** Aloe Vera **
Aloe Vera gel is my forever go-to natural product for my skincare, hair and nutrients. I have a few of my own plants and they grow back rapidly after you cut off its leaves so once you buy one plant you’ll have Aloe Vera forever. The gel inside the leaf is what provides the most beneficial ingredients. My favorite way to use Aloe Vera is as a skin moisturizer. In the morning, after I put on my daily sunscreen, I always add a small, dime size amount of Aloe Vera gel to my face. It is rich in vitamin A, C and E, these minerals help prevent breakouts, promote healing and supports healthy cell functions. By using Aloe Vera on your skin, it is a good way to prevent some blemishes from occurring versus healing already formed acne. Somedays whenever my skin is not looking the best and I can see a blemish on the way, I like to mix apple cider vinegar and Aloe Vera together and use it as a toner after I wash my face. I mix about ¼ cup of apple cider vinegar and 2 table spoons of Aloe Vera, then I use a cotton ball to rub the mixture all across my face.
I use Aloe Vera gel for many different ways to help nourish and style my hair. Whenever I notice my hair is looking drier, I add Aloe Vera to my conditioner because it gives my hair additional shine and helps reduce the dandruff that I get whenever my scalp is extra dry. One thing that I tried while trying to find a good curly haircare line, is Aloe Vera. I use this natural gel to help hold my curls together. Some days, whenever my hair is freshly washed, I put the Aloe Vera gel all around my hair and use my fingers to create a few spiral shaped curls. This is a really great product to use that won’t make my hair feel like it’s full of product and it still manages my curls.
Another way that I typically use Aloe Vera is by consuming it for the nutritional value that it holds. By eating this plant, it helps keep your digestive system moving and healthy, along with providing value vitamins and amino acids. I add a scoop to my morning green tea in order to start my day with a good digestive movement or I will add a few cubes in my salad for additional texture. The actual Aloe Vera gel does not have a distinct taste but it reminds me of bitter jelly whenever it is by itself.
** Sunscreen Everywhere**
Here’s a question…Would you rather look 30 whenever you’re 80 or 80 whenever you’re 50?
Just Wondering, if you want to look young forever then all you have to do is moisturize. Literally, that is it. Every single day, you need to apply a generous amount of moisturizer to your face and neck. In the morning, it is important to apply a moisturizer that has at least 30 SPH in order to maximize the amount of UV rays that are blocked. The more exposure you have to the sun’s powerful rays, the more prone you are to having age spots, wrinkles and moles. I try to avoid the sun as much as possible, but whenever I am out, I ensure to always have sunscreen on. At night time, I use a moisturizer that does not contain sunscreen because I am not going outside, and I like to have a nice clean slate whenever I wake up in the morning. Emphasis on moisturizing your neck, because in case you didn’t know your neck ages as well. If you do not moisturize your neck right now, then you may notice that you have little bumps that can resemble chicken skin. By simply moisturizing your neck, you can avoid having rough looking skin and you will prevent further signs of aging on your face and neck.
** Two Piece Fit **
Today, I created a bikini out of an old remnant piece of fabric I found in my sewing cabinet. I was actually planning on creating it yesterday, but my sister needed my help unpacking her entire house, so I wore the fabric as a tie top instead. It was super easy to create this 2-piece set, I left my sewing machine in Denton, so this project required no sewing at all. Initially, I cut the bottom of the bikini to fit like a regular swimsuit bottom that needed to be tied together on each side. Then I cut 7 pieces of fabric that would be long enough to use as straps for the top and bottom. After having the cut strips, I hand sewed four individual strips to each corner of the bottoms in order to secure them on the side. Once the bottoms were done, I cut 2 triangle shapes from the fabric and used safety pins to create a makeshift hem. Later, I inserted a strap through the hem closure in order to create a way to secure the back. Once this strap was attached, using safety pins, I added one strap on each side of the top to create the halter-bikini type closure.
** Smoothies and Salads **
During the summer, I am mainly always in a swimsuit by the pool just hanging out. So, I try to use this time to remain fit and healthy. I noticed that it is hard for me to meet my required goals for my daily fruit and vegetable intake. It is easy to drink a smoothie or eat a salad that has both fruit and vegetables in it. In my smoothies, I like to add in carrots, spinach, kale, beets, celery, cucumbers and tomatoes to my regular fruit smoothies to make sure I get all my veggies as well. Whenever I make myself salads, I typically eat them as a whole meal, so I try to add a variety of fruits and vegetables to fill me up. I like to add strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, coconuts, cherries, and oranges. In my opinion, taking the extra time to add in a mixture of both fruit and veggies is more beneficial for you, since you are going to eat that meal anyways, why not kill two birds with one stone.
Allison C Dibble 