Pamper Me Wednesday: Milk and Honey Bath

Throughout the world Cleopatra of Egypt is known as one of the most beautiful women in history. One of the things that made her into the woman who seduced both Julius Caesar and Mark Antony was her beautiful skin. Cleopatra was rumored to bathe in honey and the milk of goats.

This Pamper Me Wednesday we are going to try one of the world’s oldest beauty regime: A milk and honey bath.

Once you have all of your ingredients gathered and prepared, set the mood. Light a scented candle, and start the bath. I usually spend about 30 minutes to an hour or so soaking. Instead of music, I sometimes play ocean, running water, or other nature sounds. This goes well with a good book. Keeping a dry towel nearby eliminates getting water or oil onto your reading materials. If you use an eReading device (Kobo, Kindle, nook, Sony, etc.) you want to get a large plastic zip-lock bag and place your device in the bag before getting into the tub.

Items used to create a relaxing setting, such as the scented candle, are optional, and can be tweaked depending on the individual.

Here’s what you need:
Powdered Milk
Honey
Jojoba or olive oil (optional)
Dried Lavender flowers (optional)
Scented Candle (optional)
Soft music or ocean sounds (optional)
Book (optional)
Bathrobe
Slippers (optional)
Bath Pillow (or rolled up towel)
Towel

Milk and Honey Bath
Milk contains vitamins A & D which helps to soften the skin. The lactic acid in milk has beta hydroxy acids that soothes while exfoliating your skin. Honey (a humectant) is high in potassium and helps clarify the skin while retaining moisture. Honey is also anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, and is rich in vitamins and minerals.

¼ cup honey (runny)
¼ cup powdered milk

Mix the dried milk with the honey in a bowl. If desired add jojoba or olive oil. Pour mixture into hot running bathwater. Soak for 30 minutes to 1 hour (or to your desired time).

Pamper Me Wednesday: Coffee Cellulite Body Wrap

Coffee grounds

Now that the Holidays have officially begun, I’ve decided that now is the best time to start getting myself ready for the summer! No, I’m not talking diets or anything un-natural like that, I’m talking firm and smooth skin. This Pamper Me Wednesday we are going to harness the cellulite busting power of caffeine.

This post contains a recipe for creating either a Cellulite Coffee Wrap or a coffee ground body scrub. Getting used coffee grounds are very easy, even if you are not a coffee drinker. I like to go to one of my local coffee shops and simply ask for a large cup full of already used coffee grounds. Of course, it will help to show up before or after any customer rushes and willing to purchase an item or two.

Once you have all of your ingredients gathered and prepared, go ahead and get prepared. One of the first things I like to do is to line the dry bathtub with a few towels to sit and lean on comfortably. I always do these wraps sitting inside the bathtub because it’s messy! This treatment is more of a functional/medicinal spa treatment rather than a relaxing one, so I either listen to upbeat music or I read a good book or magazine. After completing my wrap, I always take a quick shower to rinse away any additional coffee grinds.

Here’s what you need:
½ cup warm used coffee grounds
2 tbsp of olive oil
Roll of plastic wrap
Several towels
Bathrobe
Small trash bag
Small bowl
Book/magazine

What is Cellulite?
Cellulite is a term used to describe the dimpled appearance of skin caused by fat deposits that are just below the surface of the skin. It is mostly seen in women on skin in the abdomen, lower limbs, and pelvic region, usually after puberty. It can occur in men, too. Cellulite is caused by the herniation of subcutaneous fat (top layer of fat just under the skin surface) within fibrous connective tissue (septae), leading to a padded or orange peel–like appearance. With time, the septae become a fiberous honeycomb-like structure that traps fat cells. This causes the large bumps that are the hallmark of cellulite. These areas will have very poor blood supply, which is why the skin where cellulite occurs often feels cool to the touch. Cellulite is not caused by body weight, but it can be aggravated by body weight. Other factors are a poor diet, water retention, and a sedentary lifestyle.

Cross section of skin

Cross section of Cellulite: Hypodermische Vetcellen = Hypoderic Fat & Diepliggende Vetlagen = deep fat tissue

What is caffeine?
Caffeine, the most widely used and unregulated drug known to man, is a bitter substance found in coffee, tea, and chocolate. It dilates blood vessels, increasing the speed and volume of blood flow throughout the body and makes the heart pump faster. Caffeine can also provide significant benefit when used as a topical agent.

What does caffeine do to cellulite?
Caffeine combats poor circulation by increasing the speed and volume of blood flow. When someone suffers from poor circulation, the body cannot get rid of toxins and excess water. Caffeine’s ability to increase circulation, even when applied topically, can help stop water retention. Water retention can cause fat to be pushed against the skin, emphasizing the lumpy appearance. With regular use caffeine gives the skin a more toned and firm appearance – rather like the results of exercise. This also helps to reduce the appearance of cellulite.

Why coffee?
Coffee beans have more caffeine than any other plant. Coffee beans are ground and treated with hot water to release the large amounts of caffeine within. When using coffee grounds as a cellulite fighter, make sure to get warm, recently used coffee grounds. Make sure that the coffee grounds were not soaked in water for an extended period or burned – both of these things will mean that there is very little to no caffeine left in the coffee grounds to use.

Coffee grounds

Ingredients:
½ cup warm used coffee grounds
1-2 tbsp of olive oil
Roll of plastic wrap

Thoroughly mix the coffee grounds with the olive oil in a small bowl. Once complete, place the mixture in the microwave to heat for about 15-30 seconds. Once sitting in the bathtub, apply coffee mix to all areas to be treated then cover area in plastic wrap. Leave the body wrap on for 20-30 minutes. When you are finished, remove the plastic wrap (carefully!), trying to catch as much of the coffee grounds as possible. Toss the used plastic in the small trash bag. Take a quick warm shower to rinse off any left over coffee grounds. Pat skin dry and apply your favorite skin moisturizer.

This treatment can be done up to twice a week. The effects of this body wrap are temporary.

Photo Credits:
www.infovisual.info

Source http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Image:Cellulitis.jpg
Author SUNBEAM VISION
Diepliggende Vetlagen = deep fat tissue
Hypodermische Vetcellen = Hypoderic Fat

Information Credits:
Wikipedia
Free Dictionary.com: http://www.thefreedictionary.com/cellulite
What Causes Cellulite:
Your Cellulite Solution

Pamper Me Wednesday: Pumpkin Honey Facial & Buttermilk Acne Bath

Welcome back to being Pampered!

This Pamper Me Wednesday is all about anti-aging and anti-acne. We are going to give ourselves an acne fighting bath, an acne face wash, and a skin firming facial. This is a great combination to help clear up both facial and body acne as well as reduce large pores.

This post contains 2 different relaxing spa recipes, which are listed below. Most of the ingredients should be available in your kitchen cupboard (or pantry). There is a Buttermilk Acne Bath that doubles as an acne wash and a Pumpkin Honey facial.

Once you have all of your ingredients gathered and prepared, set the mood and start your bath. For me, this is more of a functional/medicinal spa treatment rather than a relaxing one, so I like to listen to upbeat music while bathing. I typically apply facials before climbing into the tub, but since this week there is a face wash as well as a facial, I don’t apply my facial until after the face wash (while sitting in the tub). I always keep a clean washcloth and bowl of cool water in arm’s reach. While in the bath, I sink down and rest my head on a bath pillow and read until it’s time to remove the facial mask. Here’s where the washcloth and water come in handy.

Here’s what you need:
Bathrobe/towel
Bath pillow/Rolled towel
1 small pumpkin, boiled and peeled
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp honey
2 small bowls
2 soft washcloths
1 ½ cup buttermilk (substitution: 1 ½ cup milk & 1 ½ tbsp vinegar mixed)
½ cup sea salt
6 tbsp honey (runny)

Buttermilk Acne Bath Ingredients

Buttermilk Acne bath
Buttermilk naturally softens and soothes inflamed skin- it will also help remove the dirt and oils from your skin that cause acne breakouts. Sea salt is excellent for skin and makes a great acne treatment. Use of sea salt in the bath will soften skin and help remove acne causing dirt and oils. Sea salt is also an excellent source of minerals that will nourish your skin and help it look healthier. Make sure to use sea salt that does not have iodine added as it is very drying to skin.

Ingredients
1 small mixing bowl
1 soft washcloth
1 ½ cup buttermilk (substitution: 1 ½ cup milk & 1 ½ tbsp vinegar mixed)
½ cup sea salt
6 tbsp honey (runny)

Heat buttermilk on stovetop over low heat. Stir often to avoid scorching. Once buttermilk is warm, add sea salt. Stir until salt is dissolved. Add honey and stir until well blended. Remove from heat. Pour 1/4 cup of mixture in a small bowl and pour rest into running bathwater. You do not need a full tub of water for this bath – ½ full should be sufficient.

Soak in tub for 20 minutes. Wash face with remaining mix in separate bowl while soaking.

Pumpking Honey Facial

Pumpkin Honey Facial
Fresh and cooked pumpkin is a rich source of nutrients and antioxidants – it is full of vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin A, potassium, alpha-carotene, zinc, beta carotene, and lutein, which help to help nourish and brighten the complexion. These nutrients help soothe and reduce inflammation, helping skin recover from acne-related damage. Egg white nourishes the skin, refines pores, reduces oiliness, tightens skin and lightens dark spots. Egg yolks can improve the look and feel of skin, making the skin soft and glowing, reducing the appearance of pores, and reducing acne. Honey is naturally anti-bacteria and will kill germs and bacteria and help prevent acne breakouts. Milk exfoliates, softens and nourishes the skin.

Note: If you are allergic to poultry or eggs, you should not use this facial.

Ingredients
1 small pumpkin, boiled and peeled
1 egg
1/2 cup milk
1 tbsp honey

Take the small (peeled and boiled) pumpkin and puree in a blender or food processor until lump free. Add egg, honey and cup milk. Blend until well mixed. Apply to cleaned face and neck. Leave facial on for 15-20 minutes, then rinse with cool water.

Pamper Me Wednesday! Nov. 10, 2010

Welcome back to another Pamper Me Wednesday!

This week we are going to give ourselves a gentle exfoliating facial and a relaxing foot soak. This is a great combination for an end of the week decompress.

This post contains two (2) recipes, which are listed below. A lot of the ingredients should be available in your kitchen cupboard (or pantry). There is a Honey Buttermilk facial and a Lemon Peppermint foot soak.

Once you have all of your ingredients gathered and prepared, set the mood. I apply my facial and sit in a comfortable chair (with back and neck support!) before I soak my feet. It’s easier to keep a clean washcloth and bowl of cool water on a small table (or on the floor) in arm’s reach. While soaking my feet, I rest my head, read a book or listen to calming music until it’s time to remove my facial. Here’s where the washcloth and water come in handy.

From here, I usually add a little additional hot water so I can soak my feet a little longer. Then I usually give myself a full pedicure or simply refresh my toenail polish. The options are endless and up to you.

Here’s what you need:
2 towels
2 small bowls
Wash cloth
1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey
Foot tub
½ lemon, sliced
½ lime, sliced (optional)
Lavender essential oil
2 drops Peppermint essential oil
4 drops Juniper berry essential oil
1 ½ tbsp Baking Soda
Dead sea salts
Epsom salts

Honey Buttermilk Facial
Oatmeal absorbs excess oil from skin and works as a gentle exfoliant. Honey is a natural antiseptic and is also used to bind the honey and buttermilk. Buttermilk nourishes and softens skin, helps control acne and is a mild yet deep cleansing agent. If you don’t have any buttermilk, plain yogurt is a good substitute.

1/4 cup buttermilk or plain yogurt
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey

Finely grind or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. In a small bowl, stir together honey and buttermilk, and then add ground oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Apply your favorite facial moisturizer. This can be used daily.

Refrigerate left over facial in an airtight container. It should keep for up to 3 days.

Lemon Peppermint Foot Soak
The lemon acts as a bleach to gently remove discoloration from toe nails while the lavender and juniper berry essential oils are for aromatherapy. The Epsom salt soothes muscle aches and pains while the baking soda gently exfoliates. Dead Sea salts contain magnesium, potassium, calcium chloride and bromides. Magnesium is important for both combating stress and fluid retention, slowing skin aging and calming the nervous system. Calcium helps prevents water retention, increases circulation and strengthens bones and nails. Potassium energizes the body, helps to balance skin moisture and is a crucial mineral to replenish following intense exercise. Bromides act to ease muscle stiffness and relax muscles.

Foot tub
½ lemon, sliced
½ lime, sliced (optional)
Lavender essential oil
2 drops Peppermint essential oil
4 drops Juniper berry essential oil
1 ½ tbsp Baking Soda
Dead sea salts
Epsom salts

Put lemon and lime slices in empty tub. Fill the tub with hot (boiling) water, letting sit for 1 minute. Add remaining ingredients. Let water cool until water is safe to touch. Soak for 20 minutes or until water begins to cool. If necessary, add more hot water to lengthen soaking time.

Pamper Me Wednesday!

Everyone deserves to be pampered. Going to the spa, while wonderful, can be extremely expensive and time-consuming. Personally, I love to give myself a little at-home treat once a week.

Pamper Me Wednesdays is a new segment dedicated to looking beautiful and being relaxed! Every Wednesday I will try to post a new home spa activity for you to try.

This week we are going to give ourselves a relaxing and skin softening soak, a revitalizing facial, and a dark eye circle remedy. This is a great combination to do when getting ready for that special date or an indulging beauty treatment the night before a big day.

This post contains 3 different relaxing spa recipes, which are listed below. Most of the ingredients should be available in your kitchen cupboard (or pantry). There is an Oatmeal Lavender Bath, a Banana Facial, and a Potato Dark Eye Remedy.

Once you have all of your ingredients gathered and prepared, set the mood. Light a scented candle, and start the bath. I apply my facial before climbing into the tub. It’s easier to keep a clean washcloth and bowl of cool water in arm’s reach. While in the bath, I sink down and rest my head on a bath pillow, then apply my eye cloths. Soak, relax, and listen to calming music until it’s time to remove the potato eye pads and the facial mask. Here’s where the washcloth and water come in handy.

From here, I usually spend an extra 30 minutes or so soaking. Instead of music, I sometimes play ocean, running water, or other nature sounds. This goes well with a good book. Keeping a dry towel nearby eliminates getting water or oil onto your reading.

Items used to create a relaxing setting, such as the scented candle, are optional, and can be tweaked depending on the individual.

Here’s what you need:
Scented Candle (optional)
Soft music or ocean sounds (optional)
Book (optional)
Bathrobe
Slippers
Bath Pillow (or rolled up towel)
Wash cloth
2 Small bowls
Towel
Food Processor
Pantyhose
Oatmeal (rolled oats, NOT instant)
Olive oil infused with lavender essential oil
Powdered Milk
Banana (overripe)
Honey
Lemon juice (fresh or purchased)
Vitamin E Oil
Cheesecloth or cotton balls
½ small potato, chilled (any kind except sweet potato)

Banana Facial
Bananas soften the skin, due to the vitamin A and potassium they contain. They help soften, heal cracked, dry skin, and combat environmental damage. Honey, with natural antibacterial properties, is also high in potassium and clarifies the skin while helping to retain moisture. Together, these two ingredients help plump the skin which visually decreases sagging. Vitamin E oil helps fight free radicals while repairing environmental damage. If you don’t have any, an avocado works just as well. Lemon juice is great for eliminating blackheads and its natural acidic lighteners diminish the appearance of blemishes.

lemon juice, honey, vitamin E oil, and banana

1 tbsp Honey
1 Banana
½ tsp Lemon juice
5 drops Vitamin E Oil or 1 tbsp avocado
Wash cloth

Peel banana and mash thoroughly. Mix banana with honey, lemon juice, and vitamin E oil (or avocado). Spread mixture evenly on face (avoiding the eyes) and leave for about 25 minutes. Gently remove the mask and wash your face with a wash cloth and follow with your favorite moisturizer.

Banana Facial

Potato Dark Eye Circle Remedy
Potatoes and their juice work wonders on eye circles and puffiness due to an enzyme named catecholase. This natural anti-inflammatory lightens skin in a natural, non-damaging manner. Cooling the potato makes it more refreshing for the skin, similar to chilled cucumber slices. Room temperature will not affect the results.

catecholase showing on knife

½ Potato, chilled
2 pcs cheesecloth, cut into squares/cotton balls
Food processor/Grater

Take chilled potato and process it in the food processor. Once the potato is processed, scoop two small amounts in to the cheesecloth squares – enough to cover both eyes. Apply processed potato to eyes and leave for anywhere from 20 – 30 minutes.

scoop of processed potato in cheesecloth

potato eye pads

If you don’t have a food processor and cheesecloth, you can grate the potato and the soak up the potato juice with cotton balls. Apply the potato juice directly to the under eye area and let it dry. Leave on for about 30 minutes then wash off.

Oatmeal Lavender Milk Bath
Oatmeal is a gentle but effective natural skin cleanser. It is also good for bath soaks, facial and body scrubs, and masks. Oatmeal helps relieve dry skin, heal minor skin irritations and itchiness, and aids in restoring skin’s natural moisture balance. Oatmeal absorbs and removes dirt and impurities from the skin while gently exfoliating. Milk contains vitamins A & D which helps to soften the skin. The lactic acid in milk has beta hydroxy acids that soothes while exfoliating your skin. Lavender calms and soothes. Honey is high in potassium and helps clarify the skin while retaining moisture.

1/2 cup oatmeal

ground oatmeal & stocking

1-2 cups dried milk
5 tbsp honey
¼ cup lavender infused olive oil (or unscented olive oil)
¼ cup oatmeal, ground (rolled oats, not instant)
Scissors
Pantyhose
Bathrobe
Bath Pillow
Slippers
Scented candle
Towel
Music (optional)

oatmeal filled stocking with removable knot

Take a pair of pantyhose and cut off the feet, leaving the foot at least 6-8 inches long. Grind the oatmeal in a food processor. Once ground, scoop the oatmeal into the stocking foot and tie with a knot, then drop into the bath. If you want to reuse the socking (my preference), tie a removable knot instead. Use the filled stocking as a loofah during your bath. Pour dried milk, honey, and oil into bath. Soak in the tub for up to one hour. Be careful! The tub will be oily.

Olive Oil skin care recipes

Here are four more natural skin care recipes that I have collected that feature olive oil as the star. All of these items can be created using 5 simple ingrediants that you can locate in your kitchen: olive oil, honey, lemon juice, sugar, and lavender essential oil.

Quick Olive Oil Recipes

Moisturizing Lavender Bath Soak

¼ cup olive oil
5-8 drops of lavender essential oil

Fill bathtub with warm water. Place olive oil and lavender in bath and soak. The lavender will help you relax before bed.

Lemon Sugar Scrub

1/2 cup sugar (or salt, if preferred)
2 tablespoon olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice

Mix all ingredients in a small bowl. Apply to hands or feet above the tub or sink. Scrub thoroughly for 2-3 minutes. When done scrubbing, rinse briefly with lukewarm water and pat dry.

Moisturizing and Skin Tightening Facial Mask

1 egg yolk
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp honey

Mix egg yolk, olive oil, and honey. Beat mixture until well blended. Apply to face and leave for 15 minutes or until dry. Remove with warm water, then rinse face with cool water.

Olive Oil Cuticle Soak

Small bowl
3 tbsp olive oil
1tbsp lemon juice

Mix oil and lemon juice. Warm olive oil mixture in bowl, careful not to make it too hot to touch. Let nails (especially cuticle) soak in mixture for 5-10 minutes. This should soften cuticles. I like to do this treatment prior to using the Lemon Sugar Scrub or prior to making a regular body scrub so that I don’t waste the ingredients.

Olive Oil Basics

Olive oil can prove quite beneficial to the skin, since it is rich in all kinds of nutrients, antioxidants, and vitamins which are great for the body, whether you choose to eat it, or use it on your skin.

Among the natural antioxidants to be found in olive oil, there are A and E vitamins, as well as some polyphenols, well-known for their ability to postpone aging. By taking out free radicals, freed in the body, these special agents are guaranteed to prolong your life, as they contribute to cell repair. The same thing is valid when you apply olive oil on your skin. As you may well know, our skin is many times exposed to pollution and other factors that cause it to grow older. By caring for skin with olive oil, you will limit the actions of these factors, and enjoy a beautiful skin for a long time.

Olive oil also contains a natural moisturizer, called squalene. Sebum is what makes our skin too greasy, but squalene has the incredible ability of regulating its secretion. This means that, when used on your skin, the sebum will be reduced, and you will experience less skin problems than before.

Another nutrient that exists in olive oil is chlorophyll. This helps a great deal in healing wounds and other scars. Acne blemishes will be nothing but a bad dream, after you apply plenty of olive oil on your skin.

    From http://www.oliveoilbenefits.org/olive-oil-for-skin/

Olive oil skin care is pursued by those individuals who are looking for a natural way to take care of their skin. There are many products manufactured with artificial ingredients for skin care. Some of these are great because they target specific skin problems. However, many of these products are cheaply made with poor quality ingredients and often do not do anything to promote proper skin health. In addition, such products may do more harm than good.

For this reason, many people are looking at the use of olive oil and olive oil skin products as a natural way to make and keep their skin healthy. Olive oil benefits for the body are well advertised, but what about the olive oil benefits for the skin?

Olive oil can be used in a skin care regiment in a number of ways.

• As a bath oil. Substitute regular bath oil with a couple of tablespoons of olive oil.
• As a skin moisturizer. Apply olive oil to dry skin on any body part (face, elbows, feet, etc.) to help the skin regain its natural oil balance. Olive oil can be added to many of the natural facial home recipes that exist. When combined with some sugar, olive oil makes a great hand exfoliant and moisturizer.
• As a night cream. When combined with vinegar and water in equal proportions, olive oil will soften and moisturize the skin as you sleep. The vinegar acts to lighten skin discolorations and helps to exfoliate the skin.
• Olive oil has antioxidant properties and thus protects the skin from those harmful and damaging free radicals. It is beneficial in slowing the aging signs such as fine lines and wrinkles.
• Olive oil can be used as a lip balm, hair moisturizer, nail soak, dandruff treatment, etc.
• Some research has indicated that applying olive oil on the skin after being in the sun may help reduce the damage caused by sun exposure.
• Other potential benefits of olive oil as an olive oil skin care product include: treatment of – minor skin wounds, eczema, and psoriasis.

 
Whether you purchase olive oil skin products or mix up your own olive oil skin care recipes, your skin will benefit. Always look for extra virgin olive oil or organic extra virgin olive oil in olive oil skin care products or when formulating your own olive oil skincare recipes. Pure or light olive oil is likely chemically processed and would be lacking the beneficial skin care elements.

From: http://www.healthy-skincare.com/olive-oil-skin-care.html

US Standards for Grades of Olive Oil and Olive-Pomace Oil

All Natural Olive Hot Oil Treatments

In keeping with my October is for Olive Oil theme, let’s talk about hot oil treatments. Olive oil makes a great oil for a hot oil treatment.

One of my regular uses for olive oil is as a hot oil treatment. There are two ways to do a hot oil treatment – and I use both of them. I have a slightly different recipe for hot oil depending if I’m using it on wet or dry hair. If I plan to give my locks a deep condition, I do my hot oil treatment on dry hair. If I do not plan on deep conditioning my locks, I do my hot oil treatment on wet hair. You can give your locks a hot oil treatment weekly.

Wet Hair
I typically only use this treatment is I am NOT going to do a deep condition.

Hot Oil Treatment for wet hair
¼ cup olive oil
1 tsp dried rosemary (you can use fresh, too)
4 drops lavender essential oil
Cheesecloth

Combine the olive oil and rosemary in a small sauce pan on the stove. Heat until oil is boiling. Stir. Add lavender essential oil. Stir. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth to remove rosemary pieces. Allow oil to cool to the touch. Rub (not pour!) onto wet, freshly washed hair. Make sure hair is dry enough not to drip. Wrap hair in plastic shower cap or other plastic bag and sit under a hood dryer for 30 minutes. If you do not have a hood dryer, try wetting a towel with hot water and wrapping it around your hair (keeping the bag on). You will have to re-heat the towel with water several times.

Dry Hair
I use this treatment when I plan to give my hair a deep condition.

Hot Oil Treatment for dry hair
¼ cup olive oil
1 tsp dried rosemary (you can use fresh, too)
1 tbsp honey
6 drops lavender essential oil
Cheesecloth

Combine the olive oil, honey, and rosemary in a small sauce pan on the stove. Heat until oil is boiling, remember: the honey will not disappear into the oil. Stir. Add lavender essential oil. Stir. Remove from heat and strain through cheesecloth to remove rosemary pieces. The cheesecloth will hold the honey for a period of time but you do NOT want to strain out the honey, just the rosemary. Allow oil to cool to the touch. Rub (not pour!) onto dry hair. If your dreadlocks are short enough, wrap a wet towel around the hair and sit under a hood dryer for 30 minutes. If your hair is too long for that, wrap hair in plastic shower cap or other plastic bag that has been sprinkled with water inside the cap/bag. If you do not have a hood dryer, wet the towel with hot water, re-heating the towel with water several times.

Once you have completed your hot oil treatment, wash/co-wash hair as normal.

All Natural Sugar Body Scrubs

I like to try to give myself a body scrub every other day. I began making my own scrubs a while ago in order to control costs (the most simple scrubs costs between $10 and $30 each) and ingredients. When you look at the stuff they put in commercially sold body scrubs…well, This made me look into mixing my own scrubs. I can control the ingredients, all of my ingredients are fresh, and I am 100% sure of the shelf life.

I used to use Carol’s Daughter exclusively for my scrubs and body oils (I still love her body oils), but I noticed that as Carol’s Daughter grew into a large company the ingredients didn’t seem to be as fresh and the shelf life seemed to shrink. I would buy two body scrubs at a time and one would always lose its scent before I completed both containers.

I decided to use sugar rather than salt for two reasons:
• No matter what you do, a little bit of the scrub always gets in your mouth
• If I happen to shave and scrub on the same day, the salt burns

Both of those things were enough to steer me towards sugar rather than salt.

I have three scrubs in rotation, and they are all pretty simple. All of the scrubs I make have a decent shelf life, too – I need them to last at least 10 days. Most of the things I use in my scrubs are things that normally can be found in the (at least my) kitchen, with only a few extra purchases needed to be complete. I try to make all three at the beginning of the week and I keep them refrigerated until the night before use. The night before I plan to use the scrub I take it out of the refrigerator and let it warm up overnight. If you don’t do this, the scrub will be cold, clammy, and the oil will be congealed.

Lavender Lemon Sugar Scrub
This is the most simple of all of my scrubs. I usually get at least two body applications.

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup olive oil
5 drops lemon essential oil
8 drops lavender essential oil

Lavender Lemon Sugar Body Scrub Ingredients

Steps:
Combine the sugar and oil in a container and mix until a pasty consistency forms. Add your oils and stir.

To use, just massage on to wet skin to exfoliate your skin. Rinse and pat dry.

Lavender Lemon Sugar Scrub

Lemon, Lavender, and Honey Scrub

Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
2 teaspoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons honey – room temperature
5 drops lemon essential oil
6 drops lavender essential oil

Lavender, Lemon, and Honey Sugar Body Scrub Ingredients

Steps:
Combine the sugar and sweet almond oil in a large bowl and stir well to combine. Then add the lemon juice and honey and stir again. Finally, add the lavender and lemon essential oils and stir to mix.

To use, just massage on to wet skin to exfoliate your skin. Rinse and pat dry.

This mixture is really oily so you be careful that you don’t slip!

Lemon, Lavender, and Honey Scrub

Chocolate-Ginger Body Scrub
I got this scrub from a friend of mine. It’s the most luxurious in my opinion – and smells the absolute best! I always feel like I’m scrubbing down with chocolate.

Ingredients:
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon freshly grated ginger
1 teaspoon cocoa powder
3-5 tablespoon olive oil (or other oil on hand)

Chocolate-Ginger Sugar Scrub Ingredients & materials

Steps:
Measure all of the ingredients into a bowl. Mix well to combine completely.

To use, just massage on to wet skin to exfoliate your skin. Rinse and pat dry.

Chocolate-Ginger Body Scrub

The Pampered Bride Manicure

A Bride’s hands are on showcase throughout her engagement. The crowning point of this timeframe is her wedding day.

On a bride’s wedding day, she knows she is going to be the center of attention. Everything about her will be noticed, remarked upon, and remembered. Most brides realize this and take care to make sure their coif is perfect, their dress- divine, and their jewelry gleams. But what about her hands?

A bride’s hands will be on prominent display on her wedding day, but also the days leading up to her wedding as well. Once a bride announces that she is engaged, scores of people – friends, acquaintances, and adversaries (AKA those bitches at work) will want to stare at her engagement ring – and thus her hands.

No matter how glorious your ring is – no matter how large and sparkly the diamond – if your hands feel like scales and your nails look like claws, people will notice, remember, and talk.

Luckily, there is no need to spend a lot of money for these little fixes. I’ve been working on a series of manicures – just for you :-). As I complete them, I’ll update this post with additional links.

The Pampered Bride
The Practical Bride
The Busy Bride

The Pampered Bride Manicure
This manicure is for the bride who wants to pamper herself and has the time to do it. This manicure can take up to 1 ½ – 2 hours.

Step 1: Hand, Nail, and Tool Prep
In order to get the most out of your manicure, you need properly prepare. The first thing is to gather all of your tools. Here’s a list of some things that you will need:
• Nail File/Emery Board (Try to avoid metal files)
• Nail Buffer
• Cuticle Nippers
• Small Bowl
• Warm water
• Fingernail Clippers
• Cotton Balls
• Hand soap
• Hand Scrub
• Orange Stick
• Nail Polish Remover
• Cuticle Oil/Vitamin E Oil
• Towel
• Nail Polish (bottom coat, top coat, and color if desired)
• Lotion
• Paraffin Wax Bath (pre-warmed)
• Q-Tips
• Shea Butter
• Lemon Juice

Step 2: Shape Nails
Once you have gathered all of your materials together and gotten comfortable, you’re ready to shape your nails. Always start a manicure (or pedicure!) by removing any nail polish that you may have on your hands. After removing the polish, make sure all of your nails are cut to your chosen length. You also want to check your fingers closely for the beginnings of hang nails. If you see any, clip them with the cuticle nippers.

Once you have finished removing polish, you can start to file your nails. The two most popular shapes are rounded edged square and oval. Pick the shape that works best for you – square looks best when the cuticle is oval shaped and oval looks best when the cuticle is slightly more pointy – then file your nail into that shape. My personal preference is for the rounded edge square. Try to file your nail in one direction, only. Filing your nails from side to side can weaken the nail.

After shaping your nails, put a drop of cuticle or Vitamin E oil on your cuticle. DO NOT CUT THE CUTICLE. Hangnails are caused by overly dry and/or damaged cuticles. When you cut your cuticles you damage them, since the purpose of the cuticle is to protect the body from bacteria. Instead of cutting the cuticle, soak the finger tips in a small bowl of warm soapy water. You are only looking to soften the cuticle, so only do this for 2-5 minutes per hand. Once the cuticle is softened, take an orange stick and GENTLY push back the cuticle. Once the cuticle is pushed back, move the stick around the base of your nail bed in small circles to remove any additional skin/cuticle that may be left behind. Once done, place a drop of vitamin E oil or cuticle oil on each cuticle. Massage the oil in well.

Step 3: Soften those hands
Having soft hands is a trait that has always been associated with femininity. Throughout our daily lives, however, our hands are exposed to the worst the environment has to offer. My favorite way to soften hands is to use a natural, homemade scrub. I love the Lemon Sugar Scrub! There are scrubs that you can buy in a store, too. It’s up to you.

After scrubbing, I love a hot paraffin bath. Nothing says pampered like a paraffin bath! Paraffin Baths, if you’ve never used a paraffin bath before, are a “luxurious” spa treatment. It is intended to moisturize and soften skin. The major use for paraffin wax bath treatments is for the hands and feet during a manicure or pedicure. It is also great for people who have arthritis or simply aching hands and feet. I always slather my hands with 100% pure shea butter prior to doing a paraffin wax dip.

Step 4: Polish
Once the paraffin wax dip is complete, wash your hands with soap and water again. This will remove the excess oils. At this point I give myself a homemade, all natural cuticle bath. The cuticle bath is not necessary but it is glorious! I love the way it gives my cuticles a little extra moisture. Some people prefer to do cutcicle baths prior to a paraffin wax. This is personal preference.

After the cuticle bath, I wash my hands with soap and water, then moisturize with a creamy lotion. Then I take an orange stick, wrap a piece of cotton around one end and wipe off my nails. This removes any excess oils and I am ready to polish.

I never use colored polishes – I’m a clear kinda girl – so I can’t give any tips on color. The darkest color I wear is Cotton Candy 😉

Always apply a base coat, even if you don’t use colored polish. Begin with a single stroke of polish down the middle of the nail, then an additional single stroke on each side of the nail. This should cover your entire nail. Let the coat dry.

If you like color in your nail polish, you would apply that between your bottom and top coats. Color polish requires 2-3 coats with a drying time between each coat. The darker the polish color the more coats you need to apply.

Once the polish is dry(ish), do your top coat, allowing your nails to dry to touch.