Powder

My first memory of baking soda ("shake it till you can't shake it no mo'") is that my grandmother used it in the refrigerator so that the fish she bought each week wouldn't make her house smell like low tide. My brother and I were grateful for this because we spent much of our time in the fridge searching for delicious things and did not want to be impeded by horrible smells.
Then my boyfriend told me he used to drink baking soda and water to settle an upset stomach. I suffer from some pretty bad stomach pains - but none that would ever make me turn to that tip. I tastes too awful!
I blogged three weeks ago about one good thing baking soda can do for you - especially when you're in dire need of a cure like I was then - but this week I want to share even more tips because this ingredient is a gem and I can't keep secrets like this to myself.

Hair

Chlorine Cure: I've talked about the chlorine content of the water here and of my fear of green locks. So here's a tip that I've been using as regularly as a if I were a pro swimmer. 1 tsp to a bottle of shampoo adds extra cleaning and helps prevent dull or discolored hair.
Dry Shampoo: Many like the effect of dry shampoo because it helps with oily roots but also can add volume to the finer hairs in life. Sprinkle a little on, massage in and use a hair dryer to restyle if necessary.

Body

Anti dry: For some reason the skin on my elbows and knees are dryer than they normally are in the summer. All I do to get rid of this is to make a paste of baking soda and water and apply. Rinse off when dry.
Hands: I also like to soften my cuticles with a toothbrush dipped in baking soda and water.

Face

White mask: Exfoliating, cleansing and anti-acne, this mask (made of just water and baking soda) is one of the best DIY tips of all time. Women have used it for centuries. If you don't feel like you have the energy to indulge in a whole mask, you can make just enough to cover one blemish. Rinse when dry.
There are many more tips like these! Check them out.

Green

I love kiwis - the fruit, the animal and the people. But the fruit in particular is  delicious and packed with vitamin C, which, as I've mentioned in other posts, is best used straight from its natural source.
There are a lot of great tips for using kiwi for skin care and there's a good reason for it. Aside from being one of the biggest sources of vitamin C, the kiwi fruit is full ofalpha-hydroxy acid, acids which exfoliate and brighten skin as well as control shine. Here are some tips that are especially great if your skin is tired and dull from a long work week.

Body

Green scrub: Make a scrub using raw or brown sugar (I personally prefer brown sugar because it makes a better paste) and the pulp of as many kiwis as it takes. This mix contains three exfoliators: the seeds from the kiwi, the AHAs and the sugar. And is smells so fresh - kind of like this.

Hands

Manicure prep: Use 1 kiwi pulp and 1 tbsp olive oil. Leave on for up to 20 minutes - this is exfoliating and moisturizing.

Face

Mashed: Just mashing the pulp of a kiwi and letting it sit on your face makes for a perfect mask. But adding extra ingredients depending on your skin type can heighten the experience. Add olive oil for dry skin and honey for combination skin. If you have oily skin, I would stick to just kiwi because it already has everything you need!

Cubism

Today it's supposed to get close to 100 degrees F and there is no beach or pool in sight. I will be correcting papers and generally doing tasks that allow me to sit very still.
Lately my skin has been suffering from the heat. I can't seem to get my creams and lotions applied before I begin to perspire so it's causing a bit of disruption on the skin's surface. I'm also so sick of running around campus in the beating sun. So today, I will relax with a few of the easiest tips I know!
Use ice! Not just to cool down, ice helps tighten the pores and can be good in this heat because your skin needs a break! These tips are very simple and will make you feel so much cooler.

Face

Before you go freezing regular ice cubes and running them over your face (which is an ok idea) try these more creative tips.
Rose cubes: Make an infusion of rose water - as easy as boiling rose petals in water and letting it cool- and make ice cubes from the infusion. Rose water is a light astringent so it gives the skin a healthy look.
Cucumber cubes: This one is my favorite. Cucumbers have a naturally high water content so just freezing cucumber slices on their own would be sufficient. They are also so great on puffy eyes, so make sure to use these cubes early every morning when you haven't had enough sleep. I would keep cucumber cubes available all year long if I remembered to do it! To do: let sliced cucumbers sit in water for as long as desired. Then pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. You can choose to remove the pieces of cucumber from the cubes or even leave them in. These cubes are also delicious in a glass of water!
Orange cubes: I cannot stress enough the benefits of vitamin C from its original source. However, try not to get lazy and use orange juice. A lot of times the juice is concentrated and just not as fresh. To do: Juice an orange and mix with water. Pour the mixture into an ice cube tray. Voilà - Orange juice for you and your skin in the morning.

Hair

Shiny Hair: Ice cold water is a great way to seal hair's cuticle and make it shiny. Use any of the  water recipes (except the orange cubes), chilled in the freezer but not quite frozen, and pour all over hair.

Body

Ice bath: Of course you could pour any one of the ice recipes into a bath but I'm not sure I would want to get quite that cold...

Sugar

It's Friday and I really couldn't be happier about that. This Sunday will mark my third week at this job, which means only five weeks left! And next week I actually begin teaching, so I'll be needing some time to relax at the end of the day. Here's how I'll make my bathroom feel like a spa using sugar.
There is nothing better than a good scrub* to remove the top layer of dead skin cells on the face, body, feet and hands. It smoothes skin and makes everything seem brighter and cleaner. The best part is that you can make your own and they're better than the ones you can buy because a) they're all natural (and you have the option of making them organic) and b) they're much cheaper this way. The best thing about these scrubs is that they last for a long time,  so make a batch and store it in a mason jar in the shower for weeks!

Hands

New Hands Honey Scrub: I use this every time I give friends a manicure and they can attest to how incredibly soft their hands feel afterward. It's like getting new skin! I mix 1 tsp honey with just enough sugar to make a paste and apply it with small, massaging circles. It rinses off easily!

Body

Brown Sugar Body Scrub: Unlike this, the homemade one doesn't cost $65 and it' customizable. I make mine with honey, vanilla extract (for an even sweeter smell) and of course, some brown sugar.

Face

Olive Oil & sugar: I usually use the honey scrub on my face in the summer, but days that are dry call for this recipe. 1 tspolive oil and as much sugar as needed to make a paste with. This scrub is very moisturizing so it is best for dry/aging skin.

*You may have heard that crushing almonds makes a good scrub, but this is not true - especially for the skin on your face. The uneven edges can make tears in your skin that take a long time to heal. Don't do it!