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Unique Topical Uses of Olive Oil

by admin | Oct 28, 2021 | Asheville, Beauty, DIY, Women

Olive oil is a staple in cooking and in many dishes and marinades. And for good reason! In recent years, more and more research has demonstrated the health benefits of olive oil. But what about using it in ways that don’t involve cooking and eating? Here are 7 unique — but very effective — ways to use olive oil on your body.

As a moisturizer. Whether you’re prone to dry skin year round or the weather has you reaching for an extra-strength moisturizer, olive oil can help. Just a small amount on your dry areas (and even in your nail beds!) will act as a deep moisturizer.

To reduce frizziness and split ends. We’ve all had those days: you’re put together in every other way, but the weather or a busy schedule rendered your hair a little (or a lot) frizzier than you’d like. A little olive oil over your ends and throughout your hair will help de-frizz and give it a healthy gloss.

As chapstick. To make a soothing lip balm, simply mix olive oil with a little sugar. Olive oil is hydrating — and it might not taste like the artificial candy chapsticks you can buy in stores, but it doesn’t taste bad, either!

As a shaving cream substitute. Not only does olive oil double as a chemical-free shaving cream, it will also moisturize your skin and allow for a close, precise shave.

As a makeup remover. Out of makeup remover? No problem. Use a cotton pad dipped in olive oil to remove your eye and face makeup.

To remove chewing gum or paint from hair. Don’t chop off your beautiful locks just yet! If you got something like chewing gum or paint in your hair, massage the area with olive oil, wait a few minutes, and then gently remove the substance.

As a face or hair mask. Goodbye, expensive treatments! You can easily make face or hair masks at home, using olive oil and other ingredients you probably already have on hand! Not only are these easy on the wallet, they’re also hydrating and cleansing, without all the weird ingredients you can’t pronounce.

How To Avoid Common Interior Design Mistakes In Your Home

by admin | May 4, 2021 | Asheville, DIY, Interior Decorating, Real Estate, Women

By Julie Rorie

Between selecting furniture, experimenting with paint samples or hanging art, there are hundreds of small decisions that go into styling the perfect space. Even the slightest error in judgement can have a detrimental effect on a room. Use these insider tips to prevent a design faux pas in your home.

Buy Furniture that Varies in Height

Scale and proportion are the holy grail of design. If all of your furniture is the same size, your room will feel uninviting, and uninteresting.

Think of your room as a cityscape and fill it with a combination of heights, widths, and depths. Rooms need a stimulating mix of scale and shapes to make them feel right.

Choose the Right Rug

Rugs can completely transform a room and create a focal point of interest, but it can be hard to judge the correct size for your home. A rug should ground the space and encompass all seating around it. An appropriately sized rug tells everyone “this is the conversation area”.

Living rooms almost always need a rug that’s at least 8×10 ft. to 9×12 ft.

A 4×6 ft. rug is fine next to a bed, or in a kitchen/foyer, but will most likely not work in a living room. Area rugs should ideally be big enough to fit at least the front legs
of all chairs/sofas on them.

Be Careful Not to Hang Art Too High

Finding the perfect piece of art for your home is only half the challenge. The mistake happens when art is hung too high or in an inappropriate spot.

Hang art so that the center is at eye-level. If the art is to hang above a piece of furniture, hang it so that the bottom of the frame hits 3-4 inches above it.

Layer your Lighting

Lighting decisions might seem like a practical part of the design process, but it’s an aspect people
often misjudge. Lighting is incredibly important to any space. When lighting is washed over you from above, it can be unflattering and harsh. The best spaces have a plethora of light sources to create various ambiances.

Have lights on dimmers and from multiple sources at different heights, such as floor lamps and table lamps. Always choose soft white bulbs as harsh fluorescent or white lights make a space feel stark and uninviting. Warm lighting not only sets the mood, but also makes a room feel intimate and inviting.

Try Placing Furniture Off the Wall

People often fall into the simple styling trap of this linear arrangement which is not cozy or inviting and can discourage conversation. In the end, it doesn’t save or create more space.

Try conversational furniture placement, which focuses on grouping accents. Pull pieces toward one another and off the walls to create more intimate, useful seating. If you’re unsure, play with different groupings. The most common layout is facing a sofa opposite two arm chairs with a coffee table in the middle.

Julie Rorie
Interior Decorator, Closet Organizer

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Homemade Face Mask Recipes

by admin | Jan 5, 2021 | Asheville, Beauty, DIY, Facials

Store-bought facial masks and one-time-use sheet masks are enjoyable for an at-home spa treatment, but they’re expensive with regular use. You can make your own therapeutic face mask with ingredients in your kitchen. Commercial face masks often contain synthetic ingredients and they’re shipped with lots of packaging materials. Making your own face masks is an eco-friendly way to treat yourself without exposing your skin to potential harm.

What’s a Face Mask?

Face masks use plant extracts and other beneficial ingredients to help repair and condition your skin. To make your own face mask, you simply combine the food ingredients in a food processor or blender, or mix them manually with a utensil. Apply the paste to your face immediately and rinse it off after 15 to 20 minutes.

Face masks can help with a range of skin problems, and you can select the ingredients in your face mask according to your skin’s needs. Here are three face mask recipes for all skin types:

Lavender Avocado Face Mask to Hydrate Dry Skin

1 teaspoon organic honey

1 teaspoon virgin coconut oil

1/4 ripe avocado

5 drops lavender essential oil

Note: Some essential oils can irritate the skin.

The coconut oil and avocado in this recipe provide essential fatty acids that moisturize and nourish your skin. Organic honey is a natural humectant, which means it helps lock in moisture in the skin, making it softer and more plump [1]. Lavender essential oil has moisturizing and soothing properties. It’s also antimicrobial and it fights hyperpigmentation in the skin to diminish blemishes, acne scars, age spots and sun spots. Plus, you get the relaxing effects of aromatherapy!

Turmeric Yogurt Face Mask for Glowing Skin

1 tablespoon natural, plain yogurt

1 tablespoon organic honey

1 tablespoon of turmeric powder

The lactic acid in yogurt acts as a natural exfoliant, clearing away the outermost layer of skin cells to uncover younger, healthier skin [2]. Honey moisturizes, nourishes with antioxidants and has a microbicidal effect [1]. Turmeric has been shown in studies to treat numerous skin conditions through its antimicrobial and anti-inflammatory properties. By reducing hyperpigmentation it helps smooth out your skin tone and give you a healthy glow [3].

Papaya Egg Face Mask to Exfoliate and Cleanse

1/2 cup mashed papaya

1 whipped egg white

1 teaspoon organic honey

Papaya is chock full of natural enzymes that clear away dead skin cells. This luscious tropical fruit is also a source of antioxidants. In fact, papaya is shown in lab research to protect human skin against sun damage and oxidative stress [5].

Egg whites have natural astringent properties, which help clear away impurities, tighten skin and shrink large pores. There’s also a bactericidal enzyme in egg whites called lysozyme that can help acne clear up faster [6].

Homemade Face Mask Tips

Apply the face mask immediately after combining the ingredients. Use either your fingers, a paint brush or a cotton ball to spread the mixture evenly on your face, avoiding the eye area. Sit back and relax while wearing a homemade facemask, to minimize the mess and maximize the absorption into your skin.

Food is one of the safest ingredients to put on your skin. Essential oils, on the other hand, are highly concentrated. Lavender is considered safe for topical use and has low toxicity [4]. However, some essential oils can irritate skin, so it’s important to select carefully.

References:

1. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24305429/

2. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6017965/

3. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27213821/

4. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5878871/

5. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3984819/

6. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25285490/

Makeup Foundation Alternatives

by admin | Jul 2, 2020 | Asheville, Beauty, DIY, Facials, Women

Base makeup and foundation can feel dense and heavy when worn in the hot summer months. When the temperatures rise, it’s nice to have alternatives to foundation that will keep skin looking clear and translucent without appearing too overdone. Why not skip the base makeup this summer and give some of these alternatives to foundation a try?

Tinted moisturizers

Tinted moisturizers are a convenient way to add sheer color to the face without the hassles of applying foundation. The added tint gives the skin a healthy slow, while the moisturizer keeps it soft and dewy. When you wear a tinted moisturizer, you won’t need to wear cheek color during the day, although you may want to apply a little blush over the tinted moisturizer for evening wear. Most cosmetic lines offer tinted moisturizers, but it’s easy to make your own. Simply mix a small amount of liquid foundation with your regular moisturizer. For an even sheerer look, use mineral makeup to make your tinted moisturizer instead of liquid foundation.

Mineral face powder

Skip the foundation entirely and apply a layer of mineral face powder to keep your face looking sheer and natural while minimizing fine lines and imperfections. Mineral powders look and feel very light almost like you’re wearing no makeup, but will give your skin a flawless, translucent look. They also absorb oil to reduce facial shininess, a common problem in warm weather. Mineral face powder can be found at most cosmetic counters and drugstores at a reasonable price. Carry one with you to keep your skin looking flawless while you’re on the go.

Self-tanner

Some women spend hours in the sun baking their skin to a golden brown to avoid wearing makeup. A safer alternative is to use a self-tanner formulated specifically for the face. There are a variety of self-tanners on the market that will give the face a realistic, sun kissed glow without damaging the skin. The advantage to using this foundation alternative is that you only have to re-apply it every few days to keep the color and, if applied carefully, you can get a very realistic color, like you’ve made a trip to the beach.

Go natural

Why not give your skin a break and go natural this summer? If you don’t feel comfortable without any makeup, add a little lip gloss and mascara and leave it at that. There’s something refreshing about a freshly scrubbed face that’s not weighed down with makeup. Whatever you do, apply your makeup with a lighter touch in the summer. It feels good to give your skin a chance to breathe.

DIY Decadence

by admin | Aug 30, 2019 | Asheville, DIY, Facials

Who can resist the lure of a creamy, decadent face mask? Just the thought of spreading that cool concoction on our abused skin brings a feeling of peace and relaxation. Too often, however, we find ourselves sliding the jar back onto the shelf in disappointment as our dreams of pampering are dashed to pieces.

It does not have to be this way! DIY face masks are super easy to make in the comfort of your own home for a fraction of the cost of ready-made creams. As a bonus, the natural ingredients leave skin feeling refreshed and have many of the same benefits as chemical-based compounds.

Strawberry Almond Yogurt

This facial treatment will have you sighing in pleasure at the delicious scent and feel of exfoliation and creaminess combined into one. According to Organic Facts, this formulation contains salicylic acid, ellagic acid, alpha hydroxy acid, antioxidants, vitamins C, E, and K, and can help to protect the skin from UV rays, which is very important for sensitive facial skin.

Mix three tablespoons of ground almonds, two tablespoons of yogurt, and some mashed strawberries together into a paste. After applying, rinse with cool water.

Avocado Banana Papaya

The smell of this luscious mask will transport you to the beaches of a tropical destination. This formulation packs a punch, containing key components to nourish skin, such as vitamins A, B1, B2, B3, C, and K, plus antioxidants. It helps to manage acne and contains anti-aging and anti-inflammatory properties.

Mash one banana, one avocado, and one-half papaya together into a paste. Spread on the skin, leaving for fifteen minutes before gently rinsing.

Peach Olive Oil

The thought of ripe, juicy peaches brings to mind the joys of warm summer days. This fruit is perfect for a do-it-yourself face mask, as the vast amount of vitamin C it contains not only helps the skin maintain a healthy glow, but also guards against infections and harmful UV rays.

Olive oil is a veritable powerhouse of skin nourishment all on its own. It provides excellent anti-aging benefits, with the potential to remove age spots and wrinkles, and is an effective moisturizer. Antibacterial in nature, the use of olive oil in a face mask is able to boost the immune system.

For this recipe, simply peel and mash one peach and add one teaspoon of olive oil into the puree. Mix well and apply to the face. After ten minutes have passed, rinse off with warm water.

As an added note, essential oils can be added to any DIY face mask recipe containing olive oil, or another type of carrier oil, for additional benefits. Lemon, lavender, frankincense, rose, tea tree, ylang ylang, and lemongrass are popular choices.