Homemade Facial Scrubs and Masks
by Rachel Paxton
Make a paste from a little oatmeal and water. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Mash 1/2 banana and add 1 tablespoon honey and 2 tablespoons sour cream. Apply to face and let set for about 10 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Two tablespoons of cornmeal mixed with enough water to make a thick paste makes a great inexpensive facial mask. Gently apply to face and wash off.
In a food processor or blender, combine 1/2 cucumber, 1 tablespoon yogurt, a few strawberries, and 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and allow to dry. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Grind 1 tablespoon almonds into a fine meal in a blender or food processor. Mix almond meal together with 1 tablespoon honey and 1 egg white. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
To loosen blackheads, combine equal parts baking soda and water in your hand and rub gently on your skin for 2 to 3 minutes. Rinse with warm water.
Mash half of an avocado and apply to entire face. Let set for about 20 minutes and then gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Soak 1 cup dried apricots in water until softened. Puree in blender or food processor with 2 tablespoons skim milk powder. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Puree 1/2 peeled, sliced cucumber in a blender or food processor and add 1 tablespoon yogurt. Apply to face and let set about 20 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Crush a handful of strawberries and mix well with 1 teaspoon honey. Apply to face and let set for about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Mix 1 1/2 teaspoons honey, the juice from 1/2 of a lemon, and 1small carton plain yogurt. Stir in 1 whipped egg white. Apply to face and let set about 15 minutes. Gently wipe off with a damp wash cloth.
Rachel Paxton publishes the Creative Homemaking Recipe of the Week Club, a weekly newsletter that contains quick, easy dinner ideas and money-saving household hints. To subscribe send a blank e-mail message to mailto:FreeRecipes-subscribe@egroups.com or visit http://www.creativehomemaking.com
Basic Lavender Hair Shampoo (8 oz, 240 ml)
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Phase A
3/4 cup (180ml) Warm Distilled Water
½ tsp.(2.5ml) Xanthan Gum
½ tsp. (2.5ml) Lemon Juice
Phase B
2 Tbsp. (30ml) Polyglucose
2 Tbsp. (30ml) Coco Betaine
25 drops Lavender Essential Oil
15 drops Paraben-DU
Sprinkle the xanthan gum into the warm, distilled water and stir it thoroughly until it has dissolved completely. Add then phase B one by one to the mixture and stir until all ingredients are evenly distributed (note: especially lecithin needs to stirred very well).
Phase A
1 Tbsp. (15 ml) Castor Oil
1 tsp. (3 g) White Beeswax
1/8 tsp. (0.25 g) Pigment
Phase B
2 - 3 drops Food Flavoring
(Vanilla, Strawberry)
Add phase A into a heat resistant glass jar and heat it up to a maximum of 150oF or 67oC (by placing it in a hot water bath or microwave) to melt it slowly. Remove it quickly from the heat. Add now two to three drops of food flavoring and stir. While still liquid, pour the mixture into a small jar with a tight lid. You can use it as soon as it has become solid. Use: smooth it on with your fingers.
Phase A
1 Tbsp. (15 ml) Jojoba Oil
¼ tsp. (1.3 ml) Polysorbate 60
1¼ tsp. (3.2 g) Pigment Base A
4 tsp. (12 g) Titanium Dioxide
½ tsp. (1 g) Corn Starch
Phase B
3 tsp. (9 g) Sheabutter
1½ tsp. (4 g) Sorbitan Monostearate
Phase C
¼ cup (60 ml) Hot Distilled Water
½ tsp. (2.5 ml) Glycerin
Phase D
1½ Tbsp. (22 ml) Orange Flower Water
Phase E
6 drops Paraben-DU
3 - 8 drops Essential Oil
Add all ingredients of phase A into a clean, disinfected heat resistant glass jar and stir them until the pigments are well dissolved. Add then phase B and place the mixture in a hot water bath (maximum 150oF or 67oC) or microwave to melt it slowly. Remove it from the heat. While still hot, add phase C to and stir the mixture continuously until it becomes thick and creamy. Add phase D and stir well. After the temperature has dropped to about 90o F (35oC) add the two ingredients of phase E and stir the mixture gently.
Phase A
3 Tbsp. (45ml) Jojoba Oil or Almond Oil
11/2 Tbsp. (11g) Sorbitan Monostearate
1 Tbsp. (15ml) Sheabutter
1 tsp. (2.5g) Cetyl Alcohol
Phase B
3/4 cup (180ml) Hot Distilled Water (150oF,67oC)
Phase C
12 drops Paraben-DU
Up to 10 drops of your favorite Essential Oil
(since certain essentail oils are very strong, you may add less than 10 drops)
Add phase A into a heat resistant glass jar and heat it up in a hot water bath or microwave (150oF, 67oC). When melted remove it from the heat (note: do not overheat it; plant oils are very sensitive to heat losing their activities).
Add then phase B to the phase A and mix it thoroughly until everything is evenly blent. Add then carefully phase C and stir again. After the temperature has dropped to about 95oF (35oC), add phase C and stir the mixture again until it is a homogenous, milky lotion.
