Watermelon. That is all we needed to know about this recipe from Paleo Cupboard. We’ve talked incessantly about the benefit of juicy, red fruits for the skin, and watermelon is no exception. Studies have shown that deep red varieties of watermelon have displaced the tomato as the lycopene king. Research also shows that watermelon cuts the risk of sun related skin damage by 40%, due to the fact that watermelon is full of antioxidants that kill the UV-induced free radicals that cause sunburn and wrinkling. Watermelon can ALSO help improve sleep! By eating a few slices of this fruit after dinner, you extend the deep stages of sleep by 27%. According to saidaonline.com, the reason is watermelon’s polysaccharide carbohydrates rev the body’s output of serotonin. When levels of serotonin increase at night, the brain is less sensitive to disruptive stimuli (like noise) during sleep. Ok, let’s cut into this juicy treat already! Here you go:

We love protein! Not only is it yummy and filling, but eating enough protein helps to build collagen, which helps the skin appear (and feel) supple. Proteins are necessary for tissue repair and for the construction of new skin tissue. Every skin cell needs protein to maintain its life. Protein is also the primary substance used to “replace” worn-out or dead skin cells.  In other words, getting enough protein in your diet will help you maintain youthful skin! Which is why we were super excited when we came across this recipe for Honey Chipotle Chicken Bowls. The combo of quinoa and chicken give it a double dose of protein! So go ahead and make this your next meal, your skin will thank you for it!

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup ripe mashed banana (about 2-3 bananas)
1 tablespoon coconut oil, melted and cooled
1/3 cup packed dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 egg
1/4 cup nonfat plain greek yogurt (I used Chobani)
2 tablespoons unsweetened almond milk (soy, coconut, or skim also work)
3/4 cup diced organic ripe strawberries
1/4 cup smashed organic raspberries (or you can use more strawberries)
1/2 cup unsweetened coconut, plus 3 tablespoons for topping (sweetened is fine, too)
2 tablespoons chia seeds
2-4 strawberries, sliced for topping

Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.
In a seperate large bowl, beat together banana, brown sugar, egg, coconut oil vanilla, yogurt, and almond milk until smooth and creamy. Slowly add dry mixture to wet ingredients, and mix until combined. Gently fold strawberries, raspberries, coconut and chia seeds into the batter.
Place batter in prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle top evenly with 3 tablespoons of coconut. Place sliced strawberries over the top of the bread. Bake for 50-65 minutes or until toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. Cool on wire rack for 20 minutes, then remove from pan and return to wire rack to finish cooling. Bread is even better the next day (they always are). Bread will stay fresh for a few days when wrapped tightly.

Source: Ambitious Kitchen

One of our favorite parts about the cool winter months is curling up with a bowl of hearty soup… and we just stumbled across a recipe for a GREAT one; Sweet Potato, Kale, and Corn Chowder! This tasty soup has so much to offer your skin. We’ve already raved to you about the skin benefits of sweet potatoes, but now we get to tell you a bit about kale! This nutritional powerhouse has Vitamin C which helps you make the collagen needed for skin strength, Copper which boosts the synthesis of melanin (a pigment that protects your skin from the sun), and Vitamin A which promotes healthy cell growth, including the cells that make up the dermis and epidermis of your skin! We can’t wait to DIG IN!

Ingredients:

2 medium sweet potatoes, cut into 1/2″ cubes

2 shallots, diced

1 medium leek, cleaned and sliced (round)

1 bunch of curly kale, chopped

3 cups of frozen or fresh corn

3 cloves of garlic

3 cups of low sodium vegetable broth

3 cups of water (more to preference)

1/4 teaspoon sea salt (more to taste)

1/4 teaspoon black pepper

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 tablespoon coconut oil

Instructions:

In large, heavy bottomed soup pan sauté diced shallots and coconut oil over medium/low heat until softened.

Add garlic, sweet potatoes, sea salt, pepper, cinnamon and sauté an additional minute.

Add vegetable broth and water, cook until potatoes are easily pierced with a fork.  Add leeks and cook an additional two minute.

Use an immersion blender (or transfer to a standing blender) to rough puree the soup.

Add kale, corn and cook until kale is softened.  Add additional salt and pepper to taste.

Serve hot!  Enjoy!

Source: A House In The Hills

We love all things juice!  With how busy our weeks are here in the SkinOwl nest, it’s one of our favorite ways to fill up on some nutrients on-the-go. And when we stumbled upon this smoothie recipe we couldn’t believe our luck, two of our favorite things (clear skin and smoothies) combined into one! This fantastic drink is full of nutrients like Vitamins C and E, Beta-Carotene, and Omega-3 fats… all of which are amazing for keeping your skin radiant and healthy! Naturally, we couldn’t resist sharing! Drink up and enjoy!

Our mouths began to water the second we read the title of this recipe! This colorful combo mixes some of our favorite flavors into an absolutely skinful (and low calorie) salsa! It would be a crime if we didn’t share this recipe for Black Bean, Pomegranate and Avocado Salsa with you! Both black beans and pomegranates are super high in antioxidants which, as you know, do wonders for your skin, such as helping with issues like age spots, hyperpigmentation, acne flare-ups, and acne scars. But wait… there’s more… avocados are not only a delicious and filling treat for the tongue, they are great for skin complexion! They are full of vitamins which help to hydrate dry, red, itchy, and irritated skin.  So go ahead and dig into this skinful snack! We’ll join you!

Ingredients:

We are starting to reach our sugar limit this holiday season BUT not before we serve some Sugared Cranberries at our Christmas Party! These tiny treats are just too cute to pass up. PLUS cranberries are a natural antioxidant which can help to regenerate, moisturize and brighten the skin! So go ahead and give these easy-to-make cuties a try! A couple more bites of sugar won’t hurt…

Ingredients

1 cup + ⅓ cup granulated sugar
1 cup water
1 cup fresh cranberries

In a medium saucepan over medium-high heat, combine 1 cup sugar with 1 cup water. Cook until sugar dissolves, then remove from heat and allow syrup to cool to room temperature. (If you want to cool it quickly, pour it into a large mixing bowl and stick it in the fridge or freezer).
Spread remaining ⅓-cup sugar on a plate. Stir cranberries into the cooled syrup, then use a slotted spoon to fish them out, letting excess syrup drip off. Roll the cranberries around in the sugar. Let them sit there for about 30 minutes, until sugar hardens.

Source: Foodess

It just wouldn’t be the holiday season without a little peppermint treat! So when we found this recipe for Gingersnap Peppermint Ice Cream Sandwiches we had to roll our tongues back in our mouths! Not only is this the perfect holiday treat BUT it is made with coconut milk which is simply skin-ful! Coconut milk is rich in vitamins A and C, calcium, iron and natural proteins, all of which contribute to smooth and radiant skin! It hydrates dry skin, improves skin elasticity, and you can even use the leftover coconut milk as a natural make-up remover by mixing it with some coconut oil! So go ahead and indulge in this incredible dessert!

Ingredients:

14-ounce can regular coconut milk
14-ounce can light coconut milk
½ cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 teaspoons peppermint extract
Soft ginger molasses cookies

4 candy canes or assorted peppermint candies

 

The night before serving, make the ice cream: In a medium bowl, whisk together 2 cans coconut milk, ½ cup honey, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 teaspoons peppermint extract. Freeze the mixture in an ice cream maker (or make it without the machine). Transfer to a sealable container and freeze overnight.

Make the ginger cookies. To make mini cookies as pictured above, roll dough into into ¾ to 1-inch balls. Cool cookies completely before assembly.

To assemble, crush the candy canes by placing them in a sealable bag and crushing with a rolling pin. On each cookie, spread some peppermint ice cream; top with another cookie. Roll the outside of the ice cream with peppermint candies (or use your fingers to line the ice cream). Freeze in a sealable container. Serve frozen within a few minutes from removing from the freezer.

Source: A Couple Cooks

As you may have already noticed, aromatherapy plays a huge role in all of our products. Flowers, herbs and scents have the power to calm our minds or alert our senses. For this holiday season, we’ve created two candles that will do both! Red & Black Currants mix together in our Radiance candle to exude an earthy, citrusy, and fresh scent!  This candle is perfect for stimulating the senses with its tart and tangy undertones. It sets the tone for productivity, accomplishment and multi-tasking. We like to light this candle early in the day because its invigorating aroma gets us moving towards life’s many adventures. Just light and be immediately get the started with gusto and optimism….

Start the day with our Red & Black Currant Radiance candle HERE!

Right now we are giving away a Sweet Mint lip balm with every $100 purchase on SkinOwl.com! This limited edition balm is made with plumping peppermint oil, which does wonders for your lips! This oil is comprised of vitamins A and C, omega-3 fatty acids, and minerals like potassium, manganese, iron, magnesium, calcium, and copper. That’s a lot of goodness helping to nourish, plump, and heal your lush lips! Plus, peppermint oil is a natural antiseptic and can keep blemishes at bay. Our favorite part? We love the smooth, cooling effect that is has as we smooth some Sweet Mint lip balm on to our lips, and we can’t get enough of the dewy finish.

Pop over to SkinOwl.com to get your free gift of Sweet Mint lip balm with your purchase of $100 or more! Enjoy!