Lemon Sugar Hand Scrub

During the winter I struggled with the embarrassing problem of having dry hands. The dry winter weather has wreaked havoc on my skin in general, so I decided enough was enough. Since many of us are on a budget, I decided to use whatever I have in my pantry to make a simple, easy to use lemon sugar scrub for your skin. You should already have most, if not all, of these items in your kitchen pantry already. If not, these items can be found at your local grocery store for less than $20.

How to Lighten Hair Naturally (without nasty chemicals!)

Summer is right around the corner and thus starts the trend towards lighter sun kissed hair.  However, bleaching is not an option because the chemicals from the bleach can damage your hair.  The bleach strips the keratin from your hair, which can leave your hair brittle, dry, and lifeless over time.  Definitely not a look any of us are going for!

So, what do you do?

Use lemon juice to naturally lighten your hair! Lemon juice naturally lightens your hair because it is contains a natural bleaching agent--but not one as harsh as the bleaches that are on the market today.  For example, lemon juice is safe enough to use on your skin.

Quick & Simple Honey Lemon Tightening Face Mask

Let's face it. With the emphasis placed on looks these days, and our faces being one of the first things people notice about us, we want to make sure that our skins look tight and smooth so that we can make that great impression!

This is a quick and simple honey and lemon face tightening mask. The honey is an antiseptic.  It's healing properties help soothe, hydrate and nourish your skin. The lemon is a natural astringent that helps clean out your pores and then acts as a toner to close them.

Lemon is a natural cleanser, thus acting as a spot cleaner as well. Remember, lemon juice does bleach so your face will lighten with continued use.

Strawberries & Cream Face Mask

Not only are strawberries delicious, they are really good for your skin!  These bright red, berries are full of juicy goodness.  Strawberries are especially rich in Vitamin C and ellagic acid.  Ellagic acid is an antioxidant that when used topically can help protect your skin from damaging UV rays from the sun.  UV rays are one of the main causes of aging!  They cause premature wrinkles which makes your skin age before it should.

Moisturizing Avocado Face Mask

Avocados are a great food and source of Vitamins C, E, and D.  They are also a good source of potassium as well as the minerals, copper and iron.  These properties make avocado masks great for people with dry, sun-exposed skin.  It's also a great mask for those of you that have developed red skin due to dryness!

Tip of the Day! Lemon Juice as a Toner

Lemon juice is a great, inexpensive alternative to expensive facial toners.  Use this lemon juice toner before you apply your moisturizer or makeup.  The lemon juice acts as an astringent which motivates your pores to close and your face to tighten resulting in smoother skin.  Toners are extremely important to use because they balance your pH level, clear away any last bits of bacteria, and close your pores (which prevents your moisturizer, dirt, etc. from clogging your pores right after you wash).  Cold water also works as a great astringent.