Saturday, February 28, 2015

EXERCISE CAUTION IN FACE OF LOFTY MARKETING CLAIMS




FDA is actively scrutinizing false claims of brand beauty products, especially when it comes to so-called anti-aging promotional campaigns. L’Oreal is again being warned for making claims of their products ‘Rosalic AR Intense’ and ‘Mela-D Pigment Control’. Both these products have not been recognized as safe and effective for the claimed uses.  FDA has therefore asked the company to take immediate action to rectify the violation of Cosmetic Act.
Separately, FDA has asked Avon and Estee Launder to change their labelling and marketing claims of anti-wrinkle, or anti-aging  products.
Recently, FDA warned California-based company Cell Vitals about its moisturizer being marketed as having “anti-bacterial” and “anti-cancer” properties, or claimed to repair skin damage caused by UV rays.
Those wishing to take better care of their skin might like to use safe, effective and skin-friendly products made with plant-based ingredients, or natural herbal extracts (as Herbally Radiant has been promoting for several years). Most of these have been used by women for centuries because of their efficacy and safe use.  Consumers need to take informed decision rather than getting influenced by the marketing claims of any product.


Friday, February 27, 2015

AMAZING EFFECTS OF GREEN TEA IN NATURAL BEAUTY PRODUCTS




Among the herbal natural ingredients in our beauty formulations, green tea is special; it is not oxidized (fermented) during its processing, and so its buds and leaves retain much of the naturally Besides other herbal extracts and organic ingredients, we at Herbally Radiant also use tea occurring chemicals present in the leaves.
Anti-cancer: It contains a high concentration of polyphenols, with potent antioxidant properties. They scavenge free radicals and cell damaging compounds that alter DNA molecules in the chromosomes, inducing harmful mutations, possibly leading to skin cancer.
Anti-aging benefits: Several factors causing premature aging, are caused by a build-up of free radicals in the body, damaging skin cells.  Free radicals do occur naturally, but their concentrations rise due to exposure to pollution, too much sunlight and some types of chemicals.  Chemicals called catechins in green tea significantly improve the activity of SOD – a body of chemicals that mops up free radicals.
Fungal infection: A cup of green tea contains upto 200 mg of catechins with antioxidant properties, inhibiting production of a key enzyme (gyrase) needed by bacteria, thus reducing the chance of any bacterial infection.  The CLEAN range of Cleanser, Toner, Serum andScrub derive best healing and beautifying properties with use of tea tree essential oil, made especially for acne-prone or sensitive skin types.
Some other benefits of green tea:
1. Adds shine to dull, lackluster hair. Simply steep tea bags in boiling water for 15 minutes, allow to cool; soak it onto freshly-washed hair, leave on for ten minutes and then wash.
2. Soothes sunburns. Cold compresses made out of tea bags can relieve pain and reduce redness.
3. Reduces puffy eyes and dark under-eye circles. The caffeine helps to shrink blood vessels underneath the skin and eliminate darkness around the eye area.
4. Rids smelly feet odor.  Soak your feet in a cool solution made out of boiled tea. The tannic acid in tea is both antibacterial and antifungal, so it stops feet from sweating and smelling funky.
5. Tones and moisturizes dry skin. Spritz cool green tea onto your face (or use a cotton ball) twice a day to draw out impurities, shrink large pores and get a healthy glow.
6. Calms skin after shaving. Try pressing a cool black tea bag onto your limbs. The tannins work to provide immediate relief from razor burns.
7. Enhances hair color. Its staining properties add color to naturally blonde or brunette locks.
Please note: Benefits of green tea, occur after drinking it for extended time-months or years, as integral long term health diet, not as some immediate fix.

To derive benefits from green tea, take it as regular health diet, not as an immediate fix for skin problem.

Monday, February 23, 2015

DO YOU KNOW BEST RELIEF FROM ACNE PROBLEM?



Only last week, British Daily Mail again referred to acne problem - embarrassing experience for more and more persons.

Acne is most common skin disorder, especially for teenagers, but growing number of adults also suffer from it. It can be managed with right awareness. It is a bacterial infection caused by body’s internal chemistry due to following reasons :
 1)Hormonal activity (primarily from androgens, male hormones); 2 Inflammation; 3)Overproduction of oil by the sebaceous (oil) gland; 4)Irregular or excessive shedding of dead skin cells; 5) Buildup of bacteria in the pores, leading to inflammation; and 6) Sensitive reactions to makeup, irritating skin-care ingredients, allergies or medicines.
Acne problem occurs when sebaceous (oil) glands attached to the hair follicles are stimulated. Associated with increased oil production is a change in the manner in which the skin cells mature, predisposing them to clog the follicular pore. The clog can appear as a “whitehead” if it is covered by a thin layer of skin, or “blackhead” if exposed to the air – the darker exposed portion of the plug is called a “blackhead”.  Pimples or tender red bumps on the face are another form of mild acne. Blackheads are oxidized oil, not dirt.

To meet this growing problem, HERBALLY RADIANT launched CLEAN series ofCleanser, Toner, Cream, Scrub and Serum.  Special tea tree essential oil blended with selected natural ingredients make CLEAN series amazingly effective (Good reviews from consumers). The combined effect of these special formulations has immensely helped customers in getting rid of their problem, and regaining smooth and bright skin. More details at www.herballyradiant.com. (Can be ordered online- free shipping.)

Warning consumers against some heavily marketed so-called acne-relief products,  FDA issued a warning that popular acne products sold over-the-counter under brand names such as Proactiv and Neutrogena can cause rare but serious and potentially life-threatening allergic reactions. The FDA advised consumers to stop using their topical acne products and seek emergency medical help if they experience hypersensitivity reactions such as throat tightness, difficulty in breathing, feeling faint or swelling of the eyes, face, lips or tongue.
According to the agency, non-prescription acne products containing the active ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid are of concern. It added that non-prescription products containing the active ingredients benzoyl peroxide or salicylic acid and marketed under brands such as Proactiv, Neutrogena, MaxClarity, Oxy, Ambi, Aveeno and Clean & Clear, as well as store brands, were of concern. The agency said it has received 131 reports of such hypersensitivity reactions from consumers or manufacturers, most of these were received since 2012.
The manufacturers are pushing for glamorous marketing campaigns, without naming the key ingredients or precaution on the labels. “There is currently no mention of the possibility of these very severe allergic reactions on the product labels," Mona Khurana, a medical officer at FDA said in a statement.

Friday, February 20, 2015

MORE CAFFEINE IMPACTS ADVERSELY ON SKIN



The new recommendations of the Advisory Committee were announced yesterday which, amongst others, recommend reducing intake of salt, sugar and fat, but do not find harm in caffeine intake.
USDA says the average American consumes 300 milligrams of caffeine each day – equivalent to nearly 4 cups of coffee. Most of us, therefore, consume caffeine in some form, but the way different bodies process this chemical varies based on several key factors, some of which need to be looked into.
From the point of skin’s health, Herbally Radiant has been stressing that drinking coffee should be very moderate. Coffee contains many chemicals, including tannin. This chemical is known to block pores of cells, and has hydration removal properties that can cause skin to become rough and brittle over time.
Long term coffee use was also noticed to affect liver’s functioning. With advancing age, if liver cannot purify blood efficiently, it tends to taint the cells, including skin cells, resulting in development of liver spots.
Tannin, when taken in high amounts with coffee, also acts as a diuretic, which further dehydrates body.
To those customers facing acne-related skin problems, (and to whom we prescribe CLEAN products),  we have been cautioning that caffeine in coffee acts as strong stimulant and mood enhancing agent. Thus in the case of sensitive skin, coffee can potentially trigger acne in several ways, including mainly by magnifying body’s stress response, resulting in enhancing body’s hormonal stress response.  Coffee in excess can also interfere with the absorption of minerals from food.
Therefore we have to keep in mind the factors emerging out of high intake of caffeine through daily coffee, especially when we are trying to improve our skin and appearance.