Cheap, EASY Lemon Scrub!

I've been using a lot of lemons lately (mainly because my mom bought me a 3lb bag of them) and I've kind of been regretting throwing away the rinds once I'm finished squeezing out the juice. Now, MOST of the time, I'd be squeezing the juice from them to use for my face anyway so I thought why not just use the leftover juice in the rind as well! 

I know...revolutionizing, right? *pats self on back* ;)

So what you want to do is take your lemon rind and flatten it out as much as possible.

Then add a reasonable amount of baking soda...

....and then scrub your face with it! 

It will feel bubbly and cool...and then it will sting. Lol

It leaves my face a little red at first, but it goes away after a couple of minutes. 

Easy, right? Cheap, right? AND it works!
I usually follow this up with fresh aloe juice from the actual plant. 

* I wouldn't reuse the rind for your face again, cause the juice will be alkaline because of the baking soda. I was thinking of maybe soaking it in my vinegar and using that solution as a natural cleaner?? Idk. I haven't tried it out yet....but I will!

HAPPY HEALTH!

=D

March Fitness Challenge Update!

Okay, so I started the ab and squat challenges both on March 9 (I was late ;) )

I haven't really been seeing any big difference in my abs, but my legs are DEFINITELY getting stronger. 

Along with the squats, I've been going to the gym on campus and doing squats/lunges on the Smith  Machine (squat machine) and although my legs sometimes feel like they're about to fall off, they're gaining more shape! 

Cellulite's still there (WOMP) but I know it'll take alot more than working out to reduce that, but I'm still trying! I have yet to try out that coffee scrub that I saw on Pinterest (mainly because coffee isn't cheap) but I'll suck it up and buy some....

I've decided to reincorporate cardio back into my workouts, cause I basically only lift and do crunches and squats...and I'm pretty sure that's the reason why I haven't noticed any spectacular change in my abs. 

I've also decided that once I run out of meat, that I'm not gonna buy anymore. So we'll see how that goes.

*temporary Vegetarian*

Anywhooz, here are my updated pics!

March 17 (8 days after I began)

March 17, right

March 17, left

Today, left

Today, right

Today, abs

I Think I'm Allergic...

These pics don't really show the flare up that good..but it was fairly red

Hey Guys!

So, I was kinda "bootleg washing" my hair today. I combined my baking soda w/ my Aussie Moist to scrub my scalp (which USUALLY works) and conditioned with the same mixture. Everything was good and gravy, as usual, until I got out of the shower. I noticed the sides of my cheeks (where I broke out while using Cantu) were starting to itch. When I looked in the mirror, I saw that the sides of my cheeks were starting to flare up and turn red. -___________-

I tell you, having sensitive skin is the WORST. I'm about to seriously go cold turkey on these store bought products...like, foreal. Cause I can't deal..these flare ups are starting to work my nerves. *sighs* so I decided to make my bentonite clay mask (that I'm currently waiting to dry as I type this) and I'm gonna follow up w/ some raw aloe vera juice/gel from the actual plant that I have. 

I really need to go to a dermatologist so that they can determine exactly which ingredient it is that I'm allergic to...cause these breakouts are not life. 

Meanwhile,

 I've decided to give you guys an idea of what my mask usually looks like through this pictorial...Enjoy!

 

The amount of aloe vera gel I use. I'd say about a 1/4 c

..next I add the juice of 1 lemon

I typically guess-timate the amount of bentonite to add. I like it to be thick..but not lumpy...

I mix it up with my finger and this is what it typically looks like. It will be foamy at first because of the reaction w/ the lemon but it will deflate after a minute or two.

Then apply & let it dry! Rinse it off w/ warm water & pat face dry =)

 HAPPY HEALTH!

=D

Fitness Challenge for March

I took this about last month ...it doesn't look like this when I'm not flexing. lmao

 I just started my workout plan today...(I've been slackin) but, hey...better late than never!

Like I said in my last post, I'm going to be focusing mostly on my legs/booty during my workouts, but I found myself tryna do this ab challenge for March as well....smh. I be tryna do too much! I blame Pinterest...-__-   LOL

I'm also cutting out sweets *gasp*

...&that includes juice, but only if it's from concentrate. If it's 100% fruit juice...imma drink that. lol

As far as incorporating more protein into my diet as I've previously stated...I don't have the funds to eat alot of meat, so I might find myself eating more beans and nuts and stuff...*sighs* 

Being broke while tryna get your life together<<<

#TheAlmightyStruggle

Anyways....

Here are my workout challenges for this month!! 

I did these this morning and the ab one was kicking my butt...that's what I get for not working out in 50yrs...-____- I started on March 1 so that I get the full month in. 

As for these squats, I did half of them regular squats and the other half jumping squats. I plan on switching up the style of squats I do each week just so that I get all of my booty muscles working. I started on day 1 of this one as well..and doing the regular squats was fine, but those jumping squats man.....*phew*. I almost died.

....isn't her booty glorious?? lawd...

Feel free to join along in this challenge! But if not...

HAPPY HEALTH!

=D

March Skin Update!

Okay guys, so my regimen has basically stayed the same. I've been doing my bentonite clay masks every other day, along with exfoliating w/ baking soda and doing a weekly lemon sugar scrub. I'm going to gradually reduce the amount of times I do my masks to only doing them weekly once my skin sort of balances itself out. It's behaving better, apart from my menstrual breakouts but those only occur once a month. I haven't had any signs of cystic acne on ANY part of my body, which is GREAT (whoop whoop!) and I'm trying to figure out a way to shrink my pores...cause they're GINORMOUS (like...literally). 

I've also made my own shealoe concoction (not really, it's just shea butter and aloe vera gel) and when I tell you...I LOVE this stuff. The aloe moisturizes my skin SO well and the shea butter just LOCKS it all in, it's glorious! lmao I use it all over my body, and once I'm finished with my body, I rub whatever is left on my hands onto my face so that I don't put too much on it. So I must say, so far so good! I also used the shealoe mixture on my hair this week for my twistout &can you say BAAAANGIIIIIN!!? Lawwwd...shealoe is life.

edges w/ shealoe applied!  curls just start POPPIN.

I got the aloe vera gel and the shea butter on amazon. I think it cost me about $15 for them both...but don't quote me on that, just go look for yourself. Lol

 ALSO....

I'm gonna share my bentonite clay mask recipe w/ you guys! (Yaaaaay!)

1 cup Bentonite clay

1 lemon, deseeded

Directions:

Combine and mix thoroughly until no lumps/ dry spots remain and a smooth "paste" is formed. Add a small amount of water if needed.  Refrigerate for up to a week.

There it is!

HAPPY HEALTH!

=D

Edges Progress

 I posted these pictures in my No More Store Brought Hair Products post once I started the Castor Oil Challenge. Since then, I've noticed a significant difference in the thickness of my edges, as well as new growth (baby hairs) :) 

I had OFFICIALLY started the challenge on the first of September, and I took this picture about two weeks ago. I'm extremely pleased with the results castor oil has been giving me, and I definitely recommend the application of castor oil to any balding spot you may have. 

I, personally, used it all over my entire head and the growth, although not dramatic, is noticeable. I will continue using castor oil to grease my scalp because this stuff is WONDERFUL.

 HAPPY GROWTH!! 

=D

My Acne Story

 Like every other person in the world, I have acne troubles. Due to the fact that I have EXTREMELY sensitive skin, I can't rely on going out to buy just ANY acne product. Proactiv worked for a little while, but eventually my skin became "immune" to it, I guess. #WOMP

Senior year: NO foundation/powder  =)

As I've gotten older and experimented with different skin regimens, I find that one PARTICULAR regimen worked WONDERS for me. During my senior year of H.S.I would wash/scrub with baking soda, "moisturize" with FRESH aloe vera juice/gel and coconut oil every day. It not only reduced the size of my pores, but it lightened my acne scars AND basically obliterated my acne problem...for the moment. 

When I went away to college, I had no access to fresh aloe juice/gel and the bottled version just wasn't working. Eventually I began to break out again, but it was less than before. This carried on until about last year when I finally realized that I was allergic to one of the ingredients in Cantu Shea Butter, which was causing my jawline/ neck area to break out so, regretfully, I had to discontinue the use of my most favorite hair product... =(

College: result of Cantu allergy

I've had a few episodes of cystic acne show up on my chin and once on the bridge of my nose. I also had some popping up on my butt as well =O *gasp* [I know, right?] I googled how to get rid of them, but there really is no definitive way to get rid of a cystic pimple except either ATTEMPTING to drain it or SLATHERING it with salicylic acid. I would always try to pop it like a regular pimple [BIG mistake] only to find that it contains about 3 separate heads which just wound up bleeding and hurting. Waiting for them to heal and scab over was beyond embarrassing cause I was walking around with this big CRATER in my face, tryna cover it up with makeup, only to draw even more attention to this flaky skinned, concealer covered lump on my face. -___- 

Cystic pimple on my nose. I actually liked this pic so i had to photoshop it so no one could see it---->>>

I haven't had any recent episodes of cystic acne, thank GOD, and I think that that is mainly due to my overall lifestyle change. I eat more raw fruits and vegetables than I did when I FIRST got to college, I do bentonite clay masks weekly, and I definitely workout more. The sweat from working out helps to rid my body of  toxins, the bentonite clay mask absorbs even more toxins, and the clean eating/ drinking habits helps flush my body of toxins as well!

I've also been doing weekly bentonite baths, and I've recently done a full body mask with it. I'm hoping this will keep my acne at bay in ALL areas of my body (booty included). Aside from the health benefits of pulling toxins from my body, these baths are extremely relaxing and rejuvenating after a long day's work!

I think it's safe to say that bentonite clay has been the answer to all of my skin prayers. It cleanses and tightens my pores, and reduces the size of any current pimples I may be having. I'm thinking of buying some aloe vera juice and using that to make my mask instead of using just straight up water. I was also thinking of using lemon juice with it, so I'll definitely post that experiment as soon as it's done. lol Another thing I was thinking of squeezing into my regimen was this homemade lemon scrub. I've done it once before, and it DID reduce the size of both my pimples AND my pores, it left my face feeling squeaky clean and it didn't cause another breakout so I think I'll definitely be trying that again.

So as of now, my skin regimen is:

• Scrubbing/ Washing with Baking Soda

• Fresh Aloe Vera Juice/gel and Coconut oil to moisturize

• Bentonite clay masks once a week, always followed up by coconut oil.
• Bentonite clay baths once a week

This is what works for me, and it took me a while before I could tell what my skin liked and what it didn't like. What I've definitely learned is that my skin does not like acne products...ONLY home remedies! So I think I'll just go with the flow and stick to what I know. The only thing I'm trying to do is lighten my scars at this point, and I'm certain once I start doing the lemon scrub, that it will help out with that. 

HAPPY SKIN IS HEALTHY SKIN!

=D