Cheers to Gut Health and Clear Skin!

Following a vegan, gluten-free diet can be challenging, especially if you're trying to get enough protein to meet your nutritional needs. However, it's not impossible! Here's a sample meal plan that's high in protein, gluten-free, and vegan-friendly for clear, glowing skin.

Breakfast

• Protein smoothie: Blend together 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 scoop of vegan protein powder, 1/2 cup of frozen berries, and 1 tablespoon of chia seeds.

• Gluten-free vegan pancakes: Mix together 1 cup of gluten-free flour, 1 tablespoon of ground flaxseed, 1/2 teaspoon of baking powder, 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda, 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon, 1 mashed banana, and 1 cup of almond milk. Cook on a non-stick skillet until golden brown on both sides.

Snack

• Roasted chickpeas: Toss 1 can of chickpeas with 1 tablespoon of olive oil, 1 teaspoon of paprika, and 1/2 teaspoon of cumin. Roast in the oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, or until golden brown and crispy.

Lunch

• Quinoa salad: Cook 1 cup of quinoa according to package instructions. Mix with 1/2 cup of cooked black beans, 1 diced red bell pepper, 1 diced cucumber, 1/4 cup of chopped cilantro, and 1/4 cup of diced red onion. Dress with a mixture of 2 tablespoons of olive oil, 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar, and 1 tablespoon of Dijon mustard.

• Gluten-free crackers with hummus: Choose a brand of gluten-free crackers that uses healthy whole grains like quinoa, brown rice, or millet. Serve with your favourite flavour of hummus.

Snack

• Protein bar: Look for a vegan protein bar that's gluten-free and made with wholesome ingredients like nuts, seeds, and dried fruit.

Dinner

• Lentil soup: Sauté 1 diced onion and 2 minced garlic cloves in 1 tablespoon of olive oil until softened. Add 1 cup of dried lentils, 4 cups of vegetable broth, 1 diced carrot, 1 diced celery stalk, 1 teaspoon of cumin, and 1 teaspoon of smoked paprika. Bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 30-40 minutes, or until lentils are tender.

• Roasted vegetables: Toss your favourite vegetables (such as sweet potatoes, broccoli, and bell peppers) with 1 tablespoon of olive oil and your favourite seasonings (such as garlic powder, salt, and black pepper). Roast in the oven at 400°F for 20-25 minutes, or until tender and caramelized.

Dessert

• Chia pudding: Mix together 1/4 cup of chia seeds, 1 cup of unsweetened almond milk, 1 tablespoon of maple syrup, and 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract. Let sit in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or until thickened. Top with your Favourite fresh fruit or nuts.

Remember, here at Glow Beauty Bar we offer our 12 week clear skin bootcamp program that provides 100's of recipes and walks you through a series of gut and skin health info to help balance your lifestyle! Our skin is an organ that absorbs the nutrients we put in our body, if we aren't digesting the right foods it's show on the most visible organ...our skin! These are samples meal plans, and you can customize it to fit your own preferences and needs. With a little creativity and planning, you can enjoy a high protein, gluten-free, vegan diet that's both delicious and nutritious!

xo,

GLOW Beauty Bar

Chilly Season is Here! What does that mean for your skincare?

Fall is here and Winter is fast approaching. So what does that mean for your skin?

Colder weather tends to leave the skin barrier feeling dry, cracked and dehydrated! (Don't forget dry and dehydrated are different but feel similar!) That can lead to not only discomfort, dull looking skin, but also can compromise your barrier. So how do we solve this issue?

When winter approaches we swap out our summer shorts for warm leggings and fuzzy sweaters, it’s the same concept as skincare. Summer skincare tends to be more lightweight and gel based for when those sweaty days.

Well… for winter, we want to make sure that: - our products are more rich in texture to protect our barrier from the cold dry air

- We are layering serums from water based to oil based or thinnest to thickest

- We are still wearing SPF

- Exfoliating regularly for better product penetration and brighter skin

- and incorporating oils as the last step to lock in products and prevent water from evaporating from our skin.

This will protect the skins barrier, preventing irritated, dehydrated, dry skin leaving you hydrated, plumped, calm, and smooth all winter long.

Here’s a list of some of our favourite winter moisturizers:

• PCA oat mask (doubles as moisturizer and overnight mask)

• Skinbetter Trio

• Sorella Apothecary The balm

• Miracle 10 Rich Moisture

• And of course, Glowtox Dry Balancing Oil on top!

** These products can also be used all year round if you're dry or like something heavier at night**

Pop in so we can help you find the right products for “chilly” season!

Xo,

GLOW Beauty Bar

Benefits of Watermelon-Based Products on Your Skin!

Watermelon products provide many benefits on your skin that are sure to leave you feeling one in a melon!

Adding watermelon-based skincare products to your skincare routine will leave your skin supple, smooth and hydrated. Since these products are rich in malic acid, it is able to remove dead skin cells while naturally drawing in moisture for a steady supply of hydration! Watermelon is also rich in vitamins, antioxidants and anti-aging agents, allowing the reduction of redness and inflammation and delaying your skin’s aging process.

Watermelon is also perfect in treatments to brighten the appearance of your skin which is why we use watermelon-based products within our treatments at GLOW! The PCA Skin Hydrating Toner contains watermelon and it improves moisture retention, leaving your skin silky smooth, making it a must in our treatment rooms!

At GLOW, you can purchase a variety of skincare products, even watermelon-based skincare. The Sorella Apothecary Watermelon Mint Hydrating Mist leaves the skin feeling tight and revitalized as it gently removes dead skin cells and excess impurities!

And the PCA Skin Hydrating Toner is great for all skin types and can be added to both your morning and evening skincare routines!

Add these watermelon-based products to your skincare routine to achieve that GLOWing, healthy looking skin!

XO,

GLOW Beauty Bar