Month of Love, Pink Sea Salt Scrub

Month of Love, Pink Sea Salt Scrub

Yep, It's pink and it's salt & it's amazing for scrubbing those dry winter bits off your body! Follow this easy recipe for a DIY scrub using stuff you probably already have in your pantry. 

Ingredients

• 4 oz Pink Himalayan Sea Salt – Fine Grain
• 1 oz fractionated coconut oil
• 1 oz jojoba oil
• 20 drops lavender Essential oil
• 10 drops lemon essential oil

Instructions

1. Combine salt, coconut oil and jojoba oil in a mixing bowl.
2. Mix in essential oils.
3. Store in a 4oz mason jar with lid.

Featured Fall Products -- Illuma Bleaching Serum & Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment

Featured Fall Products

Illuma Bleaching Serum & Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment

Recently I started using 2 new products and have fallen in love! As with every product recommendation I'd like to preface this by saying not every skin type will do well with these products. However if you find yourself feeling like they might be great for you, then go for it! 

Illuma Bleaching Serum

Recently I started using this serum to brighten my sun damaged skin (yes, Costa Rica will mess up your porcelain skin no matter how much sunscreen you apply). The ingredients are extremely pure and straightforward. The main progressive ingredient is hydroquinone. It is a powerful melanin bomb. You have to stay out of the sun when using this, but guaranteed there will be bright even skin in your future! 

http://www.imageskincare.com/products/iluma-intense-bleaching-serum 

Cover FX Mattifying Primer with Anti-Acne Treatment

This is a product that I looked at with weary intent. I've never really loved primer. They feel sticky, or too slick, something is usually off about them. Here's one that has skincare ingredients that made me get on board. The salicylic acid prevents and heals blemishes by providing gentle exfoliation to clarify the skin. It works! My skin is seriously benefiting from the beta hydroxy power. Bye bye blackheads. 

http://www.coverfx.com/mattifying-primer-with-anti-acne-treatment.html

Make these Egg-traordinary Masks at home!

The Egg Masks

For a little pampering, head to the refrigerator and grab an egg. 

--If you have dry skin that needs moisturizing, separate the egg and beat the yolk.

--Oily skin takes the egg white, to which a bit of lemon or honey can be added. 

--For normal skin, use the entire egg. 

Apply the beaten egg, relax and wait 30 minutes, then rinse. You’ll love your new fresh face.

Read more: http://www.rd.com/home/9-soothing-facial-masks-from-the-kitchen/#ixzz3c4C3POBX

Luxurious Sugar Scrub

Luxurious Sugar Scrub Recipe

Homemade sugar scrub with natural sugars and oils is great for exfoliating skin naturally.

Ingredients

• ½ cup sugar (white sugar or brown sugar)

• ¼ cup oil (olive or coconut are great)

• Optional: essential oils

Instructions

• Mix all ingredients and store in an air tight jar.

• Use 1 tablespoon as needed in the shower. Scrub skin with the mixture and rinse will. it will leave your skin feeling like silk.

Brightening Turmeric Glow Mask

Brightening Turmeric Glow Mask

Turmeric is a bright yellow spice used in many Indian, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern dishes, but what many Western don't know is that when combined with yogurt, milk or olive oil, it's also a brilliant face mask. Indian women use it as a skin brightener and it's common practice for Indian brides (and, apparently, their grooms) to smear a turmeric paste made of the powder and sunflower oil on their skin to brighten their complexions for the wedding.

INGREDIENTS

• 1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder

• 2 tablespoons flour (to thicken the paste)

• a few drops of honey

• for oily skin: 1/4 cup plain yogurt & few drops of lemon juice

• for dry skin: 2 tbsp coconut oil, sweet almond oil or olive oil (more if you desire)

PREPARATION

Mix the flour and turmeric together.

If you have oily skin: Add lemon juice and stir. Slowly mix in the yogurt until a creamy paste is formed. Use more or less yogurt to your liking.

If you have dry skin: Add the oil slowly and stir until a paste is formed. Add more for more creaminess.

Apply mask to face and neck.

Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes.

Using a warm, wet washcloth that you don't mind staining (turmeric will stain), rinse off the mask.

Pumpkin Skincare Treats

Pumpkin Skincare Treats

Pumpkins are good for much more than just decorating your stoop this holiday season! In fact, pumpkins are rich in alpha-hydroxy acids, a great exfoliator; loaded with antioxidants, beta-carotene, vitamins A and C; packed with anti-inflammatory benefits and even boast of natural UV protectors – making it the ideal skin care ingredient! So, after carving you pumpkin for decoration, take the inside of the pumpkin and make some DIY face and body treats, with spa like results.

After removing the seeds – which we recommend roasting for a beauty from the inside out treat! Scoop out some of the flesh of the pumpkin and bake or steam it until mashable (or just crack open a can of pumpkin puree, if that’s more your style!). Then, hit the bathroom-made-spa with these recipes designed to exfoliate and moisturize for fresh, smooth and sexy skin ready for dry winter days!

Pumpkin Pie Face Scrub

Mix a few tablespoons of cooked and mashed (or canned) pumpkin with 2 tablespoons of plain, unsweetened yogurt (rich in lactic acid, a great natural exfoliator) and 1 tablespoon of ground almonds and/or oats. Apply the scrub to your face and let it sit for a few minutes to allow the pumpkin and yogurt to start to soften dead skin cells before using your fingers to gently scrub your face in small curricular motions. The dead, dull skin cells will wash away and your face will look fresh and flawless!

Pumpkin Body Mask

Mix 1/2 cup pumpkin puree (fresh or canned),

1/2 cup virgin, cold-pressed coconut oil

(which not only moisturizes, but also helps to exfoliate deal cells and even has anti-bacterial properties) and 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (which is antioxidant rich, anti-bacterial and smells delicious!). Apply generously to clean skin (in the shower is neatest!) and massage it into the skin. After 10 minutes, rinse with warm water and pat dry – we think this is a perfect body treat to do while you let a deep conditioning hair mask steep!

Pumpkin Honey Facial Mask

Mix a few tablespoons of pureed pumpkin with 1 whipped egg white (which will help tighten pores and reduce the appearance of fine lines), 1 tablespoon plain yogurt (which will help exfoliate) and 1 tablespoon honey (which is anti-bacterial, great for clearing acne). Apply to entire face, avoiding the eye area, and leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing. The yogurt and pumpkin will encourage cell-turnover and exfoliate, while the honey has anti-bacterial properties to ensure a fresh face for fall!

Cucumbers Aren't Just For Your Eyes... Refreshing Cucumber Mask

Refreshing Cucumber Mask

What makes cucumber good for skin?

The humble cucumber may seem like a simple water-rich vegetable with little nutrients but actually, studies show that fresh cucumber extracts contain many potent antioxidants and anti-inflammatory nutrients! This makes cucumbers a great kitchen ingredient for a smooth and supple face! This refreshing cooling vegetable contains 95 per cent water and provides important benefits for skin including skin lightening, brightening, hydrating and toning. You can use a cucumber as a toner for oily skin and as a moisturizer for dry skin. 

Ingredients

• 1/2 cucumber

• 1 tablespoon ground oatmeal

• 1 tablespoon honey

Directions 

Puree 1/2 a cucumber in a blender or food processor. Add it into a small mixing bowl. Stir in the rest of the ingrdients well. Using clean fingertips, gently massage the mixture onto your face in a circular motion. Let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes. When the time is up, rinse off the face mask with cold water. Pat dry with a clean towel.