Monday, 31 August 2015

Farah's 3 Top Healthy Snack Ideas for Glowing Skin

Looking for a snack alternative can be difficult, especially on those ‘’lazy’’ days where most of us tend to be unprepared and we often find ourselves  just grabbing processed and  packaged foods. But before you do, think  about the outcome,  I don’t know about you, but I always try to think  about how glorious my skin will feel  in a week’s time when I cut my  intake of sugar and refined foods. I know that sometimes it can  be  difficult finding a snack that is more satisfying than a celery  stick or  something that comes with less guilt than a bag of  potato chips. However I can happily say your search is over, so look no further and put down  those chips and munch of my top 3 healthy snacks for blooming  complexion made in less than 5 minutes.

Colorful Fruit Kebabs

I love this combination , it’s one of my favourite snacks to have because it’s a quick and easy way to get a hit of Vitamin C  and a fun way to get just about anyone to eat fruits. So let’s get started, simply cut all your favourite fruits into bite sizes pieces and add them onto skewers or chopsticks (try to have more than 4 colors on each of  the skewers ; red , yellow, green , orange , blue and purple ). You can also substitute fruits for veggies or mix both of them together, whatever floats your boat. Wasn’t that easy? The great part is, once the Vitamin C is in your body, it reacts as an anti-oxidant, which contributes to healthy skin and helps prevent and reduce various skin disorders. Let’s move on to the next one!



Almond Butter Banana Cakes 

This is my interpretation of a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. Trust me when I say this taste pretty damn good. Both almond butter and bananas are high in Vitamin C which is great for protecting the skin from cell damage and helps maintain for a glowing and clear skin! Also did you know bananas contain high amounts of Vitamin B6, which helps you stay hydrated and prevents premature aging! So here’s what you will need, for one serving; simply smear 1 -2 tablespoons of almond butter onto a rice cake (you could use cashew or peanut butter) and half a sliced banana or your favourite fruit on top. Sometimes I like to drizzle honey, cacao or sprinkle cinnamon for extra health benefits.



Egg & Avocado with Fresh Tomato

This is for my savoury lovers out there and a personal favourite of mine, because it’s packed with tons of essential nutrients such as protein, potassium, Vitamins C, K and B6. All of these nutrients help repair tissues and are beneficial to healthy skin and hair. Simply slice some fresh avocado and place them onto your toast (I prefer spelt bread or wholegrain for some extra goodness). Next, slice one boiled egg and half a tomato and place them on top of the toast (I like to grill my tomato because I like the char flavour to it).  Lastly, season with salt and pepper and you’ve got a mere site of a creamy and tasty snack. Tip: If you find the seasoning a tad dull for your liking, then try it with a fresh lemon zest and red pepper flakes on top.



Question

What’s your favorite way to enjoy healthy snacks for a clearer complexion? Share your ideas in the comments below or share your recipes (and photos!) with us on Twitter and Instragram.

Farah's Bio

Farah has been using SkinB5 for two years now. She is an advocate for natural and organic beauty products, healthy living and a self-proclaimed whole foods enthusiast.  Her passion for health and beauty stems from her personal experiences dealing with problematic skin and now she wants to help others learn her secrets to flawless skin from the inside, out. 

Monday, 24 August 2015

Why You Should Avoid Chemicals in Skincare


Our skin is our largest organ and absorbs what we put on it, so what we put on the ‘outside’ ends up on the ‘inside’. According to the Environmental Working Group (EWG), most people use 9 personal care products per day, with 25% of women using at least 15 each day.1 Some ingredients in skincare products are not so pretty, and may shock you – many cosmetic-ingredients are linked to cancer.2 Each product can contain small amounts of chemicals that when accumulated amount to harmful toxic exposure levels.

Let’s have a deeper look at the potentially harmful ingredients that are commonly found in many products:

Parabens – very clearly linked to breast cancer,3 considered to be an endocrine disruptor and potentially neurotoxic. One to avoid!

Sodium Laurel Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES) – a very common ingredient found in cosmetic products. Research studies have found this ingredient to be potentially harmful to the nervous system, an endocrine disrupter, an irritant to the skin & eyes, may cause mutations/cancer, and may also be contaminated with 1,4 dioxane which is a possible human carcinogen. It is even listed as ‘moderate concern’ due to organ system toxicity.4,5 Definitely not a pretty one…

Mineral oil – a derivative of petroleum, this is a very common ingredient in moisturisers & lotions due to its viscous nature. Mineral oil is a known skin irritant, and very commonly found to block pores which can cause pimples & blackheads. One particular study showed that moisturisers containing mineral oil increased the risk of tumours by 69%!6

Studies show many more links between harmful ingredients in cosmetic products including things like reproductive problems in infants due to prenatal exposure,7 behavioural problems in children,8 and also the potentially harmful effect on our wildlife of washing chemically-laden products down the drain.9

Unfortunately, many acne treatments contain harmful chemicals - but there is absolutely no need to put a chemical storm on your face. Luckily there’s so much evidence to show that natural chemical-free solutions are extremely effective at reducing the occurrence of pimples, blackheads and acne.

SkinB5’s entire range of skin care products are free from harmful ingredients, including: Parabens, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), sodium laureth sulfate (SLES), synthetic fragrances, petrochemicals, silicones, mineral oils, diethanolamine (DEA), urea, peroxide, animal products, and nano particles.

Putting it simply – chemicals and skin care don’t mix. Always choose chemical free cosmetic products to reduce your exposure to the myriad of toxins & chemicals that abound in our current environment.

References:
  1. Environmental Working Group. Why this matters – cosmetics and your health [Internet]. 2015. Available from: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/2011/04/12/why-this-matters/
  2. Konduracka E, Krzemieniecki K, Gejos G. Relationship between everyday use cosmetics and female breast cancer. Pol Arch Med Wewn. 2013 Apr 2;124(5):264-9.
  3. Darbre PD, Harvey PW. Parabens can enable hallmarks and characteristics of cancer in human breast epithelial cells: a review of the literature with reference to new exposure data and regulatory status. J Appl Toxicol. 2014 Sep;34(9):925-38.
  4. Mercola.com. Deadly and Dangerous Shampoos, Toothpastes, and Detergents: Could 16,000 Studies Be Wrong About SLS? [Internet]. Dr Joseph Mercola; 2010 Jul 13. Available from: http://articles.mercola.com/sites/articles/archive/2010/07/13/sodium-lauryl-sulfate.aspx
  5. Environmental Working Group. Sodium Lauryl Sulphate [Internet]. 2015. Available from: http://www.ewg.org/skindeep/ingredient/706110/SODIUM_LAURYL_SULFATE/
  6. Lu Y-P, Lou Y-R, Xie J-G, Peng Q, Shih WJ, Lin Y, et al. Tumorigenic Effect of Some Commonly Used Moisturizing Creams when Applied Topically to UVB-Pretreated High-Risk Mice. J Invest Dermatol. 2009 Feb; 129(2): 468-475.
  7. Swan SH, Main KM, Liu F, Stewart SL, Kruse RL, Calafat AM, et al. Decrease in Anogenital Distance among Male Infants with Prenatal Phthalate Exposure. Environ Health Perspect. 2005 Aug; 113(8): 1056–1061.
  8. Kobrosly RW, Evans S, Miodovnik A, Barrett ES, Thurston SW, Calafat AM, et al. Prenatal Phthalate Exposures and Neurobehavioral Development Scores in Boys and Girls at 6–10 Years of Age. Environ Health Perspect. 2014 May; 122(5): 521–528.
  9. NIEHS. Endocrine Disruptors. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. Research Triangle Park, NC. 2010. Available from: http://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/materials/endocrine_disruptors_508.pdf


Haley is a passionate Naturopath & nutrition expert, writer, and mum of 2 young children, with years of experience in the industry. She is a known as a real 'nutrition nerd' and follows the latest natural health research. As a Paleo and raw food enthusiast, she coaches people in healthy living, beauty and positive mindset. Haley has personally experienced the benefits of the SkinB5 natural acne treatment system and is happy to offer her guidance to help others regain clear skin. Follow her blog at www.aliveinwonderland.com & link with her on facebook at www.facebook.com/aliveinwonderlandhealth