Fruity Facts: Papaya, The Magical Fruit

Disclaimer: This photo is not mine

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder and therefor the definition of beauty can be very different depending on where in the world you are. In Asia the belief of having white skin is seen as beautiful and that is why many Asians use lighter foundations, powders and even whitening remedies so they can become whiter. Papaya has been Mother Nature's answer to skin whitening for centuries and till this day, papaya is seen in many beauty skin whitening products around Asia. But what can this so called magical fruit really do for you?

Benefits: 

Compounds found in papaya helps break down and uses proteins properly. Papaya is known to help reduce inflammation for people with inflammatory medical conditions such as arthritis, asthma and can help prevent cancer. This magical fruit contains lots of enzymer and Vitamin C which is why it is often used to strengthen the blood for people who have a medical condition called Thrombocytopenia, which is a dangerous condition that can lead to internal bleeding. Due to high levels of Vitamin A, C and flavonoids, papaya is seen as a miracle or magical fruit. It helps keeping the skin healthy and wrinkle-free. And these nutrients work as antioxidants where they help to prevent free radical damage leading the cause of aging, and not to mention the fact that this amazing combo of Vitamins, antioxidants and enzymer is known to help whitening the skin.  

Papaya kicks acne mask:

Are you one of many who deals with pimples or acne scars? Then give this face mask a go. 

Papaya is a Vitamin C fruit which contains antibacterial properties that will kill off acne-causing bacteria from the skin. Papaya also has a deep-cleansing action that removes all the junk from clogged pores. 

What you need:

1/4 ripe Papaya, 1 tbs honey and 1/2 lemon juice.

Why?

The benefits:

Honey: Honey is known to hydrate and soften the skin. It gently exfoliates skin cells while preserving moisture. It contains antibacterial properties that kicks acne-causing bacterias, it helps fade blemishes and evens out discoloration. 

Lemon: Lemons is known to kill germs on the surface of the skin. It is also known to deep-clean the pores and refreshes the skin. It acts as a natural astrigent which will help tighten large pores. 

Directions:

Step 1. Mash the papaya into a lump free paste. 

Step 2. Add the honey and lemon juice and mix well.

Step 3. Apply the mask onto a clean face and let it sit for 15 mins.

Step 4. Rinse it off with warm water to loosen the mask and then rinse the face with cold water to close the pores. 

Papaya lightening and age-fighting mask

As soon as you enter your 20's, you should start protecting your skin for aging. Many things can affect your skin that can make you get pre-mature wrinkles and who really wants to be wrinkle? 

What you need:

1/4 ripe papaya, 1/4 cucumber and 1/2 banana. 

Why?

The benefits: 

Cucumber: Cucumbers are known to hydrate, moisturize, nourish and cleans the skin. It contains skin-lightening properties that helps fight against blemishes and acne scars. It is also known like Aloe vera to sooth and relieve inflamed acne and sunburns. 

Banana: Banana is known to smooth out the skin and reduce wrinkles. It also hydrates and moisturizes the skin plus it promotes glowing and youthful skin. 

Directions:

Step 1. Peel and blend all ingredients in a blender until you get a nice and smooth puree. 

Step 2. Apply it around your face though avoid the eyes and mouth. Let it then sink in for 10 - 15 mins.

Step 3. Then wash the mask off with warm water and then finish it off by washing your face with cold water to close the pores. Remember to pat your face dry with a clean towel.

Raw fruit Thai salad:

To freshen up a boring salad, try making a thai-inspired salad with fresh cut papayas, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots, green beans and some red chili. Mix it all well and use coconut and fresh lime juice as a dressing. 

How to: 

Step 1. Cut the meat of the papaya in nice slices and mix it with two fresh tomatoes that have been sliced as well. 

Step 2. Peel one cucumber, 2 carrots, one little red onion and blanch some green beans and mix it all well with 1/2 red chili. 

Step 3. Make the salad dressing by mixing coconut milk with the juice from one lime and voila. 

Anyways that was all this time around. Do let me know if you tried one of the masks and hashtag me on Instragram with #FruityFactsWithShandra. So until next time - Ingat!

X❤️X❤️

Shandra.

Showdown: Trine's Wardrobe Argan Oil Serum VS. Lee Stafford Nourishing Miracle Oil

 Vs. 

There are a ton of different hair oils and serums on the market that all claims to be the best, but which is truly worth your money? I have bought two Argan oils from two different brands to see which is worth the hype, and for the past few months I've tried and tested both of them to see which is best so let's take a look. 

Argain Oil Facts:
Argan oil is a natural product that comes from the roots of the Argan tree, which only exist in the southern parts of Marocco. Argain oils are not greasy to the skin and the hair absorbs the oil easily. The oil is rich on Vitamin E, antioxidants and Omega 3 and Omega 9, which is vital for you to have healthy hair. Vitamin E helps rebuild the hair and helps reppare damaged hair. Omega 3 and Omega 9 improves the hairs strength and helps to heal the split ends.   

Let's compare the pros and cons here:
Pros: Trine's wardrobe's Argan Oil serum is paraben free and perfume free. It claims to repair split ends and chemically dried/ruined hair, but can also be used for normal hair to make it shinier and smoother, which is all true. The packaging is simple with a pump, and it has a cute label that explains how to apply the product. As a bonus it is a lot cheaper compared to other Argan oils since this baby only cost 99 kr.    
Cons: The only con about this product is the fact that it's very liquidity, so if you have it in your bag, you will have oils coming out from the bottle.

Pros: Nourishing Miracle oil from Lee Stafford is rich and moisturizing for the hair. It contains ingredients to help rebuild and repair damaged hair. The Nourishing Miracle Oil treats the hair and helps give the hair a natural glow and makes your hair silky smooth and straight. You can use this product on wet or dry hair, where you only apply a little on the hands and massage it on the ends of the hair.  
The packaging is cute and small and has a pump, which is convenient since it makes it easier to apply. 
Cons: Sadly this has perfume, so if you're not a fan of the smell of Argan Oils, then you shouldn't buy this product since it does leave your hair smelling like Argan, plus this fella cost 150 kr. 

So in my conclusion I would def pick the Trine's Wardrobe's Argan Oil Serum again. Not only is it cheaper but it has the benefits of being paraben and perfume free.

X❤️X❤️

Shandra. 

January Favorites ♡

It's the end of the first month of the new year. Have you guys kept your new year resolutions so far? As for me, I am still keeping mine but let's go down to what this post is all about - the products I've been loving the entire month of January (and pretty much December). So let's just get to it, shall we?

If we start off with the hair stuff, there is only one thing that I have been loving, not only for the month of January but through out last year actually, and it's this shampoo my mother got me when she went to the Philippines. 

The shampoo is called "Lan's salon - Moisturizing shampoo" for the daily care and maintenance of rebounded hair. Now I have tried a ton of different types of shampoos from all brands pretty much and my scalp is very dry and sensitive, so what most people would use, I would get dandruff. I have been struggling with dandruff since I was little, so of course I've been on the hunt for a shampoo that first of all wouldn't give me dandruff and guess what? I have found it! What Lan's Salon Shampoo claims to do is true! The first time I tried it I was hesitant since I have never heard of this brand before but since Tresseme, Head&Shoulders, Sunsilk and so on only gave me "headaches" I figured why not try it? And boy am I happy that my mom got it for me. Whenever I use the shampoo I feel an instant change in my hair, like it leaves my hair feeling softer and healthier. The scent reminds me of Head&Shoulders but I would choose this one over Head&Shoulders anytime. I can only say that I love love love it and will def buy it when I go back to the Philippines. 
- So if you do live in the Phils, do give this a try and tell me what you think. I'm sure you're going to love it as much as I do. I can only give this shampoo a thumps up! 

The BodyShop's hand cream shouldn't come as a surprise to you that it's in my favorites again since I always use it. I would say it's pretty much part of my beauty holy-grail. My hands are general very sensitive but when they get exposed to cold weather or just cold winds, they dry up quickly to the point that it bothers me, but since I've been using the Almond hand cream, my hands always feels softer and looks better. So since I bought it the first time in high school, I've always kept the hand cream in my bag. And I will tell you this, I have been using it a lot since the Danish Winter has arrived. So what I do now is apply it before I leave the house and then wear gloves/mittens and then apply it again when I enter the house.

And of course.. What is a Monthly favorite of mine without the famous EOS lipbalm? I am a loyal fan of the EOS lipbalms and got them in almost every scent you can get. I'm such a fan that I had my sister buy a ton of them for me from New York as my souvenir. Seriously, that was the only thing I wanted as a souvenir from NY, so you tell me if I'm a fan XD  

The two most "newest" favorites of mine are not really new, since I've tried these before and they are the face masks from the Bodyshop. You might not be able to tell, but I love the Bodyshop! I got the "Seaweed Iconic Clay Mask" and the "Honey & Oat 3-1 Scrub Mask" as an early Christmas gift from my Honey honey (bestie), and I have put them to good use through out December and January. 

The Seaweed Iconic Clay Mask is a mask that contains seaweed and natural clay that removes dirt from the pores and absorbs the exess oil that we humans tend to have. It also contains minerals that re-energize your skin. Though I will warn you not to use this clay mask every single day. I would only use it once in awhile when I feel like my skin needs a bit of extra looove - especially if I've had a busy and hectic week. Plus I have noticed that whenever I get a pimple and it then pops, it tends to leave like a dark "scar" but when I used the mask, right after I washed it off, the so called scar was gone! 

The Honey & Oat 3-in-1 Scrub Mask is a mask that has a triple effect on your skin. It gives you a nice and smooth skin while nourishes normal to dry skin since it has oats and Community Fair Trade honey, and because of the oats, you can use it as a face scrub that helps remove all the dead skin on your face. I would use this mask two to three times a week, depending on how my skin feels. 

So these were all my favorites of the month of January. I hope you enjoyed it and until next time - Ingat!


X❤️X❤️
Shandra.