Honey... with Milk
Honey is like a wonder tonic. A spoonful of honey acts to balance metabolic systems when ingested, and is a natural antibacterial. Cleopatra from ancient Egypt bathed in milk and honey for a flawless complexion. England’s Queen Anne used it on her hair for moisturizing and shine. Honey is a natural humectant that attracts and retains moisture. With its antioxidant and antimicrobial properties, it’s been touted for centuries to repair damaged, sensitive skin. Bacteria cannot grow in honey so the ancient Egyptians painted it on wounds to keep infections from forming. Smear some honey on your gums to help heal sensitive, sore mouths. You can make a classic old time smoothing lotion for extra dry skin by combining equal parts honey, lemon juice and any kind of vegetable oil (extra virgin olive oil or avocado oil are excellent), leave it on dry areas for 20-30 minutes and rinse off or jump in the bath and soak it off leaving skin soft and smooth all over. It’s also touted that if you take a spoonful of honey daily that is produced by bees in your geographical area, it will help you become immune to allergies of pollens since that honey is made directly from the pollens you’re affected by. Honey is good to take for a sore throat since it helps sooth and disinfect the throat. Taking honey daily can also help ward off arthritis and joint problems. Using honey to sweeten everything instead of sugar can gain you many health benefits while omitting the bad calories and dentist bills. See also under the category to the right “General Health” for information on apple cider vinegar and the ‘other wonder tonic’.
For more information on honey and vinegar: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Showing posts with label Facial Skin Care-All Skin Types. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Facial Skin Care-All Skin Types. Show all posts
Face Mask for Glowing Acne Free Skin
Acne Skin Softening-Flax and Yeast
Here’s a mask good for all skin types but excellent for acne. It softens, smoothes and nourishes skin giving it a fresh, youthful glow. Yeast is a particularly good treatment for acne:
Place 2 teaspoons flax seeds (available in health food and specialty stores) in a small bowl with just enough water to cover seeds. Let sit until the water forms a gel like substance. If you want to make it faster, you can boil the seeds covered in water until seeds burst and form a gel then let cool. Add 1 tablespoon Brewer’s or Baker’s yeast (found in little packets in the bread baker’s area) and more water as needed to make a soft paste like gel. Apply to clean face and let dry then rinse with tepid water and pat dry.
For more information on Acne and Yeast: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Here’s a mask good for all skin types but excellent for acne. It softens, smoothes and nourishes skin giving it a fresh, youthful glow. Yeast is a particularly good treatment for acne:
Place 2 teaspoons flax seeds (available in health food and specialty stores) in a small bowl with just enough water to cover seeds. Let sit until the water forms a gel like substance. If you want to make it faster, you can boil the seeds covered in water until seeds burst and form a gel then let cool. Add 1 tablespoon Brewer’s or Baker’s yeast (found in little packets in the bread baker’s area) and more water as needed to make a soft paste like gel. Apply to clean face and let dry then rinse with tepid water and pat dry.
For more information on Acne and Yeast: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Traditional Skin Care Recipes "Beauty Tonics"
Rose Water and Glycerin Skin Care
Rose water and glycerin has been a popular skin care product forever. The rose is anti-inflammatory and nourishing to skin while the glycerin helps pull in moisture to the skin from the air. It makes a great skin toner that is slightly astringent with oil free moisturizing, and just pure rose water alone can be used as toner. Here is a recipe to make your own and following this one is a recipe to make your own authentic rose water.
1 cup real rose water-recipe follows
(or you can substitute placing a handful of dry rose petals in a jar, cover with boiling water, seal and let sit overnight to infuse the water then strain)
2 teaspoons glycerin
4-8 drops of rose essential oil
Combine all in a jar and shake well to blend. Adding about ½ teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract will help preserve it so it will last longer.
How to Make Authentic Rose Water
Most rose water you purchase is not pure rose water but synthetic oil with water and preservatives added to it. Pure rose water is made by distilling water of roses and can also be used to flavor foods such as rice pudding and pastries.
You can make about a quart of high quality rose water in about 1 hour. Use caution not to simmer too long so the rose water essence doesn’t become diluted. Be sure to have a brick and heat safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl.
2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petals.
Water and ice cubes or crushed ice
In the center of a large tall pot, like the round lidded type used for canning, place a fireplace or heatproof brick. On top of the brick place the heat safe bowl and put the roses in the pot, enough to reach the top of the brick. Pour just enough water to cover the roses and the water should be just above the top of the brick. Place the rounded lid upside down on the pot. Turn the stove on and bring the water to a rolling boil then lower heat to slow, steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, put 2-3 trays of ice cubes or a bag of ice on top of the lid so the steam created in the pot will hit the cold lid and condense. The condensed water will drip down from the center of the lid and drop into the bowl sitting on the brick. This is a simple home “still”. About every twenty minutes, quickly lift lid and take out a sample of the water. It’s time to stop distilling once you have about a pint and a quart or water and it smells and tastes strong of roses.
Ancient Mayan Skin Cream Recipe
This cream has long been used by Mayans to keep skin young looking, softened and helps correct pH balance while fighting off damaging free radicals.
½ cup aloe vera gel
1/8 cup glycerin
1/2 to 1 teaspoon royal bee jelly
1 teaspoon plumeria flower essential oil (also known as frangipani)
Mix all ingredients together well and keep refrigerated up to 6 months in a glass jar. Massage into face at bedtime.
Rose water and glycerin has been a popular skin care product forever. The rose is anti-inflammatory and nourishing to skin while the glycerin helps pull in moisture to the skin from the air. It makes a great skin toner that is slightly astringent with oil free moisturizing, and just pure rose water alone can be used as toner. Here is a recipe to make your own and following this one is a recipe to make your own authentic rose water.
1 cup real rose water-recipe follows
(or you can substitute placing a handful of dry rose petals in a jar, cover with boiling water, seal and let sit overnight to infuse the water then strain)
2 teaspoons glycerin
4-8 drops of rose essential oil
Combine all in a jar and shake well to blend. Adding about ½ teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract will help preserve it so it will last longer.
How to Make Authentic Rose Water
Most rose water you purchase is not pure rose water but synthetic oil with water and preservatives added to it. Pure rose water is made by distilling water of roses and can also be used to flavor foods such as rice pudding and pastries.
You can make about a quart of high quality rose water in about 1 hour. Use caution not to simmer too long so the rose water essence doesn’t become diluted. Be sure to have a brick and heat safe stainless steel or glass quart bowl.
2-3 quarts fresh roses or rose petals.
Water and ice cubes or crushed ice
In the center of a large tall pot, like the round lidded type used for canning, place a fireplace or heatproof brick. On top of the brick place the heat safe bowl and put the roses in the pot, enough to reach the top of the brick. Pour just enough water to cover the roses and the water should be just above the top of the brick. Place the rounded lid upside down on the pot. Turn the stove on and bring the water to a rolling boil then lower heat to slow, steady simmer. As soon as the water begins to boil, put 2-3 trays of ice cubes or a bag of ice on top of the lid so the steam created in the pot will hit the cold lid and condense. The condensed water will drip down from the center of the lid and drop into the bowl sitting on the brick. This is a simple home “still”. About every twenty minutes, quickly lift lid and take out a sample of the water. It’s time to stop distilling once you have about a pint and a quart or water and it smells and tastes strong of roses.
Ancient Mayan Skin Cream Recipe
This cream has long been used by Mayans to keep skin young looking, softened and helps correct pH balance while fighting off damaging free radicals.
½ cup aloe vera gel
1/8 cup glycerin
1/2 to 1 teaspoon royal bee jelly
1 teaspoon plumeria flower essential oil (also known as frangipani)
Mix all ingredients together well and keep refrigerated up to 6 months in a glass jar. Massage into face at bedtime.
Evening Out Skin Tone for a Youthful Appearance
Skin Spots, Freckling and Discoloration
Skin pigmentation problems, either dark or light colored spots that cause uneven or blotchy areas and freckling, are from disorders of the melanin (producing too much or too little) that makes up the color in your skin. These skin discolorations are what make your skin appear much older than it really is. If you have ever applied makeup foundation properly to even out your skin tone, you know that it can take years off your face. Sun exposure is the number one cause of skin spots and blotchiness, and eventually, wrinkling and skin cancer. Heat can also cause skin age spots. There are other causes for skin pigmentation problems such as scar discoloration from past rashes, cuts and acne which usually shows up more significant on darker skin than fair skin. Another is from hormonal changes. Pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and even normal monthly hormone fluctuations can all cause areas of the skin to darken. One of the most common areas where this happens is over the top lip, which can get dark enough to look mustache-like. And exposure to the sun can make this color change accelerate.
The best treatment for skin spots is to keep your skin protected from the sun as much as possible throughout your lifetime. If you already have damage, other than having a doctor perform laser or chemical peels that remove significant layers of skin, the best treatment is using products that contain ingredients that block some of the production of melanin in the skin, like hydroquinone (higher concentrations of 4% must have a prescription but lower concentrations are available over the counter), azelaic acid in 15% to 20% concentrations, kojic acid or licorice extract. None of these ingredients will actually bleach skin which is not possible; they just keep your skin from producing the excess chemical that makes skin darker. Use these melanin inhibitors in combination with chemical exfoliators like Retin-A used along with Alpha Hydroxyl Acids (AHAs) to remove the top darker layers of skin while the melanin-inhibitors help prevent the darkness from reforming. Then use sunscreen of at least 30 SPF at all times with coverage from clothing, hats and sunglasses everyday or the color will quickly reappear. Using tanning beds and sun lamps will also damage and darken spots as bad as or even worse than the sun.
Vitamin C in cosmetics and taking vitamin E oral supplements may help keep the dark spots from coming back as well. Dark spots caused by scarring can take years to lighten but using Retin-A with AHAs can help speed up the process a bit. Even though AHAs do not inhibit melanin production (they work by increasing cell turnover, shedding skin layers so newer skin is revealed), lactic and glycolic acid forms of AHAs may inhibit melanin since their molecule size is smaller than other AHAs. Keep in mind that Hydroquinone breaks down very easily and quickly after opening and being exposed to air and light makes it ineffective. Choose these products in containers with small openings such as tubes instead of large mouth containers made of transparent glass or plastic which expose it to more air and light degrading it faster.
Skin pigmentation problems, either dark or light colored spots that cause uneven or blotchy areas and freckling, are from disorders of the melanin (producing too much or too little) that makes up the color in your skin. These skin discolorations are what make your skin appear much older than it really is. If you have ever applied makeup foundation properly to even out your skin tone, you know that it can take years off your face. Sun exposure is the number one cause of skin spots and blotchiness, and eventually, wrinkling and skin cancer. Heat can also cause skin age spots. There are other causes for skin pigmentation problems such as scar discoloration from past rashes, cuts and acne which usually shows up more significant on darker skin than fair skin. Another is from hormonal changes. Pregnancy, birth control pills, hormone replacement therapy and even normal monthly hormone fluctuations can all cause areas of the skin to darken. One of the most common areas where this happens is over the top lip, which can get dark enough to look mustache-like. And exposure to the sun can make this color change accelerate.
The best treatment for skin spots is to keep your skin protected from the sun as much as possible throughout your lifetime. If you already have damage, other than having a doctor perform laser or chemical peels that remove significant layers of skin, the best treatment is using products that contain ingredients that block some of the production of melanin in the skin, like hydroquinone (higher concentrations of 4% must have a prescription but lower concentrations are available over the counter), azelaic acid in 15% to 20% concentrations, kojic acid or licorice extract. None of these ingredients will actually bleach skin which is not possible; they just keep your skin from producing the excess chemical that makes skin darker. Use these melanin inhibitors in combination with chemical exfoliators like Retin-A used along with Alpha Hydroxyl Acids (AHAs) to remove the top darker layers of skin while the melanin-inhibitors help prevent the darkness from reforming. Then use sunscreen of at least 30 SPF at all times with coverage from clothing, hats and sunglasses everyday or the color will quickly reappear. Using tanning beds and sun lamps will also damage and darken spots as bad as or even worse than the sun.
Vitamin C in cosmetics and taking vitamin E oral supplements may help keep the dark spots from coming back as well. Dark spots caused by scarring can take years to lighten but using Retin-A with AHAs can help speed up the process a bit. Even though AHAs do not inhibit melanin production (they work by increasing cell turnover, shedding skin layers so newer skin is revealed), lactic and glycolic acid forms of AHAs may inhibit melanin since their molecule size is smaller than other AHAs. Keep in mind that Hydroquinone breaks down very easily and quickly after opening and being exposed to air and light makes it ineffective. Choose these products in containers with small openings such as tubes instead of large mouth containers made of transparent glass or plastic which expose it to more air and light degrading it faster.
Strawberries For Both Aging and Oily Skin
Strawberry Facial
This facial is great for aging skin since strawberries contain AHA and vitamin C, both anti-aging ingredients touted in many store bought cosmetics. Strawberries are also excellent for oily skin. Always test the ingredients on the inside of your elbow or wrist for allergies before applying any facial.
Ingredients:
2 large ripe strawberries
1 Tablespoon almonds ground up fine
1 Tablespoon Milk
1 Tablespoon Kaolin or other facial clay
Prepare ingredients:
-Mash 2 ripe strawberries well in a bowl and set aside.
-In another bowl, combine 1 tablespoon milk with a little bit of the mashed strawberry to create a facial cleanser.
-In another bowl, combine the almond powder with about ½ teaspoon of the mashed strawberry to make a facial scrub.
-To the remainder of the mashed strawberry, add 1 tablespoon kaolin clay and mix well adding a little milk if needed to make a smooth paste for a facial mask.
Facial Procedure:
1. Pull hair off your face with a headband and begin boiling a large pot of water.
2. Using clean cotton pads dipped in the strawberry cleanser, massage the cleanser gently into skin then rinse very well with lots of water.
3. Gently massage the strawberry scrub into your face for a few minutes and rinse very well with water. Pat skin dry with clean towel.
4. Pour the boiling water into a large bowl and ‘tent’ a towel over your head to steam your face about a foot above the steaming water. (Skip the steaming if you have broken capillaries from Rosacea or have asthma). Let face steam about 10 minutes.
5. Apply the strawberry mask to your face and lie down to relax for 20 minutes. Rinse well with lots of water and pat dry.
6. Apply your favorite moisturizer.
This facial is great for aging skin since strawberries contain AHA and vitamin C, both anti-aging ingredients touted in many store bought cosmetics. Strawberries are also excellent for oily skin. Always test the ingredients on the inside of your elbow or wrist for allergies before applying any facial.
Ingredients:
2 large ripe strawberries
1 Tablespoon almonds ground up fine
1 Tablespoon Milk
1 Tablespoon Kaolin or other facial clay
Prepare ingredients:
-Mash 2 ripe strawberries well in a bowl and set aside.
-In another bowl, combine 1 tablespoon milk with a little bit of the mashed strawberry to create a facial cleanser.
-In another bowl, combine the almond powder with about ½ teaspoon of the mashed strawberry to make a facial scrub.
-To the remainder of the mashed strawberry, add 1 tablespoon kaolin clay and mix well adding a little milk if needed to make a smooth paste for a facial mask.
Facial Procedure:
1. Pull hair off your face with a headband and begin boiling a large pot of water.
2. Using clean cotton pads dipped in the strawberry cleanser, massage the cleanser gently into skin then rinse very well with lots of water.
3. Gently massage the strawberry scrub into your face for a few minutes and rinse very well with water. Pat skin dry with clean towel.
4. Pour the boiling water into a large bowl and ‘tent’ a towel over your head to steam your face about a foot above the steaming water. (Skip the steaming if you have broken capillaries from Rosacea or have asthma). Let face steam about 10 minutes.
5. Apply the strawberry mask to your face and lie down to relax for 20 minutes. Rinse well with lots of water and pat dry.
6. Apply your favorite moisturizer.
Wrinkles, Aging, Acne a Result of Stress?
Stress and Skin Problems, Acne and Aging
Skin is your body’s largest organ and it has immune system functions to protect your health just like other organs. Stress alerts the hypothalamus which sends a message to the pituitary gland and on to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands react within minutes to the stress by producing cortisol stress hormone. This production of cortisol in your system causes inflammation in organs which in turn produces ‘oxidants’ that damage cells. Short term, this inflammation can ward off disease but if the inflammation becomes chronic it can harm the body in many ways with a large variety of illnesses. This is also true for the skin as well. If a pore is inflamed due to production of cortisol, it is thick with swelling and more likely to become clogged and result in a blemish. And when the collagen in your skin becomes inflamed, its structure breaks down and causes wrinkles and sagging. The more stress you’re exposed to and the longer, the more skin problems may worsen such as premature aging, wrinkles and acne. Even the facial expression responses to stress (frowning, pursing lips, etc) can really speed up the wrinkling process. Acne in teens is shown to flare up and become 23% worse around exam time when stress is greater. When you combine the fact that teens normally produce more sebum oil in their skin at their age, with inflammation from cortisol, you’re sure to have zits. And the teen years can be filled with stressful life changes. Most often when anyone is under stress, the first thing they do is throw healthy habits out the window-they skip exercising, eat junk food or smoke, omit skin care routines, etc. To reduce the effects of stress on your skin (and the rest of your organs), prepare for stress and give yourself breaks so you can handle the situations better. Don’t cut out exercising during stressful times, in fact that’s when it’s most beneficial. In as little as 15 minutes of brisk walking a day, your endorphin levels will be raised which boost mood uplifting chemicals in your brain. Things that improve endorphin levels and also relax your body/mind are yoga, meditation or massage. And absolutely don’t forget to give yourself plenty of sleep since that’s a time of healing and sleep is a natural anti-inflammatory which brings down cortisol levels. Antioxidant vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C and E and zinc can also help ward off the cell damage caused by chronic inflammation. The best form of getting these vitamins are always from your natural food sources of course, but there are plenty of supplements on the store shelves along with lots of skin products containing antioxidants and vitamins for external use as well. Green tea is well known for its internal and external benefits of being a strong antioxidant so make use of these natural healers internally and externally as well.
Skin Creams and Vitamins
Vitamins A, C and E often are antioxidant ingredients added in expensive skin care products to rejuvenate and repair skin cells. You can add these skin healthy vitamins to your less expensive creams by puncturing the vitamin gel capsule with a straight pin and mix a few drops into your dollop of cream, or apply a thin film directly to skin before massaging in your cream. Keep in mind that the vitamin strength and integrity will diminish quickly once it is exposed to air so only use one small capsule at a time. Use the straight pin to plug the hole in the capsule if you need to use it over a few days. The best time to use creams with vitamins or rejuvenating nutrients is before bed since sleep helps your skin to repair itself.
When looking for a base cream or lotion, hyaluronic acid and peptides based creams help plump up skin with moisture which makes wrinkles look less noticeable. Glycerin can absorb moisture from the air making your skin look more dewy and moist. For oily skin, serums can hydrate skin without clogging pores or making skin look oilier. Serums are also good to use for damaged and aging skin as well. They are lightweight, don’t look greasy and they tend to have more potent levels of skin repairing nutrients that absorb quicker which can make them more effective rather than heavy creams that tend to lie on top of your skin.
Skin is your body’s largest organ and it has immune system functions to protect your health just like other organs. Stress alerts the hypothalamus which sends a message to the pituitary gland and on to the adrenal glands. The adrenal glands react within minutes to the stress by producing cortisol stress hormone. This production of cortisol in your system causes inflammation in organs which in turn produces ‘oxidants’ that damage cells. Short term, this inflammation can ward off disease but if the inflammation becomes chronic it can harm the body in many ways with a large variety of illnesses. This is also true for the skin as well. If a pore is inflamed due to production of cortisol, it is thick with swelling and more likely to become clogged and result in a blemish. And when the collagen in your skin becomes inflamed, its structure breaks down and causes wrinkles and sagging. The more stress you’re exposed to and the longer, the more skin problems may worsen such as premature aging, wrinkles and acne. Even the facial expression responses to stress (frowning, pursing lips, etc) can really speed up the wrinkling process. Acne in teens is shown to flare up and become 23% worse around exam time when stress is greater. When you combine the fact that teens normally produce more sebum oil in their skin at their age, with inflammation from cortisol, you’re sure to have zits. And the teen years can be filled with stressful life changes. Most often when anyone is under stress, the first thing they do is throw healthy habits out the window-they skip exercising, eat junk food or smoke, omit skin care routines, etc. To reduce the effects of stress on your skin (and the rest of your organs), prepare for stress and give yourself breaks so you can handle the situations better. Don’t cut out exercising during stressful times, in fact that’s when it’s most beneficial. In as little as 15 minutes of brisk walking a day, your endorphin levels will be raised which boost mood uplifting chemicals in your brain. Things that improve endorphin levels and also relax your body/mind are yoga, meditation or massage. And absolutely don’t forget to give yourself plenty of sleep since that’s a time of healing and sleep is a natural anti-inflammatory which brings down cortisol levels. Antioxidant vitamins and minerals like vitamins A, C and E and zinc can also help ward off the cell damage caused by chronic inflammation. The best form of getting these vitamins are always from your natural food sources of course, but there are plenty of supplements on the store shelves along with lots of skin products containing antioxidants and vitamins for external use as well. Green tea is well known for its internal and external benefits of being a strong antioxidant so make use of these natural healers internally and externally as well.
Skin Creams and Vitamins
Vitamins A, C and E often are antioxidant ingredients added in expensive skin care products to rejuvenate and repair skin cells. You can add these skin healthy vitamins to your less expensive creams by puncturing the vitamin gel capsule with a straight pin and mix a few drops into your dollop of cream, or apply a thin film directly to skin before massaging in your cream. Keep in mind that the vitamin strength and integrity will diminish quickly once it is exposed to air so only use one small capsule at a time. Use the straight pin to plug the hole in the capsule if you need to use it over a few days. The best time to use creams with vitamins or rejuvenating nutrients is before bed since sleep helps your skin to repair itself.
When looking for a base cream or lotion, hyaluronic acid and peptides based creams help plump up skin with moisture which makes wrinkles look less noticeable. Glycerin can absorb moisture from the air making your skin look more dewy and moist. For oily skin, serums can hydrate skin without clogging pores or making skin look oilier. Serums are also good to use for damaged and aging skin as well. They are lightweight, don’t look greasy and they tend to have more potent levels of skin repairing nutrients that absorb quicker which can make them more effective rather than heavy creams that tend to lie on top of your skin.
Pumpkin Facial
Fight Off Aging Skin with Vitamins from Pumpkin
Pumpkin is very rich in vitamins A, C, antioxidants and zinc, which are all great for your skin to nourish it and fight off signs of aging. Microwave some pumpkin pulp until it softens and let cool. Keep in the frig for up to a few days to keep fresh. To use, you can blend it with some yogurt or raw egg or just use the pumpkin on its own, apply to clean face and neck and leave on 30 minutes while you relax then rinse. If your mask is too thin and runny, add rice flour or ground oatmeal to thicken it, or if it’s too thick, add a little water or other nutrient rich liquid such as aloe vera gel, milk, pineapple juice, etc.
For thousands of additional tips and recipes: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Pumpkin is very rich in vitamins A, C, antioxidants and zinc, which are all great for your skin to nourish it and fight off signs of aging. Microwave some pumpkin pulp until it softens and let cool. Keep in the frig for up to a few days to keep fresh. To use, you can blend it with some yogurt or raw egg or just use the pumpkin on its own, apply to clean face and neck and leave on 30 minutes while you relax then rinse. If your mask is too thin and runny, add rice flour or ground oatmeal to thicken it, or if it’s too thick, add a little water or other nutrient rich liquid such as aloe vera gel, milk, pineapple juice, etc.
For thousands of additional tips and recipes: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Green Tea Spa
Green Tea Oil:
Green tea is well known for its healing, anti-aging and rejuvenating properties both when drunk as a tea and applied to skin. First prepare some infused green tea oil in advance. Take a small, clean, dry, sterile glass jar. Fill with green tea leaves then fill the jar with a good quality carrier oil such as Jojoba oil (a good oil for healing skin and is a liquid wax which keeps a lot better than most oils without going rancid) or avocado oil (with it’s smaller molecules that penetrate skin better). Cover the jar and set aside in a warm place to infuse for 4 to 6 weeks. When infusing is complete, strain the oil into a clean, sterile, dry glass bottle, ready for use.
For your night time Green Tea Spa:
Make a pot of green tea using green tea leaves or green tea bags (1 teaspoon of green tea leaves or 1 green tea bag for every cup of hot water). Sip a cup of green tea while waiting for some of the tea to cool. Mix equal parts green tea with almond flour to use as a green tea scrub and massage into cleansed skin. Mix 1 cup rice flour with enough green tea to make a paste and apply to face avoiding eye area for a green tea mask. Leave on 20 minutes before rinsing. Mix 1 teaspoon of green tea with 1 teaspoon of milk, saturate a cotton pad and wipe face as a green tea toner. Finish up by applying your green tea oil moisturizer before hitting the sack.
Green tea is well known for its healing, anti-aging and rejuvenating properties both when drunk as a tea and applied to skin. First prepare some infused green tea oil in advance. Take a small, clean, dry, sterile glass jar. Fill with green tea leaves then fill the jar with a good quality carrier oil such as Jojoba oil (a good oil for healing skin and is a liquid wax which keeps a lot better than most oils without going rancid) or avocado oil (with it’s smaller molecules that penetrate skin better). Cover the jar and set aside in a warm place to infuse for 4 to 6 weeks. When infusing is complete, strain the oil into a clean, sterile, dry glass bottle, ready for use.
For your night time Green Tea Spa:
Make a pot of green tea using green tea leaves or green tea bags (1 teaspoon of green tea leaves or 1 green tea bag for every cup of hot water). Sip a cup of green tea while waiting for some of the tea to cool. Mix equal parts green tea with almond flour to use as a green tea scrub and massage into cleansed skin. Mix 1 cup rice flour with enough green tea to make a paste and apply to face avoiding eye area for a green tea mask. Leave on 20 minutes before rinsing. Mix 1 teaspoon of green tea with 1 teaspoon of milk, saturate a cotton pad and wipe face as a green tea toner. Finish up by applying your green tea oil moisturizer before hitting the sack.
Nourish Your Skin
Softer, Glowing Skin
Mix honey, glycerin and lemon juice in equal quantities and store in a jar. Apply mixture on the face and neck. Massage well and leave it on 20 minutes before rinsing.
Replenish, Brighten and Clean
To equal parts flour and yogurt, add a dash of lemon juice. Mix well until it becomes a paste. Apply to face avoiding eyes. Leave on until mask hardens, then rinse with warm water.
Avocado Peel Moisturizer
Never throw away the peel of an avocado which makes a wonderful facial moisturizer and mask. The oil contains a humectant, a substance that holds moisture. Using gentle upward strokes, lightly massage your face with the inside of the peel and allow the oil residue to remain on skin about 20 minutes. You can either leave the oil on your skin and go to bed or, if you intend to put on make-up, just rinse your face gently with three or four rinses of tepid water and pat dry. The oil creates an invisible layer of protection, ready to hold your foundation or powder in place.
Mix honey, glycerin and lemon juice in equal quantities and store in a jar. Apply mixture on the face and neck. Massage well and leave it on 20 minutes before rinsing.
Replenish, Brighten and Clean
To equal parts flour and yogurt, add a dash of lemon juice. Mix well until it becomes a paste. Apply to face avoiding eyes. Leave on until mask hardens, then rinse with warm water.
Avocado Peel Moisturizer
Never throw away the peel of an avocado which makes a wonderful facial moisturizer and mask. The oil contains a humectant, a substance that holds moisture. Using gentle upward strokes, lightly massage your face with the inside of the peel and allow the oil residue to remain on skin about 20 minutes. You can either leave the oil on your skin and go to bed or, if you intend to put on make-up, just rinse your face gently with three or four rinses of tepid water and pat dry. The oil creates an invisible layer of protection, ready to hold your foundation or powder in place.
Brighter, Glowing Complexions
Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently into face and rinse with warm water. Brightens skin while cleansing.
Purifying Barley Cleansing Scrub
Add ground up barley to your liquid cleanser to purify and exfoliate gently. Drinking barley water was used centuries ago by women for pure, glowing complexions. You can boil barley in water like a tea or add barley to your soups.
Asian Face Brightener
This is an ancient well known recipe used by woman in India and Asia to brighten the complexion as well as lighten dark spots due to acne. It rejuvenates and gives a glowing complexion:
1 teaspoon Lemon juice
2 tablespoons Gram flour* (ground chick pea) can be found at Indian/Asian markets
Milk-enough to make a thick paste (whole milk, not low fat)
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder also found at Indian/Arabic markets (this may cause a slight yellow tint on light skin and can be omitted if the tint is undesired)
Combine all ingredients to form a thick paste, apply to face and let it sit for 5-6 mins. or until semi-dry. Slightly massage and Rinse off with lukewarm water and finish off with a cold splash. The flour particles act as a fine exfoliater, lemon as a brightener, milk as a softener, and the turmeric is used for it's antiseptic properties and for toning medium to dark skin.
*A substitute for Gram flour can be regular flour, but end results may vary.
An alternate recipe that was used for the same purpose by Asians:
To some flour, mix enough milk (whole milk, not lowfat) to make a paste, add a little turmeric powder, some lemon juice and honey. Apply to face and let dry, then rinse off.
For lots more tips and recipes: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently into face and rinse with warm water. Brightens skin while cleansing.
Purifying Barley Cleansing Scrub
Add ground up barley to your liquid cleanser to purify and exfoliate gently. Drinking barley water was used centuries ago by women for pure, glowing complexions. You can boil barley in water like a tea or add barley to your soups.
Asian Face Brightener
This is an ancient well known recipe used by woman in India and Asia to brighten the complexion as well as lighten dark spots due to acne. It rejuvenates and gives a glowing complexion:
1 teaspoon Lemon juice
2 tablespoons Gram flour* (ground chick pea) can be found at Indian/Asian markets
Milk-enough to make a thick paste (whole milk, not low fat)
1/2 teaspoon Turmeric powder also found at Indian/Arabic markets (this may cause a slight yellow tint on light skin and can be omitted if the tint is undesired)
Combine all ingredients to form a thick paste, apply to face and let it sit for 5-6 mins. or until semi-dry. Slightly massage and Rinse off with lukewarm water and finish off with a cold splash. The flour particles act as a fine exfoliater, lemon as a brightener, milk as a softener, and the turmeric is used for it's antiseptic properties and for toning medium to dark skin.
*A substitute for Gram flour can be regular flour, but end results may vary.
An alternate recipe that was used for the same purpose by Asians:
To some flour, mix enough milk (whole milk, not lowfat) to make a paste, add a little turmeric powder, some lemon juice and honey. Apply to face and let dry, then rinse off.
For lots more tips and recipes: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Makeup Removers and On-the-go Cleansing
Fast and Cheap Makeup Removers
For a quick and cheap way to clean your face, buy cheap baby wipes. Instead of buying the expensive brands like Ponds facial wipes, go to Target, WalMart or other discount store for fragrance free baby wipes in a generic brand. They are perfect for traveling, hiking or camping trips too for washing up without water. You can also keep a couple 'Wet Naps' packets in your purse for quick clean ups (the type you get when you order BBQ ribs for dinner).
For thousands of additional tips and information: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
For a quick and cheap way to clean your face, buy cheap baby wipes. Instead of buying the expensive brands like Ponds facial wipes, go to Target, WalMart or other discount store for fragrance free baby wipes in a generic brand. They are perfect for traveling, hiking or camping trips too for washing up without water. You can also keep a couple 'Wet Naps' packets in your purse for quick clean ups (the type you get when you order BBQ ribs for dinner).
For thousands of additional tips and information: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
All Natural Recipes for All Skin Types
MidEast Glowing Skin Cleanser
Mix 2 tablespoons of milk to 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice and use it to wipe skin with a cotton ball like a toner. It cleanses skin and makes it glow while lightening up darkened areas.
Ancient Eye Mask
For under-eye puffiness and dryness: peel an avocado, remove the pit, and slice off some quarter-inch crescents. Lie down, secure a few slices under each eye, and rest about 20 minutes.
Easy Purifying Mask
Make a paste with a handful of Epsom salts and a little water. Apply to your skin and leave on until it dries. Rinse off with warm water. It brightens skin while drawing out impurities and helps clear up acne.
Easiest Natural Mask
1 tablespoon honey blended with 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off. If skin is oily, you can substitute sour cream or buttermilk for the milk which are more astringent. The cheapest, easiest way to get a good moisturizing, nourishing, clarifying mask for all skin types.
Glowing Skin Mask
Half a banana
2 tablespoons powder milk
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons rose water
Mix till well blended. Apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes.
Nourishing Egg & Honey Facial for All Skin Types
To cleanse, clarify, soften, moisturize and nourish skin.
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. vitamin E oil
1 tsp. almond oil
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Apply to face and leave on 20 minutes, then rinse well.
Honey Egg Tightening Mask
1½ tbsp. honey
1 egg white
2 tsp. glycerin
1/3 cup flour
Whisk honey, egg white and glycerin together, and then add the flour until it becomes a thick paste. Apply to face and rinse after 20 minutes. This mask moisturizes as it tightens skin, leaving it smooth and soft.
Skin Tightening Mask
Mix half powdered egg whites with half cornstarch (you can premix these and keep them in a tight closing jar until ready to use). Mix a couple tablespoons of the powder to any liquid desired until it is a paste consistency (milk, cucumber juice, green tea, aloe vera gel, water, etc). Apply to face being careful not to apply near eyes and leave on till it dries. The paste will pull, tighten, and harden (if your skin is very sensitive, test this first because it really pulls skin taut). Remove by softening with warm wash cloths, or stand directly under the spray of the shower head. It gives skin a tighter, more refined appearance. Removal of the hardened mask can be a slow process, but the result is worth it.
For lots more recipes and tips: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Mix 2 tablespoons of milk to 1-2 tablespoons of lemon juice and use it to wipe skin with a cotton ball like a toner. It cleanses skin and makes it glow while lightening up darkened areas.
Ancient Eye Mask
For under-eye puffiness and dryness: peel an avocado, remove the pit, and slice off some quarter-inch crescents. Lie down, secure a few slices under each eye, and rest about 20 minutes.
Easy Purifying Mask
Make a paste with a handful of Epsom salts and a little water. Apply to your skin and leave on until it dries. Rinse off with warm water. It brightens skin while drawing out impurities and helps clear up acne.
Easiest Natural Mask
1 tablespoon honey blended with 2 tablespoons heavy cream or whole milk. Leave it on for 20 minutes and wash off. If skin is oily, you can substitute sour cream or buttermilk for the milk which are more astringent. The cheapest, easiest way to get a good moisturizing, nourishing, clarifying mask for all skin types.
Glowing Skin Mask
Half a banana
2 tablespoons powder milk
1 tablespoon honey
2 tablespoons rose water
Mix till well blended. Apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes.
Nourishing Egg & Honey Facial for All Skin Types
To cleanse, clarify, soften, moisturize and nourish skin.
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. honey
1 tsp. vitamin E oil
1 tsp. almond oil
Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Apply to face and leave on 20 minutes, then rinse well.
Honey Egg Tightening Mask
1½ tbsp. honey
1 egg white
2 tsp. glycerin
1/3 cup flour
Whisk honey, egg white and glycerin together, and then add the flour until it becomes a thick paste. Apply to face and rinse after 20 minutes. This mask moisturizes as it tightens skin, leaving it smooth and soft.
Skin Tightening Mask
Mix half powdered egg whites with half cornstarch (you can premix these and keep them in a tight closing jar until ready to use). Mix a couple tablespoons of the powder to any liquid desired until it is a paste consistency (milk, cucumber juice, green tea, aloe vera gel, water, etc). Apply to face being careful not to apply near eyes and leave on till it dries. The paste will pull, tighten, and harden (if your skin is very sensitive, test this first because it really pulls skin taut). Remove by softening with warm wash cloths, or stand directly under the spray of the shower head. It gives skin a tighter, more refined appearance. Removal of the hardened mask can be a slow process, but the result is worth it.
For lots more recipes and tips: Beauty and the Budget at VirtualBookWorm
Saving Money on Cosmetics
Beauty on a Budget?
Cosmetic companies pay for packaging, advertising, distribution, employees, etc. and have to pass the costs on to you. That all costs a lot of money.. Make your own products for a fraction of the price... who says you have to spend a lot of money to keep yourself looking good!! What the big companies put in their products is not much different than what you can make yourself and without all the preservatives, chemicals and dyes they add to theirs.
Here's just a couple ideas for products using kitchen ingredients (and lots more in the book):
Avocado-Egg Facial Masks to Improve Skin Texture and Revitalize:
Avocado's smaller molecules helps the moisturizing qualities penetrate and soak into your skin better than olive oil or other natural oils so it's great for aging skin. Lemon juice is astringent and helps rid skin of excess oil. Egg whites help tighten up skin and pores while yolks add moisture and nutrients.
For Oily Skin:
White of 1 egg
1 teaspoon lemon juice
Mashed pulp of half an avocado
Place all ingredients into a blender for a few seconds until it turns into a smooth green mixture. Apply masque evenly over cleansed face and neck. Relax for 20-30 minutes then remove with tepid water and a face cloth. Follow with cold astringent or skin toner.
For Dry Skin:
Yolk of 1 egg
Mashed pulp of half and avocado
Blend together well and apply to cleansed face and neck as above, relaxing for 20-30 minutes. Remove with tepid water and face cloth followed by a cold water rinse and mild skin cream.
Use avocado and egg as a face cleanser with the addition of milk:
Beat the yolk of 1 egg till frothy and add half a cup of milk and mix into half an avocado mashed. Use on a cotton pad and run over skin to remove pollutants and grime while adding nutrients to skin. Since this mixture will spoil, keep it refrigerated and replace every few days.
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