Five Faves >Unconventional Beauty Products<

>>Before I delve into my five favorite unconventional beauty things, let me make excuses for the couple of blurry pictures…I didn’t enlist the husband – mistake #1, my priorities for the day were to 1) get this post up, 2) keep my kids from whining (fail) and ransacking the house, and 3) eat, therefore I forwent getting the best of the best pictures.   Also, somebody apparently hasn’t been spending enough time pinning “how to take in focus pictures” and that somebody is me.<<

On the plus side, we’re a linkin’ up with Hallie at Moxie Wife where there are a lot more favorites to be read!

SO.  With that said, here are five wonderful things I use on a regular basis that aren’t quite considered “normal” parts of a beauty routine. 

5too5 
>>> Coconut Oil as Face Lotion <<<
[or “Medusa called and Wants Her Top Knot Back”]
I think it was my sister maybe who introduced me to coconut oil and it’s many uses, one being face lotion.  My skin is normal/dry so I stay away from all oil-free daily lotions which dry my skin out and instead swirl this on after washing my face each and every night.  I won’t tell you it’s given me the skin of a five year old or given me that airbrushed complexion we all desire but it does keep me nice and hydrated and dare I say “dewy” even?

5 003>>> Olive Oil as Belly Butter <<<
All I have to say about this is that while I was pregnant with the twins I gave my burgeoning belly a rub-down with this stuff daily during the last four or so months of the pregnancy and I have not one stretch mark…nothing short of a miracle considering this:
37 weeks
Yep, that’s me at 37 weeks hauling 13 pounds of baby (eh-hem…babies).
I know that whether or not your skin stretches with or without the appearance of those marks has a lot to do with the skin your parents handed down to ya but I’m still giving this liquid of zee olive lots of credit.  It also helped ease all that itching due to the stretching even though chances are if you saw me during those months, I was usually scratching somewhere on that big ‘ole belly.
(Oh and p.s., I am in no way trying to brag about not having stretch marks or saying they’re bad or unwanted!  They are the beautiful marks of a mother and in not having them I, in some ways, missed out.)

5 001
>>> Baking Soda + Hydrogen Peroxide + H2O = Teeth Whitener <<<
My other sis introduced me to this concoction and then I stumbled upon it on Pinterest.  The recipe calls for a mixing of 1 tsp. baking soda, 1 tsp. hydrogen peroxide, and 1/2 tsp. of water.  Brush that on your mouth bones once a week (I just dip my toothbrush in the little cup I’ve mixed it in, brush, dip, brush, dip, and brush until it’s all gone) and I promise you you’ll have whiter teeth in just a couple of uses.  I’m so bad at remembering to do it every week but my sister, well, you should see her pearly whites…blinding.  Did I mention this is like 1000 times cheaper than white strips or professional whitening?  Right up my cheap alley.
(UPDATE:  I forgot to mention that when you brush with this mixture, make sure you ONLY brush your teeth, not your gums.  I learned the hard way and my gums were sore for at least 24 hours…ouch!)

 

5too6

>>> Conditioner as Shaving Cream <<<
I saw this little tip on Pinterest and gave it a shot one time after I’d run out of regular shaving cream and now I won’t turn back.  After shaving with regular shaving cream my legs used to always itch like mad around the 3rd or 4th day after shaving and I never knew why…still don’t but after switching to conditioner, they don’t itch one bit, ever.  Weird, huh?  I guess it’s just the increase in hydration conditioner gives vs. the stuff in a can?  Either way, I like it and you only have to use a little bit which equals $$$ saved.

straightener

>>> Straightener as a Curling Iron <<<
I don’t use a straightener much anymore unless I’m giving myself a cut but I used to and when I did, preferring slightly curled ends over stick straight ones, I’d use my straightener to get that curl instead of straightening and then heating up the curling iron.  You won’t get ringlets like you could if you used a curling iron but the subtle curl/wave is great for everyday and is so natural looking.  All you have to do is pinch a section of hair in between the plates, twist the iron like the middle picture shows, and pull all the way down the piece until the end.  Wa-la.

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Any other wise ones out there with some unconventional beauty tips?  I’m always in the neighborhood for more!!!  :)

16 comments

  1. This is awesome! I'm definitely going to try the olive oil with the next baby. And, isn't conditioner as shaving cream amazing?!

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  2. Haven't bought shaving cream in years. I noticed a big difference in razor burn too. It reduced drastically. I also use coconut oil on Sebastian's little body. I found myself rather appalled by the strong odor and all the ingredients in most baby lotions. I really should just convert to coconut for all lotion needs. What do you use during the day for lotion?

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  3. I loved this! I happen to use coconut oil as eye makeup remover - amazing!

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  4. Coconut oil seems to be great for a lot of uses! I use it as a once every 1-2 weeks hair deep conditioning treatment. Put it all over dry hair, use a hairdryer to heat it up for 5-10 minutes or until your arms give out, leave on for 30-60 minutes then wash it out!

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  5. These are fantastic, Sheena! Since Charlie was born I've been hitting the coffee like crazy and my teeth are starting to suffer a bit for it. I cannot wait to try your teeth whitening solution. Thanks, love!

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  6. I didn't get any stretch marks with my first, and I *thought* I was doing well with the twins ... until I noticed in the mirror that I've gotten stretch marks at the bottom of my bump, where I couldn't see them. Sneaky. I've been kind of lazy about using much of anything, I'll have to give the olive oil a try!

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  7. Does the teeth whitening thing, hurt the enamel on you teeth? or has anyone asked the dentist about that??

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    1. A question that's crossed my mind too...I'm not sure but I know that some toothpastes have baking soda in them and that my dad used to gargle with hydrogen peroxide daily without any effects on his enamel so I hope not. I did find another homemade whitening mixture on Pinterest after I'd been using this one that also included lemon juice in the ingredients. Adding that surely would hurt your enamel since lemon juice is so acidic so I never tried it...

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  8. I like to use liquid vitamin E as a face moisturizer. I use shampoo as shaving cream. I definately will try conditioner.

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    1. Ahh...vitamin E. That probably makes a great face moisturizer! I used to try to put in on a scar I have on my neck but somehow got out of the habit...

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  9. Coconut oil is awesome for shaving too!

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    1. Oh! Thanks for the tip! Will definitely try this one!

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  10. I use baby wipes as eye makeup remover. It was out of it one day and of course i had wipes on hand, so i tried it and it works great! Plus I already have a ton of them..

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    1. Oh awesome! I have been known to use them in a crunch to get my make-up off... :) Happy to know that somebody else really does use them and they work!!!

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  11. Sheena
    Use a couple of those tips myself:) not a beauty tip but where my mind is at present, apple cider vinegar and bandaids work well in removing warts, planter warts too though you have to combine that with plumbers tape:)

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  12. I have been sold on coconut oil for my face since I started using it the week we went skiing in Utah. It was soooooo dry, but my face was still hydrated at the end of the day and not a single sunburn! Love it. And I haven't used shaving cream since early high school. One less step = higher likelihood of shaving happening more often ha! I also love the straightener as a curling iron although lately, I have felt like my hair is too long so I've been using a regular curling iron ... but it is probably because Ryan is normally my third leg when I curl my hair. I should try the olive oil and teeth whitener! I do get stretch marks, but they are very pale and don't show up until after I have the baby if that makes any sense.

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