Okay, so, I’ve seen mad tips advocating the use of coconut oil as lube. Honestly, I would not suggest that.
For starters, coconut oil breaks down condoms. Let’s be real, babes, if you have multiple partners, or your partner has multiple partners, you should be using condoms. STIs and STDs are real.
Second, coconut oil is a comedogenic oil which means it tends to clog pores and cause blackheads. This is fine when you use it on your body, but sensitive areas like your face or vagina aren’t places you want clogged pores. Clogged pores on your vagina can cause bumps and ingrown hairs.
Third, coconut oil is antibacterial. That’s excellent for cleaning cuts and burns, but not to vaginal health. Your vagina is self cleaning and using anything antibacterial in, on, or around it will disrupt the good bacteria there. This means yeast infections galore, and who wants that?
As with all hoe tips, this is just personal opinion and advice. If it works for you, there’s no need to change. But if you’ve just added coconut oil to your kitty’s routine and you’re finding some things are out of whack, it’s probably not for you.
This is a gentle scrub to refresh and cleanse your skin, it only takes about 5 minutes and a blender to make, and none of the ingredients are too crazy. Let’s go!
You will need:
1 medium cucumber
1 mandarin orange (or about 2 tbsp citrus juice)
2 sprigs catnip, mint, or lemon balm (or a mix)
1 tablespoon activated charcoal powder
1 teaspoon oil or glycerin (I used coconut, you can use whatever. Glycerin for oilier skin.)
1/4 tsp liquid soap (castile is best, but you can use a drop of dish soap in a pinch)
Cut the cucumber into a few pieces and put it in a blender with the herbs and juice. If you’re using a mandarin, you can put some zest and pulp in too. Run the blender until there are no chunks of cucumber left. It’ll be pulpy, but that’s fine, it doesn’t need to be smooth.
Add the charcoal and run the blender until it’s mixed, then add the oil or glycerin and soap and run it again.
Done!
To use: Spread the scrub on your skin fairly evenly. I apply it head to toe, face, body, all over. If you’re doing it on your body, it helps to do it in tub or shower because it can get messy. Once it’s applied everywhere, I go back over and kind of “buff it in”. It’s not super scrubby, but it’ll be a little dryer and you’ll feel it scrubbing your skin a little. Once you’ve buffed everywhere, just rinse it off! Due to the soap in it, it actually rinses off and cleans up pretty well.
What it does: The cucumber has water and is soothing. Leaving the skin and pulp in gives the scrub some body and a bit of light “grit”, without being gritty. The citrus and herbs have compounds that help loosen up dead skin. Charcoal helps buff off impurities. The glycerin or oil keeps it from stripping your skin, and the soap helps it rinse away cleaner.
Enjoy!
(Note: This won’t like… “keep”. If you don’t use it right away, you can keep it in the fridge for a few days, but it’s best made-to-use.)
Sorry, boys, today we are talking about girlish stuff. But wait, why sorry - it can be useful for you too? I hope everyone here washes their hair and face at least sometimes. No doubts it is much better with all natural products!
I will start with the list of the bad ingredients you better avoid in your creams, shampoos, cosmetics etc and why:
1. BHA and BHT: Used mainly in moisturizers and makeup as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disruptors and may cause cancer (BHA). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
2. Coal tar dyes: p-phenylenediamine and colours listed as “CI” followed by a five digit number.Potential to cause cancer and may be contaminated with heavy metals toxic to the brain.
3. DEA-related ingredients: Used in creamy and foaming products, such as moisturizers and shampoos. Can react to form nitrosamines, which may cause cancer. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
4. Dibutyl phthalate: Used as a plasticizer in some nail care products. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
5. Formaldehyde-releasing preservatives: Look for DMDM hydantoin, diazolidinyl urea, imidazolidinyl urea, methenamine and quarternium-15. Used in a variety of cosmetics. Slowly release small amounts of formaldehyde, which causes cancer.
6. Parabens: Used in a variety of cosmetics as preservatives. Suspected endocrine disrupters and may interfere with male reproductive functions.
7. Parfum (aka fragrance): Any mixture of fragrance ingredients used in a variety of cosmetics — even in some products marketed as “unscented.” Some fragrance ingredients can trigger allergies and asthma. Some linked to cancer and neurotoxicity. Some harmful to fish and other wildlife.
8. PEG compounds: Used in many cosmetic cream bases. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Also for related chemical propylene glycol and other ingredients with the letters “eth” (e.g., polyethylene glycol).
9. Petrolatum: Used in some hair products for shine and as a moisture barrier in some lip balms, lip sticks and moisturizers. A petroleum product that can be contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, which may cause cancer.
10. Siloxanes: Look for ingredients ending in “-siloxane” or “-methicone.” Used in a variety of cosmetics to soften, smooth and moisten. Suspected endocrine disrupter and reproductive toxicant (cyclotetrasiloxane). Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
11. Sodium laureth sulfate: Used in foaming cosmetics, such as shampoos, cleansers and bubble bath. Can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. Look also for related chemical sodium lauryl sulfate and other ingredients with the letters “eth” (e.g., sodium laureth sulfate).
12. Triclosan: Used in antibacterial cosmetics, such as toothpastes, cleansers and antiperspirants. Suspected endocrine disrupter and may contribute to antibiotic resistance in bacteria. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
13. Mineral Oil (Most harmful when poorly refined): In many other care products such as baby oil, body lotions, soap and makeup. Mineral oil is a petroleum by-product which cloggs the pores and interferes with the skin’s ability to eliminate toxins, promoting acne and other disorders. Slows down skin function and cell development, resulting in premature aging. May be contaminated with PAHs (carcinogens).
14. Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS) and Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES): In products that foam such as shampoo, cleansers, bubble bath. SLES can be contaminated with 1,4-dioxane, which may cause cancer. SLS may damage liver. Irritates skin, eyes and respiratory tract. Harmful to fish and other wildlife.
15. Chemical Sunscreens (with Retinyl Palmitate, Oxybenzone and Octyl Methoxycinnamate): When many of the chemicals used in popular sunscreens are exposed to sunlight, reactions occur between the sunscreen’s active and inactive ingredients and the epidermis. Toxic reactions include inflammation, dermalogical effects, allergic reactions and photogenotoxic (DNA altering) effects. Chemical sunscreens have ingredients that actually promote cancer.
16. Placental extract: Used in some skin and hair products, but linked to endocrine disruption.
17. Talc: Similar to asbestos in composition, it’s found in baby powder, eye shadow, blush, deodorant. Linked to ovarian cancer and respiratory problems.
18. Toluene: Known to disrupt the immune and endocrine systems, and fetal development, it’s used in nail and hair products. Often hidden under fragrance.
So, now you know what you better not find on your bottle of any body treatment. What do I use then?
Face:
Mineral cosmetics. Yes, sometimes it contains talc. Sometimes not - pay attention to the list of ingredients. You can buy it in lots of places all over the internet, I won’t advertise any sites, just google and you will see everything instantly. If you can not live without base, powder and eyeshadows - it is the best and the most healthy replacement according to my researches, your opinion may differ from mine, of course :)
Lip balm. Here’s a tip how to make homemade all natural stuff for your pretty lips.
- 1 tablespoon grated beeswax or beeswax pastilles
- 1 tablespoon virgin coconut oil
- A dash of organic raw honey
- 2 vitamin E capsules
- Several drops of essential oil (optional)
In a double boiler, melt down the beeswax, adding in the coconut oil and honey when about half of the beeswax is no longer solid. After it’s all melted and blended together, stir in the contents of 2 vitamin E capsules. Pour into container or a tube and let cool. Done!
Face cream.
I use only shea and makadamia organic butters for my face, but if you prefer creams:
6 Tbsp Almond oil
¼ cup Cacao butter
3 Tbsp Shea butter
2 Tbsp Coconut oil
1 Tbsp Beeswax
2/3 cup Floral water, aka Hydrosol (Sandalwood)
1/3 cup Aloe Vera gel
½ tsp Vitamin E oil
1 tsp Vanilla extract
10 drops of Essential oils
Sterilize the jars that you will store your cream in, in boiling water. I reused jars and so this was necessary. If you use new jars they will come pre-sterilized.
While containers are sterilizing, melt cacao butter, shea butter, coconut oil and beeswax all together in a double boiler, or in a bowl over a pot of hot water.
Meanwhile, mix the floral water (hydrosol) and aloe vera gel in a bowl.
After oils are melted allow them to cool slightly and then add to blender along with the almond oil and blend. Slow down blending and stream in the hydrosol and aloe vera in the top of the blender jar while still blending. Blend for a few minutes until cream becomes thick and fluffy. Add the essential oils, vitamin E and vanilla and blend until they are mixed in completely.
Dry sterilized jars and then pour cream into jars. Put caps on jars and store any cream that you will not be using within the next month into the fridge. Refigerated cream should keep for several months, and up to a year.
Face and body scrub.
Best exfoliators are - baking soda, sugar, sea salt, coffee (may make your skin darker!), oatmeal, kefir, honey.
Coconut Oil and Sugar Facial Scrub
1-2 Tbsp coconut oil 3 Tablespoons sugar (any kind of granular sugar is ok)
In a bowl, mix the two ingredients together. You can do this with a spoon or your fingers—it’ll take a minute if your oil is semi-hard. You can melt the oil if you like, just don’t get it too hot, or the sugar will melt in it and you could also burn your skin. Warm is good though because it can help open your pores. Make sure you’re either doing this over the skin or in the shower, and that you aren’t going to drip it onto your clothes (it will leave oil marks).
Sweet Vanilla Sugar Scrub
½ cup brown sugar ½ cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup olive oil (you can substitute avocado, almond, or coconut oil as well) (where to find quality oils) 2 Tbs honey ¼ tsp pure vanilla extract (you could also use 5 – 10 drops of your favorite essential oil) ½ tsp vitamin E oil
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Voila.
Hair.
There are lots of all-natural shampoos you can purchase in the internet nowadays and there are some you can make yourself.
Baking soda shampoo.
Whoa, so simple! All you’ll have to do is mix a tablespoon of soda with a cup or two of water and use it like you would use your regular shampoo.
Bread shampoo.
Oh yes, it’s same easy. Mash some rye bread with water so you can rub it in your skin easily, covering all the hair with it. Put on the shower cap for a half of an hour. Rinse off with warm water (it’s easier than seems). You’re fabulous.
Lemon and cucumber shampoo.
Attention: may change the color of your hair a little bit, making them lighter, especially bleached blonde ones. Tip: if it is the desired result, you may use lemon as a natural bleacher from time to time. So, shampoo. Simply peel one lemon and one cucumber put them into a food processor and process until you get a smooth runny paste to apply as a shampoo. Scrub, scrub, scrub.
Shampoo for dry hair:
Organic Castile Soap - Liquid (1 cup) Apple Cider Vinegar (2 Tablespoons) Tea Tree Oil (1 Tablespoon) Water (¼ Cup)
Mix it all together, add a few drops of your fav essential oil. Use!
Coconut shampoo for dry hair:
Coconut Milk (¼ Cup) Castile Soap (or you can make that soap yourself: http://www.wikihow.com/Make-Liquid-Castile-Soap) (1/3 Cup) Almond Oil (1 tablespoon) Essential oil(s) of choice (10 Drops)
Mix, shake well. Yum!
Cognac and Honey shampoo:
Castile soap (half of a cup) + tablespoon of honey and a small glass of this liquor, apply on your hair, allow it 5 minutes to work its magic and rinse.
Anti-dandruff shampoo:
Distilled Water (¼ cup) Castile Soap Liquid (¼ cup) Grapeseed or Jojoba Oil (½ cup) Apple Cider Vinegar (1 tbsp) Fresh Apple Juice (3 tbsps) Garlic Cloves (6, finely processed)
Combine all of you ingredients in a food processor, switch on low and process until smooth.
Make a rosemary infusion by boiling distilled water pouring it over dried Rosemary leaves and steeping it until half cooled. Strain then use this liquid as a base in which you’ll add the rest of the ingredients.
Aloe Vera and Lemon Shampoo for oily hair (why so much lemon everywhere? it consists a boost of vitamins and makes your hair shine like angel’s wings - by the way adding eggs for dry hair gives the same result.)
A half a cup of liquid castile soap with two tbsps of freshly squeezed lemon juice and a teaspoon of aloe vera gel.
That’s all folks, I’m ready to answer your questions if you have ones.
Shiny hair, glowing skin and lots of love to everyone <3
I wasn’t going to waste my time with this but it’s bothering me so!
Let’s look at this tweet someone shared
This is actively harmful
The point of rating your pain on a scale of one to ten isn’t to find out How Much Pain your body is experiencing at the moment. It’s not, like, figuring out how many Gs your body is being exposed to. Pain is subjective. Duh.
The pain scale is not used to compare other people’s pain to each other’s. Why would it be? That would be silly and kinda useless (except maybe in times of extreme medicine shortage, I guess?) Like, it’s not “Well, this patient says they’re at a 2, this patient says they’re at a 7, so this patient gets pain meds and this one doesn’t.”
It’s to compare your pain to your pain. Both where your pain is in relation to what you feel you can handle, and where your pain is before treatment and aftertreatment.
How you gauge your pain is important for treating that pain. It doesn’t matter that another person might be able to handle the pain better and just need a ‘small’ pain med to handle that. Who fucking cares if the person in room 2102 could handle your pain with just Tylenol if you can’t? That’s irrelevant.
Even more, knowing where you’re pain is before treatment (say, a ten) to where your pain is after treatment (say, a 3) is crucial. That shows if the treatment is effective in reducing your pain. Otherwise, if your pain is at a ten before and after treatment—or a seven before treatment and has increased to a nine after treatment—there’s obviously an issue that needs to be addressed.
There’s also a really sloppy argument being made about how individuals manage pain in relation to each other that just… isn’t true. Someone who has a lot of experience with one type of pain may bear that same type of pain better than someone who doesn’t, yes. That’s often true. But other types of pain that they don’t experience often may feel just as ‘omg I’m fucking dying’. And someone who for one reason or another has in the past experienced a lot of pain but is no longer experiencing that pain in their day-to-day lives isn’t going to bear the pain better than someone who has experienced less overall pain but more recently.
And certain long-term illnesses can actually make the same thing more painful. Like, a cancer patient might interpret every little movement as excruciating pain. That happens, and it’s not because pain was rare for them before.
And here’s how it’s harmful: people are ashamed of their pain. Yes, even including Good Nobly Suffering Disabled and Chronically Ill People that this tweet is meant to acknowledge.
People in pain feel they shouldn’t complain, shouldn’t cry, shouldn’t ask for pain management because Someone Somewhere is hurting worse, Someone Somewhere is going through more, or they themselves have been through worse.
But pain is not felt nor treated in relation to other people’s experience of pain. What an ugly—and more hostile to people in pain!—world that would be.
If anything, the pain scale (and treating pain as a vital sign) helps protect patients, those who are dealing with chronic and acute pain.
Anyway! The pain scale works because of the criticized dynamic, not in spite of it. There’s so many good ways to acknowledge that people with chronic pain may experience pain differently, including underreporting pain, and encouraging people with chronic pain to not underreport pain because they can theoretically handle it without… This mess.
If you like MM fragrances and want to try out some of the collection, it’s hard to do better than this set. However, I found that I only like a couple of the fragrances (Beach Walk and By the Fireplace). The rest didn’t impress me and will likely go to my sister.
I’m still futilely clinging to Summer with this fragrance. It smells like how you would imagine a sexy, bronzed swimsuit model lounging under the shade of a coconut tree would smell. I’m no swimsuit model, and there’s snow on the ground outside, but I don’t need to acknowledge either of those facts. The body sprays by TF are a great option, because they’re more affordable than the standard perfumes and they smell just as good and are long lasting.
Sephora Collection Blend ‘Til The End Sponge Set
Good quality makeup blending sponges at a good price. Necessary for when I choose to wear base makeup.
Verb Hydrating Mask
I’m pretty impressed with Verb as a brand; they make some solid hair products at affordable prices. This mask has become a favorite in my family; my mom uses it as conditioner . Not the nicest scent, but it works well to nourish hair without being too heavy. I’ve already repurchased this.
Tan-Luxe THE BUTTER Illuminating Tanning Butter
A definite miss for me. I didn’t notice much glow on the skin after using this, yet it’s able to stain clothes and bed sheets tan? Whack. The smell is also not fantastic for a product you’re supposed to cover yourself with (fake tan w/ raspberries?). Feels good on the skin, but kind of a pain to apply all over the body. Also, not quick drying. Doesn’t do it for me.
Tan-Luxe THE FACE Illuminating Self-Tan Drops in Light/Medium
This product on the other hand has become a love of mine (also included in a Monthly Favorites)! Gives you the perfect tan with minimal effort. Maybe their THE BODY drops would work better for me?
2018 was a whirlwind year for me that was full of positive changes. I’m incredibly grateful to be where I am right now. I also want to thank all of you for sticking with me through these times- this blog wouldn’t be nearly as fun without you!
I’m going to go through each category of skin care, beauty, etc. that I can think of and list my favorite products (and some honorable mentions). The only qualification is that I had to use the product this year. If I don’t mention a category, it’s because I don’t personally use it (ex. blush). Let’s get it.
Skin Care
Oil Cleanser: Eve Lom Cleanser
Second Cleanser: Glossier Milky Jelly (Get 10% off your Glossier order when you shop this link: https://re.glossier.com/31ea289c)
Honorable Mentions:Fresh Soy Face Cleanser, NIOD Sanskrit Saponins
Acid Treatment: Sunday Riley Luna Sleeping Night Oil
