INSIDE OUT BEAUTY

RECIPE: Raw Nacho “Cheese” Kale Chips!

These kale chips, are oh so yummy, and an oh SO healthy snack! And oh so EASY to make!

First and foremost, you will need a food dehydrator, and a food processor.

Ingredients:

12oz plain raw cashews.

10 oz chopped raw kale.

2 tbs nutritional yeast.

Juice from 1 lemon

1 medium red bell pepper.

1/2 cup water, or as needed for consistancy

salt to taste. I prefer Himalayan pink rock salt, or Celtic sea salt.

Optional: 1 tsp cayenne pepper. Or more, depending on how spicy you like it!

DIRECTIONS:

Soak cashews in water for at least 24 hrs. Make sure they’re completely submerged in water.

Blend cashews, the red bell pepper, nutritional yeast, lemon, water, and salt, until the consistency is smooth and creamy.

Combine this cashew “cheese” you’ve just made with chopped kale in a large mixing bowl, and coat thoroughly.

Now evenly distribute this mixture on your food dehydrator sheets, and set your dehydrator to 125. Dehydrate 24hrs or until crispy! Voila! The tastiest healthy snack in existence. Enjoy!

SUMMER SKINCARE: 5 tips for healthy summer skin

SUMMER IS COMING! Are you prepared? No? Didn’t think so. Well, that’s why Mama D is here to help! These tips are my summer essentials, in no particular order.

1. As always DRINK WATER! I will be your mama chile, and tell you again and again and again. So deal. At least 32oz. Enough to pee clear. We’ve been over this, yes? Squeeze half a lemon in to your water bottle for extra refreshment and an alkalizing effect. Remember: An alkaline body = less breakouts. That’s a good thing, yep. Maybe add a dash of stevia? What the hell, spruce it up! And we all have our refillable non-plastic water bottles right? Yes? Okay good. The earth told me to tell you thanks.

2. SUNSCREEN, duuuhh you knew that was comin. Seriously though, I’m not saying you have to use it everyday, however daily use is sure fire age prevention. This goes out to all my ladies, of every color, because all complexions are susceptible to aging and skin cancer. It’s true! I read about it on the interwebs! If your going to be out in the sun for more than 30 minutes, slap it on!. Plus, how annoying is it when you get a tan, and then your foundation doesn’t match anymore?! Be sure to use at LEAST SPF 30, yes 30. That SPF 15 ain’t doing enough, and I don’t care if you don’t get as tan as you want, it’s not worth it! Now, my absolute favorite is Xtreme Cream SPF 45 by Epicurean Discovery, lightweight, non greasy, non drying. Too good to be true you say? Nope! I’ve tried many sunscreens over the years my friends, (because I look bad with a tan and I’ve accepted that I am a pale white girl) and this is the best. For daily use, Peter Thomas Roth makes a powder sunscreen that’s an all in one brush on. Available in SPF 30 or 45, tinted or non-tinted, $30.

3. USE A PARASOL, or wear a hat. I’m a fan of the parasol. I’m too vain for hats, they squish my hair down. Sweating + hathead = um, no. Could you be any cuter sporting a parasol in your lil sundress?! By golly gawsh I don thank so, that’s dern cute! If you have a Chinatown in your city, you can get a paper one and they usually don’t cost more than $15 at the most.

4.  EAT HYDRATING FOODS. Such as, cucumber ( a very alkalizing and healing food and oh so yums to dip in hummus), celery ( alkalizing, mmm ants on a log with almond butter, drool) pretty much all fruits i.e., watermelon and melon in general, grapes, apples, pears, peaches, etc. (unless your skin is acne prone, in which case stick to veggies).

5. EMBRACE THE SHEEN, ditch the powder. Dewey skin = healthy looking skin! Because we tend to sweat more in the summer, powder can tend build up and to get funky. If you must use powder, blot first then powder. Kapish? Kapish. Use blotting papers instead, or like myself, use napkins or toilet paper, toilet seat covers (which are basically the same thing as blotting papers FYI), whatever. Absorbent paper is absorbent paper, and if it’s within reach blot away! 

That’s all for now babes. Remember, take care of your body and your body will take care of you! Happiness is hot! ENORMOUS LOVE TO YOU -D

BEAUTY SMOOTHIE OF THE WEEK: Carrot ginger apple cinnamon lovechild

My face is currently gooped in raw honey as I sit here writing this post, and I’m drinking a cup of ginger tea. Gawd I’m a nerd, but hey, this is also why I’m sitting here typing out, and sharing with you my pearls of wisdom… or shall I say nerddom. Enough about that, it’s shake time babies so shake your stuff!

This weeks smoothie: CARROT GINGER APPLE CINNAMON LOVECHILD! Why Lovechild you ask? Because, It’s like a carrot, an apple, and some cinnamon were all in love, and they decided to have a baby and their baby is like, this super yummy shake… I know, I know, I’ll go ahead an stop there. Welcome to my weird brain. Whatever, I just love this recipe! Kick start your day with my spicy favorite.

RECIPE:

1/2 CUP BABY CARROTS. You may also use regular carrots, but baby carrots are softer so they blend faster. I remember my mom told me once that when she was little, her dad would tell her that eating carrots would put hair on her chest, and so she refused to eat carrots because she was terrified she would grow chest hair. You know as well as I do you won’t get chest hair, so eat your carrots, cuties. Carrots are full of goodies. Vitamin A (a powerful antioxidant for your skin, and beneficial for your eyes.)

1/2 APPLE. I prefer Pink lady apples for their tartness and tang, but you may use whatever apple your lil heart desires. Apples are full of antioxidants and a great source of fiber. You know what they say… and apple a day… blah blah blah, you know the rest.

1 SLICE RAW GINGER (As pictured above). Might I add, be conservative. Ginger is some potent stuff, so a little at a time. Ginger is an amazing root, full of enzymes which aid in digestion and help with food absorbtion. Ginger also stimulates blood circulation, helps to control nausea, and eliminate gas and bloating (great news for us vegans and vegetarians eh?!).

2 CUPS ALMOND MILK, unsweetened. The most alkalizing of all nondairy milks! A body that is more alkaline is a healthier body. Alkaline = less zits. Kapish?

1/2 Tsp CINNAMON POWDER. A great source of manganese, fiber, iron, and calcium. Plus, studies have shown that just 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon per day can lower LDL cholesterol. Not to mention it pretty much makes everything better!

1/2 CUP SPINACH. C’mon, you gotta throw the greens in too. I find spinach to be virtually tasteless when blended into a smoothie. I mean, I put a friggin salad in my shake every morning, and It never tastes plant-y. So dump it in! A fairly good source of iron. It’s loaded with vitamins and minerals, some of which are hard to find in other foods. A surprisingly good source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A and other powerful antioxidants. After all, it did help Popeye score with Olive Oil… just sayin’.

2 Tbs HEMP PROTEIN POWDER. Hemp protein is considered a complete protein like diary, eggs and meat. Fancyyyyy! Whey and soy protein are not complete proteins. Not to mention it’s full of healthy fats and EFA’s (essential fatty acids) which are beneficial for your skin. I like to call it “moisturizing from the inside out”. Healthy fats like the ones found in, for example, hemp protein, raw nuts, and avocados, help your skin stay soft and supple. You can buy hemp protein at Trader Joe’s it’s about $10 for 16oz, however theirs does contain a small amount of sugar, so if your skin is acne prone I don’t recommend it. I usually order mine online at www.vitacost.com.

1/2 Tsp VANILLA EXTRACT. Vanilla is known to be an aphrodisiac, hey now… easy killer, and also contains high levels of antioxidants. Nice. I didn’t know either of those things until now. See, even Mama D be learnin!

STEVIA. Last but not least STEVIA to taste. I’m pretty sure Stevia is a miracle sweetener. It’s actually an herb and it has no side effects. Unlike sugar, including agave, which affect your blood sugar so you get that lovely crash. Not to mention how addictive sugar is. Seriously, I challenge you to cut out all sugar for a week. Including fruit. Then tell me wether or not you think you’re addicted to sugar. Think you can do it? Let me know if you do. Pick up your Stevia Trader Joe’s. I recommend the 100% pure stevia. It’s $10, but it’ll last forever because you only need the teeniest bit.

Enjoy! Let me know if you make the shake. I want feedback. Do you likey?

Love love love -D

xoxo

BEAUTY SMOOTHIE OF THE WEEK: VEGAN RAW CACAO ALMOND BUTTER LOCO

Why helloooooo, loves and lovelies! Do I have a treat for you. It is well known among my group of friends that I make a crazy health shake every morning for breakfast. Yes, I am that lady. I will try to get you to drink my green potion. Good thing for you is it actually tastes awesome, so there. I have been doing this for several years now, and can I just tell you how excited I am everyday to wake up in the morning because I freaking love my shake soooooo much?! So excited. It’s really truly why I get out of bed in the morning. I’m such a nerd, but it’s true. My name is Danielle… and I’m a shake-a-holic.

For those of you who don’t eat breakfast, first of all, shame on you! Haha, kidding kidding! Ok but seriously, I’m gonna be your mom for a second. Breakfast is so important for giving your metabolism a kickstart in the morning. Especially if you want to shed some extra fluff. Why? Well I’ll give you my common sense explanation. If you get the majority of your essential nutrients first thing in the morning, you’re less likely to have cravings throughout the day. I’m no scientist here babes, I’ve just gained knowledge through my own experiences, and lost a little fluff along the way. 

RECIPE:

2 HANDFULS RAW SPINACH - Don’t worry you won’t even taste it. Full of Iron, clorophyll and more. Plus, you remember what it did for POPEYE. I mean, those muscles! Do it.

1 1/2 CUPS ALMOND MILK - Unsweetened if possible, my fav dairy free milk! Alkalizing too. Alkaline is always best babies! Real milk… gross. Do people still drink it?

1 TBS RAW ALMOND BUTTER - Raw raw raw. Roasted is a no go. Roasting nuts putrifies the precious and beneficial skin hydrating, oils they contain, therefore leaving them toxic and difficult to digest. Think fried. Ew.

2 TBS RAW CACAO POWDER - Same as above w/ the raw situation. Antioxidant and DEEELISH! Plus I find raw cacao gives me a lil more caffeine zing than the conventional stuff. Yep that’s right, raw cacao is caffeinated. Saweeet!)

2 TBS HEMP PROTEIN POWDER - Yah duuude hemp! Full of protein, and green protein at that. Alkalizing and full of EFA’s.

1 TSP CINNAMON POWDER - Helps lower blood pressure apparently, and t t t tasty!)

1 TBS PSYLLIUM HUSKS - Cleans your pipes, boy does it ever. Clean pipes = clean liver = clear skin. Yes! I’m talkin bout poopin.

STEVIA TO TASTE - Mmmm hmmm sugar freeeeee. If your skin is acne prone, STAY AWAY FROM SUGAR! Sugar among other foods can create an acidic environment in the body. Unfriendly bacterias thrive in an acidic environment and multiply. Long story short acne and blemishes can result. Your dermatologist would probably tell you otherwise, but it’s their job to sell you drugs. Preventative medicine doesn’t make them money. Whoops, there I go getting all political of over a smoothie!

*Note: All of these ingredients can be purchased a Trader Joe’s, except the raw cacao. Otherwise you can find all of these items at your local health food store.

In conclusion, have fun with it! You can add and modify and experiment. Pretend your a scientist! Being healthy and taking care or yourself is fun… and sexy mmm hmm.  HAPPINESS IS HOT! Woot!

What are your favorite smoothie recipes?

SKINCARE ON A DIME: FIVE DIY BEAUTY TRICKS, CHEAP AND CHIC!

Photographer: Sarah Morrison   Makeup/Hair: Danielle Walch

Okay so here’s the deal. Quality skincare can be expensive, and some of us may not always have the cash to throw down on our favorite skincare products. OR, like myself, some of you may just be too lazy, or keep procrastinating taking that trip to the store to restock. Regardless of the reason, here are some some simple ways to take care of your skin, using inexpensive ingredients you may already have in your kitchen.

1. FACE EXFOLIANT: For those of you who have a Trader Joe’s in your area, did you know of the plethora of potential skincare goodies that exist within Trader Joe’s?! Read and learn! My personal favorite low budge exfoliant, Bob’s Redmill GROUND FLAXSEED MEAL. Yes indeed. Put just about teaspoon in the palm or your hand , add a little water and presto! Massage into your skin and rinse. Feel the difference for yourself! The nice thing about the ground flaxseed is as it absorbs water it progressively softens, so it’s never too harsh. You can also mix flaxseed meal with water and drink as a fiber supplement, just mix a tablespoon into 8oz water. Fiber supplements can be very beneficial for everyone and certainly for people with acne prone skin. It helps move every thing out (if you know what I mean), more often and more efficiently and that’s all ima say about that. Cleaner body = clearer face. Not to mention it only costs about $3. Uh huh, that’s right babies! A couple other ingredients to try as facial scrub: ALMOND MEAL and WHOLE PSHYLLIUM HUSKS (also a fiber supplement) both found at Trader Joe’s! Booyah!

2. TONER/LIQUID EXFOLIANT: Raw/unpasturized APPLE CIDER VINEGAR. IT MUST BE LABELED RAW/UNPASTURIZED! Why? Well, Raw ACV still contains the natural enzymes required to breakdown dead skin so, when applied to a cotton round dead skin sloughs off easily. Just mix equal parts ACV and WATER, add a small amount to a cotton round and sweep across your face and neck. I love what this does for my skin, it gives it a nice an fresh glow! I do recommend this to be done at night, because the aroma of the ACV can sometimes linger. Unless you dig the aroma of course, and then you’ve got a new parfume eu de toilette! Make sure you mix with water, otherwise it’s too concentrated and might cause sensitivity. My favorite brand is Bragg, which I buy at Whole Foods. You may purchase online @ www.vitacost.com, $3 for a 16oz bottle, say WHA?! Thas cheeap! Other benefits of RAW APPLE CIDER VINEGAR, use to aid in digestion! Whenever I get acid reflux or heartburn or any kind of indigestion I take a tablespoon of raw ACV and problem solved! I know it seems weird, but try it, it works you’ll see.

3. MOISTURE MASK: RAW HONEY!!!!!!!!! Yes babes you’ve read correctly. Again, it must say RAW on the label for the same reasons as mentioned above. RAW HONEY is moisturizing, full of enzymes that gobble up dead skin, it’s antiseptic, antibiotic, antifungal, and antibacterial, and it never spoils! Umm got blemishes? Goodbye! Did you know raw honey has been known to be medicinal since ancient times? Trust the ancients my friends! RAW HONEY can be found at Whole Foods, Trader Joe’s, and health food stores in general. Organic raw honey produced in your local area is best. Or order online here. A small jar is about $6-$10.

4. BLEMISHES: Do yourself a favor, go to your local nursery and buy an ALOE VERA plant right now!!! A beautiful plant with the most incredible healing properties. Break off a small piece and rub it’s lovely ooey gooey-ness on blemishes, burns, sunburns, cuts, scrapes, rashes and the list goes on! It’s an inexpensive plant to buy and super easy to take care of. It’s truly amazing how fast it can help your skin heal. It also prevents scarring! Caring for your plant- Full sun, indoors or out, water every few days (and that’s a generous suggestion) of course depending on how hot it is. Honestly though, I can’t even remember the last time I watered mine and she’s still thriving! NOTE* the aloe vera gel you see in the grocery store is no substitute, it’s processed and usually full of alcohol. That junk is bunk!

5. OKAY DRUM ROLL PLEASE, last but not least, my best kept secret up until now………………. COCONUT WATER KEFIR! YESSSSSS! It’s my new skincare discovery. You may be asking yourself “wha da fuh is she talkin bout?” Well COCONUT WATER KEFIR is manufactured as a supplement you that you drink. It is similar to yogurt or traditional dairy kefir because it contains the same probiotics, including the more famliar acidophlius. You may be asking yourself, “and how it this good for my skin”? Well to make a long story short (because this is a bunch of science and an explanation that could take me days), the same way that eating yogurt helps your digestion by putting friendly bacteria into your intestines, COCONUT WATER KEFIR helps your skin. When you have more good bacteria than bad, bad bacteria cannot grow and cause infection, AKA whiteheads, and pimples which are a small scale infection caused by bad bacteria. I poured some CWK in a brown glass spay bottle, I keep it in the fridge and spritz a little on my face before I put on my moisturizer. You can also just pour from the original bottle onto a cotton round. But, you must keep it in the fridge and it must be kept in a glass container only.  Now, what you should also know is that probiotics when ingested are also beneficial for helping to clear acne. So feel free to take an occasional swig of your CWK!  I also take probiotics in capsule form before meals for the same purpose. In conclusion, your skin will love this! Since I started doing this, I rarely get whitheads anymore. As a person who’s had more than my fair share of blemishes, I seriously recommend! I buy mine at Whole Foods. A small bottle costs about $7 and a large bottle will run you about $13. Here’s a list of nationwide carries of the “TONIX” brand. OR, if your feeling ambitious brew your own at home! Check out Body Ecology for details on that.

Well, that’s all for now. What are your DIY beauty tricks?

THE BEST THINGS YOU CAN DO FOR YOUR SKIN: My top 5

1. DRINK WATER. Lawdy chile you’ve heard it a million times before, but for pete’s sake drink WATER! How much you ask? Well best practice at LEAST 32oz a day. If your pee is clear, you know you’re getting the toxins out. Yep that’s right, clear pee! Hydrated skin = good. Toxins = bad. No rocket science here. If you need a lil flava for your water as I know some folks do, try a few drops of Wisdom Natural Sweetleaf  stevia extract. NO calorie, NO glycemic index, all natural, yadda yadda yadda, and it comes in several flavors. This is the cheapest place to buy it on the web:  http://www.vitacost.com

2. EAT YOUR VEGGIES. Yes, like your mama always told you and I will tell you, again and again. Whenever possible eat them raw. Raw veggies are ALIVE, meaning they still contain essential enzymes and nutrients. When cooking veggies, lightly steaming or sauteing is best. ‘Al Dente’ as they say. Also, most vegetables help to alkalize the body, which in turn means better digestion and less zits! It’s true! Just ask Donna Gates. BTW, frozen and canned veggies don’t count, don’t fool yourself them veggies are dead! 

3. TAKE CARE OF IT. After all, it takes care of you! Listen to your skin, love it, baby it, it’s your friend. Meaning, guurl wash your face before bed and then moisturize. Whether you wear makeup or not. These two things are the least you can do. Repeat in the morning. If your feeling adventurous, try a facial masque even. Whoa, look out! One of my faves is Aveda Tourmaline Charged Radiance Masque. Good for all skin types, exfoliates and moisturizes. Seriously, it’s just YOUR FACE. ‘Nuff said. Furthermore, If you’d like some guidance on appropriate skincare, just ask me I’d love to help :)

4. DON’T STRESS.  Better said, manage your stress. Dani says relax. Meditate, exercise, hang out in your Iso Tank, practice primal screaming, whatever it takes. Stress compromises your immune system, sister, which not only affects your skin but can lead to all sorts of bodily imbalances. 

5. SLEEP. Same as above only different. If you cannot relax, chances are you’re not getting restful sleep. Lack of sleep also compromises the immune system. Get as much sleep as you need whenever possible! Unless of course you’re a vampire, in which case you are probably dead sexy (hee hee) and don’t need skincare advice.

BOTTOM LINE: Take care of yourself, love yourself, be nice to yourself. Happiness is hot!

Inside Out Beauty BLOG launch!

Hello friends, welcome to the world of Inside Out Beauty! My goal in creating this blog is  not only to share my knowledge as a professional makeup artist/hairstylist and skincare expert but to give advice on where, in my opinion, beauty starts. From the inside out. Here, I will be sharing my recipes for homemade skincare, beautifying foods & supplements, as well as my professional and more conventional product favorites. Whether conventional or unconventional it’s my intention to share techniques, products, and tips that in my experience, actually WORK!  So stayed tuned my lovelies, I’m going to divulge all of my health and beauty secrets!

Much love-

Danielle