From Kitchen to Beauty Bag: I'm in Love with Coconut Oil

Photo Credit: SXC

You all know about my love affair with olive oil. Well, now there's a new cooking staple I adore: coconut oil.

You know it works wonders when I've considered buying a jar just for the bathroom.

No, really!

I recently joined an aquatic exercise class. Hey, trying all these yummy foods for my blog isn't always friendly on a girl's waistline, you know? When I realized how much the chlorinated pool was drying out my hair and skin, I knew I had to turn to my favorite natural moisturizers, oils.

Coconut oil wins hands-down. It's less expensive than jojoba oil and smooths on like a creamy lotion, making is simpler to use than olive oil. (I still love olive oil, but coconut oil is so much easier to apply!)

So, here's how I've been adding coconut oil to my daily beauty routine:

• I comb a teaspoon through my hair before swimming to maintain my hair's soft texture.
• I use the oil as a lotion to naturally hydrate my skin and repel chlorinated pool water.
• The oil works great as a facial moisturizer and creamy lip balm.
• I also smooth the oil on my dry feet at the end of the day to ward off unsightly cracked heels.

So, tell me, how do you like to use coconut oil, either in the kitchen or the bathroom? I think I'm going to have to start buying this multi-tasking oil by the case!

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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Honey Face Mask Review: Check Out all the Sticky Sweet Details!

Photo Credit: Angela Tague

I've read honey is just as good for you on the outside as the inside. As a natural antibacterial, it helps clear away acne-causing bacteria. As a humectant, honey moisturizes the driest of skin.

So, when I was approached by Lotus Moon to give its USDA certified Organic Honey Purifying Masque a try, I was elated. Here's the fine print. I was given a free 2.5 fl. oz. sample of the facial masque in exchange for my honest review. So, here it is!

Applying the Honey Masque
The dark, golden gel smooths on easily. I thought it might be sticky or drippy, but it was not. My only complaint is the masque initially has a very strong odor that reminds me of whiskey. As it dried on my skin, the odor went away.

After 20 minutes, I washed away the masque using warm water, as suggested by the manufacturer. There was no peeling needed, like some heavier facial masque products. The honey, aloe vera, oat extract, rooibos tea extract and jojoba oil in the product hydrated and balanced my skin, since it doesn't feel oily or dry.

Honey Facial Results
After the treatment, my skin felt soft and smooth. Later in the day I went swimming and am happy to report that my skin still felt hydrated and soft even after the exposure to chlorinated swimming pool water.

Since I've always wanted to try a homemade honey facial, reviewing this product was really a fun task. The Lotus Moon product was much less messy than working with pure honey and fits into my Whole Foods Living lifestyle. Lotus Moon doesn't condone or use animal testing and all of its ingredients are FDA compliant and paraben-free.

So, have you ever tried a honey facial? What did you like or dislike about it?

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

PS: Did you know you can also find me on Twitter? Follow me for great skin care, foodie, pet care and lifestyle articles posted daily!

The 8-week Healthy Skin Diet by Karen Fischer

It's rare for me to keep a reference book on the end table by the bed. The 8-week Healthy Skin Diet by Karen Fischer has been my bedtime indulgence for several weeks now and has become my current resource of choice when learning about the benefits of healthy, whole foods.

The 480-page book is packed with recipes, personal insight from the author and skin care information that goes far beyond how to exfoliate your skin or why you need to drink more water.

Karen, a former television personality and model, wrote the book because her baby was suffering from eczema and she wanted to learn more about health and skin care for her family. During her quest to become more informed and healthier, she earned the title of certified nutritionist and author.

My favorite parts of the book include the:

• quick-read Q&A sections dispersed throughout the easy-to-understand text
• nutrients per serving information included with the recipes
• the holistic approach to skin care through nutrition, exercise and emotional well-being
• the simple language used to dig deeper into why it's important to eat healthy

So, what about the actual diet, or 8-week program? I haven't even gotten that far yet! Since I tend to be pretty strict about what's on my plate anyway, I honestly haven't felt the need to dive in right away. But, since I enjoy doing juice cleanses and food challenges, it is on my summer to-do list. Watch for updates here on Whole Foods Living!

This book is fantastic. Whether or not you do the book's recommended 3-day alkalizing cleanse or follow the 14-day Healthy Skin Menu, you'll still benefit from this invaluable reference.

The 8-week Healthy Skin Diet by Karen Fischer from Robert Rose book publishers hits store shelves on March 30, 2013.

(Disclaimer: Yes, this book was provided free of charge for review purposes. But, all opinions expressed on Whole Foods Living come from me, Angela Tague.)

Until Next Time,
Choose Healthy!

Angela Tague
Whole Foods Living

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