Natural Cellulite Reducing Coffee Exfoliator

I enjoy a delicious cup of coffee during work to keep me in the right mood, but I feel bad throwing the coffee grounds away knowing that it can be recycled in many other ways. My favorite way to reuse my coffee grounds is to make them into an exfoliating scrub for the body. Plus coffee is a natural cellulite reducer, causing your skin not only to be softer for the exfoliation, but tighter as well.

Ingredients/Items Needed:

1/2 cup - 1 cup used coffee grounds

1 tbsp brown sugar

A couple drops of water

Bowl

Spoon

Directions:

1) Stir coffee, sugar, and water together

2) Get in your shower and rub mixture into skin for at least five minutes

3) Shower thoroughly

Dry off and enjoy your soft skin! Great for those days that you just need to take some time for yourself.

Other ways to reuse your coffee grounds include placing it in your garden for fertilizer or keeping it in smelly places as a deodorizer.

Softening Chai Body Scrub

Here in the Pacific Northwest of the United States the winter seems to be draining on. So to revitalize my skin before Summer arrives I felt it was time for a body scrub; and what better to make a body scrub with than chai?

DIY: Softening Chai Body Scrub

Ingredients:

1 cup brown sugar

2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil (or oil of your choice)

1/2 tsp cinnamon

3 chai tea bags

A container

Measuring cups

Measuring spoons

Directions:

1. In your container add one cup of brown sugar

2. Cut open three chai tea bags and empty the contents into the container

3. Add cinnamon

4. Gently, using your hand, mix the dry ingredients together

5. Add 2 tbsp of oil and gently mix thoroughly until oil is distributed evenly 

Your Softening Chai Body Scrub is now done! Before use wet down your skin. Make sure to rub in gently (especially if you are using this scrub on your face) or the mixture will scratch the skin. After using the scrub rub any excess material off with a loofah or a washcloth.  

Also, the mixture stores for several months so its perfect for a gift!

Revitalizing Avocado Facial Mask

With the cold winds still blustering outside, my face has been looking rather dried out lately. Therefore I decided to do an avocado facial mask to perk my skin up for Spring!

Revitalizing Avocado Facial Mask

Ingredients:

1/2 avocado

1 tbsp honey

1/2 tbsp loose leaf green tea leaves

(optional) facial moisturizer 

Instructions:

1. Mush 1/2 of an avocado in a bowl (or puree if you prefer)

2. Mix in honey and green tea

3. Mix contents and gentle apply all over face (make sure your face is clean/washed before applying facial mask)

4. Leave on for 3-5 minutes

5. Rinse face thoroughly 

6. (optional) Apply moisturizer to face

Voila a clear and rejuvenated face! Feel beautiful today!

Baking Soda Benefits

Sodium bicarbonate, also known as baking soda is common in any household due to the fact its used for multiple purposes. This wonderful white powder is good for cooking, cleaning, health care, and body care! In this post, we will be exploring the ways to prepare baking soda and common/uncommon uses for it!

Baking Soda Benefits

Baking Soda Paste Mixture -

(To make baking soda paste, mix water with baking soda until thick)

-Spot Acne Treatment 

Before bed, apply a small amount onto the zit. Or apply at anytime of the day and wash off after about ten        minutes at the very least

-Facial Exfoliation

Using a slightly less thick paste mixture, gently rub all over ones face for gentle exfoliation. Rinse. 

-Bug Bites, Bee Stings, Rashes, and Itchy Skin

Apply paste to irritated area (If possible, apply a bandage over the top so the mixture wont rub off)

Water with Some Baking Soda Mixture - 

(For this mixture have a balance of water and baking soda, unless stated otherwise)

-Mouthwash for a Whiter Smile

Swish around mouth for 30 seconds each morning to whiten your teeth

-Mouthwash to Relieve Canker Sore Pain

Swish around mouth for 30 seconds every hour to relieve canker sore pains

-Antacid

Drink approx. a 1 1/2 tsp in a full glass of water to relieve antacid

NOTE: Make sure baking soda is fully mixed with water before you drink! 

-Skin Softener 

Add 3 tbsp baking soda to your bath for softer skin

-Cleaning

This mixture and a sponge will clean a variety of items in your household from the bath tub, stained coffee mugs, the microwave, the oven, the toilet etc.

-Shine

Restore shine to old floors

Restore shine to silver

Benefits of Baking Soda Powder-

(This is the normal baking soda you get from a box, no water added. Please do not confuse "powder" to mean "baking powder" I use "powder" to clarify that this is just baking soda, no water)

-Whiter Smile

Mix 1 tsp of baking soda with your toothpaste for when you brush your teeth in the morning and evening. This will whiten your teeth

-Deodorant

Using a facial puff, dab some baking soda powder onto your underarms as a deodorant

-Hair Care

Apply approx 1 tsp of baking soda powder with your shampoo when you're showering. This will clean your hair of products that have left residue on your hair and natural build up of oils.

-Deodorizer

Baking soda powder helps eliminate bad smells, therefore sprinkle some powder on those old couch cushions, the cats litter box, or your gym shoes. In a bowl, leave some powder sitting out in your fridge (or any enclosed space) to eliminate odor.

-Pests

Around your pets food bowl and your doors sprinkle some baking soda powder to keep pests away

The outstanding abilities of baking soda! So, next time you're in a jam and don't know the solution - maybe its baking soda?