Amazing Amazonian Buriti Oil

There are secrets in the Amazon that perhaps were never meant to be known to the rest of the world.  We however, are so happy to have discovered Buriti oil a year ago when my best friend brought me some from her visit to Brazil. 

I was very excited about buriti (sometimes called aguaje) oil's bright orange-red color because I knew it meant this oil was rich in beta-carotene and recently it has been found to filter and absorb cancer-causing UV rays from the sun. It also contains very high concentrations of Vitamins A and C, oleic acid, and tocopherols. This oil, which comes from the fruit of Moriche palm tree is used all over the Amazon to treat burns and skin infections as well as it's a stable food source for people and animals. Buriti oil is excellent for treating sunburns and providing skin with antioxidants to fight free radicals and repair damaged skin. We quickly became fans of this South American wonder and are delighted to incorporate its magic into a new formulation and product. Hold on to your horses beauty lovers, the mysteries of the Amazon will make your skincare dreams come true very soon!

Summer Release from La Bella Figura

Why Using A Serum Can Really Revitalize Your Skin Health

With the release of our new reparative Barbary Fig Renewal Serum comes many questions about serums and what they do for your skin.  Serums in general are meant to treat your skin with more nutrients and concentrated doses of anti aging ingredients than a face cream can. They can also target an array of skin issues that you wish to work on and can be used under makeup or under your moisturizer if you like.

Our Barbary Fig Renewal Serum is unique in that not only does the formulation help to heal and repair skin from environmental damage, it also moisturizes and promotes new cellular growth with a kiss of primer action for a flawless makeup application. That's right, it's a 3 in 1 product and a skin wonder product that will have you cheering for joy!  You will find the need for additional moisturizer won't be necessary nor will a chemical laden primer or those skin brightening creams everyone is talking about, which can contain the horrific ingredients mercury chloride and hydroquonine in large doses. We worked around that to brighten skin naturally with magnolia oil and natural Vitamin C.

The main ingredient in Barbary Fig Renewal Serum is of course, barbary fig seed oil. With its high levels of the super antioxidant we all covet for skin boosting healing, Vitamin E, barbary fig seed oil is the latest ingredient to use for exceptional skin care.  It also contains Vitamin K, which treats concerns such as broken capillaries, dark circles and blotchiness. Our serum also contains other skin healing ingredients such as broccoli seed oil (which gives the serum the silicone-like texture allowing it to act as a natural primer and to blend flawlessly into skin), milk thistle, guava and pineapple oils as well as the purest plant energy from rose, frankincense, magnolia, melissa and Italian blood orange essential oils. These essential oils are the plant's vital energy source and are loaded with nutrients that perform beautifully to treat skin issues.  It's not by accident that the rose has been used for thousands of years to beautify or that melissa essential oil cures skin disorders. There is definite scientific facts behind these delicate scented powerhouses in healing.

We at La Bella Figura work endlessly to create formulations we believe customers want.  Ever notice how some skin creams still don't get to the root of the problem and don't moisturize enough? And when was the last time you noticed real change in your skin? Because of our desire to bring you responsible and effective skincare Barbary Fig Renewal Serum was born and we are excited for those of you that haven't discovered the power of a serum to do so with La Bella Figura. It is a product we proudly stand by and are delighted every time a customer or beauty editor or retailer calls to compliment us on.  Try a serum this winter and revitalize your skin.  It's worth every penny and with the quality of ingredients you won't feel guilty in investing in your skin health.

http://www.youbeauty.com/skin/galleries/natural-skincare-ingredients#9

Read the article about the best in natural skincare from Dr. Oz's fantastic site YouBeauty.

Meatless Mondays with La Bella Figura

This past summer, I excitedly planted my first container garden. It was pretty much a flop. I stupidly crowded too many tomato plants into each container and added too much perlite to my soil mix, resulting in about 10 yellow cherry tomatoes and one small plum tomato and exactly two purple heirlooms, which the squirrels got to before I did. Oh yeah, and the world's smallest green pepper. I did manage to grow three huge healthy basil plants. We recently brought those in for the winter. They are not doing so well. I had to put them in my office, where my cats can't eat them and where sadly there's not much sun.

So in honor of my basil plants that are on their last legs, I thought why not give them the best send off I can and make something that showcases basil like nothing else can. Pesto! Originating in Genoa, it is traditionally made in a marble mortar and pounded or crushed by a wooden pestle. The word pesto actually comes from the Genoese word pesta, which means to pound; our word pestle comes from this by the way of Latin.

Basil is a pretty cool little herb. Besides being rather tasty, it contains flavonoids, which help protect cell structure from both radiation and oxidation damage. Basil also has antibacterial properties: studies have shown that it is able to suppress bacteria that have become resistant some antibiotic drugs. Basil is high in beta carotene, which is converted into vitamin A and which helps protect cells from free radical damage. Basil is one powerful little herb!

Pesto Genovese with Pasta

I call it Genovese pesto because it's a more traditional style pesto, but I have a feeling that the residents of Liguria would scoff at that. The Ligurians are very particular about their pesto like the French with their grapes and don't really consider anything that's not made with Ligurian basil grown in Liguria to be real pesto (at least that's what I heard). It's almost the same principal as terroir in wine making; the soil in Linguria gives certain characteristics to the basil, as well as the sea air and the amount of sun. Although I'm actually using Lingurian basil (mixed with some sweet basil) in my recipe, it was not grown in Liguria. Also I am using my food processor, which is probably pretty cringe worthy, but I've tried the pounding method and it's not for me. I hope they will forgive me though!

1 pound pasta (I used farfalle because that's what I had on hand)

2 cups basil loosely packed

1/2 -1 clove garlic (I vary it on my mood whether I want it more or less garlicy)

3 tblsp pine nuts

1/2 - 1 cup olive oil depending on how thin or thick you want it

3/4 - 1 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Coarse sea salt - start with a pinch or two and keep adding until satisfied (be careful not to over salt as the Parmigiano is already salty)

Boil water and cook pasta as directed.

Meanwhile, combine the basil with a pinch or two of salt, the garlic, the pine nuts, and about half of the oil in a food processor. Process, stopping to scrape down the sides as you are processing, gradually adding the rest of the oil. Stir in the Parmegiano right before serving. Pour pest into a bowl and add pasta gentle stirring to mix.

I had a package of heirloom mini tomatoes laying around so I tore them up and added them to the pesto. Sometimes I like the sweet acidity with my pesto. You can really add anything to it. I think grilled veggies make a lovely addition.

                                                                          Buona Sallute,
                                                                                Karen

Meatless Mondays with La Bella Figura

 
I took a little hiatus last week from posting. It was just such a busy week with finishing up business, having friends from out of town vising, and getting ready for Thanksgiving. I hope this light and tasty recipe will make up for it. In my opinion, it is the perfect light meal after days of eating heavy leftovers.

My husband, who is an avid newspaper reader, found this recipe in the Chicago Tribune a few years back. Let me just say while my husband is definitely a Renaissance man (cleans, does laundry, volunteers, and helps grocery shop), he's not what you'd call comfortable in the kitchen. Once he tried to make me spaghetti, and he put whole coriander seeds in it the sauce along with a variety of other spices he just kind of plucked from the kitchen cabinet. It made for an interesting, if albeit crunchy, spaghetti experience. He's since been on a quest to find recipes he can cook and that will appease my picky tastebuds. This recipe was a big hit the first time he made it, and it has been in rotation ever since.

The featured star in this recipe along with a healthy dose of lemon juice and lemon zest is arugula. The wonderful peppery arugula is a great source of antioxidant vitamins A and C, folic acid, calcium, and magnesium. Ancient Romans used it as an aphrodisiac in spice blends. Lemon are rich in vitamin C, which not only helps to clear acne and leaves your skin glowing, but also helps stop bad breath and aids in digestion. Is there anything that little wonder fruit can't do?

So when my husband volunteered to cook, I happily mentioned that there was arugula in the fridge just begging to be put in his rice salad. About 40 minutes later he's proud of his dish and I'm eating a delicious vegan dinner that I didn't even have to cook.

Rice, Corn, and Cilantro Salad

1/2 cup plus 1 tbsp Olive Oil

1/4 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 tsp salt

freshly ground black pepper

2 1/4cups water

1 1/2 basmati rice rinsed and drained

1/2 cups chopped green onions (the original recipe only called 1/4c.)

2 cups fresh or 1 bag frozen sweet corn kernels
3 handfuls of arugula, stems removed

1 can chickpeas, drained and rinsed

1/2 cup chopped cilantro

Whisk together the 1/2 cup olive oil, lemon juice, 1/4 tsp of salt and black pepper to taste in a bowl and set aside.

Heat the water to boil in a saucepan. Add rice and 1/2 tsp of salt to boiling water; reduce heat to low. Cover and cook until water is absorbed and rice is tender (do not stir), about 20 minutes. remove from heat. Let stand 5 minues and fluff with fork. (see note)

Heat remaining 1 tbsp of oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add green onions and cook stirring about 30 seconds. Add corn and chickpeas and cook, stirring often, about 5 minutes. Add remaing salt and pepper to taste, adjust seasoning to your liking. 

Mix rice and corn mixture together in a large bowl and stir in the live oil and lemon vinaigrette. Add the arugula, cilantro, and lemon zest : gently toss. Taste for seasoning, adjust and serve warm.

Note: We don't always follow the rice to water ratio as described above. We use a little less water and our cooking time is 17 to 18 minutes. This seems to be the magic formula at our house for perfectly cooked rice.

 Happy Eating,

Karen

SKINtervention 101

Chia seeds

I am 43 years old.  Just turned 43 earlier this month and I didn't blink an eye, cry into my pillow or run to the plastic surgeon's office to have myself oddly altered in any way.  Instead, I looked in the mirror and thought, "you could stand to lose a few pounds, but you're holding up well lady!"  The confidence I have gained along the way and into this new part of my life is endless.  I have lost the self consciousness that kept me from enjoying life in my youth.  There was a time when I wouldn't swim in a pool for fear or ruining my hair or causing my mascara to streak.  These days I can (soberly) fall into a certain famous celebrity's pool, have everyone laugh at my goofiness and laugh also as streaks of mascara run down my face.  Who knew I wouldn't end up taking myself so seriously at 43?  I had a lot to prove in my youth or so I thought and now...it's about enjoying the moment as it comes and laughing as often as I can.

This newfound breezy attitude doesn't mean that I'm going to sit back and let the wrinkles take over my face or body.  Oh, I'm going to fight alright, just not with scalpels and botox injections!  I prefer fruits and vegetables and the occasional sea algae.  I have learned that olive oil and avocados, roses and marshmallow root pack an antioxidant punch that can really transform my skin.  Wish I would have learned this some years ago because I believe my skin would be in even better shape, but I'm grateful now nonetheless.  I have also recently been aware how much my actions affect my skin.  I recently spent a weekend with my girlfriends in New York City and man did it show up on my face!  My skin appeared sallow, circles formed under my eyes and dry patches formed all from living it up, eating street food, staying out late and having a few too many cocktails with the ladies.  I needed a skintervention and needed it fast! 

Raw coconut cream

The first thing I did when I came back home was to exfoliate.  The dry patches were caused by dehydration from the alcohol.  Alcohol is very bad for your skin in large quantities.  (A little wine has proven to have skin protecting benefits and resveratrol found in red wine is actually beneficial in anti aging.)  I used a superseed mix of organic brown rice, chia and flax and blended it with raw coconut cream (the flesh of the coconut and oil) with a few drops of fennel oil and used this to gently exfoliate the dry patches into submission.  I prefer a gently seed exfoliator rather than walnut or apricot shells because they can "break" delicate skin and cause capillary damage.  My skin was instantly soft, dry patches gone.

Next, I needed to open my pores with a gentle facial tea steam.  I have formulated my own facial tea, but at home you can heat water in a kettle, add a few drops of essential oil for an aromatherapy effect and pour right into your bathroom sink.  Carefully, put your face over the sink with a damp washcloth over your head and allow the steam to open your pores.  You only need to do this a few minutes.  Once your pores are open, apply the damp washcloth over your face and let your skin rest.  This only takes a minute or two as well. 

While my skin has soothed and tissue has been softened by the exfoliation and facial tea steam I apply pure, Vitamin E rich argan oil to gently heal any abuse I have caused my skin.  Argan oil also contains rich polyphenols that protect skin cells and quickly fight free radical damage.  For my delicate eye area I apply Decouverte under eye repair serum, which contains barbary fig seed oil.  Barbary fig seed oil has a higher contentration of Vitamin E than argan oil and a unique composition of high linoleic  acids.  Decouverte also contains lycopene, natural retinol (from plant derived Vitamin A) found in rosehips, caffeine from cold pressed green coffee oil and azulene, a powerful anti inflammatory.  This serum is a super healer and just one night time use was all it took for the puffiness and dark circles to disappear. 

These tips, along with healthy eating of fruit, vegetables and lean protein and replenshing lost electrolytes with coconut water, plain water and antioxidant rich juices help to aid my partying ways.  This is a skintervention in the healthiest form and highly recommended after your girlfriends attempt to convince you that you are 25 all over again.  Thanks, but no thanks ladies!  I'll take confident and self depricating at age 43 over insecure and not as fun 25.   Although, that weekend was surely fun and I have the pictures to prove it.