Hello everyone. Hasn’t Saturday come around so quickly? We have had an exciting week in City Skin Clinic and of course here on The Modern Salon. We have debated the future of #MeToo, shared our top secrets for keeping hydrated, and reviewed our favourite vlogger right now – Samantha Ravndahl. We hope you have been tuning in and enjoying our increase in content. Today I am being slightly reminiscent of the warmer, sunnier months in London by sharing my favourite go-to breakfast even when it’s freezing cold and rainy – my homemade Blueberry and Walnut Smoothie!
Blueberries
Okay, so we know that they are one of nature’s most delicious sweet treats, but how can they help boost your skin health? Lot’s of research has been done into this particular berry so here is some of the science.
Out of all other fruit, Blueberries are known for having the highest antioxidant property. They are well known as a super-food. As we discussed in our Turmeric feature, antioxidants are important for fighting disease, they also help inhibit oxidisation in cells which occurs due to the production of free radicals in the body. These free radicals can increase skin damage hence signs of ageing like wrinkles and dry skin. Research by the Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry has shown that just 1 cup of blueberries has around 13,427 antioxidants, this includes Vitamin A and C. Both great for skin repair as we know. It has also been argued that they help to strengthen blood vessels and heal broken capillaries. So next time you’re looking for a handy and convenient snack, choose a handful or two of blueberries!
Using Blueberries Topically
These berries have been used as an alternative to chemical-based products for the skin, in mask form or even blended with Aloe Vera gel as a natural eye mask. We are big believers in experimenting and trial and error when it comes to finding the perfect skincare for you. Remember your skin in unique so get creative. I personally love to experiment as you never know what great benefits you might find so let’s get to the homemade recipes. Maybe try combining blended blueberries with a tablespoon of natural Greek yogurt and apply as face mask. Yogurt’s lactic acid content is great as a natural exfoliant, so when combined with the restorative qualities in blueberries it’s an all-round skin boosting concoction.
Smoothie recipe
Eating healthy does not have to be difficult, in fact I like to make it as easy as possible. When the process becomes time consuming it’s easier to head straight for the packaged, convenient foods. So with this recipe there isn’t any lengthy preparation to do. All you need is a blender or a food processor and 2 minutes to add everything into the mix, press blend and go! (A little tip for you – use frozen berries to give your smoothie an ice cold, refreshing texture).
Ingredients
1 cup of blueberries (frozen)
200 ml of almond milk
1 banana
1 small handful of walnuts – great source of healthy fats
1 teaspoon of maple syrup (if you want an extra sweet kick)
Yes, winter may be creeping up on us, but this smoothie is the perfect breakfast all year round no mater the weather. It combines all of your essential macro nutrients which will keep you fuller for longer, plus all of the added vitamins and minerals to help your skin shine. Let us know if you try this recipe. Share your pictures with us over on Instagram, Facebook or Twitter!
We have just released the 2nd edition of our FUSS FREE FRIDAY’S! You can find it on our Instagram and IGTV. Leave a comment below if you have any particular skin concerns or any questions about the treatments we offer, we will be answering all of them in next weeks Q&A
What next?
For our in-depth guides to skin concerns, check out our detailed skin concerns pages at City Skin Clinic.If you would like to create a personalised skincare routine that is tailored to your skin concerns and goals. Check out our previous blog on how creating your very own bespoke skincare routine became mainstream!! Don’t forget to start with reading our post on figuring out your skin type!
