Cosette's Beauty Pantry

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! Today is the first day of SPRING  and it's  officially   spring cleaning season! Spring cleaning  is the practice of thoroughly  cleaning   a house in the springtime.  However, y ou don’t have to stop with cleaning your house; your skin care regimen needs some spring cleaning too. 1.  Spring cleaning is a great opportunity to clean out old beauty products.   Old products can  harbour  bacteria and lose their effectiveness. Check the dates on your products and toss the following: Anything past the expiration date Products that have changed consistency, colour , or smell Mascara tubes older than three months Dry products Old make-up brushes and sponges Anything with an SPF older than one year  2.  Spring is a good time for deep exfoliation.  Here are three DIY exfoliation recipes that will leave your skin ready for dresses and sandals: Nourishing body scrub Yummy facial scrub Simple hand/body scrub 3.   Adjust your skin care routi

Hello everyone! Let's make one thing clear, pore size is determined mainly by our genes.  Pores may also become larger with age or excessive sun exposure.  However, pores can definitely appear larger and more noticeable when they become clogged with dirt, oil and dead skin cells.  An effective cleansing and exfoliation regimen is   essential to keep pores clean and minimizing their appearance. The most effective approach in minimizing pores is by keeping them clean and clear at all times.   Check out these blog posts to learn more/view additional   DIY beauty recipes to help you cleans and minimize your pores.  The beauty benefits of ice The holy grail of toners! DIY: Deep cleansing pore strips DIY: Enzyme peel mask Scrub your face with sodium bicarbonate! Baking soda beauty tips! Lemons for clear skin The amazing beauty benefits of honey Banana peel skincare?! Also , check out the i nfographic below:   The ultimate steps to cleansing and shrinking your pores .

Hello everyone! Today I want to share a DIY recipe for a nourishing body scrub .  We all know how important it is to nourish our body, and sometimes we forget about our bodies largest organ; the skin. This natural body scrub is very nourishing, it contains essential natural ingredients like coconut oil and almond oil to help restore moisture and sea salt to exfoliate dead skin cells.  Also, it smells delicious!   Here's the recipe...  Ingredients: 1/2 cup coconut oil 1/4 cup almond oil 1/2 cup sea salt Method: Mix all ingredients together in a mason jar, allow to sit for ingredients to amalgamate.   Apply mixture to your skin and rub in a circular motion. Rinse with water. That's all for this quick, easy, money-saving, skin-loving scrub!   If you love using DIY scrubs , here are the links for another four you might want to try: Sugar facial scrub/mask Anti-cellulite scrub Simple hand/body scrub Sodium bicarbonate scrub If you try out one of th

Hello everyone! In this post I will give you more tips on how to grow back your eyebrows.  Read part 1 here ! Exfoliation is a method that can help the growth of eyebrow hair.  You can use a soft toothbrush or a spoolie to scrub and exfoliate the area.  Using the brush in circular motion will help to remove dead skin and will enhance the blood circulation.  Another way to exfoliate is by using an exfoliating scrub.  Try a DIY  recipe   here !  Apply the scrub in a circular motion and BE GENTLE .  Too much pressure can damage the fine, fragile hair that is already there.   The row-growing method: You need to STOP plucking, waxing and threading!   Although this seem like a no-brainer, the messy look that will develop when you leave your brows un-touched for a while is not  flattering. If you can't stand the idea of letting all your hairs grow out before you shape your eyebrows, try the row-growing method.   Allow hairs closest to the existing brow to grow out and SH

Hello everyone! Here’s another kitchen “pantry” recipe , your very own home made enzyme peel mask.   There are plenty of different recipes, but this one is my personal favourites .     Why is exfoliation so important?  Dead skin cells, besides leaving behind a dull complexion, can clog your pores, causing breakouts and blackheads . Fruit enzymes are the gentlest type of chemical exfoliation.  Enzyme exfoliation removes dead skin cells by biological action rather than physical abrasion. Unlike scrubs, this peel mask is safe to use on fragile capillaries and sensitive skin . Ingredients (preferably certified organic) : 3 tablespoons of ripe papaya 1 teaspoon of honey 1 teaspoon lime juice Why is a papaya-honey-lime mask a fantastic choice?  Papaya is naturally high in healing enzymes, which means that it literally “eats” dead skin cells.  Lime is known for its skin brightening properties, the citric acid will aid the papaya in the removal of dead cells, whi

Hello everyone! If you are starting to notice fine lines around the eyes (crow’s feet), mouth or forehead , try this natural remedy before splurging on expensive beauty products! Do you know that grape juice is a natural anti-wrinkle ?  Grapes contain natural oils and fruit acids that can help to tighten the skin, reducing the appearance of fine lines over time. How to use: Mash a handful of green grapes to obtain the juice. Use a cotton ball to apply the grape juice to fine lines and wrinkles. Rinse after 20 minutes with warm water and pat your face dry with a towel. For best results, repeat this treatment three times a week. Grapes contain alpha hydroxy acids that assist the skin in exfoliation .  Removing the dead skin cells from the surface can drastically reduce the appearance of wrinkles. I hope you find this helpful! XOXO Euphrasie85 Photo from here .

Hello everyone!  Today I want to talk to you about my favorite hair removal method: using an epilator ! I’ve been using an epilator for eight years now and I love it!  Removing hairs at the root means that hair won’t grow back for weeks.   Plus, constant epilation reduces the amount of hair re-growth! The coil springs in the epilator grab the hair at the root and pull it out.  It's one of the more affordable ways to remove hair, as you don't have to deal with the expense of shaving or waxing.  In addition, once you get the hang of using an epilator, it takes less time than shaving. I've been using this model for 8 year! Does it hurt? I’m not going to lie, the first time I used it, it HURT and left my skin red and irritate, BUT by the second use the hair was thinner and it didn’t hurt as much!      Always start epilating the areas where it's less painful.  The lower legs are the least painful area for most women (the underarm and bik

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

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

Oh baby it’s cold outside! Cold weather can be very harsh on the skin, especially on our lips.   Chapped lips are unattractive and sometimes can be painful. Here are some tips on how to prevent and/or treat chapped lips: 1.  Drink plenty of water.  Your lips dry out because you are dehydrated.  Drink decaffeinated herbal teas if you feel that water is too cold to drink. 2.  Remove dead skin.  These are methods I use to exfoliate my lips: Toothbrush method : Use a soft-bristled toothbrush to exfoliate - be gentle!  You can apply lip balm before rubbing with the toothbrush.  Do not do this every day. Sugar method : Exfoliate your lips with the  DIY: Yummy facial scrub . Wash-cloth  method : Get a  washcloth  and run it under some warm water.  Make sure it is not too hot, and then squeeze it out to remove excess water.  Rub the washcloth  over your lips.  Don't rub them too hard.  3.  Sleep with the lip balm on your lips overnight.  I ke