Kickin Oil Slick Skin to the Curb! Amazing Bentonite Clay

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

June is right around the corner and that means hot humid weather. If you have combo skin like me, this also means annoying oily skin and a shiny forehead..lol. As much as I LoVe summer, I hate dealing with my oily t-zone. Not to fret a powerhouse of nature can help not only clear out pores and remove oil and debris...but also tighten the skin and reduce the size of pores...thus reducing those nasty forehead oil slicks. Its the power of the pulse also known as Aztec Bentonite Green Clay here to save the day.
*Bonus* this quick summer facial only takes 10 mins of your day to see great results, you could do this once a week or bi-weekly.
All you need:

(l-r) Coconut Vinegar or Apple Cider Vinegar, Vitamin E, Aztec Healing Clay and a mixing bowl & teaspoonI prefer to use Coconut Vinegar in my facial mixtures and ACV in my hair mixtures, due to the acidity levels. Coconut Vinegar is slightly less acidic but not by much. 

  Take 3 teaspoons of Aztec Clay add it to the mixing bowl...

  Add 6-8 drops of Vitamin E and stir together.

  Then slowly add vinegar while stirring. Adding just enough so that the mixture is smooth but not runny. 

Stir until its a evenly smooth consistency and not too runny or thick.

As shown on the video clip it should glide on the face and adhere. This not only minimizes any mess, but also insures your skin is getting all the benefits from the clay mixture. Also make sure its evenly spread and not too thick in any area on your face. If its too think it will be difficult to rinse off later. 

Now that you have it applied get ready to feel the pulse:0)....Don't be alarmed this is the clay doing its magic; detoxing the skin and tightening those enlarged pores.

I applied it over my entire face. But it could also just be applied to problem oily areas like the T-zone.

As the mask dries it will start to harden and crack, this is normal.  Allow it to sit for about 10 mins.

It takes about 8-10 minutes for the mask to harden and you can loosen it with a white steamy face clothe. Just tilt head back and place the hot damp towel on the face for a minute or 2. Then remove the mask with  warm water or a facial brush if you have one. I then follow up by swiping my T-zone with witch hazel and applying an oil free facial moisturizer with SPF for sun protection. When its hot and sticky out, I skip on the makeup and just allow my skin to breath and sweat.
Healthy skin never goes out of style and this simple mask is a key element in my skin care regimen:0)

The Urban Garden...Take Organic to the Next Level.

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

I love to eat fresh food especially organic fruits and veggies, but I hate the organic prices. So I decided to create a quick Urban Garden with a few of the main items to create a fresh garden salad, and spicy salsa.
The reason its called an urban garden is because its not on acres of land...its not even in a backyard...My urban garden is on my front porch:0). For those of us who live in condo's, apartments and urban settings space is of the essence and this is an great enhancement to limited space.

This project is not only easy to create, but its also easy on the wallet with lasting benefits. Total Cost including planter box, topsyturvy, plants, and fertilized soil was under $40.00!

  First have in mind what you would like for your garden to contain. Herbs, veggies, fruits, etc...you can either plant seeds or buy small plants its completely up to you. I prefer small plants with buds developing already, I like to see how the plant looks developed. This helps me properly space the plants reducing overcrowding in the planter as the plants develop and flower.  In the long wooden planter box I decided to plant:

•  gourmet lettuce
• cucumbers
• roma tomatoes
• cilantro
• banana peppers
• hot peppers

I also planted Stevia which is a natural sweetener plant in a separate clay pot and hanging in the Topsy Turvy are strawberries. 

I have never used the Topsy Turvey before so I do not know for sure how effective it will be with the strawberries yet. But I will update this blog later in the season and post updated pics of how the garden is flourishing.
 Keep in mind you do not want your garden to look unkept, it can become an eyesore and decrease property value. Here are a few gardening tips to help keep your garden not only fruitful, but also neat.

• #1 Used eye appealing planters for your garden. There are so many options as to how you can design your garden, you definitely don't have to use the planter block that I chose. Large flower pots work great as well, just be sure to arrange the plants so they grow in harmony.
• #2 Whatever planters you chose make sure there is a hole in the bottom of the pot for adequate water drainage. Over watering..or water not having a way to drain could lead to root rot of your plants
• #3 Use good soil and/or fertilizer..the quality of your dirt does matter. I personally use Miracle Grow soil and products to feed the garden. I am a busy busy on the go professional...and prefer to keep the garden as low maintenance as possible, meaning once I plant I only want to water it.lol. By using Miracle Grow all the other nutrients are in the soil...and I can just add a few drops to the water and they are healthy with minimal additional work.
• #4 Water your garden! Seems like a no brainer...but people actually do plant flowers and then don't water them until they are already falling over.lol. When you initially plant your garden water it throughly. Then water everyday for the first week if its very hot where you live. I live in Texas. If you reside in a cooler climate water every other day for the first week. This helps the plants root system to develop and grow in the dirt. Keeping it moist and soft with frequent waterings. Are the first week water once a week or as needed, again depending on your climate. Also water during the cooler times of morning or evening, not during the hottest times of the day.
• #5 Prune and harvest your garden:0)...This is the best part, but remember to actually pick your fruit so that more can grow. Also keep "bushy" plants pruned and trimmed.  
• #6 Keep the identification tag the plant came with, and use it to mark each plant in your garden. This way you always know how to properly care for each plant.
• #7 If you have plants that bear heavy fruit, such as tomatoes or peppers. Its easier on the plant to secure a stick or piece of bamboo to the plant with twist ties. This helps the plant from falling over and breaking due to the weight.

This is a Roma Tomatoe plant. I secure it to a bamboo stalk using twist ties. There are 8 small green tomatoe buds on it now:0)

Im hoping my green thumb doesn't fail me and I have great update pics to provide in a few months.

Thanks for stopping by and don't forget to subscribe!