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.