Battling Dry Skin

      Fall is in full swing now and winter is almost here, and with it dry and itchy skin.  Combating dry skin is fairly easy; all you need are a few tips and a good lotion.

     First thing is to make sure you’re drinking plenty of water.  Water helps hydrate your skin; drinking water is good no matter what season it is.

     Limit the hot water in the shower.  I know it feels really good, but it strips your skin and hair of its natural oil, leaving it dry.  It can also be a good idea to get a moisturizing soap for your body.  I just use Ivory soap since it’s mostly natural. 

      An obvious fix to dry skin is to apply lotion throughout the day.  I put lotion on my hands all through the day to keep them soft.  Apply lotion on your hands before you go to bed, that way it has a chance to sink in while you sleep and it won’t get washed off.   It’s also a good idea to apply lotion after you shower.  Lotion will help replace the oil that has been stripped from your skin.  I apply lotion all over my body right after I’ve taken a shower and my skin is still damp.  That way the lotion locks the moisture into your skin.   If you need extra moisture, after you take a shower and dry off, spray yourself with a spray bottle of baby or body oil.  

     If you deal with dry skin on your face, there are lots of great moisturizing masks and scrubs you can make.  Honey is great for moisturizing your face and it gives you a silky complexion.  Make sure you apply face lotion every morning and night after you wash your face.  I also put face lotion on after I shower since my face is usually dry.  Michelle Phan made a great video showing how to make a sugar scrub.

     For your lips, buy a good lip balm.  Eos Sphere Lip Balm is my favorite and Chapstick also has some good ones.  Using petroleum jelly instead of a lip balm is also very moisturizing and it’s less expensive.  If your lips are dry, licking them makes them worse.  If you have dry lips, it could also mean you’re thirsty and you need to drink water.  Apply lip balm throughout the day and especially at night so it can sink in.

     Use your richest and most expensive moisturizer for your hands and feet; they take the most abuse and need lots of moisture.   If your feet are super dry and crack during the winter, rub them with a pumice stone after taking a shower, and then follow with lotion or a special formulated foot cream.  Putting socks on after will help lock in the moisture. 

Some good lotions:

Neutrogena Norwegian Formula

Baby lotion (any brand)

Jergens

Bath & Body Works

Eos

     This is my last post before Christmas, so Merry Christmas everyone! 

Becca xxoo

Beauty Tool Box

Let’s face it. We are girls. We use things to enhance our beauty and to keep ourselves healthy and looking our best, and its okay! God told us to take care of our body and that is exactly what we are doing, taking care of the temple of God.




Every girl needs to have a few everyday things in her Beauty Tool Box though, so I have compiled a list of ‘tools’ that will help you look and feel your very best.

1) A good face wash~ By washing your face, you are removing oil, dirt and other nasty things that get on your face and into your pores as the day goes on. I have used many different face washes throughout my life and I’ve come to love two.



I use Neutrogena Grapefruit wash once every three days on my face to exfoliate it. When you exfoliate your skin, you are removing all the dead from your face, leaving it fresh and clean with the new skin. For everyday purposes, I use SeaBreeze. SeaBreeze gets deep into your pores and leaves it all on the cotton ball. Let’s just say, I KNOW this stuff works because I use two cotton balls a night with this stuff.



2) Sunscreen~ I know I’m from Florida and sunscreen is a given here, but this doesn’t mean that anyone who doesn’t live in Florida should not wear sunscreen. Sunscreen prevents wrinkles! (Got your attention now, huh?) Apply a small amount of sunscreen to your face before you apply your foundation or head out for the day. Your face is always exposed to the sun, even on cloudy days.



3) Deep Conditioner~ Curling, straightening, and blow drying, Oh my! Our hair gets hit with heat all the time. It’s good to use a deep conditioner on your hair every three to four days. A good, cheap deep conditioner is Aussie’s Three Minute Miracle. Apply it to the ends of your hair (What you pull up into a ponytail), leave in for three minutes and rinse out. It leaves your hair so soft and smelling like coconut!



4) Skin Moisturizer~ Our skin lacks moisture. To give it more, we are to apply lotion to it once we get out of the bath or shower and then later sometime that day, especially on your knees and elbows (ever notice how dry they can get?). Use a lighter lotion in the summer time and a deeper one in the winter. During the winter, our skin is prone to dryness, so be extra generous on the moisturizer then.



5) Tweezers~ Take a look at your eyebrows. Do they need plucking? Are a few hairs out of place? Look at your eyebrows once and day and make sure they are nice and well-groomed. If you wait a long time, then you have a mess of a brow and you have to take time to pluck them, but if you check once a day, you won’t have that problem!



Do NOT buy cheap tweezers! They do not work as well and you will be more prone to pinching your skin than you would with a nice pair. Bite the bullet, buy the good ones.



6) Loofah~ I love loofahs! That cute little puff ball that always smells like your body wash. Loofahs help exfoliate your skin and they suds up your body wash better than a wash cloth so you end up having to use less! Money saver!



7) Chap Stick~ Our lips get dry all the time. The more we lick our lips, the faster they dry and crack. Keep your Chap Stick on your person at all times. Whenever you find yourself licking your lips, take out you Chap Stick and apply. If you can find some that have SPF in it, buy it! Remember, our face is always exposed to the sun. For a super hydrating boost on your lips, apply generously before you go to bed. You’ll wake up with soft lips.



8) Whitening chewing gum~ A lot of people chew gum with sugar in it and that is not good for your teeth and it’s extra calories you consume on something you’re not even eating. Why waste it? Buy a sugar-free whitening gum and you’ll be cutting calories, whitening your teeth and having fresh breath all at the same time! I like Orbit White. It’s fresh, clean and the commercials make me laugh :D



Alright ladies, I’ve gone over my everyday Beauty Tool Box. What’s in yours?   ~ Haylie

Plain Yogurt as a Beauty Remedy

Plain yogurt is surprisingly a very effective beauty remedy.

I'm constantly looking for ways to keep my hair and skin moisturized during cold and dry winters. Plain yogurt has been VERY helpful! Not to mention it's fairly inexpensive and all natural!

Here's what I do:

• Buy some plain yogurt and designate that container just for a hair/skin remedy and not eating (unless you plan on putting some of it in a separate container).

• Before taking a shower, take some plain yogurt and rub in on the ends of your hair. It might be a little gross but it's worth it haha!

• Wrap your hair in a towel and find something to do for 30 minutes.

• Take a shower and wash your hair as usual.

I did this for about a week and noticed a big difference! The ends of my hair are now nice and moisturized! Now I use the plain yogurt every other day.

I use plain yogurt on my face as well. While the yogurt is in my hair, I also put some all over my face and then wash it off in the shower. It makes my skin brighter, firmer, and feels cold and refreshing! Obviously I look quite silly with yogurt in my hair and on my face, but hey, it works really well! lol:)

~Grace

Photo via Pinterest.

Keeping Hair and Skin Healthy during the Winter

Since the long, hazy days of summer with sun-kissed glows and wavy tousled beach hair are behind us, it's time for an updated routine to keep our skin and hair moisturized and healthy during the winter months!

Just because the brisk air sucks the moisture and summer glow from your skin, doesn't mean you can't still achieve healthy radiant skin.

Skin:

1. For skin to look healthy and moisturized, you must exfoliate it! Removing dead skin cells helps your skin appear vibrant and healthy. I make my own exfoliating scrub (from thebeautydepartment.com.)

• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 Tablespoons of olive oil
• A few drops of water

Mix all these ingredients together and keep them in a container. I use this in the shower about twice a week. It's amazing! The sugar exfoliates and the olive oil moisturizes and makes my skin glow!

2. After exfoliating your skin, follow with a good moisturizer. I use True Elements Daily Perfecting Cream. It's quite pricey, but any moisturizer that works and doesn't irritate your skin will work:) Moisturizer is important if you're going to wear makeup because it makes it apply smoother.

3. Makeup is the next part! If you don't wear makeup, that's perfectly fine. My face doesn't tan like the my arms and legs do, so I like to brush on a bit of bronzer on my face to make my skin glow and look healthier. Make sure it looks natural though! The you-look-like-you-have-a-Barbie-spray-tan-look is not attractive:) I use Bare Minerals bronzer but whatever you find works for you is fine!:)

Hair:

1. Get your hair trimmed! I'm trying to grow my hair out so I was desperately holding onto my dry, split ends, trying to make every inch count. Well it doesn't look good anyway! Get your dry split ends cut off, healthy hair looks much better!:)

2. Once your hair is trimmed, moisturize it! I put coconut oil in my hair every other day (you may not need is so often though.)

• First, put the container of coconut oil in a sink full of hot water to bring the solid oil to liquid form. Then put it in your hands and rub it on the ends of your hair (not the scalp, it makes your hair too oily!)
• Once your hair has soked up a generous amount of coconut oil, wrap your hair in a towel and go find something to do for 1/2 hour.
• Then take a shower and wash the coconut oil out. Make sure you wash it out all the way, or your hair will appear oily.
• Also, make sure you use a good conditioner and leave-in conditioner (it locks in moisture!). After a couple weeks of using the coconut oil, I noticed my hair was much softer and stronger!

Have a great day and Merry Christmas!

~Grace

5 Acne Remedies!

Over the years I've suffered from mild acne...which I happen to hate! Who doesn't?
I know there have already been a couple posts on acne remedies, but I would like to share the ones that have worked for me!:)
These are all natural, home remedies that can be made with products you probably already have around the house. So, they are healthier for you and if they don't work, you haven't wasted a ridiculous amount of money.

1. Lemon Juice
Simply squeeze the juice of the lemon and keep in a container in the refrigerator. I usually apply it all over my face with a tissue (or cotton ball) each night. It may sting a little, but the results are worth it. I've been doing this for about a week and my blotchy spots and acne scars are definitely fading away. My skin tone has evened out and I have had very few new breakouts. I would suggest only putting this on at night because it makes your skin sensitive to the sun and too much lemon juice is dehydrating to your skin.2. Water!
Drinking enough water definitely improves your skin! I started drinking more water (at least eight glasses of 8oz water per day) and I have noticed an improvement in my skin!

3. Don't Touch!
I've always read that it's unhealthy to touch your face but I never believed it was so true! Touching your face spreads bacteria, creating more blemishes. When I am diligent in not touching my face, there is an obvious improvement in my skin!

4. Pore Strips
They clean your pores, removing black heads and white heads. I use pore strips about once or twice a week and then apply an acne medication right afterwords because my pores are clean and the medication will be more effective (I use either toner or lemon juice). Over the course of a couple weeks, your pores will also appear smaller!

5. Honey Mask
Apply this to an area that's scarred from past acne, or currently breaking out. Mix equal amounts (depending on how much you need) of honey, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Honey is hydrating and soothing and cinnamon and nutmeg heal acne and smooth out skin. Apple once or twice and week and leave on for about 15 minutes.I hope these work for you! Have a great day!

-Grace

Summer Makeup

I don't know about you, but I hate wearing makeup in the summer. Haha really, it just melts off my face and makes me feel like a sweaty mess.

I prefer the natural, healthy, all-natural, sun kissed glow! :) But like most people, my skin isn't perfect. I'm not one of those girls that wears 3 inches of makeup, but I do feel a little uncomfortable if I'm not concealing problem areas.

So here's what my summer makeup routine usually is. First of all I would highly encourage you do take a break from (or most of) your makeup for the summer. My skin feels so much better when it can breath! And the sun (not hours in the sun and getting burned, but a healthy amount of time while wearing sun lotion) evens out my skin tone and gives it a healthy glow, also reduces blemishes!

So anyway, here's what I wear:

Devita Solar Protective Moisturizer SPF 30
This stuff is great. It doesn't really feel or smell like sunscreen so I usually wear it just as a face lotion even if I'm not going outside. It's great if you have acne prone or sensitive skin!

Neutrogena Skin-Clearing Blemish Concealer
Instead of covering my whole face with foundation, I just conceal on problem areas.

Then put on your favorite mascara and chap-stick or lip gloss. You're set to go! Yes, that's it! (Though sometimes I wear eyeshadow and/or blush to church...) Keep your look simple and you'll feel naturally gorgeous and summery!

Have acne?
-Wash your face twice a day.
-DON'T TOUCH IT! This seriously works! Touching your face just spreads bacteria!
Try this facial mask (it feels amazing!)
-One spoonful of coco powder
-One spoonful of honey
-One spoonful of plain yogurt
Mix it all together, apply to face, and wash off in 15-20 minutes. It feels so refreshing!

I use to be really insecure about my skin. But I hated wearing makeup in the summer because it just felt gross and washed off in the pool anyway. I learned that my skin isn't perfect, but that's ok! Really it is!Enjoy your summer and your natural, God-given beauty!

~Grace <3

Tips for a Clear Face

I, like many teens and young adults, have been cursed with what we call: acne. The mark of adolescence. But how do you unmark yourself from this plague? I’ll share a couple secrets that work for me.


1. Drink plenty of water. This will flush toxins and impurities out of your body. If you only drink soft drinks, the toxins will just come out of your pores, resulting in blemishes and those dreadful pimples. It also moisturizes your skin (along with using a moisturizing lotion daily) and the more moisturized your skin is, the less your skin tries to produce excess oil, which is the cause of acne.

2. Tea Tree Oil works miracles! Just put a drop or two on a cotton round or a Q-tip and use as a spot treatment when you have a breakout. Make sure you moisturize a few minutes afterward though, because it tends to dry out your skin.

3. Lemon Juice not only fights acne but it can also fade acne scars. Apply it to blemished areas. The acid in the lemons will minimize pimples and blackheads. You may want to do this before you go to bed and wash it off in the morning, because if the lemon juice is exposed to sunlight, it could make the scars darker instead of lighter.

4. Refrain from popping them. This might spread the infection, and even if it doesn’t, it may result in scarring. But what do you do to get rid of those big, ugly, annoying ones that just NEED to be popped? First, exfoliate the area, then hold a wet washcloth as hot as you can stand over the pimple to draw the puss to the surface. Then wrap your fingers with a tissue to avoid spreading bacteria from your hands and especially from under your fingernails. Pull the skin around the area taut and gently push it inward INSTEAD of squeezing at the pimple.

5. Change your pillowcase at least every other week, using each side for about a week. Dirt and oil from your face collect on the pillowcase and gather in your pores and clog them while you’re sleeping at night (sounds like a horror movie plot =D).

6. Wash your face before you go to bed. Even if you wash it in the morning (and you should), dirt gets in your pores throughout the day and pollutes your pillow even more if it’s not washed off. You’d have to end up changing your pillowcase every day because your face gets so dirty.

7. Switch products every so often, like when the one you're using stops working. A lot of times, when the weather changes, your skin may get more dry or more oily and cause sudden breakouts. Switch treatments to fit your current skin type. However, don't mix different brands of cleansers and toners and lotions. Stick with one brand at a time.

8. Acne treatment drying out your skin? Try washing your face in the morning with the acne treatment, then using a regular oil-free cleanser at night, or vise-versa, instead of using the acne treatment twice a day. Make sure to always be using a toner and lotion to regulate your skin’s natural pH and keep it hydrated.

9. When you sweat, make sure to rinse your face with clean water so all that stuff you just got out of your pores doesn't clog them again. Always finish rinsing your face with cool water, or as cold as you can stand it, to seal your pores and prevent more dirt/oil/bacteria from getting in. It will also give your skin a more "dewy" effect.

10. Remove your makeup at night. If you have good quality makeup, it won't clog your pores, but your skin still needs time to breathe. Make sure your makeup is not oil-based.

11. Ugly red pimple that won’t go away? Put a drop of Visine® or other redness reducing eye drops on the spot, then cover it with a green concealer, then a skin-colored concealer to camouflage it. The green will cancel out the red, and the eye drops will work to reduce the redness.

12. Pamper yourself! Just because you have acne doesn’t mean you have to miss out on luxurious spa treatments. Make the Lemon Tomato Mask and leave it on for 10-15 minutes. Click here to find it in Kaley’s Facial Fun post.

Acne! What You Need to Know

I wake up, roll out of bed (literally sometimes), waddle toward the bathroom, look in the mirror and SCREAM! Red spots, white bumps and black holes have invaded my face! What am I to do?!?!?!

First, lets talk about acne. Why does it happen? There are three main reasons for it.

One, excess oil production. This is usually triggered by hormonal changes such as a upcoming period, pregnancy, menopause and birth control. It can also be caused by stress.

Two, Dead skin cells. Oil tends to get the dead skin cells to move more rapidly, cause your skin to be sticky and thick, which makes it clogged and forms as blackhead or whitehead.

Three, Bacteria. Your pores normally get clogged because of bacteria. Clogged pores cause acne and can last for awhile.

Now that we know more about acne, why don't we take a small test to see what type of skin you have. Knowing your skin type will help you know what type of cleanser is best for you.

Step 1: Wash your face with a gentle soap or cleanser and gently pat dry.
Step 2: Wait an hour. Do not apply anything to your face. Also not if your skin feels tight.
Step 3: Press a small piece of tissue to the center of your forehead, outer forehead, chin, center of cheeks, outer of cheeks and nose.
Step 4: Look at tissue and identify.

If you have oil on each piece then you have oily skin.
If you have oil on some piece, especially the center areas) then you have combination skin.
If you have flaky residue and no oil on all the tissue then you have dry skin.
If you have tight skin with no oil then you have dry skin.
If you have no oil, no flakes and no tightness then you have normal skin.

Now that we know our skin type, lets find out what cleansers are best for you!
Dr. Oz (famous for being a regular on the Oprah Show) and Dr. Roizen say that they like Neutrogena. I am also a fan of Neutrogena, so I am going to recommend all Neutrogena products in this article.

For the girls with the oily skin (like me) I would use Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Facial Cleanser. It is best to use 'oil free' cleansers seeing as we already have oily skin. It treats blackheads and whiteheads and will work! Just remember, routine is key.

For the girls with the dry skin, I would suggest using Neutrogena Oil-Free Acne Wash Pink Grapefruit Cream Cleanser. It have a moisturizer inside of it. It's not to think so that it won't clog your pores. Remember, routine is key. Also, you do not have to get the grapefruit. I just post it because I enjoy a fresh, clean scent. They have original and for redness.

For girls with normal skin, I would suggest using Neutrogena Deep Clean Gentle Scrub. It's nice and light and it gets deep into your pores for maximum cleanness!

For girls with combination skin, I would suggest using the Neutrogena Wave. The vibrations helps the soap go deep into your pores and helps massage it in. Look at all the pads that go with it and pick out the one that best describes your skin.

Almost each Neutrogena product comes in an exfoliating form. I would suggest getting it. Exfoliating your skin means that you are removing the dead skin cells, which is one of the three main causes of acne. When using an exfoliating cleanser, do not scrub as hard with it. It may cause irritation.

Also, if you get acne on your body (like your upper chest, back and legs) then maybe the fragrance in your body wash is irritating it. You might need to use a non scented body wash. You may also like to try using Neutrogena Body Clear Body Scrub. It is like a face cleanser, but for your body. You can also get it in grapefruit scent, but if you aren't sure if it will irritate your skin, then stick with this type. Also, wash with a loofah! It helps exfoliate your skin and makes it soft and sooth.

So now, I wake up in the morning, roll out of bed (sometimes literally), waddle to the bathroom, look in the mirror and SCREAM because my face has fewer acne signs then it did two weeks ago!

What about you?

Facial Fun!

Looking for something fun to do at a sleepover? Want something that will help you relax? Then have a facial! Facial masks are not only fun and relaxing, they're also really good for your skin! Facial masks are an important part of your skin care routine. You should give yourself a facial at least once or twice a month. Facial masks replenish and refresh your skin and they can also help clear acne.

Whether you're having a sleepover or you just want to treat your face solo, here are some easy facial mask recipes that are simple to make, and most of the ingredients you’ll find at home:


Banana, Honey and Yogurt Facial Mask
Use this on all skin types. Perfect for sensitive skin.

Ingredients:
1/2 of a banana
2 tablespoons of yogurt
1 tablespoon of honey

Instructions:
Mash the banana with a fork.
Mix the mashed banana, yogurt and honey together.
Apply to clean face and leave on for 15-20 minutes.
Rinse off and pat dry.
Apply moisturizer.


Lemon Tomato Mask
For oily skin. The acid in the tomato and lemon work well on acne and blackheads.

Ingredients:
1 tomato; inside scooped out
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
1 teaspoon of oatmeal (preferably instant)

Instructions:Puree all ingredients in a blender.
Apply to clean face and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off and pat dry.
Apply moisturizer.


Lemon Mask
For oily skin.

Ingredients:
1 teaspoon of lemon juice
2 egg whites
3 teaspoons of honey
1 cup of strawberries

Instructions:Puree all ingredients in a blender.
Apply to clean face and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off and pat dry.
Apply moisturizer.


Egg and Honey Mask
For dry skin.

Ingredients:1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon of honey
1 teaspoon of olive oil
1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil or baby oil (optional)

Instructions:Mix all the ingredients together.
Apply to clean face and leave on 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off and pat dry.
Apply moisturizer.


Oatmeal Mask
For Dry Skin.

Ingredients:
1 ripe banana
1 cup of oatmeal
milk (as required)

Instructions:
Mash banana.
Mix the mashed banana and the oatmeal together.
Add enough milk to create a nice paste.
Apply to clean face and leave on for 10-15 minutes.
Rinse off and pat dry.
Apply moisturizer.


Have fun!

XOXO,
Kaley