Easy Ways to Reduce Stretch Marks, "Chicken Skin" and Have Smooth Skin

Summer is here and every girl wants to get into their sexy bikini and hit the beach but having stretch marks and "chicken skin" can really lower a girl's self esteem about showing too much skin. Who would suspect that someone as tiny as a 100 lb woman would have stretch marks anywhere on their body. Of course, we know that being overweight, pregnancy and weight lifting can cause stretch marks but we don't normally hear a 100 lb person getting stretch marks.

Stretch marks or "tiger stripes" forms when the skin is being pulled at a rapid growth either by stretching or  weight gain. They may appear as scar lines in color purple or white.

"Chicken skin" is commonly known as Keratosis pilaris. This is a genetic skin condition that appears in acne form or like its name "chicken skin" usually on the legs, upper arms, bony areas such as the elbow and knee. They may appear in reddish or white-ish color.

Stretch marks and "chicken skin" are things that we cannot change but there are ways that we can do to reduce the appearance of it. Here are some easy and affordable tips and tricks that worked for me on reducing stretch marks, "chicken skin" and overall, smoothing my skin.

 

All you need is olive oil, sugar and ground coffee. Mix in 2 tablespoon olive oil, 3 tablespoon sugar and 1 tablespoon ground coffee into a small bowl. All these ingredients have their own benefits in skin care. Olive oil have antioxidants that will get rid of free radicals and heal the skin. It will also help improve the elasticity of the skin to help reduce stretch marks and it helps with moisturizing the skin and making it baby soft. Like salt, sugar can be good for exfoliating the skin which will help with reducing the appearance of "chicken skin" and the fine lines of stretch marks. Sugar can also help with hydrating the skin. Coffee is best known for its caffeine but what many people don't know is that it also contain antioxidants which is good for anti-aging products. Because coffee have a similar texture like sugar, it helps with reducing the appearance of stretch marks and "chicken skin."

Note: This mixture is good for a full body wash. Ingredients can be changed to preference.

What I noticed about the "chicken skin" is that it's very similar to face acne. It's basically hair follicles that is trapped within the skin. So another method that I tried and worked for me is using face acne scrubs on those areas. I'm currently using the St. Ives Apricot Scrub. This states to gently clean and clear pores and it does its jobs whether it's on the face or the legs!

You will notice results right away but it will only work if you consistently use the scrubs (once a week is good). Once you stop, the appearance of stretch marks/chicken skin will start to appear in its normal color. It's best to do it before a shower so you can clean up afterwards.

Best of Luck & Thank You for Reading,

<3 Shema

ShopRuche Dresses Review

Soooo I recently stumbled upon this amazing online boutique that sells modern clothing and accessories with a magic touch of vintage. Nowadays, I know that the trend is primarily crop tops and high waisted shorts. It's nice to see that there is a shop out there that still carries that simple yet elegant style.  A website that I can think of with similar clothing pieces is Lulus.com and for those who don't know or recognize this online shop, Lulus, it's like a Forever 21 but with better quality.

Ruche offers a variety of clothing, shoes and accessories in all different sizes as well. They have tops, bottoms, dresses, heels, bags, statement necklaces, you name it, they have it. They put new items up on their websites every week. Yes, I am a little obsessed with that site, well maybe more than a little to know that they do update every week. Not only does their clothing and accessories have a vintage touch to it, but their website itself is amazing. I can't even go into detail how much I love the layout and the background and basically everything about the design of their website.

If you can't already tell, I am in love with this website. I ordered three dresses from them and received my items three days later. Talk about outstanding shipping considering the fact that this is a shop located in California and I am from the Midwest. Most of my online purchases normally take between a week to two to get to me, but this one, yea, this one totally beats them all. That was a plus for me. Each individual product/clothing were wrapped and sealed in a clear fitted bag and then wrapped again with tan wrapping paper along with their shop logo sticker.

For reference, I am 5'3" and 115 lbs. I know, I'm a shortie but here are some photos of the three dresses that I bought:
(FYI, all these dresses were purchased with my own money and all links provided are for your own reference. All pictures on blog are my own. For better photos, click links to be directed to see more views of the dress[es].)

Go the Distance Dress Available in Red and Mint, Size Small, $48.99. More pictures on the website. 

You can find it here.

 

What I love most about this red skater dress is the back detailing. It is different due to the unique crisscross bow silhouette. You can probably sneak by wearing a regular bra (like I did) but I would recommend a low back bra to prevent any peek-a-boos. Another thing that makes me love this dress even more is the elastic waistband. You know what that means! It means I can probably sneak by eating more than usual without having to worry that my dress is too tight! I can imagine wearing this dress on a girls' night out or to a dinner date with my significant other. I would probably pair this up with a pair of neutral heels, either black or nude, along with some dainty accessories and I'm good to go(

Pursuit of Dreams Ruffle Dress (bottom right), Size small, $44.99. 

The dress is available here.

This peach chiffon dress is a must have for summer. It's lightweight and manageable especially in those hot summer days. The surplice neckline along with the simple ruffle detailing gives the dress a elegant appearance. The elastic waistband is also a plus like I mentioned before. A brown belt can be optional if one wants to add a pop of color. I would definitely pair this dress with either wedges or neutral pumps and add a simple statement necklace and earrings to finish the look.

Trieste Seafront Belted Dress- Belt included (left), Size Small, $48.99. The dress is available here.

 First off, can we just spare a few seconds and admire the amazing print on this dress. I don't even know where to start. The boat neckline, pattern, belt, length. When I saw this dress, I just had to get it like it was meant for me. The cloth is a little stiff but it's not a big of a deal and it is still comfortable enough to move around. This piece is more fitted than the first two that I've shown above but it seems to be the most versatile to me. I can see myself wearing this to a business meeting, a wedding, anniversary party or even a dinner date. The dress itself looks very sophisticated and mature as for the belt, it helps accentuate the waistline to reveal my feminine curves. I am in love with this dress...well, practically all the dresses that I purchased and the store itself. :)

The pros:

- Offer variety of clothing in all sizes

- Fast shipping

- Website design is incredible

- Modern style with vintage touch is a plus

- Fits true to size

The cons:

- More on the pricey side

- Not many discounts

But overall, my experience with Ruche was amazing and I will continue to purchase more of their items in the near future...or maybe tomorrow. :) I highly recommend everyone to go check them out if they haven't already.
Once again, click here to be directed to their website.

Thank you for reading and I will see you next time!

<3 Shema