CBD Skincare: The Holy Grail for Sensitive Skin - Discovering Calmness And Clarity

 

CBD Skincare: The Holy Grail for Sensitive Skin - Discovering Calmness And Clarity

Having clear, flawless skin is everyone’s dream. Not only does it enhance perceptions of attractiveness and health, but it also conveys the message that a person is really taking care of their personal well-being and hygiene. Having clear, healthy skin makes one feel more confident and ready to face the world. 

With the recent surge of skincare fads popularized by the South Korean beauty industry—or K-beauty, as they call it—people are becoming increasingly attuned to buying skincare products that claim to solve their skincare woes. And not just any product—consumers prefer brands that use natural ingredients instead of synthetic ones. 

This is why CBD-infused skincare delights are such a hit to consumers who want to use products from Mother Nature itself! Not only does CBD substantially improve one’s skin quality with its anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects, but it also provides other health benefits, such as lowering anxiety, stress, and feelings of depression. Most importantly, CBD is hypoallergenic and suitable for use even in sensitive skin. 

What Does It Mean To Have Sensitive Skin?

Sensitive skin is a surprisingly common condition wherein the skin is more prone to allergic reactions such as redness and itching than standard skin types. People with sensitive skin usually experience frequent itching, burning, and patches of rashes on their skin at the slight touch of something that triggers an individual’s skin reactions, even if it causes no reaction in people with normal skin. 

How Would You Know If You Have Sensitive Skin?

Those with sensitive skin often notice a frequent breakdown of the skin’s protective barrier, which may be attributed to environmental irritants, dehydration, or an underlying disease. The telltale signs and symptoms of sensitive skin include any of the following:

• Redness
• Swelling
• Flaky patches of skin
• Rough texture of the skin
• Open sores with or without yellowing crust 
• Peeling dead skin cells
• Itching
• Burning sensation
• Pain

Mastering Sensitive Skin Care: The Essential 3 Components

Depending on the severity, you can manage problems caused by sensitive skin with home remedies or consult a dermatologist for professional medical advice. Overall, though, there are three components when it comes to the treatment of sensitive skin:

(1)  Relief: At this stage, your focus should be on managing the presenting symptoms, such as itching, burning sensations, and pain.  

(2)  Treatment of the underlying cause: After relieving the source of discomfort, the next step is to determine the underlying cause or the allergens that trigger your sensitive skin. The best way to do this is to visit your dermatologist or allergologist for an allergy skin test. 

(3)  Avoid exposure to triggers: After pinpointing the offending agents or conditions that trigger the sensitivity reactions of your skin, the next step is to avoid exposure to them to prevent your sensitive skin from getting triggered. 

Home Remedies For Sensitive Skin

Many DIY at-home beauty tips harness the power of ingredients often found in your kitchen or bathroom cabinet, offering relief from discomfort while promoting a healthy and radiant complexion. 

Discover how simple, natural ingredients can be your allies in achieving a calmer and more balanced skin tone, all from the comfort of your home.

Check out some of the DIY tips for sensitive skin.

• Moisturize your skin with a fragrance-free lotion to soothe dry skin.
• Avoid scratching the itchy area. Instead, add some calamine cream to it. If you don’t have it, just put the body part with the irritated skin under cold water. Then, gently pat it dry and apply lotion or a soothing balm.
• Take oatmeal baths. Studies show that colloidal oatmeal helps prevent skin dryness and irritation. It also improves the skin’s barrier and makes it less likely to react to irritants such as perfumes or dyes.
• Coconut Oil: Coconut oil is a natural moisturizer that can help nourish and protect sensitive skin. Apply a thin layer of virgin coconut oil to your skin to lock in moisture.
• Honey Mask: Honey is a natural humectant and has antibacterial properties. Apply raw honey as a mask to calm and moisturize sensitive skin.
• Take cold showers. Hot baths further dry out and irritate the skin, so it is better to take cold showers. If you cannot opt out of hot baths, limit it to under 5 minutes. And when drying your skin with a towel, gently pat it against your skin instead of rubbing it all over.
• Always apply sunscreen 30 minutes before you go out of the house.
• Avoid tight-fitting clothing to prevent fabric friction from irritating your skin, which could lead to redness, pain, and irritation.
•  Take probiotics or apply some probiotic cream to help nourish and restore your skin’s protective barrier.
• With its gentle and calming properties, lavender water can work wonders for soothing sensitive skin. The natural compounds found in lavender essential oil have anti-inflammatory and antiseptic qualities, making it an excellent choice for alleviating redness, irritation, and discomfort.

When To See A Physician For Sensitive Skin Concerns

If at-home treatments are not effective, schedule an appointment with your trusted dermatologist so that they can help you determine any underlying cause for your sensitive skin and come up with a plan formulated for sensitive skin.

How CBD Can Help Soothe Sensitive Skin

Cannabidiol’s touted anti-inflammatory properties effectively minimize potential triggers of skin diseases such as eczema, dermatitis, and psoriasis. Research reveals that cannabidiol helps reduce the levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines while inhibiting T cell proliferation and the induction of T cell apoptosis. Consequentially, CBD minimizes skin irritation, itching, redness, swelling, pain, and inflammation. 

Moreover, CBD is also known to modulate the activity of sebocytes, which produce the sebum or oil that naturally lubricates the skin to prevent it from drying out. Hence, CBD acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and moisturizer.

As a bonus, CBD also boasts antioxidant properties, which prevent oxidative damage and help restore the healthy protective barrier of the skin. 

This is why CBD oil or CBD-infused skin care products are recommended for those who want to soothe dry, flaky skin and reduce irritation, which is highly beneficial for those with sensitive skin. 

Is It Safe To Use CBD-Infused Products On My Sensitive Skin?

The short answer: YES!

Trying skincare fads can be a nightmare if you have sensitive skin because it might contain irritants in the ingredients. However, with DutchNatural’s CBD Skincare series consisting of high-quality body creams and gels, you would not have to worry because these products are non-comedogenic, so they are gentle on the skin; and they are formulated with 99% pure full-spectrum CBD that is of the highest quality, which calms and soothes even the most sensitive skin. 

Ingredient lists are key when it comes to sensitive skin. Their products are also made from organic products and are free from known allergens such as BHA, BHT, fragrance, sulfates, silicones, parabens, formaldehyde butylene-glycol, propylene-glycol, PEG, and phthalates. Therefore, you can rest assured that these are typically safe to use, even on sensitive skin.

To Sum It Up

In summary, CBD has become a highly sought-after ingredient in the skincare industry, particularly for those with sensitive skin. CBD-infused products offer a gentle and natural solution, providing a unique ability to promote calmness and clarity while reducing redness, irritation, and discomfort.

By tapping into its anti-inflammatory and soothing properties, CBD skincare brings a newfound sense of balance to sensitive skin, as explored in this blog post.

Natural Body Scrubs The Inexpensive Way To Pamper Your Skin

Natural Body Scrubs The Inexpensive Way To Pamper Your Skin At Home

Is your bath time routine in need of a pick-me-up? If you're looking for new products to help you relax and rejuvenate and do not want to break the bank, why not try DIY body scrubs? Natural body scrubs are an inexpensive way to give yourself a spa day at home.

You don't need to spend a fortune on a packaged scrub full of preservatives when you can make it yourself. From coffee to sugar, these ingredients will leave your skin feeling soft, smooth, and refreshed.

So ditch the expensive store-bought products and give your wallet a break with these natural products. Your skin will thank you!

Natural Body Scrubs For Healthy Skin
Natural body scrubs are a fantastic, natural alternative to expensive bath products on the market. They use natural ingredients such as sugar, sea salt, and bits of fruit to gently exfoliate and remove dead skin cells from the body, leaving you with smooth and bright skin!

Not only that, but natural body scrubs also often come paired with natural oils like coconut oil or jojoba oil to ensure deep hydration. In fact, natural body scrubs have become so popular that they’ve been integrated into luxurious spa treatments worldwide!

So when it comes to gentle yet effective exfoliation and natural hydration, natural body scrubs have proven themselves time and time again as the perfect solution!

Five Natural Scrubs You Need To Try
There are many benefits of using a body scrub, like helping with exfoliation to boost cellular turnover, reducing the appearance of dark spots, and even promoting collagen. There are several natural options, from baking soda scrubs to coffee grounds and coconut oil.

Number 1: Baking Soda Scrubs- Known for their anti-inflammatory properties and also helps ease acne symptoms.

Number 2: Coffee Scrubs- Has antioxidants that can help combat signs of aging and reduce blemishes on the skin's surface.

Number 3: Coconut Oil- An oil ? Yes, you see when you use oil to cleanse your skin, the oil bonds to the oils and dirt on your skin. Besides protecting your skin, the oil also keeps it soft and moisturized.  Coconut oil can be extremely beneficial for the skin because not only is it anti-fungal, anti-bacterial, and anti-inflammatory, but it also prevents aging.

Number 4: Sugar Body Scrubs are gentle enough to use on sensitive skin, and sugar is the gentler way to go from a brown sugar scrub to other sugar scrub recipes.

Number 5: Salt Scrubs help to increase circulation while providing an intense exfoliating treatment.

With so many natural scrubs that provide various benefits, you’re bound to find one that fits your needs perfectly!

Top Body Scrubs And How To Use Them Right
Exfoliating dry skin with a scrub is a great way to remove impurities and dead cells that can accumulate on your face and make you look dull.

There are many benefits of using a scrub on your body. You can even use them for an at-home spa-like facial treatment. Using the proper scrub for each skin concern is essential. For example,

• If you have oily skin, a charcoal scrub is ideal for its mattifying properties, as it will absorb excess oil and unclog pores.
• To brighten up the complexion, opt for a fruit-based scrub that contains lactic acid and Vitamin C, which promote natural radiance.
• If focusing on sensitive areas like the eyes or nose, stick with a gentler scrub.

Keep in mind that too much of a good thing can happen, especially when it comes to over-exfoliating the skin! Yep, if you exfoliate too often, the skin's barrier function can become compromised! Hence, no matter which scrubs you choose, focus on gentle circular motions when massaging into the skin – this will help activate circulation while softening tough spots before gently removing them with warm water.

DIY. How To Make Your Own Sugar And Salt Body Scrub At Home 

Looking for a way to pamper yourself at home? Then why not try some of these DIY beauty tips? All you need are some everyday kitchen ingredients. You can use coarse or fine-grained ingredients depending on your desired consistency.

• Start by combining one cup of organic sugar or table salt with 1/4 cup of oil such as coconut oil, almond oil, olive oil, or avocado oil.
• For added benefits and scent, throw in some drops of your favorite essential oils and mix them up with a spoon.
• Once all the ingredients are combined, scoop a handful and massage it over clean skin in gentle circular motions for about 10 minutes before rinsing the mixture with warm water.
• Enjoy feeling relaxed and rejuvenated!

In Conclusion
Natural scrubs can be just as effective as expensive bath products, and on top of that, they are also more cost-effective. Plus, they smell great too!

Whether you are a skincare junkie or a skincare novice, DIY natural scrubs can be a fun and rewarding experience. Have fun experimenting with your own combinations and discover why natural scrubs are the way to go!

7 Unconventional Nightly Skincare Tips

  From Pantry To Pretty With 7 Unconventional Nightly Skincare Tips, Barbie's Beauty Bits

By now, everyone knows the traditional nighttime skincare routines: remove makeup, gentle cleanser, face oils, toners, serums, night creams, eye creams, spot treatments, mi-cellar water, a double cleanse for washing your face, and more from skincare brands and skincare products with active ingredients.-WOW that was a mouthful! 

But did you know there are some unconventional ways to boost the health of your skin and prevent the signs of aging?

While I could open my own boutique with the skincare products I have. Today, I had a flashback of where all of this began, which was from my "Pantry to Pretty Beauty Routines," where I would share skincare tips for protecting the skin and skin barrier and other DIY beauty tips with unlikely products found in your kitchen or home.

So if you ever tried honey to banish a zit, bananas for shiny hair, or an DIY oatmeal face scrub. I have some more unconventional nightly skincare tips just for you and the health of your skin. So continue reading.  

Drink A Dose Of Reishi Mushroom Tea Before Bed
When it comes to skincare, mushrooms can be pretty magical! While you may have thought I was going to suggest trying a mushroom facial or mushroom scrub – there is another way to get the benefits from mushrooms, which is a mushroom tea.

First off, these aren't just any old mushrooms; they are reishi mushrooms, adaptogen fungi used for centuries in East Asian medicinal practices.

This shroom, commonly referred to as the mushroom of immortality, is full of antioxidants that help prevent damage to your cells.

The reishi mushroom benefits for skin work best when ingested. These powerhouse mushrooms contain ample beta-glucans, which promote skin hydration (a key criterion for healthy skin). They can also help your body synthesize ceramides, which form a protective layer on your skin to lock in moisture.

As a bonus, studies show that reishi mushrooms can promote stress relief – a must for a restful night's sleep.

Make A Bedtime Sugar Facial Scrub
Sugar might be one of the worst things you can eat for your skin, but it works a charm externally. It kind of sounds hypocritical, right? But skincare products derived from sugar are actually popular. For example, Glycolic acid is a type of alpha-hydroxy acid (or AHA) that's derived from sugar cane.

And according to Healthline, sugar scrubs work because the fine grains of sugar create a gentle exfoliating buff that softens as you work it.

Unlike other exfoliators, sugar dissolves – meaning that you won't risk micro-abrasions as you cleanse. Sugar is also natural, unlike many micro-beads, making it an environmentally friendly alternative, especially for those with sensitive skin.

Simply mix sugar with a carrier oil (like coconut oil) and a few drops of your favorite essential oil, and you are on your way to brighter, glowing skin.

A Bedtime Snack Of Guacamole And Coconut Water
This may sound like a super weird tip to add to your nightly skincare routine but bear with me. These snacks you might find at your favorite Mexican restaurant can do more than provide a delicious dose of calories. They also tackle three fundamental criteria of skincare: healthy fats, hydration, and vitamin C.

The avocados and lime juice in guacamole provide lots of healthy fat and Vitamin C (respectively) that your skin needs, regardless of skin type for anti-inflammation and oil-barrier regeneration.

Hydrate as you hibernate with coconut water. Coconut water is one of the most hydrating liquids on earth, chock full of electrolytes that help keep your dry skin hydrated. If you're looking for a late-night healthy snack, make it guac and coconut water.

Get Your Beauty Sleep
Sleep Wrinkles And Beauty Sleep
Guess sleeping beauty knew something as beauty sleep is a real thing! Sleep may be the closest thing to a fountain of youth when it comes to your nightly skincare routine as no one likes waking up with dark circles, puffiness, and bags in the eye area.

Our skin repairs itself and recovers while you snooze, leading to a long list of benefits for your skin. The key is to get enough shut-eye -- 7 to 9 quality hours each night. While you can invest in the best skin care products and makeup removers, your beauty sleep is one of the best things for your skin.

Prevent Pillow Face
Sleep With Anti-aging Beauty Pillow
What is an anti-aging beauty pillow, you may be asking? Well, did you know that your pillow can be aging you? What? Yes, for starters, when sleeping on a traditional pillow, you apply about 8 lbs of pressure to your face causing your face to crease on your pillow.

So what is the big deal?

Constant compression to the face from your pillow for hours every night causes puffiness and creases, aka sleep wrinkles. While these fine lines and wrinkles may appear to disappear in the morning, these creases and puffiness become permanent wrinkles over time.

But don’t worry. There are ways to prevent sleep wrinkles with a Sleep & Glow Omini Pillow. This pillow's shape helps minimizes face distortion, morning puffiness and provides neck support.

Special material adapts to the shape of your face, reduces asymmetries for habitual side sleepers, and helps you get more out of your moisturizers by minimizing facial contact. SO you are not wasting those expensive nighttime skincare products on your pillow. 

This pillow is a must in my book as not only does it provide comfort while sleeping on your side or back, but also an anti-aging cosmetic effect! Now that is some beauty sleep if you ask me! 

Anti-wrinkle Bra For Sleeping
You're kidding me, Miss Barbie. No, I'm not. I told you I would share some unconventional skin care tips for your nightly routine.  

There’s nothing like waking up, ready to seize the day, and you walk into the bathroom to take a shower, and what do you see... Boobie Wrinkles! Yep, those unsightly chests and decolletage wrinkles called cleavage rhytides. That appears on the upper check between the neck and the upper abdomen.

These wrinkles start as dynamic lines and creases over time from certain sleep positions, like sleeping on your side from the weight of your breasts creases the skin of your chest and neck, forming wrinkles. Eventually, these wrinkles stop fading away in the morning and will become permanent wrinkles.

But fret no more beauties as I share with you the Pillow Bra, an anti-wrinkle bra for sleeping that naturally and safely prevents the formation of creases and wrinkles on the cleavage.

This little pink beauty will help reduce cleavage wrinkles, AND it has also been proven to help eliminate existing ones.

The Sleep&Glow pillow bra comfortably supports and separates the breasts while you sleep, helping to

• Gently hold your chest in place while you sleep on your side.
• The skin of your neck and chest stays smooth, and wrinkles don’t form.
• Has adjustable bands fitting women up to US size 2X
  

 Get 10% OFF both items with code: barbie10

So there you have it beauties, 7 Unconventional Nightly Skincare Tips. 

Do you have any unconventional or DIY skincare beauty tips? If so let me know below.

Top DIY At-Home Beauty Tips On The Web

Because of the pandemic more have resorted to some at-home beauty treatments for a little TLC for our skin, hair, and body. And the best part is you can do some of these without having to go out and purchase beauty products, but instead use some goodies from your pantry with this round up of some of the top DIY at-home beauty tips on the web.

For fun we had someone scour the web for us to put together this list of DIY at home beauty tips. Some of these I've tried, some I have not. I am just sharing this for fun, so please do your research.

From a banana hair treatment to a coffee body scrub, and a dash of coconut for luscious lashes we’ve got your whole body covered.

CBD Oil

More and more people are turning to CBD oil as a treatment for a variety of medical conditions ranging from anxiety, depression, skin conditions, sleep disorders, chronic pain and more. There are some great capsules and more that are worth taking a look at.  https://cbdfx.com/collections/cbd-hemp-capsules/

Make sure to use high-quality CBD oil extracted using chemical-free processes. You can take a look at https://cbdfx.com/cbd-extraction-process/ to know more about premium CBD brands and their extraction processes. 

Turn To Your Eye Drops To Ease The Breakout
Nothing like waking up to an unwanted guest on your face... A pimple. One popular DIY tip is to zap that zit with some eye drops.

Simply soak a piece of cotton or a cotton pad in eye drops and place it in the freezer for about 5 minutes. Dab this cotton on the pimple, and you will notice the redness and swelling reduce.

Turmeric Face Mask
This is one I have tried as Turmeric is anti-inflammatory and is great at soothing and calming. And a bonus is it also defends skin against damaging free radicals that cause premature skin aging.

Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon of turmeric
• 1 teaspoon of organic honey (anti-inflammatory and antibacterial to hydrate, heal and soothe)
• 1 tablespoon of greek natural yogurt (fights fine lines and moisturizes) 
  

Baking Soda Works Miracles For Ingrown Hair
Ingrown hair is a common problem after shaving. It can ruin the texture and cause dullness of the skin. You can use a simple body scrub prepared with baking soda to get rid of this issue.

In a small bowl, add about one tablespoon of baking soda, one tablespoon of water, and one tablespoon of ground oatmeal. Mix this into a paste and spread it on the skin evenly. Rinse the paste after 5 minutes by scrubbing to achieve smooth and supple skin.

Exfoliation Is The Key To Healthy Skin
Removing the dead skin debris that forms on the top layer is crucial to improving skin texture, reducing pore size, and eliminating the risk of breakouts and excess dryness.

You can choose from chemical exfoliators like BHA, AHA, or other enzyme-based formulas. They are known to cleanse the skin and remove dirt and debris from the pores to increase glow. You can also use homemade scrubs or exfoliants such as sugar and olive oil for excellent results.

Try Almond Oil For Under Eye Bags
Under-eye bags or puffiness is a common problem that could make you look tired. Massage a few drops of pure almond oil under the eye before going to bed. It will help in toning the skin to give a healthy and refreshed look.

Beat Up A Banana For Shiny Hair
A banana hair mask can lock in the necessary moisture to control frizz, dryness, and dullness of the hair.

Add one mashed banana, one tablespoon honey, one egg, and ½ glass of dark beer to a bowl. Mix into a smooth paste and apply to the hair. Let it rest for about 4 hours and wash off with a mild shampoo. Your hair will feel silky smooth and nourished within a few weeks.

Use Coconut And Lavender Oil For Luscious Lashes
I've used another oil for this, so I am excited to see how the coconut oil and lavender oil can help you achieve thick and long eyelashes. Especially if the lavender is scented? Not sure about that near the eye. 

Add ½ teaspoon of coconut oil and four drops of lavender oil to a small bowl. Dip a Q-tip in this mixture and apply it to the lashes before going to bed to get fabulous results.

Coffee Body Scrub
There is a great brand I love that has an amazing coconut coffee body scrub. Coffee grounds are a great exfoliant in homemade beauty scrubs. The grounds work to gently remove dead skin cells, which helps to rejuvenate and boost circulation.

Choose fine grounds, as the coarse kind can be too harsh for sensitive or delicate skin, and mix with 1/2 cup brown sugar and 1/2 a cup melted coconut oil and mix.

Listerine And Apple Cider Vinegar Foot Soak
What?  We ran across this Listerine and vinegar foot soak idea, I figured we'd share this too!  I know vinegar is great for a lot of aliments so it was an interesting share

To start, add one part original Listerine, one part vinegar, and two cups of warm water to a foot bath big enough to fit two feet.

So there you have it, so great DIY at home beauty tips. Do you have any DIY beauty tips that you love? Any of these sound interesting? Let me know by commenting below!

Top Beauty Hacks: How To Use Your Makeup In Multiple Ways!

Looking pretty can sure cost a lot sometimes! But what if I told you, that some of the common makeup products have multiple uses.  Awesome, right? Plus, it can help you save money and time. Especially, if it’s one of those days you need to get out the door quickly, while still looking BEAUTYful! In addition to the many uses to save money, using these products correctly can also help you to save, by getting the most out of your products.  See below some of my top favorites beauty hacks, to use makeup in multiple ways…

White Eyeliner Beauty Hacks:
Using the color white near the inner corner of your eyes and your waterline will give the illusion of larger eyes. You can also use a white eyeliner as an illuminator or a white eyeshadow for that extra pop.  Additionally, apply as a highlighter on the bridge of your nose and brow bone.  Lastly, use it as a primer on your eyes, this will make the colors bold and darker.

Mascara Beauty Hacks:
This can be used to both your eyelashes and eyebrows, used as an eyeliner, as well as covering gray hairs.

Save money by making your mascara last longer:

• Apply a non-waterproof mascara first, doing this will help with easy removal.
• Place the waterproof mascara on top of the coat of non-waterproof.  
• Combining the two will give you the benefits of having a great smear proof curled lash, which will last all day, with easy removal. 

Lipstick Beauty Hacks:
Use lipstick as a blush, concealer and the apparent, on your lips!  Depending on the color, it can also be use on your eyes! 
 
While I don’t need to explain how to use your lipstick as a blush or as an eyeshadow.  I’m sure you're wondering how in the heck can I use lipstick as a concealer?!  Well, lipstick works wonders on getting rid of dark under eye circles.  Keep in mind you can’t use any color of lipstick; you need to consider your skin tone.  If you have darker skin, bright orange-red lipstick works best when trying to conceal. Why does this work?  Think of a color wheel, where colors can neutralize each other. Dark circles usually appear as blue or green.  Using a bright orange-red color, which is the opposite on a color wheel, helps to counteract the darkness, hence minimizing the appearance of dark circles. 

Eyeliner Pencil:
Use this bad boy as an eyeliner, brow liner, eyeshadow for a smoking eye look and to contour your nose (use brown for the nose).   Eyeliner is also an excellent way to making your eyelashes appear thicker. By just applying some black eyeliner to the upper waterline.

Bronzer Beauty Hacks:
This one takes the cake! As it can be used as an eyeshadow, to contour and applied to your cheeks. The best one for bronzer is using it to make your eyelashes appear thicker. By dusting your lashes with it before applying your mascara. This will allow the mascara to adhere to the lashes, building thickness. This is an excellent DIY approach to the fiber formula mascaras! Just 90% cheaper!

Blush Beauty Hacks:
Aside from the obvious, which is applying to your cheekbones, this little beauty works wonders on your lips.  You can mix it with a gloss or even layer it with another color to create a shimmer lip color.  It also works fabulously as an eye shadow.

Face Primer Beauty Hacks:
Primer allows your makeup to adhere better and last longer, with little transparency and minimal fading.  Also, if you have a terrific primer, it will prevent creasing and false wrinkles. Instead of purchasing many different primers, I use a face primer for my face, lips and eyes! 

Eyeshadow Beauty Hacks:
Depending on the color of the shadow, you can create a variety of looks with this.

• Dark colors:
• Can be used as an eyeliner
• To hollow your cheeks
• Fill in your eyebrows
• Mix with a gloss for a lipstick
• Blush (if it’s in the brown or pink family)
• Contour cheeks
• Add to clear nail polish to make a colored polish. 
• Cover Grays

• Light colors: A highlighter to both your cheekbone and brow bone

Dry Shampoo Beauty Hacks:
This item is a must have in my hair arsenal! Not only does it absorb the oil in your hair, but it also gives your hair extra volume and lift.  The hack to getting the most of this is always to apply dry shampoo in the beginning when it is clean, at the roots.  Why wait till it’s dirty, this too gives you a few more days of hair.   Another use of dry shampoo, apply it to a bobby pin before your up-do, it will give it a better grip!

So you see, the possibilities are endless!

Top 5 Beauty Uses For Coconut Oil

Sometimes you feel like a nut, sometimes you don’t! And today I do, with my top 5 Pantry to Pretty Bits; using coconut oil in my beauty regimen.

Products: There are two products I use.  First up, is Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil.  It is only $5.99 for a 16 ounce jar, giving me plenty of usage at a great price. I also like using Rahda's Beauty 100% Pure Fractionated Coconut Oil, as it has no fillers and is the highest quality carrier oil available. The cost for this is only $5, when you use the code: RCOCONUT during checkout!

        My Top 5 Beauty Uses For Coconut Oil

1. To Remove Eye Makeup:  Simply rub this on your eyelids, and it removes your makeup amazingly! It also works great to help soften the lashes too, while removing your mascara.
2. A Scrub:  Coconut oil works wonders in preventing dryness and flaky patched skin.  Merely, combine some coconut oil with sea salt or sugar and you have your exfoliant.
3. Lips:  This works miracles on your lips to help moisturize.  If you want to add some color to it, add some bits of mineral eye shadow to the coconut oil and you’ve created your own colored lip balm.
4. Bath:  No more need for Calgon to take you away, as you can add coconut oil to your bath to help moisturize and soothe your skin and worries of the day.
5. Hair:  The essential proteins in coconut help damaged hair immensely.  Hence making it a great deep conditioner.  Simply apply it to ends of your hair and comb it through.   Once you have it applied to all the needed areas, pin your hair up and wrap it in saran wrap or a shower cap, for an hour or longer (sometimes I sleep in it). Then wash and rinse the hair as normal.  A bonus:  Coconut oil is fantastic at fighting dandruff as well. 

A DIY Oatmeal Facial Scrub

It’s been a while since I’ve played with some items in my kitchen for a new DIY scrub.  A friend of mine has a spa, and one of the featured treatments was an oatmeal scrub.  It sounded amazing but wasn’t amazing was the cost.  So I decided, what a great idea for a Pantry to Pretty Bit.  The recipe is very similar to hers, but 90% of the cost.

What You’ll Need:

• ¼ cup of ground whole oats.  I initially attempted to use an old coffee grinder to grind this, but ended up purchasing it at a store for a finer blend.
• 1 cup of brown sugar
• ¼ cup of grape seed oil
• One tablespoon of lemon
• You can add milk or water to the mix.  I added milk.
• You want to mix it all in a bowl, to a thick consistency.
• Apply to face in a circle motion
• Leave on for 30 minutes
• Rinse and wash, moisturize as usual 

Storage: The mixture will last a while if stored properly.  If you have a mason jar or something air tight, I'd use that for storage.

The Benefits: Exfoliation of the skin helps with skin rejuvenation. Hence using a gentle mixture like this oatmeal DIY scrub, you'll be able to use it frequently leaving your skin soft and glowing.

Top 5 Beauty Uses For Apple Cider Vinegar

Today, I wanted to share with you a Pantry to Pretty Bit.  Getting Gorgeous For Less, With At Home Beauty Creations.  Today’s bit is with Apple Cider Vinegar.

Apple cider vinegar (ACV) is one of the great all-time pure goodness remedies from grandma.  It contains natural bacteria fighting properties as well as various minerals and other elements that are important to maintaining a healthy body.  You can use it to help with skin conditions, as well as some other ailments.  See below my Top 5 Beauty Uses For Apple Cider Vinegar.

I’ll start with this one first as it’s that time of the year, with allergies and colds; you can get a sore throat.  And we all know how painful these can be.  But with apple cider vinegars wonderful antibacterial factors, it is sure to soothe this away.

Ingredients For Sore Throat Remedy:

• One tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar.
• One tablespoon of pure organic honey.
• One cup of warm water.
• Mix well.

You can also make a formula to gargle. Personally, for a really sore throat I prefer this; I just cut down the water to about ½ cup.

Important: Apple cider vinegar is very acidic, so with any mixture you make, it is imperative that you always dilute it with juice or water.  DO NOT GIVE HONEY or the above mixture to children or infants.

Facial Toner:
Apple cider vinegar is great to treat acne, minimize pores and other skin issues.

How To:

• Mix 1 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar with 2 cups of water.
• Dip a cotton ball or cloth (I prefer to use THE MAKEUP ERASER) into mixture and wipe it all over your face.
• Like other toners, there is no need to rinse off.
• You will get used to the scent.  If not, it will start to disappear in about 10 minutes.

Hair Rinse:
I love using this to help remove hair product residue.

How To:

• I find it best to use this in the sink, instead of the shower. 
• Mix 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar with 1 cup water.
• Wash your hair and apply before you condition.
• Rinse out and condition as normal.

Razor Bumps & Irritation:
ACV is great for inflamed areas on the skin.

How To:

• For this, I use the sore throat remedy that has a combo of both honey and vinegar.
• Simply apply to the skin and leave for about 5-7 minutes and rinse.

My Diet:
The expression "An apple a day, keeps the doctor away", is perfect,in this case.  As I take a tablespoon of apple cider vinegar daily (diluted with some water).  According to a trainer friend of mine, it can help with breaking down some starches, digestion, detoxing and blood sugar control. As mentioned prior, it is important to make sure you don't drink it straight as it can eat away at your tooth enamel & throat.

Lastly, for all of these hacks, you need to make sure you have the correct ingredients.  Starting with the right type of apple cider vinegar, being raw-unfiltered vinegar.  I prefer to use Braggs organic, as it is also unpasteurized and gluten free.  Furthermore, it is important that you consult with your doctor or health-care professional prior.

So there you have it, my Top 5 Beauty Uses For Apple Cider Vinegar. Do you have any tricks or ways that you use apple cider vinegar? If so let me know!

25 Plus Uses For Tea Tree Oil & Giveaway

Disclaimer:  This is a sponsored post on behalf of  Apothecary Extract.  

I haven’t done a DIY tip in a while and this one is sure worth the wait!  Today,  I am excited to share with you the many uses of Tea Tree oil!  I have partnered up with Apothecary Extracts to bring you some of the top uses of this very popular essential oil. So, whether you’re looking to use it for cosmetic purposes or for household cleaning, we have you covered.  Plus, you can register to win a GIANT 4oz bottle of 100% Pure Australian Tea Tree Oil (which lasts many people over 1 year) & a Free eBook with 50+ uses/recipes for Tea Tree Oil.  See below to enter.

About Tea Tree Oil: 
Tea Tree oil is one of the most versatile essential oils out there. The substances found in tea tree oil serve a multitude of purposes. Which is why some consider tea tree oil a miracle ingredient.   Furthermore, this oil is best known as a very powerful immune stimulant. It claims to fight all three categories of organisms (bacteria, fungi, and viruses). Which is why I love to use it to help to clean and kill germs around the house.

Learn About the Brand & Product
I was able to get a large bottle myself of this 100% pure tea tree oil and have been a DIY guru to say the least.  I did notice one thing on the bottle, that there is a bottled date on it.  Because there are no chemicals added to this, you need to know the shelf life.

The company, Apothecary Extracts was founded in 2013 because, as consumers, they were tired of not knowing what was in the oils. There are so many vendors that dilute their essential oils, or use extraction processes which contaminate the final product. Apothecary Extracts is committed to selling only the purest essential oils, and they have the tests to prove it.

So without further ado, here are just some of the many uses for Tea Tree Oil.

Skin Care Treatments

The antiseptic properties that are in this oil are wonderful for removing excess dirt and toxins
 from the top layers of the skin.

Uses

Cleansing Tea Tree Oil & Clay Masks
Exfoliating Body Scrubs
Facials
Eczema Scrubs
Lip Scrub

Hair Care Treatments 

The antibacterial and antiviral properties can help to treat scalp irritations. While the all natural moisturizing properties helps keep the hair and scalp healthy and shiny .

Uses

Treats lice
Treats & Eliminates Dandruff
Moisturizing Oil Treatment
Detangler
Replenishing Hair Mask
Gentle Cleansing Shampoo

Home Care & First Aid Remedies

When used with the right combination of ingredients, tea tree oil can become a 

staple in your medicine cabinet.

Uses

Antiseptic Spray
Burn Treatment
Itch Relief
Steam Inhalant
Soak For Sore Muscles

Aromatherapy Options

Whether in the form of a massage or by emitting fragrances, tea tree oil is effective for aromatherapy.

Uses
Oil Diffusers
Fortifying Air Freshener
Relaxing Bath Oil
Invigorating Massage Oil
Refreshing Potpourri Mix

Household Cleaners & Solutions

Perhaps the most touted benefit of the Melaleuca alternifolia tree is its bacteria killing
abilities.  Plus no harmful chemical smells!

Uses

All Purpose Cleaner
Cleaning & Whitening Detergent
Toilet Cleaner
Dryer Sheets 

Giveaway Time: 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Note: Right now Apothecary Extract, is only able to ship this product in the USA. Canada is not yet an option. Nor are any other countries. Contest winners need to have an Amazon account in order to redeem their prize. 

 IMPORTANT: Tea Tree Oil is meant only for external use. If you have a known allergy to tea tree oil you should avoid any kind of contact with it.