The ManicaPost
Ann Ruthenburg
IT’S New! Look out for – MANICA STYLE MAKE-OVER with the FASHION DIVA!
Yes, right here, starting this March under the Fashion & Beauty Column, we will be showcasing our very own residents having makeovers.
If you or someone you know has had tragedy or a terrible misfortune in their life, and they/you need a fashion change, send their or your picture and the story/reason why you think they /you qualify for a makeover to Email: [email protected], Attention: Fashion Diva, Manica style.
Make sure to put a contact no, preferably WhatsApp so that we can contact you if successful. All information will be kept strictly confidential.
This week folks, I will respond to a question from a follow of this column who asked about the best homemade eye cream to use for wrinkles. Of course, I will say: “Shea butter.”
Shea butter is trending everywhere in the world. It is safe and a sure thing. But of course there are other eye creams you can make from ingredients at home that I have tried and tested myself. So let us get started.
While I believe age brings wisdom, it also brings less resilient skin that often tends to become dry and begins to wrinkle. And, as the skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body and constantly active while we’re awake (we blink around 10,000 times every day), it’s more fragile, more prone to dryness, and quicker to show signs of age.
While diet plays a significant role in how our skin looks and feels (less sun exposure too), there are other ways we can help improve the complexion to create a more youthful, glowing look with fewer wrinkles.
Nothing wrong with store-bought creams, but be aware that they typically come with a host of toxic chemicals too, but by making your own homemade eye cream, you will not only save cash, you will potentially save your good health too.
Using shea butter along with pure, natural oils is safe and effective, helping to moisturise your skin, including the areas around your eyes, and reduce the appearance of wrinkles, including those pesky crow’s feet.
Shea butter – has been called a “skin superfood.” It is derived from the seeds of the fruit of the Shea tree and is naturally high in vitamins A and E as well as offering some UV protection. It provides essential fatty acids and nutrition to the skin that is important for collagen production.
Its rich concentration of vitamins and fatty acids also make it outstanding for remedying dry skin, keeping it nourished and moisturised, while also reducing inflammation.
Aloe vera gel— has been used for hundreds of years to naturally moisturise, protect and heal the skin.
I extract the gel directly from the leaves of the aloe plant, which contains 18 amino acids which work together to soothe and heal dry skin.
It’s particularly beneficial for wrinkles and dryness, thanks to its high level of essential vitamins and minerals, including vitamins A, C, B12 and vitamin E, along with zinc, calcium, magnesium, proteins and amino acids which help to battle free radicals that can speed the signs of aging like wrinkling.
It also helps return moisture to the skin, keeping the skin more smooth and supple, while also offering anti-inflammatory effects that help to lessen puffy under-eye bags and even dark circles.
Unrefined coconut oil. Coconut oil is packed with healthy fats that provide us with energy, the ability to fight microbes in the body, and a wealth of benefits that positively impact the skin. Its saturated fats are mainly medium-chain fatty acids that when applied to the skin, help keep it smooth to the touch while retaining moisture content at the same time.
The oil’s vitamin E content helps it to repair wear and tear on the skin, protecting it from cracking and preventing premature aging, including wrinkles. Coconut oil is able to penetrate the skin on a deeper level than even those expensive store-bought products, due to its low molecular weight and the way it bonds with proteins.
It’s naturally antibacterial, antifungal, moisturising and great for many different skin conditions, including atopic dermatitis.
Jojoba oil — is one of the top anti-aging oils out there. It is also one of the most hydrating, yet it hydrates without leaving the skin oily. It is rich with many beneficial nutrients, like vitamin E, vitamin B, chromium, zinc, and copper, and it is also very similar to something known as sebum, an oily substance secreted by the sebaceous glands in the skin.
As we age, these microscopic glands produce less sebum, which is why we get dry skin. That makes jojoba oil particularly beneficial as it takes on the role sebum does by keeping the skin moisturized naturally when the body does not.
The oil is also unique in that it’s good for oily skin and acne too, as it’s able to remove excess oil and sticky buildup. Jojoba oil, moisturises by forming an oily layer on the skin that traps water, eliminating or reducing dry skin that is caused by water loss in the skin’s upper layer.
It also prevents scaly, rough patches, and irritation. Its antioxidants help to soothe fine lines, reduce wrinkles and naturally slow other signs of aging too.
Lavender essential oil – is one of the best essential oils for healing skin conditions, as it specifically targets the skin and improves cellular communication within the skin.
It’s been used for medicinal and religious purposes for more than 2,500 years — the Romans used it for bathing, cooking, and aromatic purposes, while the Egyptians used it as a perfume, and for mummification.
Lavender essential oil’s many health and beauty benefits can be attributed to its antifungal and antiseptic properties that have been effective for everything from acne and psoriasis to wrinkles, eczema and a host of inflammatory conditions as well as speeding the healing of wounds, cuts, sunburns and other burns.
Thanks to its potent antioxidants, it also helps to fight free radical damage to prevent premature aging. Research from China found that the oil actually helps the body produce three of its most powerful antioxidants: glutathione, catalase, and SOD, within 22 hours of using it.
Vitamin E oil. Vitamin E is an essential nutrient and an antioxidant that’s highly beneficial for the skin, particularly when combined with other antioxidants. It helps to fight against free radicals and other environmental damaging effects.
It also treats wrinkles by boosting collagen production, which is important for skin tone and elasticity, as well as supporting new skin cell growth and speeding cell regeneration.
I hope this helps those readers who keep asking me home made ingredients to use to help wrinkles and restore skin to its youthfulness.
I have had readers complaining that they cannot find essential oils in this town. Message me on the number below and I will direct you to a place where they sell these oils.
Well, that is it from me folks, until next week, God Bless!
Fashion Diva can be found at Kutz n’ Kurlz Hair Salon in Meikles Department Store or messaged (not called) on 0772933845.
