Avoid CBD Greenwashing & How to Take Full Control of Skin Inflammation

Talk about a new era of GREENWASHING.

The onslaught of “CBD heals everything,” that can amount to a bunch crazy.”

Curious exactly what CBD oil can do for your skin?

Ever wondered if hemp seed oil is the same as cannabis oil?

Great questions my friend.

Let’s debunk and get clear on some skin facts .

Come get your skin love baby - come and get your love …

Groundwork: What Is CBD Oil?

CBD (cannabidiol oil) is not hemp oil, and it’s not technically cannabis oil  either. Lastly, no it’s not going to get you high. So what the heck is it?

CBD oil vs hemp oil vs cannabis oil.

What you need to know: cannabidiol (CBD) oil is naturally found in hemp oil – but in extremely small amounts.

Here’s the most important CBD  “green washing tip-off:”

The majority of “CBD” Skincare Hemp oil is contain cannabis sativa oil.

SO is it Hemp or CBD Oil?

Both are good for your skin but hemp seed is mostly used for its deeply moisturizing abilities.

CBD is the activating compound in cannabis that fights inflammation, bacteria, and cell turnover.

Hemp seed oil has been used for centuries in skin products and is similar to a common carrier oil like rosehip oil, but its not the same as active cannabidiol.

What to look for when wanting ACTIVE Cannabidiol in your skin products.

If the brand doesn’t list CBD, phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, or full-spectrum hemp (which are all indications of CBD in legal chemical terms) on their packaging, you’re just buying hemp seed, which has no active CBD.

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HOW CBD OPTIMIZES AGING & SKIN HEALTH

The Imperative Cross Talk Between CBD and Your Skin

Fact: CBD oil regulates over 1000 gene expressions in your biology. This is great news! The impact of positively creating a healthier short and long term epigenetic interaction brings potential for both aging and ailments.  

A recent study completed by a clinical research company called Genemarkers showed CBD oil – when in the right formula – has potential to speak to up to 165 of your skin’s genes via your cb2 receptors.

This gene pool party can have a splashing impact on:

• How quickly your skin heals

• Hydration

• Skin barrier health

• Pigmentation (aka age spots or acne scars)

• Inflammation (huge in eczema, dermatitis, rosacea, psoriasis)

• How oily your skin is (and therefore acne – impressive studies on this)

• Ageing

• Your skin’s response to stress

• Skin cell renewal aka how youthful your skin looks

Inflammation is a biggy for skin. Now let’s hit how CBD oil helps.

Inflammation - A Sight Unseen

All skin types can benefit from anti-inflammatory actives. Your skin can be triggered into inflammation quickly and we go about our life not even seeing it.

For example: UV light causes inflammation, stress causes inflammation, too little sleep causes inflammation, sugar causes inflammation – ever got red skin after a hot shower? Yup – inflammation.
Imagine your skin’s like a disco band concert DJ volume panel.  There’s hundreds of buttons, dials and sliders. You can push them up and you can push them down.   When the party of Cytokines which are messengers that impose stress and inflammation, your skin’s biome and genome visibly becomes agitated, aged, dry and eczema. This is also when you go from having patches of flaky skin to psoriasis.

To sum it up, when your skin’s inflammation volume gets turned up – genetic vulnerabilities to developing chronic skin conditions get switched on.

A geeky way of saying your skin is stressed.  Not the disco dance we want to experience. >> Where’s John Travolta when ya need him?

Pull in Your Oil Control - Anti-Acne Affect

CBD benefits are pretty awesome considering over 90% of us will experience acne and oily skin and some point in our lives.  I’m not talking about a drying astringent effect which temporarily absorbs or cuts through grease/sebum. Cannabidiol has proven to turn down your skin’s volume of sebum production.

Not only does this mean less oily skin, this also means a reduced chance of breakouts, acne and pimples.  Shine from your heart, not your face! The goal here is to make your skin less oily and your skin’s microflora balanced.

Flash~ acne causing bacteria get pushed out.

CBD oil studies have been shown to;

• Suppress skins sebocyte manufacture – these are the cells which make sebum

• Help stop skin reacting to testosterone – a hormone which makes skin more oily

• Help balance sebum production – sebum made by oily skin is different to sebum made by normal skin

So to review what benefits for oily, acne prone skin can experience….

1. Your skin becomes less oily.

2. Your skin therefore becomes less loved by acne bacteria.

3. Your skin experiences less acne, spots and pimples.

4. You can fly your skin plane steady and regain skin confidence!

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How Much CBD is Needed for Results?

Like with all active compounds, you need enough of it to work.  Dr. Caroline Hartridge, an osteopath notes that 200-mg per ounce of product is effective for pain and anti-inflammatory effects. Lower doses are still powerful for cellular repair among a host of other benefits but if you're seeing lower than 25-mg per ounce, or the company is hesitant to share levels, be wary.

Bidirectional cell talk brings an impressive anti-inflammatory and anti-acne affect by downregulating cytokines. Since almost every skin condition in existence is caused, worsened or made to happen more quickly by inflammation – the skin benefits of active diols, not just a seed oil are why myself and top formulators are evolving the anecdotal proof to largely reach women in the free market.

Is Full Spectrum or Isolate best for skin?

Chemicals are chemicals are chemicals. The battle between isolate and full-spectrum CBD are valid as isolates are difficult to trace, but, if your beauty company is transparent about where the CBD comes from, isolate might be better for your face. Full-spectrum is like a wine crop: Each vintage varies. CBD’s terpenes or essential oils can vary from crop to crop. While that’s okay for food, for your face, you may want something that’s more consistent.

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Get the SKIN HEALTH you deserve, NOW!

Remember, you are what you absorb.

1. Look for Organic and a COA.

2. Filler Free

3. Bioavailable through terpenes and low molecular fatty acids to assure you're avoiding the P450 Pathway - in which all your plant medicine is being stolen from Enzymes.

Want to get started on bringing your skin back to equilibrium?

Learn more and shop Nano CBD and top-selling topicals that are bioavailable, organic and sure to be a win-win on keeping your outer most protective barrier in top shape.

Awaken Beauty Podcast Mini Episode

How to Know if Your Skin Products Contain Hemp Oil or Active CBD Oil

Hello Awakened Beauty!

Unless you’re living under a rock burrowed deep within a cave on a remote island with terrible cell reception, you’ve heard of CBD. Touted as a “miracle drug,” everyone from doctors to stressed-out city dwellers are excited about its therapeutic potential. While we tend to err on the side of science, both anecdotally and in studies, CBD has been shown to help with conditions ranging from anxiety, stress, inflammation, and, as demonstrated by the drug approved by the FDA, childhood epilepsy.

We’ve talked about how topicals can help with pain (remember: most cannabis creams don’t meaningfully enter your bloodstream), but we haven’t talked about why inflammation happens, why it’s important, and how cannabis can help the process.

Think of inflammation like your body’s personal police force and hospital all rolled into one operation. It’s your first line of defense when you cut yourself, get an ingrown hair, or destroy your feet with a pair of five-inch heels. Your immune system is kicking in to protect and repair hurt areas with increased blood flow and white blood cells. This causes area to swell up, but it’s for a good cause. A certain level of inflammation ensures bacteria is kept under control and cells are hard at work to heal the area. However, there is such a thing as too much inflammation. The root of excruciating chronic diseases like rheumatoid arthritis, excess inflammation can also cause damage to tissue, cells, and your skin.

CBD and THC have both been shown to help with inflammation. These cannabinoids stop your body from over-firing inflammatory substances, balance blood flow, and have antibacterial properties. They also help with cell regeneration. There’s evidence that both compounds may reduce pain while healing damage.

Now, onto another form of inflammation that causes great strife in human populations—zits. A pimple is your body’s response to trapped bacteria. Zits are how your body deals with bacteria that’s become hermetically sealed in your pores—whether it’s from excess oil production or dead skin cells.

While popping said pimple can be deeply therapeutic, it never solves the root problem: the bacteria getting entombed. Whether it’s overactive sebaceous glands that create an oil imbalance (remember, not all oil is bad, particularly when it comes to your products) or dead skin creating a fossilized layer on your face, poking and prodding a zit can actually worsen inflammation and spread the bacteria to other pores for more mounds, more bumps, more pus.

Delicious.

CBD has been theorized to be the next wunderkind in skincare because it tackles zits at every level. Not only is it hemp a non comedogenic oil (meaning it won’t trap oil, skin, or bacterial juices in your pores), but CBD is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory meaning it can help speed up that healing process. In one study in the U.K., CBD was found to kill drug-resistant bacteria.

As mentioned earlier, CBD also regulates white blood cell count by fighting the infection, calming your body’s alarm system while regulating blood flow. This can help bring your skin, and zits (in theory), to a more balanced homeostasis. A study in 2007 from the Journal of Dermatological Science showed CBD and cannabinoids can help treat psoriasis. Read: it has the potential to balance your skin.

Both are good for your skin but hemp seed is used for its deeply moisturizing abilities. CBD is the active compound in cannabis that fights inflammation, bacteria, and cell turnover. Hemp seed oil is already used in products throughout Europe and the U.S., and is akin to a common carrier oil like rosehip. If the brand doesn’t list CBD, phytocannabinoid, cannabidiol, or full-spectrum hemp (which are all indications of CBD in legal chemical terms) on their packaging, you’re just buying hemp seed, which has no active CBD.

Like with all active compounds, you need enough of it to work. Ever try taking an eighth of an Advil? Dr. Caroline Hartridge, an osteopath and founder of Dr. Hartridge’s Healthcare Solutions, notes that 200-mg per ounce of product is effective for pain and anti-inflammatory effects. Lower doses are still powerful for cellular repair among a host of other benefits but if you're seeing lower than 25-mg per ounce, or the company is hesitant to share levels, be wary.

Before you get dazzled by CBD, make sure the other ingredients are OK for your skin. Perfumes, additives, and thickeners may trigger allergic reactions or be the key ingredient that helps your skin.    

Chemicals are chemicals are chemicals. The battle between isolate and full-spectrum CBD are valid as isolates are difficult to trace, but, if your beauty company is transparent about where the CBD comes from, isolate might be better for your face. Full-spectrum is like a wine crop: Each vintage varies. CBD’s terpenes or essential oils can vary from crop to crop. While that’s okay for food, for your face, you may want something that’s more consistent.

Whether you’re slapping it on your face or ingesting it orally, evidence points to CBD helping with inflammation, oil production, and restoring moisture balance.

One study showed that ingested CBD helped normalize oil production, leaving acne sufferers with better skin as pores wouldn’t get blocked. If you’re looking for a topical, make sure it has a high dose. If you’re looking for an oral CBD, make sure you’re not allergic to anything in the tincture.  

Shop Clinical Grade CBD @beautyecology and online www.evoqbeauty.com

**Thank you for this great resource and editorial by Nice Paper

Skin Loving Makeup Makeover Event| RSVP Feb 13th

You get 1 CHANCE and 3 SECONDS to make a good impression.

Love Your Skin Mineral Makeup Makeover

Tell me, when is the last time…

• you updated your makeup bag colors that suite you best?

• detoxed your beauty drawers of chemicals, synthetics & bacteria

PERSONALIZED WITH TOP TIPS FROM MAKEUP EXPERTS

• learn a new look or technique

• how to avoid a creased or heavy look

• contouring to pop features

• get a natural glowing look

• how to apply for ease and speed

• match my colors and quick tips for my age

SAVE THE DATE

When: 
February 13th

Time: 
3pm - 8pm
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Investment: 
Makeup Focus Session Only $20

**Spend $75 and receive a FREE GIFT with purchase**

With Amy | National Makeup artist

HOW TO BOOK
Please email us at : hello@beautyecology.com 

Request what time between 3pm - 8pm work best for you.  

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WHY LA BELLA DONNA?

Zero Toxins  |  Confidence without Compromise

Not all minerals are created equal. Conventional makeup and mineral lines include fillers such as talc and dyes that pull the moisture OUT of your skin, leaving the skin feeling tight and caky. 

Other mineral lines also contain nano-particles, which leach into the bloodstream - in which you both loose your coverage and put your health at risk.   

80% of AGING is from UV rays. 
Makeup should be an extension of skin care and provide every day UV protection.  Four ingredients that enhance your skin and health with
an SPF 50 - on the daily.

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HOW TO BOOK

Please email us at : hello@beautyecology.com 

Request what time between 3pm - 8pm work best for you. 

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A Brief on Your Beauty Pro

Meet Amy - Your Makeup Artist

Amy’s worked with the Prestige line as a top leader with Estée Lauder Companies for over 18 with many additional roles such as a lead Account Executive with multiple retailers.

Amy's passion is to help woman learn about the benefits of safe, high performance makeup and for them to feel their best.  "La Bella Donna products offer natural, prestige, affordable and makeup with skincare benefits  perfect for any women of every age.

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HOW TO BOOK

Please email us at : hello@beautyecology.com 

Request what time between 3pm - 8pm work best for you. 

How Your Skin’s Endocannabinoid System’s Changing the Game & Your Genes for Good

Inflammation no mo!

How CBD is Changing the Skincare Game & Your Genes for Good

Whether it's fighting free radicals, treating blemishes,  or reducing inflammation, the power of cannabinoids (CBD) are proving to be a key for treating a variety of skin concerns.

Researcher and buyer beware, there is a lot of confusion and misinformation out there because of all the red tape  and the plethora of unregulated “me too CBD companies.”

In a previous editorial, we explored the body’s endocannabinoid system which is often referred to as ECS. We discovered the key roles your ECS plays in your overall wellness and outlined how CBD engages to bring equilibrium to your brain and body.

Next, we move onto the ECS and your skin!

Being in the skin industry for over two decades, the new re-discoveries around our skin’s very own endocannabinoid system and its own receptor ecosystem findings is beyond exciting. It put me into re-formulation mode (watch for our relaunch 2019).

When out of balance, the skin’s endocannabinoid system results in pathological skin conditions such as: acne, accelerated aging, dermatitis, psoriasis and seborrhea to name but a few.

The Gut Connection to our Skin’s Immunity

It is well-documented that the gastrointestinal tract, which, like the skin, is one of the primary physical barriers of the immune system, has abundant cannabinoid receptor sites.

Now, research has shown that the skin also has an endocannabinoid system of its own, which helps to regulate the production of various hormones and proteins, including cytokine causes the skin to spike into inflammation), which is also involved in the immune response.

The skin’s endocannabinoid system also helps to regulate various cellular processes including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis or cell death. Thus, imbalance of this system is responsible for the occurrence of chronic skin conditions such as advanced aging, psoriasis and eczema, and developing targeted cannabinoid therapies may help to control the root of optimal skin health.

Many skin conditions are inflammatory in nature and the anti-inflammatory effects of cannabinoids on skin cells have been demonstrated. Both THC and CBD show anti-inflammatory effects.

What’s happening below the surface.  

Skin flare ups are common whether it’s acne, psoriasis or eczema because hormones like cortisol tell the glands in your skin to make oil, suppress your immune system and can cause an inflammatory response in the skin.  

Applying CBD topically is an effective method for introducing cannabinoids to the skin’s ECS for immediate absorption, and faster results.

Topical Application of CBD

Topical applications of Cannabidiol can penetrate as deep as one inch from the surface.  Imagine what our Evoq Nano infused CBD can influence at 1 billionth of the size! Topicals containing higher amounts of CBD (5 mg per application) can offer relief from physical pain, arthritis and rheumatism.

Communicating the Connection Points

Human tissues have at least two types of cannabinoid receptors, CB1 and CB2, each coupled with a protein. CB1 receptors are expressed predominantly at nerve terminals where they mediate inhibition of neurotransmitter release.

CB2 receptors are found mainly on immune cells, one of their roles being to modulate cytokine release.

Endogenous ligands for these receptors, endocannabinoids, also exist, and examples include the molecule anandamide. These discoveries have led to the development of CB1- and CB2-selective agonists and antagonists and of bioassays for characterizing such ligands. So in the future we can have much more targeted cannabinoid therapies.

Human skin cells or keratinocytes are part of the peripheral endocannabinoid system and showed a unique signaling mechanism of CB1 receptors, which may have important implications in epidermal differentiation and skin development.

How About Scalp and Hair Health?

Cannabinoid receptors have been found in even the smallest nerve fibers controlling hair follicles, and keratinocytes have also been shown to bind and metabolize anandamide, the most abundant endocannabinoid.  Plant cannabinoids Δ-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), cannabidiol, cannabinol and cannabigerol (CBG) for their ability to inhibit the proliferation of a hyper-proliferating human keratinocyte cell line and for any involvement of cannabinoid receptors for ultimate hair health.  

In other research, published in The Federation of American Societies for Experimental Biology (FASEB) Journal, it was shown that cannabinoids produce lipids that can regulate skin conditions such as acne vulgaris, seborrhea and dry skin. They suggested further exploration of cannabinoids as “novel therapeutic tools" to treat dry scalp.   

In summary, we have many studies documenting the contributory nature of cannabinoids, their receptors, and the skin’s endocannabinoid system in the metabolism of psoriasis and eczema and other inflammatory diseases, of which aging of the skin is considered one.

In the coming years there is great hope for the use of targeted cannabinoid therapies to better control our overall skin health.    

Our topical formulations were developed with the well-being of your skin in mind by enhancing your powerful forces of nature with the highest quality of NANO CBD enhanced formulas soon to be offered in 2019!

Stay tuned, and in the meantime, check out our internal tinctures or One Hit Wonder-ment Skin Oil to get you started here!

All the best, to you and to your skin’s best health. - Kassandra

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References:

M.Pucci, C. Rapino,A. Di Francesco, E. Dainese, C. D’Addario, and M. Maccarone, “Epigenetic Control of Skin Differentiation Genes by Phytocannabinoids,” British Journal of Pharmacology 170, no.3 (2013): 581.doi:10.1111/bph.12309

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4240254/

https://www.naturalproductsinsider.com/beauty/cannabinoids-hemp-beauty-skin-health

CBD and the Endocannabinoid System. Your brain and body are dependent on it.

What is the Endocannabinoid System?

The word endocannabinoid roots itself in Latin, endo meaning within and cannabinoid describing a key in the complex system and is often referred to as the ECS.

The key roles of the ECS are growing daily through research studies by top universities and governing bodies.  

The biological influences of the body’s ECS are many, but to put it simply, it is the neurofeedback system keeping your body in balance despite fluctuations in the external environment.

Keeping your ECS in Balance.

Throughout your body there are cell receptors and corresponding molecules which comprise your endocannabinoid system.

There are two primary cell receptors called Cannabinoid Receptor 1 (CB1) and Cannabinoid Receptor 2 (CB2). Your body produces cannabinoids with the assistance of fatty acids, not unlike those cannabinoids produced in the cannabis plant (hello CBD).

Your endocannabinoid presence acts as the master communicators with your cells to better regulate inflammation, pain, appetite, sleep, mood, insulin sensitivity, fat and energy metabolism, and also impact neurologic and immune conditions.  

Cannabinoids influence the activity of more than 1000 genes, and help increase our cellular antioxidant defenses as well as downregulate many pro-inflammatory mediators.  Most can attest that one of the most appreciated uses of CBD is it’s direct activation of serotonin receptors, providing you an anti-anxiety effect.

The symbiotic relationship of cannabinoids and your ECS.

There are few plants that render the phytochemical abundance of cannabis. Cannabis hosts over 400 unique chemicals and are critical for bioregulation and homeostasis throughout our body and brain.  

What happens when you take CBD internally?

When CBD is ingested, it acts as a supplement, if you will, that kick starts the body’s ECS which is stimulated to produce its own cannabinoids. Current research shows that ingesting CBD actually assists the body in switching on its own capacity for maintaining balance and well-being.  

Read that sentence again so it sinks in: Research is showing that ingesting CBD actually assists the body in switching on its own capacity for maintaining balance and well-being.

Game-Changing Discovery Linking the Brain and the Immune System

Cerebral Health + ECS

Cannabinoids have shown to have a protective effect in the brain and nervous system.  As a powerful neuroprotective antioxidant, CBD is superior to the largely known Vitamin E  and Vitamin C in preventing toxicity from excess amounts of the neurotransmitter glutamate.  

Cannabinoids are now being studied as a target as a new antidepressant and antianxiety solution due to its ability to help to balance mood by their effect on a serotonin receptors.  They even help regulate excitability in the brain, which now shows a track record on the impact on epileptic seizures.

Proactive Neuron Health

Certain cannabinoids offer an overall tonic for the brain, protecting against chronic stress, which can result in a decrease the growth and density of new neurons. They also influence mechanisms that govern the life and death of neurons, suggesting they may be helpful for neurodegenerative conditions and increase the capacity of the brain to adapt, change and remodel itself in response to experience. 

Your Body + ECS

The chronic stress and abundance of toxins in today’s culture is a great burden on our bodies. Cannabinoids are a first line of defence in combating the oxidative stress that burdens us all. They’ve shown to diminish damage related to diabetes, retinal disease, leaky gut, and other conditions associated with oxidative stress and immune activation.

As early adopters of CBD, many start taking Cannabinoids  to address inflammation and pain, which may also support musculoskeletal system function and joint health.  We also know how important recovery from sleep is. Good news! According to a 2017 review of scientific research,  cannabinoids were found helpful in improving disturbances in REM sleep leading to excessive daytime sleepiness.

In summary, nature in her brilliance and infinite creativity, has gifted us with a stream of plant bliss-genes,  blooming perfectly for our own innate regulatory cannabinoid system.

What happens when your ECS does not produce enough cannabinoids or regulate the cells properly?  

We are now starting to discover the everyday and more severe autoimmune health issues to be linked to a  “Endocannabinoid Deficiency Syndrome (ECDS).” I will help you explore this concept in a future article.  

We think CBD taken internally is pretty remarkable, which is why we created our tinctures to keep you in check. I think of our ECS as a great harmonizer, helping us to regain equilibrium and balance.

Thank you for following along and discovering more of your inner-brilliance!

Are you happy?

It’s a journey to INNER JOY….

Everyone you meet always asks if you have a career, are married or own a house; as if life was some kind of grocery list

…. But nobody ever asks if you are happy.

- Heath Ledger

The 2 Types of Hair Loss [and how to reverse it]

Why is my hair thinning!?

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We've all been there. Speaking from experience and empathy - I went through a 50% hair loss experience (dreadful) this winter due to stress and incredibly low hemoglobin. As my gut was healed, and my body restored - I see the fruits in full return from applying meditation, our Evoq products (especially the root activator), CBD, and disciplined sleep habits.

Hair loss has always been specialty of mine at BE Salon. I’ve witnessed hundreds of women battle thinning hair - so I can validate that 1 in 4 women will experience hair loss.

I’ve also helped these women throw their locks in a role reversal (positive). By understanding the catalysts to hair loss, we can then learn and be proactive in combating it. Sitting and fretting ads to the issue. Girl, LET’S GROW!

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WHICH IS IT?
There are two general reasons for hair loss: hereditary and reactive.

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Hereditary hair loss refers to a genetic predisposition to hair thinning, which includes "male pattern balding" experienced by about 50% of men over the age of 50, though genes can also cause hair loss much earlier.

When it comes to hormones,women can experience this patterning.

Hormones play a huge role in regulating the hair growth cycle. Oestrogens (female hormones) are 'hair friendly' and help to keep hairs in their growth phase for the optimal length of time. Androgens (male hormones) are not very hair friendly, and can shorten the hair growth cycle.

An excess of androgens (which could be caused by an endocrine disorders) can cause hair loss. The extent of this is often down to genes - If you have a genetic predisposition to follicle sensitivity, a hormonal imbalance can affect your hair more than it would someone who does not have a predisposition.

I suggest seeing a Functional Medicine Practitioner to see what’s stressing your hormones and organs inside-out. Even if you're predisposed genetically, there are still plenty of lifestyle changes and natural remedies to explore.

Here’s a GREAT read on how to test your Thyroid - often a partnering culprit.

Reactive hair loss refers to a harsh internal jolt to your system and external stressors that affect hair loss and strength. These include diet, hormones, stressors, behaviors, environmental factors, sudden weight loss/gain and even skin conditions such as psoriasis and seborrheic dermatitis.

How does this happen? Androgen (male hormone) levels are yet again raised, which in turn can causes hair loss. Feeling like it’s out of your control?

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Here’s a few ways to TAKE CONTROL of your HAIR VITALITY TODAY

Take note.

1. Eat well and Smart Supplements. 
Deficiencies in iron, zinc, B vitamins, protein, and complex carbohydrates can all have a negative effect on hair growth. B12, commonly found in animal products, is often found to be low in vegans and vegetarians. Hair is made of protein, making adequate daily intake of protein rich foods essential. Include at least a palm sized portion of protein at breakfast and lunch.

Generally speaking, it's important to eat plenty of vegetables to help chelate excess xenoestrogens to keep your hair and scalp in optimum shape. Say not to SUGAR! It’s a direct release of cortisol and can feel the follicle popping as I think about it!

2. Stay on top of immunity and hormonal balance.
Undiagnosed thyroid problems, hormone imbalances, autoimmune diseases and other conditions can be found at the root of hair loss. Be sure to consult a Functional Medicine Practitioner if you're experiencing any symptoms related to these conditions. Skilled to get to the root!

3. Take it easy on the styling.
Heat styling as well as tight braids, buns, and ponytails can take a toll on the strands. As for styling products, pay attention to ingredients. Polyethylene glycol and alcohol can dry out strands and lead to weak, brittle hair that's more prone to breakage.

4. Gentle Ammonia Free Hair Color.
About 70% of women use hair color. I’ve witnessed it time and again - after our clients at Beauty Ecology. BE was one of the first salons to exclude professional-grade Ammonia, Resorcinol, and PPD from our services. We stay true to that commitment, making our color much gentler, safer, and kinder to the stylist, environment and most important -your healthier scalp!

5. Find healthy ways to cope with your stress.
Stress and anxiety can raise androgen levels, which increases the likelihood of hair loss. Therapy, meditation, and CBD, and natural supplements are effective ways to reduce stress in our day to day lives. I love adaptogenic herbs (CBD also acts like an adaptogen). Look for ashwagandha, rhodiola, and cordyceps - all shown to relieve stress.

6. Nourish your top crop and reactivate your scalp.

This is VITAL. Remember, your scalp and outer skin is the last chain of command to receive nourishment from the inside, so externally assistance for the scalp is a critical MUST from my experience. It’s why our Root Revival System has been a reviving blessing to many of our success - hair - full clients.

Experience our HAIR GROWTH ACTIVATOR that’s proven to be 2x’s MORE IMPACTFUL THAN MINOXIDIL (drug based).

When you purchase our Root Revival System YOU GET FREE SHIPPING!

Addiction + Collagen’s Worst Enemy [must read]

Hello there!
Q: Noticing wrinkles, some deep lines or sagging in your skin?

Sugar may be one of the culprits.

Yes, sugar is classified as America’s top addiction, but you may not realize you have MORE POWER THAN YOU THINK when it' comes to taking control of advanced aging skin.

What Happens When You Eat Sugar?

Regular cellular hits of all kinds of sugar can trigger a cascade of physiological events that may ultimately cause inflammation, AGE factors from glycation and flare up issues.

Collagen’s Natural Enemy | AGE

Wrinkles and sagging skin are a partial byproduct of the process known as glycation, in which excess sugar molecules attach themselves to collagen fibers and ultimately cause them to lose their strength and flexibility (we call these bondings AGEs, or advanced glycosylation end products).

The result? Skin becomes less elastic and more vulnerable to sun damage, fine lines and sagging.

Sneaky Sugars are found in high-glycemic carbohydrates such as breads, starches, potatoes, baked goods, pastas, desserts and soda, are rapidly converted to glucose in your bloodstream.

The Effects Are More Than Just Skin Deep

While wrinkled skin is one of the visible signs of AGEs, most degenerative diseases are affected one way or another by disease-producing glycation reactions.

In fact, AGEs lie at the very heart of the aging process—from the skin to the brain—and can be responsible for wrinkles, heart disease, cancer, diabetes and more, including age-related memory loss and even Alzheimer’s disease.

Simply put, the formation of AGEs is responsible for both internal and external damage to the body…and sugar is the primary culprit.

With a few nutrition changes, you can get beautiful skin in no time!

INFLAMMATION

Sugar ruins your skin by causing inflammation in the body. Sugar causes blood sugar levels to surge and plummet, which leads to inflammation. All sugars such as white and brown sugar, agave syrup, molasses, maple syrup, and honey, are to be looked for.

Opt in for fresh fruit or the natural sweetener Stevia instead.

WRINKLES

Sugar’s inflammatory properties also lead to wrinkles. Collagen is what keeps your skin looking young and wrinkle-free but sugar attacks collagen, eating it on a cellular level. This dehydrates your skin and makes it look dull. And, of course, dehydration also leads to premature wrinkles.

BLOOD SUGAR IMBALANCE

Whenever you eat foods with a high sugar content, your blood sugar rises rapidly and falls rapidly. When you experience this sugar crash, you often feel hungry, shaky, and moody. Every time this happens, your body experiences internal stress, which often leads to breakouts.

Stabilize your blood sugar levels, eat meals that contain plenty of fiber, protein, and healthy fats.

FREE RADICALS

Free radicals cause inflammation and disease in the body. Studies have linked high-sugar foods and high-sugar diets with creating free radicals in the body. Antioxidants are important fighters in the war against free radicals, and foods with natural sugars, such as fruits and vegetables, are excellent sources.

Avoiding foods with added sweeteners, to boost your antioxidant levels and help your body win its fight against free radicals. H2 water is incredible to squash free radicals.

REDNESS AND RASHES

The inflammatory properties of sugar also cause red, irritated skin. Many people who suffer from rashes or are prone to yeast imbalances can blame their issues on a diet loaded with sugar.

Clear it up by removing refined and added sugars and focus on cruciferous green veggies and fiber-rich foods.

DEHYDRATION

Sugar sucks the water from your body’s cells, leading to dry, puffy skin and those terrible under-eye circles that we all hate.

Invest in H2 rich water to instantly oxygenate your skin.

DIGESTION PROBLEMS

Sugar is very hard on your digestive tract and creates inflammation and flora imbalances in the gut, and any time food doesn’t digest well, it shows in your skin.

Reducing sugar leads to a better functioning digestive tract, fewer food cravings, and better skin.

So there ya go! If you have any questions about how to set up your skin for success, contact us - and our SKIN PRO’s will help you align a inflammation free skin care regime + matched with your new awareness on sugar and it’s impact on our skin! Email: Hello@beautyecology.com

What it all comes down to? A Healthy Scalp [bonus inside]

Natural Ingredients Are Only Beneficial [ IF ] They Are Bioavailable!
I'm pretty sure you agree there's countless hair and scalp products on the market today that state they contain natural ingredients. But far too often, the individual botanical may not convey any noticeable effect.

When I develop or revise any Evoq product, the delivery system and the preservations of it's natural ingredients (yes), but even more so, it's critical the bioactivity is preserved for short and long term results.  

For example:

This is why we invest in Vitamin C Esther (lipid encapsulated) versus ascorbic acid, (vitamin c form that goes rancid upon oxygenation).

So.... how's YOUR scalp? 
​​When it comes to your scalp and the extension thereof [ HAIR ] .....

At Beauty Ecology we help you resolve everything from dandruff, psoriasis, over oily scalp, and hair loss - we know how to recognize when your scalp needs that extra attention.   

Our gentle Chelation System in our Scalp Clarifying + Remedy Treatment is definitely my favorite (and client go to) when it comes to treating the hair and scalp.   Here's what to expect if you put it to work:

- Removing excess and trapped oils
- Product build up 
- Hard water and chlorine
- Prep for hair color for longer lasting and more vibrancy

The KEY here is to remember, the health of your scalp displays many cause and effects, but it is the very place HEALTHY HAIR STARTS.  This means the rate of growth and vitality of your cuticle strength also starts here. 

SURPRISE! LIMITED TIME OFFER

Grab 10% OFF our top selling Scalp Health & Regrowth products!

DISCOUNT CODE:  * BESTSCALPEVER *

Hair Regrowth Tonic

- Up to 200% Better OutcomeCompared to Minoxidil (drug based growth product)

- 78.9% noticed visible increase in Hair Diameter & Thickness

- 71% of satisfaction and desired continual use

- Outperforms Minoxidil by 90% in medical based clinical trial

Clarifying Pre-Wash

AHA + Willow Bark: ­Helps clear the follicles of excessive dead cell build up, allowing room for thicker hair growth.

Zinc Complex:  Reduce scalp irritation and employ scalp balance with this natural UV protectant infusion for the most advanced scalp ailments.

Seed Oil Concentrate:  Nourish and support the scalp with an infusion of free radical quenching and anti­-inflammatory benefits.

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HAIR GROWTH ACTIVATION

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FREE UP OF PRODUCT BUILD UP + HARD WATER  

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Thanks for being the INFORMED BEAUTY you are! If you’d like more information on our scalp treatments, products or to make an appointment - please email me at hello@beautyecology.com.