Best Natural Face Mask

For decades, people have been using honey to treat skin problems such as pimples, scars, marks, spots and other skin conditions. The honey mask for pimples does not have a single formula. You can prepare it with different blends of herbal remedies and other ingredients. This article will help you identify what natural ingredients work well with honey to achieve a healthier skin. Using honey as facial mask is one of the most widely used homemade skin care treatment and if you too are serious about getting rid of your pimples in a natural, safe way and if its seems that chemical based beauty products do not work out well on your skin the honey mask is the right choice for you. We have here a number of honey mask recipes to show you how to make honey as facial mask. Try it and find the one that suits your skin needs.

Apple Honey Mask Ingredients:

• 4 to 5 tablespoons of honey (if possible organic)
• 1 medium-sized apple (if possible organic)
• Lukewarm water

Scoop out the seeds of the apple and run the rest in a blender to make a fine pulp. Now add 3-4 apples depending on how many persons it will serve and the size of the apple. The amount of honey must be enough to mix well with the pulp. Mix up well into a uniform paste. Apply a layer of this apple honey mask on your whole face. Leave for ten to fifteen minutes and allow the mask dry up a little. When done, wash off the mask with lukewarm water.

Milk Lemon Yogurt Honey Mask Ingredients:

• 1 tablespoon of fresh yogurt
• 2 tablespoons of honey
• 2 tablespoons of fresh milk
• lukewarm water
• fresh juice of one lemon

Just blend well all the ingredients in a basin to get an even paste. Apply one layer of this mixture on your whole face and down on your throat. Leave it to face for a few minutes till it dries up. Then apply one more layer and continue applying until you have used the whole paste you prepared. When you are done applying, leave it again for around ten minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.

Lemon and Mayonnaise Honey Mask Ingredients:

• 1 teaspoon honey
• 1 tablespoon of lemon juice
• 2 egg whites

Combine 1 tablespoon of lemon juice with 1 teaspoon of honey. Add 2 egg whites. After mixing these items together, apply the mixture all over the face. Let it stand for 20 minutes to let the natural ingredients to react as well as work so they can do the cleansing and softening of your skin. Rinse with warm water and pat dry with a clean towel to dry. Preparing these natural facial masks seems a daunting task. But it is worth the effort if it gives better result than your expensive chemical based beauty products like honey masks.

Facial At Home: Skin Care Tips and Recipes

Keeping skin soft and healthy is important, but many commercial products contain harsh chemicals or are very expensive. The good news is that skin care doesn't have to cost a lot of money. With basic household ingredients, keeping skin healthy and hydrated is simple. These recipes are designed for having a facial at home.

Cucumber and Olive Oil Mask
* 3 oz. diced cucumber
* 3 tsp olive oil
* 2 tsp plain yogurt.

Mix the three ingredients until combined. Apply to face and leave on skin for about 15 minutes or until mostly dried. Wash off with cold water. This is a great mask for dry skin, especially in the winter time. The olive oil helps to moisturize delicate facial skin, while the cucumber and yogurt plump skin cells and help to maintain brightness. Use this mask alone if pressed for time, or take a few hours to do an entire facial at home.

This facial at home option can take a few hours, but is a great way to pamper yourself without spending a lot of money. First, get two slices of cucumber, turn on some relaxing music, and pull back hair into a headband. Start by removing any makeup with a gentle cleanser. Remove eye makeup and then rinse with warm water, patting skin dry.

Secondly, use an exfoliator to remove dead skin cells. A basic exfoliating product will work well. Apply a nickel-sized portion, and using gentle, circular motions, exfoliate the face and neck. Be careful not to get too close to the eyes, as the skin in that area is delicate. After this step, rinse face clean.

Thirdly, open the pores. Get a towel wet with warm water. Put the towel on the chin, and wrap both ends around the forehead, spreading it out to cover the sides of the face, leaving a small opening at the nose to breath freely. If available, light a scented candle or use an aromatherapy spray. Relax while reclining for a few minutes while the pores open gently.

Fourthly, apply a facial mask. This can be the oil and cucumber mask, or any other ones available from stores or made at home. Put on the mask and apply the cucumber slices to the eyes. Masks should usually be applied for about 15 minutes. Rinse off the mask, making sure to remove all of it. After patting skin dry, moisturize the face and neck. Use an oil-free moisturizer that won't clog pores. Even individuals with oily skin should apply a moisturizer. Choose a light one which won't weigh down skin.

This at home facial is a great way to relax with friends or just devoting an evening to yourself. Having an at home facial is inexpensive and requires only basic skincare products. For a relaxing and pampering experience, take a few hours and try this facial method at home.

Home Weight Loss Plan

Being overweight is quite certainly one of the greatest health risk people over the world are facing today. Medically, this condition is known as obesity. Obese people are very vulnerable to a large number of lethal diseases, such as atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, heart attacks and other cardiovascular problems, diabetes, paralysis and gangrene. Hence, doctors and medical experts all over the world stress on maintaining a healthy weight to keep most diseases at bay.

In Ayurveda, there are several dietary and herbal techniques by which people can reduce weight. Just like it does in other treatments, Ayurveda does not believe in any kind of debilitating treatment methods; instead its treatments are centered on making the person lead a healthier lifestyle. The following article is about some of the best remedies and methods that people can do within their homes to achieve a healthier profile.

Treatment with Simple Home Remedies

Remedy # 1

This one is not actually a remedy, but it is the most important thing you must do in order to keep your weight in a normal level. And that is, stick to a healthy diet. The following are the dietary guidelines you must follow in order to keep your waistline healthy: -

1 Do not overindulge in eating any one type of food. Keep your diet balanced.

2 Keep the intake of sugars and fats to a minimum. The fats to be avoided are the saturated fats and the trans-fatty acids.

3 Too much carbohydrates build weight. Hence, the intake of rice and potatoes must be reduced. Wheat, barley and maize are ideal substitutes for rice in people who has weight problems.

4 You must have at least one bitter vegetable per day. This helps in the proper metabolism of fats and do not allow them to accumulate in the body.

5 Never eat to full capacity.

6 Consume a lot of fluids in the day. This helps to eliminate the undigested foods effectively.

7 Exercise is extremely important. It is necessary to indulge in mild physical activity after each meal even if you cannot make time to go to a gym.

Remedy # 2

Have a totally salt-free diet once a week. This helps reduce weight. Also skip a meal once in a month.

Remedy # 3

Prepare chutney of mint leaves. This must be taken with every single meal. It helps in the proper breaking down of the fats. Also begin your day with a cup of mint tea.

Remedy # 4

Vitamin C is very good for people who are looking to reduce their weight. Since amalaki (Emblica officinalis, Indian Gooseberry) is the best source of vitamin C in the world, it is good to eat two three fruits of the amalaki each day. Also have a glass of any one citrus fruit – orange, lemon, etc. – each day. Green leafy vegetables also have good vitamin C content. They can be consumed raw in the form of salads.

Remedy # 5

Honey is very good for mobilizing the fats in the body. Take a spoonful of honey half an hour after every meal. A good remedy is to mix a teaspoonful of honey and lemon juice and have it twice a day. Alternatively, you can take a bowl of warm water, put a teaspoonful each of honey and lemon juice and drink it in the morning on an empty stomach. This is a very good remedy to dissolve the excess fats.

Remedy # 6

The Indian plum, i.e. jambula, is renowned for its weight controlling properties. Jambula dissolves the excess fats and gets them properly utilized in the body. Take four leaves of the jambula plant and soak them in a glass of water overnight. In the morning, discard the leaves and drink the water on an empty stomach. If you do this everyday, then you will find a positive reduction in your weight in three weeks or a month.

Treatment with Special Ayurvedic Methods

Ayurvedic experts would first try to ascertain what dosha type the patient is, because the treatment of obesity depends on that. Generally, Vashti Karma is prescribed, a therapy that is quite like giving an enema. This flushes the toxins from the body. Then other methods are employed to reduce the excess fats.

5 Best Black and Whitehead Removal with Scrubs

Make your personal scrubs to reduce the thin layer of skin and loosen the whiteheads inside their ‘nests'. And make an effort to steam your face before you may apply those scrubs. Listed below are handful of tested recipes of those scrubs.

Flour Scrub:

Rice or oat flour is a wonderful base for just about any homemade scrub to remove whiteheads on nose. These flours are coarse-grained and so they clear your skin layer gently. In the event you don't have rice or oat flour, you can create some along with your coffee mill or kitchen food processor.

Mix some rice or oats flour with a bit of whole milk or cream, you can add turmeric natural powder and apply to your facial area. Rub it in and rinse out gently.

Coffee scrub:

Grained coffee results in a great face and the entire body scrub. Coffee can tone the skin layer and release or get rid of whiteheads and blackheads. Take some grained coffee and put it on on your own face skin. Leave it on for short while and rinse off.

Baking soda scrub:

Take a tbsp of baking soda, include it with some grained oats and put some water to make a paste as a result. You may also include things like cinnamon to have a good fragrance. Make use of this scrub on your own face softly. Wash it away with tepid to warm water.

This scrub assists your skin layer to exfoliate. The baking soda also kills harmful bacteria. It's alkaline plus the most hazardous germs choose acid environment. Baking soda likewise helps the skin to exfoliate quicker.

Potatoes scrub:

Potatoes can also be utilized successfully for the treatment of whitehead. Grate a potato and use it on the face. Give the solution 10 mins after which apply it merely simply because  as a result you're going to get rid of not only the potato but the whiteheads, as well.

Any of these home made scrubs used for eliminating whiteheads on nose work well and assist your skin layer to resume more quickly. You may possibly follow them up with an application of some fresh lemon juice on your skin layer to strengthen it. Fresh lemon juice can help break down sebum inside skin pores.

How to Make Your Own Herbal Ear Oil

Ear infections are rather cantankerous buggers and can certainly cause a lot of pain. Something many people don't realize is that up to 70% of all ear infections are actually viral. Antibiotics do nothing for a viral infection - they only benefit us when it is a bacterial infection.

In May of 2003, Pediatrics published an article entitled "Naturopathic Treatment for Ear Pain in Children".* The short story: there was a double-blind trial in an outpatient community clinic to compare an herbal oil containing garlic, mullein, calendula, St. John's wort and lavender with some Vitamin E Oil to the use of amoxicillin for ear infections. Amazingly, they found that the herbal oil showed an equal improvement rate after 3 days and better improvement overall than the amoxicillin! Not only do they work great, but they are very inexpensive and able to be made at home!

General Info 

•  Garlic 
• Mullein 
•  Calendula 
•  St. John's Wort 
•  Lavender 
•  Vitamin E Oil 
•  Cold Pressed Extra Virgin Olive Oil 
•  Oven proof jar (for extraction process) 
•  Cheesecloth 
•  Small silicone colander (not necessary, but helpful) 
•  Jar with pour spout 
•  Amber glass bottle with dropper top

Preheat your oven to 200 degrees.

Get an oven proof jar (doesn't have to be very big as you probably don't need gallons of this stuff).

Put equal parts of garlic, mullein, calendula, St. John's Wort, and lavender into the jar.

Pour enough cold pressed extra virgin olive oil into the jar to completely cover the herbs.

Stir well.

Place the jar into the preheated oven and turn the oven OFF.

Leave to sit in the oven for 3 to 4 hours.

Remove the jar (you may want a towel or something to grab it with just in case it is too warm for your hands).

Cover the jar and let it sit at room temperature for another 4 to 5 hours to finish extracting and cooling.

Get your jar (or small glass pan) with a pour spout.

Put enough cheesecloth into your silicone colander (if you are using one) to be able to grab it all up and twist and squeeze later.

Pour the extract from the oven proof jar into the cheesecloth lined silicone colander over the jar with a pour spout to strain the herbs back out of your oil.

Once you have poured all of the liquid into the cheesecloth, grab the ends of the cheesecloth and squeeze them together and then start spinning the bottom ball of herbs around to tighten everything up. Once it is tightened up and you have removed the silicone colander out of your way, you can then squeeze the bottom ball of herbs in your cheesecloth to get out every last bit of the oil. The oil that has soaked into these herbs is going to be the most potent, so we want to get as much as possible back out of the herbs.

Add some drops of Vitamin E Oil (how many drops kind of depends on how much you are making - but I would think 5 drops for a 1/2 ounce amber bottle should be great). This is optional, but beneficial if you have it.

Pour the herbal oil into your amber glass jar and put on the dropper top. That's it!

When you go to use the oil you may find it much nicer warmed up. You can warm it by taken out the dropper top and placing the bottle into a pan of simmering water on the stove top (just like warming a baby bottle). Alternatively, if you have a small bottle (like 1/2 to 1 ounce size) you can also place the bottle (covered) under your armpit and hold it there for a few minutes until it has warmed up.

You can use 5 drops (more or less, depending on how much it takes to fill your ear canal without it overflowing) 3 - 4 times daily.

NOTE: You may want to label this with a water proof label in case some of the oil spills on it during use.

ALTERNATIVES:

• Our pediatrician suggested a mix of half extra virgin olive oil and half hydrogen peroxide to help with buildup of earwax in our children. You do need to gently mix it each time you go to use it because the two liquids constantly separate, but you need to mix it gently enough that you don't set off the bubbles in the hydrogen peroxide.
• Another option is extra virgin olive oil infused with garlic. You can simply cut up some garlic cloves and drop them into the oil and let them sit in a dark cupboard for a few weeks - then strain out the garlic chunks. Garlic is well known for its antibacterial properties, making this option beneficial for ear infections if you don't have access to the other herbs to include in the oil.

CAUTION: NEVER put anything into your ear if you have a perforated ear drum unless it is something your licensed health care provider has instructed you to put there.

8 Perfect Home Remedies for Younger Looking Skin

In an age where synthetic treatments tend to be expensive and have long-term hazards on the skin, au naturelle is the way to go. Here we will explore proven ways on how you can have that coveted younger skin naturally.

Hydrate

Water is a vital source of moisture. Not only does it help improve circulation from the vital organs to the rest of the body, it also encourages cell renewal. When a person perspires or suffers from dehydration, he loses vital moisture, which causes skin drying. Be sure to replace lost moisture by drinking 8 glasses of water or two liters in a day.

Workout

Exercising leads to perspiration, which helps promote proper blood circulation and lets nutrients reach the skin's surface. It also helps release toxins in the body that cause premature aging. The result: fresh, youthful-looking skin and a healthier you.

Take Vitamins and Organic Supplements

This is especially true for individuals who are not to keen on eating vegetables and fruits, or those who are big on red meat. Taking daily all-natural supplements ensures that you're not lacking in the essential nutrients needed by the body. Supplements like XtendLife's Total Balance Unisex Plus contains micro-nutrients like vitamins, antioxidants and enzymes that are crucial in preventing premature aging and achieving younger skin naturally and safely.

Consume Healthful Foods

Numerous studies have revealed that less fat and red meat and more fish, vegetables and fruits results to fewer wrinkles. Also, betacarotene-rich foods like carrots and tomatoes provide Vitamin A which renews collagen, a natural skin protein responsible for the skin's firmness.

Citrus fruits and berries contain plenty of Vitamin C that promote collagen regeneration. Citrus fruits also contain bioflavonoids, which keep capillaries strong, thus preventing broken veins from appearing on the skin.

Fatty acids that replace lost collagen, provide moisture and prevent skin breakouts can be found abundantly in nuts.

Avoid Sun Exposure

You have probably heard that early morning sun basking is essential for Vitamin D conversion. However, exposure to the UV rays of the sun after 9am, destroys the skin's natural collagen, thus resulting to skin damage, wrinkles and premature aging. If you're aiming for younger skin naturally, get a tan elsewhere.

Say No to Smoking

Cigarettes have no known benefits to the body, be it the heart or the skin. They contain harmful carbon monoxide which impedes blood circulation to capillaries that supply nutrients to the skin. Further, it prevents the absorption of Vitamin C, a collagen proponent.

Sleep Sufficiently and Properly Positioned

Sleep is essential for achieving younger skin naturally, since growth hormone - which enables the cells to repair and regenerate - only functions when the body is at rest. An optimum 7 to 8 hour-sleep is recommended because every 2 to 3 hours starting at 8pm, the body performs special repair functions: hydration, regeneration, and resting. Inadequate sleep causes the blood vessels to constrict, so nutrients hardly reach the skin, making it look lifeless.

Sleep positions also contribute to wrinkling. Sleeping face down puts pressure on the blood vessels on the face,thus preventing fluid from distributing equally over the face. The result: puffy eyes, dark circles and wrinkling in the long-term.

Massage Some Olive Oil Onto Your Face

Applying extra virgin olive oil after exposure to the sun shields the skin from oxidation, a process where skin cells thin out and die. Olive oil contains antioxidants which prevent this destructive process from occurring.
Stephanie Seow

8 DIY Natural Moisturizers

Before you reach for that bottle, consider these proven anti-aging and rejuvenating natural skin care moisturizer creams that you can easily source from your own kitchen.

• Grapeseed Oil

This hydrating oil can be made from pressing grape seeds, which are packed with lots of Vitamin C, a known antioxidant and skin lightening compound. It effectively eliminates wrinkles and fine lines, and is found to work well on thin skin like that of the eyes.

• Buttermilk

Buttermilk consists of lactic acids - natural exfoliants that help peel away dry, dead skin so healthier ones can be generated. Soak a gentle face cloth in cold buttermilk then let it sit on your skin for five minutes.If buttermilk is not available, you can substitute it with regular milk.

• Lemon Juice Cream

This skin care moisturizer cream can be made by mixing equal parts of lemon squeeze, rose water and glycerine. Dabbing on the mixture nightly helps maintain supple, smooth and fairer skin.

A word of caution though: Avoid application if you're going to be exposed to sunlight as it may lead to skin burning. Also, to maximize shelf life, place the solution in an air-tight container.

• Olive Oil

A highly versatile kitchen aid, olive oil has been used since ancient times to treat a variety of cardiovascular diseases as well as those of the skin. It is a rich source of antioxidants which help prevent free radicals from damaging the skin, especially after exposure to the sun's UVB rays. It also contains linoleic acid, which yields moisture to dry skin. It also possesses anti-inflammatory properties that can soothe minor burns and skin diseases like eczema, rosacea and dermatitis.

• Orange peel mask

To make a skin care cream from oranges, blend 1/8 cup of pure orange juice with one egg yolk, a tablespoon of honey and a small pack of gelatine. Application of the mixture for at least 20 minutes every day provides vitamin C and keeps your skin radiant and premature aging at bay.

• Honey

Sweeten the deal by creating a moisturizing solution made from mixing two tablespoons each of water and honey. Once the honey is dissolved, add in another six tablespoons of water, then apply onto the face for 10 minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water. Not only does it attract water toward the skin surface but also helps ward off bacteria and inflammation. Honey's healing and antiseptic properties make it an excellent natural remedy for wounds.

• Sunflower Oil

Less costly than olive oil, sunflower oil is an excellent moisturizer as it is easily absorbed through the skin. It is also frequently used for massages because of its less viscous texture and rejuvenating effects that leaves the skin fresh and plump.

• Avocados

Applying mashed avocado pulp for 10-15 minutes daily as a skin care moisturizer cream provides lots of essential fatty acids and vitamins A, D and E, which the skin loves. These compounds do not only moisturize the skin but also reduces fine lines.

So the next time you have a nasty skin dilemma, consider rummaging through your fridge first. Or if you're too busy to do create your own skin solution, choose an all-natural skin care cream like XtendLife's day and night creams and cleansing mask. They're made from active natural ingredients like shea butter, wakame and avocado oil, so you can be sure that while your skin is moisturized, it is also kept safe and protected.

[DIY] Egg Dandruff Shampoo Remedy

There are many different home dandruff cures including using vinegars, salt water and other household ingredients and plants. A very popular home dandruff remedy is a simple egg dandruff shampoo and is a great way to bring life back to your hair and lift dead skin cells without over drying your scalp.

It's very a very simple dandruff cure and all you need is

- 1-2 eggs

- Warm Water

Start by mixing 1-2 eggs with a little bit of warm water, then wet your hair with warm water and apply the egg mixture to your scalp. Let it sit on your scalp for 15 minutes to 1 hour and it will start to pull off dead skin cells and bring shine and life back to your hair.

Once you have applied the egg mixture to your scalp cover your head with a shower cap and towel so that you can build up the your scalp's temperature to allow your pores to open and allow the egg mixture to clean out dirt and dead skin.

You can increase its effectiveness by using a hair dryer on your shower cap to use the power of heat to speed up the process, sitting under a hair steamer is also a good option if it is available to you.

It is a bit of a messy dandruff cure so remember to use an old towel and to clean up afterwards. Eggs for the health of hair and scalp have been used for centuries due to rich protein found in eggs and amino acids cysteine and methionine which helped to strengthen roots and increase hair growth.

You can solve your dandruff problems in just a few days by finding the specific reason for your dandruff conditions and the steps to take to free you from it. All this is possible with a new dandruff guide with experienced advice known as the Itchy Scalp Remedies.

Make Your Own Flax Seed Hair Gel Using 8 Simple Steps

The things you will need are golden flax seeds, a small non-stick pot, an ankle stocking, a glass jar, a bowl, a regular coffee or beverage mug and distilled water.
Here are the steps:

1 - Put the stocking over the glass jar like it is a strainer or sieve. You will pour the hot gel in there later. And the stocking will strain away the flax seeds.

2 - Put 5 tablespoons of golden flax seeds into the small, non-stick pot.

3 - Pour about 1 and 3/4 mug of distilled water into the pot.

4 - Put the pot of flax seeds and water on to the stove to boil. Once the water boils, turn the fire to medium or small. Gently keep stirring as you boil so that the seeds do not clump together or stick to the bottom of the pot.

5 - In a few minutes you will see the liquid thicken in the pot - it looks like starch. From time to time, scoop up some liquid to check the texture. Is this how you like your gel to be? How 'starchy' do you want your gel to be? Keep stirring and checking. Once you get the gel texture you like, turn off the fire.

6 - While the gel is hot, pour it into the jar with the stocking. Then, for easier cleaning up later, fill the pot with water and leave it to soak.

7 - Now you will see the gel 'flow' into the jar - easily - and the flax seeds remain in the stocking.

8 - Lift the lump of flax seeds up. You may want to use a spoon to scrape off some of the gel into the jar. Then just throw the whole lump of seeds away.

Otherwise, if you are a fun-loving mum like me, you may put this lump into a bowl to let it cool. Then give this lump to your kids to 'mess with' - my kids love this slimy stuff!

For scent and moisturizer (optional), you may add stuff like lavender essential oil, rosemary oil, honey, Aloe Vera gel or juice. Then mix well. All these add-on ingredients are really up to your personal tastes, hair texture, hair volume, hair length and the occasion. You also need to avoid ingredients you or your skin are sensitive or allergic to.

Some people may add something like guar gum to give the gel more 'weight' to define curly hair. And some may also add preservative. Otherwise, this gel can be kept in small portions in the freezer. Whenever you need, just take out one of the small portions, thaw it and it is good to go.

To apply, 'crunch' the gel using your fingers and apply the gel to your hair. A wide tooth comb comes in handy too.

As a mother, I make my own hair stuff because I know the stuff I make is safe for my kids too. Making your own natural hair recipes are fun and I love sharing these fun times with my kids.

The above basic flax seed hair gel recipe makes a good jump-start. You can then explore and fine tune to your liking. If you want to see the picture recipe, hop over to my site.

5 simple Tips for Shining Skin at Home

Taking great care for you skin starts at home. This article discusses 5 simple lifestyle changes that will be relevant for the skin care of many Australians. Before you worry too much about which skin care products to buy you can make sure your daily habits are beneficial to the health of your skin.


Here are 5 simple lifestyle changes that can help you maintain healthy skin:

A Little Bit of Sunshine
Sunshine can actually be great for the skin in moderation. Emphasis on the word moderation! In Australia you only need a small amount (a few minutes) of sunshine each day. Too much sun and you will be speeding up the ageing process. Over exposing your body to the sun damages skin cells and leads to a variety of health risks. It is still best to avoid the sun during the middle of the day and if you do need to be in the sun for more than a few minutes cover up as much as possible and use a good sunscreen.

Shorter Showers
This tip will obviously depend on how much time you currently spend in the shower and just to be clear, there is nothing wrong with having a shower. Cleaning your skin with a daily bath or shower is actually very important. The point is that too long in the shower can be damaging. If you are showering or bathing to a point where you notice wrinkles in your hands and fingers that is a bit too long. By this stage a lot of protective oils have been washed out from your skin cells. To combat this, simply take less time in the shower. The added benefit is that a little less time in the shower will also bring down your hot water bills.

Eating Well
A healthy diet and healthy skin are related. Saying that a healthy diet will ensure your skin will be free of blemishes and acne is not quite true but it will help. Chemicals within processed meat, oils and other heavily processed foods can affect hormones and speed up the ageing process. Eating plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables will lead to a healthier, happier you and your skin.

Stress Less
Okay, sometimes that may be easier said than done but you do have to make time for yourself to relax. Everyone handles stress differently and like many good things in life, finding time to relax should become a habit. Stress will make your skin age faster and make it more prone to blemishes. You should not feel guilty for relaxing occasionally. A relaxed you will not only result in benefits for your health and your skin but other people will also enjoy your company more.

Smoke Kill your skin
In case you needed one more reason to put the cigarettes away think about your skin. Smoking may help reduce your stress level temporarily but it does come at an expense that can be great to your general health and the health of your skin. Smoke decreases the oxygen flow within the skin. The skin is connected through string fibres and these fibres become loosened the more you smoke, which can lead to early wrinkles.

Your lifestyle does have an impact on your skin. By developing healthy lifestyle habits you will be helping to improve the health of your skin without even thinking about it.

Turning to the power of nature to care for your skin.
via Tyler M Dee  

French Braid DIY Tutorial

via: 2good2lose.com

Tips For Proper Facial Cleansing

The other day, as I was hanging with two local fashion girls in the midst of a shoot for a good friend the subject, as it often does when I'm around, turned to skin care and makeup. The girls had some good questions for me about products, which made me realize that maybe I need to re-visit some basic truths about cleansing your face. I am a staunch believer that even with all the miracle creams, mircoderms, peels, dermaplaning etc. nothing beats proper cleansing. I find most often, that it is the step at which women (and men) go wrong: we tend to misdiagnose a pimple as acne, or dehydration as dry skin.

Here is an easy way to find out if you are using the right cleansing product for your skin.

Wash your face with your normal cleanser, then do nothing: no toner, no moisturizer, nothing. How does it feel? Does it feel tight or dry? If so you are using a cleanser that is too strong for your skin. After cleansing your skin should feel fresh and clean not stripped of oil.

Then, leave your face alone (no products) and make a mental note of how long it takes before your skin becomes shiny or oily. If it becomes shiny within 15-30 minutes, you likely have oily skin, if you find that it happens by noon then your skin falls into the normal range, if it never really becomes shiny or oily or not until late in the day then your skin is likely dry.

Equally as important is the moisture content of your skin, are you dehydrated? One way to check is to pull skin taught at the jaw line then with your other hand push up the skin to compress the pores together. If you are dehydrated your skin will have a somewhat rhinoceros or reptilian like texture. FYI it doesn't matter what skin type you have, you can be dehydrated!

If you find that you are over cleansing, dehydrated, or breaking out from over cleansing here are a few great basic cleansers to try.

Cetaphil is a good all purpose cleanser but it works best with an old school method that I learned years ago. Massage the cleanser on dry skin, take a soft muslin cloth dampened in warm water, lay it over the face, press in slightly then remove wiping off the cleanser, follow that by rinsing 10-15 times with warm (not hot) water. This will help clear your pores and keep skin fresh.

Another more natural version is Burts Bees Soap Bark and Chamomile Deep Cleansing cream. Use as instructed with Cetaphil and your skin will be super clean but not super dry.

Of course if you have skin conditions and questions that cannot be addresses by simply cleansing always check with your doctor or dermatologist.
By Diane Aiello

DIY Home Facial Masks Recipes

With do-it-yourself home facial masks recipes, you get something that is very natural, effective, and cost effective. It's actually much better than having a facial spa since you will not be looking at spending money while guaranteeing that the skin is pampered.

Pineapple Melon Cleaning Mask

Pineapple - 50 - 70 grams
Muskmelon - 50 - 70 grams
Water - 100 ml
Cosmetic Cornstarch - 8 grams

Just combine pineapple, melon, cosmetic starch (oatmeal is fine without it), and water using a blender. After doing so, you can apply the finished product (paste) to the face and let it sit for about fifteen minutes. After that, you can easily wipe it off using a wash cloth.

Pumpkin Facial Mask

Put in mind that while pumpkin is mostly overlooked when it comes to nutritional benefits, it is actually very rich in beneficial ingredients intended for the skin and that includes things like retinol, beta-carotene and ascorbic acid. For this facial mask recipe, the following ingredients are needed:

Pumpkin Puree - about 2 teaspoons
Honey - ½ teaspoon
Milk - ½ teaspoon
Cinnamon spice - ½ teaspoon

Mix all the ingredients and make sure you produce a paste-like substance. Apply the product to a warm washed and cleansed face. Make sure you let the paste dry for at least fifteen minutes before rinsing the same with water.

Green Tea Face Mask

When we talk about green tea, the first thing to come out is healthy benefits, and that's true! But little do you know that green tea also has revealing positive benefits for the skin. It does not only heal acne, it also provides utmost soothing and cooling on the face. For a facial masks recipe, what you need are:

Green tea
Half a tablespoon of lemon juice

Tablespoon of granulated sugar

Put a warm tee in the fridge to chill it. After which, you need to take it out and mix the same with sugar and lemon juice. After you've made the mixture, put it on your face using the same as either a face wash or perhaps leave the mixture sitting on the skin for fifteen minutes. Finally, you can wash it off and feel the difference.

Now those three home facial masks recipes are just some of the few you can make and use at home. If you have other available ingredients, feel free to browse online for other recipes that help you soothe, relax, and clean your face.

Home Made Lundry Liquid Detergent using Baking Soda

An empty container

1 cup liquid Dr. Bronner's Soap

1 cup baking soda

30 drops essential oil (optional)

via: http://www.gingerhollow.com/herbal-recipes/homemade-bar-soap-hot-method-recipe

Make Natural Deodorant From Home in 2 Mins

Add Some Essential Oils. Essential Oils are having a Big List.

It is recommended that you can use some thing which add good flavor when applied to skin.

Orange / Lemon water can act as Essential Oil, here We are adding this one.

Add Baking Soda and Water with it.

Rub it in Hand and Apply.

Read more about Essential Oils