A Big Shout Out to my Girl, Ka'iulani Carr, Miss Waikiki 2014!!!!

It's the last day of the year and so many things have happened so fast and furious! No pun intended....Rest in Peace Paul Walker, you gorgeous surfing kane.

Although there are so many things to comment about, I really want to take the time to Congratulate my dear friend, fellow dancer, and sometimes partner in crime, Miss Ka'iulani Carr for taking home the Miss Waikiki crown on December 29, 2013!! I'm sending you a big "CHEEEEEEWHOOOOOOO!!" (I really don't like it when wahines say that, but I knew you'd appreciate it).

Ka'iulani also won Miss Ala Moana USA earlier this year and came in 3rd place for Miss Hawaii 2013. Huge accomplishments back to back!!

For those of you who don't know her, Ka'iulani is the most beautiful hula and polynesian dancer. She not only has the perfect dancers body with her long and lanky physique, she also has impeccable timing and is truly a "natural" when it comes to dancing. She dances with all of her heart and you can't take your eyes off of her when she is on stage.

In addition to being mad talented, she is also extremely funny, witty, and a great actress. I wish I had a video of every crazy skit we've done impromptu in our dressing rooms because they could have very well been youtube sensations hahaha. And, not only is she a riot, but she is also very intelligent, educated (Kamehameha woot woot!), and knowlegable about everything in general, including Hawaiiana. But what I respect the most about Ka'iulani is her strong MANA (spirit). Meaning no mattter what is going on in her life, she always has a smile on her face, a spring in her step, and a great attitude.

Did I mention she is drop dead gorgeous?! I didn't think I needed to point that out, but the girl has the most amazing skin. She doesn't do much to it to take good care of it and it always looks flawless. This is when you can thank your parents for good genes. Gotta love that Hawaiian and Irish skin.

Congratulations Ka'iulani!!! You're a true Princess and all your hard work is well deserved!!!!

p.s. let me know when your ready to "thread" those caterpillars and "sugar"your underarm vana teehee!!

xoxo
C

Ka'iulani Carr: Miss Waikiki 2014, Miss Ala  Moana USA, & 3rd Runner Up, Miss Hawaii.

Taking a break in a photo booth from a gig at The Blaisdell Center.

Goofing Off

Back stage dressing room at The Hawaii Theatre, downtown Honolulu.

The Gracie Diet

If you live in Hawaii, there are several activities that you will be into. Those activities will include surfing, polynesian dancing, hiking, golfing, fishing, horseback riding, and Gracie Jiu-Jitsu.

Gracie Jiu-Jitsu is a huge sport in Hawaii and most guys (and wahines!) are either training in it or watching it in competitions.

I first learned about Gracie Jiu-Jitsu when I moved to Oahu from Kauai for college. My Kauaiian girlfriends and I had made friends with some Brazilian kanes (men) who lived and trained with Relson Gracie, the founder of the Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy at the University of Hawaii at Manoa. It was at Relson's home near Kahala that I learned about the special Gracie Diet that he and his students ate to be at their best.

Relson and our friends would make the most delicious and nutritious foods. I remember eating BBQ chicken from the grill and a pumpkin soup that gave us so much energy we swore the cooks had spiked it with something if you know what I mean! We never gave the diet much thought back then because we were young and full of energy anyway, but now I can see the full effects of this special diet having watched Relson and his students live long healthy and active lives throughout the years.

My friend Romolo Barros is a black belt instructor in Gracie Jiu-Jitsu and helps Relson with his Academy. Romolo has been practicing jiu-jitsu and the Gracie diet his whole life and rarely ever comes down with an illness. He swears by the diet for optimal health.

I try to follow the diet as much as possible and when I do, I am able to tell the difference in my health.  I digest food faster, have no bloating, and I have more energy throughout the day and night. It really does make a difference!

The Gracie Diet was created by Carlos Gracie, the patriarch of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and the Gracie Family. The Gracie Diet is all about proper food combinations; the objective is to prevent blood acidity and fermentation that could be caused by unhealthy chemical reactions of food within the body.  The Gracie Diet enables your body to use less energy for digestion, freeing your body to have more energy.

The Basic Rules of the Gracie Diet:

• no sugar or syrup
• no vinegar
• no pork
• only day old whole flour bread served toasted or oven warmed

The Diet is divided into several different Food Groups:

• Group A: Animal protein, fats & oils, and vegetables.
• Group B: Cereals.
• Group C: Sweet fruits
• Group D: Acid food (in majority of fruits).

Food combining Guidelines:

• Group A combines with each other and with one of Group B.
• Group C combines with each other and with one of Group B.
• Group B does not combine with each other.
• Group D can only be consumed individually. 
• Banana & Milk are not included in any of the groups since they have chemical combinations of their own. 

Group A combines with Group B

Relson Gracie being promoted to Grandmaster (red belt) on April 7, 2013. 

Romolo Barros (black belt) still looking young and fit.

Romolo with Hawaii's Governor Abercrombie.

Romolo sending me a peace out pic as he flys off to Rio De Janeiro for the holidays.

Guava Leaves for Skin Problems

In Hawaii, we are so lucky to have an abundance of tropical fruits and flowers right in our backyards. Many of these fruits are not only a good source of food, but also a great resource for medical conditions. 

In Hawaii, it is also very normal to live with extended family members. I was lucky to grow up around my maternal grandparents on the same property. My grandmother was an avid holistic practitioner, which she learned from her family growing up in Southeast Asia. For example, my great grandmother was a midwife and would massage the bellies of pregnant mothers with coconut oil (which I will have to blog about later). However, being that my mother was a nurse and practiced  primarily western medical practices I often did not take the holistic approach as seriously as I should have, until recently. 

About a year ago my mother suffered from a rash under her foot and on different parts of her body. We went to the dermatologist twice and she applied the prescription topical ointments like she was supposed to, but it didn't get any better. We waited a couple months to give the medicines enough time to work and it just seemed to prolong the problem with little significant progress.

Taken at Dr. Stella Matsuda's office at Kuakini Physician's Center

I finally told my mom that we should try my late grandmother's home remedies of soaking skin problems in guava leaf tea (she would have us kids soak in a bathtub of warm guava leaf tea for rashes, chicken pox, etc.). So, we cut down a bunch of branches from our yard and boiled a large pot of guava leaves with water until the water turned brown like tea. Then my mom soaked her foot in the pot while she watched t.v. When she was done she noticed that her foot did not have an itching sensation anymore and the next day it literally healed by 50%. By the end of a week it had completely cleared up. I was amazed and became a total believer. And, to think of all the money and time spent on medication and doctor trips and agonizing prolonged pain!

If you are suffering from skin issues, guava leaves are a great way to naturally rid yourself of all types of skin rashes and irritants.  Give it a try!

Ingredients:
-Fresh guava leaves (a lot!)
-a pot big enough for your ailment or bathtub.
-hot water

Recipe:
-boil the guava leaves in a pot with water or fill your bathtub with hot water and soak the leaves until it turns brown like tea. 

Instructions:
-soak your body part with the rash in the guava tea for at least 30-45 minutes a day until gone. 

*Guava leaf tea is also beneficial when you drink it. It's effective for weight control and reducing body fat because it inhibits the absorption of glucose into the body and the conversion of glucose to body fat. 

Guava Tree

Guavas & Guava Leaves

All Natural "Sugaring" Hair Removal

Body sugaring is an ancient Egyptian method of hair removal using a 100% natural paste of sugar, lemon and water. 

Technicians will apply the sugar paste by hand against your hair growth so that when the hair is removed in a flicking motion it’s pulled out by the follicle in the direction of hair growth. This drastically reduces the occurrence of hair breakage, unnecessary discomfort, irritation and ingrown hairs while exfoliating dry skin cells. Sugaring also removes smaller, harder to grab hairs.

Sugar paste is safe for all skin types, even the most sensitive! Since the sugar never adheres to live skin cells, only the dead cells will be removed acting as a gentle exfoliation. 

The Benefits of Sugaring compared to Waxing:
-Sugar is all natural whereas wax is made primarily of resins and contain artificial fragrances, dyes, chemicals, and preservatives.
-Sugar paste is lukewarm, therefore, it will not burn the skin. 
-Sugar paste removes dead skin cells; wax adheres to live skin cells increasing the risk of tearing and redness.
-Sugaring paste is water soluble, meaning you can wash it off with water; wax needs to be taken off with a special wax remover, baby oil or petroleum jelly.
-Bacteria does not breed or survive in sugar; bacteria breeds in wax.

Please contact me at hawaiianbeautydiaries@gmail.com or text me at 808.381.1052 if you are interested in body sugaring services. We provide services in the Koloa area of Kauai. 

Glutathione: The Anti-Aging Antioxidant in our Body

GLUTATHIONE.     Where do I begin?      I LOVE IT.

Glutathione is a master antioxidant in our body. As we get older, glutathione decreases in our body, making us more susceptible to inflammation and aging.  As we age, we are exposed to toxic things in the environment, including the lack of an abundance of nutritious foods that are needed to support our cells for optimal health. 

Think of yourself as a sliced apple. The inside of the apple begins to oxidize once it is exposed to the environment; it starts to turn brown and decay, much like the aging process. Now think of glutathione as the lemon juice that is squeezed onto the apple slice; this process stops the apple from oxidizing (hence anti-oxidant) and keeps it fresh and white for many hours after the receiving the lemon. This is why Glutathione is considered a master antioxidant and is beneficial for anti-aging.

Please see my video post on Dr. Robert Keller, who goes more into depth about glutathione. Dr. Keller created MaxGXL, a glutathione accelerator supplement. Dr. Keller served on the scientific review panels for the National Institutes of Health and the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. Recognized as one of America's "Top Physicians in 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 in the fields of Internal Medicine, Immunology and Hematology" by The Consumers' Research Council. I started to use it after seeing the amazing results that my friends were having. I mean these guys were lean and body rocking! They had lost at least 30 lbs. or more and looked fantastic. I am not promoting MaxGXL in any way. I am merely sharing that I did  notice that my body was detoxing, I had more energy than before, and my skin was radiant. 

Good to know:
-There aren't any foods you can eat to give you glutathione.
-You can't take a supplement claiming to give you glutathione because it will be broken up and destroyed in the stomach from your stomach acids making it ineffective. 
-You can take supplements that accelerate the glutathione that you already have in your body to produce more glutathione. 
-Glutathione helps you detox, decreases inflammation, and gives your more energy. 
-A side effect for glutathione is it lightens your skin. 

Glutathione may be relatively new to the United States, but in Asia it has been known and used for beauty products for many many years. One of the main reasons is because it lightens your skin as a side effect and white skin in Asia is a symbol of beauty. My cousin Ani from the Philippines is a famous model there and she (like many women in the Philippines do), takes glutathione shots even though she was already born fair skinned. 

You can find glutathione injections on the Internet, mostly from Asian websites. I have never tried any of them and I am not promoting that you do. Any info on my site is subject to your own research and at your own risk. [www.flawlessbeautyandskinph.com]

I recently found a naturopathic doctor here on Kauai who provides glutathione and vitamin IV's. This means that you can get glutathione intravenously administered straight into your veins bypassing the stomach altogether. [www.drcarriebrennan.com]

My beautiful cousin Ani with no makeup

Ani modeling for Avenue Montaigne

Dr. Robert Keller talks about Glutathione

The Aloha Spirit

Many people around the world are familiar by now with the term "Aloha Spirit." For many tourist or malihini (transplants) The Aloha Spirit means the car bumper sticker that annoyingly says "Live Aloha" or someone allowing you to take a left turn in heavy traffic. Yes, we have traffic in Hawaii!! But, this is just the surface of what Aloha really means. In fact, many people in Hawaii, including locals, tend to use The Aloha Spirit in the complete opposite way of what it really truly means. Often times it is used in a condescending or scolding manner or even as a sense of entitlement. Growing up on Kauai, I was blessed to be raised among Hawaiians who really exuded The Aloha Spirit and it was through their role modeling that I learned what the essense of Aloha really was and meant from an early age. This doesn't imply that I have "aloha" everyday because there are days when it is very difficult, but at least I know the difference and that's half the battle! 

Many people are also unaware that The Aloha Spirit is an existing law in Hawaii since 1986. It is to me one of the best explanations of The Aloha Spirit. The law states that all citizens and government officials of Hawai`i are obligated by law to conduct themselves in accordance with this law, while performing their duties and obligations, as well as in their day-to-day living. Likewise, those visiting our fair islands are expected to conduct themselves in accordance with this Hawaiian law. 

The Aloha Spirit Law, 1986, Hawai`i Revised Statutes (5.7-5)

	[§5-7.5]  "Aloha Spirit"  (a)  "Aloha Spirit" is the coordination of mind and heart within each person.  It brings each person to the self.  Each person must think and emote good feelings to others.  In the contemplation and presence of the life force, "Aloha", the following unuhi laula loa (free translation) may be used: Akahai, [ah kah hai'], meaning kindness to be expressed with tenderness;      Lōkahi, [LOH' kah hee], meaning unity, to be expressed with harmony; `Olu`olu, [oh' loo oh' loo], meaning agreeable, to be expressed with pleasantness; Ha`aha`a, [hah' ah hah' ah], meaning humility, to be expressed with modesty; Ahonui, [ah hoh nui'], meaning patience, to be expressed with perseverance. These are traits of character that express the charm, warmth and sincerity of Hawaii's people.  It was the working philosophy of native Hawaiians and was presented as a gift to the people of Hawaii.  "Aloha" is more than a word of greeting or farewell or a salutation.  "Aloha" means mutual regard and affection and extends warmth in caring with no obligation in return.  "Aloha" is the essence of relationships in which each person is important to every other person for collective existence.  "Aloha" means to hear what is not said, to see what cannot be seen and to know the unknowable.  (b)  In exercising their power on behalf of the people and in fulfillment of their responsibilities, obligations and service to the people, the legislature, governor, lieutenant governor, executive officers of each department, the chief justice, associate justices, and judges of the appellate, circuit, and district courts may contemplate and reside with the life force and give consideration to the "Aloha Spirit". [L 1986, c 202, §1] The yellow hibiscus: the official state flower of Hawaii

The Beauty Detox Solution: Beauty Food Pairing Cheat Sheet

Now that you've learned about food pairing in my Beauty Detox Solution blog, here is an easier cheat sheet to use when having a meal.

Beauty Food Pairing Cheat Sheet

1. Starches DO MIX with Veggies.

2. Proteins DO MIX with Veggies.

3. Proteins & Starches DO NOT MIX.

4. Different Proteins DO NOT MIX.

5. Different Starches DO MIX.

6. Fats DO NOT MIX well with Protein; pair moderately.

7. Fats DO MIX with Starches.

8. Fruits should be eaten on an empty stomach.

9. Fruits mix with raw greens (but not melons).

*non-concentrated foods are ripe fruits and non-starch vegetables; everything else is a concentrated food.

The general rule is to wait three to four hours before eating one concentrated food before eating another for maximum digestion. More Energy = More Beauty!

                                                                            YES


Starch & Veggies
Yams, brussel sprouts, and cauliflower



Fruits Alone



Fruits & raw green veggies
Star fruit, spinach, red bell pepper

 

Different Starches
Red Potato & Yam puree



Fats & Starches
Baked Yam with Butter





Protein & Veggies
Steak and mixed greens



The Beauty Detox Solution for Beauty & Anti-Aging

I've been wanting to blog about Kimberly Snyder's book, "The Beauty Detox Solution" for some time now as I had previously mentioned in my blog about the documentary "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead."

If you don't already know who Kimberly Snyder is, she is a New York Times best selling author and go-to nutritionist for many celebrities. She is a clinical nutritionist and beauty consultant. She has been featured on the Dr. Oz Show, The Today Show, Good Morning America, etc., etc.  She famous for her "Green Glowing Smoothie" and has recently opened a a juice bar called Glow BIO in L.A.

 The Beauty Detox Solution is basically working on the body from a cellular level, which increases energy, achieves mental and physical balance, and gives you beautiful hair and skin naturally. In other words, there is No Need for chemicals from beauty products, energy drinks, or supplements to be beautiful and healthy!

Kimberly's philosophy is that "your outer beauty is a reflection of your inner health." Basically, you ARE what you EAT!

So, I'm going to save you the time from reading the book and tell you the nitty gritty.

The Beauty Detox Solution believes in  Food Pairing.  Many diets out there also believe in this, such as The Gracie Diet (food combinations), which I will blog about later. Food Pairing is eating only certain foods together. This process allows your body to digest your food faster and give your more energy (hence, this is why jiu jitsu guys do this) and you will feel fantastic.

Beauty Rule #1 - Your body can properly digest only one concentrated non-water containing food at a time in order to maximize digestion. For example, if you eat chicken and beef at the same time it will take twice as long to digest your food and it is a huge energy drainer. Kanak Attack!!
*non-concentrated foods are ripe fruits and non-starch vegetables, everything else is a concentrated food.

Beauty Rule #2 - Proteins and Starches DO NOT mix. Again, it takes longer for the body to break down these foods together because protein needs an acidic stomach environment to digest and starch needs an alkaline environment, which can't happen at the same time without it taking much longer to do!! Then you get the Kanak Attack again! No energy and just plain lethargic.

Beauty Rule #3 - Vegetables are neutral and simple for the body to digest. Eat as many veggies as you want!!!!

Beauty Rule #4 - Mixing Starches is Okay. For example, you can eat quinoa and sweet potato together.

Beauty Rule #5 - Mixing 2 different types of animal protein is NOT Okay. It just takes too long to digest and it will end up rotting in your stomach....ewwww!

Beauty Rule #6 - Fats should be eaten moderaltely with protein (animal & plant), but are okay to eat with carbohydrates. For example, you would not eat a lot of nuts and a large avocado. This could prevent efficient weight loss.

Beauty Rule #7 - Fruit should be eaten on an empty stomach. Fruit breaks down the quickest of all foods, but when it taken after foods that take longer to digest it will ferment and acidify the whole meal.

Following this diet will also help to slow down the aging process by increasing your energy, giving you a lean and toned body naturally, and beautiful skin and hair.

Dr. Norman Walker, a pioneer in raw foods and juicing, was quoted in Kimberly's book.
"The greatest friends of old age are fermentation and putrefication. Both of these are natural processes of disintegration. That is why they speed up the aging of people." He lived physically and mentally healthy up to the age of 99 when he died a natural death in his sleep.

*For those of you who don't know what a "kanak attack" is, it's when you eat a large meal, usually a "plate lunch" that consists of rice, meat, and macaroni salad, and all you want to do after is fall asleep under a coconut tree.

Now that I've been juicing for several months now, I'm ready to try something new. I'll give this a go for a month and let you know my critique on it.  Aloha! xoxo

Juicing for Optimal Health

Juicing has become all the craze since the documentary "Fat, Sick, & Nearly Dead" came out in 2010. I strongly recommend you watch it if you haven't done so already. In a nutshell, Joe Cross, an overweight and sickly successful business man from Australia decides to lose a large amount of weight and to cure himself of a curious rash that plagued his body by juice fasting for 60 days. Once a very good looking man in his early 20's, he looked nothing close to that in his 40's. He had a large "beer belly" gut and his skin was a hot mess. So he drove across America with his juice machine, drinking only fruits and vegetables, and ironically met a trucker along the way who was morbidly obese and had the same exact rare rash problem he did! Well, he got him on his juicing program and by the end of the 60 days, both men lost over a 100 lbs and no longer needed to take their medications because their rash issue completely disappeared! It is also important to note that both men were being monitored by a physician during the entire process. 

Being a skeptic, I didn't think it was possible to just live on juice alone. It almost seemed unhealthy?  It's as if you need to chew food in order for it to be considered healthy for you?? But after doing it myself continually for the last 6 months, I know now that that idea is a complete fallacy.

• The fruits and vegetables in your juice is ALL of the nutrients and vitamins you need. Vegetarians are alive and well.

• You can juice as much or as little as you want to. It just depends on how hungry you are. I promise you that you will get full if you drink enough juice.

• You need to make a paradigm shift in your mind that drinking juice IS a complete meal and you don't have to eat/chew food in order for that to be a meal. 

What to Expect When You Begin Juicing:

• You WILL feel lethargic and possibly sickly for the first two weeks. Your body is detoxing and this feeling is normal and it WILL pass. 

• You will be going to the restroom several times a day. Again, your body is detoxing and you are losing weight by doing so. 

Benefits of Juicing:

• You will have a flatter belly because you will eliminate bloating in your belly.

• You will feel more alert mentally and you will have more energy (once you get over the two week hump). 

• Your skin will clear up and have a healthy glow.

Juicing Tips:

• Get a decent juicer/blender. Preferably one that can emulsify the fibers in your fruits and veggies as well. I started out with the Nutri Bullet and it was fine for me, but now I'm ready to invest in a Vitamix blender now that I'm sold on juicing. 

• Always put dark leafy greens in your juice concoction, like Kale or Spinach, and mix it with a fruit (apple, pear, pineapple, etc.) and it won't even taste like your drinking veggies. It's going to taste good! 

• 99% of the time, anything you blend together with a fruit will taste ono! Don't worry too much about recipes. 

• Follow the "Green Glowing Smoothie" recipe that all the celebrities use by Kimberly Snyder, infamous author of the book "The Beauty Detox." Look forward to my blog.

• Take advantage of local fruits, like soursop, which is considered one of the most healthiest fruits since it is known to prevent and cure cancer.

• Do not eat seeds. It can actually be dangerous for you.

Try it for yourself and comment below on your beauty benefits :) xoxo

Skin Care Regimen Recommended Products

I have been getting a lot of requests regarding the recommended skin care products to use following my post on "Evergreen Beauty = Maintenance." 

Listed below is the products that Dr. Denese recommends. I have used most of these products myself and they are very effective. Since her book came out in 2005, obviously there are newer products that have come out since then, however, I have not researched some of the newer products to see if they meet the "science" that is needed to be effective. I like to follow the motto, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it", therefore, I know for sure that Dr. Denese's recommendations work true and true. 

Dr. Denese's Product Recommendations:

• Skinceuticals Simply Clean Pro-refining Gel Cleanser

•  Facial Firming Pads by Dr. Denese (glycolic acid)

• Dr. Perricone's Pore Refining Toner Pads 

(glycolic acid)

• DDF Glycolic 10% Daily Cleansing Pads 

(glycolic acid)

• Dr. Brandt Exfoliation (microdermabrasion scrub)

• Loreal Refinish Microdermabrasion Kit 

(microdermabrasion scrub)

• Skinceuticals Serum 15 (serum 15 AOX)

• Cellex C High Potency Serum 

• Elizabeth Arden Bye Lines Anti-Aging Serum

• Hydro Shield Ultra Moisturizing Serum by Dr. Denese

Products I use and can't live without:

• Avon Anew Revitalizing 2 in 1 Gel Cleanser

• Glycolix 10% Gentle Facial Cleanser

• Glycolix 20% Treatment Pads 

• Mary Kay Timewise Microdermabrasion scrub

• Skinceuticals Phloretin CF 

• EltaMD UV Broad-Spectrum SPF 46 Facial Sunscreen (ELLE Genius Award 2010)

The products listed above are similar to the ones Dr. Denese recommends, but are a lot cheaper, except for Mary Kay, Skinceuticals, & EltaMD. 

So there you go! You're on your way to beautiful, youthful, glowing skin!

If you have the time, I would love to hear how the skincare regimen is working for you or comment if you have any questions.  Mahalo! xoxo

Evergreen Beauty = Maintenance!!!

I'm always fascinated by women who seem to have the fountain of youth. How do they stay so evergreen? What's their secret? The secret is MAINTENANCE. You have to be very disciplined when it comes to your beauty and health regimens. No matter how tired you are - you just gotta do it! I was lucky to have older friends in the entertainment business that role-modeled these good habits for me and I've passed that down to younger dancers that I've worked with. Now, whenever they see me, they say, "maintenance, maintenance, maintenance!"  It's my mantra! 

There seems to be a common thread in maintaining a youthful appearance and having more vitality. Some famous female celebrities that demonstrate these traits are Courtney Cox (48yrs), Elle Macpherson (50yrs), Halle Berry (46yrs), Cindy Crawford (47yrs), and Mimi Kirk (73yrs). 

Here are some Maintenance Tips:

*Eat a vegetarian diet. 
Mimi Kirk is famous for being  a 73yr.old vegetarian and looking 20 years younger. 

*Eat a low fat, low carb, low sugar diet.
Most celebrities follow this diet anyway, but especially Halle Berry who is diabetic. 

*Have a strict and religious skin care regimen
Courtney Cox and Cindy Crawford are religious about their daily skincare and using sunscreen. They also are not afraid to admit that they use preventive care like botox to help as well.

*Exercise often
Elle Macpherson reported that she does some type of sport activity every day and has done so her whole life. Courtney Cox also commented that she plays tennis every week for the last 20 years. Cindy Crawford exercises at home in between chores and Halle Berry works out with her trainer. I've been dancing for 20 years plus and it has really helped me maintain without even trying. In other words, Use It or Lose It! 

*Do yoga
Being flexible will also help you to remain evergreen and keep you healthy mentally, physically, and internally. Where the mind goes, the body follows. 

*Juice and/or take vitamin supplements
I strongly suggest that you juice over taking supplements, but if you can't do that you need to get your nutrition somewhere and there's no way your going to get everything  your body needs by just having meals alone. It's just the bad FDA world we live in today unfortunately. Put in lots of dark leafy greens with an apple or pear and you will never know that your drinking a bunch of veggies - it's that good! 

*Drink LOTS of water
We all know this is good for our skin, but it's also excellent for providing energy and vitality to our bodies. I'm totally guilty of not drinking enough water and can go all day without even thinking of it so don't feel bad if your guilty too.

*Laugh a lot
That's right, life is supposed to be fun and not so serious, so laugh often and you will have less stress and frown wrinkles. 

Courtney Cox (48yrs)

Elle Macpherson (50yrs)

Halle Berry (46yrs)

Cindy Crawford (47yrs)

Mimi Kirk (73yrs)

Secrets for Beautiful Hair

In Hawaii, long hair is the traditionally favored style for most women. Long hair is considered very feminine and sexy and makes wahines (women) look fine and exotic.

Here are some tips on having beautiful, healthy, shiny hair:

1. Massage your scalp. Press hard on your scalp with your fingertips and massage your whole head. This gets the circulation going and can even help with individuals suffering from small bald spots.

2. Get a scalp brushing. My favorite place to do this is at Ulupono Academy, A Paul Mitchell beauty school salon, in Kaimuki, Oahu. It's really inexpensive, and great for your scalp. Students will use a hair brush to brush your scalp in sections and invigorate your scalp and hair follicles and exfoliate the skin.

3. Brush your hair, especially the scalp. My girlfriend, Iwa, has the most beautiful long hair and she brushes her hair every night at least a 100 times. I remember Frederick Fekai saying the same thing once in an interview. The proof is in the haupia pudding!

4. Take prenatal vitamins. I know this sounds crazy and I'm not promoting that you get hapai (pregnant), but prenatal pills is a hula dancers secret! We take prenatal pills when we want our hair to grow longer and faster. Plus you get the benefits of healthy full hair and strong nails.

5.  Deep condition your hair weekly. I like to use Biolage deep conditioning balm when I am home. Put a lot on damp hair, put it in a bun, and do your housework. If you want extra conditioning, put a shower cap around it so that it seals in more heat. I also like to use oils, such as organic argan oil, coconut oil, or manoi (Tahitian) oil. I will put this in my hair in a tight bun before I go into my Bickram hot yoga class, and by the end of the class my hair is deeply conditioned. You can also do this before entering a steam room, but be sure that the oil/conditioner in your hair does not get all over the steam room or you may not be welcome there anymore!

6. Eat healthy and try not to dye your hair too often. Try to eat lots of dark leafy green vegetables and give your hair a break by not dying it too often or using hair products that damage your hair on a daily basis.

7. Let your hair air dry instead of blow drying it.

8. Do not comb your hair while it is wet to prevent breakage.

The Beauty Bible for Akamai (smart) Product Shopping

Many years ago I stumbled upon a beauty skincare book at Border's in Waikele, Oahu, and I feel as if my guardian angels literally dropped it in my hands in the middle of some random aisle. For years, I have been on a quest for beautiful skin because I sufferred from acne and spent tons of money on dermatologists, medications, and over the counter products either at the drug store, informercials, or department store brands - and nothing seemed to work effectively and/or longterm. 

Following the principles of this book changed my skin forever! My skin has never looked so radiant and people who don't know me can't believe I even has acne issues. And this is why it is my go-to Beauty Bible that I always use as my reference point when buying products. Whether it is a high end or low end skin care product, it always has to pass the test regarding ingredients and the percentage amount of the ingredient in the product. If it doesn't meet the rules, it's not worth buying because I know it will NOT be effective so don't waste your time!

The book is written by Dr. Adrienne Denese, M.D., Ph.D., one of the first doctors in the United States to specialize in anti-aging medicine. Dr. Denese owns the Manhattan Anti-Aging Clinic in New York City and was progressive way before her time. She was also the first person to make "BB Cremes" way before it even became coined recently - she is that innovative. The book is titled, "Dr. Denese's Secrets for Ageless Skin" and I strongly suggest you get it and study it.

I'm not going to tell you everything that it says in the book, but I will give you some good tips from the book:

1.  Don't buy fancy, expensive facial cleansers. Just get one that you like that leaves your skin feeling soft, refreshed, and not dry or tight in any way.

2.  Don't buy water-free, leave-on cleansers. It can lead to clogged pores.

3.  Exfoliation is key for flawless skin and must be done daily in order to to get rid of thick layers of dead skin so that ingredients of skin care products can penetrate your skin.

4. Use a glycolic acid pad that is 8-10% glycolic every night. If your face isn't tingling, then it isn't strong enough. I personally use 20%. 

5. Use a microdermabrasian cream once or twice a week to micropolish your skin to help with exfoliation. Make sure the particles are small and not large like St. Ives Walnut cremes. I like Mary Kay's microdermabrasian creme.

6. Moisturzing facial creams do not work to moisture your skin. A moisturizer is a "feel good" product and lays on top of the skin. You MUST use a serum because it can penetrate the skin; preferably with 15% Vitamin C, peptides, and ceramides in it. 

7. To seal in all of the serums, you can use a moisturizer of your choice to put on top. This is only a "feel good" product and used only to seal in the serums, but not necessary if you don't want to or if you have oily skin. 

8. Use SPF 30 every single day of the year, even when it's cloudy, preferably with zinc oxide. 

So, the next time you have to buy skin care products, remember some of these rules and live by them. If the ingredients don't meet the requirements, don't buy it. If someone trys to convince you that a moisturizer will be the cure-all for beautiful skin, you know that it's not true. In the foreword of Dr. Denese's book she writes about people asking her what her secret is for looking so young and beautiful and her answer is "my secret is science", and now it's your secret too!

Exfoliation for Glowing Smooth Skin

If you want to have beautiful glowing skin like the beautiful women and men in Hawaii, you HAVE to exfoliate on a daily basis.  This is the secret to smooth, non-ashy, healthy, glowing skin. And don't worry because you can never exfoliate enough! 

Whatever the skincare counter person told you at Macy's about it being bad to exfoliate everyday, could not be farther from the truth. I can explain this to you in my post about my skincare go-to bible by Dr. Denese, which I discovered many years ago during my quest for acne free and beautiful skin. For now, I'm going to break down what you can start doing today to have smooth new skin. 

In Hawaii, we (meaning "da locals") love to use a Japanese washcloth that may be a bit abrasive to you if you have never used a washcloth before. I suggest you use it gently until you get used to it and then scrub harder! There are many different kinds of washcloths that you can buy at any drug store in Hawaii, however, the all time fav is Salux - that's the one I use and it is the best in my opinion. It is not too soft and not too hard, which makes it perfect to exfoliate all that dead skin off of your body! Now please, do not use this on our face unless you use it very gently in circular motions. 

Honestly, I don't know how the rest of the world can live without this because it as important to us as having soap and water! It's great for blood circulation and very sanitary unlike cloth washcloths or loofahs.  Just pour some soap on it or rub your bar soap on it, squish it together, and scrub your entire body. Then make sure you rinse it out well and hang it up to dry for next time. My family on the mainland always ask me to mail them some, which you should replace at least once a year. If you are living on the mainland, you can probably find it at an asian store. In Hawaii, you can buy at Walmart, Kmart, Longs Drugs, and usually at any local grocery store. 

Another great exfoliation tool is the the Korean mitt. This is great because you can use it like a glove. I prefer to use the Salux washcloth because I can scrub faster, but I also have a mitt in case I want to use it. Again, if you are not used to it, please do not go to town on your face or body thinking it's not that bad, because believe me, you will be irritated afterwards. Normally you would soak your body in hot water before scrubbing, so please be gentle. 

So now you've got the body scrub down! Next, ever year I get a Korean Scrub down at my favorite Korean Spa in Honolulu. Alhtough I scrub my body like crazy every day, I feel it's very important to have this done professionally. At a Korean Spa, you have to be totallly naked and a Korean grandma will scrub the crap out you, even in areas you may be a little shy about. I'm always surprised how much dead skin comes off after grandma scrubs the @#$# out of me. You will know this because the dead skin looks similar to a used rubber eraser. The treatment usually comes with full use of the jacuzzi and steam rooms along with the full body scrub, korean massage (painful!), and  hair shampoo wash. 

Let's not forget your beautiful face! I always use my Clarisonic brush on my face every night when I take a shower before bed. I make sure that all of my make-up is completely off. Then to be completely sure that every trace of make-up and dirt is off, I also use Glycolic acid pads to swipe my face, which also helps to exfoliate the skin and get rid of the old skin so that the new skin can come through. Make sure you use 15-20% glycolic, otherwise, your wasting your time since it will not be effective. 

Happy Scrubbing!!!!