Pinterest Finds: DIY Au Naturale Beauty Ideas

I am obsessed with Pinterest! I often find amazing, super helpful DIY ideas I use all the time.  This week, I want to share with you three easy and natura DYI Beauty ideas I found on Pinterest; these can all be made with organically and local and are very easy to do only needing two ingredients!  I am looking forward to trying this weekend and I hope you will too! Let me know your comments and how you like these and what other beauty ideas you want to share. Enjoy :)

Also stay tuned for Eco Glamourista on Pinterest!

Raw Honey Coconut Oil Face Mask

Raw Honey Coconut Oil Face Mask- promises some serious blackhead removal and baby soft skin!

Here is what you are going to need: Virgin Coconut Oil, Raw Honey, Mixing Bowl and Spoon. Mix Virgin Coconut Oil with Raw Honey using a spoon and a mixing bowl (make sure you mix till it is fully incorporated and looks like cloudy honey). Take your fingertips and apply mixture to your face softly because the raw honey may have crystallized and can be kinda rough on your skin if you use too much pressure. Let mixture rest on your face for 15 min and then rinse off gently with lukewarm water – patting face to dry. Simple & easy!

Source: PoppySoap.com

 Lemon Scrub Olive Oil Sugar Scrub

Looking for a good facial scrub/exfoliate? Take a lemon, cut it in half. Dip one half in sugar, then scrub your face and lips, sound easy and yummy!

 Source: Pinterest.com

Soothing Cucumber Eye Gel

Get rid of those puffy eyes! Use: 4 oz Aloe vera gel; 1/2 large cucumber, washed, peeled, and cut into cubes. Blend the cucumber with an immersion blender or in a food processor until liquid. Strain the juice of the cucumber through a fine sieve and set aside. Place the aloe vera gel in a small bowl and mix in 2 tbsp cucumber juice. Whisk well until combined and pour into bottle. Shake gently and place in the fridge to chill for 1 hour before using. Shelf life is 3 months (in the refrigerator). Apply under and around the eyes before bed.

Source: The Dabb List

DIY Exfoliating Scrubs for a Smoother Summer

Making your own scrub from natural ingredients is a great way to green your beauty routine and uncover that fresh glowing skin underneath naturally.

There are basically two ways you can scrub away dead cells and impurities from your skin, there is the physical defoliator which has the grainy texture and there is the chemical defoliator which naturally comes from fruit acids. What these fruit acids do is dissolve the bonds that hold skin cells together, allowing them to slough off more easily.

So go ahead, buff, scrub, and peel your way to a smoother summer with the season's best remedies that  are handmade and good for the environment. These can also make really great gifts because some you can keep for up to six months,  so find a nice little jar and make these for your friends!

For The Face:

 DIY Oatmeal-Lavender Face Scrub
1 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup dry lavender flowers, stripped of stalks
1/2 cup powdered milk (either whole or nonfat)
2 tsp. cornmeal

Mix all the dry ingredients in a bowl, massage into damp skin, and rinse with warm water. (Scrub will keep for six months.)

Recipe from "Do It Gorgeously" (June, 2010), by Sophie Uliano.

Pineapple Face Scrub
2/3 cup fresh pineapple chunks (room temperature)
1/4 cup cold-pressed olive oil
1/4 cup fresh, clean parsley, chopped

Pulse pineapple in a blender, then add oil until almost smooth. Add parsley, and blend carefully so mask doesn't liquefy. Apply to skin and leave on for 15 minutes, instructs Brenda Brock, recipe creator and founder and CEO of Farmaesthetics.

For the Body:

DIY Spicy Sugar Scrub
3/4 cup sugar
2 tsp. ground cloves
1 Tbsp. dried rose petals
2 tsp. grated orange zest
1 1/2 cups sesame oil

Combine ingredients in a large bowl, making sure that everything is well mixed. Use on damp skin twice a week, Uliano says, scrubbing with your hands or a washcloth in small, circular motions. The mix will last up to six months when stored in a cool, dark cupboard.

DIY Coffee Zest Body Scrub
1/2 cup used coffee grounds
1/2 cup honey
1 Tbsp. fresh orange zest

Mix ingredients together in a container and rub mixture into skin with your hands or a washcloth, using upward strokes, for one to three minutes. Apply up to three times a week.

Tip: Limit exfoliation to once a week until you know how your skin reacts. Then, you can scrub up to three times if your skin isn't showing signs of irritation....and always apply moisturizer after exfoliation for smoother skin.

 

Also..checkout another great Natural DIY treatment by The Eco Glamourista

What's your favorite  DIY Exfoliating Scrub recipe? share with us!

Recipes and Photo credit: Whole Living Magazine

All-Natural and Delicious Homemade Beauty Recipes

Greening our beauty routine doesn't have to be a difficult task. One of the best ways to green your beauty if by preparing your own DIY treatments at home featuring fresh, natural ingredients that have no artificial colors, preservatives or fragrances—and that involve absolutely no testing on animals. I want to share with you a few homemade recipes that not only sound delicious, but feel that way too!

Sublime Sunflower Scrub

Sunflower seeds, rich in vitamin E oil, make an excellent facial scrub. This recipe can be used to cleanse your skin, leaving your face incredibly soft and smooth. You may also use it for an all-over, full-body treatment.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup raw sunflowers seeds, shelled
Distilled water for mixing

In a food processor or coffee grinder, process the raw seeds until you have a fine powder that resembles coarse sugar. Pour into a clean container with a tight-fitting lid. Mix 1 tablespoon of the ground sunflower seeds with a few teaspoons of water to create a smooth paste. You can do this in the palm of your hand or in a ceramic bowl. Massage the mixture into your face and neck, and rinse well with warm water followed by cool water. Pat your skin dry with a soft towel.

Yields: 4 oz, enough for eight facial treatments or one full-body treatment
 

Chocolate Lip Gloss

This lip gloss, made from blending together cocoa butter and chocolate, is an excellent lip conditioner with a mildly sweet taste.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 teaspoons grated cocoa butter
1/2 teaspoon coconut oil
1/2 teaspoon vitamin E oil
1/4 teaspoon grated chocolate or 3 small chocolate chips (milk or dark, depending on your taste)

In a double broiler or the microwave, heat the cocoa butter, coconut oil and vitamin E oil gently until melted. Stir in the chocolate and keep stirring until melted and well blended. Pour into a small lip gloss container and allow to cool completely. Spread on lips with a clean fingertip or lip brush.

Yields: 1/2 oz

Cleopatra Milk Bath

Although no one knows exactly what Cleopatra looked like, there's no doubt that her beauty was captivating. One of her greatest beauty secrets was her milk bath. With this recipe, you can enjoy a milk bath like Cleopatra in your own home.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon dried rosemary
1 tablespoon dried thyme
1 tablespoon dried mint
Peel of 1 orange
Peel of 1 lemon
2 cups boiling water
1 small (9.6-oz) box dried milk, enough to make 3 quarts; if you have oily skin, use nonfat milk powder

Combine the herbs and citrus peels in a large ceramic bowl. Pour the boiling water over the herbs and peels and allow to steep for several hours (even overnight). Strain off the liquid, removing all solids. Add the milk powder to this solution. Draw a warm (not hot) bath, and pour the entire mixture into the bath water. Soak in the tub for as long as you like, but at least 20 minutes. Rinse the milk off your skin with warm water; you don't want it to sour on your skin, creating an unpleasant smell. Pat dry and moisturize your body.

Yields: Approximately 16 oz, enough for one bath

Green Goddess Body Mask

It's important to eat plenty of fruits and vegetables, which help produce healthy skin and hair from the inside out. You can also put fresh "green" ingredients on your body; they add moisture to your skin, making it soft and smooth.
Ingredients:
1 cup sliced fresh carrot root
2 cups fresh spinach leaves
1/2 cup sliced mushrooms
2 cups fresh, sliced zucchini squash
1/2 cup vegetable water (see instructions) or fresh water
1/2 cup French green clay or any natural clay

Combine all the fresh vegetables in a steamer or microwave-safe container. Steam until they are soft and tender and can easily be pierced with a fork. Let the vegetables cool completely and save 1/2 cup of their cooking water as the vegetable water. Place the cooked vegetables and water in a blender or food processor and process until smooth. Using a fork or whisk, stir in the natural clay. When you finish mixing, you should have a smooth, creamy, pale green mixture. Spread the mask all over your body using your fingers or a small paintbrush. Let it sit on your skin for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off the mixture in a warm shower and use a rich moisturizer afterward.

Yields: 10 oz, enough for one treatment


Article source: Excerpted from the book "Natural Beauty At Home: More Than 250 Easy-To-Use Recipes for Body, Bath, and Hair " By Janice Cox.

For Naturally-Glowing Skin: DIY Home Spa Facial

One of the things I enjoy doing is pampering myself at home with beauty treatments using natural ingredients. These treatments are eco-friendly and will add nutrients and glow to any dull skin. I want to share with you my favorite home spa facial. Not only will it soften and purify your skin without all the additives and chemicals, but it can be done by everyday items that are bound to be in your kitchen for a fraction of the cost. So go ahead, raid your pantry and your fridge for an all out nature girl pamper session!

DIY Spa facial in 5 easy steps : Cleanse, Exfoliate, Mask and Moisturize


Step 1-Cleanse: Your first step will be to cleanse your face. Start by first removing all your makeup and follow with a cleanser. A simple cleanser can be made from 1/2 a cup of oatmeal or Cornmeal and yogurt, mix together until you form a paste, smooth over the entire face avoiding the eye area and wash off with warm water.

Step 2-Exfoliate: If your skin is looking dull or dry, try a mask made of fresh fruit which contains alpha-hydroxy acids and work to remove the surface layer of dead skin revealing fresher skin beneath. A favorite of mine is a very simple Strawberry Scrub.

Strawberry Scrub
4-7 small to medium sized strawberries
1 tsp lemon juice
2 tsp milk powder, or 1 tsp whole milk
Blender, bowl and spoon, or food processor and timer

1. Mix the strawberries whole, you don't have to remove the greens. The seeds and pulp will act as a natural scrub on the surface, while the natural alpha-hydroxy acid gets deeper.
2. Add lemon juice which also contains alpha-hydroxy acid.
3. Add milk which contains alpha-hydroxy acid but has fats that help this recipe soften and seal the skin as well.
4. Apply to face and neck by working in small circular motions, don't apply a lot of pressure, a soft, smooth and even pressure is best. The fruit and other ingredients will do all the work, so only massage lightly.
Beauty benefit: Strawberries, lemon juice and milk contain alpha-hydroxy acids, which helps remove dead cells which leaves you with fresh, new, younger looking skin cells.

Step 3- Steam: I love to steam. Steaming opens your pores, help detoxify the skin and is incredibly relaxing.

Herbal Steam

Steam your face over a bowl of hot water combined with a handful each of fresh cilantro and basil leaves, steaming for about 10 minutes. Hold your face at least 12 inches above the water and tent your head and the bowl with a towel to prevent the steam from escaping. Pat your face dry and splash with tepid water to refresh the skin. Discard the herbs. To purify the rest of the body, run a hot shower to fill the room with steam, and relax in the steam for seven to 10 minutes.
Beauty Benefit: This is a great treatment to eliminate toxins.

Step 4- Mask: After steaming, I follow with a Banana and Avocado Face Mask that nourishes and adds nutrients to my skin.

Banana and Avocado Face Mask
1 small ripe banana 1 small ripe avocado 2
Tbl. plain natural yogurt
2 drops vitamin E oil (slice open the vitamin and squeeze out contents)

Mash the banana and avocado together to form a thick lime green-colored paste. Add the yogurt and vitamin E oil; mix well. Massage the mixture into your face and leave on for 15 minutes; then rinse. This mask can be left on for up to 25 minutes, though for sensitive skin, 10 minutes is enough.
Beauty Benefit: The potassium and natural oils in the banana and the high fat and protein (plus vitamins A, D, and E) in avocado moisturizes and refreshes dry or sun-damaged skin.

Step 5- Moisturize
Keep it simple. Aloe is an ideal ingredient in skin treatments because it provides light moisture and creates a wonderful soothing sensation. Massage your face with very good aloe vera gel to soften and refresh your skin and you are done!

Try these easy-to-follow recipes and enjoy a little pampering at home this weekend!

Let me know what you think? Share your favorite DIY treatments with us!