The Greener Side of Being Beautiful!

As women well know, it's not easy being beautiful!!  There are many steps (and products) that we go through to ensure that we have beautiful skin, beautiful hair, beautiful nails, beautiful feet...but unfortunately, most of the products offered for our skin, hair, nails and feet are full of toxic chemicals that, while they may help in the beautifying process, can actually be harming us!  Even some products that claim to be "all natural" contain ingredients that have bee proven to be harmful to our bodies.  So I set out on a mission to find ways to stay beautiful, using only products that are safe and organic.  And not only are they better for you, they actually work and can be easily made at home using things that you probably have in your refrigerator or cupboards!  The ingredients in these actually come from natural, God-made things....not man-made chemicals created in a lab somewhere!  And I don't know about you, but that sounds a lot better to me!!!  If these facts alone don't curb your way of thinking and buying the store products, just imagine all of the packaging waste that can be avoided by making your own products!  Not to mention the harmful effects these products have on our water when we wash them off and they make their way down the drain and into the waterways!  By using organic products, we are avoiding the risk of contaminating water and reducing packaging waste!  It's a win/win scenario for being a greener you! So read on and see some of the simple, safe and organic ways of making yourself as beautiful as you can be!!!! :)

Dry Skin Moisturizing Treatment
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons real mayonnaise
• 1 teaspoon olive oil (you can substitute the olive oil with any oil...be it safflower oil, baby oil or whatever you may have on hand)

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together
2. Smooth mixture onto any areas that may need it....face, neck, rough elbows, knees, heels, etc.
3. Leave on for approximately 20 min.
4. Rinse with lukewarm water

This works great for rough heels in the summer and I've even used it for my hair when it gets to feeling dry.
                                                                                                                  

Honey-Avocado Invigorating and Revitalizing Hair Treatment
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 1 medium avocado- peeled and seeded
• 2 Tablespoons honey

Directions

1. Mash ingredients together in a small bowl
2. Massage into hair
3. Leave on for 20-30 min
4. Rinse with warm water

Leaves hair looking shiny and healthy and helps bring body back into it.
                                                                                                 

Nail Strengthener 
(This will yield enough for 20-30 applications)

Ingredients

• 2 teaspoons castor oil
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon wheat germ oil  (this can be found at your local health food store)

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a sealable container.  (I used a small glass baby food jar)
2. Shake well before each use
3. Rub a small amount onto each nail
4. Leave on 3-5 min
5. Wipe clean with a cotton ball

I had a problem with my nails chipping or breaking while gardening or doing housework and consistant use of this really helps strengthen them!
                                                                                            

Honey- Cocoa Butter Lip Balm
(This will yield enough for 100 applications)


Ingredients

• 2 Tablespoons olive oil
• 1/2 teaspoon honey
• 3/4 teaspoon beeswax- grated 
• 1/2 teaspoon pure cocoa butter
• 1 Vitamin E capsule
• Optional- flavored oil of your choice (ie. vanilla, peppermint)

*Note- the beeswax and Vitamin E capsules can be found at your local health food stores.

Directions

1. Combine oil, honey, wax and cocoa butter in a small saucepan and heat on low until melted.
2. Remove from heat and allow to cool for 2-3 min
3. Add contents of Vitamin E capsule (and flavored oil if you choose to use it)
4. Pour into a container of your choice.  (I had a small tin that I used)

Once this cools completely, it is the consistancy of any other lip balm.

                                                                                         

Skin Exfoliant
(This will yield multiple applications...the number depending on how much/how often you choose to use it)

Ingredients

• 1 cup coarse sea salt
• 1/2 cup oil (I use olive oil, but you can opt to use baby oil, canola oil, castor oil...whatever you have on hand)

Directions

1. Stir the ingredients together in a bowl
2. Pour the mixture into a screw top container (I used an old peanut butter jar...since this product is going to be used in the shower, it's best to use a container with a plastic lid to prevent rusting/corrosion of a metal lid from the water)
3. Leave to set for 24 hrs
4. Apply mixture to any dry areas that you wish to exfoliate
5. Rinse off in shower water

This is a great way to invigorate your skin and exfoliate all of the dead skin....best for arms and legs...especially in dry winter months!
                                                                                        

Revitalizing Face Mask
(This will yield 1 application)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup chopped cucumber
• 1/2 cup chopped avocado
• 1 egg white
• 2 teaspoons powdered milk (I've found that powdered goat's milk works great for this!)

Directions

1. Combine ingredients in a blender until smooth
2. Apply to face and neck in a circular motion
3. Leave on for 30 min or until dry
4. Rinse with warm water  (best if the warm rinse is followed by a cold water splash to invigorate the skin!)

This really is a great mask.  It has been proven that avocado and cucumber both help our skin, so it's a great easy way to combine both into a mask.  Not to mention that egg whites help to tighten skin...leaving it looking younger!  Also, just a note- this mask mixture will keep in the refrigerator for about 30 min, so you can make it up ahead of time if you would like.  Not to mention that a cold mask really helps invigorate the skin!
                                                                                  

Hand Softener 
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup brown sugar
• enough oil to make a paste (again, I use olive oil, but any oil can be used)

Directions

1. Mix ingredients together in a bowl to form a paste
2. Apply to hands (I apply it in the same way as I would wash my hands or put on lotion...just rub it around thoroughly onto hands)
3. Rinse with warm water

The brown sugar combined with oil really does help to soften hands!!  The brown sugar acts as kind of an exfoliate while the oil helps to soften and moisten the skin.  I really like to use this in summer months when my hands tend to get rough from all of the yard work and gardening.  It helps keep the calluses from yard work softened.
                                                                                        

End-of-Day Foot Spa
(This will yield one application)

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup Epsom salts (can be found in almost any drug store)
• scented oils of choice (I love lavender for this!!!!  It's very calming and relaxing.  You can also use rosewood, sandlewood or patchouli for a calming effect.  But for a more rejuvinating effect, you can use lemongrass or eucalyptus or peppermint.)
• water
• foot bath or a very large plastic bowl/container (you can even use the bathtub with water filled to about ankle height)

Directions

1. Fill the container you choose to use with warm water to ankle height
2. Add Epsom salts until dissolved
3. Add scented oils
4. Soak feet for 10-15 min
5. Pat dry

Who doesn't love a great foot bath after a long day??!!!  This is a great way to relax and treat yourself to something special in a very simple way.  This is especially nice if you are on your feet all day long!

                                                                                          

And there you have it!  A few simple ways to help beautify yourself without contamination of harmful chemicals!  I highly recommend these....even if you don't use them all of the time, it's a great way to pamper yourself at home in a safe, organic way, while saving some money too!  And that's what being a "green at home mama" is all about!!!!  :)