A couple of months ago, I was watching an episode of Oprah about the beauty practices of women all over the world. It featured a segment on the Indian practice of incorporating fruit, herbs, and spices into facials. A few of my loyal, Indian clients have told me about these amazing food-based treatments offered in India and I find it totally inspiring.
At Studio Organics we've been using spices, particularly paprika, to bring a glow to the skin for years. One of my favorite facial treatments is our AHA/Paprika facial, which is a two-layer peel that exfoliates the skin with natural alpha-hydroxy fruit acid and stimulates the skin with an herbal mixture of paprika, rosemary, sage, and thyme. This treatment produces the most beautiful, rosy look to the complexion. And the gorgeous effects last for days.
My hottest new obsession is Eminence's Almond and Mineral Treatment, a weekly, at-home treatment for all skin types. The crushed almonds in this product revitalize the skin while the minerals nourish, enrich, and heal. But my favorite ingredient, of course, is the paprika. In just a few minutes, the heat from the spice brings a flushed look to the skin. Once removed, the skin calms and only a beautiful, healthy glow remains.
It seems like our obsession here in America is to peel, peel, peel away the layers of skin until we achieve a youthful glow. But all of that exfoliation can take its toll. Hot spices like paprika are a safer and quicker way to get a pretty complexion. Just take it easy at first. Your first experience with spice can be a shocking one. Be prepared for a bit of discomfort (you can even dilute your paprika treatments with water, toner, or tea to make it easier) but the beautiful results are totally worth it!
