feed your skin from the outside in

Your skin is an organ. It's in fact the largest organ in your body. Your skin is living, breathing, and absorbing what you apply to it- kind of like a big sponge. Only difference is this sponge soaks into your blood stream. Ever think about how a nicotine patch works? Or a numbing cream like the one dentists or doctors use? You apply it externally, and feel the effects internally. Same goes for all the lotions and potions you put on your skin.

Look at your products- what are you "feeding" your skin? As consumers, the best thing we can do to ensure that we are buying healthy, green products is become label readers... what exactly is in that miracle cream anyway? We believe so strongly in label reading that we list every single ingredient in each product on our website, so you get to make a well-informed choice before purchasing.
Our vinotherapy skin care is made fresh in small batches with over 80% certified organic ingredients. It feeds your skin with the byproduct of wine making, grape seeds, grown right here in California. These tiny seeds are rich in resveratrol and polyphenols, potent anti-aging antioxidants. The 5 products in the line are simple to use, and great for all skin types- just pick your combo of products based on your skin type. Here's a quick insider's low-down on the best choices:
normal any product in the line is going to work great for you. Easy (value) pick: the Grapeseed Organic Starter Set with cleanser, toner and moisturizer
oily or combo balances the complexion; the serum helps to treat blemishes while it nourishes and hydrates. Your winning combo: green tea & grapes creme cleanser, lavender and rose toner, rose & grape serum. Just looking for a light, fast absorbing moisturizer? Try the 100% pure grapeseed oil
dry, sun damaged treat your parched skin to potent vitamins and antioxidants. green tea & grapes creme cleanser, lavender and rose toner, rose & grape serum. For a deeply hydrating treatment, layer the serum and moisturizer before bedtime.
extremely sensitive these 2 will cleanse and moisturize without irritating while leaving the skin both glowing and comfortable. Stick to the totally fragrance free basics: green tea & grapes creme cleanser, 100% pure grapeseed oil

Want to learn how to feed your skin from the inside out? Check out this post

green links

Happy Friday! Interesting tips & green goodies
to share with you this week...

Green Beauty gorgeous green fashion that's built to last
Learn the greenest big companies in America
Simplify get smart about watering your lawn and garden

Fresh From Your Kitchen: flower bouquet facial

This is a decadent little splurge that won't break the bank...
get flowers and a facial for the price of a bouquet!

Many common flowers have wonderful benefits for the skin as well as being lovely to look at. Head to the farmer's market and buy yourself a beautiful bouquet. This is a double treat- you get to enjoy benefits of the flower petals in the facial, and the rest of the bouquet for days to come in your home. First, you'll need to select your bouquet. Below are some benefits of common flowers to help you select flowers for your complexion. Be creative, you can concoct your own signature combination.
ROSE has a long history of use in beauty preparations. Rose has natural emollients that help hydrate, tone and calm the skin.
LAVENDER has a calming effect on both the skin and spirit. Also used to treat sleep issues, stress, anxiety and even depression.
HONEYSUCKLE has detoxifying qualities. It helps to clear acne and other infections. Commonly used in Chinese medicine.
EUCALYPTUS is an anti-inflammatory. It has an uplifting effect when breathed in and helps to clarify the complexion.
MARIGOLD Known for antiseptic benefits. Long ago, marigold was used in baths to treat wounds; in folk medicine, it's believed to help regenerate tissue.

directions
~Select a round shallow bowl larger than your face for the steam.
~Pluck a few petals off your flower selection from your bouquet.
~Muddle the flower petals in the bowl to release the plant oils.
~Fill a pot with distilled water and boil over the stove.
~Carefully pour boiling water in your bowl over muddled petals. Let your concoction steep and cool for 3-5 minutes
~When the water has cooled a bit, carefully place your face 12 in.+ over the bowl and steam your skin, taking deep cleansing breaths.
~Drape a towel over your head to lock the steam in and create a "steam room" for your face. Make sure that the steam is not too hot.
~Follow with your favorite treatment serum or moisturizer. I like to use The Grapeseed Co. Rose & Grape Serum. It's 100% natural, contains over 80% certified organic ingredients, and it's rich in resveratrol and antioxidants.

Green Skin Care Blog brings the spa to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY spa recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer. Direct from the creator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions.

related posts
Check out past Fresh From Your Kitchen features:
I'm not 18 anymore muscle soak
the buzz sun repair mask
acai berry-oxidant mask
B.C.C. hair mask
vanilla dream salt glow
strawberry kiwi exfoliating mask
super silky bedtime bath salts
cold care
cool cucumber under eye mask
lemon ginger revitalizing bath
breakout busters
parsley facial steam

TOP 10 BEST BUYS: USA Organic & Non Organic Produce

In order to achieve a healthy, glowing complexion, you need to feed your skin from the inside out and the outside in.

This can be accomplished in 2 simple ways:
1. inside out:
being aware of what you put in your body
2. outside in:
being aware of what you put on your skin

Today we are going to take a closer look at what you put in your body, namely fresh fruits and veggies. We all know fruits and veggies are good for us, and buying organic is the way to get the purest form of the fruit or veggie along with the vitamins and antioxidants it provides. But did you know that certain fruits and veggies store higher levels of pesticides used in the cultivating process than others? Since buying organic is sometimes either unavailable or unaffordable to many, it's important to know which fresh fruits and veggies are safe to not buy organic.

The Environmental Working Group (EWG) did a study examining the levels of pesticides in almost 50 fruits and veggies. Below is a chart I created comparing the 10 best buys for both organic and non-organic FRESH fruits and veggies**. Print out the chart so next time you are at the grocer, you can make healthy decisions for your body, skin & wallet!

TOP 10 BEST BUYS: USA Fresh Grown Produce

BUY NON-ORGANIC: these fruits and veggies have the lowest pesticide loads		BUY ORGANIC: these fruits and veggies have the highest pesticide loads
Fruit/Veggie	Pesticide Level*	Fruit/Veggie	Pesticide Level*
Onion	1	Peach	100
Avocado	1	Apple	93
Pineapple	7	Sweet bell pepper	83
mango	9	Celery	82
Asparagus	10	Nectarine	81
Kiwi	13	Strawberries	80
Cabbage	17	Cherries	73
eggplant	20	kale	69
Papaya	20	Lettuce	67
watermelon	26	carrot	63

* according to EWG testing

**This Chart has been created by Kristin Fraser Cotte of The Grapeseed Company and Green Skincare Blog, adapted from information provided by the EWG

www.thegrapeseedcompany.com ~ www.greenskincareblog.com

kristin@thegrapeseedcompany.com ~ Santa Barbara, California

Giving Back: The Santa Barbara Humane Society

The Grapeseed Company and its natural care line for canines, Dirty Dog Organics, are pleased to announce we have selected to support The Santa Barbara Humane Society through their business member sponsorship program.
Surf, our 103 lb black lab, the spokes-pup for Dirty Dog Organics, and the love of our life, would not be a part of our family if it weren't for the humane society. When we met Surf, he had been living at the shelter for about a week. Just a puppy, he was tall, smiley and very skinny from days wandering in search of food in the neighborhood of one of the shelter's employees. She decided something wasn't right... a beautiful pure bred American Field Black Lab, no collar, tattoo or micro chip... after asking her neighbors if they knew anything and coming up empty, she took him into the shelter.

Peter and I went looking for a small to mid sized dog. Convincing Pete to get a pup was challenge enough, so I figured I better stick to our agreed upon requirements and not push it. As we observed the cages around the shelter, I walked right by Surf. From the size of his paws, I decided on one glance he was a bit large and still had a lot of growing to do! Pete stopped, having grown up with black labs, he saw something special. He asked to meet him and Surf was brought out to a fenced in grassy area about the size of a basketball court. Pete and I knelt down of the grass; the lanky black pup ran right up to us, plopped down, and rolled onto his back for a belly rub! That was it, this was our guy. 3 years and 53 lbs later, Surf is a member of our family who has brought us so much joy and inspired our business to grow.
We are proud to support and give back to a wonderful organization that has brought our family so much joy and love.
You can give too, check out the Santa Barbara Humane Society website or your local humane society.

green links of the week

Happy Friday! Helpful tips & green goodies
to share with you this week...

Green Inspiration Five Fabulous Green Roofs
Learn Top Foods Women Should Eat for Health and Beauty
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wordless wednesday: a walk on our favorite beach

Green Skin Care: Fresh From Your Kitchen

I hope you all had a fabulous Labor Day weekend! Since I became a competitive swimmer at the tender age of 5, I've always had a "work hard, play hard" mentality. I'm definitely feeling the effects this morning after a long weekend filled with multiple surf sessions and rollerblading! Since my lifestyle and athletic habits aren't about to change anytime soon, I concocted this bath soak to ease the pain of my sore 30-something muscles. Think I'll double down on the yoga sessions today to help bounce back as well! Here's an at home spa treat you too can whip up in your kitchen when your body is saying "I'm not 18 anymore!"
Cheers and enjoy ~ Kristin

"I'm not 18 anymore" Muscle Soak
1 T epsom salt
1T sea salt
1/2 t mustard seed
1 bag chamomile tea (or dried chamomile flowers)
1 t fresh thyme
10 drops eucalyptus essential oil

directions
~crush the mustard seed, fresh thyme and chamomile flowers (if you are using the full dried flower instead of tea) with a mortar and pestal or put all ingredients in a ziploc and crush with the flat side of a meat tenderizing mallet.
~add the salts to your crushed herbs and mix in remaining ingredients
~draw a warm bath and add your mixture to the running water
~hop in and soak your aching muscles!
~after your soak, massage fresh cut herbs bath & massage oil into damp skin
~Remember to drink plenty of water throughout the day to help your body recover

what it does
The epsom salt and thyme help to reduce swelling. I grow thyme in my window boxes, but it's easily available at your local grocery store in the produce section with other fresh herbs.

Eucalyptus* is an anti-inflammatory. It helps to relax sore muscles and joints and has an uplifting effect when breathed in.

Chamomile is known for calming and anti-spasmodic effects.

Mustard seed helps to detoxify the body, relieve tension and stimulate circulation. Blood flow to your muscles helps them heal.

*side note: do not use eucalyptus oil if you are pregnant

Fresh cut herbs massage oil helps to both moisturize the skin and treat a sore bod. Learn more about the benefits of this multi-use wonder oil here

Green Skin Care Blog brings simple spa delights to your home with Fresh From Your Kitchen: DIY recipes & treatments you can create with a trip to the grocer or health food store. Direct from the creator of The Grapeseed Company's personal stash of fresh beauty creations and concoctions.

related posts
Check out past Fresh From Your Kitchen features:
the buzz sun repair mask
acai berry-oxidant mask
B.C.C. hair mask
vanilla dream salt glow
strawberry kiwi exfoliating mask
super silky bedtime bath salts
cold care
cool cucumber under eye mask
lemon ginger revitalizing bath
breakout busters
parsley facial steam

free vinotherapy product with purchase until midnight!

Don't miss out... OUR birthday gift is actually for YOU!

In celebration of Green Skincare's 1st birthday, The Grapeseed Company is offering a
FREE FULL SIZE product with every order*
until 11:59 PM PST tonight
*THE DETAILS*
sign up for The Grapeseed Monthly News for the free product code
shop www.thegrapeseedcompany.com
enter code at checkout
product will be added automatically to your cart with code and $25+ order
valid Thurs. 8/27/09 to Thurs. 9/3/09 11:59 PM
*free product is choice of The Grapeseed Company
please, no requests :)

Wordless Wednesday: Green Beauty: Bloggers

click the pic to learn about Green Beauty Bloggers