Practical advice for winter skincare

Although we’ve entered winter a few months ago, it’s only been in the past few weeks (month or so) that the cold has truly set its foot down over here with temperatures going as low as –23 Celsius (yes, minus 23!). Cold and frosty winds – the greatest enemies of our skin during this cold season.

I don’t think cosmetic products used during winter greatly differ from those that are preferred during the rest of the year, but they still must be used regularly. Even one day when you have not followed all the steps leaves a trace of evidence, or at least that’s what always happens in my case.

So to prevent entering spring with a tired and visibly marked skin complexion, I recommend considering the following tips:

1. Hydration as the basis of everything
   Hydration is essential! Using various heat sources affect water balance in our skin and bodies overall. Drink plenty of fluids (water, hot tea, fresh juice) and do not forget about room humidifiers.
2. Do not skip over any part of your cosmetic routine
   On both body and face, cleansing, toning and nourishing the skin add up to a valuable routine which is essential to be followed daily, both at morning and in the evening (whether you used makeup during the day or not).
   A gentle cleanser or preferably one homemade of suitable oils mixture will first easily remove all impurities. A toning floral water will remove any remaining residues. And a blend of face creams, lotions, butters and oils will nourish your skin. Avoid using non-organic soap on your face and never leave the house before applying cream.
3. Eat well
   Eating well doesn’t mean you must eat more, but that you should make sure to include as many vegetables and fruits, nuts and seeds, soup and fish in your diet  and as little heavy/greasy meat as possible.

These are just three, very simple tips, which are highly effective and can be easily followed with just a little willpower and organization.

 

What are your tips for a beautiful and healthy skin during this frosty season?

Homemade Gifts {in a Jar} part 2

Last week, I told you all about my gift in a jar Chocolate Chip Cookies for the Chef.

Now, for the seamstress in my life, I decided to make a sewing-kit jar. Here’s how I did it.

Sewing-kit jar

Fill the jar of your choice, with different things a seamstress would appreciate (I chose beads, embroidery thread, yarn, buttons, chalk, pins and needles, etc.)

I really liked the idea of the pincushion lid, but knew my grandmother wouldn’t really want to keep the jar, so I decided to make one of these really cute Tuna Can Pincushions I’ve had my mind on ever since my friend Patsey posted her tutorial.

After I finished both the jar and pincushion, I stuck the tuna can pincushion onto the lid with a simple double adhesive tape so it would stay on there until/during Christmas gift giving and then come off easily.

Happy crafting everyone

Homemade Gifts {in a Jar} part 1

Sometime last week, I stumbled upon Myra’s blog post, 12 Homemade Gifts In A Jar and I was floored. I instantly fell in love with all of these ideas, and since I’d personally love to receive something like this, I decided to make some gifts in jars myself.

The first one I made is a gift to the Chef in my life who doesn’t really like the precision of measuring ingredients for baking. I figured this would be the perfect St.Nick’s Day gift – and I was right, he loved it

Chocolate Chip Cookies – Homemade gift in a jar

(I used my own adapted version of this Chocolate Chip Cookies recipe.)

Layer the ingredients in a large enough mason jar, starting with the necessary dry ingredients like sugar, flour (+ baking soda and salt mixed into it), cocoa and only then add your additional dry ingredients like chocolate chips, hazelnuts, Rahat Locoum (Turkish Delight), granola, cereals, raisins, etc.

Screw the lid on the jar, and cover with a circle of fabric or a paper doily, held down with a rubber band. Cover the rubber band with yarn or ribbon and tie a bow. For additional beauty, tie a cinnamon or vanilla bar into the bow. (I did that just before gifting the jar.)

Print out a gift tag-type paper with the recipe, or simply glue further directions onto the jar like I did, mentioning what else needs to be added, at what temperature the cookies need baking and for how long.

* I personally added a bunch of extra ingredients the original recipe didn’t include, so I upped the quantity of eggs and butter needed. Make sure you do the same if you need to.

Come to think about it, I’ve actually given gifts in a jar before, in the form of homemade beauty products. I think my Beauty the natural way recipes (Face Mask, Bath Salts, Exfoliating Body Scrub, Body Balm, Facial Scrub, etc.) are perfect for the ladies in your family so flip through the pages and feel free to prepare any of those. I’m sure they will be greatly appreciated.

Hope you all like these ideas, and check back next Wednesday for part 2

 

PS: there are a ton of gifts in a jar ideas out there on the web, you’re bound to come across the perfect one for your loved ones.

Tips and tricks for healthy hair

1. Always look at ingredients and choose a delicate shampoo without SLS (it excessively dries hair). It’s best to avoid harsh shampoos, as a gentle shampoo cleans just as effectively without unnecessarily being hard on the scalp. Even shampoos for color-treated hair are often harsh, so even for dyed hair it’s preferable to use a gentle shampoo.
2. Do not believe manufacturer’s claims that their shampoo is suitable for anyone and performs miracles that no other shampoo does. Each person is different and what works for one person may be wrong for someone else. Always test shampoos before switching and then select according to your hair’s needs.
3. Do you really need to shampoo twice? Before we learned this rule, our hair was clean even after shampooing once. It may or may not be a marketing tactic designed to increase sales. Obviously, in some cases, double shampooing is necessary, but it is not as necessary as to become a rule. (I noticed that no matter how many times I shampoo my hair, I have to wash it with the exact same frequency, so why waste that extra shampoo?)
4. Curly hair doesn’t get greasy quickly, because the sebum doesn’t get through the hair as fast as it does on straight hair. The best products for this type of hair are creamy ones. It is best to use a conditioner after washing curly hair.
5. Oily, normal or flaccid hair needs a liquid, light, transparent shampoo. Not all people with these types of hair also need conditioner, so if after washing your hair is easy to comb, you can save money by not using conditioner.
6. Chemically treated hair is more difficult to care for, it’s best to use a natural shampoo, gentle, for normal hair. You should also use concentrated hair conditioners.
7. For dry hair, creamy conditioners and very nutritious shampoo is recommended.
8. Are shampoos ‘2 in 1’ (with built-conditioner) better? This product is recommended for normal, healthy hair. But if you have oily hair, conditioner is not needed, and if you have dry hair, the moisturizing agents in ‘2 products in 1’ type of shampoos are not sufficient.
9. To shampoo use a small amount of shampoo (add more if necessary according to your hair’s length). Conduct a rigorous massage to the scalp, and if you can bear it, before shampooing and the rinse water should be cold as to support extra shine. If possible, let air dry. Always comb wet hair with a wide toothed comb and not a brush because your hair is most fragile while wet.
10. A beautiful, healthy hair does not require expensive treatments, it’s relatively easy to maintain at home. Like any other aspect of our body, beautiful hair is foremost maintained by proper diet, sufficient hydration, avoiding stress and smoke filled places and the use of natural hair care products. 

Some additional tips:

• the juice of one lemon mixed with a cup of water give more shine to your hair;
• one tablespoon of baking soda mixed well in a cup of water will remove remaining hair spray or gel from the hair;
• a teaspoon of baking soda added to the amount of shampoo used once to wash helps eliminate excess sebum from the scalp;
• rinsing your hair with a few tablespoons of apple cider vinegar diluted in 2 cups of water gives it shine;
• or just use No-Poo shampoo
• an infusion of chamomile helps to highlight blonde hair color;
• an infusion of sage, lavender and cinnamon (a few sticks, broken pieces) helps darken hair color;
• hibiscus (either infusion or powder) helps in attaining red reflexes.

Greening up your pregnancy

Today, I welcome guest blogger Christina Lopez to Life’s a Stage, who will teach us a little bit about greening up pregnancy.

 

In general, most pregnant women are inclined to make themselves more aware of what they are putting into and on their bodies. This period is time to evaluate what is important for both the baby and you. Most women are choosing to live a green lifestyle; opting to make their home and world a better place for a child. By following these simple tips you can color your world green during pregnancy and keep both you and your baby in tip-top shape.

For Everybody

By eating organic produce, dairy and meat products will help reduce pesticide levels in your blood stream. And when available, choose hormone-free and humanely treated meat products.

Homemade Honey Beauty Recipes

For this week’s Homemade topic blog post, I’m pleased to feature a guest post by Alexis Bonari. She shares some excellent tips and recipes, and I have to admit: I can’t wait to try them all out!

 

There’s a reason honey shows up repeatedly in commercial beauty products. In fact, there are three of them:

1. Honey is humectant, meaning it draws moisture from the air. The Greeks and Romans put it on wounds to keep them from scarring, which makes honey a great acne remedy as well as one for dry skin.

2. Honey, especially darker varieties—namely Manuka honey, which is made by bees that feast on the same bush from which we get tea tree oil—contain antibacterial properties.

3. Honey contains antioxidants, which explains why Cleopatra and other ancient beauties used it to acquire a youthful glow.

Instead of spending wads of money on overpriced spas and chemical-laden commercial products, why not go straight to the source? Make these spa-worthy recipes with natural ingredients you probably already have in your pantry!

Basic Honey Face Mask

· 2 tbsp honey

· 1-2 drops tea tree oil for problem skin

· 1-2 drops lavender oil for oily or irritated skin

· 1-2 drops chamomile oil (or chamomile tea) for dry or stressed skin

Massage gently into relatively clean face and rinse with lukewarm water after 10 minutes. This is an easy morning or weekend regimen before toning and moisturizing.

Honey Exfoliating Scrub

· 1 tbsp honey

· 2 tbsp finely ground almonds or oats

· ½ tsp organic yogurt (full fat for dry skin, skim for oily skin)

Mix in a small bowl or the palm of your hand and massage gently over your face, working from your forehead down to your nose, cheeks, then chin. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

The honey moisturizes and kills bacteria while the yogurt exfoliates. The almonds or oats work double-duty as exfoliants (instead of those plastic micro-beads that just pollute the ocean after they go down the drain!) and as moisturizers.

Honey Firming Mask

· 1 tbsp honey

· 1 egg white

· 1 tsp clay, flour, or glycerin

Form a paste with the ingredients and massage onto face. Clay will draw impurities from your pores while glycerin cleanses. Although flour won’t really do much for your skin, it will keep the already beneficial honey-egg white mixture on your face instead of your toes! Rinse with lukewarm water after 10 minutes.

Cucumber Honey Eye De-Puffer

· 1 tsp honey

· ½ tsp chamomile tea

· 2 tsp cucumber, peeled, seeds removed

· 1 tbsp aloe vera gel

Don’t put the tea leaves in boiling water—it just scalds the leaves and not only makes a bitterer cup of tea for drinking, it doesn’t release the most beneficial nutrients. Instead, warm up filtered water (like Brita water) to the temperature of a hot bath and steep the tea. Set aside to cool.

Meanwhile, blend the cucumbers, aloe, and honey until smooth; add the tea. Put into a small glass jar and refrigerate for up to one week. Gently apply it an hour or so later when it’s been chilled to your under eyes.

Honey Hair Care

· ¼ cup honey

· ¼ cup olive oil or half an avocado, peeled and destoned

Mix the ingredients in a bowl and apply to hair. Slap on a shower cap and try the Cleopatra bath (see below) for 30 minutes and then shower and condition as usual.

Cleopatra Bath

· ¼ cup honey

· ½ cup organic milk or cream

Lovely Cleopatra knew what she was doing. Pour these ingredients in a warm bath and let it moisturize tired skin, revealing a more youthful, glowing you.

 

Bio: Alexis Bonari is currently a resident blogger at College Scholarships, where recently she’s been researching trade school student loans as well as McDonalds scholarships. Whenever this WAHM gets some free time she enjoys doing yoga, cooking with the freshest organic in-season fare, and practicing the art of coupon clipping.

Olive oil face mask

Olive oil face mask

20 ml olive oil
3 tablespoons of cosmetic clay 
a few drops of hot water

Mix all ingredients until creamy. Apply covering your face and neck and allow it to act for 15 minutes.

Recommended for dry and sensitive skin.