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.