FitSugar

Home Spa Treatment: Heal Dry Hands With Heated Socks

FitSugar — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 09:00:16 -0800

Colder weather means dry skin, and for me, my hands and cuticles are the worst since I'm constantly washing my hands. Here's a soothing and inexpensive remedy you can treat yourself to at home. If you suffer from dry skin on your feet, you can use this treatment on your tootsies too.

To learn how to heal your dry skin keep reading

Home Spa Treatment: Henna Your Hair

FitSugar — Tue, 10 Jul 2007 14:30:00 -0700

Since I have dark hair, lemon juice doesn't do a thing to add natural highlights to my hair. I've even experimented with cranberry juice, but I never really noticed much of a difference. Many years ago a friend turned me on to using henna. It doesn't contain a bunch of synthetic chemicals, instead it is a plant based dye. The green leaves are dried and then crushed into a powder. You just add water to the powder to make a paste that you apply to your hair.

Despite what hairdressers say, henna is good for your hair. Not only is it a natural colorant (much better than chemical dyes), but it strengthens and conditions your hair, and as an added bonus, it gets rid of dandruff.

When I want to add a color to my hair, I use the pure henna powder you order online - it works much better than the Rainbow Henna you see at heath food stores. It's the same henna women use to decorate a bride's hands and feet before an Indian wedding.

Putting henna in your hair can be a bit messy, but the color is absolutely gorgeous. It creates shiny reddish highlights that look completely natural. Want to know how to do it, then read more

Wash your hair, don't condition it and then towel it dry. Place the entire box of henna powder (about 100 grams or 1 cup) into a glass or metal bowl. Then gradually add 1 cup of warm water. Use a metal spoon to mix it together to make a creamy paste similar to frosting.
Wear rubber or latex gloves (so your hands don't get stained - if you don't wear gloves, it's not a big deal - the stain will go away in a day or two). Using your fingers, scoop up some of the paste and begin to smear it all along your hair. I always do the hair around my face first and then work my way back. After all the henna is in your hair, if you hair is long enough, pull it back and then twist it in a bun.
Now place a plastic bag over your hair and tie it in the back. Then check your face, ears, neck, and shoulders and wash off any henna that didn't make it into your hair. Check the floor too. The first time I did this, I only left the henna in my hair for 45-60 minutes. Then every other time, I increased the amount of time until I realized that I could sleep with it overnight. My hair is really dark though, so the longer the better. I would NOT recommend you do this your first time or if your hair is light. When you are ready to wash it out, get into one of those shower/tubs. Turn the water on for the tub, squat down, and wash as much of the henna out as possible. Then you can turn on the shower part and rinse the rest of your hair and body. Don't wash your hair, just condition it once or twice - it makes your hair silky smooth and helps to get all the extra henna out. The water will be brown, so don't be alarmed. It'll probably be brown the next few times you get it wet too.

So that's it. I know it sounds a little complicated, but once you get the hang of it, it's just as easy as washing your hair.

Home Spa Treatment: Salt Foot Scrub

FitSugar — Wed, 28 Mar 2007 15:30:00 -0700

Are your feet just plain sick of pulling on and off those heavy winter boots? Are your dogs tired of being stuffed into dark shoes? Are your feet calloused from hibernating in heavy socks? Well now is the time to do some spring cleaning of your feet. Try this salt scrub to rejuvenate your tired feet while smoothing out the callouses.

Mix together:

1 Tablespoon of coarse, clean sand
1/4 cup light canola oil
1/4 cup liquid hand soap
1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup Epsom salt

If you have any essential oils on hand you can add about 5 to 10 drops. Peppermint oil can bring renewed vitality to exhausted feet.

Apply salt scrub to wet feet and gently massage all parts of your feet, paying particular attention to your heels. Rinse off the salt and pat dry. Moisturize.

Enjoy!!!!

Home Spa Treatment: Deep Pore Cleansing

FitSugar — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 15:15:00 -0800

Generally the starlets begin their red carpet beauty regimen about a week before the Oscars. Treatments like "extractions", an esthetician squeezing out black heads, can leave the skin looking a little bruised, red and irritated. While extractions are ultimately good for the skin, the short term effects can resemble unwanted blemishes.

I know we're a little behind schedule but here is a home treatment for deep cleaning your pores. It works like those pore cleaning strips you find at the drugstore, but all you need is:

1 Tablespoon Knox unflavored gelatin
1-1/2 Tablespoons of milk

Mix the above ingredients and microwave them for 10 seconds. You want the mixture to be slightly warm.
Apply the warm mixture onto your nose and chin using a clean cosmetic brush or small spatula. You know to avoid the delicate eye area, but I got to say it just in case.
Rinse brush immediately.
Allow mixture on nose and chin to dry for 10-15 minutes. Kick back on the sofa and relax while it dries into a stiff film.
Peel off the film and marvel at all the gunk that was clogging your pores.

You might want to cool your skin with a cool compress after peeling off the masque. Have fun.

Home Spa Treatment: Brown Sugar Body Scrub

FitSugar — Thu, 08 Feb 2007 17:00:00 -0800

I have written about the joys of sugar scrubs before, but here is a recipe to make your own.

Mix in a plastic bowl:
½ cup of raw turbinado sugar (or brown sugar)
¼ cup of honey
Add 3-4 drops of essential oil if you have some around.

Use scrub all over your body once you are in the shower. If you have bath gloves or a loofah use those for scrubbing. Focus a little extra on areas that tend to get dry like elbows and heels.

Wash the scrub away with water and then enjoy your sweet smelling, soft skin.

Home Spa Treatment: Mango Toner to Treat Red Skin

FitSugar — Fri, 19 Jan 2007 16:30:00 -0800

It is winter and red skin seems overly abundant - the harsh cold and over drying heat can really thrash the tender flesh of your face.

Try this simple mango aloe toner to soothe your chapped or windburned cheeks.

You are going to need:

1 cup aloe vera gel, chilled

2 tablespoons chopped fresh mango

1 lime, juiced

Puree the aloe vera gel, chopped mango, and the juice of one lime. Chill mixture, and apply to face at night with clean cotton pads. The toner will feel slightly sticky from the exfoliating sugars in the mango. Leave on overnight or while you watch your favorite shows, and rinse with cool water (hot water can dry out and irritate your skin. Toner will keep for approximately 2 weeks if refrigerated.

Relax Already: Homemade Avocado Masque for Dry Skin

FitSugar — Thu, 11 Jan 2007 16:45:00 -0800

I am always looking for spa treatments I can do in my home with ingredients found readily in my fridge. After a day of harsh weather on the mountain skiing or sitting in an over heated office, it is a great idea to treat yourself to a moisturizing masque. Feed your skin and relax your mind at the same time.

Here is a great moisturizing masque made with just avocados and eggs, courtesy of the California Avocado Commission.

Beat the yolk of an egg until it is light and frothy.
Add the mashed pulp of half an avocado, mix well in a blender.
Cleanse your face thoroughly before using this masque (or any masque, for that matter).
Spread the avocado mixture over the face and neck evenly, and just lie down and relax about 20 minutes.
Remove with clear tepid water and a face cloth, followed by a rinse of cold water or a mild skin lotion.

You should see a marked improvement in skin texture, and might experience a deep craving for some guacamole.

Relax Already: At Home Toner

FitSugar — Tue, 14 Nov 2006 17:30:00 -0800

I told you about an interesting use of lemon juice for the Master Cleaner, but if you are looking for an at home revitalization, how about making your own lemon facial spritzer.

All you need is:
1 lemon
1/2 tsp cold water

Mix the lemon juice and the water in a bowl. Pat on to your face after cleansing (or a refreshing facial) with a makeup remover pad. The lemon’s acidity acts like a toner to tighten the skin and close the pores. It smells great too!

Fit's Tip: Do this after a nice long bath or nap to wake you up and feel rejuvenated. After I work out I like to wash my face and then use the lemon mixture in a spray bottle to really feel refreshed.

At Home Spa Treatment: Papaya Mask

FitSugar — Sun, 09 Sep 2007 02:30:00 -0700

One great way to relax on the weekends is to pamper yourself with an at home spa treatment. Since alpha hydroxy is all the rage in skin care these days, why not use your own fruit to tap into the exfoliating powers of fruit acids? As my aesthetician says, "If you wouldn't want to eat it, don't put it on your face" since you can absorb chemicals through your skin.

Here is a natural facial mask featuring the tropical fruit power house: the papaya. The fruit enzymes found in papayas are know to aid and accelerate healing in skin disorders such as acne. In addition, the fruit enzymes gently exfoliate the skin. That is what I call a win/win situation.

What you need:

1 cup fresh pineapple
Half-a-cup fresh papaya
1 tablespoon honey

To see what you do, just read more

What you do:

Purée the fruit in a blender or food processor.
Add honey and blend until the mixture makes a smooth paste.
Apply mask to clean skin on your face and neck. Gently steaming your pores open before applying the mask will increase the benefits of it.
Leave mask on for 15 to 20 minutes. Recline and relax.
Rinse face and neck with warm water

If you are looking for more possible self spa ideas, check out their at home spa treatments and of course Bella has some great DIY Spa Treatments too!

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Home Spa Treatment: Aloe and Olive Oil Shampoo

FitSugar — Sat, 10 Nov 2007 03:00:00 -0800

One of the ways I like to chill out on the weekends is to give myself a little home spa treatment. I like to find the ingredients for my masque or bubble bath in the cupboards of my kitchen. My aesthetician has said if you wouldn’t want to eat it you shouldn’t put it on your face, or your hair for that matter. Plus, when you make you own beauty treatments you know that there are no funky ingredients or environmentally-unsound chemicals in them.

I found this recipe using the spa treatment finder over at iVillage. I think it is a great mild shampoo and I can pronounce the names of all the ingredients.

What you need:
1/2 oz. dried flowers: chamomile for blondes, hibiscus for redheads, and rosemary for brunettes
1/2 cup liquid castile soap
1 tsp. olive oil
2 tbsp. aloe vera juice

What you do:

Steep dried flowers in 1 cup boiling water (I used my Pyrex measuring cup). Cover and steep until cool.
Place castile soap, olive oil, and aloe vera juice into a bottle or jar.
Strain your herbal infusion and add 1/3 cup remaining liquid to olive oil mixture. Shake well.
Shampoo your hair with your new homemade shampoo and rinse thoroughly.

Why I like it: Natural castile soap is a plant based soap. Herbs and aloe vera make this a gentle cleansing shampoo with a fragrant, mild lather.

You should also check out Bella’s DIY home spa treatments too!

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