Natural and Easy Face Moisturizer

The five dollar face treatment.

The next time you make a trip to the grocery store and you buy yourself a gallon of 2% milk, make it the vitamin D whole milk. Because milk applied to the skin and face can even out the skin tone and help moisturize mildly by aiding in the retention of water on the skin.

It’s spring and with summer around the corner try this face treatment to wake you up in the morning, freshen you up in the afternoon or soothe your skin at night. You will need a bowl, a cup of milk, a cup of ice and a face towel. Usually when I think of a milk product for my skin I tend to automatically associate it with honey, avocado, sugar because milk is a common ingredient in other skin care products like scrubs, peels and masks. But this time all we’re using is milk. Milk is good to drink but also good on the skin. It helps moisturize and even out skin tone, and by evening out skin tone and keeping the skin moisturized and hydrated, it helps with wrinkles and certain blemishes.

Once you’ve gathered all two of your ingredients together in the bowl, dip the face towel or wash towel in the bowl till its fully soaked, ring it and place the towel over your face, count to to 10, and repeat a few more times, or as many as desired.

Milk has lactic acid that can be used as a peel, but in this case it’s just there so we can reap the benefits mildly. This acid is an anti inflammatory, so it is supposed to help soothe redness and bumps like razor burns, sun burns, acne and certain rashes.

Don’t believe me? Here’s a website dedicated to giving knowledge about lactic acid. Lactic Acid found in milk….

Finding the Right Products for Curing Eczema

Being that my kids both suffer from eczema, I have tried many products but these are what works for them; and the way I see it, if works well for babies, it will work for adults. Looking for baby skin care in comparison to adult skin care, is simply just discovering the milder version. It could work, but if it didn’t work for you chances are it didn’t do any further damage due to its mild nature. And that’s always a positive thing.
Here is the list of products I use on my 1 and 3 year olds’ skin. Keep in mid there isn’t real cure for eczema, but what is available is prevention and treatment. Think of eczema as a form of severe dry skin that causes breakage in the skin that leads to open wounds, itching, scaly skin and irritation. The key is to keep it clean and moisturized, and avoid aggravating it by scratching. During the winter season being it gets very dry here in Nevada during that time, I do not give my kids a bath everyday. I give them baths about every two days, and I bathe them in Aveeno Oatmeal Bath. In between baths I wipe them down with No Rinse Body Bath by Cleanlife Products. In between those baths during the day I treat the affected areas with Mario Badescu Chamomile Tea Lotion followed by the Disney Gentle Naturals baby eczema cream (its available at Wal-mart, the good thing about this cream is it has aloe and calendula.) If the areas are itchy I apply Dr Itch Cream from Native Rememdies.

Remember to stay consistent with the treatment. Just because you see an improvement, doesn’t mean you should stop treating it. And even when the skin is clear, knowing that skin, is prone to eczema practice prevention by keeping the skin clean and moisturized at all times.

Aveeno Oatmeal Bath is available at corner drugstores like Wal-Mart, Walgreens, Target, CVS Pharmacy
No Rinse Body Bath by Cleanllife Products is available online at Walgreens.com, Amazon.com, drugstore.com
Mario Badescu Chamomile Tea Lotion is available at Ulta or at mariobadescu.com
DIsney Gentle Naturals Baby Eczema Cream is available at your local drugstore like Wal-mart, Walgreens, CVS Pharmacy, Target
Dr. Itch by Native Remedies is exclusive at nativeremedies.com
proEcza is available also excusive to their website at proecza.com

How To Wear Perfume Properly

Christmas is around the corner and perfume or cologne is a typical gift to give and receive. But not all perfume or cologne will smell good once applied to your skin. It is always important to try the stuff on your skin before buying. And I mean apply some directly on your skin and let it set and let the chemical change with yours, and you will know if you are compatible with that particular cologne or perfume. It doesn’t matter how expensive or complex the perfume notes are just as long as it complements the wearer and does not reek, leaving you smelling worse than before, even, being offensive.

Perfume consist of the top, middle and base notes. You can think of top notes as how it smells out of the bottle, the middle note comes out after initial application and the base note is what it really smells like when it dries down. The true base note is the scent you will live with and work with, this does not even emerge until 30 minutes after application. So always test before you buy.

Just because the bottle is pretty or it smells good out of the bottle doesn’t mean it will smell the same once applied to your skin. And just because it smells good on you friend, cousin, grandma or aunt means it will smell the same on you. And the same principle applies the other way around, just because it smells bad on someone else doesn’t mean it won’t work for you. Always test and try before you buy!

Try to understand the notes in a perfume or cologne, figure out what notes seem to work for you. Sadly, these commercial manufacturers do not list their ingredients that specifically, but there is a source for us consumers. Go to basenotes.com . Join the community for help and input, it’s free. You might also run into some great and rare finds. Personally, I am part of this community and I heavily rely on it when I am in the process of trying out a new perfume. Especially, when buying online, it’s risky because most of the time you cannot try it on or there are no samples available.

If you want a brief crash course on perfume, its history and more details on its notes go to this site for a very brief but informative description .

DIY Hair Perfume

Simplicity is key and less is more. I have searched high and low for a  product lightly scented and good for my hair. Something I can use that can freshen up my hair after it’s been exposed to cigarette smoke, or on a day I don’t feel like washing my hair I can spray something on it to help restyle it from being flat. Many spray perfume or cologne on their hair as if they would on their body, this is not good for the hair especially if it contains alcohol that can dry the hair. Plus, you can only spray so much on your hair till the smell is just overbearing and smells cheap instead of clean.

This is why I have come up with my very own natural DIY hair perfume. This is safe to use everyday or as needed through out the day, it won’t dry the hair, and it leaves your hair smelling fresh and clean.

You will need a 4 ounce spray bottle. One ounce of chamomile tea,2 ounces of rose water, vitamin E (taken from the inside of the liquid capsule vitamins), 2 drops awapuhi fragrance oil (can be bought on eBay or internet stores for no more than $4 per half ounce-and a little goes a long way), 2 drops citrus essential oil, and 1 drop avocado essential oil, 5 drops jojoba essential oil. Mix together in your spray bottle, use anytime, shake well before using.

$10 DIY Spa Facial

Here is a true $10 or less DIY spa facial that you can do yourself at the comfort of your own home. The best part, aside from it being inexpensive, is it’s natural, which means it’s paraben free and free of artificial ingredients or colorings.

This mixture is generally good for all skin types even sensitive skin. Just be wary for allergies or other medical conditions that may cause you harm if you use any of these ingredients.

You will need one 8 ounce Dannon plain yogurt for approximately $1.20, one packet of green tea which is roughly $1. You might already have some at home and don’t need to buy, but if you did it comes up to about $1/packet. You will also need 1 tbsp honey. You can use the food grade honey from grocery stores for about $4/bottle. And lastly you will need an exfoliant. For this I choose oatmeal, you can use white rice, blendered, or skip out on the exfoliant all together. Aveeno baby soothing bath costs about $4 for a box of 5 packets. You won’t even need the whole pack. You are just going to scoop 1 tsp of product to add into your mixture. You can also use regular food grade Quaker oats.

As you can see we haven’t broken the bank, all the items are natural and fresh. You can buy a full size of oatmeal, honey, and green tea and those will not cost more than $20 and can last about 20 applications. The only item you cannot stock up on is the yogurt because it’s more perishable.

Mix all your ingredients together in a bowl, apply to clean face, leave on for 15-20 minutes, and rinse it off as you normally would wash your face. Your face will feel as soft as a baby’s bottom.

Twilight Inspired Salad

This idea came from the scene in the cafeteria, when Edward goes to Bella in the salad station and says “Edible Art?” Since Edward is a “vegetarian”, why not make a salad to symbolize that, for all the diehard fanatics!

You will need 1 cup of cherry tomatoes (or 1 large tomato), 1 cup of raw cauliflower (or 1 cup of raw broccoli), some iceberg lettuce, 3 slices of cucumber, 2 prices of baby corn (or1/2 cup cooked corn kernels), 1 delicious apple. Put all the ingredients together except for the apple in a salad bowl. And here comes the tricky part. We will use the whole apple, just use a potato peeler and peel the skin off in little ribbon like shapes and this will be the topping to go over the salad and the dressing. You may use any dressing you like but I suggest ranch, French.

Twilight New Moon Inspired Spa Drink

Since, I am just such a huge fanatic of the saga; I am at it again. This time, I have come up with another inspired healthy fresh fruit spa drink. This healthy mixed drink is not just full of vitamin C and, it’s also super refreshing and light. This is a single serving recipe, please adjust accordingly.

You will need a short glass, ½ cup sparkling water, ½ cup lychee, ½ a pear, and 1 slice of jicama (sliced so that it’s in the shape of a small disc).

Peel the pear and take off the seed. Then, in a blender, blend the lychee and pear together. Pour the blended fruits in the glass, add sparkling water (you may also use regular mineral or distilled water). Add ice if desired. Place the jicama slice on top for edible garnish. Another option is also adding mint sprig.

Feeling naughty? Add a shot of vodka.

Healthiest Banana Split

We all love to eat ice cream and we also from time to time crave for a heaping banana split full if sugary corn syrup, fattening ice cream and heavy whipping cream. Here is a banana split alternative, it’s still rich and filling without the guilt because all the ingredients are healthy and natural.

You will need: 1 large banana, 1 cup strawberry yogurt (i.e. Yoplait), 2 cup plain yogurt (or use any favored flavor), ½ cup of fresh cherries, raspberries, or strawberries (if in season), ½ crushed almonds, ½ cup Rice Krispies cereal or granola, 1 tsp raw Quaker oatmeal, 1/3 cup honey, 2 tbsp powdered cocoa.

Cut the banana in half the long way, place it in a bowl, scoop the yogurt and place it on top. Put Rice Krispies or granola, Quaker Oatmeal, Almonds, powdered coca, honey, and fruits respectively. You can add other fruits if you like such as pineapples or kiwi. Enjoy!

Twilight Spa Drink – Vampire Spa Drink

New Moon is coming out soon in theaters, and this is how the idea f this drink came to my mind. I was inpired that there are so many red fruits and vegetables to play with to come up with a detoxifying, refreshing, drink. The concoction will not only be good and healthy enough to be a spa drink; it will also be pleasing to the eye. This recipe is for one serving; adjust the ingredients to fit the quantity you need and to suit your taste.

You will need ½ cup of fresh strawberries, ¼ cup raspberries, 1 cherry for garnish, 1 large red delicious apple, ½ cup of unsweetened organic cranberry juice. Pour the cranberry juice and the fresh strawberries and raspberries in a blender and puree, add a couple of cubes of ice if you want. Cut the apple on the top and empty the inside leaving it looking like a cup. Pour the juice into the apple and put the cherry on top.

Fresh Fruit Cocktail Recipe – Detox Munchies

It’s a no brainer. Fresh fruits and vegetables rich in antioxidants are key to detoxifying the body of everyday accumulated toxins due to our daily lives. So always remember to add them to the grocery list when you do your weekly or monthly shopping errands. Always stock up on fresh fruit and vegetables. Also, check for organic and seasonal fruits and vegetables; don’t ever let a good deal pass.

Create your very own fresh fruit cocktail of your fruits of choice. All that is needed is at least a couple of fruit variations, a salad bowl, honey and lemon. Make a batch good for 2-4 days or for 6-12 people. Most fruits will hold their freshness as long as you keep it refrigerated, especially if you bought it fresh. Saturating the salad with lemon or lime juice on the other hand, will naturally prolong the freshness of your salad.

Here’s a simple recipe to fresh fruit salad. You will need: 1 lemon, 1 lime, 2 oranges, 2 red apples, 2 gala or granny smith apples, 2 cups of grapes, 1 pear, and 2 tbsp honey. If there are other fruits in season or you may favor like mangos, plums, kiwi, strawberries, cherries etc; do not hesitate to add these to your salad. Dice the apples and the pear. Remove the skin from the orange and cut it into bit size pieces without squishing out the juice. Mix all the cut up fruits and the grapes together in a big salad bowl. In another bowl pour the honey and squeeze the lemon and lime for its’ juice; this will be like your fruit salad dressing. Pour the dressing over the fruits, chill and serve.

Remember to watch out for food allergies. And always keep in mind you can mix and match any fruits, and honey is optional but better than using granulated sugar. The lemon or lime juice is recommended as it acts as a natural preservative. You can top it off with nonfat yogurt or lemon, orange or lime zest for garnish. Aside from yogurt, you can also use cottage cheese especially if you added some pineapples or peaches. To add more texture you can add some shredded granola bars, rice krispies or oats.