Tag Archive for: organic

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Kabocha & Ginger Soup with Creamy Coconut

We believe that radiant, healthy-looking skin starts from the inside out which is why we are so excited to share this mouthwatering recipe from one of our favorite nutritionists, Elissa Goodman. Renowned for her insanely delicious soup cleanses, Goodman is pioneering the landscape of how we view nutrition as a way to heal our bodies and mind.
Find the full recipe below for Goodman’s immune-boosting Kabocha & Ginger Soup with Creamy Coconut––it’s super easy to make! We promise you won’t be disappointed.
To learn more about Elissa Goodman check out her Detoxing Tips on The Daily Scrub.

Kabocha & Ginger Soup with Creamy Coconut 

 Serves 4-6 

Ingredients:

1 kabocha squash, halved with seeds removed
1 large yellow onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 small fennel bulb, cored and chopped
4 inches fresh ginger, peeled and chopped
1 bay leaf
2 T. organic coconut oil
40 oz organic vegetable broth
1 tsp. Herbamare seasoning (could also use sea salt)
pinch sea salt
1 cup coconut cream
Juice and zest of 1 small, fresh lemon

Directions:

Preheat oven to 400° and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Rub olive oil all over the squash, then place face down on the baking sheet and place in the oven.  Cook until tender, approx. 45-50 minutes.  Then remove squash and set aside until cooled.  Once cooled, you can scoop meat into a bowl and set aside.

In soup pot, heat coconut oil over medium heat.  Add the onion and fennel with the Herbamare seasoning (option to use sea salt). Saute until onions and fennel are softened, then add the garlic and ginger, stir often and cook another 5 minutes, until soft and fragrant. Add the bay leaves, scooped squash, vegetable broth and stir frequently bringing soup to a simmer for approximately 20 minutes.

Carefully transfer soup, in batches, to your blender.  Add coconut cream and blend until smooth.  Transfer soup back to the pot and keep on low.  Add fresh lemon juice and zest, a generous pinch of black pepper and adjust seasonings as desired. Garnish with fresh herbs and a drizzle of coconut cream.

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Ejiro Owusu of London’s Ejiro Studio Talks Skincare, Sustainability, and Slowing Down

While it’s always a pleasure to get like-minded beauty and wellness brands on our radar, it’s *that* much better when Goldfaden MD has the opportunity to join forces with them. With that said, we couldn’t be more pleased to announce the exclusive Goldfaden Radiance Facial at Ejiro Studio in London. Below, you’ll get to know more about this premiere beauty and wellness destination and its founder, the lovely Ejiro Owusu. See what inspired her to start her business, how she prioritizes sustainability both at home and at work, and why she was driven to collaborate with Goldfaden MD. Plus: the Goldfaden MD products she’s currently obsessed with.

What did you do before creating Ejiro Studio and what inspired you to create this beauty destination?

I am from a science background academically and entrepreneurship. Just before venturing into beauty, I was working in pharmaceutical sales, I was giving myself time to develop a new business idea. It was then that I fell in love with the beauty industry, with sugaring opening the doors for me.  I wanted to create a space that was gender neutral in design, spa-like in terms of atmosphere and like hanging with friends in terms of interaction between therapists and clients. 

Sugaring is at the core of Ejiro Studio. Why do you hold this treatment in such high regard and how is it more beneficial for the skin compared to other hair removal methods?

We have all had or heard a horrendous waxing story however you rarely hear this with sugaring. Sugaring as a method of hair removal is gentle in comparison, it works for all hair types and those with sensitive skin as the paste only adheres to hair and dead skin cells. It is why your skin can feel so smooth afterward without the soreness seen with waxing. It is an ancient technique with origins that can be traced to North Africa and the Middle East, this is what fascinates me.  Many of my clients have had grandmothers, mothers and aunties performing this treatment on them. I think that’s amazing.

What sets Ejiro Studio apart from other beauty clinics and spas in East London?

We are a premium beauty destination that values natural solutions and quality time.  Clients come to get treatment and de-stress from their day-to-day life therefore, it is important that each client is given sufficient time not just for the treatment but to talk about their day, to run a bit late and not feel rushed when they arrive.  We also aim to provide a variety of beauty treatments for everyone whilst doing our bit to look after the planet. 

Why is sustainability so integral to your brand’s DNA and offerings?

Sustainability is important as to me it is about doing whatever you can to look after our planet. We all put pressure on ourselves to be completely sustainable but making one change can make a big difference even if you think it does not. 

What are your favorite sustainable living practices/habits that may inspire others to follow suit?

I am a mother with a one-year-old and I have been using reusable nappies since birth. It was really important for me to have my partner and family onboard with this as I felt disposable nappies were unnecessary waste. The environmental cost of single-use products like nappies is the biggest issue when well-looked-after reusable nappies can be used for more than one child or even passed on to another family. It may sound daunting but cutting your disposable nappies usage to only daytime will make a difference. If we all make small changes it can add up to a greater impact.

I also love going to the charity shop, swap shops and renting clothing. My wardrobe is quite minimal. Believe it or not, I do not purchase new clothing very often and when I do it has to be something I can still use 5 years down the line or pass on to someone else.

What made you want to collaborate with Goldfaden MD for Ejiro’s exclusive Goldfaden Glow Facial? 

Meeting Lauren and Lisa at the founders event they arranged I was captivated by how much passion they had when speaking about their business. This instantly caught my attention, a family-run business with products everyone was raving about, I was excited to try it. What sealed my decision was when I started using the products, the results were amazing. My skin was glowing and super hydrated – even my husband commented and if he notices a difference in my skin then it is definitely a plus for me. My clients have always been early adopters and I knew adding the Goldfaden facial to the treatment menu would be warmly welcomed. 

What is your holy grail Goldfaden MD product and why do you love it?

Okay perfect, easy peasy. Can I choose more than one?  The Radiance Repair Serum oh my goodness!  My skin was as dry as sandpaper but this product boosted my skin barrier, it left my skin feeling firm and radiant.  Lip Therapy now I use this first thing in the morning to prep my lips before doing my makeup and applying my lipstick and then I use it again at night. Absolutely love this product. It works wonders but my lips remain soft and it really does feel like my lips are going through their own overnight treatment whilst I sleep. Lastly and by no means my least favourite.  The Doctors Scrub – now my skin needed exfoliation and I think this is where this product combined with the Radiance Repair Serum worked well together. The scrub prepped my skin by removing the dead skin cells and any unevenness, creating a great foundation for the serum to be applied to the skin. 

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Beauty report: What Natural, Clean and Organic Really Means

What constitutes a “natural” beauty product? There’s still no universally accepted standard, even though the market is growing at a rapid rate and the FDA is involved, making changes and will continue to set standards. The skin is the body’s largest organ and research proves it capable of absorbing up to 60% of the ingredients in the products we apply – that is a large number and we’ve become more aware of what ingredients are found in our products for this reason. There is a large majority of bath, body, hair, makeup and skincare products available today which contain commonly used synthetic ingredients such as Parabens, detergents, preservatives and SLS; these synthetic ingredients have been recognized to cause irritation in some people and may have damaging effects longer-term. Ultimately, brands are choosing their own classification and how they represent themselves.

The industry and consumers use the three words, clean, natural and organic loosely and interchangeable, when in reality they are all different.

Wikipedia’s definitions shed some light on the differences between natural and organic:

A natural product is a chemical compound or substance produced by a living organism—that is, found in nature.[2][3] In the broadest sense, natural products include any substance produced by life.[4][5]

An organic product is made from materials produced by organic agriculture. Most appropriately(,)organic beauty products can be explained as any products that is made or cultivated without the use of Genetically Modified Organisms (GM), herbicides, synthetic fertilisers and more. In order to warrant if a product is organic, the USA uses USDA certification – NOP National Organic Program to define a cultivated product (or ingredient) as organic.

The term ‘clean’ when used in the beauty and wellness industry loosely refers to being “free of something” i.e. an ingredient, filler or preservative. The word ‘clean’ may also be used to refer to the sustainability of packaging or ingredients. The use of the word ‘clean’ is not mandated and is interpreted, demonstrated and used freely by individuals and brands as they see fit to further describe benefits (so it’s important to read the labels!). Therefore, there are many definitions of what clean means.

As a brand we identify as a clean, naturally inspired brand which utilizes a combination of natural and organic ingredients.  We do not formulate with silicones, mineral oil, parabens, alcohol, SLS, and artificial/synthetic dyes and fragrances – all of which can lead to skin irritation. We adhere to and are compliant with the EU’s banned list of ingredients.  Many retailers are deferring to the EU’s list of roughly 1400 banned ingredients, which are known to or suspected of causing cancer, birth defects, and reproductive harm, as a standard of defining clean and natural. Join us in the clean beauty movement

Interested in what you can do to add to your clean movement? Check out our lean life swap tips:

  • Store your water in a stylish, yet totally functional (hello cold water all day) SWELL water bottle and feel good about eliminating plastic water bottles and going BPA free FOREVER.
  • The average reusable bag has a lifespan equal to that of more than 700 disposable plastic bags. One person using reusable bags over their lifetime would remove more than 22,000 plastic bags from the environment. Nuf said.
  • Join us in a global movement to eliminate plastic drinking straws from our landfills, our streams, our oceans, and our beaches. Swap for paper, stainless or even bamboo straws.
  • Give a hoot – don’t pollute and pick up! The ocean is not a garbage can and neither is the street or the side of the road.

 

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