Strawberry Beauty Tips!

The strawberry: red, juicy, delicious…it’s like nature’s little heart.  I wanted to explore some unique ways that you can incorporate this tasty fruit into your daily beauty routine. Packed with nutrients and benefits, check out these three simple recipes that will help you look your best!

Strawberry Face Mask

 Strawberries are great for getting your skin to look its best, and this mask will help to ex-foliate, renew and brighten your face. All you need is a couple strawberries, some plain yoghurt, and honey. Slice up and mash together the strawberries before adding in a spoonful of honey and yoghurt. Mix all of the ingredients together and spread evenly across your face. After 15 minutes, wash the mask off to reveal soft, glowing skin!

Strawberry Hair Mask

Strawberries are packed with vitamin C which is helpful in nourishing the hair, and they also have the ability to get rid of any excess oil build-up that your scalp may be holding in. This hair mask will help you get those shiny locks that you have always dreamed of — and not to mention it smells amazing! Blend together 5 to 7 strawberries (depending on the amount of hair you have), and a tablespoon each of coconut oil and honey until a smooth purée is formed. Work the mixture into damp hair while massaging your roots, then rinse away with warm water. This recipe is a cheap and natural alternative to store bought hair masks which can be expensive and packed with chemicals. 

Strawberry Detox Water

Drinking water is a natural way to clear out our bodies, but adding in a few more ingredients can turn it into a powerful detox drink that can flush away all unwanted toxins. I tried a refreshing combination of strawberries, lemon and mint. Lemon juice cleanses, alkalises, and boosts the immune system, while mint leaves a cool flavour and helps to settle the stomach. Strawberries will add in flavour, antioxidants and skin enhancing nutrients. All you need is a handful of sliced up strawberries, a few lemon wedges, and a couple sprigs of mint. Add all the ingredients to a pitcher of water and set aside in the fridge while the flavours build up.

Six Foods That Keep You Looking Young!

There are so many products out there designed to keep us looking young, from our skin to our hair. But youth, like many other things, comes from within.  One of the easiest and most effective ways to stay healthy and youthful is to pay close attention to what you put inside your body, and take advantage of the natural benefits that come from certain foods.  We’ve explored many natural beauty remedies here on the blog and it is amazing how many things come down to what you eat.  Today I wanted to share 6 foods that can keep you looking young if made a regular part of your diet – read on to find out how!

1. Leafy Greens

Leafy greens like kale and spinach are packed with lutein, which protects your skin from sun damage and wrinkles. These greens are also very rich in vitamin C, an essential building block of collagen. Collagen is a vital element of youthful looking skin that begins to break down as we age. Getting a healthy dose of leafy greens in your diet will help keep your skin looking smooth and youthful.

2. Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain lycopene, a powerful antioxidant that protects your skin from sun damage.  The lycopene works from within, reducing skin redness and UV damage to keep your skin healthy. To take it a step further, you can blend tomatoes and almonds to create a face mask.

3. Carrots

Carrots contain beta-carotene, which when ingested is converted to Vitamin A, which stimulates skin cell growth and builds collagen.  Beta-carotene is also a powerful antioxidant that protects the skin from damaging free radicals.  Eating carrots can also whiten your teeth, adding to your youthful appearance – they act almost like a natural toothbrush that cleans the surface of the teeth.

4. Citrus Fruits

Citrus fruits are known for their high levels of Vitamin C, which is essential to building collagen.  Citrus is also rich in bioflavonoids that protect the skin from sun damage. In addition to consuming citrus there are a number of ways you can use it topically as well – lemon body scrubs are great for ex-foliating and brightening your skin!

5. Blueberries

Blueberries are the highest in antioxidants among all the berries, which help protect your body from damaging free radicals. Their powerful anti-inflammatory properties can help reduce skin redness and wrinkles, and they can even reduce the mental effects of ageing.  Blueberries are full of anthocyanin – giving them their dark colour – which can slow down the loss of mental function that comes with ageing.

6. Sweet Potato

Last but certainly not least, sweet potatoes are another food rich in beta-carotene, which works to balance your skin’s pH and combat dryness, resulting in healthier, smoother skin. Purple sweet potatoes also have tons of antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties.

Homemade Herb and Grapefruit Face Toner!

As soon as high Summer hits, I become taken over by this incredible urge to incorporate fruits into everything I do. I want to eat them, I want to drink them, and I want to incorporate them into my beauty routine.

The grapefruit is an excellent fruit to use on the skin due to its vitamin, mineral, and antioxidant content. Its vitamin C protects the skin from free radicals and stimulates the production of collagen in your skin, leaving you with soft, rejuvenated-looking skin. Its potassium helps smooth wrinkles and even offers some protection against UV rays. Its amino acids to help firm the skin. Grapefruit can also help cleanse skin, even out skin tone, and act as a toner… which brings us to these two wonderful recipes for herb-infused grapefruit toner: one for dry skin and one for oily/combination skin.

First, get yourself a fresh, organic grapefruit or two, and squeeze it into a jar. If you’re following the dry skin recipe, add a tablespoon or two of mineral water to dilute the grapefruit juice — this way it won’t be as harsh on your skin. Next, add the herbs/oils. For dry skin, add a mixture of lavender, chamomile, and sage to the jar. These can be done in herb or essential oil form. For oily/combination skin, use lavender (ideal for all skin types), mint, rosemary, and thyme. Again, these can be herbs or essential oils.

Seal your jar with an airtight lid and allow the herbs to infuse for 2-4 hours. Then, strain the liquid into another sealable jar, discarding the herbs. If you choose to use essential oils instead of herbs, you can skip this step entirely — your toner is already ready to be used! To use, pour a little of the toner onto a cotton ball and apply to clean skin. You’ll be left feeling totally refreshed and ready for the day!

Store your toner in an airtight container in the fridge. It should stay fresh for about 1-2 weeks. :)

 

Strawberry Beauty Tips!

The strawberry: red, juicy, delicious…it’s like nature’s little heart. I wanted to explore some unique ways that you can incorporate this tasty fruit into your daily beauty routine. Packed with nutrients and benefits, check out these three simple recipes that will help you look your best!

 

Strawberry Face Mask
 

 Strawberries are great for getting your skin to look its best, and this mask will help to exfoliate, renew and brighten your face. All you need is a couple strawberries, some plain yogurt, and honey. Slice up and mash together the strawberries before adding in a spoonful of honey and yoghurt. Mix all of the ingredients together and spread evenly across your face. After 15 minutes, wash the mask off to reveal soft, glowing skin!

Strawberry Hair Mask

 Strawberries are packed with vitamin C which is helpful in nourishing the hair, and they also have the ability to get rid of any excess oil build-up that your scalp may be holding in. This hair mask will help you get those shiny locks that you have always dreamed of — and not to mention it smells amazing! Blend together 5 to 7 strawberries (depending on the amount of hair you have), and a tablespoon each of coconut oil and honey until a smooth purée is formed. Work the mixture into damp hair while massaging your roots, then rinse away with warm water. This recipe is a cheap and natural alternative to store bought hair masks which can be expensive and packed with chemicals.

Strawberry Detox Water

Drinking water is a natural way to clear out our bodies, but adding in a few more ingredients can turn it into a powerful detox drink that can flush away all unwanted toxins. I tried a refreshing combination of strawberries, lemon and mint. Lemon juice cleanses, alkalises, and boosts the immune system, while mint leaves a cool flavour and helps to settle the stomach. Strawberries will add in flavour, antioxidants and skin enhancing nutrients. All you need is a handful of sliced up strawberries, a few lemon wedges, and a couple sprigs of mint. Add all the ingredients to a pitcher of water and set aside in the fridge while the flavours build up.

Let me know if you try any! 

Natural Anti Ageing Remedies For Eyes!

Not long ago I turned thirty, and on this milestone of a birthday I made a few decisions. One of them being to really start taking care of my body, I am currently spending six months dropping the extra pounds I have gained, detoxing my body of toxins, and putting only good wholesome items in my body. (Involving being t-total for the rest of 2014) I am pretty lucky that the signs of age haven't crept up on me too badly (I am lucky as I partied HARD in my twenties!) however I wanted to see what I could do naturally to stop the wrinkles from showing (primarily on my eyes) Here is what I found!

Reduce fine lines and crows feet.

What you need: Cotton Balls and Grapes

If anything is really changing I have noticed lately that my eyes are looking a little aged. Every time I look in the mirror I see small crow’s feet, faint dark circles, and sometimes they are a little puffy.  I’m not one to spend a lot of money on beauty products because you never know if they will actually work,  and when I read the ingredients most of them time, they’re full of nutrients that come from natural products. I decided I would try out some free and low cost remedies before I dive into the more expensive items.

Grapes contain antioxidants that act like a natural peel which help to diminish wrinkles over time.

1. Mash a handful of grapes to obtain the juice.
2. Use a cotton ball to apply the grape juice to fine lines around the eyes. Rinse after 5 minutes. Repeat 2-3 times a week for best results.

 Reduce puffiness 

What you need: Egg whites and a make up brush. 

To reduce puffy eyes, egg whites are not just a good food for your body, they are also great for your eyes, too.

1. Beat the whites from an egg until stiff.
2. Use a brush to apply the egg whites to puffy eyes. Let dry for 15 minutes then rinse.

Dark Circles Under Eyes

What you need: Mint Leaves

Mint, due to its flavonoids, is an antioxidant and great for diminishing dark circles .

1. Chop and crush a sprig of mint leaves.
2. Apply the mashed leaves to dark under eye circles, leave for 20 minutes then rinse.

Before you splurge on expensive beauty products, try these at-home natural remedies first and see if they work, I know I sure will.

Do you have any to share?