Fresh Healthy Body

Imagine yourself at an exclusive spa resort. You’re wrapped in luxury, comfort and pampered to the point of exhaustion. The organic facials and body treatments can last for hours and cost hundreds of dollars. Now, back to reality. You’re not broke, but you certainly can’t afford a weekend getaway to an expensive spa. You can still treat yourself to all-natural beauty treatments at home. So what if the robe’s your old fuzzy pink one? You deserve it, and you can afford it, so why not do it?

Natural Beauty Secret #1

Did you know that the way you eat and when you eat can affect the look of your skin? What you put in your body is more important than what you put on it in terms of skin care and looking your best. The best place to start with a natural beauty regimen is at the dining table. One of the easiest natural beauty cures is to make sure you are getting enough water. Dry bodies have dry skin, wrinkles are more pronounced and the skin can have a dull, lack-luster appearance. For glowing, vibrant, younger –looking skin, give it, and the rest of your body, a drink. Another dietary deficiency that can cause your skin to look less than its best is not getting enough fiber in your diet. Choosing whole grains, beans, legumes, and nuts, seeds and dried fruits is as good for the outside of you as it is for the inside. Excess sugar intake can cause a breakdown of the collagen in our skin cells. Collagen is responsible for the elasticity of our skin, tendons, cartilage and other connective tissues in the body. This loss of collagen causes sagging skin, as well as the formation of wrinkles adding up to premature aging of the skin. Lastly, we all know our waistlines and hearts need us to watch the kinds of fats we eat. But did you know your skin has much the same requirements? Essential fatty acids like flaxseed and fish oils work on the body at the cell level, fighting inflammatory conditions like acne and eczema, as well as moisturizing dry skin from the inside.

Natural Beauty Secret #2

What would a trip to a spa be without a facial? You can give yourself a natural face lift right in your own home with ingredients from your kitchen. One simple and easy recipe for a natural facial is to take two egg yolks and whisk them until firm and consistent. Then add in a teaspoon or so of sugar. Mix the two thoroughly and then apply to your face. Relax for 20 to 30 minutes before washing off with warm water and a soft cloth. Eggs have plenty of protein rich in amino acids, which help smooth skin and reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. The sugar not only adds texture, but also gives the skin a nice healthy glow.

Natural Beauty Secret #3

Most spas offer decadent services like full body scrubs, and surely you can’t duplicate those at home, can you? Absolutely! Take ½ cup olive oil, ¾ cup fine sea salt and several drops of your favorite essential oil, like lavender, rose or sandalwood. Combine altogether and then hop in the shower. Rinse yourself down and then exfoliate all over with your scrub. Rinse again. You can cleanse with your favorite soap after, or prepare for a long soak in the bath with Natural Beauty Secret #4, your organic, homemade moisturizing bath sachet. The olive oil will moisturize your skin, while the sea salts provide a gentle, natural exfoliation, leaving skin looking younger and feeling softer, smoother and sexier.

Natural Beauty Secret #4

Forget the bath sachets and oils that leave your wallet stretched and your tub slimy. You can create a luxuriously moisturizing bath using the same ingredients you have for breakfast. While your bath water is running, add ¼ to ½ cup of dry skim milk powder. Take ¼ to ½ cup of instant oatmeal and tie it up in a piece of cheese cloth, netting or even an old knee high stocking. Add it to your bath as well. If you’d like, you can add a few drops of your favorite essential oil again, just to keep you smelling as lovely as you’ll look.

Natural Beauty Secret #5

The icing on most spa visits is a pampering manicure. File and shape your nails as usual. Over-polishing of your nails and the use of nail glues for acrylic nails can both lead to discoloration. A quick scrub with a whitening toothpaste and a soft bristled toothbrush, or a long soak in a small bowl of lemon juice, can bring your nails back to their natural tone. Whiten your nails, then can give yourself beautiful, healthy, shiny, strong fingernails at home with the aid of a few essential oils. A mixture of olive oil, coconut oil, lemon oil and natural vanilla extract makes a sweet smelling oil to rub into the nails and cuticles. The oils act to strengthen and smooth the nails, preventing cracking and chipping. They soften the cuticles as well, ending embarrassing and painful hang-nails and torn cuticles.

So, while you may not have a Swedish masseuse at home, you can give yourself the same “lap of luxury” beauty treatments offered by many of the fanciest spas and salons. And you can do it for a fraction of the cost, without using harsh chemicals or expensive, hard to find products. While you may have to wait for that posh weekend retreat, with a few simple natural beauty secrets, you can experience the same relaxing, natural beauty results right in your own home.