Ancient Beauty Secrets for a Modern Girl

You may think that modern beauty products are the best way to beautify yourself, but you’d be wrong! There’s no shame in going old school and using ancient beauty secrets instead. We used to use these things, but in today’s fast-paced world with supermodels on every corner, we forget about the ways of our foremothers. So get off your phones and computers for five minutes and take some time to remember how beautiful you can be by using these easy beauty secrets from thousands of years ago!

Beauty from Within

Throughout history, people have used beauty treatments to exfoliate, deep clean, moisturize and more. With some ingredients in the ancient recipes being fairly inexpensive and available at most grocery stores or pharmacies, it’s time to revisit these time-tested practices. Try some of these DIY treatments on your skin today:

-Mix raw honey with warm water and sea salt (approximately 1:1 ratio) for an instant facial mask that moisturizes skin with enzymes and softens scars from acne breakouts by cutting through old cell buildup and pulling out dirt trapped deep within pores. Leave on for 10 minutes before rinsing off with cold water.

-Aloe vera is perfect as a hair conditioner if you get regular trims every six weeks or so; because the fresh leaves produce growth hormones, it also helps prevent hair loss by creating an environment for healthy hair growth. Apply aloe vera gel directly onto wet hair after showering and let sit for five minutes before washing thoroughly with shampoo and conditioner like usual. Aloe can also be applied directly onto dry scalp if you suffer from dandruff or other scalp issues like eczema. Use twice a week, leave on for 20 minutes, then rinse thoroughly.

-Pineapple juice mixed with two tablespoons of coconut oil makes an excellent all over body moisturizer! It will keep skin supple and hydrated while giving it an irresistible fragrance too. 

While this blog post has come to its conclusion, we hope you found some great tips to try at home! If you would like to know about any specific beauty topics, please comment below and we will do our best to answer them. We’re always looking for feedback to help improve our content and make it even better. What do you think? Do you enjoy reading our blog posts? What topics would you like us to cover next? Have you tried any of these beauty treatments before? Share your experience in the comments below! 

As always, thanks for reading! Now go on, beautify yourself with one of these ancient recipes. Remember: There’s no time like now to take care of yourself and feel good about how you look on the outside too. So what are you waiting for? Get to work! Here are four more ways to use natural products around the house to create beautiful looks and maintain healthy skin, inside and out:

-Create a thick paste of baking soda and water for gentle teeth whitening by gently rubbing onto teeth for five minutes before rinsing with toothpaste. Be sure not to swallow! Letting baking soda sit in mouth longer than five minutes may irritate gums.

-For an invigorating facial massage, combine whole milk with mashed avocado then apply liberally to face for fifteen minutes before gently peeling off layer by layer starting at forehead.

Eat Plenty of Fruits and Vegetables

In Ancient Greece, Hippocrates famously wrote Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food. So we'll go ahead and say that before you think about taking any supplements or dietary pills, focus on eating plenty of fruits and vegetables to get the vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, phytonutrients, and enzymes your body needs. Your diet should be rich in green leafy vegetables (kale), deep orange vegetables (carrots), bright yellow vegetables (squash), and red fruits (apples). Organic foods are especially important because they are typically free of pesticides and chemical fertilizers. You can also take it up a notch by buying organic meat, eggs, and dairy products from pasture-raised animals. Stay Hydrated: When you don't drink enough water during the day, toxins can build up in your system which leads to inflammation and weight gain. You need at least eight glasses of water each day - or even more if you're exercising! Bonus tip: Add lemon slices to water for some added benefits like vitamin C. Sleep: If getting quality sleep is difficult for you then try drinking chamomile tea before bedtime. The gentle herbal flavor will help calm your nerves while helping soothe away stress as well as boosting sleep quality thanks to its calming effect on your central nervous system. Check out these other helpful tips for better sleep: avoid caffeine after noon, stop drinking alcohol two hours before bedtime, create a relaxing environment with dim lights and soft music, wear comfortable clothing to bed and make sure your mattress is supportive. Skin Care Routine: The ancient Egyptians used honey as an all-natural moisturizer, but who has time to keep bees? Luckily there are other natural ingredients that work just as well. Try mixing one tablespoon of almond oil with one teaspoon of honey mixed together in the morning; over night this mixture will form a protective layer on your skin while keeping it hydrated throughout the day. Don't Forget the Hair!: Dry hair can lead to split ends and frizziness, so take care of your locks right away by using a mask once or twice a week. Just mix one egg yolk with three tablespoons olive oil and apply it to wet hair. Wrap it up with cling wrap, leave it on for 20 minutes then rinse off with cool water. Finally, use conditioner! I know, I know, it's not sexy or exciting to put something on your hair after you've taken a shower. But let me tell you, it does wonders for the health of your mane. Apply conditioner generously to your strands and comb through with a wide tooth comb for best results. 

The ancient Greeks and Egyptians have known about beauty secrets for centuries, so maybe we should listen to them instead of trusting what celebrities and magazines tell us. Stop listening to everything you hear and do your own research about the best way to live a healthy life. The next time you reach for a product, think about where it came from and how it was made. Remember that the latest trends might not be the best for your health or wellbeing. You deserve to take care of yourself and look your best! Make your mind and body a priority by fueling it with nutritious food, getting enough sleep, and treating yourself to a little pampering every now and then. Drink plenty of water, cut back on processed food, and think about the chemicals you're putting on your body. These are small changes that will make a big difference in your life! So let's go ahead and say it one more time: the ancient Greeks and Egyptians knew about beauty secrets for centuries, so maybe we should listen to them instead of trusting what celebrities and magazines tell us. We'll take care of our bodies by eating well, getting enough sleep, and taking care of our hair!

Get Your Greens

Greens are the base of this recipe. I love adding spinach and arugula, which adds extra iron and vitamin A to your smoothie. Another way to do this is by substituting any green leafy vegetable you have on hand. My favorite combination so far has been with kale, spinach, and romaine lettuce. They all add great flavor with only slightly different textures. You can also add in other ingredients such as ginger, vanilla extract, or cinnamon for added benefits. The best part about this recipe is that it tastes amazing even without any sweeteners or fruits! You could even enjoy it as a pre-workout snack to provide energy and nutrients during your workout! Add peanut butter, honey, or chocolate syrup if you want to make it more dessert-like. Trust me, no one will know the difference between this yummy treat and those sugary processed desserts! These ingredients taste better than they sound and you’ll get a ton of vitamins out of it too. Make sure to stay hydrated throughout the day while you work on these healthy habits because they don’t come easy! Drink plenty of water and try my mint water recipe below: Mint Water Recipe

Water, Water, Everywhere!

Over 2000 years ago, Cleopatra was rubbing herself down with an exotic oil made from seeds of the olive tree and flower petals to moisturize her skin and give it that dewy glow. By the time she was 40 years old, she looked 20 years younger than her true age. The Egyptian queen’s secret beauty secret has now been replicated by modern scientists through research on omega-6 fatty acids which help retain water in your cells, thus providing you with smoother skin. You can find this in fruit oils like olive oil, avocado oil, and grape seed oil. You may have also heard about the oil cleansing method recently. We know it as facial oiling and many ancient cultures used oils to cleanse their faces because they were so gentle on delicate skin. A recent study found that rinsing off soap left residual traces of soap scum behind after just one use. Another study concluded that antibacterial soaps increased the risk of developing antibiotic resistant bacteria! So if you want radiant, fresh looking skin without any harsh chemicals or additives, I recommend using more natural products like coconut milk! It contains antioxidants that promote healthy cell growth and moisturizes your skin with its nutrient rich fats. Give it a try today! If you don't like it then stop and go back to your normal routine. But be warned: When people start trying these ancient beauty secrets they get hooked. For example, two weeks ago my aunt went vegan after reading up on all the health benefits, and now she's never looked better! And last week my dad cut out meat completely when he read that eating animal products can make testosterone levels drop -which is good news for him since he needs his hormone levels balanced considering he's going through menopause. And when I hear other people talking about how amazing these tips are...well let's just say I'm convinced too (which is why I'm writing this blog post!). So whether you're into taking care of your body with more organic foods, want to reduce stress by simplifying your life, or take extra precautions against sun damage and wrinkles, these days there are plenty of ways to simplify life. One way is to follow some easy daily rituals like waking up at sunrise every morning. Studies show that our bodies perform better throughout the day when we rise early enough so that we're well rested at nightfall. For centuries monks would wake up before dawn every day because they knew how important sunlight is for human well being--we need exposure to light in order to regulate our circadian rhythms and provide us with vitamin D necessary for bone health. Nowadays the average person doesn't get nearly as much of that. In addition to keeping a regular sleep schedule, it's crucial to practice mindfulness in your everyday life. Whether you meditate for 10 minutes a day or carve out 10 minutes in your schedule each evening to simply sit with yourself and clear your mind, this is a great practice that will improve your quality of life. 

My favorite thing about ancient beauty secrets is that they are simple, effective, and don't involve doing anything drastic like getting plastic surgery! Plus they aren't only beneficial for external beauty; they can improve the quality of our lives on the inside as well. For example, even though I spend most of my day working on the computer, I still manage to get out and exercise for at least an hour every day. Experts suggest that we should engage in physical activity for at least 30 minutes a day to maintain our health. This can include things like playing a sport, dancing, or hiking in the mountains. Ancient Greeks loved this kind of workout because they had to do it all the time when fighting battles. And it wasn't just about building up muscle strength either -remember those ancient Greeks who came home from battle with injuries? They learned that by using exercise to heal themselves they could get better faster! So even though we don't usually think of exercise as being restorative, it really is. Think about how long we go without moving during the course of a day--sitting at work, sitting in traffic on the drive home, sitting while eating dinner, and then sitting while watching TV or reading. Exercise helps keep our joints healthy and reduces pain associated with arthritis. It also improves cardiovascular health which decreases risk for heart disease and stroke. Finally, it increases our energy levels which leads to increased mental focus. All around exercising sounds like a pretty good idea right? And if you find yourself feeling unmotivated by any old excuses here are five practical reasons to motivate yourself: 1) It feels good 2) You'll feel more confident 3) Your clothes will fit better 4) You'll be healthier 5) You'll live longer-the benefits really add up! Gotta Love 'Em!: Nowadays people tend to underestimate the importance of moisturizing their skin. Of course you might want to take care of your body's largest organ, but did you know that your skin has its own immune system? You may not see it happen, but through their daily grooming routines people regularly remove natural oils from their skin. In order to help repair this lost moisture and protect against environmental factors like harsh sunlight and pollutants, we need to make sure we're putting a little extra effort into moisturizing after bathing or showering.

Prepare Yourself for Sunlight

The UVB rays from the sun’s light provide the vitamin D needed to keep your skin healthy. That’s why it’s so important to remember that when planning your morning routine. Besides taking care of yourself, you also want to take into account the safety of your skin. Wear sunscreen and don’t forget to reapply it throughout the day! You can do this with either an oil-based or water-based product. But be careful not to use anything too heavy or greasy if you plan on spending a lot of time in the sun because this can cause heat rash. Just like applying makeup, wear sunscreen during winter months as well. If you’re sensitive to certain chemicals, like zinc oxide and oxybenzone (a common ingredient in many mineral based sunscreens), look for products made with titanium dioxide or avobenzone instead. Finally, be sure to wear sunglasses during all hours of the day! Just because it’s dark outside doesn’t mean UVB rays are nonexistent. It's just less intense. When you get home after being out in the sun, be sure to wash off any extra sweat, sunscreen, and salt residue before going indoors. And while we're talking about health concerns related to sunlight: Did you know it can lead to acne? What's worse is that stress only makes things worse by aggravating hormones in the body-- including hormones which stimulate oil production! To avoid this problem altogether, moisturize often and make sure your hands stay away from your face. One last thing to remember is that our bodies need Vitamin A every day. If you find that your skin becomes dry and flaky due to extreme weather conditions, try consuming foods rich in beta carotene such as carrots, pumpkin, sweet potatoes, kale, spinach and red peppers. These vegetables are good sources of Vitamins A and C; both are vital for fighting signs of aging. Now that you know how to take care of your skin, here are some recipes for more natural beauty products. All ingredients can be found at local grocery stores and produce markets. All recipes will require 1 cup of liquid coconut oil, 1/2 cup castor oil, 4 tablespoons almond or avocado oil (these two oils will give you a slightly different finish), 2 tablespoons beeswax pellets, 20 drops essential oils chosen by preference*.*The quantity of each ingredient may vary depending on the size of container desired. Mix together the oil, wax, and essential oils in a pot. Melt them together over low heat until they form a creamy texture. Remove the pot from the stove and let it cool for 5 minutes. Pour the mixture into containers of your choice and place them in the freezer for 10 minutes to set. Wash your hands immediately after handling the recipe so that you don't risk infecting yourself or others with bacteria that can exist on the skin's surface. Enjoy these organic beauty secrets for an ageless appearance!

Know How to Treat Skin Problems Naturally

Pityrosporum folliculitis, also known as fungal acne, is an inflammation of the hair follicles caused by the genus Malassezia. The fungus responsible for this infection thrives in oily skin conditions and can cause breakouts on both skin types. This yeast metabolizes sebum into organic acids, which contribute to its own growth as well as that of other microbes living on your skin. Controlling its proliferation can reduce breakouts and other symptoms associated with fungal acne. To control this fungal overgrowth on your skin, here are some traditional home remedies you may want to try * Mix two tablespoons of raw honey with two tablespoons of freshly squeezed lemon juice. Apply this mixture to the affected area and allow it to stay on for 15 minutes before rinsing off. 

* Mix one tablespoon apple cider vinegar, one tablespoon fresh lemon juice, and three teaspoons water. Apply this solution directly onto the skin after cleansing your face at night before bedtime. Leave it on overnight before washing off in the morning with warm water. If the breakouts are severe, repeat this twice per day until they subside.

* Soak a cotton ball in tea tree oil and dab it on to areas where you see signs of active breakout or where lesions have occurred previously. 

* Regularly use gentle exfoliating products like glycolic acid cleansers or scrubs containing natural ingredients like ground apricot seeds or oatmeal instead of harsher chemicals found in many commercial products that can irritate the skin's surface

* Apply aloe vera directly to your face and allow it to soothe and moisturize your skin. Aloe verasoothe moisturizesubtlesubtle . Soothe your skin with puree—make sure you apply pure aloe straight from plant! Externally, apply aloe verawithto with itonopinions of whether or not pure aloe is more effective than processed aloe products. Pure water has been shown to contain small amounts of enzymes and amino acids; when ingested, these compounds are able to help soothe irritated tissues. You should find that applying freshwith fresh purein healsdehydrated cracking skin, including areas where fungal acne lesions have occurred. Applying a thick coat of pure aloe vera gel to problem spots can work wonders on a variety of skin ailments. Fungal acne affects millions around the world and is easily treatable if caught early. Remember: know how to treat skin problems naturally!

Say Goodbye to Bad Habits

Want to trade in your bad habits for good ones? Well you’ve come to the right place. If you want to replace old habits with new healthy ones, take a look at these tips: 

1. Get real about what is going on in your life and why it could be tempting to go back to old behaviors. Take stock of how things are going and what your concerns are. Allowing yourself the time and space for this will allow you to make more informed decisions about the changes you’d like to make in your life. 2. Consider the question What do I want out of my life? and write down three possible answers. Then rate them according to which one you think would most likely help you feel better about yourself or lead to greater happiness and satisfaction in your day-to-day life. 

3. When faced with temptation, ask yourself Is this really worth it? Again rate three possible answers that best reflect your feelings when making this decision--you may have already thought of these answers before! Once you identify the answer, weigh its potential benefits against its potential costs (i.e., is it really worth it?). You might need to experiment with different answers in order to find one that works well for you. Lastly, set up an incentive system that rewards positive behavior without punishing negative behavior (i.e., if you go four days without drinking alcohol, treat yourself). There are lots of ways to get creative with this. Try downloading a phone app that provides rewards when certain goals are met. Another idea is to post updates on social media accounts so friends can provide encouragement along the way. Whatever reward works for you, remember it's important not to overdo it by rewarding every little accomplishment. The point is to try new things and enjoy the experience while still giving yourself time to make mistakes. Letting go of bad habits can seem daunting, but taking small steps towards success rather than trying to change everything all at once will allow you to build confidence as you succeed. These steps are only suggestions; find what works for you through trial and error because we all respond differently! Remember to reward your successes and try something new even if it doesn't work out right away. One step closer to finding what works for you, then living a happier, healthier life! It sounds too simple, but often those moments of self-reflection can go a long way. Sometimes people forget they’re the architects of their own destiny until they put pen to paper and start mapping out their own paths forward. Finding your happy ending starts with finding your beginning--and sometimes just reading through someone else’s story gives you hope that there is light at the end of the tunnel. Some stories are full of laughter and cheer, others are a series of setbacks. But the common denominator is that people never stop fighting for what they want. Every person who has ever been part of this blog has found a way to love themselves and celebrate the joy in their lives. Whether it’s finding your favorite lipstick color, changing your mind about a nail polish color, or discovering you love wearing skirts again--it’s all a part of the process. Even if you don’t end up with what you expected, embracing the beauty in everyday life is one way to redefine yourself.

Start Exercising Today

Today, it's all about eating right and working out. Take advantage of every opportunity to get your sweat on and eat more fruit. Whether you're at the gym or in the kitchen, incorporate these ancient beauty secrets into your daily routine to look fabulous today. 

#1 Start with a Cleansing Face Wash 

#2 Freshen Up Your Breath with Cinnamon 

#3 Prevent Gray Hair by Washing it Every Day #4 Stay Hydrated by Drinking Lemon Water Throughout the Day5 Combat Wrinkles by Eating More Omega-3s and Walnuts (or any other nuts) #6 Sleep Tight with Lavender Oil