White Tea - Skin Tea Extraordinaire

Hi Everyone...


We have all heard of Green Tea...  We have been told about all of the health benefits of it and you see it everywhere!

However, do you know about the benefits of WHITE TEA?  

Let me tell you...  If you didn't know, there are 4 different categories of tea which all comes from the same tea plant which is Camellia Sinensis.  Those categories are White, Green, Oolong and Black.  What makes each category of tea unique is the amount of processing done to the tea. 

White Tea is the most delicate of the four major tea categories as it is the least processed.   Because it is the least processed, it contains the greatest amount of antioxidants than the other categories (you know, the less you alter something the better it is).   These antioxidants help protect your body against free radicals which wreak havoc on your skin.  White Tea has amazing anti-aging properties!

It is best to use loose leaf white tea.  There are a couple of stores which strictly sell loose tea..  My favorite is a store called TEAVANA (they have about 160 stores nationwide).  

Simply steep the tea in 175 degree water (boiling water with 2 ice cubes -- trust me its still an enjoyable cup of hot tea, but plain boiling water will burn the leaves) strain and drink.  To get the best benefits from White Tea (or any tea) is to drink 2 cups daily minimum for about a month.   By that time you should start to get the benefits of the tea.  You can also soak a washcloth in the steeped tea (make sure its skin comfortable before applying) and place like a pack on your face.  Leave on your face for about 10-15 minutes.  Repeat 2-3 times daily for maximum benefits. 

My company Desert Sierra Naturals is actually in the process of developing skin care infused with White Tea.

Until Next Time!
Shermaine

Can Salmon Save Your Skin???

Hi Everyone!

Ok... A girlfriend of mine was reading Dr. Perricone's book on healthy aging and she was excitedly telling me that I should be eating salmon. Ok.... As I listened with interest, I couldn't exactly match her enthusiasm because I didn't know if I could believe a man who says his $200 per ounce serum is the best because Oprah uses it. Hmmmm..... Oprah has a gazillion dollars to test any product she chooses and this man has about a gazillion dollars from selling $200 serum! Do I jump up and down? Not yet.

So as I always do, I did a little research... Seems as though, some of the good doctor's information is supported by American Journal of Clinical Nutrition. In the Journal's April 2009 issue, researchers followed the eating habits of more than 1,100 Australian adults for approximately five years and found that those who ate a little more than 5 ounces of omega-3-rich fish—such as salmon and tuna—each week decreased the development of precancerous skin lesions by almost 30 percent. These lesions called actinic keratoses and are a common sign of chronic sun damage which could lead to skin cancer if left untreated.

Now... Is the post about Dr. Perricone? Not at all... I have no check coming in the mail for saying this, but he has been quite vocal regarding the amazing skin protecting properties of salmon. Now as far as the expensive serum? Ask Oprah.

Anyway... So the next time you plan that relaxing day in the sun, don't forget to pack your sunscreen and it couldn't hurt to finish the day with a great salmon dinner!

Can't eat salmon? Tuna works well; and if all else fails, you can buy omega 3 oils in pill form... Protect your body... Protect your skin!

Until Next Time,
Shermaine

Honey -- Not just for your tea!

Hey Everyone,

Honey has long been considered as the premier natural sweetener.  I love it and it's pretty much all I use for my loose leaf tea.  But recently honey has popped up in different skin care products...  Wonder why?  I will tell you.

Honey is amazing for the skin!  Not only does it contain the usual suspects like glucose and sucrose (which is why it's sweet), it also contains Vitamin B5 (Provitamin B5 is a premier ingredient in many of those expensive skin serums on the market).

The properties of honey when applied to skin through products, allows the skin to retain moisture and honey actually nourishes the skin!   I'm actually in the process of formulating a body scrub using honey (keep a look out for it! -- Hey... A girl's got a company to run!)

Be on the lookout for products using honey, but be CAREFUL.  Watch for those parabens!  Doesn't make sense to pay the extra money for the natural goodness of honey in your products and have it contain those dangerous parabens!

Until next time,
Shermaine

Lovely Lavender

Hey Everyone!

I know a lot of us use Lavender for its scent -- either in our baths or in clothes or as a great air freshener.  Matter of fact, my company Desert Sierra Naturals uses lavender in my Sleepy Nite Nite Sea Kelp Bath Salts for its relaxing properties.

But did you know that it's actually great for your skin?  Let me explain...

Lavender is an antiseptic and has amazing anti-inflammatory properties.  It was used in hospitals during World War I to heal cuts and burns.  It's great in baths as a means of helping reduce and eliminate skin boils (the irritating kind that shows up on your bottom) -- sorry for being graphic.

Lavender is also great -- when properly diluted (I'll tell you how to in a minute) as a great facial oil for those with problem skin (I use it on my son's skin - 17 years old, with acne -- you know..)

Please be careful when it comes to using Lavender essential oils however.  I've seen on some websites where they say it's ok to use it directly on your skin.  It's NOT!  You NEED to dilute the oil in a carrier oil.  I prefer Jojoba Oil because of how great it is for my eczema.  However, Sweet Almond Oil works well too.  You can even place a couple of drops in your favorite natural lotion.

There are many different types of Lavender and the cost of the essential oil can vary from inexpensive to very expensive.  However, the healing properties of Lavender grown in the US are the same as French Lavender and is much less expensive! 

So head out to your local natural foods market or your favorite natural ingredients website and give it a try.

Til Next Time,
Shermaine

Shea Butter - Did you Know?

Hey Everyone....

Most of you should have already heard of (or used) Shea Butter. However, for those who haven't, let's go through a quick overview...

Shea butter or Shea nut butter is a slightly yellowish or ivory-colored natural fat extracted from fruit of the shea tree by crushing and boiling. Shea butter is widely used in cosmetics as a moisturizer and an emollient. The shea or karite tree, formerly Butyrospermum paradoxum, is now called Vitellaria paradoxa. It produces its first fruit (which resemble large plums) when it is about 20 years old and reaches its full production when the tree is about 45 years old. It produces nuts for up to 200 years after reaching maturity. The shea tree grows naturally in the wild in the dry savannah belt of West Africa from Senegal in the west to Sudan in the east, and onto the foothills of the Ethiopian highlands.

Shea butter is marketed as being effective at treating the following conditions: fading scars, severely dry skin, blemishes, dark spots, skin discolorations, chapped lips, and stretchmarks. Shea butter provides natural ultraviolet sun protection, although the level of protection is extremely variable, ranging from nothing to approximately SPF 6

But there are a few things you may not have known about this wonderful ingredient.

Did you know that pure Shea Butter is edible? In West Africa, the ingredient is used as a cooking oil and also as a substitute for cocoa butter in the Chocolate industry.
Did you know that toilet paper manufacturer Andrex released a Shea Butter enriched toilet roll to the UK market in Summer 2009? (talk about gentle to the touch)
Did you know that in Nigeria, it is believed to be very effective in the management of sinusitis and relief of nasal congestion? This is due to its emollient properties which helps in relaxing the tension in the face skin thus easing respiration. All one needs do, if one has sinus problems or congestion, is rub a considerable amount of the butter in and around the nostrils.
Did you know Shea butter is used in some indigenous ceremonies? Followers of the Holy Spirit Movement rebel group of Uganda smeared their bodies with shea butter in the belief that it would stop bullets! (ok... this is where the disclaimer comes in! Please do not attempt to use shea butter as a means of repelling bullets -- there is no scientific evidence that supports this practice and is deemed fatal if attempted)... I just thought it was an interesting tidbit, but I have to protect myself, you know???
Anyway, Shea Butter is a great emollient and moisturizer to be used in soaps and skin care! Give it a try... You may like it too... Protect your body. Protect your skin.

Calendula - Just A Pretty Flower?

Hi Everyone...

When I was a child, my mother always had beautiful potted marigolds in the house during the spring and summer months. But I'm sure my mom didn't know that there was more to this plant than simply it's beauty. There is!!!

Calendula (Marigolds) are a member of the daisy family Asteraceae, native to the area from Macaronesia east through the Mediterranean region to Iran. They are "Pot Marigolds", not to be confused with Marsh Marigolds or Corn Marigolds. I'm talking about the ones that you buy each spring at the Home Depot or Lowes...

Anyway, besides being a pretty plant, the petals are used to make an extract which is fabulous for our skin! It's anti-inflammatory properties suggest that it is ideal for acne and eczema as it soothes irritated skin. More and more this tincture is being introduced by the cosmetics industry in their skin care products. It's even being used in stretch mark creams (like Desert Sierra Naturals' "Love That Bump!") because of the soothing effects on a mommy's tender belly..

Calendula is also considered edible. It is often sprinkled on salads to add color and unique flavor.

Until Next Time,

Shermaine

Jojoba Oil - What makes this oil so amazing?

Hey Everyone!

Jojoba Oil... We've seen it in cosmetic products for years. But all anyone has ever told us is that it's great for the skin.. But why? I think today's the day we shed some light on this fabulous oil...

Jojoba Oil is the liquid wax produced in the seed of the jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis) plant, a shrub native to southern Arizona, southern California and northwestern Mexico. The oil makes up approximately 50% of the jojoba seed. One reason is it is favored by the cosmetics industry is its stability. Jojoba Oil is more shelf stable (You can keep it longer before it spoils) than several other commonly used oils including Sweet Almond Oil and Safflower Oil.

Another reason is that Jojoba Oil is a great moisturizer for our skin! This is because Jojoba Oil's chemical composition is similar to Sebum. Sebum is excreted from the sebaceous glands in our body which lubricates our skin; which explains why absorbs so quickly into the skin and is non-irritating (it mimics what our body's already produce -- therefore you are not introducing something completely foreign that your body may reject, thereby causing skin irritation)...

But did you know that Jojoba Oil is eco-friendly as well? Jojoba oil is also used as a replacement for whale oil and its derivatives, such as cetyl alcohol. The ban on importing whale oil to the US in 1971 led to the discovery that it is in many regards superior to sperm oil for applications in the cosmetics and other industries. That's great news for the whales who are very quickly reaching extinction...

Great for your skin and great for the environment... Why would you not include this amazing natural ingredient to your skin care "arsenal"?

 

Until next time,

Shermaine

 

P.S.  Desert Sierra Naturals Body Lotion is based in this fabulous Jojoba Oil!  You should try some (like I said before, a girl's got a business to run - LOL!)