Like I said before, my skin is so hard to take care of. I always either have really dry or really oily skin and I could never figure out how to take care of it once and for all. Lately, I’ve been using coconut oil for EVERYTHING and since I didn’t really want to go out and buy a product to just take a chance on, I just used what I had at home instead.
For me, acne is triggered by stress which I have enough of to go around. The first few weeks of classes, bills, and two jobs, it’s been challenging to say the least and my skin is taking the toll.
Now we all know lavender is good for anything and everything and so is coconut oil. Naturally, the two go together better than me and coffee, which is a pretty high and mighty statement. Every night I would put coconut oil and lavender on my face which not only took all my makeup off that my makeup remover couldn’t, but also moisturized and cleansed my face. The next day I would wake up and my face would look so much healthier, hydrated, and clear of and redness. I thought I was in the clear and had found a miracle remedy, so I went about my daily routine of concealer and powder, the extent of my makeup routine. I would get home from classes and work and I would be right back to where I started. It was more than stress that was causing the damage, it was my makeup.
Granted, I don’t wear expensive makeup or high quality products at that. I don’t wear enough to invest more than what Walmart has to offer. I was afraid the makeup was clogging my pores and creating build up, which would explain the acne being only where I apply concealer. But the dry skin, I couldn’t explain that one. After a sudden occurrence to me, I remembered I’m studying chemistry…that could be useful.
Titanium dioxide, TEA (triethanolamine), DEA (Diethanolamine) and MEA (Monoethanolamine), these ingredients can all be found in many concealers, face washes, and lotions. After looking more into each one, I found that titanium dioxide is a known carcinogen while the others are known as nitrosamines. Nitrosamines are banned in Canada and the EU for being hormone-disrupting and causing dry irritations over long periods of exposure or usage.
That woke me up. If all of this can be in my little tube of concealer or my powder, what else is in my lotions, hair products, and even food. Harsh chemicals are everywhere and though we can’t replace them all, what we can replace is important. My essential oils and other organic products play such a key role in that, Young Living has really opened my eyes.
Sunday night I made a promise to myself that I would only wear my mascara on Monday (one step at a time). I put my coconut oil mix on that night and woke up feeling great. I was extremely nervous to go out without my makeup, I was letting down my guard and my self-confidence had taken shelter in the back of my mind.
On the first day, I tried not to think about it all day as I had four classes, two hours of work interacting with other students, and two work meetings. I could tell my face was missing a glow of self-confidence but I tried not to let it get to me. This was a big step for me.
While walking on campus I saw girls that were much prettier than I was and it was honestly intimidating. Body expectations and beauty standards are so high in today’s society that it’s so hard to keep up and when we can’t, it takes a toll on self-esteem. Women experience this first hand every day, but the self-empowerment from overcoming these challenges is so much greater than mastering makeup skills. It just takes the first step to really start believing in ourselves rather than the celebrities we wish we could be.
Throughout the week I felt much better than the day before. Taking it a step further by deciding not to touch my hot tools for my hair was also a big deal for me since I hate putting my hair up, but it was actually much easier than I thought. This week was all about embracing my natural beauty. Waking up got easier as I got to sleep in by an extra hour without having to do anything but decide what to wear for the day.
Moral of the story is I actually came to embrace everything about my natural beauty. My acne even disappeared and it’s hasn’t been a week yet. My hair is much healthier and actually, the longer I don’t use hot tools, the more curly my hair dries naturally. I threw away my makeup and mixed up more coconut oil with copaiba, lavender, and ordered some tea tree oil. I feel confident, I feel amazing, I feel myself. I encourage every woman out there to take that first step to believing in yourself rather than trying to be a Kylie or Kendall Jenner. We don’t need anymore of those in the world.
“The woman who does not require validation from anyone is the most feared individual on the planet.”
-Mohadesa Najumi
the lavendear 