Recycle your coffee grinds

This article is very interesting hence I thought to share this with everyone. I found it on http://www.wholeliving.com/article/wake-up-scrub?

Nothing rouses you in the morning quite like the smell of coffee, so go ahead -- slather some on. A skin-softening body scrub made from coffee grounds and aromatic plant essences is a traditional treatment that's used in Thai and Balinese spas, and it's a luxurious way to start the day.

This recipe couples a rich, smoky coffee aroma with the sweet scent of peppermint -- known in aromatherapy for its mentally stimulating, energizing properties. Thanks to raw sugar crystals and olive oil, which exfoliate and moisturize, your body gets a pick-me-up, too. It makes enough for two to three applications.

Tools and Materials
1/4 cup olive oil
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup pure turbinado sugar
15 drops peppermint essential oil (Mentha piperita)
1/2 cup used coffee grounds from a freshly brewed pot

Wake-Up Scrub How-To
1. Combine all ingredients in a medium bowl; using a fork, thoroughly blend. Transfer the scrub to a wide mouthed jar, and store in a cool place until ready to use. The scrub will keep for one to two weeks, longer if refrigerated.

2. While showering, apply handfuls of the coffee scrub to wet skin in circular motions, starting at the feet and working up. The scrub contains oil, so it's best to do this over a rubber mat to avoid slipping. Pay particular attention to rough spots such as heels, ankles, knees, and elbows.

3. After scrubbing, cleanse skin as usual using a mild natural soap or body wash. Pat skin dry with a fluffy towel, and follow with lotion to seal in the moisture.

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Exfoliate your skin on a budget

(found on http://www.wholeliving.com/article/beautyremediesb0407fob_t-1?backto=true)

Walnuts
Use it to exfoliate hands and feet

Why it works: Rich in oil, walnuts make for extra-gentle sloughing.

How-to: Perillo likes to blend 1/4 cup shelled walnuts, 1/2 cup olive oil (for extra emollients), and a tablespoon of honey (to seal moisture into your skin) in a food processor set on a slow speed, creating a fine-particle scrub. Standing in the shower (if you're scrubbing your feet) or over a sink (if it's for your hands), work the mixture thoroughly over your skin for a couple of minutes. Rinse with warm water.

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Keep Your Skin Glowing

It has been a while since I last posted but I am back. The dog days of the summer are here and that means we need to nourish ourselves with plenty of liquid to stay hydrated. However, we also need to treat our skin with lots of TLC especially after sun exposure. So the topic of the day is hydration and exfoliation.

Hydration is important to stay healthy and energetic. Dehydration can cause headaches, poor digestion, lack of concentration, chills and fever, muscle cramps, difficulty breathing, dry skin and many more... so keep drinking plenty of liquids such as water to replenish what the body is loosing throughout the day. Try to avoid carbonated drinks such as soda as they have a dehydrating effect as well. If you drink coffee, alcohol, or fruit juices, always drink plenty of water along with it as this will keep you hydrated.

Exfoliation is great to keep your skin moisturized, smooth, and glowing. Removing dead skin cells keeps your skin looking fresh as dead skin clogs pores. You do not have to pay a lot of money for a good scrub. Make your own with some salt and oil. The coarseness of the salt will remove dead skin cells as well as give your skin an extra dose of magnesium which is contained in salt.

I like to use fine to medium sea salt, apricot oil (or olive oil), and some essential oils in my scrubs but the possibilities are limitless. I read about a scrub made with salt, buttermilk, and cucumber for a cooling effect.

Enjoy the summer and keep your skin glowing!

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