Drink Lemon water in the morning

Starting every morning with a glass of warm lemon water is actually a ritual in Ayurveda or Yogic traditions, used to stimulate digestion for the day and clear the body of any toxins that may have settled in the digestive tract overnight.
We tend to reach for those warm beverages in the morning like coffee and tea, but try starting your day with some warm lemon water first to kick-start digestion. The water doesn’t always have to be warm, but it should be purified. Simply use half a fresh lemon per large glass of water or to taste and sip throughout the day. On a simple level, fresh lemons take plain old water up a notch.

1. Support immune function:

• Lemons are high in antioxidant vitamin C, known for its supportive role in healthy immune function which may reduce the risk of respiratory infection. Ascorbic acid (vitamin C) found in lemons demonstrates anti-inflammatory effects, and is used as complementary support for asthma and other respiratory symptoms. Lemons also contain saponins, which show antimicrobial properties that may help keep cold and flu at bay. Last but not least, ascorbic acid enhances iron absorption in the body; iron plays an important role in immune function.

2. Alkalize the body:

• Although the tartness of a lemon may make them seem acidic, lemons are actually one of the most alkalizing foods for the body. Lemons contain both citric and ascorbic acid, weak acids easily metabolized from the body allowing the mineral content of lemons to help alkalize the blood.

3. Aid digestion:

• Citrus flavonols are believed responsible for lemon’s traditional use as a digestive tonic. Believed to stimulate and purify the liver, lemon juice is traditionally understood to support digestive hydrochloric acid in the stomach further aiding digestion. Vitamin C status has been associated with reduced risk of peptic ulcers caused by the bacteria Helicobacter pylori.

4. Clear skin:

• Vitamin C and other antioxidants in lemons combat free radical damage. Free radical damage — especially as caused by UV exposure and environmental toxins — is responsible for many symptoms of aging. Antioxidant intake can help offset this damage, minimizing wrinkles. Further, lemon juice can be applied topically to scars and age spots to help reduce their appearance. Traditionally used as a liver stimulant, lemon water is also believed to help purge toxins from the blood, helping to keep skin clear of blemishes.

5. Promote healing:

• Ascorbic acid (vitamin C), found in abundance in lemons, promotes wound healing, and is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of healthy bones, connective tissue, and cartilage. As noted previously, vitamin C also displays anti-inflammatory properties. Combined, vitamin C is an essential nutrient in the maintenance of good health and recovery from stress and injury.

Oil Cleansing

There are different methods of facial cleansing  – foamy, gel, soapy, dry. There are exfoliants and scrubs. Toners and splashes. And then there’s oil. The superhero of facial cleaning.  Yes, You heard me right. Oil.
Regardless of your particular skin type (dry, oily, normal, reptilian), there’s an oil-cleansing method that will work with you.

“Oil cleansing method,” is one of the most popular cleansing method in the olden days. You want to know more about this oddly effective way to wash your face. I don’t blame you. It’s awesome!
Everything you want to know about the oil cleansing method. Why it works. How to do it. The pros and cons.
Your mind will be blown. Your face, gorgeous.

HOW DOES IT WORK?

Turn off the tap for a minute. Put your facial cleanser away. Instead, today, grab some oils and slather them on your face. Massage them around. Let them lounge luxuriously. Now, turn the tap back on – very warm water. Dunk a washcloth in it and then slowly wipe the oil off your face.
Guess what? Your face is now as clean as it needs to be. It’s radiant. Gorgeous,. You’ve just used the oil cleansing method.
But how does it work?
You know how your skin – all of it – secretes oil? Even if your face feels dry, it still has oil on it.
Well, according to chemistry know-how, like dissolves like. So, effectively what you’re doing  is dissolving and wiping away all the icky dirty oil from your face and replenishing it with clean, nourishing oil.
There’s no harsh chemicals involved. No suds. Nothing to actually strip your skin of its oil.
And this is good, because when you strip your skin of its sebum, it goes into overdrive, trying to create more. Which leads to clogged pores. Blackheads. Whiteheads. Just plain old irritation.

 What Oils are best for oil cleansing?

Regardless of your skin type, there’s one oil you’ll probably want, and that is:
Castor oil.
Castor oil is gives you the most cleansing, dissolving bang for your buck. It’s also highly antibacterial in nature.
It can also be drying. So depending on your skin type, you’ll either use more or less castor oil proportionally to the other oils.

Good Oil Cleansing Varieties

• Jojoba (all skin types, but very desirable for acne-prone skin)
• Sweet almond (all skin types, especially oily)
• Grapeseed (all skin types, especially oily)
• Avocado (dry and aging skin)
  
• Sunflower Seed (all skin types)
  
• Apricot Kernel (dry, aging, and normal skin)
  
• Argan (all skin types, especially aging skin … very pricey)
• Tamanu (all skin types … very pricey)
• Olive oil (all skin types)
• Coconut oil ( dry skin and aging skin )

  Oil Cleansing ratio

When you first start out with OCM, It’s best to think in ratios of thirds. You can measure these thirds out ahead of time and prepare a whole bottle full of oil. Or, you can do what I do and just eyeball it each time you use the method.
It might be better to use this on a “wash-by-wash” basis before you go mixing a whole bottle of oil together, just in case you want to change up the ratios if you notice your face is becoming too dry or too oily.
Here’s the rule of oil-cleansing thirds (remember, castor oil is important here):
.
.

• Oily skin: Use 2/3 castor oil to 1/3 carrier oil. (Or measure out 2 tsp castor oil and 1 tsp carrier oil.)
• Normal skin: Use equal parts castor oil and carrier oil. (Measuring out 1-1/2 tsp castor oil and 1-1/2 tsp carrier oil.)
• Dry skin: Use 1/3 castor oil and 2/3 carrier oil. (Again, 2 tsp carrier oil and 1 tsp castor oil.)

These ratios are NOT set in stone, but they’re a great jumping off point. Again, when I do this, I just eyeball it in the palm of my hand and go from there.
My favorite mix thus far: 1 tsp castor oil, 1 tsp avocado oil, and 1 tsp coconut oil.

Oil cleansing in 3 easy steps

1. Prepare. Either mix your oils together ahead of time, or have the bottles ready. Set a clean washcloth beside the sink. Turn the hot water on to warm up.
2. Cleanse. Starting with a dirty face (no need to pre-clean here, even if you’re wearing makeup), rinse your face lightly with the warm, running water. Pour the oil in the palm of your hand and then apply gently all over your face. Massage firmly, but gently, always moving upwards. Massage for 2 minutes, and then let the oil sit on your face for 30 more seconds or more.
3. Rinse. By now, you should have very hot water coming out of your faucet. Adjust the heat until it’s cool enough to apply to your skin, but warm enough to soften the oil (it’s probably going to be hotter than the water you usually rinse your face with). Dunk the washcloth under the hot/warm water until it’s completely soaked. Apply the washcloth to your face and hold it there for 10-15 seconds. Slowly begin to wipe off. Rinse your washcloth and repeat until you’ve wiped all the oil off your skin.

That’s it!
Your skin is now cleansed.
For as easy as it sounds – and as beneficial as it is – there are some pros and cons to oil cleansing, though.

Pros and Cons of Oil cleansing

Pros:

• It’s fantastic for your skin, and works for many people to clear up acne, combat dryness, and maintain a radiant glow.
• It’s super natural (be sure to buy cold-pressed or expeller-pressed organic oils, as well as castor oil that’s consciously extracted).
• It whisks away makeup in a flash.  (It’s the only way I clean my face when I wear makeup now.)
• It doesn’t strip the skin of its natural oils.
• If you use this nightly, you may not need to spring for pricey moisturizers anymore.
  

Cons:

• It may take a week or two for your skin to adjust to this new regimen.
• It’s more time-consuming than just washing your face with a cleanser.
• It’s a little more costly than using a cleanser, depending on the oils you choose.
• It may mean more laundry, due to the numerous washcloths you’ll go through if you do this every night.

Notes on the Oil Cleansing Method

Now that you know why you should do it, how to do it, and whether or not you’re up to the challenge, you may have a couple of questions. If I don’t cover them here, feel free to ask down below.
The frequency at which you use the OCM is up to you. Some people do it every night. I don’t have that kind of hardcore dedication (nor do I feel like my face gets dirty enough most of the time to warrant it). The one thing I would probably steer clear of – completely – is switching up the OCM with a store-bought facial cleanser that contains sulfates or sulfides. You’ll just confuse the heck out of your skin and it won’t know what to do with its own oil.
You might not need to moisturize after you use the oil cleansing method. This is where I heartily encourage you to get to know your own skin, so you can tell if it’s feeling dry enough to use a moisturizer. Every time I’ve OCM’ed before bedtime, I’ve never felt the need to moisturize (save a little vitamin E oil around my eyes).
You CAN jazz it up with things like tea tree oil or lavender essential oil (if your face is oily or acne-prone) or carrot seed oil or rose hip oil for normal/dry skin or even some rose essential oil,coconut oil or myrrh essential oil if your skin is aging. In all cases, just use 2-3 drops of each oil in your mixture.
Don’t sweat it if you don’t enjoy the oil cleansing method. It does take some time, and it does take some time to get used to. Eventually, you may feel like you’re pampering your face in a whole new and incredible way. Or you may feel like you never want to go to bed, because. Only do it if you enjoy it – if you see and feel a difference you’re happy with.

Coconut oil to help your dental problems

Have you heard of oil pulling?

Oil pulling is an ancient practice in Asia, but suddenly it is catching on in the United States. It involves swishing an oil around in your mouth (coconut oil is the most common one) for dental and other health benefits.

Oil pulling is taking an organic oil and swishing it around your mouth and it’s supposed to draw out bad bacteria, toxins. It supposedly helps asthma, diabetes, upper respiratory problems and helps clear the skin.

Despite the fact that I make and use coconut oil a lot, i was ignorant of the fact that this amazing wonder of nature can as well be used for tooth problems which I've been battling for years. Until an Auntie Friend of mine who is also a naturalist told my Mum to start using coconut oil for her teeth.
My Mum told me about it. I started using it because getting an extra virgin coconut oil is not a problem, cos i make it!
The gist of the matter is that after using it for 3days my tooth sensitivity disappeared!

If you've tried oil pulling please let us know.



For your Olaa black soap, Shea butter, coconut oil and natural honey call 08023161126 ; 08020924020 to place your order. 

facial scrub for different skin types

Avocado

So you’ve treated yourself to a little handmade spa action, and your skin is feeling fantastical! Now, you just need to maintain that healthy skin. Check out these facial scrub recipes for dry, normal, and oily skin!
The best way to apply your scrub is to gently massage it on with a damp washcloth, and make sure you rinse your face thoroughly when you’re done. Also, don’t miss the easy toner recipe at the very bottom!

A word of caution about these scrubs: you don’t want to exfoliate every day. Once or twice a week is just perfect for maintaining healthy, glowing skin! More than that can cause oiliness, dryness or breakouts as your skin compensates for the “lost” moisture. You’ll want to mix up very small batches- enough for just one or two uses – since these recipes are food-based and won’t keep for too long on the shelf.
Dry Skin
To help ease dry skin, you’ll want to gently exfoliate while also moisturizing. ehow has a fantastic scrub that uses olive oil and avocado to moisturize and sugar to smooth. If your skin is exceptionally dry, follow this up with a little bit of olive or coconut oil to moisturize even more. You might also try drinking more water to treat your skin right from the inside out!
Normal Skin
To gently moisturize and exfoliate normal skin, try mixing a bit of sugar and baking soda with enough coconut oil to form a paste. If this feels a bit too oily for your skin, you can also try half oil and half honey in the mix.
Oily Skin
We knew oatmeal was good for your insides…who knew it was great for your face? You can make a simple oatmeal scrub by combining equal parts ground oatmeal and deeply steeped, cooled chamomile tea. Add a little bit of honey and a drop of tea tree oil, and you’re ready to scrub. This recipe also works with spent coffee grounds in place of the oatmeal. Invigorating!
No matter what your skin type, you might enjoy following this up with a soothing green tea toner. Just steep the tea for about 10 minutes and let it cool. Put it in a spray bottle and spritz on or apply with a clean cloth. Voila!
Have you guys made any great facial scrubs or toners? We’d love to hear about them in the comments!

DIY Face scrub

Rather than buy a pricey face scrub in a single use plastic container, why not whip up your own homemade face scrub with ingredients from the pantry?
It took all of 5 minutes to make this scrub, and I can’t wait to start exfoliating! You might be tempted to go for a bigger batch, but because this is food-based you want smaller batches that you replace a bit more frequently. Better to make this once a week or so than to realize that your face scrub is spoilt, right?

Ingredients

• 1/4 Oatmeal (I used quick oats, but if you use whole rolled oats, you’ll want to run them through the food processor to break them up a bit.  You just want them ground up coarsely, so they’ll absorb the honey and the oils.)
• 2 table spoon honey
• 10 drops of tea tree and lavender essential oil blend (or 5 drops each, if you don’t have a blended oil)

Directions
1. In a small glass jar, combine the oats and honey, stirring to combine them really well. Be patient when you’re mixing – it takes a few minutes of stirring for the oats to absorb the moisture.

2. Drop the oil into the jar, and stir again to combine really well.
3. Apply the scrub in the shower after you wash your face, rubbing in a circular motion with your fingers or a damp wash cloth.
The beauty of this homemade face scrub is that you can really have fun with the substitutions. Don’t have oatmeal handy? Try coffee grounds or cornmeal instead! Allergic to lavender?  Leave it out or substitute with another essential oil. The beauty of lavender and tea tree is that they have antiseptic properties, which helps kill the bacteria that often cause breakouts and helps keep the scrub from spoiling. Other oils with antiseptic properties are: peppermint, lemon, oregano, geranium, and thyme. Mix things up and have fun with it!

DIY deodorant

Good morning all you Beauties. I'ts been a while. I lost someone really dear to me and I've been grieving.
I am learning to live and cope without this Angel and now I'm back to you my friends churning out some tips on how you can achieve a beautiful you just as nature intends (without the use of chemicals).


Bottled beauty products contain all kinds of harmful chemicals, from carcinogens and endocrine disruptors to allergens. And to top it off, they usually come bottled in plastic that ends up in the landfill when you’re done with that shampoo or body scrub.
 

Want to whip up your own personal care products? Treat yourself right with these DIY beauty recipes using simple ingredients. Store-bought beauty supplies can be bad news. They often contain toxic ingredients, many of which are misleadingly labelled.

That’s the bad news. The good news? You can easily make your own beauty products to replace those chemical products you find on the store shelves. Check out these recipes for beauty supplies that you can whip up easily at home with no special equipment.

    

4 Ingredients DIY Deodorant

• 2 tablespoons baking soda 
• 2 tablespoons corn starch
• 3 tablespoons coconut oil
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and chill nicely into a mold, it is nice and creamy at room temperature. To mold mine, I used a foil cupcake liner that I had on hand (a paper one would work fine, too). I pressed the mixture into the liner, dropped it in a teacup, and pressed some more.

Let it chill for about an hour, and you're ready to use! If you want lotion-style deodorant, you can skip the whole cupcake liner step.

But does it work?

I applied a bit of the deodorant and was very impressed! There's no white residue once you rub it in, though I'd definitely recommend applying before you get dressed, since it's a little messier than chemical deodorants. It kept me unstinky for the whole day, despite me skipping a shower.
Overall, I'd definitely recommend this recipe! It came together in minutes, not counting the time to chill. If you're doing it lotion style, there isn't even any chilling required.

Do you have a favorite DIY deodorant? Tell us your recipe in the comments!

 

Adenike Ewaroluwa Ogungbe

Hmmm! Adenike Omo Oba that is what I always call you. I can't believe I will be writing a tribute on you but.... Oluwa lo ye. Adenike to rewa to niwa. What a rare combination of beauty, brains, grace and humility. You gave so much love to everyone around you. There was never a dull moment with you.

I can still remember your words when you encouraged me to start olaa naturale products. You said " auntie this thing you make and give to us for free is very good and you should start making money from it". You took it upon yourself to hunt for the packaging. You turned yourself into my chief marketing and accounting officer. Just 2days before your death you were still telling me to bring more soaps that you're out of stock.

That is the extent you'll go to sacrifice your time for others.

You were a very good wife to my brother, you never cease to worry about him. Even after the surgery when you came into consciousness he was the first person you asked for. You said "Abidemi I love you".

I told you he has gone to get food for the baby. Then you asked if I had seen the baby to which I replied no. You asked that I should take care of her and I said we would.

Oh 'Denike! You came, you saw, you fought the good fight and you conquered death.

You were my wife, my friend, my sister, my chief marketing officer, my accounting officer, my confidant.  A wife we are proud of. A wife other wives should emulate.

A woman of grace and virtue. A true icon, an enigma. You have put your footprints on the sands of time, you'll never be forgotten and you'll be greatly missed.

Sunre Adenike! Sunre Ewar! Sunre Omo kareem! Sunre Aya Ogungbe.

O di arinako, o di oju ala. 

Sleep on beloved, till we meet to part no more.

Things every woman should know about her vagina

My intention with this piece is to open up dialogue, educate women, and encourage us all to know, love, and celebrate our bodies. Enjoy the info, and please, pass it on!

• The only cancer a Pap smear screens for is cervical cancer. It doesn’t check your ovaries, your uterus, or your colon.
  What is HPV? Human papilloma virus is a virus from the papillomavirus family that is capable of infecting humans.
• How much vaginal discharge you make varies widely. Some normal, healthy women spew loads of discharge and need to wear panty liners every day. Others are bone dry. As long as you are not at risk of STDs and you have no itching, burning, or odor, you’re probably just fine. If in doubt, see your gynecologist.
• Every vulva is different and special. Some lips hang down. Some are tucked up neatly inside. All are beautiful. Don’t even think about labiaplasty or “vaginal rejuvenation surgery.” You’re perfect just the way you are.
• Most women don’t have orgasm from intercourse alone. The clitoris is where the action is. Most women who do orgasm during sex have figured out how to with hitting the sweet spot, either from positioning or from direct stimulation of the clitoris with fingers.
• If you’re hunting for your G Spot, be patient. Stimulating this area usually requires more time and deeper stimulation than most people think. Try using a finger in a “come hither” motion to stimulate the front wall of the vagina, where the G spot lives. If you can’t find it, don’t worry. You’re not alone. Many can’t- and it’s definitely not critical to having a fulfilling romp in the hay.
• How you choose to decorate is completely personal. Waxing, shaving, tattooing, piercing, or simply going all natural. It’s your choice, and don’t let anyone else pressure you into doing something that doesn’t resonate with you.

The vagina is like a bicep. Use it or lose it. If you don’t have a partner, pick up a battery-operated boyfriend to help keep things healthy as you age. But don’t worry- it’s usually not an issue until after menopause, when fragile vaginal tissue can scar and shrink. If properly tended, your vagina will be able to pleasure you until the day you leave this life.

While men do pee out of the penis, women do not pee out of the vagina. Know your anatomy. There are three holes and countless other sexy structures. Find your way around on the Pretty Pink Pussy Tour. Get a hand mirror and go to town.

The vagina doesn’t connect to your lung. If you lose something in there, don’t worry. Reach in all the way and pull it out. Do not- I repeat- do not, go hunting for whatever you’ve lost with a pair of pliers. If you think you put something in there and you can’t find it, chances are good that it’s simply not there. Think of your vagina as being like a sock. If you lose a banana in a sock…it stays in the sock.

Yes, it’s true- your vagina can fall out. Yes your vagina can turn inside out just like a worn out sweat sock and hang between your legs as you get older. But don’t fret- this condition- called pelvic prolapse- can be fixed.

There’s no such thing as being revirginized. Once you lose it, it’s gone. Just so you know.

You can catch sexually transmitted diseases even if you use a condom. Sorry to break it to you, but skin of the vulva can still touch infectious skin of the scrotum- and BAM! Warts. Herpes. Molluscum contagiosum. So pick your partners carefully.

The vagina doesn’t need to be douched. As a friend says, “My vagina doesn’t need to be cleaned up. It smells good already. Don’t try to decorate. Don’t believe him when he tells you it smells like rose petals when it’s supposed to smell like pussy. That’s what they’re doing – trying to clean it up, make it smell like bathroom spray or a garden. All those douche sprays – floral, berry, rain. I don’t want my pussy to smell like rain. All cleaned up like washing a fish after you cook it. I want to taste the fish. That’s why I ordered it.” Amen, sister.

Menstrual blood is supposed to clot, so don’t freak out. Usually, what you think are clots are just pieces of uterine lining. As long as you’re not losing too much blood, small clots during your period need not concern you. Clots are just nature’s way of keeping you from bleeding too much. Blood is supposed to clot. It’s when the clots are large or you start to hemorrhage that we start to worry.

Lots of vaginas need help lubing up during sex, especially as you get older. Don’t be afraid to slick on some lubricant like K-Y Jelly or Astroglide (coconut oil is a great natural lubricant).

Vaginal farts (some call them “queefs” or “varts”) happen to almost all women at one time or another, especially during sex or other forms of exercise. Don’t be embarrassed. You’re perfectly normal.

Vaginas stretch out when you have babies vaginally. It’s natural but it can leave you feeling a bit loosey goosey. Kegel exercises (contracting the muscles of the vagina) really do help. To do them, practice stopping the stream of urine when you pee. There- that’s the muscle! Now contract and relax it 10 times for three or more sets several times per day.

Some women do ejaculate during orgasm, but you’re normal if you don’t. The controversial “female ejaculation” most likely represents two different phenomena. If it’s a small amount of milky fluid, it likely comes from the paraurethral glands inside the urethra. If it’s a cup, it’s probably pee. Many times, it may be a little bit of both. But don’t stress out about peeing on yourself. Put a towel under you and surrender to the experience.

Sex shouldn’t hurt, but it does for many women. If you’re one of those women, see your doctor. So many women are too embarrassed to say anything, so they suffer in silence. There are things we can do to help.

Safe sex (or even just orgasm alone) is good for you. Benefits include lowering your risk of heart disease and stroke, reducing your risk of breast cancer, blostering your immune system, helping you sleep, making you appear more youthful, improving your fitness, Regulating menstrual cycles, relieving menstrual cramp, relieving chronic pain, reducing the risk of depression, lowering stress levels, and improving self esteem. So go at it, girlfriends!

Even Out your skin tone naturally

As we get older, acne and aging occur, skin tone can become uneven and discolored. There are a lot of skin toning products out there, but there are less harsh, natural methods that can help even your skin tone as well.
Washing your face with a natural, organic cleanser like our traditional black soap is key. Look for a cleanser with a glycerin or castile soap base that cleans without stripping the skin's protective acid mantle.

Lemon Juice 

Lemons are fruits that are acidic, so applying lemon juice to skin can help maintain the proper pH, which is important for keeping skin tone even. The citric acid in lemons is a natural way to lighten and even out skin tone by applying the juice to skin for 15 minutes once weekly and then rinsing it off. One important thing to remember when using lemon juice is that if you have any cuts or scratches, it will cause them to burn. Using it as a toner is a perfect way of including it in your beauty regime. Fill a water bottle or other container with one part freshly squeezed lemon juice and five parts filtered water. Apply the lemon juice toner with a cotton ball and do not rinse off.

Oatmeal

Oatmeal can be a natural way to even skin tone because it can act as an exfoliating agent, that breaks up dirt and bumps on your skin for a more even surface and tone. Before applying oatmeal, mix it together with a bit of honey so that it is more of a paste. You should leave it on your skin for a few minutes before rubbing it with your fingers. Make sure to wash all the paste off and apply sunscreen.

Using a high SPF sunblock that contains vitamin C and E is your first line of defense in treating your uneven skin tone, and getting the bright, even skin you desire. Even if you don't believe the sun is the cause of your problem, sun will make the marks darker and possibly create more. If you don't have the time to make your own lemon juice, look for products containing vitamin C. Studies have shown that vitamin C exhibits skin brightening and bleaching properties. Vitamin E protects against damage from reactive oxygen-free radicals and UV rays, natural Shea butter has loads of Vitamin E.

Honey   

Honey can be used to even skin tone because it works as a moisturizer and has antibacterial properties that can reduce the size of acne scars and blemishes, it also has a bleaching effect on the skin. I suggest using natural honey because it has even more antibacterial properties than any other honey. The honey adds moisture thereby preventing your skin from drying out. 

Milk 

Milk is a great way to naturally soften and lighten your skin for a more even tone. It works on melanin to lighten the skin, diminishing the appearance of darker blemishes and scars. It also softens the skin, which is great for people with dry or flaky skin. Just dab a little on after cleansing your face with a gentle, natural cleanser, I'll recommend black soap any day, any where; and allow to sit for 20 minutes, then rinse off.

Natural Oils   

Massage your face with nourishing oils -- sweet almond, coconut, olive, shea butter and jojoba oils are good choices -- before going to bed, allowing oils to soak into the skin overnight can contribute to glowing skin in the morning. Apply the oil to the skin using your fingertips. Use caution when massaging the sensitive tissues around the eyes.

Mask 

Apply a homemade, natural face mask once or twice per week. Mash one ripe banana with one egg white and coat your face, neck and decolletage with the mixture. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes, then rinse it off with warm water.

Eat Nutritiously

If you want beautiful skin, you must eat nutritiously and drink plenty of water. Water helps keep your skin hydrated and moisturized, making it less prone to wrinkling and losing elasticity. Eating a healthy diet that includes a wide variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat dairy foods, and lean meats or protein sources, is very important. Foods that are high in antioxidants are especially important to eat, as they help fight the damaging effects of the environment that build up in the body and cause aging. Vitamin C is an antioxidant that helps protect skin from the sun, and is found in fruits and vegetables such as strawberries, oranges, tomatoes, blueberries, cabbage and raspberries. Vitamin E is another nutrient that is vital to skin health, as it helps skin maintain its vitality and youth while fighting the harmful effects of environmental pollutants. Good sources of vitamin E include spinach, turnip greens, peanuts, wheat germ, almonds, sunflower seeds, vegetable oil, coconut oil, Shea butter and whole grains.

Make Healthy Lifestyle Choices

Practice healthy lifestyle choices. Avoid smoking and drinking alcohol, as they pump harmful toxins into the body that trigger stress and aging. Smoking causes wrinkles and sagging of the skin, and drinking alcohol depletes moisture in the skin and can trigger broken blood vessels and uneven skin tone. Develop healthy habits such as exercising regularly, which gets blood circulating in the body and stimulates skin cell growth, regeneration and moisture. Also use stress management techniques to reduce stress in your life, as stress can contribute to aging of the skin, breakouts and other skin imbalances. Manage the stress in your life by getting enough sleep, taking time to relax each day and slowing down your pace of life.

In order to see result from any treatment, it's important to continue using it for at least 3-4 weeks.

Making your own sugar scrub

Sugar is the generalized name for a class of chemically-related sweet-flavored substances, most of which are used as food. They are carbohydrates, composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen. There are various types of sugar derived from different sources (sugarcane and sugarbeets).
Sugar is not healthy for you to eat, but these sugar body scrub recipes are great for your skin! Sugar cane produces glycolic acid, which is a natural alpha hydroxy acid that exfoliates the skin. The roughness of the sugar also exfoliates and the oils moisturize and hydrate the skin.
Homemade sugar scrub, is extremely moisturizing and exfoliating and costs very little to make. These scrubs can be used on your face, feet or as a homemade body scrub.
These sugar scrubs can last for up to 3 weeks (You do not need to keep them in the fridge). They are all easy to make, just mix the ingredients in a bowl and store in a air tight container. Also keep your scrub away from water or bacteria to prevent it from going rancid.

Some of my favorite natural sugar scrub recipes

Cinnamon brown sugar body scrub recipe
1 Cup brown sugar
½ Cup of jojoba oil
½ tsp of Vitamin E oil
½ tsp Cinnamon

Lemon brown sugar scrub recipe
1 Cup brown sugar
½ Cup coconut oil
½ tsp Vitamin E oil
½ tsp of Lemon essential oil

Vanilla sugar body scrub
1 Cup brown sugar
½ Cup Jojoba oil
½ tsp Vitamin E oil
1 tsp Vanilla extracts (extract from vanilla pods)

Eczema Mint foot & hand scrub
1 cup brown sugar
½ cup olive oil
½ tsp Vitamin E oil
5 drops clove oil which is antibacterial.
5 drops Shea butter oil, which has anti-aging properties
5 drops Wintergreen oil, which is good for treating skin diseases such as eczema and other skin infections.
10 drops peppermint oil

Peppermint body sugar scrub recipe
1 Cup white sugar
½ cup jojoba oil
½ tsp Vitamin E oil
5 drops of peppermint essential oil

Fresh homemade facial scrubs to be made as you use them:
Lemon, honey scrub
¼ cup brown sugar
1/8 cup of Grapeseed oil

1 Tablespoon of Raw honey
¼ tsp Vitamin E oil
A few drops of fresh lemon juice

Almond scrub
¼ cup white sugar
1/8 cup Almond oil
1 Tablespoon raw almond pulp
¼ tsp Vitamin E oil
2 drops of essential almond oil
(If you have leftovers, use it as a foot and body scrub)

Creating your own sugar body scrub recipe
You should add 1 part sugar with ½ part oil, I like adding vitamin E oil, because it is so good for your skin. Vitamin E oil is also a natural preservative. Then just add any essential oil of your choice.
Here are some ingredient options:
Sugar: Use either white or brown sugar, some like to use organic raw sugar.
Oil: Olive oil, Almond oil, Coconut oil, Jojoba oil, Grapefruit oil, corn oil, Peanut oil, Avocado oil, Shea butter or any other oil of your choice
Essential oil: Peppermint oil, Lemon oil, Lavender oil, Chamomile oil, Rose oil, Rosemary, Juniper oil (great for eczema) and many others.
How to use your sugar scrub:
How to exfoliate: Massage the scrub into your feet, hands and any other area; leave on while applying instead of rinsing off as you go along. Massage gently using your fingers or a face cloth in circular motions.
Use it as a shower scrub: You could get into the shower before-hand, scrub all over and then have a lovely wash, no mess no fuss!
Extra notes on sugar face scrubs
If you have oily skin, its best to use Bergamot, Cedarwood, Cypress, Frankincense, Geranium, Juniper, Lavender, Lemon, Sage essential oils, and jojoba oil as a base oil. You can also use less oil in the mixture, if you have oily skin, add just enough to moisten the sugar.

You only need to exfoliate with your homemade sugar scrubs, once per week to make a difference to your skin.
The ingredients in the scrub will settle, so they need to be mixed up a little before use every time.