Category: Skin

Does Kylie Skin Live Up To The Hype? Our HONEST Thoughts

Published on by Lee4 Comments

Making the move from color cosmetics to skincare is no easy task – it’s a completely different ball game!

During the month of May, 21-year-old Kylie Jenner, the well-known youngest billionaire expanded her beauty empire by launching yet another brand under her name — Kylie Skin. She dropped seven skin care products, and all of them sold out within 10 minutes. There have been many praises as well as critiques, so my friends and I thought why not try the collection out for ourselves.

Our First Impression

When we saw the initial range of products, we were really impressed as it contains most of our fave skincare essentials (except SPF!). All of the products are also cruelty-free, vegan, paraben-free, and sulfate-free, which is a nice added bonus. The packaging is simple and cute, and of course, totally on-brand. Overall, it felt a little luxe, especially for the price point.

Step 1: Foaming Face Wash, $24

This is possibly our favorite product in the range. It honestly feels like velvet on your skin and it doesn’t leave it feeling dry or tight as it’s packed with hydrating ingredients like glycerin. It also boasts kiwi seed oil, a rich source of vitamin C and E, which are powerful antioxidants that help brighten your skin and protect it from damaging free radicals. It’s a very gentle cleanser, so although it should work well for most skin types, we recommend this as a second cleansing step if you’re removing makeup and SPF (or use this twice), to ensure all traces of dirt are gone.

Step 2: Walnut Scrub, $22

Ahh yes, the super controversial walnut scrub! Before this product was even released, the industry went crazy over the use of walnuts, which many skincare brands avoid due to the increased risk of over-exfoliation. Walnut shells cannot be ground to be completely smooth, they have a jagged edge and therefore could risk scratching and over-exfoliating your skin – hence, all the drama!

In the name of beauty, of course, we tried it! The result? Well, we didn’t break out, and our face definitely didn’t feel terrible! We used this scrub as gently as we could, and while some of us were left a little pink, some of us simply loved the smooth result. Ultimately, if you have sensitive or acne-prone skin, we wouldn’t recommend using this. If you do want to give it a go, be as gentle as possible and don’t use it more often than twice a week. Our personal preference when it comes to exfoliators is chemical exfoliators.

Step 3: Vanilla Milk Toner, $22

We instantly loved the idea of a hydrating milk toner. The formula is packed with hydrating ingredients like squalane, glycerin, jojoba seed oil, avocado oil, and apricot kernel oil to name a few. Interestingly, the milk toner was one of the few products that had a noticeable scent, and it really did smell good. This was definitely one of our fave products; we loaded up a cotton pad and it applied really well and felt luxurious on the skin. However, this isn’t the type of toner that will make a dramatic difference to your skin, although it is very hydrating and leaves your skin feeling soft and smooth. The formula is also very rich, so we wouldn’t recommend it for acne-prone skin as it could be too heavy.

Step 4: Vitamin C Serum, $28

Vitamin C is one ingredient that every skin expert loves and it’s one of the most powerful antioxidants on the shelves. Vitamin C helps brighten your complexion, and even out skin tone. Not only does the serum contain this key ingredient, but it also features camellia leaf extract and safflower oil to hydrate and replenish the skin.

We really like the texture of this serum; it glides onto the skin and sinks in quickly. We used one pump of this every morning (vitamin C can help boost the efficacy of SPF) to help protect our skin during the day, and although after just a couple of weeks we didn’t notice a huge difference, our skin was looking a little less dull. However, the packaging does recommend using it morning and night, so you may see better results with increased use. We also wish the 20ml bottle contained a little more serum (the standard is 30ml) as with twice-daily use this will finish more rapidly.

Step 5: Eye Cream, $20

The eye cream received rave reviews online and when we saw the ingredient list we were excited. Boasting vitamin E, C, caffeine, green tea extract, shea butter, jojoba seed oil, and pomegranate extract; it’s a beauty junkie dream list. The formula is very thick and creamy, as is typical of some eye creams, however, it could be a bit too heavy for some skin types, and would probably suit mature or dry skin best. As the formula is very thick, it didn’t sink into our skin easily, and there was a slight stinging sensation when we first applied it, although this wasn’t long-lasting. It’s not our fave eye cream, but it’s very hydrating.

Step 6: Face Moisturizer, $24

The moisturizer is super hydrating and nourishing and contains shea butter, sodium hyaluronate (aka hyaluronic acid), and glycerin (a humectant that draws moisture into the skin). It also packs antioxidants in the form of banana leaf, oat bran, and orange peel extract. The formula is also fragrance-free, so we did notice a slight pharmaceutical scent.

After trying the moisturizer consistently for a week, our skin was undoubtedly softer. The formula is quite rich, so if you have dry to normal skin this is perfect. Alternatively, it would be a great moisturizer for the winter months as it’s super hydrating. If you have oily or acne-prone skin, we’d suggest giving it a miss as it contains so many rich ingredients.

Makeup Removing Wipes, $10

As far as makeup wipes go, these do the job! We used two to thoroughly remove our cake face (we wish they were slightly ‘wetter’) and then we followed with a cleanser (not the best routine for the environment!). The wipes are packed with hydrating ingredients like aloe, chamomile, and cucumber so they don’t leave your skin feeling dry. With that said, they’re not the softest face wipes we’ve ever used, and if you have sensitive skin they may tingle a little. Overall, if you can’t quit makeup wipes, we do feel there are better, more affordable drugstore options available.

Our Final Verdict

The Kylie Skin range has your basic skin routine covered (although don’t forget SPF!), and we like that this range makes skincare feel easy. The website also has a helpful guide of when to use the products. Our favorite products are the vanilla milk toner and moisturizer; they’re simple and packed with hydrating ingredients (although they might not work for all skin types).

This is definitely a hydrating skincare routine so it’s a good all-rounder, but it won’t address any tricky skin concerns and it’s probably better suited to teens and 20s and normal to combo skin types. We’re looking forward to seeing what Kylie adds to the line, and hoping to see a face SPF, a pimple treatment, and a face mask that will get us ready for the ‘gram!

Shop KylieSkin Collection!

Would you guys try this range? Let us know in the comments.

These 5 Essential Oils Will Make You Look And Feel Better Instantly

Published on by Lee2 Comments

Beyond smelling amazing and making us feel super sophisticated, the benefits of essential oils are huge! The right oils can improve wrinkles or acne, soothe you, send you into a deep sleep, energize, and even uplift your mood. Whether in your bath salts, shampoo or skincare products, essential oils are used in a ton of different products and in their pure form, they offer everything from healing properties to mind and body support. It’s no coincidence they’re called essential oils  – if you know what we mean! So to make sure you’re not missing out on one of nature’s greatest offerings, we’re here to help you take advantage of them!

What are essential oils?

Essential oils come from naturally occurring compounds found in seeds, stems, roots, flowers, or the bark of plants. They’re amazing for skincare as they’re rich in antioxidants, antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties, but they’re not even technically an oil, they’re an intensely concentrated plant extract. Essential oils seem oil-like, but as they have no fatty acids in, technically they’re not an oil. Take this crazy fact, it takes 5000 pounds of rose petals to make just one pound of pure rose ‘oil’ and one drop of peppermint ‘oil’ is equivalent to 28 cups of peppermint tea. That’s why when you’re using essential oils, you only ever need a few drops as the formula is so intensely concentrated. You can even use Jasmine Oil for times when you need a pick me up, like for an interview or important meeting, just sniff it and it calms nerves, acts as an antidepressant, and has uplifting properties that will help you to feel more optimistic and calm.

Our Essential Oil Beauties:

Tea Tree

This amazing essential oil, derived from the Australian native plant Melaleuca alternifolia, has been used around the world for hundreds of years, and if you’ve ever struggled with acne, you’ve probably already take advantage of this antimicrobial ingredient. Tea tree is so good you’ll find the active ingredient in thousands of moisturizers, cleansers, and wipes, but it’s even better in its pure form for DIYs at home.

We love it for treating acne, and this DIY instantly targets problem areas: Mix together two teaspoons of organic honey with 4-5 drops of pure tea tree essential oil. Rub this mixture onto oily areas or pimples for 1-2 minutes and wash off with warm water. You can use this up to three times a week. But FYI, be careful as tea tree is a powerful cleanser and it could irritate and create redness from overuse, so be sure to always mix it with other ingredients.

Eucalyptus

From its incredible anti-inflammatory properties to its ability to act as a potent decongestant, deodorant and antiseptic, eucalyptus is the ultimate multitasker.

We love it for its capacity to relieve muscle pains and aches of all sorts. If you’re suffering mild twinges in your shoulder, stiff muscles, rheumatism or nursing any recent injuries, massaging eucalyptus oil on the surface of your skin will relieve stress and pain. Rub 2-3 drops of eucalyptus oil directly onto your problem areas and massage in a circular motion until it is fully absorbed. Do this twice a day until the affected areas of the body improve.

Peppermint

Peppermint is a bit like the superwoman of essential oils; it can be used both orally and topically and has powerful antimicrobial properties. Seriously, there are few mind, health or body issues it can’t help with and it’s often used to combat stomach aches, improve bad breath, clean wounds, release tight muscles, boost energy and mood, and alleviate soreness from respiratory tracts.

In the beauty world, you’ll find peppermint oil in a lot of high-quality hair care products for its ability to cleanse, brighten, nourish and promote healthy hair growth. All you need to do to get the benefits yourself is add 2-3 drops of it into your regular morning shampoo and conditioner. Not only will it stimulate your scalp and hair follicles, and thoroughly cleanse your scalp but it will energize your mind – and who doesn’t love the smell of peppermint?

Lavender

Lavender isn’t just a fragrance, it a powerful regenerative oil that can help combat aging (maybe that’s why your granny likes it so much!) with its ability to promote the production of your body’s most powerful antioxidants: glutathione, catalase and superoxide dismutase. Unlike most oils that are too reactive to use directly on your skin, you can gently rub two or three drops of lavender oil directly onto fine lines or problem areas to diminish aging symptoms.

And of course, it’s widely sold as both sprays and oils to alleviate depression, headaches, and insomnia; a few drops on your pillow (or dabbed on your temples) is the perfect way to exploit lavender’s potent healing properties and chill out.

Lemon

Lemons are an incredible antioxidant, packed with vitamin C and A, which are vital for fighting free radicals and preventing premature aging. As well as boasting AHAs (a natural exfoliant that helps remove pore-clogging dead skin), it breaks down sebum with its astringent acidic properties. Not only do lemons smell great and taste great in water (squeeze some in your morning glass to detox your body), but they’re great for removing excess oil too. Squeeze lemon juice onto a cotton pad and use it to tone your skin after cleansing.

When choosing an essential oil, look for an organic version, the extra quality is worth it when it comes to skincare. Feeling inspired? Check out the one thing you never thought of doing with oil here!

One Thing You Never Thought Of Doing With Oil

Published on by Lee2 Comments

It sounds extra AF, but swishing oil around your mouth might just be the best thing for your health and skin, seriously! The idea comes from ancient Ayurvedic medicine and involves taking a tablespoon of oil and swishing it around your mouth like mouthwash, for twenty minutes. Believe it or not, this detoxifying method actually has a ton of health benefits that improve oral health, and it can even improve acne, whiten your teeth, help with headaches, and detox your entire body.

How To Do Oil Pulling:

On an empty stomach – first thing in the morning is the best time – swish a tablespoon of oil around your mouth for twenty minutes (at least ten minutes if you’re in a hurry). Our preference is coconut oil, because obvs we have a ton lying around and it’s also antibacterial, but you can also use sesame, olive or sunflower oil. Initially, it might feel a little gross, but persist, and like us, you might even end up enjoying the experience! It should always be done on an empty stomach, so wait at least four hours after eating, and an hour after drinking.

Whatever you do, don’t swallow the oil; otherwise, you’ll basically allow all the toxins that have been drawn out to go into your stomach. Once you’ve swished for 15-20 minutes, spit it out in your bin. You can do almost anything (except speak) while you do this, but keep an eye on the time, as if you do it much longer than 20 minutes, it’s possible that the toxins could be reabsorbed into your body. Rinse your mouth with warm water or salt water, and brush your teeth.

How Oil Pulling Works:

how oil pulling works

It’s quite gross to think about, but your mouth is filled with bacteria, fungi, toxins, and plaque. Oil pulling literally cleanses your mouth by drawing out all the toxins from your gums and teeth, before they’re able to spread to the rest of your body.

Why Oil Pulling is Awesome:

Who’d have thought that you can forego a ton of expensive beauty products simply by following this daily ritual? Oil pulling is an amazing way to improve your health and detox your body, skin, and gums. Though there’s yet to be significant research into oil pulling, promising results have been found, and many doctors recommend it – apparently, Gwyneth Paltrow and Shailene Woodley are fans. Here’re just some of the amazing benefits:

Skin-clearing: Catching out nasty toxins before they reach the rest of your body has a huge impact on your skin. The same way washing your skin gets rid of surface bacteria, oil pulling gets rid of bacteria that causes skin problems before they have a chance to take hold. Reports have shown that oil pulling for a month has helped improve acne and eczema.

Teeth whitening and fresh breath: Oil pulling can remove surface stains from your teeth, and because the fats in oil can dissolve plaque, it prevents plaque build-up and reduces the risk of tooth cavities for an extra white smile. The removal of bacteria from your mouth also results in fresher breath throughout the day.

Detoxes your body: The mouth is our gateway to the majority of substances in our body, by removing bacteria from the mouth before it has a chance to reach the rest of your body it majorly impacts on your health.

Increases energy: Our immune system works 24/7 to eliminate toxic waste from the body. By getting rid of these nasty toxins at the source before your body has to, it saves precious energy to be spent on other activities.

Reduces headaches and hangovers: We’ll be honest, anything that promises to cure a hangover is worth trying; the process of oil pulling will remove alcohol toxins still lurking in your body from the night before, helping you and your body feel much better. Headaches and migraines can be a reaction to your body being under toxic stress; so extract the toxins, reduce the stress!

Why Coconut Oil is Our FAVE:

We’ve found that coconut oil, (try to use 100% raw organic cold-pressed coconut oil) is the best oil to use. Not only is it easy to find and inexpensive, but it’s also by far the best tasting of the bunch. Coconut oil also contains lauric acid that has antimicrobial and anti-fungal properties, while Vitamin E is rich in antioxidants and it’s antibacterial. If you’re going to have oil in your mouth for twenty minutes, it should at least taste okay!

Oil pulling can easily become part of your morning routine: swish while you shower and tone, or while you get dressed and scroll your Insta feed. If you’re at home, take advantage of the period after lunch before dinner and swish on an empty stomach while you watch TV.

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK?

CBD OIL: AN EFFECTIVE CURE FOR ACNE?

Published on by Lee8 Comments

In the world of natural healing, nothing is trending hotter right now than cannabinoid oil, also known as CBD oil. It’s been claimed to heal depression, anxiety, inflammation, and even cure acne! That’s right- acne. Whenever something claims to cure or even help acne, I’m always a skeptic and insist on trying it myself. I did of course, and saw real eye-opening result. Specifically, when it came to reduction of inflammation, sebum production, and stress levels. Did it work for my acne? Yes CBD oil reduced my acne after a month of use. But, we will dig deeper into that in a little bit. Before we get into how it exactly works to treat acne, let’s examine what exactly CBD oil is, how it works, and what it can be used for.

WHAT IS CBD OIL?

First things first, CBD is not weed, okay?! If you’re thinking, “heck yeah, I’m going to get legally stoned”, sorry, but you’d be wrong. It’s true Cannabinoid oil is extracted from the hemp or marijuana plant, but unlike its controversial counterpart, marijuana, it doesn’t contain any physcoactive properties. CBD oil contains higher levels of CBD and low levels of THC; THC being the only chemical in marijuana that causes the physcadelic effects, also known as the “high” feeling when smoked or consumed.

CBD (also known as cannabidiol) is the non-psychotropic component of marijuana or hemp. CBD oil is a mixture of the CBD isolate (pure CBD) + an oil like olive, hemp, or coconut. CBD oil won’t get you high because it doesn’t have the mind-altering properties of marijuana’s tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) content (they are sourced in different ways).

It is also important to know that CBD oil is not the same thing as hemp seed oil. The two are often marketed interchangeably, but CBD oil is richly concentrated in cannabidiol, whereas hemp seed oil only contains trace amounts of cannabidiol, if any.

WHAT DOES CBD OIL TREAT?

CBD oil has been claimed to treat various different diseases. It’s basically considered a cure all, here are some of the diseases or general disorders that have claimed to be cured or significantly helped by CBD oil users:

  • Anxiety
  • Alzheimer’s
  • Appetite
  • Migraines
  • Insomnia
  • Stress
  • Cancer
  • Inflammation
  • Chronic pain
  • Sleep Disorders
  • Epilepsy
  • Acne or other skin conditions

IS CBD GOOD FOR ACNE?

CBD oil is extremely effective when it comes to the treatment of acne in three ways, by inhibiting oil production, decreasing stress, and reducing inflammation.

Regulates Oil Production: Cannabinoid oil, either ingested orally or applied topically, helps to regulate oil production by calming down the sebaceous glands and inhibiting the overall production of sebum. This means that if your face is overly- oily and your pores are easily clogged, CBD may be a good choice for naturally regulating oil production to reduce acne.

Tames Inflammation:A second way CBD helps to reduce acne is through its anti-inflammatory effects. As we are well aware, acne is considered an inflammatory disease in which the pore becomes red, irritated, and highly inflamed. When it comes to systematic inflammation, some people can only find relief with CBD oil, more specifically those with serious joint disorders and continuous muscle pain. It is extremely surprising that in most cases people have reported an almost complete recovery from their chronic inflammation when using CBD oil regularly.

It wouldn’t be so far fetched to think that perhaps because acne is an inflammatory disease where the sufferers naturally have higher levels of inflammation (due to the genetic IGF-1 gene), cannabinoid oil may also help to naturally reduce the inflammation that comes along with it.

Reduces Stress: One of the most celebrated aspects of cannabinoid oil is its ability to reduce anxiety, depression, and stress. CBD oil itself has anti-stress properties, it lowers the heart rate and allows stressed individuals the ability to relax. A study published in the international journal of neurophyschopharmacology shows that it has beneficial therapeutic benefits on the health of humans, preventing the development of chronic unpredictable stress (CUS).

This is inspiring news when it comes to the treatment of acne; because undoubtedlyacne causes stress and stress causes acne.It can be a difficult cycle to break.When stressed, the skin and the brain both create a spikein cortisol which leads to higher levels of inflammation, increased sebum production, and in general, the perfect breeding ground for acne.

With stress, inflammation, and oil production all taken out of the picture, it appears that cannabinoid oil tackles acne in a multifaceted approach, which is exactly what is needed when it comes to chronic adult acne that is unresponsive to topicals and medication.

MY EXPERIENCE WITH CBD OIL FOR ACNE

As someone who believes in dealing with acne in a holistic approach by taking all health aspects into consideration, I was beyond ecstatic to give CBD oil a whirl. It actually started couple of years ago at my friend job, when I told her I was experiencing chronic back pain, she whipped out her CBD oil and insisted that I gave it a try- I did. And I never looked back. The very next day I was so eager to try it again that I went to my local store and bought my own bottle.

Oddly enough I realized after going out that night and having a few drinks I didn’t breakout, it seemed strange but I didn’t really think too hard about it. Next few days, I was off the rails so to speak, I completely went off of my insanely strict diet and basically ate anything I wanted. I went out a few nights, drank quite a bit, stayed up all night, but wait what’s this- still no acne?! At this point I had been taking CBD oil orally for about 2 weeks.

I never thought of it as an acne treatment, it initially began with pain and easing a little bit of social anxiety, but as time went on I was surprised to find that not only was I physically feeling better but I was looking better too!

My skin, perhaps besides a spot or two, had 100% gained full clarity. I was bewildered, after so much research, time, and energy put into my diet and trying to live a healthy lifestyle, I couldn’t understand why all of a sudden (as I was completely off my diet) my skin had been the clearest and least irritated it’s been in months.

Then it dawned on me, besides ditching my old diet and ways, I wondered if there was anything new I had begun using. As someone who is very routine, it was easy for me to quickly figure out it was the CBD oil. My back pain subsided, stress was at a lower rate, and my skin was the clearest it’s been in aloongggggg time. Could this really be the miracle solution people claim it is?

I still continue to use CBD oil, it has been about a month now and I can say that I honestly have seen dramatic effects, physically and mentally. I no longer wake up and worry if I’m going to breakout, I sleep better at night, my mind feels clearer, and overall it has just been an overwhelmingly positive experience. I would highly recommend it to anyone who hasn’t seen results with their current skincare, diet, or exercise regimen and continues to struggle daily with acne. With all symptoms alleviated and no side effects included, I would stretch as far as to say that it is an even more effective treatment for acne than accutane.

How to Use CBD for Acne

If you are interested in using CBD for acne, you might be wondering the best way to start taking it. You might even be wondering if it is safe and legal.

The good news is that CBD is a safe product that millions of people are already using worldwide—and as it does not contain THC, it is legal in all fifty states.

As mentioned before, more research on CBD is underway than ever before, so far studies have been focusing on it being taken orally or transdermally (directly on the skin) when it comes to acne treatment.  For this reason, it is up to you. You might want to start by taking a tincture or edible product, and see if you notice an improvement.

You can also purchase skin care products that contain CBD or purchase a tincture and create your own home treatments (in the long run, this option might save you money and ensure that you know exactly which products are ending up in your skin care products).

Ultimately, the choice is yours— the only thing you have to lose is your pesky acne.

Have you tried CBD oil for acne or the treatment of any other disorder/disease? Let me know in the comments below! Let’s talk all things CBD.