What to do with all that sugar.... Brown Sugar Scrub!

The brown sugar in this recipe is the exfoliant. The olive oil is for the moisturizer. Honey is a natural antibacterial (as well as another moisturizer), and vanilla is for the added scent.

How to make Brown Sugar Scrub:

2 cups brown sugar (lightly packed)
1/2 cup olive oil
1/4 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla

1. Place the brown sugar in a medium-size bowl.
2.  Add the olive oil.
3. You can use any other plant-based oils in place of the olive oil, such as coconut oil, sunflower oil, or almond oil, to name a few.
4. Add the honey. Honey not only moisturizes your skin, it helps hold moisture in.
5. Add the vanilla.
6. Stir to combine.
7. Scoop mixture into a container. This recipe will fit a pint-size jar perfectly. 

Your all-natural scrub will separate. Stir before each use. Moisten your face with warm water, scoop out a bit of the scrub, and apply to your skin. Work it in gently–you can even leave it on for 10 or 15 minutes to increase the nourishing benefits before washing off with warm water. Use a couple times a week and you won’t believe how soft your skin will be! I love this stuff. It makes me feel as if I’ve had an expensive spa treatment–and it’s practically free.

Note: This keeps well (easily as long as it takes to use this amount) and doesn’t need to be refrigerated.

An Applesauce Treat for your face!

Great for your skin and yummy in your tummy. A applesauce mask for your face! Why? Well, apples are rich in vitamins A, B, and C, along with and malic acid, which works to allow your skin to absorb those vitamins. Plus, it actually will help even out your skin tone by lightening any sun-darkened patches or freckles. AND it is great for summer dry skin! I love at home masks that you can also snack on... this one is just a mix of wheatgerm and applesauce, so it is 100% edible (and a bonus: wheat germ is rich in vitamin E and B vitamins your skin will love!). Here is how you make your very own applesauce mask:

1 TBSP natural applesauce

1 TBSP germ (wheat germ is a great natural exfoliator)

Blend together into a paste and apply over face (avoid getting to close to your eyes)

Allow it to dry, and do its thing... then rinse off.

Coffee Grounds Not Just For Your Garden Anymore!

Coffee Grounds for your face!

Coffee grounds, not just for your garden anymore!

Did you know that coffee has many benefits for the skin. It can decrease puffiness in the face, brighten skin, and wake up a dull complexion. (hello caffine!)
You can simply scrub the crumbly goodness all over your body for a natural exfoliant. Rubbing grounds into your skin will slough off dead skin cells and leave your skin feeling refreshed. For a smoother scrub, add a bit of olive oil to the grounds.


or make this mask:



2 tablespoons freshly ground coffee (or used grinds)
2 tablespoons cocoa powder
3 tablespoons milk (whole), heavy cream or yogurt
1 tablespoon honey


Massage this chocolatey delicious mask into your skin in the morning for a quick perk up. Allow the mask to dry for 15-20 minutes. Then rinse it off thoroughly. 


This delectable mask will help tighten pores and remove oil. The coffee grinds will help reduce puffiness and swelling, while the cocoa, honey and milk will add moisture to your skin.


Who'd have thought your favorite beverage could do so much beauty goodness?


Enjoy!

What to get the guy or gal who has everything....

A Beauty Nook Gift Certificate of course....


Treat a Special Person, and I'll Treat You! With any gift certificate purchase of $50 or more, receive an Eye Package (eyebrow shape/tint & lash tint) on the house! ($45 value) 

How to Make a Pumpkin Facial Mask

How to Make a Pumpkin Facial Mask

 

Pumpkin is loaded with good things for the skin and you don't have to wait for Thanksgiving to enjoy its benefits. Using canned pumpkin puree works beautifully in facial mask recipes as does a pumpkin fresh from the patch. Either way, pumpkin has lots of Vitamin A and enzymes to help nourish and brighten the complexion.

What you'll need:

1/2 cup Pumpkin Pulp or Puree
1 whipped egg white
1 tbsp. honey
2 tbsp plain yogurt
2 tbsp ground oatmeal
 

1  Cook enough fresh pumpkin, without skin and seeds, to make 1/2 cup of pulp. Alternatively use canned pumpkin puree. 

 

2  Cool and mash with a fork. Mix with 1 whipped egg white, blending well to incorporate egg and remove most of the lumps.

 

3  Add 1 tbsp. honey, 2 tbsp. plain yogurt and 2 tbsp. ground oatmeal. Use a coffee grinder or food processor to grind the oats.

 

4  Mix all ingredients well into a thick consistency.

 

5  Cleanse face and neck and pat the facial paste onto the skin, excluding the eye area. After 10 minutes, remove with a warm wash cloth and rinse skin with cool water.

Enjoy! 

 

PLEASE NOTE: The Beauty Nook will be closed November 23-27, please be sure to book your appointments early! 

The Miracle of Retinol Explained

How does retinol work? 

Looking for an anti-wrinkle, anti-acne, collagen & elastin boosting miracle product? Sound too good to be true? Retinol is the answer! 

Retinol is a topical gel or cream made up of Vitamin A and has the unique abilities to both act as an antioxidant and to get deep into the skin. When applied topically, it causes the production of new collagen in both naturally aged skin and skin damaged by ultraviolet radiation. 

It also improves the outer layer!  Retinol binds well with skin cell receptor sites which allows the retinol to encourage greater cell growth, as well as the removal of old skin cells. This leaves your skin looking and feeling smoother, with a healthy glow.

If you take your anti aging wrinkle strategy very seriously then the best bet is to go for a prescription strength retinol rather than risking an over the counter product.

My favorite is Atralin. I've been using it for 2 years, and have seen the best results! Less photo damage, prevention of blackheads/acne, prevention of wrinkles and dryness. Love it! 
http://www.atralingel.com/

For a more in depth article regarding retinols check out: http://dermatology.about.com/cs/topicals/a/tretinoin.htm

Hard, Little White Bumps on your face? What are they?

Wondering what those hard stubborn bumps are on your face? Disease? Whitehead? Why are they so hard to get rid of?

Milia explained! 

A Milium (milia- plural) is a keratin-filled cyst, dead skin cells combined with oil that form a plug in the pore. They are benign but super annoying! Newborn babies mostly get them, but appear on people of all ages. Milk spot and oil seed are the common names for these little buggers, and they have to be removed by a dermatologist or esthetician. The removal process includes using a lancet to create a very small incision in the side of the milium and then push out the plug with an extractor tool. 

I've found that making sure you are exfoliating your skin on a regular basis will keep these Milia at bay. Since they are caused from dry skin, use your exfoliant (scrub, fruit acid or retinol) regularly(2-3x Week).

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