• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Ducks 'n a Row

  • Home
  • About
  • Affiliate Links
  • Topics
    • Babies & Toddlers
    • blogging
    • cleaning
    • crafts
    • dogs
    • Entertaining
    • Health & Nutrition
    • Kids
    • Link Parties
    • organizing
    • preschool
    • Recipes
    • tips
  • Cookie Policy

beauty

Enriching Your Skin Without Going Broke

November 2, 2020 Leave a Comment

Skincare tips for moms! With families on tight budgets and you moms busy taking care of everyone else, keeping your skin healthy is sometimes seen as a luxury you can’t afford. But there are ways and we are going to find out just what they are!

Skincare tips for moms #beauty #tips

But there is another way to look at it.

Mom is the glue that keeps the family together. Most often, her needs are put after everyone else’s. But moms deserve to look and feel their best, don’t they?

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

One of the quickest and most effective ways to feel your best is to improve skin health.

Think about it. Your skin is the largest organ of your body, so it only makes sense that when it feels good, most of you feels good. And, your skin is what you present foremost to the world. When others notice that it looks good, you feel good. “You’re glowing!” or “Your skin is so soft!” is really nice to hear.

Skincare Tips For Moms

So, let’s take a look at some of the natural, organic, and affordable ways you can enrich your skin without making life difficult on your kin.

Hydrate

According to the University of Wisconsin-Madison’ School of Medicine and Public Health, water is critical to skin health.

“The fact is that skin is an organ, and just like any other part of the body, your skin is made up of cells. And skin cells, like any other cell in the body, are made up of water. Without water, the organs will certainly not function properly or at their best,” an article in the school’s UW Health journal states. “If your skin is not getting the sufficient amount of water, the lack of hydration will present itself by turning your skin dry, tight and flaky. Dry skin has less resilience and is more prone to wrinkling.”

What doesn’t require a study is that drinking water is also pretty darn cheap. Even if you aren’t a tap water connoisseur, bottled water isn’t very expensive when compared to something like a Starbucks coffee. Right? It’s important to remember, though, that tap water and even “purified” bottled water are not optimal sources of H2O. Instead, nutritionists are much higher on natural spring water, glacier water, and mineral water.

“Look at the label and if it says ‘purified’ or ‘distilled’, leave it on the shelf,” said Martin Riese in an episode of Down to Earth, a Netflix documentary that takes a look at solutions for common problems, like water issues.
“Water needs minerals. When you drink ‘pure’ water, the water will look for minerals in your body. You will actually lose minerals in your body by drinking water,” explained Riese, a wine sommelier in Los Angeles. (Yes, that’s a thing.)

In other words, too much water (at least purified or tap water) can be bad for you.

Something the University of Wisconsin-Madison also points out is that your other organs will absorb water first, your skin will absorb it last. To help offset this natural order of things, researchers there suggest using a hydrating moisturizer regularly, especially on days when you weren’t able to drink enough.

Moms are busy. Moms are the glue that holds the family together. Moms, take care of yourself. Here are some skincare tips you will love! #skincare #beauty #tips Click To Tweet

 

Differin cleanser for acne #ad

Exfoliate

Dry skin is old skin. So, many of us like to remove those skin cells by scrubbing them away. Who doesn’t love a good loofah?

It’s also easy to find products that call themselves exfoliates. But unfortunately, the market is flooded with skin products loaded with unhealthy chemicals that can cost a fortune. Skin care manufacturers are forced to add artificial flavors, dyes, chemicals, and preservatives to prolong shelf life of their products. And that means many of those products will cause irritation, inflammation, and allergic reactions for some users.

Thankfully, the negative effects of additives and preservative chemicals in store-bought scrubs can all be avoided. Take some time to learn about lesser-known DIY scrub recipes with the ingredients you often already have in your pantry or fridge. Strawberries, bananas, and cucumbers are common staples in these recipes. Oils like coconut, jojoba, and almond are also common ingredients that work as emulsifiers and moisturizers. And then there’s ingredients like basil, mint, sea salt and brown sugar that work as exfoliants and antibacterial agents.

Elevate

Stress is nasty on the body, inside and out. It can lead to stroke and heart disease on the inside and it can lead to acne on the outside. That’s because your body, when under stress, produces a hormone called cortisol. It’s job is to make your glands produce oil. And oily skin is a precursor to acne and other skin conditions.

If prescription medicine from a psychiatrist isn’t your thing, or if you can’t afford regular therapy sessions at $150 a pop, or if yoga classes are too costly in your area, then consider doing some meditation. If your budget is really tight, you don’t even have to buy a meditation CD. Instead log onto YouTube and search for “meditation music.” Also consider a Google search for something like “Buddhist temples near me” and see if they have free classes for members of the community. These are typically a little more stringent in their execution of postures, but some folks need that to more effectively “let go.”

Covergirl Olay Simply Ageless Foundation Cream Makeup #ad

Something you ate?

If you had pimples as a teenager, chances are you heard a dermatologist say chocolate and potato chips doesn’t cause acne. They were right. Systemic acne is not caused by food, it’s caused by hormonal changes in the body. But pimples and acne are not one in the same. Oily foods do in fact produce more oil on the skin, which can lead to pimples and blackheads. So think about alternatives like a small chunk of dark chocolate rather than a whole milk chocolate bar. Or, choose baked chips or even popcorn before hitting the Doritos or Ruffles.

Know that there are healthy foods and ingredients that can trigger allergic reactions and conditions like eczema in some people. If you are getting strange skin reactions, especially if you are a healthy eater, look at your foods for an ingredient called balsam of Peru. It is used for its aromatic and anti-evaporation properties but also for its mild antiseptic, antifungal and anti-parasitic qualities. It’s most commonly used in perfumes and toiletries, food and beverage flavoring, and some medicines.

Also, make sure your food doesn’t contain nickel, especially if you have allergic reactions to jewelry. Examples of common, healthy foods that can have high levels of nickel include grains, beans, lentils, and peas.

So, do you have any DIY skincare that work well for you?  We’d love to hear about. Tell us in the comments!

Enjoy!

Filed Under: health Tagged With: beauty, momlife, skincare

How To Make A Pretty Makeup Bag Without A Zipper

May 8, 2020 Leave a Comment

Need a new makeup bag? Make a pretty makeup bag without a zipper. It is the easiest and so much fun to do you may just want more than one!  I purchased this double-sided quilted fabric to do mine. Elegant, huh?  I love it!

How to make a makeup bag or clutch purse #sewing #DIY

This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

How To Make A Makeup Bag or Clutch Purse From Quilted Fabric

 
Supplies
Quilted fabric – double sided
Straight pins
Scissors
Thread
Sewing needle
Button
Sewing machine
How to make your own fabric makeup bag or clutch purse #sewing

1. Make a pattern. I used copier paper and taped it together – one sheet wasn’t quite big enough. This purse pattern is 11″ X 14 1/2″.

2. Place the pattern on the quilted fabric using weights to hold it still. If you do not own garment weights, use salt shakers or other objects to hold it in place. Note: be sure that you have positioned it so that the pattern will be square. You don’t want it to come out crooked unless that is the look you are aiming for.

Cut the fabric along the outside of your paper pattern.

3. Double-fold the edges of the fabric. Note: the side you are turning it in toward will be the lining of your purse. By double-folding it no rough edges will be exposed.

4. Pin the edges.

5 / 6 Sew all of the edges using your sewing machine.

7. Now fold the 14 1/2″ side of the fabric up 2/3 of the way to form the bottom of the purse. Pin and sew the sides on the outside of the fabric (no need to make a seam as the edges are already finished.)

8. Pin the location where you want to put a button hole. The pins will be a guide to keep your stitching straight. Sew the button hole – using a satin stitch on your sewing machine – and then cut the center open.

9. Hand sew the button on. Done!
This blog contains affiliate links. ♥

Elegant DIY makeup bag made from black and gold quilted fabric #sewing #crafts
Wish you had a pretty makeup bag to keep your cosmetics in? They are so easy to make! #DIY #crafts #sewing #cosmetics #accessories Click To Tweet

 Enjoy!

 

 

 

Oil of Olay creams for moms #antiaging

Filed Under: crafts, Lifestyle Tagged With: accessories, beauty, storage

Wojo's Theory of Beautivity

February 23, 2014 Leave a Comment

theory of beauty


Wondering what I mean? Well, liken it to Einstein’s Theory of Relativity – no less important, just on a beauty scale.

My friend and fitness instructor, whom is affectionately known as “Wojo,” comes up with some classic lines. For that I am grateful, because it distracts me from the searing pain in my thighs after umpteen squats and lunges.
Today’s gem from Wojo: “I have a theory,” she said with a chuckle (unable to humor her with a response as I am purple with exertion and would surely puke if I tried to speak), she continued, “that the amount of time it takes a woman to get presentable in the morning, in minutes, is equal to her age, in years”.

Oh, sweet Jesus. She is right! Why no one has ever realized this before is beyond me. 
When I was 10, I’d brush my teeth (maybe), get dressed and off I’d go.
At 20, I’d fluff my hair with my hands, swipe on some lip-gloss and ponder which of my many cute outfits to wear, any of which would look fab.
At 30, I had to take into consideration my purpose for getting ready. Was it for work? Then I needed to dress the part. My hair needed to be coiffed just right; my skirt not too short; my shoes needed to say ‘confident’ and yet be comfortable.
At 40, fresh out of my ‘good divorce’, getting ready was now an algebraic equation. The desired outcome was to look beautiful (of course) but add in the consideration that I didn’t want to look half my age, divided by the fact that most women my age dressed half theirs. Majority of the time I ended up with a factor of ‘oh, f*&k it.’

Now, some umpteen years later, I don’t even recognize myself in the morning. Even if I’m going sans makeup, it takes many more than a few minutes to get me looking remotely human. I need a mini-facial to iron out the sheet creases and under-eye bags. As for my hair? The style du jour depends on which is worse, the state of my roots or the extent of my bed head. The only pair of workout pants that I feel remotely sassy in, is likely to be in the wash or missing in action. I still need time for coffee; else I will conk out halfway through class AND get a caffeine headache. I’m exhausted before I even leave the house.

The good news is, working out always leaves me with more energy, a pink glow to my skin and a sparkle in my eye. The better news is, the older I get, the less concerned I am about how I look, or how long it took to get there.

And the best news yet?
Whether I subscribe to Wojo’s theory on a given day or not, my inner self needs less and less maintenance as the years go by. This “happiness quotient” takes up the slack I may need on a day that I am too rushed for my required 47 minutes of prep time. That and some cool shades can hide a world of uglies.

If you’ve got the time for Wojo’s theory, then by all means, take it. However, at the end of the day, remember that happy and healthy always look good, and miserable just looks… well… miserable.

Dr. Tania was formally educated as a chiropractor before she founded her practice in Annapolis, Maryland where she specialized in perinatal and pediatric chiropractic for over twenty years. Her mission now is to take her knowledge to the masses, teaching one-to-many with her blog, hoping to deliver health, wellness, and lifestyle advice in a ‘get real’ kind of way. For daily updates, follow along at Facebook.com/askdrtania.

Filed Under: Uncategorized Tagged With: beauty, Wojo's theory

Primary Sidebar

Follow Us!

  • Bloglovin
  • Facebook
  • Google+
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter



Subscribe By Email – it’s FREE!