DIY Brown Sugar Lip Scrub

In order to wear all these fun Summer lip colors I’ve been into lately, I have to make sure I have soft and smooth lips. On a recent Sephora trip,  I was inspired by this fabulous lip polish from Fresh Cosmetics. I took matters into my own hands and concocted this lip scrub to  exfoliate my lips so I have the perfect base to wear any lip color I want. Having smooth lips is essential before you apply any lipstick. Having dry, flaky lips is never a good look for anyone, so even if you don’t wear lipstick this recipe is for you. I’ve used quite a few lip scrubs from different companies before and some are far too gentle and others feel a bit too harsh. This is the perfect consistency to exfoliate the lips. This scrub contains honey, which has healing properties, and coconut oil which is very nourishing and moisturizing for the lips. It even tastes like a yummy sugar cookie!  Here is what you will need:

1 tbsp brown sugar

1 tbsp sugar

1/2 tsp olive oil

1 tsp coconut oil

1 tsp honey

1 tsp vanilla

sprinkle of cinnamon (optional)

jar

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Combine the honey & coconut oil.

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Mash the honey and coconut oil together with a spoon until the mixture is free of clumps.

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Add the remaining ingredients to the mixture.

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Mix all the ingredients together until well combined.

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Scoop into a jar.

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The finished product.

Make sure to keep this product refrigerated. Coconut oil solidifies below 76 degrees, so you may need to set this out for a bit at room temperature to give the oil a little time to liquefy. Instead, I just use a spoon and stir it up a bit. I’m in love with coconut oil but feel free to substitute the coconut oil for a bit more olive oil. I hope you enjoy this delectable scrub as much as I did!

Cinnamon, Nutmeg and Honey Facial Mask

I am really into making some of my own beauty products from home. I love taking an all-natural approach to skin care whenever I can. Don’t get me wrong, I still love my retinol, DMAE, etc., but sometimes the simplicity of a beauty product that only has a few ingredients can make you feel like you’re doing your skin a favor. This concoction has been a favorite of mine for quite some time. It is said that using this mask a couple of times a week can actually help reduce redness and the appearance of past acne scarring. I have a natural red undertone to my skin, so this mask works great for me. When you apply this, you may feel a bit of a warming sensation, depending upon how sensitive your skin is. I notice a huge difference in the appearance and texture of my skin after applying this mask. I love to apply it in the evening and relax with a good book and some hot tea. The three main ingredients of this mask are:

Cinnamon:

The cinnamon is used as a natural exfoliant. Cinnamon was originally used thousands of years ago for its antiseptic, astringent, and anti-fungal properties. The texture of the cinnamon when mixed with other ingredients helps to exfoliate and unclog your pores.

Nutmeg:

If you suffer from redness or acne scarring; nutmeg can be very beneficial. It acts as a redness reducer that helps to calm and soothe the skin.  Nutmeg lightens age spots and acne scars by turning off melanocytes, or pigment cells. It is also great for those suffering with eczema.

Honey:

Honey has the ability to absorb and retain moisture. In Egypt, women used to apply a mixture of milk & honey to keep skin looking youthful. Honey has natural antioxidant and anti-microbial benefits that help to prevent damage from free radicals. Honey absorbs impurities from the pores which makes it great for acne sufferers.

Recipe:

1 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp honey

a few drops of jojoba oil for moisture (olive oil or vitamin E will work too)

Mix all of the ingredients together into a thick paste, apply to face and relax for 30 min. Rinse off & moisturize.  Repeat once or twice a week.

*This mask may not be ideal for very sensitive skin types.

Do you have any favorite homemade beauty concoctions?