Skin Wellness

Are Chemical Sunscreens Linked to Cancer?

Thu, 23 May 2013 10:57:00 -0400

We all know we need to protect ourselves from the sun rays. The controversy is that chemical sunscreens have been linked to serious health issues. Let me explain one thing before I go on:
There are two types of sunscreens:

Here’s a great link that explains this in more detail.

In the most up-to-date studies published, research workers from The Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology at the University of Zurich confirmed that chemical sunscreens are not only responsible for premature aging but can also disturb the functioning of the endocrine system and lead to hormonal imbalances that may result in cancer.

They also concluded that five out of six sun screens stimulated a breast cancer cell growth (which is activated by estrogen-like chemicals). There is another study that linked endometriosis with chemical sunscreens.

These UV chemical sunscreens include:

oxybenzone
benzophenone-3 (Bp-3)
homosalate
4-methyl-benzylidene camphor (4-MBC)
octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC)
octyl-dimethyl-PABA.

The final sun screen agent butyl-methoxydibenzoylmethane had no damaging effect.

What is extremely disturbing is that 96% of sun protection products contain the dangerous octyl-methoxycinnamate (OMC) and these products are sold without restrictions in almost every country in the world. The reason? Cheaper than healthier ingredients.

The latest research also has revealed that traces of chemical sunscreens have been found in 75% of samples of mother’s breast milk.

Those chemical Sunscreens are also to be found in fish and Algae- Fish and Algae consume the chemical sunscreens that eventually find their way to the sea, lakes and rivers. (have you ever done any ecological activity like swimming with dolphins or snorkeling in a National Park? Most of them ask you to avoid chemical sunscreens because it damages the fauna and flora…)

(For supporting documentation go to: http://www.dr-baumann-international.co.uk/documentation.html)

There are more and more physical sunscreens available nowadays. There are two main physical sunscreens you should look for in a label:

Titanium Dioxide
Zinc Oxide

What do I use? Dr. Baumann’s SPF 20. They have been mastering the safe sunscreen world for decades, plus it offers anti aging benefits. it’s perfect! Can you get them from me? Absolutely! Just ask! Also, they are on special this month!

Take advantage of it, while quantities last.
Have a glowing weekend everybody!
Love,
Maria
www.skinwellness.ca
ps: have you missed my other Tips of the Week? No worries! They are all HERE.

evepostapple: Zain’s No More CELLULITE Game Plan Not sure...

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:50:25 -0400

evepostapple:

Zain’s **No More CELLULITE** Game Plan

Not sure if its something in the air this week but I have received several messages on social media asking about tips on how to deal with cellulite.

As the warmer season approaches and we start bearing more skin, we women become super conscious about the little fat pockets that like to park right up on our thighs and hips.

Before I started living the way I live and eating the way I eat, I too dreaded the ‘cottage cheese-like’ lumpy skin around the tops of my legs but I can honestly say that now, due to my lifestyle, it is nowhere to be found.

Cellulite is simply fluid retained in fat cells that increase as weight/body fat increases and due to a lack of oxygen in the area, they get squished together creating the dimply look. Free-radicals, age, diet and lifestyle have a lot to do with it but let me tell you, clean eating is a major game changer. I had more cellulite at 25 than I have at 33 and that is a fact.

So here’s what I do to keep cellulite at bay:

1. Diet

Choose foods that oxygenate the blood and help release fluid retention

beet root

radish

parsley

asparagus

lemon

salmon and other fatty fish

flax seeds

spinach

kelp

cucumber

berries

dill weed

anise

fennel

*drink at least 3 liters of water per day, every day as well as lots of herbal tea

*my PURIFY VITAMIN WATER works wonders for fluid retention so sipping on this all day will benefit you big time in the cellulite department

*coconut water works wonders

*enjoy foods packed with healthy fats and oils as they will help your body let go of the fat it is holding onto. I recommend fatty fish such as salmon or black cod as well as coconut oil, walnuts, avocado and chia seeds

*avoid highly acidic foods and stick to alkaline foods, to find out more about what this means click here.

*avoid sugar, salt, alcohol and caffeine (including chocolate, not raw cacao) as these things SUCK the oxygen right out of your blood stream.

2. Training

A regular weight training and cardio program will do wonders for you. Weight training, transforms fat cells, which hold 25% water, into muscle cells which hold 75% water. The magic ingredient in water is….you got it….oxygen.

Here are some of my favourite cellulite-fighting training activities. Try to incorporate these activities into your life at 4-5 days per week.

HIIT sprints

full-body weight training

functional training

yoga

barre classes

hiking

running

3. Secret Tips & Tricks

Being the complete tomboy that I was growing up, I was fortunate to have a sister who was really in the know about all things beauty related. Her natural talents for creating amazing skin and body care recipes as a kid ultimately led her to becoming the founder of an incredible skincare line sold and used at some of the top spas around the world. Her stuff is the only product I will use on my skin and body and its made with organic indigenous ingredients such as kelp, clay, oils and herbs.

*That said, you should look for a product line that is all-natural, that suits your particular body. Don’t buy into all the humbo jumbo magic creams.

*My sister also swears by something called dry-brushing. For those of you unfamiliar with this, you use a dry loofah brush in a circular motion on your ‘cellulitey’ areas and this helps to break up the fat and increase circulation. To see a demonstration of how to perform dry brushing technique, click here.

Here is a little recipe for a masque that my sister would make for cellulite. This should be applied directly to your trouble areas to help oxygenate, tighten and relieve fluid retention.

AntiCellulite DIY Masque -

Combine 1 avocado, 1 beaten egg, 1 tsp of kelp powder, 10 drops of sweet orange oil, 5 drops of fennel oil, 1 tbsp coconut oil and 1 tbsp raw honey. Mix together and store in a mason jar in the fridge.

Start by dry-brushing the area then apply this masque to your trouble areas 2-3 times per week allowing the masque to sit until it dries, then wash off with cool water.

Remember, cellulite will not vanish overnight but if you remain committed to a clean diet with lots of antioxidant fighting foods, train regularly and practice dry-brushing, you will start to notice your body transform and your cellulite will become a thing of the past!

Beware of this "Beauty" Trend

Thu, 18 Apr 2013 12:45:00 -0400

Lately, I have been obsessed with Pinterest (I’m sure I’m not alone…) and I have been seeing more and more pins about “Lemon’s benefits for your skin”.

Every time I see one, I cringe.

It scares the crap out of me to think that people are using lemon on their skin and going about on their day… As a matter of fact, the straw that broke the camel’s back and what inspired me to write this post was a picture someone sent me last week of her hands.

I asked her about her day and her response was: “hmm.. let’s see… I made lemonade and then went gardening…”. She didn’t have to say anything else. I knew right away that it was the lemon+sun combo. Plus she lives in Miami, so it was that gorgeous (but strong) sun.

You see, lemon (and lime) is incredibly photosensitizing, which means it makes skin sensitive to sunlight. They contain bergapten (5-methoxypsoralen), which is a potent topical phototoxic chemical.

(source)

The correct term for this condition is Phytophotodermatitis.

Phytophotodermatitis is when the skin is harmed by the sun because of contact with certain plant extracts. Some citrus plants are one of many photosensitizing plants.

Phyto meaning from plants, Photo meaning light or sun, dermatitis meaning skin inflammation.

The pigmentation caused by lemon and sun exposure can vary.

From just pigmentation:

(source)

To mild burns:

(source)

To all the way to serious burns, like this bartender, who was making margaritas under the sun: (warning, graphic photo!)

(source)

Fortunately, the pigmentation caused by phytophotodermatitis only lasts about a couple of months. It is still a couple of months of this:

(source)

There was one pin on Pinterest that at least mentioned something about the sun:

Still… In my opinion? Nope, not worth it. If you ask me, I would strongly recommend staying away from lemon as a cosmetic. Lemons and limes are not cosmetics.

Not sure about what to use? Ask me. You know where to find me. ;)

Love,

Maria

Spread the voice! Join me on Facebook and share with your loved ones!

The Myth of Unpronounceable Ingredients

Fri, 12 Apr 2013 14:55:00 -0400

Myth: being able to pronounce the ingredients in a cosmetic means the cosmetic is safe.

Truth: wrong. Sometimes this might be true, but it is certainly not the rule.

I have heard way too many times the “logic” that if you can’t pronounce an ingredient it can’t be good for you. In foods? Absolutely! in cosmetics? not so much…

The reality is, ingredient phonetics have nothing to do with how beneficial (or harmful) an ingredient can be for our skin or our body.

One simple example is hyaluronic acid. Sort of hard to pronounce isn’t it? Yet not only it’s great for our skin, it is produced by our skin. It is found in our skin.

What if your cream contained “Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate”? Would you be worried?

Magnesium ascorbyl phosphate is vitamin C. VITAMIN C! But “magnesium ascorbyl phosphate” sounds a lot more scary than “vitamin C” right?

Then there are ingredients like tetrahydroxypropyl ethylenediamine, which is incredibly safe and compatible eith the skin. It has an immediate and long term clinical improvement of the skin’s appearance. (Source here).

Lets take a look now at some very “pronounceable” ingredients and what they can do to our skin:

Paraffin: Extremely comedogenic ingredient. Petroleum derivative.

Parfum/ fragrance: one of the biggest reasons people have allergic reactions to cosmetics. Fragrance is a general term that hides a cocktail of thousands of different chemicals that are not required to be named by cosmetic companies. (Source).

Paraben: Do we really need to go into this one? It has been found INTACT inside breast cancer tissue. Enough said. (for the actual medical publication go here)

If you want to check out more, here’s a pretty interesting list of “natural” ingredients that can cause serious allergic reactions in certain people. Some of these include almond oil, papaya, cottonseed oil, apricot extract, to name a few.

What To Do Then?

Read, ask questions, and most importantly: give your skin what it naturally produces, and therefore, what it naturally needs!

Nurturing our skin with ingredients that are compatible with it (or even better: naturally found already in it) is the solution to skin sensitivities and skin conditions. Bring your skin back to health by giving it exactly what it’s lacking, rather than giving it something else to defend itself from.

Still a bit confused? Ask me, it’s my job (and passion) to answer your skin wellness questions!
Enjoy your weekend!

Maria

www.skinwellness.ca
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Beautifying Recipe: Chai Latte

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 09:40:00 -0400

Spring?? Where are you Spring??? At -17 C this morning and certainly not feeling too “springy” if you are anything like me, the only thing I want to do is snuggle and have a hot beverage. I cannot help you with the snuggling, but I can certainly give you a recipe for a delicious, decadent, spicy hot beverage that will surely make you feel better about this long-lasting Winter. My sister in law and her husband brought me the most amazing chai tea from India, so I’m obsessed with chai lattes lately… but don’t worry! You can get it virtually anywhere nowadays.

(mmm… doesn’t it look deelish?)

Unlike coffee, chai tea offers tons of benefits for the skin and the body in general.

According to Ayurvedic (Ancient Indian) philosophy and medicine, these spices are considered to be “sattvic,” or calming, vitalizing and mentally clarifying.

Chai spices are wonderful for the skin, some of their benefits are:

Cinnamon

Regulates insulin, which can have disastrous consequences to our skin when is not balanced.

Cardamon

Mood elevator, and we all know:

Clove

Antiseptic properties.. bye bye blemishes!

Pepper

Speeds up metabolism and increases blood flow, helping the skin stay full of oxygen and healthy.

Nutmeg

Helps digestion of heavy foods, and we all have some of those foods once in a while and pay the consequences with our skin don’t we… oops! Worry not! Nutmeg will help with that.

The main reason why this recipe is wonderful for the skin is because it is made without dairy. We all know now that dairy and glowing skin don’t necessarily go together right? Behold a glowing chai latte: (thanks again for the pro pics bro!)

Chai Latte Recipe (two servings)

Ingredients

- 1 tablespoon of chai tea (depends how strong you like it… if strong, add a bit more than this)

- 1.5 cups of almond milk

- sweetener of choice

Preparation

Warm the almond milk

Add tea (if using tea bag, just put in the tea bag)

Let it warm up (but don’t let it boil) and strain the tea or remove tea bag

Sweeten to taste and

stay warm, delight yourself and make your skin glow!

Enjoy!

Maria

www.skinwellness.ca

Smoking and Your Skin

Thu, 14 Mar 2013 14:08:00 -0400

Nowadays, whoever is not aware of the consequences of smoking has been living under a rock.
We know smoking causes many issues with the respiratory system, developmental system, nervous system etc. But why don’t we talk a little bit about what it does to the integumentary system (our skin).
Smoking wrinkles us in several ways. The first, and very obvious, consequence of smoking is the wrinkles around the mouth area. The contour of the mouth gets wrinkled, not only because of the constant pressing of the lips in a “u” shape, but also because of exposure to the hundreds of harmful chemicals. This cocktail of chemicals are accelerating the aging process by 10 years (source). Therefore, obviously, making smokers always look at least 10 years older.

Let’s look closely at some of the consequences of smoking:

Wrinkles
When it comes to a smokers complexion, the collagen and elastin, which are the cells that keep our skin plump, are literally being killed by the toxins in cigarettes. To add to that, is the fact that the oxygen and vitamins that are meant to repair the body damage are so busy repairing your lung and your heart from the damage that your skin is left last, if ever, to get repaired and regenerated back to health and youth.

Dullness
Now that a smoker’s body is overusing its vitamin C to repair the damage caused from the smoking, it has none left to repair the skin. This makes the complexion dull, saggy and lifeless.

Facial Spider Veins
Another consequence of smoking is broken capillaries. If you are already a rosacea sufferer (or have “rosy cheeks”, smoking will make it worse and worse. These little broken veins get worse and worse as time goes by and smoking and ageing continues.

Excessive Blackheads
For some reason, smokers have worse blackheads around the mouth area than non-smokers. Now, surely blackheads have a lot to do with your homecare routine and your skin type, but smoking certainly makes it worse.

What are you waiting for? Quit Now! Get back your glow. Even better? Book a Dr. Baumann facial (AHA would be ideal) to start on the right foot and help your skin get back to its natural glow! Don’t forget the homecare. I recommend Vitamin E ampoule in combination with Multivitamin Lotion to help cell regeneration and healing.

Dairy-Free Cream of Mushroom

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 10:48:00 -0500

Every so often I like sharing what I call “beautifying” recipes with my clients. I have gotten such positive feedback from doing this that I decided to do it a little bit more often. I wanted to do something a bit “nicer” rather than blackberry pics, so I asked my very talented brother Carlos for his pro help! Thanks hermano :)

(I love this picture of us when we were little! heheh)

As I have mentioned before quite repetitively, dairy is one of the biggest culprits when it comes to inflammation. Inflammation leads to all sorts of problems that reflect on our skin, like wrinkles, eczema and acne.

This is one of my favourite soup recipes (as you can already figure out, I *loooove* soup). This “cream” of mushrooms has no dairy in it. Read on so you can see how I did it…

Dairy-free Cream of Mushroom

1 small onion (I mixed half red half white because it’s what I had!)
2-3 Cloves of garlic
2 tablespoons of Nutritional Yeast
1 teaspoon Coconut oil (to sauté)
1 package of mushrooms
1 package of Silken Tofu
Salt and pepper
Adobo Seasoning (or your favourite MSG-free seasoning)

Preparation:

Behold our beautifying ingredients!

Chop onions and garlic in little pieces and sauté in coconut oil on medium heat.

Once they are a little transparent add the mushrooms to the mixture

I season *pretty much* all my meals with something called Adobo. It makes everything taste amazing, and it’s free of MSG and artificial flavours. If you can’t find it, season to taste with cumin, salt and pepper.

Once it looks like the pic below, IMPORTANT: turn off!!!

Take your tofu and mix it in a blender with just enough water to make a cream out of it. (I used my beloved Magic Bullet)

Add some pepper for that bit of “french” taste.. yummm

Add to the TURNED OFF cooked veggies. The reason why you want this turned off is because you don’t want to cook the tofu. If you cook the tofu it begins to separate and curd. It will look disgusting and you won’t want to eat it, let alone serve it to others! :)

You can put it on very low so it stays warm.

Final and quite important touch: add the Nutritional Yeast. This superfood is not to be confused with yeast for making bread. This is inactive and it is full of vitamin B12. It also gives it a dairy/cheesy taste to the soup, minus the dairy. Let the skin-glowing begin!

Confession Alert: after we did this photo shoot, me and my brother INHALED this soup and totally forgot to take a nice picture of the end product. Unbelievable right? So I made it again and took a not-so-pro picture of it!

Mmm… absolutely divine! There you have it: “cream” of mushroom minus the acne-causing dairy.

Buen Provecho! And have a glowing day!

Maria

What's your take on laser hair removal?

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:58:07 -0500

Hey Stefs! My take on laser hair removal is the following: It works on certain people and it gives them amazing results and it doesnt in other people leaving them with shattered expectations. The reason why I stopped doing laser myself as a medical esthetician is that I found I couldn’t guarantee results… it worked beautifully in some and not in others. Also, when it works, it will reduce about 90% of your hair growth. So for example: for underarms it’s dreamy! Because 90% is almost everything. But for upper lip is not, because 10% is a lot to have as a “mustache” lol. You know what I mean? So always keep in mind that laser is more of a “hair reduction”, rather than a “hair removal”. The only way to remove hair is by waxing or shaving it. So if you keep in mind that Laser is a method for hair REDUCTION then go ahead, because it’s wonderful! If you think about it, even 75% reduction is a lot in certain places… depends what your expectations are! Good luck! ;)

Also, what can you tell me about a brand of skin care products called SwissMed (Swiss Med)? They were recommended to me by an aesthetician, I paid for them and now that I have them I see they have no ingredients listed, that worries me... Do you know anything about it?

Fri, 15 Feb 2013 17:54:55 -0500

Hello! :)
I have used SwissMed before and even reccomended it to clients. It’s not bad, better than Neutrogena or Clean and Clear! But there’s better things out there for sure. They still use controversial ingredients and parabens… Needless to say I stopped doing treatments and recommending it with it because I found something better, wayyyy better. I currently do all my treatments with a line called Dr. Baumann. It’s free of toxic chemicals and compatible with the skin. It might not be that delicious-smelling cream, but it WORKS! Aaaand it’s SAFE because it’s got NOTHING to worry about it terms of chemicals. Let me know if you are interested in trying it, I’ve got free samples for my clients!

How’s Swiss Med feeling? Do you feel it’s working for you? Have you seen an improvement? Keep me posted! Best of luck!

Love Your Skin!

Thu, 14 Feb 2013 12:14:00 -0500

I have to admit… although I am a big believer in celebrating love, I’m not a big fan of celebrating Valentine’s day per se. We need to celebrate love everyday, not just on Valentine’s day. This holiday has gone from a day supposed to be filled with love and gratitude to a day filled with nostalgia and shattered expectations.

I really believe we should celebrate love every day rather than on one day of the year.

I am a romantic at heart though, therefore any excuse to celebrate love will be embraced… So let’s acknowledge this day for what it is.. a celebration of love! Not roses, or cheesy hearts. Love: the most powerful, healing, energizing force in the world.

Why don’t we start by loving our skin?

Here are some ways in which you can give your skin a little love today:

1. Exfoliate

Exfoliation is necessary to keep the skin glowing and healthy. Grab your exfoliant and before you go to bed, give your skin a little love. If you missed my “at-home facial” click here to check it out.

2. Eat Aphrodisiac foods

Whether you are celebrating this Valentine’s day with friends, your “better half”, your “in the meantime” or by yourself make sure you include some of the so-called “aphrodisiac” foods. Most of them are coincidentally great for your skin too! (salmon, asparagus, dark chocolate, strawberries, avocados…)

3. Moisturize

I know I say this a lot but that’s only because it’s important! Even oily skins need moisture. It is the middle of the Winter. Go ahead, give your skin some good old moisture. It will thank you by glowing!

4. Get a Professional Facial Treatment

This one is the optimal Valentine’s day gift to yourself! Aside from the pampering and the relaxation (and all the benefits it has on our skin), it is after all the middle of February and your skin is probably in need of some love.

Itchy skin? Flaky? Lost your glow? Breaking out? Come see me! You might be experiencing “Winter skin” and might be due for a little TLC!

Happy Valentine’s day everybody. I want you all to feel my love and gratitude for reading me, trusting me, and supporting my business and my passion: Skin Wellness.

Maria

www.skinwellness.ca

www.facebook.com/www.skinwellness.ca

Acne, Hormones & Birth Control

Fri, 11 Jan 2013 10:07:19 -0500

I shared a link on my Facebook Page not too long ago by FutureDerm about Birth Control helping with acne. I gave my two cents on the post: of course it helps, because it artificially regulates our estrogen and progesterone levels. Although birth control works wonderfully as a regulator for menstrual cycles (and literally for birth control) the effect it has on the skin is secondary. Clearing acne is not the main goal of birth control. It is solely a side effect. It merely solves a symptom of the problem, rather than the problem itself.

What Does Birth Control Do for Acne Exactly?

In a real nutshell: insulin is the hormone we secrete when we eat food that contains carbohydrates. You see, when women have elevated levels of insulin, the pancreas will prompt the ovaries to secrete excessive testosterone. Too much testosterone in our body will cause, amongst other issues, acne.

Is Testosterone The Main Cause of Acne?

Certainly not. There are many, many causes of acne. There’s the “best” type of acne to have, the “topical” type, which can be solved by switching to the right skin care regime. The reality is though, that acne is mostly a hormone-based issue. Our hormones completely command our body. If hormones are not in order, everything else will be a mess as well.

What Can We Do About It?

If you suspect your acne could be caused by an insulin-testosterone excess, take control of the root of the problem. Eat a diet high in green veggies and lean protein, and eliminate processed foods high in sugar.Here’s a great article (http://www.ehow.com/how_5685842_reduce-testosterone-insulin-levels-females.html) that talks about it. Since we established that acne is usually caused by hormones,

it is imperative that we eliminate from our diet anything with hormones, like dairy and animal products that are not hormone-free. (If you suspect hormones are the root cause of your acne and your clean diet and healthy lifestyle are not helping, you should talk to your doctor about your concern)

In conclusion, can you say acne roots back to diet? Hormones? Stress? My answer is, it is all connected. We cannot have a hormonally balanced body with a diet that isn’t clean, healthy and balanced. The solution to most* acne cases is a healthy lifestyle, a clean diet, and a good skin care routine at home.

*some extreme cases of acne may require further treatment. Please consult an endocrinologist if this is your case.

Hi Maria! I love your blog, and I have acne prone skin. I wanted to ask you about white heads and how to deal with him. I don't get any black heads, only white heads on my T-Zone and chin area. I use Clinique's 3 step skin program and so far it has been working as a good face wash toner moisturizer but I still get whiteheads every month. I'm not sure how to deal with them, I try not to pop them but they stick around for 2 weeks sometimes also leave scars. How should one deal with whiteheads?

Sun, 23 Dec 2012 21:13:34 -0500

hi!

You are on the right track by using a regime for home (although I’m not a huge Clinique fan, but it’s better than using nothing, or just soap). Always keep in mind: “popping” them spreads them.

It sounds to me like they could be an internat issue. Drink lemon water as soon as you wake up. Sometimes breakouts are worsened by diet.

Biggest food culprits are:

Gluten (pasta, bread, cake)

Dairy (milk, yogurt, icecream, cheese)

Pop (diet and sugar-full)

Try a week without these foods and see how your skin feels! Keep me posted! :)

Happy Holidays!

Fri, 21 Dec 2012 09:53:00 -0500

My Christmas tree: (my pride and joy!)

Dear clients, readers, friends and family:

One more year of success and dreams come true for Skin Wellness! I have had a rough year, full of as many blessings as I have had challenges, so I am ready to welcome 2013 with open arms!

I hope each and every one of you a wonderful holiday filled with peace, love and gratitude. Don’t forget that gratitude is miraculous. It makes magic happen!

On that note, I want to thank you all for an amazing year! Thank you for allowing me to help you achieve your most radiant, healthy, glowing complexion; and for your trust in my work.

I also wanted to take advantage of this medium to remind you that I will be away from December 25^th until January 3^rd (family time!!!). I am back at work on the 4^th. If any of you have any questions or requests, I am always available via email, Facebook, or Twitter.

Have a glowing holiday, and Feliz Navidad!

Love,

Maria

Kale Chips (Food For Your Skin)

Thu, 06 Dec 2012 11:22:00 -0500

I feel like it’s been awhile since I posted a recipe. So today, I’m sharing my kale chips recipe. They are the perfect snack food for when you feel like chips, minus the horrifying ingredients. These “chips” are actually great for your skin. Every ingredient used is beneficial for the skin! The best part: they are incredibly easy to make.

Note: I forgot how awful they look when it’s the first time you see them. Just trust me, I have gotten the pickiest of eaters to love these. They DO NOT TASTE LIKE GRASS. They taste like chips!

Ingredients

* 1 bunch of Organic Kale leaves (loaded with vitamin C and iron, it helps production of collagen and prevents wrinkles and skin degeneration)
* 1/2 cup Nutritional Yeast (full of Vitamin B12 which is great for circulation and absorption of nutrients)
* 2 tbsp olive oil (“good oils” helps our skin stay lubricated and healthy, making it glow form the inside out)
* Salt to taste (or not)

Wash and rinse your leaves properly. Remove the leaf from the stem (stem gets chewy, do not use it for the chips) and take pieces about the size of the palm of your hand.

Once you have rinsed the water out and dried them enough (a salad spinner will do the job, otherwise pat dry with paper towel), add the olive oil. Drizzle lightly and mix so they are all covered but not soaked. Don’t be afraid to “massage” your kale! It won’t break it or make them soggy.

Sprinkle nutritional yeast on them. (this is the secret ingredient for me, it makes them taste extra “chippy”… almost cheesy!)

By the way, if you are not sure what nutritional yeast is, click here. Also, my brother makes them without nutritional yeast and still loves them. Get creative, you can use garlic powder, chilli, salt and pepper…

Nutritionist Meghan Telpner has a bunch of yummy kale chips recipes. She uses the dehydrator though. I don’t have one, so my recipe uses an oven instead. (Dehydrators have always reminded me of Chandler’s roommate… anyone?)

Preheat the oven at 275 F.

Put them on a baking tray (mind my foil-ugliness) never laying one on top of the other. Spread them so they can all get crunchy and not stick together. Oh and don’t forget to put a tiny bit of oil on the baking tray so they don’t stick. You can also use those silicone liners, they are AMAZING! Sprinkle salt to taste.

Set the timer to 20 minutes and put your chips in the oven.

Check for crunchiness after the 20 minutes are up. If they aren’t (which is usually the case) keep checking every 5 to 10 minutes.

Listo! There you have them! Ready to have a guilt-free, nutritionally-packed, beautifying snack. Like my cousin said to me: “now you can snack on lettuce”.

Let me know if you try this recipe (or changed it up a little). I’d love to hear about it!

Have a glowing week!

Maria

Why Is Proactive So Bad for You?

Fri, 23 Nov 2012 10:25:00 -0500

Proactive pops up at least once a month in my practice or even my social life. How can it not?
In this post, I want to explain why a line that is so famous, so used, and so effective is in reality sooo bad for you. So bad…
Why is it so famous? It’s called marketing. It’s genius!
Their marketing campaigns are HUGE (read here Forbe’s “Proactiv’s Active Ingredient: Celebrity”). But any esthetician knows that these celebrities are not really using it. Otherwise, their skin would be too dehydrated to properly put makeup on, to say the least. As a matter of fact, Jessica Simpson was sued by the company for taking Accutane (craziest acne medication in the market, banned in many countries) while promoting Proactiv, but that’s another story and I’m not about to engage in gossip… hehehe.. not at work anyway *wink*.

How Does It “Work”?
It completely dries up the skin to the point where acne disappears… along with oil, moisture, acid mantle (natural protective barrier of the skin) and suppleness.

Too high of a price to pay to get rid of acne… Specially when it doesn’t have to be that way.

Why does it work?
Because using a proper skin care routine at home: cleanser, exfoliant, toner, moisturizer; your skin will instantly improve. Now imagine using one that doesn’t turn your skin into beef jerky?

If you do this, but use the right products prescribed by your derm or esthetician, your skin will thrive and your acne will go away.

Now Let’s Take a Look at Some of Their Ingredients.

Their cleanser: It’s an exfoliant, a pretty abrasive one too. If you were to use this once a week, perhaps we can start to negotiate a compromise in the use of it (if we overlook all the toxic ingredients of course). Otherwise, no, this cleanser is way too abrasive for everyday use.

Their Toner: about the only part of the line relatively decent. It’s got witch-hazel and aloe Vera which are both antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. But the many perfumes and preservatives in their ingredient list counteract all the goodness.

Their “moisturizer”: I’m sorry, I had to put quotation marks around that. The active ingredient in this product (benzoyl peroxide) is so drying that no matter what other “moisturizers” this cream has, it will not make up for the dehydration this ingredient is causing. You can always ask the people that have used proactive how their bed sheets got bleached!

The result is an extremely dehydrated skin. When the skin is feeling harmed in any way, it will try to protect itself by secreting more oil and by “thickening” up. One of the consequences of excessive oil production are comedones and acne. Results? An extremely dehydrated, thickened skin that once off Proactiv will break out with that amount of oil production. Not to mention premature aging, because dry skin ages faster, way faster. So pay attention those with “adult” acne.

The solution? There are many effective treatments for acne minus the crazy abrasive-dehydrating combo. Talk to your esthetician about what is the best skin care routine for you at home. Getting rid of acne is a very personalized strategy. There is no “one for all” solution.

Don’t ever forget we are all unique, and so is our skin!

Have a glowing weekend!

Maria

Dehydration: It Might Not Be What You Think

Fri, 09 Nov 2012 11:26:00 -0500

Many skin related sensitivities come from dehydration. Some of the consequences of dehydrated skin include: ACNE (yes, acne), rosacea, eczema and general sensitivity. When I mention to my clients that they need to stay hydrated, their answer is usually “but I drink a lot of water”.

Then I realized I had to change they way I say this because when I say dehydrated, the last thing I am thinking (unless they are severely dehydrated) is their water intake.

Dehydration happens mostly when we use the wrong moisturizer (or non at all). Don’t get me wrong, drinking water (as well as eating veggies and fruits) plays an extremely important role in our skin’s wellness; the problem though is that even if you eat really clean and drink 8+ glasses of water a day, this is still not enough to have healthy and hydrated skin.

Mmmm… do enjoy some coconut water!

We must moisturize, no matter what skin type we are (*ahem* oily skin!). You can’t have hydrated skin without a good moisturizer and vice versa: you can moisturize 10 times a day, but if the only liquid your body receives is coffee and soda, you will never have hydrated skin (or healthy body in general but lets not get caught up in nutrition this time! ;)

Always remember: it’s 50-50: what you put on, and what you take in.

Skin gets hydrated both from the inside as well as from the outside. If you feel your moisturizer is just not cutting it, come see me for a consultation and we can figure out what the appropriate skincare is for you and your skin’s wellbeing. info@skinwellness.ca . Don’t forget you can now also book online! http://www.schedulicity.com/Scheduling/BusinessInfo.aspx?business=SWIH22

Have a glowing week!

Maria

Are You Exfoliating Too Much?

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 13:36:00 -0500

(lol sorry if this is too much for some, thank you for the laugh Beautybrains!)

I had a client the other day tell me that she was exfoliating her skin (with Proactive, no less) every day. I was horrified to hear this, but relieved at the same time because I now knew the source of her thickened skin, particularly little bumps of her forehead.

Keratinization is when the skin cells become dry and dies (like cuticles). Over-keratinization therefore is when too many dead skin cells accumulate, usually in order to protect our skin, as a self defense mechanism. Think of our knees and elbows. They are thick, callused skin because of how much more “use” it has compared to other parts of our skin.
When we exfoliate too much, our skin feels harmed, therefore it protects itself by creating more skin cells so they can layer and layer creating a barrier of protection.

(Source)
The reason why I decided to write about this is because of two things: one, you should never exfoliate once a day. This is way too much. Here’s why: our skin naturally sheds itself on its own every 28 days until we turn 25. After around 25 years of age, that cell turnover begins to slow down. That’s when we start to notice our skin becoming a little dull, a little extra dehydrated, a little (gasp) wrinkly? And all these “adult issues” begin to appear. All of the sudden, we realize that acne and blackheads are not our main concerns anymore.

Exfoliating makes that “shedding” process happen. So rather than letting the skin just “sit there” making our skin thick and dull (and wrinkled), when we exfoliate, we are stimulating cell turnover, helping it stay young for longer. Making it happen “manually” every 28 days. But there has to be a balance, because exfoliating too much can have the same effect as never exfoliating: thick, dull skin.

Exfoliation should happen weekly at most. Never more often. And because of this same reason, monthly facials are the ideal way to keep our cell renewal at its best.
What are you waiting for? When was your last facial? Book yours now! Get that pre-Christmas glow. (Yes, since Starbucks inevitably rules the world, and the red cups are out, we are talking Christmas already!)
Have a glowing weekend!
Maria

Just a little reminder <3

Tue, 23 Oct 2012 09:41:50 -0400

Just a little reminder <3

Pumpkin Recipes To Make Your Skin Glow

Wed, 17 Oct 2012 14:19:00 -0400

Pumpkin is everywhere. Which makes me pretty excited because pumpkin soup is my absolute favourite soup.

I always talk about the importance of eating your vitamin A, so I wanted to share my recipe for pumpkin soup, since a lot of people have been asking for it lately. The timing couldn’t be more perfect, since I also spent three wonderful weeks with my grandma, and she gave me a little trick to make my pumpkin soup even more “Fall-ish”: Nutmeg!

This is us having some roiboos tea mmm!

Picking some leaves

Grandma’s Pumpkin Soup

1 Litre of broth (of your choice, but it has to be great broth, this is the secret to any soup!)
2 kg of pumpkin (I like butternut squash if you can’t find “tropical pumpkin” which is my top choice because it’s not that sweet)
2 teaspoons of oil (or butter, whatever you sauté with. I love coconut oil)
2 onions
1 garlic clove (add as many as you like, I find one or two is good enough)
2 red pepper
1 core (white part) of a Leek
1/2 teaspoon of cumin
1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg
Salt and pepper to taste

Add all the ingredients chopped up in 1-2 inch squares or so to the pot and sauté with the oil or butter, just lightly until onion caramelizes a little bit…
Add the broth and let boil for 30 minutes or until the pumpkin is soft enough to blend.
Blend.
Serve.
Love! Mmm…

Note: I have to confess, I never follow recipes exactly they way they are. I always change this particular recipe up a little bit, depending on: what else I’m eating it with, what I’m craving, or which veggies are getting a little old in my fridge (does anyone else do that?). Some tweaks include: curry and turmeric instead of nutmeg, coconut oil instead of butter and a dash of coconut cream, etc etc. Feel free to create your own version and keep me posted! I’d love to hear new ways of drinking pumpkin!

Next week, I’ll share my own copycat healthy version of Starbuck’s Pumpkin Latte!
Buen provecho!
Maria

Does Sadness Make Your Skin Breakout?

Wed, 10 Oct 2012 09:36:00 -0400

Skin issues, like acne, eczema, and psoriasis, affects too many of us for too long. It affects not just our skin, but our self esteem and confidence. The ironic thing is that they have an incredibly strong emotional connection that creates a vicious cycle because the worse we feel about it the more we “feed” it, and the worse it gets.

Not too long ago I got the most shocking, heartbreaking news I have heard probably in my entire life, and guess what? My skin went crazy.
I was doing the same thing I have always done to control my acne: clean diet, exercise, and a great skin care routine (thank you Dr. Baumann!), yet my skin had a major flare up: angry, sore breakouts. This proved to me, yet again, that emotions have a lot to do with skin (the body in general).

Now, I am not saying everybody’s acne is emotionally based. Some acne is directly related to diet, or/and other culprits. What I am saying is that we all have a “weakest link” Some of us get headaches, some of us get ulcers, some get upset stomachs, and some of us get skin issues (like acne, or rosacea, or eczema); and stress will always make them worse.

What Can We Do About It?

Emotions are there to be felt, and dealt with. They should not be repressed.. Oh, don’t even try that! Trust me, it will make everything worse… But that’s an entirely different subject! Although you can read a little bit on that here (disclosure: I didn’t write that, but I do love it)

Just knowing… that it is emotional, and that time heals everything, and that it will go away, will immediately make it better. The more you stress the worse it will get. I find when my clients figure out where exactly their skin issue is coming from, it either completely heals or significantly goes away.

With that in mind, don’t forget that our skin is 50% outside and 50% inside. Yes, skin issues come from within most of the time (emotional, hormone or diet) but it can also be healed and soothed from the outside, and it must be healed and soothed from the outside, otherwise we risk getting scars or making it worse, and it doesn’t have to be. Many times all our skin needs is a little soothing basic care. The right moisturizer will do the job… Let me help you find it!

Have a glowing week!
Maria

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Why Is Proactive So Bad for You?

Dehydration: It Might Not Be What You Think

Are You Exfoliating Too Much?

Just a little reminder <3

Pumpkin Recipes To Make Your Skin Glow

Does Sadness Make Your Skin Breakout?

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