**Quick Post** Hair & Skincare Tip

Sometimes, when you know something, you assume everyone knows that thing. Assumptions are not useful so I'm popping in to share a simple beauty tip with you all. This is for men and women. Here goes:

If you tend to have dry hair or skin, maybe try some of this:

this just happens to be the brand I ordered this time

It doesn't have to be that specific brand. I'm thrifty and have used several brands - all priced under $5. This just happens to be the one I ordered this time around.

You can use this right out of the bottle if you want or you can add it into your other hair and skin products. I rarely use it straight except for on these dry feet of mine. I like to add this to leave-in hair products and skin lotions. I almost don't know what lotion without glycerin feels like.

Glycerin is a humectant. It is ultra moisturizing. Straight out of the container, it feels thick and greasy. Don't freak. Once applied to dry skin, the greasy part goes away leaving a soft and dew-like feel.

Like I mentioned, I rarely use it right out of the bottle on my hair. That's only because it takes patience to apply it. My hair is kinky-curly and thick. When I apply straight glycerin, I have to take my time and apply it to really small sections. That's because you have to smooth the thick glycerin into the hair. It's a pain in the tail, but totally worth it. Applying to damp hair is easier. Mainly though, the easiest way is to apply when mixed in with some leave-in conditioner.

You can use glycerin on your lips and cuticles and rough elbows. I'm not sure of people can be allergic to it so... use common sense and maybe test-swatch or something.

I've been using glycerin for a while, but I did not know until recently that it seems to help perfume last longer on the skin. Score.

So there you go. I've reviewed different brands of glycerin before but assumed most people knew the general benefits. A neighbor of mine never heard of using it for the beauty benefits. It's cheap and versatile, which is why I keep some around.

Peace
--Free

**REVIEW** Fractionated Coconut Oil by Radha Beauty

I've done reviews on a lot of fractionated coconut oils and this is the latest one:

You'll get an eBook after purchase

This is the 16-oz therapeutic grade fractionated coconut oil by Radha Beauty. 

I like this one just fine and it is a great quality oil. It's one of the better ones that I have tried, but the price is quite high (about double what some others go for) unless you get the Prime pricing. If you do snag the Prime price, this becomes more affordable than other quality brands - way more affordable. This one has no fillers or additives and that's a plus. The biggest plus: Radha Beauty offers a Lifetime money-back guarantee. Can't beat that, right?

Another thing to mention about this brand: There is a "no harm to nature" seal on the label. Not only should we be concerned with using natural products that are good for us, but it's nice that we pay attention to the environment.

Now, because of the super-affordable (Prime) pricing, the large size, and the high quality of this oil, you can splurge a little when using it. I've already done multiple posts talking about the benefits of using fractionated coconut oils (FCOs), so let me tell you a new method I've come up with for using it in my skincare routine.

While I've been using most of my carrier oils in combination with fragrant essential oils (as DIY perfumes, for instance), on my skin or hair (as moisturizers), and the like, I came up with a different combination this time. For a scrub. Or, actually, several types of scrubs: for face, lips, and hands/cuticles. I came up with the idea after using some solid coconut oil, baking soda and peppermint oil to brush my teeth. Here are the "recipes" I've been using for the various scrubs using the FCO:

For Lips:
In the palm of one hand, combine about a 1/2 teaspoon of FCO with about 1 teaspoon of baking soda and mix it to a paste with one finger. Brush this across your lips (gently) with your finger. RInse your lips and apply some balm or another (heavier) oil to keep them soft. (By the way, I've been reading about people using a little peppermint oil as a natural lip plumper, but I didn't want to put the peppermint on my lips right after doing a scrub.)

For Face:
Using a little bowl, mix about a tablespoon of baking soda with enough FCO to make a paste. Dot your face with a couple drops of a heavier oil (I like using argan or castor oil), then dab on the paste and massage (again, be gentle), concentrating on places where you have dry or scaly patches or blackheads. You don't need to overdo the massaging. Rinse with slightly warm water to make sure all the baking soda is gone then pat dry. Apply a little bit of argan, castor or rosehip oil if you want. What's nice with this is that the oil left on your skin will be warm and moisturizing. Personally, I avoid my eye area. Also, I don't know if this would work if you have skin that's in breakout mode. I have sensitive skin and I haven't had any problems. I like doing this before bedtime so that whatever oil I use afterwards can work overnight to keep my skin hydrated.

For Hands/Cuticles:
I use the same mix as I do for my lips, but I like to add a little bit of lemon oil or tea tree oil. Also, I'm a little more aggressive in massaging my cuticles and hands than I am with my lips or face. When you rinse your hands, you might like letting them sit for a while in warm water before blotting them dry.

Just play with the different combinations. The nice thing is that you don't have to worry about chemicals or other additives. I can't wait to do a foot treatment using the FCO/baking soda mix. I might add some peppermint to the mix when I do that.

So, this fractionated oil by Radha is really good for all these consistent uses. Plus, there is the best thing about fractionated coconut oil - that it doesn't stain fabrics. No reason not to slather it on after a warm shower or bath to lock in some moisture. I haven't used it yet for brushing my teeth, but I might give it a try. At any rate, the price  and the size kind of takes away any excuses you might have for not pampering yourself more often. And that lifetime guarantee just tops the cake.

Be sure to check out other products by Radha Beauty.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE: I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.

**REVIEW** Pure Body Naturals Organic Argan Oil

Let me just say right up front that I'm pretty impressed with Pure Body Naturals. No surprise that I really like the other product I've gotten from them to try out.

Of course, argan oil  generally is getting to be quite popular for its uses in hair care and beauty routines. In some places, it's even used in and on food. I didn't know that before. When I opted to try out this Organic Argan Oil by Pure Body Naturals I was most interested in the products moisturizing properties for hair, face, skin and nails - as it's promoted for.

I do like using oils in my beauty routine and this one worked really, really well on my dry fingernails and hands. It worked much better than any cuticle oil I've ever tried. For my hair, it was just a little bit too heavy. I have naturally kinky/curly hair and when I used this as a leave-in oil, it weighed down the curls.

It was a wonderful skin moisturizer (especially after a warm bath) so, after about a week, I started to re-think the way I could use it for my hair. Instead of trying to put it into my dry (or semi-damp) hair as a leave-in, I used it as a rinse-out conditioning treatment. And... SCORE! I think I mentioned recently how I have damaged my hair into stubborn dryness... Well, this oil really helped add some moisture and shine that lasted after my hair was dry from the rinse. It also worked as a hair softener. I was pretty pleased with that.

The argan oil has omega 3s that are so good for the skin. For facial use, the oil worked well (in my case) as a makeup remover. It's much cheaper than the makeup-removing oils that you can buy at the drugstores, and it worked so much better. Since I was wiping it off using my usual baby wipes, my skin retained enough of the oil for a moisturizing effect without the heaviness I got just using the oil as a leave-on treatment. Just like with my hair, it was too heavy for me unless I used it moderately.

If you have a different skin type (or even a skin issue, such as eczema) you might want to work out your own ways of using the oil to get the benefits. I can tell you that I do like using it on my legs and the backs of my thighs - especially when I'm going to be wearing hosiery - to keep my skin from drying out and feeling abused.

I did use the oil as an overnight facial moisturizer. I applied it sparingly and, by morning when I washed (baby-wiped) my face, my skin felt soothed and ready for my daytime face cream. I also plan to try it as an after-treatment when I use my konjac sponge. By the way, I did notice that, if you do want to wear it as a daytime moisturizer, you may want to blot well before applying matte makeup.

Since this bottle is so big (4oz), I am going to be using some of the oil to mix and use with some of the stronger essential oils I'm trying out. I'm going to love having a Sweet Orange-scented/argan mix for my after-bath moisturizing...

Once again, I have to give Pure Body Naturals credit for standing behind their product with a Lifetime 100% money-back guarantee. Simple, direct, and good.

Peace
--Free

DISCLOSURE:
I received one or more of the products mentioned above for free using Tomoson.com. Regardless, I only recommend products or services I use personally and believe will be good for my readers.