BEAUTY: Home-made spa delights

MANILA, Philippines - Once in a while, we all need a break from the stresses of work, and one of the best and most enjoyable ways to do so is by treating yourself to a spa. If your monthly budget doesn’t allow you to incorporate this ritual into your daily life however, don’t fret. Soothing your mind and soul doesn’t have to be pricey, especially when you can create your own natural skin care products at home.

Making your own home spa products is therapeutic in itself, much like cooking, with ingredients such as honey, fruit and yogurt readily available in your own home. The best thing about creating your own beauty gunk is that there are no surprises as you know exactly what’s in it. So when you say “all natural,” you really know it is.

I’ve done research on some of the more interesting home beauty recipes you can try. Nothing more luxurious than getting the R&R you deserve in the comforts of your own home, I say.

All-natural sweet chocolate facial mask

A decadent mask ideal for normal skin, this concoction will leave your face smooth, soft, and silky. The cream and honey add moisture, and the oatmeal sloughs off dead skin cells. It’s perfect for smelling romantic and deliciously edible.

1/3 cup cocoa

3 tablespoons heavy cream

2 teaspoons cottage cheese

1/4 cup honey

3 teaspoons oatmeal powder

Mix all ingredients together and smooth onto face. Relax for 10 minutes; then rinse with warm water.

Apple skin polish

Apples are famous for their nutritional benefits as they are 85 percent water and are high in potassium and vitamins A and C. But perhaps even more beneficial to the beauty regimen is the malic acid, an exfoliating enzyme in apples that is useful for removing dead skin cells and surface dirt.

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons granulated sugar

1 tablespoon fresh apple puree or apple sauce

1/8 teaspoon cinnamon

Mix all ingredients, stirring them well. In the bath or shower, apply scrub to the skin in a circular motion, using a washcloth or a loofah. Pay special attention to rough spots like elbows, heels, and knees. Rinse well, and follow with a rich body lotion.

Note: If it will be used on the face, don’t use granulated sugar. Brown sugar, because it dissolves gently, is a more appropriate choice for the delicate skin of the face.

Avocado carrot cream mask

This mask combines avocados, which are rich in vitamin E, with carrots, which are high in beta-carotene and antioxidants, and cream, which is high in calcium and protein.  These ingredients will rebuild skin collagen, improve tone and texture, and fade age spots.

 1 avocado, mashed

1 carrot, cooked and mashed

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 egg, beaten

3 tablespoons honey

Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth.  Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place for 15 minutes.  Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner.

Blueberry and oatmeal facial mask for oily skin

This easy mask, used once or twice monthly, will both cleanse and exfoliate your face. It’s particularly beneficial for oily skin, as it has a drying and pulling effect.

1 cup oatmeal

1 cup blueberries

1 tablespoon honey

5-6 almonds, whole

Puree all ingredients in a blender until finely blended.  Spread mixture over your face, and allow to set and dry for about 10 minutes.  Rinse with warm water, and splash your skin with cool water or toner. 

Brown sugar body candy

Scrubs should be used after taking a shower so that the skin cells can slough off faster.

2 tablespoons brown sugar

2 tablespoons ground oats 

2 tablespoons aloe vera gel

1 tablespoon honey

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

1 teaspoon almond oil (in case you don’t have almond oil, use olive oil).

Before you start preparing this scrub, grind the oatmeal using a coffee grinder or food processor. It has to be of sandy consistency, flaky and light. Otherwise, it will scratch the skin.

Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Mix until it resembles a paste. It should be applied on moist skin. Rinse off with warm water.