green beauty

Glow From Head to Toe

Summer is fast approaching and we all want to be at the height of gorgeousness for all those fun summertime shindigs right?  So say goodbye to drab and hello to beautiful with these easy eco-friendly beauty recipes that will help you get your glow on in no time!

• Eco-Friendly Shampoo and Conditioner This may be too extreme for some of my super fab readers, but it never hurts to have an easy DIY recipe on hand just in case you run out of shampoo and conditioner.  Trust me, it happens.  Though I haven’t opted for the “no poo” route, I have this recipe in my bag of DIY tricks for just such an occasion.  All that’s required is a little baking soda, some apple cider vinegar, and some H2O (that’s water if you didn’t take chemistry).

• Easy DIY Honey-Yogurt Face Mask Everyone loves a little pampering.  Why not take a few minutes to whip up this super easy face mask?  You probably already have everything you need in your kitchen!

• Easy Brown Sugar Lip Scrub Who doesn’t want kiss-ably soft lips?  Get them fast with this simple two ingredient lip scrub recipe.

• Organic Virgin Coconut Oil Hands down, organic virgin coconut oil is my favorite natural moisturizer.  It’s cheap, non-toxic, and smells heavenly too!

• Natural Hair Removal:  Body Sugaring Although I’ve never tried sugaring before (I’m still using razors – I know, not very eco…), I have a number of friends who swear by it.  I must say it really gets the job done – they have the smoothest skin after sugaring.  I’m hoping to take the plunge into a more earth-friendly form of hair removal – plus shaving with a razor really sucks.

• 10 Features of an Eco-Friendly Manicure Pedicure This article provides useful tips for those of you who get regular mani/pedis.  When I sit down for a DIY manicure and pedicure I use only a few items – a homemade scrub for my feet, some reusable tools, and some olive oil for my hands.  It quick, easy, non-toxic, and cheap!  And here’s a tip:  if you want to add a nice healthy shine to your nails use a buffer, it’s cheaper and healthier than nail polish.

So how do you get gorgeous for summer?  Share your natural beauty secrets with us below, send us a tweet @greenearthbazar , or connect with us on our facebook page.  We’d love to hear from you!

DIY Beauty Queen

Every woman deserves a little “me time” every now and then, and why shouldn’t we?  We women are the givers of love, the givers of life, and the ones who seem to have all of the answers, all of the time.

So whether you’re an eco-beauty connoisseur like myself, or simply love a good at-home spa treatment, here are ten everyday foods that will get you glowing naturally in no time.  Plus, they’re totally inexpensive too – I love that!

Ten Eco-Luscious Beauty Foods for DIY Beauty

1. Apple Cider Vinegar (ACV), has been used by people for centuries for medicinal as well as beauty purposes.  I find it works very well when I get an occasional blemish (ACV is known for its ability to balance the skin’s pH).  I mix equal parts ACV and water in a small container, and use a cotton ball or Q-tip to dab a tiny bit onto the affected area.  You can try this by mixing two or three parts water with one part ACV to start until you know how your skin will react.  I do not recommend ever using straight ACV on your skin as it can burn.

2.  Brown Sugar makes a great exfoliator.  I like to add it to many of my homemade body and lip scrubs.  It’s one of those inexpensive ingredients most of us already have in our kitchens, plus it tastes and smells great which always adds to the at-home spa experience.

3.  Cocoa Butter, the delightfully decadent ingredient that gives chocolate its unmistakable scent, makes an excellent moisturizer for your skin and lips.  I melt a little in a makeshift double boiler, then combine it with some organic virgin coconut oil, plus a little cornstarch, for an indulgent whipped body butter.  I also use it like a lip balm – it takes and smells just like chocolate – Mm-mm.

4.  Cocoa Powder smells terrific, and is a great addition to DIY beauty treatments like scrubs and masks.  I use it when whipping up a quick chocolate yogurt facial mask, as well as  for making my own DIY bronzer/face powder.  It’s inexpensive, and if you love to bake you probably already have some in your pantry.

5.  Coconut Oil is hands down my favorite natural beauty item – ever!  It’s something I cannot do without.  It is the only moisturizer I go back to again and again to cure and prevent dry skin.  You know those little bumps on the back of your arms?  Organic virgin coconut oil completely eradicates them (for me anyway).  It doesn’t just sit on top of the skin like olive oil can – instead is soaks in quite nicely, leaving your skin feeling buttery soft and smelling like the tropics (plus my husband loves how it smells).  I use it in body butters and scrubs too.

6.  Oatmeal is good for more than just adding fiber to your diet.  Oatmeal is a great skin soother, and is used in bath preparations, masks, and scrubs.  If you have skin issues, then you’re probably familiar with using oats as a natural remedy.  Before switching to a more natural, organic lifestyle, a few members of my family suffered from eczema and would take oatmeal baths on a regular basis to get some relief. Here’s a recipe for an oatmeal mask I like to use.

7.  Olive Oil (EVOO), makes a great moisturizer, especially for the hands and feet.  It works well for soothing dry, chapped skin, and makes your hands and nails look like you’ve just had a manicure.  It’s what I like to use when giving myself a DIY mani/pedi, and is usually my oil of choice when putting together body scrubs.  And here’s a tip:  When measuring out olive oil when cooking, I always scoop out the remaining oil from the measuring cup and massage it into my hands and fingernails – it feels great, and nothing goes to waste!  Check out these great olive oil beauty tips from Care2.     

8.  Raw Honey has so many wonderful, healthy properties to it, and is a staple item in my home.  I like to use honey in many of my homemade beauty treatments and recipes, plus it makes a great natural lip softener.  Take a dab of honey and put it on your lips – it tastes great and really works!

9.  Sea Salt is another great exfoliator that I use in some of my body scrub recipes.  So if a recipe calls for brown sugar and you’re out, you can substitute with sea salt instead.  If you’ll be using the salt on more than just your feet, I suggest using fine sea salt instead of course, and remember to rub gently so you don’t damage your skin in any way.  Check out this great sea salt body scrub recipe from Care2.

10.  Yogurt works well in many DIY facial mask recipes, like my favorite honey-yogurt mask.  Organic yogurt feels great on the skin (very cooling), and really does wonders for dry, tired skin.  I like to use it when my skin is feeling dry, or my complexion isn’t looking like it should.    

Note: Always remember that what goes on your skin ultimately ends up in your body.  It’s always a good idea to know the ingredients you’re putting on, and how those items were processed.  Always do your research, and try to opt for organic, minimally processed products whenever possible.  This rule of thumb should be applied for foods as well as beauty products (homemade or not).  And remember if something doesn’t feel right on your skin, WASH IT OFF!

What’s your favorite natural beauty food?  Have a great DIY beauty recipe you’d like to share with us?  Connect with us on twitter @greenearthbazar and on our facebook page.  We want to hear from you!