All About Oils

I talk about oils for beauty use a lot and I swear by them but I've never really gone into detail about the differences and best uses for each type. I figured today would be the perfect day to do just that!

Jojoba Oil is the one that I have used the longest. I absolutely love this golden, odorless oil (which is actually a liquid wax) and I think it's the perfect addition to any beauty pantry. Jojoba oil is the closest thing to skins own sebum so it doesn't aggravate, irritate, or clog our pores. It makes a wonderful addition to any homemade beauty product but it's also great on its own! It's non-allergenic, non-comedogenic, and it works great on any skin type including sensitive. I highly recommend Jojoba oil for those of you with really oily skin since it helps regulate sebum production by breaking down the sebum plugs in pores. It helps plump up the skin and helps rejuvenate. It also has a very long and stable shelf life. It is completely safe and can be used full strength, unlike some other oils which must be diluted prior to applying to the skin.

Grape Seed Oil is my new favorite carrier oil. Much like Jojoba oil it is very light, odorless, and quickly absorbed into the skin. It works well for any skin types but since it's slightly astringent it's best for normal to oily skin types. It does work well for me though and I'm more on the dry/sensitive side of the spectrum. It's chock full of vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids. It helps battle acne, wrinkles, and damaged skin. It can be used at full strength as well.

Olive Oil is a really great skin conditioner. It does have a bit of a heavy feel on the skin as it's a very thick oil but it is outrageously hydrating. It does have a scent, like olives. It is high in Oleic acid and is good for helping to regenerate cells. Olive oil attracts moisture to the skin so it is very hydrating and smoothing. It allows the skin to breathe while creating a protective, moisturizing barrier. It acts as an emollient and relives dryness and guards against damage. It can work for all skin types but is very heavy so nighttime only use is recommended and those with very oily or acne prone skin may want to skip this oil. A

vocado Oil is one of the most moisturizing and easily absorbed oils out there. It's perfect for dry, damaged, and/or aging skin. It's very soothing and smoothing. It goes deep into the layers of skin to help heal and rejuvenate. It actually helps reduce damage from sun exposure and scarring. It also increases the level of collagen produced. It does not have a non-greasy feel though. It is very thick and heavy so it is best suited for night use. This oil should be mixed with an oil like Jojoba to dilute it.

Sweet Almond Oil is perfect for all skin types, non-greasy, easily absorbed and very moisturizing. It's really great for skin that is dry, inflamed, and/or itchy. It works well to help combat the symptoms of eczema and psoriasis.

Extra Virgin Coconut Oil is a solid oil that is especially helpful for dry, itchy, and sensitive skin. It's great for burns, bug bites and other skin conditions. It is non-comedogenic, easily absorbed, and non-greasy. It is wonderful in hair products as well as lip. It helps the skin plump up and look more supple.

Hempseed Oil is gaining popularity because of its richness and skin healing properties. It is especially good for dry and mature skin, although I have never tried this since I have an allergy to hemp. It resembles skin's natural lipids and is high is essential fatty acids. It is easily absorbed, non-greasy, and extremely moisturizing. It is a super wrinkle reducer. It can be used at full strength.

Apricot Kernel Oil is perfect for mature skin because it helps fight fine lines and wrinkles. It's easily absorbed by the skin even though it has a very rich feel to it. It also works well on sensitive and dry skin types.

Macadamia Nut Oil is a lot like Jojoba oil because it is similar to human sebum. It helps to protect and lubricate the skin in the same way sebum would. It absorbs quickly and helps regenerate the skin. It's great for dry and damaged skin.

Hazelnut Oil is particularly good for oily, acne prone skin types. It is a light, non-greasy oil with astringent properties that helps tighten and tone skin. It has a very high level of essential fatty acids. It helps stimulate circulation and cell regeneration. This should be diluted to use on the skin.

Sunflower Oil is perfect for all skin types. It's light, non-greasy and packed full of vitamins A, D, and E. It is easily absorbed by the skin and provides more nutrition that most oils.

Rosehip Seed Oil has a scent but it works really well on normal to dry and mature skin as well as scarring. It has vitamin C and A which helps reduce signs of aging by speeding up cell regeneration. This oil does not work with acne prone or oily skin. It should only be used as an additive.

There are many other oils out there but these are some of the most popular. I'm also a huge fan of argan oil but I'll be doing a separate post on it in the future. Leave me a comment telling me which oil is your favorite. I'd love to hear your thoughts!

Black Tea for Beauty

I’ve talked about how green tea can help your skin look its best, but black tea is also a superstar who works hard to beautify and rejuvenate the skin. It’s often overlooked because its green cousin tends to steal the spotlight. Don’t doubt black tea, because it can do a lot of wonderful things for us. Let’s jump right into the details of why I think black tea is so amazing (other than its delicious taste, of course)!

If you feel a blemish coming, just steep some black tea in a cup of hot water for several minutes. Apply the tea bag directly to the pimple and let it sit for 5 to 10 minutes, although the longer the better! When you remove the tea bag from the blemish, don’t rinse the tea off. It’s important to leave the tea on the skin because it will continue to work its magic throughout the day. This is my go-to blemish buster. It works so unbelievably well!

Oh, and remember the green tea toner recipe I shared with you a few weeks ago? You can make the same toner using black tea, instead of green. It works in almost the same way. I don’t recommend black tea for those of you with very, very fair skin as it can stain and leave a bronze look (which we’ll talk about a little later).

Acne on places other than the face, such as the back or chest, can be really frustrating. If you’re one of those who have body acne run a warm bath and throw in some (6 or so) black tea bags. Soak and relax for as long as you’d like. It will help work to clear your body blemishes.

You can also take a tea bath if you have an uncomfortable sunburn. If you’re in too much pain to take a bath, just make yourself a cool compress. All you need to do is make a bowl of black tea, and refrigerate it until its cool. Once it’s at a nice, cold temperature soak a cloth in the bowl and apply the cloth to your skin. You can do this same thing for itchy bug bites too! A spray bottle full of the tea can also work. Just spritz it on!

You might already know that you can refrigerate used tea bags and use as an eye compress to de-puff and rejuvenate tired eyes. The caffeine in the tea is helpful in making eyes look less swollen. Its quick and it’s easy!

Everyone gets sweaty, smelly feet at some point in their lives (especially in hot, summer months) but tea can help eliminate foot odor. You need to soak your feet in a tub full of darkly brewed black tea for half an hour. The tannins in the tea will help control the smell of your feet and also make them feel cooler and relaxed.

Want a simple way to make your lips look smoother? Just grab a warm tea bag and apply it to your lips for 5 minutes. This will also help your lips retain their moisture!

Okay, and the last thing I want to talk about it self tanning using tea bags. I haven’t actually tried this, but I read about it and I’m very intrigued by the idea. I’m all about covering up and using SPF whenever I go outside, but I’m also disgusted by the scents of self tanning products, so I have embraced my pale skin tone. However, if I can use tea bags to give my skin a bronze glow, I’m all over that! Here is the article on how to make it - http://www.ehow.com/how_5043769_tan-naturally.html If any of you have tried this, please let me know in the comments what you think of it and if it worked or not!

As always, if you know of any other beauty uses for tea let me know! I always like to hear your suggestions!

Honey, please!

For hundreds and hundreds of years, people have been using honey for many different purposes, including as a food source and medicinal purposes. Honey is one of natures sweetest gifts, no pun intended. Not only is it cheap and readily available, it's also really great for skin. It's gentle enough for all skin types, and perfect for adding into your beauty routine.

Honey is a natural antibacterial, so it's great for dabbing directly on pimples. It helps shrink and heal them, quickly. Just dab a little on at night and rinse off in the morning.

Honey also makes a great facial mask. I spread honey evenly all over my face and let sit for half and hour before rinsing off. It makes my skin glowy and gorgeous. And don't worry, it's not sticky like you would think it would be!

If you have acne prone skin that is far from sensitive, try taking two uncoated aspirin, melt them with a couple drops of warm water, and mix it with a little bit of honey. Aspirin is a form of salicylic acid, which is commonly found in many acne medications and cleansers. This mask is great for problem skin.

You can also use honey as a hair conditioning treatment. Rub a little honey into your hair, cover with a shower cap and let sit for half an hour. After thirty minutes rinse and shampoo. Voila. Super soft hair!

Everyone deserves a sweet beauty treat once in a while to make themselves look and feel better than ever. I hope these tips help you enjoy all the benefits of honey!

Nuts for Coconut

Coconut oil is a lot like butter in the aspect that it is solid when cold and liquid when heated. This property makes it extremely versatile! It has so many different purposes, from being one of the most heart-healthy cooking oils to moisturizing and replenishing skin, it's truly amazing and I'm absolutely in love with it.

Want to know how you can use coconut oil for beauty purposes? Continue reading to find out.

Hair – Coconut oil provides your hair with the nutrients and protein that it craves, making it an excellent hair product. You can use it in several different ways on your hair.

• Scalp Treatment - You can melt coconut oil so it's in a liquid state and apply it to your scalp as a treatment. It can help with itching or flaking. It's also very moisturizing and leaves your hair shiny. You can put the oil in a bowl and put the bowl into some warm water. It melts very quickly. Massaging your scalp with coconut oil regularly will keep it happy and healthy. Tip – Don't apply this the night before a big event as it can temporarily make your hair a bit greasy looking. 
• Leave In Conditioner – This is my favorite! After I get out of the shower, I take some coconut oil, while it is still solid and rub it between my hands to warm it up, and then apply it to my wet hair. I only apply it to the length of my hair, because I tend to get greasy in the roots. It makes my hair so soft and shiny! It also smells really great!

Skin – Coconut oil is so moisturizing, and it's effective for all skin types. Oily, dry, acne prone, or those suffering with skin conditions like eczema – you'll love using coconut oil!

• Hand cream - I like to smother my hands and feet with it after a bath or shower and apply mittens and socks. It heals my cracked, dry feet and hands leaving them soft and smooth! It also works well to soothe and smooth even the most ragged cuticles.
• Eye cream – I'm very picky about eye creams and I have yet to find one that I really, really love. I have very dry under eyes though, so lately I've been applying coconut oil to the area. It's so hydrating and does not irritate or bother my eyes at all.
• Body moisturizer – Try using it all over, instead of your regular bottle of lotion. It's wonderful. I don't know what else to say about this other than its so moisturizing!
• Eye makeup remover – I've been using this to take off my stubborn waterproof eyeliner and mascara every night. I just take a small amount in my fingers and rub, very gently, across my eye area. It gets every last bit of makeup off without irritating my skin. It also leaves my skin very moisturized.

Anti-itch cream – Bug bites have you feeling itchy? Just apply some coconut oil to the affected area. It will soothe the bite and ease that itchy feeling. I've also read that it can be used as a mosquito repellent, but I have yet to try that. If you know more about that, please share in the comments section. I'm very curious about it since I hate the smell and feel of traditional bug sprays!

Lip balm – Coconut oil makes the most amazing lip moisturizer. I've been using this a lot lately and my lips are so smooth. It tastes good too! I highly suggest this to anyone who hates dry, chapped lips. And, don't we all hate that?
Since a little coconut oil can go a very long way a jar will last you a very long time. It's a great investment, in my opinion, and a must have in my house. Like I said earlier you can also use it to cook with!