Prepping for a Session
With a few Boudoir sessions I will be shooting soon, and hopefully more in the future, I want to talk about prepping for the session, as a client. And this goes for any session, family, engagements, senior, you name it.
The number one thing you want to focus on is taking care of your skin. I can edit out pretty much anything to make your skin look perfect, but if you take care of your skin, my editing time is considerably less, but more importantly you will feel much more confident coming into the session.
Below are some all natural skin care tips you can use to help improve the health of your skin. Most of these things use items you already have at home.
The number one thing you want to focus on is taking care of your skin. I can edit out pretty much anything to make your skin look perfect, but if you take care of your skin, my editing time is considerably less, but more importantly you will feel much more confident coming into the session.
Below are some all natural skin care tips you can use to help improve the health of your skin. Most of these things use items you already have at home.
Apple Cider Vinegar or Rubbing Alcohol as Toner Both of these are highly acidic, meaning they can kill dead skin cells and clean out pores very well, but you should be careful with them as well. They work just as well as any store-bought toner and are much cheaper. Rubbing alcohol is especially potent, though, so be sure to pay attention to your skin when using it. If it begins to dry your skin out, lessen the use of it. You can either use it less often or dilute the liquid with some water.
Honey as a Quick Fix Honey is naturally antibacterial, which is why it’s used in many scrubs and facials. If you have a pimple that you need to be rid of by tomorrow, just put a dab of honey on it, then a band aid to keep it in place overnight. The next morning, the pimple will be gone or significantly smaller. You can also use honey by itself as a facial mask. Leave it on for an hour or longer if you wish to see a clearer complexion by the next day.
Toothpaste as a Quick Fix If you don’t have any honey around the house, you’re sure to have some toothpaste. It must be white paste and not gel, though. Just cover the pimple in toothpaste and then put a bandaid over it before you go to bed. The pimple should be gone or much smaller by the morning.
Lemon Juice as Toner Lemon works as a toner like apple cider vinegar and rubbing alcohol, but because it is so acidic, it can’t be left on your face for very long. Apply lemon juice to your face as a toner, and wash off after 15 minutes. In just 15 minutes, it will dramatically clean off the dirt, oil and dead skin on your face. Don’t use this one too often though.It’s a very strong treatment and because of that, your skin could become very sensitive to it if overused. It’s an extreme treatment for severe acne, so only use when necessary.
Brown Sugar Scrub In the shower, once your skin is damp (and your pores have been opened up by the heat), scrub the acne problem areas with brown sugar. This will clean out dirt, dead skin cells and oil clogging your pores and soften your skin as well. The next day, you will see a noticeable change in your acne and your skin will be silky smooth. If you really want to get the most out of this scrub, apply a toner after you get out of the shower to truly clean out everything in your pores. Use this scrub only 2-3 times per month though, because it dramatically opens and cleans your pores. If you overuse it, your body may begin to overproduce oil and your acne could get worse. (My Personal Fave!)
Egg White to Remove Oil Crack 1-2 eggs in a bowl separating out the yolk from the egg white. Then, beat the eggs whites gently until consistant. Next, simple spread it over your face and let sit for 15-20 minutes. The eggs white remove excess oil from your skin.
Egg Yolk to Stop Pores from Clogging Just as egg whites help acne, egg yolks have benefits as well. Most of the nutrients in eggs are found in the yolk and it’s very true for your skin. Eggs yolks contain lots of Vitamin A, which is comprised of retinoids. Retin-A, which is used in many beauty products (and you’ve probably heard of it on many commercials) is found in Vitamin A. It’s great for battling acne, because it helps regulate the amount of skin cells being produced, therefore preventing your pores from becoming clogged. Also found in Vitamin A is 13-cis-retinol, which helps regulate oil and bacteria production. So, a yolk battles all of your skin problems in one use. Just crack 1-2 eggs and separate the yolk from the egge white. Mix the yolks together then apply to your face. Within a few minutes the yolk will harden. Once hardened, let the yolk sit on your face for 15-20 minutes, then rinse off. Besides the fact that it is a very cheap and useful treatment, this facial mask can be used as often as 1-2 times per week. - via Inspiring Pretty
I had read on other blogs before of doing a nutmeg, cinnamon and honey mixture as a spot treatment. I mixed it together till it was a silky syrup like consistency and added it all over my face, letting it sit for 20 minutes, sometimes longer. This works great and help significantly reduce the size of acne for me. Bloggers noted not to scrub it into your face as it can hurt, and if you have sensitive skin, be careful because it is rather strong.
"Nutmeg has anti-inflammatory properties and was used since ancient times for a variety of skin diseases including ringworms and eczema. Add it with honey which has antiseptic benefits and the concoction is supposed to help erase acne marks over time. It is also supposed to help lighten skin tone. " - via Viva Woman
"Nutmeg has anti-inflammatory properties and was used since ancient times for a variety of skin diseases including ringworms and eczema. Add it with honey which has antiseptic benefits and the concoction is supposed to help erase acne marks over time. It is also supposed to help lighten skin tone. " - via Viva Woman
You can also use brown sugar + olive oil + honey for a lip exfoliator.
Little did you know the ModCloth is not just for clothes, but they post tons of awesome tips and DIY stuff!
And finally my personal true love, Coconut Oil. The uses for Coconut Oil are really endless, both externally and internally. It is easy to find at health food stores and will run about $8-$13 for a large tub of it. I don't use it as often in cooking as I should, it can be used as a replacement for butter and oils, but I bought my tub of it back around the holidays and it's still half way full and I use it almost daily. I couldn't rave about this stuff more. I use it at night after I take a shower and the next morning my skin is soft as a baby's bottom and the complexion looks a lot better too. Use it.
Understandably, with any of these you want to be careful as it's possible to have an allergic reaction, but these are affordable and effective!
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