Chemical Exfoliants vs. Physical Exfoliants — Which Is Best for Your Skin?

Many dermatologists will tell you that exfoliation is the single most important skin treatment you can give yourself at home for beautiful, healthy-looking skin. Exfoliation — clearing away old cells from skin’s surface — helps with everything from dull complexion and uneven skin tone to acne and rough texture.

When it comes to exfoliation, you have two choices: chemical exfoliators and physical exfoliators.

Before going any further, let’s be clear about what we mean when we say “chemical” exfoliators. We’re not talking about some toxic tonic boiled up in a lab. We are talking about alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs) and beta hydroxyl acids (BHAs) — which are FRUIT extracts taken from non-toxic sources like citrus fruits, apples and sugar cane. So don’t get scared off by the word “chemical.”

Now that we’ve got that out of the way, here’s the top-line 411 on your choices. Chemical exfoliators, like AHAs and BHAs, dissolve dead skin cells from skin’s surface, while physical exfoliators — like loofas or cleansers with “micro scrubbing beads” — physically move the cells off skin’s surface.

With physical exfoliators, your results depend on how hard you scrub and for how long. Since physical exfoliators like “buff puffs” and abrasive cleansers are sort of like using sand paper on your skin, you can probably see where there would be obvious disadvantages. If you’ve ever seen a friend with raw, red skin due to a bad experience with physical exfoliation, now you know why.

On the other hand, chemical exfoliators provide precise results with FAR less potential for irritation and side effects.

The reason they achieve better results is because the AHAs in skin care products like Rx for Brown Skin Absolute Radiance Intensive Exfoliating Serum are pH adjusted and buffered; as a result, they provide consistent strength from the first application to the last. And they are gentler on skin because the compounds in the fruit extract do all the work, so they do not require excessive scrubbing.

So, there you have it. The choice is yours, and now you have the information to make an informed decision!

Licorice Root Extract as a Skin Brightener — Does It Really Work?

Yes, Licorice Root can be used to brighten skin and treat hyperpigmentation due to high levels of melanin.

Licorice Root extract is one of many natural compounds, along with certain types of citrus fruits, that are highly effective at fading discoloration and evening out skin tone when applied topically to the skin.

The magic compound in Licorice Root is glabridin. It’s found only in small, trace amounts, but it is a powerful skin lightener/brightener. Glabridin has been shown to inhibit pigment-producing enzymes and prevent formation of melanocytes, or dark patches on the skin. In fact, the brightening effect of glabridin has been shown in some studies to be greater than that of hydroquinone!

Licorice Root also has anti-inflammatory properties that can help to calm and soothe skin. Best of all, it’s non-toxic, so it’s completely safe to use every day.

Now, there’s no need to run out and by a bottle of Licorice Root extract.  You can give your skin all the licorice root extract it needs, along with other natural skin brighteners like Bearberry

Leaf extract, just by using your Rx for Brown Skin Naturally Flawless Botanical Brightener.

Do You Know These Heroes of Black History?

Every February, as America marks Black History Month, it seems that we hear the same familiar names.

While the stories and sacrifices of heroes like Martin Luther King, Jr., Malcolm X and Rosa Parks obviously should be celebrated and remembered, there are so many others who have contributed so much to the ongoing struggle for justice and equality, and yet have remained under-appreciated and virtually unknown.

Rx for Brown Skin would like to celebrate some of these unsung heroes.

William Still: Considered the “Father of the Underground Railroad,” Still helped as many as 60 slaves escape to freedom each month for a period of years. He also kept meticulous records which were vital to preserving the history of the Underground Railroad as well as the names and stories of the fugitive slaves he helped save.

Annie Turnbo Malone: Her most famous employee, Madam C.J. Walker, has overshadowed her legacy, but Malone was the original pioneer of black beauty. She developed hair care products under the name Poro, which she sold door to door. As her business grew, Malone trained other agents to sell Poro products and built her own factory and beauty training school, known as Poro College, helping to provide jobs to hundreds of African Americans as well as breaking boundaries in American business.

Charles Hamilton Houston: Simply put, Houston was the man who killed America’s segregationist Jim Crow laws. He masterminded the NAACP’s legal strategy to challenge the “separate but equal” doctrine. Houston served as one of the U.S. Army’s first African American officers during World War. After the war, he enrolled in Harvard Law School, becoming the first black editor at the “Harvard Law Review” and went on to mentor Thurgood Marshall, the first black Supreme Court Justice of the United States.

Irene Morgan: Eleven years BEFORE Rosa Parks famously refused to give up her bus seat to a white men, Irene Morgan, a young mother of two, refused to yield her seat to white patrons when the bus got crowded in the summer of 1944. The NAACP appealed the case all the way to the Supreme Court, which ruled segregation in interstate travel illegal in 1947, setting an important precedent in dismantling Jim Crow.

A Great Stretching Routine to Reduce Stress

Ever notice how good you feel for a second or two after a good stretch in the morning? There’s good reason ― combining mindful stretches with deep breathing can actually help to reduce stress levels.

Stretching has other benefits, too, including better circulation, less joint pain and improved flexibility.

You can stretch anywhere you like. Some people enjoy stretching in the great outdoors, at the beach or a local park, some prefer the privacy of home, while watching TV or accompanied by soothing music.

Whatever your preference, stretching for 15 to 20 minutes, three times a week, is an ideal elixir for the stresses we suffer every day in this hectic modern world.

Here’s a simple stretching routine to get you started. First, some tips:

• Always ease into a stretch. Use slow, controlled movements, and never bounce or push your body into position.

• Hold each stretch for 30 seconds. It takes time to safely lengthen muscle tissue.

• Remember to breathe! Concentrate on feeding oxygen to your muscles.

• Don’t overdo it. You should feel tension while you’re stretching, but not pain.

Now the routine:

1. Standing about 15 inches from a wall, place the backs of your forearms against the wall, bend one knee toward the wall and move the other foot back about a foot, then slowly lean forward. You should feel the muscles of your straight leg gently stretch. Hold for 10 seconds, then switch legs. Repeat 2 times for each leg.

2. Using a sturdy chair or a wall for balance and support, bend your left knee slightly, then lift your right foot up toward your buttocks. Reach back with your right hand and grasp your right foot. Pull gently. Hold for 5 seconds, release, and switch to the left side. Repeat 2 times for each leg.

3. Lie flat on a mat or padded surface. Keeping your legs together, slowly raise your knees and bring them close to your chest. Reach both arms behind your legs and grip tight. Hold for 10 seconds and repeat 2 more times.

4. Kneel down on a mat or padded surface. Keep your buttocks close over your heels. Start with your hands on your knees and slowly “walk” your hands forward until your arms are fully extended. Hold for 5 seconds. Repeat 3 more times.