Sunday, August 29, 2010

Brightening Boost

Saw something wonderful in clinic this week. A patient with a lot of dark areas on her face used a homemade spot fader that she read about in InStyle magazine last month and it worked! There was definitely a noticeable difference in the matter of 3 weeks.

What was the recipe? Equal parts strawberries and baking soda blended into a paste. Allow to dry, then wash off.

Another one that I like to use from time to time (that also happened to be mentioned in the same story!) is a mask made of 1/2 cup mashed papaya, 1 tsp yogurt, and 1 tsp honey. The papaya and yogurt removes dead skin cells, while the honey helps draw in water and plump up skin.

Love homemade recipes.

Sunday, June 13, 2010

Top 3 Skin Foods

Skin health is not just about what goes on topically. It is also about what goes inside the body! Here are our top 3 foods for great looking skin. Of course our nourishing serum used daily also helps :)

1. Salmon - omega 3 fatty acids to keep skin moisturized from inside out and to keep redness and inflammation down!
2. Berries - blueberries, blackberries, acai ... whatever the berry the antioxidant potential is huge! These mighty little foods are great in keeping free radical damage to a minimum and pumping up the collagen production!
3. Almonds - almonds contain protein and zinc and vitamin E - all essential building blocks for skin!

Friday, May 14, 2010

NDNR - Supporting Skin Through the Aging Process

NDNR, Naturopathic Doctor News & Review, just posted their current May 2010 newsletter issue and one of the co-founders of plant2body organics is featured on the front page with an article that discusses how to use diet, lifestyle, supplements, and topical therapies to decrease the aging process.

http://www.ndnr.com/

Tuesday, May 11, 2010

Good News about Perilla!

A company called AOR has a product called AllerControl, in which Perilla is the main ingredient. Here is what their research shows about Perilla:

Perilla frutescens is a plant whose leaves are commonly used as a garnish with raw fish in Japan. It is also used in Chinese herbal medicine. The functional components of perilla are flavonoid aglycones such as luteolin, apigenin, and rosmarinic acid, all of which have been studied for their anti-allergic and anti-inflammatory potential. One study assessed the clinical features of patients with asthma who had been given perilla seed oil for 4 weeks and found that breathing measurements were significantly increased compared to asthmatics who had not been treated.

Another study observed the effects of perilla seed extracts in volunteers with allergic symptoms such as sneezing, nasal obstruction, and itchy skin and eyes. 20 participants were given perilla seed extracts for 2-4 weeks, and their change in symptoms was evaluated. Symptoms were improved in all 20 patients, with significant improvements in sneezing (almost 40%), stuffed nose (over 60%) and itchy eyes (50%).

Plant2Body Organics
www.plant2body.com

Sunday, April 4, 2010

Serum vs Oil vs Moisturizer

What is the difference between a facial moisturizer, a facial oil, and a serum or gel?

A moisturizer is a cream or a lotion that is a blend of water, oil and plant extract.

An oil contains no water, only plant oils rich is antioxidants, vitamins and essential fatty acids. They also penetrate deeply into the skin leaving it velvety soft.

A serum contains less oil, more liquid and most often contains very potent concentrated plant ingredients without being heavy. Serums absorb almost immediately leaving your skin feeling hydrated, brightened, tightened and toned.

A gel is very similar to a serum and often contains a plant gel such as Aloe Vera as the base. It also usually absorbs quickly for instantly hydrated skin.

This is taken directly from a fabulous website www.saffronrouge.com which is an online retailer of organic skincare and cosmetics.

Friday, February 26, 2010

An Apple a Day....

Yes an apple a day may keep the doctor away because of its vitamin C content, antioxidants, and fibre. But did you know that apples may protect human skin cells and combat aging?

Apple extracts have been used in cosmeceuticals for a while now, as they are a source of various vitamins and amino acids with long-proven tonic and antiseptic properties. However a team of Swiss scientists is taking this even further using cutting-edge technology to create an apple-stem-cell-derived ingredient that may have anti-aging potential. They have been able to extract it and protect it in a medium that delivers it into the skin, where it stimulates adult stem cells to continue their repair work. A study has even evaluated how it can prolong skin cells' self-rejuvenating cycles after exposure to stressors such as UV light.

Monday, February 15, 2010

The biggest factor in rapid aging?

Quick Fact: The biggest factor in aging of the skin (and body) is sugar intake! It speeds DNA damage and promotes wrinkles, skin sagging and overall aging. Did you know that Plant2Body Nourishing Serum affects the skin at the DNA level (stopping free radical damage) promoting healthier, younger looking skin?


Dr. Anna Falkowski, HBSc, ND
Naturopathic Doctor & Co-Developer
Plant2Body Organics
www.plant2body.com