Do Diets Sabotage Your True Beauty Potential?

I'll probably get some flack for this post from some of my family members, but I feel obligated to tell it like it is in regards to all things health and beauty.

One of the things I have noticed, and especially living in America, is that as a nation, we are diet obsessed. I blame some of this obsession on celebrities and social media who tell us that if we are not a picture perfect size zero with firm, flawless skin, we are not truly beautiful. Women in particular are programmed at an early age that what we look like is more important than what kind of person we are.

If you flip through any fashion/beauty magazine or watch TV at any given time, you will undoubtedly see ads or commercials for various diets, promising to help you shed that "unwanted weight" and give you the perfect body you long for. Unfortunately, these diets, while created to help you shed pounds, do not promote health or beauty whatsoever.

Probably the most unhealthy of all is the low carb, high (animal) protein diet. Yes, you will lose weight quickly and you may even feel good while you are on it, but in reality, it is not only aging, but can be dangerous as well.

In a study that was done in 2002, 51 people were put on a low carb, high protein diet. They lost an average of over 20 pounds in about six months, however, subjects reported having issues such as constipation, bad breath, headaches, hair loss, and one woman had heavier menstrual bleeding. It was also observed that the dieters had a large increase in the amount of calcium excreted in their urine.

Consuming large amounts of animal protein creates all sorts of toxic by-products in your body, such as purines, uric acid and ammonia. Anytime we have a build up of toxins in our bodies, our blood cannot transport the minerals we need to stay young, healthy and beautiful. It also taxes our liver and kidneys, which are two of our bodies main detoxifiers.

Eating a low carb diet can result in ketosis, which makes your blood more acidic. An acidic body ages faster. If you take a look at body builders or fitness models who eat the standard low carb, high protein diet, they may have great, chiseled bodies, but their faces look old and lined and haggard. Kimberly Snyder refers to them as "old skinny people". I don't know about you, but I'd rather eat some healthy carbs and look young, than be skinny and look ten years or so older....

There are many other health dangers to eating low carb long term, according to research done by the "Asia Pacific of Clinical Nutrition", such as heart problems, kidney damage, osteoporosis, increased cancer risk, and even sudden death. Yikes! Again, I'll eat my carbs, thank you!

Now, just so we're clear, I'm not suggesting that you eat just any carb or even that you give up meat completely. Our bodies need carbs in order to function properly, just as much as we need protein. It's the sources we obtain these that are the most important. Healthy carbs that come from fruits, veggies and gluten-free grains are a must, and protein from plant foods are incredibly healing as well as beautifying. Limited amounts of animal protein is ok, as long as it is organic and hormone free. Just note that eating animal protein more than once a day will cause your body to become too acidic, which we've established can cause health issues as well as age you faster.

Another extremely dangerous diet, which isn't a specific diet per se, but is a habit of jumping on every new diet that comes along, essentially yo-yo dieting. This sort of behavior can not only wreck havoc on your metabolism, making it harder for you to lose weight, but can cause a multitude of health and beauty issues, including faster aging, kidney and liver damage, heart issues, skin issues, nutritional deficiencies, a build up of toxins and increased inflammation. Not to mention depression and binge eating. Unfortunately, many people don't have the patience to wait for the diet they are on to work before they give up and move on to the next new diet that promises even faster results. Or they reach a plateau and get discouraged and move on to the next diet, each time shocking their bodies and slowing down their metabolism.

I won't even go into the diets that are made up of mostly processed shakes, bars, microwave meals and snacks. Processed foods do not, I repeat, do not create or promote health or beauty in your body. Weight loss does not equal health or beauty. End of story.

The thing is, when you eat real foods, especially plant based foods, the weight automatically comes off. The only difference is that your skin will become clear, youthful and radiant, your hair shiny and your overall health will improve. And being healthy will allow your true beauty to shine through. :-)

As the saying goes, "there is no diet that will do what healthy eating does."  Amen to that!


Peace and love
~Sabrina

Using Raw Organic Honey as a Face Wash

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I know that using oils and raw organic honey as facial cleansers are nothing new and maybe I am a bit slow to jump on the bandwagon, but there is a reason why so many people are using these in lieu of conventional cleansers - they're awesome and they work!

I'll limit today's post to talking about using raw organic honey to wash your face and save the OCM (Oil Cleansing Method) for another day.

That being said, I've been learning more and more on the importance of maintaining a healthy ph level in my skin, and I've found that even face washes that are sulfate free can still disrupt that level. Unlike our bodies, which need to be more alkaline, our skin needs to be more acidic to be healthy. Anything that throws off that balance, causes issues.

Raw organic honey has a ph of 4.5 and our skin thrives at a ph of 4.5-5.5, so honey is as good as it can get in my book for a cleanser. :-)

Not only that, but  honey is gentle enough to use on even the most inflamed skin, and it is loaded with skin healing nutrients that makes it one of the best things you could use on your face.

One thing to note, however, is that in order to reap the most benefits from honey, it needs to be raw and organic as most supermarket and conventional honey has been stripped of its nutrients and healing enzymes through processing and heating.

Natural, unadulterated honey is loaded with minerals such as silica, copper, iron, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus to name a few. If it's not raw, you lose those important healing nutrients. :-(

Everyone has their own preferred method of washing their face with honey, but the way I do it is just to scoop some honey into my hand, add a teeny bit of water to liquify it some and start slathering it on my face. I start where I have any breakouts (right now my chin) and then massage upwards and outwards until my whole face is covered in a sweet mess. I leave it on as I would a mask for a few minutes, then rinse off in the shower.

To make sure I got it all off, I'll follow up with a homemade toner of raw apple cider vinegar and water, then add moisturizer/sunscreen and make up. That's it. My skin feels amazingly soft, my makeup goes on better, and my breakouts heal quicker. It's a win win situation for me! :-D

Peace and love,

~Sabrina

Why Dairy is Bad For Your Skin and Your Health

We've all seen the various commercials and magazine ads on how drinking milk gives you strong bones, how it "does a body good", etc...and we've probably had our parents tell us when we were growing up to make sure we drink our milk for those very reasons.

Unfortunately, drinking milk is far from good for us. In fact, if you suffer from acne, it's probably one of your worst enemies. While there are so many reasons why dairy is bad, I'll try and keep it to the most relevant ones. :-)

First of all, the hormones in milk (even organic milk has hormones, just no added ones) increase oil production, which we know can cause breakouts. It is estimated that there are at least 60+ hormones in an average glass of milk, and this includes organic, and even raw.

The thing is, cow's milk was never intended for human consumption. It was intended for baby calves to help them grow up to be 700-1,000 pound cows. That's not only a lot of nutrients for a human to be consuming, but also a heck of a lot of growth hormones. Yikes!

Dairy is also an inflammatory food, and since our lactase production reduces after about the age of 2 (lactase  is the enzyme that breaks down milk sugar), our bodies treat milk the same way it treats a virus or an infection by creating inflammation. So, since skin conditions like acne, rosacea, psoriasis and eczema are inflammatory skin conditions, milk is not their best friend.

Another reason why dairy is unhealthy is that it is highly acidic in our bodies. In order for us to be optimally healthy, our bodies need to be in a more alkaline state. When we drink milk, in order for our bodies to regain it's alkalinity, it takes minerals from our bones, such as calcium. Statistics have shown that the countries with the highest dairy consumption also have the highest rates of osteoporosis (United States,Finland, Sweden, United Kingdom). So, the whole drinking milk to get calcium spiel is a big fat lie. :-(

Honestly, the best sources of calcium comes from the same place that animals get theirs - plant foods. Greens, vegetables, fruits, nuts and seeds are all extremely healthy, not to mention skin friendly alternatives. Also, there are so many delicious milk substitutes that are loaded with calcium, magnesium and vitamins and minerals, such as almond, hemp, and coconut milks.

With so many options, there is bound to be one that will make both you and your skin happy. :-)

Peace and love,

~Sabrina

The Gluten-Acne Connection

So, you changed your diet. You detoxed. You switched to non-toxic, more natural personal care and cosmetic products. You exercise. You try and keep stress to a minimum. And yet, somehow you still have acne that just won't go away.

Here's a thought....do you eat wheat, processed foods or use any products that may contain gluten (yep, make up can contain gluten). If so, that may just be the culprit keeping you from kicking your acne to the curb.

And you don't have to have celiac disease (an auto-immune disorder of the small intestine that prevents it from absorbing nutrients properly and can cause extreme pain and discomfort among other issues) to have issues with gluten. In fact, most people nowadays have gluten sensitivities.

The reason is this - nearly all of the wheat we consume today is genetically modified. The modified wheat proteins are structured very differently from the original wheat protein, however, our bodies have not been modified to use them. The result is that these modified gluten proteins are treated as "invaders" in our bodies and our immune system reacts by creating histamine, which in turn results in inflammation. And inflammation = insulin resistance, which leads to blood sugar issues, which again leads to acne.

Gluten also damages the small intestine (even in people not prone to celiac), which prevents our bodies from absorbing the nutrients it needs, causing vitamin deficiencies and toxic overload.

Also, most people probably aren't even aware that they may be sensitive to gluten and even fewer still don't know that it can be causing their skin and health issues. And even if you try not to eat it, it lurks in so many foods (especially processed), that it is hard to avoid completely. It is estimated that gluten can be found in close to 90% of the items in your local supermarket. Scary, huh? Even products like cheese and certain sauces can contain trace amounts in the form of vegetable starches and other additives. Likewise with some of the personal care and cosmetic products, such as toothpaste, shampoo and lipstick/balm.

So how do you avoid this little bugger? Well, the obvious is to eliminate gluten completely from your diet. Eat a diet high in organic plant foods, if you're not already (and organic meats if you choose) and healthy, easily digestible grains such as millet, quinoa, amaranth, brown rice and buckwheat. Make sure that the non-toxic, natural/organic personal care and beauty products you use are labeled "gluten free" and "non-GMO".  Also, supermarkets luckily have sections that are "gluten free", which definitely helps. :-)

Now, once you have made the choice to go gluten free, you can begin the process of healing your body and digestive tract and reducing your sensitivity to it. I'm not saying you will never again have issues with gluten, but you may get to a point where it doesn't trigger such a strong reaction and wreck havoc on your face. One way to promote healing is through the use of probiotics, particularly ones that contain Bifidobacterium lactis, which has been shown to counter the harmful effects of gluten on the intestine. I do not recommend eating dairy or soy yogurt as a means of getting probiotics into your diet. Both are highly acidic in nature and pretty much negate most of the effectiveness of whatever probiotics may be in them (more on that in a later post).

What I personally do recommend is taking a probiotic supplement, such as Dr. Ohhira, drinking Kombucha (GTS and High Country are my favorites) and Kefir water, and eating fermented foods such as sauerkraut and kimchi (oriental fermented veggies). Eliminating processed and high sugar foods will help to speed the healing process along as well.

Try going gluten free for a month and see if it makes a difference in your skin and overall health. You really have nothing to lose...except maybe some stubborn acne! :-)

Peace and love,

~Sabrina

Water...The Elixir of Health and Beauty

We've all heard or read that we should drink more water. And since most of us spend the majority of our days in a state of mild dehydration, thanks to coffee, soda (or pop depending on where you are from), caffeinated teas, and sugary beverages, we really do need to increase our water consumption. How much seems to vary among the "experts", but most seem to agree on at least 8 8 ounce glasses a day.

The benefits of water are numerous, and besides keeping our bodies and skin hydrated, water also helps with the following:

~ Reduces bloating and puffiness
~ Helps to carry nutrients to your cells
~ Keeps joints and muscles lubricated
~ Increases energy levels
~ Increases cognitive function ( Your brain needs oxygen in order to function properly & water helps your brain get what it needs)
~ Supports nerve function
~ Supports metabolism and aids in weight loss
~ Promotes clear, bright eyes ( No more Visine eyedrops!)
~ Helps your body build muscle ( Water carries oxygen to every cell in our bodies, including muscles, which can enable them to work harder and longer before fatigue sets in).
~ Helps to promote clear, radiant skin ( As mentioned, water flushes out toxins and carries nutrients to cells, both of which help with skin health).

Now, I know sometimes drinking plain old water can be kind of boring. But please resist the urge to add any of those chemical laden flavor packets (Crystal Light, Mio, etc..), as that will only defeat the purpose of drinking water for health. Instead, try adding a slice of organic lemon (for extra detoxifying benefits), lime, or another fruit of choice. You can also make homemade Vitamin Water (again to avoid nasty and un-necessary chemicals) by filling a pitcher with water and adding whatever fruit (or a combination of fruits) you like. Stay away from the sugar bowl, though, as sugar not only dehydrates, but is also toxic to your body. If you feel you need an extra boost of sweetness, try raw, organic honey, stevia or xylitol (no aspartame or Splenda).

Also, if you find it challenging to drink 8 or more glasses a day, try consuming more raw fruits and vegetables. These foods contain a lot of water, and can assist in helping you maintain healthy hydration levels.

Bottom line, water is a necessary beauty booster that can make a huge difference in the look and feel of your skin. Water truly does do a body good. ;-)


Peace and love,
~ Sabrina

Green Smoothies for a Glowing Complexion

I've mentioned how diet can impact not just your overall health, but your skin as well. One of the things I love to incorporate into my diet is a green smoothie.

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Now, when I say "green smoothie", I mean just that. Greens, maybe some fruit to sweeten and water or a nut milk of choice. No cow's milk, no yogurt, no ice cream, no sugar. We're trying to get the glow in our complexion, and dairy, sadly, does not do a body or your skin good.

Some of the many benefits of drinking green smoothies are:

~ more energy
~ weight loss
~ clearer, more radiant skin
~ stable blood sugar and less cravings for sugar
~ better digestion
~ fewer mood swings
...and the list can go on.

One of my favorite, quick green smoothie recipes involves just a handful of raw, organic baby spinach, a banana, a sprinkle of chia seeds, and water. Blend and yum!

Another of my absolute favorites is Kimberly Snyder's Glowing Green Smoothie (check it out here). This smoothie contains over 3 cups of dark, leafy greens, which is more than most people consume in a week (unless you're a vegetarian of course! :-D)

Another great benefit that smoothies have is that by blending the greens, the nutrients that are inside the plant cells are made more readily available to the body. Also, blending keeps all of the fiber intact, which is important for digestion. And as you know, digestion is critical for flushing toxins out of the body and for keeping your skin clear.

Just by adding one green smoothie to your diet a day,you will start to not only feel better, but your skin will become more radiant and healthy as well. :-)

Peace and love

~ Sabrina

Healing Ingredient Spotlight..Tamanu Oil

In my endless quest to find the best acne and scar healing ingredients and foods, I discovered an oil that I believe has been the main superstar ingredient in my healing process.

Tamanu Nut

Say hello to Tamanu oil, or Calophyllum Inophyllum as it is otherwise known. This little gem is extracted from the nut of the Tamanu tree in Polynesia and Tahiti. Traditionally, it has been used to treat sunburns, rashes , insect bites and blisters, but the benefits of this oil go far beyond just that. Tamanu oil is rich in fatty acids and is anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, anti-microbial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-oxidant. It has been shown to regenerate new, healthy skin in patients with severe skin burns and skin ulcers. It is also used to treat joint pains, sore throats, cuts, athletes foot, diaper rash, stretch marks and bruises. It is healing to acne and other skin issues, and as I discovered, it can completely heal a deep cut without leaving a scar and can even heal existing scars (despite the age). I know this may sound too good to be true, but I can say in all honesty that this oil is as healing as it claims to be. Obviously, a new scar or injury will heal much quicker that an older one, but even my older acne scars are healing. They are less deep (to the point that some are barely even noticeable) and smaller in size. 

I mostly use Tamanu oil by itself as a moisturizer but sometimes I mix it with Argan and Jojoba oils for extra healing benefits. I'll also add a few drops of tea tree oil to help with any stubborn blemishes that may pop up. 


Tamanu oil absorbs easily into your skin, and is not greasy, which is great for someone like me who has oily skin. It can also be used as a hair and scalp moisturizer.

Since Tamanu oil does come from a nut, anyone who has nut allergies should use caution. Also, make sure that the oil you purchase is 100% pure Tamanu oil and hasn't been blended with any other oils or fillers.

Some of the brands that I like are:

Natural Styles 100% pure and cold pressed Tamanu oil
Aura Cacia 100% pure and cold pressed Tamanu oil
Mountain Rose Herbs Tamanu Oil (haven't tried this one yet, but have heard good things)

I can't say enough good things about this oil and how it has helped to make a difference in my skin. I still have much more healing to do, both physical and emotional, but with amazing ingredients like this that nature has provided, I truly believe I will keep seeing results! :-)


Have you tried Tamanu Oil? What are your thoughts?


Until next time, Peace and love,

~Sabrina

To Be or Not to Be a Raw Vegan...

I discovered the raw food diet/lifestyle in a kind of round about way. I was already immersed in the world of organic eating and took up an interest in Ayurveda (Indian natural or alternative medicine) and yoga. One of the yoga instructor's whose blog I followed posted an article about her friend's new Raw Vegan Beauty online store. She had me at the words "beauty store". I promptly looked it up and after reading about her various health struggles and how adopting a raw vegan lifestyle and using only raw vegan skincare and personal care products had completely healed her, I became intrigued and decided to check it out.

After researching everything I could get my hands on regarding this diet, reading hundreds of testimonials from people who had been healed from whatever sickness or disease they were struggling with, I decided to give it a try.

If you have never heard of the raw food lifestyle, I'll give a brief explanation.

The raw food diet is a plant based diet where the foods are not cooked at a temperature higher than 118 degrees Farenheit (some raw foodists won't go above 115-116 degrees F). The reason behind this is that by cooking the food at a higher temperature, their natural enzymes are destroyed. Enzymes are needed to aid with digestion. And yes, I know that our bodies do produce enzymes, but in limited supply, so the bulk needs to come from the foods that we eat. By eating a heavy diet of over cooked, refined and processed foods, we are taxing our bodies digestive systems and creating all sorts of havoc for our overall health. Raw plant foods..raw organic plant foods are full of living enzymes that help to make the digestion process easier. While they do all the work, our bodies can then have energy to work on healing whatever disease we're struggling with. Plant foods are also more alkaline, whereas cooked and junk foods are acidic and having a body that is too acidic is giving sickness and disease an open invitation to destroy your health.

 Now, I knew that I wasn't going to be able to turn into a vegan overnight, if at all, or even give up all cooked foods, so how could I make this work for me?

Well, for starters, I made gradual changes. I had already cut way back on meat and dairy (about 2-3 times a week) and gave up refined sugars and starches and junk foods. At the same time, I began to increase my intake of organic, raw fruits and vegetables. Having read about all of the unpleasant detox symptoms people described going through when they went 100% raw, I decided gradual would be best for me. Ok, so I was chicken! I also knew that living in New York State would make it difficult especially in the colder months to forgo cooked or warmed food, so I basically adapted the diet to fit my lifestyle. I pretty much follow the dietary guidelines of Kimberly Snyder and Natalia Rose, which allows some cooked foods (which you cook with either organic butter or organic coconut oils only- all other oils turn to trans fats when heated at high temps), organic lean meats, eggs and some goats cheese. Also wine is allowed as it is considered to be the healthiest of all alcohols and also essentially considered raw. And organic dark chocolate (65% or higher cacao only).

I had also switched to raw, organic skincare that I purchased from Living Earth Beauty's website - mostly ISUN and Living Libations. My skin fell in love with the healing ingredients.

Just from these simple changes, I saw amazing results. Though it did take about 2 years to see any noticeable results in my skin, my overall health benefited almost immediately. And while it is much easier to eat a higher raw diet in the warmer months (since our bodies naturally crave cooler foods then), I was able to still eat about 50-60% raw in the colder months. By eating a raw green salad with a homemade oil & vinegar (stevia or honey to sweeten - no white sugar!) dressing before dinner, or having snacks of raw fruits or veggies or juicing or somehow incorporating something raw with our cooked meals, I was able to make this work. Now, that's not to say I don't still have "cheat days", because I do. I just try and make healthier choices when I do stray. It's not always easy, especially around the holidays, or at family get togethers, and of course I can never give up pizza no matter how hard I try! :-)

Maybe someday I will actually get up the nerve to go completely raw vegan, if only for awhile, but right now, I'm just trying to enjoy the journey that I am on, and looking forward to what the future will bring.

Peace and Love,
~Sabrina

Struggles..and a Ray of Hope

I spent most of my life wishing, praying and hoping that someday I would wake up and have clear, beautiful skin like everyone around me seemed to have been blessed with. I remember my mother telling me that I would "grow out of it", that by High School I'd be the one with the pretty skin and all the kids who made fun of me would be the ones with the bad complexions. Ha! While it was so sweet of my mother to give me that little kernel of hope, alas Mother Nature continued to make my life a living hell. My skin not only wasn't clear, it was worse and it was scarred. And all the kids who had tormented me continued to have gorgeous skin. Sigh...

It wasn't like I didn't try to get rid of my acne, on the contrary, I tried EVERYTHING. I went to dermatologists, used everything on the market, even tried some different natural remedies. Nothing worked.

By 16, my skin had finally calmed down and stopped breaking out constantly. But I was left with scars. I'm not talking about those red marks that eventually fade away either, I'm talking deep, pitted, indented scars. The kind that you can't really hide. I told you Mother Nature was a jerk.

When I was 18, I had full face dermabrasion done to try and lessen the appearance of the scars. After my skin healed, it seemed like it had improved greatly. I felt like I could actually have a normal life. Ha!

This time around,  Mother Nature was even more cruel. I started breaking out in cystic pimples, the kind that no matter what you did, left deep scars behind. Yep...bye bye normal looking skin, hello again scarface.

 I became an expert at camouflaging my skin with make up, so it wasn't quite as noticeable. But you'd never catch me without full make up on...ever. And I never wore my hair off my face. I also had a very difficult time looking at people directly face to face. I was too self conscience, worried that they were repulsed by my flaws.

I spent years searching for products, remedies, anything that would make my skin better. I coveted the beautiful skin of the women around me and my self esteem was non-existent. I wondered what I did to deserve this since I knew I wasn't a bad person, I'm actually quite nice, a bit sarcastic and eccentric maybe, but still a pretty ok gal.

At 36, thinking that no man would ever want to marry me unless I had perfect skin (thank you very much social media jerks), I found someone who fell in love with me, scars and all, and thinks I am the most beautiful woman in the world. We've been annoyingly happily married for 6 years now. :-)

Around that time I met Kathryn Mazierski, owner of Pur Skin Spa (at the time it was Seyant in Lewiston). She asked me what I was using on my skin and at the time it was Bare Minerals, Proactiv and Oil of Olay - all of which she told me to stop using immediately. She explained that Bare Minerals, while popular, contains Bismuth Oxychloride, a cheap mineral that can cause skin irritation and breakouts. Proactiv contains benzoyl peroxide (but also parabens and other toxic ingredients), which actually damages your skin because it generates free radicals, causing the skin to heal slower and age quicker. Oil of Olay contains ingredients that are not only comedogenic (like mineral oil) but like Proactiv, generate free radicals, in turn speeding up the aging process. I ditched them as soon as I got home. For the next few years, I put my skin in her capable hands, and the results were wonderful. She not only used healing products on my skin and introduced me to Jane Iredale make up (which I no longer use due to the silicones in their products :-( ), but she also gave me nutritional guidance as well.

Sadly, I had to take a hiatus from seeing her due to having back surgery (and losing my job). I'm still recovering, so it will be a while until I can go back. I do highly recommend her - you can find her on facebook under Pur Skin Vitamin-Powered Skin Therapy on Elmwood in Buffalo. She is amazing, I cannot say enough good things about her. :-) I not only learned a lot from her, but discovered a passion for skin care and nutritional beauty.

But as much as my breakouts were helped, my scars were still very prevalent, and they bothered me more than the actual blemishes. Soooo..back to research mode. Now, I had already started switching my diet to a more organic one, but I soon discovered a dietary lifestyle that would change my health and skin forever....

The Raw Vegan/ Vegetarian Diet. I will explain more on this in my next post.

Until next time. Peace and love.

So How Do I Beat the Acne Beast?

So I mentioned in an earlier post that I was nine when my skin was taken over by acne. I'm not going to go on about how cruel kids were, or how I spent the majority of my life deeply depressed, wondering if I could ever be considered pretty, blah, blah, blah. Anyone who has or has been at one time in their lives plagued with this disease knows how it is. I'm not looking for a pity party, I'm here because I want to help other people.

Which brings me to today's topic - how the hell do I beat the acne beast?

First off, let's take a look at some of the causes of acne.

1) Hormones - pregnancy, menstruation - these can cause the sebaceous glands to produce more oil, which can result in blocked pores creating breakouts.
2) Diet - acne is an inflammatory skin disease, and any foods that cause inflammation in the body can cause acne breakouts. Diets high in processed, refined foods, dairy and sugar are most likely to produce acne breakouts or make them worse if you already have acne.
3) Stress - stress can also cause an increase in sebum production, which again, can result in acne breakouts.
4) Toxic ingredients - make up and skincare products that contain pore clogging or oil stripping ingredients can not only cause breakouts, but actually make them worse.
5) Detoxification- as you clean your body of built up toxins, some of those toxins may be released through your skin in the form of breakouts.

It may seem like a no win situation, especially since some of those causes are virtually impossible to avoid, but by changing the things that you can control, you will see a difference. Here are a few things that I changed in my own life that helped my skin.

1) Cut out/back on dairy - there are many delicious, more healthy and easily digestible alternatives out there to cow's milk. I personally love Almond Milk. There are also almond and coconut yogurts which are amazing  as well (Silk and So Delicious are my favorite brands). I also cut out processed/refined foods and meats as much as possible and increased raw fruit and veggie intake.
2) Switch to more natural makeup, skincare and personal care products - Lack of funds has me using a very simple beauty routine: Dr. Bronner's Un-Scented Castile Soap as a face & body wash, organic coconut oil as a body moisturizer and leave in hair serum, local honey as a mask, baking soda as an exfoliant (add a few drops of water to form a paste), raw apple cider vinegar & water as a toner, jojoba oil mixed with a few drops of tea tree oil as a daytime serum/moisturizer. At night, I use a mixture of argan & tamanu oils mixed with an essential oil blend that is specifically for acneic skin (plus has anti-aging and scar healing properties). I'll post some DIY recipes in a future post. For make-up, I prefer mineral make-up that is bismuth oxychloride free ( a skin irritant known to cause acne ) such as Faerie Organic, Lucy Minerals or Everyday Minerals Jojoba Base.
3) Focus on hobbies to decrease stress - I started playing piano and singing again and created this blog, all of which help to keep me from dwelling on whatever issues may be going on in my life at the moment.

Just by making a few simple switches to my diet and lifestyle, I noticed a huge difference, which encouraged me to keep on the path I found. I've had acne since I was 9 and I recently turned 42, but my skin looks a million times better now than I ever dreamed it could. It may take some time, but the results will come. Remember, if you take the more natural route via diet and lifestyle, you're allowing your body to heal and healing takes time. Just don't give up. :-)

Until next time. Peace and Love.

Detox...the Dreaded "D" Word?

Spring..a time of renewal. A time of new beginnings, of birds singing, flowers blooming. A time to shed the heavy layers of winter clothes in favor of more skin revealing outfits. Spring is also the perfect time for detoxing our bodies. What is detoxification and why should we do it? It's simple really. Detoxification is the process of removing toxic substances from our bodies. Whenever we eat processed, fried, or any kind of junk foods, toxins build up in our bodies. Stress, pollution, using personal care and cosmetic products with un-healthy ingredients can also cause toxins to build up. When your body becomes overburdened with toxins, inflammation sets in, which leads to sickness and disease. Our bodies were designed to detox naturally via the liver, bowels and skin. However, depending on a person's lifestyle, some of those toxins may get "stuck" - which is why some people are chronically achey, bloated, unable to lose or gain weight, have dull, blotchy or inflammed skin and lackluster hair. Toxins sap not only your energy, but affect your overall health and beauty as well.

Soooo.....how does one detox? Basically, anytime you cut back on, or eliminate the "junk" out of your diet and lifestyle, your body will detox. How fast or slow this occurs depends on how much or little you remove. There is one little caveat that I will mention up front: detoxing can be (but doesn't have to be) quite unpleasant. If you decide that you wanted to "quick clean" your system for instance, you may experience a variety of detox symptoms that may make you wish you had left well enough alone (this is one reason I have chosen to slowly detox my body - I'm a bit chicken of the process). Some of these symptoms may include the following:

- Skin breakouts - uh, yeah, like I need more of those!
- Bloating, stomach pains
- Headaches
- Food cravings
- Trouble sleeping, nightmares

- Diarrhea and constipation

- Fatigue, drowsiness, low levels of energy

- Irritability

- Congestion or mucus that feels like a cold

You may read these and ask why the hell would anyone want to go through all that?! I'll tell you why - these symptoms, while unpleasant, don't last. Unlike keeping the toxins tucked away, nice and neat inside your cells, which will cause you to continually feel like crap, detoxing purges them out, and when they are gone, you feel better than you ever thought you could. Even though I chose to detox slowly,and I'll probably have to do a deeper cleanse once my back is healed, I have still noticed a difference in my appearance at least. My hair is healthier (also the result of using organic haircolor), my skin doesn't break out like it used to, I look younger than my age. I don't have a weight problem. Hopefully soon I won't have back or hip pain anymore. 

Some things to incorporate in your diet/lifestyle to help your body detox:

- Raw fruits and veggies - these are the most cleansing foods on the planet. Eat them plain, juice them, throw them in a smoothie, but do eat them..and lots of them! Not only do raw plant foods keep their enzymes intact which helps digestion, but they are packed with water and thus help to keep you hydrated. Make sure they are organic and if not, rinse well. 

- Water, water, water! Water is truly the elixir of life, so drink up! If you can't stand to drink plain water, add fresh lemon juice - lemon helps to detoxify the liver, plus it tastes good too. :-) 

 - Exercise..doesn't matter what it is..just do something to get the oxygen flowing

- Switch to natural, non-toxic personal care & skincare products (I'll post later about different products I've tried and how to buy natural on a budget)

- Find a hobby or something that you enjoy that can de-stress you. 

Everyone's body is unique and will respond differently to detoxing. How you choose to do it is up to you, but I strongly encourage you to do it - your body will thank you! Some of the benefits include clearer skin, weight loss, mental clarity, increased energy, more stable emotions, less aches and pains and the list can go on.

For tips, recipes and more on detoxing, I recommend Kimberly Snyder's book "The Beauty Detox Solution" and Natalia Rose "The Raw Food Detox Diet"

Peace, love and happy detoxing! :-)

Chickweed and Huh?

Ahhhh coffee...sweet elixir of mornings, how I love thee. But wait you say - isn't coffee "bad" for you? Isn't it acidic and cause inflammation in your body? Isn't it a diuretic, causing dehydration, thus making it a beauty stealing food? And don't people usually add milk and/or sugar to it, making it even more unhealthy? Yeah, yeah, yeah...However, I happen to drink organic, low acid coffee and I use almond milk or organic, non-gmo soymilk and either organic stevia or xylitol as a sweetener...soooooo, I don't feel so guilty! So to all you coffee haters I say, keep your hands off my cup of organic, non-gmo joe and leave me be! :-P

Obviously, I haven't had my morning coffee yet..so moving on. :-) The reason for this post and essentially this blog. I wanted to share my love of all things healthy, natural, and organic, as well as my own health struggles and victories. But like I stated in my last post, it's not that easy. Finding a starting point is proving to be quite a brain teaser for me, but I think I'll just start at the beginning.

I was nine when my skin decided that it was going to turn on me. While most girls my age were playing with Barbies or hanging with their friends, I was busy learning how to hide the nasty blemishes that took up residence on my face with foundation and cover up. To make a really long, and an even more painful story short, my skin became so bad that if I had have had the option, I never would have left the house. To say that my self esteem suffered is an understatement. The scars that acne left behind were way more than just skin deep. To this day, I am still struggling to gain confidence in my looks. While I don't have acne like I used to, I do still get the occasional blemish or two once a month, and I do still have some scarring, but thankfully those are healing (more on that in a later post).

While I could write a book about the effects acne has had on my life and self image, I want to focus more on things that can help to heal it. So, back to the title of my blog. I chose "Chickweed and Blush" because I wanted a name that would encompass all of the things this blog would be about in a nutshell. Chickweed, besides being a cool name, is an herb that has been used to help acneic skin (it also has many other medicinal qualities) and Blush..well, besides the fact that it is a make up item and goes with my theme, skin looks more healthy and radiant when it has a rosey glow. ;-)

Well, lovelies, my brain has decided to take a nap on me, which means I need to go feed it some fruit or veggies. :-)

Until next time! Peace and love.

Girl on a Green Mission

I've always been interested in natural healing and healthy eating. It was how I was raised, and for the most part, I never really strayed from my upbringing. I knew that what I put in my body had a direct effect on my overall health, but what I didn't know until a few years ago, was that it mattered just as equally what I put on my face/body. I was first introduced to this idea when I met an amazing esthetician, friend and skin mentor named Kathryn (who runs Pur Skin Spa on Elmwood in Buffalo. Oh how I miss you!) She was the one who informed me that certain ingredients in products can actually make your acne/skin condition worse, even if they state they are for helping acne (ahem..Proactiv..) Of course, being the research fanatic that I am, I went right to work, reading and learning everything I could about the various ingredients used in make up and skincare. I tossed everything I owned shortly after and restocked with more skin friendly, non-toxic products. It wasn't really that extreme of a thing for me to do since I had already moved to an organic, mostly raw (mostly) vegetarian diet (to my husband's horror at first, but soon learned to love).

When I first made these changes, some people thought I was a little crazy to say the least, especially with the vegetarian part - my family is primarily die hard carnivore. But, like I stated above, I'm mostly vegetarian - probably more flexitarian. The one thing I am not flexible about, however, is what I use on my face and body. Here's why - Your skin is the body's largest eliminative organ, and as such, not only expels toxins but can also absorb them - your skin can absorb up to 70% of what you put on it. When you use products that contain pore clogging ingredients (such as mineral oil, petroleum, etc..), you're not allowing your skin to "breathe" and the result can be..you guessed it, acne!

There are many other reasons why I chose to "go green", but I'll save that for another post. For now though, here are a list of toxic and acne causing ingredients to watch out for when shopping for your skincare, make up and personal care products (this list is just a few examples..there are more..lots more):

Benzoyl Peroxide: Frequently used in acne products, the MSDS states: “Facilitates action of known carcinogens. … Possible tumor promoter. May act as mutagen; produces DNA damage in human and other mammalian cells in some concentrations. Also, toxic by inhalation. May be harmful if swallowed and in contact with skin. Eye, skin and respiratory irritant.”

DEA (Diethanolamine), MEA (Monoethanolamine), & TEA (Triethanolamine): This foam booster is a skin/eye irritant and causes contact dermatitis. Easily absorbed through skin to accumulate in body organs, even the brain. Repeated use resulted in major increases of liver and kidney cancer.

Dioxin: Won’t appear on an ingredient list. Often contained in antibacterial ingredients like triclosan, emulsifiers, PEGs and ethoxylated cleansers like Sodium Laureth Sulfate. Dioxin causes cancer, reduced immunity, nervous system disorders, miscarriages and birth deformity. It’s a hormone-disrupting chemical with toxic effects measured in the parts per trillion–one drop in 300 Olympic-size swimming pools! Our bodies have no defense against its damage. Most visible example was Yushchenko, the Ukrainian President, who suffered from dioxin poisoning and looked old overnight.

DMDM Hydantoin & Urea (Imidazolidinyl): Just two of many preservatives that often release formaldehyde which may cause joint pain, cancer, skin reactions, allergies, depression, headaches, chest pains, ear infections, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and loss of sleep. Exposure may irritate the respiratory system, trigger heart palpitations or asthma, aggravate coughs and colds.

FD&C Color & Pigments: Synthetic colors from coal tar contain heavy metal salts that deposit toxins in skin, causing skin sensitivity / irritation. Absorption can cause depletion of oxygen and death. Animal studies show almost all are carcinogenic.

Parabens (Methyl, Butyl, Ethyl, Propyl): Used as preservatives and aren’t always labeled “parabens.” They’re used in deodorants and antiperspirants and have been found in breast cancer tumors. Parabens, as xenoestrogens (hormone disruptors), may contribute to sterility in male mice and humans. Estrogen-like activity causes hormone imbalance in females and early puberty.

PEG (Polyethylene glycol): Made by ethoxylating Propylene Glycol. Dangerous levels of dioxin have been found as a by-product of the ethoxylation process. PEGs are in everything including personal care, baby care and sunscreens.

Phthalates: Xenoestrogens are commonly found in many products, usually not listed on labels. Health effects include damage to liver/kidneys, birth defects, decreased sperm counts and early breast development in girls and boys.

Propylene Glycol (PG) and Butylene Glycol: Petroleum plastics act as surfactants (wetting agents, solvents). EPA considers PG so toxic it requires protective gloves, clothing, goggles and disposal by burying. Because PG penetrates skin so quickly, EPA warns against skin contact to prevent brain, liver, and kidney abnormalities. There is NO warning label on products where concentration is greater than in most industrial applications.

Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): Detergents and surfactants that pose serious health threats. Used in car washes, garage floor cleaners, engine degreasers and 90 percent of personal-care products that foam. Animals exposed to SLS experienced eye damage, depression, labored breathing, diarrhea, severe skin irritation–even death. SLS may also damage skin’s immune system by causing layers to separate, inflame and age.

Sunscreen chemicals: Avobenzone, benzphenone, ethoxycinnamate, PABA are commonly used ingredients that are known free radical generators and are believed to damage DNA or lead to cancers.

Triclosan: Synthetic “antibacterial” ingredient with chemical structure similar to Agent Orange! EPA registers it as a pesticide, posing risks to human health and environment. Classified as a chlorophenol, chemicals suspected of causing cancer in humans. Tufts University School of Medicine says triclosan is capable of forcing emergence of ‘super bugs’ it cannot kill.

Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/the-toxic-12-beauty-ingredients.html#ixzz2OWf4PCEt