Eat It / Apply It

While watching Live With Kelly this morning, Jennifer Goldstein, the Beauty Director for Prevention.com was showing different food products that can be used to help your skin, hair and more.  Whether you're eating it or applying it, you are doing your body good!

First up was Avocado, yummy on sandwiches and when made into Guacamole but have you ever thought about making it into an anti-aging moisturizing mask?  All you need is one ripe avocado and 1/4 cup of sour cream and 10 minutes of your time.  While the avocado is going to stimulate collagen and elastin production, the sour cream works as an exfoliate, removing dead skin cells.  Leave the concoction on for 10 minutes then rinse with water.

Whether eating them alone as a snack or mixing with your favorite salad, almonds aren't just a regular nut.  Almonds contain a high level of catalase, which may help slow down the growth of grey hairs.  Don't have any grey hairs yet, I'm sure you could get rid of some dry skin, here's how.  All you need is 1/4 cup of almonds, ground until superfine and 2tbsp of organic coconut oil.  Once mixed together it will create a paste.  When in the shower rub this blend on your knees, elbows, feet etc and then rinse with water.

Who doesn't love a ripe strawberry in the summer, whether alone or mixed into a smoothie.  Well who knew that strawberries were not only delish but benificial as well.  Strawberries containe Ellagic Acid (increases skin’s ability to hold moisture and fade dark spots) and Vitamin C (helps with the production of collagen and acts as an antioxidant), therefore protecting the skin from environemental factors.  All that you need to do is blend the strawberries and mix in plan yogurt and a little lemon juice.  Apply the mask to your face and leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse.

With so many different flavors and brands it is hard to choose when you're purchasing Yogurt.  I still feel that Plain Yogurt is the way to go, the flavor is so natural and fresh.  Not only is it a great way to keep your smile white, due to the calcium, it also contains alpha hydroxy which is great for unclogging pores and removing dead skin.  A simple face mask of a light layer of yogurt left on for 10 minutes can help rejuvenate your skin or you can make it into a protein rich hair mask.  Mix together 1/2 cup of yogurt, 3 tbsp of honey and 1 egg yoke.  Then apply the blend to your hair and leave on for 15 minutes (wearing a shower cap will help avoid drips).  Once that 15 minutes is up, wash the mixture out.

Not only is tea great for your skin, with it's skin-boosting antioxidants, it is also a great cooking tool too, serving as a great poaching agent.  You are probably thinking what on earth can you do with tea when dealing with beauty, well tea is a natural hair colour booster that can help bring out natural highlights in dyed or non-dyed hair.  All you need to do is prepare 8oz of tea, let it cool, then rinse through hair.  Let the tea stay in your hair for 15-30 minutes under a shower cap and then rinse.  For Blonds use Chamomile Tea, Brunette use Black Tea and Red Heads use a Berry or Red Tea.

Known as an essencial part in a lot of our days, coffee can not only help wake us up, it can also help protect our skin from sun damage and help prevent wrinkles and sagging.  However, avoid drinking more than an 8oz cup a day, as coffee can also dehydrate skin, if consumed regularly in large doses.  Surprisingly, coffee also can help reduce the appearance of cellulite.  Use cooled coffee grounds as a scrub on thighs, butt or anywhere else you have cellulite.  The scrubbing stimulates circulations and the coffee has a temporary shinking effect on the cellulite.

Have fun with these fun and unusual beauty secrets!  If you have anymore please share them with me by leaving a comment.  I'm sure myself and other readers would be interested.