10 Beauty Uses For Vinegar

You may be stocking your fridge with apple cider and white vinegar for silly things like salad dressing, but you are missing the whole point. Yes, you can use vinegar in cooking but it also has a treasure trove of awesome beauty uses – so you may want to start buying the supersize bottles.

Clear up acne

Vinegar can help to clear skin issues and stop acne. The vinegar’s acidity will dry out pimples, allowing healthy and fresh skin to come in, says Lynda Torrey, Director of Education at Woodhouse Day Spa. Some additional benefits of vinegar to the skin include regulating pH levels, promoting blood circulation in capillaries that irritate the skin, and reducing scaly or peeling skin.

Cold sore remedy

If you have a painful canker sore that is giving you grief, dab it with vinegar a few times a day. It’ll help to reduce the swelling and the pain, and also help to keep the area clean and non-infected!

Longer lasting manicures

Sometimes, it’s the base that creates the manicure. Before you even start, soak your fingers in a bowl of vinegar for a few minutes. This will help to remove any residual surface oils from your nails, creating a longer lasting manicure!

Mouthwash

Though gargling with vinegar doesn’t sound super appetizing, it is a great way to get rid of stinky garlic breath in a pinch. Mix a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar in a glass of water and swish. You may not feel minty fresh, but you won’t stink!

For dull, lackluster hair

Harsh shampoos often strip hair of its natural moisture, leaving it feeling dry all over. The acidity of apple cider vinegar counteracts that process and helps revitalize your hair, leaving it soft […]

Friendly Flora: The New Skincare Revolution?

Adding good bacteria to your daily diet is proven to work health and digestive wonders, all while fostering better skin from within. Now, skincare companies are adding the tiny microbes to beauty creams with the promise of a gorgeous glow. But what can you really expect from one of the latest innovations in skincare?

There’s little doubting the benefits of adding good bacteria to our daily diets, with friendly strains, such as lactobacillus and bifidobacterium, promoting healthy digestion and overall better health, while effectively treating skin ailments, diarrhoea, vaginal infections, irritable bowel syndrome and even tooth decay.

Often found in commercial supplements, good bacteria are also abundant in fermented foods such as tempeh, miso and yoghurt. Since 2007, they’ve also been found in an increasing number of beauty elixirs, from anti-ageing creams to all-over moisturisers, with manufacturers promising what’s good for your insides is also great for your outsides, aiding acne prevention and promoting cellular renewal.

Nutritionist and herbologist Elaine Linker says probiotic treatments work by “crowding out” organisms that depress the immune system, bolstering our tolerance to illness and disease. A similar principle applies when applied topically, she adds.

“With all of the exfoliation and cleansing we do, we often strip the skin of its protective mantle,” she says. “A complex of the right probiotics helps the skin support the external matrix as well as the moisture matrix of the skin.”

Just as antibiotics disrupt the natural functioning of the immune system by stripping the body of good and bad bacteria, chemical-based skin cleansers and treatments such as peels and lasers also rid the skin of its natural acid mantle, making way for colonisation of harmful bacteria, which can result in skin conditions such as acne, as well […]

Is This the Secret to Health and Happiness?

Your digestive system is so much more than a winding tract that transports food from point A to point B. Thanks to your gut, foods you eat are broken down so you can absorb the nutrients that benefit your body from head to toe. Bacteria are crucial players in that process. And a slew of new research is finding just how big of a role the bugs that colonize your colon may have on your overall health including improved immunity, decreased risk of obesity, a happier mood, and more.

A study published this month in the journal BioEssays finds that your gut microbes may influence your cravings based on the nutrients they need to thrive (crazy, right?). Another study suggests bacteria in your bowel could influence your personality traits and mood, which may help explain why up to 80 percent of people with irritable bowel syndrome suffer from depression and anxiety. How, exactly, the microbes have such a profound effect on our health is still to be determined. One theory is the byproducts they produce travel through our bloodstream and impact our organs.
The good news? You can influence the balance of good-for-you bacteria to reap the healthy rewards. Here, a few simple strategies.
Fill Up on Fiber
“Probiotics are good bacteria that are important for your digestive health and prebiotics are anything that helps probiotics grow,” says Roshini Raj, M.D., a gastroenterologist at NYU Medical Center/Tisch Hospital and founder of probiotic skincare line TULA. “Probiotics thrive on fiber.” That’s because fiber travels through your small intestine without being broken down and reaches your colon where bacteria go to town. The problem: Less than three percent of Americans meet the daily recommendations for fiber, so be sure to add more fiber-rich foods, especially […]

Treating And Preventing Stretch Marks

Unfortunately, if you’ve received unwanted stretch marks from pregnancy, weight gain, or weight loss, it doesn’t look like there is any easy way to get rid of them.
Dr. Roshini Raj, medical editor of Health magazine, reveals there is no cure-all lotion or cream that will reliably erase the stretch marks that start out red or purple, then fade to white over time.
However, she does give some tips on prevention and (pricey) treatment.
While it’s virtually impossible to avoid skin stretching during pregnancy, she recommends staying hydrated and exercising regularly to improve circulation to your skin to maintain elasticity.
Although some women swear by them, there is no scientific evidence to back up the various belly rubs marketed toward pregnant women that help prevent stretch marks, but they do contain ingredients that help retain moisture.
The best, but unfortunately most expensive method of eliminating stretch marks is seeking the help of a board-certified dermatologist for micro-dermabrasion or a chemical peel.
The procedures slowly remove layers of scarred skin tissue, but can cost up to $600 a session and require about six treatments on any spot that needs work!
Sorry, ladies! Sounds like your best bet is to talk to your dermatologist to figure out the best plan that works for both your body and budget.

Originally published on Perez Hilton

Yogurt Facial? Probiotics Are Really Good For Your Skin Too

By now you know that probiotics are good for your gut, but did you know that they’re good for your skin too?
While most people are aware of the benefits of ingesting probiotics, they might be less well versed on the topical benefits. There’s a growing body of research showing that putting probiotics directly on our skin can be a good thing, for example, researchers have shown a link between probiotic use and clearer skin in patients with acne.
For people working on skin health, the potential of probiotics is exciting. “The American Academy of Dermatoloy has called probiotics one of the new beauty breakthroughs as they’ve been shown to help with clearer skin, decreased skin sensitivity, redness, and inflammation,” Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa told Yahoo News.
While the development of topical probiotics is just starting, many people already swear by the benefits of the DIY yogurt facial. Yogurt masks have been shown to have clinical benefits like improving moisture and elasticity of the skin, and while putting yogurt on your face might sound like the new thing to do, it has much older roots. In India, for example, brides-to-be apply a yogurt and turmeric mask before their wedding day. With its lactic acid, which helps smooth rough, dry skin, yogurt has been a popular at home body treatment even before people were talking about probiotics.

As we become conscious of the power of probiotics, it’s no surprise that the benefits are not only reserved to our gut.
“We have good and bad bacteria on our skin, just as we do in our gut,” says Ellen Marmur, MD, an associate professor of dermatology and genetics at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York City told Prevention. “If the balance is off-kilter, it can result in acne or rosacea.”
Of course brands are hopping on board to make probiotic-powered beauty products, […]

6 Unusual Uses For Natural Probiotics

Natural probiotics are popping up everywhere. Here are 6 unusual places you might find them.

Okay, so we’re all familiar with the importance of natural probiotics for gut health (those Activia commercials make indigestion look so fun, don’t they?) – and word has it they’re also being used in a number of wild and wacky (but apparently effective) ways. Let’s explore them, shall we?
Here are 6 unusual uses for natural probiotics:
1. Cleaning your home
The idea behind natural probiotics in household cleaners is that our cleaning products tend to temporarily sterilize the area you’ve cleaned, but there’s nothing to prevent the pathogenic bacteria from sprouting up again. By using cleaning supplies that contain probiotics, you’re essentially giving your home a shot of “good” bacteria to protect it from the “bad.”
2. Healing cuts and scrapes
Natural probiotics may also come in handy for minor injuries, like small cuts and scrapes, to keep them infection-free and reduce inflammation.
3. Maintaining oral health
Bad breath is usually caused by a build-up of icky bacteria in your mouth, so it adds up that adding natural probiotics to your oral health routine – like probiotic-spiked mouthwash or toothpaste – could help stave off a case of the nasties. There’s even a case built on the potential benefits ofprobiotic chewing gum. For real.
4. Fighting nasal congestion
Also coming to a medicine cabinet near you: Natural probiotics may help treat sinus congestion and other sinus issues. One study found that a probiotic supplement helped decrease “bad” bacteria in nasal passages, while another found it helped to reduce hay fever symptoms.
5. Improving skin
“Probiotics” has become a big buzz word in the beauty biz (try saying thatfive times fast!), and using them topically has become known as the new frontier. “The American Academy of Dermatology has called probiotics one […]

Feel Great, Look Better, Save Time

Dr. Roshini Raj joined Working Mother Radio to share her tips on balance, healthy living and gorgeous skin and to talk about why she incorporated probiotics into her skin care line TULA.

 

To listen to the entire interview, click HERE

Are Probiotics the Next Big Thing in Skincare?

You probably think of probiotics as that mysterious stuff in yogurt that keeps Jamie Lee Curtis regular. However, yogurt doesn’t just help you poop – it can also improve your skin.
According to Yahoo! Beauty, the live cultures found in yogurt just might be the next big thing in skincare. Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Rajapaksa explained that probiotics are yeast or bacteria that benefit the body by restoring the balance of bacteria. They create an army of good bacteria that make it hard for bad bacteria to do as much damage to the body. When ingested, “probiotics can reduce gut inflammation, restore the lining of your intestine, and aid with autoimmune diseases and I.B.S.”
Now the dermatology world is starting to realize that the bacteria that are good for your insides are also good for your outsides. “The American Academy of Dermatology has called probiotics one of the new beauty breakthroughs as they’ve been shown to help with clearer skin, decreased skin sensitivity, redness, and inflammation.”
 

 

You can simply apply yogurt to your skin, or you can look for the growing number of skincare products that contain probiotics. You could even try popping open a probiotic capsule and mixing it with your face cream.

Rajapaksa recommends using Activia yogurt or GoodBelly, which is a dairy-free option. It’s important to use the plain unsweetened varieties. If you can’t find either brand, just look for plain unsweetened yogurt that says that it contains active cultures.

Yogurt is also good for your skin because it contains lactic acid, a natural exfoliant that will leave your skin nice and smooth. The sour dairy product might also improve acne and skin discoloration.

You can mix yogurt with various other kitchen ingredients to address specific skin needs. Try blending […]

The Topical Benefits of Probiotics

Doctors, yogurt commercials, and even estheticians have long preached the benefits of adding probiotics to your diet, but did you know they can also be used topically? Gastroenterologist Dr. Roshini Raj, who’s created her own line of probiotic creams, discusses how they work, inside and out.

What are probiotics?
“Probiotics are beneficial bacteria or yeast—organisms that offer [multiple] benefits to the human body,” says Dr. Raj. She goes on to explain that a bacteria imbalance can result in disease or inflammation, and probiotics help maintain a balance. In forms like yogurt, Kefir, and supplements, probiotics can reduce gut inflammation, restore the lining of your intestine, and aid with autoimmune diseases and I.B.S. But some studies have noted that ingesting probiotics also reduced skin redness, irritation, and inflammation. Topical application is the new frontier. “The American Academy of Dermatology has called probiotics one of the new beauty breakthroughs as they’ve been shown to help with clearer skin, decreased skin sensitivity, redness, and inflammation,” Dr. Raj says. “You may also see a reduced appearance of fine lines and wrinkles and increased elasticity.”
So can I just put yogurt on my face?
Yep. Though applying probiotics to your face may seem like a new trend, it’s not. “In India for many years they’ve been doing ceremony day before the wedding where the bride and groom apply yogurt and turmeric to the skin to give a healthy glow,” says Dr. Raj. “Yogurt has naturally occurring probiotics, that’s why it’s beneficial when used as a topical mask.” To use yogurt yourself, look for products that contain live and active cultures. She recommends Activia and GoodBelly, a dairy-free option that comes in yogurt shots and juice. You can find it at Whole Foods, Safeway, and natural […]

How to Avoid Common GI Problems in the Summer

Between retching and the runs, GI trouble can spoil summer. Dr. Roshini Raj was asked by Men’s Health Magazine to provide insights on how anxiety may influence your gastrointestinal discomfort.