Clear Up Your Skin At Home

Summer is fast approaching and those hot days outdoors mean less makeup and more skin. If you've been laxing and neglecting your skin care routine, here is a quick way to help your skin recover in time for the next cook out, beach day, outdoor wedding or backyard barbeque you have planned.

Day One
Take care of the background - Pillows, cell phones, combs, scalp and even shower caps can transfer grease, bacteria and dirt onto your face causing breakouts and acne.

• Put on a new pillowcase every three days (also, try not to get your underarms onto your pillow, the deodorant can rub off and then rub onto your face). Your skin sheds and you don't want to be rubbing up on that dead skin for longer than necessary
• Steam/Sun your actual pillow once a week. This will help to decrease the bacteria in it Do you have a dryer? Throw it in there. No dryer? just take off the pillow case spray with febreze/baking soda and put in the sun for at least four hours.
• Wash your combs and brushes - the bacteria and build up of grease can be transferred onto your scalp and then down and around onto your hair line and then result in breakouts
• Wash your hair regularly, build up can get transferred onto sheets, headrests, your hair line and a bunch of other places close to your face
• Wash your shower cap every time you wash your hair
• Clean your phone/tablet/computer - finger-to-face transfer - enough said

Day Two

De - gunk. Prepare to be grossed out. Think of your skin like a blocked up toilet that you need to plunge out the gunk that is there. This is a two-step process.

1. Put on a clarifyng/purifying face mask - You can try the queen helene mint julep mask, an egg white mask, an avocado mask, an aspirin mask. Any of these have the ability to clear your pores. Wet your face, slather it on and relax.
2. After you thoroughly remove the mask, pat your face dry and apply an anti-bacterial oil to the entire face and neck overnight. I recommend tea tree oil or argan oil. The pure, virgin kind. You can get these for affordable prices at Earth Elements. 

Yes, this works for oily skin as well as it does for dry skin. Those two oils have the ability to not get greasy but to also reduce irritation, unclog pores and moisturize the skin. It's very important to keep your skin moisturized even while cleaning it. This will make it recover quicker and prevent it from going crazier.

Day Three

Go after the remainder. So you've started to unclog your pores by drawing out the impurities from deep inside with the mask. Now, you need to open up the pores for treatment. This is simple and feels quite indulgent.

1. Boil some water and pour it into a basin. Sit with your face over the basin, with a towel over your head. The steam can be intense so take a break every minute or so.
2. If you have pore strips apply to your nose
3. Close your pores by spraying cold water onto your face and then apply moisturizer

You should see a noticeable difference in your skin. For added results, break one or two capsules of vitamin E and apply to your face before you got to sleep at night. Your skin will thank you for it. Try this routine once a month or the week before a big event like a wedding or a photoshoot.

Try it out and let me know what you think.

Till later,

*Jane

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DIY Anti-Acne Mask

Here it is folks! Another DIY because you've asked for it. This one is for the ladies and the fellas, because acne can't seem to pick a favourite. It would seem to me though that we have cramps, bloating and do the child birth thing so acne could really have been reserved for the fellas right? No? Okay, well here is something that even the least domesticated among us can whip up in an instant.

Disclaimer: I am not a dermatologist nor do I claim to be. I am not saying that this mask is the answer to all your acne problems. I am simply letting you know what I have done and how I do it. If you have a problem with acne please go and see a dermatologist. Skin problems may just be surface problems or they may be deeper. This idea is just that, an idea, nothing else. Thanks!

Ingredients

Baking Soda (NOT baking powder - this will burn you like none other!)

Water

Rose water (if you like) *found at pharmacies/supermarkets*

Yoghurt/Milk (if you like)

Cucumber/ Apples (if you like).

Method

1. In a small, clean bowl mix one part baking soda to two parts water. You are making a paste so ensure that the mixture is creamy not runny. 
2. Refrigerate for ten minutes, apply to clean damp skin with fingers and let sit for five-ten minutes then rinse with lukewarm water
3. Use once every two weeks or as often as needed but never more than three times for the week.

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OR

                       

Anti-Acne and Soothing Mask

1. Follow step 1 above but switch 1 part of water with one part rose water or milk or yoghurt (plain yoghurt or milk only)
2. Mash or blend an apple or a cucumber and fold into the mixture
3. Follow steps 2-3 as above

If you have sensitive skin I would implore you to leave this DIY mask for those with regular skin as the baking soda may sting or irritate your skin. As always, be sure to moisturize after you rinse off the mask, and don't rub, pat dry. I have friends who also use this as a spot treatment for a lone or a few pimple/s every now and then to dry it out. The mask should also fade acne marks lightly but PLEASE do not use this in an effort to bleach your skin! Black is BEAUTIFUL!

Thanks for reading! Comments make me happy!

Till later,

Jane

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Grooming Series: At-Home DIY Moisturizing Hair Mask

Hate to break it to you but your hair is dead. All of it except the very roots. Yup, dead. Go ahead, have a cry. But this is good news, because acknowledging that your hair is dead allows you to make more informed decisions about how you treat it.



Dead hair is dry, damaged, weak, in need of moisture and nutrients. So we need to find ways to constantly recharge it and revive it. Your hair has two basic needs - moisture and protein- to keep it shiny and strong. Today I will show you one way to give it a well-needed shot of moisture.


Honey Banana Oil Hair Mask
This is a deep conditioning moisturizing mask that will help revive dry hair for all hair-types. Its ingredients are all natural so unless you have a specific allergy they should not cause any bad reactions. Honey is a known moisturizer that leaves the hair feeling soft yet bouncy; extra virgin olive oil does a fabulous job of smoothing frizzy damaged hair - and any smoothing element also reduces the appearance of split ends; while banana acts as the emollient and does double duty of softening and smoothing. Mixed together they create the perfect hair mask to remedy dry hair.




Making this at home is easy and quick. You will need:

  1. A bowl and a fork
2. A ripe banana - the riper the better
3. Natural honey
4. Extra Virgin Olive Oil (got mine at Pricesmart)
5. Plastic Wrap

Step 1: Peel the banana and cut it into manageable chunks in the bowl. Add about one and a half table spoons of the olive oil and two tablespoons of the honey.

Step 2: Mash the banana and mix with the honey and olive oil until it gets to a creamy texture. (Think of the texture of a thick conditioner). If its too thin and runny try  popping it into the freezer for 5 minutes.

Step 3: Comb through your hair and divide into manageable sections. (I usually do two or four sections). It doesn't matter if your hair is wet or dry, it works on both. Scoop some of the mixture into one palm and rub it up between both hands. Apply mid-shaft to the ends of your hair. When all your ends are done apply to your roots.

Step 4: Tuck under your ends in a bun or something equally insulating and wrap your head with plastic wrap, or use a steam cap or tight shower cap if you have one. The mask should stay on your hair for at least fifteen minutes, however if you applied it to dry hair it is safe to keep it on all night. When you're done, wash it out and enjoy soft, shiny hair. :)




(Try this mask every two weeks and you should start seeing a difference in your hair. If you use heat alot then try it every five days)

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