The pursuit of “hairless happiness” has been in existence long before the earliest days of recorded history. With no real scientific understanding of the skin and body, these old-world aestheticians practiced often-disastrous methods of trial and error using untested ingredients from the toxic to the bizarre. Far removed from its humble early beginnings, the beauty industry of today now finds itself revolutionized by a cosmic…

The human organism is constantly exposed to environmental assaults and the most important protective functions are provided by the skin. Chief among the diverse environmental agents, the skin must protect against is the ultraviolet radiation emitted from the sun. Photodamage, the general term referring to the toxicity associated with the cumulative effects of overexposure to UV radiation, is a broad and multifaceted issue. Beginning with…

According to the book “The Healing Herbs,” the use of therapeutic herbs for skin care is thought to date back to ancient Chinese physicians, who recognized the astringent and antibiotic properties of certain herbs nearly 5,000 years ago. Ayurvedic medicine practitioners have also used herbs to cleanse toxins from the body and promote youthful-looking, healthy skin for nearly 3,000 years. In addition, Native Americans used…

The rose has the distinction of being considered one of the most beautiful flowers in the world and to many, it alone holds this title. With innumerable poems, stories, paintings, legends, and myths associated with it; varied colors, incomparable fragrance, shapes, and sizes, the rose captivates us all. Part of the Rosaceae family, the essential oil of the rose is extracted from the petals by…