Eczema: What It Is and How to Treat It

Eczema is a chronic skin condition that causes periodic flare-ups of itchy, red, and dry patches of skin. Eczema is most common in children, with around 60 percent of cases clearing up on their own by the age of six.

But there’s good news for those of us who continue to suffer from eczema well into adulthood: eczema flare-ups can be prevented with certain lifestyle changes. We hope this brief guide to eczema will help to bring you some relief.

What is Eczema? 

Also known as atopic dermatitis, eczema is a skin condition characterized by the following symptoms:

• Dry skin 
• Itchiness 
• Red patches or bumps 
• Thickened, cracked, or scaly skin 

Scientists have yet to identify the cause of this itchy skin condition. It’s thought that people with eczema don’t have a strong protective skin barrier, which makes it easier for their skin to be irritated by environmental factors. Eczema is genetic in origin, so if one or both of your parents had eczema, you’re more likely to have it as well.

Unfortunately, there’s no cure for eczema. However, these lifestyle tweaks may prevent flare-ups and relieve some of the uncomfortable symptoms:

1. Moisturize Frequently 

Using moisturizing lotions or creams can help protect the skin by reinforcing its protective layer. Herbacin Kamille Intensive Moisture protects skin as it hydrates, preventing moisture loss and locking out irritants.
You may need to apply lotion several times per day in order to keep skin adequately moisturized. 

2. Avoid Triggers 

Oftentimes, allergies can encourage flare-ups of eczema. Common eczema-causing allergies include laundry detergent, soap, pet dander, pollen, and food allergies. Keeping a diary can help you to identify your triggers, and avoid them accordingly.

3. Change Your Shower Habits 

Bathing in hot water dries out your skin, which makes it more prone to an eczema flare-up. Shorten your shower time and use lukewarm water rather than scalding hot. Pat skin to dry, then apply a hydrating lotion to damp skin immediately after showering.

4. Use Gentle Soaps 

Some soaps can zap the moisture right out of your skin, so it’s important to always choose gentle cleansing options. Look for soaps that contain zero dyes or perfumes, which are common eczema irritants.

5. Try a Humidifier 

Dry, indoor air can also trigger an eczema flare-up. A humidifier adds moisture to the air in your home, which can help keep your skin from becoming dehydrated. Try using one in your bedroom while you sleep.

6. Avoid Wearing Wool 

Wool has corkscrew-shaped fibers, which can irritate sensitive skin. Thus, you should avoid wearing wool whenever possible. But if you do choose to wear wool, try layering a cotton shirt underneath to protect your skin.

7. Focus on Treating Eczema 

First Products that are formulated to treat acne, hyperpigmentation, and signs of aging can actually worsen eczema. During eczema flare-ups, drop products from your routine that contain harsh ingredients like retinol or salicylic acid. One your eczema clears up, you can start to slowly add these products back into your regular skincare regimen.

8. Visit Your Doctor 

If simple lifestyle changes don’t clear up your eczema, you can also visit your doctor for a prescription-strength cream. Your doctor may also be able to diagnose certain allergies or irritants that are triggering your eczema.

Do you have eczema? What do you do to prevent flare-ups, and how do you treat the itchiness? Share your experience with other readers in the comment section below.

Gym Bag Beauty: 7 Ways to Streamline Your Post-Workout Beauty Routine

Do your New Year’s resolutions include exercising more? That’s great! Regular exercise boosts both your physical and mental health. However, it can be tough to fit trips to the gym into an already jam-packed schedule.

While we can’t make recommendations on how to trim down your workout routine, we can help you with what comes after. Follow these tips to streamline your post-workout beauty routine so you’ll have no excuses not to hit the gym!

1. Remove All Makeup 

Taking off all of your makeup before working out will help prevent breakouts (and keep mascara from running down your face while you exercise). Swipe face with 2-Phase Makeup Remover pre-workout, and again post-workout to remove sweat and dirt.

Flushed skin requires gentle products, and with an ingredient list that includes sweet almond oil and aloe vera, 2-Phase Makeup Remover is about as gentle as it gets. Plus, this product doesn’t require rinsing, which will further cut down on your grooming time.

2. Condition While You Sweat 

If you’re planning on washing your hair after working out, spritz your hair pre-workout with a leave-in conditioner. The heat from exercising will open up your hair’s cuticles, allowing the product to penetrate the hair shaft better and moisturize.

After your workout is over, wash hair with shampoo, then use a couple sprays of leave-in conditioner to help detangle hair.

3. Get Clean 

Leaving sweat on your skin can lead to acne on both your face and body. So if you have time, take a quick shower to rinse away sweat, dirt, and bacteria. Choose a gentle body wash with an energizing scent like citrus or eucalyptus for a little post-workout boost.

4. Wipe Down 

Don’t have time for a full shower? No worries. Settle for cleaning up with baby wipes instead. Pay special attention to areas that tend to sweat more, then apply a deodorant to fight off odors.

5. Rehydrate Skin 

Sweating zaps the moisture right out of your skin, so replenish your skin’s hydration levels with nourishing moisturizers. Use Day Cream to moisturize your face and Kamille Body Lotion with Argan Oil everywhere else.

6. Dry Shampoo 

If you don’t have time to wash your hair, use dry shampoo to soak up excess oils and odors. Just spritz roots with dry shampoo, rub in with your fingertips, and blast with a blow dryer to finish. It may not be a professional blowout, but it will certainly help!

As an added bonus, you can also use dry shampoo to deodorize your gym shoes post-workout. 

7. Simplify Your Makeup Routine 

Chances are, you don’t have time to apply a full face of makeup post-workout. Try this pared down makeup routine instead:

1. Apply tinted moisturizer (make your own by mixing equal parts foundation and Day Cream) to neutralize redness. 
2. Apply concealer to disguise under eye circles and blemishes. 
3. Apply waterproof mascara, which is less likely to smear on warm skin. 
4. Use a tinted lip balm to hydrate lips. 

What are your gym bag beauty tips? Let us know in the comments!

How to Detox Your Skin in 5 Days

Is your skin suffering from dullness, breakouts, or overall sallowness? It might be time for a skin detox. Overindulging during the holidays or while on vacation can lead to a less-than-glowing complexion when it’s all said and done.

That’s why we put together this easy skin detox! Follow these tips for five days to cleanse your pores of impurities, remove dead skin, and revitalize your complexion.

Why a Skin Detox? 

Your skin is your largest organ, and through perspiration, it’s also one of the major ways your body rids itself of toxins and impurities. Poor skincare habits, like not drinking enough water or sleeping in makeup, can lead to a backup in this system.

A skin detox aims to help your skin get back on track by kickstarting the removal of toxins through the skin.

6 Ways to Detox Your Skin 

1. Begin with a Facial 

Start your your skin detox by treating yourself with a visit to your local spa. A professional facial’s combination of pore extraction, nourishing ingredients, and gentle massage is a great way to regain your glow.

Or, you can DIY a facial at home by following these simple steps:

1. Remove all makeup using 2-Phase Makeup Remover. 
2. Cleanse skin with gentle soap and water. 
3. Gently exfoliate skin using a scrub. 
4. Tone skin with an alcohol-free toner. 
5. Steam skin by placing a towel over your head and hovering your face over a steaming bowl of water for ten minutes. 
6. Apply a face mask. 
7. Rinse off face mask with lukewarm water and a soft cloth. 
8. Apply Night Cream to hydrate and restore skin. 

2. Draw Out Toxins with Clay 

Face masks made with mud or clay draw impurities out of the skin, helping to unclog congested pores and clear up breakouts. Apply a clay mask onto your skin in a thin layer, and allow to sit until the clay has become soft (not dry and cracked). Then gently remove with lukewarm water and a soft washcloth.

3. Cut Out the Junk

The foods we eat have a big impact on our outer later. Indulging in junk foods is fine in moderation, but they can still wreak havoc on your skin.

During your skin detox, avoid sweets, white bread, fried foods, dairy, and salty snacks. Instead, choose skin-loving, antioxidant-rich superfoods like berries, green leafy vegetables, sweet potatoes, and fish. The antioxidants in these foods will help soothe inflammation brought on by poor diet choices.

Focus on Hydration Drinking water keeps skin hydrated while flushing out waste and toxins from the body. According to the Food and Nutrition Board of the Institute of Medicine, women should aim to drink 2.7 liters of water daily, while men should drink 3.7 liters.

Sip on filtered water with lemon throughout the day. Avoid caffeine, sugary juices, and alcohol, as these have a dehydrating effect on the skin that makes fine lines more pronounced.

4. Break a Sweat 

Exercise boosts circulation and gets you sweating, which also helps to remove toxins from the body. Any exercise you enjoy that allows you to boost your heart rate and break a sweat will work for this skin detox. For increased detoxification, try hot yoga or visit a sauna.

5. Draw a Bath 

A nice hot bath not only feels amazing, but it can also be a great way to detox your skin. Draw a bath, then add a cup of Epsom salts, a cup of unfiltered apple cider vinegar, and a few drops of lavender oil. These will draw out dirt and impurities from your pores all over your body.

Would you ever try a skin detox? Let us know in the comments!

How to Choose the Right Moisturizer for Your Skin Type

Choosing the right moisturizer for your skin type is a two-step process that first requires you to determine which skin type you actually have. Thankfully, everything you need to know about your skin type can be found in our skin type guide. Before you approach your dermatologist or start browsing the internet to buy the best moisturizers for your skin, we recommend for you to check out that guide first.

While the anatomy of our skin is the same from one person to the next, our skin can behave very differently. Skin types are determined by how much sebum, or natural oils, our sebaceous glands produce. The most common skin types are dry, combination, and oily. Dry skin does not produce enough natural oil, oily skin produces too much, and combination skin is somewhere in between. 

Since each skin type has different levels of natural hydration, they require different kinds of moisturizers to stay healthy. Keep reading to find out which moisturizer is right for your skin type! 

Moisturizers for Dry Skin 

Dry skin does not produce enough natural oils, and is thus prone to flakiness, itchiness, and fine lines. And while you cannot swap out your genetics, there have been breakthroughs in skin moisturizing technology that are proven to hydrate dry skin types. Our readers with dry skin should embrace the richest and most hydrating moisturizers that trap moisture in the skin.

Look for thick creams formulated with natural oils and butters that fortify your parched skin with extra hydration and nutrients. Our Night Cream’s rich texture soothes and nourishes dry skin with vitamin E, almond oil, avocado oil, and shea butter.

Moisturizers For Combination Skin 

Combination skin is defined as an oily T-zone with dry cheeks. Combination skin presents a challenge to find the right balance of moisture without encouraging acne. That’s why the best moisturizers for combination skins are water-based, so the product does not block pores.

Use a light gel moisturizer in the T-zone to hydrate the area without extra shine. However, a gel moisturizer might not provide enough hydration for the dry areas of your skin. Thus, if your cheeks feel dry or tight when using a gel moisturizer, swap it out for a lightweight day cream formula and apply to your cheeks only. Using two types of moisturizers may be the answer for balancing your skin’s delicate hydration levels while minimizing acne.

Moisturizers For Oily Skin 

It may seem counterintuitive, but oily skin does still require a moisturizer. In fact, the right moisturizer can actually reduce oily shine while helping to control acne. Look for oil-free moisturizers with descriptors like “non-acnegenic”, “non-comedogenic”, and “water-based”.

The best ingredient to look for in a moisturizer for oily skin is hyaluronic acid. Hyaluronic acid is a lightweight hydrator found naturally in our dermis. Applying a serum or lotion that contains hyaluronic acid will replenish this vital ingredient without encouraging excess sebum production or clogging pores.


How do you choose the proper moisturizer for your skin type? Let us know in the comments!

5 Simple Tricks to Fix Dry Hands This Winter

The winter season is filled with wonders, but the family joy and holiday cheer is only half as fun when the dry and frigid weather leaves your hands feeling like sandpaper.

With the cold winter weather, your skin also undergoes some major changes and requires special care to keep it hydrated and healthy. Read on to discover five simple tricks to moisturize and soften dry, rough hands from the wrists to the fingertips.

1. The Every Hour Rule 

Make it a habit to apply hand moisturizer by the hour and after each hand wash and shower. The winter elements are ruthless, and the best way to battle them is to periodically nourish your hands.

It really is a whole lot easier than you think, and it becomes second nature after the first day! Keep a miniature bottle of hand moisturizer by your side at all times: in your car, in your purse, at your desk, and even on your nightstand. That way, you’ll always have lotion on hand when you need it. Remember to leave no patch behind, and to lather the lotion throughout your knuckles and cuticles, too!

2. Wear Gloves 

Wearing gloves give the glycerin and natural elements in our products more time to absorb in your skin which enhances the performance of the lotion. While it's not always possible to wear gloves throughout the day, you'll be grateful you did during the times you can, especially right after you apply your moisturizer.

3. Avoid Old Fashioned Soap 

Today's popular commercial soap cleansers are in fact quite detrimental to your skin. Just because it's convenient doesn't mean it's the healthiest for your hands. A great alternative to reaching out for a glob of chemical-infused soap is to carry a travel-size bottle of gentle hand cleanser. Pair this with lukewarm water and be sure to use lotion on your hands after washing to restore moisture. Most of the commercial soaps slow down the natural process of skin healing, and a gentle cleanser will become your best friend, followed by a shea butter hand and nail balm to coat on after washing.

4. Say Hello to the Humidifier 

Unless you live in the tropics, it's a challenge to make it through winter without indoor heating. You're literally in good hands if your home is heated with steam heat radiators, since the steam keeps your home’s humidity at a healthy level. However, most indoor heating systems suck the moisture from the air, which is the leading cause of skin irritation in the winter.

A simple humidifier prevents your indoor living environment from getting too dry and will keep your hands in a soft and moist condition. It's a small investment that brings you a big return for your skin.

5. Hydrate Sans Grease 

While the feeling of dry and dehydrated hands is awful, having a greasy film on your hands isn’t much better. That’s why it’s important to choose a hand moisturizer made with an intensive and soothing silicone agent like Kamille Hand Cream. This hand cream absorbs quickly, so your hands feel soft and smooth without any greasiness.

Don't wait until you experience cracking or flaky hands before practicing the above simple tricks. These are preventative methods to help you be preemptive about healthy hands, not solutions to cure skin damage.


So, what's your tried and tested secret to a happy holiday season with beautiful hands? Let us know in the comments below!

How to Transition Your Skincare Routine for Winter

Dropping temperatures and snow in the forecast mean it’s finally time to get our winter sweaters, coats, and boots out of storage. And just like how you update your wardrobe for winter, you should also update your skincare routine.

Changing seasons means changes in your skin’s behavior and needs. In the case of winter, skin needs some extra help to keep it healthy, hydrated, and glowing. Keep reading to find out how to transition your skincare routine for winter.

Switch Up Your Moisturizer 

Frigid temperatures, dry indoor heating, and gusty winds can leave your complexion dry, flakey, and irritated. With these kinds of conditions, your regular moisturizer just isn’t going to cut it.

During the winter, skin requires a daily moisturizer formulated with humectants. Humectants are special ingredients that keep skin hydrated by drawing moisture from the air into the skin. We use the effective humectant glycerin in our Day Cream. Glycerin also reinforces skin’s natural protective barrier, defending it against the irritation that’s so common during the cold winter months.

Cleanse Carefully 

Foaming cleansers are great for deep cleaning and degreasing skin during the summer. However, this type of cleanser can also strip the skin of its natural moisturizing oils. During the winter, skin produces less oil than usual. Thus, foaming cleansers are too harsh for use during the winter.

Swap out your foaming cleanser with a gentle gel-based cleanser. Using an oil-based makeup remover at night will also help to add moisture back into the skin while cleansing.

Cool It on the Hot Showers 

While a long, hot shower or bath may feel like exactly what your body needs when the temperatures hit below freezing, it’s just not good for your skin. Long exposure to hot water pulls the moisture from your skin, leaving it more parched than before.

Instead, stick to shorter showers and use warm water instead of scalding hot. When you step out of the shower, apply a nourishing body lotion like Herbacin Kamille Body Lotion with Argan Oil while skin is still damp to lock in hydration.

Invest in a Humidifier 

Colder temperatures mean running the furnace more often. However, indoor heating dries out the air in your home. Dry air pulls draws out of the skin, leaving it parched.

Counteract the effects of dry indoor heating by using a humidifier. A humidifier adds moisture back into the air so skin can stay moisturized. We recommend running it at night to keep skin from getting dried out while you sleep. Aim for a humidity level of 40-50% for optimal skin hydration.

Start Early 

The best way to treat dry winter skin is to prevent it from happening in the first place. Thus, the sooner you can begin putting these tips into practice, the healthier your skin will be.

However, depending on where you live, winter might already be in full swing. If you haven’t been careful with your skincare routine, you may have already damaged your skin’s natural protective barrier. Symptoms of a compromised protective barrier include redness, irritation, stinging, and rashes.

If this is the case, treat your skin as gently as possible for a couple weeks. Avoid products with heavy duty active ingredients (like those in strong anti-aging or acne products). If your skin doesn’t recover on its own, it may be time to visit your dermatologist for a prescription to restore the skin barrier. 


How do you protect your skin during the winter? Let us know in the comments!

Acne Myths, Busted!

There’s a lot of information about there about acne. Unfortunately, not all of it is accurate, and some if it is even harmful. In fact, following bad advice can actually make your breakouts worse. That’s why today on the blog we’re separating acne fact from acne fiction. Keep reading to learn the truth about breakouts and how to treat acne effectively.

Myth: Only Teenagers Get Acne 

It’s true that acne is linked to hormones. During adolescence, our hormone levels are at their peak, which is why acne is so common in teenagers.

Unfortunately, acne doesn’t just magically disappear on your 20th birthday. In fact, 40 to 55% of people between the ages of 20 and 40 experience acne breakouts, according to the International Dermal Institute. So if you’re over the age of 20 and still have acne, you’re certainly not alone!

Myth: Thoroughly Cleansing Your Face Will Get Rid of Acne 

Acne is caused by bacteria, so it makes sense that getting your skin squeaky clean will clear up breakouts, right?

Unfortunately, many people with acne actually overwash their face by using harsh cleansers and scrubbing too hard. This can actually make acne worse because it signals the skin to create more oil. As a result, skin breaks out even more!

Instead, use a gentle cleanser twice daily. If you wear makeup, make sure to remove it fully by using an oil-based makeup remover like our 2-Phase Makeup Remover, since makeup residue can cause overnight breakouts.

Myth: Moisturizers Make Acne Worse 

As we mentioned above, dry skin produces more acne-causing oil. While it might seem counterintuitive to moisturize your skin if you have an oily or acne skin type, it will actually help to hydrate your skin and regulate sebum production. Just be sure to use a lightweight moisturizer rather than a heavy cream to avoid clogging pores.

Myth: Tanning Cures Acne 

Sunlight can kill acne-causing bacteria and a tan can camouflage zits. However, tanning also worsens hyperpigmentation. Translation? If you get dark scars from your pimples, exposure to sunlight will only make these scars more noticeable.

Plus, tanning can lead to premature aging and skin cancer down the road. While that might seem like the least of your worries now, your future self will thank you for staying out of the sun.

Myth: Chocolate Causes Acne 

Chocoholics, rejoice! There’s no direct link between eating chocolate and acne breakouts.

However, foods that contain hormones, like milk and cheese, can make acne worse. So if you’re acne-prone, trying cutting dairy out of your diet to see if helps improve your breakouts.

Also, eating a healthy diet with plenty of lean protein and leafy vegetables will improve your skin from the inside-out. Not sure what to eat? Here’s our recommendations on foods for glowing skin – and which to avoid.

Myth: It’s Okay to Pop Pimples 

While there’s definitely something satisfying about popping a zit, doing so usually only makes things worse. Popping a zit can introduce more bacteria into the skin and lead to infection. Plus, the trauma of popping can make scarring much, much worse. The best thing you can do is to leave your zits alone and wait for them to heal on their own.

Do you have any acne myths that we haven’t included? Let us know in the comments!