My DIY Lip Scrub Is a Sweet Fix for Dry, Flaky Winter Lips That Also Heals and Conditions

Your lips won't suffer or be rough againe once you try my DIY lip scrub recipe.

At this time of year, you’re probably slathering on plenty of lip balm to relieve dry, winter lips.  Besides the uncomfortable feel, dry lips also leave them with a rougher than you hardly want.  Therefore, exfoliation is a must to smooth that flaky skin and condition with some healing lubrication like this easy homemade lip scrub that takes only minutes to help end that problem.

All you need are few basics from your kitchen that you won’t have to run out to buy. Sugar is what I use to exfoliate due to the texture of its crystals. 

Honey is the healing humectant to treat any of the fine cracks that can happen when the lips are chapped  and helping lock in natural moisture.  

To make it tastier, I found measuring out just a little vanilla extract even better to improve upon the flavor.  If you're not a fan of vanilla, you can substitute another extract with your favorite flavor. 

Finally, I add some pure extra virgin olive oil as the lubricant to condition and protect with all its beneficial vitamin A and E antioxidants.  Another reason I depend on the purest form of olive oil for this DIY recipe is because the extra virgin variety has antibacterial properties to disinfect due to the mix of its polyphenols (oleuropein, tyrosol, and hydroxytyrosol).

My DIY Lip Scrub 

1 tablespoon of sugar
1/4 teaspoon of vanilla extract
½ teaspoons of honey
½ teaspoons of extra virgin olive oil

Mix all the above ingredients together in your bowl or container.

Apply to your freshly washed lips and massage gently in a small, circular fashion as you work.  Keep working the scrub in for about a minute or two

Wipe off with a paper towel, tissue or a wash cloth.

Your lips will thank you for it and feel soothed along with a new, velvet-like smoothness and the ideal surface for your lipsticks and glosses.

Pamper Your Skin and Hair With This DIY Restorative Egg Mask

Egg yolks are only one of the ingredients that can help your skin and hair stand out.

If you want to help your complexion and hair thrive, this DIY Restorative Beauty Egg Mask works for strengthening, adding shine, protecting, and healing damage for overall skin and hair renewal.

Eggs are not only a delicious source of protein for the body but full of beauty benefits. For years, women have turned to them to enhance their beauty through various skin and hair treatments due to their helpful components such as protective antioxidants vitamins A , D, lutein, and zeaxanthin for the skin’s elasticity to its protein keratin for restoring the luster of damaged hair and skin.

Use sweet almond oil.  The colors range from pale yellow to golden.

Almond oil is another ingredient in this recipe for its rich bounty of vitamin E and monounsaturated fatty acids, proteins and minerals. This is a fast absorbing oil that can deep cleanse pores and follicles to purge them of debris.

Be sure that you use the sweet almond oil made from edible almonds.  The other is the bitter variety used for medicinal purposes and can be dangerous.  

Rose essential oil is the last ingredient.  With its wealth of vitamins, minerals and antioxidants, this oil provides excellent moisturize, calming and antiseptic powers with just three drops when used in this recipe.

What I do first is apply this egg mask to my freshly washed face before using the rest on my hair. This is enough for my length of hair.  But if you don’t have enough, then simply crack another egg and add the yolk to your bowl of ingredients.  You can also add an additional tablespoon of the sweet almond oil.

DIY Restorative Beauty Egg Mask for Skin and Hair

two eggs yolks
one tablespoon of sweet almond oil
three drops of rose essential oil

Beat the egg yolks until frothy before adding the sweet almond oil and rose essential oil.

Apply to your freshly washed face and leave on for about fifteen minutes before rinsing off. 

Close the pores with cool, not cold water.

Your complexion will be will look fresher, healthier and positively glowing.

To Use on the Hair:

Make sure that your hair is slightly damp (not freshly washed) because the mixture will cling better. 

Adjust the recipe if you need to, then apply to your head and leave on about twenty-five minutes or longer. 

Wrap your treated hair with some plastic wrap and cover with a towel turban.

When your time is up, shampoo your hair and style as usual.

Your hair will be shinier, softer and more manageable.

A Quick DIY Beauty Fix to Reduce Eye Puffiness That Works

You won't believe how fast this DIY puffy eye fix works until you try it also!

Eye puffiness is a common complaint that many of us have. If you are a regular reader, then you know that I have dedicated quite a few posts to this problem already.  However, I have tried one of the speediest ways to reduce the swelling with this simple DIY beauty fix that I couldn't wait to share it with you.

You won’t need anything fancy or distilled water to make this because once you use it, this treatment will be disposed of.  All you’ll need are two ingredients with table salt and plain tap water.  

What you do is measure of ½ cups of hot water.   The water temperature should be hotter than warm, but not overly so that you might scald yourself when using it beneath the eyes in a compress.  Keep this in mind.

To that hot water, add 1/4 teaspoon of table salt.  

Table salt is the star ingredient.

Now, you will need cotton pads to immerse in your salt water mixture.  Squeeze out the excess so nothing has a chance to reach your eyes.  Then stretch out for a few minutes (about five minutes or so) on your bed while the salt water has a chance to drain the build up fluids.

The swelling goes down quite quickly.  Usually, I’ve been getting mine down in less than five minutes.  If your puffiness is really bad, just go back to the salt water and wet your compress and reapply for another five minutes.

Honestly, this is one of the best and fastest methods of getting rid of eye puffiness that I ever used. It also is less messy of a method compared to some others that I tried. Try it yourself and I promise that you’ll be just as thrilled with how this DIY beauty tip works! 

If you’re interested in learning about the other tricks that I’ve tried to get rid of puffy eyes or lessening your chances of waking up with puffy eyes check out those earlier posts as well as sure bet relief from puffy eyes and natural fixes for puffy eyes.

Try My DIY Charcoal Mask for the Ultimate Deep Clean

Charcoal acts like a magnet for how it pulls toxins from deep within the pores.

For those times when I am wearing a lot of heavier makeup, I find a charcoal mask is exceptional for purging the pores of any traces of grime or impurities that my makeup remover may have left behind with how deeply it can clean.  My complexion feels tingly clean once I finish with how the charcoal manages to pull out the toxins for the freshest skin possible.  

Any skin type can benefit from this DIY charcoal mask.  To counteract the drying effect of the charcoal for someone like myself with dry skin, I added a little honey for help with moisturizing since it is a natural humectant as well as serving an anti-bacterial ingredient.  I also added castor oil to further power this mask due to it ricinoleic acid that helps fight bacteria, unclog the pores and defend against irritation.

I never thought much about the type of water when experimenting with any homemade skin care recipes because usually I didn’t have much to save or kept it that long.  However, the more that I thought about it, the more I decided it might be better to make a change.  Now I have been using distilled water or boiled water as a precaution to limit any possible contamination just in case of any left over product.

My DIY Charcoal Mask

2 teaspoons of powdered activated charcoal
2 teaspoons of distilled water or cooled, boiled water
2 drops of tea tree oil
½ teaspoons of honey
½ teaspoons of castor oil

Stir the charcoal and water first in a small bowl until mixed.  

Add the tea tree oil, the honey and castor oil next and mix with the charcoal mixture to form a smooth paste.

Apply this mask to your freshly washed face and leave on for about 9-12 minutes before rinsing off with warm water. 

Close the pores with cool, not cold water.

DIY Beauty: Try My Cocoa Anti-Aging Mask to Clear and Renew Your Complexion

Your kitchen is loaded with beauty ingredients such as cocoa powder.

I love experimenting with ingredients in my kitchen for beauty purposes, especially when they sometimes can outperform their commercial counterparts. My cocoa anti-aging mask recipe that I have for you today is truly a winning one for its complexion benefits to clear and renew aging skin.

For one, cocoa is full of antioxidants that help the body internally as well as externally due to its flavonoids for protecting the complexion from free radical damage and aiding the skin's density.  

Another ingredient in this recipe is honey.  With its antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, it can heal and calm  while also holding in the skin’s natural moisture being a humectant as well.

Sour cream is also what you’ll notice that I put in here for its lactic acid, a natural alpha hydroxy acid, for doing its part in gentle exfoliating and stimulating new cells to emerge.  You also can substitute with plain yoghurt, if you care to.

I also turned to oatmeal because it also has wonderful antioxidants and anti-inflammatory properties.

Finally, I used a bit of a ripe avocado for its rich storehouse of fatty acids, antioxidants and minerals.

I hope the next time that you’re in the mood to indulge your complexion that you’ll try this mask because it erases dullness and brings out a remarkable glow.


DIY Cocoa Anti-Aging Beauty Mask


1/3 cup of unsweetened cocoa powder (the darker the powder the better)
1/4 cup of honey
2 tablespoons of sour cream or plain yoghurt
2 teaspoons of finely ground oatmeal
1 tablespoon of mashed avocado


You will need to take out your food processor or blender to grind the raw oatmeal into a fine powder.

Once done, measure the rest of the ingredients into a bowl or container along with the oats and mix together.  

Apply to your clean face and relax in private.  You will want to be alone because your family will mock your face.

Give the mask about 15 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water.

Close the pores with tepid water, then dry.

DIY Bath Salts Make Thoughtful Small Gifts for Co-Workers or When Visiting Friends Over the Holidays

You can add a drop of food coloring to dress your homemade gift up.

What I enjoy doing is baking a variety of different cookies to take with me when visiting friends or giving co-workers.  I still like to do that but I also like to bring another tiny gift with me to share with this homemade bath salts recipe that I love for what it does to relieve tired muscles. 

Though you can buy similar bath salts, I like that I can whip this homemade soak up in small batches to keep the essential oil as potent as possible.  It also is very cost effective compared to some commercial products of the same quality.  Another plus of making DIY bath salts is that you can vary the essential oils that you use to suit your needs.  

What I like to do is collect glass candy jars or a more ornate jar that locks for this purpose to present the salts in.  You buy them easily enough at local stores or find beautiful and unique ones at your local flea market for pennies.  

Fill your bath salts in whatever pretty jar that catches your eye.

I have spent a lot of time soaking in my tub benefitting from this recipe and the magic of what its simple ingredients can do when your body feels tense or sore.  Of course, I don’t hope that you need to use this recipe for any ailment, but it is my favorite winter soak.  My family and friends that have tried it agree, if that means anything.

DIY Versatile Bath Salts 


3/4 cup of Epsom salt
1 cup of coarse sea salt
3 tablespoons of baking soda
3 drops of lavender essential oil or rose 


Mix the Epsom salt, coarse sea salt, baking soda and either the lavender essential oil or the rose essential oil. If you desire to make them look more commercial, add a drop of appropriate food coloring. 

Pour the salt mix into a clean jar.

Secure the locked jar in a gift box or just with a ribbon and bow.

Happy Holidays!

A Gentle Natural DIY Facial Exfoliator That Sensitive Complexions Need to Try

Your kitchen is a handy place to turn when it comes to skin care.

All the makeup that we regularly apply does leave minuscule traces behind.  Though we do our best to remove our products, our facial cleansers and toners can only do so much unless we make it a point to exfoliate.  Of course, you can buy exfoliating products as scrubs to facial peel pads, etc. to deep clean the pores and resurface the complexion.  However, your kitchen is also another alternative with plenty of ingredients that can help such as this wonderful DIY facial exfoliator recipe for sensitive skin.

This one uses brown sugar, which has a finer grain than table sugar that could be a bit more irritating.  I also like to use sesame oil in this recipe to help with the glide but also for the benefit its rich fatty acids have for skin from antibacterial to anti-inflammatory properties.  

This recipe is so simple.  Mix one tablespoon of brown sugar to one half teaspoon of sesame oil before applying to your freshly washed face.  You do want to work quickly when using this oil since it can absorb somewhat compared to one like olive oil. Using olive oil is fine with my dry skin, but I like the feel of less grease against my face that the sesame oil provides as well as the way it disinfects.

Another gentle DIY exfoliator is the one I shared using baking soda with some of your facial cleanser that you might want to check out.  This one does a nice job without causing any redness.

Exfoliation is a must especially with all these new chemical ingredients that continue to appear in our makeup and skin care products that could be accumulating deep within the skin.  Allowing those ingredients to remain could eventually take a toll on your beautiful complexion if you don’t take your skin care seriously.  Therefore, take a few extra minutes once a week or every other week to help your skin recover through exfoliation to keep beautiful!  

Quick Callus Fix to Pretty Up Your Feet

This foot care post is a must for keeping feet beautiful and healthy.

Why is it that we continue to wear shoes that result in calluses?  Of course, the reason is we’ll do practically anything to look beautiful, including spending time in less than comfortable shoes.  If you also are guilty of this, then join the crowd because calluses are our bodies’ defense for protecting the skin at the bottom of our feet from constant friction caused by ill-fitting shoes or just standing too long.  

I have already shared two of my favorite ways of dealing with this problem.  One was a DIY callus foot fix recipe and the other was some alternative methods and a great soak to soften that tough skin.  

Still, there is something else that you may want to try on your calluses.  Those that have a flaky scalp and have dandruff shampoo in the house might find it convenient to rub some of this particular shampoo on your feet while in the shower.  All required is leaving the dandruff shampoo on for at least five to seven minutes to give the product’s salicylic acid time to gradually start loosening some of the hard skin before rinsing off.

However, this method is not recommended for anyone that is allergic to aspirin because it has salicylic acid in it.  Therefore, please keep this fact in mind.

The more treatments that you give your feet, the more that the callus will start to peel. 

My DIY Cleansing Scrub Recipe Wonderfully Exfoliates!

Exfoliation is very important if you want to get fresh skin cells to surface whether to your face or body.  The recipe that I’m about to share with you can be used on your face, provided you don’t use too much pressure in scrubbing. Remember, you want to be gentle with rubbing because cornmeal does have irregular edges that can slough off skin, but also cut it if you work it too hard or often.  However, your skin can benefit from these kitchen cleansing grains if you use a light hand.

Though you can use old-fashioned or quick oats straight from the container, I prefer to take out the food processor or blender and give the oats a whirl.  This makes a finer powder than the chunkier oats for this recipe.

I hope you give this scrub recipe of mine your own home test and see how nicely it works to improve your skin as it has helped mine.  

My DIY Cleansing Scrub

2 tablespoons of cornmeal 
2 tablespoons + 1 teaspoon of oatmeal
1 teaspoon of vitamin E oil
1 teaspoon of wheat germ oil

All I do is mix some together and it’s ready to use.  

Don’t try storing it because it won’t keep.  

How to Make Your Own DIY Shimmering Hair Styling Gel!

Loose mineral bronzer or highlight powder like this face illuminizer works in this DIY shimmer for hair. 

When you want to give your hair some extra glam, I always found those shimmering hair sprays came in handy for adding a glimmer along with the shine.  Depending on how I style my hair, I don’t always rely on hair spray but other styling products. Therefore, I needed to find another way to make hair shimmer for those times like this DIY sparkling hair gel. 

These tinted shimmering body powders also can add a sparkling glimmer to your hair.

All you need is your loose shimmering powder and hair gel.  A loose glimmering bronzing powder works for dark hair like mine or a loose gold highlighting powder.  Lighter hair would have more success with experimenting loose silver, gold toned or champagne tinged highlighting or similar sparkling body powders. Pink highlighting powders boost a unique radiance for brunettes and redheads also. 

What you do is to squeeze out your normal amount of hair gel in the palm of your hand and mix in a little of the loose shimmering powder while your hair is still damp. I usually use about 1/4 of a teaspoon for my hair, but you can add more or less after you see the effect for yourself.  

I hope you try my DIY shimmer for hair because it’s easy and provides a beautiful hold with glimmering finish that you’ll love!

Try My DIY Oil Reducing Toner If Excess Shine Is a Problem

This beauty is about to discover the amazing skin care benefits of ingredients from the kitchen.

Not so long ago, my complexion was oily.  For me, it was an endless battle trying to keep the shine away despite how hard or as many products that I tried without being overly harsh on my complexion. Desperation drove me to experimenting with natural beauty with ingredients from my kitchen and pantry.  This DIY Oil Reducing Toner is one that I thought I had shared, but apparently overlooked when I was searching through my old posts.

All you need to have on hand is a bottle of apple cider vinegar.  This is an excellent way to disinfect your face of bacteria, balance the pH level and control oil.  The recipe is simple.  What you do is mix two tablespoons of that vinegar to one-fourth cup of water. Wash your face first, then dip a cotton ball in this toner and swipe it over your face.  Leave this toner on for about 10-15 minutes.  Afterwards, rinse clean. 

Though you have many brands of apple cider vinegar to select from, you might want to consider an organic apple cider vinegar like Braggs.  This cloudier variety contains the “mother,” with more proteins, enzymes and friendly bacteria than the other varieties and seems to have more beauty power when it comes to skin.  

I hope that you give my DIY Oil Reducing Toner recipe a shot because I’ve been there and know how frustrating an oily complexion can be.  Try this and hopefully it will do for you what it did to cut the excessive oil from my skin.

Here’s a DIY Hair Recipe That Can Really Rev Up That Shine!

All you need are three simple ingredients to help boost that shine. 

The first thing that I noticed when my friend stopped by the other day was her new shorter cut along with much glossier hair than ever.  When I asked what conditioner she was using, she just started chuckling before sharing  it was something she learned from a co-worker when she made the same observation about that woman’s hair.

You don’t really need many ingredients to whip this hair mask up.  Most are probably in your kitchen anyway.

Kelly’s Glossy DIY Hair Mask

2 egg whites
1 tablespoon olive oil
½ ripe, mashed avocado

What you do is to combine the three ingredients before applying to your hair.  Make sure to wrap in a shower cap or a towel because this is messy.  Once you finish, leave this mixture in for about 20-30 minutes before rinsing out and shampooing as usual.

Try this DIY fix because what it does for hair beauty is amazing!

My DIY Oily Salt Body Buffing Recipe for Silky Skin He Won’t Stop Touching!

You will be kicking up your heels with joy once you try this.

Whenever I get the chance, I love pampering myself with a fragrant essential oil that will keep my skin soft and as smooth as satin. However, when I can accomplish three tasks at once like using this body buffing recipe to exfoliate while I’m at it and improve my spirits as I go about it, then I am one happy woman.

The recipe that I want to share is easy to create with just a few ingredients using equal portions (about three tablespoons) of oil to the salt followed by two drops of lavender essential oil for an added aromatherapy effect.  

Though you can use olive oil, sweet almond oil, I usually prefer grapeseed oil when I make this because of the extra intensive help it seems to give my skin due to its fatty acids and vitamin E. 

Another ingredient is sea salt.  It will be more expensive than table salt, but it is worth it since it is rich in minerals and trace elements for maintaining better cellular function for healing the skin unlike processed salt.  

You also will need a few drops of lavender essential oil, which is my favorite essential oil since you can use it a bit more freely without worrying how much carrier oil that you need to use safely. 

After you prepare your mixture, you will need to head to your bathroom because this ritual is a messy process.  Step into your tub with this mixture and rub it all over your dry skin, paying particular attention to your rough areas first, then rinsing off before showering or bathing as usual.

By the time you finish with some water droplets still clinging to you, hurry and apply a rich body lotion or cream while you're still damp.   Your body will be nicely exfoliated and silkier than you can ever imagine.

DIY Beauty Recipe: A Super Nail Conditioner That You Are Going to Love!

Beautiful nails don't just happen. At times, you need to give them a hand to keep them thriving.

With all the abuse we put our nails through during normal activities, not to mention manicure products, it is no wonder that they can dry and become brittle.  If you’re looking to keep your nails healthy, then it is important to keep them regularly conditioned. 

The recipe that I want to share with you came to me from an excited friend that said I had to try this because it was the best thing she ever did for her nails.  Let me tell you that once I mixed up a batch and starting using, I also thought it was awesome for helping suffering nails. 

I do hope that you give it a shot because you really will be surprised at the way your nails will respond.



Homemade Super Nail Conditioner 

3/4 tablespoon of argan oil
3/4 tablespoon of grape seed oil
½ teaspoon of almond oil
½ teaspoon of olive oil
½ tablespoon of lemon juice
½ tablespoon of honey
1 drop of geranium essential oil

Mix together and keep in a clean, small bottle and store in your refrigerator.  

Apply to the nails with a cotton ball.  Then be sure to rub this oil mix in your nails well.  Use as often as you want.

A Great Skin Care Tip to Remember for Smoothing Extra Dry, Rough Hands to Get Even More Benefits Out of Your Hand Cream!

The colder the weather becomes, the more our hands usually suffer with extra dryness and flakiness.  As a result, we are constantly slathering on hand creams and lotions to help repair the damage.  However, if you want to do more to speed up that awful cycle for smoothing away the dryness, I have a tip you need to try.

This simple tip helps give you even better results from your favorite hand creams. 

To make those healing hand products perform to the max, I suggest gently exfoliating your hands first to get rid of the dead skin that could be blocking the complete absorption of your chosen skin care just as you would do for your face.  After all, that dry skin is not doing you any good.  Instead, it is holding you from total healing and smoothness.

You don’t need anything fancy to exfoliate your hands.  What I use is a little sugar to olive oil mix to rub over the skin.  A teaspoon of sugar to another teaspoon of the olive oil works wonderfully for this purpose.   

After you initially rub that oil and sugar over that rough skin of your hands, you don’t want to immediately rinse the mix off.  You want to keep this mix on your hands for at least 10 minutes-15 minutes before washing it off. This will give the olive oil enough time to properly moisturize as well as aid to plump up the skin with its antioxidants.

I hope that on those occasions when your hands are extra rough that you try this simple fix of mine because it does help smooth the skin so much more this way.

Soothe Those Cares Away With My Relaxing DIY Bubble Bath Recipe!

Soaking in a tub with this moisturizing, stress-relieving bubble bath can do wonders after a hard day.

I never experimented with making a DIY Bubble Bath until recently.  My skin was extra dry and I wanted to see how well this homemade solution would perform compared to what I had been using.  Since I had the ingredients on hand, I decided to give the recipe a shot.

In a matter of minutes, I made enough for about eight baths of this homemade solution. With olive oil, honey, liquid castile soap, and one tablespoon of lavender essential oil, this mix will produce a mild, wonderfully moisturizing lather with a benefit of soothing aromatherapy from lavender essential oil as you soak.

Though you can use any type of olive oil, I recommend the extra-virgin variety since it has stronger antioxidants of its vitamins A and E for restoring the health of your skin as it soothes and moisturizes to keep it supple.  

Honey is a humectant.  This ingredient further helps in this recipe because it draws moisture from the air while warding off bacteria to better help the skin thrive.

The original recipe that I found used liquid soap.  However, I later made another batch and switched that choice out in favor of another.  I decided to use pure liquid castile soap.  Since the castile soap is pure vegetable oil olive oil, I thought it would pamper the skin that much more over the liquid soap with its unneeded extras of dyes and various other chemicals.

I hope that you try my recipe because it does lubricate the skin quite nicely while relaxing you at the same time.



My Soothing DIY Bubble Bath

1 cup of extra-virgin olive oil
1/3 cup of honey
½ cup of pure liquid castile soap
1 tablespoon of lavender essential oil

Using your blender is the best way to thoroughly combine the ingredients.  Start with the oil and then slowly add the honey, soap and essential oil to blend for about a minute.

Pour into a bottle or jar that has a lid.

Shake well before using.  You don’t need to store this in your refrigerator.

For each use, measure out about 1/4 cup and add to your tub as you run the water for your bath.

Nail Tips You Can’t Afford to Miss for Healthier, Beautiful Nails!

Sometimes, the littlest changes can make a difference in the appearance and health of your nails.

Not very long ago, my fingernails were an abomination.  They were weak, developing a strange curve, and breaking regardless of strengthening products, nail polishes, etc. Finally, I did find a solution and turned that ugly nail problem around.  Today, I want to share some valuable nail tips that definitely can help you too!

Your diet plays a part in how your nails look.  Even though you may think that you are eating all the right nutrients, you could be lacking essential building blocks of what makes up those nails.  Don’t forget, the medications you take even over-the-counter ones may help alter the nutrients that your body is actually taking in.  Therefore, it is quite possible that you may need a biotin supplement.  Please look for one that has some sort of regulatory seal before you swallow or better yet talk to your doctor first if you're on medication. (When it comes to what goes into our vitamins, we are left at the mercy of companies with how this industry is currently regulated.  If you don’t believe me, then read my earlier post and look at the picture of what a seemingly innocent vitamin did to me).

Another important thing is keeping your nails from drying further.  Make it a habit to apply hand cream or lotion every chance that you get and be sure to rub some in over your nails in the process.  The hand cream will replenish that moisture and help further condition nails. 

Before you attempt to paint your nails, it is a good idea not to do it regularly.  Nails need time to breathe, especially less than healthy ones.  Try spacing your manicures out and skipping a week in between doing another.  

Something else to keep in mind is reading the labels of your current nail products to avoid bad ingredients that could be contributing to this problem.  For instance, toluene and formaldehyde that are used by some brands for thickening and use in how well the polish adheres to the nail are, in fact, very harsh and bring on brittleness.  Acetone in nail polish removers also can zap all the moisture from nails, causing them to dry out.  A better option would be switching to a non-acetone remover or at least relying on the acetone variety less than you had.

Learn to respect your cuticles since they protect the root of your nail from infection.  Be careful with that skin. Cutting it is a bad move and can hurt how the nail grows.  Instead, gently use your orange stick and push the cuticle back with a towel after showering.

We all heard of nail salons that can pass on infections because of less than sanitary handling of their tools and products.  Yet, it is just as critical to keep your home manicure tools as sanitary as possible by cleaning them with soap and water each time you use them.  

The way you file your nails to shape them can also affect your nail’s health.  Square nails are quite popular, but if made very square those nails also have a tendency to tear at the corners.  If you file the nails too round at the corners, the same holds true, but  only what you’ll be doing is making them more prone to splitting.  What I suggest is incorporating both the square and oval shape while filing to form the squoval shape, a square that you gently round at the corners.  

Just as important to nail shape is giving some thought to nail length.  When you have extremely long nails, you have greater chances of breaking them compared to somewhat shorter nails.  Furthermore, a shorter length looks more polished and professional than nails that look like talons.

For more nail help, do look in my labels section under nails for additional tips and DIY treatments.  Take care and try these tips, but just remember to be patient.  I am sure that you will see an improvement soon enough!  

You Got to Try My Friend’s DIY Zucchini Pimple Busting Mask Because I Saw How It Helped Her!

Zucchini is not only good to eat, but also has benefits for your skin.

If you have been suffering with an oily complexion that is prone to breaking out, then you might want to try my friend’s DIY recipe for this Pimple Busting Facial Mask.  I have dry skin so I can’t tell you from personal experience how it worked, but you wouldn’t believe the striking change in my friend’s formerly shiny, pimple-prone face with how it is now glowing.

The ingredients she used made sense.  After all, the grated zucchini had plenty of helpful antioxidants like vitamin A and C as well as skin-healing minerals from potassium and manganese, an amino acid, which can play a part in spurring the skin’s collagen production.  

The oatmeal was great, being a rich source of vitamins, minerals and lipids, especially for soothing as it mildly moisturizes due to its anti-inflammatory and  anti-oxidant properties. At the same time, it would be a gentle cleanser for aggravated skin due to its saponins.

Honey was another ingredient that would benefit troubled skin since it can kill bacteria with antimicrobial properties, necessary to help those pimples heal while also being a natural humectant to lock moisture in.

The final ingredient she had written down was aloe vera gel.  This was a fine choice since it also had antimicrobial properties for fighting bacteria.


Jan’s DIY Pimple Busting Mask  

1 tiny baby zucchini (about four inches long)
6 tablespoons of finely ground oatmeal to make your own colloidal oatmeal
1/4 cup of water
2 teaspoons of honey
2 teaspoons of aloe vera gel

Blend the zucchini with the water until smooth.  Next, strain and add the honey and aloe vera gel before setting aside.  

Take out your food processor, a coffee grinder or clean your blender and dry first before adding the oatmeal and processing until you get a fine powder. 

Mix about two tablespoons of the powder with ample zucchini liquid (but not all of it) in a small bowl.  Keep stirring until it starts to thicken to a paste.

Apply this mask to your freshly washed face.  Keep this mask on for about 30 minutes until it thoroughly dries.

Store the remaining liquid covered in a jar in your refrigerator to use over the next few days.  This will not keep for too long so put it up front in the refrigerator where you will be sure to see it.

The oatmeal powder is fine stored on your pantry shelf.  

I do hope that you try this recipe because it possibly could be the answer to your skin woes as well!

Why You Should Be Conditioning Your Lashes and Eyebrows Every Night!

You may reach new lash extremes after you read this beauty post.

Some of us are lucky to be born with a crop of thick, long lashes while others of us get just so-so lashes or short, scrawny ones.  However, sooner or later age catches up with everyone due to the change in our eyelash follicles, which slows and sometimes even prevents our lashes from regrowing.  Despite this alarming news, there are some helpful things that you should be doing each night to stimulate and keep you lashes and brows healthy and beautiful.

Make it a habit of conditioning your lashes before bedtime.  What this does is moisturize, encourage new growth and provide your lashes and brows with a protective coat to keep them strong. Of course, you can turn to a conditioning lash serum or some wonderful DIY beauty remedies that I am about to share here.  

Castor oil is great for this purpose, especially if you buy the purest form, cold-pressed.  I told you how I like to apply this oil in an earlier post.  Other oils that you probably have at home right now that also work well are sweet almond, coconut, olive, argan and sesame oils.  Pour a little on a cotton ball or a cotton swab and gently dab over clean lashes and eyebrows, working into the roots. 

Another excellent choice is vitamin E oil.  Though you can take a pin to a vitamin E gelatin capsule and squeeze the contents out to your cotton ball or swab, I recommend the liquid vitamin E oil (70000 IU) strength done in the same way.  Personally, I prefer castor oil for this purpose, but the vitamin E oil is also very good.  Since we are all different genetically, I suggest experiment to see which oil gives you the best results.   

Besides nightly conditioning, you also should give some thought to exfoliate and massaging those lashes and eyebrows.  The reason this is important is to keep those hair follicles from being clogged with dead skin cells from any lingering traces of eye makeup. What helps is using your fingertips and gently massaging both lashes and brows for just a few seconds first before finally washing your face.  This technique will increase blood circulation that is necessary for prompting growth.

Still, there is another solution open to you.  This is lash serum, if you want to explore that option since this type of product often has an exfoliating ingredient such as hyaluronic acid as well as conditioners. 

Regardless of your choice, healthy, long lashes and eyebrows are often within reach with a little time and patience!    

A DIY Complexion Remedy to Help Clear Up Acne and Excess Oil That You’ll Love!

Though my skin is dry now, there was a time when it was on the oily side.  Usually, summer weather only made this skin problem worse, especially when it came to my T-zone and breakouts.  However, I am going to share something that used to work for me in getting rid of excess oil and help normalize my skin–-Milk of Magnesia. 

Don’t worry.  You will not have to swallow any, only use about a teaspoon of the unflavored variety as a facial mask.  This amount should be sufficient for an area, but you can pour on more if you want to cover most of the face.

She was in a hurry to improve her skin by applying too much and entirely too close to her eyes.  

You’re probably wondering how could a stomach product have anything to do with the skin.  The reason this stomach product works so well on oily skin is because it has an active ingredient, Magnesium Hydroxide, that soaks up stomach acid in the same way to control the shine.

Though as wonderfully as Milk of Magnesium works in correcting excess oil, this DIY solution is not meant for regular use to deal your acne or an oily skin condition.  Since it does have a high PH level, which is not the optimal thing for skin, it is best to only use occasionally when needed.  

Wash and dry your face first.  Then apply with a cotton ball over your complexion, avoiding the eye area, and allow to dry thoroughly.  If you just have a few pimples that you want to target, I used to zap them with a cotton swab that I dipped in the Milk of Magnesia first.  Later, rinse it off with cool water and dry.

Remember, only do this treatment OCCASIONALLY.  Long-term use of any product with a high PH level is not good for the skin.