A simple cleanser can be made from
- 1/2 a cup of oatmeal or Cornmeal
- 1/2 cup of plain yoghurt,
- Mix together until you form a paste
- Smooth over the entire face avoiding the eye area and wash off with warm water
Home made face cleanser December 29, 2009
Avocado Yogurt Mask December 21, 2009
Here’s a tip on what to do with avocado. Apart from using them in your sandwich or in your fruit shakes, try this lovely recipe for your face!
How to:
- Mash a quarter of an avocado in a bowl
- Stir in one tablespoon of yogurt.
- Spread the mixture all over the face with a sponge, avoiding eyes.
- Wash off mask after 15 minutes.
Rosemary Steam Bath December 15, 2009
Steam baths are great for opening pores and getting your skin ready for masks and other treatments to allow for easy penetration. it’s also good if you plan to do any extraction of whiteheads and blackheads. It’s critical to do this step to avoid leaving scars.
How to:
- Boil a pot of water.
- Add sprigs of fresh rosemary and lavender. You can find these herbs at most local grocery stores in the produce section.
- Let the water continue to boil for a few minutes so the herbs steep. Do need to overboil.
- Turn down the fire and take off the stove.
- Pull hair back.
- Lean over the steaming pot (but not too close) with a hand towel over the back of your head, forming a tent.
- Let the steam permeate your skin. If you feel the steam is too hot, wait a short while otherwise you will be scalded by the steam.
Aromatic Paraffin Wax treatment December 1, 2009
Why spend money on a softening paraffin wax treatment at Spa salons? Save loads doing it at home!
How to:
- Take 1-2 bricks of paraffin wax
- If you want flavor or aroma, add a half dozen drops of your favorite flavor of oil.
- Put the wax in your crock pot on low heat and melt. You don’t want to use a higher setting because you don’t want to get burned.
- When the wax is melted add your aroma oil, pour the wax in to a pan or bucket
- Allow to cool and check to make sure that it’s not too hot.
- Dip a hand or foot in until it is completely covered, take it out and let it the wax setusually 5-10 minutes.
- Peel the wax once it’s set, but don’t toss it, you can reuse it!
Feel how soft and moisturized your hands and feet feel!
Antioxidant strawberry mask November 27, 2009
Strawberries are a rich source of antioxidants, and can leave skin tight, glowing and youthful within half an hour.
If you have any strawberries that look too mushy to eat, use them on your face instead!
How to:
- ¼ cup of extra-ripe strawberries, meshed
- 1 teaspoon of honey
- Mix the 2 to form a paste and leave it on your skin for at least 20 minutes.
- Rinse with cool water
Cucmber Yogurt Mask November 8, 2009
You must have heard the phrase “cool as a cucmber” right?
Well, its true that cucmber contains astringents and enzymes that help to soften skin. Great for hot summer days…and you can eat the left over yogurt too
How to:
- Cut a few slices of cucumber (or steal some from your salad).
- Blend in a fruit blender.
- mix with 2 tbsp of yogurt to create a mask
use this soothing, cooling, and relaxing maks after a stressful day.
Tip:
save a few slices of cucmber to put over your eyes!
Peach moisturizing Mask November 1, 2009
Peaches contain vitamins and minerals that are perfect for a fae mask.
How to:
Mash a whole fresh peaches to form a pulp
Apply it to the face for a moisturizing mask
After 20 minutes, rinse with cool water
Peel off Mask (Deep Pore Cleanser) November 1, 2009
This recipe acts like the peel off pore strips you get at drugstores.
What you need:
1 Tablespoon Knox unflavored gelatin
1-1/2 Tablespoons of milk
How to do:
- Mix the above ingredients and microwave them for 10 seconds to warm the mixture.
- Apply the warm mixture onto your nose and chin (t-zone) using a clean cosmetic brush or small spatula (avoid the delicate eye area).
Rinse brush immediately so that it’s easier to clean before everything hardens! - Allow mixture on nose and chin to dry for 10-15 minutes.
- In the meantime, you’d might like to do a DIY manicure or pedicure while you wait
- Peel off the film and marvel at all the gunk that was clogging your pores.
- Finish off with a cool cucumber toner.
Tip: if you have the time, you can steam your face to allow the pores to open first.
Just place some steaming water in a basin or large bowl (make sure you don’t scald yourself!). Bend over the bowl and cover your head with a towel to direct all the steam to your face.
Hair shine October 31, 2009
Wouldn’t it be great to have healthy shiny hair like in this commercial?
Here’s my fav recipe that does wonders to your hair…try it!
What you need:
- 1 small jar of mayonnaise (approx 250 ml)
- 1/2 a avocado (fresh from the market), mashed with a fork till smooth
How to make:
- Use your hands and mix the mayonnaise and avocado in a plastic bowl till its smooth and there are no huge lumps.
- Make sure the mayonnaise is room temperature.
- Smooth into hair all the way to the tips.
- Put on a shower cap .
- Get a towel soaked in hot water. Wrap the warm towel over your shower capped head.
- Leave on for 20 minutes.
Wash off with warm water and shampoo as per normal.
If you do this regularly, you’ll get shiny hair, just like the brave girl in the commercial….no kidding!
Oatmeal mask for dry skin October 26, 2009
Oatmeal acts as a moisturizer and is great for dry and irritated skin. It’s great as a skin soothing agent.
Mix together :
- ¼ cup oatmeal
- 6 oz of plain yogurt
- 1 teaspoon of honey
This will form a paste for your mask. Massage onto skin and let it set at least 30 minutes before washing it off.
