Detox Your Way to Beautiful Skin

I know that doing a cleanse of any sort can sound daunting. Most of us have tried to incorporate one into our life at some point (or at the very least thought about it…) only to find that it seemed to be more work than it was worth. {or maybe that's just me.} But it always ended up being more time consuming than could fit my life, and the few times that I'd attempted to forego the at-home-Martha-Stewart-juicing I was astounded by the cost of it all! {Plus the place I bought my 3-day juice cleanse from was not only pricey— but it didn't do anything other than somehow make me feel bloated and starving at the same time…and everything tasted like sweetened dirt-water!} 

It was nearly enough to make me swear them off altogether. 

Luckily, there's a much easier way for me to detox now….and it's one that I keep coming back to year after year! And my client's love it too! In fact, this is my #1 recommendation when treating difficult acne! And it's not just breakouts that a cleanse can help with… Built up toxicity in the body can lead to sallowness,  poor circulation and the creation of fine lines in the skin. 

WWTF // Dry Body Brushing

Happy Wednesday everyone! For this week's Wednesday WTF I wanted to talk about dry brushing--a technique that i'm sure many of you have heard about, but may not know much about. Even for me, the concept of whyyy I'd need to brush my body has eluded me. So I decided to do some research recently to learn more about it. It turns out...dry brushing does a lot of REALLY COOL things...and as soon as I get back from my weekday-getaway to Vegas (the irony) I am buying one and brushing the sh*t outta my skin! 


Here's the skinny...(literally):

Dry brushing does way more than soften the skin, in fact, it's the internal benefits that make it so fascinating. Brushing helps to stimulate your lymphatic system, which eliminates metabolic waste from the body. It increases your circulation which pushes harmful toxins out of the blood, improving your immune system too. The stimulation actually helps to break down and soften fatty pockets underneath the skin's surface, and mixed with the removal of toxins, it actually has been proven to reduce the appearance of cellulite. (note* cellulite really IS just that: a build up of fat and toxins held in pockets under the skin...just fyi) The nervous system supposedly feels GREAT from the bristles running along your body and serves as a daily meditation of sorts....it's ritualistic nature sounds like something you can get lost in. OH! And it helps digestion--helping to reduce bloating and constipation. 

I mean....anything that can help to calm the mind and spirit, get rid of cellulite and make my skin look brighter and feel like 1,000 kittens?? Do i really need explain my curiosity with this further. 

WHAT YOU DO

Try a brush like THIS ONE that has natural bristles which will be gentler on the skin, and before bathing/showering, and with completely dry skin, begin using large upward strokes (almost like an oval) starting at your feet and working your way up. 

The rule of body brushing is to always start at the bottom and work your way up. And ALWAYS brush toward your heart....not only does it sound lovely but the scientifically it encourages lymph flow to the main ducts of the lymphatic system. 

You can brush anywhere from 2 minutes to a half hour! Just depending on how it feels....be open...go with it. If it feels divine (which I can't tell you yes or no on--yet) then I say follow what your body is telling you. You probably need it. 

You can use a heavier hand on the feet, arms, shoulders, legs, etc., but you want to avoid the face entirely and use softer pressure on both sides of the torso. You don't have to brush until you're bleeding--and you shouldn't look "irritate" but you should look mildly red or pink. (I'm picturing as if you just worked out--a soft flush) 

Coming back to the meditative qualities of dry brushing for a moment; I think that's what is most appealing to me and has piqued my interest. Any time that's specifically set aside to be PRESENT and aware of your mind and body is a good thing in my book! come on...get a little hippie with me, please. 

With the daily stresses we all encounter--especially for mommies, don't we deserve a little portion of the day to give back to our body and feel like a modern day Grecian goddess? I can't wait to try it, and I'll definitely be doing a follow-up post when I do! Do any of you guys have dry brushing experience? If so what did you think of it? Love it or hate it? 

{❤︎, b.}

" stop being so picky "

how to heal picked skin fast:

Okay, admit it....we've all been there! We know we're not supposed to touch our face, let alone pick at a pimple. As an aesthetician I'm supposed to scold you! But the truth is that it's a compulsion that most red-blooded humans have. Of course in my 8 years of practicing I can tell you that there are varying degrees of picking...and for some, especially those with chronic, inflamed acne-- picking can be the result of something much deeper emotionally. Whatever the reasons be, I know that it can be really hard to feel good about your skin after you've just gone to town on a blemish. And even harder to cover up once it scabs. 

With these all-natural remedies (and at least 24 hours of a HANDS-OFF policy to your skin) you can help heal and prevent scabbing...and hopefully somewhere along the way realize that picking is definitely never the best solution. But we're all human...so don't beat yourself up either. 

SOLUTION #1: MANUKA HONEY

You can learn more in depth about Manuka honey in my post HERE but the gist is that it contains enzymes in it that a super healing and exfoliating even. It also has bacteria killing agents in it so it works as a triple threat to acne and acne scarring. If you're dealing with more all-over picking then apply about a tablespoon to clean skin and wear as a mask for 15-25 minutes. If you're dealing with an individual cystic acne scab, apply a dollop to the blemish and cover with a bandaid overnight. Peel and rinse off in the morning and cleanse the skin as usual.

SOLUTION #2: CALENDULA OINTMENT

This too is available at Whole Foods (or any health food grocer) and is a great recommendation for chronically picked skin or painful blemishes. It's an anti-inflammatory so it helps to bring down swelling and has a mild pain reliever in it...so it's a huge godsend for over-picked, tender skin. After cleansing your skin at night, apply a thick layer of gel to the affected area and allow it to dry completely before going to sleep. Gently peel off of the skin in the morning and cleanse. 

SOLUTION #3: ALOE VERA GEL

Just like it can be trusted to soothe a sunburn, it can be trusted to soothe picked skin. Aloe has a natural mild astringent factor to it as well, so this works well for really congested skin types as it draws out toxins. I've personally seen it work wonders for horribly scabbed skin. Again...you can find this at Whole Foods (although if you're willing to wait I personally recommend THIS ONE) If however, you can't wait, look for a higher-quality PURE organic aloe vera...not the cheap kind you'll find at a drugstore. You'll apply a thick dollop on affected areas, allowing enough time to dry before bed. (I say this so that it doesn't wipe off on your pillow AND so that it can work like a nature-made bandaid...literally) In the a.m. peel off gently and cleanse. 

{REPEAT THESE STEPS EVERY NIGHT UNTIL THE SKIN HAS FULLY HEALED}

If you have any questions leave them below or feel free to email me for further tips and instructions on round the clock ways to heal your skin faster. I'm always happy to help! 

Hope you're having a wonderful weekend XO. 

❤, b

SMOOTHIE OPERATOR

You would think that as summer has officially ended and school is back in session that this post would be a little out of place. Unfortunately for us, this Indian Summer has been brutal. Leaving us feeling like residents of Orange County, FL rather than Orange County, CA....

To beat this scorching heat and humidity me and the little one have been smoothie fiends!! The upside to this heat wave and smoothie adoption is that I've found it to be a clever way to sneak in some extra fruits and veggies for the wee one. Here's what we've been making:

Mixed Berry Smoothie:

1/2 cup frozen mango

1/2 cup frozen strawberries (or raspberries)

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1/4 cup frozen blueberries

1 cup of fresh orange juice

1/2 cucumber, peeled and chopped (optional)

Blend ingredients together until smooth, then serve. The cucumber is great for hydration during hot summer months and for mommies it has a ton of skin soothing benefits including reducing rosacea, hydrating skin, and beating under eye circles! 

The Glowing Green Smoothie:

For a list of full ingredients and directions visit HERE. Kim Snyder's blog offers a variety of versions of this beauty miracle smoothie. I'm definitely frequenting her site to keep up on all of my healthy how-to's. And FYI she has a ton of healthy dinner recipes on there as well...so keep her in mind if you're looking to strict-up your diet. 

....and last but not pictured....

Mango-Ginger Smoothie:

1 cup frozen mango

1/2 cup frozen pineapple

1 cup fresh orange juice

1/2 peeled lime

1/2 inch piece of ginger, peeled

1 medium carrot, peeled and chopped

Again, you're just gonna throw it all in the blender until smooth. If you're feeling brave you can add 1/2 of a beet that's peeled and chopped. The ginger masks the beet taste really well. I realize that beets are super good for our skin and overall health but to me, they taste like dirty socks and I just can't do it. This was/is the only recipe i've tried where I honestly couldn't taste them. (**oh and one more thing before we go: for the kiddos I've found that adding Brown Cow Organic Yogurts works wonnnnnders! They have a cherry-vanilla flavor that makes my daughter think that I've put ice cream into her smoothie....Score one for team-mom;)

❤, b

Honey, you look beautiful!

 With so many different health trends popping into our feeds it's hard to keep up sometimes, I know. Today I want to talk about one of the better ones and why it's worth you trying. Drumroll please....Manuka Honey!

Manuka honey can be used both topically and internally, which makes it a super radical, multitasking beauty product. Internal benefits include: healing stomach ulcers, increasing vitality, boosting antioxidants and immune systems, and acting as an all-natural anti-biotic. External benefits include: killing acne-causing bacteria, healing wounds, and reducing everything from hives to sensitive, dry skin. 

You'll find Manuka honey in health food stores like Whole Foods and Sprouts or online from Amazon and other websites. You'll want to look for the activity number on the front of the label--this tells you how many live active enzymes (the magic ingredient) is contained in the bottle. I usually buy a 12+ activity or higher. Now, the higher the activity number, the higher the price tag, unfortunately. But it is worth the extra dollars spent--higher numbers will give you higher doses of digestible sources of B-vitamins and minerals, which are important in helping the body to eliminate harmful toxins, fighting allergies and warding off colds....without a lick of work on your part! All you have to do is add it to food or a cup of hot tea and it gets to work once you gulp it down. Simple!

And here's a BONUS beauty-benefit:

The live active enzymes are identical to the ones our bodies make naturally....and the ones our bodies burn naturally. (also known as: the "aging" process) By adding Manuka honey into your daily diet, you can stop depleting your natural source of enzymes by burning those found in the honey...which means, in theory, that you can slow down and even regain what age has diminished!!!! 

ummmm, yeah....I'll definitely drink to that! 

Cheers guys!

b.

Don't forget to also look for "raw" and "unpasteurized" on the label