So I’ve been thinking, what can I do to embarrass myself even more…I’ve already shared my issue with debt to the internet world, how about I add a terrible photo. Well here it is. But as awful as I may look, I feel great now!
Pregnancy acne is a very real thing, I’ve come to realize. It’s no fun. My normal go-to option for a bad breakout is to buy those facial scrubs in the grocery store that make my face burn. But they all have salicylic acid and benzoyl peroxide in them and, it’s recommended to avoid those while pregnant. My other option is to get a facial at a spa…which I did last month and shelled out $85+ tip. Not my best move while on a spend freeze, but I was feeling pretty gross considering that I still didn’t look pregnant, just fat, and my face looked like a 13-year-old.
With this latest breakout I decided to look at some other options. My diet is mostly consisting of organic produce and lean meats, with an occasional ice cream thrown in. Plus, I’ve been drinking so much water lately it’s ridiculous. So I don’t think my diet is the cause of the breakout…just the normal pregnancy hormones. With the help of my mom, we put together a little home spa day to see if that helped. If not, at least it would be relaxing. We tried two recipes for homemade facial scrubs that worked together, creating the Fire & Ice Facial. It felt amazing, and it was all made from items at home so I didn’t have to worry about harmful chemicals entering my body. Still waiting to see how well my acne clears up, but all in all it was a very relaxing time. My sister even painted my nails so I got a true spa day.
Home Spa Day: Start with a make-up free face, then use the Spiced Sugar Scrub, followed by the Cooling Cucumber Mask (modified slightly from a recipe in Woman’s World)
Spiced Sugar Scrub Recipe:
-2 Tablespoons brown sugar
-1 Tablespoon honey
-1 Tablespoon lime juice
-½ teaspoon cinnamon
-½ teaspoon paprika
Mix all ingredients in a small bowl until well combined. Microwave the mixture for 10 seconds. Apply the scrub over the entire face (watch the eye area because that paprika won’t feel great in there). Massage with fingertips using a small circular motion. Finish by rinsing face with warm water and pat dry. Move onto the Cooling Cucumber Mask next.
Cooling Cucumber Mask Recipe:
-½ cup cucumber, chopped
-¼ cup plain yogurt (I used Greek)
-1 teaspoon powdered milk
-2 teaspoons aloe vera (I used this from a plant, rather than buying the processed gel)
Combine all ingredients in a blender until a smooth paste has formed. Place mask in the refrigerator or freezer until comfortably chilled. Gently smooth the mask over your face using your fingertips. Allow to soothe your skin for 20 minutes, then rinse with cool water and pat dry. (During the 20 minutes, I put cucumbers on my eyes to relax even more!)
