Coffee Body Scrub

Coffee tightens and rejuvenates skin, while raw sugar exfoliates, and olive oil seals in moisturize.
Ingredients

• 2 cups of coarse ground coffee
• 1/2 cup Turbinado raw sugar
• 3 Tbsp olive oil

Instructions
Combine all ingredients in medium bowl. Take a warm bath or hot shower to open your pores and hydrate your skin. Rub the coffee mixture into your skin in large circles with even, firm pressure. Shower to rinse, pat dry, and follow with unscented body lotion or light vegetable oil.

Coffee Foot Scrub

Ingredients

    * 4 tablespoons of ground coffee (fresh is the best)
    * 3 tablespoons of corn meal (or ground oatmeal)
    * 3 tablespoons of sea salt or Epsom salt
    * 3 tablespoons of Olive or Almond oil
    * 2 drops of lavender oil (or peppermint if you don't need relaxing, but simply want some energy boost

Preparation

    * Mix all the ingredients well
    * Scrub your feet in circular motion
    * Rinse off with warm water and pat dry

The lavender or peppermint Essence oil is completely optional.

Rosemary & Sage Herbal Toner

Ingredients:
1/2 cup water
2 tablespoons fresh chopped sage (astringent, vitamin A)
2 tablespoons fresh rosemary (excellent antioxidant)
1/4 cup wheat germ (one of the richest sources of vitamin E, also contains vitamin B1 &3, iron and potassium)
1/4 fresh chopped russet potato  (toner).

Use a blender to combine the ingredients.  Strain the mixture through a piece of cheese cloth or a paper towel and discard solids.  Apply to your face and decollete the liquid using a cotton pad.

While the rosemary acts as a natural preservative, it is best to store this refreshing toner in the refrigerator due to the high oil content of the wheat germ. 

(*Adapted from Philip B, Blended Beauty)

Overnight Oatmeal Foot Masque

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup almonds
• 1/4 dry oatmeal
• 3 tablespoons food grade cocoa butter
• 2 tablespoons honey

Preparation

• Process almonds in a blender or coffee grinder until finely ground
• Set aside
• In the same blender, pulse your oatmeal until the same consistency
• In a bowl, combine ground oatmeal, cocoa butter, honey, and ground almonds
• Rub into your clean feet, step into cotton socks, and leave on overnight
• The next morning, remove the socks and rinse feet in cool water
• Pat dry
• We recommend you not remove the socks until you're standing in the tub

Note
Let me tell you why this masque is so good. Almonds and oatmeal act as exfoliators, gentle on the skin, yet powerful to remove the dead skin. Oatmeal is hypoallergenic at the same time. Cocoa butter moisturizes and nourishes the skin, while honey adds an antibacterial touch to the whole mix. Great recipe!

(Courtesy of Spaindex.com)

Queen Bee's Super Simple Honey Skin Treat

Ingredients: 

4 TBS Honey
1 TBS Hot water

Mix the honey and water and apply it to your skin.   Leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Pretty darn simple, eh?

Honey is fantastic for your skin- especially sensitive skin!  It nourishes, hydrates and helps get rid of redness.

Almond & Berry Smoothie

 This is another delicious smoothie packed with skin nurturing vitamins and nutrients. 

1/4 c raw or blanched almonds
1 ripe banana
1/2 c mixed berries
1 c filtered water
1/2 t cinnamon
1/2 t vanilla extract

If using raw almonds, soak them overnight to release enzyme inhibitors so nutrient absorption will not be blocked.

Place almonds in a blender and add a quarter of the water.  Blend until a paste is formed.   Keep adding water until you have a consistency of almond milk.  (You may need to add some extra water).

Drop in remaining ingredients and blend until smooth.   Serve in a tall glass.

A few great things about almonds: 

1) Almonds contain Vitamin E and promote healthy skin.
2) Almonds are anti-inflammatory.   If you suffer from asthma, rheumatoid arthritis, eczema or psoriasis, eating almonds regularly can help.
3) Almonds are high in folic acid-  good to include in your diet if you are thinking about starting a family.
4) Almonds contain unsaturated fat-  the good kind.  They contain Omega -3 fatty acids.   We need this for healthy heart and cholesterol levels and our body doesn't produce this by itself.
5) Almonds are also high in magnesium and calcium.

(**Recipe and information adapted from Well Being Magazine - Lee Holmes)

Holy Guacamole Face Mask

Ingredients: 
 
1/2 Avocado
1 tsp Honey
1 TBSP Plain Yogurt

Mash the avocado and combine with the honey and yogurt until creamy.  Spread on clean skin.   After 15 minutes, rinse with cold water, pat dry.

Avocados are rich protein, vitamins A, B and E, natural oils and unsaturated fatty acids.   This mask will help lock in moisture and soften dry and rough skin.

Self Care Girl's Amazing Cramp Buster

I was amazed at how well this worked...almost immediate relief from menstrual cramps!  (Warm milk also makes me fall asleep, so the bonus nap I got was a good thing too!)

1 mug of full fat organic milk - heated
1 tsp cinnamon

The calcium in the milk is a great muscle relaxer.  Cinnamon is a warming spice which has anti-inflammatory properties.

If you are lactose intolerant,  I suggest chamomile tea- which can relax your whole body.  

A calcium supplement or eating another high-calcium food will help too! 
Non-Dairy Foods High in Calcium:   15 Non-Dairy Foods High in Calcium

 Foods high in potassium (bananas!) are also known to help relax muscles.

Avoid eating cold foods (even though chocolate ice cream sounds good- it can make you feel worse!)
A hot bath, or heating pad can also help.   Stay warm, put on some comfy, cozy, snuggley clothes and take treat yourself to a little R&R.

Chocolate & Coconut Skin-Loving Smoothie

This marvelous beverage is from my favorite natural skin care guru, Carla Oates (author of Feeding Your Skin).   I am a big fan of chocolate and coconut, so was pleased to see the combo in a healthy smoothie!

• Juice and flesh of a young green coconut 
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp of raw powdered cocoa
• 1/2 tsp vanilla essence
• A little honey to sweeten
• Ice

Blend.   Drink.  Smile.  (Repeat!)

Honey is rich in antioxidants.  Raw cocoa has not been heated, so its beneficial nutrients are retained.   Coconut juice will support a healthy immune system...and its all good for your skin

Delicious Lemon & Olive Oil Hand Scrub

Ingredients:
1 tablespoon of granulated raw sugar
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 teaspoons olive oil

Combine the ingredients thoroughly. Rub onto damp hands and rinse.

Another Carla Oates Beauty Recipe.  Sugar is commonly used in beauty products as an exfoliate.  The olive oil is for moisture and the lemon smells good, while providing some anti-oxidants and alpha-hydroxy acids.

This will make your hands very happy!

Pumpkin Hair Mash

A great little recipe for gently conditioning and hydrating your hair.  It provides UV protection and strengthens to prevent future damage.

1 can organic canned pumpkin (Fresh pumpkin may be used as well.  Dice it and boil it until soft)
1/2 cup of plain yogurt

Mash ingredients together and apply to damp hair.   Leave on for 10-15 minutes.  Rinse and shampoo.  It is recommended that you do this twice a month.

(*From Women's Health Magazine - Australia)

Homemade Room Freshener / Linen Spray

Recipe:

• 2 tbsp. 100 proof vodka
• Your choice of two essential oils, such as jasmine, bergamot, lavender, etc.
• Distilled water

Instructions:

1. Mix the 2 tbsp. of vodka and your choice of these oils in a 16 or 32 oz. spray bottle as follows:
   - 1 teaspoon jasmine oil and ½ teaspoon bergamot oil
   - 1 teaspoon lavender oil and ½ teaspoon sandalwood oil
   - 1 teaspoon vanilla oil and 2 drops ginger oil
2. Add distilled water to the bottle until it is almost full.
3. Screw on the cap and shake the bottle to disperse the oils evenly throughout.
4. Shake lightly before each use. 

This spray can be used to freshen a room or to add a little fragrance to bed linens.

A Berry Good Yogurt Parfait Mask for Your Face

Stole this one from the July-Aug issue of Whole Living Magazine....

A few of the benefits you will get from this mask:

Yogurt has antibacterial properties
Honey will help your skin retain moisture
Berries are loaded with awesome antioxidants
Lemon juice is astringent - it reduces oil, clears acne and may reduce the appearance of scarring.

INGREDIENTS

2T Plain Yogurt
2T Honey
1/4 C Mixed Berries
1T Lemon Juice

Combine Yogurt and Honey in a blender, pulse until fully combined.
Add Mixed Berries puree until smooth, then add Lemon Juice.

Apply the mixture to a clean, dry face.    Let sit for 10 to 15 Minutes.
Rinse thoroughly with warm water and pat dry.

A Little Tea Party For Your Hair

There is no trouble so great or grave that cannot be much diminished by a nice cup of tea.  ~Bernard-Paul Heroux

 
Tea can enhance highlights to your hair naturally without drying.  Black tea adds important antioxidants too.   Place 2 teabags -or use fresh herbs- to 2 cups of boiling water for 30 minutes (or overnight)  When cool, apply the brewed tea all over your head and leave it in for 15 -30 minutes.

What to use for your hair....

• Black Tea for darkening hair  (Coffee is also effective)
• Chamomile tea to enhance blonde locks.
• Sage tea to darken gray hair (add fresh sage leaves to 2 cups of boiling water and let cool, leave on for 30 minutes, use weekly)
• Red Hibiscus tea can enhance red hair.
• Rosemary tea may help thinning hair (add fresh Rosemary to 2 cups of boiling water and let cool, leave on your hair for 20-25 minutes)
• Lavender tea can help control dandruff (add fresh lavender buds to 2 cups of boiling water)

 Self Care Girl