Cosette's Beauty Pantry

Many often associate acne with raging hormones and excessive sebum production; however there are lots of other things that can cause acne.  Did you know that food allergies are the number one cause of acne ? Swelling and inflammation of the skin is one of the symptoms of allergies; acne is simply another kind of inflammation . If you notice acne appearing after you eat a particular food, you may have a   food allergy.  Allergy symptoms may show up hours or even a day later.  Besides, acne doesn’t come and go quickly enough to be associated with food.   Other, more common food allergy symptoms include swelling, hives, difficulty breathing, abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Food allergies are caused by a hypersensitivity of the immune system to the proteins found in particular foods.  The allergic reaction occurs because the immune system mistakes the proteins as an invading substance, such as a virus or bacteria. Common food allergens:    Dairy produc

One of the most common and irritating stress relieving habits is definitely biting nails.   Biting nails can lead to broken skin on the   cuticle which can lead to infection.  When biting your nails you are also transferring bacteria and germs from your fingernails to your mouth!  Nail biting is a bad habit that is not easy to quit. WOW! These are my brother's NOTD ;) Here are some tips that can help... Identify triggers It could be boredom, or stress or a particular time of day. Love your nails Get a manicure and paint the nails to make them look at their best.   Artificial nails These will protect your natural nails for some time until they grow out. Make them taste bad Apply a clear, bitter-tasting   nail polish   to the nails.  This is one of the most popular methods used to try to break the habit. Keep you hands occupied In case the problem is stress or boredom related try another activity that uses the hands. Increase calcium and magnesium intake

Today, women are increasingly opting for epilation and laser hair removal.  However, shaving remains the most popular form of hair removal. Here are some shaving tips and tricks: Do not shave dry skin .   Shaving is a natural exfoliator and if you shave dry skin, you risk clogging up the razor with dead skin.   This may result in nicks, ingrown hair and razor burns. Only use shaving cream recommended for women, not soap!   Leave the shaving cream on for 3-4 minutes to soften up the hair.   Experiment with razors until you find the perfect one for you.   Look for a razor with lubricated strips, pivoting heads and multiple blades.   Be sure to change razors or cartridges on a regular basis; a dull blade can lead to nicks and irritation. Be sure to exfoliate your skin before shaving.   This gets rid of dead skin cells, allowing a closer shave. There are several ways to exfoliate. Since your leg hairs grow down, start at your ankles and shave up.   For your

As I told you in a previous post , I colour my hair.  When I used to have highlights, I used to colour my hair professionally, but for the last few years, I’ve been dying my hair with an at-home hair   dye kit for a fraction of the cost of professional hair colour.   If you want to cover gray hair, or do a couple of shades lighter or darker , home hair  colouring  is for you.  But if you want a drastic change or you have damaged/ chemically processed  hair, then it's best to go to a salon.  If you’re still hesitant to give it a try, follow these steps and you’ll achieve great results. Step 1: Select a colour Check the colour guide on the box, which is an indicator of the results you can expect based on the colour of your hair. Step 2: Condition Two days before colouring, apply a deep-conditioning treatment/hair mask to help strengthen hair. Step 3: Preparation  In addition to your home   hair colouring kit, you will also need a few suppli

Today I’m wearing polka dot nails and since Easter is almost here, this NOTD features the Easter bunny !  First I applied a single coat of base coat, and then I painted my nails white , except for my thumbnails, which I painted pink .     Next, I   dipped the rounded ends of a bobby pin in the   fuschia nail polish and painted random polka dots on my white nails. On my thumbs, I drew a little bunny.  bunny head... bunny ears... eyes and nose. And finally, I sealed with top coat. I you don’t celebrate Easter, you can skill rock your bunny thumbnail this Spring! XOXO Euphrasie85

Recently I re-discovered a natural acne treatment I used years ago, but for some reason I stopped using.  I used to treat my acne with sea salt.  Yes, sea salt .   Sea salt helps destroy the bacteria that lead to acne while also calming overactive oil production.  Use sea salt  for treating acne because regular table salt can irritate your skin.   Table salt is heavily processed to eliminate minerals and usually contains an additive to prevent clumping.   Sea salt contains beneficial minerals including; zinc, iodine, calcium, sulfur, potassium and magnesium.  These minerals will cleanse and nourish your skin, reduce inflammation, and heal skin tissue. There are a few different ways to use sea salt.  I do not suggest using sea salt as a toner or scrub because those methods tend to irritate and dry the skin. These are the methods I use… Method 1: Sea salt soak Wash your face. Warm a cup of distilled water.  Add about one tablespoon of sea salt, stirring until

Hello everyone! It’s Spring , and as the seasons change, so do our skin care needs.  Temperature variations can take a toll on our skin.  Here are a few Spring skin care tips: Exfoliate face and body.  Exfoliate from head to toe to slough away dead skin cells and rejuvenate your dull complexion. Use facial masks.   You can also try some  DIY facial masks . Switch to a lighter moisturiser .  The heavy moisturising cream that you used in the winter months may be too heavy for Spring.   Use a sun screen/sun block .  Don’t ignore warnings about protecting our skin; take the time to apply sunscreen.  You’ll benefit from it by having fewer wrinkles, age spots and you’ll avoid the discomfort of sunburns and heat rashes. Pamper your feet and toe nails.  If you can't afford a trip to the salon, you can do your own  pedicure at home .   Knees, elbows, heels, and toes can also suffer from a winter in boots. Drink more water .   Carry a bottle of water where