Suffer from scalp flakiness...aka dandruff?? Yea, you're not alone. This embarrassing, persistent condition affects 50 percent of people in the U.S. every year. To explain why it occurs and how to get rid of it here is an article I found about what causes dandruff:

""The basic facts

Dandruff is caused by a microscopic yeast called Malassezia that lives on everyone's scalp and feeds off the oil, or sebum, that keeps skin hydrated. Normally, as dead skin cells are shed, this yeast gets washed off in the shower or brushed away. Under certain conditions, however, it grows out of control, irritating your scalp and making it red and itchy. In response, your skin cells begin to reproduce at an accelerated rate; as they build up, they turn into flakes.

What to look for:

* Genetics--If your mom or dad has dandruff, there's a strong chance you will too.

* An oily scalp--This causes the yeast to multiply.

* High indoor temperatures--When you're in a warm environment, your scalp secretes more oil.

* Stress, illness, or a hormonal imbalance--All three of these factors may make you less resistant to fighting off the accumulation of flake-producing yeast.

Simple solutions

* Use a medicated shampoo These cleansers typically contain the anti-yeast ingredient zinc pyrithione. Find it in Head & Shoulders Dry Scalp Care Shampoo and Conditioner ($5 each; at drugstores); both products deposit tiny yeast-destroying particles of the active ingredient on the scalp, where they remain until you're able to shampoo again. *** CECE NOTE: You can purchase zinc pyrithione cream and mix that with your conditioner wash or your shampoo- just to get the good effects of the medication and skip the bad parts of the head & shoulders***

* Use stylers sparingly Gels, mousses, and pomades can trap sebum and exacerbate flaking.

* Minimize scalp oil If your hair still looks greasy despite daily cleansing, spritz on Biolage Scalptherapie Cooling Mint Oil Control Treatment ($16; biolage.com for salons), a spray with sebum-absorbing glycerin. ***CECE NOTE: rosemary essential oil, a nettle leaf tea rinse, lemongrass essential oil, elder berry cream-powder treatment or even a tea tree oil infused cream application will also help with these... all of these can be made at home.***

EXPERT STRATEGY "It's a myth that dandruff is caused by a dry scalp," says Zoe Draelos, M.D. "It's the result of a buildup of yeast, and it needs to be treated with a medicated shampoo at least twice a week."

* The bottom line The scalp sheds skin cells daily, so a bit of flaking is inevitable. But if you notice lots of flakes on your clothing or find yourself constantly itching, take action. All that scratching will aggravate your condition and could cause split ends.""

Happy de-flaking!!

Lately, I have been receiving many compliments on my skin, which I am attributing to my new skin regimen and some changes I've made in my lifestyle. So here I've decided to go ahead and share my regimen.

Mornings (Daily):

After or while I shower, I cleanse my face. I choose this time because the warm steam from your shower helps to open your pores making it easier to get out all the dirt and unknowns crowding your pores, YUCK!

1) I moisten my face and lather it with black soap.

2) I splash some water on my face and only rinse some of the suds off, not all!

3) I use Burt's Bees Citrus Scrub to gently scrub my face (yes, it is gentle enough for everyday use-and I have very sensitive skin)

4)I rinse both products off my face fully.

5) I then use a flat cotton beauty circle that I moisten with Witch Hazel and rub my face with this to remove excess dirt and kill any remaining bacteria. (I use a brand meant for face and body)

6) I apply NOW Brand Castor Oil with my hands (literally like a HALF a dime size is more then enough) Rub it on your hands to spread it then dab it around your face and spread.

7) This is where I would apply makeup if I'm wearing it that day - I let my castor oil sink in my skin for like 15 minutes.

Reasons:
-The reason I use castor oil is because it has been said to have slight acne fighting properties.
-I use witch hazel because it is a cheaper, less industrial grade astringent that has properties which are better for your skin than all of then leading brand toners.
-The citrus scrub I tried because I saw it in the store and it looked like it might help with my sudden change in facial chemistry. You can also make one at home with some lemons and sugar. I will make some when I run out of my last bottle of citrus scrub

At Night:

At night, whether I am wearing makeup or not, I simply rub my face off with baby wipes (sensitive). This cleans my face while remaining gentle AND simple. Sometimes I use a flat cotton pad with olive oil on it to wipe of makeup first and follow up with wipes. I then apply either olive oil or vaseline to my face in a thin layer. The vaseline most especially I apply to my lips LIBERALLY at night.

Reasons:
I used to do this when I was little to keep my lips from chapping. It worked wonders for my feet as well, way back when I could sleep in socks without being annoyed.

Weekly/Bi-Weekly:

I do either a Queen Helene's Masque or a Bentonite Clay mask Bi-weekly as a deep cleaning treatment. I also do Honey Scrubs before the mask. There is a simple enough recipe for it which I will post later. I use the honey scrub to exfoliate my peeling lips, if they are in need of a more vigorous treatment.

Other Additions:
-I also take Cod Liver Oil which helps my skin look healthy, even and essentially flawless.

-Biotin also aids in my skins appearance- though some people do get break outs from taking Biotin- that's not everyone and you can change dosages or brands to decrease the occasional side effects of biotin.

-Drink loads of water. I try for at least 3liters a day. Those 1 liter smart water bottles are the best way to get all of your water in for the day.