DIY Coffee Scrub Recipe

Are your kids back in school?  Two of mine started on Wednesday, and my homeschooler start next Monday.  I'm not quite ready for homeschool, but we did get his weekly schedule done today.

Those who know me know that I love coffee.  My kids know not to talk to me until the first cup is half gone.  That's probably why I love this DIY coffee scrub recipe so much.  It smells heavenly, and it works great!

You have to use caffeinated coffee grounds because the caffeine stimulates circulation.  Rubbing it in a circle also improve circulation, so this DIY coffee scrub recipe is said to help reduce the look of cellulite with weekly use.

DIY Coffee Scrub Recipe

What You Need

• 5 tablespoons caffeinated coffee grounds
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/4 cup sweet almond oil (soy or jojoba oil also work well)
• Optional, add 2 drops orange essential oil or 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract for fragrance

Directions

1. Mix the coffee grounds and sugar in a medium bowl.
2. Add oil of your choice and stir well.
3. Add fragrance if desired.

To use, scoop about 1/4 of a cup of the coffee scrub in your hands and gently rub in circles all over your body.  This is a great scrub for your knees, elbows, and feet where your skin tends to get rough.  Rinse well.  You can use a body wash or soap to get rid of extra oil.

Don't use this face on your sensitive facial skin.

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Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne System Review and Giveaway Ends 9/20

The Clear Proof Acne System, giveaway and information, have been provided by Mary Kay.  As always, all opinions are my own.  

When Mary Kay asked me to review the Clear Proof Acne System, I was so excited.  I've been buying Mary Kay since I was a teenager just learning about makeup.  It's one of only a select few brands that I have been loyal to for many years.

I'd actually used the Clear Proof Acne System before and really like it.  Although my teen years are *ahem* a few years behind me, I still have the occasional blemish.  Unlike when I was a teen, these are big ones that take a few days to heal.  I'd like to stop them from starting if possible, so that's why I used this daily for my review.

How It Works

There are two over-the-counter acne medications: salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide.  They both have their own benefits, but I find that a combination of both active ingredients works best.  The salicylic acid exfoliates dead skin cells that can clog pores, and the benzoyl peroxide fights bacteria that can cause acne.  The Clear Proof Acne System has both. so you get double the benefit from just one system.

What's in the Box

The kit has four steps.  You'll get the following in the box:

• Clarifying Cleansing Gel to remove makeup, dirt, and oil.  It has salicylic acid to clear blemishes and prevent future breakouts.  
• Blemish Control Toner takes off dead skin cells, which can cause acne.  It also has salicylic acid to tighten pores.
• The Acne Treatment Gel contains benzoyl peroxide, which helps kill bacteria and reduce redness.  
• Oil Free Moisturizer moisturizes without clogging pores.  

The entire kit costs $45, and you can buy each product individually for $10-$18.  

Mary Kay is giving away one complete acne system for one of my lucky readers!  Enter below for your chance to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Open to United States residents 18 and older please.  Mary Kay is sending the prize to the winner.  Allow 4-6 weeks for delivery.  Please read the disclaimer.  

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Green Tea Mask Recipe

Green tea is one of my favorite DIY beauty recipe secrets.  Green tea is naturally antibacterial and is full of antioxidants.  It also has some anti-inflammatory properties, so it can reduce puffiness when applied topically.

Green tea is beneficial when you drink it like in this matcha orange cocktail or when applied to the skin.  I brew green tea or white tea and drink it throughout the day.  Brew a little extra tea when you make this recipe so you have a nutritious drink to enjoy while the mask works its magic.

This mask also uses green tea clay, which is a combination of green tea and green clay.  The clay draws out impurities, so it exfoliates white it deep cleans.  If you can't find green tea clay, you can use green clay instead.

Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales.  Thanks for supporting Everything Pretty.

Green Tea Facial Mask

What You Need

• 2 green tea bags
• 2 tablespoons green tea clay or green clay 
• 3 vitamin C capsules

Directions

1. Fill a tea kettle with water and heat until it is 175 degrees Fahrenheit.  If it boils, remove from heat and let cool for several minutes.  Use a candy thermometer to make sure the water is at the right temperature.  If the water is too hot, it destroys some of the benefits of the tea.
2. Steep the tea bags in the water for 1 minute.
3. Pour 1/2 cup green tea in a bowl and let cool.
4. Add 2 tablespoons of green tea clay or green clay and stir well.  
5. Pierce the vitamin C capsules with a sterilized pin and squeeze in to the clay mixture.  Stir well.  
6. Apply to your face and neck with your fingertips.  Let dry for 10-15 minutes or until you feel it start to tighten.
7. Rinse with warm water.

For best results, use once a week.  Do not store leftovers.

This is one of my favorite masks for my oily skin.  I have large pores, and this makes them shrink temporarily.  

Have you ever tried a clay mask?

Photo via zirconicusso / freedigitalphotos.net

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Rent the Runway 80% Off Clearance Sale

This post contains affiliate links, and I will be compensated if you make a purchase after clicking through my links. 

Are you tired of buying expensive dresses for a wedding, party, or work event only to never wear it again?  
Rent the Runway has transformed the retail industry by making the designer dress and accessory experience more accessible. Now you can rent dresses for a special event or just add game-changing pieces to their everyday style  .Designers include Vera Wang, Narciso Rodriguez, Opening Ceremony, Reem Acra, Badgley Mischka, and much more.

Dresses come in sizes 0-22, and customers can choose a free backup size so you don't have to risk returning one for the correct size. Rent the Runway also has more than 25 stylists on hand to help women find the perfect look.  

Plus, shop the Clearance Sale and buy incredible designer dresses up to 80% off. Hurry, select styles available for a limited time and while supplies last! 




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How to Rag Roll Hair - Curls Without Heat

When I was a kid, my hair was thin and straight.  Now, it's insanely thick and insanely curly.  I'm totally blaming my first son for my unruly hair because it happened while I was pregnant.  Crazy, I know.

When I was a kid, I wanted curly hair so bad.  It was the 80s, and everyone had a big, pouffy hair.  My mom wouldn't let me get a perm (thanks, Mom!), but she did rag roll my hair.

My daughter has thin, straight hair like I used to, but she wants curly hair like mom has now.  Bless her, she wants to be like me.  I rag rolled her hair last week, and she was so thrilled to have curls for a day.  She put on her best play dress and danced around all afternoon.  I have a feeling that we will be doing this often.

Rag rolling is really easy, and it doesn't take long to do.  You do have to wait hours or overnight for your hair to dry, but there's no damage from heat or expensive curlers to buy.

How to Rag Roll Hair

You'll need strips of cotton fabric for this.  I took a shirt that my son had outgrown, a size 6/8, and cut 2" strips off the bottom.  (Hint: The stripes on the shirt made it super easy to get mostly straight cuts.)  Then I cut each strip at the seams to make two strips from each segment.  If you use an adult shirt, you could probably get 3 strips.  Just make sure each strip is about 6-8" long.  You can do thinner strips for tighter curls.

I washed her hair and let it dry until it was damp.  I used a wide tooth comb to get out the tangles before we started.  You want to start with damp hair but not soaking wet hair.  If you want your curls to last longer, use gel in your hair before you start and spray them with hairspray when you take them out.

Then I separated her hair in to two sections like pigtails.  You don't have to be exact.  Just eyeball it.

Take a small section of hair and tie the rag strip on it.  Her hair is really thin, so I used a small section.  The smaller the section, the tighter the curl.  You'll just have to experiment with the size to get the right size curls.  Just make sure they are all about even.

I tied the strip in about the middle of the section of hair and then gently slid it down to the tips of her hair.

Next, roll hair over the knot.  You want to go down and not up.  When you get to the head, tie the loose ends over the knot.

Repeat all over until she looks like an alien.  

Now comes the hardest part of the entire process: letting her hair dry.  When I was a kid, I used to go all night.  I knew she wouldn't sleep with them in, so I did it first thing in the morning.  They started bugging her after about two hours.  Her hair wasn't quite dry, but it was holding a curl.  

Ta da!!  

(I apologize for the photos.  They are iPhone photos because, like I said, it was early.  My camera was in my craft room, and she was so excited to start.)

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How to Apply Eyeshadow Wet

What if I told you that you could double your eyeshadow palette without buying another product?

How you ask?  By learning how to apply eyeshadow wet.

When you apply it wet, the color changes slightly.  It gives you an entirely new look with your existing eye makeup colors.  Very good to know, eh?

I first learned about this when a drug store brand had a special eyeshadow that could be applied wet or dry.  It gave directions on how to do it, and I did like the look.  But then I thought, why can't I do that will all of my shadows?  Is this shadow made differently?  Most of my shadows can be applied wet, but a few didn't work.  More on that at the end of the post.

Links below may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales.

How to Apply Eyeshadow Wet

A Note on Water

Most women  use tap water because it's so convenient, especially if you apply your makeup in the bathroom.  Tap water can contain bacteria that won't harm you if you drink it, but when it sits in your makeup, it can cause some serious creepy crawlies.  It's best to either put loose, dry powder on a plate and add tap water or use over-the-counter eye drops or distilled water if you want to wet your brush.

Application

I like to use makeup brushes all the time, but I really do recommend them when you apply eyeshadow wet.  It gives you a lot more control, and they are easier to wet and let dry.

1. Wet your makeup brush by dipping it in water.  You want it wet, but not dripping with water.
2. Remove excess water with a clean towel.  You don't have to squeeze the water out; just wipe the brush on the towel.
3. Wipe your brush over your eye makeup.  Keep in mind that a wet brush picks up more product than a dry brush does, so you don't want to get too much on your brush.
4. Gently sweep over your lids.  You can add more if you need it.  It's better to do two light coats than applying too much.
5. Let dry before applying more colors.  Don't blend until you are done applying it
6. Smudge and blend to get the right look.
7. Wash your brushes and let dry.

You can also make your own eyeliner from loose eyeshadow.  Just wet a really small brush and apply like you would eyeliner.  I like doing this because I can get the exact shade of liner that works with my shadow colors.  

Tips

• More expensive brands tend to work better applied wet.  You'll have to experiment with your stash.
• Mineral makeup generally works very well when applied wet.  
• Use light layers and gradually build up the color.
• Use small brushes for better control.

Have you ever applied makeup wet?  Did you like the look?

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