Hello Beautiful Friends!
I am going to share a few remedies from your kitchen that really work! I have been using these concoctions for years, but I got the recipes from Self magazine since I can't really articulate my actual measurments. Enjoy!
For Clear, Bright Skin
1TBS of plain ol' baking soda
1 TBS of lemon juice (either fresh or bottled, but make sure it is 100% pure lemon juice, not the one with lemon oil)
Combine citrus juice with baking soda and watch it fizz. Stir until bubbling lessens, apply, leave on for 20 minutes, rinse. I wet my hands with warm water before rinsing and scrub the mask for one minute sometimes, but don't scrub too hard.
This mask tingles, especially on sensitive areas like the nose and lip line, but hang in there—the sensation subsides after about five minutes. The mask dries taut and flakes if you talk. Enjoy some quiet time! And please follow this up with a moisturizer!
Citrus fruit (lemon, grapefruit, orange) is composed of alpha hydroxy acids that exfoliate and brighten skin and help keep pores clean.
Baking soda's mildly acidic nature gently sloughs away dead skin cells in minutes, helping to prevent blackheads.
For Shiny, Healthy Hair and to Lock in Color
1 cup apple juice
1 cup pear juice
1 cup of apple cider vinegar, unfiltered
If the liquids aren't at room temperature, microwave the mixture for 10 seconds to take the chill off. (It will feel better on your scalp.) Shampoo, pour treatment on hair and let it soak in for 3 to 10 minutes. Rinse, then condition.
I'm a redhead. And this keeps me that way! ;)
I have to use a double batch for my thick, long hair. Also, the scent of vinegar won't linger after you rinse it. So, don't worry.
Vinegar (fermented juice) is very acidic, so it quickly removes waxy product buildup, as well as too much oil, from a greasy scalp, leaving hair shiny and more manageable.
Pear juice has a low pH balance. This alters hair's electric charge, making the cuticle lie flat, which in turn helps reflect light.
Apples contain vitamins, potassium and tannins, which maintain hair's strength. Healthy hair dries faster and its color lasts longer. (That's because less water seeps in—and less dye gets out.)
For Soft Hands and Feet
4 tbsp organic cold-pressed sunflower oil
1/4 cup blueberries
1 cup heavy cream
Whip ingredients in a blender for about 30 seconds. Pour mixture in a bowl large enough to submerge your feet or hands; massage the creamy concoction into skin for 30 seconds, Marrone suggests. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Let hands and feet soak for a bit longer (20 minutes instead of 10), then wrap them with plastic wrap so the moisture penetrates deeper into skin—this trick soothes even the roughest patches on heels and palms.
Sunflower oil is loaded with oleic and linoleic acids, as well as vitamin E, all of which are ultra-hydrating. Opt for a cold-pressed version; heat processing melts away some skin benefits.
Blueberries are rich in the antioxidant anthocyanin, which studies suggest help protect capillary health, increase circulation and make your skin brighter.
Heavy cream moisturizes because the lactic acid gently dissolves proteins that bind dead skin cells together so its omega-3 fatty acids instantly soak into skin.
Soft, Pink and Plump Lips
A pinch of brown sugar
a few drops of olive oil
Mix together in your palm, and then buff onto your dry lips (it works better right after a shower). Buff for one minute. Rinse and apply a lip balm.
Do NOT use white sugar or salt. Too abrasive and salt stings.
That's it! Happy Grooming Friends!
Love,
Thrift Store Barbie
