10 Tips for Healthy, Clear Skin

Here's 10 tips to keeping beautiful, clear skin this new year!

-A

1. Hydration is very important to keeping clear skin. Dehydration causes breakouts; the lack of water causes the skin to produce a larger amount of oils.

2. When you work out be sure to wash your face before and after. You don't want to clog those pores with your makeup!

3. Don't "stew in your own sweat", take a salicylic acid shower directly after working out to prevent body acne.

4. Oil from your hair seeps onto your pillow as you sleep so be sure to change your pillow case weekly.

5. If you decide to pop a pimple at home, do it the right way. Sterilize your hands and a needle then puncture the top of the whitehead. Take a cotton swab to take the top off. Use your hands to squeeze on either side and cover it with a bandaid for it to heal properly and stay clean.

6. Benzoyl peroxide products are only good for 3 months after opened. So keep track of when you open them to make sure you are getting the full benefits.

7. When using moisturizer, use a tube rather than a jar. Bacteria from your fingertips get into the jar and stays there, ultimately going onto your face.

8. Don't pick at your acne. The dirt and oils only make things worse.

9. If you've got dry skin opt for a skin oil rather than a lightweight lotion.

10. Incorporating exercise into your daily routine can help to clear skin.

To see 101 facts about keeping clear skin visit:  http://beautyhigh.com/101-best-tips-for-clear-skin/#_a5y_p=1074797  

At Home Spa Day Essentials

Having a list of at home spa essentials could be just what you need after a long week at work or even just to treat yourself on a weekend. Here are 25 different things you could do to release your stress and just relax.

1. Eat right. 

2. Light candles.

3. Treat yourself. 

4. Play music.

5. Take a bath. Why not go all the way and add some bubbles or your favorite bath bomb?!

6. Sit in a massage chair. (or invest in a hand-held back massager)

7. Drink tea. (or coffee if that's what you love)

8. Wear a robe.

9. Put cucumber slices on your on your eyes while you...

10. Take a nap.

11. Have a smoothie. (here's a good one(: )

12. Put a bottle of lotion on a vent so it's warm for when you want to use it.

13. Deep condition your hair. (& we just posted a deep conditioning recipe!)

14. Use a sugar scrub on your legs.

15. At-home manicure.

16. Soak your feet.

17. At-home pedicure.

18. Use a facial mask. 

19. Unplug or turn off your phone.

20. Curl up with a good book.

21. Give yourself quiet time.

22. Try yoga.

23. Heat up towels and your robe by throwing them in the dryer for 10 minutes.

24. Use essential oils on your skin.

25.  Try out aromatherapy.

Enjoy your spa day ladies!! -A 

diy oatmeal scrub for your dry winter skin!

We all love Christmas season.... minus the harsh things it does to your skin. Dry, flakey, itchy. You’ll find that oatmeal can be used in a different way than just for breakfast! So try this DIY face scrub! All of things you need is in your kitchen, so go grab them! - A

Place a few tablespoons of oats in a blender and blend for just a few minutes, then grab some bananas and mash them up! Then, add some almond oil, and some honey. Next, add some fresh orange juice (which acts as an exfoliator and makes pores smaller) and some mineral salt, (removes dead skin) if you don't have mineral salt substitute with kosher salt.
 
Mix all together and place a few tablespoons all over your face and sit for about 15 minutes or until the mask is dried on your face, then rinse with warm water!

*so you'll need*

• oats
• mashed banana
• pure almond oil
• honey
• fresh orange juice
•  mineral salt
• blender

DIY Face Powder

Do you have trouble finding the correct shade of face powder at the drugstore? Then a DIY face powder just might be for you. AND  there are only 2 ingredients!

You will need:

        - 2 Tbsp Corn Starch

        -1-2 tsp of either cinnamon or cocoa powder to start

Just add in more cinnamon or cocoa powder until you reach your skin tone!

Enjoy!!    -A :)

DUPES LIST

Hey girls! Don't you hate how all the make counter brands are so expensive? I know we all hate buying those expensive makeup brands but since we really love how the makeup looks or the color or how product or goes on,etc we buy it anyways. Well I have found a solution, this dupes list will be your best friend! You can get a steal at your local drug store! ENJOY -A

mac "rebel" vs. wet & wild "sugar plum fairy"

mac "pink nouveau" vs. Revlon "stormy pink"

Nars color stick vs e.l.f color stick

Benefit hoola bronzer vs. NYC Smooth skin in "sunny"
NARS lipgloss in "Orgasm" vs. NYX mega shine lipgloss in "beige"
mac pro longware foundation vs. Revlon colorstay

All Natural Conditioning Hair Mask

Have problems with a dry, flaky scalp? What if I told you the use of coconut oil could solve that problem. All you need is a jar of organic virgin coconut oil, a hair tie, and a wide toothed comb! 

INSTRUCTIONS

             -Part your hair down the center

             -Take a tablespoon of coconut oil and rub it in between your hands 

             -Rub the coconut oil that is on your hands into your hair in 1inch increments making sure to include the scalp and ends of your hair

              -Take your wide toothed comb and brush through your hair to make sure the oil is evenly distributed

              - Tie your hair up in a top knot and wrap a warm towel around it 

              - Let sit for 30 to 40 minutes

              -Wash your hair to get the oil out and condition as usual ( I recommend shampooing twice to ensure there is no oil left)

Enjoy!                   -A :)

DIY blush!

This DIY project is amazing, it'll save you a lot of money! This is a cheap way to make blush! And it works and it's fun to make, all you need is; 

- red food coloring (I used a pink) 

- empty container 

- baby powder 

- water 

 Instructions: 

First- get a small bowl and pour baby powder into it, ( as much as you need) 

Next, add water slowly (needs to be like starch *not to watery!!*) and also add your red food coloring, mix together!

Last, pour into your container and let dry over night, and use the next day! - A :) 

Natural Lip Exfoliator

Lip exfoliants are great to have if you tend to get chapped lips and love to wear lipsticks. They remove the dead skin and moisturize your lips so lipsticks go on smoother. Who wouldn't want smooth & soft lips?!

 So all you need for this product is brown sugar, olive oil, and honey. The recipe didn't come with exact measurements but just make each ingredient equal and mix it up! I tried this a few days ago and found myself making more after I used it! It works really well & I like it more than drugstore exfoliants! Enjoy!

   

      -A :)

P.S. For those of you who don't have a Pinterest, I would highly recommend getting one. We both get many of the remedies we use off of it! 

 

www.pinterest.com

DIY Moisturizing Facial Cleanser

Need a new moisturizing facial scrub? This is a very easy to make soap & it isn't as abrasive as a normal drugstore scrub. Here's what you'll need: 

- Coconut Oil

-Baking Soda

You can get these items almost anywhere; I go to Trader Joe's. The recipe is quite simple; 1 teaspoon baking soda & 1 tablespoon coconut oil. This makes enough for only 1 use so if you'd like to have a supply of it make a lot more! Oh and if you don't like the smell of coconut don't try this. 

Link: <http://allyourbeauty.org/diy-face-scrub/>

Extra: I recommend the St. Ives Apricot Scrub for a hypoallergenic,non-comedogenic, & no parabens or phthalates face soap. It can be more on the abrasive side though so it's not the best for a daily cleanse.

   

  -A :)

Rice Pack for Sore Muscles

Need something for sore muscles?

 I'm a dancer so my muscles are constantly sore & for them I have a great DIY home remedy called rice packs they are very easy and cheap to make!

Things you need:

-Bag of minute rice 

-Sewing supplies 

-Fabric 

Instructions: Take your fabric and cut it whatever size you prefer 

Next sew the two sides inside out. (for a cleaner look) Make sure you leave the top open to fill with rice 

Flip it back from inside out to the regular side.Then fill with rice a little over halfway.

Last sew your rice pack! Then you can heat your rice pack for 2 minutes! You can also put your rice pack in the freezer and can use as a ice pack! Enjoy! 

Face Mask for Oily Skin

Is oily skin your problem?

I recently wanted to try a face mask on pintrest, so this weekend I decided I would! I chose a face mask for oily skin, and I got great results! The mask I chose is also good for acne and would not break me out! www.pintrest.com

Ingredients

Lemon juice & egg white

Instructions

mix lemon juice and egg white together (like a paste) and apply to your face. When it dries completely you know its time to remove. Rinse the mask off with warm water. It great to repeat this mask every so often! - A :) 

Welcome to Skin Care Essentials!

                         Hello & Welcome to Skin Care Essentials! This is a blog that will share natural skincare recipes on a regular basis. The blog will be ran by two girls who would love to share some natural remedies with you! Blogs will be signed by the first letter of our names, A, ( which ironically is the same!). We will be sure to share the links to the full recipes of products we use and talk about in our future posts for your use! Enjoy! :)

                                  -A