Hand Sanitizer

If you've listened to some news reports lately, you may have heard some concerns about the ingredients used to make antibacterial products.  While nothing can beat good old fashioned hand washing with soap and water, sometimes you may find yourself in a place where soap and water just isn't available or convenient.  For these situations, I made this hand sanitizer!  Mix together 2 parts rubbing alcohol (should be at least 60% per volume of pure ethanol but I recommend 90% or higher for this recipe) to 1 part aloe vera gel (as natural as possible if you are buying the store bought stuff).  I also added in a few drops of lemon essential oil, but any good essential oil with antibacterial type properties will work.  

While mixing the ingredients, you may be concerned about the strength of the scent of the rubbing alcohol, but don't worry, when using the finished product, that strong scent evaporates quickly leaving soft, clean skin.  I poured the mixture into some little bottles I found at the Dollar Tree (in packs of 3 for $1.)  Love it!  This will definitely be replacing the store bought stuff for me!

Lavender makeup refreshing spray

DIY- Lavender scented Makeup Refreshing Spray

Made with 1 cup hot (not boiling water)

Oil from 2 vitamin E capsules

1 tsp aloe vera gel

lavender essential oil

Now, I recommend keeping this is a dark, glass spray bottle due to the essential oil, but I was eager to use this so I used what I had on hand.  After mixing the above, I poured into the bottle (storing the extra).  

How do you use it?

Spray on a clean face and apply moisturizer while still damp for fresh, moisturized skin.  Spray on between makeup layers to keep the skin fresh and the makeup appearing smooth and more natural.  Use throughout the day to keep makeup looking fresh.  During hot months, keep the spray in the fridge for an added cooling bonus.  

Brown Sugar Lip Scrubs

These all natural lip scrubs contain brown sugar (2 TBS), vanilla (3/4 tsp), honey (1.5 tsp), and coconut oil (1 TBS).  They smell (and taste) delicious!  

Dip a small amount on your finger and rub around your lips for 15 or so seconds to exfoliate and soften.  

Take a blurry cell phone picture of sugar scrub on your lips and try not to let it drop on your shirt.  Side Note:  I love this color and should get it in lipstick.  Wipe scrub off with a wet paper towel, wash cloth, etc.  

Take blurry after picture to show smooth lips.  Yay.  So soft!  

Wavy Beach Spray

Homemade spray for beach waves (or additional volume and texture).  Disclosure- my hair is naturally wavy anyway.  This spray is made with all natural ingredients that give beach waves when used on damp hair then scrunched.  When used on the roots of dry hair, it provides volume and texture.  

Made with:  water, epsom salts, sea salts, aloe vera gel, coconut oil, and essential oils 

Whitening Nail Soak

I use lots of dark polishes and even with my base coat, my nails never seem to get as white as they are when I don't wear polish.  I've been looking online and have found a lot of DIY versions.  I wanted one that was simple and I had the materials on hand.

I settled on a vinegar soak.  For each cup of warm water, add up to 1 TBS of white vinegar and soak for 8 minutes.  Vinegar can be drying, so be sure to use a lotion after you've finished your manicure/pedicure.

I definitely can tell a big difference.  So cheap and highly recommended.  Sorry, no before and after pictures, but give it a try!

As I try new versions in the coming weeks, I'll be sure to post the results here!

Coffee sugar scrub

The mud-like substance you see above is actually an attempt at homemade coffee sugar scrub.  Like most sugar scrubs, using this product leaves your skin exfoliated, soft, and smooth.  The addition of the coffee is to help with cellulite prone areas.  

This particular product uses ground coffee, coconut oil, sugar, cocoa butter, and a bit of water.  I actually added too much water, which made me package this as container sugar scrub instead of the bar style scrub I was attempting to make.  

I love using these scrubs on my legs pre-shave, but they are great as an all over scrub.  The oils provide long-lasting moisture without feeling greasy or sticky.  

Cross posted to my craft blog

Nail talk

I feel like I'm a failure when it comes to painting nails.  I never can seem to get the slick, sleek polish that seems so easy for so many people.  Heck, I'm not even looking for a fancy paint job!  I just don't want to appear as if I let a toddler slop paint all over the tips of my fingers.  I think my nails are small (narrow) and so it seems a lot of the brushes are too big (or that's my excuse) and I hate paint on my cuticles. So, are there any products you use or recommend that give you the best paint job?   I'd love to know any tricks of the trade!

In other nail news, I started using a cuticle oil on my nails.  A friend recommended it during a recent visit.  Swears that regular use promotes strong, healthy nails that won't peel!  I'm on day three or so of use, and it smells like wonderful mangos.  I'll let you know how it works and will post a picture in a recent post.  Has anyone else tried cuticle oil?  If so, let me know your results or the type you recommend.

In the next hour or so, I'm going to attempt a homemade sugar scrub.  Results will be posted as soon as I'm done with them!

Update 5/20/14- Here is a link I found to an article on why to use cuticle oil.  I thought some of you might be interested.

Contouring highlighter

Getting back to the more budget theme of this blog, I made my own contouring highlighter.  At the dollar store, I purchased a light colored, powdered eyeshadow and a small jar of vaseline with cocoa butter (I'm really digging the cocoa butter.  It's been so awesome on my skin!)  I also bought the small jar seen below as part of a set at Sally Beauty for under $4.  

I broke up the eyeshadow, added a small amount of the Vaseline and mixed it all around.  It works great as a cream highlighter.  If you try contouring, I definitely recommend giving it a try!