Two Ingredient Face Mask

There is no need to spend a large quantity of money on a small quantity on those expensive face creams. Save it for buying a good wheat grass, and end up with a huge quantity of healthy! I am sure you're aware wheat grass does good things for you from in the inside out. How about applying on the out side... Wheat grass can aid in skin call regeneration, complexion, treats eczema and skin discoloration. Hello fabulous! 

Now couple this with the power of raw honey, and this two-fer is legit! 

Honey alone is already amazing for your skin, loaded with antibacterial and anti fungal power. But it is a humectant, which will draw moisture into the skin. Raw honey will calm the redness and fade scars, how can you not be using this!

Putting these two together are a "no brainer" right!

Mix teaspoon of wheat grass, with a teaspoon and a half of raw honey. Add more if needed to make a good sticky consistency. Mine was pretty dry until I added more. Apply with a spatula or a face brush if you can.  I do keep a box of latex gloves around, they come in handy if you like to do face treatments.

Wear for up to 20 minutes, and try not to move too much! Your body heat will warm the honey and it will drip! Keep a towel handy. Wash off with luke warm water with a soft face towel. try not scrub it off. You will want a nice layer of honey residue, it will act as your moisturizer.

If you wish you can do this a few times a week, and also pair it with:  Home Made Honey Cleanser !

Better than beach hair; 'Boulder Waves Spray'!

Well I had to try it a few times to make sure it wasn't a fluke. But my stick straight hair has been transformed into something amazing. Wavy, and soft.  It's been an incredible, I am truly in shock. It all started with my homemade shampoos and conditioners. Those were fine and dandy, and then I fell for coconut milk. That was better... but had an even better idea! I'm going to to combine the whole kit and caboodle. 

 

I usually have stick straight hair thats heavy. Not any more!

I stepped out of the shower with wavy hair before the scrunching the scrunching. I had to keep this, I was afraid of loosing the wave.  Because my hair is so thick I was afraid it would dry straight from the weight. I have tried the "beach hair" leave in sprays. Didn't do anything (mainly because I have straight hair) but it was so drying! I had found a couple of popular DIY beach hair sprays, but both had salt, and the other gel! Yuck! I was all dry and sticky. 

After trying my Coconut-poo I was hooked, but it left a heavier feel, so I decided to use a DIY conditioner I was using before and loved to help lighten the feel. The ACV helped break up the heavy and it added the curl without the rubber feel of when I was using it with  my old DIY shampoo. A side note: I had noticed this curling action before using my DIY ACV rinse with a DIY shampoo, but it was so rubbery and too many tangles to let it dry like that. So I had to rake out, but my hair dried soft! The shampoo although used Castile soap like coconut-poo it seemed to have too many rubbery agents! So I kept the ACV rinse for the wave and added the coconut-poo for softness.  How crazy in the natural realm that shampoo and conditioner does each others job?! Then adding my spray for a natural moisturizing hold. BAM BABY! It held for days. At night putting up on top of my head. Then in the morning just a light re-spray with a light scrunch and done! 

So heres my regimine:

Coconut-poo From my earlier post.

ACVConditioner:

 2.5 cups of hot water

 1/2 cup apple cider vinegar (Organic, with the 'mother')

 1/4 sprig of rosemary

 1 bag of your favorite herbal tea, for fragrance

Start by towel drying, using a scrunching method, squeeze hard. But as I scrunched I gently rubbed strands of hair between my fingers. The towel created some friction to make larger waves instead of the scrunched only look. What will totally rock is those towel gloves, saw some at the dollar store;-) There is no need to use a hair dryer, I tend to avoid it. But if you are in a rush use it on warm, low, with a diffuser.  Below is a great example of that fly away, pillow hair I got when I used a warm dryer. When I used the diffuser it gave me this at the roots. LOVED IT!! I also tried using a cold setting, great results too, a lot more smooth. 


*image from imageandstylenews.com

 Use the spray the day after to keep the bump in the hair. The first time I washed I didn't use it. It stayed over night. But the aloe is a great moisturizer and a natural hairspray. But I now use it the same day while scrunching.

I found some nice rough wash cloths to scrunch the hair with.

 They really absorb and create amazing texture.

Boulder Waves Spray

1 cup water , best used filtered, or boil some up if you have hard water!

1/2 cup Aloe Juice- a natural conditioner,

1Tbsp Coconut Oil (melted)- provides natural nutrition, great for adding shine, great anti-dandruff benefit, the oils and proteins in coconut oil work well to help keep hair from losing protein, which is one of the major contributors to hair breakage and hair loss 

Water from 1 can of Coconut Milk (Do Not shake can)-great for rehydrating hair, Contains organic compounds possessing growth promoting properties. It's a pain I know, but crack that can open and scoop it out from around the edges of the can. It doesn't have to be perfect. A scant table spoon will do.

5 vitamin E Capsules- promotes growth, decreases sun damage.

2Tbsp Vegetable Glycerin- It has strong humectant properties, meaning it is able to retain moisture, great for dry flaky scalps 

20drps Tea Tree Essential Oil (Optional for oily hair) - This oil moisturizes the hair and minimizes oil production of the scalp, preventing greasy looking hair and leaving the scalp clean and dandruff-free. I used it anyway, it is fresh and good for you. Goes great with the clove.

20drps Thyme Essential Oil- promotes healthy scalps, gives a natural shine, prevents hair loss 

***Update: You can exclude certain oils if you have oily, or thick hair!  The Aloe and glycerine are AMAZING as a humectant. I make sure I always add coconut oil though. Some times I switch it out for the vitamin E. You might feel both oils can be too heavy. But never fear! Work through some baking soda! I tried it, I was a little worried, but it is a cleansing method. I started on my under layers just using my fingers. Cool stuff, and have fun experimenting.

I keep it in a nice misting bottle and the remainder in a jar and fill as I go. I store in a cool place, but I put it in the microwave for about 10 seconds before I use it. You need to re-melt  the coconut oil! Shake before each use.

Now for that sultry, I just hung out at the ski lodge scent in front of the fire:

A few drops of clove. Not as heavy as it seems. Mixed in to the bottle it combines with the tea tree, and thyme beautifully. 

For the romantic Pearl Street Mall Free spirit scent:

A few drops of Rose, and a couple of Patchouli. This will be my next batch.

 

This was like the 2nd or third day!

So why Boulder hair? Well I am land locked in Colorado! I was thinking about those days snowboarding, my hair getting wet, then drying in the lodge. I would still have it in braided pig tails so I would undo them when I went out for beers on Pearl St. My hair was amazing. I was also in my early 20's. But having those soft waves just reminded me of a day of snow boarding, camp fires, and beers.  Not a day on the beach :-) 

Always buy Organic when possible!

Vitamin E Capsule Conversion

1 gram = 3/4 teaspoon

1 capsule (or tablet) = 250 ml

1 gram = 4 capsules


1 capsule = 1/4 gram = 3/16 teaspoon

2 capsules = 1/2 gram = 6/16 or 3/8 teaspoon

3 capsules = 3/4 gram = 9/16 teaspoon

4 capsules = 1 gram = 12/16 or 3/4 teaspoon

          1 ounce = 28.35 grams = 21.26 teaspoons = approx 7 tablespoons

Coconut-poo?!

I'm on a roll like a coconut down a moderately steep but short grassy hill. What!? I don't  get on  much of a roll too often. But like I said previously, I am back on my coconut using and consuming kick again, this time I am adding coconut milk to the mix. I have been making my own shampoo and conditioner, but since I had all this coconut milk I wanted to try some thing else. I also messed up my last batch, possibly put too much oil, or added it twice in the 'poo'. I don't know. So this is a perfect time to try.

 

My hair is in a grow out stage, I am taking biotin, pre-natal, and just about anything else I can find. My hair is growing fast, and oh how the natural red is coming out. I have the most naturally  mashed up hair color. It looks like dark dirty dishwater ash blonde, but that's a cool color right... but with red?! Yeah, awesome, then as it grows out its super blonde at the ends. I have that 'natural-Carrie-"Ombre"-hair'.  But heavy, and stick straight with some odd waves in my under layers where it's the thickest. Did I mention I haven't had it trimmed, and I have some crazy layers from past 'damage control chopping sessions'. With all that said commercial hair products were not fixing any type of damage, wasn't smoothing any hair. I couldn't naturally dry because my layers would just get all wonky.  I have found that natural homemade shampoos and conditioners really lay my hair flat, and seals the hair shaft to produce the shine.  I have been using Bragg's ACV (apple cider vinegar) for conditioner. I don't bother mixing it either I just dump it in, let it sit while I shower and rinse under cooler water (generally as I start to loose my hot water I start to rinse). Works! No it really friggin' works. I read many peoples reactions to this concoction (notes further down about that), and I will add  mine: Not too shabby! You do not need a conditioner after. I am going to try with oil oil, and maybe coconut oil. My thicker hair does feel very heavy and I am not sure if it's the olive oil. The original recipe called for vitamin E, almond, or olive oil. I passed on E because I was thinking it would be even more heavy to mix, and rinse. My top layers are not as smooth as I like as if I used my ACV, so next time I will coco-poo, and ACV rinse!

 

Oh no! I ran out of liquid soap! I swiped my kids lavender baby shampoo, score! Not what I really wanted to use but its gentle.

Ingredients

1/4 cup coconut milk

1/3 cup liquid castile soap (I used Dr. Bronner's lavendar soap, if you use a bar, grate  use a slow boil, then simmer with your coconut milk to ensure a good mix) or gentle/organic baby shampoo/wash

1 tsp olive oil, Vitamin E, or Almond oil (go with out if you have oily hair)

(10-20 drops essential oil -if you used an unscented soap)

Squirt bottles like a condiment bottle works great. I just reused my empty liquid castile bottle. Shake to blend, and shake before use. Natural ingredients will settle. Remember liquid castile soap does not foam as much as commercial soaps. No chemicals! So I like to section my hair and work each area from scalp to tip adding more if needed. 

So why all the extra 'heads-up' on this one? Well like I said there have been a lot of feed back around the web about a 'detox-period' where your hair will feel waxy but it will pass. But no one has clarified if they were using commercial before or not. My other homemade recipe is also used with liquid castile soap so it must be a coconut milk thing? I am still going to stick with it to use it all up! I am not too bothered about the slight heaviness because it aids as a protectant for when I curl or straighten with an iron. Things to know about any natural DIY shampoo or conditioner is:

• Don't double the recipe unless you wash everyday (not recommended no matter what you use) because some ingredients require refrigeration.


• Even after using a ACV(Apple Cider Vinegar) conditioner you won't feel super smooth right away like commercial conditioners (those are the chemicals at work). ACV balances your hair, seals your shaft back to what I call; it's natural normal state.


• Use a wide tooth comb and fingers, and air dry, or cool dryer. As your hair dries you will start to feel how soft your hair is.


• Give it time, and make time. The first time devote time to see what your hair does after a natural dry! And your hair needs time to adjust too. 


• You don't always have to add EO (essential oils). Liquid castile soap smells awesome if you get a scented. 


• EO is not just for scent, they also have serious function! So unless you know what you need your concoction to do best use scented liquid castile soap or lavender EO.

Here is an EO guide for hair care 

Basil: Oily hair Promotes growth by stimulating circulation
Chamomile: Fine to normal hair Gives golden highlights and sheen Conditions hair Soothes inflamed scalp Helps scaly scalps and psoriasis
Cedarwood: Normalizes dry and oily scalp Stimulates scalp and hair follicles Used to treat hair loss and dandruff Antiseptic and astringent
Clary Sage: All hair types Dandruff treatment
Eucalyptus: Antiseptic Dandruff treatment
Lavender: All hair types Scalp treatment for itchiness and dandruff Helps balance natural scalp oils Soothes scalp and calms hair Promotes hair growth
Lemon: Oily hair Gives golden highlights Treatment for dry scalp and dandruff Helps balance natural scalp oils
Lemongrass: Oily hair Slows down scalp oil production
Myrrh: Dry hair Treatment for dry scalp and dandruff
Patchouli: Oily hair Dandruff treatment
Peppermint: Dry hair Promotes growth by stimulating circulation
Rosemary: Oily hair Dandruff treatment Promotes hair growth
Sage: Clarifies scalp scalp clarifiers Helps heal scalp problems such as psoriasis
Tea Tree: Oily hair Treatment for dry scalp, dandruff and lice
Thyme: Antiseptic Stimulates blood flow Invigorates scalp to help with hair loss
Ylang Ylang: Oily hair Antiseptic Dandruff treatment Soothing Stimulates hair growth
EO guide Source

I brake for coconuts.

OK, I know I just posted a ton of new face recipes, but I have been using them for quite some time. It's just  takes THAT long for me to get it up here. So as usual I got distracted by a new ingredient my favorite coconut! It's great for sensitive skin, it will soothe your skin, nourish your skin, and you will feel lovely and soft after. For the first time I made something, and I am typing it up all in the same day! *Shocker, I know!* There was a winter storm warning today so after playing in the snow, cleaning up, I made up my new cleanser and hit the shower. All in the name of beauty science! I really just wanted to say "SCIENCE!"

I was so going to insert Thomas Dolbys' "She blinded me with science" but nooo EMI blocked it in the USA because of copy rights... LAME!! C'mon EMI. So you get this:

You're Welcome

The other day I was at The Dollar Store and they had their coconut milk in stock again. When they have it I clear them out! It's great to make it with pudding, and make chocolate mouse (I will share that nom nom too). I was searching for other things to do with coconut milk and came across just the cutest blog. I didn't bother going any further. I used her recipe, with an addition to an add in ( of course, that's how I roll). I tried it with and with out my add in. It is just a wonderful experience! With a little more research I found the hair recipe which it derived from too. I am doing that tomorrow, hair washing day!

Face & Body Wash

1cup coconut milk or cream (I used canned because it has a thicker consistency)
1/3 cup castile soap (just like the original I started with the lavender)
1 tablespoon coconut oil (unrefined, cold-press organic. You want all the goodness)
1tablespoon olive oil 

*10 drops of tea tree (optional add in for problem skin. Start with 10, increase if you like and know your skin.)

Add to your reusable bottle, and shake! Perfect on a loofa for the body, wonderful on a wash cloth for the face. Finally an all in one, face and body! 

Bonus for added moisture and acne fighting :

Melt 1/2 cup of coconut oil, add 10 drops of tea tree oil. Pour into a jar, you can use it as a liquid right away. Then it will harden and use the warmth of your hand to melt again. Make sure you pour it into a wide enough jar to get your fingers in! I used baby food tubs. Perfect! 

 

After my shower with my new yummies, it was time for a cup of tea.]

Of course by now you know that the super powers coconut oil possesses. A quick rundown just incase.

·       Anti-inflammatory
·       Antimicrobial
·       Antifungal
·       Antiviral
·       Improves nutrient absorption

The uses are endless, the ultimate list I like is here: 

80 Uses for Coconut Oil

Some of my favorite uses for Tea Tree OIl:

Cleaning: 
The non-toxic version of cleaning that is. Add 1 - 2 teaspoons of Tea Tree Oil to 1 - 2 cups of water in a spray bottle to disinfect and clean surfaces. An added bonus is the TTO smells so much better than chemicals.

Acne:
Using a Tea Tree Oil Soap to treat acne has been very effective for many.

Abrasions:
Add 5 drops of Tea Tree Oil to a small bowl of warm water to clean the abrasion. Then add two drops to one tablespoon of Almond Oil and massage the affected area.

Body Odor:
Add several drops to bath water daily to fight off the bacteria causing body odor. Add a few drops to a small amount of baking soda and put in smelly shoes to eliminate nasty odors.

Dry Skin:
Add 6 - 7 drops of Tea Tree Oil per oz. of Almond Oil and apply to skin often.

Flu:
Add ten drops tea tree oil to a warm bath and soak. After dilute five drops tea tree oil in one teaspoon almond oil and massage your whole body. Go to bed and rest.

Heres another list, and another list.

You know me, I just had to drop some natural "SCIENCE"!

Oh my face!

There are just some times where I feel like my skin is going through its own "thing". As a teen it was my enemy, and to make things worse sensitive English pale skin.  So every thing burns, like water, that burns. I still buy store bought, but never impressed. I don't know if I am just being hopeful, or suckered by advertising. 

I do however always going back to home made remedies. 

 I have found going natural has calmed and beautified my skin. I now wake up with color in my skin... a good color! Of course I do try to follow the rule of: drink copious amounts of water with lemon. But I needed a topical solution too. So after much searching and studying (while studying to be an aromatherapist) I found some recipes, but also made some of my own.

The thing about making your own is that you have to know your oils. I always recommend a good starter oil like lavender. Most commonly know for perfumes, and for tranquility But it goes much deeper than that.

• Nervous System: Lavender essential oil has a calming scent which makes it an excellent tonic for the nerves. Therefore, it helps in The refreshing aroma removes nervous exhaustion and restlessness and increases mental activity.


• treating migraines


• headaches


•  anxiety


• depression


• nervous tension and emotional stress


• Sleep


• Pain relief 


• Urine Flow


• Respiratory Disorders


• Hair Care


• Blood


• Digestion

There could be more sub categories under those bullet points, but if my writing starts to feel like I am doing a research essay for school... I stop!

The main reason I like to keep lavender around is for the analgesic, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, anti-fungal, antiviral, antibacterial, diuretic, and sedative properties. Topically used it can treat acne and soothe redness. Sorry, if I got too wordy. I love the study of aromatherapy, and it has really stuck well in the noggin' :-)

 A good beginner face wash is still one I still like to keep around.

] 

I lucked out on my reusable container, how well does it match!

Homemade Honey Cleanser

3 Tablespoons honey
1/2 cup vegetable glycerine
2 Tablespoons liquid castile soap

 

Mix ingredients together. Apply to face and neck and massage into skin for at least 30 seconds, allowing the cleanser to loosen dirt and debris. Rinse face with warm water.

(Source.)

Cherry Mama s Uplifting facial wash

• 1/4 cup liquid castile soap 


• 1/4 cup chamomile tea (for its anti-inflammatory properties)


• 3/4 teaspoon grape seed,


• 4 drops of Basil an 4 drops of lemongrass (or 8 drops of Lavender)

Always shake gently before use. Use with a soft was cloth, gentle motion, do not scrub!

Grape seed oil is known for  anti-inflammatory, anti-oxidant, anti-histamine, anti-aging, anti-allergic, antimicrobial, and adaptogenic activity. It contains 73% of linoleic acid which may be beneficial in the treatment of acne, dermatitis, allergic reactions, atopic eczema and dry and itchy skin. The rich nutrients in Grape Seed extract have been found to protect against UV radiation, and they have been found to lighten the effects on age spots and pigmented skin caused by ultra violet rays.

(Source) 

Basil oil is a very beneficial oil and can be helpful not only for headaches and migraines, but also has an uplifting effect on depression. It enhances the luster of dull looking skin as well as hair. As a result it is extensively used in many skin care supplements that claim to improve the tone of your skin. It is also used for acne and skin infections.

(Source)

"Lemongrass is pungent and earthy aroma heightens psychic awareness, and purifies the mind." -Source Lemongrass oil helps clear oily skin that is susceptible to acne outbreaks, and acts as an effective skin toner because it naturally dilates the blood vessels, tightens pores and reduces the appearance of wrinkles.

(Source)

*Cautionary notes: Lemongrass can cause irritation more so than many other oils. It's a strong one! Test your dropper before you add it to any concoction. You want to always make sure your dilution's are exact when using oils topically. As any other beauty product, caution around your eyes too!

 

Great things to have in your kitchen for skin care, and more.

I have also been using natural astringents along side of my cleansing concoctions. Astringents are the easiest to make, and very inexpensive. The one I use daily is a super quick one to mix up. Start with equal parts of Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), with the "Mother", Lemon juice, and Witch Hazel. ACV forganic and with the "mother" is going to have all the nutrients in it. ACV has become so popular I ingest it, use it on my face, and in my conditioners. ACV is great for your skin because it has antibacterial and antiseptic properties. It balances the PH in your skin, and we all know we need that because beauty product commercials have been drumming that into our head. They are right about that, that's all... ;-) The #1 reccomended vingar is Bragg Organic.  It is the one company that know the benefits of of ACV. I also recently have found it at my local King Soopers (Kroger) for less then some natural stores! WOW! Keep your eye open.

Next the amzaing lemon, again another one thats great to ingest, with a side of ACV, (more on that another day). The magical lemon in your astringent will brighten your skin,reduce the look scars/age spots, treat acne, and exfoliates. I do have to warn you and this is common sense, use sunscreen, it does exfoliate!

Using a base in you mix ;I do recommend mainly for the added benefits! Witch Hazel rules. Don't get fooled into purchasing a fancy brand. Keep in simple, you will find it in the first aid section just like the glycerin (keep that in mind for later). Witch Hazel will soothe any irritations you have on your skin too. And if your skin is not ready for the full strength mix this will be better to dillute with.

My best mix is 1-1-1, or all equal parts to start with. Although I can handle it straight and I have Brit skin I still like the added benefit.

Refrigerate between use!

Skin brightening toner

 

I used Lemongrass because I love it! Just a few drops.

Salicylic Acid (Aspirin), clears away excess oil, cleans out your pores and exfoliates your skin to loosen and help remove dead skin cells)and ACV (note all the good things from above). I keep this one around for break outs, or to treat enlarged pores. These two are drying agents though, keep that in mind, because over drying can cause acne. What doesn't huh! Again, use sparingly if you have normal to dry skin and moisturize. Oily skin, go nuts!

• 1/2 ounce organic apple cider vinegar


• 3 ounces mineral water (or distilled water)


• 5 plain aspirin tablets, uncoated

1. Dilute 1/2 ounce organic apple cider vinegar with 3 ounces water.

2. Use pestle and mortar to crush aspirin tablets. (or use BC powders)

3. Add aspirin tablet mixture to water and vinegar mix.

4. Apply toner sparingly to areas with acne, rough skin or enlarged pores. The solution will stay fresh for one month in the refrigerator.

Source