Community Magazine June 2009

60 COMMUNITY MAGAZINE LEAH MIZRAHI The Shaatra Files File #227: Homemade Spa and Beauty Treatments (shõ•trä) n . An outstanding homemaker [Arabic] Financially Friendly Facials Pamper the sensitive skin on your face • by trying some of these recipes. For a moisture boost: Mix 2 tbsp. • honey with 2 tbsp. milk. Smooth it onto your face and leave it there for fifteen minutes before rinsing. If you’re willing to spend a little bit • more time, try this one to refresh tired skin: 2 tbsp. mashed avocado, 4 tbsp. honey, 1 egg, 1 tsp. powdered milk. Apply it for twenty minutes before washing off. Buttermilk can help get rid of • unwanted freckles. It actually acts as a mild bleaching agent. Try mixing 3 tbsp. pulverized bran with 4 tbsp. buttermilk. Apply it to your face and leave it on for twenty minutes. If you’re just looking for easy tips that • can help you achieve glowing skin, try avoiding sugar in your diet. It’s a big help for those struggling with acne or pimples. Using flaxseed oil and drink- ing green or white tea can be helpful in the fight against oily skin, as well. Another quick idea: When lathering • your face with a mild facial cleanser, pour a handful of white sugar into your palms and scrub. It’s a simple way to exfoliate and will leave your skin smooth and ready to accept makeup. Smooth Out the Wrinkles Mixing fresh cream and olive oil is an • easy way to reduce wrinkles and fine lines. Make sure to leave it on for ten minutes. A honey and egg white mixture can • be even more effective as a home- made wrinkle cream, and is a lot less expensive than most products sold at cosmetics counters. A quick tip: Keep your skin well • moisturized. It will make your face look fuller and younger. And try using a light facial scrub to help remove dead skin that make wrinkles more pronounced. A Timely Toner Here’s an easy toner you can use daily: • Combine ½ cup of lemon juice with 1 cup of distilled water and 2/3 cup of witch hazel. Pour it into a clean con- tainer and shake well before each use. Potion for Pearly Whites A simple solution for yellowing teeth • is simply brushing with baking soda and water a few times a week. Eating fruits that contain malic acid, like apples, strawberries and grapes is also helpful. They act as natural cleansers, and help break down stains. Eyes of the Potato Everyone’s seen cucumbers applied • to eyes to reduce puffiness. But try this idea: Grate a raw potato and put it into a cloth bag. Apply it to your eyes. It should help make those fine lines disappear. Helping Hands Warm a cup of milk in the microwave • for thirty seconds (or until comfort- able to the touch). Soak your hands for five minutes to strengthen nails and hydrate skin. Not only is milk loaded with lactic acid, which gently exfoli- ates dead skin, but its high calcium content will strengthen fragile nails. Soak your hands in warm water mixed • with chamomile or sage to soften them. Give them a finishing touch with a bit of moisturizing lotion. Fancy Foot Work Treat your feet to a sugar scrub to • make them soft. Mix ½ cup of sugar with 2 tbsp. of lotion. Massage the mixture into your feet to exfoliate the dead skin, and then rinse them with warm water. Apply some additional lotion to keep them smooth. For a good soak, mix 7 cups of water • with 2 cups of milk. Heat until it’s as S omehow, each stage we pass in life trumps the previous one. With each period only getting busier and busier, there seems to be no left over time for... you. For example, does the idea of going for a massage or a day at the spa sound really nice to you, but at the same time wholly unrealistic? How can we hard- working women treat ourselves to the quiet time and pampering we deserve between all the essentials of life that must get done? It may be easier than you think. There are many great spa and beauty treatments that you can prepare yourself right at home. While we may not have the time (or money) for a full day off, a few minutes of downtime to try some of these ideas can be squeezed into almost any schedule. And if you can take the phone off the hook for good measure (and make sure all kids are asleep), you’ll get more than glowing skin. An indulgent micro-vacation can give you just that measure of calm needed before jumping back into a hectic day.