RICA Well | Healing Waters
Kristina Ivy
Month two of our newsletter is here. Dr. Ivy and team share and spotlight their favorite tips & tricks for beauty, healthy living and optimal energy.
April is the month of Spring showers. Isak Dinesen once wrote, “The cure for anything is salt water: sweat, tears or the sea.” During this rainy, watery month, we do a deep dive in healing through water and maximizing hydration inside and out.
In this issue we will discuss the benefits of ice and supplementing magnesium, share a morning pick-me-up smoothie, and a DIY face mask.
BEAUTY:
When searching for the latest beauty savior, we often think, what can I buy that will make a difference? At RICA, we always try to simplify. We often walk into the kitchen when looking for a new topical. This April, while looking to water for our lessons, we found ourselves reaching into the freezer for our solution. An ice bath facial was the answer.
There are many benefits to applying ice water to the skin such as decreasing inflammation and reducing puffiness, also improving the appearance of the skin tone, minimizing the appearance of enlarged pores and improving superficial wrinkles.
INGREDIENT HIGHLIGHT: Ice Water
1. Wash your face. Grab an ice cube or 2 and lean over the sink. Run the cube as it melts over all areas of your clean face and neck. If one area of your face is starting to “feel the burn”, move away and ice somewhere else. Be gentle around your eyes. 1-2 ice cubes should be enough time, but feel free to build up to a longer session as you go. Have a clean towel, ready to blot dry. Apply your favorite moisturizer afterwards.
2. Feeling ready for a longer cold plunge? Grab a bowl that is large enough to fit your face. Add ice and water. Starting with a clean face, submerge it in the ice bath over a period of 5-15 minutes. Try to soak for 10 seconds at a time. Listen to your body if the cold feels too intense.
FOOD + NUTRITION:
Moving fully into Spring and noticing the buds poking through on previously bare branches, makes us think about ways that we can rejuvenate our skin from within. This smoothie high in vitamin c + potassium, and boosted with naturally hydrating ingredients, like coconut water and chia seeds, will be a great way to kick off the day.
Raspberry Red Pepper Smoothie
1/2 Cup Frozen Raspberries
1 Banana
1/3 Cup Plain Yogurt (if desired, use your favorite dairy-free option)
1 inch Peeled Ginger
1/2 Red Bell Pepper
2/3 Cup Coconut Water
2-3 Tablespoon Chia Seeds
Directions: Combine all ingredients, except chia seeds, in a blender until smooth. Add chia seeds and blend on low, just enough to incorporate. Pour into your favorite glass or thermos to sip it on the go.
SUPPLEMENT HIGHLIGHT: Dandelion Tea
As you hydrate your body, it’s also a good idea to think about your body as a whole system. Yes, warm teas are an excellent way to make drinking your fluids more interesting, but warm beverages are known to increase hydration.
We chose to highlight Dandelion tea for hydration, for its known benefits. This excellent source of potassium, a mineral and electrolytes can gently aid in water weight reduction and reduce stress on the liver. In short, dandelion tea is a great way to rehydrate without leaving you bogged down in excess water weight.
SUPPLEMENT HIGHLIGHT: Magnesium
Seasons are changing and daylight has shifted. Make sure you are replenishing the minerals in your system to shake off that seasonal funk. Magnesium is our number one supplement we bring up as it plays many crucial roles in the body, such as supporting muscle and nerve function and energy production. You can take a supplement before bed to aid sleep or as you start the day. It is also known to reduce headaches, it’ll keep digestion regular and calm anxiety.
FACE:
Hydrating ingredients in skin care products attract water to the outermost layer of the skin. This DIY face mask, gets the job done, even if it’s a little sloppy to use.
This messy mask is full of hydration benefits. A facial with sour cream locks in moisture so skin is more hydrated, plump, and glowing. Choosing a full fat variety will only increase the benefits of this milk based ingredient. Milk contains lactic acid, which helps to gently exfoliate dead skin cells. Not only will hydrated skin even out splotchy skin tone, but it also minimizes fine lines.
While a simple sour cream mask is enough of a treatment on its own, sometimes the at-home-chef gets the best of us. If you want to mix in a bit of the sweet stuff, you’ll get the most benefits using raw, organic, unfiltered honey. Honey is a natural humectant that draws in moisture, leaving your skin moist and smooth. Naturally antibacterial, honey can help reduce inflammation and the acne-causing bacteria that can lead to breakouts.
MESSY AF FACE MASK
Ingredients:
1 tsp Sour Cream
½ tsp Honey (optional)
How To: Start with a clean face. If using honey, mix both ingredients well in a bowl. Otherwise, scoop and dollop a heaping teaspoon of full fat sour cream directly onto clean skin. Wait 10-20 minutes. Rinse clean and follow with your favorite moisturizer.
