DIY Beauty | How To Dupe LUSH Lip Scrub

As a professed Lush Cosmetics addict, I am always searching for fun and easy dupes of my favorite Lush products.  As beautifully scented and amazing as their products are, sometimes I just love to see if I can make the products myself.

During the Winter months a great lip scrub recipe is perfect for treating those dry, cracked lips that are in desperate need of some TLC.  Lip scrubs help remove excess dead skin cells to reveal the healthy skin beneath.

DIY Lush Lip Scrub: Ingredients

Small Lip Balm Container

Peppermint Extract

1/2 tsp. Granulated Sugar

1/2 tsp. Olive Oil

Optional: Food Coloring of Choice

DIY Lush Lip Scrub: Recipe

1. In a small bowl, mix together the granulated sugar and olive oil.

2. Add a small drop of peppermint extract and mix into the sugar and olive oil.

3. Optional: Add 1-2 drops of food coloring of choice into the mixture.

4. Add mixture to your small lip balm container!

DIY Lush Lip Scrub: How To Use

1. Using clean hands use your index finger to scoop out some of the scrub.

2. Apply scrub to clean, dry lips using slow and soft circular motions for approximately one minute.

3.  Using a warm wet washcloth gently wipe away the scrub from your lips.

4. Apply a lip balm or moisturizer to lock in hydration!

DIY Lush Lip Scrub: Tips & Tricks

• If you choose to color your lip scrub, make sure to choose a light pink or "natural" shade, as it may stain your lips.
• Go to the Dollar Store for your lip balm container.  They have small plastic or acrylic containers, as well as cute tiny mason jars you can use.
• Choose a different "extract" to make different flavors.  Try almond, vanilla, or chocolate!

Interested in MORE Lush product dupes?  Check out my post for How To Dupe Lush Coalface!  Also, follow me on YouTube for more DIY beauty!

  

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DIY Beauty: Amazing and Affordable Eye Makeup Remover

Makeup removing oils and solutions from beauty stores or drugstores may work great, but it is unnecessary to spend money on a pre-made product that you can easily make at home.  This eye makeup remover solution is gentle on the sensitive skin around your eyes.  The skin around your eyes is so delicate that even normal rubbing or wiping can damage its elasticity and cause wrinkles.  Take care of your skin, and your wallet, and make your own eye makeup remover!

 DIY Eye Makeup Remover: Ingredients

Small Empty Container

1 1/2 Cups of Water

2 Tbsp. Baby Shampoo (Tear-Free)

1/4 Tsp. Baby Oil

Large Round Cotton Pads

DIY Eye Makeup Remover: Directions

1. Your small empty container should have a secure lid.

2. Mix water, baby shampoo and baby oil together in your container.

3. Replace the lid and shake well!  Remember to shake up ingredients before each use.  The oil and water will separate between uses.

4. When you are ready to use pour a small amount of the mixture onto a cotton pad and wipe off your eye makeup.

Tricks and Tips

• Re-use containers that you were planning on recycling anyway, such as a baby food container or old hot sauce bottle, to use as your small empty container.  Remember to wash thoroughly as you do not want these food products going into your eyes.

• To avoid causing wrinkles to your under eye area with wiping and pulling, soak part of a cotton pad with the makeup remover solution and place gently over your eye makeup.  Allow this to sit for a few minutes to break up your eye makeup.  Gently massage your eye starting at the top of your lid to the bottom of your lashes in order to remove the makeup.

I love creating my own DIY beauty products because it saves me money to purchase the makeup that I really want.  Life is filled with trade-offs and choices and, fortunately, this is a very easy one!

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DIY Beauty: Affordable, Easy and Natural Eyelash Growth Serum

 

Between curling my lashes, apply mascara, applying false lashes with lash glue, and rubbing it all off at night, my eyelashes definitely need some extra love and care.  Very few people are blessed with long and thick natural eyelashes, and most of us have to resort to other methods to make our lashes look amazing.  Lash growth and thickening serums can be expensive, and contain chemicals or ingredients that you do not necessarily want to have so close to your eyes.  This DIY recipe is easy and contains natural and affordable ingredients.

Almond oil is widely known for providing numerous benefits to hair, skin and overall health.  It contains emollient properies, which soften hair cuticles and promotes the growth of long and thick eyelashes.  Almond oil also benefits the eyelid by restoring a normal pH balance to the skin and improves blood circulation.  Fragile and non-hydrated eyelashes cannot grow, and all of the properies within Almond oil increase the growth of healthy eyelashes.

Castor oil has many noted benefits for both hair and skin, and has been used in skin care products for decades.  Castor oil is high in ricinoleic acid and omega 9 fatty acids.  The ricinoleic acid has naturally occuring anti-fungal and anti-bacterial properties, and the thickness of the castor oil can prevent hair loss by coating the hair and preventing it from falling out.  Omega 9 fatty acids nourish the hair, the hair follicle, and the surrounding skin.  It has the capability of penetrating deep into the skin and hair to provide nourishment to the pores and follicles that produce hair.

Vitamin E oil is a truly amazing beauty supplement.  It can be used to treat wrinkles and brown spots caused by aging, soften dry and cracked cuticles, and soothe dry lips and rough skin.  Vitamin E is filled with antioxidants that can stimulate capillaries and trigger hair follicles into their hair growing phase.

DIY Eyelash Growth Serum: Ingredients

Almond Oil

Castor Oil

Vitamin E Oil

DIY Eyelash Growth Serum: Directions

1. You can make as much or as little serum as you would like.  If you would like to make extra serum, grab a small glass container with lid; if you would like to make a small amount of serum, grab an empty mascara tube.

2. Mix equal parts of Almond Oil, Castor Oil, and Vitamin E Oil into your small container or tube.

3. If you have your serum in a small container, apply a small amount before bed every night with a makeup swab or puff or a disposable mascara wand (my preferred method).  You only need a very small amount of product, and less is always more when it comes to oils.  You do not want oil dripping down your face while you sleep at night.

4. If you have your serum in an empty mascara tube, dip the mascara wand into the tube and scrape off most of the excess oil (see above for further instruction).  Again, you only need a very small amount of this product.  Apply to eyelashes, starting at the root and working your way up into the lash.

5.You may also apply this serum to your eyebrows if they are in need of growth and thickening.

6. Replace serum when it starts to look discolored and make yourself a brand new batch.

Don't forget! Use my discount code ASHLE33847N to get $5 off your first purchase using the Amazon App.

This last serum will stimulate those lashes and rejuvenate those frail hair follicles so that your lashes can grow long, strong and healthy!  Like any other type of treatment product, you need to use it consistently to see results, so be sure to apply this every night before bed to see the greatest benefits.

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DIY Beauty: How To Create a Simple Honey Face Wash

A homemade face wash that is not only cleansing, but also natural, convenient, and money saving; where do I sign up?  Lately I have been loving DIY skin care recipes, and my skin has never thanked me more for it.

Many of us already have raw honey in our kitchen and liquid castile soap in our bathrooms.  Raw honey has consistently been popular in natural and homemade recipes.

Raw honey is different from regular honey in that is has not been pasteurized, leaving much of the honey's naturally occuring vitamins, enzymes and antioxidants intact.  It is during the pasteurization process that many of these nutrients are lost.  Raw honey is also an effective treatment for acne.

Castile soap is different from many other soaps in that it is made with vegetable oil instead of animal fat.  Castile soap has been known to be of benefit to many skin conditions, including eczema and psoriasis, and can be used as a skin toner. 

The only ingredient you may not have already available in your house is a nourishing skin oil.  This can easily be found and purchased at any grocery store.   Nourishing oils, such as olive, almond, or argan, are a great way to infuse antioxidants and vitamins quickly into the skin.  It is ok to use nourishing oils on your face if your skin is already oily because they will not cause your skin to break out and are absorbed instantly into the skin.  Since oil dissolves oil, it will add a natural glow to your skin.

DIY Honey Fash Wash: Ingredients

1/3 cup Unscented Liquid Castile Soap

1/3 cup Raw Honey

3 tbsp. Distilled or Boiled Water

2 tbsp. Nourishing Oil

DIY Honey Face Wash: Directions

1. Grab an old soap dispenser (I know you have at least four in your linen closet behind old bath towels) and remove the top.

2. Add the water to the soap dispenser.

3. Add the liquid castile soap, honey, and oil.

4. Place the top back on the soap dispenser and shake all ingredients together until the honey appears fully dissolved.

5. Re-shake the dispenser every 2-3 days or in between uses to make sure the ingredients aren't separated.

DIY Honey Face Wash: To Use

1. Wet your face with warm water.

2. Dispense a small amount of the Honey Face Wash into the palm of your hand and apply to your face in circular massaging motions.

3. Rinse your face with water and pat dry with a hand towel.

4. Continue with your moisturizing and/or acne treatment routine.

It can be difficult at times to know exactly what we are putting on our face when we purchase pre-made face washes at the store.  More often than not, there are chemicals included in the ingredients that we don't fully understand.  With this DIY recipe you know exactly what you are putting on your face and what it is made of because YOU put it together!

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10 Tips on How To Achieve Healthy Winter Skin

Skin Care Tip #1: Take Care of Your Lips

During the cold and dry winter months you should maintain smooth, soft lips and prevent chapping.
I apply a good amount of lip balm to my lips every night before I go to bed.  I always keep several lip balms on me, in my purse, or in my car, and I am continually applying them throughout the day.  My hands down favorite is Aquaphor's Lip Repair and Protect.  It keeps my lips smooth and moisturized, and contains an added bonus of SPF 30 (more on why that is important below!).

One additional step you should take to protect your lips is to exfoliate, or remove the dry, dead skin.  Instead of purchasing a lip scrub I usually make my own with this DIY Easy and Natural Lip Scrub recipe.

Skin Care Tip #2: Moisturize, Moisturize, Moisturize!

Using oil-based moisturizers that include Vitamins C and E will keep your skin hydrated for longer than water-based moisturizers.  My go-to favorite for years has been Eucerin's Intensive Repair Dry Skin Lotion. It is ultra moisturizing, intensely hydrating, fragrance free, and will help protect your skin against the harsh winter weather.

Moisturize twice a day, even when you are tired and don't feel up to it.  I moisturize both body and face once in the morning and once in the evening.  You should always use a more gentle lotion for your face that is specifically designed to deal with this ultra sensitive area.  I have been using Clinique's Dramatically Different Moisturizing Lotion for many years, applying it to my face and throat in the morning before I apply my makeup, and in the evening after I wipe it off.

Apply a hand cream regularly and always keep some handy at your office desk, in your purse, and in your bedroom.  Don't forget to continue using SPF during the winter months, as the sun's UVA and UBV rays can still cause damage to your skin even through cloudy winter skies.

 Skin Care Tip #3: Drink Water Like It's Summer

 You skin and body is craves as much water during the winter as it does during the summer.  Drinking eight 8 ounce glasses of water per day helps our bodies maintain fluid balance, and rejuvenates and hydrates our skin. Water is key for your skin cell's ability to repair themselves and maintain elasticity.

Two weeks ago I purchased this Hydr-8 Time Marked Water Bottle in the color purple and is has made such a difference in my water intake.  It helps me feel hydrated throughout the day by allowing me to track my water intake in two hour increments.  I have felt more energized and hydrated during the day than I ever have before.

Skin Care Tip #4: Exfoliate

Exfoliating your skin 1-2 times per week will rid your body of excess dry skin, which tends to be a bigger problem during the colder months because our skin is exposed to more dry, cold air.  You can find exfoliating body scrubs in the beauty and skin care section of every store you walk in to, but I absolutely prefer to make it myself using this DIY Natural Coffee and Coconut Body Scrub recipe.  You can make a lot of it very cheaply, and the smell is amazing!

Skin Care Tip #5: Always Cover Up Outside

Prevent your skin from developing redness, dryness and cracking by wearing gloves.  Simple, right?  It's an extra step that goes a long, long way towards healthy skin.  Go to the store and pick out a pair that is not only fleece lined to protect your hands, but also cute and functional.  I purchased these North Face Denali Women's Gloves a few years ago when I went to the 2012 Presidential Inauguration in a frigid cold Washington, D.C., and it was a great investment.

Skin Care Tip #6: Invest in a Humidifier

Dry and itchy skin in the winter can be aided by adding more moisture into the air through a humidifier.  I use my Honeywell Console Humidifier at night on the lowest setting to help me breathe better and infuse humidity into the dry air.  This specific one is extra large and designed for multiple rooms, but there are plenty of smaller humidifiers on the market made for smaller spaces.

Skin Care Tip #7: Avoid Astringents

Astringents, such as those found in acne treating medications or products, can be very drying to the skin.  While it may not be reasonable for you to completely cut these out of your skin care routine, it may be best to at least try to cut back or find a natural alternative.  I have been using this DIY Rose Facial Toner recipe when I am in need of a gentle and cleansing astringent that will not dry out my face or cause flakiness.

Skin Care Tip #8: Avoid Hot Water for Long Periods

I've been guilty of it over and over again: standing in the hot shower on a cold day because it feels so amazing.  However, this is sadly not so great for your skin.  Avoid hot showers and keep your bathing time between 5-10 minutes, as too much hot water can dry out your skin.  Take a warm shower and use a gentle cleanser to wash up.

Skin Care Tip #9: Don't Use Makeup To Cover Up Dry Skin

Attempting to cover dry skin with makeup is one of the worst things you can do for your skin and your overall appearance.  If your face is dry and flaking, it will only look worse with makeup over it.  Makeup will adhere to those dry patches of skin like butter on popcorn (...yum...).  Exfoliate your face and continue to use a good moisturizer, such as the Clinique Dramatically Different Lotion I mentioned earlier.  My favorite exfoliating face mask is the Origins Clear Improvement Active Charcoal Mask, which deeps cleans to clear pores of dirt and debris, and leaves your face fresh and exfoliated.

Skin Care Tip #10: Eat Foods that are Healthy for You AND Your Skin

Food items, such as olive oil, avocados, grapefruit, broccoli, almonds, dark chocolate and green tea, all contain nutrients and antioxidants that will make your skin glow this winter season.   Sit down at night with a book and a cup of green tea, have a small handful of almonds as an afternoon snack, or spread some avocado on your toast in the morning.

 

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DIY Beauty: How To Create a Rose Water Facial Toner

Skin care is always at the top of everyone's beauty regime.  I love trying out new Do It Yourself beauty recipes for natural skin care tips and tricks.  Anything and everything with rose water in the ingredients have quickly become some of my favorite beauty products.

This natural rose water facial toner will leave your face feeling fresh and renewed.  It is perfect for dry or acne prone skin, and the ingredients are easily found in the natural or organic section of your local grocery store, and easily found online as well (links provided below!).

Rose water is beneficial to all skin types.  It has anti-bacterial properties that can gently relieve skin redness and inflammation, making it great for those with acne prone skin.  It's ability to retain the moisture makes it great for dry skin, and can aid in the softening of early signs of aging, such as under eye circles or small wrinkles.

Witch hazel is a natural astringent that helps to tighten tissues, treat acne, reduce puffiness, refine pores, freshen skin, and seal moisture in your skin.  Rose essential oil helps stimulate dry or aging skin.  Geranium essential oil helps to maintain the appearance of sensitive or tender skin. While Chamomile essential oil has therapeutic properties that can be used on the skin to alleviate minor skin problems, such as eczema, psoriasis, and itchy skin.

Rose Water Facial Toner

Ingredients

1/2 cup Rose Water

1 Tbsp. Witch Hazel

5 Drops Rose Essential Oil

2 Drops Geranium Essential Oil

2 Drops Chamomile Essential Oil

Directions

1. Combine all ingredients in a small bowl.

2. Mix well with a wooden spoon.

3. Store in a small glass bottle with top or lid.

4. Keep in the refrigerator for up to one month of future use.

How To Use

1. Prepare your skin by wiping away all makeup and washing as normal.

2. Pour toner onto a cotton pad and dab your face.

3. If you wish, you can exchange the lid for a spray cap and simply spray the toner onto your face.

 Get yourself into a DIY beauty routine!  Check out my DIY recipe for a Simple and Natural Coconut Oil Face Wash, and use this as a great was to infuse more moisture into your skin.  Also, if you're up for it try my DIY receipe for the Lush Coalface Dupe,a great cleanser for when your need a face wash that is deep cleaning and exfoliating.

 

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