INGREDIENTS:

• 2 cups brown sugar
• 1 cup solid (but soft) coconut oil
• Extra additions (vanilla extract, essential oils, etc.)

DIRECTIONS:

1. Whip together the sugar, oil, and any extra additions until the mixture looks creamy and resembles loose cookie dough.
2. You may use a food processor, but don't let it process too long or the coconut oil will melt and the mixture will separate. If this happens, just put it in the freezer for a few minutes to solidify and mix again.
3. Store in an airtight container. Lasts for weeks. Maybe months. If it's stored in the shower, you may have the same problem with separation as the coconut oil warms. Just stir it around with your finger before using.

It's OK to lick your finger, too. :)
Nat's Notes:

1. You can also use plain white sugar and olive oil.

I’ve had incredible success with much of the Philosophy Miracle Worker Collection and absolutely loved the Brightening and Dark Spot Corrector Treatment so of course the new Philosophy The Microdelivery Triple Acid Brightening Peel was something I absolutely had to try out for myself.
These are pre-saturated pads with brightening and anti-aging benefits. I’ve used them for the better part of four months or so now so I think I’m finally ready to review them.
Take a look!


For 12 pads, you’re looking at $68 which is quite a good deal of cash to drop. But I readily admit if they worked well I’d probably feel little guilt indulging in them.
However…
I feel like they are a little too expensive for what they did do and couldn’t help wishing for the things they didn’t.

They pretty much promise to reduce the appearance of fine lines while brightening skin and reducing the appears of dark spots.
Great!
Each pad is a large, generously size circle made of a thick cotton fiber. They come individually wrapped which is a big perk as you aren’t touching other pads as you remove one nor are you exposing the other pads to the air. Individually wrapping them is a super smart idea as they remain stable and fresh.
To use them you swipe swipe them across your clean, dry face and wait for three to five minutes and proceed to rinse. I typically use them in the evening after I’ve washed my face and before applying any other night time treatments. I had absolutely no issues with them in regards to stinging, burning, or even redness after use however keep in my mind my skin is not sensitive so your experience may differ from my own.

Exercise. We know we need it. We hate to do it. Can it be done in just 7 minutes? Tell me more, you say? Well, a recent article in the May-June issue of the American College of Sports Medicine’s Health & Fitness Journal outlines an intensive 7 minute workout that uses your own body weight, a chair, the wall and some good ol elbow grease (aka high intensity effort) that produces virtually the same workout as a 30-minute standard weight routine and 30-minutes on the elliptical.
“There’s very good evidence that high-intensity interval training provides many of the fitness benefits of prolonged endurance training but in much less time,” says Chris Jordan, the director of exercise physiology at the Human Performance Institute in Orlando, Fla., and co-author of the new article.
Scientists at McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, and other institutions also have found that even a few minutes of training at an intensity at your maximum capacity produces molecular changes within muscles similiar to those of several hours of running or bike riding. I don’t know about you- but a little extra effort for a few minutes of my day is a heck of a lot more enticing than thinking about working out for an hour plus!
This 7-minute program outlined by Mr. Jordan and his colleagues, requires high intense intervals and only a 10-second rest in-between exercises. 10 seconds! That’s it?!! Another key point is that you’re working different large muscle groups each time you work so you have time to rest the fatigued muscles even longer. Each activity should be performed for 30 seconds to 1 minute with a 10 second rest in-between. In order for this 7-minute workout to be magically transformed into an hour long run you must work at high intensity (about an 8 on a discomfort scale of 1 to 10). The good news is- after just a few minutes- you’re done!