A friend has opted to forgo the traditional raunchy theme for her bachelorette party and make it a spa party. She has even hired ladies to provide manicures, pedicures and the like during the party. As my way of thanking her for this enlightened choice I have decided to put together a basket of spa goodies, all made from the most natural of ingredients.
No chemicals, no fake stuff, just simple indulgence in its purest form, from the earth.
No chemicals, no fake stuff, just simple indulgence in its purest form, from the earth.
Now that's some pampering that I can sink my teeth into!!
Lemon Tea Sugar Scrub:
(face & body)
A sugar scrub exfoliates the skin and removes old, dead skin cells to
reveal new, fresher-looking skin. Using green tea topically has nearly
as many health benefits as drinking it! Green tea on the skin can help
to reduce inflammation, protect against UV radiation (applied after
before and after sun exposure, though NOT as a substitute for
sunscreen), neutralize free radicals and prevent cell damage, and it can
even help to slow the progression of skin cancer and inhibit the
development of melanoma.
Ingredients:- 3 tablespoons Epsom Salt
- 1 cup Sugar
- 3 Green Tea bags (just open tea bags and pour into the bowl)
- 10 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 2 teaspoons honey
- Lemon Zest from 1 lemon
In a large bowl, mix salt, sugar, ant tea. Next mix in the olive oil, then mix in the honey, finally, add the lemon zest. Apply to skin in the shower (when your pores are good and steamy and open), scrub gently, then rinse off.
Papaya Anti-Wrinkle Facial:
Papaya contains the natural enzyme papain, which acts to naturally
and gently remove the outermost layer of dead skin and reveal beautiful,
fresh, new skin. Be careful not to leave the papaya mask on your skin
too long as it may be too drying- about 5 minutes is best. Apply to
clean skin, leave on up to 5 minutes, rinse with cool water and
moisturize well. We tripled this recipe to make enough to fill a small
jar (and still had a little left).
Ingredients:- 2 tablespoons Mashed Papaya
- 1 teaspoon Aloe Vera Gel
To begin, open the papaya and remove the seeds. Spoon the fruit into a small bowl and mash. Add the aloe vera gel and mix.
To get the aloe vera gel;
cut a piece from an aloe vera plant,
split along one side with a paring knife,
and then use a spoon to scrape out the gel.
Watermelon Toner:
Watermelon is a truly amazing, nutritionally powerful food that is just as good for you on your body as it is in your body. The fragrance is delightfully fresh and uplifting and vitamins A, B, and C help to make your skin glow.
My sister and I have been using this toner for about a week now and we
can't remember having such lovely, youthful complexions! We have kept
ours in the refrigerator to prevent any spoiling.
Ingredients:- 2 tablespoons Fresh Watermelon Juice
- 1 tablespoon Vodka
- 2 tablespoons Witch Hazel
- 2 tablespoons distilled water
Olive Oil Body Lotion:
This is my new favorite lotion! Even though I was
a little skeptical as I hadn't ever thought about beeswax in a lotion
before, I use it after showering and on my baby's eczema and we have
found it very soothing and nourishing to dry skin. We love it! The
vitamin E in the extra virgin olive oil can help protect against UV
radiation (applied after sun exposure- do not use in place of
sunscreen), combat free radicals an cell damage, and can help treat
eczema and psoriasis. The oil does tend to separate, so be sure to give
it a good shake before use. Also, (not surprisingly) this lotion tends
to be a little on the oily side- this is why I like to use it after
showering, so that I can towel off any excess oil.
Ingredients- 1/2 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
- 1/2 tablespoon grated Beeswax
- 1/8 teaspoon Borax powder
- 1/2 cup distilled water
- 3-5 drops Essential oil (your choice of scent, we used a ginger/citrus blend)
Honey Almond Lip Balm:
This. Stuff. Rocks.
Not only do I love it on my lips, but it works wonders on dry gardening hands and crusty, been-cooped-up-all-winter feet. Also magical on elbows, and I think I'll make a batch with some eucalyptus oil to use on my babies when they're sick. Color a batch with some fresh beet or berry juice and use on lips or cheeks! With this recipe as a base formula, the possibilities of awesome-ness are endless!!!
Ingredients:- 1/4 cup extra virgin olive oil
- 4 tablespoons grated beeswax
- 1 teaspoon honey
- 1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
- 1/4 teaspoon cocoa butter
- 1/2 teaspoon almond extract
We have had a bit of trouble finding tiny tubs or jars for lip balm or lip gloss. The ones pictured above came from the travel cosmetics section of a big box store. The following websites may also prove helpful: DIY Cosmetics, Sunburst Bottle, or Lip Balm Tubes.
Lavender Mint Bath Tea:
The scent of mint can be elevating and brightening, and can help soothe a
headache (even migraines). The healing benefits of lavender range from
soothing joint pain, to warding off depression, to treating eczema.
Ingredients:2-3 tablespoons each of the following-
- Dried Lavender
- Dried Mint
- Sencha Tea
Some recipes in this post are from the following books:
The Big-Ass Book of Crafts, by Mark Montano.
Natural Beauty for All Seasons,by Janice Cox.
The Big-Ass Book of Crafts, by Mark Montano.
Natural Beauty for All Seasons,by Janice Cox.
