- Cocoa Face Pack: made with unsweetened cacao powder and other ingredients that are naturally warming and bring blood flow to the face..
- Avocado Face Pack: made with turmeric and apple cider vinegar to warm, tighten and brighten the face
- Coconut Oil Face Pack: made with nutritional yeast which is rich in B vitamins and known to nourish the skin by bringing fresh blood to the surface of the skin.
We all want healthy, glowing skin and one of the best ways to achieve this is to make sure we’re getting good circulation to our face.
We need our capillaries to fill with freshly oxygenated blood. Smokers, for instance, have the worst blood flow to their faces because nicotine constricts the capillaries.
Bette Davis is one of my favorite actresses of all time, but unfortunately it’s obvious from the way her skin aged, that smoking diminished the circulation to her face. In her later years, her skin was grey in tone and very wrinkled. Nobody knew back then how bad it was for the health. She made it look very chic though!
The above three face masks are made with food ingredients that gently dilate the capillaries to increase blood flow and add a healthy glow. Over time, the increase in oxygen helps the skin to grow new capillaries and support the growth of new collagen.
- Cocoa Face Pack
CACAO: A LOOK AT ITS PROPERTIES
The Cacao tree originated with Native American peoples in Central America going back as far as the Mayans and Aztecs. It is said to be a secret to their good health. By the 17th Century, the higher classes were enjoying it as a drink.
Cacao is good for the body, inside and out. It is full of polyphenols which are plant chemicals with beneficial properties.
And what are these beneficial properties of polyphenols? They are antioxidants which prevent DNA damage, but that’s not their only benefit.
Studies show that polyphenols can keep us in good shape in a number of ways: increasing circulation by dilating the arteries, preventing cancer by stopping cell proliferation, and preventing diabetes by slowing the digestion of simple carbohydrates.
Polyphenols can also be found in tea, nuts, grapefruit, berries, cherries, olives, beans, onions, spinach, spices like basil and cumin, and many other plant foods.
Curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is found in green tea, may protect against Alzheimer’s due to what looks like the protection of the neurons.
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric and turmeric has been found to be a stronger antioxidant than Vitamin C.
- In this summary of studies from the NIH, it states:
Animal, human and epidemiologic studies show that various polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could have preventive and/or therapeutic effects for cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and obesity.
So back to CACAO! In addition to being a good source of polyphenols, it also contains minerals such as zinc, magnesium and iron.
If you like eating fruits and vegetables you’ll surely be getting plenty of these healthy chemicals in your bloodstream.
RECIPES
We can also benefit from cacao’s polyphenols by putting it on our face!
The warming effect of cacao due to the relaxing of the capillaries, increases circulation and can give a healthy glow. Increasing oxygen to the skin allows more nutrients to nourish the skin.
COCOA FACE PACK INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
- 1 tablespoons unsweetened organic cacao powder (Navitas is a good one.)
- 2 tablespoon Sweet Almond oil*
- 1 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
*You can substitute Safflower or Olive oils if you don’t have Almond. I like almond oil the best because of the velvety sheen it leaves on the skin.
Mix all ingredients, until its consistency is smooth like chocolate pudding. It should adhere easily to the skin so add more oil as needed.
Apply generously to your clean, dry face and relax for 30 minutes with a cup of hot cocoa. Rinse off completely with warm water gently scrubbing with the cinnamon particles.Enjoy your glowing skin!
Health Notes: Cinnamon is also a powerful polyphenol. Honey is antibacterial and a natural humectant. Almond oil absorbs well into the skin and is an excellent moisturize
2 Avocado Face Pack
AVOCADO and TURMERIC – a brief look:
Like Cacao, the avocado originated in Central and South America. It showed up in Europe with the Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
Avocado contains vitamin e which is very healing for the skin. It also contains potassium, essential fatty acids which provide moisture to the skin, and B vitamins which assist circulation. Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin, strengthens capillaries and increases blood flow.
Turmeric, with its active ingredient Curcumin, is the characteristic spice of Indian cuisine and is said to be attributed to the low rate of Alzheimer’s in India. It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and has been shown in studies to kill cancer cells.
The American Association for Cancer Research, in a 1999 conference, summarized several studies showing turmeric to be beneficial in treating cancers of the breast, skin, and colon.
Other studies show that Curcumin is effective at clearing Beta Amyloid plaque build-up, which is a causative factor in Alzheimer’s disease.
I’ll take seconds on that curry please!
In addition to its benefits on our dinner plate, it can benefit us when applied topically, (like in a face mask for instance.)
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties soothe skin and speed up wound healing. It is said to lighten brown spots and over time to bring back the skin’s luster.
AVOCADO FACE PACK INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
½ avocado, mashed into a paste
2 teaspoons turmeric powder
4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Blend all ingredients into a frothy paste and pack it on your clean, dry skin. Wait 30 minutes before rinsing off.
Enjoy your renewed skin!
Note: Apple cider vinegar contains natural acetic and lactic acids to help activate the properties in the other ingredients.
3 Coconut Oil Face Pack
COCONUT OIL AND NUTRITIONAL YEAST: a brief look
Coconut oil has fatty acids and vitamin e which soothe, protect, and moisturize the skin. Some people use it during the day to moisturize skin and at night as a hair mask. It’s a little heavy for me to use daily, but it’s perfect for a face mask treatment.
Nutritional Yeast is full of B vitamins that naturally increase blood flow. It is also considered a probiotic. It is used as a nutritional supplement and by vegans to give food a cheesy, nutty flavor.
COCONUT OIL FACE PACK INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
1 large tablespoon Coconut Oil
*1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
*2 tablespoons soy milk
Mix all ingredients to a smooth paste. Apply to your clean, dry face and relax for 30 minutes.
Rinse and take a look at your fresh mug!
*NOTES ON BENEFICIAL INGREDIENTS:
*Nutritional yeast is available in most natural foods stores, but if you can’t find it you can substitute with Brewer’ Yeast
*soy milk has flavonoids that soothe and brighten skin, vitamins and minerals that nourish the skin. It’s been shown to lighten dark spots when applied nightly prior to moisturizer.
See my article entitled “Why Don’t People Like Soy?” for more on the benefits of soy.
Do you like DIY face masks? Let me know how these work for you in the comments section below!
- Cocoa Face Pack: made with unsweetened cacao powder and other ingredients that are naturally warming and bring blood flow to the face..
- Avocado Face Pack: made with turmeric and apple cider vinegar to warm, tighten and brighten the face
- Coconut Oil Face Pack: made with nutritional yeast which is rich in B vitamins and known to nourish the skin by bringing fresh blood to the surface of the skin.
We all want healthy, glowing skin and one of the best ways to achieve this is to make sure we’re getting good circulation to our face.
We need our capillaries to fill with freshly oxygenated blood. Smokers, for instance, have the worst blood flow to their faces because nicotine constricts the capillaries.
Bette Davis is one of my favorite actresses of all time, but unfortunately it’s obvious from the way her skin aged, that smoking diminished the circulation to her face. In her later years, her skin was grey in tone and very wrinkled. Nobody knew back then how bad it was for the health. She made it look very chic though!
The above three face masks are made with food ingredients that gently dilate the capillaries to increase blood flow and add a healthy glow. Over time, the increase in oxygen helps the skin to grow new capillaries and support the growth of new collagen.
- Cocoa Face Pack
CACAO: A LOOK AT ITS PROPERTIES
The Cacao tree originated with Native American peoples in Central America going back as far as the Mayans and Aztecs. It is said to be a secret to their good health. By the 17th Century, the higher classes were enjoying it as a drink.
Cacao is good for the body, inside and out. It is full of polyphenols which are plant chemicals with beneficial properties.
And what are these beneficial properties of polyphenols? They are antioxidants which prevent DNA damage, but that’s not their only benefit.
Studies show that polyphenols can keep us in good shape in a number of ways: increasing circulation by dilating the arteries, preventing cancer by stopping cell proliferation, and preventing diabetes by slowing the digestion of simple carbohydrates.
Polyphenols can also be found in tea, nuts, grapefruit, berries, cherries, olives, beans, onions, spinach, spices like basil and cumin, and many other plant foods.
Curcumin, resveratrol, and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which is found in green tea, may protect against Alzheimer’s due to what looks like the protection of the neurons.
Curcumin is the active ingredient in the spice turmeric and turmeric has been found to be a stronger antioxidant than Vitamin C.
- In this summary of studies from the NIH, it states:
Animal, human and epidemiologic studies show that various polyphenols have antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties that could have preventive and/or therapeutic effects for cardiovascular disease, neurodegenerative disorders, cancer, and obesity.
So back to CACAO! In addition to being a good source of polyphenols, it also contains minerals such as zinc, magnesium and iron.
If you like eating fruits and vegetables you’ll surely be getting plenty of these healthy chemicals in your bloodstream.
We can also benefit from cacao’s polyphenols by putting it on our face!
The warming effect of cacao due to the relaxing of the capillaries, increases circulation and can give a healthy glow. Increasing oxygen to the skin allows more nutrients to nourish the skin.
RECIPES
COCOA FACE PACK INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
- 1 tablespoons unsweetened organic cacao powder (Navitas is a good one.)
- 2 tablespoon Sweet Almond oil*
- 1 teaspoons honey
- 1 teaspoon cinnamon powder
*You can substitute Safflower or Olive oils if you don’t have Almond. I like almond oil the best because of the velvety sheen it leaves on the skin.
Mix all ingredients, until its consistency is smooth like chocolate pudding. It should adhere easily to the skin so add more oil as needed.
Apply generously to your clean, dry face and relax for 30 minutes with a cup of hot cocoa. Rinse off completely with warm water gently scrubbing with the cinnamon particles.Enjoy your glowing skin!
Health Notes: Cinnamon is also a powerful polyphenol. Honey is antibacterial and a natural humectant. Almond oil absorbs well into the skin and is an excellent moisturizer.
2 Avocado Face Pack
AVOCADO and TURMERIC – a brief look:
Like Cacao, the avocado originated in Central and South America. It showed up in Europe with the Spanish explorers in the 16th century.
Avocado contains vitamin e which is very healing for the skin. It also contains potassium, essential fatty acids which provide moisture to the skin, and B vitamins which assist circulation. Vitamin B3, also known as Niacin, strengthens capillaries and increases blood flow.
Turmeric, with its active ingredient Curcumin, is the characteristic spice of Indian cuisine and is said to be attributed to the low rate of Alzheimer’s in India. It is anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, and has been shown in studies to kill cancer cells.
The American Association for Cancer Research, in a 1999 conference, summarized several studies showing turmeric to be beneficial in treating cancers of the breast, skin, and colon.
Other studies show that Curcumin is effective at clearing Beta Amyloid plaque build-up, which is a causative factor in Alzheimer’s disease.
I’ll take seconds on that curry please!
In addition to its benefits on our dinner plate, it can benefit us when applied topically, (like in a face mask for instance.)
Its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties soothe skin and speed up wound healing. It is said to lighten brown spots and over time to bring back the skin’s luster.
AVOCADO FACE PACK INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
½ avocado, mashed into a paste
2 teaspoons turmeric powder
4 teaspoons apple cider vinegar
Blend all ingredients into a frothy paste and pack it on your clean, dry skin. Wait 30 minutes before rinsing off.
Enjoy your renewed skin!
Note: Apple cider vinegar contains natural acetic and lactic acids to help activate the properties in the other ingredients.
3 Coconut Oil Face Pack
COCONUT OIL AND NUTRITIONAL YEAST: a brief look
Coconut oil has fatty acids and vitamin e which soothe, protect, and moisturize the skin. Some people use it during the day to moisturize skin and at night as a hair mask. It’s a little heavy for me to use daily, but it’s perfect for a face mask treatment.
Nutritional Yeast is full of B vitamins that naturally increase blood flow. It is also considered a probiotic. It is used as a nutritional supplement and by vegans to give food a cheesy, nutty flavor.
COCONUT OIL FACE PACK INGREDIENTS AND INSTRUCTIONS:
1 large tablespoon Coconut Oil
*1 tablespoon nutritional yeast
*2 tablespoons soy milk
Mix all ingredients to a smooth paste. Apply to your clean, dry face and relax for 30 minutes.
Rinse and take a look at your fresh mug!
*Notes:
*Nutritional yeast is available in most natural foods stores, but if you can’t find it you can substitute with Brewer’ Yeast
*soy milk has flavonoids that soothe and brighten skin, vitamins and minerals that nourish the skin. It’s been shown to lighten dark spots when applied nightly prior to moisturizer.
See my article entitled “Why Don’t People Like Soy?” for more on the benefits of soy.
Do you like DIY face masks? Let me know how these work for you in the comments section below!
