Beauty Secrets from Around the World: Egypt

I don't know about you, but when I think of ancient beauty I think of Cleopatra. I mean, come on, two men fell in love with her because she was so beautiful. After doing some research, I found that there was a jar of cleansing cream, a natron mix, and bath salts in her tomb. These were obviously her secrets to glowing skin since they were buried with her.

So I decided to try the cleansing cream and the natron mix so I could just focus on my face. I couldn't find any recipes by anyone else so I had to do a trial and error kinda deal.

First of all, let me tell you what's going on with my skin as of now. I have a few small breakouts on my chin and both cheeks. Nothing that's too big of a deal, but they're pretty red.

Natron Mix Recipe
1 teaspoon baking soda
4-7 drops of lime juice (judgement call, you can do whatever you feel.. 4 if your skin is sensitive or 7 if normal, just depends)
few drops of water
few drops of almond oil (I used olive oil though)

I did this first since the oil/cream recipe is more of a moisturizer. This is supposed to brighten your complexion. Baking soda and lime juice are natural whiteners.

I used a small bowl to mix this. First, put the baking soda in your bowl then the lime juice. It will start to fizz, but don't worry. Continue to add the remaining ingredients. Mix. Apply to entire face or just where you have blemishes or dark spots. Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with lukewarm water.

Now, you'll notice that this mixture separates quite quickly because of the oil. Just make sure that when you apply it to your face that you stir it back up. When I first put this on my face it burned slightly, but I did have some open blemishes (oops). It only burned for around 10 seconds, but I wouldn't suggest putting it in a cut or anything huge because it will hurt (lime juice is very acidic). Once you have it on your skin for a few minutes you can't really tell that it's there. If you touch your face though you'll feel the oil. When I rinsed it off, my skin was slightly red where I have blemishes, but I have very sensitive skin.


Cleansing Cream (Oil) Recipe

1 teaspoon of olive oil

3-5 drops of lime juice

I know it looks gross, but the color of the olive oil didn't really help. I just took this picture so you could tell how much I used when making it. I forgot to take a picture of the Natron Mix, but I actually measured for that one. 

As you can see from the picture above, I just mixed this in my hand. I more or less just eyeballed how much I would need. I actually made more than I would ever need. To mix it together, I just rubbed my hands together and applied it to my face with my hands. This felt very good when I put it on, plus it smelled like limes. Yum. I left this on for around 30 minutes. Olive oil is a natural moisturizer so you can leave it on for as long as you want. I'm just not a big fan of oil on my face.

I put this on after I used the Natron Mix because my skin was a little red and I figured what the heck, Cleopatra did it, so can I. Once I got all of the oil off of my face, my skin looked very dewy, smooth, and calm. My red pimples had actually gone down! I was so surprised that the pimple that I tried so hard to cover with makeup that morning was diminishing from things from my kitchen! Crazy talk.

I'll most likely be doing this more often now. I really liked what the combination of the two remedies did for my skin. It really opened my eyes for natural facial care. Sometimes you just need to look around your kitchen for things instead of going to the store.

Let me know if you decide to try this! I highly recommend it!

Update: I used the Natron Mix the next night also and my face is completely clear now. I will continue to use this recipe when I get breakouts. I probably won't use the Oil recipe as often though. This is the best my skin has looked in a long time. 

Beauty Secrets From Around the World: India

India has been using turmeric for beauty treatments for thousands of years. In India, the night before a wedding, an Indian woman would cover herself, head to toe, in a mixture of turmeric, chickpea flour (also known as gram or garbanzo bean flour), sandalwood powder, and almond oil. This mixture is called the Indian Bridal Mask, surprise surprise. Applying this mask resulted in millions of happy wedding nights. 

Today, turmeric is one of the most healthy spices. It's antibiotic, anti-inflammatory, stimulates circulation, and helps with ailments. It also will soften your skin. It's obvious why the Indian women used this on their wedding night. 

I have actually heard of this mask before, so that's why I chose it to research first. Now, unlike Indian women did, I'm only going to be applying this to my face. I was a little worried about writing this because turmeric is yellow. I was so afraid that if I used this mask I would turn yellow. Nope! No yellow face here. I have read online from other peoples experiences that their face did turn yellow and stain slightly. Just make sure that you don't use a ton of turmeric, just a dash.

Here's my recipe: 

1-2 tablespoons of chickpea flour (also known as gram flour or garbanzo bean flour)

A few dashes of turmeric

Enough almond oil to form a paste from the flour/turmeric mixture

1. Mix flour and turmeric. I used 1 tablespoon of flour for my face alone, use 2 tablespoons if you want to apply to your neck. 

2. Slowly add almond oil and stir until it forms a paste. It shouldn't be runny or lumpy. It should be grainy though from the flour, so don't worry about that if you notice. This is an exfoliating mask.

3. Massage on face, making sure to really work it in. 

4. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes. 

5. Rinse. Make sure to massage your face while removing so that it's easier to remove and will stimulate blood flow even more. 

That's it! Super easy and all of the ingredients are cheap, considering how much use you will get out of it. I ended up loving this mask. Usually, my face with be red and a little sore from masks because of my sensitive skin, but it wasn't with this. My face felt good and it looked brighter too, which is an added bonus. 

Be sure to let me know if you try this out and what you thought of it!

Current Skincare Routine

Of all of products that I currently use on my skin, I've only reviewed one. BUT I'm working on reviewing the rest. This is the routine for my face only. 

I'll start with my morning routine. I don't usually do too much to face as of now. It changes by season when my skin tends to change. It's fall/winter here, so I'm pretty focused on moisturizing! 

Products I'm currently using in the morning:
Derma E Tropical Solutions Facial Scrub
Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum
Andalou Naturals Acai+White Tea Oil-Free Moisturizer
Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate
Heritage Store Rose Water
Juice Beauty Green Apple Peel Sensitive (twice a week)
Weleda Pomegranate Firming Serum (twice a week with peel)

From Left to Right: Derma E scrub, Juice Beauty Serum, Andalou Naturals Moisturizer, Juice Beauty Eye Concentrate, Juice Beauty Peel, Weleda Serum

The first thing I do in the morning when I get up is take a shower. I keep the Derma E scrub in the shower, so I wash my face with the steam of the shower around me. Weird, I know. I just feel like it has a better effect on my skin when it's steamy. I use around a pea size amount of this every morning. After I get out of the shower, I apply the Andalou Naturals Moisturizer to face while the pores are still open from the steam. I only use one pump for my entire face. I wasn't sure whether I wanted to list the Juice Beauty Blemish Serum or not because I don't use it every morning. I only use a small amount if I'm having a breakout. If I do use it, I apply it before I put my moisturizer on. The next thing I do is put on the Juice Beauty Eye Cream. I like using an eye cream in the morning to wake my eyes up. Even after I get out of the shower I don't always feel quite awake. I use about 1/4 of a pump total for both of my eyes. This is one of those products where a little goes a long way. I spray the Rose Water on my face once after my makeup is applied. This allows the makeup to set and adds a little moisturizer back into the skin. 

If I'm going to use the Juice Beauty peel, I put that on directly after I get out of the shower all over my face for 10 minutes. After I rinse it off, I put the Weleda Firming Serum on just to calm my skin down from the peel. I won't apply the Andalou moisturizer if I use the peel. That's the only thing I do different if using the peel. 

Products I'm currently using at night:
Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk
Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum
Juice Beauty Smoothing Eye Concentrate
Heritage Store Rose Water
a clean washcloth

From Left to Right: Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk, Juice Beauty Serum, Heritage Store Rose Water, Juice Beauty Eye Concentrate

So I start out by using the Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk on my face. I use between 1 and 1 1/2 pumps depending on how much makeup I have on. Usually I can get away with one pump. I use a clean washcloth every night to dry my face. I do this because I'm a little paranoid about facial oils and any leftover makeup that comes off on the washcloth. Next, I use the Juice Beauty Blemish Clearing Serum all over my face. It doesn't take much of this to cover your face (around the size of two peas). If I have a breakout, I'll apply a little extra to that spot. I then put the eye cream on the same as I did in the morning. Then I mist the Rose Water on my face the same as I did in the morning. 

That's everything I'm doing right now. Of course, I'm always trying to find something that's better. If you guys have any suggestions of things I should try, let me know!

xo,
Rachel

P.S. Happy Halloween!! What are you guys going to be? 

Andalou Naturals Luminous Eye Serum

In my last post, I talked about the Daily Defense Facial Lotion from Andalou Naturals. I bought this eye serum along with it. I mentioned before that I was having problems with my skin because of allergies. Well, I wasn't just having problems with my skin, I was having major problems with the skin around my eyes. It got dried up, red, and started to crack and I desperately needed something to fix it. I mean, I couldn't wear makeup! Talk about bad day! 

A girl in the Body Care section of Whole Foods recommended this because it was good and wouldn't break the bank at $19.95.

Claims: 
Andalou Naturals Fruit Stem Cell Science renews skin at the cellular level, blending nature and knowledge for visible Brightening results. 

Fruit Stem Cell Complex, Vitamin C, and Goji glycopeptides boost collagen and elastin to smooth fine lines and firm dermal texture, as caffeine from green coffee stimulates circulation to reduce puffiness and help diminish dark circles.

Results: Brightening

Ingredients: 
Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Vegetable Glycerin, Cetearyl Alcohol, Fruit Stem Cell and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Camellia Sinensis (Green Tea) and Cucumis Sativus (Cucumber) Extracts*, Lycium Barbarum (Goji) Glycopeptide, Lauric Acid, Sodium PCA, Hyaluronic Acid, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Caffeine (Green Coffee), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Hydrolyzed Soy Protein, Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos), Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis and Camellia Sinensis (White Tea) Extracts*†, Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) and Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) Extracts*, Laminaria Digitata (Kelp) Extract, Allantoin, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Hippophae Rhamnoides (Sea Buckthorn) Oil*
*Organic
† Fair Trade
Made naturally without GMO’s, gluten, paraben preservatives, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Verified Gluten-Free 100% Eco-friendly, Vegetarian & Cruelty-Free

I used this along side the Daily Defense Moisturizer. It did help the dryness. It burned at first because the skin was a little cracked around my eyes, so that was expected. It claims to "smooth fine lines and firm dermal texture", but I didn't really see that. It did work for the purpose that I bought it for though, so that's all that matters to me. If I would have bought it for fine lines, I might be complaining a little more. 

A little bit of this went a long way, I mean it is just for your eyes! It comes in a .60 fl oz tube for $19.95. The price isn't terrible for how long it will last you. This lasted longer than the facial moisturizer did. I bought it around April and I still have some left, granted I stopped using it about a month ago because my eyes weren't dry anymore. 

Where you can buy it: 

Andalou Naturals for $19.95

Whole Foods for $19.95

Earth Fare for $19.95

Vitacost for $15.64

iHerb for $15.33

Have you tried this product? If so, what did you think?

xo, 

Rachel

Andalou Naturals Daily Defense Facial Lotion

I'm going to review a product from one of my favorite natural skin care brands, Andalou Naturals. I have tried many products from this company and most I've loved. This was the very first brand I tried this past spring when I decided to switch to natural and organic products. 

Today, I'm going to tell you about the Ultra Sheer Daily Defense Facial Lotion with SPF 18. I originally bought this in the spring because I have bad allergies and my skin gets dry and cracked. It's just not cute. Since I bought this they have changed the packaging. The box it came in was just as colorful as the picture below, but the bottle was completely gray with just the writing. 

Claims: 

Andalou Naturals Advanced Fruit Stem Cell Science renews skin at the cellular level, blending nature and knowledge for visible Age Defying results. 

Perfect for sensitive skin, this ultra-sheer SPF facial lotion provides essential moisture with proven broad spectrum protection. Fruit Stem Cells and BioActive 8 Berry Complex help defend against UV and environmental damage, while stimulating healthy cell renewal for optimum age-defying benefits.

• Sheer lightweight coverage

• Comfortable for everyday

• Wear alone or under make-up

• Proven UVA/UVB protection

Results: Age Defying

Ingredients:

Aloe Barbadensis Juice*, Vegetable Glycerin, Helianthus Annuus (Sunflower) Oil*, Glyceryl Stearate, Octyl Palmitate, Cetearyl Alcohol, Fruit Stem Cell and BioActive 8 Berry Complex*, Glyceryl Monolaurate, Dipotassium Glycyrrhizinate (Licorice) Extract*, Magnesium Ascorbyl Phosphate (Vitamin C), Resveratrol, Ubiquinone (CoQ10), Tocopherol (Vitamin E), Laminaria Digitata (Kelp) and Curcuma Longa (Turmeric) Extracts, Allantoin, Epilobium Angustifolium (Willow Herb) Extract, Chamomilla Recutita (Chamomile) and Calendula Officinalis Extracts*, Hyaluronic Acid, Cocos Nucifera (Coconut), Borago Officinalis (Borage) and Rosa Canina (Rosehip) Oils*, Camellia Sinensis (White Tea), Aspalathus Linearis (Rooibos) and Hibiscus Rosa-Sinensis Extracts*†, Phenethyl Alcohol, Ethylhexylglycerin, Benzyl Alcohol, Citrus Aurantium Dulcis (Orange) and Citrus Tangerina (Tangerine) Oils*
*Organic
† Fair Trade
Made naturally without GMO’s, gluten, paraben preservatives, petrochemicals, phthalates, sulfates, synthetic colors, dyes and fragrances. Verified Gluten-Free 100% Eco-friendly, Vegetarian & Cruelty-Free

I found that this moisturizer did everything it claimed and more. I used this every morning in the spring (when I bought it) and all through summer. My skin soaked it right up and it drastically changed my skin. It wasn't dry and cracked anymore. 

The consistency of this moisturizer is the same as most others are. It goes on very sheer, as the name of it suggests. It comes in a 2.7 oz bottle. 

I ran out of this probably around a month ago (early September). It was pretty good timing because my allergies go down when it starts to cool off outside. So this tube lasted me around 5 months, which sounds crazy but a little of this goes a long way. So it's worth the $14.95 that you pay for it. 

I did not repurchase this only because I found their Oil-Free Moisturizer at TJMaxx and decided to try it out. I like this more than the Daily Defense, but that's a whole other review. Come spring, I might repurchase this though. 

All in all, this is a great moisturizer for me in the hotter months. I would definitely recommend this if you need an organic/natural moisturizer with a SPF in it. 

Where you can purchase:

Andalou Naturals for $14.95

Whole Foods for $14.95

iHerb for $11.49

Vitacost for $11.72

Have you tried this yet? If so, what did you think? Have you tried any of Andalou Naturals products? 

xo,

Rachel

Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk

The Juice Beauty Cleansing Milk is by far my favorite product that Juice Beauty carries. For $22 this is a great deal considering a little goes a long way. The Cleansing Milk comes in a plastic bottle with a lockable pump that contains 6.75 oz. It is a part of their Daily Essentials line. I bought this because it claims to cleanse and take makeup off. 

Organic juices of vitis vinifera (organic white grape juice)*, rubus idaeus (organic red raspberry juice)*, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe juice)*, vegetable glycerin, caprylic/capric triglyceride, organic plant oils of carthamus tinctorius (organic safflower seed oil)*, helianthus annuus (organic sunflower seed oil)*, sesamum indicum (organic sesame seed oil)*, prunus amygdalus dulcis (sweet almond oil), vitis vinifera (grape seed oil), cetearyl alcohol, gluconolactone, cetearyl glucoside, sorbitan stearate, sodium benzoate, botanical extracts of calendula officinalis (marigold flower extract), chamomilla recutita (chamomile extract), tilia cordata (linden flower extract), boswellia carterii (frankincense extract), tocopherol (Vitamin E), ascorbyl palmitate (Vitamin C), panthenol (Vitamin B5), xanthan gum, tetrasodium glutamate diacetate, allantoin, sodium hydroxide, citrus aurantium dulcis (organic sweet orange & sweet neroli)*, chamomilla recutita (chamomile) and boswellia carterii (organic frankincense) pure essential oils *certified organic by a USDA approved agency

* = Certified organic ingredient

This face wash does everything it says it does. I use this every night to remove my makeup and cleanse my face. I had never used a creamy face wash before, I had only used the gel type. On a regular makeup day, I can use about a pump and a half. That will take off everything, including mascara and eyeliner. (I don't use foundation though, so if you're interested in this and you wear foundation you might want to use a cleansing towelette before. It might take off foundation, I've just never tried it.) If I'm wearing a ton of eye makeup, I'll use two pumps. Usually one and a half gets the job done though. 

Before I tried this I had only used the gel type cleansers and I hadn't actually seen one that was creamy. The best part about this being as creamy as it is, is that you don't need a moisturizer after using it. It's so so so hydrating. Before, I had a night cream and a day cream because my previous cleanser dried my skin out so much. Now, I don't know what to do with them because I don't even need them! 

I bought my first bottle of this in the beginning June and it lasted me all the way to mid-August. So if you think about it, $22 really isn't that bad considering how much product you are getting. When I was getting close to the bottom of my first bottle, I checked on eBay to see if I could find anything. I'm cheap, what can I say :). I ended up finding someone with two bottles starting at $15! There wasn't anything wrong with them, the person just didn't care for the texture. One was open, but they had only used a few pumps and the other was still sealed. I ended up getting them for $24, just $2 more that you would pay for one bottle. What. a. steal. 

You can purchase this from Ulta, Juice Beauty, and even eBay if you get as lucky as I did. You should definitely try this if you get the chance to, you won't be disappointed. 

Have you tried any Juice Beauty products? Have you tried a creamy cleanser? Tell me!

xo, 

Rachel

Juice Beauty Tinted Moisturizer

When I heard that Juice Beauty carried a tinted moisturizer, I had to have it. Before I got this tinted moisturizer I was using the Physician's Formula Tinted Moisturizer that I reviewed in this post.

Juice Beauty is one of my favorite brands for natural, organic skincare products. Pretty much all of my products that I use morning and night on my face is from this company.

So I finally got the courage to spend the $29 for the 2 oz. of tinted moisturizer. I purchased mine at my local Ulta. if you don't have an Ulta, you can purchase their products on their website. (Juice Beauty).

I picked up the one in the color sand.

Active Ingredient: titanium dioxide 10% Inactive Ingredients: Organic juices of pyrus malus (organic apple juice)*, vitis vinifera (organic white grape juice)*, punica granatum (organic pomegranate juice)*, aloe barbadensis (organic aloe leaf juice)*, cucumis sativus (organic cucumber extract)*, camellia sinensis (green tea leaf extract), vegetable glycerin, glyceryl stearate, helianthus annuus (organic sunflower seed oil)*, cetyl alcohol, stearyl alcohol, caprylic/capric triglyceride, tocopherol acetate (Vitamin E), sodium PCA, hyaluronic acid, phospholipids, panthenol (Vitamin B5), allantoin, cera alba (organic beeswax)*, magnesium ascorbyl phosphate (Vitamin C), iron oxides, benzyl alcohol, phenoxyethanol, ethylhexylglycerin, citrus aurantium (petitgrain), cinnamomum camphora (ho wood) and citrus reticulata (mandarin) pure essential oils *certified organic by a USDA approved agency

* = Certified organic ingredient

EVERY DROP FEEDS YOUR SKIN

This 4-in-one hydrator blends chemical-free SPF 30, minerals forcoverage, and antioxidant rich grape, aloe and pomegranate juices for a radiant, protected, even-toned complexion. A Daily Essential for all skin types.

WHO SHOULD USE IT?

Juice Beauty's SPF 30 Tinted Mineral Moisturizer Sand is designed for all skin types and especially beneficial for normal, dry or mature skin.

BENEFITS

Multi-tasker that provides: Light mineral glowing coverage; chemical free spf sun protection; rich moisturizer, powerful antioxidants to feed the skin.

I was really excited for this tinted moisturizer because I had loved the one from Physician's Formula. I figured that this would be just as good if not better. I had high hopes because of all of their other amazing products. First of all, it has an SPF of 30, which is great! I put this on after I washed my face in the morning and let it set for around 10 minutes before I put on the rest of my makeup.

When you first squeeze it out of the bottle, you can tell it's super thick. Big thumbs down for oily skin! (The picture provided on their website makes it look creamy.) I still gave it a shot though. 

It felt thick when you put it on, but it wasn't as bad when you let it soak in a bit. If you like the dewy look, you shouldn't need to put any type of powder over it. If you're like me and have oily skin, you're going to want to put a powder over it. (I like to have a matte finish when I leave my house just to be sure that I don't look extra oily by the end of the day) Anyways, it wasn't so bad looking on the skin when you first leave. I did notice that when I got home and looked in the mirror (probably 4-6 hours later), my face was a little on the orange side and you could see a line between my face and neck. Oops.

So the next day I tried it I made sure to bring it down to my neck and not look like a complete freak by the end of the day. I gave it two weeks before I completely ruled it out. 

As far as coverage goes, it doesn't cover anything. I mean, it is a tinted moisturizer so it gives a tint. On me, it gave me a little bit of an orange tint as I already described. So don't buy this for coverage by all means. 

This was just not for me. Maybe if I had the lighter color (Ivory) it wouldn't have looked as bad, but it still would have felt the same. I do not use this anymore for obvious reasons, but I can't bring myself to get rid of it because it was $29 and maybe I'll give it another shot sometime down the road. 

If you have dry or normal skin, this would probably be great for you. It just didn't work for my oily skin. I would recommend the Physician's Formula Tinted Moisturizer if you have oily skin like me.

Juice Beauty link for the product
Ulta link for the product
You can occasionally find good deals on eBay too. 

xo, 
Rachel

DIY Pumpkin-Papaya Mask

Every year when October and November come around I want everything pumpkin. Muffins, bread, pie, scones... etc. So without further ado, here's my recipe for a pumpkin facial mask!

What You'll Need:
15oz can of pumpkin puree
1 beaten egg
1 papaya

Mix the pumpkin puree with the beaten egg. Peel the papaya and discard the seeds. Mash the papaya to get around 2/3 cup. Now, combine the papaya with the pumpkin-egg mixture. Make sure to mix well enough to get rid of the lumps. If you want it extra smooth, put the mixture in a blender or food processor. Apply this mask to clean skin of face and neck, leave on for up to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water. 

Do NOT apply this mask when you're near carpet. I don't want to be blamed for pumpkin stains!

Using canned pumpkin puree works just as good as a fresh pumpkin from the patch would. Pumpkin contains loads of good things for your skin, like vitamin A and C and enzymes. These nutrients will help nourish and brighten the complexion.

Papaya is also great for your skin. It contains vitamin A and papain. Vitamin A acts as an anti-oxidant, while the papain breaks down inactive proteins and removes dead skin cells. The papain in papaya help exfoliate your skin in the most gentle way possible. If you don't want to worry about using pumpkin and egg, you can just get a papaya and make a mask. That's a totally different post though... ;)

I hope you guys enjoy this recipe. Let me know if you try it or if you have any recipes for a pumpkin mask!

If you don't feel like making a mask, you can cheat and go to Bath and Body Works for their pumpkin mask. ($12)

xo, 
Rachel