Vitamin C for glowy skin and beautiful hair

You may already know about all the amazing things vitamin C can do for your system. It helps to promote healthy bones and teeth, it boosts overall immunity, and it has even been shown to help lower blood pressure. But did you know how many amazing things it can do for the way you look? 

Here are 10 ways that vitamin C helps benefit your skin and hair health.

Collagen Boost

Collagen is the main structural protein found in your skin and connective tissue. In fact, 70% of all protein found in your skin is collagen. It's responsible for the elasticity of your skin, and keeps everything looking young and fresh.

How do we get collagen? By taking in Vitamin C! Your body needs vitamin C to produce collagen, and you need collagen for healthy skin.

Increased Sun Protection

Vitamin C is an antioxidant , which your body uses to fight off harmful free radicals. Many of these are produced when ultraviolet radiation from the sun comes into contact with your body, and a lack of vitamin C can leave you with a reduced ability to fight them off naturally.

Now, don't go skipping your sunscreen, but studies do show that people who get enough vitamin C have less overall sun damage to their skin.

Improved Texture

As well as being integral to skin structure, collagen is also important for the structure of your blood vessels-and it all comes down to vitamin C. Efficient blood flow to your skin's surface can prevent a rough texture and appearance. In fact, creams containing vitamin C are marketed specifically to help smooth out rough skin.

Less Discoloration

Vitamin C can help prevent the DNA in your skin from reacting with sunlight and causing discoloration or even precancerous cells.

Faster Wound Healing

Your body uses vitamin C to help heal injuries to your skin. Collagen helps not only to close wounds, but also to create scar tissue that helps protect the site. Slow wound healing can be a sign of vitamin c deficiency.

Faster Hair Growth

Free radicals can damage your hair making it brittle and more prone to split ends. As mentioned above, the antioxidant properties of vitamin c help to reduce free radicals, and will protect your hair as well as your skin. Your hair will be stronger and grow quicker.

Fewer Grays

Vitamin C has been shown to help hair retain its natural color for longer, meaning fewer grays.

Prevents Hair Loss

An underperforming adrenal gland can lead to hair loss, and one of the main ways to help fight adrenal gland fatigue is by supplementing with vitamin c. This can help reverse the hormonal processes that cause hair loss.

Protects Against Dandruff

You may have germs living on your scalp that encourage the skin problems that lead to dandruff. Vitamin c helps to fight these germs off.

Thicker, Healthier Hair

Taken altogether, the increased blood flow, the decrease in bacteria, and the antioxidants all work in combination to help you grow thicker, healthier hair.

So be sure to eat your citrus and your dark greens. The best way to get vitamin C is through a healthy diet.

The Benefits Of Soaking Nuts Before Eating Them

Nuts are rich in unsaturated fats, heart-healthy omega 3 fatty acids, fiber and a slew of vitamins and minerals. Which is why they come highly recommended as an addition to a balanced diet. Turns out, soaking nuts can enhance their benefits for you. The phytic acid and tannins in the skin make nuts harder to digest and inhibit the absorption of nutrients in your food. Soaking and removing the peel can do away with these. Plus, they're less likely to irritate a sensitive stomach and are cleaner as well this way!

They are a nutrient -dense snack and perfect for when the munchies strike! Satisfying but not sinful, they come highly recommended by the American Heart Association as part of a healthy diet. Although it's easiest to have these crunchy nuggets straight from the bag, have you wondered if you should be soaking or peeling certain nuts first? In some parts of the world like Asia, almonds, for instance, are soaked overnight and peeled the next morning before consuming. So is there some science behind this ritual and should you consider soaking nuts before having them?

What Happens When You Soak Nuts

When you soak nuts, it becomes easier to peel off their skin. That's not all, though. There are also certain changes to the nut itself when you soak it. While some nutrients are lost along with the skin, you may find that positive effects of soaking more than make up on other fronts.

• Washes away dust and other contamination

• Removes tannins and inhibit digestion

• Lowers physic acid content

• Break down and soften to digest easily

• Easy to peel away the skin

Bottom line, if you are looking to improve overall gut health, give soaking a try!

The Skin-Care Benefits of Ice-Rolling , Explained. Ready to roll?

You’ve seen the roll-and-go tools all over Instagram, but what exactly do ice rollers do for the skin?

Designed to be chilled to deliver a cooling, tightening effect to the skin, the simple, hand-held tool is the best known for its ability to quickly de-puff a tired complexion. But as skin experts explain, the trending tool offers a host of other legitimate skin-care benefits, too.

What are the benefits of ice-rolling?

Ice rollers stimulate the lymphatic system and massage the face to get rid of puffiness and toxins, stimulate blood flow and reduce muscle tension. Anything ‘Cryo’ is anti-inflammatory, meaning it will slow the effects of aging, speed up healing and can stimulate collagen production.

Even better, the cooling action of the tool also allows for refreshed, brighter-looking appearance. Ice rollers may also help constrict blood vessels, thus decreasing inflammation and reducing the appearance of broken capillaries.

How do you use an ice roller?

Begin from the center of your face and use upward, outward strokes to roll the tool along the skin, making sure to apply just enough pressure to massage the skin, as using too much pressure can cause irritation. To de-puff the under-eyes, gently roll the tool along the area, applying little to no pressure.

When is the best time to use an ice roller?

Barring a couple of exceptions- more on that below- you can ice roll whenever you’d like. Reaching for your ice roller as the last step of your skin-care routine is always a good idea. I recommend using your ice roller to help spread products to all ares of your face. For example, you can apply a moisturizer or serum to your face and then use your ice roller to spread the product to under eyes, forehead, temples, cheeks, etc. Massaging the face with your ice roller can help the topical product absorb into the skin.

Can you use an ice roller after injections?

You should not use an ice roller after injections or filler because the facial roller can allow the products to spread into unwanted areas. Likewise, ice-rolling should be avoided after any surgery that leaves a wound because if healing tissue is moved, scarring could be worsened.

How do you clean an ice roller?

To ensure your roller isn’t harboring any bacteria, be sure to give it a quick wipe down with a cotton pad soaked in rubbing alcohol or with mild soap and water after each use. Before popping it back in the freezer or fridge to chill, place it in a separate bag or container to keep it free from contamination.

What is the best ice roller?

The Skinny Confidential Hot Mess Ice Roller($69)

Aceology Ice Globe Facial Massager($64)

Taste Sea Cryo Tool($15)

Esarora Ice Roller($13)

BeautyBio Cryo Icing Dual-Ended Roller($85)

What is a Jade roller and should I be using one?

by Minx life

While jade rollers are having their moment in the spotlight right now, they have been a staple in Chinese skincare routines since the 7th century. You can think of them as handheld mini face massagers. They can be made of beautiful green jade or pink quartz(pictured above), and are believed to have healing and protective properties for the skin, including boosting circulation, reducing swelling, and allowing for deeper penetration of skincare products.

The most well-known benefits of using a jade roller include reducing inflammation and puffiness of the skin, reducing the appearance of under eye circles(especially if your roller is cold), stimulating the lymphatic system and blood circulation, brightening complexion, tightening pores, helping reduce the appearance of fine lines, and allowing skincare products to penetrate more deeply. Aside from these benefits, it’s a lovely way to relax and get in “bedtime” mode after your evening skincare routine.

You can pretty much search for jade rollers on Amazon and find a slew of options with all different price points, although we feel strongly that an inexpensive jade roller will do the trick. Give it a try!

Is Dry brushing good for your skin and health?

Scan almost any spa menu, and you'll likely find an offering that mentions dry brushing. The practice-which involves scrubbing down your dry skin with a scratchy brush-sounds far from pampering, if not a bit austere. But spa pros and enthusiasts alike swear by it and sing its praises for supposedly doing everything from exfoliating to reducing cellulite. Sounds a bit too good to be true, so here are the facts.

The exfoliation part is easy to understand. "Gentle dry brushing will slough off dead, dry skin, improving its appearance and allowing it to hydrate more efficiently when moisturizer is applied afterward.

As for detoxifying, dry brushing is similar to massage. "The light pressure against your skin and the direction in which you brush helps move lymph fluid into the lymph nodes so this waste can then be eliminated. Your body naturally does this, but dry brushing speeds up the process and at the same time boosts circulation, delivering oxygenated blood to the skin and other organs, which help do their job better.

Because dry brushing helps eliminate toxins, many pros claim it can smooth those unsightly lumps and bumps for good. This procedure helps remove "stagnant toxins" that break down connective tissue, leading to cellulite.

But there's no conclusive scientific evidence that dry brushing can permanently reduce cottage cheese thighs, which are caused by a combination of fat and connective tissue. It's believed that the reduction is more of a temporary skin plumping and swelling. Bottom line, Temporary or not, we'll take fewer derriere dimples any day.

First you need a proper brush, which you can purchase at most health food stores. Look for bristles-typically cactus-or vegetable-derived-or else the process won't work. A long handle is also handy to help you access hard to reach areas such as your back.

Because dry brushing energizes and stimulates the body, most pros suggest doing it in the morning before your shower, but you can do it any time of the day you prefer.. Using long , upward strokes, start brushing your skin at your feet and work your way up your legs one at a time. Then move up your mid-section(front and back) and across your chest. Finish by brushing up your arms toward your armpits.

Now it's shower time, with an added bonus : "You've just opened your pores, so any of your body treatments you apply in the shower and afterward will penetrate better.

Your skin should feel softer and smoother after just one session. Some people even say that the detox and circulatory boost helps with digestive issues and skin problems such as acne; others claim to feel more energized, most likely a result of the increased blood flow.

Give a try!