Oh, which do I choose... Can I have both?

Ever thought about putting coffee and tea on your face and body? My usual form of coffee or tea intake comes in the style of iced coffees and teas, adding to the 400million cups that are drank per day in the states. Although I might think twice (or thrice) about splashing a bit of that (possibly overpriced) latte or tea on my face before breakfast or bed, I wouldn’t rule out some pretty potent ingredients they contain to put on my skin!

COFFEE: Coffee has been used in other cultures, particularly in Indonesian body scrubs, for a number of years. For example, ‘Boreh’ (a combination scrub of coffee grounds mixed with spices) was developed by farmers in Bali to stimulate circulation and warm the skin; great after a hard day of work, or if you’re feeling the chills. Recent developments have seen the use ofcaffeine (a powerful antioxidant) in products such as eye crèmes and other cellulite appearance reducing body cremes.

Benefits of caffeine can give us a more youthful, healthy look! Here are some ways how:

- Increasing circulation: Helps reduce bags under the eyes in eye cremes, and stimulates healthy blood flow in body scrubs, helping remove toxins. Our Invigorating Coffee Scrub, also stimulates circulation in the skin whilst offering some tightening benefits for younger looking skin. Smell AND feel good – why not!
- Anti-inflammatory & diuretic effect: Good for creams that claim to reduce the appearance of cellulite (because sorry ladies, no amount of skin cream alone can break down this type of fat cells…)
- Helps constricts blood vessels which can reduce the appearance of dark circles under the eyes, and can also give the skin a smooth, glowing appearance.
- Contains antioxidants, which also help reducing toxins in the skin

Now on to my British favorite – TEA: You guys have ‘Lipton’, us Brits have ‘Tetley’, Tea was first originated in China and has been said to date back to the 10th century BC! Tea can be much more beneficial for your skin than you might think. Green tea contains powerful polyphenolic antioxidants called catechins, which have been proven to fight viruses, slow aging, and have a beneficial effect on health.  Some benefits of tea on the skin include the following, all which make skin look more youthful:

- Antioxidant protection: the catechins and vitamin c in a lot of green tea can help fight free radicals (which can lead to faster skin aging). Our Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner contains all black, green, and white teas.
- Tones skin/refines pores: You can even use real tea for this – an Indonesian traditional secret handed down from mother-to-daughter till today: After cleansing and rinsing, splash your face with your leftover tea (at room temperature, please!) to tone and brighten skin.
- Rejuvenates skin cells: Gives skin a brighter, healthier look. Some studies show it even extends the life span of the skin cells as they near the end of their life cycle; doesn’t do a miracle job on your face overnight, but every little thing counts!
- And don’t forget Kombucha, a fermented sweet black tea with organic compounds that help slow down your skin’s aging process, keeping it plumper and smoother for longer! Read about this fun beverage here and about all its health benefits. Also, the main anti-aging ingredient in Kombucha can also be found in our Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer, the oil-free version, and our Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme.

So next time you’re feeling a little under the weather, or fancy treating your skin and body to some naturalness, remember that your daily dose of coffee and tea can do more for you wake you up from that sleepy state!

For more coffee and tea facts visit: http://www.bellybytes.com/foodfacts/coffee_tea_facts.html

And if you like cool coffee foam art, this is a fun site! http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Food-Recipes/Cool-Cappuccino-Foam-Art.html

Safe, sun-free-tanning to a perfect glow!

Summer is here. Hooray! It’s a time when all that seems important is getting that perfect beach tan. It makes you feel great, it makes you look great, but are you being safe? Check these not-so-fun facts out:

• Forty percent of Americans do not wear sunscreen.
• One in five Americans will get some form of skin cancer—men especially, since they don’t use makeup and moisturizers with SPF like women do.
• Chemical sunscreens take around 25 minutes to work, so you’re still exposed if you put it on right before running out the door. (Physical sun block formulas get to work instantly though – just make sure you don’t rub it off as they sit on the surface of your skin.)
• About 90% of non-melanoma skin cancer is caused by ultra-violet exposure.

So, now that I’ve depressed you…let’s make you happy again! Why not give your skin a vacation from the sun and look at the advantages of using a self-tanner! If having a professionally done airbrush tan is up your alley, we recommend (in NYC) the fabulous Gotham Glow; they come to your home (how convenient!) and use safe, natural ingredients to give you not only a great glow, but can even contour abs (how awesome is that?) But if that’s not an option for you, the DIY at home self-tan is also a great alternative. Having just come to NY myself, the latter is what I’ve been doing and for years. Here are some rules for DIY awesomeness and how to avoid the blotchy/streaky look like you’ve been hit with a bottle of orange soda…

Rule #1: EXFOLIATE BEFORE TANNING. Exfoliation is the crucial part of self-tanning and something that most people ignore from the process – thus those blotchy patches are actually there because old skin has built up, creating an uneven balance for the self-tan to work. It’s a fact that self-tan applies better on fresh and revitalized skin. We recommend the JUARA Candlenut Body Polish. It contains natural shell grains which gently lift off dead surface cells and dulling debris to reveal more radiant skin, yet also gently moisturizes so skin is evenly hydrated and smooth. This is a great two-in-one special for that pre-tanning prep step. Perfect if you’re in a rush before that big night out and need a quick color fix. Another option is to use the JUARA Coffee Scrub in the shower before, then follow with a moisturizer before ‘tanning.’

Rule #2: PAY EXTRA ATTENTION TO DRY AREAS. Knees, elbows, ankles are the devil of self- tan, make sure you fully exfoliate and moisturize these problem areas for the best results.

Rule #3: MOISTURIZE AFTER TANNING. If you want to treat your body to that extra luxury after the body polish, ensure your body is silky smooth by lathering yourself with our popular Candlenut Body Creme! It also helps the tan stay on longer.

Rule #4: USE A TRUSTED PRODUCT. Do your research before you buy – find out what’s hot, what’s not and what’s the best color/brand for your skin type. Everyone’s different! Personally, I use L’Oreal Sublime and I’ve never so much as seen an uneven patch yet. (Or perhaps that’s because I fully exfoliate and moisturize before use too…) After you’ve applied it using the given directions, maintenance is what’s going to give your tan the most ‘natural’ look.

In case of a boo boo:
If you’ve made a mistake pour lemon juice onto cotton swab and dab the area. Moisturize daily and your tan could last up to a week. You can re-apply when it starts fading, as long as it doesn’t start becoming patchy. If you get a patch attack, follow the same rules as above and you’ll have a great tan again in no time!

Self-tan, when done correctly, is a great way to flaunt that ‘beach’ look with the satisfaction that your skin is protected and in the best condition it can be! And remember, we didn’t say you had to tell everyone it wasn’t real…

Summer is here. The sun is shining, the beaches are calling, the iced tea is being sipped and you’re feeling great. You might be prepared for summer….but is your skin?! Exfoliation – a term that most of us (and I’ll ashamedly admit to this) pull a face at. It takes time, it takes effort, and quite frankly we’d rather use that time to enjoy the 90-degree heat.

But what if I told you that your skin is harboring hundreds of dead skin cells called ‘Stratum Corneum’ – even the name makes it sound positively disgusting.

What is it?

Put simply, old skin sheds itself on a regular basis, making way for new skin. Unfortunately not all of this skin is removed and a build up begins to form; the average build up of stratum corneum contains between 15-20 dead cell layers. Eww.

Benefits!

So apart from the obvious benefit of removing this cheeky invasion of cells, here’s a few other benefits to why exfoliating is essential for a glowing summer face (and don’t be lazy, I expect amazing spring, autumn and winter skin too!)

• Reduces dryness and gray dullness by removes grease and dead skin cells on your skin.

• Gives your skin an amazing radiant glow and leaves you feeling fresh and more youthful looking in your ‘new’ skin.

• Improves blood circulation and boosts the flow of oxygen.

• Can improve performance of product applied after (like that expensive night cream you’re rationing out) by increasing its absorption into the newly exfoliated skin. 

So ‘when and with what’….?

Most experts recommend exfoliating twice a week (stratum corneum – enough said!) We recommend different products for your face vs your body as your face may be more sensitive and require different treatments.

For your face, I’d recommend the Rice Facial Scrub containing fine exfoliating beads, which helps say Au Revoir, Auf Wiedersehen, Good Bye to those dead skin cells. This gently foaming cleanser + scrub also removes dirt and m ake-up leaving your skin smooth and fresh with a healthy glow! For your body, I also recommend my absolute favorite product  Invigorating Coffee Scrub which is made with fresh Indonesian coffee beans and finer walnut shell grains for dual-action exfoliation. This gently exfoliates and awakens the skin leaving it fresh and awakened and with the most amazing chocolate coffee smell. Plus it also cleanses with soap-free surfactants which means it won’t dry out your skin. Remember this isn’t just for ladies, men love it too!

If you prefer a creamier option, try the Candlenut Body Polish which exfoliates and moisturizes together in one single application. A sister product to the coffee scrub, this one doesn’t so much cleanse as it hydrates deeply while exfoliating. Perfect to use before a self tanner, or on dry skin when you’re about to go out an notice dry patches on arms or legs you just want to rid of! Plus, you’re going to smell sweeter than summer!

Tell me how!

Now you’re equipped with knowledge and products, here’s the many different ways you can exfoliate!

Manual – Usually in the form of a sponge, a facial scrub or a tool, such as a Clarisonic that manually sloughs off the dead skin.

Chemical – Mostly provided over the counter, these types of exfoliation often contain acids and help loosen the skin layers. Most often recognized as ‘peels’.

Superficial/Deep Microdermabrasion – These two types of exfoliation help remove damaged skin cells, giving your skin an overall youthful appearance and is most usually performed by a professional.

So now you know and above are some options on how to exfoliate… SUMMER SKIN HERE I COME!

Greetings from JUARA Girl Metta in a rice paddy in Borobudur, Indonesia

So you think you know about rice? What’s your favorite? Brown, white, black or basmati? Short grain, long grain, jasmine, or sticky? The list goes on and on from types to preparations and flavorings… BUT – how much do you know about what it does on your skin?

Rice is a staple of so many cultures’ diets that given its prevalence around the world, it’s no surprise that it has made its way into skin treatments.  Overall, we know rice is good for your skin, but what it does really depends on what part of the rice makes its way into your skincare products. Let’s go on a quick exploration on the different parts of rice and what it does for your skin.

Rice bran oil: Rich in Vitamins B and E, rice bran oil increases elasticity of your skin and keeps it hydrated and soft. Rice bran oil is unique in that it contains different kinds (vs just one kind of) Vitamin B and Vitamin E, making it a more complex and wholesome ingredient for your skin. You can find it in our naturally anti-aging Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer, and our Sweet Black Tea Eye Creme.

Rice starch: Women in Indonesia traditionally wash rice grains in water and then use the milky rice water to rinse their faces to get smooth, soft, supple skin. The rice starch that coats the outside of the rice husks have an extraordinary ability to hold in moisture, and its benefits are felt immediately on the skin. This oil-free humectant helps hold moisture to skin, and can be found in our sulfate-free JUARA Rice Facial Cleanser and JUARA Rice Facial Scrub. Why is in there? Rice starch is the secret ingredient that will keep your skin smooth and soft after you wash it, and helps prevent overdrying , which can lead to irritation and that uncomfortable, taut feel.
*LIMITED TIME SPECIAL: Get the JUARA Rice Facial Scrub + Rice Facial Cleanser for a special value price HERE!*

Rice bran extract: This ingredient helps calm skin and reduce redness. You can find this in our Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner. Though it’s not in the name of our product, this powerhouse of an ingredient makes our toner perfect after washing your face as it not only hydrates but also soothes and calms – especially if you have redness, irritation, or even (or especially, actually!) sunburns on your skin – both on body or face. It also double-duties as an alcohol-free aftershave, soaking the skin with delicious oil-free hydration while soothing the shave. Plus, no cotton ball needed! Just pump into hands, and apply to face.

Do you have favorite products that also include rice?

Recovery has started but it is a daunting, overwhelming task. Many, many people are still suffering, having lost family, their homes, all their possessions and their livelihood in what is said to be the costliest natural disaster in recorded history. Yes, Japan is a wealthy country, but the people of Japan need the world’s help to overcome this crisis, maintain hope and to recover.

JUARA has pledged 10% of all online sales generated at www.juaraskincare.com since March 13 to goto the Japan Earthquake Relief Fund of the Japan Society. We have decided to extend this campaign until the end of April. JUARA Co-Founder Yoshiko will personally match the proceeds to benefit the victims of the disaster.

As a token of appreciation for your purchase, we will include this “Help Japan Recover” awareness pin with every order. Please spread the word!

Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected by the disaster and hope that together, we can help ease their suffering.

About Japan Society:

Founded in 1907, Japan Society was created to bring the people of Japan and the United States closer together through mutual understanding, appreciation and cooperation. Over the years Japan Society has partnered with several Japanese and American non-profits working on the frontlines of disaster relief and recovery.

For more information about the Japan Society in New York and its Earthquake Relief Fund, please visit www.japansociety.org/earthquake.

Turmeric: Widely used in curries around the world and as a staple of many Indonesian health tonics, turmeric is a root with powerful antioxidant properties. Turmeric, known to be a liver and blood detoxifier, has strong antibacterial and internal cleansing powers, and can be used to treat illnesses from cancer to Alzheimer’s. The effects of turmeric is also said to be improved when mixed with black pepper. In Indonesia, it’s not only a key ingredient in health tonics, but it is also is used in a poultice for topical application on wounds. Also, turmeric is used in spa treatments to purify and to give skin a beautiful glow.

Tamarind: Tamarind can either be eaten or used topically, boasting many benefits with either usage. It has topical anti-inflammatory antioxidant properties. When eaten, it can help with digestive problems, lower cholesterol, and serve as a mild laxative. It contains fiber, potassium, magnesium, and many other vitamins. It’s shaped like a giant pea pod with a hard shell and has a soft, sticky, chewy fruit inside with hard seeds. When applied to the skin, the seeds have strong hydrating properties. The fruit itself has antiseptic and astringent properties. It tastes tangy and sweet, so it is commonly made into a candy. Many times, however, you will find it used in soups and other savory dishes. Tamarind is so tasty, it’s easy to forget that you’re also eating a super healthy food!

Drink it!
Kunyit Asem.

One of the popular daily health tonics (called Jamu) in Indonesia is a go-to beverage for women who want to improve overall well-being and increase their energy levels. Kunyit Asem is a medley of turmeric and tamarind that is garnished with sugar or honey and a pinch of salt. When poured over ice, it makes for a refreshing beverage! There are prepackaged versions you can buy at the store. Some add betel leaf, a pepper plant that is commonly included in Indonesian beauty products and beverages to refresh the breath and improve overall body odor. Watch the video to see how Jamu is made from scratch!

Click here to view the embedded video.

So let’s do the same for your skin!
JUARA’s Turmeric and Tamarind Treatment Duo.

Use this to to supercharge your skin! After cleansing, use the Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask twice a week. Its antioxidant qualities strengthen and detoxify the skin; plus, it has a brightening power that will give you an instant radiant glow. The turmeric is infused in a non-drying mud mask that also purifies skin and refines pores. It’s a great skin recharger – like hitting reset on your face’s health button.

Follow up with the Tamarind Tea Hydrating Toner (which should be used daily, even if not using the mask.) This cottonball-free toner-serum is a skin quenching step that takes just a few seconds. Tamarind and hyaluronic acid work together to deeply hydrate skin, replenishing lost moisture to give skin an instantly soft and supple feel, while antioxidants from tea and the redness reducing abilities found in rice bran extract add extra skin-calming benefits. Follow with your favorite moisturizer (we recommend the Sweet Black Tea & Rice Facial Moisturizer), and see the difference!

Quite plain: A stretch mark is…

… a stretching of our skin. The fragile structure of the middle layer (the dermis) is torn beyond its elasticity capability, and then microscopic bleeding occurs. This damage can be seen through the also stretched and then transparent epidermis. A new stretch is mostly red in color, but after a while the color fades to be more of a silver tone. This is due to the disrupted collagen production that may cause the skin pigment producing cells to cease. And then you got yourself some pretty, shiny stretch marks!

“WHY, God? WHY?”, I want to cry out.

This question better phrased might be: “What causes a stretch mark?” According to scientific research, the forming of stretch marks is closely interlocked with a family of steroids called glucocorticoids (What good could come from this name?). When having elevated levels of cortisol (the most common steroid of this group), we tend to store fat and gain weight that leads our skin to tear.
The cause of cortisol? Stress. But stress is not the only cause; lacking good nutrition, too much caffeine and smoking are also accomplices. And rapid  weight gain (due to pregnancy, adolescent growth,  or excessive weightlifting) might also lead to skin ripping.

How can I prevent those little suckers from ruining my life? (Perhaps I’m overreacting but it doesn’t feel like it!)

Easy answer: Maintain healthy skin! Do this by…

• … following a zinc, Vitamins A, C, D and E and protein rich diet

• … drinking at least eight 8 oz. cups of water daily

• … exercising

• … NOT scratching areas prone to stretch marks

• … exfoliating  and keeping your skin hydrated

Okay, thanks for those tips, but what am I going to do with the ones I already have?

There are a few options out there, depending on your budget and your willingness to undergo surgery. But generally speaking, once you got ‘em, unfortunately, it’s not easy to get rid of ‘em.

• Chemical Peels… a diluted acid solution will remove the top layer of your skin which will induce skin cell production in underlying layers.

• Laser Surgery… the laser will prompt new tissue growth in the middle layer.

• Stretch Mark Creams … daily massaging helps to stimulate blood circulation and new tissue growth. Revitol’s Stretch Mark Prevention Cream has been recommended by many sources. Of course,  it does not have to be a stretch mark cream. Lotions with cocoa and shea butter, Vitamin A, E and C and oils (olive,…) are most suitable, for instance  Johnson’s Baby Oil.
• Exfoliating … JUARA’s Invigorating Coffee Scrub is THE perfect treatment! Drinking coffee: no no no! Using that scrub: yes yes yes!

So, to sum up:

Those silvery lines have ruined my career as the next upcoming super model, (well, those lines and about a million other things,) but that’s about it. I find it difficult to follow the daily routine religiously, and surgery is no option for me. So, they are part of me. But I realize there are worse things in life. I have grown to love them. Ok, maybe not love, but I can live with and still be perfectly happy – and that’s the most important part.

I‘m in Indonesia now, and I learned an Indonesian secret in how they make their ginger tea super aromatic and delicious, so if you’re a ginger tea fan, listen up.
Normally, I make ginger tea by slicing ginger and boiling it in water, but the secret for really bringing out the aroma and depth of the flavor is to cook and whack it. That’s right. Cook and whack it! First, you have to pan-sear the whole (or large chunks of) ginger until parts of the skin are black. Don’t use oil; you’re basically just roasting the skin in a dry pan. Now peel the ginger skin off the best you can. Then, instead of slicing it into bits, whack the whole ginger chunk until it’s smashed near flat, like when you smash a garlic clove with the side of a knife. Then boil away in a saucepan covering the ginger with only a few inches of water. I personally err on the side of strong tea that I can always weaken with more water if needed. Sweeten with honey, sugar, or palm sugar – which tastes like a combination of flowers and brown sugar with a tiny pinch of salt. Delicious.
My theory is that the pan cooking heats the ginger to release the aroma more, and whacking it brings out the juices, but whatever the reason, it works.

Here’s another fun, inexpensive use of ginger in a beverage that I concocted: For a JUARA event at Fashion Week in NY this year, we made JUARA cocktails. One of them was a ginger tea cocktail in which I sliced a whole ginger (very thinly, no smashing needed) and put it in a full bottle of vodka (minus the volume of the ginger.) Leave 3 days, and voila – you have an instant ginger vodka infusion. It looks really pretty with the ginger slices floating, and tastes oh-so-spicy good. Chill and mix with tea, and you’ve got a ginger-tea cocktail. I also like mixing ginger slices in my Kombucha for a little variety, and am looking for other fun uses in drinks!

At JUARA, we use it in our oil-free Sweet Black Tea & Ginger Mattefying Moisturizer, where the ginger works as an oil-control/anti-shine ingredient, so if you want to try that out, check it out here.

Anyone have any creative uses for ginger in beverages, food, or beauty treatments?

JAMU-up your life

No, Jamu is nothing to be afraid of. In fact, we all should crave for a little more of that ancient Indonesian tradition of natural health where medicinal herbs are used to treat every aspect of life. Leaves, roots, fruits, flowers and barks of various plants are used for treatments to rejuvenate and pamper the body. Basically, Jamu creates inner peace which results in outer beauty. (If you are interested in learning more about Jamu you should check out Susan-Jane Beers book “JAMU. The Ancient Indonesian Art of Herbal Healing” or watch this awesome video.)

Click here to view the embedded video.

If you are ready to jump in at the deep end and want to jamu-up your life, here is the information you need to pamper yourself like a Javanese royalty does:

But where’s the coconut?

Well, it should be in your hair. Rinse your hair with coconut milk instead of a commercial conditioner. This natural conditioner will leave your hair sooo soft and shiny.

It’s a wonder nut alright.

Candlenut (fyi: in Hawaii, candlenut is also known as Kukui) truly is a wonder nut. Candlenut oil is known for its remarkable skin care aids and its moisturizing properties as well as an awesome hair conditioner. The oil protects from harsh sunlight, drying winds and salt. So grab your bag and make a run to the next Whole Foods to get your own bottle of Kukui Nut Oil. Or if you want something a little more special here is your link to your own personal candlenut heaven: JUARA’s Candlenut Body Creme.

Turmeric Time

Turmeric plays an important role in the life of any Indonesian. It’s used in multiple ways: as food, as a medicine, as a beauty ingredient. Turmeric is also used by women during an ancient royal bridal ceremony called Lulur. The root is used within that ceremony to cleanse the body and give it a radiant glow.

Turmeric is known for its antioxidant properties and therefore widely used on acne prone skin. It does not only help fight damage from free radicals, but it also helps to reduce inflammation and evens out discoloration from old-break-outs.

If you want to get pampered like an Indonesian bride, a turmeric mask is your way to go. But be careful since Turmeric STAINS. And if I say stain I mean it. When using yellow turmeric your skin will stay yellow for a couple of days. A possible alternative is JUARA’s Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask. This mask is a wet clay mask that exfoliates and purifies pores. There is a special complex of turmeric in it so no stains. I promise =)

Wow, while writing about all those exotic rituals I realized that I HAVE to go to Indonesia at some point. But I guess I’ll start with a Spa visit first. After all that’s the cheapest way…

Have you ever been to Indonesia?

10. Each person who likes/follows JUARA will get 5 products of his/her choice for free (hahaha, just kidding)

9. You will be able to dazzle friends, family and loved ones with your knowledge! Since we post educational blogs, have little quizzes, and post super smart quotes, you will soon impress the people around you!

8. Because we said so (This is your mom speaking)

7. If you like JUARA, show the world! Don’t be shy! Exercise your right to like and LIKE away!

6. Each new person that likes and/or follows JUARA is deeply cherished and loved (it is true: We love you!).

5. Facebook and Twitter makes stalking perfectly legal. FINALLY, you will know what we at JUARA had for breakfast and lunch, what our favorite colors are, that someone dropped a pen, (ok, not that kind of detail), what kind of brownies we love at the office, and neat factoids (like did you know whales get sunburned too?)…

4. We post extremely entertaining posts. Don’t believe it? Well… I dare you to like us and find out. Not to mention, YOU also have entertaining posts, we love hearing what YOU have to say.

3. Why wouldn’t you? Give us 10 reasons for NOT liking us! HA! We knew you couldn’t come up with any.

2. From time to time we do giveaways and contests and you have the chance of winning a nice JUARA product (this time, no kidding! Yaaay!)

And the best reason for following/liking JUARA is:

1. You will be kept up-to-date about everything new that is going on in the JUARA world such as new products, events, specials and discounts (sometimes those discounts are ONLY for our digital friends! Yes, that could be you!).

Convinced? Click below – you know what you gotta do now…