All This Devotion Is Rushing Over Me . . .

 Season Greetings to all! I have come to the realisation that I have neglected my blog. Although this is saddening, you all can take a quick sigh of relief. To all my followers, I am back. With exams outta the way and Christmas approaching I am gearing up for Christmas holidays and I am really, very excited. I love Christmas more then anything and the time I get to spend with friends and family is heart warming. Cannot wait.

You all know how I love my DIY and I found some new and really great Do It Yourself beauty products. So I thought I would re-introduce myself on that note!

Enjoy!

Homemade Lip Balm.

I love them all, the sticks, the balm, I really do love it all. . . 

Honey-Cocoa Butter Lip Balm.

Makes 100 applications

2 tbls. olive oil
1/2 tsp. honey
3/4 tsp. beeswax — grated
1/2 tsp. pure cocoa butter
Flavored oil of your choice (like peppermint or vanilla)
1 vitamin E capsule

- In a small saucepan, heat oil, honey, wax and butter over a low heat until just melted.
- Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 minutes.
- Stir in flavoring and contents of vitamin E capsule.
- Pour into containers of your choice.

Sea Salt Body Scrub.

Buying bosy scrub is so expensive, but buying sea salt. . .

1 cup course sea salt
1/2 cup baby oil

- Stir the ingredients together in a bowl and put into a screw top jar.
- Leave for 24 hours.
-  Stir the mixture and apply to any areas of the body you wish to exfoliate.
- Massage into the skin for a few minutes then shower off.
- Pat your skin dry.

Vegetable Oil Nail Strengthener.

Can you really complain. . .

Makes 20-30 applications

2 tsp castor oil
2 tsp salt
1 tsp wheat germ oil

 - Pour all ingredients into a sealable bottle.
 - Before each use shake well.
 - Rub a small amount of the mixture onto your nails.
 - Leave on for 3-5 minutes.
 - Wipe off with a cotton pad.

Brown Sugar Hand Softener.

With the winter weather our hands tend to feel foreign. .  .

Makes 1 treatment

1/4 cup course brown sugar
Baby oil to make into a paste

 - Mix together.
 - Using a hand washing motion apply the mixture to the hands.
 - Continue the washing motion for a minute then rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Hope you enjoyed and stay tuned because I will be updating more often!

Up Next... Holiday Inspirations.

 

Dark Underarms :( . . .

I think we have all been to that point in our lives when we look at our underarms and it looks like a black hole. And if your like me; no matter how much you scrub those underarms or shave they still end up looking dark. For the past month I have been scouring the Internet for the solution and I have come across a few that don't involve harmful lightening products or waxing (oww). Below are some homemade remedies (DIY, yah!) for this unsightly problem.

The first recommendation I found on a lot of sites was to use a buff puff on your armpits. This helps scrub away any left over deodorant that can build up over time, odour and possibly contribute to the darkness under your arms.



Baking soda paste:

Mix baking soda and water until you create a paste... Apply. Rinse off after 10-15 minutes.

Apple Cider Vinegar:

Apply Apply cider vinegar to a cotton ball and wipe over problem areas. No need to rinse!

Potato Juice:

Either blend the potato into a paste, or just cut open for all the juices and rub over problem areas!

Enjoy :)


Comment Below On Whether Any Of These Solutions Worked For You!!

Starry Night . . .

There is no denying I was inspired by the stars while creating this look and video. Being from Canada, there is nothing better then laying out watching the stars whether it be by a lake, in a field or in your backyard; on a clear night you can truly get lost in the stars. Anyways, I wanted to attempt and recreate the beautiful night sky's on my nails and I am pretty satisfied with the results!

I made a video to explain the process of creating this look and added a couple pictures. You can check it out below or at my YOUTUBE page:

www.youtube.com/TheGazingAway



Lets Face It . . .

Thanks to my friend Michelle who sent me this awesome e-mail with at home skin care treatments!! The following post is completely credited to her! Thanks Michelle!

For decades we have been trying to find the perfect skin care solution for ourselves. But at what cost? What lengths are we willing to go for? For that perfect Skin Care Product ? The cosmetic world is a billion dollar industry there are millions of companies that want you to buy their product because it works….No really it works…you can’t live without it….Well that product that you can’t live without is most likely filled with harsh chemicals that strip your skin of its natural moisture and oils and it probably has been tested on animals! Both are not cool and either way you look at it what good is this product doing? Honestly what are we doing to ourselves? We need to look at the natural organic effects rather than the science of a skin care product. Here are some simple yet effective NATURAL ingredients to renew your skin care routine and rejuvenate your mind body and soul. A simple change can be good. Try it!

Enjoy!

Green Tea Face Scrub

1 green tea bag- ¾ cup boiling water-2 Tbs. sugar-1 tsp. honey

Steep tea bag in boiling water for 2-4 minutes. Remove tea bag and cool. Place 1 Tbs. sugar in a bowl and add 1 Tbs. tea. Stir, then add another 1 Tbs. sugar. Stir again, adding honey. Spread the scrub over a clean face and massage in a gentle circular motion for 2 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Ocean Body Scrub

1 Tbs. powdered kelp- 2 cups sea salt or sugar-1/3 cup apple juice-2 Tbs. honey

Mix all ingredients in a bowl; spoon into a jar with a tight-fitting lid. In the shower, massage into clean, damp skin. Leave on for 5 minutes. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Peachy Keen Face Mask

1 ripe peach-1-2 Tbs. warm olive or almond oil

After removing the skin and pit, mash the peach in a bowl. Drizzle in oil and mix until it forms a spreadable paste. With a clean makeup brush, apply a thin layer of the mask over your face and relax for 15 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Tea Tree Toner

                ¼ cup of distilled water-¼ cup witch hazel-1 tsp. tea tree oil

Pour all ingredients into a clean bottle with a tight fitting lid. Shake to combine. Apply to a clean face with a cotton pad.

Minty Hair Rinse

                2 mint tea bags-½ cup of boiling water-2 Tbs. apple cider vinegar

Steep tea in boiling water for 2-4 minutes. Remove tea bags and cool. Stir in the vinegar and pour into a re-sealable bottle. After you shampoo, condition and rinse your hair, pour the mint rinse into hair and scalp. Massage in and style as usual without re-rinsing.

DIY PORE STRIPS . . . For The Poor College Girl . .

So, being a college student I have quickly come to the realization that I cannot afford certain luxuries that I could afford before. As sad as this had made me L WAH! I have recently discovered many different DIY projects, (Do It Yourself). Although I haven’t got around to trying them all, I have tried a few and have had some pretty positive results. I would almost say that I enjoy doing these DIY projects over spending my money on over priced products that in the end, don’t work and that contain chemicals and additives that aren’t good for your skin/hair. At least this way I know firsthand what is being used in these mixtures, and it’s FUN! I have always had troubles with blackheads on my nose and so I found this great recipe for DIY pore strips. I have found them to work relatively well; better then the Biore strips I have paid for in the past that don’t work for me. J

HOW TO : DIY PORE STRIPS

So what you will need for this DIY is:

A Plastic Container.

A Popcicle Stick. (To Apply)

Measuring Spoons.

Milk.

Unflavored Gelatin.

DIY PORE STRIP DIRECTIONS:

1. Measure 1 tbsp. of the unflavored gelatin into your disposable container.

2. Add 1-2 tbsp. of milk into the gelatin.

3. Mix it all together until you get a sort of chunky consistency. If you are not loving the chunks you can add more milk.

4. Now you will have to microwave your mixture for about 10-15 seconds. In the microwave the mixture will get more creamier. After you take it out, stir it quickly and then immediately apply it to your face. This shit hardens fast, so you really need to work quick!!

AND REMEMBER:

Wash your face before you apply the strips.

Apply the mixture to where ever you find necessary!

Let it dry for about 15 minutes, though you can leave on longer.

You will KNOW when it is time to peel off. You won't be able to move your face very well.

And finally, PEEL AWAY!

I hope you enjoyed. There will be more DIY coming soon! I love them so much. I may even do a tutorial. <3