BellaSugar

DIY Spa Treatment: Delicious, Softening Yogurt Cocoa Mask

BellaSugar — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:00:25 -0800

Want something that smells good enough to eat and is incredibly moisturizing for dry, cold-chapped skin? Try a simple yogurt cocoa face mask. You just need a tablespoon of cheap cocoa butter ($1) and a half tablespoon of yogurt. Melt the cocoa butter in a saucepan over low heat, then mix in the yogurt until smooth. Pour your concoction into a bowl and let it cool to a comfortable temperature, then apply for 15 minutes and wash off with warm water.

DIY Spa Treatment: Good Smellin' Fall Cranberry Apple Mask

BellaSugar — Tue, 27 Oct 2009 09:00:00 -0700

I love the cool weather smells of the season, and what can be more warm and enticing than cranberries and apples? The combo is also, incidentally, an excellent exfoliant for dry Fall skin, and I've got a DIY recipe featuring these two ingredients, to give you the best of both worlds. For a divinely scented kitchen and naturally glowing skin, check out this easy, three-ingredient mask from Narine Nikogosian's new beauty home remedy book Return to Beauty ($25), due out next month. To get the directions, just read more.

DIY Spa Treatment: Honey and Yogurt Acne Mask

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 13:00:53 -0700

When it's warm outside, my face tends to be more apt to breakout. Do you hear me on that one? I've shared with you dermatologist Dr. Hema Sundaram's recipe for her Sweet Tea Antioxidant Facial Exfoliator, and now she's got something else for us to help beat the early Autumn heat - and the pimples. Better yet? Most ingredients are probably already in your pantry or refrigerator. Her latest recipe both hydrates and exfoliates the skin, while providing antibacterial properties.

"Neem oil has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects, which can help heal breakout-prone Summer skin," said Dr. Sundaram. But that's not all. "The fatty acids in neem oil build collagen and maintain skin’s elasticity while plain yogurt works to soothe, nourish, and tighten skin," she added. Get the easy-to-make recipe after the jump.

Beer: Three Ways It Does a Beauty Good

BellaSugar — Thu, 13 Aug 2009 07:00:55 -0700

You may not love the Taste of the Rockies now, but you might after you find out just how useful a couple cheap cans can be. Whatever ale's rolling around in your fridge can make for several great beauty treatments-and there really is no better guy pickup line than "Hey there, I just bathed in beer." So keep reading, because this Bud's for you.

Give Yourself a Hand . . . Massage, That Is

BellaSugar — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 08:00:02 -0700

I'd get a nice, long massage at a spa every day if I could, but fortunately for the massage therapists of the world (and my wallet), I have work, family, friends, Mr. Bella, and pets to keep me from going completely shiatsu, Swedish, and Thai stone crazy. That doesn't mean that I've given up on pampering myself, though. Instead, I've picked up some simple techniques from the pros that relax and recharge my muscles. Self hand massages are especially easy to learn, and if you spend all day typing like I do, they feel amazing. So give yourself a minute, break out a little of your favorite lotion or oil, and check these strokes out.

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DIY Spa Treatment: Sweet Tea Antioxidant Facial Exfoliator

BellaSugar — Fri, 10 Jul 2009 13:05:41 -0700

No matter the season, exfoliators help rejuvenate dull-looking skin. Plus, they help lay the foundation for creating a nice, even surface - perfect for smoother makeup applications. Are these warmer-weathered days wreaking havoc on your appearance? "The green tea in the Sweet Tea Antioxidant Exfoliator is full of antioxidants, which boost health and resilience and can even soothe Summer sunburns," says dermatologist Dr. Hema Sundaram. "Brown sugar is a natural exfoliant that scrubs away dirt and impurities without being too harsh on skin."

Get Dr. Sundaram's recipe, along with application tips, when you read more.

DIY Spa Treatment: A Relaxing Herbal Steam

BellaSugar — Fri, 25 Jul 2008 10:00:36 -0700

Taking a few minutes out of your day a few times a week for a relaxing herbal steam is great for your mind, your body and your skin. It helps remove toxins, dirt and oil from your pores - plus it gives you some time to meditate and ponder what's happened in your day. This simple herbal facial steam recipe takes ten minutes to complete, it's safe, satisfying and will hopefully result in a clearer complexion. Here's what you'll need:

A quart of hot water

Half of a lemon

A handful of fresh cilantro

A handful of fresh basil leaves

Three drops of rosemary essential oil

For easy, step-by-step instructions on how to make your relaxing herbal steam at home, read more.

STEP 1: Heat a quart of water in a pot. Once it comes to a boil, pour it into a heat-safe bowl and squeeze the lemon into the water.
STEP 2: Immediately add in the fresh cilantro, basil and rosemary oil and lean over so that your face is over the bowl. You should be close enough to feel the steam, but not too close so that you will burn yourself (about eight to twelve inches). Tip: Place a towel over your head and over the bowl to create a tent-like effect. This will help trap the heat for the duration of your steam.
STEP 3: Steam your face for ten minutes. Once you've finished, pat your face dry with a clean towel and then splash lukewarm water over your face.

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DIY Spa Treatment: A Botanical Face Wash

BellaSugar — Mon, 21 Jul 2008 11:00:22 -0700

This DIY gentle facial cleanser recipe takes just minutes to put together yet leaves your face feeling soft, hydrated, and clean. Since it contains thyme (a puffiness reducer) your skin will look calmer and less irritated. I tweaked it to add ingredients that tone and tighten. Although this cleanser won't lather, I guarantee you'll feel it working. Here's what you'll need:

1/2 Tbsp of dried thyme

a few small shavings of fresh ginger

2 tsp crushed fennel seeds

1/2 cup boiling water

1/2 lemon, juiced (and take out the seeds)

To find out how to concoct this invigorating botanical face wash at home, read more.

STEP 1: Boil the water in a kettle and then pour it into a pot. Mix in the thyme, the ginger, and the fennel seeds and then cover the pot.
STEP 2: Next, add the lemon juice and let it sit, covered for 10 to fifteen minutes.
STEP 3: Then, strain the mixture so that the seeds, fennel, ginger, and lemon remnants don't make it to the final product. Pour the liquid into an airtight container and store it in the refrigerator in between uses.

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DIY Spa Treatment: A Lovely Lavender Liquid Body Wash

BellaSugar — Fri, 18 Jul 2008 08:00:11 -0700

For all of you who have really enjoyed my at-home beauty recipes, I really think you'll love this easy to make scented body wash. Not only is it a fraction of the cost of most store-bought products, but it's something special that you can share with house guests - you wouldn't offer them your used soap bar, would you? Here's what you'll need to create this luscious liquid body soap:

One bottle of unscented shampoo

1 tsp xanthan gum (optional)

15 drops of lavender essential oil

5 drops of peppermint essential oil

5 drops of rosemary essential oil

5 drops of tea tree oil

For three fool-proof directions, read more.

Step 1: Take a large, glass mixing bowl and pour in one and a half cups of shampoo. It doesn't need to be expensive, it just needs to be unscented.
Step 2: If you're someone who likes your body wash to be extra thick, add in a thickening ingredient such as Xanthan gum and mix well.
Step 3: Next, add in all 30 drops of essential oils to the bowl and blend well. Feel free to choose whatever oils you like best. I like this effervescent combination for the shower because the lavender is calming, the tea tree oil works as an antibacterial (and it smells great), and the peppermint and rosemary are invigorating.

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DIY Spa Treatment: Ginger-Mint Body Scrub

BellaSugar — Mon, 30 Jun 2008 06:00:23 -0700

Store-bought brown sugar scrubs are divine, but when their prices swing upward toward the $50 mark, that's a lit-tle high for most people. Fortunately, whipping up your own scrub couldn't be easier - and the results are just as good.

You will need:

Honey
Freshly grated ginger root
Chopped fresh mint leaves
Olive oil
Brown sugar, light or dark

To see what to do, read more.

Mix all of the ingredients in a bowl - it's up to you to decide how much ginger and mint you'd like, but a ratio of 1/3 olive oil to 2/3 brown sugar will provide a good base for the scrub. About a tablespoon of honey will provide an antiseptic quality to the scrub.

The best way to use this scrub is on dry skin; it's particularly good on hands and feet. After buffing your skin, rinse with warm water. You'll have incredibly softer skin for a small fraction of a name-brand scrub!

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