Beauty Treatments Right in your own Kitchen

4 Masks to Make Yourself

Nature has given us great bounty. In many cases it is not necessary to purchase expensive products, often made from chemicals, from stores in order to enhance the quality of the skin. There are plenty of products right in your own kitchen that can help you enhance the quality of your skin and can even help you feel great. These products are a testament to the great qualities that are inherent in the most ordinary things that can make us beautiful, cleansing the skin and brightening the complexion.

Creating facial masks from common kitchen products has been done for years. Even the most common and ordinary products make great facial masks. While essential oils and special clays can be very effective, there is no need to use them if you do not wish to. Simply head to your kitchen cupboards and refrigerators and create any one of the following face masks, and feel the good effects almost immediately. For best results, it is recommended that you apply a facial mask once a week, rinsing your face first with warm water and then rinsing with cold (to close the pores) after you finish removing the mask.

Egg mask. It seems a little strange to create a face mask using eggs, but it is a tried and true method for toning the skin. The egg actually helps tighten the skin, giving you a firmer face that is less wrinkled and less prone to sagging. Simply beat one egg white until it is stiff. Then you just smooth it over your entire face. After 20 minutes, remove the mask. You can adjust the mask to your skin type by adding lemon juice to the egg white (just a drop) for oily skin or putting in a bit of honey for dry skin. The skin on the inside of the shell can actually work as an acne treatment. Just place the skin over the breakout and leave on for 30 minute or even overnight to help reduce the appearance of the acne.

Honey mask. This is a very easy mask. It is cleansing, and the honey acts in the same way as an antibacterial. You need warm, runny honey. You can run your honey container under warm water or soften it in the microwave to get it to the desired consistency. Be careful with the microwave, however, as you may get the honey too hot. You just want it warm and runny, not scalding. Smear the honey all over your face. Even those with sensitive skin can usually use this treatment. After about two minutes, it will start to feel as though it is pulling. This is when you rinse the mask off with warm water (follow with cold as soon as all of the honey is off of your face).

Acne mask from kitchen items. If you want to help control your acne, a simple mask made from what you keep in your kitchen can assist you in your fight against acne. For a major breakout, form a paste using one half cup strained tomato pulp and powdered milk. When there is enough to make a paste, blend until the mixture is no longer pasty, but is smooth. Then apply and leave for 20 minutes. You should wash this off with warm water. Because Vitamin C and Potassium are found in tomatoes, this will also help your skin heal from the acne.

You can create a variety of nourishing masks if instead of tomato you use carrots, bananas, or cucumbers. Simply mash whatever you are using (you will have to steam the carrots first) and substitute it for the tomato pulp.

Strawberry alpha hydroxy mask. Take four or five large strawberries and mash them up until they become a thick pulp. Then cover the face thickly with the pulp. Lie down quietly for about 20 minutes before washing with warm water followed by cold. It is important to note that this treatment is not a good idea for extra sensitive skin.

These easy to make facial masks are fun and inexpensive to create from items found in the kitchen. They are also quite effective. One more treatment that can help with rough facial skin is to use mayonnaise. This also works on your elbows. Make sure you use only a light layer, and make sure that you only leave it on for 15 minutes before washing it off.

Comments (0) 28.09.2008. 12:31

Men Fashion Trends Fall 2008

Comments (0) 25.09.2008. 20:29

Hair in a Hurry - Quickie Tips for When You are Running out the Door

Today, you are busier and on the go more than ever before. You still want your hair to look great, though, right? When it seems like you are always dashing around to get out the door, it can be difficult to get your hair looking just like you want it to. Well, don’t worry; there are some simple and fast hairstyles you can use to get the look you want without spending hours on your hair. You can be on time and still have great looking hair that looks like you spent hours on it.

One quick and easy hairstyle is the fast forward curl. This is a sophisticated style that takes a lot less time than it looks like it does. First, you will want to make sure you have everything you need: a blow dryer and diffuser that is light enough to hold easily, a small barreled curling iron, misting bottle (if you have natural curl), curl enhancing balm (if you need it), and a hair spray that holds without making your hair stiff.

First, apply the curl enhancer or a mousse to help enhance or bring out any natural curl you have. If you have a lot of natural curl, a misting bottle might be enough. Gently detangled your hair and create a part in it. Allow your hair to 80% air dry (use a towel if you are in a real hurry). If you have a lot of natural curl, begin scrunching your hair with your hands – mist frequently if you are using water. If you are using a blow dryer, push your fingers into the hair to lift at the roots. If you feel like you want more volume, dry your hair upside down while continuing to scrunch with your fingers. If you have less natural curl, you may use a small barreled curling iron. Once you have it how you like it begin spraying with a non-stiffening hairspray to hold all the curls in place for the day or evening.

Another popular look that you can throw together before dashing out the door is the trendy messy up do hair. To accomplish this look, gently brush out your hair to remove the tangles. Pull some of the hair up from the front of your face and secure it with a covered ponytail holder of some sort. Then, cover the holder with a hair clasp. At the nape of your neck, gather your hair into a loose ponytail and hold it in place with a hair tie. Next, twist the ponytail up to the crown of your head before securing the twist with long hair pins. Leave several (however many you like to see) of the ends of the twist loose and arrange them as you like. Pull some of the whippy ends around your jaw loose so that it will soften your jaw line. Then, hold everything you have done in place with a hairspray that will not leave your hair stiff and crunchy.

In order to make these and other styles work for you as a fast style, practice. Use instructions or ideas and practice putting your hair in them. Before you know it, you will be able to race in the door, change hair styles, and dash back out to your next appointment or date looking fresh and stylish without having to find hours to spend on your hair. To vary looks, change the color, size or style of pins you use. Also, vary the accessories and you will be able to make the same look, in the same amount of time, look different, fresh, and stylish every time.

You are busy with work, a social life, and any number of other drainers of your time. You are constantly on the go: running from work, to social occasions, to appointments, and all of them while still trying to look your best. Your hair is a big part of your look, but it can be difficult to keep it looking great with limited time. Memorize these and other quick and stylish hair styling methods to look your best without spending a lot of time on your hair. Remember, too, that practice makes perfect when it comes to quickie hair care when you are running out the door.

Comments (0) 23.09.2008. 20:48