Tag Archives: homemade skin care

K is for Kitchen Kosmetics – Kool off with a Kuke

 

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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D is for Dry Skin – Don’t you Dare!

Dry Skin - Not for Natural Beauty!

Dry, scaly skin is not something we naturally beautiful woman want on any part of our bodies.  It will just make you look and feel old and tired and less than a natural beauty.  But there’s help right there in your kitchen!

First we’ll use a little bit of that natural organic honey to exfoliate and get rid of the flaky old skin!  Take two tablespoons of honey and add it to a half a tablespoon of sugar.  Combine these and apply it to your face using upward circular motions (always to prevent wrinkles).  Massage for 3-5 minutes, being careful to avoid the eyes.  Rinse with warm water, pat dry and get ready for a moisturizing, replenishing homemade facial mask.

Moisturize, moisturize and moisturize – every day, every night.  Use a homemade cream with Vitamin E which acts as a preservative for the cream and for your skin!

YOGURT HONEY FACIAL MASK

2 tsp. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
3 capsules vitamin E  (equivalent of 300 units)

Mix yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Open up  vitamin E capsules and combine the liquid with the  other ingredients. Gently massage like before with circular strokes.  Leave on skin for 15 minutes.  Rinse with warm water.  Apply your favorite natural moisturizer.

Keeping your skin clean with a gentle cleanser will give you a youthful look.  Make sure you ALWAYS remove your makeup before you go to bed, no matter how late or how exhausted you are.  If not your pores will get clogged and it will make you look old.

Avoid too much exposure to the sun because it is no good for your whole body, but it is especially harmful and aging to  your face and your neck.

 

 

 

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S is for Salt – Soaking in Some is Super for Skin and Stress

Make your own Bath Salts for Natural Health and Natural Beauty

One of the most delectable things you can do for yourself and your body is to soak in a bath with some homemade bath salts.  Epsom Salts are the crystal form of magnesium sulfate.  The crystals gently exfoliate your skin while smoothing away roughness and dryness.  The magnesium in the Epsom Salts  is a miracle mineral that has been shown to provide stress relief, relax the muscles and relieve any kind of muscle ache (especially from over-exercising), lower blood pressure and calm a weary mind (see Previous Post - M is for Magnesium – Miracle Mineral).

Epsom Salts are a really inexpensive product to use for your homemade bath salts.  If you want to get a little fancier, you can buy Dead Sea Salts which have been used for centuries for their excellent therapeutic value.

Pour two cups of Epsom or  Dead sea bath salts into a clean container  and add a few drops of your favorite essential oil.  Close the container and shake well.  Let the mixture sit overnight if possible and shake one more time before adding to your bath.

For a more moisturizing blend, you can add some jojoba oil or coconut oil to the mix.

- a cupful of Epsom Salt
- two drops of your favorite essential oil
- two to three drops of Jojoba oil
- one tablespoon of baking soda (optional)

Blend everything together and let it sit overnight.  Add to your bath after shaking.  For a wonderful gift, tie the whole thing up with a pretty ribbon.  Your friends and family will love the Sumptuous Skin they get from Salt!

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O is for Olive Oil – On your Skin, Face and Hair – OOOO la la!

Olive Oil for Natural Health and Natural Beauty

If you’re looking for something to give your whole body including your hair and skin a radiant, glowing soft and supple feel and look – you don’t have to look any further than your own cupboard for some wonderful Olive Oil!  We’ve all got it – and let’s use it for extraOrdinary results!

You can use olive oil straight out of the bottle as a facial cleanser.  Just apply and rinse off with warm water.  And you can use that same olive oil as a moisturizer – just apply and leave it on!

For luscious and soft skin all over your body, put a few drops of olive oil in your bath and add some lavender oil and relax and soak up some moisture!  For soft feet, rub some OO on your feet and cover them with cotton socks.  In the morning your feet will be smooth and silky.

Olive oil works well in your hair.  Just rub some in and put on a shower cap for 30 minutes.  Rinse off in the shower!  And how about those icky looking nails – just rub some olive oil on the cuticles and the nails will go stronger and the cuticles will be softer!

Here’s a recipe for a fabulous face mask that will leave you feeling OOOh la la!

Skin Softening Mask Recipe: Olive Oil Face Mask

  • 2 TBL.  honey.
  • 1/2 C. oats.
  • 1 large whole egg, beaten.
  • 2 tsp. granulated sugar.
  • 1/4 C. milk.
  • 1 TBL. olive oil.

Wash your face with a gentle cleanser, rinsing with warm water which will open up pores.  Gently pat your face dry. Blend ingredients above thoroughly, making a paste. Let the mixture sit for about 5 minutes so the oats soften before adding the sugar. Apply the mask evenly, avoiding the sensitive eye area. Gently rub the mask in circular motion to allow the sugar to slough off any dead skin. Rinse off after 15-20 minutes with warm water.  Ooh La La for Olive Oil!

 

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O is for Oatmeal – On your Face!

Oatmeal on your Face for Natural Beauty

Oatmeal – you probably have some in your cupboard right now!  And you don’t have to eat it.  You can use it for all kinds of natural beauty care!

Finely-round oatmeal is very gentle on dry skin as well as sensitive skin and will protect the skin from dryness. Oatmeal contains pectin, silicon,  gums, avenanthramides (which are antioxidants and anti-inflammatories – especially helpful for reducing skin redness), emollients, as well as other minerals that will help soothe acne-prone skin and other skin types, and are helpful even for the most sensitive skin.

Oatmeal, when used as a skin cleanser or facial scrub, can gently exfoliate and get rid of impurities caused by exposure to chemicals and pollution and leave your skin smooth and soft and clean.   When used as a facial mask, oatmeal deep cleanses pores without irritating and drying out skin.

To use as a facial scrub and exfoliant,  place a small amount of ground oatmeal (not instant) into the palm of your hand and add a little water to make a paste. Apply to face and throat and massage onto skin using gentle circular motions. Rinse. Follow with moisturizer.

Oatmeal can be used on all types of skin.  For oily skin, see the Previous Post – O is for Oatmeal All Over your Oily Face.  And for dry skin, you can use oatmeal also!

Oatmeal Dry Skin Facial Mask
1 Egg
1/2 cup Oatmeal
2 teaspoons extra virgin Olive oil or sweet almond oil
Mix all the ingredients to form a thick paste. Apply to face and neck avoiding the sensitive eye area. Leave on 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water followed by a cool water rinse. Apply your favorite homemade toner and moisturizer.

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