 TUMERIC & HONEY MASK
Long considered a superfood in the health world, antioxidant-packed turmeric is a wonder ingredient for your skin too. Its anti-inflammatory properties can help calm redness, reduce the appearance of scarring, brighten skin, and even help fight acne. Coupled with honey which improves the skins texture, is anti- bacterial and softens and moisturizes the skin. Ingredients 1 tsp. turmeric root powder 2 tbsp. ground oats 3 tbsp. organic plain yogurt 3 drops raw honey Directions Place all ingredients into a bowl and mix until smooth. Spread mixture evenly onto clean face, and let sit for 15 minutes. Rinse face thoroughly. Follow with your face oil or moisturizer of choice! COFFEE & HONEY SCRUB You'll enjoy a brilliant glow after using coffee in your face and body scrub. It adds brightness to the skin, reduces puffiness and reduces cellulite. These benefits come from the active ingredient, caffeine! Ingredients 2 tbs. ground coffee 2 tbs. raw honey 1 tsp. jojoba oil (coconut oil works too, or whatever your favorite is) Directions Mix all ingredients into a bowl and mix until smooth. Apply scrub all over the face and neck or body and gently massage in a circular motion. Rinse off with water and follow with a light moisturizer.
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It's summer time and it's HOT, so the last thing I want to do is wear a lot of products on my face. I like to keep it extra simple and light during the summer. Mostly because I feel like my skin reacts well to the sun and weather and I don't like the feeling of greasiness when I start to sweat and can feel my makeup and face products melting off. With that being said, I've found my holy oil--Chia Seed Oil! This oil is ideal for all skin types as it is lightweight, great for hydration, helps reduce oil production, mattifying, unclogs pores, and so high in antioxidants that it surpasses vitamin C and E! (That's some powerful stuff) I've been using the 100% Organic Chia Seed Oil by The Ordinary for the past 3 months and have seen such a difference in my skin. I like to wash my face once a day, typically at night and just rinse with cold water in the morning. I apply 2-3 drops of the oil at night and 1-2 drops in the morning. My skin has become so much softer, the texture has smoothed and improved, I'm way less oily during the day, my skin is glowing and it goes on and deeply hydrates with no oily feeling. This is the best face oil I've ever used because it feels like water and fully soaks into the skin without sitting on top of the surface. And the best part, this high quality, multi-functional oil is less than $8! Check out the detailed customer review at the bottom, I couldn't agree more with everything she said-- also check out this link to learn about tall the benefits of chia seed oil!   CUSTOMER REVIEW  Figuring out the right skin care routine for YOU takes some time along with trial and error. Something that works great for someone else may not work for you and vice versa. To help take away some of that confusion and frustration take a look at these charts to determine the best skin care routine for your skin type. These are recommendations by dermatologists with products that have been proven to work, so try something new and see how it goes! -VK Hey y'all! I think a lot of people get stuck when figuring out the order of skin care products and how to layer them. The basic rule is that you should layer from lightest to heaviest or thinnest to thickest--for example: cleanser, toner, serum, face cream. Also, if you use an oil to moisturize, like me, use it AFTER face cream. I use a dot of jojoba oil everyday over my face cream. Check out the chart below for the right way to layer products and also check out the 10 step Korean skin care routine. I use the Korean method once or twice a month and it leaves my skin looking and feeling flawless!  
I won't ever recommend anything that doesn't really work or seem valuable. I try everything for a few months just to make sure it's worth sharing. With that said, the jade roller is my favorite tool.
Jade rollers have been a beauty secret used in China for centuries. Aside from being a great face massager, the jade roller has many health and skin benefits which are listed below. I've been using one for a year and have seen a difference in my skin's texture, pore size, bone and face structure, tightness, and overall glow. I use it in the morning, especially on my cheekbones and eyes, when my face is a little puffy and it goes away in seconds. Use day or night (or both), after washing and moisturizing your face. For best results, I like to put mine in the fridge a few minutes before I use it for extra de-puffing and tightening. At night, use the jade roller after cleansing and moisturizing to deeply penetrate products into your skin, ease facial tension, define your face structure and tighten. I included a super short video and picture on how to use the jade roller, but essentially you just go in an outward and upward motion, doing about 3-6 strokes in each direction. I like to concentrate on my jawline and cheekbones for extra sculpting, tightening and collagen boosting. I use a GingerChi jade roller that I bought through Amazon. GingerChi jade rollers are made of 100% jade. My order came with a handwritten note and free ginger serum. You can buy it here! 
HOW TO USE A JADE ROLLER
Wanted to share my favorite products because as much as I like to make my own skin care, I also like trying different things. I don't buy a lot of skin care products, but when I do I like to get something that seems like a good investment. Each picture is linked to the products website. top three Dead Sea Facial Mineral-Rich Peeling Gel by Seacret Spa: This is a gel and exfoliator in one. You apply the gel to your face and neck and massage in a circular motion for 1 minute. The gel gently peels away dead skin cells and tightens the pores. As you use this you can see and feel the dead skin roll off your face. This leaves your face feeling smooth, deeply cleansed and glowing. This works well for all skin types and is especially good for treating acne/breakouts.  Origins GinZing Refreshing Eye Cream: Here's the description straight from the source because it does exactly what it says and it's true: "Late night? Long flight? Look tired all the time? Our clinically-proven morning-after eye cream instantly reduces dark circles. Unsightly bags and puffiness virtually disappear. It's formulated with Coffee Beans, Panax Ginseng, Magnolia Extract and natural optic brighteners. Rapidly wakes up, refreshes and restores radiance to tired eyes."  Youtheory Collagen Powder: This is good for more than skin. Collagen powder promotes strong bones, tendons, ligaments, cartilage, cells, skin, nails and hair. "Collagen is comprised of long chain proteins, and when you consume collagen powder (or collagen containing foods) your digestive system breaks down the proteins into amino acids. The amino acids are then absorbed and used as building blocks that support collagen production throughout the body and help heal the body from within." This has given my skin a healthy glow from head to toe along with more plumpness and elasticity. Add it to your drink of choice 2-3 days a week(I put it in smoothies and coffee).
Check out this article to learn about all of collagens benefits. Aloe vera is one of my favorite natural beauty ingredients because it's like a superfood for your skin. Aloe vera can reduce inflammation, heal scars and sunburns, be used as an antiseptic, fight aging and treat acne. Most importantly, it's a straight forward ingredient- apply to the area in need and you're good to go. I like using aloe vera gel as a serum after I wash my face. It makes your skin bright, tight and keeps it protected. Below is the recipe for a Rose and Aloe Mist. I use this almost everyday and it's good for everything; whether you need to hydrate, need a toner or need something to set your makeup. Face mist is something that I refuse to buy because it's easy to make and because most of the mists I've seen use artificial preservatives and scents. If I'm going to spray something on my face a few times a day I want to make sure it's not filled with toxins or artificial ingredients. Rose keeps the skin soft and soothes dryness, pink Himalayan salt detoxifies and the aloe keeps the skin hydrated and glowing. For more aloe vera skin care recipes check out the chart at the end of this post.  Rose Aloe Mist Ingredients
Directions
 I have a love hate relationship with makeup. It's fun to put on, but the ingredients in most of it is not great for our skin. Makeup likes to get clogged in our pores throughout the day and the more you layer on, the more havoc it can cause on your skin. But, if you want your skin to flourish while keeping your face beat check out these dermatologist recommended tips. DISCLAIMER: I am not a makeup expert by any means. I generally keep it light and simple everyday. These are just some tips I discovered by researching and my own experimentation.
-V.K.  This is an informal part II to last week's post where I talked about not doing too much to your skin since this can cause irritation. The most common reactions are burning, scarring (discoloration) and small patches of bumps (classic case of irritation). I've broken down what has helped me in those three instances and I threw in a few more tips. I don't put any harsh chemicals on my skin, so these are all natural remedies. There are tons of remedies, but these are the ones that have really worked for me and they are also really simple. I've tried all these remedies (because I've messed up several times) and they really work.  Three most common types of skin irritation
Burns: This, in my opinion, is the worst reaction to have. I've used products that have literally burned my skin and made it raw in some spots. I burned my cheek area pretty badly by using way too much tea tree oil about two years ago and it took months to heal (about 4-5 months). I was left with patches of tiny flakey bumps that were super stubborn. When the bumps finally went away I was left with discoloration. Burning of the skin cells usually happens when using something too strong, for too long or using too much of a product. The only thing that worked for me was aloe vera. I'd put both fresh aloe and aloe vera gel on the burned patches of my skin every morning and night. The aloe calmed any burning/tingling sensation without further irritating my skin. Scars: When my skin finally healed I was left with some discoloration and light scarring (I still have some spots but it's not very noticeable). Vitamin E oil was, and still is, the go to. I'd apply 2-3 drops on the affected area a few times a day and within a few weeks they were no longer visible. I'd apply an extra amount at night so it could soak in my skin while I slept. Tiny under the skin bumps (itchy/irritation): Sometimes using products that don't agree with your skin can cause patches of tiny bumps under the skin that can be itchy, red or sting. The best way to get rid of this is by scaling back for a few days until it goes away. That means, washing your face no more than 2 times a day with a mild, unscented soap and using a light layer of moisturizer. Try to avoid wearing makeup or using scented products, the point is to give your skin a break by not adding more potential irritants. This type of reaction subsides within a few days typically. Also, applying ice to the area helps calm the skin. More Remedies Cold compress: Use cold water and ice to help calm the skin down. Hot water can be too harsh and strip the skin of oils that are needed to protect and heal naturally. This is the most effective for calming the skin quickly. I get a paper towel/face towel, wrap some ice up in it, and apply it to my face until it feels better. This works for burns, itching, bumps, swelling and more. Oatmeal masks: Oats are super soothing and help to relieve eczema and just about any other type of skin irritation. Keep the mask super simple by mixing equal parts ground oats and water until it forms a paste. Then, apply to the affected area for 10-20 minutes. This can be done 1-2 times a day for a few days in a row depending on the severity of your skin. Coconut oil: Coconut oil is a natural anti-bacterial and can help restore the skin back to its glowy and elastic texture. This is good for inflamed, itchy or red skin, just apply a thin layer to the skin and let it soak in. I've used this on my face and body. I usually avoid coconut oil on my face however because it's too thick and can cause clogged pores, but for a quick fix I wouldn't knock it. Be gentle: If your skin is burning, itchy, red, etc., be cautious and delicate. The last thing you want to do is add more abrasion to an irritated area. Lightly handle the affected area(s). Don't touch: I know it can be hard, but avoid touching any type of irritation excessively. Whether it's on your face or leg, don't keep touching it! Our hands carry germs that you don't want to spread, especially when trying to get rid of inflammation and irritation. Don't forget that your skin is your largest organ therefore, it has many layers. So, if you are impatient and can't keep your hands off, you will constantly be interrupting the healing process. Give it time: Like I said earlier, I waited about 5 months for my skin to fully heal. It sucks, but your skin needs time to fully restore itself-- and it will! XO- VK In the spirit of not overdoing it (look at the post under this), here's the recipe for a really simple, gentle and easy mask made of milk, honey and rolled oats that's good for all skin types. I call it the Baby Face mask because this leaves your skin feeling super soft, smooth and smelling good. This mask also doubles as an ultra gentle exfoliant and leaves the skin lightly tightened (always a plus). Oatmeal is good for gently unclogging pores, honey is an antibacterial and milk softens the skin.  Baby Face Mask
1 tbs flax milk (It's full of omega-3 but regular milk is perfectly fine too) 1 tbs raw organic honey 1 tbs rolled oats Directions Mix ingredients in a small cup/bowl. The consistency should be sticky enough to stay put on your face, but adjust to your liking--this is a customizable mask. Apply mask to clean face and leave on for 10 minutes. Avoid getting this in your eyes. Remove by dipping fingers in warm water and gently rubbing face in a circular motion to gently exfoliate the skin with the oats for 30 seconds, remove residue with a damp clean cloth and let face air dry. Then feel the baby smoothness and apply a thin layer of your favorite moisturizer. Enjoy- VK |
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