Good Enough to Eat

Now that summer is here and skin is laid bare, how about nourishing yours with a beauty or grooming routine literally good enough to eat.

Just like the rest of our body, our skin needs nourishment to look and feel great. Time to raid your kitchen cupboards, harness the power of nature and get stuck in for some seriously delicious skin and hair treats.

You will need:

• A ripe avocado
• Plain fine table salt
• Organic Virgin Coconut Oil
• Coconut/caster sugar or Dead Sea Salt
• Raw unfiltered, unpasteurised apple cider vinegar with mother
• Cooled boiled water
• Fine oatmeal
• Whole leaf aloe vera juice
• Green tea granules
• Some small mixing bowls - a ramekin or old jam jar is perfect
• A fork and spoon
• A cloth - it might get messy!

STARS OF THE SHOW

THE WHAT, THE WHY, THE HOW

Apple cider vinegar - ideally raw, unfiltered and unpasteurised so that it retains the beneficial bacteria and trace minerals found in the ‘mother’. Apple cider vinegar is naturally acidic and so can be a great way to support the acidity of the skin. The natural pH of skin is slightly acidic and research shows that skin with pH values of below 5 shows better moisturisation than skin with a higher, more alkaline pH. Being slightly more acidic also keeps the resident bacteria attached to the skin, allowing the microbiome here to flourish.

Coconut oil - a fabulous moisturiser with a wonderful aroma - used for centuries, this oil melts easily on contact with the body for deep moisturisation. Research supports its action in skin barrier repair, whilst also having anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and anti-ageing activity.

Avocado - known as nature's butter, this superstar fruit is packed full of skin friendly moisturising oils and vitamin E. Great for dry, chapped or damaged skin due to its anti-inflammatory nature.

Oats - used for centuries for rashes and eczema, oats contain oils which are anti-inflammatory and promote skin barrier repair. Perfect for soothing troubled skin.

Aloe vera juice - renowned for its soothing and healing properties, aloe is thought to increase hydration in the skin, whilst reducing inflammation and enhancing epidermal development - the outermost layer of skin.

SKIN TREAT: CLEANSE & TONE

Apple Cider Vinegar Skin Rinse

- 125ml of cooled boiled water

- 1-2 teaspoons of raw Apple Cider Vinegar

Mix together in a glass jar or similar and use to gently cleanse and tone the skin. Apply with cotton wool or a reusable skin cloth taking care to avoid the eye area. Ideally leave on rather than rinsing off to promote healthy acidity. Don’t be put off by the smell - it fades very quickly. Make a fresh batch each week. To make this even more beneficial try adding ½ teaspoon of green tea granules - a perfect antioxidant boost!

SKIN TREAT: EXFOLIATE

Coconut Oil Facial Scrub

- 1 tablespoon Coconut Oil

- ½ teaspoon of fine salt

Mix the salt with the coconut oil. This can be done in the palm of your hand which allows the coconut oil to melt. Apply to the skin with your fingertips and use circular motions to gently remove dead skin cells. Rinse or wipe off then use the Apple Cider Vinegar Skin Rinse to remove excess oil and rebalance pH.

SKIN TREAT: EXFOLIATE

Sugar and Coconut Body Buff

- 1 tablespoon of coconut sugar/caster sugar/Dead Sea salts

- 2 tablespoons of coconut oil

Mix your sugar or Dead Sea salts to the coconut oil (you may want to melt the oil slightly first), then take a good handful of the mixture and rub into the skin paying attention to rougher areas and those areas prone to cellulite. Rinse off and towel dry.

SKIN TREAT: MOISTURISE

Coconut Oil Moisture Boost

Simply use Coconut Oil in place of your normal moisturiser or lotion. Try melting and mixing in a couple of drops of your favourite essential oil before pouring into a jar to reset.

SKIN TREAT: DEEP NOURISHING

Avocado and Oatmeal Facial Mask

- ½ an avocado

- 1 teaspoon of fine oatmeal

- Splash of Apple Cider Vinegar

Mash the avocado with the oatmeal and a drop of apple cider vinegar. Apply to clean skin and relax for 15 minutes or so to allow the natural ingredients to work their magic, before rinsing with Apple Cider Vinegar Skin Rinse and applying moisturiser or coconut oil.

HAIR TREAT

Apple Cider Vinegar Hair Rinse

- 1 tablespoon of Apple Cider Vinegar

- 150ml cooled boiled water

Just like skin hair thrives with a more acidic pH. This lower pH contracts and tightens the cuticle layer, creating more shine and less frizz and static. Mix together the apple cider vinegar and cooled boiled water and use as a final rinse after washing hair. The solution will keep for up to a week.

HAIR TREAT

Warm Oil Treatment

- 1 teaspoon of warmed coconut oil

- For a deep nourishing treatment, massage warmed coconut oil through the ends of the hair and leave for 15-20 minutes before rinsing off.

- Now it’s time to show off your wonderful natural glow!

Top tips

1 - To remove waterproof mascara use a small amount of Coconut oil - great for moisturising those lashes

2 - If you suffer with dry, problem skin, try adding ½ teaspoon of natural aloe vera juice to your natural mask - perfect for calming and soothing dry or irritated skin

3 - Coconut oil is perfect for use as a shaving oil as it melts on contact with the skin and is very fluid and non-sticky - creating the perfect glide