I love coffee. I should say… I love good coffee. Real freshly brewed coffee, with a splash of steamed (non-dairy because I’m allergic) milk, is my favourite. Coffee is one of my favourite vices. Some days it seems like the singular most important part of my morning, after having a shower. Unfortunately, drinking coffee in the excess of which I enjoy it the most is not entirely beneficial to my health or my skin. I know this; I’ve known it for years.

The last time I tried to give up coffee I succeeded only until one friend invited me out to chat at a coffee shop and ordered the sexiest latte I had ever seen. The smell alone sent me over the edge. It was 3 months, 2 days after my coffee fast had begun. I had switched to green tea. But the tea was only effective if combined with steamed milk and a little bit of Splenda (I was steering clear of refined sugars too). Coffee addiction isn’t just about caffeine after all; it’s the psychological attachment that is the hardest to shake. But when you’re trying to be healthy, and seek after that natural healthy glow, coffee addiction is something that really must be dealt with. Despite my love of the flavour of good coffee and the warmth, taste, and perfect texture of a good “cup o’ joe”, I have noticed that when I drink too much coffee on a regular basis my energy actually depletes at a rapid pace, I get sick more often and my skin appears duller. Seeing as I have a condition which affects my energy levels and immunity anyway I decided that limiting anything that could cause me to feel and look tired was a definite necessity. I used to go to the spa to help deal with this – and it was there they reminded me that too much coffee could cause problems with energy levels.

But is coffee really all bad? Well, no. It turns out coffee is good in moderation (hooray!). One cup a day is actually beneficial which means you don’t have to give it up altogether (nor do I!). It has antioxidants that can be good for your skin and allegedly can help reduce cancer. One great alternative use for coffee is in skincare. It has been known to reduce redness, even-out your skin tone, and increase skin firmness, helping you look younger and certainly not tired. But that’s if the coffee is used as part of skincare regime, not drunk in large quantities. For a coffee lover, knowing that I can cut down on my unadulterated addiction to coffee but still benefit from its sweet smell and better-for-me qualities is a happy revelation.

I’ve decided to cut down on my intake of coffee, and as I did four years ago, switch it up with green teas and fruit smoothies instead to get my hydration up and give my immune system a better chance – not to mention hydration helps my skin from looking dull. A quick recipe I discovered for a great, exfoliating coffee mask is below. If you aren’t in the mood to try a somewhat messy face mask on your own, a facial as part of a spa break can be a great way to try one out, and let someone else deal with the mess!
For those who’d like to try it at home, here’s how it works:

image credit

INGREDIENTS

• 3 tablespoons of used finely ground coffee (grab the leftover from your daily cup)
• 1 small glass of milk (if you have an allergy soy, goat, or hemp milk work just as well as cow’s)

DIRECTIONS

1. Put the used coffee into a bowl. Slowly pour in the milk of your choice while stirring regularly, keep stirring until it achieves a think pasty texture. Avoid stirring too much, or the paste will be too diluted. If mixture becomes too runny, simply add more coffee.
2. When ready, apply the paste onto your face and neck and smooth it all over your face. Avoid eyes and lips.
3. Slowly massage the mixture to your skin, and then allow yourself to relax for around 20 minutes. You’ll feel your skin tighten as the mask dries.
4. Wash off the mask with warm water. While washing, massage the paste to your skin. This will provide further exfoliation, and it feels good! Be gentle with this if you have sensitive skin.
5. Pat your face dry with a towel and apply a good moisturizer while your skin is still damp. This will help seal in moisture.

This is a guest post by K Newey. Her favourite type of coffee comes from Canada and a coffee shop in Los Angeles. She recommends spa vouchers for friends and coffee lovers alike who need a little extra caffeine-free time spent taking care of their bodies and souls.

Don’t forget to follow Beautycareme on Twitter for more beauty, fashion and fitness tips! Stay updated by following her Bloglovin as well!

Around summertime, it’s very easy for hair to become dry due to the sun, and pool or ocean water. Chlorine found in most pools is very damaging for both your skin and hair, that’s why it’s very important to shower following a swimming session. Hair can also become damaged from using heat styling tools very often and not protecting your hair with a serum or heat defense oil. If you use styling tools, swim, or are in harsh weather every week, it’s a good idea to use a conditioning mask for your hair once a week or every other week. There are great store-bought treatments you can try, or you can take a do-it-yourself approach and check out this homemade recipe!

You will need:

• a mixing bowl
• gloves
• 1/2 cup of mayonnaise
• 1 Tbsp of olive oil
• 1 egg (optional)
• whisk
• shower cap

Application process:

1. Use the whisk to beat the egg in the mixing bowl.
2. Add the mayo and blend it well with the egg.
3. Pour in the olive oil while you whisk the ingredients together to create a blended and whipped consistency.
4. Wash your hair, or ensure it’s damp before you apply the mask.
5. Using your gloves, start applying the mask evenly from root to tip. Pile on more on the ends, since they’re the oldest growth and have the most damage.
6. When all your hair is fully saturated, wrap it up into a bun and cover it with the shower cap.
7. Leave on for 30-45 minutes depending on hair dryness.
8. Rinse off with cool water, shampoo, condition and style as normal.

Doing this treatment on your hair once a month or once every two weeks is enough to restore a soft and manageable texture. The olive oil moisturizes and seals the moisture in your hair, which helps keep a soft appearance and prevents frizzies. Eggs are a great source of protein, which adds strength as well as shine to your hair and prevents future breakage and split-ends. The fats and oils found in mayo are a great source of hydration for dry hair, will leave hair soft and shiny. Just be sure to rinse very well with cool water and shampoo and condition. For an extra splash of shine rinse your hair again with a cold beer, after you have rinsed the mask off!

What’s your favorite homemade recipe to condition dry hair?!

This natural recipe is great to cleanse skin without irritating it. It’s a fun and inexpensive way to treat yourself right at home. This recipe can be used as a scrub to exfoliate your skin, or you can use gauze to make a facial mask. It will leave your skin feeling soft with a dewy and natural glow. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

1/2 cup of ground or finely chopped oats

1-2 Tbsp. of honey

enough hot water to make a paste

Directions:

• Mix the ground oats in a bowl with hot water.
• Drop in the Tbsp of honey after about a minute, and blend it well to the mixture. You want to create a paste that’s easy to slather on your face.
• If you’ll be using it as a scrub, use circular motions to massage the oatmeal paste on your skin. Massage for about 3-5 minutes and wash off with warm water.
• For extra moisture use this mixture as a mask. Cleanse your face with soap and water, and dry it off.  Cut holes on a gauze for your eyes, nostrils, and mouth. Apply the paste on your face without getting it near your eyes or lips, and place the gauze over it. Gently press the gauze down. Leave it on for 15 minutes, and remove the paste with warm water.

Your skin should feel deliciously soft after this simple and hydrating recipe! The ingredients are very affordable and might already be in your kitchen, and the preparation steps are quick and simple. Why spend a lot of money at a spa, when you can make your own face mask right at home?! This recipe is also great around wintertime, when skin tends to get dry and chapped.

Hope you liked it, and if you tried it share your thoughts below!

Though confidence comes from within, there are a couple things you can do to boost your mood which include: getting a pedicure, changing your haircolor, getting a new haircut, trying out a new makeup look, or getting glowing skin.

Keep reading for ten beauty tips to boost your mood!

1. As mentioned, changing your haircolor is a simple and sometimes drastic way to change your look. If you’re scared to go permanent, or simply want to try a color out before committing ask for a semi-permanent dye which washes out within a couple of weeks. If you always wanted to have blonde hair, but are worried about the final outcome try highlights. They can range from honey blonde to full on platinum and are a more subtle way to going blonde.

2. If you have a day to rest, use it to pamper yourself! Use a hair treatment to condition your hair and relax in your very own home spa. Here’s how to make a nourishing avocado hair mask right at home!

-Mash up an avocado and add 1 Tbsp. of honey and 1/2 Tbsp of olive oil.

-Blend the ingredients well and apply from the roots to the tips of your hair. Leave on for 25-30 minutes.

-Rinse hair mask with cool water and apply conditioner if desired.

3. Look at pictures online or in magazines and find a new haircut. You know how if you have long hair you sometimes want to just chop it all off and try a shorter do? Do it, hair does grow back if you change your mind! Extensions and wigs are easy ways to try a new style, and range in prices.

4. Relax and pamper your skin with a homemade facial mask.
-mix 1/2cup of olive oil, 1/2 cup of oatmeal and 1 tsp. of baking soda for a moisturized and clear complexion.

-wash your face with soap and water, dry it, and apply the oatmeal mix.

-place a gauze with holes for your eyes and mouth over your face, place two cucumbers over your eyes and relax for 10-15 minutes.

-wash face with water and use a sea salt and honey scrub to exfoliate dead skin cells. Rinse scrub off with cool water, dry and apply your favorite moisturizer.

5. Take an aromatic bath! Get fresh rose petals, sea salt and add a drop of your favorite essential oil into your warm bathwater. Light a few candles, dim the lights and listen to your favorite relaxing music. After a long day at work, you deserve a break just for yourself. Don’t forget to take a quick shower after your bath.

6. Give yourself a foot massage. Or ask your hunny to spoil you a little bit and give you a massage! Check out this previous article for an at home moisturizing banana pedicure recipe.

7. Try a new makeup look. Makeup can be used to accentuate your best features. Check out YouTube for tons of great makeup tutorials and test out a new look.

8. Try a new workout! Exercise isn’t just great at helping you drop some weight, it’s also an excellent way to boost your mood naturally.

9. Make your own body oil and use it after showering for smoother skin. Choose your favorite essential oil and mix in 15-20 drops in a bottle with grape seed or olive oil. Use it daily as soon as you step out of the shower so it can soak into your skin, for a smoother feel.

10. Save some cash and give yourself a manicure! Use warm oil instead of water when soaking your hands for extra moisture. Do a simple and elegant French manicure, or try a more flashy color and pattern! Check out this previous article for ideas: nail art for natural nails.

Spend a whole day pampering the most important person in your life, YOU!

Hope you enjoyed these tips and feel free to share your own in the comments below!

Skin is the largest organ, and provides protection for the rest of your organs. It constantly sheds dead cells, but using a scrub once or twice a week will prevent dry, flaky skin from becoming a problem. Skin becomes dry from dehydration, and weather conditions. Scrubs are a great way to get rid of dead cells, add moisture, and leave your skin glowing all in one simple step!

Sometimes going to the store to purchase a scrub can be confusing, considering the fact there are many products promising the same result. Most scrubs seem to have the same ingredients, just the price tag seems to differ. What to do???? Make your own! It’s pretty easy to mix your own Fresh ingredients and a good way to save some cash. Plus, if you create your own body scrub, you’ll have complete control of what goes in the final product. Read on for five simply satisfying scrubs!

1. Sugar and berries scrub

Mash 3-6 berries to a paste and stir in 1/2tbs of sugar.

2. Sea salt and olive oil scrub

Use 1 cup of sea salt and about 1/2 a cup of olive oil.

3. Coffee grounds and vanilla extract scrub

Mix 2 cups of coffee grounds with 1/2 a cup of baby oil and add 1 Tbsp. of vanilla extract.

4. Brown sugar and olive oil scrub

Use 1 cup of brown sugar and add 1/2 cup of olive oil. Mix well.

5. Baking soda and honey scrub

Combine equal amounts of baking soda and honey and blend well together.

These recipes are made up of 2-3 ingredients so that they are quick and easy to make, but you can always add or mix ingredients and create your own recipe!

If you don’t like any perfumes currently available at stores, make your own! It’s a better idea than getting frustrated from not finding something you like and you might end up creating a scent you prefer.

There’s three layers to the scent of a perfume: the base, the middle and the top notes.

Top notes are the first scent that you’ll notice and they are the first ones to evaporate. They are the first impression of a perfume. The middle notes, also known as the heart notes, appear later and last the longest. They give character to the perfume. The final layer are the base notes which last the longest. They slowly come out blending with both the top and middle notes to harmonize.
Make certain that you don’t put natural essential oils and absolutes as top notes. They are complex compounds that sometimes already contain middle notes and even top note characteristics. Top notes are usually made from citrus oils like mandarin, bergamot,orange and lemon ;conifer oils such as cypress, pine, and spruce  can also be used. A few other oils you can use are mint, basil, chamomile,  ginger,  juniperberry, and rosemary. The best oils for middle notes are floral oils and absolutes such as black pepper, cinnamon, clary sage and clove bud.
Oils from elemi, coriander, galbanum, sweet marjoram, lavender and nutmeg are also great as middle notes. Thyme and violet leaf absolutes blending capabilities have proved to be quite effective. Wood oils like cedarwood, linaloe wood and sandalwood are great as base notes. So are resin oils like frankincense and myrrh. You can also use  patchouli, oakmoss absolute and vanilla as base notes.
When making your own perfumes, it is always important to know what you’re working with. Essential oils ,for example, have different character, behavior, strengths and weaknesses. Each characteristic should be considered and their effects studied closely. You need to know the effects of the essential oils and perfume mixtures on your skin to avoid an allergic reaction, as well as understanding how the mixture will react when diluted or when it is set over time. You also need to be prepared and know or at least have an idea on how the mixtures will react. Don’t forget to take breaks! Not only will this help your blending creativity but it will help keep you safe from some harmful effects of prolonged exposure to oils. Remember that you are working with essential oils that are highly concentrated and give off a very strong smell. It is possible to become sick if you spend too much time working on them especially in unventilated areas.

Bio: Hillary M. works as a Spa technician in California and loves checking out beauty and fashion blogs. On her spare time she enjoys to run, shop and eat!

1. Olive oil recipe for dry hair

warm olive oil for 20-30 seconds in microwave or stove and distribute evenly throughout hair. Make sure to fully cover ends since they’re usually drier, and cover with plastic hair cap. Leave on for 20-25 minutes and rinse off. Use this recipe once a week for better results.

2. Avocado

Mash up half an avocado in a bowl and add 1/2 cup of warm olive oil. Apply to hair and use a comb to ensure full coverage. Leave avocado mask in hair for 20-25 minutes and rinse with cool water. Shampoo and condition hair as usual and enjoy your shiny hair!

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3. Mayonnaise

Use 2-3 Tbsp. of mayonnaise ( depending on hair length) and apply evenly throughout hair. Cover hair with a plastic cap and leave mayo mask on for 25-30 minutes, shampoo and condition hair as normal.

4. Beer

After shampooing hair, pour one bottle of beer through hair and massage in. Rinse with cool water for sexy shiny hair!

5. Honey

Use equal parts of honey and warm olive oil and apply over hair. Cover with plastic cap and leave honey mixture on for 25-30 mins. Rinse with cool water and shampoo as usual.

There are many methods for hair removal available today. Laser treatments for hair removal are a very popular method, but are also very expensive.

As an alternative to laser hair removal procedures, many people have chosen to wax or shave unwanted hair. Irritation or ingrown hairs can sometimes occur from shaving or waxing, but both are affordable methods.

Homemade recipe for frizzy hair:

You will need olive oil (amount depends on hair thickness and length), a plastic cap, half a lemon, and water.
Warm up olive oil and apply to your hair from root to ends, put plastic cap on for about 30 minutes and rinse off with lukewarm water. For extra shine rinse with a half lemon half warm water mixture and say goodbye to frizzies! Do this once a week for best results.

photo credit: Shishb

Homemade recipe for sugar body scrub:

Mix one cup of sugar and half a cup of olive oil. Use in shower like a regular scrub once a week to leave your skin feeling oh so yummy! ( you can also grate a lemon and add the zest in to brighten and even out your skin tone.)

Homemade beauty recipe for oatmeal face wash:

you will need oatmeal, witch hazel, and water. First wet the oatmeal then add about two tsp. of witch hazel. You can also add two drops of olive oil if you’re skin is dry. Add a few more drops of water to make a paste and apply to your face with a gentle massaging motion. Rinse with warm water.

photo credit: Mr. T in DC

Quick Tip: Ever run out of shaving cream? Use olive oil or hair conditioner for a smooth shave.

Homemade blackhead removal method:

all you need is some honey. Warm it up and apply it to affected areas on face leave it on for 12 minutes and rinse off with warm water. Facial steamers are also good for blackhead removal.

Homemade energizing coffee foot scrub:

you will need ground coffee, ground oatmeal, sea salt, olive oil, peppermint oil. Mix the ingredients well ,about four tsps. of each ingredient and two drops of the peppermint oil. Scrub feet in circular motions, rinse off with warm water and dry with a warm towel.

Hope these homemade recipes were useful.

Got any of your own?!

photo credit: helgasms!