The Acne Vaccine Is Coming

Scientists don’t know the cause of acne. They know the bacteria Propionibacterium acnes (P. acnes) is partly to blame, but beyond that, they aren’t sure the cause of the skin condition that affects nearly 50 million Americans every year. Experts can’t be sure as to P. acnes’ role in acne, as the bacteria is also a part of beneficial processes in the body, like secreting digestive enzymes. That doesn’t matter, though. What matters is that there are 50 million people a year diagnosed with acne every year, and someone needs to fix it, quick. Enter a new vaccine.

Which One of These is Not Like the Other

At the University of California San Diego, researchers are developing a vaccine for acne. Lab tests on skin biopsies collected from test subjects suffering from acne have been positive, and the researchers are anxious to begin the next stage of trials. But if they don’t know the definitive cause of acne, what are they vaccinating against? According to the lead researcher of the project, Dr. Eric Huang, “Acne is caused, in part, by P. acnes bacteria that are with you your whole life — and we couldn’t create a vaccine for the bacteria because, in some ways, P. acnes are good for you…But we found an antibody to a toxic protein that P. acnes bacteria secrete on skin — the protein is associated with the inflammation that leads to acne.”

What is Being Treated?

So this vaccine is targeting a protein that causes inflammation that leads to acne. Here’s where the idea goes off the rails a bit. Vaccines are specifically designed to elicit an immune response, which inflammation is. Basically, scientists are hoping to treat inflammation with a different kind of inflammation. That kind of treatment makes sense if you’re thinking like a five-year-old who cleans their room by shoving everything into the closet or under the bed.

What if a pimple was treated as a sign to take care of your body? When the body (kidneys in particular) are not processing waste out of the body quickly enough, excess toxins push out through the skin. When that waste gets clogged in pores and infected a pimple forms. That’s a lot of steps that happen before the pimple forms, and with each step, there’s an opportunity to put safeguards in place. To focus on fortifying and strengthening your system with fresh, raw, organic produce while eliminating boxes, bags, and sugars? Diet is the foundation of health, but no one is perfect. Pimples can be a sign to look at what you’re eating and dial things back to healthy.

Forcing Nature

You have a pimple and you want it gone. The vaccine can accomplish that. But at what cost? You have a pimple for a reason. Scientists don’t know the cause of acne. If this vaccine is brought to market it will likely be labeled not harmful to humans. But there won’t be any long-term studies. The side-effects will likely be worse than what the vaccine is meant to fix. Those promoting it will never look beyond conventional medicine to actually address the cause of infection. After all, it worked so well with antibiotics.

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How To Make Natural Body Butters That Actually Moisturize Your Skin

“Love the skin you’re in.” Though it may be cliche, take a moment to think about why you wouldn’t want to take care of your body’s biggest organ. After all, your skin is one of the first things others notice about you, so it pays to keep it in the best shape possible.

There’s just one problem. Most of us do a pretty terrible job of tending to our skin. Sure, we slather on some sunscreen on a hot summer day or casually rub in lotion during winter dry spells, but few people take the time to think about what’s really going on their skin. That’s a mistake. Your skin does more than look pretty, it’s actually a natural barrier, the first line of defense that keeps toxins from the outside world from getting inside you. However, your skin is far more permeable than most people notice.

Think of a nicotine patch. It works by allowing trace amounts of addictive chemicals to be absorbed directly through the skin and into the bloodstream. Just as skin is no barrier against a flood of nicotine, it also doesn’t prevent any other chemical from going through. This means that any chemical product you put on your body (bug spray, lotions, makeup) have every possibility of flowing through your bloodstream.

If that doesn’t scare you, it should.

Using Conventional Lotions? Think Again.

In today’s world, smelling amazing is no guarantee that something’s actually good for you. Your lavender scented lotion might be a pretty purple color and even come with flowers on the label, but chances are that most of the contents of that bottle never came close to a plant.

Below are some of the common chemicals used in conventional lotions and their effects on your body and the planet.

Paraffin: Made from petroleum, this chemical is known for coating your skin in a thin plastic covering, clogging pores and building up toxins along the way.

Parabens: A common cosmetic preservative in over 10,000 beauty products, parabens have been shown in studies to have connections with cancer, and they disrupt your body’s endocrine system by mimicking the hormone estrogen.

Propylene Glycol: Used as a moisturizer in many lotions, propylene glycol has been shown to inhibit skin cell growth and cause irritation, and some evidence points to it causing kidney and liver abnormalities.

Sodium laurel sulfate: Over 90% of personal care products have some form of sodium laurel, a chemical known for breaking down your skin’s moisture barrier so that it (and other chemicals) can easily get into your bloodstream. Studies have shown that SLS can lead to hair loss.

Ready to exchange these icky products for something a little less toxic? Keep reading to learn about the importance of taking care of your skin the natural way.

Natural Body Butters: The Quality Comes from the Ingredients

When it comes to taking care of your skin, nothing can compare to a natural body butter. Actually, “body butter” is a general term used to describe dozens of different body creams that are dense and full of nutrients that add extra hydration to your skin. Most body butters are filled with essential oils, vitamins, and nutrients that make them invaluable in a skin care routine. There is a huge range of ingredients that can be used to make body butters, all of which have distinct benefits that make them useful in a variety of ways.

In most cases, body butters are made from cold pressed oils that are extracted from nuts, seeds and fruits, and then combined with fatty acids and other forms of oil to thicken the consistency. Most body butters are solids at room temperature that melt from your skin’s heat when you slather them on, creating a deeply moisturizing treatment that lasts for hours.

Some of the best benefits of natural body butters are described below.

  • Plenty of Moisture: Skin sucks in everything you put on it, but thankfully natural body butters will provide nothing but hydration. Nut-based butters are filled with emollients that provide skin soothing moisture long after conventional lotions have quit.
  • Protection: The thick ingredients in body butters form a protective barrier over your skin to keep moisture in check. This prevents you from drying out in heat, hot sun or cold winter air that otherwise sucks away moisture. Instead of relying on parabens like other products, natural butters take advantage of the natural emollients found in nuts and seeds to trap moisture deep into the fatty layers of your skin for optimal moisture protection.
  • Skin Nourishing Vitamins: No matter the type, body butters are rich in omega 3 fats that benefit you both inside and out. These highly moisturizing fatty acids help keep inflammation in check and make vitamins far more accessible for your skin to absorb.
  • Reduce Wrinkles: Allowing your skin to dry out is a quick way to start looking old and faded. A better option is to protect yourself with moisturizing body butters that help your skin retain its elasticity so you keep a healthy glow, no matter your age.
  • Softer Skin: Chronic, chapped skin is no problem when combated with the moisturizing power of homemade body butter. Regular treatments of this rich cream can eliminate dry, cracked skin and even clear up chronic conditions like eczema. Just slather on some body butter immediately after showering and your skin will stay noticeably softer throughout the day.
  • Affordable: Are you currently paying a small fortune for your skin care products? Switching over to homemade body butters will save you money, and you’ll get to control exactly what goes in them.
  • Cuticle Saver: If your cuticles look ragged much of the time, a gentle coating of body butter will help them stay hydrated and healthy, getting your nails back to top shape in no time.
  • Stretch Mark Solution: Having children can be brutal for your body, but a little body butter can make those scars a little less visible. Regular treatments of body butter help the skin to heal and regenerate, which means you can hide the appearance of stretch marks before they get out of control.

Top Ingredients for Making Homemade Body Butter

There are so many ways you can make your own body butter, you’re truly limited only by your creativity. Whether you choose to stick to staple ingredients like coconut and shea butter or opt for something a little more exotic like cupuacu or jojoba butter, the possibilities of what you can do is endless.

While it’s usually best to plan on using a ration of 75% solid to 25% liquid oil for your natural butter, the oils listed below are some of the best to invest in when first getting started.

Almond Butter: You want to lick yourself all day when you make a butter with sweet almond oil. This thick, rich butter is great for moisturizing and is a smart way to hydrate a dry scalp.

Cocoa Butter: Known for being a highly stable fat, cocoa butter can last on your shelve for years and is flush with natural antioxidants. A silky smooth texture and delicate fragrance makes it useful for a wide range of products, and pregnant women have been relying on cocoa butter to prevent stretch marks for centuries. Because of the high moisture content of cocoa butter, it’s not always a great choice for oily skinned people.

Shea Butter: Definitely one of the most popular butters available today, shea butter has a unique fatty acid composition that makes it versatile for many products, including dry skin, massage creams, and sun protection. A great all around oil, everyone can benefit from a little shea butter in their life.

Jojoba Butter: If you need an intensive moisturizing boost that only the best can get you, jojoba oil is worth checking out. Perfect for treating eczema and psoriasis, jojoba oil works well on all skin types.

Coconut Oil: With a melting point so low it’s practically a liquid at room temperature, coconut oil gives your body a delicious tropical smell and is great for treating troubling dry spots.

Cupuacu Butter: Made from the cupuacu fruit (commonly grown in Brazil) cupuacu butter is a perfect ingredient to add to your homemade hair conditioner, though it should be used sparingly on your skin if you tend to be oily.

Two Ways to Make Your Own Natural Body Products

Interested in making your own body butter? These recipes will get you started!

Extra Hydration Body Butter

You could truly spend weeks trying out recipes for different types of body butter, but for your first batch, you’ll want to go for something as nourishing as possible. This recipe combines four types of butters into one batch in order to get you maximum skin hydration. Great for babies or anyone with sensitive skin, this butter also makes a good gift.

Take half a cup each of shea butter, mango butter, coconut oil, and olive oil, and combine them all into a double boiler on medium heat. Stir the mixture constantly until it all melts and remove it from the heat. If you’re looking for a particular scent, you can add between 10 to 30 drops of essential oil. Put the entire mixture into the fridge and let it cool for an hour, or to the point where it starts to harden but is still pliable. Take a hand mixer and whip the batch for 10 minutes until fluffy, after which it should be put back in the fridge for 10-15 minutes. Once set and somewhat hardened, you can store your butter in a glass jar with a secure lid and use it like any regular lotion. So long as your home is less than 75 degrees F, the butter will stay whipped. Any hotter than that, and you should store it in the fridge between uses.

Homemade Hand Lotion:

While not truly a body butter recipe, this lotion uses all natural ingredients for a hydrating blend that is too good to miss out on. Body lotion and body butter are more similar than they are different, but the difference comes from the liquid content. Lotions sometimes contain up to 70% water, and the moisturizing effects don’t go as deeply or last as long as body butters. Even so, lotions are great when your skin needs a quick pick me up but doesn’t want all the excess hydration of a true body butter.

Instead of water, this recipe relies on oil for its texture, making it more hydrating than other versions. To make your own lotion, combine a half cup of liquid oil (almond works well), with a quarter cup each of coconut oil and beeswax. Melt them together in a double boiler, stirring constantly so nothing burns. Once everything melts, add a teaspoon of Vitamin E and a few drops of essential oil. Pour the mixture into a glass jar with a tight fitting lid, and dip in whenever you need an extra hydration boost. This product is best used within six months.

Simple Tips For Using Natural Body Products

Using body butters and lotions is a fairly straightforward process. In essence, you put a little butter on your hands and rub it in where you want it. Even so, the tips below can help answer some of your questions about use.

  • Body butters are super concentrated, so a little goes a long way. Take a tiny amount and carefully warm it with your hands before putting it on your body so that it absorbs more easily into your skin.
  • The kinds of butter you purchase for your body butter is crucial. Look carefully on labels for terms like “unrefined,” “crude,” and “cold pressed,” as these are signs that the oil was extracted through natural methods, not high heat that destroys the butter’s natural nutrients.
  • So long as you store your butter in an airtight container, it should last for a year or more.

In Summary

Your skin does a lot for you, so it pays to take care of it. By relying on natural skin care remedies like body butters, you’ll be keeping your body’s biggest organ in top shape. Add some homemade body butter to your skin care routine, and your skin will stay hydrated, healthy and beautiful, at almost no cost to you.

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Turmeric Honey Mask For Healthy and Glowing Skin

Known as the golden spice of life, turmeric, or haldi, contains a plethora of healthy nutrients beneficial for the skin. The antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties have been known for centuries in the East. The spice is widely incorporated in the Indian cuisine and has been used in the Ayurvedic skin care for centuries. Indian women have traditionally used it in their beauty routines for radiant and healthy skin. It is a common practice for the Indian bride to brighten their faces for the wedding with a turmeric paste made of the spice and olive oil.

The main ingredient in turmeric powder is curcumin, which represses an excess of melanin production. Curcuminoids work great for treating skin irritations, sun damage, and chronic inflammation that can all cause premature skin aging.  Turmeric contains a handful of essential nutrients including:

  • Vitamin C encourages the build up of collagen, preserving the skin elasticity and tautness.
  • Vitamin B is vital for the new skin cell formation and for keeping the skin moisturized.
  • Calcium helps heal dry and withered skin.
  • Magnesium slows down the aging processes and maintains the youthful and glowing look of the skin.
  • Potassium has outstanding hydrating properties.

Want To Grow Your Own Turmeric Plant?

You may want to try growing your own turmeric, especially if you are one of those hard-core gardeners. The hardy ginger relative will do best in humid and warm conditions. Although turmeric is better suited for planting in open fields, it can survive in a domestic environment, too. Gardening experts advise growing your plant from a small piece of rhizome bought from a nursery or gifted to you by another gardener. Pick a partly shaded place with morning sun exposure. The best time for planting is in spring. Dig the roots up in the late fall or the early winter, while the greenery is dormant.

Turmeric +Milk+ Honey Face Mask

Although turmeric has unquestionable benefits, the spice can stain fair skin with its natural yellow colouring and make it look sallow. Luckily, the colour does fade away after a couple of hours. With this in mind, here is an easy idea on how to use turmeric in your everyday skin care routine.

Why Is It Good for You?

Honey is known for its anti-bacterial, antiseptic, and moisturizing properties. It also helps even out the skin tone and removes any discoloration marks, acne scars, and dark spots on the skin. Milk smoothes the rough skin and nourishes it with vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients:

  • 1 teaspoon milk
  • 1 teaspoon honey
  • ¼ teaspoon turmeric powder

Directions:

  • Mix the above ingredients in a bowl.
  • Use a gentle cleanser to remove any trace of dirt or makeup.
  • Apply a thin layer of the turmeric face mask on your face and let it sit for five to ten minutes.
  • Rinse off with a mild facial cleanser and water.

Bonus Tip:

With this mask, you don’t need to worry that the yellow powder will stain your skin. If it does stain your face, use a sugar face scrub.  To avoid staining your nails, wear gloves. To get rid of the turmeric nail stains, rub them with lemon juice using a brush.

For more interesting tips and ideas on how to grow an organic garden and make your own natural remedies, visit the London Gardeners blog.

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How are Ayurvedic Oils Healthy for Your Skin?

Ayurveda is the oldest science for healing and improving health using plant fats and essential oils that provide nourishment and rejuvenation to the body, mind, and spirit.

The following benefits of Ayurvedic oils make them an effective skin care regimen.

Ayurvedic Oils Create Good Vibrations in the Body

As per the wisdom of classical Ayurveda, natural plant-based oils have high vibrational frequencies, which are much needed for the skin to thrive. Ayurveda says that the human body is electrical and requires natural fats and oils to work at its optimal vibrational levels.

Everything in the universe works at a specific frequency and even the essential oils vibrate at a high frequency.

For example, therapeutic-grade rose essential oil has an average frequency of 320 MHz, and lavender has an average frequency of 118 MHz, whereas fresh produce vibrates at 15 MHz and fresh herbs between 20-27 MHz.

Human beings also have their own electromagnetic frequencies. If you consider the frequency of a healthy person then you will find it to be between 62 and 78 MHz. Using high-frequency ingredients like essential oils for our skin care helps the body achieve its optimal vibration.

Skin and plants contain high levels of prana and using them together can help to increase the skin’s frequency.

According to Ayurveda, dead or tamasic food such as canned or processed items have zero prana levels, which means they possess no measurable vibrational frequency. Therefore, they aren’t beneficial to our body in any way.

If one understands the way frequency works in the universe, one can easily heal and prevent diseases and using these high energy oils from plant extracts that raise the vibrational frequency of the body and improve our overall health.

Perfect Superfoods for Skin

Our digestive system is capable of preventing chemicals or synthetic additives from mixing with our bloodstream and cells. But when we apply chemicals directly on our skin, they are absorbed into our blood, organs, tissues, and cells without any filtrations. This excess dead waste can get accumulated in the liver and lead to health problems in the future.

If we understand the need of our skin and importance of fatty acids for it, we would never apply chemical-laden products on our skin and use only plant-based oils containing antioxidants, omega-3 fats, vitamins, minerals, and living enzymes.

Feeding your skin with a good amount of fatty acids helps to improve the health of skin cells and makes the skin look radiant, supple, and rejuvenated.

Immunity Booster

Essential oils are laden with natural antiviral, antibacterial, and antifungal properties, which guard the skin against invading organisms and infections. Essential oils have the power to remove toxins from the body and their aromatic therapeutic properties help to calm the nervous system and help the body to cope up with stress and rejuvenate. Moreover, a relaxed nervous system can help the cells to repair themselves.

Your skin has the capacity to heal itself regardless of whatever it has been exposed to in the past because skin cells regenerate every 40 days. This allows exposed cells to heal.

Nourishing your skin with Ayurvedic oils improves health and helps your body and mind to heal quickly. Plants are full of life and possess natural properties that can help your skin to thrive, glow, and vibrate with health. So, start using them today.

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Personal Care Recipes With Coconut Oil

Coconut oil has been used since ancient times for its remarkable effects on skin and hair. It is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals, which is the reason coconut oil is used as a major ingredient in many cosmetic soaps and creams and even used in preparation of many dishes and salads in Asian countries.

Coconut oil is a natural and safe alternative to chemical-laden products.

Natural Homemade Hair Conditioner

Coconut oil is the best alternative to your chemical based conditioner. It will make your hair soft and shinier.

Ingredients

  • 1 – 2 tablespoons of coconut oil
  • 2 – 4 drops of essential oils (rosemary, sage, peppermint, vanilla, geranium, lavender, eucalyptus or grapefruit)
  • Something to cover your hair

Instructions

  • Heat a small amount of coconut oil until it liquefies and then add essential oils and mix the two.
  • Apply the oil directly onto your scalp and gently massage.
  • Comb the hair to make sure the oil is evenly distributed throughout the hair. Cover your hair for some time with a shower cap.

Chemical Free Face Moisturizer Recipe

Coconut oil has moisture-retention property and that’s why it can work as a natural moisturizer. Moreover, applying it will also keep your skin soft and smooth and well-hydrated.

Ingredients

  • 1 tablespoon of coconut oil
  • 1 – 2 tablespoons of shea butter
  • 1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil
  • 2 – 4 drops of essential oils

Instructions

  • Heat coconut oil.
  • Add shea butter
  • Add vitamin E oil and essential oil
  • Mix

You can apply this mixture to your skin to enjoy the benefits of coconut oil.

Coconut Oil Lip Balm Recipe

Although applying unrefined coconut oil to your lips is good enough to keep the moisturized, the following is a simple way to make a lip balm using coconut oil.

Ingredients

  • 1 – 2 teaspoons of coconut oil
  • 1 teaspoon of beeswax
  • 1 – 2 drops of essential oils

Instructions

  • Warm your coconut oil till it turns liquid and then add beeswax to it. Allow the beeswax to melt and then add few drops of your favorite essential oil.
  • You can store this on-the-go lip balm in small containers and carry them wherever you go.

Homemade Toothpaste with Coconut Oil

Coconut oil’s anti-microbial property makes it efficient enough to buzz off the bacteria and germs in your teeth.

Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup of coconut oil
  • 4 – 6 tablespoons of baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon of powdered stevia
  • 15 – 20 drops of essential oils

Instructions

  • Heat the coconut oil to make it soft but don’t allow it to turn into liquid.
  • Now add baking soda, essential oil, and stevia.
  • Mash all the ingredients together and then whip it till it turns light and creamy.
  • You can store this mixture in a jar and use it as your daily toothpaste.

Coconut Oil Salt Scrub Recipe

For keeping skin soft and smooth, nothing quite compares to a warm bath and this coconut oil salt scrub!

Ingredients

  • 1 cup of coconut oil
  • 1/2 cup of Epsom salt
  • 1/2 cup of dead sea salt
  • 15 – 20 drops of essential oils

Instructions

  • Heat the coconut oil till becomes liquid and the add salts and essential oils to it.
  • Mix well all the ingredients and then store it in a glass jar.
  • You can use this once a week and then soak yourself into warm water to make sure the body gets nourishment due to these ingredients.
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Four DIY Homemade Cosmetic Products For Healthy, Vibrant Skin

Attention ladies! Do you really know what you’re doing to your skin with each cosmetic product you use? I didn’t know. From the timeI wokeup in the morning until I washed my face at the end of the day, I fought with my skin.  After way too many years of this self-inflicted abuse, I came to my senses, put my foot down and decided to make some big changes. That’s when I turned to my daughter, the aesthetician, for advice on how to replace my cosmetic catastrophes with all-natural products. We ended up tossing out all fo my harmful products like my makeup remover, acne cleanser, makeup foundation, and my weekly beauty mask product. With that mess of product gone, we locked in on some easy-to use, all-natural ways to replace each of those products.

So, if you say “oui, oui” to going “au-naturel”, read on and find out what 4 products I now use. And guess what? Cosmetic companies don’t want you to know this!

Makeup Remover: Is Coconut Oil The “Healthiest Oil On Earth?”

First and foremost, what is one thing that we do every day that irritates our eyes? Of course, it’s removing our darn makeup. I have tried so many different makeup removers that I can certainly attribute the wrinkles around my eyes to some of them. Raise your hand if you feel the same way, too! After all, the vigorous action of removing waterproof mascara with an oily pad can sometimes be as harsh as using an emery board to buff your nails.

But then, my daughter told me about coconut oil. Say what? That’s right. She said that the unique fatty acids in it make it an ideal makeup remover because they help to break down and absorb the stubborn makeup on your skin. Not only that, but it’s a natural moisturizer which nourishes your skin. Not to mention the fact that it has strengthened my eyelashes, giving me a super sexy wink. 😉

Let me tell you how you can replace your expensive makeup removers with coconut oil, just like I did. Follow these 3 easy steps and you’ll be wondering why you didn’t hear about this sooner:

  1. Add some room temperature coconut oil to a soft cotton pad (It could be a bit hard. It will liquefy due to the heat of your skin.)
  2. Close your eyes and press the pad against your eyes for 15 seconds. (This allows the oil to break down and absorb all those nasty little bits of mascara.)
  3. Then, take the pad and gently wipe that makeup from your face in a consistent downward motion.

And just like that, the makeup will be removed, and your face is moisturized. Truly ladies, you’ll find that this is a super product that you need to stock up on.

Acne Treatment: Hey Acne! Meet My BFF, Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV)

I’ve always had a serious issue with acne. It was at its worst when I was a teenager, but I still have breakouts here and there. From Clean & Clear to Proactiv, I’ve tried it all. Honestly, nothing really worked. And then a friend told me about this amazing use of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV). She told me that it regulates the pH of your skin, which detoxifies the skin and helps get rid of and prevent acne. Now don’t get me wrong, even though it can have a bit of a pungent aroma, it’s well worth the benefits.

And it is super easy to use. Just a heads up, I use Organic Apple Cider Vinegar with the Mother, as this is the product in its purest form. All you need to do is use the product at night after you remove your makeup and before you go to bed. So, here’s what you do:

  1. Put some ACV on a cotton pad and gently apply it your face in a circular motion until your entire face is covered.
  2. Then, while you get your beauty sleep it will absorb into your pores and work its magic all night long. Leaving you with clearer, healthier looking skin in the morning.

That’s all it takes. After doing this every night for about 2 months, I got rid of all of my acne and haven’t had an outbreak since. It’s been almost a year now! Woohoo! By the way, ACV has also been known to eliminate dark spots. Winning!

Makeup Foundation: Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue…And Rosehip Oil Is Perfect For You

After 30+ years of using way, way, way too much foundation, I had enough. So I decided to find a natural alternative. And I found out about rosehip oil. Again, it’s another product that has more than one benefit. Oh yes! It’s been known to reduce wrinkles and restore your skin’s natural complexion.

But ladies, let me tell you that you need to use this as your foundation. Simply coat your face with rosehip oil before putting on your makeup and it makes a great base to put on an even coat of makeup. And what I love about it, too, is that it’s super gentle on the skin. The product that I buy comes in a small bottle with a teardrop applicator. Here’s how you get that “rosy” foundation going:

  1. With the applicator (if yours has one), put 1-2 drops of rosehip oil on your fingers.
  2. Gently apply the oil in a consistent motion, starting from your nose out towards your cheeks.
  3. Repeat this process, until all the “makeup zones” on your face are covered.
  4. After applying, give yourself 5-10 minutes for the oil to absorb. This allows your makeup application to be easier and it will look like a professional aesthetician did it for you.

Beauty Mask: Honey! Where’s My Mask?

How many different beauty masks have you tried in your life? Well, have you ever tried a honey mask? OMG, I’m warning you that after you try this, you will be addicted. The powerful nutrients in honey make for rich and smooth skin, and once the coat is done you’re not going to want to stop petting your soft, supple skin.

Now, this one takes a little more effort than the other products.

  1. Warm up the honey first to make it easier to apply and to help it absorb into your skin. (Trick: Run the jar of honey under warm water for a few minutes.)
  2. Take 2 fingerfuls of honey and begin applying it to your face in a circular motion. Repeat this process until your face is fully coated. (Don’t worry, you can’t use too much. Well, maybe you can.)
  3. Once applied, let it cool and dry on your face.
  4. Have your lounge chair ready, and get to relaxing for about 15 minutes while the honey works its wonders.
  5. Finish off by rinsing your face with warm water. (Attention: Do not use any soap or cleansers to wash the honey from your face or it will cancel out all of that TLC.)

Trust me, honey, you will instantly see the difference when you touch your face after the mask therapy is over. Heck, you might even go for round 2 in the same day. (I did.) Realistically, if you can adopt this as a weekly ritual, you’ll be on the path to adding 10 years of youth to your beautiful skin.

Now you understand why cosmetic companies don’t want you knowing about these ingredients. After all, they’ll save you money, get you Ah-May-Zing results, and make you feel like a natural beauty. 😉 So, which one are you going to try first?

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5 Famous Tips to Keep Your Skin Young, Healthy, and Radiant

“Shine bright like a diamond” – Quite definitely, Rihanna wasn’t talking about her skin here! Oily skin is a condition many individuals like me are weighed down by. From pimples to blackheads, oily skin can be the sole cause of many skin irritants. A lot of my friends, who are blessed with good skin, wonder why I have such an elaborate skin care regime. Little do they realize my plight! Over many years that I have struggled to overcome this problem, I have tried numerous products and quick fixes. It is important to know that oil is good for your skin; the key is to create the right balance.  Here are few elixirs that have helped maintain my skin’s optimal oil content.

Cleansing

As a ground rule, those with oily skin must cleanse their face two times a day using a gentle, fragrance-free, pH balanced cleanser. Because oily skin is so prone to attracting dirt, (resulting in clogged pores and acne), this step is particularly crucial. Ensure the cleanser you use is mild and doesn’t deprive your skin of required oils and moisture. Splash your face with warm or cold water, never hot!

Here’s what I also use to cleanse my face:

Gram Flour, Milk, and Turmeric Paste

This therapeutic paste is extremely mild. The antibacterial properties of turmeric control the breakout of acne and pimples. It also helps regulate the production of sebum. Milk gently moisturizes and nourishes the skin, while gram flour removes the buildup of excess oil and grime.

You Will Need:

  • 2 tablespoons of gram flour
  • 1 teaspoon of turmeric powder
  • 3/4 cup of milk

Directions:

Mix all the contents in a cup until the paste becomes smooth. Apply the paste evenly across your face and leave on for 5 minutes. Cleanse your face with lukewarm or cold water.

Exfoliating

One of the most important and possibly the most ignored steps of a skin-care regimen for oily skin is exfoliation.  Exfoliation helps remove dirt buildup and clears dry and dead skin cells on the surface, making skin less oily.

Here’s one you should try at home:

Sugar, Baking Soda, and Honey Scrub

These kitchen essentials can also work as great exfoliating agents. Sugar helps remove dead skin without hurting or irritating the skin. The antimicrobial and antibacterial properties of honey are effective in keeping acne at bay. Baking soda helps to dry out existing acne and reduces the visibility of acne scars.

You Will Need:

  • 1 teaspoon of sugar
  • 1 teaspoon of baking soda
  • 1/4 cup of water
  • 1 teaspoon of honey

Directions:

Combine sugar and baking soda in a bowl and add water. Stir the mixture and add honey. Mix all the ingredients well and apply the scrub on your face. Wash after 2 minutes with cold water.

Toning

Another essential step in oily skin care is toning as it removes excess oils, unclogs pores, and clears dirt and dead skin cells that may stay on even after cleansing. A good toner also helps the skin absorb other skincare applications, better. Let the freshness soak in with this invigorating toner:

Peppermint Toner

The cooling properties of menthol in peppermint reduce acne inflammation and the secretion of excess oil from sebaceous glands.

You Will Need:

  • 1 cup of peppermint leaves
  • Water

Directions:

Boil the peppermint leaves in water and let it cool down for 30 minutes. Strain the liquid and dab the natural toner on your problem areas with a cotton pad.

Sun Protection and Moisturizing

It’s a myth that moisturizers make oily skin oilier. On the contrary, they help restore the moisture your skin loses while cleansing and toning. If you are worried that moisturizing will give your face the much dreadful shine, opt for a light, oil-free variant.

Here’s a light and effective moisturizer recipe you should try:

Aloe-Grapeseed Moisturizer

When you already have an oil factory on your face, you may be averse to adding to the sheen. Grapeseed oil however, can help regulate the production of your skin’s natural oils and retain essential moisture. It is also rich in antioxidants and vitamin C that keep the skin glowing! Aloe vera gel helps unclog pores and removes dead skin cells.

You Will Need:

  • 3 tablespoons aloe vera gel
  • 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil

Directions:

Mix the ingredients well in a bowl. You can apply the moisturizer on your face as well as your body. Store it in a clean container for future use.

Hydration

Drinking 8-10 glasses of water in a day helps flush out toxins and keeps your skin well hydrated. During hot weather, the body requires higher fluid intake. Drinking plenty water can lower the amount of sebum secreted by the glands and reduce the oil your skin produces. If plain water is too mainstream for your liking, add some flavor with lemon, mint, or delicious berries. 

There are plenty factors that play a role in oily skin – genetics, weather conditions, erratic lifestyles, or the use of products that don’t suit you. If you are worried about the impact make-up and beauty products can have on your skin, switch to water-based, oil-free and skin friendly alternatives. Consume a healthy diet and include high amounts of fiber and leafy greens in your meals. Stay miles away from fried and processed foods. It is imperative to follow a proper skin care procedure and use only products that are right for you. What works on a combination skin may not necessarily work for oily skin; you wouldn’t want to take chances that result in an eruption of acne, would you?

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