SPA INDEX : GLYCERIN AND HONEY SUGAR SCRUB

Use Liquid glycerin as a skin moisturizer when you don't wish to use oil. This is particularly helpful when you want to scrub nose crevices, without introducing oil to the face.

Liquid Glycerin is a by-product of soap making, and can be found at health food stores. Its also readily available on the internet as well. Do a patch test to be certain you can tolerate the glycerin, if you find you have sensitivities. In addition, consider substituting all honey. It never spoils, and makes a good long-term scrub which may be stored.

Ingredients :
1 cup fine loose salt or loose sugar
3 teaspoons liquid glycerin
1 teaspoon pure honey
3-5 drops of your favorite essential oil
Optional: Pinch of lavender blossoms (available in the bulk department of good health food stores), or chamomile, or dried herbs of your choice, chopped exceedingly fine.

Preparation:

Mix ingredients well and store in an airtight container.
Add more liquid ingredients if you prefer a thinner end-product.
Stir thoroughly before use.
This keeps very well, and in fact, the honey acts as preservative.
Use small amounts when scrubbing the nose, being careful not to irritate or get it in the eyes.
Scrub elbows, hands, knees, and feet. Rinse in warm water, pat dry, and apply your favorite lotion afterwards

Easy Home Made Face Packs For Summer

Be your own kind of beautiful with beauty ingredients right from the kitchen. Check out these simple home face packs to look beautiful this summer.

1. Honey with Lemon Face Pack:

Acnes and pimples tend to increase during summer. This face pack is best for acne prone skin, age and sun spots.





Things you need:

1/2 Lemon
2 tbsp of Honey

Method:

Squeeze 1/2 a lemon into a bowl. Add 2 tbsp of honey. Mix and apply it all over a clean face.Leave on for 15-20 min and rinse off.

2. Chickpea Flour with Curd Face Pack:

Use this face pack to remove sun tan and tighten the skin. Curd provides cooling effect to the skin.




Things you need:

2 spoonful of Chickpea Flour
Curd as required

Method:

Mix both the ingredients to form a smooth paste. Apply equally with fingertips on face and neck.Leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with cold water.


3. Mint Pack:

Try this face pack to get cleansing, soothing and cooling effect for the skin.



Things you need:

Few Fresh Mint Leaves
Pinch of Turmeric Powder
Water

Method:

Grind the mint leaves into fine paste. Add Turmeric powder to this and mix well. Apply this pack on the face. Leave for 15 minutes and wash off with cold water.

4. Egg Mask:

This pack is used to tighten the skin and get a smooth and oil free skin.



Things you need:
1 Egg white
1 tbsp Lemon Juice

Method:

Beat the egg white with lemon juice. Apply this paste on face and leave for 20 mins. Wash off with warm water.

5. Banana Face Pack:

Make this face pack at home to moisturize dry skin and get a glowing effect.




Things you need:

1/2 ripe Banana
1/2 cup Plain Yogurt
1 tbsp of Honey

Method:

Mash the banana.Combine this with yogurt and honey.Apply this pack on face and neck and leave for 10 minutes.Rinse with cold water.

DIY : Hand Cream Recipes at Home

Like our face, our hands function as bridges to the world. Hands are often the first place to show the signs of ageing. The skin ages faster on the hands because they are exposed daily to chemicals, smoke and, most importantly, UV radiation. By giving proper care, we can make our hands look soft and beautiful. Check out a few hand cream recipes that you can do at home for good looking beautiful hands.

1. Nourishing Hand and Body Cream

Ingredients:
1/4 cup coconut
1/8 cup shea butter
1/8 cup cocoa butter
1 Tbsp aloe vera juice
1 Tbsp liquid oil of choice (like sweet almond, jojoba, etc.)
5-10 drops essential oils (optional)

Method:

Heat the shea butter, coconut oil, and cocoa butter over low heat until melted. Remove from heat. Add the aloe vera juice, liquid oil, and essential oils and stir to combine well.Store in container of your choice.


2. Brown Sugar Hand Softener 

Ingredients:
1/4 cup course brown sugar
Baby oil to make into a paste


Method:
Mix together the above ingredients.Using a hand washing motion apply the mixture to the hands.Continue the washing motion for a minute then rinse off with warm water and pat dry.


3. Orange Hand Lotion :

Ingredients:

1/2 oz Cocoa Butter, melted
1 oz Olive Oil, warmed
1 oz Orange Juice
2 drops essential oil (Orange Flower if possible)

Method:

Mix all ingredients together in blender until light and fluffy. This lotion need not be refrigerated, but should be used as soon as possible. It may separate, but can be beaten together again.
Most homemade lotions should be refrigerated and used up as soon as possible (within a week) because they do not have preservatives and bacteria can grow in them.


4. Cream of Oats Hand Lotion:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup juice of sour almonds
1-1/2 cup of water soaked oat flour
1-1/2 cup of baking soda
1/2 cup of white wax

Method:

Mix very well all of the above ingredients to make the cream. This can be kept in a plastic or glass container to be used daily.


5. Coffee-licious Hand Cream Recipe

Ingredients:
4 Tbsp. Beeswax
2 Tbsp. Coffee Bean Butter butter
2 Tbsp. Roasted Coffee Oil
6 Tbsp. Jojoba Oil

Method:

Melt together wax and butter. Add oil. Mix completely until smooth. Pour into jar. Let it harden. Coffee oil is rich in phytosterols which promote excellent moisture retention, quick penetration and is a powerful antioxidant.


6.Lemon Honey Hand Cream Recipe

Ingredients:

3 tbsp beeswax
1 tbsp liquid lanolin
1/2 cup light sesame oil
1 tbsp. coconut oil
1 teaspoon honey
15 drops lemon essential oil

Method:
Melt together all ingredients except for essential oils, on low heat double boiler. Mix completely until smooth. Add Essential Oil. Pour into jar. Let harden.Apply regularly for smooth hands.


7. Egg yolk & Glycerin Hand Cream Recipe:

Ingredients:

1 egg yolk
3 tbsp glycerin
3 tbsp lemon juice

Method:
Mix all the above ingredients in a small saucepan. Cook over low heat until thickened. Do not boil. Cool and place in a jar. Use regularly as hand lotion and skin softener.


8. Glycerin & Rosewater Hand Lotion Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 cup glycerin
1 cup rosewater
10 drops (or about 1/8 teaspoon) essential oil fragrance, such as lavender (Optional)
1/4 teaspoon (or more) vitamin E oil (Optional)

Method:

Put all ingredients into glass or plastic bottles. Portion out the ingredients according to the ounce capacity of the bottles you are using. Shake well until all ingredients are completely combined. If using scent, shake well several times a day for 2-3 days before giving or using. If using a fragrance, pick one that smells good combined with roses because of the rosewater.


9. Coconut Oil Hand Lotion Recipe:

Ingredients:

1/2 cup almond or olive
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup beeswax
Optional: 1 teaspoon Vitamin E oil
Optional: 2 tablespoons Shea Butter or Cocoa Butter
Optional: Essential Oils, Vanilla Extract or other natural extracts to suit your preference

Method:

Combine ingredients in a pint sized or larger glass jar.Fill a medium saucepan with a couple inches of water and place over medium heat.As the water heats, the ingredients in the jar will start to melt. Shake or stir occasionally to incorporate. When all ingredients are completely melted, pour into whatever jar or tin you will use for storage. Use as as regular lotion for pretty hands.

DIY Easy Foot Scrubs at Home

Foots are the foundation that we stand on which keeps us moving in our daily life.But many of us neglect to give good care to our feet. Moisturizing the foot is important but you need to start off with exfoliation. Here are few easy effective foot scrub that you can try yourselves at home.

Citrus Foot Scrub :

Juice from one lemon or lime
1/2 cup raw sugar
1 tablespoon coconut oil

Mix together and apply to feet in a circular motion until sugar starts to dissolve.


Rosemary and Peppermint Foot Scrub:

1/4 cup Kosher salt
1 tbsp table salt
1 tsp coconut oil
2 tbsp olive oil
3 drops peppermint oil
1/2 tsp rosemary

Mix together and apply to feet in a circular motion until salt starts to dissolve.If the mixture is too dry, add a bit more oil. If it's too wet, add more salt.


Salty Honey Foot Scrub :

3 tablespoons honey
1/2 cup sea salt
1 tablespoon almond or olive oil

Mix together and apply to feet in a circular motion until salt starts to dissolve.


Coconut Salt Foot Scrub:

1 cup salt
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup vitamin oil

Mix together and apply to feet in a circular motion until salt starts to dissolve. If you are only using one oil mix 1/2 cup Oil with 1 cup Salt. Then add 3-4 drops of Essential Oil for fragrance and stir it up.This also works great as a Shower Body Scrub too.

Rich Coffee Foot Scrub :

1 cup of coffee grounds
1/4 cup raw sugar or sea salt
1 tablespoon coconut oil

Mix together and apply to feet in a circular motion until salt or sugar starts to dissolve.


Brown Sugar Foot Scrub:

1 tablespoon of brown sugar,
1 tablespoon of baking soda
1 tablespoon of olive oil.

Mix together and apply to feet in a circular motion until sugar starts to dissolve.


Lavender Foot Scrub:

1 Cup fine Sea Salt or Epsom salt
1/2 Cup Oil (grape seed, sweet almond or olive)
8 drops Lavender Essential Oil
2 tablespoon dried Lavender Buds

Measure salt and lavender buds into a clean bowl. Add 1/4 cup of oil and stir until it is distributed evenly. If it seems to dry, add another tablespoon of oil. Continue adding oil until you are happy with the consistency Add essential oil. Stir well and apply on foot in circular motion.

Home Remedy for Dry & Cracked Cuticles

There are hundreds and thousands tips to deal with bad and cracked cuticles, we just need to see which one is good for us, cause things response differently from body to body and if one thing is good for other that might not work for us as so we just need to see which one will work for us. There is always something that can work for you and if you prepare yourself that you just use natural things then you will get natural remedies for almost everything.

Shea Butter: 

Without any doubt, Shea Butter is one of the most famous and best natural butter we have at the moment, basically it is a butter that we get from a African nut and it is full with benefits and useful vitamins. It has been used to fix cracked and damaged cuticles for ages, old wives has been use this even before modern science discover it and informed the world that it has so many useful and good qualities that you can use for so many purposes.

It has so many qualities that cannot only heel your cracked hands heels cuticles, but it can actually keep them soft healthy and moisturized and it can heel all kind of wounds and can make any scar go easily , it has some vanishing properties too. It is not something that you cannot find in your local grocery store so just use it as a night hand cream and foot cream and never forget to use it after every hand wash to get permanent healthy soft dreamy hands and feet.

Aloe Vera:

Aloe Vera plants can provide a less expensive treatment for cracked cuticles. Break off a piece of the plant and rub the exposed pulp over any distressed areas of skin. The plant's juice penetrates the skin, increasing the efficiency of the healing process.

Vitamin E Oil:

Vitamin E oil can also be used to take care of dried and cracked cuticles. Massage the oil over your cuticles and fingertips, on a daily basis. This will help you smoothen up your cracks and re hydrate your cuticles, thereby keeping them supple and moisturized.

Neem:

It is another very brilliant and magical home remedy for your hands and all kind of skin help, you can use it for all kind of skin issues to see a result really soon. This strong anti-fungal, antibacterial natural thing can help you with acne and other skin issues too and at the same time it can be used for cracked cuticles, there are so many magical and miraculous vitamins and they can help your skin to produce natural oil in itself so you don’t need to apply anything externally.

Neem is also high in Vitamin E and other essential oils which can deal with bacteria and germs at the same time it fight with bad germs and infections too and you can use it for oily skin and dry hair and scalp issues too , you can use Neem in any form, you can buy gels, lotion or powder from or you can use the leaves and fruit of that tree and can make your own home made paste to use.

Cuticle Soak:

For a treatment specific to hangnails, give yourself a cuticle soak. Fill a shallow bowl with 1 pint warm water. Using the cap of your favorite bottle of body oil, pour a small amount of body oil into the bowl of warm water. Soak your fingertips for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse and pat dry. Clip the softened hangnails, and rub a moisturizing cream into the area around the cuticles.

Moisturize:

Use lots of moisturizer. Cuticle moisturizers are easily available in local markets and particularly used for treating and taking care of damaged nails. They can be purchased in three different forms - wax, cream and oil based formulas and should be applied several times in a day. All you need to do is rub a small portion of the moisturizer on each of the cuticles and you will surely notice a huge difference within a couple of days.

Cotton Night Gloves: 

Use cotton night gloves for fixing cracked cuticles. Start by cleaning and moisturizing your hands, nails and cuticles and then slip on the cotton gloves. These gloves will prevent your hands from becoming dry throughout the night and will also help heat up the moisturizer, on your hands by trapping your body heat.

Balanced Food:

To prevent your cuticles from becoming damaged and unhealthy, it is crucial for you to have a proper diet, containing large amounts of Vitamin A, B, C, D and E. Besides this, zinc and calcium are also vital for maintaining healthy cuticles. Also, cut down on the food items that are high on alcohol, sugar and saturated fats.

Glow with Glycerin

Are you looking out to get a perfect skin with an inexpensive beauty ingredient? Then you should definitely have a stock of glycerin at home.

Skin care with glycerin is easy and you would get results too! Glycerin has wonderful cleansing, moisturizing, soothing and lubricating properties.That is why it is a main ingredient in many beauty products. It attracts water to the skin to restore suppleness.Hence it is very good for dry skin. Glycerin can be used at home in many ways because it's effective at breaking down oils and washing away toxins.It's great for sensitive skin because most people are not allergic to glycerin.

Using Glycerin is an effective remedy for moisturizing the skin and to cure various skin conditions.It is helpful in guarding against fine lines and wrinkles.One of the beauty benefits of glycerin is, it rejuvenates the skin and repairs damages skin cells. Glycerin can be used for skin care if you have acne. Apart from repairing damaged skin cells, glycerin fights acne and removes dead skin cells.

Find out how to save by making your own glycerin cosmetic solution.

Glycerin hair spray:

• 1 part of pure vegetable glycerin 
• 5 parts of water 
• A few drops of your favorite essential oil 

Mix the ingredients in a spray bottle, shake well. Spritz on hair after showering.


Glycerin mask for a dry and dehydrated skin:

• 1 tsp glycerin 
• 1 tsp honey 
• 2 tsp milk or water 
• 1 tbsp oatmeal 

Mix well. Apply to clean face for 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.


Glycerin Eye Makeup Remover:

Since glycerin has natural grease cutting properties, it is a perfect natural ingredient for a gentle make up remover.

• 1 part glycerin 
• 2 parts distilled water

Combine ingredients in a spray bottle. Shake well. Dispense on a cotton pad and dab on eyes.


Glycerin Lip Balm:

• 1 tsp coconut oil 
• 1 tsp vitamin E 
• 1 tsp jojoba oil 
• 1 tsp glycerin 

Melt together all ingredients in a small saucepan.Place the liquid mixture in a small container and allow it to cool overnight in the refrigerator.Apply on the lips to get soft lips.

Glycerin Hand Softener:

• 2 egg yolks 
• 5 Tbsp. glycerin 
• 10 drops essential oil 
• 3 Tbsp. coconut milk 

Whisk the ingredients together. Apply all over hands. Cover hands with plastic bag and let the solution sit for about ten minutes. Then, soak hands in warm water for another few minutes and rinse off the entire mixture.

Glycerin Lotion:

• 1/4 cup Water
• 2 tablespoons Glycerin
• 1 teaspoon Spirits of Ammonia
• 1 teaspoon freshly squeezed Lemon Juice

Pour all ingredients in a glass jar with tight cover.Cover and shake until well mixed and integrated.Spread a small amount of the lotion over your hands and gently massage it onto your skin.This is an excellent homemade treatment for nourishing and whitening skin.

You can Store this mixture in a cool, dark place. Shake before each use.

Glycerin Hair Conditioner:

• 2 tsp. glycerin 
• 2 tsp. olive oil 
• 3 tsp. distilled water 
• 8 tsp. grapefruit juice 

Combine the ingredients. Shake well. Shampoo your hair as normal. Condition with the glycerin mixture and rinse out.

Glycerin for Skin Care:

• Glycerin is good for the skin as it acts as a toner. You can mix glycerin with rose water and wipe off your skin. This is a homemade toner for skin care.
• Massaging your face with glycerin and honey helps tighten the skin and also prevent early signs of ageing. 
• You can make a glycerin peel off face mask by mixing it with egg white and honey. It removes dead skin cells and also improves your complexion.
• For effective skin care with glycerin, mix it with clay. This homemade face pack softens the skin and also brings a glow on the face.
• To treat dry palms and feet, apply glycerin. You can mix it with honey to exfoliate the skin, remove dead skin cells and soften the skin.
• If you sweat a lot and suffer from oily skin, apply glycerin with honey and milk. You can also add oatmeal and make a scrub. This removes sweat and excess oil from the skin.

Care for your skin and hair by using glycerin in your daily beauty routine.

Tips to cure Pigmentation & Age Spots

Dark spots and discolorations on the skin can be a difficult and embarrassing problem. Skin pigmentation, and age spots are hard to treat. Skin pigmentation is a condition wherein dark patches appear on the skin. Although not life threatening, it can be a detriment to self-esteem. There are varieties of causes behind skin pigmentation like over exposure to sun, stress, acne scars, fluctuating hormonal levels, or environmental elements such as pollution.

There are many treatments available in the market to tackle this problem. But, before opting for any chemical treatments, there is the possibility that a simple, natural home remedy may be just the solution you're looking for.

Vinegar:
Dilute vinegar equally with water, and use it to cleanse and wash your face. Vinegar is capable of whitening and brightening, as well as making skin smoother and more radiant. It has also long been used for a skin softener. Apple cider or other natural vinegars are recommended, though some people use distilled white vinegar.

Avocados:
Mash avocados into a paste and apply on pigmented areas. Avocados help in skin rejuvenation and healing. These are especially good for treating hyper pigmentation.

Onion Juice:
To get onion juice, you can finely chop up an onion, or blend it, and squeeze the juice through a cheesecloth. Mix with equal part apple cider vinegar, apply twice daily with a cotton ball and watch for results over the next several weeks. Alternatively, you can cut a slice of onion, dip it in vinegar, and apply it to the pigmentation.

Natural home remedy using Tomato, Oatmeal and Yogurt:　
Crush 1 tomato. Press on a sieve and extract its juice. Add 2 tsp oatmeal and ½ tsp yogurt to it. Apply on the patches. Allow it to dry naturally. Leave it for 15-20 min. Wash off with lukewarm water. Do this every day to get desired results.

Guava & Banana Treatment:
Mix pulp of guava & banana and apply on face. Wash off after 15-20 minutes. Doing this everyday will remove all sorts of pigmentation. The Lycopene in guava treats darkening of skin due to exposure to sun and dark pigmentation. Banana exfoliates the skin and lightens pigments areas.

Lemon Juice:
Applying the juice of a fresh lemon to the pigmentation has a similar effect to the onion remedy - it is acidic and can safely peel off the top layer of skin, causing spots to fade. Onion, vinegar and lemon juice are excellent home remedies to relieve you of age spots, pigmentation and discoloration.

Cocoa Butter:
Smear cocoa butter on areas of pigmentation and massage deeply into the skin. Cocoa butter contains anti oxidant properties which helps in soothing and healing of the skin.

Tea Tree Oil & Olive Oil:
Combine 1 tbsp. tea tree oil with 2 tbsp. olive oil in a small container and shake or stir to combine. Gently massage a small amount of the mixture onto the affected area and leave it on until it dries. There is no need to rinse the skin or wash with soap unless it causes irritation or extreme redness. This is a good treatment for pigmentation on the skin and face.

Aloe Vera Gel:
Aloe vera gel is a highly effective natural home treatment for reducing hyper pigmentation and skin discolorations on face and body. To get rid of age spots, and freckles, apply fresh aloe vera gel to your face and neck once or twice daily for a few weeks. You can use aloe vera juice for the treatment of sunburn related problems like age spots, uneven skin tone, inflammation and tanned skin. Constant application of aloe vera remedy will fade or remove all kinds of discoloration, dark spots, and pigmentation on skin.

Almond & Milk Treatment:
Dry skin also leads to skin pigmentation and almonds are best to treat dry skin conditions. Soak almonds overnight. Remove the skin and make a paste with milk. Apply on the pigmented areas. Almonds contain natural fatty acids and nutrients that moisturize and nourish the skin.

Eucalyptus Essential Oil & Jojoba Oil:
Combine ½ tsp. eucalyptus essential oil with 4 tsp. jojoba oil in a small bottle or container and shake to combine. Gently massage a small amount of the mixture onto the affected area and leave it on for 30 minutes before rinsing with clean water and washing with a mild cleanser. This treatment can be repeated daily unless it bothers your skin to help gets rid of pigmentation and dark spots on the face.

Natural home remedy using Turmeric Powder and Lemon Juice:
Take 1 tsp turmeric powder. Add 1 tsp lemon juice. Mix well. Apply on the affected area. Leave it for 15 min to dry. Wash off with cold water. Do not expose skin to the sun immediately after this. Application at bedtime is advisable to get the results.

Potato Treatment:
Potato is best for fading dark patches and skin discolorations fast. Potatoes include high amounts of catecholase, a potent skin lightening substance. Therefore potato can be used for reducing discolored face and dark pigmented skin. Potato slices may be kept over the face as it has a bleaching effect and it can lighten discolored skin patches. Do this natural homemade remedy on a regular basis to get rid of brown skin discoloration on face easily. A mixture of lemon and potato juice also helps fade blemishes and pigment marks on face and help even out the skin tone. Repeat this home treatment once a day for removing　dark spots and blemishes from the facial skin fast.

Honey & Apple Cider Vinegar:
Combine 1 tbsp. honey and ½ tbsp. apple cider vinegar in a small bowl and whisk to combine. Massage a thick layer of the mixture onto the affected area and leave it on for 20 minutes. Rinse the skin with cool water and wash with a mild cleanser. This treatment can be repeated daily as long it does not bother your skin as a topical treatment for pigmentation and skin color abnormalities.

Castor Oil & Vitamin E:
Mixing castor oil & vitamin E and applying on affected areas leaves skin smooth and silky. This will slowly remove pigmented areas from the skin leaving it smooth and free from blemishes. Vitamin E helps in reviving the skin it’s lost glory.

Natural home remedy using Honey & Milk Powder:
Make a paste of one teaspoon each of honey, milk powder, lime juice and half a teaspoon of almond oil. Apply this to the darkened areas of the body. This will reduce the tan and also make the skin soft and smooth.

Pineapple Juice:
Applying pineapple juice helps remove dead cells, reduce skin pigmentation and reveal bright skin underneath. Cut a few pineapple slices and put it in a juicer. Use a cotton pad to apply pineapple juice on your skin. Wash off after 20 mins. Do this on a daily basis to get the desired results.

Papaya for Skin Pigmentation:
Grate Papaya and extract the juice of it. Apply on the pigmented area regularly and wait for a month to see the amazing results. The enzyme papain is used for skin exfoliation. Raw papaya treatment helps in regeneration of new skin cells thus removing the pigmented layers of the skin every time you do an exfoliation.