Sunday, February 27, 2011

Drink up!

So this cold weather has me on a huge hot chocolate kick! Use this recipe with less calories and artificial ingredients as powdered store bought hot chocolate to go easy on your figure and your skin! ;)
Healthy Cinnamon Hot Chocolate
2 cups milk – low-fat, skim, soy, or rice milk
2 heaping tablespoons 70 % dark chocolate cocoa powder
2 teaspoon sweetener – Organic cane sugar, granulated sugar or sugar substitute
½ teaspoon Cinnamon
1. Heat the milk in a saucepan over medium heat until steaming (but not boiling).
2. Add cocoa powder, cinnamon and sweetener and whisk to combine ingredients.
3. Whisk the cocoa powder, cinnamon and sweetener until well-blended.
4. Pour into favorite mugs or cups.
5. Enjoy.
2 servings
This is my favorite recipe using cinnamon but just simply leave out the cinnamon for plain hot chocolate….or another of my favorites, substitute ¼ teaspoon peppermint extract instead of cinnamon. JDelish!





Monday, February 21, 2011

My all time favorite skincare/Wellness products

Skincare:
-         Cucumber cleanser: This is a Dr. Spiller product that is for combination/impure skin. The cucumber extract is purifying, vitalizing, mildly bleaching. Plus it smells SO good! Hands down my favorite cleanser for my skin type.

-         De-pigmentation serum: helps to lighten sun damage, age spots, and acne scars. It is very light serum that has helped my skin so much with sun damage and acne scars.

-          Since I LOVE serums, so I couldn’t just choose one J another of my favorite serums is Vera Botania marine Silk Serum. This is great for all skin types. It improves skin elasticity and firmness. It includes Marine brown algae which is an anti-free radical, wrinkle reduction, and tissue renewal. The marine Silk Extract reduces fine lines & wrinkles, and increase firmness & suppleness. *It is not for people who have shellfish Allergies

-          Nordic Marine Algae: This mask is great for devitalized skin. It is skin-refining, remineralizing, and stimulating. It contains kelp extract which has more than 60 minerals, 12 vitamins, and 21 amino acids. This makes this mask detoxifying, purifying, toning, cleaning, revitalizing, remineralizing, nourishing, tightening, firming, and refining. This is my go to mask when I feel like my skin is looking/feeling dull and needs a little pick-me- up.

-         Jane iredale Powder-me SPF: This is by far my favorite sunscreen. Sunscreen should be worn year-round and this is a great easy way to get your face covered every day. This is a dry powder, chemical- free sunscreen for the face and body with a very water resistant rating and SPF 30 with UVA high. It contains titanium dioxide and natural clay dried in the sun which is completely free of contaminants and atmospheric pollutants. This ancient clay contains minerals that nourish and calm the skin. It is a little bit of a splurge on the budget, but it is well worth it because sun protect is the biggest key to a good skincare regimen, and lasts for several months.

Favorite Beauty Supplements:
These are the supplements that I remember to take every single day…because I can tell a huge difference when I don’t take them!
-         Essential Omega 3 fatty acids are known to play a critical role in promoting healthy skin.  They help to regulate cellular function and maintain elasticity and suppleness in the skin.  Consequently, a fatty acid deficiency will show up as skin problems. Most of us do not get enough of the Omega 3 fatty acids in our diet whereas Omega 6 fatty acids are in plentiful supply. Symptoms of Omega 3 fatty acid deficiency include skin problems like eczema, dandruff, dry and flaking skin and poor wound healing.
Three reasons why EPA is so beneficial to the skin:
  • EPA is known to reduce inflammation by helping the body to produce anti-inflammatory prostaglandins.  These are hormone-like substances that are responsible for regulating all the cells in our body.
  • EPA helps to inhibit the production of androgens, which are hormones that influence the production of sebum in the hair follicle.  Excess sebum production can lead to acne and other skin problems.
  • EPA helps to limit production of Arachidonic acid, which is responsible for pro-inflammatory responses in the body, high levels of which are found in people with inflammatory skin conditions such as psoriasis

-         Vera Botania Natural Astaxanthin: A fresh water micro algae which is a highly concentrated carotenoid with substantial health benefits. Astaxanthin is the most abundant carotenoid pigment found in the aquatic animals. It has been proven to be a super anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory agent. It helps support vitality and energy metabolism. It gives you the proper nutrition to support overall health, proper eye, SKIN, muscle, and joint functions.
Other Skin Zen Go-to’s:
-         My Juicer!! I started juicing and have had people say that my skin is glowing! A cup of nutrient packed fresh juice (mostly leafy greens) will help deliver that glow…along with drinking plenty of water!


These are just a few of my favorite things J Wondering what Products and Supplements will work best for your skin type? Come see me for a more personal plan individualized to your skin.


Monday, February 7, 2011

Manual Lymphatic Drainage

Lymph plays an extremely important role in the overall health and beauty of the body. Lymph gives the tissues the nutritional elements they need, it feeds them and takes away and eliminates the waste products of the cellular metabolism.
When you apply Manual Lymphatic Drainage movements, it stimulates the drainage of these waste products, and contributes to a better distribution of nourishing elements to the skin. This also prevents the lymph from stagnating and producing swelling of the tissues.
Lymphatic Drainage:
purifies tissues
Eliminates stasis
Regenerates cells
Ensures an improved hydration of the skin
Oxygenates the cells
Anti-aging
“Lymphatic Drainage drains away the excess fluids which surround the cells, and therefore helps to maintain the hydrous balance of the interstitial spaces. It eliminates the waste products produced by cellular metabolism” (Pr. LEDUC)
Manual Lymphatic Drainage also:
Purifies Tissues
Eliminates stasis
Regenerates cells
Improves hydration
Oxygenates cells
Increases lymph vessel contractility
Empties and compresses lymph
Improves lymph circulation
Helps to break down fibrotic areas
Causes the body’s immune system to function more effectively
Promotes healing
Relieves fluid congestion
Deeply relaxing
Accentuates parasympathetic response
Reduces pain by exciting “touch receptors”

MLD is a very light smooth movement that is deeply relaxing. I am Certified in MLD and it is included in my Acutonics Facial, but you can also request to add it on to any Facial in place of massage.  

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Juicing

I recently got a juicer for Christmas.....and I LOVE it!! The health benefits are out of this world. My Favorite Recipe for the skin is one I found in an amazing book I am reading (that I recommend to everyone!) called The Truth about Beauty by Kate James.

Kat's Beauty Detox Elixir
1 3inch wedge of cabbage
1/2 large beet
A couple bunches of dark greens (Parsley, spinach, kale, or watercress)
1 large Carrot
1 Unpeeled lemon
A thumb sized piece of ginger root

Scrub your produce, then cut it up and run it through a juicer. The benefits of this drink are crazy good. Cabbage heals the stomach lining, Beet is a great blood cleanser and wonderful for the skin. Dark greens are the ultimate detoxifiers and bone builders. Carrots are loaded with skin, vision, and body-healing caroteniods. Lemon alkalizes the body, and the peel is loaded with bioflavonoids. Ginger improves circulation and digestion.

When you take care of your body from the inside by eating healthy and juicing, it will start to show on the outside in your skin. Think Health and Beauty will follow!