Beauty

Anyone who knows me knows I love a good face mask. Face masks are great because they feel super luxurious (even if they make you look silly) and give your skin a treat. Even if you have a terrible skincare routine, a facial mask is super simple to slip into your week. Just apply it to your face after a busy day and let it work its magic. I love how you can do other things while your face mask is on, too (like watch TV, read a good book, or do your nails). It adds to the luxurious feeling of it.

So let’s begin with what ubtans are.  Long before the soap factories were born, ubtans were used to cleanse, exfoliate, and moisturize the skin, as well as give it long-term protection from the elements.

We all know how important cleansing and exfoliating the face is, especially after a long day. That said, did you know it becomes harder for our skin to naturally rid itself of dead skin cells as we age? Instead of turning to expensive, high-end exfoliators (which probably contain drying, harmful chemicals, by the way), here are 4 natural ways to exfoliate your skin. These will not only be better for your skin, but also save you a buck. In fact, most of them are probably already in your pantry. I recommend experimenting with each one to discover which you like best.

Tea tree oil is famously known for its antiseptic and antibacterial properties. Derived from the Australian plant, Melaleuca alternifoli, it's a great addition to any holistic medicine cabinet.

I tend to get canker sores a lot. They're always inside my mouth and they’re such a pain to deal with. That's why I decided to share this recipe today: It's specifically designed to treat canker sores. That's because rosemary and tea tree oil have antibacterial properties (and are also great at preventing plaque build up). Not to mention I cannot stand how conventional mouthwash is loaded with synthetic chemicals (and alcohol, which burns your mouth). This one is all-natural and totally easy to make at home.

I cannot stress the importance of cleansers enough. Why? Because, after a long day, it's so important to take your makeup off before bed. If you don't, you'll only clog your pores and encourage the creation of zits. It's also important to wash your face first thing in the morning too. That said, did you know you could craft your own, all-natural facial cleanser? While this one does contain honey (which certainly isn't vegan), it is full of ingredients that are great at not only removing makeup but reducing pimples.

Okay, so perfume is great and all, but am I the only one who sneezes around artificial perfume? (That is, perfume scented with fragrance, instead of essential oils?) I doubt it: That’s why I would much rather DIY my own perfume. I really like solid perfumes instead of the ones you spray because they tend to be easier to transport and aren’t as obnoxious (come on, the ones you spray get everywhere).

I'm disgusted with most conventional deodorants: They contain harmful ingredients like aluminum and parabens! Not to mention antiperspirants aren't healthy either: Anything that inhibits your body's natural sweating ability is dangerous. What's the solution? Making your own homemade deodorant!

I must confess, I pay very little attention to my feet. Unless they start hurting, I tend to take them for granted. That shouldn't be the case though, considering they get me everywhere I need to go and work perfectly fine. That's why I've decided to spoil them every once and a while. Want to know how? A DIY foot soak, that's how!

Who wants to age? While we all know and understand that our time here on Earth is transient, we all fear the ravages of time. For our once-youthful face to show its age and sometimes look prematurely old is a painful pill to swallow.