Nadia's Natural Beauty Articles, Tips and Recipes

Sorting Through The Mess

2006-05-18T03:29:00.000-07:00

"Natural": Sorting Through

the Mess

What Mess? The mess that confronts us when we attempt to buy so-called
natural body care products from a natural foods store. How can the educated person decide what to buy when:
a. The ingredients on the bottom are not pronouncable, and
b. Each brand defines “natural” in its own way?

Use this article as a tool to help you define natural for yourself. Your definition might differ from mine in the end, but what's important is that you are knowledgeable about ingredients, and that you learn not to trust the establishment! (You don't have to sport a bandana and Birkenstocks to believe this.)

I’ll start by outlining several popular renditions of the word 'natural' and then explain why they don’t make the grade (in my humble opinion).

plant-derived
coming from nature
containing all vegetable-based ingredients
containing some vegetable-based ingredients
containing minute amounts of vegetable-based ingredients whose
purpose is solely to harness the shopping power of the average intelligent,
trusting consumer who feels that “natural” is somehow better, and is
soothed by the presence of words such as “aloe” and “lavender” at the
very bottom of the ingredients list after the word fragrance, which only
makes up .05% percent of the formula.

All of the above have one thing in common: They all purport to have ingredients derived from plant materials, and assume that this fact is equivalent to the concept of “natural”. But where does the concept of “natural” come from? People who are looking for natural products are suspicious of man-made products for many reasons. The reasons can be as amorphous as the concept that Nature knows best how to maintain a balance, and has created more wonders than man/womankind can ever dream of.

Another reason could be the perpetuation of the age-old folk wisdom that claims that certain plants have healing properties that are beneficial to us. Then there’s the information that screams at us from the media on a regular basis: “A chemical spill resulted in a whole generation of townspeople having deformed children!” “Don’t eat too much tuna or salmon, the mercury toxicity is at unprecedented levels!” This or that is NOW known to cause cancer, even though it was approved by the FDA years ago. (Can you say “guinea pig”)? Whatever the reason, when people are
searching for “natural” products, they are specifically searching for non-synthetic, non man-made products! So, let me explain why these common presentations of “natural” don’t match this concept.

Let’s begin by asking some crucial questions:

If an ingredient is “plant-derived”, how was it derived?
Does the extraction process result in an ingredient that is
chemically different that it's source?
Does the extraction process destroy the purported healing
capabilities of the plant? (After all, the majority of us have acne when we’re
young, acne and dry skin at the same time when we’re middle-aged, and
wrinkles when we’re older, so we are in fact, looking for something to
“fix" us).

To illustrate my first point about extraction methods of plant materials, I’ll tell you a little story. When I first started making my own body-care products, I read about shea butter, about how women in Africa had been using it for centuries, and swore by it as a moisturizer and hair treatment. So I decided to buy some in bulk to use in the manufacturing of my lotions. Not being internet savvy at the time, I called the corporate office of NOW foods after purchasing a small jar of their shea
butter from a store shelf. (It’s since then that I’ve begun chanting the mantra: "Don’t trust the establishment", and this certainly refers to health-food stores). The employee who answered the phone gave me a price for a 20-kilo bucket if I bought it from NOW, and then promptly gave me the name of the manufacturer who distributed it to them. (!?) So naturally, I called the manufacturer, who supplies to many, many companies who manufacture so-called “natural” products. I ordered my twenty-kilo bucket, and it arrived, white and waxy, with a slight chemical
odor. But not knowing better, I began making my lotions with it. Several months later, after continued research on the subject, I realized that what I had bought was not shea butter at all. It was a wax that had been chemically extracted from the karite nut, and then manually, and chemically refined. The product that I had bought was classified by the venerable FDA itself as a synthetic. Well whoopdie-do, didn’t I feel stupid! I gave myself two dunce awards: one for having bought something so new to me in such large quantities, and two for not having done
adequate research.

I spoke to the manufacturer (or processor, I should say) at great length, and this is what I was told: The wax is extracted using solvent-type chemicals. Solvents are something like paint-thinner, and are very toxic. How do we know they’re toxic? Because after refining, including bleaching the wax further, the solvents are vacuumed out! Down to a residual percentage, I was told. Hmmmm.

At this point, I need to stop and take a minute to reiterate the mantra: “Don’t trust the establishment!” Case in point: One of the tenets that you will hear over and over from the body-care industry, and especially the chemists who produce the products, is this: “Small amounts of toxins won’t hurt you”. CONSIDER THIS CONCEPT A TRAIN WRECK AND YOU; THE HELPLESS WRETCH TIED TO THE TRACKS. Let me take a moment to tear apart this odiously fragranced concept.

1. The human skin is an organ and absorbs up to 60% of everything that is applied to it. As an example: How many drugs now use the skin as the method of delivery into the human system? The nicotine patch has been around for years, and now we can see women cavorting on T.V. explaining how easy birth control can be with a hormone patch.

2. Many chemicals DEPOSIT, meaning, STAY in the body after the carrier, such as a lotion, or a cosmetic, has long been washed away. So every minute percentage of these chemicals that you absorb builds up over time to become a potentially fatal pile-up. For example, methylparaben and proplyaraben, explained on 365 brand bottles of lotion as “plant-derived”, and whose purpose is to maintain freshness, are routinely found deposited in cancerous tumors extracted from the deceased. What do innocent freshness maintainers have to do with cancer? That’s another long story, but you can read about it at this link: www.livingnature.com. Go to the news and talk section of the site. Then turn over every body care product and cosmetic that you have at home and look at the bottom of the list. Multiply those products times how many times you use them per day, times 365 times your age, and then try to figure out if your organs have paraben deposits in them.

The wholly unfunny thing about all of this is that if you walk into any grocery store, there are food products lining the shelves, advertising “no preservatives”. It screams out at us that there must be something wrong with preservatives, yet they are in all of our body care and cosmetic products with the exception of very, very, very few brands.

How is this possible you say? Because the FDA does not regulate body care products in the same way that it does food products. The rational is that these products are being used on the OUTSIDE of the body (Can someone please forward this article to the FDA so that someone there can read the information about the percentage of product absorption through the skin, though I imagine that they already know about it since the FDA approved the patch delivery method for pharmaceuticals!)

But I digress. Back to the shea butter. So this company supplies this chemically treated wax in bulk to the natural products industry, and the manufacturers in turn make lotion with it, and label it “shea-butter lotion”, even though it simply is not. Not shea-butter lotion, and not natural. The manufacturers are either ignorant, or count on us being so.

Here is a list of ingredients that are often solvent-extracted and/or bleached:

Apricot Kernel oil
Jojoba oil
Castor oil
Almond oil
Beeswax
Cocoa butter
Mango butter
Kokum butter
And many others

To avoid these “residual” solvents and bleaches, Look for the words, “cold-processed", or "cold-pressed oils" on the labels.

Another extraction method that is used is heat. Heat is natural, right? But as we all know from the culinary field, the longer that you cook a vegetable, the less of the vitamins and minerals are present in it at time of consumption. Oftentimes, extremely high heat is used to extract fatty esters, for example, from plants. An example is stearic acid. Stearic acid is used to emulsify, or combine oil and water in a product to make it resemble a lotion instead of a bottle of Italian dressing. Palm stearic acid has nothing resembling palm oil in its chemical makeup, due to the fact that the heat destroyed all of those elements. The shea butter that I bought came in a bucket, and had a sink-hole in it from having been poured from a melted state. Good, cold-pressed shea butter should come wrapped in plastic in a chunk. That’s how a manufacturer can be more sure that it hasn’t been heated at all.

So, extraction methods can turn simple ingredient like jojoba oil into carriers for small percentages of toxic chemicals that build up over time.

One other very large problem with the word “natural” is that not all “natural” ingredients are good for the human body. Talc, for example, is simply not a healthy ingredient. Again, look at the industry for proof: Johnson and Johnson now offer a “talc-free” version of baby powder. Yet talc is a completely natural ingredient, mined from the ground. It is in Aveda’s eye-shadows.

Carmine, an extract of a beetle’s wings is called “natural” by some, because it comes from “nature”. Not only is it an inappropriate product for those who don’t want animal-based ingredients in their products, but it causes irritation to the skin of many women, and was linked to heart failure in an incident involving Ruby Red Grapefruit Juice. It is, despite all of the controversy and evidence, in Burt’s Bees, and Ecco Bella lipsticks, as well as many other “natural” brands of cosmetics.
Have I chipped away at any of your trust yet?

So... (drum roll)... Here is a new definition of “natural” as it relates to body care and cosmetic products.

100% of ingredients are:

Plant-based
Cold-processed
Not chemically refined or bleached
Fragranced only with essential oils or Co2 extracts
The products themselves are produced with the lowest possible heat if
any to preserve the botanical properties of each component

PHEW! There it is! The magical definition. Now, good luck finding
manufacturers who live by these golden rules. Here is some of what you’ll
come across as you begin your journey.

Let's say that you notice an editor's pick when browsing through Organic Style magazine. The editor recommends a Kathleen Lewis collection of Narcissus-scented products, including a candle, a soap, and a lotion. Narcissus certainly sounds natural. After all, it's a flower, right? And the products look handmade and trustworthy with their simple packaging, and home-made looking labels. The editor even calls the product "Kathleen Lewis all-natural Narcissus-scented lotion" ("All" means 100% right? Or has the Webster Dictionary redefined it to mean "partial" and I'm the ignorant one? The editor of Organic Style couldn't possibly
be confused about the words "all-natural", could she? Well, in fine print on the candle, is the evidence that Kathleen Lewis herself knows that the products are synthetically fragranced: "Ingredients: Beeswax, and Narcissus fragrance oil". The word fragrance oil means that the person who made the product bought a synthetic fragrance from a supplier who bought it from a lab. It has no connection at all with a flower of any kind. In fact, there is no "natural" fragrance distilled from the Narcissus flower. Some flowers' essential oils can be distilled from their leaves and buds in a steam-distillation process that nets minute drops of oil that give off the wondrous scent of the plant itself. These oils are called essential oils. If you see the words. "lavender fragrance", that's a synthetic, and if you see the words, "lavender essential oil", that means that the actual oil from the lavender buds has been distilled into a bottle for your smelling pleasure. The problem of course, is that essential oils are much more expensive than fragrance oils. Mais bien sur! But of course! Man-made materials are usually cheaper than natural ones. "Exotic" essential oils such as orange flower (neroli), jasmine, and sandalwood are very pricey. The wonderful thing is that one drop can scent an eight ounce bottle of oil, such as almond oil. Then the almond oil can be applied as a scented perfume oil. The essential oils are very powerful and concentrated.

"So, what's the big deal?", many women say. Here's the big deal... SYNTHETIC FRAGRANCES CAN KILL YOU! No kidding! Really! "And so can a car crash", I hear a lot, and here's another one: " I'm gonna die somehow, someway". Another person says "I can't spend my whole life worrying about things!" Well, I think to myself, "Why don't you spend time in a hospital room with a fifty-year old woman who is dying from breast cancer, won't see her daughter finish college, won't ever see her son score a goal again, and so on. It's not necessarily about when you die,
or if you die, but how, and the quality of your life up until that point. "Cancer comes from unidentified sources". WRONG! Cancer comes from the overload of chemicals that has invaded our lives in the last 50 years. At first, plastics seemed so wonderful until PVC plastic was found to cause birth defects. Then hundreds of thousands of teething toys were retracted because they were made of PVC plastic. But whaddaya know? The pthalates that are the health culprits embedded in the chemical makeup of these plastics are still in the perfumes and colognes that are
sprayed directly on the skin every day. Women have been tested and found to have much higher rates of this and other fragrance-related toxins than men, because they use many more scented products! Women are the childbearers! So the toxic teething toys were retracted to protect babies, but the same toxins were not mandated to be removed the products used by the women whose bodies create, nurse, and nurture babies. It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood, isn't it?

So what is a fragrance made of? Here's a few of the 300 or so chemicals that can make up a typical fragrance:

acetone
benzaldehyde
benzyl acetate
benzyl alcohol
ethanol
ethyl acetate
limonene
linalool
methylene chloride
a-PINENE
g-TERPENTINE
a-TERPINEOL

Well, manufacturers and handcrafters like to say, "It's a small percentage of the formula." That tired, old argument again. Let me ask you a question. Why are public baby pools rigorously drained by pool maintenance staff on a sometimes daily basis? As soon as the day is done, and sometimes mid-day, the water is tested, and then changed and chlorinated. But, if we follow the logic of cosmetic chemists, based on the size of a baby pool, a little wee-wee from a baby can't be much more than .05% of the overall volume of liquid in there! So, would you swim in there? Well, consider your "all-natural" lilac shower gel with 05% lilac fragrance oil to be the equivalent. It's a drop of sludge. A drop of leftover petroleum products that the oil industry pawned off to the cosmetic industry; toxic alcohols, solvents, and infertility-inducing pthalates all rolled up in a prettily decorated bottle labeled, "natural". ( It would be interesting to entertain the notion that there is a conspiracy on the part of the pharmaceutical companies to deliberately interfere with human fertility in order to boost sales of fertility drugs.... but we'll save that for another occasion)

So let's scratch the .05% theory once and for all, okay? Remember: absorption, deposits, baby pool.

Now, to help you figure out which products are fragranced, and which are natural, here are some scents that cannot be distilled from flowers. One point to make, however, is that some brilliant aromatherapists have been able to approximate the scent of orchids, for example, by blending many essential oils (those are the truly natural ones) together. So always ask if you don't see the word, "fragrance" on the bottle.

Here's a brief list of some synthetic fragrances:

Freesia
Strawberry
Banana Nut Bread
Coconut
Lilac
Begonia
Almond
Cookie Dough
Apple
Apricot
Sea-breeze
Blueberry
SummerRain
Honeydew
Cranberry
Melon
Cucumber
Mango
Gardenia
Lily
Hyacinth
Candy
Honeysuckle
Peach
Pearberry
Plumeria
Violet
Watermelon

As well, some essential oils that can be synthetically duplicated, such as:

lavender
cinnamon
vanilla
vetiver
frankincense
myrrh
sandalwood
orange
tangerine
lime
mint
basil
and more. Remember, just look for the word "fragrance" vs. "essential oil" to determine how a product is scented.

If you are still not convinced of the potentially fatal consequences of using synthetically fragranced products including perfumes, lotions, shower gels, shampoos, soaps, candles, etc, then here's the story of a soapmaker, a young woman, who ran a very successful business making handmade soaps for many large clients, including stores, hotels, and salons. They all requested the delectable and intoxicating fragrances that only nature can produce naturally, but at a low price, so she worked with fragrance oils for many years. She now cannot let anything synthetically fragranced touch her skin, or be close enough for inhalation, or her whole body will break out in a rash, her throat will constrict, and her eyes will tear uncontrollably. She is dying from toxic exposure. She cannot halt the process and is slowly deteriorating from a disease born specifically out of her professional and prolonged contact with fragrance oils. This is not unusual. There are many, many instances of soapmakers dying young of cancer due to the unscrupulous sale and promotion of fragrance oils by so-called "natural" products suppliers. Every time that I order my unbleached beeswax from a popular soapmaking supplies site, a small box of fragrance oil is in the box; a gift for my smelling pleasure. The bottles line my shelves, untouched. These suppliers are not required by law to publish the already-proven toxicity levels of fragrance oils on their sites. It reminds me of the blithe promotion of cigarettes by the tobacco industry when it was already aware of the studies linking the chemicals in the cigarettes to cancer. Of course there is now a Surgeon General's warning on the package of cigarettes. It all comes down to cost, but it begs the question, " What could possibly be more costly than a beautiful life, needlessly lost due to ignorance? " Don't kid yourself: Just because the concentrated contact of these women is much is higher than your contact with these chemicals doesn't mean that you are immune. The quantity of chemicals imbedded in a modern adult human body is astounding.

But the horse's hide is getting sore, so let's continue our journey. Perhaps you have become disheartened with the pages of the "Organic" magazines, and find it impossible to find any products without synthetic preservatives in your health food store. So you get on the computer and do a search for "natural skin care products". You find what looks like a promising site that advertises "all-natural" products made with only botanical oils, no fragrances or synthetic preservatives. You click on the ingredients list for a lavender face cream: Lavender hydrosol, Apricot kernel oil, jojoba oil, vegetable emulsifying wax, vitamin E, Rosemary Extract, GSE. GSE is short for Grapefruit Seed Extract, and there is some controversy about whether it preserves well, but the ingredient that needs to be brought forward and discussed is vegetable emulsifying wax. There is no such thing, anywhere. Anyone who claims that the product called emulsifying wax, is "vegetable" is either lying or being lied to.

These are the ingredients in emulsifying wax NF: Polysorbate 60, oleth-10, PEG-75 lanolin, PEG-150 Stearate and Steareth 20. Doesn't sound like a vegetable to me. I like my veggies green and crunchy with easy to read names like broccoli, or avocado. Call me a dunce, but one word ingredients that I can actually recognize make me feel so comforted.

So, as we all know, an emulsifier is designed to combine oil and water to create a creamy lotion. Some natural alternatives to emulsifying wax are:

beeswax (unbleached) and sodium borate (borax, a natural mineral salt )
xantham gum (from corn)
Irish Moss ( a sea plant)
Acacia Gum (from the Acacia Tree)

I promise you that if you keep looking, you will find some companies that have a very stringent definition of "natural", and offer pure products for customers that are tired of being confused by complicated chemical names and explanations that smell suspicious. So continue on your journey, and please invite others to join you. We can succumb to hopelessness, or we can caringly spread our knowledge and concern to others. What is amazing about living in the "modern world" is that in many third-world countries, growing organic foods is the default method, due to the high price of pesticides and chemical feeds and fertilizers. Skin care is often as simple as handmade soap, and olive oil as a moisturizer. We, in the first world, have the capability and the knowledge to begin to create stringent laws that will reign in the runaway cosmetic and pharmaceutical industry that is knowingly placing toxins in the hands of the human family. It is criminal that this still goes on. Please, if any of this article touches you, use this following bibliography to do further research, and spread the word.

Join The Thousands Of People Who Are Looking Better, Feeling Better, and With A Renewed Sense Of Self-Esteem...By Using Natural Skin Care Products..Look And Feel Naturally Sexy And Attractive

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After 15years in the beauty industry I have realised that Natural Skin Care is the SAFEST and most EFFECTIVE option when it come to beauty and lets face it, NO-ONE wants to take a chance when it comes to their skin.......I will show you how to create your own 100% NATURAL MONEY SAVING recipes and ideas, STOP wasting my money on over-the-counter products!

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Nadia Russell xxxxx :-)

Sleeping Beauty

2006-05-12T03:32:00.000-07:00

Sleeping Beauty

Just because you’re asleep, doesn’t mean your beauty treatments have to stop working. Keep your skin soft and supple in winter months by giving them a little overnight care and attention…

Hands

Your hands are usually kept busy from the moment you rise to the moment you head back to sleep, so the perfect time to give them a little rest and recuperation is while you’re asleep. An ordinary hand cream will suffice, but it is worth choosing a product that is rich and moisturizes deeply. There are a number of Natural Beuaty products you can use or you could reap the benefits of making you own creams which are just as potent and more econmical- try putting on cotton gloves after applying your chosen product, as this stops you losing most of the cream on the sheets. For a deeply moisturising treat for your mitts mix a base oil, such as sweet almond, with an essential oil of your choice.

Feet

Like our hands, feet only get a really good rest at night and are prone to dryness all year round. To keep them soft and smooth rub gently with a pumice stone before bed, or use a foot scrub – there are lots on the market now and many contain pumice. Once your feet are scrubbed up and thoroughly dried, apply a rich foot cream such as a Dry Skin Relief Foot Cream or an Overnight Foot Treatment, put on some cotton socks and when you wake your feet will be as good as new.

Face
Using a night cream is essential to maintain the skins fresh look as well as aiding skin repair during the sleeping process. Night creams work their magic while you sleep, and you shouldn’t even think about going to bed without removing all traces of dirt and make-up and applying a good night cream. Choose a product that’s best for your needs; night creams are often enriched with a range of ingredients to help moisturise and nourish your skin. There are also a growing number of new products available, such as anti-ageing night creams.

Body
Select a body lotion with a subtle, relaxing fragrance to help you drift off to sleep while simultaneously treating your skin to an overnight moisture boost. Essential oils including lavender, bergamot and marjoram are said to relax and soothe, so look for products containing these ingredients.Or you could simply make you own 100% NATURAL potent products which are becoming increasingly popular.

For Help you get a good nights sleep, I recommend you try using a herbal bath treatment or essential oils. You will soon see the benefits when you wake up after your sleep feeling REFRESHED and ENERGISED

Click Here To Get More Information

Nadia xxxxxx :-)

Facial Steaming

2006-05-12T03:23:00.000-07:00

Are you ready for a heavenly way to rejuvenate yourself and encourage some peaceful relaxation? We suggest creating your very own Facial Steam.

Facial Steams help rid impurities and hydrate the skin. It is one of the best ways to clean your pores and release toxins.

How to Create a Facial Steam

It is recommended to have a facial steam once a week.

Boil three cups of water and pour into a bowl. Let the water cool down until warm.
Add a few drops of Ballymoon’s essential oils (perhaps Lavender, Sweet Orange or Ylang Ylang) to turn your facial steam into a spa experience

Tip: Are you starting to suffer from a cold or flu? Eucalyptus is one on the best oils to use as a decongestant. You will be amazed how fast it will clear you right up.

Use a towel to create a tent over your head and shoulders.
Hold your head close to the bowl, close your eyes and breath in deeply.

Did you know that everyone’s face has fine vellum hair follicles that act as sensors for many different stimuli? The amount of water in the surface of the skin is tracked by these vellum hair follicles. The brain will not readily release oil out of the pores, if it is determined that this oil will be needed later for lack of hydration.

So when you are giving your face a fine mist of moisture with your facial steam or sauna the vellum on your skin sends a temporary message through that there is indeed enough water so extracting oil from the pores is easy through this process.

After your facial steam, you might want to continue on with your Spa treatments by applying a facial mask. This is a wonderful way to remove excess oil, skin and toxins off the surface of the skin.

Homemade Facial Mask Recipes- For that great Home Spa Experinece

Here are two great facial masks that you can easily whip up in your kitchen and apply.

Face Mask (helps to soften and tighten pores)

1 egg

1-tablespoon whole milk

1-teaspoon of honey

½ teaspoon of brewers yeast

Beat egg and then mix other ingredients.

Put on over wet face and leave for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water.

Papaya Mask (helps to remove dead skin)

¼-cup mashed (ripe) papaya

1-teaspoon plain yogurt

½-teaspoon of honey

Mix all ingredients until paste like. Put on face, leave on for 15 minutes and rinse with warm water.

Note: if you have oily skin – do not allow your mask to over dry. Your brain will register the loss of water in the over-drying process and produce more oil.

This oil will not show up on the skin until about 48 hours after the treatment.

For More Great Beauty Tips or to get the Great Spa Experience at Home Click Here NOW

Nadia xxxxxxx:-)

Going Natural All the way...Discover the benefits of Natural Skincare

Skin Booster

2006-05-09T15:11:00.000-07:00

Eight Simple Foods to Boost Skin Health

Whether you are looking to defeat a particular skin problem, or simply wanting to gain -- or keep -- that youthful glow, herein our experts offer a list of eight simple foods that can feed your skin head-to-toe.

Seafood 3 times weekly. The key is omega-3 fatty acids, and salmon, tuna, and mackerel have the highest amount. If you're worried about toxins in fish, remember the FDA says up to 12 ounces a week is fine -- so three 4-ounce servings are fine. They recommend a variety of fish. In addition, studies show adding fish to your diet can also help reduce the inflammation associated with psoriasis and even eczema.
Nuts, grains, seeds. A handful of walnuts -- about 1 ounce -- gives you the same amount of omega-3 as 3.5 ounces of salmon. Flax seed sprinkled on cereal or used in muffins also offers a generous supply.
Olive oil. Your skin needs at least 2 tablespoons of oil a day for proper lubrication -- so if you're watching your diet and cutting down on fatty foods (a good thing) be sure to douse your salad with olive oil daily, or use it in recipes in place of other fats. For Great Recipes using olive oil click here
Fruit. While all fruits are great for healthy skin, chose a variety. The recommended serving is two to four per day.
Vegetables. You just can't enough of these -- and their powerful antioxidant benefits. Try lots of leafy greens, plus squash, pumpkin, and sweet potato for loads of vitamin A.

6. Whole-grain cereals and breads. The key here is to use these items to replace white flour and other refined baked goods and cereals in your diet, all of which are linked to an inflammatory reaction that can be harmful to skin.
7. Brazil nuts, tuna, and turkey. Studies show these selenium-rich foods can help reduce the inflammation associated with acne breakouts.

8. Tea. Be it white, green, or black, studies show the polyphenols found in tea have anti-inflammatory properties that may be beneficial to skin. Plus, one study published in the Archives of Dermatology found drinking 3 cups of oolong tea a day cut eczema symptoms for 54% of those who tried it.

Eating natural Wholesome food can be great for your health and your skin, but if you continue to put chemically filled products on your face, you could be reversing the effects of good nutrition and the benefits it would have on your skin.

Isn't it time you too started to realise the BENEFITS of natural skincare like the thousands of other women who have discovered nature' s beauty products and are now enjoying a chemical free beauty regime, they look and feel better and they know that later on in their life the benefits of natural skin care will promote a better look as natural produst actaully help to benefit and nourish the skin.

For An All Natural Total Body Beautifying Experience, Click Here Now

Nadia xxxxxx:-)

Doing It Naturally

2006-05-08T06:18:00.000-07:00

You work hard to eat a healthy diet and exercise regularly. You know that organic foods can help you avoid ingesting nasty hormones and chemicals but did you know that these toxins are creeping into your system in other ways? Your moisturizers, eye creams, and make up may seem harmless, but check out the labels and you'll find a laundry list of tongue-twisting ingredients, many of which could be hazardous to your health. In a recent survey, conducted by Health, eighty three percent of responding consumers indicated that they would rather use all natural body products. The skin care industry is responding to this demand. The natural and organic skin care product sector has seen a growth of thirty nine percent over the last year. Some of these products may claim to be all-natural, while still containing a slew of chemicals and toxins. Here's what you need to know about natural skin care and how to determine if the product you are using is free of harmful chemicals.

Why Choose Natural Skin Care Products?

There is approximately six pounds of skin on your body which provides a porous membrane into your system. Dirt, dust, pollutants, and other environmental pollutants enter the body through the skin, providing a more significant gateway to your system than food. The National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) found that 884 chemicals used in personal care products and cosmetics are known to be toxic. And a recent Canadian study in Pediatric Drugs found cosmetic and personal care products as the most common cause of unintentional poisonings of kids under six.

The chemicals and toxins found in most commercial skin care products also have a detrimental effect on the environment, although this effect is just beginning to be understood. In March, a team of US Geological Survey scientists showed that a variety of chemicals from personal care products were among 95 wastewater contaminants found in US waterways.

Why poison yourself and the environment with toxic chemicals and pollutants? Natural skin care products are healthier for you, for your skin, and for the environment. But many products may claim to be all-natural while still containing a number of harmful ingredients. Make sure you read and understand the product label to ensure that the product your using is as natural as it claims to be.

Reading the Ingredients Label

Organic personal care manufacturing needs strict standards and enforcement in order to be effective. Currently, some manufacturers claim their products are organic merely as a marketing gimmick. One look at their products ingredients clearly suggests otherwise. Only by tying organic beauty care closely to the National Organic Program standards can the "lifestyle" marketed by the manufacturers represent the values at the core of organic agriculture.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) classifies cosmetics into 13 categories, but it does not regulate them. According to the FDA, "A cosmetic manufacturer may use any ingredient or raw material and market the final product without government approval." Seven toxins are banned, but many more known toxins and carcinogens are allowed in cosmetic formulations. Less than one percent of the FDA's budget is for the evaluation of skin care products.

Many commercial skin care products have been regularly found to contain toxic chemicals. Surprisingly, most personal care products are not tested for health and safety. And because the FDA does not regulate skin care manufacturers, questionable ingredients often make their way into their formulas. These ingredients may seem harmless in the short-term, but their chemical components are stored in the fatty tissues of the body where they accumulate and magnify over time.

Cosmetics and personal care products are marketed based on the quality and content of their formulas. Many products claim to be filled with expensive vitamins, oils, and perfumes. Others claim to utilize an all-natural formula. But how can you be sure that the products you buy actually contain the ingredients they claim to have? Read the label, right? But unless you happen to be a scientist or chemist, the ingredient list on most cosmetics and personal care products will look like a long list of mind-numbing, tongue-twisting names.

This is where natural and organic skin care products should stand out. If a product claims to be all natural, its ingredients should be easily recognizable as natural components. Also, the ingredients should be listed in descending order with the most prominent factors listed first. Scrutinize the first several listings in the product to be sure that they are the natural ingredients you are looking for. If a skin care product contains an ingredient that you are unsure about, write down it's name and do a little research. A quick online search should reveal it's true nature. As a consumer, you need to be on the look out for chemicals and toxic ingredients that can be harmful to your skin and your body. You would not even think about eating a food that contained chemicals or cancer causing agents. Don't let these toxins enter your system through your beauty product either!

Join The Thousands Of People Who Are Looking Better, Feeling Better, and With A Renewed Sense Of Self-Esteem...By Using Natural Skin Care Products..Look And Feel Naturally Sexy And Attractive

BUY Nadia's Natural Homemade Beauty Recipes

For More Natural Skincare Beauty , please click here or check out my website at:

www.beauty-elements.net

Nadia xxxxx :-)

Facial Exercices...Part 2

2006-05-07T14:18:00.000-07:00

Facial exercises for lips

Give your face a lift -without surgery!

As we age facial muscles weaken, and skin begins to sag. But just as gym workouts can promote the body's youthful strength and suppleness, facial exercise - based on the same principles of dynamic resistance - can strengthen facial muscles. Independent studies have shown that using Facial Flex for two minutes twice daily for 60 days can noticeably improve skin circulation and muscle tone in the face.

If sagging muscles In your face chin and neck are aging you beyond your years, this medical discovery may reverse the process and make you look healthier, more vibrant, younger! Effects similar to a non surgical facelift.

Believe it or not, your face is probably the most neglected part of your body - wouldn't you agree? Think about it... constantly battered by the sun, wind and pollution, scrubbed with harsh cleansers and ointments, rarely exercised. That's right, exercised. The key to maintaining fitness in the rest of your body, exercise is also vital to facial fitness. In fact, exercising your facial muscles on a regular basis can have effects on your appearance that rival expensive face-lift surgery! Effects similar to a non surgical facelift Exercise your face.

How do you exercise your face, chin and neck? Contrary to popular opinion, day-to-day activity (talking, laughing) is not enough to promote facial fitness. You need to isolate and exercise the muscles of your face, chin and neck.

Exercises for the Lips

# 1 Sit upright facing forward and purse your lips together. Lift your pursed lips towards your nose and keep there for 5 counts, relax and repeat 5 times.

# 2 Pucker your lips slightly and when in this puckered position try with your mouth muscles to bring the corners of your mouth together as close as possible. Keep lips in this position for 5 counts, relax and repeat 5 times.

# 3 Sit upright facing forward and keep your lips closed and teeth together. Smile as broadly as possible, without opening your lips, keep there for 5 counts and when relaxing start puckering your lips in a pointed kiss. Keep there for 5 counts and relax - repeat 10 times.

# 4 Move your lips into a puckered kiss and while relaxing the kiss keep your lips closed and curl your lips into your mouth across your teeth. Hold this position for a count of 10 and repeat 5 times.

# 5 Sit relaxed with your lips hardly open and pucker your lips outwards. While your lips are in the outward position, move your puckered top lip towards your nose. Hold in this position for 10 counts and repeat 5 times.

Facial exercises for cheeks

# 1 Sit upright facing forward with lips closed but relaxed. Pucker and pout your lips using the muscles in your cheeks. (Feel with your fingers that you are using your cheek muscles.) Keep puckered for a count of 10, relax and repeat 10 times.

# 2 Have a relaxed smile with your lips closed and then suck in your cheeks towards and on to your teeth. Hold this for 10 counts, relax and repeat 10 times.

# 3 Look in a mirror while doing this exercise. Pout your top lip, turning the corners of your lips upwards and move your cheek muscles towards your eyes. You should at this stage try to get your top lip touching your nose. Keep in this position for 10 counts, relax and repeat 5 times.

# 4 Look in a mirror while doing this exercise. Smile as widely as possible - while keeping your lips closed and your mouth corners turned up. Try to make your mouth corners touch your ears. Next wrinkle your nose and see your cheek muscles move upwards and feel these muscles work. Keep for 5 counts, relax and repeat 10 times.

# 5 Keep your teeth and lips closed and blow air under your top lip and keep it there for 10 counts, then move it to your left cheek, hold for 10, to your lower lip, hold for 10 and then to your right cheek while holding it for a count of 10. Repeat 5 times.

Natural Beauty Recipes

Nadia xxxx:-)

Facial Exercises- Part 1

2006-05-07T13:45:00.000-07:00

Facial exercises Part 1

Tired of wrinkles and an old face, then try doing some facial exercises.

Facial exercises to achieve that ageless face

Prevent slack facial muscles

Never mind how good your skin care might be, you may get to the time in your life where all your facial muscles simply go slack, lax, saggy, baggy and crepey. The effect is that of a pile of washing - untidy and not that great to look at.

Achieve a smooth wrinkle-free skin

Facial exercises will do a great deal to promote a smooth wrinkle-free skin, and a vibrant glowing picture of health. Start your free facial exercises now to achieve a more youthful look.

Facial exercises are economical - they are for free

Facial exercises will not take great effort or too much time, and pay handsome dividends in achieving a more smooth skin, with less wrinkles, lines and bags, glowing with health and vitality - a picture of a youthful looking you. You can't get more economical than these free facial exercises - so try the free facial exercises now.

Tone your facial firmness

These lines, wrinkles, folds and bags are not really wrinkles and lines as such, but are the supportive muscles in your face going soft - losing firmness, and not supporting the skin any more. Facial exercises can help with this - creating that facelift look with a non-surgical procedure.

Facial exercises for all ages

Facial exercises are not only for mature people to achieve a youthful, young, ageless and anti-aging face - but also for young people to maintain their youthful looks.
Facial exercises are great for fighting wrinkles, and promoting a smooth, ageless, anti-aging skin, but also look at my Natural Skincare Products to really help you achieve that youthful looking you again.

Facial exercises do not create wrinkles

Facial exercises DO NOT cause wrinkles if done correctly - they actually help to make women and men look younger for longer, without a surgical facelift, by toning facial muscles. Surgical facelifts can be effective, but this type of cosmetic surgery is expensive, and can be traumatic. Why not try the free facial exercises as an alternative to a surgical facelift. The free facial exercises will not be as radical as the facelift, but will assist in achieving a younger looking face, without wrinkles and lines.

Facial exercises do not cause baggy skin

Facial exercises DO NOT cause loose and baggy skin - just the opposite. Incorrect exercises may cause problems, in the same way that incorrect exercises can hurt a muscle in your body. Some plastic surgeons promote and encourage the use of facial exercises, but many don't - why should they promote an exercise that achieves a firm, young, ageless looking face?

Surgical facelifts and facial exercises

Facelifts do work, but why go through a surgical procedure to achieve an ageless face, when you can simply and easily, for free and taking very little time, prevent these aging problems, and also turn back the clock to your young self. What more can we say - for free, you can have exercises to help achieve a more smooth skin, less wrinkles and a younger looking face.
A droopy double chin, or a couple of double chins, hanging cheeks, puckered up mouth, folds in your throat, puffy and droopy eyelids - does this sound familiar to the picture in the mirror? You have worked hard all your life to achieve a deserving ageless existence, and worked out your body muscles to stay in shape - but nobody ever told you to exercise your facial muscles to achieve that ageless look. Try the free facial exercises now.
Facial exercises have been around for a long time, but because there is no financial gain they are not well promoted. It makes you think, doesn't it?
The facial muscles connect to both the skin and the bone, and form the "cushion" on which the skin rests. If this cushion is flat, worn-out, compressed and not consistent in thickness, the skin will also not look its best.
Facial exercises not only benefit the supportive muscles, but also improve the skin and skin tone, as the increased blood flow to the skin assists in bringing nutrition to, and removing toxins from the skin.
The elasticity and health of the skin is determined greatly on the underlying tone, strength and vitality of the supporting facial muscles.
Facial muscle exercises, just like body muscle exercises, must be done regularly to achieve and maintain results. To get your facial muscles up to speed again, do these facial exercises daily, for at least a month, or until the desired effect is achieved, and then do these exercises at least three times a week to maintain the results.
Never mind how good your skin care regimen, or the skin care product you use, you may still need facial exercises to maintain the base muscles of your skin. In the same vein - facial exercises do not negate the use of cosmetics - these two disciplines go hand-in-hand - and for a truly ageless look, both must be used together.

Instructions

Facial exercises should be done once a day, and this regimen can be continued for your entire life, or you could scale down to three times a week, after completing a month of daily exercises.

Some people report that minor spots or blemishes appear after starting facial exercises, and yes, it is normal.

The skin is once again stimulated to produce its natural oils and lubricants and these minor spots may appear when starting facial exercises, until the skin is functioning efficiently and correctly again. Skin cells get lazy and stagnate, but with proper exercises these cells are once again activated to work with renewed vigor.

Neck and throat facial exercises
# 1	A great exercise is to sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling while keeping your lips closed and then start a chewing movement. You will feel the muscles working in your neck and throat area - and will be truly amazed at the results. Repeat 20 times.
# 2	Sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling, while keeping your lips closed and relaxed. Start puckering your lips together in a kiss and stretch the kiss, as if you were trying to kiss the ceiling. Keep your lips puckered for 10 counts, then relax, bring your head back to its normal position and repeat 5 times.
# 3	Sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling, while keeping your lips closed and relaxed. Open your lips and stick your tongue out as if you were trying to touch your chin with the tip of your tongue. Keep your tongue out in this position for 10 counts, and then return your tongue and head to its normal position.
# 4	Sit upright, tilt your head back looking at the ceiling, while keeping your lips closed and relaxed. Next move your lower lip over your top lip as far as possible and keep it there for a count of 5. Relax and repeat 5 times.
# 5	Lie on your bed, with your head hanging down over the edge. Slowly bring your head up towards your torso and keep it there for 10 counts. Relax and lower your head towards the floor again - repeat 5 times.
# 6	Sit upright and face forward and while keeping your lips together, separate your teeth by dropping your jaw and then push your jaw forward, keep for a count of 10, bring back to starting position and repeat 5 times.

Eye exercises

# 1 Gently tone the muscles of the eyes by pressing two fingers on each side of your head, at the temples, while opening and closing your eyes rapidly. Repeat 5 times.

# 2 Sit upright with your eyes closed and relaxed. While keeping your eyes closed the whole time, first look down and then look up as far as possible. Repeat the facial exercise 10 times.

# 3 Sit upright with your eyes closed and relaxed. Keep your eyes closed while lifting your eyebrows and stretching your eyelids down as far as possible. Keep in this position for 5 counts, relax and repeat 5 times.

# 4 Sit upright with your eyes relaxed and open. Lift your eyebrows while closing your top eyelids until about halfway closed, then open your eyelids wide until the white of your eye shows over your iris.

# 5 Sit upright looking straight ahead with your eyes open. Look up then down, while keeping your head still. Repeat 10 times. Then look left and right - repeat 10 times.

Forehead exercises

# 1 Frown as much as possible and try to bring your eyebrows over your eyes while pulling the eyebrows toward one another. Then lift your eyebrows as far as possible while opening your eyes as far as possible. Repeat 5 times.

# 2 Lie on your bed facing the ceiling your head hanging over the edge. Lift your eyebrows as high as possible, with your eyes opening very wide. Relax and repeat 10 times.

# 3 Sit upright facing forward and while bringing your eyebrows down over your eyes, wrinkle your nose as far up as possible while flaring your nostrils. Keep for a count of 10, relax and repeat 5 times.

Join me next time for part 2, where I will show you how to exercise cheeks and lips

Nadia xxxxx:)

For More Natural Skin Care Tips, Please Click Here

Go Bananas

2006-05-06T12:47:00.000-07:00

Since the beginning of time people have concocted various recipes to promote beauty, anti-aging and conditioning for their hair and skin.

Documented skin and hair softening formulas for ancient Egyptians included hippopotamus fat, gazelle dung, writing fluid and ground donkey teeth mixed with honey. The ancient Romans used finely ground narcissus bulbs, honey mixed with wine to prevent wrinkles and soften the hair. In the 17th century women slept in special hair and face gloves that were actually made of silk, linen or leather stretched over various creams and oils to iron our skin wrinkles and soften hair.

Modern day beauty spas have adopted their own form of special recipes made with a wide range of fruits, honey and other natural ingredients.

Banana Beauty Benefits

Bananas contain tryptophan, a rich amino acid that is known to be extremely beneficial for hair and skin. They are chock full of potassium which adds super softening properties to the hair shaft. Along with vitamins A, B, C and E bananas contain rich natural oils and carbohydrates. All these goodies shore up the natural elasticity of the hair and prevents split ends.

Besides all the softening and beautifying properties bananas smell wonderful. The aroma of bananas was found to be the most popular aroma in a study published in 1988. The trend continues for 2006.

Try this Recipes:

Banana Mango Hair Mask

For a deep, penetrating hair conditioning treatment, head to your fridge and pantry. You Will Need:
2 Vitamin E Capsules 1 Small Ripe Banana 1/2 Soft Mango 1 Egg Yolk What To Do:
Combine all ingredients in a blender until thoroughly mixed. Wet hair and work the mixture through from the dry ends to your scalp. (if you have oily hair at the scalp, do not put the mixture there).

Honey-Banana Smoothie

Been too busy to stock up on beauty supplies lately? These hair treatments can be mixed up at home as long as you have been able to make it to the market this week.

For An Intensive Once A Week Treatment, you will need:
1/8 teaspoon of lecithin
1/2 banana
1 teaspoon wheat germ oil
1 tablespoon plain yogurt
1 teaspoon sweetened condensed milk
1 teaspoon of honey

To Make: Put all the ingredients into a blender. Whip until smooth like a smoothie. Resist the temptation to drink the mixture. Dampen your hair thoroughly
Work the mixture through your hair using downward strokes (use an old hair brush or comb to be sure to reach each strand of hair). Wrap an old towel around you neck to catch the drips
Leave the treatment on for 45 minutes. Rinse out. Shampoo as usual. If your hair is in need of extra moisturising; put the mixture on your hair an hour before bedtime so it has time to dry. Put an old towel on your pillow and sleep with the mixture in overnight. Rinse out. Shampoo as usual. Use the mixture right away. Do not store.

For more amazing Natural Beauty Recipes, please click here

Nadia xxxxxx:-)

Grandma Knows Best!!

2006-05-01T13:31:00.000-07:00

Skin care technology has come a long way in the past few years—or has it? What are all these wonderful new ingredients like alpha-hydroxy acid, glycolic acid, and retinyl, and where do they come from? Quite simply, from things we all have in our kitchens! Our grandmothers knew what they were doing when they used oatmeal, honey and cucumbers to improve their complexions, and now science has finally caught up. Learn how to make your own natural facial masks, bath products and skin treatments, all in the comfort of your own home.

As you will be preparing fresh, natural products (preservative free), you need to ensure that these jars of goodness are refrigerated and not kept for more than a week. Therefore make them in small quantities and store them in china stainless steel containers with screw top jars so that the ingredients do no setoff chemical reactions that can harm your skin. One more thing one must be kept in mind that not all herbs work on everyone and many have to be used over a period of time to yield favorable results. Good Luck and most importantly have fun !!!!!(I know I certainly did when using my OWN beauty products).

Try Making Your Own Beauty Recipes NOW!!!

Nadia xxxxx:)

Chemical Free Beauty

2006-04-29T03:59:00.000-07:00

All In The Name Of Beauty

We primp, we perm, we powder - without blinking a mascara-lined eye about the potentially harmful ingredients we expose ourselves to in the name of beauty. Yet, walking into most salons is like entering a toxic cloud of ammonia and formaldehyde, not to mention an alphabet soup of chemicals you can't smell. Over-the-counter beauty products aren't much better, with most containing potential irritants and carcinogens. Unfortunately, these hazards are virtually ignored by the $28-billion-a-year mainstream cosmetics industry.

How safe are the cosmetics we use? A recent report published by the American Journal of Public Health found that women who dye their hair have a 50 percent higher risk of developing non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, and men using commercial hair dyes have twice the risk of multiple myeloma, a malignant tumor of the bone marrow. Another study, by Italy's University of Pisa, found a link between certain skin creams and thyroid toxicity.

Even though it has now been accepted that all chemicals penetrate the skin to some extent and many do so in significant amounts, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) doesn't require pre-market approval for cosmetics and is powerless to mandate safety testing. Although most cosmetic companies voluntarily test their products for common sensitivities, researchers from the National Research Council found that "of the tens of thousands of commercially important chemicals, only a few have been subjected to extensive toxicity testing and most have scarcely been tested at all."

That doesn't surprise Denise Santamaria, a professional manicurist and owner of Natural Nouveaux, a non-toxic salon in Las Vegas, Nevada, who was diagnosed with chemically-induced lupus. "I started getting sick when I began taking cosmetology classes," she says. "Over the next 10 years, I battled digestive problems, frequent sinus infections, and excruciating pain in my back, chest and arms. It got so bad that there were days when I would crawl across the floor, almost as if I was trying to get away from the pain." Neither she nor the doctors who treated her made any connection between her medical problems and the scores of chemicals she was exposed to in her job until a chemical screening showed high levels of the toxins benzene and toluene - both common ingredients in nail polish and polish remover.

Growing Awareness

Unlike most European countries (which take a proactive stance on cosmetic safety), U.S. legislative interest in the potentially toxic ingredients used in cosmetics is scant. "There is vigorous industry and political pressure to keep using them," says Dr. Joni Loughran of the Paul Penders Company of Petaluma, California. "It is claimed that the risk is small and change takes time." Another reason for this lack of interest is that most problems go unreported. Rather than filing a report, most people who experience problems with a product simply stop using it. Of those that are reported, the FDA estimates that manufacturers receive 50 complaints for every one made to their offices.

In an attempt to focus attention on the potentially harmful effects of mainstream cosmetics, consumer advocates in California are pushing for the reformulation of hair fixatives. Another group, As You Sow, filed a lawsuit demanding warning labels on products containing toluene. As public concern over the safety of cosmetics grows, a few states have begun taking notice. Indiana implemented legislation to guard consumers against the mislabeling or adulteration of cosmetics. California and New York have both shown concern over cosmetic aerosols.

Smart Shopping

Where does that leave consumers? With all the new "natural" products on the market, it's easy to be fooled. Just because a product boasts oatmeal, aloe vera or other plant-based ingredients doesn't mean it's chemical-free. "There are no standards for what natural means," says John Bailey, director of the FDA's division of colors and cosmetics. "They [the manufacturers] could wave a tube of plant extract over the bottle and declare it natural." The only way to know what you're buying is by reading the fine print or compltely abstain form shop brought produtcs and start making your own beauty products. Not only is it chepaer, but in the long-term you will be tremendously benefitting your skin but putting natural raw goodness onto your face and body.

If however your are still not convinced about the benefits of using natural, freshly prepared beauty products I have listed several chemicals that may be contained in creams, make-up products, cleansers etc that you need to watch for:

* Formaldehyde, used as a preservative and disinfectant, is a suspected carcinogen often found in shampoos;

* Listed as FD&C or D&C colors, coal tar is a common ingredient in cosmetics, hair dyes and dandruff shampoos. Found to cause cancer, it's also been linked to frequent allergic reactions, including asthma attacks, headaches, nausea, fatigue, nervousness and lack of concentration;

* Both benzene and toluene are found in nail polishes and removers. Used as solvents, they are highly toxic and can cause depression and convulsions, or induce coma or death;

* Propylene glycol, a solvent used for texture and stability, can cause allergic reactions. Frequently used in cosmetics, it's also found in brake fluid and antifreeze.

* Nitrosamines, though not primary ingredients in cosmetics, are also cautionary chemicals. According to Dr. Claire Cook, nitrosamines are formed when two otherwise safe ingredients, nitrous acid and amines, are combined. Readily absorbed into the skin, the result is highly carcinogenic. "In fact," says Hampton, "nitrosamines are absorbed through the skin in far greater amounts than when nitrite-preserved foods [such as bacon] are eaten." To avoid the problem, he advises steering clear of products containing DEA or TEA in the name. For example, TEA-lauryl sulfate or Cocoamide DEA.

Healthy Alternatives

Luckily, there are natural alternatives to chemically-ridden cosmetics. Besides being chemical-free, natural products are ecologically friendly, contain no petrochemicals which pollute our waterways and harm marine wildlife, and they're usually manufactured with minimal packaging. Another plus: Because the ingredients come from nature and have been used for centuries without harmful side effects, natural products don't require animal testing.

For those who want to save money and protect their skin as well as the environment,
it's possible to make your own skin and hair care products at home.

Cleansers, Make-up Removers, Hair Care Produts, Face Masks, Bath and Body Scrubs, Creams,
Toners, Eye Treatments, Acne Treatments, Ecezema Treatments, Hand & Foot Products, Hair Dyes
Perfumes, Shower Gels

Renewed interest in home-made beauty products has prompted a growing number of people
interetested in the subject. Check out my ebook which offers great value for money
homemade natural recipes with step-by-step easy to follow instructions for custom-made formulas
using herbs and wholesome, natural foods...Just the way nature intended:-)



I hope this article has been useful to you!!!!

If you are intereted in finding out more, please check out my website at:

www.beauty-recipes.monsterelements.com or click here


Feel free to post a comment on this site or drop me an email, I'll be glad to help you
in anyway i can.


Have nice day!!!


Nadia xxxxxx:-)

Keep Home Made Produts Fresh

2006-04-28T05:30:00.000-07:00

Keep homemade potions fresh

If you follow the suggestions below, your Natural homemade Beauty Products should last for several weeks. (Additional directions appear in some recipes.)

1. Store your products in clean, airtight glass or plastic jars and bottles in a cool, dark, dry place. You may need keep some products in the refridgerator, deping on what the prodct is.

2. To minimise the risk of contaminating products with bacteria, don't put your fingers in the jars or bottles. Instead, use cotton balls, cotton swabs, or a small spatula to remove only as much as you need. Or pour it onto clean hands.

Nadia xxxxx :-)

Herb Remedies

2006-04-28T04:49:00.000-07:00

Herbs Used In Skin Care

We have discussed regarding a lot of remedies for skin and masks that one can apply on the face and skin to make the skin look young and naturally beautiful. Today we will discuss on some of the herbs that are involved in maintaining excellent skin care.

- There are many herbs that are used in the care of skin, among them is Tea Green. Tea Green is considered as a natural antiseptic and it is used for skin irritations and acne. Along with that Tea Tree Oil is also considered to promote hair growth in the scalp and has been known to produce wonderful results. It also works to remove the unwanted bacteria from the scalp as well as help improve the itchy flaky scalp and help kill the hair lice.

- Shea Butter is used as a natural moisturizer for skin. It is mostly used for dry skin such as cracked hands and heels, it can also be used for stretch marks.

- Among the family of herbs there is an oil, which is extracted from the plants, known as Jojoba plants. One can massage the scalp with Jojoba oil and the oil penetrates deep into the skin and makes the scalp healthy, as well as help grow hair and works on preventing split ends.

- From the berries of the small palm trees is extracted an ingredient known as Saw Palmetto. Saw Palmetto is used to apply on the scalp and it helps improve the scalp and the different skin conditions. This is a widely used herbal treatment among both men and women.

- From the surface of the oceans, seaweeds are being collected and are being used in a lot of beauty products. Seaweeds are rich in minerals and thus it is used in facial creams, face masks, which improve skin texture and hydration and prevent dryness, as well as scalp and hair to give them a glow and prevent dandruff.

- There is another thing, which is gaining popularity these days, which is alfalfa. This is being used for brittle nails and prevents from getting a bad breath.

- There is another plant extract known as aloe vera, which is used as an antiseptic for burns and it helps reduce the pain. It helps the skin to gain moisture and it gives a very soft complexion to skin.

- There is a herb, which is widely used in beauty products to diminish the black spots on the face, which is known as basil.

- Another herb, which has a whole lot of benefits that it provides is known as Chamomile. This herb has a very soothing effect. It works for a lot of problems such as menstrual cramps, tired and puffy eyes etc.

- An oil extracted from the primrose plant is known as primrose oil. It helps to promote healthy nails, hair and skin.

- A powder obtained from turmeric is turmeric powder, which is a splendid antibiotic. It helps for the skin, which is acne prone and oily.

- The herb that is known for its cleansing properties is known as Thyme herb. It removes the dull and dead skin.

- The herb, rosemary helps improve circulation, as well as nerves. This herb is used to improve the creasy and wrinkled skin and works to clear out the acne and dry dull skin. If used on hair, it gives them a shiny and beautiful look.

If you would like more tips and recipes on NATURAL SKIN CARE, click here:

Love Always

Nadia xxxxxx:-)

Natural Organic Beauty Recipes

2006-04-28T02:47:00.000-07:00

Who Else Wants To Discover Nature's Own Little Secrets To Having Incredibly Smooth And Desirable Skin?

Look More Sexy And Attractive The Natural Way Without Using Harsh Chemicals On Your Skin Ever Again…Without Even Trying…Without Breaking The Bank Balance.. You Can Look Beautiful From The Comfort Of Your Own Home!

Dear Reader,

If you are interested in having a beautiful complexion, and a true beauty that shines from within, then this is going to be the most exciting message you will read. Over the past two years ago I discovered the secrets I am going to share with you today, and as you read through them you will be as convinced as I was that these secrets are a must have for every woman who wants to Discover age old Natural Beauty Secrets, used by the most beautiful women in history.

So how did it all begin?

Well if you have sensitive skin like I have then you will know what a nightmare it is! Even if the product claims to be for 'sensitive skin' be sure that the chemicals and ingredients they use are not doing any long term favours for This eBook is for those that want to remove the harmful chemicals from their lives, and enjoy a healthy beauty alternative. Many of you health conscious people out there, and people suffering from chemical sensitivities are looking for 100% natural beauty products.

Holistic Natural beauty care is here to stay, and I want YOU to keep you up to date on all that is new with this growing phenomenon. By getting your hands on this HOT EBOOK, not only will you be able to SAVE MONEY on expensive store brought products, but you will be using something natural and beneficial for the LONG TERM.

Think of it as your life long investment plan for your skin. And if you'er buying this eBook for someone else, then what better way to treat someone than the gift of beautiful skin? I can guarantee that ANYONE who has access to this EBOOK and tries the recipes will enjoy creating, and more importantly using, their own skin products.

But Don’t Just Take My Word For It, Read What My Customers Have To Say About This Amazing Product!!!!

Dear Nadia,

Your recipes worked amazingly well! I get to make my OWN beauty products which are all natural. No more buying expensive chemically-filled beauty products.

All my friends are letting me "test" your natural recipes on them with very impressive results. My apartment has turned into a spa get-together :)

Thank you ever so much!

-Melissa Fielding (NY City, USA)

Nadia
Thanks for your great Book. I was amazed at the number of recipes that were contained in it. I especially love your honey and oatmeal mask recipe. Its a wonderful product and i shall use it for many years to come ..im sure

Good Luck

-Henrietta Gordon (Mancheseter, UK)

This product will give you the choices and freedom to choose and create recipes to use and you will know what’s going into them because you will be in control. No lies! No marketing hype!

Just pure, simple ingredients that are easy to prepare....just imagine never running out of your "cream" because most of the ingredients used in this eBook are everyday ingredients that can be found in your kitchen.

NO NEED TO SPEND MONEY ON EXPENSIVE INGREDIENTS!

All recipes are easy to follow with STEP BY STEP instructions and colour illustrations.

I will show you how you can utilise the ingredients that are already at your disposal, and I can promise you will have FUN making them. I am inundated with emails and blog posts from women who are literally amazed at the instant results they are seeing.

All recipes are easy to follow with step-by stem instructions and colour illustrations. I spent weeks responding to women’s emails from literally from all over the world and many of them shared the main concerns and pressing questions that all women have in common. So I answered them.

Which means NO FLUFF or beating around the bush. Just real answers and advice for real women. Real women who were fed up of the skin reactions they got from using chemically filled products which were expensive to buy. So I developed this product to address those concerns for my customers and now this is your chance to receive

Nadia’s Beauty Discovery Organic Recipes eBook!

Remember…. “Nadia’s Organic Beauty Secrets” was developed to help WOMEN like YOU have a choice about what you want to use on YOUR skin. It was developed out of the needs and concerns of woman JUST like YOU who are conscious about their skin concerns and want to also save money as well as have great natural looking skin.

Nadia Russell xxxxxx :-)

P.S. You WILL experience HEALTHY and SEXY skin if you use follow these recipes CAREFULLY and be the envy of all your family and friends! If you PREFER unhealthy and pale-looking skin DO NOT BUY THIS PRODUCT!

Otherwise Order NOW!

Spa - Indulge Yourself, GO On You Know You Deserve It

2006-04-28T01:29:00.000-07:00

Relax, Retreat, Indulge

A spa is a place where one gets luxurious body treatments. At a spa, one can get hair treatments, pedicure, manicure, massages that would relax your muscles, cleansing facials, which are being provided in an ideal and comforting environment where you would love to spend every single moment.

Spa provides you with all the care your skin and body needs at one place. A person can enjoy their time in a spa after a long week of work and can have them revitalized for another week.

Different spas charge different fees from their clients and they have several packages made where the clients can choose and have the treatment of their own choice.

At spa, the professionals take great care and they understand the type and problems of the skin and how to deal with that, as well as the tense muscles and they massage the body according to your specifications such as a whole body massage or back massage. They have their formulas
where they mix different ingredients after knowing your skin tone and texture and apply those
formulas on your skin and clear off the dead cells and cleanse the pores, remove the blackheads and hair, which makes your skin smooth and hydrated.

There is also a very soothing environment that really relaxes an individual, such as they have such a terrific décor that would just make you feel really relaxed, as well as they will have excellent music, which will take you really close to nature. These are really cool places where one can spend their times to chill out and lose all the worries and tensions outside and feel cool and smooth.

Create Your Own Spa Experinece in the comfort of Your own Home Click Here

Enjoy!!!

Nadia xxxxx :-)

Healthy Skin

2006-04-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

Healthy and Natural Alternatives

Before the turn of the century, many cosmetics and skin treatments were either homemade or compounded by a pharmacist. Many individuals used herbs, fruit and vegetables found in their gardens to treat skin ailments. Today, we can make many of these natural remedies ourselves with supplies available at our local health-food stores, mail order, or even on the Internet. If you make your own skin care products, you will definitely have complete control over how natural the final product actually is. Search for a great reference guide, to help you determine what ingredients to utilize appropriately together. Even with natural ingredients, you must be aware of their actions and use them correctly.

To determine the right skin care regimen for yourself, you will definitely have to focus on the proper treatments for your skin type and choose those you enjoy the most. Personalisation is the key. Try to remember though, as your skin or environment changes, so should your skin care treatments. The only way you are going to be able to maintain the true beauty of your complexion is to treat it appropriately. Three simple steps ----Cleansing, toning and moisturising twice a day, every day --- will help keep your skin healthy and protect it from the stresses of daily life.

Our skin renewal process takes about 28 days, more or less depending on our age, genetics, and metabolism.

Follow your skin regimen faithfully for at least three to four weeks and you will definitely start to notice true results.

Fight Naturally Within

Achieving a healthy skin is not always determined by what you apply topically to your skin. An important component is what you take internally. We live in an environment where we are bombarded constantly by chemicals in the air we breathe, the foods we eat and the water we drink.

The way your skin looks reveals a great deal about what is going on inside your organs, tissues and cells, and about the way you live and think. Loss of skin tone and elasticity, skin dryness, oiliness, sallowness, undereye puffiness, breakouts and premature skin aging reflect the condition of each cell and the quality of the nutrients each cell receives. You can have a healthy and young skin at any age. To obtain optimal results, you must combine natural skin therapy “from the inside out”, with the appropriate skin treatments on a daily basis.

To Get More Great Ideas on Natural Skin, click here .

Thanks for reading, please feel free to join me anytime. I look foward to your company!!!!!

Nadia xxxxx:-)

For More Great Beauty Tips and Advice Click Here......

Simple Skin Rejuvenation!

2006-04-21T10:17:00.000-07:00

Rejuvenate Your Skin with a Simple Seaweed Facial Mask

A few years ago I discovered how to make a simple seaweed mask that left my face feeling incredibly soft, smooth and looking absolutely radiant. This mask contains kelp, honey, and aloe vera.

Seaweeds have been traditionally used to detoxify the body both internally and externally. They are rich in nutrients which help to both tone and nourish the skin. Seaweed contain mineral salts that can help the skin to hold it’s moisture better, which helps to smooth fine lines.

Adding honey to your mask adds additional moisture to the skin. Honey is a natural humectant that is rich in vitamins, minerals, enzymes and sugar. The sugar and enzymes in honey is a gentle exfoliate for the skin. When possible use raw honey to ensure that you get the maximum quality and benefit of this wonderful golden treat.

Aloe Vera has been known for its amazing healing properties for centuries. It has been used to help heal burns, eczema, sores, acne, insect bites, and more. It’s an antiseptic, highly lubricant, and penetrates deep into the skin.

To benefit from these ingredients, create this simple mask using the following ingredients:

1 TBSP Kelp powder
½ TBSP honey (raw honey is best)
½ TBSP Aloe vera gel (99.9% pure) or squeeze an aloe vera leaf to obtain the natural gel

To Make:

Mix all ingredients in a bowl and apply to a clean face. Leave the mask on for 15 minutes and rinse with lukewarm water.

To enjoy glowing, healthy looking skin, use this mask 2 times a week.

I promise you will enjoy this mask and make it a regular part of your beauty program.

You can find masks like this plus many many more in my exciting NEW collection of

Homemade Beauty Recipes

Nadia xxxxx:-)

Honey You're A Natural

2006-04-17T14:18:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone!!!:-)

Throughout the centuries, legendary beauties have used honey as part of their skin and hair care treatments. Cleopatra was famous for her milk and honey baths, and Poppea, wife of Roman Emperor Nero, used a honey and milk lotion on her face to keep her looking youthful. By the time cosmetics were beginning to be mass produced in the late 1800s, honey was a popular ingredient. Today, manufacturers are increasingly using honey in skin moisturisers, facial masks, hair conditioners and shower gels in response to consumer demand for more natural formulations.

Did you know!

All-natural honey is an effective treatment for minor abrasions and burns. A recent review of medical research documents its effectiveness as an antimicrobial agent.

Here are some fabulous uses for this almost-magical substance, held in the highest esteem by wise ones--and savvy beauties--for millennia.

After all, honey is one of the oldest and most effective beauty aids ever. Discover a few ancient secrets, right here. They’re the bees' knees!

1. Honey Pat. This is the best way to bring a lively glow to your face and body while you moisturise and smooth. And it’s so much fun! Just bring one of those cute little honey-bears into the tub with you. Squeeze some honey anywhere on your skin and pat it with both hands. As you continue to pat your skin, the honey gets really sticky, and will pull up your skin gently with every pat. This is the BEST for circulation, and you’ll end up with a gorgeous glow. Rinse off the honey when you’ve had enough.

2. Honey Bath. If you don’t have time to pat-and-glow, just add 1/4 cup or so of honey to your bath. Mmmm--sweet, silky, and luscious skin.

3. Honey Shiny Hair. Mix 1 teaspoon honey, a squeeze of fresh lemon, and 1 quart of warm water. After shampooing, simply pour through hair. Let your hair dry as you normally would; you don‘t need to rinse it out.

4. Moisturising Honey Mask. Mix 2 tablespoons honey and 2 teaspoons milk or cream. Smooth on face and allow to remain for 10 minutes, then rinse.

5. Honey-Apple Toner. This sweet alpha-hydroxy miracle will help to firm, smooth, and moisturise your skin. In a blender or food processor, combine 1 peeled, cored apple with a tablespoon of honey and pulse until smooth. Apply pulp gently to face and allow to remain for 15 minutes, then rinse.

6. Good-Enough-to-Eat Facial Cleansing Scrub. Combine 1 tablespoon honey, 1 tablespoon finely-ground almonds, 2 tablespoons dry oatmeal, and enough lemon juice to moisten. Massage mixture gently onto face, then rinse with warm water.

7. Honey Hair Conditioning Treatment . This great formula combines the benefits of honey and olive oil for lustrous, silky, healthy hair and scalp. Simply combine 1/2 cup honey and 2 tablespoons to 1/4 cup olive oil (depending on the dryness of your hair and scalp). Saturate hair and scalp with this conditioner, then put on a shower cap and allow the conditioner to remain for 30 minutes before you shampoo and rinse as usual.

For more great honey recipes or any other NATURAL beuaty recipes try my book..it reallly is a complete guide to natural beuaty with all the tips and tricks you will ever need to know.

Nadia xxxxxx:-)

Nadia's Organic Beauty Recipes

Natural Skincare, The REAL Alternative

2006-04-17T13:44:00.000-07:00

Hi Everyone,

Welcome Back!!!!

I received a lot of questions from women all over the world, highlighting their concerns about natural skincare and the alternatives available if ANY exist.

Well, simply ask and you shall receive:

Natural Skin Care

Natural skin care embodies a trend to go back to the basics. More women are realising the harsh affects that chemical laden products can have on their skin. They want to see results, but the side effects often cause worse problems than what they are trying to cure. Working with women's skin over the years I have seen it all.

There is nothing more unnerving than feeling uncomfortable in your skin. Whether trying to combat acne or the signs of aging women are subjected to harsh products and their skin is left red and irritated. While many of these products are effective, some women are looking for an alternative approach in natural skin care.

The Natural Skin Care Alternative

Natural skin care bypasses the chemicals in favour of natural ingredients. Nature offers a virtual medicine cabinet of ingredients that targets a range of skin care issues. These gentle yet effective ingredients are now causing quite a stir in the cosmetic arena.

Pick up any natural skin care products and you will read such
ingredients as green tea, caffeine, shea butter, and aloe Vera.
Green tea itself is a powerful anti-oxidant and aides in fighting off the effects of environment and stress on your skin. Caffeine is a newer ingredient on the cosmetic market aimed at reducing puffiness and calming. These are only some of the ingredients you will find in this new wave of beauty products.
Don't be afraid to ask questions about ingredients; if the sales person mentions it has jojoba oil ask what it will do for your skin.

Here are a few Recipes which have been extracted from my new exciting book on orgnanic Natural Beauty. Please feel free to try these recipes and let me know how you get on...

Natural Homemade Recipes

PAPAYA & PUMPKIN FACIAL

If you have visited spas and resorts in exotic locales such as the Pacific Rim, Bali, Hawaii, and Tahiti, you've probably seen a facialist select and mash fresh fruit in front of you for a fresh-on-the spot enzyme mask. It's easy to recreate this mask at home -- I've found a Balinese mask for you which will leave your face fresh and glowing.

Ingredients:

2/3 cup fresh papaya, mashed

15 oz. can pure pumpkin

1 egg, beaten

1. Prepare the mask. Cut the papaya in half and scoop out the seeds. Scoop out the papaya fruit and mash it well to eliminate lumps in the mask. Beat the egg until it is frothy. Combine that with the papaya. Add the pumpkin to the egg/papaya mixture and whip together. You can also mix the ingredients in the blender or a food processor for an extra smooth mask.

2. Prepare your face. Wash with your daily cleanser and remove all residual makeup on your skin. Rinse with warm water. It's very important to have clean skin to ensure you get maximum benefits from the facial.

3. Apply the Mask. Cover your entire face, being careful to avoid the immediate eye area. If you have sensitive skin, test the mixture on your hand before spreading it on your face. You'll feel some tingling as the enzymes in the pumpkin go to work immediately -- gently exfoliating your top layer of skin. It works like a scrub without being abrasive to your skin. Leave the mask on for 10 minutes.

4. Rinse Off Mask after you've relaxed for ten minutes.

5. Apply Toner & Moisturizer.

Your friend,

Nadia xxxx:-)

Beauty Tips and Recipes

Welcome To Organic Beauty

2006-04-17T11:40:00.000-07:00

Hi and Welcome,

Thanks for dropping by.

My name is Nadia Russell and I would like to invite you on a journey of discovery........

This Site is an opportunity for Women who have discovered the benfits of Natural Organic Beauty or for those of you who want to simply find out more about the great benefits of using Natural Beauty products and ingredients. In the weeks and months to come, I will be posting comments, advice, tips and recipes about the wolrd of Natural Skincare for women who would like to enjoy the benefits of what nature has to offer!!!

Over the last 6 months I have been busy trying and testing home made beauty recipes and I would like to share my discovery with you!!!!

You can see ALL the details here:

Beauty Recipes & Other Ideas to Try

I always receive lots of questions from woman
all around the world, and the best place for me to answer
them is right here, so let's get started.

Please feel free to ask questions, post a comment on any recipes or tips you have tried or tested. I would really appreciate it. If you need advice on natural beauty, then this is the number one spot to find answers to your questions.

Each week I will post an article related to Natural Beauty, so please feel free to join me. I look foward to our journey together as week-by-week we will uncover some of the worlds most intruiging and useful natural beauty tips.

This week we will start by looking at ORGANIC BEAUTY and what that means to you as a consumer. Enjoy!!!

So....You're healthy, environmentally conscious and consume organic produce when you can. So, if you are so aware of the chemicals you're putting into your body, isn't aboput time that you considered what you are putting on your body and face too?

It has been estimated that the average woman applies more than 200 chemicals to her skin a every day. Furthermore, recent research has shown that 60 per cent of these chemicals are absorbed into the bloodstream. It has also been found that the number of people with eczema, allergies and skin complaints is on the increase - their conditions are generally aggravated by the chemicals found in skincare products. By going organic/natural, our skin can't help but benefit, but where do you start when considering what products to use? What ingreditents work well for your particular skin type or specific skin concerns?

The type of ingredients that can be used natural beauty products is so vast, it can seem like alomst a daunting task to find out what works well for different skin types and skin concerns. However, the real beauty is that with products based soley on natural ingredients, these pressing questions won't matter as the ingredients will not significantly cause aggravation on the skin as chemial based products would*.

As more people are becoming aware of the effect of pesticides and synthetic ingredients on our environment and health, more women are interested in using natural skin care products. With the increasing demand comes more widely available natural skin care products which may be chemical-free, completely organic, or even vegan. During a life-time, the average woman will ingest around four pounds of lipstick which can contain harmful substances such as tar, aluminum and many other poisons and carcinogens. Therefore, natural skin care products are more in demand these days, as awareness of health increases amongst the population.

Natural skin care products are available in the following items:

· Cosmetics
· Shampoos and conditioners
· Cleansers, Toners, Masks, Moisturissers
· Skin conditioners
· Bath/ Shower Products, soaks and body washes

Natural and organic cosmetics are free of synthetic dyes and the colour used can be obtained through natural sources such as plants and minerals. However, these ingredients usually have a shorter shelf-life than chemically filled cosmetics, and should be replaced often.

Many consumers of natural beauty products enjoy the benefits of aromatherapy along with cleansing and conditioning their skin and hair. Many natural skin care products are available on the market in sets include a shower gesl, soaps, shampoo and conditioners and scrubs.

Natural skin care products are usually made of bases and essential oils. Depending on the product, the base may be a wax or a cream made of moisturising oils and plant butters. Unrefined shea butter from Africa is a common choice and Tamanu from Madagascar is prized for its soothing properties. The best essential oils are expeller pressed, which means that they are extracted without chemical solvents. The bases and oils are combined to produce skin creams, cleansers, perfumes and lipsticks.

Skin masks and treatments are important processes in one's skin care regime. They usually intensive treatments that work by penetrateing the underlying surface of the skin and target the skin celles which have yet to reach the surface. There are different types of masks which work on combating different skin concerns. Masks can be useful to help dry skin in need of extra mositure. There are also masks that deep cleanse the skin, brightenthe skin , help to nourish and aid anti aging, to name but a few. For HomeMade Natural Masks click here!

Mud masks may contain real, nutrient-rich mud or clay from different regions of the world which contain nourishing properties to help soothe and aid skin cell renewal . Mud masks also help to draw out impurites from the skin which can leave it looking clearer. A mask which draws out impurites also helps to improve blood circulation.

A scrub or exfoliator is , made of crushed peach pits or another rough material that removes dead skin cells. There are several befefits to using an exfoliator on a regular basis. Effective exfoliators give the apperaenace of fresh bright skin and using the right application technique, exfoliators can aid blood circulation which leads to better looking skin.

Cleansers are used according to one’s skin type; those with dry skin may use a cleanser with a fruit such as avocado or banana, and those with oily-skin or acne find tea tree oil cleanser to be effective. A moisturiser completes the treatment, and is made of oils from plants such as cocoa or palm that gently add moisture without clogging the pores.

One should be careful when purchasing natural skin care products. Many conventional skin care products claim to have natural ingredients, but this might mean that they use a small percentage of a plant or an herb extract, and the other 95% of the product is made of chemicals. Read the label to ensure that the products you are using are all-natural, if this is important to you!!!!

I hope this article has been useful to you.

If you have been using Natural Homemade/Organic Beauty produts or recipes then why not post a comment, saying what you have tried and the results you have seen. We would all love you to share your thoughts........

Nadia xxxxx :-)

Beauty Recipes

eBay Links - Natural Beauty

http://monsterelements.com

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*The reader is urged to use personal judgement in applying these natural beauty treatments. Any allergies to particular fruits and vegetables or other medical conditions should be taken into account, and those formulas avoided. Readers should test all beauty treatments on a small area of skin prior to use on any large area. And, of course, no miracles from any beauty care, organic or otherwise, should be expected or can be guaranteed.