The Holidays are blissfully over. You have eaten and spent too much. Your New Year resolutions probably have something to do with more time in the gym and more money in the bank. Normally I’m a huge proponent of luxe. In 2009 I told you about the newest sports cars, a $15,000 chandelier and of course every gorgeous stitch sewn by Dolce & Gabbana, D Squared, Ralph Lauren, John Varvatos… Well the list is endless! I’m starting the year turning a new leaf (at least for one month). This month I’m going super green and I’m telling you how to clean up your act and give yourself a facial at home! With common ingredients found at your local grocery store no less!
Yes! DIY beauty. As you know I’m always on the forefront of the science of beauty. A virtual warrior against aging and wrinkles, I’ll probably drop dead at Target with a handful of Neutrogena products clutched in my claws. But wait, as we move forward into a new decade we can actually look back to nature for the newest breakthroughs in the science of skin care.
Here are some Do It Yourself beauty fixes for men & women that are guaranteed to have you looking fab in the new year!
From celebrity make-up artist and author of Eco-Beautiful, Lina Hanson:
CLEANSING: Start out with cleaning your face. A great DIY cleanser is mixing 1 teaspoon yogurt with 1 teaspoon baking soda. Apply the mixture and massage it into your skin. Leave it on for 5 minutes, then rinse.
STEAMING: Next, steam your face by heating up a bowl of water and add some mint to the water. Drape a towel over your head and steam for 5-10 minutes. This is great for drawing out impurities and detoxifying your skin.
TONING: Next step is toning your skin. A great all natural toner is rose water. Just put about 10 rosebuds in a cup, pour hot water over the rosebuds and cover until the water is cool. Then pour the water into a spray bottle and spritz your face.
A FACE MASK FOR THE BOYS: I have a homemade recipe tip in the book (Eco-Beautiful) for men. A papaya mask. Its a great mask since the enzymes in the fruit halt free radical damage caused by enviromental stresses. Just mash up 2 tablespoons of papaya in a small bowl and apply to your face avoiding the eye area. Leave it on for about 10 minutes and then wash off with lukewarm water.
From Supermodel and Actress Shalom Harlow:
FACE MASK: Take 2 egg whites, separated from the yolk and placed in a bowl, add 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt (Shalom sugge Greek yogurt) and mix together. Apply to face, leaving on face for a few minutes then rinse face in warm water, followed by a warm washcloth. Shalom calls this mask “moisturizing and soothing.” If it’s good enough for one of the World’s most beautiful women, it’s good enough for me!
And finally from 2 of the fashion and beauty world’s top stars, Lena Korres, founder of Korres Natural Products, and make-up artist Jemima Kidd:
EXFOLIATE: Mix a tiny amount of brown sugar with olive oil in your palm. Once it turns into a paste, massage into your face. The granules of sugar gently buff away dead skin cells, revealing vibrant polished skin. The ladies also suggest curing chapped lips by mixing brown sugar with honey and massaging into lips. I don’t know if it works but it will at least result in sweet, kissable lips!
And from me, recovering product addict Marcellas Reynolds:
I love aroma therapy. Smell is one of our most evocative senses. I suggest adding your favorite fragrance to any of the above masks. Go to your local health food store and look for essential oils. Aveda sells them in tubes with their own droppers. Look for scents like ylang ylang, patchouli, lavender and sandalwood. These fragrances calm and even heal.
So that’s it readers! Instead of running to Sephora or you neighborhood drug store try heading to your local health food or grocery store for the newest in hip, hot beauty products! Who knew beauty could be DIY!?
M*