Recipe for Skin Care during Winter

Winter is not in a hurry, it takes its time to cover everything around with a white fluffy veil.

Winter, like an artist, decorates the frost  on our windows with inimitable, amazingly beautiful ornaments.

The snow and the cold make up the unpredictable winter weather.

It’s tremendously charming when the white mossy snowflakes are circling in the dance and falling slowly on the ground for a final curtsey… Every morning is a new surprise because you don't know what the weather will be like.

However, despite that winter brings its inconvenience to our skin because of the cold, wind and dry air in apartments and offices, it also damages the delicate sensitive skin which contacts with scarves, high collars and winter hats during the cold season.

In cold weather it happens that oily skin verges close to normal, and normal skin becomes dry, when dry skin becomes too sensitive and irritated.

In winter, do not wash face with soap nor use any lotions that contain alcohol , otherwise it causes additional dryness, tightening and flaking of your skin.Experts often recommend washing  your face with milk or cream.

The most popular cosmetology advises is  to start your morning beauty procedure with washing the face with a weak brew of green tea or decoction of chamomile. If you want to have a tanned skin, a weak brew of black tea, but without any additives. It will work just perfect.

It is recommended to apply a nourishing cream in the morning  20-30 minutes before going outside, but a moisturizer is to be  used at night.

In order to look good and do not grow ugly by spring, make the following  masks twice a week. 

• Vitaminizing and moisturizing. 1 kiwi peeled, mash with a fork until you get a very soft consistency and texture. Add yogurt and a little potato starchjust to obtain consistency of sour cream. Spread on the face, neck and décolleté area for 20 minutes.Wash off with a warm parsley decoction or green tea brew. Apply a moisturizing cream. 
•  Rejuvenating mask with wheat germ. Steep wheat in a cloth, wait until the hatch shoots about 1-2mm. Grind, add the warm cream to reach a pulp consistence, then apply it on face and neck for 10 minutes. Rinse with warm water, and then wash with cool water or sparkling water without gas.
• To rejuvenate and make the skin bright. Peel and grate a small juicy carrot, add 1 Tbsp of soft quark and 1-2 tsp of heavy cream. Apply the mass on your face for 10-15 minutes. Rinse with a warm water and apply a nourishing cream.

•  Rejuvenating and nourishing mask. 1 Tbsp honey diluted with warm cream. By using a brush, apply the mixture very gently and evenly on the face, neck and chest for 20 minutes. Wash it off with a chamomile decoction or a  warm water. Wipe the face with a piece of ice from the broth of parsley, if do not have such, an ordinary piece of ice will be fine. Then use a moisturizing cream. This mask also helps to get rid of wrinkles and  tightening.
• For very dry skin. 1 Tbsp lime blossom (available at pharmacies) make ½ cup boiling water and infuse for 2 hours. Strain, take the 1 Tbsp infusion, add 1 Tbsp butter without natural herbal supplements, mix well and apply on face for 20 – 25 min. Afterwards, remove the remnants of fat with a cloth.
• Potato Mask. Get a flat, smooth potato tuber. Cook potatoes with skin ,  then peel hot, turn quickly into a puree; add 1-2 Tbsp sour cream and apply this mixture on face and neck. Cover with a towel.  20-25 minutes after,  rinse with a warm water.

 Yours,
Rusinka

Beauty Recipes from All Over the World

Every woman, no matter what country she is from, has her own secrets of attractiveness, which been improved by centuries. With that in my mind, I’ve decided to dig into beauty culture of every country where at least once woman was called “Diva”. In addition, I specifically concentrated on beauty secrets, consisting of natural components from all over the world.

Let’s start our little adventure in the world of beauty my Divas.

Piece of Beauty Puzzle From England

Tea at five o’clock is a tradition that takes its beginning from ancient times. Most inhabitants of foggy Albion stick to this heritage. Do not throw away used tea bags; leave them over night in the refrigerator and in the morning lay them on your eyelids for a couple of minutes. This will help you to wake up, get rid of puffiness and dark circles under the eyes.

"Oatmeal, sir" - exclaimed loudly butler Barrymore, who seemed to be the incarnation of a classic English character. Indeed, for centuries, most British traditionally have porridge for breakfast. Over and above, oats are rich in vitamin B and beneficial in fiber. More than that, oats can be also used as a cosmetic instrument.

 Take:

• 4 tbsps. of oatmeal;

• 2 tbsps. of cream.

Pour cream into cereal and leave to swell. Spread this mixture on the face, leave for 20 minutes. After the procedure, carefully remove the mask with a napkin and rinse face with cool water. This mask will make your skin look mat and tender.

Piece of Beauty Puzzle From Italy

For centuries Italian women owe smooth skin and shiny hair because of almond oil. If you have a desire for beautiful and shiny hair, or having a dry scalp, regularly apply a few drops of oil and gently massage into hair roots.

You can prepare a special emulsion for massaging your head if wanted:

• 4 Tbsp of almond oil;

• Juice of a half a lemon.

Mix oil with the juice, heat on a water bath. Regularly rub a warm mixture into the hair roots before washing.

Nutritional wraps with the addition of almond oil are suitable for all hair types. A good hair mask is obtained by mixing:

• 2 raw egg yolks;

• Juice of a half a lemon;

• 1 tsp of almond oil

Put the resulting mass on the scalp and leave for about half an hour; then wash your hair (without soap). Finally rinse your hair with warm water, adding a lemon juice (2 tbsps. per gallon of water) or apple cider vinegar (1 tbsp. per gallon of water).

According to the historical chronicles, Catherine de' Medici, the most famous woman of the XVI century, regularly made masks based on almond oil and renowned her silky skin. Scientists have shown that almond oil (due to the high content of vitamin E, is also called the vitamin of youth) improves the complexion. Oil can be used instead of milk as an eye makeup remover.

Piece of Beauty Puzzle From Poland

In order to follow the recipes of the Polish white-skinned ladies, you'll need milk and yeast. Mix yeast and warm milk in such proportions as to obtain a smooth weight resembling sour cream. Apply on face and décolleté. Rinse with cool water 10 minutes after, following with a warm compress. This procedure helps to get rid of blackheads and acne.

Chamomile ice is very popular in Poland and Russia as well. Add 1 tablespoon of chamomile in a cup of boiling water, let sit for 10-15 minutes, strain, and pour into molds for ice; place in a freezer. Wipe your face every morning and evening and the skin will always look as if you have visited a beauty salon.

Piece of Beauty Puzzle From Japan

Rice is the basis of Japanese cooking, thus rice diet is very popular our days. Interestingly it turns out that the power of rice is evident not only on the plate. Before cooking, soak the rice in a little amount of water for about 5 minutes and strain with a sieve. Cereal is ready to be cooked now, and the liquid part has absorbed a lot of substances that are weighty to the human skin. Using your fingertips gently massage it in your skin. Once your skin absorbs the rice water apply good nourishing cream on your face.

Piece of Beauty Puzzle From Greece

The sea, sandy beaches, olive groves have become symbols to resemble this country. Mix equal parts of washed sand, sea salt, adding olive oil so that you get a thick porridge. It is a great homemade scrub for home peeling. Now, apply this mixture to all problematic and tough skin areas: heels, elbows and knees. Then take a cool shower. Your skin will feel like silk!

Thank you for joining me in my beauty trip,

Traveler,

Rusinka