Over the Holidays I made a new appetizer that contained Almonds. I have been snacking on Almonds ever since . I have been enjoying them so much, I bought another can. I became curious as to whether eating Almonds had any skin care benefits. I was pleasantly surprised at what I found and learned quite a few facts that I did not know.
First, did you know that the Almond Tree is a fruit tree related to the plum family? The fruit looks like an elongated peach and has a hard husk which is greenish-gray in color. When the fruit matures, it splits open revealing the shell, which contains the nut meat.
Almonds are native of North Africa, Asia and the Mediterranean. Romans were the first to cultivate them and referred to them as “Greek Nuts”. Spanish missionaries are credited with bringing Almonds to California. California is considered the world’s largest producer and now grows more than 100 varieties of Almonds.
As for the health benefits of eating Almonds, you might want to stock up on them. Almonds are considered a “Superfood”. Once thought to be a high fat food, it has been discovered that a 1 ounce serving (approx. 23-24 almonds) only has 1 gram of saturated fat and fortunately, contains 13 grams of the healthy fats that are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats; and 6 grams of protein. Almonds are high in fiber, riboflavin, magnesium, iron, calcium and Vitamin E.
So having learned all that, because one serving of Almonds contain more than nearly half of your RDA (Recommended Daily Allowance) of Vitamin E, eating them can be beneficial in helping to achieve great looking skin Vitamin E is a powerful antioxidant, which is crucial in protecting your skin against sun damage and pollutants. Vitamin E also promotes a nourished and smoother complexion.
In addition to having better looking and healthier skin, your heart with thank you, as monounsaturated fats may help reduce LDL , the bad cholesterol. Studies have also shown that chances of developing diabetes and heart disease are reduced. This, in turn, can lower your risk of a heart attack. Lastly, since so many women are concerned about Osteoporosis, you’ll be happy to know that Almonds contain the highest amount of calcium compared to any other nut.
An Old Wives’ Tale states that if you are at a christening or a wedding and receive Almonds in uneven numbers of 3, 5, or 7 that is a token of good fortune and happiness.
In case you are interested, here is the appetizer recipe that I made over the holidays:
Baked Brie and Red Pepper Jelly Phyllo Cups
1 pkg premade mini Phyllo Cups (approx. 15 per package)
Sweet Pepper Jelly or Spread
Brie Cheese, cut into 15 small pieces
Salted Almonds, chopped and slow dry roasted on low heat in small frying pan. (Let cool slightly before handling.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Place Phyllo Cups on baking sheet; put approximately ½ teaspoon of Sweet Pepper Jelly in each Phyllo Cup; place small piece of Brie Cheese next; sprinkle almonds on top. Place on middle rack of oven. Bake 12-15 minutes. Enjoy!!
I believe that adding roughly a handful of Almonds to your healthy daily diet, and drinking plenty of water, is good for you inside and out. Wouldn’t you agree?
Filed under: Skin Care, anti-aging | Tagged: almonds, anti-aging, antioxidants, healthy skin, nuts, Skin Care, superfoods, Vitamin E | Leave a Comment »


The other day I came across a beauty tip that I had not seen before. It is recommended that you keep your eye cream in the refrigerator. This, if you think about it, makes sense. Women swear by putting cool cucumbers or cool washcloth compresses over there eyes to reduce puffiness. Many eye creams claim they reduce puffiness, so why not further enhance the results of the product by cooling it. When I had discovered this beauty tip, I posted a question on Facebook asking how likely is it that you would try this tip. Unanimously, the answer was, yes. One Facebook buddy also was aware of the benefits in reducing eye puffiness. Another Facebook friend informed me that she keeps her facial mist in the refrigerator because it is very refreshing. 
From the name, I am sure you can deduce as to the results of this product. I do not have overly long lashes to begin with, and they are fine. I found that it did not add much length to my lashes and it took a few coats to build up. Be careful to let dry before blinking, you may need to remove some residue from upper lid and below eye. This mascara did not smudge as the day went on. To remove mascara was simple with my facial cleanser and water.
The first time I applied this mascara, I felt I was poking my eyelid with the brush. The brush is designed very differently from any mascara that I have ever tried. Molded plastic combs, which are stiff, make up the bristles. However, once I got used to using the applicator, the mascara went on easily and cleanly. My lashes appeared fuller and somewhat longer. No clumping and no need to remove anything that may have stuck to my eyelid or under eye area. I did not look like I had raccoon eyes at the end of the day. My facial cleanser and water was all I needed to remove this mascara.
I figured that if my lashes weren’t long, curling them might make them appear longer. After use, I don’t feel that my lashes curled, and it seemed to take a few applications to see a difference. While residue was not a problem directly after applying the mascara, I did notice that a few times during the day, it felt like the mascara was flaking off and my eyes felt itchy. To remove this mascara was a little more difficult as well. I highly recommend using an Eye Makeup Remover Lotion.
