How to use Bananas on Skin

Bananas

Bananas are loaded with vitamins and minerals and are a healthy snack to eat throughout the day, but did you know that they are great for your skin as well? The peels are even said to reduce wrinkles and fine lines when rubbed onto area. They can be mashed up and made into a facial mask in just a minute. The banana helps to moisturize skin and present glowing skin.

Banana & Honey Facial Mask

1 Banana (1/2 of banana will work also & you can eat other half)
2 Tablespoons of Honey

Mash up banana and mix with the honey. Apply to facial area for 15-20 minutes and allow blemishes to fade away and younger skin to poke through. :) Rinse with warm water and splash with cool. It taste good too!


Banana Facial Scrub

1 Banana
2 Tablespoons of Brown Sugar (or Sea Salt)
<Oatmeal may be used instead>

If you want, you may add 1 Tablespoon of olive oil

Mix and rub onto skin in circular motions. The banana will moisturize and the sugar will exfoliate your skin. Rinse and reveal smoother skin. You can also add more of  the ingredients and use as an all over body scrub.


Tip: Eating them is also said to prevent cellulite, so eat away!

Guest Blogger

Guest Blogger Annita Phillips

Annita Phillips has experience with natural skin care and has tried some of the recipes on this blog. Below is what she has to say about it.

"Going natural is all the rave now. A lot of people are getting back  to the natural way of taking care of our body. I have allowed my hair go back to natural with no perms for over a year. It started for me a long time ago with my mother who is part Cherokee Indian. When we were young we did not have a lot of money and she would use the herbs from her garden to take care of us. As children we though it was "gross" but as a adult now I see it as a way to save money and it works better than most things you buy from the store.

 

Progress is good and quick, but getting back to basics is just as good. Natural skin care that you make yourself can save you money and is really "organic". Many products we get out of the stores have extracted elements of their organic counter parts. By using things you already have in your cabinets or what you can buy from any fruit stand you save money.

 

 I have enjoyed all of your post and my skin and hair feels good. Everyone is asking me what have I done and I tell them about your blog and give them the  web site information so they can do it as well.

 

Once you start you can not stop going natural in every area of your life. It is fun and you can share it with everyone you know."  Annita Phillips  Annita's Blog

 

 

How to use Oatmeal on Skin

Oatmeal

 

 

Not only is oatmeal heart healthy and helps lower cholesterol, it is beneficial to you externally as well. One of the recipes that I used three years ago for the first time was an oatmeal and strawberry mask. I guess I like to use strawberries because I have used a lot of recipes with them and they work! :)

Oatmeal Mask

1 cup of cooked cooled oatmeal
3 strawberries

Mix together and apply to a cleansed face. Let sit 15-20 minutes. You can add a tablespoon of honey too. You also can save leftovers and re-use. Just heat them up.

Oatmeal Scrub

2 Tablespoons ground oats
2 Tablespoons of Avocado
2 teaspoon brown sugar

Mix together until smooth and apply to cleansed face. Allow to sit for desired length and rinse off.


Other uses

• Good for skin exfoliate

• Can be used all over body instead of just your facial area.

• Good for itchy skin from eczema or something else.  You can add it in your bath water by placing in a nylon sock and adding to bath water.

How to use Strawberries in a Facial Mask

Strawberry Facial Mask

Being the peak of summer, fresh strawberries are easily available. I have posted earlier on all the wonderful benefits of strawberries and honey  strawberry benefits  honey benefits, and now would like to share one of my favorite face mask. It is very simple and leaves my skin feeling so soft and looking better. You can add many extra ingredients to your mask for extra benefits but I just use two simple effective ingredients.

 -Honey (raw if possible)
- 4 Strawberries

Mix together and the honey can be warmed up a little bit to spread onto skin easier. Apply to a dampened face (applies better) and allow to sit for 15-30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and splash with cool water. Now your skin should look and feel better. You can do this mask several times a week.

Avocados for Dry Skin

Avocados

Want to do something more with an avocado than make guacamole? Avocados have been used for years for skin care and they work particularly well on dry skin. They are high in omega-3 fatty acids along with vitamins A, D, & E (which help with healthy skin). They can moisturize deep into our layers of skin which is great for us all but especially great for people battling dry skin. Avocados can also help treat age spots and increase our collagen.

Avocados can be mashed up and applied to our skin or added with other ingredients for added benefits. You can also slice it and rub it directly on your skin several times a week for a great complexion.

Dry Skin Facial

1 Avocado
2-3 Tablespoons of Honey

Mash up avocado and mix with honey. Apply to a clean face and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Rinse with warm water and splash of cool to close pores back up.

Add cucumbers or tea bags Benefits of Tea Bags from earlier post for your eyes and relax while making your skin's appearance look better.

Another Reason to Stop Smoking

Smoking Bad for your Skin

Looking for another reason to add to the long list to stop smoking? Not only is it bad for you internally but externally as well. If you're trying to kick the habit and the damage to your lungs/body and potential for cancer isn't enough (although it should be), maybe knowing you're aging your appearance with every puff will help.

Smoking makes your skin look older and ages you while contributing to wrinkles in the process. It depletes your skin from oxygen and nutrients by narrowing your vessels in skin. It also damages the elastin and collagen in your skin, thinning it out. The facial expressions you make while puffing on the nasty little cancer stick also contributes to unsightly wrinkles.

So if you're trying to improve your health and skin appearance and are a smoker, here's (another) reason to not buy another pack and start to have a younger facial appearance.

BE STRONG! :)

Grape Benefits for Skin

Grapes

Grapes are high in nutrients like vitamins A, C, and B6 along with antioxidants. The Antioxidants found in grapes are beneficial against aging of our skin against things like wrinkles and sun spots. Centuries ago grape leaves were used to fight inflammation while it was noted that unripe grapes were used to soothe sore throats.

Grapes aren't just good for us eaten, as they are beneficial externally as well. Grapes can even out skin tone and can moisturize it. Grape seeds contain an oil that people are using in skin care products. Grape seed extract is rich in antioxidants and contains 20 times the antioxidants of vitamin E and 50 times the antioxidants of vitamin C. Even the grapevine can be used because it contains anti-aging properties.

Grapes can be sliced and rubbed on skin, mashed up and applied to sit, or added to other ingredients. You can make a grape facial mask by adding honey and applying to a cleansed face or add it to olive oil. The seeds can be added to olive oil and used as a scrub too. So grab some grapes and apply to your skin or eat for all their bountiful benefits.

Any Natural Skincare Users?

I am just wondering how many of you actually use or have used any natural at home products on your skin? It seems so much easier just to go buy the products (chemicals) at the store instead of making them at home yourself. It really isn't that hard to make these recipes like you may think. You may also think that you have to make them fresh daily but you can make them in advance and store them. A lot of these can be stored in the refrigerator for several weeks in an airtight container and used when needed.

I would love to hear from you all and know if you have tried natural skincare, and what they were. I would also like to know if you have tried any of the recipes that I have posted and what you thought about them. :)

Experience with Olive Oil Scrub

Today I decided to make a sea salt and olive oil scrub. I first cut open a strawberry and rubbed it on my facial area and neck. (Benefits on Strawberries on earlier post) I let it sit on my face for 15 minutes. Some people think that it would be too sticky or feel weird but it felt refreshing and cool. Not sticky at all. I rinsed my face and used my sea salt and olive oil scrub. I could have used it first as well. I forgot how good it makes your skin feel. My skin was so soft and felt so refreshed. :)

Instead of throwing the extra scrub out it can be stored for later use and does not need to be refrigerated. I instead used the leftovers on my feet today. I scrubbed my feet with the olive oil and sea salt mixture and used the extra few drops of olive oil left in the container as my moisturizer for my feet, for the day. Needless to say, my feet feel smooth and look it too. :)

How to Give Yourself a Pedicure @ Home

Natural Pedicure

Being in the middle of summer time, you're probably wearing  flip flops or want to. Are your feet ready or are they dry and you need a pedicure. Don't have time to go sit in a nail spa and wait, or is your money tight this week? With these tips you can have summer time smooth feet from the convenience of your own home.

If you don't have a foot bath at home you can use a large bowl or even a pot. You want to fill the water with warm water and can add sea salt to the water, flower petals, or oils. Find a relaxing chair and area and soak your feet as long as you please. After soaking you can scrub your feet with different ingredients from your home. Sea salt is perfect for removing dead skin and making your feet smooth. You can also use brown sugar or regular sugar. Added to olive oil, you have a perfect foot scrub. You can rinse your feet or soak longer if you desire. After you're finished soaking you can wipe your feet dry, add olive oil to your hands, and rub on your feet for moisture. If you need to clip and polish you can do so before you apply olive oil to them. You can also use your foot scrub file, with the scrub on, if you have one.

Your feet will be ready for showing off. For extra relaxation, call someone in your house to give you a foot massage. :)

How to use Strawberries for Your Skin's Benefit

Strawberries

Most of us love the taste of the little red tasty berries known as strawberries but they can be beneficial on the outside of our body as well. Strawberries can clear up oiliness, fight acne, and make skin look younger by rejuvenating it. They are packed full of vitamins and antioxidants and have a high amount of vitamin C in them. Strawberries contain more vitamin C in one serving than an orange.  Vitamin C is found in a large amount of facial cleansers, scrubs, and creams. Vitamin C plays an important role in the production of collagen and helping against wrinkles. They also contain salicylic acid that helps remove dead skin cells and tighten pores.

For Acne

1/2 cup of strawberries
1/4 cup of sour cream or plain yogurt

Combine and leave on a cleansed face until it dries. Rinse with warm water followed by a splash of cool water.

Strawberry Facial Scrub

1/2 cup strawberries
2 tablespoons of olive oil
1 tablespoon of sea salt or brown sugar

Combine and use as a scrub.

*CAN ALSO BE USED AS A FOOT SCRUB* I would suggest using the sea salt for the foot scrub because it would be more effective getting the dead skin removed. Your feet will be smoother and flip flop ready for summer. :)

You can also just rub plain strawberries on your facial area and rinse, still getting all the benefits of the little berry.

How to Lighten Hair with Lemon

Lemon to Lighten Hair

Some of you all want lighter hair in the summer. Just being in the sun will lighten some peoples hair a little bit, but others have to opt for highlights. Instead of paying $50-$100 for some highlights with harsh chemicals and bleach on your hair, go to your kitchen and reach for some LEMONS. People have being doing so for many year. YES...I have tried this years ago and it really works. 


5 lemons
Spray bottle
Water
SUN :)

Squeeze the juice from the lemons and mix with about a 1/4 cup of water. Apply to damp hair and go relax in the sun for about an hour. After time has elapsed, Cleanse hair and condition (A LOT), and dry as usual. BE SURE TO CONDITION MORE THAN USUAL BECAUSE THE LEMONS CAN BE DRYING TO THE HAIR.

Also don't forget your sunscreen while out in the sun!

This can be done a few times a week until desired lightness but don't over do it with because of the chance of hair becoming too dry.

How to Make a Relaxing Bath from your Garden

Herbs in Baths

After a busy and crazy day a long soak in the bath can help make matters better but why not add a little something extra from your herb garden. Herbs are the best thing to add to your bath water to help with a relaxing soak. There are many different types that may be used.

Lavender
Chamomile
Peppermint
Mint
Rosemary
Thyme

These are just a few, and they can be used in foot soaks too! :)

*Be sure to enclose the herbs in some sort of bag with holes, cotton cloth, or a nylon sock for easier clean up.*

Uses for Coconut Oil

Coconut Oil is the latest Beauty Craze

Coconut oil has been used for centuries in other countries but just now is becoming popular here in the United States. There are so many beauty uses for it. Some of the benefits for it include stress relief, skin care, hair care, and weight loss (just a few). Coconut oil contains high amounts of vitamin E which is good for our hair and skin.

Hair Care: Can help with shine, help turn damaged hair into healthy hair, used as a conditioner, and fight dandruff by applying to hair daily.

Skin Care: Can be used as a moisturizer and help fight wrinkles

When consumed it can increase our metabolism and energy.

There is also a new craze with coconut oil called "oil pulling". It's new here but has been practiced in other places for a while. We always seem to lag in all the beauty crazes over here. After brushing your teeth, take a spoonful of the oil and swish around for 20 minutes. Some of the benefits claimed by users include:

Good for oral hygiene by removing bacteria, plaque and gingivitis

 GET WHITER TEETH :)

Improve joint  pain and arthritis

Improve  and eliminate migraines

Improve sinus infections

Improve skin conditions

Improve allergies

Improve digestive issues

Improve eyesight

Increase hair growth

Uses for Cucumbers

Cucumbers


Since it's summer and gardens should be producing large amounts of cucumbers, if you want some other options for some uses for them, look no farther.


Everyone knows or should know that cucumbers on the eyes will relieve puffiness but what about other uses? I have found some that will make you want to try them just to see if they really work.

• Skin irritations? Place a cucumber peel where the aloe would normally be placed.

• Foggy mirror? Rub a cucumber on the mirror before a shower to eliminate the fog.

• Bad breath? Place a cucumber slice in your mouth for 1 minute to kill bacteria that causes it.

• Something squeaky? Rub a cuke where WD40 would normally go to stop squeakiness.

How to Condition Hair Naturally

Conditioning for Hair

Here's a great little trick for at an home conditioning mask for your hair. Just go to your kitchen and grab some olive oil and honey.

-Honey
-Olive Oil
-Plastic Cap (if you don't have one a plastic grocery bag will do the trick)

Combine 1 tablespoon of honey with 3 tablespoons of olive oil in a microwave safe bowl. Heat for 10 seconds and continue to heat until desired temperature. Apply to your damp hair and work throughout scalp to ends. Put your plastic hair cap (or plastic bag) on and allow to sit for at least 30 minutes. Then shampoo out. You may use conditioner after shampooing. You should notice a softer more conditioned look and feel to your hair.

Honey Facial

Honey......

Honey is great for many things but I bet you never thought about it on your face. It is good for acne and for moisturizing your skin.

Honey is a humectant which allows it to attract moisture and can really help out those dry areas on your skin.

It can be used alone or in other masks or cleansers (but we'll get to that later on).


-Apply honey to a cleansed face and neck (if desired)
<you may want to wet your face a small amount to smooth the honey better>
-Allow to sit for 15-20 minutes
-Rinse with warm water

(PICTURE OF SISTER WITH HONEY MASK)

*TRY TO USE RAW HONEY IF POSSIBLE*


I have used honey as a mask and mixed with other ingredients (that I'll share later) and I have to say that I love the way it makes my skin feel. At first I thought that the stickiness would be hard to get off but it wasn't at all. So what are you waiting for.....give it a try!

 

How to useTea Bags for Puffy Eyes

Got Puffy Eyes?

After a long day or restless night we may get puffy eyes. There are expensive creams you can purchase or just go to your kitchen and grab some....................................Tea Bags...YES...Tea Bags


-Green Tea or Chamomile Tea Bags
-Cotton Balls or Round Facial Sponges

Cleanse face
Brew tea and allow to cool
Soak cotton balls (squeeze out extra)
Place over eyes for 15 minutes and relax


YOU CAN DO THIS DAILY!

The tea should energize and refresh the treated area.

The leftover tea can be poured into a coffee cup and enjoyed. :)

Vitamin A

Vitamin A


All vitamins are beneficial to a healthy body but Vitamin A may be extra helpful for your skin


     A good source of Vitamin A can be found in low fat dairy products, and experts say that the health of your skin cells depend on foods with vitamin A.


Low fat yogurt is a good place to start to get your vitamin A. It also contains live bacteria that is good for your digestion system which  is also good for healthy looking skin. So grab some yogurt and eat up!

Other useful information on Vitamin A

Reminders

We all want beautiful skin so we try new ways to get it, but there everyday reminders to keep in mind.

• Keep hydrated

• Limit sun exposure

• Always use sunblock (you can still tan with sunblock if wanting a tan)

• Eat a healthy and balanced diet

                                                                              :)

Cost

$ COST $

So far you should see that these are inexpensive alternatives to costly products in the store. When trying out these recipes, if you don't like one or it didn't really work (some take several times to see outcome), you didn't really waste that much money.

The most expensive item that I have listed so far is the extra virgin olive oil which can be used in the kitchen to cook with too, so it shouldn't go to waste. :) Prices vary with the olive oil depending on the brand you purchase.

The sea salt, brown sugar, lemons, and tomatoes all only cost a few dollars!

So what are you waiting for, give natural skin care a try! :)

How to use Tomatoes on Skin

Tomatoes on the Skin

Tomatoes are said to shrink the pores on your face, fight blackheads, control oily skin, and brighten the skin.

2 tomatoes
Blender (or fork)
Bowl

Take 2 tomatoes and either blend or smash with a fork, and apply to a clean face.
Leave on your skin for 15-20 minutes
Rinse with warm water
Splash with cool water (to close pores)

I have not tried this but am going to. I want to see if it really will shrink your pores!


*Tomatoes can also be used for sunburn on the skin or burns in the kitchen. Just apply the tomato to the area that needs to be treated.*

How to use Lemons to Lighten Skin

Using Lemons to Lighten Skin

Lemon juice has been used to lighten hair for years but it also can be used to lighten your skin. It can give a lighter complexion or fade dark spots on skin due to over exposure to sun.


2-3 lemons
Spray bottle
Water

Squeeze the juice from the lemons and add to a spray bottle. Add an equal amount of water. You can then spray it on your face and let dry. Keep it on overnight for best results. In the morning do your regular routine. It may also be left on throughout the day.

Be sure to avoid any cuts to your skin to avoid burning.

Tips and Info

When using olive oil in your scrubs you want to try to use extra virgin olive oil. It isn't processed like  the other types and will be of greater benefit on your skin.

Olive oil has been used by people for skincare for thousands of years and has many benefits for different parts of your body with sources of vitamin A & E.
 
Some of the other ways that it may used:

• Can be used on your hair for extra moisture and shine
• Lips for moisture
• Small amounts on body to moisturize instead of lotion
• Can be used at night after cleansing face for a nightly moisturizer (thin layer)
• Applied to cuticles
• Eye make-up remover

Sea Salt Facial Scrub

~This scrub is similar to the brown sugar scrub except it can be used
 for extra exfoliation on the skin~

SEA SALT SCRUB

1-2 teaspoons of sea salt
1-2 teaspoons of olive oil

• Cleanse face and remove any present make-up

<You can leave the face a little moist after cleansing (I find it to work better)>

• Apply the scrub in a circular motion
• Rinse with warm water
• Splash face with cool water to close pores

*This scrub is a little more rough than the brown sugar one due to the sea salt so be more gentle when scrubbing*

                          CAN ALSO BE USED TO EXFOLIATE THE BODY IN THE SHOWER

 

 

Facial Scrubs

Exfoliation to the facial area should be done 3-4 times a week in my opinion. Doing it more can be a little harsh on it and may even dry it out. When exfoliating the face you could use store bought bottles or try something natural that isn't as harsh for you. There are many different ingredients to use from your kitchen to make these scrubs. You probably have most on hand or they can be easily purchased from your grocery store or health food store.

First Scrub (tried it many times and <3 it)

Brown Sugar and Olive Oil Scrub

1 teaspoon of brown sugar
1-2 teaspoons of olive oil
(If not enough you can always add a little more)

Mix together and rub gently in circular motions on face and neck avoiding eye area. (Being too hard could scratch or tear or skin)

Your skin will feel softer after the exfoliation! :)

Rinse face with warm water and a splash of cool water at the end to close your pores.