Kitchen Beauty: Almond Hand Exfoliator

*Here’s what you need:

-1/4 cup of almonds

-About a teaspoon Olive Oil

-About a teaspoon honey

-About a teaspoon of lemon juice

-Something to mash almonds with

OR

-A blender

*You can just eye ball the measurements, no need to really measure everything out.

· Mash the almonds or chop in a blender

· Mix ingredients together (Olive oil first then honey!)

· Rub onto hands, gently exfoliating

· Rinse with warm, NOT HOT, water

· Pat, don’t rub, hands dry

· Apply a good moisturizing hand lotion immediately after exfoliation

What do these ingredients do for your skin?

The lemon will help lift the dead skin cells and the almonds will then remove those dead skin cells.

The Olive Oil moisturizes as does the honey. The honey will also help your skin retain the moisture.

The moisturizing hand lotion can now seep into your new smooth layer of skin better than it would with dead skin on top.

TIPS:

Almonds @ Wal-Mart in the cooking section are only $3 a bag! Proof that you can find almonds cheap!

Pour in Olive Oil before the honey that way the honey will then slide off the spoon smoothly.

DO NOT use this recipe on any open cuts on the hands. The lemon will burn.

When rinsing hands, use warm water, not hot, so you don’t dry out your hands. Even though we are moisturizing with the olive oil and lotion afterward, hot water is never good on your skin.

Pat your hands dry instead of rubbing them. We just rubbed off a layer of your skin (exfoliated) so you want to be gentle with your hands afterward.

Apply lotion immediately afterward, rub a generous amount on and really massage it into your hands, promoting blood flow and cell turn over.

Do this about once a week or every other week, probably no more than that. The lemon will dry out your hands if used in excess.

DIY SPA TREATMENT: Feet and face

DIY SPA TREATMENT: For feet and face

Give yourself some spa treatment tlc.

Who wants to spend money on something you can do yourself and really enjoy? Do it at home and save your pretty pennies!

AT HOME PEDICURE:

· Don’t forget to paint your piggies! Try something new like a hot pink such as Pool Party from China Glaze!

· Once they are dry soak your feet in warm water & drop in some lavender to get the full effect of pure bliss.

· Towel dry your feet by patting them, leave them somewhat damp and apply a foot cream. I recommend Avon’s Foot Works Lavender Overnight Treatment Cream. (3.4 OZ) $5

Immediately slip on some comfy cotton socks so the cream can really soak in.

AT HOME FACIAL:

· Start by removing any makeup. The best makeup remover for face and eyes has got to be Estee Lauder’s Take It Away Total Makeup Remover

It is Dermatologist-tested, Ophthalmologist-tested & suitable for contact lens wearers. The only downfall about this product is its price tag. For a full size (6.7 oz) bottle it is $22.00 but well worth the money. It will last forever because you only need a nickel size amount to take care of your entire face.

· Cleanse your face with your favorite cleanser. Make sure you don’t have a cleanser that foams too much because it could strip your natural oils from your face and could cause dryness and even breakouts, believe it or not.

· Exfoliate: massage your exfoliant in circular motions all over your face, being careful not to rub anywhere near your gentle eye area. Keep in mind not to rub too much, if your skin is red you’ve over done it!

· Pat your face dry and apply your night time eye cream and a rich moisturizer. For eye cream I recommend Mary Kay’s Indulge Soothing Eye Gel (.4 OZ )$15.00 and for a great moisturizer that actually evens your skin tone try Pond’s Clarant B3 (pssst I found a sample jar (1.75 oz) for $1 in the travel size section at Target!)

And if you have an extra sweet husband like mine or partner, have them rub the kinks out of your neck and shoulders

If you’re flying solo take a tennis ball, lay on the floor on your back. Place the tennis ball on your lower back, but not directly on the bone, and roll your body up and down. You will actually feel the tennis ball relieving all that tension!

DIY Lash Conditioners

DISCLAIMER: THE BELOW ARTICLE IS NOT MY CONTENT. POSTED ON BEAUTYLISH.COM December 28th, 2010 Why pay top dollar when you can make your own? I found this article helpful & I hope you will too!

DIY Recipes: Eyelash Conditioner

Having full and thick lashes is something many of us crave! Though we can’t change the lashes we have from the inside, we can use topical treatments to help your eyelashes grow healthier and longer. There are a number of different eyelash serums and growth conditioners you can purchase from the store or have prescribed from your dermatologist. They have their benefits and risks so be sure to do your research or talk with your dermatologist to see which product would suit you best. There are a number of different natural remedies to create your own homemade eyelash conditioners. Results will not come overnight but over a period of weeks and possibly months so be prepared for a slow process. Take a break from mascara and curling your lashes once in a while to give them a break from all the lash stress. Give these 3 natural eyelash conditioning recipes a try to achieve longer, thicker, and fuller lashes!

Castor Oil Eyelash Conditioner

- Castor or almond oil
- Vanilla extract
- Disposable mascara wands
- Small container

Pick up a small bottle of castor or almond oil from the grocery store and disposable mascara wands from the beauty supply store. If you have an old mascara that you aren’t using anymore, disinfect and clean the wand thoroughly to use instead. Just be sure to clean the wand after each use. Pour the castor or almond oil and vanilla extract into your small container (three parts oil to one part vanilla) and shake up the mixture. Dip your mascara wand into conditioner and apply it from root to tip to your top and bottom lashes, twice a day.Be sure to use conditioner on clean lashes.

Vitamin E Eyelash Conditioner

- Vitamin E oil or capsules
- Small container or plate
- Cotton Swabs

You can use vitamin E capsules or vials of oil to use as an eyelash conditioner. Squeeze or add a few drops of vitamin E oil into your clean container or plate, making sure not to touch the oil with your fingertips. Dab the cotton swab in the oil and sweep the swab across clean eyelashes from root to tip on both sides of lashes, twice a day (typically in the morning before makeup application and before you go to bed).

Coconut Oil Eyelash Conditioner

- Coconut Oil
- Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- Vitamin E oil or capsules
- Small container
- Disposable mascara wand or cotton swabs

Pour equal parts of the three oils into a clean container. Dip your mascara wand or cotton swab into conditioner and apply it on the base of your lashes, twice a day. Be sure to use conditioner on clean eyelashes.