Yogurt for your skin

Preface: I was offered a sponsorship on cosmetics by Korea Cosmetics recently. Thus from now onward I will make regular make-up tips once a week along with the sponsorship schedule. Babes please stay tune as there will be new released cosmetic products review from time to time. Perhaps... free giveaways for the readers too.

Yogurt... lassi, yogurt ice-cream, yogurt bar, yogurt drink, yogurt cheese cake....everything that goes with yogurt is irresistable! And oh...I lost 5kg last time with just a daily dose of 2 cups of yogurt in 2 months without exercise.... I tell you Yogurt is pretty kick-ass!

So why yogurt? Because it is natural, because it is easy to get, and the most important thing - because it is budget-friendly! Yogurt is good as a natural remedy for skin problems such as acne , dry skin, dullness or excessive oiliness. It cleanses and moisturizes at the same time, and also prevents premature aging.

Live on a healthy diet with PRUNES

Prune Facts
Prunes are dehydrated plums. The total production of prunes worldwide over the past 3years has averaged around 300,000 tons with California averaging just under 200,000 tons. Per capita consumption of prunes for the world population amounts to ONLY 7 prunes per person per year.

A prune per day surely could improve your health! ...and beauty as well...

Prune Benefits
Prunes are a good source of fiber and have long been recognized as a nutrient-rich fruit with multiple health benefits. But according to a recent study from Tufts University in Boston, prunes may also help slow the aging process in both the body and brain. The study ranked the antioxidant value of commonly eaten fruits and vegetables using an analysis called ORAC (Oxygen Radical Absorbency Capacity). Prunes topped the list with more than twice the antioxidant capacity as other high-scoring fruits such as blueberries and raisins.

SUNSWEET...my favourite brand~ =) Do you know that prunes can be made breakfast too?


Prunes for breakfast~! Play little tricks and enjoy fabulous breakfast treats...
1. Creamy Chocolate Banana Smoothie


2. Yogurt Nog


3. Purple Power


Or DIY healthy desserts...

4. Warm Apple-Prune Crumbie


5. Elegant Prune Whip with Custard Sauce



Want more recipes? Click on the links below for prune recipes.
LoveToKnow Prune Recipes
FoodDownUnder Prune Recipes
SUNSWEET Recipes

A little more about yOgurt

The YOGURT "Do you knows"

1. Millions and millions of beneficial bacteria in yogurt that can boost one's immune system have made it one of the healthiest food and the best natural remedies.


2. Bifidobacterium or Lactobacillis have been proven effective in relieving digestive issues, while the active culture Lactobacillus casei fortifies one's immune system.


3. A daily dose of just 3 ounces can lower your cholesterol, and because calcium-rich diets have been linked to fat loss, may actually help you slim down faster. One cup of organic, fat-free yogurt (plain) has 110 calories, 9 grams of protein and 3 grams of fiber.



4. Plain yogurt is good enough to provide a thorough cleansing that also moisturizes the skin, leaving it soft and smooth. Click here for homemade yogurt facial mask.


5. The lactic acid in yogurt soothes, softens and tightens the skin and refines the pores. Its high nutrient content and natural antibacterial and antifungal properties also get rid of germs and other bacteria.


6. Yogurt is a natural meat tenderizer, and it's even healthier and cheaper! So start using yogurt as your meat tenderizer today.

The benefits of plain yogurt as compare to fruit added preparation:

1. Plain yogurt contains around half of the calories of the same amount of fruit adder yogurt.
2. Plain yogurt contains almost twice the amount of protein.
3. Plain yogurt contains fewer filler.
4. Plain yogurt contains more calcium.
5. Plain yogurt contains no added sugar.

Yogurt's healthful properties:

1. Yogurt Help Prevent Osteoporosis: Studies show calcium rich yogurt can help slow bone loss, thereby preserving bone mass and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.


2. Yogurt May Reduce the Risk of Hypertension: Eating low fat yogurt contains calcium, potassium, and magnesium - three nutrients that have been shown to reduce hypertension.


3. Yogurt Help Prevent Colon Cancer: Yogurt contains lacto bacteria that foster a healthy colon, and lower the risk of colon cancer. Yogurt is a rich source of calcium that contributes to colon health.


4. Yogurt May Discourage Yeast Infections: Research suggests that when eaten regularly, yogurt-containing L. acidophilus may decrease vaginal infection in certain individuals.


5. Yogurt May Enhance Immune System: Studies suggest that live and active culture yogurt may enhance the immune systems of certain individuals by boosting certain markers associated with a healthy immune system.


6. Yogurt can lower cholesterol: Studies have shown that yogurt can reduce the blood cholesterol, may be because the live cultures in yogurt can assimilate the cholesterol or yogurt binds bile acids.

DIY yogurt facial masks

Have you ever try DIY your beauty mask at home? It's actually very simple and because you are using natural ingredients to produce the mask, it causes less irritation to skin (my skincare ritual experiences).

During the weekends, you may wanna try making one of these while lazing around the living room reading magazines, or when enjoy watching your favourite drama~ I used to spend my weekend afternoon feeding nutrients to my face.

For lazy babes-

• Honey Yogurt Face Mask
  Ingredients you need:
  - 1 cup of plain yogurt
  - 2 ½ tablespoons of honey
  Mix the yogurt (plain) with honey. Rub it onto your face, neck and décolletage. Wash off well with warm water after about five minutes.


• Orange Yogurt Face Mask
  Ingredients you need:
  - 1 tablespoon of yogurt
  - juice of 1/4 of an orange
  Stir to mix and then dip fingers into mixture and smooth onto face. The sensation is both cool and relaxing. Leave on for a five minutes and then rinse. If you are feeling sluggish, this is the perfect mask for you. Yogurt will cleanse and nourish, the orange is full of Vitamin C and AHA's.

Scrub and cleansing-

• Buttermilk Yogurt Face Mask
  Ingredients you need:
  - 1/2 cup of melted butter
  - 1/3 cup of skim or normal milk
  - 2 tsp. of oatmeal
  - 1 inch slice of a mashed cucumber
  - 1/4 cup of yogurt
  - 1 tsp. of honey
  - 2 tsp. of naturally squeezed lemon
  Mix and blend all these ingredients together until it has become a liquid. Then apply it to your face in a circular motion. Wash it off then in 15 minutes. It helps with getting rid of blackheads and cleaning your pores. After your face will be very soft, fresh and shiny. You'll see a new you!


• Oatmeal Scrub
  Ingredients you need:
  - 2 tablespoons regular oatmeal (instant is fine)
  - 4 tablespoons plain yogurt
  - 1 tablespoon lemon juice (Fresh or bottled)
  - 1 tablespoon olive oil
  - 1 tablespoon chopped parsley
  Mix all the ingredients in a bowl until a paste is formed. Massage it onto cleansed skin and leave on 5-10 minutes. Then rinse with warm water. This is for oily or irritated skin, or skin that has broken out with a few pimples.

Go pretty with FRUIT-

• Fruity Face Mask
  Ingredients you need:
  - 6 or 8 ounces of plain yogurt
  - 1 carrot
  - 1/2 peach (fresh, not canned)
  - 1/2 cucumber, peeled
  Chop the carrot, peach, and cucumber into small pieces. Put it in a food processor (or your handy little chopper). Mix it until it becomes a paste. If it turns runny, don't sweat it, it's still fine. Apply the mask to your face and forehead and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Then rinse with water.
  The mask itself is for deep cleansing and unclogging the pores. The carrots are a natural anti-inflammatory which is good if you have breakouts. Carrots have a soothing property in them. The cucumbers are a softening agent for skin. It refreshes and moisturizes the skin. The peaches have emollient properties, and also soothe inflamed (or not) skin.


• Face Food Mask
  Ingredients you need:
  - 1 banana
  - 1 tablespoon honey
  - 1 tablespoon yogurt
  - 1 tablespoon oatmeal
  Mash banana. Blend ingredients together (you may need to add a bit more oatmeal to get the mixture into a nice paste). Smear over face. Leave for 15 minutes. Wash face and rinse well. Store the remaining portion in fridge.


• Re-hydrating Avocado Mask
  Ingredients you need:
  - 2 teaspoons mashed avocado
  - 1 teaspoon plain live yogurt
  - 1 teaspoon honey (liquid)
  Blend ingredients. Spread mask over your face, avoiding the eye area. Leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and follow with moisturizer.

Disclaimer: This post is meant for sharing purpose. If you have severe skin issues, please discuss with your dermatologist.

The story of yogurt and I

Yogurt... lassi, yogurt ice-cream, yogurt bar, yogurt drink, yogurt cheese cake....everything that goes with yogurt is irresistable! And oh...I lost 5kg last time with just a daily dose of 2 cups of yogurt in 2 months without exercise.... I tell you Yogurt is pretty kick-ass!


So why yogurt? Because it is natural, it's easy to get, and the most important thing - it's cHeAp~ I always opted for simple ways to do my skin care routine, and I seldom spend $$ on expensive deals because $$ not enough. But of course, if you have lotsa $$$$ to spend, go for SKII. With just less than RM2, everyone gets to replenish and enhance your face complexion, SO WHY NOT? I enjoyed eating yogurt while doing my DIY yogurt mask in my university days, it has been the savior to my skin especially when I lived in a city like KL for 4 years....a place so dusty and its water quality is also questionable.


I started to get blemishes a week after the uni orientation because the tap water was yellowish! I didn't even dare to boil it and drink, so I bought RO water from the water vendor machine for drinking. But what about bathing?! I can't afford to bathe with RO water...broke... As of what a poor student can afford, I use plain yogurt to calm my skin by spreading it over my face like a clay mask after washing my face. Then I wiped off with tissue/facial cotton before rinsing with RO water. As easy as ABC. And besides facial purpose, I add 2 teaspoon of honey and ate the remaining cup of yogurt. 1 and a half tablespoon is already more than enough to cover a face. So I killed 2 birds with one stone with just RM2 - facial and slimming. But when I'm lazy to buy yogurt, I would just apply honey (those raw honey with minimum artificial sugar) without yogurt. It helps to kill bacteria.

As read in other articles, yogurt can be used topically for dry skin treatment, all you need to do is just slather it on your face every morning, then wash it off with cold water. I've tried that a few times for the last minute make up S.O.S before attending a ball or dinner. If my skin is too dry or flaky to apply the foundation, I usually do this yogurt mask 1 or 2 hours before I start applying make up base. After rinse off the mask, make sure you apply your moisturizer/emulsion as per normal routine to keep the moisture locked in, and also to prevent the make up elements from clogging your pores.

Ok I know I look freaking tired in this photo...that's why I do facial!

Keep your health and skin care regime simple, and one of the best steps that you can take to a healthier body and better skin care is eating yogurt every day. I love to travel thus natural ingredients I could easily get (you can get from the convenient store) is perfect for my skincare regime. I could still survive my skin through the worst weathers with a simple cup of plain yogurt! Or...I bring along this -- my favourite fruity tutty yogurt pack, it's only RM15.90/4 packs and I could use up to 8 times. But it is not meant for eating purpose. Everytime I go travel or vacation, I'll just throw 1 or 2 packs into my suitcase then done!


Grapefruit yogurt mask pack


Strawberry yogurt mask pack

Well here's an interesting post about how yogurt can help to fight HIV! And if you would like to learn how to make your own yogurt at home, read this.

Let's go yO yO yO...with yOgurt today~

Disclaimer: This post is meant for sharing purpose. If you have severe skin issues, please discuss with your dermatologist.