For millennia we’ve known that honey is good for what ails us but no one knew why. It was hypothesized that honey’s antibacterial properties came exclusively from the natural hydrogen peroxide it contains.  Then researchers in Amsterdam completely elucidated the molecular basis of the antibacterial activity of medical grade honey.  They isolated a protein, defensin-1, which is part of the honey bee immune system and is added by bees to honey. The scientists concluded that the vast majority of honey’s antibacterial properties come from this protein.

Isolating this potent antibacterial ingredient from honey may be of great value in medicine for the prevention and treatment of infections caused by antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as in the breading of stronger, healthier honeybee colonies.

Echinacea Purpurea is well known for its antibiotic, anti-bacterial and healing properties.  In skin care, its extract possesses a myriad of skin benefits.  In the battle against acne it soothes the skin by controlling inflammation and redness and reducing bacteria. Its antiaging properties have been studied and found to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles over time. Rich in tannins, it works as an astringent to tone and tighten skin. Our bees love it too!  Is it any wonder that we’ve decided to grow, cultivate and extract it for use in so many of our skin care formulas?

Turns out you are what you eat after all and when it comes to your skin, a lifetime of good eating habits will reward you richly as you age.  More than any other factor, your diet is going to impact the overall look of your skin throughout your lifetime.  If you cheat here, there is no cream, lotion,  expensive treatment or amount of plastice surgery that can undo what you have ‘not’ done.  None.

Eating right doesn’t have to be complicated but it does take commitment and self-discipline.  The good news is once you establish healthy eating habits you’ll soon notice many added benefits beyond the original goal.  Benefits like an improved sense of self-worth, a more intimate understanding of your own inner strengths as well as self-reliance as you learn you really are master of your own destiny in more ways than not.

So just how should you be eating for beauty?

Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables daily:

These food contain antioxidants such as beta-carotene and vitamins C, E, which will curb the damage caused by unstable molecules known as free radicals. These molecules harm skin cells and lead to signs of aging. Include foods like blueberries, strawberries, grapefruit, kale, spinach, tomatoes and brightly colored peppers.

Water:

Your skin needs water and lots of it to stay smooth, flexible and healthy.  We aren’t talking any liquids here, we are talking good old fashioned water.  How much? Your body needs at least (8) 8 ounce glasses a day to replenish what it needs to function and for major ‘filtering organs’, like your skin, to function optimally.  Cheating here is not an option.  At the microscopic level your skin is a fluid filled permeable wonder.  It’s up to you to fill the tank and keep it full.

Cut back on animal protein; way back:

That’s right.  Animal protein is extremely hard on the skin because it’s an acid.  Your body functions within a very narrow range of pH at about 7.0, which is slightly alkaline. When the foods you eat move your body out of this range of alkalinity, the cells don’t function properly. In these cases, your body then seeks to pull mineral salts from cells and bones in order to restore alkalinity. This can result in free radical formation, which accelerates the aging process. Incidentally, it will also contribute to bone demineralization, which leads to weakened bones and, ultimately, osteoporosis.  In nonwestern cultures where animal protein is scarce in diets, osteoporosis does not exist.

Oils and fats:
Omega-3s help slow down the aging process and restore moisture to dry skin because they have strong anti-inflammatory properties, Omega-3s help heal and reduce inflammation underneath the skin’s surface and help maintain the outer layer of the skin keeping it strong and intact so that external toxins and pollutants are kept out. Some food sources include avocados, oily fish, walnuts, seeds, chia seeds natural peanut butter and olive oil.

What to avoid:

Sugary snacks, refined and processed foods, alcohol and soft drinks, basically, anything Mother Nature didn’t create.

Beyond diet:

Shiled your skin from harsh sun but know that you do need sunshine for health, just be sensible in getting it. Get 7-8 hours of regular sleep and maintain a schedule.  Avoid chronic stress, exercise and of course use natural, non toxic skin care to protect your skin from environmental insults.

If you are late getting started in the game of healthy eating to maintain beautiful skin don’t worry.  Your skin is an amazing organ and capable of regenerating and improving at any age.  You have to give it time to see results, however.  Anticipate three months up to one year to get yourself really glowing!

 

 

 

 

 

 

People have been maintaining skin with mud masks since ancient times with good reason.  Clay offers many skin benefits.  Not only does clay absorb impurities and help heal your skin, a good mask will tighten pores, improve micro circulation and exfoliate leaving your skin radiant and soft.  We feel strongly one step to lifelong beauty is a weekly clay mask. We chose to formulate ours with our nutrient rich botanical honey and aloe leaf to make it super nourishing and softening too!

Our key ingredients:

Aloe Vera: skin soothing and moisturizing properties; anti-inflammatory; potentiates the skin health benefits of the essential oils.

French Green Clay: pulls oils, toxins and impurities from your skin. Its toning action stimulates the skin by stimulating circulation.

Moroccan Rhassoul Clay: mined in the Atlas mountains of Morocco, a mineral rich clay unmatched in its ability to withdraw impurities from skin; deep cleansing, mild, clears pores; improves skin tone, texture and clarity. Phenoxyethanol: a preservative used in dermatological products, pharmaceutical products and vaccines. It can be found naturally in green tea. The synthetic version is nature identical.

Raw Honey: the foundation of all our formulas, rich in antioxidants, live enzymes, vitamins, minerals, alpha hydroxy acids; provides vital bioactive nutritional support to the skin, promotes rapid healing, cell turnover, maintains moisture, protects against environmental stressors.

Summer of 2015 marked an especially busy season for us here on Meadowlake Farm. Having outgrown our existing production area, we finally broke ground on our beautiful and spacious new home! Nestled alongside the lake and just steps away from some of our hives, it is a lovely addition to our farm. We designed the structure ourselves and Joel is still hard at work on the interior. He truly is a talented man. We are totally in love with the finished product. We think the bees approve too!

You may notice that our website is in a state of disarray.  That’s because we are in the process of updating it in between everything else we are up to.  So, pardon our dust, we’re cleaning it up as fast as we can!

There’s so much that goes into the making of Meadowlake farm products.  From start to finish we do everything ourselves.  From cultivating then extracting, to formulating and testing to hand batching.  Here’s  a peek at part of the process.

  It all starts with our unprocessed raw honey.

  Lot’s of it!  All of formulas are honey based.

With the exception of our toners, everything contains raw beeswax and our botanical extracts.

Here’s a batch of our Hive Isolates Complex on the mixing table.  We’re adding our outstanding essential oil blend.

  Everything is Everything must be hand poured, once the units cool we label them and seal the containers.

This is our shipping and receiving area.  This order is headed for Taiwan.

Meet John, our favorite Dayton Freight driver preparing a palate of products to take to Chicago which will then be shipped by air overseas.

Here’s the post office a lot of our products make a stop at before finding their way to your skin.  I know what you’re thinking and you’re right, it’s even quainter in person, that’s why I had to share it!