What's all the hype about matcha?  What IS it? Matcha is a finely ground, powdered, high quality green tea and not the same as tea powder or green tea powder. It's 10 times more potent than regular green tea and provides a powerful arsenal of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and amino acids like no other green tea. Matcha's level of antioxidants have been reported by Tufts University to exceed blueberries and pomegranates by 20 times over. Match helps to fight-cancer, burn fat, reduce stress, heighten mental clarity, and beautify your skin. What's not to love about it?

Give it a try with these recipes!

Ingredients:
1/2 - 1 teaspoon matcha powder
1 banana
1/2 avocado
1 apple, chopped (OR 1/2 apple, 1/2 pear)
2 heaping cups of leafy greens (your choice: kale, romaine, chard, spinach, etc.)
1/4 teaspoon vanilla powder
1/2 teaspoon fresh ginger (or to taste; helps with inflammation)
juice of 1 lemon
1/2 cup coconut water, coconut milk or almond milk

Mix all ingredients together in a blender until creamy. If you prefer thinner smoothies, add more liquid.

Short on time? Try this simple recipe.

Ingredients:
1 large banana, frozen
1 1/4 cups watermelon, frozen
3/4 -1 cup almond or coconut milk
1 tsp chia seeds (optional)
1/2 - 1 tsp matcha powder

Blend until smooth. Add extra milk for a thinner consistency. You can mix up the banana/melon blend by using 1 1/2 frozen bananas and a cup of frozen watermelon, making an even creamier shake.

Do you have a favorite way of using matcha? If so, share with us!

At the beginning of the new year, we promised you new products and we are getting ready to roll them out!  It takes a lot of work to make sure our products are ready for you through proper formulation and testing, so thanks for your patience.

Take a peek at what we have in store for you.  We're sure you'll be as pleased with them as we are!

Jagged Defense Shaving Cream 3 oz $25

Our natural shaving cream is ideal for both men and women. It is excellent for a man's bristly beard, as well as for the softer feminine hair on legs, underarms, bikini and Brazilian.  It soothes the skin and helps with razor nicks. Jagged Defense moisturizes, provides a smoother, irritation-free shave, creates slip with superior lubrication and prevents razor drag.  Helps eliminate razor burn and rashes, while protecting against the harsh environment.  You can expect smoother and suppler skin. Works great in combination with our Razor Glide Shaving Oil.

To use:  Massage cream into clean, wet skin to soften skin, uplift hair follicles, and provide slick razor surface.  Shave with the grain to prevent nicks.  Can be used solo or combined with our Razor Glide Shaving Oil for turbocharged results.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Garcinia Indica (Kokum) Seed Butter, Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Prunus Amygdalus Dulcis (Sweet Almond) Oil, Hamamelis Virginiana (Witch Hazel) Water, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Lecithin, Leuconostoc/Radish Root Ferment Filtrate, Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Peel Extract, Carota Sativa (Carrot) Seed Oil, Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

Razor Glide Shaving Oil 1 oz $25

Works wonders for both men and women on even the most sensitive skin. Razor Glide provides greater protection, smooth glide-enabling and superb moisturizing properties, giving you a closer, consistently smooth and irritation-free shave.  The organic ingredients help eliminate razor burn due to its protecting ability and moisturizing effect without clogging pores, leaving your skin conditioned and moisturized, not oily.  It applies clear, so you can actually see where you are shaving with no mess! Say goodbye to cuts and nicks!

Our shaving oil is a blend of vegetable oils or silicone oils and essential oils that can be used as a stand-alone shaving lubricant or as pre-shave underneath shaving cream, soap or gel, to facilitate shaving facial and other body hair. If a pre-shave is your preferred method, we highly recommend using it in combination with our Jagged Defense Shaving Cream. Often these products would work best by wetting the area before the razor being used.

The concentrated formula delivers a comparable number of shaves as commercial brands, up to 100 shaves.

To use: Massage a few drops of oil into clean, wet skin to soften skin, uplift hair follicles, and provide slick razor surface.  Shave with the grain to prevent nicks.  Can be used solo or combined with our Jagged Defense Shaving Cream for turbocharged results. Razor Glide moisturizes, provides a smoother, irritation-free shave, creates slip and prevents razor drag.  Helps eliminate razor burn and rashes. Works great for men and women.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Limnanthes Alba (Meadowfoam) Seed Oil, Persea Gratissima (Avocado) Oil, Oryza Sativa (Rice) Bran Oil, Ricinus Communis (Castor) Seed Oil, Orbignya Oleifera (Babassu) Seed Oil, Vitis Vinifera (Grape) Seed Oil, Eucalyptus Globulus (Eucalyptus) Leaf Oil, Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) Oil, Citrus Paradisi (Grapefruit) Oil

Calming Comfort Balm 2.5 oz $50

Potent cell regeneration and repair capabilities help to alleviate irritated skin, bumps, bruises, wounds and burns. Treat ouchies organically with our special blend that promotes skin recovery, reduces redness and inflammation of the skin, while helping to relieve pain.  It assists in soothing and calming skin, and aids in reducing discomfort, as it helps restore and protect dry or damaged skin.  It is powerfully antiseptic, antibacterial and antifungal, with natural relaxant, anti-depressant properties.

To use: Apply to affected skin and gently massage in, as often as needed. Safe for all ages, including infants.

Edible Organic Ingredients
Dromaius Novaehollandiae (Emu) Oil, Cannabis Sativa (Hemp) Seed Oil, Pentadesma Butyracea (Kpangnan) Seed Butter, Calendula Officinalis (Calendula) Flower Infused Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Seed Oil, Cera Alba (Beeswax), Lavandula Angustifolia (Lavender) Oil

We are also working on a honey facial scrub that gently exfoliates, tones with anti-aging and anti-acne properties. Sweeeet!

We expect to roll out these new products within the next month, so be sure to check back soon.

What products would you like to see in our store that we don't already offer?

Hot and humid weather, as well as chlorinated or salt water, all take their toll on our skin during summer. Here are some helpful summer skin care tips for keeping your skin safe and beautiful all season long.

DON'T NEGLECT YOUR SKIN
Most aging to the skin occurs in the summertime.  Your best defenses against skin aging from sun exposure is consistent application of sun protection, facials and a regular skin care routine. 

WEAR SUNSCREEN TO CUT BACK ON SUN DAMAGE
Recent skin research from UCLA determined that 78% of all the sun damage is from incidental exposure.  This may occur from simply walking from your office or home to your car or driving.  To avoid unnecessary sun exposure, wear a moisturizer with sun block ingredients, in addition to wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater.  Whether you wear SPF 15 or SPF 30 doesn’t really matter.  How often you reapply your sunscreen is more important.  There’s little difference between the protection of SPF 15 and SPF 30 – only about 4%, and it’s even less in the higher numbers.  So remember, the key is to reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours.  Slather it on!

USE COLD YOGURT TO SOOTHE A SUNBURN
Layering lotion on sunburned skin traps heat, keeping the skin red longer. Skin needs to breathe to let out heat. Cold plain yogurt acts as an anti-inflammatory and heat remover. Apply, let dry for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat every hour.

USE HAND CREAM THAT CONTAINS SUNSCREEN
The majority of aging on hands (sun spots and wrinkles) is attributable to driving with your hands on the steering wheel.  Use a hand cream with an SPF of at least #15 each day.

FOR SENSITIVE SKIN, KEEP YOUR PRODUCTS IN THE REFRIGERATOR
If you have redness or rosacea-like symptoms, constant summer heat may keep your skin red and irritated. Refrigerate your products so that when you use them, the cold reduces the dilation of the capillaries and reduces visible redness.

ANTIOXIDANTS, TOPICALLY AND INTERNALLY
One of the main sources of damaging free radicals is through sunlight.  Research indicates that antioxidants in topical skin care products and taken internally through fruit and vegetable sources like spinach, tomatoes, berries and sweet potatoes, can provide your skin and body with the defense it needs to fight off damaging free radicals which increase aging.

DON'T RELY ONLY ON YOUR SUNSCREEN
Reapply every one or two hours if you are out in the sun, because your sunscreen will wear off, sweat off and wash off.  Be sure to wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing as well for added protection to guard your skin against sun damage. Avoid the sun if you want to look young!  Any exposure to sun may cause damage to your skin.  And don’t exclude tanning beds, as they are even worse.

BLOT, BLOT, BLOT
Summer months produce extra oils on your skin, which is unavoidable.  Keep the shine under control with oil blotting paper.  If you find yourself in a pinch, try using the paper for toilet seat covers in public restrooms, which are similar to expensive oil blotting papers. Tear off a piece and press firmly on the skin. Voila!

GET YOUR ZZZZS
Most Americans, especially women, are sleep deprived; causing you to be grouchy, drowsy, and forgetful, and it will also wreak havoc on your skin.  An extra hour each night will make a huge difference.

WASH MAKEUP BRUSHES OFTEN AND SUN DRY
With the summer months bringing oilier skin, your makeup brushes may carry bacteria and oil in the bristles, resulting in breakouts and clogged pores.  Use a tablespoon of gentle cleanser in a glass of warm water to clean your brushes by swishing them until there’s lather.  Rinse, detangle with a clean comb and dry out in the sun in an upright glass.  The sun will destroy bacteria and dry your brushes faster.

BOTTOM LINE
The #1 cause of lines and wrinkles is sun exposure. If you want to look young, avoid the sun. It's really that simple. A little sun damage = a little damage. A lot of sun = a lot of damage.

SUNSCREEN INGREDIENTS IN PRODUCTS
When deciding on products to give you extra sun protection here are some ingredients to look for: avocado oil, coconut oil, emu oil, grapeseed oil and extract, honey, jojoba oil, red raspberry seed oil, rice bran oil, shea butter, tamanu oil, vitamin C, and zinc oxide.