Cosette's Beauty Pantry

Hello everyone! If you live in an area with hard water , chances are your hair is suffering the consequences.   Hard water  is full of minerals such as calcium, lime, and magnesium.   While not dangerous,  hard water  can leave your  hair  dull and brittle, making it more prone to breakage .   It can also discolour lighter hues and strip colour-treated  hair .   Minerals dissolved in hard water create a film on the hair strand, which prevents moisture from penetrating the hair shaft.   This results in dry, dull and tangled hair.   The best way to combat issues related to hard water is to incorporate a deep cleansing mask once a week to eliminate buildup. The key ingredient in this DIY deep cleansing hair mask is Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV) !   I often use ACV in my DIY beauty recipes.    The enzymes and nutrients in ACV make it an amazing natural hair conditioner.   Combined with the goodness of agave and olive oil, this apple cider vinegar hair mask recipe is the ultimate deep cl

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! 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! When you think cranberries , you probably think of cranberry sauce side dishes.   But, what you should be thinking about is skincare!   Rich in antioxidants  and vitamin C , cranberries are considered a  superfood .  Cranberries are also great when applied topically to help ward off wrinkles , reduce redness and prevent signs of skin damage . To bring the benefits of cranberries to your skin, whip up this easy anti-ageing facial mask.  Here's the recipe... Ingredients: 5 cranberries 1 tsp raw honey 3 drops apple cider vinegar a dash of freshly ground cinnamon 4 drops of  Aloe juice Method: Blend the cranberries to a pulp.  Mix in all other ingredients thoroughly.  Apply to face and leave on for 15 minutes.  Rinse thoroughly.  I hope you are enjoying the autumn-inspired DIY beauty recipes I've been posting. 

Hello everyone! Today I want to share another  autumn-inspired DIY beauty recipe  with you - a honey and fruit face mask.   This face mask nourishes and revitalises dry and tired skin.  It brightens the complexion and I highly recommend it as an anti-ageing  treatment.  Here's the recipe! Ingredients: 2 tbsp honey - Honey is a natural humectant and anti-inflammatory.  1/2 skinned pear - Pear is rich in vitamin C and vitamin K; well known anti- ageing  vitamins. 1/2 skinned apple - Apple smooths the skin and refines the pores.  Method: Chop the pear and apple pieces in a food processor.  Add honey and refrigerate for 10 minutes.  Apply on cleansed face and neck for 20-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water. This mask is gentle but very effective.  You can see results immediately after you wash it off.  If you want to try out more  beauty recipes , click  here ! Similar posts: DIY: Pumpkin cinnamon body scrub DIY: Pumpkin facial mask DIY: Honey

Hello everyone! You’ve probably seen people relaxing with cucumber slices over their eyes.  Well, this is done because cucumber can help heal various skin problems.   Cucumbers , are full of antioxidants and  vitamins ,  and have properties that soothe and soften the skin .   For an easy  do-it-yourself  skin treatment, just reach into your refrigerator and pull out a cucumber.   Cucumbers can be used to : Fade dark circles Reduce puffy eyes Fade freckles Improve complexion Treat a sunburn Tighten open pores Banish cellulite Check out the beauty recipes  in infographic below! Via Beauty Secrets Revealed Eating cucumbers   is also associated with a healthy complexion in general.  If you do try any of these DIY treatments, let me know how they work for you! Related posts: Raw potato skincare?! The beauty benefits of ice Natural remedies for dark eye circles SOS - Sunburn DIY: Anti-cellulite scrub

Hello everyone! After a long  hiatus , I'm back with another natural DIY beauty  recipe . Watermelon isn't just a sweet summer treat; it makes a great ingredient for a DIY toner  too.  Watermelon   can be used both internally and externally for its beauty benefits.  It can benefit both the skin and the whole body with its vitamins and nutrients.    Watermelon can act as an exfoliant and will cleanse and tone your skin as well.   Watermelons could just be nature's perfect skin care product. Ingredients: ½   cup watermelon 1 tablespoon witch hazel   1 tablespoon distilled water Method: Blend the watermelon in a food processor or blender ( including seeds ), until smooth. Pour the watermelon puree in a bowl, add the witch hazel and water , and mix well. Pour the mixture into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid.  Before applying the watermelon toner to your face, first test it on your inner arm .  Pull your hair away from your

Hello everyone! When it comes to healthy skin, you should try to stay away from chemicals and artificial colours , which unfortunately are found in most cosmetics. Spinach is packed with antioxidants,   vitamin C , vitamin E , beta-carotene , manganese , zinc and selenium . The vitamins and antioxidants in the spinach mask will strengthen your skin.  Spinach provides oxygen to the blood cells; this will improve your circulation, giving your skin a nice healthy glow . This spinach mask is gentle enough to be used on sensitive skin. Ingredients: 4-5 spinach leaves 1 tablespoon honey 1 tablespoon e xtra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon almond oil (optional)  Almond oil is rich in vitamins A, B, and E and can help reduce   dark eye circles . Method: Wash the spinach leaves carefully; let them dry before putting them in the blender. Put all the spinach in the blender and blend until the consistency is mostly smoothed. Add a tablespoon of olive oil into the

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! 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

Hello everyone! I’m sure that many of you have heard about the aspirin mask and its benefits.  For those who do not know; the aspirin mask is a homemade BHA mask available to each and every one of us, inexpensive and highly efficient. Aspirin is known to help significantly with deep cleaning pores and thus contribute to keeping our skin blemish-free.  Aspirin is efficient on existing blemishes as well, helping them heal. To make the mask I do not use aspirin tablets, instead, I use effervescent, water-soluble Aspirin C!  I will explain why. Each tablet of Aspirin C is composed of 400 mg acetylsalicylic acid and 240 mg ascorbic acid ( Vitamin C ). Vitamin C, in skincare, is known for decreasing pigmentation and increase collagen production; it is also an antioxidant and can help reduce skin damage caused by free radicals.  It protects skin from UVA and UVB, still, it cannot substitute sunblock/ s unscreen .  These aspects of vitamin C help to reduce wrin