Healthy Smoothie for Glowing Skin

Give your skin a healthy and natural glow with this green smoothie that is packed with lots of minerals and vitamins!

 

What you need:

• 1 c. kale
• 1 c. spinach
• 1 pear
• 1 orange
• 1 banana
• 1 c. seedless grapes
• 1 c. ice
• 1 c. coconut water
• 1 tsp. chia seeds

What you do:

• Remove the core and seeds from the pear and peel and pit the orange; add them to your blender
• Add the remaining ingredients to your blender and blend all until smooth
• Enjoy your smoothie immediately

 

Recipe adapted from (original recipe from): Womenio

Picture from: OrganicAuthority

Hydrating and Acne Fighting Mango Smoothie

This smoothie has many beneficial ingredients in it that will do wonders for your body, both inside and out.  It also has a sweet and tropical flavor to it (thanks to the mango) that makes drinking it enjoyable as well as beneficial.  This smoothie works to improve the health of your skin as well as to prevent acne breakouts and is suitable for any and all skin types.

Don’t let the fish oil ingredient turn you away, the other ingredients mask any flavor of it and fish oil provides your body with A LOT of benefits.  Fish oil can improve the look and health of your skin and aids in reducing redness or blotchy patches on your skin.  The benefits don’t stop there either.   Fish oil can strengthen hair and leave it looking healthier and shinier and also aids in reducing dandruff and dry scalps.  (I can speak from experience that fish oil really does do wonders for your hair.  I started taking fish oil gummy vitamins a couple of months ago and noticed my hair growing faster and looking much shinier and healthier.)  So, if it can provide you with better skin and hair, why not add a splash of it into your smoothie?

What you need:

• 4 ice cubes
• 1/2 c. yogurt (plain only)
• 1/2 c. mango (fresh or frozen)
• 1 tbsp. fish oil
• 1/2 c. orange juice
• 1 mint leaf

What you do:

• If your using a fresh mango, cut the mango into chunks and place in a blender
• Add all remaining ingredients and blend until smooth
• Transfer to a glass and enjoy immediately

Comments:

• Depending on whether or not you use fresh or frozen mango, you may need to add a couple extra ice cubes to your blender for a cooler smoother
• You can always add more mint leaves to the mixture if you want a mintier taste (I tend to like to add a couple more and always enjoy the taste of fresh mint)

 

Recipe adapted from (and original recipe found at): Womenio

Picture from:  BestRecipes

Exfoliating D.I.Y. Strawberry Sugar Body Scrub

Another day, another strawberry d.i.y. recipe (I told you guys I was on a strawberry kick lately.)  This recipe is for a full body sugar scrub that will leave your skin looking healthy and glowing with soft skin.  Strawberries have a lot of beneficial nutrients within them that can do wonders for your body.  Here’s a few examples:

• Vitamin C which acts as a protector to skin and also works to prevent acne and pimples from popping up
• Salicylic Acid which works to destroy free radicals and prevent premature aging as well as lightning and fading acne scars and blemishes
• Ellagic Acid which is an antioxidant that heals damaged skin and provides skin with a youthful glow
• Folate which works to regenerate cells as well as produce new ones

So, a couple of minutes to whip up this recipe and then treat your body and your skin to the benefits of strawberries!

What you need:

• 4 ripe strawberries
• 3 tbsp. oil (olive or coconut)
• 1/2 c. sugar

What you do:

• Cut the greens off the tops of the strawberries.  In a bowl, gently mash the strawberries with a fork until they form a pulp like paste
• Add the sugar to the mashed strawberries and mix well; then add the oil last
• Mix all ingredients until well blended and a paste like consistency forms (if your mixture is too runny/moist, add some more sugar.  If your mixture seems too gritty/dry add a little more oil)
• In the shower or tub, apply the mixture to your body and gently massage into skin for a few minutes.  Then rinse well with warm water.
• Follow up with your favorite lotion

Comments:

• Use caution in the shower or tub when using this scrub (or any).  The oils in this scrub can cause the floors to become very slippery and slick which can be dangerous.  It’s best to put a rubber bath mat or towel down and use caution as well.
• Be sure to thoroughly rinse all remains of the scrub out of your shower and tub when finished to avoid any stains/marks from the strawberries

 

Picture found at MyPantryShelf

Relaxing & Exfoliating DIY Strawberry Foot Scrub

Flip flop season is right around corner (it may even already be here depending on where you live) and there’s nothing worse then slipping on a pair only to see that your feet aren’t ready for them.  (You know what I mean, dry and rough skin on your heels and toes that looks anything but good.)  So, why not get your feet flip flop ready with this easy to make do-it-yourself foot scrub?

This recipe requires only a couple of ingredients and is super easy to make and leaves your feet looking and feeling relaxed and healthy. The epsom salt works to soften skin and relax feet while the strawberries work to exfoliate and slough away dry and dead skin.  After this scrub….you’ll be flip flop ready!

What you need:

• 1/2 cup epsom salts
• 8 ripe strawberries
• 2 tbsp. olive oil (or coconut oil)

What you do:

• Cut the green tops off of the strawberries and cut them into halves or quarters and place them in a bowl.  Mash the strawberries using a fork until they form into a chunky pulp/paste.
• If your epsom salts consists of a lot of bigger chunks, you’ll want to crush these up (this can be done by placing the salts in a ziploc bag and carefully crushing them on a hard surface using a hammer or rolling pin or any other crush-worthy object you have on hand.)  After crushing the salts (if needed) add them to the bowl with the mashed up strawberries.
• Add the oil last and mix all until a chunky pulp/paste forms and all ingredients are mixed together.
• The easiest place to apply this is over the tub or sink.  If applying elsewhere, I would suggest putting a towel down first to catch any drips.
• Apply the mixture to your feet and gently massage into your skin for a few moments.  Let the mixture sit on your feet for a few minutes so that the mixture has a chance to “sink in” and soften skin and relax your feet.
• Rinse the mixture with warm water and dry your feet.  Follow up with your favorite lotion.

Comments:

• Make sure you clean up the area you applied the mixture in immediately after using it so you are not left with red marks from the strawberry juice.

 

 

 

Berry Beauty Smoothie for Beautiful Skin

This delicious smoothie is packed full of Vitamin C and other antioxidants…all which do wonders for beauty and body!

What you need:

• ¼ cup blueberries (fresh or frozen)
• ¼ cup raspberries (fresh or frozen)
• ¼ cup strawberries (fresh or frozen)
• ¼ cup kale (or spinach)
• 1 cup coconut water (or water)

 What to do:

• Place all ingredients in a blender
• Process until smooth
• Enjoy immediately

Comments:

• If using fresh berries, you may want  to add a couple of ice cubes for a cooler smoothie
• For those of you who aren’t a big fan of “greens” you can substitute spinach in place of kale because it offers a blander/more subtle taste yet still offers a lot of great benefits
• The original recipe calls for water, I substitute water with coconut water because of the many health/beauty benefits it offers

 

Recipe adapted from (and original recipe) found at: http://www.youbeauty.com/nutrition/galleries/smoothie-recipes#11

DIY Holiday Peppermint Candy Cane Body Scrub

Merry Christmas & Happy Holidays!

Treat your skin to a delicious body scrub with a holiday favorite: candy canes!  This easy to make DIY recipe is quick and affordable and in most cases, you probably already have all or most of the ingredients on hand (and this is a great way to use up any leftover candy canes you have for the holidays)!

What You Need:

• 1/3 cup finely crushed candy canes
• 1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup olive oil (more/less depending on your preference)
• 10-15 drops peppermint essential oil (more/less depending on your preference)

What You Do:

• Start by crushing up the candy canes.  My favorite way to do this is by breaking the candy canes into smaller pieces and placing them in a ziploc bag.  Then I lay the bag on a hard flat surface (such as a counter top) and start crushing with a hammer.  (Use caution though when crushing with a hammer or any object….the candy canes crush easily so there is no need to slam away because you risk damaging the surface your crushing on.)  Once the candy canes look thoroughly crushed, I flip the bag over and do the same to the other side to ensure I didn’t miss any.  You want to crush the candy canes until they are of a fine consistency.  (You don’t want to have any big chunks of candy canes left….they will do you no good and you risk scratching your skin with them if you add them to the scrub mixture so make sure you’ve crushed them well.)

• Pour the finely crushed candy canes into a mixing bowl.  Add the granulated sugar to the mixing bowl and stir.

• Slowly add the olive oil to the mixture in the bowl.  Stir well until the oil has mixed with the crushed candy canes and the sugar and you have a paste like consistency.  (It’s always a good idea to add the olive oil slowly and stir as you add so that you can control the consistency of the scrub.  If you like a drier and more gritty scrub, you can use less than the suggested amount.  f you prefer a smoother scrub, you can always add more olive oil until it has reached the consistency that you like.)

• Lastly, add 10-15 drops of peppermint essential oil to the mixture and stir well.  (You can add more or less of the essential oil depending on how “pepper-minty” you would like your scrub to be.)

• Transfer the mixture into a container for storage and future use.  When you’re ready to use, apply to your body and massage into skin and rinse with water while you’re in the shower.  Your skin will be left feeling refreshed and exfoliated and not to mention, smelling delicious!

Soothing Lettuce Cleanser

Treat irritated skin to a soothing and gentle lettuce cleanser!

 

Ingredients:

• 1/2 head lettuce
• 3 1/2 cups water
• 1/4 tsp. benzoin

 

Directions:

• Place the water in a saucepan and add the lettuce
• Bring the water to a boil; once boiling reduce heat to a simmer
• Let simmer for 1 hour
• Remove from heat and let cool
• Once cool, carefully strain the mixture and add the benzoin; mix well
• Transfer the mixture to a container for storage
• Apply to skin and use as you would a cleanser
• Rinse with water

D.I.Y. Bath Fizzies

Make your own bath fizzies at home….perfect for gifts!

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups baking soda
• 1 cup citric acid
• 2 cups cornstarch
• 6 drops food coloring
• 6 drops essential oil (whichever you prefer)

Directions:

• Combine all the ingredients (except the food coloring); break up any chunks
• Pour 1 cup of the powdered mixture (from above) in a bowl
• Fill spritzer bottles with water and 6 drops each with food coloring
• Spritz the powder mixture with the colored mix; stir after each spritz
• Spritz until the consistency has become tightly packed or has begun to mold together
• Add the essential oils to the mixture; mix
• Transfer the mixture into small molds (whichever shapes/styles you prefer)
• Let set for 2 hours; carefully and gently remove from the molds
• (Do this process for each different color fizzy you decide to make or do everything at once if using only one color)

D.I.Y. Moisturizing Body Exfoliator Scrub

Rub away dead and dry skin with this moisturizing body exfoliator that will leave skin looking and feeling radiant and smooth!

Ingredients:

• 1 ripe banana
• 4 large strawberries
• 2 tbsp. olive oil
• 1/2 cup sugar

Directions:

• Mash the fruit together using a fork until smooth
• Stir in the remaining ingredients; mix until smooth
• Apply and massage into skin for a few minutes
• Rinse with water
• Follow up with your favorite moisturizer

Coconut Milk and Ginger Body Scrub Recipe

Slough off dry and dead skin with this Asian inspired body scrub which will leave you with radiant and glowing skin!

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup ground rice (can be grinded in a blender)
• 1/2 cup coconut milk
• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• 1 1/2 tbsp. ground ginger

Directions:

• Combine all ingredients; mix to form a paste
• Apply to skin and gently massage into skin for a few minutes
• Rinse with water