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Beauty ARTICLES

Homespun Beauty

05th September 2008

You don't need to spend a fortune to look beautiful! Just by adding a few simple items to your weekly grocery list, you'll have everything you need for a self-made spa treatment in the privacy of your own home. Most women know that cucumber slices refresh the eyes or that honey is good for the skin, but still we find it more convenient to buy instant and normally expensive beauty products instead of getting our hands dirty.

Well, it's time for a change! Convenience foods are also quicker than cooking healthy meals from scratch, but they aren't necessarily good for us and it's the same with beauty products. We need to learn to take some time out during the day just for us. If you don't have time to fiddle around mixing up concoctions during the week, set aside a few hours on the weekend to really treat yourself. Get rid of the kids, dogs, visitors and telephones and get your blender out!

Face packs for oily skin, dry skin and normal skin can be made simply using fresh fruit and vegetables and a few items from your kitchen cupboards. Vegetables help against wrinkles and tighten the pores, whereas cucumbers and lemons leave your skin clean and refreshed. Please make sure that you don't any products that you may be allergic to and if you're not sure, do a test on a small area of skin before covering large areas. Also be sure to tie your hair up or secure with a headband before you start.

For oily skin, prepare half a cucumber in your blender and apply generously to your face and neck. Leave it to dry for about fifteen minutes before rinsing with lukewarm water and your skin will feel refreshed and tight. A face pack for dry skin can be made by mixing a ripe banana with a teaspoonful of honey. Wait for the pack to dry completely and your skin will be left feeling smooth and moisturized. Normal and sensitive skins react well to a simple mask of lightly whipped egg white. Massage into the skin with small circular movements and rinse as usual.

Lemon is the perfect household remedy for the prevention of pimples and blackheads. For face pack with a difference, mix the juice of one small lemon into a mug of boiled milk. Leave to cool for at least half an hour and stir before applying to the skin. If you haven't got time to boil and cool the milk, simply rub a slice of lemon over your face before going to bed. Rinse and cleanse your face as usual in the morning and your skin will have a radiant glow.

After you've applied your mask, don't start running around tidying the house or making beds. Put your feet up for a bit in a quiet, darkened room and let your face pack do it's job. Fifteen minutes of relaxation can make a world of difference and you will end up feeling just as refreshed as your skin once you have completed your treatment.

By MELANY KARRMICHAEL