My Thoughts Corner

Hi Y'all,

Makeup and skin care creams and serums are not the backbones of beauty. In facts it’s much simple than this but unfortunately it is nowadays less noticeable thanks to the million/billion dollars spent on marketing campaigns to promote a huge list of lotions and potions supposingly natural and effective. Well, if you roll back the years, you’ll find out that the things able to beautify your skin are: Exercise, get enough sleep, drink plenty water and good and healthy food. Today, I’ll focus only on the last point and will briefly flag the impact of some foods in the health of our skin. 

Berries

Berries are ranked #1 antioxidant which protect from premature aging. Rich in vitamin C, berries should be added to our daily diet and eating them in raw form provides more antioxidant than when cooked. 

Salmon

Especially the wild salmon, not the farm raised, is a great source for omega 3 which keeps the skin suppled and moisturised. The selenium in salmon is responsible for protecting the skin from sun damage.

Sweet Potato:

Sweet potatoes are packed with vitamin A and beta-carotene which help reducing wrinkles and other signs of aging. 

Red and green vegetables

Orange-red vegetables are full of beta-carotene which is converted by our bodies to vitamin A that is preventing cell damage and skin aging. Tomatoes in particular are rich in lycopene, an anti-aging antioxidant. 

The darker in colour the green vegetables are the greater they are. Broccoli provides vitamins A and C responsible to fight fine lines and wrinkles. The leafy green food is loaded with lutein, vitamins B, C and E, potassium, calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids which help produce new cells and get rid of the old ones, reduce dryness and provide the skin that bright and young look.

Packed with fiber, the whole grains promote healthy digestion with is often reflected in healthy skin. They are a good source for the antioxidant rutin, responsible to combat inflammation related to skin damage. The wheat germ food provides the B-vitamin biotin to assists cells in processing fats. 

Nuts

A handful of nuts is enough as a daily dose of nutrients like omega-3 fatty acids and vitamin E to enjoy their benefits: smoother skin, healthy hair, brighter eyes and strong bones. Almonds, pistachios and walnuts in particular are high in vitamin E that protect the skin from the sun damage, combats skin aging and helps skin revitalising. 

Yogurt

Yogurt contains protein which keeps skin firm and fights the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The fruity versions are packed with sugar, therefore stay away from them. 

Dark chocolate

Great news for all chocolate lovers, dark chocolate does not cause acne. It is in fact good for the skin to help it stay hydrated and protected from the sun. Before you run to the nearest chocolate store, make sure to pick the one having a high flavanol of at least 60%.

This list is a great reason to stop by the supermarket. These foods have powerhouse ingredients that keep skin supple and smooth and reduce age related damage. 

Hope that was helpful.

Hello Everyone,

I’m so excited to post this short review. For those who follow my blog or my instagram would know by now that I’m a lavender addict and today I’ll be talking about two products I grabbed at first glance once I spotted the word “Lavender”. It’s the Avalon Organics Exfoliating Enzyme Scrub and the Facial Cleansing Gel.

The exfoliating enzyme scrub incorporates ground walnut shells and fruit enzymes to provide a brightened, refreshed, not irritated or stripped dry skin. Nevertheless, exfoliating can sometimes be quite drying, however this product leaves my skin so hydrated due to the oils it contains. To make things better, this scrub is so gentle and packed with great ingredients, it consists of 70% organic content and it is paraben free. This product claims to brighten dull skin and smooth uneven skin and that’s so far what it’s been doing. Another great thing I’m amazed about is the lovely lavender scent which is very spa-like and relaxing. 

Likewise the facial cleansing gel uses organic oils based ingredients, lavender, chamomile and white tea to cleanse, calm and protect the skin. It is sulfates and paraben free thus it makes it a very gentle yet effective cleanser. It always provides that extra clean feeling without over drying it which makes it suitable for normal and oily skin types. From the other hand, the lavender scent is simply gorgeous and helps to destress. 

Ever since using these holy grail beauties, I have noticed a difference in my skin. It is more balanced and illuminated. I’m so happy with these products and I highly recommend them.

Hope you guys enjoyed this post … Have a great day :)

Hi Dolls,

It’s been already 7 weeks since I posted my first part of the homemade skin care recipes and here I come again with the second part with some new ingredients which have great impact on the skin… Don’t be surprised I myself never thought of putting them on my face. So let’s get started.

Just like the first part, the main purpose of these masks is to help resolve any skin issues, have a healthy aging, pamper the skin, save you huge bills and of course have a cleaner greener living. 

When considering a beautifying bang for your buck, think legumes. Beans and legumes are biotin-rich which plays a big role in reducing wrinkles and dryness of the skin. It is also a great treatment for oily skin as one of its main benefits is to absorb excess oil. 

The first mask recipe is fully based on legumes to promote healthier and younger looking skin. For this you will need:

Grounded fava beans.

Grounded lupin seeds.

Grounded Fenugreek.

Grounded chick peas.

Grounded rice.

Oat.

Plain Yoghurt or milk.

Rose Water — Can be added for smell.

I could only get from the store grounded rice, fava beans and chick peas, for the rest I had to mill them myself using a grinder.

Combine all ingredients, having equal quantity of each, until getting a creamy texture. For those who are following my blog would know that I like to recycle all my empty bottle/jars but you could also use plastic containers as I did for this time and keep it in the fridge for multiple uses. This mask has a great tightening feeling due to the abundant biotin percentage it contains leaving the skin regaining its elasticity.

In terms of eyes and lips i’m sticking to my masks mentioned in part 1. However I’m in the quest of new treatments that I should share with you in future.

At last, I chose a mask to deal with dark spots and discolouration and would in the same be a good natural moisturiser. For this I used:  

Milk.

Oat — Helps remove dead skin cells, soak up oil and acts as a natural remedy to acne. It also improves the skin tone and texture and smooths out blotchy areas.

Yeast — Promotes production of some white blood cells, which helps healing acne and keeps the skin clear and healthy. 

Cornstarch — Possesses anti-inflammatory benefits; it calms itchy skin, rashes, and burns and also prevents skin problems.

Again, mix all ingredients in equal quantities and because of the strong smell of yeast, I prefer to place it in the ice cube tray in the freezer which I defrost it 20 to 30 minutes before use. It’s a great moisturising mask, some of you might mind the smell but personally I overcome it by simply looking at the great benefits I get.

For those who are tight on time and/or cash, it is still possible to provide your skin the special attention it needs to look healthy and rejuvenated. The natural beauty starts in the kitchen; what you put on your body is as important as what you put in it. I’m trying my best to provide simple homemade skin care recipes that cover all the bases. 

Hope you enjoyed this post. Do some experitments of your own and let me know what you come up with!