You are what you eat, so when it comes to preparing for that glowing wedding day skin and shiny mane, one wants to keep in mind that what goes inside will be reflected on the outside. The good news is that this will be the most fun beauty regime you have ever done because it involves delicious foods and healthy drinks – a recipe for success! No need to go searching for gorgeous skin and hair in your medicine cabinet because the answer is at your grocery store. Your wedding beauty regime is a great way to practice self-care while perfecting your wedding day look. Let’s peep some amazing superfoods with expert foodie consultation from Arkansas catering company, Vibrant Occasions Catering and top Arkansas beauty expert and makeup artist, Jessica Humerick!
“We can build an entire bridal shower menu based on this concept of beauty-minded superfoods. It makes a great conversation piece, your bridal shower guests will appreciate the sentiments plus it is truly delicious foods and drinks,” says Leah Seale, Event Producer at Vibrant Occasions Catering.
Refreshing Citrus-Peach Bellini Mocktail
Since alcohol translates to sugar and sugar is the enemy of good skin, this citrus-peach bellini mocktail will simply be “cocktail-inspired.” By skipping the champagne and swapping with sugar-free apple juice instead, you are adding ten different types of vitamins. Apple juice is a home remedy for a myriad of skin problems such as acne, wrinkles and inflammation. Honey is a much better sugar alternative plus honey’s amino acids are known for keeping the skin plump and strong. Peaches are loaded with vitamins and nutrients that help protect your skin from ultraviolet rays. This recipe requires peeling off the peach skin, but don’t throw it away – peach skin also serves as a natural skin cleanser. Vitamin C in citrus fruit improves skin elasticity and nourishes hair follicles to improve hair health. Grab the full recipe on Vibrant Occasions Catering’s blog here.
Smoked Salmon and Avocado Crostinis
Fatty types of fish like salmon contain Omega-3 fatty acids that reduce inflammation, create more collagen, help retain a healthy scalp and restore shine in your tresses. Along with healthy fats, avocados are packed full of antioxidants, essential for glowing skin. Not only are avocados great for your skin, but they also encourage hair growth. Want to prevent hair loss and ensure healthy hair growth? Top these crostinis with superfood seeds such as sunflower seeds, flax seeds or chia seeds. This makes a great snack at home or a fantastic hors d’oeuvres dish to serve at a party. Instead of a dairy-based spread, opt for a Greek yogurt spread to avoid pore clogging qualities, which produces acne related to dairy products.
Berry Yogurt Dessert with Granola
Sometimes you just want something sweet! This berry yogurt dessert with granola will hit the spot while maintaining beautiful skin and locks. Whole grain oats will add luster and shine to your hair while berries will promote hair growth and increase collagen supply. In an effort to eliminate dairy, you don’t have to ditch the yogurt, but rather swap with Greek yogurt. Greek yogurt contains curd that has a moisturizing effect on your skin and it heals dry skin naturally. A lot of people suffer from acne due to certain gastrointestinal problems. Curd helps in marinating a happy and active gut which leads to healthy skin. Enjoy this treat in a bowl or create a layered parfait by using a dessert dish.
Herbal Tea
Next time you feel parched, grab a cup of herbal tea and feel good about quenching your thirst while simultaneously utilizing ancient beauty secrets passed down through the centuries. While green tea fights free radicals and aids in digestion, spearmint tea can help combat acne. Many people are aware of the benefits of applying rose oils topically, but ingesting rose tea will assist your skin in aging gracefully as well. Nettle tea is a diuretic and will aid in flushing toxins out of your body in addition to its anti-inflammatory properties, high levels of vitamin C and K, and is said to be a wonderful treatment for skin issues such as rashes and wound healing. Creating a ritual around drinking tea has multiple advantages, but the best may be the mood-enhancing effects such as green tea as an energy-booster or chamomile to calm and we all need that.
Dairy-Free Waffles
There is no reason not to enjoy your favorite breakfast foods like waffles due to skin issues. The ingredient that has been known to create acne breakouts is dairy milk. Substitute the dairy milk with a light coconut milk, almond milk or rice milk in order to eliminate this issue. Some other things to consider is adding superfoods such as flax seeds to your batter, which are rich in Omega-3 fatty acids to keep your skin and hair glowing as well as keeping your skin tight. Top with berries that contain antioxidants that fight wrinkles by controlling free radicals related to sun exposure. Drizzle honey over your waffles to obtain its skin plumping properties while keeping hair healthy.
Gazpacho
Gazpacho is a Spanish-style cold, refreshing soup full of flavor and nutrients that will improve your skin and hair. The simple ingredients are tomato, red bell peppers, cucumber, onion, garlic, extra virgin olive oil, and lemon. The high water content in tomatoes and cucumbers keep your skin hydrated while the red bell peppers contain beta-carotene to protect your epidermis from sun damage. This soup falls into a raw food category by utilizing garden-fresh vegetables, which are full of more enzymes than cooked vegetables. This raw quality aids in digestion, nutrient absorption, and detoxification which is essential for clear skin. Since it is a chilled soup, it is most popular to serve during the summer months.
Whole Grain Toast with Figs and Bananas
This one could be served as toast, sandwiches or even appetizer-style tea sandwiches. The bananas contain hair-volumizing, skin-plumping collagen that promotes strong, healthy qualities that work from the inside out. Bananas are also known to reduce eye puffiness and dark circles, reduce dandruff and help prevent acne breakouts. Extract found in figs are widely used to improve hydration, remedy hyperpigmentation, acne and wrinkles. With whole grain bread as your canvas to this work of art, you can be sure that you’re receiving zinc, iron, B vitamins and loads of fiber. Whole grains are also responsible for the growth and shine of your luxurious locks as well as preventing hair from thinning.
This article was written in collaboration with Vibrant Occasions Catering and Jessica Humerick.