Cosette's Beauty Pantry

Hello everyone! It is summertime and the sun is shining brightly in the sky; it's time to talk about  sun exposure ! We are constantly bombarded with messages that sun exposure can cause sunspots, burns, wrinkles, tissue damage and skin cancer.  The truth is that the only proven health risk so far is  too much sun exposure.   The intensity of  sunlight  and especially UV-rays is much lower in the early  morning  and late  afternoon , than around midday.  Thus during such periods, you can enjoy the  production of vitamin D  without getting too many UV-rays on you which can cause skin burns, cancer, etc.   The best-known benefit of sun exposure is vitamin D synthesis , which occurs in the skin in response to the sun’s UVB rays. The sun is at its highest between 11 a.m.(11:00) and 4 p.m.(16:00) but that doesn't mean the sun can't be damaging before or after these times.  You should be aware of your local UV index . To calculate the right UV dose

Hello everyone! A while back, I posted a quiz to help you   determine your face shape .  I also told you that knowing your face shape is essential when choosing your  eyebrow shape   and glasses , among other things.   (If you are not sure what your face shape is, click here  to take the quiz.  And to  choose the most flattering eyebrow shape, click here .)   Today's post will help you choose the best sunglasses for your face shape.  If you want to find out more keep reading! Different sunglasses look better on different face shapes.    Sure, you could try different sunglasses out until you find a pair that works for you, but if you need a little help, check out these tips... Heart-shaped face: Any frames that are wider on the top than they are on the bottom work well. Round face shape: Oversized, rectangular, and angular frames set off roundness. Oval face shape:  You can pull off any round or square frame.  Keep proportion in m

Hello everyone! My previous post was all about SPF and  misconceptions about sunscreen .  Read it  here .  Today's post is about sunscreen ingredients you should avoid ! So, what’s wrong with our sunscreens? Research has found that many sunscreens contain chemicals that mess with our hormones and can play a significant role in cancer development.  You should avoid these chemicals and find a safer alternative .     More on  Campaign for Safe Cosmetics . Active ingredients in sunscreens come in two forms,  mineral  and non-mineral/ chemical  filters.  Each ingredient has different uses for protecting the skin and keeping its stability under sunlight.  Yet each may be  hazardous to human health .  The most common sunscreens on the market contain chemical filters.  These products typically include a combination of two or more of these active ingredients:  oxybenzone ,  avobenzone ,  octisalate ,  octocrylene ,  homosalate ,  octinoxate ,  retinyl palmitate  and

Hello everyone! Believe it or not, there are still a lot of misconceptions about sunscreen.  Today's post aims at clarifying some of those misconceptions.  Let's get started! Truth or Fiction? You don't need sunscreen if you have dark skin or already have a tan.   Fact: Everybody, regardless of race, ethnic origins and skin type is subject to the damaging effects of exposure to the sun.  Sunscreen, with SPF-30 provides twice as much protection as SPF-15.   Fact: NO.  Here's an  SPF guide: SPF 15 - 1/15 of the UVB rays get through to your skin - blocking about 93%. SPF 30 - 1/30 of the UVB rays get through to your skin - blocking about 97%.  SPF 50 - 1/50 of the UVB rays get through to your skin - blocking about 98%. Waterproof sunscreen provides "all day protection" and does not need to be re-applied.   Fact:  Waterproof sunscreens loses some of their effectiveness after 40 minutes.  Cloudy days limit the power of the sun&

Hello everyone! When temperatures rise, your hair and skin need extra TLC.   Here are some summer hair and skin care tips for you: Everything you need to know about  sunscreen . -  Sunscreen 101 If you ended up with sunburn, here are some home remedies that can make you a bit more comfortable! -  SOS - Sunburn   Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your hair does not get damaged this season. - Summer hair care Check out my beach must-haves . -  Beach bag essentials 100% natural and chemical-free DIY recipe ! -  DIY: Natural deodorant A great way to get rid of oil on your skin, without messing up your  make-up  is by   blotting .   Here’s how you can make your own  DIY blotting sheets !  -  DIY: Blotting sheets     Watermelon  isn't just a sweet summer treat; it makes a great ingredient for a   DIY toner , too. -   Nature's perfect skincare product?   Natural remedies  that can help to remove  nematocysts  (jellyfish stinging cells)

Hello everyone!   Summer is finally here, and here in Malta this only means one thing; the beach.  Keep reading to uncover my beach bag essentials .    The most important thing you have to keep in mind when going to the beach is, of course,  sun protection !  Note: According to the EWG (Environmental Working Group), the best sunscreen is clothing , because there are no chemicals for the skin to absorb!  My check list:  A floppy hat,  to protect my head and my  hair from the sun. Sunglasses help keep the eyes shielded from the harmful sun rays and also keep me from squinting, which cause wrinkles.   Tip:  Be sure to choose sunglasses that have UV protection. Cover-up/Beach dress Beach towel Sun-blocks/sunscreens , for more information   read Sunscreen 101 ! Lip balm with sunscreen is important to keep lips from getting chapped. A hair sunscreen product or a leave-in conditioner with  high UV filter .  Read Summer hair care for more information! Wet wipe

First came the bikini, then the mankini (remember that?) and now the face-kini … What is a facekini , you might ask.  It’s t he latest craze in sun protection to hit China . In China   fair skin   is a desirable trait.  A tan represents a lower class citizen, one who works long days out in the field while pale skin signifies affluence.  The facekini is an excellent way to preserve pale skin. Sun umbrellas / parasols are also very popular in China.    I have to admit that I've owned an SPF umbrella for a while and this summer I used it for the first time.  People did stare at me (as if I was some sort of alien) but I didn't mind.  However, I could never wear a facekini!  J What do you think: Is wearing a facekini too much?  What about parasols?   XOXO Euphrasie85 Photo from here .

If you ended up with sunburn, here are some home remedies that can make you a bit more comfortable...  Water As the sun burns your skin, it also dehydrates it.  Being well hydrated will help burns heal better.  Take a bath Adding a few tablespoons of  baking soda  to cool bath water makes a sunburn-soothing remedy.  Instead of baking soda, you could also use 1 cup  oatmeal .  Avoid using soap, which can irritate and dry out the skin.  If you feel you must use soap, use a mild one.  Definitely skip the washcloth, bath sponge, and loofah.  Afterwards, pat your skin gently with a soft towel. Moisturise To prevent dry skin, apply moisturiser immediately after your bath/shower.  For cooling relief of pain and dryness, chill the moisturiser in the refrigerator before using. Aloe vera Aloe vera gel will take the sting and redness out of sunburn. Cool compress Soak a washcloth in cool water and apply it directly to the burned areas (do not apply ic

Hello everyone!  We all know that the summer sun is very dangerous and that we need to protect our skin.  But some tend to forget that the sun can also damage our hair .   Here are some tips and tricks to ensure that your hair does not get damaged this season: Wear a scarf, hat or cap to protect your hair from the sun. If you are going to be in the sun and you don't want to wear anything on your head, always use a hair sunscreen . Limit your use of hot tools on your hair (i.e. blow dryers, curling and straightening irons).   Always use a heat protectant! Staying hydrated is important for your overall healthy and for your hair as well so make sure that you are drinking enough water . Avoid hair products with alcohol in them which dry out hair.   Try to use natural products that are gentler on your hair. Before going into the pool/sea wet your hair; this will decrease the absorption of chlorinated/salt water into your hair. Use a clarifying shampoo

Hello everyone!  How’s the weather? Here in Malta, it feels like Summer.  That’s the reason I’ve been MIA this week; I’ve been enjoying the good weather! J Sunny days = High SPF sunscreen/sun-block days.  That means; it’s time to talk sun-blocks… Everyone , regardless of skin type, should be wearing a sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor ( SPF ) of at least 15 daily . The SPF indicates how much longer you can stay in the sun without burning than you could with unprotected skin.   For example, if it takes 15 minutes for a person to burn without sunscreen, an SPF 15 will (theoretically) allow him or her to stay in the sun 15 times longer without burning.   Sun-blocks should be applied at least 30 minutes prior to sun exposure .   Even water-resistant/proof sunscreens need to be re-applied every 1-2 hours .   A good sunscreen needs to cover both the UVA and UVB spectrum of radiation. The most serious form of skin cancer is malignant melanoma .   Malignan

Autumn/Fall is already here and it’s time to pamper your skin after summer. During fall, the skin needs extra nourishment and protection.  Summer’s blazing sun, hot dry heat and forgetting to apply and re-apply sunscreen can damage and dry the skin.  As the seasons change, so do the needs of your skin.   Your skin tends to retain less moisture because of the cooler, drier air.  During this time of the year, many people experience various skin issues including; dryness, fine lines, dull skin tone, sun and/or age spots, flaking and irritation.  Follow a few guidelines and you could have problem-free skin all year round. Exfoliation:   Post-summer skin looks dehydrated and dull, so exfoliation is extremely important as it gets rid of the dead damaged cells.  This step will prepare the skin to absorb more moisture and nutrition.  You could do this at home using a scrub/exfoliant, or using an at-home peeling or you could have a professional peeling done. Moisturisin