Homemade May Series: Home Remedies

Welcome back to my "Homemade May Series" if you have't read post 1 click here....
My second post is going to be all about homemade remedies!
I love reading about home remedies which you can re-create at home that are safe, easy to make and cost effective. Recently I re-visited one of my favourite and well loved books, "1000 Home Remedies"- Don't panic I'm not going to talk about all 1000 of them but share with you a few of my favourites which I tend to revert back to every now and again!
Skin and Hair Problems  we all have suffered from these sorts of issues, from pesky blemishes to dry and brittle hair, I personally invest a lot into good skincare and love trying out new products that promise me amazing results, and although most of the time they do, they usually come with a price tag! So I've searched out a few remedies that could be used alongside or possibly instead of conventional products to hopefully fix your beauty issues...
Dry Skin-
Symptoms- 

• Flaky Patches
• Tightness across the cheeks & forehead
• Surface of the skin feels rough and sometimes itchy

Prevention- 

• Gentle cleansers that are alcohol free
• Regular use of moisturisers 
• Always use an SPF to protect skin

Natural Remedies- 

• Simple Banana Face mask- Bananas help nourish skin encouraging it to lock in moisture...
  - 2 Ripe Bananas.
  - Mash up the bananas and leave on the skin for 20 minutes before washing off with warm water
• Zesty Winter Skin Mask- Using fruits packed with vitamin C helps rejuvenate dry and tired skin that suffer especially during the winter months.
  - Juice of 2 lemons
  - 1 Orange
  -1 cup of powered milk
  -Drop of water
  - Mix of all ingredients together and add in enough water to make a thick paste, apply to skin and leave for 15 minutes, wash off with warm water. 
• Aloe Vera Gel- Aloe Vera removes dead skin cells making skin smooth and soft and helps moisturise.

Oily Skin- 
Symptoms- 

• Enlarged and visible pores 
• Skin feels greasy and has an overall shine
• Prone to blemishes, blackheads and congested pores

Prevention- 

• Use products that are oil-free
• Regular use of facial scrubs and deep-cleansing face masks are beneficial

Natural Remedies-

• Make a gentle toner to help slow down oil production
  - Steep some peppermint and sage in hot water for 30 minutes before straining and cooling.
  - Apply to oily skin with a cotton pad. 
• Inhale the steam...
  -Add some eucalyptus, rosemary or thyme in a basin
  - Pour over some boiling water and then with a towel over your head, lean over the basin and inhale the steam.  

Dry Hair- 
Symptoms- 

• Rough, dry and brittle ends
• Ends that are split and frayed
• Texture that feels harsh and string - like

Prevention- 

• Visit the hairdresser for a trim every 6-8 weeks to keep the ends healthy 
• Keep the use of heated hair tools to a minimum
• Don't wash the hair every day this causes the natural oils to be stripped 

Natural Remedies- 

• Make a pre-shampoo oil...
  -Heat a tbsp of olive oil, almond and jojoba oil in a basin set over a pan of boiling water
  - Massage the warm oil into your hair and scalp and wrap in a towel
  -Sit in a steamy bath for 15 minutes before rinsing and shampooing
• Mayonnaise??
  - Massage natural commercial brand of mayonnaise into clean, dry hair
  - Or make your own by whisking 5ml almond oil and vinegar with a large egg. 

Greasy Hair- 
Symptoms- 

• Hair looks and feels oily 
• Needs frequent washing
• Limp and lacks body

Prevention- 

• Washing hair brushes and combs with warm soapy water to prevent grease build up & pushing grease back into the hair
• Avoid using too much conditioner or try cutting it out altogether as some conditioner contain oil

Natural Remedies

• Hair Masks
  - Add 2 beaten eggs and one 15ml bicarbonate of soda to 1 pint of warm water
  - Pour over the hair and massage gently but firmly into the scalp
  - Leave for 10-5 minutes before shampooing.

Thank for reading-xx