Spa Day was so much fun this week! Below are the recipes that the fabulous Sister Davis found for us. Remember to start with clean skin!
BASIL ACNE TONIC: 2 to 3 teaspoons dried basil leaves or a large handful of fresh leaves, 1 C. boiling water
Steep basil leaves in water for 10 to 20 minutes. Cool, then apply to face with a white cotton ball. Basil is known for its soothing and toning qualities. Keep tonic refrigerated. Recommended shelf life: 90 days.
STRIP IT OFF! PORE CLEANING STRIPS: 1 tablespoon Knox unflavored gelatin, 1-1/2 tablespoons milk
This recipe makes a pore cleaning "strip" which woks similarly to those sold in drugstores. Mix two ingredients and microwave for 10 seconds to slightly warm. Using a clean cosmetic brush, apply to nose and chin area. Avoid delicate eye area. Rinse brush immediately. Allow mixture on nose and chin to dry for 10-15 minutes. Mixture will dry quite stiff and form a "stiff film." Peel off the film and stare at all the little porcupine quills that used to be in your nose pores!
LEMON FACIAL MASK: 2 tablespoons sour cream, 1 teaspoon finely ground oatmeal, 1 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 drop lemon essential oil, cucumber slices (optional)
Mix the sour cream, oatmeal, lemon juice and essential together in a bowl. To use, massage over clean face and neck skin and the rest for 10 minutes (with cucumber slices if you have them) over your eyes. Rinse well with warm water and follow with toner and moisturizer. Always use Lemon Facial Mask immediately for best results -- the lemon juice will cause the sour cream to curdle if it is not used quickly.
APPLE HONEY FACIAL MASK: 1 medium size apple (grated), 5 tablespoons of honey
Mix the grated apple and mix with honey to make a mask. Smooth over skin then let sit for 10 minutes, rinse off with cool water.
STRAWBERRY HAND AND FOOT EXFOLIANT: 8-10 Strawberries, 2 tablespoons Apricot Oil (you may substitute olive oil), 1 teaspoon of coarse salt, such as Kosher Salt or Sea Salt (note: we used a LOT more salt)
Mix together all ingredients into a paste, massage into hands and feet, rinse, and pat dry. Strawberries have a purpose here; they contain a natural fruit acid which aids exfoliation.
BEACH SAND FOOT SCRUB: 2 Tablespoons Canola oil, 2 Tablespoons dry beach sand, 3-5 drops rosemary oil (do not use if pregnant)
The next time you decide to spend the day at the beach, take advantage of the "on location foot treatment." Brazilians, particularly, are known for scrubbing their entire bodies, particularly the feet, deep into the sand while they relax on the beach.When going to the beach, take a small vial of ingredients with you: 2 tablespoons of canola oil (or use your suntan oil!), and, a small vial of rosemary oil -- or premix and take one vial.
Once at the beach, use an empty container (a soda cup is fine) to mix the ingredients together. Mix into a paste. Massage sand scrub onto feet (and elbows), concentrating especially on problem areas. Rinse off in the foamy waves, pat dry with your beach towel.
AVOCADO HAND & FOOT TREATMENT: 1/4 to 1/2 mashed fresh avocado, 1 egg yolk, 1 teaspoon honey, 1 teaspoon rice bran, and 10 drops of oil of evening primrose
Mix ingredients then gently massage this treatment onto your hands and feet, and leave in place for 20 minutes. Rinse. This natural treatment will revive your dry, wrinkled and rough hands, feet, elbows and knees. The avocado and egg nourish the skin with proteins and oils; the rice bran exfoliates dead skin cells; the oil of evening primrose contains precious gamma linolenic acids, essential for healthy hair, skin and nails. Consider purchasing a small jar of Oil of Evening Primrose capsules from your health food store. Open one, and voila...you have the ingredient for this recipe.
NAIL BRIGHTENER: 1 denture tablet, 1 cup warm water, 1-2 drops essential oil
Saturate one denture tablet with a few drops of essential oil of your choice. Drop the tablet into a small bowl of warm water. Soak fingertips 10 minutes. Do not keep mixture. Discard after use.
KATHY'S PEPPERMINT LIP SCRUB: One Pot for storage, 1/2 teaspoon brown sugar, 1/2 teaspoon caster sugar, Peppermint oil, Almond Oil/Vitamin E oil, Glass Ramekin (for mixing)
Pour the sugar into the ramekin and then add the oils depending how you want the consistency of the lip scrub. I used about a quarter of a tsp of each oil as I like to add the liquid so there is enough flavor and enough liquid for it to hold together, but not so the solution is runny. A variant of this scrub is that it can be used with lemon oil as well, or generally any other COOKING oil you like the taste of! To use the scrub dab a small amount onto lips and rub together to gently exfoliate. You can then lick off the scrub or wipe off with a cloth. This product can be stored at room temperature.
Tip: If you have Vitamin E capsules, poke one with a pin and squeeze the oil into your recipe.
LEMON LIP GLOSS: 1 tsp Honey, 1 T Vitamin E Oil, 1 tsp. of Aloe Vera, 2 tsp of grated beeswax, 1 T pure almond extract, 6 Drops of Lemon Essential Oil
Melt beeswax, remove from heat and while constantly stirring add honey, aloe vera, almond extract, and Vitamin E. Add the lemon essential oil last. Store in a clean pot, preferably in the refrigerator.
