Natural Beauty Secret #1
Did you know that the way
you eat and when you eat can affect the look of your skin?
What you put in your body is more important than what you
put on it in terms of skin care and looking your best. The
best place to start with a natural beauty regimen is at the
dining table. One of the easiest natural beauty cures is to
make sure you are getting enough water. Dry bodies have dry
skin, wrinkles are more pronounced and the skin can have a
dull, lack-luster appearance.
For glowing, vibrant, younger
–looking skin, give it, and the rest of your body, a drink.
Another dietary deficiency that can cause your skin to look
less than its best is not getting enough fiber in your diet.
Choosing whole grains, beans, legumes, and nuts, seeds and
dried fruits is as good for the outside of you as it is for
the inside. Excess sugar intake can cause a breakdown of the
collagen in our skin cells. Collagen is responsible for the
elasticity of our skin, tendons, cartilage and other
connective tissues in the body. This loss of collagen causes
sagging skin, as well as the formation of wrinkles adding up
to premature aging of the skin. Lastly, we all know our
waistlines and hearts need us to watch the kinds of fats we
eat. But did you know your skin has much the same
requirements? Essential fatty acids like flaxseed and fish
oils work on the body at the cell level, fighting
inflammatory conditions like acne and eczema, as well as
moisturizing dry skin from the inside.
Natural Beauty Secret #2
What would a trip to a spa
be without a facial? You can give yourself a natural face
lift right in your own home with ingredients from your
kitchen. One simple and easy recipe for a natural facial is
to take two egg yolks and whisk them until firm and
consistent. Then add in a teaspoon or so of sugar. Mix the
two thoroughly and then apply to your face. Relax for 20 to
30 minutes before washing off with warm water and a soft
cloth. Eggs have plenty of protein rich in amino acids,
which help smooth skin and reduce the appearance of fine
lines and wrinkles. The sugar not only adds texture, but
also gives the skin a nice healthy glow.
Natural Beauty Secret #3
Most spas offer decadent
services like full body scrubs, and surely you can’t
duplicate those at home, can you? Absolutely! Take ½ cup
olive oil, ¾ cup fine sea salt and several drops of your
favorite essential oil, like lavender, rose or sandalwood.
Combine altogether and then hop in the shower. Rinse
yourself down and then exfoliate all over with your scrub.
Rinse again. You can cleanse with your favorite soap after,
or prepare for a long soak in the bath with Natural Beauty
Secret #4, your organic, homemade moisturizing bath sachet.
The olive oil will moisturize your skin, while the sea salts
provide a gentle, natural exfoliation, leaving skin looking
younger and feeling softer, smoother and sexier.
Natural Beauty Secret #4
Forget the bath sachets and
oils that leave your wallet stretched and your tub slimy.
You can create a luxuriously moisturizing bath using the
same ingredients you have for breakfast. While your bath
water is running, add ¼ to ½ cup of dry skim milk powder.
Take ¼ to ½ cup of instant oatmeal and tie it up in a piece
of cheese cloth, netting or even an old knee high stocking.
Add it to your bath as well. If you’d like, you can add a
few drops of your favorite essential oil again, just to keep
you smelling as lovely as you’ll look.
Natural Beauty Secret #5
The icing on most spa
visits is a pampering manicure. File and shape your nails as
usual. Over-polishing of your nails and the use of nail
glues for acrylic nails can both lead to discoloration. A
quick scrub with a whitening toothpaste and a soft bristled
toothbrush, or a long soak in a small bowl of lemon juice,
can bring your nails back to their natural tone. Whiten your
nails, then can give yourself beautiful, healthy, shiny,
strong fingernails at home with the aid of a few essential
oils. A mixture of olive oil, coconut oil, lemon oil and
natural vanilla extract makes a sweet smelling oil to rub
into the nails and cuticles. The oils act to strengthen and
smooth the nails, preventing cracking and chipping. They
soften the cuticles as well, ending embarrassing and painful
hang-nails and torn cuticles.
So, while you may not have
a Swedish masseuse at home, you can give yourself the same
“lap of luxury” beauty treatments offered by many of the
fanciest spas and salons. And you can do it for a fraction
of the cost, without using harsh chemicals or expensive,
hard to find products. While you may have to wait for that
posh weekend retreat, with a few simple natural beauty
secrets, you can experience the same relaxing, natural
beauty results right in your own home.
