You are what you eat! There is a reason people say you should ‘eat clean foods’. What you are putting into your body is responsible for nourishing as well as replenishing your system. If you eat lots of fruits and vegetables and hydrate well, your body will love you for it. Each month we want to give you a recipe to help you treat your skin to more vitamins and minerals that help you achieve healthier skin.

In their blog, thingsImadetoday.com has a great recipe for a smoothie that is gluten-free, vegan, and packed with lots of great hydrating fruits and veggies! Try it and while you sip on it, read below about some of the benefits from this great combination of flavors!

Here are some of the benefits you’ll get from the ingredients:

Cucumber: One of most hydrating snacks to have around! They have anti-inflammatory properties, and are loaded with antioxidants, vitamin C, and folic acid. The vitamin C helps stimulate new cell growth and folic acid helps fight off environmental toxins; the result is skin that looks firmer and healthier. 

Kale: Packed with Vitamins A, B, C, and K. Rich in antioxidants, iron, and phytonutrients. This leafy green helps tighten pores, reduces dark circles, promotes collagen production, increases cell turnover, prevents free-radical damage, and detoxifies the skin.

Pear: High in fiber, these fruits help keep your skin soft and smooth. Pears also have vitamin C, vitamin K, and copper that help fight against free radicals in your body. The vitamins and minerals in pears help your skin loop plump and toned.  

Celery: Another ingredient that is packed full of water! This translates to hydration and your skin loves this. Another great thing about celery, it contains silica, which has moisture and elasticity boosting properties. It is also rich in vitamins A and C which help protect your skin from free radicals as well as early aging. 

Pineapple Juice: High in vitamin C, bromelain and antioxidants. Helps prevent and treat acne, fine lines, sun damage, and uneven skin tone. 

Recipe Source:

http://www.thingsimadetoday.com/2015/07/21/green-on-green-on-green-smoothie/

In the past decade or so, there has been a lot more talk about organic vs. conventional products. It seems as though we didn’t have to worry about much of that before, but it is an everyday choice now. So, what is the difference between organic and conventional?

Organic materials are harder to produce because they require using methods that are natural as opposed to man-made chemicals, fertilizers or growth hormones that make some crops easier and faster to produce. Organic farmers use methods such as:

• Using non-gmo seed (gmo = genetically modified organism)

• No use of chemical fertilizers, herbicides, or growth enhancers

• Follow organic farming standards including crop rotations, ecological balance, and conservation of biodiversity

So, simply put, farming organic crops requires: 

• more expensive seeds because they are heirloom or non-gmo, 

• more work because instead of spraying a chemical weed killer that works to kill weeds and not gmo seed crops farmers must use specific natural weed removal, and 

• more preparation because you will rotate crops to make sure your soil’s nutrients are naturally replenished. 

So, Why is Organic Important?

Your skin absorbs everything - EVERYTHING! YOSEP has sourced organic ingredients because we want your skin to be healthy. Using skin care products that were made with ingredients that were exposed to harsh chemicals will result in your skin absorbing the residue of those harmful chemicals. Your skin is the largest organ in your body - treat it with care, allow it to replenish, and make sure you are only using all natural ingredients. 

YOSEP’s MISSION: TO HELP RESTORE YOUR SKIN’S NATURAL BEAUTY AND HEALTH USING ORGANIC INGREDIENTS WHILE HAVING A POSITIVE IMPACT ON THE WORLD THROUGH OUR COMMITMENT TO PHILANTHROPY.

https://www.codespa-america.org/

YOSEP’s founder has a long history of humanitarian and philanthropic work. Our commitment to the greater good is what drives us. It is because of this that with every purchase, a percent of profits is donated to a non-profit. YOSEP will try to reach as many people as possible spreading love and kindness through financial support. When we change the non profit that we are supporting we will blog about it because transparency is one of YOSEP’s important core values. We want our customers to know where their money is going and how they are, through their purchases, helping others. 

Currently, YOSEP has selected CODESPA America as the recipient of their philanthropic funds. CODESPA America allows individuals to succeed by giving them the necessary tools to create a better life for themselves. “CODESPA America's mission is to empower the poor in their professional lives and integrate them into local markets, enabling them to provide for their families and for their futures... [They] implement development projects creating economic opportunities for the poor in Latin America, Africa and Asia.”

Many of CODESPA America’s work efforts focus on farmers. As a company that uses organic medicinal plants in our products, we feel strongly that empowering farmers is a worthy cause. Also, as a woman-owned, minority owned business, we also feel a deep connection to CODESPA America because they are big advocates of empowerment through education. As part of their mission, they “foster the spirit of entrepreneurship, personal human dignity and sense of accomplishment that comes with economic independence and professional contribution to the community.”     

To learn more about CODESPA America or to further support their cause, feel free to visit their website at https://www.codespa-america.org/.  Thank you for helping us help others!