04/30/2012 In At Home Spa, Skin Nutrition by bien-être

Coffee may have caffeine and some beneficial properties, but it aint got NOTHIN’ on herbal tea! Every time you drink herbal tea, you are providing your body with skin-beautifying nutrients like vitamin C, antioxidants, gentle detoxifiers and anti-inflammatories. There are so many wonderful varieties to try, but my personal favorites are rooibos (powerful antioxidant protection,) Moroccan mint (peppermint is cooling, aids digestions and calms inflammation,) and chamomile tea (great for bedtime as its very calming and a de-stresser.)

Best Health Magazine agrees – I stumbled across this great little article on the benefits of herbal tea, and wanted to share it with you. I would add a couple more to this list: raspberry leaf and licorice root. Raspberry leaf tea supports the female reproductive system. Whether or not you are planning a family, supporting the health of these important organs is always a good idea. It’s also known to ease menstrual pain and help improve mood when hormones have gone a little wacky. Licorice root falls in the same category as dandelion and milk thistle in that it aids in gentle detoxification of the liver. It’s a great choice if you are doing a spring cleanse or if you’ve overindulged over the weekend.

I love coffee just as much as many of you, but have found that limiting myself to one small cup a day gives me just as much benefit as downing a venti latte (after a while, it’s just overkill) and adding in herbal tea throughout the day gives me a break from water but also gives me lots of extra benefits. Try it out, you may just get hooked!

Extra credit: Here’s even more information on the skin benefits of herbal tea.

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04/11/2012 In At Home Spa by bien-être

I love mango! This delicious tropical fruit is in season right now and it is just as sweet for your skin as it is in your morning smoothie.

Mango contains Vitamins A, B and C as well as powerful antioxidants to protect skin from inflammation and free radical damage. It’s brightening and softening for the skin as well. Although the fruit is beneficial for the skin when used topically, the skin can be very irritating, so do not use the mango skin – stick with the fruit!

Papaya contains enzymes called papain that break up dead skin and debris from the very surface of the skin without disrupting or causing inflammation. Papain is used in many popular professional skincare products, like Osmosis Purify Cleanser and Sanitas Papaya Pineapple Mask. The papain in these products is slightly more concentrated, but the whole fruit makes for a great homemade alternative. (After all – it is the actual source.) Read all about papaya here!

I use raw organic honey all – the – time and I’m constantly talking about it with my clients. As long as you are not allergic, raw organic honey is one of the BEST ingredients you can put on your skin. It aids in hydration, boosts healthy circulation, gently exfoliates with natural enzymes and provides your skin with B vitamins (yes, pun partially intended.)

This mask can be used once or twice a week, depending on your current masking schedule. Enjoy!

Mango Papaya Honey Mask Recipe

cut up mango and papaya
mash together ¼ cup papaya and mango chunks (equal parts) in a small bowl
add 1 tablespoon raw organic honey
stir until honey is completely incorporated

cleanse skin and leave damp, pull hair away form face
apply thick layer of the mask and massage in gently
leave on skin for at least 15 minutes
rinse thoroughly (warm compressing optional)
apply appropriate serum or moisturizer

Use your leftover fruit in this delicious smoothie to enjoy while masking:
½ cup organic mango
¼ cup organic papaya
3-5 organic strawberries
½ cup ice
½ cup purified water *add more as needed
proteinpowder of choice / or banana to thicken

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04/02/2012 In At Home Spa by bien-être

I’m loving lavender lately! I mean, there is just something extremely romantic about the entire process of growing, cutting, drying and using lavender. Anytime I use lavender in the spa (which is daily) I think of the French Countryside and Parisian spas. It truly is one of the most relaxing and romantic scents.

This got me to thinking that essential oils are the best perfumes. I get more compliments wearing essential oils than any perfume I’ve ever worn. I love wearing essential oil blends because they are gentle, animal and earth friendly, all natural, relatively inexpensive, and therapeutic. My current favorite blend to wear is Sweet orange, Lavender and Vanilla. This combination of sweet, citrus and floral hits all the right notes for me – relaxing, brightening and romantic all at once.

You can purchase essential oil perfumes as blends, or make you own. If you decide to DIY, take these tips into consideration first:

blend by notes: try using oils from at least 2 note families. For example, vanilla is a base note and lavender is versatile (can be middle or base) while sweet orange is a middle or top note. Add base notes first, then middle, then top (if you aren’t using a certain note, then layer from heaviest note to lightest.) For more information on essential oil note families, visit these wonderfully helpful sites: here and here

dilute before using: essential oils are powerful plant medicine, with a molecular weight tiny enough to fit right through the pores of your skin and into your bloodstream. Be sure to always properly dilute essential oils before applying them to your skin. I love using unrefined coconut oil or jojoba oil, but you can also add them to organic base lotions or other plant or nut oils. For perfume oils, the general rule of thumb is 15% dilution, this is about 10-15 drops per ounce of carrier oil (see my recipe above for example.)

get creative: try essential oils you wouldn’t necessarily like alone by blending them with popular scents. I wouldn’t normally love sandalwood or frankincense solo, but pair these with something sweet and I really love them!

Also, if you are pregnant, please take a look at this list of essential oils to avoid.

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03/26/2012 In At Home Spa by bien-être

OCM. No, this is not the close cousin of OCD (Obsessive Compulsive Masking?) It actually stands for Oil Cleansing Method, and has been long touted for its skin benefits. Yes, people actually cleanse their faces with oil instead of facial soap or foaming cleansers. I’m a big fan of oil, so long as it’s a natural botanical source – no hydrogenated grossness.

So, how does OCM work, you ask? It’s science! Because like attracts like, oil will attract…go on, you know this one…oil. Yes, its almost that easy.

OCM-ers use a combination of different oils depending on skin condition, massage said oil into dry skin (not damp,) then use warm compresses to remove oil completely – along with make-up, dirt, debris and excess sebum (skin’s natural oil.) OCM-ers love the fact that their skin still feels soft and hydrated after cleansing and the epidermal hydrolipid barrier. This superficial layer is responsible for preventing bacterial invasion, protecting us from UV radiation and regulating oil and moisture balance, keeping us waterproof. It is removed almost every time we cleanse with traditional facial cleanser or products containing acids.

I’m all for gentle cleansing! I love the idea of the OCM, but for me personally, it works best when used once or twice a week instead of everyday. My skin is not terribly dry or oily, but it is temperamental (probably because I spoil it!) I use a combination of castor and coconut oil and add in a few drops of lavender or orange essential oil. I’ve already praised Living Libations Sea Buckthorn Best Skin ever, and use that a few times each week as well.

Here is some additional information on cleansing oils and the breakdown of oil combinations, courtesy of theoilcleansingmethod.com

Normal Skin: 2 tablespoons 2 tablespoons Oily 1 tablespoon 3 tablespoons
Dry Skin: 3 tbsp carrier oil (listed below) with 1 tbsp castor oil
Normal Skin: 2 tbsp carrier oil with 2 tbsp castor oil
Oily Acneic Skin: 1 tbspn carrier oil with 3 tbsp castor oil
Castor oil deeply cleanses and purifies the skin while removing excess sebum and killing bacteria. It is thick and needs to be combined with one if the oils from the list below in order to make the most effective cleanser. As I mentioned, essential oils can be added (1 or 2drops is all that’s needed per application.) Some OCM-ers like to make larger batches and store them in blue or amber glass dropper bottles for regular use. If you do this, be sure glass bottles are completely clean and sanitized prior to filling them and keep them in a cool place (not in your gym bag or the car.)

Extra virgin Olive Oil (EVOO) – moisturizing, good for all skin types, but especially dry skin
Unrefined/virgin Coconut Oil - antimicrobial, antifungal, antibacterial
Grapeseed – good for acne and oily skin
Jojoba - good for all skin types, especially mature skin and wrinkles
Sunflower seed - versatile for all skin types
Sweet Almond - soothing and moisturizing, good for all skin types

Here’s another great OCM story over at liverenewed.com
So, what do you think? Do you love OCM or have a story to tell?

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03/06/2012 In At Home Spa, Skin Care 101 by bien-être

It’s smart to have a first aid kit on hand at home or in the office. Most first aid kits include bandages, ointment and other odds and ends – but many of those products are synthetic. I wanted to create something a bit more helpful for everyday needs. I always keep gloves, bandages, and hydrogen peroxide or witch hazel around, but added other products in that I love to use for those bumps, bruises and ouchies that come with being human.

My natural “first aid” kit includes:

Surfer’s balm – this wonderful natural balm is made with olive oil, plantain leaf, comfrey leaf, beeswax, aloe, rosemary, lavender leaf, vitamin E, tea tree oil and lavender essential oil. It’s made on Kauai and great for overexposed, chapped, sun or wind burned skin!

grapefruit seed extract - 10 drops of this liquid supplement into purified water will help keep sore throats and cold symptoms at bay. Grapefruit seed is a natural anti fungal antibacterial ingredient, and calms inflammation as well.

Sanitas Topical C - this product is meant to be a moisture serum for the face and neck, but it can also be used to help heal minor burns, cuts, scratches and abrasions. The high concentration of Vitamin C speeds healing time and acts as a protectant from free radicals. (Just make sure the skin is sealed before applying.)

coconut oil - for a great all over moisturizer. I also use this as the base of my body scrubs and many of my facial masks!

tea tree oil - I use tea tree oil post waxing to prevent irritation and remove excess wax, on nailbeds to keep them clean, and on bug bites to calm the itchy sensation and kill bacteria. You can also dilute in water and add a bit of lavender for room freshener or yoga mat cleaner!

Raw Organic Honey – the BEST facial mask all on it’s own. I use this for dry skin, sensitive skin, chapped lips and as a gentle exfoliant. Raw honey contains all the B vitamins (pun intended) exfoliating enzymes, and has natural antibacterial properties. It also helps draw moisture into the skin.

Traumeel - a wonderful arnica-based gel that can be used on sore muscles, bruises, achy joints, and for menstrual cramps.

Collect all the items you find most helpful, or steal some of my ideas…and put them in a cute cosmetic bag: I found some great bags at Walmart and Target – and voila, fancy first aid kit!

Another Favorite Not pictured :

liquid chlorophyll- added to drinking water,. liquid chlorophyll provides your blood with extra oxygen to help keep your immune system healthy and provide extra energy. The green power of chlorophyll will also help calm internal inflammation.

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