DIY Toner to Get Rid of Body Acne!

If you haven't yet be sure to check out my video on this tutorial any my other best tips on how to keep body acne at bay! 

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apple cider vinegar is chalk full of nutrients and properties that are amazing for your skin. It contains malic acid which is a natural antibacterial, anti-fungal and antiviral substance. This means it fights bacteria, preventing new blemishes to form. It also contains ash which helps maintain the pH level of our skin (super important for healthy skin!!) by balancing the production of sebum. Basically that means it keeps your skin from getting too oily or too dry - therefore preventing future breakouts. Apple cider vinegar also helps to draw out toxins and unclog your pores, preventing new blemishes to form. Now on top of keeping acne at bay it's also great for anti-aging as well. It contains alpha hydroxy acids which removes dead skin leaving your skin looking fresh and young. This will help to fade age spots and acne scarring too. It has also been known to lessen the apparence of fine lines and wrinkles. Can't go wrong with this stuff people! 

Tea Tree Oil (optional):

Tea tree oil is great for your skin, especially acne-prone skin. It helps acne because it contains disinfecting and soothing properties. It works to disinfect the pores while also drying out whiteheads and blackheads. It penetrates the blockage between your skin and sebaceous glands. Make sure to dilute it properly or it could really dry out your skin. But a dash of this to my DIY toner is perfect to help clear up those stubborn spots!

I hope this helps you like it's helped me!! Back acne/body acne SUCKS. Don't forget to check out my video for more :)

XOXO,

Linds

DIY Grapefruit Mask for Acne & Skin Damage!

Perfect timing for summer with this grapefruit and yogurt mask! It's so easy using only 2 ingredients that will leave your skin with a fresh & youthful glow! Be sure to check out my video tutorial on youtube if you haven't already!

Let's get into why these ingredients rock for your skin!

Grapefruit:

Firstly make sure you are using a red or pink grapefruit (not white or yellow) because red and pink grapefruits contain a higher amount of antioxidants as well as lycopene. The antioxidants fight free radical damage that can cause wrinkles, discoloration of the skin and overall dullness. Lycopene (found in red & pink grapefruits) can improve the texture of your skin by aiding cellular functions that are essential to keeping your skin looking young. Lycopene also can strengthen your skin by inhibiting the activity of enzymes involved in the destruction and breakdown of collagen. The juice contains retinol (which is known to be awesome for acne) which repairs skin damage, fights fine lines & tones the skin. Grapefruits also contain acids that exfoliates the skin, keeping your pores clean and complexion bright. Not only are grapefruits delicious and smell amazing they have AMAZING skin benefits!!

Yogurt: 

Firstly make sure you have PLAIN yogurt with no additives. The probiotics in yogurt help to fight acne and discoloration. Yogurt also contains lactic acid that dissolves dead skin cells leaving your skin exfoliated and smooth. Since it exfoliates your skin with no physical abrasive exfoliants it's ideal for skin with acne so it can properly exfoliate your skin without aggravating your acne! It also will dilute the grapefruit juice and balance it with a moisturizing effect so it won't dry out your skin. Plain yogurt is a great additive to any face mask with anti-aging and acne fighting properties!


DIY Grapefruit & Yogurt Mask:

• 1/2 cup plain yogurt (organic is ideal)
• the juice of 1/2 of a grapefruit (pink or red)

Be sure to go and check out my video tutorial on how to make this mask on youtube!! Hope you like it as much as I do!

XOXO,

Linds

Cocoa Face Mask for Acne, Hydration & Anti-aging!

Do you want a mask that does it all? If the answer is yes, then this mask is for you! Check out my youtube video of me making it and using the mask if you haven't already!

This mask is perfect for my skin type which is dry-combination sensitive skin that is acne prone (could it be worse? I know). SO this mask helps to prevent breakouts, while adding moisture and helps against free radical damaging (aging). 

This is also perfect with Valentine's Day just around the corner. If you don't have a date pamper yourself with this mask, or if you do use it the night before to have your date blinded by your perfect skin!

Ok let's get down to the science...

Cocoa Powder:

First of all the higher the percent of pure cocoa the better obviously. I got mine at Trader Joe's and it's 100% pure cocoa and unsweetened of course. Now let's talk about why you want to put this on your face. Cocoa powder is rich in antioxidants that help to repair your skin and prevent further damage from free radicals (which helps to prevent premature aging). It also promotes collagen production for tighter, more youthful looking skin. It helps to prevent future blemishes while moisturizing your skin. After this mask your skin will be glowing!

Olive Oil:

Olive oil contains antioxidants such as vitamin E, polyphenols and phytosterols which help to protect the skin from premature aging. It helps to restore skin smoothness and protects against UV light. It also helps to prevent free radical damage to the skin. Olive oil (against what you might think) actually doesn't clog your pores. It penetrates deep into the skin providing moisture and cleansing the skin. Basically it's a SUPER moisturizer that will plump the skin for a youthful glow!

Sea Salt:

Firstly, make sure it's sea salt, not regular table salt, got it? Great, now let's get into it... I'm sure you may have noticed that after you go to the ocean beach your skin may look a little better right? That's not just from all the vitamin D your getting it's the sea salt! When used VERY gently sea salt is a great exfoliator and can help to get rid of dead skin cells built up on the skin. Sea salt is natural stress reducer, and as we all know stress is one of the main causes for acne. Sea salt is also a natural detoxifier - it absorbs toxins from the skin. Sea salt can also increase circulation and also has antiseptic effects which helps to kill bacteria that cause acne. Sea salt is also full of vitamins and minerals that helps to nourish the skin. Combined with the cocoa powder preventing future breakouts, sea salt will help to combat existing spots! Basically sea salt is the bees knees.

Face Mask Recipe:

• 2 TSP of pure cocoa powder
• 1 TSP of olive oil
• a pinch of sea salt

If you haven't checked out my video tutorial on how to make this face mask & directions on how long to apply it be sure to watch the video!!! Hope you have a lovely Valentine's Day this year or just a lovely day or week in general :)

XOXO,

Linds

DIY Coffee Scrub for Body Acne & Cellulite (Face & Body)

Hi friends! Back with another DIY and we have oodles to talk about so let's get started! First of all check out my video tutorial if you haven't already & then head back here :)

Overview:

This DIY Coffee Scrub is amazing for:

• Exfoliating - the coffee grounds & brown sugar work together to buff away the dead skin cells leaving the skin as soft as a baby's bottom!
• Fights cellulite - massaging the scrub into the skin for about 10 minutes can help by increasing blood flow and circulation - therefore reducing the cellulite (we'll chat more about cellulite below)
• Eliminates - red bumps on the backs of arms and legs, as well as body acne! Seriously I've tried a million body scrubs, both DIY and store bought, and nothing has worked light this scrub has (which rocks am I right!?)
• Moisturizes - since the coffee can dry out the skin, the balance of the olive oil is perfect to leave your skin supple and soft

Now let's chat on why each ingredient rocks for your skin!

Coffee:

Coffee is great for removing puffiness and swelling which is awesome for just waking up and for bringing down the swelling of acne. Coffee is also a natural astringent that helps to tighten pores and control oil on your face. Coffee grounds also make for a great natural exfoliant leaving your skin smooth and fresh. The caffeine in coffee is a known diuretic and can help to tighten the skin and help to reduce cellulite when applied topically. Basically coffee rocks! 

Olive Oil:

Olive oil is jam packed full of nutrients and antioxidants such as vitamins A and E which are both incredible for your skin! Vitamins A & E can help to repair skin damage from sun exposure and pollutants in the atmosphere. As you know by now, olive oil is amazing for moisturizing your skin. It penetrates deep into the skin providing the moisture needed as well as a shield to protect your skin keeping it super smooth all day. Olive oil also helps improve skin elasticity which helps to reduce wrinkles and prevent premature aging. As you can see olive oil is incredible for your skin!

Brown Sugar:

Brown sugar is a great gentle, natural exfoliant. Since many other exfoliants are rougher and can sometimes do more damage than good, balancing it out which brown sugar helps to gently remove dead skin cells, than to rip up your existing skin. Brown sugar is a strong enough exfoliant to scrub away the dull skin, but gentle enough not to create any damage. It also tastes great too!

Let's talk Cellulite: 

By massaging this scrub into your skin you can improve micro circulation, which will remove excess water from your skin and make it appear firmer which is why coffee it is said to fights cellulite and prevent water retention. 

As stated previously, the caffeine in coffee is a diuretic which can help to tighten the skin which reduces cellulite when applied topically. By massaging the scrub on the skin in circular motions for at least 10 minutes, and massaging over your body in the direction of lymphatic flow (up from your feet toward your heart), the movement plus the caffeine can help depuff the areas that accumulates fluid and it can reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Because the amount of toxins in your body plays a part in how severe your cellulite looks, the caffeine and antioxidants in coffee can help to banish free radicals & stimulate blood flow & improve circulation. 

That being said, you cannot expect this scrub to completely get rid of your cellulite without a healthy diet and exercise. It is a build up of fat as well, so you need to balance out a healthy life style with the addition of this scrub.

Recipe:

1/4 cup coffee grounds: https://amzn.to/2vIgJkQ 1 TBSP olive oil: https://amzn.to/2SRLUCj 2 TBSP brown sugar: https://amzn.to/2V1gxYG

Mix all together and apply to your face & whole body. Rinse off with luke warm water and pat dry. Check out my video for the complete tutorial!

Hope you like it!!!

XOXO,

Linds

DIY: Banana Mask

Check out my DIY Banana Mask for glowing clear skin on my youtube channel! Here's the down low on all the detes on why this mask is amazing for your skin!

Bananas:
Bananas are great for the skin, not only for eating but also as a topical treatment! Bananas help fight free radicals, therefore slowing down the aging process of our skin. Bananas contain Vitamin A which helps to even out rough skin and get rid of dark spots and blemishes. They also contain Vitamin B which helps to delay aging, moisturizes and lightens the skin to give it a beautiful glow. The Vitamin E in bananas helps to combat free radical damage and prevents the formation of wrinkles. Potassium in bananas helps to moisturize skin cells leaving the skin feeling supple and healthy! As you can see bananas rock.

Honey:
Now onto honey. Honey is crazy good for your skin. It is a natural antibiotic which helps to fight existing acne. It contains anti-inflammatory properties which helps to reduce redness and inflammation that acne causes. It is chalk full of antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. And on top of it all it is a great moisturizer and nourishes your skin. These are just to name a few, but I think you probably get it - honey rocks!!

Lemons:
Lemon juice is a citric acid which acts to exfoliate the skin. As we all know our skin is made up of layers so by lightly exfoliating you are essentially buffing away the dead skin cells on your face, and little by little buffing away those acne scars. Lemon juice, as you probably already know, is also a natural bleaching agent which helps to fade those acne scars. Lemon juice is a natural astringent which will help to dry out existing acne and helps to kill the bacteria on your face causing existing acne. Lemon juice also sends signals to the immune system stop inflammation. Basically lemons are great for your skin. HOWEVER please be careful when applying lemon juice to your face and DO NOT apply it directly to your skin. Make sure to dilute it in some way, for example this scrub is perfect ;)



What you need:
1/4 of a ripe banana 1 tbsp of honey: https://amzn.to/37GMJ6w 1/4 tsp of lemon juice: https://amzn.to/2wpTk8l

Instructions:

It's pretty self explanatory, but you basically just mash up the banana and mix in the honey and lemon juice and apply to your freshly washed face and leave it on for 20-30 minutes and rinse off! Use this at 1-2 times a week for at least a month for best results. This mask doesn't preserve well so it's best to make small batches fresh every time. Since it's so simple and quick it's no biggie :) 

Check out my video to see how it's done :)

XOXO,

Linds

DIY: Lemon, Honey Sugar Scrub to Get Rid of Acne Scars

Hi beauties!! If you haven't checked out my video tutorial on how to make this DIY lemon, honey & sugar face scrub to help get rid of acne scars be sure to check that out! Now to get into some of the breakdown on why these ingredients are great for your skin and why they help to lessen your acne scars!

Lemons
Lemon juice is a key essential ingredient to fading your acne scars and it helps to get rid of existing acne as well. For starters, lemon juice is a citric acid which acts to exfoliate the skin. As we all know our skin is made up of layers so by lightly exfoliating you are essentially buffing away the dead skin cells on your face, and little by little buffing away those acne scars. Lemon juice, as you probably already know, is also a natural bleaching agent which helps to fade those acne scars. Lemon juice is a natural astringent which will help to dry out existing acne and helps to kill the bacteria on your face causing existing acne. Lemon juice also sends signals to the immune system stop inflammation. Basically lemons are great for your skin. HOWEVER please be careful when applying lemon juice to your face and DO NOT apply it directly to your skin. Make sure to dilute it in some way, for example this scrub is perfect ;)

Honey
Now onto honey. Honey is crazy good for your skin. It is a natural antibiotic which helps to fight existing acne. It contains anti-inflammatory properties which helps to reduce redness and inflammation that acne causes. It is chalk full of antioxidants and essential vitamins and minerals. And on top of it all it is a great moisturizer and nourishes your skin. These are just to name a few, but I think you probably get it - honey rocks!!

Sugar
By using sugar it gives the mixture a very gentle exfoliant that will gently help to remove dead skin cells without being too rough and damaging the skin further. Sugar is also a natural humectant, which simply means it draws moisture from the environment and locks it into your skin. This is great because exfoliants can sometimes be drying. Sugar is a natural source of alpha hydroxy acid (AHA) that helps to penetrate the skin and helps to break down the "glue" that holds skin cells together, encouraging skin turnover which generates fresher, younger-looking skin. 

Tea Tree Oil (optional) 
This is great if you're not only trying to get rid of scars but also treat existing acne. Tea tree oil helps to kill bacteria causing acne. It contains antiseptic and anti-fungal properties that help to prevent future acne.  Helps to regulate and control the skin's oil creation, which as we all know, excess oil can cause acne. 

Sugar Scrub Recipe: 
(Scrub basics - 2 parts exfoliant : 1 part "glue")
3 TBSP sugar: https://amzn.to/2uSx4DD 2 TBSP honey: https://amzn.to/2UUSQRQ 2 TSP lemon juice: https://amzn.to/2P3kPLf 1/4 TSP tea tree oil (optional): https://amzn.to/2wqjtE2

*This scrub will last in a sealed container for up to 2 weeks and use it 3-4 times a week for at least a month to see real results*

Don't give up and I hope this helps you!! It also makes your skin CRAZY soft, literally like a babies bum - no joke. 

I LOVE YOUUUUUU!!!!!!

XOXO,

Linds

Ice Mask

As many of you probably already know, I've been struggling with acne since I was in about 4th or 5th grade. Both my parents had acne, and my dad had very bad acne so it's in my genes unfortunately. The worst kind of acne is hormonal and genetic and unfortunately tends to be the most stubborn and hard to get rid of. 

Something that's really helped me over the years is ice. Not only does it decrease the swelling, it helps painful cysts and pimples feel better too. 

How does ice help acne?

• Reduces size: Ice reduces swelling and inflammation therefore reducing the size of the pimples
• Reduces longevity: By reducing the swelling and size of the zit, it helps to shorten the lifespan of the pimple
• Reduces redness: While the immediate effect of icing a pimple will cause your skin to become more red, it will in about 5-10 minutes reduce the redness and limit the attention to the unflattering blemish
• Reduces pain: Like I mentioned before it can immensely help with painful spot and especially if you have large painful cysts

How to apply: 

• Clean face
• Wrap an ice cube in a wash cloth or paper towel
• Apply ice to problem spot for about 1 minute then move to the next spot for 1 minute and keep repeating the process for as many spots as needed. You can repeat this process as long as skin has about a 5 minute relief to avoid aggravating surrounding skin
• Apply normal skin serums/treatments

*You want to apply all of your serums/moisturizers/treatments etc. before you apply the ice because the effects of icing will help the treatments penetrate the skin faster from reducing the swelling and inflammation.

Fun Fact: Heat opens pores and coolness closes them is a MYTH! Pores have no muscles and do not open and close. 

Hope this helps! 

XOXO,

Linds