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Thursday, March 31, 2011

Perfect PETICURE Tips…

Foot callouses and cracked heels are embarrassing. Whether it’s summer and you are always in sandals or winter where you’re always in socks, you still need to have proper foot care. Plus, it will make you feel better to know your feet are as perfect as can be.
No one wants rough skin anywhere on their body but it is especially a problem for your feet and heels. You need a good foot scrub and callous remover. Some people use the age old pumice stone. I find that it doesn’t work for me. I much prefer this cracked heel remedy to get smooth feet.
Steps to the perfect pedicure…this will help you remove foot calluses.
1. Soak your feet in warm water about 10 minutes.
2. Pat your feet dry.
3. Clip toenails.
4. Use your Nutt So Ruff Foot bar to remove any rough parts from your feet.*
5. Rub a little oil on your cuticles.
6. Push back your cuticles. Be careful.
7. Apply your favorite lotion (ensure your feet are dry).
8. Massage your feet.
9. Polish toes.


*Note: Do NOT use a stainless steel scraper on your feet to remove tough calluses. These are dangerous and you can cut yourself badly.

Monday, March 28, 2011

Nutty Eye Cream

Try this home recipe for the sensitive skin around your eyes:
1 tsp. almond oil
1.5 Tbsp plain yogurt
Combine both and mix very well. Apply in the AM and PM.
Benefits of almond oil:
Rich in vitamins E and D. It is believed to improve skin complexion.
Well known for treating dark under eye circles.
It’s a natural moisturizer.
Helps to reduce lost moisture.
Helps with inflammation.
Commonly known to delay the aging process.
Regular use conditions the skin and gives it a natural glow.

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Body Scrub for Acne for all skin types by Nutt So Ruff

Clear skin seems to be a mere dream for some people. If you have had to deal with teenage acne and now have to deal with adult acne, it can be quite frustrating. It may be hormonal or due to stress but it sometimes doesn’t matter if you have oily skin, dry skin or normal skin. And, body acne (sometimes called “Bacne”) is very embarrassing. If you also have sensitive skin on top of your other “skin type” (i.e. oily, dry, normal), it can be doubly frustrating because the skin products offered may irritate you more than your neighbor who swears by the latest department store acne treatment. So, what do you do?
My suggestion is education. Learn about skin and the best way to care for it. Your skin is the largest and hardest working organ of your body so listen to what your skin is telling you. Everyone’s skin is different and reacts differently. Here is some fundamental information that is helpful to know.
Anywhere there is a hair follicle or a pore, you can get acne. This includes your back, neck, shoulders, chest, face, etc. Oil glands are larger on your face and chest and are more active at producing sebum (oil).
When there is too much sebum, you will get a pimple because the oil or dead skin can’t get out. This is where you can get blackheads, whiteheads, etc.
If you get blackheads, it’s recommended to discontinue using anything that has oil in it. This is because your pores will get clogged and your body will not be able to remove the dead skin naturally. Blackheads often occur in hair follicles and this is why it is recommended to exfoliate. Exfoliate about 3 times per week and do not wash your face more than 2 times per day.
Cool skin facts:
It has 19000 nerve cells, more than 1200 pain receptors, over 600 sweat glands, 19 yards of blood vessels, 60 hairs, 94 subaceous glands and about 19 million cells!!!!!
There are 3 layers to the skin:
Epidermis – the outside layer.
Dermis – the middle layer.
Subcutaneous layer – the inside layer.
The cells will migrate to the top of your epidermis. This can take up to a month to do!! As this happens, the old cells die and come to the outside layer. This dead skin will flake off naturally but sometimes needs help to do so. Every minute, we lose around 35,000 dead cells from the outer surface. In one year, that can total 9 pounds of dead skin cells!!!
Your skin is always making new cells. This process is called “desquamation”. As we get older, this process will take longer and longer to complete – which is why it’s recommended to exfoliate your skin. If your skin is dry, you will start to look dull because the dead skin will settle in the dry, cracked areas. If your skin is oily, it could lead to breakouts because the dead skin has a hard time sloughing off on its own- this is because the oil is sticky and doesn’t allow the dead skin to be removed naturally. Bottom line, you need a good body scrub with a good skin exfoliator!

Wednesday, March 23, 2011

Get a TAN!!!

Not everyone can afford to take a vacation or don’t have the time to take off of work. So, what do you do?
Take care of yourself, of course!!!

Aside from eating healthy and drinking plenty of water, take a day or two for yourself…and, maybe get a tan. Whether you prefer tanning beds or spray tanning, you should prepare your skin for your tan. And, that means exfoliating! You need to remove those dead skin cells so that your tan will look better. Whatever your skin type (either dry skin or oily skin), you want to exfoliate. Especially if your skin is dry, your tan will look better if you get those dead skin cells off!!


So, get that tan! It’s a lot cheaper than taking a week off to go on vacation and you just might feel a little bit more rejuvenated!!!

Monday, March 21, 2011

Your Skin - REVEALED

You may already know that your skin is the largest organ. And, your skin reveals what’s going on in your life – both internally and externally – emotionally and physically. Your skin regulates your body temperature and it helps keep you warm. It also shields us from injury. And, it produces vitamin D from the sun.
There are a few layers to your skin. Let’s go through them and then we’ll reveal what they mean and what they really do.
1. The Epidermis – this is what you can see on the outside.
2. The Dermis – underneath the epidermis.
The epidermis is also called the “stratum corneum”. It contains cells called Keratinocytes which start at the bottom and constantly move towards the surface. This process takes about a month. These are what some refer to as “dead skin cells” but even thought they are dead, they still do provide a benefit. It helps protect against losing water & attacks from harmful substances.
A portion of the epidermis is referred to as melanocytes, which produce melanin, giving skin its color. This is what is functioning if you tan. The darker your skin, the more vigorous your melanocytes. No matter your race, though, everyone has the same amount of melanocytes.
Cells called Langerhans cells (also in the epidermis layer) help with our immune system. It helps fight viruses and bacteria.
Next, your dermis:
Here, you’ll find blood vessels, nerves and lymphatics. Collagen is also found in this layer, as well as “elastin fibers”. These two help your skin retain it’s appearance – either firm or slack skin, for example.
Also, part of your skin:
Eccrine glands – here is where sweat is made and can be found in many portions of the skin. This is what regulates temperature.
Apocrine glands – only found in certain areas, linked with hair follicles.
Sebaceous glands – found pretty much everywhere except for a couple places and this is where sebum is made. Sebum is oily and this is what you find a lot of on your face. Every 10 years after your late 20′s, sebum production is reduced by about 30%.
I hope that helps to explain your skin and the functions of each layer.
Continue to read our blog to get more information on the skin!!!

Saturday, March 19, 2011

Nut So Ruff

For questions and answers to how to care for your skin, go to:




For skin that's truly breathtaking...

Six necessities for winning your battle with skin care

If you’ve tried everything you could to take care of your skin but you still don’t like what you see, you need to figure out why your skin isn’t listening to you and what mistakes you may be making. Find products that help you and stop using products that may irritate or make problems worse. Your skin can look better if you follow 6 simple steps.
1. Be committed to your skin care.
2. Be patient – you need to pay attention to your skin.
3. Be aware of your “self”
4. Eat well.
5. Be realistic.
6. Have a strong desire for healthy skin.

Thursday, March 17, 2011

Causes of Acne & some helpful Tips

Diet, hygiene and stress are often blamed for acne.
Concerning diet, if you notice that certain foods make you break out, stop eating those foods. And, drink lots and lots of water – it helps to flush out your system.
For hygiene, don’t overdo it. If you scrub your face constantly, you can actually make your breakouts worse. You can’t scrub acne away!! Washing too much can become drying to your skin. Your skin will compensate by producing more oil to replace any oil that was removed. And, with more oil, you’re likely to get more acne blemishes. Wash your face 2-3 times a day at the most. I recommend 2 times on a normal day – 3 if you’ve been sweating a lot or have more dirt on your skin.
Stop touching your skin where you break out. If you touch, pick, or squeeze, you can make your skin worse. The oil can become deeply embedded in the blemish and can make it last longer. It can also develop into the more severe type of acne cysts.
If you are prone to acne break outs, you may want to stop tanning. Why? Because although it may temporarily help your skin, it won’t make it go away. The sun will dry your skin and which, in turn, leads to more oil. And, did you know that tanning actually thickens your skin – which can lead to clogged pores.
If you tend to sweat, change your clothes more often (for instance, right after school or work, after playing sports or working out). Loose fitting clothes are better than tight fitting. Shower after excessive sweating.
Watch what you put to your skin. If you talk on the phone, try not to let the receiver touch your skin. Bacteria and dirt on different objects that touch our skin make our breakouts worse.
Watch out for the types of cosmetics you are using. If you are using anything oil based and you have acne issues, you may want to switch. Sometimes it’s better to go with a more natural look rather than using foundations or powders that will clog pores. Find products that won’t clog your pores.
Be careful with allowing your hair on your face. The oils in your hair can be transferred to your skin clogging your pores.
Finally, you may also want to change your bedding frequently.

Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Skin tightener soap

Made with tomato juice and baking soda!!! Weird combination for soap but the tomato soaks up the oil and the baking soda cleans. Great for oily skin…
5 oz. glycerin soap
5 Tbsp tomato juice
10 drops lemon essential oil
1 tsp baking soda
Melt the glycerin soap in a glass measuring cup – 30 seconds at a time in the microwave. Once melted, add the remaining ingredients and stir until completely mixed. Pour into soap molds and let sit for a few hours until set. Remove and enjoy tighter skin!!!

Monday, March 14, 2011

4 Types of Acne Lesions

There are 4 types of acne. They are listed in order of severity:
1. Comedo
2. Papule
3. Pustule
4. Cyst
The first, and the mildest, is called a comedo, which is actually a clogged pore. It forms when oil from your hair follicle sticks to the top of your skin, thus blocking your pore. Types of comedos are whiteheads and blackheads - dependent on if the pore is open or closed. Whiteheads are closed with sebum. Blackheads are open with sebum but the "plug" is open to the air around it, so it turns dark. Many think the dark part of a blackhead is dirt but that is not the case.
The next 2 types of acne are papules and pustules. These are the red bumps that look "infected". These occur when the follicle is totally obstructed and the oil is blocked under the skin. The pore becomes irritated which lets bacteria and dead skin cells under the skin. This is when you see swelling. The small red bump is known as a papule. If it contains a yellowish substance, it is called a pustule. The more pus, the more infected it is. Papules can last up to 10 days; pustules up to 6.
Finally, the most severe type of acne is a cyst. They are painful bumps that have a lot of pus in them. This occurs when the inflammation is buried underneath the skin. If this bursts under the skin, it can lead to scarring. Cysts can last up to several months.
Once any of these types of acne starts to heal, you will either get red spots (called macules) or scars. Macules can last up to a year. Scars will usually only occur when you have very deep cysts but can also form if you pick or "pop" your pimples. Scars are permanent but they will fade and it is helpful to remove dead skin cells by exfoliation.
Keep tuning in to find out the best way to care for your skin. Also, feel free to comment!!!

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Ance Bacne - Embarrassing for teens and adults

Did you know acne is the most common skin disease in the USA? Almost 21 million teenagers experience acne or bacne (acne on your back, neck, arms, chest, etc.) While you can't make acne disappear altogether, you can manage it. So what is acne?
It's a skin disease in the pores of your skin. Your sebaceous glands produce an oil called sebum that is deposited on the skin via your hair follicles. You may be producing an excessive amount of sebum. When this happens, the pores become clogged with oil and dead skin that hasn't been able to be sloughed off on it's own. When bacteria is present, the area becomes infected and this is when you get acne. That's why we recommend proper skin care by washing, exfoliating and yes, moisturizing.
The reason most people get these lesions on their face, back, neck, shoulders, and chest is because these parts of your body are more oily than other areas. You will get acne on any part of your body that you consistently touch because your hands carry oil, dirt and bacteria.
So, who is more prone to acne / bacne? Most people will experience it at some point. But, some are more likely to get it and to deal with it longer...depending on your skin type. For example, if you tend to have oily skin, you will be more likely to have to deal with acne / bacne for a lot longer than someone who has very dry skin.
Most people start getting acne when they hit puberty. For girls, this is around age eleven. Boys usually start puberty at age 13. But, boys usually have more severe cases and it can last longer - this is because boys have more hormones.
Stay tuned to our blogs to learn more about this embarrassing condition, why it happens and what you can do to help treat it.

Thursday, March 10, 2011

Twelve Foods to Improve Skin

Have you seen this article?  These foods actually may help to improve skin:
1.  Tomatoes – protect against sunburn.
2.  Nuts and 3.  Fish – contain omega 3 fatty acids and can help hydrate skin and may lessen wrinkles  (Don’t eat your Nutt So Ruff scrub bar, though!!!)
4.  Kiwis, 5.  Blueberries,  6.  sweet potatoes – contain antioxidants Vitamin C & E to protect against UV damage
7.  Leafy veggies like spinach – help fight cancer – has Vitamin K
8.  Dark chocolate – helps decrease skin “roughness” and can help circulation
9.  red meat, 10.  white kidney beans, 11.  yogurt – are all high in zinc and are good for collagen.
12.  green tea – an antioxidant to help with inflammation.
The full article is at:
http://www.oprah.com/style/Improve-Your-Skin-with-These-Foods_1
You should check it out!!!!
Personally, I’m partial to the nuts, fish, blueberries, sweet potatoes, yogurt, and of course, chocolate!!!

Tuesday, March 8, 2011

All Skin Types: Oily, Dry, Normal, Sensitive

Whatever skin type you have, you should exfoliate.  Whether you have sensitive skin, dry skin, oily skin or normal skin, exfoliating your skin is essential.

Can you answer "YES" to any of these?

Do you have acne?

Do you have bacne (acne on your back, neck, arms, shoulders)?

Do you have acne scars?

Are your feet calloused?

Do you have dull looking skin?

Do you enjoy tanning, whether outside, in a tanning booth, or spray tanning?

Are you unhappy with your skin?

If you can answer "yes" to any of these questions, you would gain benefit from exfoliating your skin.  You'll notice a difference in how your skin looks and feels when you remove the dead skin cells.