The Wonders of White Tea

I am constantly trying to make a habit out of eating a diet that supports my immune system and makes me feel and look my best. I am lucky because I am one of those people that has a taste for healthy foods such as leafy greens and healthy oils. I truly believe this is due to my mom feeding my sister and I the macrobiotic diet when we were little. We became trained to enjoy these kinds of foods while many of our friends were eating junk food. As healthy as we ate growing up, we have also always been a self proclaimed coffee family. Everyone has their vice and for my mom, sister and I we love our coffee and that might never change. That is our special time, drinking a cup of coffee and discussing whatever is going on in our lives. I have tried to turn over to drinking tea but never had a taste for it and it was no replacement for my morning cup of joe. I honestly used to make fun of my friends that drank tea and thought it was comical. Green tea was something I forced myself to drink over the years because of its array of health benefits but I couldn't deny that the taste of it made me pretty nauseous. I was determined to find a tea that I liked however,  wanting to cash in on all of those health benefits that the world seemed to be raving about.

I read an article a while back on the Chinese anti aging secrets. I realized that most Chinese women have beautiful and flawless skin and I was intrigued. Their number one tool for getting their stunning complexions is the consumption of white tea each day. This white tea is known to protect the skin against free radicals and therefore drastically slows the aging process. It is nature's botox, protecting the skin's elastin and collagen, the two compounds that keep skin young and supple. When I tentatively tried this tea, I was amazed at its subtle flavor and comforting effect it had on me. Unlike the harsh and bitter taste of green tea, white tea was soft and fragrant. The reason for this being that white tea is the least processed of all the teas and the most pure in its form. Black tea is fermented and green tea is steamed and then gently rolled and left with slightly processed leaves. This gives a heavier and more aggressive taste that I was often off put from. White tea on the other hand doesn't use leaves at all but is rather made from the barely opened fuzzy tea buds and then steamed. It gets its name from the very fine white-silvery hair that grows on the tea buds. Because the white tea is barely processed, it contains many more antioxidants and healthy enzymes than any other kind of tea. White tea is also shown to fight disease and bacteria, lower high blood pressure, and reduces cholesterol.

One of the most amazing things about white tea is that it can reverse damage of the body such as sun damage and skin discoloration.  It can even fight against cancer and other aggressive diseases. This super tea improves wrinkles, sun spots, skin dullness, and works as a natural detoxifier. The tea bags can even be used on the eyes to reduce dark circles and depuff and brighten the skin. White tea is equally a beautifier as it is a natural broom for the system, cleaning the toxins out by repairing the liver and kidneys. White tea also contains theanine, an amino acid that calms the nerves and helps ease the stress buildup in the body. It is also a great remedy for women that suffer from difficult periods as it is a natural blood thinner and helps in circulation. The theanine as well helps to ease PMS and reduce cramps. There are many varieties of white tea to choose from but silver needle white tea is the purest and most popular of the teas. Within only two weeks of drinking a cup of white tea daily, you will notice a drastic change in both beauty and health. Although this is still no replacement for my daily coffee, it is a great and simple way to add an incredible health kick to anyones daily routine.
http://www.teavana.com/the-teas/white-teas/p/silver-needle-white-tea?SC=PPCG&cm_mmc=Google-_-PPC_search-_-Silver_Needle-_-silver%20needle%20white%20tea&mkwid=snyimx6IH&pcrid=20849377475&pkw=silver%20needle%20white%20tea&pmt=e&gclid=CKGjvc_Su7cCFcZaMgodC2wA3w

Weekly Product Review-Kiehls Sun Free Self Tanner

Suddenly it became summer, which means for me wanting a nice and healthy glow. Tanning has been somewhat of a conundrum for me being that I love the look of dark, sun kissed skin but hate the effects it has later on. Because my skin is highly sensitive, this does not help the harmful effects the sun has on my skin in particular. No matter what kind of skin you have however, the damage is ultimately the same. Although a little bit of natural sunshine is good for the body and the soul,  too much can be very detrimental to our physical appearance. Ultraviolet rays are very harmful and are the specific rays in sunlight that damage our skin. These rays change the elasticity of our skin causing it to sag, wrinkle and become very leathery.

Although the look of a natural tan is beautiful, its effects later on can age someone to look 10 to 20 years older than they are. Even worse it causes skin cancer which is one of the leading kinds of cancer being 1 in 3 cases. Tanning beds are an even worse culprit of this releasing three times the amount of UV rays emitted by the sun. I have to admit I was one of those girls living in california that fell victim to the tanning beds, going weekly and loving the color I got. However, once I educated myself I will never ever get in one of those again! It is a prime example of doing something for ourselves now and regretting it later. We as women though, want to look beautiful and feel our best and for most of us that means ditching the pale skin. I notice that when my diet is clean and fresh my skin naturally has more pigment to it and is more even-toned. Drinking Carrot juice is another way to naturally pigment the skin from the inside out. But in the case of summer skin I turn to a fake tan, which I can rest easy with.

Self tanners are in theory a great idea but most of them leave the skin orange and splotchy and not natural looking. The active ingredient in sunless tanning products is called DHA, dihydroxyacetone.  When DHA is applied to the skin it reacts with dead skin cells in the outer layer.  temporarily darkening the skin. Once the dead skin cells fall off the skin the color goes with it within a few days of application. This is a healthy and safe option but it was difficult for me to find a natural, effective product until recently. Kiehls natural self tanner is amazing and it is also natural and free of synthetic ingredients. Kiehls is another favorite company of mine and near the top of my can't live without list.

Kiehls was founded as an old school apothecary in the east village of New York City. All of the ingredients in Kiehls products are natural and pure and derived all over the world, the packaging is also recyclable. I love this company because the products are simple but incredibly effective, while still being health conscious. The self tanning formula is no different. This product is great because it does not smell awful like many self tanners and its consistency is very light and non greasy. The color it produces is very natural and blends into the already natural pigment of the skin. After only an hour after I applied the cream I was noticeably darker.  It is made with apricot kernel oil, cocoa seed butter, and vitamin E. All of these ingredients work together to moisturize the skin while adding a beautiful, natural color. It can also be applied to the face and any area on the body. The use of this product with a small amount of time in the sun is a great combination for a perfect and safe tan! Your complexion, and your winter skin will thank you!
http://www.kiehls.com/Sun-Free-Self-Tanning-Formula/620,default,pd.html

Sweet Escape: Honeydew Melon

As Summer is fast approaching fruit is becoming much more plentiful! I am an avid fruit lover and can't seem to get enough when the whether starts to get warm. Fruit is a great and healthy way to cool the body down as well as fulfill our sweet tooth. Since low carb diets have been the craze over the last ten years fruit has gotten a bad rap. This is mainly due to the high levels of sugar in some fruits and how some nutritionist think that affects the body. I believe that everything in life is a personal experience and we each know how a food affects our body and weather it is right for us. Fruit makes me feel happy and is an instant skin clearer and natural weight loss tool for me. As is the philosophy of the raw food movement one can never get too many fruits and vegetables. I live by this idea because it works for my body and state of mind. As my mom reminds me, since I was a little girl I have been obsessed with honeydew melon. There is something about the texture and the cooling sweetness that is incredibly comforting and refreshing. It is true that honeydew has a high sugar content but this is in turn a very healthy kind of sugar that is filled with tons of health benefits for our bodies. What many people might not know is that natural sugars can be an incredible cooling agent  for the body. Such as spicy foods heat up the body sweet foods do the opposite and cool and calm the body down.

Honeydew is great for helping in curing any kind of skin inflammation for this reason, because of its very high water content and high levels of potassium. One cup of honeydew has more potassium than a medium banana and half the calories (not a banana lover). It also aids in diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and circulatory infections. One cup of honeydew also provides the body with 70% of the vitamin C and antioxidants that are required each day. High levels of vitamin C  is what provides the body and complexion with youthful and soft skin. When the body is high in vitamin C collagen gets boosted and the aging process is greatly slowed. Honeydew is also a good source of copper, which is another great mineral for skin regeneration.

One great and unknown benefit of honeydew is its powerful effect on babies. Because the immune system and bone strength of infants are less than adults, the high vitamins and minerals help in strengthening the immune system and bone density of babies. The melon is abundant with vitamin A, beta carotene, and antioxidants, these assist in strengthening their weak immune systems as well as their vision. This explains why I ate it up as a baby and why even then I knew my body needed it. The vitamin A helps strengthen vision in adults as well as boosting the ability to fight disease.
Honeydew is a great way to hydrate the body because of its high water content and is perfect for hot days. This is great for athletes, pregnant women, or anyone that is not a big water drinker. It is great eaten raw, added to desserts or even juiced. I have a huge sweet tooth and honeydew often keeps me away from cookies and ice-cream if I am feeling a craving. Definitely a great summer staple!

Weekly Product Review- H.Wood.Beauty/Lip Tea Scrub

As women we like to experiment with different trends and find our own individual style that fits us personally. For me I have always loved the look of a nude lip or a light pink. The bright red is left for my beautiful, daring  friends but not so much for me. Wearing a nude or light pink lip requires one major beauty staple that I'm sure is overlooked by most. In order to get that matte, nude lip one's lips need to be cleaned of dead skin so that they appear smooth and not flaky. Because of the tone and texture of most nude or light lipsticks, they usually stick to all parts of the lip revealing any dry or dead skin that can lay on the surface. This gives that very unattractive, cracked or peeling look that so many women can have under lipstick, It can age someone very quickly no matter what their age. When lips are smooth and soft the lipstick and gloss pop more and also last longer throughout the day.

This requires a lip scrub or a lip buffer. My sister and I have been obsessed with products since we were in diapers it seems and we are always gifting each other with new finds. This lip scrub was a gift from her and one of my most treasured items right now. H. Wood Beauty lip tea scrub is hands down the most effective and most delicious of any lip scrub I have ever come across. The entire H. Wood. beauty collection is based off of the H. Wood aromatic tea line, that was created for and used at a VIP 'tea room' at a hollywood night club. All of the H. Wood products are inspired and infused with healing and  soothing properties of the organic teas and essential oils used in their products.

The products are both holistic as well as very modern and truly unique, a hard combination to find.

Celebrities go crazy over these products as well, not a selling point for me but always an indication that the products are good quality and worth buying. This brand is a new line so it is definitely a well kept secret at the moment...As I had mentioned all the ingredients are organic and ideal for sensitive skin and natural beauty lovers. This specific Tea spiked lip scrub comes in many flavors, blood orange, champagne rose,  coconut chai, gingergrass, green apple, pomrose, vanilla caramel, and peppermint anise ( my specific choice and favorite). This product exfoliates your lips for a clean look and a more kissable pout! The ingredients include, organic raw sugar, extra virgin coconut oil, raw honey, jojoba oil, she butter, vegetable grade glycerin, organic teas, and tea extracts. The sugar buffs the dry skin away and the oils and honey bring moisture back to the lips. This should be applied right before you apply your lipstick and can be wiped or licked off. Any product that is edible is a good sign because it shows the purity of the ingredients. This scrub tastes great and works wonders!
http://www.hwoodbeauty.com/?q=lipteascrub

Nourishing Nasya

Spring is definitely in the air, bringing a lightness and healing of the winter months. The world begins to fill with flowers and our surroundings start to appear lush and green. However beautiful this may be it also comes with the unfortunate discomfort of spring allergies. Itchy eyes, sneezing, sniffling, and closed up throats are symptoms that can stay with us for months. The weeds, grass and flowers drive airborne allergen levels through the roof. Many of us vary in how often we feel these symptoms if at all. For me personally I never had allergies until the last few years and they are incredibly uncomfortable and frustrating. They cause our histamine levels in the body to shoot up and can even affect our skin, such as hives, swollen face or any other type of allergic reaction. Most of us are trained to take an over the counter antihistamine to minimize our allergies and bring us relief. The problem with these drugs is that they don't actual get rid of our allergies but suppress them for only a couple hours if even that.

Unfortunately when we take these drugs our body is tricked into thinking we have working anti histamines and when they disappear the allergy symptoms come back with vengeance! Our body is worse off then when before we took them. I definitely learned this the hard way, the drug company's massive, money making scam is that we basically need to take these all day every day to achieve lasting results but terrible side effects. I am always on the lookout for natural cures that actually work which, I can share with my friends and family. Nasya is an Ayurevedic remedy that cleans the nasal passages out bringing clarity to the brain. Nasya is also a great way to prevent any discomfort or ailment of the shoulders, neck, face and mind. Nasya is one of the five purification processes in Ayurvedic treatments. It has been said that out of all of them it is the most beneficial and the one that should not be over looked. Strangely enough I have only just heard of this this year but I have had great result from it. Nasya assists in clearing out and lubricating the nasal passage way aiding in allergies, congestion, migraines, stiff neck, fatigue, anxiety and even depression.

Nasya has been commonly known in America for its abilities to reduce wrinkles in the face as well as reducing stress. It is said in India to create a beautiful face and stop the aging process in the skin and even stop greying of the hair. Nasya is prescribed mainly for any ailments from the shoulders up however, including facial paralysis, epilepsy, or stroke. The active herbal ingredients are absorbed much faster through the nasal passage than when taken orally. Nasya is best done with plain, unroasted, organic sesame oil or ghee (clarified butter ). It is applied by adding 2-3 drops of oil into each nostril first thing in the morning as well as before bed. The best way to do this is to apply each drop of oil onto your pinky finger and insert into each nostril. Then take a couple deep breaths and immediate relief and clarity is experienced. Always wait at least fifteen minutes before or after meals to do Nasya, and never take when alcohol or drugs are in the system. This is a great option for anyone that smokes or is trying to quit smoking because it cleans out the throat making it easier to breath.Nasya can increase your overall immunity as well as your quality of life and mood.  I have noticed a cleaner and clearer quality when I breath as well as an instant pick-me-up. Another amazing use for simple oil!

Summer Staple-Beaver Butter

Now that the weather is getting warm, it is finally time for shorts, dresses, skirts, and more skin! Although this is a great time of year it is often difficult to transition our skin, especially our legs.The legs out of all the areas of the body tend to get the least sun throughout the year. They are also often the driest of all the areas and are hard to treat.  Dry skin is usually caused when the body has a water or lipids depletion. These are what keep our skin smooth, supple, and looking healthy. One of the easiest ways that the skin on the legs can dry out is through shaving. Shaving can exasperate already dry skin causing razor burn and other skin irritations. There is nothing worse than that fiery sting after shaving that comes from lack of moisture. There are many ways to avoid this but the most effective are shaving in luke warm water instead of hot, which dries skin out even more, and using an effective after shave cream. I came across this after shave butter and have been obsessed ever since. 

Titled Beaver Butter, and made locally in Riverside Iowa, this is a great and pure product. The ingredients include naturally soothing Aloe Leaf, Shea butter, Vitamins, A, C, E and pro vitamin B5, Allantoin, and lavender extract. Although most of the ingredients looked pretty familiar to me allantoin, was one I had never heard of. Allantoin is an ingredient that is present in extracts of the comfrey plant, which has been recognized by herbalists for years as being a cure for many skin problems. Allantoin is an organic compound that is present in all comfrey plants. Allantoin is said to stimulate cell growth as well as repair damaged and irritated skin. It also suppresses and soothes any kind of inflammation of the skin. Allantoin also increases any kind of skin healing process as well as being a super moisturizer for the skin. It can be used on cuts, bruises and any kind of rash.

As someone with every skin sensitivity in the book, I had become very familiar with the comfrey plant ingredient and was not surprised to learn this butter contained a thread of it. Beaver butter is also free of synthetic dyes and perfumes and is paraben free! All of these ingredients work together to create a very successful, natural,  and luxurious after-shave cream. Unlike other after shave creams I had tried, this does not sting the legs after using, it is light and non greasy while still being extremely moisturizing. This is a necessity for any woman searching for smooth, healthy, beautiful legs. It can also be applied to any area that is shaved, armpits, sweet spots, etc. Guys as well can use this as an after shave cream as it is great for sensitive skin on the face. It can also be applied to pregnant bellies as shea butter is an ingredient that helps with stretch marks. I know this was a great find for me and great for any woman wanting to feel comfortable in her own skin!
http://buybeaverbutter.com/

Weekly Product Review-Lush Ocean Salt Scrub

As the seasons change my beauty and lifestyle routines change with them. The winter is about adding moisture and nourishment through both our products as well as our diet. When the weather starts to get warm it feels as if things need to be released and cleansed. The body wants to be stripped of the buildup that has taken place during that hibernation time. The food we eat becomes lighter, the clothes become smaller and our products should be adjusted as well. I know for me personally my skin gets very dry during the cold months and no matter how much oil or lotion I apply it still feels flaky and sensitive in areas. The start of that beautiful supple, summer skin begins at exfoliating. The dry, rough skin of winter needs to be removed to make way for that new, fresh, healthy glow. I have looked far and wide for a body scrub that is both effective, organic and fun to use. Lush is a company that I have been using for quite a few years now and its one of my favorites. 

All of the products are made from fresh organic fruits and vegetables, the best and highest quality oils, and most importantly none of the ingredients have any dangerous synthetics or preservatives. The products are also never tested on animals and are all handmade! The style of the products look as if they were made at home with immense care and attention to detail. The Ocean Salt is by far my favorite of their products and one of their best sellers as well. This product is based off of the benefits one gets after swimming in the ocean. I know my skin never feels softer or healthier than after I spend a day at the beach. This is mainly due to the effect that the ocean salt has on our skin. Ocean water is filled with essential minerals and amino acids that can draw out impurities.

This can lead to the curing of skin conditions such as, rosacea, psoriasis, eczema, and acne. This product mimics this idea using fresh sea salt both course and fine. This scrub acts as both a cleanser as well as a moisturizer. Many scrubs can dry out the skin and be too abrasive especially on sensitive skin. This one contains fresh organic avocado and coconut to hydrate, while lime and vodka wash away bacteria. The limes are soaked overnight in vodka to extract that citrus and then added to the fresh seasalt. Both the limes and the vodka act as an antibacterial, which is great for getting rid of breakouts or blackheads anywhere on the body. This scrub is ideal for all skin types but especially oily skin. I only use this scrub as a body scrub but it can be used as a facial scrub as well. For me, my complexion is much too sensitive but one of my best friends swears by using this as a daily facial cleanser. A great product to start the summer out right!
http://www.lushusa.com/Ocean-Salt/9999902128,en_US,pd.html?start=4&cgid=shower-scrubs

Detoxing With Dry Brushing

As summer is fast approaching many of us especially women, are on the fast track to detoxing and feeling our best. The first things that come to mind when we think of detoxification is usually fasting, exercising or going on liquid juice cleanses. However effective these might be there is also a secret technique that is much simpler and very valuable to the body. It is known as dry brushing, a process that enlivens and energizes both the lymphatic and circulation systems. Dry brushing was often used as an ancient technique to get rid of dimpled areas on the body as it smooths and tightens the skin. It is also used to get rid of water weight and bloating by releasing excess water and toxins through the lymph nodes. Because the skin is our largest organ, it is in charge of a 1/4th of the detoxification that occurs in the body each day. The skin is the first place on the body where one can usually see a waste process occurring. This is often seen through hives, cellulite, acne, psoriasis, and even dry skin. Dry brushing removes dry and dead skin, which allows the body to sweat more easily, removing toxic waste. Dry Brushing specifically cleanses the lymphatic system, which is where all detoxification in the body occurs first and foremost.

When toxins are released through the skin this strengthens the entire immune system and fights off other infections. Dry brushing doesn't just normalize and improve our immune function  and blood flow but it actually tones the physical muscles as well by stimulating the nerve endings and muscle fibers. As many benefits as there are to dry brushing the most popular and well known is the decreasing and even removal of cellulite. Cellulite occurs on the skin when toxins get trapped under the fat cells just beneath the skin. By stimulating and removing these toxins the appearance of cellulite is greatly improved. Cellulite is one of those unfortunate things that can be very hard to treat even through diet and exercise. Dry brushing is a very inexpensive and effective way to get rid of it or at least improve it's appearance. The dry brush should be one with natural bristles, usually sold at any health food store and without any synthetic or nylon bristles. 

It should be done on dry skin usually before the shower as you want to rinse off the toxic skin that you are stimulating through the brushing movement.

One wants to brush from toes to head and always towards the heart. This is because the lymph in the body flows naturally around the heart and is drained here. The face should be avoided as well as the scalp for sensitivity purposes.  The brushing pressure should be light and gentle and not hurt the skin while still stimulating it. Once finished, the skin can tend to be a little pink, which is normal and fine. It just lets us know that the blood is flowing and the process is working. After dry brushing for one week, one will notice tighter skin, improved digestion and better kidney function. Sometimes it can feel like there are so many things to do and not enough time to do them! But Dry brushing can be done in less than five minutes and is well worth it.This is a great way to naturally and effectively cleanse the body! 

http://www.glamour.com/health-fitness/blogs/vitamin-g/2010/08/molly-sims-swears-by-dry-brush.html

http://www.drugstore.com/products/prod.asp?

pid=189013&catid=290041&aid=338666&aparam=goobase_filler&device=c&network=g&matchtype=