Make It Monday: Beauty Secrets With Aloe Vera

I celebrated my 34th Birthday a week ago and I’ve noticed as I fully emerge into my my mid 30s I’ve realized the ever changing type of my indecisive skin.  Additionally, I’ve been experiencing the “adult acne” breakout on one side of my cheek.  I’ve been to the dermatologist twice for prescriptions that just didn’t seem to work, not to mention plenty of over the counter products that haven’t worked either.

Prescriptions from Dermatologist

One day I was talking to my mom about the issue and she said to try Aloe Vera.  I said “really?”  So I bought one of those long aloe leaves sliced it up into cubes and put it in a jar with a little distilled water and for 2 weeks straight after washing my face I would take an aloe cube and apply it to the breakout area, then I would add my sunscreen moisturizer.  I saw great results by the end of 1 week and by week 2 I was very pleased.  Turns out that Aloe Vera has antimicrobial properties that helps with acne as well as anti-inflammatory properties to help reduce redness, which were my exact issues.  In addition, it helps to remove excess oils and dirt from your skin that tend to clog pores.  Here’s some more info on the pluses of using Aloe Vera for acne.

Make It Monday: Trying This Oil Washing Method

You can say I’m pretty much frustrated with my skin.  My skin has been fine up until now.  Over the past year I’ve struggled with what my dermatologist has told me is the changing of my skin type, something women experience in their 30s.  If you don’t know what I mean, here’s my skin report it has dry patches, oily t-zone, with acne breakouts on the cheeks that leave this awful scars when they clear up.  See my frustration?  I’ve tried products beyond products under the sun including ones that my dermatologist have prescribed and NOTHING is working.  Then I came across something called the oil washing method.  Basically, it’s washing your face with natural oils.  My first thought was, isn’t it going to make my skin even MORE oily.  I’ve been doing it for the past week and I must say I LOVE the results.  Now, I’m still going to keep my weekly facials that I do at home as well as exfoliating twice a week, I think that’s important to my skincare regimen.  From what I understand the key is to find the oil mix that works for your skin.  Here’s the one I use.  I’ll update in a few weeks on my skin’s progress.

4 oz Extra Virgin Olive Oil

2 oz Castor Oil

2 drops of Tea Tree Oil (helps with the breakouts)

2 drops of Frankinsense Oil (anti-aging oil)

2 drops of Lavender Oil (soothing and relaxing oil)