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. 1 small jar of mayonnaise (approx 250 ml)
2. 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.

Alpha Hydroxy from fresh fruits October 8, 2009

Have you ever wondered what you can do with fruits like strawberries, lemons and grapes?

These contain plenty of Alpha Hydroxy Acids that help exfoliate and remove dead cells, thereby allowing new cells to surface.

How to:

Just use the fruit juice and applying a little on your skin every other evening for 10 minutes. Then rinse with coll water. Moisturize. You will find that this makes your skin much softer and smoother.

Tip: do this at night before bedtime, as exfoliation makes your skin more sensitive to the sun. And remember to apply plenty of sunscreen the next day before stepping out!

Salt Foot Scrub October 7, 2009

Here’s a simple recipe or tired, rough and calloused feet. Add some peppermint oil to this timple scrub to rejuvenate.

How to:
Mix together the following:

• 1 Tablespoon of coarse, clean sand
• 1/4 cup light canola oil
• 1/4 cup liquid hand soap
• 1/4 cup sea salt
• 1/4 cup Epsom salt
• Add about 5 to 10 drops of Peppermint oil
  

How to:

Apply salt scrub to wet feet and gently massage all parts of your feet, paying particular attention to your heels.

Rinse off the salt and pat dry. Moisturize.

Coconut Oil Sugar scrub October 6, 2009

Here’s a twist of the Brown Sugar recipe that will make you smell great!

• In a microwaveable glass bowl, microwave half cup Palm Oil
• When warm, (not hot), mix together 1 1/2 cups Virgin Coconut oil
• When oils start to stiffen add  1/4 cup Turbinado Sugar (or brown sugar)

If oils aren’t stiffening fast enough, you may place them in the refrigerator.

If you wish, you can also warm the palm oil in a metal sauccepan over the stove.

How to use:

• Scoop out a small amount and rub on skin.
• If it’s too stiff, use the heat from your palms to soften the mix and apply onto skin.
• Rinse off and enjoy the tropical smell!