Batty's Blog

Blog

Q&A: what could be causing my excess dryness?

Hi Batty-

I have been using your products for a little while now including the tea tree nut scrub, skin support serum, patchouli grapefruit soap and patchouli moisturizer. I have battled acne for years, and finally made the jump to “green” products. I was noticing some immediate improvements in my skin as soon as I started using your stuff.

Lately however, I have been experiencing some bad breakouts again and areas of my face have become really dry. Am I doing something wrong, or using the right products?

Thanks!

Hey!! Thanks for contacting me. Sounds like the breakouts (based on the info you gave me) are likely because of two different things; Primarily, the dry skin you’re experiencing, and to a lesser extend, your skin detoxing – which can happen even when not using my detox specific products (I explain these types of breakouts in detail here). The skin support serum will be one of the main reasons for your dry skin if you’re using it a lot. Generally I don’t suggest using it on your face anymore than a few times a week. And even that is too much for some people. (On the days you’re not using it on your face, use it on another area of your body instead. More info can be found about this on the skin support serum product page at (shopbattysbath.com). For now, I would suggest not using it more than once a week (to kill excess p.acne bacteria) on your face until the dry skin is under control. To help get your skin balanced (and clear up the dry skin) as quickly as possible I would suggest the following:

Not using the skin support serum more than once a week (like mentioned above)
add the hydra healing gel into your routine in the AM & PM as soon as possible! (this will make a HUGE difference to getting your skin back on track and keeping it that way)
after applying one layer of patchouli moisturizer, wait for it to absorb, and they apply another layer
at night, I would HIGHLY recommend using a serum (not the skin support serum – it’s the only one of my serums that is drying – the rest are extremely moisturizing and protecting for the skin). Your best bet would be the Acne BOP Serum or After Acne Serum. Apply a layer that’s thick enough that it won’t absorb right away (so it will slowly absorb into your skin throughout the night). Just be sure to put a towel over your pillow!
once a day, instead of using the tea tree scrub or the patchouli & grapefruit facial soap, use one of my other cleansers that are more suited to dry skin like my soothing cleanser, green tea & pineapple liquid cleanser. If your skin needs to be exfoliated well with every wash(which I’m guessing is the case since you mentioned it’s extremely dry), go with the pineapple facial scrub. Without exfoliating extremely dry skin with every wash we risk breakouts (dead skin cells clogging pores). You can even use the pineapple facial scrub in the AM & PM and use the tea tree scrub or P/G soap every 3rd to 4th wash (alternating between the two). So the routine would look something like this:

Monday: AM & PM – pineapple facial scrub. Tuesday: AM – pineapple facial scrub, PM – tea tree scrub. Wednesday: AM & PM – pineapple facial scrub. Thursday: AM – pineapple facial scrub, PM – p/g soap. Friday: start the cycle over again with pineapple facial scrub in the AM & PM.

Several nights a week, you could use the cystic acne mask as it’s extremely hydrating (which will help balance your dry skin) and fights acne. It can also be used like the hydra healing gel under your moisturizer a few days or nights a week. I hope that helps! Thanks again for your email and please let me know if there’s anything else I can help with (or if you have any more questions regarding the info above, don’t hesitate to send them over).

Be Kind. Love deeply. Scrub gently.

Jul 25, 2014 | Categories: Be Informed, Helpful Articles, Skin Care, What's New | Tags: Acne, Detox, Green Living, Health, Heard Around the Bathtub, Skin Care, Skin Routines | Leave A Comment »

Weekly Recap ( July 14 – 20 )

Here’s this week’s photo recap! Check out what I’ve been up to (or have at least documented ) since the last recap post!

Pictures are displayed from the oldest to the most recent (dates are included in the description of the picture). If you’d prefer to see my picture updates as they are posted, follow my Instagram feed – that’s where I post these pictures during the week and then recap them here on the blog once a week. (To see previous photo recaps, check out the “My Week So Far” tag).

It’s the prefect evening for walking barefoot in the grass and a pretty sundress. (July 14)

Hey mom.. whatcha working on? (July 15)

Time to restock Skin Support Tea. (July 16)

My summer version of peanut butter and jam toast. (July 17)

Belly battery surgery complete. So far it hasn’t been successful though. May have to do a more complex surgery on Mr. Toad. (July 17)

Oops.. did I miss Tongues Out Tuesday this week? LOL! (July 19)

All set up and ready for our last Saturday at the Horton Farmers Market. (July 19)

The best part of my day? Wearing the babies! (July 19)

The extras…

Since I didn’t do the “extras” in the last recap post, I’ll be sharing what I’ve been into the past 2 weeks

I’m currently watching/listening to:

Watching….

The Shield – caught one more episode (I’m into the second season now)
Kyle XY – been watching the first and second season

What I’m reading (non-work related):

Maggie on the Bounty by Kate Danley – made some more headway (this is the 3rd book in the “maggie mckay – magical tracker” series).
The Other End of the Leash (why we do what we do around dogs) by Patricia B McConnell – so far an interesting read (that I’m pretty sure I’ve read before, but has been a good refresher).

Jul 23, 2014 | Categories: Batty's Life, Embracing Nature, Seasonal, Studio Updates | Tags: Behind the Scenes, Craft Shows, Events, Gardening, Green Living, My Week So Far, Small Business, Summer, What I Wore | Leave A Comment »

Customer Review: Tasha’s Take On BB Products

Thank you so much to Tasha Tupper for all the awesome product reviews she posted at ShopBattysBath.com! Check out what Tasha had to say below…

“I was a little skeptical when I first used this product, due to it being oily, but I’ve been using it for a week now and I can’t believe how amazing my skin looks. I went from going a few hours before my face was super oily, to being able to go all day at work without my face looking oily at all. ” – Tasha (balance serum)

“I’ve been using this product for about a week now and I absolutely love it. I put it on before bed and wake up with my skin feeling absolutely wonderful. I don’t know what I would do without it. ” – Tasha (hydra healing skin rescue gel)

“I’ve been using this cleanser for a week now and I love it! I don’t even need to use a full pump of it to clean my whole face; It smells amazing and my skin feels amazing! This is the only cleanser I will ever use from now on. ” – Tasha (green tea & pineapple liquid facial cleanser)

“I’ve been using this for a week and it is just amazing! Leaves my skin feeling super smooth and refreshed! Also, it smells soooooo good…I have been having a hard time not trying to eat it. Definite must have for everyone!” – Tasha (pineapple facial scrub)

“I’ve been using this product for over a year, and I am still in love with it. I have just purchased my second jar of this perfection, and I purchased my last one almost a year ago (which is saying a lot since I have used it almost every day). It is just the perfect amount of tint. I tend to use mine under the mineral foundation and my skin ends up looking absolutely flawless. ” – Tasha (quick tint antioxidant facial moisturizer)

“I’ve been using this product for about a week now, and I absolutely love it. I just dust a little on when I am finished my makeup in the morning, and my skin goes all day at work without looking oily. I just absolutely love it!” – Tasha (oil absorbing setting powder)

“Before I got this, I figured it was going to taste a little weird, but it tastes great (especially with a little organic honey). Not to mention, my skin looks and feels great all over, not just my face. ” – Tasha (skin support tea)

Thanks again Tasha! You rock!!!

If you’d like to read more reviews (or submit your own), head over to the online shop.

Jul 22, 2014 | Categories: Be Informed, Skin Care | Tags: Acne, Behind the Scenes, Heard Around the Bathtub, Mineral Makeup, Skin Care | Leave A Comment »

Batty’s Hair Dye How To (video)

In this video I answer (in length) the questions I get asked most about my hair! Mainly: what I use to dye my hair with, how I dye my hair, how I keep the color lasting so long (I only have to dye it when my roots come in!), and how I prevent damage. I go through all the steps I take to get fun, vibrant colors!

Product & Brand Info

DYE: I use Joico Vero K-PAK Color Intensity Semi-Permanent Hair Color which I order online from SleekHair.com (watch the video to find out how I get this semi-permanent dye to act like a permanent dye!)
BLEACH: Ion Color Brilliance Powder Lightener plus Salon Care 30 Volume Creme Developer, both of which I get from my local Sally Beauty Supply
MIX WITH BLEACH: Batty’s Bath Leave-in Conditioner
PROTECT SKIN WHILE DYING: Batty’s Bath Body & Lip Jelly
DAILY CARE: Batty’s Bath Shampoo, Batty’s Bath Conditioner, Batty’s Bath Leave-in Conditioner, Druide Thermo-Protector Hair Care Spray (After washing my hair and applying a little bit of Batty’s Bath Leave-in Conditioner, I mist a little bit of this spray on my hair before applying mousse), Suncoat Natural Hair Mousse, and Druide Alcohol Free Styling Hairspray.

P.S. If you want to see some of the colors my hair has been over the last couple of years, you’ll find pictures on my instagram account

Jul 21, 2014 | Categories: Batty's Life, Helpful Articles | Tags: Hair Care, question and answer, Videos | Leave A Comment »

Q&A: Bi-racial skin care recommendations for acne and scarring

Hello Batty-

I am just a bit overwhelmed with all the wonderful products you have. History about me; 46 years old, and I am bi-racial mixed with black and white (scar very easy). I get breakouts almost weekly. I scar with every breakout I get. I am looking for natural treatments to help get rid of breakouts and help clear up scarring. Besides the acne repair kit – what should I add to my routine? I was looking at hydra gel, bb cream, pineapple & green tea scrub… but just a bit unsure where the best place to start is. Since shipping is so expensive to the US, I really want to get the most bang for my buck

Thanks so much for your help!

Hey There,

Thanks for your email.
Here’s the routine I would suggest for your based on what you told me about your skin….

skin support tea (2x a day) – helps target internal causes of acne (see: Healing from the inside out)
AM & PM: hydra healing gel - mix this with your moisturizer every time you moisturize
In the AM = mix with primer / In the PM = mix with patchouli moisturizer OR after acne serum (I tell you when to use the serum below). Just mix a bit of gel with a bit of the moisturizer/serum in the palm of your hand and apply to your whole face
AM: facial primer moisturizer – if you wear making during the day, use the primer as your moisturizer (also mix it with the hydra healing gel). The primer will help reduce hyper-pigmentation (i.e. fade scars), so even if you don’t wear makeup, it’s a good idea to work it into your AM routine most days of the week. You mentioned the quick tint, and that’s totally find to use as well – It’s great moisturizer for your skin & age (it will help boost your skin’s ability to heal itself), but it won’t fade scars like the primer will over time. I have worked other scar fading elements into your routine, so if you prefer to go with the quick tint over the primer, that’s totally ok. Just mix the hydra healing gel with which every AM moisturizer you choose.
PM: patchouli facial moisturizer – in the PM will help prevent breakouts and heal up current ones after
PM: cystic acne mask - use this a couple times a week as a mask. Plus, several nights a week (not on the same nights you use it as a mask), mix it with your PM moisturizer (instead of the hydra healing gel)
quick stick acne fix – spot treatment for any new blemishes
AM: charcoal soap – as your AM cleanser
PM: pineapple facial scrub – as your PM cleanser (most nights)
skin support serum – use only 2 – 3 days (once a week) on your face (AM or PM – after cleansing and before applying moisturizer/gel mixture). The other days of the week you’ll be using it on another areas of your body. Use this on days when you’re not using the cystic acne mask (either as a mask or mixed in with your PM moisturizer). The days when you’re not using the skin support serum on your face, use it on another area of your body (so you continue to get the hormonal balancing benefits). See the skin support serum product page for more info
extra info: the cystic acne mask and the skin support serum help kill acne causing bacteria, so you want to use one of these products every day but not together in the same day since your skin is so sensitive, and we’re focusing on healing scars – which means we need to make sure we’re balancing the anti-bacterial component of your routine so we don’t slow down the progress of fading and preventing scars … focus on using the cystic acne mask MORE often than the skin support serum, but do be sure to get the skin support serum into your routine daily (just not on your face most days)
dry clay mask + aloe – use this 1 -2 days a week as a mask to reduce hyper-pigmentation and scaring
AM & PM: after acne mist – Before applying moisturizer/gel mixture
PM: after acne serum – 3 nights a week. Apply this after the mist, then mix a bit of the hydra gel with a bit of the serum and apply to your whole face. finish up with a thin layer of moisturizer.

Please also checkout the following resources….
Hormonal Acne? Tips for internal solutions
Skin Saving Smoothie Recipe + Nutrition for Skin Health
Vitamin Deficiency and Your Skin
My video on acne scars
Internal Causes: how to pin-point them with face mapping (+video)
What to do if you hit a plateau in your skin care journey

I hope that helps! Thanks again for your email

Jul 18, 2014 | Categories: Be Informed, Helpful Articles, Product How To's, Skin Care | Tags: Acne, Detox, eco friendly, Green Living, question and answer, Skin Care, Skin Routines | Leave A Comment »

Resource: Find your perfect cleanser and/or exfoliator (flowchart)

Take my quick quiz to find your perfect match! Nope, not you’re perfect match for a date on Friday night…. although this might help you get ready for one lol. This quiz narrows down your match made in cleansing heaven from my line of cleansers (including facial scrubs!).

So, if you’ve been wondering which Batty’s Bath cleanser/scrub would be the perfect fit for your skin, this is the resource for you!

Click the image for a larger view or click here for the PDF version

Jul 17, 2014 | Categories: Be Informed, Helpful Articles, Skin Care | Tags: Acne, Detox, Flowchart, Green Living, Skin Care, Skin Routines, Soap | Leave A Comment »

Weekly Recap (July 7 – 13)

Here’s this week’s photo recap! Check out what I’ve been up to (or have at least documented ) since the last recap post!

Natural skin care with charcoal detoxifying soap bar

My charcoal soap has been Batty’s Bath most popular handmade soap for several years now! I use it ever morning to wash my face and I’m thrilled that so many of you are loving (and using) it too! If you haven’t heard about my charcoal soap yet (and don’t know what all the fuss is about lol), here’s why it continues to be Batty’s Bath number one seller: This premium soap gets its beautiful black color from natural active charcoal! Why natural active charcoal? Charcoal has so many benefits including it’s ability to absorb into the pores on your skin and draw out the dirt and oils that are blocking the pores! Using our charcoal bar consistently on your face can reduce or eliminate acne, bumps and blackheads (especially when combined with our facial scrub and patchouli facial moisturizer)! Our charcoal soap is also a great body bar for an all over skin detox, as well as a wonderful soap for your hands as charcoal soap can help reduce pigmentation and make your hands look younger. (if you have redness, scars, or hyper pigmentation left over from past acne breakouts, the reduction of hyper pigmentation properties in this charcoal soap will help these symptoms too!) If that wasn’t enough, here’s a few more benefits: charcoal soap won’t dry out your skin, helps to fight odors (hello arm pits!), and my charcoal soap has shea butter added to soften & condition your skin! It’s also a big 5.5 oz bar that will last and last as cold press soap is harder than any glycerin soap bars! (P.s. my charcoal soap as well as the rest of my line can be found at shopbattysbath.com) (July 7th)

Naturally Prevent Stretch Marks During Pregnancy - Super Stretch Mark Prevention Whipped Balm

Super Stretch Mark Prevention Whipped Balm: Do you want some too? Recently I had a customer ask me what I’d suggest to prevent stretch marks during pregnancy. Along with the suggestions I sent along to the customer (see the routine below), I offered to make her a custom product packed with ingredients that prevent stretch marks! .. and not just any ingredients that help to prevent stretch marks… The ingredients I’ll use are known as nature’s best ingredients for preventing stretch marks! I rarely take on custom orders anymore but I figured there was a good chance that there would be a handful of Batty’s Bath customers that would like some of this stretch mark prevention whipped balm (or know someone who would). So, I decided to take pre-orders for the whipped balm while I wait for the ingredients to arrive. Now since this customer has been sensitive to even the slightest scents during her pregnancy, she requested a balm with the essential oils and a balm without. So, I’ll be making TWO varieties – one that will have the essential oils (and therefore have a light scent to it), and a batch without the essential oils (and therefore will have almost no scent – the only scent it will have is the natural aroma of the butters – rosehip oil has virtually no scent, and the butters are almost completely unscented as well). Head to ShopBattysBath.com for more info + pre-order (July 8th)

The veggies and such in the little garden are growing like crazy after all that rain at the beginning of the week. The peas are almost as tall as the sunflowers lol. (July 10th)

I think I’m in love with this tape. (July 10th)

Flashback to Jan 2013 when the whole gang was still together and visiting my parents. Oh if I only knew then how 2013 would go! P.s. How many doggies can you spot? Extra points if you can name each one of them lol (July 11th)

VIDEO: This is what happens when I take an extra long soak in the tub. Sassy girl, you are just so darn cute. (July 11th) – click here to see the video.

How fitting for a pre – market reading! (July 11th)

It’s that time again .. Horton Farmers Market! We’re here until noon. Come find us inside the market building. (July 12th) .. our last market day is July 19th!

Next week is our last week at the Horton Farmers Market! We’ll miss seeing everyone each week but any time we can slip away from the studio you’ll be sure to see us getting berries from the berry farm and cucumbers from Stan! (July 12th)

So apparently a cheeky vampire stopped by while I was sleeping last night along with his mosquito buddy. (July 13th)

This is all I want to eat lately. Besides the occasional plate of nachos lol. (Just right cereal with lots of berries and almond milk) (July 13th)

The extras…

Since I didn’t do the “extras” in the last recap post, I’ll be sharing what I’ve been into the past 2 weeks

I’m currently watching/listening to:

Watching….

The Shield – caught one more episode (I’m into the second season now)
Copper – finished watching what was available on netflix (2 seasons I believe)
Hemlock Grove - started watching the second season.

What I’m reading (non-work related):

Maggie on the Bounty by Kate Danley – made some more headway (this is the 3rd book in the “maggie mckay – magical tracker” series).
Cesar’s Way by Cesar Millan – finished. I had read this book in the past but it was a good refresher.