Being High maintenance on the cheap!

Most of us enjoy pampering: pedicures, manicures, facials, body wraps, massages. With money not going as far as it used to, here are some ways to save some money and keep up your beauty routine.

Have a girls’ day in! Remember as teens we would have slumber parties, do masks, paint each others’ toes? Well, why not do something similar? Send out a free, electronic invitation, with a service such as evite (www.evite.com). Have each person bring something to do or a beauty “ritual” to share. Then everyone takes turns giving and receiving!

You can serve spa like refreshments such as sparkling water with fruit slices and ice cubes made from all natural juice, veggie plates, hummus and pita, yogurt and herb dips, tortilla chips and fire roasted salsas and fruit compote. Google Spa recipes and try something new! Have everyone bring a dish and share!

Here are some suggestions for “beauty ritual” that are easy and fun!

Pedicures- Here are some simple steps that'll let you pamper your feet in 30 minutes or less:
• Remove old polish using a gentle nail polish remover
• Clip and file your nails. The modern look for nails is to keep them on the short side with a straight shape and slightly-rounded edge.
• Soak your feet for about ten minutes in a dishpan or plastic bowl filled with warm water and a few drops of chamomile and lavender essential oil or epsom salts (which have excellent relaxing properties that will soothe your tired, aching feet)
• Apply a cuticle softener; after a few minutes, push back the cuticles gently using an orangewood stick. Use Cuticle nippers to remove dead skin around the cuticle bed.
• Apply a callus remover liquid containing alpha hydroxy acids. Slip you feet into plastic bags for 5-10 minutes, remove the bags and use a pumice stone to remove dead skin cells.
• Use an exfoliating paste on your feet and calves, remove with a hot towel; then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation. Don't forget your toes!
• Massage feet and calves with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin.
• Use some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad on your nail beds to remove any lotion on your nails and apply a base coat, then add two coats of your favorite nail polish color. Add nail decals, gems or paint flowers on your toes! Follow with a topcoat.

If you don’t want to go with a full pedicure, do a foot care ritual.
• Soak your feet in a tub or basin with 1 cup of Epson salts and some essential oils for 15-20 minutes.
• Use an exfoliating paste on your feet and calves, remove with a hot towel; then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation. Don't forget your toes!
• Massage feet and calves with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin.
• Slip on some socks to seal in the moisture!

Manicures- Follow these simple steps for the perfect at-home manicure:
• Remove old polish using a gentle nail polish remover
• Clip and file your nails. The modern look for nails is to keep them on the short side with a straight shape and slightly-rounded edges
• Soak your hands for about ten minutes in a plastic bowl filled with warm water and a few drops of chamomile and lavender essential oil or epsom salts.
• Apply a cuticle cream/softener; after a few minutes, push back the cuticles gently using an orangewood stick. Use Cuticle nippers to remove dead skin around the cuticle bed.
• Use an exfoliating paste on your hands and forearms, remove with a hot towel; then apply a moisturizing cream in order to hydrate the skin, as well as improve flexibility and promote relaxation.
• Massage hands and arms with a creamy hand lotion. Rub in for a couple of minutes in order to fully hydrate the skin, particularly if you are suffering from dry winter skin
• Use some rubbing alcohol on a cotton pad on your nail beds to remove any lotion on your nails and apply a base coat, then add two coats of your favorite nail polish color. Add nail decals, gems or paint flowers on your nails! Follow with a topcoat.




Facials- Have every one can bring their favorite product to share, or a quick trip to the beauty supply and through the market can get you everything you’ll need for a soothing facial.
• Cleanse your skin using a gentle cleanser in order to remove surface oil, dirt and germs. If you have oily or combination skin, use a foaming gel cleanser; if you have dry skin, look for a creamier blend that won't dry out your skin
• Exfoliate. Natural exfoliators include: Ground oats and pineapple. Grind oatmeal in your food processor and add 3 T. oats to 2T. plain natural yoghurt or whole milk. Apply to the face and remove after 10 minutes with a warm towel. Or put ¼ cup pineapple and 3 T. plain natural yoghurt into the food processor and pulse. Once combined apply to the face and remove after 10 minutes with a warm towel
• Massage- This is where having a partner to help is great. Here is a great protocol for facial massage:
• Apply the massage cream or lotion and begin massaging the face and neck areas in small symmetrical circles. The strokes should move up the neck and along the contour of the face. Do not leave out any facial muscles.
• Next, gently glide the back of the hands across the fore-head with light pressure. Placing the thumbs side by side on the center of the forehead with the hands cradling the face, draw the thumbs outward towards the temples and make a gentle sweeping movement around the temple. Repeat the movement several times to relieve tension in the temples.
• Apply pressure in the hollow areas under the eyebrows by placing the hands along the sides of the face; use the thumb to press gently under the ridge one spot at a time. Move the pressure point from the inner to the outer edge of the brows and repeat the thumb pressure. This technique can help relieve tension headache.
• Position the thumbs alongside the nose bridge with hands cupping the face. Firmly slide the thumbs downward to the nostrils and outwards along the contour of the cheeks applying pressure along the way. Gently release the pressure when the thumbs reach the hairline. Then pull both hands up alongside the face towards the top of the head and away from the face. Repeat this motion two more times.
• Position fingertips in the cheek muscles and gently make circling movements counter-clockwise for a few times moving along the cheek muscles. This motion alleviates tension in the cheek area.
• Gently stroke the ears with the index fingers and thumbs while moving along the rims of the ears. This technique is very relaxing and enjoyable.
• Position the fingers just behind the neck while pressing with a thumb pad on a spot in the jaw area and circling this spot before moving to the next one. Holding the chin with the fingers, stroke the chin with the thumbs using circular motions downward. Finish the jaw massage with gentle strokes alongside the chin. This movement releases tension in the mouth and jaw.
• Make circular motions on the scalp and comb the fingers through the hair to release tension from the face and the head and to stimulate the scalp.
• Finally, remove the massage cream or lotion with fresh and damp cotton pads. Most facials end with a special lotion applied to the face.
• Apply a mask. If you have oily or combination skin, use a clay-based mask; for dry skin, look for a hydrating mask. Most beauty supply stores or drug stores sell masks in small sachets if you do not already have a favorite mask. Apply mask to the skin, being careful to avoid the eye area (this can lead to sagging skin). Leave mask on for 10 to 20 minutes or as directed. Remove the mask with warm towels and follow with a light spritz of toner.
• Moisturize. Apply a light moisturizer in order to prevent dehydrating the skin. Look for a moisturizer with SPF 15 or higher in order to protect your skin from the sun's harmful rays.

The next several beauty rituals require more room or specialized equipment, namely a massage bed or facial chair. A recliner can be substituted, cover it with a flat bed sheet to protect it.

Massage- Who doesn’t love a neck and back rub? Here are some great websites that show how to give a great back massage!
http://www.easyvigour.net.nz/backpain/h_BackMassage.htm
http://www.ehow.com/video_8066_give-back-massage.html
http://www.mahalo.com/How_to_Give_a_Back_Massage

Remember to ask about the pressure- too much, not enough, just right? Always have clean hands and trimmed nails. After the massage, remove any excess oil or lotion with a warm towel. If you don’t have a massage table or a recliner, have the person receiving the massage sit in a low back chair or sit backwards in a chair, so their chest rests against the back of the chair.

Body treatments- these can be messy. I recommend doing these in a tiled area of your home, or cut apart trash bags and lay them down, put down newspaper, a tarp or a drop cloth.

You may want to wear a bathing suit or a bra and panties you don’t mind getting wet. I recommend doing body treatments 1st before you start the rest of your day or rituals.

Body scrub- sometimes known in spas as a sugar shimmer, salt glow, or full body exfoliation. Whatever you call it- it’s FUN and a great way to sweep away dead skin cells. I like using sugar. It has natural alpha hydroxy acids in it that break up the web of expired skin calls clinging to your skin.
Here is my recipe:
2 parts sugar (1 white and one brown) to 1 part oil (olive oil, coconut oil, etc), add any essential oils you like. You can also add any leftover ground oats you have or a few tablespoons of baking soda to add a little extra exfoliation. Apply to your body and rub in circular motions. Remove with warm towels or hop in the shower and rinse off. Towel dry and apply a moisturizing lotion or crème.

Body mask- In day spas, this can be called a body wrap. Mud and herbs are applied to your body and you are wrapped in a cocoon of blankets while the mud and herbs do their thing- softening, mositurising, toning.

Apply a body mask (available in most beauty supplies or drug stores) and wrap yourself in a silver thermal blanket or in saram wrap to keep the heat in. Relax for 4-50 minutes. Remove with warm towels or hop in the shower and rinse off. Towel dry and apply a moisturizing lotion or crème.