How To Use The Beauty Benefits of Banana Face Masks

Banana is not just a fruit you can add to your morning smoothie, it's also something you can add to boost your skincare routine. Bananas contain many vitamins and minerals that make perfect additions to face masks.  Potassium hydrates and moisturizes, B Vitamins protect again free radicals that cause premature aging, and Zinc helps fight acne causing germs.  These masks will help keep skin smooth and prevent unwanted discoloration, aging and acne.

Banana Face Mask for Acne

Zinc: fights acne causing germs

Lectin: destroys acne and pimple causing bacteria

1. Mash 2 tablespoons of banana into a small bowl.

2. Add 1 tablespoon of baking powder and 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice to the banana.

3. Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face using your fingers or a mini spatula.

4. Leave the mask on your face for 10 minutes then rinse with warm water.

5. Repeat up to two times per week.

Banana Face Mask for Brighter Skin

Vitamin A: heals dry skin and fades acne scars and dark spots

Potassium: hydrates and moisturizes skin

1. Mash 2 tablespoons of banana into a small bowl.

2. Add 1 tablespoon of honey to the banana.

3. Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face using your fingers or a mini spatula.

4. Leave the mask on your face for 20 minutes then rinse with warm water.

5. Repeat up to two times per week.

Banana Face Mask for Anti-Aging

B Vitamins: protects skin against free radicals that cause premature aging

Vitamin C: aids in the production of collagen

Vitamin E: protects skin from UV damage and slows down the aging process

Amino Acid: strengthens skin's connective tissues and helps maintain elasticity

1. Mash 2 tablespoons of banana into a small bowl.

2. Add 1 tablespoon of plain yogurt and 1/2 tablespoon of lemon juice. 

3. Mix all ingredients together and apply to your face using your fingers or a mini spatula.

4. Leave the mask on your face for up to 30 minutes then rinse with warm water.

5. Repeat up to 3-4 times per week.

 Rich in antioxidants, phyto-chemicals and moisturization, adding banana to your skincare routine will naturally nourish and revitalize the sensitive and delicate skin on your face.  Its benefits don't stop at just face masks; add banana to your haircare routine and diet to improve overall health.

 

Want MORE skincare advice and tutorials?  Check out my YouTube channel!

    

Top 5 Best DIY Natural Skincare Remedies

 

 

While there are plenty of easy to purchase products on the market for skincare, often using the most natural ingredients will work just as well, if not better, on your skin.  Women have created and tried recipes for millennia to smooth, soften and perfect their skin, and many of the same food ingredients have been found to consistently work wonders.

These do-it-yourself natural skincare remedies are made with simple ingredients that you most likely already have in your kitchen, and allows you to create products at a fraction of the cost of purchasing in-store. 

Cellulite Be Gone

Ingredients:
1/2 cup coffee grounds
1 tbsp. olive oil

Directions:
1. Combine both ingredients in a bowl and microwave to warm for 10 seconds.
2. Standing over an easy to clean surface (I recommend placing either newspaper or paper towels beneath you) place as much of the mixture as you can over cellulite spots and wrap in plastic wrap.
3. Remove plastic wrap after 20 minutes and gently wipe mixture off your skin.
4. Repeat 2-3 times per week for 8 weeks for best results.

Puffy Eyes No More

Ingredients:
1 large egg white
1 tsp. Witch Hazel

Directions:
 1. Separate egg white from egg yolk and discard the yolk.
2. Beat egg white in a small bowl until stiff.
3. Add witch hazel to the egg and mix well.
4. Using a small makeup brush apply the mixture to puffiness around eyes.
5. Let application sit for 15 minutes then rinse off with warm water.

Bright and White Smile

Ingredients:
1 ripe strawberry
1/2 tsp. baking soda

Directions:
1. Mash the strawberry and baking soda in a small bowl.
2. Using fingers apply the mixture to your teeth.
3. Allow for it to sit for 5 minutes, rinse, and then brush as usual.

Face Exfoliant

Ingredients:
1 tbsp. brown sugar
1 tbsp. white sugar
2 tbsp. coconut oil
2 strawberries, mashed

Directions:
 1. Combine all ingredients in a bowl and mix well.
2. Using fingers gently apply exfoliant to face, massaging skin in small circular motions.
3. Rinse face with warm water.
4. Repeat 1-2 times per week or as needed.

Dry Skin Mask

Ingredients:
1/2 ripe avocado, mashed
1/4 cup honey

Directions:
1. Combine and mix the avocado and honey in a bowl and mix well.
2. Using fingers apply mixture to your face and allow to sit for 10 minutes.
3. Rinse face with warm water, a gentle face wash, and washcloth. 
4. Repeat once per week.

Let me know in the comments down below your experiences with any of these time-tested beauty recipes, and don't forget to share any tips and tricks!

Want MORE beauty and skincare videos?  Check out my YouTube!

    

SNAP ME! @AshleyEBeauty

EVERYDAY LONG LASTING Makeup Routine & Tutorial | Tips for ALL Skin Types!

Unless you are a beauty blogger or vlogger, the average person does not have many days of the year where they get "glammed up."  Usually you fall into an everyday makeup routine, finding and sticking to your favorite products, and never stray too far from your trusted brands.

My everyday makeup routine changes by the season, sometimes by the month.  As a YouTuber and Beauty Blogger, I am always finding and using new and upcoming products, incorporating them into my makeup routine as a method of "putting them to the test."

My penchant for trying new products, and subsequent makeup addition, has lead me to this: my go-to everyday long lasting makeup routine.  I choose products for those days I know I will be out that won't leave my normal-to-oily skin looking like a greased hamburger at the end of the day.

In this video I also give some tips and tricks for choosing shades of makeup for different skin tones, including highlight, blush, and bronzer, and how to achieve that natural, fresh and matte everyday look!

  

Snap Me! AshleyEBeauty

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!

I Want To Know...

What are some great DIY skin care recipes you have tried and loved better than store bought?

 

Are you an AEB Babe? Sign up for the newsletter!

Enter your e-mail address:

Powered by FeedPress

Ultimate Guide to Cruelty-Free Beauty Brands and Where To Buy

The best way to start going cruelty free is to start recognizing brands that are cruelty free and put them at the top of your purchasing preferences.  When I was an undergrad I had a Political Science professor once inform my class that everything you purchase is equivalent to a vote.  The things you purchase at the store, where they are made, and how they are made is equivalent to checking a "yes" box.  It tells stores, manufacturers, brands, and your elected representatives that you want more of something.

This ultimate guide list of cruelty-free makeup brands is separated into three simple categories: high end brands, drugstore brands, and independent brands. Each of them links to the official site or store where you can purchase the brands and their products.

 Purchasing cruelty-free beauty products does not mean you need to spend large amounts of money on high-end brands alone.  Below are some very affordable and accessible options from both drugstore and independent beauty brands.  Likewise, there are plenty of high-end brands that many don't even realize are cruelty-free, such as NARS and Urban Decay.  It is completely possible to have a budget and still purchase cruelty-free makeup.

The best tips and advice I can give you about starting to purchase cruelty-free makeup: START.  You do not need to immediately throw out all of your current makeup, lotions, hair care and skin care products.  Let's say you run out of your favorite tinted lip balm.  Instead of purchasing your usual one at the drugstore, opt for Josie Maran's Coconut Watercolor Lip Stain and Shine.  When you run out of your favorite foundation, try instead Koh Gen Doh's Aqua Foundation or BH Cosmetics Studio Pro HD Foundation.

High End Beauty Brands

Anastasia Beverly Hills

The Balm

Bare Minerals

Beauty Blender

Becca

Bite

Blinc

Butter London

Buxom

Cargo

Chantecaille

Cover FX

Deborah Lippman

Duwop Cosmetics

Edward Bess

Ellis Faas

Face Atelier

Hourglass

Illamasqua

IT Cosmetics

Josie Maran

Kat Von D

Koh Gen Do

Korres

Lit Cosmetics

Living Proof

Nails, Inc.

NARS

Obsessive Compulsive Cosmetics

Orly

Pureology

Sunday Riley

Tarte

Two Faced

Urban Decay

Wen

Drugstore Beauty Brands

Annabelle

Barry M

ecoTools

ELF

Flower Beauty

Hard Candy

Jane

Jordana

Milani

NYX

Pacifica

Physicians Formula

Pixi Beauty

Prestige Beauty

Sonia Kashuk

Wet 'n Wild

Yes To

Independent Beauty Brands

Beauty Without Cruelty

Bella Pierre

Ben Nye

BH Cosmetics

Charlotte Tilbury

Christopher Drummond

ColourPop

Cult Nails

Essence Cosmetics

Gabriel Cosmetics

Jeffree Star

Lime Crime

Makeup Geek

Melt Cosmetics

Red Apple Lipstick

Sappho Organics

Silk Naturals

Sugarpill

I Want To Know...

Do you do research on a brand before you purchase products from them?  If another blogger endorses a brand will you look into it more or less?

 

Are you an AEB Babe? Sign up for the newsletter!

Enter your e-mail address:

Powered by FeedPress

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.

 

Are you an AEB Babe? Sign up for the newsletter!

Enter your e-mail address:

Powered by FeedPress