All Natural Vegetable and Fruit Wash

There are a lot of vegetable washes out there, but did you know that you can make your own! It takes only three ingredients of which I’m sure you all have at home:

1. Water
2. Lemon
3. Vinegar

Instructions:

Step one: Uncover spray bottle.

Step two: Squeeze the lemon to extract the juice.

Step three: In a spray bottle, mix 1 cup of water, 2 tablespoons of vinegar

Step four: Pour in the lemon juice.

Recover spray bottle and mix all ingredients. You can now spray you fruits and vegetables with your natural wash.  Remember to, after spraying, leave on for 5 minutes then rince.

Enjoy!

The Pros’ Guide to Pampering - Real Simple Magazine

From the Editors of Real Simple Magazine

Perhaps no month begs for the spa experience more than February. Before you grab your coat, here’s what top beauty experts do at home to look and feel better.

* Hair moisturizing mask: To get her hair looking soft and shiny, Ji Baek, owner of the Rescue Beauty Lounges in New York City, wets her head and applies a handful of hair mask cream that’s rich in shea butter, avocado and organic essential oils. Next, Baek wraps her hair in a plastic bag for 20 minutes (heat helps masks penetrate deeply into the hair shafts), then rinses.

* Pore-purifying facial: Los Angeles makeup artist Taylor Chang-Babaian loves to give her face a deep cleansing. Chang-Babaian takes a warm shower then uses an electric facial steamer (available at beauty-supply stores) to begin unclogging pores (putting your face over a pot of steaming water for five minutes will also work). She applies a purifying mask with marine clay to dislodge oil and debris.

* Tall drink for really dry skin: When her skin is feeling tight and moisture-sapped, Ashunta Sheriff, a New York City makeup artist, rubs a freshly cut lemon half over her complexion (the fruit’s natural acids remove flakes and smooth skin), then steams her skin over a pot of warm water. Next, Sheriff slathers her face and neck with extra-virgin organic coconut oil.

* Beneficial brush-up: Persephenie Lea, the Los Angeles-based creator of Persephenie Studio, a line of body-care goods and custom perfumes, dry-brushes her skin before her morning shower. “It helps increase circulation, sloughs away dead cells and makes my skin look healthier,” says Lea. Starting at the soles of her feet and working up, she uses a soft-bristled body brush and long, smooth strokes, taking care to avoid sensitive areas and broken skin.

* Hand and foot healer: When manicurist Elisa Ferri finds her feet feeling rough, she uses a coarse emery board to smooth them, then massages with a thick salve containing petrolatum and lanolin to hydrate skin. She slips on a pair of cotton socks and pads around the house while the product goes to work. When Ferri’s hands and cuticles are dry, she applies olive oil.

* Head-to-toe works: Teddi Cranford, a hairstylist for Bumble and Bumble in New York City, exfoliates with a scrub for the face and another for the body. Cranford then draws a bath and adds Epsom salts and a long pour of olive oil. While Cranford soaks, she combs a treatment through her hair.

* Sleep-inducing soak: Makeup artist Helen Macaulay slips into a steaming bath after a long day on her feet. She adds several drops of relaxing essential oils (available at health-food stores), like jasmine, rose and neroli. “After bathing, I slather my skin in sweet-almond oil,” she says.

Copyright 2010 Time Inc. REAL SIMPLE is a registered trademark of Time Inc. Used by permission.

Check out some of bluebasins bath & body’s natural skin care products:

• Facial Masks
• Facial Steams
• Facial Scrub
• Body Scrubs
• Foot Products
• Luscious Shea Butter Body Butter

Press Release: bluebasins bath & body is a Sponsor of DJ’s for Haiti Event

TORONTO, Ontario, 19 February, 2010 bluebasins bath & body, an online provider of all natural skin care products, is proud to announce today that it is one of the gift raffle sponsors for the Black Women and Women of African Descent (BWWAD) DJ’s for Haiti Event.

This event will be taking place today, Friday February 19, 2010 at 7:00pm at the Steelworkers Hall, 25 Cecil St., Toronto, Ontario Canada, one block south of Spadina & College.

“The devastation which occurred in Haiti is heartbreaking,” says Makeda Paul, owner of <a href=” alt=”" />bluebasins bath & body, “so when BWWAD enquired whether we would be interested in becoming a sponsor of their DJ’s for Haiti event, we were very happy to oblige.” bluebasins bath & body’s sponsorship entails a gift basket filled with a variety of their natural skin care products which were created by hand, with all-natural ingredients.

“From our experience, we find that a high percentage of the funds raised by mainstream International Development efforts tend to be spent in admin costs in the countries of origin,” as quoted from BWWAD’s blog to which bluebasins agrees. “The money raised from the DJ’s for Haiti event will go directly to support Haitian women’s organizations including ENFOFANM, meaning it will go directly where it is most needed,” adds Paul.

“We are happy to participate in this endeavour to help with Haiti’s recovery,” Paul says, “and we are looking forward to the fundraiser.”

The gift basket holds items such as their:

• Rose, Calendula, Lavender Facial Steam
• Queen of Shea Butter Soap
• Hair Honey
• Seaweed, Chamomile, Green Tea & Herb Polishing Facial Scrub
• Toga Towel and
• Soap Pocket
  

About bluebasins bath & body

bluebasins bath & body’s natural skin care line offers a wide array of products, created by hand and with all-natural ingredients. Products include soaps, facial masks, body scrubs, bath melts, body butters and more. bluebasins helps consumers look after their skin to make it as healthy and naturally radiant as possible. They show consumers an alternatively natural way to take care of their skin.

Contact

Email: pr@bluebasins.com

Web: www.bluebasins.com

Twitter: bluebasins

Refresh your face with this cucumber-yogurt mask

Yesterday I noticed that my facial skin did not look up to par. So I decided that I would use an old fashioned recipe I know with the base ingredient of cucumbers. Now even though I’ve know of the wonders of cucumbers, such as its cleaning and cleansing properties which helps your skin tremendously making it soft and supple, I’ve never really tried it till last night.

So here’s what I put in my mask:

Recipe:

1/4 seedless cucumber

2 tbls plain yogurt

1/2 tsp honey

Directions:

1. First cut two slices of cucumber and set aside. These will be used to rest on your closed eyelids.
2. Dice up the remainder of the cucumber and place in a food processor to blend. Blend till it becomes saucy like texture
3. Pour into a bowl and mix yogurt and honey completely.
4. Take some out of the bowl and smear gently on face, covering face completely.
5. Lie down and place the two cucumber slices on closed eyelids and rest for 20 minutes.
6. Rinse!.

When you rinse you will see how radiant your skin looks. While I rested, I played some soothing music to deepen my relaxation. Instead of water for my rinse, I used some cold chamomilemy tea to close my pores and extend my treatment. My face looked wonderful.

Try this recipe tonight and leave your comments!

An Apple a Day to Keep the Wrinkles Away?

Can Apple Extracts Give You Younger, Smoother Skin?

by Dr. Jessica Wu

Did you know that apples are good for more than eating? It turns out that an apple a day may help keep the wrinkles away. According to Swiss researchers, an extract from a rare apple found in a remote part of Switzerland has been shown to have potential anti-aging benefits. This variety of apple, called Uttwiler Spatlauber, was cultivated in the 18th century, long before the appearance of crispers and modern farming techniques. It was a popular fruit back then because it could be stored for a long period of time without spoiling. Some of these apple trees are still being grown in Switzerland, and researchers believe that the fruit’s longevity and resistance to spoiling result from the apple tree’s unusually long-living stem cells.

Recently, scientists have shown that an extract containing plant stem cells from the leaves of this apple tree could stimulate the production of human stem cells. In another study, subjects who applied a cream containing the apple extract saw an 8 percent reduction in their crow’s-feet after two weeks, and a 15 percent reduction after four weeks. While these initial studies are promising, I’m waiting to see more research before recommending skin creams containing this ingredient.

Apples also contain a compound called malic acid, which is related to glycolic acid. Malic and glycolic acids are alpha hydroxy acids, which help “unglue” dead skin cells and loosen clogged pores. This is why alpha hydroxy acids are popular in acne treatments. Malic acid tends to be less irritating than glycolic acid, so it may be a better option if you have sensitive skin. Malic acid has been popular in Asia for years; you can find it in M2 Skin Refinish serum, which contains both malic and mandelic acid, another alpha hydroxy acid that’s derived from bitter almonds (m2skincare.com).

Happy New Year!!

We are excited to reconnect with current clients as well as form relationships with new ones.  We look forward to sharing bluebasins’ 2010 happenings with you.  Keep up-to-date with us through our mailing list, twitter and facebook.

The Benefits of Olive Leaf Extract

Did you know that olive leaf extract and the leaves themselves have been used for a variety of medicinal purposes for thousands of years? It is one of the few medicines referred to in the Bible. It has been mentioned in medical texts from the Romans, Greeks, Egyptians and other ancient cultures. But, why do we need it, today? We know that used alot in Turkey is well.

Alot of olive trees on the Bodrum Milas Highways and locals has a olive oil factories. Its very popular in Milas and surronding areas. Olive is the main business for farmers in Milas, Bodrum, Gemlik and many other places in Turkey. Pharmaceutical researchers and scientists from all branches of study have always looked at the medicinal activity of plants.

If the work was being done for a pharmaceutical company, an attempt would be made to change the naturally occurring molecular structure of the active components, in order to patent and synthesize them. Since we have a multitude of drugs available, many people wonder about the point of taking herbal remedies.

They aren’t covered by their health insurance policies. They are mostly recommended by alternative, not mainstream practitioners. So, what are they really good for?

Well, one example is in the area of antibiotics. The overuse of prescription antibiotics has led to the formation of stronger, more resistant bacteria. Oddly enough, these bacteria respond to natural antibacterial agents.

When it comes to skincare products, those containing olive leaf extract have natural antibacterial activity, which is beneficial for healing acne blemishes and reducing the risk of further breakouts. The oils, derived from the pits are beneficial, as well.

Many women say that their continued youthful appearances are due to the regular use of olive oil as a moisturizer.

Modern researchers have been able to isolate the active compounds and make them even more effective for reducing wrinkles, improving the skin’s moisture content and fading scars. So, it is possible to improve on what nature has done, without causing problems. When it comes to a supplement that you take orally, the best choice is an all natural olive leaf extract.

It can be used to speed recovery from colds and other infections. It may be beneficial for acne and skin diseases, in which inflammation is involved. Skincare products, on the other hand, must be properly formulated, or the oils will not penetrate.

They can cause greasiness, clog the pores and, in general, don’t feel nice. So, from a naturalist’s standpoint, it may seem that using well-designed skincare products is a “no-no”. But, as long as the manufacturer does not use artificial preservatives, added fragrances or artificial colors, you’re safe. We need olive leaf extract, today, because it works better than the plastic compounds created by petrochemical companies.

If taken orally, it supports immune system health. If applied topically, in the right form, it nourishes the skin’s cells and layers. Petrochemicals are not nourishing and they may contribute to our risk of cancer. Everyone’s risk increases with age, but there is reason to believe that exposure to petrochemicals, throughout a person’s life, greatly increases their risk.

So, avoid petrochemicals, including artificial preservatives and fragrance ingredients. Take some olive leaf extract or a multi-nutritional supplement that contains it and look for skincare products that contain the active compounds found in the oils.

You’ll feel better and look better, too.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/anti-aging-articles/the-benefits-of-olive-leaf-extract-1556407.html

Health Benefits Of Almonds

The almond is drupe belonging to species of Prunus belonging to the subfamily Prunoideae of the family Rosaceae. Almonds are scientifically classified as drupes, which have several health benefits.

Be it healthy cholesterol levels, almonds provide several health benefits that are not known to everyone.
Health Benefits of Almonds

Almonds have a vast number of health benefits and these beneficial properties are used via various forms like almond oil, almond paste or whole almonds. Here are all the health benefits of almonds that you should know about:

• Almonds contain monounsaturated fats and some polyunsaturated fats and hence they help to lower the low-density lipoprotein (LDL) or the bad cholesterol, while maintaining healthy high-density lipoproteins or good cholesterol levels.

• Almonds have great health benefits in terms of healthy skin. Almonds prevent premature appearance of wrinkles, black heads, pimples and dry skin as well. A regular massage with almond oil will help you to get a glowing and flawless complexion.
• Almond oil is also used to treat black circles around the eyes, since almond oil helps to re-vitalize the fatigues cells and improve the blood flow.
• Almond oil is extremely useful for treating all sorts of hair problems as well. Almond oil helps as a cure for treating hair-fall, dandruff and avoids untimely graying of hair as well.
• Almonds have an extremely high nutritive value since they contain copper, iron and vitamins and are hence used as a remedy for anemia.
• Almonds are also beneficial in treatment of constipation since they increase the fiber content of the foods as well.
• Almonds are also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Sweet almond oil is used as a carrier for injectable drugs, which deteriorate in water-based carriers.
• Almonds decrease the after-mail rises in blood sugar and are hence help in maintain a healthy blood sugar level.
• Almonds also have antioxidant properties and are hence very beneficial for the health.
• Almond oil is also considered as one of the most popular choice of massage oils, which rejuvenates the body and replenishes the skin. It is also known to relieve the stress.
• Babies who have lactose intolerance, can be given a mixture of powered almonds mixed with warm water, which provides as much if not more nutrition as milk.
• Almonds contain Alpha-tocopherol, which is a major source of Vitamin E and is hence really great for healthy hair and skin.
• Almonds also increase the blood flow to the vital organs and are also used as aphrodisiacs.
• Almonds provide nutrients that help to increase the bone mineral density, which helps to strengthen the skeletal system. Owing to this it can also be considered as a remedy to cope up with osteoporosis in the elderly.
• Aromatherapy also makes use of sweet almond oil, which is one of the essential oils in aromatherapy and is frequently used as carrier oil.
• Almond oil also possesses laxative properties and helps to produce soft stools and avoid any other problems of the digestive system.

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Raise Your Cup to White Tea

White Tea Could Keep You Healthy And Looking Young

Next time you’re making a cuppa, new research shows it might be wise to opt for a white tea if you want to reduce your risk of cancer, rheumatoid arthritis or even just age-associated wrinkles. Researchers from Kingston University teamed up with Neal’s Yard Remedies to test the health properties of 21 plant and herb extracts. They discovered all of the plants tested had some potential benefits, but were intrigued to find white tea considerably outperformed all of them.

Professor Declan Naughton, from the School of Life Sciences at Kingston University in South West London, said the research showed white tea had anti-aging potential and high levels of anti-oxidants which could prevent cancer and heart disease. “We’ve carried out tests to identify plant extracts that protected the structural proteins of the skin, specifically elastin and collagen,” he explained. “Elastin supports the body’s natural elasticity which helps lungs, arteries, ligaments and skin to function. It also helps body tissue to repair when you suffer wounds and stops skin from sagging.” Collagen is a protein found in connective tissues in the body and is important for skin, strength and elasticity, he added.

Results showed white tea prevented the activities of the enzymes which breakdown elastin and collagen which can lead to wrinkles that accompany aging. These enzymes, along with oxidants, are associated with inflammatory diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. Professor Naughton said: “These enzymes and oxidants are key components of normal body processes. However, in inflammatory conditions, suppressing the activities of these excess components has been the subject of decades of research. We were surprised to find such high activity for the white tea extracts in all five tests that were conducted.”

The researchers were blown away by exactly how well the white tea had performed. “We were testing very small amounts far less than you would find in a drink,” Professor Naughton, one of the country’s leading specialists on inflammation, said. “The early indicators are that white tea reduces the risk of inflammation which is characteristic of rheumatoid arthritis and some cancers as well as wrinkles.”

Eight of the other plants and herbs analyzed also helped protect against the breakdown of both elastin and collagen. After white tea, bladderwrack performed well followed by extracts of cleavers, rose, green tea, angelica, anise and pomegranate.

Dr Pauline Hili, Technical Director for Neal’s Yard Remedies, said: “We are really excited by this research as it helps us to remain innovative and at the cutting edge of natural skin care. Celebrating the plants used in the Neal’s Yard Remedies products and understanding their specific actions on the skin is what it is all about. The Kingston University research program helps us to create safe, highly effective and cutting-edge products so it’s an ideal partnership for us.”

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At bluebasins we’ve created a Green Tea Tree Oil soap. Have a look.

Papaya facial mask

This fabulous fruit, the papaya offers anti-oxidants, rich in essential fruit enzymes, large quantities of carotene, vitamin C and A. For skin care it has both preventative and restorative properties. Papaya is also an excellent aid to helping with skin disorders such as acne.

Papaya provides a “natural” face lift while brining about a wonderful, natural and rejuvenating glow to the skin

Papaya facial mask

Ingredients:

• 1/2 ripe papaya, skinned and seeded
• 1 beaten egg white
• 1 teaspoon of honey

Preparation:

Simply mix all the ingredients together. Carefully, so you don’t touch the eye area, apply the mask on the face and leave on for 20 minutes.Rinse well and pat dry.

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