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Paraffin hand and foot treatments are used in spas and salons to lock in moisture. The wax is warm and soothing and your hands and feet will be left feeling soft and supple. If you are using wax for both hands and feet, double the recipe.
You can buy a wonderful paraffin wax bath from Dr. Scholls for under $50 (buy from Amazon) or you can make your own using a casserole dish and sandwich bags.
Ingredients
1 block paraffin wax (about 4 oz), you can find this in the canning sections of your local grocery store or online. (Buy from Amazon.com)
an ounce of oil (coconut, almond, olive, jojoba)
20 drops of essential oil. Lavender is rather nice
a few drops of olive oil or coconut oil (you will use this to coat your hands)
a casserole dish, greased with oil
plastic sandwich bags
Preparation
The following directions are for a hand treatment, you can also use this treatment on the feet.
Melt the paraffin, the ounce of oil, the scented oil in a double boiler. (The double boiler is necessary for safety purposes).
Very carefully pour the wax into the dish and wait until a skin has formed on the top of the wax. When this happens, the temperature should be about right for submerging your hands.
Test the wax on your wrist to ensure the temperature is not too hot.
Prepare hands by washing them. Smooth the olive oil or coconut oil (I prefer coconut oil because it smells better) on your hands.
Dip each hand into the wax repeatedly until you have several layers of wax built up.
Have someone help you put on the sandwich bags onto each hand and then relax for about 30 minutes. You can also wrap hands in Saran wrap.
For added benefit, place a bath towel over your hands as you wait. (This is a perfect time to watch a half hour of TV.)
To remove wax, simply peel it off starting at the wrist. The wax should come off in large sections. Give yourself a little hand massage and you are done.
More recipes:
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Hair mask & hair rinse recipes
More on skincare:
17 Ingenious Beauty Uses for Average Kitchen Items
Turmeric is a bright yellow spice used in many Indian, Southeast Asian and Middle Eastern curry dishes, but what many Western people don't know is that when combined with yogurt, milk or olive oil, it's also a brilliant face mask and has potent anti-inflammatory and antioxident properties.
Indian women use turmeric as a skin brightener and it is common practice for Indian brides (and, apparently, their grooms) to smear a turmeric paste made of the powder and sunflower oil on their skin to brighten their complexions for the wedding.
Actress Thandie Newton (who is a light-skinned black woman) reportedly adds turmeric powder to her tinted moisturizer to give her the perfect glow.
Turmeric powder may be used to brighten skin tone, but it's main ingredient -- curcumin -- works to suppress excess melanin production caused by sunlight.
This is another reason darker-skin women love it. But women of all skin types can benefit from the anti-aging properties. Curcuminoids are great for treating chronic inflammation, skin irritations and sun damage -- all of which can cause premature aging.
But fair warning: as great as turmeric is for the skin, the natural yellow food coloring can stain fair skin. The same properties that make yellow and dark skin glow can make pink-skinned women look sallow. However, the stain does fade away after a few hours.
This recipe gets rave reviews from users.
Ingredients
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder (buy from Amazon.com. The 7 ounce bag will last forever).
2 tablespoons flour or cornstarch (to thicken the paste)
a few drops of runny honey
for oily skin: 1/4 cup plain yogurt & few drops of lemon juice
for dry skin: 2 tbsp coconut oil, sweet almond oil or olive oil (more if you desire)
Preparation
Mix the flour and turmeric together. Once combined, stir in the honey.
If you have oily skin: Add lemon juice and stir.
Slowly mix in the yogurt until a creamy paste is formed. Use more or less yogurt to your liking.
If you have dry skin: Add the oil slowly and stir until a paste is formed. Add more for more creaminess.
Apply mask to face and neck.
Leave the mask on for 15-20 minutes.
Using a warm, wet washcloth that you don't mind staining (turmeric will stain), rinse off the mask.
Where to Buy Turmeric Face Masks
If you aren't into making your own face mask, you can buy turmeric skin serums and face creams. These get great ratings:
Andalou Naturals Turmeric Plus C Enlighten Serum, buy it from Amazon.com
Juara Turmeric Antioxidant Radiance Mask,buy from Amazon.
Juara Clove Flower Turmeric Anti-Aging Serum, buy from Amazon
More on skin:
See more homemade face mask recipes
See more Dry skin? 25 of my best itchy skin fixes
Hair mask & hair rinse recipes
An amazing guacamole made with peas? You won't believe how good Rancho La Puerta's Famous Guacamole Recipe is.
More on skincare:
17 Ingenious Beauty Uses for Average Kitchen Items
This homemade sugar wax recipe allows you to create your own leg, chin and arm wax.
In this economy, why spend $30 or more on a leg wax when you can do it yourself? I have many friends who wax their own legs and I've bought my own sugaring kits in the past, so when I discovered a recipe for wax on the Double X Website for women, I had to try it.
Editor Hanna Rosin shares the recipe her family used to remove arm hair (they were hairy Sephardic Jews, according to Rosin).
While you can buy wax kits in any drugstore, cooking your own sugar wax over the stove can save an extra few dollars on the wax itself. Here's how to make it...
Ingredients
3 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons lemon juice
1 tablespoon water
Prep Time: 45 minutes
Preparation
To make sugar wax, cook the ingredients over low heat for about 45 minutes until the sugar caramelizes.
I love her colleague Emily Bazelon's response to learning the recipe, "That's wax? THAT'S wax?" Actually, it's a sugar wax, which is much easier to wash off then wax/wax.
Once the sugar mixture cools you should be left with a sticky taffy-like wax. Apply this with a plastic knife or wooden stick in the direction hair grows.
Take a piece of cloth (you can tear up an old sheet), press down firmly and then pull off in the opposite direction of hair growth.
This homemade hair mask recipe made from bananas and olive oil soothes hair damaged from chemical processing, hair tools and sun exposure.
Anyone who has had a chemical processing done to their hair (think perms, hair straightening or hair coloring) may have damaged hair that need protecting. The same goes for women who frequently use hair tools (flat irons, curling irons or blow dryers). Bananas are rich in tryptophan, an essential amino acid that can help strengthen hair, and potassium, a mineral which helps hair maintain a healthy pH balance.
What I love most about this hair mask is that it includes ingredients many of us have in our homes. No need to order any items off of Amazon or head out to the local health food store. Keep in mind you can keep bananas in the freezer to use for your weekly hair masks.
Ingredients
1 banana
1 tablespoon of olive oil, coconut oil, almond oil or argan oil
a shower cap
Preparation
Put ingredients in a blender and blend until combined into a paste.
Add a dash of flour if paste is too runny.
Separate hair into 3-5 sections.
Apply mask to each section from roots to ends.
Wind hair into a loose bun if long and place a shower cap over hair. Keep it on for 30 minutes and then rinse out, shampooing and conditioning as usual.
This aspirin mask recipe can help clear up that pimple much faster than leaving it alone.
Over on Makeupalley.com, aspirin masks are a hot topic. Why? Apparently, aspirin is brilliant at spot-treating pimples, clearing up acne and itchy patches. In fact, the aspirin mask gets more than 2030 reviews -- more than any individual makeup, skincare or hair product -- on Makeupalley so I had to share it with you because 85 percent of these reviews are by women who would "try it again."
Dr. Oz also loves aspirin masks and unveiled a version of this mask on his show. The aspirin has aminosalicylic acid, which is a cousin of salicylic acid. It's so great for skin it's an ingredient found in actual spot treatments for pimples. The lemon juice is a citric acid with antibacterial properties, which are great for healing acne and even-ing out skin tone.
The honey is soothing and the baking soda is used as an exfoliator to help remove the mask, but it also has wonderful natural properties for the skin. Some women swear by baking soda. It's gentle and leaves skin smooth and soft.
You can use this on your face and on your feet. Jane Buckingham's new revised book, The Modern Girl's Guide to Life includes a similar recipe, but to be used on the feet. You slather it on the feet, wrap your slathered feet in a damp hot towel and let it work its magic for 10 minutes. According to this review on Allure's Website, it actually works.
Ingredients
3-6 aspirin
1 lemon
baking soda
Coffee cup, rolling pin or glass cup (to crush the aspirin)
Shallow dish
Warm honey (runny honey), moisturizer made for the face or natural oil such as almond, olive or coconut
Preparation
Depending on the amount of coverage needed, use 3-6 aspirin.
Crush the aspirin into small pieces by placing them in a Ziplock bag and rolling a coffee cup, rolling pin or glass cup over them.
I put mine in an old coffee grinder that I use to grind spices. It worked brilliantly, but I've read that others used a mortar and pestle.
Place aspirin in a dish.
Squeeze in the fresh lemon juice (about 1 tablespoon per 3 aspirin) and allow the aspirin to dissolve into a paste.
If the aspirin is coated, it may take longer.
If you have dry skin, add a tablespoon or so of warm honey, moisturizer or a bit of oil (sweet almond, olive or coconut works). Stir well. If you have oily skin, you can skip this part and add a few more drops of lemon instead.
Apply as a mask or spot treat the pimple or itchy area. Allow to dry.
Remove the mask with a warm, wet washcloth dipped in baking soda.
More recipes:
See more homemade face mask recipes
Hair mask & hair rinse recipes
More on Acne:
How to Cover Up a Pimple With Makeup
8 Adult Acne Facts (Plus, How to Treat it)
Acne & Teens: How to Treat Pimples (& Cover Them Up)
There's no better natural remedy for removing product build-up on hair and the scalp than apple cider vinegar. This apple cider vinegar hair rinse recipe not only cleanses the scalp, but it helps with dandruff problems, as well.
I've become a natural beauty product junkie when it comes to my skin and my hair. I just don't feel comfortable putting anything with bad chemicals on my face and scalp. When I heard about the apple cider vinegar rinse recipe below from my crunchy friend Martha, I tried it myself.
My hair was shinier than ever and surprise, surprise, didn't smell like vinegar.
Ingredients
1 cup apple cider vinegar (you can substitute distilled white vinegar or lemon juice for this rinse).
2 cups distilled water.
A spray bottle.
Preparation
Mix one cup of apple cider vinegar and 2 cups of water in a spray bottle.
Spray on hair after you shampoo and condition. Rinse thoroughly. Do not use more than once or twice a week and do not use on colored hair.
There are many ways to use apple cider vinegar in your hair cleansing routine:
You can use mix a tablespoon in your shampoo, as suggested by New York City hairstylist Ted Gibson.
You can use the recipe below, which has you put the mixture in a water bottle and spritz it on your ends and your scalp to remove product build-up.
While you can dump a cup of the vinegar on your head and massage it in once a week or so, my research shows it is better to cut the vinegar with water. Putting the mixture in a spray bottle allows you to better control over where the product hits.
Important note: I cannot recommend this rinse for colored hair. My research suggests the acid can strip away your pricey investment. Full disclosure, because I get my hair colored professionally colored, I no longer use this rinse.
But Martha doesn't color her hair and swears by the recipe below, which she uses once a week.
The acetic acid in the vinegar helps wash away product residue on the scalp and hair, leaving hair shiny. Martha reports she used to have to wash her oily hair daily but now can go several days between shampoos.
You can either shampoo and condition first and then treat your hair, OR you can start with the treatment. I prefer to shampoo after because I don't like my hair smelling like vinegar.
Here's how to use this recipe:
Rinse hair thoroughly in the shower.
Turn off the water and spritz the vinegar and water concoction on your part and then your crown. Allow for heavy coverage.
Pull sections of hair up and spritz the scalp. Continue until the entire scalp is drenched.
Massage the vinegar concoction into your scalp using the pads of your fingers, never your nails. Your nails can tear at the scalp.
Let the vinegar wash over your hair as well. I find that if you focus on directing the product on your scalp and crown, it will naturally make its way down your hair.
Rinse the vinegar out thoroughly.
Follow with shampoo and conditioner.
Not only does apple cider vinegar get rid of residue, it's also a natural dandruff fighter. Acetic acid is also antimicrobial and can kill some forms of bacteria, making it good for treating dandruff.
Only use raw, unfiltered apple cider vinegar. A readily available and quality vinegar is made by Bragg's. You can find it in most grocery stores or skip the trip and buy it from Amazon.com.
Bonus: You can also use the vinegar as a face toner and to clean your makeup brushes.
More Hair Masks & Rinses:
More Hair Mask & Hair Rinse Recipes
Amazing Baking Soda Shampoo Followed With Vinegar Spritz
The hair conditioner uses egg yolks, rum and avocado. Dana Hoff/Stockbyte/Getty Images
There are many wonderful hair conditioner recipes available today, but one of my favorites is a recipe from Mathilde Thomas, co-founder of the Caudalie skincare line. This shiny hair recipe is adapted from Thomas's grandmother and has been passed down the generations, first to her mother and then to her.
"My mother taught me that shiny hair is key to a polished look. If my hair appears dull, I still make her at-home conditioner.
My hair is so glossy afterward, it's well worth the effort," Thomas said in O the Oprah Magazine.
I first read about this recipe in O Magazine and I tried it then. I was wonderfully luxurious, smelled delicious and left my hair shiny and glossy, just as the recipe suggested. The secret, according to Thomas, is to leave it on for an hour and then shampoo.
I have to admit, I only made it half an hour before I shampooed and the results were great.
Since then, I've read a lot about hair conditioners and researched my own blend. Thomas's recipe, which she told Elle Magazine is "a grandma recipe, very French," contains only egg yolk, rum, avocado and olive oil, all of which can be found in most people's kitchens. I found the addition of grapeseed oil, which I included in this recipe, makes the conditioner even more luxurious. Grapeseed oil, like coconut oil and olive oil, is a natural hair conditioner and is much lighter. If you don't have grapeseed oil on hand, no problem. Just leave it out.
I also love using plain yogurt as a hair conditioner and swapped out the very moisturizing avocado in this recipe for yogurt once.
I also loved the results so feel free to use yogurt (full-fat and never flavored) instead of avocado if you don't have ripe avocados on hand. The yogurt blends easily into the mixture.
This recipe landed a coveted spot in Thomas's wonderful, new book, "The French Beauty Solution: Time-Tested Secrets to Look and Feel Beautiful Inside and Out."
Ingredients
1 egg yolk
2 tablespoons of rum
1/2 super ripe avocado, smashed
2 tablespoons of olive oil
2 tablespoons of grapeseed oil, buy it from Amazon.com
Preparation
Mix together the ingredients in a bowl. Wet hair thoroughly. Massage the mixture on your scalp and into your hair. Wrap your head in a towel (I warmed my towel in the dryer for 10 minutes while I applied the conditioner). Wait 30 minutes to an hour, then rinse in the shower. Follow with shampoo.
More recipes:
See more hair mask & hair rinse recipes
Homemade face mask recipes
An amazing guacamole made with peas? You won't believe how good Rancho La Puerta's Famous Guacamole Recipe is.
Make your own sea salt spray. Getty Images: Frank P Wartenberg
To get beachy waves, nothing beats a great salt spray. While you can buy some great ones for under $30, you can make your own sea salt spray for mere pennies using this recipe. Most hair has some wave in it and this salt spray will help bring out your natural waves. Add more salt if you feel the spray needs more. You can also use less oil (or none) if you have super fine, oily hair.
What You Need
Epsom salt
Olive, extra virgin coconut or jojoba oil
Water
Spritzer bottle
Preparation
To make a bottle of salt spray, take a spritzer bottle and mix in the following ingredients:
1 tablespoon of Epsom salt
1 teaspoon of olive, extra virgin coconut or jojoba oil
3/4 cup of water
Mix and spray on damp hair. Scrunch with your hands as hair air dries, or use a blowdryer, scrunching hair in your palms as you dry from below.
Now you have the spray, find out how to use it properly in The Secret to Beachy, Wavy Hair.
Oatmeal and onion work well on acne prone skin. Taxi for Getty
Oatmeal flour can be incredibly soothing to skin. These oatmeal face mask recipes are some of my favorites. One is formulated for acne- and pimple-prone skin, while the other works on all skin types.
You may have heard of oats used in scrubs. These can tear at the skin unless the oats are ground into a fine powder. You can buy colloidal oatmeal in powder form from Amazon, or if you don't have this on hand, making ground oatmeal is easy.
To make 1/2 cup, put 1 cup of regular or old-fashioned oats in a blender or food processor and grind down the oats until they have the consistency of flour, the finer the better.
Extra tip: If you have dry, itchy skin treat it by pouring colloidal oatmeal straight into your bathtub. This also relieves itchy skin from poison oak and ivy.
Oatmeal & Onion Face Mask for Acne
This recipe is adapted from one in Julie Gabriel's "The Green Beauty Guide."
According to Gabriel, oatmeal and onion are good for cleansing your acne-prone skin of impurities. The onion acts as an anti-inflammatory agent and the oatmeal deep cleanses the pores. Don't expect this mask to to be a miracle and get rid of your pimples, however. This is simply a great mask for girls and women who have acne or acne scars.
See a dermatologist if you want to get rid of your acne, which is largely a hormonal problem and has nothing to do with your skin's balance or cleanliness.
Ingredients
1/4 cup boiling water
1/3 cup plain oatmeal
1 large yellow or white onion
1/2 teaspoon of honey
Preparation
Pour the boiling water over the oatmeal. Let it steep for 5 minutes. Make a smooth puree of the onion in a food processor. Add onion and honey to the oatmeal paste while still warm. Stir and spread on face leaving it for 10 minutes. If the mask isn't thick enough, add more honey.
This mask should store in the refrigerator for a week.
Do not freeze. You can warm it up before application.
Oatmeal & Yogurt Face Mask for All Skin Types
This face mask is suitable for all skin types and is super simple to prepare. It will cleanse and rejuvenate your skin.
Ingredients
1 tbsp oatmeal, finely ground
1 tbsp live, organic yogurt (skip the flavored stuff)
A few drops of honey
Preparation
Add the yogurt to the oatmeal in a small bowl and mix together.
Warm a few drop of honey. To do this, warm a spoon under hot water for a minute, then add a few drops of honey to the spoon.
Stir the honey into the yogurt and oatmeal mixture.
Apply the mask to the face. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then rinse off with several splashes of warm water. Follow with a warm washcloth. Apply moisturizer.
Milk contains lactic acid, which will naturally help remove the dead skin build-up on your face. This classic milk mask recipe makes a mask for two and works beautifully on dry skin.
Not sure if you have dry skin? Find out for sure in my article, How to Tell If You Have Dry Skin.
Ingredients
1 tsp powdered milk
1 tbsp runny honey
1 tsp aloe vera gel
2 drops essential oil
Preparation
Mix ingredients well, apply to face, let sit for 15 minutes, wash off with warm water.
This recipe is enough for two. (Note: The original recipe called for 1 tbsp pulverized almonds, but I have removed it from the ingredients list because almonds, no matter how pulverized, can tear at skin).
More on skin:
See more homemade face mask recipes
See more Dry skin? 25 of my best itchy skin fixes
Hair mask & hair rinse recipes
An amazing guacamole made with peas? You won't believe how good Rancho La Puerta's Famous Guacamole Recipe is.
Even more on skincare:
17 Ingenious Beauty Uses for Average Kitchen Items
Banana face masks are both nourishing and moisturizing and particularly great for dry, aging and combination skin. Mash up a banana and spread it on your face or use the recipes below to create masks formulated for your skin type.
I use only organic bananas in my face masks just as I eat only organic bananas. They are one of the many fruits you don't want to take chances on. While bananas are great for the skin, pesticides are not.
Bananas are great for the hair, too. See my Banana & Avocado Deep Conditioning Treatment for Dry Hair recipe.
Digital Vision for Getty Images
• Banana Mask for Oily Skin
This face mask will brighten skin while soothing it. It works best on oily skin. Not sure if your skin is oily? Find out for sure in my article, How to Tell If You Have Oily Skin.
1 banana, preferably ripe (you can keep ripe bananas in the freezer. Let it thaw before using)
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp lemon or orange juice
Mash up the banana, then mix in the honey. For best results, put the ingredients in a blender. Add the juice of the lemon or orange Apply to face for 15 minutes before rinsing with a cool washcloth or a steaming warm washcloth. Follow with your regular moisturizer.
Getty Images
• Clay & Banana Mask
This mask works on all skin types, but is particularly great for oily and combination skin.
1 tbsp French green clay (buy from Amazon).
1/4 ripe banana
1 tbsp orange flower water (buy from Amazon)
1 tsp pineapple juice
Mash up the banana, sprinkle in the green clay (bentonite clay will work, too) and stir in the orange flower water and juice.
Apply to skin, wait 15 minutes, then rinse off.
Digital Vision for Getty Images
• Avocado & Banana Mask
Avocados and bananas are 2 of the most moisturizing ingredients found in face masks. Add in the honey and you've got the perfect mask for super dry skin.
1/3 avocado (sprinkle salt on the rest and eat it)
1/3 banana, mashed.
1 tsp runny honey (if your honey is hardened, run it under hot water)
Mash up the ingredients in a bowl or in a blender, spread over the face, relax for 15 minutes, then rinse off. Follow with an oil and a moisturizing cream.
Fage
• Soothing Banana Face Mask for Sensitive or Sunburned Skin
This is a great mask for aging, sunburned or sensitive skin.
1/4 cup plain, never flavored, yogurt
2 tsp honey
1 organic banana
Blend all of the ingredients together (or mash them up with a fork). Spread over the face, relax, rinse and follow with moisturizer.
Photodisc for Getty
• Skin Brightening Banana Face Mask
Turmeric is a common ingredient in Southeast Asian beauty products. It's beloved for it's skin lightening abilities. Just be careful, the orange can stain very light skin.
This mask is great for pimple problems. The baking soda and turmeric soothe inflamed skin.
1 ripe banana, mashed
1/4 teaspoon turmeric powder (buy from Amazon.com. The 7 ounce bag will last forever).
½ tsp baking soda
Mix the ingredients together in a blender or with a fork and spoon. Apply to face, rinse off after 10 minutes.
The best shampoos, products and styling tips for limp hair
Photo Credit: Amazon and Getty Images/Hero Images
If you have naturally fine hair (like me!) you may struggle with what I call, "Flat Hair Syndrome." To give your lifeless hair more body, you need the right haircut, the right products and proper styling.
In this article, I share my 20 favorite flat hair fixes. Here's to bouncier days ahead.
Tip No. 1: Cut Your Hair Shorter
The longer thin, fine hair gets, the flatter it lays. It's just a sad fact of physics.
The shorter the hair, the more body it will have. Even just cutting your hair a couple of inches shorter may help but if you want the most body for your fine hair, keep your hair's length above the collarbone.
Here are some options I love for fine hair:
The long bob. Hair that falls between the chin and the shoulders is super trendy at the moment. The great thing about this hair length is that your hair just won't fall flat. The length creates the illusion of body. Don't miss Hair Trends: 21 Celebs Who Went From Long to a Long Bob.
I love a swingy, shoulder-length cut with the back just a bit shorter than the front. Shoulder-length is a great length because it's not too long and not too short.
Short hair is always a great bet. Bobs and pixies work well with fine hair.
When it comes to face masks for oily, acne-inflamed and even combination skin, there's no better clay than green clay, also known as "bentonite."
Clay masks are soothing and healing to skin, and they help remove excess oil making them excellent for oily skin. Because they can be drying, I don't recommend them for dry skin, unless you add and oil to the ingredient mix. I recommend jojoba oil.
You can pick up a basic green clay in powder form from any health-food store or buy it online for the cheapest price. I recommend Aztec Healing Clay (buy from Amazon). You can even find it in cat litter. I'm serious. I include a very popular cat litter recipe below.
Some tips for these recipes:
Create a basic mask by taking the powder clay and adding water if you have oily skin, jojoba oil if you have dry skin and milk for combo skin.
Masks (homemade or otherwise) should stay on for 10-15 minutes. Follow with a cleansing and a thin layer of moisturizer.
Do not use a metal utensil or bowl when working with bentonite clay. The metal reacts with the clay.
Don't miss my collection of Face Mask Recipes for Oily and Acne-Prone Skin.
Aztec Secret bentonite clay. Pricegrabber
1. Basic Clay Mask
I love this basic clay mask because it's simple and allows you to use ingredients you likely already have in the house.
Ingredients:
A basic fuller's earth clay, also known as bentonite or green clay (if skin is sensitive, French green clay is a good option). I like your basic Indian Healing Clay (buy from Amazon).
1 tsp honey
water (oily skin), half and half (combination skin) or jojoba oil (dry skin)
Optional: your favorite essential oil. See my list of the Best Essential Oils by Skin Type.
I find it's best to mix 2 parts liquid to 1 part clay.
Choose your liquid based on your skin type. If you have oily skin, choose water. Combination skin, choose milk or half and half and if you have dry skin, opt for jojoba oil.
Mix in a bit of honey.
Add more liquid if clay is too dry.
Add a few drops of the essential oil (this step is optional).
Keep mask on for 15 minutes.
Rinse off with a steaming washcloth (I like to steam my washcloths with a couple drops of the essential oils in the microwave, but make sure washcloth is not too hot).
Digital Vision // Getty Images
2. French Green Clay Mask With Essential Oils
This mask is lovely, but more complex than other more simple masks because it requires both green clay and kaolin clay, plus several other ingredients. You can buy these items at any health food store or online.
Ingredients:
1½ tsp French green clay (buy from Amazon)
½ tsp kaolin clay (buy from Amazon)
1½ tbsp aloe vera gel (buy from Amazon)
1 tbsp rosewater (buy from Amazon)
2 drops rose essential oil (see The Best Essential Oils for Your Skin Type).
Mix green and kaolin clays together. Add in the aloe vera gel, rosewater and oils. Refrigerate mixture for up to four weeks.
Getty Images
3. Purifying Clay Mask for Oily Skin
This purifying mask is wonderful for oily skin and was adapted from a recipe found in the book, "Natural Beauty Recipe Book" (buy from Amazon).
Not sure if your skin is oily? Find out for sure in my article, How to Tell If You Have Oily Skin.
You can get all of these ingredients in any natural food store or online.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp green clay
1 tsp apricot kernel oil (buy from Amazon)
3 drops of palmarosa essential oil (buy from Amazon)
Mix the palmarosa and apricot oils together. Add a few drops of warm water. Mix together and add more water if need be to get a good, spreadable paste. Apply mask. Let dry for 10 minutes. Rinse off with a warm washcloth.
It may seem crazy, but some cat litter can actually be used as a face mask. Most cat litter is made from pure bezonite clay -- the same ingredient found in clay masks. The difference is the clay in the cat litter comes in larger granuales that could tear at skin.
Also, you must buy the right cat litter that doesn't have scent or any additional ingredients that could harm skin.
So why would you ever use cat litter on your face? Simple: if you want to get great skin benefits without spending a lot of money. Cat litter comes in 15-pound and up bags and costs a few dollars. That jar of 8-ounce clay costs $8 or more.
Get the recipe: Homemade 'Cat Litter' Mask for All Skin Types
tea tree oil. Amazon.com
5. Clay and Oats Mask for Acne-inflamed Skin
The tea tree essential oil in this mask is great for inflamed skin.
Ingredients:
1 tbsp bentonite clay
1-2 tbsp water
1 tbsp ground oats
4 drops tea tree essential oil (buy from Amazon)
Mix all of the ingredients in a glass bowl (never metal). Spread onto face. Don't rub as this isn't a scrub and the oats could tear skin. Let mask dry, then wash off with a warm rinse.
Brand X Pictures // Getty Images
6. Deep-Cleansing Clay and Egg White Mask
This mask cleanses and hydrates skin.
1 egg white
2 tbsp white bentonite clay
1 tbsp corn flour
1 drop of your favorite essential oil (see my list of your best bets here)
Blend the ingredients in a bowl and then apply to face. Allow to dry and leave on as long as you like. Wash off with a warm washcloth.
How to look younger without going under the knife (or needle)
Photo Credit: Getty: Image Source
As we age, our skin develops fine lines and wrinkles and we might develop a habit of moaning about different parts of our faces we wish we could change -- the sagging jowls, the sallow skin, the deep lines on the sides of our noses. I myself would someday love an eyelift. I'm only half kidding.
Before you go under the knife, consider the transforming power of makeup. I call this 11-step process outlined below my "instant facelift." It may seem like a lot of makeup, but it actually isn't.
My makeup and makeup brushes fit into a little bag that I can carry in my suitcase, weekend bag and even shoulder bag -- hardly taking up space. And I've found once you perfect this 11-step face lift, it should take less than 10 minutes to do.
Carry on.
First Step: Prepare Your Skin
Makeup artists know the secret to a flawless makeup job is actually not in the makeup, but in the state of the skin. If your skin is in great condition, you won't need much makeup.
One of the biggest problems with age is dryness. Before you apply eye makeup or foundation, always start with a generous slathering on of moisturizer. This step is super important because it plumps up skin, and can reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles.
Apply a hydrating moisturizer over your entire face and dot eye cream around your eyes. Over your driest areas, dab a bit of super rich face balm. (You can skip this part if you have oily skin or you have never in your life considered the need for a face balm).
See the Cutest, Coolest and Most Gorgeous Styles Today
Singer/actress Brandy Norwood. Photo Credit: Photo by Jim Spellman/WireImage
Natural hair is becoming more and more popular as black women give up the costly salon treatments, pricey weaves and extensions and the damaging chemical treatments and opt instead for hair that's natural and, as you will see in this photo gallery, quite beautiful.
But caring for natural ethnic hair can be daunting for women who have relied on salon visits in the past. In this article, we'll discuss how to care for your natural hair and what to consider when getting your perfect hair cut.
Let's start with styling those perfect curls.
The Right Cut and the Right Styling
In his book, Great Hair (buy it from Amazon.com), stylist Nick Arroyo describes how it's important to work with your natural hair texture.
Finding the perfect hairstylist is key. Keeping your cut simple is important because it needs to hold its shape as it grows out. Too much fuss and you run the risk of a haircut that grows in oddly. Many stylists prefer to cut natural hair when it's dry. Shaping is much easier when you can see exactly how hair falls.
As for styling, if you have super tight, thick, woolly curls, the less you mess with your hairstyle the better. You may consider using a relaxer just to smooth a hair a bit. But you definitely need to add a lot of moisture to the hair with cremes, styling products, conditioners and oils.
How to Create the Perfect Curls
Most African-American hair is curly. Getting those coveted shiny, controlled curls takes time and some practice. Here's how Arroyo tamed hair that he claims was just like Diana Ross's.
He was about to create shiny, controlled curls by taking these steps:
Hair must be wet or at least very damp.
Apply styling cream or curl cream from the roots to the ends of hair.
Pull a 1-inch section of hair and hold it taut and straight from the ends. Then twist it into a perfect spiral from the ends to the roots. Let it go.
Cup this spiral in your hand pushing it to your scalp and squeeze it tightly for about 15 seconds, locking the style in place.
Continue this trick all along the front and sides of your head. No need to focus too much attention on the back.
How to Take Care of Your Natural Hair
Nothing can be more annoying than waiting out the hair growth period. But if you want your natural hair to grow a few more inches a year than expected, follow these tips:
Cleanse your scalp and hair once every 4-7 days, especially in hot seasons. Massaging the scalp when shampooing is good for scalp health and helps remove any build-up. If your hair is thick, shampoo in sections. And always follow with conditioner or oils.
In between shampoos (or even in place of shampooing), you can co-wash your hair, which is all the rage. This means using conditioner on hair instead of shampoo. Read more about it here.
Use a shampoo formulated for your hair type. A great bet is a sulfate-free shampoo (one that doesn't suds up).
If your scalp itches or you sweat a lot in summer, rinse your hair under cool water and massage your scalp to help get rid of sweat.
If your hair still isn't growing, there may be a reason. See 5 Crazy Reasons Your Hair Isn't Growing.
To Comb or Not to Comb, That is the Question
Combing natural hair is controversial. Many people believe you should never comb hair lest you mess with the tight coils, but combing hair is very good for your hair and your scalp, according to Eva Scrivo of Eva Scrivo Salon in NYC.
"Your natural oils are more compatible and effective than most synthetic conditioning ingredients," she writes in her book, Eva Scrivo on Beauty.
Scrivo says many women with curly hair refuse to brush their hair because they don't want to ruin their curls or have their hair puff up into a frizzy afro. As a result, Scrivo sees many women with curly hair who have a top layer of frizzy hair over gorgeous curls. Why? That top layer is exposed to elements and silicone products which build up on hair.
To combat this, you must comb hair or even brush it with a natural bristle brush daily, Scrivo says. Oils from your scalp are great for your hair and the best way to get those oils distributed to hair is to comb your hair.
Yes, your hair will frizz up and look terrible, which is why Scrivo recommends combing at night and then rinsing hair with water in the morning. You can also avoid this by combing hair when it's wet and full of conditioner or oil. You can saturate hair with a leave-in conditioner and detangle by working your way from the ends of hair up. Spray more conditioner as you needed.
How to Straighten Short Natural Hair
You can actually straighten short, kinky hair without a relaxer. To do this Arroyo suggests using a fine-toothed comb, lots of frizz serum, a smoothing creme and a blowdryer. Apply the serum to the roots of the hair and working in sections, place the comb as close to the scalp as possible, pulling the hair straight while shooting hot air at it with a dryer. Continue around the head. If hair is still curly, use a flat iron to iron it out.
Amazon has a number of great frizz serums. Check them out.
The Benefits of Hair Oils
Oils have been used for years to moisturize hair, fight frizz and condition the scalp.
Argan, extra virgin coconut oil and even olive oil work beautifully on natural hair. Use these liberally. Scrivo recommends neem oil, which come from trees in India and amla oil, which come from the Indian gooseberry. In her book, Eva Scrivo on Beauty, she suggests rubbing 6-8 drops of the oils into your scalp and hair. You can comb it through as well.
Deep Condition
Deep condition hair on a regular basis. How much you should condition is up to you and a matter of personal preference. Heat helps with deep conditioning. Wrap conditioner-soaked hair in a thin towel and aim a blow dryer at your head for 5 minutes to activate the product.
You may also consider using the L.O.C. method, which is popular at the moment. It refers to the order in which you treat your hair with oils and creams. See L.O.C. Method.
Could you get away with this trendy hairstyle? Find out
Nicole Ari Parker. Photo Credit: Alberto E. Rodriguez
The pixie hairstyles that have been cropping up on black women are absolutely stunning. No matter your natural hair texture, whether thick, kinky, curly, chemically straightened or wavy, a pixie can be a gorgeous choice as you'll see in this photo gallery. It's also a good choice for women who prefer weaves or even wigs. Yes, wigs are hot, hot, hot as you'll see in this gallery.
And it's a popular choice.
The pixie is on my Hottest Short Hairstyle Trends, it also made my list of The Year's Hottest Hairstyles.
How you'll look in a pixie matters largely on your face shape, your body type and your personality.
Your Face Shape
Your face shape matters with a pixie because you want to create the illusion that you have a perfect oval face.
The pixie works best on women with heart-shaped, square and oval faces.
the pixie is a good option for women with round faces, just make sure to keep the bangs long and style them forward or up to create the illusion of length.
Learn more in Haircuts 2015: The Most Flattering Styles By Face Shape and What is My Face Shape? How to Tell What Face Shape You Have.
Your Body Shape
Your body shape can matter to your haircut particularly if you are tall, petite, curvy or busty. For example, a super tall woman with no curves could look like a pinhead with a pixie hairstyle. And a woman who's very curvy needs to balance out those curves with some body in her hair. Sometimes a pixie won't cut it.
If you have huge boobs and wonderful hips, you may consider a hairstyle with more volume to it. It's all about balance.
Learn more in Best Hairstyles By Body Type: Tall, Petite, Curvy or Busty.
Your Personality
Your lifestyle and personalty matter in your haircut. A pixie can be low-maintenance, which is great if you are. Not all pixies are low-maintenance, especially those with bangs that must be kept straight.
As for personality and the pixie, there's something about a gorgeous pixie that commands attention. You can't hide behind your hair, after all. So consider if a pixie fits your personality and your lifestyle.
Your Hair Texture
While I absolutely love natural black hair cut into a pixie, some of the hottest pixies today have long straight bangs or even pompadours. These are not out of your reach. The pixies you admire on Caucasian women are achievable for black women, too, thanks to relaxers, weaves and irons. So don't discount photo galleries of white women with pixies.
Photo galleries of weaves, natural hair, locs and more
Natural hair, pixies, and chin-length bobs are all popular at the moment. Photo Credit: Getty Images
Black hair trends for 2015 include short hair, long hair, natural hair, locs, waves and weaves. See photo galleries of these styles in this slideshow, plus, get the scoop on how to style hair, choose relaxers and work with your natural hair.
But first a bit about choosing your perfect hairstyle.
Your Face Shape Matters
Almost every woman can pull off a natural afro. Or a pixie. Or a long, wavy wig. But your face shape does matter.
You want to create the illusion that you were born with a perfectly round face and there are ways to achieve this. Find out more in:
The Most Flattering Styles By Face Shape
What is My Face Shape? How to Tell What Face Shape You Have
Your Lifestyle Matters
If you work out a lot, a wig isn't going to be your best bet. Natural hair is, or even a weave. And if you are super busy, for example, if you are working full-time and raising kids, a weave is a time commitment you may not be willing to make. Keeping your hair natural may be your best bet, or relaxing it with chemicals so it's more manageable is another option. There are few things more ugly than a grown-out weave that needs to be replaced STAT.
Money Matters
Weaves and wigs are pricey. Chemical relaxers and keeping your hair natural aren't. If you do go the weave or wig route, you want to invest in quality hair and a quality hairstylist. Human hair trumps synthetic and the wrong stylist can leave you looking as if you're hair is obviously fake or worse, can cause you to experience permanent hair loss.
Consider Your Personality
To pull off the very trendy pixie or the super edgy pompadour, you have to have confidence. But even more, you want to be comfortable in your hairstyle. If you are flirty and fun, you should pick a hairstyle that makes you feel that way. If you don't like trends, go for a more classic style like a chin-length bob.
Enjoy this gallery of the Hottest Black Hairstyle Trends of the Moment.
Hair that falls to the shoulders is the hottest hairstyle length at the moment. And, as you'll see from this gallery, the trend works just as well for black women as it does Caucasian women.
Shoulder-length hairstyles are great because unlike short hair, you are allowed many more styling options and this length is much easier to grow to than long hair, which can take forever to grow out. What's more, shoulder-length cuts suit all face shapes.
They don't make a long face appear longer, as long hair tends to do and they won't make a round face appear rounder as chin-length cuts tend to do.
Whether you're transitioning your hair to its natural state, or you relax your hair with chemicals, this length is a perfect in-between short and long stage. It's also a popular choice for women who wear weaves and wigs.
In this gallery, I feature the most gorgeous shoulder-length hairstyles of the moment.
Coffee and cocoa masks have long been a favorite of beauty aficionados. As a combination, they decrease puffiness in the face and the eye area, brighten skin and wake up a dull-ish complexion (hello caffeine!).
What I love most about this mask is that the ingredients tend to be readily available in the average person's kitchen. While coffee and cocoa powder are the staples of this popular mask, you can tailor the recipe based on your skin type and what you have on hand.
For example, add yogurt or cream and honey if you have dry skin. Add lemon juice if you have oily skin. If you have super dehydrated skin, oils work as a substitute for dairy.
4 Tbsp. finely ground espresso or coffee beans (I use my own grinder, but already ground coffee and even instant coffee work, too)
8 Tbsp. dairy product. Choose whole milk, heavy cream, unflavored yogurt, almond milk or coconut milk. Use less dairy if you like a thicker paste. Substitutions are allowed: Try an egg instead of dairy if you are an egg mask lover, or substitute oils, such as olive oil, extra virgin coconut oil or sweet almond oil if you have dehydrated skin. If using oils, halve the amount or it will be too runny.
2 Tbsp. honey (if you have dry skin) or lemon juice (if you have oily skin)
PREPARATION
If you have whole beans, finely grind beans in a grinder. Remember, beans should be finely ground so they don't scratch your face. If you just made coffee, you can use the freshly brewed coffee grounds, although they won't contain as much caffeine.
Mix coffee and cocoa powder in a bowl.
Add the dairy product and stir until a smooth paste forms. You can use less dairy if you like a thicker paste.
Stir in the honey (I like to warm up the honey in a warm water bath or in the microwave so it mixes better).
Apply the paste to your clean face and neck.
Let the mask dry.
Wet a washcloth and press it to your face to loosen the mask, then rinse with warm water. If you have sensitive skin, you should avoid rubbing your face because the coffee grounds could potentially scratch your skin. It's really up to you, you'll get a feel for what your skin can take and how finely ground the coffee is.
You can store the leftover paste in the refrigerator for several days.
More Great Homemade Recipes
Egg White Face Mask for All Skin Types Model Shalom Harlow calls this face mask, "so moisturizing and soothing." The best part? It only has 2 ingredients.
Oatmeal and Yogurt Mask for All Skin Types This is a great basic face mask that includes just 3 basic ingredients.
White Sugar Scrub for All Skin Types Sugar is a preferred exfoliant to salt because it tends not to tear at the skin. When dead skin collects on the surface of skin, it's important to slough it away. Use oil instead of water if you have dry skin.
Hair Mask & Rinse Recipes Why spend money on a store-bought hair mask or rinse when you can make your own hair recipes using ingredients found in your kitchen (or your backyard). These do-it-yourself recipes for the hair are great for different hair textures and types.
More on skincare:
17 Ingenious Beauty Uses for Average Kitchen Items
Dry, cracked feet are never sexy. While this tends to be a summer hazard, it can happen year-round. If you can't afford a fish pedicure, get rid of dry heel syndrome with this 5-step homemade foot scrub recipe I cobbled together and use myself from time-to-time.
You can skip parts of this process if you choose. If you continue to wear the foot mask every night for a week, your problems should be solved.
More on skincare:
17 Ingenious Beauty Uses for Average Kitchen Items
How to Save $$$ on Skincare With These 12 Tips
Difficulty: Easy
Time Required: 15 minutes
Here's How:
Soak feet for 5-10 minutes in a warm foot bath made with 1 cup milk and 5 cups warm water.
Create a homemade foot scrub by putting 4 tablespoons salt or sugar in 1/2 cup oil. Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil or even vegetable oil works well. Massage the homemade foot scrub in a circular motion into bottoms of feet.
Scrub bottoms of feet with a pumice stone, like this very popular lava stone from Amazon.com. Rinse and dry feet.
Before you go to bed that night, try this tip from beauty guru Paula Begoun: rub a Stridex pad (buy from Amazon.com) over dry areas of feet. Stridex, a product found in the acne section of any drugstore, contains 2 percent salicylic acid so it's a great exfoliant for the feet.
Apply moisturizer thickly on feet (do not wash off Stridex). A super-rich foot cream is your best bet. I love the one from Eucerin, buy it from Amazon. For even better results, apply a thin layer of Keralyt Gel, an OTC salicylic acid, (buy from Amazon) on your feet along with a dollop of Vaseline.
Pull on socks and keep them on throughout the night for at least 4 hours.
What You Need:
1 cup milk
Sugar or salt (either will work)
Baby oil, sweet almond oil or coconut oil
Pumice stone
Stridex, found in the acne section of any drugstore
kitty litter can be used for face masks. Amazon.com
Did you know that the ingredient found in many luxurious clay masks can be found in a simple cat litter? It's true. For mere pennies, you can create a homemade cat litter mask that rivals the $100 masks found in spas.
The secret lies in the main ingredient found in most cat litter: sodium bentonite clay. This clay is basically volcanic ash and it works in cat litter because it absorbs water, creating clumps that you can then easily pull out and throw away.
It works in a similar way with face masks, the clay absorbs oils, leaving your face feeling soft and refreshed.
I recommend this mask for oily, acne-prone and combination skin. It's too drying for dry skin. Always follow with a moisturizer.
The Benefits of Bentonite Clay
There are all sorts of claims that bentonite clay does much more than clump your cat's pee together and soften your skin.
According to the popular Wellness Mama blog:
Bentonite clay carries a strong negative charge which bonds to the positive charge in many toxins. When it comes in contact with a toxin, chemical, or heavy metal, the clay will absorb the toxin and release it's minerals for the body to use. Bentonite also helps get oxygen to cells as it pulls excess hydrogen and allows the cells to replace it with oxygen instead.
Hmmmmm. And then there's Michelle Phan, perhaps the world's most popular YouTube beauty vlogger, who posted a video back in 2009 about using kitty litter as a face mask. Watch her YouTube video. According to Phan, not only does the clay have the ability to suck out impurities from your skin "like a magnet," but it helps to visually improve any blemishes, cellulite, sun spots, and she goes on and on.
So is any of this scientifically true or is it just mumbo-jumbo? I asked Anne Marie Helmenstine, PhD, the Chemistry expert at About.com and she said, "Clay does purify skin, but I think it's mainly a matter of pulling oils and bacteria away. The rest of that may not be based in scientific fact."
Kitty Litter vs. the Clay Mask Brands
The same stuff that's in a 15-pound bag of kitty litter is what is found in Aztec Secret Indian Healing Clay, the most popular brand of bentonite clay on the market today.
You can buy it from Amazon.com for under $10. You can also buy Crazy Cat Lady Gritty Kitty Purrifying Litter Mask w/ Bentonite Clay from Amazon.
The main difference between cat litter and the clay marketed for face masks is that kitty litter is not as finely ground as the clay used for masks. The resulting paste is less thick and more watery, but the minerals will work just the same.
You can grind up your kitty litter in a coffee grinder for better results.
To make your own face mask, simply follow these directions:
Buy the Right Kitty Litter
You can't use just any kitty litter. You don't want any scents or added chemicals on your skin.
Buy a kitty litter that contains only sodium bentonite clay. No scents. No silicas. Precious Cat Ultra Premium Clumping Cat Litter is an excellent bet. You can buy an 18-pound bag for $10 from Amazon.com. That is a lifetime of clay masks. Put a few scoops in a jar (always plastic or glass, never metal, as clay will lose its potency if it comes in contact with metal), and give the rest away to a friend with an actual cat. This kitty litter is beloved on Amazon.com, so your cat or your friend's will be very lucky.
I called the Precious Cat company and verified that their product contains only bentonite clay. The very nice man I spoke to (and who preferred to remain anonymous because he was wary of being associated with skincare) said it did, and comes from a mine in Wyoming, where most bentonite is mined from. He recommended the Ultra over the Classic version because the clay is more finely ground. He said other versions of their cat litter contains silicas (their litter for aging cats). Another version contains "herbal essences," but the Ultra Premium does not.
And no, he had never heard of kitty litter face masks. We had a good laugh over that one.
Make Your Mask
To make a mask, simply put a couple tablespoons in a glass bowl and add enough water to make a paste. Mix together until a somewhat granular and clumpy paste forms. I like to use my fingers to combine the clay and the water.
At this point, you can add extras if you want:
A teaspoon of aloe vera if you want to soothe your skin.
Essential oils for healing properties and scent. Don't miss The Best Essential Oils for Your Skin Type.
A teaspoon of oil: jojoba, olive, coconut all work well for skin that can dry out.
Stir in your extras.
Phan recommends nuking your mask in the microwave until it's nice and warm (10-15 seconds). She says this opens up the pores. I believe it just feels nicer. You can skip the nuking.
To apply, use only the clay water, not the clay granules which can cause microscopic tears to the skin. Lightly dab the water all over your face. Apply a second layer if need be.
Let your mask dry for at least 10 minutes.
Rinse with warm water. Slather on moisturizer.
Other uses:
Mix with a few drops of water and apply to bug bites or eczema. Will help stop the itching immediately. You may need to cover with gauze, a Band-aid or a pad to keep the clay from rubbing off.
Don't miss:
Best Face Masks: Dry, Oily, Mature & Sensitive Skin
5 Dos and 5 Don'ts to Help Slow the Aging Skin Process
Sofia Reyes, Jennifer Lawrence, Stef Dawson, Aya Cash. Photo Credit: Getty Images clockwise from left: Mireya Acierto, Jason LaVeris, Mike Pont, Frederick M. Brown
Fall is here and with it comes cool weather, crackling fires (note to self: use your fireplace this year), warm sweaters, fleece leggings like these from Amazon (a must-have this season) and fresh hairstyles.
I've combed through 1000s of photos to find the season's prettiest and most flattering hair cuts, styles and colors. I noticed some hairstyles are making a comeback (think thick fringe and boho 70s waves) while others, like the wavy long bob and ombré hair color, seem to be here to stay.
At least for another couple seasons.
When looking for a fresh look for yourself, I recommend considering these points, rather than what's trendy:
If your hair is long and blah, consider chopping a few inches off for a change. If you're really brave, take the cut to your chin.
Boring brown hair? Add golden highlights painted on via the balayage method (more on this in a bit).
Almost anyone can look good in red hair. It just depends on what color red you choose because it must look good with your skin tone. A professional salon job is the only way to go if going this route. And keep in mind that red hair is high maintenance.
Embrace your hair texture. If you have curly hair, wear it natural for a season and spend the time you used to spend straightening your hair with your friends or family.
Hate your curls? Straighten them with the help of chemical straighteners. It will last longer and save you time than blow-drying and flat-ironing your hair. See your options here.
Want long hair, but can't grow it? Extensions are huge at the moment. And not as expensive as they used to be.
Not into curling and coiffing your hair, but love waves? Get a professional blow-out before an important event or big day. Either schedule one with your salon or if you're in a big city, drop by a blow-out bar.
Curious about a look like a topknot or side braid but not sure you can pull it off? Play around at home. Take selfies, send them to trusted friends. If you get the go, take it out for the day and see how many compliments you get.
Enjoy!
PS: Don't miss Fall Makeup Trends 2014: 11 You Can Actually Wear.
Strawberry, lemon, raspberry and papaya masks and scrubs
Fruit juice facial masks are great for oily and acne-prone skin. Photo Credit: Getty: PeopleImages.com
Fruits juices make wonderful natural toners, astringents and cleansers if used properly. The following recipes for homemade juice masks are great for oily, acne-prone, normal and combination skin.
The acids in juice can make your skin photosensitive to sunlight. Stay out of the sun while wearing these masks (once washed off, it doesn't matter) and avoid using juice on sensitive, wind-burned or sunburned skin.
The acids can sting and dry out the skin even more.
Strawberries can be used as natural astringents. The juice contains a natural exfoliating acid that helps remove dead skin cells. Like most astringents and fruit juices, strawberries are best used on oily, acne-prone and combination skin.
Strawberries are also a natural source of salicylic acid which is found in most over-the-counter acne medicines. This recipe is a good choice for people with acne.
This strawberry and lemon recipe works for two people, so invite a friend, or cut recipe in half for just you. This mask will keep 24-48 hours in a refrigerator.
1 tsp lemon juice
2 egg whites
3 tsp honey
1 cup strawberries, de-stemmed
1 tbsp brown sugar
Optional: 4 drops of your favorite essential oils (see the best essential oils for your skin type)
Put all of the ingredients in a blender and blend until there are no clumps and the consistency is smooth. If you don't have a blender, you can mash up the strawberries with a fork and then add the rest of the ingredients, whisking them together.
But a blender works best.
Smooth over face in a circular motion, allowing the sugar to exfoliate skin. Let it dry for 10 minutes, then rinse.
I pick the best self tanners formulated just for the face. Choose between tanners that give immediate glow and others that provide gradual color.
Why a Tanner for the Face?
So you want to tan your face and not just your body. Can you reach for your favorite self tanner for the body? Not so fast. While some self-tanners are formulated for both, I recommend trying a self-tanner created just for the face.
Why? You may prefer a more subtle tan on your face that's guaranteed not to streak. Texture is also important. For you body, a thicker texture is welcome, but for the face, it's nice to have a more sheer texture that goes on more smoothly.
I Pick Only Quality Tanners
Here, I pick the most-loved and best-reviewed self-tanners for the face on the market today. These are beloved for their color (no orange here, I promise), their lack of streakiness and their natural appearance. You won't find products that universally get 1-star reviews. I'm not paid for these placements, after all, I just want to know what products work best.
What to Consider With Price
While some of these products are under $10, many are well above it. But I think the splurge is worth it. The higher the price, the less chance the product smells or streaks or leaves you with an off-color.
Plus, a spray tan booth addiction is much more expensive.
Application Tips That Work
I recommend using a mitt to apply (I include a couple in this list) for optimal coverage. And always exfoliate and apply moisturizer before applying a self-tanner, whether it's on your body or your face.
Happy bronzing!
James Read Self Tan Express Glow Mask Face. Amazon.com
• James Read Self Tan Express Glow Mask Face
This self tanner will give you immediate glow. It gets a ton of "loves" on Sephora. Buy from Amazon »
La Mer Self Tanner. Amazon.com
• La Mer the Face and Body Gradual Tan
This gets great reviews on Nordstrom. It's pricey, but a little will go a long way so the $135 price tag might be worth it. As with most gradual tans, the more you use it, the tanner you'll get. Buy from Amazon »
St Tropez Gradual Tan. Amazon.com
• St. Tropez Gradual Tan
St. Tropez is famous for their self-tanners and this gradual tanner is beloved for being an all-around great gradual tanner. Buy from Amazon »
Tan Towel. Amazon.com
• Tan Towel Self-Tan Towelette for Face and Body
Tan Towel is another famous self-tanner brand. If you also want a tanner for your body, this is a good bet because the towel is rather large just for the face and I think it would be a waste of the towel to use only on the face.
These towels gets GREAT reviews on Amazon. Tan Towel makes a lotion just for the face, which gets good reviews as well, but I have not tried it. (Buy from Amazon).
There is a slight odor to this one, but it dissipates. Buy from Amazon »
bareMinerals Faux Tan Face. Amazon.com
• BareMinerals Faux Tan Face Gradual Glow
This gets really good reviews on Sephora and is well-priced. 3900 "loves"! More »
James Read Gradual Tan Day Tan Face. Amazon.com
• James Read Gradual Tan, Day Tan Face
The saleswoman said James Read doesn't have a strong odor. I applied some to my hand and she was right. James Read gets good reviews on Sephora. Buy from Amazon »
Tanwise Self-Tanning Face Gel. Amazon.com
• Tanwise Self-Tanning Face Gel
Tanwise is a beloved product. This gel works great on oilier skin types. If you have dry skin, use a moisturizer first. Buy from Amazon »
Beauty By Earth Organic Tanning Lotion. Amazon
• Beauty By Earth Organic Tanning Lotion
This self tanner is formulated for both the body and the face, but according to the reviews it works just as well on both. I included it in this list because it contains mostly "organic" ingredients and get great reviews. Buy from Amazon »
James Read tanning mitt. Amazon
• James Read Tanning Mitt
From my research, I recommend using a mitt to apply, it keeps the product off your hands and helps with even application. com.
The Ultimitt Self Tanning Mitt. Amazon.com
• The Ultimitt Self Tanning Mitt
This mitt is cheaper than the James Read mitt and gets very good reviews on Amazon. Buy from Amazon »
