I am happy to finally be able to say Winter is coming to an end. Not only is it time to get your body right for bathing suit season, it's time to refresh your look starting with your hair and skin. After a long, cold winter your hair and skin are begging to be spoiled!
Let's start here:
That's right; an avocado! Amazing for your hair. Some even say it makes your hair grow faster; we've all heard those myths; I won't lie I will be the first to test this theory out! In many parts of the world avocado is called the "poor man's oil". It contains Vitamins A, B, C and E which are great for curly, thick hair. Just mix 1 ripe avocado with 1 egg and olive oil and rub into your scalp. Ideally, you should let the mixture sit in your hair for about 30 minutes but I know we all don't have that time so 10 minutes is good too.
Next up?
Oh yes, we are going to use every fruit in the house! Bananas, like avocado's, are great for adding moisture to dry locks. How does a Banana Hair Smoothie sound? It smell's awfully good to me! For this wonderful concoction you will need:
- 1 mashed banana
- 1 egg
- 3 tablespoons honey
- 3 tablespoons milk
- 5 tablespoons olive oil
Mix all the ingredients together and apply to hair. Again, try to let it sit for about 30 minutes. For more damaged hair it's best to let these masks sit a bit longer. Then rinse out and Shampoo and Condition as usual.
The next item we will be taking out of your refrigerator is:
Yogurt is probably one of the most versatile ingredients I have come across. You can cook with it instead of using sour cream, heavy cream or buttermilk, you can make cheese with it, you can drink it (yogurt smoothie anyone?), you can add granola or fruit to it for a healthy snack, or just eat it alone. It's not only delicious but really healthy for you as well. Do you know what else it's healthy for? Your dry skin after a long winter! That's right, yogurt's antibacterial properties make it a useful, degerming cleanser, and its lactic-acid content soothes irritation, clarifies the pores and softens the skin. Finally, yogurt is known for its probiotics (live, active cultures), which are helpful in naturally treating skin conditions such as acne and eczema.
(Read more here)
This is the by far the easiest at home remedy I have ever found. All you do is apply the yogurt to your face and let it sit for about 20 minutes and then wash it off. If you have dry skin use a yogurt that is full fat as opposed to low-fat or fat free. If your skin is oily, use a low-fat or fat free option.
If you did want to add another ingredient to the mask, for dry skin add a tablespoon of honey to the yogurt. For oily skin, add 1 or 2 tablespoons of orange or lemon juice.
(If you are allergic to dairy you may not want to try this one; sorry guys!)
And last but definitely not least:
For all you fashionistas looking to splurge on yourself for a day of relaxation, http://www.spafinder.com can help you find a spa near you. And, although I have never used this site, a good friend of mine recommended http://www.lifebooker.com for gals in or around New York City. I know I booked a facial and a hair cut/color for this month! How are you going to refresh, renew and rejuvenate!?
xo
R
