Mix a ½ teaspoon of vitamin C with 5 teaspoons of distilled water in a glass jar. Mix it well, because vitamin C takes time to dissolve. Stir it frequently until it is fully dissolved, without leaving any grainy particles in the mixture. The benefits of almond oil include protecting the skin from sun damage, rejuvenating and softening the skin, and reducing scarring, inflammation, and skin irritation. Almond oil is rich in vitamin A, B, and E which are great for skin health. Olive oil is rich in vitamin E, which helps moisturize the skin and fights against free radicals and skin irritations. Geranium oil can reduce the appearance of scarring, improve blood circulation to the skin, tone up skin, and cause new cells to regenerate. Geranium comes from a plant named Pelargonium, which is often used to treat many skin problems. Geranium oil is classified as antiseptic, astringent, tonic, and anti-infectious. Lavender oil soothes the skin very well and helps reduce fine lines and wrinkles on the face. Lavender contains phytochemicals, linalool, and linalyl acetate that improve overall skin health. Beeswax offers anti-inflammatory, antibacterial and antiviral benefits.  Creams, lotions or soaps containing beeswax can greatly improve dry, rough skin. This can reduce the effects skin aging, especially wrinkles. Vitamin E is an important antioxidant because it protects cell membranes and prevents damages to the enzymes associated with them. Vitamin E helps inactivate free radicals, making them less likely to cause damage and reducing skin aging. Applying vitamin E to the skin can reduce the damage caused by sun exposure and limit the production of cancer-causing cells. Shea butter is also known as an all-natural vitamin A cream. It is known to be a superb moisturizer, and good at combating dry skin. Because of its anti-inflammatory and moisturizing properties, shea butter is lauded as an anti-aging cream.  The chief causes of aging are inflammation and sun damage. Therefore, the damage reversal properties of vitamin A may be beneficial for wrinkle reduction and collagen renewal. Place the glass jar into a pot filled with 3–4 inches (7.6–10.2 cm) of water and simmer the mixture. Mix together all the ingredients thoroughly to create a smooth and easy to apply mixture.  Let the jar sit without its lid until the ingredients have melted. Stir occasionally. Once the mixture has melted and it is evenly combined, pour it into a small glass jar. Let it sit at room temperature until the cream solidifies. After the cream has solidified, transfer it into an apothecary bottle or keep it in its jar. Then, keep it refrigerated. The vitamin C cream will only last for 2 weeks. After you finish creating your cream, apply a small amount to your skin to test it, because some people are very sensitive to ascorbic acid (Vitamin C).

Summary: Create a mixture of vitamin C and distilled water. Add 3 teaspoons of almond oil to the mixture. Add a ½ teaspoon of olive oil to the mixture. Add 3 drops of geranium essential oil. Add 3 drops of lavender essential oil. Add 2 tablespoons of beeswax. Add a 1/4 teaspoon of vitamin E oil. Add 1 tablespoon of shea butter. Mix all the oils into the mixture and simmer. Transfer your cream to an apothecary bottle or keep it in the jar for storage. Apply the vitamin C cream to see effects.


Deep breathing exercises will help you maintain your calm demeanor. They are also a great coping mechanism when you feel your emotions rising to the surface. Breathe in through your nose for five seconds, hold for five seconds, then release through your mouth for five seconds. Repeat as necessary until you have regained your composure. Exercise can help distract you from painful emotions and will also allow you to be a calmer, more rational person. Find your favorite sport, exercise, or physical activity. Whenever you feel emotions begin to bubble up, put on your gym shoes and get your heart pumping. Soon you will forget about your emotional response. Some excellent physical outlets include:  Running or jogging Bicycling Swimming Team sports such as softball or soccer Martial arts Kickboxing Dancing It might be tempting to use substances in order to dull your emotions. However, many drugs and alcohol also work to lower your inhibitions, leading you to have emotional reactions of even greater intensity. Even caffeine can trigger a stress reaction. Keep yourself calm and emotionally neutral by abstaining from drugs, alcohol, and caffeine. An important exception to this is if you require psychiatric medication for a mental health disorder. If this is the case, follow your doctor's instructions at all times. Sleeplessness can make it difficult to handle your emotions neutrally and calmly. Be sure that you sleep at least 8 hours each night. If you have a hard time sleeping, be sure that you:  Avoid blue light, which is emitted by electronics, for at least 3 hours before bed  Keep your bedroom cool and well-ventilated Have a comfortable mattress  Use a white noise machine to drown out ambient noise Avoid caffeine, alcohol, and heavy meals, especially in the evenings

Summary: Take deep breaths. Do vigorous aerobic activity for 30 minutes. Avoid substance use. Get a good night's rest.


Knowing what you do and do not want to do is essential to developing confidence and assertiveness. Think about the things you do for others that make you feel used, and write them down. You may be taken advantage of more than you think.  For example, if you always pick up the check, put it in the "to don't" list. Ask your friend to pick it up next time. Organizing information in list form and checking it off hits our information processing sweet spot. This list will be easy to follow and satisfying to fulfill. If the thought of confronting high-pressure situations makes you sick, start small. You may not be able to stand up to your bully right away, but you can make little changes to build your assertiveness. If you ordered a salad but received a soup, send it back. Once you start getting comfortable with asserting yourself in small situations like this, start building up to bigger ones. If you expect you are going to fail, you have already accepted failure. Base your expectations on what you would love to see happen, not what bad thing you are expecting to happen. If you have done all you can to correct the situation, get out of it. Try to remove yourself as much as possible from the person who is trying to take advantage of you. Life is too short for you to put up with someone who disrespects you. Make the brave choice and remove this person from your life. Keeping them in your life will do nothing but maintain the negativity and you will find it harder to grow confident.
Summary: Create a “to don’t” list. Pick your battles. Expect the best. Cut out the negativity.