Authors: Julie Gabriel
Tags: #ebook, #book
Combine all the oils in a spray bottle. Carefully pour in the mineral pigment. Shake well before each use.
Green Solutions for Cellulite
The first time I started to question the potentially toxic impact of cosmetics on my body was after massaging my skin with a fabulous, highly perfumed “anticellulite” lotion. After five minutes of massaging my tummy with a special rolling head, the lotion had soaked in. Where did it go? The water and alcohol must have evaporated, but what about the rest? If it’s dissolving my cellulite, where does the fat go? Into my bloodstream? Into my lymph? Does it mean I will have fat cells in my blood? All these were uncomfortable and probably dumb questions. I knew I would never learn exactly what had entered my bloodstream and, hopefully, had been filtered out by my liver.
We know it as orange peel syndrome, cottage cheese skin, and the mattress phenomenon. Medical names for cellulite include
adiposis ede-matosa, dermopanniculosis deformans, status protrusus cutis,
and
gynoid lipodystrophy
. Don’t confuse relatively harmless cellulite with the infectious disease cellulitis, when inflammation damages the underlying connective tissues of the skin.
Doctors are not entirely clear on what causes cellulite. Some say that cellulite is caused by weakened supportive collagen and elastin tissue and protruding fat cells. Others blame hormones, rapid weight loss, excessive water retention, and sluggish lymph flow. All we know is that cellulite plagues both the toned buttocks of supermodels and flabby tummies of new moms. Cellulite can appear on the upper arms, the back of the neck, and around the knees.
Like acne, cellulite is not an isolated cosmetic problem. It sends us a message that our body systems are not functioning properly, possibly due to hormonal shifts or toxin buildup. In any case, cellulite has to be addressed from inside and outside at the same time. Massaging creams will not make much of a difference at all.
I have to admit that a few years ago there wasn’t a single cellulite cream in stores that I hadn’t tried. Cooling, warming, tightening, smoothing, exfoliating, massaging lotions, even Nicoderm-like patches—I used them all diligently, with little to no result. I am a witness that there is no cure in a bottle for cellulite. At the same time, rigorous dieting and weekly detox alone won’t get rid of cellulite either. Cellulite is not made of toxins or fat accumulating under skin, so flushing fat without paying attention to the efficiency of blood flow and lymph circulation won’t get you anywhere.
After spending untold money on cellulite creams and spa procedures, I have put together a natural, green plan that is easy to follow and involves no hormone-disrupting chemicals.
Improve lymph flow.
The fluid between your cells is filtered by the lymphatic system, and when the body gets congested, this process doesn’t work well. As a result, the lymph system gets overloaded with toxins. To improve lymph flow, perform a dry skin brushing every day or at least every other day. You can also invest in roller massagers with wooden or metal heads that physically propel fluids in cellulite-affected areas. Contrast showers (alternating cold and warmwater as you shower) do wonders for blood flow—you will see a healthy glow on your face immediately!
Improve bowel function.
I noticed that many women who get cellulite also tend to have constipation. This is a clear sign of congestion and poor removal of waste products from the body. By adopting a toxin-free, organic diet and making regular Green Beauty Detox a habit (see Chapter 16), you will reduce the toxin load on your elimination system and help your cells exchange nutrients, clear toxins, and burn fat more efficiently.
Avoid water retention.
Alcohol, saturated fats, and excessive amounts of salt all increase the swelling of skin tissue surrounding fat cells. Wearing tight clothes and sitting or standing in the same position for long periods of time have also been shown to contribute to cellulite. Drinking proper amounts of water (the proverbial eight glasses a day) helps fight excessive water pressure in the skin. Wou drink more, but you pee more too.
Burn the fat.
Enlarged fat cells make the connective tissue weaken and eventually burst under pressure, creating an uneven, bumpy texture. Exercising and eating a healthy diet will reduce the fat buildup under your skin, as well as improve blood and lymph flow. Woga and Pilates are especially good at promoting healthy fluid exchange in your skin.
Try health supplements.
There are many health supplements that are believed to have an effect on cellulite. These include coenzyme Q10, amino acid l-carnitine, and gotu kola
(Centella Asiatica)
, which improve connective tissue activity, and Indian chestnut, ginkgo biloba, and rutin, which boost microcirculation. None of them have proved to be a miracle cellulite pill, but you may find them useful as part of a holistic cellulite plan. Consult your doctor before adding any health supplements to your diet.
Use a body oil.
Improve the skin’s elasticity and strengthen its cells with a nutritious, tightening body oil that can be combined with a massage. Here’s a recipe that worked well on my stubborn wobbly bits.
Green Skin
Toning Oil
1 ounce evening primrose oil
½ ounce rose hip oil
15,000 IU vitamin E (from capsules)
5 mg horse chestnut extract
5 drops grapefruit essential oil
3 drops ylang-ylang essential oil
Yield:
4 ounces
This potent blend of moisturizers and nutrients allows the skin to breathe and helps heal any stretch marks you may have on your tummy and thighs.
Premix horse chestnut extract with a teaspoon of any of the oils to completely dissolve it. Combine all oils and other ingredients in a glass bottle and shake vigorously. Use it twice daily.
None of these steps will make a difference in your fight against dimpled skin if used separately from the rest. Just like acne, cellulite cannot be cured with a single magic potion. It requires consistent efforts that benefit your whole body. I usually begin my anticellulite regimen in February, allowing twenty-eight days for the skin renewal cycle to complete. Since cellulite has to be attacked both from inside and outside, I start with a gentle detox and continue drinking the skin-cleansing, fat-melting cocktail Green Detox Drink (see recipe in Chapter 16) during the whole month. Every day I dry brush my whole body and massage my thighs, arms, and belly with my own Green Skin Toning Oil or Weleda Birch Cellulite Oil, using a simple wood rolling massager. In total, I spend four intensive hours in February keeping cellulite at bay, with five-minute daily upkeep during the rest of the year. And so far, I haven’t had to bring any heavy artillery, such as Ender-mologie or a similarly expensive procedure, into play.
“Here’s my beauty secret: use organic skin care; eat mostly organic foods, such as whole grains, vegetables, fruits, and organic salmon; exercise aerobically; practice yoga or strength training; get plenty of sleep; and drink lots of water.”
—Karen Behnke,
founder of Juice Beauty
Green Hair Removal
Most women prefer to shave their unwanted hair, but there are many other options that will leave you silky smooth. You can safely tweeze, wax, or sugar wax any area, as long as you are not prone to bruises. Wou cannot wax legs if you have varicose veins, though.
No matter how tempting it is to freeze unwanted hairs in their tracks, avoid any topical hair-removal creams or lotions that claim to slow hair growth. Chemicals in cream hair removers, such as potassium thiogly-colate, potassium hydroxide, lithium silicates, urea, and some essential oils, can be easily absorbed by your skin. The safety of these chemicals has never been studied on humans.
Waxing, the ancient method of hair removal, has been used for centuries. Waxing pulls hair out by its roots, so the results last from four to eight weeks, and the new hair grows in soft and fine—or may not grow back at all!
Commercially available waxing kits almost always contain some sort of chemicals—preservatives, thickeners, emulsifiers, and such—that are able to penetrate the skin, especially when heated, and we clearly don’t want that. Instead, we can prepare our own organic body wax to work on our legs, arms, and even bikini line. With a bit of practice, as you develop a lighter touch, you can use the blend on your face, too.
Waxing can be painful when done for the first time, so practice on your arms and lower leg before applying wax to underarms or the bikini line. Don’t attempt a Brazilian wax—complete hair removal from the bikini area—at home. Try waxing the bikini line first before considering a Brazilian. Going to a salon for a professional wax is also recommended before you attempt to duplicate the hair-removal procedure at home. Try to find a place that offers natural sugar wax so you are not treated with unwanted chemicals. Before waxing, you will need to brace yourself and allow at least one-eighth inch of hair to grow out.
Green Tip
Waxing can be painful when done for the first time, so practice on your arms and lower leg before applying wax to underarms or the bikini line.
Here’s what you will need for your green home wax:
15–20 cotton strips, 2-inch wide for legs and arms, and 1.2-inch wide for facial hair and bikini line. Wou can cut these from a piece of fabric or purchase a roll from a beauty supply store.
Cornstarch-based baby powder
Flat wooden sticks or Popsicle sticks (avoid metal or plastic)
Two saucepans: one small and deep, one wide and shallow
Green Sugar Wax (recipe follows)
Grape seed, jojoba, avocado, or other body oil
Cotton cloth for cleanups (not cotton balls!)
Green Soothing Spray (recipe follows)
Making your own natural wax is easy and inexpensive. Make a smaller batch for the first waxing session. Wou can always make more wax when you need it. The recipe yields enough wax to treat two lower legs or two arms and a bikini line. I do not recommend reusing leftovers as they rarely reheat evenly.
Green
Sugar Wax
2 cups organic brown sugar (any type)
½ cup filtered water
½ cup steeped chamomile tea
2 tablespoons freshly squeezed lemon juice
Yield:
4 ounces
1. Half-fill a wide, shallow saucepan with water, bring to a boil, and then turn heat to low. Mix all the ingredients in a small, deep saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly.
2. When the sugar mixture (“wax”) boils, place the small saucepan into the wide, shallow saucepan and leave it on low heat. The wax should remain liquid and golden in color, not stiff and brown, so stir constantly. To prevent the mixture from becoming too dark, avoid stirring too briskly, so that the sugar mixture doesn’t stick to the sides of a pan. When the wax bubbles gently and looks thin enough to pour, add 1 cup of boiling water from the shallow pan, stir thoroughly, and remove from the heat.
3. When the wax has reached the consistency of fresh honey, transfer it to a glass bowl and allow it to cool down before using. Never put the freshly prepared wax on your body! You may burn yourself badly.
4. While the wax is cooling, pour hot water into a wide, shallow bowl to use as a water bath to keep your wax warm and pliable.
Make sure you have all the waxing supplies—baby powder, cotton
strips, wooden sticks, and oil—within easy reach.
Coat the area that you plan to wax—your arm or lower leg—with baby powder. This is essential to keep the skin protected from wax sticking to it and causing redness and bruising, especially now, as your blood flow to the area will increase. Check the temperature of the wax. It should be warm to the touch, not hot. Using a wooden stick, apply a thin coat of wax in quick gliding strokes in the direction of the hair growth: from inside to outside on your arm, from knee to foot on your leg. Wou need to dip your stick in the wax about 2 inches deep—this way, you will be applying a thin coat that will stick to the cotton strip at once. Cover an area the width of your cotton strips and 4 inches long for legs, 1 inch long for face and bikini line.
Now apply a cotton strip to the area covered with sticky wax, also in the direction of hair growth. Press gently and rub to make sure the strip sticks without bulging. Take a deep breath, then lift the strip by the lower end and pull quickly! Here you go—your skin is smooth and hairless. Repeat the procedure until you’ve covered all desired areas. Use the strip until it is completely covered with hair and can’t pick up any more wax. After that, get a new strip. Meanwhile, keep the wax warm and fluid by adding some hot water to the water bath. When done, remove any remaining wax smudges with baby oil and soothe the skin with a freshly made soothing spray.
Green Soothing
Spray
½ cup freshly steeped organic green tea
1 cup freshly steeped chamomile tea
2 tablespoons fresh aloe vera juice
1 teaspoon calendula extract
5 drops peppermint essential oil
½ teaspoon willow bark extract
Yield:
4 ounces
Green tea and chamomile are known herbal anti-inflammatories, while aloe vera and calendula (marigold) are known for their soothing, healing properties. Peppermint oil is optional, but it can cool the raw, freshly waxed area in no time! Willow bark extract is a source of natural salicylic acid, which prevents ingrown hair.
Blend all the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well, and keep in the refrigerator until ready to use.
The first time is the most painful waxing experience. Start with waxing simple areas, such as the lower legs, forearms and upper arms, eyebrows, chin, and upper lip. After a few sessions, the hair will get weaker, and waxing will be much easier. Plus, you will build up some tolerance and will become handier at applying the wax and ripping out the hair. When you gain experience, you can move to the underarms and bikini line. Just remember the rule: always apply wax in the direction of the hair growth and pull the cotton strip in the opposite direction, not forgetting to soothe and moisturize your skin after you are done waxing!