Filed under: beauty, bleaching, cleanse, eczema, lemon, moisturizing, yeast | Tags: cleanse, DIY, lemon, scrub, water, yeast
I made my very first yeast bread this week – and it turned out perfectly. I’ve always been scared to do it because I’ve been nervous about using yeast. It’s alive – and you have to feed it if you want it to obey you. So scary.
But it’s also great for your skin! It’s a surprise to me too, but don’t be scared. It’s easy and simple and, depending on your skin type, can make your skin less oily or more moisturized.
Dry Skin
Mix one packet of active dry yeast with enough water to make a paste. Swipe some on your skin and leave on for 5-10 minutes. Done!
Oily Skin
Use one packet of active dry yeast and mix with enough lemon juice to make a paste. Use it as a scrub first and then leave on for 5-10 minutes. Perfect!
Filed under: beauty, cleanse, DIY, eczema, egg, milk, nutmeg, refreshing, salt, Skin-care | Tags: blackheads, cleansing, DIY, egg, holiday, milk, normal skin, nutmeg, oily skin, pore strips, skin-care
I posted last time about nutmeg being good for eczema. Turns out, though, that nutmeg is even more the superhero than I thought. After posting about it last time, I continued my research on nutmeg because it couldn’t hurt to do more with the sweet-smelling spice. And my research was not in vain.
Last night I tried a nutmeg paste as a blackhead remover. And wow. I really thought it was too good to be true, but it worked. And it smelled lovely. And my skin glowed.
So really, this one needs to be tried. BY YOU. Here are some great facials using nutmeg. Enjoy!
For Oily skin:
I made a paste of water and nutmeg until I reached the desired consistency. But it was still difficult to keep the nutmeg on. Instead I probably could have used egg which is pore-constricting and cleansing. You could use it as a scrub first and then leave on.
For Normal skin:
For normal (or delicate skin) I would use whole milk. It’s gently exfoliating and refreshing.
Filed under: beauty, cleanse, DIY, eczema, egg, eggnog, Hair-care, holiday, milk, moisturizing, nutmeg, vinegar | Tags: beauty, eczema, eggnog, family photos, holidays, milk, natural skin-care, nutmeg, sasquatch, skin, stress, vinegar
Holidays are stressful. Stress does bad things for your skin.
CUE FAMILY PHOTOS!
Why do we get up at the crack of dawn to open gifts? More importantly, why are cameras so readily available at that time? I mean when you’re a kid your parents and loved ones need documentation of the holiday season… but we’re adults now, so leave the camera out of the picture, right?
No. You’re just going to have to look good this year. Because we take pictures to remember the moments (this is what the picture fiends tell me) so we’re going to have to give in. It IS the season of giving after all…
Do these things to look a bit better this year:
Dry Skin
If you have dry skin, chances are your skin is itchy and uncomfortable this time of year. Never fear – nutmeg is the answer. Simply making a paste of nutmeg and water and applying the mixture to the affected areas will ease the itch. This works especially well for those who suffer from eczema.
Oily Skin
If your skin is oily, you probably hate having your picture taken because your face looks so shiny. Grab a little eggnog and pat on your face! The egg makes your pores look smaller (thanks to its tightening effect) and the milk is a natural exfoliant and moisturizer. Leave on for 20 minutes and then rinse.
Oily Hair
We’ve talked about this one before, but it’s worth repeating. If you’ve been styling your hair every day (putting product in, layering serums and leave-in conditioners etc) you’re going to need to give it a good cleanse at some point. 1 tbsp of apple cider vinegar mixed with your regular shampoo once a week will rid your hair of product build-up. Even better, shower on Christmas Eve and wake up with shiny, clean hair.
Enjoy planning and shopping and baking and pictures this holiday season. I wish you all a happy December!
So fun, SO easy and so cheap!? I can’t wait to try this out right away.
Check out her other videos – she’s become super successful thanks to her savvy skills.
When I first moved away from home, I was 18 and living in a small apartment in Örebro, Sweden. And I still couldn’t even cook pasta without burning it. Many people gave me helpful cookbooks, hoping I would survive the year in the Scandinavian cold.
I did survive, in case you’re wondering. And I learned from one of the books that the water you boil potatoes in is incredibly healthy. Mixing it in with recipes – even skin recipes- is superb for oily skin! Do these tips – they’re among the easiest on this blog.
Cleanser: Potato water on its own is sufficient, but blending potatoes, potato water and some cucumbers makes for a refreshing, anti-oil cleanser.
Eye mask: Cut slices of raw potato and place under eyes for 20 minutes. The texture, and the oil-absorbing property as well as the enzymes found naturally in the spud will help reduce puffiness and dark circles. Bonus, use a potato that has been in the fridge – the colder the better to ease puffiness.
Facial mask: Simply grating a raw potato and leaving on the face for 15 minutes has a pore-reducing effect. It sounds weird, but I dare you to try it.
Filed under: antioxidant, cleanse, cleansing, Honey, organic skin-care, refreshing, scrub, Skin-care | Tags: apple, autumn, cleansing, fall, firming, organic, skin-care, toning
It’s that time again. Although after today’s 80-degree weather I’m not sure what season it is. Whatever the temp, though, it is autumn again and I couldn’t be happier about it. I love chilly mornings and sunny, temperate afternoons.
I also went apple picking for my first time ever last weekend. I mostly stood in a 45-minute line for apple cider donuts, but I DID pick one apple! I let my little brother climb trees and fill our paper bags with apples from Walingford’s. So, this week we’ve had two apple pies, a few apple dumplings, an apple crisp, and the most amazing apple strudel muffins.
And here’s what I’d do with the apples left over.
Apple Mask: Oily skin? Grate one apple and mix with a teaspoon of honey. Leave on for 20 minutes and rinse with the coldest water you can stand.
Wrinkle Mask: Grate one unripe apple and leave on wrinkly skin for skin for thirty minutes.
Time consuming but worth it (taken from Care2.com):
“Autumn Magic Facial Mask
This formula soothes and nourishes skin and nerves, and provides gentle exfoliating action.
INGREDIENTS
1/4 cored apple, peeled and grated
1 tablespoon rolled oats
1 teaspoon cream
1 teaspoon honey
Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Apply to clean face, massaging gently, and allow mixture to remain on skin for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Read more: http://www.care2.com/greenliving/apples-kitchen-cupboard-beauty.html##ixzz10aky6Jjp“
Filed under: apple juice, beauty, caffeine, cleanse, coffee, Honey, moisturizing, olive oil, refreshing, scrub | Tags: apple, apple juice, cleansing, coffee, firming, honey, moisturizing, olive oil, school, scrub
I wish I were going back to school this fall. I’ll miss Farmington and the people there that I love. But graduating has its perks too, like working full time (if you’re lucky!).
I got lucky and landed a nanny job for two beautiful boys. I’m excited to grow and learn with them – expect many “how to clean up after kids” posts in the future!
But if you’re reading this and going back to school soon, congratulations! Here are a few ideas to get your skin and hair back in order after a long summer. These tricks involve minimum ingredients – ingredients that you should pack with you when you move in.
Honey
Yes, I’ve done honey before. But I have to reiterate what a wonder it is. I always have honey on hand to use as a scrub for hands and face (a little honey, a little raw sugar – done!) as well as an antibacterial. When you’re straightening your hair for the first day and you accidentally burn your face, put honey on it for five minutes while the swelling goes away.
Apple juice
The 100% juice, not the 100% sugar stuff. Freeze the apple juice as individual ice cubes in your mini fridge and use them as a toner in the morning. This is excellent for puffy eyes!
Olive Oil
I buy the smallest bottle I can and keep it with my bottles and cans of face and hair magic. Olive oil can be used to shave with (nick-free and silky skin) as well as soften cuticles and skin (a little oil, a little raw sugar) when the temperatures drop. 
Coffee
Warm, wet coffee grounds are by far the best morning facial. If you’ve been up all night studying and writing papers, not only will the scrub constrict pores and firm skin with its major dose of caffeine, the smell will wake you up instantly.
Of course, there are plenty more tips that take more time and effort, but honey, olive oil, coffee, and apple juice are easy to pack and store and will help you out of many bad hair/skin days. Trust me.
Filed under: alpha-hydroxy acid, anti-aging, antioxidant, beauty, cleanse, cleansing, pink grapefruit, refreshing, scrub, sugar | Tags: anti-aging, anti-oxidant, cleanse, organic skin-care, pink grapefruit, scrub, sugar
I love citrus fruits. They have so much vitamin C and they’re always so refreshing. Even when someone is peeling an orange or digging in to a grapefruit in the next room, you can smell it and it wakes you up.
My favorite citrus is probably pink grapefruit. Yes, it’s tart to the point of being bitter, but I just love it! Remember, vitamin C is only good from its natural source, so why not try these tips? Here are some easy ways to include the pink lady in your skin care routine.
Face
Good morning: This one is so elegant, I feel pretty instantly. It’s easier to do this if you have a spray bottle (you can get them anywhere empty travel-sized bottles are found). Make some rose water and pour the cooled liquid into your spray bottle. Now juice a grapefruit or two and pour that in with the rose water. Store in the refrigerator to cool and keep it there when not in use. Shake before spraying on as a toner every morning. Uplifting, anti-aging toner!
Good morning scrub: This one is excellent and smells like heaven. There are easier, more chemically enhanced ways of smelling this good and being this clean, but it’s so much fun to make yourself – and so easy. Just squeeze some juice from a grapefruit into some raw sugar and make a paste. Scrub on and rinse off. Delicious.
Hair
Fun Monday: 1 cup of club soda and as much grapefruit juice as you want. This is very cleansing and a good way to start your week. Rinse hair with the mixture in the shower after you shampoo and before you condition.
Filed under: anti-aging, beauty, cleanse, cleansing, DIY, Hair-care, Organic recipes, organic skin-care, refreshing | Tags: baking soda, chlorine in hair, cleansing, diy beauty, organic hair-care, organic skin-care
My first memory of baking soda (“shake it till you can’t shake it no mo’”) is that my grandmother used it in the refrigerator so that the fish she bought each week wouldn’t make her house smell like low tide. My brother and I were grateful for this because we spent much of our time in the fridge searching for delicious things and did not want to be impeded by horrible smells.
Then my boyfriend told me he used to drink baking soda and water to settle an upset stomach. I suffer from some pretty bad stomach pains – but none that would ever make me turn to that tip. I tastes too awful!
I blogged three weeks ago about one good thing baking soda can do for you – especially when you’re in dire need of a cure like I was then – but this week I want to share even more tips because this ingredient is a gem and I can’t keep secrets like this to myself.
Hair
Chlorine Cure: I’ve talked about the chlorine content of the water here and of my fear of green locks. So here’s a tip that I’ve been using as regularly as a if I were a pro swimmer. 1 tsp to a bottle of shampoo adds extra cleaning and helps prevent dull or discolored hair.
Dry Shampoo: Many like the effect of dry shampoo because it helps with oily roots but also can add volume to the finer hairs in life. Sprinkle a little on, massage in and use a hair dryer to restyle if necessary.
Body
Anti dry: For some reason the skin on my elbows and knees are dryer than they normally are in the summer. All I do to get rid of this is to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply. Rinse off when dry.
Hands: I also like to soften my cuticles with a toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water.
Face
White mask: Exfoliating, cleansing and anti-acne, this mask (made of just water and baking soda) is one of the best DIY tips of all time. Women have used it for centuries. If you don’t feel like you have the energy to indulge in a whole mask, you can make just enough to cover one blemish. Rinse when dry.
There are many more tips like these! Check them out.
Filed under: alpha-hydroxy acid, anti-aging, antioxidant, beauty, cleanse, moisturizing, olive oil, organic skin-care, refreshing, scrub | Tags: alpha-hydroxy acid, body scrub, cleansing, kiwi, organic skin-care, refreshing
I love kiwis – the fruit, the animal and the people. But the fruit in particular is delicious and packed with vitamin C, which, as I’ve mentioned in other posts, is best used straight from its natural source.
There are a lot of great tips for using kiwi for skin care and there’s a good reason for it. Aside from being one of the biggest sources of vitamin C, the kiwi fruit is full of alpha-hydroxy acid, acids which exfoliate and brighten skin as well as control shine. Here are some tips that are especially great if your skin is tired and dull from a long work week.
Body
Green scrub: Make a scrub using raw or brown sugar (I personally prefer brown sugar because it makes a better paste) and the pulp of as many kiwis as it takes. This mix contains three exfoliators: the seeds from the kiwi, the AHAs and the sugar. And is smells so fresh – kind of like this.
Hands
Manicure prep: Use 1 kiwi pulp and 1 tbsp olive oil. Leave on for up to 20 minutes – this is exfoliating and moisturizing.
Face
Mashed: Just mashing the pulp of a kiwi and letting it sit on your face makes for a perfect mask. But adding extra ingredients depending on your skin type can heighten the experience. Add olive oil for dry skin and honey for combination skin. If you have oily skin, I would stick to just kiwi because it already has everything you need!
