It was only about a month or so ago that my sister came to me for beauty advice. She had suddenly and surprisingly started developing pimples all over her face and didn't have the slightest clue what to do. I've never struggled from serious acne, but I definitely do get occasional breakouts so I broke down my beauty regimen to her. Try a gentle cleanser, use a face brush and apply an acne-fighting serum all over your face before bed. The poor girl went weeks trying my tricks and nothing seemed to work. It wasn't until she started cleansing with Shea Moisture African Black Soap that her face finally cleared up!
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"My pimples are gone," she told me excitedly over the phone. Apparently this Shea Moisture African Black Soap cleared up all her acne. As a beauty writer, I was intrigued. What kind of ingredients did this so-called amazing soap contain exactly? I went through the list of ingredients and found everything from palm ash, tamarind extract and plantain peel. Wait … what? Plantain peel? Since when has plantain had beauty benefits? Apparently since forever, according to Stylecraze.com it's been used to treat everything from skin irritations, sunburns and even eczema. Who would have known? And it's not the only healthy food that's being added to cosmetics–kale is too! Here are six other unexpected foods you can now find in your beauty products!
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Kale
You've probably heard a million times by now all the health benefits you can get from eating kale. It's hands down one of the most popular super foods today. But did you know that this leafy green could also make you look more beautiful? That's right! The same way it's slipped into our salads, smoothies and every other meal you could think of, it's also finding its way into our beauty products. Try Eminence's Citrus & Kale Potent C +E Masque ($70). Supposedly it works to help reduce the appearance of sun damage, fine lines and wrinkles.
Raspberries
It wasn't until recently that I discovered that raspberries do wonders for your complexion. They are packed with collagen-forming vitamin C that don't just smooth and even skin, but also protects it from the damage of free radicals, which lead to signs of aging. Try Skyn Iceland Artic Elixir with Raspberry Stem Cell Complex ($60).
Chia seeds
I'm absolutely obsessed with chia seeds. I throw them in my cereals, oatmeals and even in my morning smoothies. That's because they are super high in fiber and contain other good vitamins like calcium, iron, magnesium and omega-3 fatty acids. I guess they're good for your skin too because now they're in anti-aging products like Perricone MD Chia Serum ($75).
Avocado
I do a DIY avocado hair mask at least once a month to get my hair nice and shiny. But if you a want a quicker fix, try Burt's Bees Avocado Butter Pre-Shampoo Hair Treatment ($9). This superfood is packed with vitamin E, B and omega-3 fatty acids that help restore damaged hair and stimulate growth. I'm hooked!
Caviar
Apparently smearing your face with luxurious caviar is the latest beauty trend. It's made with proteins that help improve your skin's elasticity and tone. Try La Prairie Skin Caviar Luxe Cream ($420). It's real pricey–but worth it!
Honey
I also add honey to my DIY facial masks to help clear up my complexion. And beauty brands much be catching on to its benefits, because they're adding honey to a lot of their skincare products, like Fresh Creme Ancienne Ultimate Nourishing Honey Mask ($130).
Acai berry
This exotic Brazilian berry is packed with natural antioxidants that helps repair skin, making it look clearer, fresher and smoother. Check out Produce Organic Beauty Grape Acai Berry Antioxidant Face Cream ($32).
