Cara Neitzel Skincare

I'm a once per day (at night) kinda girl!

How Often Should You Wash Your Face? Derms Offer 5 Ways To Decide Our deep dive.

When you’re quarantined with an esthetician

Now may be the perfect time to build a little self-care ritual into your day to relieve stress and regain a sense of calm and control.

It could be completing a skincare routine 💆‍♀️ taking a bath 🛀reading a book 📖 or letting loose to your own solo dance party every morning 💃

If you are interested in learning more about what you can do to reach your skincare goals and implement a routine that is unique to you, please feel free to DM me or email me at [email protected]. I would love to answer any questions you have! Totally free of charge and with absolutely no obligation to buy my products- I just love talking skincare and connecting with others during this time 🥰

Social Distancing, but still need your skincare basics?! Instead of risking the shops, you can order directly from me!

You will be supporting a small, women-owned business and I promise you will be getting high quality products.

Rest assured that I will be the only person coming in contact with your product- and I do take the utmost care to clean, sanitize and naturally preserve!

And with all the extra time on our hands, now is the best time to add a brightening mask while you catch up on Netflix or try out that full skincare routine you've been putting off!

Enter code SKIN20 at checkout for 20% off your whole order!

www.CaraNeitzel.com

When it comes to persistent acne, topical skincare is only 50% of the puzzle.

If putting the right products on our skin were the FULL and ONLY answer, everyone would have clear skin by now.

Luckily, the other 50% of the puzzle is in our control! It encompasses lifestyle factors that we can each tweak and change to fit our unique needs and help us live our healthiest lives!

While most professionals can now agree that diet & lifestyle are major players in clear skin, some still believe that these factors do not correlate with acne. Well, that may be partly true, in that these factors are part of a snowball effect. Instead of being the direct cause, they trigger hormone imbalance, leaky gut and chronic inflammation which then show up as acne on our skin.

Along with clearing acne, making small lifestyle changes can offer relief from a huge host of other symptoms of hormone imbalance, leaky gut and chronic inflammation. Just a few are regular migraine headaches, chronic anxiety or depression, irregular bowl movements (ex- instead of having one BM per day you have daily bouts of diarrhea or go a few days without having one at all).

I created my skincare line with the strong belief that what we put on our skin matters! Everything with put on our skin will have a consequence- either good or bad. A lot of it will pe*****te the skin and enter our bloodstream, and what doesn’t will mingle and mix with our slightly acidic skin microbiome. If we are putting products on that throw off the delicate balance, we may notice premature aging of the skin along with acne breakouts.

Finding a skincare routine you can trust, is 50% of the puzzle!

Here are my suggestions to get started putting together the other 50% of the puzzle…

1.) Drink enough water. Did you know you can actually fill up your skin cells from the inside? Drinking plenty of water will ensure your cells are hydrated, healthy & plump! Carry around a bottle or glass that you love, and make sure it is usually filled. Sip it throughout the day. Make this your go-to drink. Flavor it with lemon, oranges, strawberries or cucumbers!

2.)Eat a raw fruit or veggie with every meal. Get water and nutrients from your food! Start your day with a fruit & veggie smoothie, snack on cut veggies with hummus or an apple with nut butter and have a salad alongside your dinner. These are just a few examples of how you can add raw fruits and veggies into your day!

3.) Get adequate sleep. Almost all professionals agree that between 7-8 hours is enough. As a mother of two young children, I am the first to say “but, but…how?” It’s important that we make it a priority. If we have a few days or weeks where we get off track, just try to make it a priority the following week by creating a nighttime ritual that you look forward too. Save a good book or magazine article for bedtime, take a bath first, use your favorite face mask, drink a glass of warm water with honey & lemon (or some red wine!). Think of something you will truly enjoy and do it just before you lay down to sleep.

4.) Build happiness into your life. I like to focus on doing one thing per day that makes my soul smile. For me, it’s usually reading or writing. Sometimes it's creating a new recipe or product formulation. You could even make a physical list and keep it out so that you remind yourself to always take time for you. I find that focusing on building happiness into our lives eventually will crowd out stress and anxiety without the focus being on “bad” stress. Because the reality is, stress will be there. Address it, just don’t give it more energy than it deserves.

www.caraneitzel.com

In honor of my new online store, take 20% off your entire order with code SKIN20 🥳

One day, in the not so distant future, I plan to open a brick and mortar space where I can do spa treatments, coaching and formulate & create my products 💆‍♀️

Until then, I'm so proud to have an online space so that I can bring my passion to you 💕 As a THANK YOU for all of your support, I'm sharing 20% off your entire order! Feel free to share with all of your family and friends as well!

https://www.caraneitzel.com/skincare-shop

My brand new website and store are UP & RUNNING!!!!

Thank you so much to all of your for support and for trusting me with the health of your skin ❤️ I love you all more than you know!

I'll stay on Etsy as well, but you can also order directly through my NEW shop! Yay 🎉

www.caraneitzel.com

Handmade Holistic Skincare | Cara Neitzel Skincare | Skin Coach I am a licensed esthetician and Integrative Nutrition Health Coach but I like to call myself a "Skin Coach". I am passionate about clearing skin through simple and holistic lifestyle modifications and I use the same principles that cleared my own acne to help others.

5 orders, ready to go out today!

Love my customers 😍🥰💕

Busting an Acne Myth: Acne is caused by a dirty pillowcase or towel

Okay, so, could an extremely dirty and disgusting pillowcase or towel exacerbate acne or cause irritation…yes, probably.

When you you lay your head down to sleep at night it is true that you are depositing dirt and oil from your hair and skin onto the pillowcase that could then be transferred back to your face.

In some cases, this could cause some irritation or sensitivity, especially if you use the same pillow case for a long time. Like a really long time. However, irritation caused by something topical (like an oily pillowcase) will show up as dermatitis, or small itchy and red bumps.

But 99.9% of the time, this is not what is causing or exacerbating acne.

Acne is a disease of the sebaceous glands of the skin.

Acne occurs when the hair follicle is clogged with oil and becomes inflamed. But this clogging of excess oil wouldn’t just happen on its own. The foods we eat, amount of sleep we get, our stress levels- all trigger internal inflammation which in turn causes an over production of oil and inflammation on the skin’s surface.

Excess sticky sebum clogs your pores and does not allow skin cells to properly turnover. This triggers your body’s inflammatory response causing the redness and pain to the touch

A few things to do instead of stress about the state of your pillowcase…

1.) Add more whole foods to your diet. Starting your day with a fruit and veggie smoothie is an easy and delicious way to do that! 🍍

2.) Use skincare products that do not disrupt the pH of your skin and instead promote balance and let your skin do it’s thing 🌿

3.) Find ways to add happiness into your day, everyday. Instead of focusing on ridding yourself of (inevitable) stress, focus on doing something you enjoy everyday. Look forward to it! 😁

4.) Get enough sleep. 7-8 hours if possible. Our skin repairs itself 50% quicker while we sleep so it’s important to give it that chance! 😴

Persistent acne that shows up in the same areas time after time, is an INTERNAL issue. Some of us 🙋‍♀️ are simply prone to it. I am all for good hygiene, however, Acne is a disease and it is not triggered by your pillowcase ❤️

What is “Natural” in terms of skincare?

Today I want to tackle the word natural, which gets thrown around by almost every skincare brand, big and small (even me!).

Since there are no (I repeat ZERO) regulations on what constitutes “natural” when it comes to body care products, what in the world does it actually mean AND who the heck do you trust?!

First, I’ll start by pointing out that almost nothing that we put on our skin, even water from our tap, is 100% natural. It has all been altered in some way by humans. This doesn’t mean it is bad. It simply means that the majority of us don’t live next to a mountain spring and instead reside in cities where we are lucky to have water treatment and distribution systems.

Let’s take a skincare ingredient that pretty much everyone would consider natural, Rosewater 🌹

Rosewater is made by the distillation of water and rose petals. When made properly it is extremely pure and very skin-healthy! However, there is no such thing as Rosewater in nature. We distill in in a lab. The same goes for essential oils.

These are naturally derived, meaning the end product is manufactured using natural ingredients and this is where the distinction is.

When it comes to ingredients and products that are natural, I say you want to be

Closer to the plant 🌿 than the plant 🏭

The lab is your friend and minimal processing is normal and healthy. Your products can be made in a lab from naturally derived ingredients and be naturally preserved so they are safe, effective and skin healthy!

Look for products without a massive list of ingredients. Less ingredients usually means less chance there are cheap fillers. Being your own advocate and learning to read labels is a great idea as well!

Happy Galentine’s Day 👩🏼‍🤝‍👩🏽

Had such a wonderful night with this fun and caring group of women!

We talked skincare and then DIY’d masks and cleansers as gifts for local Women’s shelter 💕

Thank you for organizing Caitlin Falenski! I had a blast but I think your baby, Pearl, stole the show!! 🐶

Happy Valentine’s Day Loves ❤️

Now is the time to try a new, clean & effective skincare routine!

Formulated with care and made in small batches by Me for You ❤️

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaraNeitzelSkincare?coupon=VALENTINE20

Oh Hey 👋🏼 big chin breakout! Estheticians, were just like you! The cool thing about my breakouts now is that I can always link them to something...for example, this one is a hormonal breakout (as are most jawline cystic breakouts). And now, instead of beating myself up over it, picking it, trying to cover the crap out of it in shame...I just Let. It. Be. I continue using nourishing products that will support healing instead of attack it. And I give myself grace. I’m the same person with this thing as I am without it...it’s all good 💕

What’s for lunch today?! It’s cold and grey here in Michigan so I was in the mood for something bright & light 🥒🥑🌿💚

Tuna mixed with Avocado, S&P in a hallowed put cucumber sprinkled with some micro kale- YUM! So so simple fast and delicious!

To treat the symptom, we have to address the cause.

The cause/s may be harder to see than the acne itself. But by slowing down and taking a look at these 3 possible triggers, you can regain control of your health and clear your skin! Addressing these 3 points helps to balance ⚖️ hormones and stop 🛑 chronic inflammation from wreaking havoc on your skin and other organs

www.caraneitzel.com

Actually, you can find me enjoying both! 🍍🥬🍩

Our guts are so important they are often referred to as our “second brain”.

Our gut has the awesome ability to communicate with our central nervous system and the health of our gut determines exactly what it says.

Interestingly, our skin also has its own microbiome. This connection is called the gut-brain-skin axis and refers to the biochemical reactions which trigger communication between the three.

The health of our gut can ultimately determine gastrointestinal symptoms, our moods, and the condition of our skin.

Both gut and skin microbiomes will greatly benefit from eating nourishing whole foods, cleaner self-care products and by treating ourselves with kindness ❤️

Have you ever used a Jade Roller?!?

Jade is known for a variety of benefits...

💚aiding in the elimination of toxins

💚toning facial muscles

💚reducing or preventing puffiness & wrinkles

💚cooling & soothing the skin

💚assisting in the absorption of products

It's a healthy addition to your Face Oil that feels super luxurious- like you're at a spa!

You can use your jade roller everyday, but even using it once per week will provide additional benefits!

So how is it used?

Apply 5-10 drops Face Oil, depending on your preference. Starting at your chin, roll the large roller outwards toward your right ear, 5 times. Repeat moving up the right side of your face. Begin again at the chin, rolling outwards toward your left ear. Repeat moving up the left side of your face. Flip to the small roller and roll outward 5 times below your right eye area. Repeat below your left eye. (See the attached infographics for a visual!)

Check out the link for more info!
https://www.etsy.com/listing/768589777/face-oil-with-dual-stone-jade-roller?ref=listings_manager_grid

You Are Beautiful ❤️

So looking forward to my early morning wake up and drinking hot coffee while I peruse the vendors at Eastern Market tomorrow 🥰🍓🍍🥬🥒🥖☕️

What are your plans for the weekend?!?

Did you know that our top layers of dead skin cells hold in moisture which make our skin appear plump, hydrated and healthy?!

Yes- these 15-20 layers of dead skin cells are there for a very important reason! Over doing it with exfoliation can actually lead to dull, dehydrated skin in the long run.

Let's talk about the two types of exfoliation...

1.) Chemical- acids and enzymes that eat away at dead skin cells

2.) Mechanical- abrasive mechanisms such as exfoliating beads or clays that physically act like a broom to slough off dead skin cells

Exfoliation treatments can be beneficial to promote acne healing as many times acne can arise due to a build-up of skin cells- more than are necessary for healthy, functioning skin.

However, the best medicine is always prevention! You can prevent acne and pigmentation with regular, mild exfoliation.

Some examples are using a mild Alpha Hydroxy Acid product (such as our AHA Overnight Leave-On Exfoliant) or using a mild physical exfoliant such as Clay (like in our Cleansing Powders).

Exfoliating just enough, each day or couple of days, signals our skin to to turnover at a healthy rate without ever over-doing it. Your skin will never feel dry, tight or excessively peel. The great news is there is no need for a 10-step routine or an expensive exfoliation treatment!

I am AMBITIOUS ❤️ What word did you see first?!

It means the world to me when you take the time to tell me how you like the products! I am always listening and learning from you 💕

★★★★★ "I’ve never tried an oil before out of fear that I would cause a massive break out. After the success of the spot treatment I took the plunge and I’m glad I did. My skin feels so soft, I haven’t had any breakouts and my foundation goes on so smoothly I don’t have to use as much or a primer. This has become a must have for my skin routine."

https://etsy.me/30NEhAe

Balance Face Oil This Face Oil is part of the the Balance line, packed with anti-inflammatory and nourishing ingredients to support the skin in producing the proper amount of sebum. Powered by argon and meadowfoam oil, non-comedogenic oils that wont clog pores, but instead will signal our skin to produce a healthy

What is Skintuition?

It’s that idea that our skin knows what is best for it. That super expensive products, in-depth procedures and trying to live up to societal beauty standards will never work better than nature and simplicity.

Our skin leans toward health and is always repairing itself. Give it half a chance by doing the opposite of what we’re taught... give it a break.

Don’t listen to marketing campaigns.
Let it breathe.
Use products sparingly and those that are simple.
Drink water.
Get a little sun.
Give yourself love.
Feed your soul.

You don’t need the latest expensive extract if you do the inner work. It’s free and you’ll see benefits that go way beyond healthy skin 💕

******** 15% OFF ********

SO FRESH & SO CLEAN!!!

Cleansing Powders are an innovative face wash that combine cleansing, exfoliating and masking all in one clean product

No more paying crazy high prices for a product whose first ingredient is water 😭

Cara Neitzel Skincare cleansing powder is chock full of active ingredients- just sprinkle a bit into the palm of your hand and activate with a few drops of water to go from powder-to-foamy face wash!

And, since there is no water in the product itself, there is no need for preservatives! You can feel good about what you are putting on your skin!

Cleansing powders remove makeup, eliminate blackheads & balance oil production and we have a Cleansing Powder for every skin type!

Created by a licensed esthetician and former acne sufferer, all products are formulated to nourish your skin and bring it into balance without stripping, attacking or over-drying

Give our Cleansing Powder a try today! 15% off your first order from Cara Neitzel Skincare using code CLEAN15

https://www.etsy.com/shop/CaraNeitzelSkincare?coupon=CLEAN15

Let's talk about preservatives in our skincare...

There are two categories of skincare products:

1.) Anhydrous- or oil based products that do not contain any water

2.)Water based- products which do contain water

Anhydrous products do not require a broad spectrum preservative, as they are 100% oil based which does not promote the growth of life.

Products which contain water, in any amount, are wonderfully hydrating but can also be breading grounds for bacteria, yeast and mold. Because of this, it is only safe to use water based skincare products that have been properly preserved.

There are many preservative options out there and they range from not so good for you (parabens, formaldehyde) to more natural options, like the ones in Cara Neitzel Skincare!

The preservatives in all of our products are broad spectrum, have been scientifically studied and are not harmful to our skin. In fact, certain preservatives can add additional moisturizing benefits to our products along with protecting them!

They are EcoCert certified and on the Whole Foods acceptable ingredients list (they have extensive requirements!)

The reason that all skincare companies aren't using more natural preservatives is the cost 🤑 A higher quality preservative, that works, means a smaller profit!

Rest assured, that I take product safety AND formulating with natural ingredients equally as seriously. You can trust that I've done the work and the research to bring you safe and effective products without un-needed or un-natural ingredients 😍

Let me know if I can help you pick out your perfect skincare routine today!

Yesterday I mentioned that to have healthy skin- and experience overall health- you don't have to completely cut out any category of food.

At the height of my chronic acne, I spent a summer on an island in Greece. Magically, all of my acne (and many other chronic symptoms I'd had- like migraines) completely disappeared.

Looking back, it's easy to see that my Greek lifestyle was the catalyst to my better health. I was eating fish, plenty of vegetables, lots of healthy fats, feta cheese, REAL bread (more on that later) and home-made yogurt. I spent all my time outside and, although I was taking college classes, I put much less pressure on myself than I did at home. I slowed down and enjoyed my days.

Last night I made a recipe for Horiatiki, or a classic Greek Salad, that is full of vegetables and healthy fats. It is topped with feta cheese, which is generally less inflammatory than conventional cow's milk, especially for those of us that are acne-prone! Here is the super simple recipe (if you can even call it that 😆) if you're interested in trying it yourself:

Horiatiki
2-3 Persian cucumbers, sliced
Big handful of cherry tomatoes, cut in half
1/4 of a small white onion, sliced thin
Handful of greek olives
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
A slice of feta- check that your feta made from goat's milk and I recommend choosing a block of feta, rather than pre-crumbled
Big pinch of salt, some pepper and dried oregano to taste

*Add cucumbers, tomatoes onion and olives in a bowl and mix. Whisk up olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper & oregano. Drizzle most of the dressing over the vegetables, reserving about a teaspoon. Place the feta on top of the salad and drizzle remaining dressing over top!

And another thing...sit back and enjoy every bite of whatever it is you are eating. There are no guilty pleasures when it comes to food. Eat things that bring you joy and make you feel well, while you're eating them and after. Eat and Live as though you are hanging out on an island in Greece 🇬🇷 🍅🥒🍷