Treatments For Your Skin

Trialling skin products and treatments with honest and fair reviews.

Archive for February, 2009

Jean Wu – Stretch Mark Removal – 2 Months On

February 27th, 2009

Probably the only thing stopping me from give this whole method the can is the fact that I have started this blog and I said I would give the Jean Wu Stretch Mark Cure a decent 6 month trial period. The reason I am doing this is that like so many of you who are reading this I have various stretch marks in all different parts of my body and I would love to get rid of them. I am also sick of shysters who make money out of people's misery and hope for a solution. When I heard about this method over the Internet after extensive online searching I was never able to find anyone who had posted ongoing results with this exfoliation method and there was never any conclusive evidence that this did or did not work (I am referring to real blogs here not Jean Wu's own testimonials as that is pure and simple marketing material).

Two Months of Stretch Marks Exfoliation Later

So here I am standing almost at the 2 month mark. True to the method I am now exfoliating every 5 days. I will say this about this exfoliation method; it certainly has made my skin feel smoother and softer. But the stretch marks? Well they are still there 100% not one has disappeared not even a little bit and given the right lighting they all glimmer in silvery white lines just like they always have. This is disappointing to me, when I first set out on this journey I had hope but it is somewhat fading as I am starting to realise that the best that can be achieved with this is a smoother skin texture (which is good) and that might be all. My stretch marks are much lighter than my skin tone so they are very obvious and unfortunately that has not changed hardly at all.

So wow, this post is a huge downer! But I will keep going because maybe the case is that as Jean Wu said in her infamous e-book , all I have achieved is to uncover a few layers of skin where the stretch mark is actually worse! well only time will tell...

17 comments »

Posted in Do It Yourself Skin Treatments, Stretch Marks

Tags: exfoliation jean wu method scrub Stretch Marks

MSM and Beautiful Skin

February 22nd, 2009

What is MSM?

Methylsulfonylmethane (sulfur) is taken in a dietary supplement form. MSM can be taken to help promote healthy tissue such as; ligaments, tendons and muscle. It is a great supplement in the relief of arthritis, joint pain, muscle pains and it helps promote healthy skin, nails and hair among many other great things. MSM is a food, it is not a drug or food additive. MSM is an organic form of sulfur.

How Does MSM Work?

MSM allows nutrients and water to flow freely into cells by making the cell walls permeable, in turn this allows the toxins and wastes to flow out. If your body does not have proper levels of MSM it is unable to build healthy tissue. Bodies use MSM along with Vitamin C to create healthy new cells. MSM creates flexible bonds between cells. Not enough MSM in the body can lead to problems like: wrinkles, lose of flexibility, hardened arteries, scar tissue, cracking skin, dry skin, joint problems, etc

How Does MSM Occur Naturally?

MSM is a naturally-occurring nutrient which is usually found in normal human diets through the sulfur cycle. Ocean plankton emit sulfur compounds that rise up into the ozone. Then ultra-violet light converts it to MSM. MSM returns to the earth through rain where plants concentrate the MSM and returns it to the sea and the earth.

MSM decreases the pressure inside every humans cells and affects the cell membrane by removing toxins and fluids.

Sulfur (MSM) compounds are important for many body systems and organs, it is in the skin, hair and nails.

MSM a Mineral That Promotes Beauty

MSM is used in your body to help synthesis collagen and it contains keratin (tough protein needed for healthy hair, nails and skin) that is why taking MSM as a natural supplement can help keep your skin smooth, clear and youthful and your hair and nails grow faster and stronger.

Your body is continuously working to replace old cells with new ones. When you offer your body all the necessary raw materials for cell building, it becomes a very efficient process and as a result you will not only look better but feel better too. When there are deficiencies in your body the new cells may be deformed or weak. MSM blocks the unwanted physcial and chemical bonding of collagen responsible for rigid, aging skin. The result is enhanced tissue pliability, MSM encourages the repair of damaged skin. Not enough MSM and your new cells that form will be more rigid and tough, this can be seen in dry, cracked, wrinkly skin and scar tissue. When you have enough sulfur in your body your skin is smoother, more flexible and much softer.

msm-beautiful-skin

Common Sources of Good Quality MSM

A good quality MSM store bought supplement that is effective and safe to use is often sourced from lignin found in pine trees. If you want to take MSM naturally through food sources, the following foods are high in sulfur: garlic, sunflower seeds, lentils,yogurt and soybeans.

Average MSM Dose

A typical dose ranges from between 1000 mg to 6000 mg. Some people take way more than this amount. If you have MSM in pwder or crystal flake form then 1 teaspoon equals 5 grams. MSM gets absorbed into the body better when taken in conjunction with Vitamin C.

MSM Helps The Following Conditions:

MSM has been known to help with the following conditions: Arthritis, Ulcers, Allergies, Acne, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Chronic Fatigue, Asthma, Constipation, Candida Yeast Infections, Digestive Disorders, Fragile Hair & Nails, Diabetes, Muscle Pain & Cramps, Parasites, Toxic Build-up, Skin Damage & Aging.

Get MSM Delivered To Your Home Today

3 comments »

Posted in Foods for Healthy Skin

Tags: collagen hair minerals MSM nails skin sulfur Water Wrinkles

Making Your Own MSM and Aloe Vera Lotion

February 8th, 2009

You can either go out there and purchase your MSM lotion from a health food store or you can easily make your own providing you have pure MSM flakes on you and Pure Aloe Vera Gel.

There are so many creams out on the market that claim to do all types of things, anti ageing, scar removal, acne fighting, etc. To me the best crem I have ever put on my face and body has been this cream that I made myself. It is cheap and effective especially when combined with the internal consumption of MSM.

MSM and Aloe Vera Gel Lotion

The easiest recipe is to combine MSM with Pure Aloe Vera gel. Keep in mind that 3 x rounded teaspoons of MSM Crystal Flakes is about 15 grams of MSM.

What you will need:

MSM Crystal Flakes - 15 grams for every 100mls of Aloe Vera Gel
Pure Aloe Vera Gel - 100mls (or more if you want to make more)

Process:

Mix 3 rounded teaspoons of MSM for ever 100 mls of pure Aloe Vera gel in a bowl.
Mix it well and let it sit for about 30 minutes so the MSM flakes dissolve into the Aloe Vera gel.
Don't add more MSM than the amount stated as it will become saturated and go clumpy.
Pour the mixture into a suitable container (an old washed out cream tub is good).
Use is as frequently as you feel is necessary.

Want to know more about MSM as a natural supplement click here: all about MSM

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Posted in Acne Treatments, Do It Yourself Skin Treatments, Face Creams, Skin Recipes, Stretch Marks, Wrinkles

Tags: Aloe Vera MSM flakes MSM lotion

Stretch Mark and Exfoliation Method – 1 Month Later

February 2nd, 2009

I have been testing out the skin exfoliation method from our dear friend Jean. I do the routine once every third day. I apply creams everyday morning, noon and night (sometimes I forget the noon, but I don't really think it matters).

I have made my own cream lotion concoction to apply to the treated skin. I use a standard collagen and Vitamin E skin firming cream mixed with MSM flakes and almond oil and I mix this with pure Aloe Vera gel. I take MSM flakes in my water along with fish oil and evening primrose oil and vitamin C plus a general women's multi vitamin. I have cut back to 1 teaspoon in the morning of MSM as the other day I upped the dose to two teaspoons and felt very jittery and anxious. I am trying not to have any MSM close to bed time becasue if I have too much my dreams are so vivid it sometimes feels as though I wasn't even sleeping.

Here is a recipe for making your own basic MSM and Aloe Vera Lotion.

Stretch Marks Improvement

After I do the exfoliation method the stretch marks always look worse than ever (which makes my heart sink as you would imagine).
Two days after the exfoliation treatment the overall skin texture seems much improved, the skin is softer and the marks appear lighter and to blend in better with the rest of the skin.
The marks are still there, all of them, not one has disappeared or even reduced in size or anything, they just seem lighter.
Sometimes it feels as though I am making progress in reducing the stretch marks and then I catch a glimpse of them in some of those unflattering artificial lights they love to stick in some change rooms and BAM! Hideous... and it seems almost like nothing happened.
I am also somewhat discouraged by some posts in forums that state that this does not work and is a scam. But I am willing to see it through for 6 months and to be completely honest about it here.

Please leave your comments regarding your experience with this exfoliation method. What was or is your routine? what improvements did you see? Did it work for you even in the slightest?