You take a shower, fix your hair and put on make-up.

It’s supposed to make you feel clean  and renewed. But this might give you the opposite feeling.

The shower might have added 475 toxic chemicals to your body. Unfortunately, the skin absorbs what you put on in. That is just from one shower!

A lot of people apply lipstic and lotion several times a day. At night we wash of all the excess make-up and lotion but what happens to the toxins? Many of the absorbed, potentially toxic chemicals aren’t flushed out of the body. Instead they build up day after day, year after year, compromising your health.

Here are some alarming facts about the average number of chemicals found in everyday personal care products:

The idea of adding potentially harmful toxins to your you body everyday is pretty unpleasant.

How do you know How Bad Your Products are?

Luckily the Environmental Working Group has set-up an free searchable database of toxic ingredients in cosmetic and personal care products.

I recommend you go there and check your personal products. Though I need to warn you – You might not like what you see.

I checked mine and that’s why I use  MiEssence Organic Skin Care . They are all in the green.

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The harsh cold weather during winter can really damage your skin. If you don’t take good care of your skin, you will likely have chapped and very dry skin. But this can be avoided if you make sure that your skin is sufficiently moisturized. So you have to moisturize more often than you normally do.

Here are some moisturizing tips from Life Style Lounge to keep your skin soft, supple and flawless during the winter months.

• The first and foremost thing, which you have to keep in mind, is that you need to take a well balanced diet and drink enough water. With all the festivals and holidays, our diet goes out of window and we tend to binge on oily and junk foods. Since in winter we don’t feel much thirsty, we tend not to drink the usual eight glasses of water. Remember to drink enough water to keep you hydrated.
• Apply a high quality moisturizer with vitamin E on your skin just after you have taken the bath. It helps in locking the moisture in your body for a longer time.
• If you cannot avoid going out in winter, wrap yourself with a long sleeved sweater and coats to combat harsh, cold wind of winters.
• Follow the regime of cleansing, exfoliating, and moisturizing even during winters. It will help you keep your skin healthy. In winters, dead cells generally accumulate on the skin, and by following this regime, you can keep your skin healthy.
• Wear sunscreen during the winters too as harmful sunrays may make the skin rough and dry. Preferably though, you would rather eat healthy foods that will boost your skin’s natural sun protection.
• You could also keep your home’s environment warm by running a humidifier inside the house.
• Before you take a bath, you could also apply oil preferably mustard, coconut, or olive oil on your skin. Warm a little amount of oil and generously apply it on your skin and massage it on the all the body parts. Now take bath how you normally do. It will not only keep your skin moisturized but will also keep the moisture intact for whole day.
• Don’t take very hot shower and instead go for shower with warm water. You could also opt for bathing during nighttime as you will be in the warm environment only and your skin will not have to combat cold wind.
• Never use soaps especially during winter. Use a moisturizing bathing lotion, which contains glycerin or olive oil.
• Protect your lips with a good lip balm. You could also apply a little mustard oil in your navel at the time of sleeping to keep it moist and from getting chapped.
• Some people suggest taking vitamin E supplements to keep the skin from drying. Taking omega-3 fish oils pills also help in combating dry skin.
• You could also use Shea butter or Cocoa butter to keep your skin hydrated and moisturized.
• You could also apply a mixture of almond oil and honey on your skin to keep it moisturized. Add few drops of honey in almond oil in 1/3 to 1 ratio and apply it on the skin. Rinse it if it feels too sticky otherwise keep in on your skin.

So there you go! If you follow these simple tips, you can surely maintain the warm and radiant glow of your skin despite the cold weather.

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Tea tree oil is a pure essential oil from the leaves of the Tea Tree (Melaleuca Alternifolia). It is is a potent antiseptic and anti-bacterial that is excellent for the treatment of acne.

Tea tree oil has the ability to kill bacteria thereby reducing acne and preventing them from coming back. If you have noticed, benzoyl peroxide is the most common ingredient of most over-the-counter acne products. But many of these creams or lotions bring about itching, burning or stinging sensation among many other side effects. Recent studies have shown that tea tree oil have the same anti-acne benefits less the painful and annoying side effects.

Here’s how to use tea tree oil to treat acne:

• Use a drop of tea tree essential oil on acne spots before going to bed.
• Mix 5 to 6 drops of tea tree essential oil with 1/3 oz. or 10 ml. carrier oil (grapeseed oil) and apply on scars.
• Use a Q tip to make sure you apply it on old scars only.
• Mix 2 to 3 drops of tea tree essential oil with vitamin E oil if acne is still red and if skin is prone to acne.
• If you have back acne, pour 9 to 10 drops of tea tree essential oil into your bath water.

Don’t get discouraged when you can’t see the noticeable benefits after a few days. It may take a little longer so just keep using it continuously for a few weeks and you will see. In an all-natural and healthy way, your acne will be reduced and you can eventually say goodbye to acne forever.

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Fall is here and it is calling for new skin care routines.

Cold temperature and dry air can definitely bring changes to your skin’s health and appearance. The most common skin care problems this season are dryness, wrinkles and pigmentation. So how can we naturally combat nature’s effect upon our skin?

Dryness can be prevented by doing the following tips:

• Drink plenty of water. In the morning, you can add half a lemon to a glass of warm water.
• Drink green tea.
• Eat yellow, orange and dark green vegetables and fruits. They are rich in beta-carotene.
• Eat foods rich in omega-3.
• Use olive oil in your cooking.
• Avoid alcohol, caffeine, smoking and fried foods.

Wrinkles can be reduced if you use the following natural treatments:

• Egg white
• Coconut and/or olive oil
• A mix of sugarcane and turmeric powder
• Lemon juice

Pigmentation or freckles can be prevented by:

• Staying out of the sun or wearing protective clothing to shield your skin from the sun.
• Increasing your skin’s natural sunscreen by eating healthy foods.
• Vitamin C and lactic acid are known to control and even out pigmentation.

You may also try Our Vanity’s Fall face masks for oily skin:

Vitamin mask

Beat up egg white and add 1 tea spoon sea-buckthorn juice into it. Apply the mask for 20 minutes and then rinse it off with cranberry-acidulous water.

Ashberry mask

Blend 1 tbsp smashed berries with 2 tbsp kefir and 1 tbsp lemon juice. Put the mask onto the skin for 15-20 and then rinse it off with warm water.

Grape mask

Whip egg white into a froth and add 2 tea spoons of grape pulp. Apply the mask for 15-20 min and then rinse off with cool water.

Fall mask

Blend parsley with kefir and lemon juice. Then add starch or bolting into the mixture and carefully put it onto the skin. This recipe does miracles to oily skin.

Potato mask

Apply warm mashed potatoes onto the face skin and leave it there for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse off with cold water.

If you don’t want to go through the hassle of making these skin care recipes, make sure that you use the best organic skin care products to keep your skin healthy and good looking all throughout the year.

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To be beautiful by having young and healthy skin is equal to self-esteem and attractive personality. Why? Because having that beauty to captivate other people gives us self-assurance and the courage to face the world with confidence.

To have healthy and young-looking skin does not necessarily mean using expensive cosmetic products and doing skin care routines that are out of bounds. You simply need to have natural cleansing and healthy eating habits.

Beautynhealth.net tells us the few simple things you can do as part of your Beauty Skin Care routine to look after the skin you were born with:

• Avoid stress as much as you can.
  
• Stay out of the sun or boost your natural sunscreen.
  
• Don’t smoke. This does nasty things to your skin.
  
• Drink plenty of water.
  
• Get enough sleep.
  
• Be sure to clean your skin properly.
  
• Eat a lot of fruits and vegetables.

Being beautiful is not only skin deep. There’s a lot more than scrubbing your skin clean and moisturizing it to give it a radiant look. You need to have inner beauty! This can be achieved by eating right and getting the necessary nutrients from your diet. Here are the essential nutrients that your body needs everyday:

• Antioxidants – Common antioxidants are vitamins A, C, E and beta carotene that assists in skin repair and combats skin aging. They also help in preventing skin cancer. Foods high in antioxidants include green tea, citrus fruits, cacao, blueberries, prunes and leafy green vegetables like kale and spinach.
• Water – Drinking plenty of water is important in skin hydration, which helps in anti-aging. Fruits and vegetables like apples, strawberries, watermelons and celery also help with your hydration needs.
• Selenium – This mineral can minimize ultra-violet damage to the skin. The best source for selenium is a handful of brazil nuts but it is also present in other nuts like raw almonds. Fish, turkey, whole wheat pasta and brown rice are also great sources of this mineral, as well.
• Omega-3 Fatty Acids – They help reduce acne and skin inflammation. They also make skin soft and supple. Hemp, flax and chia seeds are excellent sources of Omega-3s. Wild salmon, walnuts and sardines can also give your skin cells a boost.

Even though you can afford to buy Organic Products for your skin care, you have to remember that you also have to glow from within. Aside from buying cosmetics to help you look fabulous, spend your money on nutritious foods, as well.

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To be healthy and beautiful does not have to be expensive. Even in trying times like these days, there are still ways to look healthy and beautiful without spending too much on  expensive cosmetics and beauty treatments.

Mother Earth News presents a natural at-home facial that would definitely make you look fabulous for just a few cents. The ingredients are all-natural and edible too. To start, you would need:

• 4 grapes, cut in half
• 1 tsp yogurt
• 1 tsp honey
• 2 washcloths

Before you go ahead and try this natural face mask, know why this is so good for you. First, the grapes contain fruit acids that exfoliate and smooth your skin. Second, yogurt soothes inflammation and redness and softens dry skin. Third, honey moisturizes your skin and keeps the bacteria away. Fourth, the heat opens your pores allowing other ingredients to get to work. It is also soothing. And fifth, giving yourself the chance to relax for a few minutes is part of the healing process.

Step One:

• Cut the grapes in half and mix the yogurt and honey together. Place them in your staging area.
• Wet the wash cloths and place them on a plate in the microwave.
• If you prefer to use the stove, set the cloths in the steamer basket with a little bit of water underneath.

Step Two:

• Rub the grapes all over your face in circular motions, squeezing them into your skin until it runs out of juice.

Step Three:

• Take the yogurt-honey mixture and pat the clumpy blend all over your face.

Step Four:

• Warm the towels on half power in the microwave for around 45 seconds or use the stove. They should not be too hot to handle.
• Place the warm cloths over your face. Lie down and relax until the wash cloths have lost all their heat.

Step Five:

• Rinse the mask off with warm water.

By this time, you should be ready to flaunt your fresh beauty. Go ahead and enjoy your day!

If by any chance you have no budget problems, check out these organic skin care products that are guaranteed to make you look and feel great!

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If you don’t want to spend your money on expensive facial scrubs and nose strips, there are natural ways that you can do to remove blackheads.

Watch this video that will show you simple tips for removing blackheads.

You may also use the facial scrub method by following these steps:

1. Wash your face with your preferred cleanser and rinse with water. Do not dry it.
2. Squeeze a small amount of facial scrub onto damp fingertips and gently massage onto damp skin using a small circular motion.
3. Rinse and wash face again if necessary.

Make sure you use only the best cleanser and exfoliant to avoid loading up your skin with harmful chemicals.

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Today, it is easier to find skin and hair care products with improved formulations using natural ingredients with less chemical residue. However, for price-conscious consumers, there is still a cheaper alternative without compromising their beauty regimen.

“These products are nice,” says Renee Loux, eco-beauty expert and author of Easy Green Living (Rodale, 2008). “They can even be amazing. But gorgeous skin and lustrous hair don’t necessarily carry a high price tag. You can do a lot at home to transform your skin simply by using the things you have on hand in the kitchen.”

Moreover, Loux says, “Kitchen staples can’t solve every skin problem. Of course, certain products are well worth the cost. But they work for maintenance. You can reach right into your pantry and pull the ingredients for an awesome facial.”

Care2 tells us the different do-it-yourself beauty secrets from the kitchen.

Honey

• Honey can work as a simple mask to heal the skin and draw moisture to it.
• People have been using honey as an antimicrobial agent, and it really works to kill bacteria on the skin.
• Honey’s moisture-retaining quality gives it definite cosmetic benefits.
• Simply apply a thin layer to your face, sit in front of a fan for 10 or 15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.
• Honey is rich in minerals that nourish the skin, and enzymes to help slough off dead cells.
• It’s a balancing mask that’s good for every skin type.

Olive oil

• Olive oil is a natural moisturizer that’s rich with anti-inflammatory and antimicrobial agents.
• It also contains the lipid squalene, which is especially beneficial to dry skin.
• Apply olive oil after the shower so that it spreads easily and soaks in readily as the skin dries.
• Olive oil also makes an effective deep-conditioning treatment for hair and scalp.
• Massage it in and let it sit for 20 minutes before taking a shower.
• Choose high-grade extra-virgin olive oil and look for the organic label.

Avocado

• Whether you eat avocados with chips or rub them on your skin, you can get all omega-3 fatty acids and antioxidants, especially vitamin E.
• Avocados are naturally rich in nutrients, which get into your skin directly when you apply them topically.
• Since they contain so much oil, they provide a great pick-me-up for dry or dehydrated skin.
• You may mash up half an avocado, stir in a tablespoon of honey, and then apply the mixture to clean skin for 10 to 15 minutes.

Almonds

• Almonds are quite soft, but abrasive enough to lift up the dead skin layer, which is perfect for gentle exfoliation.
• They contain a good deal of healthy oils.
• To make your own almond scrub, just throw a few nuts in a coffee grinder and process until a semi-coarse meal is formed. Then add a little water and honey and massage the paste into clean skin, using a circular motion.

Lemon

• Lemons contain alpha-hydroxy acids, which act as a gentle exfoliant for oilier skins.
• Cut the lemon juice with a little water to help buffer the skin and even the driest skins can benefit.
• A little acidic lemon can help maintain the skin’s proper pH level, and restore its natural lipid barrier.
• Apply the toning mixture directly to clean skin with a cotton pad.

Chamomile tea

• Cool chamomile tea works wonders for rosacea and sensitive skin. It’s also a good remedy when your skin is irritated from over-exfoliating or exposure to the elements.
• Store the tea in a spray bottle in the fridge (make a new batch every few days) and mist it on when you need to soothe skin or spruce up your complexion.
• You can also use it on hair as a clarifying rinse or soak cotton pads with tea for a refreshing eye treat.
• Make sure to brew the tea with purified water. Chlorine from the tap water would undo every good thing the chamomile is doing.

So the next time you run out of beauty products you normally use, you know what to pull out from your pantry to help you stay beautiful.

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Epictureperfect tells us how to treat ourselves to natural skin care at home with honey.

1. A cup of honey mixed to your bath keeps your skin soft and supple.
2. For dry skin, mix 1 teaspoon of tea with honey, vegetable oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently pat on the skin, let sit 10 minutes and rinse with water.
3. Make a moisturizing mask with 1 teaspoon honey, 1 egg yolk, a teaspoon almond oil and 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply on the face, neck and other parts of your body. Leave for 15 minutes and rinse with water. You skin will feel moisturized and reinforced with polished pores.
4. For a silky soft skin, prepare a cup of the mixture of 3 teaspoons of honey and roses. Apply on the face, neck, avoiding sensitive areas around the eyes. Massage and rinse thoroughly with hot water and enjoy the sensation of a different feel on your skin.
5. Open the pores of your skin by placing a cloth soaked in warm water on your face. Smear honey on your face for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water first and then cold water to close pores.
6. To feel refreshed and rejuvenated, make a paste of 1 teaspoon honey, 1 egg, 1 cup tea glycerin and flour. Smooth over your face and neck. Leave it for more than 10 minutes, then wash them in hot water.

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The key to soft, great-looking skin is to keep it moisturized. It is a beauty practice that dates back to the ancient times.

Cleopatra, the ancient Queen of Egypt distinguished for its beauty and allure, was known to soak regularly in a rose petal and milk bath. Greeks have used honey. English women used dairy products and Italians, olive oil.  History all over the world proved that moisturized and healthy skin can be achieved by using natural skin care products and recipes.

In recent times, natural homemade skin moisturizer is not at all out of style. Still, it is the best way to moisturize your skin without exposing it to harmful chemicals.

My Dry Skin Salve is still my favorite:

• It has only 2 ingredients
• It has a long shelf life
• It doesn’t have to be stored in the fridge
• It only takes a couple of minutes to make
• And it is very EFFECTIVE

The recipe is dead easy.

I’ve go to agree with the Greeks that honey is great. You can use it in so many so many ways to use it. How about:

• mixing a cup in your bath for soft skin
• mix 1 teaspoon of tea with honey, vegetable oil and a teaspoon of lemon juice. Gently pat on the skin, let sit 10 minutes and rinse with water.

For more ways to keep your skin beautiful with honey, read Treat Your Skin With Honey.

Methods of Healing writes about how to make natural moisturizer at home :

If you regularly use moisturizer, you may find yourself using it extensively and spending a lot of money. Or you may want to create your own moisturizer to find the perfect balance with your skin and the right scents. When you make it yourself, you also know exactly what is going in it, which is important for something you put on your skin on a regular basis. Whatever your reason, it is easy to make moisturizers at home…

If you don’t have the time to make your own at least choose an organic and natural moisturizer. A good choice now will make you thankful later. There’s definitely one that is right for your type of skin.

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