The Pagan Heart
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April 2005 Issue
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Spoil Me...Please Recipes
Cleansing, Exfoliating, and Moisturising in Simple Steps Parents rarely have the time to spend caring for themselves as they should. Skin and body care are classic victims of this - something I learnt while looking after my nieces. Before then, I never quite understood the "lack of time" excuse. Yet caring for yourself is crucial to helping you not only care for others, but continuing to feel great about yourself. The better you feel internally, the more energy you have, and the better able to deal with those temper tantrums and confusing examples of child-logic. Feeling good internally is based in part upon feeling good externally. Looking after your skin and hair. This section is devoted to simple homemade products. And by simple I mean a maximum of three ingredients, and a maximum time factor of five minutes to make!
Deep Cleaning with Honey or Yoghurt One of the banes of a city dweller's life is smog. It's also becoming problematic for us country livers. The damage it causes your skin is quite substantial. The first step to remedying that and regaining that fresh glow is deep pore cleansing. You need 2 tablespoons of:
This works best if you alternate between the two. So honey today, yoghurt tomorrow. Try to never skin cleansing - even if it's simply a warm washer. Take a warm washer and lay it over your face for a minute. Gently rub the skin with a circular motion. Then rub the honey or yoghurt (warmed is wonderful) all over your face and upper neck. If you're planning to shower, use it on your chest and hands too. Take a couple of minutes to rub it in, then rinse off with warm water. Honey is antibacterial, so it not only helps draw out the dirt, but kills what bacteria is left - preventing pimples and blackheads. It also softens and rejuventates the skin. Yoghurt is filled with lactic acid - this helps dissolve dead skin. Those stories about Cleopatra bathing in milk to keep herself young are true - dairy products have a restorative effect upon the skin, nourishing it beyond belief.
Exfoliation with Strawberries or Papaya Cleaning your skin is all very well, but you also need to repair the damage it suffers from exposure to the elements and pollution - and poor diet. Sloughing away the accumulated dead cells, smoothing out the bumps, and wrinkles - while life should leave its mark upon your body, life is not an enemy here to carve you up. Life is a lover whose touch should reveal your soul. Certain fruits will help:
Papayas contain the enzyme papain and certain nutrients that help restore skin damaged by premature aging. Strawberries are filled with nutrients that help remove the toxins from your skin and heal injuries, blemishes, and acne. Once a week mash papaya into a pulp and smooth it over your face - if you wish, you can mix a little honey and oatmeal into it, but it's not necessary. One other day a week repeat with strawberries - and a little yoghurt.
Moisturising with Ripe avocado After any cleansing process it's important to moisturise. Although your skin will respond to the cleaning by producing moisture it starts out deep and gradually works its way to the surface - by which time your fragile skin can be dry and damaged anew. A rich moisturiser that benefits all skin types is avocado:
Avocado is rich with fatty acids that help moisturise and heal skin - use this 2-3 times weekly after cleansing. One the other days a simple moisturiser will suffice.
Bathtime with Milk, Oatmeal and Honey On those rare occasions when you can find the time to relax in a bath, think about using some home products to vitalise your skin:
Oatmeal is known for its incredible healing and soothing properties when it comes to skin. It's wonderful tossed into the bath - although a bit gritty! Try placing 2-3 tablespoons in a small bag - or use a washer and secure it into a bag with a rubber band! Add a cup or two of full cream milk, and a tablespoon or two of honey and relax in the warm water. If you want a scented bath, skip the commercial products and add a few drops of essential oil just before you turn off the tap. Any earlier and most of the fragrence will evaporate. 3 to 4 drops of lavender, rose, or roman chamomile will work wonders. Most importantly, enjoy this time to pamper yourself. |
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