5 Simple Hacks to Prevent and Stop Acne Breakouts from Dasha Saian

New video up on Dasha's youtube channel on how to prevent breakouts! She teaches you 5 simple hacks that will stop the spread of acne. Enjoy!

Early Detection- Listen to Your Symptoms

Our parents made sure to take care of us when we were young, and took us to the doctor when we complained of pain. For many adults, their children are still their priorities, and even though our parents get older, they sometimes forget to pay attention to their own symptoms, and let warning signs go unnoticed. As you know, early detection is the most important step towards treating oncology, and since the year is quickly coming to an end, I'd like to remind everyone to book an appointment to see the doctor if you or your parents have any (even minor) health complaints. 

Although some cancers don't exhibit any symptoms, for the most part, like pancreatic cancer, or some high-grade gliomas (VI) stage brain cancer, you may still notice slight differences in health. My mother didn't know about her brain tumor, even though it was the size of an orange up until her seizure and collapse. Ladies, since our face is the mirror of our internal health, if you notice any recurring pustules on the chin, it is advisable to see the gynecologist, because that area is directly linked to our reproductive system and ovaries. This type of blemish on the face may signify ovarian cysts, or worse. Blemishes between the eyebrows can signify poor liver health, and an abdominal ultrasound and MRI are highly advised. 

Personally, I never allow X-Rays and CAT scans to be performed on me or my loved ones, unless it is of life and death importance. Both of these diagnostics carry substantial doses of radiation, and as we know, radiation is cumulative in our bodies. An absolutely safe test is an MRI, it is just a magnet, and can even be done daily.

Please take care of your health, and the health of your loved ones. Health and love is all we need to lead a happy and fulfilled life, and everything else will come.

15 Minute Vegan Lettuce Tacos

I love weekends, and you can bet I would rather spend more time with my friends and family, than toil away in the kitchen! For this reason, I would like to show you a lunchtime snack your family will adore! I call these little lettuce bowls my 15 minute vegan tacos. You can work with whatever ingredients you have on hand - today I had zucchini, cherry tomatoes, garbanzo beans, and cilantro. Easy no cook recipe calls for:

INGREDIENTS (I only use organic):
Zucchini 2 medium
Butter Lettuce
Garbanzo Beans, boiled 1 cup
Cherry Tomatoes 1 cup
Cilantro 1/4 cup chopped
Juice of 1/2 Lemon
Flaxseed oil 1 tablespoon
Sea Salt to taste

I use my beloved spiralizer to make zucchini noodles, add to that the garbanzo beans, and the cherry tomatoes. I cut mine in half to make it fit in one bite down on as you eat. Add the cilantro, lemon juice, and oil,  and combine well. Scoop this mixture into the lettuce, and serve! I suggest just eating these like tacos - it gets a bit messy, but it's out of this world delicious! I am disappointed that my avocados were too hard, but an avocado would make the PERFECT topping for this taco!

Hope you try this little fun "salad" for lunch today, and feel light and energized all day long! 

Peptide Combinations in Skin Care

—Which formulations/combinations is your company currently exploring and why (how they work, skincare benefits, etc)?

We love peptides, and the best combination that we have found to work well against wrinkles has been Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline®) with Matrixyl ™3000. Acetyl Hexapeptide-8 (Argireline®) improves wrinkle depth, wrinkle volume and roughness. Matrixyl ™3000 minimizes crow’s feet and laugh lines, and prevents from further damage and wrinkle formation.

—Are delivery systems (into the skin) an issue? How is that addressed in your formulas?
Usually, peptides are best absorbable when used in a water-based serum, with the addition of low-molecular weight Hyaluronic Acid. This is the formulation behind SAIAN Active Renewal Serum.

—This topic can easily get confusing for even the most well-versed esthetician: what advice can you give for ways to sort through all their peptide product options, and to interpret labels?
As we all know, ingredients are listed on the label starting with the most prevalent to the least prevalent. It’s important to choose a product which is water-based, and has peptides in the beginning of the ingredient list – this way you can be assured of the amount of peptides in the formula. You may also consult the manufacturer, and ask what percentage of a given peptide is used. Usually, 10% of each peptide is sufficient to give great results, if there is a blend of 3 or 4 peptides in a formula. Our serums have 6 peptides!

—Which peptide/peptide or peptide/other ingredient combos do you think should be avoided and why?
Avoid peptide combinations that are mixed with hydroquinone, parabens, and other toxins that can irritate the skin.

—What do you envision for the future of peptides in skin care?
The future of peptides most likely lies in skin-repairing copper-peptide complex, and in all natural paraben-free combinations.

New YouTube tutorial about SAIAN Neck-Lift product.

New YouTube tutorial about SAIAN Neck-Lift product. 

The original and only SAIAN® Bio-Firming Neck Lift Kit™ is specifically formulated to firm and tone sagging skin, and reduce wrinkles in the neck and chin area. Tightens, stimulates cell circulation, removes toxins, melts away fat and inhibits the formation of fat deposits! The kit includes an extra potent Bio-Firming Neck Crème™, and a unique washable and reusable stretch neck band,which counteract the signs of aging in the neck, chin and décolleté. Natural, vegan, and paraben-free – it’s the perfect addition to anti-aging treatments. Apply Bio Firming Neck Crème to clean skin of the neck and chin 2-3 times daily, using upward motions. Wear the neck band as long as desired after crème application. Can be slept in. Wash the band with shampoo to restore adhering property.Paraben-free, fragrance-free. Neck band is latex-free.

20 Minute Activities That Will Nourish Your Body and Soul

As a business woman, writer, and an EXTREMELY simple person, I have developed (purely by accident) some easy-as-pie strategies for showing yourself love and support! These 20-minute activities will give your body, mind and heart, the emotional boost to release tension, think more clearly, make rational decisions, and balance your life. Here is a short list of activities that will be beneficial to you. Whenever you have trouble throughout your day, do one of these, or a few!

1. Read a book. A good book!
2. Stretch your body. Don't neglect your neck. Massage your tense shoulders.
3. Write, be creative, start a blog, a book, and commit to it!
4. Draw something! Anything! Use your imagination!
5. Take a walk outside.
6. Learn a phrase in a foreign language you can use daily. Next time learn a new one! Keep going!
7. Dance it OUT! Put on some music and jump!
8. Prepare a beautiful and healthy meal. Focus on the small details, plate it like you're on Iron Chef, and it's judgement time!
9. Clean the closet and let go of the things that no longer serve you, and would be more useful to someone else. Donate directly to those in need, or take to the midnight mission. Remember, good will sells the donated clothes, and ships them to Africa for resale. You want your things in the hands of the ones who need them, free.
10. Ask who needs your help. Helping others is our birthright and responsibility.

Simple Advice That Will Help You Re-Charge Your Body and Mind!

Want to boost your metabolism, oxygenate your body, aid your digestion, and re-energize? My simplest advice to you is:

1. Drink more water! We often can't think logically, get fatigued, dehydrated, and lazy just because we are lacking water in our system. A lot of times we end up over-eating, because we can't tell when we are genuinely hungry for a snack - often just water would be sufficient. (and no, coffee, juice, and soda don't count)

2. Become more aware of your breathing. Are you taking in enough oxygen? Can you feel your ribcage expanding when you take a breath? Take time and sit upright. Really pay attention to your breath, and breathe until you feel your fingertips and toes tingling with energy!

Radiation and Our Health

For the past 2 years, I have spent countless hours trying to connect the dots, and find the reason for my mother's sudden illness. She was living an incredibly healthy lifestyle, eating mostly a plant-based, all-organic diet, dancing salsa 3 nights a week, hiking, traveling, singing, lecturing, and enjoying her work as a CEO of a world-famous brand. 

Why do some people get cancer, and what contributes to cancer cells firing? Simply put, cancer is the uncontrolled growth of cells. In a healthy body, natural processes control the rate at which cells grow and replace themselves, as well as the body's processes for repairing or replacing damaged tissue. Changes occurring at the cellular level disrupt the control processes, permitting the growth of cancer cells.  A big factor in breaking chemical bonds in atoms and molecules is radiation, that's what makes it such a powerful carcinogen. Radiation causes mutations in the DNA blueprint, and contributes to cancer cells spreading uncontrollably. This became apparent in the early 1900s, when people working around radioactive matter and x-ray equipment began to develop skin cancer. 

We all know about Chernobyl, Hiroshima and Nagasaki, but did you realize that we are receiving large amounts of radiation on a daily basis? Everything, from using your microwave to using your cell phone, to airplane travel, and all sorts of medical procedures. All of this adds up in our system, potentially causing us health problems down the road. 

I want to start by giving you some numbers, so that you may adequately compare the amount of radiation received at every exposure. The effects I will talk about are stochastic effects - meaning low-level long-term effects of radiation that pile up and lead to damage. There are also non-stochastic effects that are instantly apparent after a heavy dose of radiation, such as burns and nausea, and usually death within the next 2 months. 

The scientific unit of measurement for radiation dose, commonly referred to as effective dose, is a millisievert (mSv). Because different organs have varying sensitivity to radiation exposure, the actual radiation risk to different parts of the body from an x-ray procedure varies. The term effective dose is used when referring to the radiation risk averaged over the entire body. Here is a chart which reflects

Plainly said, 5 CAT scans in your lifetime, and the chance of cancer is almost certain. This is the reason why x-rays and CAT scans are very important decisions, that shouldn't be taken lightly. Pregnancy is a contraindication for CAT scans and x-rays, because of high risk of mutation and birth defects.

Lastly, I want to talk about mundane radiation we receive from using our phones, laptops, and iPads, and how to reduce it.

Cell phones and other mobile devices emit radiofrequency (RF) waves, a type of non-ionizing electromagnetic radiation (commonly called “cell phone radiation”). When you hold or carry a mobile device close to your head and body, you can absorb over half of the transmitted RF energy.

Cell phone radiation level varies from device to device and is measured by the Specific Absorption Rate (SAR). A mobile device’s SAR rating is used to estimate the maximum rate of RF energy absorption by a user’s head and body when using the device. In the United States, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) sets the exposure limit for the general public to be an SAR level of 1.6 watts per kilogram (1.6 W/kg). A mobile device’s SAR rating must not exceed 1.6 W/kg in order to receive FCC certification and be sold in the United States. SAR is measured for placement of the phone next to the head and on the body. For example, the iPhone 6 has a Body SAR of 1.14 W/kg and Head SAR of 1.08 W/kg. 

Furthermore, you may not be aware that the current FCC guidelines allow a device to be tested up to 25 mm away from the user’s body. Distance is a key factor in determining the amount of exposure from a device – the intensity of radiation increases rapidly as you get closer to the device. As a result, when you carry your device directly against your body, you may be exposed to radiation levels that exceed the device’s SAR rating and even the FCC exposure limit. For instance, if you place an iPhone 5 in contact with your body, your body exposure may exceed the FCC’s limit by more than 4 times. That’s why all cell phone manufactures include warnings in their user’s manuals to keep the cell phone a certain distance away from your body for safety concern. For example, you can find RF exposure information for Apple devices here. Apple even includes a proximity sensor in its iPhone 5S, 6, 6Plus and iPads to detect the presence of a user’s body and subsequently reduce the device’s transmitted signal in order to comply with the FCC’s RF exposure limit. - Rong Wang, Ph.D.

This is why you need to protect yourself and your loved ones with a case that directs the radiation away from the head and body, and the case I trust is PONG - you can research it here: http://www.pongcase.com. As you know, I am not affiliated with them, but I believe in sharing valuable information with my friends, and I believe in this brand wholeheartedly. Another important piece of advice I'd like to share with you, is to sleep without your electronic devices nearby. Many people choose to sleep with their phone under their pillow, or next to them on a nightstand, and the same for their laptop. Please disconnect yourself from this habit, and not only will you reduce your radiation exposure, but you will get a peaceful night's sleep with no distractions, rings, or notifications. Take good care of your health and your body, and give it some rest!