Happy New Year!



Another year is about to end...a few more grey hairs... will keep on colouring... not feeling ready for silver yet. I have been postponing the inevitable for a couple of years but I think 2013 will have to be the year of the eye glasses. Peculiar..., the more my body shows the mark of time the more whole I feel, softer inside and beautiful...comfortable with me..., the way I am.
May 2013 bring you peace, happiness, prosperity and mostly LOVE including the kind you feel for yourself. Happy New Year everyone!

Love,
Magdalena xoxoxo

PS. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for your support. I am looking forward to seeing you or hearing from you in 2013. It will be a good year...

Face oil - how to choose the right one for your skin.


Today's market offers a wide selection of face oils but using oil on your face is hardly a new practice.
For ages, women around the World have been using healing vegetable oils to nurture and beautify their skin. The western world is just catching up.
Oils have been part of my personal care for a long time. I believe, I have never purchased a commercial body lotion. It has always been oil. I use oils on my face daily and I find them effective, versatile and simple to use. I also love working with oils and use them in every treatment I offer at my clinic. The healing potential of oils is greatly underestimated and commonly not known.
Oils are beautiful; various in colour, texture and scent. They also differ in their healing profiles and biochemical makeup. 
I would like to encourage you to give oils a try. But before you run out to buy one lets see which oil will benefit your particular skin type the most.
One more thing; there are many oil blends by various skin care companies on the market. To start with, explore pure organic cold pressed vegetable oils also known as base or carrier oils like: Rosehip, Argan and such. I believe you will like them a lot. Once you get a feel for base oils, the next step will be to add essential oils. At that point you will be able to affect much more than the health of your skin with your face oils.  Another time about this....
DRY SKIN loves oil and can benefit from a variety of oils.
Apricot kernel
Argan
Camellia
Sesame
Rosehip

MIXED/COMBINATION SKIN does not like the oily feeling, yet it can benefit from oils like:
Camellia
Meadowfoam
Jojoba
Coconut

OILY SKIN will benefit from oils which help to balance the excessive production of sebum.
Grape seed
Hazelnut
Jojoba

AGING SKIN is still either dry, sensitive or on the oily side so follow one of the above suggestions.


You can use oils daily instead of a moisturizer, as an addition to a moisturizer and/or to massage your face and neck at least once a week. Organic and cold pressed is always the way to go.
Are you using oils already? It would be great to hear about your experiences.



Simple oat scrub for dry and sensitive skin.

The cold weather is here, the heat is on and your skin might have just started feeling a bit too dry and dehydrated. This is a very simple scrub for dry and sensitive skin (not the best for oily) which will help gently exfoliate dead skin cells without stripping the protective acid mantle.
The acid mantle is a very fine, slightly acidic film on the surface of the skin acting as a barrier to bacteria, viruses and other potential contaminants that might penetrate the skin. It is secreted by sebaceous glands. The pH of the skin is between 4.5 and 6.2, so it is acidic. These contaminants and other chemicals are primarily alkaline in nature and the skin's moderate acidity helps to neutralize their chemical effects.


You can create it from the stuff that is already in your kitchen, literally for pennies. I think everyone ought to know how to utilize simple home ingredients to create beauty care products, from high end skin care divas to women who love the simplicity, purity and creativity which comes with concocting your own stuff.  It comes in very handy in many situations. Even if you are a lover of brand products, you never know...You may run out of your favorite product and need to exfoliate like, NOW, or maybe your wallet is a bit thin these days. If you are an 'earthy beauty' I do not need to convince you.  
Simple steel cut oat which you use to cook porridge is a great exfoliating agent. When prepared properly it will softly clear your face of dry and flaky skin and it will leave it glowing.
HEALING PROPERTIES OF OAT:
helps to soften the skin
anti-inflamatory
soothing
helps to relieve itchiness
*high in silica
The quality of oat is: warm, moist and sweet; ideal for dryness.
Oatmeal can be used as a poultice for skin conditions like eczema, cold sores and shingles.

Many skin care companies use oat as the base for their scrubs and exfoliating creams. Now you can experiment with your own.
I use organic steel cut oats which I buy at my local health food store.
First, the very simple version. All you need to do is:
throw a handful of steel cut organic oats in a blender and take it for a spin until it turns into powder
sift it to remove any leftover large pieces
place in a jar
you are ready to go
use after cleansing 2x a week
grab about 1tsp and mix it with water forming a soft paste in your hand
work it all over your face and neck
rinse and apply your moisturizer or face oil

You can up the healing properties of this scrub by adding 1Tbsp of dried Calendula flower petals. You would place the petals and oat together in the blender and follow through, the same as you did with the simple version of this scrub. 
Calendula is just one possibility. You could use rose, lavender or echinacea. Have fun with it...

Calendula - the soothing flower for your skin.

Today I was playing with Calendula flowers. I was simply making tea for myself but when I poured hot water over dry Calendula flowers, magic happened. My cup of Marigold tea has turned into a 'poetic thing', kind of sort of... :) I took some pictures... hope you like them.

I use Calendula officinalis (Marigold) on a daily basis. This flower is very well suited for sensitive skin and skin inflammation due to infection or physical irritation. It can also be used on wounds, bleeding, bruises... Herbalists often use it as the key ingredient in healing skin ointments.
I prepare a Calendula infusion every morning and use it as a soothing hydrating mist or as an addition to the raw sensitive skin masks I create throughout the day. 
I also use Calendula infused oil for facial massage in face masks and in face oil blends.
Powdered Calendula flowers can be added to ground up oatmeal, to form a lovely home made face scrub.
Calendula tea makes a good remedy for indigestion,  gall-bladder and liver problems, gastric and duodenal ulcers as well as for menopausal problems and menstrual pains. Some herbalists say it also supports healthy lymphatic function.


Herbal tea:
(daily dose)
2-4 tsp of dry organic Calendula flowers 
or 4-8 tsp of fresh flowers
500ml of (purified) water just off the boil 
steep for 10-15min 
strain
drink 3 times a day hot or cool 
*use your tea as a wash for sensitive skin 
place it in a spray bottle and mist onto your skin
Infused oil:
(yes, you can make it yourself)
pack a jar tightly with calendula flowers (fresh is better but dry will do)
completely cover with oil (organic cold pressed virgin olive oil or sunflower oil) 
put the lid on 
leave on the sunny window sill for two weeks
strain 
repeat the steps using once infused oil and a new batch of fresh herbs
leave on the sunny window sill for two more weeks
strain
store in the amber bottle away from light and heat
I must say, I am mesmerized by the flowers which became the essence of my tea. How beautiful... I am drinking it thinking some of their beauty will surely rub off on me:)
  

Face Your Inner Reflection Workshop with Magdalena.

Workshop Woman Divine
 
I am very very excited about this one! It has been in the making for a very long time. This workshop is based on the work of some really cool people and my own 20 plus years' practical experience and observations. I hope you join us:) Registration starts next week at Woman Divine. You will be able to book the workshop online or you may email me at info@womandivine.ca or call 613 2167676; whichever is the easiest.
FACE – YOUR INNER REFLECTION WORKSHOP
Face - Your Inner Reflection Workshop has been created out of the desire to deepen the awareness of the dynamic nature and beauty of your face.
Its intended outcome is an enhanced connection to self and the world around you as well as a greater appreciation of living in your own skin.
You will:
· Revisit your own definition of Beauty
· Explore your face as the map of your Being
· Learn practical tools to relax into your beauty
· Connect to your own feminine wisdom
What you need for this workshop:
Wear comfortable clothing
Bring a yoga mat or a blanket
Bring 1-2 photos of yourself with your favorite facial expression
If you like taking notes bring pen and paper
When: November 10th 10am - 12:30pm
Where: 1st Floor 351 Churchill Ave. N. Ottawa (downstairs from Woman Divine)
Fee: $45
Space is limited to nine participants.

Crudessence, Tiramisu and French Lesson #1.

My version of raw Tiramisu from Crudessence.
I discovered CRUDESSENCE, the Montreal based raw food restaurant about two years ago; love at first sight... I have discovered their amazing Tiramisu a couple of months ago... I will be sharing the recipe with you so read on.  Crudessence Academy (yes, there is an academy as well) offers interesting courses and I will be taking some in the near future. Yep, that's wright! I love everything about them.
If you are my client you already know that I wholeheartedly believe beauty does not come from a tube of the latest skin care product. In my opinion food we eat forms the base for a healthy body and healthy skin. I am always eager to broaden my nutritional knowledge for my own good but also so I can be a better support to you...
Now, back to Tiramisu; a lot of people expressed they would like the recipe and I myself wanted it badly. This is what happened...
Crudessence has a 'cookbook' and the Tiramisu recipe is in it. Naturally I got the book. Here is the trick, the book is in French and I do not know how to speak the 'language of love'. So with this book I am not only learning how to make Tiramisu but also I am getting a French lesson.
I have learned English by listening to the lyrics of songs. It looks like I will be learning French from a 'cookbook'. I am totally up for it... Thus French lesson #1...
A little note about the book; it is beautiful with lots of delicious recipes and wonderful photography.
It is a fresh and vibrant invitation to raw food exploration:)) Just as a book about live food ought to be. If you can, get it!

 
The famous Tiramisu by Crudessence.




OK, lets get to work...
 
You will need:
Almonds, cashews, espresso coffee, dates, agave nectar, cocoa powder, coconut oil, soy lecithin, vanilla extract(without alcohol), agar, sea salt, water.
The recipe is given in stages and in each stage the amount of ingredients is specified.
I have used my food processor for all the mixing. It worked great.


Tiramisu by Crudessence - the recipe.
Night before
Soak ½ cup of almonds for 8 hours.
In another container, infuse 1tsp ground espresso in ¼ cup of water for 8 hours.
The day of
Soak ½ cup of cashews in a fridge for 4 hours.
Rinse the cashews and almonds very well and pour out the water from the soak.
Filter the coffee / keep the infusion and discard the grinds.
Make almond milk with the soaked almonds and 2 cups of water.
How to make almond milk for this recipe?
Place the 1/2 cup of soaked and drained almonds and 2 cups of purified water in a blender. Blend for couple of minutes. Strain through nut milk bag or cheesecloth.
The cake
In a bowl mix: 1 ¼ cup of ground almonds, 1/3 cup of date paste, 1tsp of vanilla extract (without alcohol),  1/8tsp of sea salt, 2Tbsp of coconut oil and 2Tbsp of almond milk. Mix well. Distribute the mixture at the bottom of a cake pan (8 inch in diameter).  Put in the freezer while you are preparing the Mocha layer.
How to make a date paste?
2 ½ cups of dates and 1½ cups of water.  Make sure dates are covered with water and soak for 2 hours. Put the dates and water in a food processor and blend.
*This is way too much for our recipe, you will need only a bit. However it will keep good in the fridge for a long time so you may use the rest in other recipes.
Mocha layer
Mix the following ingredients with a mixer: 1 1/2Tbsp of date paste, 2Tbsp of agave nectar, 1½ Tbsp of cacao powder, 2¼ tsp vanilla extract (without alcohol), 1/8tsp sea salt, 2Tbsp of coconut oil, 1 ½ tsp of soya lecithin.
Next add coffee and ½ cup of almond milk to these ingredients and mix well.
In a pan mix 2Tbsp of water with ¾tsp Agar. Bring to simmer stirring frequently. In the meantime take the cake out of the fridge. Once agar/water is brought to simmer remove from the stove and wait 2 min. After 2 min. blend the agar/water mixture with the mocha layer (turn few times). Immediately pour the mocha layer onto the cake and place it back in the freezer.
Top layer
Rinse the cashews and pour out the water.
With a mixer blend the following: ½ cup of cashews, 1/3 cup of coconut oil, ½ cup of water, 2Tbsp agave nectar, ½tsp vanilla extract (without alcohol), 1/8tsp of sea salt, 2 ¼tsp soy lecithin add 1 cup of almond milk and mix until creamy.
Take the cake out of the freezer and make sure that the mocha layer has solidified before putting the icing on top. 
Place back in the freezer for 2 more hours.
Dust with cacao powder before serving.
Voila, enjoy:))


Dessert does not have to be a guilt ridden pleasure. This one is delicious and full of precious nutrients. Do not eat the whole thing in one sitting though. I know, it is going to be very tempting... .


Tiramisu will keep in a fridge for 10 days and for 4 months in your freezer in a sealed container.

The recipe is easy to make but requires good organizing like it is with many raw food dishes. Definitely worth your time...





Thank you CRUDESSENCE! I can not wait to try more of your awesome recipes. My family and I will keep on translating your beautiful book but I do hope one day you will come out with an English version:)) Merci Beaucoup,

Magdalena

 








Happy Thanksgiving!

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I arrived at the Ottawa airport twenty five years ago with a hundred dollars in my pocket, no friends, no family… on Canadian soil.
Fast forward… a beautiful family, beautiful friends, work I love, good food on my table, a peaceful home to live in and the best clients on the planet!! From the bottom of my heart THANK YOU for your support and the loving energy you share with me. May your life be filled with many blessings.  HAPPY THANKSGIVING!  Happy weekend to all!
Magdalena:))

Bliss out your bathroom, it's getting cold!



A bath is one of my favorite home beauty treatments for fall and winter. On a cool day nothing will warm my spirit, relax my muscles and soften my skin like a soothing soak in a tub infused with the scent of herbs and essential oils. 
The bathroom is often the only place (if you have a busy family life) where you can lock the door, stop the world and escape. I am sure most of you know exactly what I am talking about... . It is worth your while to organize your bathroom ahead of time for your bliss out power sessions.
First if you can, please please get a water purifier for your tub. If you are going to soak in your tub, make sure that the water is free of harmful chemicals. There is a lot of evidence and research to prove harmful effect of chlorine on our health. It will be good for you and other members of your family, especially your kids. One of the sources for water purifiers is NEW WAVE ENVIRO.
Once you have this set up the rest is play.


I always have a good book, a cup of herbal tea and a beautiful pheylonian mini-lite candle going.  Often it is the only time I have in my busy day to read for pleasure.  Maybe music is something that rocks your boat... A cup of hot herbal tea adds coziness to my experience; any tea my heart desires. The pheylonian candles smell amazing!


About every two months I stock up on bath oils. I blend them myself:)). It is a blend of base oil like almond or camellia oil and essential oils. Essential oils change according to what I feel I need... maybe lavender for relaxation, eucalyptus to ward off a cold or a flu...
I can custom blend bath oils for you if you would like. Visit Woman Divine to learn more about my oils and write me an email info@womandivine.ca to order.
I love bath oils because they leave my skin feeling beautiful and nourished. If needed I can also customize them to become very effective remedies for a variety of ailments.


If you are going to do it yourself I would suggest about a tablespoon of base oil and 10 drops of essential oil.  1 Tbsp of oil is approximately 10 ml. If you get a 100ml bottle of let's say almond oil, it will be enough for 10 baths.  Use more common essential oils like the Lavender (Lavendula Angustafolia) or Eucalyptus (Radiata)  and stay away from citrus, mint, clove... in your bath water.
Essential oils are very potent and it is a good idea to use the with caution. Always educate yourself before you use them, that's all.


Bath salts are a wonderful addition to your bath. You can use them scented or just plain.
Stock up on Epsom salts, Dead Sea mineral salts or Himalayan salts or all of the above. I usually put one cup of salt in my tub. Most salts are detoxifying and help to remineralize the skin. They also neutralize the trace elements which harden water.


But before you hop in your tub dry brush (natural bristle brush is a must) your skin for an added health and beauty benefit. This is a very simple practice (good to implement on a daily basis) that will immensely improve the health of your skin and your body. It helps to move fluids; lymph congestion, water retention, and improves the blood circulation.
Start at the bottom of your feet and gently work your way up omitting the delicate breast area.
Watch the dead skin cells fly off your body... rinse and now you are ready to enjoy your bath. Make sure to lock the door. For the next 30 minutes you are not available:))

BATHING RULES that are good to know.
  • bathe when your stomach is empty

  • elderly, young children, anyone with high or very low blood pressure, heart condition,  poor circulation should stick to lower temperature baths
  • morning bath - 10min - 96.8 degrees Fahrenheit (36 degrees centigrade)
  • evening bath - 15-20min - 98.6 degrees Fahrenheit (37 degrees centigrade) to 102 degrees Fahrenheit (39 degrees centigrade)
  • muscle pain and after physical exertion bath -104 to 107degrees Fahrenheit  (40-42 degrees centigrade)
  • a cold shower after a hot bath will tone the skin and increase the resistance to colds and infections
  • a toxin-eliminating bath is best followed by a rest period under a warm blanket, followed by a cool shower and the application of appropriate oils 
  • after a hot bath replenish fluids by drinking water

Papaya Coffee body scrub.

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My friend Mary, a yoga teacher, has introduced me to a wonderful Papaya Coffee body scrub.
Mary has experienced some amazing treatments while vacationing in Costa Rica and this one was her favorite. After trying it myself I totally see why…
Ingredients:
All you will need is:  
a cup of fresh papaya meat (no seeds please)
1/2 banana 
1 Tbsp. of ground coffee.
How to prepare:
In a small bowl mush the papaya and banana.
Add the coffee.
How to apply:
Hop in the shower and start applying the mixture from the feet, working your way up. Work in a circular motion, always moving toward your heart.
Rinse off.
Moisturize your skin with an oil like almond, apricot, coconut...
This scrub smells wonderful, if you love coffee that is.  I can never drink coffee because it gives me jitters but this scrub I can definitely do. It will leave your skin smooth and your body invigorated. 
Why to use the papaya coffee scrub?
Besides smelling and feeling great this stuff actually does a very good job on your skin.
Use it in the morning; it will wake you up.
Native to Central America, papaya removes dead skin cells and is very effective for overall skin dryness; it nourishes the skin, lightens freckles and is used for healing wounds. It is rich in Vitamin A, C, E and beta-carotene as well as calcium, phosphorus and iron.
Coffee in this blend does much more than scrub your skin or wake you up.  Caffeine and coffee berries have the power to improve a number of common skin issues.
The caffeic acid found in coffee grounds can significantly affect anti-inflammatory activity and skin wound healing. The main chemical in coffee is caffeine, a natural antioxidant. Antioxidants neutralize the effects of free radicals, which can damage the inner layer of skin.
The scent of coffee acts to clear a person's mind of excessive thoughts and as an anti-depressant. 
Caffeine has a diuretic effect, which helps speed fluid on its way, reducing the appearance of cellulite.
If you have sensitive skin, coffee scrub may help soothe it by tightening your blood vessels.

Banana softens, nourishes and soothes sensitive and dry skin.

Enjoy your scrub!

Since you have used only a little part of your papaya fruit for this scrub you may as well splash some lime juice on the rest and have it for breakfast.
Papaya is high in digestive enzymes and has a tonic effect on the stomach. It also has a high mucus solvent action.
When consumed regularly papaya will improve the health of your skin, hair nails and eyes.

Let me know how you like it.

Magdalena

Janet Wilson from the Ottawa Citizen visits Woman Divine.

Thank you Janet!

Woman Divine offers raw vegan organic facial treatments that leave skin with a healthy glow, writes JANET WILSON
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Ottawa Citizen August 17, 2012 1:31 PM
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Holistic skincare therapist, Magdalena Tomczak, runs Woman Divine in Ottawa, which offers facials using fresh fruits and vegetables.
Magdalena Tomczak has been using food as medicine for the skin since her childhood while growing up in Poland. She followed her mother’s simple beauty regimen of using cucumber slices and tea bags on her eyes, honey as a facial mask and essential oils for stomach aches and colds.
Tomczak owns a holistic skincare clinic called Woman Divine in Westboro. She credits her “beautiful” 81-year-old mother for influencing her to study nutrition and herbal medicine and aromatherapy.
“Organic products are full of life and energy. You can’t compare them to products that sit on store shelves for two years,” she says. “I love the freshness of creating a mask using local products in the summer. I source everything from local growers in Aylmer and purchase exotic fruits from Herb & Spice on Wellington Street.”
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Tomczak moved to Ottawa 24 years ago and was one of the first in the area to get involved in the local organic skincare movement. While she makes most of her own treatments, she has been using anAustralian skincare line called Jurlique for 18 years.
After hearing glowing reviews about Tomczak’s raw vegan facial from a few neighbours, I recently decided to check out what the buzz was all about. Located on the second floor of a converted home on Churchill Avenue near bustling Westboro, Tomczak began offering this particular facial a year ago.
“I love it. I can fully customize the treatment and can make it as complex or as simple for the client. People with skincare allergies love it because it’s pure and there’s no fuss. You don’t have to worry about unlisted ingredients because what you see is what you get.”
For my visit, Tomczak showcased the natural ingredients in little glass dishes, including lavender, marshmallow root and rose petal infusions, cucumber juice, a blend of camellia oil, lavender essential oil and blue camomile, manuka honey, ground oats, almond butter, matcha green tea and white clay.
The raw vegan treatment, which costs $90 and is an hour long, starts with a cleansing process using manuka honey, oats, almond butter and marshmallow extract.
A lavender infusion spray is used to hydrate the face along with rose water and cucumber. A warm blast of steam opens the pores and readies the skin for deep cleansing, exfoliation and extractions, if needed. Tomczak offers a relaxing massage of the upper chest, shoulders, neck, face and scalp. After that, a face mask of apricot, honey, white clay and matcha tea is lathered onto to the skin and then it’s time for a foot massage.
In a word, the experience was blissful and one I hope to repeat in the not-so-distant future. I loved the feel and the smell of the natural ingredients on my body, the heavenly massage and listening to Tomczak’s insightful philosophy on how she chooses to lead her life and about her hopes to inspire those around her. I left feeling relaxed and rejuvenated.
“I never believed in the five-step skincare routine, but I do believe in mindful, nurturing self-care and the power of touch, which is why massage is a big part of my treatments,” says the 49-year-old.
“I wish for women to take beauty into their own hands and to trust their intuition rather than the latest advertisement. Skin and the face are not separate from the rest of the body. They are very much a dynamic part of the whole being.”
Magdalena’s secret tips:
What can’t you live without:
I love working with oils especially rosehip seed oil. I use this vegetable oil to moisturize my skin on a regular basis. Rosehip is excellent for aging skin and heals burns and scars.
What else?
I also love lavender essential oil because it is an amazing skin-cell regenerator and it’s wonderful for the nervous system.


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