DIY Makeup Remover Wipes

          I am sure that all of you have insanely busy lives! Between work, school, parenting, grocery shopping, house cleaning, driving, and so much more we are exhausted by the end of the day! I know that I am! By the time I get home I am so tired that I get my studying done for the day and immediately jump into bed – not even thinking about taking the energy to wash my makeup off first! It is so bad for your skin! If your skin could talk, you would hear, “Save me! Save me from the makeup, sweat, dirt, and who knows what else that has managed to crawl up into these pores!” As we go through our day our skin builds up a layer of oil, dead skin cells, makeup, dirt, sweat, and bacteria! When we skip washing our face at the end of the day, we are allowing all of those things to settle deep into our pores creating larger pores, breakouts, and dull skin. You can bet that the next morning after forgetting to wash my face there will be some brand new blemishes!

In an effort to get myself to wash my face in the evening when I don’t have the energy to go through the process of washing and exfoliating (also important! I will be doing a blog post on that soon!) I purchased some makeup remover wipes. I’m sure that you have figured out what a life saver makeup remover wipes can be! I normally buy the cheap pack of equate makeup remover wipes. It’s a pretty good deal – you get around 160 wipes for $5 when they do the 2 for 1 deal. The only problem? The ingredient list is like size 4 font and around a paragraph long and filled with words you can’t pronounce let alone understand. And to be honest, a lot of my makeup ends up staying on my face and in my pores afterwards and my skin feels tight and dry. This is a pretty good sign that these wipes were not breaking down the layer of oil on top of my skin in order to get into my pores and really clean my face.

So one day I was on Pinterest and I saw a post for making your own makeup remover wipes and I was intrigued. These wipes were perfect! Just 3 natural ingredients and you have the perfect makeup remover or toning cloths! They are perfect for all skin types and completely customizable!! How cool is that!? The mixture that I made and have been using has proven to be very soothing and refreshing! I have used them as a complete makeup remover and as a toner and I love it!!! They are great at cleansing but are still gentle! Another thing I love – the cloths are reusable! Good for the environment too!

Like I said, this recipe is very customizable! Below is an ingredient list and directions but know that you get to choose what goes in! This is great for those of you with certain allergies because you control everything that goes into your own DIY Makeup Remover Mixture! *** Please know that it is important to either research or consult with someone who uses essential oils daily to make sure that the oils of your choice can be used together! Some oils are not meant to be mixed together! ***

Ingredients
 2 cups of your base of choice
 1-2 tablespoons of your oil(s) of choice
Around 5 drops of essential oil #1
Around 5 drops of essential oil #2
1 Microfiber cloth
1 small mason jar or container with lid

Directions

          Step 1: Make sure your jar or container is clean! We don’t want bacteria growing in our mixture! Cut the microfiber cloth into small squares (I cut mine into 2x2 inch squares) and stack in the middle of the jar or container. I personally like to stack them sideways so that it is easier to grab one - way at the end you don't have to reach the bottom of the jar to get a cloth. I forgot to take a picture before adding in the mixture so make sure to only put the microfiber cloths in for this step.

         Step 2: In a separate bowl, add 2 cups of your base of choice. I would recommend using water (boiled or distilled), aloe vera juice/water, or rose water. These are great! I used boiled water for the first batch of makeup remover cloths I made but I am very excited to try the aloe vera water next time!! I recommend boiling water if you do not want to purchase distilled water to purify it first.

         Step 3: Add 1-2 tablespoons of your choice of oil into the bowl with the base. I used two tablespoons of coconut oil. You can use jojoba oil, castor oil, extra virgin olive oil, vitamin e – pretty much any oil that was discussed in the oil cleansing method which you can find here. Everyone’s skin is different as well as their preferences. I personally LOVE the coconut and jojoba oil but find jojoba oil to be pretty expensive while coconut oil is not.

         Step 4: Add in your essential oils. Remember to do your research first and make sure that the oils you choose can be mixed together. Also keep in mind that some oils are more expensive than others! I chose to put in lemongrass and melaleuca oil.  Here is a list of oils and their benefits for skin. This is not a complete list, there are tons of oils that have great benefits for your skin – this is a just a selection of some of those. 

• Carrot seed oil – helps to smooth skin and increase cellular rejuvenation which can help with lightening scars and improving overall skin tone.
• Frankincense oil – is antibacterial and anti-inflammatory which is great for acne prone skin! It also helps to decrease pore size, even out skin tone, and hydrate skin.
• Geranium oil – helps to regulate oil production and reduce acne breakouts. It also helps to increase elastin production and blood circulation which helps to improve overall skin quality.
• Lavender oil – helps to increase cellular rejuvenation and smells amazing! It is great for using in the evening to help you relax.
• Lemon/Lemongrass oil – is a natural astringent and antibacterial which again is great for acne prone skin! It also helps with evening out skin tones and lightening scars.
• Myrrh oil – benefits aging skin and has anti-inflammatory properties that will aide in improving overall skin quality.
• Neroli oil – great for oily, sensitive, and mature skin! Helps improve cellular rejuvenation and has antiseptic properties.
• Tea Tree/ Melaleuca oil – one of the commonly used essential oils for acne prone skin. It has antibacterial properties and helps to regulate oil production.
• Ylang Ylang oil – helps to control oil production and minimize acne breakouts. It also increases cellular rejuvenation and helps to increase elastin production which increase skin quality.

         Step 5: Stir well and then pour over cloths in jar or container until the liquid just barely reaches the top of the cloths (you want to be able to reach a cloth without having to stick your hand into the liquid and contaminating it). You might have to squeeze out some of the liquid (I did) so make sure to wash your hands before sticking your fingers into the jar and squeezing out the excess liquid. 

That’s it! I let mine sit over night before using them because I really wanted the cloths to have time to soak up all of the goodies in the mixture!! You can choose to store it at room temperature or in the refrigerator (great for those who like a little “cooling” action in their skin care routine). Like I said earlier, you can use these strictly for removing makeup and/or as a toner. I love using one of these right after I get out of the shower because my pores are nice and open and it is so rejuvenating and energizing! When you use it as a makeup remover or toner – be careful around your eyes! You do not want to get this in your eyes – it will burn! Just warning you!  

Look how much makeup came off just on one side of this little square!!! Told you they worked! 

Of course, please let me know how you are liking your new DIY Makeup Remover Cloths! I promise you – you are going to love them! They are so cheap and easy to make and make such a drastic difference for your skin! Let me know if you have any questions!

“Encourage yourself, Believe in yourself, Love yourself”

The Power of H2O

      One of my new year’s resolutions is to drink more water. I know, I feel like that should be a given right? But I really don’t like the taste of it so it is really hard for me to drink water. And I know that I can’t be the only one! Sugary drinks like pop and juice I have no problem with (and if I’m being honest here I’m fairly addicted to) but we all know that’s not really what your body needs to function. The big H₂O however is, however, very important! Not only does it give you energy but it is also amazing for clearing up skin and brightening complexion! So let’s get to the nitty gritty about why it works and how to make it more enticing for those of you who are a little more like me that need a little motivation!

What are the benefits of water?

      Water is used for a lot of things, but for this post we are going to focus on energy and skin benefits. So let’s start with one thing I’m sure each and every one of you did this morning – grabbed a cup of coffee to give you that boost needed to get through the day. Did you know that drinking water can actually reduce fatigue and help put a little more pep in your step! Now that would be a great replacement to that caffeine loaded morning buz! Now the big question is why… How can something like water be energizing? Well it has to do with your blood. When there is less water in the body, the blood volume decreases which makes the heart work harder to pump out oxygenated blood to the rest of the body – hence why you are so tired even though it is only 9:00 am. Your heart is literally pumping itself into exhaustion making sure you get all your required nutrients! By making sure your body is properly hydrated, you are allowing your body to use less energy to maintain daily function – giving you more energy to get through the day!  It also helps to reduce headaches and migraines caused by dehydration and stress! Win win!

      Now here is my favorite part! This is why I made it a resolution to start drinking more water! Did you know that water is used by your body to help flush out toxins and waste products? Oh my gosh guys! This should completely blow your mind! This is why it is so important for me to drink water DAILY! Without it, my skin can become inflamed, clogged, and have a higher risk of breakouts. So this is a MUST HAVE for making sure your skin is nice and hydrated as well as purified! If you aren’t drinking an adequate amount of water, toxins and waste products will build up and get trapped under your skin causing the ever dreaded break outs. Daily water intake increases your blood volume allowing more blood to get throughout your body dropping off nutrients and oxygen that your cells need to repair and grow as well as take out waste products! Amazing right? Keep in mind, however, that water is not a cure all – for example it can’t cure an insufficient or over production of oil from the sebaceous glands in the skin which can cause clogged pores as well (if you want to see an easy way to work on that check out our Oil Cleansing Method here).

How did I get over the “blandness” of water?

      Now here is where I struggled. I tried so many different ways to drink water it was ridiculous! I tried labeling my water bottle with different times (ex. 9:00 am, 10:00 am, 11:00 am. etc) so I had goals to reach throughout the day but I just couldn’t motivate myself to drink it. Then Kaydie found infused water and this clicked with me right away! I LOVE this stuff! You can infuse it with lemon, kewi, peaches, grapefruit, or whatever your favorite fruit is and you get a delicious refreshment! My favorite is lemon water – which lemon is a great purifying substance that helps to detoxify your body! I even bought this special water bottle (seriously guys it’s only $5 at Walmart) that has a little basket that holds the fruit so when I’m on the go at school or work I just fill it back up with water and let it work its magic as it infuses with the fruit again. Now I’m drinking at least two of these a day! Woo Woo! And there is no struggle or fuss! I actually LIKE this stuff :-)

      So go find a water bottle that you love, infuse some water with your favorite fruit and start giving your body what it needs! Can’t wait to hear what this does for you and your body! I am already seeing the difference in my energy and can’t wait to see what it will do for my skin!

"Encourage yourself, Believe in yourself, Love Yourself"

Honey, Cinnamon, Nutmeg Mask

     

      What do honey, nutmeg, cinnamon, and lemons have in common? Well, not much unless you are talking about skin care! These four ingredients make a little thing I like to call the Honey - Cinni Mask! This stuff is amazing! This mask is great for correcting uneven skin tones, lightening scars, getting rid of acne, and smoothing skin and it can all be found in your kitchen! So how does mixing these various ingredients help your skin?

            ·        Cinnamon – stimulates blood vessels to bring more blood to the surface of your skin which increases the amount of nutrients being brought to your cells. It also has anti-bacterial properties which is great for getting rid of acne! Cinnamon is also considered one of the top 7 anti-oxidants in the world which helps prevent destruction of healthy cells.

            ·        Honey – is naturally anti-bacterial and anti-fungal, full of anti-oxidants, and great for opening up pores making them easy to unclog and kill bacteria that may be residing there. It also helps speed up the recovery of healing acne. Added benefit? It is very moisturizing and soothing!

            ·        Nutmeg – has a component in it that is very similar to menthol which means it acts as a natural pain reliever and inflammation reducer. It also acts as a tonic which means it detoxes your skin and can increase the quality of your skin! It is great for removing blackheads and lightening scars.

            ·        Lemons – are chalked full of vitamin C, helps build up the collagen in our skin, and can aid in lightening blemishes, scars, and help even out skin tones.

      I did this mask once or twice a week when I had severe acne problems and it did wonders for my skin! While it did burn a little bit (it can if you have open or picked acne), it was worth it! The tingling/burning made it seem like you could actually feel the acne being destroyed! And if you have sensitive skin or you do not like the tingling feeling, you can always increase the amount of honey you are using to dilute the other ingredients. But let me warn you now, this mask is messy! As it sits on your face (and you want to let it sit for about 30 min) it will melt and drip off! I always sat down and watched a tv show or something and put a towel on my lap to catch the drips. You can also do this during a relaxing bath too! Added bonus? The steam from the bath will open up your pores and allow the mask to do a deeper cleanse!

Here is the “recipe”

     1/2 tsp Cinnamon (organic is good but any will do!)

     1/2 tsp Nutmeg

     3 tsp Honey (Raw and local is great! extra grit to it is great for exfoliating) 

*Want something a bit stronger and good for lightening scars? Instead of doing 3 tsp of honey …

           1 tsp Honey

           2 tsp Lemon Juice

       

     Steps

              First - Put in all of your dry ingredients 

              Second - Add in the honey and lemon juice (optional. I did not use lemon juice for my mask)

              Mix everything together! This might take a bit of stirring! Also, do not worry if it looks like there won't be enough for your whole face! You would be surprised at how little of this mixture you will need with how well it spreads! If there isn't enough - just make a little bit more! You can store left overs in the fridge and warm up for your next use later! 

              Last Step - Put on your face in a layer just thick enough to so you can't see your skin underneath. Do not get it in your eyes! I like to follow the line around my eye socket to make sure I am not getting it in my eye or where it can irritate the sensitive skin under my eyes. Now watch your favorite tv show, read a few chapter of a new book, or surf the web for about 30 minutes or until you can't take the dripping any more (it will melt as it sits on your face, make sure to have a towel down or tie a bandanna around your neck and hold it up to catch the drips!). Wash off in shower or sink and walla! All done!

      These measurements are not set in stone, if it tingles too much for you add more honey. If it doesn’t tingle enough for you, add more nutmeg, cinnamon, or lemon juice. However, do not add other ingredients to this mask because you can end up giving yourself a chemical burn which is not fun! Trust me!

Encourage Yourself, Believe yourself, Love yourself"

Bentonite Clay Mask

      From facials for less than perfect skin, to treatment for insect bites, Bentonite Clay has been used for its amazing healing properties! I found it one day when I was researching how to get really clean my pores. I tried it and now I seriously can’t get enough of this! It has helped so much! I have less black heads and smaller pores -it literally makes my face “pulse” as it is pulling up all the impurities buried deep in my skin! You will definitely have to check it out for yourself to see exactly what I mean! Pair it with the O.C.M once a week and watch your skin transform!

How does Bentonite Clay Work?

      Let’s start with a little chemistry. But don’t freak out! You have been dealing with this since you were born! It’s called opposites attract; particularly that negative and positive charged things stick together. This is exactly how Bentonite Clay works. Bentonite Clay carries a negative charge while toxins, bacteria, etc. carry positive charges. The Clay acts like a magnet pulling these impurities towards it, holding onto it, and therefore removing it when you wash it away!

How do I do a Bentonite Clay Mask?

      So how exactly do I make and use a Bentonite Clay Mask? It’s super easy! All you need is Bentonite Clay (found at your local natural grocery store), a plastic bowl, tablespoon, mixer, water, and apple cider vinegar. Take equal parts of the Bentonite Clay and the apple cider vinegar/water and mix together with the plastic utensil. The substance should fiz for a second and then turn creamy as you mix it together. 

Now just spread it on your face (avoiding your eyes) and other problem areas such as your neck or chest to about ¼ to ½ an inch thick. Let it dry for about 10 minutes for sensitive skin and about 20 minutes for normal skin. I normally sit down and watch part of a show then jump in the shower to rinse it all off! 

By rinsing off in the shower, you limit the mess that will for sure take over your sink! After words your face should feel very refreshed and a little tingly. You might also notice that your skin will look red. This is completely normally and will go away within 20 minutes. I only use this mask at night on the weekend’s right before I go to bed so my freshly cleaned skin can absorb all the products I use in my nightly routine. And that’s it! Over the next couple of days you can expect to see some small white heads but all you need to do is exfoliate and voila, problem solved!

This is what the clay looks like as it dries.

      Let me know how it works for you! Try it and see how you like it. If you find that it is a little too tight when it is completely dry, leave out the apple cider vinegar and use only water. Let us know if you have any questions!

And don’t forget - "Encourage yourself, Believe in yourself, Love Yourself". 

Coconut Oil Hair Mask

      While I love winter and snow and all things Christmas, the winter season doesn't love my hair so much. The cold wind and lack of moisture in the air really takes a toll on my hair! It gets staticy and split ends start showing up all over the place! This is when I turn to my trusted coconut oil! There are so many different uses for coconut oil and I am sure this blog will be full of its uses soon! If you are interested in learning about using Coconut Oil for skin care, check out our Oil Cleansing Method blog post by clicking here (Oil Cleansing Method Post)

How does the Coconut Oil Help My Hair?

      Coconut oil is rich in carbohydrates, vitamins, and minerals and has been used on hair for thousands of years! It keeps hair strong, moisturized, and nourished! Many deep hair moisturizers that you can buy at the store are expensive and do not penetrate deep into the hair follicle so you end up only moisturizing the surface of your hair. Because of the components of coconut oil (Lauric acid, capric acid, vitamin E, and much more) it penetrates the hair follicle repairing and moisturizing from the inside out. This prevents hair breakage and split ends, increases hair strength, stimulates hair growth, and adds shine and softness!

How to do a Coconut Oil Hair Mask?

      So how do I use coconut oil as a hair mask? It is really simple! First, as always, you need to warm the coconut oil so that it is in liquid form. Then I section my hair and apply the oil to 1-2 inch sections. Dip your fingers into the coconut oil and then run your fingers through the sections of hair until your hair is saturated with the oil.

Left Side: without oil Right Side: with oil

     Oh! And make sure to apply to dry hair! If you hair is wet, the oil will not be able to get past the layer of water surrounding the hair follicle. So keep sectioning your hair and applying the oil until all of your hair is saturated with the oil.

Left Side: without oil

Right Side: with oil

      After applying the oil, I braid my hair and put on my “heating hat”. It is like a heating pad but for your head! I love it! The heat opens up the hair follicle and makes it easier for the coconut oil to penetrate deep into the hair follicle so that it can get to moisturizing and repairing!

      I leave that on the medium setting for about an hour and then take a shower. When I condition my hair in the shower after a oil mask, I do not put conditioner on every part of my hair. I focus the conditioner from the crown of my head down. When rinsing out the conditioner I kind of push the diluted conditioner/water into the roots of my hair and then finish rinsing. This is how I make sure that my roots aren't greasy for the next day. If I do not want to do the heating mask then I will braid my oil saturated hair and then put a towel down over my pillow and sleep with the coconut oil on my hair all night. I am a deep sleeper and hardly move so I do not have to worry about getting oil all over my sheets. If you are a tosser and turner then I would recommend putting down an extra sheet that you can just throw in the wash the next day. Your hair will love you for it and the silky smoothness will make up for the little extra work. In the morning I was it just like if I had the heating hat.

That’s it! The thing I love about doing a coconut oil hair mask is that you will notice a huge difference after one mask! You don't have to wait for results! I mean it! My hair always feels so smooth and silky afterwards!

      Of course, please let me know how this hair mask works for you! Don't like or are allergic to coconut oil? Try extra virgin olive oil or other oils and let me know how they work for you! Keep in mind that different oils will have different affects on your hair (for example they can leave it very oily) so don't do this mask an hour before going on a hot date!

Don't forget! "Encourage yourself, Believe in yourself, Love Yourself"

The Oil Cleansing Method

              

      About a year ago, I had severe acne covering over 70% of my face. That’s right, there is no typo – over 70% of my face was covered in acne. It was painful, it was red, it was killing my confidence, it had to go! I had tried everything – Neutrogena, Proactiv, Skin ID, Beauty Mint – you name it, I tried it! And all of it made my skin worse with the promise that after all of the burning from the alcohol, drying out and additional breakouts it would get better. This didn't make sense to me, why should your skin look and feel worse in order to get better? I could understand an initial additional breakout but the inflammation, redness, pain, dry skin? Why did that have to happen as well? That is when I learned out about the Oil Cleansing Method.

      I had heard of the Oil Cleansing Method but had stayed away from it. How was putting straight oil on my face going to help if my skin was already oily and full of acne? I think I lasted another month before I finally decided to try it. It has been about 8 months since I made that decision and I am so glad that I did! I even wish that I would have tried it sooner! My skin has never looked better! My acne is practically non-existent (except for the occasional breakout from not washing my face at night – I know it’s bad but I admit, sometimes I am just too lazy!), my scars are gone, and my oil problem is fixed! It has been amazing! My friends keep asking me what my secret is and so I have decided to share it with you!

      The oil cleansing method has been around for a long time but many people do not understand how it works.

First – what is the Oil Cleansing Method (O.C.M.)?
              
      In a nutshell, you use natural oils to cleanse the skin and balance your skins natural oils! It is that simple! I know what you are thinking, so how is this better than an artificial cleanser that claims to do the same thing? The O.C.M. is very natural and does not dry your skin out or cause inflammation/redness. Plus, when you wash your face with a cleanser, you are stripping your face of its natural oils which results in your skin producing more oil to make up for the lost oil and so goes the oily skin cycle. When you are supplying your face with natural oils, your face does not need to produce as much so it reduces the amount it makes. Another bonus is that the O.C.M. can do something that the majority of cleansers can’t! It breaks up oil! That’s right! Most of the time your pores are clogged with dirt AND oil. Water can’t break up oil – but oil can!

What do you need for the O.C.M?

      There are many different oils that you can choose from when doing the OCM, you just have to pick the right one for you. This can take some time and experimenting but it is worth it! The most common oils used are castor oil and extra virgin olive oil (1 part castor oil to 2 parts olive oil). When I started the O.C.M. I used the olive oil and castor oil mixture but found that was not the right oil for me. It was too thick and left my face feeling like there was a lot of oil left on top of my skin that wasn’t being absorbed. I did some research and found that you can also use hazelnut oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil, and coconut oil as well. I personally LOVE the coconut oil! It is the perfect consistency for me and I love how moisturized my skin feels after washing my face with it! I get pure, cold-pressed, organic coconut oil from my local natural grocery store.

 How do I do the O.C.M?

      First, I melt my coconut oil (it is a solid at room temperature) in a bowl of hot water or in the microwave. If you are going to warm yours in the microwave make sure to scrape off all of the seal from the top of the container because it contains metal and will spark in the microwave! I learned this the hard way! As your oil is melting, wash your hands! This will prevent the spread of bacteria from your hands to the oil.

Once the oil is melted and your hands are clean, dip your fingers into the melted oil and rub directly onto your dry face and massage for about 1-2 minutes. 

Then take a wash cloth and run it under warm water (as warm as you can get it without burning your skin). Get the washcloth wet, wring it out, and hold over your face for about 30 seconds.

This part is very important! The heat from the warm wash cloth opens your pores and allows for the coconut oil to get deep into your pores and break up the oil and dirt. After about 30 seconds, remove the wash cloth and wipe the remaining oil off of your face.

Look how much makeup came off my face in just one wipe! The oil makes it so easy to remove your makeup AND mascara! Look! No raccoon eyes!!!

      After you finish wiping off all the oil off of your face, you should still feel like you have a thin layer of oil on your skin - that is good! This fine layer of oil is going to nourish and moisturize your skin as well as tell your skin to produce less oil since there is already natural oils on it. Walla! You are done! It’s that easy! Keep your coconut oil in the shower if you have other acne prone areas such as chest and back. This method works great for those too! Do not freak out if you break out slightly after starting this. That means it is working! The oil is bring all of the impurities in your skin out of your pores! Yay! For a deeper cleanse, mix your oil with some brown sugar or regular sugar to exfoliate. I would recommend doing this once or twice a week but NOT if you have open acne. If you exfoliate your face with open acne, you risk spreading the bacteria around and creating more acne. If you have open acne, simply do the step above until it heals. It won’t take long! I started noticing drastic differences in my skin 1 week after starting the O.C.M! The redness went down and my face didn't hurt as much! 6 months later, I was acne free!

      That is it guys! That is the Oil Cleansing Method! Interested yet? Try it out!! I would love to hear how it works for you, which oils work best for you, everything! Leave your comments below! By sharing our experiences and tips/tricks, we can help someone else have an even better experience with this! 

And remember, “Encourage yourself, Believe in yourself, Love yourself”