Have you ever had a facial? Okay, have you ever had an IO Facial? Okay, so have you ever had the IO Organic Detox Facelift facial? Let’s just say, you might want to check it out. This one is as good as it gets in the land of organic facials. Period.

The IO Organic Detox Facelift is artfully crafted for those seeking purely organic anti-aging remedies. This supreme facial combines skin cleansing and enzymatic exfoliation and uncovers plumped, dewy, revitalized skin. Invigorating facial massage serves to pamper the skin, increase elasticity and stimulate the lymph for toxin and fluid release. Utilizing only pure organic ingredients, the facial draws upon the power of able hands to elevate both skin and spirit.

A pristine product selection of the best of the best includes organic luxury skincare lines such as Kahina, Dr. Alkaitis, Dr. Hauschka and In Fiore. Based on skin type and needs, our experienced IO estheticians create exact formulations for each client. To top off the skin-pampering experience, local organic edible products such as raw honey are added to seal in the curative benefits.

Love your face.

Try an Organic Facelifter,
Amy

The Organic Detox Facelift is our brand new facial on the menu at IO. To call it a facial is underselling its magnificence, as it’s really a holistic combination of a whole body skin-invigorator, blissful head and neck massage, and skin savior.

The Organic Detox Facelift employs a pristine selection of my favorite skincare products, some of which we sell in our boutique, and some of which we reserve for back-of-house treatments. For this skin-pampering experience, we use the best of the best.

An exact formula is always tailored to your particular skin type and needs, but we’ll customize a combination of all-organic luxury products by Kahina, In Fiore, Dr. Alkaitis and Dr. Hauschka… all personal favorites of mine.

Oh, and some raw, local, organic honey for your face. Yum.

Getting a facial is a sensory experience that always reminds me to treat my skin a little better. And spending 75 minutes in the loving hands of our one of our experienced estheticians is a gift I give myself whenever I can.

Beyond caring for your skin, it’s about caring for your whole self – body mind and soul. ‘Cause ain’t that what it’s all about?

Happy face,
Amy

And if, of course, I can’t find the time, I know where to buy the real-thing already whipped up and packaged for me at IO. Options can be empowering too, but here’s a way to do it yourself. Here’s a recipe I recently mixed together:

Rose Geranium Coconut Balm

Rose geranium is a lovely plant that’s edible, pretty, and extremely pungent… in a good way. This time of year, you can get your hands on a bunch at local farmer’s markets for about $2.

It only takes a tiny bit of the leaves to impart a lot of flavor to your balm, so rinse off a wee pinch, and then put the rest in a small vase to freshen up your loo or bring some Spring to any corner of your house.

Throw it in a blender with some coconut oil… the good old cooking variety will do. (Here’s a little tip: chop up the rose geranium first, then blend in the oil at a very low speed, only briefly. Too long and too fast will alter the chemistry of the oil in less than desirable ways.)

Pour it into a recycled jar, and voila! You have yourself some fresh, practically edible hand balm.

Of course, you can substitute the rose geranium with just about anything from your kitchen that smells good to you.

Experimenting like this is what inspired me to develop IO’s very own line of IO Organic Products, and if you use some imagination, perhaps you too can invent your own line of wellness items. Or at the very least, create a few balms or scrubs customized to your very own skin.

Here’s yet another empowered way to be a bridge to your better side.

Experiment and HAVE FUN.

Kitchen-unconfidential,
Amy

The fact that we tend to sleep poorly, eat badly and exercise less when we are going through hard times only exacerbates the spiral effect of stress.

Even when the rest of your life seems hard to manage, even if it doesn’t seem like it, you always have some degree of control over how you treat your body’s largest organ, and getting a grip on your skin is just the first step (and a great bridge) to feeling in control of your body and your life.

AGUA
It starts with drinking lots of water.

The whole eight-glasses-a-day thing can be tedious, but I’ve found that spiking my Hetch Hetchy with herbal tea or citrus and then drinking out of an old-fashioned Ball Jar can make it more enjoyable. (Plus, the Ball Jar has ounce markings so I know I’m getting my measurable eight-per-glass. In fact as I write this, I have an 8 ouncer half full of agua con ginger y lemon. I’ve got a ways to go on my daily in-take, but I’m well on my enjoyable way.)

KEEP IT CLEAN
Keeping “cooties” off your skin is also important. We tend to touch our face when we’re nervous or bored. Consciously avoiding the spread of bacteria from your hands to your face helps prevent those unsightly eruptions (yes, pimples).

MOVE THAT BOD
Yoga is great for circulation, and therefore great for your skin. So is a brisk morning walk, or any outdoor time / fresh air you can squeeze into your schedule.

TREAT YOUR SKIN
And when some time frees up in your schedule, consider rewarding your skin. She works hard for you, quietly holding it all in, and she is your biggest organ. I’m partial to rewarding my skin at IO. It sounds like C Magazine agrees by the recent rating in their Best of Summer issue that names our fabulous Custom Enzyme Facial “Best of State Top Five”. But, then again, I don’t need to be convinced.

Keep it simple.

And reward your skin,
Amy

A facial peel is like a really deep cleaning for your face. When I clean my house, I use non-toxic, non-carcinogenic, organic products. Likewise for my face. The Arcona and REN products that Alicia mentions are favorite sellers at IO, and I can testify that they are amazing. I am an avid user.

I save a special place in my heart for our In Fiore products because they are made with love and inspiration by a great friend of mine and they’ve long been a popular staple at IO. The Coveted mentions In Fiore’s Fleur Vibrante balm for soothing dry, parched or irritated skin post-peel. It’s truly good stuff.

The In Fiore motto is “let fragrance by thy medicine”. I adore that. Next time you are at IO, check out one of our tester jars and I guarantee you will fall into rapture over the precious garnet-colored glass vials of balms that smell like heaven itself.

But In Fiore balms are not just skin deep. They are elegant, couture holistic treatments designed to promote long-term skin health and radiance. Most In Fiore products use a base of the highest quality jojoba, grapeseed and vitamin E oils enhanced with precious aromatherapeutic essential oils.

I personally believe that a great, human-friendly product is only half the battle with skin care. Equally important is that you enjoy using the product, and I can’t imagine a more decadent self-pampering experience than In Fiore.

Love,
Amy

A part of me thinks that we’re all just looking for a justification for our bad habits. But then again, how can something that makes me so happy be all that bad for me?

How can a tasty little substance known as “the champagne of the Mayans” be wrong? So let’s talk about chocolate.

The facts: chocolate contains a certain amount of sugar, fat and caffeine. But chocolate also contains a powerful antioxidant in the form of flavonoids.

Sure, vegetables also contain flavonoids. They just don’t happen to present the flavonoids with quite as much aplomb, in my opinion.

(Actually, the reason that chocolate contains flavonoids is that it’s made from plants. No mystery there.)

It’s actually the cacao plant, the cacao bean in particular, that contains the healthy goodies.

Antioxidants improve blood flow (especially to the skin, which helps makes us healthy AND beautiful), positively impact heart health, and lower cholesterol.

Other chemicals in cacao are thought to improve memory and reaction time by increasing blood flow to the brain.

Some claim that cacao can balance out certain hormones in the body and provide a rush of euphoria for a matter of hours. I think I’ve felt this one first hand.

Bottom line: chocolate makes me feel good. In moderation, dear ones.

I choose to believe that a well-deserved hot cocoa from Bittersweet on Fillmore Street in San Francisco (my ‘hood and right up the street from IO) makes my day a little sweeter.

It might not add ten years to my life. But then again, who knows? It might.

Chocolate lover,
Amy

Yet, amidst the gloom and doom, when I continue to wait in line for a seat at a restaurant on an average Tuesday night in my neighborhood and see smiling faces and hear laughing, I can’t help but think; wow, people are still having fun.

Many San Franciscans are finding ways to keep joy in their lives. And it’s encouraging. People are simplifying, because they have to, and many seem to be keeping some fun in the mix. Fun and laughter is my light in the dark. Having fun seems to carves out a space deep enough for hope to live in. A fun-well of sorts that I can dip in for a sip of hope when I’m thirsty for it.

At IO, our mission is to be A Bridge to Your Better Side. A subtitle to our mission statement is this: to be A Bridge Over Troubled Water.

Everyday our team at IO attempts this mission by consistently offering exceptional wellness care knowing full well that it’s always important to take care of your body and mind but even more so in stressful times.

Our hope at IO is that we make that a little easier for our community. We have always offered wallet-friendly options for our wellness rituals during weekdays, but we’ve dialed it up to answer the call.

7×7 Magazine listed us in April’s “The Seven: Best Spring Spa Deals”, citing our Massage Stimulus Package (our 60-minute IO Signature Massage for only $89 – a 15 percent savings).

We’ve always got a healthy handful of other spa offers that combine our consistently excellent treatment quality with wallet-friendly rates during off-peak hours. Check out our Spa Specials page for the nitty-gritty.

And remember, no matter what’s goes on in our crazy world, the stability of your own health and well-being depends upon treating yourself with care first. It starts with you and radiates outward.

We live in a world in flux. In our own hearts may we be steady, strong, rich in spirit, and as relaxed as humanly possible.

TLC time,
Amy

I’m keen on learning about “miracle” herbal medicinals. I learned that it’s not just prescribed for (ahem) PMS and women’s health issues which I’d heard. Yes, another remedy to avoid feeling and acting like a grump a few days out of the month. But it’s more than that.

Evening primrose oil is also touted to promote heart health, aid in weight loss, reduce high blood pressure, and relieve pain and inflammation. And traditionally, it’s been used topically to treat skin conditions like eczema and inflammation.

Evening primrose oil’s primary weapon against bad health comes in the form of gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), an essential fatty acid (EFAs). Fatty acids are essential for human health and are not produced by the human body.

Ideally, of course, we get GLAs from our diet in the form of things like fish, flax seeds, canola oil, and some nuts. But in lieu of a perfect diet, it’s good to know how to supplement, especially with targeted EFAs that are specifically designed by nature to affect our individual health needs.

You can pick up evening primrose oil in capsule form at Rainbow Grocery or any other natural food market that has a decent supplement section.

And we carry several products at IO that contain evening primrose oil specifically for the skin.

In Fiore, a favorite product line of mine and one we’ve stocked in our Shop at IO since its inception, is loaded with the stuff. I’ve been using In Fiore oils and balms on my face and body at least once a day since 2002. I’m a believer.

In Fiore is one of my “secrets” although not so secret anymore. Evening primrose as well as loads of other healing and smell-like-heaven flower essences and oils help make In Fiore powerful stuff. Both healing and heaven-scent.

Although the jury is still out on whether evening primrose oil is the magical elixir some claim it to be, why not give it a whirl.

Plus, it has just about the most romantic name for a nutritional supplement that I’ve ever heard. Say it. Evening Primrose. It makes you want to buy a bottle just to display it on your armoire.

As prim as a rose in evening-time,
Amy

Clarisonic is a laudable invention that’s been written up in the Huffington Post as being “spectacular” and “the skin care product — for women and men — of 2008”. We took the rave reviews to heart and tried it at IO, and it did not disappoint.

Think of it as a Sonicare toothbrush for your face. (It’s actually made by the same people who make Sonicare, so they know their stuff.) It’s basically a self-facial gadget that you can use every day to deep clean, exfoliate and brighten up your skin at home. It’s waterproof, so you can even use it in the shower.

How does it work? Their patented sonic frequency technology vibrates the brush across your skin at 300 movements per second, so it gets into your pores and the fine lines of your face (not that you have those!) better than cleanser and a facecloth alone could manage. This gentle cleaning and exfoliating action allows your skin to better absorb moisturizers and toners so that you get your money’s worth out of all of your beauty products.

And it’s not just for the face. You can use the Clarisonic on your entire body for allover better skin health. You can apply any high-quality skincare product with it, or use it sans product altogether.

We’re generally reluctant to buy into gadget crazes at IO, so this is the only high-tech tool we use during our facial treatments. We’ve had so much good feedback about using it that we decided to offer it for sale in our boutique. For just under $200, this is the best skincare bargain around.

And on a personal note, I’ve been using my Clarisonic. I can absolutely see the difference in my skin.

Clarisonic!
Amy

Even those of us in the wellness world have to manage stress as we try to remember to practice what we preach. Plus, I wasn’t 18 anymore and my skin was changing. It needed more TLC.

When I was a kid, my mom’s beauty routine consisted of slathering on Kiehl’s face wash (before they sold to L’Oreal) and splashing her face with water. Both my grandmas had even simpler habits including Cold Cream mostly.

And yes, times have changed an with that the earth’s air-quality and atmosphere is altered. Many drugstore products of moms and grandmas era don’t do the trick to combat the pollutants, allergens and radiation from an exponentially stronger sun.

Fortunately, nature and science are doing a pretty good job of keeping up with the shifts in the needs of our pretty faces. I’m particularly smitten with a natural product line that we recently started carrying at IO: Dr. Alkaitis Holistic Organic Skin Food.

Dr. Alkaitis is not just some marketing concept; he’s actually a highly regarded research scientist with a PhD in physical chemistry and credentials in the research fields of cancer, viruses and genetics.

More importantly to me, he’s an ethnopharmacologist: one who knows how to heal with plants. He is not, in other words, simply a guy with a good idea. He’s a real, bona fide scientist with holistic intentions.

Dr. Alkaitis’ particular expertise is acutely apparent in his innovative, high-integrity product formulations. I’ve spoken with him personally on the phone when we were considering the line.

I can vouch for his serious passion for his work and his depth and breadth of relevant knowledge. I also find it refreshing to know there are Real McCoeys left in the world.

But aside from the founder’s star-striking credentials, the real integrity of Dr. Alkaitis products lies in their making. Unlike most skin care products that are based on water and alcohol, these are made with a base of aloe vera and very high quality oils and butters.

Dr. Alkaitis products use primarily “living” ingredients that are biologically active. Which means that they are minimally processed and still contain active nutrients that your skin readily soaks up.

These skincare products are food-grade quality so it’s good enough to eat, but please don’t!

I think the Dr. Alkaitis motto says it all: The Essential Foundation of Beauty is Health.

I’m all for that.

Healthy is beautiful,
Amy

Fats have traditionally gotten a bad rap in our culture. They are often accused of being literally “fattening”. But in truth, they are a necessary part of a balanced diet. It’s just a matter of choosing the right ones and eating them in reasonable amounts. Because eating a small amount of fats daily is crucial to maintaining metabolic health focusing your fat intake on eating MUFAs is actually considered a good way to lose weight by most dietary experts

Replacing the “bad” fats (saturated fats and trans fats that is) and replacing them with MUFAs has been associated with weight loss (especially in the pesky belly area) and better overall health. The skin benefits greatly as well. In fact, Mediterranean cultures with their high consumption of olive oils and other MUFA-containing foods have an impressively low rate of heart disease and a high rate of healthy, pretty looking skin.

Finding MUFAs is easy. Besides olive oil, they are rampant in such yummy stuff as nuts, avocados (oh how I love you, avocados), popcorn, olives and whole grain wheat. Find out the breakdown of foods that contain MUFAs.

Oils high in MUFAs (like olive oil and peanut oil) are considered especially good for cooking because they remain stable at higher temperatures and do not become “hydrogenated” easily.

This is what the American Heart Association has to say about MUFAs: “Monounsaturated fats can help reduce bad cholesterol levels in your blood and lower your risk of heart disease and stroke. They also provide nutrients to help develop and maintain your body’s cells. Monounsaturated fats are also typically high in vitamin E an antioxidant vitamin most Americans need more of.”

They’re the experts, I suppose. I’m sold on any excuse to eat more of my favorite things.

Cheers to the MUFAs of the world,
Amy

That’s Buddhist teacher, Pema Chodron, speaking.

It’s true that we are always looking for that one miracle product that is going to reverse the effects of aging, zap our wrinkles, perfect our skin and disappear our sags. The marketing lingo of most beauty products feeds right into our fears around aging.

But what if it wasn’t about being younger? What if we could be happy right where we are on our precious life path? I can keep dreaming can’t I?

What I love about REN products (new to us at IO) is that it’s not about performing a miracle. It’s about letting your skin be the best skin it can be at its given age. That doesn’t mean you are going to go to bed with REN Vita-Mineral Radiant Day Cream on your face and wake up twenty years younger. But it means that you’re going to wake up with skin that’s more hydrated, less stressed, and thus inherently more radiant and youthful in demeanor.

Chodron reminds us:

“According to Buddha, the lives of all beings are marked by three characteristics: impermanence, egolessness, and suffering… Recognizing these qualities to be real and true in our own experience helps us to relax with things as they are.”

Let’s face it. No beauty product is going to make us younger. But by treating ourselves to high-quality skincare products designed specifically for our skin, right now, at our age, maybe we can alleviate a little bit of our suffering around attachment to youth.

Convert to REN Buddhism?
Amy

IO Facials include lavish massage of face, decollete, neck, shoulders, arms and sometimes even feet, plus often double-exfoliation, masks with enzymatic peeling power, serums to tighten and firm, oils to super-hydrate, all beautifully scented and many organic and natural products that really work. I think of a great facial as a health treatment for my body’s most visible, biggest and very important organ: the one that’s exposed to constant stress in the form of solar rays, urban grime and all sort of invasive pollutants that are unavoidable in modern city life.

Our IO facials are all performed with the same supremely high-quality products that we sell in our boutique, and are customized to your particular skin type and situation. We never use generic products, ever. Depending on the treatment, in various ratios a facial will hydrate, rejuvenate, deep-clean, and slow down the aging process. Regardless of the specialty, a facial at IO is meant to restore health to exhausted or ignored skin and give it the confidence and attention to bounce back.

Of course, a facial isn’t a face lift, but it is vastly safer, way cheaper, and feels better. You’ll likely leave the spa with the most radiant skin of your life for at least a few days. Continue to take good care of your skin at home and your friends will certainly comment about your amazing skin and maybe even accuse you of a recent round of Botox. Ha!

From Sonja of The Coveted’s “My Year of Beauty” post in January: “I had my first facial at IO this year. It was the best facial I’ve ever had, which is no small feat, because I’ve had many over the years.”

And to reciprocate, The Coveted is a really great, edgy local blog that has gotten national exposure for its refreshing, sassy coverage of fashion, beauty and style. The all-female bloggers are especially interested in eco-beauty, vintage clothing, sustainable fashion, and all of those green-friendly catchwords we love to hear.

Never underestimate the power of a good facial.

Amen,
Amy

As an antidote for these times, we introduce our new cost-friendly IO Memberships available during January 2009. Just in time for all those resolutions you’ll be making. Here’s one resolution we can help you commit to… the commitment to your own body, to balance and to regular stress-relief.

Introducing three new memberships with superior wellness benefits including consistent and exceptional care of your body and mind. We offer Spa and Yoga, Spa-Only and Yoga-Only Membership options with exceptional pricing and including some very special perks:

Savings of Over 30% – deeper than our weekly offers stretch

Ease of Booking via Email – with your dedicated Membership Coordinator

10% Retail Savings – on all products purchased at IO

Share Your Membership – share 4 treatments per year with the guest of your choice

All of us at IO are dedicated to your wellness transformation. Now all you have to do is dedicate yourself.

Stretch your Mind. Move your Body. Feel your Skin.
Amy

Are you feeling obligated to attend every last get-together while simultaneously crunching in work deadlines, shopping for gifts amidst the retail mayhem, hosting family, hanging decorations and trying to do it with a tighter budget and a smile on your face?

Well, that’s just crazy, isn’t it? Things can quickly become very overwhelming. Overwhelming and stressful.

I find it useful to remind myself that it’s normal to feel a little sluggish as the days get shorter and chillier. There was frost on the ground this morning as I took my morning walk. It even looked like there was snow in San Francisco on Monday morning since all the hail that fell the night before had piled up on street corners. It was a rare site and proof that winter is mere days away. Here she comes, the season of hibernation. We either choose to invite her in with a warm welcome or she comes blowing the door down anyway.

Biologically, in fact, our bodies are designed to go into a semi-state of hibernation this time of year. Of course, that’s not what ends up happening in our modern Western world. Still, there are ways to slow down even during the frenzied month of December. Here are some effective tips I’ve cultivated in my own life to help ease the pandemonium of the holidays.

Just Say No…To Evites
Ask yourself, if I say no to this party, will I really be missed? Okay, so you’ll be missed. But will you be missed to the extent that it’s worth stretching yourself thin to make this happen? Pick and choose your social outings based on what will make YOU happy, not what you feel obligated to attend.

One for Me, One for You
While you’re opting out of mad socializing, take the extra time to do something nice for yourself. Indulge in a restorative yoga class, treat yourself to a relaxing massage, or maybe just a nice hot bath.

You at the Top of the List
Put yourself at the top of your holiday shopping list. Even if it’s just a candle or some bath salts, give yourself a token of appreciation. Truly, I believe that we best serve others and the world by taking care of ourselves first so we are better equipped to give wholeheartedly and generously to others. I’m still working on this one myself, but I’ve made a lot of progress that shows me this lesson is a good one. Give it a try with me.

Wallow in Sleep
Get in bed a little earlier, at least once a week. Light a candle. Sip a warm cup of tea, hot milk with honey or hot apple cider. Crack open the book that you’ve been wanting to read, but have been too tired and too busy to pause for. Read a few well-deserved pages. Drift off into a sweet slumber. (Remember to blow out your candle first. A house fire would not be relaxing.)

Revel in Food
‘Tis the season. This time of year a little more food is called for. Go ahead, have some comfort food. Satisfying a yearning for comforting food can help prevent over snacking on sweets or junk. If you go easy on the alcohol then having a little more comfort food won’t result in weight gain. Enjoy the warmth of stews and soups. Remember to eat foods in season like root veggies and dark leafy greens with fortifying vitamins and minerals. Opt for cooked foods instead of raw for easier digestion during cold winter months. Keep your internal system warm and well fed. You’ll be healthier and more satisfied.

Don’t Worry Your Pretty Head
Go easy on yourself. Worrying less results in a sparkling glow from the inside out and fewer wrinkles. It’s proven. Don’t worry too much about the consequences of these simple suggestions above. None of these things are harmful to your health. Any lingering guilt you may have, toss it away. Plus, that’s what New Year’s Resolutions are for.

Have a little fun with taking care of yourself, as well as others, this season. Give yourself permission to hibernate a little too and send yourself into the New Year feeling healthy, balanced and recharged.

Take time for number one,
Amy

Results and integrity are a powerful coupling and a requirement for our product offerings across the board at IO. With product selection, we seek to bridge the gap between high-end cosmetics of dubious sourcing and all natural makeup that, frankly, doesn’t always do the trick.

Many of us are fortunate enough to live in the environmentally progressive Bay Area, where it is about to become mandatory by law that we recycle and that grocery stores no longer bag our items in plastic. And, those cute Smart Cars are showing up everywhere. Sadly, the cosmetic industry hasn’t quite caught on to this important trend. Although makeup manufacturers have to comply with “laissez faire USDA mandates to ensure safety”, according to a recent New York Times article, “safe” has yet to be defined. Ponder that one.

Okay, so your skin is your largest organ. Yes, I know you’ve heard this one before, but have you really paid attention to what that means? At least hold this question in mind when purchasing products for your skin and precious face. Shouldn’t you be at least as careful about what you put on your face as what you put in your belly?

Enter Arcona mineral makeup powders.

Arcona is a holistic skin care line that uses only human-friendly, all natural ingredients and looks gorgeous on your face. With no trace of the usual suspect chemical offenders mercury, coal-tar colors, or formaldehyde, Arcona’s powders are a safe bet, not only for your skin, but also for the environment and the animals in it.

This breathable foundation with SPF 25 sun protection brushes on powder-light, yet still offers good coverage. It protects skin from sun damage and premature aging with titanium dioxide and zinc oxide plus antioxidant vitamins C and E. It covers and protects with the light-diffusing effect of mineral pigments that allow the skin to breathe. It’s available in multiple shades, in an easy to use brush-on tube. I keep one in my purse, another in my makeup bag and take one with me to the beach or on a long sunny hike. Plus, it’s perfect for travel and is, thankfully, not a liquid so you’ll never worry about annoying holdups at airport security.

Take it from me; this is one of my favorite beauty not-so-secrets. And, it’s healthy too.

Cheers to beauty that doesn’t hurt,
Amy

Enter, the raspberry.

This red vine fruit with tangy sweetness has Medieval European roots before its migration to the U.S. Raspberry crops now flourish in the cool, wet climates of regions like Washington State, where I was born. I was an early fan of the raspberry, only then the application to my face only occurred as it smeared around my mouth from eating too many, too quickly.

Raspberry leaves can be used fresh or dried in herbal and medicinal teas and tinctures. They are also known to be effective in regulating the female menstrual cycle. Raspberry extract is used medicinally and topically for its antimicrobial and soothing qualities like reducing inflammation, calming irritation and toning the skin. The raspberry fruit is very rich in antioxidant vitamins C and A, and the chemical element, manganese.

Did you know that raspberries rank among the fruits with the highest antioxidant strength?

It’s true. Thanks to the dense contents of polyphenolic antioxidants like ellagic and salicylic acids. Antioxidants inhibit the oxidation process in cells, a process known to have a damaging effect on tissues. Much health research shows that people who consume a diet rich in fruits and vegetables may slow the aging process. Topical application of antioxidants is also thought to protect the skin from signs of aging.

Arcona Raspberry Resurfacing Peel is my current lackluster skin booster. It’s exfoliating, hydrating and oxygenating my skin to improve circulation and minimize irregular pigmentation with a combo of mandelic, lactic and malic acids. As the season changes, it’s helping to heal and soothe my skin from summer sun and protect it for the chill of fall with a antioxidant-rich formula of raspberry and grapeseed extracts, green tea and lycopene.

Directions
Apply once or twice weekly, morning or night. A slight tingling sensation might occur. Leave on skin for 10-15 minutes, 5-8 minutes for sensitive skin. Rinse with warm water, pat skin dry and follow with a skin hydrator.

Berry good for your skin (and tasty too),
Amy

As we begin to focus our energies inward again to reap the innate benefits of the fall season, it is a good time to help the process along by internally cleansing the body, letting go of unneeded waste and allowing the new phase to transition smoothly.

Here’s a healthy green drink that helps me move from summer to fall and cleanse my digestive system and skin. This drink has diuretic qualities so it helps release excess water weight that may have stored itself in bodily tissues. I say goodbye to lackluster skin and slow digestion as I welcome the fall.

I drink this smoothie first thing in the morning for a week or so before, or instead of, coffee. It’s an incredibly energizing drink that’s nice and tart, just slightly sweet, and very energizing.

Ingredients
3-4 Celery stalks, cleaned very well
1 Lemon, remove skin but leave the white pith (if in a hurry, juice it instead)
1 handful of Parsley, washed and stalks removed
1 Granny Smith green Apple, cored

Directions
Coarsely chop all the ingredients. Place ingredients in a blender and add water to about an inch above the contents. Blend until smooth. Serves one or two people.

Blending is preferred to juicing for this recipe so that all the helpful fiber is left in the green drink. Ideally, this drink is best when consumed within the first few hours of making it, when it’s still the most vibrant and full of nutrients.

Clean, green and ready for fall,
Amy

Every year in the transition from summer to fall, I return to our organic farm to help my folks with the year’s biggest harvest. We pick all sorts of fruits like grapes, figs, apples, peaches, heirloom vegetables like tomatoes, cucumbers, beans, and medicinal, healing herbs like flowering mint and lavender.

My business partner and friend, Melissa, as well as IO Creative Director, Matt and IO Retail Director, Julie, have in years past also shared in the harvest experience and helped lend able hands to IO’s very own family farm, Old Monticello Organic Farms, New Mexico, otherwise know by the fitting acronym of OM OF NM.

After the harvest my parents, Jane and Steve, send me back from the farm to San Francisco with my healthy supply of freshly picked fruits and vegetables, my mom’s homemade stone-fruit granola, dad’s wood-aged balsamic vinegar, and lavender products to use at the spa and in my home bathroom.

Lavender Hydrosol is one of my favorite wellness products from the farm. In small batches, my parents slowly distill fresh, hand-cut herbs in their pure well water, producing the highest quality hydrosols and essential oils.

Nearly everyone knows what essential oils are, but hydrosols may be new to people outside of Europe. It is being learned that this “milky water” contains all key plant constituents, often even more than the essential oil itself, and can deliver the fullest medicinal value of the plant via inhalation or skin contact, both pleasingly and effectively.

Lavender is a healing herb known for its balancing, antiseptic and calming qualities.

Hydrosols are the pure water-based solutions created when essential oils are steam-distilled. They help maintain skin pH balance and absorption of product ingredients.

I love to mist Lavender Hydrosol generously on my face and body as a refresher and light fragrance. I always travel with a bottle to hydrate, calm and refresh. Since lavender has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties it’s also good for the germ exposure we encounter when traveling. Try it yourself.

A special thank you to my parents, Jane and Steve, and the fall harvest at OM OF NM for reminding me about the beautiful organic yields of nature and what delightful creations can be made with our own hands. What a combination.

Straight from the farm,

Amy

“I don’t wear sunscreen every day. I heard that sunscreen makes it impossible to get vitamin D from sunshine, and that Americans are too obsessed with sunscreen these days.”

This clearly got Cat thinking since she/we recommend daily use of sunscreen. So, she checked out the scientific credibility of this claim.

It seems to have started with Dr. Michael Holick, a professor at Boston University and a leading researcher in the area of vitamin D synthesis and deficiency. His views and opinions were presented on MSNBC in 2004. He contends that Americans are too hyper about their sunscreen application and that the body needs sunshine exposure to get vitamin D, since food is generally a very poor source. It should also be noted that he has accepted funding from the indoor tanning industry.

In the 1930s, when rickets (a bone disease caused by vitamin D deficiency) was a problem for the American population, the dairy industry started to fortify milk with vitamin D, and that largely eradicated the problem. Unfortunately, now even common vitamin D-fortified milk does not contain the necessary amount (1000 IU per day for adults up to age 70) due to the decline in dairy quality over the years.

BOTTOM LINE
People who are at risk for vitamin D deficiency: anyone who goes to work and comes home when it’s dark outside and does not spend any time whatsoever outdoors. In which case, potential vitamin D deficiency is the least of their worries, it would seem.

Also at risk (geographically): people who live anywhere in or above the latitude of Boston. In the winter, there’s not enough sunlight there to synthesize vitamin D, whether the person is wearing sunscreen or not.

SOLUTION
1 dose/day of Arctic Cod Liver Oil fortified with vitamin D. Otherwise, exposure to hands, arms, and legs to sunshine for 5-15 minutes, twice a week is enough to provide proper vitamin D levels for humans.

So, wear your sunscreen to prevent wrinkles, age spots and skin cancer. Vitamin D deficiency is no excuse in my book.

My favorite sunscreen for the face is Arcona’s mineral makeup powder called Sunsations. Pick the color that matches your skin tone. I also keep a small, 2 ounce bottle of Malin + Goetz Sunscreen handy in my purse.

Industrial-sized, bulky tubes of sunscreen are not my cup of tea. I never finish them before they have collected unwelcome sand and dirt in the cap or have begun to smell “off”. Plus, I don’t like to be wasteful. Instead, I choose sunscreen that’s high-quality, easy to use/carry and comes in a smaller container, so I use what I buy.

Enjoy the sun and protect your beautiful skin,

Amy

Since I no longer own a car, biking seemed like a great way to get around and have weekend adventures on breathtaking back roads around the Bay Area. I wanted to take advantage of this opportunity and explore my dream of doing a century ride (100 miles) through Marin or Big Sur.

While I am known for big dreams, unfortunately, my visions of Lance Armstrong riding up beside me, telling me I had great form and asking me if I wanted to ride with him, came to a screeching halt when I had a close encounter with a cement wall a week ago.

At that tail end of a 50 mile biking weekend around Marin County with my good friend, Jessica, I had a nasty crash.

We had just taken a yoga class to tend to our sore muscles, still adjusting to biking long distances. Biking home, we crossed a narrow path on a cement bridge (that I should have been, as the signs suggested, walking my bike on). On the downhill section of the bridge I had problems with my left foot clipping into my pedal (clip-ins, by the way, are the main cause of falls for new bikers).

You guessed it, I bit the dust. But before I landed squarely on my rear, I managed to slide along the cement wall. My mouth hit first then my chest, which was clad only in a yoga tank top. I got road rash and deep abrasions from my nose, upper lip, chin all the way down my chest and a gash on my left hip. I am blessed that I didn’t break my nose or lose any teeth. I thank my lucky stars.

But, I’ll be honest, it wasn’t pretty and after a full day in bed, I was on a mission to make sure my ghastly scabs didn’t become scars.

Just over a week later, my face is seriously, almost magically, back to normal with only a slight amount of pinkness. Here’s what worked for me…

TIPS FOR HEALING SKIN QUICKLY

Get Your Rest
Sleep and relaxation is key so your body can focus on healing.

Homeopathic Remedies
Arnica and Rescue Remedy should be taken for shock and pain. When you feel better, you heal faster.

Drink Lots of Fluids
Your body must be hydrated internally to heal externally. What you do on the inside supports what happens on the outside. It’s just that simple. Drink lots of water, herbal tea to hydrate and pineapple juice for extra healing enzymes.

Vitamins
Get enough vitamins internally. I took two packets of Emergen-C per day.

Keep it Clean and Dry
Until the wounds dry out, keep them clean and uncovered as much as possible and only apply antibiotic cream at this point. Minimizing the possibility of infection is critical for speedy healing.

Hydration and Regeneration
Once the wounds are drying out, apply In Fiore’s Fleur Vibrante to hydrate and regenerate your skin. Alternately, between applications of Fleur Vibrante, apply Aloe Vera gel (100% pure only). Once the scabs begin to fall off, continue to apply Fleur Vibrante at least once a day and at night.

Protect New Skin
Wear sunscreen on the new skin which is extra sensitive and more likely to hyper-pigment.

Be healed,

Amy

So, what do peas and healthy skin have in common? Read on to find out.

Since it’s the only skin I’ve got, I do what I can to maintain it. Instead of doing the nip and tuck thing, healthy eating habits and a simple daily skin routine can keep skin supple and healthy (maybe not ageless, but who really wants to look like a mannequin anyway?).

I trust Arcona’s natural and highly effective skincare products to take care of my skin. With every new product I learn something valuable and gain another helpful tool. I was most recently impressed with their peptide product made with sweet peas. What do you know, peas aren’t just for dinner anymore.

Arcona’s newest product, Peptide Firming Complex, is specifically for skin that needs a little extra attention, whether it be fine lines or a loss of moisture. This powerful anti-aging serum contains advanced tripeptides to help combat wrinkles and age damage. These peptides encourage collagen and elastin production. Arcona delights me again with this product as they utilize unexpected natural ingredients – Peptide Firming Complex contains natural pea extract which has been shown to tighten and strengthen skin. I know my mother would approve.

Peptide Firming Complex by Arcona
Anti-aging serum, rich in skin remodeling peptides, helps reduce fine lines, loss of elasticity and repairs age-damaged skin. Attracts and binds moisture to the skin with hyaluronic acid, a powerful natural hydrator. Leaves skin luminous, firm and revitalized.

USE
Use daily, morning and evening. Apply 1-2 pumps to clean skin in AM and/or PM.

If you don’t indulge your skin, who will?

Pass the peptides, please,

Amy

Honey, the sweet nectar of flowers, the bi-product of honey bees, has long been used in healing and beauty products and, of course, as a syrupy sweetener of food and drink.

Egyptians used honey for healing wounds as well as for beauty treatments. The legendary Cleopatra, who was known for her beauty and gorgeous complexion, had a few tricks up her sleeve, like bathing in milk and honey to soften and purify her skin.

As it turns out, Western physicians are now starting to use honey, the manuka variety especially, to treat burns and infections because of its antibacterial and antibiotic properties. For these same reasons we use honey in our facials at IO and it’s also the same reason that one of the main ingredients in Arcona’s Toner Tea Bar is manuka honey (a special kind of honey made by New Zealand honey bees).

In our curative IO Facials, we draw from select products made of fresh herbal and plant extracts, essential oils, naturally active enzymes, alpha-hydroxy acids and antioxidant vitamins. No generic facial products are used in any of our facials and, in fact, we mix many of our treatment masks with honey for its added healing and purifying qualities.

Arcona’s Toner Tea Bar is an antioxidant facial cleanser that heals and strengthens the skin as it tones and minimizes pores. It neutralizes free radicals, calms and protects skin with antioxidant, anti-inflammatory green and black teas. It nourishes and clarifies with antibacterial enzyme-rich manuka honey and vitamin E.

Toner Tea Bar is good for all skin types and guarantees great results without any fillers, chemical stabilizers, artificial colors, emulsifiers, petro-chemicals, animal bi-products or drying alcohols.

Product Usage Tip
Cut the cleansing bar into halves or quarters so it lasts longer and for easy to use travel sizes.

Thanks, honey!

Amy

I am indeed a proponent of abandoning fast food, but “fast face” certainly has a time and place in my life. I appreciate some things for their slowly unfolding benefits (like fine wine, aged cheese, even some perfume oils), but others for their efficiency and ease. Tea Tree fits into the later category. It’s fast acting.

This healing and cleansing essential oil is derived from the leaves of the Melaleuca Alternifolia, a plant native to Australia, and has a long history of use for healing infection. Australian aborigines relied on these leaves to treat wounds, burns and abrasions.

Tea tree oil has proven to be effective as an antiseptic and applying the oil to your skin kills petulant acne causing bacteria. The elements found in Tea Tree oil are highly beneficial to the skin and have been shown to reduce inflammation quickly.

Tea Tree ‘Green’ Factor: One tree can actually provide oil for over 60 years, meaning the trees do not need to be harvested for their oil. How’s that for sustainability?!

One product that I use at home, and we use in facials at the spa, is the TEA TREE MASK by Arcona. It’s a cleansing, purifying mask that detoxes and refines skin texture. Antibacterial salicylic acid and tea tree extract help exfoliate, decongest and diminish pore size. Sulphur and grapefruit extract assist in detoxifying and reduce breakouts. Anti-inflammatory mint balm, allantoin and lavender extracts help heal and calm the skin.

DIRECTIONS
Once or twice weekly, morning or night. A slight tingling sensation might occur, but I like that part! Leave it on your skin for 10-15 minutes (or if you are have sensitive skin then only 5-8 minutes). Rinse with warm water, pat skin dry and then hydrate your skin with your favorite cream, oil or lotion. Results are quick and gorgeous.

Who can resist a quickie?

Amy