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!)

Why should I take Spirulina???

Hey Everyone!

I take Organic Spirulina every day. I do so because I have a tendency to run B Vitamin deficient and anemic (I also run Vitamin D deficient but that's for another post)  So this morning as I took my pill, I thought this would be a perfect topic for my blog as a healthy immune system is the foundation for healthy skin.

So here we go! Spirulina is a cyanobacteria (Blue Green Algae). Cyanobacteria are found in almost every conceivable environment, from oceans to fresh water to bare rock to soil. Aquatic cyanobacteria are probably best known for the extensive and highly visible blooms that can form in both freshwater and the marine environment and can have the appearance of blue-green paint or scum. Scum? Sounds appetizing, right? Keep reading... Spirulina is cultivated around the world, and is used as a human dietary supplement as well as a whole food and is available in tablet, flake, and powder form.

Spirulina contains an unusually high amount of protein, between 55% and 77% by dry weight, depending upon the source. It is a complete protein containing all essential amino acids, when compared to the proteins of meat, eggs, and milk. It is, however, superior to typical plant protein, such as that from legumes.

Spirulina provides docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). DHA is the most abundant omega 3 fatty acid (polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFAs) in the brain and retina. It comprises 40% of the PUFAs in the brain and 60% of the PUFAs in the retina. 50% of the weight of the neuron's plasm membrane is composed of DHA.*

Spirulina contains vitamin B1 (thiamine), B2 (riboflavin), B3 (nicotinamide), B6 (pyridoxine), B9 (folic acid), vitamin C, vitamin D, and vitamin E. It has also been shown that people who use Spirulina regularly have had their blood pressure and cholesterol levels improved.

So... I know you all have seen the green powder at your health food store and it doesn't look tasty -- but in pill form, you don't even have to taste it (wink!)...

Protect your Body... Protect your skin!

Until Next Time

-Shermaine

Smoke and the Aging Skin

I... am a smoker..  There, I've said it!  I feel like I'm at an AA meeting.  But I'm trying to stop.   Anyone who smokes knows how hard it is to quit when things are good... But throw excessive stress into the mix and it's almost an impossibility.  We know about the damage that smoking does to the lungs (I don't know what color mine are right now), but did you know it affects our skin in a REALLY bad way!  It AGES us! 

Check out this tidbit of information from The Mayo Clinic... 

Smoking can speed up the normal aging process of your skin, contributing to wrinkles. These skin changes may occur after only 10 years of smoking. The more cigarettes you smoke and the longer you smoke, the more skin wrinkling you're likely to have — even though the early skin damage from smoking may be hard for you to see.
And smoking doesn't cause wrinkles only on your face. Smoking also is associated with increased wrinkling and skin damage on other parts of your body, including your inner arms.
While the skin wrinkles may not be reversible, you can prevent worsening of wrinkling by quitting smoking now.
How does smoking lead to wrinkles? The nicotine in cigarettes causes narrowing of the blood vessels in the outermost layers of your skin. This impairs blood flow to your skin. With less blood flow, your skin doesn't get as much oxygen and important nutrients, such as vitamin A. Many of the over 4,000 chemicals in tobacco smoke also damage collagen and elastin, which are fibers that give your skin its strength and elasticity. As a result, skin begins to sag and wrinkle prematurely because of smoking.
In addition, repeated exposure to the heat from burning cigarettes and the facial expressions you make when smoking — such as pursing your lips when inhaling and squinting your eyes to keep out smoke — may contribute to wrinkles.

So...  How do you like that?  Not good at all is it?  I'm cringing as I'm writing!  Let's try to quit.  We are going to age regardless...  Let's not speed up the appearance of aging with the smoking.  Maybe we can do it together.  Send me a comment and we'll get on board!

Protect your skin,
Shermaine

Strawberries -- Who Knew?

It's Summertime!  This is the time we enjoy the wide array of fabulous fresh fruits... Especially strawberries!  But did you know that strawberries are great for your skin???  Let me tell you why.

Strawberries have a chock full of Vitamin C and antioxidants which help remove toxins from the body.  Well most skin problems -- specifically acne, come from an excess of toxins and oils in the body.  So.. remove the toxins, help the skin issue.

US Researchers say 1 cup of strawberries a day are a great way to not only help remove toxins, but it's a great boost to the immune system because of the Vitamin C.

Strawberries are in abundance now!  Enjoy their flavor and their benefits for your skin.

Until next time!

Psychodermatology

Hey Everyone,

 

Let me ask you... When you are upset or anxious, do you also itch? I know I do. And because I suffer from eczema, the smallest touch of anxiety and I itch like crazy. Generally, I can use topical cremes from the dermatologist to soothe it, but when I'm upset, nothing helps... And I have always wondered why... Well now the study of just this particular condition has a name... Psychodermatology - You knew someone would give bad nerves and itchy skin a formal name :)

Psychodermatogy is a field that addresses the impact of an individual's emotion as it relates to the skin.

"The mind and skin are connected on many different levels," Mallin tells WebMD. "A lot of nerve endings are connected to the skin, which wraps around the organs, so as emotions are played out neurologically, they can be expressed through the skin just as stress can be expressed through gastrointestinal symptoms, increased anxiety, or hypertension."

So when you begin to itch uncontrollably, take a second to evaluate your emotions. If you find that things are a little chaotic, take a minute to find a quiet area and collect your thoughts. It should make you feel a little better.

Pomegranate Oil - Have you heard?

The benefits of pomegranate juice have been getting a lot of press in recent years, and the extract of this juice has been finding its way into many new skin care products. Less well known, but perhaps even more significant, are the benefits of pomegranate seed oil.  Similar to pomegranate juice and extract, the oil from the seeds of the pomegranate provides a powerful anti-oxidant benefit, fighting free radicals that damage and age the skin. But pomegranate oil is also contains Omega 5 which is the only known botanical form of Conjugated Linolenic Acid (CLnA), also known as Punicic Acid, and one of the most potent antioxidants known.

Pomegranate Oil is great for sensitive skin!  Because it does have healing properties, it's great for people with eczema (like me) who suffer from breakouts from time to time. 

Actually Desert Sierra Naturals will be featuring this amazingly powerful oil in upcoming products.  So look for it soon!

Aloe Vera - Mother's Miracle Plant

Hey Everyone,

If you are like me, your mother had the infamous Aloe Vera Plant sitting somewhere in the house. As soon as I got a burn or a "boo-boo", first thing my mother did was cut one open one of the leaves and apply the gel inside. I generally liked this method as opposed to the alcohol that burned like crazy! The Aloe Gel felt cool and soothing. My mother would make sure everyday for about a week she would put the gel on that spot, and in a relatively short period of time, the area was healed. No stinging & no medicinal smell. It wasn't until I got older that I realized why it worked the way it did.

Aloe Vera Gel (or Juice) has inflammation and/or swelling reduction properties which would explain why it works so well on burns; and is a great topical application for skin with chronic skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis as it is soothing and helps to eliminate itchiness.

 

As always...  Mama did know best!

 

 

Parabens -- What are they and are they dangerous?

Parabens -- What are they and are they dangerous?

Hey Everyone!

Parabens? What the heck is that? Why is everyone freaking out about them? Well, I am going to let you know what they are, what to look for on your skin care labels and some of the effects. As always, I am going to let you come to your own conclusion at the end.

Ok... Parabens are preservatives used to keep products from spoiling; allowing it to stay on the shelf in your local drug store for what seems like forever. Many of your favorite skin care companies use these in their products. It can be found in everything from Shampoo & Bath Gel (remember... the skin absorbs everything...) to toothpaste. Most common forms of these are methylparaben, ethylparaben, propylparaben or butylparaben. So what does that mean to you??

A study conducted by Dr. Phillipa Darbre and colleagues at the University of Reading, United Kingdom, published in 2004, showed that there was substantial amount of paraben compounds in breast cancer tumors (18 traces of parabens found out of 20 tumor samples). It was suggested that parabens found in underarm deodorants migrated to the breast cells and eventually caused the growth of tumors cells in the breast of both women & MEN (yes... men have breast tissue also!)

Many people were also found to develop allergic reactions due to use of products containing parabens. Parabens may trigger various types of dermatitis (eczema) and other skin conditions. When absorbed by the body, it is suggested that parabens cause estrogenic effects. They mimic and behave like estrogen, leading to various interferences with the endocrine system.

Admittedly, there are no hard scientific studies that categorically point out parabens as bad and harmful to the body. So far, studies, such as the 2004 University of Reading research conducted, only indicate correlation between paraben intake and certain diseases. In other words, there are no very conclusive report that is widely accepted in the scientific community. In fact, the American Cancer Society has concluded that there is no good scientific evidence to support a claim that use of cosmetics such as antiperspirants increase an individual's risk of developing breast cancer.

So... Are parabens bad??? Well, if we listen to the American Cancer Society, there is nothing to support these claims, but I haven't seen anything to completely discredit the claims either (and I've looked!) ... So, I feel, that if you are really serious about your health and well-being, you may want to eliminate placing any product on your body that is linked to studies which suggest it causes cancer. But as always... The choice is yours. Protect your skin... Protect your body...

Avocado Butter - One of Mother Nature's Best Moisturizers

 

 

Hey Everyone!

 

First let me start by saying HAPPY EARTH DAY!  I wanted to talk about something that keeps being brought up when I speak about having sensitive skin.  Whenever I say I have eczema or sensitive skin, the first words out of most people is Shea Butter.  Unfortunately, as I'm sure many of you who have extremely sensitive skin like myself have discovered, I can't use shea butter.   It STILL irritates my skin!  For the longest time, tried different companies that offer shea butter -- including the quite expensive one in the Silver Tube, and still my skin would tingle and itch.

 

Well, if you are like me and can't use Shea Butter, I wanted to let you in on what is my personal preference in skin moisturizing. Avocado Butter!!  I love this so much!

Avocado Butter comes from the flesh of the avocado fruit. It is is rich in vitamins E, A and D, unsaturated fatty acids and lecithin, all of which are beneficial to your general health and especially to that of your skin. Its a little heavy, but eczema suffers like myself generally have very dry skin so it works for us.  And it also aids in the restoration of discolored skin due to eczema breakouts (which can make our skin look HORRIBLE!)

Now you know if it's amazing for skin like mine, it's great for any other skin type!

 

Want to see how great it is? Right before bed, rub pure avocado butter on your hands and then place them in cotton gloves. I guarantee in the morning, your hands will be "baby's bottom" smooth.

Give it a try.  But I warn you... You will get hooked!

 

Chat Soon,

Shermaine

Insanity - An Introduction

Hey everyone,

Insanity is defined by Einstein as (paraphrased) - When you continue to do the same thing over and over, but expect a different result.

How many of us do this?  Many of us are taught that if we keep trying it, we will eventually get us.  But did you know that successful people are taught, keep trying, but do something a little DIFFERENT until you find what works.  So how many of us are spinning our wheels doing the same thing, the exact same way and wondering why we can't get ahead.

I started a business in 2008 called The Body Patisserie.  It was a line of natural and organic bath and body products in pastry scents.  Well... First I didn't listen when it was first brought to my attention that maybe I should use a different name (when I couldn't get a trademark that should have been another indication).  then when I was told that the packaging was a little too juvenile - and the writing too difficult to read, I still didn't listen.  And when I was told that maybe just pastry scents may not be the way to go... Guess?  Nope!  Didn't listen.  I kept plugging away only on social media sites and trying to get in blogs and such.  And I did this for 2 years.  I gave away product like you would not believe and after 2 years, I conducted a survey of those who had subscribed to our site and learned that they only saw the products as cute and more of a novelty or as great for kids.  2 years of doing it the same way, and getting no results at all. 

So I had to take a hard look at what I wanted to do.  I created a new line.  Still using natural and organic ingredients, but geared directly for sensitive skin (like mine) and in a variety of scents.  I took it off line and started hitting the fairs and markets.  And guess what?   A good starting result.

I kept the concept (natural skin care), but I became more focused and opened up more avenues for sales.  A little something DIFFERENT.

So give it a try...  If you've been spinning your wheels, shift gears a little.  See if that makes the different.

I'll be with you to give you information on skin care -- especially for sensitive skin like mine - I'm a lifelong eczema sufferer -- as well as info on overall health.  Also, I'll take you on my journey for better wellbeing.  If you all have any suggestions or hear of anything, I hope you will let me know.

New products?  I will definitely shout them out as well as feature products from my line Desert Sierra Naturals (hey... a girl's got a business to run... LOL!)

I hope you will follow me... Also, check out our FB Page (Desert Sierra Naturals) and "like" us!

Chat Soon!
Shermaine