Organic, Dairy-Free Banana Oat Muffins...

One of the biggest challenges with going dairy free is not being able to eat sweets once in a while. I actually don't have much of a sweet tooth but on occasion I crave banana bread or pumpkin bread or a piece of dark chocolate. So, I decided to whip up a recipe that would satisfy my sweet tooth and my diet, while of course keeping healthy clear skin. I actually enjoyed these much more than the dairy versions. They tasted lighter and less greasy, and they are perfect for the start of fall.

You can substitute anything here for a different ingredient that you prefer or feel free to use chopped nuts or raisins...etc.

Makes: 12 muffins
Cook time: 25 mins
Prep: 15 mins

Ingredients:

•  1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour

•  1/2 cup organic raw sugar

•  1/2 cup organic quick oats

•  1 t. baking powder

•  1 t. baking soda

•  1/2 t. salt

•  1 t. pumpkin pie spice

•  1 t. cinnamon

•  3 bananas (preferably ripened or over-ripened) 

•  1 organic grass fed egg

•  1/3 cup coconut oil

•  1/3 cup honey

•  1/8 cup organic pure maple syrup

•  1/4 cup unsweetened vanilla almond milk

•  1 t. lemon juice

•  2 t. vanilla extract

sliced almonds for garnish (optional) 

Preparation:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 F, line muffin tin with paper liners.
2. In a large mixing bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, oats, pumpkin pie spice and cinnamon and salt. Set aside. In another mixing bowl, combine the mashed bananas, egg, coconut oil, almond milk, and honey, syrup, vanilla and lemon juice until well mixed. Add the wet ingredients to the dry, mixing until just combined.
3. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, allow to cool on a rack before serving.

DIY Organic, All Natural Toner...

Most people underestimate the importance of a toner in your daily skin care routine, that is, if you even have a routine (which I hope you do!). There are a lot of benefits to a toner that can really change and improve your skin when used regularly. Washing your skin repeatedly can strip it from it's natural oils, causing overproduction of oil from dryness, and can leave residue behind that can actually aid in clogging your pores. Toner rebalances the skin to it's natural PH. The skin should be slightly acidic, moist and supple. I prefer to use my own version of toner so I know there are no superficial additives that are not working to benefit my skin in any way. All you need are three ingredients you most likely have lying around the house, if not, it is a cheap fix. Here is a list of what you will need.

• Organic*** Green Tea (must be organic, super important) with no additives of fruit or anything else. Just plain organic green tea.
• Witch Hazel
• Organic*** Apple Cider Vinegar (must be organic, preferably braggs, should have pieces floating in it which is completely normal and even more beneficial) 
• Tea Tree Oil (optional)
• Vitamin e Oil (optional) 

To make the toner you will need equal parts, organic green tea, organic apple cider vinegar and Witch Hazel. Mix together in a small jar. I used a 1/3 of each. Then I added 6 drops of Tea Tree oil and I broke open two vitamin e capsules and squeezed the oil into the bottle. Shake vigorously so all the oils mix in well. Squeeze on a cotton ball and apply to face or if you used a spray bottle you can spray it onto the face as well. I like to refrigerate mine because I think it is refreshing but you don't need to refrigerate, it will not go bad. I definitely recommend adding some oil, whether it is vitamin e oil or manuka oil, grapeseed, coconut or evening primrose oil. The apple cider vinegar is very strong and the oil is a nice balance. You can also use rose water as an addition. 

Now that you have made your toner, you may be thinking: why those ingredients?Well, here is an overview of the benefits of each ingredient and why they are so useful in treating acne.

Organic Green Tea // I may be biased because I adore green tea. I think it is the cure all for almost everything. It is packed with antioxidants, anti-aging and great for acne, since it provides anti-inflammatory benefits. It even protects the skin to some degree from UV rays. 

Organic Apple Cider Vinegar // Ahhh another ingredient I swear by. ACV is an amazing product, not only to ingest but used topically. It is antibacterial, helps to fade acne scars, and helps to cut down on excess oil. Very beneficial to anyone suffering from acne.

Witch Hazel // Is a very soothing ingredient, it's a strong anti-oxidant and astringent. It helps remove dirt and oil and balance the oil production of our skin. I personally hate the way it smells so the green tea helps mask that :)

Tea Tree Oil // Is an antiseptic, and anti-fungal. It is a great product to use for acne but should never be used at its full strength it can cause the condition to worsen by extremely irritating the skin and infection.  A few drops is plenty for this powerful oil. 

Vitamin e Oil // Vitamin e oil has been know to provide many benefits to the skin. It greatly helps diminish acne scars, and stretch marks (throughout the body), it has great antioxidant properties and helps fight against sun damage, aging and free radicals.