Natural Skin Care: Turmeric, Yogurt, and Honey Face Mask

Today I'm going to talk about a new face mask I've discovered.  I'm very picky when it comes to what I use on my face; I like everything to be as natural as possible, and I like to know exactly what ingredients I'm using.  I have very sensitive skin, and it tends to get oily in certain areas (so I guess it's "combination skin;" I'm not too good with the terminology for skin types).  Anyway, I've been using this face mask for the past couple of days, and I have to say it's probably one of the best things I've ever done for my skin.  I love exfoliating my skin, because I like deep cleaning my pores, making sure there's no buildup and that my skin isn't clogged.  At the same time, I also love moisturizing my skin so that it doesn't become dry.  This face mask, along with the application of extra virgin olive oil at the end, does all of these things and more! I recommend this to absolutely everyone, and I hope it becomes a part of your weekly skin care routine, like it has mine :)

Before I give the directions of how to make/apply the mask, here is a list of some of its benefits:

Turmeric Skin Benefits:

1. Treats acne, blemishes, blackheads, dark spots, hyperpigmentation, eczema, and psoriasis.

2. Heals and prevents dry skin.

3. Slows skin's aging process. 

4. Diminishes wrinkles and improves skin's elasticity.

5. Gives skin a temporary healthy looking glow (because of its strong pigmentation).

6. Has strong antioxidant, antibacterial, and antiseptic properties, protecting the skin from environmental damage (like pollutants in the air, and sun damage). 

7. Balances/evens out skin tone.

                                                            ...Basically, it's amazing!

*Did you know: many women use Turmeric on their skin the day before their wedding day, ensuring a beautiful, healthy looking glow* 

Yogurt Skin Benefits:

1. Moisturizes skin.

2. Contains lactic acid: smooths and exfoliates skin.

3. Contains Zing; helps cool sunburns.

4. Contains natural antibacterial, anti-inflammatory,  and anti-fungal properties: helps get rid of acne (unclogs pores and cleanses skin). 

5. Reduces skin discoloration (if used over time). 

6. Reduces fine lines and wrinkles; anti-aging properties. 

7. Contains vitamin B: improves blood circulation (helps prevent acne). 

Honey Skin Benefits:

1. Anti-aging effects; reduces wrinkles and fine lines. 

2. Has antiseptic, antibacterial, and antioxidant properties; fights acne, reverses aging process.  

3. Moisturizes skin; rebuilds moisture in skin without making the skin look or feel oily.

What I love about this mask, other than the obvious health/beauty benefits listed above, is that all of the ingredients are 100% natural and edible, and I can make it myself- right in my kitchen! I don't have to worry about any preservatives or junk being in there, and making it only takes 2 minutes (literally!)

DIRECTIONS: 

Before Applying the Mask:

1. Before you begin applying the mask it is very important to wash your face with a mild soap to make sure that your skin is clean.  I use my organic lavender soap from Zona (an organic skincare line based in Italy: http://www.zonaskincare.com/ - I highly recommend their products). 

2. After washing your face with soap, get a clean face towel and drench it in hot water.  Place the hot towel on your face for 2 minutes, reheating it as it cools.  This way you are opening your pores, letting your skin breathe, and exposing all the dirt that's stuck deep inside your skin. 

3. Pat your skin dry with a clean and dry towel. Now it's time to make the face mask!

Making the Mask:

1. In a bowl, pour 1 and 1/2 tablespoons of honey. 

2. Then, add 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt. Make sure the yogurt you are using has live culture in it*

3. Finally, add 2 tablespoons of Turmeric powder.

4. Mix all of the ingredients with a spoon until the mixture is smooth and evenly toned.

                                                 Your mask is now complete! 

Application:

1. Standing over a sink, begin applying the face mask to your skin (you can use the back of the mixing spoon to apply it, like I did).

2. Make sure to avoid putting the mixture on the sensitive skin around your eyes! 

3. Leave the mask on for at least 20 minutes (I recommend one full hour).  If you have more time, you can leave it on as long as you like, there are no negative side effects, so don't worry about leaving it on for too long; the longer, the better :)

Rinsing:

1. When you're ready to rinse, make sure you are using warm water.  

2. Wash the mask of as if you have an exfoliating scrub on your face: move your hands in small circular motions, gently scrubbing your skin and loosening the mask. 

3. Rinse your face until the mask is completely cleaned off.

4. Finally, splash your face with cold water. *This step closes your pores, preventing it from absorbing dirt, and keeps your skin clean for longer*

5. Pat your skin dry with a clean, dry towel. 

Moisturizing:

Now, it's important to seal your skin, and lock in all the moisture and nutrients you've applied. To do so, you will need 1/2 a teaspoon of EXTRA VIRGIN OLIVE OIL. 

1. Using a clean cotton ball, apply the olive oil on your skin. Make sure to massage your skin in this step; it will help blood circulate through your skin and add to the benefits of the mask. 

Now, look in the mirror and gaze upon your unbelievably clean, glowing, healthy, radiant looking skin, and do a little victory dance; YOU'RE DONE!! <3

I hope this face mask works as well for you as it did for me. I would love to hear your results and how you like this mask, so make sure to leave a comment below :) 

Thanks for visiting, and I'll write to you soon!

<3

-Ani 

Cacao: King of Superfoods

Cacao beans, also known as cocoa beans, are one of the absolute best things you could possibly eat...
Why? They're pact full of antioxidants.  So, what's so great about antioxidants?

Antioxidants stop the oxidation of cells in the body.  When cells become oxidized they can form free radicals.  Free radicals are atoms with an odd number of electrons.  The reason why free radicals are dangerous is that they can form negative chain reactions in our bodies by damaging healthy cells.  When a free radical damages a healthy cell, that cell becomes unstable and starts damaging other healthy cells, and those cells also become unstable and start damaging even more healthy cells, etc etc.  This is how cancer spreads in our bodies.  What antioxidants do is they stop free radicals from creating unstable cells in our body, consequently helping prevent cancer and other illnesses (such as cardiovascular disease, rheumatoid arthritis, atherosclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, and skin damage).  While free radicals speed up our body's aging process, antioxidants slow it down.  Some research has even found that antioxidants help improve memory function.

Anyway, the list can go on and on about how beneficial antioxidants are for the body. So, why should we be eating raw organic cacao beans (instead of other antioxidant rich foods)? Because, cacao beans have the highest concentration of antioxidants compared to any other food in the world! As many of you probably know, wild blueberries are praised for being rich in antioxidants.  Well, compared to the 61 antioxidants present in wild blueberries, cacao beans have 621 antioxidants!

In addition to this, cacao beans have the highest magnesium content than any other food in the world.  Magnesium, which just so happens to be the number one mineral deficiency in the United States, has an abundance of health benefits to offer.  Some of these health benefits are: "transmission of nerve impulses, body temperature regulation, detoxification, energy production, and the formation of healthy bones and teeth," (http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/Magnesium-health-benefits-supplements/2011/01/20/id/369647).  From personal experience, I can say that magnesium also helps alleviate menstrual pains and cramps for women.

Another great thing about these beans are that they contain the highest levels of chromium than any other food in the world! Chromium, which happens to be the number one trace mineral deficiency in the United States, also has a great deal of health benefits to offer: "Chromium helps metabolize carbohydrates. It monitors blood sugar levels, and helps stabilize blood sugar. It can also prevent hypertension or high blood pressure. Although trials are still being conducted, chromium compounds are considered helpful in preventing memory loss and in treating Alzheimer’s disease.There are several other chromium benefits too. Regular intake of chromium as a health supplement reduces the risk of heart disease. It raises heart rate while also having the ability to ward off infections and protect cells from damage. Additionally, it reduces hunger, which aids in weight loss," (http://www.newsmax.com/FastFeatures/chromium-health-benefits-nutrition/2011/01/21/id/369681). 


Finally, cacao beans contain extremely high levels of vitamin C !
While most people are aware of the health benefits related to the consumption of vitamin C (especially in helping prevent/recover from the common cold), vitamin C can actually help prevent cardiovascular disease and heart attacks. When we are stressed out, our bodies start producing high amounts of adrenaline as a response.  High levels of vitamin C are burned during the production of adrenaline, which in turn weakens our immune system and makes us vulnerable to all kinds of health risks. So, maintaining high levels of vitamin C in our body is extremely important. 


So, the next time you go shopping for superfoods, make sure to get a bag of organic, raw cacao beans! 

<3

-Ani 

Janna Health: what's this blog about?

I was taking notes while watching a documentary about food/health, as I often do, and I thought "I wish I had a digital archive of my notes to keep everything organized" so that's what I'm doing. In this blog I will be posting all and any health tips and discoveries that I find, along with related topics and interests of mine.  I want to emphasize that I am not a doctor, medical student, or any kind of health professional.  What I write is simply a result of my personal curiosity and research, and I don't claim any of my posts to be 100% scientifically accurate.  If you do follow the health tips on this blog I would suggest also doing your own research on the subject; all health tips don't work for everyone.  However, I will try my best to make sure that my sources are valid and that the things I post will benefit the majority of my readers.  I am excited about sharing my knowledge and research with you, and I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I enjoy doing research for it. Thanks for stopping by, and come back soon!

<3
-Ani