Beauty From the Inside Out: The 5 Best Protein Packed Recipes for Skin and Hair

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Protein! You hear about it all the time. You want shiny, healthy hair? Protein. You want long, strengthened nails? Protein. You want glowing skin? Say it with me: protein. Protein is essential for that youthful, glowing look we all covet.

You see all these DIY beauty recipes floating around and they usually include some form of protein. But why protein? Because it's the stuff we're made from, people! Skin, hair, nails, all of it. I hate to admit it, because I hated it so much, but anatomy class did teach me at least one thing. So it's no surprise to see it listed as one of the ingredients in these recipes. However, not all of these recipes work just because you threw in a protein. So how do you know which ones do? And how do you get the most benefits from your protein?

From the inside out, of course! Yes, slapping that stuff on externally will get you some results. But think about it, we need to start at the source; from the inside. Too many people forget that it's not just what we put on our bodies. Let's get that protein inside and outside! From masks to smoothies, here are some ways you can maximize your protein results and get that healthy, glowing look.

Hair

Egg and Yogurt Mask: 

Eggs and yogurt are both rich in protein. This helps strengthen your hair. The lactic acid in yogurt also strips away dirt without stripping your natural oils. If you have normal hair, you want to use whole egg to condition. If you have dry hair, use just yolks. If you have oily hair, just the whites. See? Eggs can be tailor made for everyone! 

Ingredients:
1 egg 

6 tablespoons of plain yogurt. 

Directions:

Coat hair with mixture, cover with shower cap, leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water and then wash hair as usual. Always rinse the egg mask out with cool water and be sure to rinse thoroughly before your wash.

Avocado, Egg, Coconut Oil: 

Avocado is great for your hair because it is rich in fatty acids. This makes it extremely moisturizing for your hair. The eggs? There's your protein! Mixing the two together gives you strong, shiny, moisturized locks. And just like the previous mask, if you have normal hair, you want to use whole egg. If you have dry hair, use just yolks. If you have oily hair, just the whites.

Ingredients:
2 eggs

2 teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil

1 half of a ripe avocado. 

Directions:

Mash avocado thoroughly, then mix in eggs. You don't need to beat them, just mix evenly with the avocado. Coat hair from root to tip, then cover with a shower cap and leave to sit for 20 minutes. Rinse with cool water and then wash as usual. Voila!

Coconut Milk, Avocado, Olive Oil Hair Mask:
Coconut milk is rich in, you guessed it, protein! It is also very high in fats which makes it great for moisturizing and strengthening. This means that this mask will prevent your hair from shedding and breaking and it is also great for scalp issues like dandruff.

Ingredients:
1 ripe avocado mashed

1/2 cup canned coconut milk

2 tablespoons of Extra Virgin olive oil

Directions:

Mix together all ingredients. Then coat your hair and scalp completely, cover with shower cap, and leave on for 20 minutes. Wash out thoroughly to make sure no oil is left behind and follow with conditioner.

Skin

Avocado Face Mask
Avocado in itself is great for skin. Avocado contains vitamins and protein to give your skin maximum moisture so it's especially good for dry winter months. And if you're familiar with the properties of an egg, as mentioned above, you know that is double the protein goodness! The lemon juice acts like an astringent so this mask is double duty.

Ingredients: 

1 Avocado

1 Egg White

1 Tsp Lemon Juice

Directions:

Peel and mash your avocado until smooth. Mix together your avocado, eggs, and lemon juice until blended. Apply to face and let sit for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. Voila! Soft skin!

Oatmeal Face Mask
Like avocado, oatmeal is really great for your skin. Ever heard of an oatmeal bath? This one ingredient can sure acne, eczema, and dry skin. Again, great for the brutal winter months. The oatmeal will gently exfoliate to get rid of all that gunky build-up and give you a glowing complexion. And the yogurt in this mask? Yep, there's the protein to feed the skin!

Ingredients: 

1/3 cup instant oatmeal

1/2 cup hot water

1 tbsp honey

1-2 tbsp plain yogurt

Directions: 

Add water to oatmeal and stir. Mix honey, yogurt and softened oatmeal in a blender. If you don't have a blender, you can crunch up your oatmeal prior to mixing with water, and then just mix the other ingredients by hand. Then cover your entire face with mixture, rubbing in gentle circles to help maximize exfoliation then let sit for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with water.

Everything in Between

Of now you've taken care of the outside, how do we get that protein inside? Or maybe slapping all this food on your hair and face just doesn't appeal to you at all? All is not lost! Aloha protein powders are a great way to introduce an added boost of protein. Maybe protein laden foods aren't your favorite and fitting added protein into your diet is hard for you. Aloha protein powders come in tons of yummy flavors and can be added into just about anything.  Here are a few of my favorite yummy protein packed recipes...

Sweet Potato Apple Bake Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 cup fingerling yams

1 empire apple - chopped

1/4 cup pecans

2 dates

1/4 tsp allspice

1 tsp baobab powder

1 cup water

1 cup ice

1 packet ALOHA Daily Good Greens

Directions:

Add ingredients to blender and shake it up! Done!

Spiced Chocolate Chai Tea Latte

Ingredients:

Chai tea leaves

One packet ALOHA Daily Good Chocolate

Milk of choice (We used unsweetened almond milk)

Cinnamon and cardamom, optional

Directions:

Brew the chai tea leaves for four to five minutes. Heat the milk until steaming, then add it and the remaining ingredients, mixing thoroughly. Top with cinnamon and cardamom, if using.

Mocha Madness

(Serves Two)

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1/2 cup raw spinach

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tbsp cocoa powder

1 1/2 cups milk of choice (We used unsweetened almond milk)

1 shot espresso or 1/4 cup strong brewed coffee

1 packet ALOHA Premium Protein Chocolate

1 packet ALOHA Daily Good Chocolate

Directions:

Add ingredients to blender and shake it up!

Aloha products are made with whole foods naturally rich in nutrients. They are made with superfood ingredients with no “natural” or artificial flavors, artificial sweeteners, or fillers. Ever. Aloha makes it super easy to sneak that protein boost into any one of your favorite smoothies and meals without any added gunk or yucky taste.

You can start your Aloha journey to a healthier, glowing you by claiming a free 14 day trial at Aloha* and easily get your monthly pack with a subscription you can tailor to your needs. Protein made easy!

*while supplies last

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