Category: Natural Cosmetics

The Lemon/Chocolate Experiment: Day 1



I started my “Lemon Chocolate Experiment” a little more than 24 hours ago. So far, so good. I even noticed some ‘results’, be they psychological or not.

First let me clarify what I am doing and why. Every morning upon waking, I drink a cup of warm water with the juice of ¼ lemon. I don’t consume anything else for at least half an hour. Then later in the day or evening, I consume 1 oz. of organic dark chocolate. Why am I doing this? I’m constantly seeing articles about new health fads: the quinoa diet, the coconut oil diet, etc. Two that consistently pop up are the lemon water thing and the dark chocolate. I’ve researched both, and both seem to have some legit scientific backing.

The supposed benefits of the lemon water include: weight loss, improved digestion, boosts immune system, balances pH (reduces acidity in your body), clears your skin, acts as a diuretic, relieves respiratory problems, freshens breath, reduces stress, helps kick the coffee habit, hydrates the lymph system, boosts energy, flushes toxins from your liver and kidneys, suppresses appetite, reduces cellulite (because it increases blood flow to the skin and helps your body flush out waste), boosts your body’s ability to metabolize fat, and lowers your risk for heart disease, strokes, cataracts and gout because of the high amount of vitamin C. With all those claims, how could you NOT want to try it?!

I started out with ¼ lemon in one cup of water. I think by the weekend I will up it to ½ a lemon since it’s not as sour tasting as I thought it would be. And right now, I’m only doing it in the morning. The recommendation is if you weigh less than 150 pounds, squeeze the juice of one half a lemon (one ounce) into a glass of purified water and drink this mixture twice a day (one whole lemon a day.) If you weigh over 150 pounds, squeeze the juice out of an entire lemon (two ounces) into a glass of purified water and drink this mixture twice a day (two whole lemons a day.) The lemon juice can be diluted more according to taste.

I actually find that I’m looking forward to my lemon water when I wake up. It’s refreshing, and makes me feel like I’m doing something good for my body. I’ve found that I make better food choices during the day. I’m sure this is all psychological. And hey, it’s only been a little over a day.

On to the chocolate. There are many more articles out there about the benefits of eating dark chocolate. And the claims are just as numerous. They include weight loss, improved heart health, improved cognitive function, helps control blood sugar, has antioxidants (even more than the ‘superfruits’ acai, pomegranate, cranberry, and blueberry) which help fight free radicals, contains theobromine which helps harden tooth enamel, has anti-inflammatory properties, lowers cholesterol, stimulates endorphin production, contains serotonin, which acts as an anti-depressant and even has cancer fighting abilities. Like I needed an excuse to eat chocolate in the first place?! BUT it must be noted that none of this applies to milk chocolate, white chocolate or even some of the lame dark chocolate. These claims apply only to dark chocolate with high cacao (65% or greater) and low sugar levels.

But what about the fat in chocolate? Some of the fats in chocolate do not impact your cholesterol. The fats in chocolate are 1/3 oleic acid, 1/3 stearic acid and 1/3 palmitic acid:

•Oleic Acid is a healthy monounsaturated fat that is also found in olive oil.
•Stearic Acid is a saturated fat but one which research is shows has a neutral effect on cholesterol.
•Palmitic Acid is also a saturated fat, one which raises cholesterol and heart disease risk.

That means only 1/3 of the fat in dark chocolate is ‘bad’ for you.

I chose Endangered Species Chocolate for my experiment. I chose this brand because I like their ingredients (low sugar, high cacao content), it’s reasonably priced, part of the line is organic, they donate to animal causes/conservation efforts, oh and it tastes good. I decided for this experiment I would eat 1 oz a day. It was hard to find a recommendation for how much to eat a day, but 1 oz seemed reasonable. The big ESC bars are 3 oz, so this made it easy for me to divide it into thirds. The nutrition content for 1 oz. breaks down as follows:

Calories: 140 Total Fat: 12 (saturated 7.3, trans 0) Cholesterol: 0 Sodium: 0
Total Carbs: 14 (dietary fiber 3.3, sugars 8 ) Protein: 1

This is not something that was gonna kill my diet. The first day I made the mistake of leaving the chocolate bar on my desk all day. There it was. Staring at me. Saying “eat me!!”. Or maybe that was the PMS talking (sorry, TMI). I finally put it into my work bag and didn’t think about it again until later that night. My boyfriend HAS to eat some kind of dessert every night. And he never gains weight. It’s so frustrating. So last night as he was looking to devour a quarter of a chocolate cake with peanut butter icing, I grabbed my chocolate bar and started gnawing on it. I’m a fan of dark chocolate to begin with, so the slight bitterness is okay with me. The fact that it doesn’t have a lot of sugar, oils or other gooey junk that instantly melts in your mouth means it takes longer to chew….longer to savour. You spend more time eating an ounce of dark chocolate than you would popping three Hershey’s Kisses into your mouth. It’s an experience. I finished my last delicious bite just as he was finishing his last bite of the giant cake wedge. And I felt satisfied. I didn’t feel slighted or cheated because I didn’t have the cake. I felt GOOD. I had eaten my dessert, enjoyed it, and didn’t feel bloated or guilty. I could get used to this! In summary, the dark chocolate made me avoid making a poor food choice, gave me an enjoyable dessert experience, and had a positive impact on my mood. To me, it was a win-win.

Let’s see what happens over the next 29 days…..

How Blonde is Blonde Enough?



I’m a natural blonde. But I learned at an early age, apparently I wasn’t blonde enough. I remember I was about six years old when my mom started spraying Sun-In on my hair at the pool in the summer. This went on for years, so when I got older I continued the tradition, because blonde is apparently good. Then I learned that I could use the hair dryer instead of heat from the sun to get the same effect year round. Surprisingly, my hair handled the abuse pretty well. And then one summer I heard about girls mixing lemon juice with hydrogen peroxide to make their hair even MORE blonde. Well, this I had to try. I forget what ratio I used (lemon juice to peroxide) but it probably didn’t matter much. I dumped the mixture on my head and blasted it with a hair dryer. It worked…but turned my soft hair to straw. That was the last time I experimented with peroxide.

Late into my college years, I really started getting into herbs. I was mixing potpourris, cooking herbs and making herbal wreaths. I loved reading about the plants and their properties. There must be a mad scientist inside of me, because I once again started experimenting. After the development of our Herbal Aftershave, Tropical Lip Balm, Deodorant Powder and a few other products that have since been discontinued, I turned my attention back to hair. I knew infusions of lemon, chamomile and calendula could give me that oh-so-coveted “blonder” look. So I made a tea. And poured it on my hair and went out into the sun. It worked. But this time, my hair felt (and smelled) fabulous. I had to share this creation with everyone else who didn’t feel blonde enough.

I researched and created another blend for folks with dark hair. Soon I packaged my whole herbs into large tea bags which were sold in pretty printed envelopes. I kept this product around for a while, but discontinued it about four years ago as sales were sluggish. Maybe people didn’t want to bother making a tea for their hair. Or maybe it was easier to just use a hair dye.

I still think the concept of hair herbs is a cool one. If you want to try it, mix together the following:

Blonde: lemon peel, chamomile, calendula

Brunette: rosemary, sage, black tea, cloves, black walnut shells

Red: hibiscus, red rose petals, rose hips, red clover

Make a strong tea with your herbs, leaving them in the water for up to 30 minutes. After shampooing, apply your herbal rinse to hair. Comb through. The more often you use the tea, the more dramatic the results.

You can add other herbs which will benefit the condition of your hair too. If your hair is dry, try adding marshmallow root, elderflower, lavender or nettle. For oily hair, add yarrow, witch hazel bark, watercress, strawberry leaf, lemon balm or horsetail. Want your hair to have more body? Try oat straw, dandelion, burdock root and apple cider vinegar.

Herbal hair rinses are easy, beneficial, and fun to mix and feel as luxurious as a spa treatment. As for the blonde thing, no matter how stupid I think it is, part of it is still engrained in me. I wish it wasn’t. Hair color doesn’t determine how pretty or attractive you are. That comes from the inside.

Stay Hydrated with Delicious and Healthy Infused Water

Special Guest Blogger Paula Hunter shares her simple and refreshing drink recipes

Summer is in full swing, with temperatures soaring (and staying!). In such sweltering heat, it is paramount to stay hydrated and refreshed. Of course, the best way to do this is to drink plenty of water. But we all know water can get boring. Try some of these tantalizing recipes to help you stay cool, liven up your water, and help your body stay hydrated.

These recipes work well stored in mason jars or pitchers and will keep up to 3 days in the refrigerator.


Citrus Water

1 orange
1 lime
1 lemon

Slice the fruit into rounds, and then cut in half. Add to the bottom of the pitcher or jar, and muddle slightly with a muddler or wooden spoon. Press gently to release the juices, but keep the fruit intact. Fill with ice and cover with water. Stir to combine. Cover and refrigerate.


Raspberry Lime Water

2 limes, quartered
6 oz raspberries

Squeeze the juice from the limes into the bottom of the jar or pitcher, and then add the limes and raspberries to the juice. Muddle gently with a muddler or wooden spoon. Fill with ice and cover with water. Stir, cover and refrigerate.


Pineapple Mint Water

Spring or two of mint leaves
1-2 cups chopped fresh pineapple

Place the mint in the bottom of the jar or pitcher; you can either add the whole sprig or tear off just the leaves. Depending on how strong you want the mint flavor to be, you may add more or less to suit your tastes. Gently muddle the leaves with a muddler or wooden spoon to bruise the leaves and release their flavor. Top with the fresh pineapple and gently muddle again. Add ice and water, stir, cover and refrigerate.


Blackberry Sage Water

1-2 sage leaves
6 oz blackberries

Place the sage leaves at the bottom of the jar or pitcher, and muddle to release the flavor. Add the blackberries and muddle again, being careful not to pulverize the fruit. Add ice and water, stir, cover and refrigerate.


Watermelon Rosemary Water

Sprig of rosemary
1-2 cups cubed watermelon

Place the sprig of rosemary in the bottom of the jar or pitcher, and muddle gently. Add the watermelon, and muddle again. Both the watermelon and rosemary will release their flavors without much muddling. Add ice and water, stir, cover, and refrigerate.

When ready to drink, simply pout the waters through a small strainer of strain through cheesecloth. Add green, white or black tea bags to the water for even more flavor and anti-oxidants.
Other fruits and herbs that work well:

Kiwi
Any citrus
Berries
Thyme
Basil

You can also make fruit and herb infused ice cubes. Lemon, blueberry, and mint make great addition to any drink without overpowering their tastes. Simply place lemon slices or blueberries into ice cube trays, and then top with water and freeze. To use mint, place a mint leaf in each compartment, then top with hot water to infuse. Once the water cools, remove the mint leaves (they turn dark,) add new leaves, and freeze.

Let Your Artistic Side Shine

Special Guest Blogger Paula Hunter shares some really cool nail art ideas. Try them!

With the advent of summer, comes the appearance of more brightly colored and diverse nails. If you’re looking for some quick and easy ways to spice up your normal manicure, try one of the following:


Newspaper Transfer Manicure

Items you will need: base and top coats (or clear polish,) lighter colored non-shimmery nail polish, newspaper strips, Isopropyl Rubbing Alcohol (either 70% or 91%)

1. Start like you would every other manicure, with clean nails and a coat of base coat or clear polish
2. Paint your nails with 2 coats of your chosen nail color, allowing each nail to dry in between coats. Choose your nail color wisely; shimmery and dark colors will not work as well as lighter and crème style polishes
3. Paint your nails with 2 coats of your chosen nail color, allowing each nail to dry in between coats
4. Cut your newspaper into 10 strips or blocks that will easily fit over your nail. Be creative; the wackier the words or ads, the more obscure the manicure-have fun!
5. Once your nails are completely dry, either rub the nail with the alcohol, or dip into a small bowl filled with alcohol. Then, dip one strip or block of newspaper into the bowl of alcohol. Place the newspaper strip directly on the nail bed and keep it still. Most newspapers are double-sided, but make sure you place the strip ink-side down. Then take an alcohol-dampened paper towel and apply light pressure on the nail like a temporary tattoo. After 10 seconds of pressure, slowly peel off the strip and the ink will have imprinted on the nail. Repeat this process for each nail.
6. Allow nails to dry for at least 5 minutes, and then apply the top coat or a coat of clear nail polish.


Marble Manicure

With this manicure you really have the ability to pick an array of colors, or you can stay in the same color family (use several shades of blues from light to dark, etc..) You can also do this with as little as 3 or 4 colors, or as many as 6-8. You also do it several ways. Below are instructions for two different ways.


The plastic bag method:

Items you will need; base and top coat (or clear nail polish,) a cut open plastic bag (sandwich or Ziploc,) and your nail color choices. This works best when you start with 2 coats of your favorite light or nude shade, but you can skip this step.

1. Start off like a normal manicure, with a coat of base coat or clear nail polish.
2. Paint nails with 2 coats of your chosen light or nude shade. Allow time for nails to dry in between coats.
3. Once nails are dry, drop larger sized dots of several colors of nail polish onto your nails. These can overlap, touch, or even be on top of one another.
4. Place the plastic bag over the painted nail and lightly press and slide the bag back and forth. The aim is to mix the nail colors together slightly, creating the marbled effect.
5. Allow nails to dry completely and finish with a coat of top coat.


The toothpick method:

Items you will need: base and top coat (or clear nail polish,) your nail color choices, and several toothpicks.

1. Start off like a normal manicure, with a coat of base coat or clear nail polish.
2. Paint nails with 2 coats of your chosen light or nude shade. Allow time for nails to dry in between coats.
3. Once nails are dry, drop larger sized dots of several colors of nail polish onto your nails. These can overlap, touch, or even be on top of one another.
4. Before polish has a chance to try, take a clean toothpick and swirl the colors together to create a marble look.
5. Allow nails to dry completely and finish with a coat of top coat.

The toothpick method will result in a more defined pattern, while the plastic bag method will produce a more subtle one. There is a 3rd method, called a water marble manicure, but take note; since our WaterColors Nail Enamels are water-based, they will not work for this type of manicure. If you choose to skip painting your nails with 2 coats of a nude or light colored polish, make sure that you cover the entire nail with your swirl patterns, whether you use the plastic bag or toothpick method. Be bold, have fun, and enjoy!!

Go Ahead and Mask the Problem

Smoothie
Mask

It all started when my aunt bought me a plant called lovage. “It’s an herb,” she explained. Kooky Aunt Pat and her “herbs”. Being the inquisitive type, I decided to do some research on herbs….and never looked back. Soon I learned that herbs had uses other than culinary. I could make stuff with them! Before long I was combining chamomile and calendula to make a hair rinse, green tea, oatmeal and lavender to make bath bags and ultimately yarrow, peppermint and bay to make our now famous Herbal Aftershave.

Working with basic natural ingredients that can be found in your kitchen is my true love. There’s no reason to drop big bucks at a beauty store or trendy spa, when all you need for beautiful skin is at the supermarket.

Homemade skin treatments aren’t a new idea. Thousands of years before commercial products were available, ancient Egyptians made powders, ointments and lotions by combining plant extracts with natural oils. In China, a combination of ground orange seeds and honey was used to help keep skin clear [source: National Honey Board]. And in the 2nd century, ancient Romans combined animal fats with starches to make facial creams.

When making your own facial mask, it’s important to know your skin type so you can choose the most beneficial ingredients for that type.

Normal skin does not feel dry or oily. At midday it still looks fresh and clean. Only occasionally does it have dry patches or break out. Oatmeal, fabulous as a bath soak, also makes a great face mask for normal skin. Grind it a bit in the food processor, add water to create a paste, and then allow it to sit on your face for a few minutes. Liquid face masks are also very simple and great for normal skin. Many celebrities swear by olive oil. Use extra-virgin, and spread it on your skin. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water. Skin is left feeling luxuriously smooth, and fine wrinkles are less noticeable. You can also try a honey- olive oil combination. Mix 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar, 1 teaspoon of olive oil, and 1 teaspoon of honey. Apply to your face and leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off with water water. Gently pat the face dry. Unflavored plain yogurt is also great for toning any type of skin. Apply a thin layer and let sit for ten minutes. Rinse and pat dry.

Dry skin has a thin texture and can feel dry to touch. It can feel tight after being washed, and by midday flaky patches may appear. Honey is the number one ingredient, in my opinion, for dry skin. It’s a humectant, meaning that it will help skin retain moisture. One of my personal favorite facial remedies involves applying raw honey to my face. I apply it in a thin layer, and leave it on for about 15 minutes. My dog Ginger used to love when I made this mask; so I’d have to make sure she was in another room or else I wouldn’t have any honey left on my face. Rinse with warm water and enjoy how very soft your skin feels. Flax seeds also make a wonderful one-ingredient mask. Flax seeds provide powerful, good-for-your-health omega-3 fatty acids. In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons of flax seeds and just enough water to cover. The seeds will swell and the water will become gelatinous. Spread the gel on your face. When dry, rinse off with warm water.

Oily skin often feels greasy. After washing it feels fine, but by midday it looks shiny. Break out spots can be frequent. Combat oiliness while firming your pores with an egg white mask. Whip the whites of two eggs into a light foam. Spread a thin layer of the foam to your face. Allow the foam to become firm, then simply rinse the mask away. Your skin will feel tighter and pores will be diminished. Oily skin can benefit from occasional gentle exfoliation. Try a tomato facial. Puree one ripe tomato with a teaspoon each of lemon juice and instant oatmeal. Spread the mixture across your face, allowing it to set for about 15 minutes. Then rinse away to reveal fresh skin. Other natural exfoliators include papaya and pineapple which both contain an enzyme called bromelain which removes dead cells and cleanses pores.

Combination skin is normal with a few dry patches and a few oily patches. Dryness is usually on the cheeks and oiliness is usually on the T-zone. Most women have combination skin. Green tea is great for combination skin, and has long been touted for its anti-aging and wrinkle fighting properties. Dissolve a single teaspoon of green tea powder (matcha) into a half teaspoon of water so you’re left with a thin, smooth paste. Spread the paste across your face, allow it to sit for about 10 minutes and then rinse away, revealing radiant skin. Sweet smelling roses are perfect for balancing out the oily and dry areas of your skin. Mix together 2 tbsps of rosewater, 1 tbsp natural yogurt, room temperature (not lowfat or non-fat), 1 tbsp honey. Apply mixture to skin and allow to remain for ten minutes. Rinse with warm water. I found the following recipe on line. It was created by facialist Chanel Jenae of Santa Monica. In the article, Jenae says pumpkin is loaded with natural exfoliating acids and antioxidants. She uses pumpkin pulp in her facial peels at her salon “to brighten, calm breakouts, and soften the appearance of fine lines and sun damage.”


Ingredients:

1/2 cup fresh pumpkin pulp
2 eggs
2 teaspoon almond milk


Preparation:

Purée the fresh pumpkin pulp into a thick paste. Add the egg (this acts as a binder). Stir in a splash of omega-rich almond milk. Mix well. Apply the mask, leaving it on for 15-20 minutes, depending on your skin sensitivity. Rinse with cool water and moisturize as usual.

Most face masks, whether homemade or bought, seem straightforward: Simply smooth the mask onto your face, then rinse off after a period of time. But properly applying the mask can make a big difference.

Gently rub the face mask into your skin. The massaging motions will help increase blood flow, improving your skin’s appearance. To get the most of your massage, apply light pressure to your jaw line with your fingertips. Slowly move upward until you reach your forehead, then start again.

Other benefits of massage include a decrease in the stress hormone cortisol, which can in turn lower blood pressure and boost your immune system, although this is more likely to occur if the massage covers more than your face.

After the massage, let the mask set for about 10 to 20 minutes, depending on the specific recipe instructions. Set a timer. When the appropriate time period has passed, rinse the mask off with warm water using a washcloth.

Don’t be afraid to add other spa-like experiences to your home beauty regimen. In addition to facial massage, set the tone for your face mask by changing your surroundings. Dim the lights, gather a few candles and play some soft music. Relaxing in the tub for a warm soak while your mask is doing its magic can help you unwind by providing a stress-busting experience without the hefty price tag.

Or consider having a natural beauty ritual party. Each guest can bring their favorite natural mask recipe, while the hostess provides basic ingredients like oatmeal, honey, eggs, yogurt, tea and some herbs from the garden. Play some cool music, whip up your own masks and kick back with some girl talk. Just don’t let anyone bring a camera!!