just for mom: kitchen beauty 101

Even when we take time for ourselves — whether it’s a girls night out or a good workout at the gym — we are still engaging in our daily routines, without really letting go. It’s hard to find total relaxation and time away from our busy schedules. We all forget to take a slice out of our lives for quiet healing time.

Finding 1 hour in your day to relax, de-clutter the brain, and brighten your skin may sound like an impossible task, but we deserve it. We need to carve out those precious moments where the bathroom is off limits to any little feet, the shower water is hot and all yours, and your kids are happily entertained with someone else. During these crucial moments, we can take our bodies back to a more balancing healthful place right in the comforts of our own home.

For years, I have been playing with healthy skin recipes using simple ingredients directly from my kitchen. The healing options are endless. Avocado, raw coconut, olive oil, papaya, oats, milk, yogurt, and honey all have incredibly rich healing properties for our skin. Within our very own cupboards we have calming, rejuvenating, skintastic ingredients that benefit and brighten.

Today I have shared two of my simplest recipes for a DIY face mask and body scrub. Take an hour of freedom, run a hot steam shower, and play spa day right at home. I promise you’ll feel rejuvenated and radiant.

hydrating milk and honey exfoliating oat mask

Honey is full of antioxidants and works as an antibacterial for the skin. raw honey is higher in nutrients and enzymes. honey is a natural moisturizer, it reduces redness and has calming, preventative effects on the skin. honey is remarkably gentle and is a helpful ingredient for sensitive skin. Milk works beautifully to moisturize dry skin. Adding milk to this mask gives it softening, nourishing, and anti-wrinkle properties. Oats are not only fiber-rich for your body but a superfood for your skin. Oats are helpful in minimizing pores, calming skin rashes, and work as an anti inflammatory. Oats are the perfect base for a skin care product because of their soothing, exfoliating and anti aging properties

• 3 tbls rolled oats, ground
• 1 tbls milk (you can substitute for plain yogurt here)
• 1 tbls raw organic honey

• 1/3 cup mixture of fine ground sea salt and coarse sea salt
• 1 to 2 tbls grapeseed oil (can substitute olive oil)
• 3 drops of lavender essential oil
• 1 tsp raw honey (optional)

Add all ingredients to sea salt blend in a bowl and mix using a wooden spoon. It should resemble a store bought scrub and have a thick paste like consistency. Take a warm shower, using circular motions apply scrub liberally. Be sure to pay special attention around knees, elbows and feet. Rinse in a cold shower. This will awaken your mind, boost your immune system, and get your blood circulating.

Author Description

angela

Angela Mirra first fell in love with the concept of natural healing when she discovered aloe plants soothed sunburns on a family vacation at age, 3. Since that day she has been fascinated by food and plants as medicine for the body. Angela has studied Eastern and Western healing practices, has been trained as a Holistic Health Counselor, is certified in several types of Massage Therapy, has worked in marketing and education for Pangea Organics, an organic skin care company and, most recently completed her first training to become a certified Doula. Angela comes to Baltimore by way of San Francisco and Brooklyn and has refined her practice to focus on the ultimate healing tool: food. With the help of her enthusiastic husband and zesty little three year old, Matteo. Angela works to simplify healthy food and lifestyle choices not just for her family, but for families throughout Baltimore.