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justification for eating lots of chocolate this holiday

I love chocolate. In fact, my craving has gotten so bad, that I ate a packet of Swiss Miss hot coco mix the other day. (I wish I were kidding.) 

Since there will probably be chocolate everywhere you look this holiday season, I thought I would give you (and I) a reason to indulge. 

One caveat: it has to be dark chocolate (milk and white don’t have the health benefits). 

Chocolate is made from plants, so it has some of the benefits of dark vegetables. Note to self: replace salad consumption with dark chocolate.  

Like, for instance, chocolate contains antioxidants. Antioxidants protect against free radicals, which destroy our cells and perhaps most importantly our collagen. In fact, dark chocolate is nearly 8 times higher in antioxidants than strawberries. Note to self: replace fruit with dark chocolate.  

A small piece of dark chocolate a day ("small piece" that’s the part I have difficulty with) is said to reduce blood pressure. It's also been shown to reduce bad cholesterol by up to 10 percent.

Finally, a good reason to install that chocolate fountain in my living room.  

But wait there’s more. Chocolate also contains serotonin, an anti-depressant. It increases endorphin production, which makes us happy. Plus it contains caffeine, which is a stimulant. 

Did you hear that, Amy Winehouse?  Why are you messing around with that other stuff? Chocolate does it all and unlike those other drugs, it won’t make you look like you applied your makeup with your feet.
   
The catch, there’s always a catch, chocolate is high in calories and fat (although only 1/3 of the fat in chocolate is of the unhealthy variety). So, if you eat 200 calories worth of chocolate a day, you’ll have to lose those calories somewhere else in your diet. (I’ll probably cut out vegetables.) 

One last thing, don’t drink milk with your chocolate. It negates the health benefits.

So, when your family looks at you funny, this holiday, for shoving handfuls of chocolate into your mouth, tell them you’re only doing it for the health benefits.

I hope everyone has a very happy, healthy, fun holiday!

the curious case of Eve Lom TLC moisturizer

This cold weather has my skin looking dry and more “mature” than usual.

Know what skin care companies?  I know “mature” is supposed to be a euphemism for “old”, but I don’t like it.  It’s kind of like describing someone as having a  “great personality”.  So from now on, I’m going to use the word “sophisticated” instead of “mature” and I expect you to recall all of your products, re-label them and do the same. 

Which brings me, via the scenic route, to Eve Lom TLC.  This PM moisturizer worked miracles on my dry, sophisticated-looking winter skin.

When I first applied this cream, it was so thick, I was afraid that it would migrate under my nostrils and suffocate me, while I slept, but it didn’t.  And when I awoke, not only had it all absorbed, but I looked years younger.

Seriously, I felt like I’d aged backwards overnight. Like I was in the movie “The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”.

I’m sorry. I know this movie is supposed to be good, but that has to be one of the dumbest movie titles ever.  It sounds like a kids book, where a button, named Benjamin, falls off someone’s coat and then spends the rest of the tale trying to find his way back to his owner.

It should have been called “The Curious Case of Why the Hell You Would Name a Movie The Curious Case of Benjamin Button”. 

Or “The Curious Case of Why, If You’re Going to Age Brad Pitt Backwards, You Wouldn’t Go All the Way Back to His Thelma and Louise Days?”

But anyway, my point was, this cream made me look years younger. It left my skin with fewer wrinkles, plump, lush and as hydrated as a Sara Lee Pound Cake (the low fat, non-greasy one).  

So if winter has your skin feeling dry and “sophisticated”, with “a great personality”, do yourself a favor and check out Eve Lom TLC. It’s not cheap, but so worth it.

Doesn’t it look like a delicious dessert topping?  Note to self, don’t write blog when hungry.

Eve Lom is a British brand.  It’s available at Space NK’s flagship store here in NYC. And according to BellaSugar, Space NK stores within a store, have recently popped up at select Bloomindale's.

Feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right, to track it down.

cold showers- a skin care miracle?

I was just reading about how cold showers are great for the skin (and the rest of the body).  At first, I thought, “good for those nut jobs”.  Then I thought, “You know what? I’m going to put my inner strength, endurance and faith in a higher power to the test, and try this cold shower thing for a week”. (Just in case I don’t get around to climbing Everest).

(OK. The shower isn’t cold the whole time.  Just the last 60 seconds, but I guarantee it will be the longest 60 seconds of your life.)  

Cold showers make your blood rush inward to your organs (perhaps to protect them from freezing). Then after the cold water is turned off, the blood rushes back out to the skin.  This greatly improves circulation, leaving skin flush with blood- healthy and radiant. (Unlike hot water, which dehydrates.)

And there are even findings that suggest cold showers help to alleviate depression. Due to the mild electroshock delivered to the brain, by the sudden blast of cold water.   (Hey, if we can now do home laser hair removal, why not home electroshock treatments?)

You’re supposed to take your usual temperature shower, then gradually turn off the hot water, until only the cold is left running.  

When I stood under the cold downpour for the first time, I quickly counted to 60. (There were no Mississippis involved).  I began hyperventilating, marching in place and twirling in a circle. I must have looked like a disorientated marching band member.  

But I have to say, it really woke me up.

My reaction to the cold water, made Janet Leigh look calm by comparison.

Usually this time of year, my skin is so dry and rough, that I could exfoliate my legs with my arms.  But after my cold water shower, (yes, even the very first one) my skin was extremely soft and smooth.  In fact, I haven’t had to use a single drop of moisturizer, since I started my cold showers.  (I’m not kidding.  It’s that amazing.)

Turns out, I’m now addicted to them.  And if that makes me a nut, so be it.  At least I’m an alert nut, with really soft skin.

FYI:  If you have any heart problems, you're supposed to consult with your doctor before taking cold showers.

Have you ever tried the cold water shower thing?  Would you ever? 

the pilgrims would have loved this pumpkin peel

It’s Thanksgiving week and everyone’s thoughts are turning to pumpkin facial peels.  OK, maybe not everyone’s. 

Thanksgiving began back in 1621, as a harvest festival and a day to give thanks.  For the Pilgrims had much to celebrate, not only had they made it to the New World alive (except for the ones who didn’t), but they were actually prospering nicely.

Here are some Native Americans being forced to sit at what appears to be the first incarnation of the kids’ table. 

All these years later, the Thanksgiving holiday remains a staple of North American life.  The only difference being, now we don’t give thanks for a fruitful harvest, but instead for giant sponges in square pants. 

Think how proud the Pilgrims would be if they could see how far we've come.

But this Thanksgiving I’m kicking it Pilgrim-style and celebrating the successful harvest of the pumpkins in MyChelle Dermaceuticals Incredible Pumpkin Peel.

A combo of organic pumpkin puree with pineapple and ginger. This peel offers unique exfoliation and super nourishment, via all-natural ingredients.  It’s jam packed with vitamins and fruit enzymes, which digest dead cells, revealing more youthful, healthier-looking skin.  (Hopefully, there won’t be so many dead cells to digest that the enzymes have to undo their zippers.)

After using this peel my skin was clearer, smoother, soft, and radiant, even the spots from the sun were less noticeable. And the amazing part is, I could still see and feel the benefits of this mask days later.   I LOVE THIS PEEL.  It's twice a week for me from now on. 

MyChelle has a trial size section on the website, so you can sample stuff.  (FYI: I also love the Fruit Fiesta Peel and I heard the C serum is amazing as well.)

This is the founder of MyChelle.  She’s 46.  (My skin didn't look this good when I was 10).  Makes me want to buy one of everything.  (PS. It's not Botox.  I’ll tell you how I know that in tomorrow's post.)

MyChelle is sold at Whole Foods, but if you want to see where else you can get it, feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right.

me so eco pretty

There are lots of “all natural” beauty products slathering around out there.  But Eco-Me Body Scrub is different.  Not only is it 100% natural, but it’s also Do-It-Yourself and has reusable packaging.  This is the kind of product Martha Stewart would come up with if she were eco-friendly. (She would also run people over with a Prius instead of an SUV.)

When my Eco-Me Body Scrub arrived in the mail, I was taken aback.  I had received an empty jar with a tiny vial of essential oil and a loofah pad in it (which could explain why my body scrub was making a rattling noise).

Unlike other products that claim to be “all natural”, I’m positive this one is, because I saw my two hands making it, with my own two eyes (Huh...?  What...?)  Here’s how it works:  you just mix the white granulated sugar and olive oil (provided by you) with the essential oil blend (provided by them).

When I used this scrub in the shower, I was blown away.  At first, I thought maybe I was just a huge ego-manic and thought it was so great because I’d made it.  But I’m pretty sure that’s not it. 

The texture of the scrub was perfect- not too rough or too soft.  The olive oil left my skin feeling super soft, moisturized and silky all day (and not greasy in the slightest).  And the smell is one of the most joyful, uplifting scents ever.

The smell makes me as happy as this photo (if there were a pint of Ben & Jerry’s under the bird’s other wing).  

When you’re done with the scrub, you can just buy a re-fill of the essential oil and reuse the jar until the end of time.

100% natural. Eco-friendly. Eco-nomical. (It’s only $7.50).  What’s not to love?

Eco-Me also has a line of home cleaning products, pet products and baby products worth checking out.

This holiday season, remember nothing says “I love you and don’t want you to poison yourself with toxic chemicals” like a gift from Eco-Me.

This is the least messy body scrub I've ever used and not just because the jar is empty. 

8 glasses of water a day. Did it improve my skin?

This dry fall air is dehydrating my skin horribly. My marionette lines suddenly look like vending machine coin slots and my eyelids are more wrinkled than a linen skirt on a 14 hr flight to Japan.  Yes, it’s that bad.

Realizing that desperate times call for desperate measures, I decided to attempt the unthinkable.   Drinking eight 8 oz glasses of water a day for a week. (Considering I usually only ingest water to wash down Advil and vitamins, this is a big undertaking for me.)

Here’s how it went down:

Dear daily water consumption diary, day one
I think my bladder is going to explode. 

Dear daily water consumption diary, day two
My skin looks so much better already: more dewy, a healthy pink color, more hydrated, firmer and more plump. My fine lines are starting to fill out (even the crow’s feet).  I even see a difference in my marionette lines and those raisins I call eyelids.

This woman obviously starts drinking water first thing in the morning.  Even before she looks in the mirror.

Fast forward a week.

Dear daily water consumption diary, day seven
This is the best, damn skin care product I’ve ever used.  No joke.  My skin looks sooo much healthier, more dewy and wrinkles, of many varieties, have been plumped right off my face.
And the best part is, I don't even need Depends, because my bladder is now big enough to house the 2012 Olympic backstroke competition.

Are you a big water drinker?  What do you think?  Does it have a beneficial effect on your skin?

Speaking of important things like water.  Happy Election Day!  In case you want to double check your voting location you can do so at http://maps.google.com/vote. 

a pill that can make you smarter and more beautiful?

It says on the “Udo’s 3.6.9 Oil Blend- Flax and Other Oils Rich in Essential Fatty Acids” bottle, that it helps support cognitive functioning.  No offense Udo’s, but if I want to improve cognitive functioning, I’ll chug an espresso. 

But what does interest me about this product, is its supposed effect on dry skin, acne, dull hair and brittle nails.

The essential fatty acids in Udo's are from plant sources- flax oil, sunflower oil, etc. (not the usual fish sources).  I take the capsule form. (I find the taste of the liquid inhospitable.)

After one month of ingesting Udo's 3.6.9 capsules, here were my findings:

Effect on skin:  It’s hard to tell. I use so many new skincare products, that I’m not sure which positive benefits can be attributed to Udo’s.  Results:  Inconclusive. (Don’t I sound scientific?)

Effect on nails:  After a month, the white flecks and slight ridges on my nails were gone.   My nails were now a shiny, light pink color with white tips.  It looked like I just buffed them and applied clear polish. But I’m lazy, so I’m pretty sure I didn’t.  

Effect on hair:  Again, it was hard to tell because I use lots of new products. Thankfully, there’s also a pet version of Udo’s. So I recruited some lovely, old assistants.  My cats.  They're getting kind of bony, and their fur has become dull and scrappy-looking in their old age.  So I thought they might benefit from the essential fatty acids in Udo’s.

Effect on fur:  Within a week of using the pet version, their fur was glossy and soft and they were shedding less.   Since they don’t use any other products (as far as I know), I’m confident it was the Udo’s. If the effect on human hair is anything like the effect on my cats' fur, this stuff works wonders.   

I swear this isn’t my cat.  My cat would smoother me to death, while I slept, if I ever did this to her.

Side note:  Udo’s 3.6.9 is also supposed to help with things like cardiovascular and thyroid health. For the past 10 years, I’ve had a thyroid condition called Hashimoto’s.  Suddenly, this year, my thyroid levels inexplicably improved, perplexing my doctor.  I believe it’s the Udo’s oil and according to this article, so too does the Ph.D. who created Udo’s. 

 
As for cognitive functioning?  All I can say is I don’t feel any dumber. 

I know Udo's is sold at Whole Foods, but feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right to find out where you can get it at the cheapest price.

the hair whisperer

So when I got my hair cut the other week, my hairdresser sprayed some styling product in before blow drying.  I didn’t even touch it.  Still, I could tell my hair was the texture of silk, just by the way the brush glided through it like Dorothy Hamill (the Olympic years, not the Ice Capades years).

I asked my hairdresser what it was and she said “It’s a 10”.  I said “Yes, but what’s it called?”  It was like a bad, Three Stooges episode, until she showed me the bottle.

Actually, the full name of this product is  “It’s a 10, Miracle Leave-In Product”.  Yes, they really did have the cojones to use both “It’s a 10” and “Miracle” in the same name. Guess “It’s a 10, Miracle Leave-In Product, So Bow Down Now Bitch”, was taken.)

This product claims to do 10 things instantly.  Things like shine, detangle, control frizz, protect from the heat of styling, seal in color, blah, blah, blah. 

I used it on half of my hair, for comparison sake.  It did make my hair slightly more silky, but the difference between the two sides wasn’t that drastic- at first.   But, as the day progressed, the “10” side stayed super silky, while the non-miracle side started to get frizzy and more coarse.  Then the next day (I didn’t wash my hair), the discrepancy between the two sides grew even bigger (both literally and figuratively).

So, for its ability to provide miraculous, long-lasting, tangle-free, frizz-free, silky, glossy, sleek hair, I'm giving this product ... an 11.   

From the brilliant film, Spinal Tap.

To find out where you can't get "It's a 10" for the cheapest price, feel free to use the search box to the right.

the "world's most powerful facial"

I came across Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (100% Natural Calcium Bentonite Clay) in a health food store.  I was drawn in by the fact that the jar stated (in capital letters, no less)  “WORLD’S MOST POWERFUL FACIAL”.

Of course it also said “Use it once per week for the family, more often for problem skin” but I decided to give them the benefit of the doubt and assume that their product was better than their English.

Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay (aka Calcium Bentonite Clay) is purportedly amongst the most detoxifying forms of clay in the world.  It comes in powder form. You mix a little with apple cider vinegar to form a paste. (Just to forewarn you, the combination smells a lot like peed on kitty litter.) 

First, I put a warm washcloth over my face to open my pores.  Then I applied the clay mixture.  As the mask began to dry, I started to panic (I’m not kidding) because the drying clay was tightening and vacuum-sealing itself so tightly to my skin, that I felt like a giant octopus had attached itself to my face. 

And if I ever star in Octopus 3, I’ll be able to draw on my Aztec Healing Clay experience and hopefully win an Oscar. 

To remove the mask, I suggest using a warm washcloth to loosen up the clay. (It’s either that, or a chisel.)

My face was a little red right after.  But wow was my skin clear.   There were no pores in sight and my skin was so smooth and firm that it looked like I’d been Nicole Kidman-ized.   (I imagine if you have acne or blackheads this stuff would be a Godsend.) 

So was the sensation of sniffing a dirty kitty litter box, while being attacked by a giant mollusk worth it?  You betcha.

Just curious, does anyone have any other clay masks they love????

Feel free to use the "search the web" box to the right, to find out where you can get the Aztec Healing Clay at the lowest price.

Little known fact about Octopi:  They like to collect shiny objects from the ocean floor and decorate their caves and build gardens with them. Ringo Starr (The Beatles) said it was one of the happiest things he’d ever heard.  He then went on to write the the song “Octopus’s Garden”. (Can you tell I’m unemployed and have too much time on my hands?)

Lather of Arabia

The founder of Bella Lucce has my dream job.

A few years back, I had my own aromatherapy company. While I was using ingredients indigenous to my kitchen cabinets (like my exfoliant made from granola, and my Honey Body Glaze, basting brush included, so you could glaze yourself like an Easter ham), the founder of Bella Lucce was scouring the earth, to find the “most insanely natural, deliciously decadent ingredients” known to woman.  (I’m sure her decadent granola collection is in the works.)

My favorite new soap, the Moroccan Lava Cleansing Bar, hails from her new Arabian Odyssey collection.  And considering I have 8 different bars of soap in my shower right now (I wish I were kidding) that should count for something. 

This soap is handmade in small batches, with exotic ingredients like mineral-rich, Moroccan lava clay (deep cleans and detoxifies).  Natural oils and shea butter (moisturizes).  And Turkish coffee (exfoliates and improves circulation).

It leaves my skin clear, soft, smooth, moisturized and beyond supple. And it smells amazing- vaguely like an exotic version of a warm cup of milk with honey, and cinnamon.  (Which is odd, considering it contains none of the above.) 

If for some strange reason, I had to get sucked into a computer, like the girl from Poltergeist got sucked into a TV, this would be the website where I’d want to spend all my time.

Oh, my God what was she doing in there?  She covered herself in every product at once. 

Exotic Date & Wild Honey Buff. Coconut Mango Bath Bliss. Detoxifying Ginger-Wasabi Masque.  The website is like a Travelocity for skin, helping it to plan its next exotic vacation. 

As luck will have it, I just finished the bar (of soap, not the legal exam).  I promised myself I’d use some of the 7 other bars in my shower before buying a new Moroccan Lava Bar.  God give me strength.   

Moracca Lava Bar.  I will find you, just stay alive no matter what occurs! ... I will find you.

The entire Bella Lucce collection is paraben-free, silicone-free, petroleum-free, dye-free and sulfate-free.