Recipes for the Body: Beauty Tips Using Food Items Such as Milk, Eggs, Apple-cider Vinegar and Beer

It seems that grandma was ahead of her time. Back in the old days, (some of which are still practiced today), things like using olive oil on the skin as a moisturizer, to using cucumber slice to reduce puffiness in the eyes were common. However today, many of the cosmetic products we put on our bodies do offer some benefits, but many also contain harmful chemicals. Toxic ingredients such as Propylene, Butylene Glycol, 1,4-Dioxane have been linked to kidney and liver damage, breast and prostate cancer. After reading some books and visiting websites, I found many recipes on how to make skincare products at home. These beauty fixes rejuvenate the body and are inexpensive. You probably eat and drink some of them. Do milk, eggs, apple-cider vinegar and beer sound familiar to you? Trying some of them, I have noticed a bigger difference in my skin! Try some of these recipes and see how you feel.

Exfoliating Mask (dry skin)

Use it to: Calm and soften skin
Why it works: Soothing and anti-inflammatory, oatmeal contains beta glucan, a soluble fiber that creates a thin, moisture-retaining film on the surface of the skin. It exfoliates dead skin. The egg whites soften and smooth dry skin.
What you need: Egg whites and oatmeal
How-to: Mix the egg whites and oatmeal in a bowl. Put the mixture on your face. Leave it on for five minutes. Rinse with water

Body Exfoliator (all skin types)

Use it to: Slough dry skin off heels, knees and elbows
Why it works: The fruit acid loosens dead skin cells.
What you need: Orange, granulated sugar, olive oil
How-to: Cut a fresh orange in half and squeeze the juice of one half into a bowl. Add ¼ cup granulated sugar or you can use sea salt and ¼ cup olive oil and then blend into a moisture rich scrub. Next, rub the exposed side of the other half of the orange over the knees, elbows, heels, and any other dry spots. Slough off the dead skin by rubbing in the mixture. Rinse with warm water and pat dry.

Toner (combination to oily skin)

Use it to: Fight breakouts
Why it works: Its high acid content makes skin inhospitable to blemish causing bacteria.
What you need: Parsley, apple-cider vinegar and tea tree oil
How-to: Place a handful of parsley (a skin-clarifying herb) into a French press and cover it with ½ cup of boiling water. Steep for 10 minutes, and then plunge and let the liquid cool. Transfer to a spray bottle along with a splash of vinegar and 4 drops of tea tree oil (an antiseptic), shake well, and spritz on a freshly cleaned face. (Store the spray bottle in the fridge.)

Beer (flat and dull hair)

Use it to: Pump up flat, dull hair
Why it works: Yeast and hops help to swell the hair shaft and plump the cuticle, adding volume. The acidity of the beer helps remove built up products residue.
What you need: A rich beer with a high yeast content works best (no light beer)
How-to: In the shower, after you've shampooed, pour a bottle of beer over your hair. To avoid the smelling like a eau de liqour cabinet, rinse briefly with fresh water.