beauty

Tips & tricks for all things makeup and beauty....

Ever wake up with a pimple on your face and realize you're out of spot treatment to get rid of it? I have....today! My skin has cleared up tremendously since I have been spending time on a daily skin care routine, however, some days my skin still just doesn't want to cooperate and I get a pimple (glaring in the middle of my cheek, no less!) If you find yourself in this predicament or even if you have spot corrector or an acne mask and it's just too harsh, try this inexpensive at-home treatment for pimples and acne. This treatment can be used either as a spot corrector (for newer pimples that need a quick fix) or as a mask (for stubborn acne on larger areas of the face.)

Crush 5-10 aspirin in bowl and add a few drops of water to make a gritty-textured paste. For extra moisture- add 1 tsp honey or 1 tbsp plain yogurt. For anti-aging- add 1 tsp green tea.

For on the spot treatment: Apply to affected areas with a q-tip or clean finger and leave on for 10-15 min. Gently wipe off with wet towel. Moisturize.

For mask: Apply to dry face. Leave on for 5-10 min. Wet fingers and massage gently. Wipe off with  wet towel.


Use as needed, no more than once every 5 days.

Hope you enjoy this one!!


XOXO,
Erica

*Aspirin (acetylsalicylic acid) has a similar structure and works on face much like salicylic acid, commonly used in acne medications. It also has acts as an anti-inflammatory for the skin. I find this to be gentler than most products over the counter, however, like those OTC products, if any uncomfortable tingling occurs, rise off. Be careful not to get mixture into eyes, it doesn't feel too good.

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Homemade Beauty: Coffee Body Scrub

I first fell in love with home beauty-treatments after travelling to Costa Rica about 5 years ago. Out one night with a friend, I passed by a small spa with a sign outside advertising a coffee body scrub. Being a MAJOR coffee lover, I went in to find out more. The owner told me about the practical use of coffee grounds as a means not only to exfoliate and get the healthy glow that comes with but also to get rid of cellulite and varicose veins! (If you're interested, I explain a little further at the end of the post.) Unfortunately, this spa had no openings for the short time I was in town but the owner gave me a great at-home recipe to use.

So, I decided to make this recipe at home about a month ago (and actually use it regularly) to test out what the lady had told me. Two words: IT WORKS!! It also smellsAMAZING!!!

Here it is, hope you love it as much as I do!!

Ingredients: 

2 cups ground coffee, any kind except decaf

3/4 cup sugar*

4 tablespoons olive oil

1/2 tsp vanilla extract (optional)

Mix together. Use scrub in shower massaging it onto skin in slow-circular motions. Rinse off. Enjoy your smooth skin and pretty glow!

*(I like to use dark brown sugar but any granulated type sugar will work)

XOXO, 

Erica

--Caffeine, when massaged into skin has the benefit of tightening blood vessels (reducing the appearance of varicose veins)  and redistributing fat cells (reducing the appearance of cellulite.)