Tuesday, January 16, 2018

Winter Skin Part 2 #Our AuthorGang

Winter skincare
While we would love to have winter skin like this:
Most likely, it feels like this:

I studied Natural Healing and my philosophy as a Naturopath is that “If you can’t eat or drink it safely, don’t put it on your skin either”. 

In my first Winter Skin post, I talked about how I clean and exfoliate my skin: https://asmallgangofauthors.blogspot.com/2018_01_04_archive.html

In this post, I'll talk about how I moisturize. I’ve been using my grandmother's special blend of oils.

Why do I use oils?
Our ancestors used base and essential oils for centuries with great success. The first documented beauty was Cleopatra, she used almond and rose oils to keep her skin supple and beautiful. Only the past 50 years or so since the cosmetic industry developed thousands of creams and lotions, using essential oils to moisturize skin became taboo. Why? Simply because selling natural oils is not profitable.

The cosmetic industry provides us with thousands and thousands of skin care products. The question is: do you want to use them if you’re conscious about your health?

Let’s talk about creams and lotions:
When you try to read and understand the long list of the ingredients on creams and lotions, I bet you give up after reading the second line.

We’re so careful nowadays with what we’re putting into our stomachs. What about our skin? Everything that we apply to our skin goes right into our body as well. The long list of chemicals can affect not only your skin but also your organs by creating yet unknown chemical bonds and reactions as well as hormonal changes. Nobody would suspect an innocent looking moisturizer 15 years from now as a cause of some of your health or autoimmune problems.

They say, don’t put oil on your skin, but the truth is that in order to make a cream, you need base oil, stabilizer, and preservative to cook it into a cream. So, you have been putting oils on your skin, just not the right ones.

The truth is that all most creams and lotions do is just strip the natural sebum and dead skin from the top layer of your skin and add a thin layer that gives you the feeling of soft and moisturized skin.

However, just staying in a dry room for a short time makes your skin dry and thirsty for moisture, because below the top layer, your skin is stripped and dehydrated.

The myth that facial oils cause breakouts and clog your pores is nothing but a myth. Quality facial oils, when used correctly, can protect and nourish your skin without clogging your pores or affect your health.

“If you can’t eat or drink it safely, don’t put it on your skin either”.

BASE & ESSENTIAL OILS PROPERTIES:

Rose oil - promotes cell turnover and has anti-wrinkle properties
Sweet almond oil - excellent antioxidant, very absorbent, emollient, softens, soothes and balances the skin. High in vitamin B17 that is known cancer preventing vitamin.
Rosehip oil - smooths wrinkles and softens dry, dehydrated skin, high in essential fatty acids
Hazelnut oil - astringent, anti-inflammatory, rich in vitamins
Avocado oil - deep moisturizer, rich in vitamins
Jojoba oil - a natural antioxidant, its absorption properties are similar to the skin’s own sebum, deep moisturizer
Vitamin E oil - anti-oxidant, smooth scars and heals acne
Geranium essential oil - balances oily skin helps heal acne, eczema, dermatitis
Lemongrass essential oil - anti-wrinkle properties, hydrating, nourishing
Lavender essential oil -balancing, rejuvenating
Neroli essential oil - helps restore skin's PH balance, rejuvenates wrinkled, weathered skin
Chamomile essential oil - soothes dry, inflamed skin, anti-inflammatory
Frankincense essential oil - rejuvenates, balances all skin types
Juniper essential oil - clears oily, congested skin
Orange essential oil - lifts and tightens slack skin, wrinkle reducer
Ylang-ylang essential oil - excellent toner, rejuvenates skin, wrinkle reducer
Apricot kernel oil - softens and protects the skin without leaving an oily residue, smooths existing wrinkles and prevents new wrinkle formation. It contains a high amount of vitamin B17 which is a cancer-prevention vitamin.

My favorite blend is still grandma's recipe:
I add a few drops of rose, lemongrass, apricot kernel, and lavender oils to a base almond oil.
I apply a thin layer to my skin, head to toe, in the shower, after I washed, and then give it a quick rinse and tap dry my skin.

I'm a writer too, I write children's books and fantasy novels.
If you have a few minutes, click on this link and take a look at my books:




COMMENTS

Erika M Szabo via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Winter Skin Part 2 #Our AuthorGang
Winter skincare By Erika M Szabo While we would love to have winter skin like this: Most likely, it feels like this: I studied Natural Healing and my philosophy as a Naturopath is that “If you can’t eat or drink it safely, don’t put it on your skin either”....
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Ruth de Jauregui

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Oh, I am already in love with your recipe. This sounds great! I will have to tag my sister, who uses all natural ingredients to make soaps and creams.
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Awesome!

Rich Feitelberg

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Nice list of oils. If nothing else, good source material for the wise women in my fantasy world.
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Guys have skin too Rich :) Give it a try, you might like it

Nikki McDonagh

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Natural is best.
 
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Mary Anne Yarde

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Such an interesting post!
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Ruth de Jauregui via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Dry winter skin and commercial products aren't helping? Erika Szabo shares natural remedies to help you. And hey, she writes children's books too!!
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Toi Thomas

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Another great post that'll help keep my skin healthy. Good tips for anyone looking for a healthy alternative to dealing with dry skin.
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Joe Bonadonna

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Thanks for more excellent tips, Erika . . . some of these I'm already doing!
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Joe Bonadonna via Google+

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Today on A Small Gang of Authors, Erika M. Szabo tells us more about the natural ways of taking care of our skin.
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Rebecca Tran

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Great skin care tips from author Erika Szabo
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Rebecca Tran

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
I'll keep this list close. I always have people asking about essential oils and tips on dry skin in the pharmacy.
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Grace Au

1 year ago  -  Shared publicly
 
Wonderful information for our winter skin treatments. I use an all natural product that I purchase from a Master herbologist that is fabulous at keeping the alligator skin at bay. Thanks for sharing this information about essential oils.
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Monday, January 15, 2018

Biological, Chosen, or Fantasy #OurAuthorGang

by Grace Augustine


I dare to wager a bet...at some point in your life you have longed for a family other than your own.  I think we all do that. My parents, in the above photo, were older parents. I was their only child. My father, a Filipino, died when I was 9 years old. My Mother died when I was 30. Tomorrow would have been her 100th birthday. 

I didn't know either set of grandparents. I think that was due to age and location more than anything.  My maternal grandparents lived in Missouri and paternal grandparents, from the Philippines, died long before I was born.


There was no one to grow up with. Don't get me wrong, I had neighborhood kids I ran around with, but there was no one to grow up with in my home. Today, my biological family is comprised of my two sons and beautiful feline, Bou. Since I have no cousins, no aunts, uncles...no one...I've chosen my family. I have chosen sisters and brothers all over the world that are either real, in person friends chosen as family, or online internet never-met family.

photo created by photofunia

When I penned The Acorn Hills Series, I based it on a close-knit group of friends who experienced life together. They grew up going to sporting events, catching each other's tears, and laughing and rejoicing at each other's accomplishments--much the same as a real family would.


Whether you have a fabulous biological family, a family you've chosen through friendship, or a fantasy family that you'd like to someday have, I hope you make memories together that all will remember and maybe one day write stories about.



Sunday, January 14, 2018

Our Guest Today is author Brenda Sparks

It's good having you with us today, Brenda.


Brenda has always loved all things spooky and enjoys incorporating paranormal elements in her writing. She refuses to allow pesky human constraints to get in her way of telling the story. Luckily, the only thing limiting her stories is her own imagination. Her characters are strong, courageous, and she adores spending time with them in their imaginary world.

Her idea of a perfect day is one that is spent in front of her computer with a hot cup of coffee, her fingers flying over the keys to send her characters off on their latest adventures.

Brenda may be reached at the links below. Brenda's books are for mature audiences of 18+.







EXCERPT

"Julie’s gaze swept the landscape. The moon’s rays glittered on the snowy bows. The birch trees stood with their trunks painted white to match their limbs. Thick pine branches held fast under the weight of the new fallen snow, making them appear as if they wore white blankets made of virginal cotton about each limb. Sparkling mounds cluttered the ground between the trees, hiding the forest’s treasures beneath.
Save the sound of the hooves pounding on the ground, they journeyed through the silent night to a clearing in the trees. Nicholai clicked to his stallion, and with a flick of the reins, the steed increased into a rolling canter up a steep incline. Julie’s thighs pushed against the sides of the horse as she tried to match the new rhythm.
Nicholai’s breath warmed her ear when he spoke. “Not too much further. It’s right up ahead.”
“What’s up ahead?” Just as the words left Julie’s mouth, they crested over the ridge.
The frozen valley below took her breath away. A glaciate waterfall stood still as a statue against the rocky terrain. The cascading water, stopped as if by magic, reflected the moon’s soft rays and cast tiny prisms on the snow below.
Julie’s breath hitched in her throat. She took in the serene beauty of the land as they cruised at a slow trot. Debris rolled under Kedar’s hoofs. It created a hollow rattle in the night, barely audible to Juliette.
When they reached the valley, Nicholai pulled up the stallion and handed the reins to Julie. She patted the horse’s steaming neck as her lover dismounted with a fluid grace. He turned, grabbed Kedar’s reins, then reached up for Julie. Her thick coat seemed to melt as his strong hands clasped around her waist. She put her hands on his shoulders, and the bulge of muscle under his coat played under her fingers when he helped her down. A thrill went through her body.
Her breath frosted the air in a white plume. The lovers held each other, his hands about her waist, hers resting on his shoulders. Quiet as the moon above, they stared deeply into each other’s eyes. Nicholai captured her lips in a gentle caress that welcomed her to this special place."

Saturday, January 13, 2018

Our Guest Today Is Author DW Duke


DW Duke is a Los Angeles attorney with a double major in economics and psychology from the University of Michigan and a Doctor of Jurisprudence from Washington University School of Law in St. Louis, Missouri. In addition to his work in law, he is a lecturer focused on human rights in the Middle East. He is also a musician and a fourth-degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. He is the author of six books.



"Not without a Fight: A Polish Jew's Resistance" is based on the true story of Casimir "Cass" Bieberstein, a young member of the prominent Bieberstein family. Despite their affluence and influence in Poland, with the invasion by the Nazis they were eventually forced to decide, fight or flee. Family friends Sarah and Rachel Goldstein were sent to the Treblinka concentration camp, while the Biebersteins were forced from their home with little more than the clothes on their backs.

The story begins when Cass is a young boy, and follows him through the invasion, life in the ghetto, the brutal murder of his friend Zofia Wagner and his decision to join the Jewish Resistance group Zydowska Organizacja Bojowa.

Written by Duke and Thomas Biebers, Cass' son, "Not without a Fight: A Polish Jew's Resistance" is historically accurate and filled with details of the life before, during and after the Nazi's brutal occupation of Poland. Highly recommended for history and World War II buffs.

Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Not-without-Fight-Polish-Resistance/dp/1532026676

Barnes & Noble: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/not-without-a-fight-dw-duke/1126934098?ean=9781532026676

#DWDuke  #WWII  #historicalnovel  #JewishResistance  #ASmallGangOfAuthors

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