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Keys Vanity Pro Makeup Artist Team Application

Keys Vanity Pro Makeup Artist Team

Keys Vanity Pro Team entitles the professional makeup artist to unique benefits, including product discounts and exclusive access to tips and techniques. …and the most exciting is a free membership in our Beta testing team where you will see new products and be able to test them before they are in production.

What You Get?

If you qualify for the program, you will receive a 40% product discount online at www.KeysPure.com and receive an industry insider newsletter sent out to your email on a periodic basis.

What We Get.

Our benefit is a discrete group of professionals that help guide us to develop better more effective products for you and consumers.

What Can You Do for Us?

Talk us up and get more makeup artists to signup for this program.  The more artists that are signed up, the more we can learn from you and your peers.  That is priceless for us.

DO YOU QUALIFY? 

The Pro requirements are as follows:

  • Completed application with credentials

AND

  • Two pieces of professional makeup artist criteria uploaded within the application form. (valid within the past 2 years):
    • Composite Card
    • Business card with name and specific Makeup Artist profession
    • Editorial page with name credit
    • Union card
    • Professional valid license
    • Crew Call list on production company letterhead
    • Reference letter from employer or director

So, When You Are Ready…Here is the Application

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InfoGram™ – New Keys ‘Quick-Reads’ Mini-Blog

In keeping with the times, we created a new area of Clean Green Cafe blog for quick informational bites. Infograms™ is focused on helping you understand our product applications. Infograms will offer tips and tricks as well as educational information. We will bring you industry news and our perspective on various important subjects. Clean Green Cafe will continue to have in-depth content while Infograms will be quick short bits of information. Often there will be crossover content where Infograms will link to a larger more profound article on the Clean Green Cafe Side.

An InfoGram is a bit like Twitter with a few exceptions.

  • Like Twitter the messages are short and to the point.
  • They are quick reads at mostly under one minute and never more than two minutes
  • Messages are straightforward.
  • No flowery words our comments that are up in the air.
  • You can choose to subscribe to Infograms separately from Clean Green Cafe for quick bites.
  • Infograms a frank and friendly…you know where we stand

Important to note is that the InfoGram blog is independent of Clean Green Cafe. That means that you need to subscribe to Infograms knowing that there will be more, but shorter content coming your way in the form of emails. We invite you to click on the links in emails to get to the main article, but please know that 100% of the content of the Infogram will be in the body of the email you receive. So, it is essential to subscribe so that you do not have to bookmark Inforgram to read the content.

Hope this makes sense, but, you need to subscribe to Infograms on the Infogram site at this link to get more frequent short information content

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Keys Tortuga Exfoliates, Moisturizes and Removes Makeup

Keys Tortuga To Exfoliate The Skin and More

In the 1950’s virtually every woman owned a jar of Pond’s Cold Cream.  They removed makeup, washed their face, moisturized and exfoliated with it.  The problem was that it was full of chemicals and today’s natural woman wants something safer and healthier.  Keys Tortuga to the rescue!

Tortuga Exfoliates

The petrochemicals in cold creams simply dissolved dead skin.  Many women today use salt and sugar scrubs to exfoliate.  Yes, they make the skin feel smoother, but like sandpaper, they can damage the alive part of the skin.   With Keys Tortuga, the avocado oil we use contains natural retinol’s that will nicely exfoliate the skin, moisturize it and leave it clean and fresh without a sub or harsh soap.

The process is simple.  Just wet your face with warm clear water.   Take a pea size dollop of Tortuga and begin to massage it into the skin.  You can start with the forehead and work down adding more Tortuga creating a light coat.  Then start where you began and massage with your fingers.  You will notice that the skin begins to slough off.  If needed, add more Tortuga.   When you have completed the process, since your face with cool clear water and pat dry.  You’re done!

Tortuga Removes Makeup

Even stage makeup is no match to Keys Tortuga.  For years stage and screen actors have used Tortuga to remove stubborn and waterproof makeup.   They spread Tortuga thinly all over their face and use a tissue or washcloth to remove makeup.  Using more Tortuga for a hard area, they remove all the makeup and then rinse with cool clear water and pat dry.

Tortuga As A Moisturizer

Like exfoliation, you can wet the face and lightly massage Tortuga into the skin.  Keep the face wet and lightly massage Tortuga on the face, neck and décolletage.   Let the thin and water air dry.  You want a very thin layer and let it dry.   Why it is a preferred moisturizing method is because you are trapping moisture from the water in the skin.  Also, the natural retinol in avocado oil helps smooth and fade spots and dark patches.  Carrot seed oil and black seed oils deep moisturize and have an effect on skin elasticity.   The idea is to really dilute the Keys Tortuga using the water.

That’s It!

Last point.  In all cases, you can use Keys Tortuga around the eyes and it will not burn or cause tearing.  It does everything that cold cream does and better because it has no harsh chemicals and the ingredients are probiomme…meaning good for the skin health.

Click Here to Buy Tortuga

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Tips – Thinning Lotions

Keys TipsThinning Keys Lotions

We get lots of questions on our customer service system.  This week the dominant question has to do with thinning Keys lotions in cold weather.  We generally get very unique questions which is why we don’t have a FAQ page.  We answer each question individually.  Sometime we do get a burst of questions that are similar.  In the future, as we receive similar questions we will post them here as well.

Over the last couple of weeks we have had a number of questions regarding the viscosity (thinning) of some of our lotions.

We think the question is coming up because of cold weather around the country.  So, first thing, Keys does not use glycols in our products.  Glycols keep a product viscosity consistent over a wide range of temperatures.  Thinning can be done by raising the temperature or adding water.

Most of the question circle around how to go about thinning our lotions.  Some request us to make a thinner lotion.  Thinning our products in the manufacturing process lessen the quality, so we won’t do that.

There are some tricks that include heating the bottle to around 90 degrees F.  Some people place the bottle near a window to catch some sunlight.  Add water as you apply to thin the lotion.  As the water evaporates on the skin, the lotion will be more even on the skin and deeper in the pores.

The reality is that if we made our lotions by thinning, we would lose some of the emollience.

So here are the tricks:

  • Heat the lotion to nearly skin temperature which is typically 90 degrees F
  • Put a drop of a lotion in the palm of your hand and add a few drops of water.  Be your own judge of how much water to add.
  • Apply lotions to a wet face after washing.  Again, the lotion will thin and go into the pores.  Allow your face to air dry.

Do not use these tricks with Solar Rx Sunscreen/Moisturizer as thinning it will reduce the efficacy on the SPF.

Keys does not use preservatives and all of our lotions are water soluble.  Do not dilute the lotion in the bottle as you may expose the contents to airborne bacteria.

Hope this helps!

Mickey

If you would like to purchase our lotions you can go to our store by clicking here.

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SmallFlower Interviews Bob Root, Keys Scientist & Founder About Probiome

Smallflower Chats with Bob Root of Keys Natural Skincare & Beauty (Probiome)

Keys Natural Skincare & Beauty (Probiome) was born after co-founder Wendy Steele was diagnosed with and beat melanoma. The cancer was gone, but she was still dealing with some nasty side effects on her skin – itchy, irritated patches that were just made worse by sticky sunscreens. Her then-boyfriend (now husband) Bob Root decided to take matters into his own hands and researched the work of everyone from Harvard MDs to aboriginal healers.

The products that Bob developed for Wendy worked great for her, so together they decided to start manufacturing for the public. We sat down with Bob to discuss their products, how the company got started, and his best advice for people looking to switch to natural skincare.

Smallflower: The Keys story starts with Wendy’s bout with Melanoma and her struggles with ineffective treatments for the subsequent skin troubles. As you were first working on products with Wendy, when did you realize that you were on to something bigger than a one-off personal solution?

Bob Root: Wendy’s Melanoma came at a time where our core business was brand marketing consulting for major tech and pharmaceutical companies.  I shared prototype products with the pharma people and they encouraged us to develop the first four products.  We sold online only, and the big break came in 2007 when Consumer Reports Magazine ranked Solar Rx number one in its category.

probiome

At the same time, the Environmental Working Group ranked Keys’ four products number one in each of their respective categories.  Now at 43 products, we continue to have the safest ratings on the EWG.  This series of events caught the attention of over 500 retailers which increased the brand awareness.  Over the years, we’ve continued to work with integrity, avoiding high-volume big-box store lures.

“Probiome is a Keys-registered trademark for products that restore the balance on the skin by creating formulations that promote good bacteria growth on the skin”

S: Can you briefly describe the Probiome line and name, where the idea came from, and where you think probiotic and microbiome-friendly products are going to go over the next few years?

BR: Ten years ago, I became a part of the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Microbiome Project.  The project discovered that our skin has 10 times more bacteria than human skin cells. Creating a balance is what Probiome means.

Parabens and Triclosan destroy good and bad bacteria collaterally.  This imbalance allows bad bacteria to attack the skin.  I firmly believe that greater than 50 percent of diagnosed skin disorders are caused by products containing parabens and triclosan.Probiome is our registered trademark for products that restore the balance on the skin.  We do this with formulations that promote good bacteria growth on the skin, similarly to how probiotics restore the flora in the gut. The difference is that gut flora can be promoted by adding breeder bacteria.  Skin needs an environment that attracts natural growth of the skin flora.

Natural instead of conventional is a good first step.  Natural oils that promote growth is the real answer.  Our products are the real deal, because they use the right ingredients of the highest quality and in therapeutic proportions.

S: For someone who is new to natural skincare products, what’s the single best piece of advice you can give them?

BR: Read the label – if you can’t recognize the names of the ingredients, don’t buy it. Find a manufacturer that you trust implicitly.

Also, vote with your wallet.  It will change the world faster than donating to Non-Governmental Organizations.  Manufacturers follow the money.

S: If there was one currently popular skincare ingredient you could get banned, what would it be and why?

BR: Parabens!  FDA recently banned Triclosan.  To brag a little bit, my book helped a lot to polarize the FDA.

S: Are there any upcoming projects you’re excited about, that you can give us some hints about?

BR: Our Alternative Naturals line has very deep potential.  Basically, the initial challenge was to replace petroleum jelly with a jelled avocado oil for the astronauts on the International Space Station (ISS).

probiome

It blossomed into a series of products that offer a non-petroleum jelly carrier for solution-oriented products.  So we will continue to replace the top ten used solution-oriented products that have petrolatum as its carrier with AvoJel.

Another hot project is bio-based 3D printing of skin cells as a catalyst for age-reversing skin repair.  It’s really out there, but it’s where I’m headed.  It’s more than anti-aging, it’s un-aging.

S: What’s one Keys product that nobody should be without?

BR: For anti-aging, Solar Rx. We use no chemical sunscreens, only pure uncoated zinc oxide in a natural lotion base. Solar Rx is for those who want to avoid the extreme aging effects of UVA and UVB on a daily basis.


This is a reprint of the Small Flower article.  You can Click Here to go to their site.

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Congrats America! You Did It. You Voted With Your Wallets

You Voted With Your Wallets!  Natural Products Are Mainstream in Grocery Stores.

In my book, “Chemical-Free Skin Health®” I suggested that the fastest and best way to bring about change in Natural Products was to buy products that were pure and clean. Voting with your wallets. Boycotting the junk also sent a huge message.  Well, you did it.  The result is that not only have you put natural products front and center on store shelves, but you have convinced major brands to return to their roots by offering natural wholesome and clean products.

walletsI recently read a draft report by a research firm that specializes in retail store trends.  They noted in a recent study that many mainline brands like Campbell soup have initiated and brought out new natural brands that are simple and wholesome alternatives.  Campbell’s “Well YES” brand was singled out as an example of how many brands have shifted back to simple foods.  Same was noted for personal care.

walletsI decided to do something totally out of character.  I went to a Kroger Fred Meyers store in Newport Oregon and just walked the aisles.  This store has a natural products section, but it was very apparent that all the food aisles were focused on natural products.  As a point of reference, when a retailer puts products at eye level and easy to grab, that is what is called “First Position” meaning that it is priority.  Walking the soup aisle, Amy’s and Campbell Well Yes were front and center.  The jam and peanut butter section was even more noticeable.  Traditional brands like Skippy were bottom shelf with Jason’s, Smucker’s Natural and other pure brands were front and center.  The rest of the store was the same as was the conventional health and beauty aisles.

So, you did it.  You voted with your wallets and sent a message to the manufacturers that you wanted a change and they responded.  Good on you and good on them for listening.

I must also say that I hope you have learned a lesson that your voice works, but a voice that speaks directly to those that can make a change.  The manufacturers!  Stop wasting your money by donating to those that claim to be trying to change the government to protect us all from the evils of bad manufacturers.  Keep your dollars in your wallets and spend them on products that are good for you.  Trust me, funky questionable products that sit on the shelf get discontinued quickly by retailers that see them gathering dust.  Those manufacturers that get their products returned because no one is buying them speaks volumes.  Always, always, Vote With Your Wallets.  It works every time.

walletsWhen we started 15 years ago, Keys promoted natural functional products that solved problems and make people feel good.  We said, “and by the way, they are natural.”  Today we still market the features, benefits and advantages of our natural products.  Because of the natural products food movement, we now have a huge following by people wanting to solve their skin disorders with natural products.  We are celebrating the turnaround…or really the return to natural.

I guess a simple message is that the P&G’s of the world are really not so bad.  They just follow the money.  If you ask for junk, that’s what you get.  If you ask for good, that’s what you get.

So leave your money in your wallets.  Spend it wisely on products that you know what is in the container.

Congrats!  You just learned how powerful you and your wallets can be.

Bob

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Wendy’s Daily Keys Anti-Aging Regimen

Wendy’s Regimen – Easy Steps for Simplifying Your Daily Skin Care Routine

Wendy's Regimen
Wendy Steele, Keys CEO & Founder

You don’t have to be expert with an overflowing cabinet of miracle products to take good daily care of your skin. More specifically, when caring for your face it is much more desirable to keep it simple. Besides that you are more likely to be consistent with your facial care if you follow a few easy steps.

Consistency is the key to looking and feeling healthy and refreshed! For the past 5 years I continue to use this basic routine on my sensitive face with great results.

Here is what you will need for this step-by-step daily morning routine: Wendy’s Regimen

  • Island Rx Foaming Facial Cleanser
  • OMNI Skin Elixir Spray
  • Reflex ProBiome Anti-Aging Serum
  • Solar Rx Moisturizer SPF30+

Start with a clean face.   Wet your face and use 1-2 pumps of Island Rx Foaming Facial Cleanser.   Apply foam to wet skin. Using fingers, massage foam over face. Rinse thoroughly and lightly pat dry. Island Rx Foaming Facial Cleanser provides a deep and very gentle cleansing.

Follow with a light spritz (2-3 sprays) of OMNI Skin Elixir Spray. The multi-faceted botanical skin elixir is an herbal remedy. It is designed to refresh and soothe the skin.

While skin is still damp from spray, apply 3-5 drops of Reflex ProBiome Anti-Aging Serum. My sensitive facial skin sometimes requires more or less Reflex. Your skin type may vary. It also depends on the amount of dryness or humidity in your environment. Allow Reflex Serum to settle on your face and neck until absorbed. The combination of OMNI and Reflex Serum do a great job of soothing my skin while giving it a refreshed dewy look.

Finally, apply 1-3 pumps of Solar Rx Moisturizer SPF 30+ all over face and neck. I like that Reflex Serum provides a very smooth base for Solar Rx as my pre-makeup primer.

Besides the simplicity of these steps, using these products together reduces the redness in my skin. All provide a smooth clear foundation to start the day.

If you are going to apply make-up, it should be applied after Solar Rx Moisturizer SPF 30+

Wendy’s Regimen Recipe (Print or Save)

Wendy’s Daily Keys Anti-Aging Regimen
Recipe Type: Daytime Daily Anti-Aging Regimen
Author: Wendy Steele, Keys CEO
Prep time:
Total time:
This has been my daily recipe for youthful skin for the last five years.
Ingredients
  • Water
  • Keys Island Rx Foaming Face Wash
  • Keys Omni Skin Elixir Spray
  • Keys Reflex ProBiome
  • Keys Solar Rx Moisturizer SPF30+
Instructions
  1. Wet your face
  2. Apply 1 or 2 pumps of Island Rx Foaming Wash
  3. Lather in hands
  4. Wash face using fingers in a circular motion
  5. Rinse with cool water
  6. Pat dry
  7. Spray Omni evenly over the face and neck with eyes closed. Air dry
  8. Apply 3 or 5 drops of Reflex and spread evenly over the skin. More in dry areas. Let set to absorb
  9. Apply 2 or 3 pumps of Solar Rx over the entire face and neck (more as needed) evenly. Let stand.
  10. Apply makeup on top noting that many people do not use foundation because Solar Rx provides a luminescent finish

Buy all four products and get 10% off your entire order by using the code WENDY (case sensitive) at checkout!  Offer expires June 30, 2017

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Solar Rx Daily Sunscreen – Anti-Aging, Sun Protection, BB Cream and More!

Solar Rx Anti-Aging and More!

BW_wideBob Root, Keys Technologist

When Wendy Steele asked me to develop a sunscreen for her after beating Melanoma, she needed UVA and UVB blocking.  What she wanted was a cosmetically clear anti-aging moisturizer that would prevent aging.  The product, Solar Rx was heralded as innovative with design awards, product of the year and acknowledgement by the EWG and Consumer Reports Magazine.  It is much more then a moisturizer and sun protection. It is a simple and inexpensive anti-aging tool.

“If you are age 10 to 80+, wearing a sunscreen everyday will protect you from skin cancer.  What you might not know is that our Solar Rx is the number one anti-aging tool in your arsenal.”, Wendy Steele Keys founder and CEO

Today, you mostly see products that do just one thing.  There are sunscreens, anti-aging creams, rosacea treatments, BB creams, foundations, moisturizers and anti-redness products.  Keys Solar Rx is all these in one product.  If simplicity and saving money is interesting to you, I will explain the what’s, why’s and how Solar Rx does all these things and more.

What, Why & How!

Solar-Rx-cap-off-800pxBelow is a list of what you can expect from Solar Rx.   Important is that Solar Rx is in a special category acknowledged by the US Food & Drug Administration and The Environmental Working Group Skin Deep database and Sunscreen Report.  The category is Moisturizer with Sunscreen which fits more into the skincare and beauty market then sunscreens.  Still, it has to undergo the same rigors as “go to beach” sunscreens.  The simple fundamental difference is that moisturizers with sunscreen are water soluble and not designed to be used in direct sun white exercising, swimming or perspiring.  Why make it then….

Solar Rx does much more then sunscreens and often repairs damage from chemical sunscreens.  If you understand the features, benefits and advantages of any product, you can make informed decisions.  Solar Rx is much more then just a anti-aging moisturizer with sun protection.

So here goes:

Solar Rx the Anti-Aging Moisturizer

blog-avoThe base lotion of Solar Rx is Keys Luminos intense moisturizer.  It is made from pure virgin avocado oil, black seed oil and carrot seed oil with Shea butter from Ghana and our own freeze dried aloe vera.  There is very little water in the product so it is very concentrated.  There is more concentration of oil in one Solar Rx bottle then is a half-gallon of big-box-store lotions.  Plus, there are no chemicals like PEG, glycols or parabens.  This alone makes Solar Rx more economical because you only need a little to get the moisturizing benefits.

Solar Rx the UV Anti-Aging Protection

There are three forms of measured UV.  UVA, UVB and UVC.  UVC is rare, so we will not talk about it other then to say, that there are artificial sources of UVC like exotic metal welders experience and they use Solar Rx because it works.

For the rest of us, UVA and UVB rays cause burning and skin cancer.  The FDA requires us to use language that talks about this for a reason.  It is because the evidence says that skin cancer comes from overexposure to UV radiation with the emphasis on the word radiation.

Solar Rx the Anti-Aging Innovation

4Think of UVB rays as the burning rays because that is what happens.  UVA are the aging rays because the deep penetrating UVA rays break down the fundamental building block of youthful skin…collagen. These springy components deep in the skin is what makes our young skin look youthful and clear.

UVA radiation takes a lifetime to show its damage, but at about the age of 10, it starts working to destroy our skins collagen and other components.  What we notice is that wrinkles start appearing at about age 15 and sooner for sports and athletic people.  At about 25, people start to notice that they look tired because of fine lines and some sagging.  At 35, we feel older because we look older.  Tanning freaks look 45 at 35 because the collagen is almost unrepairable because of UVA damage.  It gets worse as we get older and older.  Just look around and compare.

UVA is often talked about as the burning and tanning rays.  These rays cause the brown spots, discoloration and weird patches that seem to sneak up on us around 40.  Weird looking discolored and tired skin come from these UVB rays

Skin Layers
Skin Layers

Solar Rx prevents both UVA and UVB damage by blocking these rays using spherical zinc oxide particles.  It block them unlike chemical sunscreen that convert UVA and UVB into heat deep in skin tissue.  Simplicity is understated because Solar Rx uses just Zinc Oxide where chemical sunscreens have to use multiple types of chemicals to achieve similar protection

Solar Rx the Skin Clearing & Brightener Innovation

Above we are talking about how zinc oxide protects from UVA and UVB damage as an anti-aging secret.  Did you know that uncoated zinc oxide like the type used in Solar Rx will help fade sun spots, brown spots, weird patches and discoloration.  Further, the natural whole avocado oil that we use has natural fading properties which work with the uncoated zinc oxide to fade these discolorations.  Yes, it take time, but it is not harsh like chemical whiteners and you do not have the additional cost of another product.  It works slowly everyday to clear the skin.  If you are observant, you will see changes in two weeks that become noticeable to friend in just a few months.  Anti-aging is not just keeping the skin from getting leathery, it is making sure that it is clear and even.  No Spots! Really!

You would pay over $100 for the products that would do just these three things!

Solar Rx the Anti-Redness Innovation

skin bacteriaInflammation equal redness on the skin.  Redness often comes from skin treatments that burn and chemically peel the skin…inflammation.  Redness comes from exposure to wind and the sun…inflammation.  Redness comes from products that contain dirty dozen and the dirty 30 chemicals…inflammation.  Redness comes from bacteria that is overpopulated on the skin because of antibacterial agents like parabens and triclosan.  parabens are in 95%+ of skincare products.  I think you get it.  No inflammation is anti-aging.  Solar Rx uses uncoated zinc oxide which renowned for reducing inflammation aka redness

Solar Rx the Rosacea Innovation

Rosacea seem to be a big mystery to doctors.  Probably because it is cosmetic and not exciting to them.  To those that suffer from the redness, blotchiness and irritation caused by rosacea, it is a very real problem.  Solar Rx customers have told us for the last ten years that it helps and even eliminates the redness.  We suspect that the majority of rosacea is redness caused by overgrowth of unfriendly bacteria affecting the skins’ microbiome.  Simplified, most rosacea treatments use uncoated zinc oxide like what we use in Solar Rx.  Simple!

Solar Rx the BB Cream

Luminos_LeftAnti-aging is coverage as much as it is therapeutic. We started working with makeup artist over 14 years ago using Solar Rx as a beauty balm that fills imperfections.  Simply, the uncoated zinc oxide is a microfine particle that fill in pores and fine lines.  The zinc is a filler and mixed with the Luminos base lotion and moisturizer acts like a beauty balm and filler combined.  Solar Rx works better then most of the beauty balms on the market because the particles are spherical instead of jagged and they are uniform size.

Just as a note, BB Creams sell for up to $135 for 1.7 ounces at Sephora.  Solar Rx is $26.95 for 3.4 ounces.  As a personal note, one of the things I miss about the high tech industry is the magazine shootouts that compare one product against another based on performance.  Can you imagine if the skincare and beauty industry had to undergo shootouts.  I ready!

Solar Rx the Clear Foundation

Much of how Solar Rx works to help with fine lines is that it is a world-class moisturizer and the zinc oxide particles fill.  Imagine that Solar Rx also accomplishes this be the shape of the zinc oxide particle transmitting and diffusing light.  A very famous Hollywood makeup artist once told me that our wrinkles and fine lines are not the problem, it is the shadows they create that amplify them.  I thought about this from an optical physics standpoint many years ago and realized that the shape of the Solar Rx spherical particles created an optical illusion reducing shadows on the skin.  These little lenses help mute variations on the skin and also transmit texture, color and illumination giving the skin a glowing soft focus effect that is not just visible to the high definition cameras, but the naked eye.  This is so true that if you apply Solar Rx to just half of your face, you will see the difference in the mirror.  Apply it to the neck and it will actually provide fill light for under the chin… a super secret Hollywood lighting technique.

Products from Makeup Forever® and others do a similar job at nearly $100.  The effect comes for free with Solar Rx

Solar Rx Instead of $300

All toll, if you were to purchase separate products based on what Solar Rx does, it would cost you somewhere north of $300.  If you like the simplicity of one product and the low cost of $26.95, then Solar Rx is the answer.

Beauty cream, sun protection, redness prevention, moisturizer etc. in one product

Try it and if I am wrong, we will refund your purchase.

To buy Solar Rx, click the buy button below

Anti-Aging

To learn more, you can buy Bob Root’s book, Chemical Free Skin Health by below.

bobs-book-badge

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Solar Rx – Top Ranked by EWG 2016 Sunscreen Report

Solar Rx Top Ranked Ten Years

by Wendy Steele, Keys CEO

srx-maskedI am always please to be ranked in the safest and most efficacious category for our products.  Solar Rx has been ranked by the EWG 2016 Sunscreen Report top in the “Moisturizer with Sunscreen group.  It has been at the top of the list since it was introduced over ten years ago.   We have made some improvements making it a primary moisturizer with SPF for thousands of people for everyday use.  Solar Rx has been in numerous movies, TV shows and commercials because of its luminescent properties that optically smooth the skin while also providing deep natural chemical-free moisture.

Solar Rx is completely and fully all-natural, vegan, gluten-free and free of man-made chemicals.  Punta!

Double Down On Anti-Aging

Solar Rx provides such good anti-aging for the skin in two distinct ways.  The UVB (burning) rays and the UVA (aging) are physically blocked by our spherical OptiFX® zinc oxide particle.  UV radiation is the number one cause of aging around the world.  Protecting your skin from UV is the #1 thing that you can do to never look your age.  Secondly, Solar Rx is a huge anti-aging product because it uses our Luminos™ Moisturizer as its base lotion.  The lotion is made with vegan oil and homogenized into a ultra smooth lotion.  Pharma grade avocado, carrot seed and black seed oil are blended with wild crafted Ghana Shea Butter to provide deep moisturizing.

No Pilling Under Makeup

Solar Rx OptiFX® Zinc Oxide particles are blended to provide the maximum UV protection.  They are spherical by design making them transparent to visible light while opaque to invisible UVA, UVB and UVC rays.  This means maximum protection with no white or blue cast.  Many makeup artists use it as a base foundation to layer makeup on top.  The fact that it has no silicone makes it play very well with both water and oil based makeup.

Solar Rx is Not for the Beach

What makes Solar Rx a great moisturizer providing everyday SPF protection is that it is water soluble.  It provides deep moisturizing  because of this design.  So, it works everyday and all day as long as you do not perspire.  It is not designed for Go To Beach, swimming or sports use.  And, no we do not make a regular sunscreen.

Cover Up! Stop Melanoma!

Solar Rx
Wendy wearing a SunBody Hat and Columbia Omni-Shade® Clothing

The reason we do not make a active life sunscreen is because as I am a Melanoma survivor.  19 years now free from skin cancer.  Some people consider me an expert in skin cancer prevention.  I am adamant that sunscreens give a false sense of protection.  I subscribe to wearing big brim UPF rated hat, UPF rated sun clothing and UVA rated sunglasses.  Only exposed skin should wear sunscreen.  Avoidance of peak sun hours will protect you from over exposure to UV and make you younger looking.  “Brown leather is out!  Skin that is!  So, it is time to get wise and avoid the sun.  Make your own shade!”  I say!

My personal favorites are SunBody Hats and Columbia Sportswear OmniShade® clothing.  I do have various brands of UVA rated sunglasses with Oakley being my long time loyal favorites.  When I started looking for sun clothing after my Melanoma surgery, it was hard to find anything to wear.  I started with Sun Precautions and Oakley. THEY WERE IT!  I now love love love my Columbia Omni-Shade® because they are stylish, cool and come in a wide range of colors.  My SunBody hats are as chic as a big sun hat can get.  I have tested them to over 100UPF.  I love them also because they have stampede straps for high wind situations.

To read more about sun protection and anti-aging, read an article I wrote Here

Solar Rx is available both in a 100ml airless container and in sealed foil packets.  It is the top selling Keys product.

To learn more about Keys “Clear Cosmetics,” Click Here

Click the Buy Button to go to our online store.  Solar Rx is available at natural markets, naturopathic MD’s, functional medicine MD’s and apothecaries.

Buy Solar Rx

Keys--Solar-Rx-banner

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Keys Tortuga Lotion for Vaginal Dryness & Menopausal Symptoms

Keys Tortuga Lotion for Vaginal Dryness

 

Wendy Steele

Keys CEO

We get a lot of questions on our Keys Customer Service system. Among the top questions are about wendy_hat_dipdealing with the symptoms of menopause. Recently, we have had a very large number of women reaching out to us and asking about using our Tortuga lotion for vaginal dryness and using Tortuga as a personal lubricant.

This is a touchy subject, but not for the reasons you might expect.

First, we have many women that use Tortuga and Luminos for vaginal dryness. Our customers tell us that not only do they reduce dryness, but that pain during intercourse is virtually eliminated. I will get into the details in a bit, but it is important to understand that we do not use preservatives and my recommendation is if you use either Tortuga or Luminos for vaginal dryness, that you refrigerate it to maintain the integrity of the product for this use. Of course warming is recommended before use.

Menopausal Dryness

Vaginal dryness is a symptom of menopause. It is also a common disorder among women of all ages and can make every day life and sexual connection difficult. Stress, diet & chemicals in products can also be a mitigating cause of the dryness, so it is important to try to search for the cause of the dryness. As remarkable as it may seem, laundry detergent that uses sulfates, vaginal products that contain glycols (PEG’s), parabens (bactericide preservatives) and dimethicone (silicone lubricants) are probably exacerbating the problem. It is important to gather all of the products that you use in or near the vagina and determine what is in them to assure that they are as natural as possible. The rules here are as follows:

  • If there are no ingredients on the product label, do not use it.
  • If you cannot pronounce the ingredient, research it to find out what it is before using it.
  • Make sure that you trust the company to list all the ingredients and that they do not have constituent ingredients added secretly.  Hard to do I know, but those hidden chemicals could be the problem

It gets more complicated and therefore adopting a “simpler is better” philosophy is better.  Meaning, you might want to DIY anything that you use in your private areas.  You would be amazed at how many women have found relief by eliminating commercial products alone.

Hormonal disruption is another thing to consider.  By no means am I a hormonal disruption expert.  I am a strong studier of the subject and many organizations like the Environmental Working Group (EWG), Safe Cosmetics and many holistic health organizations attribute sexual disfunction to many chemicals like phthalates in products used in an on the body.  Yes, these chemicals that are used in perfumes and fragrance are linked to premature menopause and symptoms like vaginal dryness.   Please, do not take my word for this.  Google and research!

So, there is a link to chemicals and vaginal dryness.  Equally, chemicals like propylene glycol (PEG’s) are also known to promote a need to reapply frequently causing more drying effects while trying to stop the problem.  So imagine that the more you apply of a product containing glycols (PEG’s) that the dryer you get and the more you need to reapply.  Not a good cycle to get into.  Those of you that have used products containing glycols either know what I am talking about or now understand why they feel the way they do.  No good!

Tortuga As A Personal Lubricant?

Keys Tortuga Lotion
Click To Visit Tortuga Lotion Page

I have a close girlfriend who has struggled with vaginal dryness since her thirties.  It became worse when she started to lose her hormones and began menopause.  This myth that life is better after menopause is debatable and different for every woman.  It certainly was not better for her.  Tortuga for her was a very good solution because I knew what is in it.  So, when I asked her to try Tortuga versus the synthetic personal lubricant she was using, she agreed.  The marketing hype of some personal lubricants caused her to read the labels, so it was an easy sell.  The lure of enhanced pleasure and increased sexuality was quickly dispelled after reading these labels.  Admittedly, most had no ingredients listed which caused me to worry for her.  I know what naive manufacturers use in skin care and I know that most of the ingredients would be the same in the personal lubricant category.  When I did find a company that listed their ingredients I was horror struck that they really expected anyone to use that stuff inside.

Again, many of our customers use Tortuga as a personal lubricant and find it sensational.  I do recommend, because there are no preservatives, that you refrigerate it and if you have any reaction at all, stop.  Use something else that is natural avoiding some ingredients like coconut oil or EVOO (olive oil) as they can be harsh and aggressive.

Okay, here I get to preach a bit and alert you that there are alternatives to post menopausal problems.  Yes, diet is important and using chemical-free products are of equal importance, but lets just get real.  There is one major thing that you can do that I did a few years ago.  Go BHRT!

Bioidentical Hormone Replacement Therapy (BHRT)

Dear Suzanne Somers, Thank you, thank you, thank you for introducing me to Dr. Jonathan Wright!  Dr. Wright you know I think you walk on water and talk to the gods!  Thank you for all my friends that you have helped with your knowledge and expertise!  Wendy

In a number of Suzanne Somers books, she talks about the benefits of BHRT for both men and women as they age.  Dr. Wright says that we should start to pay attention to our hormone levels as early as our mid-thirties.  Simple testing sets the levels and the most youth preserving thing we can do is to maintain our hormone levels.  I got wise in my early 50’s I was tired of experiencing brain fog, tiredness and feeling cold.  Yes, using Tortuga Lotion combats the dryness, but as good as Tortuga is, it cannot take care of all the other symptoms of post menopause.

Dr. Wright's Tahoma Clinic
• • • • • Click to Visit • • • • •

Suzanne’s suggestion to visit Jonathan Wright was more about wellness than dealing with problems. I had read all his work on thyroid and nutritional anti-aging, but my interest was in taking charge of my well-being.  When I learned about Dr. Jonathan Wright’s work with BHRT, I was at his Tahoma Clinic in a flash.  Okay, I am a Cancerian and all Cancerian’s know that we experiment with everything from diet to what goes on our bodies.  Before my appointment, I read everything that Jonathan Wright wrote about BHRT and I was convinced before starting out on BHRT that it was the right thing for me.  Just let me say that it was the best investment I made on myself in my entire life.  I am feeling pre-40 again!  My husband says I look 40 again!  Enough said?

Here is a link to a video that you should watch to form your own opinions.  Dr. Jonathan Wright on BHRT

Finally!

The cause of any problem is always what we should hunt for and not just solutions to symptoms.  My friend who has always struggled with vaginal dryness went on BHRT as well.  The combination of BHRT and Tortuga as a personal lubricant is now a part of my friends life as it is with the others that I have recommended visiting Dr. Wrights Tahoma Clinic near Seattle.

Yes, this is a very personal subject, but don’t you owe it to yourself to find relief?  Dr. Maya Angelou said it best when she said, “Do the best you can until you know better.  Then when you know better, do better.”

Yes, Tortuga is wonderful and a pure product.  Realizing that we have choices in taking charge of our own personal wellness and health is a revelation.  As we always say at Keys;  It is Time to Get Wise!

Wendy

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Keys Congrats Ele Keats – Insidious 3 Movie Opens Big

Keys, A Big Fan of Ele Keats

incideousWe wanted to give a big Keys shout-out to Ele Keats who is staring in the movie Insidious 3 premiered in Hollywood this weekend.  Ele has a prominent part of the movie and we are so happy for her success.

Ele has been a fan, mentor, avid beta tester and dear friend of Keys and Bob & Wendy almost from the very beginning of our company.  She has been instrumental in guiding us into making a natural skin care product that could compete with conventional Hollywood makeup brands.  She has introduced Keys to so many people in Hollywood which has immeasurably helped us in our growth and success.

Ele, was the lead actress in the Indie film Snowflake and appears in numerous television commercials.  She is a true chameleon in that she can change her look and demeanor in a split second making her a very directable actor from one movie to the next.  We predict that you will see and hear a lot more from Ele.

Thank you Ele for all that you have done for us and we join everyone in wishing you even more success.  Enjoy the moment!

Click Here to read the article about Ele from a few years ago.

Ele has opened a store for her jewelry, so when in LA go visit.  Her is her information.

Contact

Ele Keats Jewelry
13028 San Vicente Blvd. Ste. 103
Brentwood, CA 90049
view google map »

310-458-1888
sales@elekeats.com

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Traveling Light with Keys Eye Butter

simply_wendy_bannerTravelers Trick

I have had a few people ask me for traveler product sizes for some of the daily regime type products. We are working on bringing back some of our travel sizes and we are having difficulty sourcing some of the containers for our soaps. Hopefully this will resolve itself in the near future.

Keys Eye Butter Eye Cream
Eye Butter Eye Cream

Bob Root, Keys formulator and founder has the distinction of having a lifetime American Airline Black Platinum card with 3 million miles emblazoned on it. Traveling with him is a real education. I shared that I have heard that people want to have smaller versions of our products and also find that the sachets do not work for them. He affirmed that we have tested all the lotions in our 15ml airless and that we are still looking for a 50ml mini-foamer that will work with our essential oil based soaps. He did offer a trick or two for our travelers that he does when he travels.

So, here is what Bob does for lotions and butters. He carries a single airless tube of Keys Eye Butter and does the following:

  • Use Eye Butter directly on the eyes and lips
  • Dilute Eye Butter by applying a small drop to wet hands and wet face as a moisturizer
  • Mix Eye Butter with water in the palm of the hand to make a lotion consistency to use as a dry skin lotion
  • Put a pea size drop into wet hair as a conditioner. (note, Bob has short hair)

owl clipBob also reinforced that he does carry the sachets and some of those square “owl” paper clips to reseal them after they are open. He noted that once open, you can fold over the top and those squareish paper clips made of plastic or metal do a good job in a small ziplock.

So, I tried the above and it works great. I still carry my Solar Rx, but I was able to get through my days with a lot less product.

Still, we are working on the travel sizes, but this is a good interim solution.

Wendy

Buy Travel Eye Butter Now! Here

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New! KPRO Silkin Natural Shampoo & Conditioner – Better Than Conventional and Salon Brands

silkinFinally, a natural shampoo that will clean and shine as well as conventional and salon brands, but without the junk.

Seven years in development, Silkin is the answer.  We originally designed it  for those with thick, long and big hair.  The great news is that is is even better for people with short, silky, straight and thin hair.  Men especially noted that they love the quick lather and ended up using it as a shave soap as well.  Color and perm safe, it is truly a revolution in hair care.

Do not take our word for it.  Click Here to order a $0.49 sachet good for a couple of washings or next time you order, you will get a sample of Silkin free automatically.

Silkin is an extension of our KPRO line.  6 months of testing has received many accalades from hair stylists, designers and everyday users looking for a natural alternative to conventional shampoos.

Silkin contains the same OptiFX particles that are in KPRO tinted products.  Silkin opens the hair cuticle to clean and the OtiFX particles cling to the cuticle to offer a color enhancer, special shine and shimmer.

Silkin comes in a 16 ounce (472ml) pump bottle and retails for $24.95.   It is a very concentrated shampoo that last much longer than expected.  Click Here to buy Silkin

Silkin is 100% All-Natural Moisturizing Professional Shampoo for All Hair Types and Treated Hair.  This KPRO Shampoo is designed to replace conventional shampoos and conditioners with professional results.

• Deep Cleaning Shampoo

• Color & Treated Safe

• Hydrating & Moisturizing

• Rich Lather for Short to Big Hair

• Low Scent – No Fragrance

• Color Enhancing Technology

• Chemical-Free

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Watch this two-minute video to learn more.

[jwplayer player=”4″ mediaid=”3033″]

 

silkin-label

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Anti-Aging Tip – Avoid Perma-Frown by Getting CNN-Free

iphone-frownsimply_wendy_banner

By Wendy Steele, Keys CEO

Did your mother every say to you, “Don’t make those faces, it may just freeze that way forever!”  It’s true!  This could be the greatest anti-aging advise of all time!

Our body language and facial expression do more than communicate our mood and intensity.  The way we appear to others can be a lasting reminder on our face of our attitude toward things, our environment and people.  Simply, if you frown all the time you might just end up with “Perma-Frown.”  Those deep ruts in your forehead age your visual appearance.  Perma-Frown makes you look older than you are by the very nature of the shadows those deep furrows create.  Remember it is the shadows that our wrinkles create that makes them look older.

Laughter is an age old beauty secret because it raises our Oxytocin hormone levels which washes us with a feeling of wellbeing.  This cuddle hormone is also created with a warm hug or even just being out with that someone special.  The skin glows and a more youthful appearance accompanies the warm feeling.  This can all be negated if our natural core state is negative.  Could your cellphone be a contributing factor to your aging?

Today’s social society is way overloaded with smartphone interaction which maybe fun and warm, but generally does not release oxytocin.  Worse, peering all day at your cellphone has two potentially negative results.  The first is if you are reading bad news all day, aka CNN, that frown may probably become perma-frown.  Secondly, if you are walking and reading and getting a little older, that squint could become perma-squint.  Be careful watching too much CNN can also create the dreaded permanent aging look called perma-scowl.

There is no question that drinking lots of water, regulating hormones as we age and using natural skin care will be your best anti-aging secret for the skin.  Those wrinkles, ruts and furrows are probably an indication of how happy you are or how much CNN you are exposed to.

So next time you are reading CNN, Fox News or one of the other negative press sources, take a quick selfie to check out how you are responding…Then try to laugh it off.  Yoga has taught me to see a different way of life and create an internal smile.  Being CNN-Free for the last ten years is priceless.

Wendy

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Mangrove Conditioner is Back! Richer and Twice The Size

Thanks for your patience.  Mangrove Conditioner has not been available for quite a while because of unforeseen circumstances.  It has taken all this time to reformulate Mangrove to be even richer and more emollient than before.  Now it is back in a new size and with a new pump for easier use and application!  Now at 8 ounces and in an easy to use pump bottle you are getting a little more than twice as much for the same price as before.

mangrove_cond

New Mangrove – Natural Cream Hair Conditioner & Leave-in Styler 236ml – 8oz

Natural Conditioner Uses Brassica Oil Instead of Silicone

Mangrove Conditioner is back!  Twice as much, twice as rich and the same price as before!

  • Hydrating Conditioner
  • Natural Scalp Therapy
  • High Lustrous Shine
  • Conditions Hair & Scalp
  • Rich Natural Oils
  • Soothing Aloe Vera
  • Conditioning Brassica
  • For Treated and Colored Hair
  • Relaxing Aromatherapy
  • For People and Pets
  • No Silicone or Dimethicones

Vegan, Gluten-Free, Soy-Free, No Animal Testing, Chemical-Free, No Preservatives Continue reading Mangrove Conditioner is Back! Richer and Twice The Size

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New Try Me Category – KPRO Sachets for Sale

kpro_sachetsWe realize that the new KPRO line is pretty revolutionary and trying is believing.  We introduced the KPRO line at the Natural Products Expo East trade show.   We created sachets of the moisturizers, correction cream and eye cream so that you can give them a try to see which is best for you.  You can Click Here or on the picture to go to the Keys store to order.

Many people have contacted us to ask which product is best for them.   That is a hard question based on all skin types.  Since the KPRO line adapts to skin color, tone and texture, there is no need for colors and shades.  The products are all difference with levels of intensity varying from one to the other.  We created this trial, so you can find out what is best for you.

These sachets contain two or three applications of the KPRO Tinted Moisturizer, Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen, Tinted Eye Cream and Tinted Correction Cream. This is a great way to find which product works best for you. Shipping is included in the price. These sachets contain two or three applications of the KPRO Tinted Moisturizer, Tinted Moisturizer with Sunscreen, Tinted Eye Cream and Tinted Correction Cream. This is a great way to find which product works best for you. Shipping is additional, but nominal because of the light weight.

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The Jar Is Back – Keys Eye Butter

15ml

Eye Butter 15ml Jar & Airless Pump

Back by popular demand, Keys Eye Butter is now available in Jars again.   This Eye Butter is also smoother and richer with no change in formula.  The process has been improved to yield a rich and very smooth cream eye moisturizer.  And yes, it is available in either the jar version or the airless travel pump version.  Both are the same price and the same product in a different container.  Your choice at $19.95 for either container.

Eye Butter Eye Cream
Eye Butter Eye Cream
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Keys KPRO Cosmetic Products – Now Available!

kpro-logo-red-metal

windsatr-wendy

KRO Product Description and Use.

We are there!  We have the first production run of our new KPRO product line.  We want to give you some details of the new products prior to them now that they are available.

The planned release of the KPRO product line was October 1, 2013.  Our team surprised me by finishing a few days early.  I am so proud of this team.  The surprises are always good!

 Just as a refresher, Keys has introduced a new series of Hollywood inspired products named KPRO or Keys Professional line.  Keys KPRO products use OptiFX™ Adaptive Color Technology to provide an illusionary appearance creating the hot trendy nude bare skin look in a 1-step chemical-free foundation.

Developed in concert with Hollywood makeup artists and filmmakers, this correction cream fills, hides fine lines and skin imperfections.  The technology literally copies and clones skin color, tone and texture transmitting vital characteristics to neighboring skin.  Like a virtual projector, 1 micron organic and plant-based structures transmit a smooth and vibrant skin finish.

Keys patentable technology works to reflect, refract and smooth skin tones adapting to light changes and environments automatically.  This is a true anti-aging product because rarefied ingredients help condition, moisturize and reverse skin aging as well as providing the cosmetic effects.  This is a revolutionary 1-step foundation with optical technology that transforms even lifeless skin to exciting dewy beauty.

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Keys Professional – KPRO Line – Cosmetic Tinted Creams and Powders

kpro-logo-red-metal

One Step to Vibrant Beauty and Natural Skin Health

OptiFX™ Patentable Adaptive Color Technology combined with Natural Chemical-Free Skin Health™

Synopsis:  Keys has introduced a new series of Hollywood inspired products named KPRO or Keys Professional line.  Keys KPRO products use OptiFX™ Adaptive Color Technology to provide an illusionary appearance creating the hot trendy nude bare skin look in a 1-step chemical-free foundation.

 Developed in concert with Hollywood makeup artists and filmmakers, this correction cream fills, hides fine lines and skin imperfections.  The technology literally copies and clones skin color, tone and texture transmitting vital characteristics to neighboring skin.  Like a virtual projector, 1 micron organic and plant-based structures transmit a smooth and vibrant skin finish.

 Keys patentable technology works to reflect, refract and smooth skin tones adapting to light changes and environments automatically.  This is a true anti-aging product because rarefied ingredients help condition, moisturize and reverse skin aging as well as providing the cosmetic effects.  This is a revolutionary 1-step foundation with optical technology that transforms even lifeless skin to exciting dewy beauty.

  • Chemical-Free
  • No Mica
  • No Silica
  • No Minerals
  • No Talc

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 Introducing KPRO – Keys Professional Line

KPRO-Family

September 1, 2013 Santa Monica California:  At a meeting today, Keys Care revealed a new technology for natural foundations and HD powders that incorporates OptiFX™ Adaptive Color Technology.  This one-step foundation not only creates and illusion of smoother, softer and more even skin tones, it invisibly fills fine lines and creases for a younger more polished look.  The six new products are also natural skin therapies reversing aging through their chemical-free formulation and super-hydrating properties.  As these stand as amazing new technology features, the most important is probably how much time these products will save in daily regimens.

Bob Root, Keys Founder and Chief Scientist offered, “What if you could compress your morning regimen to get the “Natural Look” in 5 minutes of less?  What if it exceeded the performance of Nordstrom Counter makeup brands?  What if it is Chemical-Free?”

Keys has developed it’s new KPRO (Keys Professional) line to do just that.  Born in earnest in front of the highest definition cameras in the world, KPRO competes with conventional makeup in the Hollywood makeup artist bag and it is all-natural and chemical-free.

The illusion, smoothing and age-reversing is far more than luck. It is patentable technology called OptiFX™ and it was developed at Keys.

Express Lane to Your Day

 Blond_AJ“I am a makeup artist in Hollywood and because of my profession, people think I have all day to get myself ready to venture out into the world.  My day often begins at 4 am on a set that I will be on well past dark.  My day is spent creating the natural look on actors in 45 minutes or less.  The truth of the matter is that the majority of that time is spent laying down a natural looking foundation.  I often use 10 to 15 different color foundations to simulate the natural color contours of the face.  So, you can imagine my delight, shock and surprise when my friends at Keys sent me a top-secret product that cut my 45 minute foundation regime to 5 minutes. 

 I could not resist and woke one morning for a shoot and put this new miracle product on my face.  I applied this non-mineral natural tinted correction cream to my face and was amazed to see what looked like a flawless foundation.  I added check color, eyes and lips and I was done in less than five minutes.  Really!”

The Rumors Are True

Keys is Getting in to Color – A Sneak Peek.

Bob Root, Keys Chief Scientist said, “For the last four years, I have experimented with getting into the business of color.  Namely cosmetics.  What has stopped me was a set of standards that I wanted to adhere to and my mantra of wanting to not be another me too company entering the cosmetics game because it is this hot market segment.

 It was developed in concert with Red Camera Corporation and Arri for use in Ultra High Definition (UHD) film and TV.  The technology that I am using has never been used for makeup.  It adapts to skin texture and color.”

Expo East Product of the Year Nominee!

Keys OptiFX technology is under consideration as the best new product of the year at Natural Products Expo East trade show and will be featured in the New Product Showcase.  We plan a late September launch for the new line that will include:

  • Tinted Moisturizer with sunscreen
  • Tinted Moisturizer
  • Tinted Correction Cream
  • Tinted Corrective Eye Cream
  • HD tinted powder
  • HD powder (untinted)

All will have the OptiFXadaptive technology.  At the moment, we are not revealing the extent of the technology because of patents that we are filing.

There are numerous differences between this tinted foundation and conventional makeup.  First, the base lotion is our Luminos Moisturizer which is chemical-free, vegan and gluten-free.  The filler and color function were developed to offer silica-free, PEG-free, lead-free, mica-free and earth mineral-free.

OptiFX™  Adaptive Color Technology

optifx-vs-micaOptiFX™ is a combination of crystalline structures that are both plantbased and optical physics technology.  OptiFX™ was developed by us to create an extreme illusion on the skin that mirrors and broadcasts skin tones while also smoothing and diffusing the appearance of the skin.  This simulates a soft even surface that adapts to every skin tone, color and condition.   The particle clusters are  ~1 micron in size and are made from jet-dried Blue Agave Aloe blend and a porcelain type material that act like micro-mirrors.  These particles have a “0” rating from the EWG which symbolizes the safest of ingredients.

The biggest differences are the effects.  Most makeup is based on a technology called additive color.  Meaning the color is from the minerals, generally opaque and is the color of the existing elements.  This is why most mineral and conventional makeup comes in shades that have to be selected to match skin tone.  Our product is using a technology from the photographic world and is called subtractive color technology.  The primary reason for using this technology is that the particles absorb and refract the skin tone from around it offering a single product that work for the majority of skin types and colors.  Simplified, it absorbs color from around it and projects it out offering a more uniform look, smoother finish and a near perfect match to the persons skin tone.

I See Dead People!

Bob Root added, “Flat mineral makeup as a foundation has been all the rage primarily because it is purported to be “Natural.”  There are many problems with the term natural, but my simple problem is that mineral makeups are flat, too uniform and make people look dead to me.  A weekend at the Studio City (CA) Farmers Market and you will see the Hollywood elite looking bare faced and dewy.  It is so much more attractive than a flat pancake look.  The new bare face look, in itself, is a bit overboard in the “too-nude” direction and some young stars and entertainers can get away with it.  Most of us cannot.   I originally developed our AguaVit as a makeup setter to turn mineral makeup into the dewy look, but in my opinion, it was covering a bad thing in an attempt to correct the bad features of mineral makeup.  The KPRO line uses the OptiFX™ technology to create a uniform, color-matched and even tone that also provides a very alive dewy look that let the real you out while also creating an illusion of softer smoother vibrant skin.  A little sparkle that is subliminal attracts the eye saying ‘look at me’ without being gaudy or Le Cirquestque!”

What is also a big difference is the illusion OptiFX™ creates because of the particles.  It is a well known photographic principle that a spheres and plated particles diffuse, refract and gather light.  Simplified, for use in makeup, OptiFX™ based products create an illusion of softness, smoothing and natural color without looking flat, pancake or matte.  Overstated, you get the natural look in one product unto which you can add eye, lip and cheek color.  Done!

The technology was originally developed to “trick” high definition digital 4-5k cameras to make the skin of actors look more even, vibrant and more natural looking in the unforgiving world of high definition.  It has the same effect on the human eye making the people that use it look more dewy, natural and with the illusion of radiant skin.  Because it absorb and broadcast color from around each particle, almost everyone can wear it without looking like they have heavy makeup.

The products are currently being tested on television, on two films and in advertising photo shoots for fall fashion

Finally a Foundation for Men

bald-man_maskedMany cosmetic products are designed only for women.  That is how they start and end with little to no consideration for men wanting a more stylish contemporary look.  Designing for the camera means that a product has to work on all skin types and for both men and women.  Bob Root added, “A woman’s skin cannot look or react differently to the camera than her male counterpart.  A product designed for ultra high definition still and film must work equally for everyone and provide a foundation that the makeup artist can build on.  Flat makeup must somehow be made vibrant which is way too much work and looks fake.  The OptiFX™ technology affords a smooth workable foundation for the makeup artist.  For the rest of us, especially men, the technology offers a one-pass quick daily moisturizer that makes the skin look vibrant and alive.”

OptiFX™ is a revolution for men, because it does not add flat pancake color or a dry look like mineral makeups.  It recognizes the adjacent skin tone, texture and color and transmits it in a glowing smoothing effect that makes men look alive, attractive and natural.  The robust look is one that shows the strength of men while offering a personal and sensitive look at the same time.  Our male beta testers have all said that friends and especially women noticed a change, but could not explain why.  Bob added, “It is virtually invisible to the conscious eye and the technology does interact with the unconscious eye the same way it does with UHD camera sensors.  For men, the key words are vibrancy, sincerity and confidence.”

A famous male actor was noted as saying, “I am a well known Green advocate and yet my face is my life.  Yes, I want natural, but not at the expense of how I look on camera or in front of the press.  I have been a Keys Eye Butter fan for years now and have wanted more.  I have used Eye Butter all over my face to get the look that I want and need.  Masculine and alive!  My makeup artist put Keys KPRO Correction Cream on me before an appearance and I was blown away.  I said, this must be a man’s product and my makeup artist smilingly agreed…she always does.”

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OptiFX™ Adaptive Color Technology will be exclusively in the new KPRO, Keys Professional, line being introduced at the Natural Products Expo East trade show in Baltimore Maryland on September 26, 2013.

There is an old adage from our years in high tech.  Because products change so quickly, we often joked that “a product will be available in 6 months, but literature is available in volume today!”  In our case, KPRO products are slated to be available by mid to late September and virtual literature is available now by clicking the icon.  Kidding aside, the literature does a good job of showing visually what we will be offering.

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5-Minute Skin Clinic at the Airport

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by Wendy Steele
Keys CEO

Secrets to flying simply with stunning results!

 The 2:30 am wake-up call was all my fault. I had booked a 3,000 mile trip from the East Coast to get back West and it was the first flight out at 6am Eastern! I knew that I had better get a good night’s rest before flight day. I concentrated most of my prep efforts the night before so that I would have the fewest amount of moving pieces on the morning of the flight. So the night before I packed the suitcase,laid out the clothes and shoes ready to slip into. Ticket and rental car keys were at the ready.

The morning of my flight- to insure I was on my way to the airport at 3:15 am, I really needed to be awake at 2:30am.  After 2 wake up calls, I followed with are freshing shower, hot libation, and a phenomenally simple skin treatment.

g5At 4:30 am I breezed through the rental car return and airport security.I felt awake and had time to relax before boarding.  After a fairly short first leg flight, it was just after 7:30 am Central time when I arrived at my connecting airport in Chicago. I deplaned and walked to my new departure gate B-5 with ticket in hand.  I was just about to inquire with the gate agent when I was truly surprised by a 30-something woman who whisked up to me and said;  “I am sorry, I just have to interrupt you to ask you—how do you get skin that looks like that?”

The gate agent looked up and smiled at me as if to say; “I’m all ears.” Continue reading 5-Minute Skin Clinic at the Airport

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REvolutionary Skin Ideas -from Hollywood and Apple!

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More than what meets the eye

REvolutionary Skin Ideas -from Hollywood and Apple!

by Wendy Steele  Keys CEO

 

wendy_hat_dipI have marveled at the popular news headlines and headliners over the past year as they have surprised us, sometimes even shocked us.  There are signs everywhere that Hollywood has begun to break free of old patterns, habits and ideas about what makes an individual look and feel beautiful.  Curiously, these examples have also caused us to think and began to influence how we view ourselves outwardly, with a surprising affect on our own health and wellbeing.

People Magazine’s recent Most Beautiful issue featured celebrities going au natural! Yes they were photographed fresh faced, their absolutely beautiful natural skin tone glowing .  Yes, these women were totally make-up free!

oprah_fondaI watched a recent Oprah’s Next Chapter interview with Jane Fonda, when Oprah asked Jane what is the most important thing she has learned so far in her life.  I found it fascinating when Jane, who freely talked about her being 75 years old, replied “I’ve learned what’s really important for me is skin and kindness…”

Then, this weeks USA Today headline caught my attention:

 “The Hollywood tan loses its luster” Continue reading REvolutionary Skin Ideas -from Hollywood and Apple!

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Keys Natural Beauty Regime’s – When To Use What & Why

I have always developed Keys products as solutions which interact with each other to build natural glowing and healthy skin.  When we created our regimes, they were simple and fairly obvious to understand what to use and when.  It was either wash your face add a moisturizer and an eeye cream for night and replace the mositurizer with a mositurizing sunblock during the day.

When we began to add toners, elixirs and fusions the complication factor went higher.   We recognizing that for people with dry skin they needed a more emollient foundation compared to someone with oily skin.  Even though we have only a few broad function products compared to other companies, we needed to communicate the functionality of each of our products and how they would fit into a day and night regime for people.

So, being a bunch of engineers, we set about to create three charts that show how to use our products, when to use them, why and in what order.  Like us they are simple and I hope easy to understand. Continue reading Keys Natural Beauty Regime’s – When To Use What & Why

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SK!N What’s Normal pH?

 

by Bob Root, Keys CTO

There is another book on the horizon for us.   The working title is simple, “SK!N”.   After Chemical-Free Skin Health was published, I started to get so many questions that focused more on “what to do” than what is wrong.  Yes, there will be a chapter about the negative effects of chemicals in products.  The majority of the book are things that we should be doing to improve skin health which has a direct connection to youthful appearance and beauty.

These articles are snippets from the book which are triggered by questions that I get that I think are important now!  Books just have this tendency to stretch things out a bit too far.

Like all good citizens, I have a disclaimer.  For future reference, I once had a professor that said, “Ask Root the time of day and he will lecture you on the origin of time.”  So forewarned is forearmed.  ;-]…..There are no simple answers and no simple questions when it comes to Skin!

Bob

 I had a medical colleague ask me what she thought was a simple question.  “What is the normal pH of the skin?”  Remember there are no simple questions or answers.

Bob’s Answer, Part of the problem we find with all medicine is the use of the term “normal.”  Nowadays, the gaps in normal are quite large and do have some ethnic bias.  The ethnic shift is primarily food type consumed.  The other interesting thing is that in the last ten years or so, the gap has widened.

Continue reading SK!N What’s Normal pH?

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The News Is Not All Bad!

Bob Root, Keys Chief Scientist & Founder

I must admit that I have been CNN Free for nearly tens years. Really!  I find myself working at looking at the world through positive lenses.  I have found that watching things out of my control affects my overall health.  This is not an “ignorance is bliss” approach to living as much as it is a focus on what I can effect, affect and control.

For some time now, I have been afflicted with the belief that much of our health is not about doctors, prescription or even prevention.  As I have studied, for my own life, I have found that health and specifically skin health, are directly relates to changing behaviors and realizing that it is not just about what we put into or on our body, it is how we do it and exercising the critical systems of the body.  Simply, just eating right and going to the gym are minor things and pale in comparison to focusing on our physical, mental and endocrine body balance.
My research may or may not be leading to a new book, but one thing for sure is that I believe that much of our skin health has been too focused on the negative aspects of just a few chemicals when how we live our skin health is far more important.

I have been working on a skin health regime that involves changing lifestyle and is almost devoid of talking about products in favor of changing behaviors.  Mehmet Oz (aka Dr. Oz) inspired me to look at a holistic approach to skin health.  Indeed I have began to write this “book” and will publish excerpts here as they become more real to me.  My hope is to take a part of a well deserved holiday and, at least, write a definitive blog article that one could call a book draft outline.

As I have studied, I realized that we have all be overly influenced by blog articles, public lobbying by NGO’s (non governmental organizations) like FOE, NPA, EWG et al.  Life should be about balance and I struggled to find a single source that I can reference that would offer a positive approach to skin conditions, skin disorders and skin health.  I was chatting with a fellow researcher involved at the Human Microbiome Project. (https://commonfund.nih.gov/hmp/) and asked her if she knew of a resource.  She laughed at me and said, “how about next door.”   I have to admit that I had one of those V8 moments as I slapped my forehead.  What she meant by next door is the National Libraryof Medicine sponsored by our tax paying support of the National Institutes of Health.  The group is called MedlinePlus and is an online resource that is amazing.

I obviously believe in the Skin Deep database, the Compact for Safe Cosmetics, The Breast Cancer Fund and all the positive work that goes on.  Said, these people take an approach of “don’t use this or that,”  “these things will hurt you” and “don’t do this” without offering many reasons or solutions.  MedlinePlus makes all of the information from all these “Bad News” agencies pale in comparison.  The best analogy I have is that if information was water, all of the NGO resources add up to a thimble of water into an Olympic pool that is MedlinePlus.

So, here are just a few articles that focus just on the skin, nails and hair on the MedlinePlus database.  My hope is that they will offer you positive solutions to help your skin and feed your positive spirit at the same time.

Update!  Our friends at The Babble Out (www.thebabbleout.com) approached our customer service to look at an eczema article they wrote.   It is quite good and worth reading.  Here is the link to Everything About Eczema.

Note:  When our customer service leader forwarded the article from Zoey at Babble Out to me, it caused me to read the article for value here, but it also reminded me that innovation is constant and articles like mine or from Babble Out are not dynamic unless we stay on top to make these article real-time.  Next to impossible, we will try to be more diligent in staying current with new technologies.

Coming from the computer industry where you either innovate or die, our world has begun to adopt the rapid innovations cycle.  Anything where people are helping people is both responsibility and serving.

For example, there is amazing work being done in Canada in Vernon at a spa where they expose eczema suffers to decreasing temperatures where the skin is blast-chilled.   Results have been remarkable and worth Googling “Eczema Cryotherapy.”

MedlinePlus Trusted Health Information for You

Skin, Hair and Nails Topics
Below is the link to the ‘Cosmetics’ link above to give you an idea of what you will find.  What you will quickly notice is that there is a simple description and links to numerous articles on various subjects in detail.  All said, don’t get too caught up in this because it all may lead to a new form of insanity disorder.  😉

Photograph of an eye shadow case with four shadow colors and a brushCosmetics

Also called: Makeup

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 Cosmetics are products you apply to your body to clean it, make it more attractive or change the way it looks. They include
  • Hair dyes
  • Makeup
  • Perfumes
  • Skin-care creams

Products such as dandruff shampoo, fluoride toothpaste and antiperspirant deodorant are both cosmetics and drugs. A good way to tell if you’re buying a cosmetic that is also a drug is to see if the first ingredient listed is an “active ingredient.” The active ingredient is the chemical that makes the product effective, and the manufacturer must have proof that it’s safe for its intended use. To find out all the ingredients in a cosmetic you use, check the container. Manufacturers are required to list them. Labels such as “natural” and “hypoallergenic” have no official meaning. Companies can use them to mean whatever they want.

Food and Drug Administration

 What’s this?
 Start Here
 The top row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:Basics,Learn More, andMultimedia & Cool Tools.

For group Basics

For group Learn More

For group Multimedia & Cool Tools

The bottom row in the table of contents box contains the following groups:Research,Reference Shelf, andFor You.

 For group Research

For group Reference Shelf

For group For You

Overviews

 

 

 

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Keys Omni – New Revolutionary Skin Spray Elixir

Omni – Skin Elixir Spray 60ml (2oz)

Omni is a revolutionary product from every aspect.  Omni is a technology term derived from the Latin word Omnis meaning “all.” When we began to develop AquaVit, it became clear that our Ariane ingredient had wonderful properties. Omni was originally being developed with an ingredient we named Miras. Miras is a special ingredient that comes from the fruit of the Forsythia plant and has very high levels of Oleanolic which is known to have many healing and cleansing properties for the skin without harming the skins probiotic EcoSystem.  We then combined Ariane and Miras together for a combined effect that rivals any skin care, anti-aging or beauty product in the world.  Of course, I am biased. Continue reading Keys Omni – New Revolutionary Skin Spray Elixir

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New AguaVit – Toner Tonic from Keys

I am very happy to announce a new product long in development called AguaVit

AguaVit is more than a toner. Take one sniff and the scent conjures deeply rooted emotions of times gone by. AguaVit means “Water of life.” It is made from a functional ingredient created by Keys called Arianne. To make Ariane we blend & distill whole organic orange, lime, cranberry, cucumber, juniper berry, star anise, cassia cinnamon, anise seed, ginger and clove. Continue reading New AguaVit – Toner Tonic from Keys

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AguaVit & Omni – Two New Functional Ingredient Products From Keys

Keys Skip Generation Technology – Blended Whole Botanicals

by Bob Root  Keys Technologist

We are about to introduce two new products that represent a significant advancement for us and the industry.  AguaVit and Omni are two new products coming soon that employ a remarkable change for us in how we produce products that offer functionality, efficacy and performance.

Traditionally, companies blend ingredients to create a new product.  These can be oils, essential oils, extracts and blends of ingredients that were separately processed.  Often these ingredients are estered or separated and refined for a specific function.  For example, Vitamin E can be refined from vegetables  to look for and extract only a portion of the Vitamin E or the creation of a Tocopherol substance using refining processes.   Then many ingredients with separated functionality are blended together to create some action.  This is a lot of work and I continually question separating components of any natural substance to increase its intensity.  Deriving an intense form of Alpha Hydroxy Acid (AHA) from fruit like apples sounds natural, but it is not.  The intense action of an AHA burns the skin to exfoliate rapidly with many consequences beyond red skin.  So it true of many estered ingredients. Continue reading AguaVit & Omni – Two New Functional Ingredient Products From Keys

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Gathering Thyme, New Bay Area Keys Reseller Opens in Marin County

Gathering Thyme is a new community herb shop and holistic health education center focused on providing Marin County and the Bay Area with exceptional natural healthcare products, education and support.  “Keys is very excited to add Gathering Thyme to our reseller list because they are true trusted advisors in their community,” said Wendy Steele, Keys CEO.

In the retail shop you will find a wide selection of high-quality locally-sourced herbal products including the very best in bulk herbs, teas and spices; Western, Chinese, and Ayurvedic herbal formulas; practitioner-lines of dietary supplements; a terrific selection of organic face and body care products for women, men and children; a large selection of new and used natural healthcare books; bulk salts, clays, and body care products; and herb and health related supplies and gifts.

 

Continue reading Gathering Thyme, New Bay Area Keys Reseller Opens in Marin County

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Keys Featured at the 2010 California Women’s Conference

New book, “Chemical-Free Skin Health” premiered at the California Women’s Conference.

Keys creates ECO Island.

Keys product chosen by Maria Shriver for second year in a row for speakers’ gift bag.

Long Beach California, October 25, 2010, California Women’s Conference. “Chemical-Free Skin Health” is a new book written by Keys founder and Chief Technology Officer, Bob Root.  The book is the first  written by a natural products industry formulator to help users make better buying choices for safer cosmetics and safer personal care products.  Bob Root offered, “I wrote my book because I realized that many people want safer cosmetics and safer personal care products, but they did not know how to go about making buying decisions.  I created ‘Chemical-Free Skin Health’ to give people a sort of users guide to help make better choices.  I ask my readers to Stop, Challenge and Choose!  I want them to stop buying products that can harm them, challenge conventional thinking and choose the right solutions for them in a quest for better skin health by using natural products.”

Bob Root, An Unlikely Formulator!

Continue reading Keys Featured at the 2010 California Women’s Conference

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On The Press! New Book by Keys Founder – Bob Root

Chemical-Free Skin Health!

Bob announced the beginning of a book focused on skin health over two years ago at the Natural Products Expo West. His book will be published in early October and Bob will officially launch the book at the 2010 California Women’s Conference. Maria Shriver chose Keys Luminos for last years Women’s Conference for the speakers gift bag. This year, she chose Keys Solar Rx for the speakers gift bag.

The book, titled “Chemical-Free Skin Health” with a subtitle of “Stop • Challenge • Choose” will be published by Orion’s M42 publishing company and will be sold on the show floor by Vroman’s bookstore. Bob will be at the show signing the books.

Keys will be exhibiting in the newly created section called the “ECO Island” which features green sustainable products. For those attending, Bob and Wendy will be in the Keys booth along with Kathleen Beaton, Hollywood makeup artist and writer of the Foreword for Bob’s book. Kerry Malouf, motion picture makeup artist and beauty editor for Malibu Magazine will also be in the Keys booth in the ECO Island. Continue reading On The Press! New Book by Keys Founder – Bob Root

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Ele Keats Actor – Artist – Keys Fan

Ele Keats   Actor Artist Keys Fan!

When we started Keys, we began small with a few products and some real fans.  Our core belief is that products should solve problems and make people feel good about themselves and what they are using in and on their body.

As we have grown, we feel it is time to honor some of those that we have helped, have been with us for a long time and those using our products in unique applications.

Featured Keys Customer:  Ele Keats, Hometown:  Hollywood California

Continue reading Ele Keats Actor – Artist – Keys Fan

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About Us – A Defining Moment

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Bob Root & Wendy Steele, Keys Founders

Keys was born from a need for natural skin care products the likes of which did not exist before we started. Our founder, Wendy Steele, survived Melanoma and her story of her road to recovery was littered with prescription products that almost worked.  The trauma showed her the clear vision need for products that really worked to solve skin problems.  Because they are natural, they also made her feel good with a new youthful appearance and the resulting contentment showed her the way in creating Keys In the simplest of messages, Keys is ancient remedies employing modern technologies for people with skin disorders, those that want to be chemical-free, people who want their family to have natural alternatives and for post cancer recovery survivors. We are:

Natural Beauty

Natural Skin Care

Natural Skin Therapies

Natural Hair Care

Natural Dog Care & Supplements

Keys Purpose and Direction 

We are not just a natural products company with scents of lavender and claims of what ingredients we do not have in our products.  We consider ourselves a natural medicine and therapy products company that happens to use natural ingredients.  We use functional ingredients in therapeutic proportions to design and build skin care, beauty, skin therapies and dog care products that do what they say they will do.  We never scrimp and we always back every product with a 100% satisfaction guaranty. I believe our Purpose and Direction statement says it all!”   Wendy Steele, Keys CEO
Keys Care -is the innovation and thought leader in the natural and chemical-free skin health industry.  Combining world class ingredients, herbs and botanicals in therapeutic proportions to solve skin problems and make people feel good. Keys brand of natural skin care, KPRO natural cosmetics and the KODA line of natural dog supplements and topical care products.
Keys designs, develops and manufactures natural healing therapies for people and pets.   The quality and quantity of our ingredients are what differentiate us.  As we say it, Pharmaceutical grade whole natural ingredients in therapeutic proportions.  We use ancient remedies, natural

Promo-covermedicines, whole natural ingredients, aromatherapy and aboriginal homeopathy combined with modern technology to provide safe and effective products for people and pets with skin disorders, sensitive skin, post cancer recovery or those wanting to avoid chemicals in their lives.  Our resellers are an extension of our core team and are experts and trusted advisers in their communities. At our baseline, we believe that all of our products must solve problems and make people feel good.  We also believe that natural and organic are not features, they are the choice we make assuring purity of purpose.

 

We are not just about making great products we are also concerned with the exaggerated focus of western medicine on treating symptoms.  Bob Root, Keys founder, designed every product we have made based on purpose.  At the same time he believes that 50% of all diagnosed skin disorders are caused by chemicals in our everyday lives.  He wrote a book titled, “Chemical-Free Skin Health®” to help people understand what is in most products and asking people to stop, challenge and choose healthy products that are safe for people and their families.

 

How It Began

Wendy Steele and Bob Root are the founders and inventors of Keys Soap.  They are both ex-corporate executives: Bob was a CEO of a Silicon Valley High Tech company and Wendy a VP at Coca-Cola. The soap and skin care connection?  Skin Cancer! Wendy Steele, Keys Founder, was diagnosed with Melanoma and beat the deadly disease.  She could not beat the terrible reactions she had from prescription and expensive skincare products.  Told she had eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea and dermatitis her condition deteriorated.  Doctors kept prescribing more junk, steroids and cortisone’s.

 

Wendy Steele

Wendy was struck with Skin Cancer multiple times.  She has beaten Melanoma and other forms of the devastating skin disease.  As an advocate of Skin Cancer prevention, and an Inner Circle Member of the Skin Cancer Foundation, Wendy has tried virtually every form of skin sun protection.  From exotic 100 SPF swimwear to SPF 30 clothing, and every form of sun block, she is an expert on taking skin protective measures to avoid sun damage.  From her personal experience, the more products she put on her body the more sensitive her skin became.  Her use of lotions, sunscreens and exotic clothing cost thousands of dollars annually.

 

The problem was that no matter what products she used, she did not feel free from itchy irritated skin that was exacerbated by that sticky feeling from lotions and sunscreens. Wendy recalls: “Bob and I talked for years about creating a rejuvenating soap for my ultra sensitive skin.  Like many products, Keys Soap was born out of necessity. When we lived in Southern California, I was diagnosed with Melanoma Skin Cancer.  After successful surgery to remove the cancer, I was using so much sunscreen that it started to block my pores and irritate my skin.  My skin was becoming more fragile even though I used the very best lotions money could buy.  I tried a natural liquid soap, but it was not quite right.  So, we decided to develop our own organic Castile-like body soap.  The initial cleansing results and skin relief I experienced using Island Rx finally set me free from experimenting with the myriad of products that had previously smothered my skin.”

 

Keys Factoids:

  • Safest Sunscreen in the World, EWG 2008, 2009, 2010 Sunscreen Report.
  • Most effective cosmetic sunscreen. Consumer Reports Magazine, July 2007

    Oscars Best Picks
  • Oscar Red Carpet Best Picks 2010, Kerry Maluof
  • Maria Shriver 2009, 2010 & 2011 California Women’s Conference Speakers Gift Bag Pick.
  • Luminos, LA Daily Candy Best Moisturizer
  • Natural medicines that actually heal skin disorders. Dr. Elaine Carter
  • Truly natural beauty products that feel and look great!, Vert Venice Beach CA
  • Natural is actually better and not a compromise. LA Daily Candy
  • Finally a natural shampoo that feels and looks better than salon brands. E K, Actress
  • Moisturizers that work in harmony with mineral makeups. K B, Makeup Artist
  • Keys honored as a “Champion Company” by the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics
  • KPRO on the red carpet at the Oscars, Golden Globe, SAGs……
  • KODA dog products honored for innovation for dog supplements using human grade functional natural ingredients
  • KODA OmniShield honored by Men’s Health magazine for efficacy repelling insects naturally

 

Keys Product Categories:

  • Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care & Beauty
  • Natural Hair & Scalp Care
  • Healing Skin Therapies & Natural Topical Medicines
  • Natural Pet Care & Natural Topical Medicines
  • Pet Skin Therapies & Natural Insect Repellants

 

Made in America

A.J. Nelson, the author of “Give America a Chance,” wrote to us in the comments requesting that we add a paragraph about the fact that we are made in America.  He talks about patriotism in his book and we certainly feel patriotic about the USA and the fact that we are made in the USA.  A.J. is right that just having a Made in the US icon hidden in plain sight on the product labels is not enough.

 

Thinking it through, it is much more than just being made here that is important.  It is American ingenuity, design, creativity and innovation that we are most proud of in the creation of Keys brand.  Bob is a scientist at heart and wakes everyday to his scientific news services where he applies experimental techniques to the production of our products.  Just look at many of the articles and you will see innovations and uses of home grown American technologies.  For example, the industry standard for homogenization of lotions are high speed blenders with tiny blades that whip air into the lotions to make them smoother.  At Keys, we use techniques employing infrasonic sound to do the same thing.   Why, because we have no preservatives and air is the enemy of natural products.  Solar Rx, our moisturizer with sunscreen, uses a vapor deposition technique developed in Silicon Valley to make magnetic media to create our zinc oxide particles…

 

There is not one Keys product in the brand that is not touched somehow by American innovation.  Our team in the factory lives ingenuity to make our products faster and better without losing quality.  It is this form of ingenuity that has permitted us to not raise our prices once in ten years.  The list goes on, but the central theme is beyond patriotism, it is also why our products have integrity and continuous improvement.  Yes, we are patriots and even more important to us is the innovation we gain from American scientists and engineers.

 

Lastly, we are so impressed with American ingenuity that we have begun to partner with The Technology Center at the University of Wyoming School of Engineering to create a foundation called Back Country Medicine where we will issue grants and competitions to students and professors for innovative ingredients, designs and processes.  Giving back to America and gaining in the process.

 

What We Believe

 

There are two facets to skin health and wellness for pets and people.  It is a combination of what you use and what you avoid. Skin disorders rank at the top of the list for veterinarian and dermatologist visits.  In fact, we believe that over 50% of all skin disorders are misdiagnosed and are actually caused by chemicals in everyday products…many with the claim of natural, organic or botanical. Longevity and Wellness is connected.  The life expectancy in the United States for pets and people has been consistently dropping.  Why?  We believe the body burden from the dirty dozen chemicals in skin care and household products may be causing disorders, outbreaks and even contributing to elevated cancer rates. This is why we use the term Chemical-Free.  It means free of man-made chemicals.  We are committed to leading the way for other manufacturers to fully disclose product ingredients.  Keys created the Therapy Facts panel to help people to make healthier choices for their family and pets.

 

Ancient Remedies – Modern Technology – Green Science

 

Today, modern medicine treats symptoms and not the cause.  Their products therefore focus on the symptom and not the cause.  Aboriginal, eastern, holistic, herbal, naturopathy and ancient medicines treat the whole being and look for the cause.  In many cases it is imbalance that causes disease and disorders. We search the world for ancient remedies.  We use modern technology, green science and pharmaceutical grade ingredients.  We create products that work in harmony to: • Solve skin problems • Soothe skin allergies • Heal minor cuts, abrasions and burns • Act as natural insect repellents

 

Our affiliations included:

 

• University of Maryland School of Medicine • Los Alamos National Labs • National Institutes of Health • Ohio State University • Environmental Working Group • Compact signer for The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

 

The Keys Difference –What We Use:

 

• Whole Natural ingredients to bring skin health back in balance

• An understanding of the cause and effect of various skin disorders, allergies and problems

• Simple ingredients in use for over 1000 years in other parts of the world

• Safe ingredients for pets and people

 

Pharmaceutical Grade & Quality for Efficacy-Results

 

Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients is a term that defines the level of quality in the industry.  It also defines the efficacy of an ingredient

Therapeutic Proportions – Keys Therapy Facts panel state the level of the amount of ingredients that we use in our products

 

Why it Matters:

 

There is a direct relationship to the quality and grade ingredients in products and the results you get.  Many products tout Aloe Vera and Shea Butter as ingredients.  Pharma Grade ingredients are rated the best in quality, with the highest level of key actions and values associated with them.  When you read a label you should ask:  what grade ingredients and in what proportion?  For example, our Aloe has a polysaccharide level of 10.  Many Aloe’s we tested were not even Aloe.  Our Shea Butter tests to a fatty acid level of >2.5.  Many processed Shea’s are less than 0.8.  There is a difference in even the same named ingredient.

 

The Keys Difference – What We Avoid:

 

• Fragrance – they are known skin irritants for pets and people and many contain chemicals found on the Dirty Dozen list that you should avoid!

• Chemicals that are in 85%+ of skin care and household products

• The ‘Dirty Thirty’ list of chemicals

 

You Get What You Pay For!

 

• We develop chemical-free healing therapies that have a high degree of efficacy

• We don’t cut corners or use less expensive ingredients or market various scents or fragrances

• We use pharmaceutical grade ingredients in therapeutic proportions, so our products cost more.

 

Ironically, in most cases, they are one-third to half the price of prescription products Attaining healthy youthful skin is a lifetime journey.  In this quest, people use soaps, scrubs, gels, toners, moisturizers, lotions, creams, lighteners and the list goes on!  They also bathe their pets in shampoos for their own armotharapy instead of the pet’s well being.  Most of these products use chemicals that sensitize, irritate and weaken the skin.  For example, 95% of all liquid soaps and shampoos contain SLS (sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates) that increase skin permeability, and opens the door for other chemicals and irritants to penetrate deep into the skin.  Parabens, petrolatum, propylene glycol, cocamide DEA/lauramide DEA and triethanolamines are common ingredients in all kinds of soaps, shampoos, creams and lotions.  When on the skin or absorbed into the body, they can create susceptibility to allergic skin reactions, skin disorders and even worse are being linked to diseases! If you or your pets has irritated or affected skin, odds are good that it is caused by the shampoo, body and face soap you use, anti-bacterial hand products, or residue from your laundry detergent. The skin is our single biggest organ, and skin health is vitally important.  Most of the soaps people use on their skin is really degreasing detergent; in fact, most of the liquid products using the term “soap” are not soaps at all.  They are chemical detergents containing SLS that strip away oils and actually damage the skin.  That is why there is very little difference between most bath gels, dish washing liquid, shampoos and engine degreasers.

 

The Keys philosophy is to simplify skin care by carefully and naturally cleansing, restoring and protecting the most sensitive skin.  We consciously act on that philosophy to improve skin health.  We choose not to use chemicals in our products, on purpose! Keys Soap, Island Rx, Show Promise in Helping with Common Skin Disorders Keys Soap first announced the introduction of its new line of all-natural, chemical-free therapeutic liquid bath and hand soaps on March 29, 2005.  Keys liquid soaps are holistic, soothing, therapeutic soaps for people with sensitive, allergic or affected skin.  They contain only pure ingredients with no man-made chemicals or fragrances.  Our soaps do not contain skin irritants like SLS, parabens, propylene glycol or DEA. Since the release of our soap products, we have received considerable feedback from skin disorder sufferers offering qualitative results from their use of Island Rx on diagnosed common skin disorders like acne, eczema, psoriasis and rosacea.

 

We have a number of testimonials that would indicate the effectiveness of Island Rx.  “Although these are offered as testimonials in uncontrolled environments we believe they are early signs of the therapeutic properties of Island Rx,” said Bob Root, Keys Soap inventor.  “In this period of time, medical estheticians have told us of results with their patients where prior medical methods did not help their conditions.  We now believe that our products, including Island Rx, are tools in the growing movement of alternative chemical-free skin health”, continued Root.

 

What Keys Customers Value

 

People and pets with dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acneic conditions value the therapeutic results from using our clean products that contain no irritating or sensitizing chemicals.  Our customers enthusiastically tell us in their testimonials how our products make a difference in treating skin disorders, and irritation for themselves, their children and their pets–when nothing else has worked. After using our chemical-free therapeutic products, our customers tell us that the results they see and feel are remarkable and even life-changing!  We call this creating chemical-free skin health, on purpose, with our products and customers. Dermatologists use our Island Rx therapeutic soap and recommend it for sensitive skin for people with skin disorders that have not responded to other treatment.  We even have customers who enthusiastically recommended our soaps to their dermatologists! In 2009, we were told by movie and TV makeup artists that Keys products taught them that natural is no longer a compromise and that Island Rx Foaming Wash, Luminos, Solar Rx and Eye Butter have become a staple in their makeup routine calling them, “Clear Cosmetics!” Medical estheticians use and recommend Island Rx for sensitive, irritated and acneic skin conditions to avoid any further irritation or sensitization of the skin.  They love how it makes their skin feel and the results they see. Master certified groomers use and recommend MetaClean (formerly Muttineer) for how the therapeutic pet shampoo stops animals’ itchy skin and for how it conditions the animals’ coat and skin. Our customers are people who are interested in keeping their skin young looking and aging beautifully; people who are skin health conscious; and people who take serious sun precautions to avoid skin damage from solar radiation.  Our customers also care about the skin health of their pets and want to avoid applying pesticides and chemicals on their pets’ sensitive or allergic skin. Keys sees a link between common skin disorders and the many personal care products containing SLS While developing Keys soaps, Bob Root authored an opinion whitepaper that raises the suspicion that some diagnosed common skin disorders are really a reaction for some people to sodium laureth sulfate and other chemicals found in personal care and skin care products.

 

Root points out that in a number of cases where people had been diagnosed with skin disorders by physicians, their disorders went away when people stopped using SLS products and started using Keys Soap.  Included is the story of a woman diagnosed with psoriasis whose involuntary scratching at night led to bloodied bed sheets and a seven-month old diagnosed with eczema who was covered from head to toe with scales…except where his disposable diapers covered.  All went away in a matter of days after discontinuing SLS based laundry detergent and bath gels.

 

Wendy Steele, the cause of the Keys Soap invention offered, “When Bob first developed Island Rx for me, most of the prescription gels and cleansers that I was told to use contained SLS.  An article I read suggested that SLS maybe a culprit and I stopped using everything with SLS in it.  I was utterly amazed at how many things in my life contained SLS or one of its family of products.  My shampoo, my bath gel, facial cleanser, all my laundry products and even my toothpaste all contained SLS.  During this time, I was diagnosed with minor acne, minor eczema, minor psoriasis.  I got tired of hearing the word minor—it was pretty major to me.  I now believe that it was all SLS related.”

 

Root added; “I am not sure if SLS itself is the cause of the irritation or the fact that it purportedly increases the permeability of the skin along with absorption by the skin of chemicals by a factor of 10 times that is the cause of the skin mimicking common skin disorders.  What I know for sure is that our small sample of Island Rx users have seen a resulting change in a matter of a few days.”

 

The Technology behind Keys Islandceutical™ personal care products is a form of Quantum Science

 

Keys Islandceutical products merge holistics with herbal therapy and science to provide clean, chemical-free skin health, aromatherapy and a lift to the spirit.  Our products are designed with ingredients to gently clean, restore and protect using advanced technologies that are safe and effective.  Working with national labs and universities, we look for state of the art and “skip generation” technologies as a continuing learning and development model.

 

Essential Oils – We use the highest pharmaceutical grade ingredients that are known for their healing effect on the skin for burns, dry skin and skin afflictions.

 

Herbal Therapy Naturopathy – Our ingredients target skin problems at the cellular level.  They are natural healing ingredients used by holistic dermatologists and estheticians.

 

Chemical-Free – Our ingredients are truly natural.  Clean, chemical-free and 100% vegan, with no artificial color or fragrances, our products are all hand crafted to contribute to therapeutic skin health.

 

We have sought out aboriginal healers, dermatologists, estheticians and homeopathic practitioners to find out what they use to rejuvenate and protect the skin.  Besides moisture, they prescribe natural oils and herbs to deep clean and open the pores to receive healing oxygen.  Our experience with physicians educated at Scripps Institute and Johns Hopkins in our 10 year design quest has given us a broad reaching knowledge of skin conditions and the required treatments.  These guides helped us to find those ingredients that offer the greatest benefits to the skin. Our processes are as unique as our ingredients.  The old adage that oil and water do not mix is no longer true because of the science developed by keys.  Manufacturing techniques that include ultrasonics and infrasonics help blend theminimal number of ingredients to smooth and consistent lotions and soaps.  The industry average for a skin care product is 38 ingredients/chemicals.  At Keys, we average 8 whole ingredients that are simple and safe.  This is why Keys natural products continue to rate the safest and most effective based on the  Skin Deep report that ranks product safety.

 

Keys Islandceutical™ introduced new products at the Natural Products Expo East Show – the new line adds a therapeutic  lotion, healing serum and therapeutic chemical-free sunblock Keys announces the release of three new products to the only skin care line that is both chemical-free and therapeutic to clean, restore and protect for real skin health. Like the Keys soaps released in April 2005, our products contain only pure natural ingredients, no man-made chemicals or fragrances, and absolutely no Sodium Laureth Sulfate!  The complete Keys line enables total skin care including cleaning the skin, restoring damaged or affected skin, and protecting the skin from solar radiation effects. Keys Soap exhibited at the Natural Product Expo East trade show September 16-18, 2005 at the Washington DC Convention Center.  An international audience of trend spotters, retailers, industry leaders, and media will gather at the Washington D.C. Convention Center to interact with more than 1,100 exhibitors of natural and organic finished products and ingredients this Sept. 15-18, 2005 at the 20th anniversary of Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America.  The tradeshow will pinpoint industry trends and offer unmatched opportunities to sample and learn about the finest natural and organic products from around the world. More than 20,000 industry members attended Natural Products Expo East in 2004.

 

Keys® Introduces Therapy Facts™ Product Labeling

 

Therapy FactsTM Panel added to product label fully discloses all ingredients and percentages of active ingredients and our New Keys Logo Affirms Medicinal Differentiation of Products Here is the press release that literally changed how the industry looks aqt ingredients and disclosure.  This marked the beginning of a trend and perhaps even a law regarding full-disclosre of ingredients for all skin care products. Annapolis, MD: – March 29, 2007 –  Keys Care CEO, Wendy Steele,  revealed today at a press conference Keys new logo and Therapy FactsTM product labeling. The new Keys logo is a stylized white cross on a circular red field that resembles an Internet icon.  This new logo symbolizes the merging of high tech manufacturing and the medicinal properties. It also clearly differentiates Keys products from chemical based fragranced products.

 

Solar Rx Therapy Facts Panel

Keys also add a Therapy FactsTM Panel to every label that identifies the ingredients, their purpose and the percentages of active healing ingredients.  The panel also indicates Keys use of pharmaceutical grade ingredients in therapeutic proportions versus the industry standard operating procedure of listing ingredients that are in minuscule levels only for the purpose of label content. Wendy Steele, Keys CEO, elaborated, “I developed my first pet care product Muttineer because of a severe life threatening reaction my Bichon had after being shampooed at a groomer.  Analyzing the shampoo, we found a sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) levels exceeding 30%; the National Institutes of Health comment that SLS levels greater than 18% can kill a small animal.  As we developed more products, our customers asked for more disclosure of ingredients in plain English, the levels and in a way that they could quickly make buying decisions.

 

As we thought it through, it was obvious that people are used to the Nutrition Facts (USDA) label required on all food products.  So, we adopted the format and modified it to make sense for end users of our products, retailers and other manufacturers.”

 

The Keys Therapy FactsTM panel is on all their new products labels and will eventually be on their entire line of personal and pet care products.  The panel identifies key decision points for buyers.  Here is a list of the core sections of the panel.

 

•   Standardized design and look

•   Organic content of the product

•   Affirmation of “100% Natural, Vegan and Biodegradable” contents

•   Affirmation of Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients in Therapeutic Proportions

•   List of ingredient, their English name, the vitamins contained in the ingredient or their actions •   The actual percentages of active ingredients •   The Environmental Working Group ranking of the products safety

•   A product purpose statement

•   Instructions for use

•   No Animal Testing affirmation

•   Manufacturing country (USA)

•   Contact information

 

Wendy Steele, Keys Founder continued, “This Therapy FactsTM panel just speaks for itself.  It is a response to numerous customer inquiries.  We encourage other manufacturers to follow suit and fully disclose their ingredients and levels.  We are discussing licensing of our Therapy FactsTM panel to other manufacturers and to those that we will be private labeling all natural chemical-free skin care products for them.  Our purpose is full disclosure of all ingredients and an assurance from licensees that they will provide an honest description to their customers through this panel on their products.  In turn, consumers and dealers will have a clear understanding of a products purpose and actions.”

 

Keys Soap Technology Background

 

Keys Soaps solve skin problems, stimulate the senses, and create positive emotions.  Islandceutical™ is our term that assures people of these three criteria. Bob Root, a former Silicon Valley CEO, and Wendy Steele, a former Coca-Cola executive, founded Keys Soap.  Bob invented the soaps to help Wendy, the love of his life, a melanoma survivor.  Her suffering and a desire to maintain her active, outdoor lifestyle drove him to give back her quality of life. Wendy said, “The Keys Soap story isn’t about starting a business, or being an entrepreneur.  It is about enjoying life with healthy skin.  I am determined to live an active, healthy outdoor lifestyle after experiencing melanoma.” “It was not my technology background that inspired the formulation of my soaps, it was my study as a chef that guided me” said Bob. “Like creating a great culinary masterpiece, the ingredients have to work together, be of the highest quality, and must be skillfully added in the proper order.  More importantly, the meal must have a positive intention for the person savoring it.  This is the way of Keys!”

 

Aromatherapy Benefits of Keys Soaps

 

All Keys Soaps are a form of aromatherapy.  We have mapped the essential oils (EO) we use to provide a lift to the spirit and senses.  Aromatherapy has proven to affect the mind and the moods of people.  This is why we have chosen the spirit lifting citrus blends combined with natural EO herbal extracts as a side purpose for our soaps.  Keys hand crafts our products to lift the spirit as well as provide therapeutic benefits to the skin.

 

KODA Products for Dogs

 

jasper-table_2KODA is the dog therapy product line established by Keys.  Products include chemical-free natural supplements and topical therapies for dogs.  We use ancient remedies and modern technology to make natural products that makes dogs feel good and solve both internal and skin problems.  We use pharmaceutical grade ingredients in therapeutic proportions to solve problems that account for the top 10 reasons for vet visits.  KODA is a combination of wellness products and natural solutions.
Koda is Lakota Sioux for “Friend.”  The word perfectly describe the intention for our products and their recipients.  Today’s dogs are exposed to all sorts of environmental and chemical exposures that are and will shorten their lives.  After an experience with our 14 month old pup, Jasper,  that forced him to have to take strong antibiotics and Prednisone,  we  realized that the Veterinarians were ill equip to balance his prescriptions with a wellness program.  Determined, we set out to find the finest ingredients the same way that we developed our custom regime for Jasper.  You can read the entire KODA story Here

 

Keys Care, Keys Soap et al are wholly  owned brands of Orion Leaning International, Inc., a Wyoming Corporation.  Keys®, KODA®, Solar Rx®, Luminos®, Chemical-Free Skin Health®, The Technology of People® ,Therapy Facts, Islandceutical®, and Urban Shield®  are US Patent and Trademark Office registered trademarks.

Clean Green Cafe is a blog news center of Orion Learning International, Inc.  It is affiliated with both the Keys® an KODA® brands as their news reporting arm.

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EWG Report on Fragrance – Not So Sexy!

EWG Report Cover

The EWG just released a report on Fragrances. Below is a part of the report and links to read the entire report.

What is important to understand is that these same secret ingredients are used in personal care and household products. That familiar brand fragrance of Tide, Dreft and dryer sheets come from fragrance developed in the same process as the cologne’s and perfumes listed in the EWG Report.

This report is not startling to us, but it will be to you. It is clear and concise as well as very easy to understand. Simply if it has a long lasting smell, it is a good chance that your products have some of these secret ingredients that are talked about in the report.

This morning our chief scientist, Bob Root, was a featured speaker on the industry call hosted by the Product Stewardship Institute. Continue reading EWG Report on Fragrance – Not So Sexy!

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Keys on the Road with the Stars..At the Oscar’s

By Wendy Steele, Keys CEO

Wendy Steele Keys CEO and 10+ Year Melanoma Survivor

A few years ago when I fell and sprained my ankle, I had to send Bob to Santa Monica CA to meet with 300 Hollywood makeup artists.  The trip was to introduce Eye Butter as a natural alternative to eye foundations and creams.  Our message then and now was that natural products no longer needed to be a compromise.  Our message was and is that Eye Butter, Luminos and Solar Rx actually make people look good on and off camera.  Not just for the Red Carpet.

Most of you know that Bob is my business partner and also my husband.   Since I was then on crutches and unable to travel, it was hard to send him to be with makeup artists which were mostly beautiful women with “the natural look”.  As the story continues,  happily, Bob’s connection with these women did not end with the event in Santa Monica.  The relationships have strengthened and multiplied to where most of our beauty advisors are  makeup artists and actors.  And during this journey we have learned so much from them not only about on-camera results with Keys products, in addition many have become such good friends of Keys through our relationships with them.  Truly, they have become my friends as well.  Many attending a surprise birthday party for Bob at the Reagan Library in Southern California.

Traditionally, products are endorsed by celebrities by being paid to do so.  Not only can we not afford to do this form of endorsement, but it is generally against our philosophy.  Beauty is a relatively new market sector for us and most of the clear cosmetic product advancements came from our association with some very creative makeup artists. Continue reading Keys on the Road with the Stars..At the Oscar’s

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Keys Clear Cosmetics

Clear Cosmetics – Keys MakeupBob_weeds_125

By Bob Root, Keys Chief Technologist

When I am in front of customers, doctors, estheticians, makeup artists, actors and cosmeticians, the question is always the same.  “When is Keys going to create a makeup line?”  My answer is when I can find safe ingredients that have the right colors and staying power.

mineralsI began looking at traditional makeup about four years ago.  I studied conventional makeup products as well as the mineral makeups.  What I found in common was a group of minerals and compounds that are earth derived  from oxides or rock ground into small particles that are suspended either in a cream, lotion or dry powder base.

Upon further investigation, I found that many lipsticks,  eye shadows and tints all contained lead, mica, silica, iron oxide and even some minerals that have low dose radiation.  When I discovered this, I wondered why the mainline companies producing makeup did not use berries, extracts, plant parts and other safer ingredients.  As I studied further, I realized that using the “more natural” ingredients did not work nearly as effectively as their mineral alternatives.  Why?  The answer is that most non-mineral colors are weak and have low staying power.  Most mineral based makeup’s are opaque in nature where fruit based colorants are more transparent and are water soluble.

Continue reading Keys Clear Cosmetics

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Luminos: A Revolution in Makeup, by Design

How Does Luminos Work…A new generation of makeup by design.

By Bob Root, Keys Technologist

Authors note:  Everywhere I go, women and men  come up to me say, “Show me that Luminos thing you do?”  What they are talking about is a little illusion I do with Luminos that is more than an illusion.  I turn my hands, palms down, show them the back of my hands and then rub Luminos on the back of just one hand.  Two seconds and I show them the back of both hands again, side-by-side.  The Luminos hand is clear, smooth and any redness is gone.  I move from one lighting area to another to show them that the illusion remains in any light. Then I explain how a TV show inspired its creation.  Invariably, the first question is, “How did you do that.”  I answer…Magic!

Painting Faces: Luminos Background – How it began!

LuminosKeys was thrust into the Hollywood scene with our Eye Butter.  Invited to present Eye Butter to 300 Hollywood makeup artists I was exposed to a lot of industry jargon.  What struck me the most was that the makeup artists referred to themselves as “face painters.”

As Eye Butter grew in popularity, I realized that we had something different.  Eye Butter was different than anything else because it softened, illuminated and brightened the eyes.  Makeup artists liked it because they kept telling me that it’s like a clear foundation that hides defects without covering the skin…Eye Butter grabs the makeup and holds it lighter and longer.

I really did not take notice of  until a makeup artist asked me to create a new product for a new TV show. Continue reading Luminos: A Revolution in Makeup, by Design

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Keys Chosen By California Women’s Conference

shriver

One of the premier conferences every year for and about women is the California Women’s Conference hosted by Maria Shriver and the Governor of California.  This year, Keys was honored to be invited as one of the sponsors of the conference being asked to have our Luminos be included in the speakers’ gift bags.  Many conferences permit vendors to buy their way into participation.  For this conference it is an invitation only honor that delighted us to receive.

There will be 118 speakers from the entire globe that includes Sir Richard Branson, Kelly Preston, Maria Shriver and numerous noteworthy speakers.  Click Here for a complete list of speakers.

The conference covers a wide array of topics and is a concentrated two day event.  Keys will also be partnering with some of our retailers in Southern California and will be exhibiting our full line of products.

LuminosKey Luminos continues to gain momentum as one of the hottest products in the Hollywood TV, Motion Picture and for Television Commercials.  The illusionary effects and glowing skin resulting from Luminos has caused quite a stir from the like of “LA Candy” and is well known by director of photography and makeup artists in the industry.  No surprise it will be a significant part of this year’s gift bag to every speaker.
Continue reading Keys Chosen By California Women’s Conference

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Keys Solar Rx Featured in G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck

ebook-g-free-diet

 

 

 

 

New Gluten-Free book by Elisabeth Hasselbeck of “The View” ABC Television Talk Show has featured Keys Solar Rx in the book. Keys Solar Rx has been listed as the most effective moisturizing sunscreen by the EWG , Consumer Reports and is now featured by Elisabeth because it is also gluten-free. Continue reading Keys Solar Rx Featured in G Free Diet by Elisabeth Hasselbeck

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Solar Flare! What you don’t know can kill you!

Solar Flare – What you don’t know can kill you!

Whitepaper by Wendy Steele, Keys Founder (updated from 2007)

windsatr-wendyYour skin is the first thing that people notice about you—at every age!  We often take it for granted. The fact is we rely on our skin health to protect us every day of our lives, as the body’s first defense from the damaging effects of the environment.

What you choose to do to your skin has everything to do with the skin results that you will get. Everyday, people use soaps, scrubs, gels, toners, lotions, creams, skin lighteners, brighteners, faders—and the list goes on!  Most of these products contain chemicals that can sensitize, irritate and even weaken the skin. 

 The absolute worst culprit for lifetime damage and irritation of the skin is the relentless everyday effects of solar radiation.  How much time you’ve spent on the beach blanket or at the pool in your lifetime does make a difference in how your skin looks today.  In the case of melanoma skin cancer, if not detected early it can kill you.

 It still astounds me when I hear someone say; “I’m just working on getting a base tan” as if it is good for you!   How did an entire generation flock toward the beach with the belief that the sun was good for you and act as if tanning was healthy, attractive and desirable?

Circa 1960’s- 70’s Tanning culture rides the wave 

Picture a sun-drenched California beach with young muscle builders, beach babes and surfer dudes.  Back then, the “Ho Daddy’s” were actually the want to be surfers that hung out on the beach, in hopes of cruising with the beach babes.  The genuine surfers didn’t care about all of the beach hubbub; after all they really just wanted to catch the perfect wave and hang ten. 
Continue reading Solar Flare! What you don’t know can kill you!

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FACTS Versus FUD

By Bob Root, Keys CTO

BobCNM-blogI spend 300 days a year on the road, out and about with our customers, retailers and at industry events. I receive numerous questions every day. The majority are inspiring and educational for me.

Almost daily, though, I receive questions that relate to opinions expressed by some people or companies that are not based in fact, and literally scare people. They strike fear in people and I wonder what motivates these fearmongers to use negative marketing to further themselves or to try to elevate themselves in other peoples’ eyes.

We see both companies and journalists using fear tactics to try and sell themselves, products and publications. We call this the FUD factor. FUD stands for Fear, Uncertainty and Doubt, and this combination is the antithesis of facts. I see ads, blogs and opinions that border on criminal irresponsibility, because their content will often scare people so badly that they stop using their prescription products, thus threatening their lives.
Continue reading FACTS Versus FUD

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Keys Solar Rx #1 Again On EWG Sunscreen Report

solar_rxOnce again Keys Solar Rx tops the best and safest sunblock on the Environmental Working Group 2009 Sunscreen Report. Now two years in a row, Solar Rx tops the Moisturizing Category for the safest and most effective sunscreen protection. Wendy Steele, Keys CEO said, “I am thrilled for Keys to be #1 again. I am even more thrilled for the people this report will touch because the EWG has refined this years report to be a significant tool in the prevention of skin cancer in children and adults. By seperating Beach and Sports for everyday sun protection, creating the Mosturizer with Sunscreen category is profound and a huge leap for the advocates of sun protection and sun avoidance. As an Inner Circle member of the Skin Cancer Foundation, I am so proud of this years EWG Sunscreen Report and want to extend my appreciation for the dillegence of the EWG Team! The members of the EWG team that created this report can leave for their 4th of July holiday knowing that they will have saved countless lives. Good On Ya EWG!”

Here is the link to the EWG Sunscreen Moisturizers with SPF protection listing

Some significant point in the EWG Sunscreen Report are listed below

Continue reading Keys Solar Rx #1 Again On EWG Sunscreen Report

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Bob Root on Super Natural Mom Radio Show

BobCNM-blogBob Root, Keys Founder and Technologist was interviewed by Beth Greer, author of “The Super Natural Home” on her radio show, The Super Natural Mom, yesterday. The broadcast was live and can be heard by click the link below or the download link. (large file, so we do not recommend downloading). There were a number of subjects discussed including the meaning of the word “Natural” and “Organic” in the safe cosmetics market as well as misuse in the traditional over-the-counter skincare market. Also discussed are some of the chemicals commonly used by skin care companies and the potential health hazards.
beth_greer

The Super Natural Mom-07/01/09  

Played: 0 | Download | Duration: 00:58:00

Safe Cosmetics – The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry

w/ Stacy Malkan and Bob Root

 

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About Us, The Stories Behind The Keys Story

Natural Solutions for Beauty, Aging and Skin Problems

Keys Snapshot: What We Do

Keys designs, developed and manufactured whole natural skincare and skin therapies that solve problems and make people feel good. Born from Wendy Steele’s brush with Melanoma, Bob Root used first principle physics to develop functional natural medicines using ancient remedies merged with modern pure science and technology. The therapeutic proportions with world class grade ingredients created a line of products that work to solve problems and because they are natural, are simple, reassuring and make people feel good about the company and products.

The line consists of:
• Natural Skincare
• Natural Auyervedic Skin Therapies
• Alternative Natural Petroleum Jelly Replacements
• KPRO Hollywood Makeup Artist Inspired Foundation & Solutions
• PurPlay – Functional Personal Lubricants
• KODA – Topical and Functional Supplements for Dogs

Keys has some of the top products listed on the EWG Skin Deep database. For the last 10 years, Solar Rx has ranked as one of the top moisturizer sunscreens on the annual EWG Sunscreen Report.

Solar Rx was rated #1 by Consumer Reports Magazine for safety and efficacy.

The Keys products are handcrafted in Oregon by highly skilled artisans. All products are functional by design. They are aboriginal medicines by nature. University and research affiliations make the company as science-based as they are focused on the integral wellness of their followers.

Perhaps our most secret ingredient is our belief in our customers and what we have learned from them.

Keys Snapshot: Keys Story

What happens when a brainiac boyfriend discovers his smoking hot girlfriend has Melanoma.  He fixes the problems! This begins the Keys Story, Keys Natural Skincare and the effort to naturally end skin disorders!

Keys StoryWendy Steele, Keys CEO and Founder, fondly says that Keys is all her fault. The reality is that she survived deadly Melanoma but could not beat the chemicals in prescription and skincare products that left her skin a train-wreck. Wendy experienced just about every type of skin disorder imaginable and all we traced back to the Dirty Dozen chemicals in about 98% of the skin care and prescription products available OTC and from doctors.

Wendy’s boyfriend, Bob Root, a former Silicon Valley CEO/Engineer undertook the project to develop products to help Wendy. He gathered information from Harvard MD’s turned naturopaths to aboriginal healers. He realized that there was a pattern and scheme to skin health. It was to be Chemical-Free. Thus the Keys tagline of Chemical-Free Skin Health®.

Bob’s products worked and worked quickly for Wendy.   Friends with similar disorders, their family members with something as simple as dry skin, through acne and skin cancer suffers found relief using Bob’s products that he gifted them. Creating the Keys line was not a decision, it was market demand that brought out the initial four products and stunned the burgeoning natural products industry. Why they all still had some chemicals and Bob’s did not!

Keys Snapshot: Keys Probiome® Products

Keys products solve skin problems and make people feel good. Skin care, skin therapies and anti-aging products come from whole natural ingredients known for their efficacy and safe performance. From the slightest itch or fine line to post-cancer skin disorders, each Keys product is a solution to a problem. Pure, clean, safe and effective, Keys facilitates skin health without chemicals. All of the products are Probiome® meaning they promote healthy skin by nurturing our skin’s natural microbiome. Our skin’s community.

Click To View

Performance:

Functionality is paramount at Keys. Coming from Silicon Valley to Bob, products have to do something. Great if they make people feel good, but in his mind, they have to solve problems. He fixed his girlfriend’s problems and the precursor for anything Keys makes is that it has to solve problems people are experiencing without using any chemicals.

So, in a snapshot, here is what you can expect from everything Keys makes:

  • All products solve problems and make people (and their pets) feel good
  • All products are free of human-made chemicals. Ergo Chemical-Free
  • All products use the highest quality whole natural ingredients
  • All products have the highest proportion of functional components with no scrimping or compromises
  • All products are priced reasonably well below chemical-laden pharmaceuticals because of the business systems Keys employs. They were the first 100% cloud-based company in the natural products industry.
  • All products are whole natural ingredients
  • All products are Vegan
  • All products are Gluten-Free
  • All products are Soy-Free
  • All products are Keto (carb-free, sugar-free_
  • All products are Paleo
  • All ingredients are non-GMO
  • All products use organic or wild-crafted ingredients

Keys StoryBob in his top-selling book, Chemical-Free Skin Health®, points out that it was a lot of trial and error to develop those first four products for Wendy. My incentive was that Wendy was in trouble because of western medicine and I was determined to figure out how to solve her problems naturally. The other 45+ products in the Keys line were all inspired by skin disorders related to him by loyal customers that believe in him. He does not take that lightly!

You can read more of the story in detail below. Now Bob & Wendy are married and still developing products, giving speeches, writing books and listening to what customers have to say. Funny, Bob always refers to Wendy as his smoking hot girlfriend and her as her brainiac boyfriend. 20 years of solving problems and making people feel good together with chemical-free skin health products.

Read on for More of the History


Circa 1996 to Now!

Wendy Steele, Keys CEO.  We are not just another natural products company.  We feel and act as natural medicine and therapy products company that uses whole natural ingredients.  I believe our Purpose and Direction statement says it all!”   Why

“We believe that over 50% of all skin disorders in people and pets are misdiagnosed and are caused by chemicals in everyday products and the environment!

We offer you this backgrounder as insight into our reason for being, purpose, and direction.  

Keys Care designs, develops and manufactures natural healing therapies for people and pets.   The quality and quantity of our ingredients are what differentiate us.  We use pharmaceutical grade whole ingredients in therapeutic proportions.  We use ancient remedies, natural medicines, whole natural ingredients, aromatherapy and aboriginal homeopathy combined with modern technology to provide safe and effective products for people and pets with skin disorders, sensitive skin, post cancer recovery or those wanting to avoid chemicals in their lives.  Our resellers are an extension of our core team and are experts and trusted advisors in their communities.

At our baseline, we believe that all of our products must solve problems and make people feel good.  We also think that natural and organic are not features, they are the choice we make assuring purity of purpose.

How It Began
Wendy Steele and Bob Root are the founders and inventors of Keys Soap.  They are both ex-corporate executives: Bob was a CEO of a Silicon Valley High Tech company and Wendy a VP at Coca-Cola.

The soap and skin care connection?  Skin Cancer!

Wendy Steele, Keys Founder, was diagnosed with Melanoma and beat the deadly disease.  She could not overcome the terrible reactions she had from prescription and expensive skincare products.  Told she had eczema, psoriasis, acne, rosacea and dermatitis her condition deteriorated.  Doctors kept prescribing more junk, steroids, and cortisones.

Wendy was struck with Skin Cancer multiple times.  She has beaten Melanoma and other forms of the devastating skin disease.  As an advocate of Skin Cancer prevention, and an Inner Circle Member of the Skin Cancer Foundation, Wendy has tried virtually every form of skin sun protection.  From exotic 100 SPF swimwear to SPF 30 clothing, and every form of sunblock, she is an expert on taking skin protective measures to avoid sun damage.  From her personal experience, the more products she put on her body, the more sensitive her skin became.  Her use of lotions, sunscreens and exotic clothing cost thousands of dollars annually.  The problem was that no matter what products she used, she did not feel free from itchy irritated skin that was exacerbated by that sticky feeling from lotions and sunscreens.

Wendy recalls: “Bob and I talked for years about creating a rejuvenating soap for my ultra-sensitive skin.  Like many products, Keys Soap was born out of necessity. When we lived in Southern California, I was diagnosed with Melanoma Skin Cancer.  After successful surgery to remove my cancer, I was using so much sunscreen that it started to block my pores and irritate my skin.  My skin was becoming more fragile even though I used the very best lotions money could buy.  I tried natural liquid soap, but it was not quite right.  So, we decided to develop our own organic Castile body soap.  The initial cleansing results and skin relief I experienced using Island Rx finally set me free from experimenting with the myriad of products that had previously smothered my skin.”

Keys Factoids:

  • Safest Sunscreen in the World, EWG 2008, 2009, 2010 Sunscreen Report. www.safecosmetics.org
  • Most effective cosmetic sunscreen. Consumer Reports Magazine, July 2007
  • Oscar Red Carpet Best Picks 2010, Kerry Malouf
  • Maria Shriver 2009 California Women’s Conference Speakers Gift Bag Pick.
  • Luminos, LA Daily Candy Best Moisturizer
  • Natural medicines that heal skin disorders. Dr. Elaine Carter
  • Truly natural beauty products that feel and look great!, Vert Venice Beach CA
  • Natural is better and not a compromise. LA Daily Candy
  • Finally, a natural shampoo that feels and looks better than salon brands. E K, Actress
  • Moisturizers that work in harmony with mineral makeups. K B, Makeup Artist

Keys Product Categories:

  • Natural Anti-Aging Skin Care & Beauty
  • Natural Hair & Scalp Care
  • Healing Skin Therapies & Natural Topical Medicines
  • Natural Pet Care & Natural Topical Medicines
  • Pet Skin Therapies & Natural Insect Repellants

What We Believe

There are two facets to skin health and wellness for pets and people.  It is a combination of what you use and what you avoid.

Skin disorders rank at the top of the list for veterinarian and dermatologist visits.  We believe that over 50% of all skin disorders are misdiagnosed and are caused by chemicals in everyday products…many with the claim of natural, organic or botanical.

Longevity and Wellness are connected.  The life expectancy in the United States for pets and people has been consistently dropping.  Why?  We believe the body burden from the dirty dozen chemicals in skin care and household products may be causing disorders, outbreaks and even contributing to elevated cancer rates.

This is why we use the term Chemical-Free.  It means free of human-made chemicals.  We are committed to leading the way for other manufacturers to disclose product ingredients fully.  Keys created the Therapy Facts panel to help people to make healthier choices for their family and pets.

Ancient Remedies – Modern Technology – Green Science

Today, modern medicine treats symptoms and not the cause.  Their products, therefore, focus on the symptom and not the cause.  Aboriginal, eastern, holistic, herbal, naturopathy and ancient medicines treat the whole being and look for the cause.  In many cases, it is an imbalance that causes disease and disorders.

We search the world for ancient remedies.  We use modern technology, green science, and pharmaceutical grade ingredients.  We create products that work in harmony to:

• Solve skin problems

• Soothe skin allergies

• Heal minor cuts, abrasions, and burns

• Act as natural insect repellents

Our affiliations include:

• University of Maryland School of Medicine

• Los Alamos National Labs

• National Institutes of Health

• Ohio State University

• Environmental Working Group

• Compact signer for The Campaign for Safe Cosmetics

The Keys Difference –What We Use:

• Whole Natural ingredients to bring skin health back in balance

• Understanding of the causes and effect of various skin disorders,

allergies and problems

• Simple ingredients in use for over 1000 years in other parts of the world

• Safe ingredients for pets and people

Pharmaceutical Grade & Quality for Efficacy-Results

• Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients is a term that defines the level of quality in the industry.  It also establishes the efficacy of an ingredient

• Therapeutic Proportions – Keys Therapy Facts panel state the level of the number of ingredients that we use in our products

Why it Matters:

There is a direct relationship to the quality and grade ingredients in products and the results you get.  Many products promote Aloe Vera and Shea Butter as ingredients.  Pharma Grade ingredients are rated the best in quality, with the highest level of critical actions and values associated with them.  When you read a label, you should ask:  what grade ingredients and in what proportion?  For example, our Aloe has a polysaccharide level of 10.  Many Aloe’s we tested were not even Aloe.  Our Shea Butter tests to a fatty acid level of >2.5.  Many processed Shea’s are less than 0.8.  There is a difference in even the same named ingredient.

The Keys Difference – What We Avoid:

• Fragrance – they are known skin irritants for pets and people, and many contain chemicals found on the Dirty Dozen list that you should avoid!

• Chemicals that are in 85%+ of skincare and household products

• The ‘Dirty Thirty’ list of chemicals – see the complete list on the back inside panel of this brochure

You Get What You Pay For!

• We develop chemical-free healing therapies that have a high degree of efficacy

• We don’t cut corners or use less expensive ingredients or market various scents or fragrances

• We use pharmaceutical grade ingredients in therapeutic proportions, so our products cost more.  Ironically, in most cases, they are one-third to half the price of prescription products

Attaining healthy youthful skin is a lifetime journey.  In this quest, people use soaps, scrubs, gels, toners, moisturizers, lotions, creams, lighteners and the list goes on!  They also bathe their pets in shampoos for their armotharapy instead of the pet’s well being.  Most of these products use chemicals that sensitize, irritate and weaken the skin.  For example, 95% of all liquid soaps and shampoos contain SLS (sodium lauryl or laureth sulfates) that increase skin permeability and opens the door for other chemicals and irritants to penetrate deep into the skin.  Parabens, petrolatum, propylene glycol, Cocamide DEA/lauramide DEA and triethanolamines are common ingredients in all kinds of soaps, shampoos, creams, and lotions.  When on the skin or absorbed into the body, they can create susceptibility to allergic skin reactions, skin disorders and even worse are linked to diseases!

If you or your pets has irritated or affected skin, odds are good that it is caused by the shampoo, body and face soap you use, anti-bacterial hand products, or residue from your laundry detergent. The skin is our single biggest organ, and skin health is vitally important.  Most of the soaps people use on their skin is a degreasing detergent; in fact, most of the liquid products using the term “soap” are not soaps at all.  They are chemical detergents containing SLS that strip away oils and actually damage the skin.  That is why there is very little difference between most bath gels, dishwashing liquid, shampoos and engine degreasers.

The Keys philosophy is to simplify skin care by carefully and naturally cleansing, restoring and protecting the most sensitive skin.  We consciously act on that philosophy to improve skin health.  We choose not to use chemicals in our products, on purpose!

Keys Soap, Island Rx, Show Promise in Helping with Common Skin Disorders

Keys Soap first announced the introduction of its new line of all-natural, chemical-free therapeutic liquid bath and hand soaps on March 29, 2005.  Keys liquid soaps are holistic, soothing, therapeutic soaps for people with sensitive, allergic or affected skin.  They contain only pure ingredients with no human-made chemicals or fragrances.  Our soaps do not contain skin irritants like SLS, parabens, propylene glycol or DEA.

Since the release of our soap products, we have received considerable feedback from skin disorder sufferers offering qualitative results from their use of Island Rx on diagnosed common skin disorders like acne, eczema, psoriasis, and rosacea.  We have many testimonials that would indicate the effectiveness of Island Rx.  “Although these are  testimonials in uncontrolled environments we believe they are early signs of the therapeutic properties of Island Rx,” said Bob Root, Keys Soap inventor.  “In this period of time, medical estheticians have told us of results with their patients where prior medical methods did not help their conditions.  We now believe that our products, including Island Rx, are tools in the growing movement of alternative chemical-free skin health”, continued Root.

What Keys Customers Value

People and pets with dry skin, eczema, psoriasis, rosacea and acneic conditions value the therapeutic results from using our clean products that contain no irritating or sensitizing chemicals.  Our customers enthusiastically tell us in their testimonials how our products make a difference in treating skin disorders, and irritation for themselves, their children and their pets–when nothing else has worked.

After using our chemical-free therapeutic products, our customers tell us that the results they see and feel are remarkable and even life-changing!  We call this creating chemical-free skin health, on purpose, with our products and customers.

Dermatologists use our Island Rx therapeutic soap and recommend it for sensitive skin for people with skin disorders that have not responded to other treatment.  We even have customers who enthusiastically recommended our soaps to their dermatologists!

In 2009, we were told by movie and TV makeup artists that Keys products taught them that natural is no longer a compromise and that Island Rx Foaming Wash, Luminos, Solar Rx and Eye Butter have become a staple in their makeup routine calling them, “Clear Cosmetics!”

Medical estheticians use and recommend Island Rx for sensitive, irritated and acneic skin conditions to avoid any further irritation or sensitization of the skin.  They love how it makes their skin feel and the results they see.

Master certified groomers use and recommend MetaClean (formerly Muttineer) for how the therapeutic pet shampoo stops animals’ itchy skin and for how it conditions the animals’ coat and skin.

Our customers are people who are interested in keeping their skin young looking and aging beautifully; people who are skin health conscious; and people who take serious sun precautions to avoid skin damage from solar radiation.  Our customers also care about the skin health of their pets and want to avoid applying pesticides and chemicals on their pets’ sensitive or allergic skin.

Keys sees a link between common skin disorders and the many personal care products containing SLS

While developing Keys soaps, Bob Root authored an opinion whitepaper that raises the suspicion that some diagnosed common skin disorders are a reaction for some people to sodium laureth sulfate and other chemicals found in personal care and skin care products.  This whitepaper can also be downloaded from the Keys Soap website at  http://www.keys-soap.com/skindisorders.pdf In this whitepaper; Root points out that in many cases where people had been diagnosed with skin disorders by physicians, their disorders went away when people stopped using SLS products and started using Keys Soap.  Included is the story of a woman diagnosed with psoriasis whose involuntary scratching at night led to bloodied bed sheets and a seven-month-old diagnosed with eczema who had scales from head to toe except where his disposable diapers covered.  All went away in a matter of days after discontinuing SLS based laundry detergent and bath gels.  Wendy Steele, the cause of the Keys Soap invention offered, “When Bob first developed Island Rx for me, most of the prescription gels and cleansers that I was told to use contained SLS.  An article I read suggested that SLS may be a culprit and I stopped using everything with SLS in it.  I was utterly amazed at how many things in my life contained SLS or one of its family of products.  My shampoo, my bath gel, facial cleanser, all my laundry products and even my toothpaste all contained SLS.  During this time, the doctor told me I  had minor acne, minor eczema, minor psoriasis.  I got tired of hearing the word minor—it was pretty major to me.  I now believe that it was all SLS related.” Root added; “I am not sure if SLS itself is the cause of the irritation or the fact that it purportedly increases the permeability of the skin along with absorption by the skin of chemicals by a factor of 10 times that is the cause of the skin mimicking common skin disorders.  What I know for sure is that our small sample of Island Rx users has seen a resulting change in a matter of a few days.”

The Technology behind Keys Islandceutical™ personal care products is a form of Quantum Science

Keys Islandceutical products merge holistics with herbal therapy and science to provide clean, chemical-free skin health, aromatherapy and a lift to the spirit.  Our products are designed with ingredients to gently clean, restore and protect using advanced technologies that are safe and effective.  Working with national labs and universities, we look for state of the art and “skip generation” technologies as a continuous learning and development model.

Essential Oils – We use the highest pharmaceutical grade ingredients that are known for their healing effect on the skin for burns, dry skin and skin afflictions.

Herbal Therapy Naturopathy – Our ingredients target skin problems at the cellular level.  They are natural healing ingredients used by holistic dermatologists and estheticians.

Chemical-Free – Our ingredients are truly natural.  Clean, chemical-free and 100% vegan, with no artificial color or fragrances, our products are all handcrafted to contribute to therapeutic skin health.

We have sought out aboriginal healers, dermatologists, estheticians and homeopathic practitioners to find out what they use to rejuvenate and protect the skin.  Besides moisture, they prescribe natural oils and herbs to deep clean and open the pores to receive healing oxygen.  Our experience with physicians educated at Scripps Institute and Johns Hopkins in our 10-year design quest has given us a broad-reaching knowledge of skin conditions and the required treatments.  These guides helped us to find those ingredients that offer the greatest benefits to the skin.

Our processes are as unique as our ingredients.  The adage that oil and water do not mix is no longer true because of the science developed by keys.  Manufacturing techniques that include ultrasonics and infrasonics help blend the minimal number of ingredients to smooth lotions and soaps.  The industry average for a skincare product is 38 ingredients/chemicals.  At Keys, we average 8 whole ingredients that are simple and safe.  This is why Keys natural products continue to rate the safest and most effective based on the www.safecosmetics.org Skin Deep report that ranks product safety.

Keys Islandceutical™ introduced new products at the Natural Products Expo East Show –

the new line adds a therapeutic  lotion, healing serum and therapeutic chemical-free sunblock

Keys announces the release of three new products to the only skincare line that is both chemical-free and therapeutic to clean, restore and protect for real skin health.

Like the Keys soaps released in April 2005, our products contain only pure natural ingredients, no human-made chemicals or fragrances, and no Sodium Laureth Sulfate!  The complete Keys line enables total skin care including cleaning the skin, restoring damaged or affected skin, and protecting the skin from solar radiation effects.

Keys Soap exhibited at the Natural Product Expo East trade show September 16-18, 2005 at the Washington DC Convention Center.  An international audience of trend spotters, retailers, industry leaders, and media will gather at the Washington D.C. Convention Center to interact with more than 1,100 exhibitors of natural and organic finished products and ingredients this Sept. 15-18, 2005 at the 20th anniversary of Natural Products Expo East/Organic Products Expo-BioFach America.  The tradeshow will pinpoint industry trends and offer unmatched opportunities to sample and learn about the finest natural and organic products from around the world. More than 20,000 industry members attended Natural Products Expo East in 2004.

Keys® Introduces Therapy Facts™ Product Labeling

Therapy FactsTM Panel added to product label fully discloses all ingredients and percentages of active ingredients and our New Keys Logo Affirms Medicinal Differentiation of Products

Here is the press release that changed how the industry looks at ingredients and disclosure.  This marked the beginning of a trend and perhaps even a law regarding full-disclosure of ingredients for all skin care products.

Annapolis, MD: – March 29, 2007 –  Keys Care CEO, Wendy Steele,  revealed today at a press conference Keys new logo and Therapy FactsTM product labeling.

The new Keys logo is a stylized white cross on a circular red field that resembles an Internet icon.  This new logo symbolizes the merging of high tech manufacturing and the medicinal properties. It also clearly differentiates Keys products from chemical-based fragranced products.

Keys also add a Therapy FactsTM Panel to every label that identifies the ingredients, their purpose and the percentages of active healing ingredients.  The panel also indicates Keys use of pharmaceutical grade ingredients in therapeutic proportions versus the industry standard operating procedure of listing ingredients that are in minuscule levels only for label content.

Wendy Steele, Keys CEO, elaborated, “I developed my first pet care product Muttineer because of a severe life-threatening reaction my Bichon had after being shampooed at a groomer.  Analyzing the shampoo, we found a sodium laureth sulfate (SLS) levels exceeding 30%; the National Institutes of Health comment that SLS levels greater than 18% can kill a small animal.  As we developed more products, our customers asked for more disclosure of ingredients in plain English to make quick buying decisions.  As we thought it through, it was obvious that people are used to the Nutrition Facts (USDA) label required on all food products.  So, we adopted the format and modified it to make sense for end users of our products, retailers and other manufacturers.”

The Keys Therapy FactsTM panel is on all their new products labels and will eventually be on their entire line of personal and pet care products.  The panel identifies critical decision points for buyers.  Here is a list of the core sections of the panel.

•   Standardized design and look

•   Organic content of the product

•   Affirmation of “100% Natural, Vegan and Biodegradable” contents

•   Affirmation of Pharmaceutical Grade Ingredients in Therapeutic Proportions

•   List of ingredients, their English name, the vitamins contained in the ingredient or their actions

•   The actual percentages of active ingredients

•   The Environmental Working Group ranking of the safety of the           products

•   A product purpose statement

•   Instructions for use

•   No Animal Testing affirmation

•   Manufacturing country (USA)

•   Contact information

Wendy Steele, Keys Founder, continued, “This Therapy FactsTM panel just speaks for itself.  It is a response to numerous customer inquiries.  We encourage other manufacturers to follow suit and fully disclose their ingredients and levels.  We are discussing licensing of our Therapy FactsTM panel to other manufacturers and to those that we will be private labeling all natural chemical-free skin care products for them.  Our purpose is full disclosure of all ingredients and an assurance from licensees that they will provide an honest description to their customers through this panel on their products.  In turn, consumers and dealers will have a clear understanding of the purpose and actions of a product.”

Keys Soap Technology Background

Keys Soaps solve skin problems, stimulate the senses, and create positive emotions.  Islandceutical™ is our term that assures people of these three criteria.

Bob Root, a former Silicon Valley CEO, and Wendy Steele, a former Coca-Cola executive, founded Keys Soap.  Bob invented the soaps to help Wendy, the love of his life, a melanoma survivor.  Her suffering and a desire to maintain her active, outdoor lifestyle drove him to give back her quality of life. Wendy said, “The Keys Soap story isn’t about starting a business or being an entrepreneur.  It is about enjoying life with healthy skin.  I am determined to live an active, healthy outdoor lifestyle after experiencing melanoma.”

“It was not my technology background that inspired the formulation of my soaps, it was my study as a chef that guided me,” said Bob. “Like creating a great culinary masterpiece, the ingredients have to work together, be of the highest quality and must be skillfully added in the proper order.  More importantly, the meal must have a positive intention for the person savoring it.  This is the way of Keys!”

Aromatherapy Benefits of Keys Soaps

All Keys Soaps are a form of aromatherapy.  We have mapped the essential oils (EO) we use to provide a lift to the spirit and senses.  Aromatherapy has proven to affect the mind and the moods of people.  This is why we have chosen the spirit-lifting citrus blends combined with natural EO herbal extracts as a side purpose for our soaps.  Keys handcrafts our products to lift the spirit as well as provide therapeutic benefits to the skin.