By: Vanessa Steed

​A quick Google search will reveal many different ways to strengthen and repair your nails, unfortunately though, most of the products and methods that come up are not vegan-friendly. So what are we vegans to do? Put up with weak or damaged nails forever? Luckily the answer is no. There are quite a few methods and products that can allow the vegans among us to have strong and healthy nails.
 
The Quick Fix - Nail Strengthener

Nail strengthener is perfect for those of us who already have damaged nails from incorrect nail polish removal. It does not actually repair your fingernails, but it does protect them and makes life much easier while they grow out at their natural strength.
 
When you do a bit of digging around, you quickly find that not only do most of the big brands of nail polish products contain animal ingredients, but they are also full of dangerous chemicals. Finding a vegan-friendly nail strengthener is not easy.
 
But they are out there; you just have to find them - I can take some of the hard work out of this for you: here is a list of my favorites:
​
●Karma Organic
●Deborah Lippmann
●Zoya
●a.dorn
●ORLY
 
Most of these brands also make vegan-friendly and non-toxic nail polish, so you can still keep your nails looking beautiful while staying faithful to your values.
 
The slower (but more reliable) methods

The following tips will not fix your nails overnight. They work by giving your body what it needs to grow new robust and healthy nails. It may take weeks or months to see the benefits of these methods, but they are well and truly worth it.
 
Eat Silica Rich Foods

Silica is an essential nutrient for our bodies, among its many benefits is the fact that it naturally strengthens your nails, hair, and skin. Foods that are rich in silica include: cucumbers, tomatoes, millet and leafy greens.
 
Increase Your Protein Intake

Our nails are made from a protein called Keratin, and without enough protein in our diet, our nails will not have the proper nutrients to grow healthy nails. Luckily protein is quite easy for a vegan to consume and it can even be delicious! Make sure you eat more foods such as green peas, Quinoa, nuts, nut butter, beans, chickpeas and non-dairy milk.
 
Take Vitamin B7

Also known as Biotin, Vitamin B7 is an absolute superstar when it comes to healthy hair, skin, and nails.
Biotin commonly added to lotions and hair products, but it is commonly believed that it is not absorbed very well through from these products. It should be ingested to get the full benefit so make sure you either take a vitamin B7 tablets or eat more B7 rich foods such as spinach, mushrooms, avocado and cauliflower.
 
Stay Away from Foods that Deplete your Body's Minerals
​
There are some common foods that can inhibit your body's ability to absorb important nutrients such as calcium, zinc, magnesium and sulfur. Trans fats have this adverse effect on our bodies and are found in fast foods and some processed foods. Sugar is another food that can have this negative effect when consumed in large quantities.
 
Bio

Vanessa is a mum, a wife and a lover of all things to do with nails and nail polish! She has worked in the beauty industry for over 10 years but is currently an at-home mom looking after two young kids. You can find more of Vanessa’s writing at https://www.diygelnailkits.com/
 
 
 
 
 
 

By:  Mayfair Dela Cerna

​Considered as one of the most beautiful flowers in the world, we always correlate roses to different notions of beauty and love. But much more than that, they offer enhancing benefits that do wonders on the skin. Chamomile and roses are commonly used in beauty products. It gives off a cooling sensation, gentle on the skin, and has anti-inflammatory perks. On the other hand, honey and oats have long been used to soothe skin, cleanse pores, and exfoliate skin. When you blend chamomile, roses, honey, and oats all together, you can create a unique organic cleanser and exfoliator that leaves your skin smooth and refreshed.
 
So how can you experience the magic of roses firsthand? Easy! Make your own DIY organic facial scrub out of roses and chamomile. This organic scrub will naturally remove your dead skin cells, calm skin irritation and helps skin circulation. Here’s how you do it right in the comforts of your home.
 
First things first, you must gather the following supplies:

​

• Dry roses (1 tbsp.)
• Dry chamomile (1 tbsp.)
• Oats (1 tbsp.)
• Raw Honey (2 tbsp.)
• 1/4 cup of mild oil (almond, olive, or sesame)

 
Most of these materials can be found in the bulk section at health food stores, plus it’s inexpensive! But if you want to do the drying yourself, you can ask help from Florist Perth to get your fresh blooms from them.

The Process 

​Inside a coffee grinder, combine your dry flowers and oats until they reach a fine texture. Use a bowl of hot water to warm the honey. Set it aside for a few minutes until it becomes easy to work with. Combine the honey, oil, and your ground mixture. Transfer them into a sealed container to preserve your organic rose and chamomile facial scrub. Voila! It’s that simple!
 
How to use

Get a clean spoon, dip it into the jar, and place a small gob on your palm. Apply the scrub with a small amount of warm water gently on your face in a circular motion then rinse it with water (preferably warm). The scrub is organic and mild for the skin so you can use it for several times a week.
 
The facial scrub can last for a very long time if you keep it sealed and won’t allow water to get inside the jar. Get smooth and glowing skin by treating yourself to a light and sweet smell of roses and chamomile by making your DIY facial scrub.
 
Author Bio:
 
Mayfair Dela Cerna
I am Content Writer at Florist Collective who finds freedom in writing. Writing is like blooming flowers in a garden, a breathtaking relief and freedom. When you can't convey what you truly feel - flowers speak for your heart. Besides providing you with interesting content, I connect you to the magic of blooms.

By: Beth Martel

Breakouts are a great misery one goes through, but do you know what is even worse? The acne scars. They do not only make the skin look dull but also take ages to leave the skin for good. Leaving the acne scars to disappear themselves is the biggest mistake to do. It is necessary to make efforts to treat these scars for a clearer and smoother skin. It is not impossible to make them disappear. There are some effective remedies for getting rid of your acne scars for good. However, they require consistent use and a little patience. The results appear slow but they definitely worth the wait.
 
Here are some of most effective homemade masks for acne scars that have been famous for ages for their great results:

1. Lemon Mask:

 
Lemon consists of bleaching properties that helps in fading away the scars. Moreover, the vitamin C in lemon also helps to revamp the skin cells completely. Lemon juice is best for lightening the skin. You can use lemon with honey, oats and essential oils to turn it into a more effective mask for the whole skin.
Note: I would recommend you to not go out in the sun with lemon juice on your face. It makes the skin extra sensitive against the sun.
 
Directions:
​
Add two spoons of honey, half cup of lemon juice, two spoons of oats and two drops of tea tree oil in a blender. Blend the mixture well and pour it out into a clean bowl. Apply the mask using a soft brush or finger. Make sure your face is cleansed and dried before you go on applying it to your face. Let it dry for 20 to 30 minutes and then wash the face with a face wash. Moisturize your face a little in the end.

1. Potato Mask:

 
Most of you must be unaware of the many benefits of potato for skin. Potatoes consist of components like potassium and phosphorus that great help in lightening the scars. Moreover, the anti-oxidants also revamp the skin cells making the skin healthier and more glowing.
 
Directions:
​
Take one potato and cut into halves. Take one half and grate it. Add some milk to the pulp and mix it well. Apply the pulpy mixture to your skin and let it dry for at least 15 minutes. Scrub it off the skin and wash your face in the end.

1. Orange Peel Mask:

 
Just like oranges benefit the skin when you eat them, they are also super effective when applied externally.  Oranges are full of vitamin C that is best for rebuilding the cells of the skin and removing the dull and scarred layer of the skin.
 
Directions:
​
Take two peels of oranges and start making the mask while eating the oranges. Grind the peels with milk and some tea tree oil. Take the paste out in a bowl and apply it all over your face. Leave it on your skin for about 30 minutes. Then do a little scrubbing on the skin and wash your face in the end. Do not forget to apply tad bit of moisturizer on the skin when done.

1. Egg White Mask:

 
Egg whites have capability to reduce the production of sebum on the skin which helps it to get clearer by the time. Moreover, the proteins and vitamins present in egg whites help in killing the bacteria that causes acne and also removes the dead skill cells which leads the scars to fade away.
 
Directions:

​Take two egg whites and blend them well. Take a tissue paper and start making layers of mask by applying egg whites on the skin and then sticking tissue paper to it. Then apply more whites on the tissue to turn into a hard mask. This way, it will not only help to fade the scars but also unclog your pores and remove all the dirt and blackheads with all the peeling.
 
Author Bio:
This post was written by Beth Martel. She is a mother of two, a medical professional and a humanitarian. She blogs at HealthyRecharge.com. Also, check out the three best face moisturizers for oily skin.
 

When I received my lipstick from tmf - makeup factory, the first thing I noticed was the gorgeous scent, it reminded me of a vintage rose scent, kind of like how my mums expensive looking lipstick used to smell when I would take it out of her handbag when I was little, maybe this is why i have such an obsession with lipstick now :)

The shade of lipstick I chose is ‘kate’.   It's a lovely rosey pink colour, not too bright and gives a stylish matte finish. 

Made with soothing and moisturising ingredients such as jojoba oil, avocado oil, rose oil and candeiliia wax. It keeps my lips feeling and looking smooth.      ​

The texture is very silky and stays looking fresh for hours.

The lipgloss shade I chose is  ‘perry’.  Enhanced with vitamin e, cacao butter and kaolin clay.   The colour of this gloss is also a rosey pink colour, so it goes really well over the ‘kate’ lipstick.
I didn’t realise until after I chose them that I chose ‘kate perry’ I love the names of these lip products!   

If I’m in a hurry or am going for a lighter make up look I will use the lipgloss on it’s own and it adds a nice sheer pink tint to lips.    The gloss also has good staying power, I think this may be due to the kaolin clay. 

These are gorgeous lipsticks and glosses, there are also many other beautiful shades to choose from.

Available at tmf, an Australian owned earth friendly company, all of their products are chemical and cruelty free.