Tag: Health

If These Celebs Swear By This $1 Beautifying Ingredient, I Want It Too

Published on by Lee3 Comments

There’s nothing more satisfying than finding something completely awesome for your skin that costs next to nothing. It’s even better when you know that incredibly gorgeous celebs like Jessica Alba, Jennifer Aniston, Jennifer Lopez, Oprah (and the A-list list goes on!) credit their stunning figures and glowing skin to the same thing. Jessica Alba uses it in a smoothie to boost energy levels, Jennifer Aniston relies on it to keep fit and trim, and Lady Gaga swears by it for reducing her stress levels – we all know what stress does to our skin! The genius ingredient is green tea; its impressive qualities include the power to lower your sebum levels and fight against acne, reduce sun damage, flatten puffy eyes, and even diminish wrinkles. It’s literally the answer to all our prayers – for our skin and our bodies!

The magical ingredient comes from the Camellia sinensis leaves that originate in China. Green tea leaves have extremely high-levels of polyphenols, aka micronutrients that come from plants, which are packed with antioxidants that protect against skin-damaging free-radicals, infections, toxins, and even some cancers. Not only is green tea super inexpensive, but you can use it topically and internally for MAJOR health benefits – even lowering bad cholesterol and detoxing your body. Put the kettle on now; guarantee you’ll be wanting a brew…

The difference between green tea and matcha green tea: Green tea is referred to as your standard tea bag filled with dry leaves, and it needs to be brewed for a couple of minutes to release the goodness. Once brewed you can discard the leaves and drink the tea, or you can use the brewed leaves to make a mask. Matcha is green tea leaves that have been dried and finely ground, which you ingest completely, making matcha a much more intense dose of goodness. Matcha contains 137 times more EGCGs (powerful antioxidants, up to 50 times stronger than vitamin C and E) than green tea does, so you would need to drink around 10 cups of green tea to get the same benefits that you would from one cup of matcha green tea. Look out for organic matcha tea like this one.

Find Your Zen: Believe it or not, having a green tea brew will actually chill you out. The tea lowers cortisol levels (stress hormones) and contains an amino acid called L-Theanine that gives a calming effect and helps your brain to focus.

Fight against wrinkles: Free-radicals attack our skin and breakdown skin cells to deplete skin’s elasticity, causing sagging and wrinkles – they’re our ultimate nemesis! Fortunately, the high-levels of antioxidants (the best kind: catechins and polyphenols) in green tea help our skin cells to fight against the damage done by free radicals. They can both slow down the signs of aging and contribute to reverse skin damage.

Combat acne: Drinking green tea works in numerous ways to combat acne: your skin produces less sebum, your inflammation levels are reduced (that’s what causes pimples to get all red and angry), and your immune system is bolstered. The aforementioned EGCG is also a potent regulator of your hormones, in particular, male hormones, which cause your glands to produce excess sebum. Combined with its anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial properties, it makes a fierce face mask. Combine a tablespoon of matcha tea with a tablespoon of honey, or matcha tea with yogurt to balance and soothe your skin.

Reduce sun damage: Green tea can’t block UV rays like sunscreen can, but instead, it fights damaging free-radicals and reduces inflammation that the sun causes – it can even destroy cancerous skin-cells. To get the full benefits you can drink green tea and use it as a toner in the morning: dip a cotton pad in a cup of cooled green tea and wipe it across your face.

Boost energy levels and shed pounds: There’s a reason green tea is favored in Hollywood and among models, it’s been clinically proven to boost your metabolism and increase your bodies ability to burn fat. It’s caffeine content – about a quarter the amount of coffee’s – increases your energy and concentration levels, which can improve physical performance and mobilize fatty acids to be used for energy. A matcha smoothie makes the perfect pre-workout or morning wake-up replacement for your cup of coffee. Make a smoothie with one banana, one spoon of matcha green tea powder, ice, almond milk or coconut water (enough to cover all your ingredients in a blender), one tablespoon of almond or peanut butter, and a sprinkling of granola, you can even add a date or honey as a natural sweetener.

Deflate puffy eyes: Green tea bags make the perfect under eye treatment: the caffeine shrinks blood vessels, while the tannins constrict capillaries. Brew two tea bags for a couple of minutes, remove and place in the fridge until chilled (around 30 minutes – they should be cold but not dry) place the tea bags under your eyes and chill out for half an hour.

Even just drinking a green tea every day will do your body good, and it’s another alternative to help you reach your daily water target. It’s insanely good when you use it topically too, so play around with different recipes and find what works for you. There’s also an insane amount of products starring green tea, in case DIY isn’t your thing, check them out at ToGoSpa here.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

5 Easy Food Swaps Your Skin Will Thank You For

Published on by Lee3 Comments

The bottom line is, you could have the most amazing beauty regime consisting of dozens of miracle products, but if you’re not eating well and drinking plenty of water, it’s going to negatively affect your skin. You have to remember, your skin is the largest organ in your body, so if you’re not providing it with the right nutrients, minerals, and vitamins, you’re more likely to experience dull skin and breakouts. But don’t worry, I am not suggesting you drastically change your diet and only eat steamed broccoli, instead, try just a few healthy food swaps; cut out the bad stuff and replace it with something more nutritional. I promise, it won’t even feel like your making a sacrifice, and you’ll be trading in skin aggravating ingredients for beauty-boosting foods – it really is a no-brainer.

Swap lattes for Americanos and green tea

If there’s one thing I’ve learned from countless dermatologists and celebrity nutritionists, it’s that we should avoid dairy (more specifically milk) as much as possible. The reason being, dairy is full of hormones and when you consume it, it’ll cause your other hormone levels to rise; including testosterone and progesterone. These hormones are the main cause of excess oil and sebum, which can block your pores and trigger breakouts. So try and stay away from milky lattes, and trade it in for either a black coffee or an almond milk latte. Almond milk is full of skin-loving vitamins like vitamin E, which helps strengthen your skin’s epidermis layer while giving it a healthy glow. But, possibly the healthiest trade, would be to ditch your latte and have a Green Tea instead, which can lower oil production, fight against acne, reduce the appearance of wrinkles and sun damage while removing toxins from your body. Plus, it’s practically calorie-free.

Trade milk chocolate for dark chocolate or cacao

Ok, so I have to admit, this trade may take a little bit of time to get used to, but once you’ve committed to this health swap, you’ll be thanking me. Chocolate doesn’t just contain dairy; it’s also really high in refined sugars and white sugars, which are bad news for your skin. Sugar can dehydrate your skin, cause inflammation, and it can even cause premature aging (digested sugar attaches to the collagen in your skin, breaking it down rapidly). Obviously, I’m not suggesting that you give up chocolate entirely (I’m not crazy!), just opt for dark chocolate cacao-based sweet treats instead. Dark chocolate and cacao are the rawest form of chocolate bean and aren’t sweetened, and they actually have a ton of health benefits! I know they may taste slightly bitter, but they both contain beauty-boosting anti-oxidants and will improve blood circulation so that more oxygen is delivered to your skin, leaving it looking radiant AF. Just make sure your dark chocolate is 75% or more, or find some delicious cacao recipes here.

Swap butter or oil for grapeseed oil

Even though it may taste great, cooking with butter or sunflower oil isn’t good for your health or your skin. Both are super high in cholesterol, which triggers your body to produce more hormones, thereby increasing your oil production, making breakouts more common. Cold-pressed grapeseed oil, however, reduces harmful cholesterol. It also has a very high ‘smoke point;’ the temperature at which oil begins to smoke – the higher the smoke point, the better. So next time you’re cooking, reach for the grapeseed oil to improve your health and your skin.

Switch sugar for Manuka honey

As mentioned, white refined sugars aren’t good for your skin, so you should try and avoid them wherever possible. Instead, try using honey to sweeten your food, more specifically Manuka honey – whether that’s in your morning coffee, your oatmeal, or in your cooking.  Not only will it help you curb your sugar cravings, but since honey is a natural humectant, it will make your skin super soft, whether applied topically or ingested. It also has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it will help remove toxins from your body while improving digestion. Manuka honey is especially beneficial as it’s the rawest form of honey, which is free from preservatives and has a higher concentration of nutrients.

Swap soda or fruit drinks for detox water

The truth is, no matter if your fav soda or fruit juice is ‘calorie-free’ or ‘not from concentrate,’ a soda or fruit juice is never going to do good things for your skin. Not only are these soft drinks high in refined sugars (the average can of soda contains 8g of sugar), but sodas also contain nasty chemicals such as aspartame, which make you crave more sugar. And when it comes to fruit-based drinks, like orange juice, although that may seem like a healthier alternative to a can of Coke, chances are it’s full of sweeteners and additives that’ll dehydrate your skin and steal that glow your favorite face oil promises to deliver. Instead, make your own detox water that will hydrate your skin and rid it of toxins that cause inflammation. Check out BLB Readers fav detox water recipes here.

For more beauty-boosting miracle foods, check out this post. Let me know if you have any other healthy food swaps in the comments below.

6 Super Easy Detox Drinks That Will Enhance Your Skin

Published on by Lee2 Comments

If there’s one thing we should all do, it’s drink more water. When you’re dehydrated, it’s not only bad for your health, but it can wreak havoc on your beauty regime. No matter how many miracle products you apply, if you’re not drinking enough water, chances are your hair and skin are never going to reach their full potential. Not drinking enough water can also make your body less efficient at metabolizing fat, and the more water you drink, the better your kidneys and liver can perform to keep your body in the best condition. So to help you drink more H20, I got six ways to spice up your water that are so yummy, you’ll be sipping away all day long! Plus, all these recipes contain other beauty-boosting ingredients so you can ditch the sugary drinks for these delicious healthy concoctions:

The Hit Of Hydration 

Last summer months, I had this watermelon and basil concoction stored in my fridge, as it’s so hydrating and refreshing (watermelon is 92% water). It’s great for combatting water retention and bloating, and because watermelon contains lycopene, it’s a strong antioxidant that can decrease inflammation. Basil is also an insane anti-inflammatory, and it has antimicrobial and antibacterial properties, so it can help improve skin and regulate oil production. If your skin is oily or acne-prone, this drink is ideal for you!

Recipe: Add around 2 cups of chopped watermelon to a large glass jug. Add a handful of basil, followed by 1 liter of filtered water. Refrigerate and leave to infuse for four hours.

The Detoxifier  

I’m sure you have ordered a lemon water, but did you know you can order all three at the same time?! It’s not just good for IG, it’s actually super beneficial for your health. This is because lemons are the ultimate detoxifier; for both your body and your skin. Lemon water can stimulate your lymphatic system’s ability to remove toxins that build up in your lymph glands, bladder and colon. Mint is also amazing for the skin as it has powerful antibacterial properties and is packed with antioxidants to protect your body and skin.

Recipe: Cut 2 lemons in half and gently squeeze the juice into a glass jug. Finely chop 1 cucumber and mix it in with the lemons. Grab a handful of mint and clap the mint together in the palm of your hands to intensify the flavors, then add it to the jug and mix. Pour in approximately 1 liter of filtered water and refrigerate for 2 hours to infuse.

The Antioxidant Boost

This fruit mix delivers a huge hit of antioxidants and vitamins, so it’s perfect for maintaining a glowing complexion and healthy hair. They both also work as an anti-inflammatory, making it the perfect morning drink to help get rid of any puffiness. This mix also works so well as a refreshing ice tea recipe!

Recipe: Place a handful of raspberries and 3 tablespoons of pomegranate seeds into a glass jug filled with ice cold filtered water. Muddle together and sip away!

The Youth Reviver 

This collagen water recipe is slightly different, but the addition of collagen gives massive benefits, and don’t worry it doesn’t taste gross (we love the fruit flavored versions by Vital Proteins). By adding a collagen supplement to your water, over time it will help reduce the appearance of fine lines and improve your overall complexion, as it boosts skin-correcting collagen. It’s great for your bone health too. Find out more about the benefits of drinking collagen here.  

Recipe: Add to two tablespoons of collagen, $24, to half a liter of water.

The Beauty Allrounder

This mix of strawberry, lemon, and basil is one of the most delicious water mixes, and the benefits are endless! It’ll help remove toxins from the body and promote a healthier complexion and scalp. It has antibacterial and antimicrobial properties too, so it’ll help to keep your skin looking clearer too. And of course, it’s mega hydrating, so it’s great for your body, skin, and hair.

Recipe: Mix together 4-6 sliced strawberries and 1 sliced lemon with a small handful of basil in a glass jug. Add 1 liter of ice cold filtered water. Leave to infuse for 20 minutes and enjoy!

The 2 for 1 Mix

This mix of cucumber and coconut water is so good for your skin; you could even apply it topically as a toner. This refreshing mix will instantly hydrate your skin, and it’s also packed with vitamin C to boost your immune system and your glow.

Recipe: Thinly slice 1 cucumber and place it into a glass jug with a large carton of coconut water. Mix together and leave in the refrigerator to chill. Alternatively, store in a glass bottle to use as a toner.

Check out more details about what drinking more water will do for your skin here.

I Started Drinking Collagen And I’m Obsessed With How It’s Changed My Skin

Published on by Lee3 Comments

Hey my loves, so I wanted to tell you about something that I think is completely amazing… Collagen! I’ve been drinking collagen for about 2 months so far, and I’ve noticed a huge impact on my skin and my body; it’s pretty incredible. Collagen (or gelatin) is a naturally occurring protein in your body, but as you age your body produces less, which leads to wrinkles, sagging skin, and joint pain – not ideal!

What is collagen:

Collagen is one of the building blocks of skin, so not only does it keep you looking young but it can heal your skin as well – seriously, it’s true! It helps to heal acne scars and scarring, as collagen mends and rebuilds the damage done to connective tissue, while it’ll also improve your bone strength and ligaments in the same way. The most noticeable difference I’ve seen from drinking collagen is the effect it has on wrinkles; because collagen strengthens blood vessels, it makes your skin softer, more elastic and prevents and fixes fine lines, (even pimples). Because collagen improves skin tissue strength and helps the body to replace dead skin cells, it promotes glossier hair, stronger fingernails, and firmer skin. And finally, and I have noticed this myself, it reduces the appearance of cellulite because it rebuilds the fibers that make cellulite more visible – insane!

Where collagen comes from:

So, if you’re wondering where collagen comes from, it’s basically derived from the bones and tissue of animals like cows, fish, chicken, and pigs. But not all collagen is created equal; you need to look into the source of collagen (which animal), as this can determine the effect it will have on your body and its potency – beef and fish are the best. The most effective type of collagen is marine collagen because it’s absorbed up to 1.5 times more efficiently into the body than any other type of collagen.

How to take collagen:

When I first heard about collagen, I started taking it in a pill form, and I noticed a small difference: my skin looked lifted, and my skin felt smoother. But when I started taking it as a powder, about 2 months ago, that’s when I noticed a significant difference in the texture of my skin. Even my scars have faded, and I swear my double chin has got tighter!

I’ll admit, in its powder form, collagen doesn’t taste great – it’s meant to be flavorless, but I feel like it has a kind of meaty taste to it. You can mix it with tea, smoothies, coffee or even add it to meals you’re prepping. I like to mix it with soup or hot chicken broth, which is a healthy way of having it and you don’t notice it at all. Depending on the formula you’re taking, different amounts are recommended. I use the Vital Proteins Pasture-Raised, Grass-Fed Collagen Peptides, and it recommends one to two times per day. I usually only have it once a day.

Just adding a scoop of Collagen Peptides to food or beverages gives you the vitamin boost you need to support healthy hair, skin, nails, bone, joint health, digestion, muscle recovery, and more.

  • Stir into water, fruit juice, or other beverages
  • Add to smoothies as protein booster
  • Mix with oatmeal, soups, or sauces
  • Add into recipes for entrees or desserts
  • Easy to use! The Collagen Peptides mix well in hot or cold liquids, making them an easy addition to whatever your diet might be

KEY FEATURES & ATTRIBUTES

Collagen is one of the most nutrient-rich proteins in the human body. Supplementing with Vital Proteins Collagen Peptides offers:

  • 20 g collagen per serving – supports overall health and wellness
  • 3,719 mg natural glycine – promotes healthy immune and digestive systems**
  • 100% pure collagen protein – clean, tasteless, and dissolves & absorbs quickly
  • Sourced from grass-fed, pasture-raised bovine to ensure a natural, high quality, and sustainable source of this nutrient 
  • Digested and absorbed by the body quickly for maximum benefits
  • Whole30 Approved & paleo friendly 
  • Gluten free
  • Dairy free
  • Preservative free
  • Non GMO
  • Hormone free

I’ve also tried more VITAL PROTEINS products that helps with collagen, which comes in different flavors and types that include some of the best-for-your-body vitamins and minerals. You can try collagen from aged 25 onwards when your body’s natural collagen supply begins to decrease. For me, I am only 22 and just wanted to give it a try but it might become a essential in my beauty daily routine – I’m obsessed!

Would you guys try collagen? Let me know in the comments below. X