Brown Sugar and Raw Honey Scrub

The Raw Honey and Brown Sugar Scrub.

I am a strong believer in using kitchen ingredients to pamper and treat myself.

The Raw Honey & Brown Sugar Scrub is excellent for your face, as a body scrub and for  rough areas on your body, such as elbows, knees and feet. For a wonderful scrub that you can use once or twice per week, here is all that you need to do:

Ingredients:

• Raw honey: The use of raw honey gently exfoliates the skin and stimulates circulation without causing irritation and dryness. Raw honey is a humectant which has the quality of attracting and retaining moisture, so it balances the skin moisture to give a soft glowing complexion. Another one of the amazing raw honey benefits for skin is its protection against sunburns.
• Brown Sugar: Exfoliating the skin with a brown sugar scrub cleans and tightens pores giving the skin a more even uniform appearance; pores look smaller, skin tone more even. It can also diminish the damage to the skin caused by acne and other skin conditions. Using a brown sugar scrub improves your skin's ability to retain its natural moisture balance.
• Oil such as Olive Oil, Almond Oil, Tea tree oil or other body oil I add a few drops to make the paste more manageable.
• Essential Oil (optional) Scented oils such as lavender, eucalyptus and others, should never be used directly on skin so make sure to mix to oil or lotion prior to using.
• Wash Cloth

Directions:

• Mix 1 TBSP Raw Honey to 1 TBSP of Brown Sugar Add drops of  oil geared. If prone to   acne, some oils will help with controlling it . Consider peppermint, tea tree or rosemary for example.
•  Apply the mixture to a clean face in upward circular motions for 3-5 minutes. Take your damp warm wash cloth and gently wipe the mixture off of your face. Repeat until the scrub is completely removed. Follow with a cool water rinse. Tone. Moisturize.

Oh my Goodness, your face is going to faithfully thank you for this one. Your skin is going to feel extremely smooth as the facial removes excess oil and dead skin cells through exfoliation.
If dealing with acne  this scrub works overtime to relieve you from it
 And really, who doesn't want healthy, smooth, hydrated skin?

I try to do this facial scrub at least two times per week. I love this scrub because it's inexpensive and works wonders. Give it a try before you spend your money on chemical peels, commercial facial scrubs, etc.
Check more Pampering articles by entering pampering or self care in the search box.

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Natural skin care:Recipe for an Egg Facial Mask for a natural face lift/ Recette pour un masque de visage pour un facelift naturel

To all English speaking readers: I decided to add a bilingual post today for 2 reasons
1) This post is pretty straight forward so it would not take me much time to translate it to French.
2) Having many friends who are more comfortable with French than English I simply wanted to offer them something they might enjoy as I greatly value them and it's important to me to welcome them on this site.

Attention aux lecteurs francophones:
Mon clavier est un clavier anglophone et je ne sais pas comment rajouter les accents comme l'accent aigu, l'accent grave etc afin de parfaitement les ecrir en francais! Je vous prie d'aussi considerer que cela fait bien d'annees que je n'ai pas redigee de textes en francais aussi j'espere que mon article sera claire et facil a comprendre.


Ingredients

• Egg white from one egg
• Blanc d'oeuf d'un oeuf
• Used coffee (optional)
• Du cafe en pourdre deja utilise (optionel)

The coffee I use is what's generally left after brewing some fresh coffee for an espresso or a cappucino.
Le cafe que j'utilise est generalement ce qu'il reste dans ma caffetiere apres avoir fait du cafe pour un espresso ou du cappucino.

If you read my previous post   http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-hairnatural-homemade-deep.html  you will know that I did not crack an egg just for that mask. I simply used the egg white I had left from separating some egg yolk for a homemade deep conditioner.
Si vous avez lu mon article precedent  http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/04/on-hairnatural-homemade-deep.html qui est en anglais vous realiserez que je n'ai pas casse un oeuf juste pour ce masque. J'ai simplement recupere le blanc qui me restait apres avoir separe le jaune d'oeuf pour un traitement a cheveux.

Beat the egg white and add a tablespoon of used coffee.
Battre en neige et ajouter une cuilleree de cafe en poudre deja utilise.

Use a brush or your hand and apply the mixture to your face.
Utiliser une brosse ou juste la main pour appliquer le melange sur tous le visage.

Leave for about 15-20 minutes and rinse out! Gently pad dry!
Laisser secher 15-20 minutes avant de rinser! Essuyer votre visage en tapotant gentillement plutot que de le frotter!

2 Personal suggestions:
2 Suggestions:
1)When the mask dries on your face you will look somewhat scary so I suggest you do not do it in front of anyone you are trying to impress. However the result might impress you as your face will be left pretty smooth. You will enjoy the nanural facelift!
1)Pendant que le masque seche votre visage paraitra plutot effrayant aussi je suggere que vous ne fassiez pas ce masque en la compagnie de quelqu'un que vous chercher a seduir et impressionner. Par contre le resultat sera plutot impressionant. Vous serez fiere de votre face lift naturel.

2)I also suggest doing this right before taking a shower just to make it easier to rinse your face out.
2)Je suggere aussi que vous appliquiez ce masque juste avant de prendre une douche afin que ce soit plus facil de vous rinser le visage!

If you have never tried this mask before please try it and let me know how you liked it!
Si vous avez jamais fait ce masque auparavant laissez moi savoir ce que vous en pensez une fois que vous l'aurez essaye!

For more face mask ideas read those following posts in English
Pour d'autre idees de masque jetter un coup d'oeil sur mes articles suivants, ils sont en anglais!
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/2-creative-use-for-ripe-bananas-facial.html
http://goodhealthdiva.blogspot.com/2011/01/face-mask-for-him.html

I also suggest checking for posts under the label Pampering as they tend to be very popular among my readers.
Je vous suggere d'aussi jetter un coup d'oeil sur mes articles dans la categorie Pampering car ils sont tres populairs parmi mes lecteurs!



If it's your first time here I hope that you greatly enjoy yourself here and that you will become a Follower on this blog and my other blog http://www.beautyfullgifts.blogspot.com/ and Like the facebook page Goodhealthdiva and Follow Goodhealthdiva on twitter.
Si c'est votre premiere visite sur ce site j'espere que vous apprecirez ce site et que vous serrez un Suiveur (Follower) de ce site et de mon autre blog http://www.beautyfullgifts.blogspot.com/ et aussi que vous Aimerez la page Goodhealthdiva sur facebook et me suivrez aussi sur Twitter.

Have you tried an egg facial mask before or is it your first time reading about it? If you had tried it before what benefit do you see to doing that mask?
Avez vous essayez auparavant un tel masque avec du blanc d'oeuf ou est ce votre premiere fois de lire cette recette? Si vous avez deja essaye un masque a oeuf auparavant quels bienfaits vous a t'il offert?

N'na

Natural hair: Natural homemade deep conditioner for stronger and healthy hair

I made Friday evening a deep conditioning mixture that one of my maid used on my hair when I was in elementary school. Every Sunday afternoon as she would do our hair ( twin sister and me), she would shampoo our hair and make a mixture of egg yolk and olive oil that she would apply for 45 minutes before rinsing and braiding our hair.
I don't know why it never occurred to me to do it until now! Like I said in a recent post, a lot of pleasant childhood memories have resurfaced in my mind and this recipe is one of them. The only difference is that I added coconut oil.


I started with

• one egg yolk
• a tablespoon of EVOO Extra Virgin Olive Oil
• a tablespoon of coconut oil (optional)
• The one ingredient I did not add that I would greatly suggest adding is Honey! I abstained from adding some in this mixture because I did not have any more raw honey and I just did not want to add the commercial brand I had on hand and my treatment was a spare of the moment thing.

Then I just mixed all the ingredients! The texture was just like a commercial conditioner would be since my coconut oil was still in it's solid form!

I shampoo my hair with a commercial shampoo and then applied the mixture. I was not satisfy with the quantity so I made some more this time without the coconut oil! I mixed one egg yolk and one tablespoon of EVOO! This was enough to saturate my hair.
I put on a shower cap and vacated to the rest of my activities ( tackling the laundry and having a devotion time with my children)


You could leave it for 30-45 minutes but since I was not in any rush I just thought the longer the better so I kept mine on for well over an hour!

I rinsed it out by adding some apple cider vinegar to the rinse water...

And I applied some olive oil to moisturize my hair and let it air dry! Voila!

Please do not have egg white in that mixture otherwise you will be spending your time picking up egg from your hair!

The next day I deep conditioned my daughter's hair as well.  I used the same ingredients except that I added some honey.

I did not have to make any extra conditioner for her hair and I followed the same procedure up until the time I rinsed her hair.

After rinsing her hair I did not add olive oil to moisturize her hair! I simply finished her hair treatment by applying some mousse to her hair.

There she is after her shampoo and deep conditioning!

Since I love to recycle things, I used the egg white from my deep conditioning and hers to make a face mask. After beating the egg white I added  a tablespoon of coffee to the egg white just for antioxidant and the scrub feel. This mask can be made with the egg white alone but since I generally use some coffee as a facial or body scrub I added some to the mix I figure it might as well add some to the mix!

Facial mask with leftover egg white and used coffee. More on that in my next post!

Final result, Mother & Daughter enjoying their natural look after a healthy homemade deep conditioner!

In case you wonder why use egg yolk in my homemade deep conditioner:

Hair are made of protein

Eggs are protein

Eggs' protein will straighten the hair follicle

Eggs make the hair smooth and easier to comb and keep the hair from tangling That is if you are combing. In our cases we left our hair curly!

Well just a few benefits I am aware of, there might be more so feel free to share!

Have you used egg yolk before to condition your hair? What was your experience? What natural ingredients do you generally use to deep condition your hair? Do you know any additional benefits to using egg yolk in your hair? Have you ever had the unpleasant experience of having egg white in your hair?How did remove them?

N'na

Natural skin care: The benefits of almond oil for skin care and beyond skin care

I was reading some posts on a new blog I follow and I thought it was super funny. In one of her post, Nisha was talking about how she spent money on cosmetics and mentioned that her aunt believes in the virtue of natural products.
I had planned to write today about the benefits of almond oil and in introducing this post I think it's worth mentionning one thing. I believe in " old-wives tales" as Nisha put it in her blog entry " Face value" . (smiles)


  I believe that God in His divine wisdom had initially created the garden of Eden with more beauty, power and mysteries that we could ever fathom. The more I learn about the benefits of a fruit, a vegetable, an oil, the more I am mesmerized by the amazing gifts the universe have freely doted us with. I don't have a bananas tree, a coconut tree or a avocado tree in my backyard like I did as a child and today more than ever I wish I did.

I took so much for granted as a child but we still take much for granted as adults. Sharing the benefits of natural products is my way to embrace the best of nature and of God's gifts to us. It's also  my way of living a better life with as few chemicals as possible.
Today I wanted to talk about Almond oil. Some know it as a carrier oil for massages, some are aware that it's added to many cosmetic products on the shelves in our beauty stores but very few people know it's many benefits...I hope that learning more about it will encourage you to add it in your beauty regimen and your daily life because it's benefits exceed skin care...

Almonds are some of the healthiest nuts to eat but they are not just healthy in their solid form. Almonds are greatly beneficial even as oil.
Almond oil is one of the many vegetables oil that is often used as a carrier oil in aromatherapy. It's a great base oil for essential oils used for massages because it's not as oily as other oils, it a great emollient and moisturizer and it's very absorbent. 
Rich in vitamin E it also contains magnesium, calcium, and vitamin D.
Did you know that almond oil is similar in composition to the oil  babies excrete to keep their skin and hair healthy?! I think it's a better substitute to Baby oil that contains toxic minerals. Sweet almond oil is pure and healthier.
So in addition to being a great massage oil,  almond oil is great  for your hair, for your health and for your skin. It's great for all skin types and a great treatment for dry skins.

Benefits of Almond oil for your hairPour a few drops of almond oil in your palm. Dip your fingertips and apply gently on your scalp. Massage slowly in small circular motions and feel the comfort.Almond oil adds luster to the hair. I personnaly love to use it on my hair to add shine to them and because it doesn't weight them down, plus it seals them so well.

•  Add shine to the hair
• Nourishes hair and smooths hair cuticles
• Promotes hair growth
• Protects hair from breakage

Benefits of almond oil for your health
Consuming almond oil is beneficial for the digestive system. When used in aromatherapy it has calming and cleansing effects. Almond oil also relieves pain. It is used as an effective painkiller .

• Regular consumption of almond oil helps reduce cholesterol
• Nourishes the brain and nervous system
• Enhances the intellect and endurance
• Application of almond oil provides relief to strained muscles ( massage benefits)

Benefits of almond oil for your skin

•  Nourishes the skin, making it smooth and soft because it's an emollient
• Moisturises deeper and better
• Delays aging process
• Improves complexion and helps your skin retain or restore its glow 
• Soothes skin irritation and inflammation
• Relieves dry and ichty skin
• Lighten dark circles under the eyes
• Heals chapped lips and body rashes
• Relieves irritations, soreness and burns

Remember that almond oil is rich in Vitamin E , the vitamin that's marvellous for anti-aging and skin protection from sunburn. So there you have a natural oil that's great for your skin and much cheaper than many of the cosmetics brand you rely on for anti-aging and skin protection.  But please keep in mind that uses of almond oil is not safe for people allergic to nuts and that only pure and sweet almond oil is the kind of almond oil you want to use.

Now... with this being shared, when you consider that a bottle of almond oil will cost you less than $10.00  but very few products on the cosmetic aisles are that inexpensive and that rich in natural benefits wouldn't you say that the "old-wives tales" have a lot of truth to them?! ( I am smiling and thinking about Nisha).  If you want the very best for your skin and things in their most effective form  you will have to admit that few commercial products can brag to do so much for us. 

Well, I have personally fallen in love with natural products and believe in them more than ever. But what about you?! Are you one who always have to purchase the best cosmetic advertised on TV  or in the magazines?! Or do you believe in beauty practices that are easy on the wallet but strong on their rewards?!  Do you often use almond oil?! How do you use it?!

FOR MEN: Coconut oil and turmeric face mask!

This homemade mask is of course one for women. I just felt that it would be fun to have a man do it. I am glad my model (smiles) was such a great sport. I think that it's important that our men learn to pamper themselves too, learn to benefit from home spa and take care of their skins!

 What do you think?

A portion of the video is missing. At the end I asked my model here how his skin felt: his answer: " good and smooth"!

I love coconut oil and use it daily in my diet and my skin care regimen. Turmeric on the other hand is a herb that I just fell in love with. My mom who is a great natural health advocate was the first to tell me of the benefits of turmeric. I decided to try this simple mask last Sunday and have been hooked on turmeric ever since I researched its many health and beauty properties. I am adding it to my diet by simply adding it to my cup of tea and of course its now part of my skin care regimen. I wanted to try this on a man just to encourage men to take care of their skin. I will eventually share more about the benefits of coconut oil and turmeric for skin care. For now, just enjoy the video. Talk to you later. Oh, remember to leave your comments and become a Follower, and like the facebook page Goodhealthdiva!!! Thanks and have a great week!

To your better body and your better life!

Did you like this video? Do you have some nice skin care tips for recipe for men?



2 creative uses for ripe bananas: facial mask or frozen for smoothies.

If you are like me you probably have one or two bananas on your kitchen counter that you don't feel like eating but that will spoil unless you do something with them. Instead of discarding them, there is a simple way to put your ripe bananas to good use.
Bananas are a nourishing and moisturizing fruit that can be used in face as well as hand masks because it's gentle, and exfoliating . Bananas contain magnesium, potassium, vitamin C, B6, B12 and A. They are rich in dietary fiber, low in Sodium.
There are two things I like to do with my ripe bananas. One is for beauty in your home spa , the other one for nutrition.


Beauty use for ripe bananas:  Make a facial mask
To prepare the mask smash 1/2 banana, mix with a 1 tablespoon of honey and 1-2 tablespoon of sour cream. The mask can also be done with natural yogurt instead of sour cream or just banana and honey.  Apply on your face avoiding your eyes areas. Leave on  for 10-20 minutes and then rinse gently with cold water. Considering that its also a delicious mask should you swallow some of it you should relax knowing that its chemical free. (smiles)
This mask is great for all skin types especially normal and dry skin.

Nutritious use for ripe bananas: Freeze them to use in homemade smoothies.
For those bananas that you can't get to finish, if they  are still good cut them up and freeze them so that you can use them up for homemade smoothies.Natural yogurt, frozen bananas ans strawberries make a delicious smoothie for a breakfast on the go or for a nutritious meal replacement. I often add coconut milk or almond milk to my smoothies with  or without the yogurt . You can also use unfrozen bananas it's just that adding frozen fruits replace the need for crushed ice. I often add blueberries to my smoothies and a few spices and herbs like cinnamon, fennel and even flaxseed.
Keep in mind that bananas are already high in sugar so when making a smoothie with them do not use more than one banana,  and avoid adding any sweetener to your smoothie. Adding cinnamon to your smoothie is a great way to regulate the sugar level.

If you have any healthy suggestions for ripe bananas feel free to share. Do you have any smoothie recipes that you would like to share? There are many smoothies ideas in our Facebook albums.

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