Being Healthy- One of My Favorite Tips For Overall Health (Part 2)

 I believe an overall healthy lifestyle is so much better than yo-yo dieting. Maintenance is key! Here is a health tip that has made a big difference in my health over the years! I will be sharing more health tips in future posts so look out for more great tips!

Coconut Oil

Where do I begin! There are SO many benefits to Coconut Oil. To start, I recommend using Organic Extra Virgin, Cold Pressed Coconut Oil. I just picked up a great one at Costco.

My favorite use for Coconut Oil is for my skin. It is our largest organ so we may as well take care of it, right! Skin naturally produces an oil called sebum.. When sebum mixes with too much dirt, bacteria, and dead skin cells it can clog pores and lead to acne and other blemishes. Coconut oil naturally clears away dirt, grime, and dead skin cells. It even has some antibacterial properties, killing off harmful bacteria. So its wonderful for acne! It softens the skin so it helps with wrinkles, giving your skin a smoother appearance.  It aids in healing cuts, scrapes and bug bites. Its also an antioxidant so it helps prevent cellular aging.

I use it to clean my face. It does a great job removing makeup! I also use a blend of Coconut Oil and Organic sugar as a scrub for my face and body. It feels luxurious! Your skin will feel smooth and hydrated.

Did you know that Coconut oil is a natural sunscreen!? It is only about an SPF 4 so you still need to apply sunscreen. But it helps for every day use! All natural sunscreen! So go ahead and throw it in your beach bag!

Another wonderful use for Coconut Oil is as a hair mask! Coconut oil reduces protein loss for both damaged and undamaged hair. Coconut oil is hydrophobic, meaning it repels water. When its applied as a pre-wash conditioner, it inhibits the penetration of water into each strand, which would otherwise cause the cuticle, or surface of the hair shaft, to rise, making it prone to damage and breakage. Also,  when its applied as a pre-wash treatment, a small amount is able to penetrate deeper into the hair shaft during the wash, when the hair fiber swells slightly. So its fabulous for people who struggle with frizzy hair! I recommend this to my clients all the time!

I usually comb it through my hair and massage into my scalp one evening a week. Braiding your hair keeps it from getting all over everything. I put it on in the evening and sleep with it. (You may need to put a towel or old pillow case over your pillow) And I shampoo it out in the morning. I always shampoo twice, then condition.

There are so many other uses and benefits of Coconut Oil. I could go on and on!

I hope you enjoyed these tips! If you have any tips you’d like to share please leave a comment below. Or if you use my tips be sure to let me know how it works for you!

Have a wonderful day and please subscribe!

All Natural DIY Lip Balm

I Love this lip balm!

It is so simple to make! All natural! And lasts for so long!

You only need a few ingredients!

Beeswax

Shea Butter

Vanilla Extract

1 TBS beeswax (grated)(I found mine at Wholefoods)
1 TBS shea butter
a few drops of vanilla extract
Mineral powdered makeup for tint.(Optional) (I used a bare minerals blush)

Start by melting the beeswax in a double broiler. I used a large glass measuring bowl over a pot of boiling water.
Add Shea Butter till both are melted occasionally stirring.
Stir in Vanilla extract.
If desired, add tint.
Pour into any container you like. I didn’t have any so I used clean shells.
Leave to cool and harden.

I keep one next to my bed to moisturize my lips before bed.
Have fun with this and be creative! You can use different oils and scents to your liking!

Have a wonderful day!

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Beautiful Skin in Your 30’s

 If you are in your 30’s, as I am, you are likely noticing changes in your skin. Some fine lines, dryness or an oily t-zone. You might notice your makeup not going on as smoothly as it used to. Here are some tips to looking beautiful in your 30’s and older.

1. DRINK AND “EAT” WATER
Drinking water will provide a younger looking, more radiant complexion. Your skin is an organ and its cells are predominantly water. When those cells don’t get enough water you skin becomes dry, flaky, dull and more prone to wrinkles. So DRINK UP!!

Did you know that watermelon is 92% water!! Fruits and veggies are a fabulous way to consume water! So don’t forget to eat your fruits and veggies!

 

2. OIL CLEANSING
I have begun the oil cleansing method. Its made an incredible difference in the texture of my skin! I cannot believe how much better I appear in pictures. Harsh cleansers are stripping your skins acid mantle and making your skin susceptible to bacteria a.k.a. ACNE. The oil cleansing method is gentle and safe for your skin.

Do this morning and night. No matter how tired you are! Especially if you wear makeup! You will thank me later if you have not been washing your face every night.

Many people think that if they have oily skin that they cannot use this method.. Quite the contrary. Oil lifts oil. So using an oil will cleanse your oily skin and add moisture, which oily skin still needs. And using oil on oily skin actually tricks the skin into believing it is producing enough oils and actually slow down the production of oil production. How awesome is that!
There are different ways to do this but I used a mixture of cold pressed Avocado oil and Hazelnut oil. Avocado oil is incredibly moisturizing for the skin! It is high in vitamin E and has natural humectants. I also use this under my eyes and on my forehead before I go to bed. I highly recommend the brand Olivado for your avocado oil. Hazelnut oil is also very good for calming oil production because its a natural astringent. Its also high in vitamins E and B. Both are safe to use on a daily basis. My skin has had less acne and has been glowing since starting this method! You can buy these items at Whole Foods in your oil section or you can find them on Amazon. I recommend combining the two oils and pouring the mixture into a dark glass bottle with a dropper so you can easily squeeze it into the palm of your hands.

3. SUNSCREEN

Ahhh, yes, I am a lover of the beach and the sun! I used to let my body bake. I now have sunspots, which by the way you can get by being out in the sun or driving your car any time of the year. When you’re in your 30’s you may start to become aware of the damaging affects of the sun on your skin but you should start wearing sunscreen on your face, especially, when you are young every day.

Sunscreen should be a part of your daily routine. Unfortunately, a lot of sunscreens have mineral oil along with other chemicals that can cause other issues like clogging your pores! Yuck! I have begun using the brand MyChelle Dermaceuticals, SPF 28 for my face. It is not at all oily on the skin. It does not affect the makeup I put on over it. It doesn’t irritate my eyes and it has wonderful ingredients. I absolutely love this product!

Think twice before you bake in the sun!

4. EXFOLIATE

Do this on a regular basis! I use different DIY scrubs for my face and body. (Look for my posts on DIY scrubs) By doing a GENTLE exfoliation 2-3 times a week you are getting rid of dead skin which could be clogging pores and making the appearance of your skin dull. Don’t over scrub! This could cause small scratches on your skin. And strip your natural acid mantle, which protects your skin from bacteria. Most French women don’t use any harsh chemicals on their skin and their skin is beautiful!

The easiest way to scrub, that I absolutely love, is by using Organic Extra Virgin Coconut Oil combined with organic sugar. My skin feels amazing after doing this! I use Dr. Brenners. Your skin will glow! If you have not been exfoliating on a regular basis I recommend doing this every other night to every night for a couple weeks then going down to 2 times a week. Just lightly scrub onto face and rinse with warm water. Any oil left on skin acts as a moisturizer. I simply mix it together and place the jar in my bathroom.

5. MOISTURIZE

If you want your skin to look clear and glowing you must moisturize! If you are already using the oil cleansing method and exfoliating you are on the right track by not stripping all your moisture while cleansing. At night, I like to again take my Avocado oil and place it around my eyes and on my forehead and lightly massage it out. As a side note, I recommend using your ring finger for massaging oil around your eyes. The skin is very thin and fragile around the eyes and if you are using too much pressure you can easily break blood capillaries under the skin causing dark circles to appear. In the morning I use a light moisturizer that is aloe based. Aloe is a natural humectant and will draw water to your face.

So go on and be the most beautiful and radiant you can be!

 I hope these tips help! Be sure to comment and let me know what you think and any other tips you’d like to share!