DIY - Facial

As much as I would love to go get a facial from my esthetician once a month it just doesn't happen. So I did some online research and found a website www.smart-mums.com that broke it down in steps for me. Now I can do my own facials with my own products that can be purchased at my local drugstore whenever I want! I try to do it once a week, but in all reality it's usually twice a month...
Lock your bathroom door for 20 minutes and give it a whirl.

Step One: Cleanse
Cleanse once to take off all your makeup, and then cleanse again. Make sure you use a clean facecloth to remove your cleanser.
Step Two: Exfoliate
Remove dead skin cells using a scrub-type exfoliator. Massage the scrub in small circles on your skin, avoiding the eye area and concentrating on the T-zone (forehead, nose and chin). Wash off the scrub with lukewarm water.
Step Three: Steam
Steaming your skin will help to improve hydration. Fill a large bowl with hot water (NOT boiling!!), add a few drops of essential oil if you like (try Ole Henriksen Skin Inhalation Therapy, which can also be used as a warm compress), throw a towel over your head and hold your face 30cm over the bowl. Breathe in the aromas for 5 minutes or so.
Step Four: Mask
Apply a mask to your face, again avoiding the eye area. Use a deep-cleansing mask if you are prone to blackheads and breakouts, or a moisturising mask if your skin is on the dry side. Leave the mask on for about 10 minutes (make sure you relax, don’t run around trying to clean the house!), then gently remove with a face cloth soaked in lukewarm water. If you like, while the mask is drying you can rest a pair of MD Formulations Soothing Eye Gels over your eyes.
Step Five: Tone
A toner will help to remove any traces of the mask or cleanser and rebalance the pH of your skin - apply to a cotton pad and gently wipe over your skin. Try a hydrating toning mist if your skin is dry - spritz lightly over your face, then head to the next step while your skin is still damp.
Step Six: Moisturise
For dry skin, massage first with a hydrating oil treatment (try Aesop Damascan Rose Facial Treatment). Apply 5 drops into your hands, warm the oil between your palms, then press over the face. Massage gently with small circular movements, upwards and outwards, until the oil is absorbed. Finish with a cream moisturiser to seal the oil in.If your skin is oily or acne-prone, try a gel moisturiser – this will replace the water lost without adding more oil. Check out Aesop Oil Free Facial Hydrating Serum or MD Formulations Advanced Hydrating Complex Gel.
Finally, go to bed and get a good night’s sleep - your skin will glow in the morning.

Motivation

"You cannot plough a field by turning it over in your head" - unknown

Quote

"Fear less, hope more, eat less,

chew more, whine less, breathe more,

talk less, say more, hate less,

love more, and good things will be yours."

-Swedish Proverb

Recipe of the Week 4/12/10

Breakfast Bake

I have made this recipe from kraftrecipes.com for the last 2 Easter's and it is always a huge hit, and it's super simple. I double the recipe and use a large glass baking dish, SO good!

1 can (8 oz.) refrigerated crescent dinner rolls
1 pkg. (8 oz.) OSCAR MAYER Smoked Ham, chopped
6 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/2 tsp. pepper
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Cheddar Cheese
1 cup KRAFT Shredded Mozzarella Cheese

HEAT oven to 350ºF.
UNROLL dough in 13x9-inch baking dish; press to cover bottom of dish, firmly pressing perforations and seams together to seal. Top with ham.
WHISK eggs, milk and pepper until well blended; pour over ham. Top with cheeses.
BAKE 25 min. or until center is set.