Browsing Tag

honey

DIY Recipes

Recipes for Chocolate Spa Night

06/24/2009

I know I’m not alone when I say that I love every kind of chocolate there is. Chocolate bars, hot chocolate, chocolate ice cream, dark chocolate, chocolate cake, chocolate chip cookies…the list of “delicious types of chocolate” is a list that never ceases.

Recently, though, I’ve become slightly obsessed with beauty products that infuse delicious chocolately-goodness! I figured that if the big stores like Philosophy and others are making their own chocolate products, why can’t I? And on that same note, why can’t you?

Here are 3 delectable DIY beauty recipes that use chocolate as their main ingredient.

Scrumptious Chocolate Facial Mask

What’s it for? Moisturizing dry skin
Indulge yourself with this sweet face mask. It serves as a moisturizing agent and leaves your skin ultra soft to the touch. Here’s what you need to gather:

3 tbs. heavy cream
2 tsp. cottage cheese
1/4 cup honey
3 tsp. oatmeal
1/3 cup cocoa powder

Combine all of the ingredients into a bowl and stir until you have a smooth and consistent texture. Get rid of any lumps and bumps!

If you have a blender it would probably be easier to mix the ingredients that way.

Once your mixture is ready to go, tie your hair up and apply it to your face. Let it set for 15 minutes. Rinse with warm water and follow with a splash of cold water to tighten your pores. Gently pat dry.

Decadent Chocolate Body Scrub

What’s it for? Exfoliating skin
This recipe yields one fierce body polishing agent! And it smells great, too! This is what you need:

1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup canola oil
1/4 cup powdered cocoa
A few drops of chocolate and/or raspberry fragrance oil (optional)
In a large bowl combine all of your ingredients. Mix thoroughly until the mixture is smooth and consistent in texture.

Liberally apply the contents to your body with a washcloth or loofah. Gently massage it into your skin in a circular motion while in the shower. Rinse off and feel refreshed!

*This recipe will yield plenty so there is enough for future uses! Store the remains in an airtight container. It will last for up to 6 months.

Sweet, Sweet Chocolate and Honey Scrub

What’s it for? Exfoliating and moisturizing
This is similar to the above recipe only this one incorporates a little bit of honey (which adds moisture) and uses salt instead of sugar for a less-course mixture! This is great if you are looking for a refreshing scrub-down! This is what you need:

2 cups honey
1/2 cup grape seed oil
6 tbs. unsweetened chocolate
2 cups kosher salt

First, grate your unsweetened chocolate into a medium sized bowl.

In a separate bowl, place your honey and grape seed oil until the two are blended together. Add the chocolate and salt. Mix completely until you have a texture that is smooth and consistent.

Liberally apply the contents to your body with a washcloth or loofah. Gently massage it into your skin in a circular motion while in the shower. Rinse off and feel refreshed!

*This recipe will yield 2 uses. Store the remains in an airtight container.

Crafts DIY

Create and Flavor Your Own Lipgloss

05/06/2009

Miseducated girls like to stand out in a crowd. Which is precisely why this make-it-yourself, fully customizable lip gloss recipe is perfect. (Not to mention, Miseducated-mavens always have pretty puckers).

Read through this super easy recipe and then feel free to add whatever your heart desires (within reason, of course!) to make your very own lip gloss.

creating lipgloss

You Need

Option 1 (the extra-easy route)
Have you ever applied Vaseline to your lips? Well whether you have or haven’t, it’s a great moisturizer for your puckers. If you prefer to take the easy route (which is great when you’re in a bind), can use this as your base and then customize the rest.

Option 2
Take 1 tablespoon of beeswax and place it in a clean glass jar. Place the jar in very hot water. Be careful not to get water in it as the two don’t mix well. With a toothpick or stick-like device, stir until you see that the wax has softened.

Next, add a tablespoon of almond oil. Mix thoroughly. If you want, you can add a capsule of Vitamin E which preserves your gloss for a longer amount of time and also adds nutrients. Another option is to add ½ a teaspoon of honey. This makes it a little sweeter and also adds nutrients.

If you’re a simple lassie then you can stop here. If you’re in the mood to customize, here are a few ideas to give a go:

Customize your Gloss

Fresh and Fruity
Add a few berries to your mixture while it’s hot. Crush the berries and pick out the skin or strain it. Some great berries to try are cranberries (which create a lovely shade of dark pink) or blueberries which create a pinky-tone. [Check out my Berry Beauty article which has a great Blueberry Honey gloss].

Mighty Mint
Add a few drops of peppermint or spearmint oil, mix it up and you’re set to go! Refreshing!

Cola Queen
Add a few drops of your favorite cola (try Sprite or Orange!) and mix thoroughly. Yum!

Charming Chocolate
You can either purchase chocolate scented oil or melt a little piece of chocolate with your beeswax. Guaranteed to melt on your lips! That’s a good thing.

Whimsical Flowers
Feeling romantic and whimsy? Try a little jasmine, rose or lavender oil!

Brewed Beer Gloss
That’s right! Infuse your lips with the scent of beer! Just add a few drops of your favorite brew and mix it up.

Lemon Lady
If citrus is your thing, squeeze a bit o’ lemon, lime or orange juice into your beeswax and mix thoroughly. Zing!

These are just a few ideas. Let your mind go free and you’re sure to come up with even better customizations!

*Make this gloss in small doses as it does not last forever. Store it in your fridge at night to make it last longer. Oh, and if you want to bring it out with you (a total “do”), store it in a recycled lip gloss container or even a fabulous little pill box!

DIY Self Decoration

The Beauty Benefits of Bathing in Tea [in Australia]

03/25/2009
Bathing in Tea

Have you ever loved a food or drink so much that you wish you could bathe in it?

I’m a huge fan of tea: the immune boost, the antioxidants, the warm fuzzy feeling of a hot mug on a cold night. I think my ultimate evening consists of curling up on the couch with a cup of tea and a box of cookies for dunking. In short, I truly do love tea so much that I could bathe in it… and last year, I did.

The time: early spring. The location: Lennox Head, Australia. I had the amazing opportunity to visit my sister at her work abroad location there and her camp was located just steps away from Lake Ainsworth, a freshwater lake made entirely out of tea.

Surrounded by tea trees, Lake Ainsworth’s waters absorb tannins from surrounding tree roots and fallen tea leaves, transforming the waters into a deep, dark brew. The locals believe that the water has healing properties and that a quick swim can do wonders for the skin. Personally, though my skin did feel a bit softer that day, it’s my mind that has never felt more at peace than while floating in a bath of tea.

Want to try it yourself?

If you can’t make the trip Down Under, don’t worry, just run yourself a hot bath, drop in several tea bags, lay back, and relax.

Feeling crafty?

You can also create your own concoction with loose tea leaves and dried flowers. Once it’s ready, wrap your personalized mixture in muslin or cheesecloth (or pantyhose — thanks, Wendy!) and you‘re ready for a long, relaxing steep.

Other Drinks to Soak In

  • Sake: A Geisha secret, pouring a cup full of sake into your tub is said to soften your skin and speed up your metabolism.
  • Milk and Honey: Milk dissolved dead skin cells to make your skin baby soft, while honey has antibacterial properties to help heal wounds. It worked wonders for Cleopatra, so why not you?
  • Red Wine: Teri Hatcher of Desperate Housewives breaks out the vino for her bath to make her skin lush and glowing…just don‘t use too much or you might stain your tub!