People can create their own spa-quality face & body treatments with simple ingredients they have at home -- mostly fresh food ingredients.
The Greenheart Shop is Chicago's only nonprofit eco friendly, fair trade store. Greenheart is fair to the producers and good to the Earth through its support of local, social enterprises and global fair trade partnerships. www.greenheartshop.org
Eleanor Reily Handmade Soaps is the culmination of a life-long interest in natural products; sensitivity to chemical fragrances, dyes and preservatives; and a need for creative expression. The soaps are made with an olive oil base, essential oils, and pure vegetable and mineral colorants. The soaps are beautiful, using artist-designed soap molds and luxurious wrappings such as tulle, satin ribbons and handmade Japanese papers. www.eleanorsoaps.com
Greenheart Shop
1911 W. Division
Chicago
(312) 264-1625
www.greenheartshop.org
Green Spa Night with Eleanor Riley Soaps
Tuesday, January 19, 6:00 pm
Thursday, January 28, 6:00 pm
Green Spa For Lovers with Eleanor Reily Soaps (Valentine's Day Theme-for couples) Thursday, February 11, 6:00 pm
Become a Fan of Greenheart Shop on Facebook
Here are a few tips for creating your own Green Spa at home.
It's best to use organic, all-natural ingredients whenever possible -- whatever you put onto your skin is absorbed into your body.
Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the best all-around skin care ingredient. It removes makeup, cleanses, moisturizes, nourishes skin and doesn't clog pores.
Bananas and avocados are also home spa staples -- don't throw away brown or overripe bananas or avocadoes--pureed, each makes an excellent deep-conditioning mask for your hair or can be used in other at-home green spa products. Other items found in most homes are honey, oatmeal, fruits, even chocolate!
While lots of items found in your kitchen are great for home spa use, it is important to use common sense -- if you can't eat something due to allergies, don't put in on your skin.
With a little bit of research you can discover lots of natural spa ingredients in your own home. Have fun and experiment with different things -- you will find what works best for you!
Ingredients:
Aloe Vera: Promotes healing to dry, damaged skin and hair. It soothes burns, sunburns, scrapes, bug bites, cuts, itchy, sore and irritated skin. Also acts as a natural sunscreen. Use juice from fresh plant, or pure Aloe Vera gel.
Apples: This fruit contains calcium, iron and vitamin A. Its properties include antibacterial, antioxidant, astringent and toning. Always use fresh apples, without skin.
Avocado: Rich in vitamins A, D & E, potassium, proteins, lecithin and amino acids, this fruit is used in facial and hair packs for deep penetrating. Its oil is said to have healing and regenerating properties. Heals scaly skin and scalp.
Banana: This fruit is rich in potassium and has wonderful emollient properties when used on hair or skin.
Calendula petals (Marigold): This flower is widely used in hair and skincare for its softening and healing properties. Dried petals can be found in health food stores and online.
Chamomile: Flowers have a calming, therapeutic scent which helps nervous tension and anxiety. It is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, great for allergies, acne, burns, cuts, inflammations, bug bites, rashes and delicate, sensitive skin. Chamomile tea and dried flowers are readily available at health food stores and online.
Cucumber: A vegetable used for its cooling and astringent properties. Try a couple of slices for puffy, tired eyes.
Honey: This is used in cosmetics for its emollient and humectant properties. It is soothing, antiseptic and anti-bacterial. Organic honey is best.
Lemon, Lime & Orange: Lemons have bleaching, exfoliating, astringent and anti-bacterial properties. Orange, loaded with vitamin C, has astringent properties which make it good for oily skin. Lime juice balances Ph.
Mango, Kiwi & Strawberries: These fruits are high in vitamin C, with good detergency & exfoliating properties, leaving skin feeling refreshed. Always use fresh fruit, preferably organic.
Oatmeal: A great natural skin cleanser and toner which nourishes & gently exfoliates the skin. Oil-absorbing, it makes a wonderful facial mask. Can also be used to soothe irritated, sunburned skin. Use organic if possible.
Olive Oil: Probably the best thing for all skin types! Nourishing & non-comodogenic, it attracts external moisture to the skin while still allowing the skin to perform normal functions as sweating and shedding.
Rosemary & Thyme: These fresh herbs tone and purify the skin, and rosemary is also great for hair. Rosemary is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal; thyme is toning, refreshing and a natural disinfectant.
Witch Hazel: This is a mild astringent used to clean and heal. Great for pimples and rashes. Available at drug stores.
Yogurt: This dairy product contains "healthy" bacteria, and can be used for a wonderful cleansing and moisturizing treatment for skin and hair.
Eleanor Reily Handmade Soaps is the culmination of a life-long interest in natural products; sensitivity to chemical fragrances, dyes and preservatives; and a need for creative expression. The soaps are made with an olive oil base, essential oils, and pure vegetable and mineral colorants. The soaps are beautiful, using artist-designed soap molds and luxurious wrappings such as tulle, satin ribbons and handmade Japanese papers. www.eleanorsoaps.com
Greenheart Shop
1911 W. Division
Chicago
(312) 264-1625
www.greenheartshop.org
Green Spa Night with Eleanor Riley Soaps
Tuesday, January 19, 6:00 pm
Thursday, January 28, 6:00 pm
Green Spa For Lovers with Eleanor Reily Soaps (Valentine's Day Theme-for couples) Thursday, February 11, 6:00 pm
Become a Fan of Greenheart Shop on Facebook
Here are a few tips for creating your own Green Spa at home.
It's best to use organic, all-natural ingredients whenever possible -- whatever you put onto your skin is absorbed into your body.
Extra-virgin olive oil is one of the best all-around skin care ingredient. It removes makeup, cleanses, moisturizes, nourishes skin and doesn't clog pores.
Bananas and avocados are also home spa staples -- don't throw away brown or overripe bananas or avocadoes--pureed, each makes an excellent deep-conditioning mask for your hair or can be used in other at-home green spa products. Other items found in most homes are honey, oatmeal, fruits, even chocolate!
While lots of items found in your kitchen are great for home spa use, it is important to use common sense -- if you can't eat something due to allergies, don't put in on your skin.
With a little bit of research you can discover lots of natural spa ingredients in your own home. Have fun and experiment with different things -- you will find what works best for you!
Ingredients:
Aloe Vera: Promotes healing to dry, damaged skin and hair. It soothes burns, sunburns, scrapes, bug bites, cuts, itchy, sore and irritated skin. Also acts as a natural sunscreen. Use juice from fresh plant, or pure Aloe Vera gel.
Apples: This fruit contains calcium, iron and vitamin A. Its properties include antibacterial, antioxidant, astringent and toning. Always use fresh apples, without skin.
Avocado: Rich in vitamins A, D & E, potassium, proteins, lecithin and amino acids, this fruit is used in facial and hair packs for deep penetrating. Its oil is said to have healing and regenerating properties. Heals scaly skin and scalp.
Banana: This fruit is rich in potassium and has wonderful emollient properties when used on hair or skin.
Calendula petals (Marigold): This flower is widely used in hair and skincare for its softening and healing properties. Dried petals can be found in health food stores and online.
Chamomile: Flowers have a calming, therapeutic scent which helps nervous tension and anxiety. It is anti-inflammatory and antiseptic, great for allergies, acne, burns, cuts, inflammations, bug bites, rashes and delicate, sensitive skin. Chamomile tea and dried flowers are readily available at health food stores and online.
Cucumber: A vegetable used for its cooling and astringent properties. Try a couple of slices for puffy, tired eyes.
Honey: This is used in cosmetics for its emollient and humectant properties. It is soothing, antiseptic and anti-bacterial. Organic honey is best.
Lemon, Lime & Orange: Lemons have bleaching, exfoliating, astringent and anti-bacterial properties. Orange, loaded with vitamin C, has astringent properties which make it good for oily skin. Lime juice balances Ph.
Mango, Kiwi & Strawberries: These fruits are high in vitamin C, with good detergency & exfoliating properties, leaving skin feeling refreshed. Always use fresh fruit, preferably organic.
Oatmeal: A great natural skin cleanser and toner which nourishes & gently exfoliates the skin. Oil-absorbing, it makes a wonderful facial mask. Can also be used to soothe irritated, sunburned skin. Use organic if possible.
Olive Oil: Probably the best thing for all skin types! Nourishing & non-comodogenic, it attracts external moisture to the skin while still allowing the skin to perform normal functions as sweating and shedding.
Rosemary & Thyme: These fresh herbs tone and purify the skin, and rosemary is also great for hair. Rosemary is anti-bacterial and anti-fungal; thyme is toning, refreshing and a natural disinfectant.
Witch Hazel: This is a mild astringent used to clean and heal. Great for pimples and rashes. Available at drug stores.
Yogurt: This dairy product contains "healthy" bacteria, and can be used for a wonderful cleansing and moisturizing treatment for skin and hair.
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