Sunday morning facial

After 2 nights out and 1 of them where I ended up being rather sick.. I decided that my poor body not only needed a bit of a detox but my skin was feeling tired and drawn so I decided to go about creating a morning facial.

It is very simple to follow and I found all ingredients already present in my house so I do hope those of you who like it will be able to re-create it easily in your own homes!

I would recommend this for all skin types but especially for those needed a bit of hydration after a hard week or busy weekend.

So the complete facial consists of:

Cleanser
Facial steam
Mask
Moisturiser

1. Cleanser
This is a very basic simple recipe but also acts as an exfoliant to the skin. This is not a cleanser to be stored but rather just make the amount you want to use and discard anything left over.

1. In a food processer whizz 3-4 whole almonds (raw), only pulse maybe 4-5 times as you have to be careful with almonds not to process them to a butter!
2. Put the processed almonds in a small mixing bowl and add 1 tsp of milk, mix until it makes a spreadable paste
3. Leave for a minute to thicken.
4. Massage into your face using your fingers for a couple of minutes.
5. Rinse off face and lightly pay-dry your face with a towel.

2. Facial steam
You can change the ingredients of this steam according to what you prefer and required for your skin. I am using Apple Cider Vinegar in this recipe as it helps to restore the natural pH level in your skin.

1. Boil 3 cups of water with 1/4 cup of Apple Cider vinegar in a pot.
2. Once boiled take off heat and add 3-4 lavender heads, 3 tsps of fresh rosemary, 3 sprigs of fresh mint.
3. Place the lid on the pot and let it brew for 5 minutes.
4. Get a large towel and place it over your head and shoulders so that it covers the pot also (creating a tent like structure), breathe in deeply and relax.
5. Stay like this for 10 minutes and enjoy the relaxing smells..

3. Mask
With this recipe I make up a great lot of the dried mix and just add 1-2 tsp of the mix with cream as I go. So just beware that this recipe makes a bit and can be stored in a zip-lock bag for months.

1. Whizz in the food processer 1/4 cup of rolled oats, 5-6 whole almonds (un-roasted) and 1/8 cup of sunflower seeds. Process till it makes a chunky powder - It does not have to be perfect!
2. Place the processed mix into a mixing bowl and add 2 tsp of finely chopped rosemary leaves and a small dash of cinnamon
3. Put in a zip-lock bag for storage
4. Mix 3 tsp of the mix with 1-2 tsp of cream so that it makes a spreadable paste - leave to thicken
5. Spread all over your face and neck and leave for 20 minutes
6. Rinse your face well!

4. Moisturiser
This is a very basic moisturiser which I use all day long - it is so refreshing through this hot weather and smells so good :) You can purchase Vegetable glycerin from Huckleberry Farms, this product is a carbohydrate derived from plant oils and helps to replenish the moisture in your skin.

1. In a jar place 1/2 cup of water, 2 tsp vegetable glycerin and 6 drops of lemon essential oil
2. Shake well and put in a facial spray container.
3. Every time you use this shake it well before spraying on your face.

Fresh and clean!

Strawberries!

It has come to my attention that Strawberries are more potent and useful than I originally thought!

Did you know that Strawberries have healing and drying properties? Well I didn't! It contains a very gentle exfoliating acid which can be used on your skin to get rid of dead-skin that may build-up - sounds grosse I know but very real on any face!

I also once read years ago in a women's magazine an article about Catherine Zeta-Jones allegedly rubbing strawberries on her teeth as a whitener. Turns out this is not a whole of rubbish and that strawberries do contain a bleaching property also which if used daily can help us all get rid of the fearful coffee stains!

Here in New Zealand strawberries are currently in season and you can pick them up so cheap from the supermarket or fruit store - So go spend a dollar or so and try this easy method - eating a few strawberries daily will also do you justice and is also an easy way to make sure you have your fruit intake!

So here I share with you 2 recipes; one a simple face wash for oily-normal skin and an easy strawbug-bleach-brush!

Strawberry cleanser:

This is not to be stored and just made as needed :) I have used Lemon essential oil as it contains acidic properties that help to eliminate oily conditions of the face and leave it feeling so fresh and so clean clean! Lemon also contains a mild bleach which if used regularly can help to even skin tone.


Ingredients
4-5 strawberries (make sure these are super ripe and easy to mash!)
1-2 drops of lemon essential oil

Method
Mash the strawberries in a small bowl
Strain through a small sieve or coffee filter
Taking just the liquid remaining add the lemon essence
Apply to the face and neck with a cotton pad and massage into skin
Rinse and pat-dry your skin - NEVER dry your skin vigorously as this is very delicate and can be damaged easily!

Strawbug-bleach-brush:

Ingredients
Strawberries

Method
You can work this recipe simultaneously with the cleanser and use the juicy pulp left over
Put some on your toothbrush and brush gently into teeth for 2 minutes
Rinse your mouth well

Let me know if you try these and have any feedback - I tried both for the first time today and really enjoyed them both. I found the Strawbug-bleach-brush a little strange to start off with but if it whitens my teeth and it is that cost effective I really have no complaints!

Happy cleansing!

Megan X

Treatment for Rosacea

 
Recently a middle aged man in my life (daddy-dearest) asked me to do some research on Rosacea and the treatment of this skin disorder through natural remedies. He does not necessarily have Rosacea himself but does experience some redness and dryness in his upper cheeks, like myself, so I set about some research on the web and created a face-paste (similar to my Tumeric face mask) as well as a night cream.

Symptoms and signs of rosacea include:

• Areas of redness on your face
• Small red bumps or pustules on your nose, cheeks, forehead, and/or chin
• Small blood vessels on your nose and/or cheeks (called telangiectasia)
• Tendency to flush or blush

Resource: http://altmedicine.about.com

Worsening Symptoms of Rosacea:

• Sun Exposure
• Stress
• Hot weather
• Drinking alcohol
• Spicy foods
• Exercise
• Wind
• Hot baths
• Hot drinks
• Cold weather 

Resource: http://dermatology.about.com

Below I would like to share with you the two quick recipes I cooked up :)

1. Tumeric face paste - Helps to reduce redness and soothes skin

To be applied daily to problem areas, left on for 10-15 minutes then washed off with a hot face cloth.

1. Put 1/2 cup of water to boil
2. Once boiling sift 1/8 cup of Tumeric to boiling water
3. Constantly stir till a thick paste is formed (Can take around 5-10 minutes)
4. Then add 1 Tbsp of Virgin Coconut Oil and mix through
5. Sift through 1 tsp of Rice flour to thicken

NB: Remembering to constantly stir is the key here!

Why Tumeric is useful in treating Rosacea:

Although the exact reason behind onset of Rosacea is not yet known, doctors claim that inflation of facial blood vessels initiates the unusual redness of skin. The pimples are caused due to clogged skin pores and bacterial infection. Anti-inflammatory and antibacterial qualities of turmeric fight these skin problems and regular use of it checks the relapse of the skin disease. Hence, use of turmeric is a safe and handy method for controlling rosacea.

Resource:http://www.ifood.tv

2. Coco Butter & Jojoba skin protector - creates a protective barrier on the skin to keep moisture in
To be applied daily before going to bed

1. Put 100g Cocoa Butter and 50g Beeswax pellets into a double boiler
2. Stir until both ingredients have compeltely melted.
3. Stir through gently 100 ml of Jojoba Oil
4. Pour into glass jar and leave lid off till completely cooled

About the ingredients

Beeswax. Beeswax acts as a humectant and is found in numerous body and lip balms. It helps lock in moisture in the skin and provides protective coating from the environment, making it a great alternative to petroleum jelly. It also has anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial properties and is often used with other skin care ingredients to treat eczema and psoriasis.
Cocoa butter. Cocoa butter is a centuries-old treatment for dry skin. It is considered an occlusive that provides a coating on the skin, creating a protective barrier and slowing the natural escape of moisture from the skin. It also helps relieve irritation and inflammation of the skin and therefore is good for conditions like eczema. Cocoa butter is often used to fade scars and stretch marks.
Jojoba oil. Jojoba oil, which is similar to human sebum, acts as a humectant and creates a protective coating over the skin to help keep moisture in. It is used quite often in aromatherapy because it doesn’t go rancid like vegetable oils. It also doesn’t clog pores and is not greasy. Jojoba oil contains vitamin E, an antioxidant that protects against free radical damage, a cause of premature skin aging. It helps improve skin elasticity and has been used for skin disorders like eczema, psoriasis, and  Rosacea.

Resource: http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com

Tumeric - My new Super Spice!

 So the last few days I have been experiencing dry skin on my upper cheeks and there is nothing that frustrates me more than having issues with my skin. So I did a bit of research on home remedies especially face masks and came across many articles that suggested Tumeric as a cure for not only dry skin but also (apparently) quote 'helps the treatment of acne blemishes, blackheads, dark spots and hyperpigmentation and other skin conditions like eczema and psoriasis. It helps heal and prevent dry skin, and to slow the skin aging process, and is used to diminish wrinkles, keep skin supple and improve skin’s elasticity. Tumeric is also being used as an ingredient in sunscreens. It is used daily by East Indian women as a facial cleanser and exfoliant.' http://multiculturalbeauty.about.com.

I am convinced immediately! PLUS my latest fad in cooking is highly South East Asian inspired (my 'boss' is from Pakistan and this influences me everyday more), so I love the fact that I can bring this spice into other areas of my life LOL. Apparently Thandie Newton places a sprinkle of Tumeric in her daily moisturiser and works a treat for her! SO I ignored all the warnings for white woman trying these face masks may cause yellow staining to skin HAHA and produced the following:

Tumeric face mask for dry skin & colour lift:

1 Tbsp of Rice flour (because I have become a normal flour snob as of late)
1/4 tsp of Tumeric powder
2 Tbsp of Coconut Oil

Method:

1. Mix flour and Tumeric together
2. Chuck in the Coconut Oil, which at first is hard so you need to mix this well till it creates a thick paste.
3. Apply to the skin CAREFULLY! The paste may crumble a bit so make sure you are doing it in a suitable place ie. not infront of the mirror in the garage with a white carpet underneath = yellow stains hmm NOT GOOD!
4. Leave on for 15 minutes and then wash off with a DARK coloured hot face cloth.

NB: Excuse the rank photo but this is just after taking the mask off and with no make up ;)

FEELING GOOD?

Blogged by: Megan