At Home Remedies Using Epsom Salt

The other day I did a post about making your own bath salts with Epsom salt being the main ingredient. I listed briefly some benefits of Epsom salt but now I'm back with some at home remedies. Who knew salt could be so beneficial for beauty!

Epsom salt uses: BEAUTY

Exfoliate dead skin - In the shower or bath, mix a handful of Epsom salt with a tablespoon of bath or olive oil and rub all over your wet skin to exfoliate and soften. Rinse thoroughly.

Exfoliating face cleanser - To clean your face and exfoliate skin at the same time, mix a half-teaspoon of Epsom salt with your regular cleansing cream. Gently massage into skin and rinse with cold water.

Dislodge blackheads - Add a teaspoon of Epsom salt and 3 drops iodine into a half cup of boiling water. Apply this mixture to the blackheads with a cotton ball.

Remove foot odor - Mix a half cup of Epsom salt in warm water and soak your feet for 10 minutes to remove bad odor, sooth achy feet, and soften rough skin.

Remove hairspray - Combine 1 gallon of water, 1 cup of lemon juice, and 1 cup Epsom salt. Cover the mixture and let set for 24 hours. The next day, pour the mixture into your dry hair and leave on for 20 minutes before shampooing as normal.

Hair volumizer - Combine equal parts deep conditioner and Epsom salt and warm in a pan. Work the warm mixture through your hair and leave on for 20 minutes. Rinse thoroughly.


Did you know these things? Ever tried any of them before? If so let me know. If not, which remedies are you going to try?

*peace love & couture*

Couture DIY: Bath Salts

If you don't have time to go to the spa, and like making things on your own, why not try making your own bath salts. It's really simple.

Ingredients:

• 2 cups Epsom salts
• 1 cup Sea salt
• 6 drops eucalyptus oil
• 10 drops rosemary oil
• 15 drops peppermint oil

 Directions:

1. In a large bowl mix the salts first.
2. Add all other ingredients.
3. MIX VERY WELL!
4. You can use food coloring to make the salts colorful
5. Bag/Bottle mixture and let sit for 6 hrs.
6. Sprinkle into tub and take a nice long bath with lit candles

The main ingredient of this concoction is Epsom salt. Do you know all of its benefits? Here are just a few of the benefits:

- Eases stress and relaxes the body
- Relieves pain and muscle cramps
- Helps muscles and nerves function properly
- Helps prevent hardening of arteries and blood clots
- Eliminates toxins from the body.

Now you're all set for a little me time in the bathroom. Aromatherapy that you can do yourself.  Now get some candles, grab a robe and a towel and enjoy your you time in the bathroom.

*peace love & couture*

Holiday Gift Ideas: Spa Basket

I really like to pamper myself at home sometimes. I don't always have the time or the funds to get to a spa. I try to make Sundays my spa day. In a perfect world I would give spa gift certificates to all of my friends so they can be spoiled and pampered. Until I can afford such things, what better way to give the gift of a luxurious spa experience than a basket full of spa trinkets.

Mommy and Me Day!

Thinking of a way to revamp your look for the spring? Does your mother, aunt or grandmother need an update to their look as well? If so, consider doing a joint make over with that special woman in your life.

During the month of April take advantage of the "Mom and a Makeover" offer by D'Brows Salon. The package includes 2 makeovers complete with strip lashes. The price for this amazing package is only $75. A perfect gift to gear up for Mother's Day.

Schedule your consultation today or call for more details.

D'Brows

5332 Georgia Ave., N.W.

Washington, DC 20011

Located on 2nd floor of Natural Motion Hair Salon

202-232-7667

Bliss Triple Oxygen Mask

I tried the Bliss Triple Oxygen mask and I can't say anything more than WOW! You can really feel the mask working and oxygenating while on your face. I was skeptical when I was informed that the mask will immediately brighten and tighten the skin. But low and behold it did! I love when products do exactly what they say they are going to do.


As the mask is working it feels as if its oozing down your face but its not really moving anywhere at all.


Its like an hour spa treatment packed into 5 minutes. I'm urging everyone to try this! Definitely needs to be part of a weekly spa at home ritual for anyone.

Bad Spa Experience

Last Friday I had a pretty horrible experience at the spa. I didn't want to blog about it at first because I didn't really want to say anything negative about the establishment. But then again, I feel like I'm doing people a service by telling them certain places to avoid.

I had been very stressed lately (working in the school system will do that to you) and needed some relief. A very good friend of mine gave a gift certificate to another friend and myself to go to a spa and have a girls day together. Manicure, pedicure, massage and facial. Sounds like a good time right? Well, it wasn't. Not for me anyway.

I arrived 30 minutes earlier than my scheduled appointment time. I knew since I was a new customer to this particular spa that I would have to fill out paperwork and create a file. Although my friend was running late, I didn't expect the staff to be so rude about it. They were aware that we were coming together and would like to have our services done side by side. The ultimate girls time. I opted to start the process without my friend (with her permission on the phone) and went on to get my pedicure. This is where it all goes down hill....

The initial person to do my pedicure ends up not even being a nail technician. I was wondering why she had such a hard time trying to help me pick out a nail color. She even got an attitude with me and told me I was wasting time by not knowing what color I want. Rule number 1 when in a spa....I don't care what kind of mood you are in as a staff member; the customer is always right! I am supposed to be relaxed, not stressed and not rushed. If it takes me 45 minutes to pick out a nail color then so be it! She then decides that she's not going to do my pedicure anymore and tag teams with someone else. I know have a woman that speaks little English and is rather rough with my feet. I opted to skip the manicure and allow my friend who arrived late to get a pedicure as well so we could have some time to chat side by side. They looked good at the end....but customer service wise I wasn't satisfied.

On to the massage. The room was not very inviting, calming or relaxing. There was no changing area with lockers to place your things in. I had to fold my clothes up and just put them in a corner on the floor! Not acceptable. The massage itself was pretty good, but I don't appreciate her rubbing her ultra oily hands in my hair. That made me angry. After the 50 minutes was up, there was not a calming voice to say "OK Ms. Coleman our time is up....". Instead I awoke to a blaring voice saying "OK I'M DONE. YOU CAN PUT YOUR CLOTHES ON NOW" and she left the room. Now I know (because I'm not new to the spa experience) that there was to be instruction and a care guide given after the massage. She was supposed to tell me to keep hydrated; that I might feel dizzy, and that she has moved toxins all around my body etc. But that didn't happen.

The facial wasn't that bad. I had never had a facial before (other than some over the counter masks and some home remedies) so it was a new experience. There was some sort of steam treatment that she administered and that I wasn't too fond of. I could just feel every bit of my hair frizzing up as a result of the steam that was being directly blown in my face over the course of 20 minutes or so. What I did not like is how the technician kept leaving the room and not even parting her lips to say "I'll be back momentarily". What if I was having a reaction while she was gone?!? Who was I supposed to call out to? And she had my eyes covered as well. I also did not like how every step she made she didn't tell me what she was putting on my face. I don't care if I put on my sheet that I'm not allergic to anything. When you put something on my skin or do something to my body, as the professional I'm expecting you to tell me what you're doing. I need to be confident and know that you know what you're doing and I want to know all the steps as well in case something happens or I have an adverse reaction I know exactly at what stage of the process it occurred. Call me crazy....

The facial lasted for an hour and the entire time that I was laid on my back and stiff, I started experiencing sharp pains in my back, neck and shoulders as a result of my massage. I think there was even a point where I wanted to let out a single tear. When the facial was over she just left...and that was the last I saw of her.