Veggies in a Bottle: Putting some flavour into this challenge

I'm halfway through, and I keep on with my water-drinking challenge. But like a diet without spice, this drinking challenge without teas or infusions is painfully boring. Remember, I'm dating an Englishman - I know what spiceless food is like (oh, jab!).

Anyhoo, I vowed that my challenge includes no caffeine and no sweet drinks, so in my need to find some tantalizing flavours to keep me motivated, I found some delicious water-alternatives...


Balancing Chlorophyll: If for no other reason, drinking chlorophyll water is a conversation starter -especially in my futurismo Voss container. Add a bit of this green matter found in plants to your water, and its like getting your veggies in a bottle. I personally opt for chlorophyll in liquid form rather than powder (more easily absorbable - and less Vata) which also has mint essential oil added to it for a (bit of extra zing). Drinking this all day makes keeps you refreshed and it alkalizes your body.

Semi-sweet Rooibos: This African red bush makes a lovely tea with a slight sweetness to it. Not POM juice sweet (love those reusable bottle/cups), but I'll take what I can get. Rooibos is a great anti-inflammatory for your digestive system and its reduction of heat seems and soothe your entire body. Pure + Simple makes a Rooibos blend with dried berries, lavender and chamomile petals - which clients also have told me is excellent for calming the skin topically (using compresses). I also am a fan of Rooibos in Chai instead of the traditional black tea base - you can get this from the Yogi Tea brand. This is great for those of you, who like me, who are sensitive to caffeine. "Sensitive" is actually an understatement, "makes me coo coo bananas" is probably more fitting.

Cool as a Cucumber-Lemon infusion: If you aren't in the mood for tea - another option is to throw some fruit or vegetables into your water. Slice some oranges, limes, apples, or chop up some cilantro and simply add it to your water. The water becomes laced with the lovely light favour of whatever you put into it which isn't overpowering and really wholesome tasting. A spa staple: water with lemon and cucumber slices. This not only looks really pretty, but reminds me of fluffy white robes and cozy slippers. Lemon and cucumber provide the perfect combination as lemon is also a liver detoxifier and cucumber is pitta pacifying.

Powerful Peppermint tea: I heart peppermint tea. On the go, when you really crave that sweet in the mid-afternoon, peppermint tea is the only tea which has potent enough flavour to appease this. But a word of warning to those of you drinking hot fluids while running around- last week I went to the Starbucks for a "Refresh tea" (Peppermint tea) and ended up with a nasty burn. Now, I'm very cautious about my tea drinking and order a Venti with half cold water, half hot. Well, they didn't have their A-team on that day because they didn't make the modification and I realized this as I poured it down my entire front side. Of course, as usual, you're always a klutz in the most awkward places, and I was on the Dundas streetcar sopping wet. To the surprise of my fellow streetcar riders, I began squealing like a pig and stripping off my scalding hot clothes - down to my undershirt.... I was really upset with both the Starbucks staff and myself, freezing cold from my wet clothes, and had to cab it chez moi to change making me really late for the HIV Legal Network fundraiser that evening. And still, with a bit of a sniffle and full of self-pity for my sore skin, in the taxi home I made a point of drinking what remained of crumpled cardboard cup for fear of not making my daily quota. If that isn't a show of devotion to this challenge, I don't know what is.

Strategies to Preventing Skin Scarring (and the anxieties which come with them)

I have burnt myself three times this week, causing three beauty tantrums - they all began with my wailing about inevitable scarring! And they all ended with Ben comforting me (and probably rolling his eyes discretely) while I devised a scar-preventing game plan. Despite the fact I have resolved to be less OCD about my skin, scars are something I cannot help but obsess over. Its a good thing I know a thing or two about treating scars.

So, this week, I thought to help those who scar easily (and as sort of a pledge to myself to stop being so clumsy) I would devote this post to solutions for preventing and healing scars.

Scarring is caused by skin trauma. Whether its the aftermath of a large blemish or the melanin response to a sun burn, a scar is caused by inflammation. Skin which is darker will scar more easily, as will skin which is dehydrated. But when preventing the onset of a permanent skin mark, the source of the inflammation will be key in dictating what route of treatment to take.

Acne scars: If the scar is from acne, the best thing to do is nourish your skin. Vitamin E and Organic Rosehip Oil have done wonders for many of my clients - but if your skin is still breaking out, I would alternate the Organic Rosehip Oil with Jojoba oil to prevent over-stimulating your skin and causing another break out. Encouraging collagen production with skincare loaded with Vitamin C is also excellent, or just go straight to the source and use a Collagen Serum.

Now, if the scars have been there for some time, you must determine if they are "young" or "old". Young are red or brown marks which can still be cleared up by Organic Rosehip Oil, Vitamin E, Vitamin C or Collagen. Old scars are whitish silver in colour, or come in the form of pitted marks. These scars must be deeply exfoliated follwed by the previously mentioned nourishing topicals. Pitted marks the hardest to reverse, and extensive Seasalt Microdermabrasion or Laser Treatments are the only effective options.

Burns: When you burn your skin, preventing pigmentation is very different from how we treat potential acne scars. Avoid oil and keep the skin cool. Oil increases heat in the skin (think of how we use cooking oil to increase the heat of a pan) - and the more inflammation, the deeper the burn. Use water-based ingredients like Aloe Vera gel until the skin loses its redness. Apply cooling gels multiple times per day to keep the skin moist as dehydrated skin does not repair properly. If the skin is hot to touch apply cold compresses. In my case, it took an entire week's rotation of Aloe Vera gel, Collagen gel and Pure + Simple's Soothing Mimosa Emulsion (excellent for burns as nit contains the restorative Japanese Honeysuckle).

When you start to peel, just keep moisturizing and do not exfoliate. I always say, Peeling is healing - and any itchiness you may feel from this peeling is a small inconvenience to endure to prevent a permanent mark. When the redness has gone, your skin will either be completely back to normal or left with a brown mark. If this happens, begin using Organic Rosehip Oil everyday.

Burn scars which have been there for a long time often disappear after 1-3 years as the skin turns over. But often cases of multiple sunburns translate into pesky pigmented lesions which are resistant to fading. In these situations, IPL is a highly effective option.

Nicks and scrapes: For the pigmentation-prone, even little nicks and scrapes can result in a scar. In these cases, ensure the area has been cleaned, then use Organic Lavender Essential Oil straight onto the affected area. This oil with disinfect and promote faster healing. A scab will firm, and be sure not to remove it.... not matter how tempting. I'm talking to the same people who pick their pores when they know they shouldn't(!) When the scab falls off, the skin should not show any remnants of the trauma. Lavender oil is the only essential oil you should use straight onto the skin without dilution and avoid the eye area.

I personally used it for a tear on my face a few years back. After putting dozens of products on it without progress, I stumbled into using Organic Lavender Essential Oil in my frenzy. I found that this simple oil both healed and disinfected my skin, promoting scabbing almost immediately.