Why Matcha Green Tea Is Amazing! - Matcha Organics Review

If you're anything like me you are always looking to add nutrients and minerals to your daily intake. Sometimes it seems like there isn't enough time (or calories!) in a day to get it all in. This is why I love matcha, it comes in powder form and you can add it to just about anything! It is abundant in antioxidants, minerals and nutrients to keep you healthy and happy. In fact, one cup of matcha is the nutritional equivalent of 10 cups of regularly brewed green tea!

Matcha is a specially grown and powdered green tea. It is the center of both Chinese and Japanese traditional tea ceremonies. Most recently, it has been used to dye and flavour foods and treats (We've all heard of the infamous Matcha Green Tea KitKat bars!). There are two different grades of matcha -ceremonial and culinary, each use different blends and preparations (today I'm testing culinary). Ceremincial matcha is typically mixed with hot water while culinary can be used in a variety of ways such as baking and smoothies.

Matcha is produced from shade grown tea leaves, this is important because it boosts the production of chlorophyll and in return amino acids. Chlorophyll is an antioxidant and assists in keeping our blood healthy, kills germs and acts as a wound healer. Once picked the leaves are then dried, steamed and stone ground to produce the powdered matcha that we know and love today. Because it is powdered and you use the entire leaf your body is able to use 100% of the nutrients from the tea. It is important to ensure that the matcha you purchase has not oxidized, as it degrades the product - always look for vacuum sealed tins/bags to ensure optimum freshness and maximum antioxidants.

As mentioned above, matcha hosts a powerhouse of antioxidants (over 1300!), minerals and nutrients. The health benefits of matcha include:
- Energy Booster (Replace your morning coffee!)
- Mental clarity
- Boosts metabolism and burns calories
- Detoxifies
- Lowers cholesterol and blood sugar
- Prevents disease

I was recently given the opportunity to try Matcha Organics Culinary Grade Matcha and have been loving adding it to my daily smoothie! The best thing about Matcha Organics is that it is quality made. This company truly cares about it's product and their customers, which is of great importance to me. Their matcha is 100% organic and USDA approved. As previously mentioned, it is culinary grade which means is perfect for mixing in your morning smoothie or adding to your cupcakes! This product also comes with a 100 recipe e-book that is sure to give you plenty of ideas on how to get your matcha in!

Have you ever tried matcha?! Be sure to let me know in the comments below!

* Matcha Organics kindly provided me with a bag of their Culinary Matcha Green Tea in exchange for an honest review. All purchases receive their free Top 100 Matcha Recipes E-Book! As always, all opinions and experiences are my own! This post is not sponsored. Some of the links above are affiliate links. Thank you so much for your support!

Parissa Chamomile Body Sugar Wax - Review and How To

I've used razors and wax for a long time now but I have recently been looking for ways to green up my hair removal routine! While I love the convenience of shaving, I hate having to do it so often! Wax is also a great method but I'm not a fan of the ingredients which is why sugaring really appealed to me. You can make it at home with simple, natural ingredients (water, sugar, lemon) but seeing as I'm a newbie I wanted to find one that I could purchase.

I came across the brand Parissa which is not only cruelty free but is Canadian as well! They have quite a few products to choose from but the one I purchased was conveniently available at my local Walmart.

What comes in the box:

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- 20 large reusable strips * You can cut these for smaller areas

- 2 large wooden spatulas

- 1 precision wooden spatula

- Azolene Oil *Made from Chamomile Flowers, great for preventing ingrown hairs

- Body Sugar * You can see I only used 1/5 of the jar for one use! ( Full legs, underarms, bikini area)

How to:

1. Ensure you have clean dry skin * I like to have a rinse in the shower (water only) and then apply powder (I use arrowroot powder, you can also use corn starch or natural baby powder) to the areas I am going to be removing the hair from.

2. Heat the sugar * Microwave on high for 20 seconds or place in water bath for a couple minutes. 

3. Apply sugar in the direction of hair growth and place the removal strip on top. *Gently rub the strip in the direction of hair growth to ensure it has adhered to hair. 

4. Pull skin taut and quickly remove the strip keeping it as close and parallel to your body as possible. 

5. If you have a couple spots that were missed you can immediately go back and remove the hair in the same manner. 

6. Dab on a small amount of Azolene oil in areas prone to ingrown hairs.

Newbie Body Sugaring Tips:

* If this is the first time you are using body sugar make sure your hair has grown out a little more than usual, at least 1/4 inch. It has a difficult time grabbing on to short, coarse hair that has been bluntly cut by a razor.

*Always do a test patch 24 hrs before committing to it! You don't want to have an adverse reaction the day before a trip or day to the beach!

* Complete your hair removal the day before you will be showing it off so that any irritation or bumps have time to dissipate.

* Remove hair in small areas to start, it will become less painful as time goes on and you'll be able to do full strips.

* You may need to reheat the sugar to complete your hair removal if you do not keep it on a warmer or under a lamp. Pop it back in the microwave for no more than 10 seconds or back in a water bath for a minute. Ensure the sugar is smooth syrup like consistency.

* If you run out of strips you can wash them and use them damp!

* Exfoliate every day to prevent ingrown hairs, I love to use my body brush!

After using this product I would definitely purchase it again! One day I hope to overcome my fear and make it at home but until then, this is an easy and convenient substitute.

Let me know about your favourite hair removal method or product in the comments below!

Peace and Happiness,

Jules

* I purchased Parissa with my own money and as always all opinions are my own!