Real Beauty 101

Mmmmm...Chocolate...

For eons, women have had a love affair with chocolate.....sweet, creamy, melt-in-your mouth chocolate.   And for almost as long, women have been told that the object of their affection could be one of the leading reasons why their skin is breaking out. And since some of you may have consumed more than the averge amount of chocolate last week, I thought I thought I would clear up the chocolate-causing-pimples myth once and for all.

Here's the deal, several studies have been published - most notably the report published in the Journal of Family Practice in 2005 by researchers at the University of Newcastle in New South Wales, Australia - that say that there is only a small connection between chocolate and skin blemishes.  Of the various types of chocolate, dark chocolate appears to cause no blemishes.  The incidence of blemishes caused by milk chocolate is slightly higher but its not due to the cocoa, its due its sugar content.  There is definitely a skin-nutrition connection.  Typically, the cleaner your diet, the clearer your skin.  There are studies that show foods with a higher glycemic index such as refined carbohydrates (the "whites" - bread, potatoes, and pasta)and sweets may be linked with breakouts.

 The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published a study of men ages 15 to 25 that found that those who spent 12 weeks on a diet of protein and low-glycemic slow-metabolizing carbohydrates reduced their acne by twice as much as participants in a control group. Studies have also found that a low-sugar, low-refined-carb diet that reduces the level of insulin in the blood also lowers the level of androgens, a hormone that stimulates the glands in the skin to produce oil and, hence, zits. The increase in androgen toward the end of the menstrual cycle helps explain why some women get monthly breakouts.

So, if you are going to reach for a bite of chocolate - make it dark chocolate.  In addition to having a low glycemic index, dark chocolate is high in antioxidants  (anti-aging ingredients) and flavinoids - which keep cholesterol from gathering in blood vessels, reduce the risk of blood clots, and slow down the immune responses that lead to clogged arteries.  And most importantly, no zits! Sweet!!

Green Tea Facial Mist

 The benefits of green tea are numerous.  The dark green leaves are touted to ward off everything from cancer to high cholesterol. The secret of green tea lies in the fact it is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful anti-oxidant and is known to act as a sun protectant by combatting free radicals and reducing inflammation.

This month's home recipe is for a soothing facial mist made from green tea leaves.  When outside, use it after prolonged exposure to the sun's rays.  When inside, use it as a mid-day pick me up!

Ingredients:
4 ounces disilled water, boiled
2  green tea bags
2 drops rosewood essential oil
1 drop lavendar oil

Blending Procedure:

1. Infuse the tea bags in the boiling water for 15 minutes. Remove the tea bags and allow the tea to cool down to room temperature.
2. Pour the tea into a 4 ounce spray bottle, preferably amber or cobalt blue to protect the essential oils from light. Add the essential oils last and shake well.
   
3. Store it at the bottom of your fridge and shake well before each use.

Get the Red Carpet Glow

Celebrity A-List esthie Kate Sommerville dishes with CBS on how she preps her celebrity clients for the red carpet.  Kate's 5-Step Pyramid philosophy on skin care is shared by many fellow estheticians. 

Featured in the video is Kate's ExfoliKate product containings papaya, pumpkin, and pineapple enzymes - the ultimate trifecta in enzyme exfoliation. 

And THANK YOU KATE for explaining the difference between hydration and "moisturization"!  Hyaluranic acid is a must for mature skin or for those that want to combat the signs of aging.

Ojon is introducing a new bath and body line

Ok, so anyone that REALLY knows me, knows that I have a pretty bad QVC addiction.  Thankfully, due to the economy, my QVC habit has been placed in check.  But I have to thank QVC for introducing me to the Ojon® Restorative Hair Treatment back in 2003.  

Let me take you back.  I'm watching QVC  and this georgeous couple appears touting the effects of the rare oil of the tropical Ojon® tree known only to the Tawira indians who are referred to as "the people of beautiful hair (TM).  Its a husband and wife team and the wife's hair looked like shiny, black silk.  What sold me, of course, was when they showed the effects of the hair treatment on African American hair (after one use).  I couldn't dial fast enough.

Since then, I have been a faithful devotee, scooping the rare concotion into my hand, emulsifying it into an oil and then rubbing it onto my hair.  Its a fantastic pre-shampoo treatment and sometimes I apply it to tame flyaways.

Now the beautiful folks over at Ojon are moving into the bath and body category with their new line Tribal Indulgences Batana. Tribal Indulgences Batana.  According to WWD, Tribal Indulgences Batana Shower Gel, a paraben-free, sulfate-free body cleanser, includes a blend of Ojon, Swa+, Buriti, Acai and copaiba oils, and retails for $28 for 10.1 oz. Tribal Indulgences Batana Body Cream, $40 for 5.9 oz., combines Ojon and Buriti oils and Brazilian Murumuru and shea butter to moisturize skin, and copaiba and Acai oils to provide antioxidant protection. Buriti oil, extracted from the nut of the Buriti palm, is highly concentrated in beta-carotene; copaiba, Acai and Swa+ oils are naturally rich in essential fatty acids omega-3, -6 and -9, and are said to moisturize skin and infuse it with essential lipids.

You can find the line at Sephora in April or you can get it now at (where else) QVC.com!

Rapper 50 Cent - the new face of skin care?

Forbes Magazine recenlty reported that while the country may be suffering an economic crisis, women will not forego their beauty must-haves including lipstick, mascara, and anti-wrinkle cream.  Perhaps this is the reason why rapper Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson has decided to enter the world of skin care.

50 Cent recenly announced that he is launching a men's cosmetics line which will include moisturizers and night creams....wait, what?  For someone who is so obsessed with his reputation, this is a bold move.  Then again, this is the same 50 Cent who wisely invested in Glaceau's Vitamin Water and was paid a whopping $400M when Coca Cola acquired the company  in 2007, so I will not question his business acumen.

50 Cent must be doing his homework.  Sales of men's grooming products in the United States increased 24 percent from 2002 to 2005, to the tune of $5 billion, according to NPD Group, a market research firm. 

But in true 50 Cent fashion, to ensure that his line doesn't appear too "feminine", it will also include a line of nutritional supplments, promising users the same ripped physique that 50 Cent possesses.  Yowza...