Mei-Lana Chow - Glow with Mei

Carrot Ginger Soup Recipe for Glowing Skin

Ever thought about eating your way to healthy, glowing skin?

We often think that skin care products are the only thing that can make our skin beautiful. Turns out, what you put on your plate has a direct impact on your skin’s well-being. Your daily diet plays a huge role in your beauty routine, especially during the winter, when your skin suddenly has to deal with central heating, drier air, and cool winds!

Why Your Diet Matters

Maintaining good skin throughout the year involves more than just switching up your skin care routine – it’s about nourishing your body from the inside out. There’s nothing more important than eating and drinking right! To combat the seasonal environmental conditions, adjust your skin care products and consider incorporating skin-friendly “beauty foods” to keep you looking fresh, and feeling great.

Check out my tips for a hydrating winter skin care routine!

Beauty Soup for a Natural Glow

To kickstart your beauty food journey, here’s a simple, delicious, and nutritious soup that’s easy to make. This golden soup is loaded with vitamins to support a healthy body, and will leave you with a radiant glow! Carrot ginger soup is PACKED with skin-loving nutrients and has anti-inflammatory properties to hydrate and soothe an irritated digestive system. An irritated digestive system leads to irritated skin!

Carrot Ginger Soup Recipe

Ingredients

1.5 lbs carrots, peeled and chopped
1 zucchini, chopped
1 medium white or yellow onion, diced (~2 cups)
2 to 3 cloves garlic, minced
2 tbsp fresh ginger, minced (adjust to taste)
1 tsp cinnamon, cumin, turmeric (to taste)
Freshly ground black pepper
4 cups filtered water
1 tbsp oil (olive oil, avocado oil, or coconut oil)
Garnish: chopped chives, cilantro, and/or hemp hearts

Instructions

Put the chopped carrots, zucchini, onions in a large saucepan and sauté in 1 tbsp of oil of choice for 3-5 minutes, until veggies start to soften.
Add ginger, garlic, and spices and sauté for a few more minutes.
Add water. Bring the mixture to a boil, cover and simmer for 20 minutes (for a thicker soup, use only 2 cups of water.)
Purée everything in a blender and blend until smooth. Use an immersion blender if you have one.
Taste and adjust seasonings to your taste.
Sprinkle each serving with garnish and enjoy!

Makes 6 to 8 servings.

Swap Your Morning Smoothie with Soup!

Consider trading your morning smoothie for a warm, nutrient-rich homemade bowl of soup! Why not? Starting your day with this comforting breakfast not only boosts your immunity but keeps you feeling fresh-faced all day.

Enhance Your Glow with a Colourful Diet

This soup recipe is just the start to what you can consume to keep your skin hydrated and glowing!. Get creative with your daily intake by choosing brightly coloured fruits and vegetables. They are rich in powerful antioxidants that protect the skin from the damaging effects of dehydration, stress, pollutants, and UV light. Also incorporating wholesome fats, like raw nuts, seeds, fatty fish, grass-fed butter, avocado, and olive oil, ensures proper absorption of fat-soluble vitamins and prevents transdermal water loss.

Beauty food is all about choosing whole, nutrient-dense foods that make you happy and nourish your soul. Remember, true radiance comes from within!

Yours Truly,
Mei xo

Let me know if you’ve tried this recipe. Leave a comment below and share a photo on Instagram and tag @glowwithmei.

The Everything Oil: Signature Facial Treatment Oil

I am beyond excited to share with you my latest creation – The Everything Oil by Glow with Mei.

As someone who is passionate about natural skin care, I’ve spent countless hours researching and experimenting with different oils and ingredients to create the perfect facial treatment oil that can do it all: cleanse, massage, moisturize, soothe, and rejuvenate the skin. After months of testing and refining, I’m thrilled to say that I’ve developed something that I’m truly proud of.

The Story Behind The Everything Oil

I have a little secret to share with you, The Everything Oil was created out of a selfish desire to have a signature facial treatment oil that I could trust and that would also provide a sensory experience to use in my facial protocols. After not being able to find what I was looking for, I worked with an aromatherapist to formulate my very own blend. It was originally meant to be used solely for face massage, however I quickly realized the uses are endless! I sprinkle it into each of my custom facial treatments where it counts the most. Hence the name, “The Everything Oil”.

Carefully Selected Carrier Oils

I was careful to stay away from including heavy oils that clog pores or nut oils to allow the use on everyone! The carrier oils in The Everything Oil were carefully selected to nourish and improve a multitude of skin conditions. They help to improve skin tone, soften skin, reduce signs of aging such as helping to smooth wrinkles, reduce post-inflammatory pigmentation, while keeping the skin clear from breakouts. Each oil has unique properties that work together to provide a nourishing and balancing effect on the skin:

Apricot Kernel Oil is antiseptic and antibacterial, which makes it ideal for healing blemishes and protecting against environmental damage, fine lines, and wrinkles.
Milk Thistle Seed Oil is a unique addition to the blend, offering many skin benefits for all ages and skin types. It’s particularly effective in treating acne and pigmentation, thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Milk thistle seed oil helps fight the damaging effects of free radicals, which can cause premature skin aging like pigmentation and inflammation. It’s also great for dry, chapped, and cracked skin, balances the skin’s moisture, and leaves it soft and smooth.
Cacay Seed Oil is an excellent source of Vitamin A and helps encourage skin cell production, keeping your skin firm and healthy. It contains over 68% linoleic acid, which improves the skin’s barrier function. Linoleic-rich oils like Cacay oil are non-comedogenic, meaning that they won’t cause breakouts, while easily absorbing into the skin.
MCT Oil is one of my favourite carrier oils due to its extremely light texture that absorbs without any residue. It is derived from coconut, which provides antibacterial and antifungal qualities.

The Power of Essential Oils in The Everything Oil

The essential oils in The Everything Oil were chosen for their ability to work harmoniously with the carrier oils to build the skin’s resilience. Each oil provides unique benefits such as calming irritation, killing acne-causing bacteria, and improving skin elasticity:

Blue Tansy calms irritation and kills acne-causing bacteria.
May Chang and Lavender are deeply calming to the nervous system and also great to calm skin inflammation.
Frankincense strengthens the skin and improves its tone, elasticity, and defense mechanisms against bacteria and blemishes. It also reduces the appearance of scars.
Tonka Bean (Benzion resin) increases skin resilience, regenerates and nourishes, maintains the hydro-lipid balance of the skin, improves its elasticity, and inhibits the process of premature aging of the skin.

How to Use The Everything Oil

How do you get the most out of The Everything Oil? It depends on what you’re using it for!

For deep cleansing: Apply 4-6 drops directly on top of makeup and sunscreen, massaging the oil into the skin and concentrating on areas of congestion. Use a warm face cloth or cotton pad to remove the oil, sunscreen, and makeup. Rinse the face cloth and wipe again up to three times.

For massage, gua sha, jade rolling, or cupping: Apply 2-4 drops after cleansing, toning, serum, and cream. Add more oil for slip if needed.

For added moisture: Mix 1-2 drops into your face cream or foundation.

A Versatile, All-Natural Facial Treatment Oil

This oil feels absolutely amazing on the skin. I’ve been using The Everything Oil for a few weeks now, and I can honestly say that my skin has never looked or felt better. I love how it gives me that dewy, radiant glow, and it’s helped to even out my skin tone and reduce the appearance of fine lines.

Thank you to all my loyal clients who have encouraged me to retail The Everything Oil! It’s a beautiful facial oil that I’m proud to be able to share with you.

To purchase The Everything Oil, you can pick up a bottle for $55.00 CAD at our clinic located in Leslieville, Toronto.

Yours truly,
Mei-Lana xo

Oil Cleansing: Say Goodbye to Dirt and Hello to a Glowing Complexion

Hey there, beautiful people! Lately, my clients have been asking me about natural ways to cleanse their face. So today, we’re going to talk about one of my favourite skincare practices: oil cleansing! If you’re tired of traditional cleansers that leave your skin feeling dry and stripped, oil cleansing may be the right method for you.

Oil cleansing is a popular skincare trend that has been gaining momentum in recent years. It involves using oil to cleanse the face, which is a natural and effective way to remove makeup, dirt, and impurities from the skin. It is also an excellent way to deep clean, moisturize the skin and improve its overall appearance. Let’s explore the benefits of oil cleansing, discuss the base oils that can commonly be found in your pantry, and the right way to oil cleanse!

The Benefits of Oil Cleansing

Some traditional cleansers on the market can strip the skin of its natural oils, leading to dryness and irritation. Oil cleansing on the other hand can help to balance the skin’s natural oils. Many people who have oily or acne-prone skin believe that they should avoid using oil on their face. However, using the right oils can actually help to regulate the skin’s natural oil production, reducing the appearance of oiliness and breakouts.

One of the best things about oil cleansing is that it’s natural and effective. Instead of relying on harsh chemicals, you’re just using oil to cleanse your skin. This helps to maintain your skin’s natural moisture barrier, which is so important for keeping your skin soft and supple.

Oil Cleanse to Remove Makeup and Impurities

Oil cleansing is fantastic for removing makeup, sunscreens, and other impurities from the skin. If you’ve ever struggled to fully remove your makeup at the end of the day, you’ll love how easily oil cleansers melt away even the most stubborn products!

My Favourite Oil Cleansing Bases

Now, let’s talk about the base oils, some of which you can find in your pantry.

Jojoba Oil

One of my favourite bases to use for oil cleansing is jojoba oil! It’s a great all-around oil that’s gentle on the skin and won’t clog your pores. Jojoba oil is also rich in vitamins and antioxidants, which help to protect your skin from environmental stressors.

MCT Oil

MCT oil, or medium-chain triglyceride oil, is another great option for oil cleansing. It’s a lightweight oil that’s easily absorbed by the skin, making it perfect for those with oily or acne-prone skin. MCT oil is also antibacterial, which can help to reduce breakouts and inflammation.

Avocado Oil

Avocado oil is a fantastic choice for those with dry or mature skin. It’s rich in essential fatty acids and vitamins, which help to nourish and hydrate the skin. Avocado oil is also great for reducing inflammation and promoting collagen production, which can help to improve the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.

Grape Seed Oil

Last but not least, grape seed oil is a great all-around oil for oil cleansing. It’s lightweight, non-greasy, and won’t clog your pores. Grape seed oil is also rich in antioxidants, which help to protect your skin from free radical damage.

The Right Way to Oil Cleanse

My Simple 3 Step Oil Cleansing Method

So, how do you oil cleanse? Oil cleansing may seem simple, but there is a right way to do it for the best results. Here are my three easy steps to follow:

Step 1: Apply Oil to Dry Skin

Start by adding 2-3 drops of your selected oil to your palm, rub your hands briskly together, and apply all over your dry face. Make sure your face is completely dry! This is important – since oil does not mix with water – applying the oil to wet skin makes it difficult to properly remove dirt, makeup, sunscreen, and other residue from the day.

Step 2: Massage Oil into Your Face

Use your fingertips to massage the oil into your face for 1 minute. Take your time and be gentle, focusing on areas that are prone to congestion or breakouts. Massaging the oil will help to break down and lift dirt and impurities from your pores.

Step 3: Use a Warm Fresh Face Wash Cloth

Use a clean, warm damp face wash cloth to gently wipe away the oil in sweeping motions until it is all gone. The warmth of the cloth will help to soften built up debris in your pores, while the cloth itself will help to remove the oil and any dirt or impurities that the oil has lifted. Gently press the wash cloth onto your skin for a minute, allowing the heat to emulsify the oil. Rinse the cloth with hot water, wring it out, repeating this 3 times to ensure that all the oil is removed from your skin.

By following these three simple steps, your oil cleansing routine will be effective AND hygienic, and you can enjoy the benefits of a clearer, more radiant complexion!

Hot Tips for Oil Cleansing

Have a set of 10 to 15 washcloths available on rotation to use during the week for oil cleansing. This ensures you always have a clean one on hand. White washcloths will become stained with make-up and sunscreen, so choose a dark color if this might bother you.
When laundering your washcloths, use a high-quality laundry detergent, a long wash cycle and hot water to thoroughly clean them. This will prevent any bacteria buildup and ensure your skin stays clean and healthy. Add vinegar and baking soda or Oxiclean to the wash cycle, especially if you wear heavy make up or mineral sunscreens.

Nourish and Cleanse Your Skin Naturally

Remember to choose the right oil for your skin type, and to patch test any new oils before using them on your face. By following my oil cleansing method, you can nourish and hydrate your skin while removing impurities and maintaining your skin’s natural moisture barrier. Stick with it, and you’ll soon see the benefits of oil cleansing and how it may transform your skin for the better.

Give it a try, and let me know how it works for you. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to drop me a comment below. Happy oil cleansing!

~Mei xo

Honey Lift Massage for a Rosy Glow

My Honey Lift Massage is the most luxurious, safe and effective method of treating the problem of dull, environmentally damaged, aging skin without surgery or painful non-surgical procedures. This type of massage is a lifting, toning, firming treatment for the face. It’s a natural face lift massage, which smooths fine lines, gently exfoliates, provides moisture, and gives your face a glowing look for days!!

The Secret? Raw Organic Honey!

Honey is one of the natural world’s health-producing wonders. As you know, honey is the nectar gathered from the blossoms of many flowers by industrious bees. After it is collected by some of the bees from a hive, it is then changed by the other bees to make it more useful in the hive. They condense the liquid out of the original flower nectar, producing a heavy syrup with a high percentage of natural sugar content. Though honey is used most often as a nutritional food, it has been used for thousands of years as a natural medicinal as well as in beauty products.

Sweeten Up Your Skincare Routine with Honey’s Many Natural Benefits

The antioxidants and active enzymes found in honey may play a role in protecting the skin from sun damage as well as aid in skin rejuvenation. Because raw honey is antimicrobial and the molecules take up and retain moisture, it it known to speed the drying of wounds. Raw honey also stimulates the regrowth of tissue, strengthens capillaries and the fibroblast needed for healing. It also encourages the dermis to develop new connective tissue and speeds up the growth of new epithelial cells.

More Benefits of Using Honey for the Face

There’s more! Here’s some other important benefits you’ll see when you apply honey to your visage:

Helps smooth fine lines
Provides a light exfoliation
Provides moisture and nourishment for dry, dull skin
Boosts the skin’s immune system
Improves circulation
Assists the skin to naturally express congested sebum (clogged pores)
Stimulates the synthesis of collagen
Antibacterial and antimicrobial

→ Follow my simple step-by-step instructions on how to Honey Lift Massage at home.

Be radiantly you, with natural face lift massages!

~Mei-Lana xo

How To Choose The Right Hydration for the Season

As we reach for different, more hydrating skin care products to offset the dry, cold air of this season, I would like to highlight some skin care ingredients you should be introducing, and point out which ingredients that could be sabotaging your efforts at obtaining smooth clear skin.

Reading Skin Care Product Labels

Reading labels and choosing clean green products play an important part in maintaining a clear glowing complexion. I realize navigating your way through an ingredient list can be intimidating with so many long and often unpronounceable scientific words. Keep in mind the first five ingredients will make up the bulk of the formula. That is most often where the hydrating ingredients will be listed. One bonus of choosing green beauty products, is the labels are much easier to read!

Beware of These Ingredients

Watch out for ingredients like phthalates and parabens, as they play different roles in their outcome of how they affect your skin. They both enter the blood stream through absorption of the skin, and as a result, are proven to alter hormonal balance in our bodies and act as endocrine system disruptors. Yikes!

Those of you who suffer from acne breakouts close to your period should be extra cautious to choose clean, non-toxic beauty products. When reading skin care product labels, watch out for phthalates – they are usually noted on ingredient lists as acronyms like DBP (dibutylphthalate) and DMP (dimethylphthalate). Parabens are usually easier to spot as the word “paraben” will be within the ingredient listed like methylparaben and ethylparaben, to name a few.

Another ingredient to be aware of is propylene glycol. This is a strong skin irritant, and has been implicated in contact dermatitis. The ingredient can inhibit skin cell growth and damage cell membranes, causing rashes, dry skin, and surface damage. Definitely not what we want in our skin care products if we are looking to promote healthy glowing skin.

Hyaluronic Acid for Skin Hydration

Did you know that our skin needs 70% water and 30% oil to maintain its balance? So, what can we do to have happy healthy and balanced skin? Drinking half your body weight in ounces of clean filtered water daily is an important way to keep you skin hydrated from the inside out! Apart from this, a great choice to increase water content in the skin is hyaluronic acid.

Hyaluronic acid is an amazing ingredient to look for in facial products. The name makes it look like it could be really aggressive and irritating, but it’s not. It is naturally found in our skin and has the ability to hold 1000 times its weight in water! As we age, our cells loose the ability to hold moisture, because our natural stores decline. Applying hyaluronic acid daily will help plump the surface of the skin and soften the look of fine lines and wrinkles. Adding this to your skincare routine will make your skin feel hydrated, soft and comfortable in the cold winter months. You may find this on the ingredient list in your products as “sodium hyaluronate” and “hyaluronic acid”.

The Effects of Dehydrated Skin

Providing your skin with ultimate hydration can have positive impact, especially for oily, problematic skin. The belief that drying out the skin’s surface will assist in clearing up acne breakouts, is not the case! Dryness and dehydration can cause your skin to overproduce oil, which in turn, can aggravate problem skin. This condition of dehydrated, tight skin will hold on to blackheads and make them nearly impossible to remove.

If you want to get the most out of your facials, and have nice clear glowing skin, it’s imperative to keep your skin hydrated with the right water to oil ratio. Applying the right oils and moisturizers topically, will help to soften skin along with loosening congestion like blackheads, making them easier to remove. When a blemish is left in the skin to fester for too long, inflammation can damage the surrounding cells and stretch out the pore. These two elements combined with time, could leave behind an unsightly scar. Who wants that? Nobody!

What about Coconut Oil?

I need to talk about coconut oil, ahhh we all love coconut oil. It has been super trendy, and at one point, everyone was using it! Cooking with it, and slathering it on head to toe. It is a fantastic moisturizer for those with severely dry skin with absolutely no risk of developing acne. Read your skin care product ingredient list, as it can be hidden in your products under different names. Look for “butylene glycol cocoate”, “caprylic/capric/coco glycerides”, and “cocoglycerides”, just to name a few.

MCT Oil for Acne-Prone Skin

For those of you who break out, but want all the wonderful antibacterial benefits of coconut oil, look for MCT oil; which stands for Medium Chain Triglyceride. It is the unsaturated version of coconut oil, that is liquid at room temperature. I personally love this oil—it is odourless, doesn’t stain, absorbs completely—and it does not leave an oily residue. Read the labels on the MCT oil products when shopping, as there are some MCT oils that are made from sunflower seed—this is still okay to apply on acne prone skin, but it does not contain added antibacterial, antifungal benefits. MCT oil in products may be labeled as “caprylic/capric triglyceride”.

What to Apply First

Pro Tip: For the ultimate hydration boost, always apply oil, serum, or moisturizer on top of moist skin.

Using an alcohol-free toning mist makes this an easy thing to do. Just spray and work quickly before the mist evaporates, and apply your first layer of hydration. I recommend applying the lightest texture serum to the heaviest cream in that order.

Facial Oils

One last thing on oils, you only need 1 to 4 drops! You would need less if your skin is oily, more if your skin is dry. Using too much of a good thing can sabotage your beautiful complexion, so use oil sparingly.

In Conclusion

I hope this helps you find comfort in the cold dry winter months ahead. Please leave me a comment below if you have any additional questions! I’m here to help!

Yours truly,
Mei-Lana RHN

Tips for Winter Skin Care Routine

I think we are ALL equally suffering from itchy, dry, dehydrated skin at this time of the year.

Balance Your Skin’s Natural Oil and Water

Did you know that your skin needs the right balance of oil (moisture) to water (hydration) to function at its ultimate best? How do you create that balance? It’s actually quite easy! Using the right products for your skin type and layering them in the right way, will help keep your skin comfortable and hydrated.

Top 6 Tips for Using Products in Winter

No matter what your skin type, I’ve outlined my top 6 tips on how to make the products you may already have at home work more efficiently for you. A few tweaks to modify your step-by-step skincare routine in the winter months will do wonders, day or night!

Consider starting your night time routine with oil cleansing, which will deep clean skin without stripping natural moisture.
Tap eye cream into the skin around the orbital bone, not too close to the lash line to avoid causing eye irritation.
Mist your face with an alcohol-free toner, but do not let mist evaporate! Quickly apply serum on damp skin!
Your serum should have Hyaluronic Acid in it. This natural substance holds 100 times its weight in water, helping to trap the water contents from the toner and lock the moisture deeper into the skin.
Apply a generous amount of face cream. Don’t forget to apply to your neck as well! If you feel you need more, apply a second layer once the first layer absorbs
Apply 2-3 drops of your favourite face oil. Massage neck and face using upward, circular motions for at least 5 minutes to stimulate circulation and help penetration of all your perfectly applied layers of moisture. This is also a good time to Jade roll.

Also…

BONUS TIPS!

???? Use a honey mask twice a week or every day if you like! How to Honey Mask At Home
???? Put a humidifier in your bedroom to keep your skin from dehydrating while you sleep.
☀️ Drink a full glass of water upon waking.

Skin Care Products for Drier Months

Weatherproof your skin and choose the right hydration to coast through this winter without annoying, uncomfortable itchy, dry skin or unnecessary breakouts. Navigate skin care ingredient lists with these helpful hints on what to include and what to avoid for beautiful radiant skin all year long.

If you have any questions, I’d love to hear from you! Leave me a comment below or feel free to contact me with any other skin care inquiries.

Yours Truly,
Mei xo

Top 6 Healthy Habits to Make you Glow

Anyone who knows me well, will say: Mei is all about living life to the fullest and has zero room for missing opportunities! I always say or do anything that makes me feel like I’m on the right path of being and owning my authentic self. No regrets. Sometimes fast, sometimes slow.

When I was young, my mum used to say to me, “Mei-Lana, listen to your body. If you’re tired, sleep! If you’re hungry, eat!” This used to annoy me, because I was always too caught up, living in the moment, and felt way TOO BUSY to listen to my own body.

Now, fast forward to the time as a fully grown woman when I was in class at CSNN (Canadian School of Natural Nutrition), where I learned that nutritional deficiencies are the root cause of most diseases.

Here’s the deal with what I learned.

Unhealthy Habits

We all have some habits that deplete our bodies of specific amino acids, minerals, and vitamins:

Excessive sun exposure will break down our skin and cause free radical damage.
Drinking alcohol will rid the body of B vitamins (the list goes on).
Exercise will burn sugars, but we need protein to rehabilitate and rebuild our bodies.

If we pay attention—like, listen to our bodies—it will give us the signs and symptoms to look out for, in which we can help ourselves to heal and replenish.

My Top 6 Healthy Habits for Glowing Skin

Today, I would like to share with you some helpful tips to benefit your health and skin! I incorporate these easy habits into my life every day to achieve my ultimate glow.

I eat greens at every meal and keep track of what I eat.
I wash my face every night.
I cook with high flashpoint oils, like grape seed oil and coconut oil.
I eat fermented foods, and take a probiotic and Vitamin B complex daily.
I slow down and recognize how to be grateful and positive. It really is your choice.
I apply honey to my face every other night.

Get your glow on, and join me in these healthy habits. I promise you will feel better and look better! ✨

~Mei xo

Expert Advice: How to Eat Healthy and Feel Great Over The Holidays!

There are times like the holiday season where we need a little help to stay on track. I have listed some helpful tips on how to avoid the dreaded belly bulge, post-sugar break outs and that holiday hangover when attending holiday gatherings.

Have a small meal before . Don’t show up to the party starving! You will be more likely to reach for the sugary and heavy carb dishes.

Eat your greens. Load your plate up with the healthier options from the classic veggie platter.

If it’s a potluck, you’re in luck! This is your opportunity to bring your own healthy dish to share.

Warm lemon water is a great way to start your day off right, along with a breakfast that is high in protein and full of fibre.

Drink water after every alcoholic beverage! The more of a buzz you get, the more likely you will be reach for the unhealthy options, especially those cocktails with high sugar content.

Chromium is a mineral supplement, which helps to balance blood sugar and prevent those spikes that make you want more sugar. I take 600 micrograms daily (do not exceed 1000 micrograms in a day.)

Kukicha tea is a twig tea that helps to alkalize and restore the minerals in your body. This is great for when you have eaten too much white sugar, to sooth digestion and release trapped gas, to reduce heartburn, and cure that holiday hangover.

Exercise! Yoga, Pilates, running, skipping, walking, what ever it is, just move. Burn off all those extra calories!

Enjoy and let go! If you stress yourself out with self depreciating thoughts of all the junk you consumed, it can cause more inflammation and have a more negative impact on your body! Brush yourself off and make better choices –tomorrow is a new day.

Hope you have a Happy and Glowy Holiday Season! If you have any questions on nutrition or skin care, please don’t hesitate to reach out. I’m here to help!

Yours truly,
Mei-Lana Chow xo

How To Honey Mask At Home

Honey has so many amazing benefits for us, inside and out. Here is one of my recommended at home treatments you can easily do to help keep your skin maintained and glowing! I recommend using raw organic honey.

Honey Lift Massage: At-Home Treatment

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Wash hands to remove oils and dry thoroughly.

2. You may want to wrap your hair in a towel or ponytail and tuck it, so as not to get any honey in your hair.

3. Wash face using circular motion strokes for about 2 minutes. This is experienced as ‘massage’, so take your time. Rinse with water three times.

4. Dry the face thoroughly, as well as your hands. (Honey will not become sticky with a damp face or damp hands).

5. Place 1.5 teaspoon of honey on the tips of your fingers. Rub your fingers together and smooth it all over your face (avoid the eyes and neck).

6. Start by whipping the cheeks lightly with open fingers to somewhat ‘fan’ the face while you are ‘airing’ the honey to get it to become sticky. Once it starts becoming sticky, begin random tapping all over the face. Continue for 2 minutes or so.

7. Tap over areas of congestion (nose, chin, forehead) and pump fine lines and wrinkles. With all the active stimulation, your skin will probably be pink. Now, RELAX with honey on your face for up to 20 minutes.

8. Remove the honey. First wet your hands and begin to rub the sticky honey until it starts to feel silky. Once silky, remove the product with soft face cloth and then cleanse and tone. Without cleansing, the honey will leave a sticky residue on the face.

9. Finish by moisturizing: apply eye cream, serum and moisturizing cream. Your Honey Lift Massage Treatment is now complete!

Results You Will Experience from This At-Home Treatment:

A light exfoliation of the skin
Helps to smooth fine lines
Improves circulation: stimulates the synthesis of collagen
Super hydration: provides moisture and nourishment for dry, dull skin
Acts as an antioxidant
Increased immune response to the face: antibacterial and antimicrobial
Assists the skin to naturally express congested sebum (clogged pores)
Refreshing feeling to the face and relaxation to the body

I would love to hear if you’ve tried this at home, and how your skin feels afterward. Leave me a note below!

Yours Truly,
~Mei xo

Seed Cycling: The Natural Cure for Hormonal Breakouts?

In my 22 years of working in aesthetics, I have seen how many of my clients try to manage hormonal breakouts with birth control pills and topical prescriptions. Unfortunately, these methods just mask the root cause of the symptoms.

Don’t give up! I am here to educate you on these natural beauty and lifestyle secrets! There is more that you can do to have a balanced body and clear skin.

Could something as simple as eating seeds help to balance hormones naturally?GOOD BYE mood swings, bloating, cramping, PMS and hormonal acne? HELLO happy days and smooth glowing skin?!

What is Seed Cycling, anyway?

Seed cycling involves rotating seeds such as flax, pumpkin, sunflower, and sesame seeds throughout the month to help balance hormones during women’s menstrual cycles. The concept behind the cycling is that the seeds contain lignans that help to bind and excrete excess hormones. On the other hand, they also contain minerals, vitamins, and essential fatty acids that support the production of hormones at different phases of your cycle.

Eating seeds in a certain format can ultimately help your body find balance! The result? A more even mood and clear radiant skin!

Basic Principles for Balancing Hormones

Estrogen and progesterone balance are key to healthy body. Too little estrogen can lead to a thin uterine lining or a lack of ovulation and too much estrogen can cause irregular periods, depression, and harsh PMS symptoms. Progesterone is essential for getting pregnant and sustaining pregnancy, but a deficiency has been linked to symptoms of PMS, fatigue, irregular periods and recurrent miscarriages.

Ok, with that said…

Throughout the menstrual cycle, the female body is dominated by estrogen for the first half of the cycle (days 1-14), and dominated by progesterone during the later half (days 15-28).

Seeds For BALANCING Estrogen (Days 1-14):

Flax seeds and pumpkin seeds are excellent sources of Omega-3 fatty acids, which allow the smooth transmission of hormones throughout the body.

Flax contains lignans, which blocks the absorption of and assists the elimination of excess estrogen out of the body.

Pumpkin seeds are high in zinc, calcium and magnesium content, which allows the body to release progesterone, reduce cramping and clear the skin. The combination of these two processes allows for the balance between the two hormones.

Seeds For Progesterone (Days 15-28)

During the second half of the cycle, sesame seeds and sunflower seeds will encourage the production of progesterone.

Sesame seeds are high in zinc, calcium and omega 6 fatty acids which are essential to progesterone production. As well as, reducing acne, headaches, cramping.

Sunflower seeds are rich in Vitamin B6 and selenium which support the liver, having a positive effect on the reduction of breakouts and removing excess hormones and toxins. They’re also rich in magnesium, which works with calcium to reduce cramps and calm mood. Just like the flax seeds the lignans in the sesame seeds deter excess estrogen production.

Eats the Right Seeds During Your Cycle

Keep in mind–this part is very important!–ONLY consume the seeds appropriate for your cycle on the given weeks. Aim to avoid sunflower and sesame seeds during the first half of your cycle, and avoid pumpkin and flax seeds during the second half.

Healthy Tip: Choose raw, unsalted versions of each of the seeds.

In the first 14 days of your cycle, have one tablespoon each of ground flax seeds and ground pumpkin seeds daily. In the latter half of your cycle, work in one tablespoon each of ground raw sesame seeds and sunflower seeds. Grinding the seeds breaks down the tough outer layers and makes their nutrients more easily accessible to the body.

Add to smoothies, salads or soups or even blend with water or juice for a quick drink. Make a sauce, salad dressing or your own tahini or seed butter. Go ahead, get creative!

Smoothies, dips/spreads, dressings, sprinkle on yogurt, salads are great vehicles for your seed regimen.

ADD TO SMOOTHIES, DIPS: Daily Dosage GUIDE

Days 1 -14: Add 1tbsp. of ground flax meal and 1 tbsp. of pumpkin seeds.

Days 15-28: Add 1 tbsp. sesame seeds and 1 tbsp. of sunflower seeds.

*For extra support, add 1500 mg of Fish Oil (EPA+DHA) on days 1-14; and add Evening Primrose Oil (EPO) on days 15-28.

And ONE last suggestion!

Did you know parabens, phthalates, and artificial fragrances, etc. are found in every day beauty products? These are toxic chemicals that are absorbs through your skin, and can alter the natural rhythm of hormones. Scary right?

Use Natural Products and Facial Treatments

Therefore, f you’re going to give seed cycling a go, I would highly recommend switching to (if you haven’t already) natural facial products and choose to have organic holistic facial treatments, which can help prevent further alteration of your hormones.

Hormones can take a while to balance using natural methods, so be patient and give yourself at least 3 months for this process.

Please let me know how you do, or if you have any questions! Feel free to drop a comment below.

Until next time,
Mei-Lana Chow RHN

Sculptural Face Lifting Massage will make you Sparkle like Megan Markle

I heard a rumour a couple years ago that Megan Markle (and many other celebrities) have been using Sculptural Face Lifting Massage to achieve a princess worthy glow. This treatment is available in Toronto at Glow with Mei!!

Sculptural Face Lifting: The Preferred Technique

I’m convinced that if it wasn’t for Meghan Markle announcing to the press in 2019 that her secret to maintaining her youthful complexion was Sculptural Face Lifting Massage, then this facial treatment wouldn’t be so popular today. Being a famous Hollywood actress and having been in the Royal family spotlight of the world, it all makes complete sense to me. Most actresses prefer holistic alternatives to invasive surgical lifting procedures to keep their appearances up, as they need to keep all their face muscles in working order to accentuate strong facial expressions. Crucial for their Oscar-winning performances.

Nature’s Answer to Botox and Filler

Sculptural Face Lifting Massage has been dubbed as “nature’s answer to botox and filler” The facial fitness achieved strengthens muscles, to lift the face and correct it’s form and remove unnecessary sagging.

This technique is taught by Yakov Gershkovich, a leading specialist in the field of facial aesthetic’s in Israel and a recognized authority on natural rejuvenation and facial manipulation worldwide. He is the god of face massage! This massage technique works the muscle tissue, ligaments and bones from the chest up to the forehead, bringing increased blood circulation, which provides the dermal layers with oxygen and nutrients.

Benefits of Buccal Massage

This is a deep tissue massage and with the inclusion of intra-oral (Buccal) massage where the cheek muscles are massaged simultaneously, inside and out from within the oral cavity.

With continuous application of this massage technique, you will see muscle tone and elasticity be restored. Skin becomes smoother with the natural production of collagen, which reduces the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and improves skin texture. The natural shape of the face becomes more defined, lifted, with a more youthful appearance, as well as releasing muscle tension.

When We Look Good, We Feel Good

There is an interconnection between the way we feel and how we look. Some believe that a build up of negative emotions are stored in our muscles over our lifetime, which can have an impact on how we look. Sculptural Face Lifting Massage works on a much deeper level. By working out the kinks in the muscles and facial structure, it can provide an enormous emotional release, improve overall health and wellbeing.

If you’re ready to sparkle like Meghan Markle, try this one-of-a-kind face lifting massage for yourself. Book your treatment today!

Yours truly,
Mei xo

How to Keep your Skin Clear, Naturally

I’m dedicating this post for my clients and those who have faced challenges in their quest to have clear, bright radiant skin!

Purposeful Skin Care With Nutrition

What I love most about being a skincare specialist, medical aesthetician, and holistic nutritionist, is that I have built long lasting relationships with you–my clients, and that we get to work together–to uncover the things that could be dulling your overall glow. I reach beyond what happens in the natural facial treatment room to what is happening in your kitchen everyday.

Keep in mind: Healthy and well-nourished skin requires less work.

How Does Diet Affect Your Skin?

Have you ever considered that perhaps, what you eat on a daily basis can have an effect on your skin?

Think of this scenario: you go to a birthday party and eat that delicious birthday cake, or indulge in a cheesy piece of lasagna, then wake up the next day with a new blemish or rosacea flare up? The truth is that having clear skin may just lie in the food choices you make every day.

The body is always looking to achieve homeostasis. When our bodies are low on nutrients, exposed to allergens, and dehydrated, our skin can look sallow and dull. When we have an abundance of the right nutrients and ultimate hydration, our bodies function optimally and our skin will GLOW. Glowing skin is always smoother, brighter, with less wrinkles, less red rough patches, and less brown spots.

Lifestyle, food choices, overall hydration, and genetics all play a role on your complexion. Your skin, at the end of the day, is a reflection of your internal health.

I encourage you to eat whole, unrefined, and unprocessed foods that have all the vital nutrients in complete balance–which aids in proper assimilation and absorption. Your skin has a better chance looking smooth and radiant when removing the sludgy residue that junk food, trans fats, sugar, and conventional dairy leaves behind. When your digestive system is running smoothly with good quality foods and there are no food sensitives at play, you can usually get away with little indulgences. We all need to live a little right? ?

Top 10 Tips on How to Keep Your Skin Clear

Below, I give you tips on how to gain more control on your glow!

Hope you’re ready for the challenge. I have faith in you that you can make these adjustments to your daily life to see the results you deserve: clear, radiant skin!

Eat more fresh veggies and fruit. This keeps your skin hydrated and provides antioxidants, minerals and vitamins–crucial for smooth radiant skin. Also, add foods that help correct acne problems such as turmeric, ginger, green tea, nuts, dark purple and red foods like grapes, berries, beets, carrots, and dark greens ?like kale and spinach. Check out my other article, Eat Like Your Skin Depends On It for more information on how to eat clean.
Keep a food journal. If you bite it, you write it! ? Keeping track of everything you eat can assist you in recognizing what your body is reacting to. Write down what you eat, and also how you feel (stress level), skin reactions, and frequency of bowel movements. Sometimes it takes 24-48 hours for symptoms like pimples and rashes to surface. Looking back on your food journal will help provide insight and remind you of what you ate. One thing to note here is that stress shuts down the digestive system. Learning to manage stress and release one self from anxiety and worry can be a key to healing the body. Meditation and exercise can help with this.
Elimination diet. Once you have an idea about what foods you react to, you can then eliminate them one by one from your diet and test out how you look and feel. Contact me for additional information on this process.
Consider doing a liver cleanse. Spring time is wonderful time to this. The signs of an overloaded liver can show up on your face with acne, blotches, and eczema. I recommend CanPrev Detox-Pro caps or SISU Milk Thistle Complex supplements for a minimum of 3 weeks. Try these supplements and eat liver-supporting foods like broccoli, sprouts, garlic, artichoke, and beets. As well, see the benefits after eliminating sugar, gluten, alcohol, dairy, and caffeine from your daily diet.
Watch your sugar consumption. For most people, the combination of refined wheat and white sugar can be the worst! Avoid cakes and pastries etc. if you want to have smooth, firm skin. Simple sugars spike blood sugar, increases insulin, and throws hormones off balance which can result in acne breakouts. Sugar is also the one thing that breaks down the skin structure as it hardens and snaps collagen peptides, resulting in loose, sagging skin.
Stay away from dairy. It’s confirmed, dairy causes acne. Try cutting out ALL dairy (even in your morning coffee) for 2 weeks and discover the difference it has on your skin!
Take digestive enzymes, especially when consuming foods in question or you know cause digestive upsets or breakouts. This will help to prevent excess stress on the digestive system, which translates into less stress that shows up on your face.
Increase healthy anti-inflammatory fats like Omega-3 fish oil and Evening Primrose oil which is high in Omega-6. I recommend Bend Skincare – the anti-aging formula will calm inflammation in the body and allow the healing process to begin. Then, as it heals itself, support its rebuilding by using Marine Collagen + Co-Factors for strengthening of collagen structures of your skin to improve its overall condition and tone. Contact me if you are interested in purchasing as these products are available in our clinic.
Take acne fighting supplements like Evening Primrose Oil (1,000-1,500mg 2 x daily), Zinc Citrate (30mg daily), Vitamin A (25,000 IU a day, *for only 3 months* and not while pregnant), Vitamin E mix tocopherols (400 IU daily, and *not alpha tocopherol*), Vitamin D (1,000 IU daily), and finally – probiotics, especially with Lactobacillus acidophilus (I recommend Perfect Probiotic 30 Billion with Prebiotic by Progressive Nutritional.
Don’t touch or pick your face! This is where deep cleansing, natural facial treatments come in to play, ultimately helping to prevent scarring and manage clogging, so you don’t have to pick and dig at your own skin. Let the professionals take care of tricky extractions! Also, keep your cell phone clean by wiping it down with alcohol, wash your eyeglasses and sunglasses with dish soap everyday, and change your pillow cases often.

Trust the Process

This process can feel like it’s going to take forever to see the results, but trust me…good things will come with patience and persistence.

Taking this holistic approach to skin care is not a band-aid effect (like most conventional methods.) This is YOU getting to know your body and what it reacts to. You will gain the personal power of choice and be able to control what you expose your body to!

Feel free to boost your efforts with additional guidance from me, and drop a comment below! I’m here to help you through this whole process. I want to see you glow with confidence and beauty for many years to come. ✨

~Mei-Lana Chow RHN