3 Back-to-School Supplies That Can Double As Beauty Hacks

Understanding Oil Cleansers

With acne prone skin, you want to start off your routine with an oil cleanser. This will help to completely remove the makeup from your skin, as well as get rid of any dirt.

Rachel Lozina, New York State Licensed Master Esthetician, let me know that these oil cleansers restore the skin barrier. Most people that have skin conditions like acne often use specific cleansers that alter their skin's pH, or leave it incredibly dry and dehydrated. With oil cleansers, you can actually balance that delicate pH instead, leaving your skin heathy, moisturized, and glowing. Lozina puts it like this: "When we oil cleanse, we are restoring the hydro lipid barrier (I say it’s like your ozone layer) and after it’s restored, your skin can start functioning healthy again!"

Try using these for a week and see how they change your skin!

What About Facial Oils?

When I realized that most of my acne was incredibly inflamed from the harsh chemicals I was putting on it, a doctor recommend rosehip oil to me. This completely changed the game for my skin. Not only did it help heal my acne scarring, but it lessened my existing breakouts in a major way. Lozina recommends jojoba, rosehip, argan, hemp seed and squalene oils for acne prone skin. She also says that less is more, so if you have sensitive skin, make sure to not over-do it!

Dermatologist Helen M. Torok, MD, and cofounder of Balanced Skin, told us to make sure to avoid coconut oil because it can seriously clog the pores and cause follicular occlusion in acne prone patients. She also let us know that we shouldn't be afraid of oil even if we have oily skin! She explained that jojoba oil will actually balance your natural oil so you're not overproducing it. All you have to do is apply a light layer in the morning and at night.

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Josie Maran Cleansing Oil

I have this cleansing oil and use it quite often. It gives an extremely deep cleanse without irritating the skin or leaving it too dry. It also makes my skin (and my breakouts) feel calm and moisturized, which is ideal for healing blemishes and treating past scars. It features argan oil which is one of my favorite oils for soothing the skin, too!

DHC Deep Cleansing Oil

Another deep cleansing oil that is highly-rated and an Amazon best-seller! The DHC Deep Cleansing Oil offers a cleanse that will keep your skin feeling refreshed and soothed after use. This super popular oil has over 22,000 reviews and a 4.6 star rating, so it's clear that this cleanser really works well for other folks, too. I also like this one because it's fragrance and cruelty-free!

ANUA Pore Control

This pore-controlling cleansing oil will help you with any irritating black heads or sizable pores you may be struggling with. It's intended to really work its way into your pores to help prevent any blackheads or future breakouts. It's a lighter cleanse, so if you want to stay away from the harsher, deeper cleanses then this one is for you!

Bioderma Cleansing Oil

I love a good French beauty product! This cleansing oil is one that I'm always restocking when I'm in France, and lucky for you: It's on Amazon! It's a French beauty staple that I would highly recommend for anyone that wants a makeup remover + cleanser in one!

Youth to the People Serum

I am seriously obsessed with this oil, and although it's quite expensive, it really does work like magic! It heals my breakouts, moisturizes my skin, and heals any scarring I have from previous acne. It has super hydrating magui + acai which will brighten up your skin to give it a natural glow.

Cliganic Rosehip Oil

Rosehip oil first introduced me to oils in my skincare routine. It cleared up my breakouts so quickly, and made my skin look really healthy. I notice a significant difference when I stop using this in my routine. Try it for a week and I promise, you'll see a difference!

Vitamin E Oil

Vitamin E oil is a great way to treat your acne, because it helps give you that youthful and dewy glow. It's a fantastic product for acne, but also for people with hyperpigmentation issues. It will help to balance out your skin, and protect your skin barrier from further damage or discoloration.

Timeless Skin Squalane Oil

Squalane! This oil is fantastic for healing and inflammatory properties. This means that it treats those pesky breakouts by hydrating the skin barrier and making it less irritated. I happen to love it for my hair as well!

Balanced Skin Jojoba Oil

Jojoba is good for helping to balance out your oil production levels which will minimize breakouts and clogged pores. I use this product because it brings back elasticity to my face after the harsh products I use to treat acne, which gives me a more natural glow.

Good Molecules Squalane Oil

Another amazing squalene product! I had to add this one, because I love the Good Molecules brand. I've used a ton of their products, and they have the most simple ingredient lists with lightweight, natural oils and no harsh chemicals or added perfumes. This brand is a necessity for those with sensitive skin!

What causes weak fingernails?

But first, what causes unhealthy, brittle, breakable nails? A lot of factors that may not instantly come to mind. According to WebMD, these factors can contribute to weak nails:

• Aging: As we get older, our nails get thinner and can crack or peel.
• Harsh nail products: Both nail polish and nail polish remover can have strong chemicals that can damage and dry out your nails, leading them to break.
• Wet nails: Consistently have your hands in water, maybe doing the dishes or bathtime for the kids? This could be drying out your nails.
• Underlying health issues: Vitamin deficiencies, autoimmune diseases, and many other health issues could be the cause of nails breaking.

How can I strengthen my nails?

Dealing with some of these factors? While we can’t help you with the underlying health issues (please see a doctor if you think you may be dealing with something!), there are many easy things you can do to improve your nails and encourage growth.

• Cuticle oil
• Biotin
• Diet
• Nail protection
• Avoid picking and peeling

Find a Cuticle Oil

You may only use cuticle oil when your manicurist applies it, but that doesn't have to be the case. Cuticle oils are an inexpensive and easy way to promote nail health and growth by keeping your nails hydrated. Cosmetically, cuticle oils encourage longer-lasting manis and leave your nails looking shiny and polished. But they do much more below the surface: cuticle oils create a healthier environment that allows strong growth for your nails.

Interested in adding cuticle oil to your beauty routine? Check our a few of my faves:

• Cuccio Naturale Revitalizing- Hydrating Oil
• Olive & June Cuticle Serum
• OPI ProSpa Nail and Cuticle Oil

Explore Biotin

Biotin is an important type of B vitamin that helps our bodies turn food into energy. It’s also one of the top recommended supplements for hair and nail growth, and for good reason. Many scientists say a daily biotin supplement can improve nail strength in as little as a few weeks.

“Since it is water soluble, biotin (or vitamin B7) can’t be stored in the body and must be acquired from diet or through supplementation,” shared Rachel Kilroy, Director of Product Innovation at Solaray, the original pioneers in supplement health and wellness. Solaray has developed a new supplement that provides biotin in a unique way.

“Solaray’s Timed Release Biotin strategically supports nail health with a powerful 5,000 mcg of this important nutrient, delivering half of the biotin rapidly and the other half gradually over a period of up to 8 hours for sustained support,” Kilroy continued. “With consistent use, this vegan formula—lab verified for purity and potency—can provide comprehensive support for longer, stronger nails.”

There are many supplements on the market that you can try, and we love the ones by Solaray as well as the new ones by Lemme. Lemme Glow Hair, Skin & Nails Gummies are packed with biotin, collagen, and Vitamins A, C & E, and are created with a Pro-Retinol formula. They also have the most delicious peach flavor and are gluten free and non-GMO!

Supplements not your thing? Biotin can be found naturally in many foods, like cooked eggs, whole grains, soy and other beans, nuts and nut butters, salmon, mushrooms, and cauliflower.

Eat A Nail Friendly Diet

Nails require a balanced, healthy diet for proper growth and strength. According to Medical News Today, making small tweaks to your diet can make a big impact on your nails. Adding in nutrients like more iron or calcium in your diet will have your nails growing long and strong.

Dieticians recommend a colorful diet for nail growth consisting of colorful fruits and veggies, nuts, seeds, eggs, lean meat, avocado, sweet potato, and whole grains.

Protect Your Nails While Wet

Constantly doing dishes, managing bath time, gardening, or swimming? The water may be the cause of your breakage.

Your nails are like sponges, constantly expanding and contracting when water goes in or out of the nail cells. This can strain your nails, causing them to weaken, peel, and then break.

When possible, grab a pair of rubber gloves to wear while cleaning to protect your nails from the water and make sure to fully dry your nails after they’re in water. Hand creams are also a win for your nails after water exposure.

Avoid Picking, Peeling or Biting

Bad habits that are addicting. While peeling off your gel manicure can be so satisfying, it’s one of the worst things you can do for your nails. Same with constantly picking or biting your nails. As someone who used to constantly bite her nails down, I can assure you my nails are much healthier and stronger after kicking that habit.

Want to quit that habit? Try a nail bite deterrent, like this one from ella+mia or this one from LONDONTOWN and watch your nails grow before your eyes.

What should I watch after 1923?

There are plenty of TV shows any 1923 fan will love (beyond 1883 and Yellowstone of course!)

5 TV Shows To Watch After You Finish '1923' Season 2

Landman — Stream on Paramount+

In this Taylor Sheridan show, crisis executive Tommy Norris is fighting to secure his company's spot in the oil business during a fuel boom. Easier said than done. 1923 fans, keep your eyes peeled for Michelle Randolph!

Landman is on Paramount+ and stars Billy Bob Thornton, Ali Larter, Michelle Randolph, Jacob Lofland, Kayla Wallace, James Jordan, Mark Collie, Paulina Chávez, Demi Moore, Jon Hamm, Andy Garcia, and Michael Peña.

Outer Range — Stream on Prime Video

If you like your Westerns with a side of sci-fi, tune into Outer Range. This show follows the Abbott family, who are trying to protect their ranch while also reconciling their daughter-in-law's disappearance. But things get even crazier when a black void appears.

Outer Range is on Prime Video and stars Josh Brolin, Lili Taylor, Noah Reid, and Imogen Poots.

When Calls the Heart — Stream on Hallmark+

1923 fans who can't get enough of Spencer & Alex's romance will want to watch When Calls the Heart, which follows teacher Elizabeth Thatcher as she relocates to the small town of Coal Valley, and faces all kinds of love, loss, and adventure.

When Calls the Heart is on Hallmark+ and stars Erin Krakow, Kevin McGarry, Pascale Hutton, Jaeda Lily Miller, Kavan Smith, Andrea Brooks, Chris McNally, Martin Cummins, Viv Leacock, and Jack Wagner.

Billy The Kid — Stream on MGM+

Before he became the infamous outlaw, Billy was just a kid who experienced all kinds of heartbreak, fell in love, and got into plenty of trouble. Watch our interview with star Tom Blyth!

Stream Billy The Kid on MGM+ and see Tom Blyth, Eileen O'Higgins, Daniel Webber, and Alex Roe.

Godless — Stream on Netflix

Godless is the perfect show for 1923 fans because it reorients the cowboy narrative we're all familiar with. It follows a supposed traitor named Roy who's chased by a gang of outlaws to La Belle, a town nearly entirely governed by women after a mining accident killed almost all the husbands, fathers, and brothers.

Godless is on Netflix and stars Jack O'Connell, Michelle Dockery, Scoot McNairy, Merritt Wever, and Thomas Brodie-Sangster.

Will there be another series after 1923?

There are a few more Yellowstone spinoffs on their way! In addition to the new show The Madison with Michelle Pfeiffer, it looks like we're also getting a spinoff about Beth Dutton and Rip Wheeler.

What order to watch Yellowstone 1883 and 1923?

If you're new to the Yellowstone universe, you can watch the shows in chronological order or in release order, depending on how you want to experience the story. If you want to watch chronologically (my personal favorite), watch the shows in the following order:

• 1883
• 1923
• Yellowstone

But if you want to watch in release order, watch this way:

• Yellowstone
• 1883
• 1923