5 Natural Oils For Your Summer Skincare

Vegetable oils are precious allies for our health since they have nutritional, antioxidant and protective properties, especially against the elements.

Summer is here, which for many is synonymous with vacations, beach, sun and fun, it is even more important to take care of and pamper our skin.

The harmful rays of the sun, the wind and high temperatures make our defenses have to work harder to fight against dehydration, burns or early aging.

Obviously, you should always avoid direct exposure during the hottest hours, drink plenty of water and consume fruits and vegetables in season, are the guidelines recommended by experts each year. In addition, you can take advantage of the benefits of pure oils to prevent or alleviate the most typical summer discomforts.

These 5 vegetable oils for the skin will surprise you with their properties and will help you protect and take care of your beauty and well-being during the fun summer days.

1 Argan oil

The thorny Argania is a tree that grows in semi-desert areas of Morocco and Algeria.

Argan oil is extracted from the fruit of the tree and has been for centuries as food and cosmetics. It has 80% essential fatty acids (omega 3 and 6) and vitamin E. Known to relieve the discomfort caused by sunburns and skin irritations; it is an antioxidant (reduces wrinkles and scars); hydrates and regenerates and provide elasticity to the skin and shine to the hair.

2 Jojoba oil

Jojoba is a plant that grows in the deserts of Mexico and California. The oil is extracted from its fruits, well known and widely used in the cosmetic sector. It is rich in ceramides, vitamin E, essential fatty acids and proteins. It is an effective protector against UVA rays, nourishing and softening, antioxidant and skin regenerator and it’s also used against dry skin and scalp problems (protects from aggressive products such as dyes, relieves itching and flaking).

3 Avocado oil

The fruit of the avocado tree comes from North and Central America and its oil is rich in beta-carotenes, vitamins of group B, E and K. It is used for problems of eczema, wrinkles and wounds. It is an effective sun protector.

4 Sesame oil

This plant is native to India and Africa. The high content of unsaturated fatty acids (omega 6 and 9) and of vitamins of group B and E make it especially suitable for massages. It has nourishing power for the skin and protects from the sun’s rays.

5 Rose Hip oil

A plant native to Chile, is known for its excellent oil. The oil coming from the roses contains 80% polyunsaturated fatty acids that offer a powerful regenerative action. It is used for its anti-wrinkle properties, but it is also effective in treating skin blemishes (due to the sun), eczema and wounds.

Now tell me, which of these oils would you use to begin with? Let me know if the comments below!

Easiest and Best Skin Scrub Ever

This is one of my favorite and easiest body scrubs you’ll ever seen. It will leave your skin looking and feeling ah-mazing.

Just a couple of ingredients and can be done by a 10 year old so you can do it too!

Check out my vegan, chemical free, home-made skin scrub.

What do you think, wanna give it a try? Let me know in the comments below!

Best Natural Hair Mask

People ask me all the time how do I keep my hair strong, healthy and shiny even when it’s processed and straightened.

Well, the secret is out on this video! Here’s the secret hair mask I’ve been using for years!

Give it a try and let me know how you like it in the comments below!

How To Prevent Premature Aging Naturally

Science has discovered the true underlying cause of disease: free radicals. Avoiding the damage caused by inflammation, acidity and free radicals can be as simply as keeping these 2 foods and ingredients out of your diet.

Check out this video to learn the surprising news about how to prevent premature aging naturally.

Did you know about these 2 huge sources of inflammation? Have you eliminated these from your diet and noticed a huge difference in your skin, energy levels or midriff? Let me know by leaving a comment below!

Why I’m Switching To A Bamboo Toothbrush (And Get A Chance To Win One)

Throughout the years, as I continue learning about how to be respectful and honor myself and my home (planet earth), I’ve made major changes that I believe are better for my body and for the environment.

So with my latest switch, I wanted to tell you a bit about my experience in hopes that it can help you make a conscious decision. And here it is: A Bamboo Brush!

Check out the video below more and find out how you can get a chance TO WIN some toothbrushes!

Have you tried bamboo brushes? What has been your experience with it. Would you be willing to try it?! Leave a comment below and let’s start a conversation.

How To Make A Detox Bath

Detox is a process your body does naturally without you even knowing it.  However, the capacity of your body’s detoxification process is not endless. AND, your body may not be equipped to handle the barrage of toxicity is it exposed to.

But do not despair. There is a fun, cheap, easy-to-do activity that can help out as it will encourage the body to efficiently flush out toxins. A BATH!

A detox bath is one of the easiest healing therapies that can be done to facilitate and enhance our body’s natural detoxification process.

There are a few types of detox baths that you can do, all of whom are extremely easy to do, inexpensive, requiring only a couple of ingredients. Check out 2 of my favorite ones here!

Do you have other detox bath ideas? What are some of the stuff that you use on your bath that you know help in the detox process? Let me know by sharing below!

How Do You Get Rid Of Cellulite?

Can you really get rid of cellulite?

This is the age-old question for the roughly 80% of women out there suffering from pesky cellulite (and for the men who have to hear the regular complaints!)

The short answer is YES! I believe you can.

The long answer is, this is a very complex question and the answer can vary from person to person, depending on your diet, lifestyle, genes, even your level of toxicity (which varies from person to person).

I also started practicing some beautifying routines that I’m sharing on today’s video with you. Check them out and let’s put them in practice and get rid of the cellulite once and for all!

 http://youtu.be/XIOLX_isEag

I still have cellulite (yes, I hate it too) but I have a LOT less than I did years ago when I was still eating foods that are considered to be “okay” but we all know deep down are not that “okay” for us.

Patience and perseverance are KEY! You must try these for a minimum of 8 weeks before you start seeing results. Give them a try and let me know below how is your progress going!

Why I Only Use Products That Do Not Test On Animals

Did you know that 15 Billion animals are burned, tortured and operated on (with NO anesthesia) every year to test your cosmetics, cleaners and  perfumes.

15 BILLION!

Why do they have to suffer for us to have ONE more bottle of perfume, ONE more lipsticks! Check out today’s video to learn more!

This is a controversial, uncomfortable and important conversation that we must start having today. Change happens from a place of discomfort. Let’s get really uncomfortable about the abuses that these creatures suffer and make a significant difference with our wallets.

That’s the only language companies understand and they will have to listen!

What’s your take on this issue? Would you consider buying products that specifically say they don’t test on animals? Let me know in the comments below!

The Food For Thought Summit Coming Soon!

For the last 4 months, I’ve been working on a little project that I’m really excited about and now I’m ready to share with you!

It’s called Food For Thought: The Mind, Body, Spirit Summit!

From April 14th-18th, I’ll be interviewing top wellness experts (doctors, nutritionists, therapists, coaches, best-selling authors) on how they manage to sustain a healthy lifestyle. All interviews will be available online at the Food For Thought website.

Since I know you’ve been searching for practical ways to live a healthier, more active lifestyle, the Food for Thought Summit is here to help you!

The #1 reason why people struggle to keep a healthy lifestyle is overwhelm. There’s just too much information out there! This summit will help you cut through the clutter, learn ways to stay motivated and create your own personal wellness revolution!

Click Here to check out the website and more details!

As a loyal member of my community you have immediate access to the summit and the Facebook Group Absolutely FREE!

SHARE this post with your friends so they too get FREE access to the summit.

Spring Cleaning Tips and Tricks

Many of the common substances and materials you find at home can contribute to allergies, asthma, developmental issues in children, skin irritation and the toxicity of your body.

I believe that any weekend could be a perfect moment to do some serious “Spring” cleaning around your house.

So I decided to give you some simple strategies here to ensure that your home is no longer consider a hazard zone.

You will be able to replace a few key items so you can become an even stronger Wellness Warrior.

If you pick one room per weekend, in roughly a month’s time your house will be a cleaner, healthier, more sustainable place for you to live in.

So tell me, which one of these rooms are you tackling first and why?

If you have already made some of these changes, how have them changed your life? Share this with at least 3 friends!

 

5 Natural Beauty Tips From My Grandmother

My grandmother was a wise woman. Her name was Eva. She only achieved a 4th grade education and rarely left the corners of her own home but she could cook the most magnificent Caribbean dishes you would ever hope to taste and had a wealth of knowledge about home[opatic] remedies that rivaled any wellness expert today.

She was a voracious reader, she could read an entire book in a single day.

Mami Eva (that’s how we called her) and my grandfather always used to say that books are the best teachers: they don’t lose patience, they’re always available and ready to impart their knowledge and they’ll repeat what they have to teach you as many times as you need to, until you finally get it.

Some of my most precious memories of my grandmother involved her teaching my sisters and I tricks and tips to get softer, shinier and more beautiful skin and hair. She would read about a particular herb, condiment or food that contained this or that vitamin.

Or use us as guinea pigs to try a new concoction she learned from someone else’s travels to India, Africa or the Middle East. It was all very strangely nurturing and we loved it.

Because, the truth is, they totally worked!

Here are some of the best and most effective beauty tips you’ve probably never heard of, straight from Mami Eva’s drawer:

 

Avocado Hair Mask

This wonderful fruit is ubiquitous in the Caribbean. We use to eat it regularly but when the avocados were too ripe to eat, we would mash them and put them in our hairs as a hair mask. The oils in the avocado can penetrate the hair molecules better than almost any other oil, nourishing it and protecting it from the sun, the environment and the chemical process.

 

Hydrogen Peroxide Facial Toner

This is hands down the best toner I’ve ever used. Just like it cleans wounds and prevents infections, it clears dirt, excess make-up and excess oil from your face like nothing else I’ve tried. It is wonderful to prevent and heal acne, including adult acne (which I had suffered from for years). And the best part is, there are no chemicals, or harsh residues to deal with, just water and oxygen. For oily skin, use it once a day. Normal to dry skin up to 3 times per week.

 

Brown Rice Mask

Apparently used by women in Asia for hundreds of years, a simple mask made of organic brown rice and water is known to help clear out blemishes and hyper pigmentation, fight wrinkles and works as sun protection. We used it, not only on our faces, but pretty much everywhere. It will leave your skin feeling hydrated, and soft like a baby. Wash the rice thoroughly first, then cover it with distilled water and let it sit overnight. The rice will become a paste that will sit at the bottom of the bowl. Remove the excess of water and apply the remaining paste on your face and body. Leave for 10 minutes before rinsing off. 

 

Garlic For Hair Growth

The smell could be a bit strong but it is oh, so worth it. My grandmother used to say that the garlic’s anti-inflammatory and antibiotic properties would help clear out and heal clogged hair follicles and allow the scalp to breathe, which in turn promotes hair growth. Generation of women in my family have used minced garlic on their hair and we all loved the end results. Mince a clove of garlic and add it to 1/3 cup of jojoba oil (we used olive oil back in the day but jojoba will help neutralize the odor a lot more effectively).  Spread it over your scalp with a cotton ball and let it sit for up to 20 minutes.

 

Eat For Beauty

My grandmother’s mixed heritage included African, Native American (Taínos) and Spanish. She learned cooking traditions and the use of wonderful herbs and condiments from her own grandparents. Later in life, she realized that some of those herbs consumed regularly and generously, could help you stay young and beautiful for years. So every time she made a stew, a soup or almost any other dish for us girls, she added things like coconut oil, dandelion, fennel or basil. Other great foods she used that are great for your skin and hair include tomatoes, safflower oil, carrots, spinach, aloe and sweet potatoes.

About Jovanka

Jovanka Ciares is a former entertainment executive turned Wellness expert, detox specialist, nutrition educator and author. She is the creator of the Wellness Smackdown™, a proprietary detox and weight loss program for natural weight loss which was featured on the first season of ABC’s “My Diet Is Better Than Yours”...

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