Wax and Bubbles

Kelp or seaweed is a brown marine plant that has health benefits that make it one of the most used resources on the market in health care and beauty products. Kelp is called a “miracle plant” because of its huge therapeutic properties, it contain natural minerals and it’s a rich source of iodine and iron, which is important for the proper functioning of thyroid and iron is important for blood cell function.

Kelps correct mineral deficiencies. Helps in maintaining the proper function of all glands. Helps prevent osteoporosis, as well as being beneficial for those suffering from impotence, anemia and emaciation. Kelp also helps to detoxify the body.

Here are two recipes to make in your own home to introduce your body to the benefits of kelp.

1. Kelp Facial Mask

You will need:

• 1 tablespoons dried kelp power (can be found at any health food store)
• 1 tablespoons white kaolin clay (can be found at any health food store as well)
• 1 tablespoon plain yogurt or evens sour cream will work (make sure it’s all-natural and organic)

In a medium bowl, mix the dried kelp and white kaolin clay together. If you own a sifter that will work best to make sure the powders are completely combined. Add the sour cream or plain yogurt to the powder mixture to create a smooth paste, making sure all lumps are removed. If the mixture is too thick add a bit of water, if it’s too thin add more powder mixture.

To sue, spread onto clean skin and wait 15 to 20 minutes before rinsing it off completely with warm water. Follow up with facial moisturizer or natural facial oil.

2. Sea Mud Body Mask

You will need:

• 1/2 cup powdered clay
• 1/2 cup aloe vera gel
• 1/4 cup powdered kelp
• 1/4 cup seawater (you can create this on your own if you don’t have access to ocean water by mixing sea salt with some distilled water)

Mix together the ingredients to form a smooth paste, make sure all the lumps are out of the mixture. Spread the mud over your face and body parts that you are wanting to smooth out. You can even stand in the shower and coat your entire body with the mud. If you use a medium paint brush it makes the mud go on the body more smoothly.

Allow the mud to dry for about 15 to 20 minutes.

Shower with luke-warm water and remove the mud completely. Pat your skin dry, don’t rub. Follow with a moisturizer, such as cocoa butter or all natural moisturizer of your choice.

Sure, why not? Oranges are a great way to get plenty of vitamin C, and they contain citric acid, so why not use them for skin care as well. Here are some ways to incorporate oranges into your daily skin care routine.

1. Orange Tonic:

Blanch and grind a couple of almonds to a paste and mix in two tablespoons of milk and one tablespoon each of carrot and orange juice. Apply thickly on face and neck and leave on for half an hour. Removes scars and blemishes from the face and makes it soft and smooth.

2. Orange Sun block:

Oranges, Limes, and Lemons: These contain limonene, a major oil component derived from citrus rinds. A study from the University of Arizona shows that the presence of limonene in the body can reduce the risk for skin cancer by as much as 34%. So squeeze a few drops of orange juice straight from the orange itself into your favorite sun block lotion.

3. Vitamin C Mask:

Puree fruit or mix vitamin C powder with water into a smooth paste and apply like a mask. Leave it on for up to 30 minutes. Then remove with a washcloth and rinse. You can also put powders and juices in your bath water. Don’t forget to eat lots of foods with vitamin C to help your skin get healthy from the inside out.

4. Orange oil Soap:

1 oz. castor oil
1 oz. shea butter
2 oz. ground oatmeal
1 tsp. beeswax
7-10 drops of either sweet orange oil

Melt the castor oil, shea butter and beeswax in a double-boiler on the stove, or place in a microwaveable safe bowl. Heat until the beeswax and shea butter are completely melted. Add the oil and stir to incorporate. Add the oatmeal if you want a more solid soap and leave out if you want a more smooth, almost clear soap. Stir and pour into the soap mold or ice cube tray for smaller sizes. Allow to cool completely and use.

5. Orange Hand Cream:

Beeswax
Sweet almond oil
Double boiler
Small saucepan
Blender
Vitamin E capsules
Orange blossom essential oil
Small jars or tubes with tight fitting lids

Measure 2 oz. of beeswax and 1 cup extra virgin or cold pressed sweet almond oil in the top of a double boiler. Heat the mixture slowly until the wax melts, but don’t overheat the oil; excess temperatures destroy the healing elements. The mixture should never get too hot to touch. Warm 1 cup of water in a separate saucepan. Pour the water into a blender and cover with the lid. Remove the small circular cap in the lid and turn the blender on to it’s lowest setting.

Squeeze the oil from four 400 IU vitamin E capsules into the churning blender. Vitamin E is a natural moisturizer, an antioxidant that will nourish and protect your skin and a natural preservative for your hand cream. Pour the warm wax and oil mixture into the blender slowly as it mixes. Add 6 drops of orange blossom and 4 drops of vanilla essential oil. Orange blossom and vanilla make a soft citrus mix that enlightens the senses and soothes the skin.

Keep the blender churning until your citrus hand cream cools and thickens. Turn off the blender and carefully spoon your cream into small glass jars with tight fitting lids. Make sure that the hand cream has cooled completely before you seal the jars.

Treatment time: 80 Minutes
Products Needed:
• Salt body polish infused with juniper, cedarwood and jojoba oils
• Sedona clay
• Body polish infused with juniper, cedarwood and jojoba
• A desert inspired facial massage serum

Equpiment Needed:
• Shower facilities
• Woolen blankets
• Thermal blanket
• Sheets
• Plastic sheet (if desired)
• Bath towels, hand towels, wash clothes and bath mats
• Fetish stones
• Sage wands
• Feather
• Lighter
• Rainstick
• Disposable Gloves
• A willing partcipant

Step 1: The Juniper, Cedarwaood Desert Salt Body Polish:

The actual treatment begins with an application of the juniper, cedarwood desert salt body polish, enveloping the body in the rich , earthy scents of the desert woods and aromatic herbs. The person needs to lay down on a table dressed with a n open sheet, folded sheet and a woolen blanked, and the polish is applied to the entire body with gloved hands. As relaxation and rejuvenation are at the center of this treatment, soothing strokes and relaxing massage techniques should be utilized here. At the end of this step, allow the person a few minutes to shower off the scrub.

Step 2: The Juniper, Cedarwood Sacred Desert Sedona Clay Mask:

Again, have the person lie down on the table and apply a full-body mask of the detoxifying, enriching, energizing Sedona clay to them. The clay mask is also put into the body with gloved hands. The scent of the clay mask will help the person to find innter peaceful calm that centers her. After the clay is applied, a new set of sheets, as well as wool and thermal blankers, are used to wrap the person mummy-style.

Step 3: The Cocoon Wrap and Sage Smudging:

While the person is wrapped in the warm cocoon and experiencing the effects of the Sedona clay, the Fetish stones are used in this step. By plaing one on their hear to help them relax and mediate on the experince. To enhance detoxification, the smoke of burning sage wand is fanned over the person with feathers. This helps to clear out olf energies, as well as being balnace to the body, mind and spirit. After the completion of this step, help the p[erson unwrap and allow them to shower off the clay. Change the sheets at this point yet again.

Step 4: The Juniper, Cedarwood Jojoba Body Lotion:

For the final step in this ritual, have the person again lie on the table, and juniper, cedarwood and jojoba body lotion is applied. Rub the lotion completely into the skin on the entire body. This step ensures a final release of stress and causes relaxation to be reached.

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Chocolate Facial Mask
For normal skin.

1/3 cup pure cocoa powder
3 tbsp. heavy cream
2 tsp. cottage cheese
¼ cup honey
3 tsp. oatmeal

Mix all ingredients together in a blender, food processor or bullet blender until smooth. Cake onto face making sure not to get too much of the mixture in one area on the face. Take fresh sliced cucumber slices and while laying back apply chilled cucumber slices to eyes. Relax for ten-fifteen minutes. Making sure not to think about anything. Clear your mind and allow relaxation to come over you. If you are overly-stressed, set a timer so you don’t have to interupt your relaxation time to look at the clock. Once the time goes off after ten-fifteen minutes, remove cucumber slices and rinse your face with luke-warm water. Pat dry and apply a facial moisturizer, making sure to apply to neck area as well.

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FUTURE POST LOOK-ON:

• Herbal Facial Steam

• Herbal Massage Oil

• Antiseptic Mouth Wash

With the combination of cucumber, lavender essential oil and yogurt to cool the skin, this combination of ingredients helps soothe blemished skin and help ease the pain of blemishes. Cosmetic clay helps to draw out the impurities that lay under the skin, and the essential oil of juniper helps to rid the skin of bacteria. The main cause of blemishes on the skin is bacteria and what is the main reason for bacteria? Dirty skin. The most dirt on the skin surface the more bacteria. The more bacteria the more breakouts happen. The more breakouts the more there is of skin inflammation. The first step to help correct this issue is to cleanse the face throughly. always rinse with lukewarm water. This ensures you don’t inflame what is already flared. Pat your face dry and apply a soothing cucumber-melon mask to soothe the inflammation additionally. Here’s how to make this wonderful facial mask for problem skin.

Soothing Cucumber-Melon Facial Mask:

• 1 tablepsoon finely grated cucumber (without the seeds)
• 1 tablespoon finely grated cantaloupe (without any seeds)
• 1 tablespoon plain lowfat yogurt
• 2 teaspoons white cosmetic clay or green french clay (can be found at health food stores)
• 4 drops lavender essential oil
• 3 drops juniper essential oil
• 2 drops tea tree essential oil

Combine all the ingredients in a small glass bowl and mix throughly with a whisk. Apply the cucumber mask to clean skin, taking special attention not to get too close to the delicate eye area. Leave the mask on your face for 15-20 minutes. Rinse with luke-warm soaked soft washcloth. Pat dry with a soft towel. Do this just before bed for smoothe-textured skin all night. Be sure and was your face every morning and every night to avoid additional breakouts to the skin.

This mask is also great for older skin as well. When we age we loose water in our skin. In addition, we loose elasticity. So in order to help the skin retain moisture, use a water based mask to help the skin retain water.

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FUTURE POST LOOK-ON:

• Sore Muscle Soak

• Chocolate Facial Mask

• Herbal Facial Steam

• Herbal Massage Oil

• Antiseptic Mouth Wash