Cultured Vegetables

As you know, I'm a huge fan of probiotics. And one of the the best ways to get 'em into your body is by eating homemade fermented foods. Sauerkraut and Kimchee are examples of fermented vegetables, but the flavors and possibilities are endless. Wild Fermentation,by Sandor Ellix Katz (aka Sandorkraut), is a phenomenal book on the subject. Their website is full of great information, like this excerpt from his other book,The Revolution Will Not Be Microwaved.

Here is my method, but have a look around the ol' internets (there are even some You Tube videos), and you will find lots of variations.

1. Combine shredded or chopped cabbage and other veggies (like kale, carrot, daikon... experiment!) in a large bowl (clean the bowl first with soap and water, then rinse a few times with boiling water to make sure it's super clean).
2. Remove several cups of this mixture and put into a blender.
3. Add filtered water (enough to make a "brine" which will cover the veggies once they're in your jars).
4. Add a couple of tsps of high quality Sea Salt.
5. Blend well and then add some of the brine back into the bowl of veggies. Stir well.
6. Pack mixture down into super clean glass containers or a fermenting crock if you have one! I don't have a crock yet, but I do have various sizes of this type of jar, which seem to work very well. Use your fist, a clean wooden dowel, or a potato masher to pack veggies tightly... packing down and adding more veg as you go...
7. Fill jar almost full, but leave about 2 inches of room at the top for veggies to expand. Add enough brine to just cover the veggie mixture.
8. Roll up several cabbage leaves into a tight "log" and place them on top to fill the remaining 2 inch space. Clamp jar closed.
9. Let veggies sit at about a 70 degree room temperature for at least three days to a couple of weeks. Refrigerate once you start a jar. Yum!

It's normal for there to be a little bit of mold on the top cabbage leaves. Just pull the rolled up leaves out, and discard. And spoon away any that might be just at the top. Then stir up the yumminess, and enjoy!!


Natural probiotic foods are great for your health, and help to keep the skin glowing and beautiful!

Do you make your own? What's your favorite recipe?

Picky, picky...

Okay. This is a big one. Skin picking. Some of you know exactly what I'm talking about already. I mean, you already get that feeling in the pit of your stomach, because just hearing those words triggers a whole slew of vague but undeniable emotions. If you're a picker, you get it.
Those of you who don't get that feeling - consider yourselves lucky. Spared...!


Skin picking comes in various degrees of severity. And in its more serious forms has been referred to by more serious names:

Neurotic Excoriations
Acne Excoriee
Psychogenic Excoriations
Dermatillomania
Compulsive Skin Picking (CSP)
Psychodermotosis
Self Injurious Skin Picking (SISP)

I am a reformed picker. I remember - back in high school - being curled up on the floor in my room crying because of what I had done to my face. I really shouldn't have been left alone with a magnifying mirror in those days!! Fortunately, I was eventually steered in the right direction by my first esthetician who said to me, "Juliana, you're a picker. Go to school." And I did. I channeled the bad into good. Now I use my attention to detail and my knowledge about the skin to help make your skin require less picking! But I deeply understand that compulsive need to get rid of the pain and imperfection of what sometimes pops up on the skin.

I don't recommend picking at your own skin. Especially if you have a tendency to overdo it. Most times when clients come in, I can see the damage done, and I know how much better their skin would be looking without the gouges. The key, I think, is understanding that ultimately you are causing more harm than good. Did you know that there is a little tiny sac under the skin where the pimple is that holds bacteria? And that you can burst it under the skin when you go after that zit? This leads to the spreading of bacteria and more pimples. Best thing to do is apply ice to help take down swelling and kill bacteria. And use something medicated to spot treat... perhaps a dot of salicylic acid, some tea tree oil, or a bit of Volcanic Clay (Epicuren Volcanic Clay Mask). And come in for a facial. We do extractions under ideal and sanitary conditions without causing damage.

If you are a serious skin picker, there are some good resources online. You may need support. And you should not be ashamed to seek it out. Read some stories that other pickers have shared. And realize you are not alone. It is more common than you might think.

Here are a couple of online resources:

Stoppickingonme.com
Pickaderms

Voting is Super Pretty.

We couldn't always. Let's be sure to exercise our right to vote on Nov. 2nd!

Yes!

Beauty is an experience, nothing else. It is not a fixed pattern or an arrangement of features. It is something felt, a glow or a communicated sense of fineness.
~ D. H. Lawrence


(I would very much like to credit this artist, but can't find any info. Isn't it great?!)

Super Product

I love Epicuren's Acne Cleanser~ formerly known as Medicated Acne Cleanser. I guess they took out the word medicated because it makes the cleanser sound harsh, and it's not. And it really doesn't have to say acne on it either, because it's great for any skin type that may be prone to breakouts or congestion and is slightly on the oily side. As long as your skin isn't dry or dehydrated...it's a perfect, very mild, yet gently exfoliating cleanser. I think it should be called Acne Prevention Cleanser. It's just a touch medicated with 1% Salicylic Acid, yet it's got moisturizing and anti-inflammatory ingredients. Paraben free. Fragrance free.


We carry it at Petite Spa (where I work) - stop by for some and say hello!!

Smells Pretty (but not too pretty)

As you may have gathered from an earlier post, I am not fond of artificial fragrance. That includes any kind of synthetic perfume, perfume-y lotions, scented candles, and most incense. Most. But not all. There is one type of incense that I absolutely, positively love. I'd like you to meet Tara Healing Incense.


Original Tara Healing Incense

I find most incense to be cloyingly sweet, headache inducing, slightly nauseating, and generally irritating. Probably because it's toxic. An occasional whiff of Nag Champa is nostalgic - and doesn't bother me too much. But really, this is the only incense that not only agrees with me, but kinda rocks my world.

It is made by Tibetan refugees living in India, and this is what it says on the box:

"Tara Healing Incense which has been used for centuries old is a traditional Tibetan medicine for stress, depression and tension. It is prepared by hand according to ancient Tibetan medical system and is composed of 31 different pure and natural herbs. It is effective, non-toxic and non-addictive."

I always have a stash at home. And a few extra boxes on hand to give as gifts. A delightful little thing. Enjoy!

Probiotics. Skin.

Probiotics are beneficial bacteria.


Good bacteria help keep the immune system healthy. Your diet and lifestyle largely dictate the balance of good bacteria to bad bacteria hanging out in your body. Things like antibiotics (which kill ALL the bacteria, the good with the bad), long term use of birth control pills, stress, diets high in sugar, wheat, and processed foods all diminish your body's good guy count. Sometimes the bad guys can take over and cause other problems (like yeast and other fungal infections). That's why doctors often recommend eating yogurt when you take antibiotics - because yogurt contains acidophilus and acidophilus is a probiotic.

It is optimal to take a high quality probiotic supplement. You can buy probiotic supplements at any health food store. If you ask where they are, you will most likely be directed to the refrigerated section, as most probiotics need to be in the fridge to stay alive. Here's the deal though: there are several brands of probiotics that are stable at room temp and don't need to be refrigerated. I prefer these. That way, I can simply keep them in my purse and take them at my convenience.

Here are a few brands I like, but there are many:

Jarro-Dophilus EPS

Dr. Ohhira's

PB 8

Kyo-Dophilus

It's important to have various strains of probiotics in your supplement, too. Some brands have just one strain, some have a bunch. Go for the ones with a bunch and switch them up from time to time, so your body gets lots of different good guys.

In 1964, Dr. R. H. Siver conducted a study using probiotics to treat gastric and intestinal disorders. He discovered that, in addition to improving his patients' gastrointestinal conditions, facial skin cleared up in 80% percent of his patients with acne. And the skin improved within the first two weeks of supplementation. Wow, right? Isn't it crazy that that was in the 60s and to this day most dermatologists still prescribe antibiotics (to teenagers, no less) for acne. The antibiotics only really appear to help while you're taking them, and when you stop, the acne comes back - only now your body is more resistant to antibiotics and probably completely wiped clean of good bacteria.

Here is an article you can read for a little more info.

The skin is the body's largest organ. Your skin looks the best when your body is thriving and healthy. Good bacteria help keep bad bacteria in check which leads to better health. I take them every day. Just sayin'.