Beauty and Nature by Hazel Badayos

HAZEL T. BADAYOS MA 106

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Beauty and Nature V O L U M E

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Beautiful Skin Tip: Apple Cider Vinegar

9 Essential Oils with Huge Benefits

For gorgeous skin, head to the kitchen and grab some vinegar!

Which Fruit

The use of vinegar with a variety of plants or essential oils for cosmetic purposes can be traced back to the Romans and was fashionable during the 19th century as vinegar de toilette.

Makes Your Skin Look Fabulous?

fresh plant material for two days before using. Measure and mix only dried plant material and then add the vinegar. Apple ciders composed entirely of

4 All Natural Beauty Products

Vinegar has a tonic action that promotes blood circulation in the small capillaries that irrigate the skin. It is also antiseptic, preventing the proliferation of bacteria, viruses, or yeast that trigger infection. It can dissolve excessive fatty deposits at the surface of the skin and reduce scaly or peeling conditions. Lastly, vinegar regulates the pH of the skin. Vinegar is most effective when used with lavender, rosemary, rose, or elder flower. It is essential to use top-quality white wine or cider vinegar. Dry any

A Care2 favorite by Annie B. Bond

liquids can be used at once. Those containing plant material must be left to macerate. Prepare the latter in a screw-top jar and leave on a window sill as instructed, strain, and then bottle. To use, add 1 teaspoon of apple cider to a cup of bottled or spring water to wash your face or pour 3-4 tablespoons into a bath. Lavender, Rosemary and Rosewood Vinegar: 17 1/2 fl. oz. good-quality white wine or apple cider vinegar Essential Oils: 3/5 teaspoon each lavender and rosemary, 2/5 teaspoon rosewood Plus: 2 tablespoons glycerin Cont. Page 2

9 Essential Oils with Huge Health Benefits Essential Oils have their place secured in a natural beauty routine: They’re natural, chemical-free alternatives to everything from traditional cosmetics to potentially toxic fragrances. But many can do a lot more than just smell good: While we can’t say with authority the

10 oils highlighted here are miracle cures, throughout history they’ve been credited with treating problems including digestion issues and acne; increasing concentration; killing germs and much more. Cont. page 2

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Beautiful Skin Tip: Apple Cider Vinegar Calendula and Elder Flower Plant material: 2 oz. calendula flowers and 3 oz. elder flowers Vinegar: 2 pints good-quality white wine or apple cider vinegar Macerate: 2 weeks Lavender, Rose, Pink, and Lime Plant material: 1 oz. each lavender and lime (or linden) flowers, rose petals, pinks Vinegar: 2 pints good-quality white wine or apple cider vinegar Macerate: 2 weeks

Apple Cider Vinegar good for Facial Wash

9 Essential Oils with Huge Health Benefits Peppermint

Lavender oil’s soft scent is said to help calm the nervous system

and fight everything from urinary disorders and respiratory problems to high blood pressure and acne.

The bright scent of peppermint does more than freshen your breath: It is also used to soothenausea and other stomach issues, help stop itching, and cool overworked muscles (thanks to the menthol). Add drops of peppermint oil to a bowl of hot water and breathe in the steam to fight congestion, or rub diluted oil into sore muscles. And that’s not all: Peppermint is a key ingredient in oil mixtures that fight PMS, act as an all-natural alternative to VapoRub, cool sore throats, and quiet headaches — and it’s often credited with increasing concentration, so ideal Rose for a mid-afternoon alternative to This rose by any name will smell coffee pick-me-up.

as sweet: Look for it labeled as Rose Otto, rose oil, or rose essential oil, and choose oils produced For Anita Boen, who runs in Bulgaria and Turkey for the an. organic farm that provides herbs highest quality. These slightlyand oils to upscale spas, lavender is a distilled oils won’t have the strong go-to oil for almost any situation: Not scents of oils used for perfumes, only is it one of the few oils that is but they are more popular with gentle enough to use undiluted, it’s a aroma therapists. Nature’s “virtual first aid kit in a bottle.” Gift calls rose oil “the ultimate The antibacterial properties allow it to fight germs (which is why it’s also such woman’s oil,” because it has a reputation for improving hormone an important ingredient in many allnatural cleaning products for home and balance, treating PMS and menopause, counteracting problems in body), and, like peppermint, it’s often the bedroom, and improving the credited with aiding digestion and helping fight headaches. look and health of your skin Lavender

Lavender oil’s soft scent is said to help calm the nervous system, improve sleep quality, combat joint pain,

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Sesame Sesame oil may be best known for

its moisturizing qualities, which make it a favorite ingredient forhair and skin treatments.But the health benefits go beyond beauty: Sesame oil has a slight SPF factor, contains fatty acids believed to lower stress and blood pressure, and has been shown tohelp slow the growth of cancer in cells Geranium Planet Green suggests including geranium oil as an ingredient in a PMS-fighting solution, but it’s also well-known for its astringent properties — which allow it to refresh skin — and its styptic aspects, which calm inflammations and stop hemorrhaging.You can also use geranium oil to treat acne, and oily skin, boost circulation, and decrease bloating. The oil can reduce the appearance of scars and blemishes, get rid of body odor, and contract blood vessels to diminish the appearance of lines and wrinkles. Pine The sharp tang of pine oil may call up Christmas trees and rugged aftershaves, but this tree’s needles also offer antiseptic, antibacterial, and analgesic properties that make it a favorite of holistic health experts. Pine oil is said to help treat skin issues — including psoriasis, eczema, and pimples; speed up metabolism; act as an antidote to food poisoning; ease joint pain and arthritis; kill germs; and battle respiratory problems that go along with cough and cold season. Cont. Page 3

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Clove Spicy clove oil is one of the main ingredients in Tiger Balm, an allnatural remedy said to temper hangover headaches — but holistic health practitioners find other uses for it, too.It’s a popular choice for dental issues, including tooth and gum pain, and some sites recommend using it for bad breath (although whether you’d rather have your breath smell like cloves is up to you). Clove oil is also antiseptic, so diluted versions can treat bug bites, cuts, and scrapes; other suggested treatments help clear up earaches, digestion problems, nasal congestion,

stomachaches, and headaches. As an added bonus, it’s an aphrodisiac — and therefore a popular form of stress relief.

in your natural health arsenal. Pepper had its day as one of the world’s most valuable spices, in part because of its healing properties, which include aiding digestion, undoing cramps and convulsions, warming muscles to ease joint pain and arthritis, and curing bacterial infections.

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Lemon Balm

Black Pepper It might not be as sweet-smelling as the more floral entries on this list, but black pepper oil still has its place

Lemon balm essential oil, also known as Melissa essential oil after the plant’s Latin name, Melissa officinalis, doesn’t look like much, but it has plenty of benefits. It’s an antidepressant, it keeps your nervous system working smoothly, it calms anxiety and inflammation, it counteracts insomnia, it heals ulcers, it fights bacterial infections, and has been credited with treating herpes, headaches, and high blood pressure.

By Blythe Copeland, Tree Hugger

“ Tomatoes

Which Fruit Makes Your Skin Look Fabulous? don’t just taste like heaven,

Homegrown tomatoes don’t just taste like heaven, they make you look and feel great, too. Tomatoes contain the vitamins A, C and K, and the antioxidant lycopene, which help skin in several ways. Together, they: Boost cell protection against harmful ultra violet rays from the sun, which prevents wrinkling and other signs of premature aging. Aid cell regrowth, improving

skin’s look and texture. Help produce collagen, which makes skin glow and look fuller. So, if your garden has produced tons of tomatoes, use some in salads, but reserve others to help you look and feel your best. Here’s how to use tomatoes to fix the following skin problems:

Treat acne: Vitamin A in tomatoes boosts skin cell turnover and helps treat pimples and acne. You can wash your face with a quartered or pureed tomato.

Or, dab pimples with a little tomato juice, let it sit for five minutes, then remove with a clean cloth.

they make you

Shrink pores:

great, too.”

look and feel

Tomatoes are natural skin toners. Reduce pore size by squeezing the juice from of a fresh tomato, and applying it in a circular motion to your face with a cotton ball. Let sit for five minutes and rinse. Cont. Page 4

4 All-Natural Beauty Products Think you need to shell out hundreds of cold, hard cash on pricey beauty creams and designer shampoos? Wrong! Turns out, the best allnatural skincare products on the market are hiding in your kitchen pantry and refrigerator—all you need to do it put them together. By making your own natural beauty products and skincare, you’ll save money and time, and you’ll reduce your body’s exposure to the potentially harmful chemicals and ingredients often found in store-bought beauty products.

Below, Nutrition Stripped blogger McKel Hill shares her favorite DIY recipes for your hair, skin, lips, and face. After trying these, we can almost guarantee that you’ll never go back to the bottled stuff again! FOR THE FACE:

Coconut Sugar Lip Scrub, a

delicious and effective natural exfoliate gentle enough to use on lips.

INGREDIENTS: 2 tablespoons coconut oil, melted 2 tablespoons coconut sugar 1 tablespoon honey INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Simply combine in a small mixing bowl all the ingredients until mixed. The scrub will be thick and grainy- just what you’re after. Cont. Page 4

Dry oily skin: Tomatoes are a natural astringent that combats face oil. Make a mask of crushed tomato and crushed cucumber (cucumber is so refreshing), and apply to clean skin. Let it sit for 20 minutes, then rinse. If you’ve got combination skin, mix tomato with avocado into a mask. Soothe burns: Got a sunburn? Mix a crushed tomato with two tablespoons of plain yogurt. Apply the balm on burned faces, hands and feet. Let sit for 20 minutes, then rinse. Promote gorgeous glow: Mix tomato juice with honey to form a thick paste. Apply the mask to your face and neck, let it sit for 20 minutes, and then wash it off. Your skin will have a fresh, young look.

2. Store in the fridge for up to 2-3 weeks.

Avocado Face Mask INGREDIENTS:

How to use: Simply use about a dime size (1/4 teaspoon) of the Coconut Sugar Scrub and apply to your lips dry, using a circular motion massage the scrub into your lips and all around the mouth. You don’t need to put a lot of harsh pressure on this motion; just gentle circles to delicately exfoliate the skin. Rinse with warm water, pat dry, and seal with your favorite moisturizer or lip balm. I adore Rosebud Salve or Tata Harper Be True balm.

½ avocado ¼ cup uncooked oatmeal 1 tablespoon apple cider vinegar 2 tablespoon honey

FOR THE LOCKS: Rosemary Coconut Hair Mask, a moisturizing hair mask that may help stimulates hair growth and keep your locks healthy and long. INGREDIENTS: ½ cup coconut oil, melted 10-15 drops of lavender essential oil 10-15 drops of rosemary essential oil INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Simply stir all the ingredients together into a liquid. 2. Store in a small jar. 3. Use when coconut oil is melted. 4. Simply rub in your hands, starting at the scalp of you head start massaging the mask into your head and scalp working your way down to the ends. 5. Leave it soak and sit on your hair overnight, ideally. 6. Shampoo and rinse well the following morning. 7. Repeat several times/week or as you enjoy. How to use: You can use this hair mask daily if you wish, but I prefer to use it 1-2 evenings/week. I recommend putting this hair mask in at night as a part of your nightly beauty routine and tossing it up into a top knot bun (if you have really long hair like I do); that way, when you sleep on it, you’re giving it a full 7-9 hours to do it’s magic on your scalp and hydrate your hair strands. Get super fancy and help increase the absorption of the oil by wrapping your head in a warm towel for 30 minutes before laying down for the evening. Also, if you were to use this during the day while you’re out and about, let’s be honest—your head is going to look like a grease ball from the coconut oil.

1 teaspoon lemon juice

INSTRUCTIONS: 1.

Simply mash and combine and the ingredients in a small bowl and apply to your face. Be careful around your eyes (as with all products). 2. Let sit on your face for about 20 minutes. 3. Rinse with warm water. 4. Follow with your favorite moisturizer. FOR THE BODY: Coffee Citrus Body Scrub, a fragrant and effective natural exfoliate to use on your entire body for smooth and soft skin. Great to use daily or a couple of times a week. INGREDIENTS: 1 cup coffee grounds 1 cup coconut oil, melted 1-3 drops of lemon essential oil 1-3 drops of orange essential oil ½ cup coconut sugar INSTRUCTIONS: 1. Mix in a bowl until everything is combined and keep at room temperature. How to use: Using a palm full of the scrub, start towards the end of your body (towards your feet) and work your way up exfoliating in a circular motion until you’ve reached your neck. You can use this on your face if you’d like, it just depends on your skin’s sensitivity to defoliants. Let set for 15 minutes or longer and then rinse. Repeat on a weekly basis and gradually see your skin improve in softness and may even help get rid of scarring if you have any. Store in an airtight bag or mason jar if you have any leftover. http://www.care2.com/greenliving/4-all-natural-diy-beauty-products-2.html