skin care guides

Can you remember an “Aha!” moment in your life?  It’s an expression we’ve all heard—Oprah’s definition is now officially in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as “A moment of sudden inspiration, insight, recognition or comprehension." Kari’s big Aha! Moment came when she discovered in her 20’s that she had autoimmune disorder. Fast forward to her 40’s, this diagnosis inspired her to create her own version of clean skincare. Aha! Kari Gran Skincare was born. She decided that her ideal formula would be totally “clean” skincare, without known toxic chemicals, parabens, phthalates, mineral oil, endocrine disrupting preservatives or synthetic fragrance. She focused on...

Here at Kari Gran, we're all about simplicity. That's why we're devotees of a streamlined, simple skincare routine that takes only a few minutes but delivers all the protection and pampering your skin craves.   What Is a Simple Skin Care Routine? We believe taking care of your skin should be enjoyable because that's what will encourage you to maintain a routine. We think using the fewest products to achieve maximum results is the way to go. In fact, Dr. Cybele Fishman, a dermatologist in New York City, believes: "I think people do too much to their skin and often...

Natural is one of our favorite words.  Sunscreen is another. Put the two together and you’ve got our idea of an essential skincare product, Natural Sunscreen.  We do our best to eat clean natural foods and we seek the same in skincare and beauty products. Sunscreen is no exception.  Using sunscreen every day is the easiest way to protect your skin from sun damage, early aging, and brown spots. Prevention is the best way to keep your skin looking young, healthy, and beautiful.  Go Broad-Spectrum So what exactly is broad-spectrum sunscreen? It protects skin from both types of ultraviolet radiation: UVA and UVB....

Here at Kari Gran Skincare, we believe skincare should be simple, luxurious, and effective. As stewards of your skin, we follow the Hippocratic Oath: first, do no harm. That’s the genuine reason why it’s taken us years to offer a solution in our range for exfoliation. Simply because we refused to settle for anything short of sustainable when it came to both our delicate facial skin and the planet. Introducing the Luxe Exfoliating Washcloth. Handmade by a small, local women-owned business, this European Linen and Italian Turkish Terry cloth is perfect for weekly use with the Kari Gran Cleansing Oil....

 So many similar words are bandied about when talking about skincare—clean, natural, organic, pure—it can make your head spin with confusion. If you've ever wondered: "are clean beauty products the same as natural beauty products?” you're not alone. The truth is there's a lot of overlap within these terms. Definitions can get tricky because there's no strict regulation or industry consensus around the claims of '"clean"' and "natural." This means each beauty brand can tout their products however they like, pretty much. Here at Kari Gran, we've spent a good dealt of time considering this question ourselves. And we've come...

By Contributing Writer, Michael Monicatti What’s the number one concern I’m met with when I speak to clients about their skin? Aging. And of course, it is. We’re all a little vain and we still care about how we show up in the world, even underneath our masks.  Although most of us, in time, learn to respect our fine lines, wrinkles, and sunspots for the laughter, wisdom, and years that have created them, we still strive to delay those signs of aging as long as we possibly can. Sourcing unheard-of, exotic ingredients and rattling off claims that seem too good...

At Kari Gran, we’ve always championed skincare that’s clean, gentle, and simple. Now, as we’re all doing our part to stop the spread of Covid-19 by wearing our masks, this approach is more appropriate than ever. Your skin’s working extra hard behind that mask to stay healthy—you can help it out by minimizing irritations and keeping it hydrated and moisturized. “Masks can increase the chance of breakouts, flare-ups, rashes, and skin irritation,” Aesthetician Rafaelle Longpré explains. “Masks just block everything.  That’s good because that’s what we need. But at the same time, our skin is our biggest organ, and it...

Last year, after attending a really interesting workshop about how the lymphatic system affects your skin, I met Paige Gayle of Samatva Skin, which I consider to be a very happy accident. I wanted to share the magic with you, so I asked her to write a blog to guide us through the importance of daily massage and a supplementary video (link at the end of the article).  _______________________________________________ An Evening Facial Cleanse by Paige Gayle Cleansing at the end of the day as part of your nightly routine can greatly impact your skin health. I hear the confession too many...

We hear you: having sensitive skin can be a challenge. The irritation and redness can be frustrating. The good news is, the more you understand how to treat your sensitive skin, the happier your skin —and you— will be. We suggest you try a little tenderness. WHY IS MY SKIN SO RED AND SENSITIVE? The short answer is inflammation.  According to NY dermatologist David Bank, “Chapping, rawness, and stinging are the body’s ways of sending out an SOS.  When skin becomes inflamed and irritated, it turns red because blood rushes to the site with oxygen and immune cells to fix...

I do love a good, healthy fat.  When coconut oil first came to market in a big way, I shelled out $20 for a very small jar and promptly took my new treasure with me on a trip.  As I traipsed through TSA, I found out they didn’t exactly agree with my rationale that it was a “solid” and asked what I did with it. I quickly replied “I eat it and I put it on my body! TSA was not persuaded and my jar of coconut goodness ended up in the trash. Even before I had dipped my toes...