Beauty + Health

I know you probably weren’t expecting me to come back so soon with another face mask, but I couldn’t let the avocado in my kitchen go to waste! For once, Pinterest didn’t have the answers I needed when searching for a good face mask recipe so I decided to make my own using items I already had at mi casa. My ingredients of choice were avocado, coconut oil, lemon, honey and aloe vera. Feel free to check out this quick video of my mixing it altogether!

My favorite thing about DIY products is that I have complete control over what’s going on and in my body. A few benefits of each ingredient are listed below!

AVOCADO – Moisturizes and softens skin, reduces wrinkles and gives you a lovely glow. They also toast amazing on toast, tacos, chicken wraps….*mouth waters*….

COCONUT OIL – Helps prevent fungal and bacterial infections. Reduces wrinkles and moisturizes the skin.

LEMON – Help treat acne and are a natural skin brightener.

HONEY – Makes the skin glllooowwwwww! Fights and prevents acne while moisturizing the skin.

ALOE VERA – Moisturizes skin, lightens blemishes and treats acne.

DISCLAIMER: This post is not sponsored and I am not affiliated with Baebody Beauty in anyway. I purchased the product with my own money with the intentions of improving my self-care routine.

Hey there!

This year has been off to a wonderful start when it comes to self-care. I’ve been eating cleaner, sleeping better, drinking more water and definitely noticed changes as a result. However, I’ve been struggling with my skin a bit. I’m experiencing fewer breakouts since I’m now makeup free 90% of the time, but I find my fresh face doesn’t always look….well…fresh. Dry skin, uneven coloring, and more have been issues the last few months. After doing a bit of browsing on Amazon, I noticed the BaeBody Beauty Dead Sea Mud Mask was on sale and took it as a sign that I needed to give it a try.

My experience: I decided to try the mud mask immediately after hopping out the shower to ensure my skin was clean (as the directions recommended) and my pores were open. I applied a thin layer and left it on for 20 minutes. Next, I rinsed my face with warm water and my favorite reusable makeup remover cloth. I was honestly shocked by how revitalized my skin looked; it was noticeably softer as well. I spent the next few days feeling like a new woman and knew the mud mask would be a staple in my skin care routine.

I use the mud mask once weekly and haven’t had any issues with it thus far. I was initially concern with how long the product would last since it comes in a small 8.8oz bottle, but it’s super thick and spreads extremely well. I don’t see myself needing to restock any time soon.

Dead Sea Mud Mask Benefits: I’m a firm believer that research is necessary any time a new skin or hair care product is introduced to your regimen. Although there’s much more out there to be read, I want to start you off with a quick list of benefits I found helpful/relevant!

– Filled with tons of minerals
– Minimizes pores and wrinkles
– Exfoliates the skin
– Helps with moisture
   and much more!
I’m feeling much more confident stepping out with a fresh face these days!

Disclaimer: This is a non-sponsored post. If you don’t care to read about my girly parts, periods, and other natural joys of womanhood, feel free to browse my website for other fun content. 🙂

INTRODUCTION 

After experiencing the worst periods I’ve had in years this past December and January, I dove into the world of menstrual cycles and natural remedies for pain. I have a terribly heavy flow and the worst cramps, so I was desperate for a sign of hope. In the process of researching, I stumbled upon two products that I believe will forever change my life – reusable menstrual cloths and cups. I had no idea reusable menstrual products existed and to be honest, like most people I was a bit turned off and confused initially. However, it didn’t take long for my disgust to turn into complete fascination and excitement. I purchased the Lunette Cup and several menstrual cloths the same day.

I immediately fell in love with the menstrual cloths and haven’t used standard pads since. I didn’t have the same luck with my menstrual cup; it took me 3 periods to finally have successful insertions, but now that I have….OH MY! There are tons of reviews raving about the beauty of menstrual cups, but I want to share my thoughts as a first time user so here we go…..

THE BAD

Menstrual cups can be terribly hard. It took me at least 15 minutes to insert it properly each time I tried. In addition to making sure you’ve slid it in far enough, you have to make sure the cup releases into it’s original state to avoid any leakage. This can be very difficult for a beginner. Unfortunately, I tend to be terribly emotional during my periods, so the process was extremely frustrating for me at times. Thankfully, I don’t mind the messiness that comes with my period. I couldn’t help but wonder how grossed out I’d be by the process if I did though.  Period 1 my stomach pains were so severe I had to give up on inserting the Lunette cup entirely. Period 2 my cramps had improved due to healthier habits. I was able to insert the cup, but it wasn’t nearly as comfortable as the reviewers said it would be. It became so obnoxious I ended up removing it and using my menstrual cloths for my entire period instead.

Period 3 *smiles* period 3 gave me the hope I needed….

THE GOOD

For my third period I decided to take a different approach. Rather than waiting for blood to start flowing, I inserted the cup the moment I began cramping and showing mild period symptoms. A few hours later, my lovely Aunt Flo decided to pay me a visit at work. Though I couldn’t take my mind off of the cup, I waited 2 hours before scurrying to the restroom for a panty check. A huge weight lifted off my shoulders when I saw there literally wasn’t a single drop of blood on my menstrual cloth. The longer I wore the cup, the less I felt it. I now understand what the reviewers meant. When properly inserted, you literally don’t feel the cup at all. I only used the cup for my heavy days (1-3), but it made such a HUGE difference in my period overall. I never realized until now how much of a difference comfort can make in your period. I still have a lot to learn to make the process easier, but I’m so much more confident after having one successful cycle under my belt.

CONCLUSION

I would recommend all women look into reusable menstrual products. There are tons of long term benefits and I am definitely a believer in them after my recent successes. Yes, they may take a bit more patience. Sure, they are a bit of an investment up front. But I personally could not be happier with my experience. I feel empowered and for the first time…ever….I feel that I’m in control of my period and not the other way around. I look forward to perfecting my own process and sharing more with you all along the way!

Be on the lookout for a Youtube series addressing the following topics:

1. My Menstrual Cloth Experience (WATCH HERE)
2. Menstrual Cloth & Cup Tips
3. Sckoon Cup and/or Lunette Cup Review

Until next time….