by Cathy Anderson
Health & Beauty Manager

After a long, hot summer of fun and playing outdoors and, well (honestly speaking), not using enough sunscreen, I’m seeing a few more signs of aging. You know…a couple extra wrinkles, freckles are a bit darker, my skin is a little less taut as it curves around my facial bones… Yes, it’s true. Sun, as much as I adore it, is the most potent contributor of free radicals, which lead to the breakdown of cells and an increase in the signs of aging.

Oh, but the warmth and color we wait for in these long Idaho winters is difficult to resist…no? I grew up in Southern Idaho lying out at noon with a mixture of baby oil and iodine. Those habits are hard to break…
What is a girl to do?

Sunscreen is so important, even on less than sunny days. UVA, “A as in aging” rays, pour right through clouds and windows and into your skin.  UVB, “B as in burning” rays, are the ones that darken skin, causing it to burn and peel. UVA damage is more difficult to detect because it penetrates deeply into the skin. So, just plan on using SPF all year long, at least on your face. You’ll be glad you did. For the best protection, look for mineral-based products that blocks both UVA and UVB rays. I use John Masters Organics SPF 30 and Mychelle Sun Shield 28. I like to alternate, it’s how I am. Both are very effective and melt into the skin so well they can be worn under make-up.

Okay, now that we know our skin is protected, it’s time for the fun stuff! I have come up with the perfect list of our very favorite beauty products here at the Boise Co-op. I do believe we offer the highest quality skin care available, and with a happy, helpful, well-educated staff, why go anywhere else?

First we must exfoliate… that’s right, brothers and sisters— out with the old, in with the new! As we age, our skin cells don’t turn over quite so often and they need a little help to look fresh again. My favorite is Mychelle Fruit Enzyme Scrub. Love it!! It works in two ways, both as a physical exfoliant with bamboo and jojoba beads picking up dead skin cells, and as a natural chemical peel with fruit acids that dissolve the glue holding the dead skin in place. Leave it on an extra minute after you have gently buffed your face in a smooth circular motion for the full effect. You can use this product three times a week, but remember, your face is not the kitchen floor, so be nice and don’t scrub the entire top layer off! As an added bonus, It also contains several anti-inflammatory extracts such as licorice, gotu kola and horse chestnut seed.

If you prefer to relax and let the product do all the work, try Pangea’sGreen Tea and Goji Berry Mask. Full of antioxidants, it fights free radicals while leaving your skin baby soft. Goji berries are in almost everything these days, in fact, I love to add them to my smoothie or my raw cookie recipes! I think everything works better if you take care of both the inside and the outside of your body, and many of the foods and nutrients that benefit our insides also benefit our skin. So, it’s goji in my food, and goji in my mask!

Now that we’re all smooth, let’s turn the bathroom into a high-end spa with a couple handfuls of Kettle CareDetox Bath Salt. This is an amazing blend of Dead Sea salt, epsom salt and essential oils of lavender, grapefruit, cypress, juniper, basil and orange. Soak for 20-30 minutes and emerge feeling 20 years younger! For extra detoxifing effects add a splash of apple cider vinegar— another example of something that’s good for the insides also being good for the skin! (In fact, try this beauty secret: Add 1 tablespoon Braggs Apple Cider Vinegar to 1 quart of water. Drink this every day, and watch the lines fade away.)

After your bath, apply your favorite facial oil. Mine is Jurlique Skin Balancing Oil. It is truly amazing— I saw my skin become more radiant after the very first application. Rose hip, avocado, and shea butter oils soften and protect newly exfoliated skin, and the scent is divine, with a blend of calendula, marshmallow and chamomile that is not at all overpowering. Baby yourself with this delicate oil before bed and your dreams will be filled with sweetness. It can also be used as a lovely hair treatment. Massage it into damaged ends on wet or dry hair, but bee sure to stay away from the scalp/fringe area unless you plan on washing it out before going out.

One final item on my must-have beauty list is Mychelle G2 Firming Serum. Goji berries again, this time used for their glycopeptides and collegen boosting effects. This is a true example of science meeting nature.  I’ve been using G2 since its debut in July, and I feel it working a soon as it touches my skin. Mychelle recommends using two pumps per application, but I use three and spread this serum onto my neck and chest, areas that often get neglected until it is too late.

Thank you for taking the time to read this article. I hope that it, and all the other information in our newsletter, will be of benefit. Please e-mail me with any questions or suggestions. I am here to serve.

Be Well.

cathy@boisecoop.com