Honey, I Ate the Banana (Mask)

You could, technically, eat it. I wouldn't...but you do you, girl. 

For a hydrating face mask in just a few minutes, I used Banana (Vitamins C & E and Potassium), Honey (naturally anti-inflammatory and antibacterial), and Olive oil (penetrates into your skin = super-moisturizing, and full of antioxidants). I'm all about everything being simple, natural, and quick! 

Ingredients

1/4 banana

1 tsp Honey

1/2 tsp Olive Oil

Directions

Mash all three together until very smooth. 

Spread on your face and neck. Since it's a little slimy you may want to go over it one more time as it dries, and pack it on with the back of a fork. 

Leave for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water! If you're hairy (like moi), maybe use a washcloth to get it out of your hairline and eyebrows. :)  

To see it made, check out my Instastories. It'll be up on my profile for the next week. 

Did you try it? Let me know how it turned out! 

Netflix and *Chillah*

Being a vegetarian is tough when, to be fully satisfied, you really only want to eat caloric pasta and fried rice. In an effort to look after myself more (i.e: lose a couple of el-bees), I’m always searching for ways to up my protein intake, and include as many vegetables as possible. 

Bonus points to this Chillah (Indian Pancake) for a making a quick and nutritious dinner...or breakfast...or lunch. The best thing is, it’s a flexible recipe - perfect for the *less talented chefs* (me) among us. If you add too much water, add some more flour, and vice versa! Traditionally it is cooked in rather a lot of oil, but I use just enough to make it non-depressing, and get it a little crispy around the edges, with a soft, chewy interior. 

TIP: If you’re using vegetables that give off a lot of moisture (spinach, mushrooms, peppers) try sautéing them before adding to the batter, so your Chillah doesn’t steam in the pan. 

ERMAGERRD I ALMOST FORGOT: If you’re nursing, you can make these Chillahs with oat-flour instead of chickpea flour, to boost milk production! If you’re not nursing, pair with a frosty cold IPA and enjoy your perky bosom.  Either way, yay boobs? 

Ingredients

1 cup of chickpea flour

1/2 cup of warm water

Finely chopped onions, tomatoes, cilantro, chilli

1 clove of finely chopped garlic

1/4 tsp of grated ginger

1/2 tsp of cumin seeds

1/4 tsp of turmeric powder

Salt to taste

1-2 tbsps of Coconut Oil

Directions:

- Pour the flour into a mixing bowl and add water slowly, a few tablespoons at a time. Whisk together and keep adding water until you achieve a thin consistency. 

- Add your aromatics, veggies, and spices (TIP: toast the cumin seeds lightly in a dry pan before adding to the mixture, to really bring out the flavour). 

- Heat 1/2 tbsp of oil in a skillet, over medium-high heat. 

- Ladle/Pour in some batter, making sure to spread it out with the back of a spoon so it’s of even thickness all around. 

- Once the top of the Chillah looks like it’s drying, lift up with a spatula and add a little oil to the pan, before flipping the pancake to the other side to finish cooking. 

- After a minute or two your Chillah will be ready! 

- I grew up eating this fresh and hot, dipped into cold ketchup, but it’s incredible dipped in cucumber yoghurt or my personal favourite, hot-sauce! 

Absurdly Simple Cucumber Yoghurt: So much so, it’s almost an affront to your intelligence. Add some Greek yoghurt to a bowl, grate a generous amount cucumber into it (skin and all), and mix. Insulting, I know, but also cooling and delicious. 

Did you make this? What vegetables did you add? HMU; I need to know!!! 

This is what happens when you over-zealously delete perfect images from your phone during your kid's school concert, in an effort to capture Do-Re-Me at its finest.

My favourite moisturizer ATM: Missha Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Cream

Yes, it is a bit of a mouthful, but like most K-Beauty products, the longer name signifies all the good stuff it does...or is supposed to do. 

I've been using this moisturizer for about a year now, and I love it enough to share it with the world! It's light enough for the stiflingly hot summers here in NY, and paired with the ever-revolving arsenal in my skincare regimen, it also does a wonderful job in the cold winter! 

The Deets: 

- This cream is made up of a whopping 70% snail slime (er, "mucin" to be precise) but it's not gooey or slimy to the touch. It actually glides on super-easily and absorbs into the skin very well (although I wouldn't recommend putting makeup over it immediately; you'll need to give it a good 5 minutes or so to sink in.) 

Not kidding about that 70%!

- Why snails? Well, apparently snail slime contains tons of wonderful peptides, elastins, and the big buzz-word in skincare these days: Hyaluronic Acid. All these magical ingredients are thought to smooth out fine lines and brighten your complexion. I have lots of scarring on parts of my face, from a lifetime spent battling teenage acne. Part of why I love this product is because I feel it certainly has helped even out my skin tone, as well as brighten my complexion overall. 

- It has a rather strong cucumber scent (probably to mask the smell of the alcohol.) 

- Wait! Alcohol?! That's terrible for your skin! Well...yes and no. Although my parched skin and I tend to run away from products with alcohol in them, from what I can tell, it REALLY depends on the type of alcohol, the amount of it in the product (in comparison to the rest of the ingredients,) and what those ingredients are...and a whole host of other stuff that I can't explain because I'm no authority on this. I just know what feels great on my skin, and what doesn't make me break out! I assume with a product comprised mainly of snail goo, the alcohol probably just helps it dry a bit so that you're not left feeling sticky all day? 

- I use it in the day and in the evening as the final step in my skincare routine, but you can also apply a heavier moisturizer afterwards, if you need to, or a sleep pack. The sleep pack I use is from the same product line "Super Aqua Cell Renew Snail Sleeping Mask." As for a heavier moisturizer, I find that my skin gets extra dry during the changing of the seasons, or after a flight. I'm *about* to try a new nighttime one I'm really excited for, which is en route to me right now. Stay tuned; if I love it I'll certainly share it with you! 

- Yes, the picture is legit. I really DO buy these 3 at a time! If you're interested in trying this moisturizer, it can be found on the Missha website, at SokoGlam and even at Target! TIP: Check all the sites; I find that Missha US usually runs excellent deals, where they will throw in a bunch of other products to try once you hit a minimum $ amount, or even full-size products that complement what you're buying. 

Does the mention of snail slime ignite your curiosity, or repulse you? Have you tried this? Do you have an even better product to recommend?! Leave me a comment below and let me know your thoughts! 

*N.B. Like all the products I recommend in Posh Beauty, I don't receive any form of compensation from these brands or websites. This is truly what I use, and how I feel about the products I'm sharing with you! 

Weekend Edit: Let Them be warm! Early-winter coats for all stages

I don't know about where you are, but it is unseasonably warm in New York right now. We probably have another month before the puffers come out (but don't worry, I'll be picking the best 3 soon!) There are so many clothes that can accommodate a baby bump, but coats can be a little trickier, and a lot less stylish. Usually I love to mix high-end with high-street, but I make an exception for outerwear and shoes. So this weekend's edit is all about my top-three early-winter investment pieces for every trimester...and as with all good buys, they will be fabulous on you for years to come! 

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1st Trimester: CARVEN - Oversize blush coat, $1050 at Nordstrom

Carven is simply my favourite outerwear label these days, with their effortless and timeless cuts in soft and flattering colors. This coat is perfect to conceal your changing shape while still accentuating that soon-to-be-gone (sob!) waistline! And to be honest, I would wear this in my second trimester as well, adjusting the belt to fit above my bump! SO Betty Draper! Somebody hand me a martini and my pearls. 

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2nd Trimester: MAJE, GATITO Swing Coat w/ fur-edged hood, $1010 at Maje

A little more street-chic than the first coat, swing coats are an excellent silhouette choice for the second trimester, keeping it's shape no matter how large you are in these vital months.  

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Perfect to accomodate that growing baby bump and still look chic! 

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3rd Trimester: Stella McCartney, Draped Knitted Blanket Coat, $1065 (on sale) from Net-a-Porter

When you're in the final stages of pregnancy, it's so hard to find a coat that flatters and fits! That's why I love everything about this blanket coat. It's voluminous and warm, and drapes easily over a giant bump! I also just adore the taupe-grey coloring. 

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The best part about all of these is that they are all really versatile (my number one criteria for buying just about anything) and will look just as great when you're going through the post-preggo droop (womp, womp!) as they will when you're in full bloom! What do you think? 

Hey, Bright Eyes!

Last weekend I paid a visit to a friend and her new baby, and she commented on how remarkably fresh I looked (but sleep was sorely lacking the night before, and every night)! I instantly thought back to a new product I just bought and am loving, and my second thought was that I must share it with you! 

This little miracle jar is Becca's Under-Eye Brightening Corrector. It's creamy, moisturizing, and really easy to apply. The pearly shell-pink blends down to a really subtle light-reflecting shade, lifting sallow, tired skin tone and making it look a little more...alive. A small swipe is all you need on bare skin, before applying concealer, or even going makeup-free. You already know nude-eyeliner is my all-time must have for tired eyes - I'm so happy to have added this to my arsenal as well! 

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Also - extra points for being travel-friendly. I won't be on a plane without it! It's a mommy + travel essential! Becca is a relatively new cosmetics brand from Aussie, and I have been LOVING everything I've tried from them so far! Available online (I like Dermstore since they usually have some sort of deal going on), or at Sephora.

Do you have any tips for faking that bright-eyed glow when you just didn't sleep last night?   

Kale & basil pesto

Yum yum.

Friday night is all about decadent dinners for me. I want to eat something sinful without actually committing a lot of it.

Hence the perfect blend of health and heft: Kale&Basil Pesto with whole-wheat or brown-rice spaghetti. Not only is it delicious, but it  takes 30 seconds in my glorious Vitamix!

Ingredients: 

- 2 cups Kale (if the kale is particularly bitter, reduce this amount, or add more of the basil)

- 2 cups Basil

- 5 cloves of garlic (yes I like it garlicky!)

- ½ cup of Extra Virgin Olive Oil

- ¼ cup of Parmigiano Reggiano (optional)

- ¼ cup of toasted pine nuts (optional)

- Salt (to taste)

- ¼ tsp. freshly ground black pepper

- Squeeze of lemon (optional)

Directions:

Add the EVOO to the blender, then the Kale, Basil, Garlic, cheese, Salt, and Pepper.

Blend until smooth. You may have to push the leaves down once or twice but it really is super-easy!

Boil the spaghetti until it is al dente. Save a tablespoon of the starchy water.

Throw the spaghetti and starchy water into a bowl, top with a dollop of pesto, mix, serve, and garnish with pine nuts and some shaved Parmigiano Reggiano.

This is a playdate pleaser as it can be made allergy friendly! You don’t need to add the nuts or the cheese to the blender when making pesto. You can easily top the adult portions with them, and keep the kiddie portions nut and dairy free.

Storage:

The pesto will freeze very well, although it’s usually gone before I get a chance to store it. When I do, I like to spoon the pesto into ice-cube trays, and top with a light smear of olive oil to preserve the fresh green color, and then freeze. Store in an airtight container or a Ziploc bag. It defrosts very easily, in a pan, at room temperature, or a minute in the microwave!

Try it and let me know what you think!