Do it yourself HOME SPA Recipes...
Throughout history, cosmetics have played a role in shaping peoples lives. Homemade recipes of great beauties such as Cleopatra, Marie Antoinette, and Helen of Troy can be read throughout history books. Your grandmother may have tried it too… Making your own beauty products is simple to do, cost effective and fun. Each year, millions of dollars are spent chasing after perfectly healthy, ageless skin. The environment, stress, and less than healthy eating habits, all play a major role in the quality of your skin. The answers to achieving radiant, glowing complexion are within arm's reach your kitchen… Start with cleansing the skin - to lift off surface dirt and impurities. Soap the classic cleanser just a little too harsh or drying for some skin types. There is an alternative to soap - Oatmeal - it makes a mild cleanser and to clean the skin and keep it soft plain yoghurt. Treat your skin with care and gently scrub in a circular motion. Rinse the skin thoroughly and always pat, never rub, your skin dry.
Beauty Queen's Cleansing Milk Recipe
½ cup plain yogurt
1 tablespoon sunflower or any light oil
1 ½ teaspoons fresh lemon juice
This is a common cleanser that is good for dry skin types. Yogourt and oil with help to moisturize and the lemon juice is a natural astringent that restores the skins natural acid level.
Empress Josephine's Cleanser
Josephine de Beauharnais married Napoleon Bonaparte in France in 1796. She was known for her beautiful clear complexion. It is rumored that she used this simple cleanser recipe everyday to keep her skin clean and glowing. It is necessary to refrigerate this cleanser between uses because of the fresh milk.
¼ cup aloe vera gel
1 tablespoons of fresh whole milk
Mix together the two ingredients. Store in the refrigerator. To use: Pour a small amount in your hand and massage gently into your skin. Rinse well with tepid water and pat dry. (Makes approx. 3 ounces)
Scrubs
Yes throughout history honey has been used a sweet treat for skin all-natural honey has been used a beauty product since the days of Cleopatra and it continues to be used today in manufactured and homemade products for skin and hair care. Honey is naturally hydrating and non-irritating. Here are a few honey facial and body scrubs recipes that you can make at home:
Honey Cleansing Scrub
Ingredients:
1 Tablespoon honey
2 Tablespoons finely ground almonds
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
Directions:
Mix all ingredients. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.
Morning Body Scrub
Makes 1-2 treatments
Ingredients:
1/4 cup freshly ground coffee
1/4 cup buttermilk
2 Tbsp. wheat germ
2 Tbsp. honey
1 Tbsp. grape seed oil
1 egg white
Directions:
In mixing bowl, combine buttermilk, honey, grape seed oil and egg white, mix thoroughly. Slowly add coffee and wheat germ being careful not to clot or clump. Scrub should be smooth and creamy but with a slight grit. Allow to stand. Apply all over in shower or bath using a washcloth or body sponge to aid in exfoliation. Rinse completely. Towel dry and apply moisturizer. Chill remaining scrub if necessary.
Benefits:
Rids the skin of dry patches and aids in circulation. Helps to reduce cellulite while it firms and tones. Leaves skin smooth and supple.
Alex the Great's Banana Mask
One of the famous generals in all history Alexander the Great, during their conquest of India in 327 B.C.E., he and his troops discovered a nourishing new food – the banana. This rish, creamy fruit was a welcomed addition to the warriors' diet. Today the banana is the number one fruit enjoyed around the world. A banana makes a recipe for a fabulous facial mask, perfect for dry skin.
½ mashed ripe banana
1 teaspoon of light sunflower oil (omit for oily and normal skin)
1 teaspoon of honey
Apply to clean skin and leave on for 10 – 15 minutes. Rinse well with warm water, and pat dry. Discard any remains of mask it will not keep.
Europes Favorite Strawberry Mask
Strawberry's are rich in salicylic acid and a common ingredient in many commercial acne products.This fresh strawberry mask deep-cleans your skin and removes any surface impurities. If you have blemishes this is a good mask to try. It leaves the skin smooth and tight. Also a great soothing treatment for sunburned skin.
½ cup of fresh strawberries mashed
1 tablespoon of yogurt or sour cream
Mix together ingredients to make a smooth paste. Spread on face and neck for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water, followed by cool water, pat dry your skin. Any leftovers of this mask can used within a week.
Face mask for Dry Skin
1. Take 1 tbsp olive oil and mix with 2 tbsp of fresh cream, leave it on the face for 10 minutes and then wash your face with warm water.
2. Mix 1 tbsp of honey with 15 drops of orange juice and 1 tbsp of fuller’s earth and add 1 tbsp of rose water. Mix well and apply on the face, wash off after 10 minutes.
Face mask for Oily Skin
1. Mix a tbsp of honey with 1 egg white and apply thickly on the face and neck. Leave for 10 minutes and wash off.
2. Mix 2 tbsp of papaya pulp with 10 drops of lemon juice and leave it for 20 minutes and then rinse well.
3. Take fresh juice of any of the fruits (orange, sweet lime, watermelon or papaya) and apply on the face as a mask. This is very relaxing, it cleanses the skin, closes pores and stimulates blood circulation.
Dull and lifeless hair?
Soak half a cup of fenugreek seeds overnight. Grind it to a fine paste next day and apply it on your hair after shampooing. Wash off thoroughly with water after 10 minutes. This is an excellent hair conditioner for dry hair.
Itchy scalp? Rub salt vigorously on scalp for removing dead flakes and curing dandruff.
Acne Zapper
Want to get rid of pimples soon? Rub ice cube on an emerging pimple for 30-40 seconds. Apply clove oil and leave till it dries completely. Pimples will vanish soon.
Cracked heels
Apply vegetable shortening provides super moisturizing effect and you are ready for sandals.
When in season, rub mango peels on the face and wash off after 10 minutes for soft supple and glowing complexion.
A dry mixture of salt and turmeric powder rubbed regularly on your teeth at night helps to reduce cavities and promotes shiny white teeth.
Vegetables to get rid of the tan
Running around in the sun can give you an awful tan. If you are not comfortable with those UV lotions, then relax with this face pack.
Juices of tomato and cucumber mixed together and applied on the face daily is a natural way of getting rid of tanned skin. You can also apply it under the eye area for reducing as well as preventing dark circles.
Don't throw away used lemons. Instead, rub used lemons on your elbows and feet. It helps remove dead skin and prevents discoloration of the skin.
Other Beauty Bites Simple Solutions for Better Skin
Here are a just a few natural skin care solutions for you to try. They only take a few minutes to put together and you probably have most of the ingredients in your kitchen already. I am sure you'll be very pleased with the results:
Almond Oil
Almond oil is good for dryness of the skin and for removing scars of old pimples. Ground the outer cover of 3-5 almonds in with water and apply over the face daily.
Apples
Apply or drink juice of pineapple for body and facial pains.
Apply juice of green apples for fine wrinkles, cracked skin, itching and inflammations.
Apricots
Apply fresh juice of apricots on face good for sunburn, itching, and eczema.
Avocado & Bananas
Mix together until smooth spread on face and leave on for 15 minutes perfect for dry skin
Cucumber
Apply cucumber juice or grated cucumber or cucumber juice mixed with juices of carrot, lettuce or alfalfa over the face for skin eruptions.
Fenugreek
Apply a paste of fresh fenugreek leaves in water over the face every night and washed with warm water in the morning for preventing pimples, blackheads, dryness, and wrinkles.
Apply a decoction on the face, made by boiling 1 tsp fenugreek seeds in 1 liter water for a few of minutes for preventing pimples, blackheads, dryness, and wrinkles.
Garlic
Rub raw garlic on the face for persistent pimples. The pimples will disappear without scars with repeated applications.
Mix 3-4 raw, skinned garlic, finely cut garlic with puffed rice, and swallow with water to clear skin infections quickly.
Honey
Apply honey (1 tsp) mixed with water for all skin blemishes. This will turn your skin glowing.
Apply honey mixed with milk, yogurt, and ground sesame seeds in equal proportions for fair complexion and lovely skin. Honey also can do great things for the hair, giving back color, moisture, body and shine - it is sticky but worth it leave on for for 20 to 30 minutes then wash hair as usual.
Lime Juice
Apply fresh lime juice mixed to a glass of boiled milk as a face wash for pimples blackheads, and cracked skin.
Mint
Apply fresh mint juice over the face every night for the treatment of pimples, insect stings, eczema, scabies, & other skin infections.
Orange
Apply a paste of ground orange peel (dried) with water for acne/pimples.
Papaya
Apply and drink the juice of raw papaya including the skin and seed for treatment of swelling pimples, acne, or any abnormal growth of the skin. It also removes whiteheads, boils, and spots.
Rub raw or ripe papaya on your face to get a smooth and glowing skin.
Pineapples
Apply or drink juice of pineapple for body and facial pains.
For removing fine wrinkles, rub the core of pineapple for a few minutes and leave for 15 minutes
Apply juice of pineapples for fine wrinkles, cracked skin, itching and inflammations.
Pomegranate
Make a paste of roasted & powdered pomegranate skin with fresh lime juice and apply over boils, pimple, blackheads and whiteheads.
Potatoes
Apply grated potatoes as poultice to treat skin blemishes, wrinkles, boils, pimples, blackheads, whiteheads, etc.
Radish
Make a paste of ground radish seeds with water and apply on face to remove blackheads.
Apply grated white radish or its juice for fairer complexion.
Rice
Apply a paste of rice powder with water as a poultice for soothing bleeding pimples and skin inflammations.
Sesame Seeds
Apply a paste of ground sesame seeds with water as poultice for inflammation of the skin due to allergies, skin rashes, and pimples.
Tomatoes
Apply red tomatoes pulp on your face for treatment of pimples for 1 hour, then wash thoroughly.
Turmeric
Apply a paste of turmeric powder with pineapple juice for dark circles under the eyes.
Apply a paste of turmeric powder with gram flour or whole wheat flour for minor skin blemishes.
Apply a paste of turmeric powder with sugarcane juice to remove wrinkles and to prevent skin ageing.
Wheat Flour
Apply a paste of whole wheat flour with vinegar to remove dark spots.
Yogurt
Apply a paste of yogurt with oatmeal is an excellent cleanser.
Summer Fun Beauty Bites
Cracked heels
Apply vegetable shortening provides super moisturizing effect and you are ready for sandals.
Vegetables to get rid of the tan
Running around in the sun can give you an awful tan. If you are not comfortable with those UV lotions, then relax with this face pack.
Juices of tomato and cucumber mixed together and applied on the face daily is a natural way of getting rid of tanned skin. You can also apply it under the eye area for reducing as well as preventing dark circles.
Don't throw away used lemons. Instead, rub used lemons on your elbows and feet. It helps remove dead skin and prevents discoloration of the skin.
Sunburn Soothers
Apricots
Apply fresh juice of apricots on face good for sunburn
Mint
Apply fresh mint juice over the face every night for the treatment of pimples, insect stings, eczema, scabies, & other skin infections.
Sunburn Spritzers
1 part ( apple cider vinegar, Buttermilk, witch hazel) and 1 part water after dry, moisturize the skin.
Aloe Vera
How to Get Fast Relief: "One of the best remedies for burns is aloe vera gel”
Used by Cleopatra to treat burns more than 2,000 years ago, aloe (Aloe vera) relieves pain, speeds healing time, and even prevents blisters and scarring. Although high-quality gels are sold at natural food stores, some of our experts say it's best to use a live aloe plant. It not only provides the effective gel, but it's also cheap and easy to use: To release the clear, viscous gel, simply break off one dagger-shaped leaf and split it open.
Bites and Stings
Make a paste of baking soda of water and a little lemon juice. - bee stings or wasps.
Egg white - will relieve the itch of stings and bites.