I’m all for time-saving, eco-friend, low cost, diy, etc. So with us moving towards using less and reusing what we have used, I found a really nice idea to help me water our gardens.
These little bottles will also help me teach my boys to save water and water plants wisely.
Our local newspaper, the Daily Dispatch, run this article this morning.
Deadly weeds choke Nahoon river – A noxious water weed is once again choking the life out of the Nahoon River, which is home to myriad species including bass, geese, fish eagles and otters. Water hyacinth (Eichhornia crassipes), one of the world’s worst aquatic weeds, first threatened the river’s ecosystem last year. Now the out-of-control alien plant has blanketed large stretches of the river, with the worst outbreak occurring near the causeway that links Dorchester Heights to the Stutterheim road.
Residents living along the river bank have now questioned the municipality’s efforts in keeping one of East London’s most popular rivers unpolluted. Joan Hempel, whose farm borders the river, said: “I am dismayed at the state of the Nahoon River. The rapid growth and spread of the hyacinth has already affected the wildlife. “It seems the entire ecosystem is being choked and destroyed by this alien invader plant.” Hempel has sent numerous reports to the Department of Water Affairs hoping to pressure government to act.
“To date no one has responded or reacted to my report. I was hoping to alert them to the alarming spread of the plant. Andrew Lucas, Department of Water Affairs provincial director of water regulation and use, said clearing invasive alien plants was the responsibility of land owners. Lucas said if the land belonged to the municipality, it was the responsibility of the Working For Water team. “I have not investigated the areas myself but the influx usually stems from residents,” he said.
Lucas said residents used the weed, which has a beautiful purple flower, to decorate their ponds and water features. “When it starts to overgrow they dump it in the river.” According to Lucas this reinfects the river system and the problem starts all over again. The water hyacinth has caused a decline in fish populations in Africa. – Taken from Dispatch.co.za 15/02/2011
Ok, so if Water Affairs doesn’t want to help the river then what? A classic case of passing the buck, our politicians are very good at doing that. Pity they are not as good at anything else.
I found this info on Wikipedia…
When not controlled, water hyacinth will cover lakes and ponds entirely; this dramatically impacts water flow, blocks sunlight from reaching native aquatic plants, and starves the water of oxygen, often killing fish (or turtles). The plants also create a prime habitat for mosquitos, the classic vectors of disease, and a species of snail known to host a parasitic flatworm which causes schistosomiasis (snail fever).
Solution – I will definitely be sending our political parties a strong email. What nonsense is this passing the buck, if it isn’t your mandate then help us to get the right people in to fix the problem. Be part of the solution, Don’t add to it – silly man.
Wikipedia’s article has some interesting results at the end…
Industrial utilization
Since the plant has abundant nitrogen content, it can be used a substrate for biogas production and the sludge obtained from the biogas. However, due to easy accumulation of toxins, the plant is prone to get contaminated when used as feed.
The plant is extremely tolerant of, and has a high capacity for, the uptake of heavy metals, including Cd, Cr, Co, Ni, Pb and Hg, which could make it suitable for the biocleaning of industrial wastewater [7], [8], [9], [10]. In addition to heavy metals, Eichhornia crassipes can also remove other toxins, such as cyanide, which is environmentally beneficial in areas that have endured gold mining operations [11].
Water hyacinth is also observed to enhance nitrification in waste water treatment cells of living technology. Their root zones are superb micro-sites for bacterial communities.[12]
Food for thought – this weed is not all bad, it’s just not any good in our Nahoon river. An import bit of information, that I will include in my emails.
At our recent J&B Met held in Cape Town, this photo popped up on msn.co.za…
Are you asking yourself the same questions – WTF?
I love living in SA and been super proud of my home country is part of been “PROUDLY SOUTH AFRICAN”. This article I found on msn.co.za illistrates why I can’t help but ask “Really? Is it that important?” There are so many other issues in SA that need to be addressed by our political parties, but the ANC youth league chooses to focus on people parting away their money and paying big bucks to eat of women who are paid small fortunes compared to the working class Cape Town residents.
Take a look and scratch your head like we all did…
Kenny “Sushi King” Kunene Vows to Never Use Another Woman as a Platter – The ANC Youth League on Wednesday welcomed businessman Kenny Kunene’s commitment to stop serving sushi off women’s bodies. Gallo Images ANCYL president Julius Malema was present at Kunene’s birthday bash last year and the pre-opening of his Cape Town nightclub ZAR this weekend. At both events sushi was served off the bodies of scantily clad women.
“The ANCYL had in more than one occasion disapproved of such practice in the past and publicly voiced our disapproval,” league spokesman Floyd Shivambu said in a statement. He said the league, along with the ANC, would “continue to speak openly against practices that have potential to undermine the ethos of our revolution”. Following objections by the Africa National Congress, Kunene sent a letter to local media saying he would not hold any more sushi parties in future.
“I will not be throwing or attending any further such sushi parties as I have nothing but respect for the leadership of the ANC and the guiding principles of the movement,” The Star newspaper quoted him saying in a statement. He was responding to outrage triggered by photographs of him eating sushi off the semi-naked body of a model in Cape Town on Saturday night. It was Kunene’s version of the ancient Japanese custom of Nyotaimori or “body sushi”.
The model at Kunene’s party was draped across the bonnet of a white Maserati. ANCYL leader Julius Malema was quoted as saying at the party: “Helen Zille will not close ZAR at 2am, like she does other night clubs in Cape Town. The ANC owns ZAR and we will party until the morning.” ANC secretary general Gwede Mantashe then distanced the ruling party from the comments. “The ANC is not into nightclubs or partying, but is a revolutionary movement,” he said in a statement. Last year, Cosatu general secretary Zwelinzima Vavi lashed out at “the BEE types who blow up to R700,000 in one night on parties”, describing them as the “predatory elite”.
“It is the sight of these parties, where the elite display their wealth, often secured by questionable methods, that turns my stomach,” Vavi reportedly said, referring to Kunene’s 40th birthday bash at his Johannesburg nightclub. Kunene said he should not have to defend what he spent on a party to celebrate a milestone in his life. It was “honest money and we were having honest fun”. In a statement on Wednesday Cosatu in Gauteng said neither the ANCYL or the ANC Women’s League issued a statement on the practice last year when Vavi criticised it.
“The saga also demonstrates the correctness of the decision by the disciplinary committee of the ANC to subject some to political education in order for them to comprehend that [the] National Democratic Revolution is not only about national question but it also involve the class and gender question,” Cosatu Gauteng secretary Dumisani Dakile said in a statement. “The political school should also entail teaching such comrades about the values and principles of our struggle.”
Malema was sent to a disciplinary hearing last year and ordered to attend “political school” Dakile said he supported the ANCWL finally speaking out on the matter and calling for the practice to come to an end. The ANCWL should “press charges” against those involved, he said.
I read this post on msn.co.za. I find this waste of public funds, totally unacceptable. I hope our communities pull together and vote out over-spending and vote in people who really will do good-by our most needy citizens. It is those people who need the R70 million more then Jacob and his family.
Those are the people who should be coming before his creature comforts, I am sure he and his family HAD a home with running water, electricity and sanitation before he became president. The people who’s RDP houses did not get build, would love to live in Jacob’s old house. To them it would be a palace.
There’s some food for thought…
A press release from the DA stated that Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde revealed that R70 million was spent to renovate the five presidential residences over the last five years.
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Gallo Images
The release stated the following:
“In a reply to a DA parliamentary question received yesterday [Thursday], Public Works Minister Gwen Mahlangu Nkabinde revealed that more than R70 million has been spent on renovating the five presidential residences over the last five years, with almost R40 million being spent on President Jacob Zuma’s Pretoria residence, Mahlambandlopfu, alone. These figures are astonishing and constitute indulgent and wasteful expenditure of the highest order. It is deeply ironic that, on a day when President Jacob Zuma is due to offer another list of sweeping promises to South Africans, he has yet again been exposed as a leader who, in the face of chronic unemployment and poor delivery, has continued to place his taste for the finer things in life over the needs of the people he was elected to serve.
“President Zuma has repeatedly stated his commitment to addressing public concerns that the ANC government is “living large”. Indeed, he has expressed his intention to foster a “culture of greater prudence and less extravagance; achieving greater value for money and delivering more and better services with less resources”.
The figures contained in this parliamentary reply tell a very different story.
“That President Zuma has sanctioned the spending of tens of millions of rands of public funds on maintaining a lifestyle of excess and luxury is a powerful illustration of the President’s insincerity when making commitments to changing the ANC government’s culture of wasteful spending. It also reveals a disturbing disconnection from the pressing needs of millions of South Africans. The sum spent on the refurbishment of the five presidential residences over the past five years could have built over 1 200 RDP homes.
“It is worth noting that the figures contained in this reply cover only the structural and maintenance costs of the President’s five residences.
“Furthermore, this is not an exhaustive list of these costs as the Presidency failed to provide some of the figures on the grounds that they were “not readily available”, which raises concerns about the diligence of the Presidency in keeping accurate records of its expenditure, and the department’s approach to accountability.
“In a response to a parliamentary question in November last year, Minister in the Presidency Collins Chabane revealed that the running costs of the five presidential homes were in excess of R5 300 000 for 2009/10, excluding the salaries of the 113 staff employed to service them.
“The total cost of the running and maintenance of the President’s five official homes is therefore significantly in excess of those figures provided in the most recent parliamentary reply.
“The DA has submitted further questions to the Presidency to ascertain the cost of maintaining the staff complements of the various households, to enquire about anomalies in the figures contained in yesterday’s reply, and to determine exactly how often the President and Deputy President have used the five official residences since they assumed office. Such unnecessary extravagance has little place in a country’s where the alleviation of poverty and the provision of reliable services are its most pressing needs”.
I found this really great, fun site http://www.phuthu.co.za It is a local SA site with some really awesome pics and interesting stories. If my browser wasn’t so slow, I would look through the whole site just to see the rest of it. There are some really useful tips on herbs. I know we can get most of them at nurseries in SA, I’m not sure about the rest of the world. When in doubt, ask at your local nursery…
Herbs – Culinary uses and more…
Basil
Basil is one of the most versatile herbs with sweet basil being the most commonly grown. It needs average soil, sun and semi-shade and is frost sensitive.
Culinary uses: Pasta sauces, stews, soups, salads, pizzas or blend basil with pine nuts to make pesto. It goes very well with tomatoes.
Medicinal uses: It is quite useful for exhaustion and digestive upsets such as stomach cramps, constipation and diarrhoea. Drink basil tea to relieve tension and migraines or rub the fresh leaves on your temples for headaches. Crushed basil leaves can be used to take the sting out of insect bites.
Cosmetic uses: Crushed basil leaves will stimulate hair growth. Use in bath oils.
Other uses: Bunches of fresh basil hung in the kitchen will keep flies away. Dried basil stalks burnt on a fire can keep the mozzies away.
Lemon Grass
Lemon grass can grow in any soil and doesn’t need a lot of water. It is inactive during the winter months and sensitive to frost. Parts used: The stems, leaves and essential oils.
Culinary uses: Soups, marinades, stir-fries, curries, salads, coconut milk, rice and as an alternative for lemon rind and to flavour tea’s and drinks. The stems can be kept in the fridge for 2 – 3 weeks if wrapped in a paper bag or wax wrapped.
Medicinal uses: Used in a tea it has a calming effect and can soothe the digestive system and relieve stress.
Cosmetic uses: Makes a good facial steam for teenage skin. Great for treating an oily skin or oily hair: one cup of fresh lemon grass and two cups of boiling water.
Other uses: Insect repellent.
Rosemary
Rosemary will grow in most types of soil but prefers light, sandy soil with good drainage and a sunny spot. It can tolerate cold temperatures. Rosemary has more fragrance if you pick it and leave it for a few days. Rosemary and sage are good friends and will grow well together.
Culinary uses: Meat (especially lamb), bean and tomato dishes (use sparingly as it’s a strong herb). Use the twigs for kebab skewers.
Medicinal uses: Drink as a tea for migraines and cramps. Also treats blood pressure problems, jaundice, vertigo, gout, aching joints, obesity and toothache. Use the oil externally as an antiseptic for sores and wounds.
Cosmetic uses: Good rinse for dark hair, can reduce falling hair and treat eczema on the scalp. Use as a mouthwash and facial steam. Known to remove freckles and wrinkles: Boil 50g flowering rosemary tips in 500ml white wine for 2 minutes. Leave to stand for 1 hour, strain and apply to your face with cotton wool twice a day.
Other uses: Fish moth repellent in cupboards/drawers. The stems will keep your linen smelling fresh or keep mozzies away when tossed in a fire.
Chilli
Chillies are easy to grow and varies from very hot to mild. It requires full sun and rich well drained soil. Water frequently, especially when in flower. Feed with a liquid fertiliser once a week; sensitive to frost. Parts used: Fruit.
Culinary uses: Add to chutneys, pickles, Indian, Mexican and Thai dishes and of course on pizzas!
Medicinal uses: eases digestive problems, chronic pain and cluster headaches.
Rocket
A herb you either love or hate. It likes loose, rich, composted, well-drained soil. Water it well in dry weather, although the roots must not be saturated. Withstands frost, summer storms and cold winds. Parts used: Leaves, seedpods and flowers. Can be stored in a plastic bag in the fridge for up to 3 days.
Culinary uses: Soups and stews, salads, sandwiches, sauces, marinades, garnish. Particularly good with tomatoes.
Medicinal uses: It’s a great tonic, can be used as a cough remedy when boiled in honey, prevents colds and treats fluid retention, anaemia, digestive upsets and bladder ailments.
Other uses: Treat skin blemishes and makes a refreshing foot bath. Can be used as plant food. Add to compost heap or plant around your compost heap.
Mint
Don’t let it loose in your herb garden, it takes over, rather plant it in a pot, not too small. It should be repotted yearly, preferably in spring and watered daily. It needs sun / partial shade, moderate temperatures and rich, well drained alkaline soil. Keep different types of mint apart; prevent interbreeding by keeping the flowering heads cut. Peppermint and spearmint are the two most widely used mints.
Culinary uses: Sauces, jellies, vinegar, green peas, potatoes, garnish or use as a refreshing tea (avoid jewel mint or pennyroyal as they are bitter). Goes well with lamb dishes.
Medicinal uses: Pennyroyal should not be used by anyone suffering from kidney problems or by pregnant women, use other mints instead. Colds and congestion: Pour a litre of boiling water over a cup of fresh mint springs, cover your head and the bowl with a towel and inhale. Make a peppermint tea to help digestion, colds and influenza. Crush the leaves in oil and massage the affected areas for migraines, rheumatism and muscular aches. Use peppermint oil on bruises and scratches.
Cosmetic uses: As a hair conditioner for oily hair, and it can heal rough/dry hands and feet. Add to bathwater to easy tiredness and aches and pains.
Other: Pennyroyal in cupboards and beds as an insect repellent for ants and fleas. Bunches of mint in your kitchen will keep flies away. Peppermint can be rubbed into the skin to keep mozzies away (test on the wrist first).
Parsley
Parsley needs a sunny spot and rich, moist soil. Parts used: leaves and stalks. Don’t grow parsley close to tomatoes or roses to keep them free of insects.
Culinary uses: Soups, stews, sauces, garnishing.
Medicinal uses: Parsley tea treats kidney and bladder infections and can be used as a slimming aid. Don’t take more than one cup a day and don’t use for more than 5 days. Parsley juice can have a soothing effect on eye inflammation and conjunctivitis. It has oestrogenic factors: control menstruation and help menopause. Crushed, warmed leaves will treat insect bites.
Other uses: Breath freshener after eating onions or garlic.
Herbs: Medicinal uses and more
Aloe Vera
Sunny spot with poor, well drained soil. Grows best in frost free areas. Aloe can be grown in a pot and only the herbs older than 2 years should be used for its properties.
Medicinal uses: Healing of wounds: burns, blisters, sunburn, heat rash. Aloe is known to stimulate the immune system, treats constipation, indigestion, eczema and fungal infections like ringworm and thrush. It should not be used by anyone suffering from piles.
Cosmetic uses: Can be used in a moisturising cream, shampoos (for dry and itchy scalp) and in suntan lotion.
Chamomile
These pretty flowers makes for powerful medicine. Camomile is easy to grow and likes partial shade and light as well as well drained soil. Pick the flowers often to lengthen its spring life. A great companion for most plants.
Culinary uses: Add chamomile tea to granadilla juice for a relaxing drink, can be served as an after-dinner drink to ease indigestion.
Medicinal uses: Relieves stress, anxiety and digestive problems, improves immunity, treat inflammations of the skin and other skin disorders (surgical wounds), diarrhoea, insomnia, headaches and in babies: colic, vomiting, teething problems, restlessness.
Cosmetic uses: Can makes hair lighter and promotes hair growth. Use in a facial steam or a soak to soften hands. Add to your bath for a relaxing treat or to soothe sunburn.
Lemon Balm
Needs filtered shade and rich, moist soil. Dies down in winter and needs to be cut back hard to encourage new spring growth.
Culinary uses: Teas, soup, milk, custard, sauces, fruit salads, refreshing drinks, puddings, poultry, fish and cheese dishes. It compliments cucumber, celery and asparagus. Freeze in ice cubes to decorate drinks.
Medicinal uses: Treats insomnia, herpes and digestive problems, cold sores, eczema, depression, anxiety, fear and improves concentration. Soothes insect bites.
Cosmetic uses: Use in a facial steam (it apparently slows down the aging process!) and improves oily hair. Mix with aqueous cream to soothe aching feet.
Other uses: Bunches of lemon balm will deter moths. Use green leaves to polish wooden furniture.
Southernwood
This herb needs full sun and grow in any soil although it prefers it dry. Parts to use: leaves and sprigs. If planted near fruit trees it will repel fruit flies and fruit moths.
Medicinal uses: It treats menstrual disorders and has antiseptic properties (rashes, scratches and grazes). Use as a bitter tonic: coughs, bronchitis, mucus, congestion. Eases pain and swelling.
Cosmetic: Use as a rinse for greasy hair, when combed through hair it can stimulate hair growth.
Other: Potent flea and moth repellent. Very effective in potpourris. Sprinkle dried, powdered Southernwood around ant holes to combat ants.
Feverfew
Easy to grow and needs full sun. Parts to use: Whole plant and leaves.
Medicinal uses: A powerful migraine preventive, treats digestive problems, relaxes spasms, reduces fever, has laxative effects, deals with menstrual problems and relieves period pain. Take Southernwood after childbirth to encourage the cleansing of the uterus.
Other uses: Mouth rinse, household disinfectant, moth / insect repellent.
Lavender
Plant lavender in containers (small batches) as it has the tendency of taking over. It likes a sunny spot and dry, well drained soil. Can be badly affected by frost; cover the lavender with grass.
Culinary uses: Flavour jams and vinegar. Great addition to marinades for game. Use crystallised flowers for garnish.
Medicinal uses: In oil as antiseptic for insect bites and stings. A lavender-stuffed pillow aids sleep and will calm a restless child. Lavender tea will treat headaches and relieve anxiety. Lavender water makes a great mouthwash.
Cosmetic: Treats acne. Use oil for massaging muscular aches and cellulite.
Other: Insect repellent: it will repel fish moths and draw butterflies. The leaves and flowers can be used in little netting sachets to keep your linen smelling fresh. Dried lavender leaves and flowers can be used for potpourri. Place on fires in winter for a lovely scent. Spread your washing over your lavender bushes for a lasting fresh smell.
How to Make Caterpillar Repellent
Theses nasty little buggers have eaten my plants to tatters – not even my succulents are safe! I found this very easy recipe on eHow, take a look…
Caterpillars dislike the smell of orange. Public DomainButterflies are beautiful but long before they turn into those lighter than air nectar eaters, they are caterpillars. In order for those lovely butterflies to come around come spring time, they need to eat and more often than not it’s your vegetable garden they want to dine on. Just follow this quick easy guideline to make an organic caterpillar repellent that not only repels little squirmers but has a pleasant orange smell.
Read more: How to Make Caterpillar Repellent | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_2304735_make-caterpillar-repellent.html#ixzz1ChB1k5ww
I’m all about economical, easy, non-toxic alternatives, so when I find something that would work will in our home and be safe to use in our water recycling system, I’ll definitely give it a bash. I found some awesome recipes that would be perfect for Valentine gifts.
What makes these recipes different from others I have found, is that they don’t require any specialised equipment, ingredients or knowledge. If you are not sure about how to use essential oils, the sales people at the store are the best to ask and will help you as much as possible. Use natural caution and discontinue use of products if irritation occurs.
All the recipes can be found at http://www.safecosmetics.org, email me if you would like the PDF version emailed to you.
DIY Recipes
Show your face, your feet or your muscles some love with safe, natural, toxin-free spa concoctions and personal care products. We’ve compiled some of our favorite safe cosmetics recipes below. Test these recipes out at your very own Safe Cosmetics Party. If you have a favorite recipe of your own, e-mail us! We’d love to try it out and share with others.
Getting Started
The necessary ingredients are usually affordable and not hard to find in organic or natural form. The benefits of making your own cosmetics will be immediately evident: your new products will smell and feel good, and so will your skin. There are no preservatives in these recipes so take a few precautions to avoid contamination by bacteria.
Avoid touching products like lip gloss with your fingers – instead use a cotton swab to apply. Use products within two weeks, and consider storing them in your refrigerator. Also, exercise caution if you think you might be allergic to ingredients like nuts, avocados or other common food ingredients
Beet Red Lip Gloss
Ingredients:
¼ cup beeswax
¼ cup castor oil
2 tablespoons sesame oil
beet juice
Instructions:
Melt beeswax, remove from heat and add oils. Add as much beet juice as desired for color. Store in jar. Source
Lip Balm
Ingredients:
3 tablespoons grated unbleached beeswax
5 teaspoons carrier oil (sunflower, castor or jojoba)
6 or 7 drops essential oil (such as lime, lemon, tangerine, grapefruit or peppermint)
1 teaspoon honey, for flavor
Instructions:
Melt the beeswax and carrier oil together in the top of a double boiler, stirring to combine. Remove from heat; add honey and essential oil. Mix thoroughly so the honey does not clump. To add a little color, stir in a tiny dab of lipstick with a coffee stirrer. Pour the mixture into containers; let sit 20 minutes before covering or moving. For glossier lip balm, use 2 teaspoons wax and 8 teaspoons carrier oil.
For Face
Chocolate Facial Mask
This decadent mask is actually an excellent moisturizer – it leaves your skin baby soft. Recommended for normal skin.
Ingredients:
1/3 cup cocoa
3 tablespoons heavy cream
2 teaspoons cottage cheese
¼ cup honey
3 teaspoons oatmeal powder
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together and smooth onto face. Relax for 10 minutes, then wash off with warm water. Source
Frozen Egg & Honey Facial Mask
Recommended for dry skin, this is particularly soothing on sunburned skin.
Ingredients:
1 egg
1/2 cup coconut oil, melted (but not hot)
1 tablespoon honey
Instructions:
– Beat the egg in a small bowl until frothy and well-mixed. Slowly add the liquid coconut oil and honey, beating until your mask is the consistency of mayonnaise.
– Take an empty toilet tissue roll and set it on end in a clean bowl. Spoon mixture into the cardboard toilet paper roll. Place tube, in the bowl, in the freezer overnight.
– To use, peel away just the top 1/4 inch of the cardboard roll and smooth the frozen stick over your face (think of it as a push-up pop). Leave your mask on for 5 to 10 minutes, then rinse off with warm water.
-Return the cream stick covered with plastic wrap and frozen between uses. Keeps indefinitely. Source
Avocado Carrot Cream Mask
This mask is rich in vitamin E, beta carotene, antioxidants, calcium and protein, ingredients that may help rebuild skin collagen, fade age spots and improve tone and texture.
Ingredients:
1 avocado, mashed
1 carrot, cooked and mashed
1/2 cup heavy cream
1 egg, beaten
3 tablespoons honey
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10-15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner. Source
Cucumber Eye Gel
Ingredients:
1/4 large cucumber
1 ounce aloe vera gel
Instructions:
-Puree the cucumber in a blender (leave a little pulp), then strain the mixture into a glass bowl until you have at least 2 ounces. Spoon in just a tad of the pulp from the strainer. Add the aloe vera to the cucumber puree in the bowl and mix lightly. Pour into a clean, sterilized container.
– After cleansing face, stir mixture gently and apply with a cotton ball to under eye area. Avoid the eyeball. The shelf life of this product is very limited by the fresh cucumber. It should be used within a few days, and kept refrigerated between uses. Source: Spa Index
Silky Clay Mask for All Skin Types
Ingredients:
1½ teaspoons green clay (French is preferred)
½ teaspoon kaolin clay
1½ tablespoons aloe vera gel
1 tablespoon rosewater
2 drops rose essential oil
Instructions:
Mix green and kaolin clays together. Add in the aloe vera gel, rosewater and oils. Refrigerate mixture for up to four weeks. Source http://beauty.about.com/od/fragrance/r/claymask.htm
Remember, not every cause of acne is the same, so you need to try different remedies and masks until you find the ones that work for you.
Herbal Acne Treatment
Instructions:
1. Steam your face for five to 10 minutes to clean the pores with hot infusions of lavender, camomile or thyme.
2. Rinse your face with honeywater, rosewater or a dilute infusion of marigold tea to tone and close the pores.
3. Do this every day until the skin starts to heal. Source
Baking Soda Mask to Fight Acne
This is so easy to make and can work wonders if your skin likes it.
Ingredients:
1 tablespoon baking soda (NOT baking powder)
1-2 tablespoon water
Instructions:
Mix a little together in your hands after washing your face with a mild cleanser and apply gently to your skin. Once you’ve coated your face with the baking soda and water mix, let it sit while you do other things around the house, or relax and read a book. Rinse the baking soda film off your face and feel how soft and clear it feels. If your skin enjoys this recipe, and your acne improves, then you may try it several times a week to help clear your acne. Source
Egg White Mask
This is simple and quite frugal. The mask is supposed to tighten skin and eliminate red spots.
Ingredients:
2-3 egg whites
Instructions:
Separate the yolk from the egg whites. Then whip the egg whites until it is nice and frothy. Apply it to your clean face (using clean hands). Leave on for approximately 20 minutes and wash off with warm water. Source
Egg Yolk Mask
Egg yolks contain vitamin A which is reported to reduce scarring.
Ingredient:
1 egg yolk
Instructions:
To attempt this method of acne treatment, whip up an egg yolk, apply it to your skin for 20 minutes and wash off. Source
Acne Tonic with Basil
Ingredients:
2 to 3 teaspoons dried basil leaves
1 cup boiling water
Instructions:
Steep basil leaves in water for 10 to 20 minutes. Cool, then apply to face with a white cotton ball. Source
Blackhead Remover Mask
Check availability of these unusual ingredients before you get started.
Ingredients:
1/2 cup fuller’s earth
1 teaspoon tincture of benzoin
distilled witch hazel
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients and stir thoroughly. Apply the mask to your skin. Let mask dry and harden, about 30 to 40 minutes. Soak a small hand towel in warm water and lay it across your face.
When the mask starts to soften up, gently rub it with the towel in a circular motion. Rinse with plenty of warm water. Source
Banana Mask for Oily or Acne-Prone Skin
Ingredients:
1 banana, preferably ripe (You can keep ripe bananas in the freezer. Let it thaw before using.)
1 tablespoon honey
An orange or a lemon
Instructions:
Mix the banana and honey together. Add a few drops of juice from an orange or a lemon. Apply to face for 15 minutes before rinsing with a cool washcloth or a steaming warm washcloth. Source
Strawberry Hand and Foot Exfoliant
Ingredients:
8-10 strawberries
2 tablespoons apricot oil (you may substitute olive oil)
1 teaspoon of coarse salt, such as Kosher salt or sea salt
Instructions:
Mix together all ingredients, massage into hands and feet, rinse and pat dry. Strawberries contain a natural fruit acid that aids in exfoliation. Source
Orange Ginger Warming Foot Scrub
This warming foot scrub is great for the winter, and leaves your feet feeling soft and relaxed.
Ingredients:
1/4 cup sugar (white or brown)
1/4 cup sweet almond oil
6 drops orange essential oil
2 drops ginger essential oil
1 level teaspoon powdered cayenne pepper
Instructions:
In a plastic bowl, mix together the sugar and almond oil. Add the essential oils and stir. Add the cayenne pepper last and stir well to mix. To use, sit comfortably in the tub or over a pan of water and/or a large towel to catch the sugar scrub as it is applied. Scoop up a handful of the scrub for each foot and massage vigorously yet with care over heels, ankles, toes, arches and the balls of your feet. Be sure to scrub any rough areas especially well. Don’t forget to rinse the tub well when you’re finished; you don’t want to take a bath in cayenne pepper! Source
Coffee Body Scrub
Ingredients:
2 cups coarsely ground coffee
1/2 cup raw sugar or sea salt
2-3 tablespoons massage oil
Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together. Take a hot shower to moisten your skin and open your pores. Using wide, circular motions, rub the coffee exfoliant onto your skin with strong, even pressure. Shower off, pat skin dry and apply a thin layer of your favorite body lotion. Source
Grapefruit Sugar Scrub
Ingredients:
1-1/2 cups white table sugar
8 drops grapefruit essential oil
1/4 cup jojoba oil
1/4 cup liquid castile soap
Instructions:
Place sugar into a large bowl and stir to break up any clumps. Add the essential oil. Add the jojoba oil and castile soap next, a little at a time, stirring after each addition. Mix well and pour into clean container. To use, stand in the tub or shower and massage the sugar scrub onto your skin from head to toe. Rinse. Source
Massage/Bath Oil
Try one of the following combinations of essential oils in a warm (not hot) bath or as a massage oil. Use therapeutic grade essential oils for the best results.
Ingredients:
For relaxing muscles/easing stress:
3 drops lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
2 drops petitgrain (Citrus aurantium var. amara)
1-2 drops frankincense (Boswellia cateri) – optional
For a sensual experience:
3 drops ylang ylang
3 drops sandalwood
Instructions:
-Draw the bath first, add the essential oils, swirl them around with your foot, get in and relax. Allow yourself 10 to 20 minutes. Do not get the bath water in your eyes, as the oils will sting. Use this formula up to once a day for 3 days a week over a two- to three-week period.
-To create a massage blend, add the above oils to a tablespoon of carrier oil (like sweet almond oil or a “massage base” oil, which is usually a blend of sweet almond, grapeseed and jojoba oils). If you’d like to store the oil for later use or package it as a gift simply use the same ratio of carrier oil to essential oil, and pour carefully into a clean, dry glass jar. Source
Softening Body Oil
Before taking a shower, brush your skin gently. This exfoliating will stimulate blood circulation and aid in skin absorption. For best absorption, apply the body oil while your skin is still moist. This combination is ideal for skin that has been exposed to too much sun or for extra-dry areas, such as heels and elbows.
Ingredients:
1 cup (237 ml) sweet almond oil
1/2 cup (118 ml) jojoba or hazelnut oil (or combination of the two)
2 tablespoons (30 ml) apricot kernel oil
Essential oil (optional)
Instructions:
-Combine the oils in a sealed bottle and gently turn it several times to mix. Apply as needed.
-For an uplifting oil experience, try 3 drops of ylang ylang, 2 drops geranium and 3 drops orange or bergamot. For an exotic oil experience, try 3 drops ylang ylang, 2 drops rose, 1 drop patchouli and 1 drop geranium. Source
Chocolate Bubble Bath 1
Ingredients:
1 cup of unscented bubble bath
1/3 cup of unsweetened soy milk
3 oz. of grated or powdered dark chocolate
Instructions:
Heat the soy milk and add the grated or powdered chocolate. Stir well until melted and blended, but do not boil. Allow to cool. Mix well again just before adding to your bath.
Chocolate Bubble Bath 2
1 cup of unscented bubble bath
1/2 cup of dried milk powder or soy milk
3 oz. of powdered unsweetened chocolate
Mix the powdered milk and chocolate well, until blended. Stir into bubble bath until well mixed. Add to your bath in the amount desired. Source
Red Wine and Honey Bath
The red wine and the honey together clarify and moisten. From the Spa at Grove Park Inn Resort & Spa, Asheville, N.C.
Ingredients:
4 cups of the cheapest red wine available
1 cup of honey
Instructions:
Add wine and honey to bath. Source
Herbal Spa Wrap
Ingredients:
1 cup corn oil
1/2 cup grapefruit juice
1 teaspoon dried thyme
Instructions:
Combine ingredients and massage into skin. Wrap targeted areas of the body (arms, legs, back) with a towel to lock in body heat. Lay a heating pad over each treatment area for five minutes at a time.
Bath Bombs
This recipe makes 4 to 6 bath bombs. You can buy molds in craft stores or online. Do not oil the molds beforehand; just make sure they are clean and dry.
Dry Ingredients:
1 cup baking soda
1/2 cup citric acid (do not substitute ascorbic acid)
1/2 cup corn starch
1/3 cup Epsom salts or coarse sea salt
Wet Ingredients:
2 1/2 tablespoons sunflower or other light oil (like sweet almond oil)
3/4 tablespoon water or rosewater (be careful not to start the fizzing action by adding too much water)
1/4 – 1 teaspoon essential oils
1/4 teaspoon borax as an emulsifier
vegetable or other natural colorant (optional)
Instructions:
Sieve the dry ingredients together until they are well blended. Measure and combine all the wet ingredients and borax in a clean jar. Cover tightly and shake vigorously. Slowly drizzle the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, gently stirring to prevent the reaction from starting. Make sure you mix in all of the wet ingredients. Afterward, you’ll find that the mixture is dry and crumbly and has to be packed in the molds quite firmly to keep shape. The mixture should just start to hold together when pressed in your hand, like slightly moist fine sand. You can unmold the bombs after 30 minutes, and let them dry for a few days before using them. Store them in a dry place.
Bath Cookies
2 cups finely ground sea salt
1/2 cup baking soda
1/2 cup cornstarch
2 tablespoons light oil
1 teaspoon vitamin E oil
2 eggs
5-6 drops essential oil of your choice
Preheat your oven to 350 F. Combine all the listed ingredients and form into a dough. Using a teaspoon or so of dough at a time, roll it gently in the palm of your hand until it forms a ball. Form all dough into one-teaspoon balls, and gently place them on an ungreased cookie sheet. Consider sprinkling the bath balls with herbs, flower petals, cloves, citrus zest and similar aromatic ingredients. Bake your bath cookies for 10 minutes, until they are lightly browned. Do not over-bake. Allow the bath cookies to cool completely. To use, drop 1 or 2 cookies into a warm bath and allow to dissolve. Yield: 24 cookies, enough for 12 baths. Source
Deodorant
Many people react strongly to store-bought deodorant. What we need is a simple, home-made version!
Ingredients:
8 tablespoons cornstarch
4 tablespoons baking soda
2 tablespoons liquid chlorophyll
4 tablespoons vodka
4 tablespoons distilled water
8 ounces beeswax
10-15 drops of your favorite essential oil
Instructions:
Melt wax over very low heat in a double boiler. Mix cornstarch, baking soda, vodka and distilled water well. Add to the melted beeswax and stir until well combined. Add chlorophyll and essential oils. Pour into mold and let it harden. Store in an airtight container. Source
Shampoo
Ingredients:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 egg
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 teaspoon apple cider vinegar
Instructions:
Combine all ingredients in a blender. Blend until well combined. Use like regular shampoo. Discard any leftovers. Source
Conditioner
Ingredients:
1 egg yolk
1/2 teaspoon olive oil
3/4 cup lukewarm water
Instructions:
Beat the egg yolk until it’s thick and white. Add the oil and mix well. Then add the water into the egg mixture and mix well. Massage into clean, damp hair. Rinse with plenty of warm water after about 10 minutes. Source
Protein-Rich, Nourishing Conditioner
Ingredients:
1 egg white
5 tablespoons plain yogurt
Instructions:
Beat the egg white until foamy. Gently fold in the plain yogurt. Apply to your hair and let it soak in for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with plenty of warm water. Style as usual. Source
Watercress Treatment for Oily Hair
Watercress appears to work on oily hair because it is rich in iron and phosphorus as well as vitamins A, C and E.
Ingredients:
1-2 large handfuls of fresh watercress
1 cup water
Blend watercress and water in a blender or food processor until well blended. If you have long hair you may need to use 2 full handfuls of watercress. Heat mixture and boil for 10 minutes. Strain watercress, keeping only the liquid. Let the liquid cool and apply carefully to newly shampooed hair (try to get as much excess water out of the hair as possible first). Leave on for 20 minutes. Source: “Everything You Need to Know to Have Great Looking Hair,” by Louis Gignace
Hair Gel
Ingredients:
1 teaspoon unflavored gelatin
1 cup warm water
Instructions:
Dissolve 1/2 to 1 teaspoon of unflavored gelatin in 1 cup warm water. Keep refrigerated and use as you would a purchased gel. Source
Hair Spray
Ingredients:
1 or 2 citrus fruits (lemon or orange)
2 cups water
Instructions:
Chop 1 lemon (or orange for dry hair). Place in a pot and cover with 2 cups of hot water. Boil until only half remains. Cool and strain. Add more water if needed. Refrigerate in a spray bottle. Source
Face Paint and Halloween Makeup
To avoid heavy metals and other potentially harmful unknown ingredients in traditional Halloween face paint, try making your own using food-based ingredients. Remember, foods can cause allergies in some kids: always test your concoctions on a small patch of skin and read up on natural food colorings before sending your little ghouls out for a night of painted fun. And don’t forget that some foods can stain skin and clothes.
Face Paint Made with Natural Food Coloring
Natural food coloring is available at health food stores and typically derived from foods and spices. We recommend reading up about natural food colorings and potential allergies first. Do not substitute conventional food coloring, which may contain synthetic chemical ingredients.
Ingredients:
-Base of safe, unscented lotion (search Skin Deep for safe options) OR pure cocoa butter (available at health food stores) OR safe, fluoride-free toothpaste (search Skin Deep; avoid mint flavors, as they can make skin tingly)
-Natural food coloring (see note above)
Instructions:
Mix a few drops of natural food coloring into the base ingredient of your choice. Test on a small patch of skin before applying to face or body.
Face Paint Made with Food
Make sure young children understand they can’t eat these paints unless you make them without the base. Test a small patch of skin first to make sure your child isn’t allergic to the food you’re using.
Ingredients:
-Base of safe, unscented lotion (search Skin Deep for safe options) OR pure cocoa butter (available at health food stores) OR safe, fluoride-free toothpaste (search Skin Deep; avoid mint flavors, as they can make skin tingly)
-Turmeric, raspberries, blackberries, blueberries, beets, avocado, spirulina, cocoa, chocolate sauce, squid ink or other colorful foods, juices, herbs and spices
Instructions:
Yellow: Add 1/4 tsp. and a large pinch of stale turmeric to base.
Pink: Using a sieve, mash the juice from 3 fresh or thawed frozen raspberries, blackberries or beets directly into the base. Or, use a deeply colored berry juice or puree.
Mint green: With a fork, mash 1/4 of a small avocado until creamy. Mix this into your base.
Emerald green: Add small amount spirulina or bright green chlorophyll to base.
Purple: Using a sieve, mash the juice from several fresh or frozen blueberries into the base. Or, use blueberry juice.
Brown: Add cocoa powder or chocolate sauce to base.
Black: Use a small amount of squid ink in base for true black.
White: Mix powdered sugar and water.
