Back To Basics. Popular ingredients and their natural alternatives.

How arrogant would we be to think that we could create something in a lab that isn’t already found on this amazing and complex planet?  We have found a way to mass produce these ingredients and most people today don’t even know where they originated.  I’m taking you back to basics to show you how to buy the original product in the form of oils and extracts and avoid the side effect and harmful chemicals in these popular ingredients.  You can look for these ingredients in the products you buy, or I will show you a super easy way to make your own at the bottom of this post. 

Tea Tree(essential oil):  

Tea tree might be my favorite essential oil.  This oil is perfect for oily/acne skin.  It is anti-inflammatory and antibacterial.  This will help to heal your acne and control oil.  It actually acts in the same way as benzoyl peroxide without over drying and irritating the skin.  I also like to use it on bug bites.

Willow Bark:







I’m sure you’ve seen salicylic acid advertised on plenty of acne products.  The kind you see in most products is the kind made in a lab and it can be very irritating.  Fortunately willow bark is a natural source of salicylic acid and it’s ten times better than the man-made kind!  So look for willow bark on your ingredient list instead of salicylic acid and know it’s just a better version of the same thing.

Yogurt:

Yogurt is a natural source of lactic acid.  Lactic acid is a great exfolient so use a mask of yogurt a few times a week instead of a lactic peel.

Chicory Root:

  Chicory root is a natural alternative to retinol.  Retinol is a very popular and truly effective skincare product that increases collagen production and is the top ant aging product right now.  Even though it really works, there are horrible side effects.  Retinol(or Retin-A) comes in two forms, gel or ointment.  The gel is a fast drying alcohol based product that severely dries the skin, causes irritation and extreme sun sensitivity.  The ointment, well, who wants ointment on their face?  It is a petroleum base which clogs the pores without actually hydrating.  Believe it or not, it can actually over dry the skin too!  So look for the chicory root and skip the side effects. The only product that I know of that uses this ingredient is the Age Corrective line from Eminence organics.  Remember, wrinkles take just as long to disappear as they did to appear, so be patient!

Licorice and/or African Potato:



  hydroquinone.  Hydroquinone is THE pigment lightning ingredient in skincare today.  Unfortunately it has been proven to be so damaging to the liver that it is actually illegal in some countries.  Of course it’s in everything here.  Way to go America.  So licorice is a great lightening ingredient.  Aftercan potato and tara tree is a natural alternative to hydroquinone made by Eminence Organics and found in their Bright Skin line.  Same thing goes for hyperpigmentation as wrinkles, it takes just as long to get rid of as it did to appear.
These are both great alternatives for the pigment lightening

Marshmallow Plant Extract:

Marshmallow plan contains hyaluronic acid.  Hyaluronic acid is actually an acid that naturally occurs in the human body but we start to lose it as early as our 20’s.  It is a gel like substance provides a barrier in our bodies to lubricate joints and protect essential collagen cells in the dermis.  It binds 1,000 times its weight in water so provides our skin with plumpness and hydration.  When we lose it, our skin thins, we lose elasticity and collagen production goes down.  So it’s a great idea to start adding it topically as early as your 20’s.

Not necessarily alternatives, but here are some more great things to look for:

Acai: Antioxidant, anti-aging

Cucumber: Soothing

Ylang Ylang(essential oil):  Normalizes oil production.

Clary Sage(essential oil):  Extremely calming and soothing, can even clear up a bad sunburn!

Arnica:  Anti-inflammatory, anti-redness, calming.  Be used on aching muscles and joints too! You can take this internally too.

Chamomile:  We've heard of this as a calming tea, well it does the same thing for you skin when applied topically.

Calendula(oil):  Calming, anti-redness, anti-inflammatory.

Lavender(essential oil): Antibacterial, soothing

To make your perfect skin cocktail.

You will need:

½ cup of a carrier oil.  Carrier oils are your base since essential oils are much too strong to put directly on the skin so you must dilute it.  Good carries oils are, coconut oil, olive oil, or jojoba oil.  Coconut is a solid until heated, so you’ll want to heat it up for mixing.

5-15 drops of the essential oils that apply to your skin condition.  Check out the tea tree, ylang ylang, calendula, clary sage, lavender, and more!  Do some research and see what you can find at your local health food store.

Simply mix these ingredients together and store in a jar or small bottle.  Don’t be afraid of oil if you have oily/acne skin!  Believe it or not, it will really help balance and normalize your oil production if you use the right essential oils. Start simple like jojoba and tea tree.

This is two products in one.  You can actually use it as a cleanser and leave it on as a moisturizer!  No water needed.  Just wipe with a damp cloth after the cleanse to remove dirt and makeup then simply let the rest sink in and maybe add a few more drops.  Just try it, it will change your skin I PROMISE!

Juice Muffins! The benefits of juicing and a great way to use your leftovers.

So juicing has become very popular over the past few years and is something I occasionally do.  I'm trying to do it a lot more often actually.  Juice is great because one drink can be jam packed with all the vitamins you need for a day plus some!  If I feel like I haven't had enough veggies today, juice is an easy way to get it all in.  Plus, it has helped me consume vegetables that I don't really care for on their own, like beets.  Beets on their own, not my favorite.  But when juiced with an apple and some carrots, delicious!

Another great benefit of juicing is for cleansing the body, which can have a great effect on the skin!  As an esthetician, I believe that so many skin disorders come from something going on inside, and can be fixed internally.  This is especially true for acne and rosacea skin.  If your skin is inflamed, I promise you your gut is inflamed and a great way to clean that out is with a juice fast.  You will be amazed in the changes in your skin!

For those of you who already juice, you know that after the juicing process you are left with a great deal of pulp from the fruits and veggies.  Some people use this as compost but for those of us that don't have a garden, it just ends up in the trash.  Well, I saw a great idea this week and I'm sharing my own take on it.  Juice Muffins!!!

I save all my different kinds of pulp in little mason jars like this.
You will use the leftover pulp in this muffin mixed for a healthy snack or breakfast jam packed with nutrients from your leftover fruits and veggies.  I used my carrot/apple/beet juice and it was delicious!

 Remember to try different fruits, veggies, flour and sugar alternatives.  These come out at only about 60 calories each!

Juice Muffins

You will need:
1 3/4 cups juicing pulp
1/2 cup orange juice(or the juice you just made)
1/2 banana
4 eggs
3/4 cup coconut oil
1 tsp vanilla or almond extract
1/2 cup honey
1 1/2 cups flour, or gluten free flour of your choice
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1/2 cup raisins or nuts(optional)




Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 and grease your muffin tins.
In a large bowl, combine all of your wet ingredients and whisk thoroughly.
In a separate bowl, combine the dry ingredients, then gently fold into the large bowl.
Fold in your nuts or raisins.

Fill the muffin tins almost to the top(these wont puff up a whole lot), then bake for about 25 minutes.

Post V-Day Recipes

As promised, I'm sharing my Valentine's Day menu along with all the recipes that you can try at home.  Remember to try substitutions if you aren't eating certain ingredients like gluten, sugar, or like me, dairy.

For dinner I made prosciutto wrapped beef tenderloin with a smokey horseradish mustard glaze.  One of the best things I've ever made!  I paired that with spinach artichoke orzo and a apple bacon brussel sprout salad.  Then finally for desert I made a chocolate raspberry pavlova.  Here are my recipes!

I'll start with the pavlova because it takes the most time so you'll want to start that before dinner. I can't take credit for this one, it's Nigella's recipe. Serves 4.

Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova

For chocolate meringue base you will need:
3 egg whites
1/2 cup sugar
1 and 1/2 tablespoons unsweetened coco
1/2 teaspoon balsamic or red wine vinegar
2 ounces bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

For the topping you will need:
1 cup heavy whipping cream
raspberries(enough to top)
1-2 tablespoons grated bittersweet chocolate



Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 and line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
beat the egg white until they form satiny peaks then beat in the sugar a little at a time.  Sprinkle in the coco powder, vinegar and chopped chocolate and gently fold in.
Now simply mound the mixture onto your baking sheet in a flat round shape and smooth out the sides.  The mixture won't puff up so what you put in is exactly what it will look like when you take it out.
Place in the oven and turn down temperature immediately to 300 and bake about 45 minutes for this small one or one hour or more for a larger one.  Should feel crispy on the outside but springy underneath.  Let cool completely before topping.

When you are ready for desert, serve on a large round plate.  Whisk the cream until thick and pile it on top of the meringue.  Now top with a thick layer of raspberries and grate a bit of chocolate on top.  And that's it!


Prosciutto Wrapped Beef Tenderloin

You will need:
A good cut of beef tenderloin
1 package of prosciutto
Black pepper
olive oil
1-2 tablespoons diced shallot
1/2 cup chicken or vegetable stock
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup stone ground horseradish mustard(kroger brand!)
1 clove garlic
fresh parsley








Directions:
Cut your tenderloin into small chunks.  You'll be able to tell if they are too big if the prosciutto has trouble wrapping around it.  Season with pepper only, since prosciutto is salty like bacon you definitely do not need to use salt or anything else here.  Use one sheet of prosciutto per chunk of beef and place seam side down in a deep skillet with enough olive oil to cover the bottom of the pan very well.  I like mine medium rare so I let them cook just a couple minutes on each side on medium heat.  Make sure to cook every side, not just top and bottom.

When your beef is done and you've removed it from the pan you should be left with some good greasy bits from the prosciutto and olive oil.  You will use this to make the sauce.  Throw in your diced shallot and garlic and cook a few minutes.  Then add your chicken or vegetable stock, milk, mustard and parsley and simmer for a few minutes until it thickens.  I forgot the parsley so as you can see I just pilled it on top.  Pour your sauce over the meat and you're ready to go!

Spinach Artichoke Orzo

Orzo is just a tiny pasta, kind of looks like rice.  So you could play with different things here like other pastas, rice or even quinoa.

You will need:
1 cup orzo
1 tablespoon butter
about 1/2 a block of cream cheese
1 cup cream or milk
1 garlic clove
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup spinach
1/2 8oz can artichoke hearts
salt and pepper to taste
shaved parmesan to top








Directions:
Cook orzo according to package.  Meanwhile in a deep skillet , combine butter cream cheese, cream or milk, and garlic.  Cook until the cream cheese has melted and add in your spinach, artichokes, parmesan, salt and pepper.  Simmer on low until all ingredients are mixed, melted and thoroughly heated through.  When the orzo is cooked and strained, add it to the skillet, combine all ingredients and top with shaved parmesan. serves 2-4.

Brussel Sprout Salad:
I am a huge fan of brussel sprouts!  They can be cooked to many ways but a simple salad like this is great too.  Plus, you get a lot more nutrients when you don't cook them down.

You will need:
2 cups chopped brussel sprouts
2 pieces of crispy fried bacon
1/2 large apple, chopped(I used 1 very small fuji apple)
1 tablespoon real maple syrup
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar












Directions: 
Combine your chopped brussel sprouts and apple in a large bowl.  Crumble in your bacon and mix.  In a small bowl, whisk together maple and vinegar then pour over the salad and toss.  You could do this with so many things, cranberries, pecans, almonds, get creative!


So that's it!  Let me know if you try any of these and what you think!

Valentine's Day Tips Start to Finish

Well friends, I am officially no longer an Arkansan!  We've been living right outside of Nashville since January 31st. I wanted to update you the weekend of our move but it has taken two weeks to get internet so it had to wait.  

So I'm coming back with a post about how to make this Valentine's day awesome!  My husband and I have always done a Valentine's dinner at home, even when we were dating.  It has never been a favorite holiday of mine but I do love any excuse to cook something new and fancy, decorate the kitchen table, and get a little dressed up.  We decided years ago to never try to fight the crowds at the restaurants that every else was at, but instead to do something much more personal and really a lot more fun.  My birthday is also three days before, so I chose to do something special for him instead of asking for two days of presents and eating out in a week!  Our first Valentine's day we had only been dating two months.  I cooked a simple dinner of lasagna and brownies(at his request) and we watched The Jungle Book...don't know why but it was great fun!  He also surprised me by showing up in the parking lot when I got off work with roses.  I knew then he was a keeper!

I won't be able to share pictures or my recipes until after Valentine's day but I will give you my tips on how to make it a great one.  All of this totally works if you have kids too.  Just make sure and involve them.  Make cute heart shaped foods and find some fun, kid-friendly crafts to decorate. And as always, I'd love to hear your tips and ideas too!

Step 1: Pamper yourself.  A good night always starts with feeling good about yourself, so have a little at home spa time, even if you only have a few minutes.  That might just mean simply shaving your legs for the first time this winter!  It really makes a difference.  Get a little dressed up by just putting on something you feel good in, and right before the dinner some red lipstick is a must for me.  My favorite V-Day facial combo is the Chocolate Mouse Hydration Masque(tastes and smells like you should eat it, but please don't) and the Strawberry Rhubarb series, both from Eminence Organics.

Step 2: Decorate.  This one might be as simple as just cleaning your house.  If you are as messy as us, coming home to a clean house in shock enough for my husband! If you want to do a little more, get out some candles, throw in a little red here and there, maybe some flowers.  This is especially fun if you have kids you are involving.  I won't be doing a lot of decorating because let's be honest, I am the only one who will care or even notice.  I'll probably just light some candles and play some fun music for ambiance.  If you are just doing this for your guy, the magic is in the food.  But here's a picture of a table I love anyway.

Step 3: Food.  When planning a Valentine's dinner the most important thing would of course be knowing what your honey likes.  I like to make my dinner a little fancy and exotic but it won't matter at all if I cook an amazing seafood dish if the person I'm coking for hates seafood.  So play off what you know works.  If in doubt, I go with what all guys like; meat!  I'm leaning towards something with bacon and a good cut of beef tenderloin.  I'll get fancy with my sides.  Try more exotic vegetables and starches that you aren't used to cooking but make sure you get a recipe that you are confident in so you know it will turn out well.  For desert it has to be chocolate.  Anything chocolate!  You can also throw in some strawberries or raspberries to get a little red color in there.  And some nice champagne or wine never hurt.  So here's some food porn for inspiration...

Step 4: Entertainment.  We usually get a new movie to watch together.  Even though a romance would be the traditional choice, neither of us are fans so we just get something random and usually completely inappropriate for Valentine's day.  You could also play some couples games, although it's a lot more fun if you have a group.  Here is a site with some cute ideas. http://ivalentinesday.com/valentines-day-games/

I'll share pictures of how my day went after Friday and I hope you will do the same.  Enjoy!