#BeautyGeek: Beauty of Lemon, Honey & Sugar

 

Beauties did you know lemon, honey and sugar when paired together can remove blackheads! Well I sure didn't and to be honest, as much as I love all things natural especially when it come to beauty, I didn't think it would be effective so I never paid it much attention. But I kept running into recipes everywhere online touting the amazing results people received when they used lemon and honey to remove blackheads. So I finally gave in and decided to give it a try for myself. Hey growing up my sister didn't call me a test rabbit for nothing. She always said "when it comes to hair and skincare you will try anything". I tried it and I was truly amazed at the immediate results! It actually removed my blackheads. Well, most of them. Believe me when I tell you I had plenty of them all over my nose. There were a few remaining blackheads on the right side of my nose and I believe that was because I didn't scrub hard enough in that area. It was a bit ackward getting into those corner crevices with lemon. But, overall I must say I'm pleased with the results. Ive tried honey and lemon masks plenty of times and they are great for brightening and hydrating my skin. But I never tried exfoliating with it.

So here's why these posts are titled #BeautyGeek. This is where I give you a break down of how and why the featured product or treatment works.

Ingredients: Half a Lemon, Honey, Demerara Sugar

How It Works...
I took half of a lemon and gently squeezed it to release some of its natural juices. Next I dipped it in honey, then into the sugar. I rubbed the honey, lemon and sugar mixture all over my nose for about five minutes. Next, I let the mixture sit on my face for twenty minutes. I believe leaving the mixture on for five minutes would be enough, however, I tend to go to the extreme so I left it on for twenty minutes before rinsing with cold water.

Why It Works...
 The acidic juices of the lemon in combination with honey creates a soft and hydrating environment for the skin making it ideal for exfoliating. As the mixture is worked into the skin the sugar gently exfoliates lifting and removing blackheads. After a few minutes of exfoliating, the mixture will sit on the nose for 5-15 minutes. The acid from the lemon will continue to penetrate the skin removing excess dirt and debris allowing any remaining blackheads that were not removed during the  exfoliating process to be washed away as you rinse rinse with cool water to close the pores.

Beauties if you give this beauty treatment a try please be sure to let us know how it worked for you.

Are You Ready For A Beauty Cocktail?

Beauties do you like cocktails? If you do we're sure your going to love this one. We love cocktails especially when they're Beauty Cocktails. In addition to taking care of skin on the outside we believe its especially important to take care of it from the inside. This beauty cocktail of coconut water, lemon juice & seltzer water will hydrate all the way down to the cellular level. Here are a few properties that make lemon & coconut water are ideal for skin and body.

Benefits of Coconut Water

1. Anti Aging - Contains anti-thrombotic and anti-carcinogenic properties that significantly reduces the aging of skin
2.  Digestion - Contains enzymes such as folic acid, diastase, phosphate, catalase and RNA polymerases that aid in digestion and metabolism
3.  Dehydration - Due to its electrolyte balance and plasma content coconut water closely resembles human blood making it ideal for treating dehydration
4.  Strong Bones - Contains high levels of calcium 
5.  Muscle Cramps - Due to its high levels of potassium it significantly reduces muscle cramps
6. Increases Metabolic Rate - Consuming coconut water regularly increases the metabolic rate which causes insulin to burn faster in the body thus increasing its metabolic rate. Increased metabolic rate means the body burns sugar faster causing a person to have increased energy and fat loss

Benefits of Lemon

1. Oily Skin - Applying lemon juice to a cotton pad and gently wiping the face at bed time then washing in the morning has been known to reduce appearance of oily skin
2. Treatment of Acne - The anti-fungal & anti-microbial properties make it ideal for treating acne
3. Strengthen Nails - The combination of olive oil & lemon juice has been known to strengthen nails when massaged into the nail
4. Lighten Hair Color - When lemon juice is combined with hair conditioner and used as a leave in conditioner it has been proven to naturally lighten hair when you sit out in the sun for at least an hour

Nidasii Beauty Cocktail

1.  1/2lemon
2.  Coconut Water
3.  Seltzer Water

Pour 4oz of coconut water & 4oz seltzer water to cup. Squeeze in the juice of half of a lemon and stir. Feel free to add ice if you prefer to drink chilled.


Beauties if you give the Nidasii Beauty Cocktail a try please let us know how it worked for you!

Beauty of Coconut Oil for Summer

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Hey Beauties tomorrow, June 21, 2013, is the first official day of summer and that got me to thinking about my number one favorite summer ingredient, coconut oil. The scent alone makes me think all things summer, especially days at the beach! Although its been well documented that if stranded on a desert island with only one beauty product it would my EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil). However, when summer, my favorite season arrives, I like to switch things up a bit and incorporate coconut oil into my beauty regimen. Here’s how.

SKIN: During summer I like to use Extra Virgin Coconut Oil as my moisturizer from head to toe. I especially love the way its natural fragrance incorporates with my body chemistry giving off a refreshingly sweet aroma. Not only does this amazing oil have the ability to absorb deep into skins surface. It also has the ability to naturally prevent burning from the sun. So using it as a moisturizer before applying sunscreen will actually give your skin extra protection against sun burn.

HAIR: Coconut oil has the ability to provide hair with moisture and shine. Not to mention it’s the number one ingredient most naturalistas and curlistas incorporate into their hair care regimen. I love to use it on my hair during summer for the fragrance. Of course it provides my hair with shine and moisture, however, I like to use a blend of EVCO (Extra Virgin Coconut Oil) and grape seed or almond oil to moisturize my scalp and ends.

How do you incorporate EVCO into your beauty regimen?

Brown Sugar Beauty

Hey Beauties I'm sooo happy now that summer temps have finally arrived! In fact I'm sooo overjoyed that it has inspired me to write about one of my favorite summer ingredients, Brown Sugar. I use brown sugar more than a few times a week during summer. I especially love exfoliating with it at the end of a long hazy, hot & humid summer day. I love the way it easily removes all product build up on skin while exfoliating the skin to reveal the most amazing GLOW! If there's one thing that I love to do during this time of the year is glow. Nothing beats a radiant summer glow. Here are a few more reasons why I love brown sugar.

1.  Brown sugar is a natural humectant which means it naturally draws moisture to skin
2. It's also a natural source of glycolic acid which is an AHA (Alpha Hydroxy Acid) that naturally breaks the bond of skin cells encouraging cell turn over
3. Brown sugar is also a naturally gentle exfoliant that can be used several times per week without being too abrasive to the skins surface

Beauties, is brown sugar one of your favorite natural beauty ingredients?

Nidasii Spa: Papaya & Banana D.I.Y Mask

 

Hey Beauties! It's been a while but we're back with another D.I.Y. beauty recipe. I love do it your self beauty recipes because there's no exact science to them and you can tweak them to your specific skin needs. Today's beauty recipe is a Papaya & Banana mask that can be re-mixed into a body scrub. But, we'll talk more about that in our beauty remix section below.

Here are the ingredients needed for today's beauty mask:

1/2  Ripe Papaya
1 Whole Banana
1/4 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream
Blender

Take a spoon and scoop out the seeds from the center of the papaya and place them on a paper towel to dry. I'll tell what to do with those in our beauty remix below.  Next, take a spoon and begin to scoop out the the flesh of the papaya into the blender. Next, place the peeled banana into the blender and begin to blend until you achieve a pureed consistency. Next, add 1/4 of a cup or 4 tablespoons of heavy whipping cream to the papaya & banana puree and blend for 2 minutes. The heavy whipping cream will help thicken the mixture allowing for a better application. Plus the lactic acid in the cream is a natural exfoliant. When done apply the mixture to face and relax for twenty minutes to let all the natural nutrients absorb into the skin. Be sure to place the remaining mixture in an air tight container and store in the refrigerator. I can usually get three applications from this recipe. This recipe also will last up to one week if stored in the refrigerator.

Beauty Benefits of This Mask:

This mask exfoliates, moisturizes and provides the skin with essential minerals and antioxidants.

The papapya contains papain an enzyme that acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and natural exfoliant that has the ability to melt away the outer most layer of dead dry skin. Because the ezyme papain has anti-inflammatory properties its ideal for acne prone skin types.

In this beauty recipe the banana acts as a natural moisturizer with a host of essential vitamins and minerals.

The heavy whipping cream has many functions in this beauty recipe. It serves as an emulsifier, thickening the papaya & banana mixture allowing for a rich, decadent application. The lactic acid in the cream also provides gentle exfoliation. And, last, but certainly not the least, it provides tons and tons of moisture.

Papaya Beauty Re-mix:

Earlier in this post I told you I would get back to you  on what to do with the papaya seeds I instructed you to place on a paper towel to dry. So, here it is!

Now that the seeds are dry. I need you to crush them. This can be done a number of ways. You can use a rolling pin to roll over them a few times for a rough chop consistency, coffee grinder or mini chopper....you get the idea. Next pour the crushed seeds into the papaya and banana mixture and mix well. I like to pour them into what's left after I apply my facial mask. This makes the most awesome body scrub that will leave your skin looking, feeling & smelling AMAZING!!!

Be sure to look out for more papaya goodness in part II of this post Wednesday!

Beautiful Beach Skin

Hi  Beauties there were so many challenges trying to record this video. We were supposed to record outside, but, the thunder and lightening made us have a change of heart...especially the lightning! So we came in doors to record this weeks video regarding the three items you should have in your beach bag to maintain Beautiful Beach Skin. I hope you enjoy todays video and as always please leave your comments below.

Spring Fling Beautiful Skin

Not only is Spring officially here but the weather has been a bit summerish and that makes me soooo happy! That's why I wanted to share my two staples for plump hydrated skin. This is actually part of my daily routine all year long, but, it's especially effective during the more humid days of spring and summer.

I feel like I've said this a million times on this blog, but, I have extremely dry skin!! So over the years through much trial and error I discovered what works for my skin. Here's what I do.

*First I apply olive oil to my damp skin in the shower
*Second I apply vegetable glycerine to damp skin as well in the shower
*Next, I apply one of our Nidasii body butters to seal in the moisture...at the moment I'm using Mango-go.

Nidasii 5 Days of Butter - My Moisture Routine

Hey Beauties! I hope your enjoying our five days of body butter. There's so much you can do with body butter I can go on forever! Today I'm going to let you know how I use body butter to re-hydrate my skin. Moisturizing and maintaining moisture is especially important this time of the year.

After my shower I immediately apply body butter to my damp skin. You want to apply the body butter, or any moisturizer for that matter, to damp skin because after we shower our pores are open. The pores of our skin actually open when exposed to heat or warmth. Water acts as a carrier allowing the moisturizer to penetrate deeply beneath the skins surface. When moisturizers penetrate deep below the skins surface it allows our skin to stay hydrated for a longer period of time. And that's extremely important now that most of us are experiencing cooler drier temperatures of fall and soon winter.

Beauty Bonus: If you have extremely dry skin like I do I would highly recommend you use a humidifier to keep the air in your home moist. I actually have two in my apartment. Like I said I have extremely dry skin and during the colder months when we heat our homes the heat dries out any signs of moisture in the air. Having a humidifier will add moisture to the air keeping your skin supple and hydrated longer.

If you don't have a humidifier try placing a stock pot on a low flame on the stove or place a heat resistant bowl on a radiator. This is an old school method...but it works!

Summer Hat Inspiration

Today I'm on a quest to find a cute summer hat. My perfect hat from last summer got beat up pretty bad last year. Actually, I killed it by accidentally placing it under a storage container with all of my spring/summer clothes last fall.



I'm using my girl Jennifer Lopez as my summer hat muse. No one rocks a wide brim, floppy hat better than JLO. A wide brim hat is an essential summer accessory. Not only is it cute and fashionable but it also protects your face from the harmful rays of the sun. As much as I looooove the sun I now realize how harmful the sun's rays are and how they can wreak havoc on your skin. Can you say Photo Damage?

I Love Summer Hats Because.....

They protect skin from harmful rays of the sun

They cover all my frizzy bad hair days...trust me I have plenty!

They dress up any casual outfit making you look pulled together without trying...Summer Chic!


Do you have a summer hat inspiration? Let us know who or what it is!

Labor Day Picture Perfect Skin

Hey Beauties! I guess this is it. Labor Day is four days away and that means summer is officially coming to an end. Trust me there's no one sadder than me to see summer go! I enjoyed every moment of this summer the 100+ degree temps and every ounce of heat & humidity. I know you all must be wondering what planet Im from, but, I can't help it I'm a summer baby. I just love the care free feeling of summer. Well enough about me and my love of summer. I want to show you how you can keep your skin picture perfect for all those end of summer and Labor Day pics you'll be taking this weekend.

For starters we recommend using our Sugar Rush Bath scrub to achieve a healthy glow and follow it up with our Babassu Butter for a moisturized, dewy appearance that will make you the center of attention in any picture!

Beauties enjoy your weekend and be picture perfect!

Yummy Yogurt Facial

Hey Beauties!! Here's another one of my all time favorite at home beauty treatments. I call it the yogurt facial. But, its really more like a mask.I've tried this beauty recipe a Gabillion (OK, I know that's not a real word...lol) times and it has not failed me yet. My skin always feels so soft and nourished after I wipe it off. All you have to do is apply the yogurt and honey mixture to a clean wet or damp face and wait for it to dry. If any the mixture gets on your lips just lick it off, who cares, it's 100% edible. It only takes about ten minutes or so to dry but I've been known to keep in on for hours while I do laundry, spruce up my manicure with a coat of clear nail polish or even give myself a spa pedicure. Once it has dried take a wet wash cloth and remove the dried mask. When done you should have soft glowing skin. Mine usually feels like it's been detoxed!!

Here's What You'll Need:
- Plain Yogurt (I prefer to use Greek yogurt)
- Honey

Here's why you might want to give it a try:
- Tightens and tones skin
- Removes dead skin
- Lactic acid reduces the appearance of pore size (I can attest to that)
- Refines & hydrates skin
- Did I mention it's 100% edible so feel free to eat what ever is left over its also good for your bones, digestive and immune systems.

Over Double Duty Beauty video shows you how to make this yummy facial.

Whipped Goodness!!

Are you looking for a treat your body will love? If you are, then I think you will enjoy this months special. This month Cocoa Commotion Body Butter is on sale for $5.00. We think your body will really enjoy this jar of whipped goodness. Fall is here and we recognize that cooler temps and dry air can leave skin with a little less moisture. When you add the long hot showers that I am so guilty of taking (the worst thing you can do for skin period) to the mix that's a recipe for radically dry skin. So, feel free to stock up!!!

Have you tried cococommotion body butter? If you have let us know how this product has worked for you. We would love to hear from you!!!

Nidasii Beauty Tip: Glowing Skin

Here's a beauty tip for any of you beauties out there running low on your favorite facial exfoliator.

Let's face it. Winter is here and the colder days are sure to leave many of us with dull, dry skin. It may even cause some of us to delay our trips to the store to purchase our favorite beauty necessities. So, if you're in need of a facial exfoliant, however, you've run out. Try taking a scoop of your daily facial cleanser and mix in a few pinches of granulated sugar. Apply the mixture to a damp face in upward circular motions and in minutes you will have glowing skin.

Do you care to give this beauty treatment a try? If you do post your comments we want to hear about your results!!

Nidasii Beauty Tip: Milk & Sugar Bath

For me there is nothing more Fab than bathing in milk. Honestly, it’s one of the best treats I give myself and my skin. The great thing about milk baths is that you can be as simple or as decadent as you want because the recipes are endless. If you take a look over to the column on the right and you scroll down to the section titled “ Home Spa Recipe” you will find my basic Milk Bath recipe. But, today I’m going to share two of my decadent recipes with you. I hope your enjoy them!!!

Cocoa Fab

If you’re a chocoholic , like me, I’m sure you will adore this luxurious bath treat. First you will need

• Powdered Goats Milk
• 1 quart of milk (I know we’re in the middle of a global recession & you may not want to pour an entire quart of milk in your bath. This is fine you can use a small portion or skip it all together. This is just one of the ways I make this bath recipe decadent)
• 100% pure unrefined cocoa powder
• Exfoliant of your choice

Pour one cup or desired amount of powdered goats milk and cocoa powder into warm bath. Swish bath water with hand to ensure even distribution of the powdered ingredients. Next, pour a quart of whole milk into the bath. The only thing left to do now is chillax!!! I can sit in this bath for at least an hour, but, sitting in this bath for at least a half will allow the lactic acid to soften and slough away dead skin. At the end of my bath I like to use Cocoa Commotion Sugar Rush to gently exfoliate, cleanse and hydrate my skin. This is my favorite winter bath because the lactic acid in the milk sloughs away dead skin while the pure cocoa powder detoxifies.

Cinnamon, Vanilla, Almond, Rose, etc…..You Make Your Choice!

This next milk bath recipe uses the same ingredients as those listed above with the exception of cocoa powder. Pour one cup or desired amount of powdered goats milk into warm bath water. Next pour a quart of whole milk . Swish with hand to ensure even distribution of powdered and whole milk. Since this is more of an aroma therapy bath add the fragrance of your choice. During the winter months I like to use fragrances like vanilla, cinnamon and almond while during the spring & summer months I like to use mango and guava fragrances. The huge amounts of lactic acid is what makes these two recipes decadent and luxurious. They leave skin feeling soft and velvety smooth.

Did you enjoy this Tip? Will you give this recipe a try?

Nidasii Sun Protection Tip

OK, the warmer weather is finally here and no one is more happier than me. It's no secret that I'm absolutely not a fan of the cold, ice, snow, sleet, freezing rain…need I continue? I think you know were I’m going with this . While it may not be the 80 and 90 degree days of summer that I love. Its definitely warmer and many of us will be running to the beaches and pools to enjoy the summer days. But, while your out there don't forget to protect your skin with the proper sunscreen. Here are a few tips to keep your skin protected and healthy.

Why Protect Skin From the Sun?

My mother has told me countless times to stay out of the sun. She of course knows the damage it can cause. But, she also knows that I will be the first one out the door basking in the sun because she knows my equation for summer fun (summner sun = summer fun)!! For years my response to her has been the "sun is not bad it helps us create vitamin D" while this is true its only for the first 15 minutes of sun exposure. Although I love the sun I also realize that I need to take steps to protect it from harmful rays for the following reasons.

The sun produces harmful invisible rays known as UVA & UVB. UVA contributes to the aging of skin (fine lines & wrinkles)and UVB contributes to burning wich can lead to sunburn, suntan & leathery textured skin.

It's also helpful to refrain from extended sun exposure during the hours of 10AM - 4PM when sun rays are strongest and the most damage can occur.

How Does Sunscreen Protect Us?

The use of sunscreen prevents signs of aging, sun damage and reduces the risk of skin cancer.

Broad spectrum sunscreens protect skin from UVA & UVB rays. So, when purchasing your next bottle of sunscreen make sure it protects against both UVA & UVB rays.

Ideally, sunscreen should be applied 30 minutes before sun exposure. Then reapplied every two hours to ensure continuous coverage.

The higher the SPF number the greater the protection from sun rays. However, this does not extend the time skin can be exposed to the suns rays. Sunscreen must be reapplied every two hours to ensure continous protection.

Read Your Labels!!

Check your bottles of sunscreen for the following ingredients.

Sunscreens that block UVB rays usually contain some of the following ingredients: Padimate O, Homosalate, Octyl Methoxycinnamate, Benzophenone, Octyl salicylate, Phenylbenimidazole Sulfonic Acid, Octocrylene.

Broad specturm sunscreens add oxybenzone or avobenzone to block UVA rays.

Mexoryl is another chemical that blocks against UVA rays and allows sunscreens to be created at higher SPF numbers like 70 & 80.

Natural Protection

Of course you know I could'nt publish this post without informing you of the natural ingredients that can block sun rays.

Shea Butter, zinc Oxide and Titanium Oxide are natural ingredients that can block sun rays however the level of protecion has not been determined.


What's your take on sun exposure & the use of sunscreens. Truthfully, I don't think that I will become a hermit to the sun anytime soon, but, I will be more diligent about reapplying my sunscreen throughout the day. I have noticed some brands have created sunscreens with SPF's as high as 70 & 80. What's your take on this topic?

Nidasii Beauty Tip: Dry Winter Skin

I think every family has at least one out spoken relative. There are several members of my family that are quite out spoken. They often say what’s on their mind. Recently one of them asked, “Nikki, how come your skin is never dry anymore.” My kind response to this relative of mine was “what do you do after you come out of the shower? Do you apply lotion or some kind or moisturizer to your skin right away?” She said no. So I let her know what the remedy was for my dry winter skin.

It takes three levels of moisture to relieve my dry skin and keep it hydrated for most of the day. Here are the steps for relieving my dry winter skin.

1. Do not take long hot showers. The hot water is very drying to the skin and it will only help to dehydrate the skin further. This is the first step, but, I must let you know that although this true I never follow this step. I always spend waaaay to much time in the shower so to compensate for this I use moisturizing soaps like handmade soaps or Sugar Rush because they do not contain the detergents that most commercial soaps do that will strip the skin of its natural oils and moisture.

2. When I come out of the shower I quickly blot my skin dry. Then apply an oil to my skin. Most of the time I use Jojoba oil, but, I also use olive or avocado oils. They work just as well.

3. After my skin slightly absorbs the oil, for me this is immediately. I apply a rich cream or lotion to my skin. At the moment I use a formulation that I am testing, it seems to work really well for my skin. However, before I started developing my own creams and lotions the Product Junkie, remember that’s me, would use a drug store brand cream designed for dry skin and mix it with a dab of glycerin. This was like heaven for my skin because when I applied the cream and glycerin mixture to my skin it feels and looks totally hydrated and smooth!!!

4. Next, I seal in the moisture by applying shea butter to my skin.

5. Bonus Tips:
•Exfoliating the skin at least once a week will not only help your skin retain moisture by sloughing away dry dead skin. It will also look brighter and healthier. It usually does for me.

•Sleeping with a humidifier on at night can also help to alleviate dry skin. The key to hydrating dry thirsty skin is to moisturize as soon as you exit the shower.

The key to keeping dry thirsty skin hydrated is to moisturize as soon as you exit the shower. I know this regimen is not for everyone. But, what can I say. I can’t stand dry skin and this regimen works for me. Does it work for you? Do you have a regimen for dry winter skin?