Comments on: Five Matador-tested beauty products you can make in your kitchen

By: Leigh Shulman

Leigh Shulman — Fri, 14 May 2010 17:57:17 +0000

Yep. Coconut and almond are great. I think I mentioned Rosemary Gladstar's cream recipe above. I didn't include it in the article mainly bc you do need things from outside the kitchen. Unless you keep cocoa butter, beeswax and lanolin in your kitchen. But it's a great recipe also, because depending how you mix amounts, it can be a loose body cream to a salve or even a lipstick sort of thing.

By: slava

slava — Fri, 14 May 2010 02:16:44 +0000

I really enjoyed this piece, Leigh!!! Absolutely loved the tried and tested photos – too funny!!! ) I’ve made the yoghurt, honey and oatmeal mask and it works wonders! Cucumbers are also great for the skin, especially for clearing and shrinking the pores – all you do is take the peel and rub your face with the inside. Or, you can squeeze the cucumber juice and use it as a tonic. Coconut or almond oil work great for body lotion – thay keep the moisture in and make the skin soft and smooth. Loving edible cosmetics!!

By: Leigh Shulman

Leigh Shulman — Thu, 13 May 2010 13:28:05 +0000

I love how people are coming to comment with additional ingredients!

Papaya is great for the skin. Not just for softness, but apparently has anti-cancer properties as well. Same with mango. I think they’re also good for treating sun burnt skin (along with aloe).

Your post reminded me of something I read by Rosemary Gladstar (not sure if that’s her birth name). She writes a lot of books on herbal medicine which also include a lot of beauty products, and has a great cream recipe I’ve used many times. She says how her family was used to coming home to find her with all sorts of different foods on her face, whatever they had in the fridge that day.

By: vibhajun

vibhajun — Thu, 13 May 2010 12:38:09 +0000

Oooooh…loved it…yet another recipe for me to pamper myself with!

My packs vary every time, depending on the ingredients available. And has generally given me good results…i love teaching my soft cheeks after every pack!

I normally mash any ripe fruit that I have at hand ( papaya is yummy, banana, strawberries, whichever fruit pack you fancy), add some oatmeal or wholewheat flour, a dollop of honey, some plain yoghurt, some fresh cream or milk…and i’m set. In an exotic frame of mind, I’ve even added sandalwood powder and ground flaxseeds( flax moisturises!)

If in a hurry, just rub the papaya peel( the fruity side, not the peel-y one!) over your skin to squeaky-cleanse.

By: Carolyn

Carolyn — Sat, 08 May 2010 00:17:22 +0000

Thanks, Leigh.
I recently reread Michael Pollen’s book “Second Nature” – published in 1991, I think it was-before he was the big name he is now. I ‘m a gardener and Mom gave me the book thinking it is about gardening. It’s more about how we have this paradigm thing going with Nature – and this reflects on the beauty news too – We love to look at, recreate in, wade in , smell wildflowers, but when it comes to our own little patch of grass or wishing for untamed grass by our house, uh oh – if the wrong plant or animal encroaches.
As with beauty products – I’m a Mary Kay consultant. I love the products and what they do for my ‘seasoned” skin. Then again – I have tried a bunch , if not all of your suggestions years ago.
So – I live a half-life as Brooke Williams says about wilderness and living in a house with amenities – attempting to balance the wholesome and closer to the earth things with some tried and true products from a factory.

Humor is always good.Sometimes I get too serious.

I do enjoy your articles and working on submitting some things myself and looking into MatadorU as well.
I’ve written lots of articles on different topics and also love learning about new ways of writing. With a later in life start for more creative writing I have to remember that Laura Ingalls Wilder didn’t write ” Little House on the Prairie” until she was 65!

Here’s a laundry tip from the 18th century – after you wash your white linens – sheets especially – lay them out to dry in the sun on Pachysandra.

By: Anne

Anne — Fri, 07 May 2010 23:59:16 +0000

I’ve been doing the herbal steams for years and can’t recommend them enough! I can’t wait to try the other recipes.

By: Leigh Shulman

Leigh Shulman — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:34:00 +0000

Alaina,

Would love to hear how they work for you!

By: Leigh Shulman

Leigh Shulman — Fri, 07 May 2010 22:27:25 +0000

Hey Carolyn,

Of course you’re right. Not every single thing that’s not edible is bad for you. It’s really a bit of a joke based on a truth. Many products we use contain ingredients we absolutely shouldn’t ingest. They enter our bodies just as well through the skin as through the mouth.

But I also use ingredients like beeswax, clay and lanolin in other products I’ve made that are not really edible. But they won’t do any harm.

I also wanted to say thank you for all the comments you’ve been leaving on Life in general. You always have something insightful to add to the conversation.

By: Candice Walsh

Candice Walsh — Fri, 07 May 2010 17:30:44 +0000

Sweeeet, more self pamperage. Nick, your family looks like a blast.

By: Alaina

Alaina — Fri, 07 May 2010 08:43:00 +0000

I’ll definitely use these recipes in the near future… Thanks!