Chilies

As stated a few posts back in All in One, Into the Gloss has recently become a slight obsession of mine. Featuring articles on beauty routines for the hair, skin and nails (among other topics) I tend to check the site on the daily. Recently, I came across an article espousing the benefits of Cabellina Chile Con Romero Shampoo and Conditioner. The article reports that both products work well in the volumizing and oil-reducing departments when it comes to hair care. Apparently, chili extract does well in stimulating the scalp.

The article intrigued me not only for my love of chilies (again, see All in One) but for the benefits these products could have on the hair and scalp. As I begin to develop my beauty routine, I am making efforts to keep my use of products curated and as natural as possible. To this extent, I use honey on the face and (often) vinegar in the hair. Many of these products are aimed at not moisturizing the skin but at keeping my oil levels in check. I often joke that, once acne left my face, it went to my head, providing me with a scalp that is consistently oily. In college, I struggled with dandruff yet relied consistently on tea tree oil and seaweed shampoos which never seemed to work (take that Bumble and Bumble). It wasn't until I started using an actual dandruff shampoo that my scalp really seemed to clear and my hair really seemed to grow. Now that everything seems under control, however, I'm ready to branch out and try new things... knowing that I'll always have my bottle of vinegar on hand for a good anti-dandruff/high-shine rinse.

In addition to featuring comprehensive articles on a variety of beauty topics, Into the Gloss also has a link featuring small tidbits of beauty advice. I love flipping through this small section to be reminded of simple, everyday things we can do for our hair and skin. The first point featured in the "advice column" possesses a hint from hair stylist +Amoy Pitters who claims, among other things, that, "your scalp is part of your skin so it should be clean to stimulate growth." An obvious point but one that I often forget. This statement, in a sense, shifts my whole framework from viewing the hair and skin as separate to seeing it as essentially one component with the treatment of the skin of the utmost importance. Whereas before I may have thought of treating my skin for its oily composition and my hair for its dryness, I can now concentrate on primarily treating the skin on my face and scalp as step one. To this extent, my wishlist of beauty care products lies below.

Christophe Robin: Cleansing Purifying Scrub with Sea Salt: Christophe is a colorist based in Paris who has come out with a line of hair care products which use natural ingredients to combat damage done to hair through color or the environment. Flipping through his list of products, I was happy to see the use of lavender (a stress-reliever) and chamomile (a stress-reliever) 'cause I often need stress relief. Robin's Purifying Scrub particularly caught my eye, however, due to the fact that my scalp often feels it needs a more thorough clean. I can remember doing laundry with my fiance when we first met, laughing at how he would often stuff the washer to full capacity in order to only do one load of laundry. In response to my teasing, he conceded that, "yeah, sometimes when I fill the washer this full the clothes in the middle of the washer won't even get wet." I often feel the same way about my hair. While I have the benefit of thick hair, I also have the detriment of thick hair. While I feel that my dandruff shampoo and vinegar rinses often clarify my hair. there still seem to be hinterlands (in German, according to Wikipedia, hinterland means, "land behind a port," on my blog it means skin behind any area touched by water) of may hair and scalp that remain oily from years of buildup. To this extent, a purifying scrub is in order.

Exfoliation has gotten a bad rap over the years. In the '90's and early 2000's many magazines warned of the potential harms of harsh scrubs (maybe it was all the St. Ives products sold at the time). However, Into the Gloss also holds a tidbit of beauty advice from renowned dermatologist, Patricia Wexler who states that, "I always tell people to exfoliate on a daily basis. This once a week thing is nonsense. But, I think you have to know your skin. You should never look red or irritated - you should look better after you scrub." Well said. While I might not use a scrub on may face every day, I could see myself using Christophe Robin's scrub consistently on my scalp (or back of my face).

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare: Monday to Sunday Bamboo Muslins: Following the theme of exfoliation, the Aurelia Skincare as put out a series of anti-bacterial muslin cloths which can help of exfoliate dead skin cells after your cleanse. Upon learning about more natural methods of skincare and setting out on an adventure in oil cleansing (which requires you to remove oil with a damp, hot towel), I realized that I've possessed nary a facecloth since 1988.While the process of exfoliation has become enlarged in my scope of necessary beauty rituals, I suppose those articles written in the '90's condemning scrubs rubbed off on me (no pun intended). While I want to exfoliate and have no problem exfoliating my scalp (see above) an anti-bacterial muslin might be a great way to ease me into the process of exfoliation.

Aurelia Probiotic Skincare is a British based company which, "seeks scientific excellence by pushing the boundary of skincare." Using organic, plant based formulas, the company seems to concentrate most on battling the effects of "ageing" in Britain, aging in the U.S. Stripping their products of unnecessary and harmful chemicals, Aurelia Probiotic Skincare seems to "treat" aging through the reduction of inflammation. To do this, their products "work" with molecules that react with the body's immune responses. Not bad. While age denial isn't really my thing (I'm an old-soul which thinks there is great beauty in aging) I could definitely go for their muslin cloths which can lift dirt and dead cells from the skin while simultaneously being gentle. In addition to acting as a cleansing agent, the act of massaging exfoliants into the skin/scalp can also work to stimulate blood flow and the regeneration of cells, leading to a healthy glow wherever you use it.

Note: While I'm dying to have Christophe Robin's Purifying Salt Scrub in my beauty routine, I'm ambivalent about paying $52 USD for the product. Therefore, I wanted to share my solution with those who want the option of the jar of goodness itself or its homemade equivalent. Like I said, I am beginning to treat my scalp as part of my skin instead of treating it by allowing it to absorb any product that goes on my hair. To this extent, I have the dual issue of exfoliating my scalp while trying the moisturize my tresses. Here in lies the beauty of coconut oil. Essentially the kale of the beauty world, coconut oil has been featured in high end and homemade remedies alike. High in triglycerides, coconut oil has moisturizing qualities and has been shown to help with psoriasis. To make my "moisturizing scrub" I plan to mix 1/4 cup coconut oil with 1 cup of cane sugar (I know I'm complaining about the price of the pre-made salt scrub but if you have a Vitamix to blend this bitch, you'll get a more homogeneous mixture) rub a little on my scalp and through my hair and wait twenty minutes before shampooing. I'm excited to see how an exfoliating massage my benefit my scalp while the coconut oil benefits my hair. I'll let you know!