Friday, 13 September 2013

Onycholysis: When nails detach from the nail bed


Testimonial:  How TIPS Nail Conditioner helped
 
Before Photo:  sent to us by Monica showing her detached nails
 

After Photo:  The re-attached nails after using TIPS Nail Conditioner for several weeks.
 
 
Dear ASK Cosmetics:

I began using your product (T.I.P.S. Nail Conditioner) about 7 weeks ago, and
I am amazed at the results. Approximately 6 years ago, my fingernails began to
detach from my nail beds. I had suffered from Carbon Monoxide poisoning, and
whether or not this was a contributing factor, I don't know. But, up until this point
my nails were strong, grew rapidly and were very healthy.

When they began to detach, I sought medical attention. My own physician had
no explanation for my nail problem and referred me to a dermatologist. This
specialist also had no explanation and told me I suffered from Onycholysis.
Basically, he told me my hands were in water too much. I began wearing
gloves for virtually every task I had to do. After months of following his
instructions, my nails did not improve at all. (This dermatologist was one
of three that I consulted). To make a long story short, I have spent a
fortune on prescriptions, Tea Tree Oil, products from a Natural Health Food
Store, etc. etc.

I happened to mention my problem to a friend who indicated that she had
suffered from the same problem. She had fallen, hit her head, and her nails
detached from her nail beds. Her physician indicated to her, that nails
could detach from the nail bed due to Trauma. She suggested I try T.I.P.S.,
as she had had great success with your product.

I am so grateful for her suggestion! As my nails grow, they are reattaching
to my nail beds. Once I started noticing a difference (after approximately
2 weeks of use), I took a picture of 3 of my nails. Now, 7 weeks later,
I've taken another picture. You can see for yourselves in the photos I am
sending, the difference.

I will definitely be promoting your product to friends, colleagues, and
family members. Thank you!

Best regards,

Monica from Oshawa


Thursday, 12 September 2013

Cuticle Care: The Do's and Don'ts for healthy, intact Cuticles


Best Practices for Cuticle Care
 
 
 
You should never cut, trim, massage or push back your cuticles.  Your cuticle is a natural seal between the hard nails and the soft skin.  When you degrade that seal, your body will work to restore it, using the energy from that area for fixing and replacing your cuticle instead of for nail growth.  Your cuticle also produces the final, most protective layer of your nails.  When your cuticle is irritated or damaged in any manner, it is unable to perform that function properly, leaving your nail unprotected.  When your cuticles are left alone, and treated daily with TIPS Nail Conditioner, they will naturally begin to recede within a few weeks.
 
 
Apply The Incredible Protection System (T.I.P.S.) by ASK Cosmetics Inc. daily to your cuticles, the entire top surface of your nails, the underside of your nails and the skin around your nails.  TIPS is not a polish and will not dry on your nails. 
  • TIPS is not a coating, quick-fix or a cover-up for nail damage; it is a treatment solution. 
  • It penetrates your nail and is absorbed almost immediately, therefore no waiting time after application.
  • TIPS cannot be washed off your nails because it isn't "ON" your nail, it is "IN" your nail. 
  • Any remaining solution may be removed with a tissue or simply rub it into your hands like you would a hand lotion. 
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Wednesday, 28 August 2013

TIPS Nail Conditioner - nominated as Best Nail Care Brand on QVC


Karen is very honoured to have her flagship product - TIPS Nail Conditioner - nominated for the award as "Best Nail Care Brand" in the 5th Annual QVC Customer Choice Beauty Awards, featuring 36 categories encompassing the most highly sought-after brands.

  If you have used TIPS and think it is a great product, would you please take a minute to vote. All you have to do is go to QVC 2013 Customer Choice Beauty Awards, scroll down to Q.35 - Best Nail Care Brand and check next to TIPS Nail Conditioner. Anyone from anywhere around the world can place their votes. Thanks a million for your support!
Enjoy the rest of your day, Lisa M.

Friday, 16 August 2013

Healthy Air Fresheners - Make your own non-toxic versions!


This may seem a little off topic for this blog site, yet ASK Cosmetics is all about healthy living and using safe, non-toxic products not only in cosmetics but also throughout your daily life.
  Since I know many of our followers are interested in healthy DIY options, I thought this might be helpful for some.

Some of the ingredients you'll need!
 
Air fresheners are some of the most toxic chemicals you can have in your home.

 
So, why not make your own healthier versions?  Here are three easy, inexpensive and safer ways to freshen the air you breathe in every day:
 
1.  Slice open an apple and sprinkle some cinnamon on it.  Then cook it!  This works well and the added bonus is....you can eat it afterwards.
 
2.  Here's a recipe for some homemade, natural air freshening spray:  You'll need 3 cups of water, 1 cup of vinegar, 30 drops of pure essential oils.  Mix these 3 ingredients up in a spray bottle and voila!  Spritz away and feel relieved that you're not contaminating the air.
 
3.  The world's best air freshener:  simply open the windows and allow the fresh air to whisk away any unwanted odor.
 
Do you have any other safe and healthy DIY air freshener ideas?  If so, leave a comment and tell others about it.
 
Have a great day!  Til next time, Lisa M.
 
 

Thursday, 8 August 2013

Are your heels cracked and dry? Relieve your feet with this DIY remedy!


Are your heels dry and cracked?  Could they use a little TLC?  

Today I have a DIY remedy that will soothe and soften your cracked heels.

https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9IHHJtY_9ZC7UY9n4Kj8ltRlQcgiNyXYCRKFZWk6OvXwrrDBD2KVQtYdKM_5EsAAaoa5_T-DWDxvB8KEm_YQDxeMsxRz8MSvGdliCwZG5DhUFSpcd__0cel8h_Ym5AnMW25sGf5g-H6Q/s320/CIMG5909.JPG

Here's what you do with the ingredients shown above:

Grind a handful of rice until you get a fine but coarse flour.  Add a few spoons of raw honey to the mixture along with enough apple cider vinegar to obtain a thick paste.  If the cracks are very deep, add a spoon of olive oil.  Soak feet for 20 minutes and gently massage with this paste.  You'll be amazed at the difference!

To help you understand how cracked and fissured heels develop, read this article:  


If you have any other recommendable DIY treatments for cracked heels, please leave a comment below.  We'd love to hear from you.

Have an amazing day!  Lisa M. for ASK Cosmetics Inc.

“And forget not that the earth delights to feel your bare feet and the winds long to play with your hair” 
― Kahlil GibranThe Prophet



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Tuesday, 6 August 2013

Skin Care 101: What your skin really needs to look radiant!


 
 
In the world of cosmetics often times terms are used and consumers think they know what is meant by them, but in many cases the true understanding of the term or particular ingredient is not 100 % clear.  Today I will discuss three common terms regarding skin care.

Do you know the difference between hydration and moisturization?

  • If your skin is oily, it requires more hydration - bringing water into your skin cells. 
  • The drier your skin is, the more moisturization it needs - adding oil to your skin. 
Healthy skin has a balanced combination of both hydration and moisturization.
 
What are ceramides and how to they benefit the skin?

  • First off this essential ingredient helps to reconstruct skin cells.  The cells of the top layer of the skin are held in place by fatty ceramides, a substance which kind of acts like glue to keep the cells in order.  In addition, ceramides hold onto water molecules, thus helping to attract and retain moisture in the skin.
Why is hyaluronic acid so important in skin care products?
 
The polymer hyaluronic acid, also known as HA, is an important natural component of skin produced by fibroblast skin cells.  Although our skin starts losing HA as early as age 18, wrinkles and skin damage due to loss of hyaluronic acid usually begin to show up in one's late 30's or early 40's.  Therefore, preserving and regaining HA is a goal of many skin care scientists.

Hyaluronic Acid has definitely become one of the most sought-after ingredients in skin care products because:
  • it holds in moisture;
  • it provides cushioning;
  • it aids in tissue repair;
  • it holds together the skin structural components:  collagen and elastin;
  • it helps create a protective barrier against micro-organisms.


So, there you have it in a nutshell. 
 
 What do your skin care products contain that is particularly nourishing for your skin?
 
 
 
Let's get social!  Join ASK Cosmetics on Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and YouTube.
 
Be sure to follow ASK Cosmetics on its social networks and you'll be the first to know about: TSC/QVC shows and deals, updates on giveaways and webstore special offers as well as daily nail care tips on Facebook.
 
Find us on Facebook - become a fan of our page!
Tweet with us on Twitter - follow us and stay in the loop!
Pin with us on Pinterest - follow us and pin away!
Watch us on YouTube - subscribe to watch awesome nail care tips!
 
 
 
 

Thursday, 1 August 2013

Formaldehyde-Based Strengtheners - in a nutshell!


How do nail strengtheners & treatments containing formaldehyde really work?

First off, formaldehyde is used as a preservative and a nail hardener, and is usually found in nail strengtheners and treatments.  This ingredient belongs to the group known as “The Toxic Trio”, which many high quality brands have now eliminated from their lacquers labelling theirs as “Big-3 Free”.  However, formaldehyde is sometimes listed under the name “formalin”, and in the cheaper enamels it is often left out completely from the list of ingredients.  Formaldehyde has been connected to a slew of potential side effects caused by exposure to it.
 
Nail strengtheners create more cross links within the natural nail plate either through Formaldehyde or DMU (Dimethyl Urea). The natural nail plate is more rigid than your hair simply because the natural nail plate contains more cross links. Therefore, by adding even more makes your nails more rigid. This can be excellent for thin, flimsy nails but remember that more cross links means less room for oil and moisture, and hence can dehydrate the nails. The other downside is that when overused, the nails can become too strong (more strength results in less flexibility). The stronger something is, the less it can withstand the force of impact, so consequently, you can start breaking nails more easily if using nail strengtheners with formaldehyde.


What is a cross-link exactly?

A keratin (what nails and hair are comprised of:  keratin protein) cross-link is created when a chemical link is formed between two of the long protein strands - much like rungs on a ladder; cross-links join single strands of protein together like a net. The result is greater strength and harder surfaces.

The disadvantages of formaldehyde is that this ingredient found in nail strengtheners causes excessive cross-linking and does not help the nails to maintain a good balance of hardness and toughness.  As mentioned above, when using formaldehyde (or formalin) nail strengtheners your nails will turn very hard and brittle resulting in easily breakable nails with no flexibility whatsoever.
Doug Schoon, Chief Scientific Advisor for Creative Nail Design Inc.  offers a fantastic image of cross links joining protein chains together, click here to view. 


What products should I use if I want to stay clear of formaldehyde?

We recommend only using nail care products that avoid toxic chemicals (formaldehyde, toluene, DBP), even if the dosage isn’t enough to cause immediate harm.  For many chemicals, we don’t yet know what the long-term health effects for humans will be – little doses over decades could spell trouble.
Karen Orlowski's nails seen here - she is the inventor and owner of ASK Cosmetics Inc., a Canadian company specializing in innovative, safe and highly effective nail, skin and hair care products.  For more info on her flagship product TIPS Nail Conditioner visit the website/online shop.
 
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