all things beauty

The benefits of a daily skin-care regime

Wed, 04 Apr 2012 07:47:00 GMT

Between bed and the mad rush to get to work/uni/school it’s pretty easy to forget about your skin. The same can be said for when you get home and the last thing you want to worry about is a skincare regime- especially when Grey’s Anatomy has just started!

It’s simply one of those things that can be easily overlooked.

After a few weeks of having a consistent skincare routine you will begin to notice a difference in your skin- especially if you are using natural products.

We’ve done all the hard work for you here at La Mav by putting together a chart for all different skintypes to guide you through what you should be doing.

Both morning and night you should cleanse and tone your skin and apply a moisturising product. If you have a specific skin concern, like anti-aging or skin-brightening, apply a serum to target your issue. Mirror this with a nectar in the evenings. A few times a week you should apply a face-mask and exfoliate your skin to encourage bright healthy skin.

It may sound like a chore but once you see and feel the results in your skin it won’t seem like so much work.

Download your copy of the La Mav Skincare recommendation and customise a skincare regime to suit you.

Enjoy the Mask-erade

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:55:00 GMT

If you are reading this then you most likely exercise the basic skin care regime so well done! You may however be new to face masks or may not understand the full benefit of adding these in to your current regime, so I am going to help.

Cleansing, toning and moisturising go hand-in-hand on a daily basis, but like your hair, your face needs that extra attention from time to time. A face mask to the skin is what a hair mask is to the hair – they hydrate intensely, plump skin, reduce fine lines, pump skin full of power antioxidants, remove excess oil, polish skin... oh the results are endless!

Choosing the right mask is the hardest feat. Learn about your skin – if it is dry then seek a nourishing face mask, if skin is oily look for a clay mask to draw out excess oil and reduce the appearance of blackheads, whilst ageing skin can benefit from a mask packed with powerful antioxidants and anti-ageing ingredients.

Aside from sounding delicious, La Mav DNA Phyto-Guard Pink Clay Mask is the ideal face mask for normal, dry, mature and sensitive skin types because of its gentle and nourishing ingredients. As you might have guessed, it contains Pink Clay to absorb dirt and Moringa Seed Extracts work in harmony with the clay to cleanse pores, purify skin and remove toxins from your skin. Hydrating natural ingredients such as Acai Oil, Seabuckthorn and Vitamin E keep skin feeling soft, plump and oh-so-smooth.

La Mav Green Clay Detox Mask is a fabulous choice for those who have normal/oily or acneic skin.

Green Clay Detox Mask is a gorgeous clay mask designed to detoxify skin whilst absorbing impurities and excess oil from the skin. Our detox mask contains gentle fruit acids which gently exfoliate dead skin and excess debris from the surface of the skin while nourishing Marula Oil ensures skin stays hydrated and prevents the skin from drying out. Even mature skin with excess oil will find Green Clay Detox Mask to work a treat on their skin because it is also a clever anti-ageing mask.

To use a mask: apply a thin layer to damp skin and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. If you are time-poor or are in need of a top-up once a week then apply your mask to the skin for five minutes whilst washing hair or brushing teeth to ensure your skin is not neglected.

If you are still unsure about which mask is right for you, feel free to contact the La Mav team who would be only too happy to recommend one based on your skin type and skincare concerns.

Do you use a face mask religiously, or just occasionally?

The Perfect Cleanse ...

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:56:00 GMT

The most important part of skincare regime is “CLEANSING” twice daily. I was once told that the biggest anti-ageing secret is “The Perfect Cleanse” morning and night.

Beautiful skin starts with a perfect cleanse. Our skin is ready to receive the goodness of beautiful products only if it has been cleansed well.

Our lives are so busy these days. While we are out-and-about the pollutants, dust, sweat and make-up applied that morning - all settle on the skin. It is surprising but true that many women go to bed without cleansing.

So what kind of cleanser should I use? You ask. A cleanser that will not strip the skin of its natural oils. This is where “Soothing Cream Cleanser” for dry skin and “Purifying Foam Cleanser” for oily skin fits in.

LA MAV CERTIFIED ORGANIC SOOTHING CREAM CLEANSER

A unique ultra-light cleansing cream
Helps retain skin's natural balance
Gently removes perspiration, makeup, impurities and pollutants
Enhances the hydrated appearance of skin

LA MAV PURIFYING FOAM CLEANSER

A deep cleansing & purifying foaming lotion
Helps balance sebacous activity without depleting skin of its natural oils
Removes perspiration, makeup, impurities and pollutants
Enhances the fresh and luminous appearance of skin

The Story of Cosmetics

Tue, 28 Jun 2011 21:18:00 GMT

Life isn't so rosy

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:56:00 GMT

An estimated 14 million Americans suffer from Rosacea (while there are no Australian statistics as yet, these stats confirm just how common it is). Rosacea is a chronic skin disorder that causes redness, blotches, ‘pimples’ or pus-filled bumps and broken capillaries primarily in the face. Other areas that can be affected are the scalp, neck, nose, ears, eyes, chest and back. While this is a common condition, many people don’t realise that they have it, often mistaking it for acne hereby making their conditions worse by using creams and lotions that only irritate the skin more. Rosacea is most likely to develop as we get older, developing in most during their 30’s and 40’s. For women one of the plus’ of menopause is that rosacea tends to disappear.

Like acne, the true cause of Rosacea is unknown, and there are all sorts of speculation surrounding it. There may be a heredity component to the condition, but the main underlying cause of rosacea is a mystery. Nevertheless there are known triggers that exasperate it – so you can at least have some control:
- Alcohol
- Some food, especially spicy foods
- Stress
- Sun exposure
- Extremes in temperature

Although it is not possible to completely cure rosacea, there are ways to keep it under control. Before people recognise that they have rosacea they use creams with a very high concentration of acids that can irritate and only make the condition worse. In order to avoid these ‘flare-ups’ it is best to:
- Avoid ingredients that burn/sting and elicit facial redness or swelling. Ingredients to steer clear of include the following:

Menthol
Talc
Petrochemicals
Peppermint
Eucalyptus
Witch hazel
Gluten
Parabens
Dyes

(Skin Deep – Environmental Working Group)

- Especially avoid alcohol and artificial fragrances. Artificial fragrances are the most irritating ingredient in skin care and a main contributing factor to rosacea and other skin conditions.

Natural and certified organic products are gentle on rosacea and do not carry the risks associated with synthetic products and laser treatments. Quality natural skin care products nourish the skin with certified organic antioxidants and pure active ingredients thereby calming rosacea and minimising flare ups, naturally. You will notice the difference in your skin!

La Mav Certified Organic Skin Science products are formulated to be used on all skin types’ especially sensitive skin and inflammatory skin conditions. We refrain from using any artificial fragrances, alcohol, petrochemicals or harmful synthetic ingredients shown by our association with the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics (www.safecosmetics.org) and Choose Cruelty Free (www.choosecrueltyfree.org.au).

If you suffer from Rosacea, La Mav Certified Organic products will help soothe and nourish the dryness, itchiness, burning/stinging and redness that comes from rosacea. We recommend simplifying your daily skincare routine as the less you put on your skin the better.

The La Mav Rosecea Daily Routine includes:
- Cleansing the skin with LA MAV CERTIFIED ORGANIC SOOTHING CREAM CLEANSER which is an ultra-light facial cream that contains essential vitamins and antioxidants to balance the skin to its natural pH level.
- Soothe and nourish flared up skin with LA MAV ALL-IN-ONE LINE SMOOTHING SERUM which is a concentrated gel based formula that penetrates deep to recover and restructure the skin and stimulate collagen and elastin production.
- Hydrate the skin with LA MAV CERTIFIED ORGANIC LINE PERFECTOR to promote a natural glow and reduce redness.
- Moisturise the skin with LA MAV CERTIFIED ORGANIC 100% PURE JOJOBA OIL. Certified Organic jojoba oil has been proven to help treat sensitive skin problems. It will help soothe red and dry skin and has the effect of balancing the skin, being the closest oil to the human sebum.
- For those not suffering from Ocular Rosacea (Rosacea of the eye) an antioxidant gel such as LA MAV CERTIFIED ORGANIC EYE REPAIR GEL can work to reduce the appearance of fine lines, redness and dark circles; and strengthen the area around the eyes. Moreover, an incorporation of vitamins and essential fatty acids provides hydration, brightens and tones this delicate eye area.

Precaution and care should be taken to treat rosacea. La Mav products are used to soothe and provide relief from the symptoms associated with rosacea but do not act as a cure. Hopefully a complete cure will be developed soon to more successfully combat the condition. If after 8 weeks of treatment conditions persist please see your doctor. Consider suffers of Rosacea this March during National Rosacea Awareness Month. For more information please visit http://rosacea.derm.net.au/ .

The Botox Nation – is it worth it?

Wed, 14 Sep 2011 14:56:00 GMT

Everyone wants to look younger than their age (except my 23 year old Niece who constantly declares her total horror at being asked whether she’s still in High School…she should be giving thanks that she has her Dad’s genes). Life would be truly spectacular if we could live until a ripe old age without a wrinkle in sight. While this is slightly utopian, there are several possibilities to maintain your youthfulness, some are more dangerous than meets the eye...

BOTOX
Botox is all the rage at the moment thanks to our daily Hollywood lifestyle doses on TV and in Magazines…even Kochie and Mel are giving us the latest Hollywood scoop on a daily basis! Botox is extremely popular because it is convenient and the results are instant (if you don’t mind the whole plastic, frozen in time look and not showing any ounce of emotion on your face) people are even flaunting it as the cure for all ageing! With just a few injections, the procedure can paralyze facial muscles and prevent them from forming wrinkles.

Whilst society is quickly becoming a botox nation (people are even popping down on their lunch break for a botox quickie) the side effects of this toxic substance are scarcely known. So is Botox really worth it…we’ll let you make that judgment…. According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, Botox injections are the most common cosmetic operation with 4.6 million procedures in America alone during 2007. Hollywood starlet Jennifer Anniston has admitted to going under the needle herself but states that “tried Botox once and it was really not good for me. I felt like I had a weight on my head.” After trying it out, she says that she can spot anyone who has had the procedure as everyone has the same look, “I think it makes women look older. Harder. The warmth in their faces goes away. You see women and you know they’re not young, but you can’t tell how old they are” (well unless you look at their neck).

So What is Botox...

BOTOX
What is in Botox? A toxic substance known as Botulinum toxin which is derived from the bacterium Clostridium Botulinum, in a class of drugs called neurotoxins. Clostridium botulinum is held to be the most toxic and dangerous substance known to mankind (Montecucco & Molgó, 2005).

How long does Botox Last? Botox is temporary although the changes are instant. The injections may last from three to six months before the effects disappear (following injections are required…warning: may become addictive if you are looking for a long term solution).

How is Botox dispensed? Botulinum toxin is an injectable neuro-toxin that is delivered to the muscle by the use of a fine needle. It works by blocking the ability of nerves to make muscles contract i.e. it paralyzes muscle, by blocking the release of acetylcholine from the neuron.

Does this sound healthy to you ...?

Who can use it? Adults between 18 and 65 years of age. Botox is not safe to use if pregnant, breast feeding or if you suffer from muscular conditions and allergies.

Cost: Botox costs vary from anywhere between AU$350 and AU$1200 depending the quantity of botox injected. The average botox user can spend up to 4 thousand dollars per year on treatments as many become addicted to the treatments in the search for longer term results.

Side effects: Botox treatments have been associated with many serious side effects that can be life threatening. Probable side effects include: problems swallowing, speaking, breathing, loss of strength and muscle weakness all over the body, double vision, blurred vision, drooping eyelids, hoarseness, headache, flu-like symptoms, nausea, spasms of the eyes, swollenness or redness at the injection site, bruising, facial pain, rash, neck pain, muscle weakness and tearing and sensitivity to light.

Ageing is impossible to avoid but has growing old really become that bad that we are lead to inject ourselves with lethal substances?? I am happy to knock back a few years from the age clock but I still want to look good without looking like an artificial plastic doll.

LA MAV
La Mav, certified organic anti ageing skin care is based on scientific ageing skin research. Proudly bearing organic certification from the OFC, at La Mav we believe that beauty is best attained naturally, in union with science which is why La Mav is also a signatory to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics. Natural and certified ingredients are made from the purest ingredients from plants and minerals in accordance with strict organic certification standards rather than from a recognized lethal, highly toxic substance made in a laboratory.

Ingredients: 100% natural, chemical free ingredients - meaning that all ingredients can be traced back to their organic origin.

Results: Building the long term health of the skin from a cellular level enable longer lasting results.

How it works: Provides amino acids to the dermal layer of the skin to repair and rebuild collagen and elastin, resulting in smoother, firmer, younger looking skin over the entire face and neck.

Who is it for: Adults of any age. La Mav is safe for pregnant women, breast feeding mothers and all skin types and conditions.

Approximate Cost for a La Mav Product (lasts a few months): $75

Side effects: Younger looking, healthier skin.

Botox is one of the most toxic substances known. Why would you inject it voluntarily when there are natural and organic alternatives that offer anti aging skincare with amazing wrinkle-reducing results? La Mav offers long term, yet safe effects resulting in a clinically proven reduction in fine lines and wrinkles and it is 100% traceably organic!

So is botox worth it? My answer is no. Science, research and human error has shown that the skin needs to be protected. As I have said over and over, the skin is the largest organ in the body and 65% of what is placed on the skin is absorbed into the body – as a result not under any circumstances should the skin and our body be subjected to toxins and poisons. Although Botox offers that immediate frozen in time look, the long term risks make it far better to always choose a product that can truly offer younger looking skin. Who wouldn’t want to use a product made with the purest ingredients known to mankind instead of the most toxic??