Yet again another reason to start eating healthier…so that you have great foods on hand in your home to use on your SKIN! Thats right, so many of us are spending a ton of $$$ on over the counter creams, lotion, toners etc and still on the search for the next best product to make us look and feel younger. Little do most of us know there are some hidden gems right in your house or nearest grocery store:

Aloe Vera

This amazing plant contains many nutrients similarly found in the human body, including amino acids, minerals, enzymes, vitamins and more. It aids in sebum reduction, dandruff and hair loss prevention, plus it nourishes and moisturizes the hair and scalp due to its antibiotic properties. In February we were in Barbados and I got quite the burn on my shoulders and chest…ouch! One of the locals cracked open a leaf and rubbed it on my one shoulder only and said to watch and learn…That shoulder never peeled…EVER! The other blistered and peeled so needless to say I am an Aloe-good-for-the-skin believer! Now keep in mind I am not talking about Banana Boat brand of Aloe I am talking about Pure ALOE!!!!

Sweet Almond Oil

This is our families #1 choice for moisturizer, in fact its the only thing I even own in my bathroom for moisturizing our bodies! It’s an excellent emollient for the skin because of its essential fatty acid content and lightweight texture. As a rich source of vitamin E, almond oil is often an ingredient in shampoos and conditioners to maintain healthy strong strands. An additional bonus to using this as your daily moisturizer is that because of its high EFA levels if you have difficulty getting EFA’s in through food or supplement this can be another great way to do so…very effective for infants and young children to massage into their skin after a bath – you can even add your favorite essential oils.

Avocados

Avocados are not only one of my favorite foods to eat but also to use on my skin. They are rich in B-complex vitamins and essential oils and works like an anti-inflammatory agent, plus it also soothes skin that is red, irritated or blotchy. When I have the chance I will mash some up with lemon juice and olive oil and put it directly onto my hair when it is wet, wait 10 minutes and then wash as usual…makes your hair so super shiny! I have also used it as a mask in the summer to cool my skin and in the winter to moisturize it…nothing else added – just mashed avocado and your face that’s all you need!

I hope you start putting these ideas to use soon for some summer-licious skin!

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