Underlying cause of bags and dark circles and.. what causes wrinkles?

Research suggests that the sun is what causes wrinkles and 80% of all of the signs of aging and the other 20% of the signs of aging are caused by toxins and environmental damage.

Free of artificial preservatives, parabens, or other harfmul ingredients, Kasia onCure Eye Cream takes the efficient, but safe approach to treating under-eye wrinkles and the other signs of aging.

The eye area is one of the first regions of the face to show the signs of ageing. The skin around the eyes is deprived of oil glands and is very delicate and that’s why the skin doesn’t have a protection against the environments influences and UV rays.

Other underlying cause of bags and dark circles is poorly circulating fluids due to weakening capillaries.  You can improve the strength of those capillaries, with the right nutrients internally, as well as applied directly in order to quickly get rid of wrinkles, bags and circles.

 

To get rid of eye wrinkles, you also need to stimulate the production of collagen and elastin.  Kasia onCure delivers amino acid protein peptides that have been proven scientifically to help you do just that. 

Kasia OnCure Eye Cream

 

* Reduces dark circles, shadows and fine lines.

* Prevents puffiness and reduces eye bags.

* Reinforces firmness and tone.

Key Active Ingredients

Prunus Armeniaca (apricot) Kernel Oil

Commonly referred to as Apricot Kernel Oil, this oil is pressed from the kernels of the Apricot fruit. It is rich in essential fatty acids, which are vital components of the human organism. As a result, this nourishing oil helps to replenish and rebuild the skin.

Borago Officinalis (borage) Seed Oil

Used to prevent aging and wrinkles by fighting dehydration and the loss of skin elasticity. Borage also stimulates skin cell regeneration and rejuvenation, and is rich in minerals and linoleic acid.

Butyrospermum Parkii (shea) Butter

Kasia chooses shea butter for it’s unique fatty acid profile, which gives the ability to moisturize and retain the elasticity of the skin.

Chrysin

Chrysin is a naturally occurring flavone, extracted from the blue passion flower.  It promotes the elimination of blood originating pigments from under the eyes.   Chrysin eliminates the by-products of hemoglobin degradation, which aids in reducing the appearance of dark under eye circles.

Palmitoyl Tetrapeptide-3

Kasia trusts this protein will bring direct action to noticeably reduce under eye puffiness in four weeks.  This product is clinically proven to help correct poor drainage by increasing the lymphatic exchange and achieving proper circulation of the extra cellular fluids. This powerful peptide counteracts skin slackening, perking up and increasing the firmness of the fragile skin area around the eye.

It also decreases irritation that could lead to puffiness.

The skin around the eyes is very delicate and sensitive, and that’s why you should use special eye creams or gels that are specifically made for the delicate eye area. Most of them contain ingredients that relax the muscles, vitamins, retinol and collagen.

Other tips for treating wrinkles

* Always apply sunscreen, especially during the summer months

* Avoid using creamy eye shadows- they may seep into your fine lines and accentuate them even more

* Get plenty of sleep

* Drink lots of water, at least 1.5 liter

* Wear hats and black sunglasses especially during the summer

* Avoid smoking – it makes you squint and deprive your skin from “air”

* Take vitamins and eat lots of vegetables and fruits

Kasia Organic Salon is the pioneer of healthy beauty that delivers results to fit your lifestyle, because only Kasia is the authority in 100% natural products & services.

Learn more about Anti-Aging, and the “Underlying causes of skin health” at  www.Kasiaorganicsalon.com

Does Chronic Exfoliation Age the Skin? A Paradigm Shift.

Excerpt by Dr. Ben Johnson

The following information represents a dramatic departure from the philosophies spouted by thousands of physicians (myself included) and estheticians over the last two decades. Virtually every aspect of the facts presented here are well-proven and/or based on sound scientific theory or evidence. All I am trying to do is "connect the dots".

Before we go into how we currently treat the skin and its many conditions we first need to analyze the process of aging. We know that in our entire lifetime our epidermis never thins. On the contrary, at some point in our twenties and for the rest of our life after that, our dermis thins at a rate of about 1-1.5% a year. No one questions those facts and yet there is a lot that can be taken from that information that is not discussed. First, it tells us that the skin puts a priority on maintaining the epidermis because it knows that a loss of epidermis will ultimately lead to death (through infection, fluid loss, etc). This priority is also evident in that the dermis receives all of the nutrients of the skin (through its capillary beds) and has to decide what goes where and it still sends those scarce supplies up to the epidermis even while it thins itself. Most people recognize that the dermis thins because it is overwhelmed with free radicals and inflammation that result from sun, diet and stress primarily.

Darker skin types tend to thin less rapidly due to the protective effects of extra melanin and those smokers and partiers thin faster because of the added toxins that vasoconstrict the blood vessels which further reduce the food supply. So many of us have overlooked the dermis as a target choosing to focus more on the declining rate of epidermal turnover which often slows from 30 days to significantly longer as we get older. The question you should ask yourself is why does the epidermis slow down? I think the answer is simple; it can’t thin (because of the identified risks) and with its food supply becoming more scarce, the only logical thing to do is slow down.

A helpful analogy would be taking a healthy person and putting them on a 300 calorie/day diet. Of course our metabolism is going to slow down because they can’t maintain their normal cellular activity levels without the support of critical nutrients. Our fat and muscles will waste away (analogous to dermal thinning) and the critical processes (analogous to the epidermis) will keep going at a slower rate to keep us alive. Where skincare “went wrong” is that we thought the slowing epidermis just needed help to go faster…that somehow it did not know what it was doing and was in need of outside intervention. While it is true that a slowing epidermis happens to most skin types as we age, I submit that it is the byproduct of too much inflammation and not enough nutrition. There is no question that exfoliating the epidermis does speed turnover but it is not because it is a healthy event, it is because the skin is rushing to fix the damage…to the detriment of the dermis. You see, when the dermis is forced to fix the damaged epidermis, it must divert nutrients and repair activity that it would have used to maintain itself. This leads us to the possible conclusion that chronic exfoliation speeds aging. This is “dot” number one.

I have spent a lot of time reading "theories", "suggestions", and "strategies" for improving the health of the skin and making it look younger. Almost universally, the experts have stated that our skin "needs" exfoliation help. I used to say it so I am not trying to question anyone’s position per say. However, when we look at the research on what chronic exfoliation does, the mild,temporary improvements that result seem meaningless in the face of the long term damage that results. Let us analyze this idea a little closer by reviewing everything that has been proven to result from exfoliating the skin. The benefit is usually temporary plumping of fine lines and mild lightening of hyperpigmentation. On the flip side, the skin has less melanin protection, more damage to repair from the acids being, loss of moisture from the loss of protective lipids which often leads to oil/oily T-zone, and, most importantly, a significant increase in the amount of free radical damage to our skin cells and their DNA. The FDA has considered putting cancer-promoting warnings on the bottles of AHA products. Since we know that free radicals and increased sun exposure is the primary cause of aging/damaged skin, how can we recommend a process that makes that substantially worse? This is the second "dot".

The truth is that we do not fully understand how the skin works. Based on the fantastically complex processes involved in wound repair, DNA repair and normal skin/cell maintenance, I would argue that we are better off not second-guessing the skin's decision to slow down but rather work with it to restore its normal activities. There is no logical reason why adding inflammation could make our skin younger or healthier. Even when we look at research on the body's ability to repair itself, it almost universally has shown us that it never recovers 100% (and it certainly does not recover 110%) when damaged. The theory of daily exfoliation has been suggested and implemented for the last 30 years. There is no evidence that it has benefitted the skin and there is a tremendous amount of evidence that is leads to more damage. It is time we try a new approach to restoring the skin's health and repair activities to the full potential.

Kasia Organic Salon partners with Osmosis. Our facial services are result orientated and safe for your skin.

Kasia Launches AgeLess Skin Serum!

It has arrived!  Our new facial serum is incredibly moisturizing, smells fabulous, and will transform your skin with instant results!  For this lovely formulation we used a local chemist that utilizes the most powerful patented *cold pressed oils that are sure to nourish your skin no matter what your age!

Kasia loves our new addition AgeLess Skin Serum!  Pure as pure can be (is what Kasia Gk: "pure" is all about!) with fabulous results.

Instantly revive your skin with AgeLess Skin Serum. Made with a patent-pending blend of antioxidant seed oils that work synergistically to combat the signs of aging. Inside -  Out!

Protect, rejuvenate and moisturize skin - naturally.

Apply topically am or pm or both to help reduce the appearance of:

• Wrinkles
• Dehydrated skin
• Scars
• Yes....Stretch marks
• Uneven skin tone
• Wonderful take home after a Kasia Glycolic Facial service

All oils in AgeLess Skin  Serum are natural and produced using patented NatureFRESH Cold Press™ process, which ensures  that all healing constituents in each oil are extracted and preserved.

Q.  How is Kasia byNight Face Serum different?

A.  Yes!  Our Kasia byNight Serum is an alternative serum that contains actives.  This fights aging by actively turning over and freshening the skin and it’s dead cells that remain from lethargic dermal detoxification.  It also is moisturizing as an end result!  2 in 1!

AgeLess is to be used 2-3 time per week to bring additional anti-inflammatory  healing to the skin with multiple organic lipids and their abundant benefits.   What a great team!

Void of nasty additives:  Paraben, silicone, petrochemical and synthetic fragrance free.

Ingredients:  Organic Vaccinium Macrocarpon (Cranberry) Seed Oil, Organic Rubus Idaeus (Red Raspberry) Seed Oil, Organic Hellanus Annus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Organic Nigella Sativa (Black Cumin) Seed Oil, Mixed Tocopherols (Vitamin E), Rosmarinus officinalis (Rosemary) extract,  Natural Fragrance.

Sugar... glycation and it's effect on your skin.

 The story of AGE and your skin.

As Halloween fast approaches, and then the holiday season to nip it in the butt, the sugary treats will be on the rise.  We're here to give you forewarning and bring our "Informed Beautes'" up to speed of how sugar effects the skin.

Conventionally, we know inflammation is bad for the body, and it's influence on our skin and hair. Most women/men are shocked to find out that excess refined sugar is a big contributor to skin aging.   The culprit to be blamed for this is a natural process called glycation, where blood sugar attaches itself to proteins and makes way for AGEs (Advanced Glyacting End products).  These AGE molecules  can cause premature aging, skin dullness and sagging skin and these molecules are directly linked with sugar.

Impacted by Sugar!

Recent research and studies indicate that sugars in the form of added carbohydrates or refined sugars can lead to premature aging, sagging skin and more wrinkles. When we consume simple sugars in the form of starches such as rice, bread, potatoes and sweets, there is a rapid rise in blood sugar levels. This blood sugar then combines with the protein molecules and gives birth to the new AGE molecule. Apart from the usual sugar-related health impact, AGEs also affect the skin in the following ways:

• Damages elastin and skin protein collagen, which are responsible for maintaining the skin’s elasticity and firmness.
• Restricts the body’s ability to utilize and produce anti-oxidants, making the body more vulnerable to damage by free radicals.
• Makes your skin more vulnerable and prone to sun damage (which is one of the leading causes of skin aging) by deactivating the body’s natural antioxidant enzymes.

The more sugar you consume, the more vulnerable you are to the damaging effects of glycation and skin aging. The sugar impact is felt mostly after the age of 35, as tissue regeneration slows down and glycation increases.

Prevention

To prevent the damage caused by sugar you need to cut down on the added sugars from your diet. Though it is not possible to completely eliminate sugars (such as sugars in the form of fructose and sucrose, which are unavoidable and produce end products such as glucose and galactose, which can be easily digested so eliminating these natural sugars is not required), here is what you need to do to avoid damage from high consumption of sugar:

• Avoid foods with added and high sugar content such as sweets, chocolates, carbonated beverages
• Limit the consumption of simple carbohydrates such as potato, pasta, white bread and white rice
• Increase protein intake to control carb cravings

To counteract the damage caused by sugar you need to:

• Replace processed sugars with natural sugars found in fruits and vegetables
• Limit refined sugar consumption to less than 10% of your total calorie intake
• Supplement your diet with essential vitamins such as a daily dose of 1mg of Vitamin B1 and B6
• Fight the detrimental effect of AGEs by reducing/avoiding sun exposure especially between 10 A.M and 4 P.M when UV rays are at their strongest by using a high SPF broad spectrum sunscreen
• Increase the intake of vitamins and omega 3 fatty acids by eating brightly colored vegetables, fruits and cold water fish such as salmon and sardines. Add a handful of nuts to your diet and sip on antioxidant-rich green tea instead of coffee or regular black tea
• Enjoy the benefits of Kasia enMoist antioxidant rich anti-aging lotion and follow a  inside/out  skin care routine

Kasia quicknote:  Sugar is notorious for causing acne, yeast/candida, allergies, stress, weight gain, dandruff, inflammation, headaches and taking out the immune system.

Kassie offers nutritional supplements to help buffer your biochemistry helping to neutralize your PH levels, while reducing your sugar cravings.

Stop in or call about being muscle tested and learning more about busting the sugar crave today!   612 824 7611

Article reference: blog.myskin.com

What happens when you turn 40?

When you enter your forties, you might start noticing more wrinkles and fine lines around your eyes, mouth and forehead. On top of that, your complexion may start looking duller. However, if you practice a good skin care routine and care for your skin you can enhance your complexion and diminish the appearance of the signs of aging. Here are some tips to care for your skin during your 40′s and maintain its good health.

Re-evaluate your skin type

As we grow old, our skin ages and looses collagen and elastin fibers. As a result, the skin tends to become dry and saggy. Even if you had normal skin throughout your life, you will start noticing that your skin becomes drier as you age; this is a signal that you need to change your skin care products and use ones that cater to dry skin types.

Upgrade your skin care regimen

Up till now, you may have been practising a regular skin care regimen of cleansing, exfoliating and moisturizing which was working fine. However, once you enter your forties, you need to re-evaluate your skin and upgrade your skin care regimen to suit the changing needs. Your forties are a time when you start to see the results of how you have treated your skin so far – this will further decide how much you will need to adjust your skin care regimen. If you have always worn sunscreen and practised preventive care, then your skin probably will not show much of a difference. However, if you have been neglecting skin care all these years, you will see wrinkles and fine lines become more prominent as you approach your forties.

Use anti aging skin care products

It is high time to start using anti aging skin care formulations. These skin care products contain specialized ingredients that help soothe the skin and fight against the signs of aging. Look for ingredients like alpha hydroxy acids and retinoids. They not only stimulate the collagen production within the skin cells but also help diminish the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Treat acne

Acne is a common skin concern during the forties because of the hormonal fluctuations that the body goes through. Adult acne is a serious skin concern. Therefore you need to use special acne skin care products that identify the root cause of acne and treat it from the roots.

Go low on make-up and cosmetics

When women hit their forties, they generally end up using heavier make-up in order to camouflage the aging signs and make their skin look radiant. However, this has a detrimental effect on the skin; heavy foundation and excessive compact powder can actually create a cakey impression and highlight the wrinkles and fine lines on your face. Moreover, the harsh chemicals contained in these products may seep into your skin and further degrade the internal tissues. Instead you should use creamy and hydrating skin care products that don’t highlight the age lines but makes the skin appear smooth and supple. Look for ingredients like petrolatum and glycerin in your cosmetics.

Reference: www.cosmaprof.net

SUNSCREENS…The good, the bad and the ugly

 

This article looks at some sunscreen agents commonly in use:

Octyl Methoxycinnamate and other cinnamates cause photo and contact allergy and do not effectively block UVA. We must ask, what is the point of using a sunscreen agent that causes allergy in the presence of sunlight?

Benzophenones/oxybenzone/benzoylmethanes do absorb some UVA radiation but have been found to cause photo/contact allergy and most significantly, they tend to imitate and therefore exacerbate existing skin disease (including acne).

Titanium dioxide effectively blocks out UVA radiation and therefore protects against skin cancer. Although this is also a photon scattering agent (UV reflector), it does absorb UV radiation which produces free radicals in the presence of water. Many manufacturers use different methods to “coat” the particles, making them less reactive.

Salicylates commonly cause photo allergy.

PABA (Paramino benzoic acid) is part of the B group of vitamins. Taken internally, it can help prevent UV damage. Used externally, it causes phototoxicity and sensitisation. PABA generates free radicals when exposed to sunlight, predisposing the skin to cancer. It does not effectively block UVA radiation.  It is banned as a sunscreen agent.

Zinc oxide effectively blocks out UVA radiation, has the benefit of being inert on the skin (it does not absorb UV radiation) and has skin healing properties. It does, however, contain large particles and can form a paste when applied to the skin. The finer the zinc particles, the less visible they are on the skin. Micronized superfine zinc is the best choice for minimizing the “paste-effect” without resorting to nanoparticles.

Iron oxide is found naturally in mineral clays.  Due to the large particle size, iron oxide also acts as a UV reflector and is inert in the sun (does not produce free radicals). Natural mineral clays also contain varying proportions of other UV protectors such as titania.

It must also be noted that this discussion of the active constituents in sunscreens is academic without paying respect to the ingredients in the carrier or base formulation. Do they cause free radical damage themselves and in particular, how well do they stand up to sun exposure?

There are instances of people using sunscreens who have reacted to the excipients (base materials/carriers) included in the formulation, such as preservatives, fragrances and emulsifiers, which have caused contact allergies. So there is cause for concern not only about the active ingredients in sunscreens, but about the inert ingredients as well. Ed note: I don’t know about anyone else but standard sunscreens make my eyes sting and water particularly after swimming in the surf. I worked out that for me, it is probably the product fragrance that is causing this effect. In any case, it has been a long time since I have used a conventional sunscreen as I prefer to stick to zinc oxide based products, including GOOD DAY SUNSHINE Sunscreen from Kasia Organics.

There are a number of base ingredients to look for such as antioxidant vitamins C and E at effective concentrations. Vitamins C and E (tocopherol) are known to protect against skin cancer, particularly when applied topically as they prevent free radical damage from UV radiation. Certified organic shea butter, sesame and avocado oils have natural UV protective qualities, primarily due to their vitamin A and E content. Shea butter also protects against burning (UVB radiation) and is an excellent emollient, softening the skin and preventing the formation of wrinkles. Aloe vera, a plant which has been shown to prevent DNA damage to the skin following sun exposure and its use in treating burns of all descriptions is well-known and an excellent inclusion as a base ingredient. Antioxidant medicinal strength herbal extracts of ginkgo biloba, green tea and pomegranate are also excellent for their ability to protect against DNA damage from UV radiation.

Reference: by Tess Dingle ND

"Beauty sleep" and stress. More important than you think, do you know why?

As you probably already know -- stress is bad for our health, and many of us are affected differently. Frustration can create havoc on your skin and as a matter of fact too much stress triggers your skin to start the aging process prematurely leading to wrinkles and fine lines before you want to have them.  Stress can actually age you as far out as three to six years!

Stress causes our hormones to operate ineffectively, run down the wrong pathways and to become unbalanced.  Radiant skin comes from great skin care routines, protection from environmental damage and UV rays, good nutrition, adequate hydration, and getting plenty of sleep.

Dermatologist have come to agree that during hours of sleep, cortisol and insulin production inversely peak so that collagen production is accelerated.  Collagen production firms the dermal layers so evaporation is reduced and water retention is maximized.

Resting Tips for “Beautiful Health” Skin

Surroundings:

While you slumber, your skin produces more collagen, which gives it the support to counteract the forces of gravity.  If you have a radiant heater or air conditioner running, this can result in evaporation in your skin and water loss.  This contributes to dry skin, especially if you don’t use a high quality facial cream/serum, or do not replenish intake of water hydration through your day.

Bio-chemical Requirement

As the body enters the deepest stage of rest (Delta Sleep), our growth hormones peak and turn on cell and tissue repair.  When there is restless or limited sleep, we cut ourselves short of this crucial restorative process.

In order to give your skin beautiful health it deserves in repairing, rejuvenating, and producing collagen with minimum natural moisture loss, you need a good 6 – 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night.

Additional science on how stress can affect your skin include the following:

* Cortisol degrades collagen and directly leads to the formation of wrinkles in the skin.  When you live in a chronic state of stress your body finds it harder and harder to repair itself naturally and so you develop more wrinkles and fine lines.

* The stress hormone CRH can fuel inflammation in the skin and that in turn can cause acne.  Since acne is an inflammatory disease all it takes is in increase in inflammation in the body to cause more acne.  And if you are stressed you are more likely to pick at your breakouts which could lead to even more breakouts.

* Stress hormones can cause your body to release histamines, which can cause a range of skin conditions like dermatitis, irritation, hives, or inflammation or aggravate existing skin conditions like psoriasis.

* Stress can make your hair fall our and make your nails brittle

* Stress makes your eyes look tired.  This could be because you are not getting enough sleep since you are stressed out.  A chronic lack of sleep could lead to fluid stagnation under the eyes and then dark, puffy under-eye circles in the morning.

* Stress could cause your skin to enter mini-menopause.  A chronic flow of cortisol causes a drop in estrogen, which means your skin produces less collagen and less moisture.  Your skin could end up looking dull and dry as a result.

Not just your skin…yes, your belly.

I have learned first hand the effects of too much of the stress and the ramifications of the increased hormone of cortisol.  Lack of sleep and rest leads to our adrenal glands pushing out too much of this belly fat-promoting, collagen-destroying hormone.  The flip side to this is that when getting enough sleep, our cortisol levels reduce. In fact, a landmark sleep study found that those who sleep between 7.5 and 8.5 hours a night secrete half as much cortisol as those only sleeping 6.5 hours or less a night. This can mean significant weight gain of 33 pounds or more!

Excess cortisol turns your once flatter stomach into fat deposit because the abdominal region contains four times more cortisol receptors than other areas in the body.

Researchers have also found that lack of sleep can cause cravings for sweet and salty foods.   We end up compromising and eating foods lacking any nutritional value and lack hydration.  Our waistline or our skin responds well to this kinds of lifestyle for a period of time.

Other studies have found that sleep deprivation leads to inflammation and oxidative stress. One of these studies found that women who don't get their beauty sleep experience disruptions with their skin barrier function, have more water loss in their skin and have extremely high levels of inflammatory chemicals circulating in their bodies.  If we are under chronic stress, cortisol will disrupt collagen production, making skin thinner and weaker.

If you need more encouragement to turn in early every night, then keep in mind that adults who sleep five or less hours a night have a 15 percent chance of dying early from any reason you can think of. Why? Because lack of sleep ages your body.

Supplement to Sleep

Supplements like GABA and melatonin are known to have a muscle-relaxing effect and may improve sleep quality. In turn, better sleep can lead to greater skin repair capabilities, a better-looking complexion with fewer wrinkles and dark circles and less overall dullness.

GABA is a naturally occurring neurotransmitter with a proven connection to the quality and quantity of sleep we achieve. The brain chemical -- gamma-aminobutryric acid, or GABA -- is involved in regulating brain activity.

"It's the brakes of your brain," says Karl Doghramji, MD, director of the Sleep Disorders Center at Thomas Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. "It stops activity."

Both sleep problems and anxiety disorders may result from problems with GABA, which helps neutralize the effects of glutamate, a brain chemical that causes excitement. When there is too little GABA, it causes those racing thoughts that characterize anxiety -- and keep you up at night.

Gaba increases the integrity of collagen and elastin and both preventing and counteracting sagging skin.

Melatonin is one of the most powerful antioxidants produced in the body. In addition, since it is both water and fat soluble, melatonin can reach almost every single cell in the body.

Since it cannot store in the body, it must be replenished daily. This would normally not be a problem, except  exposure to artificial light reduces production of melatonin in our bodies.

Mood Elevator: Nighttime melatonin levels are low in people with major depressive and panic disorders. Individuals with noticeable mood swings or who are melancholic also have depressed melatonin levels. Both seasonal affective disorder and non-seasonal cyclic depressions are related to the peaks and valleys of melatonin levels.

Contact Kassie at Kasia Organic Salon for more info on supplementation of Gaba and Melatonin.

Kassie Kuehl is a respected leader in, and advocate for, natural health and beauty care. The founder of Kasia Organic Salon, a stylist, and developer of Kasia natural line, Kassie combines her experience as nutritionist and living foods educator with her ongoing Functional Medicine research to apply a whole of body “Beautiful Health’ approach to hair care and styling. She can be found at www.kasiaorganicsalon.com.

SOURCES: American Medical Association's 22nd annual Science Reporters Conference, Philadelphia, Sept. 11-12, 2003. Karl Doghramji, MD, director, Sleep Disorders Center, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital; professor of psychiatry, Jefferson Medical College, Philadelphia.