You deserve Clean, Clear and Glowing Skin! Do you Agree? Then read on.

Everyone wants skin that’s clear as a bell but most people don’t know how or why they can’t have it. There are many factors but since they can be so numerous we won’t touch upon them.

Instead, lets concentrate on the basics of skin care and if applied, I promise, you will have clear and glowing skin. This is something I know you want, Right?

My first mantra in skin care is, and it encompasses all I do in skin care, CONSISTENCY!

Consistency in your skin care routine is crucial for healthy and glowing skin. This is just like going to the gym or eating healthy. If you stop it, it won’t be long before you’ll see the bad results of it.

So the first step to glowing skin that you must do consistently is to use a cleanser at night. Wash your face and remove make-up, dirt, grime and the pollution of the day.

This will immediately improve the health of your skin, How?

Your body repairs itself at night time and if you have make-up and other grime on your face, it will have a hard time fulfilling that function for the skin on your face.

Therefore, consistently use a gentle wash for your nightly routine and see the difference it can make in your skin, deal?

I also, want to recommend one of my most favorite cleansers, ILA Cleansing Milk for Natural Beauty. The moment you open the bottle, you will smell the wonderful purity of the ingredients in this cleanser. It Contains the super rich antioxidant, Argan Oil. Each of my clients swears by this cleanser and you will too once you use it.

This cleanser is both soothing and deeply cleansing. It contains no alcohol, so its great for even the driest of skin.

I find it really helps to heal the ravages of the environment on the skin and leaves you with a radiant glow.

Call Joanna Vargas Salon in New York City for any questions or to make your appointment at 212/949.2350.

By C.A. Vargas

The definition of what is organic in skin care or personal products has been an ongoing dispute in the U.S that has created more consumer confusion than a chinese puzzle box. And despite the growing abuses by many companies that position themselves as “organic”, the United States still has no regulatory agency to prevent the defamation of the word organic.

The closest the U.S has come to form a regulatory body for anything organic has been the United States Department of Agriculture. However, those efforts fall short and only apply to organic foods. The USDA has no such standards for cosmetics or personal care items.

Therefore the cosmetic and beauty industry indiscriminately use words like “natural” or “organic” to market themselves, but have no standards to back-up their claims. The United States lack of regulations in this segment of the organic industry, beauty, cosmetics and personal care items, is in fact years behind its European counterparts.

France, the United Kingdom, Germany, Italy and Belgium have had standards in place for years. The result is a trust in its organic skin care labels that is lacking in the United States. The only thing that protects the consumer in the US is ones own education regarding the potentially harmful ingredients used in skin care products. Lacking that, the consumer must rely on the personal ethics of these companies and their standards for what they consider organic.

Some common ingredients that you should be aware are parabens, sulfate and petroleum based ingredients. A common rule of thumb I use is, if you can’t pronounce it or don’t recognize it, most likely its synthetic. This is not a very scientific method but it works when you are lacking a degree in chemistry.

For a fuller list of ingredients see the article “Harmful Ingredients In Skin Care”. The harmful ingredients mentioned in this article are common enough to be shun by any quality company that considers itself organic. Additionally, this is not a complete list by far and should only be used to increase your knowledge of potentially harmful ingredients in skin care.

In Europe, for example France, skin care companies can follow the standards set by EcoCert and consumers would have immediate confidence that it was organic. Similarly in the United Kingdom, the Soil Association certifies not only organic products but organic foods as well and any label it issues carries the assurance that it is organic.

This is one of the reasons why Joanna Vargas Skin Care carries mainly organic skin care products from abroad as they are following a set of standards that have been in place for years. These strict guidelines have proven themselves to be not only organic but also show results when used in the skin.

Although the United States has many good companies which create organic skin care products the industry seems to be still working out the kinks as to what is identifiably organic.

When choosing organic skin care products for use in the salon, Joanna Vargas has created unyielding guidelines that encompass many of those found in the various organizations in Europe such as the Soil Association, EcoCert and BDIH from Germany. In fact, Joanna Vargas is years ahead of the competition and has been using organic products years before the word “organic” itself became mainstream.

Visit our online store and BUY truly unique organic skin care.

By C.A. Vargas

Paraben is a bad word among organic beauty experts but the cosmetic and skin care industry have been using them since the 1920s. Today most popular cosmetic and skin care companies still use parabens as a chief ingredient in their beauty and skin care products.

Parabens are chemicals that extend the shelf life of a cosmetic or skin care product. What has become irrefutable is that parabens are carcinogenic. Some studies have actually shown a link between parabens and breast cancer.

It is commonly known now that parbens mimic the hormone estrogen. Estrogen is a major factor in the development of breast cancer. Yet cosmetic and skin care companies still use parbens as a preservative that get absorbed through the skin. Too much estrogen in the body can cause weight gain, water retention and mood swings minimally.

Cosmetics companies who use parabens justify their use by saying they stick with a “safe” amount or dosage for daily usage. Its just like tobacco companies saying that cigarettes are safe in small quantities!

Yet the logic of big tobacco is what is being used by these reprehensible companies that turn a blind eye to evidence and keep an eye on the balance sheet. Whether parabens cause cancer or not I say, but I urge the use of organic skin care products!

For the best organic skin care products look for and order them at http://www.joannavargas.com/catalog and save 10% off of your first order. Receive your code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. At Joanna Vargas Skin Care we only use organic skin care products in our treatments. So call our salon in New York City and make your appointment at 212.949.2350. You can also email us with any questions or concern at Salon@JoannaVargas.com

By C.A Vargas

Antioxidants, Not Just Another Buzzword In The Skin Care Industry

This buzzword in the skin care industry is repeated often enough in the beauty tomes that it warrants inspection and clarification as to its benefits. By now thousands of studies have proven that antioxidants fight the signs of aging and help reduce or prevent sun spots. The American Institute of Cancer Research concurs that eating a variety of fruits and vegetables each day will increase a person’s cancer fighting potential.

There are thousand of known antioxidants, each with different abilities, strengths and benefits. They can be found in a variety of fruits, vegetables, nuts, meats and even fish. Antioxidants are powerful nutrients that experts believe can help prevent a number of diseases. According to studies antioxidants can help prevent heart disease, dementia and fight off the signs of aging. This is the ultimate price in the beauty industry and a key reason why they are used in skin care products. They are a preventative way to keep Old Father time at bay. Antioxidants are anti-aging, everyone of them!

Of course, as always I recommend organic skin care products as the healthier choice.

Antioxidants are not just another buzz word from the skin care industry but a bona fide miracle ingredient that will repair the very molecules that will cause harm to your body and ultimately your skin. To prove my point each year Americans buy billions of dollars in antioxidant type supplements and topical skin care.

What Is A Free Radical

As you breathe and your cells produce energy a normal consequence occurs, highly reactive molecules are produced known as free radicals. In order to understand this term, all we need to think about is a thief. It is a bandit molecule with an odd number of electrons, a negatively charged particle, that is a byproduct of metabolism. And it seeks to stabilize itself by robbing other stable molecules that have an even pair of numbered electrons.

This causes a cascading effect as the newly unstable molecule now seeks to stabilize itself by robbing another stable molecule, causing a chain reaction and internally causing mutations and improper cell function.

And how those this affect the skin? Free radicals attack collagen and break it down. Collagen degradation leads to wrinkles and obvious signs of aging and the less collagen you have, then the skin will loses its firmness and strength. Collagen is absolutely vital for skin to remain youthful.

Antioxidants How They Work

An antioxidant helps neutralize free radicals in two ways. One, by donating electrons that free radicals need and two, by breaking up the chain reaction caused by free radicals. Antioxidants are Mother Natures way of handling the same oxidative process which causes oils to become rancid, peeled apples to turn brown, and iron to rust.

Antioxidants are miracle vitamins that come from some very well known sources, like vitamin A, C and E and minerals like copper, selenium and zinc. Then there are the thousands of known antioxidants called phytonutrients and they break up into three major groups, flavonoids, Lignans and Carotenoids.

These types of antioxidants can be found in various fruits and vegetables and even some not so thought of as healthy foods like dark chocolate and red wine.

Please choose organic foods as the choice have been made easy with organic products becoming mainstream.

Foods that are rich in antioxidants are nuts, grapes, blueberries, pomegranates, cherries, grapefruit, cranberries, raspberries. Additionally a super source of antioxidants is also green tea and also considered an energy booster. All of them can be used as yummy treats and will help you fight off signs of aging, no matter what your age.

When buying organic skin care products look for those that contain a cocktail of antioxidants as part of their ingredients. According to Dr. Howard Murad “The whole formula is more important than one ingredient”.

Reduce The Risk Of Free Radicals

Although oxidation and the creation of free radicals is a normal byproduct of metabolism there are sources which increase the factors which create them. If you live in a large metropolis you might be exposed to higher levels of pollution which in turn create more free radicals. Excess drinking, cigarette smoke, over exposure to the sun, all add up to more free radicals and greater potential for many diseases and although not considered as such by the health community, premature aging and damaged skin.

So your lifestyle has much to do with the creation of free radicals but by eating more fruits, vegetables and a proper skin care routine with organic skin care products that contain antioxidants you can avoid a lot of the potential harm that will occur if you don’t use this preventative measure.

Place your order now via our online store and get a 10% off code with your welcome email and click redeem during the check out process. Or call to make your appointment and get 10% 0ff the LED Light Therapy when you mention this article. Joanna Vargas Skin Care is in New York City and can be contacted at 212.949.2350. You can also email us with any questions or concern at Salon@JoannaVargas.com

By Elizabeth Hall

Growing up, we were constantly reminded to eat our vegetables to grow healthy and strong. Little did we know how vital a role the components of these vegetables would play in our overall well-being as an adult. Green vegetables such as spinach contain a powerful mix of anti-oxidants and vitamins, but perhaps one of the most important things it contains is the very element that gives these vegetables their rich green hue. Chlorophyll, the green pigment common in green vegetables, plants, and algae is an essential ingredient in health and skin care remedies thanks to its anti-aging and anti-inflammatory qualities.

Chlorophyll is often recommended in liquid and tablet form due to its holistic healing properties for aliments found inside the body, but one must not discount its vital role in creating and maintaining radiant, youthful looking skin. It is an ideal ingredient in skin care products because it absorbs easily into the body, and deposits minerals to help balance and regulate impurities. The antibacterial and antimicrobial agents protect the skin and body against harmful bacteria and disease. These properties gently deep cleanse the skin without the risk and discomfort of harsh chemicals.

Chlorophyll is essential to photosynthesis, the process in which plants obtain energy from light. The benefits of the oxygenation and regeneration are transferred to the skin using topical skincare products containing Chlorophyll, such as the organic skincare line Phyt’s, available at Joanna Vargas all organic online store. The stimulating and antiseptic components of Chlorophyll are present in many of the organic products featured in the Phyt’s line, such as the Crème Reviderm, that help protect the skin against the harsh effects of pollution and free radicals by detoxifying and healing the complexion.

The result: hydrated and nourished skin, ready to face the world!

By C.A. Vargas

Many of the organic skin care products that we carry have as one of their main ingredients sunflower seed oil. The specific compounds of this oil are amazing and deserve to be highlighted as an essential of skin care and beautiful skin. The story of the sunflower, like any good story, has an amazing beginning and for that we have to time travel to 3000 BC North America. Where, in what is present day New Mexico and Arizona, American Indians cultivated the flower for a myriad of purposes.

Archaeologists agree that the domestication of the sunflower plant made the crop common amongst Native American Indians throughout North America. Evidence suggest that the sunflower was use for a wide variety of purposes: flour to make cake or bread or pressed for its oil for baking bread and medicinal ointments. And even the stalk was use as a building material. The oil’s many medicinal purposes included usage as an antiseptic and antibacterial to help reduce infections. And in fact the oil was more of a panacea that could include things as distinct as a snake bite or a treatment for the hair and nails.

By the 1500’s Spanish Conquistadors had brought the plant to Europe where it was mainly used as an ornament although some medicinal uses were developed. But it wasn’t until the 18th Century that the sunflower became very popular and most of the credit is given to Peter The Great. And it was here in Russia where the plant became greatly cultivated not just for decoration or as an ornament but for its oil and the consumption of it.

Sunflower oil today is considered one of the healthiest and most popular oils in the world. And much research has been done to validate the claims. Many consider that this is an all purpose oil although there is some controversy surrounding this last statement.
As some considered the oil to have a low heat threshold and thus losing all its health benefits once used for cooking. Therefore some experts only recommend it in its raw state with salads or as part of a vinaigrette. However this last statement could not be verified.

Sunflower oil is additionally rich in linoleic acid, an Omega 6 essential fatty acid, as well as oleic acid, an Omega 9 fatty acid. Linoleic acid is vital for healthy skin as it is the most abundant essential fatty acid in skin but it declines with age and can be stripped by harsh soaps and cleansers.

Essential fatty acids have a long tradition of providing a variety of therapeutic benefits as oils are easily absorbed by the cell wall membrane. In skin care products these essential fatty acids can have the added benefits of being an antiseptic and antimicrobial and delivering therapeutic nutrients that will sooth, heal and regenerate the skin.

Sunflower oil is a good moisturizer and it is easily absorbed by the skin. And because of its light texture wont leave the skin feeling greasy or oily. And it is gentle enough for all skin types making it ideal for skin care products, hair conditioners and bath oils.

Researchers have also discovered additional vital nutrients in sunflower oil which help to restore normal skin functions when applied topically. Nutrients like vitamins A, B complex, D, and E, as well as calcium, zinc, potassium, iron, and phosphorus.

The essential fatty acids and vital nutrients in the sunflower will nourish and condition the skin, making it more supple and radiant. And in combination with other organic ingredients in the skin care product you will reverse any signs of skin damage or better yet prevent it.

Visit our store and look for Phyt’s products as they generally have this ingredient in each product. This organically certified skin care line from France is a pure treasure that will restore and bring your skin to a whole new level of health and radiance.

By C.A. Vargas

Photo by Tara Darby/ Source NYTimes.com

Morocco, historically known as “The Western Kingdom”, has been inhabited since at least 8000 BC, as noted by historians of the Capsian culture. This ancient and exotic land is home to Tangier, Casablanca and Essaouira, which was a stop in the ‘60s and ‘70s for the hash-filled hippie trek and is now a popular windsurfing and kiteboarding spot.

Today, one of the most interesting finds is one of the most naturally produced ingredients in organic skin care, argan oil. Produced from the fruit of the Argan tree and because this tree almost exclusively grows in Morocco, the oil is considered to be one of the most rarest in the world. Called liquid gold, this oil is extracted according to centuries old tradition and by custom, only the women of this ancient land produce it. The process is lengthy and it takes as much as a day to make a liter of it.

Argan oil had been the cosmetic secret of the Berber women for centuries and more recently the well-healed Europeans that brought it back from their seaside vacations. The Berber women use it for their hair, skin and nails. But it is also a source of nutrition and used heavily as a culinary essential. And because of its high nutritional values and restorative powers it is used in their traditional medicines as well.

The composition of this oil is extremely interesting and studies show it to have very high concentration of vitamin E and other naturally occurring antioxidants, including essential fatty acids, Omega-6 and Omega-9. All the different elements in combination are age-defying and restorative for the skin. An additional benefit is that it naturally defends against UV rays, so it is perfect as a foundation before makeup, a typical use by Berber women.

This oil is the latest miracle ingredient being used in organic skin care and beauty products because of its restorative and age defying effects. It is extremely beneficial for skin care as it eliminates fine lines and wrinkles and feeds the skin all the proper nutrients for a healthy and radiant glow. And it even has passed the sustainability test which means it retains its integrity and can be used in skin care products without losing its potency.

This latest botanical wonder and anti-aging miracle works directly with cells and prevents cell degeneration, restoring balance to the epidermis. The benefits can include the proper hydration of the skin thus making it more supple, improved elasticity and firmness, making wrinkles disappear and also improving the overall texture of the skin.

This powerful antioxidants is used in one of the most superlatively crafted organic skin care products to date, ILA. Pronounced “EYE-LA”, this organic skin care line is used in my facials and treatment rooms for its efficacy and its products are highly recommended to my clients as part of their skin care regime. All of which have reported noticeable improvements to their skin in a very short time.

And one of the simplest things you can do to achieve radiant and glowing skin is by using a cleanser. ILA’s organic cleanser removes surfaces impurities and helps nourish and heal the ravages of the environment, without stripping the skin. Using a proper cleanser is a practical approach to beautiful skin and ILA’s cleanser will make you feel like you just had a facial and it even removes waterproof mascara!