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Winter Skin Survival Guide

Cold weather, winds, and dry indoor air will leave any skin dry and cracked during winter months, when the oil glands are the weakest. Cheeks, arms, and legs have the least amount of oil glands and therefore suffer most in cold weather.  To keep your skin hydrated and well cared for, follow these simple steps:

1. Avoid taking long hot baths or showers. How water can rob the skin of its moisture. Instead, use moderate temperatures for shorter periods of time.

2. Moisture skin with pure cocoa butter after showering. Apply it to the skin when it's slightly damp, so the moisture becomes trapped in the skin.

3. Avoid skin products that contain alcohol, which can dry out the skin.

4. Use a humidifier to keep moisture in your home. If your budget it tight, just put a bowl on a radiator to add moisture to the air in your room.

5. Stress can contribute to more skin conditions, so during winter do relaxation practices, yoga, meditation on a regular basis.

6. Add moisture from within - drink plenty of water throughout the day and eat lots of water-rich fruits and vegetables. Avoid dry and salty snacks, because they suck the moisture out of your cells.

7. Make sure you get enough essential fatty acids, like omega-3 and omega-6. A diet low in EFAs results in dry, dull looking skin and may cause chronic skin conditions, such as eczema. EFAs rich foods are flaxseed oil, walnuts, sesame, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, chia seeds, and blue green algae.

© 2009 Radiant on Raw

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Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Chamomile

Growing up in Belarus, I was surrounded by chamomile flowers - it's one of most common wild flowers there. I loved picking them up and making bouquets and ornaments. Chamomile always put me in a better mood. And no wonder - yellow is the color of the sun and the animating color of life that suggests joy.

In color therapy, yellow stimulates the mental faculties of the individual (also great for elevating depression), strengthens nerves and aids the brain. Yellow stimulates cleansing in liver, intestines, spleen, and the skin, purifies the blood, activates the lymphatic system.

Chamomile itself has been used since ancient times for a variety of medicinal and therapeutic purposes.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Cranberries

 A cranberry juice cleanser is a wonderful exfoliant and acne fighter. It is slightly acidic and has antibacterial properties, so it tones while cleansing at the same time.

Crush a handful of raw cranberries in the blender. Strain to remove pulp. Soak a piece of gauze in the juice and place it on your face, avoiding the eye area.  Let soak in for about 10 minutes, and then rinse with warm water.

A cup of cranberry juice can also be used as an amazing hair rinse for brunettes and redheads.

Simple, quick, and on a budget!

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Pineapple Body Polish

I discovered this little trick in one of my friend's beauty books a few years ago (sorry, don't remember the name of it!)

Peel one fresh pineapple and cut it into 3-4 big wedges. While showering, massage wedges into your skin, starting from your neck and shoulders and working your way down to feet. Rinse thoroughly.

The enzymes in pineapple have wonderful exfoliating effect and do wonders to your skin. Try it, I dare you!

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Coconut Oil

 Coconuts are one of the greatest gifts that Mother Nature gave us.

In Sanskrit, the coconut palm is known as “Kapla Vriksha” meaning “the tree that supplies all that is needed to live”.  It is truly an amazing food to bring into your diet.

Young coconut water is identical to human blood plasma. According to David Wolfe, when we consume a drink consisting of 55% fresh coconut water and 45% fresh green-leaf juice we give ourselves an instant blood transfusion!

Young coconuts are the most health enhancing. The meat of young coconuts consists mostly of a  pure, raw saturated fat. It has the ability to restore oxidative tissue damage and restore male sexual fluids.

Coconut Oil is derived from nature coconuts containing hardened white flesh. Coconut oil has been used in food and medicine for ages; Ayurveda has long promoted its therapeutic and cosmetic properties.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secret - Buyer, Beware!

Do you want to have beautiful and healthy skin and maintain your youthful looks for many years to come?

They you have to pay attention not only to what you put IN your body, but also to what you put ON your body.  Besides physical features, skin is the most important indicator of our beauty and health.

I’ve been talking about fruit and veggie masks for beauty and eating organic raw foods, but something very important needs to be addressed today.

Skin care products!

Most of us use them. However, if you are still using cosmetics that you buy at a store like Sephora or a drug store (I used to be a L’Oreal fan), I suggest you investigate what’s in those products.

Interestingly enough, even if a product says “Natural” or “Organic” is doesn’t mean they are safe and beneficial for you.  Keep in mind that whatever you put on your skin gets immediately absorbed. Skin absorbs everything better than our gastrointestinal tract does, and faster too.  Do you know what you put on your skin?

I would say that 90% of skin care products available right now contain at least one chemical that is definitely not good for you such is, for example, Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, a chemical that has been linked to cancer. Many of those chemicals are dangerous and harmful to our vital organs. Since they are absorbed through the skin right into your blood stream, there’s no saying how much damage they can cause. And because their quantities are usually quite small, it takes time for them to accumulate in your body to produce harmful effects, so oftentimes you can’t even identify them or their source until it’s too late.

My rule of thumb? Read the list of ingredients – if there’s something in there that you cannot even pronounce, less know what that means, put it back on the shelf.

A very helpful resource that I discovered is Skin Deep: Cosmetic Safety Database - check it out and check all the products that you currently use.  You may be surprised what you discover; I know I was!

My personal favorite as of late is the beauty product line called Aubrey Organics, which you can find at most Whole Food stores and some health stores. Their list of ingredients is usually not very long and you can actually pronounce and identify each ingredient! They do not use Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, no petrochemicals, and no parabens (high hazard chemical).

Granted, some of these healthy skin care products are a little more expensive, but my personal motto is “pay now or pay later”. What is your health worth to you? 

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - The Oil Cleansing Method

I am always on a lookout for natural skin care regiments that do not involve expensive creams, chemicals, or pricey procedures.

I recently stumbled upon a term "oil cleansing" and it got me curious. Having an oily skin I've always been cautious of putting oil on my skin and always using "oil-free" products.

However, I found a terrific article written by Stephanie, owner & founder of The Beauty Bottle, LLC for The Oil Cleansing Method Website, which made total sense to me. I cannot wait to try this method soon - I will report back to you on how it goes.

And just to add to the article you are about to read, there are other oils you can try:

Normal Skin – Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Jojoba Oil

Dry and Dehydrated Skin – Extra Virgin Olive Oil and Extra Virgin Coconut Oil.

Oily and Acne Prone Skin – Jojoba and Grapeseed Oil or Watermelon Seed Oil.

Sensitive Skin – Apricot Kernel Oil and Jojoba Oil.

If you decide to give this skin care method a try, I would love to hear about your results!

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secrets - Raw Honey

The use of honey for beauty dates back thousands of years. Cleopatra, the queen of Egypt, was known for her exquisite complexion and famous for her milk and honey baths. Poppea, wife of Roman Emperor Nero, used a honey and milk lotion on her face to keep looking youthful.

* Raw honey can be used for skin rashes, burns and abrasions. Apply a small amount of raw honey lightly over the affected area; may cover with a dressing or a dusting of cornstarch to reduce any stickiness.

* Raw honey is the ultimate moisturizer.
 Smooth a small amount of raw honey lightly over the skin; easily remove later with splashes of cold water or comfortable warm water. Leaves skin baby soft.

* Raw honey contains bee pollen, propolis, and other components that stimulate the growth of new skin.

* Raw honey contains mild alpha hydroxy acids, such as gluconic acid. These acids are very safe to use on skin and can loosen bonds between the dead skin cells, making it easier to shed this dead layer. These acids are also able to increase elasticity, balance out oily skin, stimulate collagen production, and minimize lines and wrinkles, thus making you look younger.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secret - Blood Cleanse

Taking care of our body externally is important, however, it’s even more important to take exceptional care of our body from within.

If at least one of our numerous bodily systems goes out of order, the whole body will soon get sick, age quickly, and eventually stop working.

So let’s talk about the life-carrying fluid called blood.

The health of your blood is vital for life and the maintenance of a strong immune system:

¬    blood supplies oxygen to the body’s cells,

¬    blood transports hormones and nutrients,

¬    blood neutralizes toxic waste,

¬    blood and lymph carry toxic substances taken in by food and the natural wastes of the body,

¬    lymphatic vessels drain waste products from tissues.

Blood quality must be healthy for the lymphatic system to filter toxins out adequately. The acid and alkaline quality of the blood should always be balanced. The pH factor ranges from a scale of pH-1 to pH- 12. A pH of less then 7 is acid and more than 7 is alkaline. Healthy blood should be slightly alkaline, between a pH of 7.3 and 7.45.

Radiant on Raw Beauty Secret - Grapefruit

Grapefruit contains lycopene, the element that wonderfully fights toxins and helps people lose weight. Grapefruit curbs appetitie and speeds up metabolism. Eating 1-2 grapefruits is recommended (make sure to rinse your mouth with water afterwards to remove acid from teeth enamel).

Studies have shown that natural Vitamin C in fresh grapefruit juice is essential for collagen production. With more than 100% of the recommended Daily Value of Vitamin C, regular consumption can contribute to a radiant glow, as well as protect your skin from sun and wind burns.

Vitamin C in grapefruit also helps strengthen gum tissue and help you maintain healthy and strong teeth.

Owing to the high content of vitamins grapefruit is often used for homemade cosmetics. Grapefruit masks support and moisturize skin as well as prevent wrinkles: just rub your skin with some grapefruit juice or pulp, leave for 15-20 minutes and then wash off with warm water.  If you have enlarged pores, add some fresh grapefruit juice to mineral water and use it to wash your face.

Due to alpha-hydroxy acids, grapefruit peels make for a great skin cleanser by lifting dirt right off your skin. Just rub the inner surface of fresh grapefruit peel on your face.

To recharge after a day at the office, add a few cups of fresh grapefruit juice to your bathwater – the natural ascorbic acids will help to exfoliate and smooth your skin.

Rub the hand skin with grapefruit peel; massage them and then moisturize with hand cream. The procedure will make the hands soft and nails strong.