Sunday, June 27, 2010

Get Gorgous Summer Skin

Beauty


Summer is all about digging into juicy, refreshing fresh fruit...but have you ever considered what an effective - and cost-effective - skincare solution it provides? Unlike many of the pricey department store lotions, face scrubs, cleansers and other beauty products, fresh fruit is budget-friendly and you know exactly what you're putting on your skin. Raechel Cunningham, licensed aesthetician and director of New York Laser & Aesthetics Spa in New York City, has hand picked some of her favorite fruits for a medley of do-it-yourself, homemade skin-tastic remedies to treat, moisturize and rejuvenate all your skin care needs:
  • Aloe Soothing & cool to the skin, and stops pain & itching. High in AloeEctin B, which stimulates the immune system.
  • Avocado Hydrates dry skin; filled with natural fatty acids, protein, Vitamins A and C.
  • Apples High in AHA’s and antioxidants. Great for dissolving flaky skin.
  • Baking Soda Neutralizes the Ph of the skin and pulls out excess heat.
  • Banana Contains Vitamins A, B, and C. Soothing and healing. The most beneficial part of the banana is the inside of the skin.
  • Blueberry High in AHA’s and antioxidants. Great for revitalizing dull skin.
  • Chamomile Soothes irritated skin.
  • Egg White Full of protein, eggs whites act as a tightening agent and is great for oily skin.
  • Garlic Purifying and antibacterial properties. Great for acne. Beware if you are not a garlic lover!
  • Green Tea High in antioxidants. Stimulates circulation and has anti- inflammatory properties.
  • Honey High in Vitamins C, D, E and B complex. Honey has natural effects on the skin and is known to be an antiseptic salve.
  • Lemon Packed with Vitamin C and AHA’s. Great for oily skin and acts as a natural skin lightener.
  • Milk Full of proteins, Vitamins A, D, & E. Has strong soothing properties.
  • Oatmeal Contains healing properties. Oatmeal serves as both an exfoliator and moisturizer. This is great for dry/sensitive skin.
  • Olive Oil High in natural fatty acids. This emollient is a moisturizing ingredient similar to avocado.
  • Strawberry High in AHA’s, BHA’s, and Vitamin C. This acts as a cleansing astringent for oily skin. Helps to even skin tone.
  • Sugar This is a natural AHA in which Glycolic acid is derived from. This is a great exfoliator for the skin.
  • Tomato Contains Lycopene which is excellent for the skin. This ingredient is great for oily skin. It removes surface impurities, exfoliates, shrinks pores and regulates skin tone.
  • Wheat Flour Thickening agent for skin remedies.
  • Yogurt Contains enzymes which aid in removing dirt and dead skin cells from the skin.

Raechel's Tips & Tricks for maximum fruit & veggie beauty benefits:

  • When selecting fresh fruit and veggies, it is best to use organically grown varieties. This will give you maximum benefits.
  • Fruit and veggie skin care is best used when prepared and applied on the same day. Avoid making more than you need for a single application.
  • Make sure you clean and sanitize all counter tops and mixing utensils before making any of the recipes.
  • Leave all ingredients out of the fridge for up to an hour before mixing. Don’t let the fruits get any warmer than room temperature.
  • Fresh fruits and veggies are very high in acids. Be careful not to overdo it. If you apply anything to your skin and encounter a burning sensation, remove immediately and apply cool water.

Beauty_6 CLEANSE:

  • Normal/Acne/Oily skin: Mix 1 tablespoon plain or vanilla yogurt with the juice of 1/4 lemon & massage onto skin. Rinse with warm water.
  • Dry/Sensitive: Moisten a chamomile tea bag with warm water. Gently massage moist tea bag in tiny circles around face to gently loosen dead skin cells.
  • Olive Oil makeup remover (all skin types): Take a paper towel and fold in half 3 times. Apply a drop of olive oil to paper towel. Keeping your eyes closed, wipe downwards from upper eye lid down. Avoid getting olive oil in the eye.

Beauty_5 STEAM:
After cleansing & before exfoliating, steam your skin to open the pores. Fill a 6 quart pot ¼ of the way full with water, cover with a lid and bring to a boil. (For astringent and tonic properties, add lemon juice to boiling water.) Take the pot off the stove and place it on an oven safe surface where it is a good height to lean over the pot exposing your face to the steam. For best results sit down at a table with a small to medium towel draped over the back of your head to keep the steam localized to the face. Steaming can occur for 5-10 min. Exfoliate after steaming.
Beauty_3 EXFOLIATE:
  • Normal/Acne/ Oily: Combine 1 tablespoon of tomato juice with 1½ tablespoon of sugar, and massage in tiny circles all over face and neck. Avoid using near eyes. Rinse thoroughly
  • Dry/Sensitive: Mix together 1 tablespoon of yogurt with 1 tablespoon of plain uncooked oatmeal, and massage into skin with tiny circles. Rinse thoroughly
  • Dry skin: Slice 1/2 an avocado. Use the inside of the skin with avocado residue & massage into small circles over skin. Once you have completed the whole face, turn the avocado skin to the rough side and gently massage in tiny circles. Rinse thoroughly & prepare to apply mask.

Beauty FACIAL MASKS:
  • Acne: Whip together a clove of minced garlic, ½ tomato with seeds finely chopped, 1 tablespoon tomato juice & 1 egg white. Apply to skin, and to ensure the ingredients stay put, either lie down, or unfold a gauze pad, cut out holes for your eyes and mouth, moisten & press against skin over the mask.
  • Dry skin: Whip together 1 mashed strawberry, 1 teaspoon of honey, ¼ avocado meat mashed & 1 teaspoon of wheat flour. Leave on 3-5 minutes.
  • Normal/Dry: Mash together 3-5 blueberries, 2-3 circular slices of a banana & 1 tablespoon of wheat flour. (If it's too firm, add a drop of apple juice.) Leave on 3-5 minutes
  • All skin types: Mix together ½ lemon, 1 tablespoon of honey & 1 tablespoon wheat flour. (If it's too soupy, add more honey or wheat flour.) Leave on 3-5 min.
  • Puffy eyes: Moisten 2 green tea bags with warm water and apply over eyes for 5-10 minutes while you lie down & chill.
Beauty_2 BODY CARE:
  • Sunburn relief: Into a bath filled with tepid water, pour 2 cups of raw uncooked oatmeal, 1 cup of milk & 1 tablespoon of honey. Soak for 5-10 min. Alternatively, pour 2 cups baking soda into cool-tepid water & soak for 10 minutes. After you get out of the bath, apply 1-2 aloe peeled aloe leaves...slimy, but a huge relief.
  • Dry/Ashy skin: Pour 1 quart of apple juice & ¼ cup of olive oil into a warm bath & soak.
  • Rough hands: Chop 3-5 mint leaves in a mixing bowl, and squeeze in 1/2 a lime. Add in 1 tablespoon each of sugar & olive oil. Massage into the palm of your hand working the product around. This is a great cuticle treatment!

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

It's great to know that your skincare needs can be dealt with during a trip to the health food store

Anonymous said...

One of the additions to my new site will be articles like this encouraging women to use their talents in the kitchen to increase their attractive aura. Great article!

Shon

Anonymous said...

i would like to know ...what is the best for skin that has blemishs. i used to have acne...the ance has stopped (new pimimples dont come on a daily bases though when under stress or once in ablue moon i will get one here or there) my question is what ingrediant i.e fruit is best for the blemishs....

ive tried yoghurt on my face..and it feels great actually..very refreshing nad i notice a better complexion ...i put it on for about half an hour.
i would like to try other things as well. another question is fr garlic...my acne stopped so will it still be beneficial for me if i use it? wil it help rid me of hte blemishes? and odes it make a difference if i use the powder garlic?
please do answer my questiosn im very eager on trying these new home remedies ..as they are all natural and inexpensive:)

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