by theglamscientist | | collagen, health food, natural skin care, skin care, vitamins |
If a poll was taken of all my friends and family, it would reveal that I like to eat just as much as I like to ‘get pretty’. Why not make it a package deal? I’ve found that certain staples in my diet actually work wonders for my skin. Here’s why:
First and most important… I stay away from fast food. Of course I grab a burger every once in awhile, but home cooking has greater appeal to my appetite. Besides its more economical to cook, the money I save on food can be used to buy clothes and shoes. 😉 Whole foods (fruits, vegetables, nuts and berries) are rich in vitamins and minerals, many of which your body does not produce on its own.
Vitamin A prevents dry, flaky skin and helps maintain epithelial tissue (covers organs/organisms- your skin). Cantaloupe, Papaya and other citrus fruits contain Vitamin A. Pro-vitamin A (beta-carotene) protects your skin from sun damage and prevents wrinkling and age spots. Its like sunscreen from the inside out! Dark skin on fruits and vegetables is an indication of the presence of beta-carotene.
The same foods that have a high content of Vitamin A usually have a good amount of Vitamin C as well. Vitamin C is not just good for your immune system; it works wonders for your skin too! It is an anti-oxidant that improves skin cell turnover (younger cells=younger skin) and the formation of collagen. Collagen is responsible for skin elasticity and firmness which results in a more youthful appearance. Similarly, Vitamin E reduces the production of collagenase (anti-collagen) which causes skin sagging and wrinkles. Nuts and leafy green vegetables are a good source of Vitamin E. Add some fish and whole grains to your diet to aid in normal oil production thanks to the Vitamin B they contain. And for you notorious tea sippers; switch to green tea which speeds up the skin cycle and reverses aging.
So my suggested pretty eating plan is– have a fruit salad for breakfast (use fruit that is in season) Organic is good too I guess… I’m not an organic fanatic. For a snack, pop some nuts and have a cup of green tea. Have a green salad for lunch. And finally have fish for dinner a couple times a week— try salmon, trout and tuna… but be careful too much fish can lead to mercury poisoning.
While I love playing in my makeup on occasion, natural beauty is very important to me… so here’s to eating pretty!!! Tell me how it works for you.
by theglamscientist | | fashion trends, feather, fragrance, headbands, high fashion, perfumery |
From the runway to the streets, feathers are a hot item for fashionistas worldwide! Fashion forecasters predict this trend is going to carry on well into the spring/summer season. The look is neutral and romantic; more for the elegant and classy… not quite for the bold and the flashy. I would however love to see how someone more adventurous with their style would incorporate a smashing feather piece.
This trend caught my eye and got my wheels turning to create a fragrance from matched inspiration. I imagine a rich and smooth scent with a sweet vanilla and nutty vetiver base, blended with soft woody undertones and a touch of creamy coconut.
Its all just melting together wonderfully in my mind… now to make it work in The Glam Laboratory!
by theglamscientist | | chemicals, chemistry, cosmetics, eco, environment, green, science |
I stumbled upon an article in an issue of Cosmetiscope– a journal for cosmetic scientists– detailing what ‘green’ means in the cosmetic industry. What I once thought to be no more than an eco-fad has quickly become quite important to a great majority internationally. Here’s what I learned…
In order to be considered green the cosmetic manufacturer must make an effort to prevent waste. Generally chemical waste is detrimental to the environment so you can see why this would be important. A few other requirements are linked to preventing or reducing waste, so I’ll discuss them now. Any substance that is used for the sole purpose of making a reaction work has to be renewable. It cannot be ‘used up’ in the process and it cannot be inactive when the process is complete. Similarly, green processes minimize the creation of side products that cannot be used in other applications. In addition, green processes make use of what I would call personal assistants which speed up the reaction and minimize the amount of starting material needed.
Next on the chopping block– unnecessary chemicals. All the ingredients tossed into the mixing bowl have to be needed for effective application of the product. In other words, all those 15-35 letter ingredients that fascinate me so much (nerdy I know!) have to be in there for a darn good reason! Additionally, a fantastically green product serves its purpose and then calls it quits leaving no chemical scars on our blessed environment. And just for good measure, a real-time pollution prevention tool should be in place. Toxicity and risk of chemical disaster– like explosions, fires, gas leaks (no big deal, right?) are kept to a minimum.
And with all the talk about energy conservation locally and on capital hill, its no mystery why the cosmetic industry would strive to be particular about the energy use in their chemical processes.
Stay tuned to see how well your cosmetic company of choice is doing with the transition!
by theglamscientist | | beauty, esteem, glamour, poetry |
In the spirit of promoting female self esteem, I thought it would be appropriate to debut The Glam Laboratory with a poem that captures the very essence of beauty.
THE UNFADING BEAUTY
by Thomas Carew
He that loves a rosy cheek,
Or a coral lip admires,
Or from star-like eyes doth seek
Fuel to maintain his fires:
As Old Time makes these decay,
So his flames must fade away.
But a smooth and steadfast mind,
Gentle thoughts and calm desires,
Hearts with equal love combined,
Kindle never-dying fires,
Where these are not, I despise
Lovely cheeks or lips or eyes.
There is more to beauty than meets the eye Sure we love getting all dolled up with our skin care rituals, perfect hair products and the most feminine nail color we can find; but whats underneath all that? Its important that we glam up the inside as well as the outside. So… pick up a book, take a class, champion a cause– all while being the most glamorous you can be. For physical beauty inevitably fades, but authentic beauty is forever.
