Tuesday 28 May 2013

I am sick of buying tiny tubes for a ba-jillion dollars only to have my sensitive skin hate me for doing so in the long run. For a while I was making do with Neutragena Face Scrub for sensitive skin - but it wasn't exactly helping, but it wasn't exactly making me break out so I was okay with using it. Once it ran out last week I made a vow to start trying some of the DIY face scrubs I keep seeing on Pinterest (follow me if you like!)

So I tried the olive oil + sugar (at the bottom of that info-graphic) scrub and it left me very sad... The olive oil is so thick and unforgiving that it was clogging my pores instantly. It's supposed to be nurturing and make you silky smooth! Not for me! I broke out on my nose and cheek bones after that for days! NEVER AGAIN!

Next I wanted to try something without oil in it. I came upon this website: http://voices.yahoo.com/homemade-coffee-face-mask-scrub-8051090.html 

It had just coffee grinds and honey as the ingredients. Well well well - I just happen to have that in my pantry every day! Like it says on the website: if you drink coffee in the morning, you then have the perfect grinds to use for a scrub! I cheated as I only had a bit of grinds in my french press (and the espresso grind was a good bet so its not too big and coarse for your skin) and so I may have cheated a bit on the ratio but the results were still fab...

The scrub on ma face
After the scrub: a lil pink is okay!
     
The coffee grounds and honey
A lil wet but it made no difference and the Vitamin A post-scrub cream (top)





I used 1 tbsp of unpasteurized honey  + left overs from one cup of coffee espresso grind  ----->
(**note - they were German Chocolate Cake Dark Roast and left my skin smelling like CAKE! LOVE!)

I rubbed for a minute or two then left it on for another 5 minutes (the website says leave it up to 15 minutes but I'm always wary of length due to sensitivity...)

Then splash it away, dab the water, and MAN did it feel GLORIOUS! 
Then I added my Vitamin A cream all over my face and neck after.

My face feels so GOOD. It doesn't feel ouchy or burnt or gross (like with the olive oil) 
Now to see if I break out over the next few days...

Anything working for you?

I want to try oatmeal and coconut oil in some sort of scrub - I hear both are very good for our sensitive skin!

**note post-posting this: talking to a friend and she swears by coffee scrubs. She says she can keep her scrub a week (no refrigeration required) if it's kept in an airtight container (ziplock or jar) for about a week. But I like the idea of making it on demand. A lil FYI for your DIY ;)

2018 UPDATE: I have been using JUST used coffee grinds, no honey or oil, just the grinds every time I have a shower (ies easier to get it off my face and not all over the bathroom that way) I found the added oil or honey was just too much for my skin. I keep my used coffee grinds in a tiny mason jar sealed tight on my shower caddy between uses. Works like a charm! And yes, German Chocolate Cake is still my favourite :)



I am sick of buying tiny tubes for a ba-jillion dollars only to have my sensitive skin hate me for doing so in the long run. For a while I was making do with Neutragena Face Scrub for sensitive skin - but it wasn't exactly helping, but it wasn't exactly making me break out so I was okay with using it. Once it ran out last week I made a vow to start trying some of the DIY face scrubs I keep seeing on Pinterest (follow me if you like!)

So I tried the olive oil + sugar (at the bottom of that info-graphic) scrub and it left me very sad... The olive oil is so thick and unforgiving that it was clogging my pores instantly. It's supposed to be nurturing and make you silky smooth! Not for me! I broke out on my nose and cheek bones after that for days! NEVER AGAIN!

Next I wanted to try something without oil in it. I came upon this website: http://voices.yahoo.com/homemade-coffee-face-mask-scrub-8051090.html 

It had just coffee grinds and honey as the ingredients. Well well well - I just happen to have that in my pantry every day! Like it says on the website: if you drink coffee in the morning, you then have the perfect grinds to use for a scrub! I cheated as I only had a bit of grinds in my french press (and the espresso grind was a good bet so its not too big and coarse for your skin) and so I may have cheated a bit on the ratio but the results were still fab...

The scrub on ma face
After the scrub: a lil pink is okay!
     
The coffee grounds and honey
A lil wet but it made no difference and the Vitamin A post-scrub cream (top)





I used 1 tbsp of unpasteurized honey  + left overs from one cup of coffee espresso grind  ----->
(**note - they were German Chocolate Cake Dark Roast and left my skin smelling like CAKE! LOVE!)

I rubbed for a minute or two then left it on for another 5 minutes (the website says leave it up to 15 minutes but I'm always wary of length due to sensitivity...)

Then splash it away, dab the water, and MAN did it feel GLORIOUS! 
Then I added my Vitamin A cream all over my face and neck after.

My face feels so GOOD. It doesn't feel ouchy or burnt or gross (like with the olive oil) 
Now to see if I break out over the next few days...

Anything working for you?

I want to try oatmeal and coconut oil in some sort of scrub - I hear both are very good for our sensitive skin!

**note post-posting this: talking to a friend and she swears by coffee scrubs. She says she can keep her scrub a week (no refrigeration required) if it's kept in an airtight container (ziplock or jar) for about a week. But I like the idea of making it on demand. A lil FYI for your DIY ;)

2018 UPDATE: I have been using JUST used coffee grinds, no honey or oil, just the grinds every time I have a shower (ies easier to get it off my face and not all over the bathroom that way) I found the added oil or honey was just too much for my skin. I keep my used coffee grinds in a tiny mason jar sealed tight on my shower caddy between uses. Works like a charm! And yes, German Chocolate Cake is still my favourite :)



Wednesday 15 May 2013

I recently got an email from a reader asking how things are going -

The short answer is good!

The long answer is...

My boyfriend started using my face/body cleanse schtuff and I started to get mad. But, in due turn, he "bought the next round" but couldn't find the Vitamin A cream I had bought from the local health food store (from my last post http://fightagainstdariersdisease.blogspot.ca/2012/12/vitamin-creams.html) What he brought home was this:

Life Brand Vitamin A and Life Brand Vitamin E




The Vitamin E stuff is THICK and doesn't really do it for me. - But the Vitamin A cream? I could MARRY IT. No scent. No thickness. Easily my favourite new thing to add to my MUST have list for my skin disorder. After a few days my face cleared of redness. After a week - I didn't wear foundation. Me. NOT WEARING FOUNDATION. Guys. Girls. World. Hear me: this is my new favourite thing! If you don't see it at your local store - inquire. Or buy online?

I mean LOOK: - this is me with just eye make up and some sunscreen (because that's how I have to roll)


So my neck and face are truly thankful. I hope you have been testing and trying new things too - if so - share please! 

All the best to you and yours,

Adrianna



I recently got an email from a reader asking how things are going -

The short answer is good!

The long answer is...

My boyfriend started using my face/body cleanse schtuff and I started to get mad. But, in due turn, he "bought the next round" but couldn't find the Vitamin A cream I had bought from the local health food store (from my last post http://fightagainstdariersdisease.blogspot.ca/2012/12/vitamin-creams.html) What he brought home was this:

Life Brand Vitamin A and Life Brand Vitamin E




The Vitamin E stuff is THICK and doesn't really do it for me. - But the Vitamin A cream? I could MARRY IT. No scent. No thickness. Easily my favourite new thing to add to my MUST have list for my skin disorder. After a few days my face cleared of redness. After a week - I didn't wear foundation. Me. NOT WEARING FOUNDATION. Guys. Girls. World. Hear me: this is my new favourite thing! If you don't see it at your local store - inquire. Or buy online?

I mean LOOK: - this is me with just eye make up and some sunscreen (because that's how I have to roll)


So my neck and face are truly thankful. I hope you have been testing and trying new things too - if so - share please! 

All the best to you and yours,

Adrianna