Cosette's Beauty Pantry

Hello everyone! As many of you may already know, I struggled with acne for years.  I have spent a lot of time looking for ways to clear up my acne.   What eventually helped me clear my skin was a clean, vegan diet and using natural, homemade skincare products .   However, I'm still dealing with  acne scars on my face.   Before I became vegan, I used honey and yogurt (like my  DIY: Greek yoghurt, oatmeal and honey facial mask   and my   DIY: Micro-dermabrasion paste )  to help fade acne scars and both ingredients work really well, but now I'm only using   plant-based ingredients .   Today I want to share the  all-natural , vegan facial serum I'm currently using.  If you have any form of hyperpigmentation   on your skin,   you are going to love this DIY ! Ingredients: 1 tbs sweet almond oil  2 drops of lemon essential oil 4 drops of sandalwood essential oil  Sweet almond oil  is a wonderful carrier oil and it’s been used for ages to lighten and brighten

Hello everyone! Recently my acne has been flaring up again, which is very strange considering that I've been on a 100% dairy-free diet for a few months.   [  Can food allergies cause acne?  ]   I haven't consumed dairy products in years, other than milk chocolate and mozzarella on my pizza, which I now removed from my diet.   If you want to know more about dairy-free diet, check out   Go Dairy Free and   Got the facts on Milk? (The Milk Documentary) .  Anyway, to heal my acne as fast as possible, my go-to DIY is a honey and Aloe vera mask .   This is a  really  simple   face   mask  recipe; check it out!       Ingredients: 1 teaspoon  organic raw  honey 1/2 teaspoon pure, cold-pressed organic Aloe vera gel Method: Stir the honey and Aloe vera together and apply over your face.   Leave it on for about 15-20 minutes. Rinse off.    I n my experience, the Aloe vera gel   prevents the honey from melting and dripping   all over your clothes.   Aloe so

Hello everyone! Today's post is dedicated to the sweetest skin-loving ingredient, and one of my personal  favourites ; honey ! Honey does not only have numerous health benefits , it has also been used for centuries as a natural beauty product . Honey is...   Naturally   antibacterial , so it's great for   acne   treatment and prevention. Full of   antioxidants , it is great for slowing down   ageing . Extremely   moisturising   and soothing. Check out these blog posts to learn more/view additional   DIY beauty recipes using  honey : DIY: Honey facial DIY: Milk and honey hair mask DIY: Yummy facial scrub/mask DIY: Greek yoghurt, oatmeal and honey facial mask Tip:  Always use   pure   raw honey . And for more recipes, check out this i nfographic by   Beauty Secrets Revealed:   12 amazing beauty benefits of honey . From Visually . Is raw honey part of your beauty regime?   Similar post: Coconut craze

Hello everyone! Most cleansers contain chemicals that can be harsh especially on  sensitive skin .  They strip away moisture from the skin making it dry or flaky.  If you have oily skin and use harsh cleansers, it will cause the oil glands to produce more sebum , making your face oilier.  Did you know that oil can be used for facial cleansing?  Oil cleansing can be used on all skin types and it is very beneficial to oily/acne prone skin.  It may sound strange to use oil on oily skin but in reality oil reduces sebum (oil) production and balances moisture.  If you’re suffering from acne, this method can work wonders for your skin.  The oil cleansing method can clear the skin from issues like oily skin, dry skin, sensitive skin, blackheads, whiteheads and other problems caused by mild to moderate acne.   It also leaves your skin healthy, balanced and  moisturised . So what oil/s should you use? Some people use a mixture of oil is used like; castor oil, olive oil, grape seed o

Hello everyone! Did you know that, besides being a tasty side dish, the potato is also an excellent skincare ingredient? Here is why: The potato is packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants.   Vitamin C and B complex and minerals   like   Potassium ,   Magnesium , Phosphorus   and   Zinc are very beneficial for the skin and can all be found in raw potato.  The enzymes present in the pulp of raw potatoes are also good for the skin.   In addition, raw potato contains acids that have antibacterial properties. Raw potatoes can be used to:           control and prevent acne ; pimples and blackheads           fade scars           soothe  inflammation           treat under eye bags and dark eye circles           reduce swelling           cleanse excess oil           soften and cleanse skin           treat minor skin burns           cure common warts   There are two main methods of  application;  1.   Pulp mask:       Grate the

Hello everyone! Today I want to share the latest DIY facial mask I’ve been trying out.   It’s the honey and cinnamon mask. As you may know, honey has countless virtues .  Check this previous post:  Honey face , for more information.  Cinnamon, also, contains powerful antioxidants and it has been used for thousands of years as an antiseptic , astringent and antifungal , amongst other uses.  The combination of these two powerful ingredients helps to kill the bacteria that cause pimples . This mask also helps to fade scars ! Method: Wash your face with a facial cleanser and pat your face dry.   Mix 3 tbsp. of honey with 1 tbsp. of cinnamon and apply a thin layer to the face as a mask and leave on for about 20 minutes.     Or  dab  a small amount   on blemishes and leave on overnight. Rinse with warm water.   Apply toner and moisturiser . The cinnamon powder acts as an exfoliant. The mixture will last you for about 4 mask applications.

Hello everyone! It is renowned that honey has strong antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties, and it has been used as a treatment for wounds and other skin problems for thousands of years. In fact, honey is one of the most common home remedies for acne and acne scars .  It's cheap and 100% natural.  It's also incredibly easy to use.   Honey is very moisturising .  This makes the honey mask ideal for people with dry skin .  If you have oily or combination skin, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to your honey mask.  Lemon juice is also good for treating acne scars, (read Lemons for clear skin for more information) but unlike honey, it may dry your skin.   A teaspoon of honey is enough to cover your entire face.  Apply a thin layer and keep the honey mask on for at least 30 minutes.  If you are patient enough, leave it on for one hour, for optimum results.  The mask will not harden or dry.  Wash the mask off with lukewarm water.  Pad your face dry with

Hello everyone! The   health benefits of lemons are countless , but did you know that they can be particularly beneficial to oily and/or acne-prone skin? What makes the lemon one of the best natural skincare ingredients? The lemon… Is rich in  vitamin C  ( one of the best skin vitamins)  Is a natural astringent Is a natural skin whitener Stimulates blood circulation Lemon juice can be used both topically and internally to achieve soft, smooth and clear skin.  Topical use: Lemons can help heal acne and acne scars.  Citric acid contained in lemon juice exfoliates the skin, which is essential to accelerate the healing of acne. It also acts as an astringent and dries the pimples.  Also, being a natural whitener, lemon juice reduces the redness of pimples naturally. You can dilute the lemon juice with water and use it as a skin toner .  I suggest adding pure lemon juice to a wet cotton ball.  If you have sensitive skin and think that diluted lemon

I am always on the lookout for new skin care products, especially all natural ones.  A couple of years ago I tried 100% pure Australian emu oil for the first time.  So what exactly is emu oil? Emu oil is made from the fat of the second largest bird in the world,   Dromaius novaehollandiae , known as the Australian emu (the ostrich is taller! ). This is the product information of the 100% pure emu oil I use: Australian Aboriginals have long used the oil of the Emu for its anti-inflammatory and rejuvenating powers.  …may help reduce the symptoms of joint inflammation associated with arthritis and provide symptomatic relief of rheumatism. …may also provide relief of muscular aches and pains, PMS, effects of psoriasis on the skin and symptoms of eczema. In addition, application may also aid recovery to damaged skin including burns, blisters, scars, cuts, abrasions, cradle cap, sunburn and nappy rash.   Pure Emu Oil may also be taken internally. Emu oil   is well-kn

Hello everyone! This is a recipe for an inexpensive, easy and 100% natural scrub/mask .  This scrub/mask can be used on all skin types and it’s extremely beneficial for those who suffer from acne, acne scars or dry skin. Ingredients: 1)  Sugar - 6 tablespoons The main ingredient for this recipe is sugar.  Sugar works as a natural exfoliate helping to break up scar tissue.  It unclogges and reduces the appearance of larger pores.  Sugar is also very moisturising. 2)  Apple cider vinegar (ACV) – 1 tablespoon ACV gently dissolves dead skin cells.   It exfoliates the skin breaking up scar tissue (helping even indented acne scars) and it’s also a great skin detoxifier.   It also contains vitamins A, E, C, B2, B6 and P which repair skin cells for softer skin. 3)  Honey – 1 tablespoon Honey is a natural anti-inflammatory and helps the skin retain moisture.  It reduces redness and stimulates skin cell renewal.  It also has anti-ageing benefits and

Hello everyone! Lately, the use of facial brushes seems to be gaining popularity.  There are various facial brushes available on the market; ranging from small manual ones, that look like a toothbrush, to larger electric ones with various attachments. A soft-bristle face brush is used to get a more radiant complexion by gently loosens dead skin cells and impurities while stimulating circulation.  Most brushes are gentle enough for all skin types.  Besides deep cleansing and softening the skin, facial brushing can also help r educes the appearance of acne scars and fine lines. How to use: Splash warm water onto the face and neck and apply your cleansing product.  Gently massage into the skin, using the face brush, in small circular movements, then rinse with warm water.  After use, splash your face with cool water and pat dry .  Follow with a toner and moisturiser suitable for your skin type. If you have whiteheads when using this, make sure to clean your b