Tag: diy natural

GET RID OF DARK CIRCLES

Published on by Lee3 Comments

Why does the skin around the eyes always exhibit the first signs of aging? Well, this skin is incredibly thin – actually the thinnest in the body. Along with that fact, we are constantly squinting and smiling to form repetitive wrinkles. On top of that, the lack of oil glands around the eyes make this skin especially susceptible to damage from our lifestyle choices. Oil glands keep our skin moist and hydrated and stem cells from the follicles help the skin to repair.

8 EYE MASK RECIPES TO SOOTHE + REPAIR

Since the eye skin is deficient in this ability, it needs some extra TLC. So, let’s talk about how we can step up our eye game to avoid those pesky lines and crow’s feet. A few simple changes will benefit anyone who wants healthy skin around your eyes includes:

  • hydrate with water – increase your daily water intake. Water will keep your skin properly hydrated and allow your lymphatics under your eyes to drain impurities.
  • treat allergies – if you have inflammation around the eyes due to seasonal allergies, get to the root of the allergy. If you are itchy, it is especially important not to rub your eyes as this will lead to dark circles. Instead, apply a cool compress or cool chamomile tea bags to the area.
  • exercise regularly – increased blood flow delivers nutrients and removes waste build up and supports renewal.
  • get plenty of sleep – this is when it all happens. Your body needs a break to regenerate and repair.
  • eat whole foods – Processed foods with chemicals make you inflamed, bloated, and it shows with puffy eyes.
  • protect – wear sunglasses and an under-eye sunscreen. UV radiation is #1 cause of collagen breakdown and thin eye skin is especially susceptible.
  • use a nightly eye cream – nourish your skin from the inside AND from the outside.

All of the above tips are wonderful for overall under-eye health, but there’s even more we can do to treat this delicate area of the face! Weekly eye masks can help target different under-eye needs, from locking in moisture to de-puffing.

PUFFY EYE MASKS:

  • Rose + Cucumber Eye Mask

Ever wonder why sliced cucumbers are common additions in photos, television and movie scenes featuring face and eye masks? Rich in ascorbic acid and phytochemicals, cucumbers help tighten and soothe skin.

But instead of placing cucumber slices over your closed eyelids, this blended mask will reach the inner and outer corners of the eyes with concentrated vitamins and minerals.

Ingredients:

Cut your cotton rounds into two half moon shapes. This mask should make quite a few pairs, so cut more than you think you’ll need.

In a blender, puree the cucumber and rose water until liquified. Transfer to a bowl, then soak the cotton rounds in the mixture, squeezing out excess and then re-soaking for optimal absorption. Store the extra soaked cotton rounds in a Ziploc bag in the freezer for future use.

Thaw the eye pads for about 10 minutes before you use them, but make sure they are still cool as the temperature will also help with reducing puffiness. To apply, place the half moon eye pad underneath the eye, making sure to apply close to the bottom lash line. Leave on for 10-15 minutes.

  • Coffee Mask

For a morning wake-me-up, in addition to coffee in your mug, try it under your eyes as well! For an easy mask, combine coffee grounds with the vitamins and proteins of egg white, which tighten and firm skin. Puffy eyes and pesky crow’s feet, be gone! 

  • 1 egg white
  • 2 teaspoons unused coffee grounds

Beat mixture together with a fork until frothy, about 1 minute. With clean hands or a brush, apply the mask around and under the eyes. Let sit for  10 minutes. Use a soft, wet towel to gently clean off the mask. Follow with a caffeine-infused eye cream.

  • Soothing Chamomile Eye Mask

You can make chamomile tea anywhere, even in a hotel, as kettles are usually available in every room. Simply apply the tea bags to your tired eyes and enjoy a soothing warm mug before bed. 

  • 2 chamomile tea bags
  • mug
  • hot water
  • wash cloth

Steep two tea bags for 3 minutes in hot water, remove and set aside to cool to room temperature and then place over your eyes for 15 minutes. You can layer a cool washcloth over your eyes to keep the tea bags wet. Remove and follow with your moisturizer and eye oil.

WRINKLE & CROW’S FEET EYE MASKS

  • Egg White Eye Mask

You’ll find egg whites in many anti-wrinkle masks for the face, and the eye area is no exception. Egg whites have been known to reduce the appearance of fine lines, while antioxidant rich vitamin E fights free radicals.

Vitamin E is extremely hydrating and often is used to treat eczema or psoriasis, thus a great ingredient for the dryer area around the eyes. Vitamin E can be extracted from vitamin E capsules or purchase a separate vitamin E oil for the following eye mask recipe. 

  • 2 egg whites separated from the yolk
  • 1 capsule or 5 drops of vitamin E

Beat the egg whites until they’re frothy and then mix in the vitamin E oil. Apply the mixture with your fingertips or a makeup brush to the under-eye area, careful not ignore the outer edges of the eyes where expression and squint lines form. Leave on for 10 minutes.

  • Carrot Eye Mask

This wrinkle-fighting eye mask uses carrots, egg white and aloe vera, which makes it a power combo of retinol, vitamins, and protein. All the fancy ingredients you would find in an expensive eye cream, but completely natural, and definitely on the cheap side. You can apply this mask to the rest of your face as well, or you can use it as part of a multi-masking combination. 

  • 1 egg white
  • 1 tablespoon finely shredded regular carrot.
  • 1 teaspoon aloe vera

Combine egg white, carrot and aloe vera in a small bowl and whisk with a fork until frothy (about 1 minute). Let the mask dry for at least 15 minutes or up to 30 minutes. Use a soft, wet towel to gently clean off the mask. Finish with moisturizer.

  • Mega Moisturizing DIY Eye Mask

This mega moisturizing eye mask is made with coconut oil and vitamin E, to visibly smooth fine wrinkles and cool tired eyes right away. A trick for the long term is to avoid exposing your eyes directly to the daytime sun, by wearing sunglasses and hats, and applying SPF cream. 

  • 2 tablespoons of coconut oil, melted if needed
  • 1 capsule vitamin E oil

Combine ingredients in a bowl. Cut cotton pads to fit the under-eye area. Soak cotton pads in solution and freeze for a few minutes until icy cold. Apply to eye area and place eye cotton pad on top. Let sit for 15 minutes and remove. Follow with eye cream.

DARK CIRCLE EYE MASKS

A cure for dark circles that only costs 99 cents? Sold! Vitamin C, chlorophyll and vitamin K in parsley help lighten skin discoloration, diminish age spots and reduce puffiness. So go ahead and add that bunch of parsley to your shopping cart, even if you’re not planning on making soup any time soon. 

  • Handful of fresh, organic parsley
  • 1 tablespoon yogurt

Roughly chop parsley then grind with a wooden spoon until the leaves release their juice. Add yogurt and stir. Apply with fingers or cotton balls and let mask sit for 10-15 minutes. Repeat twice a week to reduce discoloration. 

  • Milk & Turmeric Eye Mask

Turmeric masks are excellent for brightening complexions and evening out skin tone, and they even work on pesky dark circles. Combine with milk for a bit of gentle exfoliation.

  • 1 tablespoon turmeric
  • 1 tablespoon milk or buttermilk

Mix ingredients together in a small bowl and then use a brush to paint onto your under-eye area (avoiding the eyes). Leave on for 15 minutes and then carefully wipe off the mask.

  • Potato slices

Potato slices offer the same effect as cucumber—the cooling of the skin can reduce the vascular congestion to improve the appearance of this area, according to Dr. Ilyas. Her only concern surrounding the application of potatoes on the skin is that they may contain catecholase, which can actually darken the skin. “Catecholase is an enzyme that can promote melanin production,” she says.  

What home remedies to you use for your eyes? We’d love to hear your tips and tricks! 

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This Quick & Easy DIY Mask Will Give You An Instant Glow!

Published on by Lee1 Comment

I’m obsessed with DIYs and always have been since I was a teenager. This papaya and honey DIY mask is one of my all-time faves as it brightens, hydrates, improves tone and texture, and most importantly leaves your skin glowy AF. It’s also great for acne-prone skin as it can help reduce inflammation and fight acne-bacteria, which is perfect for me right now as my skin broke out recently and I needed something to bring it back to life. Plus, this mask takes less than five minutes to make!

Why this Papaya & Honey DIY Mask is the BOMB!

Papaya is the hero ingredient in this mask, and papaya contains the enzyme papain, which gently buffs away dead skin that can cause your skin to look dull and block your pores. It also helps hydrate and brighten the skin as papaya is a plentiful source of potassium, while it’s also rich in antioxidants like vitamin C, vitamin E, and beta-carotene, which help fight against aging free radicals. It’ll also work to improve the overall tone and texture of your skin… Like we said, hero!

Benefits of Papaya for Skin

Papaya contains anti-inflammatory, anti-aging, anti-oxidant, anti-bacterial, exfoliating and skin lightening & whitening properties that protect the skin from damage. Here are the benefits of papaya for skin listed down:

♡ Whitens skin due to its natural bleaching properties ♡ Fades away acne scars, blemishes & dark spots

♡ Firms, tones & tightens skin ♡ Shrinks large pores

♡ Prevents & heals acne ♡ Exfoliates skin due to its natural chemicals that dissolve & break down dead cells

♡ Soothes acne and skin inflammation ♡ Slows fine lines & wrinkles

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Onto the next miracle ingredient: Honey! I always use honey in my DIYs as it has so many amazing properties. It’s a natural humectant, so it draws in moisture to hydrate the skin. It also has anti-bacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, so it can help to reduce redness and swelling and fight bacteria. It’s important to use raw honey, as it’s unprocessed and retains all its natural goodness – processed honey is often boiled, which means many of the natural benefits are destroyed.

Benefits of Honey for Skin

Honey is a natural humectant which means it draws moisture from the surroundings and helps plump up dry skin. It is rich in powerful anti-oxidants that will stave off pro-aging free radicals. Honey is antiseptic and will treat acne and prevent more acne. Check out more benefits of honey for skin:

♡ Deep cleanses skin ♡ Fights free radicals ♡ Promotes youthful skin

♡ Shrinks large pores ♡ Hydrates & moisturizes skin ♡ Lightens acne scars, blemishes & dark marks

Ingredients

2 or 3 slices of papaya
1 tablespoon of raw honey

Chop ¼ a small papaya into 3 little pieces. Place them into a bowl and add ½ teaspoon of honey. Blend the papaya until it creates a smooth mixture, then add the honey in a bowl and mix well. Apply the mask onto cleansed skin and leave it on for 10 minutes. Wash with warm water and follow with your fave moisture.

How to Apply the Papaya and Honey Face Mask

+ Start with a clean dry face. Using your fingers/ a face mask brush, apply the papaya and honey face mask mixture onto your face. Avoid the eye and mouth areas as skin here is thin and when stretched by the mask, can create fine lines.

+ Wait for the face mask to sink in and dry up for about 10 minutes.

+ When the time is up, rinse thoroughly with tepid water.

+ Pat dry with a clean towel and moisturize.

Finally, remember to always be careful when you’re doing treatments on your skin. If you have sensitive skin, we always recommend doing a patch test first to be extra safe.

For more bomb DIYs, check out our fave DIY mask. 

3 DIY Lip Balms For Smooth Lips All Winter

Published on by Lee4 Comments

With the holiday season right around the corner, you don’t want to be caught under the mistletoe with anything other than smooth, pillowy lips. But as the temperature drops and the wind picks up, our lips get dry and chapped, which is why it’s super important to stock up on lip balms to keep your lips hydrated at all times! Stash them in your purse, on your desk, on your bedside table – everywhere!

To help you guys save the dollars we’ve sharing three bomb DIY lip balms: They’re super hydrating, and they’re all-natural. We’ve even made dupes of some of our fave lip balms but for a fraction of the price. You can be as creative as you like and mix in any of your favorite flavors. Here are our three favorite recipes:

1. Peppermint lip balm

If there’s one lip balm we’re always lusting after, it’s the La Mer Lip Balm, $70 – it’s a cult classic for a reason, but we can’t deny it’s pretty damn expensive. So, we decided to make our own using the signature ingredients; peppermint, almond oil, and Aloe Vera. The sweet almond oil is high in vitamin E, which will help protect your lips from UV damage and the aloe vera will hydrate and soothe.

Ingredients:
2 tbsps of petroleum jelly or coconut oil
1 drop of peppermint oil
1 drop of sweet almond oil
½ tsp of aloe vera

In a pan on a low heat melt the petroleum jelly (or just use softened coconut oil). When it’s melted, add in the other ingredients and stir well. Leave it on a low heat for two to three minutes and then pour it into a small dish (we use our leftover lip balm tins) using a funnel. Leave it in the fridge to set for six to eight hours.

2. Coconut lip balm

We’re in love with this DIY coconut lip balm – it leaves your lips feeling super soft and nourished, plus it has a sweet rose tint – your lips will literally be irresistible. All three oils are miracle workers: the coconut oil is a natural emollient, the argan oil is bursting with nourishing antioxidants, and olive oil is high in squalene, which creates a protective barrier on your lips.

Ingredients:
2 tsp of virgin coconut oil
2 tsp of Argan oil
2 tsp of Olive oil
Colored berry lipstick

In a pan on a low heat, melt together the coconut oil with about 1 cm of lipstick and add it into the pan. Next, add in the oils and stir well. Leave it on the heat for two to three minutes and then pour it into a small dish or an old lip balm tin. Leave it in the fridge to set for a few hours.

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3. Honey lip balm 

The Burt’s Bees Honey Lip Balm, $4, has been a firm favorite of ours for years, as the combination of beeswax and honey will soothe even the driest lips. Honey is a humectant so it draws moisture into the skin, while the addition of lavender gives extra healing powers as it has antiseptic properties, plus it’s full of antioxidants that’ll help fight against aging free radicals.

Ingredients
2 tsp of organic beeswax
1 tsp of organic coconut oil
1 tsp of raw liquid honey
2 drops of lavender

Add the beeswax, oils, and honey into a glass bowl, then place in a pan of very hot water and mix until they melt, then add two drops of lavender. Using a funnel, pour it into a small dish or lip balm tin. Leave it in the fridge to set for six to eight hours.

Bous: Rose Lip Scrub

We’re throwing in an extra DIY lip scrub for you guys, but you actually have Priyanka Chopra to thank for this delicious exfoliating lip balm. We like to do this a couple of times a week to get rid of any dead skin, which to be honest, in the winter is a regular occurrence.

Ingredients:
2 drops of glycerin
2 drops of rose water
1 teaspoon of sea salt or brown sugar

Mix one teaspoon of salt or sugar with a couple of drops of rose water and vegetable glycerin. Then, gently massage it onto your lips and wash it off with warm water.

Let us know if you’ve ever tried making your own DIY lip balms, in the comments below.

How To Banish Greasy Hair For Good (In One Wash)

Published on by Lee7 Comments

During a autumn (Fall) vacay, something super embarrassing and frustrating happened to us. Somehow, our hair got this horrible, waxy and greasy buildup, and no matter how much we washed our hair – literally triple shampooed it – the residue didn’t go away. Our hair looked and felt gross and greasy hair is never a good look.

We soon discovered that we weren’t the only ones to experience this, and there’s a ton of questions about ‘waxy buildup on scalp won’t wash out’ online. If you’ve had this oily buildup before, it could be down to a number of things, including using hair-care products that are too ‘heavy’ for your hair to over-stripping with harsh products. (If you simply have typically oily hair, this DIY hair mask will also work wonders).

We found that our scalp was itching and sometimes dry which sometimes dandruff would be found. This is often brought on by stress, hormones, and even the weather. So when all shampoos failed us, our DIY beauty skills came into play and we were shocked at how amazing our clarifying hair mask turned out to be.

So, whether you’re experiencing this waxy buildup or you just want to detox your scalp and greasy hair, then you have to try this ultimate DIY clarifying hair mask. The only thing that actually worked to rid our hair of this waxy sebum residue and leave it feeling soft AF!

Clarifying Hair Mask

We already knew that Apple Cider Vinegar was an amazing way to detox hair, but we took it one step further and added some major beauty powerhouses to the mix; bentonite clay and activated charcoal powder. This natural hair mask works to deeply cleanse and re-balance by removing excess oil and toxins that can build up on the scalp. Whether you have product buildup, dandruff, greasy hair that won’t go away or a frustrating case of seborrheic dermatitis, this mask will fix it – tried and tested!!

Clay: Clay is packed with minerals and nutrients and helps draw out toxins and absorb the extra sebum produced by your scalp. The clay also helps to inhibit the growth of fungus that causes dandruff.

aztec indian healing clay

Activated charcoal: This works in a similar way that clay does to detox the scalp. Activated charcoal is adsorbent, which means it has an electrical attraction that pulls molecules, ions, and atoms towards its surface so that they stick to it – essentially sucking up dirt and oil from your scalp.

Apple cider vinegar: One of nature’s most potent creations, it’s full of active ingredients, vitamins, mineral salts, and amino acids, and it’s antibacterial and anti-inflammatory. It also has anti-fungal properties, and helps restore your skin’s natural pH balance and destroy dandruff by killing fungus and cleaning clogged pores and hair follicles.

How to make the clarifying detox hair mask:

Ingredients:

2 tbsp Aztec Healing Indian Clay
1 tbsp Activated Charcoal Powder
6 tbsp of Raw Apple Cider Vinegar

1 tablespoon coconut oil
½ tablespoon castor oil
½ tablespoon almond oil
Water
Glass bowl
Wooden spoon

We buy big tubs of these products and use them for all kinds of DIYs, from face masks to hair masks and body scrubs (and we’ve had our pots of activated charcoal powder and Aztec Indian Healing clay for months!). If your hair is just a little bit greasy and you just want to detox, you can also add one teaspoon of honey to nourish your hair.

How to:

Step 1. Combine bentonite clay, coconut oil, castor oil, and almond oil in the bowl (make sure you use wooden or ceramic utensil as activated charcoal reacts with metal); the formula will bubble up and should combine into a runny paste. Add the apple cider vinegar to the bowl and let it froth for 15 seconds before mixing it vigorously. Mix the ingredients slowly. It should form a smooth, yogurt-like consistency. Make sure there are no lumps.

Step 2. Apply the mask to dry hair using a medium-sized brush, working your way in sections across your scalp – like you would if you were dying your roots. Once you’ve covered your scalp with the mask, tie up your hair (apply a shower cap if you like) and leave the mask to work for 20 to 30 minutes.

Step 3. Wash out the mask until the water runs clear, then shampoo your hair thoroughly. You can shampoo twice to ensure no mask remains, then follow with conditioner on your ends.

The result is all traces of oil or any waxy buildup are completely gone. Flakes from dandruff are wiped out, and the scalp feels balanced. It also makes your hair feel super lightweight and soft and gives your hair natural volume. We recommend doing this mask once a month to keep your scalp in top condition.

If your scalp is super flaky or you’ve experienced the waxy buildup on your hair that doesn’t go away with washing, then you should definitely visit a derm to see if you have seborrheic dermatitis. A derm will be able to advise you on the best medicated shampoos, and also prescribe an ointment to improve seborrheic dermatitis. Let us know if you’ve experienced this before!

Did you try the Aztec Secrets Indian Healing Clay Mask for the hair– it works for facial but does it work for your hair type!? Lemme know about your experience….