SKIN OCCLUSION - Lighten Dark Knees, Knuckles and Feet

I have received a ton of mails and calls from clients and blog readers complaining about their dark knees, knuckles, feet or even a combination of all three. After trying all sorts of creams there seem to be no remedy to this and now i have finally decided to do a blog post on this issue so everyone who faces this challenge can finally know how to combat it.

The secret to forcing your skin to obey the rules of the cream you are applying on it is simply called Skin Occlusion. "Onome, please what is Occlusion?" i can hear you asking; well according to my online research;

"Skin occlusion occurs when something, usually a topical medication, is trapped on and, as a result, gets absorbed by your skin. If you have ever applied an antibacterial ointment to a cut, then covered that cut with a bandage, you have used skin occlusion to prevent infection and speed the healing process."

Simply put, occlusion is when you apply a cream, lotion etc on any part of your skin then cover it with any barrier causing material (bandage, plaster, natural butter etc) so the skin underneath doesnt breath. This process traps in hydration into the skin which in turn allows your cream, lotion etc to penetrate better and faster.Top spas use this system during skin therapy to allow the topical treatments penetrate better

SIMPLE OCCLUSION METHOD FOR DARK KNUCKLES AND FEET

There are several ways you can occlude your skin, you can use nylon, cling o film, surgical gloves, socks or even shea/cocoa butters depending on the part of body and extent of damage.

METHOD

For example if your area of concern is your dark feet or toes, to occlude all you need to do is apply a good lactic acid cream like Amlactin, glycolic cream like Glytone etc then wrap your feet with the cling o film and wear a sock over it. If yours is dark knuckles apply any of these creams then wear a surgical gloves. (If you have really dry dark skin in these areas i also recommend applying shea butter over the aha cream before wearing your occluding material). Leave this on for at least 6 hours or overnight (if your partner won't find it weird). Do this for at least 1 month to see the effect.


So to all my lovely ladies, no need to continue hiding your dark knuckles or dark knees use this method and solve the problem permanently.

Until next post...remain beautiful,

VITAMIN C SERUM IS A MUST-HAVE FOR GREAT SKIN

Some skin care products get their 15 minutes of fame before getting pushed to the back of your drawer, but the vitamin C serum is here to stay. That may be because of the fact that, most of the time, a vitamin C serum does pretty much exactly what is promised on the box. How many other products can boast of that? But before you run to your nearest store to buy a Vitamin C serum, you need to know what the hype is all about, right? Okay, let me tell you why you need Vitamin C serum on your dresser;

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How Vitamin C Serum Help Your Skin ?

• Acts as an antioxidant – The process of oxidation damages the skin cells. Vitamin C serums are rich in anti-oxidants that repair and renew the cells and give the skin a healthier look.
• Helps produce collagen – Collagen binds the cells of our body. Vitamin C serum stimulates the synthesis of collagen in the skin which will give you a tighter, firmer and less sagged feel. It is a good first-step solution to treat the onset of wrinkles.
• Restores and regenerates – Vitamin C attacks the free radicals in your body and does some hardcore damage management. If you have any acne scars left from your previous breakout, you’ll find them fading with regular application.
• Protects you from the sun – Getting overexposed to the sun can cause hyper-pigmentation and sun spotting. A vitamin C serum will counteract any harmful effect of the sun and also decrease the chances of skin cancer by thickening the dermis layer. But it is important to note that a vitamin c serum cannot replace your sunscreen. A sunscreen provides the much needed SPF protection by shielding the outer layer of the skin while the vitamin c serum acts as a sun barrier from within the skin. You should apply the sunscreen as well as the vitamin C serum before going outside for prolonged periods of time.

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How to apply it.
After you’ve chosen a vitamin C serum, it is important that you use it right. Correct method of application will definitely increase the effectiveness of the cream.

• Wash your face properly and use a toner to get every residue off your face, then apply the serum to your face, neck and decolletage (fancy word for chest area...Lol)
• Let it sink in and dry for some time and then apply a moisturizer, if possible use one with a sunscreen in it during the day and a Vitamin C moisturizer like this by Insta Natural at night would increase the benefits. 
• It is important that you use the serum before moisturizing and not after. This is because the serum is easily absorbed into the skin, while moisturizers work on the surface. If you use the moisturizer first, your skin will not be able to absorb the vitamin c serum.
• Vitamin C serums are oil free preparations that are perfect for balancing oily skin by exfoliating naturally. Because of its exfoliating properties, it is a good idea to follow up a vitamin c serum application with a moisturizer, especially if you have sensitive skin.

Lastly, after purchasing the serum, it’s a good idea to store it either in a dark place like drawer or wardrobe or keep it refrigerated. This will keep the serum from oxidizing too quickly, and will give you a better result for the price.

Until next post...remain beautiful.

DIY SKINCARE RECIPES: Banana Facial Masks

I love eating bananas...especially with groundnut or peanut butter (have you tried a banana and peanut butter smoothie? Heavenly!!!). Lol...Okay, now that I have put that info out there, lets get down to the real purpose of this post.

How To Use Banana For Skincare

Bananas have a chunk of good vitamins and minerals like vitamin B6, manganese, vitamin C, potassium, dietary fiber, biotin, and copper. These potent minerals and vitamins are what makes banana a great skincare remedy. Let's see what how these minerals and vitamins benefits our skin.

BENEFITS OF BANANA FOR SKIN

Skin moisturizer. Rich in potassium and moisture, it will hydrate and moisturizes dry skin, making it soft and supple. If your skin is peeling and dry, simply apply a banana face mask on your face. Get a small bowl, mash up a ripe banana with the back of your fork, and apply to your face, avoiding the area around your eye and mouth. Rinse with cold water after 10 to 15 minutes and enjoy the soft feel of your skin.

Oil control. If you've got oily greasy skin, use a simple banana face mask with lemon juice and honey. Banana is a great exfoliator which helps slough off excess sebum on skin surface. It also contains and contains moisture, potassium, and vitamins E and C, which all promote clear glowing skin. Mash a ripe banana with the back of a fork and combine 1 tablespoon of raw honey and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice to make an amazing face mask. Rinse off with a wet cloth or cold water.

VANITY OILS IS BACK!

Vanity Oils, one of Nigeria's 1st organic oil brand is relaunching today 27th November 2015. After a brief hiatus to restrategise; they are finally back with a brand new website where customers can shop their vast range of organic products.

Vanity Oils old package

Vanity Oils stock a wide range of carrier oils e.g Jojoba, Avocado, Castor, Argan, RoseHip, Sweet Almond, Coconut oils etc. They also stock essential oils like Clary sage, Carrot Seed, Cedarwood, Peppermint, Lemongrass etc and of course Shea butter and Cocoa butter.

SKIN LIGHTENING CREAMS SEIZED AT GATWICK AIRPORT

A large shipment of toxic skin lightening products linked to cancer has been seized at Gatwick Airport, says West Sussex County Council.


The consignment of almost 1,000 jars of cosmetics, containing banned substance hydroquinone, were prevented from importation by West Sussex County Council’s Trading Standards Service, working in partnership with UK Border Force at Gatwick Airport.

10 TIPS TO IMPROVE DRY SKIN

Most dry skin conditions happen because the outer layers of the skin have lost their ability to retain moisture. There are some tried and true steps you can take to repair that barrier.

Practical Tips for Dry Skin

1. Drink Lots of Water

Your skin is about 30% water, so proper hydration is essential for its health, and even more so when it is dry or stressed. Drinking dehydrating beverages such as coffee and alcohol can worsen the problem so consuming lots of pure water is your best bet.

2. Exfoliate Gently

Dry skin often looks and feels even worse because the top layers of dead skin cells are blocking healthy new skin cells from the surface. If you have dry skin you need to constantly exfoliate to remove the dry skin. Dry skin brushing used in synergy with a very gentle exfoliating lotion such as Amlactin used at least twice a week can help correct this problem.

ORIKI NATURAL SPA LAUNCHES IN LAGOS

ORÍKÌ, a leading luxury spa clinic that caters to both men and women launched recently in Lagos.
Speaking at the launch event, which held at the ORÍKÌ Showroom & Spa in Victoria Island, Lagos, Joycee Awojoodu, the founder, stated that ORÍKÌ was inspired by its believe in empowering farmers and utilizing the plethora of raw materials and natural ingredients to create a leading luxury brand and also because of the keen passion and persistent vision to create a proudly African brand with international standards that can compete on a global stage.

Awojoodu said that “ORÍKÌ is a lifestyle, an attitude, and a way of life. The ORÍKÌ philosophy is borne from the notion that natural skin, hair and body products work better simply because they are made with superior ingredients; nature knows best. The abundance of natural resources across the globe, coupled with our expertise and commitment to all natural ingredients provide easy, smart solutions from head to toe”.