DIY: Natural Face Mask

I'm a huge fan of natural beauty products!

Wherever I can, I try to incorporate items from my kitchen into my beauty cabinet.

My skin has a tendency to freak out (ie. break out) when I use too many new products, especially those with heavy fragrance and colour, so it's handy to have a natural solution when I know my skin needs a treatment, but I don't think it can handle anything too intense!

So, this is my tried and true, all natural go-to mask. It works like a charm when my skin is looking dull or seems to be breaking out a lot.

This is enough for one mask

HOW to make it:

I just kind of eyeball the measurements, but it's about:

- 1 tablespoon of honey
- 1 tablespoon of oats (which I blend up first just because it's easier to mix - you can leave them whole if you want)
- 1/4 teaspoon of nutmeg

I mix all of the ingredients together into a paste, dampen my already cleansed face and massage it on in a gentle circular motion.

I let it sit for about 15-20 minutes and then rinse it off with warm water.

I usually do this before bed, and apply my nighttime moisturizer afterwards.

This is one of my all time FAVOURITE masks, and here's a breakdown of why it's the bomb!

 Honey
- is ANTIBACTERIAL - helps fight breakouts & acne
- has lots of ANTIOXIDANTS, so is great for slowing down the signs of aging
- is MOISTURIZING and helps give a GLOW to the skin (yes please)!

Oats
- are a natural CLEANSER
- help SOFTEN the skin
- naturally EXFOLIATE as you rub on to the skin
- help reduce REDNESS & IRRITATION of sensitive skin

Nutmeg
- helps fight BLACKHEADS & reduce the appearance of ACNE SCARS

Need I say more?

Nothing like chunks of oats on your face to make you feel glamorous!

Immediately after doing this mask I always notice a difference in the texture of my skin. My face instantly feels softer, plumper, more hydrated & looks healthier!

Give it a try and let me know what you think!!

Till next time, keep shining!

xo Kelly

DIY: Exfoliating Moisturizer

Exfoliators & moisturizers are my favourite things to buy!
I used to work at The Body Shop and owned just about every lotion, cream, body butter and scrub they carried - plus a million drug store brands!

One day it dawned on me that at the heart of these moisturizers were natural oils ~ almond oil, olive oil, sunflower seed oil ~ and at the core of the exfoliants were ... natural exfoliants ~ nut shells, salts, sugars.

"Eureka"!! I thought (well, maybe I wasn't quite so dramatic). But I was suddenly very eager to make my very own exfoliator with edible products that I knew were safe and natural.

I've experimented with all kinds of natural beauty products ever since ~ facial masks, hair treatments, moisturizers, but my classic go to that I never get tired of is a Sea Salt Moisturizing Exfoliator.

Below is the "How To Make It" and the "Why I Love It".

How To Make It:

Step 1: Pour about 10-15 tablespoons of sea salt into your desired container

Step 2: Add about half a cup of oil to the salt, or as much as gives you a consistency you like. *I use grapeseed oil lately, but you can use any oil that suits your skin ~ almond oil, coconut oil, olive oil ... the list is endless

Step 3: Bam! You're done.

  

You can now use this mixture in the shower to exfoliate dead skin cells away, as well as moisturize your skin! So simple, so effective!

Why I Love It:

1. It works! My skin feels super soft and moisturized directly after, and until my next shower.

2. It does the job of 2 products (exfoliator & moisturizer) in 1 step!

3. Mechanical exfoliation (the process of physically scrubbing the skin) promotes circulation

4. Sea salt is known to have great benefits for the skin

5. It's all natural

**One word of warning: the oil can really do quite the job on your tub, making it extremely slippery ~ so be mindful of that while you're in there. I try to give it a rinse with soap when I'm done so my hubby doesn't wipe out on a slip & slide the next time he's in!

So, this is my go-to scrub in it's most basic form.

I will sometimes add essential oils for their scent and health benefits.

It adds a little 'kick' to throw some peppermint or lemongrass oil in every once in a while ~ or whatever you like!

Give it a try and see what you think ~ and make sure to let me know how it goes!

Happy Exfolurizing!!!

~ Kelly