What's on the Table!? ~ Health and Beauty Care with the Natural Intelligence of Plants and Herbs

Not only did we just get back from travels and the hot topic in other countries for health and wellness is Glutathione, but Glutathione is trending!  It is a question that has been coming in both via email and at my events. Given by now most know I am a total research nerd and I cannot stop until I feel I have gotten to the source of the question, I feel compelled to share what we have been practicing in our own home over the last few years concerning Glutathione. When it comes to Glutathione, I want to discuss what we know to be true, and misunderstandings associated with how to get it, how it is absorbed, and how your body produces it. Over the last three years I have been looking heavily into how good Glutathione levels can support and promote health not only for the skin but the systems of the body. Glutathione has become recently coveted in the world of skincare due to its ability to combat signs of aging and improve the overall health and appearance of the skin. As I have di...

  I completely nerd out on macrophages with Nikki on the Nikki Clarke Show! We also delivered Nikki her favourite Hotty Balm Mature to Dry along with a Stop the Sag Tea Bag in person. We were so excited to join live in studio at www.golivetv.ca! Gratitude to TEAO Canada for such a gorgeous spirit, cause and work in their community. We discuss reducing internal inflammation, EcoParent beauty info submissions, to what it means to be a small Northwestern Ontario community up against Hydro One Networking. Watch our full interview on You Tube - The Nikki Clarke Show

We love stinging nettle (Urtica dioica) for skin care! This is why we make use of this plant in products for both external and internal benefit at bee23.ca . In Part One we share from our Clinical Herbalist Diploma thesis, 'Natural Beauty is Anything but Skin Deep: An Exploration of Urtica dioica on the Skin Aesthetic via Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, and Immune System,' how stinging nettle is able to get to the very bones of our skin care woes by strengthening connective tissue. We will continue in Part Two with experts from this thesis concerning the anti-inflammatory capabilities of this all-purpose green powerhouse, and why this is important to include in our overall skin care regimen.  Inflammation is now recognized as a risk for age-related diseases and can have impact on the deterioration of the musculoskeletal system. Stinging nettle is a powerful anti-inflammatory, for both topical and internal use having impact on the musculoskeletal system and subsequently our ...

For those of you ready to dig deeper into your beauty vibe we are going to share our Clinical Herbalist thesis findings from ‘Natural Beauty is Anything but Skin Deep: An Exploration of Urtica dioica on the Skin Aesthetic via the Musculoskeletal, Cardiovascular, and Immune System,’ in 3 separate parts starting at the bones of this discussion, because we are so fascinated with how it all works together. We know if you are serious about your health and skin care this information will be of the utmost importance to you, even if you only absorb a few snippets! Studies show that there is a connection between the deterioration and dryness of skin and osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, and various bone pathologies. This is a reasonable assumption considering connective tissue is responsible for the fortitude of our bones, hair, nails, and skin. Connective tissue has a role in the storage, absorption and disposal of waste from the body, it transports vitamins, nutrients and oxygen, while a...

"Just like the rose holds her beauty among the thorns - we can gather our strength from the most unlikely places."  - Christine Evangelou That's me standing in recognition of wearing a leopard print visor from Miami harvesting my Nana's wild rose bushes amidst our lush green Northwestern Ontario vegetation. And then all of a sudden just like that we are a Golden Girl! But I digress from our topic of Rose the Forgotten Queen. Hildegard of Bingen in the 12th century states that, “Rose strengthens any potion or ointment or any other medication when it is added to it."  When we created our blends originally for ‘maturing,’ dry and damaged skin, we wanted the Queen of high vibes in our formulas. Although we get excited about working with new plants and herbs on the daily, we keep coming back to the awe inspiring transcendental nature of the rose. We know that rose oil carries the highest frequency or vibration and when added to any other blend of oils, raising the t...

We talk to this 'We are Royal' Queen (and long time Hotty Balm fan) Alicia Bucknor about how she keeps her natural beauty aglow, even under the pressure cooker of a busy artisan lifestyle with a household to tend to, and a fashion line to curate.  We cover her big TRU Beauty Confession asking Alicia to step up for herself and family, along with really rich daily must-knows to give your own royal crown a boost. One of Alicia's must-haves in her kitchen for beauty is Sea Moss. So what's with all this Moss talk!? Click here to Listen Now to TRU Beauty Confessions Podcast! Benefits of Sea Moss Medically reviewed by different scientists, sea moss is known to be very rich in minerals and nutrients, which is why it has become popular in everything from skincare to smoothies.  This seaweed is called ‘the powerhouse’ for a reason. Sea moss has 92 of the 110 minerals the body is made from. Definitely makes me think we were Merpeople first! I digress, we are talking beta-car...

Many people underestimate the power of drinking water and the positive affects it can have on your skin and your overall health. Your skin is the largest organ in your body, protecting you, storing lipids and water, preventing fluid loss and serving as thermoregulation. Drinking more water is the most natural way to get that beaming, glowing and healthy skin we all want. Let’s take a look at 7 ways drinking water helps improve skin. 1. Sagging Skin Rapid shedding of fat or extreme weight loss may cause sagging skin. Many people tighten their skin by water fasting, but this is an unhealthy method and can actually do grave damage to your skin. By drinking ample amounts of water day-in and day-out, you can slowly tighten your skin and maintain a healthy glow. 2. pH Balance It is important to maintain a good pH balance in your skin. The pH of any substance ranges from 0-14 with 14 containing the most alkaline and 0 being highly acidic. A pH value of 7 is neutral and is the exact pH valu...

We often over look this organ. Why is a healthy liver so important to great skin? This is one topic we discuss in Episode 5 of our TRU Beauty Confessions on the EPN Network ‘Walking in Beauty. 5 Beauty Must-Haves' with our guest Natural Health Practitioner Christina Bigelow. Read on to learn more. Listen on Spotify, Apple and Google here! The liver acts as the main biochemical synthesizer and detoxifying organ. It's responsible for cleaning toxins and wastes from the blood, and separating out the useful nutrients to synthesize hundreds of biochemicals that the body needs for daily functioning. The liver detoxifies harmful substances in two steps: First, enzymes and oxygen are used to burn toxins, especially fatty ones, so they are more water soluble, making them easier for the body to eliminate. Second, it combines partially processed toxins with sulfur or amino acids so they can be removed through bile or urine. Keeping the liver working optimally is very important ...