Detox your summer hair!- monthly product review, Detox Dry Bar

I am constantly on the lookout for new, organic and natural products. I am basically obsessed with body products, face products and hair products but also inner and outer health.  I am always trying to find the balance of both health but also high end. It seems there are two industries but not many products that can combine both of these requirements. As a self proclaimed girly girl I love beautiful things and lux items. With the rest of life I think balance is key. I try to use a hundred percent organic products on my skin (especially face) because it is the most temperamental as well as the largest organ we all have. My hair I have more leniency with as organic hair products have yet to impress me. If I can't go organic I will at least find products that are free of the really harmful chemicals. My new hair product obsession comes in the form of an amazing new dry shampoo that has really changed my hair. This product has not only changed my hair but also made my schedule much more convenient.

The great thing about using dry shampoo is that it not only saves us time but it actually makes our hair much healthier and stronger. The less we wash our hair the faster it grows and the less direct heat we are usually applying. I've always noticed that female athletes have the most beautiful long, healthy hair. This is usually because they are refraining from heat styling and washing daily. Sweat is actually great for our hair growth and scalp health. We want however to avoid the dirty, greasy feeling of having dirty hair. Detox dry shampoo is the most incredible dry shampoo I've ever used. With one application this product literally makes my scalp and hair feel freshly washed. It has a sandalwood and musk scent and it is free of sulfates and parabens and is never tested on animals.

My hair stylist and sister swear by this product and I am now a life long devotee. My hair has never looked healthier and coming from a straightening addict that is saying a lot. This is also a perfect product for the summer when the humidity prevents us from ever wanting to get near a blow dryer. The more heat we put on our hair during the summer the more frizz and breakage seems to occur. This product can prolong a blowout for days leaving hair look non greasy but with more volume and texture. It also doesn't leave a powdery residue like many other dry shampoos I've used in the past. This is a great perk for brunettes like myself who don't want to have that gray, powdery look on our roots. Detox is also safe for color and keratin treated hair. This also comes in a travel size and can be conveniently stored in a purse. Perfect product to take us through the heat and humidity of summer!

Parsley tea for the Ladies

Now that the bitter days of winter are long gone, we are left with the season of Spring. Spring is one of my favorite seasons for the wild flowers, the warm nights and the fresh vegetables. Spring however, is one of the main times of they year that the body can get thrown off balance. If you notice what times of the year sickness is going around it is not actually Winter but usually the in-between seasons, Fall and Spring. Spring is a damp season and it can take the body time to adjust to this. This time of year they refer to in Ayurveda as Kapha time. Kapha time when out of balance can bring on feelings of lethargy, hunger, instability, allergies and insomnia. One of the reasons this takes place is that the body is transitioning to the next extreme in temperature.  Kapha time is a time to take extra care of our bodies and get an extra amount of rest.

For women especially this time of year can really throw the body off. Women are said to be creatures aligned with the subtle rhythm of nature. Like nature, women live within a cycle that ensures balance in the physiology. This cycle is one that corresponds to the cycle of the moon, the moon is also known as the mother and the feminine. We as women have a way of tracking our hormone levels and a monthly cleaning system that resets us. When this cycle is thrown off however we not only feel physically off but our emotional and mental balance can take a real hit. As inconvenient and uncomfortable as our periods may feel, this is a woman's way of naturally detoxing the body each month. 

Our cycles are our bodies way of 'spring cleaning' every 28-35 days. What happens then when the cleaning doesn't take place or is untimely? Any woman will tell you that the week leading up to her cycle is usually one of irritability, bloating, extreme mood swings and an overall waterfall of tears for no reason. This is because the hormone levels of estrogen and progesterone, otherwise known as 'female hormones' are higher at this time. If estrogen predominates, anxiety occurs, if there's more progesterone than is desired women can feel symptoms of depression. We see that there is a subtle union of hormones that need to take place. Once the cycle starts however, most of these symptoms will flush out replacing them with feelings of extreme relief. If our cycle is late or our bodies don't menstrate that month, the hormones can overwhelm the balance of the body. Having a regular cycle is the body's way of showing health and balance.

There are many ways to ensure that we have a regular and healthy cycle each month. Some are, staying rested, healthy diet, moderate exercise and reduction of stress. Unfortunately sometimes the body is still off balance when doing all of these things. Just a simple change in our daily routine such as starting a new job or going to school can really disrupt us. A great and natural way to induce your period when late is brewing your own parsley tea. Parsley is an amazing herb and other than being filled with minerals and being a natural diuretic, it is also considered an emmenagogue (an herb that stimulates menstruation). If pregnancy is not the cause for a late period this is a great alternative to harsh drugs that doctors will give women that have hormone problems or are irregular. The oil from parsley is the key ingredient in what regulates the menstruation process. This is due to the existence of Apiol in the parsley plant, Apiol is a component of the female hormone estrogen.

Apiol has been used by women throughout history to balance their monthly cycles and align their hormones. Parsley tea can also be used to balance the body after going off of the pill which can reign havoc on the body. Parsley is also said to help in curing urinary track and bladder infections. Making this tea is very easy, simply boil 1/4 cup of freshly cut parsley (with stems) in about 4 cups of purified water. You can change the measurements depending on how strong you want it. I usually brew this for about an hour or so. This tea can be very potent and is not meant for pregnant women or nursing mothers. The tea has a nice earthy, mild flavor and honey can be added for sweetness. Sip this throughout the day and your period should come comfortably! Another perk to this powerhouse tea is clear, beautiful skin!

Rose Oil for Winter

It has been a little while since my last blog post, due mainly to the dead of winter. With the holidays behind us and Spring beautifully in sight, we are left with winter's dry, white skin. February is usually the month that we can see and feel the effects of all this cold, harsh air. Dry skin is not just unattractive to look at but it can also be excruciatingly uncomfortable. It can be itchy, scaly, keep you up all night and even sting after a warm shower. All of my girlfriends lately have been complaining about how dry their skin has been and how nothing seems to help! Coming from someone with combination skin, it is a problem that I struggle with as well during this time of year. My favorite lotions that I normally love just don't do the trick for the extreme weather conditions of the Midwest. That is why I turn to the simplicity but highly effective use of oil.

I have spoken about oils a lot on this blog but I cannot stress enough how much they have changed my skin and continue to do so. Oils are often found in many organic lotions and even chemically filled lotions but they can get lost amongst other ingredients. The purity of just the oil on the skin can bring such a comfort and is the most effective moisturizer I have ever used. Americans love their lotions but in Europe and other parts of the world oils are the prime way to moisturize the skin. Oils guard against the skin's lipid barriers and prevents moisture from evaporating. Lotions on the other hand are more penetrating and can add other healthy ingredients to the skin like aloe and vitamin E. Lotions can dry the skin out however, which is why they are a great option to use in the heat when the skin is supple and can sweat. Oil can moisturize the skin in a much more efficient and effective way. Another great  perk of swapping lotions for oils is that you need a lot less of the product. A little goes a long way rather than having to reapply lotion all day to dry skin. When oil is applied to the skin it locks in moisture and can protect the skin against environmental effects. This is why it is a prime product to use in the winter. 

There is a fallacy out there that oil on the skin can clog the pores and cause breakouts, but in fact pure organic oils due the opposite. For girls with oily skin, when oil is applied it can actually trick the skin in thinking that it doesn't need to produce anymore oil. It seems counterintuitive but it really works! I have tried many different body oils to feel luxurious relief and moisture.  I use a lot of different versions  of body oils throughout the year.  My absolute favorite and the most effective for winter's dry skin is Weleda Wild Rose. This oil is a truly amazing product and one that is going to be forever stocked in my medicine closet. 

This oil is made of organic jojoba seed oil, organic rosehip seed oil, and organic rose essential oil. All of these ingredients work together to create a rich product that renews and heals the skin. This oil is specifically great for the dry days of winter because it is thick and very decadent. The skin will feel immediate relief as soon as it is applied I guarantee. You can also apply this oil before the shower and let it steam on the skin and really lock in moisture. After bathing or before bed is another great option for this product. After using this oil for a week you will notice that dry skin is healed, becoming soft and supple. What I love about oils is that when applied they can actually bring out the health and beauty of the skin. My skin will instantly start to glow hours after using this either on my face or body. Although it is a thick oil it is also easily absorbed. The beautiful scent of rose is a calming scent and my absolutely favorite. Rose also soothes and heals any kind of skin ailment and redness. This is a skin savior and a product that will help ease us into the spring and bikini season!

Rose oil