Natural Beauty Treatments
I've been following the Hair Care thread. While I know that some
individuals do not have a desire to use alternative beauty treatments,
many of us have no choice or many of us simply want to use natural
treatments. Personally, I cannot tolerate strong odors and most
artificial scents; a small amount is enough to send me to emerg
somedays. For that reason, many of the commercial soaps/shampoos etc.
that tend to be heavily scented. I do make my own soap which is 100%
vegetable based and at most contains only a small amout of essential oil
for scent. While this may not seem frugal to some, I enjoy soapmaking
as a hobby so for me it works. I also make my own bath salts of all
natural ingredients. I am not too fond of bath oil but do use a little
homemade during the winter months (almond oil with a drop of essential
oil). I hope others will share some of their home beauty treatments.
Here are some of my other treatments:
face: facial - pureed avacado with a little lemon juice, leaves your
face silky smooth, contains vit E for skin healing; blemishes - tea
tree oil (antibiotic properties), contents of vit E capsule (skin
healing), lemon juice (fades skin discolouration)
eyes: tired/allergies - cool tea bags or cucumber slices10 min
(refreshing, helps ease itching of allergies, lessens puffiness)
hair: deep treatment - warmed almond oil (or other oil), wrap with
plastic and leave sit for 15 min and use blow dryer for 5 min to warm up
the hair
hand treatments: for dirty jobs (gardening) a coating of vegetable
shortening, to clean up rub coffee grounds into hands and then wash -
removes stains and odors; for smelly jobs (cutting onions, garlic, fish)
use coffee grounds or homemade coffee soap; softening use a little cocoa
butter
feet: tired/swollen - soak in tomato juice (relieves burning and
swelling), massage with carrier oil and a drop of essential oil; running
shoe treatment - dust feet with baking soda before putting on socks and
running shoes
I have quite a few other alternative treatments but this is getting
long. I hope others share some of the things they use.
-I use aloe gel as a base for under makeup (on those very rare occasions when
I use makeup) and as a moisturizer (except for winter when I may need
something heavier) as well as for first aid (very frugal three-in-one!). I
use petroleum jelly for softening hands and feet and for protecting hands
from dirty jobs like gardening. Lemon juice to lighten hair and to remove
odors from hands after cutting garlic or onions. Confession: I hardly use
soap at all on most of my body. Vitamin E to heal cuts and scratches.
-The best facial ever--steam face about 15 minutes--lay down someplace quiet,
place thinly sliced cucumber slices that have been soaking in lemon-juice and
water. Cover face with hot wet towel, take a nap. The cucumber draws impurities
from your skin, while the lemon juice fades spots.