Wednesday, July 18, 2012

Kona Coffee - More Than Just A Beverage

This post will be about my Kona Coffee Exfoliating Face Scrub but first I have to talk about Kona Coffee.

I first tasted Kona Coffee over 10 years ago.  A co-worker had gone to a conference on Oahu and brought back several bags of flavored Kona Coffee for the office.  It came in this beautiful white bag with a picture of palm trees and a sunset on the front of it.  It was the best coffee I had ever tasted.  Unfortunately, at that time nobody in my area carried Kona Coffee.

I was lucky enough to move to Hawai'i several years later and one of the first things I did was head to the store to find that coffee.  What I hadn't realized when I fell in love with that coffee was that it was only a 10% blend.  Imagine my delight when I tasted 100% Kona for the first time.  Mmmmmm......

Since then, I have become a "coffee snob" in that I drink only Kona Coffee - no Folgers for me.  I still drink 10% Kona but I prefer 100% Kona.  Compared to Kona every other coffee tastes like dirt.  Lucky for me, since I have moved back to the US Mainland many stores now carry both 10% and 100% varieties of Kona.

Kona is Kona Coffee only because it is grown in the Kona district of the Big Island. Most Kona coffee trees are actually descendants of Brazilian plants transplanted in Hawai'i in the early 1800's. The difference comes from the geographical location of the islands, climate, attitude, soil and care that the plants receive during their life span.  Another difference in the final product is how the beans are roasted.  Many companies grow and produce Kona Coffee but they have different flavors.  I have tasted them all and I prefer the flavor of the coffee produced by Hawaiian Isles Kona Coffee Co. to any of the others on the market.  In my opinion, it is the smoothest, richest Kona available.  If you choose to drink or try Kona Coffee just be sure that it is made in Hawai'i in order to be sure it is authentic and remember that Hawaiian Coffee is not necessarily Kona Coffee.
 
Now, as I said in the title of this post, coffee is more than just a beverage.  It has so many uses it really is a wonder plant.  Coffee can be used to deodorize skin and refrigerators, make a rich compost or fertilizer, repel ants and fleas, reduce cellulite and......exfoliate skin.
 
Coffee grounds are a natural exfoliator and the caffeine in the coffee tightens and smooths your skin while temporarily plumping it.  Extended use of coffee as an exfoliator will keep your skin healthy and young-looking.
 
I use Kona Coffee even though other types of coffee would be less expensive because Kona Coffee is a superior product.  Since it is grown in rich, volcanic soil it is imbued with nutrients and minerals other coffees don't possess.  I purchase the whole beans and grind them myself for addition to my face scrub.
 
In addition to the coffee I also add Maui Natural Cane Sugar.  Sugar absorbs the oils and dirt from the skin while balancing the natural oils of the skin.  Again, I could use cheaper sugars but I prefer to use Hawaiian sugar.  Residents of Hawai'i have the longest life expectancy in the United States and I honestly believe that the local products used and consumed are partially responsible for that.
 
Coconut oil holds the ingredients together and naturally moisturizes the skin.  Fragrance oil makes it smell good. 
 
So start your day off right with my Kona Coffee Exfoliating Face Scrub.
 
 

Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Keeping It Clean

This will be a short little blurb since there isn't really a lot to say about Hand Sanitizer.  I'm pretty sure everyone knows about the little bottles you can buy and carry with you so when you touch something gross out in public you can sanitize your hands even if there's no soap or water around.

My Hand Sanitizer has a base of 91% Isopropyl Alcohol.  That's the sanitizer.  Since pure alcohol will dry out your hands, I've added 100% Pure Aloe Vera Gel as a conditioner.  Finally, since the alcohol and aloe vera gel don't smell all that great I've added fragrance oil.  My hand sanitizer comes in over 100 scents.

So, keep it clean and still smell great.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

The Cure for "Local Feet"

So you're already saying to yourself - "What the heck are local feet?"  It's when you have layer upon layer of calluses on the bottom of your feet that are so thick and tough it's the equivalent of the sole of a shoe.

Local feet are extremely desirable to a large portion of the Hawaiian population.  They are what enables you to go walking around in the ocean without having your feet shredded by the lava rock.  They also come in handy when you blow out one of your slippahs in the middle of the summer and have to walk across the parking lot to the store to get another pair, or when you step on a centipede in the middle of the night, or when you come across the bullheads the missionaries planted so the local people would stop going barefoot, or when you don't see the jellyfish on the beach.  You get my point. 

However, local feet are undesirable to a large portion of the world's population.  Men want women with sexy feet and women want men with sexy feet.  Hard, scratchy feet are unattractive.  You want your feet to glide along your partner's skin.  Women who wear strappy little sandals don't want "unsightly" calluses.  Have satin sheets on your bed?  You certainly don't want the calluses on the bottom of your feet snagging on them.

So if you (or someone you know) have local feet and don't want them anymore, my Conditioning Scented Pumice Stones are the solution.  Sure, you could go to the store and buy a plain pumice stone and use it, but it won't contain skin softeners and it won't be scented.  It will get the job done, but not as pleasantly.

I take extra large pumice stones (5 1/2" x 2" x 1/2") and infuse them with scented coconut oil.  Every time you use my conditioning scented pumice stones the coconut oil is released to absorb into, soften and condition the skin while leaving your feet smelling nice.  I include an extra bottle of scented oil and instructions so you can "refresh" your stone if you feel the need to.  With over 100 scents to choose from it would be hard not to find one that titillates your senses.

While I enjoyed having local feet when I lived in Hawai'i, I found it hard to maintain them on the mainland - and it grosses people here out.  I use my conditioning scented pumice stone a couple times a week to keep my feet silky soft. 

Try one yourself or give one as a gift - I'm certain you'll like the results.