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There are a lot of articles written for women’s magazines that address body image issues. Apparently, most of us feel that our thighs are too thick, our butts too big, our breasts too small or big or saggy, and our arms too flabby. Entire books have been written about changing just our faces. Very few of us, it seems, are satisfied with the way we look, and we make enemies of whole portions of our bodies.<\/p>\n
The alleged cure for this female syndrome of expecting to conform, to the impossible advertising ideal of beauty, is standing in a mirror naked and admiring yourself, especially the parts you don’t like. You’re supposed to talk to your fat thighs or crows feet and say something like: “Thank you, thighs, for your strength, for taking me where I want to go. Thank you, jowls, for you are the evidence of much laughter and character.’<\/p>\n
Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t have time to stare in a mirror lying to my body parts. What I make time for, however, are treatments that pamper, soothe, and beautify. I’m more likely to be kindly disposed to my thighs after a seaweed wrap and detoxifying scrub. In return, my thighs are more likely to look better after that pampering. So, I don’t tell my body that I love it (well okay, sometimes I do). I show my love by taking the time to do things to make it feel and look better.<\/p>\n
The treatments we’ll talk about here — the manicures, pedicures, facials, body scrubs, and hair treatments — are the services offered at the posh day health spas. As much as I’d love to have a half- or full-day of beauty at one of these sumptuous places at least once a week, these services cost. My solution is to go to once a year for my birthday and create and maintain a health spa setting at home the rest of the year.<\/p>\n
There are low cost recipes for most pampering treatments. Get some books and try concocting some of these potions for yourself. There is a certain magic not only in taking the time to pamper yourself, but also in putting the recipes together. The whole point of the pampering process is to make you feel as though your life is luxurious, your body and face are beautiful,and that you are worthy of the most special of treatment, just because you are you. So let’s look at a few basics to pamper each part of our bodies.<\/p>\n
“Exfoliation is an integral part of treatment. Techniques might vary but the purpose of exfoliation is two-fold: first, it rids the skin’s surface of any dirt or oil residue and rubs off the uppermost layer of dead skin cells; second, it prepares the skin for subsequent treatments.” Body scrubbing serves to stimulate circulation and lymph flow and helps to eliminate toxins. One of the easiest body scrub recipes is the Rosemary Oil Body Scrub.<\/p>\n
Rosemary Oil Body Scrub<\/p>\n
1\/2-cup coarse sea salt<\/p>\n
1\/4-cup rosemary oil<\/p>\n
Body scrub tool (you can use a wash cloth)<\/p>\n
Dip the body scrub tool in a bit of oil; then dip it into the coarse sea salt. Rub over<\/p>\n
the skin in a circular motion, paying attention to rough spots like the knees,<\/p>\n
elbows, and heels. Rinse off with warm water; pat dry and moisturise.<\/p>\n
Women of every culture have developed potions and treatments to beautify the face.<\/p>\n
“Regardless of what constitutes the “ideal face,” what all beautiful women have in common today is the look of clean, healthy, and toned skin. Whether it’s the ravages of time, too many late nights, nature’s elements, or everyday stress, the face’s sensitive skin is constantly under attack and needs to be pampered on a regular basis.” You may want to try this Seaweed Detoxifying and Remineralising Mask.<\/p>\n
Seaweed Detoxifying and Remineralising Mask<\/p>\n
4 tablespoons kelp powder<\/p>\n
1\/2-cup aloe vera gel<\/p>\n
3 tablespoons distilled water<\/p>\n
Combine kelp powder and gel in a small bowl. Slowly add water until mixture<\/p>\n
reaches the consistency of a thick paste. Apply to face and neck with fingers and<\/p>\n
relax for 15 minutes. Rinse with tepid water and pat dry. Moisturize.<\/p>\n
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The hands are generally more prone to age at a much faster rate than the other parts of the body. They are often the first to express signs of everyday wear and tear, in part because of the relentless exposure to soaps, detergents, cold, heat. And though the feet are not exposed to the same kinds of abuse as the hands, they are subject to “hard pavements, high heels, excessive body weight, and poor circulation.”<\/p>\n
This Walnut Nail-Hardening Oil and Hand\/Foot Scrub recipe can relieve the damage to both.<\/p>\n
Walnut Nail-Hardening Oil and Hand\/Foot<\/p>\n
1\/2-cup shelled walnuts<\/p>\n
1-tablespoon olive oil<\/p>\n
1-tablespoon castor oil<\/p>\n
1-teaspoon honey<\/p>\n
Grind walnuts to a coarse powder in a blender or food processor. Add olive oil,<\/p>\n
castor oil, and honey to make a thick paste. Vigorously rub hands and feet with<\/p>\n
the paste. Rinse with warm water. Pat dry and moisturize.<\/p>\n
Beautiful and healthy hair comes from health within; if you eat well, drink plenty of water, get enough sleep and exercise, and stay away from alcohol and cigarettes, it will show in your tresses. This Olive Oil and Lavender Conditioning Scalp Treatment for Normal Hair can also help alleviate tension when massaged into the scalp.<\/p>\n
![\"perfume_free\"](\"http:\/\/www.onlinehomestudies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2010\/12\/perfume_free.jpg\")
Olive Oil and Lavender Conditioning Scalp Treatment for Normal Hair<\/p>\n
1\/2-cup olive oil<\/p>\n
10 drops essential lavender oil<\/p>\n
Over low heat, warm olive oil in a small saucepan, remove from heat and add<\/p>\n
lavender oil. Apply to damp hair while the oil is still warm and massage into<\/p>\n
scalp. Cover head with a shower cap or plastic wrap and leave on for 20 minutes.<\/p>\n
Shampoo as usual.<\/p>\n
We’ve just learned some techniques that most beauty places use to make you feel and look better. And now you can do them at home at a fraction of the cost. Part of the joy of telling your body you value it is by putting chemical-free homemade products on it too. Part of the reason salons cost so much is because most good salons create their own products especially for each patron, so you really are bringing the pampering experience as it was intended right into your home.<\/p>\n
![\"FreeHealingCourse](\"http:\/\/www.onlinehomestudies.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2012\/07\/FreeHealingCourse-2-350x350.jpg\")
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