04/11/2012

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

In At Home Spa

Add a Comment

04/09/2012

Have you ever looked at the clock at 3pm and realized you haven’t left the computer, or eaten, since breakfast? How about the good ole sweet tooth that forces you to down a venti frappuccino or handful of peanut butter cups? This happens to a great many of us, and when it does – it wreaks havoc on our blood sugar levels.

Blood sugar level is the amount of sugar (glucose) preset in the blood at any given moment. Glucose is gathered from the food we eat and used as a source of energy for all body functions. The amount of sugar found in the food (or drinks) we consume is a huge factor in the amount of glucose it will provide for our bodies and the speed at which it goes into our bloodstream.

Everything we eat gets broken down through digestion and converted to glucose. The rate at which our food converts to glucose is determined by the amount of sugar in the food and how quickly it can be digested. Candy, for example, is almost pure sugar and will transfer glucose to the blood very very quickly without providing nutrition. Broccoli and fish convert to glucose much slower and provide the body with protein, vitamins and minerals needed for optimal health.

When your blood sugar level spikes or drops to frequently, it is out of balance. This triggers stress and cortisol production in our body and can disrupt healthy digestion, mood, and hormone levels. This stress shows up on the skin as breakouts, redness, uneven tone and dehydration. Over time, it can prevent the skin from properly healing and renewing itself as well and this can lead to premature aging or scarring. Bottom line: pay attention to your blood sugar level and keep it in balance.

People with diabetes suffer from chronic irregular blood sugar levels and need insulin to help maintain balance. However, you don’t have to be diabetic to be affected by a spike or dip in blood sugar level. Going long periods of time without eating, ingesting too many sugary or processed foods, or eating sugar or refined carbohydrates on an empty stomach can all trigger a spike or dip in blood sugar.

Keep Your Blood Sugar Level in Balance:

Drink water throughout the day to stay hydrated.

Eat every 3-4 hours except when sleeping (generally speaking, this translates to 3 meals and 2 snacks.) Need a good breakfast recipe? We LOVE this smoothie!

Upon waking in the morning, drink water before anything else (warm water with lemon works really well) to wake-up your digestive tract.

Make meals and snacks with foods that will be slowly transferred into glucose in the blood (stay away from refined grains and sugars and load up on veggies and lean protein.

Look at Fiber: fiber helps maintain energy levels and prevents a spike in blood sugar – look for it in natural whole foods like whole grains, vegetables, legumes, etc.

Limit or eliminate sugar ‘spikers’: soda, sports drinks, desserts, table sugar, and alcohol (this is ESPECIALLY important for those of you with skin imbalances you want to improve like acne, rosacea, scarring, hyper-pigmentation, and wrinkles)

*If you are eating carbohydrates or sugar, try pairing them with vegetables and protein (foods that are more slowly converted to glucose) in order to help slow the sugar spike in the blood.

In Skin Care 101, Skin Nutrition

1 Comment

04/02/2012

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.

In At Home Spa

Add a Comment

03/26/2012

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?

In At Home Spa

Add a Comment

03/17/2012

I love this company! I was turned on to Tiny Devotions while waiting for yoga class to begin at the lovely Bindu Yoga Studio in Del Mar. Their mala necklaces and bracelets are so beautiful, and each one is hand-made with special natural stones to symbolize peace, love, strength, balance, wisdom…and many other things we would all like more of in our daily lives. Mala beads, or prayer beads as they are also called, are used in yoga and meditation to be a reminder of daily purpose. They are used to help one focus in meditation, and bring a constant reminder to be ‘in the present moment’ for those who wear them. I have some traditional Mala beads, but I have to admit that they are not as beautiful as those made by the ladies at Tiny Devotions…I’m thinking it may be time to upgrade.
Learn more about this fantastic small company at their website, read their blog and shop their store – or, for you local San Diegans, stop by Bindu and check out their retail display (and let me know so we can take a yoga class together!)

In Spa Community

Add a Comment