Pomegranate (Punica granatum) is a beautiful superfood that has been used for thousands of years. It originated in the Persian Empire and is still primarily cultivated in the Mediterranean, India (which we of course love!), and the Middle East.
Did you know that fruit extracts are an amazing source of Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) along with enzymes and antioxidants? We all know that “an apple a day keeps the doctor away” but fruits also benefit our skin in a major way when applied topically.
AHAs have been around for a long time—even Cleopatra, known for her legendary beauty, supposedly used them. The story goes that she bathed in sour milk (a source of lactic acid) to keep herself looking fresh and young. In this day and age, AHAs are found in a lot of skincare products, including ours. So, what are they?
Just that 2 word little phrase, “self-care” can trigger many of us. I’m just going to jump right out and say it. Self-care is not selfish. In fact, it’s a requirement. ALWAYS, and I mean always, take time for yourself, especially during the holidays when things can get nuts!
I like to use the analogy of the instructions your flight attendant gives you during the pre-flight safety demo. You are told to put your oxygen mask on FIRST before assisting other passengers. This is a great example of how necessary self-care is. Otherwise, you will be of use to no one, including yourself.
Here are some cozy self-care rituals to try during the chilly winter months:
Are you exfoliating your skin? Many of us take the time to make exfoliation a regular part of our face care routines, but we tend to ignore our bodies.
If you aren’t exfoliating your skin, please start, especially now that winter is coming (yes, that is a deliberate Game of Thrones reference!). In order for our skin to look and feel its best, we need to get rid of all of those excess dead skin cells. Even though our bodies continually produce new skin cells, over time, this process slows down as we age. What this means is that dead skin cells build up on the top layer of our skin. When there’s a build-up of dead skin cells, our skin doesn’t look its best and problems can develop.
So, how does exfoliation help our skin? Lots of ways!
How do we fight aging? Does it really even have to be a fight? I think that prevention is really the key. Don’t worry, it’s never too early or too late to start! We all are guilty of speeding up the aging process when we go in the sun without protection, smoke, don’t get enough sleep, stress out, expose ourselves to environmental toxins, eat a poor diet, and use toxin-laden personal care products.