Discovering Hawaiian Beauty Products

 


Aloha!  I just got back a few days ago from my family vacation to Maui.  First of all, I must say that it is one of the most beautiful places on Earth with some of the friendliest people.  I was surprised to discover how popular skin and body care were and was inspired by many of the innovative beauty products that I encountered.  After experimenting with some of them myself, I truly believe that Hawaii is the home to some of the world's best beauty products.








What's so great about Hawaiian skincare products?  Why?


1.  Luscious, exotic flora = Products are natural and smell wonderful

Hawaii's natural beauty is breath-taking.  Almost everywhere you go, there are naturally growing palm trees, coconut trees, plumeria flowers, and hibiscus flowers to name a few.  Since nature is an important part of the state's character, many of the popular Hawaiian beauty brands are natural, featuring botanical ingredients like gardenia, pikake, and plumeria that tone, protect, and nourish skin.  For example, classic Maui brands like Island Essence produce moisturizers with scents like White Ginger and Lokelani Rose.  Luckily, the Hawaiian love for pure and natural products means that many Hawaiian products including Island Essence lotions are toxin-free.  I was delighted to find that all of the natural products that I came across were super efficacious and felt great.  Many of the fragrances use floral extracts and oils rather than synthetic ones, making them healthier for your skin and body as well as lighter and more natural smelling.  Sometimes, I think floral scents are too heavy or old lady smelling, but the ones that I found in Hawaii were surprisingly refreshing. I bought some Moku Pua Body Mist in Plumeria Jasmine ($12) at a tropical fruit plantation with nourishing and moisturizing essential oils.  I try and stick with natural products when it comes to fragrance because you're putting it on a large area of skin.  It's hard to find a good natural body spray or perfume since there are only a few on the market.  Moku Pua makes a variety of them as well as other nice natural hair and body care products.

2.  One of the state's biggest industries is agriculture = Products feature really powerful fruits
The state's climate allows for tropical fruits such as pineapple, lilikoi (passion fruit), and papaya to flourish.  These fruits contain enzymes to brighten and even skin tone by providing mild chemical exfoliation, vitamins A and C to promote cell turnover and growth, and other antioxidants to protect the skin from aging.  And everywhere you look, you will see coconut trees.  Recently, on the mainland, coconut oil has been the beauty buzz word for its extremely softening, hydrating, naturally antiseptic, and antioxidant properties, but Hawaiians have been using it for a while. This skin saving ingredient can be found in many of the moisturizers, soaps, and scrubs in Hawaii.  Maui Soap Company makes a selection of beautiful moisturizing glycerin soaps in a variety of different scents all infused with coconut oil.  My personal favorite is the Mango Papaya with mango and papaya extracts.  In addition, Hawaii is known for its cultivation and manufacturing of sugar cane.  Sugar scrubs like the Maui Soap Company Sugar Scrub ($10) provide soothing mechanical exfoliation that is much more gentle than salt or nut grains.  This scrub also contains macadamia nut oil, another Hawaiian staple, which helps heal, soothe, and nourish skin.

3.  Warm, sunny weather = Hawaiians know about sun care 

If you walk into a CVS or Rite Aid in New York City, you'll find that most of the products in the sun care aisle are chemically-derived sunscreens with controversial ingredients like oxybenzone.  In Hawaii, it is very easy to find good mineral-based sunblocks that can help deflect rather than absorb sun rays (as chemical sunscreens do) to offer you the best protection during those beach days.  You can find natural mineral blocks like the Elemental Herbs Sunscreen SPF 33 ($8), the EWG's #1 rated sunblock, and the Coola SPORT Citrus Mimosa Mineral Sunscreen ($36) at many shops and craft fairs.  Unlike many typical drugstore sunscreens, many natural Hawaiian sunblocks have a more subtle scent and lighter feel.  And many of them offer more beneficial skin ingredients like the nourishing jojoba and almond oils as well as the shea butter and cocoa butter found in the Native Maui Organic Mango Extract Sunscreen SPF 30 ($38).  In addition, Hawaiian brands like Maui Organics make excellent after sun care products.  Soothe irritated or sunburned skin with the Maui Organics Cool Aloe ($15).  While most after sun aloe products are filled with preservatives, dyes, etc., this Cool Aloe has only two ingredients: organic aloe vera gel and lavender oil.
For more information on chemical vs. physical sunblocks: http://beautyforlife127.blogspot.com/2013/06/summertime-means-sunscreen-time.html

The only downside to Hawaiian beauty is that many of these products tend to be on the pricier side.  It may not be financially feasible to use all of these products daily, but I would definitely recommend trying a product or two if you have the opportunity.  You can find many of the popular Hawaiian personal care brands in most gift shops if you ever travel there or order them online. 

Additionally, one of the state's biggest industries is hospitality, and Hawaii has some really nice spas.  Many of the treatments incorporate the best of Hawaii's natural products into their treatments.  Book yourself one!  It's a great way to sample the islands' wonderful beauty products and beauty services.  I had a Hanakatsumi Body Ritual, which consisted of a manual and chemical exfoliation, massage, and hydrating coconut creme wrap.  My skin still feels super soft...I highly recommend it!

Overall, Hawaii was heaven for a healthy beauty junkie like myself :) 

Summertime Means Sunscreen Time - Everything You Need to Know About Choosing the Most Effective Sunscreens

Summer is here, which means that many of us are off the beach.  Here's a scary fact to keep in mind: 50% of Americans, who live to age 65, will develop skin cancer at least once during their lives.  So, don't forget to pack that bottle of sunscreen before heading outside!  

But there are so many different sunscreens currently on the market...sprays, wipes, sticks, lotions...Banana Boat, Neutrogena, Coppertone, Hawaiian Tropic...how do you choose the most effective sun protection products?

First, it is important to understand how UV rays work.  The sun emits both harmful UVA and UVB rays to the earth's surface.  UVA rays are long rays that are present year-round.  They penetrate far into the skin and are responsible for causing wrinkles and sunspots.  On the other hand, UVB rays are short rays that are present year-round, but become stronger during the summer and weaker during the winter.  These rays hit the surface of the skin and are responsible for causing sunburn and skin cancer. 

[Source http://pharmaxchange.info]

[Source:  www.solaveil.com]

Next, it is important to understand how sunscreens work.  There are two different types of sun lotions, physical sunblocks and chemical sunscreens.  What's the difference?  Physical sunblocks are most often found in the form of titanium dioxide and and zinc oxide.  They work to battle the sun damage by reflecting rays when they hit the skin.  One advantage of physical blocks is that they are safer.  Physical blocks are generally more natural, since they are derived from minerals.  Their mineral particles are most often large enough, where they cannot be penetrate the skin and get absorbed into the bloodstream, unlike the particles in most chemical sunscreens.  Another bonus?  Mineral blocks are often less irritating and are particularly suitable for those of you with sensitive skin.  Zinc oxide, in particularly, is great for blemish-prone skin types.  The downside to physical blocks?  The large mineral particles are insoluble making physical blocks often more difficult to smooth over the skin and sometimes leaving your skin with a white, matte finish. 

On the other hand, ingredients like avobenzone, oxybenzone, octorylene, octinoxate, or octisalate indicate that a product is using a chemical sunscreen against the sun.  These products work by fighting sun damage as your skin absorbs sun rays.  Avobenzone offers the broadest protection of any chemical sunscreen, but unfortunately, it is not a very stable ingredient. Neutrogena’s products contain Helioplex technology, which combines Avobenzone with Oxybenzone to stabilize the sunscreen and prevent it from losing effectiveness after a few hours of sun exposure. Similarly, Aveeno uses an Active Photobarrier Complex for the same purpose. The most powerful chemical technology involves Mexoryl SX (Ecamsule) and was pioneered by L’Oreal.  It combines Avobenzone with Octocrylene to offer very broad, superior protection against UVA rays due to its high photostability.  These ingredients are cheaper and usually dominant in common drugstore sunscreens like Coppertone and Hawaiian Tropic products.  The main advantage of chemical sunscreens and the reason why they are generally preferred by consumers is that  they have a lighter feel and sheerer appearance.  However, chemical sunscreens are usually derived synthetically, and there have been a lot of controversies lately about how safe they are to use.  Keep in mind that no studies have actually proven that there is a direct relationship between the use of chemical sunscreens and adverse health effects.  Whether or not you choose to use them is a personal choice.  I do use some chemical sunscreens, but try to avoid ingredients like oxybenzone, which are most often discussed in research studies.  There are plenty of oxybenzone-free sunscreens on the market, so it's not hard to find healthy products.  Another disadvantage of using chemical sunscreens is that some scientists believe that they can release free radicals, which contribute to skin aging, in the process of battling sun damage.

*Check the "Active Ingredients" section of a label to see if the product contains physical of chemical protectors.  

Both chemical sunscreens and physical sunblocks have the ability to protect against both UVA rays and UVB rays.  However, physical sunblocks provide a more powerful defense against UVB rays that chemical sunscreens do, and some chemical sunscreens may protect against a slightly wider spectrum of UVA rays than physical sunblocks do.  Overall, many dermatologists argue that physical blocks will be your best defense against the sun.  The only problem is that you may miss out on protection against a few UVA rays that only chemical sunscreens may block.   

What does this mean?  Both UVA and UVB rays can be damaging.  Always look for products that have "Broad Spectrum" protection, or protection against a range of both UVA and UVB rays.  During your summer activities, whether it is swimming, playing tennis, walking along the beach, or golfing, your main concern should be avoiding sun burn.  It is especially important to pay attention to those strong UVB rays.  So, make sure that your sun protects contain either titanium dioxide and/or zinc oxide.   

Additionally, for outdoor activities choose a product with an SPF of 30-50.  SPF stands for sun protective factor and refers to approximately how long the product will delay sunburn. For example, a person wearing SPF 30 can stay out in the sun without burning 30 times longer than if he/she were not wearing a sunscreen. SPF 30 products filter out about 97% of UVB rays. SPF 15 filters out 94%, while SPF 45 filters 98%.  In other words, SPFs greater than 30 offer only marginal time benefits.  And there has been some research on whether or not sunscreens with very high SPFs (greater than 50) are safe.  To be on the safe side, just stick to SPFs that are between 30 and 50.

As with all of your personal care products, make sure that your sunscreen is free of toxins like parabens and phthalates!  A sun product that is labeled "natural" does not necessarily imply that the product contains physical sunblocks only and/or that the product is toxin-free.  So be sure to read labels carefully.

Your best bet against the sun are in the forms of moisturizers, which are more reliable than sprays or wipes.  Stay away from sunscreens that use words like "translucent" or "sheer."  They often use very small chemical sunscreen particles that can easily be absorbed into the bloodstream and are less effective in blocking UV rays.  Although the chalky look of physical blocks may not be flattering, it is certainly more flattering than burned skin.

Lastly, keep in mind that sunscreens are only effective if you apply enough.  You should be using approximately a shot glass full of sunscreen for your whole body during each application.  All sunscreens lose effectiveness with time, so it is essential to reapply every few hours, especially if you are swimming or sweating.  Formulas that contain SPF are not very stable and can lose effectiveness over time.  So when you break out the sunscreen at the beginning of the summer, double check to make sure the product hasn't expired.  In addition to sunscreens, sun protective clothing (material that is specifically designed to protect against UV rays), hats with some sort of brim, and sun glasses are also great defenders against the sun.  


THE BOTTOM LINE?

For the beach, choose a toxin-free, broad spectrum physical sunblock with an SPF of 30-50.  I really like the Aubrey Natural SPF 30 Green Tea Antioxidant Sunblock ($15.95 at Whole Foods).

Since UVA and UVB rays are present everyday of the year, it is important that you are protecting your skin everyday, even if you are staying indoors.  Certain light bulbs can emit UV rays, and windows let in sunlight.  As always, make sure you are protecting yourself physical blocks, which will protect you against both UVA and UVB rays in a healthier way.  If you feel comfortable using them, you can also add a safe chemical sunscreen that will cover those few aging UVA rays that physical blocks may miss.

For everyday, choose a toxin-free products or combination of products that contain sunscreens with an SPF of 15-50 as well as antioxidant protection.  Try the Olay Complete All Day Moisture Lotion with SPF 15 for Sensitive Skin ($8.99 at drugstores) for those of you, who want a combination of physical and chemical blocks.  If you prefer to just stuck with physical blocks, try Bare Minerals Advanced Protection SPF 20 Moisturizer ($30 at Sephora). Both moisturizers won't clog your pores and are light-weight...great for hot weather. 

I like to layer some Alison Raffaele Face Forward Primer with SPF 15 ($46 on http://www.alisonraffaele.com/primers.html) on top.  The powerful fruta di vita complex provides a powerful antioxidant shield that can help defend your skin against any free radical damage that my chemical sunscreen may cause.  It also adds an extra layer of mineral block for extra, longer-lasting daily sun protection.

Have lots of fun in the sun this summer...just remember to bring along your favorite healthy sunscreen!