Very often I am asked the question “what can I eat that is anti-aging to the skin?” While there are loads of superfoods that are fabulous for your skin, I would have to say one of the best things you can eat that will keep your skin soft, supple and is anti-aging is flaxseed. With aging and sun exposure, the skin becomes very dry and prone to wrinkles. While creams and lotions may help preserve the superficial skin layer, nutritious diet with plenty of EFAs (esstianl fatty acids) will stimulate the production of natural moisture protective coating, make the skin more resistant to environmental damage and help develop new healthy-looking skin. Essential fatty acids also unclog pores that otherwise leads to acne.
Several fantastic nutrients are found in flaxseed, have shown to protect and repair your skin. Carotene, Vitamins A, E and C, selenium, zinc, and sulphur lessen the skin damage from free radicals of UV sun rays, help repair tissue and promote the growth of new skin cells. Additionally, flaxseed’s oil rich in essential fatty acids (EFAs) will moisturize the skin from within creating a smooth velvety complexion. So say buh bye Botox!
Just one teaspoon of flaxseed oil per day provides 2.5 grams of omega 3s and will super hydrate the skin. The complexion and color of your skin reveals the health of your body and requires proper care. Dry and oily skin, acne, rash, blackheads and whiteheads and easy scaring all reveal under-nutrition of some and over-nutrition of other elements. I buy flax cereal and eat it everyday along with plenty of water! I can’t say enough about it. You can also buy the seeds and just add it to your salad, cereal or soups. More benefits of flaxseed are – weight loss, cures constipation and depression. Please see my SHOP section for more information and to purchase flax.
Flax Face Mask
Eating flax seeds provides powerful, good-for-your-health, but you also can take advantage of these oils in an easy-to-make face mask. In a small bowl, mix 2 teaspoons of flax seeds and just enough water to cover. The seeds will swell and the water will become gelatinous. Spread the gel on your face. When dry, rinse off with tepid water.
with love,
Dawn
Ancient Egyptians used clay masks and herbal masks as far back as 30 B.C., and masks are still very popular at facial salons. Clays are completely natural, and draw out toxins from deep within the skin. The use of medicinal clays, in Mesopotamia and Ancient Egypt has been well established. Cleopatra herself is reported to have used clay cosmetics to preserve her legendary beauty. Reward your skin! Indulge in the benefits of clay today. Clays are also used in the pharmaceutical and cosmetic industries and have shown to absorb toxins, bacteria and even viruses. Buy Fuller’s earth or any unbleached clay substance, such as kaolin, from your health food store or pharmacy. You can also purchase it online on my SHOP page. Here is a tutorial on applying a clay face mask.
Egyptian Clay Mask (for oily skin)
–Fuller’s Earth–1 part clay to two parts water
–1 to 2 ripe tomatoes (or papayas, egg whites or lemons)
Combine clay mixture with water or pulp of a ripe tomato, creating a smooth paste.
Rub lightly into the skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for about 10 to 15 minutes or until dry. Wash off with warm, tepid water and then a cold splash.
NOTE: If your skin is oily only in certain areas,you can always just dot the
areas that are blemished or oily.
Egyptian Clay Mask (for dry skin)
Fuller’s earth is a term that originated by fullers in cloth mills who used the clay to remove grease from fabrics before going into the market.
Replace the tomato in the previous recipe with avocado, olive oil or honey. Mix together in a ceramic bowl and apply to skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes then rinse off.
NOTE: Since clay can be drying, just dot the forehead, nose and chin if you
like.
–Fuller’s Earth—1 part clay to two parts water
–1 tsp of avocado or vegetable oil
Rub lightly into the skin, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for about 10 to 15 minutes or until dry. Wash off with warm, tepid water and then a cold splash.
with love,
Dawn
Face Cleansers— and Scrubs
A new year has begun so why not glowing, gorgeous skin on your to-do list?
At certain times, we suffer from a complexion that is dull, lifeless. This often occurs because the face is covered by a thin layer of built-up dirt, oils and dead skin cells. Exfoliants have become wildly popular in the last few years. You can find them in everything from lip balms to bikini wax preparations. The irony is that people have known about the beneficial properties of exfolients for centuries. These substances help the complexion to renew itself by sloughing off dead skin cells at a faster-than-normal rate. Oatmeal, Bran, Cornmeal and Almond meal, or Wheateena brand cereal are great cleansers for the skin that have exfoliating action. They are gentle, inexpensive, quick and easy to use. Keep a small lidded jar of any of these in your bathroom. Just mix with a little water or witch hazel. All the recipes below are mild; however, it’s best to test their effects on your complexion in a small area before use. People with very sensitive skin or extremely dry skin may want to avoid scrubs.
Healing Honey Cleanser:
This is a good treatment for blemishes. Honey is a great facial cleanser as well as a nourisher and healer.
It is also a natural humectant, or skin softener. Columbian women use honey as
a mask. Honey has been used for centuries by beauty conscious women as a
natural cosmetic. Wheatgerm is antiseptic and toning.
–4 to 5 Tblsp of honey
–1
tsp of wheat germ if your face is blemished
Moisten the face with a little warm water. Dab this on lightly with fingers or apply
directly to blemishes with a Q-Tip. Leave on face for 15 to 30 minutes. Rinse
off with warm water.
Yogi Yogurt Cleanser:
This is a simply wonderful cleanser for people with oily or normal skin. Yogurt is loaded with protein, calcium and vitamins and is a very soothing cleanser.
–1-3
Tblsp of Yogurt
–a
pinch of salt
Slather it on. Then splash off with tepid water.
Bombay Cleanser:
While traveling through certain parts of India I noticed that a form of cornmeal was used by the women as a replacement to soap to scrub and wash the face. Oatmeal is nourishing to the skin and is used
in many parts of the world as a beauty aid.
–1-2
Tblsp of Oatmeal (or Colloidal oatmeal)
–1-2
teaspoons of witch hazel
–a
few drops of water
Dampen the oatmeal then, add the witch hazel and a few drops of water to make it moist. Apply to face with a upward and outward circular motion. Splash with lots of warm water removing all surface dirt. This recipe can be adapted for all skin types; if your skin is extra dry, add a little vegetable oil. Please “LIKE” us on facebook for more great tips and see SHOP for resources.
with love,
Dawn
Give me beauty in the inward
soul; may the outward and the inward be at
one
Socrates Greek,
Fifth century BC
It’s easy to forget the above quote of Socrates in today’s appearance-obsessed, media-driven world. Television, films and magazines present the public with a seemingly endless parade of perfect-looking and air-brushed people http://vimeo.com/34813864. Such images are insidious in their ability to establish an unreal standard of beauty as the norm, undermining the self-confidence of (the vast majority of) people, who feel they fail to live up to that unrealistic standard. Women and men lose control of their lives when they allow the media
dictate what and who is beautiful.
The treatments offered
here do not promise perfection. In fact,
one of my main aims with this blog is to delineate the difference between
wanting to look great and the desperate desire to look perfect. The idea of
perfect beauty changes from year to year, season to season, in the current
throw-away society.
The ideal of beauty has
always been evanescent, shifting from era to era. From the mystical cosmetology
of the ancient Egyptians, to the extravagant makeup and creams of the noblewomen
and courtesans of classical Greece, from the simple beauty regimens of
prehistoric hunting societies to the elaborate ornamentation of the women of
the Chinese imperial court, the notion of beauty has varied tremendously from
time to time and place to place.
Many cultures around the
world have different attitudes about beauty. In Sumatra, filed teeth into sharp
points is a sign of beauty. In certain parts of Africa, it is a person’s
character that makes her beautiful. The Chinese consider a woman with a round
face very beautiful and among some Native American Indian tribes a flattened
forehead is a sign of great beauty.
Today, women and men want
a more realistic approach. We will no longer accept the canard that at a
certain age, we are in our prime; and after that, she can say goodbye to
beauty.
We can be in our prime at
any age, at every age. We know better than to slavishly follow the fashion
world’s dictates. We are dictating to the fashion world what we want and
need. There is beauty in intelligence
and power, and in the maturity from which they’re derived.
Here is a great treatment
to try at home. Many famous spas around the world use this in their facials.
This facial treatment soothes
the skin and reduces any redness and blotchiness. The honey and cider vinegar helps to restore
the skin’s natural acid balance, while yeast is rich in vitamin B, which helps
to prevent flaky and eczema-type dryness.
1 tbsp of brewer’s yeast
1 tbsp of wheat germ oil
1 tsp of honey
1 egg yolk
½ tsp of cider vinegar
Put the brewer’s yeast, oil,
and honey into a bowl and beat in the egg yolk. Gradually beat in the yogurt
and then the cider vinegar. It should
have a thick, creamy texture that will not run when applied to the face. Spread the mixture over your face, then lie
down and relax in a warm, comfortable room for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water, then splash your
face and neck with cold water and pat dry. Please check out my SHOP page for
resources and my book for more great treatments. It makes a great holiday gift 
.
Happy Holidays!
with love,
Dawn
Hair is imparted with significance beyond it’s more prosaic functions;
and through the centuries, women have discovered many ways to keep it beautiful. Native Americans have been using jojoba oil for generations. Its superb conditioning qualities leave hair silky and soft. For luster and manageability, Mexican women love aloe vera and avocado oil for their hair, a combination that also acts as a partial screen against the strong Central American sun. The women of Java massage the scalp with aloe, claiming it stimulates hair follicles.
Shiny, healthy hair is adornment in itself. Keeping hair soft, silky and sweet smelling is one of the simplest, most effective ways to maintain beauty and a
sense of well being. For most people, however, proper hair care is no easy
task. The rigors of modern life are constantly putting hair in peril. Lack
of sleep, stress, medications, hormonal changes, extremes of weather and
insufficient protein in the diet, are just of few of the things that can strip
the life out of hair.
The hair is a mirror of overall well being. Often, when people are ill, their hair
becomes dull, lifeless. Changes in hair are often the first tell-tale signs
of nutritional deficiencies. Your hair is a repository of your physical health
and ills. Scientists analyzing a strand of hair can discover vitamin deficiencies, exposures to toxins, chemical imbalances—even years after the fact.
Locks of hair taken on his deathbed were recently tested to reveal
various physiological anomalies of President Lincoln. Here are a couple of great remedies to beat the winter frizzies.
French Lavender Shampoo (for light hair)
While visiting the south of France, I noticed
the fields awash with Lavender. That region is a center for the perfume
industry, and in Spring and Summer, entire valleys are planted with wonderful
herbs and flowers.
–2
eggs
–4
tbls of lemon juice or 2 fresh lemons
–2
tsp of lavender water
–1
drop of chamomile essential oil
Combine
and whisk all ingredients together. This is a soapless shampoo and will not
create a lather. Gently massage the mixture into scalp and hair. Rinse. Repeat
again but leave mixture in the hair for about 10 minutes. Rinse with lots of
warm water and then condition.
Rosemary Shampoo: (for dark hair)
Rosemary has always been an herbal symbol for remembrance and fidelity. The ancient
Greeks used rosemary as incense at their shrines. Rosemary is great for dark
hair, bringing out its natural color. You can also experiment by substituting sage or lavender for the
rosemary.
–4 tblsp of dried rosemary
–3 pints of boiling water
–1 tsp 0f glycerine (optional)
–½ cup of liquid castille soap or herbal
shampoo
–1 to 2 eggs
Place the rosemary in boiling water. Stir.
Cover and let steep for about 2 hours. Strain, and add herbal shampoo or liquid
soap and glycerin to the herbal water mixture. Stir until thickened. Let it
cool, then whisk in the eggs. Bottle, label and let sit overnight, or for 24
hours. Shake well before using.
I hope everyone is having a great Holiday Season! See SHOP for resources.
With love,
Dawn
Josephine de Beauharnais, Napoleon’s wife created a scandal with her extravagant beauty regimes . Brought up in Martinique in the West Indies, Josephine brought many New World beauty secrets with her to the Emperor’s court in Paris. Here is a sample of a facial she would have prepared. Please see SHOP for recipe resource.
How to give yourself a fabulous facial:
1. Set the stage with soft music and aromatherapy candle.
2. Cleanse your face thoroughly before you begin. Make sure all make-up is removed.
3. Steam your face to eliminate toxins. (if your skin is sensitive, or you have broken capillaries,
use a warm compress instead).
4. Apply face mask to deep clean the skin (use any of the recipes below, depending on skin type).
5. Sit back and relax with a good book or soft music for 15 to 20 minutes.
6. Rinse your face thoroughly with tepid water.
7. Tone the face with a herbal toner, Evian mist, or herbal astringent.
8. Moisturize. Massage the face with a cream, light oil or lotion. Make sure you also moisturize the neck.
Josephine de Beauharnais Mask:
This wonderful combination of oils will do wonders for your skin, especially if it needs to be
revitalized. The combination of oils will sink into your skin and leave it soft and moist. The healing oils of vitamin A, E and Primrose oil will give your skin the nutrients it needs.
–2tblsp of avocado oil
–2 tblsp of almond oil
–2 tblsp of olive oil
–2 tblsp of sesame oil
–2 to 5 capsules of Vitamin
E oil (400 I.U.)
–2 capsules of vitamin A
(50,000 I.U.)
–2 to 5 capsules of
evening primrose oil
–2 to 3 drops of
lavender, ylang ylang, or geranium essential oil
Pour all the oils into an empty dark bottle or small jar. Prick the capsules with a pin or cut them with
scissors, and empty into the bottle with the base oils. Add a few drops of the essential oil, and shake well. Take a quarter-sized dab in your hand, and massage gently into the face, neck and hands. The moisturizer can occasionally
be left on overnight, but don’t overdo–skin needs to breathe freely while you sleep. All these oils are stable so you can double the recipe if you like, and save the extra in the refrigerator. Shake well before using and label the
bottle.
Quickie Moisturizers : These simple recipes are perfect for the gal on the go who wants to get gorgeous.
–combine Glycerin and
rose water to moisturize your skin
–almond oil mixed with
honey and peach juice is very moisturizing to skin
–prick a capsule of
vitamin E and smear all over your face
–olive oil, almond oil, and avocado are wonderful penetrating oils for the skin. Add a few drops of lavender
or ylang ylang. Please see SHOP for essential oil purchase and resource.
with love,
Dawn
Healthy, natural & organic products in beauty, fashion & lifestyle from acclaimed author Dawn Gallagher.
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