I had the chance to sit down and chat with beauty and living
foods expert and the founder of Envision Beauty, Kimberly
Snyder. Snyder maintains a raw food diet and explained to me some its benefits
as well as shared some insight into her new product -- The Solution. Read-on for what she revealed!
What are some of the health
and beauty benefits you have noticed from maintaining a raw food diet?
The benefits I have experienced are astounding. I easily
maintain my ideal weight, am always energized and feel absolutely great!
Eating raw also helps keep my skin and hair vibrant. If you are trying to
lose weight, look your best or just keep your energy level up, raw food is an
amazingly healthy and satisfying long-term answer.
Do you have any tips for
women who can't commit to a raw food diet, but would like to have some of the
benefits. Are there any snacks/juices you can recommend?
You don't have to be 100% raw to enjoy noticeable benefits.
Chlorophyll-rich, leafy green vegetables are the most beautifying and
mineralizing of all foods, and green smoothies are an easy way to pack a large
amount of them into your diet. Sprouts are loaded with enzymes - throw
them in your salads or on your sandwiches. Raw almond butter spread
on celery is a great mid-day snack, as are raw sprouted almonds. I've
posted many more recipes and health tips on my blog.
When women are shopping for beauty products what are some
of the ingredients they should make sure to avoid?
Look out for mineral oils, which can sit on the skin's surface, clogging it, hindering its respiration and oxidizing into free radicals. Other ingredients I avoid are sulfates, urea, glycol, ethyl-alcohols and parabens.
What inspired you to develop The Solution?
I created the product that I wanted to use! Something that brightens and smoothes skin, combats aging, is free of harsh synthetics and actually works. There was nothing on the market that offered everything I was looking for.
I was also motivated by my travels through the developing world, which inspired me to give back. That is why we donate at least 10% of our net proceeds to our charity partner, Project Concern International.
How is The Solution different from other products out
there?
The Solution is the first truly all-in-one skincare
formula. Most companies want you to buy
their day cream, night cream, eye cream, serum and more. The Solution provides everything your skin
needs to look its best and be its healthiest in just one cream.
The Solution is so powerful because it combines the best of both nature + science. Unlike typical "natural" or "technical" products, which tend to market either exotic plants or emerging technology, The Solution takes a comprehensive, benefit-driven approach to skincare. It recognizes that some of the best ingredients can only be created by nature, while others come from the lab.
Can you describe the benefits of specific ingredients in
The Solution?
One of my favorites is goji berry, which I observed women
in rural
Great interview. I have contemplated raw diet for a long time..
I have been trying to eat mainly raw for the last few months. It really makes a difference in your energy and you feel over all much healthier.
Im a user of The Solution and have been very happy with the results the product delivers. I would definitely recommend trying. I have also been trying to eat more raw food and Kimberly is definitely right cause i can tell a big difference when I eating more raw.
I've been feeling like I need a good cleanse. Maybe eating Raw is the answer.
Hi Tina, eating raw is a really good cleanse for the body. Even if you try it for a week you will see how easy it is to fit into your schedule. You will see and feel a difference immediately.
I like the simplicity of The Solution- her skincare product. I only use that, and my skin looks great.
I've also tried to incorporate raw food, like the green smoothie, and I think the concept is right, that simple and natural is best
There's a Health Nut on my block that has a vegi bar and they have various cleansing juices that I try to drink 2-3 times a week...they're an acquired taste (cayenne and garlic are in them), but they do leave you feeling cleansed..at least temporarily:)
I'm interested in The Solution but am concerned that there isn't any type of an APF in this product....I know she suggests using it as a night cream, and I'm wondering is that the reason for the lack of an SPF?
Hi Michelle- It's Kimberly here. Thanks for your comment!
My main goal when creating The Solution was to create the PUREST possible product, taking the best from nature + science, that should be used twice a day, morning and night. It's about simplicity and ultimate effectiveness- repairing and nourishing your skin but still allowing the skin to breathe, and not adding any synthetic chemicals which are unnecessary and clogging.
There IS a significant amount of Alpha Lipoic Acid in The Solution, which is one of the strongest ingredients to protect against radiation and sun damage. There is also a lot of Vitamin C and E, and a whole slew of antioxidants and free-radical scavengers to neutralize sun and environmental damage. So there is protection for limited incidental sun exposure.
We do plan on releasing a separate facial sunscreen which will be as pure as possible (!!), later in 2009. If you do like using an SPF every day, we recommend applying The Solution, waiting 5 or 10 minutes, then applying your sunscreen on top.
Let me know if you have any other questions!
Wishing you Total Beauty, Kimberly