Pumpkins in all of their glory

Everyone loves the fall season. Thanksgiving is around the corner and everyone is now making plans and even preparing their bellies for the amount of food they will eat. On more of a serious note, however, with this time of the year the weather is changing and so must our regimen in order to keep our skin in top condition.

Cold weather leaves your skin feeling parched and dull. Fortunately for us, this fall season is not only good for decorating our houses with pumpkins but these vitamin packed mega squashes can protect our delicate skin from premature again, clogged pores, and an uneven complexion.

Pumpkins are enriched with many vitamins and anti-oxidants that can boost the elasticity of our skin. So after carving those pumpkins don’t throw out all the puree instead we are going to put it to good use.

As a side note… In order for these benefits to last make sure you apply a moisturizer after you have rinsed off each scrub/mask. This will not only enhance the benefits of each treatment but will prolong the effects.

An easy moisturizer for your skin is olive oil. Yes, I said that correctly. Take a little bit onto your fingertips and apply it after you have rinsed and dried your skin. This will lock in the moisture.

So, to keep with the holiday theme here are some scrubs and masks to keep every area of our body in top shape. After all with the holidays come family photos, which you want to look your best for.

Pumpkin Body Scrub:

This body scrub will gently and effectively exfoliate your skin giving your skin a healthy glow.

Combine, in a small bowl:

1 Cup Pureed Pumpkin

1 Cup Sugar

1/8 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

Now that you have all of these ingredients in a bowl, mix it with a spoon until it is blended. Apply it to your body and gently scrub in circular motions (using your finger-tips is the best way). Rinse off with warm water and you are set, see the difference?

Pumpkin Facial Scrub:

This will no doubt cleanse your skin, removing excess dirt and leaving your skin feeling clean and soft, while improving the texture of your skin giving it a lift.

Combine these ingredients in a small bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

3 Tablespoons of Sugar

½ Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

¼ Teaspoon of Ground Cinnamon

Mix them together. This will give you a thick paste. Massage this scrub into your skin in circular motions. Let this soak into your skin for a few minutes before rinsing off with warm water. It is that easy!

Purifying Facial Mask:

This facial mask will help to give your skin a natural glow, aiding in moisturizing your skin.

In a small bowl, combine these items:

2 Tablespoons of Pureed Pumpkin

2 Teaspoons of Honey

1 Egg Yolk, beaten (until you see little bubbles)

Buttermilk (add just enough to reach a spread-able consistency)

Cleanse your skin before you apply this mask. Spread this mask onto your skin and relax, read a magazine, or entertain yourself with your phone while you allow this mask to do its job for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, moisturize, and enjoy smooth skin.

Now, you either have oily skin or dry skin. You know who you are. Here is a mask for each of you, to help you get through this season.

Face Mask for Oily Skin:

Add all of these ingredients together and blend.

¼ Cup of Fresh Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

1 Egg Yolk

Apply this to your face and leave it on for 20 minutes. Wash off with warm water and enjoy. This will help you control the shine.

Face Mask for Dry Skin:

The milk/creamy consistency is amazing for dry skin. It will moisturizer and nourish your skin.

Mix together:

¼ Cup of Fresh Pumpkin

1 Teaspoon of Pumpkin Seed Oil

1 Teaspoon of Almond Oil

Milk; add just enough to get a creamy consistency (you can also use whipping cream)

Apply this mixture to your face and leave it on your skin for 20 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and moisturize right after to lock in the effects.

Pumpkin Pie Foot/Hand Scrub:

If you are like me your feet crack and your hands become ruff when the weather outside starts to become cold. This foot and hand scrub will help exfoliate off the rough skin, leaving your skin soft and moisturized.

In a small bowl, add all of these items together:

¼ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

2 Tablespoons of Sugar

2 Tablespoons of an Essential Oil (jojoba, grape-seed, almond, or olive oil)

1 Teaspoon of Cinnamon

1 Drop of Vanilla Extract

Over a large bowl or the old-fashion way of sitting on the edge of the tub, massage this mixture into your feet or hands. Focus on the rough areas and cuticles. To enhance the benefits, allow this mixture to remain on your skin for 10 minutes, and then rinse off with warm water.

Pumpkin Hair Mask:

Yes, we are even going to put pumpkin in our hair. Pumpkin is an excellent conditioner for dry hair, as it is packed with vitamins that aid in softening. This recipe promises to make your hair shiny and soft which is the ultimate goal, right?  

Combine in a bowl:

½ Cup of Pureed Pumpkin

¼ Cup of Plain Yogurt

2 Tablespoons of Honey

Apply the mask to your entire head (it doesn’t matter if you have dry or oily hair. If your hair tends to be very oily, simply avoid adding this mask to your roots). Once your hair is fully saturated, you can either put on one of those old-fashion shower caps or you can wrap your hair in plastic wrap. This allows your hair to soak in the full benefits of the mask. Leave this on for 30 minutes. Rinse off with warm water (you can either wash your hair as normal or just rinse the mask out well). This will also help tame the little strands of hair that tend to dance on the top of our heads. Enjoy!

Did you ever think you could use pumpkin for so many different things besides cooking? You are now taking the use of a pumpkin to a whole new level.

Each one of these mixtures will help you keep every area of your body in check with a healthy glow and soft feel. Who knew these mega squashes could be so useful for beauty? 

Hopefully, these masks and scrubs will help you radiate in those family photos and help you make it through this holiday with ease.

Frizzy Hair Under Control

The Fall Season is here! 

Pumpkins, spice smells, and colorful leaves, is what reminds me of the fall season. However, if we stop and think for a second, the weather is also going through a change from hot and sunny to windy with cooler temperatures. 

What does all this add up to? FRIZZ! You style your hair perfectly, take one step outside and what happens? POOF! Unfortunately, we all know what comes with that "poof" frizzy hair. Your hair is everywhere... Now you have to go out with however your hair ended up. 

So instead of dodging the beautiful fall weather, there are a few simple ways we can combat frizzy hair and fully enjoy the fall season. Whether you have frizzy hair or it's just the way your hair reacts to the season, this post is for you. 

Now, I know that some of these techniques might seem scary and that you will look absolutely lovely while doing them but it will be worth it, promise! 

Good Old Egg Mask: 

Grab:

• 2 Whole Eggs
• 4 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
• Plastic Wrap (weird I know... it will be worth it)
• Towel (heated in the dryer)

Combine both of the ingredients in a bowl. Mix it up well. Add this mask to your strands. 

Do you have plastic wrap lying around? Grab it! Wrap your hair in the plastic wrap and then wrap the towel around your head last. The heat from the wrap will aid in moisture penetration, which means your hair will behave (thank goodness). Let it sit in your hair for half an hour and wash your hair normally. 

Olive Oil Hair Mask:

All you will need to gather is: 

• 3 Tablespoons of Olive Oil
• 1/4 cup of Honey
• Towel (heated in the dryer)

In a small bowl, mix together the honey and olive oil. Take a little bit at a time and work it into your hair, coat your whole head thoroughly. 

Grab your towel and wrap your hair up, having it warm will enhance the benefits of this mask, causing your hair to be moisturized to the max. Leave it in for half an hour. Wash your hair normally.

Mayonnaise Hair Mask:

Gather up:

• 1/4 cup Mayonnaise
• 1/4 cup Plain Yogurt
• 1 Egg White

Beat egg white, until you see bubbles. Blend in yogurt and mayonnaise. 

Massage this hair mask into either dry or wet hair. Leave it on your hair for half an hour. Wash your hair and you are set to go! 

All of the above masks have ingredients that are rich in hydration that will leave your hair conditioned with less frizz. 

Do this once a week and you will make it through this colorful windy season without the frizz. Who wants their hair dancing in all directions on top of their head anyway? 

Krishna's blog

This is Krishna!

Today I am sharing with you an amazing blog that I found! 

Looking for a blog that has all the essential things a girl should know about the secrets of body care, hair care, DIY, make up tips, and nail designs? Check her eye-catching blog out. It will be totally worth your time. 

Here is the link: http://diybeautytutorials.blogspot.ie/

Enjoy! 

Oily skin: Problem Solved!

Finally, the much-coveted warmer weather has arrived! As sunny days are great for showing off summer dresses and relaxing by the poolside, they can present a common problem: oily skin. 

A greasy complexion requires special attention and care, period. However, when the summer months roll around the battle of oily skin can become harder to fight. To keep unnecessary oils at bay and keep your pores unclogged it calls for a different game plan and new tricks to get you through the warm season. 

Why does your skin produce so much oil? There can be a few different culprits: genes, climate, hormones, eating habits, products and even dryness of your skin (I know that seems contradictory, but it causes your skin to produce even more oils then what you started with). 


Now, I know your thinking that oily skin is impossible to live and the worse skin type of all to have, but think again, there are actually advantages that come along with this specific skin type. Just what can these "advantages" be? It causes your face to age less than those who have normal to dry skin (not so bad after all, right), you are less likely to get those bothersome fine lines and wrinkles compared to other skin types. Told you this skin type wasn't so bad after all. 


So, to get us started in keeping our oily complexion in check, the following three recipes will help you maintain your oily skin: 

Sage Toner Recipe:

Herbal treatments provide your skin cells with vitamins. Using sage helps control the oil  production and preserve the spotless condition of your complexion. 

Take a small amount of sage in a medium-sized cup and pour hot water over it. Let the herb steep for 30 minutes. Strain it and give it some time to cool down. Simply dip a cotton ball into the sage tea and cleanse your face. Repeat at least once a day (make sure to moisturize afterwards). 

Mango Facial:

Accompanying oily skin acne tends to make an unwanted appearance. So, to keep acne at a fair distance you can use this facial to keep your pores clean and free from anything that could cause a breakout. The best part of this facial is it can be used to give you silky soft skin.

Mash a mango on a plate. Taking the content, massage the pulp into your skin using circular motions (be gentle). Leave it on your skin for 10 minutes or until it dries. Wash it off with lukewarm water. Enjoy the radiant look of your complexion.

Wheat Germ Oil Facial:

Wheat germ oil is rich in anti-oxidants and vitamin E. Use it in your skin care regime to help your oily skin. All it takes is you putting a small amount on your fingers and gently massage it into your skin. Go read a book, get some cleaning done or do your toes while this stays on your skin for 40 minutes to ensure your pores absorb all the nutrients. Wash off the treatment and your set. 

Need a quick fix, here you go: 

These products are temporary fixes, but will help eliminate surface oils when you’re on the go. 

Astringents:

Astringents stimulate circulation, reduce oiliness and help to refine pores and rough, uneven skin texture. Astringents should be used with care as they can cause dryness.  Here are some to get you started. Apply them to your skin leave for about 30 minutes and rinse off. 

Stimulating Astringents in General:

• Witch Hazel
• Orange Flower Water
• Organic Cider Vinegar
• Lemon 
• Grapefruit Essential Oil 
• Rose Water
• Basil Essential Oil 
• Peppermint and Chamomile Essential Oils

Toners:

Toners are used to remove excess dirt, and oil from your skin. They should be applied after you have completed cleansing.  These are gentle yet are an effective way to heal, calm and sooth and balance your skin. 


Making your very own is very easy to do. Just combine some of the listed above ingredients and there you go! Here are a few examples: 

Aloe Vera Gel and Tangerine Essential Oil Toner:

Grab a bowl and put three tablespoons of Aloe Vera gel into it then add four drops of tangerine essential oil. Apply this simple mixture onto your skin and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with lukewarm water. These ingredients will do magic for oily skin. 

Facial Toner for oily and acne prone skin: 

• 1/2 ounce: Apple Cider Vinegar 
• 5 drops: Grapefruit Seed Extract
• 1/2 ounce: rose water
• 1/2 ounce: Witch Hazel 
• 1/2 ounce: Lemon 
• 1/2 ounce: Rosemary 

Here are some additional essential oils that you can mix and match, adding them to your facial routine will help with your oily skin: 

• Geranium
• Lavender
• Lemon
• Peppermint
• Sandalwood
• Grapefruit 
• Thyme
• Rosewater

Blotting Papers: 

Blotting papers are extremely handy and discreet for bathroom touch-ups.  They are essentially thin, tissue-like papers that work by absorbing surface oil on the skin. An added bonus is blotting can prevent you from having to reapply your makeup throughout the day.

Lifestyle habits that need to be applied to your everyday life: 

Come Clean: 

Having a well-defined skin care regime for your oily complexion is essential, especially in the summer, to keeping your skin in check. 


Proper cleansing and exfoliating go hand-in-hand to keep your pores unclogged, remove dead skin cells, reduce excess oils from the surface of your skin and help control the production of oils.


Using a gentle gel-based or water-based cleanser is best to get a thorough cleanse (stay away from harsh soaps, as they can cause your skin to dry out, telling your skin to produce more oils, not helping your problem at all). When washing your skin use lukewarm water, it dissolves oils better and will open your pores and remove all the dirt that might be present.  

A common misconception out there is to constantly wash your face or to keep it dry in order to control the oil production, right? WRONG! This simply tells your skin to produce more oils, which you are trying to control and reduce, making your oily skin problem even worse then it was before. Washing your face morning and night is the perfect amount, no more no less.

Eat Healthy: 

The more you eat oily foods the more oily your skin will be, so stick with fruits and vegetables. Reduce your salt and sugar intake. Whole grains, beans, nuts and wheat germ are great sources of Vitamin B2, which supplies the body with iron and rejuvenates the skin.  

Drink Plenty of Water:

Not juice, not soda, just simply water. Here’s one more reason for getting your eight glasses in: drinking lots of water will help flush out toxins and keep your skin moisturized, preventing your glands from overcompensating.

Use a clay mask once a week:

A clay mask is very effective in fixing your oily skin problem. Put it on a clean face and leave it for 30 minutes, then wash off. Easy enough? 

Moisturize your face after washing: 

Seriously, even if you have oily skin, it is still important to moisturize, it replaces the lost moisture on your face when you wash. When your face is moisturize there is no need for your skin to produce oil. Use a moisturizer that says: "oil free".  There are some moisturizer that not only moisturize your skin, but also controls oiliness. 

Makeup: 


Always remove any trace of makeup at the end of the day. Also, check your make up to ensure it doesn't contain any oil in it. Some foundations can also help control your oiliness not make your problem worse. 


Hopefully these tricks and masks will help you enjoy your summer to the fullest, boot-kicking those problems and oils off your skin! 

Oily hair? Problem solved!

                                                     Summer time is here! 

Okay, now here comes all the worries of dealing with oily hair, as the weather has once again shifted into a new season which leads to a need of change in our regimens. Hair is a precious beauty asset that demands special care. So why not get started by adding some of these simple masks to our regimen that will help you maintain healthy looking hair, even in the warm season? 

Whether you have naturally oily hair or it reacts to this season, this post is here to help you. 


Why does our hair tend to become so oily and unattractive? Most of the time it is simply caused by frequent exposure to dust and dirt and/or overactive oil glands. Even over brushing can be the culprit, so if you are one that always wants every hair in a specific place, try to cut down on using a brush, if possible. This specific hair type requires proper washing regularly because it not, it make your hair appear greasy and dull, which I am pretty sure nobody wants.  

Yogurt Egg Mask:


If you were to look at the list of benefits underneath "yogurt" you would be amazed on how far you would have to scroll to get to the end. It has been used in beauty care over and over, and once again, we get the chance to use it today. Yogurt has amazing benefits that when used with egg yolk it will condition and will help make your hair healthier and luscious. 


All your going to do is combine 1 egg with 1/2 a cup of yogurt and mix in a bowl. Add this mixture to already washed hair and leave it on for 40 minutes. Rinse out with lukewarm water and you are done, easy right? 

To enhance the benefits of this mask you can also add a teaspoon of baking soda to further cut down the oils in your hair.  

Lemon Yogurt Mask:

Get out your yogurt again and add 5 tablespoons in a bowl, from there add 1 tablespoon of baking soda and 1 tablespoon of fresh lemon juice, mix the ingredients together. 

Apply the mixture to your hair, concentrating on the roots (as this is the place it tends to be the greasiest) and leave it on for 40 minutes. Rinse the mask out and enjoy the benefits! 

Basic mask:

Beat 1 egg white until it foams, add 1 tablespoon of salt and the juice of 1 lemon. Apply it to your hair for 30 minutes, rinse and wash as normal.

Protein mask:

Beat an egg white well and add in 1 teaspoon of salt and mix until a thick foam is formed. Pour the juice of 1 lemon and beat again. Rub the mask into your scalp and massage it in well. Leave for 30 minutes then rinse with cold water.

Rosemary Rinse:

This is a simple treatment that can be used to control the oil production of your scalp and get rid of your oily hair.

Grab a small amount of rosemary and keep it handy. In a bowl pour 3 cups of hot water, set the rosemary in the water and let it steep in the water for 10 minutes. 


Strain the mixture and eliminate the rosemary from the rinse. Wash your hair with shampoo as usual and rinse off your hair with this healthy mixture, and you are done. Told you it was simple.

Vinegar rinse:


Now I know when you saw the title of this rinse it sounds very scary, and you would think "wouldn't that hurt your hair, its pretty strong?" 


This is actually one of the best rinses for oily hair. Take a glass (the larger the glass for the more hair you have) and fill 3/4 of the way up with vinegar. Fill it the rest of the way up with lemon juice. 


After you are done washing your hair in the shower, dump this rinse on your hair and massage it in. Continue conditioning as normal. 

These masks are sure to help you through this hot season and enable you to enjoy your summer that much more. Who wants to deal with oily hair? Not me, and now you don't have to either.