Oh Hello June Afternoon
Hi! Yello!
It's June, the start of summer. How are things going where you are? Are you opened up, still shut down, or in some kind of limbo in between the two? It's hard to know right now - the rules are changing daily. If you haven't seen this video - it's absolutely perfect.
I'd love to be chatting about our summer bucket lists, vacations, road trips, festivals, and what not. But this is the year that is not that at all. It's not the year that anybody could have imagined just a few short months ago. And this week we've added even more crisis onto our already full buffet of crisis.
We can't fix it all at once. But we can start to think about how we want to rebuild our broken mess. For a few minutes when we have the capacity.
And when we don't? We head outside and enjoy the parts of summer we love : puttering around in the garden, a dip in the pool, icy drinks on the patio, the sizzle of the grill, reading a great book in the shade, firefly chasing, beach walking, star gazing, playing, resting, taking the best care of our own little corner of the universe.
Summer Seasonal Soaps
Cleanliness has never been more important and soap is still tops. Now that it's getting hot, our chill and tingly new summer soap scents would love to join you in the shower (and every sink!). Neroli Mint or Beach House are summer staples. The delicious Coconut Milk & Almond or pretty Lavender Petitgrain scents will whisk you away to memories of summer far away. And our new detoxifying, deep cleansing Green Detox is the miracle soap your skin is longing for. These are here for just a few short months and you won't want to miss this season's summer inspired scents.
Dry Brushing Skin
While we're all laser focused on ways to be healthier and how to boost our immune systems, I just wanted to remind you about dry brushing. If you haven't heard my "soap box" lectures about the myriad benefits and how good it feels, let's just do a quick review.
1) Dry brushing cleanses the lymphatic system. Lymph is part of our immune system and is made of white blood cells called lymphocytes and the interstitial fluid that bathes our cells, bringing them nutrients and removing waste. All detoxification occurs first and foremost through the lymph.
2) Dry brushing strengthens the immune system. Dry skin brushing may reduce the duration of an infection and accelerate the clearing of toxins. It helps support the immune system during treatments for cancer and other chronic illnesses. By stimulating the lymph vessels to drain toxic mucoid matter into the organs of detoxification, we can purify the entire system.
3) Dry brushing stimulates circulation. Our skin breathes! But for most people this vital route of detoxification is operating below capacity because it is clogged with dead skin cells and the un-removed waste excreted through perspiration. Dry skin brushing increases circulation to skin, encouraging your body’s discharge of metabolic wastes. Increased blood flow begins entering the areas brushed and you will experience an increase in electromagnetic energy that helps you to feel energized and invigorated.
4) Dry brushing helps reduce cellulite. Improving cellulite is one of the main reasons people look into dry brushing. Toxins are often trapped in the subcutaneous later of fat cells just beneath the skin which contributes to cellulite. Dry brushing is a cheap and non-invasive way to improve the appearance of your skin in addition to the many health benefits it provides.
5) Dry brushing tightens and tones loose skin. Women who have just given birth can use this technique to tighten loose skin and speed healing of stretch marks. People who are currently on a weight loss journey, or have just lost a substantial amount of weight may find great benefits in a dry brushing regimen too.
6) Dry brushing removes dead skin layers. Dry skin brushing exfoliates skin, shedding dead skin cells which can help improve skin texture and cellular renewal. If exfoliation doesn't happen regularly, a buildup of dead skin cells can lead to eczema, psoriasis and dandruff, in addition to blocking the skin’s regular excretions like sweat.
7) Dry brushing stimulates hormone and oil glands, helping all of the body systems perform at peak efficiency. The skin is your body's largest organ. When not properly maintained, the elimination duties of the skin are forced on the kidneys. So, give your kidneys a break—keep your skin clean and rejuvenated.
8) Dry brushing tones the muscles. Dry skin brushing helps muscle tone by stimulating the nerve endings which causes the individual muscle fibers to activate and move. It also helps mobilize fat and helps to even out the distribution of fat deposits. This is a great technique for those with limited mobility.
Ready to get going?! For more information, and how to do the dry brush technique, we've got a page on the website with everything you need to know.
And of course we have the perfect body brushes for you to use too! There's a detachable version, where you can remove the handle from the brush head, and just use the smaller round brush part for easier handling around close body parts. Or the solid one-piece massaging brush, with rubber nubbins on the brush head stimulate your skin surface in two ways. Neither is better or worse - it's all just personal preference. You can't go wrong either way.
With a bit of imagination, we can make this crazy summer one to remember also. It's always been our favorite season for a reason - more time. And now that we've got a LOT MORE time, we can play longer and harder than we ever could before. Or do a whole lot more nothing too. That's the best part - we've all got our own ideas and dreams. Just keep it clean . . .