Dear Sandy,

I have large pores.  It's so distracting when I look in the mirror and see these 'holes in my face, especially my nose.  What causes pores to be large and is there anything I can do at home to tighten them up so they are less noticeable?

Want to go in hiding

Dear Hiding,

I have had the same problem and my first instinct was to keep washing that area.  I even used alcohol thinking I could dry up and shrivel those stubborn pores … wrong!! 

That was the worst thing I could do because our bodies produce oil called sebum.  And the more we strip away our own natural oils by washing, scrubbing and using “rubbing alcohol” the more sebum (oil) is being produced, which lies in our pores making them larger.

Another reason our pores become enlarged is because of all the chemicals and pollutants our skin is exposed to.  We don’t realize how damaging the products we buy to eliminate the problem and the chemicals in them that make the problem worse.  We are also living in a more toxic environment today than even 10 years ago.  All those things collect on our face and clog our pores.

So what’s a girl to do?

First and foremost do not wash your face more than twice a day.  No ifs, ands or buts about it. 

Then once a week give yourself a treat and put a hot towel on your face (wet a towel and put it in the microwave for 30-60 seconds).  Or even boil some water, pour it into a bowl and put a towel over your head and the bowl for a wonderful steam.  This will pull out all those toxins.

Also, go easy with the makeup or powder as to not clog your pores and give your skin a chance to breath.

Lastly, look for beauty products, creams, makeup and scrubs that are natural.  When you use natural products you are not striping your own oils or putting chemicals on your face that make it worse and forcing your body to go into defense mode (producing more sebum).

One of the best natural scrubs I have tried is Glow by Pure Radiance.  It restores my natural oils and ph, makes my pores smaller and my face look fresher and tighter.  I really do feel like I “Glow” when I use Glow.  I use it 2-3 times per week after I wash my face.

Before long you won’t want to hide.  You will be able to show your face with confidence and no longer be distracted.

For a More Beautiful You,

Sandy DeRose

Natural Beauty Advocate

 by Pure Radiance   

Filed under Health, NutritionFiled under Health, Nutrition

Have you ever wondered how our ancestors kept their food from spoiling? After all, not so long ago there was no refrigeration. There was no pasteurization. But there was fermentation.

Most traditional cultures used fermentation. It’s how they preserved food and made it safe for eating.

Grape juice was fermented into wine more than 8,000 years ago. It was safer to drink than water. Milk was fermented into yogurt. Cabbage was fermented in Asia to make Kimchi. Soy was fermented into miso paste and natto.

It wasn’t until around 1900 that we discovered these foods were actually more healthful. That’s when Nobel Prize-winning scientist Elie Metchnikoff revealed that fermented milk products were the secret to the long, healthy lives of Bulgarian peasants. He believed yogurt contained unseen organisms that protected people against harmful bacteria. He was right.

Metchnikoff had discovered probiotics.

Modern science is just catching up with what the ancients knew for thousands of years. Probiotics and fermented foods are safer and healthier.

Fermentation Transforms Ordinary Foods Into Superfoods

Fermented foods go through a process called lactofermentation. Natural microorganisms like bacteria, yeasts and mold feed on the sugar, proteins and starch in the food. That creates lactic acid and preserves the food.

It creates beneficial enzymes, B vitamins, and Omega-3 fatty acids. It also creates various strains of probiotics or beneficial bacteria.

As fermentation breaks down the food it makes it more digestible. In effect, fermentation partially digests food for you so your body doesn’t have to do so much work.

But the probiotics in fermented foods do much more.

Studies show they help prevent diarrhea, relieve lactose intolerance, and support liver and immune function. They relieve inflammation, arthritis, allergies, and eczema. They help control hypertension and cholesterol. Probiotics also help relieve stomach ulcers, urinary tract infections and inflammatory bowel disease. They even reduce certain risks of cancer.¹

Eat More Bugs! How To Add Fermented
Superfoods To Your Diet

You can get probiotics from a supplement. But I advise my patients here at the Wellness Center to get these amazing organisms by eating fermented foods. It’s easy and delicious.

Just add one quarter to one half cup of fermented veggies to one meal per day. Work up to three meals a day. You’ll find it can very quickly have a dramatic impact on your health.

Look for naturally fermented vegetables like pickled cucumbers, beets, radish roots, onions, sauerkraut, salsa and kimchi. You’ll find them in the refrigerated section of your grocery store.

You might also like to try kombucha, a fermented drink now popping up in many grocery stores. And add miso to soups, stews and marinades.

Fermentation is a miracle process. Research in this field is exploding. I predict in the next few years we’ll see probiotics and the fermentation process used in a vast variety of industries.

I’m already using it in my Pure Radiance beauty products. Here’s why.

You’ve heard me talk about the dangers of parabens in your personal care products. They’re added as preservatives to kill harmful bacteria. But parabens mimic estrogen. They can increase breast cancer risk. A 2003 UK study detected parabens in 18 out of 20 breast cancer tumors.²

That’s why none of my products contain parabens. In my new Renew SCII, I went back to the wisdom of the ancients when I needed a preservative to keep this formula fresh and safe. I went back to fermentation.

In my Renew SCII formula I added fermented radish root. It contains the same friendly bacteria (Leuconostoc) traditionally used to make kimchi.

I don’t want you to put harsh synthetic chemical preservatives on your skin. That’s why I added this naturally fermented ingredient. You’ll see it on the label as “Leuconostoc/ Radish Root Ferment Filtrate.” And now you know why it’s there.

To Your Good Health,

Al Sears, MD

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1. S. Parvez et al, Probiotics and their fermented food products are beneficial for health. Journal of Applied Microbiology, doi:10.1111/j.1365-2672.2006.02963.x
2. Darbre, P.D. and Harvey, P.W., Paraben esters: review of recent studies of endocrine toxicity, absorption, esterase and human exposure, and discussion of potential human health risks, J. Appl. Toxicol. July 2008;28(5):561-78

Urine In Your Cosmetics?

By Sandy DeRose, Natural Beauty Advocate

I rewound the DVR because I couldn’t believe my ears.

The commercial for my local news was saying to stay tuned as the FBI investigates counterfeit cosmetics.

We’ve all heard about counterfeit watches, purses, money – but cosmetics?

This was crazy to me.

I listened to the broadcast and learned that the cosmetic counterfeits encompassed everything from shampoo, hairsprays, moisturizers, serums, makeup, eye shadow, lipstick and even perfume.

The scary part is that the products have been found to contain arsenic and even urine.

So now in an already toxic, chemical-laden industry we have more to watch out for than ever before.

Why Should You Care?

I haven’t always cared about what was in my cosmetics. Trying to figure out what's in my products, quite frankly, gave me a headache. I would start to feel exhausted and defeated.

I started to care when I learned that it went beyond my vanity products. And it affected much more than just me.

When you hear the phrase “Toxic Cosmetics” you need to know it covers more than makeup. It includes body washes, soap, bubble bath, shampoo, conditioner, hair gels, hairspray, sunscreen, etc.. Basically anything you use to groom yourself.

I remember when I became concerned. It was many years ago when I bought this shampoo my son begged me for.

Again, a warning on the local news left me investigating.

I found out that it contained MIT (Methylisothiazolinone). An ingredient used as a preservative. It happens to be a neurotoxin and kills brain cells. And I was putting it on my seven-year-old's head.

I can’t believe that the FDA thinks it's okay to put this in my child’s shampoo. It’s not okay for my shampoo either.

I also learned that we are not only putting toxins in our body, but when we shower the chemicals get into our environment.

What’s even more surprising is that there are no laws or regulations for personal-care-product labels. Anyone can claim a product is “Natural” or “Organic”.

What Can You Do?

Because I don’t want you to feel defeated like I once did I have compiled a list of the most toxic chemicals in alphabetical order. Click here to print the list and keep it in your purse.

I also came across two free apps that let you scan a product's UPC code and give you a rating. The apps are new, so the database of products is still growing. But they are still worth downloading.

• Skin Deep® – available for iPhone and Android. Created by EWG – Environmental Working Group. A non-profit, non-partisan environmental health research advocacy organization. Standing up to the government to protect us for the last twenty years.

• Think Dirty™ – available for iPhone. A non-partisan company that has teamed up with the Breast Cancer Fund and its campaign for safe cosmetics. This app rates your products and gives you the levels of toxicity.

And for those counterfeit cosmetics this is what the FBI had to say and what to look-out for:

Indicators of Counterfeits

• The packaging differs slightly from the authentic brand (might be a different color or different lettering on the product), and/or the product’s wrapping appears haphazard.

• The product is being advertised as a “limited edition” even though the authentic manufacturer doesn’t offer it as a limited edition.

• The price is either slightly or drastically lower.

• For cosmetics, the product’s consistency or texture just doesn’t feel or look like the authentic brand.

• For fragrances, there’s something a little off about the scent, and the color of the fluid in the bottle might be different than the original.

• For both products, they’re being sold at non-authorized retailers, including flea markets, mall kiosks, and over the Internet.¹

Arm yourself with the knowledge. Be educated and be a savvy consumer. We’ll do it together!

To a More Beautiful You,

Sandy DeRose

Natural Beauty Advocate

P.S. I would love to hear from you! Send me your questions, comments or topics you would like to read or know about. I’m here for you!

1. FBI (2014, January 2). Hazardous to Your Health. Fbi.gov. Retrieved March 16, 2014.

An Orange a Day Keeps the Plastic Surgeon Away

When I was in my 20s I heard about collagen. It was being used by celebrities to get fuller lips and smoother looking skin.

To be honest, I thought it was something foreign and I didn’t want anything to do with it.

Later I came to learn that we have collagen in our bodies but would not realize its importance until I started working for Dr. Sears.

Today I want to share with you why it’s key to feeling and looking younger.

With a few simple steps you can …

Turn Back The Clock On Your Skin And Joints

Collagen is a protein found in connective tissue such as skin, cartilage, muscles, tendons and ligaments. Collagen is also found in the stomach, cornea and blood vessels.

Collagen is the lattice work that works with elastin to support your body’s tissues keeping them stable, strong and firm.

The word collagen comes from the Greek word kolla, meaning glue. Think of collagen as holding everything together - just like glue.

There are over 28 types of collagen in the body and as we age the production of them slows down. Overexposure to the sun, medications and poor diet can also damage collagen.

Just to give you an idea here’s a comparison of young and old collagen:

As you can see in the illustration on the left, the younger skin has tightly-woven, undamaged collagen which keeps the skin smooth and tight.

The illustration on the right shows what happens as we lose collagen. Collagen is the foundation for the skin and when it’s no longer supported wrinkles and sagging appear.

Loss of collagen also causes:

• Brittle bones

• Gray hair

• Achy joints

So How Can You Protect Your Collagen
And Stimulate New Collagen?

Many centuries ago when sailors would go on long voyages they were ravaged by a mysterious disease.

They would get open wounds that wouldn’t heal. They would bleed under the skin. Lose their appetites. Their joints and muscles would ache. Their gums would become soft and their teeth would fall out. They were plagued with vomiting and diarrhea. They would become very thin and pale. Their eyes would bulge.

It wasn’t uncommon for 80% of the men, on the ship, to die. They were stricken with a disease they knew nothing about.

They thought the disease was contagious but thanks to an 18th century ship’s surgeon, James Lind, and a scientist of the 17th century named Johann Bachstrom they had an answer.

The disease, which actually dates back to 400 BC, was scurvy. It became prominent between the 16th and 18th centuries.

Scurvy is now known as a Vitamin C deficiency.

But back in 1747, while aboard a naval ship, Lind did something quite remarkable - He conducted what is probably one of the first recorded clinical trials by separating 12 men with scurvy into six groups and kept them isolated from the rest of the crew.

Based on Bachstrom’s theory that scurvy was related to a diet without fruits and vegetables, Lind gave each group something different along with their meals. One group was given two oranges and one lemon, the only sailors that were given fruit.

After six days the results were undeniable. The two men who received the oranges and lemon made a full recovery while the other men’s condition worsened.

So how does the cure for scurvy relate to collagen?

Humans cannot synthesize Vitamin C which is necessary for the production of collagen.¹

Without Vitamin C your collagen doesn’t have a chance. Lack of Vitamin C breaks down your collagen.

The story about scurvy shows how important collagen and vitamin C are for your body.

Those sailors had no collagen to hold their bodies together because of their Vitamin C deficiency.

You won’t get scurvy in this day and age, but if you’re not getting enough vitamin C, you’ll start looking older than your true age. That’s for sure. Without enough vitamin C in your body’s “bank account,” you don’t have the resources to keep enough new collagen in your skin.

By ramping up vitamin C, your body uses the surplus to keep your skin looking younger. You’ll actually FEEL the difference between a youthful, “taut” resilience... Or an old, dry sagging mush that’s full of deep wrinkles.

How You Can Start Boosting Your Collagen Today…

It took a while for your collagen to break down but you can easily start boosting your collagen today and in no time will start to feel and see a difference with these simple steps.

Vitamin C - Supplementing your diet with 1,000-2,000mg could be the extra boost you need. And Dr.Sears often recommends up to 6,000mg over the course of the day. It’s almost impossible to take too much, and if you do, vitamin C is water soluble, which means you’ll pass the excess naturally.

Amino Acids – Do you eat enough red meat, fish, poultry, beans or eggs? If you fall short there then you’ll want to take a supplement or a protein shake with Threonine², Aginine³, Carnosine⁴ and Glutamine^3,5. These amino acids are vital for collagen production and protection.

Exfoliate – By removing dead skin you are stimulating collagen production. With your face be gentle and exfoliate a few times a week. The skin on the rest of your body isn’t quite as delicate so you can exfoliate more often. There are many homemade recipes for scrubs. I like sugar and olive oil (1 cup sugar and ½ cup of olive oil). Make a batch in an airtight container and leave it in the shower next to the shampoo so you don’t forget.

Collagen Supplements – Dr. Sears has a supplement that has a good blend of anti-aging ingredients which helps boost collagen. It’s called Simply Beautiful and is available here.

Lastly, cover up - You need to protect what you already have. To do that use a natural sunscreen made with zinc. It’s an important step. Yea, I know, boring. You hear it all the time. But what you might not know is that the sun speeds up the breakdown of collagen.⁶

Think about the people you have known over the years who are sun worshippers. Their skin isn’t soft and supple like someone who has protected their skin. Their skin may look leathery as they age because they have dried up the glue holding everything together.

We don’t realize how exposed we are when we are driving, walking to and from the car or simply sitting by a window. Using sunscreen every day, not just when you are at the beach and even if you live in a cold climate, will help keep your collagen young.

My research on collagen will continue and I will share important finds as soon as I get them.

For a more beautiful you,

Sandy DeRose
Natural Beauty Advocate

P.S. I would love to hear from you! Send me your questions, comments or topics you would like to read or know about. I’m here for you!

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1. Int J Cosmet Sci. 2013 Aug 8. doi: 10.1111/ics.12087. [Epub ahead of print] Wrinkle reduction in post-menopausal women consuming a novel oral supplement: a double-blind placebo-controlled randomized study. Jenkins G, Wainwright LJ, Holland R, Barrett KE, Casey J. 
2. Das, Biplab. "Amino Acid Threonine: Health Benefits, Deficiency and Food Sources." Dietary Fiber Food. (Sept. 13, 2009) 
3. J Nutr. 2008 Oct;138(10):2021S-2024S. Proline precursors to sustain Mammalian collagen synthesis. Barbul A. 
4. Carnosine inhibits high glucose-induced mesangial cell proliferation through mediating cell cycle progression. Huijie Jia a , Xiaodan Qi a,b, Shaohong Fang a, Yuhong Jina , Xiaoying Hana , Yi Wang a, Aimin Wang a, Hongbo Zhoua, a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Harbin Medical University, Harbin 150081, PR China b Department of Biochemistry, Qiqihar Medical University, Qiqihar 161006, PR China 
5. Nutrition. 2011 Jul-Aug;27(7-8):809-15. doi: 10.1016/j.nut.2010.07.020. Epub 2010 Dec 16. Glutamine supplementation prevents collagen expression damage in healthy urinary bladder caused by radiotherapy. Rocha BR, Gombar FM, Barcellos LM, Costa WS, Barcellos Sampaio FJ, Ramos CF. 
6. PLoS One. 2013 Aug 30;8(8):e72563. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0072563. eCollection 2013. Solar ultraviolet irradiation induces decorin degradation in human skin likely via neutrophil elastase.Li Y, Xia W, Liu Y, Remmer HA, Voorhees J, Fisher GJ.