How To Turn Your Kitchen Into A Spa

Spa At Home: Delicious At Home Remedies for Skin & Hair
AS SEEN ON FOX 5 NEWS in San Diego – Click Here to Watch the FOX News Clip!

Honey and Sea Salts Exfoliator: If sea salts are not available, Kosher salt will do.

• 1/2 c. organic honey
• 1/8 c. salts

Blend honey and salts together. Dampen face. Gently rub the honey/salt mixture over entire face and neck in circular motions for 2-3 minutes. Do not rub hard! Rinse and pat dry. Follow with appropriate mask or moisturizer

Moisturizing Mask: Best after sun, wind, or a peel

Start with warm wet towels on the face to open pores (you can heat dampened washcloths in the microwave for a minute or two to achieve desired temperature. Be careful not to overheat!)

Ingredients:

• ½ banana
• 2 T sunflower oil

Mash together banana and sunflower oil.  Blend till smooth. Apply to clean, dry face, avoiding eye area. Let sit 20 minutes.  Rinse face with warm water.  Pat dry. Follow with a hydrating moisturizer

Anti Aging Yogurt Blueberry Mask: Yogurt or Kefir has beneficial bacteria that is very calming and healing to the skin. Mix with blueberries and honey for a great anti aging, firming mask.

Start with warm wet towels on the face to open pores (you can heat dampened washcloths in the microwave for a minute or two to achieve desired temperature. Be careful not to overheat!)

In a blender add 1/2 c. yogurt, or kefir, a handful blueberries and a dash of honey for firmness. (You can eat whatever is left over!!) Apply to clean face, avoiding eye area. Let sit for 15-20 minutes. Rinse off and pat dry. Follow with a firming/collagen boosting moisturizer.

Mask for Oily skin/ Firming/ Acne:  great for in between regular facials which include extractions, etc. The egg protein absorbs oil and improves firmness. This mask is also very good to firm up the skin for special occasions, photography, etc.

Start with warm wet towels on the face to open pores (you can heat dampened washcloths in the microwave for a minute or two to achieve desired temperature. Be careful not to overheat!) Beat 2 egg whites till frothy (best to use cold egg whites in a chilled metal bowl). Add a few drops of lemon juice for acneic skin. Apply generously to oily parts of face.  Don’t rub!  Leave on 15-20 minutes.  Rinse off and follow with a balancing moisturizer.

Anti Aging Fruit Mask:  full of vitamins to rejuvenate skin. Rich in vitamin c, improves collagen, maintains elasticity, avoids wrinkles.

Start with warm wet towels on the face to open pores (you can heat dampened washcloths in the microwave for a minute or two to achieve desired temperature. Be careful not to overheat!)
3 prunes, pitted and mashed, (loaded with vitamin c)
Spread over skin
Slices of cucumber on eyes (reduces puffiness and dark circles)
Leave on for 15-20 minutes
Rinse off and follow with a firming/collagen boosting moisturizer

Superfruit Antioxidant Mask: Anti aging, complexion brightener

Start with warm wet towels on the face to open pores (you can heat dampened washcloths in the microwave for a minute or two to achieve desired temperature. Be careful not to overheat!)
Puree ½ c. Acai Berry (available in the frozen food section of your health food store)
Apply to clean face
Leave on for 10-15 minutes
Slices of cucumber on eyes (reduces puffiness and dark circles)
Rinse face with warm water
Follow with a firming/collagen boosting moisturizer

Hair tips: The first thing to remember is preparation. This is most important during the summer months. The temperature is hotter outside, we are more active. Sunlight and sweat are very strong elements to lighten colored hair. Starting in July make it a regular habit to apply extra conditioner to your regular routine. Once a week, apply Loreal Smoothing night treatment. This leave-in product fortifies the hair leaving it manageable in the morning. Kerestase also makes two leave-in treatments for overnight, Voile Nuit for fine hair and Serum Nuit for medium to course hair. This also is a leave-in, a new way to condition, apply, sleep, no need to wash out the next day. Dries into the hair, and won’t ruin your sheets! Brume Nuit Apres Soleil by Loreal repairs UV damage overnight.

For those who don’t like to lose the body in their hair with extra crème conditioners, use your spray in treatments. Kerestase express treatments at the salon are excellent for the months of summer. Ask your stylist for express treatments designed for your hair type. Creme UV defense active is great to keep in you sun bag. Loreal has a full line of products designed for sun exposure. At a very reasonable price point, the four products are excellent for keeping that salon color in tip top shape! Solar Sublime Shampoo, masque, protective spray and shimmer-protec gelee have advance technology for before, during and after sun exposure.

Some economical alternatives to keep on hand are as follows:

• Buy a gallon of distilled water.
• Add 28 drops of household ammonia. Let it ariate for 24 hours.
• When you are finished swimming in a pool, rinse you hair off with this water solution. Let stand for a few minutes and shampoo with your color protective or after sun shampoo. This is a de-mineralizing process. If this is done after each encounter with the pool there will be no build up (green hair).
• Swimming in the ocean is more of a salt water residue that is easier to remove. The challenging aspect to ocean water in the hair is that it causes the sun to lighten more aggressively. Pre-sun products from Loreal or Karastase are ideal to apply in the morning, braid the hair, and allow to condition throughout the day. Shimmer-protec Gelee will add a little sparkle too!
• Or, take a water bottle, mix 6 parts water to 1 part conditioner, (cheap or leftover from under your sink conditioner will do just fine) spray liberal amount to the hair focusing on the ends that are more porous. Re-apply every hour, (can be sprayed on the body too) a refreshing way to stay hydrated.

Because summer is a time of activity and brighter days, I like to encourage lighter, brighter hair. It looks great to have a tan and lighter hair. Go a little shorter and textured for the summer. Add some highlights, or soften your looks with the new brighteners by Loreal. Color has evolved to lighten hair softly without damaging the hair as much, this gives stronger hair to withstand the elements of summer better. Talk to your stylist for some fun suggestions from their summer collection of styles and techniques