Tag: Skincare

5 Miracle Foods That Will Help You Detox – Fast!

Published on by Lee1 Comment

As much as we all love a burger, we know it’s not going to help us get that glossy skin and beautiful mane we lust after. Sure, now and again it’s no harm, but no matter how much money you spend on miracle products, if you’re not taking care of what you put into your body, your newest potion is never going to reach its full potential. These five superfoods, however, will make you feel beautiful from the inside out and I swear in just a week, we’ve been able to notice a difference in our hair and our skin. Plus, by eating healthy you’ll have more than just extra energy and great hair, your concentration and mood will improve too. These five ingredients are so good you’ll want to bathe in them – and btw, I have the recipes so that you can:

Chia Seeds – The Glow-Getter 

Don’t be fooled by their size, these tiny seeds are literally full of beauty-boosting minerals and antioxidants. They’re super high in Omega 3, so they’ll give you the ultimate glow while reducing any inflammation or dryness. The amazing seeds also increase your blood circulation, thereby giving you more even skin. You can sprinkle the seeds on pretty much anything, from your yogurts and smoothies to your salads. I love mixing them with almond milk and honey for a delicious breakfast snack with fruit.

Chia Seed and Lavender Face Mask DIY:
My favorite Chia Seed DIY will gently exfoliate your skin leaving you feeling baby soft with a J Lo glow. Mix 2 teaspoons of Chia Seeds with 4 tablespoons of water, then add 2 drops of lavender oil. Massage it onto your face and leave the mix on your skin for 10 minutes, then just wash away with warm water.

Medjool Dates – Acne Banisher, Youth Booster

Medjool Dates are desert plants, originally from the Middle East. Most Medjool Date Palm Trees sold in Florida come from California fruit producers that are selling off the older, less productive cultivars to make room for newer, better fruiting cultivars. Plus, there aren’t well adapted here because it rains more in Florida than California. Dates (the fruit) can be produced in North Florida and South East US if planted correctly. It is best to choose cultivars that are more tolerant of humidity and rain.

Luckily, Target sells Medjool– I’m obsessed! But, not just because they’re mega tasty, they’re also a rich source of fiber, which will support your metabolism and help you debloat. In the Middle East, some like to use them to break their fast during Ramadan, as they’re great energy boosters – making them an ideal snack (just stick to a few though as they’re high in sugar). Medjool Dates are also a great source of copper, which helps your body absorb more iron allowing your skin to produce more collagen. Dates can even help reduce redness and will work as an anti-inflammatory, so if you’re acne-prone, ditch the crisps and grab a date!

Medjool Date and Honey Mask DIY:
De-pit 3 to 4 dates and blend with 1 to 2 teaspoons of honey (both rich in vitamin B) to formulate a thick paste. Spread this mix on your face and leave for 10 minutes before washing away with water. Your face will feel SO smooth.

Avocado – The Hair Helper

Avocados aren’t just for your breakfast Insta Story, they’re a beauty miracle ingredient too! Avocados are full of fatty acids and proteins, and whether you use them on your hair as a mask or you just eat them on toast, they’ll give your locks killer shine – Adriana Lima swears by it. The vitamin B and E content will also strengthen your hair follicles and help the strands remain strong and healthy, preventing split ends from forming.

Avocado and Coconut Hair Mask:
For the ultimate hair mask, mash one ripe avocado (if you have shorter hair you can use half and eat the other), and mix it with one egg yolk and two tablespoons of coconut oil. Massage it into your hair (from root to tip) and then wash it off 20 minutes later. Just make sure you shampoo your hair thoroughly or you could get a little oily at the roots.

Lemons – The Detox Queen

Whenever you ask a model how they start their day, I swear the answer will be with a cup of hot water and lemon. Lemon is an incredible detoxifier and cleans your digestive system so that your liver can eliminate waste more efficiently. It also boosts your lymphatic drainage, which will help get rid of any puffiness around your eyes and toxins from your body. And the best thing about a detox drink is that it can seriously help clear up your skin, so say hello to that glow!

Lemon, Honey, and Green Tea Face Mask: 
This face mask will revitalize your skin and cleanse your pores, leaving your skin super radiant. Mix the juice of half a lemon with 1 teaspoon of honey and the contents of one green tea bag (brew the tea first, and then take the leaves from the tea bag). Apply it your face and wash it off 15 minutes later with warm water.

Figs – The Beauty All-rounder

Figs don’t get the hype they deserve but we love them! Just like lemons, they’re an incredible detoxifier as the seeds inside the fruit will help cleanse the digestive tract of mucus and toxins. This is so important as when it’s blocked, it prevents essential nutrients getting into your skin. It’s also full of antioxidants that help fight free radicals, which cause fine lines and wrinkles to form. A great source of vitamins C and B6, figs can help even out your skin tone and regulate hormone activity, combatting breakouts. I love to snack on them, but make sure you limit your intake to just a couple as they’re high in sugar.

Fig and Oatmeal Mask 
For an amazing exfoliator, blend 5 figs with a teaspoon of powdered oatmeal and a teaspoon of milk. Once a smooth paste is formed, massage it into your skin, leave it for 15 minutes and wash it off with warm water and a soft washcloth.

Let me know if you have any other fav healthy foods that are also great for DIYs!

Everything You Need To Know To Get Rid Of Blackheads

Published on by Lee1 Comment

There are so many amazing things in life, but blackheads are not one of them, in fact, they’re annoying AF. Plus, every time you think you’ve gotten rid of the little sucker, it comes back with more in its place. Lucky for me I don’t have that problem but you know who do – my MOM. And because I’m constantly getting asked about how to get rid of blackheads, I thought I’d do a roundup of all the tips, tricks, and hacks as well as some hero products that save the day whenever your blackheads pop up again. The first thing to remember is not to worry about them – no one really notices them besides yourself. So, here’s everything you need to know…

What causes blackheads?

A blackhead is a pore that’s blocked with oil, dead skin, and debris – ew! This blocks the pore and prevents the gland from secreting the debris, which then causes the wax plug to be pushed toward the surface of the skin. This then oxidizes causing the contents of the pore to turn black – et voila, you have a blackhead!

But sometimes, what looks like a blackhead is, in fact, a tiny hair or sebaceous filament, which are a combination of sebum and skin cells. So be careful, because that one ‘blackhead’ you’ve been trying to squeeze all week could be a hair. This is why you should avoid squeezing your blackheads (we know it’s tempting) as you’ll only bruise the skin, and it could even trigger a breakout.

How to get rid of them?

Use blackhead-busting ingredients:

When it comes to getting rid of blackheads, these skin saviors will kick ass:

Salicylic acid: Salicylic acid is your secret weapon when it comes to the keeping blackheads at bay. It’s super effective as it’s able to penetrate deep into the skin, dissolving the ‘glue’ that binds the debris together, and exfoliating the inside walls of your pores. I love the Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Facial Scrub with 2% Salicylic Acid, $4.47, as it exfoliates skin to lift away the trapped dirt, oil and impurities that can clog pores and lead to breakouts. As it’s amazing for unclogging pores and removing impurities.

With regular use, this exfoliating facial cleanser helps reduce the number of blackheads allowing for clearer, healthier-looking skin. Its unique formula contains natural micro-scrubbers for surface skin exfoliation. Made with 2% salicylic acid, it contains a proven acne medication that is known to treat and clear blemishes and blackheads. Clean & Clear Blackhead Eraser Scrub is recommended for daily use and features a gentle, oil-free formula that is suitable for all skin types.

Retinol: I know the prospect of using a retinol may seem a bit much, but many of the best skin specialist’s that I came across suggest incorporating a retinol-based cream into your regime from your 20s. If you’re not familiar with retinol, it’s a vitamin A derivative that boosts skin cell renewal. Retinol thickens the deeper layer of your skin and helps decrease oil production, which helps tighten pores and keep blackheads at bay.

Clay: Clay is an amazing purifying and extracting ingredient, which makes a clay mask ideal for combatting and preventing blackheads. Clay will extract oil and purify pores, while gently exfoliating the skin. I’m obsessed with the L’Oreal Clay masks; they have different masks to cater to different skin concerns, but with all of them, you can literally see the oil being extracted from your skin – totally gross but also super satisfying.

Tools and DIYs

Use a cleansing brush: If you’re prone to getting blackheads, you could consider getting a cleansing brush. This will intensify your cleansing routine, and help remove any dead skin, oil or debris from your pores. If you’re prepared to make the investment, the Soniclear Petite, $89, is amazing or Soniclear Elite, $149 which is a bit pricey but it is so worth it! Although if you have sensitive skin, limit yourself to using the brush just twice a week, and don’t use too much pressure.

Steam: A gentle steam can do amazing things for your skin. Most importantly it will hydrate your skin and open your pores so they’re more receptive to other topical products that you apply.

Silk Cocoons: Silk cocoons are a super easy way to exfoliate your skin, leaving your skin feeling soft but more importantly free of dirt, oil, and bacteria! They feel like cardboard when dry, but the silk balls contain sericin, a protein that is hailed for having anti-aging properties as well as great exfoliation power. All you do is run the ball underneath some warm water or soak it for a couple of minutes to soften it, then pop it on your finger, and using small circular motions, gently pass it over your skin. Do it twice a week to keep blackheads at bay. You can buy a pack of them here, $6.45.

Bioré Limited-Edition Deep Cleansing Pore Strips: These pore cleansing strips help extract any dirt or oil clogging your pores by extracting them. You can get them on Amazon here, $5.64.

Let me know if there are any other skin issues you need help with, or want me to discuss in the comments below.

DIY Amazing Pore-Tightening Toner!

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It seems that everyone is ALWAYS on the search for extreme pore tightening! I have found so many things that work really well, but this one, in particular, is VERY strong! Of course, there’s nothing you can completely do about large pores! You can only make them appear smaller and use primers to mask them, but this toner really helps keep them tight and much less visible! Plus, Dr. Oz also swears by this, which is another reason why I love it 🙂

SERIOUSLY AMAZING PORE-TIGHTENING TONER

1/4 cup rose water
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp witch hazel
5 drops almond essential oil (optional)

In a bowl, mix together ingredients with a whisk. Then using a funnel, pour contents into a bottle. After washing your face, use a cotton pad and wipe face with the toner. Focus on areas around your nose, and T-zone area. Use daily, and disregard leftover after 3 days.

Beat Dark Circles at Home!

Published on by Lee1 Comment

Looking tired lately or want to rid those dark circles? Try these at home remedies that work, remember these remedies are natural and gentle, so give it at least a couple of weeks before you see results.

Almond Oil: Massage gently under your eyes every night. Make sure to wash the formula off in the morning.

Lemon and Tomato Juice
In a bowl, combine 2 teaspoons of tomato juice, lemon juice, and flour. Beat the mixture with a fork until a smooth paste. Apply the paste under your eyes and leave for approximately 10 minutes. Remove the paste before it dries by rubbing very softly. Try doing this once a day, this remedy should show results after just a few days!

Cucumber Juice
Shred one cucumber in a food processor then uses the strainer to squeeze the juice out. Place in refrigerator for approximately one hour. Add 1 teaspoon of lemon juice and mix. Saturate Cotton ball with mixture and place on each eye for 15 minutes, wash thoroughly and apply almond oil to the area for moisture. Repeat once daily.

Grated Potato
Grate a fresh potato and squeeze the juice out with a strainer. Dip your cotton ball in the juice and place on both eyes for 10 minutes. Wash the area thoroughly and moisturize with almond oil. Repeat 3 times a week. Note, potatoes contain an enzyme called catecholase found often in cosmetic skin lighteners.