Skin Care Home Remedies

Natural homemade recipes for your skin are simple to make and cost-effective. What you put on your skin is just as important as what you eat. Commercial products often contain chemicals that are absorbed by your skin finding their way into the bloodstream which can be harmful to your overall health.

Virgin coconut oil/butter makes for a good moisturizer by providing a protective layer that locks in natural moisture. Coconut oil solidifies at temperatures below 78 degrees Fahrenheit. Place the coconut butter in small lip balm or eye cream jars or any small sterilized jar. For a lip balm, use coconut butter on its own or add peppermint or spearmint oil. As an acne treatment, add a couple of drops of tea tree, lavender, or patchouli oil. For wrinkles, add rose, orange or patchouli oil. To treat eczema, add chamomile, geranium, or orange oil. To treat broken capillaries, add rose, palmarosa, or parsley oil. To treat cellulite, add grapefruit, tangerine, or orange oil. For stretch marks, add palmarosa or neroli oil. To treat burns, add geranium, patchouli or lavender oil.

For sunburned skin, break open a leaf of an Aloe Vera plant and smooth onto the skin. The gel is also good for other types of burns and has soothing, cooling, antibacterial, and antifungal properties. Strawberry juice, cucumbers and avocados are also soothing to sunburned skin.

For tired eyes, place cucumber slices over your eyes. For dark circles around your eyes, place cooled tea bags over your eyes.

For a homemade facial toner, mix green tea, chamomile or ginseng tea (made with mineral water or distilled water) with lavender or lemon oil. Green tea is rich in antioxidants which fight free radicals that damage and age the skin. Green tea is said to diminish fine lines. Lavender oil is a good toner and lemon oil is a good rejuvenator and toner. Add Vitamin C crystals as a preservative and antioxidant. MSM (Methyl Sulfonyl Methane) is a natural source of organic sulfur good for the skin. Add MSM crystals to your toner or eat high sulfur foods such as kale or watercress.

Prick a capsule of Vitamin A, E, or wheat germ oil and smooth directly onto your skin, add to coconut, almond or apricot oil, or to your toner. Vitamin A is a potent antioxidant and Vitamin E is said to slow down the aging process. Almond oil soothes and lubricates the skin. Apricot oil protects and softens the skin. Wheat germ oil promotes skin elasticity.

For a moisturizing and refreshing mask, mix avocado with shredded cucumber. Avocados are rich in protein and Vitamin A. Cucumbers are cooling and cleansing. Use a mashed banana for a skin firming mask.

To lighten age spots, rub lemon directly onto your skin.

For a body powder, mix cornstarch and baking soda with your favorite essential oil. For a foot powder, mix cornstarch, baking soda and tea tree or peppermint oil. Baking soda acts as a deodorizer and soothes the skin. Tea tree oil is a natural antiseptic, germicide, antibacterial, and fungicide. Peppermint oil is soothing to the feet and swollen ankles.

Drinking plenty of water, eating raw fruits and vegetables, and getting plenty of rest are one of the best ways to achieving healthy and radiant skin. What goes into your body is reflective on your skin.

Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK Shower Caps http://www.eklbc.com

Natural Hair Get Creative With Homemade Recipes

Do you wear your hair natural? No lye? As many will tell you, once you make a change to go natural your hair regimen must also change. This frequently includes an adjustment to the types of products you use on your coils. A number of your old stand-bys may no longer lend you the same results on your kinks as they did on your straight hair.

Product junkies will agree -- you can spend hundreds of dollars testing out the numerous products available on the market, many of which are supposedly intended for natural hair use. However, breaking the bank is really not necessary for a healthy, strong and shiny natural. You already have key ingredients in your own kitchen and bathroom!

Creating your own hair recipes not only saves money, but allows for a more intimate relationship with your hair -- you can gain a much better insight as to what your hair craves, prefers, or rejects with your at-home experiments.

Get creative! There are a few simple rules to follow to find your perfect concoctions:

* Don't mix too many things at once. Start out with simple recipes, say, mixing one main ingredient and adding a small amount of another. It's much easier to determine what worked and what didn't when your ingredients list is limited.

* Create two-ingredient mixes and try them until you find a mix that works well on your hair. If it's a perfect mix, continue using it! If it's a pretty good mix, retry the recipe with the same main ingredient then alter the secondary ingredient until you reach perfection. You may find you need to reverse the amounts used, making the main ingredient the secondary ingredient.

* If there is one particular ingredient you find most always works well on your hair, make it a staple for your hair recipes, adding it as a standard part of all your recipes.

* Alter the way you apply the mixes to your hair. Try dousing your hair with your Super Yogurt Surprise while your hair is drenching wet in the shower. Does it work well this way? Try another time by making it a bit more liquidy and spritz it on your dried hair with a spray bottle. Perhaps your hair responds better to this application.

* For ingredients, a general rule of thumb is if it's ok to ingest, it's probably ok to apply to your hair as well. Pureed fruit, honey, apple cider vinegar and many more items are great additions to homemade hair recipes.

* Take note of what works for you and how it worked. Some recipes may be better for clarifying while others make for great deep conditioners.

* Search and compare! If you're a little timid about applying egg whites to your hair, make use of resources available to you before doing so. Search the Internet for your particular ingredients. You just may find others who have tried the same type of recipe and enjoyed success or experienced a nightmare.

* Go beyond your kitchen! Many cities have well-stocked health food and natural stores with a huge selection of ingredients to boost your hair recipes. Experiment with essential oils (a few drops go a long way!), xanthum gum (a thickener, also known as xanthan), as well as conditioners and leave-ins you won't likely find at department stores and drug stores.

Remember, a recipe failure is a good thing. It lets you know what your hair simply does not respond to well. The worst likely thing that can happen with the use of your homemade products is the need to wash your hair again, so get creative!

Note: Use of homemade mixes for coloring of hair is not recommended.

Elle Paris is the owner of My Natural which provides no-nonsense user reviews for hundreds of products for natural hair care.

Look Younger with a Healthy Skin

Do you wish you had more energy, less wrinkles, more stamina, cope better with stress? May be even turn the clock to look and feel younger. Yes! A lot of us do.

The truth is, it is possible and there is No Secrets. Feeling good and younger goes from the inside out. You can age gracefully with more energy, looking healthier and younger and have a glowing skin by taking five simple steps:

A Healthy Diet

The quality and quantity of the food you eat will have a direct reflection on your health, the look of your skin and hair as well as overall stamina. Avoid as much as possible commercially prepared meals and packaged foods. Eat natural, local fresh vegetables and fruits. Whole foods with the least processing, simply prepared contains more nutrients, vitamins and enzymes and are more useful for the body. A diet rich in fiber and antioxidant, whole grain, monounsaturated (canola and peanut oil, avocado) and polyunsaturated fats (nuts and seeds in general) will help your heart, lower your cholesterol and increase your overall energy. Free simple and easy healthy gourmet recipes good for your health and tasty to your palate.

Sleeping Well And Enough

While we sleep, we rejuvenate our body and relax our mind. It is a time where we restock our energy. Sleeping well and enough is very important for ultimate health. Comfortable bedroom and bed, enough fresh air, not too cold and not too hot, make sure you relax before you go to bed. Television and other stimulants are not good at bed time. It is recommended that you get between 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. If you have trouble sleeping, go and see a doctor and find the cause of the insomnia. For women during menopause, imbalance hormones can be the cause of sleep disturbance. Apnea, snoring can also cause sleep interruption

Natural Skin Care Products

Skin care products like the food you eat have to be chosen very carefully. Synthetic chemicals and highly processed ingredients in personal care products can create unwanted skin conditions: premature aging of the skin, acne, dry skin or wrinkles. When you buy skin care products choose naturally made skin, make up, body and hair care. Like the food we eat, creams, moisturizers, cleansers are nutrition for the skin and affect our overall health as they penetrate the skin, the cells and get into the blood stream and various intern organs.

Relaxation And Me Time

In our society we are often under the pressure of things to do, dead lines, family obligation and overtime. We leave very little time for relaxation, time out and time to just pamper and take care of ourselves. It is important to take a break from our busy schedule for relaxation.

Fitness

Fitness and exercise do not have to be excruciating to be efficient. Simply walking 30mn a day, using the stairs instead of the elevator, park your car a little further away in the supermarket parking can make a big different. Those are efficient little tricks when you have a busy life and are not able to find time to exercise time or just getting back into shape.

Catherine Potin invites you to Best Of Natural Skin Care and to join our Healthy and Younger Looking Skin Tips with expert advice delivered in your inbox and resources for natural skin care.

Hair Care Home Remedies

Save money and give yourself a break from the chemicals found in most hair care products by using the following natural home remedies.

Tame your frizzy hair by rubbing coconut oil into your hands and applying sparingly onto your hair. You don't want to overdo it - too much will make your hair look greasy. Shampooing your hair less frequently also helps with the frizzies. Excess shampooing strips natural oils from the hair.

Rinse your hair with one tablespoon baking soda mixed with one cup of water to get rid of shampoo build-up and styling residues.

Rinsing your hair with one juiced lemon and one cup of water is said to bring life and shine back to dull hair.

1/2 cup of apple cider vinegar mixed with two cups of water will give your hair shine and bounce.

Add essential oil of ylang ylang to your shampoo, conditioner and styling agents as a hair rejuvenator.

Ylang ylang and rosemary essential oils are also believed to stimulate hair growth.

Drinking plenty of water and eating plenty of raw fruits and vegetables and getting plenty of rest is probably the best way to achieving healthy hair.

What goes into your body is reflective on the outside including your hair.

Elizabeth Kiely is the owner of EK Shower Caps: http://www.EKLBC.com

Homemade Acne Treatments Are They Really Working?

Treatments for acne can begin from your kitchen. There are several vegetables and fruits which can be used to cure acne.

Most people are not convinced about the effectiveness of the homemade acne treatments. But if you check the ingredients of popular medicines for acne you will find that most of them consist of substances found in common vegetables and fruits. Acne is the result of the lack of vital vitamins like Vitamin E, Vitamin A and Pantothenic Acid. Deficiency in these vitamins leads to the growth of bacteria that clogs the skin oil. This in turn leads to acne. Most of the medicines try to replenish the essential vitamins, which can be easily got by filling your diet with vegetable and fruits containing those vitamins.

Keeping the skin clean is an important part in the acne treatment. Cleaning the skin with lemon is an effective acne treatment. Lemon is used for several purposes mainly due to the presence of citric acid. The citric acid has several essential properties required to kill the harmful bacteria. Rub lemon on your skin before going to sleep and you will find a clear skin in the morning. Similarly, you can get rid of acne scars by applying tomato slice. Applying garlic on the spots is another effective homemade acne treatment. Mint juice also can remove skin lesions and scars.

Other homemade acne treatments include applying the paste of orange peels. This paste cleans the skin and fights harmful bacteria. Application of raw papayas can also bring relief to acne. Daily application of tea tree oil, coconut oil, lavender oil and jojoba oil before bathing for an hour can reduce acne. Including large amount of fruits and vegetables in the diet and drinking lot of water are part of acne treatment.

The success of homemade acne treatments depends on the dedication shown by the person. Simply rubbing lemon or tomato for a day will not cure acne. All home made acne treatments should be strictly followed for over a period of time.

We have made a research to find the best acne treatments. Find the results only on the Homemade acne treatments research More valuable acne info on http://www.acne-treatments-advice.com

Natural Skin Care Mask

Healthy skin is one of the most common health and beauty concerns for people today, and rightfully so. Our skin is our bodies largest organ, and when our skin doesn?t look or feel good, it is exposed for the rest of the world to see.

Consequently, there are hundreds of companies selling thousands of products, all vying to have the best selling skin care product. Although this is not inherently bad, many of these companies charge an arm and a leg for products that are chemically based, pose a risk of skin irritation, and damage to the environment.

However, there are effective alternatives to chemical skin care. An all natural, home remedy can often achieve the same results as the chemically based products, but without any of the irritation or side effects.

One of the best forms of natural home skin care are masks. Masks can be made from a wide variety of ingredients at home to achieve whatever your skin care needs are. Furthermore, most of the ingredients are easy to find, and very affordable.

The most popular home made mask is an oatmeal mask It is a simple, completely safe mask, and it works perfectly for people with oily skin. The ingredients are as follows:

1/3 cup of fast cook oatmeal (1-3 minutes)

? cup of honey

? cup of water

Mix the water and the oatmeal together, and cook. Then, set the oatmeal aside to cool and thicken. As it is cooling, mix in the ? cup of honey. Once the mask is well mixed and cool, apply a thin even layer to the skin.

Be careful when applying this mask around the eyes. Though completely safe, the oatmeal can cause slight eye irritation. Better yet, place a used tea bag over the eyelids to reduce any redness or eye irritation.

The way this mask works is simple. The oatmeal in the mask is the primary ?active? ingredient. It works to absorb excess oil on the skin and in the pores. Oatmeal will also help remove excess skin cells, and exfoliate the skin. The honey is simply there to turn the oatmeal into a pasty, sticky consistency that will adhere to the skin.

Another all natural skin treatment is to use lemon juice to help exfoliate and freshen the skin.

Lemon juice is a fruit acid, AKA Alpha Hydroxy Acid. It works in a similar fashion to salicylic acid, except that it is 100% all natural. It will help exfoliate the skin by reducing the ?glue? that causes dead skin cells to stick to the skin.

This is one the simplest masks you can make, and is actually more of a ?rinse? than anything. The only ingredients needed are water and lemon juice. Mix 1 part water to 5 parts lemon juice, and massage the solution onto your face. Then, rinse your face with cool water. Make sure to rinse well, because it can cause skin irritation if left on too long.

Even though these are all natural, it is always best to consult a dermatologist before using any skin care treatment. When used properly, these masks are effective alternatives to many of the expensive, chemical products sold in stores.

Greg Podsakoff is a former acne sufferer, and the editor of http://www.acne-treatments-guide.com

Homemade Skin Care Recipes Info

Looking for and making homemade skin care recipes can take a hurried, frustrating day and turn it into and evening of relaxation. Every part of your body can benefit from a natural recipe of only a few ingredients I have found that even one ingredient can give your skin or hair the nutrients that it's lacking. This is not a case of less is more, rather one natural ingredient has vitamins, minerals, or even antiseptic properties that will do wonders.

Having an understanding of just a few ingredients will start you off on the right direction. Jojoba oil is great for making moisturizers, but not good in the bath, where you would want to use grape seed oil. The grape seed oil and sunflower oil will mix with water. (The carrier oils) When you get into the essential oils many have benefits from giving energy, antiseptic, or just relaxing. These oils are strong so take care in using them and try on a small part of your skin first. Most homemade skin care recipes will have a carrier oil and an essential oil and there are many of each. So take a little time and read up on them.

One ingredient I like and can use in many recipes is Sha Butter. There are many body butters to chouse from, Cocoa Butter, Kukui Nut Butter, Kokum butter, Mango Butter and Sal Butter, just to name a few. Using them in lip balm to body butter recipes these ingredients are one that you will want to look into.

Then there is what I like to call HONEY!! ggg the kitchen ingredients. Even honey is found in face and hair recipes. Puffy eyes cucumbers, a good cleanser yogurt, nourishing face recipe will have a banana. For homemade alpha-hydroxy acid oranges mangos grapes just to name a few. There are many teas that are added to lotions, baths and yes for your eyes, leave the old tea bags in the refrigerator and use as needed. You can start your carrier oil section with your olive oil and sesame oil. Sesame oil is a good sun block that I use in my lip balms. We could get into the herbs and spices but you get the idea. But think out of the box like a good milk bath recipe but find it hard to buy whole milk (buy powered milk). Getting ingredients that you can use in many recipes cutes down your coasts.

Then there are the TOOLS. A Good Pyrex measuring cup, one that can go into the microwave, Measuring spoons Glass eye dropper, I keep a dozen around if I can't get the smell of an essential oil out of it, I will just use it for that oil, A small kitchen scale, Stainless or glass mixing bowls, I Like stainless just for the drop factor, Stainless whisk for mixing, Funnel, Strainer, Spatulas, Pestle and Mortar, A blender or food processor. Do you need them all NO. But the next time you are asked to a kitchen party keep this list in mind. These are the cheaper items to buy.

With just a little of your time you can be making and using your own homemade skin care, they make great gifts, and the possibilities for a Cottage industry.....may make you wonder.

Wayne'r has a web site Natural Skin Care Info.com. Information on many of the ingredients used in homemade skin care recipes. Along withbook reviews for natural skin care. Oh yah and if you go to Homemade Skin Care Recipes page you will find many good recipes to start you off.

Great Beauty Secrets You Must Know

BEAUTY THROUGHOUT THE AGES

If you think today's obsession with beauty is something new, think again! Men AND women have been in touch with their bodies and beauty dating back as far as the ancient Egyptians. The Egyptian's concern was based as much on pleasing the ?gods? of their time as it was for personal adornment. In fact, it could be said that they prepared their bodies more for the ?afterlife? than the current time. All one need do is read about the tombs and mummies that have been excavated and study what was found. Lavish pictorial examples reveal how extravagantly the aristocracy lived their lives.

Just take a look at the detail the next time you have an opportunity to view Egyptian archaeology reports. Gold and silver bracelets, lapis and jade pendants, rings of gold studded with semi-precious stones. All are evidence of just how deeply involved the human race is with beauty and adornments.
IS BEAUTY REALLY SKIN DEEP?
The answer is yes and no. It?s a paradox, isn?t it? True beauty begins from the inside out. Don?t you wish there were some way to ?wriggle your nose? and regain that soft skin you had as a child? Well, until someone comes up with the true ?Fountain of Youth,? we are stuck with what we have. The best route to healthy skin is to take care of what you have. Sounds simple, doesn?t it? The truth is that your skin takes a beating from the environment every single day.

Here are some of our favorite tips for keeping your skin fresh and healthy:
1. Stay hydrated, and drink plenty of water! That doesn?t mean soda, caffeine or any other type of liquid even if it is low cal. Soda (even diet soda) has a high concentration of sodium. Sodium retains fluids. You need fluid that will hydrate and flush your body free of toxins. Make sure you are drinking at least 8 glasses a day!
2. Protect your skin from harmful ultra violet (UV) rays. We all love the sun. We love being in it and we love having a beautiful tan. The truth is you can poison yourself with too much sunshine. UV rays cause skin cancer, and if that isn?t bad enough, it causes your skin to age faster than it should, contributing to unsightly wrinkles. If you must play in the sun, make certain you are using an adequate sun screen. Don?t leave home without it!
3. Apply your sun screen even if you only make a quick trip to the grocery store. Yes, you can get harmful UV rays even while driving your car!
4. When you purchase sun screen, make certain you are buying the right tool for the job. There are different types of UV rays and they don?t all affect our skin in the same ways. The time of year also has a bearing on how much damage the sun can do to your skin. Altitude is another important factor. UV rays are more intense at high altitudes. Sunshine alone is not the culprit. You can do just as much damage to your skin (or in some cases even more) on a cloudy day!
5. Don?t forget sun screen for your lips. They want to be healthy too!
6. Apply your sunscreen BEFORE going outdoors and allow plenty of time for it to adequately absorb into your skin cells rather than just sitting on top of the skin.
7. Read the labels on skin care products. The truth is that some ingredients may do more harm than good. The more ingredients are listed, the more potential harm they can do to your skin.
THE EYES HAVE IT!

They don?t call them the ?windows to the soul? for nothing! The eyes never lie. If you?re feeling and looking great, your eyes will shine and sparkle. If you?re sad and lonely your eyes will give you away every time.

If you have red, watery eyes due to allergies, deal with them! There are plenty of medications available to eliminate allergy symptoms. Nothing will detract from your appearance faster than red eyes.

If you wear eyeglasses, make certain that they do not detract from your appearance. Eyeglasses should complement your eyes, not cover them. If your frames are unattractive, it means you had the wrong sales person. Try again.

If you can wear them, consider switching to contact lenses. Make sure you remember to remove them when swimming. You can easily lose them in the pool or worse, if you wear soft lenses you could contract a cornea infection that comes from a parasite found in water. The chlorine won?t kill it and the result of this nasty little dude is not pleasant. You are inviting painful corneal infection that could cause partial or total blindness.
Try buying different colored lenses. You might discover a whole new you behind blue eyes!
HAND IT OFF!
Did you know . . . many ancient beauty treatments are still in use today? An example is the East Indian art of painting the hands and feet with Henna. It is known in India as Mendhi and is an ancient Indian art form which has been performed for generations not only in India, but the Middle East, Pakistan and in Africa as well. Women in India traditionally painted henna on their hands and feet, insides of their arms and up their shins most often for a wedding, or other special occasion. The intricate patterns on the hands are particularly beautiful.

Nothing will give away your age quicker than the condition of your hands. Let?s take a look at some tips to try and hold off the ravages of time.
While we don?t particularly recommend the practice of mendhi for everyday USA, it would be helpful in covering up some of those age spots, wouldn?t it? Try this tip. Apply vitamin E oil directly to the spots to fade the discoloration.

There is also a product that?s been around since Grandma was a youngster. It?s called porcelana and women have credited it for removing age spots for decades.
If you spend hours at a time on the computer, be sure you use a rest for your wrists. It will help ward off carpal tunnel syndrome.
THESE FEET WERE MADE FOR WALKIN?

Did you know . . . an average human being loses almost a cup of liquid a day through their feet? Or that a baby?s foot is made up almost entirely of cartilage? They will harden as the feet grow.
Keep a pumice stone handy so you can put it to work on those heels as you step out of the shower.

Use a few drops of essential oil in your next footbath! Pamper your feet. Treat yourself to a pedicure! Try a foot massage. It?s relaxing and rejuvenating. Try it on yourself or ask your partner and trade off. Everyone wins! If your ankles and feet are swelling, it?s a sure sign you are holding fluids. Try to avoid sitting for long periods at a time and cut down on your salt intake.

Stilettos are beautiful and yes, they do make you look sexy, HOWEVER, you should avoid long walks while wearing them. In fact, you should always wear sensible shoes. Ha! Fat chance, right? Seriously, what about a compromise? Wear sensible shoes when you are coming and/or going from work and keep the heels in a tote bag.

For extremely dry feet, lather on a layer of cocoa butter to each foot, slip your feet into plastic bags and pull on a pair of oversize socks. Leave on overnight while sleeping and when you awaken the next morning your feet will feel smooth, silky and soft.
Add milk to a footbath for softening the feet.

HOW TO AVOID BAD HAIR DAYS
They say that a woman?s hair is her crowning glory. Even so, all women have those days when we wish we could cover every unwieldy strand!
Get a good hair cut! It all begins right here. Without a good hair cut, nothing else you do will give you the results you want.

In order to have a good hair cut, you need a great hair stylist and when you find one, keep him/her! Jumping around from stylist to stylist can be hazardous to your hair. The old adage about ?getting what you pay for? is very true when it comes to something as important as your stylist. Yes, it?s possible to find a good stylist at the ?fast hair? shops, but the cost to your hair while searching may be more than you care to spend. Fast hair shops usually employ new, young stylists with little experience. They earn a minimal wage and do not have to invest in hair care products to use on their clients. Stylists that you find in upscale shops and salons are usually independent contractors leasing space in the salon. The salon provides the work station, utilities and in some cases a receptionist to service the stylists. These stylists are generally more experienced and have built a solid clientele. They purchase their own products used in servicing their clients either from the salon or other suppliers and set their own prices.

HOW IS YOUR SMILE?
Did you know . . . a knocked out tooth may be replanted if you act quickly? Don?t clean the tooth, just wrap it in a damp cloth and hustle off to the dentist. If you can get there within 30 minutes you?ve got a 90% chance of saving it. If you wear braces, get extra calcium. Adjusting the position of teeth can leave small gaps in the jawbone. These need to be replaced with new bone. Take it as a supplement or eat plenty of green leafy vegetables.

IT?S THE LITTLE THINGS
Did you know . . . even in the enlightened period of time we live in, most women do not conduct regular breast exams on themselves? So what is a segment on breast exam doing in a beauty book? Well, in order to use the tips in this guide, you have to be around to do it!
Make a self-exam of your breasts part of your daily beauty routine. It doesn?t take long and you can do it in the shower or in the bath. Just do it. More than 90 percent of all breast lumps are discovered by women themselves. The majority of all breast lumps are benign. One in ten women will develop breast cancer at some time in her life. Thus far, breast cancer cannot be prevented. But, with regular breast self-examination (BSE) and periodic screening, breast cancer can be detected early and treated properly! If you don?t know how to conduct the exam, ask your doctor for a chart that will teach you how. Then just do it!
Remember to keep a smile on your face!

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In the beginning man worked hard to survive. He had many things to do. Hunting, keeping warm, finding berries, and taking care of his family. He did not have time to worry about being fat, as there wasn't an issue of fat. It was survival of the fittest, those that were not fit, perished, or had someone to watch over them. Man's goal was survival.
Women labored hard, and many died in childbirth. There were many deaths of their infants, so women kept reproducing to keep the family surviving. They scrubbed, cooked, gathered food and wood and tended after the children. They did not have time to worry about things that made them happy or not happy. Their goal was survival.

Well, times have changed, people don't work physically as hard as their ancestors did, they lose fewer children and the dying in labor has been brought down to a small percentage. Emergency hospitals with ambulances and new technology and medicines have saved the lives of countless people.
Living a Healthier life is rather simple. It is the matter of knowing some essential ingredients to happiness.

Statistics tell you the following:
?Those who are married are far happier than those who are not.
?Those who have some kind of faith or religion are happier
?Those who go to bed at night and sleep an average of 8 hours
?Those who have friends and family
?Those who are mentally and physically healthy
?Those who have a regular schedule to live by

Sure, having extra money makes people happier too. However, the above ingredients are the true essence of happiness. Money just adds extra. Having money and not the above can end up feeling pretty empty.
ADD IT TO YOUR LIFE....

Water, you need water. Try to add at least 4 more glasses of water to your daily diet. The rule of thumb for water is 8 glasses per day; and one extra for every ten pounds overweight you are.

Fats, you need to know about fats. There are different kinds of fats. Some fats are better for you than others. A rule of thumb on fats is, stay away from hydrogenated fats. These are fats that solidify. They are in store bought cakes, cookies, crackers, chips and even in bran muffins. Read the labels.

Choose fats that are polyunsaturated or fats such as olive oil.
And, eat some fish to get some omega-3 fats.

Carbohydrates are your immediate fuel source. An average is about 55 percent of your diet in carbohydrates. So, a rule of thumb is, figure your protein grams, get around 25% fat per day, and the rest would be in carbohydrates.
The heavier you are, the more protein you need and the fewer carbohydrates you will need.
Fiber - work up to getting 25 grams of Fiber per day
Protein - averages about 20 percent.
Women divide weight by 2.2 and multiply that by .8 to get the kilograms.

For men it averages one gram per each kilogram of weight. So, a man would divide his weight in pounds by 2.2 then multiply that by .10
Fats - try not to exceed more than 25 percent fat in your daily diet. 30 percent is acceptable, too. That does not mean you can't have a junk food fast food hamburger ... it just means that if you do eat that 55 percent fat burger that you are going to have to cut down on other fat filled foods for the rest of the day to balance it out.

Make exchanges gradually. Suppose you drink whole milk ... work down to 2 percent, replacing two of your cups per day until you can completely change over. If you are on two percent milk, work down to 1 percent.
Add bran to your cereals for extra fiber. Also, add it in your baking.
You need to balance your diet with vegetables and fruits, too. Try adding different colors to your plate. Maybe an orange yam, and some green beans, to add color. More variety of food colors brings more variety of vitamins.

Eat more raw foods.
Remember, exchange things, add things, and do it gradually. Remember, live all things in life in moderation and soon you will be bouncy and vibrant and well on your way to living BEAUTIFULLY!
Source: Howto101.info ... http://www.howto101.info/bpi.asp?caid=302&cid=51

Adam Asar is the founder of http://www.howto101.info and http://www.quranichealing.com web sites and writes articles for these sites. He writes articles and content for several magazines and websites.

http://www.quranichealing.com: Adam Asar manages quranichealing.com for spiritual healing driven from the Holy book of Qur?an. He speaks three languages. Adam's sincere desire is to share the peace and love embodied in the (Holy) Qur?an teachings.

How To Make Bubble Bath With Inexpensive Ingredients

The luxury of soaking in a hot bath is a great stress reducer for many women. By adding certain scents, bubble bath, and essential oils to the bath water, we can create a totally relaxing experience or energize ourselves once again, depending on the products we use.

Unfortunately, many of the bath products available on the market are laced with harsh chemicals that can irritate our skin or even cause infections. You have to be careful in what you purchase and actually research your product choices carefully.

An alternative choice is to make your own bath products. By combining readily available ingredients along with a selection of essential oils, your bubble bath will help to enhance the softness of your skin, aid in stress reduction, and contribute to your mental health and well being.

What Ingredients Constitute Homemade Bubble Bath?

Let's look at some of the ingredients that you'll be using to mix up your own homemade bubble bath formula.

Distilled Water - You can purchase distilled water in most grocery stores. The benefit over using this type of water over regular tap water is that chlorine, all minerals and other impurities have been removed from it.

Liquid glycerin - This is a clear, thick liquid that is extracted from animal fats and vegetable oils, and is a by-product of soap manufacturing. It's purpose is to increase moisture and softness, plus it helps to create bubbles.

Castile Soap - This type of soap was originally made from olive oil although other types of oils can also be used, such as: coconut, almond, hemp, and jojoba.

Essential Oils - There are many oils that have many different purposes so you will need to research this area. For a soothing scent try oils like lavender, rosewood, sandalwood, chamomile, and myrrh. Some of the essential oils that can help you to feel energized and rejuvenated are eucalyptus, spearmint, peppermint, and lemon oil. Oils that are especially good at softening the skin include almond and coconut oil.

Simple Bubble Bath Recipe

Here is a very quick and easy recipe that anyone can make. Once you have it mixed, pour the mixture into an unbreakable bottle. As it doesn't have any chemical ingredients to preserve it, it would probably be safe to say you could store your bubble bath for one to two months.

1 quart warm distilled Water
1 Bar castile soap, grated
2 oz Liquid Glycerin
3 to 4 drops essential oil of choice

Mix the water and grated soap together until all the soap is dissolved. It's best to use warm to hot water for this, as it helps the soap dissolve faster. Add the glycerin and essential oil stir gently. This is safe to use for kids as well.

Bubble Bath For The Winter Months

We all know how miserable getting a cold or the flu can be. Here is a wonderful bubble bath recipe to soak in when you're sick since Eucalyptus can help your body fight cold symptoms and reduce congestion.

6 drops of eucalyptus oil
3 drops of spearmint oil
3 drops of peppermint oil
1 quart of distilled water (heated)
1 bar of castile soap. (4 oz. Bar), grated
4 ounces liquid glycerin

Mix the water and grated soap together until the soap has dissolved. Add the remaining ingredients, stir gently, and store in an unbreakable bottle.

Women are notorious for always being on the go and putting everyone else's health first. Just remember, it is also important that you take care of yourself as well. Allowing yourself to relax is part that care. Preparing your own homemade bubble bath with favorite essential oils is one great way to do this. Now go find that novel you?ve been wanting to read, take that deliciously soothing bath and melt away the stress of the day.

Rose Smith owns Total Beauty Tips, where you can learn to rejuvenate and revitalize your body with natural skin care solutions. We feature advice, products and information that will help make your total body feel smooth, soft and fabulous. Visit http://www.totalbeautytips.com to learn more.

Homemade Spa Treatment: Rejuvenate Your Skin With Essential Oils and Homemade Spa!

Is your skin feeling tired? Rejuvenate it with a home made spa. The soft glow of lavender-scented candles. A gentle whiff of roses, settling lazily into the room. Ahhh! The pleasure of a warm, relaxing bath after a long, stressful day! Pamper yourself with a luxurious homemade spa. We tell you how!

Choice is yours: Before you get all excited at the prospect, know why you want it. All your decisions from oil selection to mood setting depend on it. A massage done in a relaxed settling will make you smile.

Soft and Relaxing: Creating the right ambience is half the work done when it comes to relaxation. choose a comfortable but warm place for a self-massage. Be sure that you are not sitting directly on ground. A massage makes your body warm. Sitting on a cold floor( even in summers) is not recommended. Masseurs also believe that all your positive energies escape if you are in direct contact with the floor. Now dim the lights and avoid white light. Light scented candles at places around the massage area.

You can play up candles and aromatic oils. Lavender is great favorite to relax.

Place neat bunches of your favorite flowers all around the room. Complete the look with soft, music playing in the background.

Keep Handy: Prepare everything you need in advance so that there is no last-minute rush. Mix your essential oil with water and use a slow burner to keep it warm. If you are planning a tub bath to end the massage, choose aromatic bath salts to pamper yourself further. Fill the bath with hot water just after the massage. Add the bath salts and a few drops of a heady essential oil.

Sandalwood is all-time favorite. Keep a scrubber handy to work on dead skin.

Work on your body: Start your self-massage with oil. You can use any body oil or a cream lotion like Ayur's Aloe Vera massage cream, which has moisturizing properties and seeps into your skin to make it soft and supple. Rub it all over your body. Massage each of the reachable body parts one by one. The movement of the hand should be in concentric circles which refresh you by making the flow of the blood easier.

Warm gushes: After you have given yourself a moisturizing massage, start with the warm bath. While your bath tub fills with warm water, massage exfoliating sea salts on your body in a quick-motion scrub. Now immerse yourself in the tub. Add a couple of drops of essential oil and just ENJOY!

Essential Oil, lavender, sandalwood, mint, fragrances, homemade, spa, tips, article, oil, massage

Must Visit: Check out the wide variety of essential oils with different fragrances at discounted price at http://www.weightloss-health.com/homemade%20spa%20skin.htm

Random Tip for Rosy Glow: Boil fresh rose petals and use this rose water instead of plain water for your skin treatments. Prepare a rose facemask by grinding a handful of petals into a paste. Apply on clean skin and leave the application on for 15 minutes. Then wash and watch your complexion glow.

About the Author:

Ashley Green

For Natural Skin Care Articles Directory your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Skin Care.

Check out other various tips on massage and homemade spa and essential oils with different soothing frangrances at Homemade Spa Treamtment

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website.

Reasons to Give Homemade Bath Salt

Homemade bath salt is the perfect gift for many different occasions. It's easy and inexpensive to make, plus it's always appreciated by the recipient. There's just something about homemade gifts that speaks more to the recipient than any store-bought item could.

But if you need more convincing to start your own homemade bath salt, there's plenty more to this argument.

When it comes to gift-giving, homemade bath salt is extremely versatile. Possible reasons for giving homemade bath salt include: baby showers, bridal showers, birthdays, Christmas, Hanukah, other religious holidays, anniversaries, moving gifts, romantic gifts, friend gifts, celebrations, graduations, Mother's Day, Grandparent's Day, etc.

With so many difference gift giving possibilities, you may find yourself making large containers of homemade bath salt and keeping it on hand for any last-minute gifts.

Homemade bath salt is also a great way to personalize a gift. Because you're choosing the various ingredients as well as the presentation, you can create a gift that shows how much you care without it being a lot of work.

For example, a baby shower gift of homemade bath salt might be for mom, but that's no reason not to put the salt into a jar and then tie a rattle or pacifier to the outside. Or a wedding shower gift can include a lovely basket or a spa gift certificate.

A lot of people don't realize that homemade bath salt is also very healthy for the body as well as the overall mind. Because bath salt helps the body to release toxins into the water, the user can feel refreshed and relaxed.

And without the added chemicals that are found in store bought brands, homemade bath salt can be even more nourishing to the body. You don't have to add any ingredients that might cause a reaction in the recipient, nor do you have to add any coloring that they might sensitive to.

Homemade bath salt makes for a love way to greet guests that might be staying with you for a while. By placing a simple bottle of homemade bath salt on a guest towel with a note about how to use it, guests will feel like they are being pampered as well as being a special guest. And even if they don't use it, they can bring it home as a special reminder of their stay with you.

The personalization of homemade bath salt goes beyond the occasion as well as the packaging. By including a note about the reasons why certain ingredients were chosen, the recipient can feel like they are genuinely cared for and appreciated.

Which mom doesn't think that she needs homemade bath salt with relaxing herbs and fragrances? Or perhaps they want to feel rejuvenated once in a while (when they actually get to spend a night with their spouse - alone!).

And of course, homemade bath salt is simple to make with a few ingredients and a long afternoon. It's doesn't need to be intricate or overly complicated in order to fulfill its purpose. With a few herbs and a few drops of essential oils, the homemade bath salt can be ready to prepare and give to that special someone.

Homemade bath salt is the adult equivalent of making a gift for someone for an occasion, but with a lot more style and class. This is a gift that shows that you care about the person's health and well-being, without having to spend a lot of time or money. And the best part? If the person enjoys the homemade bath salt that they received, you can always help them refill their jar.

Rachel Huston of http://www.makebathsalts.com is author of 'The Comprehensive Guide to Handcrafted Bath Salts' and has taught thousands of people how to make homemade bath salts.

Create a Home Spa Experience Homemade Facials Scrubs and More

The same stress in our daily lives that makes us yearn for a spa experience often keeps us from taking the time out from a busy schedule to book a day of relaxation. Even with time, a day at the spa can be a big hit to wallet. While I often can?t find the time (or budget) to be pampered in a luxurious spa, I do my best to treat myself with a home spa experience. When I take a few hours out of my schedule to treat myself right, I am rejuvenated and energized to take on the daily grind!

I start with an extra-special bath experience by turning off the lights and using candles and incense to set the mood. While filling the tub with great smelling products, like chamomile and lavender for relaxation or rosemary and mint for rejuvenation, I set up the CD player with some groovy tunes and turn off the phone. High quality soaps and scrubs, along with a terry cloth face mitt, round out my routine. I always keep plenty of fresh-smelling, fluffy towels for the finish.

Now it?s time out for my face. I like to start with a scrub to remove dead skin and prevent blackheads. In a small bowl, mix equal parts olive oil and granular brown sugar, and add a few drops of essential oil. I often use lavender and orange oil, but in a pinch, I?ve used a few drops each of orange and vanilla extract ? it?s not surprising that I was dreaming of Dreamsicles while I scrubbed! Gently scrub your face and neck in small circles for a few minutes, avoiding the eye area.

My skin tends to be as mercurial as my moods, so I whip up a mask based on how it feels that day.

?To remove blackheads: I mix a little warm water with baking soda, work it gently into the T-zone, and leave it on for 3-5 minutes.

?To moisturize: I mash 2 parts avocado with 1 part honey, apply and leave on for about 15 minutes before rinsing with cool water. Hint: If the doorbell rings ignore it ? a bright green face scares small children and men!

?To reduce oil: Whip up a whole egg with a spoonful of honey and a few drops of lemon juice. The egg white pulls out the oil, the vitamin A in the yolk helps heal blemishes, and the lemon is an astringent. Leave on for 10-15 minutes and rinse with cool water.

?To firm: Whisk together a spoonful each of honey and glycerin with an egg white and a few pinches of flour to create a paste. Rinse with cool water after 10-15 minutes.

After any of these treatments, gently pat your face dry with a towel and moisturize well.

To get my body smooth and add a glow to my skin, nothing beats a great salt scrub. Simply combine 1 cup of course sea salt or kosher salt with 1/2 cup of almond or olive oil and a spoonful of Vitamin E oil. Add a few drops of essential oil for fragrance. Scrub all over, giving special attention to any rough patches, especially elbows and knees! To avoid irritation, be sure to either shave before scrubbing or wait a day to shave.

To finish off I give myself a manicure and pedicure. Summer feet are for showing off so be sure to take the time to remove all the rough spots!

A home spa day isn?t as fabulous as getting the deluxe treatment at a ?real? spa, but it?s a great way to rejuvenate and feel better about yourself without putting a big strain on your wallet!

http://www.swapthing.com is a site focused on building a strong swap community online. The ShareThing program helps non-profits get access to item & cash donations as well as volunteers and professional services.

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The Truth About Home Made Facials

I started making facial masks after reading several books on natural cosmetics. Common ingredients used in home made facials are eggs, lemon, milk, honey, cucumber, tomato, essential oils and lots more fruits, herbs and other ingredients.

The assumption I had was that home made cosmetics, being all natural and preservative free were much safer than the commercial masks you found in stores. A wrong assumption. You know the saying. Never assume anything. It makes an ASS of U and ME. Did you know some of the deadliest poisons on earth are 100% natural?

There are complaints about preservatives irritating the skin and all that. That may be true especially for a person with very sensitive skin. But preservatives actually make cosmetics safe to use. Preservatives kill or at very least, inhibit the bacteria, mold, viruses and nasty things that would otherwise thrive in the cosmetics we use. Commercial preparations usually contain some preservative or other to make these products safe for use. Some of the very high end cosmetic formulations are packed in sterile capsules to do away with or at least, minimimize, the need for preservatives.

If you make your own skin care for use later in the week, chances are, unless you are anal about sterilizing everything and freezing every batch once it has cooled, thawing it only when you are going to use it, and keeping your cosmetics away from the raw meat in the freezer, eventually, you could find yourself using contaminated home made cosmetics, which could lead to a skin irritation.

I used to make my own skin care but found all the precautions I had to take such a hassle, now I buy mine off the shelves.

Even if you make your facial products for immediate use, you have to be careful about using only the freshest ingredients. A mouldy fruit or anything that is spoilt can lead to disastrous results on your skin.

Then there is the safety of the ingredients used in your skincare products.

I once told a pharmacist about the lemon remedy I was using on my pimples. She was horrified. Lemons are highly acidic. Lemon juice is pH 2. Sulphuric acid is pH 1. Lemons can cause a nasty acid burn if you are not careful.

We had a discussion about this. She told me about a customer who showed up with an acid burn. Turns out, she had a sunburn. Back in Australia, she would soothe that sunburn by rubbing cut cucumber over her skin. The juices would ease the sunburn. This time around, she was unlucky. The cucumber she used was more acidic than the ones she was used to and she ended up with a really nasty acid burn.

Though cucumber is soothing, cucumber contains Alpha Hydroxy Acids as do most fruit and some of the other ingredients used in homemade beauty recipes.

You see, in home made skin care, the exact chemical makeup of the ingredients you use may vary, leading to unpleasant results if you are unfortunate. That is why, everytime you make any facial mask, test it on the inside of your wrist first, before you let that mask touch your face.

I was lucky. The lemon facial I did helped clear my skin by killing the bacteria, without burning my skin. The pharmacist said I was fool hardy. As did my cousin who has been making her own beauty products for years already.

Lemon can thin the skin. It is so acidic. The pharmacist thought the other things, like the almond meal I mixed with the lemon juice helped neutralize the extreme acidity. Also, when I used freshly squeezed lemon juice directly on my face, I would dilute it with water first.

Yet the books I read with home made beauty recipes often include lemon in their recipes. After all, lemon has lightening properties. Lemon juice is often used to lighten freckles. Lemon was even recommended in a book by a former model, for use as a toner.

Not all ingredients are that dangerous though. Oats is an excellent ingredient for use in soothing facials. That was recommended to me by a doctor. For my toddler's rash. Cooked oats in a bag in the bath water is a home remedy to soothe itchy skin. Here is a facial that uses oats and rose water. http://www.womanht.com/facials/RoseOatsFacial.htm

A home made face mask can be as simple as putting some mash fruit your face. Fruity facials tried and tested outlines such experiments with fruit.

Different skin types require different ingredients. Dry skin can use richer, nourishing ingredients. Really dry skin would love the moisturizing effect of sweet almond oil or olive oil. Oily skin, on the other hand would break out in pimples if you try massaging these oils on your face. What works for your best friend may be disastrous on you.

The easiest thing to do nowadays is to simply buy a great mask for your skin type off the shelf for your home facial. I use commercial masks these days after some disastrous experiments trying to find new ingredients for new home made facial masks for my site. The successful facials were published with at http://www.womanht.com/facials/.

The writer is the writer of the articles in Home Made Facials.

Follow Homemade Beauty Tips ? For Beauty Is In Nature's Grips

Beautiful people of all ages have maintained that beauty is not as much reflected in the rosy, youthful look of the skin. When questioned about the secret to their beautiful skins, they have always attributed it to a healthy lifestyle and a few homemade beauty tips. Healthy lifestyle and homemade beauty tips are mostly based on the refreshing, detoxifying effects of natural and herbal products with the former fortifying the system?s internal strength and the later protecting outwardly.

Homemade beauty tips, as such, are based on judicial choice of herbal ingredients for external skin care. Some home-based natural skin care tips would be as follows:

?Buttermilk/cream and yogurt make excellent skin cleansers.

?After-bath application of almond oil is undoubtedly a great treat for the skin ? the suppleness and glow it brings to the skin is unmatched by even the very best of moisturizers.

?Regular application of honey or yogurt makes the skin soft and has a gentle bleaching effect.

?Sea salt/sugar mixed with olive oil works as an extraordinary at-home body exfoliation preparation.

?Different natural and herbal products like Aloe Vera, Basil, Chamomile, Lavender, Marshmallow, Neem, Oatmeal, Sandalwood, Tea tree oil, Turmeric, Witch Hazel, etc. used as facial packs often help to dispose dead cells and impurities lodged in the skin to unclog pores. Side by side playing the roles of cleansers, the natural produces and elements strike water-oil balance of the skin.

If you find it too troublesome to go for natural skin treatments, the safest choice will be the TCA peels. The ready-to-be-used medically approved TCA peels have an answer for almost all skin problems ? right from acnes to wrinkles and skin pigmentations to dryness. With long lasting effects, TCA peels give back the skin its natural healthfulness. With no harmful side effects (nearing the gentleness of homemade beauty tips), TCA peels can be safely used for teen-age skin problems.

Two is undoubtedly ?company? but three is not always ?crowd?. TCA peels, balanced diets and a few homemade beauty tips make enviable company when it comes to revitalizing the skin. Therefore, surrender to the cares of the threesome and be the proud possessor of a youthful skin and look!

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels and acne treatments for doctors offices and medispas. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Great Skin is Just a Kitchen Away

It is in our nature to overwhelm ourselves while trying to come up with a solution. This is true with skin care. We waste money trying out the newest miracle skin care product. We waste precious time going from one product to another, time that could be used to do simple things to improve our skin. Skin care doesn't really have to be that expensive. All you need are ingredients you use every day anyway and desire to give the skin what it deserves: the best nature can offer.

Take milk, for example. It is packed with ingredients beneficial to the skin. It contains lactic acid, a kind of Alpha Hydroxy Acid - AHA, an excellent exfoliant and collagen production stimulant. The proteins that milk contain help smooth the skin out, while the enzymes aid its rejuvenation.

Why not indulge yourself with a long, soothing and above all, skin rejuvenating bath? Also known as Cleopatra's Milk Bath, this bath leaves your skin soft and smooth. Prepare a bath and add up to 5 cups of buttermilk. If you are feeling especially creative, feel free to add a few drops of jojoba or aromatic lavender oil. Relax and let your skin soak in on all the powerful milky ingredients. Simply wash off after 30 minutes.

Feeling the effects of sun-tanning? Skin all tingly and red? The solution is as simple as applying some yogurt on your skin. It will help soothe the irritation and cool the skin down.

Remember that orange vegetable called carrot you add to your meals? That same little vegetable is filled with Retin A, the fancy sounding substance the big brands brag about. They certainly haven't reinvented the wheel. It is enormous in its ability to rejuvenate the deeper layers of the skin, but has also been present in a form of carrot as a facial masks' bases for ages.

Next time you are peeling carrots, boil 2-3 separately. When cooked, mash them and mix with 4 tablespoons of honey. Apply to your face, keep on for 10 minutes and wash off. Your skin will feel smooth and elastic.

These two are just a tip of the iceberg. There are hundreds of ingredients we use and never think of the magic behind them, the real magic nature can only provide. Walk to your kitchen, peek around and see what you can find. Don't be afraid to experiment and try out some of these simple tips. See what happens. Remember, great skin is just a kitchen away!

Biljana Drake has been an avid collector of homemade skin care recipes. For more great tips, skin care and facial masks recipes, visit her website http://www.skincarefromscratch.com

Reveal Great New Skin With An Acne HomeMade Mask

Don't dive straight in with an acne homemade mask. You may regret it is you're not careful.

If someone ever told you that rubbing some vegetable on your face creates an acne mask that really works. Or some crazy kind of facial cleanser product will be yours just by slapping on a herb or spice ? open your ears and listen hard, because you?ll probably hear your face yelling out for mercy.

A homemade acne mask may sound mighty appealing, and that mask may smell not too bad with orange peels and the like smothering all of the pores on your face, but remember that an acne home made mask is only as pure ? and that means as clean, and free of bacteria ? as that kitchen countertop where it?s created.

Acne Mask That?s Homemade Cheap?Or Facial Cleanser That Treats Your Face With Respect

The message is hopefully obvious that a cheap homemade product isn?t giving your face the ?props? it deserves. Whether you need an acne mask or a facial cleanser, your face will be much better off if you just scratch that homemade acne mask or any other homemade concoction of a facial cleanser off your grocery-shopping list.

A homemade product is just what the doctor ordered if you?re making cranberry muffins or a bowl of oatmeal, but your sensitive face is a different subject altogether, especially if you suffer from acne and need an acne mask or facial cleanser that will work ? and not make your face worse off.

Look in your bathroom mirror and ask yourself if that homemade acne mask will treat your face the way you wanted it to be treated. Then click on these links for the right cures for acne, since that home made mask will now thankfully be out of sight.

Jon Butt is the publisher of http://www.how-to-cure-acne.com Chock full of genuine, serious, tested doctor-recommended advice on curing acne. No quacks, no potions, no secrets. Just sensible treatments to clear your skin and help you look as good as you feel

Homemade Spa Treatment: A Natural Health Spa Treatment at Home!

After a week of hard work, pamper yourself with a special spa treatment that you can easily do at home. Here's what you can do-

A spa treatment at home serves as an excellent choice to give yourself a lavish treatment for a day and make yourself feel like a queen/king, who deserves to be treated in a special manner. Read further to learn about do-it yourself home spa..

Trying out home spa ideas can help a great deal in rejuvenating you and that too without spending loads of money. For a home spa massage, you don't really require any special equipment like massage table. All you need is to use your creative imagination to set the mood for relaxation. Life becomes beautiful if you know how to enjoy life and cherish its every moment.

Setting the perfect atmosphere for relaxing your body is very essential, otherwise there is no point taking so much pains. Enjoying the home spa massage with your partner would be a fantastic idea, not only to recharge your energy but also to add some spark to your love life.

Random Tip: Keep your mobiles switched off, while you spa treatment is going on.

Put on some light, soothing music to further enhance your relaxation. Dim lights or candles are just perfect for the spa treatment.

You can prepare the spa by lighting candles around the bathtub. Stress relief and scented candles really help to unwind. Start filling the bathtub with tolerably hot water. Put about a tablespoon of shampoo, shower and bath gel and stress relief mineral bath salts. Adding rose petals can be very soothing and relaxing.

All these ingredients help to relax you. After this get into the bathtub and just enjoy the spa in your bathroom.

Ask your partner to give you a good body massage and you also do the same. The atmosphere should be very peaceful and calm, so you and your partner should speak softly.

Meditate for some time, so as to experience a complete relaxation of mind, body and soul. Close your eyes and perform breathing exercise. First inhale the air, hold your breath for a few seconds and then exhale the air out. Concentrate while breathing, release the tension and let your worries flow out.

The bathroom is an ideal place for a spa and its proper designing is something that is capturing the attention of the people. They are getting more particular about choosing quality design hydro-therapeutic showers and tubs, glass tiles etc.

So try out these home spa ideas and get lost in the beautiful, peaceful world, where you can completely relax yourself.

Random Tip: Take 1 tablespoon of gram flour, 1/4 tablespoon of orange peel powder, 1 tablespoon beaten yogurt and 1 tablespoon olive oil. Mix the ingredients well and apply the paste to your face and neck. Let it remain till the skin starts feeling a little fry and then rub your face with your hands till it glows. Wash your face first with warm water and then with cold water. This will remove all the blemishes. - your ultimate natural beauty mask.

Must Read: Anti-Aging Skin Care Tips and Treatment at http://www.weightloss-health.com/antiageingproducts.htm

About the Author:

Ashley Green

For Natural Skin Care Articles Directory your complete and most comprehensive family guide on Skin Care.

Check out other various tips on massage and homemade spa and essential oils with different soothing frangrances at Homemade Spa Treamtment

If you wish to reproduce the above article you are welcome to do so, provided the article is reproduced in its entirety, including this resource box and LIVE link to our website.

Natural Beauty Care

Everybody longs for that healthy glow, for sparkling eyes and shiny hair that bounces with every step. Millions of dollars are spent every year in beauty products to make skin that much clearer, wrinkles that less visible and lips pout that much more. And while there are cosmetics that do work, you shouldn?t underestimate the value of natural beauty products. Remedies that are available with nature. They?re easy to find, won?t put a hole in your pocket, and don?t have a trace of any harmful chemicals. Read on to see what gifts from nature can make you your most beautiful self.

For your hair (http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com/beauty/hair-care.htm)

Lemon juice:
Lemon juice when used on your hair is an effective treatment for dandruff. Its citrus property cleanses the hair. Squeeze a lemon onto your hair and massage into the scalp, and then wash it out using water and your preferred shampoo.

Coconut Oil:
Coconut oil is used in several parts of the world as an aid to beautiful hair. It has enriching vitamins and nutrients that help your hair to grow long and lustrous. In addition, it also combats dandruff. Massage into the scalp before washing hair. If possible, do so a night before, so the oil can soak in overnight.

Vinegar:
Vinegar is great to add some bounce and vitality into dull and lifeless hair. Mix a little vinegar into warm water, and then rinse your hair with the solution. You hair will look revitalized.

For your skin

Water:
The important of water cannot be stated enough. It is one of the most important contributors to beautiful skin. It flushes out toxins and battles breakouts. A person should drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Warm showers are also very beneficial to the skin. When your skin is well hydrated, it looks young and healthy.

Roses:
They?re more than just pretty flowers! Rosewater is extremely good for the skin. It purifies the skin, and leaves it wonderfully scented. Combined with hazel, it is especially good for oily skin. Turmeric Powder: If you want your skin to naturally get fairer and more radiant, you could try turmeric. Just mix a piece of turmeric with curd and apply it onto your skin. Leave the paste on for about ten to fifteen minutes, and then wash off using cold water.

For your body:

Fruits:
Fruits are one of the best gifts that nature can give you. Most of them are low in calories, and can give you a whole lot of energy. In fact, almost all diets have fruits as an essential part of them.

Spinach:
Spinach leaves are very, very healthy. There?s a reason why Popeye enjoyed spinach so much! It helps to make your body stronger, and more resistant to illnesses and ailments.

Ellen for http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com. Find lots of makeup and beauty tips here with loads of information on skin care and skin disorders. Our forums ? http://forums.ultimate-cosmetics.com.

An Acne Home Remedy Does Exist Will It Work For You?

Have you tried an acne home remedy? There are an amazing amount of products that are probably sitting in your kitchen right now, just waiting for you to put them on your face! You might be surprised at how helpful these acne home remedies can be. An acne home remedy may be more effective than you thought.

In this day and age, many of us are used to buying our cosmetics in pretty bottle form, with the name of some well-known manufacturer on the side. And while there is no doubt that skincare specialists are working hard to bring us the most up-to-date combinations of chemical ingredients to help our skin look good, many of the basic ingredients they use can be found in our own kitchens, just waiting for us to use them as acne home remedies!

Homemade acne remedies can be as easy to put together as slicing a lemon. The astringent properties of this fruit make it a wonderful acne home remedy. Simply rub a slice of lemon over your skin before you go to bed at night, and see how clear it looks in the morning. Tomatoes are also a great acne home remedy, and can be used in the same way.

Other effective homemade acne remedies include garlic, which can be applied directly to spots and pimples. An application of mint juice is also helpful in treating skin conditions, including acne, insect bites, and even cuts and scrapes.

Raw papaya can also help reduce the swelling and soreness of those angry, sore pimples, as can a paste made from the peel of oranges. There really are a multitude of products available right from your kitchen that can be used as an acne home remedy.

While many of these products are the basis for the expensive cleansers that you will find at the drugstore, using them in a natural form can take a little more time. But remember that these natural acne home remedies can also be kinder to your skin than their manufactured counterparts, which can ultimately have a more healthful effect on the condition of your skin.

Your kitchen contains many products that could be your acne home remedy. If you are fed up trying those sometimes harsh, highly processed skincare products, then a homemade acne remedy might be the refreshing change that makes a real difference to your skin.

An acne home remedy may work better than you thought.

Find out more about Acne as well as Home Treatment for Acne and Adult Acne, Acne Skin Care Products, the Best Acne Treatments and more at Peter?s website, Acne All Gone.

Spa Treatments and Skin Care Care That Your Body Mind and Soul Deserve

A spa treatment is often labeled as ?a great way of pampering the body?; however, considering the great burden of these stressful times, going for spa treatments is a necessity they are on every stars healthcare and appearance plan. From Jessica Simpson to Halle Berry, Jodi Foster, Oprah, etc... These are the most highly sought after treatments and women are shelling out thousands for this 'fountain of youth.' The body, soul and mind very well deserve these spa treatment indulgences. In fact, a holistic spa treatment is a complete invigorating experience that revitalizes the mind and soul while stimulating body?s self-healing mechanism and should be used by everyone atleast once a year.

Therapeutic massages and face / body treatments are some of the basic services that the spas offer. Modern day spas have developed different types of massages ? Aromatherapy, Ayurvedic massage, deep tissue massage, lymphatic drainage massage, Neuromuscular therapy, Shiatsu and many more. These ancient techniques of rejuvenating the entire system by caressing the skin and kneading the muscles is performed by licensed therapists with extreme care. Remember! Each massage has its typical utility.

The spa treatment services for your facial and body skin involve deep cleansing, exfoliating, massaging, toning and moisturizing. These treatments remove the damaged epidermal layers to reveal younger, healthier-looking skin. Both facials and body treatments, cleanse the deep-seated impurities, stimulate blood circulation and hydrate the skin surface.

In general, spas prefer non-chemical and non-invasive procedures like Oxygen therapy, Photo facial, Vitamin peels, homemade oilbaths, skin peels and indigenous body scrubs. However, now that the effectiveness and harmlessness of TCA peels (the most prescribed skin peels by dermatologists and plastic surgeons) have been certified and proven to be the most effective, many spas are using these peels for treating skin problems. Equally effective at home as in spas, the TCA peels work real fast removing your dead skin, enhancing blood circulation and aiding the process of the re-growth of collagen and elastin. Basically, the tca peel is the single most effective and least invasive treatment on the market.

Considering TCA peel your ?at-home spa treatment? will be no exaggeration, especially if you consider the lasting results it produces ? changing your lusterless, dead hide for a more glamorous, youthful covering. Remember, the TCA treatment promises you emotional indulgence at a cost-effective rate.

TCA peels are on every hollywood stars skin rejuvenation program and they should be on yours also. There's no luck in the glowing skin of the celebrities at the Oscars - its simple - spa treatments and TCA peels. It is also interesting to note that TCA peels are one of the most effective treatments for acne and wrinkles in current use.

David Maillie is a chemist and an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels and acne treatments for doctors offices and medispas. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Herbal Skin Care

Skin care is not a topic of recent times; it has been in practice since ancient times, when herbal skin care was probably the only way to take care of skin. However, skin care has transformed in a big way. Herbal skin care routines have been replaced by synthetic/chemical-based skin care routines. The herbal skin care recipes which once used to be common place are not so popular today (and even unknown to a large population). This transformation from herbal skin care to synthetic, can probably be attributed to two things ? our laziness (or just the fast pace of lives) and the commercialisation of skin care. Even herbal skin care products have been commercialised. These commercial herbal skin care products have to be mixed with preservatives in order to increase their shelf-life, hence making them less effective than the fresh ones made at home. However, it seems that things are changing fast and more people are now opting for natural and herbal skin care routines. But still, none want to make them at home and hence the commercial market of herbal skin care products is on the rise.

So what are these herbs or herbal skin care mechanisms?

Aloe vera, which is an extract from Aloe plant, is one of the best examples of herbal skin care product. Freshly extracted aloe vera is a natural hydrant that helps in soothing skin. It also helps in healing cuts and treating sun burns.

A number of herbs are known to possess cleansing properties. Dandelion, chamomile, lime flowers and rosemary herbs, are a few examples of such cleansers. Their herbal skin care properties get invoked when they are combined with other herbs like tea.

Antiseptics are another important part of Herbal skin care. Lavender, marigold, thyme and fennel are good examples of herbs that are known to possess antiseptic properties. Lavender water and rose water also form good toners.

Tea plays an important part in herbal skin care. Tea extracts are used for treatment of skin that has been damaged by UV radiation.

Oils prepared from herbal extracts present another means of herbal skin care. Tea tree oil, Lavender oil, borage oil and primrose oil are some popular oils used in herbal skin care. Some fruit oils (e.g. extracts from fruits like banana, apple and melon) find use in shower gels (as a hydrating mix)

Homeopathic treatments and aromatherapies also come under the umbrella of herbal skin care remedies.

Herbal skin care is good not only for the routine nourishing of skin but also for treatment of skin disorders like eczema and psorasis. Most herbal skin care products don?t have any side effects (the most important reason for preferring them over synthetic products) Moreover, herbal skin care products can be easily made at home, hence making them even more attractive. So, herbal skin care is the way to go. However, this does not mean that you totally discard the synthetic products. Some people go to the extent of debating with their dermatologist, if he/she suggests a synthetic product. You should accept the fact that some skin orders might need usage of clinically proven non-herbal skin care products.

Ellen for http://www.ultimate-cosmetics.com. Find lots of makeup and beauty tips here with many useful articles on skin care. Also learn how to get rid of dark circles under eyes.

Best Beauty Tips For A Healthy And Natural Look

'Beauty is skin deep', so goes the good old saying. But, that does not rob the charm of enhancing your looks. So, hey there, beauty conscious, there's just no harm in having some of the best beauty tips up your sleeves. For looking and feeling beautiful is a sign of health and happiness. And in an age where looking good spells confidence and success, it's vital that you have the best beauty tips handy.

Pamper Your Body

The first secret to true beauty is a natural body glow. Try a refreshing exfoliate with a homemade mix of olive oil, sea salt or sugar. Dry brushing your body, preferably with a natural bristle brush before a bath. It helps to stimulate the glands.

A Little Thought for your Eyes, Hands and Feet

-Moisturise your hands and feet regularly. Don't forget to file your nails and apply nail polish.

-Free your eyes of the tired look simply with a spoon. Keep it in the fridge and apply to the eyelids.

-Once you have ensured a healthy body, be in fashion with the best make-up tips.

Magic of Natural Make-Up

The secret of smart make-up is to keep it natural. But often unhygienic and wrong use of make-up causes harm. Here are the best beauty tips to avoid a make-up mess:

-Eye care: To ensure healthy eyes change your mascara every three months, eye shadows every six to twelve months and sharpen your eye pencil regularly

-Mascara basics: To avoid mascara smudging, apply a thin layer to the top lashes only and then use an eyelash brush

-Natural glow: A gel blush or cream gives a more natural look than a powder

-Brow beauty: For a natural look, eyebrows must not look pencil thin. Use a definer for extra volume.

-Eyeliner tips: Use liquid liner instead of a pencil, to avoid smudging in the crease of the lid

-Foundation fashion: While choosing a concealer or foundation, check the shade on the palm side of your wrist. It tells whether the shade would look natural on you.

Haute Hair Tips

A homemade hair pack is better than shampooing. Natural stuff like apple cider vinegar keeps shampoo toxins at bay. The right hairdo makes the correct fashion statement. Always discuss your face shape with your hairdresser, to decide on a style

Do's 'N' Don'ts

Common beauty blunders arise from ignorance. Here are the best beauty tips to be better informed:

- Avoid soap and switch to natural cleansers
- Wash your face often
- Use an eye cream regularly
- Drink lots of water
- Never forget a sunscreen
- Use natural beauty packs

Mind Matters

Last but not the least; you just can't glow unless its heart felt. So, the best beauty tips include doing something you enjoy whenever you can. Always take a break, chat with friends, forget your worries, set your mind free and just watch the wonders.

David Maillie is an alumni of Cornell University and specializes in biochemical synthesis for public, private, and governmental interests and manufactures various skin peels and other for doctors offices and medispas. He can be reached at M.D. Wholesale: http://www.bestskinpeel.com

Homemade Facial Mask Recipies

Try some of these proven facial mask recipies! Each treatment has its own duration that you should leave the mixture on for. When complete, rinse off with lukewarm water unless the recipie states otherwise. These provide proven results, so many professional spas use identical (or similar) treatments. Make sure that before applying any facial mask blends, the face should be washed and cleaned with a mild facial wash. Best of all, they are all natural and can do no harm to the skin. Sample a homemade facial mask; you might be amazed with the results.

- Basic: -

1. Got egg in your face?

- Beat one egg white - Add three to six drops of lemon juice - Smooth it out all over the face evenly - Wait for at least five minutes for the mixture to dry and spread on a second layer

2. Honey mask

- Combine two tablespoons of alcohol, two tablespoons of water - Add 100 grams of warm honey - Smooth on the face; keeping it on for at least 20 minutes

3. Milk: it's good for you!

- Combine 1 tablespoon of nonfat instant powdered milk, 1 teaspoon unflavored yogurt - Add half a cucumber, peeled and sliced in small peices - Put all ingredients in a blender and mix until pasty - Spread all over the face, keeping it on for at least twenty minutes

4. Oatmeal: it sticks to more than your ribs

- In a blender, blend together a tablespoon of oatmeal, two tablespoons of powdered nonfat milk - Add one egg white and half a cup of orange juice. - Apply unto face and let it stay for twenty minutes.

5. Oatmeal: another method

- Mix together an egg white, a teaspoon of orange juice - Add two tablespoons of instant oatmeal - Apply to the face and leave on for twenty minutes

6. Honey and milk

- To a beaten egg white, add in one half teaspoon of honey - Add lemon juice, fresh milk and flour - Spread to the face and keep it on for twenty minutes and rinse with cool water

7. Chamomile

- In blender, combine about one teaspoon finely crushed and dried chamomile flowers, a teaspoon of fresh mint finely chopped - Combine with tablespoon of honey and an egg white - Smooth on to face, keep on for twenty minutes

8. Go bananas

- Mash about half a banana and combine it with a tablespoon of orange juice - Mix in one tablespoon of honey - Keep the mixture on for fifteen minutes

9. Sour power

- Combine half a cup of honey, a tablespoon of lemon juice - Add two tablespoons of cooked instant oatmeal - Smooth onto face and wait for thirty minutes before rinsing

10. Cucumber delight

- Mix into a blender a combination of one mashed banana, and half of cucumber - Drop in a tablespoon of honey and half a cup of lemon juice - Spread over the face and rinse off after thirty minutes.

- For skin lightening: -

1. Glycerin

- In a bowl, whisk together one egg yolk, one teaspoon of honey - Add a teaspoon of glycerin - Smooth onto face and rinse off after two hours

2. Papaya delight

- Mix together one egg white and a cup of mashed papaya - Add a tablespoon of lemon juice and two tablespoons of sour cream - Refrigerate before applying to the face - Rinse after an hour.

3. Lemon and lime

- Bring to a boil a quarter cup of lemon peel, a quarter cup of lime peel, and lemon leaves - Steep for five minutes and add a tablespoon of lemon juice, two tablespoons of oats - Add a tablespoon of wheat germ - Let cool, then apply on the face - Rinse off after 30 minutes

4. Papaya and honey

- Blend together two tablespoons of honey and half a cup of mashed ripe papaya - Smooth on the face - Rinse off after twenty minutes

5. Carrots and papaya

- Mix together an egg yolk, three tablespoon of mashed papaya - Mix in three tablespoons of cooked and mashed carrots - Leave on the face for thirty minutes

6. Baby soft skin

- Whisk together half a cup of lemon juice, an egg white - Add three teaspoons of powdered infant formula - Leave on the face for thirty minutes and rinse off with warm water, followed by cold water.

7. Carrot concoction (the 5 minute facial)

- Blend in half a cup of carrot juice, cooked oats - Add half a cup of wheat germ and two tablespoons of lemon juice - Smooth on the face and rinse with warm water after 5 minutes

- For healthy glow -

1. The linden mixture

- Bring to a boil and steep for five minutes a mixture of orange juice and linden flowers - When cooled, add in two tablespoons of lemon juice, two tablespoons of yogurt and a teaspoon of honey - Leave onto the face for at least thirty minutes and rinse off with warm water and cold water for the final rinsing

2. Garden freshness

- Boil and steep half a cup of parsley and lemon leaves inside half a cup of lemon juice - Mix in three teaspoons of infant formula - Leave on the face for an hour

3. OJ does it

- Combine three tablespoons orange juice with half a cup of honey - Smooth on the face and leave for thirty minutes - Wash off with warm followed by cold water.

- For oily skin: -

1. Olive oil

- Combine an egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey - Add a tablespoon of olive oil and half a cup of oatmeal - Leave on the face for fifteen to twenty minutes and wash with warm water

2. Tomatos

- Combine a cup of oatmeal with three tablespoons of non fat milk - Mash or use blender on tomatoes and add to mixture - Leave this mixture on the face for an hour and wash off with warm water

3. Strawberry delight

- Boil and steep lemon leaves - Add in half a cup of oatmeal, three tablespoons wheat germ - Mash half a cup of strawberries and mix in - Smooth on the face for an hour and wash of with warm water

For more great facial mask related articles and resources check out http://facialmask.skincarehq.com

Homemade Bodybuilding Shakes Using Whey Protein Supplement Powders Creatively

If you are serious about building muscle mass or sculpting your body you most likely supplement your diet with commercially available whey or soy protein powders (and possibly other supplements). No doubt within a short period of time you discovered the protein shakes whey powders produce may not be the best tasting drinks you've ever had. Despite this you try to stick with them because your goal is a better body and a supplement shake that doesn't taste so great is simply a sacrifice you make.

People find that the flavor of the protein shake powder they paid a good money for quickly gets boring. If you are taking your protein shakes two or even three times a day it can become a real chore. This is when people start to experiment a little by adding other ingredients to make their protein shakes taste a little better.

You can soon turn your boring, often tasteless, protein shakes into mouth-watering bodybuilding or dieting delights. All you need to have to get started is a blender and a little imagination.

Choosing What to Put in Your Protein Shakes

Before rushing off to your refrigerator to blend everything in site, let's go through some basic principles you will want to consider first. Not only do you want to create the best tasting shakes but you should also aim to make the most effective protein shakes for your dieting requirements. This is important because there is no point throwing full fat ice cream, chocolate sauce, peanut butter and full fat milk all together to create a wonderful tasting fat gaining shake. You need to be a little wise when choosing your ingredients.

So what kinds of ingredients make good choices for your shakes? I recommend using the following tips when getting your ingredients from the supermarket or refrigerator:

Try to keep as many of your ingredients as natural as possible. A good example of this is using natural peanut butter instead of regular peanut butter. The natural version has better protein content and also natural fats that are important in your diet.

Fresh fruit should be used whenever possible. Fruit contains the carbohydrates that will fuel your workouts and your day. The complex sugars in fruit are important to any diet (unlike the simple sugars in sweets, sodas, etc).

Think about ingredients that will boost your shake's protein content. For example, you could throw a handful of nuts into the blender for a little extra protein without making the shake much thicker. You could add a few raw egg whites (if you are worried about eating raw eggs you may be able to find treated egg whites in cartons at your supermarket). You could always simply dump an extra scoop of whey powder in there as well.

Make sure you have enough liquids. If you get a little too carried away you may discover your shake is easier to eat with a spoon then drink from a glass. When you first start creating your shakes it is a good idea to add your liquids (water, fat-free milk, fruit juices, etc.) in stages so that you get your desired consistency.

Examine the nutritional information for each ingredient and consider the impact it will have on your dieting goals. For example, you may be opting for fat free (skimmed) milk if you aren't trying to gain weight.

Always know what your goal is and make your shakes accordingly. If you are trying to shed the fat you will be skipping the types of ingredients that add too many carbohydrates and fats while trying to increase the protein content.

Think of how you might create a unique flavor. You can try things like cinnamon, vanilla, honey, coconut milk, etc. Once you get the hang of this you will see the possibilities are endless.

Making Your Protein Shake

Once you have decided on the ingredients for your shake you are ready to start. It couldn't be simpler and if you can make toast you won't have a problem. It's a good idea to think about the order in which you will add your ingredients into the blender. Always add your main liquid source first so that everything else you add afterwards is easily blended. Following this, add your protein powder and give your blender a quick 'burst'. Now you are ready to add the rest of your ingredients and blend until you get the right consistency. At this point you may want to add a little more liquids to tweak your shake's thickness. Throw in five or six ice cubes to make your shake more refreshing.

Now you can let your imagination invent all sorts of bodybuilding and dieting concoctions that make your supplement shakes a great deal tastier. Don't forget to share your creations with friends at the gym and people across the world through the internet. You will also discover many ideas other people come up with to inspire you further. Visit websites and online forums for recipes and you can get some ideas from my site's Whey Protein Supplement Shake Recipes section. Happy blending!

Adam Zahler is an internet marketing professional and entrepreneur with a strong interest in fitness and nutrition. He is also the owner and creator of the free Bodybuilding and Protein Supplements Recipes site where visitors can find protein recipe ideas and also share their own recipes.

Pamper Yourself You Deserve It

Everyone, including busy moms, need to take some time to pamper themselves every now and again. After all you need to take care of yourself in order to be able to take care of others.

Have a mom's lunch out once in awhile. Get together with friends and relax while dining. If babysitters or money is in short supply take turns hosting the mom's lunch and maybe some older siblings can help keep an eye on the little ones.

If you have children that nap don't be afraid to use that time to take a nap yourself once in awhile, or even all the time if you need it and can get away with it.

On the occasions when you are going to get your hair done or a manicure make sure dad is home to watch the kids so you can really enjoy the pampering.

Trade babysitting with a friend in order to give you each a night out with your husband.

After the kids are in bed forget the laundry and dishes once in awhile and take a long hot bath if you want. You can even throw in some homemade bath salts or bubble bath if you like.

Treat yourself to a homemade facial occasionally. You can easily mix one up with the ingredients in your own kitchen. Here is one of my favorites. I take a tablespoon or two of honey, mix it with 3 or 4 tablespoons of oatmeal, then I add in the ripest banana I have and bingo I have made my own homemade beauty recipe that makes my skin look and fell great. (It lasts about a week in the fridge by the way).

So go ahead and indulge yourself a little bit occasionally, you will be a better mom for it.

About the Author:

Robin Reckard, co-founder of Jorbins.com Lifestyle Magazine - http://www.jorbins.com/ keeps busy producing, writing, and editing for the magazine as well as raising and enjoying her six year old daughter.

Visit Jorbins.com's Bath and Beauty Section to read more great articles and to find other homemade beauty recipes such as bath salts, peppermint oil foot rub, hand creams, gentle cleansers, and many more. If you are wanting more homemade facial or scrub recipes than you can find those in our Homemade Facial Recipes area.

Copyright 2006, Jorbins Inc. - Reprints of this article can be made as long as the article is in it's entirety, unchanged, and the resource box with links and urls remain unchanged.

Insomnia: Treating Sleeplessness the Natural Way

If the Sandman seems to have lost the map to your house and, no matter what you do, nothing seems to lull you to sleep each night, then it?s time to take some positive steps toward treating this potentially serious condition using natural methods. Many people today are turning toward homeopathic or homemade remedies for curing what ails them, and insomnia is on that list of ailments.

One of the most natural methods for reversing the condition of insomnia is by changing your diet to include ? or avoid ? certain types of foods. By eliminating the elements of caffeine and sugar, your body may be able to settle into a more natural, healthy routine, and your sleep cycle may become regulated. While coffee, tea and soda may be the first things that occur to you in your efforts to eradicate the menace of caffeine, those aren?t its only sources. You?ll also need to eliminate cough and cold medicines and a large number of other over-the-counter medications, as well ? and your chocolate eating days are over, too.

If you?ve ever felt sleepy after eating a turkey dinner, it?s probably because it contains tryptophan ? an amino acid that encourages sleep when ingested. Eating foods which are rich in tryptophan will help your body to fall asleep naturally, and there are more foods that contain this natural sleep agent than you might imagine. Cheese, milk, pumpkin seeds, bananas, peas, beans and other types of meat are all good sources of this type of amino acid.

Nutritional supplements are also very good tools for encouraging the sleeping process. Magnesium and calcium, for example, are natural sedatives and can be taken together. If you?ve been suffering from insomnia and need a bit of assistance getting to sleep, simply take a combination supplement of calcium and magnesium in the evening, well before your normal bedtime. Multivitamins will also work, since certain types of vitamins ? such as B6 ? are rich in the amino acids that are necessary to promote sleep.

For those who prefer herbs rather than vitamins, valerian has been known to be used as a natural sleep aid since the second century A.D. This particular cure, however, doesn?t take affect immediately, so if you?re looking for immediate relief, this is not the treatment for you. It can take up to a month before its effects are noticeable, and may include adverse symptoms, such as digestive distress. Since valerian sometimes carries unwanted side effects, your physician should be consulted before opting to take this natural remedy.

Other herbs which may be effective include St. John?s Wort, Kava, passionflower, chamomile, ashwagandha and hops. Though they work slightly differently, the overall result is the same, and they?re all members of the herbal family, ensuring a natural means through which to satisfy your daily sleep requirement.

Of course, if you tend to be a couch potato and get little or no exercise, you?re pretty safe in assuming that you?ll be afflicted by insomnia at some point. The body needs exercise on a regular basis in order to relieve tension and stress. By initiating an exercise program in the late afternoon or early evening, you should be able to enjoy a good night?s sleep ? but don?t make the mistake of exercising too close to bedtime, or it?ll have the opposite effect, due to the release of adrenaline.

In the event that all of these techniques fail, you can certainly turn to more unconventional methods of inducing sleep, such as yoga, meditation or feng shui. There are those who claim to find the cure that they need through utilizing one or more of these methods and, if it works, then it?s certainly worth a try.

You may find that you?ll need to combine methods for inducing sleep, such as eating a banana and meditating for awhile before bedtime. What matters is what works for you and, since everyone is different, don?t be discouraged if you try one particular natural method that doesn?t give you the desired results. Through patience and persistence, you?ll find the right combination and get the good night?s sleep that has long eluded you.

Find out more about insomnia and how you can restore healthy sleep naturally visiting http://www.curing-insomnia.com/serenite.php

Ingredients Are You Getting Your Money's Worth?

Have you ever purchased commercial lotions or soaps that claimed to contain natural ingredients or some other moisturizer only to determine that you've wasted your money? If you said yes to this question, you're not alone. The commercial cosmetics industry list natural ingredients of aloe vera and here lately shea butter on their product labels to satisfy the consumers quest for natural products. You may even pay more for the inclusion of natural ingredients, but are you getting your money's worth.

Keep the following in mind when purchasing products that make specific claims on the label:

1) The Fair Packaging and Labeling Act requires that ingredients be listed in descending order of quantity. This means which ever ingredient makes up the bulk of the product should be listed first; therefore, If you're looking for a shea butter product, look for that ingredient towards the top of the ingredient list.

2) Natural means that ingredients are extracted directly from plants or animal products as opposed to being produced synthetically. Supposedly there is no proof that natural ingredients are better for the skin, but I can certainly tell the difference when using all natural bath oil verses the 100% mineral oil (a synthetic derived from petroleum), I've used in the past.

3) Hypoallergenic on cosmetic labeling claims the product will most likely not cause a allergic reaction. When you read terms dermatologist-tested, nonirritating, and other statements that imply the product has been tested isn't a guarantee that you won't have an allergic reaction.

4) Alpha hydroxy acids (AHA) and beta hydroxy acids (BHA) are the ingredients used in products that claim to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Always use caution when applying these ingredients by testing a small area first to determine if a reaction will occur. You should also avoid the sun and use a sunscreen when using AHA.

5) Soap as you know it, is actually a snythetic detergent bar regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and is not required to meet FDA regulations unless it claims to do something other than cleanse. If the soap claims to be a deodorant soap it is considered cosmetic and must abide by FDA regulations. If it reduces dandruff or makes some other medical claim it must be considered a drug, carry the required drug labeling and also meet FDA safety and effectiveness requirements. I've used handmade soaps for some time and don't experience the skin dryness as when I've used commercial soaps. This is because handmade soaps retain natural glycerin, a humectant which attracts moisture to your skin, whereas the commercial soaps remove the glycerin to use in more profitable products.

Keep in mind that typically handmade bath and body products contain a higher percentage of natural ingredients. Whether you purchase commercial or natural products, I encourage you to shop around as all products are not created equal. Know what to look for regarding ingredients and how they are listed to determine if you are getting your money's worth. Take into consideration how the product makes your skin feel, does it dry your skin or does it feel soft and moisturized.

This article is not meant to bash commercial products, but should serve to help you make an informed decision concerning products and what you're actually getting.

Article by:

Christi Booth, owner of Soulful Aroma Bath & Beauty. Products that moisturize your skin while the aromas relax your soul. Beauty recipes, tips, solutions and more.

For more information on cosmetic ingredients visit the Cosmetic, Toiletry, and Fragrance Association; Federal Drug Association