Large Pores & Textured skin? Want to know how to have smoother skin, naturally?
Can I be "frank" with you? 
Haha, did you get that pun? (Frankincense)

As soon as I learned about toxins, fragrance, pthalates and more, I dumped all my store bought, high end skin programs right in the trash. Yes, I was spending a ton of money chasing a fountain of youth. I was sold on a dream, a lie, a sales clerk story, an ad campaign...all to have tons of excess bathroom clutter!

Yes, I've probably bought them all.  Please tell me I am not alone?

Most of these items worked to some degree, but I was smelling the product well before it even touched my skin, and that's a red flag.  I was also constantly thinking about "my skin being the largest organ of my body" and wondering how many toxins I was feeding it. I decided to read the ingredients list. Well, that lasted about 1 minute, until I had to use my phone to look up words I couldnt even pronounce. To put it bluntly, I was stressing out, but struggled with the idea of what healthier alternative was best to use in it's place for beautiful skin. 

After throwing most everything away, or giving it away in some cases, I filtered through my bathroom drawers and countertop and I kept it simple!  

I stuck with the core 3...
1. FACE WASH (2x to remove male up)
2. TONER on an organic cotton pad
3. MOISTURIZER
NOTE: I use the same moisturizer for day and for night...trick is, I add a couple of drops of Dry Skin Formula Essential Oil to the moisturizer at night, or Beauty Glow Essential oil blend, or even Phyto Essence!

All of this is working very well...but I've noticed my skin is looking more porous and not as smooth as it once was. I found myself questioning the efficacy of my protocol. In doing more research, I decided I need to add back in a treatment toner. One that helps to shed excess skin cells. That's exactly what was happening, a build up of excess skin cells on my face that created that textured, dull look. 

I found what I was missing and I want to share it with you! See my smoothing skin recipe below. Try it and see how it helps you glow...naturally.


To make the best salicylic acid toner with essential oils, you want to create a balanced formula that includes salicylic acid for exfoliation and the benefits of essential oils for added skin care. Here's how you can make a potent, soothing, and effective salicylic acid toner.

Ingredients:

  1. Salicylic Acid (2% solution) – This is effective for exfoliating the skin and clearing clogged pores.
  2. Witch Hazel – A great natural astringent that helps tighten pores and calm inflammation.
  3. Aloe Vera Gel – Soothes and hydrates the skin, helping balance the drying effect of salicylic acid.
  4. Essential Oils(choose based on your skin needs):
    • Tea Tree Oil – Antibacterial and anti-inflammatory, great for acne-prone skin.
    • Lavender Oil – Soothes and calms irritation, great for sensitive skin.
    • Geranium Oil – Helps balance oily skin and has antibacterial properties.
    • Rosemary Oil – Stimulates circulation and helps with acne.
    • Frankincense Oil – Promotes skin regeneration and healing.
  5. Distilled Water – To dilute and create the right consistency for the toner.

Tools:

  • A clean, empty glass bottle (preferably with a spray nozzle or dropper for easy application). I use an amber colored bottle. I stay away from plastic and clear bottles for degradation purposes.
  • A small mixing bowl.

Instructions:

  1. Base Solution:
    • Start with 2 oz (60 ml) of salicylic acid solution (2% concentration). This is the active ingredient that will exfoliate and unclog pores.
  2. Add Witch Hazel:
    • Add 1 oz (30 ml) of witch hazel. Witch hazel helps tighten pores, reduce inflammation, and balance your skin. It also acts as a natural preservative.
  3. Add Aloe Vera:
    • Add 1 oz (30 ml) of aloe vera gel to soothe the skin. Aloe vera also helps hydrate and calm the skin after the exfoliation from salicylic acid.
  4. Essential Oils:
    • Add 5-6 drops of essential oil(s)of your choice. You can either use one or a blend of essential oils.
      • For acne-prone skin, tea tree oil and rosemary oil are great choices.
      • For calming effects, lavender and frankincense oils are soothing.
  5. Add Water:
    • Add 1 oz (30 ml) of distilled water to dilute the toner and make the mixture suitable for daily use. If you want a stronger concentration, you can reduce the amount of water.
  6. Mix Well:
    • Pour all the ingredients into your bottle or jar, and shake well to combine. Make sure the essential oils are evenly dispersed in the solution.

How to Use:

  1. Cleanse your face with your regular face wash.
  2. After cleansing, apply the toner (PM works best for me) using a cotton pad or spray it directly onto your face. Gently swipe the cotton pad across your skin, focusing on areas with acne or excess oil. You can also use your hands to press the toner into your skin. Remember to wash your hands after to save your fingertip skin! 
  3. Allow the toner to absorb for a few minutes before applying moisturizer or any other treatments.

Tips:

  • Patch Test: Before using the toner all over your face, do a patch test on a small area of skin to make sure you don’t have an adverse reaction, especially with essential oils.
  • Frequency: Start by using the toner 2-3 times a week to see how your skin reacts. You can increase the frequency as your skin adjusts.
  • Storage: Store the toner in a cool, dark place, and it should last for 2-3 weeks.
This homemade salicylic acid toner with essential oils will help keep your skin clear, balanced, and refreshed without being too harsh or drying.

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My story...My Why

 
For so long, I tiptoed around my why. Today, I am coming clean and sharing. (This story is written for you, my sweet kiddos.)

Everyone has a why. Why did you decide to make a significant change in your life? Why do you want a better future? Your "why" is the purpose that fuels a life changing decision. Why am I so passionate about making lifestyle changes? Let me tell you my "why".

I was a licensed nail technician for a big part of my career. I later went on to do become a full cosmetologist. I had a ton of amazing customers/friends who made my world go around. I loved my business because of the people. I also worked day in day out with acrylic (ethly methacrylates & methyl methacrylates), polish removers, nail polish, toluene, and formaldehydes. Nothing but dangerous VOC's day in and day out. Those were just some of the chemicals that I, and my clients, would sit over and breathe in. Those same chemicals would also touch our skin liberally. Hey, it was a different time. It was fake nails/big hair/big money days. We were not awakened to the damage of toxins like we are today. Besides that, getting prettied up & chatting over a salon appointment is harmless, right?

Well, in 2016, my middle son, Zach, was diagnosed with a type of cancer, at the tender age of 12. I remember being at UF Shands Hospital and hearing the words, "Your son doesn't have a cyst on his forehead, he has a tumor." They said it right in front of all of us, including him. I immediately hugged him tight and balled!!! I didn't want to cry in front of him, I wanted to be strong, but I just couldn't hold it in. At 12 years old, still a child and not quite a young man yet, he sat on the patient table in shock. All I could think about was that I did this to him. I caused this. You see, I was pregnant with Zachary when I was competing in nail competitions and being endorsed by acrylic nail companies. I was traveling to NY and other national shows. I was living life like a Rockstar! It was a fun part of my life back then...so who would've ever seen this in the future? I should have, because I also got pregnant again, about 8 months after Zach was born, and had a miscarriage. Signs?

The doctor told me that it wasn't me that caused this to happen. It was a mutation of his dendritic cells. I was not convinced. I still, almost 10 years later, am not convinced. I will never know the truth, but one thing I do know is that we all received God's blessing. Zach went on chemotherapy and had a ton of ups and downs. He actually had surgery to place a port near his heart for easy IV access and would receive his treatment every 2 weeks, starting on a Monday. No fail, by Tuesday afternoon he would go into septic shock, and have to be hospitalized in the ICU. We are talking BP of 35 and plunging. What was happening to my child? It was such a violent, torturous time in his life. Chemo was NO JOKE! Scared wasn't the right word. You never know fear, and a loss of control, until you cannot help your own child. As parents, we are supposed to protect them from everything...and I couldn't. 

You definitely get to know God quickly. It is Him who saved us all. The song 'I Surrender All' was my testimony. I had to let go and let God. It took 8 months of chemo, and years of scans, to say he is fully healed and lives an amazing healthy life! So much so, he has chosen to become a Nurse Anesthetist and help other kids get their ports put in. Life changing trajectory, eh?

That same Zach, who by the way, is a gym loving, healthy 22 year old now, took a college class called Organic Chemistry during his quest to be a CRNA. Each day, he would learn it all and come home to share with me. I was so intrigued and so was he. He learned about volatile compounds in medicines, food, cosmetics, cooking oils, cleaning products, home flooring, and more. We both became "aware" of what daily goes into our skin and body. Once you know, you can't hide from that kind of information. It's in the forefront of your mind each and every time you reach for something. 

I had already started to make changes in our life, probably more so because of wanting to be self reliant, but those changes morphed into so much more. I became a homesteader. Of course, I do the sourdough breads, have chickens, make most everything we eat from scratch (including salad dressings, apple cider vinegar, kombucha and more), barter bread for raw milk, eat as much organic and avoid fast food/eating out as much as possible...but it went further than that. I removed as many toxins from our home as I could. I stopped synthetic supplements, lighting candles, using room sprays, store bought cleaning products & laundry soaps, stopped using OTC perfumes, and bettered my skincare. Am I a "granola mom" as my kids call me? Probably. But, are my kids and husband learning alongside me? Yes! 

I am always proud of all of them, but watching them grow in a healthier direction is priceless. 

Unfortunately, I cant go back in time and make changes to the life I've lived. All I can do is be more of a better person today, than I was the day before. I want everyone around me to live a healthy, longer life. I want my family, and yours, to be aware and make at least 1 small change at a time. Don't live life in the fast lane wondering (or ignoring) if all this lifestyle pollution will affect you...sometimes you get lucky and it doesn't, but mostly, it's a matter of when. We can't control all things in our environment, but we must control what we can within our body, home & car. In this time in our life, we have the power to do so!

 xoxo- Chrissy ( & family)

"Knowledge is Power, Power provides Information; Information leads to Education, Education breeds Wisdom; Wisdom is Liberation."





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