Go organic inside and out for glowing skin.
Skin creams and lotions moisturize the skin and can be used daily as part of a skin-care regime alongside cleansers and toners. However, we need specialized rejuvenating treatments once a week or month to keep our face and body looking and feeling in tip-top condition.
Face masks are a major rejuvenating treatment. They are applied to the face and the neck -- take care to avoid the eyes, the surrounding delicate skin, and the mouth -- and left for ten or fifteen minutes to do their work. Masks serve one of several purposes, depending on the ingredients used. Some masks are enriching and nourishing, feeding and hydrating the skin. Ingredients for these masks include honey, almond, and avocado.
Sadly, face masks alone won't transform your skin into the dewy complexion of a model! So, it is a good idea to spend a day detoxifying from the inside as well as from the outside. If you choose a day when you don't have to work, you can really rest and revitalize your whole system. During the day, avoid all caffeine, salt, chemical additives, and alcohol. Drink herb teas and a lot of spring water. Eat a lot of fruit -- melons and grapes are especially good at detoxifying your system. Make a simple vegetable soup for lunch and in the evening steam some organic vegetables and serve them with organic brown rice.
As well as applying one of the face masks that follow, you can thoroughly cleanse and tone your face beforehand and give yourself a face massage. In one teaspoon of almond oil put a single drop of rose, jasmine, or neroli. Massage this gently into your face and neck, avoiding the eyes and mouth. After the massage, rest for five minutes with a warm, damp cloth over your face. Then, apply your chosen face mask and rest for ten or fifteen minutes before washing it off with warm water.
Skin benefits from regular exfoliation, and a recipe for a body scrub is also provided. This is important in the spring, as your body has been swathed in thick clothes and subject to the drying effects of wind and central heating. However, regular exfoliation year round keeps the skin in good condition, vibrantly glowing, and healthy.
The feet benefit from a coarser scrub than the rest of the body as the skin is thicker. Use a handful of sea salt, and rub firmly in circular movements, targeting the areas of hard skin. Wash off the salt with warm water and then apply the Peppermint Foot Lotion or Coconut OIl Hand Cream [see pp 53 and 46 of the book for recipes], or give yourself a foot massage with a few drops of an essential oil of your choice mixed into a teaspoon of almond oil.
Text and recipes excerpted from Natural Beauty Recipe Book by Gill Farrer-Halls (Quarry Books, 2006). Available in bookstores and from online booksellers. Copyright 2006 by Quarry Books. All rights reserved. No part of this excerpt may be reproduced or reprinted without permission in writing from the publisher.
