Eyebrows...don't forget them!

Eyebrows… there should be two!

I’m often asked how I do my eyebrows. Are they tattooed? No. Who does them? Me. 

Eyebrows are very under-appreciated in many women’s beauty regimens. It’s amazing how they can change your look with minimal effort. 

It's so subtle, yet effective :)

I started doing mine years ago when I had an unfortunate trip to the waxer’s. She cut them too short and waxed them too thin. It was tragic. Don’t ever get a cheap waxing done. It’s not worth it in the end. 

I’m not against waxing, I go and get mine done every few months, just to readjust the shape and then I upkeep them myself. The trick is to get to know your waxer, make sure they are using quality wax and let them know what you really want. My favorite place to go is European Wax Center. (There are locations all over) They use all natural beeswax and I swear it never irritates my skin. What’s also cool are the minimal tools (less risk for fungus). The wax hardens so they do not need to use sheets to pull away; they simply pull off the hardened wax. 

Now, for the upkeep, I will daily tug a few darker hairs (I have thick, dark hairs) so they’re out of my line of sight. I also try and set some time aside once a week or so (usually the day I do my weekly mask) to really get in there and pull all of the little nuisance hairs. 

Now for the aesthetic bit. 

I’m not a fan of actual eyebrow makeup; I have found it to be either too heavy or too waxy. Or worse, too pencil-y. My secret is an eye shadow that matches my hair color alongside MAC’s 266 small angle brush. I’ve tried other small angled brushes, but none compare to the maneuverability of this one. For eye shadow, I don’t splurge because, surprisingly, I don’t actually need to this time. My usual is ULTA brand eye shadow in Mink, currently (because there are no ULTA’s around me) I have Covergirl 740 Brown Smolder. The important part is finding one that is close to your natural color and that it has a velvet-y texture. The matte ones don’t work quite the same, and the texture doesn’t run on as smoothly. 

Do a few practice rounds without your full make up regimen on (that way you don’t have to start all over each time you mess up). It took me a few tries to get myself acquainted with my brow shape and what I wanted them to look like. You get to have a little creative freedom to truly frame your face the way it deserves. 

Once you have decided on an appropriate shape. (seriously, less is more… do NOT create non-eyebrow shapes for your eyebrow, everyone will be staring for the wrong reasons) it’s time to do your makeup. Once ready for your brows (I usually do mine after my face, but before my eye makeup), take your brush and dip it ever-so-slightly in a tiny bit of water, swipe your shadow, and get your final brow shape done. Using the tiny bit of water helps the shadow glide on easily. I prefer to shape the top line, then the rest of the outside, and then fill in the rest. Keep it simple and lightweight, you can always add more later. Use quick, short strokes to draw the lines and fill in. Remember to shape your face for your routine. 

Just take it one step at a time... less is more, and it gets quicker as you get more practice!

Before brows: I look tired, my shadow overpowers my face, leaving my forehead looking rather pronounced.

After brows: Completes the look, makes my eyes pop, & my forehead balances out.

 XOXO Kayla Rae

 

Apple Cider Vinegar

We all know from My Big Fat Greek Wedding the beloved papa Portokalos had one-and only one- solution to every ailment. Put some Windex on it.

That’s how I feel about Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV).  It’s basically a miracle in a bottle.

I first discovered this while researching what I could do to get rid of my acne (as most of my research tends to be for).  I was going to be a badass and take the ACV drink twice daily. It is 1 tbsp. ACV in a glass of water. I put some agave nectar in it in a feeble attempt to kill the vinegar taste, grabbed a straw to protect the enamel on my teeth, and started to drink. Eyes closed, not breathing it in, just sucking that straw like I was going to down it so quick and be done with it. I open my eyes to approximately ½ inch of liquid gone from the top of my glass. I was a pansy.

This got my brain working. I just want to get my skin better, I thought. So I decided that diluting it in distilled water and using it as a toner after I washed my face was going to be a much better route. And it was! I noticed my skin starting to clear up and my complexion balancing out within a couple weeks. Yes, it made my face smell like salad dressing for about 2 minutes, but it went away. Not a big deal.

Over time, I’ve found many other useful ways to incorporate this product into my life. And now I use it for everything.

-          Facial Toner: Balances PH levels in the skin and helps detoxify and combat acne

-          Detox bath: Pour a couple cups of ACV into a hot bath, sit and enjoy. Let your body sweat it out for about 20-30 minutes. Great to use when you’re sick, or just have a rough case of “bacne”. It will also help soothe your muscles.

-          Make up brush cleaner.

-          Athlete’s foot fighter. Place about 1 cup of ACV into hot water in a pot and soak feet. This will help balance out the skin as well as fight off some of that nasty fungus.

-          Hair rinse:  I prefer a small spouted bottle, shampoo hair normally, then squirt ACV into hair and work through scalp to ends. Rinse with cold (yes, COLD) water. No need to condition, product build-up has been removed and your hair will comb out smoothly as if you did use conditioner! The cold water will seal the hair shaft, resulting in very shiny, healthy hair. 

*UPDATE: My new ACV hair rinse is 2 parts ACV to 1 part water, along with rosemary and lavender essential oils. I'm in love with this mix!!!

-          Warts: Soak a cotton ball in ACV and tape (Band-Aid) to the affected area. Overnight, you should see some difference with it drying out. Keep going every night until it is gone!)

-          Smelly garbage disposal: pour some ACV and hot water down the drain and run your disposal for a little bit. The vinegar should help clear up some of the bacteria and smell.

If you are up for the challenge, the ACV drink is great for maintaining healthy body sugar levels, making your dieting much easier since you won’t be lusting over the sugars. Studies have shown it effective for someone who is pre-diabetic.  It is also a fantastic detox, without harsh propriety blends or the dehydration factor, it is rich in vitamins and nutrients to supply your body while (excuse the visual) pushing out the sludge. It should also improve your digestion, so the other very healthy foods you are eating will actually benefit your body better!

I'll be sure to update when I discover more amazing uses! I love this stuff!

XOXO Kayla Rae

Bless and Release

Bless and Release.

Not exactly a "beauty" related post... but inspiration enough to make a beautifully organized closet!

This is not something new to me. I have always had too many clothes. I love clothes. My problem is that I don’t know when to let go and get rid of old clothes. My mother used to always say “Bless and release” to all my old toys/clothes/anything growing up, because I would always try to think of a way I could keep it and keep not using it.

Since being with my fella, I’ve definitely downsized my wardrobe. It’s definitely liberating, but I can have my little bouts of retail therapy when I forget I have some perfectly good pieces at home with the sale tag still on them. We live a simple life in a 400 square foot studio apartment with our three kids. We have Rowdy (my 2 ½ year old Pembroke Corgi), Kimber (his 1 year old German Shepherd/Husky mix) and Danni (our 3 year old rescue kitty). Most of the time, it feels like we live in a little shoebox, but we’re happy. Things can be pretty crammed, pretty quick. So I have decided to be responsible and get rid of a ton of pieces in my closet I truly don’t wear or use.

Look at all this jewelry I've collected over the years and haven't gotten rid of! Most of it never worn! Bless and release!

This can be a daunting task for anyone. First, collect some large bags. Start small, I went to the dresser and went one drawer at a time. Does it have a tear or stain? In the bag. Have I neglected to wear it in the last 6 months (seasons permitting)? In the bag. Have I only worn it once and can’t come to wear it again? In the bag, woman!  Drawer by drawer… until we reach the closet.

He's such a good helper.

Take breaks, have some fun and try on some pieces to see if they are worth up-cycling or actually wearing. If not, in the bag. It took me darn near 3 hours to successfully go through my drawers, my closet, my jewelry, and my shoes. I wound up with 4 very large bags of perfectly usable clothes that I didn’t need or never wore!

Spring cleaning: Rowdy approved.

I am a huge fan on selling old clothes to recycled clothing shops; I used to do it all the time.  I am also a huge fan of donating my clothes, which is my course of action with this cleaning frenzy. Only throw away your clothing if it is ripped or stained, or are old undergarments. Everything else can be donated or sold. I feel so much better getting it all out of my place! There is so much more room and my clothes can actually breathe in my closet now!

XOXO Kayla Rae

                       

The Eyelash Experiment.

The Eyelash Experiment.

I’ve seen the products out there for us to lengthen, strengthen, and overall boost our lashes. There are plenty of products at the beauty supply store that you apply to your lash line at night and wait for the effects. Upon looking at many, some have water as the main ingredient (big whoop) as well as herbal extracts that are great ideas. Here’s the kicker, most have denatured alcohol in them (listed as alcohol denat.). Denatured alcohol is basically added so the concoction isn’t drinkable and smells bad. Also it is used as a fuel source for your camping stoves. Yes, it is basically a fuel source. How about we just be smart and not think to drink our beauty products? So gross. You really want that so close to your eyes? No thank you.

There is also prescription based products for sparse or thinning eyelashes. Really this is only for those in extreme cases. This is not meant to be something for the average person. The theory behind it is to lengthen and darken your lashes by swiping one drop of the prescription on the lash line daily. As with most prescriptions, the side effects and adverse effects outweigh the benefits. One is liquid filled cysts on the eye area, one would be pigmentation that is not removable in the eye area, and one is even allergic reaction to your precious eye area. I’d rather get good mascara and call it a day, thank you!

Being in LA, I have also seen a plethora of salons offering eyelash extensions nowadays (I’m sorry ladies; most of you cannot pull them off… especially the fair skinned blondes and redheads). I know you want big, beautiful lashes, I want them too! But I am not about to let someone use a glue with lord-knows what chemicals and bonding to stick them on me.

As I noted in an update with my Oil Cleansing Method post, my eyelashes started holding their own about two weeks into my oil cleansing. I did a little research, and it turns out some oils are very beneficial for your lashes! Take Castor oil; aside from its healing properties on your skin, it has plumping properties for your hair. Coconut oil is great for softening and penetrating the hair, making it stronger. Jojoba oil is the most universal of oils because it is lightweight and is safe for all hair types and skin types.  I decided to combine the three in an old mascara tube and begin my experiment for really taking my lashes to the next level.

Here is the fun part… getting all the gook out of an old mascara tube. I know we all have one lying around, the mascara is pretty much useless, but what if there is some sort of national mascara shortage and you need it!  I consulted my fella about how I could get all the crap out of the tube. We decided that putting the tube back and forth from boiling to cool water would be effective. I’m pretty sure we did all the wrong things, but it was fun. I added coconut oil to the boiling water (as it is great for removing makeup from your  face) to help loosen up the goop. Then took tongs and went back and forth, pouring out old mascara and rinsing… it took forever. I really recommend buying an empty tube (I can only find them online) or getting a wand from your local beauty supply store and a sealed jar to keep your mix in.

Once I got my tube empty, I added equal parts of the coconut, castor, and jojoba oils and stirred it up. I apply the mix to my lashes at night before bed (usually about 2 coats) and then I’ll do a coat before I apply my daily mascara. It’s not easy to tell if things are working, mostly because you see your face all day every day. I take pictures; it helps me compare side-by-side.  I decided this one is best compared weekly. By week 2, I already noticed a difference in the pictures. Ben already decided he wanted in on the action too. Who says men don’t want to feel pretty too?!

Here is a week by week rundown of the eyelash experiment:

Week 1

Week 2

Week 3

Week 4

Sorry for the creepy, up close and personal eye shots... but I really noticed my lower lashes started coming together very nicely! They've always been a little sparse... but they're doing well! None of these shots are my eyes with any mascara! I'm definitely going to keep this one up.

XOXO Kayla Rae

DIY Lip and Cheek Stain (think “Benetint”)

Bears. Beets. Beauty Products.

I love Benetint from Benefit Cosmetics. It’s amazing. However, being on a budget doesn’t allow me such luxuries anymore. You know what though? I don’t miss it too much. After all, isn’t it great to know it can be made in the comfort of home for a fraction- seriously a small fraction- of the cost? I find some peace in that.

This one is super easy! I tried two different recipes; I like both fine… but have some amazing testers so I will let you know what one they liked best.

Option 1:

Beets

Vegetable Glycerin

Vodka

Grab a double boiler (or my fav, a bowl inside a pot). Chop beets into small chunks and place in bowl with a small amount of vegetable glycerin. Start boiling the water.  Let the beet’s color run in the glycerin, while stirring, for 15-20 minutes. Drain the beets, keeping the liquid. Put a splash of vodka in the mix and let it continue to cook for a few more minutes (this will kill the alcohol part, letting it absorb on your skin better). Then place in your container and put in fridge. This should stay stable for a while, but keep it in the fridge for best results.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Option 2:

Beet

Water

Vodka

Chop beets into small chunks and place in pot of water. Start boiling and let the color of the beets get all up in the water. Drain the beets, keeping the red water in the pot. Add a splash of vodka and boil a few more minutes. Place in container and pop it in the fridge.  

Look at that glorious color!!! (The tube is the Benetint)

There's no difference in color! This is one of the finished products.

I made sure to date it, in case I lose track of time.

*Side note:  I added a teeny bit of peppermint essential oil in it to kill that beet smell, totally up to you.

Now, I would highly recommend you practice a little common sense and don’t try to wear it when you just made it… it will be hot so wait until it cools. Trust me, it’s not going anywhere. You should have just made yourself more than enough, so you don’t have to be so judicious with your stains anymore!  You’ll know it is going bad when the smell changes, it is a food product after all, it’ll go bad. Many places I read said up to 90 days of use. So I’ll let you know when mine goes bad.

I might recommend finding an empty nail polish tube from the beauty supply store to keep this in, very portable (there will be more than enough for a few jars, easy gifts!) as well as easy application with the wand. I used some cobalt glass droppers and I use a cotton swab to apply.

There are other variations I’m going to try in the future, such as berries for a darker color.

I’m already a huge fan! It doesn’t absorb as quickly as my Benetint, but for the price, I’m not complaining. It goes on a much lighter color too, so you don’t have to risk going too drastic at first try. Use it on your cheeks for a subtle rosy tint, or put directly on your lips for a “just bitten” look.

XOXO Kayla Rae

The Oil Cleansing Method (Part 2)

The Oil Cleansing Method (Part 2... see Part 1 here.)

I did it! Two whole weeks on this amazing new cleanse for my face!  I can honestly say, it has been the biggest surprise. I love it and will keep it up, possibly changing up my secondary oil for my next batch (I think I have another 2 weeks left from my first batch). 

Here is the second week of my OCM:

Some key takeaways that I noticed:

• My makeup goes on so much smoother now, I definitely don't need as much.
• My eyelashes are all plumped up and are looking more plush these days.
• My acne is well under control and is hardly even there. I haven't had a harsh cyst in just about two weeks... I think that is a record for me!
• My skin did not get oily and gross at any point of this adventure. It looks amazing, even my team at work noticed (and they're a bunch of boys!)

Let's see how I started and how I finished:

Yes, I got a little sun as well, don't underestimate small doses of sunlight on your skin! Get that vitamin D going!

If you decide to give the OCM a go, I'd love to hear from you about your successes! I welcome pics too!  Like us on facebook Cheers to Beauty and feel free to share some pics of your journey! I'll be with you every step of the way!

Cheers!

XOXO Kayla Rae

Hot Oil Hair Treatment

Hot Oil Hair Treatment.

Sometimes, your hair just needs a little boost. You have got to be aware, however, of some “deep treatments” that could potentially contain chemicals designed to give your hair instant gratification, but cause long term dryness. You want some good natural oils to really get in there and keep your hair healthy and happy. Why do you think men and women of native tribes far away have the most glorious hair you’ve ever seen? They use the real stuff!

Materials:

2 parts Coconut Oil (for me, 3 tbsp.)

1 part Jojoba Oil (1 ½ tbsp.)

1 part Avocado Oil (1 ½ tbsp.) *Note: you may also substitute for 1 mashed up avocado

1 part Castor Oil (1 ½ tbsp.)

Shower cap (I definitely learned this one the hard way… it runs everywhere!)

Why these oils? (Besides the fact I already have these in my cabinet)

Coconut oil- it is completely absorbed by the hair; gets all up in the shaft root to tip. It helps retain those important proteins and seals in the moisture. It also helps protect your hair follicle (help resist thinning hair!) and is great for frizz control.

Jojoba Oil- Very gentle and is essential for dry hair as it mimics the scalp’s sebum (that waxy glory keeping your hair healthy and moist). It creates a barrier for the follicle so it remains moisturized.

Avocado Oil- Here is where there is a difference, the act of creating avocado oil actually diminishes the proteins from the avocado (hence the option to mash one up if your hair is really damaged). But, it is still full of vitamin E and omega 3’s. It will help protect your hair and could stimulate stronger, healthier growth.

Castor Oil-  This can act as a hair thickening agent, it absorbs easily into the shaft and scalp to promote stronger hair growing in. It treats each strand individually, plumping them up with its goodness. It also acts as an antibacterial and anti-fungicidal which can help deter any infections that could lead to hair loss.

No need to worry, each oil is safe for all hair types and help prevent dandruff too! Now, in case you haven’t read my Oil Cleansing Method post, let’s be clear. Natural oils are your friend. They mimic your scalp’s natural oils. It’s ok if you tend to have oily hair.

What you will now do…

Warm the oil mixture double-boiler style. I just put a bowl over a pot of boiling water to warm it up (not too hot, we’re not looking to burn your scalp off). Pour your mixture on your scalp first, massage it in, and then pour along the rest of your hair. Massage for a few minutes, wrap it up in a bun with the shower cap over it and sit for 30 minutes. This is a great time to get your weekly face mask going since most take about 20 minutes (10 minutes prep) relax and then jump in the shower!  Shampoo a couple times to get the oil out (took me 3 sets of shampoo), then condition and be on your way. I would probably limit this one to weekly for damaged hair and biweekly for normal hair.

I let my hair air dry as much as I could stand (I’m very impatient and the bangs wait for no one!). I put a little Argan Oil in to tame any remaining frizz and used my Velcro rollers on the top half of my head to pump up the volume. Once my hair was completely dry, I did very minimal curling with a 1 ½ inch barrel iron and let it be! My hair is so crazy soft to the touch and very healthy looking! Cheers!

After all is said and done.

Super shiny and healthy!

XOXO Kayla Rae

Don't be a Dirty Girl

I've been a dirty girl.

I don’t know about you, but one aspect of looking and feeling beautiful is being clean. I know you’re dirty little secret though… it’s one of mine too. I always forget to clean my makeup brushes. Those things are NASTY. I let it slip my mind until one day I realize my foundation brush isn't as glorious as it could be. My blush brush isn't as fluffy. Well, no more excuses. We don’t need to go buy a special wash, just use what’s in your cabinet! (If it’s not there, don’t fret… it’s cheap to go buy and then you’ll have some for forever)

I vow to clean my brushes at LEAST twice a month. I will remember! It just feels so damn good once the deed is done!

Materials:

Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) (Wait til that post comes out. I live for this stuff)

Dish Soap (whatever is sitting under the sink, not dishwasher soap, genius)

Hot water

The brush cleaning dream team.

What you’ll do:

Take 1-1 ½ cups hot water, place in container (I just use my measuring cup). Add approximately 2 tbsp ACV and dish soap. I really just eyeball it, you don’t have to get too technical. Then swirl around your brushes in it one by one, rinsing thoroughly in the sink after you've decided it’s clean enough. *Tip: the more you use that brush, the more you’ll wanna clean it. Once that’s all done, place on a paper towel while you clean the rest of the bunch.

OMG so gross. This is just after my blush brush (hence the pinky hue)

Then repeat, yup, your cleaning mix should look pretty disgusting, so you know it’s not over yet. Remake your mix and start over. I tend to do two sets, but feel free to keep going until it rinses clear. If you wear heavier makeup or darker colors, more sets will probably do you a world of good.

Let your brushes sit in a safe place to dry on the paper towel overnight. In the morning, they should be pretty dry.  Shake them out to fluff them up and voila! They look brand new!

My brushes before...

My brushes after!!!

Now, I would like to bring to your attention a few uber-nasties from my brushes...

My foundation brush:

My other foundation brush (yes I have 2... don't judge):

My crease brush (for the times I actually do wear dark makeup):

I actually forget what color some of my brushes are until this deed is done. Don't be ashamed of your brushes, and don't waste your money buying new ones... they can be cleaned!

XOXO Kayla Rae

The Collagen Mask

Collagen Mask.

Let’s start out with what exactly collagen is. Collagen is a type of protein naturally found in the body. It can be most commonly found in your skin and in your body’s connective tissue. As we age, collagen production decreases in the body and our collagen stores start to deplete. You know what that means… decreased elasticity and wrinkles.

There are collagen supplements out there in the world, internal solutions to your collagen decline, but they will not reverse the effects. They are fantastic for helping keeping your skin moist and lubricating your joints (double whammy!).

Now, regardless of what your collagen products claim, collagen is too large of a molecule to actually penetrate your skin. Those fancy-pants collagen products are NOT going to make your skin look younger, and they will especially NOT increase the production of your skin’s collagen. What it will do is provide a temporary little boost to your skin’s moisture and fine lines, creating a great short term effect. Please also be aware that many commercial collagen-containing products also have many chemicals in them, leaving a high risk of drying out the skin after prolonged use, or simply an allergic-type reaction making your skin puffy. Please be sure to read the labels!

Now for some fun stuff…

I got the idea from a vendor at a trade show about using an internal collagen product externally. I didn't really put too much thought into it until I received a glorious collagen facial. (This thing was FANCY, 24k gold, south sea pearl, the works… Lord knows I can’t ever afford that on the regular, but my skin sure was purty that day).  I decided to read the label of my collagen powder and noticed that there was no flavors or sweeteners or anything added in. It was simply bovine collagen (oh yeah, most collagen products are marine or bovine). I needed sunglasses, the light bulb that went off in my head was that bright. I didn’t need to splurge on this thing! I just needed to take the time to do it myself!

I decided that I would mix my concoction (ingredients are down below) and apply it, let it sit for 20 minutes and see what’s up. Holy Beautiful Skin Batman!  It didn’t irritate my skin or cause it to look red, my skin was smoother than a baby’s ass, and I felt good. I would highly suggest this thing the morning of a fabulous evening out! Please make sure you do a test run ahead of time though, no two people are created equal, but I’m fairly sure nothing bad will happen.  I do this every Sunday (once a week I like to spend a little extra time in the bathroom to deep condition my hair and face… I like to feel pretty).

Ingredients:

-NeoCell Collagen powder

-1 probiotic capsule (open it up and dump the powder in, this is some good bacteria for your body… I would also recommend taking one of these bad boys on the daily for your body’s health)

-Sea buckthorn oil (rich in essential fatty acids and help heal skin)

-Rosehip oil (high in Vitamin A to help damaged skin)

-100% pure aloe gel (please make sure there are no other ingredients! This is very soothing and moisturizing; also helps build the desirable texture of the mask)

Sorry there is no method to this madness, but mix 1 scoop of the collagen powder (this brand comes with a little scooper inside) and eyeball the aloe gel (you can always add more… so start small). Then I put in about 10-20 drops of each oil and mix it. Seriously, just use what’s in your kitchen. I use a small mixing bowl and that weird rubber spatula thingy that is where all the wooden spoons are. (If you know me, the kitchen is NOT my forte) Please, please, PLEASE do not use metal mixing bowls or utensils. Seriously, don’t. The metal messes up the ingredients in just about everything you want to put on your face. So put the regular spoon away. I like the texture to be jelly-like. Keep in mind it is going to be sitting on your skin for a little bit so you don’t want it to be too runny.

Clean up your face, just use some regular face wash and then use a wet washcloth under warm-hot water to steam your face a little bit. Then apply your mask. Now I just use a cheapie foundation brush (I think it was $1 at Target… that ELF brand they have) but it paints on the mask very smoothly. Don’t be skimpy with your bowl of lovely radioactive yellow-orange jelly (it’s a HIDEOUS color). Your skin needs to be suffocated by this glory in order to absorb it. You are giving it no choice. Paint on the mask really thick all over. I put it close around my eye area, don’t be silly and put it on your eyeballs… I trust you know the routine.

Once you’ve made yourself look like a crazy orange person, relax. Put on your favorite tunes or a tv show, time to chill for 20 minutes or so. The mask will solidify a little bit, but it will still be flexible on your skin.  Once you are ready to remove, take your washcloth and wet it up with warm water. I would recommend using a darker color washcloth because my white one I used is now stained radioactive yellow-orange. Wipe off your collagen mask and rinse your face off. Once you pat it dry, enjoy the baby softness that is your beautiful skin! 

 Enjoy!

XOXO Kayla Rae

The Oil Cleansing Method

The Oil Cleansing Method.

I know what you’re thinking. “She’s lost it now! She’s gotta be kidding me!” Mostly because I thought the same thing. Guess what? This life is about taking chances and, really now, what’s the worst that could happen? My skin is in trouble and I need to rescue it!

I am not crazy. Let’s get a little technical here. Acne and breakouts are from dirt, grime, bacteria, stress, hormones and dead skin clogging up your pores. Acne is not from oil because, my friend, your body naturally produces oil. The oil that is produced is meant to protect your skin and keep it supple. It is good! Let me guess, you have oily skin so you use a plethora of products shouting “oil-free” and you use harsh astringents that wipe off all the oils your skin worked so hard on producing for you. Well, she’s angry you didn’t like her gift so she’s producing more to compensate. You will like it, dammit.

Maybe you have dry skin. Oil would be your best friend then, but why is your skin so dry? It could be the weather; cooler seasons can dry up and cause the skin to flake. Do you steam in the shower or after the gym? That heat will evaporate your body’s natural oils. When you finish your shower, do you drip dry or towel off? Toweling off sometimes inhibits your body’s chance to really suck in all that moisture from your soaps. Don’t even get me started on the soap… they are not all created equal. Throw away some of that crap you have and invest in a natural soap where you can pronounce the ingredients. I love Nubian Heritage (especially the Black Bar Soap) and Dr. Bronner’s bar soaps. They are full of natural oils (like coconut oil and jojoba oil) and usually have aloe and shea butter varieties. There is a higher chance it will be hypoallergenic too (especially Dr. Bronner’s Baby Mild).

But back to the face…

Again, your skin naturally produces oil. The Oil Cleansing Method (now shortened to OCM for the rest of the post) is designed to let your skin be herself. Oil dissolves oil. Depending on the type of oil (we’ll get to that in a second), it is mimicking your skin’s natural oil. Now your skin thinks you like her gift and she won’t work so hard at shoving it down your throat. Yes, it will take a short time for your skin to balance out. Seriously, took mine about 4 days. It was that fast. There are so many different types of oil you can use, but I will give you a nice little rundown of the few I am familiar with.

Castor Oil (cold-pressed!): This should be your focus oil. It has incredible cleansing properties and is rich in fatty acids. It is a heavier oil so it is best to combine it with a lighter weight oil for your own personal tweaking and getting some additional benefits. Quick sidebar, too much castor oil can dry out your skin… so please combine it!

 Here is how your formula should look:

If you have oily skin: 30% castor oil to 70% secondary oil

If you have dry skin:  10% castor oil and 90% secondary oil

If you have combination skin: 20% castor oil and 80% secondary oil

Now for the secondary oils…

Almond Oil: Very lightweight and is very moisturizing, making it great for dry and itchy skin.

Grapeseed Oil: Very lightweight and easily absorbed into the skin. Has cell-regenerating properties and can help aging or mature skin.

Argan Oil: Rich in vitamin E, makes a great oil for aging skin as it helps with fine lines and wrinkles.

Tamanu Oil: Has amazing regenerative properties making it ideal for acne and scarred or damaged skin.

Vitamin E Oil: Known as the “healing vitamin,” E helps moisturizing and healing the skin.

Coconut Oil: Very moisturizing, great for dry skin.

Sesame Oil: This is rich in antioxidants and will help draw out the toxins, making it great for acne and blackhead prone skin.

Apricot Kernel Oil: A very lightweight oil great for mature, sensitive, inflamed and dry skin.

Rosehip Oil: This one is strong in retinol (vitamin A) and would be great on sun damaged skin

Sea Buckthorn Oil: Rich in Omega 7 fatty acids and serves as an antioxidant. It helps rejuvenate and heal damaged skin.

Avocado Oil: Incredibly rich in nutrients, especially vitamin A and E. Great for sun damaged and mature skin.

Jojoba Oil:  So closely mimics your skin’s sebum that it acts as the perfect moisturizer. It penetrates the skin easily and can help acne prone, mature, or inflamed skin.

Neem Oil: Very moisturizing and can help battle bacteria. This would be a great choice for acne prone, itchy, sensitive skin as well as psoriasis and eczema.

Olive Oil: Protects skin to not lose internal moisture by creating a moisture shield around it. Closely represents human skin so is not likely to have any allergic properties. This would be a very safe bet if you are not sure where on earth to start.

The list seriously goes on… and on and on…

Once you’ve decided on a great combo for your particular skin type, it comes time to start mixing and letting the magic happen. I like to put mine in a small amber tincture bottle to protect it. I personally started with 30% Castor Oil and 70% Grapeseed Oil. I know I could have gone with a more “acne geared” option, but I do have some aging beginning on my skin (due to stress) and I wanted to start taking care of that.

A really cool point of the OCM is that you don’t need to wash your face or previously remove your makeup beforehand. Your new oil mixture will gently remove your makeup for you and cleanse your skin. Yes, it will really cleanse your skin. Stop fighting me on that.  You only need to do the OCM once a day at night, or whenever you are done for the day. It takes a little longer than traditional face washing, but it is totally worth it.

First things first, steam your face a little bit to open up your pores. I like to just let the water run as hot as I can stand it, wet a washcloth with said hot water, and lay the washcloth on my face for a few seconds. Once that is done, put about a quarter sized amount of your oil mixture in the palm of your hand and rub them together to warm up the oil. Start massaging your face. Treat yourself, it’s the end of the day and you deserve to be pampered before bed. I like to go for about a minute or so, and then start rinsing off. Use the warm water still and start to splash off your skin. Then use the wet washcloth to wipe off all the excess oil and grime and makeup. Voila!

There is pretty much no need to moisturize after the OCM; you’ve just moisturized the crap out of your face. Relax and go to bed.

In the morning, there is no need to use any kind of face wash or oil to wake up. Your skin should already be super clean and feeling soft. Splash yourself with some cool water to wake up and get rid of your sleep crusties (oh yeah, I know they’re there) and then I would apply my moisturizer and start my daily routine once that settles in.

You can still call me crazy all you want. I started noticing by day 4 my makeup was going on smoother and by day 5 my discoloration and scarring and acne was definitely not as noticeable.  These pictures are from days 1 through 7 of the OCM. I am going to do another post for days 7 through 14. You should always give your body a chance to acquaint itself with new regimens, typically 1 to 2 weeks to see if it is really going to work for you. Sometimes your skin has to get a little worse before it can get better. I really haven’t noticed anything negative. My skin is more supple and is feeling like it is much, much younger!

Please be kind, I have my insecurities like the rest of you. My day typically ends around 12am or later… so here is my skin in all its glory. No makeup. No brows (ahh!). Just me.

XOXO Kayla Rae

**UPDATE!!!**

I couldn't help noticing that now week 2 is coming to a close, my eyelashes have been rocking it. Fun fact: Castor oil is fantastic for thickening your lashes!!!  Now, isn't the OCM worth a shot?