healthy hair tips

Hello everyone!   A healthy Halloween ... Is such a thing even possible?  Absolutely!  Below are some ideas, tips and tricks for a healthier Halloween. If you or your children are going trick-or-treating, pay attention to the size of the trick-or-treat bag, and keep it small.  This means no pillowcases!  They can hold way too much candy. Before trick-or-treating, have a healthy meal.  If everyone is full, there will be less chance of eating along the way.  Children should always wait until they get home to eat any of their candy, so that parents can inspect them first. When you�re buying candy to hand out to trick-or-treaters, eliminate temptation by buying candy you don�t like, and buy it at the last minute. Choose non-food items like the ones you�d find in a child�s birthday goodie bag; items like stickers, sidewalk chalk, small packs of crayons, noisemakers or costume jewellery. Walk, instead of driving the car from neighborhood to neighborhood...

Hello everyone! As I told you in previous posts, essential oils can promote healthy hair and scalp.  In fact, I put  tea tree oil in my shampoo to prevent itchy scalp .  But did you know that you can also use essential oils to help promote healthy eyelash hair growth ?  Here's how... All you have to do is put one drop of 100% pure lavender essential oil in your mascara tube right when you open it for the first time.  One tiny drop of essential oil is enough.  Then you just apply as usual. Just 1 drop of pure lavender oil: extends the life of your mascara kills mites and bacteria promotes lash growth strengthens your lashes + it smells amazing! Notes:  Some people claim to have had issues with some kinds of mascara but it has worked well with the mascara brands that I use.    Only use 100% pure lavender essential oil; no added ingredients! I�d love to hear from those of you who have tried this!  Has lavender oil made your lashes longe...

Hello everyone! Let's talk about... bugs.  Warm  spring  weather means that  bugs  and other  pests  come out of hibernation.  As a vegan, I don't want to kill any bugs, but they can be extremely annoying! Of course, many people turn to chemical sprays to get rid of them.  Unfortunately, in addition to having a very unpleasant odour, conventional insect repellents can harm people who have allergies, and even cause health issues, not to mention the harmful effects to the environment. Fortunately, you can repel pests with essential oils .  Here's a recipe for a DIY bug repellent spray ! Ingredients: 2 1/2 teaspoons essential oil/s (list below) 1 tablespoon vodka or rubbing alcohol 1/2 cup  witch hazel 1/2 cup water (or vinegar) 1 teaspoon of vegetable glycerin (optional) Method: Place essential oils in a glass spray bottle.  Add vodka or alcohol and shake well. Pour in witch hazel and shake to combine. Add 1/...

Hello everyone! If you suffer from dry , flaky , itchy scalp , deep treating with a moisturising oil blend,  once or twice a week, can be just what you need.  All you need are a few ingredients to rub into your scalp, leave on for a little while, and then wash out.  Ingredients: 1 tbsp carrier oil (coconut, almond, argan or jojoba oil) 8 drops of essential oil  Recipe #1 - Use for dry, itchy scalp 2 drops rosemary 2 drops lavender 2 drops tea tree 2 drops cedarwood Recipe #2 - Use for dry, flaky scalp 4 drops lemon 2 drops lavender 2 drops peppermint Recipe # 3 - Anti-fungal blend 4 drops tea tree 2 drops lavender 1 drop geranium 1 drop patchouli Recipe # 4 -  Simple recipe for children over 2 1 tbsp carrier oil 1 drop tea tree 1 drop geranium Method: Mix your carrier oil with the essential oils. Massage the mixture into your scalp. Leave on for at least 15-20 minutes. Wash out with a gentle shampoo. Note:   Anytime you try new essential oils...

Hello everyone! I've posted about the many benefits of  lavender essential oil  before, and today I want to elaborate more on the subject.  Keep on reading to find out 12 amazing uses for lavender oil... Acne Take a drop of pure lavender essential oil and apply to acne or pimples.  It should heal within 2-3 days.   Also read:  Treating acne with lavender oil    A migraine headache Mix 3-5 drops of pure lavender essential oil with 1 teaspoon carrier oil (coconut, almond or jojoba) and rub it on the affected area.   Also read:  An introduction to aromatherapy     Insomnia Sprinkle a few drops of pure lavender oil on your pillow, a tissue or handkerchief.  You can also inhale its aroma straight from the bottle before going to sleep.  It also eases anxiety and makes you feel more relaxed.   Also read:  Colouring: The secret to de-stress   Air freshener  Fill a spray bottle with...

Hello everyone! Today I want to share another " beauty secret " with you.  As a matter of fact, I have a confession to make; I haven't used conventional toothpaste in YEARS!  Wait, I do not mean that I don't brush my teeth.  In fact, I brush and floss every day.  I actually make my own natural toothpaste by simple mixing extra virgin organic coconut oil and baking soda.  I use a simple 50/50 mixture . Advantages of using coconut oil and baking soda toothpaste: antibacterial and antifungal whitens and removes stains stops tooth decay no colourants no chemical agents no fluoride easy and cheap to prepare Coconut oil  is a powerful,  natural   antibacterial  and  antifungal .  It kills harmful bacteria  in the mouth, including bacteria that are responsible for  gingivitis .   It's great for the gums and brushing with the oil regularly can  heal and prevent bleeding  gums .   Brushing your tongue...

Hello everyone! What do t he Duchess of Cambridge, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Miranda Kerr all have in common?  Well, supposedly they use rosehip oil to keep their skin smooth. Rosehip oil (or rosehip seed oil) has been recently dubbed a "miracle skincare oil".  Rosehip oil, derived from the rose hip (the fruit left on the stem after the petals have fallen off), is a natural source of essential fatty acids, including omega 3, 6 and 9, as well as a rich source of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A and  B-carotene .  This superfine oil is absorbed easily into the skin and won�t leave behind any oily residue. So what are the benefits of using rosehip oil?   It quickly absorbs into the skin, proving  moisture . It can heal scarring  caused by acne. It can help reverse sun   damage . It can provide a protective barrier on the skin,  preventing further moisture loss. It can help fade  pigmentation  and even out ...

Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you a little bit about one of my favourite essential oils ; lavender oil .  Not only does this essential oil smell great and helps you relax , it also has significant benefits for the skin.  This oil hydrates and heals the skin without clogging the pores.  Plus, it helps deal with many skin conditions from acne, excess oil, dryness to ageing.  It also promotes hair growth and healthy scalp.  This particular post is about treating acne with lavender oil .   What is Lavender Oil?     Lavender oil is extracted from the lavender plant.  It grows worldwide in Asia, Europe,  Africa,  Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean.   The uses of lavender oil  are numerous.  It's an all natural oil which works for various skin and hair problems. How to use: Mix 1-4 drops of lavender oil into 1/2-1 tablespoon of base oil (coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil)....

Hello everyone! Yesterday I posted a recipe for a DIY acne fighting gel and today I want to share another acne fighting beauty recipe with you.   For this DIY you will need two key ingredients; a lemon and a tomato .   Ingredients: 1 ripe tomato 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp oatmeal (optional) Lemons are full of AHA�s and BHA�s which remove dead skin cells, fight acne, minimize pores and brighten skin.   Back in November of 2011, I posted an article titled:  Lemons for clear skin ; in which I wrote about the countless benefits of lemons.  Make sure you read it for more information.   Tomatoes have cooling and astringent properties.  They�re also rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin A .  Their acidity helps tame excessive oil production too. Oatmeal helps reduce itching and inflammation and can be used to calm acne, eczema and heal psoriasis . Method: Mash the peeled tomato in a bowl.  Add the lemo...

Hello everyone! I am back again with an amazing DIY recipe for your skin.  You only need two simple ingredients to make your own acne fighting gel;  aloe vera gel and an essential oil with antibacterial properties .   I've been using this concoction on my face for many, many years.  So much so that I had to search this blog because I was sure that I had already told you about it.  As it turns out, I haven't so let's get started... Ingredients: 1 tbsp of  aloe vera gel 6-12 drops of  tea tree oil  or lavender essential oil If you don't like the smell of tea tree oil, lavender essential oil is a good alternative.   The combination of tea tree oil (or lavender) and  Aloe vera gel kills the bacteria that causes acne and has anti-inflammatory properties which soothe the skin. Method: In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of Aloe vera gel with 6-12 drops of tea tree oil (or lavender). Store in an amber glass bottle.  U se  a...

Hello everyone! Last Sunday I posted An introduction to aromatherapy and I told you that I was planning to post more on this subject.  In this post, I will give you a basic guide to blending essential oils .  Have you ever wanted to make your own essential oil blend but felt totally lost on where to begin?  Perhaps you want to make a  solid perfume or a diffuser blend with an appealing smell.  Essential oils are often grouped together based on their aromas, and these groups are called categories.  Some oils fit into more than one category.  Here are some examples of specific essential oils and the categories they fall into... Essential oil categories Floral: Chamomile, Geranium, Jasmine, Lavender, Neroli, Rose, Violet Exotic: Palmarosa, Patchouli, Sandalwood, Vetiver, Ylang Ylang Resinous: Benzoin, Camphor, Fir Needle, Frankincense, Galbanum, Myrrh, Vanilla Absolute Spicy: Aniseed, Bay, Black Pepper, Cardamom, Cinnamon, Clove, Coriander, Gi...

Hello everyone! Spring is finally here, and that means it's time for spring cleaning.  But this year, more than previous years, I didn't just stop at spring cleaning, I'm also obsessed with spring decorating .  During this charming season, I'm embracing floral patterns, pastels, bright colours, indoor plants, fresh scents, and everything "spring". Today I came across an infographic about simple ways to add a pop of spring to your home and k iss those winter blues goodbye.  Seeing as this is precisely what I'm doing at the moment I want to share this info with all of you. Did you know that your skincare routine needs some spring cleaning too ?  Read more about it here .  And if you are looking for  spring beauty tips, check out more related posts here . Are you ready for spring? 

Hello everyone! As you can see from the title, this post is all about beauty myths.   I haven't posted a Fact or Fiction? post in such a long time, but this is actually my third "beauty myths" post.   Let's get started! 1. Dry skin will give you wrinkles. Fact or Fiction? Fiction. Wrinkles are caused by a lot of things but dry skin is not one of them. 2. Toothpaste can heal pimples. Fact or Fiction? Fact. Ingredients found in toothpaste have been shown to dry pimples.   However, use cautiously because the harsh chemicals found in toothpaste can also irritate and over-dry your skin. 3. Tight ponytails and buns can make your hair fall out. Fact or Fiction? Fact. Tight hairstyles can add stress to hair follicles and cause breakage.   Try to keep tight styles to a minimum. I wrote a blog post about this subject titled Give your hair a break , check it out! 4. Rubbing your eyes causes wrinkles Fact or Fiction? Fact. Rubbing your eyes doesn't directly cause wrinkles, b...

Hello everyone! I've been using essential oils for a very long time, ever since I fell in love with aromatherapy about 20 years ago.  I always have oil burners, scented candle and reed diffusers around the house and I also use essential oils regularly in my skincare routine.  For those of you who might not know; aromatherapy  is the practice of using essential plant oils for healing body, mind and spirit. Aromatherapy can be performed in several ways, namely: Diffusing a combination of essential oils into the air (or just one single oil) Inhaling oils through the nostrils directly off of a cloth or from the bottle Receiving massage therapy utilizing oils Soaking in an oil-infused bath Rubbing oils directly onto the skin ( diluted with a carrier oil, such as almond, jojoba or coconut oil ) Each essential oil delivers different benefits , some of which include: calming, awakening, energizing, easing pain and more. Aromatherapy can be used to treat a spe...

Hello everyone! Dressing-up as someone, or something, for Halloween can be a lot of fun.  An elaborate costume can require a lot of make-up.  But once the fun is over, how do you take it off? Every product has different ingredients, so the way you remove it will differ.   Water-based products are much easier to get off than oil-based ones.   But first, always read the label . Here are some general guidelines on how to remove costume make-up and face paints . Use soap and water Before you try using any make-up removers, wash your face with soap and see if that does the job. Use a make-up remover Use your regular make-up remover, it will work on most types of Halloween make-up. Use an oil (coconut, jojoba, etc) Oil adheres to oil, so it's one of the easiest ways to take off face paint. Use baby wipes If you don't have any make-up removing wipes, baby wipes will work just as well. Use a lotion A little lotion on a cotton ball is great for removing make-up wit...