Natural Mindset-Cara's Corner

Natural Beauty - Cosmetics From Your Cupboard

One thing that has surprised me the most about living a more healthy and natural
lifestyle is that it primarily involves common sense. I have found that common items
from my kitchen can be great beauty products. They are free of toxins, and an added
benefit is the money that I'm saving. Now I buy a fraction of the cosmetics that I used
to, and feel no guilt about paying more for the high quality natural products that I can't
make myself.
So if you’re ready to find some cosmetics in your cupboard, an ideal place to begin is
with your bottle of Extra Virgin Olive Oil (use this type because those labeled "pure"
and "light" have probably been chemically processed ).
The health benefits of olive oil are widely recognized, though we may be more aware of
the internal benefits than the external ones. It makes sense that what is good for our
inside is also good for our outside, and in the case of olive oil it’s good for us head to toe.

Try Olive Oil as a ...

On The Spot Conditioner - It softens hair and lessens frizz. You just need a drop in the
palm of your hand, rub both hands together, and apply to dry hair.

Deep Conditioner - Apply a generous amount of olive oil ( up to 1/2 cup for long locks )
to hair and wrap a towel around your head for 30 minutes. If your hair is especially
damaged, you can make a bit of a paste by mixing 1/2 cup of olive oil with one beaten
egg and wrap a towel around your head for 30 to 45 minutes. After both of these
treatments rinse thoroughly.

Makeup Remover - Just a tiny dab on a cotton ball or cloth will gently remove makeup,
including waterproof mascara.

Nail Care - Olive oil is effective in the treatment of dry and brittle nails. It helps to
soften cuticles, moisturize nails, and restores flexibility and strength. Just soak your
fingernails and toenails in warm water and then in warm olive oil for five minutes.
Remove the excess oil with a clean cloth and massage the remainder into hands and
feet.

Moisturize Dry Feet - Go the extra mile after soaking your toenails and apply a
generous amount of olive oil on dry feet, then put on a pair of socks at bedtime and
leave them on overnight.

Green Guy says ... “ Pour olive oil in an empty perfume or lotion bottle and keep it in
the bathroom for easy access.”

Why Olive Oil?

Among all the natural lipids, olive oil has the chemical distribution most
similar to human sebum (the body's own natural skin lubricant). This
similarity gives olive oil a strong affinity to human skin. Olive oil is
completely safe, easily absorbed, and has a "cell-refattening" capacity.
The cosmetic benefits of olive oil were recognized by the people of the
Mediterranean long ago. It was used to maintain skin and muscle
suppleness, heal abrasions, and soothe the burning and drying effects
of sun and water. Now modern science tells us that olive oil is packed
with vitamins and nutrients that moisturize the skin without blocking
pores.