My New Intro Video!

How to REALLY Remove Splat Hair Color (In About an Hour)

My eleven year old son wanted to dye his hair blue at the beginning of the summer and since we are cool parents like that, we agreed. Little did I realize, it would be nearly impossible to completely remove the stain from his blond locks. I innocently thought that the dye would fade gracefully away over the summer. Oh how wrong I was!  

Now that summer is nearly over and the school year is looming, he has decided to enter the sixth grade with "normal" looking hair. Since his hair hadn't faded completely, I knew that I'd have to use some sort of process to help remove the remaining stain.  Naturally, I decided to consult the experts - YouTube! 

I did find a ton of videos on removing Splat naturally. The most popular concoction seems to be a mixture (or variation of) crushed vitamin C tablets and dishwashing liquid. I'm all about natural so with an open mind I watched several how-to videos. To my dismay, it seems that this method is only slightly effective at best and requires repeated applications (sometimes up to 20 times - at an hour each). Forget that!

B3 & Rosemary Skin Serum Recipe - All Natural Anti-aging and Wrinkle Repair That Works!

I'm always interested in effective and natural skin care, especially anti-aging products.  B3 or niacinamide has been reported to effectively treat a variety of facial conditions - including acne, rosacea and wrinkles.  Niacinamide is an important ingredient in many pricey skin care lines.   I like skin care that does more than one thing.  Any ingredient that helps beat wrinkles and acne is a winner in my book!


You can read more about niacinamide as a skin care ingredient on multiple sites but the summary of what I understand is that topically applied B3 has been shown to increase ceramide and free fatty acid levels in skin.  This helps to prevent your skin from losing water content.  

This water soluble vitamin also is believed to stimulate micro circulation in the dermis, which is the middle layer of your skin (the place where all the collagen is stored in your skin - important stuff going on in this layer that affects your skin's youthful appearance).  

Because I don't believe that we must spend a fortune to have beautiful, youthful skin, I went on a search to find a recipe to make my own B3 serum.  I tried several recipes from various websites but the serums didn't feel all that.....serum-like.  They were too watery for my clumsy self (I need a serum that lets me get a head start on it) so I played around with just a few ingredients and came up with this....

Make Your Own Healthy Deodorant - All Natural

I first became aware that commercially prepared deodorants and antiperspirants could be bad for us was when I was a teenager. (Way back in the dark ages, as my teenagers like to say.)  My mother worked for a chiropractor who sold supplements and healthy alternative beauty products.  I will never forget the day my mother brought home a big deodorant crystal from work.  She wet the crystal and rubbed it under her armpits.  I thought this was strange and vowed to never rub a rock under my pits.

Fast forward many years later and I am the crazy mom, making deodorant in the kitchen.
All joking aside, the recipe I'm going to share is a good replacement for the commercially prepared, aluminum based products on the market.  It may not work for everyone but many people find this homemade version to be more than adequate for controlling stinky sweat.   To me it is worth the time to make this in order to reduce the cancer risk and other health concerns.  To make this all natural deodorant....

Homemade Magnesium Oil Spray for Skin Care

Magnesium is necessary for hundreds of processes in the body and yet so many of us are reported to be deficient in it.  One possible explanation for the deficiency is that our food is grown in soil that is depleted of magnesium.  

To make matters worse, oral supplements can cause diarrhea in some people.  Trans dermal magnesium therapy using Magnesium Oil is said to be more readily absorbed and perhaps more effective. 

I recently read the exciting news that magnesium oil is also being used as skin care.  Read this article in Huffington Post about Magnesium Oil Skincare Benefits to learn more about this trend.  Apparently, Magnesium Oil is being used to help with acne and other skin conditions.

I wanted to try some but realized quickly that the oil can get pricey.  I found that I could make my own magnesium oil at a fraction of the cost of the commercially prepared versions.  And the best part is that it was so easy to make the formula! To make your own Magnesium Oil Spray....

How to Really Get Rid of Acne Scars

*UPDATE 7/19/16 - See video below to learn how to apply the peel. Viewer Discretion Advised - I have NO makeup on (not for the faint of heart)

As many of you may know, I've struggled with acne since I began having children.  I've shared with you how I banished acne from my face (see A Truly Amazing Acne Treatment).  Now I want to tell you how I got rid of those years and years worth of acne scars.  A glycolic acid skin peel once a week for several months resurfaced my skin into a smoother, nearly scar-free complexion. 

I considered many options when researching how to get rid of my scarring.  Other than surgical procedures, a peel was the most viable option for me.  There are many peel products on the market. But most seemed ineffective (based on reviews) or only available at salons or dermatologists.

Salon skin peel treatments are effective and offer a wide variety of types but knew I wouldn't be able to afford the treatment on an ongoing basis ($50 - $100 per peel).  I searched around and decided to buy a strong glycolic acid solution from a supplier and do the peel myself at home.  Although many recommendations were to go with a weaker strength (30% or lower), I wanted the same strength that spas use (70%). 

The product I chose is (1 oz / 30 ml) GLYCOLIC Acid 70% Skin Chemical Peel - Unbuffered - Alpha Hydroxy (AHA) For Acne, Oily Skin, Wrinkles, Blackheads, Large Pores & More (from Skin Beauty Solutions).  It has good reviews and is priced at $14.99. Glycolic acid is reportedly good for both acne and wrinkles alike! Not a bad combination for a 40 something year old with both acne scars and fine lines! 

I purchased my first 1 oz. bottle in November 2011 and it lasted for over a year.  It is very economical.  You only need a few drops per peel, especially if you use your finger to apply rather than a gauze pad.

I just followed the instructions in the packaging and left it on until I started seeing redness(for only a minute or so) then followed directions for rinsing.  An invaluable tip included in the instructions was to prepare a baking soda water solution to neutralize the acid once you are done with the peel.  It works and I was thankful to have it handy.  Each week I was able to leave the product on longer (up to 10 minutes).

You can see my application technique in this video - Be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel!

 
I'll be filming additional videos for some of my most popular posts as well as new creative ideas to live well while saving money.

If you choose to treat your acne scarring or wrinkles with a glycolic acid peel you will want to follow the directions and be cautious until you know how your skin will react.  The time you should leave on will vary based on your skin type and sensitivity. 

Please note, it is possible to blister your skin.  This isn't a  weak AHA lotion that you can buy in the drugstore.  I can't stress enough that this product is the real thing.  You will want to store it as you would any dangerous chemical, especially if you have children. 

Just read the directions, use caution and common sense if you decide to do it yourself at home.  And don't forget to wear sunscreen! Done properly you can have a beautiful clear complexion AND save yourself a ton of money.

As with any medicine or cosmetic treatment, discontinue use and consult a physician if skin seems unreasonably irritated.  Should your skin flake (common with a peel) do not pick at your skin.  Doing so can cause scarring.

After care update ~ It has been some time since I began using the 70% peels and most of my scarring is completely gone. I found a great maintenance product that is inexpensive and also seems to prevent breakouts completely.  It is Alpha Hydrox Enhanced Lotion 10 percent Glycolic AHA -- 6 fl oz Anti-Wrinkle. It costs around $10 a bottle and lasts me two months.  I use it once in the morning and once at night.  It's marketed as a wrinkle treatment but it works just as well for acne prevention and keeps my skin feeling soft and glowing!  I love it!  I have also bought the generic brand that is offered at Walgreens (about $9 a tub) and think that it does a nice job as well.       

If you liked this article, you may enjoy reading ~

B3 & Rosemary Skin Serum Recipe - Wrinkle Reversing & Acne Fighting

Magnesium Oil for Skin Care Recipe

Chocolate Lip Balm Recipe - All Natural & Good For You!

The Best Homemade Face Scrub Ever

Olive Oil Cinnamon Lip Plumping Scrub

Cafe Mocha Face Mask Recipe

Homemade Sheer Cherry Lip Balm Recipe

Also check out Perfectly Posh by Poppyjuice to see commercially prepared products using only naturally based ingredients.  Luxurious pampering products with all of the good and none of the bad!

Be sure to subscribe so you won't miss out on future helpful tips and tricks!

Homemade Chocolate Lip Balm

Make your own decadent chocolate lip balm with only four natural ingredients.  It's easy to turn these items into a soothing stick of rich chocolate yumminess!  Give as a beautiful handmade gift or treat yourself.  Follow these simple steps to create your own delectable lip balm.

The Best Homemade Face Scrub Ever!

I've tried many different scrubs through the years but I continue to come back to my basic scrub created in my own kitchen.  As my readers know, I have struggled with acne and now that I am 43 years old,  I battle dull, dry skin that threatens to crack at any moment!  Unfair, right?

Jewelry Made From Recycled Plastic Bottles

I've been having so much fun making earrings and necklaces from empty plastic (PET) bottles and milk jugs!   You too can make your own jewelry from plastic bottles that would normally be thrown away or recycled. 

Go Green Just In Time For St. Patrick's Day - Upcycled Soda Bottle Jewelry!

Even though we've been making a concentrated effort on wasting less and using more of what we purchase, I've noticed there are still far too many plastic bottles that come through our home.  Our trash service doesn't offer curbside pickup of our recycling and sometimes it is months before we drop off our recycling.

Olive Oil Cinnamon Lip Plumping Scrub

*Update 7/20/16 - Scroll down for short video tutorial.

Spring must be in the air because beauty is on my mind this week!  I wanted to share my favorite lip treatment for super soft full lips!  It works wonders to smooth those poor winter chapped lips.  Whip up this amazing lip scrub in a jiffy!

Make Your Own Cafe' Mocha Face Mask! Brighten Your Complexion With This Easy to Make Scrub


I love great skin care!  Nothing makes you feel better than a little pampering, especially when a spa quality treatment doesn't break your bank!   I've been experimenting with a new face mask and have created a combination that I think is amazing.  I call it the "Cafe' Mocha Face Mask".  It feels wonderful, brightens my complexion and smells good enough to eat!

The ingredients and their benefits in this special mask are as follows ~

Homemade Sheer Cherry Lip Balm ~ Easy to Make, Beautiful to Wear!

One of my favorite lip balms is my own homemade recipe.  It's really simple to make and can double as a sheer blush.  

To make this lip balm you will need the following ingredients ~

Do It Yourself Hair Color Weave or Highlights!



It is easier than you might think to do a color weave or highlights yourself (or for a friend).    Salons charge between $50 to $100 on average for this service alone.  Add the cost of a haircut and tip to the bill and you can expect to spend about $150 every 6 to 8 weeks!   Save yourself a ton of money and control the results by doing it yourself.

Dress Transformation - From Dowdy to Decent!

  I have a respectable dress that my dear mother gave to me last year.  It's a perfectly good dress but it's very.....matronly.....

A Truly Amazing Acne Treatment

Like many other people, I struggle with adult acne.   I've tried many over the counter remedies, including Pro-Active, with limited success.  The ironic thing is that I didn't suffer from acne as a teenager.  My acne seemed to be triggered by pregnancy. 

Bell Bottomed Jeans

 

I've been down with the flu for over a week now and was beginning to get a little stir crazy.  I decided a little altering might make me feel better so this is what I did with my Saturday afternoon.

Another Upcycled T-Shirt!

  

Finished spaghetti strap tank!


I had so much fun altering some of my clothing several days ago that I wanted to try it again!

This creation was made with an old t-shirt that belonged to my teenage son and a crocheted halter top that I never felt completely comfortable wearing.

Upcycled Clothing!

 

I've been in a shopping mood lately.  It doesn't happen often but once in a while I feel a strong urge to buy some new clothes.   I normally talk myself out of the shopping trip to avoid spending a ton of money. 

Because I've been blessed with hand-me-down clothing from friends and my mama through the years, I rarely "need" anything in the clothing department.  Sometimes I just want something different.   To satisfy the shopping urge, I decided to look through my own closet to see what pieces could be recycled into a "new" item.  These are a few items I altered into new pieces.