said she did, to let the Albolene and steam work their "magic" together, wiped it all off after a few minutes and out I came so excited to see the new me and secretly hoping I looked like Jaclyn when I looked in the mirror. Yep, no Jaclyn but my skin looked good, it seemed happy, soft and clean! I opened the door to show mom and gma and they agreed my skin looked fresh...for now. A couple days past and I was very strict with my new found beauty routine, but one day I noticed a few red dots forming on my cheek, "I screamed, I HAVE PIMPLES FORMING!" Long story short, mom and gma were right and now they have to jump in to help me balance my skin again and of course they did.

What is the moral to this crazy little story?

Taking care of your skin should be quite simple, relaxing and fun! Falling for the latest and the greatest can not only be disappointing, but in the long run not very healthy for your face, let alone not necessarily safe for your whole body.

Make sure the products you are putting on your skin are organic and natural like the Dr. Lucy products, I'm sure you haven't heard that from me before. :) The combination of the natural and organic ingredients in your skin care products have to not only be fresh and nourishing for your skin, but be completely copacetic with your skin and your chemistry so that it will thrive and be healthy. Remember healthy skin is youthful skin.

Using products with chemicals, like mineral oil, will not only clog your pores, but will sit on top or your skin, dry it out, and literally suffocate it causing all sorts of skin issues and imbalances. Plus, I'm sorry to say, they are carcinogenic and hormonal disruptors for women and men!

I have a million funny stories about natural products and not so natural products that I will share with you from these amazing and crazy women and men in my life that have helped me along this natural skin care journey.

Maybe the next story will be about the time I steamed my face over a steel bowl of boiling hot water and herbs...the imperative words here are boiling-hot!

Until the next story, keep your skin care organic and natural like Dr. Lucy's and watch old school shows no matter what your age to keep things light and happy!

With Love and Blessings!
Rebecca

P.S.

Not always fun to read but important information to know from the Daily Health Post!

Cancer-Causing Ingredient
What these moisturizing creams all have in common is mineral oil. While that sounds all healthy because of the “mineral” part, mineral oil is a petroleum product, as is gasoline. The skin is incredibly absorbent, and while it does block most harmful substance, ingredients in skincare are made to penetrate these barriers and get all the way through.

Mineral oil was identified as a carcinogen in the nineteenth century.

Mineral oil also clogs pores, suffocating skin and leading to pimples and blackheads.

An Austrian study found traces of toxic mineral oil in the milk of breastfeeding mothers who had applied breast salves that contained the harmful ingredient. A small percentage mineral paraffins were also passed to the nursing babies. An earlier study of mineral oil found in breastmilk also considered infants directly ingesting the oil while suckling.

Moisturizing cream is not the only product that can contain mineral oil; many suntan and sunscreen products, lip balms, baby oil and rash treatments, cosmetics, shampoos, perfumes, and body cleansers contain it as well.

Mineral oil is known by several names so look for these on the labels of your personal care products too:

Adepsine oil

Albolene

Baby oil

Drakeol

Lignite oil

Liquid paraffin

Mineral seed oil

Paraffin oil

Petrolatum

White oil

Do You Need To Eat and Wear Your Sea Kelp?

The answer is YES! Let me explain why sea kelp is probably one of the most nutritious vegetables on the planet and why we use it in our products!

Why did we add sea kelp to the Dr. Lucy Gentle Crème Cleanser and Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque? Let me count the ways!

Number one reason: Sea kelp hydrates, fights free radicals, tightens skin, purifies, soothes and nourishes the skin, boosting elasticity and firmness. Diminishes the appearance of pores, fine lines and wrinkles, aids in promoting collagen production, healthy cell regeneration with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergen properties, just to name a few.:)

Why just those two products?

Cleansing with your Gentle Crème Cleanser is your first step to better, denser, calmer and a more balanced skin. This particular cleanser is kind of like your skin care platform that you will be building off of. If your platform is unstable and lacking in support, then any other product that you add on-top of that platform will not be as affective.

The Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque ( I know, big name, but it does big things) is so nutrient dense, supportive and calming. As you know you should leave a masque like this on for 20-30 minutes to repair, hydrate and reap the benefits of its nutritional value for your skin.

5 more added benefits of sea kelp in skin care!

1. Certain brown algae stimulate skin to make hyaluronic acid. Can help bind moisture to the skin and therefore reduce water loss. In addition, because it contains alginates (found in the walls of sea kelp) which can draw in and retain water, it can be doubly effective in aiding with moisture retention and preventing loss. -Research in a 2019 journal of Natural Products and Bioprospecting

2. Kelp is most famous for is its role in reducing the signs of photoaging, i.e., when the sun prematurely ages the skin.

3. Kelp combats free radicals or oxidants.

4. Oxygen molecules generated by UV are responsible for triggering photoaging and attacking the skin's cells, as well as causing cellular damage and a loss of structural integrity — two things which are the core of wrinkle and fine line formation. - Comprehensive Series in Photosciences, volume 3

5. Kelp's fucoidan (anti-photoaging and skin benefits) can act as an antioxidant, which means it breaks down destructive oxidants into more stable products.
This reduces cellular damage while at the same time aids in restoring the skin's barrier. - 2021 research in the Journal of Marine Drugs

8 Surprising Health Benefits of Eating Sea Kelp!

1. Sea kelp is actually sea vegetables.
2. Contains iodine and Tyrosine, which support Thyroid function.
3. Good source of vitamins and minerals.
4. Contains a variety of protective antioxidants.
5. May help you lose weight by delaying hunger and reducing weight.
6. May reduce heart disease risk.
7. May help reduce your risk of type 2 Diabetes by improving blood sugar management.
8. Provides fiber and polysaccharides that can support your gut health.

Why "natural" iodine is so important for your health...

"Iodine is a trace element that is naturally present in some foods. Iodine is an essential component of the thyroid hormones thyroxine and triiodothyronine.

Thyroid hormones regulate many important biochemical reactions, including protein synthesis and enzymatic activity, and are critical determinants of metabolic activity.

They are also required for proper skeletal and central nervous system development in fetuses and infants.

Iodine may have other physiological functions in the body as well. For example, it appears to play a role in immune response and might have a beneficial effect on mammary dysplasia and fibrocystic breast disease." - Natural Institute of Health

Foods that contain natural iodine...

Sea kelp (nori, kelp, kombu, wakame)
Fish, shellfish (cod, canned tuna, oysters, shrimp)
Table salts labeled “iodized”
Dairy (milk, cheese, yogurt)
Eggs
Beef liver
Chicken
Celtic Sea Salt

Conclusion? Eat and wear your sea vegetables for a healthier inside/outside you!

With Love and Blessings!
Rebecca

A peek into a French woman's natural skin care routine!

French women in general take their skin care regimen seriously even from an early age. This gives them a huge upper hand when it comes to skin aging, and they are serious about every step in their skin care routine.

Skin cleansing, first things first!

Cleansing of the facial skin should be at the top of every skin care routine. For Europeans and most notably the French, cleansing of the skin begins with special crème and milk cleansers. French skin care rejects old fashioned bar soap and is even skeptical of liquid facial cleansers that can strip, damage and cause dry flaky skin on the face. These facial cleansers should be gentle enough to use several times a day even on the most sensitive skin.

Next: The importance of skin toning…a thousand times yes!

The reason why French skin care routine places significant emphasis on toners is because these products can balance out the PH level (potential hydrogen) of your skin, which allows the skin’s PH to stay around 5.5 or a little lower, which in turn helps the skin to maintain and retain the skin’s fatty protective layer and moisture. This is a big YES and exactly what our skin needs to absorb all those good nutrients and look dewy fresh! Once the skin is cleansed it is patted dry and a facial toner is applied after about a minute. This ensures that the skin is clean and dry which maximizes absorption of the toner. If there is any oil or dirt left on the skin the toner will take care of it. Now the skin is primed to absorb the nutrients in the serums and moisturizers.

Facial serums…smaller molecules equal deeper penetration.

The use of anti-aging serum products is not unique to French women but their skin care routine dictates a more regular utilization than other cultures. Skin needs to repair after a day of exposure to the damaging harsh elements in the environment. Due to the serum products thinner consistency and smaller molecules they also penetrate the skin deeper and are packed with a higher percentage of patent ingredients.

Skin moisturizing is a must!…

Crèmes and sunscreens are also used in French skin care. Specialized oils and crèmes can quickly address dry flaky skin feeding it with nutrients to balance it. Using them daily keeps the skin calm, moist and plump thus minimizing inflammation, fine lines, and wrinkles. We need fatty acids in our daily diets to keep our bodies healthy and we need the same fatty acids and lipids to keep our skin healthy.

Face oil, dewy skin for days!

If you are looking to have healthier, younger looking skin without exposure to harsh chemicals, toxins, treatments or pharmaceutical ingredients then by adding face oils to your skin care routine you can actually transform your skin to a balanced, dewy, glowing, younger looking you.

When you apply the face oil it is absorbed into the epidermis (top layer of the skin) where it quickly improves and re-stabilizes the lipid barrier function. This oil can actually penetrate close to the collagen level because of the small molecules, and helps restore plump skin and diminish or eliminate some of the fine wrinkles.

Apply your face oil in place of a moisturizer or layer your moisturizer first, then add face oil.

Natural facial masques, Oui!

Using a natural hydrating facial masque one to two times per week can bring back a youthful look and glow to your skin. It revitalizes, brightens, de-stresses your skin and aids in cell renewal. Plus, it just makes all your other skin care products work that much better!

Now is the perfect time to start!

So instead of waiting for aging to take its toll and then fighting it with potentially irritating and dangerous ingredients that put their skin into overdrive in a damaging way, French women use a natural routine that slows and softens the effects of aging long before it begins.

*Always remember it is never, ever too late to start your preventive skin changing routine.

Here is a bit of science from Tuck and what happens to our skin as we sleep. It also applies to better skin care nutrient absorption at bedtime.

Collagen and Growth Hormone
Early in the nighttime sleep cycle, people typically have a surge in growth hormone. This period of deep sleep, stages 3 and 4 sleep, contributes to what people call “beauty sleep” as secretion of growth hormone helps repair and rebuild body tissues like muscle and bone. Many of the body’s tissues also show increased collagen, cell production, and slower breakdown of proteins during deep sleep. Since proteins are the building blocks needed for cell growth and for repair of damage from factors like stress and ultraviolet rays, deep sleep is truly “beauty sleep".

P.S.
Studies show the best time to use a hydrating masque and other nutrient dense skin care products is right before you go to bed. I use the Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque at least a few times a week and right after I cleanse my face with the Gentle Crème Cleanser in the bath (love the steam). Why? This is actually the time when the skin starts to regenerate.

With Love and Blessings,
Rebecca

"Nothing is more respectable than honesty."

Gentle Crème Cleanser and Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque Duo!

Purify, Nourish, Calm, Hydrate

This magical duo is chocked full of powerful yet natural skin cleansing, renewing and repairing ingredients!

Both our Gentle Crème Cleanser and Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque have nutrient dense key benefactors like Organic Atlantic Sea Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum) which aids in promoting collagen production, healthy cell regeneration, and with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergen properties.

Packed with super anti-oxidants, this duo is fiercely hydrating! organic plant mega nutrients such as Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, Organic Olive Fruit Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Aloe Leaf Juice, Vitamin A Esters, Vitamin C Esters, Organic White and Green Tea Leaf Extract just to name a few!

Organic Atlantic Sea Kelp with 14 vitamins, 16 Amino Acids and minerals soothe irritations, boost circulation, eliminates impurities, aid in cell renewal and repair and stimulates collagen production for plump, calm, hydrated, youthful skin.

Another NEW Duo!!! The Gentle Crème Cleanser & Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque Duo!

This magical duo is chocked full of powerful yet natural skin cleansing, renewing and repairing ingredients!

Both the Gentle Crème Cleanser and Luscious Rose Equalizer Hydrating Masque have nutrient dense key benefactors like Organic Atlantic Sea Kelp (Ascophyllum Nodosum) which works to promote healthy cell regeneration with anti-inflammatory and anti-allergen properties.

This beautiful new duo bundle is packed with super antioxidants, amino acids and fiercely hydrating, organic plant mega nutrients such as Botanical Hyaluronic Acid, Organic Olive Fruit Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Aloe Leaf Juice, Vitamin A Esters, Vitamin C Esters, Organic White and Green Tea Leaf Extract just to name a few!

* Organic Atlantic Sea Kelp with 14 vitamins, 16 Amino Acids and minerals soothe irritations, boosts circulation, eliminates impurities, aids in cell renewal and repair and stimulates collagen production for plump, calm, hydrated, youthful skin. Oui s'il vous plait!