The Birdy Blog

Unraveling the mysteries of skin care and life in general

You Should Know

Is dry winter skin making you crazy?

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Some solutions and fast fixes to keep your skin hydrated and happy! 9 fast fixes for dry winter skin Now that Spring has sprung, Winter decided to join the program. While the seasons are confused, so is your skin. Can’t we all just get along? If your normal products are suddenly leaving your skin too dry it can be a good time to re-adjust your routine and some of your products. 9 Fast Fixes to dry winter skin!

  • Don’t forget the sunscreen. Harmful sun rays still affect your skin in winter.
  • Concentrate on hydration and moisturizing- both your face and body. Use thicker lotions, creams and balms.
  • Skip long hot showers and baths. They suck your skin dry of all its moisture. Stick to warm water and get in and out fast.
  • When outdoors use waxed-base products to help keep the moisture in. Products with petroleum can keep moisture in but don’t penetrate or moisturize your skin. Wax products are better for you and just as effective.
  • Add anti-aging products to your routine. Winter is an evil ager. Big Jerk.
  • Indoor heaters dry out the air indoors. Add a pot of water on top of your wood stove or get a humidifier.
  • Drink lots of fluids
  • Exfoliate 1-2 times a week. Taking the old cells away allows new ones to grow.
  • Use a very gentle cleanser. Some of you may need to switch your lathering cleanser to a soap-free mild cleanser.
Remember, alligator skin only looks good on alligators. Here are our most popular moisturizing products that can help restore your sanity and save your skin:
  • 3-in-1 Cream Cleanser – a soap-free mild cleanser.
  • Butter Balm -an intense solid lotion made with organic shea butter and beeswax. It’ll moisturize and help retain the moisture you already have.
  • 3-in-1 Antioxidant Lotion – Great for face, body and hands.
  • Anti-aging Eye Cream – great day or night and has a bit of jojoba oil in it for extra added moisture. Use it around eyes, lips or all over your face and neck.
  • Anti-aging Face Serum– it’s a bit lighter than the eye cream but super hydrating. Add it to your routine if you’re not already using one and apply it under a face moisturizer.
  • Renewal Face Lotion– I use this on my face in the winter when I need extra moisture on my face. Soaks in and leaves it soft without clogging my pores.
Don’t let dry winter skin make you crazy. It’s not good for your complexion or your relationships. I just can’t have that on my conscience.]]>

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Essential oil for skin care: It's all about fringe benefits

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Birdy Botanicals-The Grapefruit & Lemongrass Collection

Birdy always looks for fringe benefits when it comes to organic skin care products.

Our 100% Natural scent combinations not only smell great but provide your skin with additional advantages because of powerful essential oils. Grapefruit and Lemongrass are powerful examples. Essential Oils for Skin Care: The Benefits of Grapefruit & Lemongrass

Grapefruit essential oil benefits:

  • Brightens skin tone
  • It’s an antioxidant
  • Reduces pores
  • Stimulates lymphatic system
  • Improves skin elasticity

Lemongrass essential oil benefits:

  • Energizes
  • Tightens pores and wrinkles giving better skin tone
  • Helps body eliminate toxins
I’ve combined these two amazing scents in one great smelling combination. Check out our Grapefruit and Lemongrass kit. It’s kind of a big deal. Here at Birdy Botanicals, we eat blue lollipops because they turn our tongues blue. Fringe Benefit. That’s just how we roll….]]>

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The DIY pumpkin honey face mask—you can put it in a pie and wear it on your face!

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See, you can have it all! Pumpkin isn’t just for pies anymore.

Pumpkin is a dynamic and effective ingredient to use in your next DIY facial. Since you’re already cracking a can of pumpkin for your holiday fare, and you’re a multi-tasking dynamo, this is a amazing face mask to put on while you’re cooking, baking or preparing for guests. Pumpkin benefits for skin: Naturally high in Vitamin A and C, pumpkin will reduce the effects of environmental toxins and regenerate skin cells and collagen. In the skin business, vitamin C is used to help the skin readily absorb more vitamins and nutrients. Also, natural pumpkin enzymes lightly exfoliate dead skin cells leaving your skin hydrated and rejuvenated. Use cool or cold puréed pulp of pumpkin. If it’s canned, make sure pumpkin is the only ingredient. I used Trader Joe’s organic canned pumpkin. You should get great results regardless if you choose canned or plan to roast your own.
DIY Pumpkin Honey Face Mask Recipe Eyeball it: 2 T. cooled & puréed pumpkin pulp 1 tsp. honey
And if you just can’t stop there, you can try loads of different ingredients. Add one or all from the list if you desire, or just stick with the basic recipe above: For dry skin add:
  • Yogurt
  • Egg yolk
  • Milk
  • Avocado
  • Banana
For sensitive skin add:
  • Yogurt
  • Oats
  • Aloe vera
  • Cucumber
For oily skin add:
  • Yogurt
  • Egg whites
  • Lemon or lime juice
Mix chosen ingredients in a bowl. Make sure it’s not too thin so it won’t drip off your face. Add more pumpkin to thicken. Apply on skin and leave for 5-15 minutes. Rinse, tone and moisturize. * Apply patch test first if you have sensitive skin. * Mask may tingle but should never burn. DIY Pumpkin Face Mask from birdybotanicals.com]]>

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The 3 scariest things you put on your face

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The 3 Scariest Things You Put on Your Face There’s a never-ending list of chemical ingredients to avoid in your products. This is a list of 3 ingredients I personally will NEVER allow to touch my skin—if I can help it. Before we begin it’s important to give you some background on me and my experience. Fact: I am not a chemist or any kind of scientist and I have a hard time with the periodical table of elements. Fact: What I can tell you is that I have really sensitive skin and I research lots and lots of ingredients on a regular basis. Fact: I created my line of products for myself so ultimately my goal is to keep myself healthy and well. Sorry, but honestly, it’s all about “yours truly.” What ingredients I steer clear of in my skincare and cosmetics for myself and why: Parabens: What it looks like on the label: Most commonly listed as Methyparaben, Ethylparaben, Butylparaben or Propylparaben. From my research at the American Cancer society, and Personal care: Truth or Scare, The scare about the effects of parabens started when a scientist found paraben chemicals in breast cancer tissue samples. There is NO substantial evidence that parabens cause cancer or mimic hormones but an important fact is that they are the most widely used ingredient besides water in skin care products. Because they are so prevalent in our products then maybe we should just lay off for awhile. Especially since there are other safe preservative alternatives. Phthalates: What is looks like on the label:

  • DBP (dibutyl phthalate): found in nail polish, personal care products
  • DEP (diethyl phthalate): found in perfume, deodorant, cologne and aftershave
  • Fragrance: Phthalates are often hidden in this super vague ingredient listing
Phthalates are a plasticizing chemical used to prolong fragrance on the skin. They’re used in the automotive, construction, household, cosmetic and packaging industries. They’re associated with that “new car smell.” Phthalates have been known to cause reproductive and development toxicity. Synthetic Fragrances: What is looks like on the label: “Fragrance” Anticlimactic, you say? Don’t let that little 9 letter word fool you. Fragrances may be labeled “Fragrance” on your label but they are made up of dozens of hidden chemicals that include allergens, asthma triggers and hormone-disrupters. Kathleen Doheny, a health and wellness journalist for WebMD points out that…
“The fragrance industry has 3,100 stock chemical ingredients to choose from.” Because of the FDA and the Fair Packaging and Labeling Act of 1973, according to Doheny they are allowed to “lump together all fragrance chemicals as “Fragrances.””
And FYI, if you see “Fragrance” on a label, there’s a good chance it contains Phthalates. Where do I get my information? After extensive research I have found a few places that I trust, mostly because they don’t try to sell me anything and they give information about their experts and resources. So now what do we do? Don’t worry. Use common sense and read your ingredient labels.]]>

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Tips for Seeing a Skin care Professional – It's the Ultimate Gift for You!

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Tips on Getting a Facial- the Ultimate Skin Care Gift for You!- Birdy Botancials

Getting a facial from a skin care expert can gives a boost to your regimen.

As the holiday season is rapidly approaching we all want to look our best. During the flurry this time of year we forget to concentrate on number one. Do something nice for yourself. You might want to treat yourself to a real facial from a professional esthetician. Professional facials are a great way to improve your skin and get an expert opinion about whether your skin care routine is working for you. Here are a few tips if you decide to go for it.
  • Do your research. Make sure you are seeing a licensed esthetician.
  • If you book a specific facial be prepared that your skin care expert may suggest a different treatment after talking with you and looking at your skin.
  • Always tell them about allergies or sensitivities. Mention any oral or topical medications you are taking for your skin. Also, tell them if you use any AHA’s (Alpha Hydroxy Acids.) A good esthetician will ask you questions before they begin.
  • Don’t book a facial within a week of an important event. You don’t know how your skin will react to a treatment.
  • They may ask about your routine. You’ll get the best results if you’re honest with them. Don’t be shy.
  • Ask questions and to discuss what sort of results to expect.
Relax and enjoy because you deserve it! It’s important to do nice things for yourself. And Dudes! Facials aren’t just for the ladies….. Here are some estheticians I’ve had personal experience with and had excellent experiences with each one. London Elise at Soothe, San Francisco Ellen Olson at Skin and Tonic, Oakland Laura Semrau, Essential Skin Care and Reflexology, Chester, CA (Lake Almanor)(530)258-2585 Do yourself a favor and let a skin care professional pamper you and give you the gift of great skin all at the same time.]]>

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DIY Body Scrub: Banish the Oily Shower Shmutz

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Curse the oily body scrubs!

Nothing puts a bee in my bonnet faster than tossing old, unused products in the garbage. Buying products that don’t work is bad for the budget. One of my product pet peeves as well as a clutter offender is those super-trendy sugar or salt body scrubs packed with loads of oil. I’m not saying they don’t do the trick but who wants to clean up a bathtub or shower that’s completely covered in grease? It’s a safety hazard and a pain-in-the-ass. So there’s another product that will sit in my cabinet unused. Lesson learned and now my blood pressure is up. A girlfriend of mine had a simple solution for my scrub dilemma. She spent some years in Japan and claimed the Japanese women use a mixture of honey and salt to scrub their bodies. The salt exfoliated and the honey left their skin soft and supple. This is an easy and economical beauty regimen with ingredients from you have on hand in your cupboard. And, it works!:

Salt and Honey Exfoliating Scrub:

Start with 1/2 cup of salt or sugar and get yourself a honey bear for the shower. The nozzle on the honey bear will help keep the honey under control. Microwave it first for 10-15 seconds to get it to flow nicely but don’t make it too hot or it will burn your skin! Or let it warm up in the shower stream to get it flowing. Put the honey in your hand with a handful of salt and start scrubbing. Repeat this until you have scrubbed all your parts. This is for the body only, never use this on your face. Once you are pretty and pink, rinse off. Always moisturize after any type of body treatment. My 3-in-1 Antioxidant Lotion with lavender and white tea is a great choice, if I do say so myself. Voila! No mess to clean up, no bees in the bonnet. Birdy loves bees, just not in her hat.]]>

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Our organic Anti-Aging Face Serum is better than ever!

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Birdy Botanicals Anti-aging Face Serum just got some new additions to it’s scent. I added jasmine, yarrow and fennel to give even more anti-aging benefits like a brighter skin tone.

People often ask me “What’s Birdy’s Anti-aging Face Serum got that the other don’t?” Well, come a little closer.

  • It’s got instant gratification: DMAE reduces fine lines and swelling for the day giving you instant results!
  • Ascorbyl palmitate (Vit. C ester) is a fat soluble forms of Vitamin C. It fights free radicals from the environment that kill and damage skin cells. (Free radicals have nothing to do with the 60’s so leave the hippies alone.)
  • The major power of essential oils. Eleven anti-aging essential oils give you reduction of fine lines, better skin tone and elasticity with in 30 days.
“What else” you ask? Want your cake and to eat it too?
  • Birdy Botanicals is always 100% guaranteed.
  • For all skin types including sensitive and mature.
  • Birdy Botancals Anti-aging Serum is under $30 at full retail price.
Finally, check out a Blog review from Mary Winkenwerder, with BRINK magazine. She calls the Anti-aging Face Serum a “Must have!” Apply Serum after cleansing your face and before you moisturize. Didn’t you hear? The 40’s are the new 20’s? ]]>

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