Homemade Beauty Recipes for Winter

A Beauty Wonderland

-- By Liza Barnes, Health Educator

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Oats and Honey Facial
Besides giving you energy all morning long, oatmeal is a gentle exfoliant with soothing, anti-inflammatory properties. Here is a simple face scrub that can also be used as a mask:

1/2 cup oats, any variety
1/2 cup honey

Blend oats and honey in a blender or food processor until smooth. Apply to clean, dry skin in small circular motions, covering the entire face, neck, and decolletage areas. Rinse with warm water, or, for a mask treatment, allow leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse.

Oatmeal Bath
Taking an oatmeal bath can benefit the whole body. Simply place a few cups of old-fashioned, uncooked rolled oats in the blender, and blend for at least two minutes, preferably longer, until the oatmeal is a very fine powder. When placed in the bathwater, the oat powder should disperse itself into the water, making it cloudy and silky. Soak in the tub as long as you’d like, rinsing only as much as necessary to remove any stickiness from your skin.

Store-Bought Beauty
If you don’t have the time or inclination to make your own winter beauty products, check out sumbody (www.sumbody.com), an online company that makes eco-friendly, handmade, pure beauty products from natural ingredients like the ones above. Their Cocoa Smooth Face Mask ($39.95 for 3 oz) contains chocolate, soy milk, oats and banana. Or, get your chocolate fix with their Hot Chocolate Natural Soap ($5.95 for 3 oz).

Skincare products that contain cranberries are gaining popularity because cranberries may reduce the risk of skin cancer and slow the breakdown of collagen. Because of their acidity, they are an effective exfoliant. You’d better leave this skin-care recipe to the professionals though, as cranberries can stain your skin. Here are some products to try that won’t leave you red-faced: sumbody's Cranberries and Cream Natural Soap ($4.10 for 3 oz) or River Organics Cranberry Cleanser ($32).

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About The Author

Liza Barnes
Liza has two bachelor's degrees: one in health promotion and education and a second in nursing. A registered nurse and mother, regular exercise and cooking are top priorities for her. See all of Liza's articles.

Member Comments

ICHAMOIS

Please post this article, again , later on in the season and others like it...
Thank you so much... - 11/17/2012 7:23:17 AM
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LLAMACATCHER

Haha. I just made (and applied) the chocolate/honey mask. First, I got to scare both kids coming out of the bathroom (bonus #1, then we fought over the spoon and bowl (bonus #2)! Tastes great! Hopefully it does some wonderful things for my face as bonus #3 :) - 10/19/2012 4:38:27 PM
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1BUBBIE20

The recipe sounds like something good to eat. Does anyone have any ideas about keeping my hands from cracking at the fingertips? Even in the summer my fingers crack. - 7/23/2012 2:49:43 PM
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PRETTYNPURPLE23

Did anyone actual try these facial recipes? Just wondering, they sound amazing :] - 11/4/2011 10:03:22 PM
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SHAGGIEB

thanks so much for these recipes. i am going to try some. - 2/5/2011 3:02:37 PM
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JLKW07

Interesting article. I think I should try some and maybe give away as holiday gifts next year. - 1/20/2011 4:05:56 PM
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ANGEL_WISE

Thanks so much for these articles. I am going to use that cocoa face mask recipe asap. - 3/12/2009 7:51:22 PM
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JIBBIE49

Good article. You did a lot of work in putting this one together. - 4/6/2008 10:09:27 AM
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BEACHDREAMS

How fun--and you're right, it will be hard not to eat them!! It's nice to plan a special home-made treat for my beauty!! THanks for the great article. - 2/20/2008 9:57:44 AM
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SUMMER65

Sounds wonderful!! I dont know if I should use them or eat them, YUM - 2/14/2008 6:20:13 AM
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MARINERSFAN

Thank you so much for this article and all the recipes! I would much rather make my own products. That way, I know what's in them. These would make fun little gifts for friends as well! - 2/12/2008 11:32:46 AM
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JENNA2007CANADA

I love it - I hate bought products with all their additives so it is great that we can do something at home that really helps. Fantastic. - 2/12/2008 11:18:58 AM
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NEOPKWAII

Ditto what lil mommy said: It'd be wonderful to be able to read more articles like this one......

Thank you so much for the info! - 2/12/2008 11:13:30 AM
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L.I.L.MOMMY

Please keep articles like this one coming, it's great to have alternatives to chemically enhanced beauty treatments. - 2/12/2008 10:32:37 AM
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