My first job out of college was a corporate New York City office job like any other. Except instead of trading bonds or building models, my daily responsibilities included smelling blotter strips and refilling little bottles of moisturizer. When I applied to L’Oreal my senior year, I’m sure I went on and on about all the luxury products I used everyday. But the truth was that most of my make-up and toiletries came from the CVS down the block from my off-campus house.
Regardless, during my 2-year stint, which included a monthly $100 spending stipend at the company store, I quickly became a product junkie. In the early days, I tried a variety of items, never buying the same things each month. But as time went on, I developed very expensive taste, and my beauty regimen evolved to only include the best of the best.
I knew my tenure at the company would not be too long, so I tried my best to conserve and stockpile my favorite products. When I moved out of my last apartment, I think at least two boxes contained bottles of shampoo and conditioner. But try as I might to use only a smidge of this and that, there dawned a very dark day last fall when I was faced with the reality of having to buy my own face wash.
Now that I don’t have a job that can support these expensive habits, I’ve tried to find natural ways to beautify myself. Once you understand what vitamins have certain beauty efficacies, and what foods contain them, it’s pretty easy to create your own regimen to eat yourself pretty, from the inside out.
One of the best ingredients for supporting clear skin is the almighty carrot. In general, orange fruits and vegetables are full of blemish-fighting vitamin A, which helps encourage cell-turnover and prevents the buildup of dead, pore-clogging cells. Carrots also contain antioxidents which prevent free radical damage of skin cells.
So, in hopes of having my tube of Kiehl’s blemish cream last forever, I give you a Moroccan carrot recipe for clear skin, and very delicious eating.
For more info on break-out fighting foods, check out this awesome article on The Beauty Bean here.
Eat up!
Xo
Phoebe
Spicy Carrots for Clear Skin
Ingredients
Instructions
- In a large non-still skillet or wok, warm the oil over high heat. Add the carrots and saute until they’ve released their moisture and have begun to brown, about 8 minutes.
- Add the cumin, paprika, turmeric, and salt. Continue to saute until the spices are very fragrant and have almost formed a paste on the carrots. Stir in the harissa, honey, and lemon juice, using the liquid to scrape up any brown bits and spices that have clung to the bottom of the pan.
- Remove the pan from the heat and stir in the cilantro, reserving a tablespoon for garnish. Transfer to a serving plate, sprinkle with the remaining cilantro, and enjoy.
If you make this, tag @phoebelapine and #feedmephoebe – I’d love to see it!
Even if you don’t add any heat at all (I’m chili-challenged) this recipe is beyond delicious.
My aunt used to always tell me to eat my carrots because it would make my hair curly. As a kid who hated curly hair, I never listened. Had she told me those carrots would help clear my acne covered forehead, I probably would have taken her advice!
Another vegetable that is great for skin is the plantain. I juice it in my juicer and put it on sunburned skin. It works really well, better than aloe in my opinion.
I’m new to your blog Phoebe, but I absolutely love it here. I’ll be staying a while 🙂
Thank you so much Kris!! Very interesting about the plantain. I haven’t cooked with them much. Will have to give them a try for the next “eat yourself pretty” piece!
Hope you’ll come back for seconds!
xo
Well, even if this weren’t a helpful aid for clear skin, this looks amazing! While I eat healthy and “clean,” it’s always a challenge finding flavorful yet healthy ways to serve veggies to my family. This looks like a clear winner! Pardon the pun… 😉
hehe. thanks christine! yes, i find carrots a great gateway veggie for kids – at least for the families I cook for each week, as I don’t have any of my own to try them on just yet! If they’re sensitive to spice, you might want to tone down or omit the harissa. Let me know how it turns out! xo
I haven’t tried the recipe yet, but it looks amazing! I had a REALLY bad diet for years, and I always struggled with acne. I never had clear skin, and I would have to put on a ton of makeup to hide it. I tried many treatments including drugstore products and proactive, yet nothing worked. I never considered changing my diet would have such dramatic results. A few weeks ago, I finally said enough is enough and decided to slowly add healthy foods in my diet (which can be expensive, considering I’m a college student). I started eating about two or more cups of baby carrots a day near the middle of January without even thinking that it would help my skin, then I noticed a dramatic change in my skin. I didn’t have a SINGLE breakout, and it’s been years since I’ve had the privilege of saying so. Since I’m a carrot-oholic, I will definitely have to try this recipe!
Lucy, thank you so much for sharing your skincare struggles! I hope these carrots help in a small way. Let me know what you think of the recipe! xo