Moringa Oil Facial Toner Recipe for Acne Prone Skin or Aging Skin + Giveaway Ends 2/28/15

This post, information, and giveaway is sponsored by Green Virgin Products.  As always, all opinions are my own.  

This week, I used a brand new to me oil, moringa oil.  This oil is very versatile because it is great for acne prone skin and it is known for its anti-aging properties.  Basically, this oil is great for any skin type, which is very unique for a skin care oil.

Moringa oil is high in vitamins A and C.  Vitamin C helps reduce the appearance of age spots.  It also helps regulate sebum in the skin, which means that it can help reduce acne while keeping your skin moisturized.  I

It's also high in antioxidants, so it can help slow down aging.  Moringa also contains more zeatin than any other plant.  Zeatin is a plant hormone that promotes cellular growth, which can delay the aging process.  It helps boost collagen production in your skin, which is important to prevent fine lines and wrinkles.

You can use the oil by itself to moisturize your skin, and it works great on your cuticles.  If you have flakes caused by dry skin, massage the oil on your scalp and let sit for several minutes before washing your hair.

I wanted to get some of the skin benefits from the oil, so I decided to make a toner to use after washing.  Since you don't rinse it off, you'll get all of the benefits of the oil without adding a step to your morning routine.  This moringa oil recipe is also very easy to make at home and just takes a few minutes.

Moringa Oil Facial Toner Recipe

Skin Secrets for Flawless Skin

Do you wish you had better skin?  Fine lines, wrinkles, and dark spots can all make you look older.  Now that I'm in my 30s, I'm definitely taking better care of my skin.  I've been using a moisturizer with SPF daily since I was a teenager, and I obviously use a lot of masks and scrubs since I blog about them so much.

No one has flawless skin, but these skin secrets will help you put your best face forward.

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

Skin Secrets for Flawless Skin

Whipped Body Butter Recipe with Sea Buckthorn Oil

The Sea Buckthorn and information have been provided by Sea Buck Wonders. As always, all opinions are my own. Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that I earn a small commission from sales.

I have a great new oil to introduce to you today and a whipped body butter recipe. Sea buckthorn oil has been used for generations in Europe and Asia, but it's just getting popular in America. There are two kinds of the oil: fruit oil and seed oil. Both come from the same berry but from different parts. Both are great for your body, but they do have different properties.

The oils can be used topically to cleanse and exfoliate. They are also said to have healing properties and can help the skin recover from burns, rashes, and cuts. It is high in fatty acids and antioxidents and is antiviral and may help reduce inflammation.

With all of these great sea buckthorn benefits, I was dying to make a new recipe. I haven't made a body butter in a while, so I decided to use the sea buckthorn berry oil in this easy recipe. I carefully selected all of the ingredients for their unique properties.


The sea buckthorn oil is anti-inflammary and helps heal skin. Coconut oil has fatty acids that your skin needs. Shea butter has fatty acids and skin loving vitamins, and it's also anti-inflammatory. Vitamin E increases the shelf life and nourishes your skin.

Sea Buckthorn Body Butter Recipe

INGREDIENTS

• 1 teaspoon sea buckthorn berry oil
• 2 tablespoons coconut oil
• 2 tablespoons shea butter
• 1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil
• Double boiler
• Container

DIRECTIONS

STEP #1

Melt the coconut oil and shea butter in a double boiler over low heat.

STEP #2

When it's completely melted, turn off the stove and move the pan from the heat. Add sea buckthorn oil and vitamin E oil.

STEP #3

Let cool to room temperature. You can put it in the fridge to help it cool quicker. I put mine in the fridge for a little over half an hour.





I started whipping at this point, but I put it back in the fridge for another 5 minutes and tried again. It whipped up a lot better when it was colder.

STEP #4

When the edges start to get solid but before it gets completely solid, use an electric mixer to whip it for at least 5 minutes for a creamy texture. If you left it in the fridge too long, just let it warm up at room temperature and scrape the sides of the bowl.







I used my whisk attachment on 10 with my KitchenAid mixer.

STEP #6

Spoon in to a glass mason jar or other container.







The sea buckthorn oil gives it this gorgeous gold hue.

If this gets warm, it can melt. It's still safe to use, and you can whip it again if you'd like it to be fluffy again. In the summer, I store it in the fridge because it stops it from melting and the coolness feels great on my skin.

Sea buckthorn oil is yellow. I used metal measuring spoons so it would not stain. When you put this on your skin, it is very yellow. When you spread it around, it will not stain your skin.


Use within three months. If you notice any discoloration or off smell, do not use and discard it.


This body butter recipe goes on smooth and soaks right in to your skin. The is very nourishing, so I'll definitely be using it again in more recipes.

Looking for more DIY recipes with seabuckthorn oil?  Try this Scar and Stretch Mark Salve.

Like this recipe?  Pin it!

Non Greasy Matcha Body Butter Recipe

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Dandelion Salve Recipe

My New Morning Routine for Weight Loss Success

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #NewBreakfastRoutine #CollectiveBias

Did you make a resolution for the new year?  This year, I want to get healthy.  That means exercising regularly, eating healthier, and losing weight.  Even though I'm in my early 30s, heart problems run in my family.  I need to start taking steps to get healthy sooner rather than later.  In addition to making changes in my activity level and eating habits, I'll be changing my morning routine so I have more energy each day.  

Best Beauty Products for Oily Skin And They Are All From Drugstores!

I struggled for years with my oily skin before I found the right products for me. Your skin needs some oil so it doesn't get dry, but too much oil can lead to pimples and blackheads.  Acne is caused by dead skin cells and bacteria that collect in your pores and cause an infection. 

The best beauty products for oily skin will give your skin the moisture that it needs without adding excess oil.  They should also gently remove excess oil to prevent acne without over drying.  

When shopping for skin care products, look for products without added oil.  Clays will draw out excess oil, so try a clay mask once a week.  You should also exfoliate once or twice a week to remove dead skin cells, which can really help reduce acne.  If you are prone to acne, use products with salicylic acid to prevent acne.  

Easy Pink Sugar Scrub Valentine's Day Gift with Printable Label

Several years ago, there was a perfume called Aquolina Pink.  It smelled like cotton candy with a hint of musk.  It was heavenly.  I made the soap, lotion, and dry oil perfume in that scent.  It was my signature scent.  I got a lot of compliments on it too.

That scent inspired this fun Valentine's Day pink sugar scrub recipe.  Of course, you can use any scent that you'd like or leave it unscented.  But if you are looking for an amazing scent, give Aquolina Pink a try.

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

Meet My Assistant and A $150 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Today's discussion is sponsored by One Day Kids.  As always, all opinions are my own.

Running a blog is hard work.  I have to come up with post ideas, get information, make stuff, take photos, and write the post.  Sometimes I put hours in to one post, especially if it's a DIY beauty recipe.  What you may not know is that I have a helper.  Meet Dakota.

Plethora of Plaits - Five New Braid Ideas

When I was a teenager, I almost always had my hair in a French braid.  It was easy, and it kept my hair out of my face.  I don't see many French braids anymore, but these braids are a great way to style your hair.  They look like you spent a long time on your hair or visited the salon, but they are all easy enough to do at home with some practice.

A Plethora of Plaits

Hair Salon Etiquette: 8 Dos and Don'ts

I had a great stylist for years, but I moved and the drive was just too much for me.  After a few years of searching, I found another great stylist.  This girl is absolutely amazing, and I get compliments on my hair all the time.  I don't want to lose her as a stylist, so I'm definitely following the hair salon etiquette rules.

Not to get too off topic, but manners are becoming a thing of the past.  And that's sad.  Going to the salon means forming a professional relationship and being respectful of other people in the salon.  I get a cut and color, so I'm there about two hours.  I see so many rude people just in that time every six to eight weeks, so I'm sure my stylist has some crazy stories to tell!

Hair Salon Etiquette: Dos and Don'ts

Beauty Tips for Men

Ladies, I've been posting some great tips, tricks, and recipes for you in the past few months.  Today, it's time for beauty tips for men.  I live in a rural area, so maybe it's the area I live in, but most men I know won't ask for tips.  But I know they want to know.  Maybe they are too afraid to ask.  Maybe they think real men shouldn't care about their appearance.  I call nonsense on that.  There's nothing wrong with wanting to look your best!

Links in this post may be affiliate links, which means that Everything Pretty earns a small commission from sales.

Beauty Tips for Men

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Hand Milled (Rebatched) Soap Recipe

Turn hotel soap or any other soap into adorable chocolate covered strawberry rebatched soaps.  

I always think of Valentine's Day when I see a chocolate covered strawberry.  I'm not sure why because I've never made them for Valentine's Day.  Hubby, if you are reading this, get me some, k?

Speaking of chocolate covered strawberries, have you ever soaked them in whipped cream vodka before dipping them?  You really should.  You're welcome.

Back to the soap recipe.  I like making soap, but I don't want to make 432 bars in one batch or buy a ton of ingredients.   That's why I picked this recipe for hand milled or rebatched soap.  It uses premade soap, so I get all the benefits of the soap without making it myself.  Awesome!

Making soap without lye is a lot easier because you have to be very careful with lye.  Of course, the premade bars still have lye in them, but it's already been neutralized.  So you get to have fun making soap without working with chemicals.

A higher quality bar will yield higher quality soap.  I don't recommend using soap from the dollar store or other cheap soap for this hand milled soap recipe.  You'll want a quality bar even when making soap without lye, so start with a quality bar.

I decided to make chocolate and strawberry soap, but you can make any scent or color that you want!  At the end of the recipe, I'll tell you how to make it all one scent.

Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne System Giveaway $45 Value Ends 2/2/15

Let's start off the new year with a giveaway!  A few months back, I reviewed the Mary Kay Clear Proof Acne system and gave one away to a lucky reader.  My readers like it so much that I got another one to give away.