Beauty Secrets #4: Skin, part 2

Evening routine (most moisturizers are more effective when applied to damp skin):

                               

• Cleanse: Use just one product to remove makeup and dirt. If you have dry skin use a lotion or cream-based product. If you have normal to oily skin use a gel cleanser or a very mild facial soap. Even though your skin might be oily use a gentle soap like Neutrogena or Dove. 

 
 

• Exfoliate: Exfoliating is necessary to get blood flowing into the face, as well as to remove grime. Use: a packet of sugar, add a couple of drops of olive oil to make it easier to spread, and gently rub it into the creases of your face.
• Open a packet of instant oatmeal and mix it with water to create a paste. Rub it into your face, and rinse off the residue. Use instant oatmeal on your face and traditional old-fashioned oatmeal on your body.  
• Rub sea salt all over your body and face.

 

• Masks: a lot of expensive mud or clay treatments in the spas are actually kitty litter. It has to be  100 percent natural clay. Take a tablespoon of the dried clay and reconstitute it with a small amount of water. 

 

• Other masks: 
• Ultimate cleansing mask (in a blender or food processor, grind 1 cup of oatmeal to a powder. Add 3 drops of almond oil, ½ cup of milk, and 1 egg white. Continue to blend and apply. Rinse off after 20 minutes.)
•  Peach and Brandy (mash up a peach, use ripe, canned or frozen one, and mix it with a tablespoon of brandy. Leave it on for 20 minutes, and rinse off.)
• Tomato mask (for oily skin, mash up a ripe tomato and leave it on for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with warm water.) 
• Banana mask (mash up a very ripe banana. Add just enough honey to make a soft pulp. Apply over face and hair. ) 
• Honey mask (apply pure honey straight from the bottle to your face and neck. Allow it to set until dry, about 15 minutes. Rinse with very warm water.) 
• Milk of Magnesia Oil-Absorbing mask: (apply it straight from the bottle. Let it dry for about 5-10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.) 
• Pepto-Bismol: (for sensitive skin, apply it from the bottle with a cotton swab. Allow it to dry and rinse with cool water). 
• To revitalize and nourish the skin soak whole dried beans or lentils (fresh are best) overnight. Mash and add a small amount of honey. Apply over face and neck. Leave it on for about 5 minutes and rinse with tepid water. 
• To tone up tired skin make up a smooth pulp of crushed cucumbers, and gently pat all over face and neck. Pull up your hair and apply a little bit behind the ears and behind the neck. 
• This facial is great for oily skin and clogged pores. Mix ¼ cup vodka with the juice of one fresh lemon. Dab it on the face, neck, and chest area with a cotton swab. It’s not necessary to rinse off.

• Clove oil cleanser: combine equal amounts of clove oil, chamomile, and eucalyptus. Massage gently into the skin by making circular motion with the tips of your fingers, and rinse.  
• Crisco: use it to remove makeup and as a highly effective moisturizer. 
• Wheat germ oil: It keeps the skin elastic and preventing and treating stretch marks so it’s perfect for pregnant women. 
• Sweet almond oil: ideal for removing makeup, helping eyelashes grow, and as a moisturizer for extremely dry skin. It also soothes sunburned skin.

• Bathing: add some baking soda to your bath (about half a box). It will soothe itching skin, irritation, and sunburn. 
• Use Epsom salts (about one-half pound) to relax muscles and relieve swelling. 
• Try some instant oatmeal (or grind any other to a powder) in the tub to get rid of sunburn. 
• Apple cider vinegar will invigorate the body and fight fatigue. 
• Adding a spoonful of honey is said to help insomnia.
• Combine a cup of instant milk powder with 3 drops of almond oil. Soak for at least 15 minutes, then using a cloth or loofah, rub vigorously to exfoliate. 
• When you feel a cold coming on, take a tea-spoon of mustard powder and add it to a hot bath. 
• Orange slices in the bath are uplifting and beat any aromatherapy. 
• Use red wine as an acid-based toner.

 

• Hoof maker (a hoof conditioner for horses) softens cuticles, heels, and other rough spots.
• Bag Balm is great on chapped lips and as extra protection during cold weather on hands and face.
• Kalaya Oil is a great moisturizer.

• Moisturizer know-how: don’t over moisturize, use cream on specific areas.  
• Choose the right formula for your skin type. 
• Get more from your moisturizer by gently tapping the face pretending it’s a piano, and you’re playing it. 
• Any moisturizer can be stretched by first applying a film of natural vegetable oil as a base. 
• Wait until a moisturizer is completely absorbed before applying foundation. If a foundation is a bit dry, moisturizer can loosen it up a bit and the foundation will go on more smoothly.

xoxo Katja