SimplyMaggies

photo credit: Pingu1963

In our constant search for the newest and best beauty products out there we often forget that the simplest solutions tend to work best. Our mothers and grand mothers used the natural remedies fro many things (beauty included) and it has been proven to work. So if you are fortunate enough to live in the climate where many types of fruit are available throughout the year, use the fresh fruit to make masks. And for those who live further north—frozen fruit works as well, since it was picked in its ripest and has a lot of nutrients. Just remember to thaw whatever fruit you decide to use for your masks.

Beautifying fruit mixtures can nourish your skin, moisturize it and purify and exfoliate. Some even have stress relieving properties. They work so well because the fruit is full of vitamins, minerals and alpha- and beta-hydroxy acids.

Here are some simple recipes for all-natural beauty masks:

• Purifying for oily skin

You need: 6 large strawberries+ 1 Tbsp of thick cream or Greek style yoghurt

Clean the strawberries and mash them with a fork, add cream or yoghurt to make a mixture. Apply it to your face for 15 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Follow with a toner for oily skin.

• Moisturizing for normal skin

You need: 2 peaches+ juice from half a lemon

Peel the peaches and remove the pit, cut in chunks and blend with lemon juice until smooth mixture if formed. Apply mixture to your face and keep on for 20 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a moisturizing gel or light cream.

• Nourishing for dry skin

You need: 1 banana+ 2 tsps of honey

Mash the banana with a fork and mix with honey so you’ll get a consistency of a mousse. Apply to your face, neck and chest and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a good nourishing cream.

You should use fruit mask once or twice a week on clean skin. If your skin is sensitive, it is advisable to check first whether you will develop a reaction to the fruit ingredients in your mask before actually applying it. The best way to do it is to apply a bit of a particular fruit behind your ear. If a reaction develops (e.g. redness), do not use that fruit. You may still be able to use other fruit but keep in mind to check first.

Going back to nature seems to be a new trend these days. One that is quickly becoming more of a live style and going beyond the house we live in and a car we drive and finding its way into other areas of our lives. Natural ingredients can work wonders for your health and beauty not only inside but outside as well.

Here are 7 natural remedies for beautiful hair:

• Apple Cider Vinegar—removes product buildup, reduces dandruff and restores luster to dull hair. It also stimulates hair follicles to enhance hair growth.
  Add 2 tablespoons of apple cider vinegar to a glass of warm water and pour the mixture over your hair after shampooing. Massage into scalp and hair for about 5 minutes and rinse with warm water.
• Olive Oil—not only does it moisturize and hydrate damaged and over-processed hair, it also adds shine and eliminates dandruff and dry ends.
  Rub ¼ cup of warm extra-virgin olive oil into your scalp, cover with a shower cap     and leave overnight. Wash hair as usual in the morning.
• Baking Soda—removes product residue from your tresses leaving hair clean, more manageable and shiny.
  Add 1 teaspoon of baking soda to your favorite shampoo and wash your hair concentrating on scalp. Follow with a good conditioner and rinse with cold water to seal hair cuticles.
• Honey—this amber liquid is packed with vitamins and minerals, including B vitamins, copper, magnesium and potassium and when used on hair and scalp, it reduces dandruff and adds shine and moisture.
  For a moisturizing hair mask: mix ½ cup of honey with 2 tablespoons of extra-virgin olive oil. Put the mixture on your hair, cover with a towel and leave on for 30 minutes. Shampoo as usual.
• Avocado—packed with vitamins (including vitamin E—a known antioxidant) and minerals (e.g. potassium, which promotes hair growth). The fruit hydrates hair and helps it regain its body, shine and elasticity.
  For soft, shiny hair mix one mashed avocado with 2 tablespoons of honey and ½ teaspoon of olive oil. Leave on hair for 30 minutes then shampoo and condition as usual. Or leave overnight under a shower cap once a week.
• Soy—full of protein (hair’s main building element) as well as minerals (magnesium, calcium) and B vitamins, which strengthen hair and increase healthy growth.
  After washing your hair, pour a cup of soy milk over your locks and massage it into hair and scalp for 5 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.
• Milk—not only does it strengthen bones, it does the same for your tresses. It also stimulates hair growth with calcium, controls sebum production with vitamin A and moisturizes, softens and shines with lipids.
  Mix ¼ cup of dry milk powder and ½ cup of water into a paste, massage into hair and cover with a hot towel. Leave on for 30 min, rinse and shampoo as usual. 

photo credit: quinn.anya

The amber liquid has been known for centuries to do wonders for one’s health and beauty since it has a number of properties and can be used in a variety of ways. It is an antimicrobial and a mild laxative; it can be used as a moisturizer or an antibacterial agent for cuts and infections, it helps your body retain calcium and it even helps with loosing weight.

It is said that consuming up to four tablespoons of honey a day can greatly improve your health. Moreover, a bit of honey before bed can help with longer and better quality sleep. Studies show that children who consumed honey before bed slept better and coughed less at night. Additionally, honey is packed with free-radicals-fighting antioxidants (combine with green or black tea for an antioxidant bomb) and has been a know beauty agent for a lot of women over the centuries.

Here are a few tips for using honey in your beauty regimen:

• Facial Moisturizer—apply honey to your face and leave on for a few minutes than rinse the excess with warm water. It works well with all skin types because it doesn’t clog pores and has antimicrobial properties, which prevents bacteria from growing thus helping with acne and breakouts. Its antibacterial properties also help with skin irritations.
• Facial Scrub—add rolled oats or sea salt to your honey, mix and massage into your skin. This type of scrub will exfoliate your skin without drying it out or over-exfoliating.
• Bath—add a tablespoon or two of honey to your bath for a moisturizing and skin softening effect.
• Hair Conditioner—squeeze a small amount of honey into your palm and apply to your hair (especially dry ends) after shampooing. Leave for a few minutes (depending on how damaged or dry your hair is) and thoroughly rinse off. It will keep frizz and fly-aways a bay.
• Hair Shine Serum—mix a tablespoon of honey with a cup of very warm water, put the mixture into a spray bottle, spray on damp hair and comb through to add shine to your tresses.
• Lip Balm—add a few drops of honey to a small amount of petroleum jelly and mix well and you’ve got a natural and moisturizing lip balm. You can also add essential oils of your choice for an additional effect.
• Shaving Balm—mix one part honey and two parts cream and apply to your legs instead of soap or your shaving cream. Not only does it hydrate and moisturize while shaving but also reduces razor burn and irritation.
• Manicure/Pedicure—rub some honey into the rough areas on your feet (hills, balls of your feet) as well as cuticles (both of your toes and fingers) before soaking them for your manicure/pedicure. It softens rough skin for an easier removal.

Keep in mind that the darker the honey, the more antioxidants it has and the best honey to get is the raw, unprocessed one you can get from your local farmers market.