SUN +SKIN +CBD

Summer is officially here, and that means that you are likely spending more of your days outside soaking up the sunshine. Whether outside in our gardens, by the lakeside, pool, beach, or out for a walk or playtime, we spend a lot of time outdoors in the heat of summer. Our skin, therefore, is busy working overtime as our body’s largest organ. It’s soaking in the delicious Vitamin D, and repelling the harmful UV rays. 
One of the products we use the most in the summer months is our Body Butter + CBD. It contains a healing essential oil blend to help repair skin damage, and hemp and CBD, which are anti inflammatory. The shea butter and cacao are hydrating. For all these reasons, we dub our Body Butter + CBD as the best “skin food" around! 
Here are three ways to use our deliciously nourishing body butter this summer season! 
 1- After sun care: Rich in vitamins and antioxidants that protect and nourish, applying our moisturizing formula can help instantly rescue skin from distress caused by prolonged sun exposure. Slather on our creamy body butter and you'll be preventing further damage from sun-induced ailments like sun burn. 
2- Hair tip treatment: After you've applied the Body Butter + CBD to your body, your hands will likely have a bit of balm left on them. Take that subtle amount of body butter and rub it into the tips of your hair to keep the ends smooth and healthy! This is a fast and easy way to give your hair a moisture boost. 
3- Hair mask: We all know that going from the chemicals in a pool to the saltwater of the ocean, and other general use of hair products can take a toll on our hair. Body Butter + CBD as a hair mask is a great way to renew dry and damaged hair. Simply apply a generous amount of the butter to the hair, massaging it in from the roots to the tips. For longer hair, apply a braid, or slick back if you have a shorter style. Leave it on for several hours or over night and then simply wash out. Pro tip: If doing an over night treatment, cover your pillow case with a towel to avoid staining.
You can see our wide range of CBD + hemp essential oil products at Bela Flor Apothecary's online store. ​

COOLING SUMMERTIME FOODS

It's important to be conscious of how we are eating, especially as our body's needs evolve from one season to the next. Staying cool in the summer is important for digestive health and well being. In the hotter months, we generally eat less because of warmer temperatures which discourage a big appetite. We are more likely to reach for cooling foods like dark leafy greens and salads, as well as drinking more juice and smoothies.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), cool doesn't necessarily denote the temperature of the food, although we naturally reach for refreshing cooler beverages and foods in the summer months. Cooling to the system in TCM speaks to the essence of the food and the effect on the body. Generally speaking, green and blue foods tend to be cooling, but this is not always the case, such as with one of my favorite cooling summer foods: watermelon (and melon as a broader category.) 
Watermelon is in season, and it’s a terrific cooling food packed with great vitamins and nutrition including zinc, magnesium, selenium, and niacin.  Many people can become deficient in these nutrients and minerals, so this is a great chance to get some extra minerals, and keep the body nourished and performing well, especially if you are sweating a lot in the heat. 
As an organic brand, we are advocates for organic food choices and responsible farming practices that support nutrient replenishment in the soil. Organic soil is nutrient rich. Remember to choose organic foods because the mineral and nutrient content is more guaranteed, but also, if you’re going to be juicing the skin or rind (like in the recipe below!) you want to be sure it isn’t loaded with pesticides. ​

WATERMELON + RIND JUICE

This juice is excellent for summer hydration and refreshment. Loaded with vitamins and minerals which help protect hair and skin including niacin, vitamin B-6, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, zinc, copper, manganese, selenium and lycopene. Lycopene is a powerful antioxidant with many health benefits, including sun protection, improved heart health and a lower risk of certain types of cancer.


Tools needed: Juicer, Glass bowels
Ingredients: Organic seeded watermelon ( seeded watermelons are sweeter and add omegas 3 & 6)
Method: 1. Wash the outer skin of the melon with cold water and         a mild soap. 
2. Cut melon into appropriate sizes to fit into your juicer, no need to remove the skin since your going to juice it all.
3. Begin juicing. Collect juice into your glass bowel. Pour into a pitcher or glass and Enjoy!

YOUR SKIN + THE ENVIRONMENT

" As the body's largest organ, our skin deserves the best. This summer, take extra care with your body by caring for your skin. Some of my top suggestions include avoiding exposure to the sun during the peak of the day (between 12pm and 3pm). If you do go out during these times, sit under the umbrella, or in the shade of a tree—and always wear a hat.
I also suggest wearing sunscreen whenever appropriate. In this way, caring for your skin is also an opportunity to help care for the greater environment. When you use sunblock, get the good stuff, which in my book means chemical-free and reef-safe. At the beaches, rivers, lakes, and other waterways, these sunscreens get into the water, which can damage the waterways and the life that is dependent on that ecosystem. So I always want to be sure that my family's sunscreens are safe for our environment and our skin."