GLOSSY LOCKS- Let’s Talk Hair Care!

Most people are so concerned about the conditioner or concentrated hair treatment they put on their hair after they shampoo, but the real attention should be put on how we first cleanse our hair. Somewhere along the way, we have become convinced that clean hair requires lots of suds that result in a squeaky clean feel. All this does is strip your hair and scalp of nature’s perfect moisturizers – the precious natural oils that our own scalp produces. No amount of applied conditioning agents can produce the same beneficial protection that these perfect oils can, so why replace perfection with a lesser substitute. All you want to do is cleanse away styling products and dirt, so pick a shampoo without harsh sudsing surfactants (detergents) and sulfate-based ingredients, then go with a little instead of a lot and spend time gently working the shampoo through your hair from scalp to ends. Rinse thoroughly and DO NOT REPEAT! The old rinse and repeat advice was conjured up just to sell more shampoo – and after that rinsing and repeating, you will need a lot more conditioner to undo the stripping effects of the shampoo. Instead, follow the good advice I gave above and be patient with how you hair feels until it is dry and styled. You will be surprised with how much healthier your will hair look and feel – and over time it will just keep getting better.

One other piece of advice to go along with the one just mentioned is to turn down the hot water to slightly warm when cleansing your hair. Hot water washing and rinsing causes havoc with your hair follicles, damaging the hair root, accentuating the stripping action of shampoos and causing the scalp to go crazy in reaction, producing too much oils and sebum in response to the assault. To tell the truth, steaming hot water isn’t so great for the rest of your body either. Try turning it a little cooler bit by bit over time so you can get used to showering and bathing with less hot water. Your hair and skin will thank you for it.

Have you ever gone swimming in a swimming pool and just loved the way your hair looks and feels afterwards? Of course not – I don’t know anyone who has. Chlorine is the culprit. Well, the tap water running out of your faucet or shower-head is also chlorinated – maybe much less than a swimming pool, but with still enough harsh chlorine to do damage to your hair over time. If you really want to see a difference in your hair’s condition, invest in an in-line faucet or shower-head filter that reduces chlorine in the water. You will be amazed at how fantastic your hair, scalp and skin will feel.

Featured Skin Care Ingredient – Candelilla, Jojoba, and Rice Bran derived Polyglyceryl-3 Esters

If you follow us on FB you may have heard the news but WE ARE SO EXCITED we’re going to tell you again! Z Mei will be featured on GROUPON on FRI, Jan, 20 & 21st! Be sure to take advantage of a great deal!!

And now…back to our regularly scheduled post:)
Many skin care product manufacturers try to impress customers with their long list of natural exotic oils and sophisticated peptides – all the while blending these highly desirable and sellable ingredients into generic base formulas that contain ethoxylated chemicals. These harmful ethoxylated ingredients have been highlighted as very undesirable for use by the natural personal care industry and their presence in many popular products is one of the skin care industry’s dirty little secrets. Ethoxylated compounds are used because they are inexpensive and highly effective in emulsifying the oil based ingredients (lipids) in cosmetic formulas in combination with the water based ingredients, but their aggressive surfactant action is very disrupting and damaging to our skin’s delicate lipid balance – the fragile mantle that protects our skin from the effects of environmental stress and the elements. There are superior natural skin care products available today that do not use these ethoxylated ingredients, but instead use new superior emulsifiers derived from all natural sources. One such example of desirable substitute ingredients that are all natural and create an excellent delivery base for fine skin care formulas are Polyglycerol Esters derived from Cadelilla, Jojoba and Rice Bran – all natural plant sources. These very special esters are deemed “natural” by the Natural Products Association and are available today in fine natural skin care products like Z Mei Perfecting Eye Cream, which contains a rich nutritive cocktail in a light cream base that smoothes and perfects the delicate skin around the eye area. The safe Polyglycerol Ester formulated delivery base in this high quality product is biocompatible with the skin’s own chemistry, to effectively deliver the active nutrients to the delicate eye area tissues and help normalize the skin while reducing the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The smooth aesthetic qualities of this light, non-irritating natural formula is perfect for all-day wear under makeup, no matter how active a person’s lifestyle is.

Nature’s Gift

Fennel extract is a biologically active extract of the fruit of the Fennel plant (Foeniculum vulgare.) Fennel has a long history in herbal medicine and has been the natural remedy of choice for many physical conditions and ailments. It is very beneficial to the skin because of its anti-inflammatory properties. Chronic inflammation of the skin creates stress on the skin cells, preventing them from being healthy and capable of cellular renewal. Fennel extract also has a detoxifying effect on the skin, removing toxins that rob the skin of its vitality and youthful tone. Fennel Extract’s most dramatic effect as an anti-aging ingredient come from its ability to stimulate Estrogen receptors. Estrogenic hormonal material in our bodies helps to firm and tone the skin – essential for a smooth, wrinkle-free complexion. The anti-oxidants found in Fennel Extract help fight free radicals that damage and prematurely age the skin cells. Our skin is constantly bombarded by these dangerous free radicals from sun exposure, environmental pollutants and compromised internal health factors. Oxidative damage is the major cause of skin aging. Fennel Extract is one of nature’s true gifts in the quest for anti-aging.

Your Key to Healthy, Beautiful Hair!

Most people are so concerned about the conditioner or concentrated hair treatment they put on their hair after they shampoo, but the real attention should be put on how we first cleanse our hair. Somewhere along the way, we have become convinced that clean hair requires lots of suds that result in a squeaky clean feel. All this does is strip your hair and scalp of nature’s perfect moisturizers – the precious natural oils that our own scalp produces. No amount of applied conditioning agents can produce the same beneficial protection that these perfect oils can, so why replace perfection with a lesser substitute. All you want to do is cleanse away styling products and dirt, so pick a shampoo without harsh sudsing surfactants (detergents) and sulfate-based ingredients, then go with a little instead of a lot and spend time gently working the shampoo through your hair from scalp to ends. Rinse thoroughly and DO NOT REPEAT! The old rinse and repeat advice was conjured up just to sell more shampoo – and after that rinsing and repeating, you will need a lot more conditioner to undo the stripping effects of the shampoo. Instead, follow the good advice I gave above and be patient with how you hair feels until it is dry and styled. You will be surprised with how much healthier your will hair look and feel – and over time it will just keep getting better.

One other piece of advice to go along with the one just mentioned is to turn down the hot water to slightly warm when cleansing your hair. Hot water washing and rinsing causes havoc with your hair follicles, damaging the hair root, accentuating the stripping action of shampoos and causing the scalp to go crazy in reaction, producing too much oils and sebum in response to the assault. To tell the truth, steaming hot water isn’t so great for the rest of your body either. Try turning it a little cooler bit by bit over time so you can get used to showering and bathing with less hot water. Your hair and skin will thank you for it.

Have you ever gone swimming in a swimming pool and just loved the way your hair looks and feels afterwards? Of course not – I don’t know anyone who has. Chlorine is the culprit. Well, the tap water running out of your faucet or shower-head is also chlorinated – maybe much less than a swimming pool, but with still enough harsh chlorine to do damage to your hair over time. If you really want to see a difference in your hair’s condition, invest in an in-line faucet or shower-head filter that reduces chlorine in the water. You will be amazed at how fantastic your hair, scalp and skin will feel.

Advances in the care for our skin!

We truly live in incredible times. Never before have so many exciting advances been made in the evolving science of skin care. Skin care ingredients developers and chemists are falling over each other to bring the next sensational anti-aging, protective, and repairing ingredient or formulation to market – and all of us are the beneficiaries of their hard work. Today’s skin care formulas are definitely not your mother’s night cream. Gone are the heavy, oily preparations of the past – replaced by new advanced formulations with highly active ingredients that truly achieve lasting results and benefits. We also know more than ever before about the skin’s inner mechanisms of repair and regeneration, along with a better understanding of the stresses and damage caused by lifestyle and environmental factors. Today’s best skin treatment products emphasize biocompatibility with the skin’s own processes and support the skin’s own balancing and renewal abilities. This new era of skin care has also been heavily influenced by today’s health concerns and consumers’ preference for using healthier natural and organic products and ingredients whenever possible. This new, healthier approach to skin care goes far beyond a temporary cosmetic effects of the past to achieve lasting results that are truly skin deep.

Some of the most exciting ingredients to recently become available to skin care are natural stem cells derived from very special plant sources such as specific apple, grape and rose varieties. These unique plant-sourced stem cells help maintain the skin’s own stem cell characteristics, protecting them against the effects of UV stress – a major source of skin cell damage. Epidermal regeneration is boosted and the skin’s protective barrier is improved as the skin’s own stem cell vitality is increased. These very special plant-derived stem cells have also exhibited significant skin-smoothing and wrinkle-reducing effects. Our skin’s epidermal stem cells become lower in number and less active as we age. These active isolated plant stem cells have been found to stimulate the proliferation of the skin’s stem cells, increasing the life span of the skin’s important structural components like fibroblast cells, which dramatically decline with age and cause the deeply wrinkled appearance of aged skin.

More on my favorite skincare tips:)

Another important skin care tip regarding moisturizing creams is to avoid using them in the delicate skin area directly around the eyes. These facial moisturizing creams are fine and effective for most of the skin on your face and neck, but the delicate eye zone has very special needs which they do not satisfy. As we age, this delicate eye area tissue becomes very fragile, exhibiting a crepe-like texture. Seek out a separate eye serum or creme specifically formulated for the delicate eye area – and be very careful when applying it to not get too close to the edges of your eyelids where the product may irritate your sensitive eyes. There is nothing attractive about red, watering eyes. Be patient with these special eye zone treatments. The skin around your eyes didn’t get that way in a day and any instant results promised by a product are little more than a quick cosmetic fix. You want improvements that last and that takes time. Within a month or two of regular usage of a quality eye treatment product, you friends and/or significant other should be seeing and commenting on the difference. Also, look for more natural and organic ingredients and less irritating synthetic chemicals – your eyes will thank you.

Exfoliation is one of the most important ways to improve the appearance of your skin, but more is not necessarily better. When choosing an exfoliating scrub, try to avoid one that contains large, abrasive scrub particles such as apricot kernel and nut shells. Instead, find one that touts having smoother, smaller scrubbing beads or particles which will stimulate the skin to slough off its dull outer layers gradually and naturally without injuring delicate epidermal skin cells. With a scrub, you are not trying to aggressively sand off the outer layers of your skin, just stimulate and increase the natural renewing process. Use a gentle exfoliating scrub once or twice a week at the most and you will be rewarded with healthy, younger looking skin that glows from improved circulation and the removal of dull, dry skin cells. You might also try to seek out a combination scrub and mask product. These unique combination products provide the exfoliating action of a scrub with a deep pore-cleansing drawing action of a mask when left on the skin for an indicated period of time.

My favorite skin care tip

SourceURL:file:///Users/amberhergen/Desktop/FOR%20AMBER%209-7-11/FavSkinCareTips_RikVig_Rv1.doc

My favorite skin care tip has to do with something very basic and simple, but of utmost importance – putting back precious moisture after cleansing the skin and before applying a daily moisturizer. When we use even the mildest cleanser to cleanse our skin, the delicate moisture-protecting skin barrier is disrupted. Some of the skin’s precious moisture is lost through evaporation or by towel drying. On top of that, the water most of us use to wash and rinse our faces is often harsh, chlorinated tap water – an insult to the surface of our skin. Many people mistakenly feel that their moisturizer will put back the moisture into their skin – after all, moisture is right there in its name, but this is only partially true. Moisturizers are actually composed of water and lipids (oils) blended together in a combination called an emulsion. This combination makes it difficult to fully replace the skin’s lost moisture. Instead of putting your moisturizer on right after cleansing, first apply a gentle pH-balanced liquid toner which will correct the skin’s delicate acid mantle. Avoid stronger, chemical-laden toners in favor of one with more natural ingredients, including herbal and botanical extracts which will tighten and refine the pores. The purified water in the toner will be a thirst-quenching drink for your thirsty skin. If no toner is available, try using non-chlorinated or distilled bottled water, moistening your entire face. Now apply your favorite moisturizer, which will now provide the perfect protection for the moisture in your skin that you just replenished. Your skin will be appear firmer with a smoother texture. You skin will also be better able to utilize the special renewing ingredients you paid for in the moisturizer. You and your skin will now be ready to face the day.

Here is an important skin care tip to go with the one I just gave you that has nothing to do with using a particular skin care product, but has everything to do with how great your skin looks. Drink water – lots and lots of water! Drink the purest, cleanest water you can find and make it your preferred beverage of choice. Most of us walk around in a state of dehydration without even knowing it and beverages like sodas, coffee and alcoholic drinks only exasperate the problem, leaving us literally dried up from the inside out. How could this state make your skin look anything but shriveled up and wrinkled. Do yourself a big favor and buy a personal, preferably metal or glass (instead of plastic) drinking bottle and keep it filled up with fresh drinking water so you can sip throughout the day and replenish your body and skin’s precious moisture. You’ll be beautiful from the inside out.

What YOU need to know about your SHAMPOO

The majority of shampoos, whether a popular-priced drug store brand or a premium-priced salon brand, contain harsh sulfate-based surfactants such as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate and Sodium Laureth Sulfate. These powerful cleansing chemicals are also used in many industrial cleaning products such as engine degreasers and floor cleaners because of their efficient oil-stripping properties. That is not what you want to be using on your hair and scalp. Besides being a scalp irritant, their aggressive cleansing and oil-stripping properties play havoc with the natural lipid (oil) balance of the hair and scalp. No amount of highly-advertised extra added conditioning agents can counteract the accumulative damage these harsh, stripping chemical surfactants wreak on the natural balance of our scalp and hair. We have been lied to by advertisers that “squeaky clean” hair is desirable. What we need instead are gentle, yet effective naturally-derived cleansing agents that cleanse away dirt and excess styling products while preserving the delicate acid mantle that protects our scalp and hair’s delicate lipid/moisture balance. The health of every hair on our head is at stake!

Fortunately for all of us, today’s scientific advances have brought to us a new generation of naturally-derived, milder alternatives to sulfate-based cleansing ingredients. New mild surfactants derived from natural amino-acids are available that effectively cleanse the hair and scalp while avoiding removing the natural lipids that protect our hair’s health and condition. Even people who complain of having an oily scalp will see improvement in the oil/moisture balance of their hair. In truth, it was the harsh surfactants that totally stripped away their natural oils and caused a rebound effect that made the oil glands in the scalp produce even more oil in response – a vicious circle.

It is not unusual for people to think that their hair gets used to a shampoo after a certain period of use. The great effects they originally experienced seem to fade away. In actuality, the originally desirable effects of the shampoo’s formula may have not been that sensational in actual effect on the delicate, natural oil/moisture of the scalp and hair. Over time, the true accumulative effects of the formula become apparent and the results are sometimes disastrous to our hair’s luster and texture. Remember that the physical qualities of your hair are determined by the health of your scalp, so don’t be fooled by initial benefits you perceive when using a new shampoo. Seek out a superior, more natural brand of shampoo with gentle cleansers and ingredients beneficial to your scalp’s health and you will be rewarded in the long run with healthy, luxuriously-looking hair you can be truly be proud of.

Many people feel that the more that they pay for a premium salon brand guarantees that they are receiving a superior product, but my main caveat is “buyer beware.” Become educated about ingredients and read the label’s ingredients list very carefully. Do not be fooled by the sexy, desirable ingredients listed in the latter half of the list. They may only be there in less than half of a percentage and make truly little difference in the product’s performance. The first several ingredients in the list make up the majority of the formula and they are the most important. If you see ingredients that are identical to those you see in common mass, food & drug brands you have bought, put your hard-earned money back in your wallet and walk away. The real difference between salon and common retail brands is sometimes slighter than you would think – just a few pennies worth of extra, special ingredients.

We would love to hear from you! tell us what you think about the Z Mei blog:)

Till next time–be healthy, happy & informed:)
Amber

In Search of AMAZING Skin

Z Mei Regenerating Night Treatment is a unique and highly effective skin treatment formula that works at a cellular level to help undo the damage caused by environmental stress, physiological stress and sun exposure – the main causes of premature aging. Its regenerative abilities come from a unique synergistic combination of traditional Chinese herbs long known for their health benefits to the skin and cutting-edge natural ingredients touted for their effectiveness in actively promoting cellular skin renewal and health. There are many brands of skin care products that contain similar ingredients to these, but not in this precise combination with traditional Chinese herbs proven over centuries to correct the skin’s delicate balance and ability to repair itself. Returning the skin to its natural state of balance is what Z Mei natural skin care is all about. By eliminating the constant state of stress that our skin is subjected to daily, the skin regains its ability to utilize the nourishing ingredients in the Regenerating Night Treatment formula to reduce visible signs of aging and help reverse years of damage.

Welcome to Skincare 101

There is SO much mixed information about proper skincare–I can’t be the only one who finds it confusing!

Which is why I decided to dedicate this post to proper skincare:)

Let’s start off with a few facts about our skin.

First of all, the skin is the largest organ in your body and it regenerates itself about every 27 days. It requires proper care to perform its function of protecting your body. Your skin care regimen will most likely change as you age and encounter different skin concerns.

The good news is, You don’t have to spend a fortune to have beautiful skin–YAY!  Merely follow a few basic skin care guidelines.

Don’t Smoke

Smoking causes narrowing of the small blood vessels close to the surface of the skin. This narrowing reduces blood flow to the skin, decreasing the amount of oxygen and vital nutrients the skin receives. Smoking can also reduce skin strength and elasticity, which can lead to premature aging. In addition–as if you needed yet another reason– smoking is bad for your health, your breath and your love life:)

Eat a Balanced Diet 

It is very important to consume a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, which will help your skin get the nutrients it needs. Vitamins A and C are particularly important for skin health, and according to MayoClinic.com,  there is some evidence that a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet rich in vitamin C may promote skin health.

Use Natural-based Skincare 

Just as important as eating a balanced diet, healthy skin depends on using a natural based, nourishing skincare line, such as Z Mei. Unlike most skincare products, Z Mei is free of dangerous Parabens. In case you do not know,  Parabens come in various forms (methyl, ethyl, propyl and benzyl) and are used as cheap and effective preservatives for personal-care products such as skincare, shampoos and conditioners, To view our natural-based product line and learn more, visit www.zmei.com.

Till next time–be healthy, happy and helpful:)