Abbey St Clare

Wellness / Beauty / Inspiration
June 2006


In this issue:

Ask the Abbey....

Ask Abbey

How can I achieve the creamy lip color look that I see on celebrities?

I am traveling to Europe. If I take only one treatment cream, which one would you suggest?

Read on.....
Natural Beauty: Botox Alternatives: Argireline & Matrixyl 3000  

“Send a gallon of this stuff. Quick!”

Almost all the products at the Abbey are a result of customer requests for effective products that target specific concerns. One of the recurring requests has been for a super-strength formula to erase stubborn expression lines, especially the pucker lines around the mouth. These are commonly prevalent in smokers and are particularly difficult to smooth out. To add insult to injury, lip color bleeds into these deep furrows despite one’s best efforts. Take heart. Help is on the way.

Intense Line Relief Serum, our botanical cornucopia of face smoothing oils, has been made even more effective with the addition two new ingredients achieving excellent results in the war of the wrinkles, Argireline and Matrixyl 3000.

Nature's Pharmacy: Kitchen Cures

SUN ITCH

RELIEF from BUG BITES and STINGS



Fountain of Youth Quick Tip: Behold the lowly cucumber  

Fighting wrinkles from the inside out.

Cucumbers are plants of antiquity having been used and consumed by ancient Egyptians and later the Greeks and Romans. You know -- and may have lived -- the image of lounging faces with cucumbers in place of eyes. Cool, moist cucumber has a long history of use for soothing burns, including sunburn, and preventing wrinkles. Wealthy in water, Vitamin E, and oils, fresh cucumber compresses and masques are very commonly used to soften and hydrate skin, reducing wrinkles in the process.*

Cucumbers also fight wrinkles from the inside out. Formed of 95% water, with scarce caloric value (approximately 20 cal for each 100 g), they are a valuable source of phosphorous, calcium, Vitamin C, and iron. Its skin is most valuable as the cell salts and vitamins are just beneath it. So, peeling is to be avoided while eating. Regular consumers of cucumber notice their skin becomes smoother and healthier looking. Cucumber can also be a powerful diuretic, expelling excess water promoting a more toned appearance.**

*You can cut thin, disk-shaped sections and wipe them on your skin. You can also whip them in your blender and apply the mash as a facial masque. Rinse off after 15 to 30 minutes. Check the website soon for the recipe for a cucumber based wrinkle reducing masque attributed to Cleopatra that you can make in your kitchen.

** See the website glossary for additional benefits

Skin Care Cosmetics: Summer Pinks  

Less is Younger ~~ Keep it Natural Flat Bronzer

Skin that is losing firmness needs less makeup, not more. Makeup tends to slide into and accentuate even tiny facial furrows. Mineral powders applied with a light hand reflect light and minimize wrinkles and sagging.

  • Summer is a time of light and relaxation. Nothing perks up a complexion like shades of pink. To avoid a washed out look in intense reflected light and heat, choose makeup that is less opaque. Instead, use more translucent Beryl Blush Finishing Powder that will allow the warmth of your natural skin to show through. Dust shades of pink on your cheeks, light pink Innocent Morn if you are fair, deeper shades if your skin tone is darker. Shades vary from rose to berry, but all should be applied with a light hand. Summer Solstice Blush has become one of our best selling blushes. Keep eyes light with a dusting of our popular Plucked Rose or Magenta Mist Colours Powder. Finish with a slight edging of brown liner and soft layers of black mascara.

  • Choose any of the lip glosses for a sheer blush on the apples of your cheeks and along the top of your cheekbones. This is very effective on tanned skin and projects a natural radiance. Apply lightly with your fingertips. For more endurance, dust lightly with finishing powder or one of the lighter powdered blushes.
  
WELLNESS: TOP TEN HEALTHY FOODS  

An apple a day..... it's true.

The reason that conventional wisdom seems to endure is that there is truth embedded in oral tradition. Mother's nagging to eat your vegetables is being validated as researchers discover the natural health benefits of common fare. Folks at the Mayo Clinic have determined that you are indeed what you eat. You do not need a gourmet buffet to reduce your risk of disease. Bon appetit!