Fresh Fruit & Veggies Mask

Fresh Fruit & Veggies Mask

I am a big juicer. It saves me alot of money and i enjoy finding new combos. So, this morning i made carrot, orange and cucumber juice. I always struggle with the leftover pulp material when i am done because it is so pretty and still useful, so i usually end up making bread or muffins with it, but this morning i decided to toss it in my food processor with a few other ingredients to create a super fresh mask!!

Here is what i did:

I took about a 1/4 cup of the mixture and processed it with a half of a banana and a 1/3 cup of yarrow hydrosol. If you don't have hydrosol on hand, you could substitute water or even coconut/ rice /almond milk. Then i simply blended it til it became smooth and spread it over my face. (it is drying as i type this!)

If you don't have a juicer you can simply toss 1 part of an orange, 1 small carrot and a few slices of cucumber in to your food processor or blender along with the other ingredients.

The Recipe

- 1 orange slice (large)

-1 small carrot

-3-4 slices of cucumber

-1/3 cup hydrosol, water or milk of choice

-1/2 of a banana

Directions

Blend well until mixture is smooth. Add more liquid slowly as needed and apply to clean, dry skin. Let sit until dry, then wash off.

*If you have extra, simply place in a container and refrigerate. Treat the mask as you would food.....you can use this everyday til it is gone. I would toss it out after a week.

Benefits

Carrots are loaded with vitamin A and other antioxidants which helps balance the pH of the skin's surface, making it slightly acidic. That's good news, because slightly acidic skin fends off bacterial invaders. Oranges are a natural source of vitamin c and full of pectin, making it another great antioxidant boost for the skin. Cucumbers are cooling to the skin and can help with dark circles, puffy eyes or any inflammation. Bananas have potassium and vitamin c as well, they are also know for their calming qualities, so if you have a bite, dry patch or inflamed pimple, they help to soothe and calm.

Peace + Love,

Kelsey

Banana Oatmeal & MInt Mask

Banana Oatmeal & Mint Mask

Ingredients

1/4 C Instant Organic Oatmeal

1 Small Organic Banana

1 Egg White

1 Mint tea bag or fresh mint

Preparation

Mix Oatmeal, Mashed Banana & Egg white then empty contents of the mint tea bag and mix all ingredients well. Apply to your face and neck and let the mask dry on your face & neck for 30 minutes to 1 hour. This mask is good for all skin types. The effects of the mask will tighten pores & clean pores & moisturize. The Mint will give a cool refreshing feel to the skin. The Banana and Oatmeal in the mask adds moisture to the skin. The Egg white cleans & tightens pores.

Leave on for 10-15 minutes, then rinse with warm water.

Enjoy!

Peace + Love,

Kelsey

10 Home Remedies for Age Spots!

Home Remedies Tips for Age Spots

1.Aloe Rubbing fresh aloe vera juice or gel on the spots will help fade them. Use the gel twice a day for a month or two. Juice from the aloe plant is excellent for healing burns and is also beneficial as a general healing agent.

2.Apple cider vinegar Combine two teaspoons of apple cider vinegar with one teaspoon of orange juice and apply to the spots, preferably on a cloth or cotton pad that is secured to the area.

3.Bilberry herb slows some of the aging processes and acts as an antioxidant. Take 4-8 oz. of fresh berries, 80-160 mg of bilberry extract (25% anthocyanidin), or 20-40 mg anthocyanosides daily.

4.Buttermilk Dab buttermilk on the spots. The lactic acid and other ingredients in the milk are beneficial to the skin. Buttermilk has been used for generations as a skin cleanser and as a beauty aid.

5.Castor oil Apply castor oil on the spots in the morning and in the evening, and rub well into the skin. The spots should disappear within a month.

6.Take fresh or canned chick peas (garbanzo beans), mash about 1/3 cupful and add a little water. Smear this paste on the spots and leave it there until it dries.

7.Dandelion Break open a dandelion stem and rub the sap on the spots 2-3x per day. Good for warts, too. Will Greer (Grandpa Walton) used this method successfully.

8.Using the ancient Chinese herb gotu kola. Mix 1/8 teaspoon of powdered herb into a cup of herbal tea or add it to plain hot water along with 1/8 teaspoon of ginseng and a pinch of cayenne. This remedy should clear the spots in a few days.

9. Mix one teaspoon grated horseradish root, 1/2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1/2 teaspoon vinegar, and 3 drops rosemary essential oil. Dab onto your age spots with a cotton ball once or twice a day (less if you have sensitive skin); it will exfoliate the top layer of skin and your spot should lighten. Jeanette Jacknin, M.D. in Smart Medicine for Your Skin.

10.Some fresh lemon juice on the spots twice daily. If you are going outdoors, wait for the juice to dry as it increases the skin's sensitivity to sunlight. It may take a few months, but the acidity in the juice will cause the spots to fade away.

"Hands Reach" Face Wash for the Holiday Traveler

It dawned on me a few days ago, that in the midst of moving and renovating a new house, then abruptly jumping on a plane to the east coast, that I forgot to pack face wash.

Instead of cruising to Whole Foods or Blue Mercury and dropping some dough on something overpriced and toxic, I decided to turn to my boyfriend's father's kitchen.

Here's what I created in less than 10 minutes with what I found without digging too deep:

-honey (not organic, but one must make due when you are in a mini crisis)

-coffee grounds (left over in their coffee grinder from earlier)

-almonds (you could sub oats, or another grain here)

-jasmine tea

-apple cider vinegar

-olive oil

Here's what I did:

I put a few tablespoons of the apple cider vinegar in a pot and placed it on the stove. I used more than usual because my diet has consisted of cheese and sugar as of late, so I could use the extra astringent properties that ACV has. I then dumped in a combo of leftover coffee grounds (which stimulate blood flow....hence waking the skin up), almonds (a natural emollient) and jasmine tea from the contents of a tea bag and ground them together in a coffee grinder. I mixed this in with the ACV and added a decent amount of honey. The honey will help hold the mixture together, so you can add more as needed. I am also really dry from the new winter weather, so I threw in a teaspoon of olive oil. I then heated the mixture on low until well blended and poured it in to my glass jar. Chances are with all the cooking going down this time of year that you can find a glass jar in the recycling or an almost empty, old jam in the fridge that is ready to go.

Happy Holidays and as always, Peace + Love to your Skin!

Kelsey

Anti- Steam

Depending on where you live, it's about that time of year when the windows will remain shut for a bit. This means alot less fresh air!

If this is the case for you and your home, then it's a great time to do an herbal steam with some really great anti-bacterial, anti-viral and anti-microbial herbs.

It's super simple and really healthy, especially for the lungs!

Add equal parts of the following to a big pot of water:

-eucalyptus

-tulsi (holy basil)

-lemongrass

-lavender

You could swap out any of these for another favorite.

Be sure to bring the herbs to a boil with a lid on, then remove the lid and stand over the steam, taking slow, intentional deep breaths that fill your lungs up.

Steam as long as you would like and then let the steam move into the air, so your house gets some!

You could even walk around your house with the pot to help disperse the steam.

I do this often and love it. It's a sweet, simple way to nurture yourself and the combination of herbs are endless. You could always do a google search for what herbs have these properties to see if you already have a few at home!

Enjoy,

Kelsey

SImple Green Clay Cleanser

Simple Green Clay Cleanser

After lots and lots of transition in my life, I am finally back to a 'religious' workout schedule. I get up every morning and go to the gym and low and behold.....I feel much better! There is one catch however, my skin is breaking out from sweating.

So, instead of using my Whole Grain Cleanser, which is part of the line and perfect for all skin types, I am targeting my breakouts with this really simple, effective cleanser:

Ingredients:

5 parts Green Clay (found in the body care section of most grocery stores)

1 part Aloe Vera Juice

3 parts ground Oats (Oatmeal ...that is)

4 drops of either Rose Geranium, Roman Chamomile or Lavender Essentail Oil...or a combo if you would like!

Mix in to a paste, adjusting amounts as needed. Splash water on your face and begin to massage the cleanser, then rinse.

If your skin feels dry afterwards, you may not need something this dry OR you can follow with a moisturizing face oil.

Enjoy,

Peace + Love,

Kelsey

Vitamin C + E Boost

Vitamin C + E Boost

This is a great boost for the skin if it's feeling sluggish and could use a little pick-me-up......or if you have been slacking on your citrus intake.

1/2 cup beeswax

5000 units vitamin E (capsules)

1 Tbsp Apricot Kernel Oil

2 oz orange hydrosol

5 drops sweet orange essential oil

Directions:

Using a double boiler (or create one by placing water in a large pot and putting a glass bowl on top)

melt beeswax. reduce heat and blend in apricot kernel oil, and vitamin E. Remove from heat and add hydrosol and sweet orange oil.

Pour into a glass jar immediately and let cool.

Apply to dull areas of the skin, including under eyes.

Peace + Love,

Kelsey