Apologies

I'm sorry for not posting any updates for a while, I've just been busy with life in general, been away recently also to see family. I really do want to start posting again on my blogs, but I feel my life and home needs some organising first, so I can start to think a bit more clearly insha Allaah (God Willing).

So no, I haven't disowned my blogs ;) feel quite sad they've been a bit neglected, but insha Allaah will start posting again soon. x

A natural solution for dry skin

Dry skin is most commonly prone to wrinkles and lines as it is unable to retain moisture and the sebaceous glands cannot produce sufficient amounts of sebum. This type of skin becomes often dehydrated and needs special care by continually moisturizing it. Masks for dry skin are made of chamomile, lavender, peppermint, bananas, avocado, honey, milk, yoghurt, tomato, egg yolk, butter, strawberries etc.

Dry skin can benefit a lot from periodical use of hydrating masks. They have many moisturizing ingredients that help the skin to have more balance. They may have plant extract, essential oils, and nourishing vegetable oils or milk derivates.

To make classic facial mask at home for dry skin, take 1/2 avocado and 1/4 cup of honey. Mash together these 2 ingredients for an easy face mask. Apply to your face and leave for 5 minutes before removing with a washcloth and some trepid water. You will definitely enjoy the smell and feeling of this mask on your face. Honey and avocado are particularly rich in moisturizing properties.

Generally benefits of avocado are numerous: it is filled with monounsaturated fats, Vitamin B and E, nutrients excellent for moisturizing and rejuvenating dry or tired skin. Use this fruit in the next masks too.

First recipe: take 1 avocado and 3-4 drops of almond oil. Peel and mash avocado and add almond oil until the mass is consistent. Apply to face while massaging it gently. Let it rest for 30 minutes and rinse off with warm water.

Second recipe: you need 1 avocado, 1 teaspoon of apple vinegar, 1 egg white, 3 teaspoons of olive oil. Peel and mash avocado and start adding the rest of the ingredients. Egg white should be beaten before you put it in. When the mass is done, apply to face and wash off after 20 minutes or so. This mask provides great moisture for skin, making it soft and elastic.

To prevent wrinkles, make a paste of bananas, yogurt and honey and apply it on the skin for 15-20 minutes then clean it with warm water. You’ll need 1/4 cup plain yogurt, 2 tablespoons honey and 1 banana.

Refreshing tomato mask. You need 1/4 peeled and seedless tomato. Chop it. 3 teaspoons of yogurt, 1 teaspoon peeled and then grated cucumber, 1 teaspoon of aloe vera gel, 3 teaspoons of oatmeal (finely ground). Additional ingredients are 2 mint leaves, fresh and crushed so the essential oils run out of the leaves. Mix all the ingredients in a large bowl. Apply on the face and leave on for about 10 minutes. Wash off with lukewarm water.

Popular milk mask for face. Take 1 teaspoon powdered milk, 1 tablespoon runny honey, 1 teaspoon aloe vera gel and 2 drops essential oil and mix ingredients well. Apply to face, let sit for 15 minutes, wash off with warm water.

Bedtime body care - Time to unwind

Better Baths

Being relaxed and de-stressed is essential for a good night's rest, so hop into that tub right now! "When you're in the bath, there's not much you can do," says Julie Lindh, an aesthetician in New York City. It's this nothingness that prompts your mind to unwind and ditch the worries of the day. Too busy to take a nightly bath? Lindh says that even a 15-minute soak in a tub filled with hot water, sea salts, and essential oils will deliver maximum benefits. "After five minutes your pores open up, during the next five minutes you start to absorb the ingredients, and after five more minutes you should ease off," says Lindh, adding that in a pinch a shower will do, too. Lather up with one of the new relaxing shower gels formulated with sleep-inducing essential oils.

Softer Hands and Feet
Just like on the rest of our body, the skin on our hands and feet gets dehydrated during the night, so don't forget to pamper them, too. If you have a bit more time, why not slip on a moisturizing glove or bootie? Many are lined with body heat-activated moisturizing pads. Enjoy their soothing feel for a few minutes before snuggling in.

Sleep Science
The very act of rubbing your skin with a soothing body oil can calm you. Fully inhale the scent by cupping your hands and taking a deep breath.

MSN Health: Originally published in Ladies' Home Journal, November 2007