Charcoal Face masks!

So I was hearing a lot about people trying charcoal face masks, so I decided to do a little research on my own.And though theres no scientific evidence to prove that charcoal really does anything for you, it does say that it is capable of absorbing 100-200 times its weight in toxins. And with all the stress these past few weeks, I could guarantee that I was overflowing with toxins. So I gave it a try, and liked the results! My face felt very exfoliated and clean. I could see the reduced black heads on my nose. And since I made mine a peel off wax, it even helped get rid of the little baby hairs on my face (which is good for flawless makeup application). It's a simple and easy mask to make, so give it a try. I didn't see any negatives about using charcoal on your skin, so even if you don't like the results, it won't do you any harm.

How I made my mask:

Well I can't say I used any exact measurements. (oops) I just kinda winged it until it was a consistency that I liked. I made a mask for 4 people. So I used 4 on the Natures Way activated charcoal capsules. I got mine from CVS (work) and they were about $18 for the bottle on 100. 

I opened the 4 capsules into a disposable cup (it does stain, so don't use anything you'd mind getting a stain on)

I added Elmer's non toxic white glue until the consistency was pasty and looked spreadable. 

I mixed with a plastic spoon, and applied with a foundation brush.

I let it sit until it dried completely.

Peeled it all off

Then washed my face with my routine Lush face wash. (Do y'all want details on my daily face routine? leave a comment below)

Don't wanna use the glue? Use water instead. This will make a wash off, instead of a peel off mask. Just add water until the consistency is what you desire. 

I took this charcoal a step further though. I mixed it with some coconut oil (which, if you swish in your mouth is good for eliminating bad breath and whiting teeth) and used it to brush my teeth. 1 capsule to one tablespoon of the oil. Brush brush brush, and rinse as normal. The taste isn't too bad, because the coconut oil masks the taste of the charcoal. But I felt like I had a fresher smile after.

You can even take the charcoal capsules as a detoxing supplement. Just make sure you do your own research on the benefits of using them.

Let me know if you guys try it and what you think! Can't wait to hear from y'all!  

Study tips and treats!

Long nights of studying require an open mind, good notes, a full belly, and a nosy monkey!

Personally, I can't study without having something to munch on. Those munchies can be as simple as fruits and nuts, or, in the case of the picture, something more hardy like pasta.

You want snacks that will nourish your brain and help you focus and retain the information you're learning.

I can't drink coffee to help me stay up. It makes me very anxious, and my heart beat too fast. I prefer to go with green tea. Green tea has about 24-45mg of caffeine without the jitters. STAY AWAY FROM HERBEL TEAS! Those will put you to sleep.

My first go-to study snack is nuts. They're easy to munch on and mess free. Here are some benefits of nuts.

Walnuts:Walnuts contain a number of neuroprotective compounds, such as, vitamin E, folate, and omega 3. These help with brain health and function.

Almonds: Almonds are loaded with nutrients and antioxidents. They lower your blood pressure and cholesterol, and are good for eye health. 

Cashews: Cashews help with heart health and high blood pressure to keep you calm during stressful exam week.

So those are my preferred nuts of choice, but theres plenty more to choose from. I like to add some golden raisons to my mix for a bit of sweetness.

My go-to fruit while studying is apples. Though the myth that apples have as much caffeine as coffee is...a myth, the natural sugars in apples help keep you up.

But sometimes, small snacks don't cut it, and you need something more substantial to keep you going. That's when quick easy recipes come into play.

In the picture above, I made a quick egg noodles with pesto. All the healthy calories from the pesto and olive oil kept my energy level high while I slaved the night away over my notes.

The recipe:

Boil the egg noodles for 9 mins or until tender.

Strain

Put the strained egg noodles back in your pot

Add about 2 tablespoons of basil pesto, olive oil, chilli flakes, and some parmesan cheese

It doesn't get any simpler than that! 15 mins tops! Quick, simple, yummy, and gives you enough energy to study the night away. 

Some quick study tips:

Don't study on your bed! Your body knows that bed=sleep. So you'll become sleepy while studying

Study on a desk. Good posture=wakefulness and focus.

Have a good light source. Week light leads to strain on your eyes, and when your eyes are tired, your body thinks it's time for bed.

Don't cram last minute. Space the study material out. Study over the chapters as they are presented by the professor. It's easier to review multiple chapters as once than to learn them from scratch. 

Don't stress! Stay calm and positive. Keep telling yourself "you can do it!" because you are your biggest cheerleader.