Annemarie Börlind natural beauty products, natural cosmetics and natural skincare items help millions of people worldwide look better and have healthier skin:

• Annemarie Börlind searches the world for the most unpolluted, organic sources of its plant materials.
• In many cases, the company has to contract for crops years in advance to insure a supply that meets its strict standards.
• Only first pressings of plant extracts are used.
• The water in the products comes from a natural spring located in the spa region of Germany - an area protected by national law from the use of synthetic fertilizers and other chemicals that could pollute groundwater.
• All gels used are from natural plant sources.

Our unique commitment to purity, beauty, and clinically proven results have resulted in skin, body, and hair care products that are world renowned. Beginning a daily beauty regimen with Annemarie Börlind is easy:

Choose the Right Program for your Skin Type

At about age 12, people begin to develop the type of skin they will have for the rest of their lives - Oily, Sensitive, or Dry. Below are three charts, one for each skin type, which describe:

• characteristics of these skin types at different ages;
• the needs of these types of skin; and
• a listing of ingredients that are particularly effective in meeting these needs.

Annemarie Börlind offers a wide selection of products containing these ingredients, which are available at better health food stores and other select outlets.

From the Bounty of Nature

The natural protective layer of our body, the skin, is continually subject to stress. Environmental, physical, and psychological influences, as well as the natural aging process all play a part. The effects of such influences can most clearly be seen on the face, neck, décolleté, and hands.

To enable these exposed and particularly sensitive skin areas to remain beautiful as long as possible, extra care and protection are needed. Optimal skin care success can only be achieved through a systematic program designed for the specific type of skin and offering a complete range of products necessary for daily care - cleansing and protecting - as well as special and intensive treatments.

for Oily Skin - (see also Purifying Care Series)

for Sensitive Skin - (see also ZZ Series for Sensitive Skin)

for Dry Skin - (see also Rose Dew Series for Dry Skin)

Why Are Natural Ingredients Better?

It is preferable to select products with ingredients derived from natural, rather than synthetic, sources since they are usually more compatible with the skin. Because they are, natural ingredients are better able to penetrate the dermal layer, rather than simply staying on the dead surface layer.

Special Tip - If you have a question whether or not the source of an ingredient is natural, ask for the manufacturer of the product's Glossary. It provides information on sources and functions of the ingredients used in their particular product lines. In natural products this varies from brand to brand. Annemarie Börlind of Germany uses only the most natural ingredients in its products.

What About Sunscreens?

Special Tip - In cold weather, choose a wax or cream sunscreen product, instead of a lotion, because water can be driven into the skin by wind and can freeze, causing damage below the surface.

Choose a sunscreen that is full spectrum - that is, one which protects against both UVA and UVB rays. The SPF (skin protection factor) should be at least 15. Earth pigments are the most effective full spectrum sunscreens.

It is also important to remember that, to have the sunscreen provide the protection it claims to provide, it must be applied at least 20 to 30 minutes before going out in the sun, and should be reapplied every 2 or 3 hours.

Also remember to apply sunscreen to the lips. If you don't like the taste of the product you are using, Lip Balms with sunscreen are available. An added plus is that regular use of a Lip Balm containing sunscreen helps prevent cold sores.

Don't forget to have children apply sunscreen. It is estimated that 78% of skin cancer is caused by burns experienced before the age of 18.

Other Products to Consider

In addition to Cleansers, Toners, Day Creams and Night Creams, there are a wide variety of specialty products you may want to use for help with a particular skin problem.

Eye Creams

The eye area is one of the first areas of the face to show signs of aging. This is because the skin around the eyes is the thinnest skin on the body. It has few sebaceous glands, and the elastic tissue is weak and constantly stretched by facial expressions. - (see also Eye Wrinkle Cream and LL Regeneration Wrinkle Cream)

After the age of 20, regular use of a cream specially developed for use in the eye area can really help to slow the development of character lines. A good eye cream will have a base of very light botanical oils, so that it does not weigh down the skin in this area, causing bagging and sagging.

Ingredients that help to retain the tone of the skin in the eye area include horsetail, euphrasia, and lady's mantle. Another recent discovery is aosain, a sea algae extract, which counteracts the action of elastase, which is the enzyme that breaks down elastin tissues.

Exfoliation Products

Skin cells are generated by the lowest layer of the epidermis, when the body is in deep sleep. These cells are pushed up toward the top as new cells are created. After about 28 days, the cells reach the surface, where, ideally, they are shed or sloughed.

This is what happens in an ideally functioning skin. However, skin cells on oily and acned skin are frequently cemented to the surface by hardened sebum. Epidermal cells on dry skin are frequently visible as white flakes. And, as skin matures, the sloughing process becomes less efficient for all skin types. The result - dull, lifeless skin which has poor circulation and oxygenation.

Removal of excess epidermal cells is done with exfoliants. There are two types of exfoliants - mechanical and chemical. Mechanical exfoliants include cosmetic sponges, face cloths, scrubs and peels. Chemical exfoliants include alpha hydroxy acids and beta hydroxy acids.

The key to proper exfoliation is to do it gently, and only as needed. Otherwise, you will remove too many protective epidermal cells, while breaking down the collagen layer and even damaging capillaries.

Special Tips:

• If you use an exfoliant that has grains or is at all abrasive, scrub with as little vigor as posible. Better yet, choose a mask that has wax beads as the scrubbing agent. They will melt as you scrub so you minimize the chance of doing damage.
• A peel mask should be rolled, not pulled, off the skin.
• Alpha hydroxy or beta hydroxy acid products should not have a pH below 4.5 and should be present in a concentration lower than 10% for weekly use, or 4% for daily use.
• Select products that not only remove cells but also contain moisturizing and soothing ingredients to enhance the benefit of these products and protect the newly-exposed skin cells.

Facial Masks

The use of masks dates back to antiquity. Masks are intensive facial treatments that should be done weekly.

Choose a facial mask specifically designed to suit your skin type. A clay or earth mask generally is used to draw out impurities and to support healing. A gel mask usually tones, stimulates and hydrates. A cream mask provides an infusion of both oil and moisture.

Cleansing before applying a mask enhances its benefits, because it removes sebum, epidermal scales, and pollutants that might act as a barrier between the skin and the mask.

Ceramides

Ceramides are substances that play a key role in maintaining the moisture level of the skin. A major component of the intercellular cement, they help bind epidermal cells together and strengthen the skin's barrier function against invasion of the body by environmental pollutants. As the skin ages, the amount of ceramide is reduced. As a result, skin becomes dry and wrinkles begin to form.

When ceramides are applied to the surface of the skin, they help to bind water in the epidermis. Stressed, damaged skin shows faster recovery. Ceramides are an excellent supplement to any skin program. They are available in a variety of forms - as light fluids for use on a daily basis, in capsules as an intensive treatment, in masks, and even hair care products.