As the warm embrace of summer beckons, it's time to revamp your skincare routine and embrace the radiance of the season. Say goodbye to dull, tired skin and hello to a luminous summer glow with these natural skincare tips that will nourish and rejuvenate your complexion from the inside out.

1. Hydration is Key: With the sun shining bright, it's crucial to keep your skin hydrated. Opt for lightweight, water-based moisturizers containing natural ingredients like aloe vera, cucumber extract, or hyaluronic acid to replenish moisture without clogging pores. Don't forget to drink plenty of water throughout the day to keep your skin hydrated from within.

2. Sun Protection, Naturally: Shield your skin from the sun's harmful UV rays with natural sunscreens that contain mineral ingredients like non nano zinc oxide. Look for broad-spectrum formulas with an SPF of 30 to ensure comprehensive protection against both UVA and UVB rays. Additionally, consider wearing a wide-brimmed hat and seeking shade during peak sun hours to further protect your skin.

3. Exfoliate Gently: Buff away dead skin cells and reveal a fresh, glowing complexion by incorporating gentle exfoliation into your skincare routine. Opt for natural exfoliants that gently slough away dead skin without causing irritation. Limit exfoliation to 2-3 times per week to avoid over-exfoliating, which can strip the skin of its natural oils and lead to sensitivity.

4. Nourish with Antioxidants: Combat free radical damage and protect your skin from environmental stressors with antioxidant-rich skincare products. Look for serums or moisturizers containing ingredients like vitamin C, eating berries, leafy greens, and nuts, which help to brighten the skin, fade dark spots, and promote a youthful complexion.

5. Cooling Facial Mists: Keep your skin refreshed and revitalized throughout the day with a cooling facial mist. Opt for products infused with soothing ingredients like rosewater, probiotics, and aloe, which help to calm inflammation, hydrate the skin, and provide instant relief from the summer heat.

6. Embrace Natural Oils: Incorporate lightweight facial oils into your skincare routine to lock in moisture and enhance your skin's natural radiance. Choose non-comedogenic oils like jojoba, argan, or rosehip seed oil, which absorb quickly into the skin without leaving a greasy residue. Apply a few drops to damp skin after cleansing to seal in moisture and leave your complexion glowing.

7. Mindful Makeup Choices: Opt for lightweight, breathable clean makeup formulas that allow your skin to breathe in the summer heat. Look for mineral-based foundations and tinted moisturizers that provide coverage without clogging pores, and choose sheer, dewy finishes for a natural, luminous glow.

By incorporating these natural skincare tips into your summer routine, you can nourish your skin from within, protect it from the sun's harmful rays, and unleash your inner radiance for a summer season filled with glowing moments. So, slather on that sunscreen, hydrate like it's your job, and embrace the sunshine with confidence and glowing skin!

Hey there, skincare enthusiasts! Are you ready to unlock the secret to glowing, hydrated skin? Look no further than hyaluronic acid - the must-have ingredient your skin is craving. This powerhouse molecule is here to revolutionize your skincare routine and give you that coveted dewy complexion. Say goodbye to dry, dull skin and hello to a radiant, youthful glow. 

The Power of Hyaluronic Acid

Hyaluronic acid is a naturally occurring substance in the body that plays a crucial role in maintaining skin hydration. It has the ability to hold up to 1000 times its weight in water, making it an essential ingredient for plump, hydrated skin. As we age, our skin's natural hyaluronic acid levels decrease, leading to dryness and loss of elasticity. By incorporating hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine, you can replenish your skin's moisture levels and achieve a more youthful appearance.

Benefits of Hyaluronic Acid

One of the key benefits of hyaluronic acid is its ability to hydrate the skin without clogging pores or feeling greasy. This makes it suitable for all skin types, including oily and acne-prone skin. Hyaluronic acid also has anti-aging properties, helping to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles by plumping and firming the skin. Additionally, its soothing and anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for calming redness and irritation.

How to Incorporate Hyaluronic Acid into Your Skincare Routine

There are many ways to incorporate hyaluronic acid into your skincare routine. It can be found in serums, moisturizers, and even sheet masks. For best results, apply hyaluronic acid after cleansing and toning, but before heavier products like moisturizers or oils. This will allow the hyaluronic acid to penetrate the skin and lock in moisture effectively.

So, if you're looking to achieve that coveted dewy complexion and say goodbye to dry, dull skin, look no further than hyaluronic acid. Your skin will thank you for it!

After some-odd years of life, you probably think, “haven’t I got this all figured out?!”. Erm, maybe not. Sure, you’re washing your hands and brushing your teeth, but we’re not talking about the basics. In this labyrinth of cleanliness, we’re breaking down your bathroom door, invading your makeup bag, and even sneak-peaking that messy drawer. So, are you ready to take a deep (disinfected) breath and roll up your sleeves? Well grab your sanitizer! Here we go!

Cleansing with regular body wash 

Standard body wash smells and lathers up amazing—no question about it! Just one problem though: we’re soaking up the good as well as the bad! Basic drugstore body washes serve a toxic buffet of chemicals: parabens, perfumes, alcohol, sulfates, etc. 

Instead, opt for an organic artisanal soap. Crafted with plant-based nutrients and skin-balancing probiotics, it hydrates and cleanses skin, leaving it butter-soft and fresh! 

Using dirty makeup brushes 

As one of the most common bathroom no nos, dirty makeup brushes are the crème-de-la-crème of hygienic mishaps! Think about the amount of microbial grime that festers in our brushes. Bacteria, oil, dirt—sometimes even fungi (ew!)—these are the culprits coating our skin in filth! 

To prevent breakouts, we must cleanse our makeup brushes every two weeks with organic plant-based soap and warm water. And be sure to blow dry them to prevent mold from growing in the wet bristles. 

Extra tip: As a side note, remember to cleanse your phone screen regularly too (for the same reason). 

Leaving dry shampoo in your hair 

Every lazy girl who loves fluffy hair swears by dry shampoo. We get it! As a one-day shortcut, this option is fine—BUT not as a daily hair hack for more volume! 

Dry shampoo accumulates on the scalp, blocking the hair follicles which can stunt growth overtime. We’re better off settling for a couple days of flat, semi-greasy hair than clogging our roots with this chalky residue! 

Using basic deodorant

Having blossom-fresh pits is a peace of mind. Sure. However, with standard deodorants, that waft of perfume under your arms comes from toxic chemicals like alcohol and aluminum. Meanwhile, this gunk doesn’t only block our sweat glands, it also contains drying ingredients which irritate our under arms. 

For a healthier route to breezy-clean pits, go for a plant-based deodorant. And no, this isn’t a hipster hygiene hack for naturalists who don’t mind extra BO. Read our article on the perks of plant-based deodorants to learn more! 

Creating scented baths 

For the same reason we don’t use standard deodorants, we don’t take dips in candy-scented bubble baths—one word: toxic! These standard aromatic formulas contain phthalates, alcohols and other hard-to-pronounce nasties. 

So skip the standard bath soaps and instead opt for Dead Sea salt. Enriched with 21 skin-loving minerals, it helps calm and nourish your skin, while turning your tub into a floaty aquatic escape you’ll love repeating! 

Hygiene isn’t just about forest-crisp scents or the appearance of purity—after all, looks can be deceiving. And this includes other naughty habits: the 'five-second-rule' food pickups, neglecting the 'behind-the-ear' clean, or keeping that mascara for decades. Ultimately, hygiene is more than a choice, it’s a lifestyle.

Immune Boosting Massaged Kale Salad 

I've been making some variation of this massaged kale salad since my diagnosis with multiple sclerosis July 2nd, 2014. It never gets old and can varied so greatly with ingredients and dressings. This version is all healthy fats, a rainbow of raw veggies, tons of immune boosting properties bursting with flavor! I highly recommend investing in an immersion blender for your kitchen, it makes whipping up dressing a cinch. I choose organic ingredients and local whenever possible to avoid glyphosate, a known toxin sprayed on fruits and veggies, to reduce circulating pesticides in the blood. I feel this is one of the most important things we can do to support a healthy clean living lifestyle.

It's worth noting, if you are healing your gut eating a bunch of raw veggies can cause bloating so you may want to start with more cooked veggies until your gut begins to heal. You can sauté the kale in avocado oil with the garlic, onion and seasonings. Maybe adding a touch of bone broth, followed by the beets, cauliflower, and avocado. Drizzle some of the dressing, sprinkle with seeds and a dollop of sauerkraut. 

This recipe will serve 2 people

Dressing Ingredients:

1/4 EVOO

1/2 Fresh Lemon juiced

2 Garlic cloves

1 Tbls Tahini

1-2 tTbls Nutritional yeast

S+P

Pinch Dried Chili flakes

How To:

Place all ingredients into a mason jar and whizz it up with an immersion blender. No immersion blender? Through into your regular blender. Add a splash of water to get the desired consistency.

Bowl Ingredients: 

6 cups chopped Kale

1 cup Curry roasted cauliflower 

1/4 cup Red Onion

1/2 Cucumber

1/2 Avocado

Cooked Beets ( I love the ones precooked from Love Beets)

1/4 cup Sauerkraut

Raw Pumpkin + Walnuts

How To:

Place your kale in a large bowl and pour your dressing in. Using your hands, get in there and massage the kale distributing the dressing and starting to break down the fibers of the kale. The kale will begin to shrink, keep going until you have massaged it until it is reduced by half.

Next toss in your other ingredients and ENJOY!

This salad can be made ahead by massaging the kale less and placing. in a mason jar and layering the ingredients in, seal tight. Should last well in the fridge for a few days!

Options to add:

Egg

Quinoa

Salmon

Chicken

Olives

Kimchi

Brussels

Tomatoes

Peppers

Chickpeas

The Skincare Chef current go-to breakfast 👩🏻‍🍳
*all organic

Ingredients:
1 cup grass fed yoghurt
1 tbl almond butter
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tbl flax seed oil
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 tbl maple syrup
Chopped apples
Blueberries
Unsweetened coconut shreds
Flax seed

How to:
Mix first 6 ingredients then top with the last 4. Enjoy!

Flax Seed Skin Benefits:
- Rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can help maintain skin hydration and elasticity.
- Contains antioxidants that may help fight against free radicals and reduce signs of aging.
- Flax seeds are high in lignans, which possess anti-inflammatory properties, potentially soothing irritated skin.
- The high fiber content aids in detoxification, promoting clearer skin.
- Consumption or application of flaxseed oil may alleviate symptoms of certain skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis.

Let us know if you try it!

Love + Eat Well

 Looking for the best curried tuna salad recipe? Look no further! Our delicious and flavorful recipe will have your taste buds dancing with joy. Give it a try and let us know what you think!