I recently purchased an essential oil diffuser and have been going about my daily life with it on. Not only has my shoebox of a dorm room turned into the very heart of a rose, but my mind has grown much clearer as well! For the past few days I've had a gradual desire to eliminate chemicals going in and on my body, and to in turn stride toward a much cleaner lifestyle. I've decided to start from the inside out because there's no sense in making a change if you don't begin a the root of it.

Cutting meat out was surprisingly easy for me. I tend to cook a lot at home and I’ve turned my fruits and vegetables from a mere side dish to the focus of my meals. My skin became clearer within days and I no longer had seemingly endless bouts of lethargy.

Once I had regulated what was going on inside of me, I wanted to divert my attention to the surface of my being. Skincare has always been something I’ve been inconsistent with and resulted in me using products that were far too harsh on my face just to speed up the process of healing. If I could thrive off a diet of the earth, surely a skincare routine of the same caliber would do no harm?

I had been hearing about people using rice water to cleanse their skin for a while now and decided to try my luck with it. I would not be Deirdre without at least some form of roses in anything I do, so I decided to make a hybrid rice water/rose oil toner.

When we wash our face, we strip it of the body’s natural oils, and products like toners and gentle moisturizers help to regulate the PH of our skin, giving it a youthful, healthy appearance. It’s important to avoid any products with alcohol or astringent because it can irritate the skin and hinder the production of collagen! Without this, your skin can overproduce oil in an attempt to reimburse your body of the what was stripped, causing acne.

The rose rice water toner I made will not only tighten pores but moisturize the skin after cleansing, resulting in the production of a healthy amount of the skin’s natural collagen, which prevents wrinkles and keeps the skin looking supple!

All you will need to make the toner is:

• A mixing bowl
• 1 cup of rice
• Water
• A few drops of rose oil (You can use rosewater if you don’t have the oil.)
• A small spray bottle

Step 1: Pour your rice into the bowl and add water until its about an inch higher than the rice. Allow it to steep for about half an hour. The water should turn cloudy.

Step 2: Drain the rice water into the spray bottle leaving some space for the rose oil/water.

Step 3: Use the remaining space in the spray bottle to add the oil/water. (FOR OIL: You can add as little or as much as you like, depending on how much moisture your skin needs. I added about 7 drops into mine for added fragrance too.)

Step 4: Shake it to mix the two liquids together and apply to your face with a cotton ball or hold the bottle 6-8 inches away from your face and spray it on directly.

It’s easy to get caught in the day’s hustle and bustle. Taking care of yourself is incredibly important. Give yourself a daily dosage of relaxation. Decompress and allow yourself to exist fully in the moment.