Spa Intoxication Blog

Detoxing: How to Gain Tons of Energy By Cleansing Your Body

Admin — Mon, 16 Apr 2012 11:05:00 -1000

Chronic fatigue is something women in all walks of life face. As anyone who has experienced fatigue knows, it can be really debilitating! Chronic fatigue negatively impacts pretty much every other aspect of life. Although there are a few different ways fatigue can manifest, one of the main root causes is toxin buildup in the body. Toxins in the environment, in our food and even in some of our makeup build up in our bodies over the years—cleansing ourselves of these toxins by detoxing is a fantastic and extremely effective way to get a lot of energy and feel absolutely remarkable!

Cut Out Sugar and Processed Foods

Detoxifying the body requires cutting out the unnatural sugars, processed foods and unhealthy snacks from the diet. Processed foods like candy bars, cookies, chips and cakes are major contributors to toxin build up in the body. Cleansing will require the complete removal of junk food items from the diet.

As a general rule, it the food item comes from a box, bag or is otherwise found in the middle aisles of the grocery store, it is a processed food. Few exceptions exist, though whole grains like old-fashioned oats and fresh baked whole grain bread are an exception.

Drink Water

Water is a key part of removing toxins from the body. Water naturally flushes out any toxic build up without adding to the problem. The body needs water to function properly and remove waste products. Dehydration will result in the stagnation of systems, ultimately causing a large amount of toxic build up throughout the body.

For most individuals it is important to drink between 64 and 100 ounces of water per day. Those who are exercising, athletes and individuals who are living in hot climates should strive to drink more than 100 ounces of water per day for optimal heath and the ability to flush toxins effectively.

Eat Organic Fruits and Vegetables (Avoid Meat!)

Fruits and vegetables are naturally high in fiber and nutrition. Organic options have a higher concentration of healthy vitamins and minerals without the toxic pesticides or chemicals that are used on non-organic alternatives.

Eating organic fruits and vegetables will help reduce waste in the colon and throughout the body while the lack of pesticides and chemicals will prevent further build up in the body.

A diet that is high in meat will result in higher toxin levels in the body. This is particularly true of red meat, which is high in unhealthy fats and the chemicals used in processing. Meat is also harder for the body to digest properly, so it often grows stagnant and produces toxins when it is in the digestive system.

Any cleansing and detoxifying system will require the elimination of meats. It is not possible to cleanse the colon and other organs when the body is trying to break down the higher fat content found in meats.

Stay (or Get!) Fit

Detoxification and cleansing require exercise. Exercise is important for two reasons: improved circulation moves the toxins from the blood so that it is excreted out of the body and sweat naturally removes internal toxins. Adding exercise is an important part of cleansing the body of toxins.

Working up a sweat and getting the muscles moving will naturally remove more toxins from the body. Cardiovascular exercise, which is also called aerobic exercise, is the best way to work up a sweat and get the best impact on detoxification.

Choose Natural Personal Care Products

Cosmetics and personal care items usually aren’t the first thing we think about when it comes to detoxing and cleansing. But some of the products we use every day are loaded with toxic chemicals that are known to cause health issues. Fortunately there are natural alternatives for all different kinds of products. You can find everything from natural lip gloss to the top anti-aging skin care products. Choosing natural products is so important because up to 60% of what we put on our skin is absorbed into our bloodstream. Many of those chemicals found in standard skincare are linked to cancer and hormone imbalance—probably the last thing you had in mind when picking out something to help you look more healthy and youthful!

About the author: Melissa Cameron has two young children and is married to her best friend, Dave. She loves scrapbooking and enjoys spending time with her elderly parents. She loves to learn new things; She is an avid research hound and can be found surfing the web and reading Zeolite reviews in her free time.

S72B9D3ZYPQP

Why Colds Rock!

Admin — Fri, 13 Apr 2012 09:20:00 -1000

Photo: Jeroen van Oostrom

Colds are awesome. No really. The lead up to the cold is actually worse because it's like being locked into the roller coaster and at the top, ready to drop; you know it's only going to proceed one way but still you try, to no avail, to hold it back. But once it really kicks in then you can have fun with it, and here's why...

Easy to Detect

When you're coughing, sneezing, nose is running, eyes are watering and you moan with every move there is no question that you are ill. There is no faking the common cold, it stands out in a blaze of glory. Now this fact doesn't necessarily mean you'll be afforded more sympathy than for a more subdued illness that ranks as serious but it gives you a bit of a free pass when it comes to being whiny.

You Get Personal Space

No matter how hot and popular you are, when you are obviously in the throes of a cold no one's gonna get near you. The beauty of that fact is that you can stay home in your jammies all day and no one will be the wiser for it. Even your best friends will only leave you soup at your door. They aren't going to actually come in to your lair of lozenges so you can watch cheesy movies or tearjerkers (what, you think crying will make you look worse?) And if you don't lounge on your couch all day reading a romance novel then you're just un-American.

Taking a Nap is Acceptable and Encouraged

Photo: David Castillo Dominici

When you tell someone you've got a cold what's the first thing they say? Yep, get plenty of rest. This handy bugger of an illness forces you to shut down the Type A superhero and instead revert to a 3rd grader with a blankey. Sadly actually getting out and walking is good for you too but maybe you can just start coughing over that part when well-wishers start in on that line of thinking.

Cool Swag

Every day it seems there's a newer and better everything when it comes to dealing with a cold. Remember when tissues with lotion hit the market? Wh-what?!! And then you tried them and blessed them with every sneeze. Of course it took some doing to remember not to clean your glasses with them but you've got a cold, remember? You can't be expected to be in top form.

In addition to pills, fizzy tablets, syrups and salves you've got goodness knows what else to help you sleep, wake up, breathe and cough productively – or not at all.

All Diets Are Off

Nothing tastes good during a cold, especially not that rabbit food you eat throughout the week to keep your weight down. So when you're in full cold mode and something sounds good? Eat it. Sadly that sometimes includes ice cream and milk chocolate and all other manner of things that won't help matters - but you have a cold, and you will have a cold until you don't have a cold. We can send people to the Moon but we haven't figured this one out yet.

Editing Machine Shuts Down

Yep, see you can talk about conspiracy theories and other taboo subjects when you're sniffling because it's obvious you're ill and you're doubtless on meds.

Don't colds rock?

About the author: Written by a sniffly Emily Rankin. Cold meds make you let your insurance lapse? Look here: www.carinsurance.org.uk

Simple Tips for the Yoga Beginner

Admin — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 06:15:00 -1000

Yoga has exploded in popularity in the past few years; there's a studio on every block offering classes that range from core strengthening to pregnancy-friendly cool downs. Those black pants are everywhere, ubiquitous in their little silver stripes and claims that “they're just so comfortable!” For someone who's interested in trying this form of exercise, it can seem overwhelmingly intimidating: the hardcore enthusiasts who have made the practice into a full-on lifestyle might seem like members of a cult. How do you walk into your very first session without feeling like you're infiltrating a foreign land? Here are a few tips for the cautious beginner.

Find the Right Class, And Be Honest

If you've never even seen a scorpion pose, and the term 'sun salutation' refers to the hand you use to shade your eyes when you're hungover, then you should start with a beginner yoga class. Most studios will offer a variety of classes aimed at various skill levels, but call around to the locations in your city, and be honest about your inexperience. Finding an instructor who will patiently take you through the basics and explain the poses step by step will give you confidence and make the activity a positive chance to learn. Once you've got the essentials down pat, you can move on to other class types.

Dress For Comfort, Not For Style

Yoga wear is now immensely common; it's entirely possible that you own some, even if you've never actually done the practice. But it can also be expensive, and if you're not sure if you want to commit to it, then don't bother. Wear light, loose, breathable clothing that will give you the best range of motion possible. Since some studios will turn up the heat and encourage sweating, go in with the right mindset: you're here to get dirty, stretch out, and have fun.

Be Patient and Forgiving

Most sports are, by definition, competitive; what many don't realize is how pervasive that mindset can become. When you're practicing an exercise like yoga, which is meant to be all about the independent experience, it can be easy to look over at your neighbor's perfect reverse prayer pose and feel bitter and frustrated about your own efforts. But be forgiving; this is your first stab at it, and you're allowed to make mistakes! Going in with a positive, non-competitive attitude will allow you to focus on the good things that are happening to your body. With time, your muscles will become more flexible and you'll find the poses easier.

Another part of yoga that beginners can find frustrating is the notion of meditation, and the slow pace of some of the exercises. Trying to 'think about nothing' will only result in an onslaught of niggling doubts and worries, and you'll just get more annoyed, or feel bored. A constant mindset of blank nirvana is impossible; even the Zen masters can occasionally become distracted - wondering if they remembered to turn off their tea kettles. Know that the goal of the meditative exercises is to draw attention to your own body and mind. Your instructor will help you through guided meditation, but it, like the poses, takes time to master.

Yoga can be a great form of exercise, no matter your previous experience. It's been shown to boost the immune system and has even been used to help treat anxiety and depression. While starting the practice might seem intimidating at first, it's easy to find a beginner class that will introduce you to how great it can be!

About the author: At Breathemat.com we have premium yoga mats that are both long enough and thick enough to provide a comfortable, clean layer between your body and the floor of the gym or yoga studio. Our cotton yoga mats are also compact enough to travel with you to and from the fitness center and flexible enough to toss into the washer and dryer with ease.

DASH Diet - The Ultimate Guide

Admin — Wed, 08 Jun 2011 11:02:00 -1000

On Monday, the US News and World Report declared the DASH Diet as the best overall diet in their latest rankings. I have to admit, I had never heard of the DASH Diet before and when I read the news I couldn’t help rolling my eyes… thinking, “Great another fad diet gets it’s 15 minutes of fame”.

My curiosity was piqued, I had to know what this diet was all about. And who knows? I may learn something new that I can apply to my own dieting plan. After a little research I found that this diet isn’t new and most definitely isn’t a fad diet. The DASH Diet is grounded in common sense principals and has proven it’s worth in numerous studies.

Being the research geek that I am, I kept digging and digging for more info on this dieting plan and in the process I discovered a bounty of resources that can help people wanting to give it a shot. Below you will find everything you need to learn about, implement and succeed with the DASH Diet including meal plans, recipes, tools, books and other helpful resources.

What the Heck is this Dash Diet?

The DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) Diet is low in fat, low to moderate in sodium and emphasizes nutrient-rich low-fat dairy products (milk, cheese, yogurt), whole grains, fruits, and vegetables. It provides the crucial nutrients your body needs to function properly: calcium, potassium, fiber and magnesium, as well as vitamins A, C and E.

Based on a 2,000 calorie/day diet.

DASH was designed with the goal of treating hypertension (high blood pressure) and lowering blood pressure. It was developed in research sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) and is part of the US treatment guidelines for hypertension.

The DASH eating plan recommends daily serving amounts from a variety of food groups. The amount of servings per group you need depends on your calorie needs. e.g. If you live an active lifestyle you’ll be eating more servings per group than if you sit at a desk all day… common sense really.

To figure out what your personal daily calorie needs are and what your serving structure would look like follow the instructions here.

The NIH offers a couple excellent free guides for the diet plan. For thorough information on all aspects of the plan you will want to read the long version (64 pages). For a quick overview, they offer a summarized 6 page brief.

Another useful guide to this diet plan is:

The DASH Diet Eating Plan
The Utah Department of Health sliced and diced a lot the content from the previous guide and created a summarized version that is a little easier on the eyes.

What are the Benefits? – aka Why Bother?

Lowering Blood Pressure and Improving Cardiovascular Health

Dash Diet Reduces Heart Attack Risk
Researchers from John Hopkins University, Baltimore conducted a randomized controlled trial to determine the effects of dietary patterns on the 10 year risk of coronary heart disease (CHD). They found that the DASH Diet resulted in 18% decrease in the CHD risk. The results also showed: lower blood pressure and lower total cholesterol.

“DASH” Diet Lowers Risk of Heart Disease, Stroke in Women
A 24 year long study involving more than 88,000 women from ages 34-59 was performed by researchers at Simmons College. They found that the women who most closely followed the DASH Diet were 24% less likely to have heart disease, and 18% less likely to have a stroke.

Prevention of Kidney Stones

The Kidney Stone Prevention Diet
The researchers found that people who ate a diet more in line with DASH principles were 40-55% less likely to develop kidney stones than those whose diet was less DASH-compliant.

Enhancement of Brain Function

Dash Diet Fuels the Brain
This study found that people who followed the DASH diet in combination with aerobic exercise experienced a 30% improvement in brain function as well as lower blood pressure, improved their cardiovascular fitness, and lost an average of 19 pounds by the end of the study.

Dash Diet Combats Mental Decline
A 11 year long Utah State University study found that the greater a person’s adherence to the DASH diet, the slower the rate of mental decline.

Getting Started

Fortunately, the Dash Diet doesn’t require anything more than some basic planning. No weird recipes, no unusual foods, just a dedication to stick to the plan. However, as with most diet modifications, it can be difficult to maintain if too much is changed at once. For this reason, the NIH recommends making your dietary changes gradually.

Planning Your Attack - DASH Diet Meal Plans

A Week with the DASH Diet
This is a thorough example of daily living with the DASH Diet. Each food item is documented with the serving amounts and sodium it provides. They also include an substitution column so you can reduce the sodium amounts further if you like.

Sample 3-Day DASH Meal Plan
Complete with sample menus for each day, daily nutrient analysis and breakdown of the servings per food group used each day.

Simple Two Day Sample Menu
This is a basic example of a 2-day meal plan. Each day has a breakfast, lunch, a snack and dinner suggestion.

DASH Diet Ideas for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner
3 Fat Chicks on a Diet offers up some great ideas for DASH friendly meals. Check out their great tip on making diet friendly cinnamon buns! Yum!!!

Get Your Eat On! – DASH Diet Recipes

A Potpourri of DASH Diet Recipes
Got a hankering for something yummy but aren’t sure what you can make that won’t break your eating plan? Check out this massive collection of DASH Diet friendly recipes. There is something here for every mood.

5 Unique DASH Worthy Recipes
DashDiet.org shares 5 creative DASH Diet recipes complete with pics. The recipes are: Blackened Chicken with Berry Salad, Tuna Salad Plate, Fabulous Frittata, Lighter Latkes and a Low Fat Pumpkin Pie. I love the tip in the opening paragraph… “The more color on your plate, the healthier the meal.” This simple concept is true of most healthy diets. Unless you’re pouring Fruit Loops on your plate :)

Low Sodium Recipes via Food.com
Sodium can wreak havoc on your blood pressure so limiting it is key to preventing hypertension. Cooking meals that taste good and aren’t packed with salt can be a challenge. Fortunately there are plenty of low sodium recipes that have been tried and tested available. You can find recipes of every kind here, complete with pictures, instructions and reviews.

Low Sodium Recipes via TasteOfHome.com
Another great collection of low sodium recipes to help prevent high blood pressure. Like Food.com’s recipes, they have pictures, instruction and reviews.

Healthy Low Sodium Recipes and Menus
A solid assortment of flavorful heart-healthy recipes hand picked by the people at EatingWell.com.

Some Healthy and Tasty Juice Recipes
Our own collection of 4 yummy, healthy and easy to make seasonal juice drinks.

Cookbooks FTW – Cooking DASH Diet Foods the Right Way

Lickety-Split Meals: For Health Conscious People on the Go!
Read through the reviews and you’ll see that this is one of the best health-focused cookbooks you can get. It’s jam-packed full of great recipes with step by step instructions, dietary information, tips on healthy living, a laminated weekly menu planner that can be used with a dry erase pen, and even has a fold out stand for easy use in the kitchen!

Quick & Healthy Volume II: More Help for People Who Say They Don't Have Time to Cook Healthy Meals
Who has time to cook anymore? If you want to stay healthy you need to eat some good wholesome home-made food. Starving yourself just leaves your body depleted and fast food is nothing more than a slow acting poison. This book will help you tackle those hard to handle moments with simple, quick and realistic recipes and cooking techniques.

Cooking Light: 5 Ingredient 15 Minute Cookbook
Another great cookbook for the time-deficient. Cooking Light’s unique approach to this cookbook is that each healthy recipe has only 5 ingredients. Nutritious recipes with quick prep times are the focus here.

American Heart Association Low-Salt Cookbook: A Complete Guide to Reducing Sodium and Fat in Your Diet
When most people think of low-sodium meals they imagine food that tastes more like Styrofoam than their favorite dishes that they’ve grown to love. With proper instruction, you can make fantastically delicious meals without breaking out the salt. The AHA offers up over 200 recipes that are easy on the sodium but full of flavor.

American Heart Association Quick & Easy Cookbook: More Than 200 Healthful Recipes You Can Make in Minutes
Another fantastic cookbook from the AHA. 200 recipes that are tasty, healthful, low-fat, and can be made in under 20 minutes. This book is also spiral-bound so it lays flat on your kitchen counter for easy reading.

Tools to Help You Succeed

A Variety of Planning and Tracking Tools
DASH Diet Oregon is offering up a bunch of tools to make your DASHing easier. The tools include meal planners, daily diet trackers, a handy shopping list, and a goal logging worksheet.

A Collection of Helpful Forms for DASH Diet Success
Here you will find a form for checking off your food groups you have eaten, an exercise log, a weight log, a blood pressure log, and a log to track your overall well-being as you progress from week to week.

DASH Diet Worksheet
Gelson’s supermarket provides another tracking worksheet to record your daily eating and monitor the servings you eat from each DASH food group.

Worksheets for tracking your Daily Diet, Daily Diet (Low Sodium) and Blood Pressure

DASH Diet Books – The Web is Great but Books Still Rule

The DASH Diet Action Plan: Based on the National Institutes of Health Research: Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension
Many consider this the definitive handbook for the DASH Diet. It’s goal is to make it easy to adjust and maintain the DASH lifestyle in the real world. Written by dietician Marla Heller, The DASH Diet Action Plan is chock full of information to help you be successful with your dieting goals. It has 28 days worth of easy to follow meal plans, DASH-friendly recipes with pictures, advice on eating on-the-run, tips on making over your kitchen to make DASHing easy, and guides you in making your own personal action plan with the steps needed to fit the DASH diet into your daily routine.

The DASH Diet for Hypertension: Lower Your Blood Pressure in 14 Days - Without Drugs

If the DASH Diet Action Plan is the definitive handbook then The DASH Diet for Hypertension could be considered the encyclopedia on DASHing. It covers all aspects of DASH including: why it works, how it was proven through numerous trials, the science behind DASH, how to customize DASH to your specific needs, 2 weeks of meal plans, 62 recipes, and a whole lot more.

Related Information to Help You on Your Journey

How To Eat More and Weigh Less
Dieting sucks!! Being hungry all the the time and constantly feeling drained. But this doesn’t have to be the case. You can diet and still fill up and have all the energy you need to tackle your day. This handy guide outlines techniques you can use to cut back on calories without eating less and being hungry. Courtesy of the Department of Health and Human Services.

55 Ways to Degrease Your Diet
Mmmm greasy food… it tastes great when you eat it but leaves you feeling gross afterwards. If you are going to follow the DASH diet you will need to cut back on your fat intake, which means the grease has to go. The Utah Department of health gives you 55 tips to tackle that challenge. While many of the tips are very basic, there are a few real gems in here.

Fruit & Veggies FAQ
For many of us, our knowledge of fruits and veggies is limited to “they’re good for you”. A little knowledge goes a long way. In this document you’ll find information on storing all types of fruits and vegetables to keep them fresh and tasting great. There is also some good information on retaining nutritional value when cooking fruits and vegetables.

Savor the Spectrum
Taste the rainbow! No I’m not talking about Skittles, I’m talking about phytonutrients (also know as phytochemicals). These plant nutrients not only provide health benefits but also produce the bright colors in vegetables and fruits. This is a simple guide that shows you which health benefits you will receive from a particular fruit or veggie simply by it’s color.

Are You Full Yet?

If you’re new to the DASH Diet then there is a lot you need to learn to succeed with your dieting goals. Armed with the resources in this guide you should have no problems conquering any diet challenges you may come across.

Good health and happy dieting!!

Healthy Juice Recipes

Admin — Sun, 01 May 2011 12:03:00 -1000

We all know that regular eating of fruits and vegetables reduces the risk of chronic diseases, cardiovascular disease and cancer. We know we are supposed to but yet most people have a hard time meeting their recommend daily intake of fruits and vegetables. Making fresh juice is an easy and tasty way to help meet your daily requirement of fruits and vegetables.

To be perfectly clear, when we say "juice" we are talking about rich mixtures of fresh fruits, vegetables, and even herbs.. We are not talking about the sugar sweetened watery essences of apples, cranberries, or grapes that come in bottles or cans. The latter, explains Joan Carter, R.D., a Houston-based spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association, are mostly sugar and water and contain few of the vitamins, minerals, and fiber you get from eating the actual fruit. "But fresh juices, squeezed in such a way that you get most of the pulp, are rich in nutrients, including soluble fiber, which lowers blood cholesterol," she says. "They give you a much bigger nutritional bang for your buck."

The juice recipes here, each of which combines a range of flavors, make meeting your recommended daily requirements a pleasurable task. They are seasonal juices, meaning that they call for ingredients found fresh at a particular time of year. The juices can be made in a juicer but if you don't have one, a regular blender will do.

Because they're so quick and easy to prepare, the juices make a perfect snack when you are on the go. But they are also quite a nice treat so you just might want to take a break, kick back and savor them instead.

Each recipe makes approximately one 12-ounce serving. If you are using a juicer, cut large ingredients into chunks and adhere to the directions provided with your machine. If you are using a blender, cut ingredients into one-inch chunks.

Yummy and Healthy Juice

For the best juice results it is recommended to:

1.Use organic fruits and vegetables for juicing whenever possible.

2. Wash all juice ingredients well, including organic fruits and vegetables.

3. Drink the juice as soon as possible, ideally within a few minutes and before three hours. Vitamins and minerals lose their potency over time and juices can spoil easily. For health and safety reasons you should store juice in refrigerator and keep the juice for no more than one day.

Seasonal Juice Recipes:

Spring Juice - Cucumber, Celery & Spinach Juice

2 large cucumbers, peeled
4-6 stalks of celery, ends trimmed, soaked in water for an hour before juicing.
1/4 cup spinach, washed well

Summer Juice - Pineapple, Orange & Lemon Juice

1/3 fresh pineapple, peeled and cored
1 medium orange, peeled
1/2 lemon, peel intact

Fall Juice - Carrot, Apple & Beet Juice

2-3 large carrots, peeled if non-organic
2-3 large apples, peeled if non-organic or waxed, core and seeds intact
1 medium beet, washed well

Winter Juice - Pear, Ginger & Parsley Juice

6-8 pears, washed well, core and seeds intact
1/2-inch fresh gingerroot, peeled
1/4 cup fresh parsley, washed well

Enjoy and happy juicing!

Homemade Honey Facial Mask Recipe

Admin — Sun, 03 Apr 2011 13:32:00 -1000

In light of the favorable response to our post on the homemade brown sugar scrub recipe, I want to share another of my favorite homemade spa recipes with you. This recipe has helped my complexion soooo much. This egg and honey beauty mask is a great facial treatment for acne sufferers and also is great for those suffering with dry skin woes. In addition, with a slight alteration, this facial mask can be used for those who have a problem with oily skin on their face.

Ingredients You Will Need

1 Raw Egg
2 Tablespoons of Honey
Splash of Milk
1 tsp Vitamin E oil

Raw Egg On My Face?

Yes! Some people can't get over the idea of putting egg on their face as a skin treatment. I admit I was at first a little hesitant about putting raw egg on my skin I quickly got past that after my first try. The honey in this recipe overpowers the egg smell, and when this facial mask is applied it is not nearly as thick as you would imagine it to be.

The benefit of using egg in this facial mask is that when the face mask dries, the egg proteins contrict on the facial skin. This puts pressure on the upper layer of skin on the face. When you wash the mask off you also wash off loose skin cells.

I personally use egg yolk for this recipe as I have naturally dry skin and the Phoenix, Arizona climate just dries it out more. If you have normal-dry skin I suggest using the yolk. If you have normal - oily skin you should use the egg whites for this facial mask.

Making the egg and honey facial mask:

Seperate the egg yolk from the egg white. If you have normal - dry skin use the egg yolk, and if you have normal - oily skin use the egg whites. Place the portion that you are going to use in a small bowl. Add the honey and mix a little bit.

Now add the vitamin E oil and a very small amount of milk. If you use too much milk, the consistency of the facial masque will be too liquidy and the mask will not apply properly.

Mix up the facial mask mixture again and place it into a small container for storage. The facial mask can be stored for up to a week in the refrigerator.

Using Your New Homemade Facial Masque

It is best to use the facial mask after you shower but it can be used whenever you have the time. Make sure to clean your face thoroughly before applying the mask. If you are unable to shower before hand I would suggest rinsing your face with warm-hot water or place a wash cloth soaked with warm-hot water on you face for a minute or two. This will open up the pores in your face and allow the mask to nourish your skin to the fullest extent. If you are a male, then make sure to shave prior to using this mask.

Once your face is primed, pat your face dry and secure any hair away from the face. Stir the face mask mixture a little with your finger to ensure it's consistancy then begin application. Use 2-3 fingers to scoop a small amount of the mixture and begin applying in to your face in small circular motions. Make sure to cover your whole face. This facial mask can also be used on your neck, and upper chest. If I'm in a hurry and it will be a pain to clean I simply apply to my face, but if I have the time I use it on my neck and chest as well.

Now simply let the facial mask dry and let it sit for 10-20 minutes. When the wait is up, wash the mask off with warm water. When it is fully washed off, rinse your face with cold water to close your pores up. After you are done you can apply any acne fighting cream, moisturizers or makeup that you need.

Notes:

If the mixture was stored in the fridge prior to use, it is best to let it warm before application. I will set the container in the bathroom while I shower and that is usually enough.
DO NOT MICROWAVE TO WARM! Unless of course you are hungry for some scrambled eggs.
DO NOT USE IF ALLERGIC TO ANY INGREDIENTS! Self explanatory.
Be careful when applying to the skin near the eyes.

You will probably notice an immediate difference, and if you apply this every 1-2 days it should make big changes to your complexion. Personally this has practically eliminated my blackheads, acne is rare and easily manageable and my facial skin is firmer with tighter pores. What more can you ask from a simple do it yourself facial mask! So give it a try and I hope you enjoy the same results I did.

Brown Sugar Scrub Recipe

Admin — Thu, 03 Mar 2011 13:35:00 -1000

Sugar scrubs have become a part of my daily bath ritual. Once I experienced the benefits of exfoliating my skin with a nourishing sugar scrub I haven't stopped using them. Many of you use commercial sugar scrubs as well on a regular basis. While there are many commercial sugar scrubs that are absolutely divine, sometimes you run out or are needing to save a bit of money and need to cut out some personal luxuries. There are many homemade spa recipes that can get you through the times you can't have you're premium bath products. Why live without, if you don't need to!

The Homemade Brown Sugar Scrub

This is one of my favorite brown sugar scrub recipes simply because of how quick and easy it is to make and how great it exfoliates my sensitive skin, leaving it silky smooth. I prefer brown sugar scrubs over white cane sugar scrubs most of the time due to the sensitivity of my skin and the smell of brown sugar is much better in my opinion. There are many varieties to this basic recipe and you can play with it until you get the sugar scrub just right for your skin type.

Ingredients You Will Want For Your Brown Sugar Scrub

1 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Cup Sweetened Almond Oil (Don't have any? Try this one)
1 tsp Vitamin E (I cut open a couple Vitamin E liquid gel caps)
1/2-1 tsp Vanilla Extract

Optional Recipe Ingredients and Substitutions

The amount of almond oil you use will depend on your personal preference and skin type, experiment with more or less oil until you get your perfect mix.
You can substitute the almond oil for pure sesame oil (not roasted). extra virgin olive oil, vegetable oil or any other oil you like that is suitable for the skin. I prefer almond oil due to the many benefits of almond oil on the skin.
In place of the vanilla extract you can use your favorite essential oil or fragrance oil. Or if you are in a pinch you can leave it out altogether as it's mainly included for added aroma.
The Vitamin E is also not a necessity but it adds some skin nourishment to the brown sugar scrub.
You can add a little honey for extra moisturizing on dry skin.

To make the brown sugar scrub simply mix the Almond oil, vanilla extract and Vitamin E in a properly sized bowl, add the brown sugar and mix it all together. Separate the mixture into a couple of nice glass containers if you wish, otherwise a Tupperware will do.

Using Your New Homemade Sugar Scrub

Shower or bathe in moderately warm water. It is ideal to apply the sugar scrub after shaving but is not necessary if you are in a hurry and unable to find time to shave. Massage the brown sugar scrub in gentle circular motions from your shoulders to you feet. Focus on dry skin and rough patches where needed. Don't be rough with the scrub as it's not necessary to get a good exfoliation with sugar scrubs and could damage your skin.

When finished, rinse off the brown sugar scrub with warm water. Some people prefer to wash with soap prior to the scrub and do not use soap after rinsing off, others prefer to start with the sugar scrub and then wash with soap. Some people even believe there is no need to use soap when using these scrubs (I am not one of them. Germs people!). I usually will soap off before applying the scrub and when I am finished I rinse off with water and use a small amount of soap if my skin feels too oily. I do prefer letting the almond oil set in to my skin as that is one of the benefits of this sugar scrub.

Although it's not a complete replacement for playing with the variety of luxurious sugar scrubs that are out there, it definitely will not disappoint and it is better than a lot of the commercial sugar scrubs that I have tried. Give it a shot and enjoy the simple inexpensive homemade brown sugar scrub.

Homemade Daily Beauty Routine

Combine your new homemade brown sugar scrub with our latest home spa recipe:
Homemade Facial Mask Recipe
made from honey and egg for an invigorating beauty ritual!

Benefits Of Almond Oil For Skin Care

Admin — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 14:53:00 -1000

Walk down the skin care aisle of your local drug store, grocery store, salon or spa and you will see that almond oil is a common ingredient in many skin care products and is often proudly displayed as a primary ingredient. So what is all the fuss about almond oil, why is it so common and what are the benefits of having almond oil in your skin care products?

Almond Oil Pampers The Skin

Almond oil is an excellent emollient and moisturizer. As an emollient it nourishes and softens the skin helping to keep it smooth to the touch. Almond oil is similar in composition to the oil baby's excrete to keep their skin and hair healthy. This composition is beneficial to protecting and conditioning your skin no matter your age. By helping the skin stay healthy it promotes a youthful skin complexion.

A Treatment For Dry Skin

Almond oil is frequently used to treat dry skin. As a dry skin treatment, almond oil relieves itchiness, soreness, rashes, dryness, irritation and burns. Almond oil aides the skin in keeping the proper balance of moisture in the skin which is critical when treating dry skin. It is often mixed with an exfoliant for body scrubs as well as mixed with moisturizers to provide benefits the moisturizer may not have. Almond oil can also be used on the delicate skin under the eye to prevent "crow's feet".

Use Of Almond Oils In Massage

Since almond oil is not greasy, spreads easily and does not absorb into the skin too quickly; it is commonly used as a "carrier oil" by massage therapists. Carrier oils are the oils used as a base for massage oils. Typically a massage oil will contain one carrier oil and one or more "essential oils" which are used to add pleasant scents to the oils. Sweet almond oil is known to be an excellent skin lubricant, is moderately prices and has become widely accepted as the most popular carrier oil used in aromatherapy. As for the scent, sweet almond oil has a mild sweet and nutty aroma.

Amazing Almond Oil Products To Nourish Your Skin

L'Occitane Almond Supple Skin Oil
Ripe with a rich herbal vanilla and almond fragrance, L'Occitane's Almond Supple Skin Oil is likely the best on the market. This almond skin oil will leave your skin soft, firm and supple. Enriched with almond oil and Cameline oil, it promotes synthesis of the skin's support tissue and repairs the hydrolipidic barrier (your skin's natural protective barrier). This non-greasy almond oil absorbs quickly, each application lasts for hours, and just a little goes a long way!

Caswell-Massey Sweet Almond Oil
If you prefer an almond oil with no fragrance - Caswell-Massey's Sweet Almond Oil is for you. Intended for moisturizing facial masks and bathing experiences delivers all the benefits almond oil provides your skin but in an odorless form ideal for many different uses.

Now Foods Sweet Almond Oil
Looking to save some money by buying your almond oil in bulk? Check out Now Food's gallon of sweet almond oil. It's high quality food grade oil that can also be used for your skin treatments and as a massage oil. Minimize your store trips and online orders by buying your almond oils in bulk.

Summary Of Almond Oil's Benefits

Excellent emollient - soothes and softens the skin
Relieves skin irritation, rashes and burns
Treats dry skin by balancing the skin's moisture level
Ideal consistency for use in massage
Moderately priced
Pleasant mild aroma.

Note and Precautions

Almond oil is not safe for use on people with nut allergies.
Even though it is light in color, almond oil can leave stains on clothing and sheets.
Bitter almond oil is toxic unlike sweet almond oil and pure almond oil
Almond oil can go bad. Store in a dark cool environment and refrigerate after opening.

Perfector Non Surgical Face Lift

Admin — Fri, 14 Jan 2011 14:52:00 -1000

What is the Perfector?

The Perfector is a computerized device that builds new tissue, purifies and detoxifies skin and lifts sagging muscles. It fills the middle ground between surgical face lifts and facial treatments. In addition to non surgical face lifts the Perfector has a program to replace the standard micro-dermabrasion techniques. The micro-dermabrasion alternative provides a deep cleaning and detoxification of skin cells in a non-abrasive manner.

How Does It Work?

The Perfector is based on technology designed to replicate biological signals in the body. Much like how the Arasys inch loss treatment woks by imitating the signals that the brain sends to muscle neurons during a workout, the Perfector mimics your body's biological regeneration and repair signals to effect change in your body at a cellular level.

The technology is based on nobel prize winning research of Edwin Neher and Bert Sakmann demonstrating the characteristics of ion channels in cell membranes. Their techniques are widely used in cell biology and neuroscience. The developments on this research have allowed a better understanding of how the body communicates on a cellular level and how aging and cell regeneration are triggered and prevented.

The Perfector Facial Treatment

The perfector face lift procedure is very quick and non-invasive. First a technician trained on the Perfector machine will apply a thin gel to the face of the recipient. Then the recipient lays down and relaxes as the technician rubs two metal probes of their face. There is no pain or discomfort felt. The recipient will likely only feel a cold sensation from the Perfector's probles. Some people may feel a relaxing sensation and some sleepiness.

The results are able to be seen immediately after the Perfector facial stimulation. Often the technicians will treat half of the recipient's face to show the improvement. This actually can look quite amusing as the face is slightly contorted.

The number and frequency of Perfector treatments needed and the length of each Perfector session vary depending on the needs of the individual. For the average person it is typically recommended to start with three facial treatments and then come back for a touch-up every month or every other month.

Perfector Program Types

Oxygenation:

Increases blood circulation
Research shows an increased number of tiny blood vessels
Stimulates physical exchanges in cells and ATP production

Regeneration:

Clinical research shows significant wrinkle reduction
Research indicates a significant increase in the secretion of collagen and elastin
Research has shown ATP energy boost that powers skin renewal and repair

Lift:

Clinical research shows significant face lift
Research has shown ATP energy boost resulting in skin renewal and repair

Sculpting:

Enhances inter-muscular connectivity to sculpt facial features
Balances skin PH and promotes health of overall skin environment

Firming:

Clinical reports of reducing sun damage
Clinical reports of reducing pigmentation
Research indicates healing of rosacea
Reduces inflammation and edema
Shrinks large pores

An Age Defying Breakthough

The Perfector treatments are an exciting option for those looking to rid themselves of wrinkles, skin problems or lift sagging muscles. The ease of the treatment and the immediacy of the results make this a hard treatment to pass on if you are in need of these types of treatments.

Treatment prices depend on the provider and the city that you are in. Prices can range from $100 to $250 per session. While not cheap, it's not so expensive that it has to be reserved for the wealthy. This price point keeps it in reach of most consumers, although some planning and saving may be needed if many treatments are needed for a severe case.

Relaxing, Invigorating Snake Massage... Ummm

Admin — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 13:43:00 -1000

Getting bored with your normal spa treatments? Interested in trying something new? How about having 6 snakes slither across your body for half an hour while getting a massage from a masseuse?

Snake massage is exactly what Ada Barak is offering her customers at her Israeli spa. Customers are said to really enjoy this. Now I’m not afraid of snakes but I just don’t think I could do this myself.

The snakes are non-venomous of course; comprising of corn snakes, milk snakes and California and Florida king snakes giving you the massage you never thought you’d have. The cost is around $70 U.S. for the full treatment, airfare is not included.