Why I'm drinking Apple Cider Vinegar and putting it on my face and hair!

Hey Blog Readers!

So for a long time my sister has drank Apple Cider Vinegar diluted with water and raved about the health benefits but to be honest I didn't really listen... That was until deciding to use Apple cider vinegar as a toner! yup a toner on my face as part of my skincare routine!
I am a big believer in keeping your skin/beauty regime simple.. a lot of home remedies work and are the basis of some of the most expensive products out there so why splurge the cash when you can have equal if not better results doing it DIY style ;)
Since moving to Los Angeles my skin hasn't been as good as it was in Ireland and I believe that is because of the smog and pollution that exists in this big city compared to that fresh Galway air that I miss so much, lol, anyway while looking for a remedy to tone my skin and minimize pores I came across a bunch of videos (YouTube addict alert) on using Apple Cider Vinegar (Organic and with "the mother" ingredient) as a toner!
The videos and blog post I came across really sold me so off I went to Trader Joe's to pick some up! It was very easy to find and a lot cheaper than buying a toner on it's own + it's a big bottle so I imagine it will last me awhile! Anyway, ever since I've been applying it to my skin after washing my face and before moisturizing and I've already noticed a huge difference!
It feels refreshing! it's definitely minimizing my pores and my skin in so much clearer!!
(NB!!! Make sure you always dilute it by mixing in water to avoid it being too strong)

I'm AMAZED! :)

Benefits of using Apple Cider Vinegar on the skin! 

1. Oil control - Chronic oily skin leads to breakouts and oily patches on the face. This can make wearing makeup problematic. Apple vinegar toner can help control oil production and reduce the appearance of oiliness.
2. Antiseptic - Beauty mavens have used apple vinegar for centuries to clean their skin. As an antiseptic, apple cider vinegar kills bacteria and yeast that may trigger breakouts.
3. Balance pH - Enjoy good skin health by maintaining your pH level. Acids keep your skin remain elastic and youthful looking.
4. Natural skin care - Apple cider vinegar is an all-natural skin toner that you can make yourself. Using natural products will insure the best care for sensitive skin that may react adversely to harsh chemicals.
5. Stimulate circulation - For better looking skin, get your blood moving with an application of apple cider toner to the face and body. Natural alpha-hydroxy and acetic acids in this fluid stimulates the skin's capillaries. Improved circulation gives your skin a natural rosy flush.

Every now and then growing up I would rinse my hair in vinegar diluted in water (an old wives tale my mum told me about) and it always made my hair SO shiny!! so while I have the bottle in the house I decided to give it ago (it had been a few years) and YUP there were SUPER RESULTS! JESUS this stuff is like magic! I also felt that it really cleaned my hair and my hair seemed to stay non-oily/greasy for longer! (I got a few extra days out of it) If you plan on doing this though make sure you rinse your hair thoroughly as nobody wants to smell of vinegar!lol!

Why rinse hair in apple cider vinegar..  

1. removes clumpy residue and gunk in hair from product buildup!
2. Natural detangler!
3. Leaves hair soft and smooth! 
4. Accelerates hair growth!
5. Closes the cuticle of the hair which makes light reflect off it - in other words... it makes your hair ridiculously shiny!! :)

So while seeing such good results from my skin & hair I decided to research and see what all the fuss is about (what my sis raves on about) when it comes to drinking Apple cider vinegear..
I have been drinking two spoonfuls mixed in a glass of water every morning for about two weeks now and I'm actually secretly (not so secretly) loving it!

These are the benefits that can be seen when you drink apple cider vinegar daily 

1. Weight Loss! Experts believe that it may stimulate genes that help to break down fat! Another study found that it suppresses your appetite (I find this to be true for me). 
2. Kills bad breath! It has anti-bacterial properties which helps to break down plaque and kill bacteria!
3. This killing of bacteria can also stop infections such as halitosis and even a sore throat! 
4. Reduces blood pressure! Therefore it's great for keeping a healthy heart <3 
5. It keeps your blood sugar levels in check. Therefore it can help with diabetes and blood sugar regulation! Drinking it is shown to improve insulin sensitivity to high carbohydrate meals. 
6. It's rich in polyphenols, which help fight oxidative stress. Research has shown that eating diets high in antioxidant-rich foods may help reduce your cancer risk, but don’t expect a magic panacea!
7. It balances your PH levels! by helping to restore alkalinity in the body which can boost your metabolism, strengthen the immune system and slow the aging process to give you clearer and wrinkle free skin! 

So what are you waiting for?? get down to the supermarket and pick yourself up some of this miracle in a bottle that smells funny :) lol

Lots of Love,

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

get ALL your makeup off in under one minute!

Hey Blog Readers!

Did you go out last night and sleep with your makeup on? (never do that again by the way=asking for a breakout), did you just arrive home from a long day and all you want to do is scrub off your makeup immediately and throw on some sweats or PJs! Or do you ever think all your makeup is off but then wake up to find panda eyes?! if so then this trick is for you!!!

For the past month or so I have found a new way of removing ALL my makeup (which can often be heavy due to being on set etc..) in one quick sweep!
(my sister introduced me to it when she was visiting for Christmas-Thanks Lauren!x!).

What you need...

1. A face cloth 
2. Almond Oil (coconut oil, caster oil or even extra virgin olive oil! will also work.)
3. Hot water
4. Facewash (optional) 

*Note* make sure your hands are clean before starting! 

Steps... 

1. Pour a small amount of almond oil into the palm of your hand and rub your two hands together.. 
2. Rub your hands on your face (as if washing your face in the almond oil)
3. TA-DAA watch ALL of your makeup melt straight away, right in front of your eyes!! This works with everything - even stubborn mascara or eyelash glue! 
4. Take your wash cloth and run it in warm-hot water, wring out and then use the cloth to wipe away all of the melted makeup! You can also let the cloth sit on your face if you have an extra minute! (This step helps to clear pores and remove impurities.) 

The result: Your face is immediately makeup free, clear and clean! 

Optional: once all your makeup is removed and seriously it doesn't even take 30seconds! you can follow by washing your face in your favourite face wash to give it a deep cleanse (at the moment I'm using cetaphil), rinse with cold water (to close the pores) and then pat your face dry with a clean towel! 

Why would you use this trick over a makeup remover?... 

1. It's cheaper 
2. It's chemical free! 
3. It does a MUCH better job! 

But you thought 'Oil Free' was a good thing...

Most facial cleansers love to state the fact that they're "oil-free" and the beauty industry has certainly taught us that oil-free is the way to go... Here's the problem: when our skin is stripped of its natural oils, it produces more oil to compensate. For those with oily skin, this means more breakouts, blackheads, and aggravated skin. For those with dry skin or sensitive skin, it means the skin is going to get even drier and more irritated! 

Using oil to wash your face means that it will naturally dissolve the dirty oils on your skin without stripping it or using harsh chemicals. Not only is this method simpler, more affordable, better for your skin, and eco-friendly, but the oil-cleansing method is the best make-up remover I've ever found. It removes mascara, eyeliner, foundation, everything—all in one step! 

I've been using almond oil as that's what was introduced to me by my sister but I will probably try coconut oil next! (I've blogged about the benefits of coconut oil in the past!) Anyhow Almond oil contains vitamins E, A and D! It also has fatty acids that dissolve the sebum that causes acne!! Better still, it has been proven to treat various skin conditions such as eczema, acne and even stretch marks!! 

Benefits of Almond Oil for Skin

1. Moisturizing

Almonds have a way of trapping moisture in the skin keeping it moisturized at all times. Better still, its high lubricating quality makes many users stick to using it as their daily skin care product.

2. Anti-inflammation

This oil has also been proven to have a calming effect on people with skin allergies and inflammation. It has both the ability to soothe as well as treat skin allergies. Minor wounds, chapped skin, and other skin infections can also be treated using almond oil.

3. Emollient Properties

Emollient properties refer to the ability of the almond oil to get absorbed into your skin. It is also used in many spas for its less fragrant and less greasy qualities. It is also useful in massages as it restores the normal PH of the skin and allows the skin to glow thus preserving moisture.

4. Removing Dark Circles (love this one!)

Its lightening ability is another reason that has made this oil popular among many people with dark marks on their skin. All you need to do is mix some almond oil with some honey and apply on the affected area.

5. Reducing Wrinkles

Almond oil contains vitamins that help it delay the appearance of wrinkles. It is best to apply almond at night after taking a shower. You could choose to do this twice a week or alternate days depending on how soon you wish to see the end results.

6. Sun Protection

Harmful ultraviolet rays cause wrinkling, sunburns, aging, and skin cancer. Though sun -blocks and sunscreens are effective. Almond oil can help reverse the damages brought about by sun exposure.

YUP I LOVE IT!!  and I'd like to add that despite a stressful start to the new year my skin has been REALLY clear and soft since using this technique to remove my makeup! 

So that's my tip for today! Give it a try and let me know what you think!! 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.

My every day morning drink...

Hey Blog Readers! 

Happy Friday! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

So every morning for as long as I can remember I have started my morning with a mug of hot water, lemon and honey! I think it may have originally been my sister, Lauren, who introduced me to this but it's been so long now I can't even remember! Anyway... recently I came across an article which explained just how good hot water, lemon and honey is for you so I thought I'd share some of it's benefits incase anyone is interested in giving it ago! 

1. It gives you an instant boost of energy and improves your mood! The honey acts as an instant energy booster minus the calories of something sugary or the unhealthy alternative of coffee as a morning energizer, the water clears your mind giving fresh blood to the brain!  and the lemon activates negatively charged enzymes in your stomach - a great way to combat positively charged enzymes that react with the food you eat adversely, leading to poor digestion! Moreover the scent is lemon is known to be a relaxant which can help to uplift your mood! 
2. Improves oral health and helps to beat bad breath! Since moving to LA I've become more of a coffee drinker than I was ever in the past.. when on set the idea of a caffeine-boost  can seem extremely tempting but what turns me off is that I truly believe coffee gives you awful breath and I feel I've been on both ends: having drank coffee and had bad breath as a results or having been beside someone who is suffering, lol! However the acidic nature of lemons combined with the honey and water can help to beat bad breath almost instantly! The lemon cleanses the mouth, activates your salivary glands and kills bacteria. 
3. Clear Skin: this concoction of water, honey and lemon lend a unique restorative, antibacterial and  collagen boosting property to your skin!
4. Increases the chance of weight loss! as well as cleansing the stomach lemon contains a type of fiber called pectin that helps to make you feel full and keeps cravings at bay! the water and honey also creates a more alkaline atmosphere in your stomach which will aid in loosing weight. 
5. Improves digestion! it assists in the flushing of unwanted toxins from the body! 
6. Cleanses the lymphatic system! a dehydrated lymphatic system is one of the leading causes of illness. Lack of water and essential fluids in the lymphatic system can make you feel sluggish and fatigued, lead to constipation, disturbed sleep, high or low blood pressure, stress and an all-round lack in mental function. The benefit of drinking this mixture early in the morning is that it helps hydrate your entire lymphatic system that not only beats all the above symptoms but also improves your immunity.
7. Sore throat and cut-cough.. bye bye! It reduces soreness and irritation of a sore throat! The honey coats the throat while the warm water soothes! It is also great for singers!
8. DETOX! become regular(lemon increases urination) and flush out toxins from your body! toxins can build up in your body and cause many negative issues including disease! It also maximizes enzyme function and stimulates the liver to help with detoxification! 
9. Better health! Increases hydration and the level of 'good' cholesterol in your body as well as reducing cardiovascular strain! ... win win! 
10. Gives your immune system a helping-hand! Honey has amazing bacteria-killing properties! It's full of enzymes, vitamins and minerals that lead the front line in protecting against bacteria! The combination is also an anti-oxidant! 

What are you waiting for! 

Just take a tall glass of warm (not hot) water, add the juice of half a lemon and one tea spoon of honey to it. Mix well and drink it quickly. Remember not to drink coffee or tea for at least one hour after drinking this mixture.

 

Lots of Love, 

Shahira Xo 

If your company would like a review or specific blog-post on a product, treatment, service or any other item to appear on www.shahirabarry.com email info@shahirabarry.com with the details.