My hair gets DRY. I live in a dry climate, I have naturally curly/wavy hair (which tends toward being dry anyway), and I heat style it often. I’m in the process of growing my hair out right now, so it’s important for it to look shiny and pretty so that I don’t have it hacked off again.
I discovered the best DIY hair treatment: virgin coconut oil. Coconut oil is full of great things that moisturize, condition, and soothe dandruff. It can even help hair grow faster. Plus, it’s all natural and unprocessed!
And it’s easy. Just comb the tangles out of your (dry) hair. Melt the coconut oil in a cup- it melts at body temp so it’s very easy to liquify it. I run a couple inches of hot water in the sink, put the coconut oil in a small jar with a lid, and put the jar in the sink for a few minutes. Then, massage the oil into your scalp and through the length of your hair. I like to really get a good scalp massage in here- beneficial for many reasons: helps relieve stress, brings blood to the surface of the scalp, which promotes hair growth and scalp health.. plus, it feels really good with the warm oil. Once all your hair is coated, pile it up on your head and put a plastic shower cap over it, or just wrap it in plastic. (I know, sexy!) Leave it on for as long as you can. I like to go at least an hour. And then shampoo it out… and you’ll find that your hair is super shiny and smooth.
That’s just one of the many, many uses of virgin coconut oil. You can see more here.
I feel pretty! Oh, so pretty! I feel pretty and witty and bright!
Ha, ha. Now that’s going to be stuck in your head for hours. Neener neener. On with the post…
 Let’s start with the hair. I just discovered the best shampoo ever, Organix Coconut Milk Shampoo. Probably the conditioner is just as awesome, but I’m not out of my other stuff yet- but the shampoo? To die for. First of all, it smells so good. Like actual, real coconut and not that fake coconut scent like tanning oil. Second, it’s full of organic stuff that is great for your hair, like coconut milk, coconut oil, and whipped egg white proteins. Even the bottles are eco-friendly, made of recycled materials. And third, (and of course, most importantly), it leaves my hair feeling so soft and smooth. I have naturally wavy/curly hair and it’s been humid around here- which is rare in northern Nevada- and despite that, my hair has been looking fabulous whether I let it dry and curl naturally or I blow it out straight. When I was in Elko, I used some other brand that I bought in a travel size and my hair was a mass of frizz the whole time I was there. I used all my normal styling products, so I am sure it was the shampoo! They’ve got some other coconut milk hair products and I can’t wait to try the full line. (Though, people might start trying to taste me.)
Next up, we have Aveeno Positively Nourishing Calming Body Wash. Calming certainly describes it. I love the smell of lavender and they’ve mixed it with ylang-ylang and chamomile- and it does smell as good as it sounds. It’s super moisturizing and it lathers up really rich and foamy- I love that because I always shave my legs with body wash and, of course, the creamier the lather, the better shave you get! It leaves a very nice, soft scent on my skin after I get out of the shower. And, of course, I love that Aveeno products are made with natural ingredients like oats, which are known for moisturizing and soothing the skin. Here is a form for a coupon for $3 off of any two Aveeno body products when you sign up for their mailing list.
So that takes care of our hair and our body wash, what about when we step out of the shower?
 Jergens Naturals Ultra Hydrating Daily Moisturizer. We have super low humidity here almost all of the time and boy, can you see it in your skin! My skin gets dry and ashy so easily. I have a hard time finding lotions that actually work all day to keep my skin moisturized. Commonly, I’ll put on lotion after my shower and within a few hours, I can scratch my name into my ashy skin. I FINALLY found something that works. And it’s made with 95% natural ingredients, yay! This lotion is so thick and rich, but it’s not greasy. It’s made with jojoba oil and agave extract, which are excellent and soothing natural moisturizers. And it smells great too, not too perfume-y and not chemical-y at all.
So there you have it, my three new favorite beauty aids right now. If you have some favorites, please share!
By the way, I’m not being compensated in any way for this post.
If you have a product that you’d like me to try out and review on my blog, please drop me a line at rrspangle@yahoo.com. I’d be happy to work with you!
I, just a few minutes ago, caught wind of “Bloggers Without Makeup Day”. I found out about it on The Bloggess, and it turns out it’s something that was started by Mummy Mayhem. It just so happens that I am not wearing any makeup today- so why not?
Yes, I wear makeup normally if I am going out. Occasionally, if I’m short on time, I’ll curl my eyelashes and slap on some mascara and that’s it. Most often though, it’s the whole works: foundation, bronzer, eyeliner, eye shadow, and mascara. (I’m not a lipstick girl… it feels weird. Chapstick is ok though.) But the thing is, I don’t hate my naked face. Really, it’s not that bad and I don’t know why I bother to even put mascara on if I am in a hurry. I really like Rebecca of a beautiful perfect mess‘s thoughts on this. She’s challenging her readers to go a day or even a week without makeup and then assess how they feel about their natural faces.
This is especially interesting because I watched my first ever episode of Jerseylicious this morning while I was waiting for my son to poop so that I could change him and work out uninterrupted and was thinking “WOW, look at that clown makeup! I wonder what they look like under all that”- and now I find Bloggers Without Makeup day. Weird!
So I’m up for it. Here is me, right now. This picture is totally untouched and this is what my hair looks like if I don’t blowdry it and then I wear it in a ponytail most of the day:
 Naked face! And I really don’t think it’s that bad. So why can’t I feel comfortable leaving the house just like this? I’m not sure. But I’m taking Rebecca’s challenge. I’m going to spend a few days leaving the house without makeup on and see how I feel about it.
Your turn… let’s see your naked face!
 My best friend and I were cruising through the natural foods aisle of the grocery store tonight and she mentioned to me that she’d read something about washing your face with honey, and how it makes your skin smoother and draws out blackheads. The thought really appealed to me. I love honey anyway, I use it in place of sugar as often as I can when cooking. I love it slathered on toast with butter, and in tea, and with cheese, and pretty much just straight up out of the jar. And I love the thought of using something that doesn’t have all the chemicals to clean my face. Plus, honey is known for its antibiotic and moisturizing qualities. So I researched it a little bit tonight and tried out my own honey facial.
WOW! My skin feels amazing! I’m going to keep on using it for a while and see if it helps my skin a little. I’m not normally prone to breakouts but I’ve been Zit Girl lately. I’m going to start using the honey to wash with in place of face wash and see if that helps.
Here’s what you do to wash your face with honey:
Take off your eye makeup first. Then wet your face with warm water. Pour about a teaspoon of honey into your hand and add a few drops of warm water to soften it. Rub over your face (not on your eyes) and massage well. Rinse face well with warm water. Pat dry.
To do a honey facial :
Wash your face with your normal cleanser and pat dry. Heat up about a tablespoon of honey just until it’s warm (don’t get burnt please!). Spread it thick on your face and let it sit for five minutes or however long you want. Rinse well with warm water (and a damp wash cloth if you want) and pat dry.
Or, buy some of this Manuka Honey Propolis Soap
UPDATE: It has now been one full week of washing my face with honey and I can honestly tell you, my skin has never looked better! It’s just glowing and so smooth. I don’t think I’ll ever go back!
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