How to Follow the Curly Girl Method for Curly Hair

Do you suffer from dry, damaged, frizzy, uncontrollable hair? Do you spend an excessive amount of time blow drying and styling your hair? Does the weather tend to dictate your hair style and your mood? Say good-bye to the frizz and split ends and hello to soft, healthy curls! As Lorraine Massey says, "Blow-dry straight, you're happy for a day; stay curly, you're happy for life."

Steps

1. Understand what the curly girl method or going CG is. "Say no to shampoo, unplug the dryer, and find your inner curl!" (LM) The curly girl method is based off a book. It involves not using a brush, to avoid frizz and breakage, and shampoo, to retain natural oils. Many curlies decide to be modified CG and toe outside of the guidelines (e.g. using light silicones, straightening hair with a flat iron, clarifying with a sulfate free shampoo etc.) because it works for them.
2. Clarify with a sulfate shampoo before beginning. This will cleanse your hair of any silicones- ingredients in some hair products that are not water soluble (see Warnings).
3. Have your hair trimmed. This will get rid of any damage or split ends.
4. 
   Stop using a brush. It damages your hair whether it is wet or dry. It causes frizz and makes dry hair tangle. Use a wide-toothed comb instead, or even better, use your fingers. If it is difficult to detangle your hair this way, add more conditioner to your hair or trim unruly ends.
5. 

   sham+poo=phony+baloney
   Stop shampooing your hair. Most shampoos contain harsh, drying sulfates that are extremely damaging for curly hair (ammonium laureth sulfate, ammonium lauryl sulfate, sodium laureth sulfate, sodium lauryl sulfate, etc.). They make curly hair frizzy and uncooperative. Using conditioner in place of shampoo will cleanse the hair just as effectively without stripping it of moisture. Gentle shampoos that contain mild cleansers (i.e. cocamidopropyl betaine or coco betaine) can be used occasionally.
   • "You'd never dream of washing a good sweater with detergent. Yet most shampoos contain harsh detergents (sodium lauryl sulfate or laureth sulfate) that one finds in dish washing liquid. They're great for pots and pans because they cut grease so effectively. Your hair on the other hand, needs to retain some natural oils, which protect your hair and scalp. Stripping them away deprives the hair of necessary moisture and amino acids and makes it look dry and dull." (LM)
6. Give your hair time to adjust. It takes 2-4 weeks for your hair to adjust to the no shampoo. It may even look worse at first. Hair is a long-term project and it may take a couple weeks for it to regain its health after being stripped of moisture for years by shampoo.
7. Wash your scalp with conditioner. Begin your routine by wetting your hair in the shower. Distribute conditioner on your entire scalp and massage your scalp with the tips of your fingers (not your fingernails). This will cleanse the scalp of any dirt and get rid of dandruff. Thoroughly rinse your scalp.
   • "The curly-haired can leave their hair hydrated with natural oils and clean their scalps quite well by rinsing only with hair conditioner once a week or less. Rubbing the scalp firmly with fingers is enough to loosen dirt."(LM)
8. Distribute conditioner throughout all of your hair and untangle gently. Use your hands or a wide-toothed comb. Start by untangling bottom sections of your hair and then gradually move upwards. Let the conditioner sit in your hair for five minutes or so for extra moisture. You also may want to part your hair at this point with a comb. Part your hair to the side to prevent "triangle-shaped" hair.
9. Do the final rinse of your hair with cool or cold water. This will decrease frizz and add shine. Leave some conditioner in your hair, especially in dry sections like the ends. It is fine to run your fingers through your hair gently, but do not comb your hair after this point.
10. Apply products to your hair. Do it while it is soaking wet if you have curlier hair, but wait five minutes or so if you have medium to wavy curly hair. Put product in your hands and rub them together. Smooth or rake product into your hair by sections. Begin with a leave-in cream or conditioner to decrease frizz and follow that with a gel for hold and definition. Finger shape the curls by scrunching them or twisting individual curls around a finger.
11. Gently scrunch your hair with a t-shirt, paper towels, or a micro-fiber towel to remove excess moisture. A generic terry-cloth towel will make your hair frizzy. Then wait ten minutes so the hair can permanently assume its current shape.
12. Decrease the drying time of your hair by "plopping". Spread an old t-shirt or micro-fiber towel onto a flat surface (such as the toilet with seat down). Bend over at the waist and position your hair in the middle of the cloth. With your head touching the cloth, drape the back section of cloth over your head. Twist the sides until they form "sausage rolls" and clip or tie them at the base of your neck. After 15-30 minutes remove the cloth. If your hair is frizzy after plopping lightly graze the hair with gel.
13. 

    A hair dryer with a finger diffuser
    Dry your hair. Air drying is the easiest and gentlest way to dry your hair. If you must blow-dry your hair use a bowl diffuser with fingers to avoid frizz and enhance clumping--curls sticking together instead of going every which way. Place a section of hair in the bowl and press the bowl to your head. Then turn on the "warm" setting of your blow dryer. Press the cool shot if your head gets too hot. Only dry your hair partially (about 70% dry) and air-dry the rest of the way. Do not touch your hair while it is drying or it will mess up and frizz.
14. Find an experienced hairstylist. Ask he/she in advance if they are experienced in cutting curly hair and what products they are going to use on your hair. Unplanned haircuts can be disastrous for curly hair. If their products contain silicones insist on bringing your own. If your hairstylist uses a razor to thin out your hair it will make your ends ratty and prone to split ends. Remember, it takes a skilled hairdresser to successfully cut layers or other haircuts in curly hair.
15. Have your hair trimmed every four to six months. A 1/2-inch or 1/4-inch trim is usually enough to get rid of split ends. Long, rounded layers are more suited to curly hair- short layers stick up and look funny. Curly hair usually consists of a combination of textures, with the crown being the curliest part. For this reason it's hard to tell what dry curly hair looks like when wet- consider having your hair cut dry. Also, take into account that curly hair is much shorter when dry than wet. You may lose only two inches while wet, but four or five while dry!
16. 
    Consult the book. Curly Girl - The Handbook A Celebration of Curls: How to cut them, care for them, love them, and set them free by Lorraine Massey with Deborah Chiel has hair care recipes, tips and tricks, and is an amazing resource! Check your local library or consider ordering it online.
17. Show off your glamorous, beautiful curls! "Free your hair and the rest will follow." (LM)

[edit] Tips

• Different products work better for different types of curly hair. You will want to check out naturallycurly.com for products that work for your hair type. Some high quality lines of products for curly hair are Jessicurl and Devacurl (created in part by Lorraine Massey). Curly hair has different needs during different seasons. In the summer use more liquid-like products so as to not suffocate the hair. It's also helpful to leave less conditioner and leave in cream in your hair to prevent frizzing and increase definition. It's sort of the opposite in winter. You should use heavier, creamier products and more conditioner or leave-in to combat dry, wintry air.
• 

  So many products, so little time!
  A good moisturizing conditioner is essential. Some suggestions are Jessicurl Too Shea, Devacurl One Condition, Activate Hydrating Conditioner, and Kenra Moisturizing Conditioner. You can use a cheaper, silicone-free conditioner , like Suave Naturals or Vo5, to scrub your scalp. Some good leave-in creams are L'Oreal Out of Bed Weightless Texturizer, Jessicurl Confident Curls Styling Solution, Boots Essentials Curling Cream, Joico Joiwhip Moose, and Curly Hair Solutions Curl Keeper. Some good gels are the Herbal Essences Gels, LA Looks gels, Biosilk Rock Hard Gelee, and Devacurl Angell or Arcangell.
• 
  Gels may make your hair crunchy. When your hair is completely dry flip it over and gently scrunch your hair. This will leave you with soft, non-crunchy curls. Some people prefer the extra hold of a crunchy gel, as long as the texture can be scrunched out.
• After swimming in chlorinated water use a non-sulfate shampoo (Activate Hydrating Shampoo, Devacurl No-Poo) or add some lemon juice to your conditioner. These should only be used at most once a week, because they are still a little drying.
• Try adding honey to your hair with your conditioner. It cleanses the hair and adds moisture and shine. Rinse it out like it is normal conditioner. You can leave some honey in your hair, but make sure it's not more than a drop or two- your hair will end up sticky and coated.
• If you're having a bad time with your hair don't give up on your curls. Try cleansing with a non-sulfate shampoo to remove buildup, changing products, or how you use your current products. If you're still discouraged with your hair trying using gel to slick it back into a fancy up do or braid before you reach for the straightening iron. Adding cute accessories can also help.
• It can be hard to shower in the morning and style hair before work or school. Try showering the night before and then plopping (explained in step eleven above) while you sleep. When you wake up your hair should be dry- just spray a little spray gel, refreshing spray, or water on your curls, scrunch and you're good to go.
• Be patient and experiment with hair products and changes to your routine. Your hair may never be perfectly frizz-free all the time, but it can get close. Visit the sources and citations for more suggestions and hints.

[edit] Warnings

• 

  Excepting Suave naturals, all the products in this picture have silicones in them.
  If at all possible avoid silicones- ingredients that generally end in -cone, -conol, or -xane and are found in hair products. Short term, silicones will make hair look sleeker and less frizzy, but in the long run they will coat the hair shaft and seal out moisture causing hair to become straw like, less defined, and frizzy. Also avoid waxes in hair products. The only way to remove either of these is to use a harsh, drying sulfate shampoo. Most of the highly commercialized lines of hair products (Pantene, Garnier Fructis, Aussie, Tressame, Sunsilk) contain silicones. However if a silicone has "PEG" in front of it, it is water-soluble and will not build up.
  • Silicones that are not soluble in water and build up on the hair: Amodimethicone, Cetearyl methicone, Cetyl Dimethicone, Cyclomethicone, Cyclopentasiloxane, Dimethicone, Dimethiconol, Stearyl Dimethicone, and Trimethylsilylamodimethicone.
  • Silicones that are slightly soluble in water and will build up on most types of curly hair: Amodimethicone (and) Trideceth-12 (and) Cetrimonium Chloride, Behenoxy Dimethicone, and Stearoxy Dimethicone.
  • Silicones that are soluble in water and safe to use (they are not listed with PEG in front of them): Dimethicone Copolyol, Hydrolyzed Wheat Protein Hydroxypropyl Polysiloxane, and Lauryl methicone copolyol.
• Most people will compliment you on your lovely curls. However, some people will never appreciate your curly hair. Don't let this affect you. No matter how hard you have tried to fight it with straightening irons and hairspray, you have curly hair. Enjoy it!

[edit] Things You'll Need

• Curly hair
• Hair gel
• Leave-in cream
• Wide-toothed comb
• Old t-shirt or paper towels
• Blow dryer and diffuser (optional)
• Curly Girl by Lorraine Massey (optional)

Source from: http://www.wikihow.com/Follow-the-Curly-Girl-Method-for-Curly-Hair

Advice of homemade recipe

Being an herbalist and a botanical shop owner that deals with and creates bath and body and skin care lines, I couldn't help but notice the recipes measurements. Although lavender is known for his calming and soothing properties for the skin, 2 teaspoons of pure essential oil (which I hoping is what your are referring too and not fragrant oil which is synthetic) would be too much for that small amount of glycerin. Ever heard too much of a good thing aint so good? Especially if you have sensitive skin. Perhaps it was just a simple typo?

Here's a wonderful recipe for either Rose Lotion or Lavender if you prefer, this is one I make and sell in my own shop and it's quite popular.

You need:
1/2 cup almond oil (if you are allergic to nuts, then use Olive or Grape Seed)
1 tablespoon of grated beeswax (which you can buy an unscented 100% beeswax votive candle--just be sure to remove the wick!)
1/2 cup of rose OR lavender water that you can find at the local health food store or even in the back of the liquor store.

Mix together the oils and the beeswax and heat gently until the beeswax is melted. Slowly pour rose/lavender water into the mixture. Stir on and off until it cools--may seem thin at first but this will turn into a thick white creamy lotion. You can use a hand mixer or put it in the blender if you wish. Allow it to cool completely then store it in a clean jar with an air tight lid. Massage onto your skin.

*beeswax acts as a natural 'emulsifier' which allows the water and oil to mix.
You might even try to add a teaspoon of glycerin to the mix although I doubt you'd need it. This is wonderful as it is and beats Bath and Body Works rose line any day and is by quite for MUCH MUCH MUCH better and healthier for you skin as is ALL naturally made products. If people only knew that what was inside that fancy bottle with the popular name was going on to their skin, then perhaps that company might not be so popular..........

Try using a bit of olive oil instead of water. That would be moisturizing as well. Jazz it up a bit and try a 1/2 cup full of brown sugar, teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup of olive oil.

Advice of homemade recipe

Being an herbalist and a botanical shop owner that deals with and creates bath and body and skin care lines, I couldn't help but notice the recipes measurements. Although lavender is known for his calming and soothing properties for the skin, 2 teaspoons of pure essential oil (which I hoping is what your are referring too and not fragrant oil which is synthetic) would be too much for that small amount of glycerin. Ever heard too much of a good thing aint so good? Especially if you have sensitive skin. Perhaps it was just a simple typo?

Here's a wonderful recipe for either Rose Lotion or Lavender if you prefer, this is one I make and sell in my own shop and it's quite popular.

You need:
1/2 cup almond oil (if you are allergic to nuts, then use Olive or Grape Seed)
1 tablespoon of grated beeswax (which you can buy an unscented 100% beeswax votive candle--just be sure to remove the wick!)
1/2 cup of rose OR lavender water that you can find at the local health food store or even in the back of the liquor store.

Mix together the oils and the beeswax and heat gently until the beeswax is melted. Slowly pour rose/lavender water into the mixture. Stir on and off until it cools--may seem thin at first but this will turn into a thick white creamy lotion. You can use a hand mixer or put it in the blender if you wish. Allow it to cool completely then store it in a clean jar with an air tight lid. Massage onto your skin.

*beeswax acts as a natural 'emulsifier' which allows the water and oil to mix.
You might even try to add a teaspoon of glycerin to the mix although I doubt you'd need it. This is wonderful as it is and beats Bath and Body Works rose line any day and is by quite for MUCH MUCH MUCH better and healthier for you skin as is ALL naturally made products. If people only knew that what was inside that fancy bottle with the popular name was going on to their skin, then perhaps that company might not be so popular..........

Try using a bit of olive oil instead of water. That would be moisturizing as well. Jazz it up a bit and try a 1/2 cup full of brown sugar, teaspoon of vanilla extract, and 1/4 cup of olive oil.

4 homemade facial mask recipes

Milk Mask

You’ll need:
Milk1/2 Cup Besan Flour

What you do:
Combine the ingredients until it’s a hearty paste. Refrigerate for a few hours. Smooth the mixture over face and let it set for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a warm damp washcloth. Then splash on cool water to close skin pours.

A benefit from this mask is a tightening sensation.

Exfoliating Mask
You’ll need:
egg whitesoatmeal

What you do:
Mix ingredients, slap on for five minutes. Let egg whites dry. Rinse with water. Voila!

The oatmeal exfoliates dead skin, and works wonders when you scrub it on. Egg whites soften and smooth dry skin gently.

Moisturizing Honey and Lemon
You’ll need:
I TBSP honey (room temperature)
1 Tsp. lemon juiceBlend.

Apply for 30 min, rinse with warm water. One plus is it’smoisturizing effect.

Honey and Oatmeal mask

You’ll need:
HoneyOatmeal

Equally mix in oatmeal and honey leave on for 15 min. Rinse with warm water and then cold.

For All Skin Types
You’ll need:
1/2 c chopped cucumber
2 tsp. powdered milk
1 egg white

Blend to a smooth paste and apply in upwards motions to face and neck. Let dry on face for 30 min. Rinse with warm water.

Homemade Mask For Your Face, Hands, Feet

by: Chrys Solomon
(USS Pineville May 2003 -Cruise to the Care of Being)

Orange Yogurt Mask ~
1 tsp plain yogurt , the juice of 1/4 of an orange , Stir to mix and then dip fingers into mixture and smooth onto face. The sensation is both cool and relaxing. Leave on for a five minutes and then rinse. If you are feeling sluggish, this is the perfect mask for you.

Orange Cornmeal Delight ~
Take one peeled orange and put in blender along with your desired amount of cornmeal. Add 1/4 cup uncooked oatmeal and mix well. Apply to a slightly damp face. Leave on for 10 minutes, then spray a bit of warm water on face and use circular motion to work mask around the face. Remove with warm.

Yummy Apple Mask ~
1/4 of an apple, 1/2 tsp Half and half, 1 Tsp honey, 1 T oatmeal, Puree all ingredients until smooth, apply to face for 15 minutes and then rise with warm water

Yogurt and Honey Mask* ~
Mix together 1 tsp. honey, 1 capsule of vitamin A, 1 tablespoon yogurt and 3/4 egg yolk. To thicken, add a small amount of cornstarch. Apply mask to clean skin and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

Buttermilk Mask ~
1/3 cup of rolled oats soaked several hours in buttermilk. Strain. Add 1 capsule of vitamin A and mix well. After cleansing skin, apply mixture and leave on 10-15 minutes. Rinse with water

Flour Mask ~
1/3 cup of whole wheat flour mixed with enough milk to form a paste. Apply to face and leave on 15-20 minutes. Remove with warm water.

Almond Meal Mask ~
Grind 25 almonds or buy ready to use almond meal. Mix almond meal with a slice of peeled aloe. Add a few drops of sesame oil and mix together until blended. Dampen face slightly with a bit of milk or warm water. Apply mask and leave on for 15 minutes. Then rinse with warm water.

Oatmeal-Honey Mask* ~
1/2 cup uncooked oatmeal, 3 tbl. Honey, 1 egg yolk Mix all ingredients together and apply over entire face. Rub mask around face in circular motion. Leave on for 10 minutes.

Creamy Avocado and Honey Mask ~
2 tbl. avocado, mashed, 3 tbl. Honey, 1 whole egg Mix together egg yolk, oil and honey. Stir thoroughly. Now add egg white. Close container and shake well before applying.

Skin Nourishing Mask ~
2 tbl. Honey, 3 tbl. olive oil or mineral oil, 1 whole egg, Mix together egg yolk, oil and honey. Stir thoroughly. Now add egg white. Close container and shake well before applying.

Bran Mask* ~
Mix together 2-3 tsp. bran, 1 tsp. olive oil and 1 egg yolk. Leave on 10 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Milk Mask~
Milk, 1/2 Cup Besan Flour, Combine the ingredients until it’s a hearty paste. Refrigerate for a few hours. Smooth the mixture over face and let it set for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a warm damp washcloth. Then splash on cool water to close skin pours. A benefit from this mask is a tightening sensation.

Exfoliating Mask~
Egg whites, oatmeal, Mix ingredients, slap on for five minutes. Let egg whites dry. Rinse with water. Voila! The oatmeal exfoliates dead skin, and works wonders when you scrub it on. Egg whites soften and smooth dry skin gently.

Moisturizing Honey and Lemon~
1 TBSP honey (room temperature), 1 Tsp. lemon juice Blend. Apply for 30 min, rinse with warm water. One plus is it’s moisturizing effect.

Honey and Oatmeal Mask*~
Honey, Oatmeal, Equally mix in oatmeal and honey leave on for 15 min. Rinse with warm water and then cold.

Cucumber Mask ~
1/2 c chopped cucumber, 2 tsp. powdered milk, 1 egg white, Blend to a smooth paste and apply in upwards motions to face and neck. Let dry on face for 30 min. Rinse with warm water.

Egyptian Facial Mask ~
1 egg beaten, 1/2 tsp olive oil , 1 T flour, 1/4 tsp sea salt , 1 T whole milk Mix together all ingredients until creamy and well blended. Spread the mixture over your face and neck and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse well with cool water and pat dry.

Nourishing Face Mask ~
1 egg, 1 tsp almond oil , a little half and half Combine and leave on your face for about 15 minutes. Remove with cool water.

Cucumber Jones Mask
~ 1/2 cucumber, 1 egg white, 1 Tablespoon lemon juice, 1 Teaspoon dried mint flakes Mix all ingredients together in blender until smooth. Refrigerate for 10 minutes. Apply to face and leave on 15 minutes. Rinse with hot water, then cool water.

Strawberry Surprise Mask* ~
1/2-cup ripe strawberries, 1/4-cup cornstarch, Mash strawberries and cornstarch together to make a paste. , Apply to face and leave on for 30 minutes. , Make sure to avoid the delicate area around eyes. Rinse off with cool water.

Bump Buster Mask ~
1 Ripe tomato, chopped, 1 Teaspoon Lemon juice, 1 Tablespoon Instant style oatmeal or old-fashioned rolled oats, Mix all ingredients together in blender until smooth. , Apply to skin. If mixture is too runny, add more blended oatmeal. Leave it on for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

* tried them and they worked GREAT!
remeber, you have to have the mask at least for 20 mins. (espc. the home made ones) if u wanna see results from the first use

Beauty recipe

Rose Water

Simple Solution
Rose water is one of the all-time best and most traditional facial cleansers, because rose is astringent, anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and has a lovely scent.

INGREDIENTS
I cup rose-infused water2 teaspoons glycerin 5 to 10 drops rose essential oil

Place a handful of dried rose petals in a mason jar, cover with boiling water, seal, and let set overnight. Note that dried rose petals are available in many health food stores (as is vegetable glycerin), or online from herbal supply stores. After the rose petal infusion has set overnight, strain. Combine the ingredients in a pretty jar, and shake to blend. Note that you will extend the shelf life if you add 1/2 a teaspoon of grapefruit seed extract (available in health food stores). The antiseptic quality of essential oils will also act as a preservative.

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OLIVE OIL CLEANSER
This is cool for normal to dry.
50% OO
25% CASTOR OIL
25% AVOCADO OIL


You can adjust the ratios depending on you skin type. If you have oilier skin you can add more Castor oil. If you have super dry skin you can omit the Castor oil completely.

When using this you can steam your face with a hot/warm wash cloth then wipe off. If you have excess a toner will take care of that.

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Green Tea Toner
2 C of water2 green tea bags
A bottle to store it in.
Boil water then add two teabags let steap until cooled. Pour into bottle of choice. You can refrigerate this but I dont. I cut the recipe in 1/2 so I dont have the same batch for to long.

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Starter Scrub
This scrub is really simple, but effective.

Ingredients: ½ cup sugar Cold-pressed Oil (olive, wheat germ, peanut, corn, or sunflower)

Pour sugar into a bowl. Add a small amount of oil and mix. Continue to add oil until the mixture is damp. You don't have to use this scrub right away. It has a pretty good shelf life, simply store the mixture in a jar. Scrubs are usually used in the tub or shower after the skin has been cleaned and has had a chance to soften with the warm water. Simply take some of the scrub in your hand and rub it on your body in a circular motion. After you have rinsed off the scrub, apply lotion to retain your new, fresh, soft skin.

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Brown Sugar Scrub
This scrub is heavy duty for those with really dry, flaky skin. Don't use it more than once a week.
Ingredients:
3 Tablespoons Raw Sugar
2 Tablespoons White Sugar
2 Tablespoons Brown Sugar
3 Tablespoons Epsom Salt
1 Tablespoons Kosher (sea) Salt
1/3 Cup Baby Oil
1/3 Cup Scented Body Lotion

To start, add all of the dry ingredients together in a small bowl and mix well. Next, add the oil and lotion. Mix it all together until everything is wet and the ingredients stick together. You can store the scrub in a plastic container in the refrigerator for a week or two if you don't use it all.

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Lemon juice can be a great whitening/bleaching agent. It can help to lighten acne marks or scars.

Honey is great for all skin types, ecspecially acne-prone because it naturally eliminates bacteria!

Try using 2 tbsp on your face and leave it on (like a mask)You can also mix components together..try adding a few drops of lemon juice to your mask. or you can add any essential oils. or oatmeal. oatmeal calms the skin. You must be savy when using lemon juice...too much is too harsh on your skin! If you have sensitive skin, you shouldn't be using it at all.

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Avocado moisture mask
For dry skin.
1 ripe avocado
4 tablespoons plain yogurt
Purée avocado and blend with yogurt.
Apply mixture to face. Leave on for 30 minutes. Rinse with lukewarm water.

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Avocado Honey Mask
1 large, ripe avocado
1 tablespoon honey

Peel and slice avocado and purée it in a blender with the honey. Apply the mask to your face by patting it gently and then continuing to pat until the mask feels extremely tacky to the touch. Relax and leave the mask on for 20 to 30 minutes and then rinse off with warm water.

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Lavender Lotion
1 ounce glycerin
2 teaspoons oil of lavender
Put ingredients in a clean glass bottle and shake well. Refrigerate.

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Honey Cleansing Scrub
Mix 1 tablespoon of honey with 2 tablespoons finely ground almonds and 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice. Rub gently onto face. Rinse off with warm water.

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Pina Colada Mask
1/4 cup chopped fresh pineapple
1 tablespoon coconut Milk
Place ingredients in a blender or food processor and blend until smooth.
Spread in a thin layer over skin. Leave on for 5 to 10 minutes and then rinse with warm water. Pat skin dry.

This tropical mask gives complexions a healthy glow. Bromelian, an enzyme found in fresh pineapple, removes dead skin cells.

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Herbal Toner
This can be kept in a fridge for up to 5 days in an airtight containerand costs little to make.

Simply boil 1/2 a cupful of herbs in 600ml of water. Take off the heat and leave to stand overnight. Strain off and put into a jar/bottle

Different herbs have different properties.
For dry skin - parsley and fennel
For oily skin - lavender, sage, thyme or peppermint
For normal skin - balm and spearmint.

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Pumpkin Papaya Mask
1/2 ripe papaya
1 cup pumpkin
1 egg white, beaten until frothy
1 tsp honey

Skin and seed the papaya; mash with a fork until soft.
Stir in the rest of the ingredients until mixture is smooth.
Apply to face using a circular motion.
Rinse off after 5 minutes.

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Cleansers

Normal to Dry Skin
Blend 10ml aloe vera gel, 15ml olive oil, 10ml rosewater and two drops rose essential oil and decant into a bottle.
Massage into your skin and remove with water or a muslim cloth. Keep in the fridge, shake before use and use within five days

Oily/Combination Skin
Scrub and peel a 50g chunk of fresh soapwort root. Put it in 1 litre spring water, along with 25g dried herbs (mint, sage and rosemary), bring to the boil, and simmer for 10 minutes. Cool and strain into a pump-dispenser bottle. To use, massage two squirts into dampened skin and rinse.

Sensitive Skin
Place the petals of six marigold flowers in a bowl with 10g cocoa butter, 20g beeswax granules, and 100ml sweet almond or extra virgin olive oil. Gently heat by putting the bowl in a pan of hot water until it has all melted. Keep on a low heat for five minutes, then sieve and transfer into a sterilised jar. Seal when fully cooled. Gently massage into the skin to melt away make-up.

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Make your own toner
Boil down balancing sage, toning lemongrass, or calming lavendar for 25 minutes, strain the liquid and allow it to cool.
Decant into a spray bottle and use as a facial spritz whenever needed.

Make your own exfoliant
Blend oatmel with a thick oil like wheat germ oil, and add a raw egg yolk. Gently rub the mixture over your face and rinse.
A face dunked in cool whole milk and left on your face for 20 minutes will give you a gentle chemical peel.

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For a nice natural and simple scrub, use a tea spoon of raw brown sugar on damp skin, scrub gently till it start to melt, rinse with cold water. the result is AMAZING
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Aspirin Mask:
Take two aspirin (it doesn't matter which kind/brand) and place them in the cap of the aspirin bottle. Apply ONE drop of water onto each tablet and let sit for a minute. By touching them with your finger, you will notice that they will crumble into a gritty powder. Scoop up some of the "powder" onto your finger and rub it onto your face. Continue until you have used up all of the aspirin powder. Let sit on your face for ten minutes, then wash off with water in small, circular motions.

Miracle Whip Mask:
Using a teaspoon, scoop up a little bit of Miracle Whip. DO NOT use an entire teaspoon of Miracle Whip. Believe me, you will not need that much. Lol. Spread the Miracle Whip over your face and let sit for ten minutes. Then (while leaning over a sink), gently rub the film of Miracle Whip off of your face. The little rubbery balls that come off are dead skin. When you use it, especially the first time, there will be A LOT of them...that is where the sink becomes useful. :-) Gently wash your face with water.

Detail: http://www.makeuptalk.com/forums/t45425/homemade-skincare-recipes-masks-4-45425.html
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Desert Bath Salts
5 drops yellow food coloring
4 drops musk oil
3 drops jasmine fragrance or essential oil
3 cups Epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
2 tsp. glycerin

Earth Bath Salts
½ cups Epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
½ cup rock salt
½ tsp. vitamin E
2 tsp. light oil (sunflower, almond, etc.)
20 drops patchouli essential oil
15 drops cypress essential oil
Green food coloring
Mix thoroughly

Ocean Bath Salts
1 cup Epsom salt
1 cup baking soda
4 drops blue food coloring
3 drops jasmine fragrance or essential oil
4 drops vanilla
2 tbs. glycerin
Mix thoroughly
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Bath Oil Balls
¼ cup baking soda
2 tbs. citric acid
2 tbs. sweet almond oil
1 tsp. vitamin E oil
¼ tsp. fragrance or essential oil

Mix dry ingredients thoroughly. Add wet ingredients slowly, while mixing form into balls. Let them sit on wax paper overnight until hard.
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Here's some fun facials and masks!

Perk Me Up Facial
½ cup oatmeal powder
½ cup bran
¼ cup cornmeal
1 tsp. zinc oxide
Mix together with a bit of water until it forms a paste. Massage into face then rinse off.

Wonder Glow Mask
1 egg yolk
1 tsp. warm milk
1 tsp. honey
Mix thoroughly apply to face and throat, let sit for 20 minutes then rinse off.

Minty Mask (for tired skin)
1 tbs. ground or powdered spearmint
1 tbs. oil
1 tbs. honey
Whip until fluffy apply to skin.

Papaya with Punch
¼ ripe papaya
4 tsp. green cosmetic clay
1 ½ tsp. aloe Vera gel
Puree all ingredients then rub into face, let sit 10 minutes then rinse with cold water.

Georgia Peach
1 ripe peach peeled and pitted
1 eye white
Whip ingredients apply to face and let sit for 30 minutes then rinse off.

Mask Peel
1 packet unflavored gelatin
½ cup fruit juice or herb infusion
Heat to melt gelatin as per package instructions with the liquid of choice. Apply to face when almost set and peel when completely dried.

Strawberry delight
½ cup very ripe strawberries
¼ cup cornstarch
Mix together to forma paste, apply to face and leave on for 20 minutes.

Veggie Delight
1 tbs. cucumber
1 tbs. parsley
1 tbs. yogurt
Whirl in the blender until fluffy apply to skin.
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Toner/Spritzer:
1 part rosewater
1/2 parts witch hazel, aloe vera juice (each)
5-10 drops of each: pepperment oil; white oak bark extract, grapefruit seed extract a capful or so of glycerine

Shake well before use and apply with a cotton pad or ball. I keep some in a spray bottle that I store in the fridge and carry with me through out the day to use before I blot or repowder. You can adjust it based on your skin type. My skin is wicked oily, so the formula above works best for oily skin.

For dry/combination skin, add more glycerine and omit the white oak bark extract

The witch hazel, grapefruit seed, white oak and pepperment extracts are natural anticeptics that are awesome for controlling oil and killing bacteriaThe glycerine and aloe insure that the skin doesnt get too dried out and produce more oil.The rosewater helps the skin retain the moisture and just smells yummy.You can find just about all the ingredients at your local health food store, but you can get the aloe, witch hazel and glycerine at wal mart in the bandade/peroxide isle.
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ALMOND OIL WRINKLE CREAM
1 tbs. of an infusion of comfrey leaves... OR...
1 tbs. of a decoction of comfrey roots (see below)
1 tbs. lanolin
2 tsp. sweet almond oil
2 tsp. water
2 tsp. cod liver oil

Melt lanolin and almond oil in a double boiler. Add water and allow tocool. Mix in cod liver oil and comfrey. Apply gently to face and rinseoff after 5 to 10 minutes. This is a rich moisturizer that boosts thewater-holding capacity of your skin and helps plump out wrinkled areas.Infusion: This is a beverage made like tea, by pouring boiled water overplants and steeping to extract the active ingredients. The normal amountsare about 1/2 to 1 ounce of plant to one pint of boiled water. You should let the mixture steep for 5 to 10 minutes, covered, and strain the infusion into a cup.

Decoction: This preparation allows you to extract primarily the mineralsalts and bitter principles rather than vitamins and volatile ingredients.The normal amounts are about 1/2 ounce plant to 1 cup water. Bringingredients to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for up to 4 minutes.Remove from heat and steep the mixture with the cover on the pot for a few minutes.
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Avocado Banana Masque Recipe
1/4 mashed ripe avocado
1/2 mashed ripe banana
2 tbs. plain yogurt (not low-fat)
1 tsp. wheat germ oil
Mix all ingredients.
Apply mixture to face and leave on 10 to 15 minutes.
Rinse with tepid water.

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here are some more useful and easy recipes
1. Squeeze an orange and, using your fingers, pat the liquid on your face. The juice will evaporate quickly and leave you with a radiant glow. Plus you'll have the benefits of the antioxidant vitamin C.

2. Mash half a banana and rub it into patches of dry skin. Leave it on for 5 minutes, then rinse well. Your skin will be baby soft. BONUS: the potassium in the banana will help erase the dark circles under your eyes.

3. Snip off the foot section from an old pair of pantyhose and fill with one cup uncooked oatmeal. Now carefully tie the "oatmeal foot" to the faucet of your tub (you want the water to run through the oatmeal). Now fill the tub and soak away your dry, itchy skin.

4. Blend 2 cups crushed macadamia nuts with 2 sprigs fresh mint and a half-cup of honey. Mix into a paste and rub over your body to exfoliate dead skin. Rinse and pat dry.

5. Mash a ripe mango with one tablespoon plain yogurt. Add 2 egg yolks and blend. Work the mix into your hair, then cover your head with a shower cap and leave in place 20 minutes. Shampoo thoroughly. It's the ultimate hair conditioner!

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Salt and Sugar Scrubs
These make Wonderful Gifts!

Salt Scrub
3 tb. almond oil
1/2 tb. liquid lecithin
Melt together.

Cool and add:
1 capsule vitamin E
1/4 cup fine sea salt
20 drops fragrance oil

Salt Glow
2 lb. sea salt
1 lb. epsom salt
1/2 cup borax
1/4 cup vitamin E
1/2 cup shredded soap
1/2 cup sulphonated castor oil
1/2 tsp. lavender e.o.
4 tsp. grated lime zest
Mix together well.

Salt Scrub
1/2 cup sea salt
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1/4 cup liquid soap
1/4-1/2 tsp. fragrance or essential oil

Salt Glow
1/2 cup melted glycerine soap
1/3 cup lamond oil
1/4 tsp. e.o. or f.o.
pearlescent powderpinch or two powdered lavender or rose petals

Salt Glow
1 cup salt
1 1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup melted glycerine soap
1 tb. vitamin Ee.o. or f.o.Herbal

Salt Scrub
2 cups sea salt
1/2 cup almond oil
1/2 cup macadamia nut oil
1/2 cup sesame seed oil
1 tsp. vitamin E
1 tb. dried, ground lavender, rosemary, mint
1-2 drops e.o.

Herbal Salt Scrub
2 cups salt
1/2 cup almond oil
1/4 cup macadamia nut oil
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1 tsp. vitamin E
1 tsp. dried rosemary
1 tsp. dried spearmint
1 tsp. dried lavender
few drops e.o.

Salt Scrub
2 lb. dead Sea Salts
1 lb. epsom salts
1/4 cup borax
1/2 cup jojoba oil
1/3 cup vitamin E
1/2 cup olive oil
1/2 lb. grated soap
1 tb. glycerine
3 tsp. lime e.o.
1 tsp. ground lime peel
1 tsp. orange peel, ground
2 tsp. vitamin C powder
Salt Scrub2 cups epsom salt
1/4 oz. glycerine soap
1 cup oil
10 drops rosemary e.o.
10 drops peppermint e.o.
Melt oil and soap together. Stir in the salt, add e.o.'s.

Salt Body Scrub
1/2 cup liquid soap
1 cup table salt
1 tb. glycerine soap, melted
1 tb. jojoba oil
1/4 tsp. vitamijn Ee.o.'s

Salt Scrub
1 1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup almond oil
1/8 cup melted glycerine soap
1 tb. aloe vera gel
1/4 tsp. vitamin Ee.o.'s

Salt Glow
2 cups sea salt
1 cup epsom salt
1 tsp. jojoba oil
1/4 cup liquid soap
lavender e.o.orange e.o.
(if desired, add 3 tb. ground orange peel to this)

Salt Scrub
2 tb. medium sea salt
2 tb. fine sea salt
1 tsp. e.o. blend
1 tb. glycerine
2 oz. almond oil
2 oz. jojoba oil

Lavender Salt Scrub
2 tablespoons dried
cups sea salt
1/2 cup sweet almond oil
1/2 cup light olive oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 drops lavender essential oil
Crush the lavender in a mortar with a pestle. Mix together with salt and oils. While standing in a tub, work the salt paste into skin. Be careful as the oil can make the tub slippery. Place a towel in the tub if needed. Rinse in warm water.

Source from: http://www.makeuptalk.com/forums/t45425/homemade-skincare-recipes-masks-5-45425.html
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Salt Scrub Recipe
Salt rubs are an invigorating way to give yourself an at home spa treatment that will leave your skin feeling incredibly silky and your entire body energized.

Mix together 2 parts salt (either sea salt or lightly ground pickling salt) and one part oil. Some suggested oils are sweet almond, grape seed, sunflower or sesame. You can also add essential oil to your oil, making sure it has been adequately diluted - 1 to 2 tsp for 2 cups of scrub.

To use your scrub:
Start with warm damp skin. Stand under a warm shower for a few minutes, then start using your scrub by working your way up your body in circular motions. Follow by rinsing under the shower and then washing with a mild soap or shower gel.

A word of caution: Do not use this treatment of you are sunburned or have had any hair removal treatment within the last 24 hours. It could sting! I used course pickling salt ground in a coffee grinder to make a bit finer. If the salt is too chunky it will just fall off your hand when you turn it towards your skin. The oil I used was grape seed because it is slightly astringent, fast absorbing and odorless. I added 1 tsp of grapefruit and 1 tsp of lime essential oils - both good cellulite busters and very invigorating

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Tracey's Salt Scrub Recipe
My obsession started when I read the description for Origins Body Scrub: "skin scouring sea salts buffered in emollient-rich Macadamia, Soybean, Kukui, and Sweet Almond Oils remove all traces of roughness to buff every bit of you, while invigorating Spearmint and Rosemary rev up sleepy skin..." It sounded so scrumptious and so spendy I wanted to try making my own. I went down to the QFC grocery store where they have more fancy kitchen supplies but definitely more affordable than Origins. I perused the nut oils and settled on Sweet Almond and Walnut Oils by International Collection Oils and Baleine Sea Salt Coarse Crystals (from Julia's notes: next time get Fine) I should have used Spearmint and Rosemary essential oils to make it more "authentic", but what can I say, I'm a cheapskate. I used some China Rain Essential Oil that I had on hand.

My concoction:
1/2 volume salt
1/4 volume one nut oil
1/4 volume other nut oil
Add Essential Oil to smell
If it takes a lot of essential oil to make your scrub fragrant and your concoction starts to get to oily, just add some more salt. Store in a jar or baggie.

It made my skin very soft and smell nice. I don't think it did much in the way of exfoliation though (I often think a clean wash cloth can beat out any exfoliant). It was a pleasant scratching type of feeling. Perhaps a little too scratchy.

Another general recipe you might want to try:
Do It Yourself Scrub
1 part oil of choice
1 part abrasive (salt, fine sand, ground oatmeal, ground almonds, etc.)
3 to 5 drops of essential oil of choice.

You may also add 1 part liquid soap if desire
Mix well with a fork. Apply gently to skin and shower or bath as usual.
This was found at Toiletries Library

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From: Gary_Georgia
Here is a recipe that a friend of mine made me for Christmas:
2 cups of kosher salt
1 cup of extra virgin olive oil (for a less oily version, use almond oil)peppermint essential oil (enough for a "tingle")
Before showering, scoop out a handful and gently scub. This is a wonderfully moisturizing way to exfoliate. I finish up with a shower using homemade peppermint soap.

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Salt Glows, Scrubs or Rubs
by Dee Buckingham - July 16, 2000

Remember when eating in a Chinese restaurant was as easy as picking one from Column A, one from Column B and one from Column C. These days it's more complicated to order coffee than a 16 course Chinese banquet. Making salt scrubs, salt glows, salt rubs (and whatever cosmetic companies call rubbing an abrasive on your skin) is as easy as making three basic choices: an abrasive choice; an oil choice; and a cleansing choice. Fragrances are optional, but a nice feature. Personally, I only make foot scrubs. Again, I think of liability and don't want to be blamed for rubbing salt in a customer's wounds. (Also hairy men tend to loose salt in their chests for days!) Column A is the abrasive. I prefer sea salt, Hawaiian sea salt in particular. But, since I live in Hawaii, it's a grocery store item. I use half and half Hawaiian salt and Epsom salt. Regular table salt can be used for a finer feeling. Sand is a choice, too. Use sterilized sand, not beach sand. Mild abrasives can be used on the face. Ground oatmeal, ground almonds are examples of mild abrasives. I've never had luck with these. I always ended up with a lumpy mush that looked like a summer fun project even a grandmother couldn't love.

WARNING:
Keep in mind that if you use something like almonds, they WILL go rancid. Use it immediately and don't give it as a gift. I've given friends beautifully crafted soaps and salts that they keep saving for a special occasion! Being dirty is occasion enough. The Column B of oil is easy. Jojoba oil is a nice "carrier" but it is pricey. Almond oil is fine, so is a very light canola oil. The cheapest light canola oil works the best. If you have the time you can pierce vitamin E capsules. (I use about one capsule for every 4 ounces of salt for the consistency I like.) A middle-priced oil can be found in the grocery store. Buy oil that is made for massage. Column C is the soap. Again, if you want to be practical, use any liquid facial soap in the grocery store. The high end of this approach is to shave down and melt glycerin soap.

TIP:
If you use scented soaps you don't have to buy fragrance oils and you know that the fragrance is safe for use as a bath product. Now, the "recipe" is to experiment until you get the consistency you like. I'll give you some recipes, but adjust them. This is not science, it's an art. I sell these only as foot scrubs. The more oil you have the more "glow" you get. The more salt you add, the more "salt" you get. If you use a combination of table and sea salt (and a little color) you can "mush it up" and get something of a texture of an Italian ice or a creamy sorbet. Pretty citrus colors and citrus fragrances work well together. Blue and mints are nice and lavender and floral scents work well. Enough talk. The recipes.

Whenever you use the glycerine soap as a soap it should be melted. (I know that was obvious to you, but I wanted to throw it in.) If you need to know how to melt glycerin soap go to the Why Your Soap Failed article.

1/4 cup oil
1/4 cup soap
1/4 cup sea salt
1/4 cup epsom salt

I wish I could make this it more complicated, but it's not.
The proportions are basically equal soap, salt and oil. The more salt you use the stronger I suggest not using it on your body.

A nice foot care basket would include a foot scrub scented with mint, a foot deodorizer powder, a foot spray, and a glycerine soap in the shape of a foot. (If you go to your "five and dime" store you can find foot shaped aluminum cookie molds for a dollar.)

The "callous remover" salt scrub recipe below, uses table salt and sand. This combination allows the user to really massage over the callouses.

The larger grain salt falls off the body easier and it harder to massage in.

RECIPE:
An equal part of table salt and sand is mixed with liquid shower gel or liquid soap. Use about 3 T of EACH abrasive and 1 teaspoon of the soap.

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This is from Cat at 1tlc Soaps, as are most of the better recipes that I have collected.

Origins Ginger Body Scrub
This is what I was able to find out looking at the ingredient label:
Ginger Body Scrub Ingredients: sea salt, soybean oil, cardamom essential oil, coriander e.o., eucalyptus e.o., ginger e.o., clove e.o., lime e.o., orange e.o., bergamot e.o, grapefruit peel, lemon e.o., grated ginger root, macadamia nut oil, kukui nut oil, avocado oil, almond oil, vitamin E.

By law, ingredients have to be listed in order of predominance, so I would start with:
1 cup sea salt
1/2 cup soybean oil
1 tb. dried ground grapefruit peel
1 tsp. dried, ground ginger root
1 tsp. macadamia nut oil
1 tsp. kukui nut oil
1 tsp. avocado oil
1 tsp. almond oil
1 tsp. vitamin E Mix and set aside.

Mix the scent blend statrting with:
10 drops cardamom e.o.
10 drops coriander e.o.
5 drops eucalyptus e.o.
5 drops ginger e.o.
3 drops clove e.o.
3 drops lime e.o.
3 drops orange e.o.
2 drops bergamot e.o.
2 drops lemon e.o.
Dip a toothpick in and sniff. Does it need (for example) more lime or cardamom?
Add each oil accordingly, test again.
Repeat until the scent seems right to you. Add a total of 30-60 drops scent blend to the mixed scrub.

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OK EVERYONE.....
here is my salt scrub:
1 cup dead sea salts
1/4 c cornmeal (finely ground)
You could use organic blue to add color
1/4 c. sweet almond oil few drops of eo ( I use lavender, peppermint)
Mix well, after shower apply mixture. Rub gently, rinse within 5 minutes.
Use twice weekly. Works great, keeps well, does not spoil. Sell in mason jars.

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Salt Rub Recipe
1/2 cup sea salt
1/2 cup sweet almond oil (you can also use extra virgin olive oil but almond oil is nicer & rinses off more easily)
4 natural vitamin E capsules - Censored with a sterilized pin and squeeze contents into mixture
6 - 10 drops each of the following essential oils - peppermint, pennyroyal, orange, spearmint and rosemary (this combination is important if you really want to recreate the wonderful aromatherapy of Origins Salt Rub)

Mix all ingredients well and allow to sit for at least one hour before first use. Massage lightly into the skin with a light touch until you are used to it. Rinse skin thoroughly. No need to apply lotion afterusing this!

Store in a well sealed jar. Origins uses a heavy glass jar with a hinged and rubber gasket sealed lid that works well and can be found in most craft stores. Obviously, always use caution with glass in the bath area.

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Bath Salts
There are many recipes for salts, I use the one with

3 cups sea salts
2 cups epsom salts
1 cup baking soda

but there are many different types...this one is great for the muscles though.

There are also lots of different salt scrub recipes and the one i use is one with fine sea salts. The salt scrubs need to be in a plastic container jar or glass and the salts can pretty much go in anything you want..

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Salt and Sugar scrubs seem to be the "in" thing this year, they are used and then the shower is completed, reports on them are very good.

This list is from the 1TLC Soaps List and were compiled by Cat.

Brown Sugar Body Scrub
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
1/3-1/2 cup almond oil
1/2 tsp. vitamin E
30 drops grapefruit e.o.
20 drops lavender e.o.
15 drops lemon e.o.
10 drops orange e.o.

Brown Sugar Scrub
3-4 tb. vegetable oil1 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp. vitamin E e.o.'s

Brown Sugar Scrub
1/2 cup ground almonds
1/2 cup ground oatmeal
1/2 cup brown sugar, packed
1/4 cup almond oil infused with vanilla bean

Brown Sugar and Almond Scrub
1 handful ground almonds
5 tb. ground oatmeal
2 tb. brown sugar
2 tb. honey
1/4 cup hot water or vegetable oil

Brown Sugar Scrub
4 oz. melted soap
8 oz. light oil
3-4 oz. brown sugar
1/2 oz. honey

Brown Sugar Scrub
2 cups brown sugar
1 cup light vegetable oil
1/2 tsp. vitamin E e.o.'s

Sugar Scrub
1 cup sugar or brown sugar
1 tb. avocado oil
1 tb. almond oil
1 tb. apricot oil
1/2 tsp. vitamin E e.o.'s

Sugar Scrub
1 cup sugar or brown sugar
1/4 cup almond oil
1/2 tsp. vitamin E
6-8 drops lavender e.o.

Sugar Scrub
5 lbs. sugar or brown sugar
1 cup almond oil
1 cup grapeseed oil e.o.'s

Brown Sugar Scrub
5 tb. ground oatmeal
2 tb. brown sugar
2 tb. honey
1/4 cup almond oil
5 drops e.o.

Sugar Scrub
1 1/2 tsp. lemon juice
1 tsp. sugar
few drops honey

Brown Sugar Scrub
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 tb. avocado oil
1 tsp. jojoba oil
2 tsp. honey
3 drops jasmine f.o.
1 drop balsam Peru e.o.
1 drop patchouli e.o.

Brown Sugar Scrub
2 oz. liquid soap or aloe vera gel
1/2 oz. glycerine
2 tb. brown sugar
20 drops vanilla f.o.
5 drops patchouli e.o.
5 drops ylang-ylang e.o.

Sugar Scrub
4 cups raw sugar
1 cup almond oil
1/2 cup jojoba oil
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp. e.o.'s

Exfoliating Sugar
1/4 cup sugar
3 tb. honey
2 tb. aloe vera gel (or 1 tsp. lemon juice)

Here is a nice scent for the scrubs, similar to Bath and Body Work's "Warm Vanilla Sugar":
6 parts vanilla f.o.
1 part sandalwood e.o.
1 part musk f.o.
1/2 part jasmine f.o.
1/2 part coconut f.o.
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Soft Silky Smooth Skin secret....
3 Tablespoon Baby Oil over candle then pour oil into cup, add 1tbsp sugar. Scrub all over body during bath time. Let stay for 5 minutes. Rinse....

Nice feeling after bath
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For blemishes, mix 1 tsp of honey, 1 tsp of nutmeg, 1 tsp of cinnamon, and 1/2 tsp of bottled lemon juice. You can use fresh lemon juice, but it probably won't keep as long. Put the mixture on the blemish for at least an hour. I put the mixture into a little tupperware, and leave it in the fridge. I usually toss it after 2 weeks.

Why it works:
Honey is acts as an antibacterial product and it also aids in skin regeneration.
Nutmeg is a common anti-inflammatory product; it aids in reducing the redness, irritation and swelling.
Cinnamon is a stimulant that acts kind of like a natural exfoliant.
The lemon helps balance the acidity.

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1. favorite mask of all time is the aspirin mask mixed with the mint julep maski highly recommend it it works wonders

2. update:aspirin mask. I love it, i am using it every am while making my sons lunch. Each time stuff it is pulled out is drying up in a day and the blackheads on my nose are not returning, i am still using only the aloe juice and tons of aspirin mixed together.

3. try using plain yougurt with the asprin mask

4. So, just used the Asprin Mask. It's AMAZING. It dried up this big zit I had on my cheek, and make my skin SUPER smooth. Thanks for the recipe's guys.

5. I like to use the aspirin mask with queen helene mint julep mask and add a little viatmins e skin oil mixed together in a bowl....it's amazing!

6. I also use home made masks and I really see the results. My skin is softer, brighter every time I use them. My skin is slightly oily and I have some imperfections. I enjoy using a mask with yoghurt and aspirine, it is very efficient, yoghurt and yeast. Yoghurt is a must-have for me. Try them, they are really wort it!

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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.

face mask for blemished skin:
Take a chopped tomato, 1 tbsp of instant oatmeal, 1 tbsp lemon juice. Blend all ingredients just until combined. Apply to skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay on blemished areas. Add a bit more oatmeal to thicken the mask. Leave on 10 mins. Wash with warm water.

BANANA MASH.
Mash up a very ripe banana. Add just enough honey to make a soft pulp. Apply over face and hair. This is such a great firming mask that aging movie stars have been known to put it in the cups of their bras to make their breasts "perky."

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Oily Skin
strawberries have great astringent properties and will help cleanse oily skin without irritation. Blend together the following ingredients:
1/2 tsp lemon juice
1 egg white
1 tsp honey
1/2 cup strawberries
leave the mask on cleansed skin for 10 mins and rinse off.

Dry Skin
Honey and avocados are rich in moisturing properties. For the perfect skin food mash together the following ingredients:
1/2 avocado
1/4 cup of honey
apply to your face and leave for five minutes before removing with a flannel and some tepid water.

Combination Skin
A rose-based mask is an excellent balancing treatment for combination skin. Use the folling ingredients:
1 rose
1 tbsp rosewater
1 tbsp natural yoghurt
1 tbsp honey
Wash the rose petals in water.
soal for a few minutes and then crush them in a bowl. add the rosewater, yoghurt and honey. Mix well and apply to the skin for five minutes. rinse off with tepid/ warm water.

Sensitive Skin
This soothing mask helps reduce irritation. it's also great on sun-damaged skin. Use the following ingredients:
1 cup natural yoghurt
1/2 cup oatmeal
Blend the yoghurt and oatmeal together. Mix well and apply to skin for 10 minutes. Rinse off with warm water.

(SOURCE : extracted from "Complete Beauty Book", Helen Foster)
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I love to just mix Egg yolk and white sugar into a paste and exfoliate with it....I follow that up for a mask for whipped egg whites and rinse with cool water....skin has never been so soft!
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Lip Wrinkle
Take 1/4 very ripe papaya or 1/4 cup of papaya juice.
mash the papaya into a mushy pulp.

To use:
Lie down with a towel behind your head and your hair pulled back.
Generously apply the papaya mush to your lips and the surrounding area. If you are using juice, apply a cotton ball and dab the area around your lips.
Leave on for 10 minutes, follow with a facial exfoliation treatment.
Rinse with cool water.
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For Wrinkles:
Use any stretch mark cream that contains shea butter.

For Dry Hair:
Moisturizing Cream for Body with Almonds Extract, if you put it in your hair it will make it smooth and shiny. Apply by putting a small amount in your hands and rub it in your hands then apply to hair, works wonders for dry damaged hair.You can also apply a big amount to all of your hair and let it rest for an hour before having a shower.
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Just wanted to add another endorsement for plain olive oil as a moisturizer. I started using it at night and my skin has never looked as smooth and glowy. Olive oil rubbed into my hands is good too, and then I put those little cloth gloves over my hands for the nighttime.

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This recipe is good in removing the tan from the face due to prolonged exposure to sunlight.

What you need:
Egg white
Honey
Bowl

Procedure:
In a large bowl mix together the egg white and the honey. Continue to stir until it becomes sticky and thick. Apply to the damaged face for 5 minutes. And wash face thoroughly with a mild facial soap. Sometimes it would be advisable to wash face with lukewarm water alone to avoid skin complications of sun-burned damaged skin.
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This is good in maintening the radiance of healthy glowing skin.

Materials:
Oats
Honey
Yogurt
Ground Almonds

Procedure: Get a piece of bowl to mix oats and honey together. Sprinkle more oats enough to thicken the texture of the honey. Add yogurt and ground almonds and continue to stir until creamy. Gently apply it to the face and wait for 5 minutes. Wash face with lukewarm water.

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This is recipe will clean stubborn dirt from your face.

Materials:
Cucumber Juice
Milk

Procedure:
Extract juice from the cucumber by using a juicer. Get a small amount of juice and mix with milk enough to clean your face. Dub a little amount of the mix using a clean cotton balls and gently wipe your face. Then wash your face with lukewarm water.

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This is recipe is good in removing excess oil in the face and to prevent the growth of pimples and acne.

Materials:
3 cup cocoa
3 tsp of heavy cream
1/3 cup of ripe papaya
¼ cup honey
3 tsp of oatmeal powder

Procedure:
Mix cocoa and heavy cream in a container. Add the ripe papaya and continue stirring with honey. Mix them thoroughly and add the oatmeal powder. Continue Stirring until it will turn into thick creamy paste. Apply on the face and wait for 10 minutes. Rinse face with lukewarm water. It is safe to do this everyday or use this alternately.

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Best for oily skin. Lemon used as a natural cleanser, grapes will soften the skin and egg whites will tighten it.

Materials:
Grapes
Lemon
Egg whites

Procedure:
Squeeze the grapes extract into a bowl. Slice the lemon and extract the juice in the same bowl. Add egg white and mix them well. Apply into the face and leave it for 20 minutes. Don’t be alarmed if you feel a little tingles in your skin, because of the egg whites. Rinse face with warm water.

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I used Oatmeal and Honey on my face last night to help my acne. It does work for me. It tastes good, too. My dog kept trying to lick it off my face, then my cat came and ate some too.

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Miracle Whip Mask:
Using a teaspoon, scoop up a little bit of Miracle Whip. DO NOT use an entire teaspoon of Miracle Whip. Believe me, you will not need that much. Lol. Spread the Miracle Whip over your face and let sit for ten minutes. Then (while leaning over a sink), gently rub the film of Miracle Whip off of your face. The little rubbery balls that come off are dead skin. When you use it, especially the first time, there will be A LOT of them...that is where the sink becomes useful. :-) Gently wash your face with water.I tried the Miracle Whip Mask and it was great! Thank-you for the recipe!

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tea toner:
a mug of waterwhite tea (a tea bag or 2g)
6 drops of tea tree essential oil.
infuse the tea in the water (avoid boiling it). wait until the tea is cold, and put in a bottle. add the EO and shake to mix the ingredients. store in your fridge.

i only have green tea based blends, so instead of the regular green tea toner, i used white tea.

for a glowing face :
2 tbsp liquid honey
2 drops of vetiver EO
2 drops of tea tree EO.
mix all the ingredients together. apply on your face and neck, avoiding the eye area. wait 15 minutes. rinse with warm water. apply your regular moisturiser. you can also apply a bit of bronzer for a more healthy glow.

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Has anybody tried taking a handful of sugar, adding some water and using it as a face scrub/exfoliator? It works sooooo good! I just did it and my face is SO soft and smooth! Its so wonderful! =) No dead skin! =)

but it wasn't enough for my nose, so next time i'll try adding a bit of salt.this is a blend i made after i finished my tea tree essential oil from TBS.take your little bottle and take off the little plastic thingy. add about 8ml of coconut oil (or any carrier oil you possess), about 10 drops of tea tree pure EO and add some alcohol (mine is 70%). it's more gentle than TBS (which is just alcohol and tea tree EO) but still effective, without the TBS side effects, redness, harshness, and the harsh smell of tea tree oil magnified by the alcohol. i added alcohol because i wanted to disinfect the pimples, but you don't need much.

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ive tried the oatmeal mask before( i read it in one of the indian magazine)
I'll use 2 tbs of oatmeal and half tbs of cold water and blend it into a paste using a blender.Let it dry and hardens.After u have removed it, you will be amazed how soft your facial skin would be.

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Skin glow mask:
I tablespoon plain yoghurt
1 tsp honey
3 drops pure vitamin e oil

mix thoroughly and dab on face with a cotton ball. leave fore 10 mins then rinse.
I put it on then take a bath. it makes your skin glow!

Simple Mask to Minimize your pores:
Ingredients:
1 Egg
2 drops of lime juice

How to make the Mask:
Only use 2/3 of the Egg York, mix with lime juice, then apply it on your face(avoid eyes area) for 15 mins, rinse with cool water.

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Beauty secret ingredient

Below are ingredients that could be used for making your own products along with the benefits of their usage. Ill post some of my recipes soon.

almond oil
A cold-pressed oil derived from almonds. It is scentless, free from petroleum residues, and rich in vitamins and minerals. It is an excellent oil for skin softening and conditioning, soothing dry, itchy skin, and it makes a delightful massage oil by itself, or with a few drops of essential oil added. It may also be mixed into lotions, balms and soaps.

apricot oil
A rich oil with a light texture. It is well suited to mature or sensitive skin types. Used by itself, it removes makeup and softens delicate skin around the eyes. It may also be mixed into lotions and creams. avocado oilA highly therapeutic oil rich in vitamins A, D and E, proteins, lecithin and amino acids. With its many beneficial healing and regenerating properties, it works well to soothe and heal scaly skin and scalp.

calendula oil
Known for its regenerative and anti-inflammatory properties. Soothes and heals dry, irritated, itchy skin. castor oil Rich in fatty acids and due to its high viscosity, it is a good skin lubricant. It also acts as an humectant. Works well combined with other oils found in soaps.

Tea Tree Oil
Good for acne Add (?) drops of tea tree oil directly onto infected area twice a day or 60 drops of tea tree oil to facial wash, apply twice daily. chamomile oilKnown for its healing properties when applied to wounds and abrasions. It has a pleasing fragrance and makes a good additive to soaps and masks.

evening primrose oil
Exceptionally nourishing because it contains 9% gamma-linolenic acid—an essential fatty acid (EFA). EFAs are important because they inhibit bacterial growth and helps the immune system to defend itself against infection and inflammation. Since the human body does not produce linolenic, or other essential fatty acids, this important nutrient must be derived through diet and skin care products.

olive oil
Attracts moisture and forms a barrier to prevent a loss of moisture while allowing the skin to breath and function normally.

vitamin e oil
An important antioxidant that helps protect fatty cell membranes from becoming oxidized (rancid) through the action of free radicals. It helps protect against certain diseases associated with aging such as cancer and heart disease, and it helps to improve blood circulation. Vitamin E is commonly used as a supplement to improve dry skin.

--beneficial additives--
aloe vera
Known for its regenerative, restorative and anti-inflammatory properties. Well known for soothing and healing burns, it is also an effective remedy for injuries, rashes, and dry, scaly skin. Aloe hydrates without the use of oils.

chamomile
Soothing. Slightly astringent and antioxidant, it works well to relieve inflammation and heal wounds and abrasions. Its a good additive to soaps and masks and has a pleasing fragrance.

dead sea salts
Salt derived from the Dead Sea. Its high mineral content helps draw impurities from the skin, increase circulation and exfoliates the skin.

honey
Antiseptic, bacteriostatic, emollient, humectant, and soothing.

oatmeal
Soothing and healing properties. It is excellent for the treatment of skin blemishes, irritations, and sensitive skin. It gently exfoliates and helps remove residue, . Oats are a perfect ingredient for treating dry complexions, irritations, blemishes and sensitive skin. Also excellent for children suffering from Chicken Pox.

beeswax
It is used as a thickening agent, emulsifier, and humectant and has emollient, soothing and softening properties and helps the skin retain moisture.

Source: http://www.makeuptalk.com/forums/f12/homemade-skincare-recipes-masks-45425.html