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The Benefits of Plant powders

9/27/2021

3 Comments

 

Nature's way to gently remove dirt and toxins for a glowing, clear complexion. Learn how to add them into your Skin care routine

Photo of chickpea, adzuki and black bean powders in a cobalt blue sushi dish
Chick Pea, Adzuki and Black Bean Powders Photo: Sherazad Jamal
I love a good facial exfoliation! I really enjoy this part of my skin care rituals for its massaging moves, and the almost instant payoff of skin that feels soft and smooth, refreshed and reset. 

Plant powders are my go-to for facial exfoliation. They are straight out of my grandmothers’ beauty playbook and I have been using them since childhood. I love them for their ability to gently remove dirt and toxins for a glowing, clear complexion. Using natural ingredients, like plant powders, gives you all that without destroying your skin biome. Win-win, right?

Your skin is in a constant state of cell turnover: As new skin cells are made, the older skin cells rise to the surface, dying in the process. Over time, the surface of your skin becomes host to a buildup of dead cells on the skin’s surface. Add pollution and other forms of environmental stressors to the mix, and-- hello, dull, rough and itchy skin. 

That’s where plant powders augmented with plant oils can really bring some beneficial goodness to your skin and its biome. Here’s why plant powders are a brilliant ingredient to add to your skin care routine.

1. Plant Powders are Gentle on the Skin

Woman getting gram flour and Turmeric mask treatment.
Woman getting gram flour and Turmeric mask treatment. Photo: Femina
When mixed with water (ideally distilled) and a few drops of plant oils, plant powders transform into a luxurious paste that draws out toxins and smooths the skin. They are incredibly gentle on the skin, exfoliating without scratching. No extra pressure is needed -- the granules will do the work. The massaging action you bring helps promote circulation and skin cell turnover.

2. PLANT POWDERS CONTAIN MUCH NEEDED SKIN NUTRITION

Plant powders are high in minerals and naturally derived proteins, vitamins and acids, all of which help draw out toxins, enhance skin cell health and  provide additional exfoliation by dissolving dead skin cells.

3. YOU CAN CUSTOMIZE PLANT POWDERS TO WHAT YOUR SKIN NEEDS AT THIS MOMENT

Depending on the day, season or your skin type, you can customize your plant powder paste to suit your skin’s needs. If you want more of a mask feel, use less water. If you want more of a general soft cleanser, use more water. If you need more moisturizing, add a few drops of oil to your blend. If you are having breakouts or skin irritation, add yogurt. If you need more antioxidants, add lemon juice. If you need to even out your skin tone and bring down inflammation, add turmeric. The possibilities are endless.

4. PLANT POWDERS HAVE A LONG SHELF LIFE, NO UNNEEDED PRESERVATIVES AND ARE TRAVEL FRIENDLY
Plant powders have a long shelf life. They don’t need preservatives, as they are not pre-mixed with liquids. You mix them up fresh, every time you use them. And because they are liquid-free, they can be carried while traveling with no fuss. Your face care will be there with you, where ever your destination.

HOW TO USE PLANT POWDERS IN YOUR SKIN CARE ROUTINE
Oat powder, yogurt and honey mask blend.
Oat powder, yogurt and honey mask blend. Photo: @herbsandherbs on Insta
Now that you know the overall benefits of using a plant powder to your skin, here is how to use them as a gentle cleanser:
  1. Put a heaping teaspoon’s worth of dry plant powder into the cupped palm of your hand
  2. Add a small amount of water and/or a few drops of oil
  3. Rub your hands together to create a creamy paste
  4. Apply to your face, using gentle circular motions, careful to avoid the delicate eye area
  5. Rinse your face thoroughly with water and pat skin dry

Here is how to use them as a face mask:
  1. Put a 1-2 heaping tablespoons of dry plant powder into a bowl
  2. Add a small amount of water and/or a few drops of oil and/or additional active ingredients. For oily skin yogurt, lemon juice; for normal skin, avocado paste; for dry skin, mashed banana. Honestly, the options are endless here.
  3. Blend into a smooth paste.
  4. Apply a layer of your mixture to your face using your fingers, careful to avoid the delicate eye area.
  5. Now go get a book or turn on Netflix. Let the mask sit for at least 20 minutes.
  6. Now exfoliate and cleanse your face with your fingers, using gentle, circular, lightly massaging motions, careful to avoid the delicate eye area
  7. Rinse your face thoroughly with water and pat skin dry

Have you used plant powders in your skincare routine? Which are you favourites and why?

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Sherazad Jamal is founder, formulator and chief bottle washer at Free Lion Body Care. When she's not testing out a new formula, making batches of Body Care products or fulfilling orders, she can be found puttering about in the garden, hanging out with loved ones, working on an art project or staring into space, dreaming a new dream. 
3 Comments

7  Daily practices for natural well being and beauty

7/22/2020

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A few little things you can do for yourself everyday to enhance your wellbeing while replenishing and protecting your skin

Woman smiling, holding a sunflower
The secret to being naturally beautiful rests not in a jar of expensive creams. Rather it is in a few little things you can do for yourself everyday to enhance your wellbeing while replenishing and protecting your skin from damage. So here are seven healthy habits that will leave you feeling and looking your best, naturally.

1. SLEEP IT OFF

Woman sleeping peacefully
A night of tossing and turning and a mirror check in the morning is all you need to understand just how much your skin needs a good night's sleep. A 2013 case study says as much.  In a first-of-its-kind clinical trial, physician-scientists found that sleep quality impacts skin function and aging. The study, commissioned by Estee Lauder, demonstrated that not having enough sleep increased signs of skin aging and slowed recovery from a variety of environmental stressors, such as disruption of the skin barrier or ultraviolet (UV) radiation. 
Those were just the physical symptoms. Not having enough sleep also decreased energy levels and sense of confidence and self worth. It was easier for a tired person to look in the mirror and find fault than someone who was de-stressed by complete rest. So in short, sleep well because it will help your skin, mind and spirit regenerate.

2. SWEAT IT OUT

Older Woman jogging on the beach
Your Skin is your body's largest organ. Just as exercise keeps your other organs, like the heart, in healthy form, it also enhances the skin's ability to repair the effects of aging and other damage. In fact, the moment your heart starts beating faster, muscles pump out more of a protein (IL-15) that powers your skin cells' mitochondria to act younger—over time, that can make skin some 25 years younger at the microscopic level, according to a study at McMaster University in Ontario.

You don't have to go crazy on cardio for your skin to get the benefit of exercise and increased oxygenation in your body. Pick something that works for you and do it regularly. Consistent exercise will likely help on the sleep front, too.

Also, consider hitting the sauna or the steam room on a regular basis (though in this COVID period, a steaming hot shower could do the trick, too). It's a lot like having a facial but for the whole body. Fifteen minutes in the steam room opens pores, increases sweating, stimulates circulation, and eliminates toxins. The elevated heat and the increased sweating and circulation stimulates the reproduction of collagen and deeply cleanses and rejuvenates your skin.

3. WALK IN THE SHADE

Woman walking under a red parasol
Protect your skin from the sun with sunscreen, yes. But also by covering up with long flowing garments or a sun parasol. Don't forget your sunglasses for UV protection (and the fashion factor). And when you're outdoors, seek shade, especially between 10am and 4 pm. It would be a good time to go for a grounding forest bathing walk. Here are some summer shading suggestions from our Wild Beauty Blog, Three Chill Ways to Protect your Skin from the Sun.

4. STAY HYDRATED
Fruit infused drinking water
Keep the water going all summer long. If you're not a big fan of plain water, add fruit to create a lovely tasting fruit infused beverage. Or add a little bit of fruit juice to your water in a 1:4 proportion. 

If you're feeling a bit weak out there in the sun, your body may be low on electrolytes. Stay away from the Gatorade, though--it's full of sugar which causes other skin issues. Instead, consider throwing a Hydralyte tablet into your water bottle. Hydralyte is a Canadian made fizzy tablet, formulated with the right balance glucose and electrolytes for rapid rehydration.  Thom uses it frequently through the summer, as heat and dehydration can exacerbate his MS symptoms. But it's brilliant for anyone who needs a little boost in the hydration department.


5. DON'T WORRY, BE HAPPY
woman and daughters laughing on a video call
When you're stressed, cortisol goes up and does a number on your collagen proteins, causing dry skin and wrinkles. So find ways to bring your stress levels down.

Meditation with deep breathing helps calm your cortisol count while oxygenating your body. It can also help you get a good night's sleep. Book a massage or a hair cut or any other self-care service that you find relaxing. Hit the yoga mat at home or join a socially distanced Tai Chi class. Sing out loud or dance up a storm all over the living room furniture. Binge watch something hilarious. Or get on computer and hilari-chat it up with your besties.

Again, choose your stress reliever (one or more) and engage regularly and consistently. 


6. SCRUB AWAY THOSE DEAD SKIN BLUES
Woman using body scrub
Skin cells turn over constantly, and sometimes they need help to fully slough off. Give your skin an assist and exfoliate once or twice a week. For a scrub and polish, try Free Lion Namika Salt Scrub. It's formulated with some old-school Japanese beauty care ingredients like adzuki bean flour, rice flour and seaweed. The scent is a delightful blend of green tea and jasmine. Or try our Lavender Salt Scrub. This one is blended with clay and apricot kernel shells. The scent is pure relaxation as only Lavender can deliver.  If you have sensitive skin, try our Rose Garden Sugar Scrub. It's blended with some skin soothing oat and chickpea flour. The scent is both grounding and uplifting.  And you want to wake up your skin and smooth out that bumpy cellulite look, give our Espresso  Sugar Scrub a go. It's a caramel macchiato for your skin!

7. CULTIVATE KINDNESS AND GRATITUDE
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When you can, reach out to someone to lend a hand, an ear or your heart. Things are difficult for many people these days and a kind, friendly word can help make all the difference--to them and to you. When we give of ourselves and connect with others, we get to step out of our own stories for a while and experience the reality of our interconnectedness. This is especially important during this COVID period when isolation feelings can be overwhelming.

Bookend your day with all the things in your life you are grateful for. Write them down or simply affirm them to yourself. This simple ritual will help clear the anxiety clouds of future thinking and open you up to receive the best the universe has to offer in this moment now. Your heart (and your skin) will thank you.
Sherazad Jamal, Free Lion Team


3 Comments

May 29th, 2020

5/29/2020

2 Comments

 

CHIA SEED OIL: A SUPER MOISTURIZING ROCK STAR

Chia Seeds and Oil
Chia Seeds and Oil
Sometimes you meet a oil that you just love, and loves you back, inside and out. Chia Seed Oil is one of those ingredient rock stars for which I just can't sing enough praises. On the inside, Chia Seeds are a super food that bring so many health benefits. On the skin, it's pure magic. It's moisturizing, soothing, softening, protective and anti-aging.

A BIT OF CHIA SEED HISTORY

Aztecs cultivating Chia Sage
Aztecs cultivated Chia Sage. It was a big part of their culture.
Chia's use  as a food source dates back to at least 3500 BC in South and Central America. Chia is a Mayan word meaning "strength".  It is believed that Chia seeds were used by Mayan messenger runners, who could carry in a small bag enough Chia seeds to feed and fortify themselves during long journeys, increasing their resistance.

The Aztecs used Chia as a medicine, using it to  stimulate saliva, relieve joint pain and soothe irritated skin. It was as important as corn, squash and beans  as a primary food source.
They ascribed their military prowess to the power of Chia in their diets. It was also used in their sacred and worldly ritual. Chia was given as sacrificial offering to the gods; extracted as tribute payments from conquered nations; and often used it as currency. Now, that's one valuable plant!

WHAT MAKES CHIA SEED SUCH A NUTRITIONAL SUPERSTAR?

Chia Seed Pudding
Chia Seed Pudding from HelloFreshBlog
Chia is rich in essential fatty acids, specifically omega-3 and omega-6. They are 5 x richer in calcium than cow’s milk; extremely high in vitamin C, 7 x more than oranges; high in iron,  3 x higher than spinach.  Last but not least, chia seeds are also high in potassium, selenium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin A, E and B6. Not to mention fibre and protein. Added bonus: they are gluten-free. 

So with all that nutritional power, chia seeds promote the correct functioning of the heart, brain and immune system while helping blood circulation by exerting an anti-oxidant function. They benefit teeth and bones, help improve your mental acuity, keep blood sugar and pressure in check, and are quite filling, should you be on a diet. All that in a tiny little seed.

WHAT MAKES CHIA SEED OIL FOR FABULOUS FOR SKIN?

Facial Oils for Mature skin
Once again, it's that Omega 3 and 6 fatty acid content that skin just soaks up. These fatty acids help maintain moisture levels in the skin which reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles as well as relieving dryness and flaking. Chia seed oil can also help with issues like rosacea or eczema on the face. It leaves your skin feeling soothed, smooth, soft and replenished. This is wonderful for dry and sensitive skin.

Chia seed oil is also a great source of vitamin B3 and zinc, which helps with oily skin and clogged pores. It also can help take down the inflammation and irritation that comes with break-outs. 

It's also full of amazing antioxidants, including chlorogenic acid and caffeic acid, as well as myricetin, quercetin, and kaempferol flavonoids, all of which protect your skin from environmental stressors. In fact, the antioxidants in chia seed oil have shown to be even stronger than vitamin C and vitamin E, two common and powerful antioxidants. This is exactly the kind of care normal skin needs to fight off signs of aging.

Put all of chia seed oils properties together—moisturizing, protection, and calming you have the perfect natural ingredient for maintaining your skin through all its changes. And that is why I chose to include it in all our Facial Oil blends.

ON A PERSONAL NOTE
mature woman who uses facial oils
I struggle with eczema and when i hit Peri-menopause 10 years ago, all hell broke loose. My skin became flaky and dry to the point of splitting. I experimented with different oil blends. And then I met Chia seed oil. It was love at first application. My skin felt so smooth, soft and soothed and I knew it had to go into my facial oil blend. I use Free Lion Facial Oils for Dry and Sensitive skin and it has really helped my skin adjust to all the hormone changes of menopause. The changes are all done now (this year I turn 57), and I find I rely on Facial Oils to maintain my skin health and happiness.
Sherazad Jamal


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