St Ives or St Lies?

St Ives or St Lies?
 
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Recently you may have seen articles about “St Ives” being smacked with a Class A lawsuit. If not, surprise! I’m not saying that I’m glad this is happening, but I am legitimately surprised that it has taken this long. Over the years “St Ives apricot facial scrub” has been a beauty staple in many medicine cabinets. I don’t think I actually know anyone who hasn’t used it! I always loved the distinct aroma of apricot -ish/tea tree –ish fragrance. Which by the way is not an organic additive. Because if it were the ingredients would read “tea tree essential oil, or extract, apricot essential oil or extract, or distillate” ETC.  
 
What I didn’t like was how my skin felt a day after using it. It made me feel dry and chaffed. And only felt smooth if I used it every day. But if I used it everyday my face would be sore and I’d have some red patches here and there. So I stopped using it when I was like 12. After I axed it from my routine I cringed every time I'd see it in someone’s shower or on their bathroom sink when I'd come over or spend the night.
 
Now, several years later, after finishing a consultation, I find myself in my treatment room telling my skin care clients to put the St Ives in the garbage, close the lid, and never speak of it again. This actually shocks a lot of them because they have been using it for years! Well, I refer back to my consultation form and I start to ask detailed questions about how and when their skin concerns began, I also ask them about their entire skincare routine, “how do you follow up after cleansing the skin?” “do you moisturize?” “do you protect?” I sometimes cringe at the answers.
 
“Why?” This is the big question after my recommendation of closing the lid on “St Ives”. “Oh my gosh isn't it natural?”. I hate to be the bearer of bad news, (wait who am I kidding?! I love to educate my clients. Because I love them and I want the best for them.) So I give my brief explanation:

• Walnut shell powder  - A natural exfoliation ingredient in which creates microscopic tears in the skin, leaving it exposed for bacteria, sun damage (especially if you are not wearing an SPF), and other ingredients in the product that may be toxic. Yes, this means that your skin is now absorbing toxins quickly.  This is especially important to know for those who think that scrubbing harder and deeper is actually doing you good. (I have a lot of clients who are feelers). But please note: Being aggressive and abrasive with an every day scrub only creates more damage to the skin. Leaving a product with an active ingredient in it longer than recommended will also cause damage.
• Skin Irritating Ingredients-  Like surfactants, emulsifiers, foaming agents, preservatives and fragrance, such as: Ceteareth-20, Carbomer, Cetyl Acetate, Sodium Laureth Sulfate, Glyceryl Stearate SE, and Propylene Glycol. Your skin is readily and quickly absorbing these ingredients after you’ve opened your skin up using the natural ingredient of WALNUT SHELL POWDER.

 
Even after all of this newly released gossip, which by the way has scientific proof to support the new legal claim. There will still be people who debunk this. With claims of having perfect skin and that they use the product every single day. That’s great. But I’m sure their genetics are also a large factor, and let me stress that there are several different skin types, conditions and disease, (Skin types can also bear different conditions, IE: Dry skin with cystic acne, Oily skin with rosacea, Oily skin with psoriasis, Oily skin that is sensitive, Dry skin that is sensitive, Normal skin with acne…) as well as different metabolic rates of cellular regeneration or turnover. Meaning that not everyone has the ability to heal as quickly as others.
 
Now, lets get back to the consultation. “What type of concerns are you experiencing?”  I usually hear things like: Dryness, hyperpigmentation, scars or spots that just wont go away or heal, inflammation, fine lines (even in younger skin), dry or red patches, Skin that is easily irritated when using other products after cleansing with “St Ives” but not necessarily having sensitive skin. And last but not least, breakouts! Yes, exfoliating the skin properly will help prevent clogged pores and breakouts. However, when you damage the skin leaving it open for bacteria to invade, it will invade and multiply, quickly. As for the dark spots, patches and fine lines that skin is constantly being irritated. Leave it alone! Start soothing and protecting your skin. Nurture your skin. Give it time to regenerate and heal with the proper ingredients. And I promise you your skin will be good to you.