"I am the Allower of my own Wellbeing"

A monthly newsletter written by Sherry Dell, PhD, CN

Volume 2, Issue 2
August, 2008

Picking the Perfect Glorious Fruit Facial Mask 

Dry Skin: apple, watermelon, orange, grape, avocado, nectarine, pear

Oily Skin:  lemon peel, banana, tomato, cherry, lemon, strawberry,

Normal Skin: tangerine, cantaloupe, marigold, carrot, peach, zucchini

Ever splurged and bought yourself a facial or other treatment at a fancy spa?  If you haven't, you probably should some day.  The deep relaxation and just plain fun are big medicine.  But you don't have to wait for some day.  You can enjoy the same kind of treatments at home.  And I do mean, the same kind.  The best spas use only natural, healthy ingredients.  And most of those ingredients are already in your kitchen.  So find yourself some spare time, a quiet room, some candles and soothing music, and let the pampering begin!

Let's start with the facial.  The basics of giving yourself a facial include washing skin thoroughly, applying a mask, and finishing up with an astringent.  A basic fruit mask is very simple to make.  Pick the fruit that suits your skin type (see side bar), mash it very well, squeeze out the juice, apply the pulp all over your face, sit back and relax for 15 minutes, rinse off.  

Or alternatively, for a skin-firming mask, mash a raw egg yolk with 1/2 tsp olive (or wheat germ or almond or avocado oil) and add 1 tsp chamomile flowers.  Apply the mixture to your clean, slightly damp skin.  Leave on 15 minutes, rinse thoroughly, then apply a thin layer of raw honey.  Pat with finger tips until honey becomes tacky.  Rinse off.

Exfoliating skin leaves it soft as a baby's.  Give yourself a full body exfoliating aromatherapy salt glow rub:  Mix 1-2 cups sea salt, 1/2-1 cup olive oil, 4-8 drops essential oil (lavender, patchouli, rose geranium are all good choices for skin; pick one whose scent delights you) in a small bowl.  Get in the shower and give yourself a good rub down with the mixture.  Rinse off thoroughly.  You are going to love your skin!

Feed your hair with a nutritious oil treatment.  In a small bowl, mix 1 raw egg, olive oil (determine the amount by the length of your hair), and 3 drops essential oil (basil, chamomile, rose, lavender, or lemon are all good choices for promoting hair growth).  Mix well, apply to wet hair, wrap hair in saran wrap and then a towel, leave on for 30-60 minutes.  Wash out with normal shampooing.

Take a long, luxurious Soothing Sea Minerals bath.  Add 1 pound epsom salt, 1/2 pound baking soda, 1 cup borax, 8 drops essential oil (chamomile, lavender, rose, ylang ylang are all good choices).

For the perfect home-made spa day, let your creativity be your guide.  You can mix and match the above mentioned treatments and modify them to your taste.  Here's one my own favorite routines:   Chase everyone out of the bathroom, light as many candles as you can find, and put some soothing music in the background.  Make a tall, cool peppermint ice tea if the weather is hot, or a cup of chamomile, lavender hot tea if the weather is cool and bring it with you to the bathroom.   Start out by applying the Nutritious Hair Oil treatment, while you're preparing your Soothing Sea Minerals bath.  Apply your facial mask, climb in the tub and luxuriate for the appropriate amount of time.  When you get out of the tub, head for the shower with your Exfoliating Aromatherapy Salt Glow rub, end your cleansing shower with cool water.  Complete your home-made spa day with long, luxurious nap.  You'll feel like a new person.