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Foods that work double duty for health and beauty - Health |
Who needs a beauty supply when you have a kitchen? Acne treatments, split-end remedies, skin moisturizers, exfoliators, facial masks, foot scrubs and body soaks all can be found right in your refrigerator or pantry. Before trying any beauty treatment involving food, check with your doctor for possible allergies. Then, get your shopping list ready because the following healthy foods work double duty as natural beauty products. That is, if you don't eat them first. |
MILK
Milk is good for healthy teeth and bones, but milk also makes a superb skin conditioner, especially for extra-dry skin. Milk, which contains natural beta hydroxy acids, gently exfoliates and conditions skin, keeping it soft, supple and ash-free. Tap into milk's moisturizing power by adding 2 to 3 cups of slightly warmed milk (or instant powder) to a tub of warm water and soak for 20 minutes. Spice up your milk bath and get your smelling sweet by adding vanilla extract and ground cinnamon to bathwater.
EGG
You can't beat eggs when it comes to a smooth, clear complexion and shiny, healthy hair. Egg yolks contain vitamin A, which promotes healing, and egg whites contain a protein that acts as a skin and hair moisturizer. For a minor acne breakout, dab egg yolk on pimples, let dry, then rinse off. To soften your skin, spread egg whites on your face and neck, leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse with warm water. To treat dry hair and split-ends, wet your hair, then massage beaten eggs (yolk and white) into your scalp. Shampoo as usual.
OLIVE OIL
Heart-healthy extra virgin olive oil makes an excellent conditioner and moisturizer for your hair and skin. Show your hair some tender loving care with a hot-oil treatment once a week. Wet your hair, apply 1/4 cup of olive oil, then wrap a warm, damp towel around your head. Leave it on for 20 minutes, then shampoo. For super dry hands, feet and skin. slather on olive oil straight from the bottle.
LEMON
Lemons taste sour, but they make a sweet treatment for dry, rough heels, knees and elbows. Lemons contain citric acid, which helps exfoliate dead skin cells and promotes the growth of healthy, new cells. Slice a lemon in half and rub it on those rough spots. Lemon also is a powerful hand deodorizer. Rub a few in your hands to cut tough odors like bleach, onions, fish and chitterlings.
YOGURT
Plain yogurt contains lactic acid, a natural skin smoother, which makes it a simple, yet potent facial mask. To reap yogurt's skin-softening benefits, just spread it on your face and leave it on for 20 minutes before rinsing with warm water. Zest up your yogurt facial by adding a tablespoon of freshly squeezed lemon or orange juice for extra exfoliating power.
TEA AND CUCUMBER
Chilled cucumber slices and iced tea make refreshing summer delights--for puffy eyes. Just pop a couple of cuke slices or two wet tea bags in the refrigerator until they're cold, then place either a cucumber slice or tea bag over each eyelid for 5 to 10 minutes to relieve puffiness. Tea bags also sweeten sweaty feet. Just add a few bags to a warm foot bath to fight odor and perspiration.
OATMEAL
A moisturizer, exfoliator and itch reliever, oatmeal is a triple-threat skin treatment. Help clear up oily, acne-prone skin with a gentle cleanser and exfoliator made from oatmeal. Simply mix raw oats and warm water to form a paste. Smooth the paste on your face and let it dry and set for 30 minutes before rinsing with cool water. If dry or irritated skin is your problem, add 1 to 2 cups of oatmeal to your bathwater to help relieve itchy skin from mosquito bites and chronic problems like eczema.
CORNMEAL
The grainy texture of cornmeal makes it a perfect facial scrub. Put 1/2 cup of raw cornmeal and 1/2 cup of raw oatmeal in a blender and blend until fine. Put the mixture in a bowl and stir in enough warm water to form a paste. Gently smooth the paste on your face and leave it on for 5 minutes before rinsing with warm water.
BAKING SODA
Whiten your teeth, soothe aching feet and give skin a tingly treat with baking soda. A cleanser, astringent, gentle abrasive and mild bleaching agent, baking soda is a true all-purpose beauty aid. Brighten your smile by sprinkling a bit a baking soda on a wet toothbrush. Soak your puppies in baking soda and warm water to give tired feet instant relief. Refresh your skin and your senses by adding baking soda to your bath.
SALT
Combine kosher salt and olive oil for a corn-and-callous-blasting foot scrub. Mix 1 cup of kosher salt with enough oil to cover the salt. Scrub the bottom of your feet with the salt mixture. Leave it on your feet and wrap them tightly in a warm towel for 5 minutes. Unwrap, wipe off the salt and massage any excess oil into your feet. For an extra kick, add a few drops of peppermint oil to the mixture.
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