This Friday, January 26th, is National Green Juice Day! I believe that harnessing the power of greens, both internally and externally, is essential for beautiful, glowing skin. Ever since I realized that I could heal my skin naturally using fruits and vegetables I already had in my kitchen, I’ve been devoted to spreading the word that produce can have a powerful impact on the state of your skin. In honor of Friday’s celebration of green juice, I wanted to share with you two different ways for you take advantage of greens so that your skin can reap their amazing benefits. As I’ve said many times in the past, healthy skin starts from within. All too often, I see clients come to me who are battling terrible acne or rosacea and when I ask them about their diet, it becomes apparent that they aren’t doing their skin any favors by what they’re choosing to eat. When your body is healthy, it shows on your skin. This green smoothie recipe is one of my all time favorites and it utilizes both spinach and kale, two of the most nutrient-dense dark, leafy green vegetables: Spinach is high in Vitamin C, Vitamin K, and folate, all of which are essential nutrients for improving skin tone and complexion. Kale, which has gained a lot of popularity in recent years, has a large amount of Vitamin A, a necessary vitamin for increasing cell growth, and ultimately allowing dead skin cells to be replenished by healthy new cells. You’ve probably caught one of my previous posts about my love for chlorophyll, which is a nutrient-rich pigment found in dark leafy greens. As I’ve mentioned in the past, chlorophyll fights inflammation, balances your body’s pH, cleanses the liver and even neutralizes toxins.
The chlorophyll that is found in both spinach and kale helps your body to eliminate toxins, allowing it to be healthier and more vibrant throughout. This smoothie also contains blueberries, which as I’ve mentioned in the past, is one of my favorite ingredients in skincare due to it’s high concentration of antioxidants which help to fight damaging free radicals and keep your skin looking youthful.
I love that many of the ingredients in my green smoothie recipe are also great when applied topically to the skin. I am also a big advocate of not wasting food, so when I buy a big bunch of kale that I’m not planning on using all of, I like to come up with DIY skincare recipes that allow me to utilize leftover produce. For this face mask recipe, I’ve chosen to employ kale, raw honey, and lemon juice:
As I mentioned, kale contains a variety of skin-nurturing vitamins and minerals and is amazing for your entire body when consumed internally. When applied topically, this beautiful vegetable has a hydrating and anti-aging affect on your skin. This mask can help to tighten the skin and reduce acne by providing the skin with the necessary nutrition. The raw honey in the recipe is added for its incredible anti-bacterial properties (perfect for those trying to keep acne at bay), as well as its ability to add moisture to the skin. Finally, lemon juice is a great source of Vitamin C and helps to boost the skin, adding brightness to the complexion. After a single application of this mask, your skin will feel hydrated and nourished and will glow like never before.
Do you drink green juices and smoothies on a regular basis? Would you try my green smoothie recipe or my DIY kale face mask? Let me know if you try either of my recipes and how they make glow from the inside out!
Thank you so much for reading and so generously sharing! It’s always fabulous sharing these wonderful tips with you all!
With all my love,
Cecilia