There are tons of recipes online for various yogurts. This is the EASIEST and YUMMIEST one I've made. Coconut Cream Yogurt
(vegan, gluten free, soy free, dairy free) Makes 2-4 servings Ingredients 2 (14 oz each) cans coconut cream (coconut cream is different than cream of coconut which is sweetened) 1 tablespoon lemon juice 1 teaspoon probiotic powder, OR 2 probiotic capsules, contents emptied, OR 1/4 cup coconut kefir dash of sea salt 1 tablespoon maple syrup or coconut nectar (or to taste) Instructions Chill the coconut cream overnight. In the morning, scoop contents of both cans into a food processor or blender. Add remaining ingredients and blend until yogurt is smooth. You may wish to add a little water to thin, if desired. Top with fresh berries, granola, or other toppings of choice. Isn't that just the easiest yogurt recipe possible?
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Hot and humid weather, as well as chlorinated or salt water, all take their toll on our skin during summer. Here are some helpful summer skin care tips for keeping your skin safe and beautiful all season long. DON'T NEGLECT YOUR SKIN Most aging to the skin occurs in the summertime. Your best defenses against skin aging from sun exposure is consistent application of sun protection, facials and a regular skin care routine. WEAR SUNSCREEN TO CUT BACK ON SUN DAMAGE Recent skin research from UCLA determined that 78% of all the sun damage is from incidental exposure. This may occur from simply walking from your office or home to your car or driving. To avoid unnecessary sun exposure, wear a moisturizer with sun block ingredients, in addition to wearing a sunscreen of SPF 15 or greater. Whether you wear SPF 15 or SPF 30 doesn’t really matter. How often you reapply your sunscreen is more important. There’s little difference between the protection of SPF 15 and SPF 30 – only about 4%, and it’s even less in the higher numbers. So remember, the key is to reapply your sunscreen at least every two hours. Slather it on! USE COLD YOGURT TO SOOTHE A SUNBURN Layering lotion on sunburned skin traps heat, keeping the skin red longer. Skin needs to breathe to let out heat. Cold plain yogurt acts as an anti-inflammatory and heat remover. Apply, let dry for 15 minutes, and rinse. Repeat every hour. USE HAND CREAM THAT CONTAINS SUNSCREEN The majority of aging on hands (sun spots and wrinkles) is attributable to driving with your hands on the steering wheel. Use a hand cream with an SPF of at least #15 each day. FOR SENSITIVE SKIN, KEEP YOUR PRODUCTS IN THE REFRIGERATOR If you have redness or rosacea-like symptoms, constant summer heat may keep your skin red and irritated. Refrigerate your products so that when you use them, the cold reduces the dilation of the capillaries and reduces visible redness. ANTIOXIDANTS, TOPICALLY AND INTERNALLY One of the main sources of damaging free radicals is through sunlight. Research indicates that antioxidants in topical skin care products and taken internally through fruit and vegetable sources like spinach, tomatoes, berries and sweet potatoes, can provide your skin and body with the defense it needs to fight off damaging free radicals which increase aging. DON'T RELY ONLY ON YOUR SUNSCREEN Reapply every one or two hours if you are out in the sun, because your sunscreen will wear off, sweat off and wash off. Be sure to wear a hat, sunglasses, and protective clothing as well for added protection to guard your skin against sun damage. Avoid the sun if you want to look young! Any exposure to sun may cause damage to your skin. And don’t exclude tanning beds, as they are even worse. BLOT, BLOT, BLOT Summer months produce extra oils on your skin, which is unavoidable. Keep the shine under control with oil blotting paper. If you find yourself in a pinch, try using the paper for toilet seat covers in public restrooms, which are similar to expensive oil blotting papers. Tear off a piece and press firmly on the skin. Voila! GET YOUR ZZZZS Most Americans, especially women, are sleep deprived; causing you to be grouchy, drowsy, and forgetful, and it will also wreak havoc on your skin. An extra hour each night will make a huge difference. WASH MAKEUP BRUSHES OFTEN AND SUN DRY With the summer months bringing oilier skin, your makeup brushes may carry bacteria and oil in the bristles, resulting in breakouts and clogged pores. Use a tablespoon of gentle cleanser in a glass of warm water to clean your brushes by swishing them until there’s lather. Rinse, detangle with a clean comb and dry out in the sun in an upright glass. The sun will destroy bacteria and dry your brushes faster. BOTTOM LINE The #1 cause of lines and wrinkles is sun exposure. If you want to look young, avoid the sun. It's really that simple. A little sun damage = a little damage. A lot of sun = a lot of damage. SUNSCREEN INGREDIENTS IN PRODUCTS When deciding on products to give you extra sun protection here are some ingredients to look for: avocado oil, coconut oil, emu oil, grapeseed oil and extract, honey, jojoba oil, red raspberry seed oil, rice bran oil, shea butter, tamanu oil, vitamin C, and zinc oxide. Feel like a goddess and indulge your chocolate addiction using this delicious, aromatic chocolate facial mask. This recipe is packed with ingredients for their nourishing and beautifying properties - chocolate, honey, yogurt and oatmeal - to increase blood circulation to the face for glowing, smoother, and fresher-feeling skin. Chocolate comes from cocoa beans (or cacao beans). Raw chocolate powder, the highest known source of antioxidants, is high in antioxidant phenolic phytochemicals (polyphenols), including flavonoids, procyanidin, and resveratrol. Raw chocolate powder contains 367% more antioxidants than its cooked version. The concentration is so high that cocoa actually has greater antioxidant potential than other noteworthy antioxidants like green tea or red wine. However, not all chocolate is high in flavonoids. White chocolate has no flavonoids, while dark chocolate with its higher content of cacao has much more flavonoids than does milk chocolate. If you opt to use dark chocolate in this recipe, instead of cacao powder, it does have fats such as kokum butter, cocoa butter or shea butter. These are used regularly as skin moisturizers and anti-inflammatory agents, all with skin softening properties. The benefits of topical chocolate application of cocoa plant extracts containing polyphenol antioxidants and xanthine derivitives will help prevent wrinkles from forming and leave your skin incredibly soft! Honey's antibacterial and antifungal properties disinfect the skin, supporting the healing process of skin irritations. Darker honey is better to use, as it has less water and a higher content of antioxidants, vitamins and minerals. Another option is Manuka honey, known for its natural healing properties. The B6 vitamin-rich yeast in yogurt will stimulate blood flow, while oatmeal helps clear clogged pores. Chocolate Face Mask Ingredients 2 - 5 tablespoons raw cacao (cocoa powder - check your local health food store; dark chocolate may be used) 3 tablespoons organic honey (darker honey is better; Manuka honey is an option) 3 - 5 tablespoons natural organic yogurt (heavy cream may be used) 1 or 2 tablespoons powdered oatmeal to bind Method Mix all ingredients together to form a smooth thick paste and apply to face. Relax for 10-15 minutes, then rinse off with warm water. Results? Smooth, glowing gorgeous skin! |
Contact UsAuthorWelcome! I'm Stephanie (Jo to close friends), founder of EdenSong. Aside from my university studies, I have a natural passion for all things organic. I enjoy living and learning about natural ways, all things health related, cooking, gardening with herbs and flowers, photography, DIYing, yoga, bicycling, ballet, traveling and being with family and friends. A quirk of mine is my near obsession of Asian culture, particularly Korean history and its language. Would you like to know more? Find out about us. Categories
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