Posts Tagged: summer

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness / Lifestyle — 2 Comments
10
Jul 11

Get your Faux-Glow on: Tips on Getting your Best Sun-Safe Tan! -Lauren Lang


Safe, sun-free-tanning to a perfect glow!

Summer is here. Hooray! It’s a time when all that seems important is getting that perfect beach tan. It makes you feel great, it makes you look great, but are you being safe? Check these not-so-fun facts out:

  • Forty percent of Americans do not wear sunscreen.
  • One in five Americans will get some form of skin cancer—men especially, since they don’t use makeup and moisturizers with SPF like women do.
  • Chemical sunscreens take around 25 minutes to work, so you’re still exposed if you put it on right before running out the door. (Physical sun block formulas get to work instantly though – just make sure you don’t rub it off as they sit on the surface of your skin.)
  • About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer is caused by ultra-violet exposure.

So, now that I’ve depressed you…let’s make you happy again! Why not give your skin a vacation from the sun and look at the advantages of using a self-tanner! If having a professionally done airbrush tan is up your alley, we recommend (in NYC) the fabulous Gotham Glow; they come to your home (how convenient!) and use safe, natural ingredients to give you not only a great glow, but can even contour abs (how awesome is that?) But if that’s not an option for you, the DIY at home self-tan is also a great alternative. Having just come to NY myself, the latter is what I’ve been doing and for years. Here are some rules for DIY awesomeness and how to avoid the blotchy/streaky look like you’ve been hit with a bottle of orange soda…

Rule #1: EXFOLIATE BEFORE TANNING. Exfoliation is the crucial part of self-tanning and something that most people ignore from the process – thus those blotchy patches are actually there because old skin has built up, creating an uneven balance for the self-tan to work. It’s a fact that self-tan applies better on fresh and revitalized skin. We recommend the JUARA Candlenut Body Polish. It contains natural shell grains which gently lift off dead surface cells and dulling debris to reveal more radiant skin, yet also gently moisturizes so skin is evenly hydrated and smooth. This is a great two-in-one special for that pre-tanning prep step. Perfect if you’re in a rush before that big night out and need a quick color fix. Another option is to use the JUARA Coffee Scrub in the shower before, then follow with a moisturizer before ‘tanning.’

Rule #2: PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO DRY AREAS. Knees, elbows, ankles are the devil of self- tan, make sure you fully exfoliate and moisturize these problem areas for the best results.

Rule #3: MOISTURIZE AFTER TANNING. If you want to treat your body to that extra luxury after the body polish, ensure your body is silky smooth by lathering yourself with our popular Candlenut Body Creme! It also helps the tan stay on longer.

Rule #4: USE A TRUSTED PRODUCT. Do your research before you buy – find out what’s hot, what’s not and what’s the best color/brand for your skin type. Everyone’s different! Personally, I use L’Oreal Sublime and I’ve never so much as seen an uneven patch yet. (Or perhaps that’s because I fully exfoliate and moisturize before use too…) After you’ve applied it using the given directions, maintenance is what’s going to give your tan the most ‘natural’ look.

In case of a boo boo:
If you’ve made a mistake pour lemon juice onto cotton swab and dab the area. Moisturize daily and your tan could last up to a week. You can re-apply when it starts fading, as long as it doesn’t start becoming patchy. If you get a patch attack, follow the same rules as above and you’ll have a great tan again in no time!

Self-tan, when done correctly, is a great way to flaunt that ‘beach’ look with the satisfaction that your skin is protected and in the best condition it can be! And remember, we didn’t say you had to tell everyone it wasn’t real…

Beauty & Skincare / Events / Health & Fitness / Lifestyle / Products / Uncategorized — 3 Comments
21
Jun 11

Exfoliate to Radiate! – JUARA Intern Lauren Lang


Summer is here. The sun is shining, the beaches are calling, the iced tea is being sipped and you’re feeling great. You might be prepared for summer….but is your skin?! Exfoliation – a term that most of us (and I’ll ashamedly admit to this) pull a face at. It takes time, it takes effort, and quite frankly we’d rather use that time to enjoy the 90-degree heat.

But what if I told you that your skin is harboring hundreds of dead skin cells called ‘Stratum Corneum’ – even the name makes it sound positively disgusting.

What is it?

Put simply, old skin sheds itself on a regular basis, making way for new skin. Unfortunately not all of this skin is removed and a build up begins to form; the average build up of stratum corneum contains between 15-20 dead cell layers. Eww.

Benefits!

So apart from the obvious benefit of removing this cheeky invasion of cells, here’s a few other benefits to why exfoliating is essential for a glowing summer face (and don’t be lazy, I expect amazing spring, autumn and winter skin too!)

  • Reduces dryness and gray dullness by removes grease and dead skin cells on your skin.
  • Gives your skin an amazing radiant glow and leaves you feeling fresh and more youthful looking in your ‘new’ skin.
  • Improves blood circulation and boosts the flow of oxygen.
  • Can improve performance of product applied after (like that expensive night cream you’re rationing out) by increasing its absorption into the newly exfoliated skin. 

 

So ‘when and with what’….?

Most experts recommend exfoliating twice a week (stratum corneum – enough said!) We recommend different products for your face vs your body as your face may be more sensitive and require different treatments.

For your face, I’d recommend the Rice Facial Scrub containing fine exfoliating beads, which helps say Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Bye to those dead skin cells. This gently foaming cleanser + scrub also removes dirt and m ake-up leaving your skin smooth and fresh with a healthy glow! For your body, I also recommend my absolute favorite product  Invigorating Coffee Scrub which is made with fresh Indonesian coffee beans and finer walnut shell grains for dual-action exfoliation. This gently exfoliates and awakens the skin leaving it fresh and awakened and with the most amazing chocolate coffee smell. Plus it also cleanses with soap-free surfactants which means it won’t dry out your skin. Remember this isn’t just for ladies, men love it too!

If you prefer a creamier option, try the Candlenut Body Polish which exfoliates and moisturizes together in one single application. A sister product to the coffee scrub, this one doesn’t so much cleanse as it hydrates deeply while exfoliating. Perfect to use before a self tanner, or on dry skin when you’re about to go out an notice dry patches on arms or legs you just want to rid of! Plus, you’re going to smell sweeter than summer!

Tell me how!

Now you’re equipped with knowledge and products, here’s the many different ways you can exfoliate!

Manual – Usually in the form of a sponge, a facial scrub or a tool, such as a Clarisonic that manually sloughs off the dead skin.

Chemical – Mostly provided over the counter, these types of exfoliation often contain acids and help loosen the skin layers. Most often recognized as ‘peels’.

Superficial/Deep Microdermabrasion – These two types of exfoliation help remove damaged skin cells, giving your skin an overall youthful appearance and is most usually performed by a professional.

So now you know and above are some options on how to exfoliate… SUMMER SKIN HERE I COME!

 

Beauty & Skincare / Health & Fitness — 1 Comment
12
Aug 10

Masks for Oily Summer Skin – Louise (JUARA intern)

Summer is almost everyone’s favorite season. People love the beach, the heat, the tans… but I just think of the humidity! As someone who has oily skin, the summer means one thing for me- acne. All the humidity increases oil production, which is bad news for oily skinned gals. One important thing is to wash your face every night to get rid of all the makeup and dirt your face has collected all day.

But sometimes just washing your face with a normal cleanser isn’t enough. Using a mask a few times per week is one of the best ways to thoroughly cleanse your skin and draw out all the impurities. There are tons of different brands who sell great masks. The best thing to do is to try different products and see what works best for your skin.

But while looking for a mask, make sure that it contains ingredients like Salicylic Acid which help keep pores clear, Kaolin clay which absorbs oil, or Benzoyl Peroxide which kill bacteria which causes acne.

Clay masks are also great for oily skin because it removes excess oil, clears up blackheads, and deep cleans your pores. I have two favorite masks that I’ve been using this summer:

The first is Lancome’s Pure Empreinte Masque. This mineral mask with white clay mask hardens after about 5 minutes and removes oils and reduces the appearance of my pores.

The other mask I’ve recently become obsessed with is the JUARA Milk & Red Sandalwood Mask. It absorbs oil and reduces redness. The mask comes as a powder and you mix it with any type of liquid into a thick paste. After about 15 minutes, I wash it off and I’m left with cleansed skin. Many masks leave my face feeling super dry and tight. But this mask leaves my skin feeling great and super soft.

As much as clay can be purifying, it can also be drying if left on for too long. I always use an oil-free moisturizer or JUARA’s oil-free, alcohol-free Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner, which gives just the right amount of moisture to negate the potentially overdrying effect of clay.

A lot of people like to make their own masks. Check out this website with different mask recipes and try to make your own at home!

Some recipes that look great are:
*Cucumber Yogurt Mask – ½ cucumber, 1 Tbsp plain yogurt – Puree cucumber in blender and mix in yogurt. Apply to face and leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse well. Yogurt can soften skin and exfoliate gently, while the cucumber tones the skin. How relaxing!

*Apple Zinger Facial Mask – 1 medium size apple, 5 tbs. honey – Grate the apple and mix the honey well. Smooth over skin and let sir for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cool water. Honey is antibacterial and skin softening, while apple can exfoliate.

*Honey Mask – High quality honey – Massage a small amount of slightly heated honey onto skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Honey is a powerful antibacterial agent and it does not cause unpleasant side effects such as dry skin, itchy skin or allergy.

Do you have favorite masks for oily skin?

Beauty & Skincare — 4 Comments
21
Jul 10

Tips for summer pimples

Summer is here and it’s time to enjoy the warm weather and the long days of sunshine. But for pimple sufferers, summertime also means oily skin, blackheads and breakouts.

Why do we get more pimples during the summer? Sudden change in temperature and extended exposure to the sun can damage the skin. Also, sweat may exacerbate acne when salty sweat mixes with dirt and oil on skin which can irritate and clog pores. Only one or two days of hot weather can lead to pimples. A few changes in your skin care routine can ensure that acne will stay away.

1. Control oil by washing your face: Oil glands overwork with heat and humidity. To control oiliness, wash your face thoroughly with a foaming facial cleanser to get rid of the dead cells and dirt. Keep the cleanser gentle so it doesn’t overstrip and irritate skin, making it overproduce more oil. I love the JUARA Rice Facial cleanser which is sulfate and oil free, takes away makeup, dirt and oil but keeps skin super soft with the rice starch.

2. Choose the right sunscreen: Using a daily sunscreen is a must to avoid sun-damaged skin. But sunscreen may contain oil which is just as bad for the pores as sebum. Go for a noncomedogenic, oil-free sunscreen of at least SPF 15 (SPF 30 is even better), and make sure you put enough on! Check for UVA protection ingredients such as Avobenzone or Mexoryl. A fave: La Roche Posay’s Anthelios has a nice oil-free, light textured, water resistant sunscreen. Or try Paula’s Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15

3. Lighten up your moisturizer: During the summer, go for a light-weight moisturizer, noncomedogenic and oil-free. Also, moisturizing lotions can be a good switch as they’re much lighter than creams. As an oil-free moisturizer alternative, try the JUARA Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner – an oil-free, alcohol-free toner serum that hydrates skin, giving it a drink of water – and feels like silk!

4. Don’t wipe after you sweat, wash! Refrain from wiping your face frequently as you’re sweating because it can irritate acne, as dirt accumulates on your skin. Sweat should be washed away gently with a non-drying acne wash or with lukewarm water. Also, shower after working out or after you’ve been sweating.

5. Reduce sun exposure: Many people believe that the summer sun is good for their skin since it tends to burn off pimples, but prolonged exposure to UV radiation is dangerous for your health. Keep in mind that the sun simply burns the topmost layer of the face skin and doesn’t deal with the true causes of acne.

6. Eat more fruits: Try to eat at least 2 fruits a day to keep your skin healthy. Strawberries, Watermelons, and Mangoes are examples of fruits rich in vitamin A (control of skin cells) and C (protects collagen). Make sure your fruits are fresh to keep their antioxidants intact.

7. Drink 8 cups of water a day: A good hydration plays a major role in keeping your skin away from acne. Water also helps cells move nutrients in and toxins out.

8. Honey: Rubbing honey on your skin can help to get rid of the pimples. Honey is a powerful antibacterial agent and it does not cause unpleasant side effects such as dry skin, itchy skin or allergy. Choose a high quality honey, warm it, leave it on your pimples for 10 minutes and watch the results!

Summer is the season when our skin is the most vulnerable. The strong UV rays and sweat give your skin a hard time, which needs extra care.

So be sure to protect your skin and have an enjoyable pimple-free summer!

Products Recommended:

- Juara’s Rice Facial Cleanser

- Paula’s Choice Essential Non-Greasy Sunscreen SPF 15

- JUARA’s Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner

- La Roche Posay’s Anthelios SPF45 or Anthelios XL

Uncategorized — 2 Comments
28
Dec 09

And For a Non-Snowy Interlude…- Metta Murdaya

My photo at the Tugu Hotel in Lombok - lovely weather all year round.

So far, we’re just passed Christmas, the first large NY snowstorm, and a soppy raining weekend. Though the weather outside could be more frightful, I don’t think the worst is here yet. Nine years in New York, and I feel like no 2 winters have been the same. I’ve been through superlatives, with the news touting one year it was the “Biggest snowstorm.” The next year, “The Coldest Winter.” The next, “The Longest Winter.” Last year, it was “The most schizophrenic-almost-non-existent-god-help-us-global warming winter.” Each winter was followed by strangely short or late summers bracketed by rainy springs and pleasant, split-second falls. So tomorrow, will it be sweater-pleasant or puffy-coat-hat ungodly? In New York, the weather is still deciding whether to be 48 or 20 degrees, which makes for a surprise outfit du jour. But  such is the adventure we face living in a state with real seasons. For a cheeky moment, let me just tout the benefits of being in a solo-season country (hot) like Indonesia, with one variation only: Wet or Dry. I have my reasons to think that living in a hot and humid tropical country is quite convenient, and here are just a few reasons why. If you’ve spent time in a tropical country, I hope you can relate… And for those of you who haven’t, I hope you are amused.

1. You don’t need a watch. The weather is like clock.  In case your watch breaks, just wait for the torrential rain to pour out of the blue. Then you’ll know it’s 3pm. When it stops, it’s 4pm.

2. Free sauna/cold pool all year round. Exit big building, walk a block. Sweat. Enter big building. Instant freeze from over air-conditioning. Repeat with vigor. Fashion benefit: If you work in an office, you can also wear that stylish warm sweater all year round thanks to perpetual building over-air-conditioning.

3. Delicious tropical fruit all year round. Fresh coconut juice straight off the tree available everyday. Can’t beat that. Not to mention,  it’s beautiful weather for that trip to Bali almost all the time… mmmm….

4. Save money on shopping. Summer weather means summer fashion all year round, no need to shop for a winter wardrobe,  (except for maybe point 2 above.) Packing for trips are awesome – shorts and t-shirts are so much less bulky than sweaters and jackets…

5. No need to rake the leaves. Fall? What fall?

Anyone have preferences on single-season or multi-season living locations? I’d love to hear your thoughts. :)