GROUNDS FOR #BEAUTY

If you’re looking for natural beauty products, look no further than your used coffee grounds. Coffee grounds are a great exfoliating body scrub. Simply mix with some warm water and your favorite all-natural oil, then scrub from head to toe.

To make a natural alpha-hydroxy, antioxidant facial mask, combine two tablespoons of used coffee grounds, two tablespoons organic cocoa powder, three tablespoons whole milk or heavy cream, and a heaping tablespoon of honey. Mix together and apply to your face. Sit back and relax while the natural elements work their magic on your skin.

Coffee grounds will also remove built-up residue from hair care products. Before shampooing, massage a handful of used grounds into your hair. The coarse texture of the grounds will release the product residue without damaging your tresses.

Want to get rid of that cellulite? Try coffee grounds. Scrub coffee grounds mixed with warm water over cellulite affected areas of your skin for ten minutes twice a week. You should start to see results in about a month.

#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 - FADE-OUT

Does your hair color fade between colorings? To make your color last longer and fade less, wash your hair in cool water. Hot water opens hair cuticles. When this happens, color washes away. And if you absolutely can’t stand washing your hair in cool water, especially in the winter, wash it less frequently. Most people don’t need to wash their hair every day or every other day. Once or twice a week is sufficient.

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE-- FLAT IRON AND CURLING IRON TIP

Most mornings I rush out of the house with wet hair, if I’ve even had time to wash my hair that morning. Yes, I know I could set the alarm a half hour earlier in order to make myself more presentable at work, but I need my sleep more than I need to look like I just stepped out of a salon. After all, I’m the crafts editor, not the fashion or beauty editor.

For those of you who do take the time to style your hair each morning, our beauty editor Nicole Emmerling has a tip on using flat irons and curling irons. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! I’m willing to bet that a large percentage of our readers use either a flat iron to straighten their hair or a curling iron to give it waves or curl. I’m also willing to bet that many of those readers are using these styling tools incorrectly, thus damaging their hair.

Did you know that heat is one of the biggest factors in damaged hair? Yet most of you probably set your irons to the highest heat setting, don’t you? Here’s a little test to do to make sure your iron isn’t too hot.

Take a piece of white paper and hold it between the platens or in the curve of the iron for a few seconds, about the amount of time it would take you to curl or straighten a length of hair. Now remove the paper and examine it. Is it still white, or has it begun to turn brown? If you see brown, your iron is too hot, and you’re damaging your hair each time you use it. Turn down the heat setting, and you’ll protect your hair from damage.

Great tip, Nicole. If I ever have time to style my hair, I’ll remember that one. -- AP

BEAUTY WITH NICOLE--SUMMER HAIR TIPS

Beauty editor Nicole Emmerling stops by today with summer hair care tips. -- AP

Thanks, Anastasia! Summer is not your hair’s friend. Between the hot sun, salt water, and chlorine, you can do a lot of damage to your hair during summer activities. Here are some tips for protecting your hair from damage this time of year.

The best way to protect your hair is to keep it covered from the sun. Always wear a hat or scarf. If you can’t wear a hat or scarf, make sure you apply leave-in conditioner with sunscreen before you go outside.

If you know you are going to be in the sun for a long time, and if you don't want to wear anything on your head, apply leave-in conditioner with sunscreen before going out.

Try to limit use of dryers, curling irons, and flat irons, but if you must use one, never use it without first applying conditioner made to be used with these items.

Avoid hair products with formaldehyde or alcohol. These products dry out hair. Natural products are kinder to your hair.

In summer months switch to a moisturizing shampoo.

Use a daily conditioner.

You can reduce the amount of chlorine or salt water your hair absorbs by wetting your hair before you go into a pool or the ocean, and always wash your hair with a clarifying shampoo after swimming to wash out all the chlorine or salt.

On those high humidity days, wear your hair in a bun or braids to keep the frizzies at bay.

Thanks, Nicole! These are tips I can really use, thanks to the heat and humidity of New Jersey in the summer. What about the rest of you? How do you deal with summer heat and humidity? Let's hear from you. Post a comment and be eligible to win a book from our Book Club Friday author. -- AP