By Christina Shoup
After all the time spent outside this summer, in the sun, water, garden, sand or wherever the warm weather has taken you, we could all use a little at home pampering. Here are a few ideas:
• Quick facial scrub: Mix ½ teaspoon baking soda with your daily face wash. An easy way to exfoliate without buying a separate scrub.
• Make your own sunscreen: Use your favorite body lotion (that does not contain citric acid). Combine 4oz of the lotion and 2 tablespoons zinc powder; this will serve as an SPF 20. For a higher SPF increase the zinc power. Each additional tablespoon will increase the SPF by ten units. Zinc powder can be found at most natural food stores. For easy storage use a travel lotion bottle.
• Remove nail stains: Mix toothpaste and a few drops of lemon juice and brush on your nails and into the cuticle. Be careful of any tiny cuts around the nail. Also lemons can be drying, so follow up with a hand lotion.
• Natural acne mask: Strawberries are a natural source of Salicylic Acid, the same ingredient found in most acne washes. To make this mask, mash ¼ cup fresh strawberries with ¼ cup plain yogurt and stir together well. Apply to your face and let it sit 15-20 minutes, then rinse till clean. Set aside a little extra for a snack while you wait.
• Honey bubble bath: Mix together 1 cup water, ½ cup honey, ½ cup of body wash and pour into the running water.
With simple household items and a couple tricks, we can all feel refreshed and rejuvenated for the dog days to come!
