Natural Beauty Tips for your Body

By Wema Kajo

Beauty is God-given, but the responsibility of maintaining what we are endowed with falls to us. Our skin gets damaged with age, stress and exposure to environmental pollution. Sun rays can wreak havoc on our skin, especially as the depleting Ozone layer increases the number of harmful UV rays that directly penetrate it. As a result, we face numerous skin problems such as premature aging, black spots, redness and blotches which make us look older than we actually are. It therefore becomes important to take care of our skin to keep it healthy and radiant.

Natural ingredients are often inexpensive, can be easily prepared and applied, and have few negative side effects. Following are some natural beauty recipes which you can make and use at home.

This natural cleansing cream can be used regularly without side effects. This mixture will deep clean the skin down to the pores, removing dirt and trapped bacteria to leave the skin soft and supple.

* Pulp from 1 peeled kiwi * 2 tablespoons of plain yogurt * 1 tablespoon of almond oil * 1 tablespoon of honey * 1 teaspoon of fi nely grounded almonds Procedure: Put the kiwi pulp in a food processor. Then add yogurt, almond oil, grounded almond and honey and blend well until a thick cream. (Hint: You can mix by hand if you do not have a food processor.) Apply the paste to your face and neck by gently rubbing it in circular motion, then wash your face with cool water. Your skin will immediately show improvement, but for best results use once or twice daily. Store face wash mixture in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

This is a useful recipe for oily skin, as it helps reduce oil secretion as well as deep cleanses. * ½ cup of buttermilk * 2 tablespoons of crushed fennel seeds

Procedure: Heat the buttermilk on a double boiler and add crushed fennel seeds. Let it boil for 30 minutes, and then remove the mixture from heat and let it sit for another 2 hours. Apply to face and neck in a circular motion and rinse off with cool water. Your skin will immediately show improvement, but for best results use once or twice daily. Store the face wash mixture in the freezer for up to two weeks.

* Orange peels from 1 orange * 1 cup of milk Procedure: Dry the orange peels under the heat of the sun until they are dry enough to be pulverized into pieces. Mix the powder and the milk thoroughly and apply this paste to the skin for 25 minutes, then rinse off with water. Repeat this daily or on alternate days for fairer skin.

Healthy, gowing skin is the epitome of beauty. A homemade honey and oatmeal face mask exfoliates the skin to make it radiant. This recipe is safe and natural, and can be made easily at home.

* ¼ cup of fi nely grounded oatmeal * 4 to 5 tablespoons of honey * ½ cup of water

Procedure: First, cook the oatmeal in ½ cup of water for about 15 minutes. Then set aside to cool off for another 15 minutes. Add honey to the mixture and blend well. Apply the mask to your face and neck and let it dry for about 20 minutes. Completely wash off the mask with cool water.

Smooth, full lips are the sign of youth. Natural ingredients can help retain moisture in your lips and prevent them from chapping. This recipe for basic lip balm can be prepared at home and stored.

* 1/2 ounce of beeswax * 4 ounces of almond oil, preferably sweet almond oil * 1 teaspoon jojoba beads * Few drops of essential oil * Few drops of essence of your choice

Procedure: Put almond oil in a measuring glass and then add beeswax to it. Heat the mixture in the microwave or in a pot on the stove till the wax melts. Stir in jojoba beads and essential oil, as well as the essence. Pour the mixture in a clean jar and let it cool. Once the mixture settles you can store it in a cool place and use it as lip balm.

There are also natural remedies available for hair problems. Here are some quick natural hair care tips: * If you are suffering from dandruff, you can benefi t from using lemon juice on your scalp. Dab a ball of cotton in lemon juice and apply it in the scalp. You can use it before bathing, and then wash your hair thoroughly. * Olive oil is a great solution for dry hair. Applying a few teaspoons of olive oil to your locks will improve their health as well as add shine to them. * Mayonnaise is a great conditioner. Massage your hair with a half a cup of mayonnaise and rinse it out completely for bouncy and shiny hair. * Mix egg whites with yogurt to prepare a paste for your hair. Apply the paste to your hair and let it sit for about 30 minutes, then wash out with shampoo. This will improve the overall health of your hair. * Vinegar adds shine. Add two tablespoons of vinegar to a cup of water and wash your hair with it after shampooing.