OMG. I just drooled a little.

You can also use it, and probably do, for spaghetti sauces, salad dressings, hummus, pesto, and even to roast those veggies.

As far as flavoring your food, you can’t beat it!!

But, did you know that there are other ways — non-traditional ways — to use that delicious oil made from olives?

It really is like a miracle solution that you can use in so many ways!!

Other Ways To Use Olive Oil

Shaving: Just slather a little bit of olive oil all over your legs while in the shower. The razor will simply glide over your skin, and your legs will be super smooth!

Chapped Lips: Can’t find that lip gloss, and you’re running out the door? No problem. Just reach for that bottle of olive oil, put a little on your finger, and rub it on your lips. Boom!! Nice and moisturized!

Eye Makeup Remover: Looking for a natural way to remove that stubborn eye makeup? Look no further than that bottle of olive oil you have right in your kitchen. Put a little on a facial cloth, and rub it over your SHUT eyes. Your makeup will come right off!

Shine Up Stainless Steel: Sounds weird, huh!! Just try it. It will make your stainless steel sparkle like new!

Undo A Stuck Zipper: We’ve all been there. We go to zip up our jacket, and the zipper jams. There is a simple way to fix that, and it, of course, involves olive oil. All you need is a drop, right on the tines of the zipper, and loosen it right up. Be careful not to get it on the fabric, however. It WILL leave an oil mark that only Dawn Detergent can get out.

Get That Sticker Off Your Furniture: Kids!! They put stickers on anything and everything. Stickers can be a beast to get off — but leave it to olive oil! Rub a tiny bit on that sticker, wait a few minutes, and it should peel right off.

Moisturize Those Ragged Cuticles: Just a little bit of olive oil rubbed onto your nail beds will moisturize them, and help make them not look like you just took a weed eater to them. Do this once or twice a week, and you will be able to tell a major difference in your hands!!

Stuck Ring: Oops. You gained a little weight, and can’t get your wedding ring off. Don’t freak out. It’s olive oil to the rescue!! Just rub the surrounding skin with a bit of olive oil, and slide that ring right off!

Dust That Wooden Furniture: Do you have wooden furniture that has gone a bit dull? Just put some olive oil on a rag, and wipe down your beautiful piece of furniture. That wood will spring right back to life.

Squeaky Door Jams: Throw out that chemical spray that you use to get rid of squeaky doors. Just put a drop of olive oil in the metal part of the door jam, and move the door back and forth to work that oil in. No more squeaky door!

Chewing Gum In The Hair: If you’ve had a toddler, you’ve been there — the dreaded chewing gum in the hair! Before you reach for those scissors to cut it out, try rubbing the gum and surrounding hair with a little bit of olive oil. That gum will have to be worked a bit with the oil, but it should release nicely.

When you think of a dolphin’s skin, you should have visions of something plump, smooth, and sleek. When it jumps out of the water, a dolphin glistens and glows with that dewy, just-out-of-the-water look, and that is exactly what this beauty trend is about.

These days, the natural look is all the rage. People are opting to wear lip gloss instead of lipstick, a more natural brow instead of waxing to death, and neutral colored shadows instead of bright and bold colors.

This trend fits in just perfectly with the current direction that makeup and skin care are going.

I’m so excited to see the dolphin skin look trending and getting so popular, because I’ve always found youthful glowing skin that just enhances one’s own natural beauty to be timeless.

Mary Phillips, Professional Celebrity Makeup Artist, to CNN

Achieving ‘Dolphin Skin’ can be a process, but it is totally achievable. You just have to be intentional with your skin care routine.

Let’s start with the basics — skin care. You need to be doing it.

I’m not talking about just washing your face with a cleanser when you are in the shower. Your skin needs to be healthy and hydrated, not dry and flaky.

You need to be exfoliating your skin so the cells on your face can turn over. It is this cell turnover that gives you a natural fresh glow.

Start with a good retinol cream that will help with fine lines and wrinkles, will help diminish dark spots, and add a brightness to your skin.

You can get a drugstore brand like Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair — or — if you want something with a little more oomph, you can hit up Sephora for something like Drunk Elephant A-Passioni Retinol Cream.

These are both made for all skin types, and can be used on clean, dry skin every morning or night. (Start out using it once a week. As your skin gets used to the exfoliation, work up to using it every day.)

Next, you want to use a daily sunscreen on your face

The sun can be absolutely destroying to skin, and you want to protect it at all costs.

You can use something like CeraVe Hydrating Mineral Sunscreen, or you can opt for something like Coola Full Spectrum 360° Sun Silk Drops Organic Sunscreen SPF 30.

A good facial sunscreen will help shield your face from sun, pollution, and that damaging blue light from your smart devices. (Make sure you are using at least a SPF 30 sunscreen.)

Now that you have gotten the exfoliation and the basic sunscreen protection going, you want to prep your skin before you apply that makeup.

Prep your skin for makeup application

Basically it’s about masking and moisturizing your face. You want your skin to stay as hydrated as possible.

Start with a fun facemask that will help with hydration and brightness, like this Luminous Dewy Skin Mask.

Follow your facemask up with a moisturizer that will help lock in that hydration. Drunk Elephant B-Hydra Intensive Hydration Serum will work great, and you can pick it right up at Sephora.

Apply your foundation

For this ‘Dolphin Skin’ look, you want to avoid anything that is too matte. Remember, you want to be dewy and glowing.

 It’s all about enhancing your natural skin and not covering it up.

CNN

You can go with something basic, like L’Oreal Paris Infallible Fresh Wear Foundation, or you can opt for something a bit more expensive, like Armani Beauty Luminous Silk Perfect Glow Flawless Oil-Free Foundation.

Focus on your cheeks

First you want to start with a contour that will “carve out the face.” This Westman Atelier Face Trace Cream Contour Stick works like a dream.

You want to follow your contour up with a pop of color that will add some life back into your cheeks. You can try this Palladio I’m Blushing 2-in-1 Cheek and Lip Tint.

Give your skin that G-L-O-W

One of the key components to this ‘Dolphin Skin’ is that dewy, glow-in-the-sun look. The way to get this flawless glowing face is to use a CREAM highlighter.

Though it’s probably not a staple in most makeup bags, it’s a game changer when it comes to achieving that natural-looking glow without layering on powder.

CNN

You can use something like the L’Oreal Paris Infallible Longwear Buildable Highlighter Shaping Stick. Or, you can go a bit more high end with something like the Milk Makeup Glitter Stick.

Finish up by setting your makeup

Now, you don’t want all your hard work simply sliding off your face as the day goes on. You want to set your makeup by using a setting powder, like this Laura Mercier Translucent Loose Setting Powder, or a setting spray, like Charlotte Tilbury’s Airbrush Flawless Setting Spray.

The Bath & Body Works Semi-Annual SALE starts June 14, and I am getting my shopping shoes ready!

I look forward to this sale EVERY SUMMER!

During the Semi-Annual SALE, select clearance is 75% off, and things go SO QUICKLY!!

They usually bring out special “retired” fragrances that you can only get during this special sale — my favorites are Sun Ripened Raspberry and Plumeria!!

Also coming to the sale this year, you will notice the return of Cucumber Melon, Cherry Blossom, Pink Chiffon, Dark Kiss, and Love & Sunshine.

Each week they will have NEW deals and markdowns, but it’s only for a very limited time.

This is the PERFECT time to stock up for the holidays — nope, it’s never too early to start putting things back for Christmas!

(I shop all year, and keep my purchases in a big black cabinet to pull out as gifts when I need them!)

The sale is starting June 14, and runs through July 11 — but I PROMISE, the product selection will quickly dwindle as the sale progresses.

Bath & Body Works is asking that everyone take lots of pictures of their BBW Semi-Annual sale hauls, and tag them on instagram with #WELOVESALE.

Don’t forget that you also need to sign up — if you haven’t already — for the Bath & Body Works My Rewards program.

You can do that right on the Bath & Body Works website!

When you sign up, you can earn free product, coupons for future purchases, and even some member exclusives!

Get ready!! This Semi-Annual SALE is going to be GIANT!!

You can shop in the store or online on their website — they make it super easy!!

No, I’m not talking about any relationships A-Rod might be having with the ladies.

I’m talking about his new makeup line for men he started through Hims & Hers — a wellness company that he invested in last year.

Sure, sometimes men need makeup too, and there’s absolutely nothing wrong with that.

Hey, I applaud the men who want to look their best! You do you, Dude!

I wanted to create a product that solved an issue I faced every day. I realized as I was jumping from meeting to meeting, I needed something quick and easy in my routine to conceal blemishes or razor bumps.

Alex Rodriguez

So, to help solve the problem, he has teamed up with Hims to bring out The Blur Stick for men.

This Blur Stick is kinda like the concealer that women wear on the daily.

It covers a multitude of skin sins — from blemishes, to razor burn, and even to those pesky dark eye circles that come from lack of sleep.

It’s a convenient concealer specifically designed for men that can be used for skin imperfections.

Alex Rodriguez

What surprised me is that this Blur Stick is selling for only $17!!

Hey, if it wasn’t specifically formulated for men’s skin, I might try it myself for that price.

I still might try it — don’t judge. LOL!

The Blur Stick comes in EIGHT different shades, so matching skin tone is going to be so easy.

Check it out, I think you’ll be surprised how often it comes in handy.

Alex Rodriguez

You can get your man (or yourself) a Blur Stick from the Hims website.

Looking your best helps you feel your best. The Blur Stick was created to help you do exactly that. There for you in a pinch or for everyday use, consider it a final touch that makes all the difference. Whether you’re getting ready to go out or prepping for another video call, do it with confidence and a complexion you’re proud of.

Hims

Ladies, let me tell you I was seriously stressing about it. See, I have a lot of health issues and my hormones are jacked up and I just thought, yay… now I have a mustache. Well, I was partly right… it is my hormones.

Learning that it isn’t a mustache and it’s really pretty common made me feel so much better. But I still look like I have a mustache, at least if it was a mustache I could shave it off!

Melasma is a skin condition that causes discolored patches on your skin. These patches are dark and can look like smudges on your face and even a mustache above your upper lip.

When you are pregnant you can get basically the same thing, only they call it chloasma AKA the mask of pregnancy. I do remember getting this when I was pregnant.

Who gets Melasma?

Men can get Melasma as well, although 90% of people who have it are women. This is according to a study by the American Academy of Dermatology.

Melasma tends to be mostly on the face and shows up in a symmetrical pattern. So if you have it on one side, you may have a matching spot on the other side.

I have it on my cheeks, forehead, and above my upper lip, most of that I thought was just my many freckles joining together to cover my entire face! Other places that it is common to get Melasma are the bridge of your nose and your chin.

There are spots on other parts of my body as well, but those don’t bother me as much as those spots that make me look like a boy that just hit puberty, that little upper lip shadow…

So now what?

Now I am looking at how I can make those spots lighten up. I should probably go see a dermatologist eventually… and maybe wear sunscreen.

For now, I’m going to try something called Hydroquinone which is something you can get without a prescription. I would probably benefit from learning to actually use makeup properly too!

These Hot Chocolate Bath Bombs are just what I need to wind down and relax. Imagine relaxing in a bath of steamy hot chocolate, sounds pretty heavenly to me.

The aromas are comforting and relaxing! Also, the ingredients are all beneficial to our skin, muscles, and even our senses which makes me even happier!

First time ordering and couldn’t be any happier. I got a gift with it and it made my day. It shipped really fast. I also just bought some for my mom. I love it!! just want to say I’m a happy customer and I’m going to keep coming back!

Jenny – Etsy Customer Review

The cocoa butter in the Hot Chocolate Bath Bombs will leave you with soft moisturized skin. Cocoa butter is also rich in antioxidants, so it may also help fight free radicals.

The cocoa powder contains high levels of caffeine and when you use that on your skin it helps to firm and reduce puffiness.

The ingredient list makes me happy! There isn’t anything in these bath bombs that I can’t pronounce, which is a great thing!

Bicarbonate soda
Citric Acid
Cocoa butter
Organic cacao powder
Muscle relaxing salt
Marshmallow

You can get these amazing Hot Chocolate with Marshmallow Bath Bombs from JusKureusByNatureCo on Etsy for only $6.00! Once you’re over there, I highly recommend checking out her other stuff too!

With the spooky season approaching, it’s time to look at some beautifully spooky options. We recently covered the Oogie Boogie Bath Bomb, which I am still obsessed with…and still need to get my hands on!

But now we’re moving on to a more eloquent looking, majestic skull bath bomb. (Can you tell how much I like it?) It’s black, it’s spooky, it’s glittery, there’s not much to dislike about it.

According to the site:

Float this bad boy in your tub and sit back and enjoy how the dark spreads! It floats, turns, foams, fizziles, and bubbles with enough agitiation.

There are many colors to choose between and the scents vary depending on the color you choose! Their page has a chart determining what scent you will get!

Whether you choose the dark black color to turn your bath tub into a cauldron colored dream, or even the blood red color to look like you are bathing in a tub of blood, this spooky seasonal skull bath bomb will give you some frightfully relaxing alone time!

And don’t worry, if the thought of bathing in “blood” or black water seems a bit too much for you, there are pinks, purples, and other colors to use for those of you who love skulls but maybe not the creepiness of the colors in your bath.

The best part about these awesome skulls? They are only $6! That is a totally affordable price for something so amazing! And better yet? They are made from natural ingredients!

So now I just have to convince myself not to buy every single one of them! I definitely have to have a black one, but I’m also kind of loving the lavender colored ones as well. But honestly, I wouldn’t be upset if I could have at least one of each!

Which one is your favorite? Comment below and let us know! And be sure to check out naturalpurehonest on Etsy to grab yourself some of these amazing bath bombs!

You can get Oogie Boogie Bath Bombs. Oh yes, you heard me correctly.

This iconic Nightmare Before Christmas Character can be yours to dissolve away in your bathtub and turn it a spooky green color!

I love this world we live in now. Where any and all creativity exists and the most random but perfect items are created by someone! 

WickedSudsCreations, an Etsy store specializing in bath bombs, made this amazing Oogie Boogie Bath Bomb, as well as a bunch of other amazing different themed bath bombs!

They have an impressive sales history of almost 4k with a full five stars, so you should feel completely safe buying from them!

These Oogie Boogie Bath Bombs come in a green apple scent and are approximately 4.5 ounces. They are also completely vegan! And the absolute best part? They are only $6!!!

How can something so amazing be so affordable?! I think the hardest part of all of this is parting with this adorable bath bomb and letting it dissolve away!

But why stop at Oogie Boogie? This store also has Jack Skellington Bath Bombs, Sally Bath Bombs, Mike Myers Bath Bombs, Pennywise Bath Bombs, Baby Yoda Bath Bombs, and many MANY more!

You should be able to find exactly what you’re looking for! They currently have 81 listings available with many more to come I’m sure! So be sure to keep your eyes peeled for whatever it is you’re looking for!

My personal favorite is their Sanderson Sisters Bath Bombs, but to completely honest, I think it is completely safe to say I want every single one of these! Like I said before, the biggest issue for me is that I’m not going to want to use them because they are too darn cute!

You can get your Oogie Boogie bath bomb here.

What is your favorite bath bomb that you have used so far? My absolute favorite so far has been the Harry Potter Sorting Hat Bath Bomb. It surprisingly sorted me into the correct house which totally blew my mind!

Let us know in the comments what bath bombs you think we should cover next! We are always looking for new and innovative (and super cute) ones to try!

At first, I was shocked by this news, and THEN I found out that they are closing mostly locations inside malls. This makes a LOT more sense.

Malls used to be THE place to go. Not just to shop for everything under the sun, but as a place to congregate and hang out.

I have been guilty of spending hours with friends, simply walking the mall, grabbing a bite in the food court, and maybe doing some light shopping.

This isn’t the way society works anymore. Have you been to a shopping mall lately? What once were hustling, bustling malls, are now pretty much ghost-towns.

Of course, this decline has had MAJOR impact on the stores that are in these malls, which are now left hanging on by a thread. Stores have seen a rapid decline in numbers — both of people, and of sales.

Many retail establishments have gone to having locations in outdoor strip malls, or moving into locations that are in large, outdoor clusters of free-standing retail spaces.

Bath and Body Works is one of the retailers that has moved away from occupying new space inside the malls of America.

As this is the case, Bath and Body Works announced, as part of their First Quarter Earnings Presentation, that it will be closing 50 stores, largely located inside malls.

Is this due to the coronavirus pandemic that has swept the world? Probably partly.

Bath and Body Works had to temporarily close their physical locations in March, do to this worldwide quarantine. As a result, not shockingly, they lost revenue.

In its recent report to investors, Bath and Body Works noted a 37% drop in sales from the same period last year. That’s pretty hefty.

As a result, we are now seeing the closing of 50 Bath and Body Works physical locations. As of right now, the retailer has not confirmed exactly which Bath & Body Works stores will be closing in 2020 yet.

It is important to note, however, Bath and Body Works ONLINE sales have skyrocketed.

According to CNN’s Jordan Valinsky, “Despite the store closures, Bath & Body Works had a strong quarter. Its online sales grew 85% over last year — It expects its sanitizer products to grow into a $300 million business this year—up from $100 million last year.”

We do believe that that portion of the business especially will continue to grow rapidly as again sanitizer is now something that will likely be part of all of our daily routines for the months and years ahead.

Andrew Meslow, L Brands CEO

That being said, you may want to go visit your local Bath and Body Works mall location — with your face mask on, of course — and see if they are one of the unlucky locations that are closing. It might be the last time you get to visit your favorite store.

On Saturday, December 14, Bath & Body Works locations and their online store will be offering all body care products — those are things like cleansers, lotions, aroma therapy, and fragrances — for $4.95 a piece! That’s over 600 items that will be on sale for $4.95 a pop.

Let me say that again. Bath & Body Works retail locations — INCLUDING their ONLINE STORE — will have most everything in their body care line available for $4.95 on Saturday!

GAH! *Girl Scream* This is HUGE!!!

This deal is arguably better than their Candle Day Sale, where all three-wick candles were $9 each!

Some locations are extending their hours to open their doors at 7am, to allow extra time to shop this AMAZING sale! Check with your local Bath & Body Works location to see when they open.

This totally answers the question, “What the HECK am I going to get my mom?!?” — which I’ve been asking myself daily since November.

Just go ahead and take all my money now, Bath & Body Works!

Sources say that this is going to be a new yearly sale — And I couldn’t be happier! This is REALLY going to up my gift-giving game each year!

Check out Bath & Body Work’s Winter Scents HERE!

I use it ALL the time, and it is one of the few things that doesn’t give me dry, flaky sin.

What You Need To Make Oatmeal And Honey Soap

• ¾ pound melt & pour goats milk soap base
• 8 ounces rolled oats (finely ground)
• 4 tablespoons honey
• Oval silicone mold (I got my oval silicone mold here.)
• Large Pyrex measuring cup
• Wooden stir stick

How To Make Oatmeal And Honey Soap

Grind the oats. (You can do this with a rolling pin, in the food processor, or whatever your preferred method is.)

Melt the soap in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. If it is not completely melted, put it back on for 10 second increments, until fully melted.

Read: Get Clean With Rosemary Soap

Add the honey and rolled oats to the soap base. Mix well.

Pour into the silicone mould.

Let set for about an hour.

This is the BEST honey and oatmeal soap recipe of all time! Trust me you are going to love it!

Print

Oatmeal And Honey Soap For Sensitive Skin

This oatmeal and honey soap recipe is great for sensitive skin!

Course Skincare is a BIG DEAL

Keyword Oatmeal Soap, Sensitive Skin

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Additional Time 1 day day

Total Time 1 day day 12 minutes minutes

Servings 6 Bars of Soap

Author Jamie Slack

Cost $10

Ingredients

• ¾ pound melt & pour goats milk soap base
• 8 ounces rolled oats finely ground
• 4 tablespoons honey
• Oval silicone mold
• Wooden stir stick

Instructions

• Grind the oats. (You can do this with a rolling pin, in the food processor, or whatever your preferred method is.)
• Melt the soap in the microwave for 30 seconds. Stir. If it is not completely melted, put it back on for 10 second increments, until fully melted.
• Add the honey and rolled oats to the soap base. Mix well.
• Pour into the silicone mold and let set overnight.
• Carefully remove from the silicone mold and you can then use the soap right away!

Plus it smells deliciously honey-like!

I am a huge fan of basically using this as often as possible. If you’re looking to feel calm and clean, this green tea sugar scrub is a must-make.

What You Need To Make Green Tea Lemon Sugar Scrub

• 1 cup pure cane sugar
• ⅓  cup olive oil
• Content of 1 green tea bag
• 1 tablespoon lemon zest
• 10 drops lemon fragrance oil
• 2 drops yellow food coloring

How To Make Green Tea Lemon Sugar Scrub

Step 1. In a small bowl, combine the sugar, olive oil, green tea, lemon zest, food coloring and fragrance oil.

Step 2. Stir well until blended thoroughly.

Step 3. Pour into airtight container. A canning funnel is great to use if you’re using mason jars.

Get ready to look, smell and feel amazing, because this Green Tea Lemon Sugar Scrub is awesome!

Print

How To Make Green Tea Lemon Sugar Scrub

Green Tea Lemon Sugar Scrub Makes Your Skin Feel Amazing

Course Skincare is a BIG DEAL

Keyword essential oil, green tea, lemon, sugar scrub

Prep Time 2 minutes minutes

Cook Time 10 minutes minutes

Total Time 12 minutes minutes

Servings 2 containers

Author Jamie Slack

Cost $3.00

Equipment

• Bowl
• Grater
• Spoon
• Mason Jar or Other Air Tight Container

Ingredients

• 1 cup pure cane sugar
• ⅓ cup olive oil
• Content of 1 green tea bag
• 1 Tablespoon lemon zest
• 10 drops lemon fragrance oil
• 2 drops yellow food coloring

Instructions

• In a small bowl, combine the sugar, olive oil, green tea, lemon zest, food coloring and fragrance oil.
• Stir well until blended thoroughly.
• Pour into airtight container. A canning funnel is great to use if you’re using mason jars.
• Can use right away or store for later

If you make this sugar scrub, let me know! I love hearing when people try out our awesome recipes!

During the first trimester of pregnancy, experts (I will go ahead and say that I am not an expert as I push my glasses up my nose anyway) say not to use essential oils. So, as soon as you find out, stop with the oils for a little while—I know, it’ll kill your typical beauty routine, but just chill! During the second and third trimesters, though, there’s no warnings about oils on the whole–just specific ones. So, lemme share my favorites for use during pregnancy (just the last two-thirds…lol!).

My Favorite Pregnancy-Safe Essential Oils:

• Valor (Young Living Blend) – for a little mental-boost that yes, you can do this.
• Joy (Young Living Blend) – for, oh I don’t know, because I’m joyful about baby and it seems to set the mood!
• Roman chamomile – relief for muscle aches and pains…I like to have my husband rub my ankles with it.
• Ginger – for morning sickness, because I’m a wuss and don’t like to be nauseous…
• Grapefruit – to keep my belly moist and help keep stretch-marks from happening too bad!

• Lavender – to help me sleep soundly at night…or when I want a nap…
• Lemon – for cleaning EVERYTHING (toilets, floors, counters–not in that order, though…).
• Rose – because it smells fantastic and just straight-up makes me happy.
• Theives (Young Living Blend) – not only for cleaning, but also for keeping icky illness for spreading to me!
• Ylang ylang – keeping my household calm and easy so baby-in-my-belly grows happy.

Young Living (where I get my essential oils) states: See individual label directions or check with a health professional before using essential oils if you have a serious medical condition or are pregnant, nursing, or planning to become pregnant. DO NOT use wild tansy, clary sage, sage, fennel, wintergreen, or hyssop during pregnancy.

What You’ll Need to Make Very Blueberry Sugar Scrub:

• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup freeze-dried blueberries
• 2 Tbsp. blue sugar sprinkles
• 3/4 cup organic virgin coconut oil (room temperature)
• 1 Tbsp. vanilla extract

How to Make Very Blueberry Sugar Scrub:

You know what’s really weird about this whole thing? This blueberry sugar scrub ends up looking more purple than blue when you’re done with it, so that whole intro paragraph was totally unnecessary. But hey, that’s the Totally the Bomb way of life. To make your very purple blueberry sugar scrub, you’ll need to put the freeze-dried blueberries in a sealed Ziploc bag and crush them. Just, seriously, crush them. You can use a rolling pin, a meat tenderizer…whatever you usually like to use to smash things. Then, combine the cane sugar, blueberry dust, and blue sugar sprinkles in a small mixing bowl.

You should probably mix this up a little bit, but if you’re in a rebellious sort of mood, you don’t have to. For the recipe-followers among you: those are your dry ingredients. Your wet ingredients are the coconut oil and vanilla extract; add those two things and stir it up until you’ve got the perfect purple sugar scrub mixture.

If you want to get super fancy and give this to someone as a gift, you can garnish the completed blueberry sugar scrub with any of the freeze-dried blueberries that you didn’t smash to pieces. This is an awesome organic recipe that works great as both an exfoliant and as a moisturizer. Or as a really cute picture on your Instagram. You know, whatever you want to do with it.

What You’ll Need for Valentine’s Day Strawberry Sugar Scrub:

• 1 cup cane sugar
• 1 cup freeze-dried strawberries
• 3/4 cup organic virgin coconut oil, room temperature
• 1 Tbsp vanilla extract

How to Make Valentine’s Day Strawberry Sugar Scrub:

If I’m being honest, I’m also posting this because I really wanted to share the process for making it. How it starts? With smashing things. That’s right, you’re going to need to channel your inner Hulk for this sugar scrub. Put the freeze-dried strawberries in a Ziploc bag, grab a rolling pin, and crush the sweet berry goodness out of those strawberries. And then crush them some more. We’re talking strawberry dust here, people. Go for it!

Once you’ve got your strawberry dust, add your cane sugar to it in a small mixing bowl. Basically you’ve just got more dust now. Then, add the coconut oil and the vanilla extract to bind it all together.

Stir that stuff up until your little fingers fall off. Or until it looks like it’s been stirred enough, whichever comes first.

That’s it! It’s a really simple thing that’s soooo helpful for your skin. I use it as an exfoliator and moisturizer. And best of all, it’s organic! I think I’ll try experimenting with some other freeze-dried fruits next…

25 Scent-sational Sugar Scrubs For Fabulously Flawless Skin

1. When you make this lime coconut sugar scrub, you’ll definitely feel better.

2. Roses are red, and candy is sweet, but it’s this Valentine strawberry scrub that can’t be beat!

3. Next time you get a craving for something sweet, grab a dollop of this snickerdoodle sugar scrub. All the love, none of the calories.

4. If you want a sugar scrub that’ll perk you up, but keep you calm at the same time, this lavender lemon is sure to do the trick.

5. Delicious-smelling vanilla candy cane smells good enough to eat…but it’s for your skin, not your tongue.

6. Wake up invigorated with exfoliating coffee sugar scrub. It’ll get’cha going.

7. Want to feel like you’re in a spa…at home? Check out this cucumber mint sugar scrub.

8. Very blueberry sugar scrub is what Violet from Willy Wonka dreams about when she showers.

9. You won’t believe how incredible this sage and blackberry sugar scrub smells…or how incredible it’ll make you feel!

10. Want to try something completely different? Check out these sugar scrub bars! It’s all the pampering, with none of the mess.

11. Gotta love a good root beer float…sugar scrub on a hot day. Or any day. Because this one will blow you away!

12. Give your friends the gift of passion tea sugar scrub. It’s almost as sweet as them.

13. Want to feel like you’re a 1940’s glam girl? This coconut rose sugar scrub will give you flashbacks to more pampered days.

14. No actual mermaids were harmed in the making of this mermaid sugar scrub.

15. Don’t eat this chocolate sugar scrub. You’ll want to eat it. And it’ll taste amazing. Because it’s totally edible. But, don’t.

16. Try whipped grapefruit mint sugar scrub on those mornings where you need a little extra ‘gentle’ kick in the pants.

17. You don’t have to be naughty to use this charcoal sugar scrub. In fact, we’d say it’s pretty nice.

18. Try this strawberry margarita lip scrub for lips that are perfectly smooth and kissable.

19. The best part about conversation hearts sugar scrub is finding the heart that says ‘sexy’ and agreeing with it completely.

20. Find your zen space with this chai spice sugar scrub. Your skin will definitely be at peace with this one.

21. Forget about boxes of candy. Try this chocolate covered strawberry sugar scrub next time you’re craving something sweet.

22. Wake up to citrus cinnamon sugar scrub, and you’ll feel bright and just a little spicy all day long.

23. Happiness starts with this vanilla pumpkin spice sugar scrub. It smells like moms house. Really!

24. If fall is your favorite time of year, you can celebrate year round with a spiced apple cider sugar scrub.

25. Or, lean back and relax with this piña colada sugar scrub. You definitely earned THIS vacation!

10 Amazing Benefits of Water

1. Ability to lose weight. Water helps keep us full especially when ingested before meals. Because we feel fuller, we are less likely to eat as much and that will help us lose that extra weight.

2. Promotes healthy digestion. Hate feeling constipated or sluggish? Increase your water intake! Water helps flush waste products and leaves you feeling great.

3. Leaves hair shiny. Know those television commercials where the models have shiny, luxurious hair? Well, while that may be Photoshop or editing tricks, you can get that in real life just by drinking water – and lots of it.

4. Supports Concentration. Do you have those days where you feel like no matter how hard you try you just cannot focus or get through the day? It could be a lack of your water intake for the day. Water supports healthy brain function and concentration.

5. Gives glowing skin. You know that “glow” everyone talks about you have when you are pregnant? Well you don’t have to be pregnant to have it! Drink lots of water. It will improve the look and feel of your skin and give you that glow you’ve always wanted.

6. Removes toxins from our body. Water enables our body to flush out toxins so in return we feel better and remain healthier.

7. It may help prevent cancer. It seems like everything we do these days can cause cancer so why not do something to try to prevent it? Tons of research says that staying hydrated can reduce risk of cancer including: colon, bladder and possibly breast cancer.

8. Gives Good Smelling Breath. You brush, floss, and use mouthwash but cannot figure out why your breath still smells like you made out with a skunk? It could be that you are dehydrated and not getting enough water to wash out that bacteria in your mouth throughout the day. Drinking more water can give you that fresh breath you so desperately want.

9. Improves circulation. Water helps keep things moving throughout your body including circulation. It’s easier for your body to preform bodily functions when it has water to help push things along.

10. Improves mobility in joints. When you think of joints or bones you usually think of calcium and milk. However, water is just as great for improving mobility and decreases joint pain.

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It’s all fun and games until your eyes swell shut! Yup, I changed my facial routine and ended up looking like Rocky Balboa for a day…

About The Time My Eye Swelled So Badly I Looked Like Rocky Balboa

Top of the list has been to smear my face in all the skin care things. All of them!

Spoiler, this is a really bad idea.

The best practice is to introduce a new product and give that one product a two week trial run. See how your skin takes it, if it works for you or if it creates other problems. That is the smart thing to do.

I tried to do that. I swear.

First I started out with a drugstore kit for dealing with acne. It had a cleanser, toner and moisturizer. I figured it had to be pretty run of the mill stuff and was an okay place to start. I used it for a few weeks along with another moisturizer I was really liking.

Then… My neck started to itch. I didn’t realize it until at the end of a long day I looked in the mirror and there were long, red scratch marks down my neck.

What the heck?

I immediately stopped the whole routine and went back to my regular make-up remover wipes and a gentle moisturizer I’ve used off and on for years.

After about a week the dryness cleared up. A little testing of my other products led me to believe the culprit was one, or all, of the acne kit. I put it in a drawer and ignored it for two whole weeks. Two weeks!

About a week ago I was washing my face, and thought–why not test it? Just to see? I mean, what’s the worst that would happen? I’d get itchy, right?

If I could go back in time and slap myself I would.

That night I opted to just apply the moisturizer. Just to test it out. I wanted to see what would happen.

The next morning I woke up to complete darkness. After a moment of flailing around and mutterings of, “Oh crap,” from my fiance I figure out that it’s not the lights that aren’t working.

It was my eyes. They’d swollen shut.

So there I am, face itchy and swollen, unable to see, all because I just wanted to make sure that this one product I was pretty sure wasn’t good for me, really wasn’t good for me. Guess what? It wasn’t. Yeah. Live and learn, and then slather yourself in coconut oil!

How I Learned Not To Use Dollar Store Razors Near My Lady Bits…

But back to the toiletry section.

That’s where I saw them.

Seven blade razors.

For a dollar.

Holy cheese whiz.

Seven. Blades????

THAT IS AMAZING!

I bought three packages.

There are some things, like my hair and my contact solution, where I don’t skimp on brands. Experience has taught me, just don’t do it. But razors? Pft. The last word I’d use to describe my skin is sensitive.

Fast forward a few days later. It’s time to shave. Now, TMI, but I shave pretty much everything from my eyelashes down. If it’s hair on my body, I don’t want it there. If I miss a day of shaving, I look like a yeti. Yes, humans have hair and it’s natural, at least until you’re sprouting a deciduous forest on your legs.

I went about my business. I shaved. Slathered on my post-shave coconut oil, and that was it. Got dressed and settled in to write for the day.

Some time around mid-afternoon I finally moved. You see, when I get into the writing groove I can sit in one spot for hours, my eyes closed, fingers flying on the keys. Once these sprints are over, moving is a must. But this time… I was a lot more sore than I should have been… Between my legs…

I figure, it’s the underwear. I’ve been wondering for a while if I shouldn’t toss a couple of my older pairs. I’m the worst offender about not buying new panties and wearing the ones I have until they’re falling apart. I’m That Person.

No big, right?

The rest of the day I’m rather uncomfortable, so I swap out my underwear, put a little more coconut oil on and figure I’ll be fine by the next day.

Let me pause here and warn you, there’s an anatomy lesson coming up. You are forewarned.

The next day I get up and moving is OMG painful.

There is fire between my thighs, and not in a hot and bothered kind of way.

This is where I waddle my way to the bathroom, find a mirror and brace myself for investigating just what the heck is going on in my netherland. I mean, I have to be dying. There’s some sort of man eating bacteria that’s clearly killing me. I want to die. This is agony.

I take a looksie, and wowmygod I’ve never see my junk so…red and swollen.

Let me be specific here, the labia majora was the area of real concern. It was puffy, red, and…much to my horror, I pulled off a sheet of skin.

Some of you are probably wondering what the heck the majora part of the labia is, so lemme learn a quick anatomy lesson. The vagina is the entry and exit point of life. This is protected by the labia minora, which is what is often referred to as the labia. The labia majora is the secondary outer rim of skin that folds over the whole package when we’re sitting or standing, and is the hard, outer shell of our lady taco.

And mine was pealing. For two whole days.

Cue the I’m going to die panic.

At first I didn’t make a connection to the razor. I cried. I washed all my clothes. I wore a dress with no panties, which was totally horrifying to my inner prude, and about twenty-four hours later, when I was getting ready to take another bath… I remembered… those new razors…

So, moral of the story? Sometimes you need to not buy the knock off brand.

Also? Seven blades may be a few too many for your lady bits…

Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub

What You Need To Make Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub:

• ¼ cup unrefined coconut oil, melted
• 1 ½ cups white sugar
• 10 drops Lime essential oil
• juice from ½ fresh lime
• lime zest from ½  fresh lime, 1 pinch reserved

How To Make Coconut Lime Sugar Scrub:

1. Combine all of the ingredients in a glass bowl. Mix well.
2. Spoon the sugar scrub into a fresh jar.
3. Sprinkle 1 pinch of lime zest on top.
4. Use within 3 days or refrigerate to store indefinitely.

Note: 

When the coconut oil hardens, the scrub will feel dry and crumbly. Once it is massaged into the skin, the oil melts and the scrub smooths and moisturizes skin.

If you want to get THE BEST essential oils, this is where I get mine: