Beauty
Natural beauty treatments for skin
You may not be aware of it, but your cupboards and refrigerator are packed with cheap household items that have been used by women for centuries to make themselves pretty before expensive treatments were developed by the cosmetics industry. Get back to basics and create healthy beauty with these all-natural ingredients:
Lemon peel
Did you know that lemon acid is great for exfoliation? Take a slice of lemon and rub over freshly washed face. Leave for a minute or so, and then wash it off. You will be surprised at the even texture and healthy glow of the skin! Be careful though if you have sensitive skin that can be easily irritated: dilute some lemon juice with water, and do a patch test first. If no irritation develops, apply to skin for a short amount of time.
Salt scrub
Mix about 1 tablespoon of table salt with 2 tablespoons of sour cream in a small container. Take the mixture to the shower, and apply all over your body, rubbing in. Salt exfoliates the dead cells, and the sour cream moisturizes the skin, leaving your body baby-soft and glowing.
Oatmeal bath
Oatmeal is great for you inside and out. Put a handful of leftover cooked oatmeal in a cloth pouch (or a thin sock), and take it to the bath tub with. You can let it soak in the water, or use as a wash cloth. Polysaccharides contained in oats turn into nourishing gel, leaving skin soft and moist. Remember however to never add oats directly in the bath tub, as it will clog your drain!
Read
Cucumber
Place cucumber slices to on your tired eyes for 5-10 minutes to reduce puffiness and dark circles. Then remove the slices from your eyes and rub them all over your cleansed face. Cucumber rub improves complexion, tightens pores, moisturizes, softens, and whitens skin.
Honey and oil wrap for hair
If you hair is dry and dull, mix a tablespoon each of honey and olive oil. Rub the mixture into the hair with fingers, then comb through to distribute all the way to the hair ends. Wrap head with a plastic bag and leave for about an hour, after that rinse and wash with shampoo as usual. This hair mask can be repeated every couple of weeks, or as needed, for shiny healthy hair.
Milk
Ancient queens used to take milk baths for beautiful skin, and so can you! Add a couple of tablespoons of milk powder or a few cups of warm milk to water in the bathtub. The lactic acid in milk softens, bleaches and moisturises the skin. You can also dip a cotton ball in milk and rub it over your face, leave for a few minutes, then rinse off.
