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Concentrates – the quick way for more beautiful skin

Concentrates, capsules, and serums contain effective, intensive skin care formulations with a thin consistency. Their unique feature is the high concentration of active ingredients which provide for quicker results. They are applied as « problem solvers », after cleansing the skin and before applying day cream or make-up. Concentrates are not meant as a substitute for usual day and night care products, but rather as a supplement. Thanks to highly concentrated active agents, a few drops are sufficient to obtain the desired effect. They’re easy to apply and are quickly absorbed by the skin.
Concentrates, capsules, and serums are as diverse in their purpose as there are diverse types of skin needs: they moisturise, (for instance Schaebens Moisturising Concentrate), prevent wrinkles (such as Schaebens Anti-Wrinkle Concentrate), reduce existing fine lines, protect dry skin, strengthen sensitive skin, protect the skin from environmental irritants, restructure and revitalise mature skin, relieve sun-stressed skin, stimulate the skin when it shows symptoms of fatigue, provide elasticity and energy, mattify oily skin and reduce large pores, diminish pigmentation spots and soothe irritated skin.  Skin care products specifically for the sensitive area around the eyes (such as Schaebens Eye Contour Concentrate) also reduce swelling and dark circles.

Apart from well-known ingredients such as plant extracts, essential oils, liposomes, ceramides, vitamins, minerals, olive oil, and thermal water, they also contain more “exotic” ingredients like andiroba and copaiba oil from Brazil, caviar, chinese reishi, yeast extract, maidenhair tree, ginseng and silk.

Concentrates are applied daily, prior to routine day and night care. Gently pat them onto the face, neck, and décolletage to stimulate blood circulation. Once-a-week use of a facial cleansing or exfoliating mask helps prepare the skin for the subsequent skin care product. It removes dead skin cells and provides for optimum absorption of the active ingredients. Caution for the area around the eyes: spare application to this area unless you have a specially designed eye contour product, as the intensive active ingredients can irritate the sensitive skin around the eyes. An application time of approx. 4 weeks is recommended.

What are the advantages of concentrates as opposed to masks?

Similar to facial masks, concentrates provide the skin with the necessary additional care. Whereas masks require around 10 to 15 minutes to apply, however, this is not needed for the use of a concentrate. Concentrates are therefore even more suited for occasional, express skin care and for those who want to give their skin some valuable extra pampering despite the lack of time.
Concentrates are available in practical, single-portioned twist-off capsules and as multiple-use dispensers.

Facial masks – instant beauty

Facial masks can make you feel good in two ways: apart from providing intensive skin care thanks to the ingredients contained in the formulations, they also give you an overall feeling well-being. Their relaxing effects help to rejuvenate the skin and body – and transform your very own bathroom into a personal health spa in no time at all.  

That is why facial masks have become one of the most popular beauty treatments over the past years; they can be applied easily at home and when travelling. Thanks to their concentrated ingredients, these quick beautifiers offer an extra helping of skin care for the face, neck and décolletage, even though they take very little time to apply.

Masks not only pamper the skin, they also improve its appearance and contribute to your overall well-being. They offer support in your treatment of dehydrated skin, wrinkles, rough skin, impurities, oily skin and in helping to reduce the negative impacts of environmental irritants. Essential oils and fragrances help you forget about stress, fatigue, or exhaustion.

Since facial masks are available for such a wide variety of skin conditions, everyone can find the right product – for skin types ranging from « greasy » to « dry ».   And just as there’s variety in their range of application, there is just as much variety in the number of ingredients and agents they contain: vitamins, minerals, Q10, ceramides, Dead Sea mud, and botanical agents such aloe vera and wheat germ oil, just to name but a few. Thanks to ongoing product development in the manufacturers’ laboratories, new ingredients are continuously being found and tested for their applicability, benefits, and skin compatibility.

The masks also vary greatly in terms of consistency and application: you will find cream masks, gel masks, exfoliating masks, peel-off masks, mud masks and thermal masks.

Mud Masks

Mud masks gently remove dirt, excess sebum, dead cell particles, and impurities and are particularly suitable for oily/greasy and combination skin. They often contain mud from the Dead Sea (such as Schaebens Dead Sea Mud Mask), which contains particularly high amounts of minerals und trace elements, or kaolin (china clay). Mud masks are evenly applied onto the face, neck and décolletage until the masks begins to dry. After letting it work for the specified amount of time, it is rinsed off with warm water. It leaves the skin is toned, the pores refined, and blemishes prevented.

Cream Masks

Cream masks can serve a variety of functions: they moisturise, strengthen the natural functions of the skin, revitalise the skin’s structure, smooth, provide new elasticity and resilience, tone, and give you a radiant complexion (as with Schaebens Moisturising Mask, Schaebens Anti-Wrinkle Mask).

There are even special eye contour masks for the sensitive area around the eyes (such as Schaebens Eye Contour Mask). They reduce fine lines and lachrymal sacs and smooth the skin. After applying, cream masks are removed with a cosmetic tissue. With eye contour masks, any remaining cream is gently dabbed into the sensitive skin around the eyes.

Exfoliating / Peel-Off / Cleansing Masks

Cleansing masks free the skin from loose skin cells and impurities. They refine the skin’s appearance and prepare the skin for subsequent skin care products. Two types of masks are available here: exfoliating masks and peel-off masks.
Exfoliating masks remove loose skin cells from the skin with the help of fruit acids or gentle exfoliating particles made from natural or synthetic granulates. Especially effective exfoliating masks contain both fruit acids and exfoliating particles (such as Schaebens Strawberry Mask).Exfoliating masks are gently massaged into moist skin and then thoroughly washed off.  

Peel-Off masks (e. g. Schaebens Peel-Off Mask) primarily consist of a gel that is spread on the face to form an even, thin film that can be peeled off once dry. Any remaining residue can be removed with lukewarm water.  The peeling-off sensation revitalises the skin and stimulates blood circulation while the film easily removes dead cell particles. Additional fruit acids help loosen excess skin cells.

Gel Masks

Gel masks refresh stressed and tired skin and provide the skin with moisture. Active ingredients such as menthol can cool and revitalise the skin immediately upon application.

Thermal Masks

Thermal masks are mainly designed for impure skin. The creation of heat helps open the pores so that the active ingredients can better penetrate the skin. The heat also stimulates blood circulation and leaves the complexion looking bright and fresh.

Dead Sea Salt cosmetics –healing power from the depths

Dead Sea salt and Dead Sea mud are natural products that have been considered important since ancient times. Romans, kings, and rich merchants had already relaxed in the spas of the Dead Sea and made it a popular location for spas and resorts. At approximately 417 meters below sea level, the Dead Sea is the deepest point on the earth’s surface. It has been supplied with valuable minerals and trace elements such as calcium, magnesium, silicic acid, potassium, iron, bromide and iodine by numerous underground sources for millions of years. This unique composition makes both the salt and the mud from the Dead Sea a unique and hence sought-after ingredient for pharmaceutical and cosmetic products.

Therapeutic Effects

Dead Sea salt promotes the healing processes of the skin. People with skin conditions such as psoriasis (psora), neurodermatitis, dermatitis etc. are frequently advised to travel to the Dead Sea in order to bathe in its waters. Its air, enriched with minerals, and its therapeutic treatments with salt and mud alleviate and heal all sorts of different skin conditions. Yet bringing the healing power of the Dead Sea straight to your own bathtub is much easier and less expensive with these mineral-enriched salts. Dead Sea salt is ideal for washing and bathing.

Beauty and Relaxation

Not only those with problematic skin benefit from the advantages of Dead Sea salt, however. A bath with Dead Sea salt offers recuperation and relaxation for the body, mind and spirit.  Because it is rich in minerals and trace elements, it stimulates both blood circulation and metabolism while providing moisture. The variety of ingredients contained makes it an ideal additive for relaxing wellness baths. The skin is left feeling and looking refreshed, nourished, and healthy. Attention: Baths put additional strain on your body’s circulatory system. Do not bathe for too long (20 minutes) and most importantly not too hot (about 37°C). After bathing, give your body a period of rest and allow your circulation to gradually come into stride instead of becoming immediately active again. 

The healing properties of the Dead Sea are also highly valued for skin creams and scrubs, washing lotions and shower gels. The salts work as an astringent, moisturise, help fight impurities and remove calloused skin. The skin becomes silky and smooth. A natural scrub with sea salts and additives such as olive, almond or sesame oil provide for tender skin, particularly with rough skin on hands, knees and elbows.  Finer granules for sensitive skin are also available in special scrubs such as Schaebens Dead Sea Salt Scrub.

Dead Sea Mud

Dead Sea mud is predominantly used in facial masks and in body packs. It is available in both powder form (for mixing) and as ready-made formulations such as Schaebens Dead Sea Mud Mask. Dead Sea mud packs are both pleasant and effective at the same time. Used during a relaxing bath, they contribute to the overall sense of well-being. They also cleanse and tone the skin, have an anti-inflammatory effect, and soothe irritated and stressed skin. The treatment leaves skin feeling soft and smooth.

Find here all Schaebens Dead Sea Salt Products

Omega-3 Fatty acids – for cholesterol-conscious nutrition

Fats are an important component of our daily diet. They supply energy, are carriers for fat-soluble vitamins, and serve as regenerative and protective agents.

Fatty acids differ by their number of C-atoms (chain length) and by the number and position of their double bonds. Fatty acids without double bonds are called saturated. Unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds between the carbon atoms of the chain.
Saturated fatty acids are predominantly found in animal-based fats. They supply energy, yet have the unfortunate side-effect of increasing cholesterol levels.

In contrast, unsaturated fatty acids are effective in promoting health. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential, long chain, polyunsaturated fatty acids.  They are found almost exclusively in oily sea-fish and in a small number of plants. Both Docosahexaen Acids (DHA) and Eicosapentaen Acids (EPA), which are agents contained in Omega-3 fatty acids, cause that inter alia that keeps cell walls flexible. Studies have shown that indigenous Arctic tribes have much lower chances of suffering from cardiac arrest or cardiovascular disease. Scientists attribute this to above-average fish consumption. Other regions where fish is a main dietary component (the Mediterranean, Japan) also exhibit significantly fewer cases of cardiovascular disease. In addition, Omega-3 fatty acids stimulate blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and prevent inflammation.

Omega-3 fatty acids are essential, yet they cannot be produced by the human body and therefore need to be provided in the form of food or dietary supplements. The best source for Omega-3 fatty acids is sea fish – especially oily fish species such as herring, salmon, mackerel and tuna. They can also be found in vegetable oils such as linseed oil, rapeseed oil and walnut oil and to a small extent in flax seed, nuts and soy products.

Unfortunately, today’s nutrition is not always well-balanced and health-oriented. We consume too many animal-based saturated fatty acids and too few unsaturated Omega-3 fatty acids. This can increase the level of blood lipids such as cholesterol.  Apart from stress, smoking, alcohol, and a lack of physical exercise, a high level of blood lipids is a central risk factor for heart and blood circulation. Nutritional experts therefore advise at least 2 meals containing fish per week, thereby satisfying the need for Omega-3 fatty acids.
 
If a sufficient supply of Omega-3 acids cannot ensured through a routine diet, these acids can also be supplied by food supplements (such as Schaebens Omega-3 Capsules). Particularly for those with fish allergies, vegetarians, or for people who dislike fish, special capsules such as Schaebens Vegetable Omega-3 offer plant-based Omega-3 acids.

Sources:
www.wikipedia.de
Association for Nutrition Science
Medical Tribune
www.lifeline.de

L-Carnitin – Body Energy

L-Carnitin was first discovered 1905 by two Russian researchers in meat. They gave it the name L-Carnitin after the latin word « carnis », meaning meat.

L-Carnitin is a substance similar  to the B vitamins and plays an important role in metabolism and also in the body’s energy production. Long chain fatty acids are one of our bodies’ primary sources of energy. In order to be able to win energy from these fatty acids, they must be split up in the mitochondria – cell organelles, responsible for the production of energy or “the power station of the cells”. The fatty acids cannot reach the mitochondria on their own, since they cannot penetrate through their cell wall. L-Carnitin and at least 3 other enzymes help in this transportation process. Long-chain fatty acids are then broken up inside the mitochondria , allowing energy to be released. Another important function of L-Carnitin is decontamination: with the help of L-Carnitin, short-chain fatty acids can be transported out of the mitochondria.

L-Carnitin is produced by the body itself (endogenously) with the help of nutrients such as Vitamin C, iron, niacin, and Vitamin B6, but can also be supplemented from the outside, e. g. by eating meat or by taking L-Carnitin as a food supplement.

Who can benefit from taking L-Carnitin?

Because it plays a fundamental role in energy creation and in fat metabolism, L-Carnitin is helpful for all body actions that require a great deal of energy.

For dieters: Because L-Carnitin contributes to metabolism, it can be useful for losing weight while dieting.
Vegetarians/Vegans: Since plant-based foods only contain small quantities of L-Carnitin, people who abstain from eating meat can be deprived of L-Carnitin, resulting in metabolism problems.

Physical stress: e. g. during pregnancy and lactation, or generally during times of increased physical stress.
Athletes: To support efficiency and accelerate cell regeneration. To promote learning aptitude: An article dated 18 February 2004 by the Society for Nutrition Medicine in Aachen states that L-Carnitin improves  learning aptitude in the elderly:

“Under certain circumstances, elderly people can reduce mental decline by taking L-Carnitin,” reports Marion Hönig, graduated Oecotrophologist at the Society for Nutrition Medicine and Diet in Bad Aachen. “Due to various positive effects on the brain and the nervous system, a L-Carnitin substitute is advisable as a food supplement or medicine – accompanied by a healthy diet  – particularly for seniors”, explains  Sven-David Müller, Speaker of the organisation, on  February 18, 2004.

L-Carnitin is offered as food supplement in form of capsules, powder, chewing gum and in fitness drinks, such as Schaebens L-Carnitin.

Sources: www.lonza.com, www.dge.de