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Easy DIY Cuticle Oil with Argan, Marula + Tamanu Oils


Is anyone else shocked by how much money a teeny bottle of cuticle oil can run you? Sure, the packaging might be adorable - not to mention functional - but once you realize how little oil actually comes in that nifty little pen (2 ml?!), it can be a little disheartening.  Would you knowingly spend more for a cuticle oil than a luxury face oil?  Because, ounce-for-ounce, that's often what we're doing.

My inner frugalista couldn't quite stomach that realization, so I set out to make my own.  I used a mini nail polish bottle I bought on Ebay, but you could also use a lip gloss pen/tube or other packaging. 

Cuticle oils mainly provide moisture, so you can use just about any plant oils you have on hand.  I chose:

Sweet Almond Oil, because it's very emollient and great for moisturizing and reconditioning the skin.  

Argan Oil, because it's high in vitamin E, antioxidants, and essential fatty acids that help repair skin damage and strengthen the nails.  It's also quite lightweight and quick to absorb.

Marula Oil, for its high levels of antioxidants and vitamin C and for how well it works to reduce redness and inflammation.  

Tamanu Oil, because of how extremely healing it is.  Known for healing virtually every skin ailment, tamanu is great on damaged skin, rashes, sores, cuts and abrasions and more.

Young Living Peace & Calming, a mix of tangerine, orange, ylang ylang, patchouli, and blue tansy essential oils, because I'll probably use the cuticle oil most before bed and this relaxing blend is great for helping you fall (and stay) asleep.  

The ingredients
I didn't use exact measurements - just eyeballed it - but the basic proportions I used were:
2 parts sweet almond oil
2 parts argan oil
1 part marula oil
1 part tamanu oil
Young Living Peace & Calming blend (I used 5 drops for a 5ml bottle)

Before mixing.  Look at those layers!
And after mixing, all blended together
I've only used the oil a couple times so far, but I'm happy with how it turned out.  I can smell the tamanu oil a little (it's that pungeant!), but the essential oils cover up the scent enough so that it's not overwhelming. 

The nail polish brush makes targeted applications to just your cuticles super simple, and the mix rubs in easily too.  It's pretty light in texture, but also very nourishing.  

What do you think? Would you try something like this?

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DIY Witch Hazel & Glycerin Toner



If you read my review of Balm Balm's Witch Hazel Toner, you'll remember that I loved the extra moisture from the glycerin, but couldn't stand the sticky feeling it left on my face.  So, I set out to DIY my own witch hazel and glycerin toner - one that would hydrate without leaving that yucky, tacky feeling.  Several of you were interested in hearing about my experiment and I'm happy to report that it's been a big success!  Here's the recipe I've come up with:

 1/2 cup (12o ml) witch hazel
20 drops vegetable glycerin
10 drops lavender essential oil
10 drops frankincense essential oil

 Add all ingredients to a glass bottle and shake to mix.  And you're done!  

 It takes next to no time to mix up this recipe and it works incredibly well.  I like applying it with a cotton ball, but you could absolutely use a spray bottle and mist your face instead.  The homemade toner has just enough glycerin to be noticeable, but not enough that it leaves my face feeling sticky.  The glycerin makes the toner a little more gentle, but I haven't added enough to change the effectiveness of the witch hazel.  My homemade toner keeps my pores just as clean as straight witch hazel, and I never get that tight, dry feeling that I was sometimes left with when using witch hazel alone.  

 I do change up the essential oils pretty much every time I mix up a new batch, but lavender and frankincense are some of my favorites.  You can use whatever essential oils you want, or leave them out entirely.  For me, the oils are a must, not only for their skin benefits, but also because I don't like the smell of witch hazel and they do a great job masking it.  If you do use essential oils, I recommend storing the toner in a glass bottle, since many essential oils will eat away at plastic, and you really don't want to be rubbing that all over your face!

Price Breakdown/Comparison

Balm Balm Toner: 
100ml for £13.25 (approx. $20) 

Homemade Toner: 
480ml witch hazel for $4.74 
120ml vegetable glycerin for $4.80
=100ml for less than $2 

So, not counting any (optional) essential oils, my homemade toner is less than 1/10th of the cost of the comparable Balm Balm toner.  AND you can easily tailor it to suit your individual skin needs. Pretty awesome!



 Disclosure: Post contains affiliate links to iherb.

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DIY Cinnamon Orange Body Oil

I'm going to come right out and say it: I'm not that great at moisturizing.  Sure, I do a fine job moisturizing my face, but when it comes to my body, it's a step I often skip.  Lotions and butters can take too long to absorb and often need to be reapplied frequently to reap the benefits.  There are tons of body oils on the market too and I've often wondered if an oil might be more effective.  That said, the frugalista in me has always scoffed at buying something that would be cheaper and, at least in theory, very simple to make myself.  I'm happy to report, after finally trying my hand at concocting my own, it really is just as easy as I was hoping! 

Ingredients 
1/8 cup sunflower oil
1/2 teaspoon argan oil
4 Vitamin E capsules, punctured and drained
5 drops orange essential oil
2 drops cassia essential oil
3 drops copaiba essential oil

I mixed the sunflower oil, argan oil, and Vitamin E together until well combined.  Then I played around with the essential oils until I was happy with the scent.  Can't get much easier than that!
My Thoughts
I'm happy to report that this works amazingly.  I've been much better about moisturizing and have been using it every other day after I shower.  I towel off just a little and then quickly apply the oil all over, avoiding any sensitive bits.  The slight dampness left on my skin helps the oil to soak right in without leaving any greasy residue.  It does such a good job moisturizing that I don't find I need to reapply between showers.  If you do want to use it on completely dry skin, it takes a little longer to absorb, but it still works great.

The smell is perfect for this time of year too.  I shower at night and I can smell the oil on me, at least through the next morning.  It also works great as a perfume oil.  Once the smell wears off, I've been dabbing a little on my pulse points so I can luxuriate even longer in the warm, cinnamony goodness. 

Other Tips 
  • Make sure you are using high quality essential oils.  My choice is still Young Living, since I know they are free of any additives and processed without chemicals.
  • You can scent your oil however you like, but take into consideration the individual properties of any essential oils you are using.  For example:
    • Orange oil is photosensitive, meaning it increases sun sensitivity.  I use the oil at night, so I'm not overly concerned, but if you are planning to use it during the day, you might want to avoid citrus oils.
    • Cassia is a hot oil.  Keep hot oils to a minimum or you risk discomfort or burning on application. 
  • You can vary the base oils too.  I used mainly sunflower oil and boosted it with argan oil and Vitamin E, since I already had those on hand, but other oils like jojoba, grapeseed, sesame, or a mix of more than one of these, would also be effective.
  • Store in a glass container.  Essential oils can eat through plastic, which aside from being potentially messy, means that the toxins in the plastic can leech into your oil.  Not good!

What's your favorite moisturizer?  Ever tried making your own body oil?



        

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Witch Hazel: A Quick Update

As I mentioned when  I first bought it, I was completely unprepared for the smell of straight witch hazel extract.  I purchased Humphrey's 100% Witch Hazel Astringent way back at the end of November, but it's taken me this long to actually get around to using it.  I'm still not sure how to describe the scent, but to me, it is completely unappealing and not something I am inclined to put on my face as is.

I decided to try to cover up the smell with essential oils.  I filled a small glass bottle with about an ounce of witch hazel and mixed in some frankincense and eucalyptus essential oils.  It wasn't completely successful in masking the witch hazel smell, but rather smells like a blend of the oils and the witch hazel.  I wouldn't say it smells great, but it's a vast improvement over the witch hazel on its own.  

I originally wanted to try using witch hazel after reading several peoples' experiences with how it had reduced the appearance of large pores.  In fact, even the bottle claims that witch hazel "penetrates deep into pores, removing dirt, oil, and makeup" and "refines and reduces the appearance of enlarged pores."  The pores on and around my nose are a bit more visible than I would like and I was hoping the witch hazel would help with this.  So far, I've been really happy with the results.

I've been using the witch hazel in between washing my face and applying moisturizer for about two weeks now.  At first I was using it all over my face, but I started breaking out on the backs of my cheeks, which tend to be acne-prone.  I don't know for sure if the witch hazel was the cause, but I switched to only using it on my nose and the very center of my forehead and cheeks (the areas I have more visible pores) and my skin has calmed down again.   In terms of reducing the appearance of pores, I've definitely noticed a difference, even in this short time.  On my forehead and cheeks, I can hardly see the pores anymore and on my nose, where they were the worst, I can also see an improvement.

I'll definitely update again once I've used the witch hazel longer, but I'm really happy with it so far.  It's very inexpensive (I paid around $3 for 8 ounces!) and I've actually gotten visible results, which is more than I can say for a lot of pricier toners!


         

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Coconut Water...For Your Skin?


What is coconut water?
Coconut water is the clear liquid found inside young, green coconuts.  As the coconut matures, this liquid becomes replaced by coconut meat.  Coconut water has long been drunk in the tropics and it has gained popularity in North America over the last couple years as a natural sports drink alternative.  It’s naturally high in potassium and other electrolytes and doesn’t contain the sugar and chemicals found in sports drinks like Gatorade.  And unlike coconut milk, coconut water is virtually fat free and has a relatively low carbohydrate count.

Does It Work?
I’ve always tended to just drink water after working out, but with all the hype and celebrity endorsements, I decided to give coconut water a try.  I didn’t notice any results right away in terms of being better hydrated, but a couple hours later, I looked in the mirror and noticed my skin was looking especially glowy.

You Are What You Eat
Of course I’ve heard that your diet affects your skin, and I mostly eat well, but I’ve never seen this in action so clearly as since I started drinking coconut water.  I don’t know the reason why coconut water works so well, I just know that an hour or two after I drink it, my skin looks significantly better than it did before.  I’ve also started getting random complements on my skin since I started drinking coconut water.

 How Much is Enough?
I can only speak from experience, but I tend to buy the small cartons of Vita Coco (330 mL) and drink about half at a time.  I don’t drink it just after I work out or every day either, just whenever I feel like it.

Different Strokes for Different Folks
Since coconut water has become so trendy, I see new companies selling it all the time.  It doesn’t have a strong taste, but I do notice that different companies’ can taste slightly different.  So, if you don’t like the first one you try, you might want to give another one a go before you give up on it completely.  Also, a lot of brands sell different flavours, if you aren’t a fan of the taste on its own.  I have seen some companies that add sugars and artificial flavours to their coconut water though, so just be on the lookout for that when choosing a brand.  I buy from companies that are not from concentrate too, as I tend to think you’ll get the most benefit from those.
  
Another Use
I also stumbled across another, somewhat bizarre-sounding use for coconut water.  One day I had a HUGE pimple on my chin and was at my wit’s end looking for something to bring it down quickly.  (Of course this would happen on a day when I had to go out and couldn’t just hide at home.)  I was drinking coconut water and remembered reading about people using coconut water as a toner, so I dabbed a little on my blemish.  Now this was a big honkin’ zit, and the coconut water definitely brought the inflammation down.  I spot treated it several more times that day and while it didn’t completely eliminate it on contact or anything, it did reduce it in size and redness.  The pimple also healed completely in just two days – usually I would have expected a pimple like this to dig in its heels and hang around for at least a week!  I’ve tried this a couple times since and it’s worked just as well…amazing!

The Bottom Line
Whether or not using coconut water as a spot treatment sounds too bizarre to try, I recommend at least trying it as a drink.  If nothing else, it’s refreshing and tastes good, and you might be surprised at the results! 


        

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