By: Dennies John

Coffee in excess is harmful; every physician will tell you that. However, when drank responsibly, it is actually extremely healthy. There are many reasons why you should drink it, but we’ll focus on just one for now.
 
While you may have known most of its health benefits, there’s a slight chance you had no idea it’s good for your skin, too. After reading this, you’ll never again throw away those grounds. Let’s cut the anticipation and get right to business.
 
How Coffee Can Help You Have a Healthy Skin

It’s a good exfoliator  

​Washing your face with coffee grounds (and a few drops of coconut or olive oil) will clean it of dead skin cells. This will allow your complexion to breathe. Of course, your face will be a lot cleaner and radiant than before. Moreover, it will be smooth and with an evened-out tone.

It tightens the pores  

Large pores are disagreeable and more prone to gathering bacteria than tightened, minimized ones. A face mask with coffee grounds, yogurt and cocoa will take care of this issue. Don’t expect instantaneous results. Give it time, and you’ll definitely see some changes.

It softens the skin  

One of the main reasons why it does this is that it removes excess oils and dead skin cells. These two automatically lead to softer skin. You can apply the same mask from the previous section for this outcome, but add a tablespoon of honey. This is a natural antibacterial and anti-inflammatory ingredient, so your skin will be not only softer but also free of microbes.

It reduces redness and decreases inflammation  

​A facial scrub with coffee grounds can eliminate the redness and the itchiness caused by inflammation. This makes it really good for people who suffer from acne and deal with painful boils.
 
Coffee is anti-inflammatory, and there’s proof that it actually functions as a painkiller or enhances the efficiency of over-the-counter ones. You won’t be bothered anymore by painfully swollen boils.

It eliminates dark circles  

​Dark circles and crows’ feet are signs of fatigue, inflammation, and dehydration. Everybody has them; you’re far from being the only one. We already mentioned that coffee has anti-inflammatory properties.
 
To take advantage of them, take some tea bags, moisten them with coffee and keep them under your eyes to diminish the size of those nasty dark circles.

It treats UV skin deterioration  

​No, it does not treat sunburn. But it does heal the patches of skin that have been mildly damaged by a long exposure to UV rays. It can do that because it is packed with antioxidants. Next time you sit in the sun too much, gently wash your face with coffee grounds.
 
It will prevent redness from setting in while healing the skin from inside. Make sure to wash your face as fast as you get home, or it will work a little slower.
 
Final Thoughts
 
Did you have any idea that coffee can do all these things? We bet you didn’t, at least not all of them. This liquid not only keeps so many of us alive, but it also helps us take care of our skin without paying a dime on skincare products.
 
If you’re not much of a coffee drinker, maybe these health benefits gave you a sudden urge to join the ranks of coffee addicts worldwide. If so, welcome to the family!
 
But don’t forget: never throw away those beneficial coffee grounds – use them as a money-saving skincare product.
 
Did you ever use coffee for any of the reasons mentioned above? 

​​Botani’s Olive Skin Serum is an intensive anti-ageing skin serum. The reason it is so effective in preventing premature ageing is because it contains 100 percent photo-active Olive Squalene (from olives), which resembles the built in moisturiser each of us has in our skin.

Squalene decreases as we age, which has an effect on the way our skin ages, this is why it’s important to keep the squalene levels in our skin topped up.   

Using only organic and pure ingredients, the founder of Botani's amazing skincare science is Australian Naturopath and Herbalist Barbara Filokostas.  Barbara uses the ancient wisdom of naturopathy, plants and natural beauty to formulate this luxury range of plant based skincare.   

When I apply the serum, I first find that it gives my skin a nice dewey glow, I apply it all over my décolletage and face and love the instant impact it has on dry skin, making it look and feel soft and supple and almost glowing.  
I use this twice a day, morning and night. The serum is smooth enough to sink into skin evenly and is a perfect base for foundation. I didn’t even need to use a moisturiser when I use this.   Perfect for use during winter and summer, to soothe skin, smooth out scars and heal dry skin patches.   It leaves skin feeling hydrated, at the same time not leaving it with an oily residue.  It does feel as though it gets into fine lines and somehow plumps up my skin, making it appear more youthful.  Perfect for all skin types and very healing for those with Eczema, Psorisis and Rosacea.

I was already a fan of Botani as I had used their Acai berry serum and loved the way it felt.   Very high quality and using ingredients that are extremely effective for anti ageing, with the scientific and naturopathic research to back it up.   

The ingredients are - Olive Squalene, Vitamin C (Ascorbic Acid), Vitamin E (Tocopherol), Lecithin.  You really can't get much more pure than that.  

Once you start to feel and see the impact Olive Squalene has on your skin, this might be your next anti-ageing weapon!   

Botani's Olive Skin Serum can be purchased at Botani.

It might surprise you that what we consume is just as important as the products we use when it comes to keeping our skin healthy.  It’s important to get the nourishing nutrients we need in order to look our best.   
 
So, what foods can help keep our skin healthy?

1.  Eat foods rich in Vitamin A.  This vitamin is important for overall skin health.  Foods rich in vitamin A are carrots and low-fat dairy products.
2. To help prevent age related issues caused by sun exposure, make sure you get plenty of Lycopene in your diet.  Eat plenty of tomatoes, guava, and watermelon!
3. Omega-3 Fatty Acids help nourish the skin and regulate oil production.  Fish, flax seeds, and eggs are all examples of foods high in Omega-3s.
4. Vitamin C. This vitamin can helps fight wrinkles.  Foods rich in Vitamin C are sweet potatoes, squash, melons, and citrus fruits.
5. Vitamin E helps repair damaged cells.  Get the benefits by eating nuts and seeds.

 
It’s also very important to have a healthy digestive tract to keep your skin looking great.  These are some additional nutrients you should include in your diet to help keep your gut and skin healthy:
 
Fiber – Foods rich in fiber will help your digestive system remove waste.
Probiotics – These healthy bacteria will help balance your digestive tract
Digestive Enzymes – These can assist in helping you get as much nutrition from the foods you eat as you can.  Look for a quality digestive enzyme.
 
I hope you learned something new from these tips.  Check out our infographic below that illustrates the importance of nutrition and gut health for skin!  For more information on health and wellness, feel free to visit us at our blog, What’s Up, USANA?.

Before you know it, the colder seasons are going to be long forgotten and your cracked and weary skin will be in urgent need of some recovery. When spring finally arrives and shines upon us with its warm sun rays and the soft wind fondles our skin, it will be time to step up the game and take some appropriate measures. So until we welcome spring once again, it is best to learn how to properly nourish our skin so it would be glowing by the time you can say regular skin care! And here is how to do that:

Protect and Serve

We all know that prevention is the best medicine. Keeping this in mind, make sure to remember to protect your skin from those harmful UV rays. Do not be fooled by the overcast weather, because these rays can affect your skin either way. So always remember to apply a natural sunscreen whenever you are going out so you would be sure that you are keeping your skin safe. Strong sun can cause brown spots, deep lines, wrinkles, but also skin cancer. It is better to be safe than sorry.

Exfoliation Is the Key

You never know how much dirt and dead cells can pile up on your skin during these long and weary seasons. Because of this, you should know that exfoliation is the key to every regular skin routine. This means that you should exfoliate at least once a week, in order to bring your skin back to life. Of course, exfoliating applies to the whole body, not just your face. Be sure to use a quality exfoliating scrub or a loofah, as some less quality ones could cause irritations to severely sensitive skin.

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Rehydrate For Recovery

One of the most important aspects of every skin care routine is remembering to keep your skin moisturized and hydrated. You might have noticed that during these few colder months your skin has become dry and cracked at certain places. This is mostly because the cold weather dries out the skin and it is not getting sufficient amounts of water. Because of this, it is important to drink lots of water in these transition months and to remember to use products that additionally moisturize the skin.

Eat Healthy and Plenty

​Another thing that is mostly neglected by people is to make certain changes in the diet plan. Most of us are used to eating heavy and fat foods during autumn and winter. But in order to prep your skin for spring it is important to make some alterations in your nutrition. Make sure to implement some vitamin rich foods that will boost your immune system and nourish your skin. Also, eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables that are rich in water so you would additionally hydrate your body. Antioxidant rich foods will also help you detox your body and rid it from all the piled up toxins.

Choose Your Products Wisely

​When it comes to the products you use on daily basis, what is crucial is to rely on natural-based products that nurture your skin and help it recover in the best possible way. Try to stay away from products that contain alcohol or other chemicals that might dry out your skin even more or cause other skin conditions. Make sure to choose something suitable for your skin type like asap skin products that are designed to revitalise your skin and give it proper care.

​When spring finally arrives, make sure to welcome it with arms wide open and skin shining brightly. Keep in mind that every skin type is different and that you should nourish your skin accordingly. Do not hesitate to consult with a dermatologist so you would get all the needed information about proper care for your skin.
 
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Our skin and hair deserve regular attention and should always be handled with care. But there are certain times during the year when they deserve even more apprehension. When the seasons change and winter finally arrives, the colder and harsher weather conditions can greatly affect us. The biting cold might damage our skin and hair, make it dry and chapped. Because of this, it is crucial to take certain precautions and measures to make sure they are well protected and nurtured. These are some useful tips on how to preserve your hair and skin during this winter and how to keep them healthy.

​Foods

Beside the fact that we need to keep an eye on how we dress, we should also pay close attention to the foods we eat. The groceries and viands we tend to eat can greatly contribute to our overall health and make our metabolism stronger and more resilient. This can further contribute to your overall health and both your skin and hair as well. It is quite recommendable to create a balanced diet consisting of nuts, seeds, leafy greens and dairy like yogurt. It is also a good idea to eat salmon, oysters and even dark chocolate.

Hydrate

​Being properly hydrated is one of the essential parts of keeping your hair and skin healthy and nurtured. This can be done simply by incorporating fresh fruits and vegetables into your diet and making sure that you get an appropriate amount of water intake daily. Many doctors recommend drinking about 2 liters of water daily. Because of this, it is wise to consider going slightly above this limit during colder seasons, as your body will require it. A good solution is to always carry a bottle of water wherever you go at all times. Also, avoid drinking too many alcoholic or caffeinated beverages as they tend to dehydrate your body. Substitute these drinks with hot or cold tea instead.

Washing

One of the most pleasant feelings during winter is enjoying a nice, long  hot shower or bath. Nevertheless, no matter how enjoyable and satisfying this might be, it is actually recommendable to cut these bathroom excursions to a minimum. This is because boiling hot water that we enjoy so much tends to make our skin and hair dryer and more prone to irritations. The best solution is opting for shorter showers using mild water and avoiding using products that tend to dry out your skin. Always remember to use hair conditioner and products aimed for sensitive hair and skin.

Moisturize and Trim

Moisturizing both your skin and hair during winter is one of the main things you need to do in order to keep their former glow and shine. The best way to do this is by choosing quality products like theorie hair to be sure that your hair will be well nourished and reformed. Another thing that may have positive effects on our hair is regularly trimming it. Many hairdressers recommend cutting your hair more often during winter than in summer or spring. This is because the cold weather and the moisture in the air tend to damage our hair and make it dry out. This is the main reason why you should opt for regular trims if you wish to salvage your hair during this season.

​Every day we are looking for new ways to preserve our bodies. This is especially important during harsh and cold winters. These tips will help you protect and guard both your skin and your hair during another cold season.  Make sure to always protect your body in the best way you can.