If you’re feeling the effects of the ice and snow of an unusually cold Northern Ohio Winter, you’re not alone. And now that all the major holidays, including Groundhogs’ Day are over, you can spend a little extra time pampering yourself. There’s no time like the present to give yourself the gift of a few at-home spa treatments.
First, let the eyes have it. If you wake up some mornings looking a little puffy eyed due to lack of sleep or poor indoor air quality, use this super quick tip to give your eyes to some serious TLC. For a simple eye de-puffer, here’s all you need to do. Make a cup of tea for you and a friend using one chamomile tea bag per cup. Remove tea bags and place them in the refrigerator until chilled. Place cool tea bags on closed eyes for 10 minutes, then remove from your well-rested eyes. In addition to helping de-puff your tired eyes, drinking chamomile tea is also purported to be good for stomach pain, migraines and in helping induce sleep.
Now that your eyes have been treated, it’s time to address the rest of your face. Try this hydrating facial mask to combat the freeze-dry effects of the latest Arctic Blast.
Milk and Honey Facial Mask
(courtesy of Bath by Bettijo)
4 T powdered milk
2 T warm water
2 T honey
Combine ingredients and stir until smooth. Spread mixture on face, avoiding mouth and eyes. Wet a washcloth with warm water and let it rest over the mask for 10 minutes. Rinse the mask off, then pat dry.
Now that your face is feeling fresh and full of moisture, it’s time to address the dry skin on the rest of you. This simple to make body scrub is full of natural ingredients. And coconut oil makes it perfect for banishing dry, scaly winter skin. I’d like to give a shout out to my friend Lori for introducing me to this fabulous treat.
Brown Sugar & Coconut Body Scrub
(adapted from onehundreddollarsamonth.com)
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
6 T coconut oil
2 T vanilla extract
small jars or tubs with lids for storing
Melt the coconut oil in a microwave-safe bowl until soft, and then combine with brown sugar, mixing to remove any lumps. Add vanilla extract and mix well. When the mixture is completely combined, transfer to jars with lids and save for personal use, or share with friends. And now that you’ve pampered yourself a little, hopefully the final six weeks of winter won’t seem so long.
Photo: courtesy of heygorg.com
