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!

Top New Beauty Products To Try For February 2015

DISCLAIMER:  This post contains affiliate links.

 

It's time for a quick coffee break, to see what top beauty finds hit the grande list this month!  With a so many different beauty items hitting the market each month, it’s hard to decide which one is the one for you! Or which one you should at least know about. Whether you're looking for an eyeshadow palette, primer or the hottest new gizmo, I did all the research for you.  So, check below for this month's top new beauty products to try! 

Iluminage Skin Rejuvenating Pillowcase With Copper Oxide:  OK Sleeping Beauty, I got one for you! This copper-infused pillowcase is designed to help maintain your skin's youthful appearance and minimize visible signs of aging, while you sleep.

Kat Von D Lock-It Featherweight Primer:  I am a big fan of the Kat Von D line.  She has high quality products that live up to her masterful techniques.  This primer is a lightweight, water-based face primer that hydrates and smooths the skin.  It acts as a great barrier between your skin and foundation.  Like a lot of primers, this formula prevents your foundation from settling into the skin and pores, creating false wrinkles. 

SEPHORA COLLECTION Hide and Sleek Skinny Cheek Contour Brush:  I was so excited when I found this. I hate using a full brush for contouring, and all I could think of was, thank you makeup gods, for listening to my request. The narrow end of this brush allows for precise contouring and seamless blending.  It is also has all-synthetic, cruelty-free fibers, with a retractable brush, that allows for great storage in any makeup bag!

Bobbi Brown Hot Collection Hot Nudes Eye Palette:  The website describes this palette as subtle meets sexy!  This collection features eight universally warm nude shadows in a range of sparkle, shimmer, mattes and metallic finishes.

Bésame Cosmetics Brightening French Vanilla Face Powder: If you follow my blog, you know I am a big fan of yellow based highlighters.  This tone works well on a variety of skin tones. This tint controls redness and leaves behind a hint of vanilla scent.

Hourglass Modernist Eyeshadow Palette: This collection comes in 7 different palettes, each having five buildable shades in each palette.  Finishes range from a matte to shimmer, offering numerous different looks. 

Interest in trying out some of these great beauty finds? Simply click below and shop away! 

The Missing Piece To Reducing Puffy, Tired Looking Eyes And Dark Circles!

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post on behalf of Radha’s Beauty.  

Views expressed were not influenced in anyway.

Puzzled, about eye bags, dark circles, puffiness & tired looking eyes? Well here is the missing piece to that…Radha Beauty Intensive Youth Eye Gel.

This eye gel was given to me to test and I was quite happy with the product. While I don’t have dark circles under my eyes, I do get puffiness. And if I had a stressful week, tired looking eyes seem to be waiting for me come Thursday.

Before I let you know my experience with the product, I would like to let you know about this eye gel.  Radha’s Beauty Intensive Youth Eye Gel has an innovative combination of ingredients for superior results. These key ingredients include the following:

• Plant Stem Cells, that help to protect against sun damage and other external aggressors.
• Hyaluronic Acid, to help hydrate the skin.
• Matrixyl 3000 that helps to firm and tighten the skin.

Additional Benefits:

• Eliminates dark circles, puffiness, dryness and sagging around the eyes.
• Increases elasticity and plumps the skin.
• Provides a youthful texture.
• Moisturizes the delicate eye area to prevent premature aging.
• A BONUS… It can also be used on the entire face for an enhanced glow and an more radiant skin.

My Experience:
First, I noticed when applying the formula, that is has a cooling effect and a ever so slightly hint of cucumber.  This was quite surprising, until I read further that this eye gel also contains aloe, cucumber, Vitamin E and Rosehip oil.  In addition to using this under my eye, I applied it to the entire eye area, finishing it off by putting it all over my face.

The gel has helped to reduce some of my puffiness, I could see a difference with just a few weeks use. Does it help with wrinkles and dark circles? Unfortunately, I can’t confirm that claim as I don’t have dark circles.  With regards to wrinkles, the product did help in hydrating the skin and eliminated some sagginess under my eyes. In turn, this could eventually help to minimize some of my wrinkles.  However, I think it is too soon to tell.

Lastly, if you follow my blog regularly, you know that if I don’t like a product I don’t talk about it.  This Radha Beauty Intensive Youth Eye Gel, gets two thumbs up from me. I really enjoyed it and will continue using in my skincare regimen.

Reverse Hair Washing...Have We Been Washing Our Hair Wrong?

In the midst of searching for some hot new hair looks, I ran across a headline in Glamour Magazine, which read “Reverse Hair Washing.”  And I was like, what the?  Well, being the want to know all about beauty, I did some further investigation.  Including speaking to Barbie's Beauty Bits go to beauty friends, and here is what I found out…

The Reverse Hair Washing Method

The premise behind reverse hair washing is to help reduce the residue that remains in your hair from the conditioner.  Going about it the “normal” way so to speak, when you wash with shampoo first and then use conditioner, most people end up not completely rinsing out the conditioner.   When this happens, you end up weighing the hair down, which in some cases can cause your hair to become lifeless, flat or, have no volume.  Reversing gives you all the benefits of a great conditioner, minus the residue, leaving you with locks of volume and bounce!

So how do you do this?

• You want to make sure that you get your hair thoroughly wet.
• Disperse the conditioner throughout your hair.
• Keep it in your hair for a few minutes. So, I recommend doing this in the shower, when you can go and shave your legs, etc.
• After about 5 minutes, you want to apply the shampoo, WITH THE CONDITIONER STILL in your hair.  The shampoo is what helps to remove the conditioner.
• Wash and rinse as normal.

IMPORTANT Tips: If you have a lot of product in your dirty hair, it will seem to be a daunting ordeal at first.  This is what I learned.

1. You must brush your hair before washing it.  Doing this will loosen any hair product(s) you have in your hair, along with helping to detangle.  It will also allow you to work in the conditioner more easily!
2. You must make sure your hair is very wet.
3. Use a great conditioner; you get what you pay for when it comes to conditioner. So if you want cheap looking hair, use cheap conditioner.  Otherwise, I recommend a higher-end product. (Sorry but this is one of those products you get what you pay for)
4. The conditioner needs to stay on the hair for at least 5 minutes. A quick in and out won’t do the job.

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Drying.  If you notice, most salons don’t towel dry your hair.  There is a reason for this.   Towels will make your hair frizzy.  I suggest a cotton t-shirt to absorb some of the moisture first.

How Often: Considering I'm new to this, I don't think this is something that you implement every time you wash your hair.  Instead, you want to apply as a Sunday hair wash, as conditioning your hair after shampooing does have some significant benefits IF YOU USE IT THE CORRECT WAY!

So there, hair you have it!

I have only tried this twice. Therefore, I am not making any claims about whether this is a good idea. But I  like to know has anyone else inserted reverse hair washing into your hair routine? It is just a fad, or do you do it all the time? Does it work long term?

UPDATE: Since I've put up this post, with the idea of wondering, "does this premise work,"  I have received some great feedback on both sides, so thank you.  The bottom line, to say this is something you should be doing all the time, is not a good idea as I mentioned when I first tried this method myself.   For the best hair results, you need to use professional quality products the way they instruct. Doing so is going to make your hair healthier and more manageable, and depending on the brand can eliminate the build-up issue. (which is the premise behind the reverse hair washing, to remove the build-up)

PER SOME stylists who have messaged me: "The purpose of shampoo is to eliminate dirt and oil from the hair. The purpose of a conditioner is to add moisture in and any benefits depending on the type of conditioner you use. If your hair is weighing down, you need to use a clarifying shampoo once every two weeks (see the Sunday shampoo below for this). And if you don't use products on your hair and it still weighs down, you're not spending enough time rinsing the conditioner out. I recommend using professional products and NOT from Walmart or Target. They do not carry the same kind of "professional products." You get what you pay for as we say. If you want healthy hair, you've got to take care of it, and it starts with using the correct products."

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