My Experience with OCM

I had been using Pond's cold cream since I was a young girl. I used it to remove makeup or as a cleansing cream during DIY facials. The last time I ran out, I googled for potential substitutes and came across the oil cleansing method. It was touted to do what cold cream can and more. It works on the principle that oil dissolves oil. This is certainly a more natural way to keep the skin clean and healthy. I've tried it and really liked the result. My skin definitely felt smoother and softer afterwards. The recommendation is that we use both castor oil and virgin olive oil, but since I only had virgin olive oil handy, I had to settle for just that. Here are the steps:

1. Blend virgin olive oil and castor oil. It's up to you to figure out the ratio. Castor oil may be drying while olive oil may be too fatty. Other edible oils, such as almond oil, sunflower oil, coconut oil, etc. also work.
2. Massage the oil blend on your face and neck for a few minutes, really working to let the oil penetrate into the skin. It will absorb impurities from the pores.
3. Wet a washcloth with hot water, wring out, and drape it over your face to steam the pores open.
4. Let a minute pass before using the same washcloth to wipe your face free of the oil. Along with the oil go dirt, makeup, bacteria, dead skin cells, etc.

In my case, I did the washcloth part over to make sure I got most of the oil out. Some people like to do this everyday, but for me, once a week is enough. I also still use my daily cleansing products. However, for deep cleansing, the OCM is it for me. I'll try other oils next time, but for now the virgin olive oil works great on my skin as it is.

Tips for Some Beauty Troubles

The following are some of the things I'll be working on in the coming weeks. I'll post updates/results in a week or two.

1. Toe corn - I don't get why my fourth toe on my right foot has a callous when it doesn't brush against the pinky toe and I hardly ever wear shoes. I think it's a throw back to my shoe wearing days.

Possible solution: Soak in warm, soapy water, brush with pumice stone (I have one with a file at the back as well). Apply petroleum jelly or some deep moisturizer, cover with socks. Do regularly until corn is gone.

2. Ingrown hair - I used to be a smooth shaver. However, I made the mistake of shaving while pregnant, which led to ingrown hair above the knee that never went away.

Possible solution: Apply warm, moist face towel to the area. Resoak towel when it cools and reapply. Do this for about ten minutes until you can see the hair. With sterilized tweezers, coax the tip of the hair out of the skin. Try not to pluck the hair out as it might end up ingrown again. Make sure you do not cut your skin. Wash area with moisturizing soap and warm water. Apply alcohol or some other antiseptic.

3. Stained teeth - I'm a tea drinker. Okay, red wine too. Okay, I put a lot of things in my mouth that stain the teeth. Also, I smoked for several years, a portion of that time, I had braces on.

Possible solution: Mix some baking soda on your toothpaste. Gargle with mouthwash. Rub teeth with olive oil.

Something Akin to Madonna's Arms

Something that I've always battled with, even when I was an okay weight, is heavy arms. Now that I'm 20 lbs overweight, my upper arms have gotten downright overwhelming. Anyway, I was watching the E! channel's The Daily Ten and they featured Catt Sadler's interview with Madonna's trainer, Tracy Anderson. They demonstrated the exercise routine that developed those famous Madonna arms. While, I don't want my own to be that muscular, I think following the routine will help me tone my arms until they get some definition at least.

I couldn't find a video of Catt's interview with Tracy, but I did find this article. The workout described here is different from the one I saw on TV, but it seems just as easy to do (probably not if you have to do it a hundred times over; neither of them would be). Neither requires any sort of equipment so no investment necessary here except your time and effort, of course. These are exercises you can do while watching TV or your child.

As soon as somebody uploads the Daily Ten video on YouTube, I'm embedding it or adding a link to it (in case embedding is prohibited) here.

A Blog for the Frugally Vain

I’m a SAHM with a toddler daughter. Since getting pregnant, I’ve kind of let myself go. I have an overstaying blubber of an extra 20 lbs. I don’t do anything to my hair. My fashion sense has been dictated by what’s practical and what fits (I refuse to go shopping for new clothes that fit because that means I’ve accepted this weight I’m now at), which means my boho, hippie style has given way to comfy casual or straight-up frumpiness. I have aged a great deal in the last 3 years and I no longer have time to pamper myself or the money to have a spa treat.

I’m saying enough to the excuses though. Sure, being a wife and mother is a full-time job, but that’s no reason why I can’t take better care of myself. Sure, being in a one-income family means there’s usually just enough for our needs and spending for vanity will open the gates of guilt hell for me, but it doesn’t mean I cannot be more creative or resourceful about beautification.

I mean to research, try out, and then share here DIY and homemade ideas for fashion, beauty, and overall wellness. I hope that this blog can be a place to exchange tips, recipes, and whatnots related to frugal vanity. Have a great one!