Cyber Monday Sale!

All you shopaholics out there...head on over to KiwiFox and start stocking up on your favorite natural skin care products! Hurry, this amazing deal ends at Midnight today!

Menopause and Your Skin

Did you know that the reason skin loses its youthful appearance with age is the decline in hormone levels? When menopause occurs, the production of B-Estradiol (estrogen) begins to decline. In fact, this process can start as early as 5 to 10 years prior to menopause. Many women experience symptoms such as hot flashes and night sweats during this period, but what you may not realize is that this could also be causing your dry skin.

Estrogen stimulates the formation of collagen and oils, which keep your skin firm, smooth, and elastic. When this hormone decreases, dry and itchy skin often occurs. That's not all, you may notice that the change in hormone levels also hinders your body's ability to retain moisture.

Don't wait until menopause. A preventative skin care regimen is your best defence. A healthy lifestyle, proper nutrition, and the reducing of stress levels will also help minimize and even reverse the damage done.

If you need a more proactive approach, treatments like KiwiFox Aquasurge actually reverse skin dryness caused by menopause, while strengthening the skin's natural barrier to retain moisture more effectively. More importantly, Aquasurge packs powerful antioxidants that reduce collagen breakdown. It also contains Hyaluronic Acid, which is crucial to the body’s synthesis of collagen and elastin; the two most important substances in fighting the formation of fine lines and wrinkles.

Win the Battle Against Dark Under Eye Circles

There seems to be a wealth of opinions out there on what causes those unsightly dark under eye circles. Lack of sleep, genetics, thinning skin, fluid retention, dehydration, allergies, iron deficiency, and the list goes on. The question is, how do we get rid of them? 

One thing is for certain. If you hope to stand a chance at winning this battle, you have to address the problem at the source. Your first instinct may be to reach for the concealer. Masking the problem is indeed a quick fix, but there are quite a few simple remedies to that can actually help to diminish dark circles and noticeably reduce puffiness.

Sleep is not enough. Getting enough shut-eye is a given, but how are you sleeping? Inadequate lymphatic drainage often causes puffiness, most noticeable when you wake up. Try sleeping with your head elevated to discourage fluid pooling under your eyes. 

Skip the booze and salt. Alcohol and salty foods can cause water retention, which will only contribute to under eye bags. Instead, opt for foods containing antioxidant pigments, such as cranberries, blueberries, bilberries, tea (green and black), black currant, onions, legumes, and parsley. 

Read the label. The right formulation in your under eye treatment can make all the difference. Vitamin-E, Vitamin-C, aloe vera, green tea,, white tea, and powerful antioxidants have proven to be effective at tackling the problem without causing irritation to the sensitive skin under you eyes. If you're still on the hunt for a formula that packs all these ingredients, Awake is definitely a must-have. 

Create an illusion. We are often advised to use a concealer that's a shade lighter than our skin tone. Fact is, you may actually be accentuating the problem. Instead, try a shade as close as possible to your skin tone, and dab a little highlighter on the inner corners of your eyes to brighten them. This will draw attention to your irises rather than your puffiness.

The bottom line is: There is hope for us yet. The next time you are partying until the wee hours of the morning, just remember that those pesky under eye circles have got nothing on you.

Skin Care Mythbuster

There is so much information out there on what we should and shouldn't be doing to keep our skin looking young and healthy. Ever wonder how much of it is actually true? We know you've asked yourselves these questions at one time or another... so let's get to the bottom of some of these:

1) "I have oily skin, so I shouldn't use a moisturizer"

FALSE. Skin needs a balance of water and oil to stay healthy. The mistake we often make when trying to fight the oilies is to use harsher products to achieve that mattifying effect. Using strong soaps, toners, and acne treatments will eventually leave your skin THIRSTY, which will only cause it to produce more oil. Adding a water-based moisturizer to your routine will put an end to this vicious cycle.

2) "Eating junk food will make me break out"

FALSE. Aren't you glad this one's a lie? The truth is, we don't actually secrete what we eat. Salt or chocolate are not among the components of a pimple. Having said that...pass the Pringles.

3) "A day at the beach will do my skin some good"

TRUE and FALSE. Salt water can be helpful for treating skin problems like psoriasis or excema, and even acne, as sea water can actually help reduce inflammation and kill surface bacteria. On the other hand, too much can lead to dry, dehydrated skin, as well as premature wrinkles. And we won't even get into the dangers of overexposure to the sun. The bottom line is, don't skip the SPF and remember, moderation is key!

4) "Placing slices of cucumber on your eyes will reduce puffiness"

FALSE. If you're burning the candle at both ends, this won't do much in the way of erasing that tired look. Cucumber is over 90% water, and the rest is inert fibers with no skin benefits whatsoever. You might argue that you do notice an improvement... Well, that is most likely due to the likelihood that you store your cucumbers in the refrigerator. It's the cold (not the cucumber) that shrinks the swelling. You can achieve similar results with a washcloth dipped in cold water.

Your best bet? Take those old wives tales with a grain of salt, and stick to a healthy and consistent skin care routine to keep your skin in top shape. We know you love the KiwiFox line, so you're already ahead of the game!