DIY // lavender sea salt body scrub

as i have mentioned before, i have been trying to "naturalize" my skin care routine and incorporate more natural and raw products, especially those i make myself. sooo... summer is finally here and that means we are showing a lot more skin. and if you're like me, the winter months mean ignoring all skin that is not exposed to the public until it has to be seen. a lot of the body scrubs out there are expensive and i don't find they do a whole lot for me. so, i made my own! again this is a very simple and inexpensive diy that makes a wonderful gift and is suitable for all skin types and can be used on the body and face!

what you'll need:

• fine natural sea salt [coarse would be too rough]
• organic coconut oil [refined or unrefined]
• fresh or dried lavender [i used fresh]
• small jar or container with tight seal
• mixing bowl
• tablespoon

one //
measure about 3/4 of your container full of the salt. mine was probably a little less than about 3/4cup.


two //
dump salt into the mixing bowl. then add about 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil. begin mixing and you will be able to judge the consistency. you want it slightly firm but not too crumbly. add more oil/salt depending! [note: i was making this outside and it was fairly warm, but my oil was still solid. only make this when the oil is at room temp/still in a slightly solid form, otherwise the consistency will be off!]

three //
next, add your fresh or dried lavender. i cut my lavender straight from a bush we have growing in my front yard. i picked all the buds off, some bloomed and most not. as i mixed them in, i muddled the lavender against the bowl with the back of the spoon to release the oils and break open the buds.



four // 
i had no real measurement for the amount of lavender i added, i kept smelling it as i added more to judge how much more i wanted to add. i didn't have any lavender essential oil, but if you do, add it now! mix until you like the consistency and amount of lavender bits. [on the right hand side of the second photo you can see how many stems of lavender i used.]



five //
when you're happy with it, package it up into your jar! i had a bit left over from adjusting the amounts of salt/oil so i used it on my hands and let my mom try some-- her review was that her hands were still very soft and moisturized the next day!

that's it! this makes a great gift for anyone [even men!] and is an amazing exfoliator for the body and face. lavender is great for sensitive skin and has calming benefits topically for your skin and stress relieving properties for your mood and overall wellness. caution: avoid using this scrub if you have any cuts or open wounds-- the salt may sting, ouch!



let me know if you try this!

x's + o's
kaitlin elaine

DIY: all-natural detox clay mask

i have always loved making things and i have always loved beauty products. what do you get when you put those two together? a girl who has always been experimenting with ingredients in the kitchen to put on her face and in her hair. lately, i've been on this all-natural kick, trying to play around with my skincare routine and eliminate almost everything i've been using except for a few simple, natural items. my time spent visiting the health food and supplement stores led me to researching about the things i found there, one of them being: bentonite clay.

calcium bentonite clay, to be exact. this stuff is derived from volcanic ash and is crazy amazing. i have even read some people eat it as part of an alkalizing detox/cleanse. yup, not sure if i'm ready for that, so i'll stick to putting it on my face. it has a negative charge, which causes it to suck out positively-charged toxins; the acne-causing bacteria found in our skin. it's a swelling clay which means when mixed with water it becomes a highly-porous sponge and toxins are absorbed. awesome!

bentonite clay is going to be the base for our face mask recipe. yes, you can simply use the clay mixed with water, but why not add a few more superfoods and achieve even better results!? so, not only does this mask contain all of the benefits of the clay, but also the many health and beauty benefits of: turmeric, witch hazel, and of course, coconut oil.


let's look at the benefits of these ingredients!

turmeric:

• treats eczema
• treats acne-- antiseptic & antibacterial properties
• helps with pigmentation related to hormones, sun damage etc.
• lightens stretch marks & burn marks
• improves circulation improving skin tone
• wounds & cuts
• brightens & evens skin tone

witch hazel:

• reduce pore size
• reduce wrinkles
• fight acne
• reduce puffiness
• lock in moisture
• ease eczema & psoriasis
• heal bruises faster

coconut oil:

• improve moisture & lipid content of skin
• use as sunscreen-- blocks 20% of UV rays!
• vitamin e prevents premature aging of the skin
• proteins contribute to cellular health & tissue repair
• does not become rancid or "go bad" & works longer than other oils
• smells amazing!

okay, here's what you do:

gather:

1. 2 T. calcium bentonite clay powder
2. 2 tsp. organic turmeric
3. 1-2 T. organic unrefined coconut oil
4. 2-4 T. witch hazel [mine happens to be rose scented]
5. a non-metallic bowl
6. a non-metallic spoon
7. measuring spoons
8. sealable jar/container

1 // measure 2 heaping tablespoons bentonite clay in a medium mixing bowl.


2 // measure 2 heaping teaspoons of turmeric into the clay.


3 // add 2 - 4 tablespoons [or more] of witch hazel to start--  you may need more depending on how dry your mixture becomes. you can always add a bit more clay if it becomes too runny. you want the consistency to be fairly thick!

4 // add 1-2 tablespoons coconut oil to the mixture. begin blending and make sure you really work in the coconut oil, it helps if its a bit softened first!


5 // continue mixing and adding more witch hazel if it's too thick. use your judgement!

6 // when it's ready, [i had to stop and use a stronger spoon, it gets hard to mix!] it should look a little something like this:


7 // when it's the right consistency and everything is blended, scoop into your jar or container and seal it up really tight! it will dry out if not completely sealed. keep in a cool, dark place.



8 // apply to your face! this mask will stain your fingers/skin/fingernails, so i apply mine with the back of a spoon. but if you don't mind having mustard fingers, use your hands! apply a liberal layer, i guess i like mine about 1/8in. thick.

but seriously, it's such a beautiful color!!!!

[haha!]


9 // wait about 10-15 minutes, you will be able to tell when it starts to dry and crack! [yikes, frightening, sorry!]

10 // remove with a warm washcloth. be careful to not use a white washcloth or towel unless you want a yellow one. the turmeric does stain but should come out with a wash in bleach. after you're finished, your skin may have a yellow tinge to it, if you are fair like myself. this can be removed with some witch hazel on a cotton ball or your regular toner.

11 // moisturize well afterward and enjoy your fresh, detoxified skin!

a few bits & cautions about this mask:

1. the witch hazel in the recipe can be replaced with water, rose water, or apple cider vinegar, which is the most common ingredient i have seen used with bentonite clay.
2. turmeric will stain very yellow, so if you are more fair than myself, maybe cut the amount in half or exclude it all together. the staining of the skin does remove easily but if it bothers you, don't worry about excluding it. protect surfaces and don't wear a nice, new, white shirt when applying it! 
3. you can add any essential oils to this mask for added health and wellness benefits. maybe tea tree for extra antiseptic properties or lavender for a calming affect.
4. tightening and temporary redness of the skin is completely normal after removing the mask. it will subside after 30 minutes or so, although i didn't experience too much redness myself! if you have sensitive skin, maybe test it on a small part first.

what do you think? will you be trying this mask? it takes 4 ingredients and not much time at all.
i like to make enough for a few uses and have it ready to go! and it makes a great gift as well!

check out my DIY brown sugar and coconut oil scrub here to get glowing exfoliated skin for summertime!

and i'll leave you with me, keeping it real on here.


x's + o's
kaitlin elaine