Who needs a spa when you’ve got a kitchen?

Now more than ever are we really weighing up the pros & cons of everything that’s unnecessarily costly. Yes it sure is amazing to be pampered by someone else but for most of us we’re lucky if we get it once a month or even once a year. But why wait when you could have a pamper session every week, even twice a week!

Milk, honey, cucumber, oatmeal, strawberry, egg, salt, sugar, black pepper, avocado, banana, yoghurt, vinegar, mayonnaise, mustard, lemon, orange, olive oil, coconut oil, baking soda, basil, coffee

These are just a few ingredients you can readily find in your kitchen that can be used in a at home pampering session. Used individually or in a combination these ingredients are a natural alternative to the harsh chemicals used to “help” restore & maintain the skins natural balance.

When it comes to your skin simplicity is best.

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Here are a few recipes to get you started on your natural journey.

Body & facial scrub:

Mix together sugar, black pepper, salt or coffee (my favourite) with olive oil. This inexpensive scrub will leave your skin beautifully polished.

Face masks:

Honey, mayonnaise, whisked egg whites & yoghurt can be used individually for a soothing & brightening face mask.

Mix together 3 tsp of a ripe avocado & 1 tsp honey. This is a wonderfully nourishing face mask perfect for all skin types.

Hair conditioner:

Mix together 1/2 cup honey & 1/4 cup olive oil for an intense conditioning.

Honey & avocado also make a great hair mask.

Toner:

Basil is a wonderful toner for acne prone skin. Boil water & mix in dried leaves. When the mixture has cooled strain it & store in a spray bottle. Use before & after cleansing for best results.

Bath soak:

You can add 1/2 to 1 cup of sea salt to your bath to reduce pains, relieve dry, itchy skin & to improve sleep.

Add 1 cup of full cream milk and a dash of honey to your bath for a beautifully nourishing bath.

Teeth whitener:

Crush 1 ripe strawberry and mix 1/2 tsp of baking soda; apply to teeth with toothbrush & let sit for 5 minutes. Brush your teeth after. Repeat once a week for pearly whites.

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There are so many variations & possibilities to choose from which can be daunting at first but it is half the fun. So why not start experimenting today?

The sweet benefits of honey.

Honey is full of antioxidants which helps with aging as it rejuvenates the skin. It is anti-bacterial which helps treat & prevent acne, it also clarifies skin by opening up pores. On top of all this, it has the ability to absorb & retain moisture keeping your skin well hydrated & beautifully soft. It is even safe to use on the most sensitive of skin.

Are you sold yet?

Here are a few tips on how to incorporate some honey loving into your life.

Honey can be used as a luxuriously effective:

     Face wash

As is or with a gentle oil such as jojoba or grapeseed

     Face mask

As is or you can mix it with yoghurt, egg, buttermilk, lemon juice & the list goes on. Play around & see what works for you. But remember sometimes simplicity is best. Leave on for 15 – 30 minutes.

     Spot treatment

Apply a very small amount on the blemish & leave over night. For an extra spot fighting boost add a drop of tea tree or lavender oil.

     Scrub

Mix with either oats, ground almonds, baking soda, sugar or salt.

     Shaving honey

Apply before shaving as a shaving cream to leave your skin feeling sultry soft.

     Shampoo

Doesn’t work for everyone but I find it leaves my hair silky & smelling sexy.

     Hair mask

To make it easier to apply & for extra conditioning, mix together with olive oil or coconut oil & leave on for 30 minutes.

     Milk & honey bath

We all know this was one of Cleopatra’s favourite skin care regimes & we totally get it. Take your normal old bath to a whole new level of luxury & pampering within a minute. 1/4 cup honey, 1 cup milk & if you have a few drops of your favourite essential oil & voila, a bath fit for a queen.

So why not go into your kitchen, see what you have, & start having some sweet & innocent fun.