Make natural beauty products
July 29, 2011
BY KITT WALSH
Whether you are trying to save a few bucks in this terrible economy or are worried about what types of chemicals the cosmetics industry is stirring into their beastly brews these days, learning to make your own beauty products at home is a great idea (and fun, too.) Below are some recipes to get you started. But first some notes before you go merrily mixing:
Make small batches of homemade beauty products, as they have no preservatives (or invite your friends over for a “cosmetics party” and tell everyone to bring their own Tupperware or baby food jars to take home your creations.) Remember, since all ingredients could go into your body, treat them like food. Refrigerate anything with eggs, milk or mayo and throw everything out in a few days.
Use common sense: If you are allergic to any of these edible ingredients, don’t use them on the outside of your body either. If you’re not sure, try a patch test first. Put a small amount somewhere inconspicuous on your skin and check for a reaction in 24 hours.
Flaky Skin Scrub: Put a handful of leftover nuts or seeds (pumpkin or sunflower) along with fresh herbs (like lavender or rosemary) into a clean coffee grinder. Grind till they are a coarse meal. Pour ¼ cup of the meal into a bowl, mix with enough yogurt to make a paste, and rub all over your body. Dry skin left from the summer sun will scrub right off.
Sophia’s Secret: Ageless beauty Sophia Loren swears by her native Italy’s most famous product―olive oil. Apply to your face at night, “steam” it into your pores with a hot washcloth, then gently dry. You can also keep a spray bottle with olive oil in the shower. Spray lightly, let the water run over the skin you’ve oiled, and then pat dry for super moist skin.
Bottom’s Up Hair Conditioner: Pour a shot of vodka and a few drops of essential oil, a half of a ripe avocado and some mayonnaise into a blender. Mix it together, slather on your hair, wait 20 minutes and rinse. Voila! Shiny, healthy hair.
Cool and Smooth Moisture Stick: Beat an egg with a spoonful of honey and a half a cup of coconut oil. Spoon the mix into an upright toilet paper roll set on a plate and freeze overnight. Peel off the cardboard and roll the “moisture stick” all over your face and neck. Leave on for 10 minutes and rinse with warm water. Cover the stick with plastic wrap and freeze between uses.
Clean Slate Hair Treatment: Every now and again our hair needs a break from the sprays, gels and other products we subject it to daily. Use this rinse to clear the decks. Boil 1 quart of distilled water. Take off the heat. Add one tablespoon of nettles or comfrey root and let cool for 20 minutes. Strain out the herbs and add ¼ of cider vinegar. Pour through your hair and rub into scalp for a few minutes before rinsing. This will get rid of the buildup and even help if you have dandruff.
Sweet Hair Removal: A Lebanese friend shared that women all over the Middle East have been using this recipe for centuries. It takes a bit of practice, but it beats paying for waxing in these menopausal days where chin hairs pop up like dandelions after the rain. (Those pesky hairs should be 1/8-1/4 inches long for best results.) Combine 2 cups sugar and ¼ cup each lemon juice and water into a heavy saucepan. Bring to a slow boil over medium-high heat, then turn to simmer for 25-28 minutes, stirring often with a wooden spoon. The mixture will turn dark amber―but be careful not to burn it. Checking with a candy thermometer is best (a steady 250 degrees is the target.) Gingerly pour into a glass container and let it cool for an hour and a half. Make sure your skin is completely dry (use talcum or cornstarch to be sure.) Apply in a thin, even strip (about ¼ inch) in the direction the hair grows. With strips cut from an old sheet or pillowcas, press it in wax and yank off the strip in the opposite direction from the hair’s growth. Painful? Not much (We can take it. We are women) and it will leave you as smooth as a baby’s behind.
Have a beautiful summer!
Kitt Walsh owns a web content company, Behind Blogs (www.behindblogs.com ) and freelances as a feature writer, editor and marketing consultant for magazines, newspapers and private clients around the world.