Striving4Zen

Move over, chamomile. These science-tested sips leave you more focused, less frazzled.

Jones GABA is a non-caffeinated tea and juice blend that features GABA (gamma-aminobutyric acid), an ingredient that helps rev the production of calming alpha brain waves and decrease beta brain waves, which are linked to nervousness. Grab it at a store near you.

Slow Cow calls itself the anti-energy drink. It contains L-Theanine, which is supposed to help you relax without causing sleepiness. Research suggests the ingredient can also improve your ability to learn and memorize new information. The beverage is only available in Canada for now, but will hit U.S. shelves soon.

Red Espresso isn't your normal cuppa joe--it's actually caffeine-free rooibos tea that you brew in a coffee maker or espresso machine. The ruby-hued brew packs more than 5 times the amount of brain-sharpening antioxidants as green tea and fans swear it eases insomnia, reduces anxiety and soothes digestion. Find it at Whole Foods or order it here.

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Labels: anti-stress, beverages, bottled tea, calming, chamomile, cool new product, GABA, health trend, healthy beverage, l-theanine, rooibos

Scouring the planet for traditional therapies is the freshest way to diversify your regimen. Now that science is confirming the benefits of these ancient beauty secrets, it's becoming increasingly easy to find them in the personal care aisle of your natural products store.

1. Acaí, Brazil
This is the age of acaí: Beauty care products containing the red palm berry are popping up everywhere. And for good reason. Acaí, which has been used by Amazonian tribes as a medicinal cure-all for centuries, is loaded with free radical neutralizing antioxidants that help prevent sun and environmental damage, making skin look younger longer. This superfruit also contains phytosterols and flavonoids, which encourage collagen production to prevent premature wrinkling — even after skin has been exposed to harmful ultraviolet rays, says Karen Dunlap, an aesthetician and owner of Karen's Specialty Skin Care salon. Add in omega-6 and omega-9 fatty acids, which help keep cells supple and moist, and this berry is a powerful skin food. Effective when ingested or used topically.

Try it in≫ MyChelle Tropical Skin Smoother; Pangea Organics Japanese Matcha Tea with Acaí & Goji Berry Facial Mask

2. Neem, India
A cornerstone of Ayurvedic medicine, the neem tree is widely referred to as the “village pharmacy” in its native country. Here, you'll find its leaves and seed oil in everything from pest control and toothpaste to shampoo and soap. Filled with long-chain fatty acids, antioxidants, and glycerides, neem's garlicky smelling oil quickly penetrates and moisturizes chronically dry skin. Plus, its antihistamine and antibacterial properties prevent dermatitis and other skin infections and can relieve itchiness. Use liberally on dry and inflamed areas.

Try it in≫ Organix-South TheraNeem Certified Organic Neem Oil; Auromére Vanilla-Neem Soap

3. Rooibos, South Africa
Tea for your T-zone isn't a secret — natural skin care has featured antioxidant-rich green and white teas for years. “But your cells needs a multitude of antioxidants, which each offer different benefits, to stay healthy,” says Ray Sahelian, MD, a LA supplements specialist. As the only source of the antioxidant aspalathin, rooibos — a red tea traditionally used by the South African Khoisan tribe — is on the up-and-up. Aspalathin is an anti-inflammatory polyphenol that reduces eczema's and acne's dry, flaky symptoms. New research suggests this antioxidant is most abundant and beneficial when rooibos is in its green (unfermented) form, commonly found in personal care products, rather than as a drinkable tea.

Try it in≫ Alaffia Rooibos & Shea Butter Antioxidant Face Cream; Jason Red Elements Hydrating Lotion Cleanser

4. Sake & rice bran, Japan
The Japanese have used rice to brighten their skin for hundreds of years, says Shizuka Bernstein, an aesthetician and owner of Shizuka New York Day Spa. Rice's bran — its hard outer layer — has potent antioxidant activity, and its oils help eradicate dry skin by increasing sebaceous gland secretions. After scrubbing away dead cells with a rice-bran-based exfoliant, tone skin with sake — Japanese rice wine. A byproduct of sake's fermentation process, kojic acid evens and lightens skin tone by suppressing melanin formation. Simply add a few splashes of sake to a hot bath.

Try it in≫ Zia Skin Basics Bamboo Exfoliant with Rice Bran; Queen Bee Sauce Javanese Rice Bran Face Paste

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Labels: acai, beauty, MyChelle, Neem, organic skin care, phytosterols, rice, rooibos, skin care

Think you have the healthy lifestyle down?

Then slow the aging process with these up-and-coming plant-based ingredients.

Argan oil

Argan oil, made from the nuts of a Moroccan tree species, contains twice as much vitamin E as olive oil. Like other antioxidants, vitamin E slows the damaging effects of free radicals — molecules in your body that start attacking and breaking down healthy cells when exposed to environmental stressors, such as ultraviolet rays and car exhaust. Argan oil is also rich in squalene, a compound that promotes collagen production. Look for argan oil in ingredients lists, or cook with this slightly nutty oil. Because argan trees are a threatened species, make sure that any product you buy comes from sustainably harvested nuts.

Find it in: L'uvalla Age-Defying Day & Night Moisturizing Cream; Pangea Organics Italian Red Mandarin with Rose Facial Cream.

Astaxanthin

To keep those crow's feet under control, get in the habit of putting on sunscreen — every day. Using sunscreen is the “number-one thing” you can do to stop premature aging, says Goldin. Still, not all sunscreens are created equal. Check for creams that contain physical blocks like zinc oxide and titanium dioxide, as well as astaxanthin, a carotenoid harvested from microalgae (it's also found in salmon). This antioxidant packs a double punch: Not only does it protect cells from future damage when applied before sun exposure, but it also shores up skin after a day outside by fighting off oxidative damage.

Find it in: Derma E Anti-Aging Moisturizing Complex with SPF 15; MyChelle Dermaceuticals Perfect C Serum.

Red tea

The skin care aisle is flooded with salves and moisturizers that contain green tea — and for good reason — but over the next couple of years, red will become the new green. Recent studies show that red tea, also called rooibos (pronounced “ROY-boss”), contains nearly 50 percent more skin-salvaging antioxidants than green tea. Bonus: This South African tea is caffeine-free and packed with zinc, a mineral that helps the body metabolize fatty acids and keep cells plump.

Find it in: Jason Red Elements Daily Moisturizing Lotion with SPF 15. Or sip Honest Tea Pomegranate Red Tea with Goji Berry.

Turmeric

The spice that makes mustard and curry yellow, turmeric is one of nature's most powerful antioxidant and anti-inflammatory herbs. Curcumin, a naturally occurring chemical in the spice, slows down the aging process by fighting inflammation-causing proteins called cytokines. Don't like Indian food? Turmeric is just as effective in supplement form.

Find it in: Avalon Organics Lavender Moisture Plus Lotion with SPF 18. Or take 500 mg turmeric capsules three times per day, after eating.

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Labels: anti-aging, Argan, argan oil, astaxanthin, curcumin, natural products, red tea, rooibos, skin care, turmeric

Rooibos is a naturally-decaffeinated and full-bodied tea that comes from a bright-green needled shrub in South Africa. When the needles are processed they turn red, and in Afrikaans, rooibos actually means red bush.
Not only is rooibos low in tannins, but it has a strong aroma and is one of the most popular drinks in South Africa. In addition to tasting delicious and being an excellent source of antioxidants (it contains higher concentrations than other teas), it can also be used as a toner on your skin to reduce puffiness and redness, especially around your eyes.

Labels: Anti-oxidant, rooibos, tea

Gary Goldfaden, M.D., who has practiced dermatology for 40 years, has become a true believer in the power of red tea. That is why he is bringing the ingredient to skin care with the launch of a preventative and restorative line, called Goldfaden.
Goldfaden was searching for a topical antiaging, antioxidant ingredient and discovered the benefits found in red tea — also known as rooibos — from his mother-in-law, who stocked boxes of the tea in her cupboard. He later learned that she had discovered this traditional secret through her South African caretaker, who used the ingredient for its nutrients and antioxidant benefits.
"It is proven that red tea had more than twice the antioxidant benefits of green tea," said Goldfaden, who founded the family-run business now run by his son Robert, the chief executive officer, and daughter Lisa, director of marketing. "Not only does it have extremely high levels of antioxidants compared to green tea, but it has one of the most potent of all antioxidants called super oxide dismutase. It's something in tea that acts as a protective barrier against environmental damage and free radicals. Once you pass the age of 25, the amount starts depleting, so it needs to be added externally."

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Labels: Anti-oxidant, red tea, rooibos, skincare