Salicylic Acid: What it does, What it is

Salicylic acid is one of the most commonly used active ingredient in acne products, but why? What is it? What good does it even do? If you are asking yourself those questions, then you have come to the right place. First of all, Salicylic acid isn't just used in acne care products, its also used to treat plantar warts! This works by helping the wart gradually peel away. Salicylic acid is a keratolytic, which means it is a peeling agent. It causes shedding of the outer layer of skin. This acid isn't just used for peeling, because it has some of the same ingredients as aspirin, it is also very anti-inflammatory (that's another reason why its great for acne!) Salicylic acid is great to use in every day skincare products if it falls between 0.5 and 2 percent. Some other drugs in the same class as Salicylic acid are Aspirin, Benzoic acid, Benzoyl peroxide, Ibuprofen, Salsalate, Diclofenac and a few more. Salacylic acid is actually from willow tree bark! Salacylic acid is a wonderful chemical exfoliant, so there isn't really a need to use a physical exfoliant at the same time (although you can if you want). As you can see Salicylic acid is very helpful in the treatment of acne (for most people) and a great ingredient to have listed in your skincare if you want healthy glowing skin.




Some of my favorite skincare products containing Salicylic acid

Health benefits of Evening Primrose oil

Evening Primrose oil: You might have heard of it before, as it has been getting a bit of attention lately. Evening Primrose oil is especially great for your skin, because of the gamma linoleic acid it contains, and also because it thins the sebum which is what causes acne. It also is great to take if you suffer from eczema (atopic dermatitis) because again, of the GLA (gamma linoleic acid).  Evening Primrose oil also contains essential fatty acid  which nourishes and protects your nails and scalp! Evening Primrose oil has also been rumored to help rheumatoid arthritis and prevent nerve damage caused by diabetes! How? Because the GLA is said to lessen joint pain caused from rheumatoid arthritis and prevent and sometimes even reverse nerve damage from diabetes!

What I love most about Evening Primrose oil:

What I love most about it is its ability to help cure acne and make your skin glow. I know this is true because I tried it, and the primrose oil helped my skin have less breakouts and have an overall glow. I don't know if everyone will get the same results as me, but I sure hope you do! Evening Primrose oil is definitely what I would consider a super food, or in this case, a super oil. 

Health Benefits of Spiralina

Spiralina

why its so great

Its likely that you have heard about spiralina, as it is considered a super food by some people. And realy, it is. Spiralina contains SO many great vitamins and minerals plus loads of chlorophyll.

The Vitamins...

Spiralina contains vitamins A,B-1,B-2,B-3,B-6,B-9,B-12,E,K1 and K2.

The Minerals...

Spiralina ALSO has Chromium,Calcium,Manganese,Copper,Potasium,Zinc,Magnesium and Selenium.

The antioxidents....

Spiralina has more antioxidants than blueberries!

More...

It also has loads of chlorophyll!

(and protein!)

The benefits...

Spirulina is great for your eyes because of all the vitamin A it contains (it has even more than carrots). As well as being good for your eyes, spirulina strengthens your immune system because it encourages cell regeneration! Spirulina is amazing for detoxification! That's because of all the chlorophyll (it seriously has TONS of it). Spiralina improves digestion and promotes healthy bacteria, therefore sort of acting as a probiotic (awesome, right?). Because of the selenium, spirulina also improves your hair! Also, the vitamin A is amazing for your skin (its very good for acne).

Overall, spirulina is realy awesome! It has lots of beneficial vitamins and minerals and chlorophyll! Its basicly great for everyone no matter your age. You can get spirulina in powder form or tablet form, but it doesn't really matter which one you have, as long as its spirulina!

 

 

My Shower Routine

1.   First I wash my hair and body…

 

                                                                                                                                                          

2.  Next I use conditioner and body scrub…

3. And last of all, I shave...

And that’s my shower routine!

Some natural ways to whiten your teeth

White teeth is something that lots of people would like to have, and some do get, do to all the many ways you can whiten your teeth now days. But, here you will find a few natural ways to get a brighter smile.

1. Coconut oil: I have already mentioned this before in my post about some uses of coconut oil, but I will still say it again. Coconut oil works by sucking up the impurities and bad bacteria from your mouth ( swish your mouth with coconut oil every night for 20 minutes before you go to bed). Don't forget to spit the coconut oil out at the right time! If you go over 20 minutes, the impurities will be reabsorbed, but on the other hand, if you swish for less than 20 minutes not all the impurities will be taken out, so as you can see it is VERY important to get the timing just right. By sucking out the impurities and bad bacteria, you also remove some surface stains therefore brightening and whitening your teeth.

2. Baking soda: Baking soda works by removing serface stains (similar to coconut oil). Have a bowl 

of baking soda in the bathroom and every night before you brush your teeth with toothpaste, brush 

them with baking soda for no longer than 2 minutes. (Baking soda is abrasive, so it could cause damage to your teeth if used any longer than that). 

3. Lemon juice: lemon juice will whiten your teeth, but it does that by eating away at your enamel (the top layer of your teeth) so lemon juice actually has to damage your teeth in order to whiten them. I don't recommend this method as it could lead to sore and damaged teeth.

Whitening teeth is a tricky business: you want to take off the surface stains to show off your 

beautifully whitened teeth, but if your trying to do it naturally, then you want to do it without bleaching or causing damage. Some teeth that are not white are caused simply because your enamel is 

thicker, but for some, it's caused by surface stains.

Please know that these methods might not work for everyone.

My every once in a while skincare items

Exfoliating scrubs: exfoliating is very important to the health of your skin because it helps take away dead skin cells. I like using the burts bees acne solutions exfoliating scrub. I use a scrub about every 3 days. You can use a scrub once a week-every 2 days, whatever works best for your skin.

Pore strips: pore strips are great to use especially if you have larger pores with lots of blackheads. Pore strips basically pull out the extra blackheads and oil from your nose, but you can only use them every 3 days (I use them once a week). There are some different brands of pore strips you can buy, but I use the bioré pore strips.

Face masks: I love to use face masks! But you should only use them once a week because if you use them more than that, your skin could get irritated and start producing lots more oil, resulting in acne. I like using the Botanics ionic clay mask once a week, but you can use any face mask, as long as it works well on your skin.

Targeted spot treatment: spot treatment should be used only on the spot of concern (acne) but not over your entire face! Spot treatment usually work by drying out the skin, killing bacteria or both. I like the burts bees blemish stick (this one works by killing the bacteria).

All of these products have something in commen: you should only use these once in a while! These are all great for your skin, but only when used in moderation.

Links:

https://m.burtsbees.com/Herbal-Blemish-Stick/88799-00,default,pd.html

http://www.biore.com/en-us/biore-facial-cleansing-products/

http://www.target.com/p/boots-botanics-ionic-clay-mask-with-willowbark-3-3-oz/-/A-11202939

https://m.burtsbees.com/Natural-Acne-Solutions-Pore-Refining-Scrub/00179-00,default,pd.html

My nighttime skincare routine

My skincare routine consists of 3 steps (I change my routine up a lot, but this is usually what it will look like)

Cleanse: I use the burts bees acne solutions purifying gel cleanser all over my face and part way down my neck, and rub it in with my fingertips for a minute (it takes a full minute for the ingredients in a product to fully have an effect on your skin).

Tone: Toneing is something I just started to do recently, just to try it out and see if it works well on my skin. I have heard a lot about how toner is very important, so the one I use is the Aubrey purifying toner with salisilic acid (my cleanser also has salisilic acid in it)  I put toner onto a cotton round and apply evenly to my whole face. Toneing takes off any extra cleanser, dirt or oil that you didn't remove while cleansing, so this step is very important.

Moisturize: Moisturization is so so important! If you cleanse your skin, you really should use a moisturizer. Currently I use the kettle care essential rose face creme. P.s. It smells realy good!

That's all I usually do for skincare at night time, but you can certainly add some other step in or take one out if you would like, as long as it works for your skin!

(Oh, and just in case you were wondering I have combination skin.)

Links:
https://m.burtsbees.com/Natural-Acne-Solutions-Purifying-Gel-Cleanser/00181-00,default,pd.html

http://www.amazon.com/Aubrey-Organics-Clarifying-

http://www.kettlecare.com/essential-face-creme-with-pure-rose-1-oz/

Some of my favorite ways to use coconut oil

Some of the amazing uses of coconut oil...

 Skin: You can use coconut oil as a body lotion (I like using it after a shower or bath) if you want your skin to be soft and moisturized. At first, it might feel greasy, but that will only last for a short time (20 minutes for me). You can use coconut oil on your face, but it made my face really oily, so I would only suggest it for people with dry skin, although everyone can use it if they want. Coconut oil is great on the bottom of your feet, especially on calluses and rough areas. Just massage it in at night (or any time) so it has some time to soak in. Instead of going out and buying an expensive body scrub, why not make one just as good at home? If you mix coconut oil and brown sugar, it will make the perfect scrub! 

                                             Coconut/brown sugar scrub

                                                      . Pour an 8th cup of brown sugar in a bowl
                                                                 
                                                      . Add an 8th cup of coconut oil to the brown sugar
                                                   
                                                      . Mix it together, take it to your shower and use it all over yourself



You don't have to use an 8th cup, you can use however much or less you would prefer. The brown sugar exfoliates your skin while the coconut oil moisturizes, so you end up with beautiful glowing skin.  My suggestion is using it 2-3 times a week, depending on your skin.

Fact: Did you know that brown sugar (and white sugar) has glycolic acid naturally in it?



Hair: coconut oil might seem way to oily to put anywhere neer your precious locks, but realy, it makes the perfect hair mask. All you need to do is massage a small spoonful throuout your hair, wait 20 minutes or longer and then wash your hair with shampoo and conditioner ( you can leave the coconut oil on overnight then wash your in the morning).

Teeth: This may sound a little strange, but if you swish your mouth with coconut oil for 20 minutes it will clean your teeth. How? Well, the coconut oil helps suck the impurities and bad bacteria out of your mouth, but only if you swish for a full 20 minutes and spit the coconut oil out right after that. (If you go longer that 20 minutes your mouth will reabsorb some of the impurities, but if you swish for to short of time, then no impurities will be taken out.)  you only need 1 tablespoon of coconut oil.


Cooking: There are many ways to use coconut oil for cooking but I'm not going to list all of them, because that would take forever. If you are interested in recipes using coconut oil, then search it, and you will find thousands!



Nails/cuticles: Yes, it's true, coconut oil is GREAT for nails and cuticles as well. Just simply massage in little drops of coconut oil to you fingers and toes every night, and you will have beautiful fingernails and cuticles in no time!

I'm positive there are much much more uses for coconut oil, but these are my very favorite uses.