LENA BLOG

The terms hypoallergenic , dermatologist-tested , and allergy-free are all unregulated terms. In some cases, these words just mean a team of dermatologists got together and determined for themselves what did and did not cause skin to break out or become sensitive to a particular product. There are no guidelines set by the Food & Drug Administration (FDA) governing which products can say they are hypoallergenic, etc. Products with these descriptions are simply less likely to produce a reaction. You still may find yourself sensitive to a product, allergy-free or not. Ultimately, you’ll have to try the product before you’ll know if it will work for you. A product claiming to be non-comedogenic won’t (or shouldn’t) clog your pores. Sometimes these products have fillers in them that actually can and do cause congestion. As with any and all products, monitor your skin when trying a new product or product line . If problems appear, there may be a problem with the new items. F...

My intent with my writing is not to tear down other product lines, but in this case I can’t help myself! Clinique is thought to be a great product for problem (especially teenage) skin, and as you’ll read below I even used it as my first skin care product line as a teen. I have found professionally that these products usually cause problems with clients I have seen. Here is what one emailer sent me: I have used Clinique but am not very happy with it. I am a new mom, and I think it ’s time for a new me and a new skin care regimen. I am 39 years old. My skin is oily in the T-zone but dry everywhere else. Thirty minutes after I wash, it still looks like an oil slick, yet my skin feels taut and dehydrated. I have lines around my eyes from previous sun damage. My skin breaks out a lot, which I think is unusual for my age. These comments are very common, so I will breakdown this email and explain what she could do. Well, not happy actually I have used Clinique but...

I’m not a fan of using homemade, kitchen/food products on your face. Regarding the photo above, I would recommend eating the avocado. As a mask, sure, it will hydrate your skin and possibly have vitamin benefits for your skin’s surface. However, it is inside your body where the benefits of this heavenly fruit are best utilized and needed . Ingesting the vitamins and nutrients from an avocado affects your whole body, not just the dead, outer skin on your face as when used as a mask. If these homemade skin care products are good enough to eat, then you should eat them, not put them topically on your skin. Your body can utilize the nutrients in food much more readily than your skin can. Homemade products can be too intense and concentrated for a lot of peoples’ skin. If you feel the need to blend something up for your face, go right ahead. It probably won’t be harmful to your skin although most likely it will be of little help, and in my opinion it’ll be a waste of yummy food y...

What is the shelf life of products? Every product is different, and every shelf life is different, so the answer to this question varies and is based on several factors. First, has the product been opened? Depending on how they are sealed, unopened skin care products have (or should have) a long shelf life. But at the same time, you don’t want products that have been on the shelf forever. Opened, it is really anyone’s guess how long a product will last without losing its potency. Second, has the product been exposed to heat or sunlight? This can dramatically decrease the life of a product. Products in tubes tend to have a lower rate of bacterial infestation than products that come in jars. With jars, you are usually putting your bare fingers in each time to get out product, which may allow a lot of bacteria to enter the cream or lotion. Even though many companies provide a spatula or some type of applicator, I don’t know if anyone really uses them. In general, your ope...

Ethanol is not a “good” alcohol Why is alcohol [in products] bad for my skin? Alcohol, the bad kind, basically dries everything on the surface of your skin. In theory, this may sound appropriate, especially if you have an oilier skin type. But in practice, stripping away all the oil from your skin can cause your oil glands to produce more oil to compensate for the loss. Add to that the moisture (water) evaporation alcohol causes, and you could be causing the very things you are trying to avoid. Namely, oily skin that feels dry and looks flaky, which is actually dehydration. Some of my skin care products contain alcohol, mostly cetyl and cetearyl alcohol. Does this mean I can’t use them? I hear from people who are worried that alcohol is an ingredient in a product they are using. There are many alcohols that are OK as ingredients, as well as many that are not good. I had a woman call me who had read my book and was worried because she saw that Cetaphil ® cleanser co...