Bathtime Fun

So, last night... I had the urge to take a bath when I got home from work. I never took my bath though. It seemed like too much work. But what I wanted to do was talk about some household things that you can add to your bath that will really nourish your skin.

Bath bombs, and bubbles, salts, and melts are all tons of fun. I think they are a special treat. But isn't it just easier and cheaper to use things you have around the house? I made a purchase from the etsy store La Bella Beauty Bar, but I'm still waiting for my bath bombs that I ordered to come in. (Keep an eye out for my review!!  I ordered 2 bath bombs and a lotion bar.) I really did want to take a moisturizing bath last night! (Stupid laziness... hehe).

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I originally thought about adding Olive Oil to my water (& we all know how much I love olive oil!) ... but then I realized that oils aren't good for jacuzzi bathtubs.  I was basically devastated.  Does anyone know if I can add oil if I don't have the jets running?  That would be awesome...

But then I thought about adding Milk & Honey... and that's what I planned on doing.  I was going to add about 2 cups of milk and I would say a 1/3 cup of honey, because that's all I have.

Milk is great for your skin because of it's lactic acid. So its not only moisturizing, but the acid will gently exfoliate through your dead flaky skin to help reveal soft skin...

Honey is a humectant, which means that it attracts moisture to the skin. Don't be worried about getting all sticky in the bathtub. I haven't tried to pour honey directly into a bathtub of hot water yet, but from my experience, as soon as water mixes with honey, it will dissolve.

There are some other things that you can add to your bath water as well, depending on what you're trying to do....

One of the most popular additives is salt. Epsom salt is your best bet, because it can help to relax your muscle and help to improve circulation. Plus, its detoxifying. If you're going to add salt to your bathtub, I would say about 1 cup would be sufficient.

Baking soda is another additive. This is what bath bombs are made out of, baking soda and citric acid. It will exfoliate and soften your skin, plus break up all the oils and dirt on your skin to help it get clean. From what I've read, I would recommend a 1/4 cup added to your bath.

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If you have a little extra time, you could put together a bath tea. While this may or may not (depends on what you add) have any improvement to your skin, its the aromas that will make you feel a certain way.. energized or relaxed, depends on what you want! If you can, find a small mesh bag and fill it with dried herbs and maybe some drops of essential oils (make sure to research your oils, because some can be skin irritating), and then you hang the bag under the water spout as your filling your tub.  You can also toss herbs into your water directly as well as adding your essential oils to the water.

Oatmeal is another additive that is soothing to the skin. Remember being a little kid and taking an oatmeal bath when you had chicken pox?  I do!  But you can take your plain oatmeal, and process the oats in a blender or food processor to make a find powder.  And then you can add this powder to your bath water. You want about 1 cup of powder...

You can add any of these in any combination to make your own bath. Like I say, thats the glory of home remedies, you can combine things based on your personal needs and what you already have. No need to go out and spend $10 on something premade with harsh chemicals that won't do nearly as well as something you have prepared yourself.

Also, be careful when getting in and out of the tub. Adding things to your water will make it slippery, and you don't want to ruin you bath by falling!

Enjoy!  & if you can think of anything else that can be added to bath water, I'd love to know!!

Much Love!!  Xoxoxo

CSI Beauty: Episode 3- Dry Skin

The topic of this week's discussion is Dry Skin.

Causes of Dry Skin
Dry skin is horrible.  It's itchy, red, flaky, and overall, just dry!  According to WebMD dry skin is usually caused by the environment and not by an internal condition, but there are usually 7 causes of dry skin.

1.  Misusing Moisturizer:  Applying moisturizer when your skin is already dry means that it will just sit on the surface of the skin as opposed to soaking it in.  Also, people with dry skin should use thick moisturizers.
2. Dry Air: This is the primary cause of winter dry skin.  In that case, it's usually the heaters we use for our homes.  But you can also find dry skin outside the home.
3. Hot Showers & Baths:  Hot water rinses away more of your skin's natural oils than cool water does.  At least when showering, this water is always moving around you, as opposed to bathing, when you're soaking in it.  
4. Soap: We have become a culture that is terrified of germs, and this has caused us to use way too much soap, which is stripping all our skin's oils.  Bubbles are your enemy.  I won't lie... I hate washing my hands and I try to avoid it as much as possible because it causes my hands to get super dry.  
5. Itchy Clothing:  Dry skin is itchy enough, let alone clothing that is further irritating our skin.
6. Medications & Drugs:  More commonly... diuretics, antihistamines, and retinoids.



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7. Medical Conditions:  Such as skin conditions, Diabetes, Hypothyroidism, and malnutrition. 

Dry Skin Symptoms

• A feeling of tightness
• Rough skin
• Itching
• Flaking, Scaling, and/or Peeling
• Redness
• Fine Lines/Cracks

Home Recipes & Remedies

• There are a few ingredients that are great for dry skin and can be applied right to your skin after showering.  These can include almond oil, olive oil, and aloe vera
• Lactic acid is also effective.   You can take a milk bath by adding powdered milk to your bath water.  You can also add a small amount of your favorite oil for further moisturization.
• You can make an exfoliating face mask that is also hydrating.  Combine equal parts green clay and honey, apply to your face/body for 15 minutes and rinse in lukewarm water.
• Egg Yolks and Oatmeal are also good for dry skin.  You can mix the two (you can use powdered oatmeal, like the Aveeno Bath packs) and apply to your skin.  After 15 minutes, rinse off in lukewarm water.
• A similar treatment to the last one involves yogurt, which is high in lactic acid.  Combine some yogurt with honey and an egg yolk for another moisturizing mask.  Rinse it off when it's dry.  Add some oatmeal for its soothing properties. 
•  Avocado Oil is high in fatty acids, which can help to repair your skin's protective layer.  And using an avocado is really as simple as rubbing the inside of an avocado skin on your face.
• Another avocado treatment also involves lemon juice and egg yolk.  Mash 1 ripe avocado, and mix with 1 teaspoon lemon juice and an egg yolk.  Apply to the skin and rinse after 20 minutes.

Prevention 
There are a few things you can do to combat the environmental causes of dry skin.  Like previously mentioned, dry skin is usually caused by dry air, so using a humidifier will really help, especially during the winter.  You can also take cooler baths, and more showers, and you can make them shorter.  Use cleansers as opposed to soap, because cleansers will clean the skin but soap will strip the skin.  You can also wash less.  The typical adult doesn't really get too dirty, so its only essential to wash your hands, feet, face, groin, and underarms.  You can also avoid things that will further irritate your dry skin, because dry skin tends to be on the more sensitive side.   And finally, use the thickest moisturizers you can find.  If you put some on your hand and then turn your hand upside down and it runs, then its too thin.  You can also eat foods that are high in fatty acids, which will restore your skins fatty acid layer.

Sources
WebMD: 11 Causes of Dry Skin Problems 
Mayo Clinic: Dry Skin
Natural Home Remedies: Dry Skin
Holistic Online: Dry Skin
Dry Skin Care