Natural yet Affordable Facial Cleansers

 

Now that the weather has changed, some of us who haven’t already switched up our skincare routine are now in the process of doing so. Unfortunately, the process isn’t as easy as we  play it out to be in our minds because right when we get to the skincare aisle we are dumb founded by the selections that are available. To top that off we also have to think about which is better, how do we know it works? do we trust in the 20 reviews we read before hand about the product? do we just cross our fingers in hopes that this product will do what it promises to? Some of us take the time to do research, but majority of us don’t really put much thought into it and just buy the product that we hear is good. Actually, i used to be one of those people, until i realized that less is actually more and just because a product promises something doesn’t mean it can deliver it. Not to mention, after making an attempt to read all the ingredients i cant pronounce i figure maybe that means i should take the time to research what i’m putting into my skin, since of course it is our largest organ.

With that being said, the reason i’m focusing this post on facial cleansers rather than any other skincare product is because through my experience most of my breakouts and other skin issues have come from not using the proper facial cleanser. Don’t get me wrong, it is important to not skip over any steps of your routine, toner and moisturizer; especially moisturizers are very important and shouldn’t be pushed to the side since it does helps to avoid skin issues such as that dry and tight feeling.

To start off ill talk about my favorite go to cleansers ever which is Honey; and if you want to get specific, the honey i recommend is Manuka Honey since it is one of the most unique and beneficial forms of honey. However, any kind of raw will do that job just fine. The reason i use raw honey as a facial cleanser is because honey its a natural antibacterial, full of antioxidants which helps with slowing down aging, and most of all because its it doesn’t strips your skins natural oils. For those of you who want to spend less than $15 i recommend buying raw honey rather than Manuka honey, Manuka honey is typically anywhere from $20-$40 but it is definitely worth the investment.

Next, it another one of my favorites which is coconut oil. Just like honey, coconut oil wont skips your skins natural oils and is also antibacterial. However the only downside to coconut oil is if your skin is acne prone then coconut oil could make it worse since it is comedogenic. However, if acne isn’t your issue then coconut oil is definitely a perfect cleanser for those who have dry or sensitive skin. When purchasing coconut oil make sure to look for unrefined.

And for my final facial cleanser recommendation i present to you… Argan oil. Most of the time when i mention any cleansing oils i often get strange looks especially from those with oily skin but trust me this beautiful oil contains antioxidants, vitamin E, and essential fatty acids. Argan oily works with your skins natural oil productions to help issues such as acne as well as sensitive skin or even those who suffer from eczema.

 

As for my final thoughts i would also like to mention that all three of these products can be used day or night and also for spot treatments. 2 out of 3 of these products (honey and coconut oil) can be mixed with brown sugar to create an exfoliator or you can use them individually to create facial masks… as you can see when using natural skincare products possibilities can be endless :).

 

Thrift Shops aka Sweater Paradise

Because sometimes its price doesn’t determine its quality
Now that fall has decided to reveal itself here In upstate New York I think it’s safe to say everyone is on the hunt for some cute oversized sweaters or at least I am. Lately I’ve been loving the soft grunge look and so I’ve been checking stores like forever 21, h&m, and urban outfitters but unfortunately I haven’t found anything that seemed to go with the look I’ve been sporting. That was until i went to my local salvation army…
I stood in awe as i realized i was in Sweater paradise. I ended up buying 5 name brand sweaters, they weren’t name brand but they were thicker and softer than the sweaters I kept running into at high end stores so for $5 each why not? It took me about an hour and a half of looking before I found ones that i truly loved because of you’ve ever gone thrift shopping you know that finding good things isn’t as easy as you think it is. So I’ve put together a few tips and tricks for the next time any of you are looking for awesome sweater or anything awesome In general.
1. Dont… and i mean DON’T take the size on the tags too seriously, most of the time when the actual tag has been washed/cut off employees mark what the item seems to appear to be so your best bet would be to  try it on to get a real idea of how it would look.
2. Don’t but it because you “kind of “ like it… a lot of times in thrift stores I ended buying what I “kind of like” because it’s so cheap and i feel like i can put it to use. But In all reality if it’s something you don’t really like then most likely your not going to wear it.
3. Look carefully… holes in sweaters are sometimes hard to find so make sure you really give it a good look, no one wants to find a sweater they love only to find that they have to repair it.
4. Visit multiple thrift shops… sometimes all the sweaters you love won’t all be in the same place, the good thing is you can find plenty of them at a ton of other thrift shops so dont feel bummed out if you didn’t get lucky.

Look like Emily For Cheaper

Emily Ratajkowski is a 24 year old model that is known for her seductive looks and her great taste in fashion. What’s interesting about Emily is she’s so beautiful but yet her look is so simple, and easy to achieve.

In an interview with Elle, Emily states that she loves Tarte Cosmetics and though some of us have the opportunity to try makeup brands such as Tarte, there are others who need to stick by cheaper alternatives when using makeup.

If you find yourself in love with Emily’s makeup look but hate that you can’t splurge on cosmetics then fear no more, here is my list of affordable cosmetics that can be used to create Emily’s signature look.

1. Wet n Wild Mega Illuminating Powder ($3.99)

2. L’ oreal Telescopic Mascara ($6.99)

3. Rimmel London Lasting Finish Lipstick – Airy Fairy ($5.00)

Emily occasionally wears black winged eyeliner or bronze colored eyeshadow but for the most part she wears the “no makeup” makeup look. Also, she doesn’t seem to fill in her brows and if she does it’s not very much instead she brushes then up.

Photo: Pinterest.com

The Arrival of Sequin Dresses

Recently Asos and Top Shop have added a good amount of sequin dresses to their websites. Which clearly means that majority of people are probably going to be wearing sequin dresses for Christmas and New Years.

Sequin dresses are fabulous and will make you stand out however, accessories can be hard to pair with a dress like this since you don’t want the look to be too over board. But, don’t get disappointed here are some suggestions as to which accessories can go great with any sequin dress.

1. Pearl earrings, since pearls are so simple you won’t have to worry about them clashing with your dress.

2. Stud earrings, any type of stud earrings will do as long as they aren’t large studs.

3. Dangle earrings, this one you have to be careful with as some dangle earrings can really over dress the look.

4. Rings, try to limit to 1 ring 2 at the most because even though rings aren’t that noticeable they can quickly become the center of attention if you have too many on.

Some accessories to look out for are large statement necklaces, these can be nice depending on the style of the dress and the color of the sequins but for the most part they can be too much. Another one to look out for is large bracelets, if you want to wear a bracelet try to stick with a thin simple one as opposed to a large one.

Photo: hcdress.com

Top 5 Flare Jeans

Flare jeans have made its way to the trending list, everyone thought they would stay in the 60s/70s but then again they say history repeats itself so we can’t be too surprised.

I have to say after all the years of seeing people only rock skinny jeans it’s nice to have a change. Besides flare jeans or any bottoms that flare in general, make an outfit so much more fun and can be used for any occasion.

At first it was hard for me to adjust to flares but after a while I fell in love with them and honestly now I prefer them over my skinny jeans. I see others feel the same way, that’s why I though it would be cool to come up with the top five flare Jeans,  just in case anyone out their still has gotten their hands on a pair.

1. Sonia Rykiel Flare Jeans ($670), for those who are a fan of high waisted jeans.

2. Hudson Mia Flare Jeans ($229), perfect if you Like heavy fading.

3. J Brand High Rise Flare Jeans ($238), definitely my favorite, SO comfortable and has a great vintage look.

4. MiH Jeans The Principal Super Flare ($255), similar to the J Brands jeans but not as comfortable but still great, its super flares allow it to be perfect to pair with crop tops or knit sweaters.

5. Free People Mid Rise Flare ($78), great quality and similar to the Hudson Mia jeans.

These jeans can either be purchased on the brand names website or on Nordstrom, for those who are looking for cheaper alternatives it’s best to check out stores like H&M or Forever 21.

Photo: theguardian.com

Pai Skincare, For Those With Sensitive Skin

I think it’s pretty safe to say all of those who have sensitive skin can agree that trying to find the right skincare products can be such a hassle. Trying to find certain products that don’t irritate and dry out your skin can be so time consuming, not to mention a waste of money. Especially these days where so many skincare lines are marketed to us that in the end leave us confused, we don’t know which one works best for us or which one won’t work at all.

Another concern is ingredients, people with sensitive skin have to be cautious when it comes to certain chemical ingredients, that’s why I like to recommend natural skincare lines like Pai Skincare, for those who have sensitive skin.

Pai Skincare company claims to be the experts on sensitive skin stating,We carefully select ingredients with proven remedial and skin soothing properties and keep our products free from irritating chemicals and alcohol.

What’s great about organic skincare line is they’re the first skincare company to list all of their ingredients in plain English so that everyone (not just those who made it) can understand the product they are purchasing and know what this product will be putting into their skin.

They also state that they don’t use “partum” on any of their ingredients lists, partum is a term that legally allows manufacturers to include up to 200 synthetic chemicals, including phthalates, in their products without declaring them on the label.

Therefore not only does Pai provide us with great products but they are also a honest company and unfortunately one of the only few who truly seem to put their customers come first.

Photo: fluxmagazine.com
http://http://usa.paiskincare.com/

The Greatness of Cleansing Oils

Recently, cleansing oils seem to be one of the most favorable face cleansers. My first intial thought was, ok this sounds nice for people that have dry skin but what about those that have oily skin?

If this is the case for you don’t lose hope no matter what skin type you have, cleansing oil mixes with preexisting oils already on your face, which ends up taking away the “bad oil and replacing it with the “good” oil.

One thing that I love most about cleansing oils is that unlike most facial cleansers they pull out dirt without clogging pores. Therefore, cleansing oil isn’t just great for preventing acne but since it contains antioxidants and anti-aging ingredients its perfect for those who have aging skin.

Although cleansing oils are great for cleansing the skin, some people prefer to not use it for cleansing and instead use it as a makeup remover which I have to admit is a brilliant idea.

Besides using it as a makeup remover, another great way to use cleansing oil is by using it as a brush cleanser. I haven’t met anyone who does this however, I happened to try it out of curiosity and now it’s something I do regularly.

photo: Google.com

 

 

Tata Harper Lip and Cheek Tint

Throughout the years of using makeup, powder blush seemed to be the only blush majority of people would use. Occasionally I would come across a few people that disliked powder and I thought well does it matter that much? Blush is just blush, how can you go wrong with blush?

Although powder blush is great, there are other forms of blush like cream blush that I forced myself to try and have found amazing. One favorite cream blush of mine is Tata Harper’s cream blush in the color very charming. This particular blush is perfect for all the nature lovers out there since its 100% natural and cruelty free.

The product claims to give you a pop of color which I have to agree with. The rosy pink color of this blush is perfect because not only does it go great with a variety of skin tones but it provides you with that youthful and healthy look.

The blush glides on smoothly and sinks deeply into the skin leaving a natural flushed looked, which is perfect for that “no makeup” makeup look. An awesome addition to this product is it’s versatile, not only can it be used as a blush but also as a volumizing lip tint and similar to when using it as a blush, it provides a natural touch of color to your lips making it perfect for those days when you feel your lips need a little color and that extra plump.

http://http://www.tataharperskincare.com/volumizing-lip-and-cheek-tint-very-charming

Photo: tataharperskincare.com

Skin Benefits of Coconut Oil

The cold weather has finally found its way here leaving some people either thrilled with its arrival or others dreading it. Whatever the case may be majority of us can agree the cold weather gives us some type of skin issue whether it’s dry or cracked lips, flaky skin, or inflammation.

When people come across these situations they tend to purchase Aquaphor or Vaseline, mostly because those have been the only products they’ve been taught to use but also because they’re easier to find.

However, there are other people who are willing to research more about the product they’re investing money in and often times find themselves taking a more natural route that leads them to purchasing a product such as coconut oil.

Coconut oil serves as a great substitute for Aquaphor and Vaseline not only because it’s natural but because it quickly penetrates deep into the skin providing it with the moisture that it needs, as opposed to Aquaphor and Vaseline which still penetrates the skin but for the most part remains on the skin’s surface.

An important fact you might want to consider knowing if you’ve never tried coconut oil before (especially if your skin suffers from irritation or inflammation) is that it contains Lauric Acid, which is also found in animal breast milk and has been shown to have antimicrobial properties.

Overall, coconut oil is a versatile product. It can be used as a oil for dry hands, a lip balm, a night cream, etc.

Photo1: Google.com
Photo2: thecoconutmama.com

Harmful Chemicals in Skincare Products

The skincare industry has made billions of dollars from constantly distributing products with big claims. Often times skincare products are advertised to society using various strategies such as celebrity testimonials, paid reviews, and magazine ads.

People, especially women from the ages of 25-50 are the main targets that advertisement companies try to persuade. All throughout time, skincare products have made big claims such as “see results in just 3 days” or “this is the miracle product you’ve been waiting for” have captivated people with their false claims.

Today, billions of skincare products are being purchased without any warning of the harmful chemicals these products contain and how these chemicals can affect one’s health.

Harsh chemicals such as Tridasan, a synthetic antibacterial ingredient is believed to cause cancer. Along with another chemical known as Sodium Lauryl Sulfate, which is a chemical used in car washes and garage floor cleansers. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate is believed to cause depression, skin irritation, and even death.

Skincare companies know what these dangerous chemicals are capable of doing, but choose to not inform the public, due to all the profit they make off of them.

Therefore, some people are left to do their own research on these chemicals while others continue to use these products that contain these chemicals without acknowledging that that these chemical can be responsible for any health problems that they have or can have in the future.

Photo1: skintips.com
Photo2: naturalhealthlyconcepts.com