EXFOLIATING COFFEE & ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FACE MASK DIY

Since I am already a huge fan of activated charcoal and all its detoxifying benefits, I thought I’d share one of my favorite ways to use it with you, in a face mask! Both my boyfriend (that’s right, this charcoal face mask works for men too) and I use this mask to get all the guck off our faces that build up both in our pores and on the surface of our skin throughout the week. The addition of coffee and coconut to this charcoal face mask DIY also adds a smell to the mix that awakens the sense and leaves your skin hydrated. Sounds pretty good, right?! If you are curious as to how to make this charcoal face mask DIY at home too, keep reading!

COFFEE AND ACTIVATED CHARCOAL FACE MASK BENEFITS

This all-natural face mask exfoliates, hydrates, and purifies your skin leaving it soft, smooth, and fresh. Activated Charcoal pulls impurities and toxins out of the skin while coffee grinds exfoliate dead skin cells away and coconut oil moisturizes. I recommend leaving this activated charcoal face mask DIY on for about 10-15 minutes before exfoliating and washing it off gently with warm water. For glowing skin, follow with vitamin C serums and your favorite moisturizer! ♥

* Please Note - Some links in this post may be affiliate links *

SHOPPING LIST:

Small Containers - I used 4 oz Glass Jam Jars  
2.5 oz Organic Coffee Grinds (fine) - per jars you want to end up with so (2.5 x # of jars = how much you will need)
1.5 oz Coconut Oil***- per jars you want to end up with
Activated Charcoal - I got capsuled ones and removed the charcoal from the capsules, 1-2 for each 4oz jar
 

*** If you have a problem getting the coconut oil out of the container like I did I recommend using a technique called "sous-vide".  Please note that the container has to be made of glass to do this. To do this, placing the glass jar of coconut oil in a bath of water and heat the water up slowly in order to melt the coconut oil. Use a cloth when removing the glass jar from the bath as it will be hot. Pictures included below!

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CHECK OUT THESE OTHER EASY DIY’S

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DIRECTIONS:

Wash and dry your jars fully

Place the coffee grinds in the food processor (you may have to do this in parts!) , add in your coconut oil and activated charcoal. Blend until well mixed well together.

If you did this in parts transfer food processor contents to a large bowl and repeat coffee, coconut oil, and charcoal mixture until everything is done. Mix large bowl contents together one last time with a whisk. The mask should look black and have a thick grainy consistency!

Scoop out and fill jars! 

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I hope you had as much fun making this easy charcoal face mask DIY as I did! Please let me know your comments below or if you have any special requests!!!!! I would love to hear from you ♥ ♥ ♥

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AUGUST FAVS!

Your girl is back with a new video and this time I am spilling the beans on all my August hair care and skincare favs!

I have been so fortunate to be able to try so many new products these past couple months - some of them I purchased, some of them other bloggers recommend to me, some of them brands have sent with hopes to make it into a video like this. Ready to see who made the cut?! Keep watching!!!!!

If you follow me on my social platforms you would of seen by now that in conjunction with this video I am also doing a giveaway! I have accumulated as many full size samples of these products as I could so that I could share them with you because I wanted you to try them out for yourself!

To enter the giveaway you must:
- Already follow me on Instagram! If you don't just go ahead now and hit that follow button
- Tag a friend in the comment section on Instagram you think would also like this giveaway!
- Subscribe to my YouTube channel and like this video!

DAS IT! I will be checking so make sure to do all those things.

Contest is open until Friday September 1st 2017!

AND NOW for my usual disclaimer: Although I have worked with some of these brands in the past on campaigns or have been sent products from some of these brands this video was NOT sponsored. I am not getting paid for this video however these brands were nice enough to give me some product to pass onto you! YAY

I also just wanted to remind you to subscribe to my channel and follow me on my social handles if you aren't already! When you follow me I know I am dong a good job and will be more amped up to produce more videos and do more giveaways for you!

Alright lets do this!

Subscribe to my channel ▷ goo.gl/iidBfF
Instagram ▷ goo.gl/n8WdGv
Snapchat ▷ goo.gl/vBsoGd
Twitter ▷ goo.gl/xR6W14
Periscope ▷ SoheilaOnline

Want more of my shenanigans! Bring it on!

Soft Cut Crease Makeup Tutorial ▷ goo.gl/cah1rm
Copper Red Smokey Eye ▷ goo.gl/9He6nD
Tartelette In Bloom Palette ▷ goo.gl/LFqwEq

Products I Showed You In This Video

L'Oreal Professionnel - Mystic Hair Oil
Garnier Whole Blends - Honey Treasures Repair Shampoo - Product donated to giveaway by Sheblogs!
LaCoupe ORGNX - Coconut and Macadamia Oil Intensive Repair Treatment
Lush - Bubbly Shower Gel
L'Oreal Professionnel - Liss Unlimited Leave In Conditioner
Anthony - Aluminum Free, Alcohol Free, Paraben Free, Sulphate Free, Deodorant
Anthony - Shaving Cream
Vasanti - Brighten Up! Exfoliating Cleanser
Aveda - Tulasara Wedding Masque - available at Aveda Experience Centers and Salons
Cake Beauty - 'Do Gooder' Dry Shampoo
 

If you have any questions feel free to leave them in the comments below along with any tutorial request you may have! That's it for today and i'll see you guys again soon!

xo

-Soheila

THE IMPORTANCE OF SCALP HEALTH WITH PRAMASANA BY AVEDA

A couple months ago Aveda launched a collection of products dubbed the ‘Pramāsana' line and wouldn’t you know your girl got to try it out first hand. As a proud Leo-lady (I am woman hear me ROAR) you know I take huge pride in my mane and the Pramāsana line deals strictly with scalp health which is why I was so curious to learn more.

You may be asking yourself why is it so important to clean your scalp? And aren’t I doing that already every time I wash my hair? Well here’s a couple things that may surprise you off the bat:

1. Your hair is alive only at the root so nourishing your scalp leads to better hair follicles/roots, faster growth, increased hair strength and better overall nourishment in the long run.

2. When your root or hair follicle is ‘clogged’ hair growth is slow (and sometimes non existent), the hair that does grow is lacking nourishment and therefore can break easier and lack luster.

3. Shampoo, conditioner, hair spray, moose, gels etc. can actually leave 'product buildup’ on your scalp. This with the added sebum (an oil that our body naturally produces to protect the scalp) and general air pollution, roots/follicles in your scalp can actually easily become clogged.

“Effective scalp cleansing can help normal skin cell turnover. Deep cleansing encourages a clean, healthy scalp.” - Dr. M. Julie Thornton, Ph.D., University of Bradford in the UK

The Pramāsana Scalp Care line is made up of three parts - The Exfoliating Scalp Brush, the Purifying Scalp Cleanser, and the Protective Scalp Concentrate - and is 98% naturally derived. Although the product line is available at any Aveda store to take home you can also learn more and test out the line first at any Civello’s Salon. Part of my learning experience was receiving a full Pramāsana treatment at Civello’s Salon on Queen West and I’m happy to say I walked away being a believer in the importance of scalp health!

“Consider yours scalp the soil from which you hair grows. Once you think of it that way, it shouldn't be hard to understand why you might need to give it extra care.” - Justina Majia-Montanta, VP, Global Product Development at Aveda.

The entire treatment takes about an hour (or less if you are doing it at home) and is safe to do once a week. The first step to the treatement is to exfoliate your scalp using the Pramāsana ‘Exfoliating Scalp Brush’. This special brush has looped bristles designed to loosen impurities and buildup prior to cleansing all the while not tangle your hair. Simply place the brush on your head with a bit of pressure and move it around in small circles to massage the scalp. 3-4 minutes is really all you need!

Next apply the Pramāsana ‘Purifying Scalp Cleanser’ directly to your dry scalp (yes you haven't even wet your hair yet) and massage this in. You will notice right away that it starts to foam. This is the cleanser removing impurities and cleaning the scalp which will balance sebum levels and scalp pH. Again 3-4 minutes is really all you need!

Now is when you would wet your hair and add shampoo. Any shampoo can be used in conjunction with the Pramāsana line except Aveda’s Invati line because Invati has a scalp cleanser already in it that can cause your scalp to have adverse effects and actually become dry. So once your done with the Purifying Scalp Cleanser, wet and shampoo your hair as you normally would.

At this point in the treatment and if you are in an Aveda salon you can opt in for the Pramāsana ‘Nourishing Scalp Masque’ (available only at the salon) which is specifically designed to nourish your scalp after it is properly cleansed. Think of it as the serums or brightening mask you would apply before the moisturizer you would use. It’s an intensive hydrating and nourishing treatment for your roots!

“Cleanse your Scalp. Shampoo is for hair.” - Aveda

Whether you do the mask or not you can go ahead at this point and finish your routine of conditioning and washing your hair. Before you blow dry and add in your heat protection products now is when you use the Pramāsana ‘Protective Seal Concentrate’. This lightweight serum sinks into your scalp and nourishes the skin while also protecting it from further future build up. The Protective Seal Concentrate can be added to both wet and dry hair. In my case Gabo, my Senior Civello Stylist, applied it directly to my roots on the top horseshoe portion of my hair before massaging it in (again 3-4 minutes is really all you need) before finally blowdrying and styling my hair.

Further things I learned about the Pramāsana line:

• The aroma features grapefruit, neroli and cypress!

• The treatment at Civello is $65 without the ‘Nourishing Scalp Masque’ and is $95 with.

• Both males and females should consider looking into the health of their scalp especially if they are experiencing hair loss, breakage or malnourished hair.

• It doesn’t effect colour treated hair however it shouldn’t be done until 4-5 days after you get your hair newly coloured since your roots will be sensitive from the dyes you used during your colouring.

Lastly did you know that all Aveda products are cruelty free!? That’s right, no testing on animals! All of the products (except the Nourishing Scalp Masque) can be purchased in an Aveda store or at Aveda Salon’s and Spa’s and retail for:

Pramāsana Exfoliating Scalp Brush - $28 CAN

Pramāsana Purifying Scalp Cleanser - $45 CAN

Pramāsana Protective Scalp Concentrate - $57 CAN

I thoroughly enjoyed my treatment and, like I said before, walked away believing in the importance of a healthy scalp. It’s definitely safe too say that I will be using the Pramāsana line at home and incorporating it weekly into my routine - not to mention doing a whole lot more hair flipping! LOL

LUSH COSMETICS - CHRISTMAS 2016 PRODUCT LINE REVIEW

Lush Cosmetics has been one of my favorite brands since I was first introduced to them in high school and was definitely one of the first cosmetic companies to ignite my soon-to-be obsession with beauty products. Lucky for me, Lush Fresh Handmade Cosmetics also later became a great influence and educational benchmark for me on what fresh, natural, and ethical cosmetics are.

I remember the first time I saw, or rather smelled, a Lush store. I was instantly attracted by the bright colors, floral and citrus smells, the never ending array of bath bombs filled with sparkles, and the mounds of products you're actually allowed to touch and smell (for me at 14 this was a big deal!). Since that first experience I have become an avid customer and have been known to give their products as gifts for Christmas!

Recently I had the pleasure to team up with Lush Cosmetics to sample and review some of their seasonal Christmas products. I was very surprised to receive the products so quickly but after days and nights of experimentation I am happy to share my product review with you.

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Bubbly & Rose Jam – Shower Gel

First let’s talk about Bubbly! I loved this shower gel and it instantly became my favorite out of the two. I tend to always navigate towards citrus-based products because of how fresh and vibrant they are. I also find that if I am using something repeatedly it’s easy to get olfactory overload, however if it is citrus based I tend not to get sick of it so quickly. Two additional great things about this product are that it is vegan and doesn’t dry out your skin!!!

Bubbly starts at $9.95 - $32.95 depending on size

Rose Jam is perfect for any floral and citrus scent lovers! I love floral scents, but can sometimes find them overpowering - but not this one! The Rose Jam shower gel also has hints of vanilla and as an added bonus contains argan oil. Argan oil is an incredibly nourishing and hydrating oil. It is filled with vitamin A, vitamin E, and antioxidants and is known for its amazing healing powers when it comes to skin infections, rashes and bug bites. When applied to the skin it can ease inflammation while moisturizing your skin! P.S. This product is also vegan and all Lush Cosmetic products are not tested on animals – BONUS!

Rose Jam starts at $21.95 - $32.95 depending on size

*Someone suggested to me to mix the two – I did and it was fabulous! Try it! I double dog dare you!

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Santa Baby – Lip Tint

When I first saw this product my expectation of what it was, was completely different. First of all anything that comes in a tube I automatically associate it to a texture of a lip balm or something that applies smoothly and appears shinny, but probably leaves your lips feeling dryer then before. It’s not uncommon for lip balms such as ChapSticks and lip plumpers to cause severe irritation on and around the lips because of ingredients that can actually dry out the lips like —menthol, camphor, and phenol. These ingredients are what give the tingling sensation but actually have no real nourishing benefit.

That is why when I tried Santa Baby for the first time I was super surprised because it is a) Shea and Coco butter based - meaning its super nourishing and moisturizing but does not slide on in a slick, filmy kind of way and b) because it’s a lip tint and gets its tint from cherries and dates, you don’t need very much to see the effects of the pigment. In terms of scent there is only a slight hint of spice, perhaps cinnamon, but nothing that is too pungent or that overly stands out.

If you are not into red natural looking lips this may not be a product for you, however I am curious to try this product on my cheeks even as a soft natural looking blush! There are potentially numerous applications here!!

Santa Baby - $9.95 per 5g tube

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Christingle – Body Conditioner

I was super excited when I received the Christingle Body Conditioner because I had never tried anything like it before. After reading the description “Invigorating peppermint and menthol crystals energize skin with tingly holiday excitement.” I practically jumped in the shower right away! So in order to use this product properly you are supposed to shower/wash as per usual and then as a final step apply the body conditioner to your wet skin thinly and evenly and rinse off before lightly towel drying. Upon exiting my hot shower I instantly felt a rush of the cool tingly sensation all over my body however I am not sure if I was that into it to be honest. Even after getting dressed and putting on layers of clothing I continued to shiver and feel very cold. I feel like the menthol may have defeated the purpose and enjoyment I get from a hot shower…. especially in the winter. Perhaps menthol is not my thing, but on the plus side my skin felt super hydrated after and I smelled really good like fresh peppermint! I think I’m going to save this bad boy for the summer when its hot out and I could use a little winter refreshment. 

Christingle - $14.95 for 90g tub

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Mistletoe – Bath Bomb

God do I love a good bath bomb! I have tried many times to replicate Lush Cosmetic bath bombs but have never come quiet as close in smell, size and level of enjoyment that I receive from theirs - and the Mistletoe bath bomb was no exception.

First of all this bath bomb is so big you only really need to use half. Since it already comes with a ridge in it you can easily cut it in half and save the other half for another occasion. Even before it explodes you can smell the sensual scent of Jasmine – a scent that to me evokes memories of summer evenings and gentle breezes. It is a lifting scent that is known to relax the body and mind in order to encourage intimacy and has historically been used to do just that!

Once I dropped the bath bomb into the water it instantly came alive, revealing pink and purple streaks – these streaks of colours and bubbles were a source of inspiration for my #bathart series seen below. Feel free to experiment with different Lush bath bombs yourself and come up with your own series! Don't forget to hashtag #bathart on social media when you show off your series.

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*I have to admit that this bath bomb does leave a pink glittery ring around your bathtub but don’t worry it comes off really easily.

Mistletoe Bath Bomb - $7.95 per Bath Bomb (200g)

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Luxury Lush Pud – Bath Bomb

The Luxury Lush Pud bath bomb was another welcomed surprise. I love anything lavender scented because of its comforting properties. This bath bomb is again big enough for you to split and use over two occasions however I found that it was not as easy to split as the mistletoe because there was no defined ridge – but whatever that didn’t stop me. I recommend really putting aside some time when you use this bath bomb and getting your setup/Netflix all ready because once you experience this bath bomb you won’t want to get out of the bath for hours! It’s a perfect before bedtime soother to get you all relaxed and cozy before crawling into bed for a good night’s rest.

Luxury Lush Pud Bath Bomb - $7.95 per Bath Bomb (200g)

To read more about Lush bath bombs and see a video on how they are made click HERE

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Before I go I also want to talk about Lush Cosmetic outstanding core values, values you do not often see in cosmetic brands today. Lush Cosmetics makes all their products by hand and use only the best and freshest ingredients. They believe that when it comes to packaging, less is more – so our environment incurs minimal waste. All their products are 100% vegetarian – 80% of these are actually even vegan and they actively do not buy ingredients from companies that test on animals. They are also 100% transparent with what is in each product and you can go on their website or grab a catalogue in store and see all the ingredients in every product they release! And if that’s not enough for you – well they are also a Canadian company!

Visit Lush Cosmetics to learn more about the brand and beat the lines by shopping their entire Christmas product line online!

DIY CINNAMON BUN LIP SCRUB

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First thing I have to say about this lip scrub is YUM!!! I literally could eat this sugary goodness it smells so good. This all natural lip scrub will help you moisturize your lips and remove dead skin cells. Simply rub the mixture on your lips for two minutes before rinsing (or eating). ENJOY!

VIDEO IS POSTED BELOW

INGREDIENTS:

1/2 Cup of Brown Sugar
2.5 TBSP Coconut Oil
2.5 TBSP Honey
4 TSP Vanilla Extract
2 TSP Cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl.

I hope you had as much fun making this product and giving them away as much as I did! Please let me know your comments below or if you have any request!!!!! Id love to hear from you ♥ ♥ ♥