by GSkinner | Jun 14, 2020 | Healthy Eating, Skin Care
~ Staying Hydrated in Style ~
Detox and Homemade
Electrolyte Water
Key Ingredients and Their Benefits
1. Raw Apple Cider Vinegar:
- Puts the good bacteria back in your gut for a flat belly and less bloat! This apple cider vinegar (AVC) drink contains strand-like chains of protein enzyme molecules that help regulate bacteria in the gut. Think of your gut as your second brain. It is a powerhouse that controls your organs and you want to make sure it stays healthy and is rich in good-for-you bacteria to fight off the bad bacteria. Not only does AVC contain good bacteria, it is also rich in calcium, magnesium, potassium and other vitamins and minerals.
- Drinking 1 teaspoon in water three times a day helps to maintain blood sugar levels and aids in digestion.
- Kills bacteria in the mouth and removes stains. Whiter teeth!
- Assists weight loss! Raw apple cider vinegar such as this one contains acetic acid. Acetic acid, when consumed regularly, decreases abdominal fat and build-up of body and liver fats.
2. Cayenne Pepper:
- Helps digestion. Cayenne pepper stimulates the digestion enzymes which boosts the metabolism by increasing body temperature.
- Heals the gut.
- Detoxes and Improves poor circulation. It stimulates circulation to reduce blood clots and remove bacteria and toxins from the body.
- Supports weight loss. When eaten for breakfast, cayenne pepper can decrease the appetite, therefore consuming less food. It is an anti-inflammatory food which is known to soothe bloating, infections and food allergies.
3. Fruit Water:
- Blackberries aid to build elasticity in the skin for a more vibrant look, ohhh la la. Blackberries are responsible for strengthening collagen formation to tighten and tone the skin, helping you to look younger. They also are packed with fiber for weight loss and is a lower calorie fruit.
- Lower sugar. Natural sweetness comes from fruit.
- Boost immunity from antioxidants from fruit.
- Aids in weight loss since it is lower in calories than juice and contains fiber to flush toxins and curbs cravings
4. Homemade Electrolyte Water:
- (4″) piece ginger, peeled
- 1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 2 teaspoons agave nectar or honey
- 1/8 teaspoon fine sea salt
- 2 3/4 cups mineral or coconut water
by GSkinner | Nov 15, 2018 | Skin Care
As a Licensed Massage Therapist and Certified Personal Trainer, I have the pleasure of working with many older people. I learn so much from them.
One of my clients, who is 88 years old, has beautiful, radiant skin. When I complimented her, she said “Really?! This old thing?” We laughed and again, I told her how she glowed. “Well, honey, I do my own facials. You just …”
Milk of Magnesia ~ Olive Oil ~ Witch Hazel
“Rub milk of magnesia on your face and wait until it dries. Then remove milk of magnesia with more milk of magnesia. Rub olive oil on your face and leave it for a few minutes. Then get a cotton ball and use witch hazel to rub it all off.”
Simple, inexpensive ways women “in the old days” kept their skin clear and beautiful.
I haven’t tried this, but I will!!
by GSkinner | Oct 19, 2018 | Skin Care
When do you find time to relax? Do you feel your life is too busy to slow down?
Here are some tips to calm your nervous system before bed or to stimulate when you are taking your bathroom time to get ready for work or otherwise just shower.
You can add essential oils to your shower gel if it doesn’t already have it. I like lemongrass and lavendar, but I will also do a batch of lemon eucalyptus or grapefruit and orange. Here are some of the benefits of adding essential oils to your wash, shampoo and body lotion.
Lavender ~ Soothing and relaxing, lavender calms the nervous system. It is excellent for skin conditions such as bruising, eczema, sunburn, insect bites, rashes and inflammatory conditions. It can be used safely on children.
Grapefruit ~ Stimulating, grapefruit is excellent for mental exhaustion and hangover, muscle fatigue and stiffness. Grapefruit even helps with fluid retention and cellulite because of it’s detoxification properties. Great for headaches, grapefruit is restorative.
Lemongrass ~ Calming to the nervous system, lemongrass is also a diuretic, detoxifier and great for cellulite. Lemongrass is a general tonic to the skin and excellent for acne and infections.
Eucalyptus ~ There are many species of eucalyptus, but the are all wonderful for mental exhaustion, muscular aches and pains, colds and flu, bronchitis, headache, sluggishness, insect bites and so much more. Lemon eucalyptus is great for chicken pox, measles, sore throat, fever, bacterial skin infections, fungal infections, arthritis and is a relaxant as well.
Tea Tree Oil ~ Anti-inflammatory and immunostimulant, tea tree oil is excellent for cuts, rashes, insect bites, wounds, acne and any kind of infection. It is also anti-fungal and is well used for ringworm, nail fungus and dermatitis. Sore throat and brochial congestion also respond to tea tree oil.
Rosemary ~ Muscular pain and weakness, arthritis, rheumatism and exhaustion are just a few of the benefits of using rosemary. Rosemary is wonderful for general debility and memory enhancement, as well as acne, hair growth, infections, headache, colds, bronchitis and constipation. Rosemary enhances circulation and reduces cellulite. It is an overall general tonic to the entire body.
Salt or sugar scrub to exfoliate skin ~ Only use the essential oils, as any other oils may clog the drain. Use one cup salt or sugar. Add 20 drops of lavender oil, 10 drops rosemary oil. Stir with metal spoon and keep in glass jar. When you get into the shower, you can either massage onto dry skin for “dry brush” exfoliation, or wet your skin first. If it is your first exfoliation, you may want to wet your skin so it is less abrasive. Moisturize afterwards. Your skin will feel like silk!
For moisturizer ~ 4 ounces grape seed oil, 10 drops lavender oil, 7 drops sweet orange oil, 3 drops lemongrass. Grapeseed oil is water soluable so it will not stain your clothes. I keep this combo by my shower and while my skin is still damp, apply lightly.
by admin | Sep 7, 2018 | Holistic Healing, Skin Care
I always want a good deal and I figure I am not alone! I love to teach people to be frugal. The benefits of using online stores such as vitacost.com or swansonvitamins.com is that they carry all the health food store items at a discount. When purchasing essential oils, I try their brands and have found many to be top quality. Herbs like Rosemary, Tea Tree, Eucalyptus don’t have to be purchased “organic”, as these are not normally sprayed with pesticide since they are bug resistant. You can mix essential oils in a spray bottle with water to clean your bathrooms and kitchens. I normally use grapefruit, lemon and eucalyptus in the bathrooms and kitchen. Musty, sweaty odors on rugs or furniture? Get rid of your febreeze. It’s toxic! Make a spray of your favorite essential oils in water. Ten drops lavender, eight drops lemongrass, 20 drops sweet orange oil in a quart spray bottle (I buy mine at the dollar store) and voila! Your house will smell great! I sometimes use lavender and eucalyptus as insect repellent on a cotton ball and place in drawers, under sinks and in closets.
- Want fuller lips? Try coconut oil with a drop or two of peppermint essential oil added. Or, you can buy Alba Lip gloss and add a drop or two of peppermint. Buy them here ~ www.vitacost.com
- Want to switch to an aluminum free deodorant? Try Alvera roll on. It works great!
- Night sweats or menopause? Jason Wild Yam cream. Rub morning and evening on breasts, chest and neck. Evening Primrose Oil is wonderful as well! No need for anything “artificial”. Works wonders!!
- Skin care products I really like! Andalou, Alba, Beauty Without Cruelty Toner, Reviva DMAE cream,
- Cellulite? Drink a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar + tablespoon local honey in a tall glass of water every morning on an empty stomach. Massage like you are “kneading bread” on your thighs and buttocks. Making a fist, move from the knees to top of legs upward toward the heart. Drink apple cider mixture in the evening for faster elimination of fatty residue and toxins.
- Constipated? You must have a bm every day for proper elimination. Drink a large glass of water every 30 minutes until you go. At night in bed, raise your knees with feet flat on the bed. With your finger tips, start massage on the right side down below your hip bones. Massage in a circular motion, moving slowly up, now above the hip bone. Continue massaging in a circular motion across your body (under the belly button) to your left side above the hip bone. Continue the massage moving back down below the hip bone. You may feel uncomfortable at first, so adjust the pressure accordingly. Visualize your path of massage as an upside down U. This is a way to move the waste through the colon to make sure you go daily. I cannot stress how important elimination of waste is. If you do not go on a regular basis, your body will reabsorb the toxins from your colon every 24 hours. Your body is a self cleaning, self healing machine. I am here to teach you what to do to help the process.
- When you eliminate properly, hydrate properly, feed your body concentrated nutrition via clean foods and supplements, you will no longer feel “sick and tired”. Your mind will become clearer, you will have more focus and energy and will become healthier and happier.
- Sleep! If you have trouble sleeping, you can make a wonderful essential oil spray with lavender, geranium, ylang ylang, mandarin and chamomile. Depending on the size of your bottle, use 5 – 10 drops lavender, 5-8 drops geranium, 4 – 6 drops ylang ylang, 4 drops mandarin and chamomile. Of course, you can adjust to your liking. You can even use this for your children as it it very safe. Spray sheets and pillows lightly. I use it if I wake up in the middle of the night to help restore my calm and go back to a restful sleep.
- Be patient. Remember everything is a process and developing new habits take time. Positive actions build on themselves.
- Toenail fungus? Mix coconut oil with eucalyptus essential oil, thyme, tea tree and or peppermint and massage into toenails. Do your heels too for moisturizing. Put socks on and in time you will notice your feet becoming healthy again. Only use this during the day, as these essential oils are energizing. If you want to treat your feet at bedtime, use lavender oil. The beauty of essential oils are that they are antibacterial, antifungal, anti almost anything!
- Buy used books at thriftbooks.com They have a wonderful assortment of all kinds of books for $4 and up.
- Exfoliate your skin! Dry brush massage is great and you can make your own salt scrub with sea salt and essential oils. Your skin will look clearer and be smoother. Use a good moisturizer after to “feed” your skin.
Questions or comments? Leave them below.
by admin | Sep 7, 2018 | Skin Care
Your skin is an amazing organ. It is your “protective layer” and absorbs nutrients as well as eliminates toxins. It is important to consider what you put ON your skin because whatever products you are using can nurture your body or poison it. What goes on your skin is absorbed into your bloodstream and your bloodstream carries everything to your organs, muscle tissues and bones. Many “mainstream” products contain hormone disruptors, toxic petroleum ingredients, artificial colors, preservatives and many other questionable ingredients. Become an ingredient reader. A great resource to check toxicity is the Skin Deep site at ewg.org. Some of my favorite “clean” products are Avalon Organics, Aubrey cosmetics, and Andalou Organics. You can buy them at a discount at vitacost.com . If you have a TJ Maxx close by, I have also found them there for even less expensive than Vitacost. AND if you are 55 or older, TJ Maxx has a 10% discount for “seniors”. I love a good bargain!
If you are so inclined to make your own body lotions or body butters, you can buy coconut oil, shea butter, and cocoa butter (which smells like chocolate!) and make your own moisturizers. Buy them from the Vitacost website so you can buy the smaller (4 oz) so you can experiment. Being a Licensed Massage Therapist for over 25 years, I like to make my own concoctions to use on my clients. I wouldn’t use something on them that I wouldn’t use on myself. My base lotion is Alba Aloe lotion. I normally add grapeseed oil to it for extra moisture and glide. Grapeseed oil will not stain your clothes like other oils, as it is water soluble. If you use anything with coconut oil, shea butter or other heavier oils, they may stain your clothes. Recipes to come!
I love the Andalou Vitamin C creamy cleanser and the Earth Science Clarifiying Facial Wash to start, then Beauty Without Cruelty Toner. Since I have been toning my face, I have less trouble with blemishes. Definitely make toner part of your routine to clean that last bit of dirt and dead skin. If your face is prone to breakouts, you can add a drop or two of tea tree oil to your toner. Also, make sure you wash your cosmetic brushes at least once a week. Moisturizers I love are Derma E and Reviva. They both have a DMAE moisturizer that is amazing. Reviva also has a 5% glycolic acid cream to help with gentle exfoliation of old skin cells and the regeneration of new skin cells.
I absolutely love mineral make up by Larenim for foundation and Aubrey silk powder for blush. I sometimes find some clean eye shadows thru Almay, but I normally chose Larenim, Pacifica, Eco Bella, Honeybee Gardens and others that I find on the VitaCost site. Again, what ever you put onto your skin will be absorbed by the blood stream, so make sure you are using “clean” non-toxic products. It’s easy to switch over with the price points at Vitacost. Since I regularly go to the health food store, I found my perfect shade of foundation by sampling the products there. Then I purchased them at a discount online. Yes, I am frugal! When you compare the prices you are probably paying for what is advertised mainstream as premium, I am showing you how to save money with much better products!
Have questions or comments? Please leave them below.
by admin | Sep 7, 2018 | Holistic Healing, Massage, Skin Care
Elimination is probably one of the most important of our daily functions. Many people have issues and there is a positive way to deal with keeping your body “clean”. Eating fresh fruits and vegetables is very important for the roughage it provides. Imagine a broom sweeping through your intestinal tract and removing debris. Drinking water is more important than most people realize. Not only will your skin externally look more plump and clear, but your insides will be moisturized as well. In the case of constipation, self massage is extremely effective at moving waste material through your body. Here’s what to do:
Lie on your back with your knees up, feet planted flat on the floor or bed. I normally do this at night when I lay down to sleep so that I know my morning routine will be routine. With your fingertips, start on the right side of your body, lower toward your coochie or package. (genitals) Massage in a circular motion, moving up towards your hip bone and belly button. You are still massaging on the right side of your body. Just below your belly button, go across your body, still massaging in a small circular motion, to the left side. Then move the hands, massaging back down toward your genitals. Visualize an upside down U under your belly button. That is your colon. It needs to be clean!! If you are dehydrated, your muscles will be dry, so they will be hard and you will be sore. If you are dehydrated, you will not be able to move waste through your body. WATER, WATER, WATER
Speaking of water. Please don’t drink tapwater. With all the women on unnatural hormone replacement, men on viagra, and old folks on tons of medications (America is a very drug overdosed society) your municipal water treatment plants do not have a way to remove all the residue from these drugs. Every time someone flushes a toilet, you can be sure those impurities are going into your tapwater. Read “The Shocking Truth About Water” by Paul Bragg. You can get it here at a huge discount www.thriftbooks.com
I have been distilling my tapwater for over 10 years. You may purchase a Made In America water distiller, that will probably last your lifetime and more than pay for itself at www.myaquanui.com/graceskinner Send me an email if you have questions. I will give you a discount code for your purchase.
~ Staying Hydrated in Style ~
