WomenCo.

I  don't use makeup since I  work in a chemistry lab or outside. It is just not practical. I have a tendency to look at the natural spa treatments, but I've only tried to make a "rice and honey" scrub to keep the skin smooth.

You grind up rice so it is in smallish bits, then mix it with a bit of honey so it just barely sticks together. Then you use it like any other scrub. I've tried it a few times, and I like the way it feels and smells. The smaller you grind up the rice, the lighter the scrubbing on your skin. Try it! It smells great!

I've made a nice facial scrub with oat bran, raw egg yolk and honey.  Then, you use the egg white as an astringent.  We used to do that in California all the time.  I always get asked why I have such great skin and what do I do.  Well, I think the more natural, the better.  We used to smash up avocados for a facial, because in Cali you could get them for nothing.  Now, they're pretty expensive.  I also use olive oil as a moisturizer.  I've said that quite often on the skincare group.  Not everyone's skin will tolerate the same things, but extra virgin olive oil is wonderful for the skin.  I use it to take off my eye make-up, and it does a gentle, thorough job whilst feeding my eyelashes and moisturizing the skin around my eyes.  When I remember to do this regularly, my skin really glows.  That reminds me, I need to go shopping!  Oh, by the way, you do have to use this stuff sparingly, not in globs, and then you have to keep the plumbing taken care of.  Make sure you keep the drains clear.  I make a really great body scrub with sea salt and olive oil.  Your massage sponge will come out black from all the dead skin cells you'll get scrubbed off.  But be sure to thoroughly clean the tub or shower so that no one slips and kills themselves.  You can make your own body sugar, as well, but it does take alot of sugar to do it, as the sugar tends to dissolve.  You have to keep adding sugar until you get the right amount, and then stir before each use.  I'll get us some recipes, ok?  It's been a long time since I did that! 

Avocado is great for your hair.  How do you prepare it?  If you moisten it with olive oil and whip it in the blender until smooth, then you can coat your hair with it lightly and leave it on under a warm towel for awhile.  Then rinse it through.  If you use a shampoo made with jojoba and grapeseed oils, you should be able to get all of the stuff out without undoing all of the damage.  Avocado is really good for your skin, too.  I liked being able to get that stuff fresh when I lived in Cali! 

This is an odd thought, but I believe that laugh lines and wrinkles are a great sign of beauty. It shows that a woman can smile and love life.

To enhance this "beauty feature" I do a lot of things that make me smile. The smell of apples, the crowd at Farmer's Market, laughing with my SO, smelling the chocolate before I eat it... Lots and lots of little things that make me feel like life is more indulgent than it should be.

The benefit, everyone seems to think that you are wonderful because you smile now.

Well, as I can't afford a coffee grinder I found the next best thing is a plastic bag and a mallet.  Doubles as stress relief too! =P

Seriously, I've used a coffee grinder at my friend's place, and it worked well. However, I can't afford one so I put the rice into a plastic bag, like a freezer bag, then relieve some stress with a mallet, hammer or meat tenderiser. It works just as well, if not better if you decide you want bigger pieces rather than small ones. Smash more for smaller grains.

Insanitek says ...

Well, as I can't afford a coffee grinder I found the next best thing is a plastic bag and a mallet.  Doubles as stress relief too! =P

Seriously, I've used a coffee grinder at my friend's place, and it worked well. However, I can't afford one so I put the rice into a plastic bag, like a freezer bag, then relieve some stress with a mallet, hammer or meat tenderiser. It works just as well, if not better if you decide you want bigger pieces rather than small ones. Smash more for smaller grains.

I'm going to try a few grains in my coffee grinder (which, by the way, wasn't expensive at all...maybe $12 at Wal-Mart ;-} ).  My grinder has different settings from regular coffee to espresso.  Do you find that finer grains work better for your skin?