Making Your Own Beauty Products

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To be honest, I have just started experimenting with making my own beauty products, but I have yet to be disappointed with what I have made!

Hair Rinses:
Rinses improve the health and nutrition of the hair follicles and increases shine and bounce. It also can help with itchy skin, dry scalp and dandruff. I make both of these rinses - one for each of my middle boys.

Rosemary Hair Rinse
* Good for itchy skin, dry scalp and dandruff

2 cups vinegar (apple cider is best, but white will do)
2 cups water
10 drops rosemary essential oil

Work into your hair after shampooing, rinse with water.

Hair Rinse for Blonds
* Good for shine and has some lightening properties, especially when combined with sunlight

1/4 cup lemon juice
1/4 cup vinegar (apple cider is best, but white will do)
2 cups chamomile tea, cooled

Work into your hair after shampooing, rinse with water.

Scrubs:
Sugar or salt rubs polish and moisturize your skin, removing the old, dull skin, giving you a fresh and glowing look.

Milk Facial Scrub
* Milk is a gentle cleanser and an exfoliant, it also makes skin soft and moisturized.

2 tbsp sugar
1 tsp milk or yogurt

Gently rub onto skin, being careful and gentle around the eyes for 2 - 3 minutes. Let sit on your skin for an additional 2 - 3 minutes. Gently wash off.

Full Body Salt Scrub
* Excellent circulatory stimulant that not only promotes healthy, glowing skin, but helps control weight gain and cellulite.

2 cups medium grind salt (sea salt, Epsom salts)
1/4 cup olive oil (healing and soothing - good for dry or aging skin) or gentle liquid soap
6 - 8 drops of essential oil (optional)

Some good choices for essential oils (combine or use alone):

Rosemary - stimulating, astringent and conditioning; particularly good for dry or aging skin
Tea tree oil - antiseptic, disinfectant, astringent
Juniper berry - soothing, antiseptic, cooling, refreshing, and is suppose to be good for cellulite
Lavender - aromatic and restorative, good for stress relief and for tired looking skin
Lemon balm - cleansing, antiseptic and refreshing fragrance, good for a pick me up

Combine ingredients in a bowl. Fill tub half full of warm water (or cool - depending on the season). Wet down you body, then rub salt mixture vigorously into your skin, starting with your hands working up your arms, than your feet working up your legs, than lastly your torso (avoid your face or open cuts). Once complete, sit in the bathwater for at least 10 minutes to allow the salt to work into your skin.

Rinse with warm water then follow with a cool rinse.

Not only is making your own beauty products frugal, but you also get the added benifit of knowing that what you are puting onto your skin is nourishing and benificial and not loaded down with chemicals or perfumes.

Today I am linked to Frugal Fridays and Finer Things Friday!

Christine

* Recipes (some adapted) have been found in Beautiful Handmade Natural Soaps, by Marie Browning; The Herbal Home Spa, by Greta Breedlove; and from notes I have made from random readings and articles.
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