Myth of the Day

Scandle Candle's Beauty Myth Countdown.

Myth #25:

Skin care products can last three or more years.

Truth:

Most skin care products lose their potency after 12 months. Many skin care companies may boast that their product has a longer shelf-life but in reality, one year is it. You should always use your makeup and beauty products within a year after opening it. Preservatives do not last forever and ingredients can get contaminated with bacteria, after prolonged use.

Scandle in the News:

On May 6, Scandle was featured on Good Morning St. Louis.

Myth of the Day

Scandle Candle's Beauty Myth Countdown.

Myth #26:

Strong scrubs, soaps and abrasives are good for your skin.

Truth:

Too much scrubbing or too many abrasive products can remove the protective oils needed to maintain healthy skin. Those products can also create tiny micro tears and contribute to aging, irritated skin. Less is always more when it comes to skin care. Be careful how you wash your face. Most people do just fine with a good, gentle cleanser and a hydrating moisturizer.

• Using Scandle's Sea Salt Soak & Scrub once a week is a soft, gentle way to maintain glowing skin.
  

Myth of the Day

Scandle Candle's Beauty Myth Countdown.

Myth #27:

The only form of vitamin C that works is L-ascorbic acid.

Truth:

Vitamin C is one of the best antioxidants for your skin. L-ascorbic acid is the natural form of vitamin C, but it remains in its most effect form for only a limited time and has some downsides.

• It can be quite irritating to the skin


• It is not very stable. It oxidizes easily when exposed to air, which can be slightly harmful to skin.

Research and product development in cosmetic uses for vitamin C have yielded some new variations.

• Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (MAP)

MAP is a derivative of vitamin C that has the same collagen-boosting effect as L-ascorbic acid, but is more stable and is gentler on sensitive skin. MAP still degrades as rapidly as L-Ascorbic, so it is important to keep these products sealed and away from sunlight.

• Ascorbyl Palmitate

Palmitate is also a vitamin C derivative but does not have the same advantages as MAP does; it takes much higher quantities to get the collagen-producing effects of vitamin C. There is still much needed research on this derivative to determine if there is enough vitamin concentration possible for skin-care products. But it is still more stable than L-ascorbic acid.

Be sure to read any beauty product label closely. Some products can boast of new vitamin C breakthroughs but may contain trace amounts of L-ascorbic acid.


Does anyone have any new vitamin C products to rave about? Let us know.

Scandle in the news.

• Scandle is featured in today's Gifted blog. Check out Gifted for great advice on gifting ideas.
• Scandle is featured in today's Mars & Venus in the Beauty Closet, at the bottom the page.

Myth of the Day

Scandle Candle's Beauty Myth Countdown.

Myth #28:
Skin repair only happens at night.

Truth:
While a good night's sleep is definitely beneficial to any skin care routine, skin care repair happens throughout the day and night. Inadequate sleep does cause puffiness and can slow the natural development of collagen

Myth of the Day

Scandle Candle's Beauty Myth Countdown.

Myth #29:
Vitamin A thins the skin.

Truth:
The reverse is actually true. A lack of Vitamin A can cause the skin to become thin. Vitamin A helps create new, healthy and normal skin cells. Vitamin A is actually one of the most important elements in a healthy skin care routine.

Summer Ready Skin?

Summer is here; time to shed the heavy winter makeup and multiple layers of clothing. But is your skin summer ready? To kick off this hot time of year, Scandle is counting down the top 30 misconceptions about skin care. Make sure to check back every day to find out what’s true and what might lie somewhere in between.



Myth #30:
There is only one antioxidant ingredient that is the best.

Truth:
Every year, there is a hot new “wonder” antioxidant that is proclaimed as the best. We see it on commercials, Oprah, and in advertising campaigns. One antioxidant is simply not enough for our skin. A mixture of various antioxidants is proven to provide the best results in skin care. You should always look for skin care products that contain a variety of antioxidants.


Check out today’s Candid Commentary post, Made Up Monday for an exciting review on Scandle.

News and Updates

News and updates for this week.

Scandle was reviewed in The Makeup Divas Blog.

Scandle Candles were included in BizLightenment Conscious Gift Basket Giveaway Event.
There are 10 baskets, each worth a minimum of $750. Head over to the Web site to register, the contest ends June 15 at midnight.

• Check Scandle out on MySpace.

Add us to your social page to receive fresh news and updates.

Cosmetic Benefits of Essential Fatty Acids

Essential fatty acids are a necessity in a healthy, balanced diet. Now research is providing, along with internal health benefits, EFAs help restore skin to a more youthful appearance. Topical use of EFAs in skin care has been shown in clinical studies to improve dryness, as well as inflammation and acne.

Two common EFAs are omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids. New research has shown that both topical use and dietary supplementation with EFAs benefit people with multiple internal and external ailments.

Look for beauty and cosmetic products containing the oils listed below. All are high in omega-3 and omega-6 EFAs.

• Flax/Linseed oil: creates a protective film on the skin to create a smooth and healthy complexion


• Sunflower oil: improves skin's barrier function and increases elasticity, and is antibacterial


• Fish oils: improves psoriasis, a disease that causes red, scaly patches on the skin


• Evening primrose oil: decreases inflammation and is an effective vasoconstrictor, making it helpful in reducing visible redness


• Borage oil: studies show it may provide anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects

• Soybean oil: provide antioxidant, pigment control, hydrating and multiple anti-aging benefits. (Scandle Candle is a soy based massage candle)


• Rose hip seed oil: shown to achieve an increase in collagen and elastin production and aiding cellular turnover


• Grape seed oil: acts as a light occlusive agent and maintains moisture in the skin

Why and where to use essential oils.

Essential oils are distilled from plants, shrubs, flowers, trees, roots, bushes and seeds. They are subtle, therapeutic-grade oils that oxygenate and help transport nutrients to the cells of our body.
Without oxygen, nutrients cannot be absorbed into the body. Essential oils can help us maintain our body’s health. Scandle Candle has a complete line of essential oil candles that contain many of the benefits listed below.

Essential oils can be used in so many ways.

• Scented Candles. Wax candles can be bought ready impregnated with essential oils and are a delightful way of scenting a room. The Scandle Body Massage Candle is a fragrant hand-poured body massage candle that, when burned, melts to create a healthy body massage oil that can be used to enhance the healthy of your skin.
  

• Therapeutic Massage. This is the classic aromatherapy treatment, triggering the body's natural healing process by using lymphatic massage and essential oils to stimulate the flow of blood and lymph fluid. Oils that relax tight muscles and increase blood circulation include rosemary, lemon, lavender, juniper, tea tree and lemon grass. Scandle's essential oils line contains variations of many of this essential oils.
  

Essential oils that help you relax include: Roman chamomile, rose, lavender, balm, geranium, rosewood, orange, tangerine and honey.

• Body and Facial Oils. These can be used on a daily basis to nourish the skin.
  

• Baths. There are many different bath treatments which incorporate essential oils as a stress reducer.

Essential oils can be used to enhance almost any beauty regiment. If you know of any other ways to benefit from essential oils, please share with us.

What's the Scandle all about?

Check out Scandle in the news for the month of April.
Scandle has been featured in the following news outlets:

• MyShoppingConnect.com editor's pick
  
• Abolitionist Vegans
• Passionate Green
• Live and Love Green
• Sexy Mobile Moms
• The IE Mommy
• The Makeup Girl
• Mommyenterprise.com
• The Daily Beauty Break
• Momfuse.com

How green is it really?

The term natural is defined as “existing in or derived from nature, not made, caused by, or processed by humankind.” The most commonly used natural products in cosmetic care include: vegetable oils, salt, sugar, honey, beeswax and other similar ingredients. But, most of these ingredients have to be processed or harvested in some form before they are safe enough to be used in cosmetic or beauty care products. Scandle uses shea butter, jojoba and vitamin E, which are completely natural.

A large amount of 100% natural products are actually naturally derived products. This term means that a process was used to extract the ingredients. But, not all companies use a safe or eco-friendly way to do that. Many do use synthetic chemicals, so be sure to do your research on the extraction process of a “natural” product. Scandle, for instance, uses soy butter derived in an environmentally-friendly way. Scandle uses non-GMO soy in all of our products. The estimated genetically modified soy crop production in the U.S. is about 89 percent.

Organic items, by labeling, do not include any chemical fertilizers or other artificial chemicals and are relating to or derived from living organisms. Organic products can be confusing because some products can legally be labeled organic when they actually only contain a trace amount of organic oils. It is also important to do research on organic labeling, a number of products that use the term “organic” only have a few ingredients that fit the definition. Scandle, for example, utilizes organic French lavender essential oils, but we do not mislead our customers by labeling the product as “organic.”

Just because a product is “certified” in any of the preceding categories does not necessarily give validity to the claim. Consumers need to be careful when any product is certified organic, natural, etc. There are now so many certification organizations that it is hard to determine what percentage of the product is true to the definition. All organizations have different criteria that must be met.

Has anyone found a great eco-friendly product, only to find out maybe it wasn’t so earth-friendly after all? We would love to hear any tips or advice educating us on these new products.