Cosette's Beauty Pantry

Hello everyone! Today I am starting a new blog series titled  Know your ingredients ,   in which I will highlight a specific  active ingredient .  I chose to focus on  niacinamide  as my first ingredient. Why? Because if I had to pick one active ingredient that I can safely recommend to anyone, it would be niacinamide.  Also known as  vitamin B3  or  nicotinamide , this ingredient can be used by almost everyone. Niacinamide is a versatile skincare ingredient that is used for a wide range of skin conditions. Niacinamide also helps the skin produce more ceramides, helping maintain a  healthy skin barrier . Its anti-inflammatory properties make it ideal for treating  acne,   rosacea  and   other inflammatory conditions. Because of this, it is recommended for those with sensitive skin. Besides, niacinamide helps  reduce the appearance of pores  by  regulating sebum.  It can help combat  hyperpigmentation  and even help smooth  lines and wrinkles . These properties make this super ingredien

  Hello everyone! Activated charcoal is a type of charcoal that’s processed to make it more porous. The World Health Organization has approved activated charcoal for the emergency treatment of  overdoses or poisonings . Due to its powerful  toxin-clearing properties , activated charcoal is a popular treatment for a variety of conditions. There are many  health benefits of activated charcoal , such as; eliminating gas and bloating, teeth whitening, skin surface cleaning and more. Activated charcoal that comes from a natural source is not only safe but effective for detoxification. Activated charcoal is readily available in the market in various forms: Powder Tablets Pills Capsules Liquids suspensions These are the top uses of activated charcoal: Teeth whitening and oral care The most popular use of activated charcoal is teeth whitening. Activated charcoal promotes good oral health and maintains the pH balance in the mouth. Many oral health products that contain activated charcoal claim

Hello everyone! Wearing a mask to help protect against Covid-19 is a must.  By now we are all accustomed to wearing a face mask every time we step outside or whenever someone visits out household.  But wearing a mask can sometimes be a pain; literally. Many have reported adverse skin reactions after wearing masks daily; the most common conditions include acne, facial itch and rash.  If you find that wearing a face mask is causing a skin problem or irritation, you may be able to treat it yourself.  Here’s what you can do to treat skin problems caused by face masks at home. 1. Follow a gentle skincare routine.   Skincare plays a vital role in healing your skin.  2. Treat your skin.    Here’s what dermatologists recommend: Acne:  Wash your face after wearing a mask, being sure to use a non-comedogenic moisturiser after washing.   Raw, irritated skin:  Apply petroleum jelly or a diaper rash cream  to irritated spots on your face before bed.   Sore skin behi

Hello everyone! This blog is turning 10 in a few months and that means that I have been sharing  DIY acne recipes  with you, my readers, for almost a decade.  I have been vegan for the last five years and yes, you can still find non-vegan DIY beauty recipes on this blog.  These are namely recipes that include ingredients like yoghurt and honey.  Since June is  Acne Awareness Month ,   today's post is a roundup of my  best ten DIY  vegan  acne treatments .  This way you can find them all in one handy post.  If you want me to make a roundup post on non-vegan recipes, leave a comment and let me know. Amongst my top 10, I included; a cleansing method, a toner, two face masks, a scrub, two facial serums, and a spot treatment.  All DIYs are very easy to make, they require very few, simple ingredients and the method is easy to follow. Below are the links for the 10 blog posts.  I also included  the key ingredients (not the full list of ingredients) of each recipe or tr

Hi everyone! Whether you call them pimples, zits, or blemishes, there are  different types of acne  that affect teens as well as adults.   Knowing which type you have is essential to help you determine the right treatment.  When it comes to acne lesions, there are two main types.  There are non-inflammatory and inflammatory lesions.  Blackheads and whiteheads are great examples of non-inflammatory lesions.  Below are the subtypes of acne under these two categories: Blackheads:  Open comedones; top of the pore stays open. Whiteheads : Closed comedones protruding from the skin; top of the pore closes up. Papules : Bright red or pink bumps that are tender to the touch. Pustules : Often filled with pus and have yellow or whiteheads on top of a red bump. Nodules:  Hard pimples that are deep underneath the skin. Cysts:  The largest form of acne that looks like red or white bumps, where the clog is further below the skin than nodules; painful to the touch. Note: It is

Hello everyone! What do t he Duchess of Cambridge, Gwyneth Paltrow, Victoria Beckham and Miranda Kerr all have in common?  Well, supposedly they use rosehip oil to keep their skin smooth. Rosehip oil (or rosehip seed oil) has been recently dubbed a "miracle skincare oil".  Rosehip oil, derived from the rosehip (the fruit left on the stem after the petals have fallen off), is a natural source of essential fatty acids, including omega 3, 6 and 9, as well as a rich source of vitamin E, vitamin C, vitamin D, vitamin A and  B-carotene .  This superfine oil is absorbed easily into the skin and won’t leave behind any oily residue. So what are the benefits of using rosehip oil?   It quickly absorbs into the skin, proving  moisture . It can heal scarring  caused by acne. It can help reverse sun   damage . It can provide a protective barrier on the skin,  preventing further moisture loss. It can help fade  pigmentation  and even out skin tone. It can help h

Hello everyone! Today I want to tell you a little bit about one of my favourite essential oils ; lavender oil .  Not only does this essential oil smell great and helps you relax , but it also has significant benefits for the skin.  This oil hydrates and heals the skin without clogging the pores.  Plus, it helps deal with many skin conditions from acne, excess oil, dryness to ageing.  It also promotes hair growth and a healthy scalp.  This particular post is about treating acne with lavender oil .   What is Lavender Oil?     Lavender oil is extracted from the lavender plant.  It grows worldwide in Asia, Europe,  Africa, the Canary Islands, and the Mediterranean.   The uses of lavender oil  are numerous.  It's an all-natural oil that works for various skin and hair problems. How to use: Mix 1-4 drops of lavender oil into 1/2-1 tablespoon of base oil (coconut oil, almond oil, jojoba oil, olive oil).  Diluting helps the oil spread more easily when applied to the