Skin care routine

In a recent post about random products that are good for your skin I listed a few things that are probably around your house that you can easily implement into your skin care routine! After trying a few different combinations of these products I have found the perfect combination of products that I really love. Keep reading if you are interested in seeing how I combined the previously mentioned products!

As previously mentioned using these products can leave your skin red or irritated for an hour or so after using them so I recommend doing these things at night when your skin will have time to recover before applying makeup. 

MY ROUTINE:

Remove make up with an olay face wipe {4-in-1 daily face cloth} before using any of these products. Removing makeup from the skin is like starting with a clean slate and will allow the products to actually clean your skin and get into your pores instead of simply removing the makeup. Once my skin is free of most of my makeup I cleanse my skin with my cleanser recipe.

My cleanser "recipe": Combine a quarter size amount of Cetaphil cleanser with two drops of lemon juice and gently apply to skin in circular motions. Rinse off with luke warm water.

Now that my makeup is definitely all gone, the next step is to exfoliate. Your skin type and sensitivity will determine how often your skin should be exfoliated. Some people can exfoliate daily without any irritation and some can only exfoliate once a week. With my skin so dry at the moment I have been exfoliating every other day.

My exfoliator "recipe": Combine 1TBSP of baking soda with a few drops of warm water and a drop of Vitamin E oil. Rub this combination all over your damp skin {avoiding your eye area} in circular motions for as long as you feel necessary {don't exceed 5 minutes}. Once you are done exfoliating rinse your skin with luke warm water and make sure none of the baking soda granules are still on your skin. 

Now that your pores are open and clean, use some kind of toner to do a last cleaning and close the pores to avoid dust or dirt getting back into your pores. My favorite toner at the moment is by simple and it is a "soothing facial toner" that is 100% alcohol free.

I apply this with small gauze pads as they are not as absorbent as cotton balls. I was noticing a while back that a majority of my toner was being absorbed by the cotton ball and wasting the product before I could even apply it to my skin. 

Once I have toned my skin I like to apply a moisturizer Vitamin E combination to help moisturize my skin and reduce acne scarring. The moisturizer I am IN LOVE WITH right now is the Clinique "moisture surge extended thirst relief" it is quite pricey but it is so thick and it absorbs straight into my skin which I love. If you go to any Clinique counter they will give you a sample to try before committing to the product. I use about a dime sized amount of moisturizer and a TEENY TINY drop of vitamin E oil. The oil is incredibly thick and sticky so you really only need a small drop. Before applying the combination to my face I rub the moisturizer and oil together in my fingers and then apply all over my face.

After applying the moisturizer {and letting it soak in!} I apply a combination of baking soda and lemon juice to any pimples or problem areas on my face. Depending on how many blemishes you have on your skin will determine the amount of "zit zapper" that you need but make sure the consistency is thick and pastey. I leave this on my skin all night to help reduce inflammation and clear out my infected pores.

When I wake up in the morning I use my cleanser recipe to remove the "zit zapper" and any dust, dirt, or bacteria my skin has accumulated throughout the night!

Thanks for reading xo

*none of the above photos are our own*

Detox... what?

After posting the picture of Jillian Michael's water detox, I decided it was a great idea to try it out!

These are the ingredients for the water detox. It was super easy and it tasted great! The lemon and cranberry juice made it super sweet. I went to Walmart and bought a 1.5L water bottle and I would fill it up with the water detox at night and drink it throughout the day. After finishing the detox I felt refreshed and rejuvenated. I lost 5 pounds but since it was water weight I quickly gained it back after I finished the detox. I would definitely recommend this detox to anyone looking to kick start a diet plan. 

Here are some helpful tips:

 

-Boil 16 ounces of water {about one full mug} and brew the tea in there. It is easier to get the 60 ounces of water when you separate it

-The dandelion root tea is difficult to find. Just use a tea that the majority of ingredients is Dandelion Root. Mine was a Dandy Liver Detox which helped support a healthy liver function.

-The tea {to me} tastes the best when it is cool, so make it the night before, let it sit overnight in the fridge and drink the next day

-Just try it! Its super easy, tastes great and is good for your body!

Losing 5lbs of bloat (in a healthy way)

3-Day Cleanse

After a food filled vacation in the keys, my mom and I decided it would be a good idea to try a cleanse. Now don't get scared off by the word "cleanse". We didn't try one of those Blue Print Juice cleanses where you only drink juices made of lemonade and cayenne pepper! Instead of a juice cleanse, we found a food cleanse online where you can still eat. This cleanse is free of caffeine, alcohol, refined carbohydrates, sugar and sugar substitutes. The food for the 3 days are super healthy but super tasty! And the food is not in small portions so you don't feel hungry all day. So for any of you post-vacationers looking for a way to get rid of the extra weight you gained, here is a 3-day cleanse I tried.

The three day menus are about 1,500 calories per day. If you need more or fewer calories, you can easily alter the portion sizes. But remember: Do Not Skip A Meal OR Snack. Eating frequently keeps your metabolism going!

A few things to remember:

• Be conscious of what you are eating! Try not to sit in front of a laptop or tv and eat your meals. If you focus on your foods while you are eating them, you will feel more full.
• Make sure you drink LOTS of water. All your liquids should be pure, no added sugars or juices. Try to drink about 64 ounces per day {thats 8, 8oz. glasses of water for the day}
• Do Not Skip A Meal or Snack!!

Day One

Breakfast: 1 cup of steel-cut oatmeal {measure after cooking}, topped with 2 tablespoons of chopped walnuts and 1 cup of fresh or frozen berries.

Mid Morning Snack: 1/2 cup of nonfat yogurt mixed with 1/2 a banana, sliced and 2 tablespoons Grape-Nuts  or other high-fiber cereal

Lunch: Washed baby spinach leaves topped with 4 ounces of chicken, 8-10 sliced red grapes, sliced red onion and 2 tablespoons of slivered almonds. Salad Dressing: fresh lemon juice and 2 tablespoons of olive pil. Serve with 1/2 of a 6 inch whole-wheat pita pocket.

  

 

Mid Day Snack: Sliced green apple with 1 ounce of cheddar cheese

Dinner: Bake a 5-ounce piece of cod or tilapia. Place fish in a baking dish, top with 2 teaspoons of olive oil, fresh lemon juice and a pink of sea salt and pepper. Bake at 375 for 10-12 minutes. Serve with 1/2 cup of brown rice and steamed broccoli.

    

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 1,489  Carbohydrates: 145 grams  Protein: 108 grams  Fat: 57 grams  Fiber: 31 grams Sugar: 41 grams  Sodium: 174 mg  Calcium: 665 mg

Day Two

Breakfast: Make 3-egg-white omelet filled with 2 tablespoons grated parmesan cheese and 1/2 cup of sliced tomatoes and onions. Serve omelet with a navel orange or half a grapefruit.

Mid Morning Snack: 1 slice of whole-grain bread topped with 1 tablespoon all-natural peanut butter or almond butter

Lunch: 5-ounce salmon fillet grilled or poached served over a bed of baby arugula and topped with 1/2 cup of chickpeas, fresh lemon juice and a teaspoon of olive oil

Mid Day Snack: 1/2 cup of cottage cheese topped with 1/2 cup of fresh or frozen berries

Dinner: Broil a lean 4-ounce lean ground turkey burger and serve it on a whole-wheat English muffin topped with sauteed mushrooms and onions. Serve the burger with large mixed greens salad with balsamic vinegar and 1 teaspoon olive oil

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 1,473  Carbohydrates: 118 grams  Protein: 122 grams  Fats: 60 grams  Fiber: 26 grams Sugar: 34 grams  Sodium: 2,100 mg  Calcium: 821 mg

Day Three

Breakfast: Combine 1 cup of plain nonfat yogurt {greek yogurt}, 2 tablespoons of flax seeds, 1 cup of fresh berries and 2 tablespoons of Grape-Nuts or other high-fiber cereal.

Mid Morning Snack: 1 hard boiled egg and a handful of baby carrots

Lunch: Top a 6-inch whole-wheat tortilla with 1/4 of a sliced avocado, 2 slices of tomato, 2 slices of part-skim mozzarella cheese, 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard and 1 romaine lettuce leaf. Wrap up and enjoy with a bag of fresh green or purple grapes {15-20}

Mid Day Snack: 1 cup of skim or soy milk and 1 ounce of raw almonds {about 20 almonds}

Dinner: Bake a 5-ounce boneless skinless chicken breast with fresh lemon juice, 2 teaspoons of olive oil and 1 tablespoon of capers or sliced green olives. Cook at 375 for about 20 minutes. Serve with corn salad- 1 cup frozen thawed corn niblets, 1 diced plum tomato, 1/4 cup of black beans, topped with a pink of sea salt and pepper

Nutrition Facts

Calories: 1,508  Carbohydrates: 152 grams  Protein: 109 grams  Fat: 61 grams  Fiber: 29 grams  Sugar: 54 grams  Sodium: 1,872 mg  Calcium: 1,183 mg