Savvy Brown » Health Recipes

DIY Winter Foodie Masks

Savvy — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 00:20:24 +0000

When the temperature drops, I tend tend to drink less water, (because I’m cold!) and my skin suffers. So I’ve gone back to my weekly facial routine, and it’s really helped a lot. My favorite part of the pampering ritual is the mask. It always leaves my face feeling so refreshed, even Sexy noticed a difference! Below are three of my favorites:

Bentonite Clay and Oil Mask

1 heaping tbsp of Bentonite Clay
1 tbsp apple cider vinegar
1 tbsp of olive, coconut OR Jojoba Oil

Mix until well blended into a smooth creamy paste, apply to whole face and neck. Leave on for 30 mins. Use a warm wet washcloth to remove.
Honey and Spice Mask

2 tbsp honey
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp teaspoon of nutmeg

Mix into a brown thick paste. Apply the mask to your face and neck. Leave on for 30 mins. Wash it off with warm water, scrubbing softly in circular motion for exfoliation. (Note: I wouldn’t exfoliate before doing this mask, the nutmeg will exfoliate on it’s own and you don’t want to over do it!)

Honey-Mayo Mask

1 tbsp raw honey warmed up in water
1 tbsp mayonaise

Put the honey in a glass or ceramic dish into a pot with just enough water to cover the bottom of the dish. (The bowl shouldn’t float!) Let the water heat up until the honey turns almost clear and is smooth. Carefully remove the bowl with tongs or an oven mitt and let cool for 1 minute before mixing with the mayonnaise. The mixture will be opaque and creamy like icing. Apply to face and neck and allow to sit for 30 minutes. Wipe off with a warm washcloth.

Benefits:

Honey is an excellent antioxidant and moisturizer, and is very gently so it’s excellent for sensitive skin!

Mayonaise has both protein (egg) and oils (olive oil) which thirsty skin just drinks up and helps revitalize skin cells.

Cinnamon is excellent for blood flow, and brings blood to the surface of the skin, plumping it. It should never be applied raw, because it’s strong, it should always be mixed with a carrier such as live oil or honey.

Nutmeg is a natural anti-inflammatory and has been used for years in the treatment of acne. Also should not be applied alone, but with a carrier such as honey or oil.

Bentonite Clay (also known as Montmorillonite) is an edible clay from naturally occurring volcanic ash sediments, and contains over 70 trace minerals. It has a myriad of skin benefits, and I wrote a post last year about how I use Bentonite clay in my hair. On the skin, Bentonite clay draws impurities to the surface so that they can be removed from the body. (Note: Some people may see more pimples after their first Bentonite clay mask. As long as your skin is not stinging or burning, the clay is working properly! Your skin is reacting to the toxins being pulled out of it, don’t worry, it will calm down after a couple of uses).

The best things about all of these recipes is that you can easily find most of the ingrediens in your kitchen for free!

Buy Bentonite Clay here.

DISCLAIMER: I am not a qualified dermataologist. Please check with your doctor before trying any of the above recipes to make sure you are not allergic to any of the ingredients.

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Savvy’s Healthy Ramen Redo Recipe

Savvy — Thu, 01 Sep 2011 13:15:27 +0000

The packaged ramen soups that you buy are plagued by two health eroding ingredients, high sodium and MSG. Most of that comes from the nasty little flavor packet that they throw in there. With a few little tweaks, and a little research, I was able to use a 95 cent package of ramen noodles, some fresh veggies, some broth and a little miso and make a healthy meal that lasted us all week but cost less than $10 to make. This is also another great use for some of the ingredients used in my Simple Summer Soba Noodle Recipe

Savvy’s Healthy Ramen Redo Recipe

Ingredients:

1 package of ramen noodles
1 medium carrot chopped
2 green onions chopped
2 garlic cloves minced or pressed
4 crimini mushooms chopped
2 Tbsps sesame oil
½ box veggie broth
2 tbsps white miso*
1 tsp chilli powder
Salt and pepper to taste
1 tsp garlic powder (optional)
¼ cup organic frozen soybeans (optional)

Directions:

Throw out the flavor packet that coms inside of the package (Important!)
Boil water for Ramen
Put noodles in water and let boil on high until soft
While noodles are cooking cut vegetables roughly.
Put the oil in a medium saucepan and sauteé onions and garlic till fragrant
Add vegetables and sauteé for a minute before adding vegetable broth
Continue to cook until vegetables are a little soft
Pour water off of noodles, rinse thoroughly in cold water, set aside
Add cooked noodles to soup
Put in a small bowl
Pour some hot soup broth over the miso paste and stir until dissolved
Add miso mixture to the soup
Let simmer for 10 more minutes (Do not let boil again)

This is the flavor/type of ramen I used. It was 95 cents at the corner store!

Roughly chop veggies

Rinse ramen well, until the water runs clear

Isn’t the cast iron pot my mommy gave me pretty?

2 tbsps white miso

Miso mixed with a bit of broth

Done!

Sometimes I garnish the soup with a sprig of parsley or another few drops of sesame oil. But essentially that’s it. Ramen, unlike western pasta only takes 1-2 minutes to soften in boiling water, so I usually can have this whole meal made in 15 minutes.

*Miso is fermented soybean paste. It should be refrigerated after opening. A little goes a long way, but it’s also very high in sodium, so buse sparingly if you have high-blood pressure.

How do you cook ramen?

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Simple, Inexpensive DIY Mother’s Day Gifts

Savvy — Thu, 05 May 2011 02:32:48 +0000

I love spa anything, and these gifts are truly easy, and can be given individually, or as a complete set for Mom on her special day. The following recipes are some of my favorites!

Peppermint Foot soak – this is a welcome relief for aching feet at the end of the day. put all of the dry ingredients from this recipe into a pretty bottle or mason jar. Add a few drops of rosemary essential oil if mommy or grandma suffer from arthritis. (Eliminate the rosemary if mommy is pregnant.

Brown Sugar Body scrub – for a twist make a large batch of scented body oil and use that in this recipe to carry over the scent.

Linen spray or Air Freshener – Find a pretty spray bottle or atomizer to put these in. You can even use a flight approved travel atomizer if she travels a lot, so she can take it with her and use it in her hotel room!

Bath salts – There’s no better way to relieve stress, than with a nice long soak in the tub in the evening. I love to put bath salts in pretty apothecary jars or candy jars. Once again, pick a scent that’s complimentary or the same as what you would use to make your other gifts.

Body Oil – I love to use my body oil right out of the shower. It leaves my skin feeling soft all day, and I hardly need to use any lotion!

Lavender eye pillow – (for those of you who sew) I’m gonna whip one of these up for myself real soon!

If you’re giving your gifts individually tie them just under the lid with a pretty bow and present as is or in a gift bag. If you’re giving several gifts as a set, place all of the items in a bowl for her to use to soak her feet in. I’m a big fan of those old fashioned lightweight basins. And this bucket is great, because it comes with a handle and her feet get a nice deep soak! If you’re on a tight budget,then just use a regular plastic basin.

To fill up the space pad the basin with a nice big white fluffy towel and place your gifts in there. Add soy candles and a box of herbal tea to really make it special.

Mixing scents? Not sure how? Check out this great page on aromaweb on what essential oils work well with others.

I know I gave you a bunch of ideas here, but don’t go crazy. Come up with a budget, and stick to it, by getting creative and keeping things simple.

Happy Mother’s Day!

- What are you going to do for mom this weekend?

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Carrier Oils vs. Essential Oils

Savvy — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 20:35:08 +0000

I was having a conversation the other day with a friend, and they were telling me how they love to add almond oil to their bath. When I asked whether they used an almond essential oil or a carrier oil they were confused. It hit me that a lot of us are probably confused about the difference, but it’s actually pretty simple….

Carrier Oils or base oils are derived from the fatty portion of plants, nuts and seeds. They are primarily used for cooking as well as as a solution to dilute other stronger, more potent oils (like essential oils) in. Characteristically, carrier oils are
rather bland and viscous (thick in consistency), with little to no aroma. That’s another reason why they mix well with more pungent, fragrant oils. Carrier oils can be stored at room temperature and in clear or dark bottles.

Commonly used carrier oils are:

Sweet almond

Apricot

Avocado

Aloe Vera

Jojoba

Coconut

Essential Oils or volatile oils are aromatic are derived directly from various plants through a distillation process. The distallation process is usually with water or steam and makes use of the petals, leaves, bark, stem, and even roots of various plants. Essential oils are not fragrances or perfumes. (Perfumes are made by reproducing a scent found in nature in a lab.) In aromatherapy essential oils can be inhaled or applied to the skin for a myriad of psychological as well as physical health benefits. When applied topically, a few drops of essential oil are added to a carrier oil in order to safely deliver the essential oils properties to the skin. Essential oils can also be mixed with water, where the water will act as the “base” or carrier in that instance, as is the case with aromatherapy baths and foot soaks. Most essential oils are stored in dark glass bottles and many times in temperature controlled environments in order to protect the oils from sunlight and temperature changes adversely affecting the oils.

Commonly used essential oils are:

Peppermint

Grapefruit

Lavender

Sweet Orange

Lemongrass

IMPORTANT: Undiluted essential oils should NEVER be applied directly onto the skin. Essential oils are highly concentrated and can be irritating to skin if applied directly.

For examples of uses of both essential and carrier oils, check out the following body care recipes*:

*Wanna make your own? Well check out the oils in the Savvy Shop including this great essential oil sampler to get started!

What are your favorite essential and carrier oils?

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Honey Facial Mask Recipe

Savvy — Thu, 14 Oct 2010 03:52:56 +0000

Ever since I found out about honey’s healing benefits, I’ve been troving the web for more ways to use it. This is is one of the ones I came up with after cobbling a few together.

Honey is a natural antiseptic and antioxidant and has wonderful skin cleansing properties. It even contains a protein that helps kill bacteria and can help reduce inflammation and scarring.

Love. That.

Honey Face Mask Reipe

Ingredients:
1 tbsp raw honey (I’m sure you can use regular honey too)
1 tbsp olive oil (I use first cold pressed organic)
1 egg yolk

Directions:
Whip till creamy, then apply to freshly washed skin. I used this as part of my Homemade Facial Routine, and my skin came out nice and smooth. ^____^

It’s so easy. Try it! (Unless of course, you’re allergic to honey.)

Do you use honey to make your own face masks? What’s your recipe?

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Homemade Facial Routine

Savvy — Sun, 05 Sep 2010 14:10:33 +0000

I tried this the other day and I’ve decided that I’m going to try to do this weekly. There’s basically 8 parts to this facial. Cleanse, exfoliate, steam, exfoliate again, mask, rinse, tone and moisturize.

1. Cleanse – I wash my face with Black Soap. You can find the kind I use here.

2. Exfoliate – homemade scrub

Sugar Mommy Scrub*
1 tbsps sugar
1 tbsps olive oil
3 drops of organic rosehip oil
1 drop vanilla extract
Whisk all ingredients together in a bowl and massage into face and neck for 2 to 3 minutes

3. Steam – this is the fun part.

Boil filtered or mineral water in a pot on the stove
Add one drop each of essentials oils of eucalyptus, rosemary and tea tree oils (skip the rosemary oil if you’re pregnant)
Cover your head with a towel and lean over so the steam hits your face comfortably (this should NOT burn!)
Close your eyes and breathe slowely (this is also great if you have a cold or allergies)

4. Exfoliate – while your face is still wet apply another portion of scrub and massage your skin gently for two minutes

5. Mask – Homemade Clay Mask

Bentonite Clay Mask
2 tbsps Bentonite clay
1.5 tbsps of Braggs Organic Apple Cider Vinegar
Mix together in a bowl (not metal bc it reacts with the clay) until smooth.

6. Rinse – with purified or mineral water

7. Use toner – I take a cotton ball or pad, and dip it in a 50-50 mixture of witch hazel and rosewater (which I keep in a little glass jar wuth a cork on the sink)

8. Moisturize – I love the rosehip oil in this Homemade moisturizer.

I got the idea for the routine and the Sugar Mommy Scrub from *The Green Beauty Guide by Julie Gabriel available in the Savvy Shop here.

(please note that I skip my oil-cleansing routine on the days that I do this facial)

Do you do your own facials? What do you use?

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Savvy Mailbag: Homemade Oatmeal Mask for Acne

Savvy — Thu, 22 Jul 2010 23:46:00 +0000

I received this lovely tip on Facebook, from my Aunt Sexy* and decided to share it with the rest of the class.

Homemade Oatmeal Mask for Acne

“I suffer from Adult acne – so I did some research and came up with this mask”.

- Boil about 1/4 cup of oatmeal (organic can be used) in water

- Add in about 2 tablespoon of lemon juice and 2 tablespoon of aloe vera gel.

- Let cool to room temp.

- Apply to clean skin let mask dry on face

- Next wash with lukewarm water.

Skin should be soft and smooth and pores noticeably smaller. Hope this can help someone.

*You guessed it, she’s Sexy’s Aunt.

I don’t have acne, but I’m gonna try this one! Here’s some handy info:

Lemon juice: lightens spots
Aloe vera: healing of inflamation
Oatmeal: Soothe soreness plus exfoliate dead cells

Thanks Auntie!

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Make Your Own Bug Repellent

Savvy — Sat, 03 Jul 2010 18:38:48 +0000

Many bug repellents that we spray on our skin have chemicals that can aggravate out skin and our health. Some of these products also contain DEET (diethyl-meta-toluamide) which doesn’t exactly repel insects, but instead it “erases” the scent of carbon dioxide that emanates from our skin so that they aren’t attracted to us. Although is very effective in repelling mosquitoes and other disease carrying insects, has also been shown to cause sever health problems when mixed with other medications. (Which ones? I cant find a straight answer on that). Infants should NEVER be exposed to DEET at all because it can cause potential brain damage, but the EPA has deemed it safe for use in adults and older children if used properly…..hmmm. Insect repellents that contain DEET have to be sprayed 6-8 inches away from the skin, should not be inhaled, and should also be washed off thoroughly with soap and water after a few hours.. Those products should not come in contact with acetate, rayon, spandex and other synthetics and don’t spray it on wounds, cuts or sun-burnt skin. Other products like Cutter and Avon’s Skin So Soft contain Picaridin which is a chemical that has been used in Europe for years, but it is relatively new in the U.S. It has less side effects than DEET, and is easier on the skin, but should also be used according to the manufacturers’ directions. I don’t know anyone who follows ALL of the above directions. And it also bothers me that the above mentioned products have parabens and other icky ingredients.

I was curious to see if I could effectively make a chemical-free insect repellent, and I’m pleased to say, the recipe I found below works pretty well. And (with the addition of a base oil), it won’t leave your skin feeling dry.

DIY Bug Repellent

Materials:

1/3 cup of apple cider vinegar
1/3 cup witch hazel (or cheap vodka)
5 drops of citronella or eucalyptus essential oil
1 tbsps jojoba oil
Spray bottle
Funnel

Directions:

Use the funnel to pour all ingredients into spray bottle. Shake well. Spray directly onto skin and rub in. Shake well before each use.

I will admit that I didn’t try this in the deep forest, but instead I chose to wear it when gardening and and BBQs. And if you’re not sure if you’re allergic to the above oils

You can get the ingredients at a local Health Food Store, and as always, both the citronella oil and eucalyptus oil can be purchased at the Savvy Shop.

Do you have a Bug spray recipe that you use? Please comment to this post with your recipe.

Sources:

http://www.idph.state.il.us/envhealth/deetfacts.htm

http://www.diylife.com/2007/07/17/how-to-make-your-own-organic-mosquito-repellent/

http://www.dukehealth.org/health_library/news/378

http://www.mercola.com/article/pesticides/deet.htm

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Homemade Bread for Dummies Redux

Savvy — Sun, 16 May 2010 15:53:23 +0000

I owe this post to Savvy reader Kichael, who commented on my original “Homemade Bread for Dummies” post with a bread recipe from Recipe Zaar that introduced me to quick-rising yeast! I altered it slightly, for the recipe below. Thanks Kichael!

Homemade Bread Recipe 2 (recipe makes one loaf)

Ingredients

* 2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
* 1/2 tablespoon sugar
*1 teaspoons salt
* 1 packages fast rising yeast
* 1 cups hot water (125°-130°F)
* 1/2 tablespoon water
* cornmeal

Directions

Set aside 3/4 cup of flour.
In a large bowl, mix remaining flour, sugar, salt and yeast.
Stir hot water into dry mixture.
Mix in enough reserved flour to make a soft dough.
On lightly floured surface, knead dough until smooth and elastic (about 8-10 minutes)
Cover dough and let it rest for 10 minutes
Roll dough into a 10×15 inch rectangle.
Roll dough tightly (like a jelly roll), starting from the long side, and tapering the ends.
Pinch ends and seam to seal.
Place dough seam side down on greased baking sheet or loaf pan which has been sprinkled with cornmeal.
rolled dough

risen dough
Cover dough and let rise in a warm draft-free place until doubled in size (about 35-40 minutes
Bake in preheated 425°F oven for 25-30 minutes or until done.
Remove from baking sheets and cool on wire racks

Note: If you want to make baguettes instead of loaves, you can roll the dough into a rope (by hand) to get the longer thinner shape.

I let the bread rise on the dryer in my laundry room. That was the suggestion of FB fan Caitlin (thank you!) And it rose MUCH better than my original recipe. After it baked, it made a nice-size loaf that was barely out of the oven before Sexy was cutting into it and smothering it with ramp butter we bought at a farmer’s market. I have decided that the only bread I going to eat is going to be the kind that I make in my own kitchen on Friday nights. Oh, and Leah, I’m trying your raisin bread next!

Any more bread recipes out there folks?!

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In Case You Missed It…..

Savvy — Thu, 06 May 2010 12:20:39 +0000

The video of the live webcast of The Organic Baby Resource Show on momTV.com that I did on Monday is up. On the show, I demonstrate how to do several of the recipes here on the blog. It was special for Mother’s Day called “Pampering Yourself with Homemade Bodycare” Pt. 1 and Pt. 2

Part 1 is about 32 mins and Part 2 is about 5 mins.

For those of you unfamiliar with the show, Erika is the host of Organic Baby Resource with Erika and the creator of Organic Baby Resource, a website devoted to all things baby and healthy. Every two weeks Erika talks about something natural and/or organic for baby and in this case, for mom! Viewers watch live and can instant message questions right to the guest and to Erika. So you’ll see me stop and look at a screen on the side occassionally and answer questions, and so will Erika.

Enjoy the show!

“Pampering Yourself with Homemade Bodycare” Pt. 1

“Pampering Yourself with Homemade Bodycare” Pt. 2

Do you think I should start doing how-to videos here on the blog? If so, what would you like to see demonstrated?

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