DIY - EYE GEL AND SKIN CARE:

Sharing some skin care favorites with you today because I get asked a lot about what I use.  I also get asked what I've had done?  That's a flattering question, to which the answer is nothing.  Believe me, it's not because I don't think I need to get anything done, after all who couldn't benefit from a little botox here and there. . . and there and there and there?  But in order to do that you have to voluntarily walk into a medical facility of sorts and give permission from someone to stick needles in your face.  NEEDLES.  I'm not saying that I'll never do it, I'd like to, I'm just saying voluntarily allowing someone to stick needles in my face, NEEDLES, is out of my comfort zone, it's not even in the same country as my comfort zone.

So here are my DIY eye gel and scrub how to's and a bunch of my favorite skin care products.  I was addicted to Origins No Puffery eye gel for a longtime.  Then the last time I ran out I took to Pinterest for a homemade version and found this.  Only two ingredients, aloe and a cucumber, and you can make it in 5 minutes, and it works great!

WHAT YOU NEED

1/4 CUP OF ALOE
ONE SMALL CUCUMBER
BLENDER
SMALL GLASS JAR 

I think if you live in a warm sunny climate or have sensitive skin you're more likely to have a tube of aloe in the house and hopefully you have a cucumber.  If not, put them on your list for the next time you brave a field trip to the market.  I also have an aloe plant but I feel guilty when I cut off a piece lol.  A tube of aloe is about $4 and a cucumber is about $.50 so this costs pennies to make and when put in a small mason jar in the fridge it will last about two - three months.  

WHAT TO DO

PEEL CUCUMBER
PUT IT IN A BLENDER - I USE MY SINGLE SERVE, DON'T OVER BLEND, KEEP IT A LITTLE CHUNCKY
ADD 1/4 CUP ALOE
BLEND
POUR INTO GLASS JAR - I USE A SMALL MASON JAR
REFRIDGERATE 

I love this gel it's very soothing and really gets rid of puffiness, and I am the queen of puff.  Apply under eyes first thing in the morning.  
 
My other favorite is my DIY face and body scrub, it's also soooo easy to make.  

WHAT YOU NEED

ARM & HAMMER BAKING SODA 
COCONUT OIL - MAKE SURE IT'S SOLID, NOT MELTED
YOUR FAVORITE ESSENTIAL OIL SCENT

WHAT TO DO

SCOOP 2 - 3 TABLESPOONS OF COCONUT OIL INTO A SMALL GLASS MASON JAR
ADD BAKING SODA - START WITH A TEASPOON AND CHECK THE CONSISTENCY BETWEEN YOUR FINGERS, THE MORE BAKING SODA YOU ADD THE GRAINIER THE SCRUB WILL BE.
ADD YOUR FAVORITE ESSENTIAL OIL

I absolutely love washing my face with this.  The baking soda is a neutralizer and anti-inflammatory and the coconut oil leaves a soft film on your skin after you rinse.  orange oil essential oil is my favorite scent, a few drops is all you need and it smells amazing.  My other favorite is lavender.  It gives me incentive when I'm tempted to flop into bed without washing your face, GO WASH YOUR FACE.   A modification on this for the shower scrub - just swap out the Baking Soda for Brown Sugar, no essential oil scent needed as this combo smells great on it's own, you'll also be tempted to eat it when it drips on you face in the shower, full disclosure.
There's my scrub in the left corner and that green contraption in front, if you don't know, is a jade face roller.  They've become pretty popular, when they first came out they were very expensive now they're everywhere, this one is only $10.  Use it with an oil, I like Khiels Midnight Recovery Concentrate or Mario Badescu Vitamin C serum.  Something about the rolling makes me feel like I'm ironing the wrinkles out of my face :)  What it actually does is move the lymphatic system in the face, which helps with puffiness, and smooths wrinkles by oxygenating blood to the surface area of the face which is like food to the skin and stimulates collagen.  That's a Big Bang for your buck, also it feels great and is very relaxing.  I also use sheet masks, they're great, inexpensive, very hydrating and make me look like Hannibal Lecter, which scares my husband, added bonus, lol.
As you can see, I'm a high low girl and I'm fickle when it comes to skin care (except for what I make myself) so it can be Avene PhysioLift from Paris one day and Oil of Olay the next.  
Kiehl's Multi-Corrective Cream alternates with Neutrogena Rapid Wrinkle Repair, this one recommended by my sister who doesn't look her age!  Khiel's Creamy Eye Treatment (avocado) at night alternates with Mario Badescu Hyaluronic Eye Cream.
Under make-up I like Mario Badescu Buttermilk Moisturizer or Avene PhysioLift.  I've recently started using SIO pads, if you are a Housewives fan you know about these, they are face lifts without face lifts, no NEEDLES!  And they actually work, took me a while to get used to wearing them. 

And last but not least I cannot live without Perricone MD Cold Plasma Sub-D for the neck.  And that's my little arsenal, so I hope you'll try the eye gel and scrub and equally important for you skin, eat your veggies, drink tons of water and get plenty of sleep!  We glow mostly from the inside out.