Slow Down Aging Skin

Did you know that it is a compliment to chefs in the south to sweat underneath your eyes after a meal? Well, it’s true! With both sides of my family born in New Orleans, I was naturally introduced to “heat” and hot spices at an early age. Around the age of 12, I stopped using additional salt in food – it’s always been hot sauce for me. Maybe 30 years ago I was at a holiday event in Louisiana that was hosted by a member of the McIlheney family, the family who introduced a little brand named Tabasco in 1868😉 This was the first time I had ever seen a large culinary syringe. They injected it into the meats before grilling for even distribution of the marinade. Who knew?

Flash forward to now and there are millions of hot sauces to choose from anywhere you go. Some of my friends actually their own red pepper flakes in a small jar with them. These days, I prefer to grow my own peppers with the obvious choices of jalapeno and serrano. I currently love a banana pepper that provides the benefit without the heat. Growing my own peppers also helps me avoid additional salts from processed sauces. There are many health benefits to eating hot peppers. Here are 10…

1. Great for digestions
   
2. Promotes a healthy heart
   
3. Mitigates migraines
   
4. Relieves joint pain
   
5. Improves metabolism and burns calories
   
6. Quells psoriasis
   
7. Reduces risk of cancer
   
8. Fights the flu and colds
   
9. Prevents bad breath
   
10. Prevents allergies

Next time you are cooking your favorite meal, think about how you can spice up the recipe with hot peppers! Then enjoy the taste and all the benefits.

You’re Welcome!🧡

Dating back to 4000 B.C. cabbage is the oldest known vegetable. Used in early European and Indian cuisines, it became a staple luxury of fine dining within its vegetable relatives, including cauliflower, kale, chard and arugula. Globally, we are ingesting 69 million tons of this nutritious produce annually. 

This edible is considered  a “superfood” for the following: 

• Packed with vitamins C and K
• Cancer Preventative 
• Anti-inflammatory
• Contributes to bone strength and health
• Reduces blood pressure
• Great brain food
• Natural detox from toxins

There are so many ways to prepare cabbage or kale, whether you steam, eat raw, braise, pickle or sautee – you can’t go wrong!

I first discovered the “outdoor” cabbage while in NYC in the winter. I was so drawn to the purple and pinks in the garden boxes along the avenues. I’m now obsessed with the whites!

The botanical name is Brassica and it works so beautifully for your winter outdoor planters or borders. The colors truly enhance as the temperature drops. So much to like about the cabbage family. I like the simple ways to create health and beauty into our lives. 
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It’s no surprise to me that the false lash business is well over 1 billion dollars. Women have depended on them for centuries. False lashes date back to Ancient Egypt and in 19th century Paris, they welcomed lash extensions with needs and implanting red hair. OUCH! The first lash patent was in 1911 and it wasn’t until the 1950s that the synthetic lash hit the market. 

It’s been a makeup artist’s trick for years to “open” the eye and create a sexier look. In today’s modern makeup world, real women are doing it for themselves. There are a lot of easy tricks you can use to help create a healthy, youthful appearance.

Firstly, try a lash lengthener that you simply apply with a brush. I recommend Lash Spell. Having a longer lash works better to apply falsies.

As I’ve gotten older I prefer a more natural enhanced look. Simply cut ⅓ of the lash and apply to the edge of the lash line outwards. I recommend using KISS – Looks So Natural False Eyelashes.

The game-changer for me was discovering the Duo Brush. This is so light you don’t even feel them and so easy to remove. 

If you’re not already wearing lashes – go for it! It will give you the confidence of looking sexy without really trying.

You’re welcome 

Retinol has been the gold standard for a more youthful appearance for years! But is it safe or the best option for you? 

The first time I used an aggressive Retinol product, I didn’t have a clue. I put it under my eyes and woke up looking like I was severely sunburned. It took almost a week to recover. I learned my lesson and always sought professional advice from there on.

“Retinol is effective, but it can take you to a bad place if you are not careful.”

–Dr. Mona Gohara MD

What exactly is Retinol? 

It’s a form of Vitamin A under the umbrella of Retinoids (there are different versions; like Retin-A/Tretinoin) that you need a prescription for but you can purchase most Retinol products over the counter or at your dermatologist’s office.

What does it exactly do for your skin?

• Attacks fine lines and wrinkles
• Events out skin tone
• Brightens skins texture
• Firms and tightens skin
• Refines and reduces pore size

Women are spending up to $10,000 annually on Retinol products. My advice is to tread lightly and consider the more organic, natural approach – Vitamin A!

French women, dating back to Josephine Baker, have always used vitamin oils and serums – they claim that is why french women have such beautiful skin! When it comes to glowing skin, Vitamin A is your superhero! You get all the benefits in a more natural, organic approach. 

Benefits of Vitamin A for skin: 

• Generates radiant glow
• Smooths out hyperpigmentation (sun damage)
• Helps tighten and firm skin
• Heals breakouts
• Normalizes cell functions

With all of these benefits it does for your skin topically, the vitamin itself is essential for a healthy life balance.

Some of the foods enriched with Vitamin A are:

• Carrots
• Sweet potatoes 
• Kale
• Spinach
• Broccoli

So simple and healthy to apply to your meals!

So whether it’s internal or external, you simply can’t go wrong with Vitamin A! Always, of course, consult with a professional.

Here are some of my top picks for Vitamin A skincare products. These are brands that truly do what they say they will with immediate results.

You’re Welcome🧡