Patchouli Oil

Ok now this post might bring some people sweet fond memories or it can give some nightmares. Patchouli has a very special scent. I mean very special. It has an earthy, herbal, camping trip smell lol I mean it smells like it can wart off bad spirits or something. If anyone has smelled it they know what I mean. Ironically I read that is the scent of love and is said to be an aphrodisiac.

BUT patchouli is an anti-inflammatory agent; patchouli helps relieve acne, dermatitis and eczema.

I have learned a lot about patchouli working with my boss. She was receiving a lot of request from customers about a patchouli scented shea butter. So by popular demand she made one. I hear about the benefits of the oil all the time. I have heard customers say that it tones and tightens the skin and some of the older customers say the use it to fight wrinkles.

I found out that patchouli is in the mint family and is grown in Southeast Asia. The color of the oil varies depending on the aging process.

So this post is really just to tell you about other oils that are out there or for some to remind you of the things that you may have strayed away from. You can explore this further and see how it works for you.

Bathe Like A Queen

I have been meaning to do a post on milk baths but I just never got around to it. Milk baths are often associated with romance and sensuality but I learned that a milk bath can really help with getting rid of dead skin cells. It has been said that Queen Cleopatra had one of the most successful beauty regimens known. She was said to have had a beautiful even complexion due to her milk baths. Now I wasn’t really looking for Cleopatra’s milk bath originally but I do remember hearing about this and her formula seems to be the most popular. Milk has Lactic Acid, a type of alpha hydroxy acid. It is gentle and can be found in a lot of beauty products and is said to be an effective anti-aging skin treatment. So it sounds good to me! I doubt if anyone really has the original recipe because I found many recipes claiming to be the Cleopatra milk bath but you can change this recipe  based on your needs and the supplies you have.

4 cups Powdered Milk
2 cups Sea Salt
1 cups Baking Soda
1 cup Epsom Salt
1/2 cup Citric Acid
2 teaspoons Vanilla Extract
1 teaspoon Tangerine or Sweet Orange Essential Oil

TO MAKE: Mix all the dry ingredients in a large, non-porous bowl and work out any clumps. Separate 1-2 cups of the dry mixture into a smaller glass measuring cup or bowl. Add the wet ingredients and mix well. Combine the wet mixture back into the dry mix and blend together until evenly dispersed. Package as desired.
TO USE: Add a few tablespoons to warm bath water and enjoy.

Recipe from here

DIY Waxing

Waxing can be expensive especially if you are getting the whole shebang from head to toe. I know some people like to wax at home and some of us wouldn’t dare do such a thing out of fear. The OTC wax kits take a lot of trial and error and often times they just don’t work. I found a video for a DIY wax kit. I like that there are so many things that we can do ourselves but sometimes I think there is a reason for professionals and this is one of those times. Waxing is painful and scary and if you do not know what you are doing it can be a little dangerous. But for arms and legs I think DIY waxing is ok, it’s the more sensitive areas that I am not sure about. But for you dare devils out there here is a video I found for a DIY wax kit. Please be careful with this.

Homemade Foot Soak

 

I was thinking about something relaxing for all of the busy bees out there. When I am on the run all day and finally get to sit down, I love a good foot soak. I just dump things in my water without any real measurements so I had to look up some measurements just for those who need it. The water temperature is at personal preference.  Use 2 to 3 tablespoons per gallon of water used.

 

Basic

1 part Epsom salts
1 part Baking soda
drops of choice EO (optional)

Chamomile Tea

4 bags chamomile tea or mint tea
1/8 cup dried parsley
4 drops EO of choice

Steep in 1 gallon of hot water for 10 minutes before using.

Info modified from here

Yogurt Face Mask

I have heard for a very long time that yogurt made a good face mask. I have tried oatmeal, egg, honey but I have yet to try yogurt as a mask. So I searched around for a recipe I was more likely to use. Now I remember watching Doctor Oz a few years ago and he said yogurt and lemon was a great combination for acne prone skin. I found a recipe that was basic and allowed you to add ingredients based on your needs.

Yogurt Face Mask

Organic yogurt – Organic yogurt is very effective for the skin and face. The organic yogurt contains live cultures and more active ingredients than non-organic yogurt and is free of pesticides and other chemicals that may irritate your skin.

Benefits of the Yogurt Face Mask

The yogurt provides several benefits to your skin and saves you from the skin and face problems.

Yogurts include some antibacterial properties which makes it very useful degerming cleansers.

Yogurt’s lactic acid ingredient relieves the irritating problems, makes clear the pores and softens your skin.

Optional Ingredients for Face Mask

If you are suffering from dryness and flaky face then add one spoon of honey and two spoons of grated carrots to the Yogurt. Mix all these ingredients in the mixer or by hand before applying to your face.

If your skin is particularly dull or dry then mix two tablespoons of lemon juice to your yogurt face mask. The lemon is very helpful to get rid of the dead skin and clarifies the pores of skin.

All information was modified from here

Oatmeal and Honey Scrub

I have heard for years that Oatmeal made a great mask but I didn’t know it could make a good scrub but I guess when you think about it a little it all makes sense. I love scrubs. Oatmeal is used for many skin ailments such as acne prone and oily skin. Oatmeal is known to have good exfoliating properties and this will help to get out the daily toxins off the skin. It is also known to have skin lightening effects and thus it also helps to improve the skin tone and texture. I used to hear a lot that oatmeal can help calm irritated or sensitive skin.  Nothing is better to me than fresh smooth skin. And because it is easy for our skin to become dry during this cold season I thought I would post a scrub so we can all get rid of the dead skin ans start fresh.

Facts about oatmeal

The healthiest type of oatmeal is made from whole-grain, steel-cut oats, also known as coarse-cut or Irish oats, because they are most nutritious. The more common “rolled oats” are steamed, flattened and lightly toasted. “Instant” oatmeal is pre-cooked. Read more

So for this recipe you wet your face with a warm washcloth then apply the mixture to your face. Let the mixture dry, then remove with a warm, damp washcloth and voila! New smooth soft skin! Don’t forget to moisturize ladies fresh skin is the easiest to dry out. remember to avoid your eyes.

1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal
1 Tbsp honey
1 Tbsp cider vinegar
1 tsp ground almonds

Care For Your Nails

Have you ever seen someone with filthy nails and thought to yourself, “I would never eat anything they cooked” LOL that is something I heard my mom say it a million times. Clean nails are important. You do not have to be a prissy princess who is always at the nail shop but clean nails make you look clean over all. Nails are made up of flattened dead cells containing keratin and keeping them moisturized keeps them flexible and less brittle. I read that healthy fingernails are smooth, without pits or grooves. One of the reason why I do not care to get my nails done at the salon is because of the ridges that the acrylic nails leave on the nail bed. Nails are USUALLY uniform in color and consistency. You should keep your nails as clean as possible to prevent bacteria, fungi and other organisms from growing under your fingernails. Ewl! Who wants organisms growing in their nails? This is also why you should pay attention to men and their nails as well. You should keep you nails dry, clean and trimmed and do your best not to abuse you nails. You can file, buff and all of the other great stuff that you like to do. The great things is you can do this with your guy as well, it will make him feel taken care of and you know how they love that.

I looked up a few tips on TheBeautyBean.com this is all of their tips. None of this is my recommendation it’s just something I looked up for you.

http://thebeautybean.com/site/beautify/manicure-tips-how-to-get-your-nails-to-grow-faster/

Moisturize your cuticles. Dry, unconditioned nails and cuticles are the #1 reason for constant nail breaking. This also leads to flyaway cuticles, which can encourage biting, picking and nipping – which in turn can lead to infections.

Wash your hands less. Hand washing with soap and warm water leads to dry hands and nails so wash with lukewarm water and a gentle, sulfate free cleanser to nourish your hands and cuticles (rather than harsh soaps or dehydrating anti-bacterial gels). Also, keep dishwashing gloves around for cleaning and messy situations so you can avoid non-essential hand washing.

How to give yourself a salon-like manicure!

Oil up. Apply a nail-specific oil to condition dry, jagged cuticles and nourish and strengthen nails. Gently push back cuticles with a washcloth after applying oil to avoid the need to cut. It only takes a minute and makes a huge difference.

Break the cycle. Try breaking the polish, gel and acrylic cycle for a month. When nails receive extended amounts of oxygen and hydration they develop a natural shine and healthy glow. And avoiding drying nail polish removers for a month can do wonders.

How to keep hands soft all winter long!

Supplement the process. Make sure your diet is rich in both iron and calcium and ask your doctor if it would safe for you to take a Biotin supplement, which helps encourage hair and nail growth.

Handle with care. Get in the habit of treating your hands like jewels, not tools.

Hot Towel for Cleansing

I used to go to a spa for my skin ailments but stopped because it was doing more harm than good but not all of their techniques were bad. One of the good things that I completely forgot about that was actually very soothing and very good for cleansing was the hot towel. The combination of the hot towel and the moisture was a very relaxing feeling. I mean you could almost fall asleep. I also read that the ancient Greeks and Romans used steam for health and beauty as well (I don’t know how true that is but anything is possible). Spas are extremely expensive and you really don’t need one if you know a few tricks and can set up a relaxing environment. You should do this facial steam after you cleanse and or do a face scrub. Facial steaming is used to help control and or reduce acne breakouts.. It can also boost circulation and draw blood to the surface of the skin. It helps you achieve that sexy glow.

You will need hot water, a bowl and a towel

You heat the water to wear it’s hot but not boiling. (Please don’t boil the water)

Pour the water in the bowl and soak the towel in the water for a few minutes and then ring it out until most of the water is gone from the towel.

Place the steam towel over your face and enjoy the steam for a good 10 minutes.