~ Beautiful ~ Inside and Out ~
Well; it goes without saying that long before one could just pop in their auto and travel down to the corner drug store armed with a fist full of cash to spend on ridiculously over priced products that did not work; women were rattling their pots and pans in the kitchen creating everything from home made hair spray to soap, nail repair cream to something marvelous to add to the water of that fantastic claw foot tub. Creating things that actually worked as they were intended, smelled divine and could generally be made from items you already had in the panty or growing in the yard.
Queen Esther was one of the strongest women in the Bible. Commanding armies, defeating nations and winning hearts all at the same time. She was a beauty and fearless and she didn't get her products from the drug store.
Let's use her as our example and see what other remedies have been passed down to us through the halls of time for our benefit. Shall we?
Sunburn Soothers
Sometimes, despite our best intentions and slathering ourselves with sunblock, we or someone we love gets a painful sunburn. Ouch! Not only can sunburn cause skin cancer, it can also prematurely age and damage our skin.
Here are the best natural remedies we know for healing painful, sunburned skin. Soothe your sunburn safely with these great ideas:
1. Aloe Vera Gel
For sunburn there is nothing better than aloe vera gel; it is antibacterial and deeply healing for burns in part because of aloectin B, which stimulates the immune system. Aloe vera gel is so effective that it is used in hospitals for burn victims. It comes from the aloe vera plant, and many of us keep a plant in the kitchen and simply squeeze the gel from a freshly-cut leaf.
Just snip a leaf off an aloe vera plant (some of us keep them growing in the kitchen for just this purpose; it’s great for kitchen-accident burns, too) and spread the jellylike sap evenly over your burned areas. If you don’t have an aloe vera plant, buy the pure gel and use that instead.
2. Sunburn Healing Bath
In a handkerchief tied with string or a muslin teabag, place the following:
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/8 cup whole milk powder
1 teaspoon tea leaves, green or black
3 drops lavender essential oil
2 drops peppermint essential oil
Run a tepid to cool bath and soak along with this bath bag. Use it as a compress to spread healing, cooling relief all over.
3. Lipton Tea Compress
Store used teabags in the fridge and apply as a cold compress to burned skin.
4. Cucumbers Cooler
a) Thinly slice 3-5 cucumbers and place on a plate.
b) Lie face down in a comfortable position in a warm place. Have a friend place cucumber slices all over the back side of your body, so they are just touching but not overlapping. Use about half the total slices.
c) Rest quietly for 10 to 20 minutes to allow the cucumber slices and juice to penetrate your skin.
d) Remove the slices.
e). Turn over and apply the rest of the slices to your front side. Relax for 10 to 20 minutes. You may want to rinse off afterwards, but it is best not to shower for at least four hours, as the cucumber will continue to work on the skin during that time.
5. Take a daily dose of Vitamin E
One of the antioxidants, vitamin E in the form of creams, ointments and oils can help heal sunburn damage and shorten its effects.
6. Take a daily dose of Vitamin C
Vitamin C is another powerful antioxidant, so increasing your intake while sunburned will help you heal.
7. Black Tea Sunburn Soother
The tannins in cool black tea will help soothe a sunburn. Store used teabags in the fridge and apply as a cold compress to burned skin.
8. Baking Soda Bath
Have a cool bath to which 1/2 a cup of baking soda has been added.
9. Calendula Creams
Calendula is one of the most healing plants. The flowers are emollient, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, antifungal, and antiviral. They are immune system stimulants and rich in carotenoids. Look in your health food store for calendula creams and ointments.
10. Sun Repair Formula:
If you want to repair the damage done to your skin by the sun– or help to protect it from further damage– this formula may do the trick. Sun exposure has been linked to sunburn, dry skin, flaky skin and premature aging. Any of these oil-and-botanical recipes mixed together or used seperately can nourish your skin and keep it soft, moist and young looking.
* The nutrients in each oil feed the skin externally and internally. Use equal amounts of all the ingredients, shake well and store in a cool place.
a) Apricot Kernel Oil is nutrient rich and nourishes the skin in depth without leaving an oily feeling. It contains essential fatty acids, mono and polyunsaturated fatty acids as well as Vitamins A, B1, B2, B6 and Vitamin E. The combination is very effective to keep your skin moist and supple.
b) Carrot Seed Oil has many properties. In this particular recipe the vitamin A will help keep the skin tan and firm.
c) Jojoba Oil has a composition very close to the sebum of the skin. It is an excellent external moisturizer, helps prevent dryness, and rejuvenates the skin through new cell growth.
d) Calendula Flowers infused in Jojoba oil will help to prevent sunburn, and are healing while being gentle to the skin. (To infuse the flowers, add them to jojoba oil in a crock pot and heat on low heat for eight hours, then strain and use the oil)
Sea Salt Scrub:
Two simple ingredients - natural sea salt & warm olive oil - combine to create a spa-worthy beauty treat that naturally helps slough off dead skin cells. Excellent to keep a jar of this salt scrub in the shower.
1/4 c. Sea Salt
1/4 c. warmed Olive Oil
Stir both ingredients together. Massage onto body with hands or mitt using a light but firm pressure. Continue massaging, NOT RUBBING, until a rosy glow appears. Rinse with warm water. Towel dry.
Polished Feet:
There are lots of gagets out there that you can use to rub off those rough spots on your feet but I have found that fine grit sandpaper works just as good as any pumis stone. Just grab up a piece and go to work on those heels and the outside of the big toes- try not to get over zealous and rub clean down to the bone. You'll know that you've done enough when you can rub your finger over the areas and they feel smooth (though will still look cracked and in sorry shape)
Next you'll be wanting to grab one of those books you have been meaning to read coz you'll be soaking your feet for about 30 minutes in warm water and some Arm & Hammer baking soda.
If you have a foot soaker- good! you're ahead of the game... but two pots work just as well- or if you happened to save a couple of those wash basins they give you in the hospital.. if all else fails you can set on the edge of the bathtub and soak your feet (but it's hard on your back)
The water needs to rise above your ankles so let that be your guide for selecting what you will use for a foot soaker. Dump enough baking soda in the warm water to really cloud it up good. Soak for 30 minutes then rinse off with warm water.
Next you'll want to get a little of your cooking oil out of the pantry. I use Crisco but you might have a different type or even can of spray Pam. Lightly coat (you are not going to be frying a chicken here) your feet with the oil and rub in well- paying particular attention to those heels and ashy ankles; then slip on an old pair of socks that you should have already thrown away. Leave on overnight to absorb the oil.
The next morning your feet will look like you have been to the best of spas and you can go on and wear those cutesy sandals you paid way too much for.
Overnight Facial Mask:
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight or, for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse.
It helps to removes facial discolorations, because the lemon works as a bleaching agent.
Olive Oil
For centuries, Mediterranean beauties have relied on olive oil to help maintain good health, a fresh, dewy complexion, lustrous hair, and more. Now you can learn the secrets of olive oil that have made it such a favorite beauty aid for so many for so long.
1. Cuticles and nails:
If your cuticles are ragged and your nails brittle and dry, olive oil can help! Soak nails for 30 minutes in a small cup of olive oil.
2. Hands:
Smooth on a generous amount of olive oil before bed, put on white cotton gloves, and go to sleep. Your hands will be softer and smoother in the morning!
3. Lips:
To soothe and smoothe dry, chapped lips, dab on a little olive oil.
4. Hair treatment:
This helps repair split ends, heals dandruff, and makes your hair shiny, silky, and lustrous. Massage a few tablespoons of olive oil into scalp and hair. Cover hair with a plastic bathing cap and leave on for 30 minutes or more, then shampoo as usual.
5. Skin:
Massage a small amount of olive oil into skin whenever you need softening and moisturizing. Apply extra oil to rough or cracked areas.
6. Bath:
Add several tablespoons of olive oil to your bath, along with a few drops of your favorite essential oil, to soothe and nourish your skin.
Lovely Lavender
Lavender plants are sun loving and need well-drained soil. They can be planted almost any time, and even started indoors from seed. Plants may succumb to old age after ten years but are cheaply replaced.
Once I started searching, I was amazed at the different types available. One species, English lavender, has over forty named varieties. The blooms range from lavender-hued gray to a vibrant royal purple. There are also species with blooms in other colors: white, pink, and a yellow-green. The flowers themselves are small, sometimes bud-like but open and full on others, and they grow up the spiky stems. Foliage typically ranges from dusty green to silvery gray and a few species have bright chartreuse leaves.
Some lavender hugs the ground with a height of only six inches. Others become bushes more than four feet in height. There is a size to fit almost any landscaping need. If you're selecting lavender plants for a specific garden design, familiarize yourself with the many species and varieties and consult an expert if in doubt.
Lavender requires very little care unless you want a formal, sheared and shaped plant. Only my very old ones, the two that were in the front yard's meandering bed, have ever required any major clipping. The debris from the clip job went into a basket to be added to the woodstove - another way to enjoy the sweet summer smell of lavender during the dead of winter.
The lavender can be grown in a variety of North American climates. Time of bloom will depend on geographic location, type of lavender and current weather phenomena. In the mid-Atlantic region, where I live, it is possible to have plants in bloom from June until late September. They thrive in our hottest and most drought-ridden summers without watering, and live through our occasional harsh and icy winters. In a moderate Mediterranean climate such as San Francisco, it would be possible to have lavender in bloom every day of the year.
In the north, where winters are longer and more severe, lavender can be placed in pots and moved to a porch or other sheltered spot during the colder season. In the south, where summers last forever and it can be extremely hot, partial shade is recommended. Also, seek advice on specific varieties for your gardening zone.
If there is a sunny spot on the walkway to your house, that's an ideal place for a potted lavender or bush because its fragrance will surround you each time you arrive and leave. You'll get in the habit of running your fingers over its foliage to release the aroma as you pass. What could be better than a single plant that is decorative, aromatic and provides ingredients for many other projects?
When I am an old lady I shall have a lavender bush
and sprinkle the blooms upon my sheets
and under my pillow;
steep it into tea
and press its spikes among the pages of my books.
~author unknown~
QUICK-MAKE BATH BAG:
Use an old handkerchief or piece of thin cotton fabric, six to eight inches square. Place a fourth cup of dried lavender blooms in the center, gather the corners together and secure the bundle with a piece of twelve-inch ribbon, tie it in a knot. Tie the very ends of the ribbon together in bow or knot, to form a loop by which to hang the bag. Slip this over the bathtub faucet positioned so the water will run through it as the tub fills. It may be used for several baths, the lavender should then be replaced.
Homemade Orange Hair Spray
1 Large Orange
2 C Water
Optional: 1 oz. of Bay Rum
Quantity:
Makes about 1 to 1 1/2 cups of Orange Hair Spray.
To Make:
Chop up the Orange in a wooden bowl so that you don't lose any of the juice. Add the chopped Orange to the water in the top of a double boiler. Simmer (NOT BOIL) the mixture until the liquid has been reduced by half. Strain out all rinds and pulp and pour the liquid into a bottle that will fit a pump-type sprayer. Add a few teaspoons of cool water to thin the mixture if necessary
Tip:
A washed and rinsed Windex bottle will do for your spray container.
To Use:
Spray your hair with this mixture whenever necessary. Since it is gentle, with not alcohol or chemical additions, it can be used on children's hair too.
* Should be made fresh every few days and kept in the fridge between uses.
Tip:
* Each cup of the Orange Hair Spray can be preserved for up to three months by adding 1 oz. of Bay Rum. Shake bottle well before spraying and keep in the fridge between uses.
Herbal Bath
Combine together:
4 cups of dried lemon verbena
2 cups of dried thyme
1 cup of peppermint
1/2 cup of Epson salt
Mix together ingredients. Place 1/4 cup or so in cheese cloth or muslin, tie with string or rubberband and add to your bath and allow to drift about in the warm water. This has a great energizing scent.
Remedies For Facial Blemishes (Acne):
1. Cook oatmeal and apply on face for fifteen minutes, then rinse with cool water.
2. Apply equal amount of lemon juice and rose water with a cotton ball, leave for half an hour and rinse with cool water.
3. Make a masque of crushed avocado mixed with water. Apply paste to face once per week.
4. Eat a medium size radish daily to prevent pimples.
5. Drink a daily cup of rosemary tea to prevent pimples.
6. Soak a cotton ball in either lemon juice or apple cider vinegar and apply on face.
7. Saturate lettuce leaves in water, use water to rinse face and acne.
8. Grind bay leaves and mix with water, apply on the acne with a cotton ball.
9. Clean your face and spritz spray with white wine morning or evening.
10. Add 2-3 teaspoons of dry basil to a cup of boiling water. Wait 15 minutes, cool slightly and apply the liquid with a cotton ball.
Body Blemishes:
* Run a warm bath. Add a liberal amount of the herb Rosemary and soak 15-30 minutes to reduce body acne.
Steam Facials:
1. Boil water in a pan, add some chamomile flowers; cool, cover your head with a towel and band over the pan for 5-10 minutes.
2. Softly rub your face with salt, Boil water in a pan and band over with a towel over your head or take a warm shower.
3. Clean your face, pour hot water into a bowl, and add chamomile, 2 drops of lavender oil or lemon and half a teaspoon of salt. Cover your head with a towel and band over the bowl for 5 minuets.
4. Boil water in a pan, add 2 teaspoons of dry rosemary, put a towel over your head and band over the pan for 10-15 minutes.
* After a steam treatment:
Take a cotton ball, apply a few drops of lemon juice and apply to face to close pores and lighten facial discolorations.
Herbal Acne Remedy
2 to 3 tsp. dried basil leaves (or green tea leaves)
1 C. boiling water
Small Glass Bottle
Steep basil (or green tea) leaves in water for 10 to 20 minutes. Cool, then pour into a small glass bottle. Apply daily to face with a white cotton ball. Lasts for up tp three months if sealed properly.
Hand Smoother:
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 tablespoon honey
1 cup oatmeal
Mix lemon juice, honey and oatmeal in a bowl until they form a moist paste. Work treatment into clean hands; cover with cotton gloves for 20 minutes. Rinse and follow with moisturizer.
Home-Made Fruity Lip Gloss
1 tsp. aloe vera gel,
1 tsp. petroleum jelly,
2-3 drops of flavored oil (your choice)
Mix aloe vera gel with petroleum jelly, then add flavored oil. Transfer to a small container. Now, you have a wonderful home made lip gloss!
Miracle Whip Facial Exfoliator
Yes, I am talking about the same Miracle Whip mayo your Aunt Mable uses in her macaroni salad. Apparently, women all over the US are using this salad dressing ingredient on their faces to remove dead flaky skin.
Miracle Whip (made by Kraft) Exfoliating Facial makes an amazing treatment for normalizing over-oily skin.
Here is how you apply this "miracle cream":
Make sure all your hair is pulled back from your face. Apply a thin layer of the Miracle Whip all over your face, up to the eyelashes and make sure to also put some on your neck. The "fumes" from the vinegar that is in the Miracle Whip may bother you so walk quickly around the house to try to escape them. LOL!
Leave on for 10 minutes, then massage gently. The dead skin cells on your face will roll off in rubbery little balls. Rinse your skin with tepid water, then cleanse as usual.
* I bought a small jar of Miracle Whip. I applied a slightly thicker layer than was recommended and the vinegar smell was unpleasantly strong but something you can live with for the few minutes it takes to do this treatment.
After a minute or two, the Miracle Whip 'melted' and my face was very shiny and oily (yuck!). After 10 minutes, I washed the Whip away and I couldn't believe the results. All the flaky dry skin was gone and my skin felt tight and smooth. Very strange but cool!
Filling In Your Eyebrows
Choose a pencil and powder in the correct shade. Women with fair complexions should use a blonde shade, those with olive tones should go tawny or brown, and those with with African-American skin should use
gray.
Brush brows downward with a dry, mascara-like wand. To define the arch, use the pencil to draw a line along the upper edge of the brow. Comb the brows upward and outward.
For added fullness, dust eye shadow into the hairs of the brow with a stiff, slanted brush. Dip the brush into a tiny amount of powder and use short, gentle strokes while applying.
If brows have been severely overtweezed, brush the hairs in the direction of the growth, and fill in any visible patches with powder. Avoid adding to the top or bottom of the brows.
Comb a clear brow gel (or hair gel works too) up through the brows to set hairs in place.
Cucumber Yogurt Facial Masks for Combination Skin:
Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor (or if all else fails use a fork and mash away) and add 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Cornmeal Hand Scrub:
Mix 1/4 cup corn meal with 3 Tbsp. milk. Heat over low heat until a paste forms. Add 1 drop of cooking oil. Let cool. Spread on hands, leave on for about 10 minutes, then gently scrub. Rinse.
Cooling Body Splashes
Basic Body Splash Method
2 ounces distilled water
20 drops essential oil of choice- eucalyptus, peppermint, or lavender
1. Find a glass bottle with a misting pump spray top (you can find old perfume bottles at garage sales or thrift shops– just be sure to wash them out very well– or you can buy new bottles online.)
2. Add the oil drop by drop to the water. Shake before every use. May be stored in the fridge for extra cooling!
Peppermint Water
2 ounces distilled water
20 drops essential oil of peppermint
Sensual Body Splash
2 ounces distilled water
10 drops essential oil of sandalwood
10 drops essential oil of ylang ylang
Unnatural Body Odor:
1. Drink one cup of tomato juice everyday for 1 week.
2. The following week, Drink 1 cup of the juice, every other day.
3. Thereafter drink one cup on the first day of each month.
Baking Soda Tips
Arm & Hammer- Where would we be without it?
Using Baking Soda for BEAUTY:
1. Zit Buster! Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to any breakouts. Let it sit overnight and wash off in the morning - it really works.
2. Facial Cleanser- Sprinkle some baking soda into your hands and use a bit of water to make a paste to clean your face with. It's a gentle scrub that will leave your skin feeling fantastic! (I leave a box in the bathroom for just this reason.)
3. Hair Build-Up Remover- After a while you have build-up from shampoo. Next time you wash your hair, Use baking soda. the baking soda strips all build-up and leaves the hair soft and "really" clean.
4. In the Bath- Great for sensitive skin - sprinkle about a half cup of baking soda into lukewarm water while your bath water is running.
5. Once a Month Plaque Remover- I also use a baking soda tooth scrub once a month. It really cleans the plaque off your teeth.
6. Toothpaste- Again, make a thick paste and apply to your toothbrush and use as you would any other toothpaste. It's a great non-fluoride option.
7. Cold Sore Remedy- Make a thick paste of baking soda and water and apply to cold sores at least two times a day.
Bad Breath:
1. Chew on a carnation flower for better breath smell.
2. Take one teaspoon of apple cider vinegar daily.
3. Brush your teeth with baking soda.
4. Gargle with parsley (or thyme) and water each night before bed.
5. Salt water gargle kills bacteria. Spit out after a few minutes.
Avocado Facial for Dry Skin:
Avocado is a naturally rich moisturizer.
Mash the meat of the avocado into a creamy texture.
Massage into the face and neck.
Leave on for 15 minutes and gently rinse off.
Apple Facial Mask for Oily Skin Recipe:
1 medium size apple (grated)
5 tablespoons of honey
Mix the grated apple and mix with honey to make a mask.
Smooth over skin then let sit for 10 minutes, rinse off with cool water.