Summer time is here! *yay* Keeping your skin hydrated doesn’t seem like it would be as much of a priority now since the heat makes you sweat, dripping and rolling all over you right? Well, not quite. Sweating is actually releasing the body’s hydration which means you need to replenish it. On top of that, all that sweating is drying out your skin leaving dead skin and cells clinging on to your body.
We’ve talked plenty about the importance of exfoliating your body, but don’t forget about your face too. Here’s a quick, easy in the kitchen recipe you can put together to exfoliate the dead, dry skin and replenish nutrients in the summertime.
Combine ingredients into a plastic bowl. The consistency should be almost paste like. Apply to face with small circular motions, with caution around the eyes. Remove with a warm sponge or face cloth. Cover the plastic bowl with a lid and refrigerate. Reuse within 2 weeks.
Be sure to let us know how this helped your summer beautification routine!
When you think of honey I’m sure you say “Mmhmm, goes so well with my tea!” But what about putting it on your face; on your body? It’s perfect for your beauty routine!
Honey is naturally an incredible skin moisturizer. It’s also antibacterial and antifungal. It has been used since the ancient times as a medicine to treat allergies, poor digestion, and cuts and wounds. Even Cleopatra knew the amazing benefits of honey and credited her beauty and flawless skin to frequent honey and milk baths.
Honey is packed with tons of vitamins and minerals. Which ones? Well I will list them: niacin, riboflavin, pantothenic acid, calcium, copper, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorus, potassium and zinc. It’s a veritable nutritious cocktail!
Honey is also wonderful for its antioxidant benefits. There isn’t a woman I know who doesn’t want a natural product that will go in and hunt down all those harmful free radicals that make us age too quickly. Thanks to the flavonoids and phenolic acids in honey, you get just that.
It’s easy to make a honey mask at home:
Mix about 1/2 cup of honey with a very ripe, very mashed banana. Apply the mixture to your face and let it sit for 15-20 minutes.
This particular mask works hard to kill acne-causing bacteria while moisturizing your skin at the same time. It’s so difficult to find a moisturizing acne treatment since most acne-fighting chemicals dry out skin rather than moisturize. The reason this works is that honey is a natural humectant. Humectants attract moisture and hold it in. So apply away!
Make a honey milk bath:
Heat up 2 cups of whole milk on the stove – not the microwave! As the milk is heating, stir in 1-cup honey until it’s completely dissolved. Add the honey mixture to a warm bath and soak your entire body. The milk proteins will infuse into your skin, adding firmness, while the honey will soften.
Has anyone been using honey regularly for a skin treatment?
Wax hand and foot treatments are commonly used in spas and salons to lock in moisture to the skin. Paraffin wax has been the most prominent wax used, and soy wax is just now becoming more widespread within the past couple of years.
Soy wax is a vegetable wax made from the oil of soybeans. Which means it not only supports soy farmers, but it is environmentally friendly. So if you love the earth AND your body….you better use soy
Why? Because soy wax is the new kid in town. And we all want him over for dinner. Soy wax is non-toxic and burns cleaner than paraffin. That means it won’t put any nasty pollutants in the air while melting. Hooray! Soybeans are a renewable resource and the wax is naturally biodegradable. Oh and a bonus – it is also easier to remove than paraffin wax. So no sticky residue left over that takes days to finally slough off.
A few other great things about soy wax:
there is less soot emission when melting
clean up can be done by only using soap and water; no oil necessary
melts at a cooler temperature which means you will not burn your skin with the wax
So next time you are at the spa looking for a hand and foot wax treatment, call ahead of time and make sure that they offer soy wax as an alternative to paraffin. It makes more sense to be more environmentally friendly if you have the option, and to make smarter choices as a consumer.
We all laugh at Mama and her big purse, joking about her carrying everything around in there including the kitchen sink! It’s all fun and laughs until you need something and Mama reaches in her purse and pulls out the exact thing you needed. Pop a button on your shirt? Mama has a needle and the right color thread. Hungry? Mama has crackers, a granola bar, a package of peanuts to hold you over. Got a mosquito bite? Mama has a bottle of lavender oil in her purse ready to apply a drop to sooth that need to itch. Yup, you never know what Mama has in her purse…so be careful when you laugh at her big ole handbag.
With the cost of checked bags, the goal for a short trip is to pack a bag small enough to carry on the plane. The problem with that is deciding the essential personal care items to take with you. The 3 oz limit and the quart size ziplock bag maximum really hinder your ability to take your beauty ritual needs with you. Having to choose between your favorite face wash, conditioner, lotion, etc becomes more stressful than trying to plan your outfits around one pair of shoes (impossible I tell you!) So what’s the work around?
Assess your products and discern what your multipurpose items are. Personally, I can live without packing my favorite lotion and hair moisturizer in exchange for some pure shea butter. I can use the shea as my hair and skin moisturizer and even as a means protecting my hair from chlorine exposure if I’m going swimming. Aloe gel makes a great temporary substitute for face and body wash and serves as relief in times of sun or wind burn.
Assess what you have access to where you’re going. Need to exfoliate? Mix up a bit of sugar and olive oil (two things that are easy to obtain no matter where you are) and whip up a rudimentary sugar scrub. Steal the cucumbers from your salad to lay over and soother your eyes while recovering from a hangover.
It’s not impossible to pack light and still have the basics you need to stay beautiful without TSA giving you grief.
Tell us how you pack your beauty needs within TSA’s carryon limitations? What has Mama whipped out of her purse for you that you couldn’t believe that she had exactly when you needed it?
I’ve always known chamomile to be a “sleepy time” tea, and that whenever I am suffering from insomnia, this wonderful little herb will lull me into sweet dreams. But like with most things in nature, chamomile’s healing benefits are not just limited to one thing.
Stomach cramps – because chamomile has such strong anti-inflammatory and anti-spasmodic properties, it is very effective when treating stomach or intestinal cramps. If you are suffering from cramps, try drinking 2 cups of chamomile tea to alleviate your pain. It also works well for menstrual cramps
Reducing dark under eye circles – this surprised me, but chamomile has been known to relieve eye fatigue and dark circles. To combat this problem, dip 2 chamomile tea bags in warm water for 5 minutes. Then let cool to room temperature and place on eyes at night like a compress
Treat burns and scrapes – Chamomile is useful in treating burns and scrapes because it contains flavonoids, which are anti-oxidant oils that help the body heal while protecting it from further damage caused by free radicals. To use, add 3 tea bags to one cup of boiling water. When the water has cooled, dip a cloth into the liquid and use as a compress on the wounded area
Treat anxiety – chamomile has calming benefits and relaxes muscle tension, so therefore it is effective in treating anxiety and panic attacks. Try drinking 3 cups daily to alleviate symptoms
Treat Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)- chamomile has anti-inflammatory effects, which soothe the gastric and intestinal organs while combating gassiness and bloating. It can reduce pain and cramps caused by IBS, as well as the nausea and gastroenteritis associated with this syndrome.
While the side effects are minimal, it should be noted that if you have ragweed or pollen allergies, it might be a bit difficult to use chamomile. It is not recommended to use chamomile while pregnant.
