Homemade Natural Spot Treatment for Acne-Prone Skin: DIY Inspired by Grease Lightning but Without Parabens + Prevents Acne Scars.

If you have an acne-prone skin the chances are high someone has already recommended you to try out Grease Lightning spot treatment. Many people have been raving about it, and after trying it out I have decided to make my own homemade version of it - paraben-FREE, btw!;-)

How to Make DIY Bubble Salts Fizzy Melts (Truffles) = Bath Bombs + Bath Salts + Bath Melts + Bubble Bath in ONE Bar!

I always thought that lazy people find the most efficient and innovative ways to do routine things. And as a chronically lazy girl, who happened to love her weekly spa time, I just couldn't help coming up with a new, more innovative way to take my bubbly/ salty/ fizzy/ melty bath. From my Weekly Spa Routine post you know that I would usually use (and make!) four different products for my bath time: I would crumble my bubble bar under the running water, pour in some salts (and I'd also stir the salts into the water for a few mins:-(, and then once in the tub - I would use my bath bombs and bath melts. It's like a 4-5 step process that was definitely taking some joy (and time!) away from my "me" time:-( That's why I just HAD to come up with this DIY - my very own creation - Bubbly Fizzy Melts! As you may have guessed each such melt is a combo of four products and it only requires me to rub it under the running water so that it releases EVERYTHING into the bath tub right away - bubbles, salts, moisturizing butter and scents WITHOUT me having to stir the salts, agitate the bubbles and dissolve the melts. ALSO, I will be selling these babies in MY OWN homemade cosmetics store that I'm planning to open very soon (more on that later;-) So if you're interested in buying these melts, please email me @ MariaSself(at)gmail(dot)com and I will let you know once the melts become available in the store. 
Soo, back to my DIY;-) Here's how I make these little time-savers:

My Meeting with Obama-Appointed US Attorney in California: A Few Thoughts...

Hi, everyone! Last week I had a personal meeting with Obama appointed US Attorney here in California - Benjamin Wagner. And after that meeting one thing in particular totally got me thinking. This isn't something that we discussed during our meeting, but for some reason that is what I want to bring up here on my blog...

DIY Natural Refreshing Face Toner Mist & Pads: Homemade On-the-go Treatment for Tired, Dull or Mature Skin - Inspired by Eau Roma Water

 

This powerful water has now become a first-aid for my face. I never get much sleep at night and my skin always ends up looking and feeling super tired and dull by 11am already! So I was on the hunt for some natural on-the-go solution that would refresh, cool and sooth my tired irritated skin. I read some reviews saying that Eau Roma Water is great for on-the-go use - it cools down, refreshes, soothes your skin, making it feel super soft. It also tightens pores and can be used as both - a toner or a mist that you can spray during the day without messing up your makeup. The ingredients list is all-natural and super simple. Like seriously – SUPER simple! So I decided to go ahead and make a similar mist myself;-) Plus I also made ice pads soaked in the mist and those pads are now by far my most favorite product to use in the morning.

DIY Sinus Allergy Relief Sticks Recipe. How to Make a Natural Balm Tube for Congested and Irritated Noses (and Eyes Too!) - homemade on-the-go treatment with essential oils.

This next DIY has become a REAL life-saver for me, and those of you suffering from seasonal allergies know WHAT a miracle it is to get at least some relief from this non-stop hell of itchy eyes, irritated nose and migraine headaches. So when I came across this sinus (+under eye) balm and saw that it has only natural ingredients, I thought I'd give it a shot and try to make my own similar version at home. And honestly, I don't think I've ever home-made a product that made me feel THAT good, because it literally brings me back to life! And it couldn't be easier to make:-)

How to Make Hair Styling Gel that TREATS your hair. Easy and Quick DIY Recipe for Healthy Hair Styling.

I'm not sure how many of you guys use hair styling gels, but I'm a total freak when it comes to keeping my hair under control in a bun on a daily basis. Honestly, I can't even have it in a pony tail - it needs to be all put together in a tight bun without anything sticking out. Otherwise, I can't focus and do anything productive AT ALL. Crazy right?;-) Well, styling gels are super damaging for your hair, so I'd always use aloe vera gel instead.While aloe vera gel is definitely healthier, it's not strong enough to hold my hair for a long time. So when I learned from One Good Thing by Jillee that gelatin is actually super good for your hair, I couldn't help thanking God for helping me out with yet another freak of mine!;-) Here's a simple hair gel recipe I came up with that not only gives you harmless styling, but can also help with weak, damaged, dry hair, as well as with dandruff, hair loss and slow hair growth. Yes, please!!!!

How to Make Super Effective Mask for Break-Out Times. Similar to Cosmetic Warrior but MUCH Cheaper. Easy and Quick DIY Recipe.

 

I have quite an acne-prone skin. I feel like I'm now paying back for my break-out free teenage years;-)) I found that Cosmetic Warrior Mask does help with my troubled times, yet it's only sold in stores and I can't drive 15 minutes to the closest one every week to get my fresh mask. Especially since it's super easy and 16 times cheaper to make one at home;-) I simply make enough for about 14 uses and then portion and freeze it in an ice cube tray for "emergency" times. Here's how I make it...

My Life in Pictures: ☀California Dreamin'☀

DIY Natural Self Tanner with a Healthy Sun Protection - Homemade Sunless Tanning With Chocolate (Yum!) + three more DIY fake tan bronzer recipes

 Tanning is a REALLY painful subject for me - my skin is super pale and not only is it extremely hard to tan, it's also very sensitive to sun. The only way I can get at least a bit of beautiful (not burnt red) color is by tanning 15 minutes a day before 11am or after 4pm four times a week for at least two months... Which is not an option for me due to my already busy schedule. Yet self tanning lotions filled with unpronounceable chemicals were not an option either. That's why I had to do some research for a natural self tan alternatives and found the following four options:

DIY Anti-Cellulite Latte Serum Recipe (Lotion with Coffee & Coconut Oil) + Homemade Sugar Coffee Bar Scrubs

 

It's yet again that time of the year, ladies, when our cellulite anxiety starts to kick in;-) And while it's obvious that the main tools to use in anyone's anti-cellulite fight are healthy nutrition, plenty of water and exercising, I thought I'd share with you some extra "tricks" that help me A LOT - and that is homemade coffee anti-cellulite serum and sugar coffee scrubs...

"Autism Grows Up" with Producer Joe Barr

On Monday I talked to Joe Barr about the documentary Autism Grows Up created by Capital Public Radio - NPR-member here in California. Joe is one of the producers of the project and what he told me totally got me thinking...

Dollar Store DIY Craft: Homemade Natural Aromatherapy Ideas with Products from Dollar Tree

 

 

Hi, everyone! I have yet another Dollar Store post for you (OMG, why does that frugal place inspire so much creativity in me?;-) Anyway, I thought I'd share some of the natural aromatherapy ideas I came up with for my home and car recently - all with mostly Dollar Tree products, plus SUPER easy and quick to implement;-)