Karmalicious

It's the time of year when our skin screams out for help! The cool weather and lack of humidity leaves our skin dry and flaky. But there are ways to keep your skin feeling soft and beautiful all year long. Here are my tips to prevent dry skin this winter.

1) Stay hydrated          

When the body lacks water, the skin will be the first organ forced to dehydrate. This means you should increase water consumption, and also decrease consumption of diuretics. These include: coffee, caffeinated tea, alcohol and soda pops. For every glass of one of these diuretics, you need to consume an extra two glasses of water to re-hydrate. Eating a diet high in fruits and veggies will also give you that extra hydration you need. Avoid the fried and processed foods as they will only further damage your skin.

2) Eat the good fat

 Yes, not all fatty foods are bad. Omega-3 and Omega-6 are called Essential Fatty Acids because our bodies cannot produce them and must obtain them from food sources. Omega-3 is the EFA we need to moisturize our skin from the inside out. Foods containing Omega-3 include: nuts (walnuts, almonds, pecans, hazelnuts, brazil nuts), seeds and their oils (ground flaxseeds, hempseeds, pumpkin & sunflower), eggs – with the yolks! Good fat from avocados and coconut oil will also help lubricate your skin from the inside out.

3) Facial Steams 

 These are an excellent way to add extra moisture to the surface of your skin. Just the steam from plain water can moisturize and soften your skin, but adding some herbs can enhance the effect. Comfrey, Lady’s Mantle, Linden flowers, Marigold and Marshmallow are all herbs that have moisturizing and emollient effects. This means they lock moisture into the skin. The steam from the water opens the pores and carries the medicinal constituents from the plants into your skin. This process should be done once a week, followed by a massage with a nourishing oil. You can pick up dried herbs from the bulk section at your local health food store.

4) Nourishing Oils 

 Rubbing straight up oil on your face may scare some of you. We have a tendency to believe that oil clogs pores and causes break outs. For the most part, this is untrue. In fact, most pore clogging ingredients aren’t natural oils at all. They are mineral oil and animal fats. Natural plant oils on the other hand are wonderful at binding moisture to the skin and strengthening skin cell membranes. Also, when the skin is nourished with natural oils from the outside, it signals the body to slow down on sebum production, thus reducing acne. But that is another topic for another day! Here are some natural oils you can massage onto your skin: Jojoba oil (most closely resembles our own oil consistency), almond oil, avocado oil, extra virgin olive oil and for extra dry skin, you can use shea butter or cocoa butter.

5) Avoid Mineral Oil

 Also known as Petrolatum and Paraffinium Liquidum, this ingredient is a by-product of the petroleum industry. Rubbing petroleum on your face is gross, first of all, and secondly, it actually makes your skin un-healthy! It is used in almost all skin care and hair products as a cheap cosmetic base, and actually dries out your skin, making you rub even more on to re-moisturize. Stop this vicious cycle and use the natural oils listed above! The reason mineral oil is bad for you is because its molecules are too big to be absorbed by your skin. Therefore, products made with it sit on the skin’s surface, clogging its pores and suffocating the skin. This is what causes outbreaks of acne and blackheads, most likely leading you to believe it is the cream itself that causes acne. This barrier effect also prevents the skin from absorbing moisture - both from our skin care products and the humidity in the air. This goes for your lips as well. Petroleum based chap stick creates an artificial film on your lips which signals your skin to stop producing lipids. So choose a natural lip balm containing cocoa or shea butter which will nourish your skin. Mineral oil has also been shown to cause tumors in lab animals, and we’re also animals. Just sayin…

6) Gentle Exfoliation 

Another way to help keep your skin moist is by sloughing off the dead skin cells. This causes a burst of cell renewal, helping new moisture-rich cells move to the surface. In the winter, it’s better to use enzyme based exfoliation rather than the gritty substances we’re used to using. This will be gentler on our sensitive skin. Fresh papaya and pineapple both contain enzymes that break down protein. Mash up these fruits and spread on as a mask to experience their gentle exfoliating effect. Alternatively, you can whip up this super easy exfoliating mask: Mix equal parts olive oil, baking soda and raw honey into a paste. Rub onto your face and wear as a mask for a minute or two. Feel the baking soda gently fizzle away that top layer of dead skin cells. This mask is also great because the honey and olive oil are extra moisturizing. After exfoliating, use a natural cream or oil to lock in the moisture.

7) Sigrid Naturals    

This blog post about skin moisturizing would just not be complete without a plug for my favourite skin care guru – Sigrid Geddes. If you haven’t tried her delectable creations, you need to get on that ASAP! Every one of her skin creams is handcrafted with the utmost integrity and respect for the earth and for our health. She uses only pure, natural ingredients with herbs that she wildcrafts herself. I could go on and on about how amazing her products are, but you can go look for yourself at www.sigridnaturals.com

Follow these steps, and you will have glorious skin all winter long!

A bowl of antioxidant goodness!

When it comes to health and beauty, there is one recurring factor that always comes up; antioxidants. We've had some inquiries about this topic, so now we're going to shed some light on why they're so important for our well being.

We've all heard that antioxidants fight free radicals, but what exactly does that mean?

Free radicals are molecules with an unpaired electron that are formed as part of the body's normal metabolic process. They are dangerous because they are constantly trying to steal electrons from healthy cells. This process erodes the cell membrane of good cells and alters their genetic material. Daily exposure to stress factors like pollution, cigarette smoke, poor diet and electromagnetic fields create an abundance of free radicals in our bodies. This means that more of the bad cells are damaging the good cells! Have I lost you yet?

Antioxidants help prevent the scavenging of healthy cells by donating their own electron, therby rendering the free radical inactive. When your diet is full of healthy antioxidants, you are constantly taking out free radicals, thus protecting, and even improving your healthy cells.

If all that was too much for you, just remember:

Free Radicals = Ageing, Antioxidants = Anti-ageing.

Antioxidants keep us healthy inside and out, and are especially good for protecting against UV radiation. So maintain healthy looking skin by eating antioxidants every day!

Here is a list of the best antioxidant rich foods!

Berries: acai, blueberry, raspberry, blackberry, goji berry

Broccoli

Carrots

Tea: White, Green

Tomatoes

Cantaloupe

Cocao beans

Spinach

Bell peppers

Sprouts

Almonds

Hemp Seeds

Flax Seeds

Collard Greens

Kale

Strawberries

My band, The Free Radicals at our one and only show.

We'll go down in history!

Green Clay Face Mask - so tight, can't smile!

 Clay is, quite possibly, the easiest way to get beautiful skin. It's affordable, and available at many health food stores and herb shops. Although it may be new to many of us, this magical substance is thousands of years old, and has been used as a beautifying agent for centuries. Clay is the essence of mountains, ground down through the ages and has been blessed by thousands of sunrises, sunsets, windstorms and rainstorms. When we use clay as a cosmetic, we are using all of that magical energy as a beauty aid.

There are various different kinds of clays on the market today. All of them are loaded with minerals that help promote radiant skin. Clay is used to draw out excess oil, toxins and dirt in the skin. In doing this, it clears the pores of blockages, leaving the skin more receptive to natural moisture. We at Karmalicious have a few different clay masks that are available on our products page. Here is a list of the clays we use and their amazing benefits!

Green Clay

High concentrations of plant minerals and volcanic matter give this clay its green colour. Green clay is one of the most effective, as it contains up to 9 important mineral oxides, magnesium, calcium, potassium, dolomite, silica, manganese, phosphorous, silicon, copper and selenium. This  clay is beneficial for acne prone skin as these minerals help balance oil flow. Green clay also stimulates blood flow, which is cleansing for the skin. You will find green clay as the base of our Clear Complexion Face Mask.

Red Clay

Due to its high level of ion exchange, this clay is especially drying and drawing. This means it is great for drawing toxins out of the skin. Red clay reduces dryness and flakiness and improves skin clarity and elasticity. Minerals in this clay include: iron, magnesium, silica, potassium and calcium. We use this in our Skin Toning Face Mask.

White Clay

Also known as Kaolin clay, white clay is milder and less drying than other clays and is better for people with dry skin. White clay stimulates circulation to the skin, while gently exfoliating and cleansing it. High in minerals such as calcium, silica, zinc and magnesium, this clay helps heal existing blemishes and inflammations, and prevents new ones from forming, You can find Kaolin clay in our Cleansing Grains and Moisturizing Face Mask.

    One of my favourite things about farmers markets is being introduced to new foods.  In the grocery store, I usually just run to my go-to produce and overlook the rest. But at the market, I know everything is fresh and in season, and I’m more inclined to try something new. Many of you are probably very familiar with rhubarb, but I’ve never actually tried it. My parents never made it, and I never explored it. That is until Shannon from Kawartha Ecological Growers had a delicious looking bunch of it at the last market. Without hesitation, I bought 5 stalks, and ran home to check my favourite food blogs to find the perfect recipe. I settled on this rhubarb butter from the fabulous Meghan Telpner. I chose this recipe because it has no sugar, and I want to stay healthy after all!

    Now, let’s dig in to the nutrition facts on rhubarb for skin care. First of all, this pink vegetable is loaded with antioxidants. Specifically, rhubarb contains vitamin C and lutein; a carotenoid that fights cellular damage caused by free radicals.  Lutein is also beneficial for protecting the eyes from UV radiation. As a carotenoid, it is converted to retinol (active form of vitamin A) once it is in the body. Retinol protects the eyes from light induced free radical damage, and can also filter out UV light. We know by now that vitamin C is also a powerful antioxidant that fights free radicals and stops them from damaging collagen, elastin and other skin structures.

    Rhubarb also contains a skin supporting nutrient called silica. This mineral gives your bones, hair, nails and skin their strength. If your diet is deficient in silica, you may start to experience inelastic, dry, itchy and sagging skin. Silica also helps your skin retain water and stay hydrated. Having sufficient water in your skin gives you a more toned, tight and youthful appearance. That’s because the more water in your cells, the easier it is to transport nutrients and keep your skin looking healthy! So add some rhubarb to your diet to keep your skin looking radiant!

 Many people swear by Apple Cider Vinegar as a miracle cure. It is loaded with minerals and enzymes, as well as antioxidants, which we know are great for our skin! This fermented apple juice aids in digestion, helps reduce allergies, arthritis, sinus infections and acne! We could go on..

Today, we will focus on vanity, and how ACV can give you gorgeous hair!

In case you've never really explored the world of Apple Cider Vinegar, it is super easy to find in grocery stores and health food stores and it's pretty cheap too! Cheaper than any chemical filled conditioner!

Here is why ACV rocks so hard..

Apple Cider Vinegar makes an AWESOME hair conditioner! Its acidity level is very similar to that of our hair. When used as a conditioner after washing, it restores the natural pH balance of our hair and also kills the bacteria that cause itchy scalp and dandruff. Rinsing with ACV after you wash will close the numerous cuticles on the hair shaft, leaving the hair soft and smooth. Take THAT Pantene!

Basic ACV rinse: Combine 1 cup of water with 1 tbs ACV.  Store this in an old shampoo bottle and pour onto hair after washing. Alternatively, store in a spray bottle and use as a leave in conditioner. NOTE: the vinegar smell will evaporate in no time.

More Advanced ACV rinse: Infuse the water with herbs that also help restore shine and colour to hair. In a bowl, cover 1 tbs of herbs with one cup boiling water. Cover and let sit for 15-30 mins. Strain herbs and allow tea to cool. Add 1tbs of ACV to the herb tea and follow steps for basic ACV rinse. Herbs to use include:

• Chamomile for light hair
• Rosemary for dark hair
• Sage for weak hair
• Burdock root and catnip to promote hair growth
• nettles, plantain and burdock to fight dandruff

For persistent cases of dandruff, rinse hair with pure ACV and wait 30 mins to an hour before washing it out.

Our hair maintenance routine includes washing with the David Hemp shampoo soap and spritzing with  the basic ACV rinse. Since changing to this routine, our hair has restored its natural shine and is softer than ever! Try this, and you wont be able to stop touching your hair!

Ever notice that the fresh roll appetizers at a party are always the first snack to disappear? Maybe it's because they seem complicated to make at home, so we only get them as a treat when we go out. Well, this genious culinary creation is actually very easy to make yourself! And with farmers markets in full swing, there are numerous delicious filling options to customize your very own Fresh Roll!

I learned how to make these from my friend Linden, which is coincidentally the name of one of my soaps. I have since added some of my own variations, but that is the beauty of the fresh roll. There are no rules! You can fill 'em with whatever you want! I admit, the prep time can be somewhat time consuming, but they're super easy to assemble, and the results are worth it!

This post includes recipes for Carrot/Ginger Dressing and Peanut Dipping Sauce too! So keep scrolling all the way down!

After the Apple Tree Farmers Market this past week, I had more than enough to make a fantastic roll. This is what I used for the filling:

• Sunchokes (Jerusalem Artichoke)
• Spinach
• Mushrooms
• Apple
• Mint
• Spring Onions
• Carrot/Ginger dressing

I used a mandolin to chop everything up into nice matchsticks. I got the carrot/ginger dressing from Gwyneth Paltrow's blog GOOP. It's down at the bottom of this post if you're interested!

Okay, back to the Rolls! Besides delicious veggie fillings, you'll also need rice noodles and rice paper. Both can be purchased at any grocery store. Simply cover the noodles with hot water until they're soft and strain them and set aside. Fill a shallow dish with warm water, and submerge a rice paper sheet to soften it right before you're ready to fill.

                           Fresh Roll station                      Start with the rice noodles             Pile on the veggies            

                    A dollop of carrot/ginger dressing   Top it off with some spinach                   rrrrrrrrrroll it up!

Et Voila! Delicious home made fresh rolls!

Here are some other ideas for Fresh Roll fillins:

• Beets
• Sprouts
• Collard Greens
• Bell Peppers
• Enoki Mushrooms
• Cucumber
• Radish
• Avocado
• Lettuce
• Asparagas
• Zucchini
• Carrots
• Cabbage
• Seaweed
• Mango
• Papaya

You may have also noticed that I made a peanut dipping sauce. I don't have exact measurments for this because I freestyle it every time. This is what usually goes into my peanut dipping sauce:

• Natural peanut butter
  
• Srirachi hot sauce
• Lime juice
• Rice vinegar (very important! No peanut sauce is complete without it, in my opinion..)
• Tamari or Soy sauce
• Water or apple juice to thin it out.

Just keep on adding and tasting until you like the result!

Now for that Carrot/Ginger Dressing I promised you...

1 large carrot, peeled & roughly chopped

1 shallot, peeled & roughly chopped

2 tablespoons roughly chopped fresh ginger

1 tablespoon sweet white miso

2 tablespoons rice wine vinegar

1 tablespoon toasted sesame oil

1/4 cup grapeseed oil

2 tablespoons water

Pulse the carrot, shallot & ginger in the bowl of a food processor until finely chopped.  Scrape down the sides, add the miso, vinegar & sesame oil & blend.  With the food processor running, slowly drizzle in the grapeseed oil & water.

Wooh! Now you're all set to blow people's minds with your amazing culinary skills!! Just make sure you hide some of these for yourself! They'll go fast! Or your boyfriend will offer them all to his friends even though you planned on saving them for lunch tomorrow... Lesson learned.

Alright ladies, it's time to shed that winter coat we got going on. There are many hair removal strategies out there, but what is the best option? Going out to a salon for a leg wax is painful and expensive, shaving can cause razor burn, and chemical treatments are scary. As spring fades into summer, now is when we start worrying about our hair removal strategy.

I have been reading "There's Lead in Your Lipstick" by eco guru Gillian Deacon, and just yesterday, I got to the section about hair removal. She writes about how most waxes, whether at a salon or a DIY at-home kit are a parrafin wax, which is a petroleum derivative. Petroleum based chemcials are known carcinogens and have also been shown to affect the nervous system and immunse system after repeated exposure. Petrochemicals could be a whole other scary blog post, so I will cut this short by just asking the question: do you want this stuff on your skin? My answer is, no thanks!

Gillian Deacon offers a recipe for sugaring, which is an alternative to waxing. I was curious, so I tried it out and now I'm hooked! Sugaring is a tradition that dates back to Egypt in 1900 BCE. The paste is applied in the same fashion as wax, but has a few advantages. Sugaring paste doesn't dry out like wax, so there's no need to rush to get the fabric on for easy hair removal. While wax adheres to the hair and skin, sugaring paste adheres only to the hair, so it's less painful to remove and does not burn or damage the skin underneath. And best of all, it is chemical free!

Here is her recipe for DIY Sugaring:

Ingredients

• 2 cups white sugar
• 1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
• 1/4 cup water
• tightly woven cotton fabric - check your local beauty supply store
• craft stick or dull knife

• Heat the ingredients on the stove top watching carefully to ensure that the mixture does not boil over. If possoble, use a candy thermometer to heat the mixture to 250 F.

• Let the mixture cool enough to pour into a glass jar. Do not use plastic as the heat from the paste will cause chemicals in the plastic to leach into the product.

• Cut the fabric into strips.
• Test the paste to be sure it isn't too hot for your skin.
• Apply the sugar paste using a craft stick or knife and spread evenly.
• Press the strips of cloth onto the paste, running your fingers over it once or twice in the same direction as hair growth.
  
• Rip the fabric off quickly, making sure to pull in the opposite direction of hair growth.
• Enjoy smooth, hair free legs!

If this mixture hardens in the jar, or if you need to save some of it for later use, simply re-heat it by placing it in a water bath. Fill a sauce pan with water about 2 inches deep. Heat on med-high heat and place the glass jar in the water. When the sugar paste is runny and can be easily mixed with the craft stick/dull knife, it is ready to use!

Note: it is important to rub oil on your legs immediately after sugaring/waxing to prevent ingrown hairs and to remove paste residue.

Also, never get your legs wet within 2 hours of sugaring as the pores are more susceptible to bacteria and infection.

  I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I also hate to watch my friends and loved ones expose themselves (unknowingly) to hazardous chemicals that shorten their lifespan!

  Everyone loves St. Ives Apricot Scrub. Unfortunately, this seemingly natural product is loaded with neurotoxins, carcinogens and endocrine disruptors. Why would any company use these chemicals that we slather on our skin and absorb into our bloodstreams? Well, because they're cheap, and St. Ives wants to cut corners to save a buck and increase their profit margins. Of course, this makes the product more affordable for you, but in my opinion, you're just throwing your money down the drain (along with toxins that also infultrate our water supply..). You know what's a cheaper exfoliant? Coffee grounds. And they're free!! If you don't drink coffee yourself, ask a friend to use theirs. Or, go ask the baristas at your local starbucks. Free exfoliants that don't contain toxins.. it's a miracle!

  If it's a moisturizing exfoliant that you're looking for, well Karmalicious has your back! (I mean face!). Our Cleansing Grains contain flowers, poppy seeds and apricot shells that act as an exfoliant, and ground oats that are moisturizing for the skin.

  You would think that companies only provide products that are safe, but unfortunately, that is just not the case. In fact, there are no regulations in the cosmetics industry at all. Avoiding chemicals and keeping your skin safe is left up to you. That is why we encourage you to read the ingredients of everything you put on your skin. After all, the skin is an organ, the largest one in fact, and its tiny pores absorb everything you put on it.

So remember, keep fit and have fun! Oh wait.. that tag line is already taken..

I know we’re all saddened by the Conservative Majority, but here is something that might sweeten up your day!

Who thought bee vomit could be so beneficial for our skin? That’s right, honey is created when a bee sucks up nectar from a flower, adds enzymes to it, and then regurgitates it into the honey comb for later use. Sounds delicious right? Well, it is these enzymes that make honey so beneficial for our health, and especially for our skin!

It doesn’t take science labs and the latest technology to let honey work its magic! As far back as the days of Cleopatra, honey has been used as part of skin and hair care treatments to keep people looking youthful. How does it work? The natural healing agent in honey is an enzyme called glucose oxidase. When this enzyme combines with oxygen, it creates hydrogen peroxide, a mild antiseptic. This helps keep the skin free of bacteria that can contribute to inflammation such as acne.

Honey is also a wonderful moisturizer. Its humectant action allows it to attract and retain water and rebuild the moisture levels in the skin, without making it oily. Honey is full of antioxidants and flavanoids. As we’ve mentioned before, these substances help fight free radicals and prevent the signs of aging. Just another reason why honey is so good fore skin care!

Honey can also promote a clear complexion from the inside. Studies have shown that blood sugar levels can contribute to acne. Spikes in blood sugar can cause acne by increasing sebum (oil) production, causing skin cells to regenerate faster, and by causing dead skin cells to stick together. Gross. How does honey prevent this you ask? Well, this regurgitated substance ( I should stop using that word..) is pre-digested by our friend the honey bee. This means that our enzymes don’t have to work hard to break it down, making it one of the easiest foods for us to digest. By replacing refined sugar with honey, we avoid those blood sugar fluctuations, and keep our hormones balanced to avoid breakouts.

So there you have it. Honey is a superfood for your skin, both inside and out! Remember, raw honey is the BEST as it contains all the original enzymes that are not destroyed by processing. Support your local bee keeper and buy from farmers markets!

 Forget love -- I'd rather fall in chocolate!!!

Chocolate lovers rejoice! More news about the tremendous health benefits of chocolate! Before you get too excited, we're not talking about chocolate bars or left over easter eggs. Pure, straight up, unadulterated cocoa is what we need for our skin. We have already learned that antioxidants are needed to prevent free radicals from damaging our skin, and scientists have discovered that cocoa beans contain more antioxidants than red wine and green tea!

The antioxidant flavanoids in cocoa have been specifically linked to reduce the inflammatory response of free radicals that cause acne and wrinkles. Studies have also found that the flavanoids in cocoa improve blood flow to skin cells, improve the hydration and texture of the skin and prevent free radical damage to the fatty components of skin cells. All of that translates to healthier, less acne-prone skin. Studies have also shown that cocoa appears to improve the way the body responds to blood sugar. The American Journal of Clinical Nutrition reported in 2005 that cocoa may help regulate sebum (oil) production, which is affected by blood sugar, thus helping with acne. So go ahead, add cocoa beans to your life. Add them to smoothies, crumble on cereal, eat them as a snack, or choose dark chocolate with natural sweeteners such as the kind found at CHOCO SOL Traders.

http://chocosol.posterous.com/