Review: Magnesium Lotion

I've talked before about my love of magnesium oil, so when I was in the drug store the other day and saw Epsom Lotion, I read the ingredients and they were very minimal so I decided to try it out! I love it! Although it contains less magnesium than the oil I use, it stings less and is fragrent free, smooth and very pleasant.  I've also noticed that even though it leaves a trace amount of white salt behind, it's not nearly as grimy as the oil making it ideal for daytime use. I found it to be very calming after a shower and more hydrating than mag oil, which I usually add jojoba oil to. Give it a try! I found an article on it helping with acne, click here to read it on Progressive Health. 

The Skinny On Skin Brushing

I've heard a lot about skin brushing in the shower and I decided to try it. There's many articles online that claim it helps with dry skin, cellulite :), circulation and lymphatic drainage, and ultimately ridding the body of toxins. I've heard that you start from the feet up using the brush in circles and always be mindful that all your movements are toward your heart. Maybe that was on a hippie website, but I do it anyways. Below are some interesting articles on this health routine as well as another great article on magnesium oil benefits... since the brush helps slough off dead skin, I notice my magnesium oil has been absorbing more efficiently! I love that stuff! 

Dry Brushing articles:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/08/21/dry-skin-brushing-benefits-cellulite_n_1811708.html

http://www.shape.com/lifestyle/beauty-style/dirt-dry-brushing

http://www.livestrong.com/article/302962-dry-brushing-vs-exfoliating/

Magnesium article:

http://drsircus.com/medicine/magnesium/magnesium-in-neurological-diseases-and-emotions

Castor Oil: The Miracle Maker

I've had problems with my skin for ages! From Lupus rashes to breakouts, it's been a constant struggle for me since I was a teenager. When I would break out, I thought the way to cure it was with drying agents such as toners, sulfur, or benzoyl peroxide which only made things worse by making my skin flake out and making the problem harder to cover up with make up. I would have never believed you if you told me that putting OIL on my skin would make things better. The truth is quite the opposite. When you dry out your skin, it over compensates by producing even more oil. But really, oil dissolves oil! And when you are using Castor oil, it not only is moisturizing, but it is anti-bacterial and anti inflammatory. The concept behind oil cleansing is that the oil you rub on your face will dissolve the oil and impurities stuck in your pores and the steam of the hot water on the wash clothe will open your pores and help get rid of the bad stuff. For this cleansing method, you only need 3 things: Castor oil, a secondary oil (I use Jojoba) and a wash clothe. The reason for the secondary oil is because Castor oil itself is so thick, it needs another oil in the combo to help it absorb into your skin and moisturize it. The mixture should be 1/3 Castor oil and 2/3 the other oil of your choice...I choose Jojoba oil because it is less likely to cause break outs. Here's the drill:

 { Mix 1/3 Castor oil and 2/3 of the secondary oil in the palm of your hand. Rub them together in your hands, which warms them up }

 { Massage the oil mixtures on your face and neck for about two minutes, rubbing them into the places on your face that are especially oily or have blackheads, such as your nose. Let the mixture of oils sit on your face, doing it's magic, for 5 to 10 minutes }

 { Run hot water and put it on the wash clothes..put it on your face -as hot as you can stand it -to help open your pores and remove the hardened oil  and toxins }

 { Take the ends of the wash clothe and remove the rest of the oil...it's ok if you still feel a tad of oil still on your skin, it wont clog your pores, it will help moisturize it . I also put straight Castor oil on my eyebrows and lashes as it helps stimulate hair growth... I'll blog more about that later }

{ Voila! All finished! }