Tips For Clear Skin Naturally

 Hey everyone, it feels like it's been forever since I've actually sat down and written a blog post.  I've really missed it, and I just had to write a new post.  This one's gonna share my tips that have helped out my skin to get a lot clearer than it used to be.  My acne is still quite bad, but these have really helped improve it.  And best of all, this is all stuff that can be done without a dermatologist. Enjoy!

1.Create a simple and gentle skincare routine. Don't overload on products.  Often we can get too excited about trying new stuff and this can end up confusing our skin and causing it to break out even more.  I'll be sharing my skincare routine with you soon, but what I use are a gentle cleanser, witch hazel as my toner and a simple moisturizer.  Make sure to have oil-free, hypoallergenic, and non-comodegenic products.

2. Use face masks. You can buy them, or make them at home yourself.  These can really help out your skin and offer many benefits.  To see my post on some great acne face masks you can do, click here.

3. Drink plenty of water and/or green tea. I often forget to drink water, but I'm aiming to drink at least 5 glasses a day, though lots of people say to take eight.  However, I feel like that's an unrealistic goal right now.  Green tea has many health benefits and I try to drink it regularly to help get rid of toxins in the skin, and it overall makes me feel healthy and really good when I drink it.

4. Toothpaste is your friend.  You can use this to spot treat your acne (not the gel kind, it won't work).  Sounds weird, but it has baking soda in it and actually really works!

5. Tea tree oil is awesome.  This one you can get at Whole Foods, and I haven't tried it yet, but I've heard lots of great things about it.  Apply a small amount to your active acne.

6. Exercise.  It's just part of being overall healthy.  By staying healthy with everything you do, your skin is naturally going to cooperate and function at it's best.  It's just common sense, you know?

7.  Try not to stress.  This is so tough for me, since I tend to panic and worry a lot, but stress can actually cause acne.  If you want, I'll make a blog post with some tips on how to be less stressed, but try to take deep breaths and just stay calm.  And most importantly, BE HAPPY! :):):) 

Thanks for reading,  Katie xoxo

Check out my latest video for more helpful tips: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E0-tHZe6rnw
 Follow me on pinterest: here. 


What do you think of these tips?  What tips do you follow to help your skin?

How To Manage Frizzy, Unmanageable, Thick Hair

For those of you who didn't know this, I happen to have extremely unmanageable, frizzy, poofy, dry and thick hair. Which can make it  quite difficult to care for at times.

I've been doing some research on what to do if you have u thick hair, and it was kinda hard to find information however, since most posts were about thin haired people trying to volumize their hair.  But even though I probably have the thickest hair of almost anyone I know, there HAVE to be some people out there who have the same problem as me (that is, at least somewhat unmanageable hair).  Well, I fortunately did find some stuff that I found to be helpful, and I hope it's helpful for you too. Enjoy!

1. Wash your hair every other day.  Over-washing just isn't good for your hair, especially for thick hair.  My hair is quite dry and poofy and it just doesn't look it's best when I wash it more than once in a row.  Give it a try and let me know if it works.

2.  Use a wide-tooth comb.  These are much better for thick hair, and are also designed to help it out.  It's also less damaging than a thinner toothed comb since each pick is farther apart.

3.  Try a leave-in conditioner.  You can purchase these from the store to put in after your shower, or you can make one on your own to leave in before you take a shower.  Mayonaisse and olive oil are both very good for that purpose.  Mayonaisse brings hair amazing shine while olive oil deeply moisturizes your hair, which is just awesome :).

4.  Avoid using heat if possible.  This one is pretty obvious, but let's admit it, we still do it.  But this is especially important for unmanageable hair because it damages even more deeply if your hair is already dry.  This includes: hot showers, heated hair appliances, etc.  Don't worry, because I'll be doing a post on easy heatless hairstyles for thick hair with video!  Stay tuned ;)

5.  Apple cider vinegar as a conditioner.  I recently started doing this, and I've noticed my hair has been A LOT smoother.  What I did was put into a spray bottle 1 part apple cider vinegar and 1 part water into the bottle.  I spritzed it all over my hair after shampooing and usually let it soak for about a minute and then just rinse.  It is literally awesome!  And I was even surprised at the fact that the smell of the apple cider vinegar did not remain in my hair after the shower.  This is my current conditioner and I'm so so so glad I tried it.

6.  Rinse hair with cold water for 20 seconds at the end of the shower.  This was another thing I tried doing.  Make it about as cold as you can manage, and count to 20.  What this does is kind of help the hair follicles (sorry, I forgot the exact science) and it helps to promote shine as well as hair growth.  It feels really good and refreshing and motivates me to get out of the shower (haha).  But yes, I have noticed my hair being way smoother, and I'm definitely going to keep doing this.

Just remember, even though thick hair is sometimes a huge pain, there are also several advantages, which I will be talking about in future blog posts ;).

Hope you enjoyed these tips!  Please leave all your thoughts below.  Also follow me on google plus, google connect and bloglovin for some hairstyle tutorials up ahead. 100 followers in any of those means you have a chance in a future giveaway.  Also please share so others can see :)

Follow me on pinterest here.


What type of hair do you have?  What do you usually do to manage your hair?

DIY Makeup Series: Bronzer!

Time for part 3 of the diy makeup series!  This is super simple because you only need four ingredients.  IMPORTANT: Be sure to test the cinnamon on your arm first to make sure you won't get an allergic reaction.  Read below to see how you can make your own diy bronzer :)

What you'll need:

Ground cinnamon
Ground nutmeg
Cornstarch
Cocoa powder
Optional: Face shimmer (powder)

So the cool part about this is that there really is no set amount for how much you should use.  Everyone's skin tone is different, so you'll have different ideas of what shade you would like.  But if your bronzer is too light, add more cocoa powder. A cool trick for a glowy type bronzer, add some more cinnamon.  And if you want a shimmery type bronzer, just add some shimmery type face thing to it.  Then just seal and place it in a container, and you are done!  Super easy, super awesome :)


Be sure to follow me on google plus, google connect, and bloglovin.  Also leave your comments below so I know what you think.

Follow me on pinterest here.

Have you tried DIY makeup before?  If so, which have you tried?

DIY Makeup Series: Translucent Powder

Today I will be continuing with my diy makeup series with my 2nd part to it.  This one is super simple because you will only need two things: 

cornstarch (any amount, it's up to you)
a makeup container of some kind

Cornstarch really does work as a translucent setting powder, and it helps control oils and keeps the makeup lasting longer.  You can place it in an old makeup container, or even just a cup that you seal and use it right from there.  Super easy, super awesome.  Hope you enjoy!

 ~Katie xoxo

Follow me on pinterest here.  Also please follow through google connect and bloglovin, the links are on the right.  Remember that when I reach my goal of 100 followers on either of those, I will do a giveaway :).  Please share this so others can see!!!


Have you done DIY makeup before?  If so, what have you done?

DIY Makeup Series: BB Cream

Super excited to be starting my first series!  A diy makeup series was the most voted for series you all wanted on the poll, and I'll be posting this series on and off over the next week (or 2).  There are so many amazing recipes I've discovered and can't wait to share them with you guys!  This bb cream is great if you already have some makeup at home and want to try making a bb cream by combining some of those products.  Also, if there's some free samples (or in my case, way too much foundation) you want to make use of this is awesome!  Hope you enjoy and please comment, follow, subscribe, etc. so I can know if this is something valuable enough for you!  (Below is a picture of the products I used for this)

What you'll need:

1/3 foundation
1/3 moisturizer
1//6 sunscreen (the kind you would put on your face)
1/6 primer
a container to put it in

So this is the ratio you should follow, but make as much or as little as you desire :)  I would suggest starting with about a teaspoon of the top 2, and 1/2 of the other ones.  Then, put it in an old makeup container or possibly a mini container, and you're done!



Have you tried diy makeup before?  If so, which ones have you done?

Beauty Tips For Fall

Today is officially the first day of fall!  It's really not too big of a difference in my schedule or anything since I've been in school for a few weeks, but it can bring a change in skincare, makeup, and things relating to beauty.  So this upcoming week, I'll be posting various articles related to this season for a mini "Back To Fall" series.  In my last post, I told you about some products I found are great for this season.  Here, I'll be sharing you some tips on how to make your transitions to suit the season.  Hope you enjoy!

1.  Use a tinted moisturizer.  Or a foundation.  But since most people already know that, I need to go in depth on this.  These are great because it contains the hydrating benefits of a moisturizer, but can also be used to even your skin tone because of the tint in it.  I'll be doing this probably most of the time, especially during school since it's a lot faster (I can just skip the whole moisturizer step) and it is easier to apply than a full foundation since you can easily just use your fingers.  You can make your own by just mixing your regular moisturizer with your favorite foundation.  

2.  Go for a berry or coral lip color.  These colors work great for fall.  Look for something that you think will go well with autumn leaves.  This isn't really the best time for pale pinks or reds.

3.  Use more bronzer or a deeper toned blush.  You can even skip the blush.  Contour is definitely something that should be more of the focus, we're no longer looking for that beachy kind of glow, we're looking for a pumpkin and cider kinda glow (um, at least I think so) ;).

4.  Moisturize more often than usual.  Every tends to get flaky and dry during the colder months, even people who are normally oily.  Thus, it is even MORE important to moisturize your skin, which is why I said tinted moisturizer is so important in my first tip.

5.  Exfoliate.  This is extremely important!  During autumn, you're going to want to get rid of those dead skin cells, and so you should try to do this at least once a week.  You can use a more gentle one like Aveeno's, or try St. I've's or Burt's Bees scrubs.  You can also make your own using lemon and sugar.


These are the basic tips I find are important.  I really hope these were helpful for you all :).  Please remember to share this so that others can find it, and also follow me on google connect, pinterest, or subscribe by email.  If I reach 50 followers on google connect, I will be doing a giveaway so don't forget to if you haven't already.  Love you all and enjoy this autumn season!

Follow me on pinterest here.


What are your best tips for fall?  What fall related posts would you like to see next?

DIY Homemade Acne Face Masks

There are many amazingly easy ways to treat your acne at home without spending a ton of money.  Making your own acne face masks is one of them.  What's amazing about them is that they are natural, simple, and can have tons of benefits for your skin.  There are so many different kinds you can try, but in this one I'm just gonna share my five favorites that I have found really work.  If you'd like me to post more acne related tips and advice, please comment below.

1. Honey, Nutmeg, and Cinnamon Face Mask.  (NOTE: Be sure to test the cinnamon on your arm before doing this to make sure you're not allergic).  The honey in this is antibacterial and can be really soothing for acne and scarring, and the nutmeg and cinnamon can help fight acne.  I'd recommend starting by mixing a small amount of each, a tablespoon of honey, and a teaspoon each of nutmeg and cinnamon.  Then just apply it to your face (you can use a brush, or just your fingers) and leave on for about 15 minutes.  Then just rinse off with lukewarm water and you're done!

2. Baking Soda Face Mask.  This is another really great one for acne, baking soda is awesome for getting rid of acne.  For this one, you just need to take whatever amount of baking soda you'd like (I'd start with 1T) and just add a small amount of water to it until it forms into a paste.  Then apply the same way as above and leave it on 10 to 15 minutes.  Gently rinse with lukewarm water.  It's also recommended to apply toner and moisturizer after, but don't wash your face, because that will just remove everything you just soaked into your skin.

3. Oatmeal Face Mask.   You'll need to cook oatmeal the way you normally would eat it, and let it cool.  Once it's cooled, take about 2 tablespoons of the oatmeal and add a tablespoon of baking soda.  If you want it to be a little more moisturizing or find it's too dry, add some honey or milk to it. This one you will want to leave on a bit longer, up to 30 minutes, then rinse off with cold water.

4. Honey and More Mask.  This one I don't actually know the name to because I saw it on youtube and it really doesn't have a name.  But you would take about a tablespoon each of honey and olive oil, and then just a small amount of milk. Something I forgot to point out earlier: raw honey is best for any face mask recipe and will give the best results, but regular honey is okay to use also if you don't have the raw.  With this one, you can leave on for about 10 minutes, then hop into a shower or hang a towel over your head with your head facing a bucket of steaming water, and then rinse off with lukewarm water.

5. Yogurt Face Mask.  Mix together 3 teaspoons of plain yogurt, 4 teaspoons of honey, 4 teaspoons of lemon juice, and one egg white.  Apply to your face, leave on for 15 minutes, then just rinse.


Hope you liked these face masks and that they work for you!  Comment any thoughts you have below, and show your love by following me through google connect (link is on the right), through google plus, and through pinterest.  I love you guys!

Follow me on pinterest here.


What face masks have you used before?  Have they worked?

8 Cool Beauty Tricks You Might Not Know About

Today is another exciting day for me in the blogging world, because today I will posting my first article about beauty on this blog!  It was difficult for me to decide exactly where to start, since there are so many different things I could write about, from skincare to foundation to mascara to lipstick and anything in between.  So I decided I would start off with just some cool beauty tricks I've learned that you may or may not have heard of.  I really love these tricks because most of them can be done with items you already have at home.  And none of them require you going out and buying something that will cost you a fortune.  Hope you enjoy!

1. Put toothpaste (regular, not the gel kind) to help reduce a pimple or blemish you have.  Probably because of its antibacterial agents and the baking soda in it.  I know it sounds weird, but I tried this and it really worked!

2. Hold a business card above or under your lashes to keep from getting the area under your eyes messy.  When used on the top, lift your eyelashes as far up as you can, towards where the business card is placed.  It really helps you get the most out of your mascara!

3. Make your own tinted moisturizer by taking some foundation (liquid or cream0 and mixing it with about the same amount of moisturizer.  No need to go paying extra for something you can easily make at home.

4.  Rinse your hair with apple cider vinegar to promote healthy and shiny hair.  It also helps get rid of scalp buildup. 

5. Take a small amount of cornstarch and apply as a finishing powder after your foundation.  It helps combat oiliness and keeps makeup lasting throughout the day.

6. Use a lipstick as your blush (just make sure it suits your face).

7. When using a highlighting color of eyeshadow on your eyes, first dip your eyeshadow brush in water (just enough so that it's damp).  Then dip the damp brush into the shadow.  It gives a very beautiful and shimmery effect.

8.  Take a regular ice cube and massage onto popping pimples such as whiteheads.  It really helps reduce the redness and eventually the whitehead can be wet enough to remove itself from the skin.


Thanks for reading,

Katie XOXO



What are some of your favorite beauty tricks? Are there any particular articles you would like me to blog about next?  Leave your comments and questions below :).  I will reply to any comment, just be kind and considerate with what you say.

Follow me on pinterest: http://pinterest.com/hollyleaf007/boards/