Ginger Has It All

It's been a while since I've posted, and when I was using my Brazened Honey Face Mask from LUSH, I was inspired to confess my love about Ginger. (One of it's main ingredients.)

Ginger has been a skin life saver for me, and there's many reasons why! First and foremost, ginger is a great natural antiseptic because it contains zingiberene, a wonderful bacteria killing enzyme. So for all you acne sufferers that are looking for a natural alternative to Salicylic Acid, this is a great one! I also love it because it's extremely anti-inflammatory so it's great for soothing any redness that comes with breakouts. (or other skin types)

Ginger doesn't just cater to acneic skin types, it's great for aging too. It contains gingerol, a powerful antioxidant, to fight off free radicals in the air/food/sun that's around us everyday that contribute to aging. Gingerol also has great skin smoothing properties to help diminish any fine lines and wrinkles. It's also warming so it's great for increasing circulation and getting blood flow to the skin, which is also important in the aging process. It's an awesome ingredient to use in body scrubs or treatments because it's warming circulatory properties are great for fighting cellulite! It's also known for pulling toxins from the body, which is cellulites main component.

I love the ginger in Brazened Honey mask from LUSH because it warms the skin, which means it opens up my pores, which means all the wonderful ingredients from the mask can penetrate a lot easier!

Ginger is also a great ingredient to use in massage oils. It's warming nature is great for loosening up sore muscles and the scent is very therapeutic for the mind. The Hottie Massage Bar from LUSH has lots of ginger and black pepper for that very reason!

So there you have it, yet again another amazing natural skin care ingredient that caters to almost all skin types!

Asparagus - Food For The Capillaries!

Broken capillaries (little spider veins) and rosacea are two of the most frustrating skin conditions. They leave the skin red and very vascular which can make the skin feel hot and uncomfortable. They are caused by weakened blood vessels that rupture causing the capillary walls to burst. This allows the blood to seep out, then causing a broken capillary. Dehydrated, dry and sensitive skin are especially prone to this skin condition. (Utah's climate in a nut shell!)

One of the best vitamins for this skin condition is Vitamin K. It is known for strengthening the capillary walls and reducing them from rupturing! One of the foods with the highest vitamin K content is asparagus. It also has a flavnoid called Rutin. It has major anti-inflammatory properties which reduce redness, but also helps strengthen veins and increase circulation. Did I also mention it has awesome anti-aging benefits too?! It contains lots of antioxidants which neutralize free radicals that damage cells and cause aging. It also has lots of enzymes to help exfoliate and hydrate the skin leaving it nice and plump.

Using asparagus topically in your skin care regimen can help with these skin conditions, and don't forget about how wonderful it tastes too! You can get these skin benefits by eating it as well.

If you suffer from broken capillaries, rosacea, redness, or just want some anti aging benefits, try some of these products with Organic Asparagus in them! :)

http://www.lushusa.com/Ayesha/06090,en_US,pd.html

Yogurt... the super hero of DIY skin care!

I'm always on the hunt for natural DIY home remedies, especially things we commonly have in the fridge. My all time favorite is a simple Yogurt face mask! I've always believed that if you can put it on your face, you should be able to put it in your belly! (Even if it doesn't taste the greatest, you should be able to ingest it without it harming you).

So we all know the benefits of eating yogurt... Full of calcium, protein, and vitamin E. And it has just as many benefits on the outside of your body as it does on the inside! Putting yogurt on the skin can moisturize, fight acne, prevent aging, and even soothe sunburn or irritated skin.

For Moisturizing and Anti Aging: After cleansing and drying the skin, apply a plentiful dollop of natural or greek yogurt (no sugars or flavors) to the skin. Let this sit on your face for about 10 minutes. While this sits on, the natural Lactic Acid found in yogurt will exfoliate, remove dead skin cells, smooth, and brighten. Lactic Acid is also very hydrating and helps retain moisture to the skin so it's great for people in dryer climates, such as Utah! Hydrated skin means plump skin, so say goodbye to fine lines and wrinkles ladies!

For Sunburn Relief: Slather on a helping handful of yogurt to soothe and relief the irritation of a sunburn. The zinc found in yogurt is really good for bites, burns, or weathered skin. (Add a couple drops of chamomile oil to take soothing to a whole nother level!)

For Acne: Beware pimples. Yogurt contains natural anti-bacterial/anti-fungal properties to kill the bacteria causing a breakout. After cleansing and drying the skin, lather on some cooling yogurt and leave on for 30 minutes so the yogurt can work it's magic. (You can even use as a foot mask for stinky stubborn feet)

Brightening Boost: If your concerned about uneven skin tone due to sun damage and hyperpigmentation, yogurt has a mild bleaching property. Mix it with a little lemon juice and really get some brightening action!


Because yogurt is natural and contains no harsh chemicals, you can do these facial masks 3 times a week! Its a great addition to any skin care regimen.