Month in Review | October 2009

It's been a difficult month... difficult to concentrate and even more tricky to sit still - like every October. October is my birthday month. But more importantly it is the end of the summer, the beginning of autumn equinox, the beginning of cool weather motivation, Halloween, football season, the World Series, Breast Cancer Awareness Month... We are not meant to be chained to our computer in such a riveting block of days. So, to repair of my lack of delivery over the last thirty or so days, I am recapping my month with a new section: Month in Review | October 2009


Book that's rocking my world: SWAY - The Irresistable Pull of Irrational Behavior.

Court: Not legal, not royal... racquetball! Yes, it's kind of eighties, but its making me sweat four nights a week and now that I am thirty I best keep my booty in shape.

iPhone app that has changed my musical life: Shazam. Push a couple of buttons and Shazam will actually hear the music that is playing where you are and most of the time will report back the artist, the album, and provide you a button to buy it. Seriously? I have been waiting my entire life for this app.

Greenfest! The year's ultimate tradeshow for the eco-aware. Pangea Organics (one of the festival sponsors) had samples, a lip-balm counting contest and much more... they give an impressive spiel - young, fun and modern. The country's best causes and enviro-interests were represented with flare. My favorite items included the Organic Wine Garden (which shockingly no wine company sponsored) and the The Revolution Rickshaw. Unfortunately, Worldwide Skin certified vegan body care only took part in spirit this year, but possibly next year. Find Greenfest in your area >>

Oenologist.com: Look for new profiles on Oenologist.com: Winemaker Mike Richmond, Profiled Sommeliers Emily Wines and Brad Ball, and Wine Makers from my beloved west, Melanie Krause (Cinder / Idaho) and Tom Thornhill (Parducci / CA). Much more to come!

WWS observing Breast Cancer Awareness Month.
This cause is dear to my heart and I am honored that The Breast Cancer Action Org. has recognized Worldwide Skin as a brand committed to creating products that are free of cancer producing parabens and phthalates. My favorite color this month? Pink.

My birthday ruled, in case you were wondering.

The Ancient Art of Henna

The henna plant (lawsonia inermis) contains medicinal properties that are said to cool the body. For 5,000 years, henna has been an integral component of marking celebrations in ancient cultures. It is said that the elaborate markings of henna began in the African deserts. The medicinal plant was crushed into a paste and applied to the entire foot and hands to keep body temperature low. Tired of having bright red palms, the women would place one large dot in the center of the palms (providing the same effect) but offering a more attractive appearance.

In Moroccan villages, henna was historically applied to provide “Baraka,” a barrier which guarded from “the Evil Eye,” which was believed to bring misfortune to the village. In Africa, the Middle East and South East Asia, henna has many purposes stemming from ritual, religion and preservation of tradition.

Current Uses
One of the most famous practices still occurs in Morocco. The “Night of Henna,” is a familial ceremony to prepare the bride for consummation. It is intended to offer the bride the womanly wisdom of both her mother, and her husband’s mother. The ceremony marks the transition of daughter in her father’s house, to wife in her husband’s house.

Depicted in ancient art, you will see henna decoration on queens and goddesses as well as depicted celebrations and ceremonies such as animal sacrifice, circumcision, and marriage. Henna has been used for thousands of years to tell thousands of stories.

Click here to read more Beauty Trade Secrets - Worldwide Beauty Rituals.

Inside Traditional Moroccan Hammam's

What it is:

Once a week, Moroccans gather at communal bath houses to engage in a traditional full-body cleansing. A Hammam (or public bath), is a time-honored cleansing ritual practiced Eastern Europe, northern Africa and the Middle East.

Traditional Hammam services begin with relaxation in a large steam room to open the pores. Then you are covered with a coat of olive oil product which is followed by the “gommage,” another name for a full-body exfoliation. A heavy clay mask follows to release impurities followed with cold cloth mask removal to close pores. To complete the cleansing, you are given a full body massage.

Sounds luxurious? It could be. A Hammam service at a spa will provide a luxurious experience. So if you are a germ-a-phobe, ultra sensitive to modesty or sanitation, spend a bit extra and take it to the spa.

Otherwise, the traditional communal bath houses that are frequented by locals provide an authentic experience. You will be surrounded by dead skin cells flowing across the floor, strangers scrubbing themselves in their skivvies, etc. The ceilings are pierced with small holes to allow in natural light, the walls permeate with steam from a wooded fire, the floors are crawling with gossiping locals, screaming children, and people lined upon the walls. Do not expect a serene experience. But once you make it through - the skin you will leave in will be the softest skin of your adult life.

Where it is:

Common in all neighborhoods of Marrakech, Morocco, these bath houses may be difficult for westerners to find because they are labeled in Arabic. Look for squalls of people entering a public house with bathing tools.

Dress:

These bathhouses are not usually attended in the nude (with the exception of children) - undergarments are typically worn. As in keeping with the modesty of that region, skimpy under-things are frowned upon. Women always cover wet hair upon leaving.

Sanitation:

It is likely that your exfoliation will not be performed with new (or even sanitized) exfoliating glove, so either bring your own or go to a spa that performs the authentic service with sanitary accoutrements. Stop by the souk, pick up a small rinsing dish, “black soap,” a kiis (exfoliating glove,) and a mat to sit on. This is a full bathing experience, so bring your other products and grooming supplies.

Cost: About $10:00

Cautions:

Be prepared to exercise respect and mindfulness to their actions while you partake in their ritual.

• Know when to rinse. Watch those around you.
• Brace yourself for the exfoliation, this is a heavy duty scrub that you have likely never experienced.
• Watch the water flow before choosing an area to seat – you could possibly land yourself in the direct flow of drainage.
• Taking more than two buckets of water in considered greedy.
• If you splash those around you with cold water, prepare to get a mouthful.

To read more about Worldwide Beauty Rituals, visit Beauty Trade Secrets on Hawaiian Skin.

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Daily Beauty Trade Secret Obtain prized advice from fashion and beauty insiders with Hawaiian Skin\'s daily trade secrets. Update a tired style, refine and revitalize dull skin, add health to dry hair. These tips are free: we believe feeling and looking beautiful is a luxury that should be available to all. Add to iGoogle

What is this screenshot? It is called an igGadget or "Google Gadget" ... the subject? Beauty Trade Secrets. Why do you care what a gadget is? I will get back to all of that in a moment.

The reason I am posting this is because we are offering a terrific opportunity for health and beauty writers to reach hundred of thousands of people every day with your approved article, as well as secure a home for said article on Hawaiian Skin's Beauty Trade Secrets and the Worldwide Skin Article Page if appropriate. And your article won't just be posted, but hyperlinked back to your site. So if you have a great story about beauty, health, fashion, exercise, ingredients, "green" issues, or other related topics, submit your article (in a word DOC) by emailing info@worldwideskin.com. Place the words: Article Submission in the subject line. If you have coinciding images, please include them as an attachment.

The gadget is for users who have a Personalized Google Homepage. You just click some buttons, arrange your page, and every day you can have refreshed content - from quotes, to articles to great products. Whether you want a homepage or not, you do want your article to reach active users every day. And we want to populate our sites with quality articles... a win-win-win! Upon approving your article, it will be submitted to the Beauty Trade Secret gadget circulating in savvy cyber-world while you enjoy yet another publication of your fantastic article!

Worldwide Skin Products Now Listed on GreenPeople.org!

Find Worldwide Skin products on Green People! Green People, The "World's largest directory of eco-friendly and holistic health products"

Harmful Beauty Ingredients

We spend small fortunes on health and beauty care products - on average using at least 10 varieties every day. What you are using to cleanse, soften and hydrate may contain harmful additives that cause long term damage to vital organs and your immune system.

Make intelligent decisions about the ingredients that penetrate your blood stream and learn why beauty and health is not merely skin deep.

Many companies list all ingredients right on the website - a great way to stay on top of what you are using on your body.

Anti-bacterial's
Used too often, anti-bacterial ingredients can counteract resistance of disease-causing germs like E. coli and Salmonella.

Coal Tar
Often found in toothpaste, dandruff shampoos and anti-itch creams, coal tar is a carcinogen and leads to various types of cancers.

Diethanolamine (DEA) drains the body of choline, a mineral vital to fetal brain development.

Formaldehyde
This toxic additive has extremely dangerous health effects including weakened immune-system, decreased respiratory function and cancer. Look for the following ingredients to avoid: diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea and quaternium compounds. Surprisingly, formaldehyde can still be found in hair-dyes, baby cleansing products, lash adhesive and other personal care items.

Synthetic Fragrances
If you see the ingredient fragrance, steer clear. Typically added to mask phthalates, fragrances may cause reproductive difficulties and obesity. Enjoy fragrant products? Look for products containing pure essential oils to provide fragrance. We recommend: Hawaiian Skin soothing all-over body lotion and aloe & shea cleansing wash.

Lead and Mercury
Trace amounts of lead will make its way into your system whether you like it or not. However, you can do your part to minimize the levels that make it into your bloodstream by reading the ingredients of your daily care products carefully. Lead exposure is particularly dangerous for pregnant women and infants, stunting development. Mercury is often used as a preservative – it also damages your brain function. Labeled as thimerosol, this can still be found in some mascaras.

Nanoparticles
Small nanoparticles, which (according to research) may damage brain cells, is common in many sunscreens. Look for products that provide particles larger than 100 nanometers. (The larger the particle, the more difficulty it will have reaching your blood stream.)

Parabens
This is one of the most commonly used preservatives because it increases shelf life a great deal – this is why parabens are still found in millions of health and beauty products. Studies have shown that parabens decrease sperm count, as well as produce estrogenic activity found in human breast-cancer cell cultures. A controversial subject and one worthy of looking into – or avoiding all together. Look for the prefix: methyl-, ethyl-, propyl-, butyl-, isobutyl-.

P-Phenylenediamine
Often found in permanent hair color, this chemical damages the nervous system, as well as causing lung irritation and severe allergic reactions. It's may be listed as 1,4-Benzenediamine; p-Phenyldiamine and 4-Phenylenediamine.

Be Well!

Preparing for Your Wedding? Let Your Personality Shine On!

The most stylish and memorable weddings that I have ever been to were not at the Plaza Hotel adorned with Baccarat crystal wine glasses and Vera Wang… not that I don’t adore France’s finest crystal and Wang’s effortless genius and perfectly crafted gowns. However, I feel compelled to urge modern spouses-to-be to think outside the childhood fantasy (her) and NYT Style Section (also her) and the wishes of the mother (him.) After all, everything at the wedding may be perfect, but a wedding without personality is far from perfect.

A perfect wedding is one where the bride and groom have opted to forgo a planner and surrender to their own unique style and personality to show the guests a very good time. Remember the recent YouTube video of a Minnesota couple and their wedding party performing a quirkily choreographed dance down the aisle? America loved it – and passed it along like wildfire. Gone are the days when you need the wedding planning advice of J Lo to help you survive the daunting stress of organizing your wedding.

Weddings are meant to be fun – a celebration of two people with distinct personalities joining forces to design a life together… a cool life. And a cool life begins with a cool party. If you choose to hire a planner to squash every little detail and take on the stress, more power to you. For the rest of you who choose to develop the blueprint for your wedding party on your own – there are literally a million ways to show off your style and sophisticated taste in chic, cost-effective ways. The key to creating a party that exceeds your wildest wedding dreams is to dig through your resources. On any budget, you can find yourself on one of the happiest days of your life, with a front-row seat to the depths of your own style creativity.

Leave the stress behind, and start clicking through a complete database of every wedding favor and wedding party idea you could ever beg for.

There are so many keys to ensuring that your wedding is a testament to who you are. I am going to throw out several fabulous little wedding finds that I was fortunate to come across this summer – one at a time.

Personalized Wedding Coffee – This was an enormously clever little gift that was presented on our dessert plates. A small white organza bag with 2-oz of 100% pure Kona Peaberry coffee… the label had a custom designed image of the bride and groom with their wedding date, and a quote about love.

I was so impressed by this gift that I went to the company website, www.personalizedweddinglabels.com, after about an hour scanning what seemed like thousands of products in the Bridal Boutique, I contacted the company by phone to learn more. I happen to already know (as they state on their website) that Pure Kona Peaberry coffee is also called, The Champagne of Kona Coffees. But I was pleased to know that there were several types of coffee available in various prices and low minimums.

So, if and when I ever take the plunge, this gift is without a doubt on my list. Stay tuned for more wedding favors.

Suspend and Tone with AntiGravity Yoga

Hidden within the land of make-believe and high-fashion, the “beautiful people” spend on average five days a week seeking innovative ways to keep their bodies lean, healthy, and camera ready. In 2006, we traveled to Crunch on Hollywood Blvd. for a cardio striptease (strip aerobics; high heels, pole and all) that was guaranteed to chisel definition into the abdominal and frequented by the likes of Carmen Electra. Hilary Swank and Jennifer Lopez prepped for films using Israel’s reigning martial art and self-defense method that packs a super powerful punch: Krav Maga* (now used by U.S. intelligence.) We can learn a lot about fitness from the entertainment industry – they are the masters and the holy grail of every trainer on earth. This brings us to another niche body-modification courtesy of Crunch in Manhattan: Gravity Yoga.

Traditional yoga requires endless hours of practice to complete advanced inverted positions properly. Properly, is crucial when attempting advanced postures in yoga because extending your limbs and spine beyond your capability level can cause severe and long-term damage to your body. “Wings” a class developed specifically for Crunch members (but of course, is open to non-members,) explores yoga without the burden of gravity. Suspended from the ceiling in the patented AntiGravity Hammock, the student can focus on difficult yoga postures while incorporating other effective techniques of dance, pilates, and aerobic activity. AntiGravity Yoga provides a challenging and effective workout that realigns and relieves stress from an overworked body with minimal impact on joints. Not only does Gravity yoga not provide a non-brutal and unobtrusive workout, but it rivals one of the fitness-industries best core workouts… ever-popular pilates.

The phenomenon developed by Christopher Harrison of NYC has been used in many celebrity stage acts, and fitness-goers alike.

To learn more about the official AntiGravityYoga class “Wings” at Crunch in NYC, Click Here.

Perfect Purses - from the Bos Art Opera Collection

I recently walked into a small gallery while on vacation in Bar Harbor, Maine... mindlessly awaiting a table at a favorite brunch spot nearby (Jeannie's Breakfast.) As a fine art major, I am typically drawn to the works on the wall instead of the baubles and accessories adorning corner stacked bookcases. But when a work is so beautiful, it becomes your main focus - it calls out to you, and you must walk right up to it. And I did... and I found the perfect purse. Not the perfect Sunday farmers market shopping purse, nor the stash paper clips at the office purse... Nope. This line of evening purses and clutches are special, individually made and meant for special occasions. They make you want to throw a gala.

I can't remember the name of the gallery (nor find the receipt because I tossed it knowing I would never return this little darling of a purse,) - but the purses can be purchased online.

These purses are small and elegant, perfect for an upscale event. Expertly constructed of steel mesh and a focal material (in this case, peacock) they have enough punch to command attention and enough weight to allow them to drop in perfect balance - not flop around with whimsy. Created by Los Angeles designers Bozenna and Lukasz Bogucki.

In His Words

Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature. It will never fail you. - Frank Lloyd Wright