Spa Time... How To DIY At Home

Hola,

Well hello there my fellow fashionistas. How's life treating you these days? If you're reading this post, I hope all is good and fabulous. If it's not, my wish for you is that this post will brighten your day even if it's just a little.

So did you all read my one year anniversary post? You know the one where I listed my fifteen top favorite designers - "The Best Of The Best... Favorite Designers." If you haven't already done so, please visit that post after you read this one of course, and let me know what you think of my choices. I cannot believe it's already been a whole year since I started this blog. It's been fun which is exactly what I was looking for when I started on this adventure. I hope you continue to follow and converse with me, and if it's not too much to ask, please look over to your right, you may have to scroll down just a little bit and click on the blue button that says "join this site." If you have a Google, Twitter, Yahoo or even an Aim account, you can enter your info and tadaa... you'd now be a loyal follower. I promise you will not get any emails from me unless you subscribe to this blog which is a whole different deal. Come on gals and guys, let's make this adventure official. :)

Tonight I decided to switch from a fashion post to a "beauty" post and give you some really cool recipes on how to have your very own spa day or night at home. I mean who doesn't love to pamper themselves and I know it's not the same as having someone pamper you, but sometimes the budget calls for a "do it yourself" kind of moment or maybe you'd like to have a girls spa night. How fun would that be... hmmm! (note to my girls *hint hint*). Or... maybe it's just you and your man. If he would indulge in this kind of pampering, you can try it with him and who knows where the night will lead... hmmm! *wink wink*.

So a number of years ago I bought this wonderful book called "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox. Turns out it was the best $12 I've ever spent (well one of the best for sure). The book contains over 200 recipes for body, bath and hair. Now I'm certainly not going to list all 200 but just a few of my favorites which I'm sure Janice won't mind my sharing. I've also made up a few of my own along the way so I hope you'll try them as well. The majority of the ingredients in these recipes can be found in your kitchen or you can buy them at your local drugstore or supermarket. I chose the easiest so that you'll have no problems finding the ingredients you'll need. Shall we begin? Get your notebooks out or your cell phones, whichever is more accommodating so you can take notes...

"DIY" HOME SPA RECIPES

Recipes from the book "Natural Beauty at Home" by Janice Cox:

CLEANSERS AND SCRUBS

SUGAR SCRUB
1 teaspoon sugar
soap and water
juice of 1/2 lemon

While washing your face with soap, add a teaspoon of sugar to the lather and massage gently into your skin. Rinse your skin with a mixture of equal parts lemon juice and water. Then rinse with clear, cool water and pat dry.

Sugar makes a good abrasive skin scrub and is a popular treatment in many health spas and beauty salons. I love this scrub. I have very sensitive skin and this does not irritate at all. Make sure to use the equal parts lemon juice and water or else your skin will stay a bit sticky.

ALL-PURPOSE HONEY CLEANSER
2 tablespoons liquid soap
1/4 cup honey
1/4 cup rosewater (or distilled water works)

Stir all ingredients. Make sure not to beat as this will cause the soap to foam. Pour mixture into a container. To use: Pour a small amount in your palm and massage gently into your skin. Rinse thoroughly. You can use this on your face and body. I usually use this as a body cleanser as it leaves you soft all over.

FACIAL TREATMENTS

SWISS MILKMAID MASK
1/4 cup buttermilk
1/4 cup powdered milk or powdered buttermilk

Mix both ingredients to form a smooth paste and spread an even layer over your face and neck. Leave the mask on until dry (for about 15 to 20 minutes). Rinse off with cool water. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator.

This is one of my favorite masks. Not only does it leave your skin smooth and glowing but it also lightens any dark spots on your skin. I try to do it at least twice a month or more if  possible.

COUNTRY GARDEN MASK

1/4 cup grated carrots
1 1/2 teaspoons mayonnaise

Mix ingredients and spread on your face. Leave on for 15-20 minutes then rinse with tepid water. Note: this mask will remain moist on your face so don't worry about waiting for it to dry.

This mask is awesome because it hydrates the skin and helps clear away dead skin cells.


BEAUTY QUEEN MASK
1 egg yolk
1 teaspoon honey
1 teaspoon almond oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Place all ingredients in a bowl and stir until smooth. Spread on your face and leave on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

This mask is luxurious. I love it! It moisturizes your skin leaving it so soft and glowing. It's great if you have dry, flaky skin. Also, honey has natural antiseptic properties that can help regenerate damaged skin tissues. All in all, this mask does wonders for your skin. Try it and let me know how you like it...

So the above recipes are just a few of my favorites by Janice Cox. I'm sure you can purchase the book online and find many more. The book has recipes for lotions, fragrances, aromatherapy, lip and nail treatments. It's just full of fabulous information for having fun at home.

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Next I'm going to list a few of my own personal regiments that I feel are fantastic for beautiful skin...

A bunch of years ago, I started getting acne on my forehead and my cheeks. I don't know what caused it but all I knew was that I had to get rid of it pronto! I tried many products and found one that worked for me called AcneFree. However, my skin still looked damaged and with some dark spots. I knew that clay powder could help restore the skin but had never tried it. Well... I went on a mission to find some. I couldn't find any at my local stores so I found this place online www.mountainroseherbs.com that sells fresh organic herbs and hit the jackpot. They sell everything from organic herbs and spices, teas, aromatherapy and essential oils, butters, clay, cosmetic salts (ahem, dead sea salt anyone?), bath and body care, home and garden, health care products (elixirs, capsules, herbal oils, salves). You name it, they've got it and all their products are fresh and natural. So I jumped on board and purchased two clay products and instantly became a fan. Check them out:

FACIAL TREATMENTS

FRENCH GREEN CLAY - This is the clay that cured my skin woes. This clay, per the description on Mountain Rose Herbs' site, has enormous absorbent powers. It literally drinks oils, toxic substances, and impurities from  your skin. It's toning action stimulates the skin by bringing fresh blood to damaged skin cells, revitalizing the complexion and tightening pores. French Green Clay is marvelous for helping to clear problem skin... Bingo! I started using this mask on a weekly basis and saw results by week three. My skin started clearing up and looking healthy. I had never been happier. My skin has been clear for years now but til this day, I still love using this mask just because.

HOW TO USE: Pour some powder into a bowl and mix with warm distilled water until you make a smooth paste. Apply to your face and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Rinse with  warm water then with cold to close your pores. Apply moisturizer afterward.


RHASSOUL CLAY - I also purchased this clay just because the description sounded delightful and it did not disappoint. Mountain Rose Herbs describes this clay as a truly exquisite spa quality clay. It is a mineral rich clay and blends well with water for a smooth application. The best spas across the globe utilize the toning and enriching benefits offered by Rhassoul. It is rich in silica, magnesium, iron, calcium, potassium and sodium content making it one of the finest treasures for pampering your skin.

Well then... How could I NOT try this. The description is 100% accurate. I adore this clay for the simple fact that when I rinse my face, you can instantly tell that all the impurities have been lifted from your skin and it is left glowing and looking fresh and clean. You should definitely try this one.

HOW TO USE: Pour some powder into a bowl and mix with warm distilled water until you make a smooth paste. Apply to your face and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Rinse with  warm water then with cold to close your pores. Apply moisturizer afterward.

BATH AND BODY

I'm one of those that take forever in the shower. My mom always tells me that I should've been a fish. I think long showers are marvelous. I also think exfoliating your body at least twice a month is a must. Below is my DIY recipe for when my budget does not allow me to splurge on the more expensive products:

BODY EXFOLIATOR:
1 cup of sugar
johnson's baby oil

Pour some baby oil over the sugar. Not too much just enough to lightly saturate the sugar. Scrub this mix all over your body in a circular motion then rinse. You can lather up after to remove excess oil.

You will thank me! This will leave your entire body softer than a baby's butt and smelling wonderful. You don't even have to moisturize after because the baby oil will have already taken care of that.


DE-TOX BATH:
48 oz hydrogen peroxide
1 cup epsom salt
2 tablespoons ground ginger

Fill your tub with hot water, only as hot as you can take it. Add all the ingredients above. Soak in this bath for 20-30 minutes.

I actually found this recipe on Pinterest one night and I've already tried it twice. It works wonders. This is excellent for when you feel yourself catching a cold or you just want to detox your body. From the moment you get into your tub, you will begin sweating out toxins. Needless to say if you can stay in for 30 minutes, it would be great. Once I got out, I showered and was still sweating... When I left the bathroom, I was STILL sweating... LOL, this bath is no joke but you can feel the difference. I ended up taking a long nap after I tried it the first time and woke up feeling great. Plus, that cold that was trying to catch me, was blown away. Haa So there!


MOISTURIZER - If for whatever reason you ever run out of lotion, after you shower, do not dry your skin. Instead rub baby oil over your wet skin and tadaa... instant moisturizer. Again, this will leave your skin super smooth.

My last recipe is a simple at home lip softener:

LIP SOFTENER - Spread vaseline or any type of oil (vitamin E or coconut oil are my favorites), take a soft hand towel and wetting with hot water, lightly rub the vaseline or oil into your lips with the wet towel in circular motions. This will soften your lips and remove and dry skin. If your lips are cracked, do not try this. Instead just dab vitamin E oil over your lips and repeat until they heal. I also like to dab coconut oil on my lips at bedtime. When you wake up, your lips will be soft as butter and will not get dry throughout the day.

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So there you go my loves. I hope you will schedule a fun night on your own, with your girls or even with your significant other and try out these recipes. Don't forget to lay back, relax, close your eyes and let these recipes do their job. Spas are all about helping you relax, find your calm and refresh. I mean if you're going to do it at home, you might as well do it all the way. Get those fluffy bathrobes out and prepare for a wonderful, relaxing time. It can be a very fun night and perhaps you can add your own personal touches to these recipes to make them your own.

Please note that I've tried out these recipes myself. I have very sensitive skin and allergies and I have to say that none of these recipes caused any problems. I would ask that you first test these out on a small spot to see of you don't react to them before applying to your entire skin. Everyone is different and you may have allergies to eggs, dairy products, etc so please be aware of these issues before using.

For those of you who do try them out, please come back and share your experiences and let us all know how your at home spa day or night worked out for you. I would love to hear your stories. Also, if you have any DIY recipes that you'd like to share, please feel free to do so. I just may do a "part two" post with more fun ideas and I will certainly give you a shout out. We should all support and help each other to be and look as fabulous as possible. Don't forget to click on the Mountain Rose Herbs link to check out that awesome site. So you all know the drill, come back and comment below and let us know the outcome of this adventure. I look forward to reading your comments. Go! #engage

Until next time...

Gracias,
AnnaCris <3