Friday, June 15, 2012

Skin: Golden Summer Glow


Secret Ingredient? Coffee!


That's right! Coffee is one of the best products you can use on your skin, with so many different types of benefits. 

Soft skin: Obviously the main effect of using this coffee scrub is to rid old, dead skin cells.  By doing so, new healthy ones are brought to the surface.

Cellulite:  That's right! The easiest way to remove cellulite is to do it in the shower.  Coffee body scrubs reduce the puckering of cellulite, tighten skin cells, and blood vessels, resulting in a tighter, slimmer look. Coffee is also famous for it's high caffeine content. Caffeine in coffee increases skin’s blood flow and breaks down the deposits of fats on your cellulites. Coffee grounds could be placed on the skin, which then the skin can easily absorb the caffeine.

Reverse Sun Damage: Thanks to the high amount of caffeine (again), studies have shown that caffeine contains a protein in skin, to target and kill cancer cells.

Wrinkles/Age Spots: The main chemical in coffee is caffeine, a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants have many benefits, including heart disease- and cancer-fighting properties. Antioxidants also neutralize the effects of free radicals, which can damage the inner layer of skin. This damage is often reflected in age spots and wrinkles. When a coffee body scrub is applied, the skin absorbs this antioxidant and can help prevent premature aging.


*******Although coffee scrub has also been known to help improve skin conditions & redness (such as rosceasa), I recommend using this scrub on your body daily, face 1 - 2x week.********* 

The aroma, caffeine, and massage of coffee body scrubs also:
• Stimulate your metabolism
• Increase dopamine levels, making you feel good
• Reduce stress
• Increase short-term memory
• Increase blood flow
• Impart vitality



My Coffee Scrub Recipe
  • 1 cup ground coffee
  • 1 tbsp salt
  •  2 tbsp lemon juice
  • 1 tbsp honey
  • 1/3 cup (approx) coconut oil
  • 1 tsp ground cinnamon
  • 8 drops grapefruit essential oil, 8 drops orange, 4 drops peppermint
  • Hair: Silky smooth locks through Coconut Oil



    cOcOnUt oil


    Our hair is porous - the outer cuticle is arranged in layers like the shingles on a roof. If the cuticle becomes harmed by blowdrying,  bleaching, coloring, perming, hard brushing, or sun exposure, we notice the damaging results as split ends, hairs being coarse, "frizzies", brittle, and dry hair that breaks easily. Split ends mean the cuticle has deteriorated; Which means the inner portion of hair, called the cortex, is exposed & frazzled.

    These results of harmed hair, is exactly how my hair used to be!  Coconut Oil has been it's savior...


    There are plenty ways you can nourish your hair with coconut oil.

    For starters, you can use it as a conditioner. You can heat it up and mixing it well with your other conditioner (remember coconut oil is solid at room temperature). 

    You can use it as a hair mask! Before going to bed, generously apply warm coconut oil to your dry hair.  Make sure hair is completely covered.  Massage into your scalp as well.  This will also help prevent dandruff or a dry, itchy scalp.  ( from my experience, it works wonders for prego women) In your morning shower, wash your hair with shampoo 2 or 3 times to ensure most of your coconut oil is washed out to discourage the greasy look.  Apply a lighter than normal amount of conditioner, then rinse.

    The way that has worked best for me is applying it as a hair serum with somewhat damp hair after a shower.  After my hair is 80% dry, I take 3/4 of a tsp ( have really long hair- I recommend 1/2 tsp for hair that reaches the bra line) and apply it to the ends, then I work its way to my roots.  Be very careful using this way! It took me a while to figure out the right amount of oil for my hair without looking too oily.  Always start with a tiny bit and after you finish blowdrying, if you still need more after your hair is completely dry, apply a little more at a time.  If you do accidently go over board you can rewash it, or apply baby powder to help soak up a lot of the excess oil.  If you are in a huge hurry and you did over do the oil, I recommend teasing your hair with hairspray, then doing a cute side braid to hide the oil.


     Deep conditioner recipe




    1 tablespoon Coconut oil
    1 tablespoon Almond oil
    1 teaspoon Evening primrose oil
    1 tablespoon Jojoba oil 5 drops Rosemary Essential oil
    5 drops Chamomile Roman Essential oil
    Melt coconut oil in a double broiler on low. Add other carrier oils, allow to cool then add Essential Oils. Part hair into 4 sections: left side, right side, back side, top.  Slather onto sections.  If you need to make more, feel free to do so while keeping with the recipe. You can use a hot to wrap around your hair, which will help penetrate hair shaft and make hair nice and soft



     To prevent Hair loss, while keeping strands strong
    2 Tbsp olive oil
    2 Tbsp coconut oil
    1 egg yolk
    Add Olive oil, coconut oil, and egg yolk to a small glass bowl, mix together. With a cotton ball, apply this mixture all over your scalp. After you do this, softly massage with fingers. Cover hair with a cold towel for 20 minutes. Shampoo and condition hair as usual. Do this once a week.