Dehydrated Skin Is More Common Than You Think

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What skin types get dehydrated? Contrary to popular belief, all skin types are prone to dehydration.

When there is a lack of water, even combination or oily skin can show signs of severe dryness. Dry skin is usually more at risk of dehydrating because it produces an insufficient amount of sebum, the natural oil secreted on the skin’s surface and responsible for retaining water in the subcutaneous layers.

What are the main symptoms of dehydrated skin?

The majority of signs of dehydration are easily recognizable. The face is dry and has a rough texture that is commonly referred to as “crocodile skin.” Dehydration also affects the skin’s firmness and can cause even young skin to show wrinkles.

Oily and Combination skin types will look shinier and produce excess sebum or even have closed comedones (blackheads) because there is not enough water to flush out the excess sebum.

Here are the most common symptoms of dehydration of the skin:

  • Tightness or discomfort that lasts all-day
  • Itchiness or redness
  • Skin that wrinkles when pinched with fingertips
  • Dull complexion without radiance
  • Visible signs of desquamation (skin dandruff on the surface)
  • Rough patches of textured skin
  • Presence of oily areas on the sides of the nose, forehead, or chin 

Here’s why your skin might be thirsty!

The skin can have a natural tendency to lose water, but dehydration can be accelerated or amplified by certain external factors:

  • Medication
  • Heating and air conditioning
  • UV rays from the sun and heat
  • Wind and cold
  • Aging of the skin
  • The atmospheric pollution
  • Hormonal fluctuations
  • Too frequent or abrasive cleaning of the skin
  • Insufficient water and mineral consumption
  • Too much alcohol
  • An inadequate skincare routine that strips the skin without restoring moisture and hydration

At the first signs of dehydration, avoid …

  • Drying your skin in the open air after a shower: drying by evaporation increases water loss. Use a towel to gently pat dry instead and use a moisturizer while the skin is still damp.
  • Heavy consumption of alcohol: these beverages are known for their dehydrating effect. Swap them for a good glass of water or a cup of herbal tea: your skin particularly needs them. 
  • Fats: remember that the best cream for dehydrated skin does not contain lipids. Your skin doesn’t need oil, it needs to be rehydrated with water. Using a fatty substance may accentuate the problem of oily areas and even create comedones (blackheads) or acne.

How to combat dehydrated skin:

It only takes a few simple daily actions that will quickly relieve your thirsty skin.

  1. Drink more water mixed with minerals! To treat dehydrated skin, the first solution: drink water + a twist of lime and fruit slices! It is recommended that you drink a minimum of 1.5 L daily, which is equivalent to approximately 8 glasses of water per day. No need to chug down your water, take small sips throughout the day as you feel thirsty. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0LpR83Roybk 2) Balance your lifestyle.

2. Adopt a healthy and balanced lifestyle that makes skincare manageable. A healthy body and mind contribute significantly to healthy skin through the regulation of biological systems.

  • Sleep a minimum of 7 hours per night
  • Eat well
  • Learn how to manage stress
  • No smoking
  • Participate in physical activity that you enjoy

3. Adopt an adequate skincare routine. Incorporating a daily skincare routine adapted to your skin condition will help fill its water intake, restore its suppleness and regain its softness. The important thing is to allow the skin to preserve its protective barrier and thus better retain water in the skin tissues.

  • Use a gentle cleanser with a balanced pH: it will not dry out the skin and will not modify its acidity.
  • Incorporate a moisturizing serum into your skincare routine. A good facial serum will allow your skin to retain its water well. Serums based on hyaluronic acid or vitamin B5, for example, are very good anti-thirst allies!

  • Morning and evening, apply an oil-free moisturizer to the skin of your face and neck. Remember to treat your hands well, which are also exposed to harsh weather conditions! A fluid or moisturizer will create a thin layer on the surface of the skin, which will help retain water in the epidermis. The best moisturizers contain emollient agents that will help your skin restore suppleness and elasticity to the tissues.
  • Apply sunscreen every day to protect the skin from the sun’s harmful rays, which are also responsible for premature aging and many skin cancers. We recommend only using physical SPF’s such as Zinc and Titanium Dioxide. Sun filters are allies for well-hydrated skin!
  • Once or twice a week, use an ultra-hydrating mask to plump tissue and relieve symptoms of discomfort associated with dehydrated skin.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7K3xoJc9Lw&t=1s  

Collagen and Elastin breakdown

Collagen & Veganism: Should You Be Worried?

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Collagen supports the skin, providing it with the firmness and elasticity it needs to move and function healthily.

Our bodies naturally make collagen until around the age of 30. From this age on, it produces fewer and fewer hormones and less collagen. By the age of 40, the production of this protein can be reduced by up to 1% per year, and by the age of 70, the loss is around 30% each year.

The gradual loss of collagen in our body causes a weakening of the epithelial structures (tissues composed of several layers of cells) of the skin, making it thinner and more wrinkled.

If you don’t put collagen in your body, you will quickly use up whatever stores you have and become collagen deficient, as is the case with vegans and vegetarians. Vegetarians often try to include pro-collagen (plant-based) sources for collagen, but without the correct synergistic nutrients, it is not going to be used in the body.

Results include wrinkles, saggy and thinned skin, brittle hair and nails, insomnia, increased anxiety, joint pain and inflammation (arthritis), increased injuries from ligament tendons, tight and inflamed, and slow recovery from exercise, among others.

Luckily, there are ways to naturally boost collagen even when on a plant-based diet. 

  • Whether you are a vegetarian or not, collagen production is boosted by Vitamin C, in addition to amino acids. Vitamin C is an important cofactor of enzymes involved in the stabilization of the collagen triple helix, so it is essential for the formation of stable collagen fiber. Vitamin C can be boosted by eating foods like Brussels sprouts, oranges, grapefruits, peppers, broccoli, and potatoes.
  • Vitamin E and its derivatives. Incorporating Vitamin E into your diet will help us protect collagen fibers and elastin. Some foods that contain it are oil, almonds, spinach, and quinoa. 
  • MSM or Methyl-Sulfonyl-Methane. MSM is a dietary form of sulfur which is an essential component in the formation of collagen, elastin, cartilage, and keratin. Rightly called “the mineral of beauty,” it gives flexibility, tone, and strength to muscles, bones, joints, internal membranes, and especially the skin, hair, and nails. MSM, if of good quality and from a natural source, helps strengthen elasticity, healing, and scarring. It makes cell walls more permeable, allowing the free flow of nutrients and water. MSM can be found in nuts, seeds, grains, and legumes, as well as garlic, leeks, and onions. 
  • Consuming more K2. K2 is primarily found in meat but can also be found in cheese, fermented soybeans (natto), butter, sauerkraut, and egg yolks.
  • Making sure you’re getting enough D3. D3 is another nutrient that can be lacking in a plant-based diet. D3 can be found in mushrooms, egg yolks, soy milk, and orange juice.
  • B12 can be difficult to supplement with food on a vegan diet. Luckily, nutritional yeast, tempeh, chlorella, nori, cremini mushrooms, and fortified plant-based milk can help vegans and vegetarians meet their needs.
  • Dermo-cosmeceutical creams. While it is true that the most advanced cosmeceutical formulas do not replace the presence of the skin’s natural collagen, they will help increase skin strength, tone, and elasticity. These treatments include Vitamin C and Astaxanthin, which prevent wrinkles in the face and neck, as well as sagging skin. These restorative and antioxidant solutions also have a dual effect: an immediate improvement in the softness of the skin and, in the long term, they firm the structure of the skin.

http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3HyrUvoSNNw

Anti-Aging Super Ingredient: The Djon Djon Mushroom

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Adaptogens are all the rage in health & wellness, but what’s so spectacular about a mushroom?

Our favorite adaptogen is the Djon Djon, a rare black mushroom found in northern Haiti.  It is considered a delicacy because of the unique taste, color, and aroma it gives food. 

The mushroom itself is not eaten but is instead turned into an extract with warm water and a blender. Extract from this rare mushroom gives any dish a rich black color and chocolate aroma. The mushroom is used in dishes that are served on special occasions such as birthdays, weddings, or Christmas in Haiti.

Gourmet chefs all over the world covet the Djon Djon. It is hand-picked from the crannies and crevices of dead wood and it only grows in Haiti during the rainy season, which lasts from August to October. Throughout the rest of the year and for the rest of the world, this wonderful mushroom is available in a dried or powdered form.

Those who can get their hands on Djon Djon extract often drink it as a natural energy booster. Djon Djon has a potent blend of Mushroom ash, Vitamin B2, B6, Vitamin A, Protein, Calcium, and minerals. 

 

Djon Djon has proven to be useful in skincare, providing benefits both in and outside of the body.

Here are some of our favorite attributes:

  • It’s Insanely Hydrating: Djon Djon contains a polysaccharide that is great for hydrating the skin
    by drawing in moisture from the environment.
  • Collagen Stimulating: Improves elasticity of the skin by stimulating collagen synthesis by dermal fibroblasts.
  • Antioxidant: Rich in antioxidants which help the skin to fight off free radicals and repair damage that causes premature aging.
  • Antimicrobial: Prevents acne breakouts by neutralizing irritating microbes.
  • Anti-inflammatory: Inflammation and excessive free radical activity contribute to a
    number of skin problems. Many mushrooms have been found to have anti-inflammatory
    properties and as a result, their use promotes healing and fights inflammation.
  • Rich in Vitamin D: Vitamin D is beneficial when applied to acne. Mushroom extracts can be a great
    ingredient if you are struggling with skin conditions like eczema, rosacea, and acne.
  • Anti-aging: Mushrooms enhance the natural defenses of the skin. Mushrooms can help
    restore the skin elasticity, increase its moisture content, stimulate collagen synthesis, and
    have a skin lightening effect. Due to all of this, with regular use, it would help your skin
    look healthy and younger.

Sometimes we just need to turn back to the roots (in this case, literally) to benefit from hundreds of
years of knowledge and find products from nature to provide us potent anti-aging results. This
rare mushroom, found only in specific regions of Haiti, has quickly gained the trust of many
customers, who have incorporated our Djon Djon products in their daily skincare routine.

Eating For Dehydrated Skin

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The best and quickest way to find out if your skin is dehydrated is– take this test:

Place your finger flat on your cheek, and go up, a little bit, towards your eye: If small white parallel lines appear, they are streaks of dehydration. They appear not because of age, but because of a lack of water in your skin. In this case, it is imperative that you take steps to hydrate your skin. You can do this in two ways for a full cycle of 28 days.  

Here are 4 ways to hydrate your skin from the inside out:

  1.  With hydrating foods: Our body loses between 2L and 2.5L of water per day. This physiological loss is mainly compensated for by food. In particular thanks to fruits and vegetables which ensure good food hydration. A diet rich in fruits, vegetables but also dairy products is much more hydrating than that rich in proteins and starches. To help you balance your menus, here are the top 10 most hydrating foods:
  • Cucumber: 96% water
  • Salad: 95% water
  • Zucchini: 94% water, and squash: 90% water • Tomato: 93-95% water
  • Watermelon, Melon, Watermelon: 90-91% water
  • Berries: Strawberry, 90% water
  • Citrus fruits: grapefruit, lemon, orange, 89% water
  • Apple: 84-85% water
  • Dairy products: yogurt, cream cheese … around 80% water

Foods to avoid when experiencing dehydration:

  • Pineapple
  • Artichokes
  • Mangos
  • Grapes
  • Asparagus

2.  The best advice is to drink water (vary between spring water, mineral water, and tap water) or a hydrating, electrolyte-rich drink throughout the day, which works out to 8 to 10 glasses per day. Hydrate regularly you can distribute them like this:

  • Breakfast: a bowl or cup of a hydrating drink.
  • In the morning and in the afternoon: 2 glasses of water to stay well hydrated!
  • Before lunch and dinner: 1 glass of water to aid digestion. Indeed, drinking water before meals helps to cleanse the colon, which allows it to better absorb nutrients.
  • At bedtime: 1 glass of water to keep a good level of hydration overnight.

3 . With the best hydrating drinks: Drinking water can quickly become boring, even if you are already alternating with herbal teas, teas … Note that there are also other very hydrating drinks, which will also have many benefits for your body! Try Beetroot juice: rich in water, of course, but also in vitamins A, B, C, amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants. Other hydrating drinks to try:

  • Coconut water: particularly hydrating and rich in potassium.
  • Aloe Vera juice: with its purifying and antioxidant properties, it is very beneficial.
  • Fruit-infused drinks: just add some fruit to the water! Like, for example, strawberries, watermelons, cucumbers, lemon, basil, mint, blueberries… the combinations are multiple and allow you to vary the pleasures!

4. By avoiding foods and drinks that dehydrate: For optimal hydration, you must at the same time limit as much as possible the drinks and foods that will exacerbate the problem of dehydration. Avoid dehydrating drinks like sodas and other sugary drinks when possible.

 

http://www.aarlreviews.com/2020/10/morgannas-dehydrated-skin-trio-is-for.html

Top 4 Reasons to Go Natural

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The great debate: natural or synthetic?

As a cosmetic chemist, my personal opinion is that we should always opt for natural cosmetics as much as possible, and here are my reasons why:

  1. Your body uses and metabolizes natural substances better. Nature offers whole and complex substances; science dissects them and separates their elements. Whole substances contain all that is needed to be effective; chemicals that have been isolated can upset the body.
  2. Natural ingredients are effective; they are nourishing, efficacious, and often less damaging http://https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EOCuqRHoTPY

Your skin absorbs what you put on it.

Our skin is more than a simple surface “dressing.” It is constantly in direct contact with the environment, it is a real living organ, a dynamic interface between the outside and the inside of our body. It protects our body from external aggressions by forming a shield against direct trauma (shocks, friction) and against the action of chemical agents. It also contributes to the immunity of our body by protecting it against the penetration of microorganisms. Choosing organic cosmetics means protecting our skin and our health.

A large part of what we apply to our skin is absorbed into our body, a scientific principle illustrated by nicotine, hormonal or painkiller patches. In the same way, a part of the synthetic and chemical components of so-called “conventional” cosmetics permeate our tissues and accumulate there, for lack of adequate treatment by our body which does not recognize these foreign substances!

While these synthetic substances are still present in our products in quantities limited by regulations, the cocktail and accumulation effects are unfortunately neglected, but far from being negligible! They can then, over time, cause skin reactions (eczema, contact dermatitis, and other ailments) and further disrupt the functioning of our body.

Using only natural herbal products will reduce your ingestion of toxic chemicals.

  1. Climate change is affected by all consumer products. Not only do industrial cosmetics affect us, but they also affect the planet.

Plastic bottles fill landfills; some chemicals find their way into the water, affecting even the reproduction of the fish population.

Nano-particles also disturb the marine environment, lakes, rivers, and streams

  1. Natural cosmetics are formulated from natural ingredients whose active ingredients are just as effective as those resulting from chemical manipulations. Certain natural products have been known for thousands of years for their benefits (the use of honey or aloe vera, for example)

At Morganna’s Alchemy, we provide a wide range of effective, natural, and sustainable skincare options to suit everyone’s needs. 

 

The 5 Golden Rules of Eye Cream

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The eye area is one of the most fragile areas of the face.

Very thin and poor in sebaceous glands (secreting sebum which limits the drying out of the skin), it does not have a protective hydrolipidic film.

These are the reasons why you must be particularly demanding when choosing your eye contour.  

  1. Use the right dose of eye contour which is the equivalent of a grain of rice … for both eyes! If you are using a roll-on format, only one pass per eye is sufficient. Too much product would risk congestion and therefore swell the eye area because this part of the face is very vascular. We who seek to have a fresh look! Applying too rich or too much of an eye contour treatment can also bring out millia, those little balls of hard white fat that we sometimes have next to or on the eyelids, and which are difficult to go
  2. Apply the eye contour treatment in the right place

If you apply the treatment just below the eye (on bags and dark circles) and on the mobile eyelid … It is wrong. To properly apply eye contour care, start from the inner corner of the eye and draw a wide circle all around the eye, following the bone. The eye socket bone is your point of reference for proper treatment. Place your finger on the inner corner of your eye; you will feel a small lump. It’s the starting point. Then follow the bone under the eye and work your way up to the temple. This draws a wide semicircle below the eye. Then, start from the inner corner of the eye, this time up the eyebrow, and continue to follow the bone under the eyebrow, up to the temple. This draws a wide semicircle above the eye. “This is where the eye cream should be applied, not closer to the eyes.

  1. For eye contour care, the way to apply it matters as much as the choice of treatment, the dose of product and the place where it is applied. After washing your hands, take the right amount of cream or gel heat it slightly between your fingers. Then apply the treatment all around the eye as we saw just before, using gentle pressure. Squeeze, release, squeeze, release… While going around the contour of your two eyes.

This gesture allows the product to work well and distribute itself well, and stimulates blood circulation to reduce dark circles and puffiness. It is also a time for yourself, to relax, ease tensions (under the eyebrows, on the temples) and reconnect with your body and the present moment. The idea is not to simply deposit the product on the skin or to smooth it with, much less to go back and forth from right to left under the eye until the product penetrates into the skin. ‘epidermis. Remember, this is a fragile area that needs to be taken care of (precisely).

  1. Choose a suitable eye contour treatment

Eye contour treatments are varied and for good reason, the needs of the skin at this level are just as important: hydration, nutrition, concealer, anti-puffiness, anti-wrinkle, radiance … To optimize the care of your around the eyes, so choose a product that meets your needs. The eye area does not have as many sebaceous glands as the rest of the face, which means it does not produce sebum and has less natural hydration which makes it more susceptible to visible signs of aging, such as fine lines and wrinkles. The “cream” textures are particularly suited to this area when it is dry or tight because being composed of a mixture of oil and water, they provide optimal and instant hydration for the skin.

  1. Hydrate from the inside

When it comes to taking care of your skin and keeping it looking youthful: hydration is essential. Since it all starts from within, it is therefore essential to drink well every day, at the rate of 6 to 9 glasses. Our favorite little hydrating cocktail: fresh fruit juice made from celery, lemon, spinach and cucumber to cleanse your body and fill up with vitamins, minerals and enzymes Preferred assets: https://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/mesmer-eyes/

  • Moisturizing active ingredients: vegetable oils, vegetable glycerin, aloe vera , caffeine
  • Vitamins: B vitamins can stimulate collagen production and promote oxygenation in the skin, and vitamin E, which is also an antioxidant, improves microcirculation.
  • Pearls: to reflect the light and illuminate the eyes

 

8 Amazing Skincare Rituals Asian Women perform regularly

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Did you know that the average Asian woman dedicates over 2 hours of her day to her skincare products?

Did you also know that Japanese women typically consume cartilage soups (Bone broths, fish heads) to consume the collagen it contains? This is an the effort to stay looking eternally young.

In a previous blog, we pointed out the Asian skin is different the fact it has few sebaceous glands, with a tendency to “hyper-dryness” in certain areas, making it look dull. In fact, many women in Asia have a delicate epidermis, making it very delicate in nature: https://www.morgannasalchemy.com/depth-look-asian-skin-type-differs-others/ 

Here are some more secrets from their vaults:

  1. Beauty that comes from within:

Essentially based on the Chinese pharmacopoeia, green tea and a healthy diet, the lifestyle of Asian women has a real impact on the beauty and youth of their skin: In addition to fighting against the effects of time by using conventional cosmetics, they rely on nature – and more particularly on food, favoring fruits and vegetables, rice and Chinese mushrooms. Rich in vitamin B, as well as iron, calcium and magnesium, these foods, while excellent for the blood, heart and lungs, also have the effect of rejuvenating skin; Eating habits which, by eliminating toxins and purifying the body from the inside, also prevent the appearance of pimples, blackheads and other imperfections.

  1. follow the “4-2-4” method:

Many Asian women use the “4-2-4” method. For four minutes, rub face with hydrophilic oil https://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/double-cleansing-duo/.

Then, for two minutes, apply cleansing foam. And finally, for four minutes, rinse the skin with water.

This type of facial cleansing with oil is known as double cleansing.

  1. Use a Konjac sponge:

For gentle facial cleansing, try using the Konjac sponge. The latter is made from the roots of a plant of the same name originating in Asia, and is also known as konnyaku. Before you start using it, let it soak for a few minutes in lukewarm water so that it softens. Then wring it lightly and, with circular movements, cleans the skin from the forehead to the chin

  1. Massage your face:

First, heat a small amount of cream in your hands to release and increase the product’s active ingredients. After application, gently penetrate the product by tapping with the palms of the hands from the bottom of the face upwards to drain the micro-circulation. Always remember to extend the cream and the masks on the neck and décolleté! Just like the face, these are sensitive and overexposed parts that need to be hydrated.

  1. Body brushing:

Using a soft bristle brush (there are specific for the face), dry brushing removes dead skin, gently exfoliates and oxygenates the blood

  1. Facial steam bath:

Relaxes the face and unclogs pores. Embellished with a c. to s. thyme and a tsp. to s. of green tea, the steaming water deeply purifies the skin.

  1. Masking:

Japanese and Korean girls love it. Once a week, they offer themselves an intensive care, based on rice flour, pearl powder or green tea

  1. Layering ritual:

It consists in applying, in order, an oily makeup remover, an aqueous cleanser, a soothing lotion, a serum, an eye area and, finally, a moisturizer. Finally, Have you noticed that Japanese women have the habit of wearing sunglasses and a parasol even when it is not sunny? it is above all a means of protection against the rays of the sun which harm our skin, even when there are clouds. Likewise, many Asian women protect their skin from photoaging by using SPF creams in order to avoid getting dark spots and uneven skin tone: check out our natural Serum with Niacinamide and our Resveratrol cream

https://www.morgannasalchemy.com/product/morgannas-express/