This time of year, we can’t get enough of the organic crops of oranges, apples, grapefruit, and Meyer lemons. We love them with cheeses, nut butters, chocolate, squeezed into beverages, chopped into salads, or just by themselves. A recent discovery: orange slices and a glass of white wine makes a super-simple but sublime dessert. A totally appreciated bonus: our skin loves the vitamin C and never looks better than this time of year. Counter-intuitive, right? Aren’t we supposed to look dry and sallow in the winter? Nope and nope. Take care of your skin with moisturizers (marula oil is our current fave), protect from the sunshine (yes, in winter too!) and enjoy the seasonal fruits. Works like a charm.
For 8 more foods that boost inside-out health and natural beauty, see the link below.
http://shine.yahoo.com/healthy-living/8-foods-gorgeous-skin-192300353.html
If you want to grow citrus trees from the seeds, drop us a line or comment on Facebook for a helpful hint. Winter doesn’t stop our gardening bug. <3
Odds are very good that your favorite lip balm is as close as your pocket, purse or countertop, and you probably have spares everywhere (bedside table? reading nook?). Possibly you’re dabbing some to your lips as you read. It’s part of the daily beauty and comfort routine, and if you leave the house without it you might even feel a little lip-naked (we do!).
Of all the beauty essentials and cosmetics on the market, lip balms are the single product that consumers buy and apply most regularly. We tend to have our favorite brands, flavors, or containers. We are devoted.
So the greener, more organic and health-friendly they can be the better, right? Well here’s a shocker: your typical commercial lip balm is the most likely cosmetic to contain artificial flavors and petrochemicals, and the worst ones of all are usually the ones aimed at children. Petroleum jelly, as it turns out, is great for producing shine. It is some shiny stuff. But it is also a byproduct of oil drilling. And when you spread it on your lips, you ingest and absorb chemicals of the worst sort.
What’s safer? Lip products made from beeswax, which is non-toxic, non-allergenic (thank you, bees!) and provides hydration and moisture while softening and protecting. Beeswax actually provides a breathable protective coating, and when combined with some of nature’s nourishing oils (sweet almond and coconut oils are our favorites), creates a beautiful shimmer on your lips. It tastes good, feels good, contributes to good skin health, and doesn’t harm a single cell in your body.
What else does beeswax do? It’s a natural moisturizer, is anti-inflammatory, antibacterial, and a germicidal antioxidant! It’s good stuff. Versatile and human-friendly.
If you love the work that bees do (is it clear we adore them?), read more about how to make some honey-based skin care products at home
http://honeybeekind.com/new-fountain-of-youth/
or learn about how to help the declining honeybee population.
http://honeylove.org/
And to find your favorite, handmade flavor, go here!
