Natural Beauty Recipes

Natural beauty recipes have been shared and passed down through generations of women for hundreds of years. Before skin care products were commercially available, women had to use whatever they had available to clean, moisturize and protect their skin. In this article we are going to take a look at some of the ingredients that you probably already have in your kitchen and show you how easy it is to use them to care for your skin and maintain its natural beauty quite conveniently and inexpensively.

The following recipes use these and other ingredients that you most likely already have at home. Because these are fresh and highly perishable ingredients, do not mix up more than you will use in a few days uses or else they will spoil.

GENTLE HONEY CLEANSER
This cleanser is simple and effective. The soap gently cleans, the glycerin prevents drying and the honey not only softens the skin, but its antimicrobial properties can help ward off breakouts. A touch of honey is all you need for healthy, glowing skin. Combine 1/4 cup honey, 1 tablespoon liquid soap, 1/2 cup glycerin in a small bowl until fully blended. Pour into a clean plastic bottle. Pour onto clean face sponge or soft cloth and gently rub onto face, wash away with warm water and pat face dry. Enjoy fresh radiant skin.
(courtesy of www.honey.com)

SPA INDEX HONEY OATMEAL FACIAL
1/4 cup plain yogurt or buttermilk
1/2 cup oatmeal
2 tablespoons of honey

Finely grind or process the oatmeal in a blender or food processor. Set aside. In a small bowl, stir together honey and yogurt, and then add ground oatmeal. Mix thoroughly until a smooth paste consistency has been reached. Smooth over your face and neck, leave on for fifteen minutes, and rinse off with warm water. Can be used daily.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

FACIAL MASK
Squeeze half a lemon and mix the juice with one beaten egg white. Leave on your face overnight or, for a quick pick-me-up, just 15 minutes. Splash warm water on your face to rinse.

It helps to removes blotches, because the lemon works as a bleaching agent.
(courtesy of www.healthrecipes.com/beauty.htm)

CUCUMBER EYE GEL #1
1/4 large cucumber
1 ounce aloe vera gel

Puree the cucumber in a blender ( leave a little pulp), strain the mixture into a glass bowl until you have at least 2 ounces. Spoon in just a tad of the pulp from the strainer). Add the aloe vera to the cucumber puree in the bowl and mix lightly. Pour into a clean, sterilized container. After cleansing face, stir mixture gently and apply with a cotton ball to under eye area. Avoid the eyeball. The shelf life of this product is very limited by the fresh cucumber. It should be used within a few days, and kept refrigerated between uses.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

VITAMIN E CREAM
2 tsp. plain yogurt
1/2 tsp. honey
1/2 tsp. lemon juice
3 capsules vitamin E (equivalent of 300 units)

Combine yogurt, honey and lemon juice. Open the vitamin E capsules and fold contents into the mix. Gently massage into skin; Leave on skin for 15 minutes. Shelf life: 3-4 days.
(courtesy of www.spaindex.com)

Night-Time Rose Creamy Lotion
20 fl. oz. Almond oil
16 fl. oz. Rosewater to which have been added 1 oz. dried red Rose petals, this soaked for 3 days, then strained out and removed
3 oz. Beeswax Essence of Rose, if desired

To make: Into a water bath or the top of a double boiler put the oil and the wax. Heat until the wax is dissolved and then remove pot from the fire. Add the Rosewater slowly, beating all the while, and beat until it is cool. At this point add the essence of Rose a drop at a time, if you like. Beat the creamy lotion until cold, pour into a bottle and store away for use.

To use: This lotion makes an excellent Rose Cold Cream to remove old grimy dirt or makeup. Simply apply with clean fingertips and remove with fine tissue. Then you might take a teaspoonful of cornmeal in each palm and rub the hands and face well with it. Rinse with warm water and then cold. Pat the remaining fine film of cream into the skin for night-time smoothing.

Why: Almond oil and Rosewater as we know is an excellent moisturizing lubricant for normal to dry to sensitive skin; cornmeal is a gentle tonic stimulating to the tissues and acts as a "beauty grain".

Tip: Whenever making fine cosmetics always use a porcelain or glass pot. Some beauty experts recommend stainless steel cooking pots but these often leach poisonous heavy metals into the enclosed liquids. Nonmetal is best for herbs.
(courtesy of www.jeannerose.net)

Establish a regular daily beauty regimen that includes cleaning, toning and moisturizing your skin. Because our skin is constantly renewing itself, exfoliation, or the sloughing off of the dead skin cells to reveal the new skin is also a vital step.

Feel free to experiment with these recipes and try other ingredients until you've found the right formulations for your skin type. Keep in mind that the condition of your skin is a reflection of the overall health of your body. To have beautiful, healthy, radiant skin you must also have a healthy diet, drink clean water and get plenty of exercise. Eliminating foods and substances that are not good for you will also contribute to the health of your body and be reflected in the beauty of your skin.