cruetly free – Raw Sugar Living

October 23, 2017

10 Signs it’s Time for a Skin Detox

The word ‘detox’ gets thrown around an awful lot lately. From detox teas to detox day-spas – it seems to have become a commonly-used buzzword that advertisers wield to get their products out the door. But ‘detox’ does not have to be a dirty word.

In fact, a detox can be incredibly beneficial to your health (and, in turn, your skin!). It’s a science. The science of how our bodies get rid of unnecessary waste – because if waste builds up, bad things happen.

A skin detox means devoting one whole week to making and effort to remove impurities, toxins, pollutants, and dead skin cells – and to renew and revitalize your complexion back to optimum health and all-round glowy-ness. Or, if you detox really well, you can have it looking better, fresher, and more beautiful than ever.

But how do you know if your skin is in desperate need of a detox, you ask? Well, every now again, your body tries to talk to you. It tries to send you signals in the hopes that you’ll respond and take action. These signals are often what we like to refer to as symptoms. That means that right now, you body could be screaming at you with a loud and clear “DETOX ME! PLEASE, FOR THE LOVE OF AVOCADO ON TOAST, DETOX ME!” while you nonchalantly strut around without a care in the world, twiddling your thumbs and watching re-runs of Gilmore Girls. But, fret not, that’s why we’re here!

So, without further ado, here are 10 signs your skin may be in need of a detox. If you’ve noticed any of the below recurring in the past 3 months, you’ll need to whip out the water, get onto a liver-friendly diet, and treat your skincare routine with respect.

1. Increased skin sensitivity

2. Breakouts that just. Won’t. End.

3. Skin dullness

4. Excessive sweating

5. White or yellow-coated tongue (this could also manifest as bad breath)

6. Itchy, irritable skin

7. Increased dryness or flakiness

8. Cravings (for sugar, in particular)

9. Tummy bloating

10. Sinus congestion

If you listen to your body, and treat it as well as you would a brand new pair of white sneakers, you’ll be absolutely fine.

Happy detoxing!

anti-ageing, glow, immunity, Lemon Sugar, Meditation, positivity, Raw Sugar Living, Skin Benefits, wellbeing

October 15, 2017

Beauty on the road: how to take your Raw Sugar skincare routine travelling

Discovering a brand new place in the world is the one of the most wondrous experiences life has to offer. But, sadly, it’s so often is the case that when we arrive at our destination after hours of travel – our skin doesn’t quite match the level of excitement we feel. In fact it can appear dull, exhausted, and just downright unhappy. And it has good reason to – planes are depressurized so the air pulls the moisture right out of your face, leaving it dehydrated and desperately thirsty for some sweet TLC.

That begs the question – how do you avoid a travel skincare disaster and incorporate your usual Raw Sugar skincare routine into travel time? Follow our guide to beauty on the road and your skin won’t even know it has entered a new timezone. Promise.

1. The night before

The evening before a big trip plays a crucial role in how smoothly your vacay will go. Have you packed everything you need? Dropped the dog off at the sitter’s? Charged your laptop? It’s totally make or break. Same goes for your skin. Make sure your complexion is well-prepped ahead of travel by thoroughly cleansing with a Raw Sugar Facial Cleanser, sloughing away dead skin cells with our Facial Polish, and feeding it a big spoonful of moisture with our Complete Facial Moisturizer. This will allow your skin to build up its natural barrier and be equipped with the tools to fight that dreaded in-flight dryness.

2. Inside-out hydration

There’s no better way to feel good ahead your trip than to nourish and hydrate your body. Drink lots (and lots) of water, and fill up on antioxidant-rich foods such as citrus fruits, leafy greens, and berries. Yummy.

3. Beauty on-board

Make sure your on-board beauty kit is on-point. Stock up on some mini travel-friendly bottles or tubs (airplanes don’t allow anything over 3.4 ounces (100 ml) on board). Fill them up with Raw Sugar’s Facial Cleanser, Facial Moisturizer, Hand Sanitizer (for keeping hands germ-free before meals and before-and-after bathroom breaks), and Body Butter. Place all your items in one clear bag for easy access.

Hot tip: it’s a good idea to buy travel bottles that come with ready-made labels – that way, you know you won’t confuse your facial moisturizer with your body butter.

4. Fresh-faced, baby!

Once you’re on-board and ready to get really comfy with a movie, novel, or some well-earned sleep – take the time to gently wash all traces of your makeup off with Raw Sugar’s Reviving Facial Cleanser. This is prevent your pores from clogging and give your skin some breathing space.

5. Moisturize… and then moisturize some more

This one goes for both face AND body, sugar. If you want to ward off skin dryness and dehydration – you’ll need to bring your moisturizing A-game with you. After you’ve carefully cleansed your face to wash off any makeup or oils, apply our Complete Facial Moisturizer liberally. Don’t be shy to re-apply throughout the duration of the flight – your skin needs all the moisture it can get in a depressurized cabin! You’ll also want to slather our Body Butter all over – paying extra careful attention to hands, elbows and knees.

6. Skip the junk… and the wine

When you’re on a long flight and you’ve exhausted your personal film-watching quota, it can be tempting to kill time (and boredom) with a glass of wine or a bar of chocolate. Alcohol will only dehydrate your body and sugar will make you crash – not in a good way, in a groggy and tired way. Stick to water and healthy snacks to keep your skin hydrated and yourself refreshed.

7. Start fresh

And then, when you’ve arrived where you were going – you get to do it all again! Yipee!

glow, positivity, Raw Sugar Living, Skin Benefits, wellbeing

September 28, 2017

Top 5 secret ingredients for glowing skin

Sure, you could spend all your money on a ton of high-end creams and serums. You could try every product on the shelf at your local drugstore. You could even give into skincare trends and purchase that “revolutionary” new cleanser everyone’s talking about. Or, you could simply walk over to your fridge – because some of the most potent (yet gentle) ingredients for radiant, glowing skin are kitchen staples with uses you had no idea about.

Yes, these humble kitchen ingredients may have the advantage over way-too-pricey over-the-counter skincare. They’re natural, they’re not too pricey and – most pertinently – they work.

1. PAPAYA

Sweet, sweet papaya. Aside from being utterly fresh and delicious (and transporting us to the tropics) – papaya is skincare gold. It’s loaded with anti-oxidants and helps guard your skin cells from damage.

How to use it?

There are a variety of ways – the easiest being rubbing the insides of the fruit onto your face for an enzyme facial. Alternatively, you can mix it with pineapple, oil or honey for a nourishing mask.

2. SUGARCANE

Ah, the much underrated suagarcane. Sugarcane contains possibly one of the most powerful ingredients for youthful, supple, glowing skin – glycolic acid. A type of Alpha-hydroxy acid (AHA), glycol acid works cogently exfoliate the top layer of your skin – shedding it of unwanted dead skin cells to reveal the plump, fresh layer underneath – and stimulate new cell growth.

How to use it?

Mix equal parts lemon juice, sugarcane juice, apple juice and coconut milk and apply it to the face and neck. Let it sit on the skin for 15-20 minutes.

3. PINEAPPLE

Whether or not you like it on pizza is one thing, but there’s something about pineapple you can’t deny – it works wonders for skin. Pineapple all but eliminates congestion. It contains bromelain which is an enzyme that sweeps away dead skin cells – the major cause of tired-looking, congested skin.

How to use it?

Make a mask out a cup of pineapple, half a cup of plain yogurt and a teaspoon of are sugar – together, this combination with restore radiance and harmony to your skin.

4. MUSLIN

Muslin – an oldie but a goodie. You may have heard celebrities like Kate Moss and Kate Middleton applauding the modest muslin cloth for its skin-enriching benefits – so why is muslin such a well-kept, high-powered beauty secret? The finely woven texture of muslin is an excellent exfoliant for skin – but it’s also super gentle, and allows you to control the press and rhythm at which you circle. These eco-friendly cloths increase circulation to the face, getting rid of dead skin to reveal a younger, bouncier complexion.

How to use it?

Wet cloth under warm water and use to wipe away your cleanser using a circular massage motion. Rinse it thoroughly after use and allow to air dry.

5. MANUKA HONEY

Incorporating Manuka honey into your skincare regimen is like giving it a nourishing bowl of broth when it’s not feeling too well – it’s comforting, soothing and works a treat to make it feel (and look) better. Packed with vitamins B, C and live enzymes, Manuka honey works to heal acne through its anti-inflammatory properties, repairs cellular damage in skin to reduce scarring, hydrates and moisturizes to combat wrinkles and signs of ageing.

How to use it?

Simple. Just apply it to your face as a mask for about 15-20 minutes and voila! Healthy, happy glowing skin is yours.