Dr. Bronner's Pure Castile Liquid Soap - So. Many. Uses.

I'm kicking myself for not buying this sooner! Following a recent trip to the dermatologist, I decided to take a closer look at my routines and try and reduce or eliminate the use of harsh preservatives and unnecessary ingredients. I have really sensitive skin and I've found it to be less harsh than soaps labeled as for sensitive skin. My derm helped me see that a lot of my sensitivity comes from two particular preservative ingredients- Iodopropynyl Butylcarbamate and propylene glycol, so I think I picked this up to try since it didn't have either.

Needless to say, I'm really surprised at how well its worked for me and my sensitive skin. They also have a milder version for babies which has a higher amount of olive oil and no essential oil fragrance.

With any new product though, results vary for everyone and this shouldn't automatically be excluded for us sensitive skinned folk =)

I've been incorporating tea tree oil into my routines and using it to take care of a spot of ringworm on my leg, so I decided to snag a bottle of the Dr. Bronner's Tea Hemp Tree Oil liquid soap from the market. I figure that it could be added to my bath for its cleansing and healing properties. Since I found it to work really well for me, I also bought it in lavender. After a hot bath and before lotion, my skin doesn't feel as dried out or itchy.

Face wash-- a couple of drops in my hand, then washing my face. I can definitely feel a tingle, but not a burn. Since starting my most recent skincare routine, I haven't had many instances of acne, but am confident that the tea tree oil will help keep it at bay.

Shampoo-- a small handful (maybe a tablespoon or so?) into my hair creates a ton of lather and leaves my hair squeaky clean. I think maybe too squeaky clean, so I don't leave it in for long and am sure to use conditioner afterwards. I think it would be great for use as a clarifying shampoo, but I've used it for the last week or so and haven't seen any ill effects.

Body wash-- I probably use the same amount for my body as I do my hair. It is thinner than regular body washes/shampoos, so you have to move fast =) I'm sure using it in a pouf or sponge would work also.

Some other uses I'll be trying here in the near future are going to be:

Homemade baby wipes

Dog wash

Hand soap

Dishwashing liquid

It can also be used as laundry detergent, but I'm not about to use up that much in one shot. It says to use about 1/3 to 1/2 cup per load.

Ingredients-- Water, Organic Coconut Oil, Potassium Hydroxide, Organic Olive Oil, Tea Tree Extract, Organic fairDeal Hemp Oil, Organic Jojoba Oil, Citric Acid, Tocopherol * CERTIFIED FAIR TRADE INGREDIENT ** None remains after saponifying oils into soap and glycerin

Pure Castile Soap Ingredients

You can get it here.

Maxi-Peel Skin Exfoliant

I stopped in my local Asian grocery (88 Ranch Marketplace) to stock up on yummy Asian fruits, veggies and general stuff you can't find at regular grocery stores. They didn't have a dedicated cosmetic/skincare aisle, but at the checkout, I spotted some papaya whitening soap and bottles of Maxi Peel Exfoliant 1 & 2.

Upon further investigation, I saw that the ingredients included tretinoin and hydroquinone. It was only $5.99 so I picked up a bottle of #2 strength to try out.

I got home and Googled the product and saw that it is highly touted in the Philippines and saw some great b&a shots from people who used it. It is thin like an astringent and to apply it, you swipe it with a cotton pad or spot treat with a qtip. I was concerned because mine was a dark brown color which probably means it had been exposed to the air and is oxidized. Would that affect its effectiveness? We shall see. It also comes in 4 strengths. The grocery only had 1 & 2.

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Day 1: Swiped it all over my face in lieu of Stridex at night. Avoided my lips, eyes and nose creases.

It didn't sting or burn or anything like that and when I woke up the next morning, there was no peeling. Being that it has tretinoin, I fully expected it to peel overnight.

Day 2: Swiped in the AM and PM. Felt a slight sensation at night... It must be working. It wasn't a burning sensation... Kinda hard to say. Tingly maybe?

Woke up the next morning with light peeling on my chin. It's working!

I'm indoors at home all day, so I slathered on a layer of thick moisturizer over my sunscreen. By the end of the day, the peelies were coming back. Time for more thick moisturizer and also some almond oil.

Day 3: This is where the trial ends for now because I didn't want to have an awkward peeling mess for my trip this weekend. The peeling subsided and I moisturized and oil cleansed all day to get rid of the last bit of flakies.

I know hydroquinone is known as a no-no product, but my mom has used it for ages with no ill effects and for me, it also doesn't provide any negative effects. Your mileage may vary.

This is DEFINITELY a product you should spot test before normal use. 

Oxy Wipes - Benzoyl Peroxide Skin Exfoliant

Benzoyl Peroxide as an exfoliant is a very welcome addition to my skincare regimen, and I finally found a BP product that isn't a cream or a gel in a tube. For some reason, it is much easier for me to stick to a skincare routine when wipes are involved. What can I say? I'm pretty lazy.

I saw these puppies on sale at Walgreens and had to grab a couple of packs to try.

Over all, I really like them. They're slightly drying to my skin, so I don't use them every day. With regular use (about every 3-4 days), my skin is extra smooth and it has kept my pimples away. The wipes have a smooth side and a rougher side. I don't feel like these are meant for scrubbing, but rather just swiping over problem areas. One of the first times I used them, the edges of my nostrils got really raw overnight and started peeling. I'd say to avoid that area if you can.

Definitely give these a try once you are ready to introduce another product to your skincare routine! I'm glad I did.

You can get them from Amazon here.

Stridex in the Red Box

Stridex in the red box has single handedly improved the quality of my skin and it kind of irritates me that I've spent so much time and money searching for products that will take care of my pimples.

Other than the occasional hormonal breakout, I didn't have many skin problems in my teens. After I turned 20, my skin decided it wanted to always have a few pimples all the time. It was also around that time that I worked at Nordstrom and spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars on fancy skin products. The more expensive, the better.... right? Wrong.

Enter Stridex pads.

After I wash my face, the first thing I do is swipe all over with a Stridex pad and let it dry for a few minutes before moisturizing. The Stridex pads are pretty big considering the size of the area you need to use it on, so some people cut them in half. I swipe my ingrown hair prone areas AKA underarms and bikini line to help exfoliate those areas and prevent ingrown hairs. Double duty for Stridex! Yay!

Well, after about a week or so of using the Stridex once a week my skin was noticeable smoother and the pimples were gone. Also gone were blocked pores and blackheads that I used to pick at which inevitably turned into pimples after picking.

Seriously, that's it? Yep.

After swiping, make sure to moisturize your skin really well as the Stridex may be drying to your skin.

Some additional words about Stridex/BHA exfoliation:

They contain 2% salicylic acid.

You should exfoliate in the evening since it can make your skin more sensitive to UV rays and more prone to sunburn.

On that note, always wear sunscreen!

Use Stridex between cleansing and moisturizing.

Give it a few minutes to work before applying your moisturizer.

You don't need to rinse your face after using Stridex.

Some people cut the pads in half because that is plenty big to cover your whole face.

From ze box:

Indications

For the treatment and management of acne

Reduces the number of acne pimples and blackheads and allows the skin to heal

Helps prevent new acne pimples from forming

Ingredients

Active Ingredient: Salicylic acid 2.0% (w/w) (acne medication). Inactive Ingredients: Ammonium lauryl sulfate, ammonium xylenesulfonate, citric acid, DMDM hydantoin, fragrance, menthol, PPG-5-ceteth-20, purified water, simethicone, sodium borate, tetrasodium EDTA.

Directions

Cleanse skin thoroughly before applying medication.Use the pad to wipe the entire affected area one to three times daily.Because excessive drying of the skin may occur, start with one application daily, then gradually increase to two or three times daily if needed or as directed by a doctor.If bothersome dryness or peeling occurs, reduce application to once a day or every other day.Do not leave pad on skin for an extended period of time.Keep away from eyes, lips and other mucous membranes.

As always, YMMV and this may not work for you as it does for me, but with the low cost you might as well give it a shot!!

Coconut Oil and Pink Salt Hand Scrub

Using a combination of coconut oil and pink Himalayan salt as a DIY scrub makes my hands soft and smooth better than any store bought product I've tried. I'm a huge fan of coconut everything and really love the smell of it. I suppose you could substitute olive oil for the coconut oil and regular old table salt instead of the pink stuff, but that isn't very fun. Use whatever works for you though! My current hand/nail routine incorporates this DIY skin softening method about once every week or so.

Directions:

Do this over the kitchen sink... it can get messy.

Scoop about a tablespoon each of coconut oil and pink salt into your hands. Your body heat will melt the coconut oil as its melting point is about 76 degrees Fahrenheit. 

Pretend like your hands are extra super dirty and scrub scrub scrub them together. 

Pay close attention to your cuticles. This is my favorite way to make sure they're properly hydrated and pushed back. I've been told it isn't a good idea to clip your cuticles, but rather push them back instead. 

Rinse with warm water then hold the back of your hand up to your cheek and feel how soft it is!! Use soap if you are planning on polishing your nails afterwards. Otherwise the residual oil will help to keep your paws moisturized. 

What I use:

Trader Joe's Organic Virgin Coconut Oil

Cost Plus World Market Pink Himalayan Salt