#BEAUTY WITH NICOLE--HONEY AND BAKING SODA FACIAL

DIY Facial

We all know that baking soda has a multitude of uses other than for baking. However, did you know it can also be used to make a facial mask that will give your skin a radiant glow? The baking soda not only gently exfoliates your skin, but it also absorbs oil. Adding honey will moisturize and protect your skin.

Mix a tablespoon of baking soda with a teaspoon of honey. Add a few drops of water to create a paste. Apply the paste to your skin and leave on for five minutes. Rinse.

#BEAUTY WITH NICOLE--AT HOME SPA TREATMENTS

photo by Monik Markus

You don’t need to spend a fortune at a spa or on high-end beauty products to achieve spa-like results. Here are a few beauty treatments that cost little to nothing but produce exceptional results:

For Your Hair

Boil some jasmine rice in water. Drain the water, and save it. After you shampoo your hair, pour the cool rice water over the strands and massage into your hair. Allow to sit for five minutes, then rinse out. The rice water is rich in Vitamin B and antioxidants and will help add shine to lackluster hair.

For Your Face

Want a youthful glow to your face? Dangle upside down for three minutes a day to send blood to your face. The blood delivers oxygen and other nutrients.

Try a yogurt facial. Once a week add a thin layer of plain Greek yogurt to your face. Yogurt contains antibacterial and anti-inflammatory probiotics which will help sooth sensitive skin.

For Your Hands and Feet

To counter rough hands and feet, give them an exfoliating mask. Steep a lemon slice in a cup of boiling water for thirty minutes. Mix four tablespoons of the lemon juice with 1 tablespoon of oats. Allow to sit for five minutes. Add 1/2 tablespoon each of glycerin and almond oil, then add a mashed banana.  Coat hands and/or feet with the mixture. Cover with plastic bags. Allow to sit for ten minutes, then rinse.

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE--GUEST BEAUTY BLOGGER MARCELA DE VIVO

Photo by Sérgio Savarese

We’re joined today by Marcela De Vivo, a health and beauty blogger from Los Angeles, California. She currently writes about skin care for Skintrium.

3 Homemade Skincare Recipes

You’ve probably read all about homemade skincare products, or at the very least, seen recipes in magazines that have piqued your interest but, it can be hard to know which recipes are the good ones and which ones are just page filler that won’t really help your skin.

While you do need to experiment with homemade skin care products a little bit to see what works for you, there are some basic recipes that pretty much work for all skin types.

These recipes are also very easy to make, and are made with ingredients that pretty much anybody can find at their local grocery and drugstore.

Cucumber Facial Cleanser

Everybody knows that a cool cucumber slice can work to reduce puffy eyes and get rid of dark circles.

Cucumbers are also beneficial for cleansing the skin when mixed with one or two other ingredients.

You’ll still need to use your regular face wash, but adding a homemade cucumber facial cleanser to your cleansing regimen can give your skin a more refreshed feeling.

What You’ll Need:

1/4 cucumber or 1/2 Persian cucumber

4 tablespoons whole milk

Step 1:

Peel, then chop the cucumber. You can also use a juicer to extract the liquid if you have one. If not, puree the peeled cucumber in a blender.

Step 2:

Put the processed cucumber in a small mixing bowl and add the whole milk. Stir the mixture thoroughly.

Step 3:

Dip a cotton pad or a few cotton balls in the mixture and gently dab the cotton on your skin, working in circles toward your temples.

Step 4:

Leave the cucumber and milk mixture on your face for about 10 minutes. Rinse your skin with lukewarm water and pat it dry before applying your regular moisturizer.

Tips:

If you have dry skin, try adding 1/2 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil to the mixture. For oily skin, the same amount of tomato juice can be added to the mixture.

All-Purpose Pumpkin Mask

While this pumpkin mask may not fix absolutely every skin problem, it deserves its name as an all-purpose mask since pretty much every person and skin type can benefit from using it.

Using this pumpkin mask every few weeks will help to make your skin look more vibrant, clear up breakouts and reduce the appearance of fine lines, wrinkles and minor skin damage.

What You’ll Need:

1/4 cup pumpkin pulp

1 whole egg

1 teaspoon brown sugar

Step 1:

Puree the pumpkin pulp in a blender or food processor until it is smooth.

Step 2:

Transfer the pumpkin pulp to a clean mixing bowl and add the egg and brown sugar. Stir the mixture vigorously for about one minute to fully combine the ingredients.

Step 3:

Apply the mask to clean skin and leave it on for 15 to 20 minutes. Rinse your face with cool water before patting your skin dry with a clean towel.

Homemade Vitamin E and Yogurt Cream

Vitamin E has been added to night creams and moisturizers for years because it works to reduce the visibility of fine lines, wrinkles, and acne scars by making your skin appear fuller and healthier.

Vitamin E may also help to speed up skin cell regeneration, allowing your body to slough off dead skin cells faster, giving you a rosy, healthy looking complexion.

What You’ll Need:

300 units vitamin E oil (removed from capsules)

2 tablespoons full-fat or Greek yogurt

1/2 teaspoon warm honey

1/4 teaspoon lemon or lime juice

Step 1:

Combine the vitamin E oil and full-fat or Greek yogurt in a small mixing bowl or container. Stir the mixture with a spoon to fully combine the ingredients.

Step 2:

Add the honey and lemon or lime juice and stir once more. Allow the mixture to cool to room temperature if it’s too warm to apply directly to your skin.

Step 3:

Apply the mixture to your entire face and leave it on for 30 to 40 minutes. Rinse the mixture off with lukewarm water and pat your skin dry with a clean towel.

Tips:

Vitamin E and yogurt cream will keep in the refrigerator for about 72 hours, so don’t worry about making too much.