Your kitchen is a veritable treasure trove of health and beauty staples. Have some plain yogurt with a "sell date" that was two weeks ago? Don't throw it out! It's the perfect treatment for a common skin condition. Is there an extra sprig or two of parsley leftover from your stew recipe? Chew on a few leaves to handle a social faux pas. These items are probably in your home already ... so why not use them for better health and beauty without spending any extra money?
For years, my mother-in-law has used Crisco -- a lard-like vegetable shortening that my German grandmother used for the perfect pie crust and lovingly referred to as "fat in the can" -- as a makeup remover. "Why not just use Pond's Cold Cream or soap and water?" I ask her every now and then. "Because it works," she says. Even though my dermatologist gasped during a recent exam when I blurted out this bit of family lore, my mother-in-law never uses anything else. For her, it does the trick -- and for a lot less money than the "real thing."
My own mother believes in the power of honey -- both as a cough or sore throat remedy and because its antibacterial properties and natural moisturizers make for a perfect (and inexpensive) face mask.
Since I turned 13 and acquired my first tube of Love's Face Gel, my policy has always been to get the newest beauty product out there -- and the more expensive the better. But a few years ago, gazing at my over-50 face in the mirror, I realized I needed to make some adjustments to my beauty routines.
After consulting with a host of experts for my book, "The Best of Everything After 50: The Experts' Guide to Style, Sex, Health, Money and More", I learned that when it comes to health and beauty, less is truly more. Carmindy, bestselling author and makeup artist on TLC's hit show What Not to Wear, and Dr. Doris Day, dermatologist extraordinaire, opened my eyes to the tremendous amount of beauty resources awaiting me in my kitchen. As it turns out, some of these things are better used on our bodies than in (white sugar tops the list).
When I asked friends if they ever used ingredients from their kitchens in place of store-bought health and beauty aids, a floodgate opened: Their grandmothers had used this; their mothers had used that. I tried almost all of their suggestions and discovered that homemade solutions are often better -- and certainly less expensive -- than the name brands in which I had been investing for years.
My short list of "health and beauty substitutes" is ... well, short. Though I tried all of the suggestions that came my way, I found that some of them were so wacky or messy that they just weren't sustainable. The ones that made the final cut "do the trick" (as my mother-in-law would say) without a lot of muss, fuss or expense. And the most important thing is that all of these recommended kitchen beauty and health substitutes have no artificial ingredients or chemicals. Good for you and good for the environment.
For more tips on living your best life with health, beauty and style, please visit my website: www.bestofeverythingafter50.com.
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Barbara Hannah Grufferman: The Ten Commandments Of Turning 50: A Manifesto For All Ages
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Aside from that, great article! I am going to try the sugar exfoliation and putting some olive oil on my skin after.
Eat something healthy every 2 - 3 hours so your blood sugar level stays level, and you aren't hungry. Try this:Have the 1/4 cup olive oil (or the warm water with lemon juice) first thing in the morning, and wait a little bit.Have a slice of toasted whole wheat bread with a little fresh peanut butter (not the sweetened kind). In about 2-3 hours have a 1/2 cup plain Fage Yogurt (Greek strained yogurt) with 1/2 cup blueberries. For lunch have a big salad with some chicken or other protein on top, made with a very simple dressing of olive oil and vinegar or just olive oil and lemon juice (very Mediterranean!). Mid-afternoon have some veggies or a piece of fruit, perhaps with a little almond butter, or some almonds (about 10 - 12). Dinner should be early if possible, and have your plate be filled with mixed vegetables, and a little protein (chicken and meat should be the size of your palm, but fish can be the size of your entire hand), with a little whole grain carb, like whole wheat pasta or better yet, brown rice. Dessert? A nice piece of dark chocolate or fruit. Throughout the day drink A LOT of water and green tea. Make sure to move your body every day. Hope this helps!!
Best,
Barbara
Sprayed straight apple cider vinegar on mold worked on my shower curtain. If your dog likes to chew shoes rub mouthwash on them. Mouthwash on a Q-tip applied to sore gums takes the sting out. I even put it on a cavity and the pain went away.
For a real Christmas tree, dissolve a couple Advil in your water. It'll stay greener longer when you change the water every few days and you won't have needles all over.
Houshold products are amazing.
All the best,
Barbara
Barbara
I'm so glad you like the article! I asked Dr. Day (one of the dermatologists I interviewed for my book) about the best sunscreen for ultra sensitive skin and she recommended the baby-specific sunscreens from Aveeno and Mustela. Both are excellent for adults and children.
Keep in touch!
Best,
Barbara
Let me know how it goes . . .
Best,
Barbara
Why use a picture with filthy dirty nails???
Cinammon and water works wonder to repel ants.
Mix about 1 teaspoon of cinnamon in a spray bottle filled with water. Shake thouroughly, then spray anyplace you see ants.
This is a safe an non toxic alternative to those chemical , black ant traps.
The Cinnamon works by attaching to the ants and burning them so they die. To read more on this subject and read other similar articles/blogs visit my web site and check out the blog section.
I also make/sell Vegan Soaps that are made using Coconut Oil, Olive oil, and Palm Oil. All sale poceeds go toward creating programs to teach school children how to reduce their Carbon Foot Print and be more Ecosponsible. I'm in the process of completing paper work to become a certified 501(3) c Organization.
I'm working on new articles similar to this one on a weekly and daily basis, I'm also tweeking the site here and there...So, please check out my blog and comment or ask questions as you'd like.
http://www.OrganicExpression.Webs.Com
Thank You