Real Men Get Facials - Skin the Largest Organ of All Gets Some Man Love

Real Men Get Facials
 It was about 4pm on the Thursday before Good Friday when Gary rolled up on his motorcycle to get his mini Sense facial.  I was excited because Gary was my first guy who was actually looking forward to getting a free facial and product demo. While I appreciate the guys who tried and  had  a - what - the - heck - I'll - try - anything - once- attitude, Gary was different. He said he'd always found them relaxing though he wasn't too sure why it was important to take care of his skin. Undeterred by horrendous traffic and braving an hour and a half snarl in the midtown tunnel Gary is clearly a guy who appreciates health and a little pampering. And why shouldn't he? Skin is the bodies largest organ and is a direct pathway between the pathogens in the outside world to our inside world of organs, blood, bone and tissue.

Looking like a pirate Gary is ready for his closeup

My Sense Easter Set Up

Healthy Skin is Healthy
Regardless of what skin you are in, every skin be it oily, dry, normal or combination skin has six basic needs.  Here's the Run Down
 1. Hydration A balance between water and oil or the alpha lipoic film protects the skin from bacteria, fungus and keeps skin supple. Eww fungus.
2. Proper Nutrition; Skin reflects the state of the  body. You cannot give what you have not got. You cannot expect your skin to look it's best if you are lacking or deficient in antioxidants and DHA and EPA Omega 3 fatty acids. As I spoke with Gary I discovered that he thinks something is fishy with fish oils which are the usual go to source for Omega 3s. I informed Gary that they can be obtained from the vegetarian sources of flax, hemp or chia seeds or oils. Sprinkle chia seeds on your salad or add a tablespoon of these oils to your smoothie. CoQ10 is another very important nutrient for maintaining skin as production levels decrease after age 35. This will help maintain a healthy cell turnover. Foods or supplements like grape seed extract and organic blueberries, strawberries or whole grapes that are ripe and in season combat free radical damage on the skin arising from smoke, smog and greasy diets. (p.s. Usana makes a mercury free triple distilled fish oil with lemon for the fishy after taste)
3. Anti Oxidants
 Using facial products that contain topical nutrition helps give the skin the ammunition it needs to protect against the ravages of free radicals arising from environmental stress. In other words, the midtown tunnel that Gary was sitting in for an hour and a half was a free radical cocktail of car, bus and motorbike exhaust that was entering his body via the trans - medium of his skin.The skin is the third lung. We don't want that. Vitamins A, C, grape seed, whole grape to name a few work together in a synergistic fashion to protect.
4. Anti aging ingredients are a good thing to start using in our late teens. This is when the aging process begins so using products that help repair the skin, keep it strong, hydrated, elastic and promote cell renewal is what we are looking for here.
5. Protection can be achieved but avoiding soap and soap based products. Soap unfortunately has the effect of drying out the skin and has in the majority of cases undesirable parabens and even pesticides in them which will only destroy your skins ability to produce collagen. Try using a skin primer like Christopher Drummond's Rosemary Skin Prep. It smells great in a peppery kind of way and is toxin free.
6. Exfoliation keeps the pores clean and unclogged from blackheads and dead dull looking skin. Allow the products you are using on your skin penetrate and heal more effectively without the barrier of dead skin. Let it breathe with a gentle routine every week. You will look younger and will also avoid nicking and cutting your skin while shaving.

Gary got the Full Treatment with the Sense Deluxe Pack

 All the products I used on Gary fulfilled all the requirements mentioned above. Learn more about these products here

Spa Week Smash! Recap of Christopher Drummond Beauty Live Event

Ekayani with Christopher Drummond founder and creative director

This is just a quick post to say that the launch of Spa Week at the Altman Building was a great success. This was a press event where all kinds of magazine and television PR ladies ranging from HINT mag to The Today Show to took a seat in the high chair to get a 5 minute touch up with Christopher Drummond Beauty 100%  natural and organic based makeup with PETA approved vegan brushes. It is a mostly vegan line with the exception of the lip stains and lip gloss which contains beeswax. (I only mention this as this is an issue for some.)  Saude Pele the hydrating and soothing radiance booster, Peach Sorbet lip gloss in a tube, Aymee a lovely iridescent eyeshadow with apricot tones and the bronzier Gold were a hit. I had particular fun with a gal from BUST Magazine a very upfront and concerned vegan.

On her I tried the Paradise lip stain and then had fun switching to Shiraz.  She was this side of red and as she was going to the premiere  of "GIRLS" the new series which is a hit even before airing I figured my disco doll needed some subtle flash. As a strawberry blonde with wide blue eyes Aymee on the lids was followed by Gold on the rims and Wink from the middle to the outer portion of the eye.  I also applied a bit of Oscar on her brow bone to push it just a bit. The algae and seaweed based mascara with A & E was a revelation as she had no idea most all manufactured contain lead and mercury.
Will I be taking on makeup as another profession? Not sure about that one but it was great fun to use the skills I picked up in Paris and the tips I have learned from Chris in a live event. Everyone felt great after their touch up pleased with the results and loved the elegant black organza gift bags containing  samples of CDB in light, medium, dark or porcelain. Cruelty free, non - toxic, long lasting, versatile and easy to use what's not to like? It's wonderful to see this company finally taking off and hitting it's much deserved stride. Ever since Dr. Oz was dusted with  CDB Sol Bronzer by Kathy Freston ( Sol Bronzer at the End of this clip)  the orders have been rolling in for all products. Gratitude to both!

Spa Week runs from April 16 - 22. Be sure to enter for your chance to win $500 worth of free makeup from CDB.  Really you'd be a fool not to. Christopher Drummond Beauty is the exclusive makeup sponsor for Spa Week 2012.

Dimensions in Well Being - Q Bedding Offers Buckwheat Pillows for Better Sleep

Buckwheat Hulls for Insomnia
I knew buckwheat was good to eat but never would of  thought of using the hulls as filler for bedding.  The plant is actually related to sorrel, rhubarb and knotweeds and was cultivated to a great extent in the United States in the 18th and 19th Century until the advent of nitrogen fertilizers. Today the biggest producer of the crop is China. A delicious addition to hot breakfast cereal (or good on it's own) it lends a slight natural sweetness to oatmeal.  It is commonly used in Vaisnava tradition as a substitute for grains on Ekadasi and is quite popular in Polish cooking. There is actually no wheat in it at all.

Cooling the Brain Insomnia and Chinese Medicine

As much a mini education as press conference, I found myself on the 25th floor of 1 Rockefeller Plaza and half expected Alec Baldwin to appear. We heard from the lovely Wen Chi Chen, L.Ac who explained the Traditional Chinese Medicine perspective on insomnia. Beginning with a look at ones habits, disturbances are created in the body due to an overheating of the liver which in turns makes the neck and head too hot to sleep properly. After 6pm the sugar and nicotine content from alcohol consumption and cigarettes  metabolize and ferment inside the liver and heat up. (Fascinating really.)   The heat looking for an escape route literally goes to your head.  (No it's not just a song by Marlene Deitrech!) This internal heating of the head disturbs the "shen"  in the body and there you are wondering why you can't get back to sleep. The buckwheat pillow provides cooling specifically to the neck and head thus aiding in better sleep. While you are working on cutting back on the nicotine and nightcaps I'd recommend giving this pillow a try. 

I Slept Well
After an amazingly deep sleep using my new Q Bedding ergonomic pillow I am a believer.  A stiff neck and back have been bothering me lately due in part to the pillow I have been using, the very stiff bed I sleep on, and a few dramatic  wipe outs on my bike in  the last two weeks. Although the pillow I was given seemed firm or even stiff,  I was impressed with how comfortable my head and neck felt banishing the notion that a pillow needs to be soft and squishy. In fact I found myself thinking of Egyptian neck rests that cradled and supported and at last this conundrum came together for me Wednesday night. I woke up feeling so much better and some of the stiffness was gone.
Holistic Bedding and Good Sleep
There has been a trend going back to traditional ways of creating bedding such as horse hair mattresses and goose down but I think that this cooling alternative will be a big hit with the public at large and will score major points with vegans and all those embracing a holistic lifestyle. Ever since I have read The Healthy Home I have been wondering what to do about this:
"If you buy a traditional mattress, you are sleeping on polyurethane foam that manufacturers must drench in toxic chemicals to keep your bed from igniting at the slightest spark. Polyurethane foam is already toxic—it releases toluene diisocyanate, which can cause severe lung problems¹—but the heavy doses of flame-retardants only exacerbate the problem. In order to pass US safety standards for flammability, an ignited mattress must not become hotter than 200kW over the course of 30 minutes, which is theoretically enough time for the sleeper to notice that his bed is on fire and remove himself from the situation.² The mattress must also withstand an open-flame test for 70 seconds. In order for this to be possible, manufacturers must use large quantities of chemicals, and they are not even required to inform consumers what products they are sleeping on every night. Antimony is commonly used, but extended exposure to antimony can adversely affect the heart, digestive system, eyes, skin, and lungs.³ Brominated fire retardants are also widely used, but polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) specifically were banned in 2005 because of their potential to disrupt thyroid hormone activity and impair neurodevelopment.⁴ The other popular option, boric acid, is just roach killer. Do you want to breath in the fumes from these toxic chemicals for eight hours every night?"
Tips: Visit Q Bedding http://www.Qbedding.com
Visit The Healthy Home to learn about making better bedding choices Web

Spa Week Launches April 16 - 22 Make Up Give Away by Christopher Drummond Beauty

April 16 - 22 is Spa Week, a North American phenomenon taking place in all major US markets and parts of Canada. A gal or guy can take advantage of trying out treatments for the alluringly low price of $50. 00 with little risk in terms of investment and a chance to try out some hot spots from Arizona to Toronto. Anyone who has ever dreamt about being pampered in a spa but has hesitated,  the appeal is clear as nothing is more rejuvenating than enjoying your own personal idea of relaxation in a setting dedicated to just to that end.
How It Works - Find Your Spa
Go to Spa Week page and type in your city and zip code to see what spas nearby are participating and what they are offering.  Relatively nearby to where I live the Ada Spa on West Broadway is offering a Green Tea or Milk Body Wrap while the A.F. Bennet Salon in Staten Island is offering a seaweed  detoxifying treatment for 60 minutes. Next, call the spa and book your appointment.  Follow your bliss for a price that is way below everyday rates but know that tips are not included.
A Chance to Win $500 Worth of Makeup from CDB
There are also plenty of free giveaways being offered by various cosmetic companies. All that is required is signing up for these random drawings but only one of them is the official sponsor for Spa Week.

If I were you I'd try my gander at winning this prize. This is your chance to win $500 of free makeup by my favorite makeup line Christopher Drummond Beauty that is Titanium Dioxide and Bismuth free. Not all mineral makeup lines are created equal as many of the ingredients are found to be skin irritants. Full disclosure that I wear and work at promoting this 100% organic toxin free makeup line because I love it!  In fact I was SO excited for a press event  for the line that I showed up a day early.  Just last week on April 4th, 2012 CDB was  featured on Dr. Oz's show by celebrity vegan Kathy Frestan. Get lucky! Sign up here to win.

Spring Detox - Removing Poisons from Your Home

Spring Detox- For Your Home
 If you travel in the yoga circles I do you are hearing a lot about detoxifying your body for Spring. The home we live in day after day and year after year gets short shrift in this department and is almost never mentioned in the effort to do a spring cleaning.  This is one of the topics I am going to be talking about a lot more in my upcoming series of live events because it is critical that we understand that the products that we use daily be it cosmetic, electronic or in the kitchen have a profound impact on our health. In an easy to read Room - by -  Room guide,  Dr. Myron Wentz, renown microbiologist and immunologist and his son Dave Wentz bio - engineer  break it all down covering everything from light bulbs to toothpaste. The Bedroom, Garage, Kitchen, Bathroom, and Living Areas all get the cross examination in this fun and empowering book that provides ways on how to  take back our health in a multi - layered approach going beyond just diet and exercise. After all, if you are cooking or storing your food in toxic substances diet won't do you much good. In this book you will learn how
"...Almost overnight, a toxic world has been built around us, slowly manipulating how we eat, sleep, work, play…how we live. And the consequences of these conveniences have never been documented together in one place..." The duo have also created an amazing interactive website with full access granted to those who register by entering the ISBN number. I wish I had had science teachers this cool when I was growing up! My Healthy Home InterActive Website 
The Healthy Home isn't only a comprehensive look at the dangerous poisons within your home but is a guidebook of simple solutions that will help you live a life free of the toxic burdens society has created, packaged, and sold to you as necessities of everyday life. As you read, you'll begin to learn about the science behind the positive choices you can make to improve you and your family's most important resource—your health.
Have you ever considered:

• Chemicals added to fabrics to enhance durability and stain and wrinkle resistance have been linked to both reproductive and developmental toxicity, as well as cancers of the liver and bladder. But organic cotton contains none of these.

• Aluminum can induce oxidative damage, which has been linked to Parkinson's and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—yet a typical dose of your regular antacids can contain as much as 400 mg of aluminum. A little soda water anyone?

• Your cooking pans coated with non-stick Teflon can release six toxic gases when heated up to 680°F on a regular electric stove, including two carcinogens, two global pollutants, and a chemical known to be lethal to humans. Maybe the extra scrubbing of a regular pan is worth it.

• The air in your home is constantly filled with toxins from the paint on your walls, the glue that holds down your carpet, and the fire-retardant chemicals coating your comfy mattress. You can learn how to minimize your exposure.
• What's even more wonderful about this book is that all the proceeds go to support The Children's Hunger Fund a partnership established with USANA Health Sciences more than ten years ago to provide nutrition and medical care to children in countries like Uganda, Cambodia and soon Malawi. This is a step beyond the annual hunger run held every year in Salt Lake City.

Vegan Makeup & Dr. Oz - Christopher Drummond Beauty April 3 with Kathy Freston

 

On April 3rd on the Dr. Oz Show vegan author Kathy Freston will be talking about the vegan makeup line from Christopher Drummond Beauty. I am so proud that Chris is getting the attention his makeup line deserves. He is an innovator in the makeup industry which is unfortunately not self regulating in terms of the kinds of ingredients used in the manufacture of cosmetics. Everything from lead in red lipstick to mercury in mascara is used in the majority of products women use to enhance their appearance. When growing up I often heard the adage "You have to suffer to be beautiful." but must you poison yourself too?  Kathy, a Southern gal from Atlanta who has seemingly done the impossible by "leaning" into a plant based diet talks about some of her favorite things. Chris's Sol Bronzer and line of vegan makeup brushes are being featured by Kathy but DO check out his web site and see the rest! 

Skin Prep by CDB is Dimethicone Free. Hooray!

About CDB and Rosemary Skin Prep
I knew Christopher and what he had to offer was great upon the conclusion of our first makeover together. I became an instant convert and have been wearing Christopher Drummond Beauty 100% organic makeup for 5 years now and will not wear anything else. My reasons are practical as "putting on my face" takes minutes as opposed to hours, it looks completely natural as his mineral line blends easily, it does not lay on top of my skin in the way liquid makeup does, and last but not least is toxin and cruelty free.  It's also pretty. Did I mention it's pretty? His signature Saude Pele for radiant skin contains acai which helps improve the skins texture - imagine that!  His offerings are wide in range from Lip Stains to Eye Shadows and most recently a moisturizing Rosemary Skin Prep that goes on underneath makeup hydrating and firming the skin. If you have ever experienced that dry flaky look under your makeup which only magnified what you were trying to hide like I have this product along with a rice bran gentle exfoliant I highly recommend.
To find out what time and station to tune into Dr.  Oz on April 3, 2012 look here
Visit Christopher Drummond Beauty here

Ekayani wearing CDB of course! Makeup applied by Christopher Drummond too

p.s. And when you order any of his fabulous products when asked "how you heard"  about him kindly mention EKAYANI if in fact you heard it here first. Thank you!

Paraben Free Moisturizes- Olive Oil Shea Butter & Creams Anti Aging Secrets

My fave three paraben free anti - aging moisturizers for my skin are - Olive Oil, Raw Shea Butter and Sense's Nourishing Body Cream.

Olives and why I love them
Olives and their oil are beloved for the fatty omega 3 acids they give me, the taste they add to soups and salads.  The fruit is delicious to eat and stimulating to the brain. A great pick me up after the winter blues,  I loved buying these at the open air market at Le Place Richard Le Noir found near the Bastille. Olive oil is a (relatively) inexpensive way to nourish and hydrate the skin after a shower. I use it on the soles of my feet to keep them soft. Olive oil has got to be the number one favorite of my grandfather.  He devotes four and a half pages to what the poet Homer called  "Liquid Gold" in his book "Age Less,  Live More - Living With Health and Vitality to 107 Years and Beyond"  listing it among his Top Ten Foods.  He points out that it is mentioned in the Bible 55 times, the trees live to be 300 to 500 years old, and is famous for it's anti- aging properties.  He should know as he uses it on his skin which to this day is wrinkle free at 110. The Greeks considered this tree sacred and bathing in this oil kept their bodies protected from the harsh effects of the sun. Grampa recommends using it in place of sunscreen as it will protect your skin from burning and moisturize. Best of all it's paraben free.

Shea Butter so named as it looks like butter!

Shea Butter from Ghana
I was introduced to shea butter by a friend here in the States in the late eighties but it was in in the early nineties that I first discovered  a source of shea butter while living in Paris. One day while strolling up the Avenue de la Republique I saw these little butter balls packaged in a simple plastic bag hanging outside of an African or maybe it was a Chinese foods specialty store. I had never seen it packaged that way and certainly not for so cheap! I snatched them up and there began a love affair that lasted years. When I left Paris I would have friends send me the stuff to New York along with my Verbena tea leaves from the South of France. It made my skin so soft that any argument with a boyfriend would be immediately quelled just at the touch. It also was a miracle on my frizzy hair detangling knots so large that they otherwise would have been cut out. The butter once melted in a sauce pan and poured onto my scalp and hair had an immensely moisturizing effect.  My hairdresser Ricky at Snip N Sip would ask me every time how I kept my hair so soft and my reply was always the same: shea butter. For my body I would simply take some butter and rub it between my palms until it melted to the right consistency to apply to my skin. Rich in E it helps reduce and heal scars. I loved it because it did double duty as a body and deep conditioning hair care product.
According to the American Shea Butter Institute Shea Butter comes in different grades: Grade A; Grade B; Grade C; Grade D; or Grade F.  When laboratory analysis is done, grade is determined by the presence or absence of various nutrients. Grade A is the highest and best quality for cosmetics and personal industry.   Grade D is the lowest grade missing most of the valuable nutrients. The highest grades are awarded to those butters with the largest Bio-active fraction (5% and above), a good safety screen, and rancidity value below 10. 

Shea Butter is Harvested from Tree Nuts

Firming Body Nourisher - Sense by Usana Health Sciences
For those who might find the options above to much to handle I suggest using this paraben free body cream.  Pamper your body from head-to-toe with this luxurious, lightly scented body lotion that leaves your skin feeling hydrated and incredibly soft. Proteo-C™ and Proflavanol-T™ nourish your skin as emollient-rich shea butter and Ceramide 3 soothe, firm, and replenish essential moisture. This whole-body treat gives your skin a youthful, radiant appearance without ever feeling heavy or greasy.