Easy DIY Soap – Home made Soap

Often, I do make my own soap. The soap is good enough for hand washing my delicates, dish washing, bath, face and body soap.

You can customize the scent, even add exfoliants, or even make it odorless. You will need sodium hydroxide (lye), extra virgin olive oil. In a glass or aluminum bowl dissolve 40 grams or sodium hydroxide into 100 ml of water. In another bowl pour 400 ml or extra virgin olive oil and add the lye water into it and mix it. Pour the solution into a soap mold or box, cover and let it sit for a week undisturbed in a cool, dry, dark environment. And there you have your own home made soap.

Be careful when using sodium hydroxide as it can burn the skin, ruin dishes and if you pour it down the drain it can ruin your garbage disposal, even create a hole in your pvc  pipes, and is bad for the drain.

To add essential oils to the soap just add a couple of drops of your choice scent after you pour the lye water into the oil, at this point you can also add raw oats or rice as an exfoliant. Experiment with different scent combinations, I discovered lavender, tangerine, bergamot, and that has been my favorite combination since.

Also, aside from olive oil you can also use palm oil, coconut, castor, aloe vera oils.

DIY Steam Facial – Another At Home Spa Treatment

First of let me warn that as much as a steam facial may feel good and enjoyable, it should not be done every day. Having a steam facial treat once a month is good enough, this is because if you have sensitive skin or are acne prone, the steam can inflict more harm to your skin by swelling the pores and causing them to close and trap oil that can create blemishes. Although, it is said the hot water opens the pores, hot water on the skin is drying, and can also cause problems like itching, dry skin that can lead to premature wrinkles, and dry skin that leads to blemishes.

I have written in an earlier article about using a hot face towel infused with essential oils (optional) as an at home DIY steam facial method. Well, here, we are going to get a little bit more daring.

In a pot boil some water. Add 2 drops of lavender essential oil, a bag of chamomile tea, 2 drops eucalyptus oil. (Note: You can use green tea, or other teas of your choice for aromatic purposes, same with the essential oils, you can use lavender to calm and relax, or jasmine, or citrus for an energy boost. Eucalyptus oil is optional as well, and it can be substituted by ½ a teaspoon of Vicks vapor rub, or peppermint oil.) This recipe is the one I like to make for myself.

First you will need to prep your skin by cleansing it properly. I like to use 1 tbsp of honey, 1 tbsp Quaker oats, 1 tsp powdered milk or 2 tsp fresh milk, 1 tsp extra virgin olive oil. Blend all the ingredients together and apply it like a paste to your face. This will act like a clarifying face mask.

Rinse your face and then apply the mask, leave the mask on for 15 minutes. Rinse off and by now your pot should be boiling. You can do this two ways, you can carefully place your face above the pot just far enough to get some heat, or you can pour the mixture in a separate bowl and do the same thing. BE VERY CAREFUL NOT TO BURN YOURSELF! After doing this for about 15-20 minutes you may apply some vitamin E from the capsules to your face, or your favorite moisturizer. Personally I like plain rose water on my face or cucumber toner or sea mineral water or simply Evian Mineral water face spray. Enjoy!

Winter Hair Care

Winterizing Hair

Cold weather can mean bad hair days. The cold can damage the hair by making it dry, and if you go out into the cold with your hair wet, the cold can make your hair brittle and cause breakage. During the cold season we are tempted to take hot showers, try to avoid these, as hot showers can also be drying to the hair. Since cold weather tends to make the hair brittle, avoid using ‘hot’ styling tools such as curling and flat irons. During the cold weather, it is recommended to wear a scarf or hat to cover your hair to protect it from the weather, condition daily, and if you can get away with it, do not wash your hair every day. Instead, use a dry shampoo. The most basic form of dry shampoo is baby powder, but there are other brands and types available in salons, beauty stores, department stores, or on the internet. Sally’s carry Batiste in an aerosol can. I find this the best one, it doesn’t leave too much white residue at the same time it smells pleasant and it’s affordable at about $4/can. Or if you have extra cash to spare Klorane dry shampoo also in an aerosol spray can is the next best thing to Batiste.

Easy DIY Healthy Living

How to be Nontoxic for a Day

In the current times we live, almost everything is toxic for our health and well being that it’s almost unavoidable. These toxins come from the smog in the air to dirty tap water to harsh chemicals and preservatives in our daily shower in the form of soap and shampoo, even our bathroom cleaning supplies.

Spas are booming everywhere and so called spa products bought in drugstores, malls and salons are readily and easily available promising a piece of eternal youth. All these options available to us are great, but there’s a problem.

Not all products bought in ‘big box’ stores or salons, department store or drugstores are paraben or preservative free.  In fact 80% of those items purchased from these stores have some type of paraben. Parabens are chemical preservatives added to beauty products, cleanser to preserve their shelf life. While purchasing these brand name items puts a dent in our pockets, 90 percent of the time it isn’t good for us and just does more damage. Another problem is even though a visit to a day spa or resort can recharge us and detoxify us, we cannot go to these places as often as needed due to time and financial discrepancies. Here’s what you can do.

Make it a habit to drink lots of water; every time there is an urge to drink artificial or high fructose beverages like certain juices, soda and beer; discipline yourself to drink water instead. Or if water gets too plain create some spa water , this is definitely worth the preparation and is more refreshing and healthier than cool aide or soda pop.

Make over your diet by substituting fresh fruit and vegetables instead of bread, potatoes, chips or candy bars. Drink tea instead of coffee, fresh juice instead of soda and a glass of wine instead of beer. Quit smoking and exercise regularly even if it means as little as 15 minutes of cardio every day. As long as it is done consistently, it can make a very big difference, and you will feel an increase in stamina and you will feel more lively and active. Also, other exercise ideas, if you do not wish to do cardio or lift weights you can stretch, meditate, do yoga, Pilates, sign up for martial arts, kick boxing, dance, etc.

Try to get enough ‘quality’ sleep. Having 4 hours of R.E.M. (rapid eye movement) sleep is better than 8 hours of interrupted sleep. R.E.M. sleep is deep sleep; normally it takes about 20-40 minutes for a person to be in this state after closing their eyes. Within the 4 hours if it is uninterrupted and the person falls into the deep sleep state in between, they will feel more energized and refreshed than a person that has been tossing and turning or waking up in between an 8 hour sleep.

Instead of taking O.T.C. over the counter medication to cure a simple headache, backache or soreness from strain or stress try using holistic and natural remedies. Instead of purchasing commercial grade toothpaste, soap, lotion, shampoo etc; make your own products with fresh ingredients at home.

In just one day of healthy eating, sleeping, drinking, and using more natural products, a difference will surely be felt. And staying on this lifestyle consistently will ensure better overall health and wellbeing naturally. If change can be felt in one dose, what more if you keep up at it?

Because “An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.”  By Henry de Bracton.

Signs and symptoms of your body breaking down because of daily habits and environmental degradation are fatigue, backaches, soreness, headaches, obesity, fluctuating weight, skin blemishes, excessive hair loss, digestive problems, frequency in getting coughs and colds, severity and lengthy healing processes, chapped lips, dry skin, bad breath, insomnia, and stress.

This article is for information purposes and not meant to substitute the care and advice of your primary health care provider or health professionals.

DIY Natural Healthy Hair Treatments

Amla powder can delay graying of hair.

Amla is a type of fruit. In Ayurveda practices this is one of the major components used in various treatments. We are just going to talk about what it can do for the hair. Amla powder is available online and can be bought by the pound on Amazon, or eBay. There are a handful of wellness websites that sell this as well. I found it safer and easier to buy from eBay.

Amla is good for the hair because it cleanses the hair like your best clarifying shampoo, but amla does this naturally. I personally have tried amla powder and I swear by it for dandruff, and when I want to add extra body to my hair. The process is a little messy and it leaves residue all over your tub or shower but is easily rinsed off and is safe for the drains. Another habit you should get used to while using amla is covering your pillow with a towel after using amla, so it doesn’t stain your pillow case.

To prepare the hair paste, in a bowl mix ½ cup water and 1 cup amla. When you’ve reached a pasty consistency just use your hands and apply it evenly all over your scalp. It will tingle and feel cold, and this is normal.  Don’t forget to drape a towel over your shoulders. After application leave it in the hair till it dries up, this can range between 15 to 30 minutes.  Rinse off, and try to get all the residue out, you may use your regular shampoo to help with the cleansing. Realistically it could take a couple of washing before all the residue is gone from your hair, but this is safe. With regular use, amla can strengthen hair follicles, stopping excessive shedding, help maintain a healthy scalp, and help delay the graying of hair.

Amla is also available in oil form that is also used for the hair. In powder form, the paste created can also be used as a face mask, and it is said to help with blemishes and even out skin tone.

This is the exact brand I use, and it is available for less than $10 over the internet, 1 box will take you a long way.

At Home Hair Spa Therapy – Coconut Oil for the Hair

Going to drugstores and supermarkets there are long isles dedicated to hair products, from detangling shampoo to dandruff shampoo, to at home hot oil treatments to hair dye, and the list goes on and on. Prices vary as the product claims certain promises towards better hair. It’s always good to discover a true clarifying shampoo or a non damaging mousse or hairspray that one can stick to. But why risk it and spend money on products with harmful chemicals used for preservation or to create fragrance or make the product sudsier? Why pay for the fancy labels and bottles that have nothing to do with making the hair healthier? Why go through all this when the ingredients that are supposed to benefit are available for us to purchase fresh and pure at a lesser price?

Hot oil treatment: replaced with coconut oil.

Coconut oil is very abundant in tropical countries; it can safely be purchased over the internet, or grocery stores or supermarkets. These easy access places carry the food grade coconut oil that is safe for our hair. Use this by heating ½ cup of coconut oil in a small pan or pot. Drape a towel over your shoulders to avoid staining your clothes. Massage the warm oil into the scalp. Wrap your hair in a towel for 60 minutes or overnight while you sleep and rinse off with your normal shampoo.

Regular use of coconut oil will help keep the hair soft, strong, shiny, and keep the scalp healthy by helping with maintaining healthy pH balance.

WARNING: be careful not to burn yourself! And do not microwave the oil!

A Snip of the French Paradox

It has been studied and observed that a factor of the French Paradox is their wine ingestion in their diet. Because of wine, the French rarely have high cholesterol, die from heart attacks, and are obese.

If wine can prevent high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart problems by helping clearing the blood vessels; and if wine added in a healthy diet can make it easier to lose weight to be more physically fit, then there shouldn’t be a reason why not to add wine to your daily lives. If an apple a day can keep the doctor away and wine can do the same thing in some aspects of our health, then why not make sure when we buy those red delicious apples, we also include a bottle of red wine for to enjoy during week.

While wine is alcohol, it should be taken in moderation, or the purpose of using it to benefit our health would be defeated. Always drink responsibly and be wary of any health conditions that could cause harm to you if you drink wine.

Most of us enjoy an alcoholic beverage after lunch or dinner, to calm the nerves, help with digestion, to relax, to unwind. Red wine in particular, is rich in the antioxidant polyphenols, flavonoids, nonflavonoids and bioflavonoid; these are responsible for healthy arteries by helping keeping them clear. A glass of red wine has just as much antioxidants as 10 glasses of orange juice, but wine should not be a substitute for eating your fruits and vegetables.

DIY Quick Relaxing Foot Spa

Winter is here and that means, ‘tis the season for dry skin! Cracked heels is a common issue, not to mention the feet is probably the most neglected body part. But who would even want to touch your feet to massage it if its skin is cracked, dry, and chipping off? And while that skin is dry and flaky it also harbors dirt and grime because they end up nestling in between those cracks. Gross. Here is a simple, affordable, convenient way to take care of those feet.

There are many so-called foot creams, foot treatments that are said to be good for your feet. In reality it’s a hit or miss; some work, some don’t. And discovering what works and what doesn’t is a waste of time and money. If you think about it, the skin on your feet isn’t like the skin on your face. It works just as hard as your hands, but unlike our hands that’s always in our immediate vision, we just don’t notice them until it’s in really bad shape.

You will need a pair of terry cloth socks, a jar of Vaseline, peppermint oil, a big bowl to soak your feet in, some Epsom salt. Fill the bowl with warm water (or as hot as you can handle without burning our skin), dissolve ½ cup of Epsom salt (can also be used to exfoliate and sloth of  dead skin) and pour 3-5 drops of peppermint oil and soak your feet for about 15 minutes. Dry off your feet, apply Vaseline and wear the socks overnight. This treatment is quick and consists of inexpensive ingredients, do this as often as you can remember.

WARNING: If you are diabetic or have gout, eczema or any other medical condition please consult your doctor before trying, as this could worsen your condition.

How To Turn Your Bathroom Into A Spa

The bathroom can be the sanctuary in the house where you take a break from the stress, hustle and bustle of your busy day. You don’t have to go to an expensive spa to rejuvenate, because you can turn your own bathroom into a spa. First, think about what the difference is between the spa locker and vanity room and your bathroom as far as ambiance, sound, temperature, smell. Take the time and a little bit of budget to dedicate it to setting up your bathroom into your personal spa at home. It may take a little bit of prepping, but it will be well worth it.

For starters, clean your bathroom, I mean disinfect, scrub, polish, and throw away the trash. Then organize, and throw away clutter. Hide that basket or bag of toilet paper! Throw away the towel full of holes and lose threads! Refrain from having a calendar, newspapers, old magazines in the bathroom. Look into all the containers, medicine cabinet, drawers, make up drawer, and under the sink. Throw away expired items. Reorganize, and if some items can be stored elsewhere, do so. Minimize clutter, eliminate unnecessary items.

If you have a shower curtain, change it, even if you just buy the plastic liner for $8. If you have rugs and toilet seat covers, wash it, if they are frayed replace, or remove them completely. You’re probably better off without them collecting dirt and dust. When replacing the shower curtain and rugs make sure they match and use earth and neutral tones. Avoid using pink, yellow, black, red, gray, bright colors; use blues, greens, with a hint of brown.  Avoid loud designs, stick to contemporary and plain.

Bring in a portable cd player or sound machine to play relaxing music while you are in the bathroom. Stock the bathroom with fresh towels. Make sure the towels match the color scheme, once again refrain from using loud colors and designs, only use neutrals, and select pastel hues that are easy on the eyes are acceptable. Don’t know what color? You can never go wrong with basic white towels.

Organize the counter; remove clutter such as old toothbrushes, broken soap, hair dryer and curling iron, old rusty razors etc.

Add aromatherapy candles and a tray of teas, healthy drinks and bottled water. Put a couple of drops of aromatherapy oil on your towels, and that should be enough to infuse the bathroom together with the candles with that pleasant ‘spa scent’. Maintain the cleanliness of your bathroom by cleaning and taking out the trash regularly, replacing fresh towels and keeping it stocked with your favorite items and bathroom necessities.

The climate in your bathroom should be controlled. Personally, I have a portable heater for added comfort in the bathroom.  Just be careful when using this, as it can be a fire hazard.

Epsom Salt Bath Recipe

Epsom salt (magnesium sulfate), is used in salt bath recipes and foot soaks. It is good for the skin and the body because it relaxes the muscles, and naturally draws out toxins from the body. Epsom salt made of mineral magnesium sulfate is said to be able to act as a sedative for the nervous system.

This is why Epsom salt alleviates muscles aches, joint aches and pains when poured into a warm bath. Epsom salt is used in various skin treatments like foot soaks, facials, for its cleansing and exfoliating power.

Medically Epsom salt has been used to treat eclampsia in pregnant women, helping delay labor in premature birth. When nebulized it can be used to help in asthma treatment, helps in the reduction of pain in osteoporosis, used intravenously to help prevent cerebral palsy in preterm babies. It is also used as acne treatment in cream form, and even soothes and relieves genital herpes and shingles.

Epsom salt is available in many retail supermarket stores or drugstores, priced on average for less than $1 per 8oz or even cheaper. They are available also to purchase by bulk in certain specialty stores and website and are available for way less the prices of regular retail stores.

I usually get my Epsom salt from Wal-Mart. It comes in a milk carton looking container. For my bath I mix a cup of Epsom salt with 3-5 drops of lavender essential oil into the warm water and I soak in it for about 30 minutes, and this relaxes my body and mind from a stressful day and helps me sleep better at night as it helps eliminate some of my body aches.