Papaya Coffee body scrub.

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My friend Mary, a yoga teacher, has introduced me to a wonderful Papaya Coffee body scrub.

Mary has experienced some amazing treatments while vacationing in Costa Rica and this one was her favorite. After trying it myself I totally see why…

Ingredients:

All you will need is:  

a cup of fresh papaya meat (no seeds please)

1/2 banana 

1 Tbsp. of ground coffee.

How to prepare:

In a small bowl mush the papaya and banana.

Add the coffee.

How to apply:

Hop in the shower and start applying the mixture from the feet, working your way up. Work in a circular motion, always moving toward your heart.

Rinse off.

Moisturize your skin with an oil like almond, apricot, coconut...

This scrub smells wonderful, if you love coffee that is.  I can never drink coffee because it gives me jitters but this scrub I can definitely do. It will leave your skin smooth and your body invigorated. 

Why to use the papaya coffee scrub?

Besides smelling and feeling great this stuff actually does a very good job on your skin.

Use it in the morning; it will wake you up.

Native to Central America, papaya removes dead skin cells and is very effective for overall skin dryness; it nourishes the skin, lightens freckles and is used for healing wounds. It is rich in Vitamin A, C, E and beta-carotene as well as calcium, phosphorus and iron.

Coffee in this blend does much more than scrub your skin or wake you up.  Caffeine and coffee berries have the power to improve a number of common skin issues.

The caffeic acid found in coffee grounds can significantly affect anti-inflammatory activity and skin wound healing. The main chemical in coffee is caffeine, a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals, which can damage the inner layer of skin.

The scent of coffee acts to clear a person's mind of excessive thoughts and as an anti-depressant. 

Caffeine has a diuretic effect, which helps speed fluid on its way, reducing the appearance of cellulite.

If you have sensitive skin, coffee scrub may help soothe it by tightening your blood vessels.

Banana softens, nourishes and soothes sensitive and dry skin.

Enjoy your scrub!

Since you have used only a little part of your papaya fruit for this scrub you may as well splash some lime juice on the rest and have it for breakfast.

Papaya is high in digestive enzymes and has a tonic effect on the stomach. It also has a high mucus solvent action.

When consumed regularly papaya will improve the health of your skin, hair nails and eyes.

Let me know how you like it.

Magdalena

Janet Wilson from the Ottawa Citizen visits Woman Divine.

Thank you Janet!

Woman Divine offers raw vegan organic facial treatments that leave skin with a healthy glow, writes JANET WILSON
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Ottawa Citizen August 17, 2012 1:31 PM

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Holistic skincare therapist, Magdalena Tomczak, runs Woman Divine in Ottawa, which offers facials using fresh fruits and vegetables.

Magdalena Tomczak has been using food as medicine for the skin since her childhood while growing up in Poland. She followed her mother’s simple beauty regimen of using cucumber slices and tea bags on her eyes, honey as a facial mask and essential oils for stomach aches and colds.

Tomczak owns a holistic skincare clinic called Woman Divine in Westboro. She credits her “beautiful” 81-year-old mother for influencing her to study nutrition and herbal medicine and aromatherapy.

“Organic products are full of life and energy. You can’t compare them to products that sit on store shelves for two years,” she says. “I love the freshness of creating a mask using local products in the summer. I source everything from local growers in Aylmer and purchase exotic fruits from Herb & Spice on Wellington Street.”

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Tomczak moved to Ottawa 24 years ago and was one of the first in the area to get involved in the local organic skincare movement. While she makes most of her own treatments, she has been using anAustralian skincare line called Jurlique for 18 years.

After hearing glowing reviews about Tomczak’s raw vegan facial from a few neighbours, I recently decided to check out what the buzz was all about. Located on the second floor of a converted home on Churchill Avenue near bustling Westboro, Tomczak began offering this particular facial a year ago.

“I love it. I can fully customize the treatment and can make it as complex or as simple for the client. People with skincare allergies love it because it’s pure and there’s no fuss. You don’t have to worry about unlisted ingredients because what you see is what you get.”

For my visit, Tomczak showcased the natural ingredients in little glass dishes, including lavender, marshmallow root and rose petal infusions, cucumber juice, a blend of camellia oil, lavender essential oil and blue camomile, manuka honey, ground oats, almond butter, matcha green tea and white clay.

The raw vegan treatment, which costs $90 and is an hour long, starts with a cleansing process using manuka honey, oats, almond butter and marshmallow extract.

A lavender infusion spray is used to hydrate the face along with rose water and cucumber. A warm blast of steam opens the pores and readies the skin for deep cleansing, exfoliation and extractions, if needed. Tomczak offers a relaxing massage of the upper chest, shoulders, neck, face and scalp. After that, a face mask of apricot, honey, white clay and matcha tea is lathered onto to the skin and then it’s time for a foot massage.

In a word, the experience was blissful and one I hope to repeat in the not-so-distant future. I loved the feel and the smell of the natural ingredients on my body, the heavenly massage and listening to Tomczak’s insightful philosophy on how she chooses to lead her life and about her hopes to inspire those around her. I left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.

“I never believed in the five-step skincare routine, but I do believe in mindful, nurturing self-care and the power of touch, which is why massage is a big part of my treatments,” says the 49-year-old.

“I wish for women to take beauty into their own hands and to trust their intuition rather than the latest advertisement. Skin and the face are not separate from the rest of the body. They are very much a dynamic part of the whole being.”

Magdalena’s secret tips:

What can’t you live without:

I love working with oils especially rosehip seed oil. I use this vegetable oil to moisturize my skin on a regular basis. Rosehip is excellent for aging skin and heals burns and scars.

What else?

I also love lavender essential oil because it is an amazing skin-cell regenerator and it’s wonderful for the nervous system.


© Copyright (c) The Ottawa Citizen

Crudessence - my favorite raw food restaurant in Montreal.

I love Montreal because it is beautiful and fun but also because I always get to eat amazing food whenever I visit. Next time you are there make sure to stop by Crudessence, my favorite place for a raw, healthy and delicious meal. Even if you are not a raw foodie it is going to be a nice experience for your taste buds.
The place is slick, food is delicious, service very nice and their location is easy to access. Crudessence is located right downtown at 2157 Mackay and Sherbrooke. I never have any problems finding a close-by parking spot. They also have another location, their original tiny space at 105 rue Rachel West but the downtown one is definitely my first pick.

 

 

'Hippocrate' juice alkalizing, very green and very delicious.

My personal favorite 'Crape Florentine'. The crape is made with Brasilia nuts, chia seeds and linseeds. How do they do it? Very filling and tasty.

 Chocolate cake, lime pie and pistachio ice cream, yummm!

Crudessence is very busy on the weekends, especially at lunch and dinner time. Make sure to call for a reservation. 514 6645188
Let me know how you like it:))