Graet craft idea!

Turn a Used Makeup Compact into a Perfume Carrier

Solid Perfume

1/2 oz Beeswax
4 oz Vaseline
1/4 oz Fragrance Oil Concentrates (or use Essential Oils in amounts to aroma preference)

• Melt beeswax and vaseline over low heat in a glass or enamel pan (could also place in a large pyrex measuring cup and heat in oven slowly–stir while melting).
• Remove from heat and cool slightly.
• Stir in fragrance.
• Pour into container and let air dry until firm.

You’ll also find another recipe here: Instructables - Solid Perfume.

For more recipes and instructions on how to make your own perfume (not solid), I have a free pdf download available here: How To Make Perfume.

Wow, not sure if I should eat this are scrub with it.

  Yummy Chocolate Scrub   

3 tbsp Cocoa Powder

1 cup Brown Sugar

1 tsp Vanilla Extract

1 tbsp Olive Oil

¼ - ½ tsp Water

 Mix all ingredients except oil and water. Add oil gradually until mixture looks like a paste. Add water if needed—might be a little thick, so I added just a tiny bit. Apply this scrub to moist skin after washing. Use circular motions, massaging gently. Rinse.

 This stuff totally smells like brownies! Very yummy and definitely softens skin. I liked the smooth feel afterward and the smell during! You will be tempted to taste it, I guarantee! I uh…did. It tastes alright. The olive oil is quite dominating, so I’d have to say it smells better than it tastes, which is good cause you don’t need your stomach competing with your body. =)  Enjoy!

Be sure and clink on the title and go to the page I found this on. There is more there.

If your hair is dry and tired from the winter indoor heat, ( Mine is) or really curly and frizzy ( mine is) this works great.

Revitalizing Avocado Hair Treatment

# Of Applications: 1
Prep. Time: 0:25

1 med. avocado - peeled, pitted
2 Tbls. honey

-Mash together both ingredients in small bowl.
-Massage into hair.
-Leave in for 20-30 minutes.
-Wash hair as usual.

Notes: Brings tired-looking hair back to life.

Lemon Sugar Scrub Recipe

1 tbsp lemon zest (yellow part grated off the outside of a lemon
1 cup white sugar
1/2 cup olive oil

Combine ingredients well in a small container. Shake as needed before use. In the bath, scrub lemon sugar scrub over your body as a natural exfoliator.

Oatmeal & Cinnamon Milk Soak

1 1/2 cups powdered milk
3/4 cup baking soda
3/4 cup oatmeal (finely grind it first)
3 TBS cornstarch
2 tsp cream of tartar
2 tsp cinnamon

Homemade Sugar Scrub Recipes

Natural Scents for Your Type

Many people are sensitive to artificial fragrances, which contain suspected neurotoxicants that can give them headaches and difficulty concentrating. It is healthier and more thoughtful to avoid them!

If you were wondering about the difference between a cologne and a perfume, here's the skinny: perfumes are generally stronger and heavier than colognes, and contain oils and fixatives that make them longer-lasting, while colognes contain botanical essences in an alcohol base, which keep them on the lighter side.

These all-natural formulas are colognes, with botanical materials and alcohol in the form of vodka or rum ( I use Everclear , I DO NOT drink alcohol, but I use it in recipes of this sort. Grandma Rosie). They are lighter than their artificial relatives, and they can be used lavishly by most of us with no ill-effects.

The Basic Method
Place dry ingredients in a pint jar with a tight lid. Fill jar with vodka. Cover jar and shake daily for 1 to 6 weeks. Strain out dry ingredients and use the liquid as a cologne on your pulse points.

Romantic
You prefer classically sweet flower and herbal scents. Try any of these ingredients, or a combination:

1 cup fresh or dried lavender blossoms
1 cup fresh or dried chamomile blossoms
1 cup fresh or dried basil
1 cup fresh or dried rose petals

Sporty
You prefer refreshing, crisp scents that don’t cloy. Try any of these ingredients, or a combination:

Lemon peel from an organic lemon
Lime peel from an organic lime
1 cup fresh or dried peppermint leaves
1 cup fresh or dried rosemary leaves

Earthy/Exotic
You like warm and spicy scents that exude grounded sensuality. Try any of these ingredients, or a combination (Mag uses a blend of vanilla, clove, cinnamon, and orange peel):

1 whole vanilla bean, broken in pieces
2 teaspoons whole cloves
1 three-inch piece cinnamon stick
Orange peel from an organic orange
1 cup sandalwood chips
1 cup bay leaves (this traditional formula calls for rum instead of vodka to make Bay Rum)

HELPFUL HINTS:  I found out, after placing chamomile teabags on my eyes to reduce puffiness, that I was violently allergic to chamomile--I looked like a raccoon for hours. So be sure to test your cologne on your inner arm for possible allergic reaction before liberally splashing it on.

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Facial Recipes

Treat yourself and your skin to some TLC and give yourself a facial.

It's not only good for you, if feels great too. You can make a facial from ordinary kitchen goods. Here are some recipes which are inexpensive to make and you probably have the ingredients right in your kitchen.


Honey Facial * (warning - do not use this if you are allergic to eggs!)
1 tablespoon honey
1 egg yoke
1 teaspoon olive oil
Beat the egg yoke with a fork, add the oil and blend well. Add the honey using a spoon that you have rinsed with hot water and blend well again. Smear it all over your face with your fingers, except do not cover your eyes. Leave it on your face for 15 minutes, then rinse it off.

Cucumber Facial
1 cucumber
1/2 teaspoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon witch hazel (you can buy this in any drug store)
1 egg white, beaten with an electric beater until fluffy.
Peel the cucumber and run it through a blender or a food processor. Pour the cucumber pulp into a colander or strainer and force it through, catching the liquid that comes out in a bowl underneath. Combine the cucumber liquid with the lemon juice and the witch hazel. Stir it and add the beaten egg white gently. Put it on your face and leave it on for 15 to 25 minutes, then rinse off.


Refreshing Fruit Facials

PEACH TIGHTENING MASK
1 Peach, ripe, peeled, pitted
1 Egg white
Whip the peach and egg white together in a blender until smooth. Gently pat the mixture all over your face. Relax for 30 minutes, then rinse it off with cool water.

APPLE MASK FOR NORMAL SKIN
1 Apple, cored & quartered
2 T Honey
Drop the apple pieces into a food processor and chop. Add honey and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Pat the mixture onto your face with a light tapping motion, tapping until the honey feels tacky. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse.

CUCUMBER MASK FOR OILY SKIN
1/2 Cucumber
1 Egg white
1 T Lemon juice
1 tsp mint
Puree everything and refrigerate for 10 minutes. Apply the mixture to your face and leave it on for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm, then cool water.

STRAWBERRY DRAWING MASK
1/2 c Strawberries, very ripe
1/4 c Cornstarch
Mix strawberries and cornstarch together to make a paste and apply it to your face, avoiding the delicate area around your eyes. Leave it on for 30 minutes and then rinse it off with cool water.

CITRUS FRESHNER
2 cups boiling water
1 vitamin C (a preservative)
Lemon peel (zest) from 2 lemons
Dissolve the vitamin in water. In a glass bowl put the lemon zest and pour the water over them. Let it sit over night. Remove the zest and put in a spray bottle. You can use any type of citrus peel.

BLEMISHED SKIN MASK
1 Tomato, ripe, chopped
1 tsp Lemon juice
1 T Instant style oatmeal or old-fashioned rolled oats
Blend everything until just combined. Apply to skin, making sure the mixture is thick enough to stay on blemished areas: cheeks, forehead, or chin. If necessary, add a bit more oatmeal to thicken the mask. Leave it on for 10 minutes, then scrub it off with a clean washcloth dipped in warm water.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Simple Hand Massage

To stimulate circulation in your hands, rub the palm of one hand over the back of the other, then repeat with the other hand -- something like washing your hands. In addition to stimulating circulation, it also warms your hands.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Simple Ways to Stay in Shape

You don't have to sign up for a special class or take up a new sport to stay in shape -- just keep moving! Everything from mowing the lawn to playing ball with your friends keeps you moving, which keeps you feeling better. Throughout the day, find reasons to move more: take the stairs instead of the elevator, or go out and walk your dog. You'll get exercise, and you'll feel better, too!

Health and Beauty Tip -- Save Money on Cleansers

Cleansing cloths and facial wipes are handy, but also expensive. When you buy a new package, take some time to cut each cloth in half. You only need half, anyway, and the extra time will save you money in the long run.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Fish Helps Wrinkles?

It turns out omega-3 fatty acids are not only good for your heart, but help reduce and prevent wrinkles. Sugar, on the other hand, does the exact opposite. If you're worried about wrinkles and don't already take fish oil supplements, now would be a great time to start. Alternatively, if you're a fan of salmon, you've got an even better excuse to eat it!

 4 tablespoons olive or almond oil

2 tablespoons dried pot marigold flowers

few drops of violet, orange blossom or rose water

 Warm the oil in a bowl placed over a saucepan of hot water. Stir in the dried flowers and continue to heat gently for 30 minutes. Remove from heat, allow to cool, and stir in the flower water.

If you're interested in making your own facial mask with ingredients you can find in your refrigerator, check out the two facial mask recipes below. These masks will your skin feeling soft and smooth and looking great!

Cucumber Avocado Facial Mask

 ½ cup chopped cucumber

½ cup chopped avocado

1 egg white

2 tsp. powdered milk

In a blender combine all of the ingredients until they form a smooth, paste-like consistency. You can apply the mask immediately or refrigerate it for 30 minutes. 

 Apply 2 tablespoons of the cucumber avocado mask to your face and neck in circular upward motions. Leave the mask on for 30 minutes, or until dry. To remove the mask simply rinse your face and neck with warm water, followed by a cold water rinse. Finally, pat dry your face and neck.

Lemon Egg-White Mask

 Juice from half a lemon, strained

1 egg white 

Beat together the egg white and lemon juice for three full minutes. Apply directly to your face, avoiding your eyes, and leave on for 30 minutes. After 30 minutes rinse your face with warm water and apply a moisturizer or cream.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Foods That Lower Blood Pressure

Want an easy way to lower your blood pressure? Add a few new ingredients to your salads. Tomatoes, or dried beans like kidney and garbanzo, lower blood pressure naturally, as do bananas or peaches in your morning breakfast cereal.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Sugar for Prematurely-Aging Skin

Mix 3 tbsp of sugar with 4 tbsp of warm water. Once the sugar has dissolved (so it doesn't scratch your skin), rub it gently onto your face and leave it for ten minutes. Be sure to rinse your skin completely. Sugar acts as a natural exfoliant, as well as reducing lines and wrinkles.

Health and Beauty Tip -- Use Sunscreen ...

... on your hands! Even when applying your own sunscreen or sunblock, it's important to apply it to your hands they way you would the rest of you. Too much exposure to sun can age them prematurely. You can use special products made for hands, or your regular sunscreen or subnblock

Health and Beauty Tip -- Overnight Undereye Treatment

Dark circles under eyes can be caused by a lack of oxygen to your skin. To combat this, combine one teaspoon of whole, plain yogurt with half a teaspoon of fast-acting baker's yeast. Apply under your eyes with a clean eyeshadow brush right before bed, and make sure to rinse it off in the morning.