Centuries before CoCo Channel, Estee Lauder and Mary Kay turned “beauty” into a multi-billion dollar industry; women were forced into using products that were readily available at home or in the garden. But don’t think for a minute they had to cope with inferior alternatives to our modern overpriced beauty solutions!
Try these on for great, inexpensive beauty results over the Easter long-weekend…
OIL and SUGAR
The perfect at home all-over exfoliator, even for the toughest areas. Any kind of oil will do – plain olive oil works just fine – but almond oil and avocado oil are particularly helpful because of their own healing properties.
Before getting into the shower, mix the oil into the sugar in small enough quantities to keep the mixture about the consistency of peanut butter. You don’t want it dripping all over; you do want to be able to scoop it into your hand and massage it into your skin.
The oil will penetrate the skin and the sugar will take off the dead and rough skin cells. Pay close attention to feet, elbows and knees. Perfectly safe for your face as well! If there is any leftover, rub it into your (wet) hair to enjoy the extreme hydrating and softening benefits
SALT
Sodium chloride, ordinary table salt, can be a lifesaver for those days when bloating and swelling is a problem, and it works wonders on swollen joints as well.
Add ½ cup to your bath water, a few drops of perfume, and relax for 20 minutes. Salt has a bad reputation for causing fluid buildup and temporary weight gain. However, salt can actually cause severe dehydration – the very reason why it is lethal to drink copious amounts of sea water (the more salt you take in, the harder the salt works to get excreted from your body, depleting it of essential fluids.)
Salt also can be used to treat wounds because of its natural antibacterial properties. Food has been “salted” for centuries because it would kill any bacteria that formed from the decay of the meat. Have you ever been told by your dentist to “rinse with salt water” after a tooth extraction?
For occasional pimples, make a paste of salt and a few drops of lemon juice. Apply and leave on overnight. The salt will dry out the offending intruder by morning.
MILK
Cleopatra’s luxurious milk baths are legendary. Even she understood the benefit of alpha hydroxy acids a few thousand years ago!
The lactic acid in milk (from all animals) is full of alpha hydroxyl; one of the leading ingredients in today’s premium skin care products. A natural exfoliator, alpha hydroxy is a top choice as a skin care routine for all over your body. Warm it up, dab it on your face, cover with a hot cloth, and in five minutes you’ll see the difference.
Need a little moisture with your alpha hydroxy? Use cream! After all, where do you think the term “creamy complexion” comes from?
HONEY
Honey is a natural antibiotic. Your mother probably gave you tea with honey whenever you had a cold or sore throat. Cavemen would fight off the inhabitants of an entire beehive just to get a handful of the stuff after a fierce battle. It also contains extraordinary softening properties.
Grind up some real (not instant) oatmeal flakes and add to a few tablespoons of honey. Heat it up and massage it over your face and neck. Make sure the mixture is stiff enough so as not to drip off your face. Rinse with warm water.
CUCUMBERS
Take four slices of a cucumber and the white of one egg. Put into blender and mix until concoction forms stiff peaks. This is a very effective astringent for an oily face, and it works wonders on puffy, tired eyes.
TOMORROW we’ll look at avocados, coffee, Vaseline and Vitamin E. Want to make sure you don’t miss it? Go to SNOBS’ homepage and sign-up for RSS. Not sure what RSS is? Former Work It Baby businessman, Elias Bizannes, explains here.
{ 1 comment… read it below or add one }
I didn’t know that honey was a natural antibiotic. I just thought it was used in cough drops and the like because it was smooth. Thanks for the info!