4 Beverages That Will Beautify Your Skin
4 Irresistible Skincare Trends That You Will Love!
25 Ways to Turn Back the Hands of Time
While maintaining your skin’s youthful glow is not rocket science, a few good anti-aging tips can certainly help! Here are 25 of our all time favorite anti-aging tips- and of course they are green too!
- Stay out of peak sun (10am-2pm). The suns damaging rays are the #1 cause of premature aging.
- Wear sunblock on your face, arms and hands every single day. Even indirect sunlight can cause premature...
Cosmetic Case Makeover
Trading in your mainstream beauty products for natural, chemical-free formulations is one of the very best things you can do for your health. Mainstream beauty products are notorious for containing harmful ingredients including phthalates, parabens, sulfates, propylene glycol, fragrances and formaldehyde-releasing preservatives. Luckily...
Ingredient Spotlight: Tamanu Oil
The Truth About Sunscreen
Marketing often leads consumers to believe that sunscreen is a summer skin care essential, however, according to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), sunscreen should be your last resort. There is a huge discrepancy between what people think they should be doing for their skin and what is actually safest and healthiest. While some types of sunscreen are safe, many sunscreens are actually...
Red, White + Blue Skin Care
Each holiday gives us an opportunity to slow down and celebrate something meaningful to us; and the 4th of July is no exception. On the 4th, we celebrate our independence with picnics, BBQ’s, fireworks, parades, and quality time with our families and friends. Sometimes all of this fun can translate into zero down time to relax and rejuvenate.
In the spirit of creating some down time for yourself and your skin this 4th, here are 3 homemade facial treatments that...
Skin Care for Pregnancy
So you’ve got a bun in the oven. What does that mean for your skin? You could soon be experiencing anything from a “pregnancy glow” to stretch marks and even skin eruptions. Here’s our full scoop on the skin care changes we recommend that Mamas-to-be incorporate into their beauty routine:
Be Super Selective About Your Beauty Products
We highly recommend cutting out products containing toxic chemicals, parabens and additives whether you are pregnant or not, however if you haven’t done so already now is the time. Your skin can absorb up to 60% of what you put on it, which means that any toxic ingredients in your beauty products are being absorbed directly into your blood stream and can also make their way into your baby’s blood supply and potentially negatively impact your growing baby. Ideally everything that you put on your skin including soaps, lotions, beauty products and makeup should be chemical-free, pure and organic.
Tend To Your Expanding Belly
Many new mamas complain about stretch marks across their belly. While there are great products out there that can help fade stretch marks, it’s much easier to prevent them from forming in the first place. So what can you do to make it through pregnancy to birth with little to no stretch marks? The answer is quite simple. Take impeccable care of your skin and give it the building blocks it needs to stretch easefully. For starters, eat foods that will help boost your skins elasticity. Incorporate collagen rich foods such as bone broth, gelatin, eggs, cod liver oil and other healthy oils in your daily diet. This will nourish your skin from the inside out and give your skin the nutrients it needs to improve its elasticity. In addition, make sure to drink plenty of water, which will help keep your body and skin adequately hydrated. Next, give your belly maximum moisture topically in order to support your skin as it stretches. The best way to do this is by using a highly emollient natural oil such as 100% pure Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter. Make a twice-daily belly massage part of your pregnancy self care routine. And finally, ensure that you are getting plenty of the key nutrients that help prevent the formation of stretch marks. These nutrients include zinc, which can be found in lamb, pumpkin seeds, eggs and whole grains and Vitamin C, which can be found in kale, bell peppers, broccoli and oranges.
Make Sure Your Diet is Squeaky Clean
What you eat is more important now than ever. First off, everything you consume being absorbed by your growing baby, which means that the foods you are consuming are either nourishing or potentially harming the little one developing inside of you. Second, since high amounts of vitamins, minerals and phyto-nutrients are being sent straight to your growing baby, your system is getting less of these nutrients than you typically would. If you aren’t getting enough nutrients that can easily impact the health and appearance of your skin. Combat this by eating a lot of fresh, nutrient-rich foods such as spinach, bell peppers, carrots, cucumbers, berries, walnuts, pumpkin seeds and wild caught fish.
Combat Skin Eruptions
Acne is the most common skin problem among pregnant women and is caused by the secretion of oil induced by increased hormone fluctuations. The most common area for breakouts during pregnancy is around the mouth and chin. Avoid reaching for any harsh or acidic products to treat this pesky hormone-induced skin problem. Instead, treat your problem areas naturally using the following tips:
- Avoiding over washing your skin. Twice a day is plenty.
- Change your pillowcase often.
- Don’t use a harsh exfoliant. Instead use something gentle.
- Use a natural, simple toner to help absorb excess oil. Good options for this are rose water, apple cider vinegar or witch hazel.
- Make a spot treatment using one TBSP baking soda and 1 TBSP water.
- Combat stress and calm your hormones with relaxing activities such as a prenatal yoga class, massage, nap or walk in nature.
What About Essential Oils?
The use of essential oils during pregnancy is very controversial and there are a wide variety of options on the matter. According to Naturopathic Doctors, there are some essential oils that are safe to use in the 2nd and 3rd trimester of pregnancy. These “safe” oils include lavender, Chamomile and Ylang Ylang, all of which help calm and soothe. There are also several essential oils which can cause contractions and should be avoided during pregnancy. Some these include Cinnamon, Rosemary, Clove and Clary Sage. For a complete list of essential oils to avoid we recommend that you consult your Naturopath or Physician.
Eczema 101
What is Eczema? Eczema is a medical condition in which patches of skin become rough and inflamed, with blisters that cause itching and bleeding.
What Are the Causes of Eczema?
While medical science isn’t sure about the exact causes of eczema, there are factors that are thought to be contributors to this condition. The following factors...
5 Ways Yoga Benefits Your Skin
- It helps detoxify. Certain Asanas (yoga postures) help stimulate detoxification and flush out toxins from your body. A cleaner environment on the inside translates to clearer skin on the outside.
- It reduces stress. Chronic stress can have a huge impact on your health as well as the condition of your skin. Yes, our bodies are designed to handle stress via our inborn Flight–or-Fight response. The problem is that on a day to day basis our stress response gets stimulated hundreds of more times than it was designed to and therefore it’s critical that we adopt lifestyle habits that help to combat the effects of stress. Stress can lead to dull skin, acne breakouts and premature wrinkles. Yoga helps to stimulate the relaxation response and combat the negative effects of stress leading to clear, healthy, glowing skin.
- It helps increase...
The Skinny on the HOTTEST New Skincare Product
Move over Face cream, there is a new kind of facial moisturizer in town and it’s getting loads of positive attention. “What is this new product?", you wonder. It’s Facial Oil- and it’s popping up all over the place in a slew of formulations ranging from single oils to fancy oil blends infused with essential oils. Here is the scoop on this new skincare craze:
Facial Oil vs. Face Cream Creams are typically water and wax-based with a few oils added in. While waxes are great at holding existing moisture in, they have two major downsides:
#1. The barrier they create to help hold moisture...
9 HOT Tips for Summer Skincare
We love the sun! The sun helps our bodies produce Vitamin D, regulates sleep cycles and increases feelings of well-being. But as much as we need the sun’s golden rays, we also need to be mindful of their downside. Over exposure to the sun can lead to wrinkles, age spots and even skin cancer. Here are a few skincare tips that will keep your skin protected from the sun this summer (and beyond):
1. Slather on the Sunscreen. Sun damage is the #1 cause of premature aging and skin cancer. Protect your skin from harmful UV exposure with consistent daily use of sunscreen. When we say “daily” we mean every single day- rain or shine. Look for a light weight, chemical-free formula that contains zinc oxide. This is important during any season of the year, but it’s especially important in the summer since the sun is stronger and more of your skin is exposed to the elements.
2. No Nano Particles Please. For many years natural sunscreens have...
Radiant Skin in Your 50's and Beyond
Once you’ve hit 50 (or close to it) you will start to see major changes in your complexion. You’ll most likely notice the brown spots and uneven tone that resulted from all the prior decades of sunbathing, dark circles beneath your eyes that even a goods nights sleep cant shake off and a level of dryness that rivals the Sahara dessert. In addition, expression lines no longer fade away after you stop smiling and pores are larger and more visible. Although we cannot help you erase your wrinkles or to completely transform your sagging skin, we can help you to get your skin looking its absolute best. Here is what you need to know about caring for your sink in your 50’s and beyond:
Amazing 1-Ingredient Beauty Treatments
In a world full of fancy spa treatments, luxurious crèmes and expensive serums, it can be difficult to believe that less can actually be more. But what if less is more? What if one simple ingredient can provide better results than a formulation of 40+ ingredients? We believe it’s possible! Here are six 1-ingredient beauty treatments that rival expensive products and fancy spa treatments.
Beauty Treatment #1: Coconut Oil Deep Conditioning Treatment
Unlike most oils that simply coat your hair, coconut oil penetrates hair follicles to moisturize from within, repair damaged hair, and protect your hair from future damage from hair products and heat. In addition, coconut oil protects your hair from losing protein, which results in thicker, stronger hair. To top it all off, the fatty acids in coconut oil help prevent split ends and give your hair a healthy shine.
How to Use It: Massage 2-4 Tablespoons of coconut oil into...
Radiant Skin in Your 20's
Although most signs of aging probably won't kick in until your 30’s, its never too early to start getting into the habits that will help you preserve your youth as long as possible. Good skin-care habits in your 20’s are the perfect foundation for maintaining your youthful glow throughout the decades that follow. Here is what you need to know about skin-care in your 20’s:
Adopt a natural skincare regimen and stick to it
A proper skin-care routine is the foundation for healthy, glowing skin. Start with a gentle cleanser, which removes dirt, oils and impurities from pores and prevents them from getting clogged. Next, restore your skin’s natural ph balance by spritzing a hydrating toner all over your freshly cleansed face. After giving your toner a few seconds to dry, slather a...
The Essential Lifestyle Component For Getting Glowing Skin
Ranging from diet and lifestyle to environmental factors and types of products used, there are many factors that can affect your skin’s health and appearance. Although many of these factors play a role, there are some that have a more noticeable effect on your skin than others. One of the biggest contributors to the condition of your skin is the amount and quality of sleep that you get. Deprive your body of sleep and it won’t take long for your skin to begin showing the beauty-diminishing effects of sleep deprivation. On the flip side, if you consistently get a good night’s sleep you will see visible results in your skins appearance.
How does sleep affect skin? Deep sleep stimulates collagen production and helps our skin cells repair and regenerate themselves. In addition, when you are sleep deprived your body produces more cortisol (the stress hormone), which may lead to an increase of...
Skin Care 101
Taking excellent care of your skin is one of the best things you can do to combat aging and maintain your youthful glow, but with so many skin-care products and treatments out there it can be really confusing to know how to best care for our largest organ. That’s where we can help! Our approach to skin care is simple and is centered around good habits and natural (we mean TRULY natural) products and ingredients. Here are our skin-care basics:
Use Products and Ingredients that are in Harmony with Nature
Mainstream cosmetics are chocked full of toxic chemicals, parabens and sulfates that can wreak havoc on your skin as well as your health. Some of these chemicals may help to temporarily alleviate symptoms such as acne, skin rashes and puffy eyes, but in the long run they can cause more damage than good. For long-term skin health, opt for clean, natural and ideally organic products made without synthetic ingredients or additives. Our favorite natural skin care brand is Pangaea Organics, whose line of all-natural skin-care products...
Edible Beauty
Most of us don’t“guzzle” our facial moisturizer or eat our lipstick, but we might as well be. What we put ON our bodies, ends up IN our bodies---in fact about 70% of what you put on your body gets absorbed into your bloodstream. Its’ no wonder that most detox spas preach the motto “If you wouldn’t eat it, don’t put it on your body”. We love this motto and make it a goal to live by it as often as possible. Here is one of our favorite DIY (and its edible too!) beauty treatments:
Anti-aging Honey & Avocado Mask
You'll need:
- *1/2 avocado: moisturizes, softens skin and reduces inflammation.
- *1 tsp raw honey: high in antioxidants, which help slow down the aging process. Also clarifies skin by opening and unclogging pores.
- *1 tsp fresh lemon juice: contains citric acid, which cleanses and...
8 Things You Never Knew About Aloe Vera
Although its wonders have only recently been rediscovered, aloe vera has been known as a powerful healing plant for many centuries. In fact, the Ancient Egyptians held it so highly that they considered it to be the “Plant of Immortality” and Cleopatra regarded it as her beauty secret. We can surely relate to Cleopatra’s deep love for aloe. In fact, our love for aloe vera inspired us to make it one of the primary active ingredients in our award-winning scar cream. Here are the top 8 reasons we love aloe:
1. Aloe is a nutrient-rich Super food: Aloe contains over 75 different vitamins, minerals, enzymes, amino acids and phenols. In addition aloe contains salicylic acid, which is a natural anti-inflammatory agent that also helps to unclog pores. To top it all off, aloe boasts sky-high levels of vitamin C, which helps promote circulation and is essential to the health of the adrenal glands.
2. Aloe helps prevent and treat acne. Aloe contains Auxin and Gibberellins, 2 hormones that have powerful...