Natural Baking Soda Blackhead Remover

Blackheads are the worst. They are stubborn and terribly ugly. They annoy me so badly, that I am willing to do almost anything to get rid of them. I have tried those Biore pore strips and they don't really work that well for me.

Since I have been into the natural DIY beauty products lately, I decided to try out this DIY blackhead scrub. I figured it was worth a shot since I had both ingredients in my home already. I tried it out, and I love it! The lactic acid in the milk and the acid-neutralizing alkalinity in baking soda clears out the pores and slightly exfoliates.

Take 1 tbsp of baking soda and 1/4 cup of milk and mix well. Rub this into blackhead prone areas, rinse and repeat as needed.

Another DIY Face Scrub

Lately I have been in the mood for DIY beauty "recipes". My skin has been so dry (thanks, Winter) and I'm really getting sick of it. Now that I have been making more and more beauty "recipes" from ingredients in my own home, I am really falling in love with it. I love knowing EXACTLY what is in the products I am using (especially when it's going on my face) and it's actually saving me a lot of money. 

A face scrub is something that will help to exfoliate the dry skin away. It makes my skin super soft and supple. Take 1 tsp baking soda and 1/2-1 tbsp of coconut oil. Mix the ingredients well. Wash your face with warm water and apply the scrub to your face in small circular motions. Rinse off with warm water and dry. 

An Amazing Detox Bath

Have you been hearing the buzz about detox baths? I have and I decided to try it out for myself. The benefits to a detox bath are numerous. It is said the the skin is like a third kidney because of it's detoxifying abilities.  There are several different "recipes" to use, but for my first one yesterday, I used:

2 cups Epsom Salt
1 cup baking soda
1/4 cup ground ginger
1 cup apple cider vinegar
1 cup sea salt
You can also add a couple of drops of your favorite essential oil to the tub for a yummy scent!

Here's a breakdown of the ingredients and the benefits they offer:
Epsom Salt draws toxins from the body and helps to relieve aching joints and muscles. It also helps replenish magnesium levels, which combat hypertension.
Baking soda helps to balance an acidic system. It refreshes and energizes.
Sea Salt has a softening effect. It also heals open sores.
Ground ginger increases circulation and increases the sweat levels during the bath.
Vinegar soothes and softens the skin.

Fill the bath with hot water (as warm as you can get it while staying comfortable--don't burn yourself!). Add ingredients and swish the water around well to mix them in. Get in the tub and soak for 40 minutes.

A couple of tips:
-If you wear contacts, take them out! I learned that the hard way. The sweat from my forehead somehow made contact with my eyes and really irritated my lenses.
-Close your eyes and RELAX! Meditate, light some candles, and add a relaxing playlist to your Pandora account, such as Enya radio. I at first attempted to bring a book to read, but I couldn't concentrate between the sweating and overall relaxation of my body--it took WAY too much effort from my body to hold a book up.
-Take your bath at night. As soon as I got out of the tub, I got dried off, dressed, and almost instantly fell asleep. It takes a lot of work from your body to detoxify.
-Drink a lot of water during and after the bath. When the body detoxifies, it's super easy to get dehydrated. If you don't drink enough water, you'll feel it in your muscles the next day!

How to Get the "Gunk" off of Your Curling Iron or Straightener

Do you ever get a nice build-up of "gunk" on your hair appliances? This happens on both my straightener and curling iron. I have a bad habit of using a lot of hair product when styling my hair and and the hair appliances take the brunt of it all.

Instead of waiting for the build-up to get so overwhelming that eventually the appliance just needs to be thrown away and I need to buy a new one---what a pain! I found an amazing way to clean the gunk off, and this is very easy and inexpensive!

Create a mixture of baking soda and hydrogen peroxide until it forms a paste. Rub it onto the appliance with your fingers and use a paper towel to wipe it off. Leave it on for a little while if there are a lot of trouble spots.

Natural Jewelry Cleaner

A woman loves jewelry more than almost anything else. For me, the more blingy it is, the better! I love dressing up a regular everyday outfit with fun and pretty accessories and jewelry. I have quite the collection going and I could never part with my jewelry and I love to keep it looking nice. I try to frequently clean my jewelry but the cleaner in the store is always so expensive!

All you need for ingredients is:

1 tablespoon of salt

1 tablespoon baking soda

1 tablespoon dish detergent

1 cup of water

aluminum foil

Heat the water in the microwave for 1 to 2 minutes. Cut a piece of aluminum (enough to cover the bottom of the bowl). Pour the hot water in the bowl over the aluminum foil. Add remaining ingredients and place jewelry on top of foil. Allow jewelry time to sit for at least five to ten minutes. Rinse jewelry completely with cool water and dry with a soft cloth. Discard solution when finished--don't reuse! You will love the sparkle and shine that your jewelry will have!