Category Archives: Recipes

K is for Kitchen Kosmetics – Kool off with a Kuke

Posted on June 7, 2012 | Leave a comment

 

Having beautiful skin and luxurious hair is something all of us naturally beautiful women would love, and looking beautiful and feeling healthy shouldn’t depend on how much money you have (or don’t have!).  Sure, you can spend $150 on the latest face cream from a luxury spa (I am a former Spa Director after all!), but you can also spend $2 using what you probably have in your refrigerator now!

If you’re like me, you’ve always got avocados in the frig (who doesn’t love a good guacamole?).  Avocado oil is packed with Vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects your skin from damage caused by free radicals and too much sun.  Avocados are rich moisturizers that can be applied directly to your face for smooth-as-silk skin.   You can even eat the inside of the avocado and use the avocado’s skin to spread the remainder on your face!

If you’re not using coconut oil, you should be.  It’s the only oil that can withstand high levels of heat, plus it’s full of benefits for your hair, skin and nails.  Coconut oil makes a great conditioner for your hair and will control dandruff.  Coconut oil is antimicrobial, anti-fungal and anti-inflammatory so it will go to work on acne and prevent further blemishes.  It’s perfect for an inexpensive lip balm to keep your lips plump and your smile beautiful.

Cucumbers have always been the go-to product to relieve tired, puffy eyes.  Just put two slices on your eyes, lie back and in a few minutes, you’ll look like you’ve had a refreshing night’s sleep.  The coolness of cucumbers can reduce inflammation and rashes all over your body.  For those of you with sensitive skin, reach for a cucumber to give yourself a quick pick-me-up when you and your skin are feeling sluggish and droopy.

Yogurt is an all-purpose beauty regimen in a cup.  Eat it  when you need a protein boost and put it on your face or hair for the same reason.  Yogurt’s packed full of beauty benefits.  It can moisturize, reduce discoloration, prevent premature aging, relieve sunburn, and fight acne.

Bananas, honey, eggs, olive oil – These are more foods you probably have in your kitchen right now that can help you be healthy on the inside and look beautiful on the outside.  Any and all of these ingredients can be used alone to rejuvenate your skin and hair.  Here are two recipes you can whip up using these “kitchen cosmetics.”

YOGURT HONEY BANANA FACE MASK FOR DRY SKIN

1 banana

1 tsp. honey (preferably organic)

2 tsp. yogurt

Mash up the banana with the rest of the ingredients, forming a thick paste.  Spread the mixture evenly all over your face and neck (avoiding the sensitive eye area).  Leave on for 10 -15 minutes.  Rinse off with warm water.

AVOCADO COCONUT OIL MOISTURIZER

Avocado Coconut Oil Moisturizer –

1/4 ripe avocado

1 tsp. lemon juice (another great kitchen beauty product!)

1/2 plain yogurt

1 tsp. coconut oil

Combine all of the ingredients into a very smooth paste (you can use a blender).  Take a teaspoon of the mixture and apply it to your face using upward circular motion.  Store the leftover product in a clean glass jar in the refrigerator.

 

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F is for Face Fixes From the Frig

Posted on March 3, 2012 | 2 Comments

Homemade Facials from your Frig for your Natural Beauty

Looking for a pick me up for tired and dull skin?  Look in your frig!

Looking for a remedy for acne?  Look in your frig!

Looking for a way to reduce oily skin or the appearance of wrinkles?  For natural beauty, you don’t have to look much further than the inside of your refrigerator or kitchen cabinets.

For dull and dry skin or hair, grab some of that real mayonnaise out of the frig and smush it all over your face.  Always remember when you’re applying lotions or creams or fruits and vegetables to you skin, use circular and upward motions to get a head’s up (or a face’s up) on how gravity tends to pull us down.

Need a little rejuvenator for your face after a long day or a short sleep?  This Cucumber, Yogurt and Parsley Facial from your frig will work great 1 tsp. Cucumber
1 tsp. Parsley
1 tsp. Plain Yogurt

Puree the parsley and cucumber really fine and mix in the yogurt to form a smooth cream.  Apply it to your face and leave the mask on for approximately 15-20 minutes for best results. Rinse with water. This will moisturize while it perks you up.  Only make as much as needed for each application, as it does not keep – even in the Frig!

For Acne, grab some eggs and honey and whip them all together for a face mask.

To dry up your oily skin,mix 2 TBL. of Baking Soda (see previous post D is for Double Duty Kitchen Cosmetics – Baking Soda Does It!) with enough lemon juice or tomato juice to make a thick paste and apply to the face and neck area. Massage gently and avoid the sensitive area around the eyes.

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Posted in frugal beauty, homemade beauty products, natural beauty, Recipes, Spas & Spa Products

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E is for Exfoliation – Every NBW nEEds a scrub Every now & ThEn!

Posted on February 26, 2012 | Leave a comment

Exfoliate for Natural Health and Natural Beauty

The largest organ of the body is the skin and it is out there all the time getting assaulted by every kind of pollution and contamination swirling around in the air.  As a naturally beautiful woman concerned with her natural health and natural beauty, you want to be sure to take care of your precious skin.

Old dead skin makes you look old and on your way to death – dear me!  It pays to get rid of that top layer of dirt every once in a while by gently exfoliating with some natural homemade scrubs.

A very simple scrub can be made with about ½ cup of raw or brown sugar and some grapeseed or sweet almond oil mixed in to make a gritty paste.  Mix this all together and spread it over your face and body, using circular motions to gently exfoliate.  The grit of the sugar will get in and unclog your pores and remove dirt and prevent blemishes.  Rinse everything off in a warm shower, taking care with the sugary slush on a slippery floor!  If you do this body exfoliation once or twice a month, your skin will be fresh and dirt free and radiate luxurious natural health!

For variety you can use another sweetener – honey mixed with some oatmeal and a bit of apple cider vinegar (seeV is for Vinegar = ACV for Natural Health).  Form a smooth paste, adding honey as needed.  You can add a drop of rosemary or basil essential oil for an exhilarating pick me up.  Follow the instructions above for a total body scrub.

Avocado is a delicious addition to your exfoliation mixture that will moisturize and nourish your skin.  To any of the scrubs, you can add some essential oils for extra vitality and scent – cinnamon and ginger for a spicy mix, or lavender or rose for fabulous femininity.

When you’re looking for a great gift for your girlfriends or your grandmothers, put any of these blends into a clean glass jar and wrap it all up with a bow.  Excellent for Every Occasion!

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D is for Double Duty Kitchen Cosmetics – Grapefruit for Face & Hair

Posted on February 16, 2012 | 2 Comments

Grapefruit for Natural Health and Natural Beauty

Grapefruit is one of the kitchen items that work double duty for you.  Grapefruit is fabulous for your natural health.

Those luscious grapefruits are chock full of Vitamin C for skin care and fighting colds.  Grapefruits have lots of color which indicate a wealth of  carotenoids like lycopene, which can help to reduce the incidence of prostate cancer in men.  Diets high in vitamin C have been linked to a reduced risk of cancers of the esophagus, bladder, breast, cervix, colon and stomach.

OILY SKIN GRAPEFRUIT FACE MASK — Grapefruit is also wonderful for facials to reduce oiliness on your skin.  Combine 1 teaspoon of grapefruit juice with one teaspoon of sour cream and an egg white that has been beaten up till fluffy.  Mix it all together and apply to your face.  Leave it on for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water.

1-1/2 cups white table sugar
8 drops grapefruit essential oil
2 drops red food coloring (optional)
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1/4 cup liquid castile soap

Place sugar into a large bowl and stir to break up any clumps. Add the essential oil.  Add one or two drops of red food coloring if you’d like it pink! Mix very well to make sure the color is evenly dispersed. Add the jojoba oil and Castile soap next, a little at a time, stirring after each addition.    Mix well and the pour into clean container.  To use, stand in the tub or shower and massage the sugar scrub onto your skin from head to toe. Rinse.  Inhale. Smile.

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D is for Double Duty Kitchen Cosmetics – Baking SoDa Does it!

Posted on February 15, 2012 | 1 Comment

Baking Soda for Natural Health and Natural Beauty

Baking Soda isn’t just double duty – it’s quadruple or quintuple duty for your health, your face, your skin and your hair.

Baking soda is great for cleaning your dentures or your natural teeth.  Soak your dentures in a solution of baking soda and water for sparkling freshness!  Baking soda is a naturally effective way to clean your teeth without scratching them, as well as for fighting bad breath by sprinkling some baking soda on your toothbrush.

A wonderful homemade toothpaste can be made easily – just add 3 parts baking soda to 1 part salt,  3 tsp. of glycerin, and 10 to 20 drops of essential oils of either peppermint, wintergreen, anise, or cinnamon.  Mix with  enough water to make a paste.

Or for a simpler solution that will still clean your teeth, simply sprinkle baking soda into your palm, dip a damp toothbrush into it, and brush your teeth.

Other uses for baking soda include a dry wash for your hair in between regular washings; or you can make your own deodorant using 1/2 C. baking soda, 1/2 C. cornstarch, a few drops of your favorite essential oils (Cedar and sage are appealing to men). Put everything into a glass jar and shake it up. Sprinkle a little onto a damp washcloth, pat on your underarms without rinsing.

The wondrous magic of baking soda doesn’t stop there – you can use it to sprinkle on your carpets and make them smell fresh, to remove stains on cups by making a paste and rubbing it over the stain and rinsing, or you can even unclog your drains in a naturally healthy way by making a solution of ½ cup soda mixed with ½ cup vinegar which you pour into a clogged drain. Cover it with a wet cloth, wait 5 minutes, uncover, and flush with steaming-hot water.

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