Castor Oil Experiment: Update

I know, I know..I have been gone for almost 2 weeks. I've just been so busy!! I still am, but because I promised an update on this castor oil experiment, I decided to  give one today. 

Okay..so do you remember this post I did about applying castor oil to my lashes for strength and length? 

I am proud to say that I have been consistent with applying it daily, usually in the morning. 

I have noticed that my lashes are so much stronger than the past. I haven't seen a stray lash in months. 

I have also noticed they are a LITTLE longer than before, but it's not an extreme difference. 

But because they are stronger, I will continue to use the castor oil. 

On to the comparison shot. 

July 23, 2012 

November 3, 2012

* If anyone is thinking about applying castor oil to your lashes, be sure to rub the CO in very well to avoid blurry vision.

Recent Purchase: Bentonite Clay

So, my beloved facial cleanser/mask seems to have been discontinued.  :-(

The only facial cleansers that work well for me are those that contain Benzoyl Peroxide and Neutrogena's Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask contained that along with Bentonite. 

I now switched to PanOxyl 8 which is a Benzoyl Peroxide face wash, but it doesn't work as well as the Neutrogena did.  

I noticed that one of the main ingredients PanOxyl was missing, that the Neutrogena contained, was Bentonite.  So, I went out and purchased some Bentonite Clay from Whole Foods for about $8.00 I believe. 

To use it, you just mix equal parts of  Raw ACV with the powder, apply to skin, leave on for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water.  I read some very positive reviews on this product and tried it out on Saturday. My skin felt great afterwards and so far I have not experienced any negative side effects. 

I plan on using it weekly. 

The great part about this purchase is that I can use the Bentonite Clay for my hair to clarify  and the ACV to do my rinses after work-outs. 

Some tidbits about Aztec Secret Bentonite Clay: 

When a facial or clay poultice is applied to the skin it forms a negative charge. Poisons and toxins stored in the epidermis have a positive charge - Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay lifts the pimple and blackheads into the clay bed to cause accelerated healing and nourishment to the skin with over 50 minerals.100% NATURAL.
Read more here 

Does anyone else use Bentonite Clay for their skin?

Experiment: Castor Oil on Eyelashes

I have always read about using Castor Oil on your eyelashes to make them thicker and grow longer. I decided to finally give it a try. My eyelashes are kind of short because unfortunately, my sister and brother got all of my Mothers eyelash genes. Mascara does help, but I want them to naturally be long without the assistance of make-up. 

Here's what I am using

I will apply the Castor Oil to my eyelashes daily. I made the mistake of using too much and my eyes paid for it. So very little, goes a long way. 

Added Perk: My eyelashes look nice and shiny all day long. 

And here are my starting pics. I'll show comparison shots in 3 months. 

Has anyone used Castor Oil for their eyelashes? If so,what were your results? 

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser

As you can see, this is a non-related hair post...sorry ya'll!

I just wanted to RAVE about this product. I used this consistently in the past and I'm not sure why I stopped. Whenever I would get a pimple, I would dab some of this on it and leave it on overnight. The next morning, I would wash it off and the pimple would either be gone, dry out or shrink to a much smaller size. I would also use this as a full mask once a week and a cleanser.

Fast-forward 2 years
Last/this week, I was experiencing some small break-outs and I was thinking of ways to get rid of them. Now, I typically use Aveeno Positively Radiant facial cleanser and moisturizer, but I started to realize my skin looks REAL oily towards the middle of the day. I remembered that my skin reacted better to Neutrogena Products, so I went to target and browsed that section and saw my Beloved Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser. I purchased it right away!

Last night, I put some on each of my pimples and washed it off in the AM with the Aveeno. Low and behold, the pimples have shrunken and I'm pretty sure they will be gone by tomorrow! So, this is something I will never..ever switch out of my skin care regimen again!
I noticed that my skin reacts better to Benzoyl Peroxide and it HATES Salycilic Acid. I'm trying to figure out if I should use this as my only cleanser and ditch the Aveeno. I'll figure that out soon enough.

More about the Product!

Neutrogena Clear Pore Cleanser/Mask is a breakthrough acne-fighting formula that can be used two ways:

- As a Daily Cleanser to kill the bacteria that can cause blackheads and breakouts. Gently massage the rich creamy lather over skin and rinse with water.

- As an Intensive Mask for deep cleansing and extra oil control. Smooth an even layer ober skin, allowing the formula to penetrate for up to 5 minutes before rinsing with water. You'll feel it's cooling intensity build as it penetrates into the pores.

Ingredients:

Active Ingredients: Benzoyl Peroxide 3.5% (Acne Treatment)

Inactive Ingredients: Water, Glycerin, Kaolin, Bentonite, Sodium Methyl Cocoyl Taurate, Titanium Dioxide, Trideceth-9, PEG-5 Ethylhexanoate, Menthol, Sodium Citrate, Xanthan Gum, Disodium EDTA, Citric Acid, Fragrance

Price: $5.99 for 4.2 OZ

Bye-Bye to Baking Soda- Non Hair Related

If anyone remembers my Skin Care Regimen Post, I noted that I mixed baking soda with my natural face wash, 1-2 times a week, to exfoliate my skin.
My skin did feel smoother after using it, but it also felt a lot more dry and left white marks on my face even after applying moisturizer.
Now, I am all about natural skin care because all that other "stuff" didn't work for me.
So, I looked into other alternatives and came across Brown Sugar!
I have been adding brown sugar to my face wash to exfoliate my skin 2-3 times a week for a few weeks now and I'm in LOVE!!!
My skin feels so soft, it doesn't get dry and I even have fewer break-outs. Now I read that Brown Sugar Scrubs can help with hyperpigmentation(I do have some dark spots), so hopefully that is true.
I usually don't talk about things I do for my skin because I don't want to "jinx" it. But this is a keeper!

How Brown Sugar Smooths and Protects Skin

Brown sugar is the texture of wet sand, but is abrasive enough to remove old skin cells without causing your skin harm or irritation. The moisture in brown sugar won't dry out your skin as you exfoliate. Exfoliation removes not only dead cells from your skin but other impurities that may be clogging your pores. In effect, exfoliation prepares your body for moisturizers and other products that will keep your skin looking supple and fresh. Brown sugar is a source of B vitamins due to its molasses content, and could be beneficial to your skin. A July 2008 article in the Journal of Drugs in Dermatology reports that vitamin B is an antioxidant that can prevent and reverse signs of photoaging of your skin. Photoaging is the skin damage you encounter from the sun's harmful UV rays.

Source:
http://www.livestrong.com/article/156037-what-are-the-benefits-of-brown-sugar-as-a-skin-exfoliator/

3 weeks of Nails

I need to cut my nails, but I am afraid. They are so darn thick and strong, I'm afraid it will hurt. Crazy, right? Why oh why can't my hair be like that.

If anyone is interested in the colors/brands, let me know. I left the bottles at home and I do not know them off the top of my head.

Skin Care Regimen

My face/skin has always been a sensitive issue for me because I am the only person in my immediate family that suffered from acne, hyperpigmentation and dark spots. I have been going through this since the age of 14 and after trying out every product under the sun and many doctor visits, I have finally nipped most of my issues in the bud. I stopped using any topical medications and decided to try to battle my skin issues the "natural" way.
One thing that really has helped me was increasing my water intake and taking multi-vitamins daily. I noticed a change in my skin immediately.
On top of that, I changed my products(to more natural ones) and so far..knock on wood..my skin is to my liking. It's not perfect, but I have come a long way and I am very satisfied.

My Regimen is as follows:

Morning:

Wash hands(of course)
Rinse face with Cold Water (Thanks to Tola , I will now be rinsing with warm water first to open up the pores)
Apply Face wash- Dr. Woods Black Soap with Shea Butter
Rinse off with Warm water - (Thanks to Tola , I will now be rinsing off with cold water)
Blot skin with the softest yet non flaky toilet paper( I used to use wash cloths, but I feel like they breed bacteria unless I use a new one every single day which is too much for me)
* This is the point where I used to tone my face, but the toner I used I believe was irritating my skin..so I skipped it for the last 3 weeks,
Apply Nadinola Discoloration Fade Cream to dark spots only with Q-Tip
Apply Mill Creek Aloe Vera Gel as a facial Moisturizer( Aloe Vera gel is very moisturizing for my skin and it restores the PH balance that was depleted by washing.)

Twice a Week
I follow the above but I add Baking Soda to the face wash, apply to skin then let it sit for like 10 minutes then I rinse off- This somewhat exfoliates my skin

*I always wash my face before I go to the Gym

Night
Wash hands(of course)
Rinse face with Warm Water
Apply Face wash- Dr. Woods Black Soap with Shea Butter
Rinse off with Cold Water
Blot skin with the softest yet non flaky toilet paper( I used to use wash cloths, but I feel like they breed bacteria unless I use a new one every single day which is too much for me)
Apply Mill Creek Aloe Vera Gel if skin is dry

Quick Tip- Non Hair Related

When washing your face or applying any type of moisturizer always do so in an upward circular motion. By doing so, you will decrease the chance of early wrinkles in the future.
*You never want to pull your skin down!

Oily Skin?

My skin get's a little oily during the warmer months. So, I invested in some blotting paper. I purchased this rice paper from Sally's and I absolutely love it. I get the translucent one and it adds this nice matte look to my face which lasts for hours
They go for about $5.00/40 sheets. It was a great investment for myself.





Here's a little more on the product:
      Palladio Rice Paper

• A unique creation of papers made with rice instead of pulp to be much gentler for the skin
• Powder-coated for continued oil control once surface oils are removed 
• Eliminate shine and skin imperfections caused by excess oil buildup 
•  Ideal for midday touchups