LOW COST NATURAL BEAUTY TIPS

Dear Betsy,I have recently had a very busy time at work but have a few days off for the holiday period. I want to spend a whole day at home pampering myself.

I can't afford to go to a spa or buy a lot of expensive beauty creams so can you please give me a few of your famous natural beauty tips?

I used to read your GDN page and watch your TV show where you used lemons and oats and stuff and would like to try them.

I have dry skin and a fat swollen tummy and my hair is coloured so it needs a good conditioner.

I am happy to see you are writing again in GulfWeekly and I like to read your advice every week and I share them with my sisters in the office.

Shukran from Umm Hussein

Dear Umm Hussein,

I have designed the following routine and recipes for you with the minimal investment. Hope you enjoy it. After so many holidays and family gatherings in recent weeks this is a good time to devote some inexpensive 'me' time.

BETSY'S HOME SPA DAY

The Day Before

Go shopping for the things you need for your special day.

The Night Before

Prepare all the things you will need such as the ingredients for the beauty recipes so that you have minimal work the next day.

First Thing In The Morning Before Breakfast

Drink a glass of hot water with the juice of half a fresh lemon added.

This will flush out your system and if taken regularly can have a detox effect helping you to gain a flatter tummy and clearer skin.

Breakfast

A glass of freshly-pressed watermelon juice. When processing the watermelon include the seeds as they are full of nutrients.

One boiled egg. No salt. Throughout the day use Himalayan Crystal Salt (available at Nature's Valley Juffair). You can buy yummy big brown English eggs at Al Osra supermarket Budaiya.

Scoop out the flesh from a ripe papaya and eat. Keep the skin as you will use it for your Facial Cleanse (below).

Green Tea or Herbal Tea.

Green tea has been shown to stimulate your metabolism and aid weight loss when you drink three or more cups a day. No milk of sugar allowed.

Mid-Morning Snack

Handful of mixed seeds or unsalted nuts such as walnuts, almonds, sunflower, pumpkin seeds. An apple, eaten with the skin on, but wash it well. The important health giving ingredient 'pectin' is just under the skin, so eating the skin is necessary.

Green or Herbal Tea.

Lunch

Miso Soup with a handful of Dried Seaweed added to it. You can find this at the health food section in Al Jazeera supermarket and at Nature's Valley. Seaweeds are high in iodine and can also help boost your metabolism and therefore your fat burning abilities.

A mixed salad made of any combination of raw, grated carrots, finely-chopped fresh spinach, celery, red or yellow peppers, lettuce, radishes, tomatoes, spring onions, shredded cabbage and thinly sliced raw zucchini. Make a dressing with fresh lemon juice, extra virgin olive oil, Himalayan crystal salt and freshly-grated black pepper.

Grilled or oven roasted chicken breast brushed with a little olive oil and garlic.

Afternoon Snack

Rice Cakes with Tahina Spread.

Fresh Figs or Fresh Cherries.

Green or Herbal tea.

Dinner

Fresh Fish Parcel

Take a fillet of salmon, hammour, or hamra and place it on a large piece of double layered tin foil (it needs to be big enough to fold over the food loosely). Add a handful of fresh vegetables such as sliced carrots, asparagus, green beans, broccoli etc. Chop a small onion and throw it over the fish and vegetables, add a few whole peppercorns. Squeeze half a fresh lemon over, drizzle with some extra virgin olive oil and a little balsamic vinegar and some Himalayan crystal salt. Wrap loosely and pinch the edges of the tin foil together to seal it. Place on a baking sheet in a pre-heated warm oven for 15 to 20 minutes.

Serve with some steamed brown rice.

Finish with some fresh pineapple to aid digestion and some fruit sorbet for a treat. Baskin and Robbins do some delicious water ices as do most supermarkets now.

Throughout The Day

Drink two litres of either Evian, Highland Spring or Volvic water as they have the best mineral content.

If you crave something sweet then munch on some dried fruit such as apricots, figs or cherries.

This is a good daily menu at any time when you feel bloated or have junk food overload.

To help a bloated swollen tummy, avoid wheat, dairy products and fizzy drinks and coffee for a few days and this should help flatten your tummy. Keep drinking the hot water and lemon juice first thing in the morning.

SPA TREATMENTS

Dry Body Brushing

Begin your morning by dry brushing your skin all over using a natural bristle brush found at pharmacies such as Ruyaan and Nasser.

Make sure your skin and the brush are dry. Begin by brushing the soles of your feet in a circular motion. Move up to the front of your feet brushing briskly with upward strokes moving up your legs to the knees then to the top of your thighs. Next, move on to your abdomen with lighter circular movements - begin at your right hip and move towards your left hip - continuing the circles.

Brisker strokes can be carried out over your buttocks and up your back as far as you can reach.

Raise one arm in the air and begin by brushing your palms in a circular motion then move up the outer arm to the shoulder.

Next - using gentle strokes from the wrist - end up brushing into the underarm area and repeat on the other arm. On your chest you should aim for a sideways-placed figure of eight direction using gentle strokes.

Body Brushing exfoliates, removing dead skin, will activate your circulation and lymph system having a detox effect and when performed regularly can dramatically reduce the appearance of cellulite.

It can be very stimulating so I do not recommend this at night as it can make you hyper and keep you awake.

Bathing

For this you will need Epsom salts (pharmacies and Nature's Valley). Run a warm bath, minimum of 34 and maximum of 36 degrees, and add 1 or 2 cups of Epsom salts to the water.

You can also add a few drops of a detoxing, anti-fluid retention essential oil such as lemon, or grapefruit, to a cup of full fat fresh milk. Relax in the bath for 15 to 20 minutes. If you are a restless bather then try playing some soothing music and lighting some candles to set the scene.

After your bath, wrap up in a big fluffy bath sheet or bathrobe and lie down and relax for 15 to 20 minutes to allow your body systems to return to normal.

Facial Cleansing

Now you need to exfoliate your facial skin to remove dead skin and prepare it for your face mask. For this you can use a shop bought face scrub or make your own using a handful of oatmeal, mixed with sweet almond oil and some rose water. Rub gently over the face and neck for a few minutes and rinse well.

If your skin is non-sensitive then you can also try gently rubbing the inside of the papaya skin over your face and neck. Leave for 10-15 minutes and rinse off.

There is a natural enzyme in the fruit (papain) which will target and dissolve dead or keratinsed skin cells. If you have a home facial sauna machine you could use it now.

If not then try a bowl of hot, not boiling water, add a handful of chamomile tea, a drop of tea tree and a drop of lavender essential oils, place a towel over your head and lean forward over the bowl trapping the heat in with the towel and inhaling deeply. Repeat for a few minutes.

Pat your skin dry. This will help to deep cleanse your pores and leave your skin more receptive to the face mask. If you have broken veins then omit this part.

Hand And Foot Sugar Scrub

Before you condition your hands and feet try this sugar scrub, which you can also use all over the body. Mix some granulated sugar in a bowl with freshly squeezed lemon juice and some sweet almond oil. Rub vigorously over hands and feet paying particular attention to hard skin areas and around your cuticles. Rinse off well.

This will not only remove dead skin but will deep cleanse and lighten your skin. Not suitable for the face and neck.

Now you are ready for your shower and shampoo. Use a good quality non-detergent shampoo, rinsing well and repeating the shampoo a second time. Rinse well and towel dry.

Body Treatment

Now is the perfect time to slather on some nourishing body oil or body lotion. If your skin is very dry then try using a combination of warmed almond oil and olive oil. It is very sticky but gives wonderful results. Massage it in well and if you want a deeper result then try wrapping your body with kitchen cling film. Pop a pair of pajamas on top to make it easier to secure. This is not easy to do on your own but you will have fun trying!

Hair Repair, Avocado To The Rescue

Most of us have stressed hair due to our lifestyles, environmental factors and neglect. Make your own deep conditioning hair mask by mashing up an Avocado pear with two beaten egg yolks (keep the egg whites for your face mask). Massage all over your hair and wrap your head in cling film and secure it with a twisted towel on top. Great for dry flaky scalp too.

Facial Masks

Now you are going to use those egg whites. A very simple tightening treatment mask is to simply beat the egg whites and apply them to your face and neck to help minimise fine lines and wrinkles too.

If your skin is oily then try thinly-sliced fresh tomatoes. For dry and sensitive skin some thick whipping cream and honey make a great nourishing face mask.