Cosette's Beauty Pantry

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

Hello everyone! Today I want to share another " beauty secret " with you.  As a matter of fact, I have a confession to make; I haven't used conventional toothpaste in YEARS!  Wait, I do not mean that I don't brush my teeth.  In fact, I brush and floss every day.  I actually make my own natural toothpaste by simple mixing extra virgin organic coconut oil and baking soda.  I use a simple 50/50 mixture . Advantages of using coconut oil and baking soda toothpaste: antibacterial and antifungal whitens and removes stains stops tooth decay no colourants no chemical agents no fluoride easy and cheap to prepare Coconut oil  is a powerful,  natural   antibacterial  and  antifungal .  It kills harmful bacteria  in the mouth, including bacteria that are responsible for  gingivitis .   It's great for the gums and brushing with the oil regularly can  heal and prevent bleeding  gums .   Brushing your tongue  with coconut oil

Hello everyone! I've been using baking soda to exfoliate my skin for years, in fact,  Scrub your face with sodium bicarbonate!   was one of my first blog posts back in May 2011!  Today I want to give you a simple DIY recipe for homemade microdermabrasion using baking soda.  Let's get started! Ingredients: 1 tsp baking soda - R ead more:  Baking soda beauty tips! ½ tsp of raw honey - Read more:  The amazing beauty benefits of honey rosewater -  Read more:   Beauty uses of rose water 1 drop tea tree essential oil - (anti-bacterial, prevents breakouts, and soothes irritation) Method: Mix baking soda and raw honey in a small container (or you can use coconut oil instead).  Combine to form a paste-like consistency and add one drop of tea tree oil . How to use: Wash your face with warm (not hot) water to open up the pores. Apply the mixture to your face and neck.   Use  your  fingertips to  massage  gently but firmly in a  circular motion.   Do this for 3 to

Hello everyone! Many deodorants and  antiperspirants, including those labelled as "natural", contain a long list of chemicals that are not-so-healthy, including some that are potentially connected to breast cancer. If you read my  March favourites , you know that I raved about  Nivea Deodorant Pure & Natural Action, which is   aluminium - free.   Still, aluminium-free doesn't mean 100% natural and chemical-free and this is why I wanted to try a DIY  recipe !  Here it is...  You will need: 3 tbsp   coconut oil 2 tbsp   Shea  butter 3 tbsp of baking soda 2 tbsp arrowroot powder 6-10 drops essential oil/s of your choice a glass gar or a deodorant container Method: Melt the coconut oil and Shea butter on a stove top burner. Once melted remove form heat. Mix in the baking soda and arrowroot  powder (this is one of the ingredients I use in my DIY translucent powder !).   Add the essential oil/s of your choice . Let the mixture cool

Nail polish can leave yellow stains on your nails (and so can nicotine) that can make your hands look very unattractive.  If you have yellow nails, you can use one of these quick , easy and cheap methods to whiten them. Method 1: Dissolve a denture-cleaning tablet in a bowl of water and soak your nails for 10 minutes. Method 2: Brush your nails with a paste of  lemon juice and  baking soda.   Method 3: Make a paste of three tablespoons of baking soda and one tablespoon of 3% hydrogen peroxide.  Apply the paste to each nail.  Leave on for 5 minutes. Tips: Always wash and moisturise your hands and nails after applying any of these treatments. Before applying nail polish, always apply a  base coat  to prevent staining.  Hope you find this helpful! J XOXO Euphrasie85 Related post: Baking soda beauty tips!

If you ended up with sunburn, here are some home remedies that can make you a bit more comfortable...  Water As the sun burns your skin, it also dehydrates it.  Being well hydrated will help burns heal better.  Take a bath Adding a few tablespoons of  baking soda  to cool bath water makes a sunburn-soothing remedy.  Instead of baking soda, you could also use 1 cup  oatmeal .  Avoid using soap, which can irritate and dry out the skin.  If you feel you must use soap, use a mild one.  Definitely skip the washcloth, bath sponge, and loofah.  Afterwards, pat your skin gently with a soft towel. Moisturise To prevent dry skin, apply moisturiser immediately after your bath/shower.  For cooling relief of pain and dryness, chill the moisturiser in the refrigerator before using. Aloe vera Aloe vera gel will take the sting and redness out of sunburn. Cool compress Soak a washcloth in cool water and apply it directly to the burned areas (do not apply ic

Hello everyone!  This past week I was on vacation and  didn't  have time to blog but now I’m back with more home remedies. Most of us love wearing sandals, but we cringe at the idea of exposing dry heels.  Read on to learn a few simple  home remedies   to cure dry and cracked heels… Before going to bed rub olive oil or sesame oil into your dry, cracked heels .  After applying the oil wear a pair of socks.   Leave the socks on overnight, as it helps the heels absorb all the moisture.   This is one of the best remedy for cracked heels. Massage your feet with coconut oil every night.  Rinse off in the morning. Make a mixture of lemon juice and papaya ; apply it on the cracked heels.  Wash off after 20 minutes. Do not throw away the ripe banana !   Simply mash one ripe banana and apply it thoroughly on the dry and cracked heels.  Leave the mash on for 10 to 15 minutes and then wash it off.   Daily cleansing and moisturising is

Hello everyone! Today’s post is about my favourite multi-purpose product: baking soda ( sodium bicarbonate )!  Here are some of my favourite baking soda beauty tips … Skin care tips: In the palm of your hand, mix some baking soda with your facial cleanser to make a gentle exfoliant (and make-up remover).   Read this post for more information: Scrub you face with sodium bicarbonate! This can also be used for rough skin on elbows and feet.   Make a thick paste with baking soda and water (about 3:1) and scrub away. Baking soda in a warm bath not only softens the skin, it may also help with body acne and eczema . Hair tips: Mix some baking soda to your shampoo to remove product buildup . Remove product and oil buildup by soaking your combs and brushes in a bowl of warm water with about 3 tablespoons of baking soda. Nail care: Scrubbing your nails with a nailbrush dipped in baking soda will soften cuticles . Oral hygiene: Brush your teeth