BoomerGirl Diary

Today's crisp and cool temperatures tease me with the promise of Fall, my favorite season. What better time to indulge in a little homemade pampering, starting with a long, hot bubble bath tonight!

These recipes, found in my newspaper this morning, seem luscious, yet easy to prepare. I can hardly wait to try the Olive Honey Bubble Bath. (If only I had some papaya for that mask....)

Silky Bath

2 cups dry milk powder

1 cup cornstarch

1/8 teaspoon lavender or orange oil

Directions: Mix together all ingredients in a blender. Add 1/2 cup mixture to hot bath water.

Almond Honey Bubble Bath

1 tablespoon light oil (sweet almond oil works well)

1/2 cup honey

1/2 cup liquid soap

1 tablespoon almond extract

1 tablespoon Glycerin

Directions: Stir ingredients together and use 1/4 cup per bath.

Olive honey bubble bath

1 cup olive oil

1/2 cup liquid soap

1/4 cup honey

1 tablespoon vanilla extract

Directions: Thoroughly blend ingredients together and store in an airtight container. When ready to use, shake well and pour 1/4 cup into warm running bath water.

Homemade foaming bath salts

1/2 cup liquid soap

1 tablespoon light oil

6 cups rock salt crystals

Food coloring

Directions: Mix soap, oil and food coloring together and pour this mixture over the rock salt in a large bowl. Stir continuously until the salt crystals are evenly coated. Spread the salts out in a thin layer on a cookie sheet covered with wax paper and allow to air dry for 24 hours.

Papaya Beauty Mask

1/2 papaya

1/2 teaspoon lemon or lime juice

1 teaspoon honey

Directions: Mash the ingredients together. Apply to clean face, leave on for 10 minutes, then rinse well.

Almond beauty mask

1 egg yolk

1 teaspoon honey

1 teaspoon almond oil

1 teaspoon vitamin E oil

Directions: Mix all ingredients together until smooth. Spread over face and leave on for 15 minutes. Rinse off with warm water and pat dry.

Avocado carrot mask

1 avocado, mashed

1 carrot, cooked and mashed

1/2 cup heavy cream

1 egg, beaten

3 tablespoon honey

Directions: Combine all ingredients in a bowl until smooth. Spread gently over your face and neck, and leave in place 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse with cool water and follow with your favorite toner.

Oatmeal Body Scrub

2 tablespoon oatmeal

2 tablespoon cornmeal

2 tablespoon wheat germ

Directions: Mix together and store in an air-tight container. When ready to use, combine a teaspoon or two with water and make a paste. Massage gently into skin and rinse well.

Brown Sugar Scrub

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/4 cup almond oil

1/4 cup liquid Ivory hand soap

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Directions: Mix together, apply to body, and scrub. Store leftover scrub in a jar or container near the tub.

Yogurt Sugar Scrub

3 tablespoon baby oil

1 tablespoon yogurt

1 tablespoon white sugar

Directions: Mix together, apply to body and scrub.

Avocado Hair Conditioner

1 avocado

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon sea salt

1 tablespoon pure aloe

Directions: Mash 1 ripe avocado and mix it with 1 tablespoon lemon juice, 1 teaspoon sea salt, and 1 tablespoon aloe. Comb the mixture through your hair with your fingertips. Wrap your hair in a plastic shower cap or plastic wrap and leave on for 20 to 30 minutes. Rinse, shampoo and rinse again to make sure your hair is completely clean.

Protein Conditioner

1 egg white

5 tablespoon natural yogurt

Directions: Beat egg white until foamy and add yogurt. Apply to hair in small sections at a time. Leave in for 15 minutes. Rinse thoroughly and shampoo as usual.

Coconut Milk Skin Soother

1/2 cup coconut milk

1 tablespoon instant oatmeal

Directions: Heat the coconut milk on stove or microwave until lukewarm. Add to the oatmeal and mix well. Apply to rough areas (perhaps your face, elbows, knees and heels). Leave on for 10 to 15 minutes. Rinse off thoroughly.

Buttermilk Pear Anti-Wrinkle Face Cream

1 teaspoon apple juice

1 teaspoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon lime juice

2 tablespoon buttermilk

1 tablespoon rosemary leaves

3 seedless grapes

1/4 pear

2 egg whites

Directions: Blend ingredients on medium speed for 30 seconds. Using a cotton ball, dab mixture on areas around the eyes and where wrinkles have developed. Let dry, then rinse with warm water. Use no more than three times a week. Follow with a moisturizer. Cover and refrigerate immediately. Discard after four days.

Cucumber Honey Face Toner

1 medium cucumber, peeled and cut up into pieces

2 teaspoon honey

Directions: Puree cucumber in a blender. Line a sieve with cheesecloth and set the sieve over a glass bowl or measuring cup. Pour the cucumber puree through the sieve and let it stand for 15 minutes for the juices to drip into the bowl. Pour the clear juice into a clean bottle and add honey. To use, shake the bottle and saturate a cotton pad with the lotion. Sweep over face, neck and chest morning and night, and let it air dry (about 3 to 4 minutes). Store covered in the refrigerator for up to 1 week.

Mint and Lime Foot Soak

1/2 cup sea salt

3 slices of lime

5 to 10 mint leaves

5 drops of essential lime oil

Directions: Combine all ingredients and add to a basin filled with warm water. Soak feet for 5 minutes. Dry thoroughly.

Almond, Mint and Lime Foot Scrub

3 limes

2 tablespoon white sugar

1 tablespoon sweet almond oil

15 fresh mint leaves (chopped)

5 drops of lime essential oil

Directions: Cut the limes into small pieces and pulse these pieces into a thick pulp in a food processor. Mix the lime and the remaining ingredients in a small bowl. Apply the foot scrub with your hands using circular movements around the foot, ankles and calf. Remove the scrub with a warm, damp towel. Moisturize with your favorite body lotion.

Brown Sugar Callus Exfoliant

1 cup brown sugar, moistened with rose water

1/2 cup petroleum jelly

Directions: Mix ingredients, then rub well onto calluses on feet, knees and hands. Wash off. Moisturize with your favorite body lotion.

Sugar Baby Hand Exfoliant

2 tablespoon baby or olive oil

3 tablespoon sugar (the coarser the better but any sugar will work)

Directions: Make into a paste and rub gently into hands. Rinse well with warm water, pat dry. Who knew it could be this easy? It’s a perfect time to make this a weekly tradition as we ease into the winter months.

Lemon Sugar Instant Hand Smoother

1 tablespoon lemon juice

1 teaspoon sugar

1/8 cup water

Directions: Combine ingredients and smooth over dry or coarse hands. Rinse hands after a minute.