Cosette's Beauty Pantry

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

Hello everyone! Yesterday I posted a recipe for a DIY acne-fighting gel and today I want to share another acne-fighting beauty recipe with you.   For this DIY you will need two key ingredients; a lemon and a tomato .   Ingredients: 1 ripe tomato 1 tsp lemon juice 1 tsp oatmeal (optional) Lemons are full of AHA’s and BHA’s which remove dead skin cells, fight acne, minimize pores and brighten skin.   Back in November of 2011, I posted an article titled:  Lemons for clear skin ; in which I wrote about the countless benefits of lemons.  Make sure you read it for more information.   Tomatoes have cooling and astringent properties.  They’re also rich in antioxidants like vitamin C and vitamin A .  Their acidity helps tame excessive oil production too. Oatmeal helps reduce itching and inflammation and can be used to calm acne, eczema and heal psoriasis . Method: Mash the peeled tomato in a bowl.  Add the lemon juice (and oatmeal) and mix everything

Hello everyone! I am back again with an amazing DIY recipe for your skin.  You only need two simple ingredients to make your own acne-fighting gel;  aloe vera gel and  essential oil with antibacterial properties .   I've been using this concoction on my face for many, many years.  So much so that I had to search this blog because I was sure that I had already told you about it.  As it turns out, I haven't so let's get started... Ingredients: 1 tbsp of  aloe vera gel 6-12 drops of  tea tree oil  or lavender essential oil If you don't like the smell of tea tree oil, a lavender essential oil is a good alternative.   The combination of tea tree oil (or lavender) and  Aloe vera gel kills the bacteria that causes acne and has anti-inflammatory properties which soothe the skin. Method: In a bowl, mix 1 tablespoon of Aloe vera gel with 6-12 drops of tea tree oil (or lavender). Store in an amber glass bottle.  U se  as a  spot treatment  if

Hello everyone! Let's talk about acne ! Here are some facts. It may not be a serious threat to health, but it is the most common skin disease experienced by men and women.  It can be seen in different parts of the body - mostly in the face, neck, chest, and back.  Common types of acne are whiteheads, blackheads, pustules, papules, nodules and cysts.  Studies show that acne affects over 50 million Americans.  40% of adolescents and approximately 85% of people between ages 12 and 24 experience at least a minor acne. There are many factors that cause the formation of acne, which varies from one person to another.  One thing is genetics, wherein if many people in the family are prone to having acne that leads to pimples, a person will also have a greater chance of acquiring it.  Another cause can be hormonal changes including pregnancy and menopause.  Menstruation is also one common factor that triggers acne.  Other causes of acne are emotional stress, medication, food int

Hello everyone! If you suffer from   acne , you've probably tried hundreds of  treatments  (both internal and external).  If you have tried everything, and your  acne  still persists, it can be frustrating.  However, just because you have tried all the  conventional treatments  does not mean you have tried every possible remedy. Find out the   weirdest treatments  in this infographic: I would never, ever try the first three "treatments" mentioned in the infographic. Which treatments would you not be willing to try? What's the weirdest acne treatment you have ever tried?  Leave a comment and let me know!  

Hello everyone! This is my third " Acne Awareness Month " post.  If you want to read the  previous  two, here are the links: Acne awareness month | Managing your acne Acne awareness month | Get over acne Today's post is about the different types of acne and how they can be treated .  If you are battling acne, you probably already know that there are different types of acne.   Whiteheads  or  blackheads .   Papules , pustules and nodules .  So why do you need to learn all these names?  Because  knowledge is the best weapon .   The infographic below details treatments plans for each type of acne , whether it's mild , moderate or severe . Via: Effortless Skin Let me know your thoughts.  If you have any advice or tips to share, please comment below, I’d love to hear from you.

Hello everyone! In yesterday's post, I talked about  Acne Awareness Month   and I also gave   12 tips   that can help you   manage your acne .  You can read the post   here . Today I want to give you some acne facts that can help you deal with your acne. Who Gets Acne ? Acne is the most common skin disease.  People of all races and ages get acne.  But it is most common in teenagers and young adults.  An estimated 80 percent of all people between the ages of 11 and 30 have acne outbreaks at some point.  Some people in their forties and fifties still get acne. What Causes Acne? Acne is a clogged pore .  Therefore, acne is caused by: a pore’s opening being blocked, excess production of sebum (the substance in the pores), or a combination of both factors. Doctors think certain factors might cause it : The hormone increase in teenage years  Hormone changes during pregnancy Heredity (if your parents had acne, you might get it, too) Some typ

Hello everyone! The American Acne and Rosacea Society (AARS) declared June,  National Acne Awareness Month  back in 2009 to bring awareness to the issue and inform health care providers about acne.   As I already told you, I've been  battling  acne since I was 11 or 12 years old and it is not easy.  Today I want to give you some tips : Wash your face twice a day and after sweating . Commit to washing your face before and after your workout.  Sweat can get trapped under your make-up and potentially cause acne, and post-workout session sweat can cause more acne. Be gentle with your skin . Use gentle products, such as those that are alcohol-free.  Don't forget to change your pillowcases regularly.   If you use your cases for days on end without changing them, they can cause the dead skin cells and other bacteria to transfer on your face. Wipe your glasses.  If you wear glasses regularly, "dirt" (oil, sweat, make-up) will quickly build up on the frames

Hello everyone! I was given the opportunity to try out the Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel Enhanced with Kojic   Acid by Refresh Skin Therapy.  In this post I will tell you everything you need to know about the product and I'll also share my experience and photos of my results so far.  So let's get  started ... Product description: Fruit Acid 15% Gel Peel  Enhanced with Kojic Acid - 1 fl oz / 30 ml A Professional At-Home Alpha Hydroxy (AHA) Chemical Peel of Glycolic, Lactic, and Pyruvic Acids. Ideal for age spots, dry dull skin, freckles, sun spots, increasing skin radiance and luminosity, acne scars, skin lightening, post inflammatory hyper-pigmentation, melasma, reducing wrinkles and fine lines. Enhanced with Kojic acid, a natural skin brightener / skin lightener with antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, naturally used in the making of Sake, Japanese rice wine.   Kojic Acid fades dark spots and inhibits melanin production, a safe and natural alter

Hello everyone! Although acne usually begins in puberty, it is not restricted to any particular age group.  Adults in their  twenties ,  thirties ,  forties  even  fifties  can develop acne.   Acne after puberty affects women more often than men.  Even women who managed to avoid breakouts as teenagers can be affected by hormonal acne later in life.   In women, up to 60% of acne breakouts are hormone-related .  Hormonal acne can be identified by the location of the blemishes.   Acne located beneath the cheekbones and along the jawline is often more likely to be related to hormonal issues than acne across the forehead or the bridge of the nose. Hormonal imbalances can be caused by: Emotional stress  Physical  stress Hormones in animal products Xenoestrogens   Phytoestrogens Contraceptive pills Bad Diet/Poor Nutrition Genetic predisposition Tips:  Watch what you eat!   Recent studies suggest that high-glycemic foods such as refined grains and processed sugars