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Archive for the ‘Beautiful SKIN’ Category

Roasted Garlic Avocado Pesto, Gluten-Free, Vegan

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, Entree, The Truth About Dairy, tagged , , , , , , on March 11, 2013 | 4 Comments »

Can you love pesto without the cheese and nuts?

For sure!

The combination of cheese and nuts is like a headache for your stomach (oh, or a stomachache). Both concentrated fats (cheese and nuts) blended with protein, they each require different enzymes for complete and proper digestion. The result? Neither happens and it slows the digestive process, creates a lot of stress for the liver (that aids in fat digestion), and beautiful skin? Not so much. 

That’s why you will absolutely love this simple version. Nix the nuts and cheese for some skin beautifying avocado. That’s what I call guilt-free!

This gorgeous and gluten-free avocado pesto dish was as classy and aesthetically appealing, as it was creamy, light, and refreshing. Place it on a pretty platter, or in a single-serve glass cup and you are ready to impress.

Behold… beauty and the avocado.

IMG_2435

Roasted Garlic and Avocado Pesto with Zucchini Noodles

Serves 4-6

  • 3 large avocados
  • Juice of 1 lemon
  • 2 tsp dried oregano
  • 2 ½ cups basil, tightly packed
  • 1 large cluster of garlic, roasted
  • ½ tsp salt (more to taste)
  • Black pepper to taste
  • 6 medium zucchini, spiralized into noodles
  • Optional Ingredients:
  • 1 ½ Artichoke Hearts
  • ½ cup Castelvetrano olives, rinsed and halved
  • ½ cup Nutritional Yeast (gives a cheesy taste)
  • 1 cup loose spinach leaves

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. To roast garlic, chop off the head of each garlic cluster, exposing the white of the garlic cloves. Wrap the cluster in foil and bake for 30 minutes. Prepare zucchini noodles with a spiralizer or julienne into match sticks and put to the side. In a food processor, combine avocado, lemon juice, and herbs, and process until smooth. Carefully remove garlic from oven and squeeze roasted garlic into the mixture. Process again until smooth. Pour pesto sauce over noodles and combine with additional optional ingredients.

This is one delicious recipe you will not want to miss out on… not to mention how much lighter it feels. Hello! More energy!

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Oh wow- Double Chocolate Crunch Mousse– Totally Dairy Free, Vegan, Raw

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, Desserts, NuStevia Recipes, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , on November 12, 2012 | 1 Comment »

The other night I celebrated my one year anniversary with my husband.

In all honesty, it feels like we have been married for eleven– At least ten years.

I never imagined being married with three children in my twenties! It has been quite the three hundred and sixty five days. I have absolutely fabulous kids, but without family around, it can be especially overwhelming at times– lunches, dinners, work, clients, love, juicing, health. I have learned that my time is oh-so-valuable and very little. I am learning to cherish each moment to myself, as well as to cherish every fabulous and fun moment that I have with the kids. Their giggles and bliss are contagious. It makes every hardship worth it.

For our anniversary, my husband surprised me by arranging for a sleepover for each of our three kiddos… ON A SCHOOL NIGHT. My first thoughts were a combination of fear and pleasure! “Oh my gosh! Fun! I won’t have to worry about their safety” vs. “Oh my word, these parents… another child? A school night… aye!” Of course I knew our kids would be 100% delighted, so that surely was not a worry. 

Thank goodness the kids have wonderful friends, and we have such great neighbors.

As part of the surprise, my husband, took me to the restaurant where we had our very first date and very first kiss. Although the food was… what I remembered, and the owner (who made us feel special), out of town… they were sweet enough to bring out a fancy creme brûlée to celebrate our big night together. Spoiled as I may be with my own recipes, and perfectly content with dark chocolate, I loved the gesture (which was clearly a concoction of milk and eggs). 

Did I feel left out? Oh no. I had bigger plans in mind.

Later that eve, while my husband was making a fire in the fire place, I decided to celebrate with something far more fabulous, and hormone, lactose, casein, albumin, and sugar free.

The “oh-so-fabulous avocado chocolate mousse” I cannot keep my hands off.

Just you wait.

Ready??

That evening I made the  60 second version (cocoa, avocado, and vanilla stevia). But you should carve out the 10 minutes to make this one!

Serves 4-6

  • 4 large avocados, halved, pit removed
  • 1 cup raw cacao (or 1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa) 
  • ½ cup dates, pitted and soaked in warm water for 10 min (if you are sugar sensitive, you can use more stevia and no dates!)
  • 1 tbsp vanilla (or Vanilla Stevia) I like mine extra sweet! You can also use powdered stevia.
  • 6 tbsp raw cacao nibs + some for sprinkling decor

Combine all ingredients in a food processor except for cocoa nibs. Process until smooth. Add cocoa nibs and process until mixed. Scoop out and chill in the fridge, or serve at room temperature. Garnish with cocoa nibs and unsweetened coconut flakes (optional).

You will love this mousse!

Creamy. Rich. Chocolaty. Indulgent.

On the upper upside? You can love this recipe without reeking havoc on your radiant skin and figure. Done. and Done.

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Detoxifying Massaged Kale Salad for Beautiful Skin

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, Entree, pH and The Body, Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , , on June 20, 2012 | 4 Comments »

We eat for pleasure.

The body eats for nutrients.

Nutrients sustain life and enable us to grow into the beautiful, strong, and healthy specimens that the Universe intended us to be.

For this reason I am whole-heartedly infatuated with a perfectly massaged kale salad.

While a bundle of raw kale can be extremely intimidating, it is power-packed with an abundance of vitamins, minerals, and other feel good nutrients that support not just a healthy body, but beautiful skin.

Although purely raw, unmassaged kale can be difficult to digest, the perfect massaged kale salad is not only mouth watering, but also fiercely satisfying.

This particular massaged kale salad is the ideal detox salad, and in part, a perfect meal for radiant skin.

The All-Stars: 

Kale—“The Super food”

  • Highly ANTI-Inflammatory 
  • Great source of plant protein 
  • Great Source of fiber 
  • High in Vitamin A
  • High in Vitamin C
  • High in B6
  • High in Vitamin K
  • Excellent sources of:  magnesium, calcium, phosphorus, potassium 

Avocado—“The Good Fat”

  • Great source of plant protein 
  • Avocados are also a great source of Vitamins K, A, C, and E.
  • Rich in Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Calcium and other trace minerals.

Garlic—“Russian Penicillin”

  • Extremely ANTI-Inflammatory
  • Garlic is considered one of Mother Nature’s most potent antibiotic, and anti fungal. 
  • Elimination of toxins from the blood, lymph, and body.
  • More on Garlic. 

Parsley—“The Detoxifier”

  • Highly ANTI-Inflammatory 
  • Great source of plant protein 
  • Great Source of fiber 
  • High in Vitamin A
  • High in Vitamin E
  • High in B6
  • High in Vitamin K
  • High in Vitamin C
  • Rich in Potassium, Magnesium, Iron, Calcium and other trace minerals.
Cleanse the blood!
Nourish the cells!
Eliminate toxins!
Destroy Bacteria! 
Increase Circulation!
 Get started on that salad!

  • Begin with a small bunch of kale.
  • “De-twig it”: Remove its curly leaves from the tough steam, and place in a medium-sized mixing bowl. Separate all leaves from stems (save stems for juicing, blending, composts, or discard)
  • Rinse leaves and saturate under warm running water for several minutes. This will soften the leaves, readying them for eased digestion.
  • Relieve the bowl of all water, and towel-dry kale.
  • Sprinkle with high quality sea salt, and use your hands to massage it into the kale
  • This will loosen up the tough fibers
  • Pour ¼ cup freshly squeezed lemon juice over the kale, and use your hands to massage the lemon juice into the leaves
  • Squeeze ½ of a large avocado over the salad, once again using your hands to work the creamy mild flavor and avocado oils into the leaves
  • Add ¼ cup chopped fresh parsley leaves
  • Add in 1/2 cup fresh spinach leaves (optional)
  • 1 minced garlic clove
  • 1/8 cup thinly red onion
  • Sprinkle Generously with Chipotle Spice and Crushed Red Pepper

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Beets for Better Health and Beautiful Skin

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, tagged , , , , , , , , , , on June 4, 2012 | 6 Comments »

Beet-U-T-Ful 

Beets are a beauty food. Packed with nutrients necessary for a youthful, glowing complexion, beets not only offer a sufficient amount of naturally occurring vitamins and minerals, but also support a healthy digestive system.

  • Beets are rich in iron, potassium, niacin, copper and Vitamin C, in addition to manganese, magnesium, calcium, zinc, folic acid. Each of these nutrients are essential for beauty.
  • Magnesium is considered a natural “relaxant”, and stress aid. Magnesium relaxes the skeletal and smooth muscles of the body, including the intestines. Stress, and other variables, causes these muscles to contract making it more challenging for the body to get rid of toxins. A relaxed digestive tract allows the body to pass waste more easily. When the body holds onto waste it ferments, decays, and putrefies. This creates an environment for unfriendly bacteria to cultivate and release toxic byproducts. Many of these toxins will be eventually eliminated via the skin.
  • Beets naturally stimulate digestion and help to move out old waste materials from within the porous piping of the intestinal tract.  This helps to free the body from excess toxins.
  • Beets are high in plant fiber.
  • Beets cleanse the blood, and liver. The skin is one of the backup organs for the liver and kidneys. When the liver is overloaded with toxins, it will eliminate what it cannot handle through the skin. The blood visits all of the internal organs. Unclean blood affects all of the organs, including the kidneys and liver, thus affecting the skin.
  • Beets contain betaine. Betaine is a molecule that aids in the detoxification process by helping to neutralize otherwise poisonous metals and substances. 
  • Beets are considered anti-inflammatory, and help to ease inflammation. 
  • Beets are alkaline, and help contribute to homeostasis and balance in the body.
  • Beets are also highly beneficial in managing hormonal imbalances. Hormonal imbalances contribute to stress and skin problems
  • Beets are a valuable source of enzymes. 

Enjoy beets raw, baked, or roasted. I love this Roasted Beet and Carrot Ginger Dressing recipe.

If you are afraid of, or have had bad experiences with beets, it is probably because they were prepared incorrectly, soggy, strangely sweet, and metallic.

Enjoy these deliciously sweet root vegetables.

Enjoy superior health, and beautiful skin.

Looking to improve your skin, health, and body? At GLOW, I work with health and beauty conscious clientele looking to reverse aging, improve and clear skin, enhance digestion, increase energy, improve their overall health, and get the body they have always wanted. 

In celebration of my birthday this week, I am welcoming on new clients with a limited time special savings package. Check out the details. I only have 12 more spaces available!

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Mangoes and Poison Ivy

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, tagged , , , , , on April 2, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Have you ever had poison ivy? 

Ouch, right?

The side effect of poison ivy is an uncomfortable and itchy rash, that spreads like wild fire when scratched. Often becoming extremely inflamed and developing into little blisters, it is also quite– unattractive.

If you have suffered the consequences of poison ivy, you already know to be on the lookout for this clever plant. I do hope, however, that whatever suffering you endured, it was only from small patch on your leg– or some place less visible to the eye.

Now trying having it on your face, particularly all around your mouth and chin. Charming, eh? In fact, it looks a lot like acne. Lucky me, I had the pleasure of enduring this discomfort for a week.

What was I doing with poison ivy on my face you ask?

No– I did not do a face dive into a patch of ivy on some sort of adventurous hike.

Nor was I on a hike.

Nor did I decide to take a bite out of a patch out of mysterious greenery in someone’s backyard.

What I did do, however, was eat a mango. Not just eat– but delight in the juiciness of the sweet treat, and devour three mangos right from their skin and pit. How does this relate to my encounter with poison ivy?

Mangoes, as delicious as they may be, are unsurprisngly mildly inflammatory like most fruits. However, unbeknownst to many, unlike most fruits, where the skin and pit are hardly offensive, the skin and pit of a mango release a toxin in their sap– urushiol (Read more). 

Urushiol is actually the same toxic compound found in the sap of poison ivy and poison oak. Found in much higher concentrations in the skin and pit, the tropical flesh of the mango is generally not so offensive. That being said, if one is very sensitive to poison ivy, or oak, it is wise to let a friend help to peel the juicy tropical flesh from its skin. Luckily, the juicy flesh of the tropical fruit is very low in urushiol, and most people will not suffer the repercussions of an “Overeager Mango Eater.” If you are like me however, an “Overeager Mango Eater,” and wish to feel invincible– consuming three mangoes right from the skin and pit, well then… have fun gambling with a skin reaction.

Have you ever had a noticeable skin reaction to mango, or any other food? 

Moving right along, I am happy to report that my skin has almost completely healed from my encounter. The “amusing” part has been, however, announcing GLOW at the same time as my mango incidence.

At GLOW, one my main areas of concentration is improving the skin’s complexion, radiance, and “glow.” A one time sufferer of skin “unpleasantries,” breakouts, and sensitivites, I am extraordinarily passionate about helping my clients clear their skin and reverse signs of premature aging, from the inside out. Beautiful skin is an automatic confidence booster, and I am confident that with certain lifestyle changes here and there, beautiful skin is something that everyone can enjoy. That being said, with an angry outbreak of what appeared to be acne on my face, it was humorous, and humbling trying to express this key area of focus during face-to-face conversations.

It also should serve as positive affirmation to those battling with skin imperfections and breakouts: Food allergies do translate to skin breakouts, and inflammation. Don’t doubt yourself, or your gut instinct. Regardless of whether a food contains urushiol, it can still act as a poison to your body when over-consumed, and in conjunction with inflammation inside the body. 

Win 6 months of free consultations! 

Interested in improving your skin?

Schedule a skin consult today, and enter to win 6 months of free-consultations.

Giveaway ends at the end of this week!

Read more about the giveaway here!

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My Personal Skincare Regimen

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, tagged , , , on February 10, 2012 | 12 Comments »

Diet and a cleansing lifestyle can drastically transform your skin, but when the products being used topically are counteracting your effort, the results may not be dreamy.

Many of the skincare products on the market today, whether sold at the counter of your favorite department store, or purchased from an infomercial, contain ingredients that irritate the skin. This is also true of “Natural” products. Instead of truly helping our skin, we find ourselves living in quite a paradox– taming sensitive skin with irritants, reversing aging with chemicals, and trying to heal blemishes with harsh ingredients.

For years I struggled with my skin. If I could have written a note to my younger self, I would have told her to first change her diet ASAP.

And then I would have told her to toss those skincare products out the window.

Before discovering the Naturopathica Skincare line a few months ago, I was frustrated by all skincare products. Unlike some women, I do not collect a variety of “product.” I like simplicity. I want something I can wash my face with, and something to use as a moisturizer. I am a busy lady. I have a bustling and sometimes hectic day. Sometimes I don’t get enough sleep. Sometimes I stress over little things, and… more often then not, it shows on my skin. I want results without chemicals, or irritants.

The skin is the body’s largest organ. It serves as a backup organ to the kidney and the liver and it is a means of releasing unwanted toxins through the pores of the skin. A cleansing lifestyle will stir up unwanted debris and bring them to the surface. This becomes apparent when the skin becomes congested.

I am very particular about the ingredients I place on my skin. As promised, and after trial and error, I have created my own Skincare Regimen.

I like the ingredients. I like the results.

CLEANSE.

My Favorite cleanser is the Naturopathica Aloe Cleansing Gel. I use it morning and night. It is cleanses the skin of impurities without stripping away it’s natural oils. It leaves the skin feeling fresh, without feeling depleted. It is perfect for sensitive skin, or any skin in my opinion.

  • According to the website: 99% of the total ingredients are from natural origin. 51.51% of the total ingredients are from organic farming. 

After cleansing, I will use an enzyme peel, once or twice a week. I love peels. They make me feel feminine and special.

EXFOLIATE.

My absolute favorite product, the Pumpkin Purifying Enzyme Peel is a delight. Pumpkin gently exfoliates the skin, while enzymes work to breakdown dead skin cells. After rinsing, the result is a smoother, and less congested surface. After repeated usage, tiny but consistently clogged pores have all but disappeared across my chin– something I was starting to think impossible without eliminating an irritant from my diet.

My Recommendation: When you can, enjoy this peel in a warm bubble bath. I never tire of the enticing and fragrant aromas that this results-driven pumpkin peel has. Relax. Unwind. This is a real treat– during and after!

HYDRATE.

Can I have two favorite products because I fell in love with the Calendula Essential Hydrating Moisturizer over the holidays. As someone with “sensitive” skin, I have always disliked moisturizers. As I have aged, I realize the value of keeping the skin protected and hydrated is of paramount importance. While a diet should be hydrating, the weather, climate, environment, stress, and social gatherings (indulgence) can not only cause dehydration but also create inflammation.

The moisturizer is appropriately named after Calendula, an herb used topically on slow-to-heal wounds, mild burns and dry skin. I cannot tell you how much I love this product. It is deeply hydrating, without leaving behind a touch of unfavorable, or oily residue. As far as inflammation, I was absolutely astonished at the remarkable decrease in any redness after my first use. If you wear makeup, this moisturizer will provide you with a smooth and even canvas. If you don’t want to wear makeup, well this just might be your new best friend. 

I use the hydrating lotion after cleansing, in the AM and PM.

  • According to the website: 100% of the total of the ingredients are from natural origin, 
    58.915% of the total ingredients are from Organic Farming
I have thrown away too much money on products that irritate my skin, or do not deliver. I am not afraid to pay a little extra for something I adore. If you can, I can only suggest you check it out.
Currently Naturopathica is offering a 20% Valentine discount with the code: VALENTINE20
~ – ~
Stay tuned for a free giveaway this month!

What are your favorite products? How about natural solutions you have come up with? What works for you? Are there certain “natural” ingredients that irritate your skin? What is your skin type?

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Healthier Fudge Popsicles, Dairy-Free and Delish!

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, NuStevia Recipes, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 30, 2012 | 4 Comments »

Best Sister and Aunt of the Year

Though I may be just slightly biased, my younger sister ought to be recognized as the most thoughtful and coolest aunt (and sister) of the year.

Much to our surprise, we were gifted an incredibly creative and awesome gift this holiday season– a Zoku “Quick Pop” Maker from William Sonoma.

The Zoku Quick Pop Maker is a fabulous little kitchen appliance– relatively simple to use, a surprisingly easy clean-up, and an exceptional way to make desserts both healthful and fun for the whole family–it has been a hit.

We managed to recreate a pretty rockin’, dairy-free version of Zoku’s Fudge-sicle recipe. If you don’t have a Zoku, it’s all good (it will just take a lot longer to freeze). Simply freeze your mixture into a plastic cup and eat with a spoon, or, for a “cooler” idea? Pour mixture into an ice cube tray and freeze overnight.  When you are ready, add these baby fudge-sicle cubes into a cold class of coconut, or almond milk.

Sinful Fudge Popsicle Recipe

The original recipe called for milk, cream, and sugar… so we made necessary adjustments. :)

Yields 6 Zoku Quick Pops:

  • 1 cup water, brought to a boil on stove top, and then removed
  • 1 tbsp raw coconut butter (Artisana)
  • 3/4 cup dark chocolate chunks, or chips, added to water and stirred until smooth

Let mixture cool for 10 minutes

Add:

  • 20 drops Alcohol Free NuStevia
  • 10 drops Vanilla Alcohol Free NuStevia
  • A sprinkle of celtic sea salt
  • 1/2 cup cold Unsweetened Coconut Milk

Stir mixture and place final concoction in fridge to cool if using Zoku. If using something else, add immediately to your final freezing destination, and place into freezer.

While the design of Zoku may be slightly flawed– I have yet to witness a popsicle miraculously “freeze before my eyes”, I had no problem popping the beautiful gadget into our freezer for an accelerated frozen treat. We then stored the “extras” in the freezer. Translation: We stored the ones that were not being eaten, while we whipped up another batch.

No complaints here!

On another note: I mentioned last week, I am taking part in the Naturopathica Challenge. This has been a unique challenge for me. I am hardly one to use multiple products on my skin. I am a minimalist. I am a firm believer that diet is the main component to a beautiful complexion, and products are supplemental. I did however mention that finding the Naturopathica Skin care line has been the “icing to my cake.” It has been!

The new Regimen Kits, designed for Age Defense, Normal to Oily, or Normal to Dry skin are a wonderful way to let your skin “taste test” the extraordinary benefits of truly all-natural skin products. If you have been using anything other than natural products on your skin, the positive results will be astonishing.

Creamy, smooth, and delicately aromatic, my favorite products  have left my skin supple, soft and hydrated. What has really appealed to me, however, has been the noticeable decrease in inflammation. My skin has become the ideal canvas for whatever makeup I choose to apply– and lately that has been very minimal. 

I still have days to go before I give you my personal and honest favorite products, but I just got word that Naturopathica is offering insiders the opportunity to win a pre-Valentine’s Day massage, or facial, at a Naturopathica partner spa near you (up to a $200 value). 3 Winners will be announced on February 10th! Just in time for the Hallmark Holiday.

  • Each winner will also receive an all-new Regimen Kit (like the one I am sampling) - customized for Age Defense, Normal to Oily, or Normal to Dry skin.
  • When you sign up, you also automatically get 20% of your next order, and free shipping with orders over $75.00. Plus, and I love this part, with every order you get 3 product samples of your choosing.
  • Sign-up for their Valentine’s Day offer and get your 20% off.

I will be back with more updates from my Naturopathica product testing…

I cannot wait to start sharing all of my skincare secrets with you this year! (and these secrets are unrealated to products).

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Have you ever tried Naturopathica products? What products do you use now? What is your skin type?

Ever tried a Zoku Quick Pop Maker? Have ideas for healthy recipes!?

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Beautiful Skin and The Naturopathica Challenge

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 24, 2012 | 2 Comments »

Beautiful skin begins within.

Your body’s largest organ; the condition of the skin is entirely indicative of the internal health of the body.

Diet, Medication, Lifestyle, Stressors, Supplements, and “allergies,” all affect the body’s internal pH, create balances and imbalances (in all areas of function, including hormonal), and invite, or ward off illness, bacteria and yeasts.

In sum: A zit is not just a zit. A wrinkle not just a wrinkle.

Fighting Toxins with Toxins. 

That being said, the skin also absorbs an upwards of 70% of what is placed on it.

It is quite a paradox that we would attempt to tame sensitive skin, heal blemishes, and reverse aging, with ingredients that are not only irritants, but also something we’d never knowingly want our bodies to absorb.

Unfortunately, the majority of products claiming to be “natural” are still ridden with “natural” fillers that are irritants.

There are no set guidelines for defining what it means for a food, or product, to be “natural.”

The products I thought would be beneficial, left me hesitant to use (or recommend), uncomfortable with the ingredients, and not overly impressed with the results.

Wanted Holistic Skincare

Beauty cannot be found in a bottle, but if were– that bottle would be blue. 

Founded by Barbara Close, the Naturopathica brand emerged from Close’s desire to help people achieve a greater well-being, holistically. A clinical esthetician and herbalist, many of the ingredients in each signature blue bottle are local, or organic, and combined with “ingredient choices” that, their website explains, “have been endorsed by clinical studies featured in prominent medical journals.”

The Naturopathica website offers a highly accessible , time-saving “A thru Z” glossary of each ingredient used, and each product is clearly labeled based on the ingredients: vegan, organic, etc.

My excitement and passion for Naturopathica grew to great heights when I tried one of their enzyme peels. Not only did I notice a significant difference in the appearance and texture of my skin the next morning, I was in awe with how wonderfully delicious and authentic the product smelled. It was literally was like the difference between a home-baked pie, instead of something from a can. 

When asked if I would take their “Challenge” and try one of their new skin regimen kits designed for 3 common skin types: Age Defense, Normal to Dry, Normal to Oily– I answered with a resounding, YES!

Much like the passion that radiates from the holistic company itself, my skin immediately noticed a difference when I switched from my other “natural” moisturizer, and unexciting skin-care regimen.

Products included in my “Normal to Dry” Regimen:

(Wording taken directly from Naturopathica):

Morning Recommendation:

  • OAT FACIAL POLISH: Soothing Oats and Jojoba Beads gently sweep away dry, flaky skin, removing impurities and leaving the face soft and radiant
  • BEECH TREE & GINSENG DAILY MOISTURIZER: This nourishing moisturizer blends antioxidant rich Beech Tree and Goji Berry with a firming complex of Ginseng to help protect skin from free radicals

Evening Recommendation: 

  • CHAMOMILE CLEANSING MILK: A soothing blend of German Chamomile and Rose gently cleanses and calms dry, sensitive skin leaving the face smooth and soft
  • PLANT STEM CELL SERUM: An ECOCERT certified organic concentrated serum, designed to significantly slow down the aging of cells due to inflammation caused by UVA photodamage and oxidative stress

Day 2 of the 30 Day Skin Transformation Challenge and my skin looks and feels silky smooth. The little makeup that I do wear went on effortlessly, and there was no such oily residue, or stickiness to be rendered with– something many of us, having suffered from skin blemishes in the past, commonly fear.

My experience with the Naturopthica line has been like the icing to my cake. While my diet worked wonders on my complexion, their products have taken my skin to a new level of beautiful. I only wish I knew of this wonderful little secret when I was fighting off the stressors of my big Wedding Day a few months ago!!

Coupled with a naturally cleansing diet and lifestyle, I will be recommending and endorsing the Naturopathica product line as a means to achieving optimum spa-like results, without concern for unnatural ingredients, irritants, pricey spa services, or questions regarding company policies, and standards (phew).

Looking for a fresh start to 2012?

Boost your confidence with a healthy lifestyle and get free shipping on your first Naturopathica order. Regimen kits are priced at $65.00 (4 deluxe trial products). 1/2 the price of a spa facial. 

Type CODE: NY2012 at Checkout.

Expect me to become more passionately involved in Skin Care in the year 2012. ;)

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ON ANOTHER NOTE:

P.S. Congrats to my four lucky winners of my NuStevia Contest who are ready to omit the sugar for a better body and beautiful skin. 

Winners please contact me! 

Dona: ” I want to try NuStevia because I have a sugar allergy and want to not have to give up everything sweet.” …

Tamara: “I’m a huge anti-sugar girl. That stuff is BAD!!” …

Deborah: “I’ve been interested in trying NuStevia as a sugar replacement. I have used Truvia in the past as a way to wean me off the poison that is Splenda but wasn’t quite sold on it.” …

Alana: “I want to try NuStevia because my husband and I have two children of our own and many more in our life that I want to encourage to eat well. I have seen first hand how sugar addictions can control a person’s health and mental state. I’d love to be able to free them of that roller coaster!”…

Ladies! Please email me your shipping information so NuNaturals can get your winnings in the mail! Lauren@inpurebliss.com

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The pH and Beautiful Skin Connection, Part 2

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, pH and The Body, tagged , , , , on January 4, 2010 | 10 Comments »

Our skin is a fascinating organ and even though beautiful skin starts from within, it also absorbs whatever we choose to put on it.

The pH of a normal healthy human skin is between 4.5 and 6.o.  It varies as we age, leaning towards the lower end of the scale.  Why do most babies and children have beautiful skin?  It is because their skin’s pH is typically around a 7.0.  The skin is healthier, happier, and ultimately more beautiful when it is more alkaline (although it needs to be slightly acidic in order to protect itself from external bacteria, toxins, pollutants…etc.).

baby skin soft. healthy babies have a glow to them for a reason.

When skin looks unhealthy, it is the body’s way of issuing a warning that there is something wrong. An alkaline diet is crucial to happy and healthy skin, but as the skin will absorb whatever we place on it, the skin care products we use are eminently as important, as well.

Skin care Products have a pH too.  Although they will not directly inform you of their pH, they will tell you what they have in them (I hope!).  Look at the back of your face wash, lotion, makeup, etc.  The more ingredients that you can pronounce, understand and recognize… the better.  Ingredients from nature are good.  Ingesting and consumption of toxins, additives and artificial foods are not good for us, and it is not good for our skin either.

Is your skin too dry?  Products with too low of a pH can dry the skin.

Jenna asked me a question about what skin products I recommend. Jenna, I am particularly fond of the brand derma e.  In fact, I am in love with their “Very Clear” line.  Their products soothe the skin with Tea Tree, Willow Bark, Rosewood, Lavender and Chamomile and I find them to be wonderful for all skin types.  I used to be terrified of using lotion, for fear of breaking out, until I found their lotion.

My favorite products and prices are on Vitacost.com.  I am always baffled at their low prices.

Very Clear Cleansing Scrub

Very Clear Moisturizer

Do you have any products that you love?  Or products that you know to stay away from?

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pH and the Secret to Beautiful Skin

Posted in Beautiful SKIN, pH and The Body, tagged , , , , , , , , on January 3, 2010 | 6 Comments »

The skin is our body’s largest organ. The skin has many responsibilities.  One of them is to act as a backup organ for the liver and kidneys.

Freshly pressed cucumber juice is a wonderfully nourishing drink for your skin.  If you can, juice an organic cucumber with ginger and lemon, in the AM.

After a night of overindulgence, have you ever woken up to find that you:

  • Feel and look “puffy“?
  • Have a new blemish?
  • Are sporting dark raccoon eyes? (And not from your makeup…)
  • You are not smelling like a bed of roses?

Beautiful skin starts on the inside.

Your pH and thus, your diet, is reflected in the health and overall appearance of your skin. When the toxic load, and/or acid buildup, is too much for the kidneys and liver to manage, it looks to the skin to get rid it of the toxins.

Problem skin is your body’s way of warning you that something is not right…

Why does it do this?  Without jumping into a lengthy discussion about the body’s organs, imagine that your body has a special team working overtime to rid the body of toxins (acid buildup, from your night out, or a poor diet, etc).  The captains of this “toxin removal team” are the kidneys and liver.  The goal of this team is to get rid of the acid buildup before it can affect the vital organs, including themselves (i.e. heart, brain, pancreas, lungs, liver, kidneys).  When their is too much acid buildup for the kidneys and liver, they will send the toxins to the skin– hence your breakout and dark circles, instead of letting it affect the more vital organs.  I.e.  It is your body’s defense mechanism because what is worse: Acne or Kidney Failure?

Stayed tuned to as I uncover more secrets to beautiful skin…

What is your go-to skin care regimen, to prevent and treat, moody skin?

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