1. Stop and smell the rose (water)
To save some money, make your own rose-water toner, which has great astringent properties. Here’s the recipe: For every one firmly-packed-cup of rose petals, pour two cups of boiling water over the top. Cover and steep until the liquid is cool. Strain, squeeze out the liquid from the petals and refrigerate the rose water in a sterilized jar between use.
2. Befriend your blender
Make yourself a hydrating facial mask by blending a little cold cream, yogurt, honey, aloe vera gel and avocado. Using a foundation brush to paint it on your face, let the mask dry for about 15 to 20 minutes and rinse. Voila! Your skin will feel refreshed and moisturized again.
3. Heat things up
Before jumping into the shower, pop a bottle of your daily body lotion on in a bowl of warm water, so it's warmed up when you rub it on. I tell you, there is nothing better than getting out of a hot shower and rubbing on the heated, soothing lotion. Just be aware that your lotion will get more liquid when it's warm, so it might rush out of its container faster.
4. Deep-condition hair with coconut oil
Women with especially curly and kinky hair, as well as relaxed hair (it's great for protecting new growth) will love coconut oil as a hair conditioner and moisturizer. You can leave it in overnight or condition with a heat cap if you are pressed for time. Coconut oil also provides shine, and some studies even claim that it helps penetrate the hair to make it stronger.
5. Exfoliate with a sugary scrub
Make your own at-home body scrub. You will need one cup brown sugar, one cup raw oatmeal and one cup olive oil. Mix all the ingredients together and then apply on dry skin, using your hands. You want to perform slow circles – this treatment is to be enjoyed and not rushed. (The real key is standing over a plastic bag or towel to catch the remains.) After scrubbing gently all over, step into the shower and rinse off. Your skin will be like butter.
6. Even out skin with a fruity solution
Take a freshly cut lemon and rub gently on rough elbows and knees. The acid in the lemon will soften rough spots on skin and also lighten any dark areas.
7. Turn your shower into a sauna
Just turn your shower on and run it at its hottest temperature for about 20 minutes. While the water is running and the steam is building, take a warm washcloth and spray with your favourite relaxing oil. (Lavender, vanilla or rosemary are all great de-stressing aromas.) When you step into your shower, put the washcloth up to your face and take a deep breath of your soothing, oil-scented steam. It's a great way to unwind right before bed – and it also helps clear up sinuses.
8. De-stress even more by doing it in the dark
Start – or end – the day in a wonderful, slow, quiet, calming, flickering way with a candlelit shower. Make sure the bathroom is dark (close the curtains, if you have them) and light a sweet-smelling candle. You will love it.
9. Soften hands (while watching TV!)
Combine a few spoonfuls of cold cream, two drops of tea tree oil, five drops of lavender oil, a spoonful of olive oil and a banana (for a fruity smell) in a blender. When the consistency is smooth, slather liberally all over hands and cuticles. Then slip hands into a pair of yellow rubber gloves – yes, the kind you use to scrub the tub with. For the softest hands ever, sit down and watch TV with lotioned and gloved hands underneath a heating pad so that the heat will help the homemade salve penetrate your skin that much more.
10. Oil up
To repair and revitalize skin, apply a few teaspoons of 100 percent extra-virgin olive oil onto the dry, freshly cleansed face and neck in a circular motion before your night cream. (Just avoid the eye area.) Or, to help boost immune systems, take two teaspoons of it daily, after a meal. (You can add sugar for flavour if it's too hard to handle.)
