by Wendi Sudhakar | Nov 13, 2018 | All Natural, Fruit Extracts, Gluten Free Skincare, Gluten-Free, Skin Treatment
WHAT IT IS + WHY WE LOVE IT 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. Pomegranate has been held sacred by many of the world’s major religions and nations. It has been described a paradise fruit and has been a symbol of beauty, sensuality, fertility and everlasting life. We love it for the bounty of skin-loving benefits it offers from both the inside-out and inside-in that nourish, protect, and rejuvenate. Before diving into all the benefits that pomegranate provides, no discussion would be complete without mentioning it in relation to food, especially with Thanksgiving just around the corner! It’s jewel-like seeds with its yummy sweet-tartiness will make all kinds of recipes shine! Add pomegranate to your sparkling wine for an extra special treat. This special little fruit can make the ordinary simply extraordinary. THE MANY SKIN BENEFITS OF POMEGRANATE We could go on for a really long time about the pomegranate. But, since we’re all getting into the chaos of the holidays, we just want to hit the highlights. So, grab yourself a sparkling beverage (grown-up or not!), add some pomegranate seeds, and plop down for a few minutes of all things about our little paradise fruit. Cell regeneration—pomegranates protect the skin on the surface and regenerate cells in the deepest layers. Collagen production—special compounds in pomegranates inhibit enzymes that break down collagen but also extend the life of cells that produce collagen and elastin. This helps...
by Wendi Sudhakar | Mar 28, 2018 | Age Prevention, All Natural, Fruit Extracts, Gluten Free Skincare, Gluten-Free, Skin Treatment
We’re having an AHA moment! 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? Alpha Hydroxy Acids in a Nutshell Natural AHAs are compounds derived mainly from fruit and sugars. There are five main types of AHAs found in skincare products: Glycolic acid (from sugar cane) Lactic acid (from milk) Malic acid (from apples and pears) Citric acid (from oranges and lemons) Tartaric acid (from grapes) AHAs promote smoother, younger looking skin by increasing the rate of cell renewal. They are awesome exfoliators and increase blood flow to the skin, so they help minimize fine lines and wrinkles. They are also great for reducing acne. So, if you’re like me and love having beautiful, glowing skin, you’ll want to be sure and feed your skin a healthy dose of AHAs every day! At Kudarat, we use a concentrated blend of fruit and sugar extracts that are high in naturally occurring AHAs. We put the emphasis on natural AHAs because many of the products out there that contain AHAs aren’t from a source you’d want to...
by Wendi Sudhakar | Dec 29, 2017 | Body Lotion, Gluten Free Skincare, Gluten-Free, Skin Treatment
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: Winter Weather Skincare Routine Make taking care of your skin a priority! This is easy to do and only takes a few minutes, pinky swear! Your skin needs a little more TLC during the winter months, when the weather tends to be more drastic. Be sure to wash your face morning and night. But, make sure you use a face wash that doesn’t contain ingredients that will irritate or dry out your skin. Also, keep the water warm—you don’t want it too hot or cold. Kudarat has 2 great face washes, depending on your needs. Whichever you choose, your skin will be left thoroughly cleansed and naturally hydrated. To save time, you can wash your face while in the shower. And speaking of…don’t forget that skincare is from head to toe. A natural and moisturizing body wash is the way to go. Avoid formulas that contain sulfates and other harsh ingredients. Not only...
by Wendi Sudhakar | Nov 16, 2017 | Age Prevention, All Natural, Body Scrub, Gluten Free Skincare, Skin Treatment
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! Smoother, Toned, and Brighter Skin With regular exfoliation, you can get rid of all of those yucky dead skin cells leaving you with smooth, glowing skin that looks and feels amazing. Unclog Pores Clogged pores lead to the dreaded body acne! When you eliminate dead skin cells, this helps keep your pores clear. Prevent In-Grown Hairs Lots of people get these from shaving. Exfoliation really helps with this! Reduce Hyperpigmentation Reduce hyperpigmentation—some of those dark spots (gasp! age spots!) on your skin are near the surface. Exfoliation may help some of these dark spots fade. Keep Your Skin From Drying Out Your skin will be less dry—in order for your lotion to do its job, it has to work through layers of dead skin. When you exfoliate, your cleansers and moisturizers...
by Wendi Sudhakar | Feb 23, 2017 | Age Prevention, All Natural, Gluten Free Skincare, Skin Treatment
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. Natural Ways to Prevent Aging Skin Damage There are a lot of things you can do to take care of yourself and your skin so that you’ll age gracefully and keep looking fabulous into your fifties (you got that right, since I’m knocking on that door!), sixties, and even seventies. Even if you’re only in your 20’s and not really thinking about aging yet, trust me, when you get to be pushing 50 and people still think you’re 30ish, you’ll be glad you listened! Focus on getting enough sleep (not enough sleep means bags and dark circles), eating right (beautiful skin begins on the inside), reducing stress (meditation and exercise are great for this), and using natural, high-quality skincare products. Let’s focus on taking care of your skin. 1. Choose Natural Skincare Products Go with natural skincare products. Seriously. Most of the “big brands” out there tend to use very small amounts of high quality ingredients (if they use any at all) that don’t really make a difference to your skin and they are commonly packed with cheap fillers like mineral oil that actually cause damage to your skin and your health. In fact, mineral oil is the second leading...
