How Often Should You Exfoliate Your Body?

Exfoliating your body is very important to maintain clear, glowing, acne free skin. How often should you exfoliate your body, what should you use to exfoliate your body, what the benefits are to exfoliating your body are all questions that will be answered below and have you running to your bathtub to exfoliate! 

What are the benefits to exfoliating your body? 

First, most body scrubs are all natural. You exfoliate your body to remove dead skin cells, unclog and prevent clogged pores, avoid ingrown hairs, even out your skin tone and hydrate dry skin damaged skin. 

How often should you exfoliate your body?

You should exfoliate 1-3 times a week. Your skin sheds an average of 50,000 cells per minute. Not all of those cells fall off on their own. Sometimes you will notice the heels of your feet feeling a little rough, or black heads around your nose, you want to exfoliate BEFORE these things become noticeable. If your skin is sensitive, once a week will suffice. You will also want to use a great facial cleanser to prevent buildup in between exfoliating. 

What should you use to exfoliate?

To exfoliate, you can use a simple scrub that consists of oil, sugar and/ or salt. Depending on your skin type, you may have to modify your recipe or use liquid soap in the place of the oil for a cleansing effect. You can also use exfoliating gloves paired with your usual body soap. 

When exfoliating remember, you only want to remove the DEAD skin cells, not the healthy ones. Over exfoliating can lead to skin irritation and can cause your skin to over produce oils. If a scrub feels too rough, discontinue use. It doesn't take much to remove dead skin cells. Also, if you have recently shaved, using a scrub with lemon or salt can be irritating.

Exfoliating takes less than 5 minutes to do and can be done in the shower or bath. If you don't currently do it, add it to your regimen, asap. Your skin will thank you for it! 

Do you exfoliate your body? What do you like to use? How often do you exfoliate?

3 Benefits Of Coconut Oil For Hair

The benefits of coconut oil for hair are endless. Coconut oil is great for both hair and skin care and can be found at your local grocery store for $5-7. Coconut oil benefits hair because it contains Vitamin E, restores hair protein and is said to reinforce weak strands making them stronger. Here are 3 benefits of coconut for hair care.

1. Can Prevent Dry Hair: Coconut oil can be used as a sealant to help seal in moisture. Apply coconut oil to damp hair and work through strands. This will seal in moisture and also add a nice shine to your hair. Since coconut oil is light it does not weigh your strands down. 

2. Can Be Used For Oil Rinsing: After shampooing and conditioning your hair, apply a nice amount of coconut oil to your strands and light rinse your hair. Use a t-shirt to "plop" your hair, this will reduce frizz. This is great for those with curly hair. Oil rinsing with coconut oil provides extra moisture, shine and definition to natural hair. 

3. Can Be Used As A Hot Oil Treatment: Warm jar of coconut oil in a bowl of warm water. Once the oil is warm, apply the oil to your hair. Place hair into a shower cap. Leave in for 20 mins. and rinse. You can shampoo and condition your hair after this and make the coconut oil treatment a "pre-poo". 

Coconut oil can be mixed with your rinse out conditioner, you can add ayurvedic herbs/powders, the ways you can use coconut on your hair virtually endless. It is worth a try, especially since it costs so little and can be found at your local grocery store. 

Do you use coconut oil? Do you like it? Leave some suggestions in the comments below!