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Showing posts with label Household Recipes. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Household Recipes. Show all posts

4 Natural Acne Remedies You Can Make At Home!


Acne is a pesky and troublesome skin condition. Whether you are prone to acne or just get the occasional break out, chances are you’ve tried several over-the-counter or prescription treatments.  These medications are full of chemicals that can strip your skin of natural oils, dry out your pores and disrupt your pH balance – not to mention they don’t always work to treat the problem.

Luckily, there are a few natural remedies that can treat acne, and all of them can be cooked up right in your own kitchen! 

Raw honey mask - Using raw honey as a facemask can reduce acne and moisturize your skin. The sugar in honey pulls the moisture out of the air into your skin, and the alpha hydroxy acid helps remove dead skin cells and encourages collagen production.  Simply warm the honey in your hands and apply to your face, letting it sit for 15 minutes before rinsing off. This is a great mask to do a couple of time a week, especially in the colder months, to keep your skin healthy and glowing. 

Castor oil cleanser - Castor oil has a very strong cleansing property, and works well to pull the dirt and oil out of your pores. To use castor oil as a cleanser, mix 3 parts castor oil with 2 parts sunflower oil and massage all over your face. (If you are prone to dry skin, you should increase the sunflower oil.) Place a hot washcloth over your face for 30 seconds to create steam, and then use the cloth to scrub the excess oil from your face. 

Apple cider vinegar toner - It may be starting to sound like apple cider vinegar is natures cure all, but for good reason! It has both antibacterial and antiseptic traits, which is why it works so well as an acne fighting toner. Combine one part apple cider vinegar with four parts water, and dab on your face with a cotton ball. Follow up with your favorite moisturizer or coconut oil. 

Tea tree oil spot treatment – This topical acne treatment is believed to have the same restorative effects as benzoyl peroxide but without the chemicals. Just dab a little bit onto affected area before bed. The acne should be greatly reduced by morning! 

What are some of your favorite acne home remedies?

5 Natural Beauty Products Found in Your Kitchen


Many of you care about what’s in your food. But what about what is in your cosmetic and personal care products? Skin is your largest organ and can absorb just about anything that is put on it. Luckily, there are many excellent self-care products that are all natural, very affordable, simple to use – and can be found right in your kitchen! Here is a list of our favorite healthy beauty products that will leave you glowing from the inside out:
Coconut OilCoconut oil is a great food that can help with digestion, aid weight loss, and prevent disease. But when applied topically, this multi-tasking oil can do wonders for your skin, too. To use as a moisturizer, warm the oil and rub onto dry skin and scalp – or mix with sugar for a DIY body scrub!
Argan OilTake it up a notch with argan oil, powerful enough to help relieve psoriasis and fix split ends. The most common way to use the oil is by massaging a few drops on your skin or onto the ends of your hair while wet for a leave-in conditioner. Argan oil is also great to customize with other ingredients for specific beauty needs – such as sunflower oil for aging skin or grapeseed oil for acne!
CucumberCucumbers are well known for getting rid of under-eye bags, but they can also double as a cooling toner for your skin. This DIY recipe is great for sensitive skin types and the cucumber will help soothe and tighten the skin. To make the toner, just mix cucumber, witch hazel, and distilled water in a blender and apply with a cotton ball.
KiwiKiwis are packed with ingredients that are amazing for your skin, including vitamin C and alpha hydroxyl fruit acids. This superfood fruit can be made into a facial mask that will leave your skin brighter and glowing. Just mix with yogurt, orange juice, and oil – and apply!
SaltsNatural salts have tremendous healing and beautifying powers, such as reducing skin inflammation, promoting blood circulation, releasing toxins, and exfoliating skin.  One way to use salts is by adding coarsely ground sea salt combined with a few drops of your favorite essential oil in your bath. Soak alongside candles and a hot cup of tea for added relaxation.
What are your favorite all-natural beauty products? 

Lemon Facial Refresher

Lemon Facial Refresher

juice of 1/2 lemon
1/2c witch hazel

In a glass bowl or bottle, mix ingredients well.  Wash face as usual.  Using a cotton pad, apply refresher to face.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for 1-2 weeks.



Astringent & Ph Restorer

Astringent & Ph Restorer

2c distilled water
1/4c apple cider vinegar (I use BRAGGS brand)
10 drops orange or eucalyptus essential oils

Combine all ingredients in a plastic or glass container.  Shake and mix well.  Store in an airtight container for up to 1 year.  Apply to face as you would a toner with a cotton pad.


Oatmeal Mask

Oatmeal Mask

4 tsp ground oatmeal
5 tsp buttermilk (I have also used almond milk, but reduce to 3 tsp)

Mix ingredients into a paste. Apple mask to face in a thin layer, massaging as you apply.  Allow to dry 20-30 minutes.  One time use only, do not store.


Gentle Facial Exfoliant

Gentle Facial Exfoliant

1/2c ground oatmeal
1/4c powdered milk
1 tsp cornmeal
purified water

Mix all dry ingredients together.  Combine 1 tblsp with purified water to make a paste.  Allow to thicken 1 minute.  Massage mixture into face and rinse.  Dry Ingredients can be stored in an airtight container for 6 months.


Natural Suntan Oil

Natural Suntan Oil

1/2c coconut oil
1/2c jojoba
2 tblsp cocoa butter
2 drops coconut fragrance oil (optional)

In a glass bowl, combine all ingredients and mix well.  Using a funnel, pour the mixture into a glass or plastic bottle.  Pour oil into hand and massage into a thin layer on the skin.  Reapply as necessary when tanning outdoors.

**Overexposure to the sun resulting in apparent redness or burning may cause skin damage or cancer.  Vitamin D is an important vitamin for the body which can be obtained through natural sunlight exposure, but must be done in a responsible way.



Homemade Laundry Detergent

Homemade Laundry Detergent

A year ago I would not have labeled myself a "from scratch" type of person, but since all of our food is made by hand from scratch I started looking into other things that I could make at home.  I immediately thought of the things I spend the most money on.  Tide is currently $17.00 at my local grocery store and we use allot of it! So, why not try and make my own.  Saving money isn't the only reason for making your own laundry detergent (although the savings are tremendous) I also love how environmentally friendly it is - no more giant plastic laundry detergent containers.  I also know exactly what is going into my soap and therefore what is resting on my skin for 12-14 hours a day.  And the best part is...IT WORKS!

WARNING: Borax is a sodium product, but when ingested into the human body it becomes Boric Acid which is extremely toxic to our bodies.  Do not get Borax into your eyes or ingest it in any way.  When making your homemade laundry detergent, keep your mixing area clear of children and pets. Keep ingredients stored safely in a locked cabinet with other cleaning supplies.

Laundry Detergent
1 bar soap, grated (I used a lavender soap)
1 cup Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda
1/2 cup Borax
water
5 gallon bucket

Start by grating your bar soap with a cheese grater.  Then fill a medium sized pot with 4 cups of water and bring to a boil.  Slowly add a little bar soap at a time stirring until you have added all the bar soap and it's completely dissolved.  Fill your five gallon bucket half full with hot water.  Add the melted soap, laundry soda and borax.  Stir well.  Fill the rest of the bucket with hot water, stirring again.  Then cover and let sit overnight.  The consistency will turn from a cloudy liquid to a cloudy thick mixture.  If you find it clumping into Jello-like balls, that's okay.  You can either stir it as needed or just add the clumps into the wash.  They'll blend in with the wash and it will not affect your laundry load.

Add 1 cup per load for medium to large sized loads.

**For front loading, high efficiency washers, use 1/2cup of detergent.  If you find your clothes not as fragrant, you may use 1 cup without harming your machine.
Price Breakdown
I purchased all of my products at HEB in the health & cleaning sections.  I purchased the 5 gallon bucket & lid at Home Depot.  These ingredients will make 35 gallons of laundry detergent which is 560 loads of laundry all for $8.19 (excluding the bucket).  This works out to 1.5 cents per load!!!!

7 Bars of Soap $2.99
Arm & Hammer Super Washing Soda $2.19
20 Mule Team Borax $2.99
5 Gallon Bucket $2.60
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