the truth serum

Why are we talking about sunscreen in the middle of winter?  Because wearing sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher is one of the very best things you can do to prevent photo-aging, just like brushing your teeth every day helps to prevent cavities. UVA (think UV Aging) rays are present during all daylight hours, even when it's cold and cloudy, penetrating the skin and breaking down collagen, which plays a significant part in skin aging and wrinkling. It's as important to apply sunscreen every day of the year as it is to cleanse and moisturize. Yet, in a survey we...

Winter can be harsh, especially on our skin, which tends to become drier and more sensitive this time of year.  Give your skin a little more TLC this season.  Take a peek at Kari’s Winter Skin Care Essentials, all meant to help your skin glow all season long. HOW’S YOUR SKIN BARRIER?         This is the skin you present to the world. The skin barrier is science-speak for the outermost layer of your skin, which keeps moisture in and damaging elements (like bacteria and free radicals) out.    A healthy skin barrier is vital to keeping skin hydrated, plump, firm, and...

Red Raspberry Seed Oil may sound like a lovely natural sunscreen alternative.  No chemicals or toxins - just pure goodness from a delicious source. Sounds nice, right? Let’s take a closer look. Recently there was quite a bit of buzz about using Red Raspberry Seed Oil as a sunscreen after a Canadian study found characteristics of red raspberry seed oil offer a UVA and UVB protection rating similar to that of titanium dioxide (28-50 SPF for UVB rays and 8 SPF against UVA rays). Fortunately, sunscreens happen to be one of the only skin care products subject to a rigorous set...

We’ve having our own “A Star is Born” moment here at Kari Gran.   Lisa’s bravely strapped on her boogie shoes for a glitzy dance competition called Seattle Dances to benefit a cause that’s near and dear to her, Plymouth Housing. Last year, this event raised an astounding $1.1 million for Plymouth’s mission. Plymouth Housing is a non-profit that serves a diverse group of the chronically homeless— someone who’s been homeless for at least twelve months and lives with a disability, whether it’s mental illness, addiction, or age. Lisa’s been a big supporter of this organization for years; she believes in...

KARI CHATS WITH:   PAULA SIMPSON, PART 3 Beauty Nutritionist & Author of "Good Bacteria for Healthy Skin; Nurturing Your Skin Microbiome for Clear & Luminous Skin" *This is a continuation from Inside Your Microbiome | Part 2 Kari: Skin health-this is really good nourishment from the inside out.  What you put in and on your body has always played a role in my overall skin health and can you tell me a little more about what you mean when you say that you are what you eat, metabolize and flourish.  I’m very intrigued by “flourish” Paula: Yes, happy to elaborate on this...

Hard, actually… it’s kind of hard.  Rather than have a laundry list of New Year’s Resolutions, I’ve decided that I simply need to start with one goal:  tracking how much fiber I’m getting each day and make it a habit to reach 25-35 grams each day. Why my focus on fiber and why now? Diverticulitis is why.  I was recently diagnosed with this condition, an unpleasant inflammation that occurs in the large intestine (seems like inflammation is the culprit of so many ailments).   What this means is—if I don’t consume enough fiber then it’s just not pretty.  In fact, it...

KARI CHATS WITH:   PAULA SIMPSON, PART 2 Beauty Nutritionist & Author of "Good Bacteria for Healthy Skin; Nurturing Your Skin Microbiome for Clear & Luminous Skin" *This is a continuation from Inside Your Microbiome | Part 1 KARI: Now that we've covered the mysteries of the microbiome, let's talk a bit about food and diet and the discoveries you made while writing your new book… which I think is terrific, by the way. First up: Prebiotic and Probiotic. It took me a minute to figure these two out and why I should be paying more attention. I've been "pretty good"...

One of the things I love about going to beauty conventions and workshops is meeting all the smart, talented, like-minded women. Read on for my chat with Paula Simpson, Beauty Nutritionist & Author of "Good Bacteria for Healthy Skin; Nurturing Your Skin Microbiome for Clear & Luminous Skin" KARI: Paula, I remember so clearly when we first met in NYC. It was Friday the 13th, and that morning I was giving my very first my presentation of our Green Beauty Barometer to a ballroom full of industry professionals. I was terrified! I couldn't eat a thing for breakfast, so I...

Ok, I cannot take credit for this cool idea.  I have to give credit where credit is due, to our amazing customers! Every year we have orders for multiples of our Lip Whips by customers who are going to a “favorite things” holiday gathering.  Generally, they purchase multiples of the same item and give them to all their favorite friends.  Why do I love this?  It’s quick, relatively painless one-stop shopping and it’s generally something you already use and love, you just want to share it with all your friends.  I used to do a variation of this with friends...

There's a whole bunch of people in the Pacific Northwest who get downright giddy this time of year because it's harvest season for wild golden chanterelle mushrooms. They thrive in a moist habitat (unlike some of us.) Chefs and foodies go crazy for these beauties, with their delicate and slightly peppery taste. Other types of chanterelles grow in other areas, and each tastes a bit different, according to the mushroom experts. As we often do, we looked to Jeannie Oliver, our resident "skin chef," for a recipe that makes the most out of these miraculous morsels. If you want to...