On top of our usual day-to-day stresses, we now find ourselves faced with job loss, economic uncertainty, limited social activities, social awkwardness and the lack of diversity of what we can do with our spare time other then "stay at home".
One of the biggest reasons people have chosen to use CBD is for anxiety. Unlike cannabis, CBD is known for a "chilled out" effect on your body and mind without the "high". Ultimately CBD users have reported feeling relaxed while using CBD.
How is CBD known to alleviate anxiety and stress? Much like anti-anxiety medication, CBD is understood to activate serotonin - this is your body's natural "happy chemical compound". It is a natural mood enhancer.
Even without the extremity of the pandemic, many people experience social anxiety daily - this is caused by extreme consciousness and stress in every day social situations. Whether it is meeting up with others, eating in front of others or specific to certain situations, anxiety can come up at anytime. And it is only on the rise due to lockdown measures and increased distance between ourselves and others.
Another recent study showed how CBD provided long lasting calming effects and improved sleep for a patient suffering from post traumatic stress. They tried CBD after pharmaceutical treatments seemed short-lived and had serious side effects.
A study on CBD showed how the plant compounds work with our body's natural system in the brain to prevent anxious feelings. It does this by effectively working together with our body's receptors and blood flow.
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Satin and silk can sometimes look very similar. They both have a shine to them and can look lovely right? But we are here to tell you the real facts about how truly different these fabrics are.
Silk is a 100% natural fibre that has been created with care for thousands of years. At one time in history, it was such an important trading fabric that it sold more than gold! Satin however has invented later and is a completely man-made fibre.
CBD is a natural chemical compound, extracted from hemp/cannabis plant. CBD is not the only good compound extracted and bottled into our CBD, it also contains other cannabinoids which each have their own positive effect on our health and wellbeing.
Artem's Broad Spectrum CBD Oil is mixed with MCT (coconut) oil. We add no flavorings, sugar or false additives. Our ingredients are natural products of the earth and are mixed together for improved taste, easier dosing and better absorption. This versatile, vegan friendly oil can be consumed straight, mixed into drink/food or even used directly on your skin and body.
As CBD is a completely natural compound, it works in harmony with our endocannabinoid system (ESC), which is a network of receptors, mostly found in our spinal cord and brain. These receptors are stimulated by the endocannabinoids (these naturally occur in our bodies too!) and are activated to a higher degree when consuming CBD and phytocannabinoids.
This improves the body's regular function, by signaling to your brain signs of imbalance. This is known as the "lock and key system." Your receptors (locks) are already in place and are activated with the cannabinoids (key) for improved bodily functions, health and wellbeing.
CBD is the natural alternative. It can address multiple types of concerns at once and works to restore overall wellbeing and balance in the body and mind.
There are so many forms of anxiety and stress, which can effect each person differently. Did you know that CBD is effective for easing anxiety disorder, OCB, PD, post traumatic stress and social anxiety? This is because CBD activates our serotonin receptors, elevating our mood and making us feel better. It's an all natural mood enhancer.
CBD may prevent pain and helps your body, joints and muscles with recovery. This is because it helps reduce inflammation and minimizes pain receptors. Whether you have stiff joints, sore muscles or period pains, CBD could help you. As an analgesic, it can reduce headaches and ease general discomfort.
It's also great for athletes and sports recovery. With it's anti-inflammatory properties, CBD can ease strain and expedite the repair of muscles post workout.
The effectiveness of using CBD for arthritis is well known. By working with our body to restore balance, it can help relieve pain by reducing swelling and effectively regulating the body's pain receptors.
California's Centre of Medical Cannabis are conducting studies relating to the effectiveness of CBD relating to body tremors. One study found that "a single dose of CBD can decrease anxiety and tremor strength."
Dystonia effects muscles and movement, affecting muscles with painful cramps and spasms. One study showed that with the use of CBD, patients improved between 20% and 50%.
CBD is also effective for nausea as an antiemetic. The key to controlling nausea is through the brain receptors. CBD interacts with serotonin receptors ultimately helping to block the feeling of sickness.
The NHS also has it's own CBD Oil in the works. They are looking to focus this on the treatment of children with epilepsy.
CBD calms your nervous system, improving rest and sleep. Do you want a full night of sleep? CBD is good for stress relief, easing tension and also works with your circadian rhythm to improve your sleep. Remember to take your CBD an hour or so before bedtime.
Did you know that CBD helps with eczema? It's no wonder that CBD is the new best ingredient for skincare as it holds antipruritic (anti-itching) and anti-microbial properties. It also helps reduce redness and helps the skin produce it's own natural anti-aging oils to restore moisture. Our CBD can be mixed into any creams to be used on your body or face. You can also use our CBD on it's own!
The World Health Organization released a report in 2017, confirming that CBD is not toxic, harmful or addictive in any way. This means that CBD does not create any dependency or withdrawal issues, making it an ideal choice for anyone that is concerned about becoming reliant on medication for their needs.
Unlike many pharmaceutical medications, CBD has no side effects. It is also not possible to overdose on CBD. The UN recently recognized CBD for it's therapeutic values, and stated that it is not "particularly liable to abuse nor produce ill effects."
An Australian University lead out a study to see if CBD effected driving and they found "when given without THC, CBD does not effect a subject's ability to drive."
Another study took a look at the effects of CBD in the workplace. It found that using CBD outside of the workplace did not affect the employees performance or productivity during work hours.
Artem Luxe CBD can be taken directly, any time of day or night. The fastest way to absorb it is by taking it under your tongue. It can be mixed into your morning smoothie, taken in your soup at dinner time or mixed into your creams for that lucky massage.
Remember to start with a small dosage of CBD per day (about 10-20mg) and increase if needed. CBD works differently for everyone, as we each have our own unique ESC system, so it is important to test what dose works best for you.
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An experts advice: hairdresser and makeup artist Zowie Pointing talks why you should be sleeping on silk.
]]>For months now I’ve been researching the affects of sleeping in silk. It seems were always talking about beauty treatments, what products are going to give us amazing effortless hair and skin care products that are going to make our skin glow… We all know a healthy diet helps against break outs and drinking plenty of water can help with a glowing complexion and SPF is essential for youthful and healthy skin - but did you know the material of your pillowcase can change your whole beauty game. If you think how many hours are spent brushed up against our pillows, this is a lot, especially if the material is playing havoc with your hair and skin..
Here are 10 reasons to make the switch and invest in this beautiful material…
Silk reduces friction on your hair making your smooth locks stay frizz free. Having had a lovely bouncy blow-dry, my clients are always asking for tips on how to make their blow-dry last, this is definitely up there with the biggest tip I offer.
With less friction your hair will have less breakage and split ends. If you wear hair extensions a silk pillowcase is an absolute must, causing less friction on the scalp reducing the ‘matting’ feeling you can often get with bonds, tapes and weaves. Long term this will cause a lot less stress on the hair and scalp making your hair overall feel healthier.
Regardless of how clean and tidy you are, dust appears, this can cause skin problems and sometimes allergies. If you suffer with eczema or psoriasis, I would highly recommend investing in silk sheets as well as just the pillowcase. This can have a drastic affect on how the skin reacts during sleep as silk has natural resistances to dust mites and other allergens.
Since silk is less absorbent than cotton, its less likely to pick up pore clogging bacteria like cotton, this leads to fewer breakouts, sleep pretty, wake up pretty.
Fabrics like cotton can pull and tug on your skin, this isn’t good for your skin in the long run. Silk is smooth and has little friction so you won’t wake up with creases in your skin.
Silk has a natural heat regulator, so your pillowcase will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter! Next time your worried about being cold in the winter, think again!
Our crazy lady hormones can cause our body temperature to rise, especially when pregnant or menopausal - I bought my mum a silk pillowcase and she honestly says it has changed her sleep pattern, peri menopausal ladies can struggle with hot sweats and a raised body temperature, the regulating material is amazing if you find yourself unable to sleep and toss and turn trying to nod off.
As silk is not an absorbent material, you wont feel like your face cream has sank into your pillow. I mean we are talking serious lady pampering here, cleansing, toning and moisturizing our faces, then sleeping in silk, what divas!
As previously mentioned silk doesn’t cause friction on the skin like cotton and other materials. This can make a huge difference to the texture on your skin, especially long term. Silk wont dry out the skin as much as cotton due to the lack of friction, therefore will prevent fine dried lines that can appear over time - its definitely cheaper than botox!
So, I know this whole sleeping in silk thing sounds extravagant and very indulgent, however the amount of time we spend in bed. the quality of sleep, and the affect it can have on our whole lives is, well, priceless.
Waking up from a decent nights sleep, feeling fresher, and having better skin can only make us as women (and men) feel so much better. We deserve the best and I can guarantee you will sleep better and therefore feel better, healthier and stronger ready to take on this crazy world!
Having done vast research into the brands that not only provide top quality products but amazing customer care and service, I found Artem Luxe - Based in Edinburgh, UK, Artem Luxe pride themselves on providing 100% Mulberry Silk of the highest quality, used organic, plant based dyes, are ethically sourced with absolutely zero toxic chemicals used.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR WHEN BUYING A SILK PILLOWCASE
So, having made you know that a silk pillowcase is the best thing since sliced bread, I know your now wondering where to start with sourcing one. The truth is you have to be very careful and double check the material is genuine and a very good quality before purchasing. ‘Satin and silky’ are the top marketing words for a material that can feel similar to silk but not be any where near the quality.
There are 3 things to look for when looking:
Percentage: Many 'silk' pillowcases are actually a silk-cotton blend. Make sure the packaging confirms that is 100% silk.
Type: Mulberry Silk, which comes from silkworms that only eat mulberry leaves, is the most durable type of silk and is considered to be the highest quality.
Weight: Unlike cotton, thread count is not a definitive qualifier of luxury. What does matter is the weight of the silk or the 'momme.'
View more about Zowie's work here.
Shop our award-winning silk here.
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"Momme" (mm) is what is used to measure the density of silk and to understand the quality of the fabric. Just like a thread count is for other other fabrics. Basically, the higher the momme, the better the silk.
The average momme silk that is used in clothing, bedding and other goodies ranges from 12 - 22 momme.
22 momme is the highest quality and thicker silk - making it also the most durable and long lasting. This means that more silk has gone into the threading of the fabric and creates the higher quality feel and look.
At Artem Luxe, we craft every single one of our products using 22 momme silk. Not only is it thicker and smoother, but we dye the silk with plants and it's also OEKO-TEX certified toxin free. Better for you & the planet.
Do you have any more questions? Feel free to email info@artemluxe.com
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We find ourselves in a really weird place. Face masks? Asia has been using them for years - not only to protect yourself but mostly to prevent spreading the flu or any other harmful bacteria to others. As we face an airborne global pandemic, it's the most important time to wear one.
America is starting to emplace that citizens are required to them by law, as well as in many European countries. “It is becoming increasingly clear that all people should be wearing masks while out in public. Masks are a likely reason why the virus has been better controlled in China, South Korea, Japan, and other countries,” Dr. Subinoy Das, chief medical officer of Tivic Health and the chief executive officer of the U.S. Institute for Advanced Sinus Care and Research.
Will any mask do? The answer is no. "A cloth mask alone is unlikely to prevent you from inhaling microscopic virus particles", according to Rodney Rohde, PhD, chair of the Clinical Laboratory Science Program.
However, the pharmacy bought masks are creating a waste and pollution problem, as they are only to be used once because they carry bacteria and could increase potential infection if used often.
The answer? "Comfort, not material, should be king when designing a mask. An uncomfortable mask that requires constant adjustment means more face touching and removal, he said, leading to more, not less, risk of contamination."
Taking all of this into consideration, we studied the best protective material to create face masks from and found that "melt-blown" cotton is a great filtration fabric and that's why it's used in surgical masks.
Recent research has shown that "hybrid fabrics" (aka layering multiple materials) were able to filter the vast majority of particles. "Filtration efficiencies of the hybrids, such as cotton-silk, was > 80% (for particles < 300 nanometers) and > 90% (for particles >300 nanometers" according to researchers.
Our Silk Face Masks were born. They are not only reusable but highly protective, comfortable and certified toxin free.
3 layers - beautiful, soft but protective. We of course decided to use the best protection filter material. Melt-blown cotton features in the middle of the design. The filtration layer is removable, creating an easy to wash reusable Silk Mask.
The outer and inner layers are crafted with our OEKO-TEX certified toxin free 100% 22 momme mulberry silk. Not only super soft on your skin but they're heat regulating (no more steamy face mask walks, yay!). Plus silk is naturally hypoallergenic and anti-microbial. What a perfect combination.
Our silk face masks are also fitted with adjustable straps to fit any size or hair-do, plus they have adjustable nose pieces to make it comfortable if you wear glasses. They also come in an eco-friendly draw string bag to keep them handy and clean (this is an important part after cleaning your mask).
You can shop our 3 layer protective masks here. We have an option to add a donation to the NHS staff. Let's help beat COVID by protecting not only ourselves, but others too.
Our packaging and deliveries are contact free.
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HYDRATE & NOURISH
Ingredients:
1/2 avocado, 1 x tablespoon of natural honey, a handful of oats
How it works:
Oats are known for their healing properties and honey is an excellent humectant, which means it helps skin retain moisture without feeling oily. Clean Beauty co-founder said when honey is "massaged on to affected areas, it helps with the appearance of scars and increases both healing and tissue regeneration."
Thanks to the ultra-nourishing oils of avocado, it will banish any roughness, leaving your skin silky smooth. If you don't have any at home, substitute for 3 tablespoons of milk.
GODDESS GLOW
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of cacao powder, 1/4 papaya, a squeeze of Aloe Vera gel
How it works:
Cacao powder brightens and boost circulation for a plump and pillowy look and feel. Aloe Vera is filled to bursting with vitamin A, C, E, B1, B2, B3, B6 and B12. It radiance-boosts, skin-soothes and hydrates. Delicious smelling papaya is packed with exfoliating enzymes that will dissolve dead skin cells - it'll take your skin to the next level.
FIGHT BLEMISHES
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of manuka honey, 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder, 1/2 teaspoon of Dead Sea salt
How it works:
Turmeric is a wonder at bringing down redness while honey is great for healing and fighting bacteria. The sea salt reduces inflammation and fights infection.
MINIMIZE PORES
Ingredients:
1 egg white, 1 tablespoon of honey, a little squeeze of lemon juice
How it works:
The addition of honey is important, as it'll boost your skin's moisture levels, provide suppleness. While egg white and lemon have astringent properties which will tighten the skin and make enlarged pores much less obvious.
OILY SKIN BE GONE
Ingredients:
Half an avocado, 1/4 cucumber, blended
How it works:
This is a super calming mask that leaves you feeling fresh. "Cucumber mainly contains water which will hydrate [if skin is dehydrated, it sometimes produces more oil to compensate] but it also contains vitamin C and this will reduce any break out activity." Avocado regulates oil production.
Before starting, remember to never put strong products such as lemon straight onto your skin. Always check the sell-by-date and test your skin for sensitivity by putting a small swatch of the mixture onto your inner arm.
Have fun & send us a message if you have any cute DIY ideas for lockdown!
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Meet Hourea Alaoui, co-founder of Inka Botanicals.
What is the meaning behind “Inka Botanicals”?
A lot of people ask us what INKA means, we get that it’s a bit confusing as it can be associated with the Incas, but it’s actually Moroccan! After weeks of thinking about a name and trialling different options, we stumbled upon the Berber word INKA. We are not Berber ourselves, but the Berber people are the indigenous people of Morocco and we owe much of the Moroccan beauty traditions to them. Pronounced /inqe/ and meaning ‘clean’ and ‘pure’, we knew it was a perfect match for our clean beauty brand!
What inspired you to create an organic beauty line?
INKA is born from a desire to create a truly Moroccan brand. With our home country being internationally famed for its beauty and wellbeing practices (from Hammams and spas, to the use of oils and natural remedies in every day life, etc.) many brands have leveraged the term ‘Moroccan’ as a marketing tool without honoring the authenticity of the ingredients nor the culture. Even more fascinating is the richness of Moroccan soil, home to thousands of aromatic plants, most of which are exported for large global beauty brands - some of which only grow in Morocco, namely, the famous Argan oil. With such natural riches and cultural heritage, our vision is to be ambassadors of Morocco's traditional know-how in beauty & wellbeing. It starts with the founders, three Moroccan sisters from Marrakech, passionately working with local communities to source and produce every ingredient.
In the cosmetic industry, what is the importance of ethical beauty and clean living today?
We’re firm believers that all brands today, small or large, no matter the industry, have a responsibility towards the planet and its people. We’re all very much aware of the damage we have caused to planet earth - changes needs to happen yesterday! Beyond that, conscious consumption and clean living has a positive impact on our bodies and wellbeing as well - it covers everything, what you wear, what you put in your skin and what you ingest into your body. We operate with ethics and sustainability at the core of everything we do, from sourcing ingredients ethically to using glass packaging and avoiding unnecessary packaging. We are also working on offering a refill option, allowing our customers to re-use their beautiful glass bottles over and over again!
Could you tell us about your morning beauty routine vs. your nightly routine?
We love using most of our products at night or on a lazy Sunday afternoon, when we have time to fully indulge - often with incense burning in the background and relaxing music playing.. it is the perfect way to unwind and treat oneself. There are also scientific reasons behind it, during sleep your skin gets the most benefits out of the ingredients and concoctions, resulting in a youthful, glowing skin the next morning. It also really helps that we sleep on silk pillowcases. Life changing! What most people don’t realize is that silk absorbs significantly less water than cotton, this helps the skin retain its moisture and hydration, but also helps get the most out of your skincare products which would otherwise be absorbed by your cotton pillowcases.
My morning routine is more efficient, as I’m usually in a bit of a rush. I focus on the essentials: cleansing, toning and moisturizing with SPF. A spritz of Marmalade Mist to kick off the day in full vitamin C swing never fails!
Do you find sleep to be of importance for you & your skin?
YES, YES and absolutely YES! Beauty sleep is real!
When it comes to beautiful and healthy skin, getting the right amount of sleep is absolutely essential. Your body repairs itself and recovers while you sleep. We swear by a a minimum of 7 to 8 hours per night. Anything less and we notice it straight away the next day! It’s fairly simple and scientific: lack of sleep results in the production of the stress hormone, cortisol, causing inflammation of the skin and cells, and increasing chances of acne and skin irritation. Increased levels of cortisol also lead to the breakdown of collagen and hyaluronic acid which as you all know are the molecules for bouncy, glowing skin!
What is your favorite way to relax before bed?
Being an indie brand founder, I naturally spend a lot of time on my laptop and phone. Therefore, my sleep preparation starts 2 hours before bedtime, by switching offline and limiting screen time. Without fail, I dim down the lights and light an aromatherapy candle, and drink an entire pot of herbal tea to which I usually add a spoon of honey and some glowbar adaptogen powders. Just before going to bed I do my INKA PM routine, making sure to deeply inhale the aromas, to help prepare my mind for a good night’s sleep, and finally slip into my silk pyjamas, silk eye mask and silk bedding.. Yes, silk everything!
What other factors are important in order to have glowing, blissful skin?
Once you’ve covered your beauty routine basics and gotten enough sleep, make sure to drink lots of water! And then don’t forget to do what makes you happy, we are firm believers of beauty from within, happiness equates into positive and good chemicals and those are essential for healthy and glowy skin.
During the spring and summer months, what is your favorite beauty product to use?
Our floral mists! they can be used in the morning and evening as natural toners, but also throughout the day for that perfect feeling of freshness. We’re obsessed!
Talk about the Moroccan influence of your products. Our products are all inspired by beauty traditions which have been used and practiced by the women of Morocco for centuries. We combine years of scientific research with traditional aromatherapy, to bring you Morocco's best beauty secrets, in an elevated and therapeutic skincare range that does wonders for both the skin and the mind.
What is a daily activity for your day-to-day happiness that you do?
Meditation and spending time with loved ones. My sisters and I also love having people over and indulging in some homy Moroccan food! It’s all about doing activities that help your brain produce good chemicals.
You can shop INKA products here or find them on Instagram at @inka_botanicals.
]]>If sleep were easy, we would all do it, yes? But we don’t – not successfully. Sleep is a complex process. The human brain (not missing an opportunity to overcomplicate things) actually gives us 5 unique stages of sleep.
Stage 1:
Muscles are relaxing, brain activity is slowing, and you are getting very sleepy. Stage 1 is the lightest stage of sleep, so it's is easily disrupted. If you wake up here, you may think you were never asleep.
Since our sleepy hormone melatonin is kicking into gear from 9pm onwards, it’s a good idea to start your bed time rituals by then. You will be in sync with the flow of the day and more likely to reap the benefits of a short, sharp and shiny initial stage 1 to reach those juicy later stages more easily when you do hit the sack. Soaking in a magnesium gets that bod relaxing and helps to limit muscle spasms that may wake you. Cutting your screen time to avoid overstimulated brain activity after the 9pm mark is also advised.
Stage 2:
We are now officially asleep. Some slower eye movement happens here and your brain waves, body temperature and heart rate continue to drop. A couple of unique players called "Sleep Spindles and K-Complexes" get to shine in Stage 1 these brain activations offer security, preventing external stimulus.
Melatonin production slows down towards morning which means we tend to spend more time in the lighter sleep stages the closer it gets to sunrise. Ensuring that your sleep space is darkened by black out blinds or wearing an eye mask (Our Mulberry silk ones are best for the delicate eye area - shop them here) to avoid unnecessary waking as well as limiting noise with ear plugs can prevent the body from waking up completely during the early hours.
Stage 3 + 4 (Deep Sleep):
Welcome to the most restorative portion of non-REM sleep. Slow brain waves called Delta Waves make up less than 50% of the Stage 3 brain activity and more than half in Stage 4. These mean we’re not likely to responds to external stimulus and we’re also not dreaming, so Delta is a pretty mysterious place to be. It’s where the magic happens: we’re healing, restoring, growing and the immune system is strengthened. Your brain refreshes itself for more learning tomorrow. In stage 3 Deep Sleep, memories made that day are distributed from the short-term pick-up que to the longer-term parking bay. So many crucial activities happening in deep sleep, which may explain why we need more time than usual here after a period of deprivation – it’s a priority.
We’re also on the home ground of the funny, scary, inconvenient and downright dangerous. Parasomnias such as sleep talking, night terrors, bed wetting or sleep walking will happen now if you’re prone to them. Fun fact: kids hang out in deep sleep much longer than adults, creating space for more of those nocturnal behaviors that terrify exhausted parents into googling ‘signs my child is possessed’.
The first few sleep cycles of the night tend to contain relatively longer Deep Sleep stages. These decrease in duration or disappear completely as the sleeper carries on. The average sleep cycle is around the 90 to 110-minute mark so we can actually time the first few Deep Sleep cycles to match our melatonin max out by getting to bed near the 11pm mark. This leads to get better, more restorative sleep. Stress hormones may impact on memory, so working on stress and anxiety is crucial if you wish to reap the full benefits of Deep Sleep memory work.
REM:
Also known as Rapid Eye Movement, the dreamiest of sleep states. This includes rapid eye movement while your limbs tend to be paralyzed at this point.
The lowest body temperatures occur at approximately 4:30am. Temperature regulation is not on the menu during REM sleep, so ensuring your space isn’t too hot or cold overnight will help to prevent rude awakenings in the early hours. Apparently waking during REM will tamper with the flow next time you’re asleep, skewing the scales towards more REM time till you catch up. This means less Deep Sleep healing, so it really is important to make sure your sleep space is perfection on the temperature gauge.
These are a few sleeping tips and tricks by the National Sleep Federation to ensure a better nights sleep:
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1. Hi Emily, you beautiful human! Can you tell us a little more about yourself?
Hi there! I’m a virtual dietitian, feminist, plant-lover, anxiety-suffer and general life enthusiast.
2. We’ve seen you mention “food peace”. What does this mean?
There’s so much pressure to change our bodies, to look a certain way. The diet industry is worth billions of dollars worldwide, and they’re selling the perfect product really. When else will customers’ buy into their product, watch it fail, blame themselves for the failure, and still come back for more? There isn’t one randomized control trial in the scientific literature that shows that 95% of people can keep the weight they’ve lost off in the long-term. In fact, the act of dieting itself, is a predictor of weight gain. Our bodies aren’t able to understand that by going on a diet we’re wanting to lose weight. All it knows is that it’s in famine – which means it’ll try and do anything to preserve its weight by slowing your metabolism right down. Biology kicks in to override your willpower, so that you will ‘fall off the bandwagon’, and there’s nothing you can do about it. It’s self-preservation at its finest. Anti-diet means anti – striving for weight-loss. Instead I move the focus away from weight, and look at other health behaviours like nutrition, movement (for joy), stress and sleep. I also do a lot of body image work – 70% of women in the UK are unhappy with how they look. That’s the real issue here. It shouldn’t be about changing our body to fit some impossible ideal promoted by the diet and advertising industry, but feeling good in our bones, in the skin we’re in. Rocking our here-and-now body.
5. Do you believe what we eat can affect our sleep and sleeping patterns?
Everyone is unique, so it depends on that person. I find stress can hugely impact on people’s sleep, so I like to look at different ways to help people wind down that aren’t always food related. There’s some evidence around the calming properties of lavender oil and orange essence oil that can be helpful for some. Limiting screen-time before bed, and doing some form of movement in the day can also improve sleep quality. Mindfulness is a really powerful tool, even 10 minutes a day.
6. Help us out in the kitchen. What is your absolute favorite meal to cook?
I don’t think I have one favourite meal…that’s a tough one! It depends on what I feel like eating, what’s going to truly satiate me in that moment. Can be anything from a goat’s cheese salad with seeded sourdough, to a freshly baked doughnut – though I’ll get that from a bakery. I love cooking big feasts for friends to come around with a mish-mash of different bits and bobs so that everyone can have a bit of what they fancy.
7. Any last words of wisdom for us?
Listen to your body, schedule time to relax and do the things you love. And if you need any help, please reach out to a professional. Life is too short to struggle through symptoms on your own.
Emily is available for 1:1 online coaching. You can find more details on her instagram @f.o.o.d.c.u.e website: www.foodcue.co.uk email inquiries: hello@foodcue.co.uk
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The greatness of Korean skincare is no new story. They pride themselves as leaders in the beauty world.
Here is the famous daily Korean skincare routine, including the natural and/or organic products we like to use at each step:
In the morning, wash your face with water alone. In the evening, to remove makeup, sunscreen and other impurities first use an oil-based cleanser. Our favorite oil wash is from The Face Shop: Therapy Serum Infused. Following this, use a water-based cleanser. This removes any remaining residue and leaves skin supple. The key is to find a gentle formula that won’t strip or dry out your skin. We love Herb Day Cleansing Foam, with Aloe.
A good exfoliator is gentle but still gets rid of the extra dead skin cells. We love Black Sugar by Skinfood. It's full of vitamins, uses natural sugar grains for exfoliation and smells good enough to eat!
Toners are meant to hydrate, moisturize, and balance your skin’s pH level after cleansing. Our absolute favorite toner is Organic Flowers Toner, Deep Rich by WHAMISA which uses natural fermentation (just like healthy Kimchi for your gut)! This reflects Korean beauty heritage, which is steeped in natural ingredients passed down from generation to generation. This tradition continues today with formulations that tend to shun harsh chemicals and draw from the Earth instead.
The main purpose of an essence is to moisturize the skin and pack it with extra vitamins and minerals. Rich with honey goodness, we've picked Secret Of Sahara Oil Essence by Huxley. This lovely essence is good for hydration, using prickly pear seed oil, which is full of skin-benefiting antioxidants, vitamin E and linoleic acid. Yerba mate leaf, acai berry and camu camu further boost antioxidants and help strengthen skin’s moisture barrier.
These products are formulated with specific active ingredients for different skin needs, e.g hyper-pigmentation or dehydration. Our favorite is Ginseng Serum by I'm From. This natural serum is infused with 7.98% essence from six-year old Red Ginseng to improve complexion and give elasticity.
To follow, Mizon Snail Repair Intensive Ampoule works a dream. One weird and wonderful item in Korean skincare is the use of snail filtrate. This wonderful ampoule contains 80% snail filtrate and works hard to reduce the appearance of blemishes and scarring to help even out your skin tone. The addition of hyaluronic acid and cocoa (which is full of anti-oxidants) leaves your skin feeling revived, healthy and protected.
An absolute necessity in any skincare routine. Our favorite Korean moisturizer is another product by Whamsia, the Organic Flowers Lotion. This lightweight lotion is enriched with organic shea butter, hazel seed and olive fruit oils. Botanical extracts from aloe replace water for lasting hydration. Ingredients are supercharged with our signature fermentation process for maximum efficacy.
An extra for every day use or even once a week, a sheet mask gives an extra bit of goodness to your skin, depending on what you feel your skin is needing that day. The sheet masks from The Face Shop include real goodness from different plants, vegetables and fruits including: aloe, tea tree, shea butter, bamboo, lotus flower, calendula, cucumber, blueberries, lemon, pomegranate, lingzhi and many more.
Sun does the most damages to our skin, causing aging and wrinkles. Sunscreen is the last and most important step (for during the day only!) We love COSRX - Aloe Soothing Sun Cream.
All of these skincare products are wasted if you don't sleep on silk! Other material literally absorbs a lot of the moisture and products from your skin, while silk helps with ant-aging and also stops sleep lines forming over time.
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I started yoga in a way of helping my surfing. I was really tight and yoga helped me to flow better with the waves and universe.
Taking care of yourself. Through what you eat, how you take care of your body for example keeping active. Positive relationships, who and what you surround yourself with is important. Keeping positive habits. Lastly, finding the sacred in the mundane.
Sleep is a sacred thing for me because with sleep we have the opportunity to dream. Dreaming is tapping into the subconscious mind. It's where everything becomes possible. When I go to sleep I try to make it as peaceful an environment as possible. For example, I need my silk pillow and darkness with a sleep mask.
The more you think you know, the less you know. The less you think you know, the more you know.
]]>In our last blog, we mentioned that silk threads are made up of amino acids which work together with our skin cells to relax stressed nervous systems thus aiding our ability to fall into deep sleep. But is this biocompatible fabric durable enough for our busy lifestyles?
]]>In our last blog, we mentioned that silk threads are made up of amino acids which work together with our skin cells to relax stressed nervous systems thus aiding our ability to fall into deep sleep. But is this biocompatible fabric durable enough for our busy lifestyles?
Unless you’ve owned silk, you aren’t actually aware of how durable it is. Silk is easily washed, very durable and the longest-lasting fabric, if cared for properly. Our silk pillowcases are machine washable and you are even able to iron them on a slight warm setting. The only thing that destroys silk threads are harsh chemicals, so although our silk pillowcases are machine washable, make sure that you use a gentle detergent and a gentle cycle. We like to use organic detergents with plenty of plant power. Our silk sleep masks should be hand washed as they are stuffed with silk for extra softness, and the seams could come undone over time.
Silk threads are made up of amino acids so the benefits of sleeping on silk don’t stop at being aesthetically pleasing or romantic, sleeping on silk has wonderful health benefits for your skin.
What are amino acids? They are the building blocks of protein, the same building blocks that human skin is made up from, that is why we can say that silk is the closest material to our own skin. It is because of this reason that we feel so comfortable sleeping on silk, the reason silk maintains our body temperature as we sleep and the reason that silk does not wick away our skin’s moisture, as cotton and synthetic fabrics do. Sleeping on silk is the cherry on top of your beauty routine. The price is well worth the investment.
Production and processing of natural silk is one of the most complex technological processes in the textile industry, yet the ancient Eastern cultures have been spinning and using silk it for years. Modern science uses silk material for wound dressing and new attention has recently been given to the utility of silk extracts in skin care product formulation.
At Artem Luxe, we chose to create our products from a 22 momme silk weight and especially chose mulberry silk, as it is the most naturally crafted silk and is the best for your skin and health. There are plenty of silk pillowcases and sleep masks on the market but few have the best quality mulberry silk. It’s thicker, smoother and more luxurious.
If cared for, these pillowcases and sleep masks will protect and nourish for your aging skin and will last a long time. Silk is the epitome of luxury, yet washable and hardy. You can place your silk pillowcases in the washing machine on a gentle cycle, with gentle soap and they will last forever. It is no wonder that silk is accepted, undisputedly, as The Queen of Textiles.
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Many of the shampoos, moisturizers and other beauty products we use can have a detrimental effect, not only on our skin, but also on our long-term health. We believe that everyone should have access to full and transparent information about every product that we wish to purchase, so that we are fully empowered in so far as possible to decide if it is good enough for us and our family.
Unfortunately, there has been no world-wide move to make manufacturers of cosmetic products accountable for listing their ingredients. Although the list of harmful ingredients is ever-changing and very long, we should be sure to avoid these five commonly found contentious ingredients:
98% of cosmetic products contain parabens. Parabens are endocrine disrupters, meaning they may disrupt the hormone balance in your body and are able to cause allergic reactions. British researchers found traces of it in twenty women who had breast cancer. Parabens are believed to act like the female hormone oestrogen, and high levels of oestrogen can cause some women to develop breast cancer. “The industry response is that these chemicals have been cleared for use by the relevant authorities (FDA and ECC) and have been used for decades. The link between smoking and cancer took 50 years to gain public support. Health concerns raised by the Parabens will hopefully be recognised sooner.”
Many colours are used to make cosmetics look “pretty”, but synthetic colours (along with synthetic hair dyes) should be avoided at all costs, as many synthetic colours can be carcinogenic. They are listed as FD&C or D&C, followed by a colour and a number. Example: FD&C Red No. 6, or D&C Green No. 6.
There are often so many ingredients listed on some labels and many products indicate the presence of up to 4,000 separate ingredients. There is no way to know what the chemicals are, since the label will simply read “fragrance” or “parfum” or “perfume” . Some problems caused by these chemicals include headaches, dizziness, rash, hyper-pigmentation, violent coughing, vomiting and skin irritation. They can also trigger asthma.
Phthalates are used to keep fragrance chemicals in solution. They are found in almost all fragrances. Manufacturers get away with listing them under the name fragrance or parfum. Phthalates are used to enhance fragrances, as solvents, and to denature alcohol. These chemicals have been researched and shown to enter the bloodstream, then concentrating in fat cells. They are extremely potent oestrogen mimics and some are 10 000 times more potent than oestrogen itself. Excessively high levels of oestrogen have been known to cause cancer. DEP is the phthalate found in the highest levels in humans, and a study published in Environmental Health Perspectives (December 2002) found that DEP is damaging to the DNA of sperm in adult men at current levels of exposure. DNA damage to sperm can lead to infertility and may also be linked to miscarriages, birth defects, infertility and cancer in offspring. Recent product tests found the chemical in every fragrance tested in the United States. Manufacturers are not required to list phthalates on product labels, so they are difficult to avoid, but phthalates have been banned by all the major organic certifiers in the world.
Also known as mineral oil jelly, liquid Vaseline, Paraffinum Lquidum and baby oil. It is extremely cheap hence it’s widespread use. It can cause photosensitivity and strips natural oils from the skin, causing chapping, dryness and premature ageing. It also prevents the elimination of toxins from the body and can therefore cause acne.
ARTEM LUXE organically cares for our skin and we ensure the safety of our customers by using 100% natural plant dye for our mulberry silk. We also give the promise to you that our farming is done organically at our safeguarded sericulture, without the use of harmful pesticides. We care for you & the environment.
]]>The most important and restorative hours of your day may occur when you're not even conscious. Deep sleep is the time our body uses for healing. In this deep sleep time, there is physical renewal, hormonal regulation, immune system boosting and growth.
Nearly every night of our lives, when we sleep deeply, we undergo an amazing metamorphosis.
Many important physiological processes occur during the stage of our sleep called “deep sleep”: The human growth hormone is released which helps with cell repair and cell renewal: fighting signs of aging. This stage of sleep is an especially refreshing part of the sleep cycle, also uplifting your moods and helping you emotionally. Whether or not we are aware of the state of deep sleep, it functions to restore us physically and mentally.
But many people are not aware of this important stage of sleep. The dramatic nature of dreams (REM sleep) has become well known to the public, but few of us know about this mysterious deep sleep stage (also known as delta sleep, or N3) which can improve us in both health and beauty.
Unfortunately, our access to deep sleep is vulnerable due to the effects of stress, sleep disruption, natural again and drug use. By preventing adequate deep sleep, these factors contribute to the run-down feelings that many people experience daily and a faster rate of aging mentally and physically. Medical research has gone so far as to blame poor quality sleep for increasing the risks of high blood pressure, heart disease, anxiety, obesity, diabetes and dementia.
So how can we all achieve this amazing, mysteriously restorative sleep stage?
There is no easy fix—we can't turn back the clock on aging, or eliminate life's ubiquitous stressors. But we can take these few steps to ensure that we have a regular, helpful sleep.
1. Pre-midnight bedtime (yes it's true your body is in sync with The Earth.)
2. Use relaxing breathing techniques to slip into sleep
3. Change the fabric we sleep on… Our natural 100% mulberry silk sleep masks and pillowslips aim to do just that. Silk threads contain amino acids which work together with our skin cells to relax stressed nervous systems. Did you know silk is the closest material to our own skin? This helps out bodies feel the most comfortable.
Silk is well worth the investment. And not any silk. Make sure the silk you invest in is over 14 momme count (ours is a boastful 22 momme), make sure its 100% mulberry (like ours) and make sure it's genuine silk too!
Image by Henry Meynell, Sleeping Beauty
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