Our family spends a lot of time outdoors during the summer. The late summer sun and hot weather is an invitation to stay up later and enjoy meals on the grill, summer snack boards, homemade popsicles, and evenings in the backyard. And with summer comes one thing none of us love: bugs and mosquitoes.

Ingredients

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DIY Homemade Bug Spray Mosquito Repellent (Essential Oils)

Say hello to a homemade bug spray that repels mosquitoes and other annoying insects. The easy recipe is budget-friendly, simple to make, and includes only 3 ingredients: witch hazel, oil or glycerin, & a done-for-you blend of essential oils (no need to buy multiple essential oils).

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Bug Spray Repellent, Homemade Bug Spray

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounces

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $5

Equipment

• 1 4-ounce spray bottle or larger

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup witch hazel or high-proof vodka
• 1 tablespoon vegetable glycerin fractionated coconut oil, jojoba oil, olive oil, OR aloe vera gel may be used instead
• 72 drops Plant Therapy's Shield Me Essential Oil Blend (suitable for ages 2-10+) OR Nature Shield (suitable for adults)
• 1/2 tablespoon pure vanilla extract Optional

Instructions

• Pour the witch hazel (or vodka) and essential oil blend of choice (either Sheild Me OR Nature Shield) into a 4-ounce or larger spray bottle. Add vanilla extract if using.
• Add the glycerin (or oil or aloe vera gel). Secure the lid on the bottle and shake to incorporate the ingredients.

To Use:

• Shake the bottle before each application. Spray the bug repellent on the skin, rubbing on the skin if needed. As with any homemade remedy, I highly recommend testing this spray first on a small area of the skin. Make sure your skin doesn't react to the essential oils before applying liberally.
• Store away from sunlight and use within 3 weeks.

Video

Notes

This is NOT a sponsored post with Plant Therapy. I’m a happy customer and love their oils. If you know of a similar essential oil blend by a different brand, feel free to use that. The key is to use a blend specifically created to deter mosquitoes and other bugs. 

Optional Vanilla Extract: There is some evidence to suggest that vanilla extract may deter bugs since mosquitoes, gnats, and other bugs hate its scent. If you want to add vanilla extract to this recipe, make sure it’s pure with no added sugars or flavorings. The only ingredients of pure vanilla extra are: vanilla beans and alcohol. I suggest adding about 1/2 tablespoon. 

Pregnancy: Citronella and eucalyptus are NOT recommended while pregnant. Always check with a professional before using any essential oils during pregnancy.

Easy Roll-On Recipe Variation

 If you’re short on time or ingredients the essential oil blend can easily be diluted with fractionated coconut oil (or another oil) and then applied directly to the skin. Use the recommendation on the Plant Therapy bottle for dilution and this dilution chart to figure out how many drops of essential oil per tablespoon of oil should be used. OR, you can buy a pre-diluted roll-on bottle of Shield Me or Nature Shield.

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DIY Shea Butter Lip Balm Recipe

The post Homemade Bug Spray Mosquito Repellent (Essential Oils) appeared first on Live Simply.

Here, at Live Simply, we focus on wellness from a natural approach. Part of this focus is what we put on and in our body.

When it comes to skincare products, which make up a large part of what we put on our skin, we focus on using products that are not only made with proven-to-be-safe ingredients but also ingredients that nourish and give to the skin.

If you’ve explored the world of clean, green, natural products–whatever the current buzz word is today for these products–then you probably know that many of these products are not exactly cheap or inexpensive. This is understandable as these products are made with ingredients that can be expensive to source and most products aren’t cut with filler ingredients like so many of the products on the market today.

Going the DIY route is many times more cost effective. However, sometimes this isn’t possible or you may just love the results of a particular product from a trusted skincare brand. I’ve found the best solution is to find balance between making some products and purposely splurging on products you absolutely LOVE and just can’t mimic at home.

For me, my splurges are on facial oils (True Botanicals, Laurel, and Blissoma are my favorite brands for this), face cleanser (OSEA is my favorite), and serums for specific skincare needs (for example I love the Intensive Repair Serum from Marie Veronique).

When it comes to DIYing, I save money by making most of my facial masks at home. I’ve found this is an easy way to save a few dollars and also play around with skincare ingredients. Today’s yogurt mask is one of my favorites to make.

Yogurt face mask benefits

I originally learned about using yogurt as a face mask from one of my favorite skincare brands, Marie Veronique. Marie is a chemist and an OG (original) in the green beauty world. She knows her stuff and her products are AMAZING!

Marie and Kristina Holey (her business partner) are big into education, particularly education about the microbiome of the skin and how to care for the skin in a way that nourishes and protects the ecosystem of the skin. Everything I’ve learned about yogurt masking comes from Marie.

Benefits of using yogurt on the skin…

• provides fatty acids, beneficial bacteria, and vitamins and minerals which can soften the skin and provide a glowy, rejuvenated appearance
• provides zinc to cool and calm the skin
• works as an anti-inflammatory which can be beneficial for the beginning stages of a breakout
• provides a very small amount of lactic acid (an alpha hydroxy acid) which can provide a very small amount of exfoliation (dissolving dead skin cells)
• while the lactic acid can provide a small amount of exfoliation, its biggest benefit is providing nutrients to help balance and stabilize the skin

Which yogurt is best for face masks?

The best yogurt to use for a face mask is full fat, plain, and organic. Also, make sure the yogurt contains active live cultures (this should be stated on the ingredient list), particularly strains of lactic acid bacteria or Bifidobacterium. Goat’s milk yogurt does contain more benefit, but I personally don’t purchase goat’s milk yogurt so I stick to cow’s milk yogurt.

An alternative is kefir (which is much thinner, more of a drinkable yogurt). I use kefir to make smoothies, yogurt tubes for the kids, and ranch dip.

If you are truly allergic to dairy, then it’s best to avoid dairy on your skin. In this case, choose a plain plant-based yogurt that contains active live cultures. You won’t get the full benefit like you would with a cow or goat’s milk yogurt, but there will still be some benefit due to the bacteria in the yogurt itself.

Yogurt mask tips and tricks

To apply a yogurt mask…

First, spoon 1-2 tablespoons of yogurt from the container into a small bowl. At this point, you can use the yogurt as-is for a face mask or mix it with an add-in that we’ll talk about in the next section.

Next, use your fingertips (or a mask brush) to apply a small amount of yogurt to the face, continuing to work until the face (and neck, if preferred) are covered. The mask should feel refreshing since the yogurt is cold–another benefit! Allow the mask to rest on your face for 20 minutes.

Finally, rinse the yogurt from the face using a warm, damp washcloth.

After using the yogurt mask, apply toner and your favorite moisturizer. The yogurt mask may be applied 1-2 times a week.

Yogurt mask customizations

You can use yogurt as-is for a face mask or you can mix it with other add-ins depending on the benefit you’re looking for. This is a great way to experiment with a DIY face mask. Here are a few suggestions that you can add to the yogurt before applying on the face. You can add one mix-in or multiple options together.

• Honey: Add a teaspoon of honey to the yogurt. Honey is particularly hydrating for dry skin.
• Cacao or cocoa powder: Add 1-2 teaspoons of cacao or cocoa powder for the antioxidant benefits.
• Lavender: Add a drop of lavender essential oil to soothe and calm the skin.
• Aloe vera gel: Add 1 teaspoon of aloe vera (fresh or I love this brand if you’re going with a preserved aloe) to soothe and calm the skin.
• Spirulina: Add 1/2 teaspoon of this edible bacteria that is rich in nutrients, antioxidants, and minerals.
• Turmeric: Add 1/2 teaspoon of this anti-inflammatory spice to help calm inflammation.

While all of these variations may be used as a face mask, when mixed with the yogurt base, the honey and turmeric mixtures also make for a great acne spot treatment.

More DIY skincare recipes

• Honey and Sugar Body Scrub: A hydrating and exfoliating body scrub.
• Honey and Aloe Facial Cleanser: An affordable DIY face cleanser. Great for most skin-types.
• Homemade Eye Masks: Calm and soothe puffy, tired eyes with cucumber and mint.
• Winter Minty Mocha Mask: A chocolate yogurt mask with a cooling peppermint tingle.

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DIY Yogurt Mask

A nutrient-rich face mask made with bacteria-rich plain yogurt. Use the yogurt as-is or mix the yogurt with your choice of add-ins to make a custom face mask.

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 face mask

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1-2 TB plain whole milk yogurt choose organic, if possible, and yogurt with active live cultures, particularly strains of lactic acid bacteria or Bifidobacterium (will be listed on the ingredient list)

Optional Add-Ins (choose one or multiple):

• 1 tsp honey hydrating
• 1/2-1 tsp cacao or cocoa powder antioxidant-rich
• 1 drop lavender essential oil calming and soothing
• 1 tsp aloe vera gel calming and soothing
• 1/2 tsp spirulina powder antioxidant and mineral-rich
• 1/2 tsp ground turmeric anti-inflammatory (will stain, so be cautious with towels and garments)

Instructions

• Add the yogurt to a small bowl.
• Stir in any additional add-in desired (from the list above), or just use the yogurt as a face mask.
• Use your fingertips to apply the yogurt on the face (and neck, if desired). The yogurt should instantly feel cool and refreshing on the skin as it will be cold.
• Let the yogurt rest on the face for 20 minutes.
• Use a warm, damp washcloth to gently remove the yogurt mask.
• Apply your favorite toner (I love rosewater from CocoKind) and moisturizer (True Botanicals or Blissoma facial oils are my favorite).
• The yogurt mask may be applied 1-2 times a week. 

The post DIY Yogurt Face Mask: Rejuvenating & Anti-Inflammatory appeared first on Live Simply.

If you’ve followed Live Simply for a while, you probably know that in the beginning days of the blog I shared a lot of homemade skincare recipes.

When we began our real food journey, which naturally brought about changes to our body and home products, there weren’t many companies making clean skincare products.

By “clean,” I’m referring to products made with non-toxic or natural ingredients, which are made by companies that are transparent about these ingredients. Because of this, I had to learn how to make my own products. I wasn’t going to let a lack of choices in the store stand in my way of making changes.

It’s encouraging to see the shift in the products available today. With the expansion of the internet and online bloggers and shops, it’s easier than ever to find clean skincare products. Now you can find makeup, nail polish, skincare products, and even cleaning products made with full transparency and safer ingredients.

Today, we have the choice between making a product or purchasing a product. That’s amazing! I welcome this choice.

Because of this, I’ve shifted my focus here on Live Simply from 100% homemade products (when it comes to skincare, body care, and cleaning) to also talking about store-bought options.

Today, most of the products I personally use come from companies, like True Botanicals, OSEA, and Marie Veronique. I recently shared my personal skincare routine here on the blog.

That said, there are some things that I still love to make: bath salts (for my weekly mama time ritual) and clay masks. And, recently, I’ve added eye masks to this list.

There are a ton of store-bought options out there, and a few that use more natural or non-toxic ingredients. My favorites include: 100% Pure and Acure. Store-bought masks can be pricey, particularly if you enjoy them on a regular basis like I do. That’s where homemade eye masks come into play.

Homemade eye masks only cost a couple of dollars to make, and that’s for over 12+ eye masks. The average store-bought mask set costs between $4-7, for a one-time use, so that price difference can’t be ignored. And that’s why I’m sharing today’s recipe with you. Plus, it’s super cool to think that you can make your own eye masks, right?!

You’ll also need cotton facial pads. You know, the cotton pads used to remove makeup or apply a facial toner.

To start, use a food processor or blender to blend the cucumber and liquid down to a mushy liquid substance. Since the mixture is super thick, the pulp needs to be strained into a sieve, leaving behind a cucumber juice.

Once you have the cucumber juice, cut the facial pads in half and line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Dip a facial pad in the cucumber liquid, one at a time, and transfer to the parchment paper. I usually get around 15-20 mask sets from this liquid. That’s a lot of future masks for only a couple of dollars.

Place the sheet pan in the freezer and freeze the eye mass for about 30 minutes, or until firm. Transfer the masks to a freezer-friendly container or bag and store in the freezer for future puffy eye relief.

Once your eye masks are stashed away in the freezer, they’re ready to use. Anytime you need some extra help in the eye area–something cool for de-puffing or extra hydration–just pull a set of eye masks from the freezer and apply under your eyes.

Now, here’s the thing. The eye masks are coming directly from the freezer, which is FREEZING cold. This means the masks are going to be FREEZING cold. Plus, they won’t be very pliable.

If you prefer, set the eye masks on the counter for a few minutes, until they lose that extra chilly factor and are easier to work with. I personally don’t mind the initial cold experience.

Also, at first the eye masks may not stick well to your skin. Just keep adjusting as needed until they stick well enough to not need any assistance. This may take some fussing at first, but I promise they will stick so you don’t have to hold them against your skin for 15 minutes. Nobody has time for that.

The goal is apply the masks when they’re cold and leave them on the skin as long as desired. I find the masks to be so soothing, once they stick, that I don’t want to remove them.

I find the masks to be very soothing and an instant wake-me-up in the morning, along with being super hydrating and incredible at de-puffing. There’s no limit to how often the eye masks may be used. I’ve used them as often as I feel the need for some pampering or de-puffing.

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Homemade Eye Masks

Create your own homemade, de-puffing eye masks with simple ingredients: cucumber and a liquid of choice (water, rose water, aloe).

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword eye masks

Prep Time 15 minutes minutes

Chill 30 minutes minutes

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cucumber no need to peel or remove seeds
• 2 TB liquid of choice such as: aloe vera gel or juice, rose water (or rose water), filtered water
• 6 mint leaves optional, or as many leaves as desired
• 8-10 round cotton facial pads I've purchased mine from Whole Foods. Most stores sell cotton facial pads.

Special Equipment:

• food processor or blender
• sieve
• medium bowl
• sheet pan
• parchment paper

Instructions

• Cut 8-10 cotton facial pads in half. And line a sheet pan with parchment paper (or wax paper--just something the frozen eye masks won't stick to). Set aside.
• Cut the cucumber into slices or chunks. The size doesn't matter, just make sure your blender or food processor can easily puree the cucumbers.
• Add the cucumber slices, liquid of choice (such as: rose water, filtered water, or aloe vera gel or juice), and (if using) the mint leaves to the food processor or blender. Keep in mind, my blender doesn't handle such a small amount of food well, so I go with a food processor. This will depend your blender.
• Blend the mixture until smooth (about 30-60 seconds).
• Place a sieve over a bowl. Pour the mixture through the sieve to separate the pulp from the juice. Discard the pulp. Alternatively, you could add a small amount of the pulp to honey or yogurt and make a facial mask. Just a thought for stretching this pulp even further.
• Place a halved cotton pad in the juice for just a couple of seconds. Remove the pad from the liquid and gently squeeze out any excess liquid. Then place the pad on the sheet pan. Repeat until you've used up all the liquid.
• Freeze the eye masks until solid, about 30 minutes. Then pull the frozen eye masks away from the sheet pan and place in a storage container or bag and freeze until needed.
• The eye masks will keep in the freezer for a few months (I'm guessing about 3 months, although I've used mine much faster).

To Use:

• Remove 2 eye masks (a set) from the freezer. Apply to the skin, under the eyes.
• The eye masks are coming directly from the freezer, which is FREEZING cold. This means the masks are going to be FREEZING cold. Plus, they won't be very pliable. If you prefer, set the eye masks on the counter for a few minutes, until they lose that extra chill factor and are easier to work with. I personally don't mind the initial cold experience. Also, at first the eye masks may not stick well to your skin, just keep adjusting as needed until they stick. This may take some fussing at first, but I promise they will stick so you don't have to hold them against your skin. Nobody has time for that!
• I find the masks to be very soothing and an instant wake-me-up in the morning, along with being hydrating and incredible at de-puffing. There's no limit to how often the eye masks may be used. I've used them as often as I feel the need for some pampering or de-puffing.

The post Homemade Cooling Eye Masks (For Puffy Eyes) appeared first on Live Simply.

The first natural makeup remover I used was plain ol’ coconut oil. At the time, I was new to the idea of using natural products on my skin, and coconut oil seemed to be–according to the internet– the answer to my every skincare need. Heck, coconut oil seemed to be the answer to every problem in life. Unfortunately, my skin wasn’t a huge fan of coconut oil.

After the coconut oil experiment, I moved on to a witch hazel blend, which worked very well.

In the spirit of experimentation, I eventually switched over to a new makeup remover option. This time, a balm.

The balm was honestly a mistake. A good mistake.

The balm was initially a boo-boo cream product that was created for a client’s website. With extra jars of perfectly good boo-boo cream (just beeswax, oil, and a bit of essential oil) sitting in my medicine cabinet, I tried using the cream as a makeup remover. Why not? The cream removed my makeup, including eye makeup. Soon, the cream (renamed to a balm) became my favorite makeup remover.

A few months ago, I got the itch to experiment again. This time, I began experimenting with a disposable wipe/facial pad option. The inspiration for this particular makeup remover came from my past experiences and the simple ingredients in my “medicine” cabinet.

I’ve now been using the wipes on a regular basis. After all the craziness of September (Hurricane Irma, evacuation, Alaska), I’ve been enjoying the convenience of simply opening a jar and pulling out a moist, ready-to-use makeup remover wipe.

Now, the question must be asked…

Which makeup remover option is the best?

Well, the answer simply depends on your own preferences, current season of life, and the ingredients you have on hand.

If you’re new to do-it-yourself beauty, and don’t want to purchase multiple ingredients or actually make anything, use 100% oil.

If you love using the oil, but want something that doesn’t drip, try the makeup remover balm.

If you’re looking for something that’s not super oily (although using 100% oil as a makeup remover doesn’t make your skin “oily”), try a witch hazel and oil makeup remover.

And finally, if you’re looking for an easy, ready-to use makeup remover (one that isn’t 100% oil-based), try today’s makeup remover option: Gentle Makeup Remover Wipes.

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Gentle Homemade Makeup Remover Wipes

A gentle witch hazel and aloe vera based makeup remover. Add facial pads/wipes to the solution to create a ready-to-use makeup remover option. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Makeup Remover Wipes

Prep Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 10 minutes minutes

Servings 14 cotton pads

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 2 TB witch hazel I’ve been using Thayer’s Original
• 1 TB aloe vera gel *
• 1 tsp sweet almond oil **
• 1/4 tsp castile soap I’ve been using baby mild

Special Equipment:

• 14 cotton facial pads
• 1 4-ounce jar with a lid***

Instructions

• Add the ingredients to a 4-ounce jar. Gently shake the jar to combine the ingredients.  
• Add the cotton facial pads to the jar, pressing the pads down in the liquid. The pads will absorb most (or all) of the liquid. Place the lid on the jar. Store the jar at room temperature. 

To Use:

• Remove a moistened facial pad from the jar and wipe the face with the pad to remove makeup. I use both sides of the pad. This recipe makes 14 wipes, so the wipes will need to be replaced, and a new solution made, every two weeks. Wash your face with a facial cleanser after using the wipes. 

Notes

*Look for aloe vera gel with minimal ingredients (just aloe and natural preservatives). Fresh aloe would be lovely, but it would greatly reduce the shelf-life of this product. I like Real Aloe (linked above) and Majestic Pure Aloe Vera. 

**Use your favorite nourishing/carrier oil, such as: grapeseed, jojoba, olive oil, etc. I like sweet almond oil. 

***The jar pictured is a 4-ounce Weck Jar. Small mason jars also work well.

The post Gentle Homemade Makeup Remover Wipes (Disposable, Travel-Friendly) appeared first on Live Simply.

I’ve discovered that a few basic ingredients may be used to create multiple skin and body-care products. Let me share just one example…

Once I gathered the supplies to make foundation powder and honey facial cleanser, I was able to make a soothing face mask and blemish spot treatment, dry shampoo (because #momlife), and a sugar scrub to exfoliate my skin. Not only have I been able to care for my sensitive skin with more natural ingredients, I’ve also been able save money along the way. Win-win!

One of the ingredients in my natural skincare “toolkit” is, clay.

Clay comes from the ground, so it’s incredibly rich in minerals. The minerals found in clay, along with its ability to absorb (toxins) and exfoliate the skin, makes clay an excellent skincare ingredient. There are a variety of clay options available. For simplicity sake, I tend to stick with just two clay varieties: kaolin clay and bentonite clay.

Kaolin clay is a very gentle variety of clay, so it may be used by all skin types.

Bentonite clay is my go-to clay for most skincare recipes. This clay has an electrical charge, which allows it to absorb toxins. Metal tools shouldn’t be used when working with bentonite clay. I like Redmond or Aztec brands. French green clay may be used in place of bentonite clay in most recipes.

I love to use clay, particularly bentonite clay, to make a weekly facial mask.  The beauty of making my own mask–versus buying a pre-made tube– is that I can tailor each week’s mask ingredients to what my skin needs, using bentonite clay as the base ingredient.

There are times when my skin really needs hydration, and that’s when I reach for honey and aloe. There are other times when my skin is breaking out (due to hormones or just the environment), and I need the astringent properties of witch hazel or apple cider vinegar. There times when I want to soothe and calm my skin, so I may add ground oats or yogurt.

My goal today is to provide you with a few ideas for making your own unique mask creations. The base ingredient in each mask is bentonite clay, although you could also try kaolin clay or French green clay (you would just need to decrease the liquid amount for kaolin clay since bentonite and French green clay swell). Feel free to adjust the amounts, below, to create your ideal mask.

Let’s get started!

Clay + Witch Hazel (or Apple Cider Vinegar) = Take that, Acne!   

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay with 1 tablespoon of witch hazel (or half water and half apple cider vinegar to equal 1/2 tablespoon of liquid). Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes. To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

I love to use this mask when my skin is congested and I’m breaking out. I’ve also used this mask as a blemish spot treatment.

Clay + Honey + Aloe = Soothing and Hydrating

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay, 1/2-1 tablespoon of aloe vera gel, and 1 teaspoon of raw honey. Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes. To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

This is my go-to mask. It helps to soothe and cleanse my sensitive, acne-prone skin. This mask is also gentle enough to use daily as an acne spot treatment, if needed. <–Maybe during that special time of the month ;).

Clay + Charcoal + Liquid = Detoxifying  

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay, 1 capsule of activated charcoal (about 1/4 teaspoon of powder), and 1 tablespoon of liquid (such as: aloe vera gel, water, or yogurt). Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes. To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

This mask is detoxifying, so I find it’s best to only use it occasionally (once a month). Too much of a detoxifying mask is too much of a good thing, in my skin’s humble opinion.

Clay + Oats + Liquid = Soothing and Calming 

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay and 1/2 tablespoon of ground oats in a small bowl. I grind old-fashioned rolled oats in a spice grinder. Another option is to purchase oat flour. Add enough water to make a spreadable paste (about 1-2 tablespoons). Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes. To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

This mask is another great option to cleanse and soothe the skin. I like to change this one up by adding 1-2 drops of tea tree essential oil (helps with pesky pimples), or replacing some of the water with honey.

Clay + Probiotic Yogurt = Probiotic Boost 

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay and 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt. Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes.  To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

This mask offers a wonderful probiotic boost to the skin (thanks to the good bacteria found in yogurt), and helps soothe the skin. I love to make this mask when I have just a tiny amount of yogurt left in the yogurt container.

Clay + Chamomile Tea = Calming 

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay and 1 tablespoon of room temperature chamomile tea. Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes.  To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

I love to brew myself a cup of tea and then add some of the tea to the clay. It’s a fun way to occasionally add variety to my weekly mask routine, and enjoy the relaxing benefits of warm tea (#self-care). If you’re not a chamomile tea person, try green tea instead.

Clay + Matcha + Liquid = Antioxidant Boost

Combine 1/2 tablespoon of clay, 1/4 teaspoon of matcha powder, and 1 tablespoon of liquid (such as: aloe vera gel, water, or yogurt). Apply to the face for 10-15 minutes. To remove the mask, wash your face with warm water and a washcloth. Follow-up with your favorite moisturizer.

Remember that matcha latte we made a few months ago? If you have any matcha left in your pantry or fridge, try adding it to the clay for a little extra skincare boost.

Finally, I use a natural facial moisturizer after applying and rinsing a facial mask.

The post 7 Unique Ways to Make a Clay Facial Mask appeared first on Live Simply.

As someone with sensitive skin, that can and will react to just about anything, I’ve had to learn how to tackle breakouts, naturally.

It wasn’t always that way, the natural part.

In fact, there was a time, just a few years ago, when my medicine cabinet was filled with every topical breakout treatment available, and my wallet was empty due to the huge expense of such treatments. Now, I cringe when I think about the ingredients many of those treatments were made with, yet, at the time, I trusted them because they were sold in the store. I trusted that they were safe.

With each new breakout, I would turn to a new product, because the last product just must have been all wrong for my skin (since nothing ever helped my breakouts). The more I experimented with products, the worse my skin would get, and the cycle of breaking out and purchasing new products would continue.

I never once stopped to think that my skin problems may be due to deeper issues, like hormones, stress or gut issues. I also never thought about the damage I might be inflicting on my skin by constantly changing my toxic-at-the-time skincare products and routines.

It’s taken me years to find a natural skincare routine that I love, and finally ditch all of my former products. Today, I keep my skincare routine consistent and simple: makeup remover balm, aloe and honey facial cleanser, homemade astringent, and oil moisturizer. That’s it! Occasionally, I’ll use a homemade scrub on my skin.

Even with a natural skincare routine, I still face that dreaded b word, especially around that certain time of the month, or during stressful times. I’ve learned that when I face breakouts, it’s time for me to stop and evaluate what’s going on with my body…

Do I need to get more sleep? What about water? Am I drinking enough water? Have I introduced any different foods into my “diet”? Am I under more stress right now? Am I taking care of myself? Am I consuming a fair amount of probiotics?

Many times, the breakout answer I’m seeking can be found in one of these questions.

And while I now acknowledge that breakouts may be caused just as much by the internal as the external factors, I also rely on a few external factors to help fight against a stubborn breakout. My favorite defense is a simple clay mask that’s made with simple ingredients, already found in my DIY skincare “tool-kit:” aloe, honey, clay, and essential oils. Let’s take a look at each ingredient…

Aloe: Aloe vera is a common ingredient used to treat sunburns due to its soothing and antioxidant properties. Since we know aloe is great for the skin, why not add it to a face mask for breakouts? Aloe may also help to reduce scarring, which, of course, can be an issue with breakouts. If you’re interested in some of the benefits of aloe vera for acne, this article is really insightful.

Raw Honey: Raw honey is simply honey that hasn’t been pasteurized. Due to the lack of pasteurization (heating), raw honey is naturally rich in antibacterial and probiotic properties. Honey is also gentle on sensitive skin, but tough enough to remove dirt and other impurities. If you can’t find raw honey in your area (although many stores/markets now sell raw honey, so take a look before dismissing this ingredient), pasteurized honey may be used. This article talks more about using honey for acne.

Clay: Bentonite clay is made from volcanic ash. The resulting clay is rich in minerals. When used externally, the clay may help to clarify the skin, unclog the pores, and reduce inflammation associated with breakouts.

Essential Oils: Two essential oils are added to this mask, lavender and tea tree essential oil, for their soothing and antibacterial properties.

Each ingredient comes together to soothe my irritated skin and fight against a stubborn breakout. I’ve used this mask as a weekly preventive facial mask (it’s gentle enough on my skin that I can use it two times a week, if needed), as well as a breakout spot treatment for just one area of my face or neck.

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Soothing Clay Mask For Stubborn Breakouts

This mask can be used on a weekly basis, or as an occasional mask for pesky breakouts. Clay is the base ingredient in this mask. I’ve left the clay choice up to you: French green, rhassoul, or bentonite. The mask may be used as a weekly mask, or used as a frequent spot treatment.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Clay Mask

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 facial mask

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 TB bentonite clay
• 1/2 TB aloe vera gel or fresh aloe vera gel from an aloe vera plant
• 1 tsp honey
• 1-2 drops lavender essential oil optional
• 1 drop tea tree essential oil optional

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl (you'll want lots of room to stir the ingredients), stir or whisk together the ingredients. It's important to avoid using metal when working with bentonite clay, so opt for a wooden or plastic spoon or fork.
• The mask should be wet and a bit lumpy. If the mask is too dry or hard to stir, add a bit more aloe vera gel until you reach the desired consistency.

Ingredient Notes

Once a month I like to use a charcoal face mask. The charcoal mask provides a nice skin detox every so often. The charcoal mask is a bit too much to use on a weekly or even bi-weekly basis, at least for me. This clay mask is gentle enough to use weekly.

When used a spot treatment, for an individual breakout, I like to use this mask once a day.

The post Soothing Clay Mask For Stubborn Breakouts (and Scars) appeared first on Live Simply.

If you’ve been around here for long, then you probably know that I have this constant love/hate relationship for my home state and current residence: Florida.

I regularly tell folks in other states that Florida is an amazing vacation spot. We have gorgeous beaches and sunsets. But I’m not sure anyone was ever supposed to permanently live in Florida, which of course, in 2016, thousands of us call Florida home. To live here means…

1. You get used to seeing roaches and giant bugs, everywhere.
2. You develop a deep and almost fearful respect for thunderstorms and the lightening they can produce.
3. You completely give up on trying to do your hair, or attempt a makeup routine, between the months of May and November. #humidity
4. You know that hanging out on the beach or at a park for longer than a couple of hours during the summer months (100°+ temperatures + extreme humidity) will result in buckets of sweat, a sunburn, frizzy hair (frizzy might be an understatement), and dehydration.

Maybe Florida isn’t that extreme, and maybe I’m over-exaggerating just a bit. But one thing is true: Once you’ve lived in Florida, you certainly develop an understanding of what the words hot, humidity, thunderstorm, roach, and too much sun truly mean. Of course, living in Florida (at least on the West Coast of Florida) also has major perks, like being minutes from the water and gorgeous beaches.

The sad fact is that we don’t make it to the beach as often as we’d like, just because life is busy with school, work, and just surviving the daily tasks of parenthood ;). So when it comes time for a family vacation, there are two options that always top our list for Florida vacation spots: the beach and Disney World. One is completely relaxing and the other, well, I’ll just let you imagine what Disney World is like in the summer.

For several years now, we’ve spent a week on Anna Maria Island for our family vacation. Anna Maria is very quaint (think: not touristy) and the beaches are absolutely gorgeous (think: white sand and clear water).

As we prepared for our beach vacation last month, I purposed to be extra prepared this year with sun protection, so I packed long sleeve bathing suits for the kids, hats, a large beach umbrella, and sunscreen (I purchased BeautyCounter’s sunscreen this year). I knew, even with the extra sun protection, that our skin was sure to get lots of intense sun exposure. With this in mind, I whisked together a few soothing ingredients from my DIY cabinet to create a soothing sunburn relief spray: green tea, chamomile tea, aloe, apple cider vinegar, and lavender essential oil.

Within two days of our vacation my sunburn relief spray was already being used. Because sometimes life happens and you don’t realize that you should have applied more sunscreen 30 minutes ago, or I missed a major spot of skin when I applied the sunscreen. #Yikes!

We kept the all-natural sunburn spray in the fridge the entire week of our vacation and brought it out each night after showers. The cool mist helped soothe our sun-parched skin and, I believe, also helped keep our skin from any crazy peeling that usually results from getting too much sun. I was so happy with the spray that I posted my recipe creation over on Instagram, and now I’m sharing this simple spray here on the blog.

Let’s take a look at the soothing ingredients…

Green Tea: Green and black tea contains tannic acid that may help to soothe a sunburn and reduce redness. Green tea also contains antioxidants. I’ve also read about people using straight-up (cooled) black or green tea directly on sunburns.

Chamomile Tea: I didn’t actually use chamomile tea bags, but rather, loose chamomile flowers. You’re welcome to use either one. Thanks to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, chamomile may help to relieve inflammation, and helps soothe the skin.

Aloe Vera: There is no end to my love for aloe vera in skincare products.  The American Academy of Dermatology recommends aloe for treating sunburns, and there’s a good reason why. Aloe is incredibly soothing and healing, so it’s ideal to use for skin that’s been exposed to a bit too much sun. Aloe vera is also moisturizing, which helps keep skin from drying out and then peeling. When purchasing aloe vera gel avoid the bright green variety with added artificial green coloring. Real aloe vera gel should be completely clear.

You could also use fresh aloe vera gel in this recipe. I prefer to use Real Aloe, which is the brand I keep on hand to make my homemade facial cleanser.

Apple Cider Vinegar: I decided to add this ingredient to my spray after reading that apple cider vinegar may help neutralize a sunburn. Since I didn’t want to bring a bottle of apple cider vinegar on vacation, I added a tablespoon of vinegar to this sunburn relief spray. I recommend skipping this ingredient if you don’t like the smell of vinegar.

Lavender Essential Oil: I added lavender essential oil to this spray to help heal our sunburns. The scent of the oil is canceled out in this spray by the overpowering scent of apple cider vinegar, so the oil is added for its soothing properties versus fragrance.

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All-Natural Soothing Sunburn Relief Spray

The cool mist helped soothe our sun-parched skin and, I believe, also helped keep our skin from any crazy peeling that usually results from getting too much sun. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Sunburn Relief Spray

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 cup

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup hot water
• 1 TB dried chamomile or 2 pure chamomile tea bags
• 1 green tea bag
• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel I like Real Aloe brand. I purchase it from our local health food store.
• 1 TB apple cider vinegar
• 10 drops lavender essential oil I like Plant Therapy or Aura Cacia.

Instructions

• Add the chamomile tea bags, or loose flowers, and green tea bag to the hot water, and steep for 10 minutes. Strain the tea bag(s) (and loose flowers, if using) away from the tea water. I use a cheesecloth when working with the loose flowers. If you're just using tea bags, simply remove the bags from the infused tea.
• Whisk together the tea, aloe vera gel, apple cider vinegar, and essential oil. Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a spay bottle. Store the spray in the fridge for 1 week. Discard after 1 week.

Notes

To Use: Shake the bottle, then spray the mixture directly on the sunburn area(s). Massage the spray on the skin. Repeat as needed.

Ingredient Notes

If you don’t plan to use the spray within a week then I recommend either freezing the extra, or reducing this recipe in half.

If you don’t like the smell of vinegar, which this product definitely has, then I recommend skipping the apple cider vinegar. You could also replace the vinegar with alcohol-free witch hazel. The vinegar scent won’t remain on your skin.

You’re welcome to use fresh aloe vera in this recipe since it will be tossed within a week, and it’s refrigerated. I prefer to use my bottled aloe vera from Real Aloe. If you don’t have any aloe vera gel on hand, you may also be able to use 100% aloe vera juice.

Orginally, I also added 5 drops of peppermint essential oil to my spray, but since I know many readers may be using this spray on younger children, I decided to leave it out of my posted recipe just to be extra safe.

The post All-Natural Soothing Sunburn Relief Spray appeared first on Live Simply.

Today’s DIY recipe, Soothing and Cleansing Charcoal Face Mask, has definitely made its way to the top of my What I’m Loving Right Now (mental) list.

This mask currently outranks my new found obsession with homemade cashew milk, weekend breakfast tacos, oatmeal and coconut chocolate chip cookies, and my spring moisturizer. And just in case you’re wondering, I’ve got you covered over the next few weeks with those recipe. Today, let’s talk about the face mask and its secret ingredient: activated charcoal.

A couple of months ago, I decided to take a peek inside my DIY cabinet in hopes of finding something “new” to add to my occasional clay face masks. As I skimmed the cabinet shelf, the little black and white bottle labeled activated charcoal stood out to me, so I decided to grab it along with aloe vera (you know I have quite a love for aloe vera!).

Now, a little disclaimer. I wouldn’t categorize myself as a hippie, despite my love for making some beauty and cleaning products at home and drinking kombucha. In fact, if we were to randomly meet on the street this afternoon, and you didn’t know anything about this blog, I’d like to think that you’d find my DIY ways very surprising. I just don’t have that hippie look. I know, that probably sounds very stereotypical, so hopefully you understand what I mean.

With that said, if I were to choose the one product in my DIY cabinet that is the most “hippie thing” I’ve ever purchased and used, activated charcoal definitely wins! I don’t think the average American family has a small bottle of activated charcoal just sitting around in their medicine cabinet.

Activated charcoal was first introduced to our family during a vicious food poisoning saga last year. After six hours of regular trips to the toilet (I know, TMI, sorry), I finally sent Dustin to the local drug store to find a product that a few of my natural friends highly recommended: activated charcoal.

When Dustin brought the bottle home I was scared to take the little black capsules inside. They weren’t exactly the friendliest looking little pills. After the seventh hour of food poisoning torture, I opened a capsule, sprinkled the scary powder in a glass of water, and then took a sip.

I know, this story probably sounds out of place for a beauty discussion, but I think all of this will start piecing together right about now…

After taking the activated charcoal, my vomiting sessions stopped.  I was shocked that such a scary-looking pill had so much “power” over my food poisoning. Once I was back to feeling normal again, I placed the bottle in my DIY cabinet and vowed to never go without activated charcoal in my home. #callmeahippie

For months and months, that bottle of activated charcoal sat in my DIY cabinet, just waiting to prove its usefulness beyond a bad a case of food poisoning.

So, what is activated charcoal? Why did it help end my vomiting? And why are we talking about charcoal and food poisoning in a face mask post?

According to Dr. Axe (which many other sources confirm), “Activated charcoal is a potent natural treatment used to trap toxins and chemicals in the body, allowing them to be flushed out so the body doesn’t reabsorb them. It’s made from a variety of sources, but when used for natural healing, it’s important to select activated charcoal made from coconut shells or other natural sources.” As described in my story, activated charcoal is sometimes used to help treat (food) poisoning. Dr. Axe goes onto to share that activated charcoal works through a process called adsorption, which he describes as “the chemical reaction where elements bind to a surface.”

Little did I know, when Dustin purchased the bottle of charcoal, that activated charcoal would eventually make its way into a homemade face mask recipe for my skin. But now, months and months later, it all makes perfect sense.

Just like the activated charcoal drew out the “bad guys” inside my body during my food poisoning saga, the same powder may attract (unwanted) dirt and oils on my face. And with the hot spring and summer months now here, something that provides a bit of extra cleansing/dirt-attracting power is definitely my friend.

So there it is, my friend, the story of how a scary-looking, hippie product became my favorite skincare ingredient of the season.

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Soothing and Cleansing Charcoal Face Mask

Activated charcoal has become a popular skincare ingredient due to its ability to draw out dirt and bacteria from the skin. To keep this mask gentle and detoxfying at the same time, I’ve used kaolin clay. The charcoal draws out impurities and the clay naturally exfoliates. 

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Charcoal Face Mask

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 mask

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 TB bentonite clay or French green clay
• 1/2 tsp activated charcoal 2 capsules
• 1 TB aloe vera gel

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl (you'll want lots of room to stir the ingredients), stir or whisk together the clay and activated charcoal powder (from inside the capsules). Discard the exterior capsules. It's important to avoid using metal when working with bentonite clay, so opt for a wooden or plastic spoon or fork.
• Add the aloe vera gel to the powder ingredients, and stir to combine. The mask should be wet and a bit lumpy (as pictured). If the mask is too dry or hard to stir, add a bit more aloe vera gel until you reach the desired consistency.

Ingredient Notes:

I use bentonite clay since I keep it on hand for face masks, foundation powder, and even bug bite relief. If you don’t want to use bentonite clay, try French green clay. You can learn more about both ingredients, here.

Aloe vera is a common ingredient in natural skincare products due to its soothing and antioxidant properties. If you’re interested in some of the benefits of aloe vera, this article from Mind Body Green is very insightful. It’s important to purchase a quality aloe vera gel that doesn’t contain a bunch of yucky ingredients. My favorite brand is Real Aloe (sold in health food stores and online). Since this recipe only makes enough for a one-time application, you may also use fresh aloe from an aloe plant in this recipe.

If you’d like to enjoy a relaxing aromatherapy experience with this mask, add 2-3 drops of your favorite skin-friendly essential oil with the aloe vera gel. I like to use carrot seed essential oil or lavender essential oil.

From my experience, the black charcoal powder easily washes off cloth surfaces once they are washed in the washing machine with laundry soap. After rinsing your face, your washcloth will probably look like it visited your garden and played in the mud. That said, I don’t recommend using your favorite white Anthropologie washcloth to rinse off this mask :).

The post Soothing and Cleansing Charcoal Face Mask appeared first on Live Simply.

Years ago, when it came to shopping for a face moisturizer, I would turn to the fancy bottles sitting at the speciality counters in department stores. You know, the kind of bottle with an ingredient list so long that you’re immediately sold on the idea that something extra special is about to happen. And since the ingredient list was so special and the bottle was always so pretty, I felt guilted into buying the product, This must be what my skin is missing! 

Since I certainly didn’t want to miss out on anything, I spent way too much on moisturizers that didn’t work as promised and were full of toxic ingredients. I was a marketer’s ideal customer: naive and hungry for a miracle product.

If you want to skip an expensive moisturizer and opt for a budget-friendly option, making your own moisturizer at home is the way to go! That’s what I’ve learned over the years. (Today, I choose to buy a moisturizer from one of my favorite natural skincare brands, but I still adore this recipe because it’s easy to make and works so well.)

When I first started my quest to seek out natural skincare products, there weren’t many store-bought options on the market. (That’s all changed today: the best 8 natural store-bought moisturizers). Coconut oil was all the rage. And one of its many uses includes moisturizing the skin, so I started using coconut oil as a face and body moisturizer. I loved that moisturizer, but I found that after some time, coconut oil was causing breakouts on my face. While the rest of my body did well with the coconut oil moisturizer, my face did not. Hello, pimples!

Since then, I’ve experimented with many different options for moisturizing my face, naturally. Some experiments have been absolute failures and others have been great successes (the successes have made their way to the blog: explore homemade body and face moisturizers).

When it comes to good skincare practices, it’s important to get to know your skin, pay attention to what works for you, and keep things simple.

Today, I’ll show you how to make one of my favorite natural face moisturizers from my DIY experimenting, using just aloe and oil.

Is aloe vera a good face moisturizer?

Aloe vera gel, taken from the inner gel of the Aloe barbadensis plant (aloe vera plant), is a natural moisturizer that offers natural hydration to the skin, so it’s an ideal ingredient to add to a skincare routine, whether you have dry skin, sensitive skin, acne, or aging skin. (Explore natural acne skincare products or aging skincare products.)

Aloe vera is an excellent natural beauty treatment and moisturizer. It’s rich in vitamins and minerals, antioxidants and phytochemicals, and has a soothing and healing effect on skin that makes it great for skin conditions like acne, minor burns, dermatitis, psoriasis and eczema. Aloe vera is a common ingredient used to treat sunburns due to its soothing and antioxidant properties.

In an article by Penn Medical, Aloe Vera: Not Just For Sunburns, Dr. Manasija Rath shares about the benefits of using aloe vera on the skin, “It contains anti-inflammatory chemical compounds — which reduce swelling — called anthraquinones. These chemical compounds promote healing and alleviate pain when applied to your skin. If your skin needs to heal, aloe may be a good option.”

We’re all exposed to free radicals and environmental conditions that can cause damage to skin over time: sun exposure, cold weather, wind, pollutants, etc. This is why a nourishing skincare routine, using nutrient-rich products, is so important. And aloe is a fantastic ingredient to add to this routine!

According to WebMD, “(aloe vera) increases collagen in wounds and scar tissue to help the skin heal faster, may prevent UV and gamma radiation damage, and helps stimulate both collagen and elastin fibers, boosting the elasticity of your skin.” Free radicals (which decrease collagen production), sun damage, and aging concerns are real. Aloe vera is an amazing ingredient for providing nutrients, naturally, to the skin. Nature truly knows best.

If you’re interested in some of the benefits of aloe vera, this article from Mind Body Green is very insightful.

When Buying Aloe Vera…

It’s important to purchase a quality aloe vera gel that doesn’t contain a bunch of yucky ingredients (artificial green coloring, etc.). My favorite brands are Real Aloe or Majestic Pure. Fresh aloe is also a great choice, but when you mix it with oil to make a moisturizer, you’ll need to keep the moisturizer in the fridge (which can be very cooling for the skin, so the coolness might be an added benefit).

Can I apply aloe vera on my face daily as a moisturizer?

I’ve used aloe vera on my face as a daily moisturizer without issue and haven’t found any studies that caution against the daily use of aloe vera.

According to WebMD, you can use too much aloe vera on your skin as a moisturizer. Aloe has enzymes that can exfoliate the skin and too much exfoliation can cause the skin to overproduce oils (which could lead to breakouts) and become overly dry. If you notice this is happening, or experience any skin sensitivity, listen to your skin and take a break from aloe as a moisturizer.

Of course, too much of anything is not good. In this aloe vera face moisturizer recipe (below), you’ll dilute the aloe with a nourishing oil, like jojoba or sweet almond oil. The oil adds moisture and helps balance out the aloe, making it a face moisturizer that could be used daily.

Will aloe vera make my face breakout?

Aloe vera should not cause breakouts on the face, as it’s known for its healing properties. Aloe vera is actually used to calm breakouts. Aloe may be used to make a soothing breakout mask or mixed with aloe and honey to create a face cleanser that is soothing and gentle.

The bottomline: Aloe will not cause breakouts and it’s a great option for calming any breakouts currently on the face and improving the texture of skin.

3 homemade aloe vera products to add to your skincare routine

Aloe is one amazing natural skincare ingredient! Besides this aloe vera face moisturizer, here are 3 of the best DIY aloe products to add to your skincare routine:

• Soothing Clay Mask for Stubborn Breakouts and Scars: Use this mask, made with honey, clay, and aloe vera, on a weekly basis, or as needed, to calm and detoxify the skin.
• Aloe and Honey Face Cleanser: Combine soothing aloe vera and honey to make a simple and effective face cleanser.
• Gentle Homemade Makeup Remover Wipes: Use aloe vera, combined with a nourishing oil, castile soap, and witch hazel to make makeup remover pads.

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2-Ingredient Aloe Vera Face Moisturizer

A homemade combination of aloe vera gel and skin-nourishing oil makes a gentle face moisturizer that saves money and nourishes the skin.

Course DIY

Cuisine Body

Keyword Aloe Facial Moisturizer, aloe vera face moisturizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 4 ounce bottle

Author Kristin Marr

Cost $11

Equipment

• 4-ounce bottle with a dropper

Ingredients

• aloe vera gel
• jojoba oil or other nourishing oil: grapeseed, sweet almond, apricot kernel, argan, or tamanu.

Instructions

• In a small bottle (I use a 4-ounce glass bottle with a dropper), combine the aloe vera and nourishing oil in equal amounts. Feel free to play around with the ratio that works best for your skin.
• Shake the bottle to combine the mixture. If you'd like to add additional ingredients, I suggest adding a small amount of vitamin E oil or a few drops of your favorite skin-friendly essential oil (I love lavender, tea tree, or carrot seed).

To Apply:

• Before use, vigorously shake the bottle for a few seconds to combine the ingredients. Then, place a small amount of aloe moisturizer on (clean) fingertips and massage the moisturizer on the face.

Notes

How to choose the best oil for your skin: Jojoba is most like the oil our skin naturally produces, so it's ideal for most people. Grapeseed or sweet almond oil are known for being very light and gentle oils, so they may be a great choice for many folks who don't want something very heavy. You can even use coconut oil to create a facial moisturizer (find my recipe here, which I use after shaving), if your face does well with coconut oil; however, coconut oil can clog pores and cause breakouts on the face. 

 

Combining aloe and oil is much like combining water and oil, so it's not a natural combination that easily blends together. Despite their differences, I've found the aloe is the perfect "lightening" agent (with great skincare benefits) for the moisturizing oil. To get around the oil and water issue, I simply shake my moisturizer bottle before I use it. With a good, vigorous shake, the aloe vera gel and oil come together to create a light moisturizer that sinks into my skin.

The post 2-Ingredient Aloe Face Moisturizer appeared first on Live Simply.

Simple. Soothing. Multi-Purpose.

Those, my friend, are the words that perfectly describe today’s do-it-yourself recipe. Essentially, those are the words that describe just about every recipe on Live Simply.

Last week I shared a labor-of-love shaving cream recipe that was created after many months of testing, razor burn, clogged razors, whisking, dumping, and way too many dirty containers and bowls. I think the Live Simply motto should be, “I fail so you don’t have to.”

After many months of failures, a moisturizing shaving cream that didn’t clog my razor and didn’t cause razor burn was finally achieved. My legs are eternally grateful to know the testing days are over…ouch!

During my testing, I played around with a combination of aloe vera gel and shea butter, and then aloe vera gel and coconut oil. While neither one worked well as a shaving cream, I discovered through a happenstance situation that aloe vera and coconut oil make a fantastic after-shave “lotion.” The reason why makes complete sense. Let’s talk about that!

Aloe vera is a common ingredient used to treat sunburns due to its soothing and healing properties. When applied to my legs after shaving, aloe helps moisturize my skin, and it also reduces any potential inflammation that may result (although I don’t have this issue anymore with the homemade shaving cream thanks to the addition of baking soda). Aloe is pretty inexpensive considering that it’s basically a skin superfood that boasts antioxidants, minerals, and fatty acids. This short review on aloe vera and its benefits is very enlightening.

Coconut oil is basically the Windex of the “crunchy” world. Please tell me you’ve seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding. Do you remember the dad’s multi-purpose obsession with Windex? If you haven’t seen this hysterical movie, then I’ll catch you up to speed without ruining the plot. Basically, the dad thinks Windex is the cure-all for every ailment that plaques his family, so he’s constantly spraying Windex on his family members, around the house, etc. Coconut oil is like Windex in today’s natural world. If you have a problem, coconut oil is usually the quick-fix recommendation on Pinterest and blogs.

Side note: I would love to introduce the dad to my homemade Windex-alternative recipe! 

This may come as a shock, but here goes…

I personally don’t believe coconut oil is a cure-all for everything under the sun. To be honest, I don’t actually use a ton of coconut oil in my home, but I do keep a large tub around for an occasional use, like frying plantains and homemade deodorant.

Coconut oil is a great moisturizer when you need something soothing and simple, although I don’t prefer it for a daily moisturizer since my face isn’t a big fan of this natural product. When coconut oil is paired with aloe vera gel, the final product is a simple “lotion” that’s soothing, refreshing, and moisturizing. Aloe vera gel and coconut oil are a wonderful natural combo that may be used after shaving, or after a long day in the sun (trust me, I’m a Florida gal ;)). If your skin loves coconut oil as a daily moisturizer, then today’s recipe may be a great daily product to include in your natural skincare routine.

To start the weekend, I’m assigning you three homework assignments (I was a first grade teacher before my mom and blogging days…it’s just in my nature):

1. Make the switch to a homemade or “more natural” shaving cream, which means you’ll need to read last week’s post.
2. Make this soothing moisturizer, and use it after shaving or enjoying time in the sun.
3. Watch My Big Fat Greek Wedding. And enjoy these crock-pot tacos while you’re watching.

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Soothing Aloe and Coconut Oil Moisturizer

Aloe vera gel and coconut oil are a wonderful natural combo that may be used after shaving, or after a long day in the sun. If your skin loves coconut oil as a daily moisturizer, then this recipe is a great daily product to include in your natural skincare routine.

Course Homemade

Cuisine Beauty, Body

Keyword Coconut Oil Moisturizer

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 oz

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1/8 cup aloe vera gel
• 1/8 cup coconut oil soft

Optional Add-In Ingredients:

• 1/2 tsp vitamin E oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil or lavender essential oil

Instructions

• Whisk together the aloe vera gel and coconut oil.
• Add any "add-in ingredients" above and stir to combine. Store in an air-tight container for up to 2 weeks.

To Use:

• After Shaving: I use this moisturizer after shaving my legs. I simply dry my skin with a towel, and then apply this moisturizer on my legs. The aloe and coconut oil mixture are incredibly soothing and moisturizing after a shave.
• After Sun: This moisturizer is also very soothing to use after spending time in the sun. As mentioned above, this moisturizer may also be used as part of a daily skincare routine.
• Daily Body Moisturizer: This may be used as a daily body moisturizer. Coconut oil can clog facial pores, so it's best to use a moisturizer without coconut oil (like this shea butter facial moisturizer).

Notes

This recipe makes a very small amount. The moisturizer is very easy to whisk together, so I recommend making this moisturizer in small batches. When the moisturizer sits for a long period of time, the aloe and coconut oil may separate, which is just annoying (not a harmful reaction).

Aloe Vera Gel Note: You can use fresh aloe in this recipe, but you’ll need to refrigerate the mixture which will cause the coconut oil to harden and probably separate from the aloe. I prefer to use a store-bought aloe.

More Natural Moisturizers

SEE ALL MOISTURIZERS

How to Make DIY Lip Balm (3 Ingredient Recipe)

8 Best Natural Face Moisturizers For All Skin Types and Budgets

Homemade Cooling Eye Masks (For Puffy Eyes)

Homemade Shea Butter Cream Facial Moisturizer

2-Ingredient Aloe Face Moisturizer

DIY Homemade Facial Serum

The post Soothing Aloe and Coconut Oil Moisturizer (Multi-Purpose) appeared first on Live Simply.

I’ve been anxiously waiting to share today’s recipe. Let’s start with a little story…

Last month, Dustin purchased a surprise birthday present for me: a spa day! Dustin’s not a big gift person, so the fact that he took time to look for a naturally-minded local spa, check out spa ratings, and secretly make an appointment for me was a huge deal. I was so grateful and excited for my big spa day, until I arrived at the spa and discovered that a facial was in the package.

I’ve received facials in the past, and each experience has been less than desirable. In fact, every facial has felt like nothing more than a chance for the spa to sell me expensive beauty products. Not exactly relaxing or fun! I was super skeptical about getting a facial, but I knew the hard work Dustin went through to create the spa experience, so I decided to go through with the appointment.

A few minutes into the facial, the gentle esthetician inquired about my skincare routine, “What products do you use on your skin?” I hesitated for a few moments.  I figured the relaxed environment might make my delayed response seem intentional. Should I tell her the truth?  Friend, I was fearful to admit that I use “green beauty” products. I was afraid of her reaction to such a radical idea. Silly, right?!

A few minutes later, I replied and told her all about my green beauty skincare routine. The esthetician, Gen, softly voiced her encouraging words, “That’s wonderful! Amazing!” Suddenly, I felt comfortable to discuss skincare with Gen. She then asked about my skincare concerns, to which I replied, “I would love to do something about the scars left on my face from my past skincare issues, and the brown spots. Ugh, those brown spots that appeared with my second pregnancy.” Gen offered a solution, which she claimed would dramatically improve my blotchy skin and scars: a vitamin C serum.

Gen knew her stuff, so I decided to act on her advice. But the more natural vitamin C serum the spa sold cost $85 for a 2 ounce bottle, so I passed on the product and decided to research a possible homemade solution.

After a few hours online, I discovered that making a vitamin C serum at home is 100% doable and pretty inexpensive compared to spa brands. I purchased vitamin C powder from my health food store, and started playing around with various ingredient combos using 90% base ingredients and 10% vitamin C powder.

To make a loooong story shorter, let’s talk about my results…

After over one month of using my Homemade Vitamin C Serum in my regular skincare routine (my aloe and honey cleanser, toner, and moisturizing oils), the overall appearance of my skin has significantly improved! My skin feels smooth and soft. Plus, the blotchy dark spots and scars appear to be fading. Thank you, Gen, for your recommendations. And Dustin, feel free to book another spa day.

Benefits of Vitamin C

Vitamin C is something that’s naturally found in the makeup of our skin, particularly on the dermis and epidermis. I know, flashbacks to Anatomy and Physiology 101, right?!

Vitamin C plays an important role in skin health due to its antioxidant properties. Just think about everything our skin must work to fight against. Vitamin C aids in the repair and renewal of skin cells. This repair and renewal helps keep our skin looking youthful and healthy. From my reading, this is a natural process that’s continually occurring within the cells of our skin particularly when we sleep. Our skin is very smart. But sometimes our skin needs a bit of help, especially as we age or experience major life events like pregnancy or too much sun, so adding vitamin C to a skincare routine may help someone like myself–a gal frustrated with brown spots and scars. This post explains more about the benefits of using a vitamin c serum on the skin.

According to Gen and my online research, it’s important to apply a serum to the skin for 3 months to see noticeable results. So far, I’ve been using my Homemade Vitamin C Serum for a little over a month, and have been impressed with the results. Some sources encourage starting with a ratio of 5% vitamin C powder and 90% base (water and aloe are my “base” ingredients), then increasing to 10% vitamin C powder and 90% base, and finally 20% vitamin C power and 80% base. I’ve been consistently using the same percentage from the start, but feel free to use my ingredients and work out the math to meet your own skincare needs. My formula is roughly 16% vitamin C powder and 84% water and aloe.

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Homemade Vitamin C Serum

Vitamin C plays an important role in skin health due to its antioxidant properties. Just think about everything our skin must work to fight against. Vitamin C aids in the repair and renewal of skin cells. This repair and renewal helps keep our skin looking youthful and healthy. 

Course Homemade

Cuisine Beauty

Keyword Vitamin C Serum

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 2 tablespoons

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 tsp vitamin C powder
• 1 tsp filtered water
• 1 TB aloe vera gel + 2 tsp, I think aloe juice may also work in this recipe. I haven't personally tried aloe juice in my serum, yet.
• 1/4 tsp vitamin E oil optional

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the vitamin C powder and filtered water. Whisk the ingredients until the vitamin C powder is completely dissolved. Once dissolved, stir in the aloe vera gel and vitamin E oil.
• Pour the serum into a dark amber bottle (a funnel helps). Store the serum in the fridge for 1-2 weeks. Around the two week mark you may notice the serum's pH level change*. Your serum may have a different color and consistency, depending on the vitamin C powder and aloe used to make this recipe. My vitamin C powder is pink, but many are white.

Notes

To Use:

 

Before bed, wash your face, then use a toner (if you use one), followed a small amount of Homemade Vitamin C Serum, and then a moisturizer. Gently shake the serum bottle before each use. The serum will be thick. In the morning, rinse your face before applying makeup and/or stepping out the door. Vitamin C Serum shouldn't be used during the day due to sun exposure.

Recipe Variations:

I’ve played around with the recipe variations over the past month. Vitamin C serum can feel a bit dry on the skin, so I like to add the aloe and vitamin E oil to help compensate for this drying effect. I’ve also used this ratio: 1 tsp vitamin C powder, 1 TB each: water and aloe vera gel. The trick to this ratio is applying a fair amount of moisturizer before the serum fully dries on the skin since it can leave your skin feeling dry at first. I personally prefer the recipe above, with the extra aloe and vitamin E oil, but both have produced the same overall result for my skin. If your skin is irritated with my recipe then decrease the amount of vitamin C powder at first (use 1/4-1/2 teaspoon) and slowly work your way up to more, if desired.

Many sources call for using vegetable glycerin versus aloe, but I found glycerin to be very sticky on my skin. If you have glycerin on hand, it may be subbed for the aloe.

pH Testing:

According to my research, an ideal vitamin C serum should have a pH of 3. For reference, a pH of 7 is considered neutral.  I purchased a set of pH testing strips from Amazon so I can test each batch of serum. Vitamin C has a very a short life span. The serum may begin to fluctuate in pH when it’s no longer suitable for use on the skin. A change in pH may result in more harm than good when you apply the serum to your skin. So far I haven’t had any issues with pH since I make a batch of serum every 1-2 weeks. At-home pH strips are really easy to use, so if you’re interested in testing the pH, I recommend purchasing a test kit.

The post Homemade Vitamin C Serum appeared first on Live Simply.

I’m going to keep today’s post super short, like Live Simply history-making short. Why? Two reasons:

Reason 1: I know we are all super busy right now. Busy with gatherings, making treats (have you made the sugar cookies yet?), and wrapping presents.

Reason 2: I’m just beginning to make homemade presents and shop from my Christmas list. Talk about major procrastination this year. Despite my procrastination, I have a plan and my calendar space marked off, so present making and shopping officially starts once I hit publish on today’s post.

Today’s post is the last post I plan to share on Live Simply for 2015. At end of each year, I take two weeks off from officially blogging to spend time taking care of the back-end tasks that are so important for a blog, but often get neglected due to content creation, recipe development, writing, and photography.

During this two week break, the Live Simply Team will be working hard to improve the blog: making it more user-friendly when it comes to navigation, updating old photos, etc. You may have noticed that we’ve already started to make a few (better) changes around here, like my new shiny profile photo on the sidebar and new family pictures on the homepage slider (like the one below).

We’ve also been working hard to offer new lifestyle resources for the Live Simply Family. As a result, I’m excited to share that the Real Food Crash Course has been updated! The improved course offers new recipes, prettier pictures, and even a couple of extra printables. This crash course is designed to help you jump-start a real food lifestyle with real food tips and seven recipes to get you started.

I’m also excited to share that we’ve developed a brand new crash course for natural cleaning. This free crash course is designed to help jump-start your natural cleaning journey with a few tips and three easy cleaning recipes. If you’re interested in receiving both crash courses, subscribe to the Live Simply Family Newsletter.

So while the blog may be quiet as far as new content goes, I’ll still be here, working hard to make improvements on the back-end of the blog and interacting via comments. I’m also excited to spend this break working on some new content (food recipes and do-it-yourself natural living tips and recipes) from my ever-growing “to share” list. It’s a long list, friend!

Now, onto today’s recipe: Nourishing Honey and Sugar Body Scrub.If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea or a simple way to nourish your skin during this dry season, I encourage you to make a jar (or two) of this incredible body scrub. This skin-loving scrub is both invigorating and nourishing, and it can be used on your entire body. I know I said today’s post will be short and I’m already up to 491 words…496 now, so let’s take a really quick look at the ingredients…really quick!

Sugar: Good ol’ sugar is a humectant which may help the skin retain moisture. Sugar also contains glycolic acid which may help encourage cell turnover and fresh-looking skin. Not all sugar is created equal when it comes to homemade skincare. I highly recommend using a softer sugar (such as: organic white or brown sugar) for homemade scrubs. The abrasive nature of more natural sugars (sucanat, coconut sugar, raw sugar) may leave the skin irritated and red.

Raw Honey: Raw honey is simply honey that hasn’t been pasteurized. Due to the lack of pasteurization (heating), raw honey is naturally rich in antibacterial and probiotic properties. Honey is also gentle on sensitive skin, but tough enough to remove dirt and other impurities. If you can’t find raw honey in your area (although many stores/markets now sell raw honey, so take a look before dismissing this ingredient), pasteurized honey may be used.

Aloe Vera Gel: Aloe vera is a common ingredient used to treat sunburns due to its soothing and antioxidant properties. Since we know aloe is great for the skin, why not add it to a body scrub? Aloe vera provides soothing and moisturizing benefits.

Olive Oil: Yep, the same ingredient used to make homemade salad dressing may also be used on the skin. Olive oil contains three important antioxidants which may help keep the skin from aging prematurely. Oil is also known to help cleanse the skin by drawing out unwanted oils.

Bottom line: This homemade scrub is good stuff! So make a jar for yourself (as a little end-of-the-year pampering present) and a few jars for the special ladies in your life.

See you in 2016, my friend!

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Nourishing Honey & Sugar Body Scrub

Now, onto today’s recipe: Nourishing Honey and Sugar Body Scrub.If you’re looking for a last minute gift idea or a simple way to nourish your skin during this dry season, I encourage you to make a jar (or two) of this incredible body scrub.

Course Homemade

Cuisine Body

Keyword Sugar Body Scrub

Prep Time 5 minutes minutes

Total Time 5 minutes minutes

Servings 1 1/2 cups

Author Kristin Marr

Ingredients

• 1 cup organic white sugar or brown sugar–The sugar should be soft not large granules.
• 1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
• 3 TB honey
• 1 TB aloe vera gel Look for a gel that doesn't require refrigeration.
• 10 drops lavender essential oil or other skin-friendly essential oil like rosemary essential oil.

Instructions

• In a medium-size bowl, combine all the ingredients.
• Store the scrub in an air-tight container in a cool, dark place (the linen closet or medicine cabinet).

To Use:

• Apply a tablespoon at a time to your hands. Gently massage the scrub over your entire body for 30 seconds. Rinse the scrub from the skin with water and a washcloth.

Notes

When you introduce water into a product without a preservative you always run the risk of introducing bacteria, so use a spoon to scoop this scrub into your hand (wet hands = water in the scrub).

The post Nourishing Honey & Sugar Body Scrub appeared first on Live Simply.